Grateful Me...

My belated birthday gifty from Mrs. Cook!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE pens!!!

Last weekend, MajorDad gave me 3 boxes [200 packets per box] of Splenda and more coffee. I still have coffee from the one he gave me last November. I don't know why he gave me multiple boxes of Splenda BUT I am grateful. I'm the only one who drinks coffee here at home. He also gave me Honey Nut Cheerios and Apple Juice. I have a generous father in-law. :)

I got the part-time job that I applied for last week. Interviewed last Monday, went back on Tuesday for orientation and I will start on Wednesday. My working hours will be from 6am to 12nn. NG said this is a good start since I've no work experience and background in this country. I have to establish a job history then I can find for a full-time job. I'm happy to have a job, even if it's a part-time job, for now.

Last Monday, NG and I went to the Card Factory Outlet, that is my happy place. In time, I see myself spending more than 10 minutes in that place. Hee. So many cards, so little time. I love greeting cards!!!

Anyhoo, that's about it for now, will play some poker for now. Have a good weekend. God bless.

Say hi to your mother for me...

Mark Walhberg is my #2 laminated. Hee. Hummina hummina. Andy Samberg did a good impression. Love the bit. Love Mark.

It's a new month. Getting colder here in O, not so much the past few days though, thank God. I had my first Halloween, gave out candies, not a lot of kiddies came by though. We have leftover candies, any takers? Hee.

Had an online VS with the EBC gurls last Sunday, I had 4 glasses of Absolut Pears with Crangrape juice. Eee had 8 or 9, Mano & Doctora both had 4 glasses as well. 5 hours online with them. We didn't get disconnected on YM. Webcam and voicechat was on too. Gotta love technology yes? I do.

It'll be 6 months on the 25th for me since I got here. Wow. Six months with no work, sigh, I am not liking that fact but can't do anything but wait for the work permit to come through. How time flies yes?

Here's to a good November for you and me. Keep the faith. God bless.

On a cold October day here in O...

Jamie had a small gig last September 30th in LA and he's working on a new album and will have a TV project due out next year. Yay. For now, you can get updates via his myspace page at www.myspace.com/jamiewaltersofficial or at jamiewalters.com.

Your Pizza Says:

You love the food you grew up eating, and it's mostly what you still eat. You don't go for a big variety of foods. You just have a few favorites you stick to. Pizza Topping You Should Try: Sausage or Canadian bacon Stay away from: Anything you can't pronounce

The Pizza Test

I am here. Thought I'd do an update. I finally filed my status adjustment beginning of the month. I got the receipt notice last Friday. It'll be around 90days or more for the status adjustment to be processed. 60-90 days for the employment permit. Waiting game it is for now.

I watched Sex and the City, the movie yesterday, it made me miss my gurlfriends, made me nostalgic too. Sigh. I need a drink. Did I cry while watching the movie? If you know me, you'd know the answer to that.

I've been following Survivor Philippines and I'm enjoying it. I don't like the host much but other than that, I'm glued to the show.

It's getting colder here in O, yesterday it was in the 40s. We didn't even turn the AC on. Even NG used the comforter. If NG gets under the comforter that means it is cold. Right now, it's around 50s but it's supposed to go down the 30s tonight. Wow. I am not looking forward to the winter. Just have to deal with it. Will get winter clothes soon.

I'm gonna go for now. Must do some grilling, we're having Tilapia flakes for dinner. Hope you're all having a good mid-week. Keep the faith. God bless.

And You Did What?...

I always want to post something in here but for some reason, I couldn't come up with anything that I think is interesting enough to share. Now, I'm just shooting the breeze, whatever will be, will be.

Got married a few weeks ago. It's bound to happen, was just a matter of time. Relieved we were able to pull it off. My Nanay was a bit worried how I'd be able to prepare for it. Dress, shoes and what not. Hee. I was able to handle it by myself, Thank God. We made the long-distance [not easy] thing worked while we had to. No more of daily emails, sms chats, weekend webcam chats and phone calls. In person communication is so much better. NG and I have been like a married couple since I got here but when it became legal and all, it was more special than anything that has happened to us, so far. I'm loveliking it. Very comforting to be married to someone you really want and love and viceversa. I feel blessed. Thank you to those who congratulated us. Do include us in your prayers and thoughts that we'll have a blessed married life.

I cooked something yesterday...it was tasteful enough, hee...NG liked it, he said, I should make it again...you can check the recipe here.

This one is from Post Secret. I tried to think of my fears and the most is about death. I shouldn't be afraid of that yes? I have faith. I know, it'll all be okay once we reach our time. I pray I'll be okay about that.

MajorDad gave us 72 bottles of Powerade. He told us he got a good deal on it, 50 cents/bottle at WalMart. He also gave us a bunch of [more] microwaveable foodies. I am grateful. He's one generous man.

Anyhoo, that's about it for now. Have a good day. Keep the faith. God bless.

Blackout...

My crush for this guy started when I was still in HS, that's quite a long time ago, and I still have this high school girl type crush whenever I see a recent photo of him. He was the Bench undie model for years until he got "overweight" and lost his right [if you can say that] to be the underwear model for Bench. Nowadays, it's Jon Avila, Dingdong Dantes [my friend said he kinda look like Zoolander whenever he poses...], Rafael Rossell who dons the latest undies for Bench.

Last Friday night, Bench had it's every other year denim/underwear show in the Philippines. If I was still there, I KNOW I would have been there to see that. Jomari is not as underwear ad worthy as 10 years ago, but he still and will always be my Bench undie guy. SIGH. He'll turn 32 next month. I should update the website I made for him me thinks. I've been saying that for the longest time. I just might. If I don't get too lazy. I got the images from the Team Kapamilya Multiply group, click on the link to see more pix from the Blackout Denim/Underwear show. I miss buying stuff from BENCH, they have a limited online store as of the moment, still not the same as being inside the store and being surrounded by the colorful undies. I lovelike undies on men. Bow. Don't ask. It just how it is. Hee.

My EBC friends...missing them...this was taken when Slutty Nurse [2nd from left, I don't remember how she became the "slutty nurse" coz she's really not, I think, we got it from FRIENDS...I don't remember for sure] had a recent vacay in the Philippines. The lucky dude in the pic is Neo.

Eeee, Ada aka Slutty Nurse, Miss Gwynnie and Doctora aka Nerdy Nurse [she recently passed the nursing exams...we now have two nurses in the group...CONGRATS again Doctora Nurse...your being studious and incommunicado during your review months really paid off...a mini wave for you...whooo]. I miss our VS [vodka session] gurls. Not fun to drink by myself. Maybe, I'll drink tonight.

I have been playing this game UNO!!!!!! My cousin Nadine and I used to play this card game back when I was still in the Philippines, now they have a computer version of the famous card game. Wheee. I wish it's an online game where you can play against real people though, that would really be FUN.

Been here in O for 2 months now...where did the time go? What has changed? I definitely gained weight. I haven't been eating much but the lack of activity [like walking a lot back when I was still working] on a daily basis could be the reason for my gain weight. I need a weighing scale, NG promised me one. I'm not overly conscious about it but I know how not easy it is to lose weight, I never really tried, I just played badminton a lot a few years and that's where it all started. I miss playing badminton. Who wants to play versus me? I'm not good at it but I can hit the ball when need to. Hee. I wake up at 5:45am every weekday, the same time as NG gets up. Then just do whatever is needed to do during the day. My computer is always on, just on standby until someone from home gets online and started chatting with me. Had a long chat conference with two of my friends yesterday, must have been more than 5 hours. So many subjects have been talked about. We even tried voice chat. Ain't technology cool? Yes, it is.

I went to the mall again today, not much time though, I was there for only two hours because had to get home before NG gets here since they keys were with me. Saw one skirt that I actually really liked. It was white, AND I'm not a fan of white clothing but for some reason, I liked it instantly. Might go back to get it. It was on sale too, so, it's like, coolness.

It's Saturday night, NG's night to unwind [loud tunes + drinking his Yukon Jack], so, I'm here in the living room, unwinding with him in the other room, I can hear the tunes LOUD and CLEAR out here even with the door closed. It's loud and I don't like it but that's how he unwinds AND knowing how a creature of habit he is, he will lose his mind if he don't get that each weekend. Hee. It's all about compromise yes? We have so many things to discover from each other, even if we've been together [long distance] since December 2004, we still have a lot of things to discover [both good and bad] about each other. An Aunt told me about something she read about this guy who's had a successful and lasting relationship, the guy said, you must have the 3 Cs: Commitment, Communication & Compromise. Will just have to keep that in mind for now yes? Hee. Sounds easy but it could be tricky.

Must go and play my game for now...and I think, I'd have a few glasses of AbDew or AbCran-apple. Have a good day. God bless.

Only in the Philippines...

Seven Seven Seven...

Seven Ways to Restart Your Day
Beliefnet Feature from Oprah.com.

You've just woken up, and you're on the wrong side of the bed. Is there any way to switch to the other side? Absolutely.

For those times when your mind is addled, and your center is shaky; open this little black bag of cures and find your beautiful balance!

By Kathryn Matthews from O, The Oprah Magazine, October 2007

As soon as the alarm rings...
Spend your first 15 seconds awake planning something nice to do for yourself today. "This can really set you up in a good mood--even if it's just going by the farmers' market and getting fresh strawberries," says Alice Domar, PhD, whose next book--Be Happy Without Being Perfect: How to Break Free from the Perfection Deception--will be out in March 2008.

Get up.
The longer you lie there, the more you ruminate, the darker your outlook is likely to become, says Christine Padesky, PhD, coauthor of Mind Over Mood. So get vertical and make a cup of coffee, take a shower, feed the cat...

Drink...
Make that two glasses of water upon awakening, the time when our bodies are dehydrated, says Susan M. Kleiner, PhD, author of The Good Mood Diet. Dehydration causes fatigue, which affects your mood.

Move it.
You already know the number one way of chasing away a bad mood: exercise. A workout at the gym sure helps. But even just a few minutes of movement--a fast walk, for example--raises energy and reduces tension, says mood expert Robert Thayer, PhD, professor of psychology at California State University, Long Beach, and author of Calm Energy.

Investigate.
When you're dogged by anxiety or the dread you woke up with, try to pinpoint what's causing it. Did someone say anything the day before? Do you have a meeting today you wish you didn't? Was it the dream you were having when the alarm went off? "If you can figure out why you're upset, that's halfway to feeling better," says Domar.

Be kind and thankful.
This isn't exactly news, but generosity and gratitude are both big contributors to happiness, according to Todd B. Kashdan, PhD, who directs the Laboratory for the Study of Social Anxiety, Character Strengths, and Related Phenomena at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. Do something nice for a stranger or friend and see if you don't feel better about yourself. Also, jot down three things that you're grateful for. It seems so simple, but counting your blessings just has a way of making you remember the sun is shining.

Laugh at yourself.
The best comedians point out the mundane aspects of life--relationship strife, a boring job, a closet full of too-tight clothes; they exaggerate those circumstances, and give us a perspective we can laugh about, says Mark Ridley, owner of the Comedy Castle in Royal Oak, Michigan. Look at your own life and try to appreciate the absurdity of what doesn't go exactly according to plan (the diets, the men, the buzz cut). Acknowledging how little control we actually have over what happens is sometimes a most freeing gift to yourself.

Seven Steps to Improving Relationships

By Rabbi Brad Hirschfield

Conflict is an inevitable part of life, but it need not always be painful. In fact, we all have within us the ability to sustain relationships even when we deeply disagree. When we reach our breaking point (as we all do), and need to walk away, we can do so in ways that make it more likely that we will come back together.

Here are seven ancient Talmudic steps to follow when confronted with a conflict. They create conversation--not denigration--and encourage us to talk about what matters most in ways that hurt the least.

1. Give Yourself a Break
Sometimes you need some distance-some time to cool off and reflect. But it should be just that, i.e., a limited amount of time after which you and the person with whom you are fighting agree to come back together and revisit the issues. A time out can be a great thing, as long as its design is to bring you back together.

2. Respect the Other Person's Dignity
The one whom you are in conflict with should never lose their value as a human being. No matter how right you think you are and how wrong they may be, don't deny their dignity; you will do more harm than good.

3. Experience Radical Empathy
We must do everything in our power to identify with the other person and their position before fighting for our own. Simply saying that we understand their point of view is not enough--be able to argue it well and present it as if you shared it yourself.

4. Acknowledge Your Partner's Wisdom
Before we can be their teacher, we must first become their student. We must accept that no matter how wrong someone is about one thing, they are unlikely to be wrong about everything. Nobody is smart enough to be 100 percent right or dumb enough to 100 percent wrong.

5. Know That Conflict Hurts Everyone
Appreciate that even when we are doing everything right in handling our relationships, we all pay a price when a conflict unfolds. Being right should not insulate us from feeling the pain that is a part of the conflict in which we are engaged.

6. Look First to Yourself
Even when we are right, we should always ask how we participate in creating and perpetuating the conflict. We all play the blame game sometimes, but it's important to point a thumb back at ourselves before a finger at the other person.

7. Remember, Being Right Is Not Enough
Remind ourselves that the only real justification for conflict with those about whom we care is that it addresses an issue, which is central to sustaining the relationship over time. If it's just about being right, then it probably isn't worth it.

My Seven American Idol Favorites...

It's been a lazy weekend for me. Was in bed most of the time. Watched a few movies. I recommend Juno. Across the Universe was ok, I didn't loved it but I didn't disliked it either. Though the guy who played Jude was easy on the eyes. Martian Child was good enough for me, John Cusack was they reason why I watched it anyways and he's always good for me. I love hearing him talk. SIGH. I also watched Dedication [Mandy Moore and Billy Crudup], hmmm, there are some movies that when you see who's in it, you get interested in, but when you start watching the movie, it's like, hmmmm, just have to finish the movie to see how it all ends, though, I pretty much knew what was coming. Hee. I like Mandy Moore. Billy was ok. Margot at the wedding stars Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Jack Black, the movie is not a comedy. I don't know what to make of it. I'm glad it wasn't a long movie though. I still have to watch Into the Wild, Awake, Silk, The Bucket List, My Blueberry Nights to watch in the coming days.

Didn't really get to do productive things except I ironed some jeans and shirts Saturday night. I planned on cleaning [basically just arranging my what-not] my room but that didn't worked out. Hee.

Had semi-off chats with NG this weekend. We get those once in a while. There are times that you just want to be with someone and not talk right? But can't do that when you're in a long distance relationship. You can't be on YM and not type anything, the other might think you're mad or something. Can be tough times. Oh well. We tend to take it as it comes. Soon enough we'd get to spend time together and just be. No more looking at each other's webcams and all that. 3 years of doing that made me asked myself why did I agree on it in the first place? I'm not regretting it. It is what it is. Praying about things.

It's a brand new month, NG feels it will be our month, hoping for the best is all. My youngest sister will be arriving on Wednesday from Thailand [a pit stop from Dubai]. She texted me earlier saying that their flight from Dubai to Thailand was delayed. And she'll be arriving here in Manila on Wednesday instead of Tuesday. All good. Already have plans on taking her to a spa for a massage and what not. And she'll be celebrating her birthday here, she'll be 28. How time flies. Indeed. I feel my March will be good, if only for my sister being here, I think that's enough reason to yes? NG might be here too, if all things go as planned.

Here's to a good March for all of us. Keep that faith. God Bless.

February Twenty Five Twenty Oh Eight...

From Post Secret
Wouldn't it be nice to be able to sign? I never learned how to do this. I still could learn yes?

Korean baby covers Hey Jude...you must watch this...

From Monday's a Bitch:
1. Did you watch the Oscars last night? What did you think of them?
Woke up late for it. Saw bit parts. Saw James McAvoy. Not much into awards shows now than I used to.

2. Have you ever called in sick to work when you weren't really sick? What did you spend the day doing instead?
I try not to because karma is a bitch. The few times I've had, I just stayed in my room, whenever I feel down or something, it's not just easy to get up and pretend that you're okay when in fact, you're not, if you know what I mean.

3. In school did you ever have to serve detention? What for?
I cut class and got caught. First time I did it AND I got caught. Never did it again after that.

4. Have you ever had food poisoning? What did you eat that caused it?
No food poisoning. Though, I remember, years ago, during lunch, I ate just a bit of rice and pork asado, then ate LOTS of watermelon, was throwing up for quite a while.

5. Do you have any tattoos? If not, would you ever consider getting one?
I don't have any though there are times I wish I'd get one but I'm not too keen on the needles.

I don't get to watch Gossip Girl but isn't this guy too good looking? There are gay rumors buzzing around him, that he's with JC Chasez of NSYNC. One time, it was a news bit on ET that he's with Carrie Underwood. Hmmm. I don't care what his sexual preference is, he's easy on the eyes, I don't even know if he's a good actor. Hee. Not crushing on him but you just can't help but notice his good looks yes? Oh, his name is Chase Crawford btw.

Kids say the darndest things: [a brief conversation between me and my 8-year-old cousin Nadine]:
Nadine: Ate, ano ba yung condom, yun frenzy? [apparently she saw in on a TV commercial]
Me: Hindi mo pa maiintidihan kahit explain ko sa'yo, pag laki mo na lang.
Nadine: Try mo, baka maintindihan ko...
[She forgot about her question once we got to the chocolates section inside Watsons...heee...As far as I can remember, we just learn about those things as we grow up no? I can't remember how I learned about condoms. And even if I do remember, I will not tell it here. Hee. I do have a condom I got free from a Cosmo mag a few years ago, I have to find it and get rid of it, they have expiration right? The packet it came with is purple, that's why I kept it, I guess. A FRIENDS episode is flashing back right now, Ross calling the condom company...hee. I miss FRIENDS.]

I celebrated my birthday with the EBC gurls. We had body massages before our crabs, tofu and palabok dinner. We were online after dinner. We helped Eee start her own Multiply and Facebook accounts, yay. No VS, imagine that? No one really craved for it. Coffee, tea, popcorn and cakes are what kept us awake until we parted ways at 6am. It was a good way of celebrating my birthday. I pray I get to celebrate it with them again sometime soon.

This is the last week of February 2008. Where did it go? Next week, my youngest sister will be here for a month-long vacation. I can't wait for her to have it because she's been really swamped with work. Getting her vacation wasn't easy either. Her bosses didn't want her to go because they need her a lot. I told her that could by why the person before her resigned, because of too much work load. Hee. But she enjoys what she do. I think, I can say, she's pretty blessed that she enjoys what she does for a living. If only I could afford to give her a Macbook Pro for her birthday next month, I would, maybe someday, somehow. It's not impossible, will just take some time to get that. Can't wait to see her again next week. Yay. It was July 2006 that she was last here. I still am praying and wishing that one day, we'd all be in one timezone and we'll all just be a phone call away. Distance can be a bitch, thankful for the internet, text messaging that keeps us closer in some ways.

Have a good week ahead. Keep the faith and God Bless.

Step by Step...

They really are having a comeback...wheee...

Got the pictures below at NKOTB Fans...these brings back memories. Had these posters in my room wall back in the day. Wow. I think, I still have some of the posters/magazine pictures of the guys. I have to look for them though. Had the biggest crush on Jonathan Knight, he was the quiet one among the bunch.

I didn't go to work today. Was just in bed all day/afternoon. I just got up now to update the dailybread. Sigh. Body's aching. Cough and Cold. I don't like being sick. I have to go to work tomorrow, it's a busy work week. Must go back to bed now. God Bless.

What's New?...Not Much Really...

My cousins and I just amused ourselves even if we're irritated inside since some people wanted to see what is inside our client's container. It's a regular shipment for crying out loud. They just want to see. Fine. Waste a day, come back the next day to have it examined. Grrrr. We now have 3 pieces of bottles, the next time they want to have it opened, will just show them the bottle, I hope that would suffice. Ah ewan AND if they thought they'd get something from having our client's container opened, boohoo, didn't get that group of people a single peso. Serves them right. They "examined" the containers they know they will not see any fault. Grrrr to them. You have straight papers and yet, you still get harassed by this effing people. That is not work for me, if you're becoming a hassle to someone else. Ah ewan. We have the same shipment this week, I wonder if we'll get by the mickey mouse club.

I finally got my passport last Tuesday. No corrections. Yay. I was asked by a friend why I didn't just had it delivered. My reason was, if there will be any corrections, at least, I'm there to have it corrected. Thankfully, no corrections. I saw some people who had corrections on their passports. I feel bad for them. After falling in line after line, they don't get your passport information right, that'll make me angry.


My nephew Dylan turned 7 last week, we had his birthday celebration last Sunday @ Shakeys. It went fine. A good turnout. We're happy we got to do that for him. We didn't get to have that kind of celebration back when we turned 7. I remember, I had a party as well, even had lechon, but times are changing.

CUTENESS times two...

My cousins wanted to take one baby home...heee...God bless them babies.

Heath Ledger passed away last week. Sad.

Novak Djokovic won the 2008 Australian Open. Happy for him.

I recommend Atonement. James McAvoy can CRY. Men who can cry, gotta love them

NKOTB [New Kids On The Block] will have a comeback? Hmmm. Interesting.

Maroon5 tix are pricey for me, might not go, don't know.

LOST starts its new season this week.

NG turned 36 last Friday, he said, he's old. I told him not to say that in front of my other friends who are a few years older than him. Or else, he'll get whacked in the head. Hee.

I wanna watch Alvin and the Chipmunks. Jason Lee is in it.

I'm doing a "project" on the emails NG and I have been exchanging since December 2004, it's not easy as I thought it would be. NG sent me 11588 emails as of today and I replied to most, if not all of them, multiply that by two, that'll be 23176 emails. Sheesh. I don't think I'm gonna finish that "project." I planned on it back in 2006 but just got keep getting set aside and now, the number of emails is overwhelming. Oh well. At least, I don't have a deadline. Whatever. I started 2 weeks ago. And I only got as far as emails dated January 13, 2005. Might not finish this "project" if I get tired. Hee. We were crazy kids for sending 20++ emails a few years ago. Nowadays, it's just 3 or 4 mails a day during the week, we get rest on emails during the weekends. In time, no more mails, if things work out as we hope they will be. Praying on that. 3 years of long distance is quite enough me feels. It's time for short distance, wanna try that soon.

This is the last week of January 2008. Can you believe it? I can't. Time is really an AMAZING thing.

Here's hoping we have a good last week of January 2008. Keeping the faith. God Bless.