Showbiz chismis!

I was just reading Pen’s blog about how she hasn’t been updated in showbiz chismis, and I just have to post this. Yes, I do love me Pinoy showbiz chismis, I’ve been like that since I was a kid (Duh, See True, Eye to Eye, SineSilip, Showbiz Lingo, Cristy Per Minute, Startalk, S-Files, and of course, The Buuuuzzzz [with feelings!]).

But ever since I moved here to Singapore, I’ve had to be content with occasional tidbits from my sisters, or Dolly Ann’s catty column in the Inquirer website.

So can you imagine my glee when my sister told me about Yes Magazine’s new website, the Philippine Entertainment Portal? My God, it’s a veritable treasure chest of showbiz chika. So if you’re starved for Pinoy showbiz news, you know where to go!

i’m back!

Oh.my.god.

I am finally back! Some of you might know that I have been out of commission not just because I’ve been busy at work but mostly because my laptop’s keyboard was spoiled. The letters q, w, r, u, o and backspace didn’t work so I couldn’t type anything decent. If I wanted to type in anything, I had to resort to copying and pasting those letters. Too annoying.

I’ve been dillydallying between buying a new laptop and not buying a new laptop. Pros: will get to do normal things with the laptop. Cons: Too expensive!!!

So me being silly me, it never occurred to me to just buy a mini keyboard for my laptop. Which, luckily, I had the sense to do so now. I just popped over to the nearest tech shop and bought me a nice slim keyboard which I now placed on top of my laptop, and voila, I’m typing again! (And it only cost me S$16.90!)

Woohee!

Yes, I’m still alive!

And here’s wishing everyone a verrrry merry, blessed Christmas!

Love lots,
Ellen

Godspeak

Did God send me a message today? I was blowdrying my hair earlier, and out of the blue, as clear as day, this thought rang in my head:

“Choose your battles wisely.”

So timely and so profound, it must be God’s way of helping me through. Hope I can always keep it in mind.

Happy birthday and mucho congratulations, Pen!

Songs

I’m listening to Ligaya by Eraserheads right now, and I really find it amazing how much certain songs can bring back very specific memories because you were listening to it at a particular time. For instance, Ligaya reminds me of a time when my sisters and I were waiting at our car at the Folk Arts theatre parking lot, waiting to watch a magic show with our parents on either Christmas or New Year’s day.

Humanap Ka ng Panget was played endlessly on Magic 89.9 on Christmas Day when it was released.

I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing reminds me of the last day that I was with The Boy in 1998 before he left to study in the States.

More Than Words — my first year high school anthem, this reminds me of me and my classmates after our retreat, and we went to Alabang to watch a movie (Terminator 3, if I’m not mistaken!)

Heaven Knows — I was sitting at the back of the bus after our outreach program in Muntinlupa, and my classmates were singing this with much aplomb.

Fixing a Broken Heart — my high school best friend’s favorite song, this also reminds me of watching Sa Linggo Napo Sila.

Voltes V Theme Song — this always reminds me of my older sister because when we were kids, she had memorized this and people would keep asking her to sing it.

Vision of Love — reminds me of my sisters and my then-little cousin when we took a vacation in the States and my sister first got a DiscMan and CDs were almost spanking brand new. This also reminds me of the House Party theme CD, and MC Hammer (lol!)

King & Queen of Hearts/Gotta Believe in Magic — reminds me of a former special friend, and endless nights on the phone singing.

The Remedy, Dream of Me — memories of 2003 and months spent crying. Boo! They’re still my favorites though, because even if they remind me of bad times, they also remind me of how these songs reaaaaally helped me to survive, and how finally, there was light at the end of the tunnel.

Informer — 2nd year summer dance lessons at the Pilar Pavilion. Good times.

1-2 Step, Crazy in Love — Body Jam!!

Ah, songs, gotta love ‘em.

M&Ms

I’m an M&M-aholic. Seriously.

I’ve cut down SO much though. I severely ration my M&Ms fix, and I don’t even have any packs open even if I have some waiting for me.

But a few weeks ago, I just couldn’t resist trying M&M’s Pirate Pearls. Basically, it’s white chocolate M&Ms…yummy!

So that reminds me…when you were a kid, did you also just call it MMs too? As in..em-ems?

And when did you first start calling them M and M’s?

But whatever you call it, they’re just sooo addictingly good. Mmm.

Manners tip from the stars

Got this from my horoscope today. Too often, I fall into this trap since I feel uncomfortable during awkward silences, especially around people I’m not that close to. This is a fantastic tip, and one that I should remember daily.

Be careful of opening your mouth in situations in which it simply isn’t appropriate to do so, ELLEN. You may find that the conversation comes to a lull and you feel it is your duty to pipe up about something – anything. By doing so, you may launch the conversation onto a topic that is simply not called for. You may want to say something just so you can turn the focus on to you. The better choice is to simply allow the silence to sit peacefully.

urban etiquette

We’ve all had our share of running across rude people in the streets, in malls, or any place for that matter. For all we know, we could very well come across as rude to other people without knowing it, too! So if you don’t want to be the ipod blasting, door slamming rude person that people grumble about, take a look at The Urban Etiquette Handbook. This is a New York City guide, but I’m sure everyone can take a page or two out of it.

My favorites:

When does an e-mail exchange end?
At the office, acknowledging receipt of requested work or information is entirely appropriate and necessary, but acknowledging receipt of receipt-acknowledgment is superfluous.

(Yes! When you have nothing else to say Ok to his/her Ok or I received it, it’s time to move on.)

Where you can and can’t answer the phone.
“Excuse me, I’ve got to step out and take this call related to the birth of my child.”
• Movie theaters, at any time (Yes, yes, yes!)
• Quiet/romantic restaurants
• Dinner parties
• Any date (Unless you want to get out of that date, then…maybe)
• Elevator
• During a commercial transaction
• On the treadmill*
• Public bathrooms*

What’s the best way to hush someone in a movie theater?
Before actually speaking, you’re obligated to make two meaningful glances or clearly intentioned throat clearings, the second directed at the disruptive viewer’s embarrassed cohorts, if that’s physically possible (and they actually seem embarrassed). Then you can ask, politely, once. After that, if you haven’t received a groundswell of support from surrounding patrons, you really have no choice but to just move, because an argument is only going to inflict the disruption on everyone else. Or, to ensure that you can avoid the situation completely, limit your moviegoing to midday, midweek screenings at the UA Battery Park City 16 cinema.

(Or better yet, just rent the DVD! I’ve been around reallllly annoying cinemagoers and I just want to smack them. Seriously.)

What’s the best way to avoid awkward crossed-signals handshake-meets-cheek-kiss encounters?
Remember: You can usually get away with unwarranted familiarity if your intended recipient sees it coming. Strike early.

(Aren’t those awkward moments of greeting people awful? Do you shake hands, beso, or just wave a bit?)

How do you tell someone he’s been mispronouncing your name for three months?
Tell him a story in which you use your own name, clearly enunciating where he’s got it wrong. For example, if you were Ralph Fiennes, you’d say, “I called him and said, ‘Hi, this is Raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaafe Fines.’ ”

(Or in other cases, how to let the other person know he remembered the wrong name, or worse yet, he obviously can’t remember your name at all!)

type fast i can

type fast i can
Originally uploaded by sunnyphotos.

Well, according to this anyway…unless I’m completely ignorant of typing speeds and that’s actually pretty slow, haha. I should be though…years and years of typing – from reports, to IRC, to blogs…

Want to see how fast you can type?