what's my age again? *long story*

Last Friday, I was stuck all day at the Araneta Coliseum "manning" the set up for that night's Christmas party. I wasn't really doing anything much except people-watch and crave for a mocha latte in the nearby Starbuko. Of course, I couldn't get my coffee because I had to pretend I was actually doing something important. If the banquet managers caught me lollygagging, I'd be dead before I get to see the program. I won't allow that because I knew there would be celebs [apart from me] that night.

So while the set up was being done, I checked out the schedule for Disney on Ice as I have decided earlier on [with childlike squeals and ohmigawrsh-im-so-going-to-see-that] that I will secure tickets at the soonest possible time. I immediately went inside the arena and picked a seat in the patron area and practiced cheering for imaginary ice-skaters dressed in colorful and whimsical costumes. My officemates wondered what I was doing and when I explained I was prepping for a January show, they shot me amused and weirded out looks. I seem to be getting that all the time.

Needless to say, I am prepping for Disney on Ice because, hello, it's Disney, I'm Xaris, do the math. I hurriedly reserved a ticket online and I am eagerly waiting for a confirmation. Like I have so much money to burn, tchh.

It's the nearest I'm going to get to Mickey Mouse until HK Disneyland [yun na muna, poorita pa 'ko eh]. And yes, I love watching figure skating what with all the drama of their movements plus their frilly costumes.

Going back to my Araneta experience, when I had successfully made sure that my assignment was done, I went inside the main hall to see what was happening. There was an ongoing show hosted by Edu Manzano and Tuesday Vargas. Like any show, there was an opening, a middle and an end.

The middle came as a good surprise because... brace yourself for a revelation of my deepest, darkest secret number two... Jolina Magdangal performed on stage! I absolutely love her so I elbowed my way to the backstage armed with my camera and a teary fangirl look [that always gets celebrities like us, haha]. When she was barely a feet away from me, I chickened out of a photo op because she was just there, thisclose to me and suddenly I felt like I had to give her space. She went away and all I could do was stand there and wave goodbye. As soon as I realized that I let a good opportunity pass, I cried. Yes, with all the manong bodyguards and PA men, I stood there, clutching my friend's hands and sniffling like a kid whose balloon just got popped. Helpless was the word. I was ushered out by my friend to go back to our post and I was sooo upset that I just looked at Mr. Edu Manzano when we passed by him, my eyes still brimming with tears. And then I stopped and realized, si edu yon! si edu yon! so I ran back to say hi but he was already busy with a call. I decided that wasn't my night; I wouldn't hobnob with the celebs [apart from me] and I had better be doing my job.

Eventually, I felt better and resigned to the idea that the fates were ganging up on me so I let it all pass. And then came the announcement that The Dawn was next on stage. Did I hear that right? The Dawn, here, here in the same place I was, getting ready. To. Play. Onstage. Here. Tonight. This instant. Shoot.

I might have beaten the Flash by how fast I made my way from the Upper Box to the stage area. I cannot let this pass. I can't. So while this awesome band was performing, I bounded up and down singing [screaming was more like it] along to the songs they performed.

To make up for my darkest deepest secret divulgence [did I use this correctly?] I am keeping to myself the almost stalker-ish thing I did that night. Good thing the waiters were there or I'd have done the deed, whatever that was.

The End. The end was wow. When The Dawn was done performing, I was just coming out of the prep area heading to where all my officemates were. And lo and behold, emerging from the shadows was my peyborit Francis Reyes! When I see my peyborit celebs [aside from me] I panic and freeze [what people would call starstruck] and go brain dead. Miraculously at that time, I was able to think fast and blocked his way and offered a dilly bar.

me: hey you want ice cream?
francis: [where did she come from?]hmmm, yeah, sure.
me: here! ooh can i have my picture taken with you?
francis: okay.
me: i read your blog and you're my friend on facebook *cheese*
francis: really, what's your name?
me: xaris with an x.

And the rest was a blur. It was short but meh, that was me talking to the Francis Brew Reyes. It didn't matter how shortlived my giddiness was. Oh, the picture? It wasn't stored.

Gee. Tengs.