Everyday is Love Day

photo grabbed from tumblr

First things first ------ Happy Valentine's Day!!!

I married a guy who will probably eternally abhor Valentine's day. Not because he does not how to love or express it, but mainly because he thinks the day has become so commercialized he just doesn't like being inconvenienced by it. He feels he is being trapped at the center of the chaos every time Valentine's day is celebrated. TRAFFIC JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE (But maybe it's worst in Pasay ano?). LONG LINES AT PASTRY SHOPS. CROWDED MALLS. (I will have to ask him what else are the specific things he hates during valentine's day. You know, for documentation purposes)

So when he was single, he avoided Valentine's day like it's a dreaded plaque. 

Unfortunately for him, he married a hopeless romantic. So for the last 4 years, he braved the supermarkets, pastry shops and chocolate shops just so he can bring me a treat (or two. or three. teehee and he can never resist my puppy eyes). And subsequently bring a smile to my adorable face. (wahaha. no violent reactions please. this is still my blog, after all)

What's good though (well for him at least) is I am not a big fan of spending tons for flowers that will wilt after a day or two so that takes a LOT of weight off his shoulders. Yesterday, we decided to move our regular 'Thursdate' to a Wednesday in anticipation of the Valentine mob (see? I love the guy too. showed my concern by agreeing to go out a day earlier than schedule wehehe). We were supposed to catch a movie but nothing interesting is showing (Flight seems okay but he did not want to settle with okay. After all, a movie doesn't come cheap anymore. I wanted Die Hard but he just wouldn't budge. hahahaha). So we skipped the movie and ended up scouring the mall for a new pair of PE shoes for the kid instead. We ended up getting her not one but 2 new pairs of shoes. Lucky kid, eh? In the end, she owned the date night again. We then settled for a nice bowl of Ramen after walking around the mall for almost an hour. We're cheapos so Ramen X was just the right fit for us. We, however, on our way home passed by Kenji Tei Ramen House (near the Cinemas at Alabang Town Center) and thought the ambiance there was so much better. We agreed to try it the next time a Ramen craving hits us.

I will pay for all these indulging this weekend. I swear. Time to hit the road hard again. 

I don't know if I'll still get a treat tonight since we already claimed our date night yesterday. I'm hoping I would. But if I don't, well, at least I can still pull the puppy eye trick on another day and claim my treat then. In our household anyways, everyday is love day.

RAMEN X
2/F NEW WING
Alabang Town Center
Alabang Zapote Road, Muntinlupa City

Are You A Smashing Pumpkins Fan Too?

I am a BIG Smashing Pumpkins fan. In fact, I fell for my husband because he had a complete record collection then (am I cheap or what? Lolz).

But really, when I listen to Smashing Pumpkins, I am always transported back (without fail) to that time of my life when music was my primary fuel - that time when alternative music ruled the airwaves. And I can say, without shame, that I am stuck in that period musically-wise (remember my power songs?). Although admittedly, I am highly adaptable to the sounds of the times however when I need some comforting, it's always this type of music that I go back to listen to. 

And so the minute I read  that Manila in included in the Pumpkins' latest album tour itinerary, I was ecstatic. The Pumpkins comes third on my must-see-performing-live-list next to Foo Fighters. U2 (although not from that genre) will always be at the top of my list (this one deserves a separate blog post of course) although I'm finally come to accept that getting them to come over and play in this part of the world seems next to impossible. 

I would have been totally awesome if the original band line up could play. It was after all not only Billy Corgan's musical genius that got me hooked to their music but James Iha's as well (and maybe also D'Arcy and Jimmy Chamberlin). I would probably move mountains just to get my hands on the patron seats. I could listen to the albums (Siamese Dream and MCIS in particular) that these 4 produced all day long and not get bored. 

But yes, wishing for an all-original Pumpkins' maybe shooting for the stars right now so I'm going to content  myself with Corgan and his new bandmates. The new album, Oceania, turned out to be a good one surprisingly. The minute I decided to give it a try, I played press with no expectations whatsoever. I'm  not a record reviewer/critic anyways so I'm leaving that to the experts. What I can say though is that it is one of those albums where I relished the first track to the last and never fought the temptation to press the forward button. Pinwheels is a big favorite. Then One Diamond, One Heart and Celestials. I listened to the entire album several times. The first week I confirmed their concert's pushing through the entire album was actually on heavy rotation in my music player. I don't think there was one song that I didn't like. So yes, I didn't notice Corgan was playing with an entirely different band at all.

photo from the Smashing Pumpkins' Facebook page)

I read somewhere that they're going to play the entire album. Ain't that super?

So despite the forecast of rain for the next few days more, yes I'm braving EDSA tomorrow just to hear this band play. AND I AM GOING TO HAVE A GREAT, GRAND TIME.

this is as far as our budget permitted but yes, we came for the music so i don't think it really matters where we're seated right?
(thanks to my friend Raiz for the photo!)