Finally Kicking Habit

After about weeks, we finally jump-started the Giovanning Chronicles once again. It was great to play Santiago again. And we finally wrapped up the storyline of the Sword of Nul. To give you some background, here's a summary of what took place previously:

Santiago de Saber was born in 1398, swordsman to a noble French lord. He was at the twilight of his years when he was Embraced by a vampire in 1444. Forced to fend for himself, he has since grown to prominence among the society of vampires known as the Camarilla.

During the course of hsi adventures, he acquired a sword that held the essence of a demon. Though it granted him power, Santiago found himself struggling to take control of his mind and body. But with the help of his coterie, he was able to relinquish the sword.

Or so we are led to believe.

I can't wait for the next installment of the game.

Failing my Wits + Expression Roll

Aldwin: So who are you looking nice for?

Happy: Just someone.

Aldwin: Lucky guy.

Happy: Aww, that's sweet. You think he's lucky because I'm making myself look good for him.

Aldwin: Any guy would be lucky to have a girl who would make themselves look beautiful for them.

Chasing Amy

Chasing Amy is a movie about love: what we think of it and how it stands up to real life. Often, we all have a set belief of what love is. Or rather, what it should be. Thus, we have an idea as to how the one we love should be. So what happens when that person turns your world upside down? Specifically, what if the person you fell in love with turns out to be gay?

The movie is one of the most profound and poignant romantic comedies I have ever watched. It examines love, virginity, homosexuality and friendship...without the stereotypes. Okay, maybe it does have stereotypes but the movie pokes fun at it like a kid poking roadkill with a stick.

You'd think that the most memorable scenes in a romantic comedy would be the funniest ones or the part where they confess their love. But in this movie, they turned out to be the ephiphanies - the scenes were the dialogue puts everything into perspective.

Here are some of the most memorable quotes:

---

Banky Edwards: Alright, now see this? This is a four-way road, OK? And dead in the center is a crisp, new, hundred dollar bill. Now, at the end of each of these streets are four people, OK? Are you following?

Holden: Yeah.

Banky Edwards: Good. Over here, we have a male-affectionate, easy to get along with, non-political agenda lesbian. Down here, we have a man-hating, angry as fuck, agenda of rage, bitter dyke. Over here, we got Santa Claus, and up here the Easter Bunny. Which one is going to get to the hundred dollar bill first?

Holden: What is this supposed to prove?

Banky Edwards: No, I'm serious. This is a serious exercise. It's like an SAT question. Which one is going to get to the hundred dollar bill first? The male-friendly lesbian, the man-hating dyke, Santa Claus, or the Easter bunny?

Holden: The man-hating dyke.

Banky Edwards: Good. Why?

Holden: I don't know.

Banky Edwards: Because the other three are figments of your fucking imagination!

---

Alyssa: You know, I didn't just heed what I was taught, men and women should be together, it's the natural way, that kind of thing. I'm not with you because of what family, society, life tried to instill in me from day one. The way the world is, how seldom it is that you meet that one person who just *gets* you - it's so rare. My parents didn't really have it. There were no examples set for me in the world of male-female relationships. And to cut oneself off from finding that person, to immediately halve your options by eliminating the possibility of finding that one person within your own gender, that just seemed stupid to me. So I didn't. But then you came along. You, the one least likely. I mean, you were a guy.

Holden: Still am.

Alyssa: And while I was falling for you I put a ceiling on that, because you *were* a guy. Until I remembered why I opened the door to women in the first place: to not limit the likelihood of finding that one person who'd complement me so completely. So here we are. I was thorough when I looked for you. And I feel justified lying in your arms, 'cause I got here on my own terms, and I have no question there was some place I didn't look. And for me that makes all the difference.

---

Silent Bob: [to Holden] So there's me an' Amy, and we're all inseparable, right? Just big time in love. And then about four months in, I ask about the ex-boyfriend. Dumb move, I know, but you know how it is - you don't really want to know, but you just have to... stupid guy bullshit. Anyway she starts telling me all about him - how they dated for years, lived together, her mother likes me better, blah, blah, blah - and I'm okay. But then she tells me that a couple times, he brought other people to bed with them - ménage a tois, I believe it's called. Now this just blows my mind. I mean, I'm not used to that sort of thing, right? I was raised Catholic.

Jay: Saint Shithead.

[Silent Bob backhands him. Jay raises his fist as if to strike]

Silent Bob: Do something.

Silent Bob: [to Holden] So I get weirded out, and just start blasting her, right? This is the only way I can deal with it - by calling her a slut, and telling her that she was used - I mean, I'm out for blood I want to hurt her - because I don't know how to deal with what I'm feeling. And I'm like "What the fuck is wrong with you?" and she's telling me that it was that time, in that place, and she didn't do anything wrong, so she's not gonna apologize. So I tell her it's over, and I walk.

Jay: Fucking-A.

Silent Bob: No, idiot. It was a mistake. I wasn't disgusted with her, I was afraid. At that moment, I felt small - like I'd lacked experience, like I'd never be on her level or never be enough for her or something. And what I didn't get was that she didn't care. She wasn't looking for that guy anymore. She was looking for me, for the Bob. But by the time I realized this, it was too late, you know. She'd moved on, and all I had to show for it was some foolish pride, which then gave way to regret. She was the girl, I know that now. But I pushed her away...

[Silent Bob lights a cigarette]

Silent Bob: So I've spent every day since then chasing Amy...

[takes a drag from his smoke]

Silent Bob: So to speak.

---

I could give you a summary of the flick, but it would be pointless. I don't have what it takes to commit into this article the essence of the movie. So my suggestion is to watch it.

Now.

You heard me. Get off that chair and rent the movie. Buy it, borrow it, steal it if you have to. But watch this movie like your life (or maybe your love) depended on it.

Because it just might.

Like/Love Actually

Is it possible to love someone without liking them? I've often pondered this question myself and found that the answer is...yes. But before we get to the details, why don't we define like and love.

Love - a deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward a person, such as that arising from kinship, recognition of attractive qualities, or a sense of underlying oneness.

Like - to find pleasant or attractive; enjoy.

Reading the definition above, one might say that the former is a more intense feeling than the latter. Love is like multiplied ten-fold, it seems. And one cannot love someone without liking them.

But I've realized that you don't always like someone you love. Parents and siblings, for example, are the perfect case study. You cannot help but love them and yet, you cannot stand their company at times. It may have something to do with the saying, "familiarity breeds contempt" but I believe it's more of "too much of a good thing."

Maybe that's why friendships seem to last longer than romance. Friends are there because they want to be, not because they need to be. And one does not make assumptions of the friendship that often lead to misunderstandings and jealousies.

---

Love Actually showcases the loves we often see but never really appreciate. It stars a group of England's most well-known actors and actresses such as Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Rowan Atkinson and many more. What makes this move so moving is that it does not just showcase romantic love but love in all it's forms...includings its complications.

Take for example, Laura Linney's character who finally gets the guy she wants but ends up letting go of it because of family duties. Or Liam Neeson, who plays a recently widowed stepfather who helps his son pursue the love of his life. Or what about Bill Nigh's portryal of an aging rockstar, confessing to his "big, fat manager" that he is the love of his life. The stories of the characters in this movie are so real and yet, so idealistic that it's hard to explain why aren't our lives (or is it, our loves) as well written or well thought out.

I found myself thinking that if I had been in Andrew Lincoln's place, I would have done the same thing. I would have gone out on a limb to tell her I loved her even if I knew there was no way of us ending up together.

Oh, wait, I already did that...

Just one more year to get that watch

It's been 4 years since I started working for Peoplesupport. The anniversary came and went without anyone knowing except my batchmate. Milo will be sending an email to commemorate it. He always does, every year. Me, I don't really think we should make a big deal about it. But then, people should treasure these moments as they don't come around that often.

So what have I learned in my 4 years stay at PeopleSupport. Lots, really. I suspect that I would have learned them all eventually if I had worked at another company. Still, I shoudl count myself lucky that although I may not have the job I want, I'm better off than most people.

Speaking of which, I wonder where my other batchmates are. I still have some of them on Friendster. I admit, though, I've not kept in touch with them. Mainly because I've become complacent. They moved on to better things and that's kept them busy. I heard a few moved to the US and some got married and started families.

I wonder about my other agents too. Some of those that disappeared suddenly, but mostly those who said goodbye. I wonder if they are doing better; I think so as not a lot of them come back. I've wondered why I haven't left too, sometimes.

As silly a sit sounds, I wonder if they think of me and think of me fondly. Did they see me as a good supervisor or one who never gave a damn? It's good to know that the ones I still keep in touch with still think of me well. I guess I must be doing a good job, then.

Tomorrow, I'll be holding a meeting with my current group of agents. I'll be giving them updates and feedback like I always do. Sounds like a good way to start the week.

I'm rambling, aren't I? Not really how I pictured by 4th year anniversary article. But you get the idea, right?