Christinchen's Soapbox

How it was during Typhoon Pepeng's landfall

noreply@blogger.com (chrissred) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 05:33:00 +0000

Got this picture from someone's friendster page. See that small blue square on the picture, that's our house. We were on our 2nd floor, thankfully, we were safe.

Based from what we saw on the news about Typhoon Ondoy, I thought of preparing just the important items we cannot do without like matches, candles,charcoal, rice and instant noodles. Also, since rainwater has began to creep into our kitchen, we carried all our things upstairs. Not much was lost, but the pack rat in me thinks I lost a few miscellaneous junk. Our old old old rattan sala set has been soaked in floodwater so we gave it up for our dog's use on our backyard.

It was scary experiencing the floods again, and it was worst we've experienced so far. Thankfully we are alright, neighbors and relatives were alright too.

I still have this nagging feeling that something should be done regarding saving our environment and that it should start in the baranggay. I remember in March that our baranggay conducted a seminar regarding the Reduce Reuse Recycle tips. It was a great start, however, as they say, due to lack of government funds they cannot actively do something. I may post a separate entry about this in the next few days.

A Blog Award!

noreply@blogger.com (chrissred) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 04:30:00 +0000

I thank Mommy Elvz (Straight From The Heart) for giving me this award :)

I gladly pass this award on to.....

EuroAngel of My Euro Travel and Adventure
Shimumsy of Republic of A
Beth of Mommy Passionista
Nanay Belen of Survivor Mom
Arlyna of The Flavors of My Life
Janeth of Janeth Vicy's Life Journey
Russta of Because I Said So.
S-H-Y of A Journey For Life
Buggys of Cute As A Buggy

Grab it now and post it on your blog! ^_^

Here are the rules:

* Copy the award image above.
* Pass it to the bloggers whom you think are deserving for this award.
* Leave a message to them.
* Pass as many as you want.
* Leave a comment to the person who give this award.

Accepting Advertisers

noreply@blogger.com (chrissred) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 01:09:00 +0000

Hello everyone!

This is an announcement that I am now accepting 125x125 sidebar ads at $1.00 and leaderboard ads for $2.00 for a month. You can advertise anything here.

If you are interested or want more information please feel free to email me at: bookwagon888 [at] gmail [dot] com. Or leave a comment in this post.

** Please inform me your URL and your button/ banner layout (please email later)

** I accept PayPal payments for these kinds of ads. Will inform you the Paypal email address through your email (for privacy reasons).

Thanks very much and hope to hear from you!

(“,)

WW- Day at the cornfield

noreply@blogger.com (chrissred) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:41:00 +0000

Thanks to Top Entrecard Droppers For August

noreply@blogger.com (chrissred) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 23:10:00 +0000

Myspace Thank You Comments & Graphics

Thanks to everyone who consistently dropped on my blog. I thank you for always keeping me company and dropping your comments too!Thanks also for the advertisers!

Work At Home
Car Placement Parts Review
Spontaneous Insignificancy
Mechanical Engineering Ebook
Over a Cup of BARAKO
English Wilderness
Grandmother Wren
Otak 3 Pagi Experiment
Small Business Plan and Opportunity
Business Law Cases

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Want to Learn German Language with me?

noreply@blogger.com (chrissred) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Dear Friends,

I admit, I am one to procrastinate about learning my native language. It's been a year and I'm still on Lesson 27!

There is no way around it, I must learn German fully well! I believe that, to fellow Germans, it's a disgrace not to speak our own language. Yes, even if I'm a half-Filipina residing in the Philippines, it's still imperative to learn this, believe me.

It was quite unfortunate that I do not speak German fluently. Just "nur ein bischen" which means "only a little" But as a toddler growing up I remember speaking German, it's indeed my first language. But since my father and grandmother died in a fatal accident, over the next few years, my mother and I moved here to the Philippines. Despite her speaking to me in German until I was 8, I didn't learn. I suppose it's because she spoke the language to reprimand me. (and I still didn't understand)

We still spoke German when we first came to the Philippines and resided in my mother's native province. My uncles and aunts surely know a few German phrases listening to my mom speak to me. Sometimes they would speak German to me too, like "nach oben schlafen!" It may be grammatically incorrect,I suppose, but to us all it meant " sleep upstairs". However my other cousins would laugh and think "oben" meant the oven. So there were times I think of German language as a means to tell a joke.

But it is of a serious matter now that I'm an adult. Many times I've been reprimanded, though rather kindly, about not speaking German. It is especially important in attending to business matters. It has cost me a lot with the paperwork I had to settle, and the translations from German to English and vice-versa.

I'll let you all know how it goes this time. I'm listening to Lesson 4 today again.

Would you like to learn too? Please feel free to click on the free download links below. Those are the first few German lessons I'm sharing and will add more on my sidebar in the next few days. These lessons are 30 minutes each of audio.

Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Lesson 3
Lesson 4
Lesson 5

Auf wiedersehen!

*pls dont forget to visit my sponsor below*

WW- Family Tree Project

noreply@blogger.com (chrissred) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 00:11:00 +0000

*please don't forget to drop by my sponsors*

I love Kimchi!

noreply@blogger.com (chrissred) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 06:29:00 +0000

Been wanting to blog about this for so long and share information about this Korean food. It's one of those dishes that we crave at least once a month. However, it's a Korean staple with every meal and can be served daily.

Kimchi was introduced to our family when many years ago we had this Korean family as neighbours. They are great cooks and share/exchange recipes with us. (though our contribution was just "Pinikpikan" and "M&M Jumble cookies")

But with kimchi, because at first we didn't know what it is, we politely accepted. When I first got a taste of it, I thought it was too hot and oddly because of the salty-sour-pungent taste - just imagine how Koreans profusely put chili sauce.

Months later, our neighbour moved and oh no, we forgot to ask her for the kimchi recipe. So I researched it on the internet, considering food safety issues and health benefits ( you will find the links below)

Prepare the basic ingredients:

2 heads Chinese cabbages, ginger, garlic, green onion, red pepper powder and rock salt.

Wash vegetables thoroughly. Remove discolored leaves. Cut cabbages into sections.
Soak in brine mixture of 10 cups water and 1 cup salt.

You may need to weigh the cabbages down with a plate to make sure they are evenly soaked in brine. Soak for 2-7 hours until soft. (You will need to rinse them in cold water after soaking time)

Chop the rest of the ingredients. Finely if you please.

You can put the green onion, ginger and garlic together while the cabbages are soaked.
Keep them covered to maintain their freshness.

After rinsing the cabbages, drain.

Mix the green onion, ginger and garlic together with the cabbages.

Add the red pepper powder. ( we use only minimal red pepper powder hence this kimchi you see below is quite mild)

Blend all evenly to ferment.

Now it's ready!

Try this recipe and feel it's health benefits too!

Sources:
http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/STUDENTS/Hwang/kimchi3.htm
http://www.treelight.com/health/nutrition/KimchiHealthy.html

WW- "Bobder " (Bob The Builder) after a day's work?

noreply@blogger.com (chrissred) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 06:35:00 +0000

This made me laugh yesterday

noreply@blogger.com (chrissred) — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 14:14:00 +0000

I'd like to share this short story about miscommunication. I found it so funny yesterday at church when our pastor included it in his sermon, to stress a point that when we hear, we must listen. I tell you, I really laughed until I felt tears of laughter.

Some time ago, an English lady, tired of the rain of England, went to look for a house to buy in Switzerland. She finally found the house of her dreams, had her offer accepted, and returned to England to pack her belongings. While packing her bathroom, she suddenly realised that she didn’t remember seeing a bathroom in her new house. So she wrote to the Swiss estate agent asking for the whereabouts of the WC. The Swiss agent - his English being none too good - passed the letter on to the local priest for translation. Being unfamiliar with English abbreviations, the only meaning he could think of for WC was Wesleyan Chapel.

The English lady received the following reply:

‘My Dear Madam,

I take great pleasure in informing you that the WC is situated nine miles from the house in the centre of a beautiful grove of pine trees surrounded by lovely grounds.

It is capable of holding 229 people, and is open on Sundays and Thursdays only. As there are a great number of people expected during the summer months, I suggest you come early, although there is usually only standing room. This is an unfortunate situation, especially if you are in the habit of going regularly.

It may interest you to know that my daughter was married in the WC, and it was there that she met her husband. I can remember the rush for seats. There were ten people to every seat usually occupied by one. It was wonderful to see the expressions on their faces.

You will be glad to hear that a good many people bring their lunch and make a day of it, while those who can afford to go by car arrive just in time. I would especially recommend your ladyship to go on Thursdays when there is organ accompaniment. The acoustics are excellent, even the most delicate sounds can be heard everywhere.

The newest addition is a bell donated by a wealthy resident of the district. It rings every time a person enters. A bazaar is to be held to provide plush seats for all, since the people feel it is long needed.

My wife is rather delicate and she cannot go regularly. It is almost a year since she went last, and naturally it pains her very much not to be able to go more often.

If you let me know when you are planning on attending I shall be delighted to reserve the best seat in the WC for you, where you shall be seen by all. For the children there is a special day and time so they do not disturb their elders with their noises. Hoping to be of some service to you.

Yours faithfully…’

I found it very funny, so funny in fact, I wondered what has gotten over me. (I think the tension of the past weeks are gone away. Though it's still threatening to come back again, I must brace myself and, as Robin Padilla says "Wag kang aayaw, think positive!" )

Agitated at work? Listen to this!

noreply@blogger.com (chrissred) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 23:59:00 +0000

When you feel stressed and need to calm down, try listening to this. Feel refreshed after a few minutes!

In Memory of Pres.Cory Aquino

noreply@blogger.com (chrissred) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 12:06:00 +0000

As the nation grieves for the loss of a great woman who lead our nation during the most memorable times in Philippine history, I am also saddened. She was indeed someone we can look up to. Her meekness, humility and quiet strength stood out during her lifetime.

Watching the hourly news of her wake and procession, my mind goes back to 1986, the yellow confetti, the Laban sign, even KBL's slogan "Walang Alam" and the opposition's slogan "Tama Na, Sobra Na, Palitan Na!" I was still in my 2nd year in highschool during the snap election period in 1986. I deem it as one of the great times in Philippine history. It is amazing too that the gap between the Aquino and the Marcoses will begin to close. I believe this is one of God's mysterious ways, something we must always pray for.

I would like to remember Pres. Cory most thru this Youtube video I found by Jcgosj (Thank you for posting!)

Thank you, Pres. Cory, for the courage and strength, for being a good example and for leading the nation. I am awed by your leadership, now that I think of it, how you were able to do it inspite of all the odds.

Pres. Cory, we love you! Rest in peace!

Magkaisa - Virna Lisa

July Entrecard Top Droppers, thanks to you!

noreply@blogger.com (chrissred) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 10:41:00 +0000

Great! It's the first of August and I'm happy for the regular bloggers who dropped the past month, yes, even in my absence, I appreciate it :)

Thank You Graphic Comments

Congratulations and a very special thanks to the following:

Yummy-as-can-be
The Modern Mom
A Simple Life
Mommy's Little Corner
Life's Tricky Situations
moms..... check nyo
Life's sweets and spices
Over a Cup of BARAKO
My gypsygoods
Take a coffee break...

WW- Where Is The Little Boy?

noreply@blogger.com (chrissred) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:09:00 +0000

Make Money Monday - My earnings on Ziddu

noreply@blogger.com (chrissred) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 23:12:00 +0000

It's Make Money Monday again!

I skipped a week of not posting MMM, as I was busy over my personal affairs, so, my apologies.

Here's again another website I just found via browsing. Something I've been looking for for a long time... a download site that pays for every file downloaded from your own account!

I intend to use this app for all the papers and projects I have on my PC yet they get all piled up at a time until I will have to reformat and transfer them as email attachment. Now, what better way to do this but get paid? It's cool, huh?

Since I'm still a newbie, I have no referrals yet. But with the files I have, a few of friends downloaded already from my account and I got around $.920 only, which isn't much yet. Wait til I really use it for my next project, and I'm sure I will get paid more!

If you need a filekeeper for yourself and would like to share files (photos,documents,write-ups,etc) with your friends and family, please feel free to SIGN UP by clicking on that small blinking button at the top :)

And let's try this app...

Have you read "Who Moved My Cheese?" yet? Click on it to download ;-)

Recurring Dreams? Log it in on DreamJournal!

noreply@blogger.com (chrissred) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:52:00 +0000

Do you get recurring dreams? Do you want to keep track of your dreams and find their meaning somehow?

I dream a lot and I usually remember the recurring dreams like crossing a construction building to the next while walking on just 2 bamboo poles... or walking all the way from here to Banaue,Ifugao.... or walking about inside a hospital with very sick people, where I open and close doors and walk by several flights of stairs. Whew! Those dreams are stressful!

Years ago, back in 2003 or earlier, I signed up for an account at DreamJournal to log in my dreams and also to get their meaning. Of course it's difficult to get a dream's meaning and requires more than the analysis given anywhere. It's all up to us and analyze our own dream's meaning.

My recurring dream symbols are quite strange... from fishponds, snakes, high school, harvested rice, white buildings to the weirdest symbols of gold, processions on the street, flood and earthquakes.

Sometimes I ask people around me what they mean, but I'm not satisfied with their analysis (because they are sometimes superstitious) I prefer some meaningful analysis like the way Joseph of the Bible analyzes a dream. At this point I already know the meaning of those dreams I had years ago since I logged them.

Find them here and join me if you want to:

The website is okay, gives it's analysis also but I think they are based on some belief or the other. I'm only sharing this to everyone so you too may have a site to log in your dreams, it might help when you read them years after ;-)

What recurring dreams do you have?

Another blog award, thanks to Josie!

noreply@blogger.com (chrissred) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 02:17:00 +0000

Thanks to Josie of Josie's Window for this award!

I am passing this very special award to the following friends:

Eugene of Bold-Talk,
Nanay Belen of When Mom Talks...,
Yashiro,
Ria of It's My Party (and I'll cry if I want to..) ,
Diana of Diana Rambles
Auntie E of Auntie E's Yard and Garden
Dana of All About Telecommunication
Nova of History of SuperNova and SweetPain
and, last but not the least..
Yen of Heavenly Delight

Take it, friends!

Tag Time: One Word

noreply@blogger.com (chrissred) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:52:00 +0000

I was tagged twice by my blogging friends, Arlyna of The Flavors of My Life and Beth of Mommy Passionista Thanks to you both! ^_^

This is a ONE WORD tag and you can only answer with just one! It's not easy especially if you want to share more of the story. But it was fun answering. Copy and change the answers to suit you and pass it on. Be sure to tag the person who sent it to you!

1. Where is your cell phone? desk
2. Your hair? ponytail
3. Your mother? deceased
4. Your father? same
5. Your favorite food? Kimchi
6. Your dream last night? abroad
7. Your favorite drink? tea
8. Your dream/goal? health
9. What room you are in? living
10. Your hobby? reading
11. Your fear? death
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Germany
13. Where were you last night? home
14. Something that you aren’t? gossiper
15. Muffins? No :)
16. Wish list item? Blackberry
17. Where you grew up? Pangasinan
18. Last thing you did? stretch
19. What are you wearing? PJs
20. Your TV? off
21. Your pets? Dogs
22. Friends? plenty
23. Your life? positive
24. Your mood? great
25. Missing someone? mom
26. Car? none :)
27. Something you’re not wearing? shoes
28. Your favorite store? ebay
29. Your favorite color? purple
30. When is the last time you laughed? morning
31. Last time you cried? MJ
32. Who will resend this? bloggers
33. One place that I go to over and over? sari-saristore
34. One person who emails me regularly? aunt
35. My favorite place to eat? home :)

I'm passing on this tag to my friends: Josie,Peachkins, Shaine, Mira,Babette, Jessa, and Janz.

Make Money Monday - Neobux pays!

noreply@blogger.com (chrissred) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:45:00 +0000

I've joined Neobux since I heard so much about it that I gave it a try. I'm writing about this because I'm excited to receive my first payment!

Thanks also to the people who signed up under me - from visiting my blog/s and my friendster and other social network profiles.

If you're interested in making money online, joining Neobux is one of the easiest ways.
All you have to do is click and view ads or websites for 30 seconds or less and you'll be automatically credited for it.

Neobux is a PTC website. Basically you get paid to click. They pay 2 cents per click, and an average of 4 adverts per day to click.This entails a little persistence but in just a few minutes a day to click on ads or even sign up for the offers and you'll be automatically credited for that!

It's easy to JOIN, just fill-up a form.

Type your preferred Username
Type your preferred Password
Type your E-mail Address
Type your Alertpay or Paypal Account E-mail (if you don't have one, you can just sign-up for it, it's FREE and it's safe)

The winning strategies to Neobux is clicking on the ads daily and referring members. Since I've signed up and posted the referral button on my social networking profiles, 3 friends have signed up too! So you also will need referrals, because this is where you make money. I suggest just Direct Referral because it's free and anyone can join by using your referrals link. (But if you prefer Rented Referrals, it's a better option)

And make sure you click everyday to increase your earnings. I hope this works for you, too!

Wordless Wednesday - Fishing boats

noreply@blogger.com (chrissred) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:25:00 +0000

Top Ten Entrecard Droppers for June

noreply@blogger.com (chrissred) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:00:00 +0000

Let's all welcome the month of July!

Thanks to everyone who EC dropped on my blog the past month, and special thanks to these bloggers who topped the list:

Confessions Of A Psychotic Housewife

Lisgold

Prove Me Wrong

Yashiro

Karen & Gerald Zemek

Moms....... check nyo

We Live To Tell God's "Amazing Grace"

The Modern Mom

A Little Boy's Blog

Mommy's Little Corner

Thanks everyone and keep on dropping!

Blogthings - My 1950s name

noreply@blogger.com (chrissred) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:45:00 +0000

Thanks to Ria of It's My Party (and I'll Cry If I Want To) who always remembers to tag me with these quizzes. As promised, here is the answer...

Your 1950s Name is: Thelma Frances

What's buzzin, cuzzin?

What's Your 1950s Name?

With this I'm tagging all my friends on my blogroll, so feel free to grab it! :)

I moved many times since 1995

noreply@blogger.com (chrissred) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:00:00 +0000

Thanks for the music

noreply@blogger.com (chrissred) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 23:19:00 +0000

I was simply blog-hopping yesterday when I came across a blog and found out about Michael Jackson's untimely death. At first I thought it was an April Fool's joke or a hoax,then I checked on Yahoo! News,indeed he passed away, just 3 hours ago from the time I first read it.

Memories of the Eighties came back to me of listening to his "Thriller" tape from a borrowed Walkman. I loved his music those times then, they sound so much better. The Eighties child in me still regularly listen to "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" and "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"

Thanks for the upbeat music, thanks for the memories. In my own quiet way I'm sad not only because of his death, but also for all the stories about him from his childhood to the news of the scandals drummed up by unfair publicity. I can imagine the loneliness he must have felt during those times. I'm naive in saying this, yes, but I think because of his popularity those weird stories just grew and grew until it came to a point that the public's mind was conditioned to believe them all. He was so popular, so adored by his fans, (I remember just a glimpse of his sequined gloves could make his fans faint!) and yet he still searched for love and acceptance not because of who he was.

Thanks for being a huge part of the entertainment industry and for sharing your original talents. Michael Jackson, may you rest in peace.

Wordless Wednesday - Rainbow At 6:30AM

noreply@blogger.com (chrissred) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:41:00 +0000