The shark annual diary/planner is apparently a sought-after gift. I didn't know this, until I told krude that one of the people I work with gave me two (a large and small version) for Christmas.

He went, "Wow, you're lucky! That's a sought-after gift." And then I went, "Oh really? Then I probably shouldn't have left them lying on top of my desk."

This morning when I came in, only the large version was still there. The small one was gone.

*shakes fist at grabby handed planner-hungry person*

This is related to my personal belief that increasing salaries will not prevent corruption or petty thievery. If a person is so inclined to take what is not theirs, whatever they have will never be enough.

I console myself with knowing that the little 2010 calendar I bought at National Bookstore (for 20 pesos or less) is so much cuter anyway.

1. Cookie.
Happy birthday. And I'm seriously thinking of donating to www.braintumorcommunity.org because you asked. I also like that you use words like "tonic" and "cure-all" because we do too and I like to think of you as One Of Us.

2. Banks that are open until 6-ish
I have vague memories of lining up on my lunch break and being mad at tellers for taking so long, but now I'm strictly a 4:30-ish banker. Don't change!

Saw a boy on the train wearing his serviceman uniform. Not a boy really, maybe 20 years old.  6 feet tall, typical buff Chinese Singaporean build. And no it wasn't that I was attracted or anything. So it's not that kind of post.

He was standing by the door and as I looked up about to get off at my stop, I noticed that he was glaring at everyone and no one in particular. I thought that curious, but then I saw him clenching his fist by his waist unconsciously. That's when I saw it just as I left the train. He had an 11th finger. A skinny complete finger stuck to his thumb on the wrong side. It wasn't as wide as thumb, more like a pinkie finger.

It just had me thinking all the way back to my apartment. If you had an 11th finger on you hand, how would you see life differently? My mind went in all directions imaging what it would be like in his shoes.

I mean, it's not a handicap nor an instantly obvious deformity. Would you be cool with it? My next thought would be, Oh my God, it would be so cool to play the piano with an extra finger! But then again, would you practice moving you extra digit? I would.

But my bet is that he would have a whole complex about it. Not being like other kids. Trying to go out on a date and holding someone's hand. Being stared at. Would I have daydreamed of having it removed? Or would it make me feel special? Given his age, I guess he was going to keep it.

Don't most parents pray that their kids have a complete set of appendages and digits? My mom told me that was her thought every time she got pregnant. So what it you got that, plus one? How would you explain to your child why he's got an extra one? Would you think it was your fault? Would you have sleepless nights thinking if you should have it removed or not? Would you tell your kid he had magical powers that come from it? Or that he swallowed his twin in the womb and all that was left was his finger.

As a kid, my siblings and I used to go to the Christmas carnival and they would have freak shows. Where for 20 pesos, you could enter some wooden tent and ogle at live-chicken eating "cannibals", mermaids with rubber tails and more often than not, real Siamese twins. Some years there would be these incomplete twins, where one person had 3 arms or legs, or an arm growing out of his side. The posters outside would proclaim them as scary monsters to entertain the kids. But they always looked quite sad and bored. Like a zoo animal in his cage being circled by kids and their parents. What did they do after that? Play and watch tv with their folks? Or did their folks give them away from the provinces to make a few extra bucks in the city?

So this is my weird random Christmas time memory. Rollercoasters, hot dogs, haunted mansions, giant slides and the random freakshow.  Funny how you just remember things like that but see them in a whole new light.

2009's Big Trip was not Europe (as planned three years ago) but a visit to the US West/Southwest instead.

Why the change? Philippine Airlines had a freaking sale. $584 round-trip Manila to LA, baby! As I've learned recently with all these airline sales, Pinoys will travel anywhere given a cheap enough ticket. European airlines, please go on sale. :)

( MNL-LAX-IAH-LAS-LGB/LAX-MNL )

Went to my first hearing at a Metropolitan Trial Court. My tito laughed and said "It's not like Boston Legal" but my legal drama/dramedy of choice is not that so I said "Yes it's not The Practice" instead.

Although in some parts it was. I listened in on some arraignments (?) and the judge made me LOL. And then there was the cute young lawyer who represented at least one of the criminals, and was appointed to also represent the lady whose lawyer didn't show up. They could make a show about him. Can Gerald Anderson act lawyerly?

Though I love using a cutter and cutting board, that doesn't mean I can cut a straight line even with a ruler. When you get your invite, know that I was up 'til late and I cut that crooked label with love. :)