Dogface

Friendster from beyond

2005-04-25T07:06:00.000-07:00

Chee is a lazy blogger; a lazy friendster-er as well. He likes getting mail and invites and stuff, but he rarely sends them himself. How selfish of Chee. He ought to be dragged out into the streets in pink pajamas and be put in jail with Bobo the clown and the Energizer Bunny.

The other day I was scanning through friendster awestruck at the wonder of it all. The other month I told an old friend (through friendster) that I had a crush on her in grade school (I know, I know. The nerve!). Well, she got around to telling me (through friendster again), that during that same period, she had a crush on me as well! The things a simple thing like Friendster can do! (And the things that might have been has we known what other people really feel about us :D).

The testimonial page is really nice, especially if you get to know stuff people really thought about you. It kinda warms the cackles of your heart (or is that cockles? Whatever.). If it really had a good effect on me, imagine how much it would mean to others! Hmmm... I smell a ministry coming up.

The other day I saw something pretty eerie on friendster. While browsing through my friends page I saw the profile of a friend I hadn't seen in a long time. Nothing eerie about that, except that he passed away a few months back. I felt nostalgic, sad when I saw him smiling from beyond, happy at the same time because we have a hope of a resurrection morning. I really can't explain how I felt seeing him live on in cyberspace. It's sad. It's happy. It's thought provoking.

But at least his cyber persona lives on in Friendster....to tide us over till the last trumpet.

chHoke chHoke (cough cough)

2005-04-24T07:37:00.000-07:00

Out of sheer whimsy, I signed up for grappling class.

No. Not fondling or groping. Grappling. Sorta Jiu Jitsu-ish stuff.

I've been meaning to get into martial arts for the longest time, but my middle name isn't Procrastinator for nothing. I've got some friends who are really into it so, hey, why not. I need to sweat too you know.

And sweat I did!

Ever since I was a kid, I've always wanted to get into a fighting art. Not really to beat anyone up; it's just that I'm really physically competitive, and I enjoy the discipline that goes along with it. (and beating some evil snatcher-type dude scores oodles of pogi (brownie?) points with the girls).

I'd even go as far as imitate what I'd see on TV. Bruce Lee's lighting-fast strikes. Jet Li's No-Shadow-Kick. All those flying kung-fu moves and stuff. If you think a kid trying to imitate those moves is plain silly, try imagining the stuff I did once Dragonball came into fashion.

So here I am, groping-I mean grappling my fat gut out.

The instructor reminds me of my older brother-confident-a bit snarky and cynical-but nice and supportive at the same time. He's well built even if he stands but a sprightly 5'5. The way he moves though, and the competence of his art makes him about 7 feet in my book.

By the time we're in for the roll (sparring), I'm aching from heel to pinkie. My first charge gets me into a guillotine choke (thank you, Earl, I won't forget you...). I'm heaving from the effort. I'm dehydrated, beat, and totally out of it. AAAARRGGGhhh... Only consolation is that I get to do it again the next meeting.

Welcome to the world of martial arts, Chee!

Blog On

2005-04-12T06:48:00.000-07:00

This is Chee Chiang Puen, Jr., and this is my first blog post.

To tell you the truth, I'm at a loss for reasons detailing why I'm posting here in the first place. People who know me would say, 'this isn't like you, Chee.'

But then again, maybe this is like me.

Someone once told me that if you want to be known for the ages you can only do two things - plant a tree, or write a book. I dunno how the plant a tree works, and I don't think any publisher would be interested in the junk I write. So pity me, a blog is the closest I can get to passing this life on for posterity.

My memory is bonkers. I can remember-with detail, mind you-things that happened to me when I was 3 years old. But for the life of me I can't remember things that happened yesterday, or even thirty minutes ago! Good long term, bad short term. It gets bad when you forget stuff here and there but it gets worse! The other day I, with all confidence, told a story of a memory I thought I had. I THOUGHT I HAD! It turns out that it was just a story told to me by someone else! I thought it was my memory!

Sometimes I think I'll go senile before my time. At least I get have my face plastered on milk cartons....

Anyway, this blog is a memory aid-it'll help me keep my memories, and it'll give you a glimpse of who I am (now, ain't that fun...).

If you want to know how life is in the Philippines (especially for a twenty-something like me) welcome, welcome, welcome!