The snowglobe story

I used to collect ref magnets. I think I have a lot of it in the office thanks to colleagues who get sent someplace a lot of times. As such it was what I naturally got as a souvenir from all the places I went to in the US back in 2009. It's quite a pity though because if I had started collecting globes back then I would have more of it. But it's a good thing I bought two back in Florida.

I am not really sure what got me into buying those two snowglobes: epcot and holmes beach. I guess they were the ones that looked nice and cheap enough. In any case, it was because of the epcot one which I thought to be quite a catch that made me decide to follow suit. I mean I saw how friends were collecting them and realized it was a better thing to collect than those ref magnets. (they often end up getting broken after falling off etc.) They are cute memorabilia that I can certainly use as a display if and when I get my own place. That said, my collection has started to grow and with the help of friends I'm sure I would still have a couple more to add to it. Thanks!!! ^_^

Way back into love

... Of reading.
Well, I wouldn't really claim to be a wide or avid reader as opposed to some who probably get to digest books at the average of 3+ per week but I guess I try to read from time to time...
It hasn't been the case lately. I took a break from both reading and watching koreanovelas/jdramas in favor of apps galore. It has not stopped me from buying books though. So now, I have 6 books bought as early as july last year which I have yet to read.
I think I am finally making some progress though as I finished two already as of this writing and getting ready to start the hunger games trilogy. (yes, finally!) It took me quite a while to get to finish Love in the time of Cholera but I finally managed to do so after prolly a month or so. Don't get me wrong it's not that the book isn't that good, it actually was. I guess my attention span has just deteriorated so much that genre is not really working for me anymore. So it will be a challenge to finish Zahir (which I actually postponed) lest it be cast together with foucault's pendulum, the curious incident of the dog in the night-time, the god of small things among other unfinished-save for whenever ones.
Meanwhile, I find The Emperor's Tomb quite enjoyable in a Dan Brown kind of way. I'm actually lining up his other books on my reading list. Will buy The Jefferson Key as soon as I finish up the books of 2011.
For the most part though, 2011 was a year of YA books. It started with the twilight series some years back, followed by artemis fowl, then percy jackson now there's of course hunger games, incarceron (+sapphique), divergent, mortal instruments... Harry potter is still in the list though and maybe a series of unfortunate events. Given the state of my attention span , looks like YA books are going to be a mainstay in my list.
I guess you can also say this rediscovered love of reading is partly due to the growing fondness for hardbound books with dreams of having a library to store them in, in the future. Given the money, i'd probably buy more but I still have to work on actually reading them. That said I managed to restrain myself from buying those half-priced hardbound YA books on sale at powerbooks. Whew! BUT Donations are welcome especially jimmy liao's which I recently grew to like/appreciate as well. :)

Here I go again..,

A friend is getting married soon and I have been involved lately in the preparations... Prolly it's the most I've been involved in that I have to keep in mind and check myself that it's not my wedding but hers... I'm really happy for her but I guess the downside of all this involvement is that I am again starting to feel restless, anxious, fickle, etc...
Unfortunately, I actually get easily swayed at first despite of what you'd see or what I believe I want the world to see on the outside... The trouble is as things drag on, that's when usually it turns bad... Of course, there have been good ones but not to the point that will get me out of my current state...
I wish. I hope. I pray. Please come over soon. *sigh*
multiple objects. No clear direction. Free spirit. Fickle. Restless.
Again.
Where is he? Who is he?
When will it be me?
*sigh*

Congratulations!

The wait is over for my sister and as it turns out, she passed all three entrance exams she took. The transfer to another more expensive school and the review center paid off. I should say it was probably more than worth it considering... She effectively has erased our doubts and hesitations on her mental capacity to get into what we think to be prestigious schools.
Back in my days, the agony of waiting as the results came out was prolonged. The start of a new year meant one result per month. To me the one that mattered was the middle one (making the last anti-climactic). Nowadays, it's as if the competition for students is that fierce as one result came out after the other in what seemed like a span of just two weeks.
For me though, I knew which school I wanted not to mention we could afford. So it was a proud decision for me to be the first in the immediate clan to get and study in that school. Of course, this was met by a strong opposition coming from my mother. She was still under the 1970's/1980's spell of student activism during the martial law days. None of that is gone but to a certain degree apathy exists especially in the college I ended up in. In the end, I prevailed and from then on our family's eyes was opened to the joy of getting in the university. Of course, it can either make or break you given the whole range of options, freedom, etc available to you. It is a microscopic Philippine society I think. Nonetheless, so far so good. My and probably my brother's best years and most memorable ones were in college. The years that followed shared with college friends were also noteworthy.
So to my sister, whether or not you stick it out in the same college as ours,congratulations on getting in. I hope it defines you and NOT break you. Enjoy UP!

custom ringtones on iOS 5

Since, upgrading to iOS 5, I lost my custom ringtones. It was ok and I didn't really bother trying to figure out how to get them back until more and more people in my work was using the same ringtone which confused me. So after reading several forum entries and losing my music which I don't really back up, I finally found a way to access my custom ringtones again on my phone. This is what worked for me given that:
1. I manually manage music and videos
2. My tones are of course not synced. (unchecked)

In both my Itunes library and devices, I deleted all my tones (bell icon) - they are not purchased anyway. I just use those free apps to make my own (mostly mp3 extracts). From my windows folder where i kept my *.m4r files, I dragged them into the Tones section of my Itunes library. I manually unchecked each and everyone of them. Afterwards, I dragged them to the Iphone under devices (the whole thing and not the tones section with the bell icon). Doing so, will prevent the tones from showing up with a sync icon beside them. Leaving them checked in the library will prevent them from showing up in the Settings>Sounds>ringtones of the phone unless you "sync tones". This will of course wipe out your music and videos. Now, I can select and use the custom ringtones from Settings>Sounds>Ringtones! And I won't have to mistakenly pick up my phone due to similar ringtones. ^_^

Spruce!

This was one helluva weekend... If I were living alone it's probably not even done yet... In any case, i'm feeling too lazy to blog about it yet besides I don't have any pictures yet..
Let me just say though, that, thanks to another promo (double the sticker) and friends who willingly donated, I got another planner which I intend to use! So here it is, my first ever planner. Let the doodling start!

Goodbye, Hello

So much has happened this year which makes this year memorable for a lot. I can't really say it was a great year maybe even for a lot of people... If you think about it a lot of things have happened this year: middle east revolts, japan calamities, christchurch earthquakes, death of global figures, Sendong calamity, etc. Nat Geo supposedly has a special recounting the year that was which I have yet to watch.
For our family so much has happened that it comes close to ondoy probably. It was a difficult and challenging for us not just individually but collectively... It was a bad year with a lot of bad things happening. In spite of that, we managed, we survived and we're still here... The bad things were there for a reason and what matters is that He provides. So it's still all good.
Personally, it doesn't matter what I've been through, what my state is especially in certain aspects although career and love life wise I am really looking forward to be able to find my niche for the long term... I am coping and hoping. I am good, could be better or great but I am not complaining... In His time. I am glad though for the many blessings still and for the hope He gives to keep on going.
They say that the world will end on the year that is to come... For any of us it could be ending already or anytime soon. Nonetheless, I look forward to a better and greater 2012. As a colleague said, Goodbye 2011, you were harsh and challenging. Hello 2012, may you be kinder! ^_^

P.S. On a side note, these year-ender happenings made me feel glad and at peace. Just the right feeling to end and start another year. Thank you family and friends!

The planner is also en route to Finland, hope it gets there. The photoshop project was a success somehow despite the kinks which could of course be improved. I'd like to think the gifts were a success as well.. Giving does feel better! ^_^

Snap for a Tune: Indak

Indak
Up Dharma Down


Tatakbo at gagalaw
Mag-iisip kung dapat bang bumitaw
Kulang na lang, atakihin
Ang pag-hinga'y nabibitin

Ang dahilang alam mo na
Kahit ano pang sabihin nila
Tayong dalawa lamang ang makakaalam
Ngunit ako ngayo'y naguguluhan

Makikinig ba ako
Sa aking isip na dati pa namang magulo?
O iindak na lamang
Sa tibok ng puso mo

At aasahan ko na lamang na
Hindi mo aapakan ang aking mga paa
Pipikit na lamang at mag-sasayaw
Habang nanonood siya...
Paalis at pabalik
May baong yakap at suklian ng halik
Mag-papaalam at mag-sisisi
Habang papiglas ka ako sayo ay tatabi

Tayong dalawa lamang ang nakaka-alam
Ngunit hindi na matanto kung sino nga ba ang pag-bibigyan ko
Makikinig nga ba sa isipan na alam ang wasto

Ngunit pipigilan ang pag-ibig nya na totoo

Iindak na lamang ba sa tibok ng puso mo
At aasahan ko hindi nya lamang aapakan ang aking mga paa
Pipikit na lamang at mag-sasaya
Habang nalulungkot ka
Pipikit na lamang at mag-sasaya
Habang nalulungkot ka

Ako'y Litong-lito
Tulungan niyo ako
Di ko na alam
Kung sino pang aking pagbibigyan o

Ayoko na ng ganito
Ako ay litong-lito ohwooh

Since my brother started listening to this, all of us at home including my mom has been hooked to this song. A really nice song that's easy on the ears while I try and finish this project for a friend if not this week at most next week. It's been long overdue and I need to make up for it. *fingers crossed

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year

There's a certain warm fuzzy, light-hearted feeling that goes with Christmas most especially for us Filipinos. Just the thought and aura can bring some sort of cheer for me.
It's different though being reminded of it when you're away from home and alone. Christmas festivities and the energy every pinoy evokes hence the atmosphere is really different. Although I think I've also been out of the country with family twice on Christmas. To me it's just a joyous, peaceful celebration with friends and family.

Christmas in disneyland - well that's another thing. Makes you feel like a kid again. Such a happy place!

On another note: I haven't done any gift shopping yet though there's not really much to shop for. Guess my circle is not that big... Not really a good thing.

Diliman Engineering December Festivities

I miss college. One of the many things that added color to my college life was the December festivities in Diliman. For a start there's the engineering week catering to the competitive nature of the different eng'g accredited orgs. While we still had our share of exams that didn't stop us from enjoying all the different activities lined up from sports-oriented to talent oriented stuff. From the main events: smoker's night which was basically org-bashing, awitan, indakan, maskipaps, dateng'g game culminating with the Ms. Engg to all sorts of mini-games here and there (ex. Car stuffeng'g, breng'g me, command and conquer). There are enough activities to organize and participate in to keep everyone preoccupied. It was truly a time to be young, wild and carefree. Add the lantern parade and the oblation run and viola you have a free, festive atmosphere in Diliman which you can associate with Christmas.
Having been out of college since 6 years ago, I have this feeling of nostalgia. I miss that kind of feeling the Diliman Engineering 'Christmas' evokes. I won't be back this year but maybe next time...

The OAK Starbucks planner

12.14.2011. I finally got my first ever starbucks planner. And it's all thanks to option 2 and the 14 sticker promo! And the free stickers I got from friends who didn't collect. Yes, I am not a starbucks addict. I don't even drink coffee save for the cranberry white mocha frap that a friend just recently introduced me to. Even that was not love at first taste and took quite a few sips of getting used to. If not for the chamomile full leaf tea which, accounts for the most stickers in that 14 I contributed, I probably wouldn't have started collecting much more complete all 23 of them (option 2 required no holiday drinks but 23 stickers instead of the 17 option 1).
Though I love doodling, I'm still thinking whether I'll keep it or give it as a gift. To whom I don't even know yet.

Another clubbing Christmas Party

So it's that time of the year again where parties abound. Contrary to some my social calendar is actually quite open and I've already attended last night my only (I think) Christmas party. And as usual, for the third time in a row, I did not get to qualify for the raffle which was the main thing I looked forward to.
Since joining the company, I always ended up coming late after the cut-off and this year was no different. We were so close however. It took just one wrong turn along the service road to take us from a few kms away to more kms away back to edsa! Too bad! :( it was all good and since i'm actually used to it I got over it except for a few bitter rants here and there. When a teammate won the coveted ipad (what i was rooting for), I couldn't help but be envious! Haha oh well...
Nonetheless, we just made the most out of it. It was good that they got a band that played nicely and pumped up the crowd. They were aptly named, In heat, as they turned up the heat at the party. You could see that our team's population was heavily composed of males as most would end up staring at the band when they did their thing. 6-7 drinks later, I had too much gas inside, I struggled a bit. But their rum tasted nice. It took one burp and whatever buzz I was feeling was instantly gone.
I kind of wonder though, considering how we kind of had our own little circle as if we were having our own party, reflects how we've become isolated and outcasts from the team... Was there something in our airs our aura that repels them away and keep their distance? Does it still have something to do with the "pinagpala" thing? I am too offended with that to even bother to force myself to mingle.
Anyhow, we rested a bit and people watched at all the high heels, legs and skimpy outfits and pretty young things at opus while drinking at starbucks. It was more interesting looking at them ladies than guys (or for the lack of it). Makes you think, there are too many rich people in Manila! And we're not one of them. With that said, we re-entered republiq to milk our free entrance so we see and experience how they party. My conclusion, it's darn expensive to party there. You'd have to shell out prolly more than 2000 to get a buzz going. (more if your tolerance is high unlike me). I am starting to feel old for these kind of parties though and all the drinking makes me think of my body and health.
One other thing I realized, I think I have too much crass when I drink though haha yes, cRass..

The mean, manang and now also late girls haha

Some more grabbed pics (and a little vanity service):

What's in a name?

Or in this case, what's in a title? Sadly, it has some sort of bearing for me that I actually am ashamed to broadcast it in public whether on immigration forms or anywhere else. Internally, it's not a problem but the negative association with the title by some circles make me want to hide it. So much that I found myself hesitating several times from adding 'people' or connections in one 'professional networking' site. I have not added some of them still for fear of this bad judgement considering how nice sounding theirs are already. I know that it's different (somewhat) but sometimes it's just hard to have to explain. Still it kind of makes me think if I have been left behind...
The title I do want is still the same though - wife and mother. Hahaha kidding aside I really want... Oh well. Bahala na si batman!

Malabo lang

It hit me today. Internally, I am more relaxed when there's a constraint and hold back when there isn't. Externally, I hold back when something is stirring up inside than when there's none. A contradiction really. On the road to recovery. Nagising din!
Spell hopeless though. It's gotta change.