The Bourne Legacy

Plot: In the wake of Jason Bourne's dismemberment of Operation Blackbriar, the CIA decides to dispose of their other black ops programs, which includes the termination of their field agents. However, Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner), an agent from Operation Outcome, escapes from being executed and, with the help of an Outcome scientist (Rachel Weisz), sets out to expose the crimes of his superiors.

Rating: 4/5

Comments: I'm not a fan of the Bourne movies.. I only saw one, and I can't even remember which one was it. But I just came home from watching the fourth one, The Bourne Legacy.

Now, my main reason for watching is Jeremy Renner.. I have this crush on him, though I much prefer Hawkeye to Aaron Cross. Another reason - the Manila scenes. The car chase scene was good, but it still felt as if the movie is missing something. Although, as I've never seen the previous movies (save for one I couldn't remember), I'm not equipped to judge.

Anyway, all in all it was a good movie and I enjoyed watching it.

so..

..I've been feeling way too lazy to update my blog. It sucks not to have your own internet connection. I miss the DSL we had back when I was still living at home. In Cebu, I had to rely on a Globe Tattoo USB Plug-it, and using my mobile phone while mooching the WiFi at our school. I do bring my laptop to school sometimes, but me being lazy, I'd rather leave it at home than lug it around.

Anyway, we just finished our individual project - a three-tier wedding cake. And we have a whole week free, so I opted to come home to Tacloban. I've been here since last Saturday.

I watched The Dark Knight Rises with Lex and Hans last Monday. I just had to blog about this because call me loser but IT'S MY FIRST EVER BATMAN MOVIE! Yes, out of all the Batman movies, this is the first time I've watched one. Oh, and if I'm gonna be bragging sharing my loserness to everyone, I think it's time for me to confess that I haven't seen any Superman and Spiderman movies, either.

Going back to The Dark Knight Rises, I didn't expect to enjoy the movie, but I did. And I swore to myself that I'll watch the first two movies (yes, only two, coz I'm only watching the ones with Christian Bale) because there were some a lot of parts I didn't understand. It's amazing how a lot of the Inception cast are in the movie, though.

What else did I do?

Oh, I had dinner with Janz at Uncle Sam's last night. After eating, we drove around downtown for a while, before finally stopping in front of the Capitol. Janz wanted her picture taken, but funny, when we got there, I didn't take any pictures of her. We just stood there, looking around, pointing, and talking. At some point, we started singing Celine Dion and Barbra Streisand's Tell Him before realizing that A) we're singing way too loud, and B) it's OK to be crazy with a group of friends, but it looks stupid if it's only the two of us. So we went home, but not before fooling around with her BumbleBlue's (yes Janz, I'm calling your car BumbleBlue just because I think Oppie's already overused) GPS.

As for today, I spent most of my afternoon glued to my laptop. While working as our store's cashier, I decided to pass time by looking at Ellen's videos on Youtube. It was an entertaining afternoon.

I want to end this blog with prayers for my relatives, friends, and virtually everyone affected by the floods in NCR. Keep safe, and have faith. God does not forsake His own people.

sweet nothings

Aside from reading, nothing gives me more joy than baking and making little pastries for dessert. While I do miss being a nurse, and still have little bouts of nostalgia when I think about med school, I have no regrets. I'm so glad my Mom and Dad consented to this highly expensive endeavor. Culinary schools are expensive, and while my family is not lacking for comforts, we're not swimming with cash, either. My parents have always been supportive, and I feel so blessed and so lucky having them.

Couple more months and I'm done with school. I'm equal parts excited and anxious. Excited to be working and making desserts and baked goodies for a living; anxious to be starting all over again.

Here's three of our many projects (I was gonna post more pics but my net is acting up and uploads are real slow, maybe next time!) =]

Fruit torte.

Our epic Shit Cake, along with bite-sized brownies, pralines, mini cupcakes, and rumbles.

Charlotte cakes (the small ones), and a Dome cake.

recently read - june 2012

..and the list goes on. =)

Bad Girl By Night - Lacey Alexander

Party of Three - Lacey Alexander

Karma - Carly Phillips

A Night Like This - Julia Quinn

Under A Vampire Moon - Lynsay Sands

Sweet Addiction - Maya Banks

Pray For Silence - Linda Castillo

Breaking Silence - Linda Castillo

Dead Reckoning - Linda Castillo

Seducing The Highlander - Emma Wildes

Hot Under Pressure - Louisa Edwards

Rescue Me - Rachel Gibson

The Duke Next Door - Celeste Bradley

Duke Most Wanted - Celeste Bradley

About That Night - Julie James

Three Weddings and A Kiss - Catherine Anderson & Loretta Chase & Lisa Kleypas & Kathleen Woodiwiss

Where's My Hero - Lisa Kleypas & Kinley MacGregor & Julia Quinn

To Wed A Scandalous Spy - Celeste Bradley

Surrender to A Wicked Spy - Celeste Bradley

One Night With A Spy - Celeste Bradley

Seducing The Spy - Celeste Bradley

The Pretender - Celeste Bradley

The Impostor - Celeste Bradley

The Spy - Celeste Bradley

The Charmer - Celeste Bradley

The Rogue - Celeste Bradley

Devil In My Bed - Celeste Bradley

Rogue In My Arms - - Celeste Bradley

Scoundrel In My Dreams - Celeste Bradley

The Bite Before Christmas - Lynsay Sands & Jeaniene Frost

Category Five - TJ MacGregor

Snow Blind - PJ Tracy

it's been a while

I can't believe I haven't posted anything for the month of May. It''s a sign of how busy I've been these past months.

We've been busy making our aquatic-themed cake for our CEFBEX (Cebu Foods and Beverages Exposition) entry. It was tedious work - from kneading fondants to making detailed gumpaste fishes and corals - but we did it. And we're proud to say that o

ur school bagged the gold, for the 7th consecutive year. Aside from the cake decorating competition, our school also got gold for the pasta making live, market basket competition, and another one I forgot (sorry, hihi), plus a silver for the culinary apprentice. Not bad, not bad at all.

It was a great experience. My teammates and I bonded over the long hours, especially during the last few days when we camped at one of the classrooms at the 4th floor. It was tiring, but all our efforts weren't in vain, obviously.

Our cake standing tall and proud amidst our gold medals and certificates.

Aside from our classes, we are also accepting orders (cakes, short orders, buffets) as part of our diploma program. Our school only offers certificate for pastry, but we've been pushing for a diploma, and being a commissary team is part of it, along with a management course. We also conduct workshops on basically everything - cupcake making, cake decorating, etc. Just the basics, for those who are interested but is unwilling to take on the whole 10-month program.

Busy, busy.

However, it's not all work and no play for me, though. Uh-uh.

The boyfriend visited for a few days a couple weeks ago, and we had a blast. We did the usual - went shopping (I did the buying, though), got a massage (I was feeling so stressed so I dragged him into it), ate out, stayed in and cuddled (when it rained so hard).

We also went and toured Bohol for a day. We visited my Mom's BFF, Ate Memie, and she gave us a tour along the island. We went on the Loboc River Cruise, saw the Chocolate Hills, visited the tarsiers, went in the Hinagdanan Cave, and bought small trinkets as souvenirs.

It was certainly a jam-packed day. We came back to Cebu late that night (the boat got delayed for an hour and a half, bugger) tired but happy, albeit a bit grumpy. He went home early the following day.

I miss him. God.

Anyway, I'm graduating this June 22 (yey!) but the doesn't mean my classes are over. Our school has it's commencement exercises once yearly, so those who are about to finish all graduate, so as to not wait for the following year. My classes will end sometime around September.

Only my Mom is attending my graduation (sucks), because my Dad has to stay and watch over our business. I don't mind, though, for I'll be going home at the end of the month, so I'll get to see him then.

Oh, and a shoutout to my Daddy. Advance Happy Father's Day! I love you. <3

recently read - april-may 2012

April

• The Other Twin - Morrgan Hunter
• Next of Kin - Sharon Sala
• Blood Stains - Sharon Sala
• Blood Trails - Sharon Sala
• Blood Ties - Sharon Sala
• Simply Sinful - Carly Phillips
• Simply Scandalous - Carly Phillips
• Simply Sensual - Carly Phillips
• William and Kate: A Royal Love Story - Christopher Andersen
• The Letter - Emma Wiles
• A Woman Seduced - Emma Wiles
• The Lady Most Likely - Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, Connie Brockway
• The Viscount Who Loved Me: 2nd Epilogue - Julia Quinn
• When He Was Wicked: 2nd Epilogue - Julia Quinn
• It's In His Kiss: 2nd Epilogue - Julia Quinn
• Romancing Mr. Bridgerton: 2nd Epilogue - Julia Quinn
• Lessons From A Scarlet Lady - Emma Wiles
• The Countess - Lynsay Sands
• Desperately Seeking A Duke - Celeste Bradley
• The Lover's Dictionary - David Levithan
• Rituals of Passion  - Lacey Alexander
• Master of Desire  - Lacey Alexander
• Carnal Sacrifice - Lacey Alexander
• French Quarter   - Lacey Alexander
• Their One and Only - Trista Ann Michaels

May

• Simply Sexual - Kate Pearce
• Simply Sinful - Kate Pearce
• Sin City - Lacey Alexander
• Key West - Lacey Alexander
• Missing - Sharon Sala
• Crazy on You - Rachel Gibson
• Seven Nights of Sin - Lacey Alexander
• Voyeur - Lacey Alexander
• Simply Shameless - Kate Pearce
• Simply Wicked - Kate Pearce
• Simply Insatiable - Kate Pearce
• Simply Forbidden - Kate Pearce
• The Story of Us - Deb Caletti
• Somebody to Love - Kristan Higgins

Titanic 3D

84 years later, a 101-year-old woman named Rose DeWitt Bukater tells the story to her granddaughter Lizzy Calvert, Brock Lovett, Lewis Bodine, Bobby Buell and Anatoly Mikailavich on the Keldysh about her life set in April 10th 1912, on a ship called Titanic when young Rose boards the departing ship with the upper-class passengers and her mother, Ruth DeWitt Bukater, and her fiancé, Caledon Hockley. Meanwhile, a drifter and artist named Jack Dawson and his best friend Fabrizio De Rossi win third-class tickets to the ship in a game. And she explains the whole story from departure until the death of Titanic on its first and last voyage April 15th, 1912 at 2:20 in the morning.

One of my all-time favorite movies, I've watched Titanic lots of times, and yet it never gets old. I was so excited to watch it in 3D. So much, that Jin and I set a date months ago. We wanted to see if the 3D version would make us feel as if we're sinking with the Titanic, too.

What was supposed to be a simple movie date turned out to be so much more. More craziness and laughter, that is. We wouldn't stop singing Celine Dion's My Heart Will Go On. And when Jojo bought the tickets, he asked the saleslady "5 tickets for Near, Far, Wherever You Are." The look on the saleslady's face was so funny, we couldn't stop laughing.

Normally, I don't watch movies in 3D. Not only is it more expensive, it makes my head hurt. But I liked how they turned the movie into 3D. Simple, and not overly done.

This may be the Titanic's most famous scene..

But this.. This will always be my favorite.

i'm still on an omg-my-mom-got-me-a-phone high

Quick blog: my Mom got me a new phone yesterday! <3

I jokingly asked my Mom for a new phone, and to my surprise she asked me what phone I wanted. At the risk of sounding like a spoiled, rich princess (which I'm not), my Mom seldom denies me what I want, but with a catch. Either I work for it, wait for it, or I don't get it. Ever. And if it's really expensive, we split the bill.

But this time, my Mom got it for me with no arguments. I was so shocked, but shocked soon turned to giddiness and excitement. Oh, and you might be wondering: what's the catch? Here it is: no extra allowance for the next 3 months or so. Because Mom paid it via her credit card on a 3-month installment basis, and the amount is roughly my allowance per month. But I don't care! I don't spend much on stuff in Cebu anyway, most of my money goes to food.

It's been years since my parents got me a phone, so maybe that's one of the factors why Mom got me one. I used my own money to buy the phone I've been using this past two years, and I'm really gonna miss it. I'll leave it to Mom for safekeeping, though. I think she'll use it coz one of her phones' on the verge of dying.

I didn't get to take a picture but I grabbed one from the net. Say hello to Galaxy W. =)

recently read - march 2012

Celebrity in Death - JD Robb

Hot Stuff - Elaine Fox

Wine, Tarts, and Sex - Susan Johnson

Twenties Girl - Sophie Kinsella

Guilty - Karen Robards

The Time of My Life - Cecelia Ahern

There's No Place Like Here - Cecelia Ahern

Sleepwalker - Karen Robards

The Widow - Carla Neggers

Left To Die - Lisa Jackson

Final Justice - Fern Michaels

Man At Work - Elaine Fox

Sworn to Silence - Linda Castillo

Special of the Day - Elaine Fox

Game for Anything - Bella Andre

Game for Seduction - Bella Andre

Game for Love - Bella Andre

New Girl - Paige Harbison

Rebecca - Daphne du Maurier

Taking A Shot - Jaci Burton

it's good to be home

I just got home a couple days ago for the Lenten season. It's the time to bond with the family and to catch up with friends. I've been going out with my high school loves these past two days, and it's all fun!

Last Saturday, I watched Wrath of the Titans with Lex, Hans, and Kim. It wasn't bad, but they have lots to learn about basic Greek mythology. Hephaestus was supposed to be scarred and ugly, right? And it wasn't him who built the Labyrinth, it was Daedalus. Blah blah. I could go on. But anyway, all in all it was a good movie. Queen Andromeda (Rosamund Pike) just gets prettier and prettier. And it took me a while to figure out why Hades (Ralph Fiennes) looks so familiar. From The Dark Lord to Lord of the Underworld. Lord Voldemort just looks so different with his nose intact.

After the movie we met up with Lea, Diane, Gretchen and my cousin June. We went to Leyte Park. Margaritas. T Ice. GPS. RH. Drinks all around. And, food, of course. It was a night of good fun and way too much laughter. It's nice to be with people who've known you for more than a decade, who've seen you through your best and, sometimes, worst, moments, and yet still loves you. It's a bond that hasn't been, and never will be, broken.

We all went home around 3am. More than tipsy but not drunk, our tummies full, worn out with laughter, and just plain happy.

Yesterday, we attended my niece/goddaughter's first birthday. Good food, good friends, good fun. We joined in the games, and it was so funny! We went to Rob after, where we stayed at Bo's for a while before playing Bingo. Harmless fun, but sadly, we just lost money. Rotten luck. We were supposed to watch The Hunger Games, but since we didn't really want to watch it, we decided to stay and play.

Went to Manang's BBQ afterwards, then to Wyomie's. Hans and Lex went home first, so it was just me, Lea, June, Son, Kim and Chen. Lea, June and Kim played billiards while Chen, Son and I had a heart-to-heart talk. =) I got home around 12 midnight. I'm just so tired after two days of endless parties.

I'll end this post with two pictures. The first one is our (Lex and mine) birthday gift to Kaylee. Rumbles. Yummy =) The second one is what made my luggage home a bit heavier than it should have been. Went crazy at Booksale and bought 13 books. A couple of them aren't in the picture, though.

Rumbles. Numnums. =)

I switched to an e-Reader because it's cheaper, but every once in a while, I'd still go back to my first love, real books. <3