McDonald’s should be considered its own food group. I can’t seem to get sick of it. When I need to eat or just kill time, I go to one. I’ve been doing that for the longest time and I foresee that I’ll keep doing that. Sure it can’t be healthy, but it just tastes so good.

TITLE: DRIVE-THRU – TENACIOUS D

Feel the heat. My room is like an oven. It’s a sure sign that summer is here. Not to mention that everyone is talking about going to the beach. I’m just happy that I’ll get to hang with my friends more; bonus that it’s out of town.

Beach trips to me are a chance to hang on the shore at night, under a starry sky, telling stories while drinking some suds. I know it’s the opposite of what most people enjoy. They’re in it for the beach, the water, and the sun. Whatever makes you happy right? Since we’re staying overnight we all get what we want.

Let’s make this summer fun!

TITLE: TASTE THE SUMMER – DURAN DURAN

Not to come out like an alcoholic or anything, but recently I’ve been obsessed with beer. Mind you, not just any beer but Belgian beer. It’s all because of this place in Makati called “Beers Paradise” (trivia: Beers Paradise is what they call Belgium because of the multitude of different beers available. It isn’t just a crappy name for the pub). This place serves no food, but the selection of beer is phenomenal.

I’ve been there twice. For both times I’ve had two different beers. They’re rather expensive, averaging about 200 pesos each, but very well worth it considering they’re not very common. If you have a difficulty picking something out at Starbucks, you’ll have a hell-of-a-time here. So far the few I have tried are all pretty good (right now I’m particularly fond of this beer called “Kwak”). It’s a good thing that I go there with a bunch of friends and we just end up tasting the orders of one another. That way we get to sample a larger selection. They serve the beer in the proper glasses; all have a corresponding one.

Monday is the appointed “Beers Paradise” day. Can’t go there too often because of the dent it makes on the wallet. So looking at it that way I think of going there as a treat. Till then I’ll have to be content looking up and studying the different Belgian beers on the Net. Now what will I have next?

TITLE: BOOZE BROTHERS – THE COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA

Bad vibes going around; I’m feeling it. So many things I feel, and on other issues I should have said certain things; too bad emotion clouded my thinking. It might have been for the better.

TITLE: BAD IS BAD – HUEY LEWIS AND THE NEWS

I hate fence sitters. The people who don’t take sides; trying to be neutral. You can be right or wrong, but choose a side.  I’ll have more respect for you that way. Arguing to be for this camp or that I can respect; but to argue to be neutral? Thinking only of yourself and keeping the safe ground? Take a stand.

TITLE: SITTING, WAITING, WISHING – JACK JOHNSON

I’m one of those hopeless romantics that believe you always want to be with the person you love. Every minute, every second; I wait for the next opportunity to be with my object of affection. I’m not the only one like this. I know of several others who think the same. There are however, people who don’t share this mindset. They can only be with someone, even if they like them, for only so long; any longer than that they feel stifled, suffocated.  

Personal space I can understand. People need it and you have to respect it. It is here where I draw back, become recluse. Signs tell you when, heaven for bid you’re directly told. Not giving a person their time to themselves can lead to fall out, or even to resentment.

Apparently, a lot of my friends, particularly the girls, fall into the second category. They can be all excited and giddy about the start of a promising relationship, but once the guy goes all out…kaput! Sad but true. As much as I feel for the guy, I know he did wrong, by the “rules” anyway. He’s done. If he gets a second chance, bonus. I’ve been in that situation several times (more than I’d like to admit). I know how it works, but I’m still bewildered by it when it happens.

TITLE: THE SPACE BETWEEN – THE DAVE MATTHEWS BAND

I feel like I’m obsolete. It has nothing to do with age, nor does it have anything to do with capabilities. It just seems like I lack purpose these days.

I sometimes have the sense of having been opened, used then discarded; like a disposable product. My worth is simply a temporary thing; expiring when the need or usefulness is mute.

I’ve got to keep things in check. Let things pan out on their own. After all I have been telling myself that I should just go with the flow. See where I truly fit. (In my best Yoda voice) “Back to the chambers I must go, meditate on this I must!”

TITLE: INAUDIBLE MELODIES – JACK JOHNSON

There are so many things that we take for granted. We tend to think that we are entitled to have what we have simply because they’ve always been there. We even abuse some of these without thought of the ramifications. However, when these things are finally taken away we realize how crippled or incomplete we are.

What am I getting to? Well, I’m currently injured. There’s a gauze bandage wrapped fairly snug around my right thumb. It’s there so I won’t be able to move it. Two weeks ago during Overtone’s gig at Il Ponticello, I hit the cajon a little too hard and with the wrong hand position. That caused my thumb to hurt whenever I moved it, plus this weeks gigs only exacerbated the problem. Doctor friends of mine suggested that I immobilize it (hence the gauze) for it to heal. Now here’s where the thought of small things come it. I miss the use of an opposable thumb.

An opposable thumb has got to be one of nature’s greatest inventions. You just never pay any attention to it. The idea of being able to grab and hold things becomes much simpler when you have that one digit to contribute to grip. Now you can imagine that working with my right hand (yes I am right handed) is quite a task now without full use of my thumb.

Like my thumb, you never really think about what you have till you lose it (or at least lose the function). Makes you wonder about all the other things you take for granted.

TITLE: ALL THE SMALL THINGS – BLINK 182

Reality check, I want it to go this way. I’m not expecting it to go that way. I’m not resting my hopes on it. I’m a realist. If something else comes along, I'll go with it. For now however, this is all I have. It's both difficult and gratifying. For now, I'll take it. What do I have to lose?

TITLE: THE BEST OF WHAT’S AROUND – DAVE MATTHEWS BAND