Stranded... Memoirs

Dex


At dusk (Oro Site still flooded)


breakfast


two young boy walking amidst flood


Alex.. going to the office.. (mukhang siga)


Kuya (MBS Tek's Maintenance)

I Found "The Russia House"!

I almost forgot to post this... Good thing, it came up on my mind few minutes before i left the office. Yeah, in 15 minutes i'll be off and will go home.

Well, this post is about my book hunting yesterday. I have visited Booksale again yesterday hoping that they already have copies of Frederick Forsyth's books. Well, last week i went there and told the shop owner to reserve me a copy of Icon, The Devil's Alternative and The Day of the Jackal. Sadly, i forgot to come back for them. And when i asked the shop owner yesterday, he told me that he sold them to other shoppers because i never showed up as promised.

My heart fell upon hearing what he has to say. Anyway, it's my fault so i don't blame him; not a bit. So what i did yesterday was to look for other book titles i may be interested in. And you know what? I felt so lucky! Why? Because i found a copy of John Le Carre's Russia House! And i've been looking for this copy since i've decided to fill up my collections of books again.

But, that's not all! I have bought the book for only Php30! Imagine that! This book will mostly cost 100-150 in other book shops. And i bought it for only a fraction of the usual price! I could've literally shout and jump up and down had it not for other shoppers inside the store. Well, i suppress my feelings as i don't want them to think I'm insane. Hehehe....

And i am so glad that the book cost less but is still in good condition. That's why i really love buying books from Booksale. They have the most reasonable prices for books and theirs are all in good condition.

I meant to post a picture of the book here but unfortunately, i don't have my camera with me. But, i promise to have the photos posted here soon as i have my camera.

:)

A Quote from MJ

Upon browsing Zwani.com, i found a quote from Michael Jordan. My favorite NBA legend of course. And even though i've told myself that i've had enough of quotes for today, i just can't resist but to copy the quote and post it here...

Here it is;


Now, this is a simple quote with great meaning. Few words were used but it speaks of thousand meanings. I really can say that "I LOVE MICHAEL JORDAN!" :)

The "Doña" on Fortune Magazine!

This is Maidz! I've decided to make her as a Fortune Magazine Cover Girl because she was better known to us as "Doña"... Hehehe... Well, they own a "Ranch" in Masbate. In fact, she always brought us pastillas and other delicacies from their "Ranch" whenever she went to Masbate to visit her parents.

So here.... Maidz, i hope you'll like what i've done. And i also hope i gave you enough justice with this cover.

Go Go Go Maidz! Shop and shop and shop... After all, you have all the resources... :D

Now I'm A Cosmo Cover Girl!

Hahaha! I just can't get over the Cover Girl thing* and so i have tried another pic and made a Cosmopolitan cover..... *i just can't stop giggling* Hahahaha

Here, take a look....

:)

My Blogging Personality

Your Blogging Type is Confident and Insightful

You've got a ton of brain power, and you leverage it into brilliant blog. Both creative and logical, you come up with amazing ideas and insights. A total perfectionist, you find yourself revising and rewriting posts a lot of the time. You blog for yourself - and you don't care how popular (or unpopular) your blog is!

What's Your Blogging Personality?

This should be fun for all of you fellow bloggers out there!!! :)

Who Am I In High School?

All American Kid

Popular but not plastic. Athletic but not a jock. Smart but not a brain. You were well rounded and well liked in high school.

Who Were You In High School?

The test in this quizz is a bit funny... Hahaha.. Memories of my high school days just kept coming back.... :)

How Open-Minded Am I?

There's not much for me to do so i decided to lurk the web and look for something interesting to post here... As you can see, i have come across several things. :D

I have also found Blogthings. It contains several personality tests. And here's one;

You Are 56% Open Minded

You are a very open minded person, but you're also well grounded. Tolerant and flexible, you appreciate most lifestyles and viewpoints. But you also know where you stand firm, and you can draw that line. You're open to considering every possibility - but in the end, you stand true to yourself.

How Open Minded Are You?

Go on... Take the test and see for yourself... :)

Ponder This

And i heard someone saying... There are lots of things in this world that we should be afraid of... But, speaking your mind and saying your opinions are not among them...

Hmmmm... Now, we have something to ponder... :)

Quote About Life

Here's another great quote from Zwani.com.

I just love reading quotes on their site! :D

Xanjho on Fortune!

I had fun doing the (fake) magazine cover with my picture on it. So, i made another one with Xanjho on it! It's cool! :D

:)

Quotes, Quotes, Quotes

When i visited Maidz's friendster profile, i saw some quotes from Zwani.com. They're cute so i've decided to look up for some quotes to post on this blog. Here i found one;

Girl Power!!! :D

I'm a Vogue Covergirl!

Norms has tagged me with a Cosmo Cover Girl tag.. I love it! Hehehe... Thanks Norms! Well, i have dreamed to be on a magazine cover before and now i can realize the dream (though it's fake)... At least i'll be seeing my face on a magazine cover every time i open my blog... and the world can also see... wahahaha...

Hmmm... i was supposed to use the Cosmopolitan Mag, right Norms? However, i decided to choose another magazine as the Cosmo doesn't blend with the pic i have uploaded. :D I have chosen Vogue instead. Here take a look;

Isn't it nice? Well, you can vote for this cover here... http://www.magmypic.com/mags/view/3343172

:)

Oh, and since this is a tag... i will tag bhem, maidz, lyn, nays, yhen, maryan, ate precy, yona, ate razhiel, talie, peachy, mommy yo and wendy. They are all pretty girls and would surely make a good cover. *wink*

*here's how you do it; you just click on my cover and it will lead you to the site. There you can find instructions.*

Happy Birthday, Hubby!!!!

Today is February 08, 2008. And today is a special day for my husband. It's his BIRTHDAY! So, i am dedicating this post to him. It's just sad that we are not together on this day. We plan to have a celebration tomorrow, though; when i get home. So here's for you hon!!!

Cheers!!! Love Yah! :)

Valentine's Day Tips from a Non-Expert! :D

Love is in the air once again. Few days from now and the world will be celebrating St. Valentine's Day. Surely, lots of couples are now planning for their respective dates. And everybody's thinking of ways to say their "I Love Yous" to their special someone. Ah, restaurants and parks will be full of lovers this time of the year. hehe.

Hmmm... this post aims to give you some tips on your Valentine's Day celebration. Here it goes...

Say it with FLOWERS!

Is there anything romantic than receiving flowers? Yes, your sweethearts will love them. Most girls' defenses crash down when given flowers. I should know, I'm one of them. Hehe.

Express sweetness with CHOCOLATES!

This is another thing that most women love to receive; especially on Valentine's. Come on! Indulge your love ones with treats and sweets.

Cakes and Cookies, Anyone?

If you're into personalized gifts but would want to give your sweethearts something sweet, then give them cakes or cookies. Yes, there are now lots of shops which offer customized and personalized cakes. They may be pricey sometimes, but hey, it's your sweety! Give them something that will make them feel really special. Even once.

Say it with Balloons!

Aw! Balloons are sweet! And they are also expressive (Killjoys, shut up!) and are great Valentine's surprise. You can also have them printed with anything that you want to say to your sweethearts. And you can choose from wide variety of shapes and colors. Nice!

And of course, Romantic Dates!

Now, this is the ultimate surprise and also the number 1 on the list of most women. Yes, most women love to be pampered and a special romantic date will surely bring them joy. Now, depending on your interests, you can choose from candle light dinner, a romantic date on some parks or historical place, etc. If you are opting for candle light dinner, never forget to set the ambiance right. And when i say right ambiance, it includes romantic music that perhaps you both like or perhaps you can sing her the song. It would be sooo romantic. And this is also the right time to propose; in fact, the romantic ambiance will help you make her say YES!

So there... after the date and proposal, prepare the wedding right away! You're not getting any younger! Hahahaha... :)

Nature Trip 101

Basically, there's a lot of things in life that i want and there are many things that i find interesting. And one of them is gardening. Yeah, i have this fashion about plants, especially flowering plants. And my husband too. But he's not much into flowers (for masculine reasons), instead he's into bonsai plants. He used to have many bonsais at home. However, most of it were gone now. Some were given to friends and some were given to his siblings.

So now, you'd find our garden almost empty. Hmm.. we both plan to resurrect it soon, however.

Now, since i love flowers i am enjoying his sister's garden. It's full of orchids, Christmas cactus (euphorbia), roses, and other flowering plants i'm not familiar with names. And last time we went there, i took the liberty to take some pictures.

Here are some of my snapshots;

a white orchid

a purple variety of orchid

Christmas Cactus (Euphorbia)

Petite Rose Variety

*I don't know the name of this flower but it's beautiful*

*Some pics have not given enough justice for the flowers... my lack of training!*

The Wedding Invitation I Made

As i have mentioned on my previous post, i was the one who made the wedding invitation for Arnel's wedding. And did you know that i have created the contents using only Microsoft Word? Yes, even without a Photoshop, i was able to create a good wedding invitation. With some trial and errors, of course. Hmmm.. some of the design I have made were too small or the colors were not that great; so i have to do it all over again.

Here's the result:



And for the envelope, i made a pouch-styled invitation envelope made out of sinamay. I've used a special paper as lining. The paper is actually the one you can use to wrap gifts. Then, i've cut some ribbons and designed it as a flower. I cut the ribbon at about 2 inches each. Then i have put a fancy pearl on the center.

Here's how it looks like;



So, there. My first try on making invitations and i'm glad i have done it right. Actually, many liked it. Haha! Now, I have really decided to open a business with wedding invitations and souvenirs as main products. I will also post the pictures of the wedding souvenirs i have made; one of these days. :D

Here are some other pics;

I'm A Wedding Photographer!

Whew! After almost 2 weeks of stress preparing the invitations and wedding souvenirs for Arnel's Wedding, I have participated in the event in another part. I became their second wedding photographer!

You see, since the wedding has only 2 weeks of preparation, budgets and time were short. And in terms of budgets, they can't afford to hire a professional wedding photographer. Anyway, the first photographer, who happened to be the brother of the groom, is a professional photographer (not of wedding specialization, though). And so there, instead of listening to the priest's sermon and watching the entire ceremony quietly, i was about and roaming the church to take pictures.

Here are some of my shots;

the veil sponsors

the Moms :D

the Dads :D

the bride and groom (opening ceremony)

the best man

the ribbon sponsor (damn that anahaw leave!)

the veil sponsor (my niece)

group pic

So there, i'll be posting other pics some other time. :D

*I don't have professional lights so some pics are dim*

Updating My Book Collections

I am updating my book collections since i have acquired some books recently.

Tom Clancy

The Hunt For Red October
Patriot Games
The Cardinal of the Kremlin
Red Storm Rising
Debt of Honor
Clear and Present Danger
SSN
Rainbow Six
Executive Orders
Without Remorse
The Sum of All Fears
Op-Center

Robert Ludlum
The Parcifal Mosaic
The Scorpio Illusion
The Bourne Identity
The Bourne Supremacy
The Bourne Ultimatum
The Matarese Circle
The Road to Gandolfo
The Icarus Agenda
The Cry of the Halidon

Frederick Forsyth
Icon
The Odessa File
The Day of the Jackal
The Devil's Alternative
The Dogs of War

Nelson DeMille
Mrs. Ivanova's Charm School
The General's Daughter
The Lion's Game

James Patterson
Along Came a Spider
Kiss the Girls
Cat and Mouse

Clive Cussler
Fire Ice
Raise the Titanic

John Le Carre
The Russia House

I've Been Tagged....Again.

Wahhh! I've been tagged again! The last time it was Dex and now Phoebe. Is tagging the new hype over the bloggosphere? Tagging is not bad as it is exciting but sometimes the questions are quite hard; so hard that i still have to google search some answers (yeah, i am cheating some answers. hahaha). But, oh well, since i've been already tagged and nothing can be done about it but to get it done (what?) Whatever!

Here it goes;

5 Things Found in my Bag

1. mobile phone

2. ball pen (poor.. tsk tsk)

3. comb

4. umbrella

5. wallet

5 Things Found in my Wallet

1. Cash

2. ATM Cards

3. Credit Card

4. ID's (SSS, TIN)

5. a 7-year old photo (hahaha)

5 Things Found in my Room

1. bed

2. drawer/cabinet

3. electric fan

4. clothes

5. lifesize mirror

5 Things I’ve Always Wanted To Do

1. out of the country vacation

2. put up my own business

3. cook and bake

4. buy house and lot for my parents

5. Have our own house

5 Things I am Currently Into

1. taking care of my son

2. Blogging (i have to)

3. trying to get back in shape

4. realizing my dream of having a business

5. my baby's things

5 People to Tag on this Meme

1. Dex

2. Lyn

3. Raissa

4. SexyMom

5. Yona

Your Guardian Angel

Your Guardian Angel
By Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

When I see your smile,
Tears run down my face.
I can't replace.
And now that I'm strong, I have figured out,
How this world turns cold and it breaks through my soul.
And I know I'll find deep inside me,
I can be the one.

I will never let you fall. (let you fall.)
I'll stand up with you forever.
I'll be there for you through it all. (through it all.)
Even if saving you sends me to heaven.

It's okay.
It's okay.
It's okay-e-ay-e-ay.

Seasons are changing,
And waves are crashing,
And stars are falling all for us.
Days grow longer and nights grow shorter,
I can show you I'll be the one

I will never let you fall. (let you fall.)
I'll stand up with you forever.
I'll be there for you through it all. (through it all.)
Even if saving you sends me to heaven.


'Cause you're my, you're my, my-e-y-e-y,
My true love, my whole heart.
Please don't throw that away.
'Cause I'm here... for you!
Please don't walk away and,
Please tell me you'll stay... here!

Whoa-oh!
Stay!
Whoa-oh!

Use me as you will!
Pull my strings just for a thrill!
And I know I'll be okay,
Though my skies are turning gray! (gray! gray!)

I will never let you fall!
I'll stand up with you forever!
I'll be there for you through it all,
Even if saving you sends me to heaven!

I will never let you fall!
I'll stand up with you forever!
I'll be there for you through it all,

Even if saving you sends me to heaven! (fade out)

This is a song from The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. I am currently hooked to this song and so is my husband. Well, it's a pretty good song and most people i saw on the road, jeepney, malls, schools or restaurants are also into this song. Actually, some of my officemates also like it. Hmm.. I just posted the lyrics here so every time I open my blog i could sing. Hehe..

January Stress

The month of January has brought me too much stress that have resulted for my having heavy colds and cough now. :( Wahhhh! I have a horrible voice now that somebody might think i have screamed my heart out the previous night. Oh well, i just told my officemates I've had a sold-out concert and that people are screaming for me to sing more and i gave in; and this is the result. Hahaha. But, heck! Nobody wants to believe me! I wonder why?

Well, about the stress, part of it was from being very busy preparing for the wedding of Arnel. He's been living with my husband's family ever since he was a kid but he's not a relative. Actually, he is a distant cousin of mine. The stress began when he told as that the wedding was scheduled on January 26; and that day was the 9th! Why does that bothers me a lot? Because i have promised him that i will make the invitations and wedding souvenirs as my contribution. I was caught off-guard because i don't have budgets yet. Imagine, i only have 2 weeks to prepare.

But because he was counting on our help, i have to keep my promise. I looked for materials with very little budget. I was thankful i have found some wedding figurines that are on sale and i have found cheap but good materials. I made the souvenirs and invitations after office hours and on weekend. And i did great! Yeah, because i have finished all of it on time.

Here's the result of all the stress;

the souvenir

the invitation

So what do you think? :D