Not Scene In NY: Philip Seymour Hoffman

This is an extremely belated post, but I thought it was still worth the scream I let out when I read J's text message.

J and Roomie did ask me to go to lunch at a French resto in the city. And because we must allocate our resources, especially during this time of the year, I begged off even if I wanted to. And lo and behold, directly at Roomie's 12 o'clock was one of my favorite actors, Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Up until Capote, this guy was probably one of the most underrated actors in the mainstream. He's one of those actors like John C. Reilly who's everywhere but you never know the name of (they both appeared in Magnolia, by the way).

Anyway, needless to say, I regreted not going to lunch that day. But then, I would have just tried to steal glances at him, just like I did with Christian Bale. I'm a sissy, anyway.

Michael Douglas Outside My Classroom Window

Fordham is adding the movie "Solitary Man" to its list of films shot in its campus (One of the popular ones being "A Beautiful Mind".). So my students and I had a good view of the filming while it was going on the other day. It was kind of cool having all this stuff going on outside my window but definitely distracting.

Eq...Eq... Equus!

Saw the play last night, thanks to Roomie who generously gifted me with a ticket for my birthday. Again, I am not capable of making highly intellectual criticisms of the actual play, so I will again, choose to make a very jologs type of review here.

Just a brief summary, though. The play revolves around an aging psychiatrist, Dr. Dysart (Richard Griffiths) who specializes in treating children. He works on the case of teenager Alan Strang (Daniel Radcliffe) who is committed to the hospital after blinding six horses in the stable he is employed in. While treating Alan and trying to find out why the boy did what he did, he is troubled when he finds that the boy has more passion than he will ever have in his life. He admits that he is jealous that the boy could be so passionate about his belief in the horse god, Equus, that he conjured up in his mind.

Intriguing story... and of course, great acting from Richard Griffiths. I thought he had great comedic timing. His experience shines onstage as you can see how comfortable he is to be there. As for Daniel Radcliffe, yes, he has improved a huge deal since the first Harry Potter film. However, I still felt that sometimes he didn't really know what to do with his body. Like he still felt so conscious of it. Or maybe that's part of the character, since he is supposed to be a not-so-well-adjusted teen after all. It was very effective, though, in the scenes where his character does not know what to do with the girl. One thing I can say, too, is that that Dan Radcliffe, he got some guts. Letting his chinkle chankle dingle dangle around the stage while pretend stabbing the horses in front of people like Richard Griffiths, I imagine, would take some really tough guts to pull off.

Also, I was very impressed with the production. It was simple, yet gave me the chills for the most part. Men wore metal horse heads and hooves to portray the horses in the stable. I can name a couple of happy people who will enjoy seeing this impressive, impressive sight. There was one particular scene when a lazy-susan-type portion of the stage was spinning with Dan Radcliffe hoisted up the shoulders of one particular horse who was trotting. It was an incredible sight.

All in all, it was quite an enjoyable experience. Especially being preceded by a great dinner at this Japanese resto--Kodama--where we had, notably, grilled tuna collar teriyaki and an interesting dessert of stacked green tea crepes with ginger ice cream. The dinner probably merits its own blog, but since I don't have much time and I go off tangent a lot of times, anyway, I thought I would just mention it here.

Still Riding the In The Heights High

It's been a week since I saw the 2008 Tony Best Musical, In The Heights. The show is not like the classical Broadway musicals such as Phantom of the Opera or Les Miserables. It has pop, Latin, and even less traditional, rap. I won't write a full review since I don't think I have the capacity to, anyway. For a review by a real professional, see the NY Times review at: http://theater2.nytimes.com/2007/02/09/theater/reviews/09heights.html. But in sum, the Heights is referring to Washington Heights, an area in the North of Manhattan adjacent to the George Washington bridge. This area is called the barrio by the Latin American immigrants that inhabit the place. The musical is, then, a montage of the lives of these immigrants with the main character, Usnavi in the middle of it all. Usnavi himself is played by the brains of the entire musical--concept, music, and all--Lin-Manuel Miranda.

From a layman's point of view, then, I really loved the musical because it was a freakin' show, man! The music was so festive since it had the Latin American flavor. Then it breaks out into rap with playful lyrics and witty dialogue. Sure, the storyline can be soap operatic, but it is Latino after all! The story might be a bit thin, but the storytelling was certainly entertaining. And the dancing! The dancing was unbelievable, you just wanted to jump onto the stage and join the party. It was so infectious that the audience seemed like they wanted to have a dance party right there when we stood up after the show.

In The Heights reminds me of Rent, except it was funny and much, much more upbeat (naturally!). There were little things that just made the audience crack up, like when his Abuela was telling how Usnavi got his name. His father got the idea when he was just getting off the boat from the Dominican Republic. The father sees a ship docked and says he's going to name his son after that. And Usnavi reacts, saying, but that's US NAVY! So it's not that funny when I'm telling it, but it was.

I just had a really good time watching it. Another bonus was I have this illusion that Lin-Manuel Miranda flirted with me during the show. While he was rapping the lines directing you to Washington Heights, ending with "I hope you're writing this down I'm gonna test you later," he was looking at me (yes, I was in the front row, won the lottery). So you're thinking, he probably looks at that seat every night, but come on, let me have my moment.

Dan Radcliffe on Broadway

After seeing In The Heights, Zjong and I were walking by the Broadhurst Theater where Equus was playing, and we noticed that there were barricades by the backstage door. Along with the barricades are wide-eyed teenage girls that were red-faced from the excitement. These could only spell Dan Radcliffe coming out from the play. True enough, in a few moments, he graciously went around signing autographs and let his photos be taken. Notable for me, though, was not Dan Radcliffe as I've seen him before and I'm not really interested in someone that I could have given birth to. It was his hot, hot bodyguard! Aah, life and its surprises.

I'm In Love With Jason Lezak!

Need I say more? The guy caught my attention when I watched the most exciting race in swimming that I've ever seen. Anchoring the 4X100m freestyle relay in the recently concluded Beijing Olympics, he caught up with France's Alain Bernard when it seemed impossible, with his record breaking 46.06 split. This is even faster than the 100m individual freestyle record which Bernard himself swam at world record pace of 47.12. A sports anchor said that Jason's swim is the equivalent of a mother who is able to lift a car to save her child who's pinned under it. I rarely root for the Americans, but this time, I just couldn't help it!

His performance in the relay allowed Michael Phelps to continue in his quest for eight gold medals in a single Olympics to beat Mark Spitz's record of seven.

Michael Phelps must be thinking, "Jason's the Huck to my Tom, the Ron to my Harry, ... " and I can't think of any other metaphors at the moment.

And, of course, he's terribly cute. I don't even have to say anything about what a hot body he has... swimmer that he is.

But before I can even start imagining our life together--if his being Jewish would be a hindrance to us being together, if he's willing to move to new york or am i willing to move to irvine and all that--my fantasies were crushed by my discovery that he's been married for four years. Argh!

Scene in NY: Debbie Downer Downtown

Saw Rachel Dratch, SNL alum, around the Chelsea area last Monday. I remember her most from her character Debbie Downer on SNL. The petite comedienne looked like she needed a shower (it was very warm last Monday).

Ladies Only... Which Movie Star Are You?

Email from Aileenbear. I'm Debbie Reynolds... borderline almost Grace Kelly! HAHA!

This is kind of fun! Ever wonder which movie star you are most like? Don't read ahead please! Well ~ A team of researchers got together and analyzed the personalities of movie stars. The gathered info has been incorporated into this quiz. There are only 10 questions so it doesn't take long.

Number your paper from 1 to 10, then answer each question with the choice that most describes you at this point in your life and then add up the points that correspond with your answers. Send this to all of your friends ( including person who sent it to you) with your star's name in the subject line.. ... And don't be a butt and ruin the fun by not responding ... Now ... Don't look ahead or you will ruin the fun!

1. Which describes your perfect date?
a) Candlelight dinner for two
b) Amusement Park
c) Roller blading in the park
d) Rock Concert
e) Have dinner & see a movie
f) Dinner at home with a loved one

2. What is your favorite type of music?
a) Rock and Roll
b) Alternative
c) Soft Rock
d) Classical
e) Christian
f) Jazz

3. What is your favorite type of movie?
a) Comedy
b) Horror
c) Musical
d) Romance
e) Documentary
f) Mystery

4. Which of the following jobs would you choose if you were given only these choices?
a) Waiter/Waitress
b) Sports Player
c) Teacher
d) Policeman
e) Bartender (My new dream job!)
f) Business person

5. Which would you rather do if you had an hour to waste?
a) Work out
b) Make out
c) Watch TV (Can't deny that I'm a TV addict.)
d) Listen to the radio
e) Sleep
f) Read

6. Of the following colors, which do you like best?
a) Yellow
b) White
c) Sky blue
d) Teal
e) Gold
f) Red

7. Which one of the following would you like to eat right now?
a) Ice cream
b) Pizza
c) Sushi
d) Pasta
e) Salad
f) Lobster Tail

8. Which is your favorite holiday?
a) Halloween
b) Christmas
c) New Year's
d) Valentine's Day
e) Thanksgiving
f) Fourth of July

9. If you could go to any of the following places, which would it be?
a) Reno
b) Spain (Tara na, Roomie!)
c) Las Vegas
d) Hawaii
e) Hollywood
f) British Columbia

10. Of the f ollowing, who would you rather spend time with?
a) Someone who is smart
b) Someone with good looks
c) Someone who is a party animal
d) Someone who has fun all the time
e) Someone who is very emotional
f) Someone who is fun to be with (Roomie, pwede na ako na lang ang may good looks!)

Now total up your points on each question:

1. a-4 b-2 c-5 d-1 e-3 f-6
2. a-2 b-1 c-4 d-5 e-3 f-6
3. a-2 b-1 c-3 d-4 e-5 f-6
4. a-4 b-5 c-3 d-2 e-1 f-6
5. a-5 b-4 c-2 d-1 e-3 f-6
6. a-1 b-5 c-3 d-2 e-4 f-6
7. a-3 b-2 c-1 d-4 e-5 f-6
8. a-1 b-3 c-2 d-4 e-5 f-6
9. a-4 b-5 c-1 d-4 e-3 f-6
10. a-5 b-2 c-1 d-3 e-4 f-6

NOW ....take your total and find out which Movie Star you are:

(10-17 points) You are MADONNA: You are wild and crazy and you know it. You know how to have fun, but you may take it to extremes. You know what you are doing though, and are much in control of your own life. People don't always see things your way, but that doesn't mean that you should do away with your beliefs. Try to remember that your wild spirit can lead to hurting yourself and others.

(18-26 points) You are DORIS DAY: You are fun, friendly, and popular! You are a real crowd pleaser. You have probably been out on the town your share of times,yet you come home with the values that your mother taught you. Marriage and children are very important to you, but only after you have fun. Don't let the people you please influence you to stray.

(27-34 points) You are DEBBIE REYNOLDS: You are cute, and everyone loves you. You are a best friend that no one takes the chance of losing. You never hurt feelings and seldom have your own feelings hurt. Life is a breeze. You are witty, and calm most of the time. Just keep clear of back stabbers, and you are worry-free.

(35-42 points) You are GRACE KELLY: You are a lover. Romance, flowers, and wine are all you need to enjoy yourself. You are serious about all commitments and are a family person. You call your Mom every Sunday, and never forget a Birthday. Don't let your passion for romance get confused with the real thing.

(43-50 points) You are KATHERINE HEPBURN: You are smart, a real thinker. Every situation is approached with a plan. You are very healthy in mind and body. You don't take crap from anyone. You have only a couple of individuals that you consider "real friends". You teach strong family values. Keep your feet planted in them, but don't overlook a bad situation when it does happen.

(51-60 points) You are ELIZABETH TAYLOR: Everyone is in awe of you. You know what you want and how to get it. You have more friends than you know what to do with. Your word is your bond. Eve ryone knows when you say something it is money in the bank.You attract the opposite sex.. Your intelligence overwhelms most. Your memory is the next thing to photographic. Everyone admires you because you are so considerate and lovable. You know how to enjoy life and treat people right.

Happy Third Month, Lucia and Jacinta!

The twins are growing up fast. And I'm missing it. Miss their sounds, their cheeks, their smells...

Skycable Sucks!

Why do I have to pay extra for something so basic as the broadcast of the Olympics??? Skycable sucks.

Because the Solar Entertainment channels were pulled out of Skycable, subscribers like my household cannot watch complete coverage of the Olympics. I'm bound to the only channel that broadcasts the Olympics: RPN9! And they only have cycling and boxing. For the first time since 1992 when I started to appreciate the Olympics, I won't be able to watch the usual events that I watch like the water sports. Damn.

My only regret for not being in the US this summer.

Anticipation

My twin nieces are coming anytime soon. So maybe I should change the name of my page into Babies exclusively. I'm not going out soon so there won't be flowers and landscapes. And the growth of these babies are going to be well documented by me, at least until I go back to NYC. I'm just glad that I can see them when they're born.

Here's an ultrasound of the face of one of the babies. Unfortunately, we can only see the butt and the leg of the other one. She's pouting, as my bro says, maybe because the other one's butt is on her face!

Make Yo' Grandma Proud

And so it goes that my lola is quite the mananahi. And I grew up around at least ten high speed sewing machines with a T-shirt factory in our compound. Shame on me if I can't work a simple machine. Initially, I got my sewing machine out of necessity. With alterations in NYC costing at least $10 to have pant hems adjusted, it just made sense for me to get one.

But my projects (although I haven't had many) have gone beyond pant hems and repairs. Most recently, I turned an ill-fitting pair of jeans into a denim skirt. Too bad I didn't take a before picture.

It took me about five hours to do the conversion, but it was worth it. I can't wait to show my mananahi aunts and especially my Nanay Mitang.

Oh, I'll work on my dissertation tomorrow. I promise.

Isn’t NYC Smart or What?

Please allow me at least one straightforwardly geeky entry. I was just amazed at how smart and sneaky the NY MTA was. For months now, we’ve heard about the MTA raising subway and bus fares for those who buy unlimited passes (daily, weekly and monthly). There was some resistance from the public, naturally. But it was, I suppose, generally accepted as inevitable since the fare hikes weren’t really outrageous anyway. There was no objection from those who buy pay-per-ride subway passes, in particular, since the rides will remain at $2 a pop. Oh, but that’s where the MTA was particularly crafty.

In the past, for a purchase of a minimum of $10 worth of subway rides, one gets 20 percent free (i.e., for $10 which is 5 rides, you get a free ride). These pay-per-ride cards came in $4, $10, and $20 denominations. With the changes, we are surprised to find that they now came in $7 and $15 denominations. This was hardly the surprise, however. Now, for the $7 Metrocard, you get only half a ride free. That is, the $7 card comes with $1.05 free, which is less than 20 percent. What I find so smart about this move is that to the eyes of the regular Joe, there was no fare hike—it remained $2 per ride. So, no objections. But to those who used to buy the $10 card, for instance, it would not be hard to discover that they’re now getting less in terms of free rides. And we thought we wouldn’t be affected. Sneaky, really sneaky.

Boston Highlight: Dinner at Blue Ginger

Weeks before our trip to Boston, roomie and I made sure that we made reservations for Chef Ming Tsai's restaurant, Blue Ginger. I think it was about 3 weeks before the actual trip that we called in for dinner reservations and the only time we got was at 6:15PM. Can you imagine?

So the restaurant is in Wellesley, a suburb of Massachusetts which is 30 minutes away by commuter train from Boston. Saturday was very wet. And I mean very wet. When roomie and I got off the train, the it was PUH-OU-RING. I immediately regreted not wearing the boots I got from Filene's as our jeans and shoes got so disgustingly soaked. Anyway, so the only train we could get to make the reservation was at 4:15 or something. Of course, we get there around 5PM and since the restaurant doesn't open until 530, we had to find something to do. What to do in a suburb where all shops and cafes are closed by 5PM in the rain? Get wet.

Thirty minutes felt like forever, but finally we could go to Blue Ginger. They gave us a table immediately. It was a great surprise that the restaurant was very welcoming and unpretentious that I didn't really feel so out of place even if I probably looked like crap at that point. It had a very casual yet elegant feel to it.

After what roomie and I went through, we were willing to go all out on the food. For starters we had the foie gras and shitake mushroom shumai in sauternes-shallot broth and beef and salmon carpaccio topped with avocado and hikama (singkamas). The appetizers, we found, were pretty but had very subtle tastes. I thought I was up for disappointment and even told roomie that I wasn't so impressed with the appetizers. This was probably because I was expecting to be blown away after the tempest that we had to go through to get to the restaurant. We thought we were up for a meal with watered down Asian flavors so as not to shock certain demographics too much. Ehem-ehem.

Naturally, we had great expectations for our entrees. Roomie ordered lamb chops with curry sauce and I went for the lobster tail flavored with South Asian spices (I think, and I should have paid more attention to the menu) with lemon-grass rice. The generosity of the portions already shocked our eyes (Too bad I didn't take great pictures of these.). It even pleased our palates more to discover that no spice was spared to flavor our entrees. The subtlety in our appetizers merely gave way to a shindig of flavors in the lamb and the lobster.

And, of course, we had to have dessert. Roomie had coconut doughnuts (they're really macaroons) with a side of lime sorbet and a drizzle of pineapple curd (I think, check roomie's blog for a better description of this) and I had the trio of tea-scented sorbets. Roomie's dessert seemed to have a lot going on with it, but they surprisingly come together perfectly. And mine with the citrus sorbets suffused in tea was just a perfectly light ending to the richness of the entrees.

As if the meal was not good enough already, an unexpected treat was meeting Chef Ming Tsai in the flesh. We thought that there would be no way that he'd be there. Luckily enough for us, maybe, it was a busy Saturday so I suppose he made sure he'd be there. Roomie catches a glimpse of him during starters and I begged our server to have him meet us. He said we'd be put on the guest list and they'll see if he'll have time. I don't trust these lists and so I gave up on the idea. But between our entree and dessert, a familiar voice booms over our table, "Hi, I'm Ming." I was floored. I was so starstruck that I couldn't speak. We had a little chat about chicken relleno which his Filipino friend made and I proudly interject that we also do that with fish. He was incredibly down to earth and that made it a little easier to chat.

For those who are not aware, my brother and I are HUGE fans of Chef Tsai. We would watch his shows and salivate over what he makes. Bobby Flay vs. Ming Tsai on Iron Chef? I called Ming Tsai (of course!). He is in a different league when it comes to food preparation. You just have to respect these artists whose canvass is found in the kitchen. By far, this is one of the highlights of my stay here in the U.S. And I'm not kidding. Yup, chef stalker am I.

Weight Loss Log No. 7

Seventeen pounds to date. Although that was about three weeks ago which was the last time I had a swim. I probably gained a little bit since I've been sick and unable to go to the pool and I'm sad to say that I lost some of the weight in a not too healthy manner. Some of the weight loss, I will confess, was due to laziness in the kitchen. Many nights, I would just have a dinner of a peanut butter sandwich and a piece of fruit.

It has been a long time since I've made an entry on my Fatty Files series, but I had a breakthrough today. I got into a pair of pants that I almost gave up since I haven't been able to fit into them in almost three years. Yey me!

Lunar Eclipse, February 20, 2008

Roomie, here's the best picture I could take of the eclipse. It's obviously very small, but I kind of got Saturn and Romulus, Remus or whoever-that-is-us.

Roomie and I braved the freezing night to witness the total lunar eclipse last Wednesday. I have to say, although the view was very tiny, it was worth the 10 or so minutes in the cold. After all, we won't be seeing one of these in another couple of years.

I Was So Bored Yesterday That...

... I almost fell asleep while I was in the middle of my own lecture. You know how it is when you're drifting between being awake and being asleep? That's when you know you are seeing things, but you can't remember what's going on. Yup, had that moment when I was teaching yesterday. So I let my students off early. If I can't stay awake in the middle of MY OWN lecture, I didn't want to subject them to it too long. They just might not return for another one.

The Merits of Paying Attention to Your TV Ads

For our Sunday treat, roomie and I ordered from our favorite Mexican place. So the delivery guy finally comes and our bill is around $16. We give him $20 and ask that he give us $2 back to cover the tip. And of course, he says “No habla Ingles.” After a bit of a struggle with sign language, I recall a Cheez-It ad on TV where the character says “Dame Cheez-It” or something. And so I tell Mr. No English, “Dame dos dollar.” He smiles as he hands me $2. I swear, I’m still amazed at how people can live in the US for years without learning English. And I’m quite proud that my TV addiction helped us communicate!

Estrellita Poblana

I thought I loved Mexican food when I was back home. Little did I know that I was loving Tex-Mex--I wasn't aware of the distinction yet, until I got to eat at Estrellita Poblana. For my first few years in NY, I thought I will never find good Mexican food. I dismissed it as one of the few things that I'll have to let go, being in the East Coast. Having taken trips to California, where they had whole Mexican supermarkets, I knew it definitely could be better.

Many a tiime, I would be frustrated by the overpriced restaurants that I've tried in the city. Guacamole being served by bow-tie and vest-clad waiters don't exactly spell Mexican for me. I don't care what other people say, but there are just cuisine that for me should be served in a home-style or street food atmosphere because the food says it all. No need to be fancy about it. Imagine our surprise when roomie and I tried this gem in our own neighborhood!

For $2, a soft taco with carnitas, or bistec, or to roomie, lengua, really gives you value for your money. It's loaded with all the trimmings you would expect from a real taco--that means, white cheese, not cheddar. Their burritos, apart from being good enough to be made into pillows, are maybe the best I've had so far. But aside from the usuals, they have real Mexican standards on their menu. J loves their chicken mole--chicken with chocolate sauce--that would give those fancy restos in the city a good run for their money. Roomie recently tried the Sopa de Res. She describes it as nilaga (beef soup simmered for maybe four hours) loaded with salsa verde. Apparently, it's a cure for hangovers, but roomie says it gives her relief from her bad cold, too. And oh, salsa verde. Sigh! I put it on everything.

Estrellita Poblana is a wonderful surprise to us who just have to look around the corner to get our Mexican food fix. There's just something incredible about finding great food from a take out place.

Quotable Quotes 2

Sometimes, yelling is just a loud way of saying "I love you".--Jim in Kitchen Confidential.

Killer Lines 2

I really like your scarf, it brings out your vagina.--Kitchen Confidential (Becky to Seth, the pastry chef. I can't believe this show got canceled! It's pretty funny.)

I'm worn out by the civility... full of conversations with nothing to say.--Mansfield Park (Well, at least something like that. Edmund to Fanny.)

50 More Things You Didn't Need to Know About Me... Grabbed From Noel

If you opened this, FILL IT OUT! Learn 50 things about your friends, and let them learn 50 things about you!

1* Do you like cheese? yes... it has to be worth the cals though.

2* Have you ever smoked heroin? Never

3* Do you own a gun? No.

4* Your favorite song? Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin... at naagaw pa sa Magic Mic

5* Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? No, just really, really bored.

6* What do you think of hotdogs? They're better fried.

7* Favorite Christmas song? Don't really know...

8* What do you prefer to drink in the morning. Black coffee.

9* Can you do push ups? Haven't tried recently and I have no plans.

10* Favorite super-hero? Batman... gaya gaya ka Noel... hehe!

11* What's your favorite piece of jewelry? My earrings and pendant set with aquamarine. Sabi nang piece eh... Teknikal ba tayo dito? Sino kumausap sa sarili???

12* Favorite hobby? Watching free stuff online.

13* Secret weapon to get the opposite sex? Secret din sa akin, kaya nga wala eh.

14* Do you have A.D.D.? Selective ADD only.

15* What one trait do you hate about yourself? Slightly have OCD

16* Middle Name: Cruz

17* Three thoughts at this exact moment a.) What are my three thoughts??? b.) Mind is blank. c.) Mind is blank.

18* Name 3 things you bought yesterday? a.) Dr. Scholl's massaging gel insoles b.) Lotsa nuts c.) Fruits

19* Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? a.) Water b.) Coffee c.) Silk chocolate soy milk

20* Current worry right now? Moolah (as usual)

21* Current hate? My cold 22* Favorite places? Beaches, Manila, NYC

23* How did you bring in the New Year? Was in a Cambodian New Year's Eve party, dancing their traditional dances after having their version of the Chinese lauriat.

24* Where would you like to go? Europe

25* Name three people who will complete this and return? Medyo huli na ko eh, so si Roomie, Noel and Karla... :-)

26* Do you own flip flops? Lots

27* What shirt are you wearing? Blue and white striped cotton shirt

28* Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? Don't know, haven't had the chance. Not sure I'll like them too slippery though.

29* Can you whistle? Yes

30* Favorite color/s? Black and red

31* Would you like to be a pirate? No, I like taking showers.

32* What songs do you sing in the shower room? Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin

33* Favorite girl's name? Sophia

34* Favorite boy's name? Miguel

35* What's in your pocket right now? Lint

36* Last thing that made you laugh? Out Loud... Episodes of Kitchen Confidential last night.

37* Best bed sheets as a child? Don't remember... I only remember my unan baho. Hehe!

38* Worst injury you've ever had? Rub burns from head to leg from my fall from the treadmill.

39* Do you love where you live? Apart from the car alarms going off and street brawls at 2AM and the jologs on the street, I like most of it. I certainly love our apartment.

40* How many computers do you have in your house? 3

41* Who is your loudest friend? Noel! Gumaganti lang... pero yung totoo, maybe si Cha Cha. Love you, my friend! Miss lang kita!

42* How many dogs do you have? No pets, just the dust bunny hiding behind my heater.

43* Does someone have a crush on you? I'm sure, hindi pa lang nya na realize. Hoy!!! Umamin ka na, duwag!!!

45* What is your favorite book? Right now, The Namesake... All time, my Indian authors! God of Small Things and Midnight's Children, too.

46* What is your favorite candy? Hirap mamili! Chocolate.

47* Favorite Sports Teams? Yankees? But not really a team sports fan.

48* What song do you want played at your funeral? Haven't thought about it, should I?

49* What were you doing 12 AM last night? Kitchen Confidential Marathon

50* What is the first thing you thought of when you woke up? Five minutes pa...

Killer Lines 1

"Is that what you think of when you think of me?" Gogol asks him. "Do I remind you of that night?"

"Not at all," his father says eventually..."You remind me of everything that followed.--The Namesake (after his father explains to him that he was reading Nikolai Gogol before the train accident that almost killed him)

"You can't do that," she'd told him then,..., and when he'd asked her why not she'd simply said, "Because you can't. Because you're Gogol."--The Namesake (after Gogol informs his sister that he is to have his name changed)

Against instinct he tries to imagine life without his father, a world in which his father does not exist.--The Namesake

He envied her the specificity of her task, so unlike the elusive nature of his. He was a mediocre student who had a facility for absorbing details without curiosity.--A Temporary Matter (in the short story anthology, Interpreter of Maladies... this hits close to home, too!)

Jhumpa Lahiri rocks!--Me

The Namesake

"He wonders how his parents had done it, leaving their respective families behind, seeing them so seldom, dwelling unconnected, in a perpetual state of expectation, of longing. All those trips to Calcutta he'd once resented--how could they have been enough? They were not enough." --The Namesake

So roomie must already be expecting this, seeing that I could not even get through the second chapter without crying my eyes out. She'll probably say that that's not saying much since I cry over everything on TV, in books, and what not. But to someone so far away from home as we are, The Namesake so perfectly illustrates the lives of those who have been transplanted from everything that they've known. The novel focuses on the family of Gogol (later on, Nikhil) Ganguli--how his parents came to America from Calcutta and had to adjust to the American culture for their kids who were born Americans, how they struggle to keep their culture alive in the foreign country and how ultimately these contrasts and combination of cultures play in Gogol's own story.

Lahiri is able to capture the nuances of being a foreigner so perfectly that when she describes the longing that Gogol's parents feel for home, I felt that she was writing about me. In particular, the novel touched me so much because it captured that unspoken fear that I've had since coming here--apart from the regret of missing milestones such as births and weddings, one of the greatest fears that I've had is that someone passes on and I'm not there. It is an unimaginable feeling that I push to the very back of my mind but somehow I'm always aware of.

The novel should also enlighten people who are left behind. When you have to live away from all that you love, it is scary to think that to the people you've left behind, you might actually become anonymous. You will be somebody that they send an occasional email or text message to. Or somebody that they take out to an obligatory dinner when you're in town. But there are details about you that are just lost. During visits, there are new things about them to learn, private jokes to be understood, but before you have once again become part of everyday monotony, you have to leave.

Lahiri's storytelling is brilliant in that it is so matter-of-fact and effortless. Her character's emotions, strengths and imperfections are so known to her that you feel that she's drawing it all from within. A wonderful read.