My Simple Joys in Life

...eating a hearty adobo cooked by my Dad, with eggs and potatoes--the works! Haha!
...collecting concert tickets and actually reliving each event over and over
...eating with your friends, babbling forever and realizing that time and distance failed to keep you apart
...playing an old casette tape of your favorite band
...eating California maki with mayo for breakfast (pambihira, puro eating ah!)
...finding my slippers that mysteriously got lost for a week and was found under the fridge!

I am just so happy they found it again. I was really upset. I am so attached with this slippers. I went trekking at Mt. Makiling in Laguna wearing only these. *rubbing my toes against my slippers* Haha!

Jars of Excitement

Next week is dead toxic--case discussions, long exams, practical exams, presentations. But not a single thought of these toxicants move me. I am coming to the Jars of Clay concert. And even the mere utterance of these words is enough to stimulate my sympathetic autonomic nervous system...causing my pupils to dilate, my salivary glands to reduce secretion, bronchodilation, reduced peristalsis, increased glycogenesis, decreased urine output, and increased secretion of my catecholamines. Hehe kainis.

The article I just posted came from some girl with exactly the same two cents worth as I have...and I don't even know her personally. I unbelievably think it's amazing to find such person who speaks of these words even before they have left your thoughts. I am overwhelmed of how God is making use of Jars of Clay. They stand for their name. "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." (2 Corinthians 4:7) And further, "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body". (2 Corinthians 4:8-10)

Can't wait to see Dan Haseltine and the rest of the band...and I can't believe he's already married!!

One of my Dreams is Coming True (Or Why I Love Jars of Clay So Much)

Written by Ida Torres

Right now, I'm holding in my hands the solid proof that one of my lifelong dreams is coming true. Yes, I am now certifiably going to the Jars of Clay concert on March 2.

"Ang babaw mo naman! One of your dreams is to watch a concert?" That's what you might be thinking. But you have no idea how long i (and countless other fans) waited for these guys to come to our shores. You have no idea how these guys have profoundly affected the musical and spiritual aspects of my life.

Let me take you back a few years ago, when I was just a baby Christian. My concept of Christian music at that time was still Don Moen and the like. Although they were inspirational naman talaga, I kinda thought they were too old fashioned and not up to date with the times. And at that time I was fizzling out of my bubblegum pop phase (yes, unfortunately, I went through that) and starting to appreciate the pop rock and alternative genre. One day at the UPCCC tambayan, some of the boys were plucking a guitar and singing this really cool song that went "They say (and the 2nd voice goes say....) that I can move the mountain". And I asked "Wow, new band?". And of course the answer was this really cool Christian band called Jars of Clay (the song, if you still don't know is Faith Like a Child). I didn't know that Christian bands could sound that cool and still have a message that can either squeeze your heart or inspire you to high heavens (pun intended). And so begins my love affair with contemporary Christian music. And particularly my relationship with Jars of Clay.

Yes, I believe we have a relationship. They write songs for people just like me; people who have been through abuse (He from the self-titled debut album); people who are scared and broken out of their minds (Much Afraid from Much Afraid); people who are addicted to grace (Grace from If I Left the Zoo); people who are screaming for change (Revolution from The Eleventh Hour); people who just love to, ah, sing (Sing from Who We Are Instead).

Anyways, I think I memorized every single word from their self-titled debut album. It wasn't really that hard naman, (except for the words that were being chanted by the Gregorians in the intro of Liquid) coz it was really listener friendly. And it helped that almost everyone in the tambayan were so into the band that we practically sang the whole album almost everyday.
And when a year later I started a band with some of my friends, the very first cover songs we did were of course Jars of Clay songs like Faith Like a Child, Worlds Apart and Love Song for a Savior. And even up to the present days, we still sing those songs which are now considered "classics". Sometimes, just close your eyes and listen to our guitarist John's voice and you will hear a tinge of Dan Haseltine's voice in his.

And even when some people were saying that they didn't like the 2nd album (or the 3rd, 4th or 5th), I was just so incredulous. I mean, with every new album, I love them all the more! They could've just stuck to the formula that made their first album such a success if they really just wanted to make money. But they experimented with new sounds, new words, new styles with every new album. Much Afraid was the introspective album. If I Left the Zoo was the fun, Beatle-esque one. The Eleventh Hour was a return-to-the-early-elements-but-with-an edgier-sound album. And Who We Are Instead is the folk-acoustic laced with just a bit of pop one. I have never been bored listening to any one of their albums because of this variety.

But most of all, I love this band's heart for the ministry. For the National Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Christians, they made a song entitled This Road and they traveled to countries that are affected by persecution to try and understand and help in any way they can. They have also founded the Blood:Water Mission because they were compelled to help out 3rd world countries. Their first project is to rebuild and repair 1000 wells in urban and rural areas in sub-Saharan Africa. They just don't sing about God's love; they try and spread it around practically
As of this writing, I have less than two weeks until that night when I'll finally be able to listen to their music live. And from where I will be sitting, I think I'll have a pretty good view of them too (they're all married and taken by the way. Haha). So, have I told you how excited I am???

gayuma night

gayuma night
Originally uploaded by dzaymee.

February 4, 2005.

This picture pretty much sums up the whole night. After a night of studying for one of those dreaded Anatomy practical exams and actually flunking it anyway (I was emotionally disturbed that night because my cousin and my tita were leaving for the States the next day), we wrapped up our lab gowns, changed clothes and headed to UP Diliman. Right, Thomasians on a UP trip--thanks to Pat and Grace. They toured us around their alma mater and for a moment, I breathed in fresh air...away from the smoky portals of my dear UST (Viva Espana!). The highlight of the trip, however, was my first taste of isaw (translation: chicken intestines). Finally, after 21 years of existence. It wasn't as gorry as I expected it to be. I actually thought it'd be good to eat it with rice. I was surprised at first when I heard people calling out their orders. They could eat at least 5 sticks! It didn't cost much though and according to the former UPuans (how do you call them anyway? Iskolars?)Pat and Grace, that's the way to eat it. I loved the vinegar sauce...I even drank some of it.

After the hearty appetizer, touring 'round the University and meeting my friends' friends, we went to Gayuma for dinner. It was a nice place. Great concept for a resto. I love their "mat place", where we ate in an Indian sitting position. (What the heck am I talking about?) We passed around our plates and basically ate each other's food. And of course, an hour wouldn't be complete without somebody walking up the resto and greeting Grace! Sure that was her territory.

After the main dish, we got slices of cake and pigged out! Sugar rush got into us so quickly and before we knew it, we were doing some scandalous videos/pictures/whatnots in the place. Sabog!

We decided to leave as Llew starts dozzing off and we didn't want to leave him with the dishes. Hehe!

What a night.

gayuma

gayuma
Originally uploaded by dzaymee.

Twas a night to remember...(front L-R) Hannie, Me, Llew, Belen (back L-R) Grace and Pat.

Jars of Clay: Show You Love

jars of clay
Originally uploaded by dzaymee.

Dan Haseltine, here I come!! Hehe. I've purchased my tickets already and I'm so happy I was able to get good seats. I can't wait for March 2!! And I'm eating Taco Bell on March 2 also!! *dreamy mode* Oh God, who am I to deserve this favor?! I promise to study well until that big day comes!! Todo!!

BTW, this is a pretty interesting site if you're also anticipating JOC's concert just as I am! http://jarsofclayshowyoulove.blogspot.com/

Toxicity

(Taken from "Terms of the Environment" http://www.epa.gov/OCEPAterms/tterms.html)

Definition: The degree to which a substance or mixture of substances can harm humans or animals. Acute toxicity involves harmful effects in an organism through a single or short-term exposure. Chronic toxicity is the ability of a substance or mixture of substances to cause harmful effects over an extended period, usually upon repeated or continuous exposure sometimes lasting for the entire life of the exposed organism. Subchronic toxicity is the ability of the substance to cause effects for more than one year but less than the lifetime of the exposed organism.

Toxicant: A harmful substance or agent that may injure an exposed organism.

So, which stage am I in?

Nenok

To steal something that obviously doesn't belong to you.
To claim something and believe firmly that it was purposely meant to fall into your greedy hands.
To maniacally crave for something that isn't yours.
To succumb to a mystical "voice" calling your name over and over, and is coming from an object of desire.
To filth your hands with some guilty pleasure.

The thing you would for love...or obsession.

Emails

Don't you just hate chain emails that threaten you when you don't forward them?

More so, I hate mushy email forwards...about love...friendship...like I really need to read about it (like you really need to read this blog entry!).

I hate scary pictures sent on my email.

I hate scary pictures camouflaged on surveys or whatnots.

I hate spamming.

I hate you!






Hehe, joke! ;p~

The Week That Was...

...isn't actually a good one!

I anticipated bad scores the moment my Tita Irene and Cuz Ryan arrives. I haven't been having serious study times and I am most of the time tired. I was actually multi-tasking--going to classes early, rushing my way home, helping my cousin with his pile of homeworks and making sure I bring my Tita somewhere interesting when I get home from school. When everyone has retired from a long day, I grab a cup of coffee and try to study. I've never finished my supposed readings for this week. I would be dozzing off at 12 midnight (y'know how envious you could get when everyone in the house has fallen asleep already and you're still wide awake?!) and then realize later on that I have overslept and that I only have 2 hours to prepare for my morning class.

I am a tired dog.

They have left already. But next week, my Dad will be coming back home. I get this feeling that whenever someone comes home from somewhere, I sacrifice my personal time to accommodate them. I wish I wouldn't ruin my study time next week. It's going to be really critical. And I can't afford to get anymore bad scores...






215 emails on my inbox.









I had to delete to many messages from my e-groups.








Hayyy...







I really feel bad about my Anatomy practical exam a while ago...







You think you know so much but you actually know nothing.








Dang.