Photographs and Memories

I do not know why but when I reached my parents house last weekend, a few pf my childhood pictures are in the kitchen bar. I gamely checked out the contents and I cannot keep myself from laughing and looking at the said photographs.

Yaya Helen was laughing so hard because she cannot correctly guess the girl in the pictures; she keeps on telling other names and Mom keeps quiet as she was fixing her groceries.

Want some doze of the laughter? Or the confusion if the girl in the photograph is really me a couple of years back?

Here are some of the photographs, do you agree that these are all ME?

with my Favorite Toy and I'm only 2 Months old

i have a big one of this in our living room

United Nations - Ms. India

Kinder Graduation

First Communion

between 1983 and 1984

Hmmm… tama kaya hula ko? Nagpapagawa ng Photo Mosaic si Mommy para sa 30th birthday ko? Yaiks! Mas marami pang magaganda sa album ah! Lab u, Mami!

Musical Q&A

I was tagged again and this time by the very gorgeous Bunny from Down Under. Let me try to see what the results are.

Instructions:

1. Put your music player on shuffle.
2. Press forward for each question.
3. Use the song title as the answer to the question even if it does not make sense. No Cheating!
4. Tag 10 people to play this game too.

Shuffle mode….

How are you feeling today?
Learn to Be Lonely – Minnie Driver
(I am currently sick with fever and flu… lonely talaga kasi I cannot do much and my throat hurts.)

How do your friends see you?
Angel of Mine - Monica
(I can easily say that for my real friends that they consider me an Angel, you can always check my Friendster testimonials.)

Will you get married?
Bump It – Nia Bop
(This made me laugh so hard, wala na ngang boses, natawa pa ako, lalong sumakit tuloy lalamunan ko.)

What is your best friend's theme song?
You've Made Me So Very Happy - Lou Rawls
(I have not seen Ruth for a long time. She has been busy with her “makibaka” activities and I miss our bonding moments. Sana she will be present next Sunday for my 30th birthday.)

What is the story of your life?
Don't Cha - Pussycat Dolls
(Whew! I always stand proud and hold my head high and that each individual in one way or another is gorgeous.)

What was high school like?
A Smile in Your Heart – Ariel Rivera
(Napangiti na lang ako bigla.)

How can you get ahead in life?
What Good Is a Heart – Code Red
(Hmmm… mabait naman ako and with a big heart…. Hmmmm.)

What is the best thing about your friends?
Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko - Rico J. Puno
(Friends for real, friends for life!)

What is today going to be like?
No Me Ames – Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony
(Kaiyak naman.)

What is in store for this weekend?
Breathe - Michelle Branch
(Yes! It’s my birthday weekend! Thank God, I am still breathing!)

What song describes you?
Feels Like Home- Chantal Kreviazuk
(Ultimate fave ni Jannice.)

To describe your grandparents?
(You Drive Me) Crazy (Stop Remix) - Britney Spears
(My grandparents really drive us crazy.)

How is your life going?
You Belong To Me - Jason Wade
(Kanino kaya? For real na ba ito?)

What song will they play at your funeral?
Pon De Replay - Rihanna
(Turn it up! He, he, he. The song is not only fun and upbeat; but it is nice to dance. Magsayawan raw ba silang lahat?! Sabagay, I want them to remember me as the energetic and bubbly Ralline and to dance the sadness away of my lost.)

How does the world see you?
Limang Dipang Tao - Barbie's Cradle
(Ganun?)

Will you have a happy life?
Better Than This - Kimberley Locke
(Does it get any better than this? We're into something beautiful. Bein' with you's as good as it gets. It doesn't get any better than this!)

What do your friends really think of you?
What I Did For Love (Broadway Original) - Chorus Line
(One of my favorite Broadway Musicals! Naku, magagalit sa akin si Maria!)

Do people secretly lust after you?
I Know - Yasmien Kurdi
(Tama ba namang kanta pa si Yasmien Kurdi. Sa malamang meron, actually kilala namin sila! Especially kapag nakalean si Madamme Ralline!)

How can I make myself happy?
Come to my Window - Melissa Etheridge
(As long as si Keempee De Leon or si Josh Duhamel, game!)

What should you do with your life?
Cool - Gwen Stefani
(Yes!)

Will you ever have children?
Barely Breathing - Duncan Sheik
(Ay, ano ba ito!)

I am tagging everyone. Why? So that they will have a few minutes of relaxation and fun. Bunny, I had fun! Advance happy birthday to us! Miss you!

Daring and Funky

Black Horse & the Cherry Tree
Singer/Writer: KT Tunstall
Album: Eye to the Telescope
Release date: 10th January, 2005
Label: Relentless
Genre: Rock

Two, three, four

(woo-hoo,woo-hoo)
(woo-hoo,woo-hoo)

Well my heart knows me better than I know myself
So I'm gonna let it do all the talking.
(woo-hoo,woo-hoo)
I came across a place in the middle of nowhere
With a big black horse and a cherry tree.
(woo-hoo,woo-hoo)

I fell in fear, upon my back
I said don't look back, just keep on walking.
(woo-hoo,woo-hoo)
When the big black horse that looked this way,
Said hey lady, will you marry me?
(woo-hoo,woo-hoo)

But I said no, no, no,no-no-no
I said no, no, you're not the one for me
No, no, no,no-no-no
I said no, no, you're not the one for me
(ooooo,woo-hoo)

And my heart had a problem, in the early hours,
So it stopped it dead for a beat or two.
(woo-hoo,woo-hoo)
But I cut some cord, and I shouldn't have done that,
And it won't forgive me after all these years
(woo-hoo,woo-hoo)

So I sent her to a place in the middle of nowhere
With a big black horse and a cherry tree.
(woo-hoo,woo-hoo)
Now it won't come back , cause it's oh so happy
And now I've got a hole for the world to see
(woo-hoo,woo-hoo)

But it said no, no, no,no-no-no
I said no, no, you're not the one for me
No, no, no,no-no-no
Said no, no, you're not the one for me

(ooooo,woo-hoo) (not the one for me, yeah)
(ooooo,woo-hoo)
Said no,no, no,no, no, no, no
You're not the one for me
Said no,no, no,no, no, no, no
You're not the one for me

Big black horse and a cherry tree
I can't quite get there cause my heart's forsaken me
Big black horse and a cherry tree
I can't quite get there cause my heart's forsaken me.

A breathtaking performance of Scottish performer KT Tunstall that is full of soul, passion, urgency and foot stomping.

Soul Patrol Rules!

Major congrats to Taylor Hicks -- he deserved it.

I am very happy for Taylor. He really is living the American dream

Katharine McPhee as well deserves a big congratulations, too. She worked hard as well. Kat was gracious.

As soon as Taylor won, Kat and Taylor hugged for a few seconds and then Ryan walked over and kind of led her away so Taylor could sing. Once the song was over, the confetti fell, and the other contestants mobbed Taylor and almost knocked him over.

It was a GREAT way to end the season!

One Fine Saturday

I promised dearest Maria Rachelle that I‘d bring her kids, Kyla and Axel to Tagaytay Highlands for a treat. Much as we wanted to go when she was in Manila, our schedules were not so cooperative.

Off we went last Saturday to Tagaytay Highlands with the rest of the Sistahud. Ella Elline drove to my parent’s house with her sister, Lyka and Mary Ann with siblings, Laurie and Renz. We took a van going to Biñan and fetched Axel and Kyla with my sister, Chloe and Mang Joe as our driver.

We were lucky, the Funicular and the Cable Cars were working that day and we took our time roaming around.

Lunch was great. Busog nga to the max as Axel said and he really enjoyed eating. The younger siblings went swimming while the other beauties enjoyed the view and as usual, we enjoyed making chika.


Merienda was great. Elline remembered the famous French fries and been craving for it since the last time I brought them to Highlands.

We really wished Rachelle were with us that day, mas nakakaloka for sure ang chikahan. Told her that we will do it again the next time she visits the Philippines. Mahirap nga naman kapag absent sa chikahan kasi kung sino ang wala siya ang napaguusapan. Ha, ha, ha!

Top Five

Five "Dream" Jobs:
1. Library of Congress Librarian
2. Louvre Museum Curator
3. World-Renowned Chef
4. Smithsonian Institution Exhibit Designer
5. Full Time Mom and Wife

Top Five Films I (Love To) Watch Over And Over Again:
1. Never Been Kissed
2. Love Affair
3. While You Were Sleeping
4. Kate and Leopold
5. 10 Things I Hate About You

Top Five Songs I Can Listen To Again And Again:
1. Buses and Trains
2. Out of Reach
3. Looking Through Your Eyes
4. Sway
5. Mamang Sorbetero

Top Five Shows I Love Watching:
1. Eat Bulaga
2. 30-Minute Meals
3. American Idol
4. Amazing Race
5. Will and Grace

Top Five Places I would want to Visit by the Age of Thirty-Five:
1. Ireland
2. Italy
3. Russia
4. Maldives
5. The Bahamas

Top Five Obsessions:
1. Sushi
2. Chocolates
3. Romance Novels
4. Photographs
5. Colored Pens

Top Five Beverages:
1. Iced Water
2. Hot Chocolate Drink
3. Green Tea
4. Chocolate Milk Shake
5. Freshly Squeezed Lemonade

Top Five Favorite Past Time:
1. Reading my Favorite Books
2. Watching Movies
3. Sleeping
4. Writing Letters
5. Playing the Piano

An Early Birthday Present

Dadi, thanks so much!


Hihirit sana ako nung similar sa N9210i para hindi na ako mahihirapan (wish ba na N9500 ang new phone) pero salamat po ulit!

Lab u!

Hooray for the Hippies!

Congratulations, BJ and Tyler! You deserve every bit of it.

The Frat Boys (Eric and Jeremy) seemed pissed at losing to the Hippies but they were so competitively strong that if they had won I would have accepted it. Nevertheless, I am glad the Hippies got it, they played superbly, and, of course, it helps if you are well traveled and actually travel to a country where you speak the language. That definitely gave them an edge.

It was very competitive to the end, and everyone played great. One of the best seasons and a great finish!

Magic in the Libraries

J.K. Rowling adds magic to libraries campaign

J.K. Rowling, the creator of Harry Potter, hailed the public library yesterday as a "magical, mystical place, hushed and unhurried, where visitors could enter a thousand different worlds". [more...]
Source: The Guardian, UK

Happy Mother's Day!

By the time the Lord made mothers, He was into the sixth day working overtime. An Angel appeared and said "Why are you spending so much time on this one?"

And the Lord answered and said, "Have you read the spec sheet on her? She has to be completely washable, but not elastic; have 200 movable parts, all replaceable; run on black coffee and leftovers; have a lap that can hold three children at one time and that disappears when she stands up; have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart; and have six pairs of hands."

The Angel was astounded at the requirements for this one. "Six pairs of hands! No way!" said the Angel. The Lord replied, "Oh, it's not the hands that are the problem. It's the three pairs of eyes that mothers must have!"

"And that's on the standard model?" the Angel asked.

The Lord nodded in agreement, "Yep, one pair of eyes are to see through the closed door as she asks her children what they are doing even though she already knows. Another pair in the back of her head are to see what she needs to know even though no one thinks she can. And the third pair are here in the front of her head. They are for looking at an errant child and saying that she understands and loves him or her without even saying a single word."

The Angel tried to stop the Lord "This is too much work for one day. Wait until tomorrow to finish."

"But I can't!" The Lord protested, "I am so close to finishing this creation that is so close to my own heart. She already heals herself when she is sick AND can feed a family of six on a pound of hamburger and can get a nine year old to stand in the shower."

The Angel moved closer and touched the woman, "But you have made her so soft, Lord."

"She is soft," the Lord agreed, "but I have also made her tough. You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish." "Will she be able to think?" asked the Angel. The Lord replied, "Not only will she be able to think, she will be able to reason, and negotiate."

The Angel then noticed something and reached out and touched the woman's cheek. "Oops, it looks like You have a leak with this model. I told You that You were trying to put too much into this one."

"That's not a leak." the Lord objected. "That's a tear!" "What's the tear for?" the Angel asked.

The Lord said, "The tear is her way of expressing her joy, her sorrow, her disappointment, her pain, her loneliness, her grief, and her pride."

The Angel was impressed. "You are a genius, Lord. You thought of everything for this one. You even created the tear!" The Lord looked at the Angel and smiled and said, "I'm afraid you are wrong again. I created the woman, but she created the tear!"

Thank you, Mami...

For the special memories through the years,
For the smiles and the laughter,
The comfort and support,
For wiping away the tears,
For giving your best advice,
And for giving the love that only my Mami can give.

Love you, Mami!

Simple Pleasures

I was tagged again and this time by the Bubbly Harriet!

Instructions: Name ten of life's simple pleasures that you like the most, then pick ten people to do the same. Try to be original and creative and not to use things that someone else has already used.

My ten simple pleasures would be:

1. My Yayas
2. Yummy Desserts
3. Sistahud and Real Friends
4. Outings and Luxurious Travels
5. Telecommunications
6. Tech Toys and Gadgets
7. Air-Conditioning
8. Ice Cold Water
9. Home Deliveries and To Go’s
10. Hearty Laughs

Now I am supposed to tag 10 people, so I am tagging:

1. Adina
2. April Daisy
3. Bunny
4. Cynch
5. Elinore
6. Jannice
7. Kyla
8. Meyan
9. Moises
10. Rachelle

For Harriet… wishing you a fun and happy day!

What... Me, 30?!

In 31 days and 12 hours, I will be turning 30 years old.

I wonder if it is the time for me to look toward the uncertain future with anxiety and anticipation or for me to start anew. To face questions about my so-called career, my relationships, my physical appearance and overall youthfulness is really a tough task.

What I know is that come my 30th birthday it should be a special time. It means living another year and another year to grow and for me to continue making every dream come true.

So, before I hit the Big 3-0, I have so many things to be thankful for.

I am thankful for my family and my yayas, who has always been there for me. I am thankful for my friends, who have been accommodating and understanding in every aspect of my life. I am thankful for my doctors and nurses, who keep a close eye on me. Most importantly, I thank God for giving me the life I have. I am thankful to have seen another year. I am thankful to be alive.

On that special day, I will definitely eat lots of cake and ice cream; I hope to get many presents, many well-wishers and lots of dancing!

Interesting Modern Philosophies

• If at first you don't succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried.
• A conclusion is the place where you got tired of thinking.
• Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
• For every action, there is an equal and opposite criticism.
• He who hesitates is probably right.
• Never do card tricks for the group you play poker with.
• No one is listening until you make a mistake.
• Success always occurs in private, and failure in full view.
• The colder the X-ray table, the more of your body is required on it.
• The hardness of the butter is proportional to the softness of the bread.
• To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research.
• To succeed in politics, it is often necessary to rise above your principles.
• Two wrongs are only the beginning.
• You never really learn to swear until you learn to drive. (The corollary is: You never learn to pray until your kids learn to drive!)
• The problem with the gene pool is that there is no lifeguard.
• Monday is an awful way to spend 1/7th of your life.
• The sooner you fall behind, the more time you'll have to catch up.

It's a 'Bad Day' indeed!

Bad Day
Performed by: Daniel Powter
Released: Warner, 28 July 2005

Where is the moment we needed the most
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost
They tell me your blue skies fade to gray
They tell me your passion's gone away
And I don't need no carryin' on

You stand in the line just to hit a new low
You're faking a smile with the coffee you go
You tell me your life's been way off line
You're falling to pieces every time
And I don't need no carryin' on

Because you had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don't lie
You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day
You had a bad day

Will you need a blue sky holiday?
The point is they laugh at what you say
And I don't need no carryin' on

You had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don't lie
You're coming back down and you really don't mind
You had a bad day

(Oooh.. a holiday..)
Sometimes the system goes on the bling
And the whole thing turns out wrong
You might not make it back and you know
That you could be well oh that strong
And I'm not wrong

(yeah...)

So where is the passion when you need it the most
Oh you and I
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost

Cause you had a bad day
You're taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don't know
You tell me don't lie
You work at a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
You've seen what you like
And how does it feel for one more time
You had a bad day
You had a bad day.

You cannot deny this song's appeal. It actually has sad lyrics, but it is set to inspiring music.