My Parents

Last Sunday, I asked mom for a raise in my allowance (which is the last time I'm able to actually have an allowance considering I'll be graduating soon) and she grudgingly gave me one.

This morning, upon hearing that I asked for a raise, my father also gave me a raise. Now the reason I don't ask dad for things is because he feels guilty about us his children and is trying to please us, especially me (since I seldom ask for anything... at least from him, and I did decline the offer to buy me a car).

Of course it could also be that dad is competing for my affections, but the reason stated above is more likely.

And when dad was leaving the room, all my mom could say is "how come you're asking a raise from me and not from him?"

Off to Get Animatrix

It was 1:30 pm by the time I got to Glorietta to supposedly claim my reserved copy of Animatrix (also available on VCD for P250!). Not that it was already there. They did tell me it would be arriving "later this afternoon". And since I don't to commute back to Glorietta again, I decided to stroll and visit the places I haven't had the opportunity.

It's all Interconnected

Fortunately, crossing over to Greenbelt 3 was easy with the new bridgeway at SM (although I wish the escalator was working).

And wouldn't you know it, from Greenbelt 3, crossing over to the main branch of Powerbooks is easy as one, two, three (streets to cross).

Of course all this time, I'm wondering if I'm jaywalking...

To Kill Time

It was only something like 2 pm and nothing kills time better than looking through the books in the bookstore that is Powerbooks (and they're on sale!!!).

Better yet, it's actually a place that encourages you to read through their books.

I was tempted with the new editions of Franz Kafka (a compilation of short stories, The Castle, and America. It was well out of my budget though (P700+ for the compilation of short stories and P600+ for a compilation of both his novels, although they are selling each for P300+), even if it is 20% off.

Dwelling on it, it seems fiction is expensive. The books I read, namely SF&F, are actually cheap! (P285 average price compared to novels which cost around P300+.)

They also finally have a compilation of Susan Cooper's books in a boxed set, but again, it's P1000 for something I haven't read yet (although it is a good deal considering it's five children's books).

Hmmm, William Gibson has a play!?!

I was finally settled on reading the anthology of Sandman short stories since I have except I haven't read it yet and it's on a perpetual loan to Lea (and besides, I can easily discard the book and not have the urge to "finish it" once I have to go since it's divided into short stories) when I saw two Terry Pratchett book's I don't own yet.

Moral Dilemma

Last year, I staved off buying Pratchett books at National Bookstore/Powerbooks for the reason that I was hoping they'd come out with an omnibus (hardcover compilation) and that I'd be able to get one at the annual bookfair, which I managed to do so the year before. Unfortunately, there was none to be seen last year.

And then there's the fact that I'm trying to save up money nowadays and I have the two books on my computer, in word format, which I downloaded from a site (see my link list at the left).

Then again, I don't want the fact that I have an illegal copy of the document in my computer to stop me from purchasing the real thing (stop piracy!) since the opportunity is there (I mean one of the reasons ebooks are popular for me is because they give me a chance to read books that aren't readily available, or even in print) and I do have the money (plus it's on sale!).

Also, since I'm not exactly the type that reads books in a bookstore without buying them (I have the priviledge to do so), well, so I bought them. But not before reading the store copy first...

And All the Chairs Were Occupied

I was going to settle for sitting on the floor but there's a sign that says "thank you for not sitting" and despite the practice of many people (there in the shop), I do follow rules.

So I was leaning on one of the shelves, trying to read Terry Pratchett and eyeing the people who are actually sitting and waiting for the opportunity to take a seat. And then I noticed something.

For one thing, there were two kinds of material the people sitting were reading: either it was comics (the Sandman collection is popular), or it's graphic related (whether it's a fashion magazine or a book with lots of illustrations).

Another observation is that some were just sitting, not reading anything, and were waiting for something.

They even carried brown envelopes and periodically, one would leave his or her seat and enter the room at the back which said "exit" on top and "authorized personnel only" at the center.

Job Interviews

I guess a study should be made but apparently, people applying for jobs at Powerbooks read either the magazines or the comics.

There was even this lady that got the book Job Inteviews for Dummies.

Yes, I am A Stalker

During this entire time, eavesdropping would be natural, since the job applicants were talking to each other even if they probably only met each other then and there.

I don't know why but adversity binds people. Just look at the freshmen orientations people have when they enter college. You suddenly find yourself talking to the person to your left and right even if under normal circumstances, you wouldn't talk to a complete stranger.

Yes, they all had that look, or were trying to disguise it by reading a comic or magazine.

And of course, just as I was about to leave, I ran into Terry, who apparently was going to submit her resume there. (Buwahahahaha, I'm a stalker, and some would even speculate I've been waiting for Terry the entire time!)

We got on the lift to the basement where we saw two dozen seats with people sitting on them (of course that's what chairs are for, silly!), all of them facing us.

Terry just murmured that a lot of people were applying for jobs.

Back to Glorietta

To kill time, I accompanied Terry to Glorietta where she shopped for books and dresses.

Of course in purchasing a jacket, Terry had to leave the shop (and me with her) to withdraw from the ATM since it's cheaper to pay in cash rather than charge it. She did tell the saleslady she'd be back and to reserve the jacket for her.

When we went back, one of the salesladies said to the other "I told you so" since here in the Philippines, Filipinos are too polite to actually decline others and make up excuses when not buying something such as saying to the saleslady "maybe next time, I don't have money now" or "I'll come back for it" but never do so. And this is speaking from experience (ah, my previous summer jobs actually give insights).

By then, it was 4:30 pm and I went to Tower Records to check if Animatrix had arrived. The lady at customer service told me that it should arrive this afternoon (it's already 4:30 pm! what are they expecting, 5:59 pm?) and if it didn't arrive today, it will tomorrow.

And of course, since there's that tinge of doubt in her voice, I decided to go back home and wait for it tomorrow.

Of course I'm going to kill them if I suddenly get a text message from them saying it's arrived at 8 pm, where I'm already in my pajamas.