hippie mom diaries

The Story of My Ugly Ring

2025-09-09T00:13:00.000-07:00

I once had someone who “understood” jewelry take a look at this ring. He just shook his head and smiled — and I knew exactly what that meant. From then on, I decided to keep the ring tucked away, buried under my so-called treasure trove of “fashion” jewelry — the kind Google defines as “imitation, trinkets, novelty, mass-produced.” In my own private classification system, this one fell under: Never-ever-to-be-worn.

So why did I keep it?

During the final stretch of my paternal grandmother’s life, when I visited her as she lay bedridden with dementia, she gave me this ring. She told me it was mine because emerald is my birthstone. We shared the same birth month — May — both Taureans. And if there was anyone who embodied the Taurus description, it was her: ruled by Venus, with a deep appreciation for beauty in fashion, art, home décor, and nature. My grandmother surrounded herself with elegance and grace. As our relative Lolo Quintin once said, she was truly “regal.”

Me? I was her very “unregal baby.” But what moved me most was that despite her dementia, she remembered my birth month and wanted me to have alahas.

Now, about the ring. I’d heard stories that, in the earlier stages of her illness, people allegedly sold her fake jewelry. I suspect this piece was one of those. To be honest, it looked nothing like her taste or standard. As a vintage junkie, it didn’t even fit my style either. But today, I felt an invisible nudge to unearth it from its hiding place — and wear it.

Because here’s the truth: the beauty of this ring isn’t in its craftsmanship or authenticity. Its beauty lies in the love it carries. Even through the fog of dementia, my grandmother remembered me, chose me, and gifted me this ring.

And really, isn’t that the most precious thing of all?

JOHN LENNON PLAYING PAUL McCARTNEY'S HOFNER BASS!? A Unique Treat From The Complete Beatles Experience

2015-10-19T05:46:00.001-07:00

Last Saturday, I got a real kick out of seeing John Lennon pick-up Paul's signature Hofner bass as they performed 'Hey Jude'. This, for me, was a unique twist showcased by a Beatles' tribute band called 'Britain's Finest', who came to Manila and brought their 'Complete Beatles Experience' tour at the Solaire Theater Resort and Casino last October 17, 2015.

Tribute bands are expected to stay faithful to the look, sound, personality of the band that they pay homage to, and even to the instruments that they play. That's what they're expected to do-- to recapture and relive the memory of yesteryears. Anything that veers away from 'the original' may be considered 'sacrilegious', so to speak by their hard core fans.

Not the case for me. I never imagined John Lennon trading bass guitar duties with Paul, thus it was a refreshing treat to see this scenario happening onstage, even though it was just an act from Beatle impersonators. I've seen the real Paul sing Lennon songs like "Strawberry Fields Forever", "Help", and "Give Peace A Chance". And also sing George's "Something". But it all happened after his mates have all gone to rock n' roll heaven. I couldn't exactly put a pin down to what I felt, but I could sense a tinge of wishful thinking and maybe a little bit of sadness. The fact that it is no longer possible for John to return the favor by singing 'Band On The Run'(which John says is one of the best songs Paul has ever written) or George adding a Sitar flavor to 'Ebony and Ivory'.

Now about the show...

For a true-blue Beatle fan like yours truly, I think the show did not quite live up to its title of 'The Complete Beatles Experience'. Yes, they sang 'the hits' but there could have been more...yet I understand that from a musical director's point of view, one can bring up the argument --how can one squeeze-in all the hit songs from the depth and breadth of The Beatles' catalogue in a 2-hour concert?

Well, I say that the show was rather 'incomplete' because its setlist was geared towards the 'Paul McCartney' repertoire; meaning, the Beatles songs that had more of Paul singing lead. I was also looking for the 'John' side, with songs like "I Wanna Hold Your Hand","In My Life","Ticket To Ride","Strawberry Fields Forever"... I also missed the Lennon-McCartney signature vocal harmonies in songs like "If I Fell","This Boy", "Drive My Car"...I was also looking for more of the band's 'anthems' like "All You Need Is Love", "A Day In The Life","Let It Be","Come Together",and expected the end to end with "The End".

Don't get me wrong. I don't think that the show was a let-down. One of its high points was the overall feel good vibe that the band members radiated towards the audience. In particular, hats-off to Benjamin Chadwick, who played Paul McCartney. The timbre of his voice was closest to Paul. You could tell that his voice that night was not in tip-top shape because it was kinda hoarse maybe due to a cough or cold, but I could hear a very close semblance to Paul's voice. And true to his Paul's character, he effortlessly put on and wore the 'cute Beatle' hat and did his McCartney-esque spiels quiet well, adding-on 'maraming salamat' and 'mahal ko kayo'. And yes, Chadwick played left-handed bass too! But I think he missed one crucial McCartney-classic spiel, and that is when Paul introduces a song, he always says: "We'd like to carry-on with the song...". Oh well, that's just the stickler Bealte-fan in me...

I also flipped over how Robert Bielma, the guy who played George, gave this 'quiet Beatle' a voice. Perhaps if we could get into the real George Harrison's head at the height of Beatlemania, he was probably thinking the same thing. In one of Bielma's spiels, he said that George is not really the quiet one. With John and Paul yapping and dominating press interviews, George just chose to keep quiet, hence he was now baptised as 'the quiet Beatle'. There were also parts where Bielma jokingly mentioned that Lennon-McCartney also dominated songwriting contributions and earns millions of dollars from it. I think the real George Harrison carried this sentiment because it's a known fact that he got an unspoken one-song contribution per album, and that his other compositions were put aside to make way for the dynamic duo.

Britain's Finest also took time after the show for a meet-and-greet with Beatle fans. They gamely posed for pictures, and this hippie-mom and son Ram Cartney, were lucky to exchange wacky peace signs with the fab four of Britain's Finest.

special thanks: Espie Eusebio and the Boardworks Media team
photos: (c) Ram Cartney Cortez

Experience Beatlemania All Over Again With Britain's Finest: The Complete Beatles Experience

2015-10-13T21:55:00.001-07:00

With only two surviving Beatles, is it still possible for the generation of today to experience Beatlemania?

Yes It Is! Touted as one of 'the world's best tribute bands' and the 'best Beatles-tribute band', BRITAIN'S FINEST is the definitely the next best thing who could give you the COMPLETE BEATLES EXPERIENCE!

So roll-up and brace yourselves for BRITAIN'S FINEST is about to give you a COMPLETE BEATLES EXPERIENCE on October 14, 2015 at The Tent at the Midas Hotel and Casino and again on October 17, 2015 at the Theatre in Solaire Resort & Casino.

BRITAIN'S FINEST -- an ALL STAR CAST handpicked by the HOLLYWOOD producers at MUSIC ZIRCONIA, composed of Luis Renteria (Ringo), Tyson Kelly (John), Benjamin Chadwick (Paul) and Robert Bielma (George), are tasked to play as JOHN, PAUL, GEORGE, and RINGO.

The uncanny physical resemblance and the attention-to-detail costumes are just tips of the iceberg, so to speak. These guys will indeed play live, note-for-note renditions of those immortal Beatles' classics that shook the world and shaped Rock n'Roll Music history.

These lads will take you on a Magical Mystery Tour that would most likely start with the lads from Liverpool who pleaded you to Please Please Me...

...to the moptops who took America and the world by storm when they told you - 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand' and shouted 'She Loves You ' (yeah! yeah! yeah!)...

... to the happy-go-lucky fab four who pioneered the concept of the first music videos on the sets and soundtracks of 'A Hard Days Night' and 'Help'...

... the hippies who experimented and started a Revolution by joining Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band...

... and down to seasoned musicians who, at the peak of the Long and Winding Road of their successful careers, whispered words of wisdom to just 'Let It Be'...

Niki Payne of CBS Los Angeles, wrote, “Britain’s Finest is as close to the real deal as you may ever find in this lifetime”.

Don't miss this A-Day-In-The-Life performance. All you need Is Love for Beatles' music and a Ticket To Ride and hop on this nostalgic sound trip!

For ticket information on “Britain’s Finest: The Complete Beatles Experience” call SM Tickets (470.222) and TicketWorld (891.9999) or visit www.ticketworld.com.ph.

The BEATLES Experience by Bristain's Finest, inviting everyone to watch them LIVE at the Solaire Theatre on October 17, 2015

Lifehouse: A Rockin' Reunion And Reconnection With Their 'Favorite' Pinoy Fans

2015-10-07T00:46:00.000-07:00

LIFEHOUSE LIVE IN MANILA

OCTOBER 8, 2015 at the MALL OF ASIA ARENA

Lifehouse call their Pinoy fans 'our favorite'. Aside from playing to a full house, the band could never forget the massive crowd singing along with them, with every word in place and every note in pitch perfect tune, as they dished out their massive hits like "Hanging by A Moment", "You and Me", "Sick Cycle Carousel", "First Time", "Whatever It Takes", and many more... "They even know and sing-along to our 'b-side' songs!", exclaims bassist Bryce Soderberg.

That's the reason why they just keep on coming back...and their Pinoy fans also come back for more! Three years after their last concert performance, Lifehouse is due for their third reunion with their beloved fans. Now is your chance to see them again live for an evening of extraordinary musical pleasure. Lifehouse Live in Manila, October 8, 2015 at the Mall Of Asia Arena.

Tickets are still available at SM Outlets or call 470 2222). Ticket Prices: VIP – P6,580, PATRON– P5,090, LOWER BOX – P3,400, UPPER BOX – P1,910. For Lifehouse VIP and Meet & Greet Packages, please email boardworksmedia@yahoo.com

This event is brought to you by Boardworks Media and Midas Promotions. Co-presented by Fox and Starworld. Media Partners: ABS-CBN, MYX, RX 93.1, Mellow 94.7, 96.3 EasyRock, 97.1 Barangay LS FM, Yes FM 101.1, Energy FM 106.7, Business World, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star, People’s Tonight, People’s Journal, CNN Ph Online, inquirer.net, philstar.com, Pep.ph, Manila Concert Scene, Philippine Concerts, Meg, Megstreetwear.ph, Balikbayan Magazine, Soundcheck MNL, Asian Journal, MNL Online, Odyssey NEXT, Xperience Live, Legato Music Magazine, BLCKMRKT International LLC, SpinOff Manila and special thanks to Erase.

reposting an article: Foolish & Crazy – Getting a Job in the Music Industry

2011-02-14T09:18:00.000-08:00

An amusing article...I could relate to this so much coz I've been in the music industry 'since the hottest selling commodity for teens was called a 'cassette'...yeah, you get the drift. As I am about to step out of it and explore 'what's out there', I think sharing this article is like a summary of where I've been and where I'm going...

"...the people that have jobs in the music industry are either foolish or crazy. Either a) a person is so in love with music and art that they refuse to work elsewhere, for better money, which means that they're foolish..."

"People that want to get a job in this field work their faces off and create opportunities for themselves. They either start a business or get a nonpaid position at a place they love. They get in the system.

And they become indispensible. "

a must read. I absolutely recommend read the entire article: http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2011/02/getting-a-job-in-the-music-industry.html

What 'best' do you aspire for?

2010-12-15T20:27:00.000-08:00

A busy 9 to 5 corporate working mom like me is always torn when leaving home for work. My kids would sometimes whisper to me in bed, still with sleepy and droopy eyes: 'are you going to the office, mom?' I answer back: 'yes, mommy has to work...' Then they would reply with this syllable, which to me are the heaviest sounds that never fail to crush my heart: 'ahwwww...'

an excerpt from Bo Sanchez's Soulfood Newsletter:

This man was very successful in his job. His bosses respected him so much. He was probably the “employee of the year” for sixty years straight.

But which Award is more important?

“Best Employee” or “Best Husband”?

“Best Worker” or “Best Wife”?

“Best Manager” or “Best Mom”?

“Best Salesman” or “Best Dad”?

You decide.

You've been waiting for opportunity to knock at your door. What if it doesn't? read on...

2010-11-19T17:36:00.000-08:00

A Working mom's mindset for the day:

When opportunity doesn't knock,

build a door.

- posted on twitter by Charles Major , author of the book "Become A Mogul - 7 Major Success Principles for the Urban Entrepreneur"

Last Minute Unique Ideas: Halloween Treats

2010-10-30T02:50:00.000-07:00

This working mom has just realized that halloween is just a few ticks away, and is kinda panicking because we haven't done any candy shopping and packing for the halloween trick or treat. Over the years, candies were the stars of the show. Kids would scramble and risk life and limb just to be able to fill their goodie bags with candies. This working mom wants this halloween to be extra special this time. Candies are good , but we want our goodies to be great this time, that it is worth posting, sharing or tagging on these kids' Facebooks.

Here are my last minute unique ideas on how to be the most-talked-about-halloween treat on the block (just click this link to view)

This is a working a working mom's practical yet out-of-the-box ideas on how to make this halloween really wicked

*This working mom is music marketing executive by day, a blogger and forum poster anytime of the day. A mom of 2 kids. Balancing the act of cool parenthood, of being a 9 to 5 working mom, shopping at ukay2/flea markets, collecting retro stuff.
Click this to view my other articles: http://www.bukisa.com/people/Hippiemomdiaries

http://www.bukisa.com/articles/384141_move-over-candies-here-are-ideas-for-unique-halloween-treats

Working mom bitten by the twitter bug

2010-10-22T03:00:00.000-07:00

To tweet or not to tweet, that is the question? This working mom has been contemplating on this for days already. I've been maintaing quite a few social sites, forum participation sites, blog sites, article submission sites, social bookmarking sites...wait did I just say 'a few'? Yes, I am in all these sites. So why not add the most popular micro-blogging site? The challenge of 140 characters is something that intrigues me. So now I dare you to follow this working mom and find out what I'm up to. All it takes is to follow this link: http://twitter.com/hippiemomaileen

"it's Not Just A Pad, It's Also A Phone"

2010-10-20T06:10:00.000-07:00

Working moms on budget love to get the best of worlds. THE SUPERION offers multi-functionality and affordability. Find out if Cherry Mobile's latest gadget is already ripe for the picking... Read more: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/377327_its-not-just-a-pad-its-also-a-phone#ixzz12u7J7ewa

"it's Not Just A Pad, It's Also A Phone"

iSing Anytime, Anywhere

2010-10-12T04:57:00.000-07:00

Looking at the image on the left side of this post is an ad from Amazon. Why does it strike me? I can't believe that it's a karaoke MP3 player. Sorry, but it looks like a foot massager or an outdated rotary phone to me. Yet beyond it's rather absurd design, I'm impressed that with this device, you can now fulfill your karaoke sing-along fantasies anytime, anywhere.

If marketed well here in the Philippines, this could give the Magic Sing a run for the money. Almost every Pinoy OFW and balikbayan have Magic Sing microphones tucked in their luggages along with their return flights. And now with this portable karaoke device, who knows, Pinoy passengers may oblige to render some in-flight entertainment.

HAPPY 70TH BIRTHDAY JOHN LENNON-- Google.com gives the coolest tribute ever! WATCH THIS!

2010-10-08T06:30:00.000-07:00

If John Lennon were still around today, he could've turned 70 years old! Imagine (no pun intended) all the songs he could've written and recorded, all the sold-out concerts he could've done all around the world, all the causes he could've fought for, all the love he could've sowed, all forms of Beatle reunions could've taken place...

Google.com the biggest search engine in the world wide web, chose to pay tribute to one of the biggest artists this world has ever known even prior to the existence of the world wide web. This is one of the coolest tributes ever! www.google.com

WATCH THIS!

DREAMLINING: It all started with a house and a rainbow

2010-10-03T09:16:00.000-07:00

It half an hour before midnight. My friends and colleagues who know my work routine well would be surprized as to why am I still awake. To think, I'll be up by 5 am tomorrow morning, and be the first to arrive at the office at usually around 7:30 am. So what is this working mom doing? I'm DREAMLINING, or let's just say building the blocks...

“Dreamlining is so named because it applies timelines to what most would consider dreams. It is much like goal-setting but differs in several fundamental respects:

1. The goals shift from ambiguous wants to defined steps. 2. The goals have to be unrealistic to be effective. 3. It focuses on activities that will fill the vacuum created when work is removed. Living like a millionaire requires doing interesting things not just owning enviable things. Now it’s your turn to think big.”

--- Timothy Ferriss from “The 4-Hour Workweek

Yes, I believe in starting the week right. So why not start with my dreams? This topic takes me back sometime in 2002, when my husband and I said we're tired of paying money for apartment rental. Why not use some of the rent money we pay, to pay for a portion of mortage to build our 'dream house'. Whoa!?! Mortage would cost us around triple the amount we pay for rent. Of course, doubts set in. But who could stop you from your dreams? Now, we're still paying mortage, but we 'defined the steps', 'we thought building a house on a loan was 'unrealistic' with our financials but we saw it through and it was 'effective'.

So now here it is, standing since 2003:


Photo taken by Ram Cartney D. Cortez http://www.artisticgraphics.blogspot.com

Ooops! Not quite the full view of the house. Yet, this photo (taken by my 10 year old son) captured the kind of symbolism, as to where I am, where I want to be, and how to get there. I'll be taking a leap and sliding on that rainbow and land on a pot of gold. Neat, huh? Which drives me to item # 3 in the 'dreamlining' section. What activities should I get into and focus on in order for me to get into full landing gear? You're reading it right now...doing something that I'm truly passionate about.

*I'm currently reading/listening to the audio book THE 4 HOUR WORKWEEK: ESCAPE 9-5, LIVE ANYWHERE AND JOIN THE NEW RICH

A Working Mom's Mindset for the Day

2010-09-18T07:05:00.000-07:00

If you cannot do great things,

do small things in a great way.
- Napoleon Hill, "Think and Grow Rich"

Also reminds me of quotes like: "Anything worth doing, is worth doing well" or "Be the best of whatever you are".

LOVE is cirque du soleil

2010-09-16T06:57:00.000-07:00

A 'Beatle'-experience that this working mom would definitely save up and spend for! Cirque du Soleil's LOVE performance on America's Got Talent

2010-09-13T00:30:00.000-07:00

WAS PETE BEST EVER A BEATLE?
just reposting an entry from my tumblr blog. click and read on

THE NEXT BEST THING TO MEETING A BEATLE IS MEETING PETE BEST

2010-09-12T07:40:00.000-07:00

09.11.201 - BEATLE FEST 2010 featuring PETE BEST. MANILA, PHILIPPINES. Yup, this working mom spent her long weekend as a hippie mom. In this particular occasion I was determined to be early at the concert venue because I was already anticipating nightmarish traffic along Roxas Blvd on a Saturday night. So there I was hand in hand with my 10 year old son Ram Cartney alighting a taxi cab in front of the Aliw Theater, when lo and behold, PETE BEST stood right there. So what's a hippie mom to do? Picture picture, of course!


That giggly hippie mom wearing a The Doors t-shirt is me, flanked by the original ex-Beatle drummer, Pete Best


That cool 10 year old boy is my son Ram Cartney, exchanging a firm handshake with Pete Best

It was "wow-what-a-way-to-start-a-concert!" moment for me! And this is only the beginning folks...(to be continued) you can also check-out ELY BUENDIA's ULTRA-ELECTRO-PIXELATED PICS at Beatlefest 2010.

hippie mom thanks STEVE O' NEIL PRODUCTIONS, Mr. Danee Samonte, Nixon Sy for this experience.

This Working Mom SAW THE SIGN THAT MADE ME GO HMMM?

2010-09-09T11:03:00.000-07:00

'Twas toxic day in the office yesterday. This working mom thought of riding a bus going home. Here's a sign inside the bus that jolted me up from my stressed state of mind and body:

I leave it to you, the reader, to interpret this... Ain't this one of the signs that make you go hmmmm?!?

Working moms need hats and sunscreen. Sharing this video clip of the song "Sunscreen" by Baz Luhrmann

2010-09-07T07:57:00.000-07:00

Working moms like me wear different hats. More often than not, I think I wear several hats all at the same time. Is it possible? I guess moms are gifted that way; but there are days when I just wanna let off steam and let the wind blow my hair away! Well, when just 'dropping the hat' (or several hats for that matter) is not an option for working moms like me, I think I try to find ways to de-stress. Flashback to circa 1999...heard this song "Sunscreen" by Baz Luhrmann over the radio. Full of motivational insights. It's a song that I go back to once in a while just to give me some perspective. There are certain portions in the song that hit home at a particular stages in my life. Hearing this now as a working mom, I'm realizing that, yeah, some of the hats I'm wearing right now, don't seem to fit. But yeah, I gotta be thankful that these hats are covering my head in one way or another. Just like sunscreen, hats give some needed protection. So I'm thankful, still thankful...

WORKING MOMS 'LIKE' NON-WORKING HOLIDAYS

2010-09-03T10:32:00.000-07:00

SEPTEMBER 10 IS A NON-WORKING HOLIDAY!

It's official! Non-working holidays feel like a cool breeze or air conditioning on a hot humid summer day. Like finding a P 500 bill in your pants' mini-pocket when you were trying to stretch your last P 100 bill for commute fare and lunch money coz salary has yet be credited on your atm not until the very last minute before 6pm. Like head bangin' to glam rock music. Like eating DJC Halo-halo after a year of craving for it.

Working moms may have a thousand and one reasons for 'likes' of non-working holidays; yet nothing beats the chance of spending more time with family :-) Like! Like! Like!

Bonding Moments with my kids over A LOAF OF BREAD, A CONTAINER OF MILK, AND A STICK OF BUTTER

2010-09-02T07:42:00.000-07:00

My kids and I have a nightly ritual now -- watching vintage Sesame Street videos from mommy's generation (meaning, Sesame Street clips I enjoyed as I child). A LOAF OF BREAD, A CONTAINER OF MILK, AND A STICK OF BUTTER is a fave clip of mine. While I was watching it with my kids, I realized now that this is deserves a double thumbs-up from a mommy like me. Here are some valuable lessons: (a) a test/exercise in memory skills (b) training kids to do simple errands (c) an exercise of following instructions (d) ENJOY! the cool graphics, illustration, animation; the groovy background music; the soothing voices of the mom and the kid. My kids and I shared a good laugh watching this.

BE YOURSELF = SUCCESS

2010-09-01T20:20:00.000-07:00

How do we parents ensure success for our kids?

Just let them be. Let them dream. Let them explore, hone, develop their talents. Let them fail. Let them learn. Share with them these wonderful moments. Just let them be...

“Be who God created you to be. Be yourself. And you’ll succeed.” - Bo Sanchez

MATROYSHKA DOLLS, my fascination started with Sesame Street

2010-08-22T00:41:00.000-07:00

Now that I'm an adult, I can say that I owe much of my formative years to Sesame Street. (this would entail a whole new blog so watch out for it) It has influenced me in so many ways, one of those is my fondness for Matroyshka dolls. I saw the above clip featuring Matroyshka dolls when I was around 5 or 6 years old. I didn't know what it was called then. I enjoyed counting along with dolls emerging from the inside of another doll. I really salute the creative geniuses behind these Sesame Street clips. Of course, the main objective was to teach kids counting, but I realized now that I also learned artistic appreciation for traditional Russian craftmanship like these Matroyshka dolls. and YouTube rocks for keeping this clip! My kids shared a good laugh with me while viewing this.

IS PETE BEST ONE OF THE UNLUCKIEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD?

2010-08-19T03:52:00.000-07:00

PETE BEST LIVE IN MANILA! click this to get the full details

Some have touted him as one of the unluckiest people in the world. After 2 years of struggling with The Beatles particularly during their Hamburg years, Pete Best was kicked-out of the band at the start of the recording of their first single "Love Me Do". Then the rest, as they say, was lost opportunity.

Beatle books account that he was fired due to his skills in drumming (or the lack of), he was too goodlooking, more popular with the fan girls, he was aloof...and other reasons that were not clear even to Pete.

When the group heard that Martin and the engineers preferred a session drummer for their upcoming recording session, Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison asked Epstein—who had taken over as manager in January—to dismiss Best from the band.^[43] ... Epstein agonised about the decision. As he wrote in his autobiography, A Cellarful of Noise, he "wasn't sure" about George Martin's assessment of Best's drumming and "was not anxious to change the membership of the Beatles at a time when they were developing as personalities...so...I asked the Beatles to leave the group as it was."^[46] ...Ultimately, Epstein decided that "if the group was to remain happy Pete Best must go"^[46] so he called Best to his office and dismissed him on 16 August 1962, which was two years and four days after Best had joined the group. source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Best

Yet one fact remains true, Pete Best is known as The Beatles' original drummer. I don't consider this unlucky at all.

My Kid Blogs!

2010-08-17T08:20:00.000-07:00

My 10-year old son is a blogger.

visit his blogsites: www.ramspace.tumblr.com and www.ramsworld-cartney.blogspot.com/

This no longer comes as a surprise because today's generation of kids are now what they call "digital natives" -- those born into the internet age. If I may illustrate in terms of my generation vis-a-vis my child's experience:

encyclopedia === wikipedia
research it === google it
photo album === flicker
tv === you tube
diary/ journal === blogs /vlogs

this list could go on and on....I am happy and very encouraging with regard to my son's interest in blogging. He blogs anything under the sun from his fave tv shows, movies, funny anecdotes, photos, quotations, his photoshop artworks, his toys...anything that he considers 'amazing'. And what's amazes him too is when he sees he's got a new 'follower', especially when it comes from a strange sounding far away land like Czech Republic or Ukraine. Imagination, creativity, research, expression, improved grammar, vocabulary, spelling...these skills are now heightened due to his blogging exercises. And best of all, I can feel that he's having fun! This hippie mom thinks that with loving encouragement and guidance, our kids should be free to explore this big playground and learning ground we now call cyberspace.

this hippie mom is proud!
visit my son, Ram's blogsites: www.ramspace.tumblr.com and www.ramsworld-cartney.blogspot.com/