City Girl

That’s exactly what was written on a cubicle door of a comfort room at the airport. It wasn’t in somebody’s filthy handwriting. It was designed, printed and framed.

So, if I could pick a song that ought to be playing right now, I’d probably choose Hadji Alejandro’s “Nakapagtataka.” Hah! That’s only because the first line is so fitting: “Walang tigil ang ulan…” which is totally true. It has been raining in this side of the archipelago for FIVE straight days now! In fact, the flights destined for this sleepy town has been repeatedly cancelled since Sunday. I suppose it was utter good luck that my husband’s flight came through yesterday. Otherwise, he would have gone on a longer route. It better stop raining by Saturday because that’s his flight back here. I need to have my personal “Edward Cullen” back in my arms. Ugh! I’m beginning to get as sappy as the weather!

If there is something good to be said about the weather, though, I suppose I could make a pitch for the alleged local production of  Twilight, i.e. Takip Silim. I mean, this is the only place where it rains even during summer! Although, it’s not really the entire day. Usually in the afternoon it rains. But in the morning, argh! The sun shines really, really, really hot. And I mean scorching hot! A bottle of sunblock ought to be enough to protect the skin when you go out to get the mail. Well, I might be exaggerating a little. But you get the point.

I should be thankful that the big boss is on leave until Friday – hopefully until the entrire next week. I am particularly thankful that he’s away today, especially after how the day started. I had already driven the car away when I’d realized that the front right tire was flat. Crappy morning, really. The rain was pouring while I was out standing beside my flat tire, cussing and wondering what I’d done wrong to have this happen to me on a rainy day and I’m running late for work. Not to mention that I’d gotten my feet wet while I went on unofficial errands. Let me tell you, it wasn’t such a pleasant experience on a work day.

But to every dark cloud, there must be a silver lining, right? Well, here come’s that part. At lunch time, the staff had nothing better to do, work’s been done, the boss is out, what else is there but to… watch  Twilight. (Aargh! Not this again!) And despite myself, I couldn’t help but join them.

Right now, I’m just about tired of myself talking/writing about Twilight. And yet, I can’t help myself! I really, really don’t know why. It’s becoming annoying, actually. Maybe with every time that I see the movie, I’m hoping that Rob Pattinson would be better at playing his role. But I get disappointed everytime, so much so that by the time it’s revealed that he’s actually a vampire, I get bored and do something else. I’d admit that sometimes, I have a short attention span. But I’ve read the Twilight Saga twice and, except perhaps for the middle part of Breaking Dawn, I hadn’t gotten bored with it.

So, instead of finishing the movie, I just went and played mind-numbing time-management games to occupy my time while the heavens poured down with all its might. As the day progressed, I’ve forgotten about my crappy morning and found myself liking the rain.

Now, I feel like singing: “I’m only happy when it rains. I’m only happy when it’s complicated…”

“This! is American Idol!” At least, that’s how Ryan Seacrest says it.

The start of every American Idol (since after Carrie Underwood’s time) reminds me of my past, filled with intricate details which I would not freely divulge here, if only for fear that it would incriminate me (hehe). But reminiscence of my past is not the only reason why I patronize the show. It’s reality tv, after all. Who wouldn’t get hooked?

There is something different about American Idol that separates it from the other reality shows. I suppose it speaks to the frustrated singer in all of us. Who hasn’t dreamed of making it big in the music business? I would guess that at least 6 out of 10 people have had aspirations of being in a rock band or something to that effect. I, myself, have had that dream once upon a time in high school — which I’d thought wasn’ too long ago but apparently is that long ago. I wasn’t the lead singer though, god forbid! I merely played the guitar. Our band lived a very short but happy life, limiting our performances to the 4 corners of the canteen and the confines of our bedrooms, often joined by liquor and cigarettes. Ahh, those were good times….

I suppose what really makes American Idol appealing is the fact that we can freely criticize the contestants without fear. After all, our words could not possibly hurt as much as those spoken by Simon Cowell. And whether we like it or not, we — or at least I — would readily admit that he does play a big part in the show. Despite those times when Simon Cowell would have deserved the harshest punishment for his wicked words, he gives the show life. I mean, if all we really heard from the judges were “that wasn’t so good” or “you’re not what we’re looking for” and all sorts of kind rejection, the show would have probably ended by its third season. Admit it, part of the reason people watch the show is to wait for Simon Cowell say something absolutely despicable. Or maybe, despite his character, some people have really gotten around to liking him, even crushing on him. I think he’s funny. He’s really got a strange sense of humor — I suppose it the british in him (hehe).

Now, however, they’ve added a fourth judge. I wonder how that will work out. I would have stopped at three, it is a dynamic number after all. And besides, isn’t it quite late in the day to change something about the show after it’s proven to be a hit, especially now that I’ve heard them say that this might be their last season.

In any case, this season will be exciting, I’m sure. At least, I’ve got something else to keep my mind off that Twilight fever…