Express Memorare Novena to the Blessed Virgin Mary

Figured that nothing would be lost if I posted this, so...

Express Memorare Novena to the Blessed Virgin Mary

* Memorare must be recited nine (9) times in a row.

* Make the sign of the cross at every recitation.

* Mention your petition and recite the "Hail Mary" prayer at the end of each recited Memorare.

* Reprinting MUST be made immediately as the petition(s) is (are) answered.

Memorare: Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help and sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I hasten you, O Virgins of Virgins, my Mother. To you I come, before you I stand sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the world Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer me.

(Special thanks to Eloisza for this one! )

An important message.

After an emotionally draining Sunday and an energy-sapping two weeks, I found these among the email messages I've subscribed to. The fact that they were received in my inbox on the very same emotionally-draining Sunday is a bit chilling and disturbing, because I had hoped for something that did not lead me to where angels fear to tread. Emphasis mine.

This is your mission. To become what you were born to be. You were born to bless and heal and love in a very specific, fantastic way. I don't know about you, but it's really incredibly exciting just making it all come to pass.

Here we have one of the smartest people who ever lived, accepting the fact that he couldn't do anything alone. He understood that he could not know what he knew or do what he did without the help of others. Greatness happens when people get together and pool their strengths for each other's benefit. It happens when lessons are passed down and taken even further. Who do you know in your life that you could learn from? Do you have a hero? How can you build on the opportunities that are given to you? How will you pass your knowledge down to the coming generation? Learn your strengths and the strengths of the people around you. Find out how you can help each other achieve what you never could alone. Right now, you can be the one "seeing farther." Be the "giant with shoulders" for someone else. Either way, you'll be part of something big.

I love the gift of healing, but right now, with the way things are looking I can't even manage to heal myself. I'm so terribly drained that I just want to curl up in a corner and cry myself to sleep, but I can't get the rest and release I need. (For starters, I am wide awake.) I really, badly need a recharge. X_x Pwede po bang time-out muna, please? =_=

The 25s: The Ultimate Gratitudes or The Intangibles That I'm Grateful For

Of course, I am no ingrate. I have realised that I have been very lucky. And so, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I would love to return my love to the universe in this manner.

1. My family, which keeps me grounded and sane no matter what happens. 
2. The chance to talk to my older sister again - her birthday falls near or during the Thanksgiving weekend, which is a plus (November 23rd)
3. My newest job, yay! (Can't believe I forgot this. XP)
4. The chance to determine who and what my friends REALLY are
5. University of the Philippines In-Christ Thrust for University Students (UP ICTUS) - almost 30 years and counting! Anniversary next week! Nihil Fide Sine - Nothing Without Faith! Never Without Passion! \^0^/
6. The opportunity to lead Reach Out Otaku 
7. Mommy Gemmy, for founding Reach Out Otaku
8. Costume play - I don't care who invented it, bless their souls for making it popular! XD
9. Graduating college with cum laude honors - I'd had such a hard time, but even now I still don't think I deserve it, because by technicality alone I shouldn't have gotten honours in the first place.
10. The opportunities to prove that I am human and thus capable of feeling, compassion and change.
11. People who, in rare occasions (I speak from personal experience), love me more than I love them, and way more than I love myself ... I cannot count you all, but suffice it to say you're all on Blogger and LJ too. :P
12. Many boys and men from ICTUS and the cosplay community, for teaching me that not all men are as terrible as I've been lead to believe - there is a LOOOOOOOONG (and unfortunately very tragic) story behind this, and you will NEVER pry any of the details out of me! v^_^v
13. The problems that cast shadows in my life, because I beliefe God never gives us what we cannot handle.

...One of these days I WILL do a photo-collage here. I love my sister, but we're ruthlessly competitive sisters, and today is one of those days when I just can't stand how pretty her LJ is next to either of my blogs. v^_^0

The 25s: The Material Possessions I am Most Grateful For

Here are the things I am most grateful for. I have realised I am very lucky to have enjoyed these comforts and my own personal fortune, however small it often appears to be. ^_^

1. My life. It IS material and it is something that's ultimately mine.
2. The house I currently live in, La Casa Nueva. Part of my life savings (put up from when I was a little tyke getting a small allowance at grade school) went into this beauty. And now I have my own room too! ♥ We've definitely come a long way from renting a tiny flat full of mice and cockroaches which barely had any running water.
3. My eyeglasses. I have terrible vision (short-sightedness/myopia plus astigmatism on the left eye), and I don't tear up easily, which is why I prefer glasses over invasive contact lenses. My current pair is extra-special because I bought it myself and it looks super cool. 
4. Every single thing that was given to me as a present which I currently use. Whether it's something edible or useful, something large or small, something worn or held or simply kept, I know that the person that gave that item to me gave much time, effort and money up just to give something of great value to me.
5. My job, my career and my agency (and my bosses). They came at a time I felt very hopeless, and I have learned so much and enjoyed so many great things that I honestly can't think of myself doing anything besides public relations anymore.
6. All the clothes, shoes, bags, belts and accessories (especially costume jewelry) that I bought with my own money. I am grateful because these are things I bought for myself, for my own personal use and enjoyment, with the money I make doing something I love.
7. My Panasonic CCD mini-DV video camera. I wish I could use it more often though. I miss making videos! T.T
8. My costumes, because their presence means I DID enjoy being a geeky and creative kid. dXDb Especially Danaya of Encantadia because she literally opened doors for me - new friends, newfound appreciation for myself, newfound appreciation for Filipino culture (you need to see the show to see why), and new cosplay possibilities.
9. My modest anime and manga collection, which have influenced my tastes and my worldview profoundly. I've collected them even before being nerdy and geeky were cool. They entertain me and make me happy. dXDb
10. My lovely wigs, for the same reasons as above. Also, they give me a new look and a measure of confidence to try new things ... notably new hair styles and colours. dXDb
11. My ultimate impulse buy, the white 2008 edition MacBook that I have dubbed Chigusa. I wanted to give her up, but she's become so useful to me especially for doing work outside of the office and the house. I still need to pay Mum my share of her though. XD;;;
12. My built-from-scratch desktop, Anthy. From an ASUS-Seagate-Intel base, she's now a hybrid Gigabyte-ASUS-Seagate-Intel-Samsung baby. Through the years she has been my repository of media that I have made, as well as the many things that continue to inspire me from all over the world. Also without her, I'd never play all the awesome MMORPGs and PC games I love. dXDb 
13. My Sony Ericsson Walkman w801i Black Lady, which at her prime was the most gorgeous phone ever. She's a grande old dame now. ♥ Thanks for selling this beautiful baby to me, Carlo San (a former colleague at my former office)!
14. My Nokia 6020 mobile, Pink Lady. She was originally silver, but after her silver covers chipped off I customised her with a pink set and tons of decoden despite being my oldest phone (circa 2006 baby - three-and-a-half years and counting!). She's so durable and portable, there's no way I'll let her go. ♥
15. My paper journals, organizers and diaries. They are terribly cheesy and melodramatic but they link me to the Ligayas of years past.
16. My online journals that I have been able to keep for the past 10 years or so, because they help me evolve into the Ligaya that I am becoming.
17. Every little material item that Mahal has given me, from food to jewelry to candles to manga to books to mix CDs. Yes, they all deserved their own number because these are all presents from my beloved. ♥♥♥  
18. The things I've won through lucky draws, like the tickets for the very intimate Anggun concert at the Hard Rock Cafe back in 1999 (wow, it's been 10 years! *0*) and the HP printer I won during the Gadgets 4th anniversary party this past June. Who'd have thought I'd get so lucky? ;P Now how I wish I could get lucky again... X3

The 25 Wants: Hoping God & the universe hear me!

I want:

1. A credit card. No, seriously. Bringing so much cash is worrying. X_x Most likely the UnionBank EON account because it's PayPal-friendly.
2. A decent pair of shorts that I can fill out without riding up my crotch or simply just looking skanky.
3. MATCHING UNDIES!!! Because none of my bras go with my knickers, WTF. >_>0
4. 2TB hard drive. Just for back-up. Seriously. So my computer can keep its games and pr0nz hahaha.
5. New wigs, especially those with FULLER POOFINESS! So I can be more gyaru and just go hair-crazy some days without worrying over my ever-increasing hairfall. T.T
6. A Sony Walkman with matching Bluetooth headphones. As much as I love Apple, the iPod has become seriously overrated and less fun. I want to go against the norm. ;P
7. Skins, decoden and rhinestones for my phones, lappy and camera. I kinda like my PC looking and staying black but if a gorgeous yet supremely monstrously functional case comes out of the PC manufacturers I may just change my mind. XD
8. Old issues of Es POSHH!, Ego System, Honey Girl, Vanilla Girl and all the lovely but sadly defunct gyaru magazines.
9. Volume 13 of the original Japanese version of the Ayashi no Ceres manga so that I can FINALLY complete my collection. XD
10. Work-out videos, particularly for Tae-Bo, Hip-hop Abs, Bellydance and anything to do with dancing and martial arts.
11. A tan, or a less-than-PhP1,000 artificial tanner, to even out my skin tone.
12. Sony Creative Software 2009 Editions, especially Vegas, the original of which is rare and hard to come by here where I live.
13. More make-up! Preferably mineral and/or hypoallergenic. (Sadly, the Shu Uemura testers my younger sister gave me caused some crazy breakouts that I never recovered from. X_x)
14. Shiseido skincare and beauty products. Because, to my greatest frustration, this is about the only brand that still agrees with my skin. 
15. A perfume that comes thisclose to the bouquet of The Body Shop's Oceanus, which sadly has been phased out. T.T
16. DVD sets of all the following: Ayashi no Ceres, Sailormoon (all 5 seasons), Saint Tail, Inuyasha, Sugar Sugar Rune, Tsukikage no Ran, Jubei-chan the Ninja Girl, Candy Candy, True Blood, Peach Girl, Hana Yori Dango, Meteor Garden, Hana Kimi, Vision of Escaflowne (movie is optional), Flight of the Conchords, Charmed, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Black Lagoon, Card Captor Sakura, Angelic Layer, Vampire Princess Miyu, CSI: Las Vegas (only the episodes with Gil Grissom in the lead though), Roswell, Star Trek: The Next Generation, the Audrey Hepburn Collection, Sex and The City, Heroes, Oh My Goddess!, HBO Films' John Adams, and last but definitely not least Joan of Arcadia.
17. An upright piano and some starter music scores I can use to teach myself to read notes and play piano with again.
18. Piano, voice, street/hiphop/pole dance and clothing technology lessons that someone else will be willing to sponsor in my behalf. (For the music lessons, I'd rather take them at The Ryan Cayabyab Music School, BTW.)
19. Personalised calling cards for Midwest Ocean and for my own business purposes. Must make time for this.
20. I still want the Chloe leather alligator fold clutch. Second-hand, or preferably someone can produce a version locally, one which doesn't have to be made of real leather. Close-up here.
21. Sexy black legwarmers with chains. (Granted, I COULD make them myself but I don't have the necessary skills to ensure they don't all fall apart after just one wearing. XD;;;) Photo taken from Royal Jelly Clothing, no longer in stock in that store though.
22. Music-themed anything! Whether it be this Forever 21 Melody hoodie jacket (alas, it's no longer in stock either, I really should've bought it during the holidays! DX) or this piano and musical-themed bag from the Japanese brand JUNKS, I am totally and madly in love!
23. These Kvoll strappy sandals with heart-shaped heels, sans ribbons. I first fell in love with Christian Lacroix wedges with heart-shaped cut-outs during the Lacroix exhibit 2 years ago at the Ayala Museum (thanks Ate! XD), and when I was in Taipei this past June I stumbled across another set of heels in this exact style. However I didn't have money at the time so I never got to buy them.

The 25s (Possible-to-reach) Needs: Hoping God & the universe hear me...

To God and the universe, I hope you can help me with the following needs:

1. At least US$10,000 added to EACH of my bank accounts (BPI savings account, Banco Filipino savings account, and the one I plan to open in Standard Chartered) so I can finally get that long-delayed trip to see Mahal again without worrying about rainy STORMY days.
2. A ten-year multiple-entry visa (B2) and TWO-WAY tickets to the USA from the Philippines to see Ate, Jannie, Laney and Mahal!!!
3. A USB cable for my Sony T-20 Cybershot (pamana ni Inay/inherited from Mum). Okay, I forgot I DO have this already, so instead of my old number #7 I would like some better-quality silicone cases for my mobile phones. An almost-new Sony DSC-T20 Cybershot camera, which I lost during an event at the Peninsula Manila last 23rd September. DDDDDX 
4. Better quality silicon cases for my mobile phones. 
5. A new set of eyeglasses with ultra-thin, multi-coloured transitional lenses (L: -6.00 + astigmatism, R: -3.50). I prefer thin, coloured rims as horned rims don't work for my facial structure at all. 
6. Diksyunaryo ng Wikang Pilipino (Dictionary of the Filipino Language) by UP Press. Or, failing that, a decent, comprehensive, one-stop Filipino-English dictionary, which we SERIOUSLY lack in this country.
7. A miniature (portable?) electronic sewing machine complete with implements.
8. A decent pair of jogging/jazz/workout pants/shorts that don't split when stretched out at the crotch as I can get surprisingly involved and malleable during my exercises.
9. Board shorts especially for summer days. Thanks Ate A and Ate E!♥
10. Dress forms, body hangers and/or mannequin bodies for my costumes and for my sister K's fashions.
11. Original Windows 7 OS and Microsoft Professional applications for Windows XP and 7 - preferably not overpriced by PhP1,000 the way they sell it here (@#&;* local customs bureau!), and with full multilingual and app support. 
12. The latest Adobe Creative Suite, all-original and with full multilingual and app support.
13. The latest McAfee Anti-Virus system, all-original and with full multilingual and app support.
14. A new case for Anthy, my PC, who looks so shabby because of all the holes my Dad carved into her casing so we could fit more fans in. (As it turned out, all those fans contributed to her constant overheating, and the solution was newer, better fans.)
15. Lots of belts (especially narrow, not thick belts) and shoes. I need belts because most of my trousers and some of my skirts keep falling (curse of the half-size), and shoes because I wear them out so easily (curse of ginormous yet strangely half-size feet, grossly disproportionate to my body). Brand is not important, but build and durability are.
16. Lots of jewelry that are extremely durable but also cheap or at least reasonably priced.
17. Lots of bags for daily use and special occasions alike, but most especially a formal yet theft-proof clutch or purse. I will pay premium only if it's sturdy, not because it's by a famous brand or its knock-off. 
18. Business card keepers for work and personal use.
19. 4D-size batteries for emergencies, especially after Typhoons Ketsana and Parma hit us.
20. BlackBerry Storm charger for work, which I ironically lost on early September after I brought it back to work. DX
21. Clear books and clear sheets for the old cutouts and clippings that I really, REALLY want to save.
22. BlackBerry devices with matching data plans. One for me, one for Mahal (especially so we can chat for hours on WiFi!) and one for Dad because it would totally help his business. Sorry Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Apple, this baby beats you in lightweight-ness (especially compared to the MacBook) and data efficiency hands down. Though those keypads can get seriously tiny...
23. A nice, durable, clamshell/hardshell laptop bag that can comfortably fit a 13.3" white MacBook (my workstation) and all its stuff. Thanks K! ♥ Well, crap. I still need one because the last one I had, a lovely black one full of lace with a Hello Kitty design given by K, got stolen while I was at the mall - though thankfully without the laptop inside. DDDDDDDDDDDDDX
24. A spiffy wireless modem that's stronger than our grande olde dame of a wired modem - as much as I love her, she IS showing her age already by not being able to pick up signals via the cord - and our el cheapo router combined.
25. A portable HDD, minimum capacity 320GB, with its own idiot-proof shock absorbers to match my on-the-go lifestyle. Bonus points if it looks pretty. X3 ♥ Got a spiffy black 320GB Apollo II from Imation, complete with its own cover! ♥

The 25 (Almost-Unreachable) Needs: Hoping God & the universe hear me!

These qualities and situations I have always desired for a VERY long time. I'm doing my best to work on these, but I wish some of them would come to me more easily. The others, well, they are what we call "suntok sa buwan" ... literally "a punch at the moon," the best English transliteration being "aiming for the moon." I am hoping and praying that they don't feel that way for very long though.

1. Longer weekends. As long as they are announced a week early and not sooner.
2. Longer vacation days, so I don't succumb to the stress of my occupation and thus burn out easily. *looks meaningfully at her PR agency, which she loves but sadly doesn't offer more than 1 week's vacation at the most*
3. Better eyesight. Glasses can be a pain even with the meganekko/girls with glasses/girl geek-nerd trend being big right now. If by some miracle I either suddenly possess enough tear glands which will facilitate immediate healing after eye surgery, or I just suddenly wake up with a marked improvement to my eyesight, I will be forever grateful. The only reason why I could not qualify for the surgery is because I can't cry - and because I can't cry, I can seriously go blind instead of heal during post-ops for the eyes.
4. Handwriting that's reasonably easy to read. Ever since I was a child, I practised, but I could never get it right. I think I've just given up now because it's just so hard to conform my fingers into those words. X_x
5. Infinite patience. Enough said.
6. Retaining my capacity to sing. Once upon a time I had such a beautiful voice. ;A; I should start sleeping early though, but still that's kinda hard considering we have so many things to do at work and even get calls so late into the night... =_=
7. Superior PC tech skills so I can finally reformat, reprogram, rewire and revamp my PC without worries. (I am trying to practise but I always get it horribly wrong. DX)
8. Superior hair-doing skills. Seriously. I try so hard but cannot style my hair to save my life wallet.
9. Superior make-up skills so I can do my own make. I mean, I AM getting there... but I wish I could be with it a bit faster, y'know?
10. Superior styling skills so I can maximise the clothes I currently have and fit them into the current trends, instead of seeing all the pretty but trendy new ones that are being sold right now.
11. The ability to discern which of my clutter stays in my room, and which goes.
12. Superior cash and credit management skills so I can finally ensure my future.
13. Superior business acumen, because I have inherited absolutely none from my perennially business-minded mum.
14. Superior sewing skills so I can DIY my clothes and finally sew my own costumes. Alas, I am currently "sewing machine killer." XP
15. The capacity to forgive.
16. More courage and humility to ask for forgiveness from others.
17. More self-control. This means prudence over my spending, moderation in my eating, restraint over my reactions, and particularly shutting up instead of talking, because obviously I have no bone of tact and diplomacy in my body. That way I wouldn't need to ask for forgiveness as much and I wouldn't need to try and remedy disasters that could've been avoided had I done better.
18. More tact and diplomacy, along with the self-control.
19. More courage to do things I've always been too scared of trying, like swimming, riding a bicycle...
20. Increased speed and the ability to assimilate new actions quickly so I can start and finish work faster.
21. More time to visit and hang out with my older sister in the USA. Oh, and the cousins too, but not so much them as with Ate. X3
22. Meet Archfaith and my cosplay friend Mew Pudding in New York, and Pinksugarichigo along with all the other gyaru in California. Hopefully I can do the latter when I go to the US.
23. Mahal with me right now and forever. Yes, I am thinking about marriage and raising a family. (Who'd have thought?)
24. More free time. To party, to fix my room, to fix my handwriting, to fix my weight, to fix my LIFE...
25. More sleep. Which reminds me, why am I still up?

PORTED FROM VOX: QotD/Vox Hunt/Hand Of God: Call to Action

 I count myself as lucky. Those who have heard my origins normally continue to disbelieve the dire circumstances we once came from. I guess that that's what ultimately pushed me to contribute actively to charitable causes through financial and voluntary efforts.

I am for children's and women's welfare, the rights of the transgendered, the disabled and the terminally ill. I'd like to support the rights of the aged and WWII veterans plus animal rights, but I've still got to get my act together and actually go vegetarian. (*Author's Note on 2010/09/04: This blog lists all my causes. Please check the left-hand side.)

Let me tie this to today's Vox Hunt question, since the documentary in question is one of the things that inspired me to become a volunteer: Minsan Lang Sila Bata (Children Only Once, 1994), by Ditsi Carolino and the Ateneo Center for Social Policy, in cooperation with the Archdiocese of Manila Labor Centre. It's quite graphic with its portrayal of child labour in the Philippines, with its feature of children working for more than 10 hours with little food or monetary compensation at slaughterhouses, warehouses, meat markets and shipping yards, among others. It shows child labour in all its ugliness, and what makes it even sadder is that the children involved are very much resigned to their fate, but continue to be rather cheerful in their work.

How very timely the appearances of these questions are, right when I'm about to embark on relaunching RO2.

The Hand of God

This will be a series of vignettes where I try to articulate my daily experiences with my Lord and Saviour. Yes, I am Catholic, and I'm proud of it. I know I am not perfect, I know no Catholic is perfect (a Pope is only infallible when he designates dogma and writes encyclicals, and many saints are known for being tempted and even for succumbing to temptations), but it is my earnest belief that working towards being an excellent Catholic is enough. I also believe that there are no coincidences, that events happen for a purpose that I may not yet understand or witness until the far future. But usually, that purpose, to me anyway, is to show me how lucky I am that I am still able to enjoy my life as it is right now.


I took a jeepney on the way home after taking the Light Rail Transit, and grilled the driver into submitting to my demands to bring me to Reposo Street, a part of which is immediately outside my village. But then he brought me down at a stop along Sen Gil Puyat Avenue (Buendia) that was MUCH farther from the stop that faced Reposo Street. I was fuming at the driver for having the gall to say he'd pass through Reposo; the next time I ride a jeepney I should check if its driver means it will pass THROUGH or BY my destination.

So there I was dragging my feet, plodding with a plastic full of cloth, blinking only momentarily when an old man went towards me. As I squinted I realized he too was dragging his feet, but then he had his hand on his stomach.

At the exact moment we passed by one another, we both fell under a dim streetlight. But it became clear to me that his face, with cheeks that told of fallen teeth and fallen tears, was twisted.

I stopped to ask if he needed help. He replied that he didn't, but he was just so tired and wanted to rest.

So we stayed near the railings that kept the sidewalk from the street. I asked him if he was alright, clever girl that I was. I never even asked his name.

His answer stunned me. He told me in a halting, raspy voice, that he was dying of a gastro-intestinal haemorrhage, and so much blood poured out of his anus. Even then he tried to ask for financial help just so he could arrange a decent funeral for himself from numerous government officials, who all sent him away saying "Please follow it up some other time." Now he was trying to make his way back to his residence in a faraway area of Cavite, but he showed me that he had no money in his pocket.

For people not in the know, it costs approximately PhP110.00 to get to Rosario, a town in Cavite, from Makati, our current location - that's one jeepney ride to the bus stop (around PhP12.00) and one bus ride to Cavite (at least PhP90.00). It's a steep amount even for me, what more for an dying old man with no stable source of income? And he lived so far from the capital, near Batangas!

I kept him company while persisting with my questions and attempts for small talk. I asked him why he of all people did it; didn't he have children who should by now be taking care of him? He said that nearly all of them couldn't make it, they were all living in the Visayas (I never bothered to ask the exact province), and even the money they sent wasn't enough to ensure that he could at least live the rest of his days as comfortably as possible, where he was cut off from them save for one who also was occupied with work.

But at this point I was still a bit sceptical - I can be such a sucker for sob stories like this, I am a true bleeding heart. So I only gave him PhP30.00 in coins. I asked him if it was enough. He thanked me graciously and then limped towards the jeepney stop I was dropped off earlier.

Then I realized how dire his situation was, so I quickly ran back to him. Good thing there were no jeepneys yet to bring him to the nearest bus stop, but then again he still wasn't quite there yet. I decided to give him the clean PhP100.00 bill stuck into my wallet, plus PhP10.00 in coins. He smiled widely, showing me an earnest, toothless grin, and told me repeatedly, "Maraming salamat po! Kahabagan nawa kayo nang Diyos at pagpalain kayo." ("Thank you very much! I pray that the Lord has mercy on you and blesses you.")

I stayed by him until I found a jeepney that would take him to his desired bus stop and ran to it, yelling for the driver to halt. I assisted him as he climbed painfully into the jeepney, telling the driver not to suddenly start driving while the poor man was only halfway up the steps I checked my wristwatch for the time; I was sure that my mother, who didn't know of my sudden decision to go to Divisoria beforehand, would be waiting at home, furious at me. Then I remembered that I didn't give him the PhP20.00 I had in coins.

I wonder why I didn't give that old man my extra money. I supposed the PhP110.00 was enough. Or maybe part of me still didn't want to believe his story, or I just hoped I could hop on another jeepney from the same stop that I knew would pass by my village.

But as it turned out I would have no use for the PhP20.00. After ten minutes of waiting, I ended up walking (and even running) the rest of the way home.

Addendum: There's a very inspiring video here courtesy of Click The City. Clipcast link posted for its relevance (and because the actual video won't embed here for some reason, sigh...).