Hello 2012 3rd Quarter!

I know I should revamp this blog or if not at least give a little attention to it.  The calendar on my page were so last, last, last year (yes 2010 or so).  Anyway I have the time today that is why I decided to write something about what I have been up to the past few months.

2 of my good friends decided to go abroad for good.. Gabs went to Abu Dhabi (magkakalat ng lagim ala Sex & the City) while Saree is now in Sweden (not sure whether to study massage Swedish style or look for the guy with the dragon tattoo).  I miss them a lot because they are my bestest college friends and they serve as my caffeine.  I may miss them and I’m sad they left but I am happy for them because they decided to live their future the way they want it to be.  So ladies, good luck.  I miss and love you both.

I’m not sure if I already mentioned that the only good thing I like about travelling is that I get to catch up on my reading.  The airports (according to my foursquare account, airports are the places I frequent lately, sorry naman I need to be in the plane to actually be somewhere noh) are now my modern library.  Because everything is in touch technology now books included, just bring your tablet/e-books and you’re good to go.  I also bring my hard copies when I travel, especially since I still have tons of unread book collecting dusts on my shelf.  I like being in our (my hubby & my) hometown because I get to read in the evenings.  Well I don’t watch a lot of TV in Bulan because a.) not all my channels are available in the local cable b.) we are staying in hubby’s granny’s house when we’re both in Bulan and the house has only 1 TV reserved for hubby (and his arghh channels)  and lastly c.) I don’t want to lounge in the sala (even if it was just me & hubby inside the house), not my thing – I would only lie around looking like I own the place inside a bedroom.  What better way to pass the time (aside from watching downloaded TV series like our fave GoT) but to read?  I was able to finish 2-3 books whenever I’m in Bulan and I so love the feeling of being able to finish a whole book.  

photo from the web

I am currently reading book 2 of EL James’ trilogy.  The book is so controversial and there a lot of discussions about it but it’s just light reading do not delve too much on erotic side if you find it so scandalous.  Thanks to friend Rhei for convincing me to read it because she said “she cried” when she was reading it so I thought it must be good.  It’s okay, not so great but I am only on book 2.  One needs to read all 3 to appreciate it.

I finally found the workout for me, its Bikram Yoga.  I have never been so sweaty in my entire life.  I’ve ran a number of marathons but not Bikram sweaty.  Let’s see how long I will like it (until sawa mode comes).  BYA studio is also kind enough to freeze my membership whenever I am away out of town or in Bicol so it’s a plus for me.  I don’t need to feel sad over not being able to fully utilizing my monthly membership because I am in Manila 3 weeks a month only.

So that's it for now boys and girls.  W arrives this Saturday.  Yehey!

Books and/vs Movies

It’s been a while since I last made a movie review. I am just in the mood because it made me happy that the best 2012 1^st quarter movie(s, for me) are both based on a book.

I consider myself a reader than a viewer. Yes I do watch a lot of movies, I love movies! But I am more fond of reading. Imagine how delighted I am whenever books turned to movie stories depicted a scene the way I imagined it to be.

The reason why I am very excited to do this shout out today is because I have seen both movies first before I have read the book. So you will understand that I bought the books because I saw the movie. Well it was a little different for The Hunger Games. It was all the hype that made me excited to watch it. I had a dream about it. I saw the trailer, it looks promising and all my nephews & niece talked about it all the time. The book originally was catered to young adults but a reader is a reader, there is no age difference in my opinion because I am still fond of reading children’s literature up to now.

I never intend to read The Hunger Games book but I am looking forward to watching it on screen. Last Saturday night, my nephew’s copy of the book was just lying around the house. They were discussing it because both boys (Josh & Jude) were able to watch it already. My niece Shaine & I are scheduled to watch it the next day. I just got curious (it was around 10-11pm), picked up the book, started browsing and the next thing I know, it was 2 am. I finished the book and I liked it so much (love would be a very strong word and I do not intend to be a book slut by saying “love love” a book, like would be a safe word to use). The movie didn’t disappoint either. Right after the movie, we headed to the bookstore and bought the box set (all 3 books and a couple of hard bound books that I really want to have a copy, yes I splurged again on books GUILTY!). I am now on book 2 (Catching Fire), I am not in a hurry to finish it because I am saving it for my very long non-stop flight to Vancouver this Thursday.

For The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I have seen the movie first (the Hollywood version) before I decided to read the rest of the Trilogy. I’ve been hearing a lot about the book years ago but because I thought it’d be full of sex and violence I said I’m never gonna like it. W & I watched the movie because he got curious, it was Daniel Craig (he likes him) and Rooney Mara received an Oscar nod for this movie. Off we go and surprisingly I liked it too (not and will never be a Craig fan). Right after the movie I bought all 3 books. I read the first one even though I’ve seen the movie already and was able to finish the next two last month. I downloaded the original Swedish movie versions but was not able to watch them all yet. Maybe I’ll have the time for it this holy week.

So there you go. It’s not really a movie review, it’s just a shout out. I decided not to give my opinions about the movies because I like them both and I think I got my money’s worth. W wants to watch the HG movie too. I just hope it’s still on theatres when he’s in town 2 weeks from now. I will go with him and watch it again for the second time.

If you’re interested in the book vs movie review of The Hunger Games, this site is good to read: http://screenrant.com/hunger-games-movie-book-differences-johnh-160474/

Happy Monday to everyone!

De-Stressing

Ways on How To Deal with the Burdens of Life
Key on how to handle stress:

If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on.

I posted the enumerated items below on this very blog 6 (27 July 2005) years ago. Before I have posted side comments on how I feel on each item and I can’t help but smile because I sounded so immature, you can click here to reminisce. This time I am posting it again without any side & snide comments. The other part of me is very happy, I am blessed and loved but the half part of me is sad for things I cannot comprehend. Don’t take it the wrong way, this has nothing to do with my upcoming wedding, it’ll be the highlight of my adult life, to be one with my “the one”. What I’m feeling is something that adults can’t and will not be able to understand and resolve, it is the pains of growing up. Read on, think, ponder but don’t dwell on it too much. Unload your burdens, let’s stay honest and keep the love alive. Happy Thursday folks!

1. Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue.
2. Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.
3. Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.
4. Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their maker.
5. Eat a live toad in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you for the rest of the day.
6. If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague. [anne: hear hear]
7. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.
8. It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
9. Never buy a car you can't push.
10. Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.
11. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
12. Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.
13. The second mouse gets the cheese.
14. When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
15. Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.
16. You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.
17. Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
18. Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.
19. We could learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colors but they all have to live in the same box.
20. A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
21. Happiness comes through doors you didn't even know you left open.

Vacation Mode: Pressed ON

I am already on vacation mode, not that I am going away for the long weekend but because I already have the perfect activities in mind.

My nieces & nephews are all here already that is why 6 pm everyday is the most awaited hour. I cannot wait to go home and cuddle with them. Boyps will be arriving in 2 days as well, in time for the Visita Iglesia that I planned with Ma. Friday will be a prayerful day since it’ll be spent at home with family and a procession in the afternoon. Come Saturday it’ll be spent on the beach (I love the beach!!!) or perhaps just a relaxing day at the spa (still can’t decide, hopefully there’s a beach slot somewhere in Batangas for me and some friends).

Marco @ Bintan Lagoon Resort, Indonesia

I feel guilty thinking and day dreaming about vacations because I just arrived from one. I had a 6 days well spent vacation in SG with my best friend. I promised her that I’ll be with her on her bday and I was, I love the thought that we were both there for each other when we turned 3 oh. The vacation was even lovelier because best bud M stayed true to his promise, he planned a relaxing vacation at the beach. We had an overnight stay at Bintan Lagoon, Indonesia. It's now one of my fave beach, next to Panglao (my ultimate beach favourite) it now occupies the spot formerly held by Boracay.

After tomorrow, I am free. I hope you all enjoy your long weekends. Please remember the real reason why we all have Thursday and Friday off. Take care and God bless.

et al

This is Michaela Faye Lat Valdoria, cute nya noh? Kamukha ni Mommy Pen. Congrats Pen & Marlon!!!

Kita ba yung guhit? Kagagawan yan ni Sylar aka the Jelly Fish

I baked this brownie last weekend hehehe success naman, crisp on the outside tapos moist inside. Yummy din in fairness.

Trip To Manaoag

I've been to Manaoag a couple of times already and boy the devotees there -- a lot. I was a little worried at first because I'm with my mother who was just recently been confined to the hospital. She requested this trip as a Thanksgiving gesture to the Lord since she's slowly recovering. It was a blessed trip because when we arrived at the shrine there were just a few people on the line to the image. When we were done the people started to arrive. After lighting some candles, praying to the image and attending a mass we drove back to Manila. On our way home we had lunch at Fresh Fish in Tarlac. Here are some pictures of Mama, Kuya (who agreed to drive us) and my Auntie Ela:Mama with a new friend - Manong Guard

Fresh Fish

Mas mukha silang mag-ama kesa mag-ina

Auntie Ela with the restaurat's humungous rice

Photo Op uli ni Mama

Heaven on the Web

First of all I would like to thank Marco for sharing the site.

Early today I was going through my usual chat thing with Marco which includes:
1.) regular “musta” routine that would then lead to hallmark moments (miss you miss you too routine that could run for around 5 minutes).
2.) love life inquiry (ssdd – the one still missing)
3.) future marriage plans (far far billionth power future plans) – where we would eventually marry each other in our old age (ganyan kame mag-usap hehehe gaguhan)
4.) current events (which was about Glorietta for today)
5.) movies (wasn’t tackled this morning)
6.) people we know (gossip segue)
7.) my Ben (and Marco’s lack of a Bena)
8.) BOOKS (current book we’re reading – yes ganito ka-boring)

My good mood today was brought about the chat I had with him this morning, we usually end our chats with book related matters, our real topic of discussion - the reason that prolonged our conversation (and friendship hehehe joke!). I still feel proud that it was through me that Marco became a reader (before) and now a convert – a book addict. He reads a lot now and that makes me truly proud. He’s one of my accomplishments – his love for books now is one of my shinning moments hehehe. I know it sounds really shallow but I am a proud and doting wing(wo)man when it comes to Marco’s reading habits. The book I gave him as a gift early on our friendship (his first bday that I got the chance to witness, we were just new friends then) was his first book (The Little Prince). Okay enough with history and going back to my good mood :D Marco gave me this book lover’s site. An amazing site that made me logged on for 6 straight hours today (my very first visit to the site). I feel guilty that my attention for work is divided due to the fact that I am busy pimping my page hehehe. I was busy reading comments, joining a book club and adding lists to my shelf and reading lists. It’s a nirvana for book enthusiasts like moi and Marco (who by the way have 40 books already in his shelf). I am so excited that I now want to go home, get my book inventory and add everything I own and books I have already read to my account.

The site I’m raving about? It’s Shelfari… the site for book worms, book critics and everyone who loves reading. Do join guys and add me up to your list of book friends.

Music That Feeds The Soul

Pre-concert picture with my sis Dinah. We didn't know what to expect, we were there because we love Switchfoot!!!

The crowd went wild, moshpit guys went gaga when the band started playing. Edge of My Seat would have completed my night but they had a very good set list... all the hits were played and we can't help but be proud that we know the lyrics of even their not so famous songs.

With my own bandmates: Arlene, Jenny, Raymond & Dinah
1. The band... Jon on vocals & lead guitar, Tim on bass, Drew on guitars, Chad on drums and Jerome on synthesizer & all others (hehehe multi-tasking, iba talaga ang pinoy... guitars & tamborine din sya say nyo)... 2. balut challenge, Switchfoot is the first ever foreign band to sucessfully ate Philippines' exotic food - the Balut. They were all really great and honest that they will not try it again hehehe (kahit ako noh ayoko nun) ... 3 & 4. Jerome - proudly Pinoy (slangers nga lang) ... 5 & 6. Jon & his advocacy for justice and for picture takings hehehe.Yes, we were standing this close to Jon Foreman when he run down the stage and gave the public a little information about how great help IJM is doing for the benefit of the Filipinos.

Jon asked everybody to take a picture all at the same time, yes massive flash attack, here's what I got. I guess everyone's picture would have me & my friends at the back of Jon kaya all smiles kame. I saw all of them looking and aiming their cameras at our directions. The flashes can blind you hehehe.Bye Jon, bye Tim, bye Drew, bye Chad and bye Jerome. You guys are great musicians and inspiration to everybody. God bless you for your contribution in making this world a better place. Making lives meant to be lived.

Tamilok

We tried this Palawan delicacy "Tamilok" (wood worm) at Kinabuch. Verdict? Tastes like oysters. Everybody tried it except for Ziella who’s a self confessed non-FEAR factor material.

Finds at the Bookfair