Finally

ONE YEAR ANNIV!

So for my one year anniv party, I valiantly attempted once again to have people over and SUCCESS!!!

Thanks mostly to the bossiness and sweetness that is fabulous Bry, most of my "wave mates" from my training class came, as well as 5 guys from next door, Ant, and Am-boy, who brought a couple guys with him. So it was Bry, Nit-Nit, Freddie, Emon, Thon, Nonnie, Am-boy, Ant, Randy (not the American, a different Randy), Fitz, Enzo, Honorio, Mechel, Arman, Marbs, Ankit (for about 5 minutes) Joel-Mari and sort- of Erwin, who, as he threatened, retreated to the bedroom to watch TV in the deepening afternoon gloom and fall asleep (he had a shift at 2 AM and was trying to get some sleep).

So here's what I served:

Naomi's Electric Lemonade:

Take one bottle of Absolut Apeach and one bottle of Lemon Ice Soda from the organic shop and combine them in a plastic pitcher, then add lime slices, and freeze (the alcohol will keep it liquid).

Tastes like *pure heaven*.

Naomi's Monster Egg Salad:

4 hard boiled eggs, a couple teaspoons of mayo, a handful of chopped onion and two or three green onions all blended and refridgerated for a couple hours. It's very onion-y. Yummers.

It was actually pretty fun, Bry brought a cake with one candle (eek, so cute) and they also brought something extremely scary-- fingers of sticky rice that had been char-cooked and had to be dipped in, like marzipan icing. Just like it sounds, taste wise. Only had one of those.

The only "down" was that the party was so male-heavy. Only two girls showed up (actually this is a long time issue for me, for some reason, I have equal number of male and female friends; but my female friends tend to be married/ dating and my male friends tend to be "permanent bachelors"; ie, they're all availiable to party down on a Sat afternoon.

So we talked, tested each other on Trivial Pursuit, drank, laughed, the guys bought and ate an entire roasted chicken (from somewhere!) and then everyone drifted off slowly, leaving just me and Ant.

Ant has actually visited me at the house I live in now before, when I stayed there in Oct, and we sat for awhile and talked. I listed him as my emergency contact and my coworker had to ask him for his current phone number, and he told me he was suprized and flattered by this. It's a sweetly sad feeling to hang out "apres le guerre" with someone you were once *crazy* about, just talking about "the good times", and once again, I was reminded of how much I liked him and of course still do--the fire that used to be is more of a warm glow, but I still adore him and I'm glad he was the one to stay late and chat with me. Having "broken up" and made up no less than five times, it's pretty obvious that he's a bit of a cad and equally obvious that I can't stay mad at him for any length of time. Little charmer....

A great night.

I heard....

So, it's hard to know where to start on this one:

First, in the call center industry, it's a given that there is crazy gossip, 24-7, about everyone. And another "full disclaimer" is that I, too, love to gossip. However, there's gossip and there's gossip, ya know?

Recently a series of events happened that I'd like to discuss. It started back when I first got here-- my first "wave" of trainees contained this one kid "Matt" (named changed to protect the clueless) who was a team favorite for being sweet but totally clueless. Every week without fail he was in the hot seat for failing scores on "Understandability" from customers. And every week we would groan as we saw his name on reports. Then he finally got it together and he was immediately transferred to another dept, where there is no customer feedback. Heh. Anyhoo, he was always "the apple of my eye" even during training, but I would like to stress that this WAS NOT ROMANTIC.

So anyhoo, I gave him a test version of a program I was trying and followed up with him a few times, leading him to "friend" me on FB, a request I somehow let "time out" by accident. So then I get a message "Hey Na, how come you didn't friend me?" I was like "uh, no idea. Let me rectify that."

So fast forward to a few weeks later, it's kind of a grey zone where I *sort of* feel like he's "testing the waters" but not really. It's actually annoyingly common for much younger guys to try to make friends with me for hazy reasons- like, they sort of want to be friends, but sort of want to dance around flirty behavior, and they also sort of want their binkie, if you know what I mean.

Well, I invited him to a few group events, no go. Too shy, too broke, etc. Also add in texting back and forth and FB messaging, and of course the obligatory "walk over and say hi" at work. Seriously, not exactly US magazine cover story shit here. So after two attempts I gave up and then I got a message from him asking me to attend his *mother's birthday party* at his family house.
Uh, okay?
So I went, after quizzing my local girlfriends here "what's this?" My one coworker chortled around his coffee that "this" was becoming a pattern--out of seemingly nowhere, some guy picks up and asks me to meet the entire hoot and holler. Which HAS happened THREE times.
So the event was a study in super laid back anything but romantic times. His fellow Eagle Scouts (NO I'm not making that up) showed up and awkwardly shuffled around staring at their shoes and obviously fervently wishing that a comet would strike the tin shack we found ourselves in. At any rate, I would like to point out that there was THREE other FEMALE coworkers there.

But....the thing is...Matt was sort of frisking around being solicitous to me, finding me a special jeep, getting an electric fan for me, insisting on everyone speaking English, asking me if it was okay if he rushed back and forth between the main house and our perch on the "porch" (the immediate 3 feet outside of the door). So to be honest, I sort of did get the feeling it was somewhat romantic. That's okay, no big deal.

Well, then the next day the shit hits the fan thusly: to boil down a long FB conversation, he basically tried to backpedal all the way to "altar boy and flower girl" saying that he couldn't come to my housewarming because "people might gossip and you and me". Uh WHAT YOU AND ME?

Dewd.
Rilly.

Anyhow, I tore him up one side and down the other making the following points;

1) Is it really that horrifying to have people speculate that we might be dating? (SIXTEEN PLASTIC SURGEONS WORKING HOURS ON MY FACE *JUST* TO MAKE IT PRESENTABLE!!! Shout out to those of you who know where that comes from)

As my sassy female coworker put it "Uh, look in the mirror, Tom Cruise. It's a *compliment* that people think you two are dating."

2) Gossip is unavoidable. Either you let it drag you down into Starkweather town, or you rise above. I was like "Matt? What's there to tell? When people ask you, just be like 'we're friends. That's it." (Having said that, we all know that *is* the standard disclaimer for two people who shouldn't be but are.)

3) This isn't high school and even in high school I didn't play schoolyard games. We haven't, aren't, and aren't going to do anything "wrong" so there's no reason to worry.

4) what's the worst case scenario here? Are you running for Pope next week?


So he eventually said he was sorry, and took it back and tried to kick over the traces, even talking to me the next day and saying he was "sorry if I upset to you". But STILL.

The thing is, people get 'tight' over a Filipino male dating or hanging around me. If one has it, either everyone does or no-one does over here. And Filipino men don't benefit from dating Americans the way Filipino women do (because Male Americans support the whole lady's family, but it doesn't work that way unless you're Leo, my most recent ex. Heh.), so people get angry, jealous, scared, freaked out, and titillated. This was one of the things that broke me and my ex up.

(Oh, and Matt told me "I was just worried about people talking about me and you because I heard them talking about you and Ives yesterday." GOD DAMN IT. That's ANCIENT HISTORY. I've gone to great lengths to show "no fear" on the floor when it comes to him, even being "nice" to him when all I want to do is sucker- punch the F****r. Go know. I guess the "celebrity breakup" still has legs. Ugh.)

Well, Readers, When you live in Paradise, sometimes even the sweetest sunset gets a little...bloody. Until next time, XOXO....gossip girl.

Movie Reviews! Part vingt-et-un

Prom:

A funny cotton candy confection that Amanda and I impulsively stopped into one lazy Sunday. Surprizingly good for what it was, which was a by the numbers teen romadey.

The very thin plot line is a kind of sweet version of Breakfast Club, with the blonde preppy princess uniting with the latter day Bender to make prom decorations (eek! Okay, I kind of dug this) after they are destroyed in a fire (heh). Side plots include a nerdy dude desperately searching for a date, a girl agonizing over leaving her high school sweetie to go to college, two best friends (male) torn apart by one liking a girl and moving "past" their friendship, and a sort of mini "Stella got her groove back" girl who leaves her cheatin' jerk of a dude right before prom and goes solo.

The movie seems to be aimed at a rather odd demographic: Mothers about my age taking their ten year olds to a "clean" teen movie. Like, if I had a baby *right* after high school, she'd be eating Goobers with me while we watched this movie.

As it was, the movie was a sweet valentine to high school nostalgia everywhere- and John Cusack movies; the sweet nerd who takes his own stepsister to the prom is named "Llyod" (Hello "Say Anything"--one of the BEST movies ever made in this vein), there is a scene for scene reshoot of the Breakfast Club's deserted school hallway chase, and the closing prom scene where the punk comes to claim his preppy sweetie (Valley Girl, another great, great movie).

It's predictable, but that's sort of the point. There's one noteworthy scene, which is the "heroine takes her reluctant punky friend-cum- love interest to shop for dresses" and she comes out in various wedding cake creations to the strains of a cutesy song. Every "no" dress is very similar- tiers of ruched ruffles in pastel shimmery taffeta, strapless, and with a very distinctive design detail- the sweetheart part of the neckline is outlined with rhinestones. Where exactly in middle Michigan is THIS shop that stocks Vera Wang Purple Label, or whatever these are? But whatever, it's cute.

Rating: 3 out of 4: fluffy, popcorn fun.

Captain America:

Dear Mom:

This movie is totally your cup of tea.

No swearing, nudity, pot, adultry, racism, or anything else offensive. The jokes are creaky. The costumes are (or appear to be) pretty accurate. The plot line is SUPER patriotic and predictable. The good guys win. There's a cute multi racial crew of tag-alongs for the super hero. There's even a Framing Device opener!!

Hurry! See it before it closes!

Anyway, Erwin was disgusted and gave it a four out of 10, but I gave it a weak 5 just to be contrary. It was "eh". Very patchworky- like the faceoff over a boiling pit of fire on a catwalk, the disfigured villian, the plucky sassy heroine, the playboy/ cad best friend (played by Carter Baison, Gossip Girl fans!!).

It's not bad, it's just really, really, slow. It needs...something. Adam did make a valuable point tho: It's not to be judged on it's merit as a movie-movie, it's a superhero-movie. In other words, fanboys united!

Rating: 2 out of 4: only if there's nothing else on.

Planet of the Apes:

Okay, for some reason I had a really, really strong emotional reaction to this movie that I had to struggle to keep under control since my friend Bry was there with me and he seemed totally cool as a cucumber while I could barely see the screen since I was so drippy-eyes.

I'm not sure why I keep watching movies that involve ape sanctuaries in any capacity and think I'm going to be "cool"--it even has a silverback test the grass with his foot and be scared since he's been in a cage all his life!!

Dudes, I was somewhat of a small scale hot mess. Scenes where I was choked up: The beginning. The middle. The end.

Heh. I don't know why monkeys have such an effect on me (I'm sure I'm not alone, since they are so human like) but why am I not similarly moved by scenes of humans being in jail, busting out, coming home, etc. It was a very successful mix of creepy and touching, how they did that is beyond me. Well, James Franco's involved, and he's the hipster version of Leonardo Da Vinci so anything he does will be pretty good.

Anyway, as Ceasar the ape finds his true calling swinging through the California Redwoods, and the seasons change around him through the magic of CGI to show the passage of time, and then the camera majestically swings to show him as a adult, fully aware of his half-human, half- beast entity, a melancholy god, I was seriously contemplating snatching Bry's hankie off his lap for what promised to be a really good cry. This shit's deep, y'all. Don't have a glass of wine before going alone to the last showing of the day.

Rating: 4 out of 4.

Fully satisfied

Well, after falling off the face of the earth for a bit, Amanda (from Canada) is back in play!

After doing the Saturday half shift, which was the final certification and graduation ceremony (where the team gave me an adorable picture set--one of which was me in my Cebu tee shirt, a shirt I was less than thrilled to have memorialized for all time in group photos, but whatevs, that's the way we roll here-- I went home to collapse and sleep.

Then I woke up and got myself together and texted Amanda to see if she wanted to get dinner,
She did. She told me she wanted to meet Fritz and could I bring "my man". Well, crap. I dug around in my phone book and sent a few guys a text saying could they come to dinner last minute, it was my treat. Well, I had Am-boy at "free dinner", so he hopped on board the train to go to dinner and drinks. We ate at Fridays, then off to a place that Fritz (who's Filipino) calls "Doogs"- several tries later I get it: it's this place that's visible from the highway and always gives me a snicker "TUGS" Resto bar. Well, this place is located on top of a department store (?-no idea) and you have to take an elevator to get there. It's really nice, actually- waterfalls, plants, nice quiet, classy place.

Amanda asked "why haven't we come here before?" I laughed "Girl, it's called TUGS. I mean, come on."

A funny moment happened when the three of us (Fritz, me and Amanda) were already in the really small elevator and Mike stepped on last and this little tinny alarm went crazy. We all looked around like "what's that?" and then it occurred to us "oh, shit. It's the overload alarm". I stepped out with Mike, who was philosophical (as he is about everything) "I guess that elevator is made for little tiny Filipinos" he chuckled, heaving his 200+ pounds off the elevator and down the stairs with me.
So we toddled off to Hacienda, where Fritz was Mr. Romance with Amanda and I was the 3rd wheel, but I didn't mind. Mike was wandering around looking dazed and getting drinks, bumping into us every once in awhile but that's cool, I'm used to his hippie style.


Let me just tell you that if you ever find yourself in the Philippines, single, and needing a boyfriend, call my friend Arman, because MY GOD did that guy miss his calling as a matchmaker. Fritz is a college professor who teaches PE- cute as a button and very sweet, obviously crazy about Amanda--he told her she looks like Lindsey Lohan! Well, she's freckled, and she does have a cute little mischievous face, but to be honest, that's mostly where the resemblance ends-- (he did tell me he asked her if she maybe wanted to get in shape before she went home--that's either a very brave or very foolish guy, that one).

When I asked Fritz "where did you two meet" he told me "through Arman", my jaw dropped. Where in the islands Arman digs up these attractive, single, nice guys who are a near perfect match for the lady in question is beyond me. Fritz is both too short and too shy for me, but for me he pulled out an alpha male who's personality is just as strong as mine (if not stronger, he *is* a Scorpio, after all). Anyway, this unlikely Yentl can really bring it. Kudos to him!

School daze

Well, tomorrow is the last day of class for the "English" part of training. I'll be following this wave to product training, and I have to say, I'm pretty attached to them.

Here's the players (no names!)

Mr. Religion: (front and center)

Mr. Religion has a coffee tumbler he's customized with a picture of Jesus that looks *just* like Tom Brady. He's also my best buddy in the group, naturally, since me and religion mix about as well as oil and water, so following the laws of the universe, he gravitates to me and enjoys quizzing me intensely about the US, why I'm not married, and sundry other personal questions.

The Sweetheart: (black jacket, third from right)

Slender, and very good looking in a "perfect child" way, with huge liquid eyes fringed with long, curly, jet black lashes, he told the class a story about his childhood crush and was so emotional his voice was cracking.
The class was super supportive, shouting out "You're shaking, man! You're shaking!" (This is the Filipino way- to loudly point out what people probably would rather keep to themselves. The other day Mr. Religion and I were talking and I was making him laugh and his eyes were watering and people were shouting "Why are you crying?! You're crying!" He punctuated this story with a move we all associate with him now: the chest thump with closed fist right over the heart. Whenever we say his name we do the thump. It's actually affectionate. He's had 7 girlfriends from all over the country.

The Mascot: (very front, blue shirt, short guy)

There's two of these:

Miss Pregg-O (a super sweet shy girl, who's SUPER preggo)

And The Dude: The Dude is a very short (like 4'9") guy who's like a well- loved doggie with a curly tail- he's almost always got a genuine smile on his face. He takes his lumps with his oatmeal. He loves to laugh. He's married and loves his wife and kids. He doesn't miss a trick and probably barbecues a mean steak. He's cool but not as cool as....

The Cool Guy: (far left)

This guy treated us to a light show and dance moves for his "entertainment"- he knows how to pop and lock it and roll his body and look pretty good doing it. He has feathered hair and wears a sideways baseball cap and tight polos to show off his toned triceps and strategically ripped cargos. Hobbies include being a DJ and doing graphic design. Named his kid "Shanute"- "Shaun for "of god" and "te" for "to make it feminine".

The Reality TV star in the making: (striped pink and white shirt, right above Mr. Religion)

This curvy, loud, sexy, and flirty little bit of trouble likes to take candid shots with her camera, flip her hair, and run up behind guys and jump up on their backs for a piggy back ride. Looks a little like Kim Kardashian and a lot like someone who will one day grace a mug shot with mascara tears running down her face.


The Stoner/ Heavy- Duty- Drinker who's hot but a total mess: (back row, guy as tall as me)

This otherwise normal guy admitted to the class "I'm an alcoholic", when asked to tell the class something about himself. (He opened with "I'm gay. Just kidding." woah.....ho-kay! Calling Freud!) When the nonplussed trainer tried to continue the conversation "uh, what do you like to uh, drink?" He answered with unvarnished honesty "Anything that gets me intoxicated." Um...okay. Wow. He's dating....


Miss Clueless: (front, purple jacket, flashing the peace sign)

Sweet and innocent, somehow thinks she can tear the above away from his beloved Red Horse. Not a chance, honey.


Sara Zona: (next to me, mostly hidden)

"Sara Zona" is what I call really, really, really fucking cool girls that have a touch of the 'bian about their person but you can't really pinpoint it. They're really athletic and they often seem to be shimmering the air around them with a kind of almost male appreciation of other women, but they're not *quiiitteee* tipping off your 'dar. Gave an *amazing* acapella performance of "Moulin Rouge" since that's perfect for her register- mezza alto. Named after the original from Our Lady of Mercy High School, where I went to school.

Saran Wrap: (behind the Mascot, wearing Red)

Saran Wrap is the oddly clingy nerdy one that yourbestfriendOMGforever on day one, who you barely know the name of, who's kind of possessive and you *really* don't want to see the dark side of.... so you play along, hoping she like, drops the class or finds a new one soon.

The Doofus: (second from right, with his head tipped at an unnatural angle and his eyes closed since he wasn't sure what we were doing or even where he was at the time)

The Doofus is half cool, half glasses crooked on his head. He's a loveable goofball who's known for being way too casual at every event he's ever attended in his life. During the interview (I interviewed this guy and FAILED him, but he somehow wiggled in) he described his ideal job as "just chillin' ". Okay, guy.

He's actually teased *mercilessly* by Saran Wrap about being "in love" with this other guy in the class, Travis, and he always unintentionally eggs her on by whine-yelling "I don't care if he's absent! I don't care, okay!!" Not sure what's up with him, sexuality-wise, but he seems to sort of protest a little too much and Saran Wrap types have a positive genius for ferreting out the topic MOST likely to make you hate them forever, so he very well could "love" Travis. (who BTW is next to him in the photo.)


Mom: (next to me, with the pulled back pony tail and no-nonsense expression)

Mom actually hangs around Miss Cluesless and The Stoner as an odd kind of third wheel to the point where I at first thought that Mom and The stoner were together. It's probably due to her very strong mom vibe that these two lost souls gravitate towards her. Size "L" bra and kid-hollerin' voice. Nice lady, just wouldn't mess with her, myself.

Copung Copung

Okay, two more stories for one!

Last Monday, I decided to try something "new"- so I went off to a little cafe I had heard about and seen once or twice called Cafe Mesa (cafe table! Har!). I sort of had to drag myself, which is one of the catch 22's of being down- you don't want to do anything, and doing something is exactly what might get you out of the bad mood. Anyway, the place was gorgeous; a little fairy garden hideaway made out of one of the Occupation Era clapboard houses. Food was terrible, as usual, but the drinks and deserts were great. I slowly sipped my Campari and soda and relaxed.

It was quiet, green, and just warm enough, rather than being killingly hot. Just delightful. Then I decided to walk around taking pictures and slowly make my way to Holiday Inn to have another drink at Copa's and then use their car service to go home. Walking around on the SIDEWALK (something else I've really missed, being able to avoid coming within millimeters of being struck by passing cars) taking pictures of the lovely, well kept houses, lawns, and streets free of litter, ratty stray animals, burning trash, and other people's junk, I was so happy.

Then I went to Copa's and I got a text from this guy Tonti, asking me to come to Cofiacd, and that just made my night. Who's this!

So about 2 months ago, an old friend from when I first came here, Arman, set me up with his friend, Tonti, and Arman *swore* this guy was "my type". Since Arman was also the person who picked the one Ives clone in a crowd of thousands, I believed him. And my god, was this guy ever. When I first met him, I was the only girl in a group of 7 guys, and Arman was *determined* to make a match, so he encouraged us to dance (in front of all of club Bossa) to a super slow romantic song. I couldn't (and didn't want to) say no, so we gamely played along, and damn, readers, what a man, what a man, what a mighty good man.

It was the ultimate meet cute, there we were, two strangers, dancing to like, "Butterfly Kisses" or something awful. But, the good news was, we had mad chemistry- it was like I'd known the guy for years. He had that calm, confident manly thing that turns most ladies to jelly- he wasn't an iceberg, he was just Clive Owen in Duplicity, amused and secure, and wearing a Cartier love bracelet. (even single men wear these over here- it's the "thing").

He's a little taller than me, on the slender side of average, but still 'built', and cute as the day is long- deep dimples, Rupert Brooke haircut, deep set eyes, wide smile, just sweet. And warm, not hard to talk to. Anyway, I don't want to jinx it, so I won't go on and on, but he's the TOTAL PACKAGE here, people.

Anyhoo, that's who texted me (we've been in touch this whole time, he's been traveling for his job which is lecturing for the dept of labor). So we had a ball at Cofiacad, just talking with his friends (two of them were there the whole time, one guy popped in for a quick hi) and then we went to Whyhaus, where we talked about books, movies, politics, culture (well, three out of four of us did, while this sweet, shy dude Benedict (that's a common name over here) dozed with his eyes open and drank beer and smiled cutely, lost in a haze).

It was a welcome change from the usual I get over here, which is either the freeze out and a wall of Tagalog, or me having to explain the economic meltdown using easy words (really happened in class the other day).

So we'll see. We're already in month 2 of what I've now found is usually a MONTHS long courtship process, moving at a pretty fast clip for Filipinos (we've gone out TWICE in TWO months, we're practically married here, folks!) so I'll just lay back and see what happens.
Anne's party!!!

So, this was actually not bad. We grabbed pizza and then toddled off to Flying V to talk shit and drink "off site". Since Anne's leaving, she went nutzo and finally told off a bunch of people at work (well, that's sort of par for the course, but she didn't hold back this time) and was "cleaning out her closet"- as an example, here's a story that involves me!

So, about a week ago, I went out with Davie (I didn't realize it would be my last time, SNIFFLE!) and Anne, and we wound up staying out until 10 AM at voodoo, having a grand old time. Well, this Indian guy that I've nicknamed Dreamboat blew in around 9.30 AM and was kiss-kiss with everyone at the bar, so I took my cue (and readers, I was a tad worse for the wear, here) and toddled off. And I can't get any play at Voodoo anyway, so why bother?

So Anne told me that Dreamboat asked "who's your friend?"

And Anne was like "oh, that's Naomi. And she has a HUGE crush on you!!"

Dreamboat "Well, why did she leave, then! God!"

Anne: "I don't know, but she says you're her Dreamboat, hee hee!!."

Dreamboat "Mmmm....tell her I'll rock *her* boat!"

Heh. Awesome. May I present Anne! Motto: Always Be Closing!

So, several of these stories later, we toddled off to Copung Copung (it means "Long ago" in Tagalog) to eat, drink, and finally break it off around 7 am. Dirty stories, people revealing their crushes, gossip, poor Nikki (the only man there) going a bit green around the gills when one super hottie told a "bathroom" story (that was "ladies only" if you follow me), several buckets of beer, me drinking water so as not to say something I would later kick myself for, and lots of fun....

Don't want to say too much, to protect the not so innocent! But it was super fun.

That old familiar tingle...

Okay, loyal fans:

A few stories for the price of one:

First, as we know, I've been seeing (casually) this cute but useless young guy.

I didn't really break it off after Manila but I cooled it WAY down, basically to "super casual" level. The guy's nice, but he's like a jellyfish floating through life, clueless.

As an example, I specifically told him (one of many times) that if he needs help getting around somewhere he needs to ask ANOTHER FILIPINO since they'll be able to help him better, faster, and in his own language. Needless to say he never took this advice, blowing past security guards and bossy Lolas to ask me for help getting a jeepney or finding a toka-toka guy ( a candy and cigarettes guy) or whatever EVERY TIME.

When we went to Manila we took seperate transportation and I told him to take a cab from the bus station to the hotel. I even warned him "If the cab driver doesn't know the place, get out of the cab and get another one. I don't know the place or how to get there. I WON'T BE ABLE TO HELP YOU."

Sure enough, I get a text from him "can you text me the address of the hotel because the driver doesn't know the place."

AUGH!! I tore him up and down when I finally ran into him. "You're a local. You were stationed in Quezon City [in Manila!]. You speak the language. How on EARTH did you get bamboozled into accepting "yes sir!" as the answer? when it was clearly "No sir!", etc. etc."
Anyway, when I met this Nobel Science Prize Winner, he was on a short term job. The job ended before they gave him his last paycheck. Now, even in the US, if this happens, you can show up and make a stink, but you really don't have many options- if the company doesn't want to pay you, they ain't gonna. You can sue them, but it's going to cost you more than the outstanding paycheck, probably, and as someone who took my evil landlord to small claims court and WON and is STILL waiting for the money, I can say it's pretty much an "empty" victory. Court is going to make a crooked boss/ landlord/ former soulmate straighten out.

So, you can probably guess where this is going. He asked me "do you know the owner of MinuteMen"? [guard agency] *side note, the guard agencies here are named AWESOMELY. Among the coolest: "Dexterous"; "Archangels"; "Mustangs"; "Jett".

Uh, no? Why on earth would I? This is where the country- wide- lack of what I would think of as Western logical thinking comes into play. Because I'm white? Because I'm "rich" (entry level peanuts goes a long way over here)? Because I'm educated? I'm not sure what he was thinking. I've only been here 11 months. I know quite a few people, but not the OWNER of Minute men!

I tried to explain this and he dropped it. Then the other day I got a text from him begging me to call this guy (with a number included) saying he still hasn't gotten his pay, would I please help him, etc.

I texted back saying that I didn't speak Tagalog, I don't know labor law, I didn't even know where to start helping him, etc.

So he kept on sending me rebuttals "he speak English, please, honey" etc. So I brought in the big guns in the form of "AM-Boy"/ JPMC-- you alls remember him, right? Well, he's on my account now, his old account closed, and we're still friends) who I asked to help me translate. "Find out what on earth he's thinking!" I begged JPMC. ("Am-boy")

And, gentle reader, do you know what he was thinking? "He'll be scared of you because you're a foreigner. He'll listen to you because you're white." Heh.

I mean, what businessman worth his salt cares what a lowly language trainer for a BPO thinks or wants? I have no power, influence, or sway over this guy, and I don't have anything I can even threaten him with. Why on earth would he do ANYTHING for me? It wouldn't even be in person, so we're not even thinking the "flirt your way out of jail" thing!

Suffice to say that was the death blow to the relationship, which really wasn't meant to be anyways, but I think I learned my lesson. Innocent lovely nice people are sometimes a tad lacking in "street smarts".

So, on another note, I met someone new, in the wake of two "exits" (Davie got abruptly transferred to Cam Sur- SOB! and Anne's leaving for China). I have noticed a tendency in myself to be "friended" before I'm fully aware of what's going on and to find myself "friends" with very odd, needy, and bizarre characters (Steve Mills shout out!) and unable to figure out the sudden drama level in my life and how it relates to my new bestie. So I'll be taking this new friendship slow. However, I'm also very attracted to oddballs, misfits, hoods, weirdos, freakazoids, and other fringe elements, and they are magnetically drawn to me, perhaps sensing that I won't judge them or ask them to follow social mores of any kind.

So this "girlie man" a male who dresses and lives as a woman, who's our newest Team member (not on the account, but on the Coms staff) is an expat who lived in Canda until college. Thin as a whippet, about 5'5", with strong features that look a LOT like Ashlee Simpson, we'll call "her" Nia.

She was wearing black leggings, combination boot sandals, and a long loose tunic in Buffalo Plaid that looked like Diesel or Von Dutch. She was made up within an inch of her life, and had that slightly eerie plastic glow that comes after people who wear tons of makeup get after a long night.

Wild energy radiates off her- a combination of need and nerve, someone who's very self centered yet entertaining. Many men living "alternative" lifestyles radiate this persona- a nervy, controlled free fall of self destructive glamour.

We had a pizza dinner where we met this new girl, and then we broke up to meet up later for Anne's farewell dinner (which stretched into 7 am and was super fun, more about that later), and Nikki noted "That new person seems really attracted to you."

As usual I was oblivious (my siblings do a KILLER impersonation of people "dancing up on me" at the club while I remain blissfully unaware) so I was like "why would that very stylish, very self aware person latch on to me of all people?" I have a casual arty, off beat style, but I'm not very label concious, to say the least (taxidermied fox head stoles are something I consider the *height* of chic, as one example).

However, when we were seated side by side later at the "drinking" portion of the goodbye dinner, I noticed that Nia was wearing Gucci Guilty fragrance (I often succesfully identify the fragrence people are wearing, which is less of a feat than it seems, since most desinger fragrences are "made" with a very particular type in mind and I can almost always match the "J'adore" with it's wearer. And I have a big sniffer, the better to smell you with!) and she told me, in her husky ciggie voice "Oh, you're right, and I love you!"

Thus was born yet another glamourous friendship. It's always a little weird to me when someone who like name dropping (and she does!) and needs to be the center of attention (swingng her hair Axl Rose style at the table *more than once*) latches on to me as the ne plus ultra of friends, but eh, beggars can't be choosers.