Watching a bunch of series and season finales are making me quite emotional right now. But good thing Friday5 does help me keep this blog alive. I know it's a Saturday here, but this is a pretty good set.

1. What kind of out-of-school lessons did you take as a kid?
Fortunately, I really think I had a great childhood. For one, I wasn't deprived of it. I was sort of spoiled back then, being the eldest. As a kid, I was really the prim and proper kind, without compromising my love for attention and performing. Go figure. I think one of those out-of-school lessons from my childhood that really remains would be to be grateful and humble for what you have and who you are.

2. What valuable lesson did you learn this past week?
Because I've been hanging out a lot with my best friends and my sisters during the week, I would say a deep sense of appreciation and content. They have shown me that they will always be there for me. Another lesson would be perhaps being honest with myself. I need to face my issues, problems and slowly deal with them.

3. Who in your life really needs to be taught a lesson?
I think everyone needs a sense of clarity every now and then. We go through our lives sometimes so blind - almost always looking for an escape. Whether we're basking in joy or depression, it's important to revel in the present and find a way to reconcile with whatever truth or reality we are in. If it's wonderful, we need to be more appreciative. And if it proves to be otherwise, then we can't live in denial. We need to make room for acceptance.

4. What kinds of lessons would you love to have a private teacher for right now?
I would really want to continue professional voice lessons or dabble into something creative like continue painting or digital illustrations. I always need something creative in me.

5. What steps have you taken to lessen the impact of these rough economic times?
I wish I could do more! Why do I have to enjoy shopping so much??? Saving electricity does count, right?

I guess the extra time at home was just what I need for me to give this place a complete overhaul. Head over to my blog. Contrary to what I usually do, I figured I'd try the minimalist approach. I really, really like it a lot. I know it looks very simple, but coding everything is definitely harder than it looks. I also got the movie weblog back and I will try to update it as much as I can.

I spend a lot of my days lately thinking about law school, my other plans in between, after or who knows when. It's quite exhausting emotionally because reality does hit hard and I can't help but start worrying about things I know I should stop worrying about. Good thing I'm not going through it alone. There is indeed joy in sharing it with my closest friends under light-hearted and scrumptious circumstances. haha! Thank you Facebook for making it easier for us to plan our sporadic get-togethers!

Here's this week's Friday 5:

• Which of your friends is the most frugal?
Oh no! I have a lot of shopaholic friends. But when it comes down to my close circle of friends, it would probably be Karen. Or my PolSci college guy blockmates! They can be so frugal!

• Which of your friends is the biggest spendthrift?
Now this could apply in many ways. I think saying 'spendthrift' is quite an exaggeration. I don't think anyone of my friends are recklessly wasteful. But like me, a lot of my close friends really do enjoy their own luxuries, cravings and cheap thrills. Shoutout to Charz, Sherleen, all my best friends - Jaz, Audrey, Sarah and Dan.

• Which of your friends is the most daring?
Hahahaha! Some of my college friends! Madami doon. Guy blockmates ko pa lang! But this doesn't necessarily mean the most promiscuous ones!

• Which of your friends is the most cautious?
Best friend Audrey! Or maybe Karen too. Reasonably cautious though.

• Which of your friends has the hottest temper?
Jazzy darlin! :) hahaha. Kidding... or maybe not. I really don't know.

Just got back from my trip down south.... way south... as in Mindanao south. Since we go there practically every year, it's really more like going back home to relax and unwind. One of the good things about the trip was enjoying the sunny weather as opposed to the storms that raged Luzon. Thank God we arrived back here under sunny skies and intense heat. Oh Philippine weather, why must you wreak havoc into our summer lives?

I'm glad to be home though. I'm currently catching up on more than a week's worth of missed episodes. All throughout my marathons, I kept thinking about law school and the next years ahead. I've said it before and I'll say it again that I have reconciled with devoting the 5 years in the pursuit of this dream. Or have I really? BOOO.

I can't believe that all of a sudden there's this creeping sense of some unsettling indescribable feeling that bothers me. Go figure. That somehow I fear that I won't have time for things that I've always dreamed of doing before I 'settle.' Some kind of bucket list that I've always held on to back when I was a wide-eyed teenager thriving for adventure and hungry for big, ambitious, elaborate dreams... Time for traveling, adventures, discoveries - taking the world by storm with people you love! But finally coming on to my early twenties and faced with all sorts of crisis to face and conquer for the rest of my life, the reality sinks in and sometimes the luxuries of life remain ONLY to be momentary dreams.

Maybe I'm just starting to feel quite insecure and envious after hearing and reading about the plans of some people I know as they take a year off to travel, pursue a hidden passion, brave new worlds on their own. Maybe because the next 5 years will limit me somehow. The road ahead of me may not exactly fuel in some wild, impulsive, spontaneous adventure. Instead, I will come into my own bubble. And everything else may have to wait. The million and one things that I've always wanted to do may not be there for me in the near future, but it'll come for me at my own time.

So I'm telling myself at this point to just let go of this unsettling feeling. Nakakastress din eh. Come to think of it, I have my whole life ahead of me. Law school is only part of it, but it is still part of MY dream. From what I know and hear, it will be an adventure of its own. It's braving a whole new world that may very much be worth it.

Now let's do this week's Friday Five:

1. What’s your favorite card game?
Pusoy Dos. I'm good at it. haha.
2. What’s your favorite roll-the-dice-and-move game?
I haven't really played board games in a long time, but I remember when I was a kid that I used to kick butt in Casino (the board game). It was so much fun too!
3. What’s your favorite playground game?
Marco Polo! It's a tweaked and a lot more fun version of hide-and-go-seek. My childhood friends and I live for this game during our younger years!
4. What’s your favorite party game?
When alcohol's involved? hahaha!

5. What’s your favorite computer game?
I really don't play computer games. As in I'm really, really bored. Okay na ako sa Snood, Feeding Frenzy, Text Twist and Bejeweled.

I used to do my Friday Fives religiously back when I was young and was just starting to blog. It was always fun answering questions. And because this might actually help me slowly cure my "less than 5 entries per month" sickness.

1. What’s the most annoying sound in the world?
Nails on a chalkboard. Or annoying people talking around.


2. Which of other people’s mannerisms do you find very annoying?
I can't think of any particular mannerisms as of now, but my ultimate annoying pet peeve is when someone touches/borrows/uses/gets my stuff without my knowledge or permission. I really go crazy. I have huge control/territorial issues.


3. What do you do that really annoys others?
I'm not sure. Probably when I talk too much or too loudly when I get excited. Especially in a nice restaurant or in the movies. I do that only when I'm with my friends or sisters though. I tend to make side-comments sometimes.


4. In what way has your own behavior recently caused you annoyance?
When I get too needy or attached when I tell myself not to. Or when I'm too indecisive. Lately, those things annoy me big time.


5. Who’s the most annoying person you know?
As if I'm going to say it here.

Wow. Ang bad vibes naman ng selection of questions this week. Hope everyone enjoys the weekend ahead.