Mad Chemistry

I just got back from a 2 week long holiday in Houston, Texas! I spent Christmas with the Managbanags and their extended friends and family - it was awesome. I had a hefty serving of all you can eat Filipino food for each meal of the day, everyday! This is one of the main reasons why I’m spending the whole day tomorrow at the gym. But this entry is not about how much weight I’ve gained in the past 10 days, oh no. It’s about the world I discovered during my short visit to the University of Houston’s Chemistry department.

I met up with my friend Joey who's doing his PhD in Chemistry. Yes, he is THAT smart. It was pretty neat being able to observe soon-to-be scientists at work… and at play! The Big Bang Theory cast is indeed alive and well in Houston! Needless to say, I was pestering Joey’s colleagues to create some form of chemical explosion for me. But alas, they weren’t going to waste precious time (and chemicals) for some nosy onlooker like me. And besides, "explosions are reserved for high school students", said one of his colleagues. Nerds intimidate me sometimes.

I'd like to pull this one down

I have no clue what they were thinking when they wrote this.

where they keep their drug stash

I swear that's not PEE in my hands.

and the scientist himself  :)

One of those perfect Sundays

I love Sundays. Even though we were freezing like Popsicles on a stick, the cold weather had no effect on our reckless behavior whatsoever. It could have been the culmination of everything that took place that day; from singing songs at church to shamelessly tormenting BryBry at Bryant Park - It's these little things that make everything, even the harsh weather, bearable. Christmas creeped up on me – and I love the feeling you get when you suddenly transform into that 8 year old kid again. That warm fuzzy feeling, as they say. There are days when I still marvel at the fact that I’m actually spending the Holiday season in New York, this time without family members. It’s bittersweet really. But it’s mostly sweet.

This is what happens when I try to teach Ale how to sing the kumukuti-kutitap song.

Thank you God, for giving me a bunch of crazy friends who are just as crazy as I am. 

Dear Autumn

Did I mention that I'm a part-time loner? I go on dates with myself just to exhaust some form of “solitary creativity”, if you will. I enjoy it, very much so actually. I get to watch people as they watch people; be a complete stranger to everyone around; I get to sit and actually listen to my thoughts. It’s therapy after a weeklong of work and school (and other stuff in between). Being alone is very liberating and depressing to some extent... HAHA.This time I went to central park, I've been planning out this date with myself for quite some time now; I wonder why it took me this long? Anyhoo, I wanted to take snap shots of the autumn hues – incredibly breathtaking by the way; went to the high line and marveled at New York’s nightly silhouette; and finally made time to visit ground zero.

" Falling leaves hide the path so quietly "

- John Bailey