RANDOM THOUGHTS

Angels in My Flights (Part 3)

2009-10-03T22:00:00.003-04:00

I already got back from our 2-month vacation but I haven't posted the last part of our experience on the plane when we flew to the Philippines. Before I post some updates here, allow me to share the last part of Angels in My Flights. Here it goes.

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My son was all charged up. He slept for 6 hours in the flight. When we reached Tokyo, he was so energized. When we vacated the plane, at the end of the jet, I saw a green stroller right before my eyes. I was very happy, this meant it would be an easy walk from the plane to the next security check and next gate. But I was wrong. The stroller meant another load to take since my son was not willing to sit in it. He was screaming and wiggling his way out. But there were several escalators to take and a long walk till the next point. And the next angels in my flight were a Filipino couple who helped me with some of my loads so I can keep up with my son. They even agreed to keep an eye on my stuffs while I searched through stores for some jeans or jackets to buy. God was with me all throughout my flight, sending me angels when I needed help. It was a long, eventful and exhausting flight, but nevertheless made easier with the help of strangers who were my angels.

Angels in My Flights (Part 2)

2009-08-07T04:04:00.005-04:00

So the second leg of our trip was the most ‘dreadful’ one for me. It was an 11 ½ hour connecting flight from Minneapolis to Tokyo, Japan. I was happy to be seated next to a mom of three kids. She’s very nice and friendly and she’s a Thai. She didn’t mind my son moving a lot in his seat having had the same boy herself. We talked about some mommy stuffs for most of the flight. In this flight I had to go to the bathroom as often as I needed to. For some reasons, my period got heavy (it was my 7^th day already, I'm normally done in 5 days!). Probably it was due to stress and everything else put together.

What could be a perfect time to get a monthly period but at this time when I had to travel alone with a three-year old on a 26- hour plane trip? And while my son was asleep on top of me, I couldn’t put him down without waking him up, so I wasn’t able to go at all. The next thing I knew I got a big circular stain on my jeans with the size of a big apple, yuk! (pardon me guys). I didn’t even have any spare underwear nor a pair of jeans in my carry-on. Anyway, I sat through the remaining hours of the flight till I braved giving a hint to my Thai seatmate that I got a big problem. She right away volunteered to lend me a spare jacket to tie around my waste to cover the stain.

She was petite so her jacket was really tiny, but it was better than nothing. She and her family would also wait for at least two hours in Tokyo for their connecting flight to Thailand. I promised to buy anything at the airport so I can return her jacket right away. But just in case, I took her address so I can mail the jacket back. I saw them again in the security point and then lost them in the crowd. She was the second angel in my flight, a very kind and helpful person. She trusted me, a stranger with a jacket to help me get away from the humiliation of walking with a stain behind me. Amazing!

Angels in My Flights (Part 1)

2009-08-03T22:19:00.003-04:00

As most of you know, I left for a two-month vacation with my little son on Wednesday last week. It was my first time to travel alone with my son, and I was not quite sure what to expect. He is a very active and energetic little boy, and can’t be restrained in one place for a very long time. Which three-year old could be anyway? So just figure how he could manage the 26-hour plane trip across the Pacific (19 hours on plane, 7 hours layover). Though I came prepared with a monkey-leash to keep him closer to me when walking and a stroller to sit him comfortably when napping; there’s no guarantee however that he will agree to be strapped to any of them. Needless to say, these gadgets didn’t help much. My son would rather walk (aimlessly) in a crowded airport and roll his own carry-on. At age 3, he kept insisting he’s a big-boy and wanted to do everything on his own. So you can just imagine how stressful it was to run after him or hold his hand without a fight.

When I checked in our stroller at the gate in Boston, I specifically told the crew that we still have two connecting flights so I would of course need the stroller. Few minutes before reaching our first destination, my son fell asleep. I opted to vacate the plane last so I could lay my son on the seat and run for the stroller at the end of the jet quickly. But the good ol stroller was nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, all the crews of the plane who were so ready to leave themselves too got stuck with me while I waited for the stroller. Then they said that it probably got sent to our final destination. Are you kidding me? Have I just carried a stroller and not even serve its purpose? I showed them my receipt and it says it should be at each connecting flights. They apologized for what happened and told me that it was just the first that this occurred. Yeah and of all the other times it could happen, it should be now. But I was still furious. Good thing they helped me out and carried some of my carry-on bags.

My son woke up cranky and restless in my arms. I tried to put him on the floor for a while so I could check on the monitor the gate for the second leg of our trip. But he didn’t like it so he screamed, cried and begged me to pick him up. With two carry-on bags; a purse and a screaming tot hanging on my body and not sure how far the next gate would be, at this point I was also breaking into tears. Then an old lady by the name of Donna Pierson noticed me. She had a cartful of boxes with fliers; her blue shirt had an MSP logo printed on it. She asked me where I was headed to and I said I was still trying to squeeze myself at the monitor to look for our gate. She was so kind and volunteered to do it for me. When she found out the gate, I was hoping she could give direction too, but I got an even better deal because she volunteered to take us there! Wow, she was really nice, so my tears rolled down my cheeks now out of happiness that somebody is willing to help me with my stuffs.

I carried my son up to some point and at other points he agreed to walk on the travelator so there was not much strain on my arms and back. I told Donna to just take us to the gate and I’ll just figure where to get lunch there. She said she could take us to McDonald's if I wanted to and volunteered to watch my son while I order the food. With a little bit of hesitation and a grumbling stomach and light-headedness, I accepted the offer. I ordered food-to-go quickly and then we headed finally to our gate.

Donna was such an enormous help, an angel sent from heaven. She must be in her late 70's. My son even called her grandma. I gave her a big hug to thank her for her wonderful gesture.

Going on Vacay Soon and Hope to Meet Bloggers in Person

2009-07-21T16:00:00.004-04:00

It's been ages since I last updated this blog and I apologize for that. I have been pre-occupied with getting ready for our two-month vacation in the Philippines. I have mixed emotions about this - excited to see my family but also sad to leave hb behind. Unfortunately, hb won't be able to join us but he's optimistic about getting some time off towards the end of September. I'm keeping my fingers crossed (toes included, lol) that he could follow us. Ever since he assumed his new job, he's been working his butt off and traveling more than 50% of the time. I wish we could spend more time together before my son and I leave. But he's away on business trip right now and we only have exactly a week left when he comes back.

Anyway, aside from different milestones in the family to celebrate, this vacation also excites me because it means I will have a chance to meet in person some blogger buddies that I knew online. I'm looking forward to meet the couple Liza and Joel, and Tita Beng just to name a few. There are a lot of other Pinoy bloggers from in and out of Manila that I would like to meet too. Hopefully we could squeeze in some time to meet guys, see you all!

EC Top Droper Day - June

2009-07-02T10:12:00.005-04:00

I would like to thank the following avid droppers for last month. Thank you guys for always coming back here despite not being able to return most of your drops, ;-).

Yummy-as-can-be
I’m a mom and a wife to picky eaters which prompted me to search for yummy and healthy recipes, and modify so my family can enjoy them.
The Modern Mom
Moms like me are becoming more and more housekeeping savvy. From stretching the family budget to diy's, smart solutions and more.Being a wonder mom is now no sweat with all these wonderful alternatives.
A Simple Life
A 40 year old mother of two who likes to write just about anything. A baking enthusiast, a crafter and a hobbyist. This is about me, my views, my interests and my favorites.
Mommy's Little Corner
A blog that talks about my adventures of being a wife and a mom. This blog also focuses on food, nutrition and health.
moms..... check nyo
I’m a 40ish year old mom of two. I love to bake, cook, plant herbs (in pots cause i don’t have a garden), cross stitching, hardanger embroidery, bowling and just like any typical pinay moms i love watching telenovelas.
Life's sweets and spices
A work-at-home-mommy who loves to cook, bake and read. A frustrated chef, now a dedicated blogger. Blogging makes me happy and this is where I share my thoughts, ideas, [sometimes] feelings, my love for food and then some…
Cacai's Step and Journey
My personal blog talks about my own wits, views, reviews, thoughts, beliefs, happiness, and my day to day experiences in this beautiful world we're living in, of good quality standard for which everyone of all ages is welcome. ***Adverts, I welcome you all, feel free to ad. (~_~) ***
Online Marketing
I Learn Online Marketing
Naokos Cooking
Here's my blog about Japanese Cooking, Recipes, and Japanese Foods. That I like to share with everyone.
Lisgold
I Blog about myself, my family and friends and talk about things that interest me.

Death of a Legend

2009-06-25T23:06:00.010-04:00

Where were you when you heard the news of Michael Jackson's death? Hb was goofing around with our son while I was trying to watch the news on TV when the anchor announced a breaking news that a legendary singer of the 80's has died with inset video showing people converging in front of UCLA hospital. The anchor didn't name the singer yet as if confirming the veracity of the news. I was so shocked when I finally learned that it was Michael Jackson who just died, unbelievable. His death was untimely and shocking. I immediately checked the news online, and apparently he expired about 15 minutes ago of the announcement on TV. What a tragic news. MJ's death overshadowed every other news on TV like that of a politician who had extra-marital affair and the already annoying Jon and Kate saga. Even the death of the icon Farrah Fawcet on the same day seems not a big news anymore. Perhaps because Farrah's death was expected and just a matter of time, while MJ's was very sudden.

Michael Jackson's legacy will not be surpassed. His music has influenced so many people. He was a brilliant singer and songwriter with monumental success. I always love the irresistible beat to his music. His signature moonwalk moves and single sequined glove have always been imitated. Despite his eccentric looks and scandals that attracted curiosity, he will always be remembered for his talents. May you rest in peace MJ!

A Tribute To My Tatay

2009-06-21T00:00:00.007-04:00

I am re-posting this entry I made on Father's Day 2006 with some updates, to honor my dear father on this special occasion. He will also celebrate his 75th birthday on September 15th. I am blessed to have both my parents still alive up to this day and they will also celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on August 21st. These are the reasons for my trip to the Philippines in August.

* * *

He’s the disciplinarian in the family. When we were little we used to fear him a lot because he was very strict when it comes to coming home straight from school; doing our homework instead of playing with friends in the street; helping in the household chores and hanging out with the right friends. But as naughty as young children are, we always found a way to sneak out to play with our friends, and then if somebody signals that he/she sees my father at the end of the street coming home from work, we would hurriedly run home as fast as we could so we would not be scolded.

Since Tatay (Tagalog term for father) was always out of the house most of the days for work, we were closer to Nanay (Tagalog term for mother). If we ask for something that Tatay didn’t approve of, Nanay would always come to our rescue and she would negotiate with Tatay till he gives in. So as tough as Tatay would look like on the outside he was very soft when it comes to our childish little wishes.

When Tatay retired from work and stayed home a lot, he ran errands for everybody. He was very protective of his 'girls', he would rather go out to get anything from the store than letting us do it. I couldn’t imagine Tatay would do household chores, but he became a homebody cooking our meals and yes, he’s a great cook, his specialties include Kaldereta (a spicy Filipino stew which normally uses goat’s meat, chicken or beef), Kare-Kare (another kind of stew with a nutty sauce served with a variety of vegetables) and Dinuguan (another kind of stew made from pig’s blood and meat). Since Nanay was the one getting all the ingredients in the market, Tatay was not aware of how much an ingredient costs so he would put a lot in a dish which makes it really taste delicious. So sometimes they would get into argument when Tanay starts looking for an ingredient she just bought and realized it was all gone.

Another thing I admire about Tatay is it's so easy to please him, he takes anything I give him with a big smile on his face, even how simple and plain it would be. If I ask him what he wants he would always say it’s up to me. He’s so grateful with just anything I give him, not very picky and doesn’t want to burden me. He likes to exercise a lot, he breeze walks every morning with Nanay, he also lifts weights and he’s got at least 2 exercise machines in the house.

But Tatay can be stubborn sometimes, especially when it comes to going to a doctor. There are things that Nanay can’t convince him of doing and she would always come to me for help to talk to him. More often than not, he would listen to me, I have a way with him. He’s the kind of person who doesn’t complain even if he feels something’s wrong with him, one reason is he’s scared to see a doctor and another thing is he doesn’t want to burden us with medical bills.

Three years ago when I left for US I had a vivid memory of Tatay having a very firm body. But since he loves to cook especially fatty dishes, he also loves to eat and drink beer. One time they sent me pictures in the mail and I noticed how skinny and old he became in only a span of three years. I got so worried and became anxious to get home to know what’s going on. In March of this year, I really went home for the main reason of having them checked-up. I confined them for a day in a hospital for an executive check-up and all the works. It took a while to convince Tatay to do it though. It was a blessing in disguise that I went home when I did because Tatay was diagnosed to have clogged arteries. He was put on medication and he was advised to avoid fatty food and alcohol. He took a 180 degrees turn around to a completely new lifestyle, in terms of eating habits which did him good.

Three years to this day, at least once a week I always call Tatay to know how he’s doing. Sometimes, I would just ask him for a recipe. I am like a ‘mom’ to Tatay now, scolding him when he misses his medicine or always reminding him to stay away from fatty food and beer. He’s doing great if I may say so because he listens to me. No matter how far I am from tatay, I will forever be Tatay’s little girl. Happy Father's Day Tatay and my dad-in-law, and of course to my honey bunch (hb) and to all the fathers in the world!

Updates: We were in the Philippines on June 2007 for a three week vacation. I thought Tatay looked really old and frail. It took a while for me to get used to the way Tatay and Nanay looked. I still have that vivid memory of how they were when I left for US in 2003. My brother always tells me not to worry too much, as they are just getting old and of course their looks and body will change.

But on November 2007 I received an urgent call that Tatay was in the hospital because he had a stroke. He was by himself in our house in Cavite as Nanay was at my sister's house in Mandaluyong looking after my niece. My sister used to travel a lot for work so Nanay was with them all the time even when she's got a helper. Like I said Tatay always exercised and walked every morning. And that eventful morning, our neighbors who were walking too saw him holding his chest and struggling for breath. They helped him and brought him to the ER of the nearest hospital. They were angels sent from heavens because due to their quick thinking, there was no damage to Tatay's brain. Only his mobility was slightly affected. I thank God for great neighbors! With medication and therapy Tatay is back to normal again. I can't wait to see him and Nanay when we visit in August.

Payday Loan FAQs

2009-06-19T15:13:00.006-04:00

The present economic situation has left many people struggling to make ends meet. But this shouldn't be a cause of panic only because there is an alternative source of short term loans available online. Running out of cash or shortage of cash when your payday is still several days away should not be a big deal anymore. There is a company that can help you deal with your present emergency financial situations. You can get quick payday loan approval online and get up to $1500 loan fast. I know this sounds too good to be true, but if you have Questions About Pay Day Loans, just visit ApexPaydayLoans.com.

Photo Hunt #20 - Lock

2009-06-13T08:22:00.014-04:00

"My mom calls me her little tot. If you haven't noticed yet, I am her model in most of her Photohunt entries. In this week's theme LOCK, let me tell you a story about my locked toy chest."

MY RED TOY CHEST
~by Little Tot~

"In one corner of my little room there is a red toy chest
that my mommy locked and stowed away. "

"She puts some of the toys that I don't play with anymore in this toy chest.
She wants to always keep my toys in order, she doesn't like a messy room."

"But one morning when I woke up, I thought I'd play
with my fave stackable light house, I haven't touched it in a while.
So I climbed down my bed and unlocked the toy chest."

"Hmmm, I wonder where my light house toy is?"

"There it is! Don't worry mom, I'll put them away when I'm done,
so I will earn another star."

~THE END~

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To see more PhotoHunter players this week please visit:

Personality Test

2009-06-12T14:25:00.002-04:00

Thanks to Metz of Empty Street for passing this Personality Quiz tag along. This is a fun and free IQ test, very quick and easy to answer, and you might be surprised at how each answer is interpreted. Come and play along ;-)

The rules are:

1. Open this website : http://www.quizbox.com/personality/test82.aspx
2. Take the Personality Quiz (it's VERY short and easy, really)
3. Copy Paste the result to your blog.
4. Tag as many friends as you can and link to the friend who tagged you.

HERE'S THE RESULT OF MY TEST:

Your view on yourself:

You are intelligent, honest and sweet. You are friendly to everybody and don't like conflict. Because you're so cheerful and fun people are naturally attracted to you and like to talk to you.

The type of girlfriend/boyfriend you are looking for:

You like serious, smart and determined people. You don't judge a book by its cover, so good-looking people aren't necessarily your style. This makes you an attractive person in many people's eyes.

Your readiness to commit to a relationship:

You prefer to get to know a person very well before deciding whether you will commit to the relationship.

The seriousness of your love:

You like to flirt and behave seductively. The opposite sex finds this very attractive, and that's why you'll always have admirers hanging off your arms. But how serious are you about choosing someone to be in a relationship with?

Your views on education

You may not like to study but you have many practical ideas. You listen to your own instincts and tend to follow your heart, so you will probably end up with an unusual job.

The right job for you:

You have many goals and want to achieve as much as you can. The jobs you enjoy are those that let you burn off your considerable excess energy.

How do you view success:

You are confident that you will be successful in your chosen career and nothing will stop you from trying.

What are you most afraid of:

You are afraid of having no one to rely on in times of trouble. You don't ever want to be unable to take care of yourself. Independence is important to you.

Who is your true self:

You are mature, reasonable, honest and give good advice. People ask for your comments on all sorts of different issues. Sometimes you might find yourself in a dilemma when trapped with a problem, which your heart rather than your head needs to solve.

Anybody who's interested to know his/herself better is free to grab this.

Look Refreshed, Younger and Presentable

2009-06-12T00:41:00.003-04:00

One of the many magazine subscriptions I have is a health and wellness magazine. I love reading relevant health information and special features on how to live healthier. As a wife and mother, the health of my family is my topmost priority and it's good to be equipped with better understanding of common health conditions and health and wellness topics in general. I also do online search at times when I need to know what cause certain symptoms. There are a lot of online health sites on the web that I visit and there is one site that I find quite different from the others, it is called Scrubs, the nurse's guide to good living. Scrubs is not just another clinical nursing site, but a whole lot of different interesting topics and helpful information. It is 100% about nurses; their personal and professional lives and the joy and specific challenges they face in their noble chosen career. The site includes topics on mind; health; beauty; style; work; love; money; and news and entertainment.

We all know how demanding and challenging the work life of a nurse; season-in and season-out a nurse is committed to work and care for patients. So during their downtime, they deserve total relaxation and pampering. At Scrubs there are many helpful tips and advices for nurses on how to care for their hair, skin, nails, make-up and more. Nurses should care about how they look since they are always facing the patients. They wouldn't want to look like they need more medical attention than the patients they are caring for.

Summer heat can cause not only exhaustion but break-outs. The nurse's face is the physical focal point for patients being treated so therefore it shouldn't be taken for granted. In the Beauty section under tips & secrets, there are helpful tips on how to wake up looking refreshed, younger and presentable by following easy steps for caring for faces before curling up in bed for the night. Never go to bed still wearing make-up because it will clog your pores letting toxins penetrate more deeply. Always wash and clean your face and then moisturize to hydrate the skin and prevent wrinkles. Sleep on your back rather than on your stomach or on your side all the time to prevent wrinkles. When you brush your teeth, scrub your lips as well; pat dry; and then apply lip treatment to remove dryness and lines. Groom your eyebrows and remove chin hair by plucking stray hairs at night to let skin calm down by morning. As I browse and navigate the site of Scrubs, there are topics and articles that I find beneficial to any reader not only the nurses.

My Birthday Prayer

2009-06-10T07:00:00.001-04:00

Today I'm celebrating my forty something years of existence in this world. I guess this dated photo will prove how long ago I was born ;-). I thank God for continually blessing me with good health and outpouring graces that sustain me through all these years. And also for the trials which serve as constant reminder of my limitations and total dependence on God's loving mercy.

Dear Lord,

I thank you for giving me another year of life
I thank you for all the people who have remembered me today;
for all my achievements and all the friends
you have given to me during the past year.

I thank you for all the experiences,
the successes and happy memories;
for times of failure which reminded me
of my own weaknesses and of my need for you;
for times of joy when the sun was shining;
for times of sorrow which drove me to you.

Forgive me, Lord, for the hours I have wasted;
for the chances I failed to take;
for the opportunities I missed in the past year.
Forgive me that I did not use my talents and abilities to the fullest
because I was lazy and wanted things the easy way,
or I did not completely trust in your support.

Help me in the days which lie ahead
to make this coming year better than last year
and closer to you, my Lord.
Amen

It Was Not An Awkward Party After All

2009-06-09T06:09:00.010-04:00

Over the weekend we attended a wedding reception at our neighbor's house. We haven't really spoken to them, the only interaction we've had were waves and smiles whenever we see each other working in our respective yards. Actually we found the guy more friendlier than his wife, his wife barely smiled. So hb and I were confused why these people would invite us. We entertained a lot of thoughts like they probably just asked someone to hand deliver the invite and made a mistake putting it in our mailbox instead of the right address and such. We haven't also seen their daughter who was getting married that day. We were hesitant to attend but didn't want to be called snubs as well. It could also be a great opportunity to really know them if in fact there was not a mistake involved.

Anyway, we decided to deliver our gifts personally several hours before the party. That way we would have the chance to at least meet their daughter. It was a brief encounter, she was very warm and pretty. We didn't stay long as she was busy preparing for her special day which by the way was held in their garden. Then the time came. Hb and I were praying to see familiar faces so we wouldn't be the odd couple at the party. Then a very pretty lady excitedly stood up to welcome us, it was Mrs. S, she looked different I didn't even recognize her. She was very friendly and introduced us to some of their relatives. Then she gave us a tour of their garden overlooking the beautiful pond.

The party was very intimate, they only invited family and few close friends, and neighbors surrounding them. Mr. and Mrs. S were very nice and friendly and very welcoming. They were looking for our little tot whom we dropped off at our friends' house to baby sit. I could have brought him, there were kids running around there. Mr. S even persuaded me to get him but I didn't want to drive to get him and prepare him anymore, we didn't want to stay long, that was the plan.

But there were dancing and open bar. I really wanted to dance, but hb was making funny alibis so I wouldn't drag him to the dance floor. Then a slow music 'Imagine' by the Beatles came, it was hb's favorite so finally he agreed to dance. The last time we've danced together was on our wedding reception which was 7 years ago and when we had our son, we haven't been to any party just by ourselves too. So we danced music after music and enjoyed the night away. We even joined the group dance with an 82 year-old grandma pretending to strip-tease in the middle, it was hilarious.

We enjoyed ourselves tremendously we almost forgot we've got a son to fetch and it was way past his bedtime. We were just happy we attended as we did, a party that we thought would be awkward but turned out to be a terrific one. Now we won't just be waving and smiling at our neighbors. They gave us a permission to take my son at their backyard whenever he wants to see the swan in the pond.

Drop An EC Today and Earn Two Credits

2009-06-01T20:38:00.008-04:00

If there's any day that you won't feel like dropping EC's, well today shouldn't be that day. Why? Because Entrecard is giving 2 credits for every drop that you make today, but the receiving blog won't earn any credit. Yup this offer is good ONLY TODAY, so hurry up and let the drops begin.

Photo Hunt #19 - Book/s

2009-05-30T14:14:00.009-04:00

In today's Photo Hunter's theme BOOK(S), I'm featuring my son reading/browsing through some of his favorite books.

His fave bedtime story book is "Goodnight Moon".
Here he is gesturing to keep quiet as we read the line,
"...And a quiet old lady who was whispering 'hush' "

This is at Border Bookstore in one of the story times we attended.
He doesn't like going home right after, not until after browsing through
books about automobiles....boys!

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To see more PhotoHunter players this week please visit:

Just a Quick Update

2009-05-27T22:10:00.005-04:00

I apologize for not posting updates here lately. We were out-of-town for two weekends in a row. Though we have internet access in the hotel where we stayed at, I opted to just limit my online activities to enjoy my vacation more.

So where have we been you might ask? Our little tot celebrated his 3rd birthday last week and in lieu of a birthday party, we decided to have family weekend get-aways to New Hampshire and Maine instead. We enjoyed some quality time together and we visited a lot of new places.

The highlight of our weekend in NH was the hike of Mt. Washington via the Cog Railway. It was an awesome and exhilarating experience especially to the birthday boy who is obsessed of choo-choo trains. Then the past weekend we drove to Bar Harbor in Maine. The view of the harbor was breathtaking. It's bad that hb was nursing a swollen left foot so we didn't go too far. But he was able to walk far enough to experience the main attraction of the city, the Acadia National Park.

The week is about to end soon again and I hope to do more updates in the coming days. If you get the chance just click on the links above to read the details of our vacay and enjoy the photos I posted.

Photo Hunt # 17 & 18 - Painted & Plastic

2009-05-23T00:00:00.010-04:00

PLASTIC

Sliding on a playset with PLASTIC accessories.

Playing in a PLASTIC turtle sand box.

* * *

I missed posting my entry for last week's theme PAINTED because we were out-of-town, but I still want to share these photos of my little tot enjoying his art time.

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To see more PhotoHunter players this week please visit:

Congrats and Goodluck to Kris Allen

2009-05-21T12:00:00.001-04:00

I wrote an early prediction on AI about who I thought would be in the finals. I predicted that it's gonna be Kris Allen and Danny Gokey. I never liked Adam Lambert though I'm not saying he's not good. He is good, it's just that I find him so over the top, his screaming just annoys me.

But honestly I thought that Adam had it in the bag already because the judges seem to like him the most. But when the announcement time came, I was still hoping that Ryan would call Kris' name instead. But when I heard that he really did, I was shocked and at the same very happy. Kris is a very soft-spoken guy and may not be the best vocalist but his charisma is infectious. I hope that he'll be as successful as some of the past winners and contestants of Idol.

On a different note, though I've been a fan of AI since season 2, I must admit that this season did not really excite me much. And with the news that Simon Cowell may not be in the next season would make it all the more less exciting. As brutally frank and sometimes heartless as he is, he's the only judge that I want to hear any feedback of the contestants from. What do you think?

(Image source - AmericanIdol.com)

Charice Pempengco Has Come A Long Way

2009-05-19T06:25:00.003-04:00

I don't usually watch television in the afternoon, well not anymore. I gave in long ago to my little tot's tv time so I gave up on my fave show Oprah. It's good that there are other shows I can watch the full episodes of online, so it doesn't matter if I can't watch them at primetime. Anyway, yesterday I was able to take a peek of the Oprah show in the boob tube while taking a break from my Monday date with the laundry. I was glad the channel was at ABC already when I turned it on instead of the usual PBS for children. Otherwise, my little tot who was busy playing with his toys could have been distracted and I could have not seen a very special episode of Oprah. The show featured the young talents from different countries and one of them was our very own Charice Pempengco. It's amazing what kids can do these days, how talented they are.

Charice performed her debut single at Oprah entitled "A Note to God". She was so amazing and she sang it with so much emotions it actually gave me goosebumps and my eyes welled-up. I so love Charice, she is a little girl with so much talent. She's definitely come a long way, she is also in the movie "Alvin and The Chipmunks 2," a live action-animation movie which will be shown next year.

I just hope she will not change. I love what Oprah said, "just keep your feet on the ground whatever shoes you're wearing". Exactly what I hope for Charice.

You can watch the video of her performance at Oprah here, c/o Oprah.com.

Why Do I love Blogging Award (Neno's Award)

2009-05-18T21:00:00.004-04:00

This is another long overdue award from a new blogger friend Bingkee of I Love/Hate America and Nora of Nora's Notes.

The aims of this award:
* As a dedication for those who love blogging activity and love to encourage friendships through blogging.
* To seek the reasons why we all love blogging!
* Put the award in one post as soon as you receive it
* Don’t forget to mention the person who gives you the award.
* Answer the award’s question by writing the reason why you love blogging.
* Tag and distribute the award to as many people as you like.
* Don’t forget to notify the award receivers and put their links in your post.

Why do I love blogging?
Like most bloggers I know, my blogging hobby started just like that, a simple hobby. Blogging gave me another avenue to express what I feel in writing. It all started when I decided to take a break from my readings. I was in the middle of reviewing for the CPA board exams at that time. Blogging became a form of releasing my stress. After a few months though, I went on an indefinite hiatus. Then a good friend called one day bearing a good news that I can now earn money through blogging. It was too good to be true but I activated my blog nevertheless. Afterall I decided to be a SAHM and earning from home was not a bad idea at all. But I was surprised to learn though that blogging world was a totally different ballgame already. I thought it was not as personal anymore as when I started doing it three years ago. Bloggers now are more concerned about increasing traffic, getting PR's, and trying to earn more money. But I still love it anyway. I love that I can write and share my thoughts and opinions and I love that I earn money on the side too. And also I love that I get to meet a lot of different and diverse people whom I would have not possibly met if I didn't do blogs.

Now I want to find out why the following friends love to blog as well:

Barb @ Definitely Maybe
Lanie @ I Thought So
Yen @ In My Shoes

Carlota @ Dashing Smiles

Madz @ My Life's Journey

Stop Hackers From Invading Your Network

2009-05-16T23:00:00.005-04:00

When you hear the word hacker or hacking what comes first to your mind ? To me those words are scary and dreadful. You can't blame me because we've been actually victimized by hackers who were able to use our credit cards illegally and went on a shopping spree. I wouldn't want any hacker to get close to my personal information but I would love to know how the mind of a hacker works by being a real life hacker. That would be cool to know right?

There are some courses being offered online about Ethical Hacking. Ethical Hacking is still hacking but only in a positive and helpful way as it is focused on securing and protecting IT systems through the use of penetration testing and other testing methodologies. In order to catch a thief, think like a thief. This is the philosophy from where the practice of ethical hacker stemmed from. The goal of the ethical hacker is to help the organization take preemptive measure against malicious attacks by attacking the system himself, all the while staying within legal limits.

If you want to stop hackers from invading your network and tighten your IT Security, become a Certified Ethical Hacker to understand and know how to look for the weaknesses and vulnerabilities in target systems and use the same knowledge and tools as a malicious hacker. EC-Council iClass offers the following courses delivered online using an advance web conferencing/communication platform. All classes are taught by Certified EC-Council Instructors providing an experience as close to physical classroom as possible.

-Security Fundamentals
-Ethical Hacking
-Penetration Testing
-Computer Forensics 
-Disaster Recovery
-Secure Programming

Do you know that despite the economic downturn, the salaries of IT Security are still on the rise? That's why hundreds of IT Professionals have already joined EC Council for their free, one day First Look IT Security Events to get a snap shot of how the courses are being taught and what to expect from the course contents. So if you want to join the band wagon, visit EC-Council now and receive quality education without the extra cost of travel by studying online at the comforts of your own home.

Photo Hunt #16 - In Memory

2009-05-09T08:47:00.009-04:00

Here's our furry son Laddie. Two winters ago we made a very hard decision of putting him down because he was very sick and in great pain. We cried for God knows how long. IN MEMORY of Laddie, we had his remains cremated and kept his ashes in an urn that sits on our mantle. He will be forever in our hearts.

Laddie, our Boykin Spaniel dog was almost 14 years old here

Laddie's ashes are kept in this urn with his collar around it.

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Texting While Driving, What a Stupid Thing to Do

2009-05-08T23:01:00.010-04:00

Need I say more? How can some people be so irresponsible and put a lot of lives in great danger? This is exactly what had just happened in Boston when one trolley car rear-ended another that was parked on red light, and caused dozens of passengers come flying. The operator of the train admitted that he was texting his girlfriend at that time, how stupid! It's good that it didn't result to life-threatening injuries, it could have been worse.

Remember a similar accident that happened in California not long ago? Only in that accident, 25 people unfortunately got killed. The operator was also texting. This is another proof that cellphone and driving don't mix. No matter how good a multi-tasker you may be, there are just some things you can not do while driving, especially when you are driving a public utility vehicle. Always keep your eyes on the road.

Aside from using a cellphone, you wouldn't believe what other drivers would do while behind the wheels. I read some people would shave; put-on make up; fix a bottle of milk for a baby; eating; browse through a stack of cd's; dig into the glove compartment looking for something, reading a newspaper; doing crossword puzzle, and a lot of other incredible things. Well, drop the distractions and concentrate on the road. It's not only your life you are putting in danger here, but also the lives of everybody else. I wish there is a stricter ordinance about usage of cellphone while driving.

How about you, what other distractions have you witnessed other drivers are doing while on the road?

Manny Pacquiao Rules!

2009-05-03T00:02:00.009-04:00

After watching the last fight of Manny Pacquiao against De la Hoya several months ago, I just couldn't wait for his next fight against the British boxer Ricky Hatton. My hb being a Brit too was now rooting for Hatton. He said that there was a strong possibility that Hatton will knock down Pacquiao easily. Even retired boxers who were interviewed during the weigh-in program also predicted that Hatton will win over Pacquiao. When I saw Hatton during that program I thought he looked weak and frail, but everybody was saying his punches are really strong they can knock out easily. But I didn't waiver on my trust on Pacquiao, I believed that his speed and hook punches will get Hatton in just 3 rounds. People underestimated his capabilities too during his match against De La Joya, but he won anyway.

Well the day of the match finally came and it only lasted for almost 7 minutes in 2 Rounds including the time in between rounds. And who won? Of course, my fellow countryman Manny Pacquiao! The arrogant Hatton fell on the floor three times. The hook punch that Pacquiao released hit him in the jaw and I thought it twisted his neck. He fell on the floor almost unconcious. When the camera swung at the area where his family was seated, a woman who may be his wife was shocked and shaking. My god, if I was married to a boxer, I wouldn't be able to stand watching him being punched and getting hurt, yay.

Anyway, early Saturday the day of the fight, my hb was back and forth about ordering the Pacquiao-Hatton fight on Pay Per View, but he did it anyway. He paid $45 just to watch a less than 7 minutes fight. It was like over $6 a minute fight, what a rip-off, LOL. We couldn't endure watching the 4 matches before the main event. It's a good thing that Celtics were also playing against the Chicago Bulls in another channel so we watched that instead. Celtics won too, yehey! Oh by the way, I invited my good friend Loanna and his two 'boys' to watch the fight with us. She's the only one I know who also loves boxing. I was glad she readily said yes. We were screaming our lungs out as Pacquiao was throwing punches on Hatton and even louder when Hatton was sent to the floor. It was a great game, but just very short! They left at past 12 midnight.

Congratulations to Manny Pacquiao, he once again made all Filipinos proud.

(Image Source: GMANews.tv)

Photo Hunt #15 - Walking

2009-05-02T00:00:00.005-04:00

In this week's theme WALKING, I will feature my little tot and his dada enjoying each other's company while walking in the beach, museum, farm and a Track and Field.

At Martha's Vineyard in MA - walking along the shore looking for seashells.

At Museum of Science in Boston, MA - little tot walking behind dada imitating his moves.

At Phantom Farm in Cumberland, RI - on their way to Easter Egg Hunting event

At a local HS Track and Field - Taking a morning walk.

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