2012.

it's 2012.

halfway through the first month of another awesome year, and i figured i really should jump back into blogging.

i might become popular someday, and these wonderful bits of my everyday wisdom may even help future generations.

(cue sarcastic laugh track)

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i'm on self-imposed exile.
i'm back to the town where i am currently living THE dream.
'been here since April, when i went home right after graduation.

in fact, my last post was about THAT graduation.

fast forward to six months after:

i am now at the Municipal Engineering Office where i get to have a hand on the design of new structures in Lopez. (being the youngest do have its perks.)

i'm pretty sure i won't be buying my dream car yet, but i am living a peaceful and happy life. 

working on a job where i get to go 'home' everyday, where i can always spend (lots! of) quality time with my family (and people who are dear to me) at the end of each day.

i am more than willing to 'pay my dues' first. 

learn the tricks of the trade. 

and have lots and lots of fun! 

i am now, quite literally, doing my part on nation-building. =)

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i was cleaning my files the other night, and saw my '2011 resolutions':

1. GRADUATE THIS APRIL.   mission accomplished, FINALLY!
2. Learn to say “NO”.
3. Keep promises.
4. Be more adventurous.
5. Allot more time for friends.
6.  Let people IN.
7. Save Up.
8.  DATE.
9. Be more ACTIVE.
10. Seriously PLAN my life. ALL SET FOR 2012!

9.       ----

STILL my resolutions this year. =)

and yes, i PLAN to write more often.

cheers to a brand new start! ;p

recap.

april’s almost over.

and i can’t believe it’s not even a month ago when i’ve last ranted my share of thoughts in here.

i felt like it’s been ages. same feeling i get whenever i get swamped with a lot of things-to-do and end up finding my self at loss for words (and time) of how and when to share them.

that’s when i end up posting my relatively outdated pictures. i believe they compensate for my newly acquired skills of lacking the ability to put my thoughts into sentences that make sense.

which is why, even though it’s only been a month, i’d do that amazing technique again.

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i finally graduated last week. it’s not even a week. (it was around 1am last monday when we all got back from UP. yep, my entire family plus my Uncle attended my college and university graduation.)

if you followed my tweets, or is among my elite facebook circle of friends, you’d have an idea of how much i was NOT looking forward on attending graduation. i seriously cannot explain it myself.

i think, maybe, i am not yet ready to bid goodbye to the institution that i’ve been a part of for almost a decade.

or, maybe, that i am simply afraid of moving forward. “graduating” meant leaving my comfort zone --- and, The UP College of Architecture was my personal brand of comfort.

ah yes, stop me before I get emotional.

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the bottomline is simply that i didn’t expect this much from this academic year. it's been exhausting, and filled with unforgettable deadlines...

God is just uber powerful and all-knowing. 
If He thinks it’s time for me to get my dream degree, then all I’m left to do is accept it.

Here’s me, THE UP ARCHITECTURE GRADUATE!

 a shot with my boyfriends, Tatay and Tito Father, immediately after the Arki Graduation Rites

photon taken by Mark Telan, one of my best arki friends, minutes before the University Graduation

tweeting my way to the ceremony. (photo creedit: jan de villeres)

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you'd think i'd have tons of photos from that historical event. and i don't.

but i am on the process of compiling photos (of which my face accidentally appear) from fellow arki grads. 

i should be posting that collection on my facebook soon. =)

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my tweets last sunday. 

(for them to make sense, you should read them from the bottom up. it's how the twitter timeline works. ;p)

during the college grad:

at the univ grad (and on our way home):

what i felt when i got hold of the (ceremonial) diploma:

--

my not-so-little younger sisters entertaining themselves while waiting for us:

seated during the arki grad rites

L-R: France Lizette, Franz Lesly, Franc Lorraine

lizette and lesly walking around the academic oval

our bunso loving the vargas museum

 Ba and Lesly waiting at our red-plated service for the day

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i wish i can flatout share that i’ve been doing a lot of productive things lately.

being a UP graduate, i am aware that a lot of people expect mountains of things from me.

uhm, yeeees... i’ve been productive.
and i am perfectly happy!

i’m even feeling like i am committing a sin against (architecture) nature because i sleep anytime, whenever i want to. (oo na, AKO NA!)

i just recently unpacked my things (mostly books and magazines), and arranged them into “my” room.

i currently stopped looking for work, turned down three invites for interview, and refused two job offers. (oo na, AKO NA NGA TALAGA!)

i wake up every morning smiling ---  knowing that I am literally home. =))

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i have resolved to work here in Lopez, Quezon... for now.
at least until Mommy returns from Libya.

there’s also a baptism scheduled for my niece Cesca.

i wouldn’t want to be the only one in Manila when the entire family’s on bonding mode.

Baby Ealissandra Francesca Capellan - Uy

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i can’t believe i am now living my dream. anak ng tupa.

---

one minor problem though: i think my clothes have shrunk.

i blame the provincial air.
and, i’ve only been here for a week.

some thesis.

i should be posting my actual thesis output, but i figured i can do that once i'm officially done with the book.

so, here's me on that unforgettable feb 22 afternoon --- all yellow, without any sleep, and trying to look like i'm all set for that bright architecture future:

the AIT jury was explaining something here

i watch as my jury scrutinize my outputs:

yes, more explainin' on my end

and picture with my tatay, after the delibs:

----

give me at least three more weeks.
and i swear this blog will be back in full swing. ;p

plans.

thesis life is definitely taking its toll on me.

----

forgive the vanity. =)

this is a picture of me the week after ate loy's wedding... when i singlehandedly outlived the first semester.  

i sported four huge pimples! 

(which, in my theory, represents the four architectural subjects i took last semester.)

just thinking of how i can go through the next months is enough to make me lose my appetite. haha. 

(but i do eat EVERYTIME i work on my thesis. it's my way of bribing myself.)

---

whenever thesis work enter my mind, i suddenly feel a rush of energy and i get to accomplish a LOT of OTHER things.
(yes kids, our generation has a term for it. it's called "PROCRASTINATION".)

like today, when i was wondering how i can translate my newly conceived architectural concept (because, as my thesis adviser said, i need to 'make sabog' pa.) --- i suddenly felt the urge to laundry my undies and clean all my shoes.

(actually just one pair of sneakers, one pair of running shoes, two flip-flops and 1 rain shoe. i can't stand dirty footwear so i really make sure they are clean everytime i wear them.)

i was planning on eating outside in time for dinner. (plus, i need to buy some basic stuff. cotton for my facial toner, bread for the weekend.)

then when i checked my bag from last night, i was surprised to see a cheeseburger from McDo. i am not one to ditch perfectly good food so i ended up eating it along with my stock of pineapple juice.

i only have barely two weeks to finish up all my architectural plans. (one week, if i want to refrain from being stressed over printing.)

i wanted to go home over the weekend, but  i can't. i need to tie myself here at home, focus all i can and get down to business.

so, here's me. PLANNING.

i need a gameplan and i need it now!

----

i met up with two of my good friends from work last night. i had a blast. ^_^

before our 'reunion', i have to spend some time in fully booked first. 

(just because the smell of books make me happy.)

while waiting for mia, dean and i had dinner at TOSH (located at sm annex).

i had my usual favorite: carbonara. =)

the three of us watched a movie together. (the movie isn't even worth mentioning. hahahaha.)

and then we stayed at padi's point (in skygarden) for a while. 

before parting our ways, we took a couple more pictures (more pictures on my facebook):

i do need some random quality time with friends. 

now, i feel like i am ready to face my thesis again.

----

wait. i want cibola's carbonara for dinner. 

qualms.

that cliche about the sudden (and really stupid) downpour of doubt whenever you are nearing the end?


IT IS TRUE. i think that's exacty how winners and losers are determined. 


the act of winning (or succeeding) doesn't really matter, as long as you know you gave it your best shot.


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i had my first architectural consultation with THE-BEST-THESIS-ADVISER-EVER last thursday. we did met a couple of times for the thesis proposal, but the latest meeting was different.


albeit, mas nakaka-pressure. @_@

our last thesis submission for this sem is due in less than a week. i am not even halfway through it and honestly, I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN FINISH IT.

deep (real deep) inside my heart, i know i'd rock this thesis year. but my braincells (yes, i am blaming YOU!) aren't really cooperating.

good thing i know myself more than anyone else. i am resorting to some positive reinforcement. (see: my "work desktop" picture.)

as of yesterday, my sketchup output looks like this:

if it doesn't make any sense to you... well, it's because it's really not making any sense SO FAR. 

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here's how i go about "drafting" my architectural scheme. =)

and here's what i need to wrestle for the next two weeks:

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and yes, my sister's wedding is next weekend. i haven't even seen my dress yet. i don't think i'll have the time to buy the shoes. all i know is that i'd be there, i can't miss that for anything. =)

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when inside the consultation room last thursday, i played "chess titans". i just have to post this since it was the first time i played the toughest level (where the computer "thinks" for the longest time) and i am just so proud of myself for winning. ;p

i played black. here's the white queen sacrificing herself:

a couple of moves after that, i won the game:

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btw, this blog is best viewed using google chrome. thank you for pointing out the mozilla problem though. i haven't used mozilla in ages. (and seriously, i am a bit curious on how you guys happen to stumble upon my blog! ;p)

spread me thin.

I am logging in a lot of hours online these days. Not really on that facebook site (i am back to mafia-ing, but it just isn't as exciting as before), or my what-used-to-be uber plurk addiction.

I am more of a twitter and gmail person now. With my ym id (francesleana) back in shape, you can probably see me online most of the time.

I have been trying to revive my part-time job as a writer. So i went back to my original writing hub at Essays.ph.

(Crappy bayantel service literally ruined my reputation over the weekend. Argh. It's a story worth telling... which i am planning to share, in full detail --- once we've officially changed our broadband provider. HAHAHA.)

Ehem.

Talk about multitasking: I am currently having a fun chat with my former-roomate-turned-study-buddy --- with both my gmail and twitter pages open, and these two 400-word articles i need to rewrite and submit before 10am --- this attempt to write a worthy post will obviously end up not making much sense.

And, as usual, this post will be resorting to "tidbits". (leaves less time for thinking, and eliminates the necessity to connect thoughts.)

• i am currently eyeing this cellphone:

TORQUE's TQ800.

It's a wifi-capable, tri-sim phone with wireless fm!

I am such a cheapskate --- I am loving this unit because the pricetag is below 6k.=D

• i am planning to spend time with my thesis "readings" all day tomorrow and hopefully, have that running start for the third submission (on September 7).

• i am generally feeling good about myself. (yes, i have to post it here.)

Oh, Life is good. I have a perfect God, so I am living the perfect life.

who knows?

my yahoo email was hacked it morning. i have absolutely no idea how it happened, and i do wish it won't happen again. i am a relatively simple internet user. the sites i visit are almost the same everyday --- facebook, plurk, twitter and google. my formspring account is now disabled (hehe), and there's only that freelance writing forum that i visit at least twice a week.

so, i have to delete the arkitek_lea yahoo account. i spent the past three hours cleaning up the inbox of the yahoo account that i'll be using now. (i'm back to my old ym id: francesleana). i don't usually use my yahoo email, but i need it for my thesis egroup.

(just for the record, my official email address is arkiteklea@gmail.com)

you can see all my personal sites inside this blogsite. (left-side, under "today, in Manila". yes, that weather app was added today!) and i hope i'd be safe from any kind of hacking in the future.

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my mafia wars is haunting me. i resolved to stop playing last summer. oh no. should i play that app again?

(okay, i am back mafia-ing. hahaha.)

KJ-ing around. (an open letter to my 2b roomies + 1.)

YES, i am a self-proclaimed KJ. i am not really proud of it, but i am comfortable being one.

i do love spending me-time. i write weird things on my wall. i do have the knack to "forget" about my friends when i am bombarded by a lot of things. i am KJ because most of the time, i seclude myself from the rest of the world.

when my schedule's messed up, i get jittery and bratty and i bet you have seen that cartoon-ish look on my face. it's not hard to miss. and you know i am never good at hiding my feelings. ;p

i know that i AM not the most efficient arki student. (hello, eight years in college!) so forgive me, if i irritate you when my OC-moments come by. i promised myself that i will make this year my most productive year EVAR. i promised myself that i will make ME proud.

i am not leading that path alone, because i'd be happy to walk it with you.

to shayne: when you officially start working, paunang paghingi na ng paumanhin, should i not be my best me. =)

to kit: our youngest, and thursday-"bondmate" --- you know you can always ask me anything. ;p

to hazel: my first ever friend-turned-roomate --- though i still can't find that "common" thing between us, you know i can always be your ate. =j

to carla: my starbucks-buddy. oo na, ate mo narin ako. hahaha. =D

the bottomline is just this:
APOLOGIES --- when i am not always my BEST self, when i make you guys feel alienated.
(case in point: kakornihan sa "DECONSTRUCT 2". but i went there, riiight?)

you know i love you and i will always strive to (at the very least) be a good-enough roomate.

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there should be pictures! but i should be working on my thesis. and 173. and 176. hahaha.

=D

because i'm old school. (and really vain, sometimes.)

i finally gained 'nuf courage to post a new facebook profile picture. it's the same picture i posted from my previous entry, the one showing my relatively new 'do. i don't really want to post it, as i don't want to get "embarassing" compliments. haha. but a procastinating mind's gotta do what it can do, riiiight?

i spent time tweaking it a bit--- blurring it a little, changing it to black and white. (the result is a huge old-school-looking, id-worthy, amateurish pic.)

i don't usually register well on cam, 'lest i am on my "angle". (sorry to burst the bubble guys, but there's an entire encyclopedia of tricks we follow to make us incredibly pretty for pictures. hahaha.)

yes, i am very much aware, that picture isn't my best shot... which is why i like it. =)

(is it just me or is my writing style migraine-worthy? forgive me folks. my writing depends on my mood. three fourths of my brain's all used up--- math54 formulas. *ahem*)

i am still not used to THE bangs. this summer hell (read: killer temp!) isn't helping me on my quest of "letting my hair down". i am just slowly internalizing the look. (the haircut's pretty expensive, you know. ;p)

i have to document my state of mind too. even though i know i probably won't be so proud of this particular entry.

it's just that... good things happen whenever i blog.

and again, a procastinating mind's gotta do what it can do.

my profile pictures thru time:

my very first fb profile picture. 

shot taken january 2009. 

cropped from a picture with my younger sister ba.

 

i loved how i "glowed" on this one. 

this is a picture with my bestfriend icha, July 2009.

note my genuine-looking, super warm smile. 

shot taken early this year.

if only i didn't put my hair up, this picture could've transcended all of my pictures to date.

haha. vain ego signing out. ;p

because.

i promised myself i'd be writing something here before this week ends.
and promises made to thy self should always, always, always be fulfilled.

just like how i promised not to enter politics (ever again) once i leave secondary school. three years later, i entered the UP architecture student council. (and made history a year after that. haha.)

just like how i promised myself i won't be neglecting ANY of those responsibilities i willingly accepted. (i missed class today because i "overworked" myself yesterday.)

just like how i promised myself i won't stay up later than 2am. here i am, still not in my pajamas, typing away.

if there's one soul who suffers my eccentricities more than any other person--- it's me!
(ay, anlabo. hahaha.)

but still. here i am. fulfilling a promise i made to myself:
I WILL BE WRITING SOMETHING HERE BEFORE THE WEEK ENDS.

and to spice up this page, here's "my life" through my phone's random pictures:
(more photos are on my facebook page.)

Sir Carl Joseph Jamosin--- my would-be source of summer happiness. HAHAHA. 

Last-Summer-Class-in-UP FTW!

Blueberry Cheesecake = ultimate comfort food.

And Friuli's triple cheese pizza.

And I heart Froyo's Large Cup with blueberry and strawberry and apple cinnamon.

And Cibola's Carbonara.

Yes, this year I am re-igniting my love for goooood food! =D

As I've said, I super love Friuli's triple cheese pizza. =))

and... i finally had my haircut at Piandre-Trinoma. 

Best experience by far. 

I didn't post this one on facebook, as I don't like to "hear" the comments. Nyay.

But no, those bangs aren't staying. hahaha. =p

Now, I can check that "Weekly" Checklist. 

(Plus, I finally came around and watched the three Flashforward eps. YEY.)