Doppelgänger

I don't have all that much time for tv this days. One of my customers came to see me this week and was so excited about this boy from their school who happens to be Filipino. He is on Australia's Got Talent and managed to get to the semi-finals. He is also from Cebu and now lives in the Redlands. This boy is only 12 and he is camp as a row of tents. (Baklita in the making.) Somehow I see myself in him. I used to look like him -- skinny, chinky-eyed and my head seemed disproportionately larger than the rest of my body. Back then, my head may have been big but my ego certainly wasn't. I had identity issues. The only glaring difference is he has a redeeming factor -- his voice. If he turns out to be gay, then I am not the only gay bisdak in the village. Anyway, here's my little bro.

Chicago

After waiting since October, Chicago finally opened last week for the second time around in Brisbane. Having missed out on the movie starring Renee Zellweger and the gorgeous Catherine Zeta-Jones from years ago, I went to the show with no preconceived ideas about how the story pans out. I am just amazed at how great the night had been from start to finish. The show was was very sexy and sultry. I had hot flushes all throughout.
With me was my one and only stalker blog non-fan, flirtatious Marty whom I enticed with my sexy... free ticket. :-) (You may leave nasty comments on this blog entry, Marty.) If I wasn't taken... Anyway, moving right along. We went early enough to have "canteen" dinner before the show. He and I were just gobsmacked not by the lead characters but by the male ensemble. I can't recall any highlight from the performance that involves the main stars Caroline O’Connor, Sharon Millerchip, Craig McLachlan, or Gina Riley (whom I was looking forward to see because I am a big Kath and Kim fan). I am afraid this blog entry shall be a tribute to the stalkworthy cast members Chris Dair, Steven Grace, Nick Jones, Christopher Parsons, Nathan Pinnell, Daniel Slater, Ryan Stuart and Dean Vince, who all nearly gave me an orgasm whilst my mind was wandering into an orgy scene with me as the lead pornstar. Just to give you an idea of what I am talking about, below is an audition video I lifted off without permission from www.dancelife.com.au. Two of their rejects are SYTYCD's Charlie and Steven. Just imagine the quality of meat dancers that were on stage.

Chicago Male Ensemble Auditions - Australia from dancelifeaus on Vimeo.
It was so good I even forgot the fact that someone was eyeing flirtatious Marty from a distance. After the show, as we were walking the mile from where I parked my car, our boys with their bouquets exited the QPAC building heading for the city accross the river. We are tempted to follow them but guilt got the better of us and kept us out of prison before we could have molested them. :-) So we headed for the valley instead to check out what's on special on a Saturday night. But then, flirtatious Marty must have been horny because a bulb flicked inside his head (both heads) and he had this idea of checking out whether the shenanigans do really happen in Gay Farm Park at night. So off we went guided by our hormones.
It was actually a pleasant surprise because we did get to see boys. Well, on stage again. No, not naked. Late night comedy club was on at the Brisbane Powerhouse. The young and painfully straight Josh Thomas and Scottish hottie Danny Bhoy made my belly hurt. We did not score but in the end, the night had been fun and wholesome. It has been a while since I let loose a bit. I could do with a few more nights like this without my family drama.

That Other Milestone

I feel I am at a stage where I can stand on my own two feet. There was nothing in my CV to say that I have stayed in one employment for more than five years except this last one. There was enough money made for the boss and it is time I make some for myself. Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, it is unlike me to stay employed by someone else for the rest of my life. There was that investment I made on an almost-MBA degree years ago. All the ingredients are there except for that one last bit: courage and determination.
The following days are going to be busy if my proposal gets a go signal. The offer to buy was put in writing last week. There's never been a better time than this. The drug dealership is close to the city, affordable, and is not doing very well. It is ripe for the picking. The interest rates are lucrative. This crisis will go away eventually and I am in an industry that is resilient in times of economic meltdown. My mind is in gear planning ahead for a strategy to turn this thing around. This is going to be my baby. My mum's business will be resurected after decades in another continent. I will make her proud.
I have entered a waiting game. In the next few days, I shall get myself busy putting in a proposal for the bank to lend me some dough. I am highly leveraged but my eggs are in the right basket. Hopefully I have laid enough gold ones for the right people to admire. That forecasting talent shall be put to good use. I never thought I've ever be grown up enough to actually be doing it for myself. I am all excited. Wish me luck.

A Drug Dealer's Nightmare

I had a sobering phone call last week from a hospital drug dealer. If I get phone calls from my esteemed colleagues from the sick house, it is usually just drug regimen changes to someone being discharged. This one was unusual because it was very early in the day. With a sense of forboding I grabbed the phone from my assistant and asked, "What did I do?" "I would just like to let you know about a dispensing error. One of your regular customers is being admitted and is on his way to another hospital. A label for 50mg was attached to a box of 100mg metoprolol", said the other person on the line.
It was rather humid that morning but I was not perspiring because of it. I grabbed the operators chair I lovingly call the captain's chair for balance. After I momentarily lost grip on reality, I sat and asked more questions about the case at hand. My colleague does not quite know how many tablets were taken, she is not aware what the patient was in hospital for, nor the current status of the patient. The patient will be transported to another hospital for more tests.
I rang the other hospital and warned them about the erroneous box that may be coming their way. I gave them my details and asked them to ring me back as soon as the poor patient arrives. It must have been a busy day for them because I remember it was hours of palpitations that followed. My indemnity insurer were informed straight after and they duly gave my advise as to how to handle the situation.
"This is what not to do," I explained to my trainee. When you becomed registered make sure you check yourself several times before handing them to your customer. I was obviously referring to the dispensing process. I am only human. We've been warned that over the course of our professional lives, we will commit mistakes. It is just a matter of when. It was said with emphasis that I vowed never to practice without indemnity insurance.
Being a drug dealer is very rewarding. I get to make life bearable for a lot of people. My daily interventions in people's therapy is underpaid and sometimes unnoticed but I know in my heart I have made some difference. I have the power. With this power comes great resposibility and these are times that remind me to provide my services with utmost accuracy and consistency. In this regard I have taken steps to reduce possible human error particularly in drug selection. I am meant to use a barcode scanner to double check myself everytime. It is those times that I fail to use the scanner that something like this happens. Murphy's law.
Later in the afternoon, I was told the patient is okay. He was in hospital for something else. More importantly, his blood pressure and heart rate is okay. Whew!

Dreamworld

It was meant to be Indie's birthday pressie. It only took us five weeks to organise to go there. Finally made it very early on Saturday. We got to go on rides an hour before the ticket booths open to the public. Indie is such an adrenaline junkie. He took on all big 6 rides. I stick to the kiddie rides like Dorothy the dinasaur's tea cup ride.

In the end, I had to get out of there because me and the chick in the red top will not fit in the tea cup. :-) Indie and I decided to do the adult version instead...on a raging creek.

In reality, I actually managed to get on five out of the big six. We took on the ride called the claw first. It proved to everyone that I am not a screamer. But after the third ride, I was sweating profusely and was feeling cold and clammy. All that adrenaline have used up all my energy that chowed down an enormous turkey sandwich in two bites. I then washed it down with two big cups of cola. It was all fun afterwards. The giant drop was way too scary for me to get on though. The look on Indie's face on that ride was priceless.

This theme park is really different from the others. There's more than one theme going on. The tiger show reminds me of Australia zoo. We watched that for a bit. I took one photo of the tigers and then my eyes were hunting for tigers amongst the audience.

There were quite a bit but they were with their girlfriends. I was going to take their girlfriends to this booth.

But I found out it is not for shooting heterosexual women. O God, bless these blokes for not knowing what they are missing.

By the end of the day I was knackered. I slept in the car on the way home and went straight to bed. I slept for 13 hours; it was the longest sleep I've had in years.

Australia Through Hell and High Water

My heart goes out to the people who have lost love ones or properties in the massive fire-devastation down South and the flood-ravaged areas up north. May you find courage to face the realities of your loss and find consolation amongst friends and family. May the spirit of those who lost their lives rest in peace.

Hot Hot Hot

Well, in Melbourne and Adelaide that is. In a not all too often situation, Hobart, Sydney, and Darwin are equally at tops of 29° C today. Apparently, it is likely to rain tomorrow. A reminder to wear waterproof mascara to the wedding. :-) No dearest, I don't wear makeup. I am just hoping it doesn't rain on Sunday. This Dreamworld escape is long overdue. What's wrong with the weather these day? Is it a sexist comment to say, "that's Mother nature for you"?

The Pav

Seven years ago I was aussiefied. Just like the Pavlova, named after a Russian Ballerina, claimed by the kiwis to be theirs but is actually Aussiefied.
Got an invite from our friends in the valley today, Bali man and Skinny Sam. Went to Indie's and Kel's place first. We all squeezed into Indie's car to go celebrate Aussie day. I was feeling patriotic and wore blue aussie flag singlet and aussie bum boardies and thongs, of course. Thongs as in the footwear for you yanks. I got Indie to buy tim tams at the servo on our way. Earlier I bought the last pavlova at the cheesecake shop. Lucky me; some people had to pre-order theirs days before. Had pretty late lunch of marinated lamb and couscous. and a double dessert of lemon sorbet and the pavlova. Indie had to starve himself because he does not eat lamb (because they are cute). After lunch Indie and Bali man went for a swim in the pool while I lounge (actually, dozed off a bit) on the side. No wonder Indie have such a flat belly. I tried to sabotage his figure with the timtams. Did not budge.
I have been meaning to meet this person who contacted me through this blog. He lives in the city. Something always comes up. I hope we will get to meet eventually. I don't know much about him. Hopefully, when he gets to meet my friends he'd keep the details of this blog to himself. Either, I am not really afraid; apparently, Indie knows about this anyway.
Last week, we were going to dreamworld. Cancelled because hubby was not well. This weekend the weather had been unpredictable. Next week, we got a wedding to go to on Saturday. Hopefully, Sunday would be free. This is meant to be our birthday present for Indie. The poor thing have gone grey waiting for it. More importantly, he's sweet about it like the pav.

Happy New Year

Just came back from having a good time with friends. We went to a Chinese temple for their new year festivities and what Indie thought was free food. Lucky I had 30 bucks in my pocket and we had to make do with that. There seem to be quite a few good-looking poofs there other than us. I was seriously thinking about converting to buddhism with a particular interest in the kama sutra.

Looks like we are in for some serious toil this year: the year of the Carabao.


恭喜发财!

New Beginnings

It had been a very different Christmas holiday for me. After a long battle with cancer, creative Kel's dad passed away on Christmas eve. Although expected, it still feel sad to say goodbye to somebody in such a finite way. Such irony too that he should slip away at a time when everyone is in a festive mode. I am not good with goodbyes in the best of times. Even writing this piece is bringing to the brink of tears.
Last time, I saw him was at Lawyer Charlie's house. Charlie's brother and his brood were here for a short holiday. That was meant to be a hi and goodbye party for them. What was I to know? It was a going-away party for my friend's dad too. He and his wife left early that night. On their way out he gave me a cuddle and said, "take care of yourself, I might not see you again".
Needless to say, Kel's bereft with grief. I do worry about his mum. At the rate she is going, she'd be an alcoholic in no time. I spent Christmas day with Indie and Kel at their place. They've turned the parent's house into a duplex before his dad passed away. His mum, now alone, lives in the other half. I brought some meat for the barbie and some salad greens. We talked. Lots of talking. I have known Kel's dad for such a short time but I do feel like he's my dad too. In fact, I probably would trade in my dad if I could. We all tried to be merry.
Funeral was new years eve. I took the day off work. Went to the funeral mass concelebrated by a number of priests and precided by the bishop himself. His dad used to work for the church. I true Filipino melodramatic fashion, I burst into fits of sadness and tears. One of my friends, later commented that I had I worn a veil, I'd look like the widow. I can't help it. I am reminded once more of my own mortality. The good, the bad, the ugly, we all would one day perish. Although at that time, I was more angry at God for taking away the better ones first. I was thinking: here he is under a bunch of daisies, cold and still, life finished. One day, that would be me.
The church people actually organised most of the liturgy. Lawyer Charlie actually read the first reading. I really like how welcoming the feel in that church. There were quite a few of us homos in that church. Even Indie's lesbian friends were there too. More importantly is how they address Indie as part of the family, the homosexual muslim Indie. The pope would have been jumping up and down in protest.
They actually also organised some morning tea after the service. It was all good until this Philippine woman came and introduced herself. Like everywhere else, I got interogated as to how I got to Australia, what I do for a living and the big question: are you married? To which I replied truthfully and pointed out my hubby in the far corner of the room. In a judgmental tone of voice she suggested that I should read the bible more often. This coming from someone on a disability pension with no apparent physical disability. Such hypocrisy. Apparently, she is studying to become a religious counsellor. Good luck to her and to the many she would give complexes to.
After she was done passing judgment on me she moved on the one of Indie's lesbian friends. She interogated her. Our lesbian friend happen to be a buddhist brain scientist. She tried to preach to her all the while my eyebrows were up to my hairline until I could not help it any longer and just left the conversation altogether. This woman really has a talent for alienating people. I don't know why she was there that day, she does not even know the grieving family all that well.
After the funeral, I went back to work to do some end of the year stuff. It was a bit late when we arrive at another friend's new years party. It was time to be merry and usher in a new year with new hopes, new dreams, new beginnings.