The Lowdown on Being Legal

Only seven weeks ago, I was waiting alone in a casino lobby, with a Dean Koontz novel in hand and eight steakhouse carry-out boxes surrounding me. It was three in the morning. People laughed and pointed at me and my carry-out boxes; like I was some psycho who boxed up all the customers' leftovers from the steakhouse upstairs. I was hungry, impatient and my eyes hurt from desperately trying to enjoy my novel despite the blinding yellowish lights. I watched people go in and out of the security checkpoint barricading the gambling area. I figured that if I was just friendly enough, I'd be able to get past them and into the Vegas simulation that trapped my aunts for nearly five hours; then drag them out to the real world where they can hear me say, "Let's go home."  But then I remembered my 25 year-old brother getting detained by security in the same casino a couple of months ago due to his teeanage appearance, so I scratched the plan. I'd rather wait and tolerate being made fun of by some Asian guys than get arrested. (And yes, unfortunately, of all races, my Asian brothers were making fun of me.)

Finally, it's time to strike back.

I will no longer have to keep my face turned away awkwardly everytime I enter resto bar. I don't have to let myself go hungry in casino lobbies when I can get just drunk enough in a nearby bar to piss my relatives enough to drag me home. I will no longer have to refuse a kind uncle's offer to buy me all the wine I can drink at dinner. I will no longer have to tolerate people making fun of me because I looked like a hungry kitten left by her owner.

While silently sitting at home and watching the clock tick, last Friday I became legal. There was no fancy celebration, but his guy from Animal Planet kept me smiling all night.

Image courtesy of fondosescritorio.net

Thanks to everyone who greeted by text, IM, Multiply, and all online means possible. Sorry I wasn't able to reply to each one.

. . . BSc

Eto na yun.

If it still seems unbelievable that I already graduated during last year's first term... perhaps marching officially in the academic gown erases all doubts.

From here on out, we will be known as [insert name here], BSc.

Congratulations mga ka-batch! To my original batch, especially thesis mates... Yadz, Mel, Kay, Jaz, Terence, Arlin, Rey, Faye, Kate, Ann, Lola Ben, Kuya Gian, Ate George, and Kuya James. (I hope I didn't forget anyone.) To beloved '04 people who we've been closest to.  To microbiology and  molecular bio labmates... Joram, Ate Tinay and Ate Tin. Double hurrays for the Biochem cum laudes who definitely deserved it.

I'm sure not one of us will forget all the sweat, blood, tears, damaged brain cells and moments verging on mental illness. But then admit it, somehow we loved the torture. We grew our thick skins along with perhaps the only people who understood our obssession for nerdiness even with the seemingly unreasonable agony that came with it.

I saw Faye's old sketch in the lab board and noticed the people were all smiles. Graduate na pala kasi lahat sa picture.
 
Now these people are smiling for real.

Pizza and Pink Roses

=D.

I hated surprises. I still do. But I guess there's an exception... not if it involves Italian food and roses. Hehe.
I'm running out of things to say. Just...

Thank you all.

Thanks Kenet for asking them to come and for suggesting Sbarro kahit wala naman kaming choice (Joke! Ikaw lang naman kasi ang mahilig talaga sa Sbarro.); Kel and Hernie for bringing the flowers (tsk, guy na may dalang pink? Haha.) and coming back kahit gabi na, Mikki for coming even though you had an exam, Faye and Daal for being there, Kay for the chat the night before and for coming din, and Raymond for texting that he can't make it. (Tampo. xD Hehe.)

I loved the pink roses. <3 They matched my shirt... hehe.
 
When I get my actual schedule, let's have another one, okay?

Hurray to the New Chemists

Congratulations to the passers of the 2007 Chemistry Licensure Exam!

Cheers to being licensed chemists, finally... and a special congratulations to Hernie and Raymond for making it! Of course, we expected no less from my twin bro and Grandpa. ^_^ We are so proud of you guys, you should hear how our batchmates brag about you. Hehe. "100% passing ang batch natin, two out of two!"

Even though our school's passing rate is considerably lower this year (since UPM usually places second or third), it's okay... duh, we're not even Chem majors at that.

Now that the cramming and the exam jitters are over, it's time for a blow-out! Hehe.