The Year of Settling Down.

If 2008 was the year of everyone going away for greener pastures then this year a lot of people I know from high school or college is getting married, planning to get married by next year or has surrendered their single life into the walls of domestic haven. And then they are also having babies too. Wow. The last time I've checked we were searching gifts for 18th birthday parties, then we graduated from college and passed board exams and celebrated those milestones by having drinking sprees. Some got jobs and others like moi, got into postgraduate school.

Though I think it's about time for those people who are the marrying type to get married. Most of my friends have a stable job, savings for the rainy days and four years is already quite a long time that have elapsed since college ended. Four years since we all got mature but on a different level and have set priorities with different intensities. Time's a changing and deciding to finally settle down, quit the dating scene and choosing to commit forever is a pinnacle of emotional full growth.

Let's see. The first weekend for this year was kicked off with Julie's wedding. The month after my parents renewed their vows after twenty five years. After that I am hearing a lot of people getting married and then suddenly posting their unofficial photographs in FaceBook. One more wedding for me (for now) to attend which is Charisse's and I am honored to be part of the secondary sponsor. First grown up role for me so I'd better not mess this up.

Kim came home from Japan after resigning from her job so she could relocate to Singapore to be with her fiance, hence the reason for the move. She treated me with a Japanese lunch at Nonki and we got to talk for two hours and lo' and behold the bruja is also planning to get married next year.

I'm just a little bit overwhelmed. I still find it a little but weird sometimes. Just last week I had dinner with Charisse, bride to be and Eva, hardworking housewife with her daughter Erin. During high school and college we used to talk about anything under the sun. This time around we still do but the scope is a little bit limited. If you can't even recognize the Jonas Brothers on magazine then it's a definite sign you are indeed old and from a different generation. Both of them admitted shamelessly that they can't identify them unless their names flashes on the TV screen. Anyways when we talk the conversation is even more diverse so to say with the two of them talking about being employed and household related topics. Both of them now own house. So we talk about loans, finances and bills. I, however entertained them with my internship adventures, impulsive shopping sprees, and I update them on what's the latest on post high school pop culture. I feel a little bit sheepish sometimes that my concerns are getting some doctor to sign my requirements or getting broke after an impulsive BookSale shopping spree or coveting a shirt, pair of shoes or some underwear. But lunches and get togethers with friends not from med school keep me sane and gives me an assurance that my stint in this frustrating world of internship is not for nothing.

I am glad that even though most of my friends my high school are married we still keep in touch by these lunches or dinners every four months or longer. Right now I am getting more close to my single friends like Dawnah the ever "Living La Vida Soltera" and my coffee shop foursome friends. We need to sit over and talk again soon. Yeah, I am pretty sure that none of them will get married for the next two years.

Status Updated

It's been almost two months since I haven't ranted, talked, or simply just posted about anything that bothered me or managed to enter my stream of consciousness.

Current Status: Rotating in OB-Gyne, overworked yet at the end of the day it somehow managed to make sense. Really. I've learned a lot from the past two months than a two months of reading William's Obstetrics relentlessly.

MUST LIST:

1.) Roger Federer, tennis god.
I've actually predicted him winning the French Open this year and breaking Pete Sampras's all time record of 14 grand slams. Kudos to the greatest ever by rebounding from a slump during 2008 and rising up from almost obscurity. I am even more convinced he'll win two more. Sampras picked up his 14 in a span of 12 years, Fed Express did it in 6 years, Rafa or no Rafa it still would have been accomplished.

2.) Kopiko coffee
Homemade Filipino style blend in ready to mix sachets that kept me awake even after 40 hours of eye opening.

3.) Mango Float Ice Candy
A new twist to the traditional Filipino ice candy by adding graham crackers in addition to mangoes and milk. The result is a sweet concoction of oh so addictive creamy goodness. This is one of the things that I've discovered and learned from three rotations in Vicente Sotto Hospital aside from being composed, calm and delivering a baby in the lobby. A strenuous 36 hour duty is easier with these ice candies after every meal.

4.) Chicken Salad Buns and Iced Mocha from the French Baker
Perfect combination for a relaxing post duty, pre-church Sunday afternoon.

5.) Penshoppe
I'm still loving last season's underwears now on sale!

6.) Booksale
Where else can you get "Oranges are not the only fruit" by Jeanette Winterson for 22 pesos? My ultimate retail therapy stress reliever store.

Current LSS raves:
1.) Come Back to Me by David Cook
2.) How Do You Sleep by Jesse McCartney
3.) Insomnia by Craig David (still after almost six months of constant overplay mainstream, I'm still in tune with this song!)

Movies I Want To See:
1.)Villa Estrella - yup I will waste pesos for this, can't resist Pinoy horror fare.
2.)The Inglorious Basterds - Tarantino will not disappoint in this flick. Trust Me
3.)Ice Age 3 - the only animation movie I will watch on the theaters
4.) Public Enemies - Johnny Depp and Christian Bale on the big screen together another great combination

Books I want to buy (just among the countless unending impulsively updated booklists)
1.) The Accidental by Ali Smith
2.) Saturday by Ian McEwan
3.) Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson
4.) Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger
5.) Columbine by Dave Cullen

And I am turning 25 in a month. Getting older, wiser but second adolescence won't go anytime soon. As for this year my birthday will be a minor event due to Charisse wedding. But no plans for a major celebration for now anyways. If I could have my way I would ditch the hospital and go somewhere distant yet near and just enjoy the simple things. Shit. I sound pretentious. One thing's for sure I am buying a new camera and more books to add to the tower of unread books this year.