You rock my world

The Knitting Factory NY, August 27, 2005 at 7 p.m.


The night started with Astro Apollo Z, who sounded unintelligible. They reminded me of the Crash Test Dummies, because the lead has a deep manly voice (think Arnold Schwarzenegger). They sounded okay but I couldn't understand what the lead was saying singing. Or maybe he was just mumbling to himself because that's what it definitely sounded like. All I could make out were the last words of every line like "...you" and "...ooh..."

I didn't really like the way the drummer looked when he played the drums because every time his drumstick hit the cymbals, he looked like he was in pain. Apparently, my sister thought otherwise.


Next up was Merkabah whose lead reminded me of Barney, my former officemate who happened to be my sister Hanna's classmate in 5th grade. Small world.

They had the throat-scratching howls typical of wannabe rock bands. I was surprised to find out that I actually liked their music. At least, they got the crowd moving.


Blue Melon Pop performed next. If I were to judge a book by its cover, I'd say that they were trashy and dirty. But I did like one of their original compositions, Hindi Ako Sila. It sounded Parokya ni Edgar-ish.


The fourth front act was called Inu. I don't know what it means. Probably inu-tang, inu-lan, inu-tutan.

When they came on stage, I was thinking, "Syet, ang tatanda na nito ah." The lead even had his hair done like Moe of the Three Stooges.

Nakakatuwa yung songs nila. A mix of novelty, pop and rock. And they were funny. They made me forget that I was turning into the bitch because:

1. Ang tagal ng Bamboo.
2. I was standing for 4 hours na, and
3. The place was turning into a mosh pit filled with jologs.

They had an acoustic song called Maynila. As the guy was singing, someone shouted, "Nakaka antok!"

He took it in stride by laughing and saying, "Pakinggan nyo kasi yung message."

I like that band. Astig.

The fifth and the last band (thank you concert gods!) was Rubberband. They did nothing but plug their album after every song.

As it happens, the so-called album ($7 lang may kasama pang t-shirt) looks low budgeted. Parang pirated bootleg. Some people were actually chanting, "Bamboo! Bamboo!"

The dirty-trashy lead of Blue Melon Pop and his groupies (fans or relatives, I couldn't tell) decided that it would be fun to stage-dive...not once, but twice! (think Susan Roces)

Kala ko makikinig ang Rubberband sa public demand but no, they were determined to bore us to death for 45 minutes. I would have walked out of the place if not for my prime spot (front and center).

I have no pictures of the last two acts as the battery on my camera was almost drained. I was saving it for Bamboo.

After much boredom and feet pain, it was time.

In came Nathan, Ira and Vic. I wasn't able to get a decent photo of Vic as he was barely visible behind the drums.


Bamboo held my hand four times (more than three seconds each time and pinunasan pa nga nya muna yung kamay nya bago hawakan yung kamay ko) and sang 14 songs:

1. Mr. Clay*
2. F.U.*
3. Kung Ayaw Mo Wag Mo*
4. Ulan*
5. Kisapmata*
6. These Days*
7. English*
8. Hudas*
9. Elesi*
10. Hallelujah*
11. Masaya*
12. Noypi*
13. Much Has Been Said*
14. Alpha Beta Omega*

*Make like a banshee and scream your bloody lungs out.

I have short-term memory loss so, no, I didn't memorize the playlist so I can put it in my blog. I got the exact playlist that Bamboo was looking at so I can put it in my blog.

Besides, I was too busy admiring Bamboo's toes (which were way cleaner than mine)


and staring and screaming (yes, that's what you call multi-tasking) at him.


After the concert, we hung outside The Knitting Factory to have our Bamboo CD autographed.

We were only able to get three signatures because I cannot recognize the drummer even if my life depended on it (okay, that's an exaggeration).


Syempre pwede bang autograph lang?


Bamboo, astig ka talaga! Thanks for last night.

Beb, mas astig ka! Thanks for rocking my world.

I never knew it was so much fun!

We went to the MVC so I could get a driver permit. I was told I could take the exam right away and that I only needed to get 40 of the 50 questions correct. Ano ko, gifted child?

We went to ask the receptionist for a copy of the New Jersey Driver Manual so I could study but she was busy assisting someone. Rather than wait for her to assist me, I (a.k.a the impatient bitch) asked my sister to take one of the manuals from the receptionist's table so we can go home.

Not really feeling eager to read, I leafed through the pages of the manual. And the manual is, ladies and gentlemen, in Spanish. What the heck am I supposed to do with that?!

My apologies to Sra. Ferrer, because all I remember from our Spanish lessons is churros con chocolate and vamos a ver.

And that's how I got a Spanish manual which I eventually ended up dumping in the trash.

Serves you right, impatient bitch! (points at self)

My New Jersey Driver Manual (a new English copy) is staring at me, begging me to open its pages and immerse myself in the wonderful world of driving rules and penalties.

Fine, I said.

Hmmm...do policemen have a ruler with them to measure how many inches away from the curb your wheels are? After all, the manual said you will get a ticket if it's more than 6 inches away.

I took the exam using touch-screen technology. First try, I only got 24. After a week (that's how long you have to wait to retake the test), I got 33. Bagsak na naman! My Friendster profile should read: "Hobby: taking the driver permit exam."

Pinay pa rin

I went to New York with my aunt to submit my resume at an employment agency. Preliminary interview over, I shook Mary's hand (the staffing specialist) and started to leave.

"It was a pleasure meeting you, Mary. Thank you very much."
"You're welcome. Have a nice day!"
"You too!"(trying to organize my stuff while going towards the door)
"Good luck!"
"You too!"

Ano daw?!

Late night eye candy

Why is everything going wrong?!

If we miss each other so much, why do we always end up having a big fight?!

Please tell me everything's going to get better soon. It really breaks my heart to see us this way.

Like Makati,

with more, uh, interesting people

*Pictures (except one) were taken while standing in the middle of the road just in front of the NYPD station in Times Square.

From Nagoya to Detroit

I'm boarding the same plane to go to Detroit Metro. I refused to sit at the waiting area because I knew that it was going to be a long flight from Nagoya to Detroit. Might as well stand while I still can. Waiting with me were a couple of Pinoys and people who had enough money to go to Japan for summer.

And poor me had no one to talk to and no money to spend. Poor nga talaga. Shit, I'm such a loser. So kunyari na lang may ka-text ako. The usual bisi-bisihan. Shit, loser nga talaga.

After a hard time understanding what the ground stewards were saying (Japanglish), I was finally able to board the plane and drop the bisi-bisihan act.

Did I tell you that I do NOT like window seats? Well, I DON'T. Because I can't move around and go to the comfort room without disturbing someone. The aisle seat went to a big American, the middle seat to a Japanese and guess what? Window seat ang nakuha ko. I'm an unlucky loser.

I felt like I was in the Amazing Race when I was at Detroit Metro. Well, it was more likely that I pretended that I was in the Amazing Race. The things that boredom does to you. I had to ride a train that takes me from one terminal to the other! That's how big that airport was. Ang galing!

I had to fly American Airlines for the final leg of my flight. The FA's were very different from our FA's. They looked more like moms than beauty queens. I guess as long as you can walk along the aisle without having to turn sideways then your weight is not a question.

Ang galing! You don't have to be thin to be an FA! Cool. So pwede pala ako maging FA dito sa Amerika kung ganun.

New Jersey, game ka na ba?

From Manila to Nagoya

All I could think of was how much I regret not having enough time to say goodbye.

We slept late, around 2 am, and I was supposed to be at the airport by 4:30 am. I was tired and grumpy and I did not even want to kiss him goodnight.

I guess I was too upset that I was really leaving that I took it out on him. And I always regret not being able to control my emotions.

It was time. And I was too busy trying to hold back tears that I did not even hug him. Stupidstupidstupid! Part of me knew that if I did, it would be harder for me to go. But another part also knew that it was going to be a looong time before I can feel his arms around me again. So I did not. Stupidstupidstupid!

How do you say goodbye to someone you love? How do you let him feel how sad you are that you are leaving? How do you squeeze a thousand hugs and kisses in 5 minutes? I can't. I tried but I really can't.

I looked back but he was no longer there. I called him up and he said he was outside looking at my plane. He said he was going to stay until he sees my plane leave. And that he loves me very much.

So I left.

Touchdown at Nagoya. I went to the restroom at the Nagoya airport just to check it out. And this is what I saw:


I had absolutely no idea what it was and how it works. But I do now! Any guesses?