KIN6WEN'S DAILYdish.
AUGUSTdish. (cont.)

TUESDAY, August 19, 2003
DAY 2. WORK WEEK #5,391. AHAHA. That number is not an accurate billing of how many weeks I've spent on the job. Although, it feels like it's not high enough. Whatever. I think that this week is gonna DRAG on. It's only Tuesday, but I'm already crying about wishing that it was Thursday or something. And traffic was AWESOME today! Meaning, there WAS NONE. Now what else could a brotha ask for?! Eh - just preparing myself for next week. Once all the rugrats make it back to school, it'll take me like HOURS just to get to work. I can feel it. I already know. *gag* Anyway. This week, my gurl MAE MUNOZ celebrates her b-day!@! YiPpiE! YAY! WoOhOo! So - b-day greetings to Miss MAE LOREN MUNOZ!! Luv ya', boo!!

Moving along. I caught a double-feature of sorts last night. My bro snagged DVDs of Phonebooth and The Recruit. Yeah, don't know why he was particularly feelin' the Collin Ferrel thang, but he was. Phonebooth was AIGHT. But after a while I got antsy. I wanted him to get the f*ck out of the damn phonebooth. That movie was just f*cked-UP, forreal. And I hate when Keifer Sutherland plays psycho-hose-beasts. He plays them well, but it makes me HATE him more so than I already do. I dunno. I've read several reviews about it. I think I'm leaning towards the "eh" side. On the other hand, The Recruit was GOOD. It was a totally good movie - very Training Day-esque. Again, it makes me wanna be a secret agent. TEEHEE... Go and see this one. Speaking of movies - I'm a little bit disturbed as to why they're comin' out with a sequel to that totally dumb-a$$ movie: Jeepers Creepers. That movie had to have been the suckiest horror flick of all time. It absolutely SUCKS. And now they're comin' out with Jeepers Creepers 2. Who da?! Have these people ever heard of direct-to-video?! Or better yet, waste-of-time-and-effort? DUMB-DUMB-DUMB.

Equally DUMB is this damn West Virginia sniper. Can we please stop the madness already?! There's no need for this senseless stupid SHIT.

MONDAY, August 18, 2003
ANOTHER WEIRD DREAM. Before I start, did I spell "weird" right? I know that the "'I' BEFORE 'E'" rule should apply, but there are exceptions. Could this be ONE of them? Hmmm... Anyway. I had another dream last night/this morning. This was even more WEIRD than the last. So - I'm guessing that I'm in college again (in the dream) and I'm part of this singing group/band type of thingy. (i watched "the cheetah girls" sunday night on the disney channel - lol) So something goes down, and the group divides. Being the diplomatic arse that I am, I totally didn't choose a side and I walked. SO - as I decided to walk, one half of the group taunted me to join them. They even began to chase me down through the buildings. I lost them for a time being, but then I headed to the parking lot to go to my car, but my dumba$$ walked right past them pretending to be someone else so that they wouldn't even notice me. RIGHT, WEN. So they notice, but aren't sure if it's me... and they start to follow me. So I'm walking calmly, and I see my car and pass it. So they figure that it isn't me and somehow I disappear amongst the other cars, and when they're not paying attention anymore I sneak into my car and drive off. OK, so it may sound DUMB to you ---but it was a whole-lotta-freaky for me. Shoot. The dream ended right when my alarm went off. I was totally freaked-out, but was trying to convince myself that it was just a dream. GOSH! What the hell is up?! Why am I having dreams?! I've been known to have weird dreams in the past... but I figured that those were just pre-pubescent drama scenes going on in the back of my sybconscious mind. And now-a-days I hardly dream. So having 2 dreams in a row --- and WEIRD ONES AT THAT --- is too weird for me. TOO weird.

SO - is there another SNIPER?! This time in West Virginia?! First of all, I wouldn't be surprised if that crap would go down in a place like West Virginia. I'm sure that it's a nice place for many, but for me - uh, no. And who else would go around playing sniper games but some freakin' PWT deranged lunatic who has nothing better to do with their time. Whatever. This sniper stuff is ridiculous, and it's NOT at all original. Leave the DC Sniper ish in the past, aight?! Leave that ish in the past.

My sister came over yesterday, and we decided to go to our cousins' house and play with our nephews - Matt and Aiden. Wow, Aiden is just a character. He's FUN! AHAHAAH...! OK, I miss Aiden already. I took another picture from Rome this weekend, and now it's here in my office. So everytime I'm in a bad mood all I gotta do is look at the picture of Aiden sittin' on that surfboard. AHAHA... Did I mention that his b-day party's theme was "BEACH PARTY?!" Now HOW adorable was that?! We blew up a whale-shaped swimming pool, put up torches and fish and starfish. And we had pineapple centerpieces (sorta...), and balloons and balloons and more balloons. OH, and Rome gave away little pails/shovels stuffed with candy and toys ---quite adorable. How fun it is to be a kid. You get to go to cool parties and get cool stuff afterwards. Older "kids" just go to a party, get phaded, and stumble out with your friends - hoping that someone is sober enough to tote the gang home. Hey, that stuff is fun-a$$, too. LOL!

Happy Monday... NO TRAFFIC! Gosh, how beautiful is that!? Let me enjoy it while I can. Next week, school's back in session. That means extra traffic in PG County and DC. *eh*

SUNDAY, August 17, 2003
WEIRD DREAM. Great weekend so far, but such a freakin' weird dream last night, or this morning - cause technically I had woke-up briefly around 9am --- then passed-out again and had this weird dream. So I'm at my house, in the basement, and there are people hanging out. People from YFC and stuff. Then someone, a guy from Jersey (names will be withheld just because i don't think they're important... i mean, they could be if i were pressed to figure out why this particular person would be in my dream specifically... but i'm not pressed...), comes up to me and says, "Hey, Wen... Can I bum a smoke?!" So yeah, me being all weirded out that someone from YFC asked me for a smoke (not that it's totally weird, cause it happens occasionally... but still. again, maybe this leads back to why this particular guy asked me in my dream...). So I'm like, "Yeah, man..." So I open up the box, and he takes one...and I light him up. So then somehow I end-up lighting-up, too. WEIRD. In my fucking basement! Then my mom comes downstairs and starts kirkin' out on me NOT for smoking, but for being "lax" with my service and yada-yada-yada. So then it gets all hot, and I'm screaming and arguing with her telling her to stop treating me like I'm freakin' 15 years old, and that I'm almost 30 and it's freakin' UNbelievable that she's trippin' the way she is. It just gets hot, and I'm screaming at her as I'm leaving the room... and I turn and look back, and dude is just smoking. Almost as if he's going through the same thing I'm going through, and he's heard it all before. WEIRD. Fucking weird. So why I gotta dream about something like that?! Hello?! And now I'm starting to be bothered by the fact that this brother played a part in this dream, and it's not even like I'm tight with him. We exchange "HEYs" and "WASSUPs" and all that, but we ain't like that... not like how I am with some of the other brothas. So yeah, it was just WEIRD. But now I don't care, cause I had two cigarettes today and my mom already pissed me off earlier this afternoon. SO I'm beginning to think that the dream was just a pre-firmation (is there such a thing?!) of what was to happen later on once I woke-up. Anyway. The triviality of life. Don't you just love it?!

Aiden's party was a SMASH...just like the cake that smashed into his face when Uncle Nick (his other lolo) was feeding him. AHAH! TOO adorable, that Aiden. Too freakin' adorable. It was a total kids' fest that Friday night. TOO many babies, but it was good to see everyone, though. Jen and Vernon brought their kids (who are beautiful children, i must say), Aileen brought her son ---who was a lil' bit on the cranky side, Judy and Eddie were there - and they had Eddie's nephew with them (freakin' adorable lil' kid), and of course Ate Lorna/Kuya Sam's twins - Joshua Christopher and Christian Julian. Those two are adorable. But I'ma need them to start walking...SOON! You're one year old, little guys! Get off yer butt and start walking!! AHAHAHA... So yeah, the party was good times. It was hot as balls outside, though, and we had the WORST time loading the cars with stuff and bringing 'em back to auntie's house. And carrying the trash to the dumpsters was DISGUSTING. I had like all sorts of liquids drip from the bag to my jeans and onto my freakin' LEATHER SANDALS! *ArGh* I'm gonna have to sterilize them jonx before I can use 'em again. OH, and Juvale and Eulo were there with Deja and Thea. Man, I've seen Juvale more times this year that we've seen each other since she's gotten back from the Philippines. NO, take that back... since she's had DEJA! TOTALLY funny...!

Yesterday I went to the gym, heard Mass at 5:30pm, then met-up with Sharonda. We had dinner at Copeland's. Good stuff, although we felt fat-ass afterwards. I didn't even have much, and I still felt gross. I have both eating and body-image disorders. The first step is admitting you have those problems. First step down, 11 more to go?! Does that require a 12-step program, too? OH, and last night I caught SNL with Brittany Murphy on it. It was HILARIOUS! She's one funny gal. Funny I just totally mentioned her on my NEWS. section sometime last week. Right?! Eh... on to the the next week, please. I'm broke, but the weather is nice outside so I'm not gonna trip.

FRIDAY, August 15, 2003
FREAKY FRIDAY. This post is not a reference to that cheesy Disney re-make of the once-so-popular film of long ago. Jamie Lee Curtis, why oh why did you agree to do this to your somewhat decent career?! Oh well. So it's a FREAKY FRIDAY nonetheless. First of all, much of the northeast is barely recovering from the trife black-outs that took place yesterday afternoon. WOW. Seeing that stuff on CNN, while at the gym, sorta scared me. Because of it, I had a mediocre workout (and embarrassing, someone had the same camo shorts i was wearing!!). The scene in midtown NYC was pretty scary; sorta 911-ish. But thankfully it was just some trifeness with a power server which, unfortunately, was kinda hooked-up with those servers in Hartford, Jersey, Cleveland, Toledo, Toronto, Ottawa, and much of NY. Seeing those people walk the streets and crossing those bridges ON FOOT was just amazingly RIDICULOUS. And then this morning, the traffic was almost NON-existent. Wait a minute, that was pretty much the "traffic-vibe" of the past week. It's been traffic-less ALL week comin' outta the Ft. Washington/Oxon Hill area... well in the AM at least (it's the AM rush that matters most). It's been WEIRD! And on a friday no-less?! Definitely freaky. I guess Washingtonians (or moreso FORT WASHINGTONians) are still on VA-CAY?!

Even more freaky... I just got paid, and paid that blicky out to BILLS-BILLS-BILLS won't you pay my bills, won't you pay my automoBILLS. SHEEEEYT! Sounds like a carbon-copy of last pay day's post, eh?! Yeah, pretty much. All good. Next one I think I actually get to recuperate... At least a little bit. I need to stop charging, is what I have to do. Man... And that tax refund I got?! ALL goes to the new PC. The money you spend for life's "necessities." Bull sh!t. AHAHAAH. So while this freaky friday continues to plague me... I'm resigning myself to staying home this weekend and doing absoFUCKINGlutely nothing. It'll be a DVD weekend for WEN. And it'll most def be a DO-NOT-EAT-OUT-WEEK, too. Actually, it'll have to be like that for the next TWO weeks. After I just told Marz that I so need to go to Nieman Marcus or Saks and look for that Ferragamo belt or Prada wallet that I've been brooding over. NOT RIGHT NOW. And if I made plans to meet yo' ass for dinner or something?! You bet yo' ass that it'll have to be someplace like Chicken Out or Baja Fresh or something where my meal won't cost me over $20. Can't do it. Can't do the alcoholic drinks either. No more nightly vodka tonics w/Ketel One, and weekend drink fests. Not until I can recuperate with a fucking smile on my face. *CHEEEEEEEESSSSSSEEEEEEEEEE*

Despite it all, I'm good! I feel good about today - no doubt. And even though I'm like pretty much money-less for the moment, I'm atually OK. I'm content with that fact, and I actually look forward to seeing how I can handle it. Well, it's a good excuse for me to lose MORE weight --- by being a freakin' ANOREXIC for the lack of funds to BUY the fattening crap that I consume called "FOOD." I'm a happy camper!!

On a lighter note - today is DEN's BuRfDaY!@! Aiden is now 1 year old!! (den is my nephew; cousin romelee's lil one) GO AI-DEN! IT'S YO' BURFDAY! WE GONNA PAH-TeE LIKE IT'S YO BURFDAY! Happy 1st BIRTHDAY, DENDEN!! And happy friday, my people...! *DoUbLe-DuTcH-StAnCe*

THURSDAY, August 14, 2003
HUMIDITY SUX. It really sucks when you get-up in the morning, and leave a mildly air conditioned house only to feel the moist humid air hit your face as you head out the door. It's pretty disgusting, isn't it?! It's like one of the WORST feelings ever. It's probably the only thing that I hate about the East Coast. I could hang with West Coast weather any day. But life is more interesting on the "fast-paced" coast. You know what I'm saying?!

I don't want to get into a discussion about why I like the East Coast better than the West Coast cause I actually like BOTH. BUT I could only live on one side of the country, and it's obvious that I'm an East Coaster at heart. It's grittier on the east - what can I say?! I live for GRIT. LOL! Anyway, Eliza Dushku (mah gurl from "Bring It On") is gonna star in her own show on FOX coming this Fall. I forgot what it's called, but it looks promising. It's one of those "supernatural" types of shows like Miracles. I actually liked Miracles with Skeet Ulrich, but I guess the American public couldn't handle all that supernaturalness mixed-in with all that Catholic hoopla. It's was a lot to take, I admit, but QUITE interesting. The show may have been a little dark, but I enjoyed it. There's another show coming on another network with the former Emily Quartermaine from General Hospital. It's supposed to be a knock-off of the Joan of Arc story, but this time she'll be known as "Joan of Arcadia..." And that's most likely Arcadia, CA or Arcadia, WI or Arcadia, SC. It's some American city called "Arcadia." How appropriate, eh?! There's a trend with the supernatural and the semi-religious undertones. Could there be a message here?! Hmmm... Things that make you go "hmmmmm..."

Wow. I'm indoors, but I can literally see the humidity outside. It's taunting me. It's telling me to go outside and just get bombarded by it --- so much so that I'll wanna get butt-naked and jump into a nearby fountain. GROSS. It's so gross outside. UNBELIEVABLE. I can't wait for fall to come. I so can't wait...

WEDNESDAY, August 13, 2003
THE LIFESPAN OF A SHOE. Just what is the lifespan of a shoe? I was thinking about this question as I was walking up to my building this morning. *Click-clack click-clack click-clack* As my heel-and-toe tempo moved me closer and closer to the workplace, I couldn't help but look down at my shoes as they moved. A gazillion and one thoughts ran through my mind just then, but most importantly I remembered that this pair is reaching its one-year anniversary with my feet. I believe I got them sometime in September or October last year. And now they're moving on towards it's 1-year mark. So what to do then?! Shall I retire them to the shoe-shelf for ever and ever, amen? Or shall I continue to use 'em to the point of death?! (death to the shoe, of course) It's a hard thing to ponder about, eh?!

I don't know. As long as I can remember, I've been enamored by shoes. And ever since high school, I always had a knack for sportin' some seriously stylin' shoes. I wasn't about the boring-boring loafers and kicks deal. I was into boots, thick soles, split-toe stitching, etc.-etc.-etc. A friend once told me that I was years ahead in terms of the style(s) of my shoes. It was something that I was utterly proud of, yet at the same time it just never truly phased me as anything out-of-the-ordinary. I figured that it was a fetish that I had. And in college I confirmed that I do, indeed, have a shoe fetish. Now it's not one of those sexual fetishes. Just the mere fact that I love shoes... a shoe-whore, a shoe-horse, whatever it is you wanna call it. Yep, that's me.

For years I've bought pairs and pairs of shoes, and in due time they'd land themselves on the coveted garage "shoe shelf." Landing on the garage shoe shelf is basically an honorable thing. It means that the shoe has, indeed, served its purpose - making me a very happy-camper during the life-span of the shoe. Sometimes, a pair of shoes would be honored even more if I'd one-day-out-of-the-blue decide to choose one from the garage shoe shelf, and sport it for the day or two. However, those pairs that made it to the garage shelf sooner than those true veterans were often looked upon with shame. These were the pairs that ended-up being disappointments, although I did try my best to wear 'em as much as I could. If they were lucky, they'd move on to another life in the Philippines or via Planet Aid, but that wasn't SO likely.

So yeah, the lifespan of a shoe... It would vary, it would seem. Obviously, classic styles will last you a while - esp. if they're crafted well with quality materials and craftmanship. I tend to give each shoe at LEAST a year (kicks are excluded here - since they're sneakers, they have multiple uses even at their old age). If the shoe is able to handle more than a year, then I play it by ear. At MAXIMUM, a timeless shoe/boot can go for almost two years. But once the three-year mark hits, then it's definitely TIME to move on. If the shoe is in great condition after three years, by all means - continue to wear it sparingly. But if it's color is fading, or if it looks over-worn, or if it looks like it's definitely TRYING HARD to go with the outfit that is three-years its junior, then ummmm... yeah. You better get rid of them babys. So yeah - the lifespan of my shoes start at a year's pace. After that, it plays day-by-day before I can make the ultimate decision to shelf that bad-boy or not.

So the key word here is "discretion." Use your discretion to decide what should really work for you. For one, if it's a trendy shoe - chances are that it'll no longer be good once the seasons change. THOSE should be shelved. Once a particular style of shoe hits Macy's, other "department stores" like Hechts, Lord and Taylor, or even Sears, or Pay-Less...then you KNOW that the particular shoe style has hit over-kill status. If they're all over the place at shoe warehouses like DSW or Famous Footwear, then that should be another indicator: THEY'RE THERE FOR A REASON!! Usually that means that the style has already lost its novelty, and that everyone and their mother is wearing it. (CASE IN POINT: retro-ish BOWLING shoes... OLD, OLD news...) Trends should go with the tide, my friends. Classic styles can, and should, last much longer. If you're lucky, sometimes you can still pull-off a classic "summer" shoe in the fall, if used correctly. OR vice-versa: a classic "fall/winter" shoe/boot can still be used in the spring or summer if done the right way. It's really all about figuring out what can work and what can't.

The word on "clunky" is that it's OUT. Unless you're sportin' pants that are too long or too wide at the bottom, then you can get away with it. But the current trend for the millennium is narrow, square or sharp-toes, and not-so-high heels (yep, the heel rule applies to us fellas, too). So yeah... all in all, the lifespan of a shoe totally varies. But like I said, pick and choose to wear a pair at your utmost discretion. Make me proud!

TUESDAY, August 12, 2003 (much-much later...)
KiSAPMATA. Listening to Rivermaya... Kisapmata. MAN! Rivermaya is one of those Philippine bands that make me HAPPY. This song especially. Man. I love Rivermaya - when Bamboo was singing lead. But now he's back here somewhere in the States... probably living a normal, somewhat obscure, life. What, after being a top Philippine band-er for a few years - with appearances on television and all over MTV Asia. Wow. So yeah. Rivermaya, Kisapmata... makes me HAPPY. I'm actually listening to Philippine radio via the net: http://www.rx931.com/live/windows.asp - click on to listen to what's going on. It's now like 11:20-something in the AM Wednesday morning there in the Phils. I'm trippin' at how they're talking about stuff happening at Alabang Town Center or Robinson's Malls or sponsorships by Selecta ice cream. It's just weird. As if I'm right there. As if I can actually hail a cab and sit in that two-hour traffic along EDSA. Wow. I miss the Philippines... dearly. *sniff*

TUESDAY, August 12, 2003
PARADISE LOST. It's over. The Paradise Hotel is now tainted... I got home late last night and caught the tail-end of the show, PARADISE HOTEL. Yes, I've become a certified addict. And tell me why I'm looking forward to seeing TEMPTATION ISLAND III start at the end of the month?! Ridiculous... LOL! But yes, there's a new guy at the Paradise Hotel, and he is a major GEEK. I mean he's like "Geek-fest President." I feel so bad for the guys there, AND for the girls. I think that the guys all think that he's "not all there." And the girls are just straight-up mortified by his weirdness. He sits and talks/pampers his stuffed MONKEY. It's literally a stuffed animal - a monkey - that he puts in its own bed and such. WOW. I mean, I know that me and my siblings have our own stuffed animals, but this dude is just plain ridiculous. And then he was in the bed like pretending to make out with someone?! And they caught that on tape? How embarrassing. And he's fat and gross. The look on Holly's face when he "chose" her was CLASSIC! TIMELESS! There's gonna be some MAD drama in paradise. Stay tuned.

MONDAY, August 11, 2003
GOOD MOOD-MOOD-FOOD-MOOD. *AHAHAHA* I'm in a good mood today... Thus far. Let's just hope that it lasts. I had a pretty good weekend! Friday night I had pho with Elle, afterwhich we went to St. A's to stop-in at the CLP to hear K. Ervin's talk. THEN we had margaritas and appetizers at Ruby's and saw Pirates of the Caribbean. Johnny Depp is an amazing actor, I'm telling you. It was a pretty good movie.

Saturday I went to the gym, ran errands (in other words - "went shopping..." LOL), went to Thea/Deja's b-day party and saw a bunch of the high school homies, went to Mass, did more shopping (!), then went to Modern with Flo and co. A very weird night at Modern, but good times. Got the buzz goin', so that was cool.

Sunday, I went to sing at the prayer assembly, after which I had dinner at Debbie and Godfrey's new pad... So likin' their place :) It's all cozy and warm and PERFECT for the both of them. And G asked me and Jun to be in his wedding! And, of course, Debz asked Elle to be a "maid" of her wedding. LOL! AHAHAAH! Running joke... But yeah. It was a pretty good weekend, if you ask me. And to top it all off, there was no traffic this morning?! Made it into the office in like 20+ minutes! It's just a bit too dark outside for me right now... damn clouds. But other than that, I'm GRAVY. I have dinner plans tonight, and have a scheduled workout session at the gym. It's ALL good.

So I'm hungry. Don't you hate when you're like hungry but have no clue what you want to eat? I should be eating nuts and berries, but eh... I just don't want to eat like a hungry cow. I ate too much at Thea/Deja's party on Saturday. Kids' food is fun: chicken nuggets, hot dogs, tater tots, chicken, nachos, LUMPIA!! And puto... ahahaha! SO FUNNNNN! Junkie, but fun. Then last night, i had like two pieces of carrot cake and then I ate all these carrot sticks at Debbie's place. OMG, I think I'm allergic to carrots now. My tongue got all itchy after eating the carrot sticks! BOO! But yeah. I think it's safe to say that I ate like a freakin' hostage this weekend. I have yet to lose 10 lbs.! HELP ME!

OH yeah, we had some FUNNY conversations last night. We talked about my blogsite, too. Debz said that sometimes she gets depressed reading it cause I'm always hatin' on something... "I hate this..." or "I hate that..." I laughed when she told me that... (so did everyone else actually...) But I figured that it's more funner that way. LOL. I usually don't rant and rave about anything that happens to me that's normally good. I often have the phone to discuss that stuff. But when I'm all excited and happy about something that borders the majorly insane to the sanely impossible, I'm all ranting and raving about that shieeeet!! But when I'm pissed about something - you know I'ma have to rant and rave about that until it's beaten down to the PULP. Call it "stress management." AHAHAH! But in an effort to make Debz a happy camper, I'm going to try to be a bit more happy-happy-joy-joy on this thing. I'll give myself like 3 minutes before I get pissed-off about some random crap again, but let's just sit back and see what happens. In the meantime, I have to think about what I'm gonna do about this HUNGRY FEELING that I hate... OOOPSSS! So much for the three-minute rule. (ahahaha! j/k! love ya', DEBZ!!) HaPeE MoNDaY!@!

FRIDAY, August 8, 2003
I'M A SURVIVOR. Survived the work week. Hey, it's been a while since I've actually worked a full 5-day work week. So this is a feat of sorts. I feel a celebration coming along...
g o n n a . g e t . k r u n k e d

OK, just kidding. But hey, it's Friday. My Friday started yesterday after work. I had a semi-bad day in the office, so I let off steam at the gym afterwards. Then I met Currita at Pentagon City. We bought some stuff at Abercrombie then had dinner at Ruby's. Oh, had a cigarette for dessert. LOL. Yeah, that was my PRE-weekend. Man, doing the FIRM's ab workouts are fun, but i think they're getting too mundane---or maybe just too short. Maybe I'll do all 5-days of ab work like in one sitting. Let's see how that goes. AHAHAHA... It's Friday! (did i already say that?!)