Been terribly busy, what with a long vacation only 3 weeks away (look out 610!) and the rush to roadshow Mad Crowd Media. But, there's always stuff to blog about:

1. Was at 168 and Quiapo Saturday. I think I'm graduating from the experience. Nothing like Pratunam and Chatuchak, although Wellmanson's was bead heaven.

2. I have not seen the old lady who lives next door, for maybe six months now. She used to be out in front of her house, screaming at her household help. I wonder how she's doing now.

3. The office is almost ready. It took an entire month -- which means an entire month's rent -- to get an electric meter installed, get the phone company to give me a phone (still no internet -- from the phone company), buy furniture, get an AC unit (which will be installed today), get it painted, buy computer stuff, etc. Geez, they really make it hard for you here. I better get tax breaks, man.

4. There's a saying, which I got from someone I met maybe 15 years ago, who got it from a fish vendor in Surigao. It goes: "The early bird gets the worm, but the late worm is still alive." It cuts both ways, as you know, whether you're coming from the bird's POV (which is, to be thorough) or the worm's POV (which is, tardiness can still be offset by luck). The latter, as you would imagine, is rarely found true.

5. I'm on Facebook. FYI. (And, am enjoying finding some really old friends from way way way back.)

6. The cappucino machine is broken. Sigh.

7. We have business cards. We decided to do three different designs, so if you see me, ask for each one. It comes with an icebreaking explanation.

8. I haven't been on my bike in months. Sigh.

9. I'll be teaching again this semester. I'll try to do something new to make sure that competition level stays up.

10. After a decade of using gel or mousse, I decided to do the whole "wax" thing that everyone else is doing. I'm enjoying it. I can channel David Beckham in minutes.