Brushing Off

She's been staring at me when I am not looking towards her direction. I caught her smiling at me one time, and blushing in another instance. My words seemed to stutter when our eyes would meet but simply I tried to break some humor to dispel the awkwardness in the atmosphere.

I am not really good at awkward moments. Then I started to feel conscious about the things that were going on. Still, I have to manage and compose myself without being obvious of that discomfited feeling. I realized I needed that extra dose of confidence while everyone else in the room were waiting for every word that I say. Now, I am starting to ask myself, "What am I going to say now?"

We haven't really had long conversations before. Probably because we don't often see each other. But I know she's someone nice to talk to. Agh! Nothing really special or extraordinary, but I know she has good and nice things to share ~ just about anything. 

I am just assuming of things. I remember Eric Bogosian's line from his role as Travis Dane in Under Siege 2 when  they couldn't find Ryback's (Steven Segal) dead body. He said, "Assumption is the mother of all F**k ups! Sorry for my language, but yeah, I cannot just rely on some coy smiles and blushing cheeks and then conclude that they mean something amazing. I don't need someone to knock my head and tell me to wake up from a sudden spell of idiosyncrasy or something.

Pause. Blink. Shrug. And brush the idea off. I don't have to get involved, again. (Not unless if it's real) Moandar lage ang pagka-sigurista!

My Teacher Classmates

I am now on my last leg in my Master's Degree. Quite amazing how I managed to mix up everything within the year ~ work, school, part-time job at a local college, civic works, Church responsibilities. Good thing my brother is good at handling things at home. At least, minimal help will be expected of me of the chores (especially in the kitchen) at home. <grin> But I know my schedule is really messed up, hectic and chaotic to say the least. But why should I complain? Funny to say, "mirisi kay mi-enter!"

While on my third trimester at Southwestern University for my Master's Degree in Public Administration, I would like to pay tribute to some of the wonderful people I have met and got along with during the entire season (of school work). Let me start with two. As the title suggests, they are teachers who happen to be my classmates.

Marichu Genargue

Public School Teacher

Ma'am Ichu and Ma'am Wen were the first two classmates I got to feel the homey experience in school. I was probably one of the last enrollees during the first trimester and the only one coming from the LGU sector while the rest are a flock from almost the same offices, except for a few more stand-alone masterands.

It was pretty remarkable how we got to deal with each other easily. Probably because I don't really have problems dealing with "good-natured" people. 

         "Mga lagov man pod diay ni sila!" I said to myself, referring to them who also have their own share of laughs and interesting stories to tell.

ROSE MARIWEN RENES

Public School Teacher

What impressed me with these two teachers from San Fernando, Cebu is how they paved way for good education to their pupils at Sangat National High School. Their experiences in their call of duty as "public school" teachers simply remind me that teachers are among those people with the most difficult profession. I'd say, I have my own experiences, too, being a College professor myself. But compared to what they have dealt with over the years, I'd say, mine was just a pinky-finger to theirs.

As Wives and Moms, I think they are both pretty much doing a good job! Ma'am Wen, whose policeman hubby also happened to be our classmate, sees that the "lady of the house" is in control, but likewise sees to it that she never loses that sweet charismatic aura towards her man! Ma'am Ichu, on the other hand, does a big deal of being in-charge while his seafarer hubby gets offshore. How interesting to listen to their stories about their "kiddos" and their experiences of rearing them. They remind me of how my Mom had been dear to me when she was still here.

As my classmates, they both are an inspiration! But, funny how we laugh at the idea that we would get tensed every time we get to report in our MPA class when we ourselves are teachers. We know there is that different level of absurd feeling called "nerbyus" yadah-yahdah when facing professionals. But who cares if we fret in class, as long as we don't fart!

Profile: Thirdy Mercado

      It took me some time to set Thirdy for a shoot. We had the hardest time matching our schedules. Imagine this: He works in a call center (usually on grave yard shift, while I work in a local government. He stays in Cebu while I am based in Maasin but frequents Cebu on weekends but usually for school (and not for leisure). His rest days usually fall on weekdays, while mine, of course are on weekends (which, again, I usually spend for my class). It seemed like a hopeless case that we've been talking about how excited the two of us were to make our dreamed photo shoot to happen.

      But I was just impressed at how the two of us settled for the date to do all these things. All we had to do was find time. And on my part, I had to find time for my classmate since grade school and whose Mom I am dear to.

      He cooked breakfast for the two of us. He laughed and told me that it was his humble expression of gratitude. It was a nice breakfast, but quick. We couldn't waste time. We will do the talking while on the shoot. 

      He was "super" worried (as how he described it) of some allergy scars on his right cheek. Yeah, I had to agree with him but assured him that it's going to be fine. He didn't have to lose that level of confidence that we need for the shoot to be successful.

      His idea of the shoot was inspired by GQ. I knew it was something not hard to achieve. We were both positive we could get the "ACHIEVE" (as how he termed it) mode.

Thirdy M. Mercado (he prefers this than his real name, Abundio M. Mercado III) is a Psychology Graduate from the University of San Carlos, Cebu City. An Aquarian, he believes that "Life is boring if you'll take it seriously". 

He listens to Katy Perry, Outer Lid Break Off, and DB Boulevard and watches Project Runway, Lost, Gossip Girl, Glee on Television.

Just as how he describes himself:

call center whore. psychology major. extreme. unpredictable. deep. thinker.  beach bum. traveler. fashionista extraordinaire. hopeless romantic. obsessive compulsive. love.

A few months after this photo shoot, he got tied up in a relationship.  But now, he is single. You might find it exciting to know what interests him. :)

Tenjewberrymuds

This was an email I got when I was still working at a call center. I couldn't help but laugh and laugh again and again everytime I read this.

To get the full effect, this should be read aloud. You will understand what 'tenjewberrymuds' means by the end of the conversation. This has been nominated for the best email of 2005.

The following is a telephone exchange between a hotel guest and room-service, at a hotel in Asia, which was recorded and published in the Far East Economic Review:

Room Service (RS): "Morrin. Roon sirbees."

Guest (G): "Sorry, I thought I dialed room-service."

RS: "Rye..Roon sirbees..morrin! Jewish to oddor sunteen??"

G: "Uh..yes..I'd like some bacon and eggs." 

RS: "Ow July den?"

G: "What??"

RS: "Ow July den?...pryed, boyud, poochd?"

G : "Oh, the eggs! How do I like them? Sorry, scrambled please."

RS: "Ow July dee baykem? Crease?"

G: "Crisp will be fine." 

RS : "Hokay. An Sahn toes?"

G: "What?"

RS:"An toes. July Sahn toes?"

G: "I don't think so."

RS: "No? Judo wan sahn toes??"

G: "I feel really bad about this, but I don't know what 'judo wan sahn toes' means."

RS: "Toes! toes!...Why jew don juan toes? Ow bow Anglish moppin we bodder?"

G: "English muffin!! I've got it! You were saying 'Toast.' Fine.

Yes, an English muffin will be fine."

RS: "We bodder?"

G: "No...just put the bodder on the side." 

RS: "Wad?"

G: "I mean butter...just put it on the side."

RS: "Copy?"

G: "Excuse me?"

RS: "Copy...tea...meel?"

G: "Yes. Coffee, please, and that's all."

RS: "One Minnie. Scramah egg, crease baykem, Anglish moppin we bodder on sigh and copy....rye??" 

G: "Whatever you say." 

RS: "Tenjewberrymuds."

G : "You're very welcome."

scramah egg and crease baykem

anglish moppin we bodder

copy, anyone?

     Photo Credits: Scrambled Eggs and Bacon by Fine Cooking, English Muffins by Weight Watchers Recipes, Coffee by Photography Blogger

Birthday Beautiful

      It's been a while since I blogged. Quite perturbed of the things that has recently happened to me. But what's amazing was I've been trying to meditate on the recent events that caused me to become light-hearted and I found out that some changes have been taking place without my awareness until lately. God's workings I would say.

       It's my friend, Ghanjasunrise's birthday today. Happy Birthday Vivie von Fursternberg!

     

     He has been one of my amazing subjects. His aura is so consistent and my SLR finds no problem recognizing it. I couldn't praise him enough for being such a professional model. Oh, probably because he loves more being the subject in a photoshoot than being one of the crew. But he surely does have a helping hand and he doesn't mind holding the reflector for some hours in a not-so-ventilated room in one of my shoots. 

     I decided to work on some shots I have of him when we took some time-off with the rest of the employees in a South Leyte tour. It was the least I could do for him, being one of my beautiful supporters in this field. Here is what I wrote for a birthday message:

            Hun, 

This picture should remind you of how beautiful you are 

as a subject as it reminded me of how beautiful you are

as a person. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

                                                   Kneeknew

       Talking about beauty, I don't know what inspires him to be beautiful. I didn't bother asking. But what I know is, we have our own story to tell of how it is to be beautiful and what would make us feel beautiful. Christina Aguilera was just right with her words, "You are beautiful no matter what they say, Words can't bring you down. You are beautiful in every single way..."