In romantic movies, situations predictably unfold by: girl meets boy, sparks fly, small conflicts arise, and onto the happily-ever-after.

I really enjoyed watching The Break-up.  I have to say it’s the best romantic comedy of the 1st half of the year.  The script was well written –maybe the best script of the year for romantic comedies.

I especially liked the part where Aniston and Vince were arguing over the dishes and lemons.

Aniston: I busted my a** the whole day cooking dinner and you could have shown appreciation by just saying “Thank you honey, I’ll help you with the dishes.”

Vince: [throws the controller] Fine. I’ll help you with the dishes.

Aniston: You know what… never mind. I’ll do the dishes.

Vince: You just said you want me to help with the dishes.

Aniston: I want you to WANT to do the dishes.

Vince: Why should I have a strong desire to do the dishes?

This was a super funny scene.

It portrayed well the scenario when boy and girl are exhausted after another long day. …where the routine starts to drive them absolutely nuts… when all the little things that used to endear them to each other suddenly start to annoy each other. “…2 tickets please for The Break-up.” It was an amusing voyage into the unraveling and deconstruction of a once solid and loving relationship. The rumored off-screen couple [VV and JA] star in ‘The Break-Up,’ which starts where most romantic comedies end: after boy and girl have met, fallen in love, moved in to start their happily-ever-after… they realize the happily-ever-after is something to work for. I have reached that stage where you wind up driving each other crazy. Thank God we are way over that. Pushed to the breaking-up point after their latest “why can’t you do this one little thing for me?” argument, Aniston begins to realize that what she may be really fighting for isn’t so much the place but the person. This is Aniston’s best role yet and her delivery of the lines has improved to another level in this film.

The film was able to capture the anguish and distress that girls go through because some guys don’t grow up- they only grow old. He even said, “If I had my eyes closed, I could have sworn you were the one talking.” True enough, I have already lipped most of the lines that were said years ago.

The turning point, an hour and 30mins into the movie, was when Vince Vaughn surprised Aniston with a dinner that he carefully prepared. He apologized for all the times he took her for granted and said that he realized that he needed to change… and he needed to work on a lot of things. He said tearfully how much he loves Jen. She was taking in everything that Vince was saying… finally, the recognition of her efforts, presence and love… It took a while for Jen to reply… with tears in her eyes.

“I just don’t feel the same way anymore.”

Ka-boom. [08/01/06: I was talking to Carlo G this morning. That last line reminded him of our conversation last week. He teasingly said, "there's legally blonde, now the break-up... your life is a movie." I quipped, "But I'm always in the conflict part of a movie..."]

Sigh.

Do we really have to be at the brink of losing someone to realize the importance of that person in our lives? Some people are not lucky enough to meet that one person who can make them feel truly alive. Sometimes we never get to bump into that person that matches our life line –who can make you smile amidst all the trouble, who can make you feel your best and inspire you to be your best, that person you won’t ever let go and you would fight for, heaven and hell, who can laugh with you all day and no matter where you go, you manage to always have fun and create lifetime of memories forged only by a special bond… only a few lucky ones do. And it changes them forever

Project Detox update:

1.      Work-                I am so stressed with the upcoming event this June.  I’ve been quite busy the last two weeks with other marketing/presentation stuff that I haven’t welcomed the stress of preparing for this event yet… and I have only two weeks to go!!!

2.      Diet-                Well, I’ve been trying my best to follow a strict diet but I haven’t really followed it yet to the letter. But so far, I’ve been eating less and less.  I’ve only been eating about two meals a day since two days ago (but meals fit for a king -haha, kidding!!).  I’ve also reduced my chocolate intake and hopefully I get rid of the addiction that has resurfaced since February.  I will be on tuna diet starting tomorrow as Pich has suggested tuna and red meat diet.  I haven’t weighed myself but I feel lighter. However, the bulk of my tummy is yet to diminish.

I am so determined to lose weight right now.  Yesterday, I finally had a facial [after four months!  It should be bi-monthly to take off excess dirt on your face that can't be removed by facial wash].  Upon seeing me, the face specialist asked if I was pregnant -it’s ok if friends kid (no pun) about it, but if a stranger actually calls out my bulging belly and assume that I’m preggers… then that’s totally crushing!

3.      Gym-                I was at Red Corner everyday since May 20.    Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  I only missed the two Sundays.  That means I worked out for 6 days straight.  I hope to do it again this week.  Last Wednesday, I worked out for 3 hours nonstop.  My trainer Kim has really improved my agility and punches.  He’s slowly trying to correct my jabs as well.  My combinations are so much faster now and with different variations.  The past three days though, I’ve been training under Redgie, the Kamao finalist who got 1^st runner-up.  He’s like a drill sergeant!!! He never makes me stop and pushes me to exceed limit (which I really appreciate because he’s not only training me with boxing, but he’s also helping me become more fit.  He said he’ll make me lose 15 lbs in a month’s time) I’ll cross my wrapped fingers and hope for the best.

4.      Detox

a.       I haven’t gone out pretty much for the past three weeks.  I’ve only been to the URCC event, Alvin’s party at Embassy, Da Vinci movie date with mb, theo and chris, 3 dinners including a birthday dinner, and the BMW exclusive screening of X-Men III.

b.      I haven’t taken any alcoholic drinks.

c.       1 poker night at a former prof’s condo (and only after Paolo’s persistent persuasion to relax my mind through poker)

d.      Hmm… spending. Contrary to my spending habits 3 weeks prior -I’d say I have cut down 70%.  Last year, I’d think twice on spending 40 bucks on fries -I was that careful with my savings. So, I still have a lot to work on. 

e.       I only put make-up twice a week or if there’s an occasion.

Random Thought #1-                Detoxify!

Random Thought #2-          Nicolas Cage, Ethan Zohn, Hugh Jackman, Jay Hernandez, Clive Owen, Jeff Gordon, Allen Iverson, Usher Raymond, Michael Jordan, and Jack Nicholson are the men totally worthy to look at spend a date with.  Hugh Jackman is celebrating his 10^th year wedding anniversary soon… his wife is 45 while Hugh is 37.  I’d offer to be his partner in life if he wasn’t married [haha]. 

Random Thought #3-          Thank you for all the people who have reprimanded and consoled me during the last two weeks.  I am so blessed to have such a strong and loving support system.  You guys keep me grounded.  Truth + Love + Fun + Solidarity

Shout-outs:

JICA Group:          Thank you for all your prayers and advice.  This group really felt like family to me when I was in Japan.  Since I’m the bunsoy, I would normally turn to my ates and kuyas in the pack for guidance. Special thanks to Ronnie, Rhoda, Randy, Papi Romy, Yvette, Jeng,, Juliet and Sherwin.  I terribly miss you all.

Theo:                      Mayo! Thanks for inviting me and Marc to the Xmen premiere.  All 6 other we brought with us enjoyed the movie as well and the short time spent at Matti.  They extend their thank you/s.

Paolo:                     Fresh from B-Cebu!  Thanks for accompanying me when I visited Rhoda at St. Luke’s and for pounding into my head that I should not do my usual “confrontation.”  I didn’t agree at first until you KEPT on insisting and made me promise that I wouldn’t.  Thank you for the danggit pasalubong!  By the way, did you hear about the poker fiasco at ACF5k tourney?

Norman:                 The Makati gym Cebu native!  Thanks for the dried mangoes and mango-rind (mango and tamarind candy, I loved it!)  Marc up to this day insists that you gave it to him and not to me.  Hence, he dubbed me DMT [Dried Mango Thief] since last week.  I haven’t forgotten your promise you’d bring me more.  I can’t believe those Cebu delicacies have zero fat calories.

Grace:                     [and PIQC group] I can’t wait to see you guys next week!  I also miss you guys!!!  Can’t wait to go videoke with you, Mark, Sean, Brenda and Anne.

Bong:                     Thank you for the sound advice and for comforting me.  We rarely get the chance to chat but when we do, it always turns out to be my silver lining. I’m sorry I missed your gig last Wednesday at Halo.  I still hope you put me in the guest list on the next gig even if I was a no-show last time. Love is love.

Carlo:                      Thank you for being more of yourself in the office than being a hermit.  I’ve totally enjoyed our lunch-outs (no need to treat me all the time! Kulit grabe.), although you can be so techy sometimes, I find myself off course and bewildered.  Haha, remember the “half-a-byte” slip up?  I was so red in the face!

                                Jane:       Maybe the temporary bytes took up some space in your memory card.   

Carlo: Ya, that’s possible.  Blah-blah.  By the way, you know what’s half a byte?

Jane: hmm… a crunch? *snicker snicker”

Carlo: Actually, it does have something to with bite.

Jane: Chew? Grit? Hmm… [After 10 minutes] Ok, I give up.

Carlo: A nibble.

Jane: A nipple???

Carlo: [bursts out laughing]

                                Jane:       What, a nipple?

                                Carlo:      A NIBBLE.

                                Jane:       Oh, a nibble [RED in the face]

C-dub:                    You might have a lot on your mind right now [work and that "matter"], but knowing that you have a good heart and you’re always kind to everyone, things will work out for the best.  “Never borrow from the future.  If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn’t happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice.” -remember that conversation we had about a year ago regarding the health of our moms and my lovelife?  You told me, we worry too much.  It’s hard not to worry, but lighten your load.  We’re here to support you.

There are a few Thank You’s I might be forgetting.  [Just got off the phone with Mayo] By the by, who caught the Chicane Tour at WTC aside from Mayo, C-dub, Kara and Antz?  Too bad I missed it.  Mayo, share your pictures with Chicane!

Writing in my blog has relaxed my otherwise stressful Monday.  Hi-ho, hi-ho, off to the gym I go…

I’m out!

10pm- 2am

My first time at Mugen in Metrowalk, but Chai and the other girls frequent the place for the music.

Thanks for playing the song, Only One.

Chai, that was a nice request, but i got senti!!!

Moment: Girl talk between band breaks. “The Road less traveled.”

Moment: Standing and screaming while the song was playing, mej holding the phone, racq and mej saying hello, meeh looking ridiculously panicked. Chaos. Everyone looking at our group 

Album: http://cushee.multiply.com/photos/album/86/03232006-_Mugen#

When we arrived in Circles, most of the tables were already taken but the place didn’t seem crowded because there was a lot of room to move about. Our first stop was at the Indian line-up. I got beef curry, naan with pecan nuts sauce, tomato-stewed lamb and “beef balls.” I was trying to remember what you call the Indian meatballs. I asked him but he didn’t remember either. I said it starts with an M… Mmm… M-mm… I then asked the lady attendant and she looked at me weirdly and said, “beef balls.” I grinned and said thank you. “Of course, beef balls.” What was I thinking? …Meatballs??? As I turned my back from the smorgasbord of food, I suddenly remembered what it’s called, “Kofta.” Yum. We had a variety of sushis. We also gorged on huge slices of roast beef and veal. I had mine with red wine but leave it up to me not to taste the other sauces. I didn’t try the apple sauce but I tried three other sauces for my roast beef. Red wine sauce with mushroom, Dijon mustard (which I enjoyed the tangy taste against the succulent meat!) and a white gingery sauce that I forgot the name. I can’t even figure out what it’s made of. He went back for a second helping of Indian delicacies. We also tried their Chinese cuisine of steamed fish and assorted asado. I’m disappointed we didn’t get to try a lot of the other stuff because we were so full after our third plate.

The restaurant is dubbed “Circles” for the different themed “circular” sections of food (or maybe only because of the circular placemats haha). There’s a sushi/sashimi station with oysters, mussels and crabs; an appetizer table with salads in shot glasses, mini pie-crusts with cream cheese, a cheese plate, and other unidentifiable but very lovely hors d’oeuvres; a pasta and rissotto bar; roast beef and leg of lamb for carnivores; and an Asian station with curries, dimsum, and basmati rice.

We headed to the dessert section and lo and behold, there was a chocolate fountain beaming at me! I love chocolate fondues! It actually took me 5 minutes to finish getting the pineapples and mallows fully covered with chocolate on my plate. Thank goodness the fellow next to me waited patiently… or they would have asked the burly security to get me off that area. He was looking at me funny coz I was smiling from ear to ear while getting my chocolatey pineapple. I looked obsessed I guess. I noticed it wasn’t too funny anymore when he cradled my arm away from the desserts area. He got a variety of desserts, maybe 8 different kinds that we shared. The dessert cakes tasted as good as the ones in Bizu but he especially liked the creamy pudding. We debated on what kind of dessert was on a mini- champagne glass. I said it was a chocolate soufflé but he was quick to disagree saying that a soufflé has a pouf. I said, “…a what?” laughing. He said, “like a puff… like a puffed pastry of  Janey: Aah… soufflés don’t necessarily have to have a pouf to be called sort.”  a soufflé. I think a soufflé has custard-ly consistency to be called one” Ok for everyone’s sake, I looked it over and here’s the technical definition of a soufflé: A souffle is a dish, either sweet or savory that is made from a flavored base, then lightened with egg whites and baked in a round, straight-sided earthenware dish. It bakes very high and then falls quickly, so it is served straight from the oven. The outer crust is crisp and the interior is soft. It’s a classical dish with many flavors! –so, I think he was more right than me although I got the custard part with the egg whites and baking directions.

Basically, the presentation of the food was appetizing, and there was not one item that I tasted that wasn’t delicious. However, there were about three line-ups that I wasn’t able to go to so I can’t give a full assessment. The buffet price was far from my first guess. It was cheaper than Paseo Uno buffet which cost 1.2 K per head excluding taxes. I’d say that the price was just ideal for everything the place has to offer. The interior was lovely, low-lighted but good enough to appreciate what you’re eating. The place had an exclusivity air to it. It was also roomier than Paseo Uno. I enjoyed their interior pieces as well as the table articles. My final verdict: I wanted to go back the next evening to eat there again. Everything was so gastronomically satisfying!

Call +63 2 840 0884 for reservations.