Tis the Season to be sickly

image source: http://LifeAs.NickStarr.com/

Seems everyone is sick for the holidays... or under medication, at least.

Someone is having a HepA New Year
Someone is has FEVER, not the Madonna Fever
Someone is in the hospital with Tonsillitis
Someone is on antibiotics for his worst case of cough in years
Someone (me) had a tooth extracted.

Seems it's a season for illness.... maybe everyone over exerted themselves... maybe the world is getting dirtier and dirtier

Happy holidays

belated Christmas greetings

I may have lost a molar, but instead of making me stop facebooking and blogging, I just went on and on... I found this group singing and figured I should share it with everyone...



in a nutshell, i think christmas has always been this confusing, yet fun.

happy holidays

ouch!

photo, obviously from istockphoto.com

I had a tooth extracted today. The actual thing looked 1,000,000 times grosser than the image i posted. I decided on doing that to get a permanent bridge rather than going through the root canal sessions. Stupid me.

I regretted it a little, but now it's here... I look at myself in the mirror and laugh.... It's always funny to see someone missing a tooth.

Amy Winehouse-ing

image and some text lifted from http://www.funlol.com/funpages/internet-addiction-disorder.html


Amy Winehouse made the song REHAB so popular... I guess that's what I need now! I'm addicted to blog hopping, blog writing, and facebook. Here's what the funlol.com page says and my comments are in parentheses...

1) I will have a cup of coffee in the morning and read my newspaper like I used to, before the Internet. (i used to have coffee and read the morning papers before I hit the internet... now, it' right beside my bed. I practically eat and sleep with my computer.... not that i don't have a social life)

2) I will eat breakfast with a knife and fork and not with one hand typing. (OMG! I've done this a few times! I will make a conscious effort never to do this again)

3) I will get dressed before noon. (i used to be up and out of the house before lunch. Now, I don't even shower until after lunch. That's why I avoid morning appointments)

4) I will make an attempt to clean the house, wash clothes, and plan dinner before even thinking of the Internet. (my room is a mess. it's even worse of a mess now that I have 24-hour broadband! I promise to clean it before the new year's!)

5) I will sit down and write a letter to those unfortunate few friends and family that are Internet-deprived. (as my former officemate called me "an apathetic atenean", I will rest on those laurels on this one)

6) I will call someone on the phone who I cannot contact via the Internet. (at least i still do this!)

7) I will read a book...if I still remember how. (oh, that's one thing the internet cannot take away from me... my love for books)

8) I will listen to those around me and their needs and stop telling them to turn the TV down so I can hear the music on the Internet. (heehee... i'd love to tell those noisy neighbors to tape their kids to the walls so they'd quiet down and not keep running down my street)

9) I will not be tempted during TV commercials to check for email. (hmmm... come to think of it... i haven't been watching TV as much as I used to)

10) I will try and get out of the house at least once a week, if it is necessary or not. (oh, I loooove getting out of the house)

11) I will remember that my bank is not forgiving if I forget to balance my checkbook because I was too busy on the Internet. (i think i've done this once or twice. help!!!)

12) Last, but not least, I will remember that I must go to bed sometime...and the Internet will always be there tomorrow! (ugh!!! i should stop playing those mindless games that make the hours go by so fast!!!)

I guess I do need rehab from the net... I'll work on it tomorrow... I'll work on my social life tonight :)

happy holidays with zippo

i was commissioned by my friend to do 1 layout for zippo's christmas thing... since my designs were rejected, i'm posting them here for posterity purposes

here's my favorite



here's another



if i get inspired, i'll prolly post other stuff i did

Simply, Amazing!

I was blog surfing and chanced upon this video



I just wish the I spoke french so I'd understand the judge's reactions. Although I did pick up a few bits... like how the old judge asked him how he does it with his mouth and lips... anyway, here he is bringing sexy back



now, if that's not enough, you should check out his other performances, which include an excerpt from Britney's "Slave for you"



The guy is seriously talented! I'm seriously wondering if he has two sets of lips, patellas, and a whole lot of other extra mouth parts hidden inside his head.

I am contented with my long legged...

photo from http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigshock/

This line is a classic quote from Melanie Marquez when she competed for 1979 Miss International: "No, of course no, because I am proud and contented with my long-legged." (Whew! Had to do a bit of research to get my facts straight).

It's funny how this line has been crossing my head for the past two weeks, but there really is a logical explanation for this. -- Our family dog is more than 15 years old. His old age has resulted in very poor eyesight and very weak legs (poor thing), and he has had more than 3 nasty tumbles down the stairs. Now, the only way for him not to climb upstairs is to block the stairwell with our sofas.

With these sofas in place, people have to exert a certain amount of effort to go upstairs. The sofa seats have to be moved to and fro.. and with the coasters not working properly, it does take a bit of pushing and pulling.

Now for the story.

Being the tallest member of the family (not so tall as I'm only 5'8"), I'm the one with the longest legs. I also have the tendency to be a tad lazy when getting around things. Owing to my laziness, I always hike over the sofa to get to the other side. Of course, at times, i'd be straddling the backrest of the sofa as if I were riding a horse. I think I'm the only one here at home and I've become thankful for having the longest legs in the family.

As soon as that thought popped in my head, Melanie Marquez' classic quote came to mind and I've been thinking it every time I hike over the sofa seat to get to the stairs.

Honestly, there's no point to this blog. I just thought that it was a strange thought in my head and that I am attributing this blogpost to utter boredom due to procrastination.

it hurts

you hurt me
you left a mark
you do your thing
when the light is dark?

you left me
you never really stay
when i already notice you
you turn and go away

... in case anyone gets the wrong idea... this is about the mosquito that keeps biting me.

for some strange reason, i'm the only one in the family who gets bitten by all mosquitos. in a group of people, i'll be the first to suffer from their blood-sucking frenzy.

earlier today, I was comfortably seated in the living room when i got bitten by mosquitos. I saw the damned insect fat with my blood, but it strangely flew beyond my reach. My dad bought an electric insect zapper shaped like a pelota racket and I stood up to get it. By the time I had the racket in my hand, the curious insect had hidden in some unknown place. I left my work station in the living room to have dinner. The moment i let go of the zapper, the damned mosquito shows up and bites me again.

makes me think... do mosquitos have brains?

para maiba

everyone blogged about last Nov 29. I don't have any good words about that person but i won't write about him now... maybe some other day...

as of now, i just got myself a daemon


my first test showed an ocelot, but i figured it didn't fit right...

South of North

photo from http://www.wowphilippines.com

I was fortunate enough to visit one of the richest places in the Philippines for work... and we managed to insert a very good deal of leisure in, too.

Ilocos is a blessed province. It is rich in natural resources, history, and culture. Historically and culturally speaking, we can probably attribute it to the way the Ilocanos know how to preserve things. It also helps that they had probably the most number of presidents who held office there. The house of the Sy Quias in Ilocos Sur, which served as Elpidio Quirino's Malacanang of the North, is still preserved in its next-to-pristine state with all the original furnishing in it. En route to Ilocos Sur from Laoag airport, you pass the Malacanang of the North in Paoay, which Ferdinand Marcos built.

I am proud of the Ilocanos for preserving history and culture the way they did. They even protect and support family industries that have been handed down from generation to generation. The architecture is preserved quite well and they have passed laws requiring modern establishments to build in the same format as the old houses to preserve the beauty of the place.

One other aspect of the province that people should know about is the beautiful beaches and nature scenes.

Ilocos probably has the most number of natural streams where people can still bathe and fish the way they used to in olden times. I can't count the number of times I craned my neck to see the scenery. The skyline is extremely pristine that you can see the various hues and shapes in the sky that you can never see in Manila.

The beaches in Ilocos Sur are amazing! The sand is so fine, it's almost like powder. It doesn't matter if it's not "white sand" it looks beige-ish and is still clean. One beach would give you varying degrees with one end being rocky that progresses to the other end that has the finest powdery sand. The waves are so much fun, too!

The food is something that one should not miss when going to the province. Miki, bagnet, longganisa, pinakbet, upo, and all the native delicacies. There is also a place at the Vigan Heritage Center that one should not miss. Cafe Leona serves the best four cheese pizza topped with Chorizo slices. I guess it tastes that way because it's not the typical oven that uses gas -- they use a actual wood to fire the pizza.

Overall, I would invest in a trip to visit the entire Ilocos province and experience everything they have to offer. Including the surfing spots and the cockpits. One thing i regret though is not being able to sample the empanadas everyone has been raving about.

Here's looking forward to my next trip :)

working 9 to 5

photo from http://www.brummieblogs.com/

I almost always complain about not having enough to do, either that or I complain about having too much to do. There's really no pleasing me, is there? hahahaha

seriously, i sometimes feel like the person in the photo. being a semi jack-of-all-trades, i engage in so many different fields (mostly communications related). I get reprimanded by people from time to time that I should focus on one aspect. The problem is, i have a mild case of Attention-Deficit-Disorder. I have the tendency to lose focus the more i'm focused. It's strange to think about, but it's really like that. I have to multitask, if i don't, i end up not finishing anything at all. Sometimes, to focus on one project, say an article, i have to turn on the TV, write, and be online with a friend.

This is not a rant blog and i'm honestly not complaining. i'm happy with my given situation and most of the time, i wouldn't trade the world for it. I'm just hoping that I get to learn and master the art of concentration. it might prove useful sometime soon and organize my life of organized chaos...

on a different note... i image-googled "working 9 to 5" and found this picture... it's so cute!

image from www1.istockphoto.com

tinatamad ako magtrabaho

Photo from http://www.motichoor.com

I'm getting too lazy to work, AGAIN! I was on a roll earlier when my tummy decided that I have to break for lunch. I have to force myself to become creative... maybe that's why i am posting this entry.

Earlier, my mind was drifting when Incubus' song "Are You In" popped into my head. I googled the lyrics and realized that the band made money out of a total of (i'm not sure if i counted correctly) 12 words! Wow! Effortless way to make money!

Anyway, I was thinking that this songs was very peer-pressure-y... but in another line of thought... it would be pretty insulting if you're in bed and your bed partners starts singing this song. HAHAHAHAHA!

Thank heavens I haven't had any complaints in that department.

Wala lang. Sana maging masipag na ulit ako.

upgraded

Since I have more than 1 reader now, I have added links to the blog. thanks Evette, thanks Makoy :)

someone noticed

image source http://a-blog-with-no-name.blogspot.com

My friend Evette pointed something out in my blog, which I never really took seriously... that it was a rant blog more than anything. it made me realize that she was right and that I needed more positivity in my life. I have always failed to share the positive and just used my blogging for ranting.

Evette, this one's for you...

I am thankful for:
...being lucky in life. I may not have had the proverbial silver spoon in my mouth, but I've had aluminum ones. hahahaha
...being blessed with my health and (some people say this, hindi ako nagbubuhat ng sariling bangko...) my looks
...having a wonderful mom who has supported me all the way
...being able to finish school given the amount of procrastinating, non-studying, and bulakbol that i've done
...having wonderful friends from different walks of life. friends who have been with me through thick and thin, and friends who make me smile through my worst times
...having a pretty successful business
...living through all that i've lived through, otherwise, i won't be who I am
...all the jobs i've been able to do
...having a wonderfully not perfect yet perfect relationship
...having so many resources available to me
...the knowledge that whatever happens, i will live and survive anywhere

i am ever thankful for so many other things, and this post will be longer than a mile if i list them down. Because i'm thankful, I am happy!

funnily painful

i found this hilarious!



on hindsight... i don't think it should be funny because i think he broke his back... but he's stupid for doing those exercises without a spotter. *still giggling*

Wireless Fidelity

I'm not really sure that's that Wi-Fi means, but i've been seeing more-and-more people getting hooked online (myself included). You see people in front of notebooks, even their Wi-Fi phones, almost everywhere! It's a new addiction that is more potent than drugs! Hahahaha!

I guess everyone wants to stay connected somehow, but they don't realize that they lose touch of reality in the same sense. When people are always online they fail to see the little patches of sunshine that seem to flicker in an out when a soft breeze blows at the wind. They miss out on life's little funny moments that you hoped you could have captured on camera.

Personally, sometimes I miss out on conversations with other people. I get too absorbed into what I'm doing that I don't get "forced to eavesdrop" or listen in on my friends' conversations.

A computer is fun, but the real world is even more fun.

in any case, I'm including a list of FREE! WiFi spots care of Mr Makoy. I've taken the liberty to sort of organize it by location :)



Makati/Fort
* Shell - Magallanes (linksys)
* 8th floor Pahingahan Salcedo Village Makati City
* Shangri-la Hotel Makati, Lobby and Lobby Lounge
* Entertainment Arts Center, Jupiter St., Makati Avenue
* Makati City Hall
* WLAN PS - in front of Philam Life Tower, Makati
* Sotto cor. V.A Rufino, Makati (Asus)
* Shell Maya vicinity (corner Buendia & Ayala Ave., Makati) (tsunami)
* Captain’s Bar, Mandarin Oriental, Makati
* Italliani’s, Greenbelt 2 (Globe)
* Teriyaki Boy in Buendia (Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue) cor. Jupiter Street (Jupiter Suites)
* Starbucks Greenbelt 3 near the lagoon
* Seattle’s Best, Powerplant Mall, Makati (linksys)
* Masas, and Greenbelt 2 area
* Mobile 1 Park Square Makati
* Free Public Wifi (ad hoc) at Paseo de Roxas near Mandarin Oriental, Makati
* Amorsolo cor. V.A Rufino (formerly Herrera), Makati (linksys)
* Hotel Intercontenental, Ayala Avenue, Makati
* Manila Peninsula, Lobby area
* Starbucks G4
* Palm Store Glorietta 4th Floor
* WalterMart along Pasong Tamo-Pasay Road (Linksys)
* Pier One, The Fort, Taguig City (BayanTel)

Ortigas
* Mario’s Kitchen, Metrowalk, Ortigas
* Rustans, Shangri-la
* Shangri-la Plaza, Ortigas
* Cyberzone, SM Megamall Building B (Philcom)
* Holiday Inn Galleria Manila (Galleria Suites), Ortigas Center
* Podium, Ortigas (Philcom)
* Robinsons Galleria, Ortigas
* Robinsons Place, Pioneer
* 16th Floor Pacific Place, Ortigas

QC
* Pier One, Tomas Morato, Quezon City (BayanTel)
* Placemat Pinoy Cafe in Tomas Morato cor. Sct. Castor, Quezon City
* Seattle’s Best, E. Rodriguez
* Libreria Coffee Shop & Bookstore, Tomas Morato
* Baang Coffee Shop, Timog Avenue, QC
* Trinoma Mall, Jollibee (Ground Floor), Seattle’s Coffee, Five Cows, Timezone
* Starbucks Ash Creek Center, Ortigas Avenue (near Xavier School/Mary the Queen Church)

Eastwood
* Zupa, Cybermall in Eastwood City, Libis
* Seattle’s Best, Eastwood City

Manila/Pasay
* Robinsons Place, Manila (near food center)
* Mabini cor. Salas (linksys)
* Ermita, Manila (Ferguson Plaza)
* Baywalk - in front of Max’s Resto (EG 6 )
* SM San Lazaro
* SM San Lazaro - Grocery lower Ground Floor
* DavidSpot! HotZone (within the vicinity of DLSU-CSU, St. Benilde)
* Bluewave Mall, Macapagal Highway, Pasay City (linksys)


offer me what?

sometimes people just don't think... well, they let their computers think for them... most people rely on spellcheck without reviewing their work. the don't realize spell check is just a tool and not a crutch. they end up having funny sounding text, like "so-and-so is my best fiend" or "so-and-so is my best fried"

what's more annoying is mailing lists that don't really focus their marketing e-mail blast. women get viagra offers. straight men get offers for pregnancy pills.. you get the picture.

today, i got this offer https://liftys.asontv.com/?ref=h1&pubID=4225 What the *#@!#!@ will i do with lifting bras? I don't even have boobs!

long vacations

It has happened time and again... a long weekend comes along, or I take a vacation. After that, i have to force myself and my body to get into working condition. it's like hauling a mountain up another mountain! Before I know it, the workload piles up and I have to cram every single thing in one day. Worst case scenario is I don't sleep for two days.

I hate long weekends, but I love them because they allow me to rest. I wish i had a master switch for work mode, which I can just toggle on and off.

if girls can do it, boys can too

was amused and amazed at this.




in case it doesn't work, you can view the video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DG_hlZsM0J8

ad-eek!

I've always found myself extremely addicted to certain things.... not illegal substances, but things like small online or computer games that take up your time. sometimes i find myself hooked on the most inane games. there's insaniquarium, minesweeper, and recently, online games on nickelodeon.

suddenly, my whole back is aching, and when i looked at the clock, it was the only time I realized that i had spent probably 2 hours playing a silly game while crouched in front of my mac. despite all the promises to myself not to play these games anymore, i've come to realize that I will forever be distracted and addicted to these games because it allows me to escape reality.

on another note. my Sony Ericsson P910i just died on me. This morning, I tried to access files and messages on it but the touch screen wouldn't work. I brought it to the service station and was told that if they fixed the LCD (for almost 6k, including service), they would have to delete the contact list. That, for me, is a mortal sin. My entire business relies on the contacts stored in my phone.

I decided it was time to buy a new phone... one that was not as expensive as the one i have dreamed of (the Sony Ericsson P1i). Instead, I have bought the W880i. The only problem now is how to transfer my contacts to the other phone with as little worries as possible.

One other thing... as much as I love Sony Ericsson, the quality does not seem to be as good as other phones. The keypad attachments stopped working after the warranty expired... and in 3 years, the touch screen actually gave up with nary a warning. Not only that, all the mobile functions are dependent on one major function, which when broken would render the phone useless.

The worst flaw of Sony Ericsson? It's not mac ready :( I had to search for software for my phone online. Good thing iSync is free

when it rains it pours

there are days when work seems never-ending... but there are days when you are so unproductive. today is one of the most unproductive days i've ever had. i'm so bored here at home, trying to figure out what work to do. i have to write something, but i can't seem to put it in the right frame of mind.

oh well... let's see where this gets me

indelible ink

election season again. this time it's for the local government... i didn't realize how much of a carnival it would be. granted that the local candidates were only given a few days to campaign.

i mulled the idea of joining the fray, knowing i have a lot of things i would do to make life better for the people around me.... but, then again, i decided to just be apathetic. i joined the fray of apathetic people, like countless others.

the sign of a responsible voter is the indelible inko they drop on your finger. in mine and my mom's case, the drop-happy eletion volunteer dropped like 5 drops of ink on our fingers. it looked horrible! one thing i noticed though, was the the indelible ink wasn't that indelible... it could be removed with the right kind of solvent. i found this out accidentally when i washed my hands with rubbing alcohol. calling all COMELEC people, please check the quality of your inks... thank you :*

welcome back!

I haven't blogged in a long time, mostly due to laziness and the hectic pace of my schedule. Honestly, the biggest hindrance back then was a slow computer and a slow internet connection. A blog post would equate to 10-15 minutes of writing and an hour of waiting to upload.

With that said, I plan to learn a few things for my blog
1. create my own template (i used to know how to do this, but i don't anymore)
2. learn to upload photos ( i know i have to create a flicker account)
3. devote more time to it

I've already come up with a few things I'd like to write about. Some are just pure randomness, while others have a political slant to it. most timely considering our economy is picking up and some stupid idiots want to drag the country down again.

Yesterday, I spoke to a friend of mine (who is now based in Morocco). His cousin-in-law was one of the unlucky people who got caught in the blast and didn't make it. His cousin is devastated and i'm pretty devastated for the fact that she left behind a daughter who will not have a chance to experience the devotion of a mother. I didn't ask my friend for information, but learned about the details when I read his cousin's letter on Cecille Zamora's blog.

Indeed, it was a sad day for Filipinos. With the government's terrorist angle brush off, this brings up a whole new concern for everyone -- safety through proper sanitation.

I hope someone finds a solution to all the country's problems... but things remain bleak for me, as of now. Like i said before, I'm not a total pessimist, nor am i an all-out optimist. I'm a pure realist. I'm seeing things from a realistic point of view... well, my realistic point of view, at least.

musical obscurity

One of my most favorite musicals is Avenue Q.. While some people may not like the message or the delivery, I see that a lot of lessons we can learn from it.

Consider the following lines and comments after them:

1. "Everyone's a little bit racist, it's true! But everyone is just about as racist as you. Ethnic jokes might be uncouth but you laugh because they're based on truth. Don't take them as personal attacks. Everyone enjoys them, so relax."

Everyone is really a little racist. I confess that I am my own worst racist. While most people make fun of other races, I make fun of my own. I even create my own Chinese-racist jokes. This practice is not to be evil or to look down on people. It's to poke fun at things we observe and a sign that I am quite secure and comfortable with my ethnicity.

In fact, being a little racist is healthy for the soul. We have our personal biases, culture, belief system, and standards of beauty. In a society that dictates what's supposed to be "the norm", the norm keeps changing. It's up to us to decide which norms we take as our own.

2. "I wish I could go back to college. Life was so simple back then... in college you know who you are. You'd sit in the quad and think Oh My God! I am totally gonna go far... I wish I could go back to college, I don't know who I am anymore... But if i were to go back to college, think what a loser I'd be. I'd walk through the quad and think OH MY GOD! These kids are so much younger than me."

This song struck quite a chord in me. Back when we were in highschool or college, we did have dreams and we had plans of how they were supposed to be followed. Unfortunately, life has a funny way of telling us that we are wrong. Cultural and political environs shake and break idealisms. The things we consider are right do not always end up being right.

Life is, indeed, funny. We are given a make-or-break chance back in college. No second chances. Just the message that you have to deal with your life as soon as it is thrown at your face.

Not so many people go through this, though. There are quite a number of people who seem to always know who to stick around with, where to be at, and what to do. Like they say "some are born to greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them." Some people are really born under lucky stars with not do-overs.

3. "You gotta go after the thing you want while you're still in your prime. There's a fine fine line between love and a waste of your time."

In connection with the previous lines/paragraphs, life teaches you the lesson that you should always make the most of what you have. Strike while the iron is hot and all that jazz.

In the past, you were best to take things slow... but life has taken a spin towards oblivion where each second does count and you're only as good as your last task. The moment you show a little waning of skill, you are replaced with someone or something new.

Life is not simple, nor should it be that complicated. I guess that's why I love Avenue Q. It reminds me of lessons in life that I seem to have forgotten. Can't wait for Atlantis to finally show it onstage here.

standard of beauty

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What a cliche! Much as we'd love to believe this, it's a very big lie that has been perpetrated throughout centuries.

I recently came across a print ad for the Miss Earth. I'm not even sure if the girls featured there have already won. To my surprise (shock is more like it!) the girls looked like tranny cross dressers! Hair and make up were awful, they did nothing to beautify the girls. Hair and make-up styling is supposed to enhance beauty and disguise flaws, not the other way around!

These days, we see a common pattern as to what is beautiful. High and prominent cheek bones are crucial, nice doe-like eyes (whatever the shape), plump beautiful lips, oval-shaped faces, long lashes, great skin, and an aquiline nose is quite helpful.

It makes me happy that tans and dusky skin are widely accepted already. The proliferation of whitening products have brought a strange color to Filipinas. Those who have naturally dark skin and take these products end up being whiter but having a ash-gray tinge to their skin. Not really the best skin tone because it casts an unhealthy pallor.

To be truly beautiful, people must understand that it really radiates from within. Beauty starts with feeling good from the inside. Confidence adds a lot to the resulting look. From there, one must realize which features to enhance and which ones to cover up. It also helps to not have extreme self-worth values as it will end up in a delusional belief that of the self as perfect when it is far from reality.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. To see the beauty in the world, it is best to see beauty in the self first. We are all beautiful in our own way, but it helps if we know how to enhance some of our unique traits to make us more beautiful.

the closer i get

The world has become smaller and smaller. Thanks, mostly, to the leaps-and-bounds advances in technology. What used to be a very-fast "80 days around the world", can be done in half the time. A trip to Hong Kong just takes a relatively short time and shuttling back and forth for a vacation or shopping trip can be done.

Technology has advanced so much that conversations can be held between people, at a relatively reasonable price! There's 3G, VOIP, web calls, chat, instant messenger, etc.

But what has this technology done for us? Now that the world has gotten smaller and everything is accessible a finger's touch away, we have to pay the price: schedules have become tighter. Stress levels are at an all-time high. People are totally reliant on modern technology. People have become too lazy to go out and interact. They rely mostly on the internet or cellular phones to talk to friends and family. We have kept in touch with so many people, but we have cut down on personal times.

How often have you found yourself sending e-mails and YM messages, finally realizing that you haven't seen your friends in person for over a month?

How many of us have had dinners, lunches, and even sleep times interrupted because of "important" calls from the office?

Technology has made us extremely reachable that we have forgotten personal times. We have failed to realize that technology was created to serve us and not the other way around.

I have to admit that I am a slave to technology. I get quite uneasy when I leave my phone or laptop behind. I do enjoy a once-in-a-while escape from technology, but I find it difficult to leave it totally behind.

I greatly admire some people I know who can live and control technology. There are people who check their phone every hour only. There are those who don't answer business-related calls after 6pm.

Resolution to the problem, which I hope I am able to follow: take a weekly off-day from technology and enjoy it soaking in a nice scented bath with candles and a wonderful wonderful paperback.

Secrets to beautiful skin

I don't look my age... a lot of people say that. Many say that I look like I'm in my early to mid twenties when, in fact, I'm already in my early thirties.

Good genes would be a great reason for how I look, but I also have to thank some beautiful products. I bought them on a trip to KL and I do wish they'd sell the products here.

The Nugeno skincare series for men are the best! I've even stolen the Bio-Essence radiant youth essence I gave my mom.

Check them out at ginvera.com

Any of you going to KL, Singapore, or Taiwan? :D

Waiting in Vain

Waiting has long been my pet peeve. Something about being ready and agonizingly waiting for the minutes/hours to pass have wreaked havoc on my semi-ADHD state.

The gravity of the situation is amplified because I feel that time is always running out. I've always multi-tasked because I want to do so many things at one time. I've had that frame of mind since I was a kid and was probably the only one who never slept at nap time and deviced various ways to wake myself up (I didn't know how to operate an alarm clock back then).

Over the years, I've developed ways to combat boredom induced by waiting:
1. always bring along a paperback or magazine to read. if you're in an area where there is a bookstore, let your mind explore
2. keep your mobile phone by your side because the games come in handy
3. play mindless games on your laptop
4. keep a notebook for doodling or writing ideas
5. observe people passing. make up stories in your head at the same time.
6. if you're waiting at home, plonk yourself down in front of the TV set and just while the hours away.
7. play with your dog... or torment it by throwing items for it to retrieve, if you feel a bit naughty
8. If you're stuck in traffic, use your mobile headset and chat away with people on the phone. It helps if you have Sun Cellular Mobile
9. Sing your heart out to a CD of your choice if you're stuck in traffic. This works only if your windows are all closed and your car is almost sound proof.
10. take pictures and play around with them.

there are lots more ways to battle boredom. it's just a matter of creativity

The Idiot Box

My name is Alvin and I'm a television addict.

Funny as it may seem, I really do have an addiction to the boobtube. It's a wonder my brain has not yet turned to mush!

My love affair with the television started when I was a little boy of about 3 or 5 (I guess TV has rotted some parts of my brain, afterall). My mother was suddenly busy with so many things that she decided to put me in my crib and face the television towards me and...like a shot of Heroin (or so I assume), I was hooked! A magical world opened before my eyes. A world where people become other things! Cartoons were my bestfriend and Sesame Street was my babysitter.

Somehow, I was more discerning of the programs I watch than my siblings. My affinity for educational, American-language, and (oddly enough) cooking programs (WHOO-HOO for Wok With Yan!) Through the years, I developed a strange relationship with the television. It taught me lessons in life through the various programs I watched and I kept my eyes glued to it everytime.

One funny incident when I was younger was when the TV set in our room didn't work. I had to go and get the TV from our store (this could be another story on its own). The TV antenna was extended and I ended up poking my eye with it. I walked around with a red mark on my eyeball for a week or two. Yet my affair with the idiot box didn't end. As years went by, I found it easier to study, retain information, and concentrate on my schoolwork when I did it in front of the TV. I also relied on the TV to lull me to sleep at night. Cable was a godsend to me!

Now that I'm in my earliest of 30s, I still consider the Television a wonderful invention, but I do understand why it has been called the idiot box. I've seen kids stare blankly at the screen, fixated at whatever show was on. On occasions, I've found myself suffering the same fate.

I cannot fathom spending a weekend without television because I still rely on it to lull me to sleep or keep me company on long hours of work, but I wouldn't trade it in for a nice book, trip out of town, or a relaxing day at the spa.