I X Twilight

I read the four books of the Twilight Saga in four days straight. In the first book, I "fell" in love with Edward Cullen. In the first book, he was personified as the perfect "catch" for any woman. Edward is drop-dead-gorgeous, rich, intelligent, an accomplished musician, has a medical degree, and has the most caring and protective persona, ever. As I read through all the remaining three books, there were splashes of the old thrill evident in the first, but the plot was getting... well, weirder. Heck! Who cares?! Edward Cullen, forever.

With Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen and Kristen Stewart as Bella, I thought "perfect". Pattinson had the looks ( gorgeous up bit vampire) and Stewart had the experience and looks (too) to play Bella, or so I thought. There was so much hype for this film. The hit novel was assurance and insurance enough to make the flick a hit. But...



Daughters 3, 4, me and a bunch of Twilight fans (D 4's schoolmates) went to see the movie last night at G4. Our verdict. Trash! Bad script. Bad acting. Bad makeup. Bad wardrobe. Too cheesy. No continuity of plot. (what plot?)....BadBadBad director! Some really bad camera angles for Edward errr Pattinson - distorted face. Pattison had a hard time doing and sustaining American accent. (I'd say ol chap! Bloody mess, I'd say). Bella, not feminine enough, too breathy in her delivery. Some scenes were presented in such ways that made me laugh. When Edward took Bella to the meadows to see him "dazzle", my companions and I said all at the same time "what dazzle?" I had to squint real hard to see the glitter-glue-like "dazzling skin" of Edward. Cheap! Was I watching a comedy? It was hilarious when Edward was up and squatting on a tree while explaining to Bella (who was on the ground) why it was not safe to be with him. In the scene where Bella was bitten by James the vampire, Stewart eyes were crossed! Not only that. When Edward was sucking the venom out of Bellas arm, his eyes were also crossed! I had a hard time linking the novel to the movie.

Edward, Edward. Whatever happened to my Edward? Too bad Pattinson cannot act. No wonder Cedric Diggory was ousted by Voldemort. Ooopppsss! Wrong movie!

No matter what the critics say, this movie will be a hit. There are millions of screaming teen age girls out there for Edward and ,oh okay, Jacob. I heard that the second book is now being filmed. Oh how I wish the director would get a more credible script writer. And please, Stephenie, no more cameos.

A Gift for Mama

My mother has always been my waterloo when it comes to choosing the right gift. She is, after all, my mother and I suppose I should know what her likes and dislikes. Wrong. I think I know what she likes but there's a whole world of difference between " I think I know" and " I know". I never seem to give her the perfect gift. Sure she says " Oh I like it, thank you" but I never see her wearing that shirt or shoes that I gave her. One time, I gave her some really chic cashmere from a leading brand. I chose lavender thinking that as she was already a senior citizen, she would prefer tamer paste colors. She hated the color for she said “ Oh how nice, but I bet red would have suited me better”. Anyway, for this season I have found the perfect gift for my mother this time. I will give her not one, but three Holiday frames from Zenni Optical. At a starting price of $8 per prescription glass, I can afford to give my mother different styles and shapes of eyeglasses. Go ahead and check out www. zennioptical.com, the site for some perfect gift ideas for your loved ones.

My Christmas Tree is Up!, finally.....

After so much hype about it and a month's worth of planning and procrastinating, the Christmas tree is finally up. I did not buy new tinsels for the tree this year. I decided to use last year's decors for, in all honesty, who would care if the decors are old? At least they're not yet moldy or falling apart. I guess the old decors are still quite okay. Daughter #3, the only one who has been helping me put up the the tree for the past 20 years, got Ethan to help. Ethan was loading so much tinsel on one side, I think my tree is lopsided.






Here's an up close and personal view. What do you think of my tree?

Shopping Money

Daughter # 3 is complaining. She said she does not have the money to buy gifts this Christmas. Daughter # 3 has just finished her residency and only started to work about two weeks ago. She's not yet working full time for she's in as a consultant in one of the leading dental clinic chains in Manila. The pay, she says, is good but she has just started and with the Christmas season just around the corner,well... she needs the money. Now. I told her I'd lend her some as soon as I get my collectibles. She said thanks but she's going to look over some payday loans available at her work place. That should cover her Christmas shopping money until her paycheck.

Green Christmas

Ethan brought home a tree seedling yesterday. I can't decipher what kind of tree it was for there was no label. What I noticed though was a piece of paper stuck in the plant's pot. I got and read it. Oh. It was an invitation. Ethan's school will be having its annual Christmas Play set on December 12. The title of the play is The Three Trees. Quite a tongue twister there for me. To your left is the presented invitation. Below is the invitation itself. An attache note is asking the parents/guardians to please plant the tree seedling. How "green'' is the school?

Knock! Knock!

Christmas is knocking at my doorstep! Twenty-six more days and Christmas, the much awaited-highly commercialized- expensive holiday, will hit! How time flies? Seems like only minute ago it was summer and now it's Christmas. Have you decorated your houses in time for the holiday? Have you, at least, started to shop for those in your list? Have you planned what to serve for Christmas dinner? Are you inviting people over or are you one of the lucky ones who got invited? Two of my daughters' friends have already invited themselves to spend Christmas Eve in out house. I don't mind for it has been my tradition to invite people over on December 24. I love preparing complicated dishes set on a festive mood. I have started making a list of dishes to prepare and serve. The thing is, I have not shopped one bit. I think I need a cash advance loan while waiting for my professional fee to get settled.

My first Sony experience is with my Radio Cassette Player

The year was 1977. It belonged to the decade highlighted by disco dancing, NikNik shirts and BangBang pants. Happy Feet by Dr. Scholl and clogs on feet, Levi's 501, and Hang-Ten shirts were the hips' favored rags. Long hair and "joint" go together. Guy and Pip have separated with Guy ending up marrying Boyet de Leon. Ate Vi said goodbye to her "sweet sixteen" image by starring as Burlesk Queen. Cindy's, Big 20 and Shakeys were the places to be. Star Wars debuted. I was in my sophomore year in BS Architecture. Martial law was five years old.

The declaration of martial law brought on a whole new set of rules for the old and young people alike; for all sectors - secular and sacred. Curfew at 12 midnight paved the way to "stay-in" at disco clubs and private parties. Radio and TV shows were monitored and were off air by midnight too. It was the 70's and the military "ruled" in the so-called New Society. The notion of a portable computer was still in the offing. There were no cable or internet or portable gaming consoles. VHS and Betamax were available but have not really caught on. Life was...Well, interesting and low tech. Listening to the radio was "in".

My school work - plans and drawings - caused me many late nights or early mornings as the case may be. There were times that I had to go off sleep just to finish a plate or a project. The radio can only keep me company until midnight. After radio sign- off I was alone, trying to keep awake to finish my plate. The silence of those nights was deafening. The only tangible sound was the one made by my t-square and triangle as they come in contact. It was hard keeping awake. I wish I had a cassette player.

One day I came home to find a spanking new SONY radio cassette player sitting on my drafting table. I was speechless! A radio cassette player! My first Sony product!

"Mama!" I shouted, "Did you give me this Sony?" My mother came in my bedroom and said yes. She said she was able to get the radio cassette player from "Bumbay" on installment. I was so grateful to my mama. I bought all my "favorites" in cassette tapes. From then on keeping awake to do my school work was not a problem anymore. I had The Carpenters, Queen, Stylistics, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson and Earth Wind and Fire to keep me company. Who could fall asleep while September of EWF plays in the background? I was one of the chosen few who has her own personal Sony cassette player! In a time of oppression and depression, owning a personal radio cassette player was like winning the Sweepstakes. I brought the player to church choir practices too so we could record and playback our singing. It was like magic! But that's not the end of it.

When I had my first child in 1980, as a new and young mother, I lack experience. My SONY radio cassette player helped me a lot. It was December and the wonderful Christmas songs by The Carpenters playing on my radio cassette player soothed my fretful baby daughter.

Sleep well, little children
Pleasant dreams through the night...
Tomorrow is Christmas, so Merry and bright..

The moment my baby hears this song, she was pacified. My baby's first goo-goo and laugh were also recorded through my old-trusty-radio cassette player. As a matter of fact, my radio cassette player lived a full life. It played many a-lullaby to all my five children. Alas, it came to pass that a flash flood in 1991 soaked and muddied my Sony. Beyond repair, said the technician. It was like a death sentence to a beloved. My first radio cassette tape player is gone. If not, I am sure I would still be using it today to play my old cassette tapes.

My Sony radio cassette player.It definitely gave significance in my life just like the World’s First Noise Canceling Notebook Computer: VAIO T Series, which will really help me blog anywhere, anytime.

I Hate Late

I had a hectic day. After dropping off Ethan in school, I rushed to my job site which is about an hour's drive from my starting point. I had to get at the job site before 11:00 a.m. so I can finish all those little irritations that need to be tackled and done. I can only stay for about 2.5 hours max for I was supposed to pick Ethan at 2:45 p.m. I arrived at the job site at 10:55 a.m. I was surprised to see that my clients were there too. I learned that they decided to come so they can buy the air conditioning unit and venetian blinds for the office. I offered to tag along to facilitate quick and correct choices. We went to a nearby mall, chose and bought the items needed. Since it was near lunch time we decided to eat. My clients and I got to discussing different topics and before long it was 1:55 p.m. I got so carried away with the talking I forgot the time. There's no way I can get to Ethan on time. This is definitely one of those time that talking watches can be useful. I hurriedly called hubby end explained my predicament. Ethan was fetched on time.

Tactical Pants for Susan

My friend, Susan, sent over through email pictures of her and her family participating in some really tough and fun airsoft. In case you have no idea what airsoft is, it's a modern combat sport or recreational hobby in which participants eliminate opponents by hitting each other with round non-metallic pellets launched from a compressed-air gun(or Soft Air gun) powered by gas, manual spring-load, or an electrically powered gearbox. It is the new paint gun of yester years. She said she never had so much trying to "kill" her hubby.

She said she and her husband are really into the new sports as a hobby.In line with her new taste for the new sports, she said she needs new clothes for the game.

What new clothes? I asked.

I need combat clothes. I cannot readily play the game wearing capris, can I? she retorted. She said she and her husband bought camouflage jacket and pants but they're not of the top quality. The jacket and the pants had no lining reinforcement thus the torn elbow and knee of the said articles of clothing/

Oh. My friend needs tactical clothes to go with her tactical sports! What site can meet her needs best than www.tacticalpantsusa.com. The site has the widest range of tactical wear. The site boosts of tactical shirts, shoes, eyewear, gloves, jackets and other accessories. The items are durable and practical. Take for example the Tactical Pants. The pant, built for comfort and durability has bartacking and triple-stitch. It is available in nylon or cotton. It claims to be the only tactical pants in the market that has rear strap and slash pocket design.

Take a look at a sample to your left. Stylish, right? It does not look combat-y that you can't wear it right after an airsoft game. I'd definitely recommend the site to my friend.

Freaked Out

This picture totally freaked me out. If I were the navy man,
I would have died anyway...
heart attack

Blog Marketing on the Rise

Blogging has come a long way. If you don't know what a blog is, where have you been hiding in the last 10 years? A blog is actually a contraction of the two words: web and log and it's defined as a website where you can publish instantly content about specific topic or theme. A blog used to be served as a venue for running commentaries and views, personal opinions and on a more personal basis, a sort of an online diary. A blog is interactive in a way because readers can leave comments. Today, blogging has acquired a new function and that is in the form of blog marketing.

Blog marketing is internet advertising through web logs. Plain and simple. There are over 70 million blogs and hundreds of social networking sites in the net. These blogs interact one way or another and you can just imagine the traffic that goes on. What better way to utilize blogs? Blog marketing. The advantages of blog marketing over traditional marketing can be summed up as: interactive, collaborative, frequently updates, and has a more personal touch. Let's face it, a business's success not only depends on how great their product is but it also depends on how they reach potential customers through advertising.

Product visibility is the key to good advertising and blog marketing is the key to product exposure. A lot of advertisers are now using blogs to market their products and services. Why? Because blog marketing is viral - it is a word-of-mouth marketing where people pass along marketing messages voluntarily. Viral marketing is almost synonymous to blog marketing and proven to be a highly effective.

If you are an advertiser, there are a lot of websites out there who can meet your need for blog marketing. A new site that is surely gaining popularity is http://www.payingpost.com. Advertisers and bloggers are welcome to check out the site.

Turkey and Pumpkin Pie

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

It's that time of the year in majority of US homes where family and relatives and friends congregate to celebrate the more than 400 years US tradition. Thanksgiving Day. I know that the main dish would be roast turkey. As tradition dictates ( at least according to US movies I've seen) the father of the house would normally curve the gigantic turkey - all stuffed with whatever. The part or rather the food that intrigues me is pumpkin pie. We don't have pumpkins here in Manila but we do have squash. Would it do all right? And what's the taste of pumpkin pie? Sweet? Meaty? Can someone please describe the taste of pumpkin pie? I don't like turkey.  I don't eat turkey. The reason? HERE

Anyway, Thanksgiving day marks the "official" start of the Christmas season. I don't want to be politically correct (I should have said, "start of the Holiday season") for I do know that the reason for the season and the holidays was due to the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. So... Happy Start of the Christmas Season!

Reasons to say the "F" word

I sometimes cringe when I hear the "F" word said with such gusto or emo. However, the following five pictures are reasons enough to say "WTF?!". Trust me.

Steel Constructions

Our house was built in 1985, making it about 23 years old. I originally designed our house to be a two-bedroom spit type affair. Over the years, my house has morphed and it is now almost twice the size of its original. I have always been partial to wood so my house was all wood: outside and inside. Of course, I used reinforced concrete and concrete hollow blocks too but my house is mostly wood. I've had no problems with my design for the first 10 years. of its existence. After that, the wood that I used for the rafters and trusses started to weaken because of leaks in the corrugated roofing. Every year, I see to it that my roof is leak-free to avoid soaking the wooden trusses and rafters. Houses built in the last 10 years have no such problems because the norm now is to use steel trusses and tiles for the roof. Constructing steel buildings is the way to go now.

In Memoriam

Daughters 2,3, Ethan and I went to my friend's wake. She was not an ordinary friend as she was a teacher of my three oldest girls. I remember her smile and booming voice. She was always positive in her outlook.

The wake was at a funeral home. The room where her casket was laid was spacious and big. Beautiful white orchids filled the area where the casket was. My company and I were greeted by my friend's sister. I introduced myself and my daughters and the sister was pleasantly surprised. I went to the casket to look. I hardly recognized her. She was so thin compared to the once vivacious one I remember. I shed a tear for my friend. I gave thanks to the Lord that at last my friend's pain is gone. She turned 50 on November 21, 2008. She died, three days later. May the peace of Christ be with you my friend.

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving is a tradition that has been observed for the past 400 years. Typically celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November, the day has generally become a national secular holiday with religious origins. Thanksgiving Day, is a harvest festival. Traditionally, it is a time to give thanks for the harvest and express gratitude in general. It is a time to celebrate with the family and loved ones. In the United States, there are food that are traditionally served at Thanksgiving meals. First and foremost, baked or roasted turkey is usually the featured item on any Thanksgiving feast table. "Turkey Day" refers to Thanksgiving day. Stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, sweet corn, other fall vegetables, and pumpkin pie are common at Thanksgiving dinner. These primary dishes are native to the Americas or were introduced as a new food source to the Europeans when they arrived. Thanksgiving day also marks the start of the Holiday season.

In line for the occasion, there is Sears Pre-Thanksgiving Sale currently on going. I browsed the site and found a digital camera that I like. It is now priced at $149 after the $50 discount. Wow! I just have to have this camera. Now! Better hop to the site for the big sale.

LV Christmas

In my "to do" list of all time is spend Christmas in Las Vegas. I read that majority of the crowd during the season are foreigners and locals. On the outside, the street may not look like a Norman Rockwell painting that it has been said that the inside of Las Vegas hotels, specifically the casinos and main lobby are all decked up for the season. Every hotel in the strip has its own special way of celebrating the holidays. There's Wayne Newton, Bette Middler, and of course the Cirque de Soleil. If ever I do get to spend one Christmas in Las Vegas, I would spend the time watching the shows- of course, that would be after hitting the jackpot in the machines.

Old Doctor and Made in China toys

I was out of the house all day and night- another post for this- yesterday. In the morning, I took Ethan to an ENT for consultation. I was worried due to the incident that happened on Sunday when I had to rush Ethan to ER. The ENT is an old family friend. Old as in "he's been a friend of the family for the past 45 years" and old as in he's 68 years old. He said the swelling of Ethan's left side of the face could have been angioneurotic edema. It is often caused by an allergic type reaction (i.e., the body's defense system mistakenly goes off, initiating reactions in the body). The doctor said it is uncommon for one side to swell but it happens.

What did Ethan eat prior to the allergic reaction? asked the doctor

He ate the usual, nothing new, said I

Is Ethan stressed out, like is be being bullied in school? the doctor asked again.

Huh? Well, I guess not. He enjoys going to school.

Think of anything out of the ordinary that he did prior to the swelling, insisted the doctor.

Think. Think. Think. Oh I know! We were at the mall Sunday afternoon buying Christmas decors. Ethan insisted that I buy him a snooker toy, which was made in China.

Ethan, kindly tell the truth. Did you or did you not put in your mouth any part of your billiards toy?, I asked pleasantly (or so I hope)

Yes.

There you go. The brightly colored toy could have had any chemical or dirt or any form of allergen that went into Ethan's system and caused the allergic reaction.

Moral: Do not buy cheap toys made in China.

A Cure for Acne

What is the most common skin affliction of teens the world over? Acne vulgaris. There are millions of teens and adults who have acne. It is common during adolescence and affects more than 85% of teenagers, and more often continues into adulthood. Acne decreases over time and tends to disappear after one reaches his early twenties. However, no way to predict how long it will take to disappear entirely. Some will continue to suffer well into their thirties, forties and beyond. If you're one unhappy acne-laden-person, an acne treatment system that works is available at www.acnecuresrevealed.net. Check it out.

Virus Loaded SPAM

Oh no. I don't mean the luncheon meat. I meant spam emails.

Someone out there does not like me! Overnight, I received 585 spam messages that I know contain virus, trojans, worms and what have you. The emails came from different sources. I dare not click it open to see the return path. However, here are the headings. If you receive one, delete. DO NOT OPEN.

From:
1. asdf hjkl

2. salim akrami

3. Rashedin Faruq

4. hans rodr

5. omid sadeqi

6. mohammad sabur nohtani

7. mohammad mmmmmmm

8. khaled ahmadi

9. maroof kayumi

10. Mahdi Shokri

11. mohammad sabur nohtani

12. Aas Ap

13. Kookherd Kookherd

14. Khaled Faiqi


So there. If you received emails from these addresses, don't open them. Delete.

Age Defying

I took a good look at my facial skin the other day and I was surprised, albeit unpleasantly, to realize that I have more fine line wrinkles around my eye and mouth area. Gosh! I have more melasma too! The patches of tan discoloration and fine lines on my face prove that my current facial products are not working. I am more into natural skin care so I don't want to use harsh and strong chemicals on my face. I browsed online to find the best possible products for my skin's dilemma.

I am more into natural skin care products and that's what I googled. I stumbled on www.astaraskincare.com, a company founded by Sunny Griffin on the assumption that life supports life, and that the human body is self-healing and self rejuvenating if given the proper nourishment and environment. The natural skin care products promise to regain your body's natural glow. Astara carries Organic Skin Care Products that will cleanse, repair, moisturize and totally revitalize your "dying" and "aging" skin. Take a look at the site and find the best possible product for you. The product I want is called Age Defying Complex. The product will stimulate cell renewal, rehydrates, and oxidizes. It will also make my skin more elastic which would translate to fewer facial lines. Great! I must have this product. I love "defying" things.

Yesterday's Drama

Yesterday, daughters 3 and 4 and I went crazy in buying Christmas decors. We went out to buy new lights, ceramic Christmas houses, church and other Christmas decors. We were supposed to put up the tree yesterday but we found the tinsels sadly lacking. So! We bought new ones. We even bought special papers and glitters for Ethan's craft. We'll do the craft later this evening. We were supposed to do the craft last night but had to stop to rush Ethan to ER. For no apparent reason, half of his face swelled. The ER doctor could not find anything wrong so he just prescribed antihistamine for the allergy and mefenamic acid for the inflammation. The swelling has gone down but I've set an appointment to an ENT for tomorrow still. Just to play safe.

Have a nice week to everyone.

Golf: a Gentleman's Game

Old golf clubs and broken golf bags rained on me as I opened the door to the basement storage closet. My gosh! There probably are hundred of tees and old useless golf balls in the big box marked "Golf: do not touch". Well, as I'm not into following orders that don't include "please", I opened the box and found a colony of ants residing inside. Excuse me ants, but you just have to leave.

Cleaning up the clutter in the storage closet proved to be tasking. There were a lot of stuff pertaining to my husband's amateur Golf career. Some trophies and plaques are still stacked in one corner. There were brochures of golf sets and fairways here and abroad. I have learned some things about golfing in the years that my hubby was active. I was even coached on the game. I endured many sessions at the driving range. I wanted to exchange places with the guy on the golf cart collecting the golf balls - Seemed more fun. I just don't have "it" as I prefer active sports - sweating and running. Golf is a gentleman's game.

My husband's favorite brand is Ping. Umm.. I wonder how much a Ping driver costs now. Maybe I could gift hubby this Christmas. I googled Ping and out came a German site www. golfakademie-gmbh.de. The site claims to be the biggest German golf shop and offers different brands of golf clubs, bags and other accessories. You can even see the latest scores and profiles of who's who in the golf scene. If you're in Germany or are planning to visit, the golf club at Gut Ising is a must see for golf enthusiasts. The club is the biggest center that offers golf lessons in Bavaria. I know it's my hubby's wish to play golf abroad. Who knows? Next year?

Sad Monday

I received a sad news today. A friend, after years of battle with cancer, finally succumbed to the disease. The other day, I expressed my thought against same sex marriage in a blog I frequent. Someone did not like my view and left a comment on the said blog and in my other blog too. She said "what is it to me if gays marry." She said it will not affect my life. She said that I'm ignorant and a professing Christian. She said that I "spew" hatred but I don't see how. I was not cursing or condemning anyone. My being against same sex marriage has nothing to do with gays. It has something to do with my religious belief. If I say no to my child's request, does that mean I hate my child? If I do not agree to same sex marriage, does that mean I hate gays? Will my hatred cure cancer?

There are so many advocacies fighting for different causes. Some are petty, some are life changing. If I were to chose, I'd support advocacies that would promote world peace, ease poverty and world hunger, ban abortion, promote family planning so as to avoid abortion, education for all, find a cure for cancer and other deadly and incurable diseases, and others. If gays want to marry and the government finally allows it, so be it. But I will never consent to it for I know it will not cure cancer.

Franchising, the Way to Go

"In today's worldwide state of economy, it is wise to invest in something solid," said my friend. True. It is not the time to gamble on new and struggling businesses. If you are a newbie, it is not the time to try your hands in the game of stocks either. The best option, if you have the capital or the means to get the capital, is franchising. Franchising refers to the methods of practicing and using another person's philosophy of business. I have always wanted to go into franchising. All I have to do is produce the capital and the franchisor will do the rest: the product, the service, the system, all presented on a silver platter. My friend acquired a franchise for a 24/7 outlet and she says it's doing fine. If I go into franchising, I'd definitely chose a Subway franchise. Great food. Good service. I wonder how much it costs?

Time to Decorate

Today is the day that I plan to put up my Christmas tree, Christmas lights and all other Christmas decors. The keyword is "plan". It is not unusual in the Philippines to put up Christmas decors in November. Heck, I know a few who put up their Christmas decorations in September! Now, that, I will not do. I usually do my Holiday decorating thingy on the first week of December. However, having Ethan constantly bugging me on "When do we put up the Christmas tree? Lucas has theirs up!" mantra and a pout, well, I have to do my decors early. Okay now, first thing first. Ummm.. what's my #1 to do thing today again?

Holiday Eyeglasses

I just have to get a Holiday Glass Frames From Zenni Optical. Wouldn't it be cool to sport a Christmas-sy eyewear for the holidays? The popular online eyeglasses shop is offering red and green frames to go with the festive Christmas air we all are starting to "feel". Malls are now fully decorated for the Holidays. Christmas carols are being played on air. Christmas shoppers are doing their utmost to get the best bargains. What better bargain can I get aside from the $8 Complete Rx Eyeglasses from Zenni Optical? Consider, gifting your loves ones with eyewear this Christmas. Check it out.

A "Good" Day

I was able to "do" what was on my "to do" list for today. First, I was able to wake up at 5:30 a.m. Second, I did not forget to unload my son's dirty laundry from my car. Third, I was able to go to a paint store and bought the paint I needed for my current project. Fourth, I went to the site and did the faux finish painting I was set on doing today. Basically, a good day save for one thing. My whole body is aching like hell now. The painting job I did for five hours is now causing me pain - my arms, my back, my neck, my legs, my hamstrings. Ouchie! I'm off to la-la land. To all of you, have a nice weekend.

High School Musical 3

That's daughter # 4 and her friend TJ posing with the High School Musical "cast". We all watchhed the movie because Ethan wanted too. Verdict? Ho-hum.....

Mojo's Gone

"Ethan! It's way past your bedtime. You better turn off the TV and DVD player now."

"But mom?! I have to finish watching Nat and Alex. They're so cool!"

So, I ended up watching the one of the TV movies of Nat and Alex with Ethan. Who are Alex and Nat? They're the Wolf brothers of Nickelodeon's The Naked Brother's Band. The Naked Brothers Band is a musical comedy series that brought Nickelodeon's highest-rated premiere in seven years. The series began on February 3, 2007 and is currently in its third season. This season, Nick is 13 years old while Alex is 10. The 5th TV movie, Mystery Girl, premiered on October 18, 2008. On November 22, the 6th TV movie will premiere.Operation Mojo.

It seems Nat has lost his Mojo and had to go to the woods to do some "dudification". Live chat will be available so tune in. Help Nat get his Mojo back. Go to www.natnalex.com. The more hits the page gets, the more Mojo Nat gets. There are other ways to hep Nat get his Mojo back. One, watch and share to five people Nat's Youtube video. Second, subscribe to Nat's Youtube channel and last, make www.natnalex your home page. Go check it out.

Serious Thinkers

My son's birthday was a two-part celebration. On the Sunday before his birthday, we decided to eat out for dinner - pre-birthday dinner. We ate at A Vennetto - pasta and pizza. On the birth date itself, we braved the early evening traffic to get to my son's university so we can celebrate his birthday. This time we ate at TGIF or better known as Fridays. Here was how we looked while pondering on what to order.

Chocolate Gifts for Christmas

Yes! I have found a way to gift all my relatives in the USA! No. I'm not flying to the US anytime soon. No. I'm not sending stuff from "here" and shipping them "there". I am sending them Chocolate Gifts for Christmas. The site is www.gertrudehawkchocolates.com. I found the site while browsing for gift ideas for my brother and his family. It is so hard to think of gifts for them. If I give them any article of clothing, they might not like it. If i send his kids video games and other electronic stuff, I cannot afford them. So what's the best gift can I give them? Chocolates. Everybody loves chocolates, specially those made by Gertrude Hawk. See for yourself. The chocolates are to die for and highly affordable.Choose your products, pay for them and have them shipped to your "giftee". Neat! I would not mind getting one myself.

New Widget or Not

My new blog template was tweaked by LJ, of Lady Java's Lounge. I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to LJ for having the patience to deal with an exhausting client like me.

The 125 X 125 widget is a gift from LJ. Nice isn't it? However I need your input dear readers. Do I change my blog's widget or not. Look to your right at my profile. Yes. That chubby boy is my widget. Which of the two attracts you more? Input please. Thanks.

Roca Wear

Hollywood celebrities are getting wiser- investment and business-wise. Jay-Z, one of the best rappers of all time has co-founded a brand, excuse me, a lifestyle of clothing and other accessories for men, women and children. Founded in 1995, Roca Wear aimed at an international and borderless lifestyle. It is now a lifestyle of clothing apparel famous in UK, Japan, Canada, Europe, Korea, Middle East, and Russia. The company has also extended its merchandise to shoes, handbags, scents, eyewear, belts, jewelry, hats and more. I browsed the website and found real cool Roca Wear Jackets for my son. Perfect for Christmas.

Cheating Husbands Beware

Cheating husbands beware. A friend sent this picture through email. It seemed like a husband cheated on his wife. The wife got to know of the infidelity and instead of hacking her husband to death - and where there's almost a 100% chance of her being incarcerated - she "picked" her husband's car instead. Wise move? Nah. She should have opened the hood and hacked the engine.

Baby Phat Boots

I am in awe of Kimora Lee Simmons. She is a model, an author and CEO of Baby Phat. If you still don't know, Baby Phat is a brand of an ultra hip-hop and urbanized line of clothing designed by Kimora herself. The brand has spread its wings and it now carries accessories for phones, jewelry, shoes, handbags, and even beddings! Baby Phat is the corporate "sibling" of the clothing brand Phat Farm. I browsed the site an saw these to-see-is-to-believe Baby Phat Boots. They are just gorgeous. Baby Phat has a varied range of ankle and tall boots made for casual, formal, winter, outdoor, hip and more. Check the site out for real cool boots and other stuff.

More Trivia, Again

Here are some more interesting trivia. Knowing them will not make you smarter or rich. However, interjecting these trivia in some conversations might prove useful in projecting that you are a "know it all". Heck, it might even save your life.

21) To escape the grip of a crocodile's jaws, prick your fingers into its
eyeballs. It will let you go instantly.

22) The average person falls asleep in seven minutes.

23) The "pound" (#) key on your keyboard is called an octothorp.

24) The only domestic animal not mentioned in the Bible is the cat.

25) Rubber bands last longer when refrigerated .

26) The average person's left hand does 56% of the typing.

27) "Dreamt" is the only word in the English language that ends in
"mt".

28) It's impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.

29) In Chinese, the KFC slogan "finger lickin' good" comes
out as "eat your fingers off".

30) A cockroach can live for 10 days without a head.

Target: Lose Weight

One of my girl friends has this battle - with her bulges- for the longest time. Every time she gets pregnant, she keeps almost all the weight gained during pregnancy. From a svelte 108-pound pre-pregnancies weight, she know weighs 154 pounds. Exercise could have helped her lose weight but she has a chronic back problem and she can't do aerobics and active sports. Under doctor's advice she can do brisk walking and some modified weight training. She's also considering taking Apidexin to hasten up her weight lost. She said it's her target to lose some weight before Christmas. Good luck girl friend!

Twilight Movie Opens Nov. 26

Twilight, the movie had its US premiere, November 16. I read in the news that there was a throng of screaming, crying teeners and panting not-so-young-women adults lined up outside the movie house. Not since Harry Potter has a book-to-film journey inspired so much enthusiasm — or so much anxiety as the case may be. According to me, Stephenie Meyers is no J.K. Rowling. However, Edward Cullen proved to be the "ideal" or rather the "fantasy" man of well, almost all who read the novel, including me. I quote unquote a movie review: Having lost much of its bite transitioning to the big screen, Twilight will please its devoted fans, but do little for the uninitiated.. True. True. However, come hell or high water, I WILL WATCH THE MOVIE. Daughters 3 and 4 already have their "Team Edward" shirts. Umm.....nah....I guess I'd be too juvenile if I wear one.

Affordable Overseas Calls

My brother calls me on a weekly basis. He lives in New Jersey while I am here in Manila. Our calls usually last 20 to 30 minutes. The call's duration actually depends on the nature of our conversation. There was a time that we troubled shoot my daughter's laptop - a three way call between my brother, a service technician, and I. My brother almost had a heart attack when his bill came. It was a whopping $385.00.

My brother had his overseas phone connections discontinued and opted to use international calling cards instead. He uses the site www. Getmecallingcards.com for it has a large selection of phone cards that you can choose from. Bro said he just picks his call's destination, choose the phone card that he prefers, pay for the card through very secure online processor, then get the PIN. Call the toll-free-number required, enter the PIN on your phone, punch in the numbers and voila! A user also has the option to register his phone to avail of the no-PIN access. He's happy now with his international calling cards.

Slow Day

What a sloooow day. I let go of EC dropping as pages take forever to load. I checked my broadband speed at speednet and it's at 2195 kbp - fast, right? So why is EC and Multiply taking forever to load? I was supposed to upload pictures at Multiply but decided against it as the login page won't even load. I have some opps waiting to be done but the slowness of the day got into me. I took and fetched Ethan from school. Did some errands. Planned to exercise - the key word here is "planned" and done some blogging. My writing's done, for the day. I was into reading blogs but some blogs just make my head spin. Better stop reading. Why? Never mind why. The blogosphere is filling up with bloggers. I wish more bloggers would/could(?) write articles of worth. Why? So that I'll have something to read and maybe learn something new in the process. Oh hum... I think I better hit the sack.

ZZzzzzzzz........

Dang! It's only 9:30 p.m.

Not Getting Enough Sleep?

One downside of "getting" old is the inability to sleep well. I hardly sleep. It's not that I don't want to rather I just can't sleep! I miss those younger years when I fall asleep dead as a log the moment I hit the bed. Keeping 8 to 7 hours of continuous sleep is essential for everyone. Sleep is the time our body repairs dead tissues. Sleep is essential for our major organs to detoxify and rejuvenate. How can my body function well if I lack sleep? I tried two different sleeping pills. Pill number 1 has no effect on me. I was still wide awake at 1:00 a.m. It was a total waste of money and effort. Pill number 2 knocked me out in 5 minutes flat but I was awake after four hours and could not get back to sleep after. Funny, but that particular pill made me groggy and woozy. It's so hard to toss and turn all night long! I need good and safe sleeping pill. I browsed online and found a site called http://www.Forcesleep.com


Force Sleep has been around for a number of years now and has been used by tens of thousands satisfied customers. The product is liquid with safe ingredients like Doxylamine Succinate and Melatonin. The product would help get your 7-8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. You'll wake up with no groggy feeling, but rather refreshed and energized. Regular use of Force Sleep can even regulate your sleeping pattern. This is ideal for people with sleep disorders. It's a sleep aid that is so easy to use. Just 2 teaspoons and you'll be set for a good night's sleep. Click on the link to now more.

More Trivia

Read and be amazed. Continuation of Trivia

11) Bruce Lee was so fast that they actually had to slow a film down so you
could see his moves. That's the opposite of the norm.

12) The original name for the butterfly was "flutterby"!

13) By raising your legs slowly and lying on your back, you can't sink
inquick sand.

14) Mosquito repellents don't repel. They hide you. The spray blocks the
mosquito's sensors so they don't know you're there.

15) Dentists recommend that a toothbrush be kept at least six feet away from a
toilet to avoid airborne particles resulting from the flush.

16) The first product to have a bar code was Wrigley's gum.

17) Michael Jordan makes more money from Nike annually than the entire Nike
factory workers in Malaysia combined.

18) Marilyn Monroe had six
toes on one foot.

19) Adolf Hitler's mother seriously considered having an abortion but was
talked out of it by her doctor.

20) The three most valuable brand names on earth: Marlboro, Coca-Cola, and
Budweiser, in that order.

A New House ?

My brother's house is old, as in old. It was a 25-year-old house when he bought it and that was 15 years ago. He said that the house has undergone countless renovations and additions that it was almost tantamount to building a new house. He is seriously considering building a new house.

Building custom homes may be very expensive especially now that economy is unstable. However there are a lot of companies who now build custom homes at a very reasonable price range. Schumacher Homes is one such company. The company has proven custom homes are not exclusive to the high income brackets anymore. It has built custom homes right across USA leaving behind happy-satisfied clients for over 16 years. Schumacher Homes has raised the bar in their custom homes. It is by far, the best value in custom homebuilding.

Trivia

Trivia: matters or things that are very unimportant, inconsequential, or nonessential; trifles; trivialities. But I've always been interested in trivia. They spice up a conversation. They make a person sharing the trivia seem intelligent and well-informed. Here are some trifles I'd like to share. Read up.

1) Look at your zipper. See the initials YKK? It stands for Yoshida Kogyo
Kabushibibaisha, the world's largest zipper manufacturer.

2) 40 percent of McDonald's profits come from the sales of Happy Meals.

3) 315 entries in Webster's 1996 Dictionary were misspelled.

4) On the average, 12 newborns will be given to the wrong parents daily.

5) Chocolate kills dogs! True, Chocolate affects a dog's heart and nervous
system. A few ounces is enough to kill a small sized dog.

6) Ketchup was sold in the 1830's as a medicine.

7) Leonardo da Vinci could write with one hand and draw with the other at the
same time.

9) There are no clocks in Las Vegas gambling casinos.

10) Leonardo da Vinci invented scissors . Also, it took him 10 years to paint
Mona Lisa's lips.

Who knows you may actually say to a friend putting on lipstick "hey, LDV, painted Mona Lisa's lips in 10 years." More to come.

Flat Belly Diet for You

What part of a woman's body is the hardest to firm up? The tummy, of course, specially if you've gone through numerous pregnancies. After my fifth and last pregnancy, I decided to enroll in a gym to shed off a gross 44 lbs. I went into a real serious diet. No carb for sometime then when the weight started to shed, low carb. I was doing aerobics and weight training. It was great as I was able to shed off the unwanted weight. However, I was not completely satisfied as my belly was far from flat and firm. As Ethan says, "your tummy's wobbly mom". The only six-pack I know and see is beer.

Now there's a Flat Belly Diet that I've been reading about online. Prevention magazine is on the lookout for women to try the Flat Belly diet for FREE. Yey!! The diet is for people who have tried everything as in everything to rid of belly fat, the most stubborn fat of them all. The diet endorses MUFA (Monounsaturated Fatty Acids). Research shows that these healthy fats target the belly fats and consumption can actually make you lose weight. Wow! Just follow the link and sign up if you want to try the Flat Belly Diet for free.

Eligible participants will get the following.

* A free copy of the Flat Belly Diet book
* A free 1-year membership to the Flat Belly Diet website
* Exclusive membership to our Success Story Club
* The chance to blog about Flat Belly Diet on our website
* First look at exclusive Flat Belly Diet videos

Go and sign up. It's free.

The Truth Hurts Final Chapter

Here's the final chapter of Nasty's retort to Dero Pedero. If you have no inkling of what I'm talking about you might want to read Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 first. Don't worry. The posts or re-posts are short and sweet.

If all your social, religious and political sectors don't sit down now and decide to take the Right Way, the Philippines and your children's children will be grand losers in the worldwide rush to the future. Education is one sure way to salvation. Teach what is right, good, beautiful and beneficial. Downplay all negativity if you cannot eliminate it altogether.

The Ideal President. I've got news for you. (As if you didn't already know.) No matter whom you put up there as your leader or president, it will be the same banana. Even a holy man can turn into another J.E. (Judas Escariot) for a few pieces of silver. Kumpares, alalays, relatives and cronies will encrust like flies and maggots on his cordon sanitaire. And it will be the same despicable 'Sa amin na 'to!' hullabaloo all over again.

Take an advice from Aling Epang: 'Pumili ng matanda,mayaman, mabait, at madaling mamatay.' Get a president who is old - so that he is full of wisdom, rich - so he won't need to steal more money, goodhearted - so he will render heartfelt service to his people, and is in the sunset of his life - so that he will think of nothing but gaining good points to present when he meets his Creator. And may I add: At iisa lang ang pamilya! This is, of course, asking for the moon. Just pray fervently for an intelligent leader with a pure heart who genuinely loves the common tao!

Magpakatotoo Kayo! Wake up and look at the real you. Enough with looking at your reflection in glorious, self-embellishing mirrors. The tropical sun can play tricks,you know. Do not wait for darkness to fall before you take that much-needed long, hard look at your real situation.

Magpakatotoo kayo, ano? This isn't a wake-up call - it is the final alarm!Save the ship while yo u still can. Don't wait till your people have no more dreams left to hang on to, no more hope to sustain their broken spirits. I came home, spent m penny-pinched savings so that even in the minutest way Icould help your bruised economy. Your politicians sit ontheir fat, farting butts and get balatos (kuno!) in the millions. Receivers are as guilty as the givers. Now, tell me, who is really nasty?

I Have Made My Decision; So Should You. My Zen master says, 'Life is all about decisions, not choices.' I have made a decision which I know will be very hard for me to keep- You will never hear from me again (not in this vein) and I will not even think of visiting or buwisiting your Manila ever. This is my way of letting you know that I have given up on you. Bahala na kayo! Only youcan help yourselves because at the stage you are in, nobody would want to help you. My Zen master says, 'You have to fall to learn to rise again.'

How much lower do you want to go?Anyway, regarding the Philippines as a tourist destination,you have a lot of cleaning up and face-lifting to do before foreigners would dare go to your islands again. The Abu Sayyaf episode has done your tourism industry more damage than you could ever imagine, and it will take a long time before the world forgets. (By the way, your tourism projects are lusterless and have no global impact. If you want real business, spruce up your infrastructure and do aggressive marketing on the World Wide Web!)

Of course, I would gladly reverse my decision if someone offered me exclusive lordship over lotto, bingo, jueteng,pintakasi and the jai alai.Think about it: this will be to your advantage because I never give tong or blood commission to anyone! (If only your president used the millions hereceived from those gambling lords to build homes for the masses, you wouldn't have any more squatters. Huling hirit: defrost those Marcos billions, pay off some debt,place the rest in high-yield investments, feed your hungry,and spread bounty and joy to every Filipino! Are you stupid or what? - That's your money sucked from the blood of your people!)

My Zen master says, 'Vox populi is not always the voice of God.'Come over to L.A and I'll show you a great time!

Our friend Randy says hello! We will be going to Vancouver to feast our eyes on the colors of autumn. Wish you could join us.

The new Miss America , Angela Perez Baraquio, is of Filipino ancestry. Dero, her parents hail from Pangasinan just like you! But keep in mind that she is an American (in case some wise fools over there claim her to be Filipino like they always do whenever someone becomes successful). Wait for the girl to say it don't put words in her mouth!

Mabuhay kayo ( SANA )!
Sa totoo lang, MAGD USA KAYONG LAHAT!
(Don't you just love my Waray-Kano accent?) He-he-he!

I have made my decision, now make yours. I would hate for the day to come when I'd have to say, 'I told you
so!' Good luck! (You need it.)


An ex-Filipino
J. Anastasio
'Nasty'

Christmas Gifts Under $25

I am done with a partial list of my "gift list" this Christmas. The list is the "relatives" list and what do you know? I thought I'd have less names in the list this time but NO! I have about 48 names still and that does not include a lot of relations. I still have to consider gifts for my friends and their families, work-related people, school-related people and of course my very own family and their close friends. Wow! That would be a lot of gifts and whole lot more of money. In times like these, Kmart saves the day.

Kmart, for more than a century now, has been providing the public the best quality products at affordable prices. This season, Kmart relaunched its layaway program to make it easy for shoppers to purchase their items. Added to this program it also has about 25,000 gift items under $25, ready for free shipping. I browses on the under $25 items and I want them all! Here are some of their top items.

More great holiday values at Kmart include:
• Craftsman® 23-inch hand tool box with comfort handle, $19.99
• Martha Stewart Everyday tall nickel pillar candleholders, $14.99 each
• Route 66 girls fashion hoodies and embellished jeans, both just $16.99 each
• Joe Boxer men’s and women’s two- and three-piece cozy sleep sets, $12.99- $24.99
• Just Kidz® Deluxe soft-bodied 16” doll set with stroller, $20.00
• LeapFrog Leapster Learning Games, various titles priced at $24.99

If you're serious about gift-giving this Christmas, I guess it would do you good to visit the site now and browse then order.

EC Droppers, Thank You!

Dear Entrecarders,

I thank you all for contributing traffic to this humble blog. I thank you for sometimes actually reading the stuff I call "posts" in this blog. I thank you for the times you find my post interesting enough that it merits a comment.

Please forgive me if I sometimes just drop my card and not bother reading your articles. As a rule, I do read the blogs that I drop card to. Please do not expect me to comment nonsense just for the sake of commenting therefore creating a backlink. I comment when I see the need to comment. I am too lazy to give a shout on the c-box on a regular basis. Sometimes I ask questions in the comment section and when my questions are ignored, I'm sensitive (and stupid) enough to think that you don't like me.

I try my best to drop 300 cards a day. I have two blogs and my other blog barely receives drops for I barely do dropping through that blog too. I am in awe of bloggers who have multiple blogs (some as many as 4). How do they manage to update their blogs on a daily basis? Do their blogs even have legitimate posts? How do they manage to drop EC cards from or through all their blogs? Are they (the bloggers not the blogs) glued to their computers 24/7?

I love all my EC card droppers. I see to it that I reciprocate their drops. Alas, I've developed a stiffness in my right hand - too much clicking and scrolling down on the mouse. Because of this, I now have difficulty dropping EC cards. So please, take pity on my hand. To those concerned, can you please relocate your EC widgets somewhere on top of your page and not a mile below or even half-a-mile below your first post? Putting your EC widget way down will not make me read the articles I pass scrolling down. Doing nice and interesting articles would make me stop and read.


Again, thank you for "dropping" by.


desperateblogger

Layaway for the Holidays

If you're an internet savvy I'm sure you've seen advertisements of lay-away programs being offered left and right by big stores in the USA. Okay. One Store. Kmart. Most young people do not know what a layaway is. Layaway, which has its roots in the Great Depression, was eclipsed in the past two decades as economic prosperity grew and consumers began using plastics or credit cards to purchase. Before, everyone bought everything on layaway - furniture, jewelry, clothes, appliances... everything, well except for perishables.

How does layaway work? Layaway is a way to buy an item without paying for the entire cost at once. A customer sort of reserves the item that he wants. He then makes a deposit for no more than $15 or 20% of the total cost of his item. The store keeps the item and for the next eight weeks, the customer pays bit by bit until the total cost has been fully paid. Then he can take home the fully paid item. No interest. No credit. You get your stuff intact.

Layaway as a payment method is being promoted again this holiday season as a way for budget-conscious shoppers to buy gifts without breaking the bank. Kmart Layaway for the Holidays is back! Check the site for a chance to get your wish list or Christmas gifts.

Clean Wash

Another "To Do List" for today. Contemplate on the meaning of this forwarded email.

A young couple
moves into a new neighbourhood.

The next morning while they are eating breakfast, the young
woman sees her neighbour hanging the wash outside.

"That laundry is not very clean," she said. "She doesn't know
how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap."
Her husband looked on, but remained silent.

Every time her neighbour would hang her wash to dry, the young
woman would make the same comments.

About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice
clean wash on the line and said to her husband: "Look, she has
learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this?"

The husband said,
"I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows."

And so it is with life. What we see when watching others
depends on the purity of the window through which we look.


~Author Unknown~

Golf Stories

Back to my "to do" list before Christmas. Clean up and organize the golf trophies and plaques that my hubby and son have won over the course of their "golfing" careers.The basement is where I store or display most of the golfing plaques and awards of my hubby and son. My son was a junior golfer and he did not continue on with the game for he found a more "active" sports. MY husband's collection of awards is quite impressive as he only started his "golfing" career in 1994. I have no affinity to the game. The concept that I had that golf, as a hobby, is expensive rings true. Golfing equipment costs and the green fees are stiff. I can never understand why he has to buy different brands of golf clubs.

It is seldom that my husband goes to the mall to shop. On rare occasions that he does he inevitably gears toward a Golf shop. He looks over the newest and latest in golf paraphernalia. Most of the time he ends up buying... anything "golf". Of late he has not been so active in his golf games. He had to take it easy for a bit because of his heart condition.

One time, I heard him discussing "golf" with one of his buddies. They were talking games in the European circuit as they had the notion of playing golf there someday. They were also comparing the golf courses and links in the USA, Europe and Asia. They were also discussing who the best designers are when it comes to links and courses. I then told them about an online site where you can look for just about anything related to golf in Europe. The site www. golfkurs.com details on the golf courses in Europe, best online golf shops and other pertinent golfing trivia.If you're into golf, better check it out.

The Truth Hurts Part 3

Here's the continuation and third chapter on The Truth Hurts. Nasty's email to Dero Pedero.

What you are faced with didn't just happen overnight-it developed and grew into a monster in the course of time.Deeply imbedded in the psyche of the Filipino is the amalgamation of the characters and events that have impacted your lives - Dona Victorina, Dona Concepcion, poor Sisa as well the other hilarious and tragic characters of Dr. Jose Rizal...

Stonehill... the notorious gangsters immortalized by your Filipino movies like Asiong Salonga (hmmm!), et al...thekillers in your (I thought they'd never end!) massacre movies...those cheap, appalling _title_s of your movies...those staged 'religious miracles' that your naive masses believed...family men with pushy queridas(mistresses) ...your crooked politicians, undependable police officers and greedy customs collectors.. .yourbribe-hungry court judges...Imeldific, gloriously smilingand crying at the same time, bejeweled. (How very Fellini!)

What you are is the sum total of your history, your heritage and culture,your education, the crap that your press sensationalizes, the bad icons that your movies glorify, the artificial values your advertising extols, thebad examples your leaders and role models project. What you feed your country's mind is what it becomes. You have become the ugly monster that you've created. You are nowcrying all the tears your sickeningly sentimental movieswailed out for years and years!


Your Biggest Fault If there is one thing that comes to mind, I think your biggest fault would be your individual greed. 'Ako muna!' seems to be the national mantra. The trouble is,very few people think for the common good in a deplorable 'to each his own kurakot' festival. Coupled by your crab mentality of pushing down others, this can be fatal.You think barangay, not national. Hello, everybody elsearound the world is thinking global! Europe is unshackling her national boundaries while you are building fences around your nipa huts.

Do yourselves a favor and look at your nation as a ship.All of you are in it and it is sinking! Realize youroneness-what hurts your brother hurts you, too. Think about the future of your children and the succeeding generations,and do something about it quick before your poor little banca plunges forever into the irretrievable depths of despair.

Star-Struck Nation. You are a nation of star-struck ignoramuses. You are easily awed by your mo vie stars who are usually nothing but uneducated, aquiline- nosed and light-skinned ********picked up from some gutter somewhere. I have seen what these artistas illusionadas can get away with. They just flashtheir capped-tooth smiles and policemen let them get away with traffic violations; they bat their false eyelashes andcustoms officers impose no duty on their suspicious balikbayan boxes.

Worst of all, with the Filipino movie industry taking anosedive, hordes of actors and show personalities went intopolitics. It is, as they say, the next bes 'racket'-there is more money to be made in thepoliticking business than in show business! (And what is this I hear that in the coming elections, more are jumping into the arena? Mag-hara-kiri na kayo!) How can you expectthese comedians and actors, who only know how to take directions from their directors, to direct your nation? For them,politics will just be an 'act'. No big surprise here, for they are mere actors with no original _script_s to speak, no original visions to share. So what can you expect but a government that is a comedy of errors. Serves you and your star- struck nation right!

My Zen master says, 'Give unto Caesar what is due toCaesar, but keep Charlie Chaplin on the silver screen tomake us laugh.' To survive, you must teach yourcitizenry to say no to three things - no to drugs, no tostealing and graft and corruption, and no to artistas in politics. I hope you've learned your lesson by now.(Yours is the only country where Mexican soap stars arereceived like royalty in the presidential palace. How shoddy! God forbid-Fernando Carrillo might end up being yournext president. At least he has great abs and doesn't wobble like a penguin when he walks!)

For those artistas who honestly believe that they can makea positive difference in the Filipino masses' life, theymust first study law, business and public administration,and immerse themselves in the life and passion of Mother Teresa. Politics is not an art for dilettante artistas to dabble in. It is called 'Political Science,' hello?!

Educate Your Masses.Educate the masses - especially your electorate. What you need is an intelligent vote aside from, of course,intelligent candidates. The University of San Carlos in CebuCity , founded in 1595, and the University of Santo Tomas in Manila , established in 1611, are the oldest universities in Asia , and are even older than Harvard. But the standard of Pinoy education has deteriorated so much that the Philippines ranks among the poorest in the educational hierarchy of Asia . Education, education, education –that' s what you need in this age of information,information, information.


final chapter to follow.

Perfect Christmas Gifts

It's time to start shopping for Christmas gifts. In just 6 weeks, Christmas will come knocking at your front door, whether you like it or not. But hey! I know we can't just shop till we drop. We need cash to do that. Bonuses are still weeks away and I'll be darn sad if I can't have the items that caught my eye. It's a good thing Sears Layaway plan is back. Now one can reserve that beautiful kitchen cooking ware for mother or that wonderful tool set for hubby. Make a $15 deposit or 20% down, pay a in increments each week then take the items home when you're done with the payment.

This Transformers Electronic Arcade Jet will be perfect for Ethan. He loves the Transformers and playing this jet-like toy with a simulated "battle" between the good and bad "bots" would be a dream come true for Ethan.

My girls are all grown-up and their past wanting cutesy gifts. I know they would love to have and share this Stamina Premiere Pilates Machine. No need to go to the gym. A complete body workout could be done right at home.

My son and hubby would definitely go for the X-box or Wii. As a matter of fact, we'd all want any of these two, better yet, both! Imagine, the whole family playing Rock band or Guitar hero. Fun! Everyone would be happy with their gifts. Better check out Sears Layaway for the perfect gift this Season.

Am I a Bitch?

Ha? Am I one? If you ask those who "got in my way" ages ago, they'd probably say yes. But my question has no implications on my past. It dwells on the present. First of all, I am not the cutesy-tootsie kind who blogs cutesy-tootsie stuff. I do not suck up to people just for the sake of being in their good graces. I definitely say things as it is, but not as much as when I was younger. I have mellowed (at least I'd like to think that I have). I am not afraid to claim that I am against same-sex marriages. I do not dilly-dally in concerns that a "gay" friend or acquaintance or fellow blogger might get offended with my views. Let me lay it straight. I am against "same sex marriage" and not against gays. I am not homophobic as I have gay friends too. Anyway, this post has nothing to do with same sex marriages. I'd just like to know, dear readers, if you think I'm a bitch or bitchy. Why the question? Here's why.

I usually read the articles of the blogs I visit. Sometimes I find articles that are interesting and I comment on the post. One time, I commented on a blog. The comment was actually a question but the owner of the blog chose not to publish my question. I forgot what the question was. That was months ago. A few days ago I found an interesting post on that same blog about the wonders of a certain fruit. I again left a question and here it is: Can I use calamansi instead as oranges are expensive?. The question was not published too so my question was not answered. Another blog showed a video of a baby who died. Oh there were countless comments like words of consolation and condolences. I, naturally, also expressed my condolences but also asked this question: the baby looked fine and healthy, why did she die? Again, the question was not published and therefore not answered.

Were my questions bitchy or insensitive or improper? Or. Were my questions just overlooked? Or. Am I PMS-ing and just feeling like an over-sensitive-bitch?

Organize It: Storage Solutions

Topmost in my "to do" list before Christmas is sorting through all the closets in the house and get rid of all clothes and any article of clothing that is not used anymore. Next is sorting through the basement storage and throwing out all the thrash that I've accumulated through the years. There are blueprints eaten by moths, books with mold, notebooks glued together, test papers, school projects, and other what-nots of my five children stored or horded in the last 25 years. True, I am a horder. I refuse to let go of my kids' old school stuff for they are very valuable to me. Those things are priceless. But then again, I really, really need to throw out all useless trash.

If only I have an efficient storage system, then I would not have any problem. I was browsing online for some tips on home organization and I came upon Organize It. It is a Sacramento Closet Company that specializes in custom closets for your home. The company even has storage solutions for the bedroom, study area, garage, kitchen, laundry room, and more. You can also give your own special specifications and Organize It would customize the item for you. Check it out. The answer to complete home organization is just a click a way.

The Truth Hurts Part 2

This is the response of Anastacio (Nasty) to Dero Pedero's article about him. Nasty was a balikbayan from LA who, while in the Philippines had nothing good to say about the country and its people. Read Part 1 here.

Here goes Nasty's response.

Dear Dero,

My Zen master says, 'Never fight fire with fire.'So, I sat in a lotus position, imbibed the ethereal qualities of cool mountain water and stoically resisted the temptation of answering back to defend myself in rebuttal of your article. I kept quiet while you and your readers had a charlatan holiday, dissecting and fanning sarcasm on my every comment about your country and your people.

I am not mad at you for writing that piece. I was never upset at any point, even after your readers from all overthe world e-mailed in their two-cents' worth. In fact, I found it rather amusing and carnival-like. I even felt happy that people still came to the defense of your Philippines !

If you noticed, I now refer to the Philippines and Filipinos as your country and your people. Every time I went back there for vacation, my Filipino-ness always took the better of me (blame those damn green mangoes smothered with bagoong!) and made me forget that I am, in all reality, what you aptly called a 'Little Brown American.' I have come to terms with my own identity- I am, after all, an American citizen carrying an American passport!



What precipitated my quick decision to sever my ties with your country (aside from your ***** of an article) were the Abu Sayyaf abductions (que barbaridad!) , the Payatas-like downslide of the peso (eat your hearts out, I earn sweet American dollars!), the 'devoid of conscience' graft and corruption in your government (this has gone on for the longest time-how shameful!), and lately, the stupid 'Juetengate' and juicy but enraging 'Boracay' mansion gossips.With all these, who would be proud to be a Filipino? Besides, to tell you frankly,those Erap jokes are no longer funny- they are passe and leave a bad taste in the mouth and heart.

No Apology. If I sounded brash and insensitive with the way I threw my comments, well, I cannot do anything about that because that is the way I am, and I offer no apology. Here, in America , you have to tell it like it is or you'll neverbe taken seriously. I have learned to drop my 'Pinoy sugarcoating' because out here, you get nothing done if you are meek and sweet and pa-api. Hindi puwede mag-Anita Linda dito!

*Anita Linda was a 50's-70's dramatic actress. This reference shows that Nasty is at least 55 years old.

When I commented about your pollution, street children mendicants, slums,potholes, toilets that don't work,garbage, floods, and most of all, the Pinoys' chronic lack of discipline, I was merely putting into words what I saw. I can't blame your being blind about your country's situation. My Zen=2 0master says, 'One cannot easily see the dirt in one's eye.'

I am sure though that you are aware of those sordid details, but have grown accustomed to them (like most Manile?s have). All the complaints I aired may have hurt your pride but what I wanted you to realize is this: The things I pointed out are all symptoms of a failing, falling nation! Suffering A National Karma? Could yours be a country cursed with a huge national karmic debt? It could be payback time, you know. Look back into your history, look deep inside your hearts-what could you have done as a nation to deserve this fiasco you are in today?

to be continued: part 3

A Slimmer You before the Holidays

In less than 6 weeks, you will be right in the middle of Christmas, overweight and bloated. Why?-as a result of all those Halloween leftover candies and turkey and puddings you stuffed yourself You cannot possibly feel holiday-ish if you're fat and ugly! What to do? Despair not. There is an easy but safe way to lose unwanted weight before you can say the names of the 12 reindeers, or was it 10 reindeers? Anyway, www.lab88.com is a site that offers a variety of safe and effective Diet Pills. There are diet packages available on site to suit your needs and budget. You can even create your own diet pill package for the low low price of 3 bottles for only $99.99. Go check it out. Give yourself an early Christmas gift - a slender, trimmer you!

The Truth Hurts Part 1

Dero Pedero. Do you know him? Oh he was known as Nonong Pedero way back in the 70's when he and Anthony Castello were singing duets. I used to see Nonong, oh I mean, Dero around UP Diliman. He was famous for doing the commercial jingle of SM and then some. He changed his name to Dero because some fung-shui (?) master told him that his name (Nonong) was a double negative- attracting bad vibes. Anyway this post has nothing to do why Nonong went Dero. This post is about a balikbayan friend of Dero. The post is a direct quote from Dero Pedero's article in Philippine Star. Read on.

Last July 23, I wrote about Nasty (short for Anastacio), a balikbayan from Los Angeles , who, while vacationing in Manila , had nothing to say but negative comments about the Philippines and the Filipinos. The article elicited a deluge of comments from our readers. Though some agreed with his curt observations, most were enraged at the repulsive way he acted and whined.

For me, he was the classic epitome of the 'crow perched on a carabao,' thinking and acting nauseatingly superior just because he has become an American citizen, inequitably comparing everything here to how they are in the first world. I was particularly irked by his repulsive 'know it all' attitude and peeved no end by his irritating Waray-American twang. Those who have not read that article may access philstar.com and click archives, then select July 23 and click Lifestyle_. The article is entitled 'Little Brown Americans.'

As a backgrounder, here is an excerpt:The next day, I took them on a little city tour andaccompanied them to do extra shopping at the duty-free shop They were to leave two days later for their respective provinces (Randy is from Pampanga, Nasty, from Samar ).

'God, ang dilem-dilem naman ditow (it is so dark here)!' screamed Nasty in his characteristic Taglish slang, 'At ang inet-inet pa (and so warm)! * * *

All throughout the day, Nasty complained about everything. He griped that all Filipinos he encountered were dense and inefficient (I hope that didn't include me!); that the traffic was horrendous and drivers 'drove like they were late for their funerals'; that the pollution from the smoke-belching vehicles was irritating his dainty, surgically-pinched nose. He was disgusted that water closets didn't work; horrified that there was no toilet paper in public toilets ('God, how do you people do it?' he bewailed); petrified by street children begging whilesoaking wet in the rain ('Where are the parents of these kids?' he nagged).

He moaned about the proliferation of slums, people crossing the superhighways ('There should be underground or overhead walkways for pedestrians! ' he demanded), the potholes on the streets, the disgusting garbage and filth all over the city, and the annoying floods! And all these he observed in just one day!

Weeks after the publication of the article, I took Nasty's silence to mean that of contempt and anger. I must admit that I didn't care because I was reallyturned off by his arrogance. The good news is, Nasty has finally decided to break his silence and give us his side,loaded with a big piece of his mind. The bad news is, he hits more sensitive chords and it stings.


Part II: Nasty's reply coming up