Attack of the lesbians...

Hm, after waking up half dazed from a night filled with wine and lesbians… my mornings just keep getting better.

And no, it’s not what you think.

Last saturday night was my friend’s sister’s birthday celebration and there was a dinner party. It wasn’t just any… dinner party.

The evening started as:

Brambleberry (Moi): Why are we sitting here?? (Looks around and found herself in the middle)

Clarice: Yeah, we’re in the center of attention/attraction. Everyone’s taking pictures of us. We’re like celebrities!! (Flashes coming from everywhere)

Brambleberry: That’s not what I meant, there are lesbian couples on my left and on my right! (Smiles for the photos)

Clarice: (Laughs) Yes! You’re right, you’re the only single lesbian here! (My friend is straight)

Brambleberry: This dinner party is SO lesbian, is this why you invited me here?… Yes, I know I’m a public temptation and I’d like to keep it that way.

**The party was so… lesbian, vegetarian food were also served.

Carlo, the yoga instructor and also a dolphin trainer (I learned a bit later on) was puzzled with the lesbian couple on our left.

He told us that he didn’t knew Tita Teng(One of the guests who was the mother of one of the lesbian couples) had two daughters. She introduced the lesbian couple to Carlo.

Carlo: I thought you just have one daughter??

Tita Teng: No… I have two…

Carlo: How so? (Very confused, it appeared he didn’t have gaydar)

Tita Teng: Oh, it’s complicated.

Uh huh.. complicated hehe. Tita Teng is one proud mother by the way, err, maybe not.

A bit later on, Clarice, Carlo and I were sitting at a table and to our right would be the lesbian couples and to our left were the yogis, most of them at least the age of 45 and one of them was Tita Teng. I thought the night wasn’t as gay as I thought, the videoke machine was all the rage for the yogis. Suddenly one of them holding the songbook gave the microphones to where the lesbian couples were sitting and said “Oh ano kakantahin nyo? Pagdating ng Panahon?!”

That effing line killed me to death with laughter.

After hearing that, my friend mentioned that one of the lesbian in those couples had an ex-girlfriend who looked exactly like Aiza Seguera. Wine almost shot out of my nose.

Apparently, conversations about Aiza Seguera were expounded.

My friend’s mom said Seguera sings well.

Clarice:  Yes, she sings from the heart. With love (She looked at me when she mentioned love with a sheepish smile)

Brambleberry: Love? What’s that? (Totally clueless, )

In the party there was a guy who’s called “Tibo”, “Tibs” for short and to make matters even more genuine, my friend’s dad’s name is “Butch”.

And so I must cut this pretty lesbian evening short since Clarice and Carlo have started to unearth my dating life. I went to bed after a few glasses of sangria around 2am in the morning.

Still in Zambales for the week, it seems that my cough has gotten worse over the weekend.

Retreating to the northern mountains

After long hours of journey, I finally arrived at the Bus Terminal, where my friend, Clarice has been waiting. Thankfully after several times of visiting, this time she came first.  Stepping out of the bus gave me the feeling that I was in a strange land, but a strange land quite familiar. A southern like me still feels peculiar in these places.

Taking a few steps from the bus’s door I heard a voice call out from behind and as I turned I saw my friend in a gray hooded jacket and pink tube undergarment, a pair of pants and walking shoes. I was quite veggie headed all day and had no idea how I came about with things. I would say words I barely understand and type in sentences that barely made sense… I was afraid I’m having aphasia.

Focusing on the moment, we greeted each other with a friendly hug “You’re wearing PE?!” she exclaimed and as I remembered I didn’t have clothes anymore therefore I wore the PE shirt a friend of mine gave me back in college, aside from the sentimental bitter memories this shirt has, I like this shirt for its fit and comfort. “Yeah, I am. Dovie gave it to me” I said and mentioned a name I haven’t spoken for so many years “It’s alright, I’m wearing a hound’s tooth coat” I wore the coat over the shirt since the season has become quite chilly. “I like your coat…” she said “So catcher in the rye right?” I replied.

“You’re leaving that here” she said “What?!” I gave out quite a repulsed reaction, which only my closest friends have the luxury to witness. “No way!”

We met one of her friend who was a yoga instructor.

We had dinner at subway, where I only had cocoa and a cookie while she had the veggie delight sandwich and went to their place after having quite a long talk and interesting conversation about my landlady.

“There’s a party tomorrow, did you bring clothes?” my friend asked (It's her sister's birthday)

“Yes, I did…” I answered.

“My sister and her girlfriend don’t know you’re here.” She added

“Great…” my mischievous smile emerged.

Arriving at their place, I was bitten by their male dog Black, Once on the hand and once on the leg, it wasn't deep to cause injury. However it was awfully weird of him doing that since I've been here for at least a couple of times. The dogs each time I come back keep on increasing in numbers, White, a female dog with dalmatian blood had given birth to puppies once again but only a black-brown-white puppy was now left. 

I gave him the name Alto although I would have liked Delmonico, but they complained about the name's length. They own 2 dutch-hounds, princess and yulu, a german-shepherd couple, Mac and Virka, White and Black which is an additional 2 with Alto makes a total of 7 dogs. 

The next day came and apparently we woke up quite early, I could have slept again but I felt quite rested anyway and thought I might as well move around at 6am. Clarice had to cook and prepare for the party and I thought, perhaps I could help out. After a serving of peanut butter sandwich and another with cream cheese and pickles an hour later, I was recharged and ready for the day.

Each morning, whenever I visit, I make it a point to pet the dogs and walk Virka. Then I wash my hands and arms for they're most probably seem as though they were dipped in dog-drool.

After trying to help a bit around the kitchen, I have decided to relax and watch The girl with the dragon tattoo.

~~~~~

I visit my friend a couple of times a year in the mountain ranges of Olongapo City. Her mom is a Vegan and she is a vegetarian :)

She owns a catering Business called Fidro's. They cater to parties, gatherings and any occasions. She cooks, bakes and churns, all of these she works with love.
She make terrific Cheese Cakes.

For food and catering services around Olongapo and Subic Area...
Contact Clarice 09163982941 Please don't  call after office hours. Much appreciated. 

Finally found it!!

I knew there was something about what I felt today when I woke up this morning. To my gayness I decided to cook vegetarian mechado for breakfast then realized it would last me the whole day, which is perfect since I would be traveling quite a distance later after work and I just know I would starve.

I deliberately escaped from work for a good 45 minutes to take a break and look at earphones in the nearest mall from the office. Before going to where the earphones are, I decided to drop by at one of the thrift book shops and was looking for a light book to read for traveling later. It wasn’t too long when I noticed a hardbound edition of The Angel of Darkness looking down at me from the top shelves.

My short search is over, I now have the book in my hands! Mwahahahahaha!!!!

I bought the book, though it was quite expensive and huge since it’s a hardbound copy, I was still very happy to hold it in my hands!

The angel of Darkness by Caleb Carr

The story continues after the previous book The Alienist however in this new grappling story of mystery and murder is now told by Dr. Laszlo Kreizler’s boy, Stevie Taggert.

I think I forgot the earphones... :U
Beautiful Day.

The Strange case of...

My first flame, or shall we call, tween-lover just got married last December.

I would have loved to see her walk down the aisle, nonetheless she has my best wishes.

Once again, I have Facebook to thank for certain announcements such as assassins committing the procedure of their work with a snapshot and this, her wedding photos.

Of all the people I actually adored, she was nice, gentle, she was sensitive in a good way and very kind although I couldn’t appreciate her sense of humor sometimes... other than that she’s quite a terrific person. We shared dreams that were inevitably thrown into the darkest pits of oblivion, which is perfectly fine.

Marriage such as this one, required a faithful commitment does it not? It brought me to the idea of the root cause of my spontaneous walking out of relationships and other misdemeanors, together with that profound amazement of demoralization and the reduced satisfaction of Aristotle’s “Eureka”… I am commitmentphobic.

It is quite a misconception that people who are afraid of commitments are only afraid to get hurt.

If you think people who’re afraid of commitments are those who really know what it means and or that they are simply afraid to get hurt, I suggest you read more. The information you have gathered is quite lacking. “Blackle” it even if you will…

I have, for your convenience, enabled the link to wikipedia for your reading pleasure.

Our current society breeds myriad varieties of human species, therefore my case is not exactly as engrossing as anyone else. I suppose it’s good that I’m aware… rather than stumbling through life without knowing. 

I'm not really a jerk, i'm just suffering from a personality disorder. 

Congratulations Lev. I wish you the best.

This year's Firsts

A brand new year has come yet the feeling that clothed the days after the last of 2010 felt almost the same, though we believe for this to be the current year where the dates written everywhere will definitely have a bit of change.

With a faithful belief that this is the beginning of a year, wishing it to be a wonderful and beautiful year then it’s only just to treat it as it is.

Books

For my first book this year, continuing my Classic reads would be F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Beautiful and Damned. After reading The Great Gatsby, I thought I’d like to read the rest of his works. 

The Beautiful and Damned

Movies

I am thinking for Black Swan or The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo for my very first movie that I’m going to watch from beginning ‘til the end this year. Perhaps I’ll go for Black Swan first then The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo next on the same day. Which will be this coming Saturday.

Black Swan

 

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Euro Version)

 

I was sort of disappointed with the cast of the European version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo but I know I would enjoy watching the movie when they speak in their original tongue and I read the English subtitles at the base of the screen. 

Then again, I was happy to find out that in the Hollywood Version, they took Daniel Craig as the lead role! I knew it... It was just as how I imagined it to be haha! But the Hollywood release would be on December 2011. 

The Movie trilogy was already released by the Europeans starting just last year. Isn't Hollywood rather a few steps behind? I suppose I'd like watching their version since Blomkvist in the European version has a face of the moon's crater.

The question still remains... Who will play Lisbeth Salander for the Hollywood version?

Top 10 books of 2010

So I bid farewell to 2010 and closes it with my top 10 books selection of the year.

10. The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty by Anne Rice (writing as A. N. Roquelaure)

The first book in the Sleeping beauty trilogy, with Anne Rice writing under a pseudonym. Not one of my favorites but I thought the opening chapters were nicely written. I know it’s an erotic novel but it didn’t amuse me, perhaps erotic novels just aren’t my cup of tea. This is quite too much for my taste however I couldn’t get over Prince Charming’s brutality and elegance at the same time.

9. Persepolis I

Amusing, I really like this book and its illustrations. Here lies the youth of Marjane Satrapi, a woman who was born and raised in Iran during the never ending conflicting war within their country.

Entertaining and funny, it takes away the tragic connotation of war, oppression and death. Sprinkling it with a bit of sarcasm and Satrapi’s criticism of her very own government.

If you’re an activist by heart then this book is a must read.

8. Persepolis II

In this book continues Marjane Satrapi’s autobiography in comic strips. She was sent to Europe to study and there she lost more than just her virginity.

Not as amusing as the first book but it’s the sequel, it puts the end to ending.

7. Animal Farm by George Orwell       

It was as though the history of the Philippines was re-written as a fable. Classic and witty, I almost wept when Boxer was taken away. Sometimes almost depressing yet it was faithful to the realities of political corruption and deception. Good for people who are starting to take the pleasure of reading.

6. Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

A story of teen rebellion, angst and depression, here’s a boy who doesn’t know what he likes but know what he doesn’t like. A critic to the culture of America’s high elites, exposing their hypocrisy through the window of a child’s eyes

5. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Unhappy marriages (after more than 50 years, nothing has changed. Marriages are still quite unhappy) and the same dream Americans try to fool themselves, set after the first World War I. Love found and lost in its most tragic circumstance and no one to stand up and take the blame.

4. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

It’s a good story but there are a lot of better novels out there about crime fiction or murder mystery than this one. Nonetheless it’s still quite a good read, I just wouldn’t spend my money on this one. I’m very grateful this was a gift.

3. The man who mistook his wife for a hat by Oliver Sacks

An analytical eye for the human subconscious and soul, the drama and tragic tale of people disfigured figuratively. People in pieces, for the lack of remembering others and worse, even themselves.

A peek at the world of people’s sanity thrown out the window and their personal search for every day meaning.

2. Blood and Gold by Anne Rice

It was both passion and his rupturing love that drove Marius to leave the love of his life and embrace the permanent aspect of his perpetual loneliness. Here, he tells his story to Thorne, a fledgling of the new embodiment of “Those who must be kept”.

Marius de Romanus’s rich and enthralling past of a foolish yet eloquent man battling his conflicts within and with his weakness… Pandora.

New stories and puzzles that fits sensibly with Anne Rice’s previous novels and her Vampire Chronicles.

1. The Alienist by Caleb Carr

Set at the latter part of the 18^th century, New York, Alienist Dr. Lazslo Kreisler was commissioned to investigate gruesome murders regarding immigrant children butchered in the most inhumane ways.

The era where psychopaths and the use of psychology to profile murderers were fairly modern and the idea of serial killers begin to emerge.

John Moore, the narrator aids Dr. Kreisler in the search for this dangerous killer. Posing real threat to this face of New York, infested with immigrants coming from all corners of the globe and lodging themselves in the city’s foulest and poorest tenements while the political government and church, control and maintain the city’s rotten status quo.

Dark and Vintage… the great kind.

I am on the search for the story's sequel The Angel of Darkness by the same author. If you happen to have a copy, I am very much willing to make a trade.

----

For the year of 2011, I welcome it with a good read of The beautiful and Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Was that good for you as it was for me? ...

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

I must admit that for a book that has at least 500 page, this was the book I read as quickly as I could. It broke my previous record. Reading from the first chapters, it was obviously written by a man and is a book that’s probably made to be on film. Which gave me the impression that it’s a sell out, let’s see… 21 million copies sold world wide… I thought so.

Reading the book was fun, it was gripping. It was as though the book grew tentacles and wrapped me, pulling and tugging then making me fall with my face flat on the pages. Then getting up and walking away.

After reading the last page, I had that feeling when one wakes up next to a girl whom you try very hard to remember the name, then it hit you that you didn’t bother asking the previous night. But you know only too well that what happened was thrilling while it lasted, as a matter of fact it was amazing, then you wake up with that awful taste in your mouth. Getting up and wearing your clothes the right way suddenly became a tedious task.

To make it simpler, reading the ending was a headache. After opening all the mystery boxes what’s there left? You’ve devoured the main dish and the dessert is just too bland. Should I continue reading only to find out that the protagonist hadn’t changed a bit and is still boning one of the women casually?

The book may be described as dark, twisted and “insert macabre suggestive word here” but let me assure you that this book is nothing more than pure entertainment that was wrapped with a sweet happy ending.

Perhaps having the book translated from its original language made it seem as though it was written by a ghost writer. Since I don’t know how to speak or read Swedish, then I would never know the difference or even know Larsson’s writing style.

Mikael Blomkvist is the product if James bond had a baby with Sherlock Holmes (I know, Nancy Drew is also a detective but I’m a Lesbian and I want it that way)

The frustration perhaps of every geeky writer, computer programmer etc embodied the protagonist of the book. A writer with investigative journalism as major and someone who seemed to be the boy toy of the women in the book. In his book, there are no women who were conservative but women who indulge themselves in casual sex whenever they feel like it and women who crawl into Blomkvist’s bed, deliberately. The protagonist had it very easy that he doesn’t even have to wink at all.

Gripping true, at least when I was at the middle of the book, putting it down was the last thing I want to do. But reading the last few pages? Not as satisfying…

My rating: One-night-stand. However since it’s a trilogy, Occasional-lover then, given I’ll be able to purchase the next book. Hopefully someone would be kind enough to give it as a gift just as the same with this one. Yes, it’s those nights where after waking up and finding yourself to the door, you ask her number despite the fact you won’t ever call her for dinner and a movie. You didn’t ask for her name but she will be remembered by the evident image of a dragon on her back.

Final rating: One-night-stand that has the potential to be an occasional lover, if I buy the next book then the rating would change to Whore for Kronor, which is very unlikely.

Since the book is making its way to film, who should play the characters?

Mikael Blomkvist in my imagination could be Clive Owens.

I have no idea who they're casting but if it were up to me... I thought Clive Owens, he seems like that writer guy who can pull it off.

 

I was also thinking about Daniel Craig

Mikael Blomkvist must be a sort of rugged writer with a bit of sex appeal since he was one of the women's walking vibrator in the book.

For my Lisbeth I would like to see

Because I like her, despite the fact she's getting married now and is pregnant. You betrayed me Natalie!!

On the other hand, she's a great actress and I think she can give life to Lisbeth Salander.

 I'm also thinking about Neve Campbell or Selma Blair... Either one of them if not Natalie.

Neve

I think I would go with Selma on this one, she seemed almost perfect for the role of Lisbeth, at least in my imagination. Neve seemed a sweet compromise for the role.

Then again I'll wait for the film to surprise me. Right now I haven't checked who will be the cast and I don't want to...

 I don't want to describe Lisbeth much since it will spoil the book but I imagined Selma as Lisbeth.

Selma

*Spoiler* If you haven’t read the book and would like to, then please skip this portion.

Rumor has it that the writer was a feminist. The title of the book is not exactly as it were translated from its original language. Larsson has named the girl with the dragon tattoo Lisbeth, the same name of the girl he had witnessed to be gang raped but failed to help out. I don’t understand why would a writer name one of his main characters (that was also raped and molested in the book) after a girl who was gang raped. The girl was already violated in the most violent way and he wanted to immortalize that as well in a novel? It’s so Carlo J. Caparas if you ask me.

I believe frustration has something to do with it, in the book, Lisbeth fought her tormentor back in an interesting manner. I suppose it’s a way of saying that the writer had wished the girl fought back, taking justice into her own hands or it’s also a way of saying that women can fight back and should fight back.

Revenge maybe sweet but the satisfaction of prevention is beyond taste buds.