What exactly is male vanity?On a recent visit to my favorite supermarket, I was bombarded by several male beauty products.Raft3r was particularly disturbed by the emergence of whitening products for men. I could perfectly understand the need of the female species to have fairer and whiter complexion. But for men, I seriously doubt it.What good does white skin do to the male populace?I am fair skinned and I never wanted this type of skin color. I always wanted to be dark. Playing tennis helped me achieved this.Meanwhile, a male buddy of mine is obsessed in having “pinkish” nipples. In fact, he swears by this Chinese ointment he has been using on a regular basis.While swimming, he noticed my nipples and remarked on how pink they were. I have never given much thought on the color of my nipples until that moment. Raft3r immediately got off the pool to put on a shirt and avoided having conversations with his nipple obsessed buddy.Physical appearance really does count for something. But to go way beyond the norms to achieve the so-called perfection that society has long instilled in us is just baloney.
I was expecting a colder weather in Baguio and I was heavily disappointed.The El Nino phenomenon has decided to bitch slap even the summer capital of the Philippines.A year ago, Raft3r was greeted by the cool Baguio breeze. I loved it.Fast forward to 2010, I was welcomed by such humidity that my armpits were wet immediately after stepping down the bus.Climate change is no laughing matter. It affects all of us. But it’s never too late make a change.
Post script: Observe Earth Hour. 830pm. 27March2010. Philippine Time.
“We pamper.”That was the slogan of the hotel we stayed at in Baguio.And boy, did they deliver!NOT.Let us count the ways:
1. Bugs and roaches became my instant roommates;2. Service was substandard;
3. Rooms were not sound proof;4. Weak WiFi signal;5. Food was terrible;6. Sheets were dirty and stained;7. Water heater was totally unreliable; and
8. They gave Raft3r the wrong corporate discount.
Warning: Silly post ahead.Raft3r has water on the ear – the left one to be more precise.I spent the whole day trying to figure out how to get water out of my ear before it turned into luga (otitis media).As a child, Raft3r was taught to get a basin of water and tap it against the infected ear. Though this trick proved to be effective in the past, this time it didn’t work.I then tried to headbang ala rocker. I thought shaking my head like a lunatic would make the water come out. It was futile.Raft3r’s third attempt was jumping. I skipped up and down while bobbing my head. That didn’t do the trick either.Getting frustrated gets my blood pumping. Raft3r doesn’t quit easily.I thought of cleaning my ear with q-tips but decided against it.Then it hit me.I poured water to the already infected ear and tilted my head. Boom! Water came gushing out of my ear.This has got to be the most exciting thing I have done in awhile.
I really need to get a life.
Reasons why Pinoys won’t succeed:
- We lack discipline.
- Crab mentality is part of our culture.
- We do not learn form past mistakes.
- We vote not based on merit but on popularity.
- We are a tsismis (gossip) loving nation.
- We have no road etiquette.
- Our politicians are corrupt and selfish.
- We complain a lot but lack the initiative to make a change.
- The justice system seldom works.
- We embrace the “Bahala Na” (leave it to fate) attitude.
Reasons why Pinoys can overcome anything:
- We are resilient.
- Religion and spirituality play huge parts in our day to day life.
- We are utterly optimistic.
- We find humor in everything.
- Resourcefulness and creativity run in our DNA.
- We are always hopeful.
- We are survivors.
- Utang na loob (reciprocity) is a highly regarded trait.
- We have strong family ties.
- In times of dire need, the “Bayanihan Spirit” (altruism) is alive and well.
Which side are you on?
Raft3r lashed out on a bank teller.I wasn’t particularly proud of my behavior. But she definitely had it coming.She was rude. She kept on mumbling. She avoided eye contact at all cost. She was unapologetic.Man, it was such a turn on.
Raft3r was having a really bad day until…Caller: “Hello. May I speak with Raft3r?” Raft3r: “This is he.”Caller: “Sir, I came by your office yesterday. You helped me with my claim.”Raft3r: “Yes, ma’am. What can I do for you?”Caller: “I just called to say thanks and to tell you that you look like Richard Gere.”
Remember last year’s testosterone filled Baguio adventure?
We are doing it again! The boys are pumped and raring to go.
We will be doing the same stuff we did last year. Therefore, we will be commuting.Someone from the group lamented he did not want to do the same things all over again.
Raft3r understood his sentiment.But that’s how life is sometimes. It just goes around in circles.
January’s Hong Kong trip was bittersweet.It was a great bonding time with family. My now four year old niece celebrated her birthday in Disneyland.It was also on this trip when Raft3r’s car was stolen.I was torn between having fun and sulking.Life is really about choices.On this trip, I chose to be happy and decided to face the problem upon returning to Manila.Boy, was it a struggle. Still I forged ahead. My other niece noticed I did not smile in all of the photographs taken on the trip. I told her I was just tired.I even took my family to a day trip in Macau and acted as their tour guide.Travel is a good form of escapism. I never wanted to return home and have reality kick me in the ass.
Raft3r gets back together with his first love.On February 19, I returned to the tennis court to hit some balls.Despite all the excitement, the first few minutes were total embarrassment. It became apparent that years of absence from playing certainly took its toll. My serve was pretty lame. My strokes were gone. I hit balls like a novice.Half an hour after, I began to see some improvement. But still I was not satisfied. I wanted my form back. I knew it would take time. Right now, patience is Raft3r’s biggest foe.Post script: This is the 300th post of The Deadbeat Club.
What exactly is male vanity?
