Monday, August 16, 2010

Getting old, huh...? Indeed...

I stumbled upon a celeblog (celebrity blog) today and read an entry from one of the site owner's guest bloggers. The guest blogger is a starlet in Manila and her entry dealt with "getting old".

Here were her "tell-tale signs" of ageing (and I quote, verbatim):
  1. When you choose beer over soft drinks.
  2. When you can't eat pork fat as much (because you know your blood pressure will rise).
  3. When start calling you Ms. Mr. Ma'am Sir and it gets TOO ANNOYING!
  4. When you start to attend too many weddings and funerals.
  5. When you choose to stay home than to go clubbing.
  6. When you already do things that can put you behind bars.
  7. When it's already an effort to look good.
  8. When you're eating chocolates not because you love them, but because it makes you feel better after a bad break up.
  9. When you have to think of bills rather than boys/girls.
  10. When your mind makes contracts your body can't meet.
  11. When you don't care when you're wearing white socks with black shoes (AND I REALLY DON'T).
  12. When when sleeping on the couch makes your back hurt.
  13. When when there's nothing left to learn the hard way.
  14. When you're told to act your age (YES MOM).
  15. When you stop being excited about your birthday cake because chances are the candles will reveal your age.
  16. When you choose to let your ass warm up on your chair rather than bringing it to the gym.
My comments, point by point:
  1.  Young lady, if indeed you choose beer over softdrinks, then you are no doubt young. At my age, I have lost the quivering desire for alcohol. Unless it's over good conversation with some really good friends. Drinking for the sake of inebriation shows the characteristic irresponsibility that accompanies youth.
  2. I have to agree that hypertension is a classic sign of ageing. Although people my age and older will take one look at the lechon (whole roasted pig) skin and say, "Gamutin nyo na lang ako pagkakain!" (Just give me my medication after I eat this!)
  3. Ms./Mr./Ma'am/Sir stops getting annoying after a certain age. At some point, you recognise that it's a sign of respect (however grudging it may be sometimes). What offends me is being called lola (grandma), no matter how good-naturedly.
  4. It's not attending a wedding or funeral per se that indicates your age. If you go to a wedding, you're no longer a guest or secondary sponsor, but a PRINCIPAL sponsor. Plus you are seated on the same table as the oldies. For funerals, I guess it's more of attending funerals of your contemporaries (think Dolphy).
  5. The choice to stay home or go clubbing is not related to age. I was young once and I never enjoyed the social scene. Reading a book in a quiet corner of the house always won. I think that one is a function of her occupation and must not be taken as a generalisation.
  6. Really, now...? Try saying that line in Singapore. Besides, irresponsible behaviour equals youth and immaturity. Ever heard of Lindsay Lohan?
  7. It IS an effort to look good. It's just that some people were blessed with good genes and make it look effortless. Although, with Facebook now, I think everyone makes a conscious effort to look good (and to not wear the same thing on different photo albums, hahaha).
  8. Binge eating after a break-up is not a sign of age. It shows the lack of capacity to deal with the problem, no matter how young or old you are.
  9. Well, I have to give her this one.
  10. And this, too.
  11. Well, I damn well care! And, hello, Samantha Jones does, too. Actually, IMHO, age gives you the licence to carry fabulosity with aplomb.
  12. Well, okay, that and fatigue.
  13. Nothing left to learn the hard way? Then you are not ageing. You cease to live. Even my mom has important and painful life lessons at her age.
  14. If you're being told to act your age, you're just being loud and irritating. Not old. If you're old, nobody has to tell you how to act.
  15. I have no issues with candles. And I love birthday cakes. Besides, most people are discreet nowadays and omit candles. 
  16. I've been that way forever. At my age, I've never been inside a gym for personal training. I only went inside for shoots.
Conclusion: you, Young Lady, are worrying too much. If anything. your post reveals how "un-old" you are and how little you know about the world. I don't know that much, either, but I certainly know a little more than you do.

Now go act your age and stay in your room! Kidding.

Friday, August 13, 2010

So Much for My List...!

I've been a bad girl this year. I just revisited my list of resolutions at the start of the year, and as far as I could see, I haven't made much headway. Here's my mid-year assessment:

...find more opportunities to communicate with Him. (ermmmm...this could still be improved, admittedly. Reading about Anne Rice' recent interview got me thinking. I'll blog about that separately.)

...be less critical of myself and others. (this one might need more time. I am still as critical of myself and others as I could be. Though perhaps a little less vocal.)

...be more patient and less short-tempered. I know I sometimes hurt my husband and son when I have those occasional - okay, not-so-occasional - outbursts, and I am endlessly sorry for that. (needs improvement, still)

...be wiser with my spending. I know I should take my savings more seriously this time around. (aaaccckkk...don't even mention this one! My wardrobe bears all the evidence of my guilty conscience.)

...drink more water and take less soda. (well, there we go. One resolution being kept!)

...spend less time on the internet (Facebook seriously hogs time!). Less time on the computer means more time for my loved ones.(Considerably lessened, yes.)

...be less whingey when hubby goes on his business trips.(this, too!)

...be more productive, both at home and at work. (hmmm...I guess. But needs improvement.)

...be more organised. (oh dear...)

...blog even more. (10 piddling blogs for the year! *kicks self*)

But I take heart knowing that there's still a couple of months to go before 2010 ends. And that I didn't reach the 100-day mark before I posted another blog entry. Sigh.