Cream Pie dancing to All the Lovers by Kylie Minogue

 How adorable is she?!

Down with the Sickness

I'm watching Silverchair's music vid of Abuse Me and in my mind, I am singing Disturbed's famous chorus Get up, come on get down with the sickness. what the heck! Talk about multitasking. All the time I was thinking and pretty convinced that Daniel Johns was mouthing the wrong lyrics to his song. I guess the latter of the song fits my condition right now considering that when i woke up I had this strange and warm feeling inside my nasal cavity. It's one of these days that i truly hate, the constant trips to the comfort room to relieve my clogged airways. Unless I want to end up sounding like Theodore or Alvin with a running nose, who cares. But needless to say,it would be a very un-pretty sight for a girl. gone were those days when you hardly cared if anyone sees you with mucous slowly trickling from your nose and you mindlessly swipe it away with muddy hands, thinking it's just sweat or water. Those days are forgivable. (SIGH childhood days how i miss you). But at the age of 27 who would want to dismiss that sight unless you're someone "sick" in the mind. Of course people would notice, give silent glances while they stare and make fun at you behind your back. It does happen. And in a corporate world it's no different. I hold a position where I should at least make myself look presentable and "trustworthy" to be called a supervisor. I hate this feeling of sickness. being sick, the word sick, sick sick. In today's economy it is a luxury to be healthy. Vitamins and medicines are expensive thus if you are healthy, you have probably spent sooo much on them. Thus you are considered a luxury as well, a rich-ass. Today, my top to-do list is " buy orange juice, eat orange and apple, drink lots of water and drink green tea. Get lots of ZZZsssssss the last. I work in a call center where being sleep deprived is no foreign word and eye bags and dark under eyes are considered a "tattoo". If you have those then you have probably surrendered more of your sleeping hours to chatting up with foreign people. Geez!! I can't even breathe without having my mouth agape. My left nose is clogged and the other is slowly crying. Better stick some tissue to it. 

The Three Stooges

 Remembering the Three Stoogies. I can't believe I actually watched this series when  I was a kid. I guess the supidity of these three guys amused and fascinated me then. I guess the lack of speaking parts then appealed to my young brain-the little vocabulary involved the better. These guys earned money pretending to be stupid, dumb, crazy, all negative words you can refer to puny-brained people. Looking back, if i were to watch their episodes again I would smack my head and pretend I'm not as dumb as them.                                                         

Under the Weather

This freaking weather has finally gotten to me. One minute it's all bright and sunny, and then in the next few hours it's dripping thick buckets of water and flashing lightning. Here I was thinking only people get confused. Just last Saturday I was all up and about, cheery and bright with the appetite of a runaway cat ( when you have a cat you'll notice him disappearing for days and weeks and when he gets back he's either all bruised and battered or very much famished). Anyway, it was my fiancées brother's birthday and there was a feast. I couldn't let the moment pass and plus it was FREE FOOD!! :-) Anyway, that was Saturday. Sunday came and I had this very painful headache reverberating all throughout my skull. I lost my appetite. Little did I know that that was just a warning for what was to come. (Drum Roll...) Fever. I blame it all on the weather. Is there another typhoon hitting the Philippines I wonder. I thought fighting off the fever symptoms with Korean spicy food will somehow help, so I joined my fiancé's family for dinner at our fave Korean resto named Sodam. I had dwenjangchigge and topoki. Didn't help at all it only gave me a burnt tongue and constipation. No offense the food was really tasty, it could just have been a side effect to the fever. The sun rises and lo it's Monday which means it's back to work. And I'm still curled up and covered with tons of pillows and blankets to keep the cold at bay. My resolution to keep a clean slate at work attendance gone in just a day. Phew! Bummer! I read an article in the Philippine daily news that if the weather persists to be in a bad mood, classes will be postponed to Sept making July and August the new summer months. Which in a way would also entail the original summer months  April and May to be school months. If only that could be applied to all work environments.....Now I am at home resting, prepping for a new day tomorrow. With fingers crossed and a prayer to match, I chant the fever away.

Three Filipino Must Have's on the Dining Table

Filipinos have a lot of characteristics and talents that have nowadays been recognized internationally. If America has been dubbed as the "melting pot" of all nationalities, Philippines can be described as the "melting pot" of diverse talents. Charice Pempengco for one is now acclaimed as an international artist wowing the global audience with her powerful voice singing "ala" Celine Dion and Whitney Houston at a ripe age of 15. Now she has grown into a lady and still leaving everyone agape. There's Leah Salonga as well, the siren who at 14 played the role of Kim in the theater production of Les Miserables in the States. Needless to say, the knack for singing has been embraced and captured by the Filipinos and we are all known for that. However, not all people know that we Filipinos are also famous for other things. In the dining area alone, we are known for certain practices. I, being a natural born Filipino, am proud to admit that I too practice these things.  

"Toyo and Patis" or Soy Sauce and Vinegar. We would love and frequent your resto if you provide these on the dining table. These are staples when eating among us Filipinos. Food somehow tastes better and more appetizing if dipped in a mixture of tuyo and patis, or just even either of the two. It gives us that sense of "gusto" to order an extra serving of rice or another round of food. I once ate at Jutz's Cafe in Dumaguete City where I ordered Chicken Mennanese  (similar to chicken fillet). They had salad for side dish and mayo with garlic for the dip. Sounds fancy ey? There were three large cuts and I was only able to eat one 'coz suddenly I felt full. However, the moment the waiter placed a saucer of tuyo and patis on the table, and in front of me, I prayed for forgiveness. For what I did next was pure gluttony (I consumed another round of Chicken Mennanese). 

Noodles and Canton!!!! A quick fix to hunger. It's a must-have for every Filipino household. Either in packs or cups, no Filipino wants to forget this in their grocery list. It's not only easy to cook, but convenient and delicious as well. What's more they come in different flavors. I am a fan of Bulalo and Jampong. I always scale the grocery aisle for these two. When I was a kid, I had tonsillitis. It was soo painful to swallow solid food and my dad prepared one of these for  me since it's easy to chew and swallow. Plus the hot soup was a good combat for my swollen tonsils. Believe it or not but the next day, the swelling lessened. Thus I coined it "power noodles". 

Soda or Soft drinks. Be it any Pepsi or Coca-Cola Product, food should always have a companion. We have this belief that if you eat fatty or oily foods/meat, we should pair it with a soda since it helps in the digestion and break down of these fatty and oily food. Fact or not, it's been embedded in our minds the moment we opted to drink from the glass instead of from the bottle. Some refer to this as science, I call it tradition. 

Google said Filipinos are....

A Crazy Proposal

What do you do when while you are walking, someone suddenly, from out of nowhere, blocks your path, kneels in front of you, and while gasping for breath proposes marriage? And you have no freaking idea who that person is?! It's a crazy situation to imagine yourself being in and I for one, couldn't even think of anyone at that moment, proposing to me without him becoming my boyfriend first. You may think, oh she's making it up, but I am most definitely not. My nose is still flat as it is as I am saying this. Why don't you and l travel down memory lane and visit that memorable day. I can't believe I am even labeling it as memorable. Aren't marriage proposals supposed to be memorable? It is? So my experience is no exception then.  Fact is it was sooo memorable for me that I can still remember the scene. I was walking with my best friend along the boulevard, in my city, we were just chatting and having fun reminiscing on old times, when suddenly, I stopped dead on my tracks. Of course my friend had to stop too, as we had our arms linked while walking (you know how it is among girls, it's either we walk hand in hand, or arm in arm to show closeness). Anyway, we both stared at the guy who was already kneeling in front of me. He was gasping for breath as if he was running to catch up on us (assuming?), and suddenly he took my right hand, and said those exact words we always hear and see in movies, "Will you marry me?". I was stupified. There I was standing, mouth and eyes open wide, too stunned to speak or even utter a single sound. In my mind I was thinking, who are you? and should I say yes? haha you can laugh but yes i did think of that. I was brought up watching too many romantic movies and reading cheesy romance novels, in which all responses to that question is always a yes. So yes, i did think of answering yes. But before I could even say anything, my friend pulled me away from his hold on my hand, from his sight, and she literally dragged me running across the street just to get away from that stranger. Lo and behold! He ran after us. He dashed across the road amidst the buzzing horns of the oncoming traffic, and he literally chased us. All the time I was still too stunned to even think of swiping my friend's hand away, which by then, was creating a red mark on my flesh. So tight was her grip that I didn't even notice it until we stopped somewhere safe. I guess it was safe because by then we didn't see him anywhere close. Whew! That was the only time I came back to my senses and to reality. All that time I was running, I felt like a puppet being pulled on its strings. when I came back to, all i managed to say was, " Crazy". Yap crazy indeed. Crazy situation to be in, crazy stranger with a crazy proposition, and crazy me for even thinking of answering yes. Well a girl gets to think, how many times does one gets a proposal like that? Until now me and my friend still remembers that one crazy day and we would just laugh all about it. I don't know if that guy was plain whacko, or it was just some kind of "dare" by his friends, we didn't bother to find out then. In our mind, the priority was to escape to freedom and to sanity. Mind you though, that guy was not bad looking at all. He was fair skinned with slightly chinky eyes. A bit cute in fact. hehehe...   I am currently engaged to my boyfriend and one friend once asked, " how does it feel to be proposed to?" My only reply was " It's a crazy feeling." 

For the Love of Chaunce

Bad Hair Day?

Model: Chaunce
Hairstyle: by Doods and Tanya
Photo courtesy of Photoscape and Pentax X200

The Pits on Tom Cruise

No pun intended guys. I know you have all noticed that our, ( I am not ashamed to admit that he is one of my fave actors) beloved Tom Cruise needs some major help on his hyperactive sweat glands. We all sweat, it's part of our bodily functions. For some, a swipe of antiperspirant helps, or others even go to hardcore medical procedure to control hyperhyrosis.  It's understandable if he works out a sweat shooting a movie. But on any regular day..darn the size of that blot.(see pic below). Wouldn't you think he needs the latter of the remedies? I wonder where all his money goes to... Nevertheless, he is still one hunk of a man and a great actor at that.

Ever After: The Men's Trousers

I must have seen this movie ten times or more that i've already memorized the lines and scenes. There's no harm in daydreaming of someday having our own prince charming and this movie really hit me to the heart. I love how the story progressed right till the end when you see Danielle given her right to the throne and you go  "take that you wicked witches" while you see the mother and daughter get all soaked up in water. Anyway, as much as I want to give a review to this 1998 movie, I actually want to point out on the costumes the characters play. And I specially want to say that the "Prince Charming" didn't look so charming then. Well I don;t know about you but his costume, especially the trousers?

Is it just me or there is definitely something "Private" in this picture. Hmm..it made me wonder. All those time he was dressed as such, was he wearing boxers, or any kind of support at all? I am no man but it just doesn't feel right to have it dangling oh so freely for the whole world to see. I don't know if you guys haven't noticed. Either you were too preoccupied looking at his face or imagining yourself kissing Prince Charming to even bother looking down. I admit I love this movie to the max, I love the story and the characters, but the entire time I was watching this movie, and mind you this is for each time I watched it, I still can't help but look down. It's like begging me to. I'm no pervert, maniac, whatever,,,but how can you not take a peek when it's all there free to view? Plus you can pause and zoom the screen.....(tip).If you miss this movie, watch it now and you will see what I mean. mark my word on it. (silly grin)

A Dream of Dogs

I had this really strange dream last night. Well truthfully dreams are usually weird anyway. Seldom will you have a dream that when you wake up you don’t find yourself dazed and confused. Anyway, in my dream I was with two friends. I knew they were friends because I felt it, not that I actually saw their faces. We were out walking two of my small dogs and we were on our way to this fashion event. Each of us were bringing our invitation which clearly stated “No Pets allowed” but there we were, me carrying Chaunce and my other friend with Mookah. When we got to the venue, the guard wouldn’t let us  in because we have the two dogs with us. So we had to leave them outside, unattended with their leash tied to an electric post by the road. So in we went. I must have been in there for about 10 mins when I suddenly missed my dogs so I went out. I was surprised to find both of them inside a plastic bag, arms and legs tied to each other, with their heads popping out. I rushed over to them and released the plastic rope that was tied to them. Suddenly, Chaunce broke free and was running around wildly and into the street. He looked like he was having so much fun to be free that he went out to the road among the passing traffic.  I was frantic, I ran after him with Mookah in my arms. While chasing him, I saw my other friend (who supposedly came in with us), she was sitting on a bench outside this small convenience store away from the venue. I stopped chasing after Chaunce for awhile,  approached her and asked, “ What are you doing here? Did you step out from the fashion show?” She only looked at me as though she just met me for the first time.  I got confused and thought I must have mistook my friend for this person infront of me, but I was really and directly looking at my friend, my friend who at this moment, is supposed to be at the fashion show. I remembered clearly when I went out to peek at the dogs that she was still seating on her chair. This person in front of me, on the other hand, had no clue who I was. So instead of bothering her more, I handed Mookah over to her and asked if she could babysit for a few minutes while  I look for Chaunce. Not waiting for any answer,  I rushed to the streets again in search of Chaunce who by this time may have totally disappeared on me. I was running and running, yelling out Chaunce’s name when all of a sudden I saw another one of our dogs, Postaf, A Siberian husky, running around and playing with his tail in the middle of the road amidst oncoming cars and public vehicles. I was shocked! How did he get here? So I called out his name. He heard me, stared at me, barked then howled, then ran away from me. This time I was chasing him, calling out his name. He was running in a zigzag motion, as if drunk, and by and by he would look back, as if testing my patience, and he would ran as fast as he can till I would lose sight of him momentarily. Then he would just pop out of nowhere and start teasing me again.  All this time, the people didn’t mind. As if I was invisible and they couldn’t see any dog in sight.  Everytime I see someone standing close to Postaf I would call out and ask to grab the dog. But they didn’t hear and doesn’t seem to see me. I was already panting, gasping for breath and about to lose my patience and hope of catching the dogs, when up ahead, I saw my old housemate Honey. She was standing in the middle of the road talking to some people. I ran towards her and suddenly  Chaunce was by her side. I was confused since I didn’t see him anywhere at all near her when I first spotted Honey. So I called out to her and asked her to get Chaunce. She looked at me, looked down and her face beamed. This time she saw Chaunce, lifted him up and said” Hey! I have been looking for you.”  Then she showed Chaunce to her friends, they all cheered and walked away.  I stopped running, and tears suddenly rolled down my cheeks. I cried and sat on the road. Chaunce was taken away and I couldn’t find Postaf. I went back to where I came from to retrieve Mookah only to find out that the convenience store was not where it used to be and there was no bench where I left Mookah with my friend. I went back to the fashion show, tired, hopeless and depressed. I went in and saw my two friends. They looked at me and asked, “Where have you been? Your dogs just did their tricks onstage.”  I looked at them, confused, and at the invitation which I just discovered I have been holding the entire time I was running, and it said, “ Dog Show: A Night of Skills and Talent.”  I looked around, and indeed there were dogs everywhere. I looked at the stage and then the lights died out.  

Song of the Day

Lady Antebellum - Need You Now download at emp3

Picture perfect memories scattered all around the floor
Reachin' for the phone 'cause I can't fight it anymore
And I wonder if I ever cross your mind
For me it happens all the time

It's a quarter after one, I'm all alone and I need you now
Said I wouldn't call but I lost all control and I need you now
And I don't know how I can do without
I just need you now

Another shot of whiskey can't stop looking at the door
Wishing you'd come sweeping in the way you did before
And I wonder if I ever cross your mind
For me it happens all the time

It's a quarter after one, I'm a little drunk and I need you now
Said I wouldn't call but I lost all control and I need you now
And I don't know how I can do without
I just need you now

woah woaaah.

Guess I'd rather hurt than feel nothin' at all

It's a quarter after one I'm all alone and I need you now

And I said I wouldn't call but I'm a little drunk and I need you now

And I don't know how I can do without

I just need you now

I just need you now (wait)

Ooo, baby, I need you now

Random Act of Pointing

I had no idea what do write for a blog so I was just staring at the lamp for like 5 minutes until I got blind spots. I wanted to test myself if I could still see despite these spots so  I grabbed a bible and leafed through the pages and pointed to a particular part of the page. What I randomly pointed lifted me up and made me think, " What a coincidence." Here's what I got, a verse in the bible. "The LORD is my light and my salvation- whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life- of whom shall I be afraid?"Psalm 27:1  
For the past days, I have been feeling confused and adamant with the decisions I've been making in my life. I kept thinking of all the what might have been's, and if onlys, knowing that I would never know the answer to these questions if I don't see for myself. Still seeing for myself would mean braving the trials and challenges especially now, and I have been hesitant and apprehensive. This verse clearly reminded me that I shouldn't fear anything and believe that God will always be there to guide me and lead me to the straight path. There's no harm in braving the storm as long as God is with us in our heart and mind. 


What did your verse tell you today?

A Pig's Tale

Don't Shoot!!! I'm no alien. I'm a Filipino Citizen

Heavy Rain

Heavy Rain is an interactive drama video game developed by Quantic Dream exclusively for PlayStation 3. The game is written and directed by Quantic Dream's founder and CEO David Cage.^[10] Heavy Rain's story is a dramatic thriller modeled after film noir, featuring four protagonists involved with the mystery of the Origami Killer, a serial killer who uses extended periods of rainfall to drown his victims. Ethan Mars is a father who is trying to save his son from being the next victim, while investigative journalist Madison Paige, FBI profiler Norman Jayden, and private detective Scott Shelby are each trying to track down clues to the Origami Killer's identity.The player interacts with the game by performing actions highlighted on screen related to motions on the controller, and in some cases, performing a series of quick time events during fast-paced action sequences. The player's decisions and actions during the game will affect the narrative; the main characters can be killed, and certain actions may lead to different scenes and endings. 

It took me two days and 5 hours straight each day to finish this game. It gave me a good, feel-high kind of stress playing this, especially since I always have trouble following the directions or performing actions highlighted on the screen. Like I press O instead of X. Oh well..this game is definitely worth skipping the bathroom visits. :-) Once you start playing you just want to get to the end of the story and discover who the serial killer is. The game controls are very interactive which makes the story and actions seem realistic. There's a part in the game where your character has to play nurse to a wounded father, and you have to put antiseptic on the wound really slowly as to not hurt the patient. I had trouble controlling my pace on the analog stick, so i ended up hurting the poor guy in the end. I got stabbed on the leg, hit by a ten-wheeler truck and jumped from a three story building. All because I had no control over my fingers and I was being impatient. This game teaches you patience and exercises your memory. You have to remember details and be very articulate on the  clues you get. You the player will act on four different major characters in the game. Your decisions matter to the ending of the story. How you act or think on each trial or question aimed at you matters to what the story will reveal in the end. There's a part where the father was tested. You the father have to cut your pinky finger to prove your love for your son. Whether you cut your finger or not leads to a different scenario in the game. I couldn't cut my finger, but in the end I drank a poisoned drink that led me to be with my son. All in all i would give the game a perfect 10. I am no gamer but Role playing is one of my favorite kind of video games. This game was definitely worth the many hours lost on sleep and food. Hehe.. right now I have another game in mind where I want to put my cowgirl skills to the test. Red Dead Redemption anyone?

Sarah Addison Allen Books: A Must Read for the Romantic @ Heart

Two gifted sisters draw on their talents to belatedly forge a bond and find their ways in life in Allen's easygoing debut novel. Thirty-four-year-old Claire Waverley manifests her talent in cooking; using edible flowers, Claire creates dishes that affect the eater in curious ways. But not all Waverley women embrace their gifts; some, including Claire's mother, escape the family's eccentric reputation by running away. She abandoned Claire and her sister when they were young. Consequently, Claire has remained close to home, unwilling to open up to new people or experiences. Claire's younger sister, Sydney, however, followed in their mother's footsteps 10 years ago and left for New York, and after a string of abusive, roustabout boyfriends, returns to Bascom, N.C., with her five-year-old daughter, Bay. As Sydney reacquaints herself with old friends and rivals, she discovers her own Waverley magic. Claire, in turn, begins to open up to her sister and in the process learns how to welcome other possibilities. Credit to Amazon for book details

Twenty-seven-year-old Josey Cirrini is sure of three things: winter in her North Carolina hometown is her favorite season, she’s a sorry excuse for a Southern belle, and sweets are best eaten in the privacy of her hidden closet. For while Josey has settled into an uneventful life in her mother’s house, her one consolation is the stockpile of sugary treats and paperback romances she escapes to each night…. Until she finds it harboring none other than local waitress Della Lee Baker, a tough-talking, tenderhearted woman who is one part nemesis—and two parts fairy godmother…

Fleeing a life of bad luck and big mistakes, Della Lee has decided Josey’s clandestine closet is the safest place to crash. In return she’s going to change Josey’s life—because, clearly, it is not the closet of a happy woman. With Della Lee’s tough love, Josey is soon forgoing pecan rolls and caramels, tapping into her startlingly keen feminine instincts, and finding her narrow existence quickly expanding. Before long, Josey bonds with Chloe Finley, a young woman who makes the best sandwiches in town, is hounded by books that inexplicably appear whenever she needs them, and—most amazing of all—has a close connection to Josey’s longtime crush. As little by little Josey dares to step outside herself, she discovers a world where the color red has astonishing power, passion can make eggs fry in their cartons, and romance can blossom at any time—even for her. It seems that Della Lee’s work is done, and it’s time for her to move on. But the truth about where she’s going, why she showed up in the first place—and what Chloe has to do with it all—is about to add one more unexpected chapter to Josey’s fast-changing life. Brimming with warmth, wit, and a sprinkling of magic, here is a spellbinding tale of friendship, love—and the enchanting possibilities of every new day. Credit to Amazon for book details.

The Red Pyramid: A Book Review

I had just finished reading the 1st book of yet another Chronicles by Rick Riordan, The Red Pyramid. In comparison to his first hit on the Percy Jackson stories, The Red Pyramid gives you a more or less similar scenario of normal children being godlings. Although this time, the theme centers on the similarities between Old Egypt and the Modern World. Percy Jackson's story was of him being the son of the Sea God Poseidon and his task on battling the gods who sided with the evil Titan Kronos and Kronos himself. The Red Pyramid on the other hand, focuses on Sadie and Carter Kane, children of two famous magicians whose task was to restore peace between Egypt's House of Life (magicians) and the pharaos who ruled Egypt. A little family background showed that Sadie and Carter grew apart from each other, Carter being the loyal companion to his dad's travels all over Egypt and Sadie, living a normal life with her grandparents in London. The children were lead to believe that the reason for this arrangement was because their dad lost custody over Saddie to their mother's parents. Also they were lead to believe that their dad "killed" their mother when they were still young. Little did they know that they possess great magic that works best when they are together. A flashback in the story showed little Saddie and Carter arguing over a birthday cake and suddenly the cake exploded. The story's progress was fast complete with action scenes of magic and fantasy, that makes Rick Riordan's book entertaining and exciting. Later in the story, Sadie and Carter realized that they are what the magicians in the House of Life called godlings since they serve as mediums to the spirit of the Pharaos(imagine being possess by a spirit). Carter being the great Egyptian ruler Horus and Saddie, Horus wife Isis. This may seem weird and a bit incestuous at first, but the author gave no hint of being it such as the story progresses. Anyway the children began learning their skills in magic and meeting new friend and enemies along the way. They met Bast the goddess whose spirit resided in Saddie's cat Muffin, who later on was discovered to be the loyal servant of the sun God Ra and who acted as the children's protector. They also met a relative, their father's brother, also a magician, and other members of the House of Life who meant on killing the children. The story's energy and excitement begun when their dad accidentaly released 5 spirits into the human world, in an attempt to bring their dead mother back. The spirits comprises of Nepthys, Osiris, Horus, Isis and Set. Set being the most evil and creator of Chaos. From here on, the children were posessed with the spirits of Isis and Horus, while Osiris (the god of the dead) inhabited their dad's body. Set was set free and battled with Osiris (the dad) and sent him into the underworld. Now, at this time, little was known as to the whereabouts of Nepthys(Set's wife). Sadie and Carter, becoming orphans in just one night, was then taken by their uncle Amos and brought to his invisible mansion in New York. From there all hell broke lose. Muffin turned into Bast, a baboon played basketball, and an albino crocodile head-butted with pre-historic longnecks. Here they met Zia(who later in the story was discovered to hold the spirit of Nepthys) and some other gods of the Egyptian period. The children were led to a battle to stop Set from creating Chaos all over the earth. Honestly, you wouldn't notice that this is actually a long book because the action, the mystery and make-believe aspect of the story keeps you lifting pages after pages. It has more dialogues as opposed to more narrations which sometimes, as we all know, makes the story boring. Plus the character depicted in the two children were those of someone who is looking to have some fun but not in a chaotic and disastrous way. This book is definitely not for teenagers alone. It's a family read and good for all ages. I have already completed Rick Riordan's 5 Percy Jackson books. This time I'm not going to let The Red Pyramid pass as another collection to my library. Happy reading everyone!

Spring Sunday in Summer

2:40am on Monday already. I'm still awake and thinking..how will i be able to put more traffic to my blog? I admit i am new to this blogging craze so im practically still learning the ropes. Anyhow, why spring sunday you might wonder since Philippines don't have Spring..we don't have four seasons to be exact. Spring cleaning...an extensive job of cleaning, tidying and removing dirt and dust. Who started that phrase anyway? Spring cleaning? hmm.. well that's exactly what kept me busy the whole day. I am ashamed to say that the house was a mess, dusty to the point of suffocation. It has been 4 weeks since we've cleaned the place and it was literally packing dirt, dog hairs and dust. We started cleaning around 5pm and ended at 1:am the next day or today. Well of course with a 2 hr dinner break in between.  Now my back aches and worst my nose is clogged up with all the dust that it hurts my head to even force them out. But at least now the house is way cleaner and more tidy than it used to be. 
There was a scheduled power outage at 8am (something we were'nt aware of) and it ended until 5pm.  I was on the verge of  drifting into REM sleep with the AC in full blast when it all started. After that came the unbearable heat and humidity. It was summer all over again. I drifted in and out of sleep trying to fan myself for comfort still the heat was just so unbearable, you can feel it blowing on your face. So I went out of the room and tried to sleep on the couch. I was getting the hang of it when it suddenly became so humid. I was praying so hard for rain to come at any moment to cool the air but it didn't. Rain came at around 4pm just enough to say a quick hello before the electricity came back on. Doods had to go out and stay at his parents' place so he can somehow get some sleep. There was no power interruption in their area. I on the other hand, bravely stayed and faced the "agony". Turned out Doods exchanged sleep for a bit of family get-together. I after all did manage to sleep despite the heat.

Korean Dish Day

Saturday finally! Two days of rest before hitting the confines of the office. Friday was uneventful and painstakingly sl-ooo-ww,  I didn't have any work to do yet since I still didn't have access to the tools needed for being a workforce analyst. So I was there most of the time reading about Impact 360 Scheduler in Google. I got soo tired and almost dozed off to sleep. Thank God for caffeinne! Anyway, it's saturday and I can't wait to spend the day with my fiancee and go around town. Most of all I am anticipating our visit to our favorite Korean resto in the city, the Sodam. The owner Kein is very friendly and always makes sure to greet each customer and interact with them. His philosophy " Food is always there for people to eat. What I want is for me to know how to interact with people and make them comfortable with the food and the ambiance of the room. " We actually frequent the place to the point where we get special treatments in terms of free soup, free drinks.. and ehem..the list goes on so I won't mention all you might die of jealosy. He also lets us sample new dishes and asks for our opinion in case he'd add it to the menu. So, you can see how excited I am to go there aggain. It has been 4 weeks since our last visit. Later today, we shall be enjoying sam gyup sal and who knows what he'll offer us this time. Please check out the dish in the Food for the Day tab.

Have a nice weekend everyone!!!

Who's Awesome?

I've been feeling so down and un-cool lately. Is it because of the rainy wheather here? I was browsing through some funny sites just to perk up my mood when I saw this pic. I instantly liked it. So everytime I am feeling down and blue, I look at the pic and i go "Heck yea!" and I would just nod in confirmation. Beats having some other person tell you you're awesome. :-)

Nuts over Nuts?

Can't seem to get enough of them nuts? Or just dying to stay away from them? I for one am not really fond of snacking on nuts. The more you chew on them the more your jaw muscles seem to slack into laziness. And who would want to have those perfectly manicured nails chipped just because of some nut? Well, there are actually a few that I can think of which I would really crave for at times. Almonds are my favorite especially when dipped in dark chocolate. Now that's a treat! But of course not everyone thinks so. But hold on to those pistachios and think twice. You never know what benefits having a chipped nail and slacked jaw can do to your health.

Nuts are high in good monounsaturated fats, protein, fiber, nutrients and antioxidants. Not only can they aid in digestion but they also promote good heart. Studies have shown that eating nuts lowers the risk of heart diseases,aids in weight loss and helps lower bad "LDL" cholesterol.  4UK9NXV42WN7

Almonds contain minerals such as potassium, manganese, copper, iron, the antioxidantsVit E and selenium, and calcium. They are high in monounsaturated fats that prevent various diseases like heart diseases. They also contain calcium that aids in bone build up and prevents osteoporosis.  A quarter cup of almonds has almost as much calcium as a quarter cup of milk. Almonds are also rich in fiber, and have been known to be the best nut to lower cholesterol level because 70% of the fat they contain is the healthy, monounsaturated variety, which has been shown to help clear the arteries. They are also beneficial in giving you a glowing skin since they also aid against pimples, wrinkles and hair fall.

Are you Safe at Home?

I just got back in Bacolod City yesterday after a 3-week vacation in my hometown in Dumaguete City, a 4-hr drive away by private transportation if you are running at a speed of 80km/hr. Travelling by road can also be tiring since you are just sitting there, and your blood is not properly circulated. You get sleepy yet you can't really bring yourself to fall asleep because you're mind is cautious of the passing vehicles and sounds, ready to alert you incase of accidents. And when you finally get to your destination, all you want to do is rest and lie back. Well, contrary to that, I was on the move the moment I arrived. The house was a mess!! Clothes strewn everywhere, bags scattered on the floor, the cabinets and drawers all emptied of its contents. Boxes of every gadget we bought lay empty on the tables and floor. The house lock and doorknob visible of a forced entry. While in Dumaguete, we were informed that burglars had entered the house at night through the main door and bravely left the house early at around 6:00am. The neighbor who lives across from us noticed, while she was doing her laundry that night, that the lights inside the house were switched on. For awhile she thought that we must have returned from our trip but then she heard some noise coming from the inside, like things being ransacked and thrown away. Then she decided to text the neighbor who leaved right next to us, who happened to be her brother. They were both curious as to who were inside the house, thinking in the end that it was just probably us, tidying things. Little did they know, the next day, they saw someone trying to escape through the gates bringing a guitar with him. That's when they alerted the police and my boyfriend's dad. Anyway, the burglars managed to steal two cellpones that nolonger work, an xbox 360 that also malfunctioned 2 years ago, my boyfriend's gold bracelet and two watches of little value, and my  guitar. They took my guitar!!!! and even had the decency to leave the song hits included in the guitar case. All our old wallets were emptied of its contents (no money in all of them to begin with) and all the gadget boxes were scattered everywhere. They must have thought that we hid some money somewhere and left all our tech gadgets. All I can say is, too bad for them they stole "nothing" in a sense. Except for my guitar. So just imagine how tiring it is to clean up the mess after a long drive. We had to change the locks and bolts in the house to a much more sturdy one. The robbers must have monitored and noticed that our house has been dark for the past days so they took action. Somehow, in a way, we were glad that we weren't there when it happend or someone could have gotten hurt, and that we didn't leave our valuable things behind (laptops, PS3, money). So in line with this, let me share with you ten helpful measures to keep yourself and others safe whether inside or outside your home. I know you're probably thinking "why didn't I think of that before it happened. " Well it goes to say, " Nasa huli and pagsisisi", or "regrets come in the end".

1) Before you sleep at night or leave the house, make sure (double check) that all your windows and doors are locked and that all curtain or blinds are closed. Pay special attention to ones that open onto a fire escape, and sliding doors ( put a rod in the track to block it).
2) Have an invetory of all your valauables like jewelry, important documents, gadgets, etc.
3) Keep large amount of cash in the bank or if you prefer do not store any cash inside your house at all.
4) When going away on a trip, inform a trusted neighbor or friend so they can check on your house for you. Even better if you can ask a relative to stay at your house for you while you're gone.
5) Invest in a burglar alarm: It is never to late to buy one for yourself. I went to the hardware store today and scouted for alarms. The price ranges from P300 to almost P2000. You don't have to get the fancy one. As long as they are proven effective and workable then get one right away.
6) Know your neighbor: Always be in the look out for those who often pass by the neighborhood, especially those who seems to be staring at your house every so often. Stare them down, to let them know that you are "watching" them too. Do not be too lenient in letting strangers or neighors get inside your house even if it's for a friendly gesture. Entertain curious neighbors while they are outside your house or gate and not in, especially if you don't know them yet.
7) Do not give away your personal information too easily: Be mindful of those who pretend to need your personal information like for an informal survey. First, ask the surveyor questions that would help you determine if they are conducting a bogus operation or not. This is how certain gangs extricate certain info - they call you at home, pretend to be someone who knows your family or friends, and ask for personal details.
8) Do not drop your guard down even while you are at home and don't make it easy for outsiders to observe your life. Get curtains or blinds, and keep them closed at night. A lot of peeping toms are actually always on the look out for a prospect. Rape, burglary, etc always start from there.
9) Get a watchdog: Truly a man's bestfriend. Burglars hate dealing with barking dogs thus they go someplace else where they don't have to confront them. A tip: smaller dogs like chihuahuas and mini pinchers are aggressive dogs thus they always bark annoyingly at any intruder or stranger.
10) Speed dials on your phone: When your adrenaline is on haywire, you get too nervous to even properly punched in the numbers to your local emergency police. The time it takes to press a button instead of several could spell the difference.

Here are some dead giveaways that you live alone or that the house is empty.

1) Mails piling up: Ask your neighbor as a favor to keep your mails for you until you return home. This way, the other neighbors or other people wouldn't think that no one is at home.
2) A house or apartment that is completely dark until you get home: If it is unavoidable that you'll be out the whole day, leave at least one lamp or light on (preferably the light where force entry can be possible like the kitchen, back door or the front porch). If you won't be home for days, leave a spare key to the main door to your trusted neighbor so they can turn on the light for you every night.
3) Your pattern when you are at home at night as seen through your window, or your time patterns when you leave and return home: Your assailants scan the neighborhood, peek into windows, and get to know your patterns. Don't make it easier for them to plan ahead by leaving curtains open or sticking to a rigid and predictable schedule.

It is never too late to start protecting yourself and others now. If you are at home, doesn't mean you are safe. Always be prepared and mindful of your environment, be cautious and be aware. But hey! I'm not suggesting you become too cautious that you get paranoid ok?

Fresh from the Pages

I know this may sound too disgusting for some, but i wouldn't believe for one second that no one does the same thing that I do when in the loo. Don't you just find it boring and tiring to just sit there and wait for the deed to be over? Others may be humming some tunes, playing with the water in the faucet, or counting each paper towels. I, on the other hand, prefers to wait it out by reading a magazine or a good book that i'm dying to finish. I could just imagine my mom or siblings yelling at me to finish it up immediately so they can take their turn. So in tribute to the time spent sitting on the toilet till my butt and legs get cramped, and to show gratitude to my ever patient family, here are some interesting facts I've personally picked out fresh from the pages (fresh meaning i just stepped out from the t****t otherwise i would forget).

From Reader's Digest Feb 2010 Issue:

1) Craving to determine how much you weigh but don't have the means to do so? Try taking a seat at your local bus stop. This is what's happening on a street in Netherlands: you take a seat and you look up to find your body weight splashed across a billboard for everyone to see. Terrifying or helpful? Global Fitness chain Fitness First definitely has a different initiative of increasing its membership. Will this method really help earn more members or just up the number of irrate commuters?

2) Tweet, tweet! calling all twitter fans out there. Social networking has reached the operating theatre. Yep, that's right. If you are an axious relative to a patient, a med student or a fellow doctor, or just a member of the public curious to know how a certain procedure is done, brace yourself. Surgeons at several US hospitals are now using Twitter to provide blow-by-blow accounts of medical procedures to the public. Doctors at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit for one, provided live updates of an "awake craniotomy" to remove a brain tumour. Doctors admit that it's an effective way to relay findings instantly and educate a wide audience. So go on. Tweet a local doctor now and be a follower. Who knows you could save a life.

3) Having trouble sleeping? Take it to the cherries. Yes, to the cherries. Gone are the sheep counting days and get rid of the one hundred countdown. Cherries have been known to have anti-inflammatory compounds that can soothe arthritis and gout. But what most people do not know is that they can also be the answer to a good night's sleep. Sour cherries are one of the few foods known to have naturally  occuring melatonin, the chemical that regulates the body's circadian rhythm and sleep patterns. Dr. Russel Reiter, a melatonin expert and professor of neuroendocrinology at the University of Texas Health Science Center can attest to this finding. For a late-night snack, try cherry jam on toast. Research suggests melatonin works best when consumed in the hour before bedtime. So save those cherry toppings on your fave frappe for a later snack. This not only helps you but those in the same household as well. Nobody wants someone wandering around in the dark in the wee hours of the night.

So there you go guys. Hope that was insightful enough. I'll be updating you more soon enough. I hope I don't get diarrhea.

Everyday Scribbles: Man and Beer: A Love Story

Everyday Scribbles: Man and Beer: A Love Story

Man and Beer: A Love Story

1) Proud lover. A toast to show his pride and admiration. "Cheers!"
2) The intimate touch, a sweet caress: the cheek to cheek bonding.
3) The kiss. Giving it all he's got.
4) The shy, bashful smile.
5) The declaration, " I am so happy and glad I'm with you."
6) The commitment, " You and I we belong. "

P.S. No offense to the model. These were purely stolen shots. Hey! What are friends for, right? :-) Cheers!