:Six Feet Under… and then some.

People of the Philippines versus A. M.… charged with reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property…current address unknown.

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I’m occasionally asked why I didn’t take up law. Coming from a family of lawyers, you’d think it would’ve interested me. Unfortunately watching the daily grind of a trial court is about as much fun for me as watching someone floss - there are some interesting moments, but generally all you see are little tidbits. My trip to court today was no different from this perception. The expressionless faces of the characters before and behind the bench said it all. Day in and day out, the same rote stuff. It probably gets so routine the judge could’ve merely mouthed the words and the stenographer would’ve magically understood what he meant To my untrained ear, this is how today’s courtroom drama went:

…mumbleArrestmumblemumbleBailmumblemumbleWarrantmumble…

How’d I get here? Three years ago, my car got hit by a jeepney. Three years ago, when I was filling out the blotter, I put a check on a little box that asked me if I wanted to file a case. And now, as a result of that little check mark, I’ve been required by law to show up more or less every three months at the QC MTC, while somewhere out there, someone is living in hiding. Current address unknown.

I’ve been advised by others to drop the thing, mostly out of convenience, and not out of compassion for the guy. I probably would – provided I see the guy in court and he apologizes for his blatant stupidity.

As fate would have it, I wasn’t called up today by the People of the Philippines, so I guess I’m not needed anymore. If they ever need my testimony, well, they can just subpoena me again. Ad testificandum, duces te cum, idontcareanymoreum. Although I’m sure somewhere out there, he does. I hope for his sake they never catch him.

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Hi!  So sorry you didn’t get to try the ride due to my muddleheadedness…  Make it up to you in the future

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In light of current events, running around the Ortigas area in full battle gear would not be the prudent option… Maybe next week. (Sad to say, this is the only section of this blog with something tangentially approaching social relevance) I used to be idealistic, used to have high hopes for this country, used to care…There was a time when I wanted to help be an instrument of change. I wanted to join a certain organization, but am now left to just bear the accoutrements without the attending crap. I am, sadly, still waiting for my idealism to return…
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“Glutton for punishment” (noun) – a lactose intolerant person who knowingly drinks chocolait in spite of the possible effects… Queasy, queasy…

Speaking of queasy, I went to Eurostar Carnival yesterday… My apologies to my seatmates on the “Joker” - Henri, Bastie, and Carlo. My fear of heights coupled with the G-forces of the ride brought out my potty-mouthedness (and much later, the tender juicy hotdog I had earlier that night…)

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A few months back I said I could finally bum around without guilt until the next review season came around. Alas, those days are once again upon me. Once again, “good days” are measured in the number of pages or chapters accomplished.

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The chicks are dead. Both of them. They were fine yesterday, but they were both splayed out in their nest this morning. No epi or subsequent autopsy for the little buggers, though. If I develop flu like symptoms, then we’ll know then, won’t we. They’ve been cremated.

May they rest in peace.

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My house has turned into some sort of animal sanctuary.  Tsk tsk.  If they only knew…

Aside from the odd assortment of stray cats (with kittens in tow, mind you), the garden is now home to a pair of chicks.  Apparently the birds didn’t really notice all the cats wandering about when they built their nest.  I’m not sure what kind they are, as long as they ain’t migratory birds, then I’m fine (they’re about the size of large fist, gray body, white breasts, with a long beak and yellow ass - any ornithologists comments welcome).

I’ve been watching the chickies grow for the past few days.  thought I left them as orphans, but now the chicks are turning into fledglings.  And I’ve seen the parents… always chattering about whenever I get to close to the nest…

I hope they make it.

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Speaking of fledged… Congratulations to TNDC-ers Fuzzy and Lala.  :) 

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I’m going to try upgrading some hobbies.  After years of having various BB guns, I’ve decided to quit plain plinking, and actually put myself in harms way.  So a few days ago, I got myself a new primary weapon, and naturally had to field test it.  After donning my BDU and LBE, I put on my new face mask and asked my brother to shoot me:

“Okay, open fire!”

Whiz… WHAP!

Mental note to myself: get helmet.

Actually, its not as bad as you think (depending on where you’re hit of course).  Getting hit in the forehead isn’t that painful, but I never knew my head could make that sound.  As Anton’s friend Eppie put it “it hurts, but you’re not gonna die.”  I can think of a dozen other things that fit that description, (such as a root canal, perhaps) but I’m not exactly raring to try them. Still, using the principle of summation, getting hit sequentially on full auto kind of takes your breath away.   I could feel my mouth open, but not a single sound came out.  Oh wait, that’s an exaggeration.  The sound came a few seconds later after I found myself writhing on the ground… What a wimp.

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Aside from taking the hits, I had to practice other aspects of my tradecraft, so I’ve been out in the yard soaking up some sun.  Cutting boxes in half uses up a lot of pellets.  So today, I decided to get a whole kilo of BBs (0.2g – if you’re keeping track).  Who knew that I’d be getting into a whole new sub-culture

“Pabili po ng isang kilo”

“Ser, mag-wa-war games po ba kayo”

“Oo, mga next week siguro”

“Ano po ang clan mo?”

Clan? What clan?  Can’t I just buy BBs without the 20 questions?  Would’ve wanted to bullshit my way through the conversation by answering something like “delta force” or something like that, but they might have actually asked for more details like which unit, and what position…  “Newbie lang ako…sir.”

And the truth shall set you free…La-dee-da.

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My apologies to elements of the delta force…(I don’t want to be singled out… Still don’t have a helmet.  Not planning on getting one.  Besides, I have 4 kilos of flak vest just staying home because its to cumbersome and heavy to wear).

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I just came back from Iloilo on family matters.  More of that in the future.  But first and foremost, this post is to thank all those of you out there who ever wished me luck on taking the USMLE Step 2.

Maraming Salamat Po.

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I hate this.  Its almost six in the morning and I’m still wide awake.  Its been a week since I arrived and I’m still jet lagged.  I’d have thought that after 2 years of hospital drudgery, I’d have some sort of mastery over my sleeping habits (ie falling asleep at a moments notice), but unforunately, such is not the case!

Sigh.  Have a full day in fornt of me too.  Guess nothing to do but ride it out.

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