The Writer's Block

...which, ironically enough, was the exact thing this writer suffered while she was trying to describe this blog. hopefully not a self-fulfilling prophecy.

I was feeling something odd last Wednesday. For the purpose of getting to my point, I'll mention that last Wednesday was July 8, 2009. It wasn't my birthday, nor was it the birthday of anyone I knew. (Well, at least I hope it wasn't.) But I was feeling celebratory for some reason, and it only occurred to me when I looked at a folder I've kept with me for quite some time.
The reason why July 8, 2009 is very special is because it is exactly a year after the date when an essay I wrote was first published. My essay, which was published under the title "The reading room," (and which is linked to the title of this blog entry) was published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer's Youngblood section. It had been written originally for my Civil Welfare Training Service (CWTS) class the summer after my freshman year in college. Our professor had told us that after we submitted the essays, she would choose a handful to send for publishing to the section.
Here's what I did. Before I submitted my essay to our professor, I already sent the essay to Youngblood for possible publishing, and just as well, since I didn't get picked for publishing in the first place.
Fast forward to July 8. 2008. I remember getting a text from one of my high school friends, asking if I wrote something for Youngblood, before telling me that I got published. After I got the text, I was in a hunting frenzy and searched for any copy of that day's Inquirer. I was able to get one, and I told my mom about it.
After adding that article to my resume, I got the courage to email Bounce Magazine and apply as a freelance writer. They texted me on the 31st, and since then, I've called myself a freelance writer. I've had a couple of articles under my belt already, and I'm looking forward to seeing myself as a regular, and as something else that I'm too shy to divulge because apparently, if you show people that you're ambitious, some of them just get the energy to hate you and hurt you.
Anyway, here's to us, Youngblood! Thanks for opening a door for me and for showing me another way to gain some experience, have fun, and earn a little cash. I've met a Singaporean band, eaten free food from my favorite hangout place in UP (Long Island!), and experienced a little commuting on a Saturday morning. Here's to more life experiences in the future.
:)
The Movie Geek, now signing off.

I'm going to make a promise for this week.

I'm going to make sure that by Thursday, I have everything I need. Whether I will have enough energy to go to the big party this weekend is still a question, but I need my life fixed by Thursday. I need to get back on track since a recent thing I've been working on has been sending me to overdrive and my schoolwork behind. It has to be finished by tomorrow.

So, what am I going to do?

1. Do Journ 101 assignment. --done

2. Write BC 121 script. --done

3. Print out graphic. --don't need to borrow backdrop anymore.

4. Cover this year's Gawad Plaridel for Journ 101. --done

5. Edit VTR, graphics, and Gawad Plaridel video and article.

6. Research for Comm 120 report. --07.07.2009 (done. at least for the meantime.)


I'm holding myself to that promise.

Starting now.


The Movie Geek, now signing off.

It's 1.33 am from where I am sitting and I finished watching Casablanca for the 1st time about 20 or so minutes ago. I'm tempted to write a review, but maybe when I'm feeling less sentimental. All I have to say is this, Casablanca is one gem of a movie that no one, young or old, should miss. Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman make an electrifying onscreen pair, and the supporting cast was equally impressive. The scriptwriting was awesome, and I could very well go until the wee hours of the morning and quote lines from the movie, but I am tired.

However, what I came online to talk about has less to do with the movie and more to do with Hollywood gentlemen in general.

I have crushes on older men, which is no surprise to anyone who does know me. I find the maturity and the self-confidence (read: self-confidence, not arrogance) sexy and admirable, and those that I do crush on really look good even though they could be old enough to be my father.

But my older male crushes are not just old as in could-be-a-cousin or your friend's-brother old. They're of the uncle, father, and grandfather-old level. For instance, take Paul Newman. When I was born, his great movies have all been made. He had a solid reputation. He was respected. He was old, if we're being ageist about this. But the moment I saw this picture, I immediately had a big-time, old Hollywood type of crush.




That's not even his sexiest picture. I personally think that Paul Newman was at his personal drop-dead handsome best when he starred in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, a movie I watched just because I saw a still of it and thought he looked hot.

And then there's Rock Hudson, who's reportedly gay but still handsome as well. I even liked Captain von Trapp from Julie Andrews' The Sound of Music. Now, thanks to Casablanca, I like Humphrey Bogart as well.

So here's what I think. Old Hollywood men, like Humphrey Bogart, William Holden, Marlon Brando, Paul Newman, and even Steve McQueen, are drop dead gorgeous not only because of their features, but also because of the grace, dignity, poise, intelligence, and maturity that just ooze out of them the same way cheese oozes out of a bite of a KFC Meltz.

(Hah. As though advertising would get me a year's supply. But hey, KFC, all I want is a lifetime supply of fries.)

Which sadly, can be lacking in the young men my age.

(Young men my age. I sound like a spinster.)

Well, whoever he is, wherever he is, I don't need to wait for him like some damsel in distress. Because first of all, that wasn't what I was born to do, and second of all, I'm kind of a pseudo-feminist. If I need help, I'll ask for it. Until then, do not feel obliged. Lastly, I'll be wasting my life if all I had to do was wait for the guy and the next guy and the next guy and the next guy... when I could meet people by freelancing, pig out without having to face criticism, and dress the way I want to dress. Because I am not changing the thread count on my clothes to suit you. Also, I feel sexier with my long sleeves and ballet flats in a Miranda Priestly way.

(By now I should have digressed, but I've digressed so much, I believe it's amounting to a car spinning off-road. Again with the macabre metaphors. What is wrong with me?)

But here's what I want to say. Whoever you are, "Here's looking at you, kid."


The Movie Geek, signing off.

The prerequisite first post in any new blog is like the first mistake you make at work. Over time it would be forgettable, and then someone will dig it up to haunt you.

Of course, I didn't mean to be so macabre, if that's not an exaggeration, but it is 2 am where I'm sitting at, and I ran out of suitable and more positive metaphors.

This first post is for myself, so that I have something to remind myself of when I'm stuck in a rut and cannot write. Self, pay attention. Here are 5 things I need to tell myself every once in a while to get myself out of the rut and to remind myself why I'm here.


1. You were meant to write. You've known this for sometime. You just forget, or you sometimes just don't believe in it with the same ferocity that you used to. But that was what you were meant to do, and if you still don't believe it, just think about how different your life would be if you denied yourself the opportunity to pursue your passion and went to med school.

2. Nothing in life that's worth having comes easy. Yes, it's hard. Yes, it's complicated. Yes, it's probably making you stressed and angry and frustrated because it's so hard. Maybe it's so hard you're even crying right now. But you want this. You want so much. You want the new mentor's respect and that future with CNN. You want the graduation honors and the praiseworthy productions. You've wanted this for so long. Don't give up now.

3. Take a break. Someone sent you a quote before. "Don't stop when you're tired, stop when you're done." Something like that. Stop when you're tired. Take a nap. Have some ice cream. Squeeze a stress ball.

4. Your failures do not define you. I know sometimes it feels that way, but your mistakes will not be the ones people remember you for. So you should just learn and move on. Learn and move on. Someday, you'll thank yourself that you did just that.

5. You have people who have your back.


Good morning, world. :)

Who Am I?

I am the dreamer staring wistfully at the blue sky, the optimist in thought, the grinning toddler in the playground, and the night owl reaching for the stars.

I am a writer.

These Are A Few of My Favorite Things