Lately, I've had nothing to say, other than post stuff about movies, music and photography. No new epiphanies or realizations. No poignant experiences or life defining acts. It's because Twitter has taken over my life.

Or maybe it's because things have been all right. Meaning, I've been very happy to live my life the past couple of weeks, and I really can't be bothered to write about it. But I will try.

I know it sounds pathetic to say this, but maybe Star Trek started it off by just being awesome.

Then work got going, checks started coming in, and, professionally, I'm satisfied. At least approaching the first half of this year. I'm also happy to be finally on a very promising book, after many false starts. All those books I mentioned here, I swear to you, I haven't been able to finish more than half of them. But this one now, Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon, is dense and fascinating. I like the challenge of reading it, and I like it when staying on it pays off.

I've been catching some good music live too. I saw Sleepwalk Circus and Encounters With A Yeti just this past week alone.

Also the NBA Playoffs have been the most fun and exciting in recent years. I like it more than last year, even with Boston and Lakers were in the Finals. This year, and at this point it's the conference finals leading up to the Finals, it's full of exciting match ups and awesome games. Even as everyone assumed that it would be a Cleveland-LA showdown at the end, peaking teams like Orlando and Denver (Chauncey!) are giving them a serious run for their money. I just saw a well-made documentary about the opposite yet same demigods that are Kobe and LeBron, and their stories are truly inspiring. Or at least Nike tells me so.

But it really is a good series, and when people ask me who I'm rooting for, I say, without an ounce of bullshit, that I just enjoy watching these guys compete. Basketball, with the glory of winning and the obliteration by defeat, is a purifying experience. The drama is true. If I had to live my life, earning a (lucrative) living, just being one of those talking heads on ESPN, who cover game after game, I'd be very content. It doesn't get any better than that.

Also, I will be taking a three-week vacation in a couple of weeks. I don't deserve it. In fact the whole expense of it, compounded by the fact that I'd be missing out on work for such a long time, was making me sick. Then Star Trek came along and made me love life a little.

I'll be visiting New York again, after, wow, five years. And I think I will take immense pleasure revisiting old bookshops and favorite museums. I will check if my favorite deli is still on the corner of Park Ave and 17thE, get a sandwich and flavored water, and eat it at Union Square like I used to. I will go back to Central Park and finally find "IMAGINE" on the ground. This time around, I will be hanging with great friends, and it should be funner. Then I'm off to San Francisco to attend an uncle's wedding.

I just saw Bottle Shock, and while it's an okay movie, it made me want to go to Napa Valley again. But this time, I want to go off the wine tasting route and just head off to the real vineyards and take more pictures. Then back home to Manila for my brother's birthday.

The next six weeks of my life have been planned. And while that somewhat terrifies me, at the rate I'm going, I'll probably be all right.