In Between the Covers: Verabear's Book Case

Dragonfly Guitar

2012-02-27T19:55:00.001+08:00

This morning we rode our bikes. Wow, I get tired very quickly! It’s not all flat land see, Quezon City must have all been rolling hills back in the day. Haha. But it was fun, and if I do this everyday, my muscles will get used to it. Right?

I thought about taking a video, or even just a photo of myself. But then I thought that might jinx me. After all, what’s more important is what you do everyday, not just what you did this one day. So maybe I’ll take a photo after I’ve biked a few times.

Biking really takes me back to my childhood. How I wish our old photos are digitized already, I’d pull up a photo of me as a young girl and for sure it won’t be hard to find one with a bike. So I’ve been on a mini-trip down memory lane. I remembered my playmates and thought about how many hours we spent biking around. Or how much abuse our bikes took from us.

Who was it who owned a red bike? Yaki or Kathie? It wasn’t mine, surely? Oh well.

Then I remembered all three of us taking piano lessons – without knowing the others were enrolled too. Ha!

Had I known about Luna acoustic guitars back then, I’d have asked my parents for guitar lessons! Isn’t this one with dragonflies adorable? They have other designs that girls would gravitate to.

image source

I learned to play the guitar in highschool, my brother taught me. It must have been my Dad or my Auntie Leesah who taught him. I spent many afternoons strumming and strumming. My piano teacher mentioned how my pinky finger will be ruined for piano playing coz of the chords. But she wasn’t discouraging me, she just mentioned it. She plays the guitar too.

BookCrossing

2012-02-27T18:13:00.001+08:00

I mentioned BookCrossing on this blog a total of one time, and only to compare PostCrossing with the website. Wow. That’s probably because I signed up on the site in 2007 but never really participated, didn’t do anything.

Let this video educate you about what Book Crossing is all about:

I have thought about what to do with our books but never got down to really printing out BC labels and releasing the books. My Mom, to a certain extent, is the releaser for us. She brings the books to her office and anyone who sees them there are free to take them. They may or may not bring the books back and that’s okay. Maybe I should try attaching labels to them and see who would actually update the journal entries on BC?

If you belong to a book club or have a book exchange group, then Book Crossing may yet be another platform for your group.

If you’re on Book Crossing, how many books have you released or caught? If you’re not yet on BC, how do you think this will fit in with your reading lifestyle?

Biking for Fitness

2012-02-27T00:58:00.001+08:00

Important Blogger Tip: Save your work after every few lines. Do Drafts. I just lost a finished post, because Windows Live Writer crashed and I didn’t save a Draft. Go figure.

After the picnic, Alfred and I set out to find new toys. First stop was a bike store in Kamuning. From Tomas Morato, turn right on Judge Jimenez and then left on the first corner. It’s a few houses down. Ryan’s Bike Shop (I think). The guy watching the bikes was very helpful.

But our ultimate destination was Cartimar, all the way in Pasay City. That’s where we found our new steed (does adding S make the word plural?):

The top picture is my bike, while the upside down one is his. We are so happy with our new toys. We were both like two kids on Christmas Eve anticipating the big gift with a big ribbon – I’m getting a bike! We were those two kids today.

I have not been on a bike for decades. As a kid, I loved biking. My friends and I would ride everyday. This evening, I remember why I enjoyed it so much. It’s true what they say, you never forget how to ride a bike. But it sure feels awkward the first time you try again. And I never used a mountain bike before. So I have to get used to riding, and two breaks, and shifting gears! I need practice, lot and lots of practice.

So biking will be our physical activity. Our exercise. I’m so happy that Alfred and I will be doing this together, and my brother too. Hello weight loss.

I’ve never dreamt of ever wearing lingerie corsets, and I have no grand illusion that biking will get me a body to fit in one. I won’t even think of wearing one in the privacy of the bathroom. Haha. But I can dream of being healthier right?

Now this got me thinking about reading about biking. Any book recommendations? I did find these over the net:

Absolute Best Biking Books on Amazon

Popular Biking Books in Goodreads

Bike Blog Reading List from The Guardian

Do you have any tips for a newbie biker?

BTC Birthday: 6/17/2010

2012-02-25T23:58:00.001+08:00

I don’t remember exactly when I decided to start a blog on books, but here’s my first mention of Between the Covers on the main blog. So Between the Cover’s blogversary is June 17th. We’re a year and a half old people!

Sometimes I feel bad that I don’t have enough book posts, despite the fact that I specifically setup this blog to be about the books I read. I must have been crazy venturing into niche blogs (blogs that focus on a specific topic, in this case books), but it’s fun. I love that whenever I want to write about books, and also about movies, I know that there’s a special space for that story.

Where the Moon Shines has become a catch-all for everything about me and my interests. This blog, on the other hand, focuses on my reading. I’ve chosen to write about movies on this blog too because like books it’s about stories of other people.

One big difference between BTC and my personal blog is the platform. Verabear.Net is on Wordpress, while BTC is on Blogger. I had used Blogger in the past and liked it, but I am a WP convert and love it more. Why did I choose to use Blogger for BTC? Believe it or not, it was because I wanted to use Zoe Pearn’s blog kits. So my main reason for choosing the platform was design customization. I wanted a certain look, and at the time, I felt like Blogger would let me have that.

What other factors should one consider when choosing one’s blog platform? If you’re tech savvy or already have some background in site building, then Wordpress would be suitable. Blogger tends to be easier to setup and there are more scrapbook-ish designs available out there. If you have budget for your own hosting, then Wordpress is a logical choice. Blogger is free and can be used with Blogspot.com subdomain or with your own registered domain.

Do you have a blog? What made you start one? If not, why don’t you have one?

Journey 2 The Mysterious Island (2012)

2012-02-23T21:56:00.001+08:00

Valentine’s Week was for catching up on movies. We went to see The Vow on the 13th and seeing the trailers got us to talking about how much less we’ve been to the movies since we started dating 12 years ago. Back then, we averaged 4 to 5 movie dates a month. Our running joke was that we were stockholders at the SM Cinema. Now? We maybe average 6 in an entire year! Perhaps less!

So on the 14th, we went to see another film.

There was much discussion on where we were going to watch it, but the choice for that day was Greenhills Theatre.

It turned out not to have been the best decision, because:

1. Parking was an awful experience. We had a 15-20-minute wait queuing for parking. Maybe I’m exaggerating, maybe I’m not.

2. They weren’t screening Journey 2 in 3D. Not even in digital theater or iMax. It was your plain, old, ordinary big screen cinema. And this movie would have been a dozen times better if seen on iMax. I think.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the cinemas at Greenhills. And I love that their 3D screenings cost less than PhP 400 and already comes with popcorn and a drink. But the movie I wanted to see that day wasn’t on 3D. And the parking situation was bad. So.

But the movie was great!

In Journey 2, Sean Anderson continues his adventures which started in the movie Journey to the Center of the Earth. We saw that film on my birthday in 2008 – in the very same theater too! Ha! This time, instead of setting off with his uncle, his stepfather goes along for the ride.

We were pleasantly surprised to see Vanessa Hudgens in the film. We had no idea she was in it. She’s looking good.

My favorite from the film are the tiny elephants! Not a fan of the bees. And Atlantis looks amazing! I feel bad that they didn’t get to spend too much time on the island. I feel as though there’s so much more out there we didn’t see, haha

I totally didn’t expect Nemo’s ship to make an appearance in this film. If anything, I had hoped that maybe they’ll save it for Journey 3. Do they find it? You’ll have to see the movie to find out.

Book Lover’s iPhone Case

2012-02-19T13:10:00.001+08:00

I want one!

Source: society6.com via Gretchen on Pinterest

The Vow (2012)

2012-02-18T21:31:00.001+08:00

image source

My niece tweeted me last weekend because she wanted us to see the movie The Vow, starring Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams. Monday was the perfect time to see it because:

1. Shanti had no school on Mondays

2. Work was only until 9AM, and work next day wasn’t until 3AM.

3. It was the day before Valentine’s and hopefully there wouldn’t be too many people out.

So yes, off we went on Monday. It turns out Shanti had something going at school that morning, but she went straight to Cubao right after. After we met up, we had to go get my mom and take her to work. Then off we were to Makati where we’d pick up Alfred and see the movie. Our cinema of choice: The Power Plant Mall at Rockwell. I’d never been there, so this was a first.

First we had to eat lunch. There was plenty of time before the next screening anyway. The meals we had that day needs an entire post all its own. It was like we were celebrating Shanti’s birthday with all the fun we had that afternoon. I was actually making up for missing out on her championship game the day before. She the Libero player for Miriam College’s champion volleyball varsity team. She’s only a freshman, but already making her mark.

The movie was a delight to watch. It was really heartbreaking though, but it also makes you believe in lasting love.

There were other movies in the past that talked about the concept of ‘self’ as a collection of memories, and that when we cease to remember, then we also forget who we truly are. I believe that. Our character determines our decisions. We make decisions based on what we know, and what we’ve experienced. Without our memories, it is difficult to decide. Difficult to distinguish ourselves from others.

Paige and Leo’s love story was very inspirational. Leo truly is an ideal man. He was romantic, into music and art, and was faithful. And he could have told Paige everything about her family just to keep her with him, but he chose to play fair and do what was best for his beloved wife. I loved their artsy lifestyle, especially their wedding that took place inside a museum (illegally, haha!). I heart Chicago and hope to one day visit it.

The Vow is reminiscent of Nicholas Sparks inspired movies, but this one wasn’t based on any novel of his. It’s actually based on a story of a real-life couple.

I can’t imagine this ever happening to me or anyone close to me. Amnesia. It’s so hard to decide to be thankful that you lived through an accident or to be so angered that you lost your memory as a result. Of course, the correct answer would be to be thankful that you live. I can’t imagine how different Paige was in five years. I look back at my 5-year self and don’t see much difference. If this happened to me I would wake up and see Alfred and perhaps comment on how much bigger he is now, and so is my tummy. But there won’t be much else that’s different. I wouldn’t remember Amir, but it’s so easy to fall in love with him.

If you’re still on the fence about seeing The Vow, don’t be. Go and see it, and maybe you’ll appreciate life more

Claim post

2012-02-18T17:47:00.001+08:00

The advocate waits around a clipped unfortunate.

The Fourth Kind (2009)

2012-02-16T19:57:00.001+08:00

image source

We saw two new movies in the cinemas this week, but today I’m writing about what I just saw on cable this afternoon: The Fourth Kind, by director Olatunde Osunsanmi. Milla Jovovich played the starring role.

I was terrified. I was torn between believing the ‘real life recordings’ and thinking that they were too dramatic and too bizarre to be real. Real or not, it scared the shit out of me. Good thing I was watching in the afternoon, not too sunny though, but bright enough.

Who hasn’t experienced lying awake too early in the morning, and feeling some kind of fear or dread? I know I have. There were times when I refused to look outside the window for fear of seeing something looking right back at me. But I’d never thought of aliens; ghosts and engkanto, yes, but not aliens.

Tonight I will sleep alone in my bed. Hopefully I don’t suddenly wake up disoriented, or I might just scream.

Little Guy Steals the Show

2012-02-12T23:36:00.001+08:00

At lunch today, we gathered with family on my father’s side to celebrate the 75th birthday of Dad’s aunt – Tita Waway. I remember my Dad telling me about Tya Waway taking him along when she went out to meet in secret with her then boyfriend, (the late) Tyo Danny.

Anyway, I haven’t downloaded the photos yet (story of my life, yeah yeah), so no family photos here. But let me tell you that Amir just had to show up and steal the show, haha! Dad and I went to get him from their Fairview home so his parents won’t have to drive from Eastwood to Fairview, and then to EDSA-Caloocan. The little tyke was an angel on the drive home, making sounds when he found something interesting, and once in awhile playing with my very colorful bead bracelets.

When we got home his parents were already waiting. He was given a bath, and then fed. We thought he was just about ready for his mid-morning siesta for sure, but he turned and turned and made pa-cute all morning. I was the one who took a long nap!

As soon as we were due to leave the house (meaning, by the time I finally got ready), the little boy was asleep. He woke up just as soon as we arrived at the party!

Everyone was already there. All of Tya Waway’s children and grandchildren were there, including her son and his wife who are based in Italy. I haven’t seen my uncles in a looooooong time.

So back to Amir. After a few minutes of ignoring everybody, he finally warmed up and started to charm everyone. He made faces, he walked around (I held him on one hand though), he smiled a lot. He jumped, oh he jumped.

I was thinking of my Christmas gift to him – a percussion table for boys of his age. I wonder if he’s played with already? I wonder if he likes it? He’s at the stage where he pretty much throws everything – the TV remote, cellphones, books, everything he lays his hands on! He may be interested for a few minutes, but then he’d still throw it away after awhile, milk bottles included.

If he likes the percussion table though, maybe someday, we could get him one of these junior drum sets:

image source

Nice, no? I wanted one as a kid, though it actually turned out best that my parents didn’t listen to me. In highschool I was in a band, I’d play bass, but I wouldn’t touch the darn drums. I’d been intimidated by it, secretly because I was afraid I’d be out of timing, haha. Hello, Metronome on standby while I practice my piano recital piece?

Oh well, just thought I’d sound off on this random thought (which took 470+ words to express). Off to work now

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

2012-02-08T18:54:00.001+08:00

Almost a month after posting my autographed book plate for The Happiness Project, I am still not done with reading this awesome book.

It is the kind of book you would want to read from cover to cover, as soon as you can. So the delay in finishing the book isn’t for lack of quality content, rather, it’s so good that I don’t really want to rush through it. I want to savor each page.

Among the reasons why I’ve hesitated to get this book, was the fact that the author already maintains a blog of the same title. What else does the book have to offer that the blog doesn’t already dish out for free?

It’s actually quite fun to read about the author’s very personal project. She is so different from me, yet I can relate to her anecdotes. The book gives us a better idea of what sparked the Happiness Project, and the process she went through to outline the full year that she did her experiment. Through each chapter, that tackles the different areas of her life (focus shifts on a monthly basis), we are given plenty of examples that prove her ‘secrets of adulthood’ and ‘splendid truths.’ To be honest, it is upon reading the book that many of what she says in her blog clicks in my head. You know what I mean? When I read of them from the book, the picture becomes complete for me, and I finally truly understand what she means.

One of the recent epiphanies I read about from the book is about how money can buy happiness. Well, she doesn’t sum it all up in those words really, but if you think about it, that’s the easiest way to say it. Money doesn’t get you happiness, but spending money on the right things, and having the money to spend in the first place, is a path to happiness. Say we’re talking about basic necessities for example, if you ride a motorbike, it is necessary to get a helmet. But the girly in you wants to ride in style and you don’t want just any helmet. If you had just enough money, you’d settle for the dull and generic ones that probably even come free with the bike purchase. But if you had the money to spare, wouldn’t you want to get this scorpion exo-400?

(image from linked site)

You get the point right? Or maybe I’m over simplifying it with that example.

Anyway… The more I read, the more I am convinced to explore avenues to be happy. I am not unhappy, nor am I in a dark place (yes, despite recently losing my grandfather whom I love dearly). But I want to be happier. I want to facilitate happiness for the people I love, and maybe even the people I work with. But I don’t see myself launching my own year-long experiment just yet. Perhaps I’ll have mini projects. Right now though, what would really make me happy is to finally just get started with one or two of the million and one things I want to do in my life.

This book also not only encourages one to be happier, more importantly, it helps you think about how well you know yourself, and your relationships with the people around you. Seems to me that the project won’t work without you having to accept the simple, and sometimes probably painful, truths about yourself.

Do I recommend the book? I most definitely do. Check out The Happiness Project in Amazon. Locally, it is also available at Fully Booked. Also, checkout The Happiness Project Blog.

Oh, thank you Gretchen Rubin for deciding to become a fulltime writer. And thank you for spending your year wisely on this experiment.

Angpao Loot Bag–NBS Exclusive

2012-01-29T20:08:00.001+08:00

I just lost a perfectly good draft. Next time, remember to SAVE the draft, just in case. Ugh. Let’s try this again.

Ever heard of National Book Store’s AngPao Loot Bags? If I didn’t read Daphne’s post, I wouldn’t have known of it either. I took some time out to check my email and browse a few blogs on the afternoon of the Chinese New Year and saw the post. Lucky for me, I still had time to swing by an NBS branch before closing time. Of course it meant delaying my return to the vigil for Papa’s wake (related story).

From home, I had decided to pass by the Church to find out if anyone needed anything. Before getting there, I saw Che and her daughter Hannah. I offered them a ride to Puregold. Che needed to get a white shirt for her and her hubby, for the burial the next day. I said I’d take them if Hannah agrees to pick up something for me at the National Book Store. Deal.

So Puregold was the first stop. While Che went to shop, Hannah and I checked out the food stalls for some snack. Our tummies were very welcoming of alternative food to what we’ve been having since Papa died. Hannah opted for the rice meals, while this was what I had:

8 slices of salmon sashimi cost me a hundred pesos. It wasn’t the best, but I wasn’t complaining. I know I’ve always said that a good sashimi is ruined by the ice that clings to the fish meat from being frozen, and these still had ice on them, but I enjoyed them anyway.

While Hannah finished off her rice meal, I told them about my agenda at the NBS: the AngPao loot bag. Che was interested. She wanted one too. National Book Store at the Federaland Condo along E. Rodriguez was on the way back to church. Unfortunately, the sales ladies didn’t seem to be aware of any angpaos other than the paper envelopes they carried. So no luck there. I thought I’d have to wait until Chinese New Year 2013 for a chance at this deal, but Che said we might as well checkout the Panay Avenue branch. Good decision!

The contents of our bags (Che got one too) were very similar, except for the card and paper bag designs. Daphne’s loot was the same too, except for the book. We got Toxicology, by Jessica Hagedorn.

Image is from this review of Toxicology from the Philippine Daily Inquirer website.

I am looking forward to using all the stuff in the bag. Pencils, markers, ballpens, and scrapbook stuff. I’d love to start reading the book too, but it will have to wait.

It’s 12 months away, but already, I’m looking forward to next year’s loot.

A very belated Kung Hei Fat Choi!

A Binchy and DPP #41

2012-01-17T21:12:00.001+08:00

Last month, Alfred and I discussed getting a brand new laptop so we won’t fight over PC time. It’s January, a new year, and we’ve almost forgotten about it. We’ve given presents that we both really love, so there’s really no space left for a new laptop. But then I saw this page with reconditioned laptops, and my first thought? Do they carry Ultrabooks?

Anyway.

Saturday was a short day. Alfred went out with the boys on Friday night and ended up finding his way home at past 5 in the morning. Because I had been asleep from Thursday afternoon until the morning of Friday (suffering from migraine), I stayed up too. This meant that we didn’t get up until noon time of Saturday. I missed morning playtime and kisses from my nephew, as well as a date with old friend Joy to visit National Artist Abueva at the NKTI.

As expected after sleeping in, I felt like staying home the entire day. But Alfred had lens to buy, and I'd arranged to still see Joy that afternoon. So off we went. While the boyfriend went ahead to meet the seller, I hung out at Fully Booked – SM The Block.

I had no intention to, but I ended up leaving the store with yet another book:

It was 40% off and I just couldn’t resist.

I also picked up some alpha sets from the scrapbooking section. Those will be for Project Life.

For himself, Alfred also picked up a photography tips magazine as well as the latest issue of the Digital Photographer Philippines (image source):

Looking forward to read my new book, but it will likely go at the bottom of my TBR. Might sneak a peek at the magazine too, been awhile since I skimmed through a DPP ish.

Oh, and while on the subject of photography, please take time to respond to this post.

Autographed Book Plate!

2012-01-10T15:35:00.000+08:00

I don't really put book plates on my books, but when "The Happiness Project" author Gretchen Rubin posted on her blog of the same title that she would be glad to send out autographed book plates for those who already own the book, I signed up!

The book plate, with a handwritten note (short and simple: Enjoy!) actually arrived here before I even opened the book. The book was a Christmas present (Thank you Lally, if you're reading this!).

Now, I've adhered it right on the dedication page of the book.

The only thing left to make it perfect, is if she hand wrote my name on it as well. But that would be too much to ask! She was nice enough to take the effort to send out those cards to all who requested, and to anywhere in the world too (can't even begin to imagine how many she had to mail out, the book is a #1 New York Times bestseller after all). So this is already perfectly fine :)

I've only read upto page 26 so far and I am getting a lot of insights already. Love it! Stay tuned for the review :)

To Be Read–35 books!

2011-12-30T20:11:00.001+08:00

I have 35 unread books!

*I might have read some already, but I can’t be sure until I try to go through the first few pages.

If each book was purchased at a minimum of 300 pesos, then that’s 10500 pesos worth of books! Some are brand new and may have cost at least 350 or more. But most of these books are second-hand, ranging from 100 to 250 pesos each. I bought these separately over the course of 2-3 years. Got a few of them as gifts too. In 6 months, I’ll try and post how many of these remain unread.

Christmas Loot

2011-12-30T17:44:00.001+08:00

It’s really the youngest in families that get the most Christmas loot. Dearest Amir, for example, had to have two vehicles carry his stuff and his combined birthday and Christmas loot home to Fairview. Yes. He, his parents and their usual baby gear for a weekend stay and Grandma’s, PLUS all the gifts he received, could not fit into their 4-door sedan. Grandpa and Grandma had to load the Rav up and accompany them home.

And what did his pretty Auntie get for Christmas? A grand total of two presents, one from each side of the family.

Nah, I am not complaining. I actually got more presents than expected, even if I didn’t personally hand out a lot of them this year. Truth be told, I am not done with Christmas shopping and gift-giving. I have friends at work that I’d love to give gifts too. At the boyfriend’s suggestion, I plan to get them pesronalized tee shirts. I just have to figure out the best print for each person. This will likely take time. It might even become a Valentine gift already at the rate I’m going. Haha!

What about you, what does your Christmas Day loot look like?

Winner!

2011-12-27T21:30:00.001+08:00

Remember Georyl’s Christmas Giveaway?

On Christmas Eve, she made the announcement of winners here. I also received an email from her informing me of the post, and that I was one of the lucky winners!

Yes, it’s only $5 but, I’ll take that extra $5 dollars anytime! This will go towards my sewing class funds. Alfred gave me this for Christmas, and I will learn to use it to make fun and beautiful projects!

Ako na ang winner sa best gift received! I was so excited about this and was both surprised and happy that Alfred was on board with my dream of learning how to sew. His dad is a tailor, and he claims to be better at this than me. My grandmother was good at needlecraft. I think I can claim that she was a part-time seamstress because she used to sew sutanas for the Seminarians. She made us cute dresses too when we were kids. She makes beautiful things and was really helpful when I had to sew a blouse for home ec in high school. Part of why I want to do this, is to honor her legacy.

What is your winner! gift this Christmas?

Coming Home

2011-12-20T20:56:00.001+08:00

The boyfriend and his family will be taking the long road trip home tomorrow morning. He will be back soon and I haven’t done any of the things I thought I could do while he’s away. Oh well. To be honest, I feel a little guilty about not being there with them. His grandmother died last year, I had offered to follow to the province but Alfred advised against it. This year, I wasn’t able to get a leave because I have work on all four days that they’re gone. Again, I offered to follow, but it wasn’t a good idea. Bicol is a little too far and unfamiliar for me to travel on my own – whether driving or on a bus.

Not sure if there’s a special roadside assistance plan for the holidays at either the North or South Express Ways. I don’t think I can drive through either without one. I’d be a nervous wreck. What if something goes wrong? Will I be stuck in the middle of the highway with no one to help me out? Haha. I haven’t ventured to drive outside of Metro Manila yet, when I do, I will be prepared. But as I was saying, the boyfriend will be home soon, I wonder what he’s bringing home for me?

He doesn’t normally read Between the Covers, so I can say this here: I’m secretly thinking of getting him what he really wants for Christmas. It’s a bit pricey, and with all that’s happening, I’d really rather give more to charity than spend on more gifts. But he’s been dropping hints and I keep deflecting him. Looks I may be able to make a way to afford it though. So we’ll see. Fingers crossed.

Award Winning Books Reading Challenge 2012

2011-12-18T12:46:00.001+08:00

I’ve been behind on my reading since forever, so here’s me taking an effort to catch up in 2012!

I’m signing up for the 2012 Award Winning Books Reading Challenge happening at Gathering Books. I don’t recall how I ever got to Gathering Books (the site), but I’ve since enjoyed reading the posts that go through my feeds.

From January to December 2012, I will aim to win a Bronze Medal for this challenge – that’s 10 books or less that have received recognition. I have no idea how many such books are in my TBR pile, but I intend to find out in the next few days so I can draw up a list of those ten books for the challenge. If I finish fast, I can go higher. Big IF.

So head on over to Gathering Books and read all about this challenge and maybe you’d want to sign up too.

I Champion Children’s Rights!

2011-12-11T16:56:00.001+08:00

A few months ago, I finally walked the talk and signed up to be a UNICEF Champion for Children. As acknowledgment, I received a welcome email from UNICEF Philippines’ Vanessa Tobin. But I was surprised when, earlier this month, I received another welcome letter in the mail. Apart from Ms. Tobin’s missive, there was one from Gary Valenciano too – he’s been UNICEF’s Ambassador for many many years now.

Really, those welcome letters were unnecessary, but I appreciate them. Getting these, was the real bonus:

Thank you artwork by a UNICEF supported child, and samples of all-occasion cards. They even sent a Champion’s card. I don’t think it’s accepted anywhere, but I am proud to have it.

What’s on the back?

I champion Children’s Rights!

To give children the best start in life
To help children survive and thrive
To make education accessible to every child
To create a safe and protective environment for children

If you don’t know what to gift someone who has it all, why don’t you make a one-time donation to UNICEF this Christmas on his/her name? Give a gift that gives. Checkout the UNICEF giving page.

Holiday Gift Baskets

2011-11-26T21:35:00.001+08:00

Last year, I browsed through catalogs of various gift baskets and noticed how similar the contents were, regardless of where they were from. Wine, pasta, cheese, ham, fruit cocktail or fresh fruits – these were very common. Of course, the brands were different.

I never saw one like this:

Imagine a crate full of Mrs Fields cookies. I’d love to receive one of these.

Saturday Movie Marathon

2011-11-26T21:26:00.001+08:00

While I pined over the missed deal for the marked down Sony Cybershot DSC TX10, I sat in front of the couch and watched TV. Before I knew it, I’d gone through three films.

My impression of each movie will have to wait another day. I gotta go get some sleep. I am usually off work on Saturday nights and would love to stay up all night, but I can’t this weekend. Back to work in a few hours after only one night off.

How’s your weekend so far? Seen any good movies?

SEA Games 2011

2011-11-23T22:10:00.001+08:00

Yesterday, the 2011 Southeast Asian Games drew to a close.

How many sport trophies, er medals, did our athletes bring home? 36 golds, 56 silvers, and 77 bronzes. Just half as many golds as predicted by the national government agencies in charge of the athletes.

What happened? It’s been a long time since we reigned supreme in the SEA Games. I don’t even remember now if we ever really did. I mean, were we ever in the running for the top spot? Or the second?

Perhaps if our SEA Games athletes had half the attention and support that Manny Pacquiao got on his last fight, they would have been more motivated to win. No. I shouldn’t question their motivations, nor their skill.

It’s all this politics about national sports that’s keeping us from moving forward. We have so many talents that are just being wasted.

It’s time we gave priority to searching for talents and training them while they’re young. I remember that group of kids on the Pilipinas Got Talent Season 3 finals. They’d make good gymnasts, I hope they get trained, should they want it.

Impunity

2011-11-23T21:08:00.001+08:00

Today, 23rd November, marks the second anniversary of the Ampatuan Massacre. Two years and no one has yet been punished for the crime.

Today, Party List Representatives from Bayan Muna filed a bill proposing the declaration of this date as National Consciousness Day to End Impunity.

Impunity.

I looked up what it means and among other things, here’s how Merriam-Webster defines the word:

Definition of IMPUNITY

: exemption or freedom from punishment, harm, or loss <laws were flouted with impunity>

Origin of IMPUNITY

Middle French or Latin; Middle French impunité, from Latinimpunitat-, impunitas, from impune without punishment, from in- + poena punishment — more at pain

First Known Use: 1532

Related to IMPUNITY

Synonyms: exemption, immunity

Yes, I used a dictionary. An online one. When was the last time you used one?

I think I want to buy the latest version of Merriam-Webster’s dictionary. The one we have here is decades old. As a blogger, I should never have stopped discovering words, learning their meanings and proper pronunciation. The online dictionaries are pretty handy specially when you want to know how a particular word is pronounced.

Teaching dictionary skills was the topic posted on The Pioneer Woman Homeschooling page yesterday. And it’s really what prompted me to look up the word impunity. Even if I knew what it meant. The post also reminded me of the vocabulary notebook our 2nd year high school English teacher used to have us maintain. We were supposed to record words we encountered and then look them up in the dictionary. I think we were also supposed to use those words in a sentence. It was an annoying homework, but one I learned to appreciate because it helped build my vocabulary.

Maybe I’ll take that up again. Include that in the things I write on my handy dandy notebook.

Now going back to the word of the day. Impunity must end. Crime does not pay.

Get Well Soon, Amir!

2011-11-20T21:17:00.001+08:00

Please don’t tell me you’re here to check on my progress in taking an inventory of my To-be-read pile. It still hasn’t happened. Yet.

I wish I could say I used the time since posting about it to work on some other project, but I haven’t. So I won’t.

Weekends in this house are supposed to be Amir-filled. Well, this weekend is no exception. However, it isn’t in the usual way. Amir and his parents didn’t come over for a couple of reasons, but they ended up rushing to the Emergency Room on Friday night. The baby has been having difficulty breathing, due to an illness likened to croup. He’s currently confined at the hospital and will be there at least until tomorrow.

I was dead tired Friday night so I didn’t even make an effort to see him at the ER. Dad was there, and my Mom went there straight from her midnight flight from Hong Kong. I was there to see him almost the entire day yesterday.

That’s the little prince having his afternoon nap. I was keeping watch at this time while his parents slept too. Poor mom, I think that was the first time she slept since the day before.

When Alfred and I arrived at his room, he wasn’t in a good mood yet. In no time though, he warmed up to us and we started playing around with his book and animal cards. My goodness, the kid wants to stand and jump and dance around! We couldn’t let him though, his IV is attached to his foot.

We had to leave him for awhile to grab some lunch. Friends of his mom and dad came to visit too so it was a good excuse to step out of the crowded room. After eating at the hospital canteen (not too many choices there at almost 3PM), Alfred and I decided to go to Medicard so I could consult with the rehab doctor (another story). She wasn’t in though so we decided to hangout at Starbucks for awhile. We left the café and my Xray films as well, Alfred walked back to get them. I have to take those with me to the rehab doc on Tuesday. I really must get this therapy done and not chuck it off like I did postponing the removal of my impacted teeth. I think this pain on my hip/back is something that will just get worse if it isn’t dealt with properly. Naalala ko tuloy yung nice dentist na hindi ko binalikan, maybe he’s looking at Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon Jobs now. He was real nice and gentle when I had my checkup with him many many years ago. He would have taken care of my dental surgery, I know it, but I was too chicken to go through it. I mustn’t be chicken about therapy now.

So Amir was asleep already when I got back.

When he woke up, it was time to for the nebulizer. The nurse must have had bionic sensing capabilities because she came just as soon as the little one woke up. Boy did he cry the whole time. Good thing it only took a few minutes.

Diane, his mom, went back to sleep. My brother and I tried a lot of tricks to get him to stop crying and be in a better mood. This Drums app on the iPad did the trick. After awhile, my brother went back to sleep too and this guy was stuck with his Auntie again.

He was in an even better mood by the time more visitors came in the form of cousin Che and her kids AJ and Hanna! Can you tell by this photo?

So the little boy is in the hospital, hooked up to two IVs and needs nebulizing every eight hours. But he’s still pretty much the same happy little boy for the most part. We look forward to a full recovery in a few days.

We love you Amir, and a lot of people are praying for you. I’ll see you in a bit before I head to work