List of Last Things

Last Book Read - The Blind Assassin, by Margaret Atwood. The story of two sisters, one of whom becomes a novelist and leaves clues about her anarchist lover. Highly recommended.

Last Fine Dining Restaurant Visited - The Museum Cafe at the Ayala Museum, Ayala Center, Makati. It was my dad's birthday last Sunday (Independence Day). We had a good South African white wine with various Asian fusion style dishes. Everyone else's orders were good, although the short ribs in tamarind sauce I ordered were over-marinated and and became too salty. They have an interesting salad that includes fresh leaves of alugbati (very good). The dessert, a caramelized banana tart topped with pastillas de leche ice cream, was divine. Price-wise, it costs much less to dine there for the style and quality, as compared to dining at a hotel restaurant. Recommended attire: smart casual.

Last Fastfood Visited - (I'm only including this for the novelty.) Pizza Hut Bistro, on the second floor of Gateway, in Araneta Center (Cubao). This place fills up quickly. The salads are quite good, ranging in price from P115 to P140, and a grilled chicken sandwich order (two fist-sized sandwiches topped with melted cheese) was to be had for P99!

Last MP3 Downloaded - When I See You Smile, by Bic Runga. This Kiwi singer gave us the hit Sway. Check out her albums Drive and Beautiful Collision. Highly recommended if you enjoy an angelic voice accompanied by acoustic guitar. Comparable to artists Sarah McLachlan, Dido,and Jewel.

Last Movie Watched - Frank Miller's Sin City (last Tuesday, at the Powerplant in Rockwell). Directed by Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez, with guest director Quentin Tarantino, based on Frank Miller's graphic novel. Actually, I've only read the volume about Marv and Goldie, but it's enough to acquaint yourself with the style of the movie - very noir, with coloration. That part they did rather well. There are three volumes of the graphic novel that were incorporated into the movie. I enjoyed the movie; I think I'll get it on dvd. The only thing that bothered me was the excessive prosthetic makeup on Mickey Rourke (to make him look as craggy as Marv), which made him look like a plastic action figure in comparison to the other leads Bruce Willis (good role here) and Clive Owen (in a two-dimensional role for such a good actor, unfortunately). In a milieu where the leads are reluctant heroes, the remaining men corrupt officials/criminals and all the women are prostitutes, it's impossible not to notice the women. Jessica Alba REALLY dances well. And Rosario Dawson has an interestingly feral quality about her, such that you'll wish she played Catwoman instead of Halle Berry.

Last Dream I Had - I dreamed that someone gave me a pale tabby kitten as a gift. One day I left for work, and returned home to find the kitten colored with bright orange stripes. I went around on a rampage looking for characters who might've spiked the cat food with neon dye. (As I read this I'm laughing at myself!)

The Interview Game

Here it is, long overdue. I guess it took Juned some time to come up with questions he could ask me. I found the Interview Game in Juned's blog, and he in turn found it in Dean Alfar's blog.

Juned asked me:

1. You are Cinderella. And you already have danced with the Prince for three nights and left your shoe at the stroke of midnight. The Prince then decides to search for his one true love. Several ladies try on the shoe but all fail. Now it's your turn. Then suddenly your stepsisters come in and try one the shoe. Your first sister tries it on and fails. Your second sister tries it and it's a perfect fit! No blood no problem a perfect fit. How do you feel and what will you do?

Her fitting the shoe does not stop me from trying it on. If it fits both of us, then I shall simply show the other shoe of the pair, thereby proving who I am. If my sister says I stole the other shoe from her then I will just simply show the dress I wore, and all the other accessories. I didn’t spend three nights dancing with my Prince for nothing.

2. If you were to present yourself as a food dish to five different people what would you be? Will it be the same for all?

I would be a Quattro Stagione (Four Seasons) pizza and serve it to the five different people. I like to be consistent. Since the pizza has four different flavored sections, each person would essentially be able to enjoy a pizza and yet be able to appreciate the different facets of my personality. And then when they talk to each other about the pizza, I'd know they'd be talking about ME.

3. If your High School life was to be a book what type of book would it be and which would be your character?

I loved science fiction and fantasy since high school, so I suppose I’d be Princess Eilonwy from Lloyd Alexander’s “The Black Cauldron” (Newbery Award-winner in the “Chronicles of Prydain” series). Eilonwy’s not too big on the trappings of princess-dom, and is an intelligent and feisty character to boot. Not one of your wilting lilies.

4. It's the middle of the night and the phone rings you answer it. Who do you expect is calling? Who is the actual caller?

It’s probably my best friend, needing to talk. Who is the actual caller? Still my best friend, needing to talk. OR my mom coming home late from a dinner party and asking me to open the front door because she's forgotten her key when she changed bags.

5. Book or e-book what would you rather read?

I would rather read the actual book, paperback or hardcover. I love the feel of paper pages, and the fact that you can put the book down any time you want to and return to it later, without requiring an outside energy source. But if I own an e-book and enjoyed the story, I'd still look out for the paperback or hardcover version. There is something about relaxing in bed or in the corner of a comfy sofa reading a real book that really appeals to me. And did I mention I am near-sighted?

HERE ARE THE OFFICIAL RULES OF THE INTERVIEW GAME:

1. If you want to participate, leave a comment below saying “interview me.”
2. I will respond by asking you five questions - each person’s will be different.
3. You will update your journal/blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview others in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

If you don’t have a blog, I can still ask you 5 unique questions and you can post via email.