Underway! Shift Colors

Car Collection

2010-03-08T22:51:00.000-08:00

I would love to be able to say they are real cars but they are, in fact, Matchbox cars. My Mom kept my collection of Matchbox cars from when I was a kid and when we returned from Korea, my Dad gave them to EJ. It may sound silly but when we were playing with my old Matchbox cars the other day, I actually felt like a kid again...even just for a few minutes. I was holding my favorite car thinking, the last time I held this car, I was so innocent and my hands were soft and smooth and didn't tell the story of my life.

Here are some pics of EJ's new collection. Every time we go to store, he always wants to pick up a new car to add to his collection. He loves jets, helicopters, and heavy equipment (bulldozers, excavators,...etc). The pic below shows off his car carriers.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Compare to Truck Rental

2010-03-08T17:19:00.000-08:00

I've moved over a dozen times in the past 20 years, so I've become quite the expert on the logistics involved in everything from local to long distance moves. A truck rental is an efficient and quick way to accomplish a local move but not so much the case when you're moving longer distances. When you start adding up the cost of fuel and other miscellaneous expenses, the end price is always more than what you estimate.

To keep costs low and to eliminate the hassle of driving long distances, ABF U-Packing is the way to go. You simply pay one set price which covers the truck, fuel, taxes, and a driver. For just about the same price as a rental truck, you can have someone else do the driving and make your move a relaxing and enjoyable experience. To find out more, click on the helpful link above.

Lazy days

2010-03-05T20:38:00.000-08:00

We are a bunch of couch potatoes on lazy days. When we lost our Internet and Phone connection, there is nothing much to do. Can't blog, can't search, can't do anything online. I am just so glad that we have Direct TV instead of Comcast cable or else we could have been so bored over here especially the kids. Here are some photos taken by my wife while me and the kids watches TV.

Even Champ bonded with us.

Join the fun in finding new friends at

Eyeglasses at Zenni

2010-03-03T15:14:00.000-08:00

A couple of years ago, my wife was experiencing difficulty with her eyeglasses and realized that she needed to update her prescription. We decided to try a vision center, at a local retail chain, so that we could save a few bucks. We were really shocked to find out that new eyeglasses came with such a big price tag, even at the vision centers that boast big discounts and savings. We assumed that, due to inflation, this would be the standard price regardless of where we looked and she ended up purchasing from them.

Then she found out that she could get the same quality and style from Zenni optical at a fraction of the cost. In fact, she could have purchased three or four pairs for the price she shelled-out for just one pair at the vision center. Zenni optical can pass these huge savings on to you because they have no retail overhead, no middlemen, and practically no advertising budget. They strive to provide you, the customer, with a stylish and quality product at a very reasonable price. Zenni optical believes that you shouldn't have to put off your eye care needs because of cost. If you need eyeglasses or would just like to get a few pairs for back-up, check out Zenni optical by simply clicking on the link above.

My Wife's Eyeglasses

2010-03-02T14:28:00.000-08:00

If you are in need of eye glasses but you've been putting it off because of the high cost, you should consider shopping online. You don't have to settle for the mediocre selections at your local vision center that usually come with big price tags. Let's face it, times are tough and money doesn't come that easy these days. Why pay top dollar for a pair of eye glasses that you can purchase online with comparable quality and a much lower price tag? It just makes sense.

A couple of years ago, my wife visited a local vision center to get her prescription updated when she noticed that her old glasses weren't as effective as they use to be. She ended up purchasing a her eye wear from them and couldn't believe the final bill. The quality wasn't there, but the big price tag was and this didn't sit well with her. She began browsing the web for better deals and was really amazed at what she discovered. For the price the vision center charged, she could have easily purchased three or even four pairs of comparable quality glasses. To find out how you can save big bucks on your next purchase of quality eye wear, simply click on the helpful link above.

My Elf-Look face

2010-02-22T23:36:00.000-08:00

This is one of those photos of my childhood that I am not very fond of. I look like an elf here and my hair cut ahh hideous. Oh well, my wife thinks I look cute lol! I just joined Friday Follow, come join us too by clicking the badge below.

Martial Arts Fighters

2010-02-22T15:21:00.000-08:00

I really enjoy the martial arts and I'm a huge fan of the UFC. MMA has taken the world by storm and has gained the respect that it deserves and has become one of the most popular sports around. Martial Arts Fighters have emerged from all over the world to show their skills and to answer the age old question of which style is the best.

If you're into MMA and want the most up-to-date information and news about the greatest in the sport, you can get connected by simply clicking on the link above. You can also find great deals on equipment, training videos and literature, fight tips and techniques, and even the latest gossip on the fight scene. If you wish to become an up and coming hopeful in this dynamic sport, this website can help you get there faster. Check it out and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Early Years of My Naval Career

2010-02-22T15:13:00.000-08:00

It wasn't long after I arrived in China Lake, CA that I was awarded my first Sailor of the Quarter. I remember this award well because my Department Head was a Search & Rescue pilot and he took me out flying as an additional reward. His crew placed me in a harness and dangled me about 20-30 feet below the helicopter while they flew through the sky. It was really scary at first but after I adapted, it was invigorating.

For those of you that don't know China Lake, it is situated near the Mojave desert and it gets extremely hot. Nearby, in the mountains, there is snow during the winter months. Within a matter of minutes, I went from 110 degrees to about 30 degrees. We landed in the mountains, the crew jumped off, and we had ourselves a snowball fight. Those were the good ol' days.

Please join us for a Friday Flashback by clicking the badge below.

Confidential STD Testing

2010-02-22T15:00:00.000-08:00

If you are experiencing the symptoms of a sexually transmitted disease but don't want to deal with the embarassment of getting tested, you're not alone. Many people live with the harmful effects of various sexually transmitted diseases because they are afraid of their confidentiality being breached. Now you can get Confidential STD Testing without leaving home and without any public knowledge of your test or results.

This is a big relief, especially if you live in a small town with a close-knit community where news travels fast. You definitely don't want to delay your tests any longer. Time is a crucial factor in getting cured of many STDs. Irreparable damage can be done if you wait too long before receiving treatment.

Just click the link to visit the website for more details about the confidential STD testing or go directly to tstd.org. Its better to be tested than regret at the end.

Farewell My Lady

2010-02-22T14:51:00.000-08:00

This picture of the USS Samuel Gompers was taken near Alameda California in the early 90s. This was my first ship and I really enjoyed being a part of the crew that decommissioned her. We enjoyed a nice WestPac in her final days. Capt. Rankin will always be one of my favorite COs. Thanks for the fond memories Skipper.

Data Migration Services

2010-02-22T14:47:00.000-08:00

We have a Dell laptop and the keyboard is defective already. We want to ytry the data migration services available online. I found it at Redapt's website when I was looking for some solution on how to transfer data. This solution is also great if you are looking to migrate your data from Solaris to another product such as Dell, HP, and IBM. This is a good solution if you want to have a cheaper way of transfering datas from one application to another.

I just wish that I am a computer savvy so I would be abl;e to learn this quick. It is also a great choice if you are planning to install and configure software system, restore and test new system. I am sure that if you are a computer geek, you will be able to decipher what I am talking about. So if you need to create and configure a migration, just click the link provided on this post.

Shadow of the Past

2010-02-20T00:09:00.000-08:00

These were taken when we were still in Korea. Our son pointed this out. He said that there is a light on the wall. Looking back at the pictures that we have during our overseas stay makes me miss the place.

A basket of Happiness

2010-02-15T15:55:00.000-08:00

Whenever my wife is folding the dry clean laundry, the kids are having fun playing with the laundry basket. I call it the basket of happiness because even our dog Champ is having fun chasing the kids.

Insure Yourself

2010-02-15T15:46:00.000-08:00

Before my doctor's appointment last Friday, I initially had a physical check up by a nurse who was sent by an insurance company that I am applying for. When I told my doctor about it, he said I must have a higher price of insurance that they require a check on my health. He said that is usually the requirement when the policy is high. I want to insure myself so that in case something unexpected happen to me, my family will be set.

Some people don't really see the advantage of having an insurance but for me it is really important. I was surprised when I learned that car insurance is not really a requirement in the Philippines. I feel so bad when my brother-in-law passed away because he did not continue his insurance which leave his family nothing. A motor trade insurance could have had help his family when he died. But I guess you can't really predict what happens in the future. All you do though is to prepare for it.

Champ's Shadows

2010-02-13T16:33:00.000-08:00

Our dog Champ wakes up very early to do his business outside. Sometimes he would go back to sleep but most of the time he doesn't so I have to stay awake as well even if I still want to sleep. But anyhow, I took these photos of him while he was stretching the other day when the sun was shining so brightly.

Dark Chocolate Charity for Haiti

2010-02-12T16:14:00.000-08:00

Watching the horrible tragedy in Haiti is very heartbreaking especially when you see those kids that doesn't have place to live in or no food to eat. Intentional Chocolate has donated significant profits to charities is willing to donate 100% of profit to those charities who are supporting the Haiti community. So every time a customer buys any product from them, all the profits will go to the charities. I will definitely tell my sister is very fond of Dark Chocolate. I am sure that she would be willing to do this since she love charity work as well.

Valentine's Cupid

2010-02-08T20:50:00.000-08:00

My sister Crystal gave this valentine baskets with bear and candies to our kids two years ago and my wife put it in their bedroom. Do you see the Valentine's Cupid bear in front?

With the weather that we have, it might be hard to go out for a date on Valentine's day isn't it.

Stay warm and in-love. Happy Valentine's Day to all of you!

Precious Moments

2010-02-05T12:41:00.000-08:00

A moment like this should be passed without capturing it in pictures because it is seldom happen. As they grow up, their preferences changes and most of the time, they like opposite things. since they are both in the mood to pose, their Mom is always ready to capture them.

Taken before we left to visit my Dad.

Thanks for dropping by folks. Your visit is always appreciated.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Valuable Coupons

2010-02-04T13:07:00.000-08:00

It's time for us to go to the grocery store and get the stuff that my wife needs in the kitchen in preparing foods and some things that the kids needs. Rose was glad that she received some coupons on the mail. She participated in this survey and in return they send her a bunch of valuable coupons. There are also coupons where you can claim a product for free. I remember when a company sent my wife this free coupon for creme brulee, I tried it and got addicted to it until now. That is the best creamer for coffee, my wife and I love it.

There are a lot of places where you can find coupons especially on the internet. With the economic crunch that mos of us is experiencing, using coupons is a big help to save a little extra for the family's budget. It might look like it is not that much but if you practice to use coupons every time you go shopping, you will realize at the end of the month or year how much you really save for using it. So if you want to get some valuable coupon codes, just visit the link I have provided on this post.

TV Shows Online

2010-02-04T12:54:00.000-08:00

My wife enjoy watching her favorite TV shows online. She watches those episodes that she did not see when all of us lived for almost two years in Korea as part of my assignment. Good thing there are websites that offers this kind of services for free because you can catch of what you have missed.

She actually found really good TV Shows on Rapidshare an has been watching ever since we came back in the mainland. I want to commend the people behind search engines who helps people find what they are looking for online. You can find just about anything through a search engine like Rapid Search.

One thing that I like is that I can find stuff that I need for the subjects I am taking in school. Rapidshare constantly update their content so finding the articles you need is very easy. Again, I salute the people behind these directories and search engines who offers free services for online users like me. It is a big help especially for students like me who constantly in search of things I need on my researches.

Distinctive Mark

2010-02-04T12:12:00.000-08:00

Our dog Champ has a very distinctive mark on his face. In between his eyes there is a perfect triangle. So if ever he gets lost (I hope not), it would be easier to describe him.

He also has a a streak of white hair in the middle of his head. The last shot was taken by my wife while I was having a power nap. Champ decided to take a nap too.

Keeping Fit

2010-02-04T11:49:00.000-08:00

With the price of the health care getting expensive each day, I am trying to keep my self fit though regular exercise. It is hard to get sick especially at my age so it's better to just do the thing that I can to prevent having complications. I did different kinds of exercise at my blowflex downstairs today and I feel so weak right now hehehe. Well, no pain no gain, right?

It's alarming to know that the cases of obesity in our country is rising up. A lot of people are struggling to lose extra pounds from their weight. Some people does not have time to do regular exercise because of their busy schedule or their medical condition is hindering them from doing so. The good thing is that there are surgeries available such as lap band columbus if diet and regular exercise does not work anymore.

Lap band is the popular surgery especially to those who have massive pounds to lose from their body. It is said to be one of the safest procedure for weight loss surgeries. So if your diet is not doing anything for you to lose weight, try to check out surgeries like the one I have mentioned above.

Beautiful Australia

2010-02-03T06:32:00.000-08:00

One of the many advantages being in the service is your opportunity to travel the world. You get to see different places in every assignment you take. You get to learn different cultures and traditions too. One of the many places I have been to that I am fond of is Australia. My buddies and I were sent there for a couple of weeks to fix a ship and we had so much fun touring places after our job was done.

If you are planning to go Australia, you can have a thumbs up from me because it's a beautiful place. Getting an inexpensive car rental is easier through car rental comparison that you can obtain online. when you compare the rental price, you would be able to get the cheapest one. Having a reliable car that you can rent and drive is a key to enjoying the beauty of the place.

I hope that I can take my family there someday. I would like to show them the pleasure that I had when I was still an active member of the Navy. Speaking of which, I am one month away from my retirement, yohooooooo.

Snow no more

2010-02-02T23:34:00.000-08:00

The snow was melted already so I took mour kids yesterday at our backyard a little bit and they had so much fun even for a short period of time. It was windy though so we did not stay very long. Good thing that Rose is always ready to capture the moment.

Sharing these photos with Outdoor Wednesday. Have a great one folks.

Explaining and Bonding with Pap.

2010-01-31T07:57:00.000-08:00

Photos were taken when my wife and I went to pick up our car in Baltimore. We left our children wtih my dad (Thanks a lot Dad). We took a few pictures before we left. I am glad that our kids get to experience bonding with my father. I had no such luck with my grandpap because he passed away before I was born.

Whenever our kids are at Dad's, he likes to wear his worn out shirt and pants with holes in them because the kids like to give him a hard time for it lol.

It's a joy to see your kids bonding with their grandparent. Too bad my Mom was not around anymore to enjoy their presence.

Champ stole a kiss from EJ's cheeks hahaha.

This is how our son looks like when he is seriously explaining something to us.

He gets frustrated whenever he wants to tell us something and we can't figure out what it is hehehe. I mean he can speak clearly already but due to his frustrations, he can't seem to accurately convey his message lol.

Have a great weekend everyone.