Confessions of a Shopaholic

I must say, my entries have been pretty much about work and U.S. It shames me that I am about to write yet another story of my U.S. trip!

I can't help it. Almost everywhere I turn to, there's something that reminds me of it or connects with it. Take for example this movie trailer that has been showing for days now. Confessions of a Shopaholic. I get giddy everytime I see it. Because I actually witnessed its shooting! Yes, I did. Of course it was accidental. We were walking along the Madison Avenue (I hope I remember it correctly) and we saw a flock of guys with cameras and lenses. They seemed like paparazzis I see on E! News. And lo and behold. They really were! We saw a couple of director's chairs. It says, "Confessions of a Shopaholic". I was left in awe. Among the four of us, it was only me who know what it was! I was excitedly under my breath screaming it's a book! And they're filming a movie based on it! Our friend, Cookie, very Americanized ergo assertive of her right of passage, coolly walked passed the crew without looking back. Of course clueless of what to do, we tagged along behind her. We almost made it halfway when someone asked, "are they part of the crew?" The bouncers were alarmed and stopped her. She even answered back, "we are just passing thru". hahaha then the good man explained to her that they were shooting a film and it's about to roll and that we simply can't pass thru. They made us cross the street. It was amazing! I have not even witnessed a single shooting here in the Philippines but in my 2 weeks of stay in NYC, i did!

We did linger around for awhile. Across the street, that is. We watched alongside with the paparazzis clicking their cameras away like crazy! I remember the scene they shot. She was going out of the store (the name I didn't notice, I was too excited to pay attention) then the man was there and they kissed right on that street. It took several takes. We did have our photos taken too. but sadly I don't have the copy in my laptop, it's in Bacolod. I'll shall update it soon.

I think I'm going to watch this movie... Only to bring me back to that moment I was at an awesome city. =)

Trading ANC for CNN

For several years now, i have kept myself abreast with current events by watching ANC as often as I can. I know very little about it then. Never been a fan. I used to think it's plainly boring. But when i got the hang of it, I realized it's THE ultimate reality tv to watch. Too much drama and controversies involved. I did force myself to watch the news to help me understand politics in the Philippines. And of course the legal aspect of every issue. I educated myself by watching Senators debate about the pressing issues. I talk back to the tv when I disagree with the line of questioning or when i'm appalled by the revelations. At one point, it has become my habit.

Prior to my interest with the news, the first channel i watch when i turn on the tv was MTV. But since then, ANC became my must-see channel. It sounds so nerd, I know. But I guess it is required being apart of the legal profession - to have knowledge of what's going on with the country. I was prety much solid about it, until I started working.

Normally, I would watch the morning news. I think it's the best period to be updated. It recaps the news the day before at the same time gives you a taste of what to expect during the day. Ever since I started working, obviously, I can't watch the morning news anymore. Somehow, I lost the taste for it also. I can't watch the full hour news at night anymore. I would find myself changing the channel every now and then. Sometimes, I forget to click back on the news. Slowly, my interest drifted.

Now, I find myself developing a new habit. CNN. Having to deal with U.S. Immigration Law, I think it's but a necessary consequence that I should be updated with U.S. current events as well and U.S. law for that matter. I have been meaning to read the Immigration and Naturalization Act for quite awhile now. But up til now, I have read just portions of it. Lately, I have been entertaining the idea of reading the U.S. Constitution. Because I get lost sometimes watching the news. I get confused most of the time. hahaha I still do continue to watch it anyway. I just put the pieces together and try to make sense of it. Although I'd prefer it more if it is explained to me, I think I'd absorb it better. Til I find someone who's willing to do that for me, I'd have to content myself with common sense and guessing. Or better yet, condition myself to actually read and study it.

Literally though, in a few months I'd be saying goodbye to ANC because I'll be changing my cable service provider. With this digital box and increase of monthly bill that SkyCable will be implementing, I'd have to terminate it as soon as my 2-year contract ends. I think it's just impractical to spend a thousand for just a cable subsciption. And my fave channel (CS Origin) has been taken out also. The only reason why I prefer Sky is the ANC channel. But now, I think I can live without it anymore. Hence, I'd have to trade it for CNN soon. On second thought, I think I already have.