A Mighty BOND

I spent much of the weekend with some of my good friends from Male Bonding Philippines to celebrate the 1st Anniversary of our e-group (we've known each other longer). Given that we seldom get to meet anymore as a group as we each have our own lives to lead, it's always refreshing to once again have some fun bonding moments.

An impromptu group gathering happened during my father's wake a couple of weeks ago, but due to the somber mood at that time, it didn't count much as fun, understandably.

Anyways, along with two of our fabulous friends from San Francisco who are here on vacation, the celebration started with a dinner last Friday and culminated with an overnight outing on Saturday at a quaint resort in Cavite that turned out to be a fun experience.

Despite the fact that most of us were not at all intoxicated, we had a blast with a few parlor games cooked up by three of our resident game masters. Though most of it were more mind games than physical, it was exciting to see who among us were competitive and those who are just in it for the fun. We were divided into three groups: Kings, Jacks and Queens. I was one of the Queens . . . what a shocker!!!

After the games while the others took a dip in the pool, I played the board game TABOO with my my fellow Queens. It was my first time to play it and I really enjoyed the challenge. I did pretty well even though I gave answers that were either funny and ridiculous or just plain stupid! Well, what can I do? I'm a Taboo virgin! Hah!

Too bad my partner and I had to leave early in the morning since he had to report for work (yes, my Sunshine has a job now. Yey!). Still, however brief my chance to be with my MB friends had been, I am so glad we had that chance as it may take another long while before we do this again.


These pics were taken a long time ago. Photos from the anniversary dinner and outing will be posted as soon as they are available.


We could be friends, I'd even be your brother . . .


Life
Friendship

What a WONDERful World

All the world’s waiting for you, and the power you possess
In your satin tights, fighting for our rights
And the old Red, White and Blue...

Today, I am a happy person! A very good friend, San Francisco Guy helped me complete my DVD collection of my childhood favorite TV series WONDER WOMAN.

Needless to say, Wonder Woman is my pre-MADONNA idol. I can still remember how I eagerly awaited each week's episode of the series and made sure that I was home Wednesday evenings just to catch its airing. As a child, I fell in love with Lynda Carter/Diana Prince/Wonder Woman and secretly fantasized that I would also have her powers, my gender notwithstanding.


So it is of no surprise that when I learned that the TV series is being released on DVD, I just had to have a copy. Over the course of one year, in each of his almost-quarterly homecoming visits, my friend would bring home one season worth of Wonder Woman on DVD. And last night, upon his return, he surprised me with the 3rd and final season that will finally make my collection complete.




Sure, as an adult, I now find the series' plots lame and its special effects amusingly crude. Still, nostalgia rules and I am still enamored by what Wonder Woman represents . . . Empowerment.

So, I am now excited to spend the next few days watching the Season 3 DVD and fall in love with Wonder Woman for the nth time!



TV
Wonder Woman




P.S. SanFo Guy, my heartfelt thanks and hugs. By now, I owe you a LOT!!! Mwah!

Confessions Unveiled

And then, there it is . . .

The official album cover for MADONNA's Confessions on a Dancefloor has finally been revealed.



Words are useless . . .



MADONNA
Music

All About the Sunshines

I got a very pleasant surprise this evening from my one and only Sunshine . . .

To celebrate our 16 months together (Yes, we celebrate every month), he gave me a mini scrapbook he made himself and he entitled it All About Us.

It contains stuff that I never knew he kept since the time we started going out. From wrappers of cigarettes & chocolates to movie stubs, a tag of a shirt I gave him, my business card, a cellphone prepaid card, a part of a wrap of a gift I gave him for his birthday and a complete list of every movie we've seen together. Along with some funny captions and little sweet nothings, it was a collection of things most of which I may have taken for granted. But they were apparently important enough for him to keep.

It was so romantic to realize that he spent so much of his time making this scrapbook and how much he values little things we share.

Indeed, how sweet it is to be loved by My Sunshine!


Romeo and Juliet, they never felt this way I bet!



Life
Love

Hung Up on MADONNA

Through the kindness of my fellow MADONNiAcs, I had the opportunity to listen to a sampler of MADONNA's upcoming single Hung Up. As in previous times, Madz' new sound is a 'grower'. That is, you'll have to let it grow on you to inevitably appreciate and love it.

So far, I'M LUVIN' IT!!!

Madonna also has a new commercial for the latest Motorola Rokr phone that also features the Hung Up single. And Madonna's entire music catalog will now be available for download in iTunes.

All the more that I can't wait for the release of her new studio album Confessions On A Dancefloor.



It's beginning to be an exciting Holiday season for Madonniacs around the world.

Hey Mr. DJ, put a record on . . .



MADONNA

Hitting A Mark

After a few months of blogging, my site has now reached a 5,000-hit milestone. Say what you want, but for me, it's kinda a big deal! Hah!



Blogging

After Katrina

After being a little out of touch with what was going on in the world, I finally got to watch TV again and saw the news of the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.





It was heart wrenching to see how many people have been affected by the disaster and how many are still missing and believed to be dead. What was rather unfortunate was the fact that the authorities did little too late to help the victims.

It's stuff like this that help put my recent loss in a different perspective. I realize that all things considered, I am still lucky. My father passed away peacefully, with dignity and with his family beside him.

In any case, my heart goes out to those who have been affected by Hurricane Katrina. My thoughts and prayers are with you . . .






Katrina

I'll Remember . . .

It's been more than a week since my father's passing and he had already been laid to rest, but I still carry the disbelief of my new reality.

Though in the days after Papa left, I have been telling friends and relatives that it was relatively easier for me to deal with the loss as we had 3 weeks to emotionally prepare for any eventuality, I still could not cover my grief.

Madonna once said "I make my peace with it before it happens, so when it happens, I don't feel anything . . .", but much as I wanted to subscribe to that idea, my emotions are just much too strong to be contained.

On Sunday's interment , I could no longer feign strength and composure and I cried my sorrows away. It was after all, the last time I will ever see my father.

But now, I am at peace with the knowledge that wherever Papa is right now, he's happy to be no longer suffering. He's reunited with Mama, the greatest love of his life. And he will now have a chance to be with the son he lost 32 years ago, my twin brother, Ron John.


And like any survivor, I am now moving on to another chapter in my life knowing fully well that my loved ones in the afterlife are looking down on me and I will forever be guided by their light.


And I'll remember the love that they gave me, now that I'm standing on my own . . .



Life
Family

Say Goodbye . . .

It is with great grief to let everyone know that after putting up a good fight, my father passed away last Monday, August 29th.

My heartfelt thanks to those who prayed with me for the last 3 weeks. I hope we continue to pray, this time for the eternal rest of his soul.

Much love,
Rocco Ryan


Life
Family