Earthquake, Job, and Concert

Last Friday night, I experienced my first earthquake.

I was in front of the computer when my body lurched and my mind started spinning. Confusion was my first reaction. Okay, am I fainting? Why am I fainting? I don't faint! I just sleep. And am I going to throw up all over the computer too?

I glanced at the floor. It was doing the wave. In a mild way, of course, but there was no mistaking its waving. I looked back at my computer. It was rattling now, as was the electric fan. Is there a ghost here or something? Will the lights start turning on and off now?

And then - Is this an earthquake? I was thinking of whether to crawl under the table or not when I remebered that my sister was downstairs. So I called her, and she answered, sounding majorly freaked out. I was bracing myself to go downstairs so that we could hide under the table together when the shaking stopped. As if nothing had happened.

I remember reading somewhere that the worst part of an earthquake is over in a minute. The shaking was over in less than that, but it took a whole lot longer for my experience of it to end.

8 October 2004 Earthquake. Richter Scale: 6.2. Duration: 30 seconds.

* * *

Technically, this was not the first earthquake that I had experienced. When the 1990 earthquake (i.e. Scourge of Baguio) happened, I was in the school bus right outside school. The bus started swaying, and we, the grade school kids, thought that it was the high school people shaking the bus. (There used to be this rivalry between the grade school and the high school bus riders before. Very silly. But, of course, I did not take part in this. Not for anything but because I did not start speaking or even socializing until I was in the fourth grade. Seriously.) And then the shaking stopped.

I honestly do not consider this to be an earthquake experience. The bus was shaking, true. But maybe, just maybe, it was because of a childish prank that those high school kids never owned up to.

* * *

Revelation of the week: I work in Chica Teasa, an advertising firm, now. I started last Monday.

No regrets so far. The office is an igloo (some glitch in the centralized air-conditioning system, I hear), but the people are very friendly. Almost everyone there knows my name already. I can wear jeans and sneakers all I want, except, of course, when I have to meet with clients. Plus, I have my own computer and a direct line. (If you want to call me, text me, and I'll send you my number.) Bad thing is that I think I'm getting addicted to caffeine. I've been having one tall cafe latte per day.

Oh well. There are worse addictions.

* * *

While the people in the office are very nice, I have not interacted with any of them in a setting that does not involve work. Specifically, I have not had lunch with any of them.

First thing is that the schedule in advertising is pretty unpredictable. The people my age who I think I would like to have lunch with are nowhere to be found when lunch break comes around. Second, I think I am not sociable enough. I mean, I am one of the friendlier people I know, but I have never been one to invite myself to anything. So those who are around don't invite me, and I don't invite myself. Poor uninvited me.

Don't get me wrong - I am not allergic to eating alone. I can do that, no problem. I find it a tad uncomfortable, true, but by no means unbearable. I have had enough practice in this in the five-day Ignatian silent retreat that I attended after my graduation.

I just think it would be a lot nicer not to spend my technically unproductive hours with a companion I will end up eating.

* * *

I watched the Alicia Keys concert with Cokelover and Comic last night. The three of us were the only ones in our area who were standing, and I thought that was cool. Alicia is a really good performer - Gloria Estefan, Beyonce, and Stevie Wonder rolled into one. She doesn't talk to the crowd that much, but Cokelover said that might be because doing so is a Filipino thing.

I don't know her songs like I do Alanis' (at least in the first album), but that girl sure does have style. I'll be getting her CD soon.

* * *

Much as I had a great time during the concert, I would have to say that the talking session that the three of us had in Comic's house, which lasted until four in the morning, was just as fun, if not more so.

Thanks for the great time, friends! And thanks also for the surprise. :)

* * *

If I am not mistaken, the last concert that I watched was the Stephen Speaks one in the Ateneo covered courts.

I was with Ollie and Dione, I think. And then Ollie went somewhere, so Dione and I were alone in the side area that was right next to the stage. We were just standing, listening, and occasionally screaming into each other's ears.

The people around us were shouting for one of the band players to throw something. I don't remember now, but I think it was either a pick or a towel. When the band player did throw something, Dione and I automatically stepped back to avoid getting hit by it. And when one of the band players started waving energetically in our direction, the people around us erupted into wild screams, but Dione and I just looked at each other. Of course, we ended up laughing about our absurd reactions seconds after.

Funny.

* * *

I am excited for my second week at work.