"O" My Word.

I just saw one of the most beautiful shows in the world!

Paul and I had a pair of hard-to-get tickets to Cirque Du Soleil's "O" at the Bellagio Hotel.

I heard so much about the show and always wanted to go since my first trip to Vegas in 2002.

It's everything that people say it is. Definitely one of the best Cirque shows out there.

The Queen And His King.

Congratulations to Paul are in order today, because he played in a poker tournament with thirty people and won first place! I am so proud of him.

He didn't even wear sunglasses and a hat at the table. Just a stern poker face and a good read on others at the table.

Wow. Just think- I am sleeping with the Poker King.

Overexposure Causes Desensitisation.

And desensitisation causes boredom.

One of my favorite things to do in Vegas is watching the fountains of Bellagio casino dance to Andrea Bocelli's version of "Con Te Partiro" with Sarah Brightman. We caught it Sunday night giving me goosebumps and leaving me nearly in tears. I clapped and kissed everyone around me at the end. It was so romantic.

But we saw it again the very next night and it didn't do a thing for me. I felt nothing immediately afterwards.

What Happens In Vegas,

Gays in Vegas.

Paul and I are now in Las Vegas along with my sister and brother-in-law. Here's a thirty second update as of today:

*Shacking up with my sister and brother-in-law hasn't been bad at all. Paul's been a lumberjack at night sawing wood which wakes everyone else up.

*I'm ahead $225. My game: roulette, playing outside bets, either red or black.

*We had a great time in L.A. The weather was gorgeous.

*I haven't bought a thing. I've got my eyes on a couple of things, including a skinny tie by Prada.

I've got a couple of good stories to tell you, but I'm off to the tables again. More soon, I promise.

Flight Attendants,

Prepare for the cabin for departure...

Paul, my sister, my brother-in-law and I leave Wednesday morning at the crack of dawn for nearly a two week vacation to Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

If you or someone you know would like a souvenier from either city, e-mail me at erniedeomampo@yahoo.com. I will do my best to get it for you.

In the meantime, remain seated with your seatbelt fastened, as this will be a bumpy ride: we've never traveled together as a group. This should make plenty of interesting material for blog entries over the next twelve days. Stay tuned.

This One's For The Beautiful Women Who Read My Blog.

"High Heels: The thinner the heel, the higher the arch, the higher your status and situation."
-excerpt from Camilla Morton's new book How to Walk in High Heels

How To Pick A Shoe
*A good heel picks you. Don't follow trends. My shoes are not fashion- they are moods and moments that want to come out and play. Be original. Look at vintage.

*You must always show some toe cleavage, as it gives sensuality to the shoe. Be careful you show only the first two cracks: you don't want to give too much away. You're not that type of girl.

*As for the heel, honey, it's got to be high. the transformation is instant. Wear nothing less than 90-mm (3 1/2 inches).
-Manolo Blahnik

The Skinny On Ernie

Yesterday, I tried the latest denim trend on Paul for the first time: skinny jeans. I liked it! I paired it with a set of Chuck Taylor's, a black tee, and a big black belt. I liked the look on me- I looked like a cute little neo-punk rocker. But it didn't go so well with him. He didn't like it on me. He's definitely used to flared and bootleg jeans.

Will "Fared-Well"

In celebration of lazy Sunday, Paul and I caught "Talladega Nights: The Ballad Of Ricky Bobby" starring Will Ferrell. Suprisingly, the movie managed to pull a few genuine chuckles out of me. Unlike many of the skits of Saturday Night Live, the jokes stayed fresh and the characters felt real and believable.

I was glad to see it in America because seeing it in any other country would have made me homesick for good ole' USA.

A Little Bit Of Wisdom

From Chris Rock:
"Who's judging American Idol? Paula Abdul? Paula Abdul judging a singing contest is like Christopher Reeve judging a dance contest!"

From Ellen DeGeneres:
"I have just learned that penguins are monogamous for life, which doesn'treally surprise me all that much because they all look exactly alike. It's not like they're going to meet a better looking penguin someday."

From Jerry Seinfeld:
"Men don't care what's on TV. They only care about what else is on TV."

And from Samuel Jackson:
"Get these *#$%&+@ snakes off this *#$%&+@ plane!"

Wise Words From Michael Scott,

Regional Manager of NBC's sitcom "The Office":

"Money isn't everything. It's not the key to happiness. You wanna' know what is? Joy."

Health Update(?)

Here's the latest on the showdown with cancer:
*the spinal tap conducted two weeks ago was negative for cancerous cells
*my doctor recommends either craniospinal radiation at this time or to monitor its progress
*the second opinion I received from Johns Hopkins still advises conducting another form of chemotherapy

Ever since I stopped chemo in early July, I haven't received any treatment to prevent growth. It makes me wonder what's happening inside my head. For example, since it hasn't spread to my back, is it just getting bigger in my brain?

I may gamble a little and put off any kind of treatment until October. It's not smart to jeapordize my health, but I plan on doing some travel over the next couple of weeks.

Oye SchMel!

I saw this sign at a restaurant:

"What are you getting Mel Gibson for Hannukah?"

Family Reunion

Welcome Home, Ellen and Andrew!

Today marks the end of an era: my sister and brother-in-law come back to the US for good. In Summer 2003, I said painful goodbyes to them as they packed their bags and moved to Australia. We were reunited a year later when Paul and I moved to Sydney in Winter 2004, and it's been casual visits back in the US since then.

I love her so much. We are alike in many, many ways (poor girl!) Before Andrew and Ellen move to NYC in September, we all plan on taking our first vacation together. Yay!

I'll Miss Hue.

The designers voted, ballots are counted, and the election is over.

For Fall 2006, gray is the new black. Resurrect those colorless sweaters and corduroys you bought in "slate," "smoke" and "weathered drab", because it's back, it's hot and firing up the runway .

I think it sucks.

I love summer. I love the colorful checkered shirts we wear to picnics and patterned boardshirts we use for a swim. Soon colorful leaves will be raked and bagged up, flowers will die, and we'll be left with only gloomy winter days and a cheer-lacking wardrobe thanks to the gray matter between designers' ears.

How Kemo Sabe!

Me Little Filipino, in Totem Pole of White Friends.

Girl with white shirt name "Yellow Cloud" for hair that change shape. Other girl name "Beautiful Surprise" for baby in stomach.

Man with blue shirt name "Gold Feather." Him no heavy, but best friend. Man with dark shirt name "Obedient Medicine Man." He doctor but marry smart filipino girl like me.

I Came Out Yesterday (Again).

After eating dinner with my mom last night, I stayed at the table. She didn't hold back- we had a conversation about my sexuality. It went a little something like this:

Mom: "Are you gay?"

Ernie: (choking on my drink) "What?"

M: "You know, are you following the Lord in every part of your life?"

E: "Uh, yes, why?"

M: "Because God may hinder answering prayer if you're not right with him."

E: (playing dumb) "What do you mean?"

M: "I know you have gay friends, but are you being gay with them?"

E: (truly curious about what she's hinting at) "Being gay with them?"

M: "You know, when gay men are with each other, they kiss and hug each other."

E: "Oh, I see. I hug and kiss my best friend (who's straight), so that means we're both gay."

M: "No, that's different."

E: "Mom, I'm a non-practicing gay." (Lie, lie, lie.)

M: "Instead of saying that, can you say that you're a non-practicing straight?"


There's a whole lot more to this conversation (about another 25 minutes worth), but I left it out to not take the whole page. Don't be bothered by this conversation, I'm certainly not. It ended on a good note. She's scared of losing me to cancer and needed to hear that I'm 110% secure with my relationship with God.

Ad"justin"

Justin Timberlake is back on the music charts with "SexyBack", a song with very peculiar rhythm beats and sounds. This car crash of electronic bleeps and defragmented vocals is massively played over the airwaves, and reigns on top of MTV's show, TRL.

You either love it or hate it. At first, I wasn't sure what I was listening to, and certainly not positive whether I liked it or not. But I think of this song like your first beer. It's not pleasant. You wonder why people enjoy it so much. But sip after another sip and after another round, the room is spinning, colored lights are flashing, and the world is abliss.

For others, it's certainly not their poison. An itunes user named slu said it best: "Loop dis sheet ova n ova as dats all it is. There’s nothing there, ‘cept an old Atari beeping and sum busta spittin on da mic."