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I had another blog just a minute ago that I just deleted. "Frank Game Reviews" was something I thought about a few months ago to give my opinion on computer games and other topics related to that. I hadn't put in much effort into writing for that blog so I just decided to nuke it. I apologize now to my non-gaming readers for they will once again see the occasional game review on this blog in the future.

Yesterday while doing a bit of research for an article I'm writing, my sister and I decided to grab a bite and ended up at Tempura Grill in ATC. For those not familiar with the place, it's obviously a Japanese restaurant and is found near North Park. The look and the ambiance is similar to that of Terriyaki Boy, so naturally comparisons will arise.

Jay has raved about this place claiming it was good and afordable. He told me he liked it so much that he's already known by the staff because of eating there everyday for a week. I wanted to try it our since I love Japanese food.

With my stint working with the Japanese let me tell you that I've tried all sorts of Japanese food that would be considered authentic, and damn they're good. Tempura Grill was neither. I was so disappointed. Granted the prices were affordable (the 5 piece Ebi Tempura was 180 bucks) the food seemed to lack something. The Tempura was large and had a crisp batter but it seemed mass-produced and reheated. That's never good for a Tempura dish. The Gohan could have been better. The rice they used wasn't Japanese rice. The Miso soup I think was something out of an envelope. Nothing like I'm used to.

If you have to have a Japanese food fix and you're in the Alabang area, take the effort to go to Festival mall and eat at Terriyaki Boy. Skip Tempura Grill even though they claim their Tempura is healthier. On the bright side, they did have Tempura Gyoza which was interesting. I'll give them that.

Last night we played Aposento. To my surprise I saw Cris walk in. Haven't seen her in a while. A few moments later Debbie and Marge arrived. Good to see these guys again. Those three disappeared for quite sometime. Seeing and hanging out with them again felt good.

Yaku was fun last night. Merely because a bunch of our friends were there. Debbie came back all the way from the States and stayed to watch. She was with Margie, another person I haven't seen in a long time. It was good to see them. Hopefully we'll see them around more.

I did my good deed for the year. I donated blood. This was for Tito's mom so it makes me feel all the more happy. I was supposed to go through the donation procedure last Wednesday but I was turned away and told to come back since I had a couple of drinks the night before.

Yesterday, all sobered up and a little groggy Tito picked me up to go to Asian hospital. I got through the initial screening and thought that it was going to be simple. Then the nurse told me to go to the next room where there was a Lazy-Boy. "Ah! This is where I'll be drained of blood." I told myself. So I sat down and got my iPod ready. When the nurse produced the needle, I was surprised to see how big it was. You could actually see the hole and the angle of the tip! Well the nurse told me to take a deep breath and inserted the needle.

For the most part I couldn't feel the needle inside me. It was only when they had to reposition the needle (they said I had a deep vein so it was hard to find it), with them moving it around me, did I feel the sting. Of course the initial stab was also painful. After about 20 minutes, which the nurse said was really long, she told me to take another deep breath as she withdrew the needle. I was handed Oreos and Zesto and told to relax. That was that.

Good thing I brought the iPod. It focused my mind away from the most excruciating part of the whole procedure. Someone else was also getting his blood drained and he arrived before me. Unfortunately he had the remote control of the TV there and set the channel to a Juday and Bobby Andrews movie. Man that was awful! With the iPod on I closed my eyes and just shut everything out.

The aftermath of this whole episode was funny (in retrospect). Being the hard headed ox that I am, I played badminton after. My logic was "If I could drive drunk, I could play badminton even if I was light headed and lacking a pint of blood". What a lesson that was. After the first game I was really winded. Thinking all I needed was a drink I continued to another game. After that game ended I wanted to collapse. I threw off my shoes and said that's it for me. I spent the rest of the court time crumpled up in one corner. I was even joking with Art saying I'd be fine to play again in about 30 minutes. He stood up and said he wouldn't play with me. Oh well. That's done with.

I watched the Jars of Clay concert last night at the Araneta. That was a good concert. A few things could have been better (the sound for one) but overall it was a good show. They played well and their light show was amazing.

As Jars of Clay are a Christian rock group, a lot of the "Christian" populace watched. I found it so odd to see Nuns at a concert. People were actually waving their hands in the air as if at mass. Then you had us drinking beer and cussing a lot. Great contrast huh?

The members of Jars of Clay look like normal everyday guys. Then they have already won Grammy awards. How cool is that? Can you imagine the feeling?

I am a free man! Forget the previous posts about second thoughts. I am now officially resigned from my job. I just needed a final fight with that baka nip to push me to quit. Now the company is in trouble. I heard from the others that they dissolved the technical section. A tech company with no tech department. Genius!