Lavender & Coffee Stains

Dear Me,

This is my 3rd time to join TNChick's Photohunt.


Started by her in March 2006, the Photohunt would present a theme every Saturday. Participants should post a photo that best represents the theme. Photos should come from the participant's personal collection and those not snitched from the web.


This photo reminds me of the happiest and most memorable climbs I ever had with my hubby (we were still in the bf-gf relationship then). =)

This was taken during the summer of year 2004 in our Mt. Talamitam climb. Everything was a first time experience - trekking late at night till the wee hours of the morning, being chased by a raging carabao at dawn, "diving and plunging" in the muddy fields, etc. I really had a fun time with the other mountainclimbers =)

Links to other Saturday Photohunters!
1. Carver
2. jams o donnell
3. tegdirb92
4. changeiam
5. Dorid
6. SabineM
7. Rach
8. meeyauw
9. Pumpkin
10. hana
11. Dragonheart
12. Love Bears All Things
13. ipanema
14. Mama Bear June
15. KISSEDALOTATOADS


To participate in this Photohunt, please get the code.

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Dear Me,

This hour is supposed to be my nap time. But I decided against it. For the past two (2) days, I didn't feel rested despite my three (3) hours nappy.

I'm also having a hard time lying in bed because of the weight I'm carrying. I was advised not to lay in my back because of the pressure of the baby in my womb against my spine. I have to sleep sideways. But recently, (as the baby grows inside me), it's becoming uncomfortable, too. Hahay.


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Hmm. I'm really looking forward to attending my alma mater's volunteer organization's inception anniversary on September 22nd.

It's actually a masquerade party and for the benefit of Pahinungod volunteer programs. For me, I see it as a chance to reunite with other pahinungods. =)

My university days wouldn't be a fond memory without the VOLTS programs as well as the people I deal with. I hope I will see Jeni, Patdo, Ivan, Lala, Jean, Marian, Aiee, Zando, Reku, etc. It has been such a while.

I really wish I can go. You see, the party is just a mere three (3) weeks away from my due date. It seems like they're scared that I may be in labor anytime. Wehehe!







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To all bibliophiles like moi, National Bookstore will be having its Cut Price Book Sale from August 15-September 16.

On sale up to 65% off are books such as children's, young adult's, psychology, self-help, health, fiction and non-fiction books.

School items and office equipment are on sale up to 50% markdown.

So, head over to your nearest NBS branch. =)




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To cap this entry, some blog stuff from Blogthings.

You Have Many Alpha Tendencies

You're not a total alpha female, but you certainly know how to - and like to - get your way. You're forceful without being intimidating. You're confident without being vain. A perfect mix.

Who Should Paint You: Pablo Picasso

You're an expressive soul who shows many emotions, with many subtleties. Only a master painter could represent your glorious contradictions.

Dear Me,

I have been thinking what to post for this day's drill. Hmm. All I can think of are the loads of errands and things to do this week and next week. I've got too many backlogs. So, I decided to make that list.


graphic courtesy of Emily

Thirteen Random Stuff To Do
This Week Till Next Week

1. go to the local post office and mail some postcards before the news gets old. DONE!
   
   
2. prepare the books for shipping. I recently joined a book swapping site and I'm enjoying it immensely. DONE!
   
   
3. check the local office and the courier branch how much is the shipping cost/s for books. I want to know how expensive it will cost me, just in case. DONE! I didn't know mailing parcels could be that really costly.
   
   
4. contact volunteer batchmates if they're attending the costume party on September 22nd. I really want to go but I want my friends to be there, too. We haven't seen each other for the longest time.
   
   
5. visit former office and hand-over some dvds to an officemate. DONE! I also did some unfinished business, too.
   
   
6. search a birthday gift for my sister. She's turning 27 this month. DONE! Actually, it was my hubby who thought and bought the nice gift(s) for her.
   
   
7. visit the branch where I opened my ATM card and re-update some info. I need to re-enroll an account, too so as to facilitate my banking transactions online. DONE! I went there thrice because I was becoming forgetful...
   
   
8. purchase a thank you gift for my hubby. He's been so nice to me - giving in to all my whims. =)
   
   
9. wash the one-week dirty laundry. They're piling up high. DONE!
   
   
10. have my prenatal check-up this Saturday. It was supposed to be last week but the strong rains and high waters prevented me and my hubby from going out. DONE!
    
    
11. tidy up a particular area of our room to accommodate my hubby's "gift" for me. Surprise. DONE! Actually, hubby was the one who set it up and I just cleaned up the area. Hehehe!
    
    
12. visit the SSS office and clarify some information about my current status. DONE! They weren't so helpful...
    
    
13. attend the upcoming 28th Manila International Book Fair at the World Trade Center. Let me know if you're coming. =) DONE! Books shopping galore!

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. cowboytf
2. Malcolm
3. I Was Born2Cree8
4. kat

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It's easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Dear Me,

Obviously, I am pretty bored. To snap out of it, I indulge myself in doing this meme from Tickle.

Honestly, some memes (questions actually) posted are either too shallow or too stupid to answer. So, I searched for one that somehow makes sense. And I got one!



You're a Personable!

As a Personable type, you are a true generator of original thoughts. You probably like to think that you're equally as good at spinning old ideas as you are at projecting what might be possible in the future.

Your compassionate nature draws people to you. Because you can relate to others, you see yourself as a diplomat of sorts. You prefer to avoid disruption in the workplace if at all possible — especially if you can help others avoid discord.

You are particularly intuitive when it comes to reading some people. And because of your social smarts, people tend to like being around you. That's part of the power you bring to work. But unless you're in the right job, these strengths could be stifled.

Take the test! Right Job/Wrong Job

Dear Me,

This is my 2nd time to join TNChick's Photohunt.


Started by her in March 2006, the Photohunt would present a theme every Saturday. Participants should post a photo that best represents the theme. Photos should come from the participant's personal collection and those not snitched from the web.


I never knew that two (2) of my shy, little cousins were such "cam addicts." When you talk to them, they inhibit this shy attitude. But if you put out your digicam and kid them that you will be taking their photo, you'll never know what strike you. Hehehe. They will jump and tumble and wrestle with you if you don't take shots of their "Mr. Handsome" poses. =)

To participate in this Photohunt, please get the code.

View more Saturday Photohunters!

Dear Me,

Here's another monthly update on my own . My last update was June 2007.




July 2007
. Shopaholic & Baby by Sophie Kinsella
. Red Storm Rising by Tom Clancy
. The Godfather by Mario Puzo

June 2007
. Deep Six by Clive Cussler
. White Death by Clive Cussler

March-May 2007
. Valhalla Rising by Clive Cussler
. Lost City by Clive Cussler
. Nights In Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks
. Atlantis Found by Clive Cussler
. YoungBlood 2.0 (Philippine Publication by Inquirer.net
. YoungBlood (Philippine Publication by Inquirer.net
. The Janson Directive by Robert Ludlum

February 2007
. When We Were Gods: A Novel Of Cleopatra by Colin Falconer
. Precipice by Colin Forbes

January 2007
. The Not-So-Perfect Man by Valerie Frankel
. Sacred Stone by Clive Cussler

. Books In 2006



. The Jester by James Patterson
. Roses Are Red by James Patterson
. Violets Are Blue by James Patterson
. The Sigma Protocol by Robert Ludlum


Book Synopsis
Shopaholic & Baby by Sophie Kinsella
Becky Bloomwood, now married, pregnant and working as the head personal shopper for a brand-new London boutique. The commercially insatiable Bex shops for two in every upscale baby shop and catalogue in London, snags a celebrity ob/gyn and leverages a pair of the moment's "most coveted" boots to negotiate a home purchase. Complicating an otherwise uneventful pregnancy, Becky suspects her husband, PR biz-wiz Luke Brandon, is having an affair with her hot doc (who also happens to be Luke's ex-girlfriend), so she hires a gumshoe with predictable madcap results.

Red Storm Rising by Tom Clancy
Using the latest advancements in military technology, the world's superpowers battle it out on land, sea, and air for the ultimate global control. A chillingly authentic vision of modern war.

The Godfather by Mario Puzo
The story of Don Vito Corleone, the head of a New York Mafia family. As Corleone's desperate struggle to control the Mafia underworld unfolds, so does the story of his family. The novel is full of exquisitely detailed characters who, despite leading unconventional lifestyles within a notorious crime family, experience the triumphs and failures of the human condition. Filled with the requisite valor, love, and rancor of a great epic.

Deep Six by Clive Cussler
A deadly tide of poison flows into ocean waters. A ghost ship drifts across the empty northern Pacific. A luxury Soviet liner blazes into a funeral pyre. The Presidential yacht cruises the Potomac night -- and the President disappears without a trace. Dirk Pitt takes on a sinister Asian shipping empire in an intercontinental duel of nerves. In his most dangerous, fast-paced adventure, he fights to save the U.S. government and to seize one desperate moment of revenge!

White Death by Clive Cussler
A confrontation between a radical environmentalist group and a Danish cruiser has forced Austin and colleague Joe Zavala to come to the rescue of a shipful of trapped men, but when the two of them investigate further, they discover that something far more sinister is at work. A shadowy multinational corporation is attempting to wrest control of the very seas themselves-no matter what havoc results, and is killing anyone who attempts to stop them. When Austin's boat blows up and he only barely survives, it seems certain he was supposed to be the next in line to die, but he cannot stop now.

Valhalla Rising by Clive Cussler
Dirk Pitt's NUMA survey ship happens to be in the vicinity when the world's newest and biggest cruise ship founders and sinks, giving Pitt the chance to stage the daring rescue of nearly 2,000 passengers. Among those who perish is a famous scientist whose revolutionary engines powered the ship to her watery grave; while Pitt is unable to save Dr. Egan, he rescues his beautiful daughter Kelly from the sea, and later from a murder attempt aboard the rescue vessel. Pitt and his trusty pal Al Giordino track the sinking to the boardroom door of a multinational conglomerate called Cerberus, whose evil CEO has designs on the world's oil supply. He'll do anything to keep Egan's advanced engines and secret formula for frictionless oil off the market -- even sabotage another vessel, this time a luxury passenger submarine.

Lost City by Clive Cussler
Kurt Austin, leader of the National Underwater and Marine Agency's Special Assignments Team, battles international evildoers again in the fifth installment of this excellent series. There are several parallel plots: a mysterious aviator has been found frozen in a massive glacier; a mutant seaweed is threatening to choke the world's oceans; a giant submarine is roaming the thermal vents of the deep sea area known as the Lost City; and the secretive, arms-dealing Fauchard family, run by ruthless black-widow Racine and her homicidal son, Emil, is up to no good. Also there's a mysterious 16th-century helmet, a search for the philosopher's stone and an island of filthy, mutant cannibals. Austin's love interest is lush, sensual Skye Labelle, an archeologist specializing in arms and armor. Austin and his band of merry men fight to stop the Fauchards from reaching the ultimate evildoer's goal: world domination.

Nights In Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks
The story of two middle-aged people who meet by chance in the small North Carolina coastal town of Rodanthe. Once again, a housewife who has focused on everyone but herself indulges in a brief, intense, secret affair with a stranger who changes her life forever. As the story begins, Adrienne Willis is 60, the divorced mother of three grown children. To help her troubled daughter cope with the untimely recent death of her husband, Adrienne tells her the tale of her love affair, which took place 15 years before. At the time, Adrienne was an uptight matron whose ex-husband had just left her for a younger woman. This rejection colors her entire life, and Sparks realistically portrays a vulnerable and isolated woman who throws herself into raising her children to escape her despair. Paul Flanner, her paramour, is a surgeon and an obsessive workaholic with no genuine connection to his wife or son, whose world completely falls apart when one of his patients inexplicably dies.

Atlantis Found by Clive Cussler
When mysterious black obsidian skulls and other artifacts of an exceedingly ancient culture begin to turn up in odd places, Dirk Pitt jumps in with both feet. It soon becomes dangerously apparent that a powerful, amoral group of fanatics calling itself the Fourth Empire wants the strange discoveries to remain underground. Pitt teams up with a beautiful red-haired expert in ancient languages to decipher the meaning of the artifacts. They were made 10 millennia ago in a then-temperate Antarctica by a seafaring civilization advanced enough to predict its own destruction by a comet impact. Now the Fourth Empire (whose literal and figurative progenitor comes as no surprise) is predicting a similar disaster in only a matter of months, and preparing to take control of the earth.

The Janson Directive by Robert Ludlum
Paul Janson, a former covert operative turned private security executive who's stranded, abandoned, and marked for murder by his old colleagues when he manages to survive an unsurvivable mission. Rescuing renowned philanthropist and statesman-without-portfolio Peter Novak from the clutches of the terrorist who murdered his wife and unborn child, Paul Janson watches, unbelieving, as the plane carrying Novak back to freedom explodes before his eyes. Soon after the first post-mission attempt on his life, Janson begins to put the pieces of the puzzle together.

When We Were Gods: A Novel Of Cleopatra by Colin Falconer
Fifty-one years before the birth of Jesus Christ, in the fertile Nile valley, 18-year-old Cleopatra ascends to the throne of Egypt upon the death of her father, Ptolemy XII. Inheriting a palace that more closely resembles a snake pit than a home, crowded with family and advisers, Cleopatra must come to terms with the heavy burden of royalty and its inevitable loneliness. Her only trusted friend is Mardian, the giant eunuch who has been her tutor since childhood. From an Egypt desperately attempting to retain its hold on ancient religions and traditions in a rapidly changing world, to the hypocritical halls of the Roman Republic, the young queen weaves her web of seduction, ensnaring not only the cold, driven Julius Caesar but also a playful Marcus Antonius. Falconer's Cleopatra is vulnerable, intelligent and liberated, defined by her wit as much as by her beauty.

Precipice by Colin Forbes
Tweed, Paula Grey and Bob Newman stalk their most dangerous enemy yet. Leopold Brazil, dominant figure in the West, has a secret plan 'to change the balance of world power'. Philip Cardon and Eve Warner see the grim murders of General Sterndale and his son in Dorset. Eve is a strange personality, tearing at the emotions of Philip, still grief-stricken by his wife's death. Two more murders occur as Brazil visits his Dorset Mansion. And Tweed hears of a new deadly assassin, The Motorman.

The action sweeps to Geneva where Paula fights for her life. Tweed and his team fly to Zurich. There is war on the streets. Tweed struggles to uncover the secret of Brazil's global plan, to locate twenty key scientists - in communications and the information superhighway - who have disappeared. The Motorman strikes again.

The Not-So-Perfect Man by Valerie Frankel
Frieda Schast lost her husband, Gregg, to cancer over a year ago and hasn't been interested in dating -- until a sexy actor named Sam Hill walks into her life. Suddenly, she's swept up in a passionate liaison and loving every minute of it. She faces the disapproval of her older sister, Irene, a writer for a business magazine who would like to set Frieda up with her colleague David. Irene is frustrated with her husband, Peter, who needs to lose a good 40 pounds. Frieda's younger sister, Betty, is grappling with her own romantic problems; she's always been overweight and defensive, but when a sexy guy at work breaks through her barriers, she finds herself unexpectedly falling in love. Frieda is so caught up in romantic bliss that she barely notices her sisters' problems until Sam leaves town for an acting job and Frieda begins to wonder if she's fooling herself about their relationship after all.

Sacred Stone by Clive Cussler
Eric the Red's A.D. 1000 discovery of a radioactive meteorite has present-day life-or-death ramifications. Aboard the Oregon, a state-of-the-art warship disguised as a rusty tramp steamer and manned by some of the world's finest ex-military and intelligence operatives, the men and women of the Oregon - "mercenaries with a conscience" - known collectively as the Corporation, offer their services to various countries and individuals with specialized security and military needs. The Corporation's chairman, Juan Cabrillo, has several pressing concerns: supply security for the emir of Qatar, who is attending a conference in Iceland; track down a nuclear bomb that has gone astray and pick up the aforementioned meteorite, which has just been found ensconced in a mysterious shrine. These jobs become dangerously complicated when industrialist Halifax Hickman, a man fueled by revenge and hatred, enters the picture. The meteorite, the atomic bomb and a vial of plague are to be used in attacks on holy sites - Israel's Dome of the Rock and Saudi Arabia's al-Haram mosque - and at an Elton John concert. It's a deadly game, but the brilliant Cabrillo is a master player, moving his pieces at lightning speed on several boards until he outmaneuvers his opposition in this action-packed page-turner.

Dear Me,

It's Thursday once again. You know the drill. =)

I was tidying up our room this morning and the DVDs in the rack caught my attention. I checked them out and found out that there were still some movies I haven't watched. Well, most of the films were kinda old (shown a long time ago).

Here's the list.


graphic courtesy of Chana

Thirteen Movies (DVD) In My Line-up

1. Ocean's 13 (2007)
   
   
2. The Simpsons Movie (2007)
   
   
3. Claws Of Steel (1993)
   
   
4. Heroes' Mountain (2002)
   
   
5. Black Mask (1996)
   
   
6. Legends Of The Fall (1994)
   
   
7. Rush Hour 2 (2001)
   
   
8. Sneakers (1992)
   
   
9. A Bug's Life (1998)
   
   
10. Drop Zone (1994)
    
    
11. The Accidental Spy (2001)
    
    
12. The Break-Up (2006)
    
    
13. Night Skies (2007)

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. Milan - zzz
2. ~Xakara
3. Kris Yankee
4. Sandy
5. Jill
6. J. Lynne
7. Nicholas


Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It's easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Dear Me,

I used to dislike brownies before. I happened to take a bite of it after a meal and it was as hard as a rock. Sheesh. From then on, I vowed not to eat any.

There will come a time that things have to change and you'll acquire a new perspective. It happened to me. I have to thank my sister for that (she doesn't know...hehehe). One time, she brought a box of these delightful-looking brownies from Brownies Unlimited. She offered me a piece but I declined.

The following day while I was all alone at home, I felt like I wanted to munch something. I rummaged the contents of the fridge and saw the box of brownies my sister brought that night. I checked the yummiest looking brownie in the pack and took a bite. Wow! It was literally mouth-watering.

I ended up devouring the remaining brownies in the box. =)

There you go. My dislike turned to uber-fondness overnight.

Anyway, a friend of mine told me about this bakeshop somewhere near De La Salle University. It's called Becky's Kitchen. Specifically located along the stretch of Vito Cruz, Manila, this cake shop has become a household name among its sweet-toothed patrons.

Aside from its famous chewy brownies, Becky's also sells pastries, crinkles, cheese roll, food for the gods, coffee cream cake, potato cake, blueberry cheese cake, caramel cake, swiss chocolate cake, ensaymadas, chocolate mousse, lemon squares, etc.

Who wants to go brownie-hunting with me? I am definitely checking it out. =)

Becky's Kitchen
1061 P. Ocampo corner Bautista St.
Singalong, Manila
T#: 525-1648, 523-4245

Dear Me,

She's beginning to annoy me, you know. The thing is: what she's doing isn't supposed to be a big deal. It doesn't just feel good that whatever I post in my other online page, she copies it in her own.

As I said, it isn't supposed to be big deal since I want to share it with everybody. The only thing that I don't like is she copies it at the same time that I post it. Obviously, my page has its own mirror page.

Goodness, girl! Be creative.



Last week was such a pleasant internet week. I got to blog, chat, surf, forward sensible messages (in short, I was spamming...hehehe) and exchange emails with good friends. The last task was the most enjoyable. I was so happy to keep in touch with friends I haven't seen nor heard for the longest time. Topics revolved around how I am and my current civil status plus the excitement of them knowing that I am pregnant; on the other hand, I got to keep tabs with where they live and how's their career, their folks and families (if they're already settled or still in the planning stages), about the good, old times in high school, updates from the mountaineering world, how's Baguio, news about a failed relationship, about planning to meet soon (before or after my delivery).

To Abby (pex pal), Mike (ex-high school buddy), Francis (dinner pal from Toyota), Sir Mhel (from BWI), Uriah (one of my ex-high school trustworthy bestfriends) and Denise (mountaineering pal from MFPI): thank you for the meaningful exchange. You just didn't know how much I appreciated it. You guys took my boredom away. Hehehe. =)



I received word from my Uncle Lito that Grandpa Ben had sent me a small post-wedding gift during his wife's recent vacation to the US. Honestly, I am curious what it is. *eye twinkles*




One of the beneficial things about the internet is being able to transact your financial obligations with bliss. Unfortunately, there are still some things that you have to do over the phone: say, cancelling 2 of your 3 credit cards and clarifying a billed charge over something you haven't gotten ahold of.

Yesterday, I paid the total instead of the minimum amount due in my BPI Edge CC so as to finish my obligation as well as to lessen the load of worrying every month about which bills to pay. It's hard keeping track especially when you have limited funds.

This morning, I contacted a BPI phonebanker at 89-100 and requested to have my credit card/s account closed. The phone transaction was a breeze. Now, both my BPI Edge and Mini-Edge CC are things of the past. =)

On another note, my HSBC billing statement arrived right after the call. I was about to pay it online when I noticed something out of the ordinary. I was charged over a request for a Security Devise that hasn't been delivered to me for almost 5 months now. To think that the request will only take 3 weeks at the most. So, I contacted the customer service hotline at 85-800 for clarification. The agent told me that there was probably a glitch somewhere and that my request was probably being processed. He said he would follow it up and that if it was ok to give him a week for that. I said that he could have that week but I'll call after that and if I still didn't receive any feedback, I would have that request cancelled and the charge retracted from my balance. I guessed that was fair enough since I had been waiting for quite a while.

When I resigned from my work, I have been thinking then which credit cards to cancel: BPI, HSBC, Citibank. I opted to cancel Citibank Gold first due to a "ripped off" annual fee and the fact that I would be jobless in a few months.

It was a toss between BPI and HSBC. I decided to forgo BPI despite maintaining a savings account with them. I have requested for a higher credit limit (months before my resignation) but the process was too cumbersome. Unlike HSBC, they automatically grant you a higher credit limit depending on your good credit standing.

In short, I am sticking with HSBC. I just hope that they are fast enough to act on client's inquiry and complaints.



Anyone interested? To those who cannot buy the real deal Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows book, I have here an ebook copy in PDF. Let me know if anyone wants it. =)

Also, if you are as crazy as I am with the Spiderpig tune from The Simpsons movie, I have uploaded the mp3 here.

"Spiderpig, spiderpig,
does whatever a spiderpig does,
can he swing - from a web?
no he can't, he's a pig,
loooook out, he is the spiderpig!"

Dear Me,

I am participating at TNChick's Photohunt.


Started by her in March 2006, the Photohunt would present a theme every Saturday. Participants should post a photo that best represents the theme. Photos should come from the participant's personal collection and those not snitched from the web.

This is my 1st entry.


Being a choco-holic, I took a fancy of taking this photo while inside a chocolate shop during my visit in Singapore early this year. I just could not resist myself looking at the colorful rows of yummy chocolates. Mmm... =)

To participate in this Photohunt, please get the code.

View more Saturday Photohunters!

Dear Me,

Wowowee! He is coming here: LIVE in Manila. Woohoo!

Smart Infinity and MTV Philippines brings
Josh Groban Live in Manila!

October 17 and 18 at the PICC Plenary Hall.
Josh Groban's only performance in Asia for 2007.


I really want to watch it. Even back then, I'm not really the type of girl who spends her nights in concerts. But this one, I'm kinda hoping I will find myself seated somewhere in the concert hall listening to his operatic, soulful renderings. I'm truly amazed how young he is and yet he commands this powerful voice. And his pieces, goodness! They are something...listening to them gives me the goosebumps.

Well, I heard some "chochoos" from the grapevine. Actually, sounded not so good to those who woould really want to watch it.

• JG will be performing for 2 nights and only October 18th will be open to the public. October 17th will be a by-invitation-only event.
  
  
• Only 3,000 tickets will be sold. Translation: ticket prices will be sold above-the-roof.

Imagine, the Philippines is his only stop-over in Asia! That's wonderful. But with only 3,000 tickets for sale, my foresight tells me that a ticket to this concert will probably range from PhP10,000 above. Shucks! Oh, maybe lowest is PhP5,000 but you won't be able to see anything at all. Hehehe.

Currently, no tickets aren't being sold yet. TicketNet says that they will be selling tickets online anytime soon (this month).

Well, well. Obviously, I won't be able to watch it. Aside from the steep price, I will probably be in labor during that time. Hehehe. My baby boy is bound to come out anytime that month. =)

I uploaded his Awake album (Special Edition 2006) here in My Multiply page.

Dear Me,

In relation to this recent entry, I want to share a good laugh with everyone. Here are some dumb but funny lines from the old man himself, Homer Simpson.


graphic courtesy of Kelly @ Diary of the Nello

Thirteen Funny Lines from Homer Simpson

1. To Start, Press Any Key. Where's the ANY key?
   
   
2. Beer: The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems.
   
   
3. Dear Lord...The gods have been good to me. For the first time in my life, everything is absolutely perfect just the way it is. So here's the deal: You freeze everything the way it is, and I won't ask for anything more. If that is OK, please give me absolutely no sign. OK, deal.
   
   
4. But Marge, what if we chose the wrong religion? Each week we just make God madder and madder.
   
   
5. If something goes wrong at the plant, blame the guy who can't speak English.
   
   
6. How is education supposed to make me feel smarter? Besides, everytime I learn something new, it pushes some old stuff out of my brain. Remember when I took that home winemaking course, and I forgot how to drive?
   
   
7. When I look at the smiles on all the children's faces, I just know they're about to jab me with something.
   
   
8. Kids, you tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try.
   
   
9. You know, boys, a nuclear reactor is a lot like a woman. You just have to read the manual and press the right buttons.
   
   
10. I'm normally not a praying man, but if you're up there, please save me Superman.
    
    
11. Operator! Give me the number for 911!
    
    
12. Son, if you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now quiet! They're about to announce the lottery numbers.
    
    
13. Bart, with $10,000, we'd be millionaires! We could buy all kinds of useful things like...love!

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
1. damozel
2. Emmyrose
3. kailani
4. Lori

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It's easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Dear Me,

Hopefully, I will be able to go out and visit the mail office next week. I have tons of postcards to mail and they are continuously piling up. Being a pregnant bum, I sure have a lot of time in my hands.

I started writing in the postcards last week of July and I was hoping then I could post it right away. Unfortunately, I got the flu bug and had to lie in bed for a few days. That sucked but I needed the rest.

The delay probably was a welcome since I still had to wait for some people I emailed - just to check if I had the correct mailing addresses. I just don't want to have my carefully chosen postcards, written and stamped, only to be mailed back to me because the recipients don't live there anymore.

It has been quite a while since I started doing this again. Despite the technology boom in communicating with people, nothing beats the joy of sending and receiving snail mail with a stamp on it. I, for one, would love to receive missives and postcards from anyone - no matter how simple the contents were. The joy comes from the thought that someone remember you and bother so much to send you one. The process of choosing a postcard or a stationery to write on, the words to scribble in it - sharing the littlest part of yourself to someone whether a friend, relative or even a stranger from the other part of the world, purchasing and choosing stamps and sticking it on, checking and re-reading it again and then mailing it -- is such a self-gratifying task I will love to do all over again.

What got me started again with this hobby was when I started joining postcrossing.com. It was such fun to receive and collect postcards from all over the world. Aside from that, I initiated contact from friends and bloodkins locally and overseas.

Adding to the list are Gaby, a blogger friend who emailed me her addy a while ago and Khanh, whom I was chatting with this morning and was also my co-trainee in Tokyo back in 2003.

Within this month, I hope the following people will receive something from me in their mailboxes:

• my brother Jeff in UAE
  
• Aunt Letty in California
  
• Jennifer from Austria (postcrossing)
  
• Kristina from Germany (postcrossing)
  
• Marju from Estonia (postcrossing)
  
• Melissa from USA (postcrossing)
  
• Pirjo from Finland (postcrossing)
  
• Kristina from Germany (postcrossing)
  
• blogger pal Gaby from Mexico
  
• friend and Tokyo co-trainee Khanh from Vietnam

Hope you guys receive them! =)

Dear Me,

I was never a fan of the successful, long-running animated US tv sitcom, The Simpsons. I just hated then the nonsense that came out of their mouths. I thought then, too, that they sounded stupid.

I think I have "mellowed" down, so to speak. When I saw the trailer of the movie for this year, I urged my hubby to watch the film. I never thought I would even come close to liking it.

Hubby has some collections of dvd episodes and I started watching it. Goodness! I couldn't stop myself from laughing so hard that I almost cried. *toinks* Bart and Homer are outrageously hilarious! I really had a good laugh.

Anyway, I created my own Simpsons character for fun.

ivan girl simpsons
To create your own, more like to Simpsonize yourself, visit the official Simpsons Movie website and register a free account.

Dear Me,

This was a study reported in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism about how pregnant moms' prenatal diets affect their children's hormonal response to stress.

This was posted at:
http://www.babycenter.com/news/?id=70704004&scid=emailafriend:20070709:0:0:0#story

Read on...

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Adults whose mothers ate an unbalanced, meat-heavy diet during pregnancy may tend to have an exaggerated hormonal response to stress, a study suggests.

The findings are in line with previous research linking such prenatal diets to higher adulthood blood pressure.

They also underscore the importance of pregnant women getting a balanced diet, which includes important carbohydrates like fruits and vegetables, according to the study authors.

They report the findings in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

The study included 70 adult children of British women who, in the late 1960s, had been advised to eat a high-protein, low-carb diet to lower their risk of preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication marked by high blood pressure, and high-protein diets have not been proven to lower the risk.

The mothers had all attended the same maternity hospital in Motherwell, Scotland, and detailed records were kept on the amount of meat and other foods they ate each week.

In the present study, their adult children were asked to perform two stressful tasks, public speaking and mental arithmetic. Researchers took saliva samples before, during and after the tasks to measure changes in the "stress hormone" cortisol.

In general, the study found, cortisol levels climbed in tandem with the amount of meat study participants' mothers had eaten late in pregnancy.

Cortisol is released by the adrenal glands in response to stress. Among its effects are elevated blood pressure and impaired blood sugar metabolism, and high cortisol levels have been linked to chronic high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease, explained Dr. David I. W. Phillips of the University of Southampton, the study's senior author.

All of this, he told Reuters Health, suggests that an unbalanced, protein-heavy diet affects fetal development in a way that boosts sensitivity to stress.

For any given stressor, these individuals may secrete more cortisol — not only early in life, but into adulthood as well, Phillips said.

The underlying reason for the findings is not completely clear. However, the researchers point out that high-protein diets have been shown to stimulate the HPA axis, a component of the nervous system that regulates cortisol and other stress-related hormones.

If mothers have chronically high cortisol levels during pregnancy, that may "reprogram" the developing fetal HPA axis, the researchers speculate.

The diets followed by mothers in this study were similar to the Atkins-style plans that have since become popular for weight control, according to Phillips. This implies that such diets are "not sensible" for pregnant women, he said.

Instead, women should strive for balanced diets that include healthy carbohydrates like whole grains, fruits and vegetables — especially green vegetables, Phillips noted, as they contain important nutrients like the B vitamin folate.

By Amy Norton
Source: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, June 2007.

To pregnant moms out there, attack your veggies and fruits with gusto! =)

Dear Me,

Despite the fact that I am still reeling from the effects of my almost-a-week-of-not-so-feeling-good, I am craving for some sweets. Of course, I am not that hard-headed enough to succumb to my whims. That would be so bad. =)

I was bloghopping around and I bumped into this girl's blog. Her name is Aileen and she is one of the Top 10 Emerging Influential Blogs for 2007 winners of Janette Toral's writing project. Congratulations! =)

Anyway, I was reading through her entries and I came across Planet M&M's webby. From here, I created my own M&M character whom I named as


Uber Cupcake A La Mode.
See? Even the name sounds delicious. Hehehe.