// Guitarchic Dot Net* My Life, One Strum at a Time

I have a confession to make (again). During Gio Villanueva-Wall’s Q&A on Keyword Research Tools and Tactics at the SEMCON, I was the one who SMS-ed the question “How does it feel like to be Aaron Wall’s wife?” I mean, seriously, that was a valid question to ask, right? I’m sure a lot of us were curious to know! :)

“I got myself a competition” and “I am married to the Internet!,” Gio said to a room-full of SEMCON attendees. Didn’t I just say that it’s a good SEO technique (for female SEOs) to marry an SEO guru? Hehe. (Way to go Sharm! LOL) :)

Anyway, I was lucky enough to be able to have a chat with Gio when she and Aaron dropped by the Intercon the next day (SEMCON, Day 2). And unexpectedly too, as I just happened to be sitting at the back with some guys from SEO Philippines, near the entrance, when the couple dropped by.

With Gio — yes, that’s my back okaaay.

It was lovely to know that Gio speaks fluent Tagalog, hence it wasn’t that hard for me (LOL) to chitchat about tiangges, and shopping, and boracay, and stuff that are not related to SEO. And it was even more thrilling to know that she happens to be dropping by this blog (guitarchic.net) too once in a while. I mean, really now? :)

And really now, it’s not everyday you get to chat with an SEO rockstar in his shorts and slippers. *starstruck*

Chitchatting with Aaron Wall woohoo :)

Inasmuch as I wanted to ask Aaron more about his book and his SEO secrets, I ended up asking more questions about him and Gio, how he likes it here so far, and his interests aside from SEO, and music (music!! man!! I was talking about music with Aaron Wall, haha), etc.

With the Walls :)

I had my ten minutes worth of air time with the Walls, yay ME — perhaps one of the highlights of my SEMCON experience (which I will blog more about later). Very down-to-earth, both of them. :)

I told Aaron Wall that he’s got a pretty good taste, falling in love with a Filipina. And I could say the same for Gio, for marrying The SEO Book. Er, I mean, the author. Hehe.

As for me, I’m still starstruck. (And wondering if someday, people will tell my husband-to-be that he’s got good taste marrying this SEO girl that I am. Blpht.) :p

*Photos courtesy of Jason Torres, who happened to be holding Konks, my camera, when I was having the grand SEMCON time of my life.

I have a confession to make. Not more than a week after I bought my Moleskine Journal, I lost it. And I couldn’t even blog about it because that would be plain stupid right? To gush about finally getting a Moleskine Journal, and to announce that you lost it a couple of days after? Sheesh.

I knew, however, that I’d find it somehow, and I kindof had an idea where to go. It should be right where I last saw it, I thought with confidence. After all, I didn’t think anyone would really take interest on a piece of notebook enough to steal it. Plus, it has my messy writing all over it already. Na-ah.

Ergo, six days after I noticed it missing, I traced my steps, went to Starbucks at Shangrila, and took my chance.

“Uhm, hi, I was wondering.. By any chance.. *stammering* Did u happen to see a moleskine journal… uhm.. it’s has a black leather..” Even before i finished my sentence, one of their crew was already on his way out back. I held my breath, and noticed some baristas smiling at me from the counter, and some grinning and nodding at each other as if they all have feasted on my journal already! Gah! Oh well. I didn’t care. I just wanted my Moleskine back.

Behold, I heaved a sigh of relief. There it was, the familiar leather bound mini-notebook, handed to me by a certain barista named Ducks — don’t ask me, I wondered what’s with the name too — and I went away with a huge smile on my face. Thank God.

Now just in case you happened to pass by Starbucks Shangrila, the one in 5th floor, do me a favor by thanking Ducks again for me will ya. Heh.

Maybe it’s true what they say. Moleskines really do travel a lot! As for my Moleskine Journal, here goes her first adventure. ;)

I know, I know. I recently enumerated five reasons why I’m not buying a MacBook. But that’s actually a prequel to a list of reasons why I’m buying one.

It’s difficult for me to adapt with change, and I’m usually scared to try out new things too — must be why I’ve had the same hairdo for years, and I’ve never owned a mobile phone that is NOT Nokia.

Well, it’s about time for me. ;)

I literally had my name on it.

Unboxing your very own MacBook is the sweetest thing.
(Er, okay, next to unboxing an Island Rose package, that is. :heart:)

Even the suspense is sweetness. Yay.

Teh Mac and Teh Chucks.

MINE, MINE, MINE. :)
Get that? Over my kung-fu tight grip, raawr!

This means I’m gona have to say buhbye to Ice (my Acer Travelmate) *sniff*, time really does fly. But LOL, I’m not about to get depressed and mushy over it, okay. Besides, I know she’ll be in good hands. :)

I’m not sure if it’s good that it came the week before SEMCON 2007. I’m still getting used to the Apple key, and the CTRL non-functions (whatev), and now I have to cram for my talk and try to get myself acquainted with Mac at the same time. Gah. Oh well. I guess now is not the time to question timelines. :)

P.S. She doesn’t have a name yet. Leme think about that for now.

So Anya Hindmarch launched its line of “I’m not a plastic bag” environmental bags a few months ago, and by now, it says (on its website) that all bags of that kind are already sold out in the United States.

I’ve always wanted one. If I was in the US, I probably lined up on the day it was launched and grabbed one for myself. I heard from Minic that his wife got hers for only $15 (around 650-700 pesos), and I was green with envy!

Fastforward to the other day, while on a vanity spree with my housemate at St. Francis Tiangge, I found an “I’m not a plastic bag” replica at some random stall, to my amusement.

I’m Not A Plastic Bag sighting at St. Francis Square, Ortigas

You can get it at 300 pesos, or, if you’re good, you can probably bargain up to 280 php. But of course, it’s far from the real thing. It looks the same, but the finish and the material used does not really cut it.

It’s interesting how environment-friendly stuff has become such an in-thing these days. It’s different from the ukay craze (which, for some reason, I happened to have outgrown already), or spending hours walking around Tutuban or Greenhills to scout for cheap fashion. While these types of bags do not really cost less than regular bags, the bold declaration of a worthy cause plastered on the bags is what makes them so posh.

A good friend, Miss Cathy Babao, also ventured into a similar project on reusable shopping bags. I’m still waiting to get my hands on one. Heehee. ;)

I’ve always wanted one. And I would have gotten it earlier if I wasn’t too lazy to go to the bank to deposit my payment. Bud could have gotten me one from a US supplier and at a cheaper price too (less than $10 + shipping), but I couldn’t wait any longer. Besides, why look far when we have our very own local Moleskine distributor in the Philippines anyway? ;)

Hence, after exchanging a few emails, and paying BPI a visit (which is just across the street from our office), my very first Moleskine Journal was delivered right to my desk last Friday — the very next day after my bank transaction — much thanks to the guys over at Moleskineph.com.

My first ever moleskine journal

Mababaw lang ang kaligayahan ko. A classic plain moleskine journal (the one “without boundaries”) was all I wanted, something to scribble my thoughts with anytime, preferably something small and handy which I can carry around with anywhere.

Yep, all for the price of 900 pesos — a bit expensive, but worth it, definitely.

I love its simplicity, and now, call it cheesy (or geeky, whatever), the thought that I’m writing on the pages of a “legendary” notebook which Hemingway and Picasso used to own adds up to the excitement of owning one. And the thought that artists from all over the world are writing on their own moleskines makes me feel like I’m one of them. Sheesh, their marketing tactic is really working for me, huh? Hehe.

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