The Carver's House

I've pretty much exhausted myself some this past week, getting the new place ready, working, and doing a few things on the side, which are mostly the reasons I haven't been able to check in here. My attic room at the townhouse still has a ways to go, furnishing-wise, and I've been making little purchases everyday. The bathroom is nearly done save for a shower curtain, a mirror, and other bitsy things. The sleeping area's got my lamp and radio-alarm clock, and the mattress and linen are ready for use. I'm planning to frame a whole lot of artwork for the white walls. The ceiling is a bit high so there's a lot of vertical real estate. I have yet to spend the night there. After that way freaky feeling I had on the first night, I figured that my system wasn't still used to the place, so I've just been visiting after work. Over this weekend, I'll be staying the night. - - - - - - - - - Went to Enchanted Kingdom with the gang last weekend. It w...

As of Today... I've been informed by my publisher that the Zsazsa Zaturnnah compilation is on the shelves of the following: National Book Store (Glorietta, Greenbelt) PowerBooks (Glorietta, Greenbelt) It's also in: Tutuban Shopping Center Metropoint Mall - Pasay Robinson's - Imus (Though I have to clarify which stores) By next week, it'll be in: Powerbooks (Megamall) National Book Store (Avenida, Harrison Plaza, Robinsons Galleria, Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall) Fully Booked Wow!!! My publisher also tells me, and I quote, "Oh, and I already have a re-order from NBS glorietta." Special thanks to Ruey de Vera.

Extreme Measures Had a very long talk with a friend of mine awhile ago. She was on the verge of hopelessness over her circumstances, and carrying years of grief and anxiety brought about by wrong decisions and regrets. Listening to her was a very painful experience for me, since I've known her for so long. We've had our own difficult times and yet we managed to rise above it all and strengthen our bond. But in our long talk, she reeked of desparation despite her soft careful tones, and I had to play the objective listener to help her through. What struck me during the middle of our conversation was her admittance to resorting to unorthodox means to "solve" her problems. Call it the Supernatural, or Witchcraft, or Coptic Magic. These, to me, are the most extreme -- short of insane -- of measures in dealing with supposedly insurmountable challenges. And we're not talking Gandalf's ROTK flashlight here. This is the real stew. Now I've considered usi...

Gawd, sometimes I feel like the most boring person on the planet. Boring, even to myself.

Out of this World Here’s my personal list of highlights from this weekend’s New Worlds Science Fiction/Fantasy Convention, held at the Powerplant Mall grounds, Rockwell Center. 1) Getting pictures taken with 6+ foot tall Sauron in full battle armor. (I heard the cosplayer was an Amercan.) Most thought he’d bag the top cosplay prize, but the judges ultimately gave the plum to Mya (?), the female character in the Pinoy RPG computer game Anito. She made some onlookers wonder if she was wearing any undies. 2) Witnessing the mock showdown between LOTR’s The Witch King and Kill Bill’s Gogo Yubari. It was surreal. I wasn’t able to get a pic because I was the only soul in the booth. 3) Seeing the baffled looks of the mall visitors as the cosplayers paraded single-file inside the Powerplant. The APU couldn’t go along because of the crowds. (Incidentally, that costume was sold by creator Robert Wong to The Matrix Philippines.) 4) Pitying the Trekkie contingent (Via Astris), ...

Quentin Tarantino's fourth feature film KILL BILL... IT ROCKS!! THE COOLEST FUCKIN' FILM OF 2003!! CAN'T WAIT FOR VOLUME TWO!! I LOVE IT I LOVE IT I LOVE IT!! WAHOOO!!

Fantasy Land This Saturday and Sunday, I’ll be attending the second Science Fiction / Fantasy Convention at the Rockwell Center in Makati City. Sponsored by The Philippine Tolkien Society (yes, folks, there is such a group), the event brings together enthusiasts of… well, scifi and fantasy. You’ll find most everything there, from Star Wars to Star Trek, Lord of the Rings to Harry Potter. Budjette Tan and Gerry Alanguilan will be joining me at the booth. The first convention was held last year in a small alleyway in Mile Long Center, right beside the THX theater, to coincide with a premiere showing of Star Trek: Nemesis. During that event, Gary Mayoralgo (of Taleweaver) gave me the unenviable task of sifting through and judging the entries of the “create your own Jedi” art contest. The irrepressible cosplayers were also present; the Borg and the Alien looked really impressive, but Queen Amidala lacked the jawdropping oomph befitting Naboo royalty. I also remember one of the Nazgu...