The Soundtrack of My Life

arenel @ 2009-10-27T22:52:00

2009-10-28T03:53:07Z

oh, wow. i miss lj. and all of you are still here! sighs...now i'm on tumblr, facebook and twitter but it doesn't quite feel the same. just stopping by to say i heart all of you!

arenel @ 2009-02-04T19:33:00

2009-02-05T00:33:35Z

http://twitter.com/maite_

Anyone has this?

Where the Hell is Matt?

2008-12-25T16:36:48Z

arenel @ 2008-12-24T17:55:00

2008-12-24T22:56:11Z

Happy Holidays, everyone! ♥

My livejournal is so pathetic.

2008-11-11T03:49:35Z

I am in bed having the worst case of the flu. Also, too many couples seem to be having problems this year. My friend told me it's something about the year...but I refuse to believe that things are inevitable and that we're not responsible for our actions. Audrey and I are having really serious problems. Actually...I don't know what more to say of it. It's been about a week now and I think it's the real thing this time.

arenel @ 2008-09-23T00:02:00

2008-09-23T04:03:54Z

Seen from a gas station in San Francisco.

period rooms

2008-09-17T00:53:39Z

location: The Met Museum, New York City
picture intensive; be warned

There's this area at The Met where it's all 16th-18th century bedrooms. They were pretty interesting because these are actual furnishings that existed in that era. I wish they also had rooms where the non-bourgeoisie lived. I've been trying to look for a museum that caters to such an interest. I didn't have the time to check out the Lower East Tenement Museum but I think this is the one that I was looking for. Maybe next time we'll go there. We definitely want to come back and stay much longer!

So anyway, the formal rooms: (Sorry that I didn't take note of the exact room description...I was, at this point, way too tired of walking that I was just going through the museum randomly.)

Scariest looking bedroom I have ever seen. Imagine that at the time this room actually existed, electricity hasn't even been invented yet! Clearly people then were braver and less inclined to scare themselves of ghosts and spirits. Of course to them this bedroom probably was top of its class so there wasn't absolutely any reason to be frightened of it.

I think this room was supposed to be a music room/ drawing room of sorts, where people received guests. It kind of reminds me of that part in Sarah Waters' book "Fingersmith," where the girl is made to read erotica in front of a small group of men. :P Except this room seemed a lot more lavish and cheery than the book's.

Same cheery room, but I changed the exposure to make it look like the sun was setting (or rising). Kind of gloomy; you could almost imagine that it's about to rain but you're waiting for that damned letter...

A study. How lavish was this! Can you imagine being able to concentrate in this room, hahah. Everything just seems so ornate and well-thought of. I started to think it makes sense for furniture to be positioned as far apart from each other as possible. It's for the huge dresses that women had to wear!

I plan to post more pictures and stories, just give me time. :P

arenel @ 2008-09-16T09:03:00

2008-09-16T13:06:34Z

DO ALIENS EXIST? Yes, definitely.
- IS THERE A SPECIFIC REASON FOR YOUR BELIEF/DISBELIEF? Somewhere deep down, I believe that we can't possibly be the only ones out there. Life, at least the way I define it, can develop in the most extreme of circumstances. Hey, there's water on Mars! :P But anyway, I believe there might not be life in our solar system as we know it on Earth, but maybe in other galaxies, it's possible for sure.

ARE ZOMBIES POSSIBLE? EXPLAIN. No, unless they aren't really clinically dead and they came back from a coma or something?

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON GLOBAL WARMING? Might be true, might not be, but I'm not worried about it.
- WHAT, IF ANYTHING, ARE YOU DOING TO HELP? Nothing. Haha. I mean I like shopping at Whole Foods, but don't expect me to buy organic clothing! I'm not big on this global warming thing. Be angry at me all you want, but there are some portions of it that just simply crack me up.
- WHAT MORE COULD YOU DO WITHOUT GOING WAY OVER BUDGET? Stop buying things I don't need. I usually give myself a budget but what breaks it are my endless lists of "needs."
- WHAT'S STOPPING YOU FROM ACTUALLY DOING IT? I'm not responsible for anything, barely have any bills to pay...but that will soon change. :P

DO YOU BELIEVE IN MARRIAGE? EXPLAIN. Yes, I mean if people want to do it, why not? Personally though I'm not big into the concept. It's just a formality..

IN YOUR OPINION IS SEX BEFORE MARRIAGE GOOD OR BAD? EXPLAIN. GOOD! Dears, you need to test the goods before you buy it, haha. That sounds bad. But really, come on now..

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENTS? Bug, why are you asking all these questions? :D

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON SAME SEX MARRIAGE? I don't think it will make much of a difference. It's all for the good, and by all means one should be able to marry the person they love, but I won't go around preaching about it. Honestly I think same sex marriages ruin the fun!!! xD
- WHY DO OR DON'T YOU FEEL THE TERM "MARRIAGE" APPLIES TO SAME SEX COUPLES? Because they love each other and they want to do it. It's like having the right to go to school...haha.

DO YOU WANT CHILDREN? EXPLAIN. Nope. I don't have any grand scientific explanation for it. I don't hate kids or anything dramatic, I just don't want to have my own.
- WHAT ABOUT YOU WOULD MAKE YOU A GOOD PARENT? I would talk to the kid all the time.
- WHAT ABOUT YOU WOULD MAKE YOU A BAD PARENT? I would talk to the kid all the time.

ARE YOU PRO-LIFE OR PRO-CHOICE? EXPLAIN. I guess I lean towards the pro-choice side of things, though I don't really care much about issues like this. I think if you think you'll burn in hell getting an abortion, then by all means nobody's forcing you to do it, you know? If you think you need to get an abortion, then you need to get an abortion. End of story, leave her alone.
- DO YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO HAS HAD AN ABORTION? Yes.
- IF SO, DID IT CHANGE HOW YOU FELT ABOUT THE ISSUE/ THAT PERSON? Nope. I don't base friendships on the decisions one makes.
- IF NOT, DO YOU THINK KNOWING SOMEONE DEALING WITH THAT ISSUE MIGHT CHANGE YOUR BELIEFS? Not really...I'm kind of apathetic about the whole thing.

HOW WOULD YOU CHANGE SEX EDUCATION FOR THE BETTER IN YOUR COUNTRY? I don't know, I never went to school in the US when I was younger. In the Philippines though, I would probably forbid all nuns to teach sex education. Hahaha.

WHICH POLITICAL PARTY DO YOU FEEL YOU MOST RELATE TO? EXPLAIN. Neither.
- WHAT ABOUT THAT PARTY DO YOU LIKE?
- WHAT ABOUT THAT PARTY DO YOU DISLIKE?

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE IRAQ WAR? EXPLAIN. Bug, really? LMAO. I don't know enough about it, sorry. But I'm sure it's not going to end overnight. We'll be there for another five years, at the least.

DO YOU THINK DOCTORS OVER PRESCRIBE ANTI-DEPRESSANT MEDICATION OR ARE PEOPLE MORE DEPRESSED NOW THAN IN THE PAST? EXPLAIN. Yes. Only in the US of A!
- HAVE YOU EVER FELT YOU NEEDED THERAPY/MEDICATION? I hate medicines. They screw you over. It shows weakness. One can find "therapy" in friends.
- WHY DID/DIDN'T YOU GO THROUGH WITH IT?

AND LAST BUT PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION OF ALL

DO YOU USE YOUR BLINKER/TURN SIGNAL WHILE DRIVING? Haha, yes, even if I'm only leaving our street and it's 3 am and no one's around.

-------

We're back from our vacation. I want to post a few pictures and write about it but I'm going to wait a few more days before doing so. I loved L.A. because I saw my family once again. I love San Francisco; we plan to move there next year. New York was incredible, I want to visit that city as much as I could.

ps. WE SAW EQUUS! And I have a picture of Daniel Radcliffe's back. ~.~

arenel @ 2008-09-06T08:03:00

2008-09-06T15:05:07Z

I separated it into smaller parts! Sorry it took so long. I'm in San Francisco right now being a complete tourist but I try to answer this every night. :D

WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES A GOOD FRIEND? EXPLAIN.
Someone who accepts who you are and doesn't judge you. If there are differences between the two of you, it's never a problem. Someone who doesn't lie. He/she may not be there for you all the time but when he/she is, you have fun together.

DO YOU CONSIDER ANY MEMBER(S) OF YOUR FAMILY A FRIEND?
- WHO AND WHY? My cousin Noel. We grew up together (almost) in the same house and saw each other everyday. Although we have branched out rather differently, we get along so well. Whenever we have fights, we apologize to each other immediately.
- HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN CLOSE? I guess, from the time we used bedsheets as royal capes to talking about clothes. (We're both flaming gay. Haha)

DO YOU HAVE A HARD TIME BEING FRIENDS WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS A DIFFERENT BELIEF SYSTEM THAN YOURS?
It depends. A bad trait of mine is that I like to make fun of people's beliefs (religious and otherwise), but most definitely not in a hurtful way. I would tease you incessantly but I expect you to just laugh it off, and that it's okay to make fun of me too. Haha it's complicated...for some people. But basically if you don't have a sense of humour, we won't get along. However, I can usually tell when people are just joking and when they aren't.

DO YOU GIVE UP ON PEOPLE MORE THAN YOU GIVE IN TO PEOPLE? Yes. I'm a hater. Haha.
- WHY DO YOU THINK THAT IS? When I say "give up" I guess it means mostly that I leave people alone. If they're freaky bible-thumpers, it's their problem and not mine. I wouldn't try to be friends with them because I know it's not going to work, and they can't ever convince me to go to one of their bible studies.
- WHICH DO YOU THINK IS WORSE? Giving in to people!

WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER WHERE DID YOU THINK YOU'D BE IN LIFE BY NOW? I really don't know.
- HOW FAR OFF WERE YOU? I actually don't think that far ahead. But when I was younger I was dumb and wanted to have three perfect babies and that I never had to work. I do the market every morning and wait for my husband to come home around 6 pm. Meanwhile, I am preparing him dinner from my herb garden and chit-chatting with the neighbors. Hahahaha.

WHAT ABOUT YOURSELF AS A CHILD EMBARRASSES YOU NOW? That at church I would make faces at the people behind me and roll my eyes at them.

DO YOU HAVE AN OBSESSIVE/ADDICTIVE PERSONALITY? Everyone does!
- DOES IT/HAS IT EVER CAUSED PROBLEMS IN YOUR EVERY DAY LIFE? Not really. I usually like lots of things too so it kind of evens out after a while.
- WHAT ARE SOME THINGS YOU'VE BEEN OBSESSED WITH/ADDICTED TO IN THE PAST? Rainbow Brite, Hanson, Harry Potter, books. My mom used to buy me 2 books a week to satiate my thirst for knowledge (not)

WHAT ABOUT YOURSELF SCARES YOU THE MOST? Nothing really. Maybe sometimes I think too much about things and it paralyzes me from doing anything.

WHEN YOU'RE FEELING ILL HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU SUFFER THROUGH BEFORE YOU SEE A DOCTOR? I haven't gone to a doctor ever since I had a physical exam regarding immigration, and they hardly did anything. Thankfully I rarely get sick, and it's usually just the flu.
- WHY DO YOU WAIT THAT LONG? If I'm really sick, I wait about a week. But in my case everything usually goes away in about a week...

WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD BE THE FUNNIEST WAY FOR YOU, PERSONALLY, TO DIE? Farting and having a heart attack at the same time lol.

DO YOU BELIEVE IN AN AFTER-LIFE? EXPLAIN. I can't really say that I do wholeheartedly, but it's one of those things where if there indeed is an afterlife, I'll just find out when I encounter it. I don't believe in heaven or hell though. I think everyone just drifts off to a different kind of consciousness when they die.

ARE YOU RELIGIOUS? EXPLAIN. Not recently. In the last two years. While I still believe it's a possibility, it's not something that controls my life. I think even if I'm not religious, and I died and meet some sort of Supreme Ruler, we'll just have a tea party and crack each other up about what goes on on Earth. Hehe. I mean, I don't think it matters if we're religious or not; I say enjoy life! My family is very religious and I can see how this sometimes keeps them from living to the fullest. (At least in my definition of fullest.)

arenel @ 2008-08-26T23:05:00

2008-08-27T03:21:25Z

So I did get a C- which was fair for what I worked for, I think. I was really thankful I didn't get a D. Even though I'm not going through with Nursing I was hoping that I pass with at least a C in case I decide to take something else that requires for it. That was my lowest grade so far. Oh and I received a formal invitation to join the Philosophy department, as I was recommended by my Philosophy professor...weird. Maybe they need students...:P It was very flattering though.

We will be leaving in about two days and I'm really excited. I haven't been packing at all which is quite worrisome but I think I'll manage tomorrow as I have the day off. Early tomorrow morning we are heading to do a bit of last-minute grocery shopping (sunscreen, motion sickness medicine, etc.) also.

I have just recently borrowed and finished watching two PBS series called The 1900s House and The 1940s House. They both were interesting though I was more fascinated with the former. The premise was basically a modern (British) family has to live for exactly three months in a house setup during this particular time. Strictly that time -- for the Victorian one, they were to have no electricity, heated water was directly connected to their cooking range, etcetera. It was really interesting to see how they coped, especially since these families have kids. I imagine American families might have more trouble coping (I can envision loads of whining about their iPods and having sex in the bathtub like in The Real World. Just kidding.) but I might be wrong. Audrey watched The 1940s House from beginning to end and was really into how they had to build their own Anderson shelter and wake up in the dead of night because of war sirens. They also had to ration their food and it must have been hard especially for the children, who were used to eating sweets and take-outs.

The 1940s House - http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/0-9/1940house/
the 1900s House - http://www.pbs.org/wnet/1900house/

I am planning on borrowing the rest of the PBS House series as soon as I come back from our vacation. I'm actually a little dismayed that I didn't get to see it all before I left, but I digress.

My friend Kitten also gave me this link: BOW STREET RUNNER
It's an online murder mystery game set during the Georgian era. Apparently its based on a real TV show. I played the first scene and I'm excited to play some more. I'm actually becoming more fascinated with the three eras: Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian. I have always been interested but it never really crossed my mind to read about them. Mostly I'm interested in finding out how they lived (how they did their household chores, social mores, customs and how they dressed). Thanks Kitten for introducing me to this. Hahah. <3

Audrey is currently watching this really kiddie movie called The Bridge to Terabithia. I guess I'll go and watch it with her too.

arenel @ 2008-08-20T21:10:00

2008-08-21T01:17:54Z

So, since I don't care much about getting a second degree anyway and have resorted to taking random classes, how much is it really going to affect me if I don't study for my Chemistry final tomorrow? Yes, I took the day off today to study but have only so far glanced at my textbook and rifled through my old quizzes. I am positive I will get at least a D, confident that I will get a C because of the curve. If I'm excellent at guessing I will probably end up with a B. Hahah. Even if I fail, which I won't because I have enough points already, I don't really care. I just want to take Digital Photography next fall, and then maybe a few random classes (cultural anthropology, political geography) for fun. They don't really require credit in Chemistry. Blah blah blah...

I don't want to study!! lol.

I do have a final exam in my Art and Music After 1945 class due tonight, which I shall now accomplish online. Afterwards, I will still refuse to study, so perhaps Audrey and I can just watch Affinity on TV. Hey, as long as I show up tomorrow, yeah? xD

Veggies!

2008-08-19T01:23:36Z

Whole Foods, Sawmill Columbus

arenel @ 2008-08-06T14:33:00

2008-08-06T18:35:28Z

I love how the Science and Engineering Library is always full of asians. Also, my brain is currently being fried to perfection for my Chemistry exam later. It frustrates me that Chemistry actually seems like fun, yet having skipped 2 classes made all the devastating difference in the world.

arenel @ 2008-07-14T22:21:00

2008-07-15T02:29:34Z

I miss LiveJournal. I'm sad that I don't have the time for it anymore. I have learned so many things, developed new hobbies and interests...and my LJ and my FList have always been there with me all along. It's like that little box of trinkets you've kept since you were in grade school and you don't want to throw it away, and you want to start some sort of project with it, yet you don't know how to start and what it's going to be.

I have this other blog over at Wordpress that nobody knows of; but honestly, I still go to LiveJournal every day. It really is the best there is out there. It's not even the community, or how user-friendly it is, they really did make the interface as personal as it can get without sacrificing form or function. Wordpress is fun and "mature," and has less of the many trolls let loose on LJ, but the user interface lacks a sort of honest interaction with the user, methinks.

In other news, we bought tickets to LA, San Francisco and New York City! It will be one hell of a vacation! (In which I shall be broke afterwards. Happy, but broke.)

arenel @ 2008-06-17T10:01:00

2008-06-17T14:09:24Z

If you would like to follow music blogs, play some songs first before downloading it, and see them organized in a separate frame as you skim through a webpage, I suggest you get Songbird, which I use and is free, compatible with both Mac or PC, OR Peel (Mac only), which has a free trial but I've heard good things about it too. Also, it's probably more stable than Songbird, though I like the look of the latter (you can customize it too!).

arenel @ 2008-06-05T19:29:00

2008-06-05T23:36:21Z

I got bored and it was the first day of my fake summer break (I only get a week), so I decided to tweak with my desktop! It's almost like therapy to me hahah.

arenel @ 2008-05-15T08:13:00

2008-05-15T12:39:05Z

This is it, you guys. I might give this thing up. The only thing that's keeping me back is everyone on my friends' list, but I haven't updated in ages and it's not fair to you and I've run out of things to say under this persona. Not that I've ever lied in this blog. I just feel like starting fresh, outside of livejournal, which is feeling more and more of a boxed in website than a personal blog.

I might just start my own blog somewhere, where no one can find me.

ps. Is it possible though, that I remain to lurk so I can read everyone's posts and sometimes comment on them? I really love reading about you.

arenel @ 2008-05-01T16:41:00

2008-05-01T20:55:35Z

Just got home from school and errands. I'm currently sitting outside with Bob and it's very windy. Bob is furtively looking around and wondering if she needs to hide under a bush. I can tell that she's enjoying it. Kidding aside, she's been wanting to go outside for days now but we've been so busy with work and school that she only manages about a minute of sun (and grass) before we have to usher her back in. Yay for Bob!

School isn't so bad. I can't wait for summer, though I'm taking two classes during it, it won't be as bad as the last two quarters because one of them will be an online class about art and music. I saw New Order in one of the lectures from an old, unupdated page and figured it might be interesting. Also, the teacher is named "Dr. Funk," which amuses me. It may or may not turn out to be my kind of class, but I'm guessing it wouldn't be hard to get an A from it. I actually just need three subjects (Chem 101, 102 and Anatomy) after this quarter, so I'm stuck until Spring of next year with no classes to take...BUT FUN ONES! xD Ohio State rarely offers online classes, so I'll give this one a try.

arenel @ 2008-04-28T08:11:00

2008-04-28T12:16:32Z

I'm going to kill myself. I have a Sociology midterm in an hour, totally didn't prepare for it. I "studied" the reviewer I made (drifting off to sleep every three minutes) just a few hours ago, haven't read the 100+ pages of material that will be included from the book. I am screwed.

Also, I hate Sociology! It's probably not even that the teacher is boring, but the topics and the terminologies! "Shared values," "public issues and private thought," "collective competencies." I think it's all worthless drabble that we all know already using our common sense. Kill Me Now. I guess I'd be lucky to get a B in this class...now I have to get an A in Biology, hahah.

Yeasayer

2008-04-20T03:43:28Z

Awesome band live. I think I'm in love with Ira Wolf.

arenel @ 2008-04-18T21:55:00

2008-04-19T02:22:48Z

I bought THIS the other day, will get here on Monday. :D

My friend is also getting a Rebel SLR, except I'm not sure what model he's getting. I told him we'll borrow each other's lenses so it'll be cheaper.

Zomg!

arenel @ 2008-04-08T13:57:00

2008-04-08T18:02:28Z

"Bored" doesn't even begin to explain what I feel right now, in between Biology classes. I could feel my brain resisting the urge to sneak out of my skull, unnoticed, in search of some long-lost nirvana composed of a daybed, unlimited margaritas and vampire weekend-type music, preferably set on the beach.

If brain fails from resisting, I would like to join it, please.

arenel @ 2008-04-02T00:46:00

2008-04-02T04:55:22Z

I just wanted to say this.

I went to see Jens Lekman tonight and this is the only decent shot I have of his SHOES.

I am not alone!!

(Although he said he didn't have any shoes and asked a shoe company for a pair and they sent him mismatched ones. xD)

Tammy Karlsson is the cutest drummer ever. <3

arenel @ 2008-03-17T22:26:00

2008-03-18T02:56:19Z

The thing about discovering many things and broadening "one's horizons" is the imminent possibility of becoming a snob. You tend to see things differently and think you're so much better than everyone else. It bothers me because I think most of us weren't this defensive when we didn't have information so accessible before. On the other hand, it's so much harder to fool someone with regard to what your "beliefs" are; so many people out there are hybrids of who they want to be and what kind of person they have become. They may not be aware of it, but who they really are is very much visible. But what do I know? Someone, somewhere out there, is already devising a way to discredit what I had just said.

--

1. My new obsession is Anthony Bourdain. I might start collecting his books and series DVDs.
2. I've been harboring this secret dream of becoming a military nurse, or a nurse for the United Nations. Okay, I'm not kidding -- I think I'm going to try and achieve this. (If I can even get in the Nursing program!) Oh but it's up there with retiring in East Asia and having my own massive library of books and music. It really is.
3. "Spring Break" is a joke, but I need to make the most of it. I plan on finishing two books this week, updating my iPod on Dan Carlin podcasts + music, renewing my permanent resident card, setting up an appointment with both nursing and chemistry advisors.
4. For the most part this week, I think I shall be working alone. Yes, as in with no one else for most of the day, but so far it's been okay since everyone seems to be on vacation. I hope I didn't just jinx it.
5. I've never been happier and had more purpose in my life than today.

urban renewal my cat.

2008-03-11T23:06:25Z

So looking around the Urban Outfitters website, I saw THIS for sale.

I can't believe they're actually selling that.

For $58?????????

I would love to meet the person who would fall for that sh*t.