3 posts tagged “survey”

Reem and Owen tagged me in Facebook...

1. I've only recently started to appreciate my entire name. My mum wanted to name me Charlene Samantha Marie, my dad thought it was too common and decided to name me something else. They both agreed I should have three names.

2. The first part of my name is derived from the Ancient Egyptian word mry which means beloved. My second name means heart in Thai and victory in Indian. My third name is a variation of Mishael's Babylonian name. Mishael was one of the three young men cast into a furnace but saved by God in The Bible.

3. I was an only child for 14 years. I behaved like the typical evil, spoilt-brat in the movies when I found out my Mum was pregnant and I was soon going to have a sister. I took out my giant troll doll and made sure my Mum saw it everyday. I was hoping my sister would come out looking like a troll! She came out all pretty and I loved her the moment I saw her.

4. I learned how to read when I was 4. The first book I could read on my own was 'The Cat in the Hat'.

5. My Mum and Dad never censored the reading materials we had at home. At 6, I was bored with Sweet Valley High and started reading my aunt's Mills and Boon collection. At 8, I so desparately wanted to be part of the March family, live in Prince Edward Island and befriend Anne Shirley and Sara Stanley, or solve crimes with Watson and Holmes. At 9, I pored through the lovelorn columns of British Cosmo and learned about love, lust and divorce. At 10, I was reading Tom Clancy and John Grisham before the movie version of their books came out. At 12, my diary was peppered with Donne, Browning and Neruda lines to describe the ecstasy and anguish of first love. Now, I've regressed to reading chick lit. Tsk tsk.

6. I love old Hollywood movies. In college, I skipped classes in Journalism to sneak into my bestfriend's classes instead. She was taking up Audio-Visual Comm as her major and they had to watch splendid films like The Jazz Singer, Citizen Kane, and Seven Samurai to study scene treatment and camera angles. I was just there for the free movies!

7. When I was a kid, I had a huge Barbie collection. I think I had 15 Barbies, including a Filipina Barbie in a national costume designed by Patis Tesoro, UNICEF Barbie, and the infamous talking Barbie 'Teen Talk Barbie'. I also had a Skipper doll (Barbie's sister) and Barbie's friends - Miko, Teresa, Midge and Christie. I only had one Ken doll though.

8. I don't know how to cross streets on my own. It doesn't matter that I'm 25 and have been living and working in the city for almost five years - I am mortally afraid of crossing busy streets.

9. Mama and I wanted me to be a ballerina. I started going to ballet classes at 3 years old. I loved my pink tutus and chiffon skirts over tights. I loved coming in two hours before class to warm up at the barre surrounded by music and mirrors. I loved the pain of perfecting a series of steps by slow and repetitive practice. Pirouettes and pliés were the thrills of my life. I dreamed of the day I'd finally be allowed to dance en pointe.

10. Alas, that was never to happen. Doctors discovered that I had a hernia when I was 8 and had to operate. I never returned to the dance studio after my operation. All I have as mementos of my ballerina dreams are worn out slippers and grading cards from The Royal Academy of Dance.

11. I have this weird compulsion to smell the leaves of my Moleskines. Even before I start writing in my planner or notebook, I have to take a whiff of its pages. It just has this really distinct fragrance that I like so much.

12. I am still in love with Clark Gable. I adore the way he talks and smiles and looks at women that way. He's my idea of 'maginoo pero medyo bastos'.

13. I am fully aware that people tend to find me unapproachable or suplada. I am not. The truth is I am just ridiculously shy and socially awkward.

14. My ultimate beach dream is to get a perfect tan. So far, all I've consistently been able to manage is a burnt nose.

15. My first major crush was my classmate in 2nd grade at the Nadeen British School. The boy had honeyed curls and hazel eyes flecked with rainbows. I searched him on the Net a few minutes ago and found out he won a NASA International Space Settlement Design Competition in 2002. So, he wasn't just gorgeous after all. Sigh...

16. The first time I visited the Dilmun Burial Mounds in Bahrain I instantly wanted to become an archaeologist. I had my Mum buy me little chisels, hammers, and brushes to sift through the sand in our backyard.

17. I love being surprised with knick-knacks and whatever oddity the giver thinks will amuse me. I am child-like that way.

18. I adore shoes. I adore shoes. I adore shoes!!!

19. I only have one pair of sports shoes at a time. Amidst all the heels, flats, platforms, wedges, sandal, and slippers there will be one pair of rubber shoes. I only ever replace this when it starts looking its fugliest.

20. Once in a while I like to indulge in brooding. I keep to myself, read sad books, write angst-ridden journal entries, and cry along to melancholy songs. I emerge happy and faith-filled again.

21. I can cook mean hotwings in 10 minutes.

22. There is nothing I enjoy more than sleeping. I can sleep for 16 straight hours. I bury myself under four pillows and a duvet.

23. I will one day hie off to Batanes on my own.

24. My default Starbucks drink is a 'tall, non-fat, fewer pumps of syrup, iced caramel macchiato'.

25. I love and love and love and love when I love.

It's six days after the old world has died. I don't know what to write about and most certainly haven't the energy to recount events during the holidays. I'll allow myself to be unimaginative with this year-end Q and A:

What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?

Resign from my job. It was the first time for me to go through an exit interview, the exit clearance process and the whole turnover thing.

Did anyone close to you give birth?

No.

Did anyone close to you die?

Thankfully, no.

What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

Focus and discipline.

What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

November 4. America elected Barack Obama as their president. It was just a hugely dramatic moment. I've been a fan of Obama ever since I came across his name for a paper I was doing in my Advocacy Reporting class. He worked as a director of the Developing Communities Project (DCP) in Chicago. My paper tackled solving the world's problems at grassroots level and Obama's work at the time highlighted that. I just knew he'd be such a great man.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Being brave enough to get out of my comfort zone.

To quote Jim Paredes, "Transitions are scary. One is being asked to leave one place and go to another... transitions can still be daunting. It demands of whoever is going through one to let go of the safety harness in one comfort zone and jump into another, and in the process become untethered, unsafe and unattached, (hopefully for only a while) until one reaches (if ever) the new terra firma."

What was your biggest failure?

Not losing weight!

Did you suffer illness or injury?

Just the minor cough, cold or flu.

What was the best thing you bought?

My Black and Decker electric beater. It makes mixing batter a breeze. Not a lot of people know that I cook and bake.

Where did most of your money go?

Traveling and eating out. Paying my credit card bills.

What did you get really, really, really excited about?

The trips and adventures that Biboy and I have been taking.

What song(s) will always remind you of 2008?

"With You" Chris Brown

"Breathe" Anna Nalick

Compared to this time last year, are you:

happier or sadder?

Happier! Thuper!

thinner or fatter?

Fatter!!! I am such an ogre right now.

richer or poorer?

I still don't have much savings but, in terms of earnings, I think I'm richer now.

What do you wish you'd done more of?

Exercised. Or to put it correctly, I wish I had the discipline to workout and move my ass.

What do you wish you'd done less of?

Indulged and pigged-out with Biboy. Oinky!

What was your favorite TV program?

House. Pushing Daisies. Shark.

Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

Nope. I don't hate anyone ever. That's such a petty feeling. After love and like, I only feel contempt or complete and utter indifference for people or things that don't matter to me.

What was the best book you read?

I was not able to read much this year. I liked Paolo Coehlo's "Like The Flowing River". I would love to get my own copy of Griffin and Sabine.

What was your greatest musical discovery?

Biboy introduces me to all these hip-hop and RnB artists. But, no musical gems for me this year.

What did you want and get?

A metal and ebony limited edition watch from Fossil. Biboy gave it to me as a surprise gift for the New Year. That boy spoils me to no end.

What was your favourite film of this year?

I loved Quantum of Solace. It turned Bond into a real guy for me. I didn't really get to watch a lot of movies this year.

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 25. Biboy woke me up to a bouquet of two dozen roses. We went out and checked this place for our business venture. It looks promising. In the evening, he got me a chocolate mousse cake.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?

I've been trying to hide all the weight I gained. My trademark item for the entire year were boxy, cropped jackets. I bought them in bright, solid colours or patterned and printed ones.

What kept you sane?

Biboy. Food. Travel. Blogging.

Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Hugh Laurie. Barack Obama. Daniel Craig. My only girl crush this year was Leighton Meester (Gossip Girl's Blair Waldorf). And I saw her first in House.

What political issue stirred you the most?

I was riveted by the Democrat vs. Republican campaign. Sarah Palin was such a laugh! Locally, it would be the PNP folks (Euro Generals) being detained in Moscow because of the money they had on them and the hoopla that followed it. And of course, the melamine scare, although that didn't really have much to do with politics here.

Who did you miss?

Tevs! We hardly ever get to talk now or hang out. It's like we live in completely different timezones. I hope she gets to go with us to Cebu for this year's Sinulog.

Who was the best new person you met?

Brandtz. He's such a nice person. He's fasyon and a geek at the same time.

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.

It pays to be the better person.

What was the nicest thing someone told you about yourself?

"You were the growth," Owen said over coffee.

The most touching experience you've had this year.

Elaine prepared a poster/card for me on my last day at work. It had our picture there and she went around the office asking for people I knew to write messages for me. It was so sweet. I cried all the home on my last day.

What did you like most about yourself this year?

This is cliche but, I can proudly say that I was able to do stuff "my way".

What did you hate most about yourself this year?

I've been lazy and undisciplined.

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

"Cause you can't jump the track, we're like cars on a cable,

And life's like an hourglass, glued to the table.

No one can find the rewind button, boys,

So cradle your head in your hands,

And breathe... just breathe,

Oh breathe, just breathe" -Anna Nalick's 'Breathe'

Was 2008 a good year for you?

Yes. The first quarter was pretty messy but, things got better toward the 3rd quarter and the last quarter of the year was a blast!

What was your favorite moment of the year?

Dozing off on the white sands of Panglao and waking up with a squint-or-you'll-miss-it tan. I had to convince everyone at work that I did get dark and I had tan lines, so there!

What was your least favorite moment of the year?

The commute to work. Since I started working in the non call centre industry, traffic jams have become an irritating fact of my life. I miss the traffic jam free nights when I was still working at PS.

Do you have a new year's resolution for 2008?

I want to start a serious exercise regimen. And I want to be able to manage my finances better.

What was your favorite month of 2008?

I love August because I went to Cebu with my Mum and baby sister and then Biboy and I went back to Bohol and Panglao. December was memorable because Biboy and I bought an oven and baking tools and started selling brownies. We hope it continues to be successful.

Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2008?

Nope. Biboy and I bought a bottle of Absolut Mandrin but have not even consumed half of the bottle yet.

What are your plans for 2009?

I want to attend pastry and baking classes and also get TESL/TEFL certification from DLSU. I'd like to continue taking trips with Biboy, rediscover Pico Iyer, and really start writing again.

How are you different now that the year has ended?

I am now again open to everything that life has to offer. I am no longer bitter and shrivelled and angry. Indeed, I have found muan jai - wholehearted happiness.

*Neighbours, I'm tagging you to answer these questions too

Got this from somewhere a few weeks ago. I was kinda scared to try it because the music on my iPod is not what most people would consider as 'cool'. But here it goes... I highlighted the ones that amused me.

Instructions:

1. Put your iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle.

2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.

3. You must write that song name down no matter how silly it sounds.

If someone says "is this okay?" you say? Open Arms (Journey)

What makes you happy? How To Save a Life (The Fray)

What is your state of mind? Say What You Want (Texas)

How would you describe yourself? I'm A Believer (SmashMouth)

What do you like in a guy/girl? Penny Lane (The Beatles)

How do you feel today? Defying Gravity (Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth from the musical, Wicked)

What is your life's purpose? Don't Speak (No Doubt)

What makes you cry? Ordinary People (John Legend)

What is your motto? Give It 2 Me (Madonna)

What do your friends think of you? Come What May (Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman)

What do your parents think of you? Come Away With Me (Norah Jones)

What do you think about often? I Kissed A Girl (Katy Perry)

What is 2 + 2? Chasing Cars (Snow Patrol)

What do you think of your best friend? Barely Breathing (Duncan Sheik)

What do you think of the person you like? The Art of Letting Go (Mikaila)

What is your life story? If I Ain't Got You (Alicia Keys)

What do you want to be when you grow up? Feels Like Home (Chantal Kreviazuk)

What do you think when you see the person you like? 'Di Na Natuto (APO Hiking Society)

What will you dance to at your wedding? I Can See Clearly Now (Bob Marley)

What is your hobby/interest? Stay (Lisa Loeb)

What is your biggest fear? Bump Bump Bump (B2K feat. P.Diddy)

What is your biggest secret? No Air (Jordin Sparks)

What makes you blush? Put Your Records On (Corrine Bailey Rae)

What do you think of your friends? Cater 2 U (Destiny's Child)

How do you feel about work? Better Days (Dianne Reeves)

What will you post this as? Torn (Natalie Imbruglia)