Friday, August 25, 2000: Super Typhoon Bilis

The super typhoon which killed a dozen folk in Taiwan passed us by, but did dump a couple of days of rain on us. Today, though, the skies were blue.

I am currently on-line at home. Tarzan Mike has hooked his laptop up to the amazing information superhighway. So instead of walking to the cybercafe and enduring bad pop music and super slow internet response...I can laze here at home and write this while I watch TV. It's currently on Cinemax, which should be called the Cheesey Violence Network.

On the Geri front, I have received text messages on my handphone from her in the UK. She is debating coming back to Manila. I doubt she will stay in the UK. How do you keep your daughter on the farm once she's seen the bright lights and fast-times of Makati nightlife...where even I can be a star for a evening.

I have made my arrangements for my return to Canada. I will be arriving back for Justin & Kim's wedding (oh, THAT should be a journal entry worth reading) on Sept 9th. I will be in Canada for 2 weeks, then its back to Makati where even Jim Bob Walton could be a man of means and king of the road at the same time.

Saturday, August 19, 2000: Teki-Torture

Last night Geri dragged me out to her friend John's birthday party. It was Geri's last night in Makati for awhile, so I couldn' t say no. The party was held at this French Water Company executive named Richard's home in conjunction with his pal Cherry's birthday. Geri was in her element. I was not.

We were picked up in a cab by Geri's Italian friend Laura and off we went. The cabbie was thrilled to have such obvious happenin' hipsters in his car; especially Geri in her tiny leopard print dress and her Debbie Harry (Blondie) hair-do. He spoke boldly to the shotgun-toting guards at the gate to the community who grilled us on our destination. Those crazy guards! Couldn't they see he was the most important cabbie in Metro M? He had Movie Stars in his cab...or was it Rock Stars... It was truly cute. I'm certain he's still recounting to his pals how HE got to drive these Superstars to some big event. I would have rather hung out with him.

We were greeted by more guards at the house. Inside, introductions were made and drinks were served. I found a discreet spot by the swimming pool amoung teki-torches and floating candles. The usual hoards of expats were there. Like myself, all bustouts in their homeland...but here? They were all superstars. I felt as if I were in the pool party scene from Boogie Nights.

After several dozen gin and tonics I called Rene and had him rescue me in the Merc. I found Sir James and friends at a disco called WHERE AS, where I was once barred from for not having "proper shoes on". This time, in my Fleuvogs, there was no stopping me. Jenny, Sir James' better three-quarters, found me and the rest is a blurred gin and tonic ride into confusion.

I ended up back at the Teki-torture party and recall making the guards laugh by making fun of some big headed 80's leftover expat who rode off on his noisey Harley. I pointed at him as he zoomed off and said "The bigger the cickle...the smaller the dickle..." The guards roared. I also have an image of entering the house while Stardust "The Music Sounds Better With You" spun. The live band was taking a break I believe. Geri briefly forced me to dance with her ("it's my last night..."), but I bid her goodnight and left her to fend off the advances of all the drunk macho men.

Rene got me home safely.

Tonight Geri and I went to Persian Kabob for once last meal and then Rene and I drove her to the airport and sent her on her way. Will she come back?? Only time will tell.

Tuesday, August 8, 2000: Broken Guitar Blues

If I could feel how I do after Karate all the time...I'd be one happy guy. I'd also be one sweaty, achy-breaky guy. But it is coming along. I am beginning to NOT think about Aikido when I do Karate. There are still a lot of old habits that I must break, though.

and speaking of BROKEN...

My wonderful semi-acoustic RJ guitar cracked on Saturday as I pulled it out for my lesson. It would seem that the extreme humidity and tempature changes it endured throughout the journey from my place to the lesson caused a fault in its manufacture to expand or contract... the result? Well, its under repair. In the meantime I am forced to use the junky slammer I bought for 40 bucks when I arrived here in February. Practicing the many difficult chords my lesson requires on that is like trying to learn karate kicks with wooden planks nailed to the bottoms of your feet. Both painful and awkward. (and pointless)

and speaking of Sunni...

I have been having MANY weird dreams lately. Including one of a scene from Grease with Tom Waits singing this demented song....However...during a rather bad case of homesickness I had a dream in which Sunniva from Grapefruit Moon came to me and gave me the most wonderful hug. I woke feeling as if it had been real. Thanks Sunni.

My good friends Apple & Superdry have left for the UK for a 3 week trip "home". I miss them greatly.

Tuesday, August 1, 2000: Anniversaries And Earthquakes

Today is the one year anniversary of my meeting Michelle at the Cameron house during a Sunday night Kevin Quain gig. It occurred to me that the day was upon me as I stumbled out from a brutal Karate class. Brutal in a good way. It was a great class. As I aproached what we refer to as "the intersection you're most likely to get run over at" I called Michelle on my handphone. Unfortunately I ran out of pisos mid-call.

I walked up to Universe Cafe and found a wonderful email from her in my inbox...

I experienced an earthquake today. I've only felt that once before. I was a child in Vancouver and I remember running into my parents room as things shook and watching their mirror shake and rattle. Today's quake was lacking in the shaking and rattling factor. It was like being on a ship and going over a huge wave. It was strange.

I had my photo taken by the friendly staff of the Starbucks I frequent today. I stood there like a freak as they stood around me. I will post the photo as soon as they give me a copy.

Well, its time to wander home. On my walkman tonight... "Sounds Of Science" by the Beastie Boys. (got to love the Fatboy Slim remix of Body Movin)

Good night folks!