Things to Know About Brunei

1. You wouldn’t see any tall buildings in Brunei. They’re not allowed to build skyscrapers that would exceed the height of their mosque. It’s a rule that the mosque be the tallest structure in the country.

2. In Brunei, it is considered rude to use your index finger. If you want to point something out, use your thumb instead.

3. All Bruneians are rich. Almost the entire population owns a car that’s why you could barely see taxis or buses in the city.

4. The entire Brunei population is roughly 380,000. That’s even barely 1% of the Philippines population! And if you’re going to add the other nationalities living in Brunei, it’ll be around 500,000…still barely 1% of our population.

5. As Muslims, Bruneians are allowed to be polygamous. They can have as much as 4 legal wives. (*Note: Despite this fact, they have a small population. Hmnn..) The sultan, Prince Bolkiah currently has 3 wives. According to tradition, it is imperative that for his first wife, he should marry someone from the family. His first wife is actually his first cousin.

6. The current Brunei monarchy is the longest ruling monarch in the world. Ever since it started, it has not been overthrown. I guess Bruneians are peaceful loving people. Unlike say China’s colorful history of its emperors and dynasties, no one has really bothered to revolt against the royal family. So imagine the first ever Brunei royalty also comes from Prince Bolkiah’s great great great great ancestors.

7. The royal palace opens to the public only at a specific time of the year. The public are allowed to personally meet the sultan and his princess. But only the women are allowed in greeting the princess. Same goes for the sultan, only the men are allowed to meet his royal highness. Other than this time of the year, photo ops near the royal palace entrance are not even allowed. You have to be several meters away from the gate. In our case, we had to literally stay across the other road opposite the palace.

10 Things I LOVE About the Holidays

1. Big family reunions. Get togethers with my cousins, aunties, and uncles from all sides are always fun. I also get to see my other long lost relatives whom I don’t really see if it weren’t for the Christmas parties that we have.

2. My nieces and nephews. I get to see and play with my pamangkins only on special occasions such as this one. I like talking to them a lot. Joshua has never ending questions. (Why are there rocks in the aquarium? Why is the diver’s suit in the aquarium yellow? Why is it not black?) Erin is so aliw (“I’m five years old.” then puts up her four fingers then changes it to five to make sure that I understand her that she’s not four na but five.) Enrico is going to be a heartthrob someday I swear. Tippi, Chloe, and Erika will also be prom queens. They’re all so cute. I so so love them.

3. Receiving lots of gifts. Compared to the previous Christmases, I have received a lot of nicer gifts this year, things that I could actually get to use. Hehe Nothing still beats the iPod nano that my mom gave me though.

4. Giving gifts. I like shopping for presents and giving them away. There are some people who are fun to shop for. It’s like almost every thing you see reminds you of the person and you think, “This will fit (insert person's name here) well. Bagay!” This year I enjoyed shopping in the kids section. It’s fun to shop for baby’s clothes. Lahat nalang cute. Hehe I think I need to have kids of my own. Hahaha Kidding!

5. Dressing up and looking nice. It’s cool to see people bring out their ties, suits, and dresses. Everyone just looks so nice and formal. The holidays give me a reason to be girly where I can wear my dress and be pretty. Hehe

6. Messages from friends. Even a simple Merry Christmas or a Happy New Year greeting from a friend (especially those whom I’ve lost contact with) already means a lot to me. The holidays give us a chance to reconnect with friends and for some, it could also serve as a “reason” to tell someone that we like or care for them.

7. Trips out of the country with the clan. I’ve always look forward to our yearly Christmas trips. Whether it be in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, or China, I really don’t mind. Even if the destination sucks, I’d still go just as long as the tradition is not broken. This year we’re all going to Brunei. Prince Bolkiah, here we come! Haha

8. Festive holiday spirit. Seeing all the houses adorned with bright Christmas lights, hearing Christmas songs play everywhere you go, and seeing Santa Claus in every nook and cranny always gives me this great nostalgic feeling. It always reminds me of the Christmases I had when I was a kid. I think kids enjoy Christmas more than adults do. Oh no, does this mean I'm getting old already? The festive mood never fails to give a positive vibe in everyone’s day.

9. Stress-free long breaks. The holidays give us a brief respite from life’s daily grind. We forget about work, our problems and worries for a minute. We celebrate and enjoy the season with our loved ones…happy :).

10. Indulging. The holidays gives us a reason to indulge whether it be on food or on the latest gadgets or cellphone. We give ourselves a special treat and justify it with a "Christmas naman eh!" then we make bawi nalang after. We work double hard on the treadmill or save up on our next month's pay and next next month's pay. Hehe

"If time were not an obstacle, I would.."

I attended a 5-day class last week and one of the topics discussed was time management. We were asked to do an exercise wherein we would complete the sentence, “If time were not an obstacle, I would…”

I would like to share with you my answers. If time was not an obstacle, some day I would…

• travel around the world
  
• spend more quality time with family and friends
  
• go to the driving range and practice more often until I can beat Tiger Woods
  
• learn a new skill – study graphic design, painting, or cooking
  
• bake cakes and cookies to give to family and friends
  
• keep in touch with friends I lost contact with
  
• go to the gym more often and exercise until I become as sexy as Tyra Banks
  
• visit my Amma Adams and keep her company
  

I was surprised that I came up with a long list.  I could have gone on and listed more things to do if it weren't for the limited space that the paper alloted. There were a lot of things that I wanted to do. I haven’t given much thought about it not until I was actually asked to sit down and really think about it. I just realized that most of my days are spent on what I need to do. I kinda have forgotten that I also want to do a lot of things. Emphasis on the WANT. Hehe But then even if I do have the extra time, I think I might just spend it on the non-developmental or not so “enriching” activities instead such as bumming around where I could finish watching all the tv shows (Prison Break anyone? Hehe) that are fast piling up in my laptop. That’s just one example. I could think of more but I don’t want to indulge myself too much. I don’t think I’ll ever have enough time and resources, not until I turn 90 years old anyway.

On Giving Up

When do you give up on something (or someone)? Is it some automatic switch programmed into us that signals us to start raising the white flag? Just like how we sometimes get these instant light bulb ideas, it is not planned. You just wake up one day and realize you’re going to stop trying. No reasons to justify the whys. You just feel that it’s the best right thing to do.

People have different thresholds as to how far they can go. As one friend would like to put it, we have our own saturation points. It is where you’ve tried (and tried) until you’ve reached a point where you frankly don’t care anymore with the outcome. You’re just too tired to think about it, even for just a second. And all you want to do is to detach yourself on that something (or someone, or situation-whichever) and give up.

Does it make one an official loser for giving up? Does one deserve a big “L” slapped on his/her forehead for not trying hard enough? How about if the person does not give up and keeps on trying until he/she dies, do we congratulate him/her for being a martyr (or a hero)? It’s a tough question to answer. It’ll probably spark up long debates and bring out more unanswered questions.

In my humble opinion, a person who gave up (but tried his/her very damn best) deserves credit too. I would definitely give an ‘A’ for effort. Situations and people are hard to change. While we can have a hand in influencing the outcome, it is still something that is not entirely within our control. There will always be limitations as to how far we can go. We can put our two cents worth of effort in it but if hanggang dun nalang, then so be it. If you think about it, those who have tried and gave up are actually heroes in their own right. At least they’re brave enough to give up, admit that they can't do it, and come into terms with reality (yes, even if the truth hurts). They accept things for what they are and get on with their lives. Sometimes giving up can actually make life so much easier, don't you think so?

Everything Good List

It's been awhile since I had this list. It's always nice to do this list and relish all the good and nice things. So here it goes.

-Nano Hana along Valero St. Makati. Melts in your mouth wagyu steak. Fresh hamachi. Crispy tempura. Good tea.
-HSBC Champions 2006, Shanghai China. Being able to watch some of the world's best golfers play.
-Being able to see Tiger Woods practice and play live. Enough said.
-Luke Donald. Eye candy. Crush worthy. My new idol.
-Seeing world's No.1 Roger Federer in flesh..Gwapo rin! Haha
-the fast approaching Christmas season. I can feel it already!
-McDonald's Chicken Rice Burger. Better when it comes with fries.
-McDonald's hashbrowns. A very recent discovery for me!
-my FRIENDS. Close, not so close, and acquaintances included.
-laughing for no reason. laughing at Dad's corny jokes.
-being able to keep in touch despite of and inspite of...
-having silly conversations
-KOI and a cool aquarium. New pet fishes, thanks to Glenn. It's not mine though. Hehe
-iPod Nano's Red Edition.
-spa massages. Aaaahh...feels so good especially after a workout
-The Entourage. Definitely tops my fave tv show list.
-getting more than 8 hours of sleep
-Hizon's regular ensaymada
-Sunday mornings and Saturday afternoons :)

Are YOU my Friend or Acquaintance?

I always remember my mom telling me I should consider myself extremely lucky if I could have 2 or 3 real close friends. I find this rather true especially now that I don’t go to school anymore, where I used to see my friends nearly everyday. Now I have 2 friends whom I consider my best best friends, plus 3 more if I include my sisters. While I do have a handful of friends, I can’t really say that I have a solid meaningful relationship with each one of them. Some are good casual friends while some are just plain acquaintances. This is what Malcolm Gladwell prefers to call as “weak ties”, friendly yet casual social connections. This used to frustrate me, having a lot of weak ties and only having a few close friends. I don’t like doing the small talk routine, the “Hi, hello! How you doing? Okay bye” stuff. I want to have friends whom I could have good long meaningful conversations with and whom I can be my crazy self without getting judged. But with hectic schedules, busy careers and love lives to attend to, it’s virtually impossible to remain in contact with everybody. It takes a looot of effort and time to maintain relationships, what more build a new one right?

So how do you choose which friends you’d like to keep as a good friend and just as an acquaintance only? While I don’t consciously choose whom I should be friends with, according to Malcolm Gladwell (he’s a genius for having this kind of thinking), we usually become friends with the people we do things with and whom we resemble the most. We don’t seek out friends; we just relate a lot more to those people who occupy the same space that we do. Most of us, he says, keep our acquaintances at arm’s length since we already have our own circle of friends to whom we are devoted. “The reason we don’t send birthday cards to people we don’t really care a great deal about is that we don’t want to feel obliged to have dinner with them or see a movie with them or visit them when they’re sick. The purpose of making an acquaintance, for most of us, is to evaluate whether we want to turn that person into a friend; we don’t feel we have the time or the energy to maintain meaningful contact with everyone.” (Gladwell, Tipping Point).

However this does not mean we should take our acquaintances for granted. Weak ties are just as important, if not sometimes even more important than the strong ties we have. Gladwell offers a different perspective. He says that the more acquaintances we have, the more powerful we actually become. Acquaintances can give us access to opportunities and worlds to which we don’t belong to. Acquaintances can also bring new ideas and information that they are more likely to know that we or our friends (since they occupy the same world that we do, they most probably know what we already know) don’t.

I think I should learn to see the value and pleasure in casual meetings. I feel that I should also invest equal amounts of time and effort in my acquaintances the same as I do with my friends. I should be happy and grateful I have weak ties. I shouldn’t feel frustrated if the person or people I want to know better, whom I want to cultivate a relationship with doesn’t share the same sentiment. After all an acquaintance gained is still an added wealth. ;)

Mirror Mirror on the Wall...Who's the Fairest of Them All?

Candice and I accompanied my mom today to Marie France. Just out of curiosity, we got ourselves a free body assessment and free trial treatments. So what is the verdict? I’m within my ideal body weight (yehey!) BUT (yeah there’s always the big BUT) I’m 21% over my fat percentage and some “problem areas” would have to be addressed as well…which means I would need to undergo the fat metabolic program whatever that means. Grabe, after having a talk with the head consultant, I think I’ve never felt fatter in my whole life. I must say their marketing tactics are working well. Hehe

All the treatments were relaxing. I didn’t know these kinds of machines and procedures even existed at all. I enjoyed the cold body wrap. You get wrapped up like a mummy in this very cold solution which is supposed to lower your body’s normal temperature, so that the excess fat will be used up to maintain the body’s heat. According to the therapist, this can shave off around 2000 calories which is equivalent to 2 weeks worth of exercise. Could you imagine that?! No need to work your ass off at the gym anymore. You just lie in a bed for 25 minutes and voila! There’s also this other treatment that I liked. They attach these circular patches to the different parts of your body and you’ll feel waves of electric pulses/shock in varying intensities. This one is supposed to tone your body. Twenty minutes of doing this is equivalent to at least 200 sit-ups.

I had fun doing all of the treatments. It was an interesting experience. It just made me realize the extent that some people are willing to go through for the sake of vanity. Not only do you need lots (and lots) of time and effort, you also need a fat bank account. Hehe You wouldn’t believe how much the program that they designed for me costs. I don't think so! Hehe And even if you can afford it—time, effort, and money, I don’t think people can be satisfied long enough. Perfection can never be achieved…not in this world anyway.

By Meredith Grey

"I think you should. I think we should all just go there. You know tell the truth, spit it out, go with your gut, follow your instincts." 

I Heart Russia

1. City traffic is bad, even worse than Manila. There's no specific time for their rush hour. It seems like rush hour for them lasts for almost the entire day. With at least eight lanes on both sides, I don’t understand why it is still traffic.



2. The metro (a.k.a. subway) in Moscow is the complete opposite of what a typical subway station should look like. It looks so elegant, adorned with nice chandeliers and mosaic paintings. If it weren't for the old and rusty trains, you'd think you're somewhere else.



3. Russians are blessed with good genes. Almost everybody can pass for a model. Everyone’s tall, white, and handsome. Everyone’s good looking. Unfortunately I was not able to take home some souvenir pictures with me. :(

4. Their cathedrals do not have benches or pews. Russians celebrate Mass standing, for two long hours! You won't find a chair. But it's okay, mas astig naman cathedral nila kaysa sa atin.




5. Red means beautiful in Russian. Hence, Red Square equals Beautiful Square.



6. Kremlin means fortress in Russian. Hence, the Kremlin Wall equals the Fortress.

7. The Russian royalties are obsessed with anything gold. Now people in this day and age don’t have to feel as guilty anymore knowing that people during the olden days are even more extravagant and materialistic compared to us. I can just imagine how uncomfortable it is for the women to endure banquet dinners with their tight fitting corsets.




8. Saying NO in Russian is easy to remember. Just say NYEH or NYEH-NYEH! Reminds me of this Filipino phrase we use when we want to make fun of other people, Nyeh-Nyeh-Nyeh-Nyeh-Nyeh! Yes translates to DA! or DA-DAM! in Russian.

9. The matroyshka dolls are more popular than Barbie. I've practically grown up with Ken and Barbie. So I plead my allegiance to Barbie dolls.

10. St. Petersburg has only 60 days of sunshine throughout the year. It never fails to rain every single day. So I consider myself lucky for being able to catch a glimpse of their breathtaking sunrise.

My Crush List

I'm crushing on..

1. Samsung's Ultra Edition 9.9 (SGH-D830)

2. 8GB iPod Nano (Black or Pink)

3. Bvlgari's Diagono

4. Young Blood's Kabuki Soft Brushes (made out of goat's hair)

5. Daphne Osena's Antique Gold Charm Necklaces

GOOD Presents: NYChildren Photography Project

Brilliant project. Very nice. I wish it was made longer though. The idea was for photographer Danny Goldfield to photograph one child from every country on Earth all living in New York City.




Note: Video may take awhile to load. Here's the direct link,
http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=ae4482b5b3c41e1e8663af3630ff4020.900638&cache=1

Fight Blue and White!

Ateneo lost. We lost. It was a game well fought until the end. I was lucky to find tickets last minute. Thanks to Jean’s persistence and convincing powers. Hehe It’s been awhile since I cheered my heart out and screamed like crazy. I didn’t care if I was surrounded by a sea of people wearing yellow shirts with their matching yellow balloons, I was just too damn proud of my alma mater (yeah even if we lost). The UST people are a friendly bunch. If it were an ADMU-DLSU game, I would probably think twice about sitting with the enemy. Just kidding.

It was a good game, down to the wire until the last second. At least sulit naman. I enjoyed the game even if I don’t know all of the players’ names anymore especially those on the other teams. I lost track after Fonacier-Villanueva-Gonzales-Bugia-Tenorio went to play for the professional league. Hehe Macky Escalona is my new idol now.














(i) Ateneo Warm-Up; (ii) Amidst the yellow, I still see Blue















(iii) All Blue; (iv) Go Ateneo! Animo Ateneo!

Post-Weather Report

After three days of darkness and drought, things are slowly getting back to normal. The typhoon not only left thousands of people homeless, it also left thousands of uprooted trees all over the metro. I actually witnessed the trees literally fall off, its branches being swept off by the strong winds. Seriously, naawa talaga ako sa mga trees. Makati seems so bare now. Everywhere I go, I see fallen trees both old and new. It’s sad.


Our car also bore the brunt of the typhoon. The windshield got smashed, the whole of it totally shattered. I’m not sure though whether the typhoon should be blamed or it’s just plain carelessness of Mang Elmer. He literally drove into a tree branch. Good thing there’s insurance.



If there’s anything good that came out of it, business has been doing very good. Herds of people have been flocking to our stores to eat. Dumami sobra mga tao. I don’t know if it’s the aftereffects of the typhoon or because it was payday weekend or because electricity was not 100% up yet, it seemed like everybody wanted to go out and are eager to eat.

To-Do List

My things to-do’s for this week:

1. Worry less.
2. Think less.
3. Control less.
4. Laugh more.
5. Share more.
6. Exercise more.
7. Eat less.
8. Get in touch more.
9. Believe more.
10. Pray more.

Control

It’s nearing the end of the week again. Wasn’t it just Saturday yesterday? And we’re in the ber months already. Aaack! I wish somebody could hit the stop button. I can’t help but think I’m wasting my time on a lot of things. I always get that nagging feeling when I feel unproductive. Maybe we’re all programmed to think that we’re useless if we have all the extra time in the world, meaning we’re not busy--busy as in the “super busy-harassed with career” or the “super busy-stressed out with life” kind.

I attended a class a couple of weeks back, and the instructor taught us the importance of BEING HERE now. This phrase stuck to me like glue. There are times when I’m so preoccupied that I forget to live and be present in the moment. I always feel the need to control and take care of everything even when I know I can’t. I tire myself endlessly worrying and fixing all the little things that I forget about enjoying the moment. I need to accept the fact that there are certain things and circumstances, people included, that are beyond my control and just have to be left alone on its own. I can’t possibly do everything. Enough said.

I’m slowly learning how to let go of the things I cannot control. Taking the back seat is actually better than the driver seat. I know I can’t chase all the cars anyway. Besides I’ve discovered the ride is more enjoyable this way. It gives me more “ME time” to enjoy the peace and quiet that I need.

September Lists

September's Everything Good List

-being in a happy bubble that's "unburstable" (I know there isn't such a word. Hehe)
-a good workout at the gym
-Body Shop's body butter (strawberry and almond please)
-Crepes and Cream's Cappuchoco and Hazelnut Banana ice cream crepes
-UCC's classic ensaymada (toasted...yummy!)
-meeting and getting to know new friends
-old friends (I love 'em dearly!)
-another round of new Prison Break episodes (season 3 na!)
-another round of new Grey's Anatomy episodes (season 3 na rin!)
-finding comfort in silence
-eat all you can foie gras
-being able to accept things and situations for what they are
-Din Tai Fung's hot taro buns
-no 430am wakeup calls
-spa massages
-newly waxed legs, brows, and arms (feels so freakingly clean)
-Mcdo's McShaker sour cream fries
-Mcdo's chocolate shake
-MSN's daily horoscopes (I swear it's accurate)
-new clothes and new shoes :)

Since I've been religiously doing the Everything Good list, I'll have the opposite list just this once. I promise to keep it short. I dislike:

-having to wake up early (especially if it's cold and raining)
-looooooooooong days
-having a bad clothes day, meaning every piece of clothing that you own seems to be unsuitable for wearing
-desperately wanting to sleep but you can't because your mind is running through a million of thoughts
-not being able to eat my comfort foods. Strict diet daw kasi. (Yeah right! Hehe)
-ending a good relaxing weekend
-worrying for nothing
-disappointments
-awkward situations (though I'm learning to appreciate it slowly. It's a part of life that you can't run away from.)
-being stuck in traffic especially when you're in a hurry
-being on the bad side of Murphy's Law

My 7 Dimensions of Personality (Part One)

I took a test online which is supposed to give me insights on certain aspects--of how I look at the world and those around me. I don't know if it is reliable. But I have to say it's pretty darn accurate (not all though, mostly lang).

Dimension #1: Modern versus Traditional
People who are more traditional tend to carry those feelings over into their search for love. For example, traditional types tend to believe that when a man and a woman go on a date, the man should pay. They're also likely to feel that red roses are the perfect gift for a first date and that idealistic weddings are the only way to go. For someone who is traditional, tried-and-true rituals are important to uphold.

Your score shows that you're more traditional. This means that in love, you're more inclined to follow time-tested dating patterns, especially at the beginning of a relationship. You may even come from a long line of daters who've taught you the many "rules" of courtship - both explicit and implicit. These kinds of dating traditions dictate what a man is supposed to do in a relationship and what a woman is supposed to do.

Dimension #2: Independent versus Connected
People who are highly connected tend to make their relationships with others a priority. They keep in close touch with family and friends when they can and are usually softhearted, empathic people.

Your score weighed more heavily on the connected end of the scale. This means that when a friend or a family member is in need, you're probably front and center doing whatever you can to help. This goes double when you're in a relationship. You seem to value the special bond that can be created when two people become involved and you'll likely go to great lengths to preserve it. Being connected creates a kind of warmth that naturally emanates from you. Others are apt to spot this caring nature and be drawn to you because of it.

Dimension #3: Easygoing versus Particular
Highly particular people tend to strive for perfection in whatever they do. They also tend to have refined, and at times expensive, tastes. Appearance can be important to particular types, so taking care of themselves is often a high priority.

In your case, you scored on the more particular end of the continuum. This indicates that you're one of those people who knows what you like. As a result, you're likely to have more discerning tastes than many people around you do. When you see something you want - whether it's a new car, a new coat, or even a new love - it can be hard to accept second best. You'd usually rather keep striving. That's what makes you particular. Because you like to be your best, you typically like to look your best too. In fact, you've probably received more than your share of compliments you on your put-together looks or great outfits. Being particular means you're apt to be more talented than most people are when it comes to self-care, style, and grooming. In this way, people like you tend to make a great first impression.

Dimension #4: Emotional versus Rational
Those who scored high on the rational scale are people who can usually take a step back during a heated situation in order to think out how best to respond. When provoked, their level-headedness makes them more likely to step back from an argument rather than fan the flames. Rational types are also typically strong thinkers who enjoy working through challenging problems to find a solution.

Your results indicate that you're more rational. This means that you're someone who is quite capable when it comes to logical reasoning. In fact, it's likely that you apply this valuable ability in a variety of situations, both personal and professional. You have a talent for observing what's happening in your own life. By being witness to events and your reactions to them, you can make more conscious choices for yourself. Not everyone has this ability. So be happy you have a good head on your shoulders. Being the voice of reason can be an attractive quality. It can also make you more compatible with the many people who'll come into your life.

See post below for con't. Part Two

My 7 Dimensions of Personality (Part Two)

Dimension #5: Humble versus Self-possessed

People who score highly on being self-possessed are generally confident types who believe strongly in their abilities. This feeling may translate into a sense of pride in their level of physical fitness, a sense of assurance about their intellectual abilities, or a high regard for their sexual prowess. Highly self-possessed people often have a charisma and energy that makes them the center of attention.

You scored on the more confident end of the continuum. (I'm not so sure about this. I see myself more on the other end of the spectrum.) This means that you possess a confidence that can energize your life so that each day becomes an adventure. When you see a new challenge, you're the kind of person who's likely to go after it with gusto, knowing that you have what it takes to make good things happen. This faith in your abilities can make you more willing to take risks than other people are. This trait can bode well for you in love. Feeling like hot stuff can give you the courage you need to approach an attractive person you'd like to meet, rather than letting the opportunity pass you by. You're also likely to keep yourself fairly socially active because you are usually comfortable interacting with others.

Dimension #6: Down-to-earth versus Dreamy

Individuals high on the dreamy scale include those people who would choose the bubbles of champagne over a glass of wine simply because it seemed a more romantic gesture. Highly dreamy people tend to see the magic in life. They may also actively seek out ways to make their love relationships special so that each day becomes an occasion.

People who are more down-to earth prefer life's everyday moments to grand gestures that seem over-the-top. They are realists who aren't easily swayed by styling or symbolism. For the most part, down-to-earth people would rather avoid glossy exteriors to get closer to what's on the inside. This tendency typically holds true across the board - in their friendships, in professional life, and in love.

Your score weighed more heavily on the down-to-earth end of the scale. This result indicates that you're the kind who realizes that although romance can be nice, it takes more than hearts and flowers to keep the world turning. Rather than focus your attention on fairytale dreams, you usually like to live in the here-and-now of reality. As a result, you often find happiness in the small pleasures present in everyday life: a good cup of coffee, a solid night's sleep, or a sunny day. These are things that others might overlook, but you can truly appreciate them. This easy sense of satisfaction with life can come across to others in a very engaging way, particularly in love. Those around you likely recognize the value you place in little things and appreciate your willingness to accept situations and people as they are. This kind, genuine nature is sure to draw others to you in life and in love.

Dimension #7: Pampered versus Rugged

Individuals who are more pampered include people who appreciate the many creature comforts associated with civilization. Pampered types typically prefer that their recreation be of the indoor variety.

You fall on the more pampered side of the line. (Nah, I'd like to believe I'm in the middle of both.) This suggests that while you probably aren't opposed to a little fresh air and sunshine, you tend to prefer the kind of relaxation that only indoor activities can offer. Whether you're shopping in a mall, sitting in a theatre, or relaxing at home with a good book, you appreciate the ease of being inside. Pampered types like you will take a massage and a good meal over a hike and campfire almost any day of the week. Facing the elements typically isn't your idea of a good time. In love, it will be important to find a partner who also likes this brand of leisure. If not on the same level as you, at least enough so you can share the kinds of experiences that you value.

Blink

I just finished reading Blink. As the front cover states, the book is about the "power of thinking without thinking". It talks about the kind of thinking that happens in a blink of an eye when we see or do something for the very first time. For the author, it is about those two seconds where your mind reaches instant conclusions that are the most powerful and most important of all.

Most of us would disagree and think it is not rational to reach a definite decision that fast about something without gathering enough facts first. We always want to sort out all the information that we can get and spend so much time on deliberating before we actually act and decide on a certain matter. And as what the author has pointed out, we end up making inaccurate and ineffective decisions because of the overload in information. He suggests that we do thin slicing-gather less information and zero in on the critical pieces. That way we become more effective.

For someone like me who always makes it a point to consult the facts book first and yet still usually ends up making (or guessing?) sablay na first impressions on people and situations, I should start considering the author's advice and listen more to what my snap judgments are telling me. Let's see if I can make a better sense out of each situation (and people) once I start considering the first two seconds.

Tribute to the Silent Workers

Humility is a great value to have. I admire those people who practice it everywhere they go or at least those who try to make the effort. These people don't find the need to flaunt what they have or feel the need to be recognized all the time. I have come to name them the 'silent workers'. They silently work and just do their own thing without seeking any attention or asking for anything in exchange. They don't do the talking but they actually walk the talk. Some people love to brag and bark (and bark) without doing anything fruitful. All air, nothing else.

In my work, I have come to learn that silent workers are the most effective people. They produce real RESULTS. Furthermore they don't come looking for credit, because it comes to them without any effort at all. They have this certain air of confidence, not the all out "I know I'm great" confidence kind, but the quiet genuine confidence which is a whole lot better than the first kind. They don't feel the need to announce to the world what they do, because their work evidently speaks for itself. They don't feel the need to follow suit with what the others are doing. They just remain focused and intent on delivering good results.

Humility should be the next best policy.

Be Different. Think Different.

My dad gave us this bookmark and told us to read it. Hopefully raw we could pick up a thing or two in it.

50 Tips on How to Make A Difference
1. Say something positive everyday.
2. Believe in miracles but don't depend on them.
3. Never allow anyone to intimidate.
4. Don't work for recognition but do work worthy of recognition.
5. Remember the credo of Walt Disney: Think. Believe. Dream. Dare.
6. Never comment on someone's weight unless you know it's what they want to hear.
7. Seek respect rather than popularity.
8. Seek quality rather than luxury.
9. Start a "read again" file for articles you might want to enjoy a second time.
10. Look for opportunity that's hidden in every adversity.
11. Remember that when your mom says "you'll regret it" you probably will.
12. On your birthday send your mom a thank you card.
13. Never let the odds stop you from pursuing what you know in your heart you were meant to do.
14. Be happy with what you have while working on what you want.
15. Celebrate even small victories.
16. Don't forget that a couple of words of praise or encouragement can make someone's day.
17. Whenever you hear an ambulance siren say a prayer for the person inside.
18. When in doubt smile.
19. If it's not a beautiful morning let your cheerfulness make it beautiful.
20. Marry someone your equal or a little bit better.
21. Remember that a minute of anger denies you 60 seconds of happiness.
22. Never give up on a dream just because of the length of time it will take to accomplish it.
23. Don't write something you don't want others to read.
24. When taking a true or false test, remember that any statement that includes the word any, all, always, never or ever is usually false.
25. Never tell anybody they can't sing.
26. Become the world's most thoughtful friend.
27. Remember that anything worth doing is going to take longer than you think.
28. Remember that bad luck as well as good luck seldom lasts long.
29. Root for your team to win not for the other team to lose.
30. Accept triumph and defeat with equal grace.
31. Learn your great-grandparents' names and what they did.
32. Savor everyday.
33. Share the remote control.
34. Remember it's not your job to get people to like you, it's your job to like people.
35. Never miss a chance to shake hands with Santa.
36. Remember that the only dumb question is the one you wanted to ask but did not ask it.
37. Spend time with lucky people.
38. Stand up for your right principles even if you have to stand alone.
39. Remember that everyone has bad days.
40. Marry someone who loves music.
41. If you know you are going to lose, do it with style.
42. Remember that not all right are popular and not all popular are right.
43. Work diligently.
44. Live simply.
45. Think quickly.
46. Fight fairly.
47. Give generously.
48. Laugh loudly.
49. Pray faithfully.
50. Love deeply.

Nicole, if you're reading this. Alam ko na how to be different and Think Different! Hehe

Warning: Vague post!

Sometimes I feel like detaching myself from the rest of the world. I don't want to have to care about what every single people think or have to say. Is that even achievable today?

Sometimes I feel like giving up and just not care anymore if I fail. I don't want to be Superwoman anymore, though I think I have long given up on the idea anyway.

Sometimes I want to hit the stop button, throw out the remote control, and just sit the whole day and not have to think or worry about anything.

The past few days, I have been detached. I have not given a damn at all. I did not care one bit. I did not become Superwoman either. I altogether have taken out the play and rewind buttons. And guess what? It feels surprisingly good. If only I could muster the strength to continue being this way...

How long to earn a Big Mac?

The results are in..

by The Associated Press

How long to earn a Big Mac? <-click on the link for a better looking chart :)

City and No. of Minutes
Tokyo 10 / Nicosia, Cyprus 19 / Prague, Czech Republic 39 / Los Angeles 11 / Brussels, Belgium 20 / Tallinn, Estonia 39 / Chicago 12 / Milan, Italy 20 / Warsaw, Poland 43 / Miami 12 / Taipei, Taiwan 20 / Vilnius, Lithuania 43 / New York 13 / Barcelona, Spain 21 / Beijing 44 / Auckland, New Zealand 14 / Paris 21 / Budapest, Hungary 48 / Sydney, Australia 14 / Stockholm, Sweden 21 / Istanbul, Turkey 48 /Toronto 14 / Singapore 22 / Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 53 / Dublin, Ireland 15 / Lyon, France 24 / Bratislava, Slovakia 55 /Zurich, Switzerland 15 / Manama, Bahrain 24 / Santiago, Chile 56 / Frankfurt, Germany 16 / Dubai, United Arab Emirates 25 / Kiev, Ukraine 56 /Geneva 16 / Moscow 25 / Buenos Aires, Argentina 56 / London 16 / Rome 25 / New Delhi 59 / Vienna, Austria 16 / Athens, Greece 26 / Bangkok, Thailand 67 /Berlin 17 / Riga, Latvia 28 / Bucharest, Romania 69 / Hong Kong 17 / Seoul, South Korea 29 / Sofia, Bulgaria 69 /Luxembourg 17 / Johannesburg, South Africa 30 / Bombay, India 70 / Montreal 17 / Lisbon, Portugal 32 / Manila, Philippines 81 /
Munich, Germany 17 / Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 33 / Mexico City 82 /Copenhagen, Denmark 18 / Ljubljana, Slovenia 35 / Caracas, Venezuela 85 / Oslo, Norway 18 / Worldwide average 35 / Jakarta, Indonesia 86 /Amsterdam, Netherlands 19 / Sao Paulo, Brazil 38 / Lima, Peru 86 / Helsinki, Finland 19 / Shanghai, China 38 / Nairobi, Kenya 91 / Madrid, Switzerland 19 / Bogota, Colombia 97

Residents of Tokyo have the highest purchasing power in the world, edging out people in Los Angeles, Sydney, London and Toronto, according to a new survey by the Swiss banking giant UBS that uses the "Big Mac" as its benchmark.

Tokyo scored at the top of the survey, which aims to eliminate variables such as exchange rates, even though it is one of the most expensive cities in the world, UBS said in the "Prices and Earnings" report released Wednesday. "Wages only become meaningful in relation to prices -- that is, what can be bought with the money earned," it said.

The bank calculated the "weighted net hourly wage in 14 professions" and divided it into the local price of "a globally available product," for which it chose McDonald's flagship hamburger. "On a global average, 35 minutes of work buys a Big Mac," it said. "But the disparities are huge: in Nairobi, 1.5 hours' work is needed to buy the burger with the net hourly wage there. In the U.S. cities of Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Miami, a maximum of 13 minutes' labor is needed."

In Tokyo, it takes a mere 10 minutes. Bogota, Colombia, came in last among the 70 cities surveyed at 97 minutes.

Oslo world's costliest city The UBS survey, conducted every three years, rated Oslo as the most expensive city on the basis of the cost of a basket of 122 goods and services, excluding rent. It was followed by London; Copenhagen, Denmark; Zurich, Switzerland; Tokyo; Geneva; New York; Dublin, Ireland; Stockholm, Sweden; and Helsinki, Finland.

The least expensive cities were Manila, Philippines (So I guess I made the right decision of not leaving this country after all. Di ako lugi sa Philippines. Haha); Delhi; Buenos Aires; Bombay and Kuala Lumpur.

UBS said that if the cost of housing was included, "life is particularly expensive in London and New York."

The bank also compared wages. In that contest Copenhagen was tops, with an index of 118.2. For that comparison, New York -- in fifth place -- was taken as the base with an index of 100. Second place went to Oslo, followed by Zurich and Geneva. London was in sixth, followed by Chicago, Dublin, Frankfurt and Brussels.

At the other end was Delhi, with an index of 6.1. "In the cities of Western Europe and North America, workers in 14 representative professions earn a gross hourly wage averaging US$18 (euro14); in the Eastern European and Asian cities examined, the figure was only US$4-US$5 (euro3.10-euro3.90)." But taxes and social security payments take a big bit in northern Europe, with Scandinavian and German cities losing ground.

Wages high, standards high in U.S.
Rankings were similar to the last survey in 2003, with changes resulting largely from shifts in foreign exchange rates, the study said. New York and Chicago dropped in the expensive cities ranking, mostly due to the weaker dollar.

"Shanghai and Beijing, meanwhile, remain comparatively inexpensive despite an economic boom because the national currency, the renminbi, has so far resisted pressures to appreciate."

Workers in Seoul, South Korea, work the longest. Those in Paris have the shortest work week.
"Based on a 42-hour work week, Asian workers labor about 50 days a year more than their peers in Paris," it said.

The study said a dollar earned in Los Angeles, after deducting taxes and Social Security contributions, is worth more than in Chicago, New York, Miami, Toronto and Montreal.

"Although the highest wages are paid in New York, it also has the highest cost of living anywhere in the Americas," it said. "Thanks to their much higher wages, after buying the basic basket of goods and services, workers in North American cities have far more left over for vacations, luxury items or savings than their counterparts in Latin America. The average purchasing power in Central and South America is just a third of the level in the North American cities."

Selective Perception

I've been reading a book by Edward de Bono. There is a chapter which discusses perception--the way of looking at things. Each one of us has different ways in analyzing and looking at things and situations. This can be attributed to differences in our background, culture, values, and personal experiences. So what I may think as proper may not necessarily be so for another. What I may see as beautiful may just turn out to be ordinary for another. It also can't be ignored that our perceptions more often than not are tainted with our own biases.


One also can't deny that as much as we want to be objective, our emotions and feelings inevitably ride on our perceptions. We only see what we want to see. We only will pick what we expect to see. As de Bono puts it, "Our perception is rarely objective, it is usually selective." Here is a classic example given by the author,


A husband suspects that his wife is having a secret affair. Whenever she is out shopping or with friends he suspects she is meeting her lover. When she returns, his suspicions cause his perception to pick out those things which reinforce his mistrust. No matter how many objective facts presented into the case (such as perhaps the wife is indeed a shopaholic or the wife really has a lot of friends), I don't think one would be able to convince the husband in thinking otherwise. His feelings have controlled how he sees his wife already.


And let's say he indeed finds out she is having an affair, he is very upset and thinks back over all the details of their married life, picking out minor incidents which 'prove' that she never really loved him at all. Again his strong feelings and emotions have ruled over his objective perception of the situation and of his wife. As what the author says in the book, "If you are looking for oranges in a supermarket, your eyes will pick out oranges. If you are looking for breakfast cereal, your eyes will select cereal."


Aahhh! So now I know what it's called, selective perception. Inasmuch as I hate admitting it, this happens to me all the time especially when I'm asking for a sign or in search for an answer. I'm not sure anymore whether I should indeed take it as a sign or dismiss it for plain selective perception. I'm really disappointed, all this time that I thought was a positive sign, a coincidence perhaps or a could-be-happening possibility turns out to be a major dud pala. It must have been an unconscious effort on my part in having to always select out only the good suitable pieces, in filtering out the unwanted bits, in editing out the boring details so that I end up happy, hopeful and positive.


The book points out that we need to learn how to become a good manager of our feelings so that we can enjoy them and not get carried away by them. If we let our strong emotions and feelings control our perception, our reality becomes distorted and restricted. But then if we drop our strong feelings altogether, then we become robotic and would not be interested in perceiving anything at all. Kaya as the old cliche goes, we must strive for the perfect balance.

Strictly Yes or No

I don't like being in that little gray area. I don't like to second guess all the time and not know the answers to the why's. I'd rather be either in the black or white area so that I would know absolutely where I stand. I want to know the exact answers and not have to beat around the bush nor chase that person beating around the bush. From now on, it's either a YES or a NO for me. No more maybes.

I used to dwell often in the maybes. I was always unsure about myself; apprehensive to do things, scared to make decisions, hesitant to say things aloud. I figured I'd stay in the neutral zone so that if things don't go as planned, the consequences wouldn't be as harsh. I would always have a 50-50 chance of being right (or wrong for that matter). There are also lesser disappointments since the expectations could go either way. You're not really expecting anything good but you're not expecting anything bad either. Whichever way, wala lang. Kebs ka lang.

But then I discovered being in this mode will eventually begin to eat you up alive. Being in that hazy gray area of uncertainty all the time is like walking with your eyes closed. Are you going to trip? Are you going to bump into something? Maybe. Siguro. Baka hindi. Baka oo. After awhile, you just get tired of thinking and thinking, having to second guess all the time whether you're going to fall or not. I want to be able to know and be sure that I won't fall (or will fall, whichever). I don't really care as long as I know.

I don't want to be vague and I will stop being one starting today. I don't want to read ambiguous people and I will stop getting to know them. I promise!

A Funny Thing Happened...

I had dinner with my parents, Amma, and my sister last Saturday at Kai, Greenbelt. A very funny thing happened. I never laughed so hard in my life. My Amma nearly burned down the restaurant. You know how restaurants have these tiny candles in their tables right? My Amma's menu got caught in one of those. We even didn't know it was burning already if it weren't for my sister. She just heard "cackling" noises daw and saw the menu on fire. "Amma! Amma! Menu mo!! Nasusunog!" My Amma just sat and stared at the burning menu. Since I was sitting next to my grandma, I immediately got the drinks list menu (the main menu is really heavy!) and "pinagpag" (for the lack of word) ko talaga like there was no tomorrow. I thought the table cover was going to burn too.



Almost half of the menu was gone. I could see the waiters secretly grinning. Comedy kasi sobra. You're at a nice fancy restaurant, trying to be poise and all, tapos biglang "nawa-poise". Hehe We were told that several customers had a similar experience. Moral lesson of the story: Don't be fooled by those cute candles. While it may add ambiance, it's a safety hazard! Hehe



But I have to admit though it was a serious accident, I had a really really good laugh. :)

The New Merriam-Webster Dictionary

It's interesting to note that the latest Merriam-Webster Dictionary now has the words google, bling, and mouse potato (among others) added to its list.


Use in a sentence:
I've been googling (meaning: searching or looking) for this really cool bling bling (meaning: flashy jewelry).


OR


If I am a couch potato, then I guess you can call Bill Gates a mouse potato (meaning: one who uses the computer a lot).


I wonder whether schools will allow children to use these words in their term papers. Does this also mean it is now acceptable to use these words in formal functions? Merriam-Webster has made it official in its books already. So why not put it to good use? Though I cannot imagine the President using 'google' and 'bling' in her speeches.


How come words such as Yahoo or Brangelina didn't make it to the list? Yahoo deserves as much credit as Google when it comes to search engines. I could have easily said 'yahooed' instead of 'googled'. Then there's Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Need I say more? They attract the most attention than anyone else in the whole wide world.


Side Note:
I've read in the newspaper that the newly franchised (and improved) Dairy Queen and Orange Julius are going to open soon in Manila. I miss DQ's Blizzard already. I hope it just doesn't open in Gateway Mall lang. Ang layo!

Today's Horoscope

I swear the daily horoscopes of MSN are always pretty accurate. Today's horoscope seems to be reminding me of how everything has to be about the "Flow". There it is again. Why don't I still get it?

Good Things in June

I haven't done this list in a long time already. So here it goes,


My Good Things List:


-Waking up at your own time
-Korean telenovelas (hehe)
-Scofield + McDreamy = TV series marathon
-Sleeping and sleeping in while it's raining
-Rainy (not stormy) days
-Mcdo coffee coupled with egg mcmuffin or hotcake in the mornings
-Mcdo taro pies (a new found dessert!)
-Mcdo nuggets with honey mustard sauce and plain rice
-Sound trips
-Being able to have focus and not be distracted on trivial things
-Katre's foie gras pasta
-Australia
-UCC's coffee and blueberry cheesecake tandem
-Green juice (a combination of all sorts of green vegetables, doesn't taste good but definitely beneficial to one's health)
-Zara
-Friends whom you don't regularly get to see or talk to but still remain good friends with
-Fast Internet connection and fast Limewire downloads
-Clean, crisp linen sheets
-Bobbi Brown shimmer brick compacts
-Shu Uemura's perfect velvet

Advise #50 The boss is not the center of the universe (Micromanagement explained)

I got the excerpt below from the link displayed on Javi's ym status message. The site contains numerous essays on selected topics. I like Scott Berkun's essays because it offers a fresh perspective on matters that are often seen as practical common sense but not too often practiced as such. We can all surely learn a thing or two from him.


by Scott Berkun


The stereotype we learn as children is that the manager, the boss, tells other people what to do, and yells at them when they do it wrong. This doesn't work so well. Few people enjoy being told what to do, and frankly, it's not so interesting to be a boss if everyone always does everything you say. The stereotype fails because it's boss centric: the manager is the center of the work universe, when it should be the work.


The job of any manager is to make the best possible things happen. A successful manger gets the best possible work from the team and contributes as much as possible to making their organization successful: any management tactics they employ are done with these goals in mind, rendering a boss centric universe counterproductive. If you take this view of "best possible things" all kinds of clever and interesting approaches come to mind that wouldn't be considered otherwise. (For example, follow the logic: to get their best work, I need the best people. To get the best people, I need to provide interesting work. To provide interesting work I need to create clear, but challenging goals, delegate responsibility, and back them up when they need help.)


However the ego trap many managers fall into is that the only way to make good work happen is to place themselves in the center of everything: every decision, every task, every meeting. This is the opposite of management: it's anti-management. Instead of 5 people working at full speed, you have 5 people limited by the manager's speed in checking and re-checking every single tiny decision they make. Micro-management, the need to control everything, is a fundamental failure of the management to control his bad habits, or to grow a team sufficiently skilled not to need so much of his involvement.

Learning how to delegate, the obvious way out of micro-management, isn't easy. Anyone who previously worked alone and took pride in their perfect work will struggle with assigning work to others. But this is a trap, and a sign that the person isn't ready to manage. It's the giving away of work and gently guiding it, and the person doing the work, to quality results that is the core of what managers are supposed to do. It's a two way process as the manager won't always be right and won't always know the best way to solve a particular challenge (especially if the people reporting to the boss are talented). So the smart manager must delegate, in part, to keep learning new ways to do things.


The best managers build trust with their team, every day, in every meeting, so that eventually critically important and complex tasks can be delegated away. If a manager feels his team isn't capable, his job is to figure out exactly what they're capable of, and then helping them to grow: things that only happen by delegating work and seeing what happens. People need the opportunity to prove themselves and that opportunity is only granted by the manager. If it turns out that work is done poorly, was too hard or the goals weren't set properly, then as a manager, you have a living example to discuss and explore with the person in question. You can work to understand what your expectations of each other were and what they should be. Those conversations, openly exploring the differences in perspective of the manager and the worker, is the heart of management. It is where trust is built and lessons for how to make better work happen are discovered.

Stairway to Heaven Rocks!

I just finished Stairway to Heaven, a Korean drama that I borrowed from my cousin. It's a good story, a sad one though. Watching it is like going on an emotional rollercoaster ride. I don't know what's with these telenovelas, it gets you so attached and affected. I wonder if the scenarios and the main character could be equated to real life. I seriously doubt so. Maybe but it would be a probability of one in a million. I'm such a cynic. Hehe


Watching telenovelas may be considered jologs or baduy for some. But really it is good for the soul. Regardless of it being just fiction, it can actually give you a healthy dose of inspiration, hope, and of everything good and beautiful. It arouses your emotions that you otherwise would think are rock hard. Anything that stirs the emotions whether positive or negative should always be good for us because it helps erase all traces of passiveness and stoicism. It is in these instances that we do get to use our hearts and get to become more human especially now that we live in a world where everything is so automatic and mechanical.

SuperClarisse? WonderClarisse?

If I could have superhero powers, it would have to be...


...the ability to read minds like Jean Grey
...the ability to be invisible like Invisible Woman from the Fantastic Four group
...the ability to fly like Superman
...the ability to be as fast as a speeding bullet like the Flash and Superman (again.)
...the ability to turn back time and rewind things
...the ability to have a super memory where I can digest both useful and useless information


The next few lines would probably sound more ordinary than superhero-like. But if there is such a thing (Bill Gates can be a superhero, you know) I would like to have the power...


...to influence and convince people in a matter of seconds (wouldn't that be just great?)
...to speak in different languages and be super eloquent (ni hao, ola, mabuhay, hello!)
...to be insanely optimistic on just about everything (kung pwede lang sana...)
...to be able to believe in the good of every person (with this, I mean as in EVERYBODY)
...to metabolize as fast as I can (so that I could eat more!)
...to think and reflect like Plato or Socrates (debate anyone?)
...to have an enormous passion and generous heart like Mother Teresa's
...to have unwavering faith, steady as a rock like Moses'
...to be as brilliant as Bill Gates (I'm almost getting there...how I wish.)

Addicted to Grey's

Another quotable quote from one of the lead,


Dr. Meredith Gray:
"You know how when you were a little kid and you believed in fairy tales, that fantasy of what your life would be, white dress, prince charming who would carry you away to a castle on a hill. You would lie in bed at night and close your eyes and you had complete and utter faith. Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, Prince Charming, they were so close you could taste them, but eventually you grow up, one day you open your eyes and the fairy tale disappears. Most people turn to the things and people they can trust. But the thing is it's hard to let go of that fairy tale entirely cause almost everyone has that smallest bit of hope, of faith, that one day they will open their eyes and it will come true..."


*PAUSE*


Me: True. I couldn't agree more. To some extent, I'm sure each one of us still has that glass slipper (for guys, glass shoes?? Baduy ata.) somewhere along our midst, holding on to that hope that someone would eventually take us away, sweep us off our feet, and bring us to the castle where you both will live happily ever after.


*CONTINUATION*
"...At the end of the day faith is a funny thing. It turns up when you don't really expect it. Its like one day you realize that the fairy tale may be slightly different than you dreamed. The castle, well, it may not be a castle. And it's not so important happy ever after, just that it's happy right now. See once in a while, once in a blue moon, people will surprise you, and once in a while people may even take your breath away."


Me: Hmnn I don't know about that. Faith hasn't been funny lately. No one has taken my breath away yet. And I still want that damn castle. And it's extremely important for me to have a happy ever after in the end. I want my own fairy tale. So I'm not sure about that. You may think I'm crazy to even think of this possibility at 23. So I'm just going to put the blame on children book writers for making me too optimistic.

The Flow

I'm currently reading Bridget Jones Diary. Never underestimate chick lit books. There was a part in the book which I found particularly useful. Hell I could very well apply it to my life. The main character was saying how, when you look at life Zen could be applied to absolutely anything. She said it was all a question of Flow rather than struggle. It may be an unacceptable proposition for people like me who always prefers having everything calculated and planned way ahead of time. I get anxious and distressed when things are not running smoothly. There' always this nagging feeling of not wanting to miss out on anything. When things are not working out or when I have a problem, I spend 90% of the time obsessing and worrying about it. And as experience would tell, obsessing and worrying how to fix things pronto doesn't offer any good answer or solution at all.


Perhaps Bridget Jones is right. Maybe we should just leave things as it is, be careless and nonchalant, and just go with the Flow. Instead of being angry, stressed, and resistant to anything that's flawed, I just need to relax and feel my way into it. There are just some things that can't be fixed no matter what you do. Some things happen beyond our control. At the end of the day, you just have to believe and have faith that everything would all eventually work out... that in due time all of the pieces will fit into the big puzzle.

If Tomorrow Never Comes

From Dr. Meredith Gray, Gray's Anatomy:

A couple of hundred years ago, Benjamin Franklin shared with the world the secret of his success. "Never leave that 'til tomorrow, he said, which you can do today." This is the man who discovered electricity. You'd think more of us would listen to what he had to say. I don't know why we put things off. But if I had to guess, I'd say it has a lot to do with fear. Fear of failure, fear of pain, fear of rejection. Sometimes the fear is just of making a decision because what if you're wrong? What if you're making a mistake you can't undo?

The early bird catches the worm. A stitch in time saves nine. He who hesitates is lost. We can't pretend we haven't been told. We've all heard the proverbs, heard the philosophers, heard our grandparents warning us about wasted time, heard the damn poets urging us to sieze the day. Still sometimes we have to see for ourselves. We have to make our own mistakes. We have to learn our own lessons. We have to sweep today's possibility under tomorrow's rug until we can't anymore, until we finally understand for ourselves what Benjamin Franklin meant. That knowing is better than wondering. That waking is better than sleeping. And that even the biggest failure, even the worst most intractable error beats the hell out of never trying.

Of Burgers and Fries

The past two weeks I've been learning how to cook and serve food. There is so much stuff to remember. My mind is filled with cooking temperatures, cooking time, ingredients, procedures, visual characteristics, and what have you. I didn't know everything should be this precise. I'm not even sure if I'd be able to remember everything. My reflexes and coordination skills have been put to test as well. I think I'm now faster than Speedy Gonzalez when it comes to preparing food that is.


I'm enjoying though. It's been a fun learning experience.


I swear the Quarter Pounder has got to be the best ever smelling burger. And I'm saying this without any bias at all. Hehe If I may also add, the hotcakes has also got to be the best ever smelling hotcakes there is. Promise.

I'm hungry.

My Own Countdown

In two days, I'll be leaving SMART for good. Time flies...ang bilis. While I will surely going to miss a lot of things, I am now more than ready to go. I'm trying to condition my mind to move forward and not look back anymore. I don't want to have any regrets. No doubt my brief one year (and plus months) stint at SMART will always hold good memories for me. But likewise I am also excited, more so psyched with what the future has in store for me. Good luck to me. *cross fingers*


Side Note
Watching the country's current events nowadays is like watching The Buzz. Politics here is proving to be a real entertainment. Kulang na lang yung popcorn. There are just too many happenings, too many hearsay and speculations, add to the fact that the media is hyping up everything. They seem to sensationalize every little thing. I don't know which side I'm in anymore. I'm praying hard that all these brouhahas will soon stop. Our country does not need any of this crap.

The Post with No Title

Maybe it's not them. It's me. If I keep eluding it, I'm afraid I will never be given a shot at it again. I hope not. Maybe I'm just too idealistic for my own good. I should accept disappointing as it may be, that perfect will never be perfect. The right one will never be the right one.


But imperfect and wrong as it can be, I still don't know if I could share my space with someone else. I enjoy my freedom too much to give a part of it away. Believe me I would love to take a shot at it, but not now. Not with the wrong person anyway. I still want to wait and see. I want to be sure. But they say life is about taking risks and chances. So what does that make me? A coward? Maybe...

V-Day na kasi bukas...

I hope I don't sound bitter by pasting this bit by Cindy Chupack, because I'm not. :)


The Rant


The holiday makes more people unhappy than happy; it puts too much pressure on relationships by making romance mandatory, so even if you like doing something sweet and surprising for your loved one, it can't be surprising because it's expected.


Why can't we just pick our own Valentine's Day?


Think of Valentine's Day like Kwanza - a holiday we should all acknowledge, but one that only some people in this country celebrate.

I saw the sign...

I went to the dentist this morning for my long overdue cleaning (after 2 long years as per my dentist). It's a good thing everything is still intact. No pasta or sealant needed. My dentist was really impressed with my brushing skills. Wala raw sira. Hehe


Anyways an odd thing happened. Towards the end of the cleaning, he began to talk about love relationships in general. Odd for me because we never really conversed much except for teeth-related topics...And today out of the blue he was telling me that we can't be picky in love, that sometimes you got to try to know the person first before closing one's doors. He also told me how most guys have this pride issue preferring that they know first if they had a chance or not. He went on and said that he was actually telling his 40 year old sister-in-law that she should have made a move, because he knew of some people who were old and still single because they let the chance pass them by. Sabi niya maybe I should be more open so that I wouldn't have any regrets in the future. It's so weird. For some reason, he was giving advices. Imagine that, my dentist giving me helpful advices and if I may say, friendly warnings. How apt and timing can that be?

Next Scene Please...

The scenery is going to change soon. I'm not sure what to expect from it. I'm hoping it would turn out to be better than expected. Being in my comfort zone has always given me a sense of reassurance. I feel secure and at ease when I'm in my environment; the environment that I perfectly know so well even with eyes closed. But things are bound to change whether I like it or not. Disruptions are meant to be made, positive ones that is. Cliche as it may sound, change is inevitable. But change whether good or bad is still a good thing because that's where I learn and grow from life.

Ignore the discouragers and critics; just follow your heart, you'll be criticized anyway.

I like Tere's ym status message. Bottom line is, don't listen to negative people. Listen to yourself and follow your heart.


Hear! Hear!

Rainbow

On my way to work this morning, I saw a rainbow. The view at Guadalupe bridge was spectacular. The colors were really standing out and the arc was a complete one. The sky was clear. The colors were of very deep shades. The arc was as wide as the entire bridge itself. Imagine that. It was a perfect rainbow, the best one I' ve seen so far.


I've always been fascinated with rainbows. I don't know why but it has this "positive-ness" and calming effect to it. That's why whenever I would have to ask for a sign from God, I'd usually ask for a rainbow. I'm trying to remember what exactly I asked for this time. Hehe


I was telling my officemates about it. Irene told me I should have made a wish. Didn't know there was a thing about making wishes whenever you see rainbows. Sayang, I should have made a wish kanina! Baka magkatotoo pa...