and so

Riding on the high brought by having just seen Into The Woods in its entirety, I’m wishing everyone a very merry Christmas. I don’t know where you are, but here the night of December 24 is crucial. I’ll be home for the countdown to midnight.

This year’s coming to a close, the speed of everything surprising as always. Wishes for 2009: more songs, more stories (yesterday I received word from Free Press that they’re going to publish my short story next week, hooraaaay) (and I finally found the time to read Richard Price’s Clockers) – who would wish for sad times? But if they do come, I hope they’re not too destructive. I hope they’re malleable, and gentle – of the kind that can leave you with enough energy to turn them into something beautiful.

Here’s Part 1 of the Prologue of Into the Woods. Next: Once On This Island. Haha.

party! raffle prizes! salted eggs!

I still don’t know where the eggs came from.

eggs good for probably a year

Sir Chito (Libre Ed in Chief, party host): Maaari bang unahin na nating i-raffle ‘yung mga itlog na maalat? Para silang masamang panaginip. [Later] Wala nang itlog na maalat!

Inquirer Crowd: WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! *dancing and revelry*

Much good that did for me, I still came home empty-handed. Oo, kahit itlog na maalat di ko pa napanalunan.

But at least I got this, a shot that had to be taken since Kate and Ruthie were all glammed up:

ohyeahohyeah

More pictures at my Multiply, including the make-up session with Armin.

(First photo from Irene’s cam. [Or Fran's]. Thanks! I was so overwhelmed by the eggs I failed to take a picture of them.)

research: we real cool.

So cool we had our Christmas party at noon yesterday with no parlor games whatsoever. We’re still in the process of attaining the EPA party’s level of coolness (they had an Adverb Charade – try acting out “uneasily”, or, better yet, “surreptitiously”, or better better yet, “felicitously”), which in my humble opinion is just off the charts.

party! um. party?

I left the party with a box of chocolates, two kilos of rice (don’t ask), and a bottle of peppermint shower gel courtesy of Ate Cy (she also took the above photo). I’ll upload my own pictures at my Multiply page. (EDIT: Uploaded!)

* * *

Try typing Faceboook.com on your browser. (Grabe na lang ang mga discoveries ni Lawrence.) Don’t forget the extra ‘o’. Very, very clever.

Even in his free time Lawrence is productive. No, no complaint there, or sarcasm. One time when my hands were free and everyone else was busy churning out write-ups, I sent out Fucklings. (That sentence was poorly/perversely constructed.) (Hey, two more words for the Adverb Charade!)

* * *

Merry Xmas, all.

inquirer, 23

This year’s mantra is (all together now) WE NEED TO SAVE MONEY. But the company still threw a party on Tuesday. As scheduled. (Hey, it’s the anniversary – there has got to be a party.)

Every year, the Big Bosses buy trinkets from NGOs to be given as gifts to the employees. This year, they bought angels. I appreciate this more than last year’s Christmas ball/deadly weapon.

(You hypocrite. Just say you loved the enclosed donut coupon.)

Oh, and it also came with a donut coupon. Almost threw the envelope away, the angel was so enthralling.

Ang sama mo. Cute naman talaga e.

Anyway, the party. Yes. Earlier that day, Armin dropped by the department to show off his ferosh footwear.

Which turned out to be more ferosh with the pink top and the make-up.

A certain celebrity guest appeared to be a snob. Or in a hurry. Disappeared before anyone could even say, “Kuya, meron kang career?”

Some were gracious enough to pose for pics:

Emman for the win, hehe.

Highlights: two reporters’ rendition of “Total Eclipse of the Heart”, the disturbingly tight spandex of Freddie Mercury, Christmas songs courtesy of the InCHOIRer (pun, pun, pun) and Erika tugging Certain Celebrity’s shirt sleeve and being ignored. (Sabi nga ni Princess, “Kala mo kay gwapo.”)

Next year ulit.