i'm glad to be almost completely out of sick bay and feeling a lot better.  it took quite some time for those meds to take effect, but at least they did.  in fact, i'll be heading back to the gym after my shift in a couple of hours and get right back at my routine.  even with the looming dreaded trip to the US next month, things on my end are kinda turning for the better.  i guess it's life's way of saying, "ok, i'll let you have a little fun now, but remember, your trip is coming soon, so in no time, you'll feel miserable again" (insert evil laugh here).

probably one of the things why i feel kinda positive these days (with emphasis on the word kinda) is that i started playing christmas songs on my istereo (a cheap name i coined up when i started hooking up my ipod two weeks ago on my car stereo instead of playing CDs) last saturday night (sunday early, way early morning) while going to and from work.  i actually wasn't aware that october was only a day away until i glanced at the calendar.  realizing that christmas is merely less than 100 days away had a positive effect in me, obviously it being my favorite time of the year.  which reminds me to start with my list of people to give gifts to and to canvass potential gifts as well.  i guess a trip to greenhills tomorrow after shift would be a good idea.

also, upon arriving home from work sunday morning, i was surprised to find DVDs of the whole six seasons of dawson's creek sitting on the computer table.  apparently, my younger brother borrowed them from his friend and, judging from the entirety of the series, it'll stay with us for a very long time.  i know, i know, you might be surprised to find out that i watch–well, used to watch–that series.  ok, for the record, i am a creek addict.  there, i said it.  i was a big fan of the show.  why?  i don't know.  i was just hooked on it the moment i saw the trailers leading to the pilot episode.  am i able to relate to any of the characters?  i dunno, maybe.  although i lost track of the series during the third season, i think, due to work.  now, at least i can start everything again from season one.  i haven't started watching it though, maybe during my days off or some days after going home from work.  yipee… 🙂

after watching resident evil:  extinction and being awarded for being nice last week, yes, things are kinda looking up.  might as well enjoy the ride while it lasts…

i didn't have a good weekend.

that initially sums up how my weekend went.  one main factor is that i'm still under the weather (going on it's second week now), though i'm feeling a bit better than how i was the last couple of days.  it was the first time in as long as i can remember that i took meds at least three times a day.  had an on and off fever and the headaches just wouldn't stop.  i initially thought that i was struck by the infamous dengue fever, but looking at the symptoms, i knew i didn't have it.  not that i don't mind if i do have it, but if i did, well, it wouldn't surprise me anymore.  nor would i be worried or be concerned.  one thing that was adversely affected is my gym routine.  i guess it's now been two weeks since i worked up a sweat.  hopefully i'll be back by sometime this week when i'm feeling a lot better.

i also went to the department of foreign affairs together with my mom this past friday to have my passport renewed before i make that dreaded trip to the US this november.  with my sickness still in effect (had a constant headache the whole day), i mustered enough willpower to look and act as normal as i could.  we took the public transport since my brother used the car that day and left at around 7AM.  i was quite surprised that the whole process ended before lunchtime, witnessing the sea of people who also went there that day with the same agenda, or applying for a new passport.  i treated my mom to lunch at mcdonald's on the way home and upon arriving home, went online a bit and slept almost the rest of the afternoon and early evening.

i guess the two silver linings i saw that weekend were, one getting to watch resident evil:  extinction this past thursday evening and two, being recognized-slash-awarded by a friend on her blog as one of the nicest people.  i saw the movie with my sister and my cousin (who left for seafarer duty this past saturday morning).  i initially wanted to cancel watching the movie since i wasn't really feeling all that well, but seeing that this might be the only chance for me to see the movie in the theater with all the activities coming up in the next couple of weeks, i pushed on.  besides, it was the last time my cousin would be seeing a movie before he leaves, so might as well, right?  we met my sister in glorietta (we saw the film in cinema 3 in glorietta4 since 6:20PM was the earliest screening after 5:30PM, which was the time my sister gets off work; greenbelt3 had a schedule of 7:15PM which was kinda late for us) and bought some snacks before going in.  the movie itself was good overall, and with the information i had that it would be the final installment of the franchise, i wasn't surprised to see some of the characters from the first two installments be killed off.  yet, of course, there was still that little teaser at the end hinting that there might be either another sequel, or a spin-off (like the mummy returns to the scorpion king and daredevil to elektra to name a few) since there were major characters whose fates were unknown at the film's end.  still, it's a good movie to watch, that is, if you're a fan of the video game and the franchise itself.

as i was online that friday afternoon, i went through the usuals:  checking my email, checking my email on the rx-talk mailing list, checking my friendster and myspace, and of course, checking my blog.  i was surprised to find a comment by liezl, one of my dear friends, saying that she gave me an award on her blog for being one of the nicest people to her.  i was really flattered and it made me smile.  i never imagined or dreamed of being labeled a nice guy since most people i know that perceive me as just a regular guy who just cares (although sometimes too much), much less being called "niceness and patience personified."  in any case, i would like to take some of this space to thank you, liezl for the award.  really, really thank you.  you're one of the few people in the world who i know that always gives encouragement whenever i'm down (mostly, as can be seen on my posts… hehehe) and would also be happy for me in the fewest times that i am.  i guess you're also the first one who publicly told the world how nice of a person i am.  and again, i thank you wholeheartedly.  i'm also currently in the process of doing what you did, recognizing friends and people who have been nice to me despite and in spite of everything, but i'm still reflecting as to who will i recognize.  i guess what you did is an effect of one person who started doing it, and i would say it's something worthwhile since we always see the faults and mistakes–no matter how small they are–of friends and people we know, but forget to praise and elevate people on not just the good things they did or are doing, but by merely how nice or good they are as a person.  so expect that entry to be coming out soon.  again, liezl, i can't thank you enough.  i do hope to see you soon and catch up on things.

looking at what happened over the last couple of days, maybe i didn't have a bad weekend after all.  okay, maybe i had a so-so weekend.  i'm a realist, so sue me.

a couple of things:  first, i've been going to work sick since sunday night; second, my head feels like it's being split open by a piledriver; third, my team's absenteeism is unbelievably and frustratingly high; and fourth, that dreaded trip to the US has finally been set, much to my mom's delight and to my utmost dismay.

the first and second things, well, that i couldn't control.  i've been taking my overload dose of vitamin c and it's still not taking effect.  the third is also out of my control, with one of my agents having hemorrhagic cystits, whatever that is.  filing for a leave of absence came way too late after the agent incurring occurrences absences of more than two weeks.  the fourth, well, i'm too sick and tired to rant about it, and i have also ranted about it before on a previous entry, so you can refer to the link and see exactly how i feel about it.

what am i trying to say?  that i'm stuck in something that is unavoidable.  all of them are things that i wish i had more control of, but it's the inevitable.  but the trip itself, now that is like being led to the gallows.  i sure as hell don't want it, i'm being forced to take it, i'm being forced to spend (read:  take a loan) for it, and a chunk of my vacation leaves have already been dedicated to that trip (and have been approved by my boss).  imagine not having a planned three-day weekend for almost two months!

crap.

no, wait, let me rephrase that…  shit.

that's exactly how i feel right now.

it's been a while since i last went to see a movie.  if i remember correctly, it was die hard 4.0.  so instead of going to the gym yesterday, i decided to go see i now pronounce you chuck and larry.  it was kinda unexpected because i was supposed to go to the gym, but just before lunch, my mom asked me to accompany (drive) her to my sister's school to get some important school documents pertaining to her (my sister's) records.  i then thought, well, since we'll be in the makati area, might as well catch the movie, which she–my mom–approved of.  after taking care of the school stuff, we caught the initial screening at cinema 2 in greenbelt 3.

the movie is everything you'd expect from an adam sandler pic.  from his posse on his previous movies completing the cast (allen covert, blake clark, steve buscemi, kevin nealon, peter dante, jonathan loughran), to notable celebrities making cameo appearances–with the exception of rob schneider who almost always appears on adam sandler's movies with a very funny role without being included in the list of cast members–and until recently, having a different co-star to share the movie's top billing with (chris rock in the longest yard, jack nicholson in anger management, and now kevin james in this one).

production-wise, it was a good, all-around comedy about two totally straight guys pretending to be a gay couple which was hilarious.  kinda gave me pointers on what not to indulge in so as other people would think i'm gay… hehehe…  there are lots of scenes where it really got me laughing my ass off so the comedy itself is excellent.  pairing not-so-new comedian kevin james with an established comedian like adam sandler proved to be a gem as these two compliment each other's roles in the movie and makes them more funny than they already are.  the only thing i'm quite concerned about this movie is that, in a more open and liberated society like the US where gay rights are being fought tooth-and-nail in the legislative community, the movie will be well-accepted at the box office.  whereas here in the philippines, where everything is not exactly the opposite, but let's face it, it's still considered as conservative, it may only do a mediocre to average box office performance.

i would recommend this movie for everyone who wants to have a good laugh.  though there were also scenes where it made me squirm a little bit because of the amount of "gayness" in it (i have admitted way before that i'm not a big fan of gay people, though i know people who are and i just let them be because, hey, it's a free country), overall, the story is good and, as i've mentioned, it's everything you'd expect from an adam sandler movie (that is, if you have seen or are familiar with his other movies).  it's something you can see if you want to temporarily put aside or forget some of the things that's always bugging you (read:  work and some other stuff).  it did for me.

a quote from one of my superiors came across my way today.  it read:

everything you want is just outside your comfort zone

i was like, "hmmm…. is this a sign?"  if so, i need more to be convinced to do what i have to do.  i can't just rely on one solitary symbol, right?

or should i…