WEBLOG WOODS

Note:

This type of writing is inspired from Ms. Susan Elizabeth Phillip’s fictitional character Molly Sommerville. Not a good start, I think. Am I comprehensible?!

I’ll try to make you understand. Ms. Phillips is a feel good writer (for me). I like her Chicago Stars book series (about football players, managers, and significant others). Molly Sommerville in the series was the sister of the team owner and later the wife of a player. But Molly Sommerville as I could clearly remember was a writer/cartoonist of children’s books. She was famous for her Daphne the Bunny books with the setting in Nightingale Woods.

Still lost?! Tsk… In summary, I am inspired to write something similar with that of a book written by a fictional character (Sommerville) by a romance writer (Phillips). With a deep breathe and a forceful grunt, I am shouting, “SEPpies of the world help me!!!” Haha..

LOST IN WEBLOG WOODS

Aero the Hummingbird was upset. She couldn’t think clearly much more collectively. Spreading her miniscule wings to its full span, she didn’t have the heart to fly. With a little determination, she finally managed to. She was flying too slowly that she couldn’t even produce a hum which her specie was famous for.

“Where are my friends?”

Aero’s closest friends in the Weblog were Kei the Shitzu and Kah the Pomeranian. Such an odd group but Aero didn’t care. Finally locating the doghouse below the canopy of trees, Aero sat atop it and chirped her lungs out.

“Aero, don’t be such a bothersome!” Kah barked while adjusting her super bright pink ribbon with cute little bells around her neck. She’s a girly girl dog lost in the woods. She could make a home in the arms of a Beverly Hills’ socialite.

“Where have you been?” asked the subdued Kei with her equally subdued purple ribbon matching that of Kah’s.

“What’s happening with the world? Give me a black ribbon and that would be my noose.”

Aero can’t still comprehend how she managed to make friends with the doggies. Sometimes, you don’t choose your friends. Though how different you are from each other, there is something that connects you. And sometimes the eccentricities of friends are cute, sometimes nauseous. Chirp!

“Have you explored all of Weblog?” Kah asked while painting her dog nails bloody red. Can’t she be satisfied with her foxy head and she still needs a foxy nail polish?! Impending headache.

“No, I haven’t,” came Aero’s reply.

“I think you are not exploring at all. You are just mainly looking for the snake,” Kei retorted. How amazing that a tight lipped dawg could be so astute!

Feigning ignorance, and making the perpetual sign of denial – head bobbing left and right, Aero screamed, “NO!!”

“That basically explains everything.” Kah said snottily.

“Tissue!” Kei the ever hygienic came to the rescue. “And you Aero, you better tell everything before Kah makes a mess here.”

“A-okay.” With the speed the hummingbird’s brain could fastly process Aero’s thoughts, she quickly blurted. “King the Cobra is off near the river. Korn the Gecko’s not with him. And no, I still don’t have his URL.”

And like all the cowards way out, Aero flapped her wings to full force and hummed incessantly.

King the Cobra indirectly inspired Aero to write again, a few with sense and the rest nonsensical (not the snake’s fault, just that of the bird’s). Aero and Kei were reading his notes and they felt positively envious. You know what Aero means. You’re feeling a little jealous but in a good way that you need to do something good as well. And that was that!

Still feeling furious, Aero flapped her wings relentlessly and soared higher. When she was with nimbus and cumulus, she slowed her pace. Then she realized.

Not all people are comfortable with others reading their thoughts and emotions. Not everyone writes to entertain his/her readers. Mostly, people write to vent out their unspoken emotions. And maybe, the snake’s one of them.

“And I must respect his PARANOID sense of privacy.  Yeah, right! But he still needs to see a shrink. SOON!!!”

With that, Aero plummeted back to Weblog Woods. There are many fishes in the sea. Or literally snakes, bears and tigers in the woods. GRRR!!!

STEP OUTSIDE THE BOX

After watching a music program, I can’t remember anything but the line of the video jock who said, “It’s okay. I haven’t taken a bath. I’m a rockstar anyway.” With an eyebrow raised, I quickly retorted. Here went a true blue rockstar whose idea of a rakizta was still a man with tattered jeans and a four-year-old Chucks/Pony never cleaned since the day of purchase. Grow up!

STEREOTYPIST.

STEREOTYPING is such an old practice that we cannot give up (After this, I will try to.) You cannot simply reduce a person’s personality by judging a single facet that you see. It’s okay if we are stereotyping/categorizing a person’s music genre (rock, metal, blues, pop and others.) But sadly, this a social disease not only limited to music.

If we meet a person, we automatically categorize them after five seconds of the meeting. Human nature! I’m guilty because I have my own categories (the timid, assertive, bitchy and abusive. The last one is purely instinctual. Sometimes you meet a person with a mean gleam in the eyes and he gives you the creeps. You know what I mean.) 

So the oppositional defiant (a beautiful synonym for the aggressive word rebel) in me was having fits with what the vj said. I really admire the Brownman Revival, one of the best reggae bands (for me, the very best!) with great quality music and a screw-you image. Why? They do not limit themselves with the dreadlocks and Jamaican colors. They are making a very clear statement that even they don’t look ‘reggae,’ they can produce great sounds (Enjoyed them last Jan during the Ati-Atihan 2011.)

For all the nerds, jocks, sosy-highs, so-so’s and the few “walang pakialam sa mundong ibabaw,” show the world you are MORE than what they can see.

And for all the ‘judges,’ I have a word for you, FUCK OFF! (That’s two!)

BITE ME IF YOU CAN

I AM SOO INTO VAMPIRES. I don’t know why. Let’s go back to where it all began. I soo sound vampiric! Haha..

When I was in 4^th year college and obviously not listening to lecture discussions, me and two closest friends were busy reading vamp novels while the professor was busy lecturing about tall structure kind of leadership or theories or whatever (obviously I was too engrossed in my reading that I can’t remember those lectures).

And thanks to an old high school buddy YEN (I must really drop the name for this is my way of giving her a distinction for her undying influence in my music and book reads. I was like a vamp book addict and she was my ‘drug’ pimp. Forgive the comparison. But it’s the closest I could think of. Wink!*)

She lent me the Dance with the Devil by Sherrilyn Kenyon. The said book was the sure fire of my still blazing addiction. I was introduced to the Dark-Hunter world as well as the Were’s and Dream’s. And the three of us (my two college BFFs and I) were the proverbial hooked, lined and sank with Acheron Parthenopaeus (A glorious fictional character of Kenyon. When the said character’s book Acheron was released, each of us grabbed a copy!)

Later on, we also met JR Ward and her Black Dagger Brotherhood. A totally new world with the Lessening Society and I really hated the lessers because Ward has a twisted humor of inserting lesser scenes when the protagonists are in the height of something! Haha..

Then I was introduced with Christine Feehan and her Carpathians. I even dug some research about the real location of the Carpathian Mountains. Totally hooked! Then I read Charlaine Harris’ undead series. The books were good reads but the HBO TV series True Blood was not that good (personal opinion of course!).

I also read other vamp authors and their series such as Lara Adrian, Kerrelyn Sparks, Angela Knight, L.A. Banks, and another author (I forgot the name, from Yen, and all I could remember amongst the nine books or so is the matriarch’s name Marguerite! GRR!) After an hour or so, I remembered! Lynsay Sands’ Argeneau family. Haha!

I only read Stephanie Mayer’s Twilight because I felt that everybody was reading and I’m the only one not, being a vamp junkie and all. My two BFFs were Kenyon Minions so they never attempted and frankly I was not too happy about the books. The movies were a-okay (personal opinion again! Twilight fans peace! LOL.)

I watched back in 2009 the first eps of Vampire Diaries (still running hit vamp tv series). I knew it was from LJ Smith’s books. I tried to read but I couldn’t appreciate much because the tv characters were too great (another personal opinion!) that the books seemed unreal to me. You know what I mean. Hence my addiction to Vamp Di and to its stars (that is mainly Ian Sommerhalder. He got a nice “about me” in Twitter. The dead guy on Lost now the undead on Vampire Diaries.)

See? I’m such a vamp addict. I know. No words can describe my folly but the terse word addiction. I just hope you know even just one of the above mentioned authors/tv series. If not, I totally sound like a lunatic to you. Haha.. The hell I care!

For those who are my fellow vampire addicts, Cheers! What do you want, Blood Choco, Blood Lite or simply O-negative? (Sparks novel has ‘blood’ drinks!)

But all these blabbers were mainly introduction for the type of vampirism common to all mankind. The EMOTIONAL VAMPIRISM.

EMOTIONAL VAMPIRES. These are the people who totally suck out your emotions. Leaving you an empty corpse/soul/heart.

I’ll give a few instances.

A.) When you happen to be the shock absorber of a friend. I enjoy listening to others rant about their problems. I listen. Sometimes they say, I listen well. But there are a few times when you had your saturation point. When you meet your limits. Because a friend is always telling the same problem and you are giving a sound advice but that thick-headed friend of yours keeps repeating his/her problem and makes you wanna scream, ‘YOU IDIOT, STOP IT!’

B.) When you enter an effing it’s complicated relationship. Take for example the case of my friend. She doesn’t want to commit. So she broke up with the guy. But the guy’s totally into her, he can’t take the separation so they agreed to a no commitment type of relationship. They are constantly communicating and all (just like any ordinary relationship though with no official “yes” statement). And she gets suffocated because the guy’s too over protective and constantly reminds her if she loves him. What the? Where in the hellish line of no commitment can’t he understand? (breathe in, breathe out!)

C.) When a person can make you feel guilty even if you did nothing/ nothing wrong. This is the nice part. Some were born to become the emotional vampires’ archetype. These are the guilt trippers. I happen to have a distant relative who lives a guilt tripping life. Lucky you if you happen to become the recipient! This person has the power to make you feel guilty and totally sap out your emotional stability. My solution?! A safe 50-mile distance. Getting the hell awaaaaay from my relative. For my sanity’s sake!

D.) I need not elaborate more because you know when you get emotionally drained. The feeling that you are at your lowest. To become emotionally incapacitated is the greatest weakness. For me, just maim the body but please don’t wither the soul.

With false bravado, I’m shouting, “For all the emo-vamps, bite me if you can!”

Note: Kenyon, Ward, Feehan and other authors have book series other than their vampire novels. It was not mentioned so to give emphasis about emotional vampirism. Title of the blog is also the title of a Sands’ novel. I think! Sometimes they all get mixed-up! (tongue in cheek!)

IT'S COMPLICATED

Here I go again. I watched a rom-com flick. I was supposed to have a good laugh (I did in the first half or so) and be elated afterwards (I WAS NOT!) Instead of the momentary elation brought about by a romantic comedy film, I received one of the biggest eye-openers of my not-so-active life. What a sucker punch!

First question, what is the name of the supposedly merry go ride movie? Answer, NO STRINGS ATTACHED. Familiar? If yes, thank you. You will spare me further discussions. If not, I will give you an overview. Main actors are Natalie Portman (who had the hang over from being hailed as best actress in both the Golden Globe and Oscars,’ and wonderfully productive. Ehem, cough, pregnant I mean) and Ashton Kutcher (All I could remember was his soo lovable character in A Lot Like Love with Amanda Peet and his emotional portrayal in The Guardian with Kevin Costner.)

As the title implied, they started their relationship with basically no strings aka no emotional entanglement. Simply put, they called themselves sex friends. Later on, though how hard they tried not to involve THE damn emotion, it got in the way. Things got messy, break up next, depression followed, then struggle, then understanding. This is way too simplified because I want you to enjoy this wonderful movie and not get gut punched like me.

As I was watching, I felt that Natalie Portman’s character was so like me in terms of thinking and stand about relationships. She didn’t want complications. Me, too. She wasn’t good in dealing emotions. So am I. She didn’t want someone to complete her because she’s basically fine with herself. So do I. Somewhere in the middle, things changed for her. And for me as well.

THE ENLIGHTENMENT. This part is the life-changing scene where you get a lesson or two from something (in this case, from a movie) without experiencing it yourself. Be thankful! You’re spared! But I guess others were not. And I hope what I learned/reflected from this movie will help you. I do hope so.

So let’s plunge the knife where it cuts deeply. The situation of relationships dubbed as NO STRINGS ATTACHED.

No strings can also be synonymous, or maybe a component, or a whole of the following: KISSING FRIENDS, SEX FRIENDS, FUCK BUDDIES, and the trending NO LABEL RELATIONSHIPS. Any more synonyms?! IT’S COMPLICATED.

 Are you in any of this relationship ‘labels’? Or have you experienced such situation? Or are you in the messier thereafter (making a decision to cross the no string line and be totally emotionally involved)?

Two individuals usually decide to enter a no string relationship because of FREEDOM. (According to my point of view, views gathered from friends and from the aforementioned movie. No personal experience. What a waste! I really like the overused line, according to my personal experience/s… Haha!)

FREEDOM. Usually defined as doing anything you want. If in the context of no string/no label relationship, both parties have the freedom to explore the world and not get emotionally caged. People take pleasure in this type of relationship because a.] they enjoy the intimacy (physically or just plainly, affection from someone) b.] there are no responsibilities involved c.] they are not trapped in the iron bars of given-much distance-concept-as-if-it’s-a-disease COMMITMENT.

No commitment, no responsibility. No responsibility, no quarrel. No quarrel, ‘SMOOTH’ relationship. Or so they thought.

Whether how hard you try to remind yourself that you have no commitments for each other and you are just together for the physical benefits of relationship, sweetheart, I tell you, you will FEEL.

You will feel jealous if he/she becomes interested with another. You will feel like you need to start a fight with your partner just to even test if you are both on the emotional plane. But most of all, you will eventually feel the need for love, belongingness, safety and importantly, security (these could be one and same) provided only by a TRULY EMOTIONALLY INVOLVED relationship.

Everyone has reasons why they opt to have this no strings attached kind of relationship (failed previous ones, cynicism, deception, and many others). But the root cause is FEAR. The fear of being misunderstood, the fear of being rejected and most importantly, the fear of being HURT.  These are all part of the bargain of being in a true relationship.

Prior to watching this movie, my dream relationship is the NO STRINGS ATTACHED. But now I have realized that I will never be truly happy with this mediocrity. Cowardly though may it seem, I want all of it or nothing at all.

It is difficult. But have the COURAGE to step beyond the lines. Cross your boundaries and simply love your man/woman with all the intensity that you can give.

Remember this infamous Shakespeare line, “It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”

Editor’s note: WTH?! I know it’s way damn complicated. Haha! Happy Birthday Kei! Xx..