Make way for the new year - A reflection

At the end of the year, we usually feel nostalgic.
It's hard to let go of the year that's about to end.
Apprehensive about what the coming year will bring.
Excited of what it will offer.

Some people see a glimmer of light.
Many see it as a chance to do better.
Still, many others don't have any expectations at all.
Dulled by too many frustrations from the previous years.

It actually depends on what perspective you look at it.
And our perspective for the future depends on how we have dealt with our experiences in the past.

How do we get ready for another year?
My answer is simple.
Meet the new year like a child - anticipating it.
Innocent, trusting, expecting only the best of what is about to come.

The length of our lives aren't lengthened by worries.
We can't find contentment if we keep looking for something else besides what already have.
Our happiness doesn't stem out from outside factors.
We are happy if we choose to be.
It's a decision we make.
Smile.
Be positive.
Be cheerful.
Sure, 2008 was not a very good year for everyone.
Recession. Economic and financial crises. Terrorist bombings.
We were alarmed with the end results of global warming.
There were big earthquakes and other natural calamities.
Random killings.

Well, mentioning about these things made me realize.
Indeed, there are more things that can bring us down than lift us up.
In my heart however, I know.
In the midst of turmoil, when cold,bleak winds starts to blow me away.
There's an anchor holding me, keeping me docked to the shore.

This is my prayer as I eagerly wait for that twilight to appear on Jan 1st of 2009.

"Lord, when doubts fill my heart, when my heart is in turmoil, quiet me and give me a renewed hope and cheer." - Psalms 94:19.

Happy new year everyone!

Phot credit: Source (123Greetings)

Online shopping gets me excited!

The Internet has revolutionized everything - information, entertainment, social networking, communication, and of course shopping.

Since I started exploring the cyber world in 1998, I have already had my hands full on searching information in Google, reading news articles from websites, streaming videos and music files, uploaded pictures on popular photo and video hosting services, connected with friends through various social networking sites, sent personal messages, email and voice chat to my relatives and friends here and abroad, tried out some gaming consoles but I've never done shopping online yet.

Recently, I have received my VISA card and although I have not added it yet to PAYPAL because of the long holidays I am so excited about my first online shopping experience.

I hope I can afford the IPhone but even if I do, I think it's being too lavish. Anyway, I can still use my old phone, have a separate video/camera (my mom's), and have a broadband Internet connection at home. I don't like playing games anyway because I could spend that time doing other productive things. My MP4 (my sister's gift) has been busted almost a year ago and I am hoping/wishing somebody will give me IPOD 16GB Touch. You can imagine how frugal I am (*giggles*). I just want to put much value on money since we know that many people are living beyond poverty line while few others expend on luxurious items that they don't even need.

But you know sometimes when we really like something we tend to justify. For instance I am comvincing myself that owning an IPhone or even IPOD is very phenomenal - I can browse the Internet, watch movies which I love doing and most especially listen to more than 2000 songs anywhere I go.

Actually I am torn on whether I will buy or not. Do you think an IPOD is a luxury or a necessity?

Merry Christmas everyone!

Bouncing back from the regrets and start a better new me in new year

There is surely no better way to start another year than being free from anything that hinders us from being truly happy or those things and attitudes that wring us down.

In preparation for the coming year, I have started cleaning my room and throwing out the unnecessarily piles that have accumulated throughout the year. I have also started sorting out unwanted baggages of my life and evaluated how I've lived including the things which went well and went right.

First, I got jobs that I am still keeping up to this day. I feel so content and happy because of these. It didn't matter whether they pay well or not. What I am glad is that I am given an opportunity to do these things which some people aren't. I mean, economies around the world are in recession so I feel so blessed that I am working right now. They're not very stable jobs though, so I have to save and prepare for the unexpected.

With the increased income comes the increase of expenses. In reality, people are rarely rich because as we go higher into our income bracket, so does our cost of living. When I was a kid, I thought people which luxurious houses or vehicles are rich but as I got older I realized that although they are indeed wealthy --- they also have debts big time.

Money is not something that we can rely on... there's no such thing as financial security. This was proved when major car industries in the US collapsed and banking and financial institutions went bankrupt. It is human struggle to toil and work hard but I think we should better invest much of our time in building worthy relationships especially with our parents, family or reliable partners and friends.

God has indeed been very good and faithful to me. This year however also hit my lowliest struggles which filled me with so much regret. There's no way to face them anyway but to face the consequences of my actions which included bittersweet memories of hurt, pain and emotional torment. My personal relationship with God severed too! I wish year 2008 never happened at all.

But I realized that indeed, all things work together for good. I am thankful to God even if I do not understand why some things happen and if they really were part of his will. I do not know where I am going or what my future will be but I am determined to bounce back and make subtle changes to make my life better - especially my relationship with God.

I am writing these things and letting you know not to make promises or resolutions and just break them. I know it will not be easy but I hope at least I can face each day and make small little increments toward my desired goal - that is at least make some progress step by step.

Perfect gift giveaway for the holiday

Christmas is a season where we love receiving gifts - and of course giving them.

Despite the economic slowdown, financial crises and recession malls and shopping centers are still jam-packed with bustling people buying giveaways for their family members, friends and office co-workers.

I know the hustle of holiday rush so I started buying gifts as early as the first week of November. Some people start earlier but that was the time I began listing my godchildren especially and buying items one by one each visit to the store.

Even if I started early - I still find myself wanting to give more but lacking cash. Also, I don't have enough time to do my yearly tradition of making hand-made Christmas cards. I wanted to give personalized holiday gifts. Finding great deals where I can save a lot of money is also very important.

In this digital age - even young children ask for gadgets as gifts. In fact, my niece who's just one year old and three months had her own mini-laptop on her birthday. My sister obliged to buy her one even though she complained that it was very expensive, otherwise the baby will play with her or her husband's real laptops.

I wish I can giveaway laptops too! But They're so costly, I looked for a cheaper alternative and look at what I've found. What's more, they're on 20% discount!

Thumb drives and pens look very similar to each other. I think the customization is very great because that way, your flash disk or pen is very unique from others - especially if it bears your name. It wouldn't get stolen. Now that's a gift that would last.

Pre-christmas link-love giveaway!

I haven't been an active EC dropper since I started working on my day job. But I still drop when I am not busy. I am happy that I will have a two-week vacation from work so I'll have more time to spend online. WHEW!

Thank God!

In gratitude to my loyal EC droppers, I am inviting you to visit these great people's sites.





Thank you for your continuous support.

Post it!

I'd like to thank everyone who has been dropping ECs and visiting my blog.

I'd also like to apologize that I haven't been able to reciprocate the favor.

The choppy internet connection at work is one of the things to blame and my busy schedule.
I am also trying to get enough rest after I've been sick (flu and fever) that required me to take two days off from my jobs.

Now I am OK but still busy. SO this blog is practically dormant.

I hope I can catch up.

Intriguing facts about some of the great geniuses startled me

I didn't know Einstein was such a playboy and had many mistresses! I didn't imagine Marie and Pierre Curie were very poor. I've read from a blog that being a genius and overly intelligent sucks because it is a very boring life and great minds like Einstein are sex-starved.

Now what do you say if you learned that great minds are just like us - they have quirks and basically they're just humans with weaknesses. Richard Feynmann for example, was reported to frequent night clubs while solving equations. You can read more of these side issues on scientists on the article (link given above).

If I were given a chance to be born again would I want to be a genius? I think it really sounds cool. Many of my friends want to if they're given the opportunity. In my case, I am content with my level of intelligence now. I struggle to solve some of my programming problems - sometimes I have to ask for ideas from my friends. I don't know the answer for most questions in the world. In fact, I am very clueless on many things. But, this is good because I'll always have something to strive, I know my limitations and I think everybody has.

I personally know a person with very high IQ. Although his case does not represent every qenuis' situation - he has a problem communicating with people. He does not jive with ordinary people because he has a completely different set of interest.

Somehow, the article enlightened me however that geniuses are they are - they are just like us - like the people from our neighborhood. In the end, everything in life is fair. We are equal. There's a great person behind each of us.

Thank God for the diversity of each one.

I'd like two pair of jeans, please!

Working daily on weekdays is very costly in terms of clothing. You surely don't want to look like you've only had five shirts by wearing the same shirts every week! - unless of course they're uniform. It isn't also very nice to wear the same pair of pants for the whole work week! Shoes can be used over and over but don't they need some rest too?

The nice thing about telecommuting is that you don't need to dress up. I've worked home-based for almost a year and it was very convenient. Now that I am working at an office I needed to update my wardrobe. Need I put a checklist?

• blouses/shirts
  
• slacks/shirt/pants/jeans
  
• cardigans, boleros, blazers and jackets
  
• socks, stockings
• shoes/sandals, slippers, step-ins
• belts, ribbons, hair clips, headbands
  
• jewelry : rings, bracelets, wristwatches, necklace, pendants, anklets (I just like to wear bracelets)
  
• other items
  

I don't have much time to shop though but I am very convinced I need two more pairs of pants because two of my favorites in my closets have expanded over time and they're lose now. I was fatter then - now I am very skinny (so much about little sleep) so I need to buy other set again. Sigh. Why does a woman's body change from time to time?

I learned something about pants. These informations are essential before buying new jeans (we don't a have a formal dress code at the office so it is such a relief I can wear casual pair of jeans). I always go for low-rise bootleg cuts and flares because they accentuate my body type.

Ever wonder what pair of jeans fit you exactly like you wanted? Take a look at the collections in an online shopping guide of jeans for women. I got the information I needed from it to discover what pairs are to be avoided and some other basic things that a buyer like you and me should know. We should know because a pair of jeans isn't a just a cent's worth - they're usually worth many dollars so let's get the value of our money to a maximum. Let's buy wisely!

How I miss you guys - I wish I had more time to check you out!

I know I have an obligation to visit you guys every once in a while - this is an unwritten contract we establish when we obliged in exchange links but I am so sorry I haven't been able to in the past week because I didn't have enough time to do so.

The internet connection at the office was terrible and the browser freezes when I open more than six tabs so I coud not drop at entrecard widgets effectively. The past week has been very busy indeed I could only thank God I didn't have to work on weekends. But since we don't have a househelp I've got to wash my own clothes - which have accumulated for the whole week and clean my room and help with cooking - etc. I also have to spend precious amount of time with my boyfriend because Saturday is the only time we're both free. He spends Sundays with his family, while I do with mine.

I am torn because I wish I could stop him from leaving. He'll be leaving for Saudi in a few weeks and I won't be able to see him body and soul for maybe a year or two. He says he won't go if I really insist but he wants to so I must let him. This will indeed be very hard for me but at least I have many things to keep me mentally occupied:

1. day job from 8 AM-5 PM (Monday to Friday)
2. part-time night job - 8 PM - 12 midnight (Monday-Sunday)
3. sleeping (12 midnight -6 AM, 12 noon - 1 PM, 6 - 7 PM)
4. blogging and checking friends somewhere in between
5. church and ministry on Sundays

Oh, I'm still gonna miss him so terribly every Saturday. Saturdays won't be the same without him. I hope he keeps his promise to chat and send me email every single day. I am teary eyed just imagining him to be sooooooooooo far.

Sigh.

Anyway, guys I will really try to make it up and hope to get back at you soon. I might not still be able to check you tomorrow because I'll be going to my boyfriend's family reunion - her grandmother's 90th birthday.

I know I've promised many times to visit you and maybe most of the time I didn't but I hope you still believe me though.

If you have anything to ask me or tags or exchange links requests, please reply to this post or send me an email at pchi.ss@gmail.com. It is better than the shoutbox - I haven't been able to check this blog for a while :(

Make your online presence a cash generating machine

Since Internet is ubiquitous, it presented many opportunities for making money - whether to big companies, medium-sized enterprises, small scale business and even to individuals. For individuals, there are many ways to earn money online. Let me count the ways:

1. Blogging

Blogging before was just considered as an online journal. People blog to write down their thoughts as if they're writing on paper with pen - only that they're using the keyboard and it's accessible to everybody around the world.

Today, companies realize the social media consciousness is shaped even with ordinary people's opinions. You earn money in blogging by writing reviews of a website, a product or a service. There are so many paid posts brokers that go in between advertisers and bloggers. PayingPost is relatively new but as soon as I've joined it, I already had three available opportunities for me to write. I just have to choose which one will fit most realistically with my opinions. Getting paid to blog is not very hard to do - you just give honest views about an advertiser and they pay you if your post meets the requirements.

2. Affiliate systems

Affiliate systems is a marketing tool borrowed from networking marketing strategy - all you need to do is refer people to join or be a member of a website. You get paid by commission - every person you usher means a certain amount for you.

3. Freelancing/Outsourced staffing (virtual assistants, programmers, web designers)

Even before the US and other major economies slipped into recession, many of their companies outsourced to other countries where the labor cost are cheaper. It's not necessarily that way always though. Sometimes, companies just want a certain project to be developed and so they hire temporary workers and freelancers from other shores though not necessarily in other countries.

Try to search popular freelancing brokers and take your chance.

4. Writing and translation

Each country has almost a different tongue from another. In Europe for example, France, Germany and Italy are geographically proximate but their people speak different languages. There's a big money involved in translating documents from one language to another.

Some people also earn by writing as ghost writers to other people. They hire people to write on their behalf their thesis manuscripts, speeches, etc.

5. Tutoring

Education is still a big business. In fact, I am earning a good sum of money monthly by tutoring Japanese students how to speak better English. Other tutoring services also exists.

6. Sell your hobby

If you're good at making t-shirt prints or sewing hand-crafted bags and clothing, you can always find customers online and they order your products and you ship it to them.

7. Paid to click

You are paid to click adds. I don't have the patience to do this though.

As with other business areas, the Internet is a big mine to dig. It's not possible for me to exhaust everything because everything is almost possible online. It just actually depends on your street-smart and guts. You can create your own niche - a unique service. However, there is a basic rule that's adapted from the real world that applies to online businesses.

POPULARITY

Even if you're selling the most sophisticated gadgets and the most reliable services if people haven't heard about you or your products then it's not likely that your business will succeed. You have to build buzz and make great campaigns so that people will know you're offering such and such services.

If you want your site to gain enough buzz and exposure then maybe you need to have someone write about you and your products or services. A tiny spark from a candle can burn a house if it spreads. Have someone blog about you! Blog advertising might be the key to your popularity which could lead to your website's success with just a little investment.

Eight year old boy killed father after he smacked him for the thousandth time

Surprised? I was.

The story appeared in one of the news sites I read everyday to keep abreast current events so I could have a topic to discuss with my students.

I was startled (make that disturbed) when I read about the story. How can an eight year old be able to kill his own father so violently (with a gun)?

Although the boy still remains innocent until proved guilty after trial, I have a proposition that the accusation is true.

I don't know who to blame if it is indeed true or if there's somebody responsible for it.

Is it the boy's father who spanked his son because he did not make his homework?
Is it the media - television shows and movies that present violent themes that make very young children aggressive?
Is it the gaming consoles that allow children to play with guns, shot their enemies and kill another character like it's just an ordinary thing to do?
Is it the boy's parents because they were not able to watch his behavior closely?

In the Christian religion, in was prophesied in the Bible that in the last days children will turn to kill they're parents, brother will fight against brother. The list goes on but I am too sleepy to check.

Maybe, indeed we are. We're on the last days and evil has gained a foothold even on our young ones.

I am alarmed. Are you?

How a web host correlates to your web site's success

Web hosting is a critical component in web site development and maintenance. A website is basically a means where an individual, company or organization disseminates information, presents its products and services and hopefully gain much profit from it.

When a website gets a downtime every now and then - the company or individual incurs great losses. This is very similar to a real world scenario. If the company, say a mall for instance, gets computer and technical glitches which disrupts the operation of the stores, the irritated customers will most like storm out of the building and find another company that's more reliable.

What are the issues when considering web hosting plans? The most basic questions relate to cost, security, reliability, CMS platform used. Most people go for cheap web hosting but sometimes there are negative trade offs. To be safe, it is better to apply on a web host with good credibility and has gained trust among its clients but not necessarily expensive.

If you are not sure where to go, there are sites that offer comparisons, reviews and ratings to all the web hosting services available in the Internet. One such example is WebHostingRating.com. I visited there because I am interested in buying my own domain name in the future and as preliminary step I have to choose which web hosting server to use.

I am familiar with Joomla so I searched for good providers - especially in Linux web hosting. I've heard that Digg and Wikipedia are hosted in Linux servers and these are successful websites. I am just not so sure if I can handle the technical side of administering a Linux hosted site.

Success of a web site largely depends on a good web host. It is a critical factor so we should choose wisely.

Girly cute awards

Thanks Marie for these award. Aren't they cute?

The rules are:
1. Each blogger must post these rules.
2. You need to choose ten people to be awarded and list their names.
3. Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they've been tagged and to read your blog.

For a change I'd like to give awards for the first time to the following gals. *Clap-clap*

Marites, Arlene, Bonz, Superboi,Dar lyn, Carlota, Samara, Ruthi, Patsy, Vicy

All the ladies in my bloglist deserve these awards too! If you'd like to grab them, please leave a comment so I can link your name here.

And this other award goes to blogger friends: Rose, Gem, Iceah, Berry, Faye, Nyl, Khaye, Siella, Cidy, Jemade, Myk2ts, Yenzz, Nanay Belen, Miah, Bingkee, Enday, Kikamz, Pink Shoelace.

Thanks Bingkee for the award. *Tears of joy*.

Beauty is how you see the true person behind the face

People put too much value on face and beauty. It's no wonder beauty products and cosmetic surgeries are always a good business. People just can't get enough. They want to be whiter, prettier, sexier, flawlessly scar free as the list goes on.

In pursuit for that perfect beauty we sometimes find ourselves on worse situations. The complications may not be as serious the the woman who injected cooking oil into her face but sometimes too much vanity can lead to nothing. We're an insatiable beings and we always seek for more and more.

I use to have a face like a baby's when I was younger - until I turned 21. I suddenly got pimples and on rare occasions acne breakouts. I didn't know it was so embarrassing to meet people even friends if you have some imperfections on your face. When I do, they always mention and that they wondered what happened to my flawless countenance.

I actually don't know. Doctors say it's mainly influenced by hormonal fluctuations. Some people are inherently less prone to pimples and acne breakouts. I thought I was lucky but I wasn't. Although I only had one pimple after another - my problem was each one left a scar and my face started accumulating blemishes.

So product after another I tried what my friends recommended me, which made things worse. I've had allergies to some and sensitivities to the others. I tried creams, facial scrubs, gentle exfoliation but they were too harsh on my skin. I think they've torn the protective layer of my face.

Now, I smile when I watch at TV commercials - how they promise to whiten your skin, or remove the dark spots and revitalize your pores - whatever they call it. Most products don't and will actually cause irritations on your skin. Some are even harmful. Now that the scars have healed naturally (took almost two years), I don't gamble easily. I don't put products on my face directly without trying it on my arms or neck. My beauty regimen now is simple - germicidal soap, a cream moisturizer and loose powder.

As for people with acne complex, I think it's largely hereditary and hormonal too. Since our technology is so superior now, various treatments have been developed - that specially cleans deep down. Although I am not sure, I've heard that Acne Complex® worked for so many people especially those with murad acne.

Sometimes, beauty is just superficial. Our measure of beauty largely depends on how we see ourselves. Start looking at yourself in a positive light - and start a transformation. Believe that you are beautiful, and indeed you are! You're unique and special and God loves you just as you are.

Friday night fever - what a relief!

It's Friday finally. I am so happy!

Don't get me wrong. I like my new day job. I am not complaining. My new officemates are very warm and friendly and they received me quite nicely. I am taunted as the girl who always finishes lunch last. I am sorry but I could not eat my meal in five minutes. I have to chew the food properly or else I will have a problem ridding them out after a few days.

My new job occupies my time during the day. I wake up at 6 and report to the office by 7:45. You know the usual office hours so I come back home at around 5:30. In between during the lunch break, I hope to have a nap but I can't; so I visit some of my friends' blogs. I try to cook if I still have the energy when I get home. I also try to sleep for an hour before I proceed to my part-time job as English tutor at night at 7, which usually ends at around 12:30. Hopefully, due to exhaustion I am already asleep by 1:00 so I can wake up on time the next day as the cycle repeats.

It's Friday (actually it is already Saturday) so it means I don't have to wake up early tomorrow morning. I will have the leisure of relaxing and doing what I wish to do. Hopefully, I can catch up with blogging 'cause I haven't been able to drop ECs and respond to comments and link exchanges for the past week. You might have thought I'm a snob because I haven't visited you back.

My former college professor and thesis adviser sent me a personal message through Yahoo Messenger asking me whether I was interested in working with him as a home-based programmer. For a moment I wished I could but I couldn't. My schedule is full now and I am already burning my candle at both ends! Surprised, he quipped I'll get rich young. HAHA. I am not dreaming of becoming rich; but I know that as of now I have to try the real world - beyond what I am comfortable with; a working environment with a boss to please, clients to conform and colleagues to interact with - even for a while. Then I will see which is more suitable for me and my future career plans.

So help me God.

Did I make sense? I'm too sleepy.

How do you face your problem if your problem is your face?

Have you heard or read about the story of the woman who injected cooking oil into her own face?

Left: Woman after so many plastic surgeries and injecting cooking oil into her face
Right: After surgery to reduce her swollen face and remove the foreign materials

This woman was so hooked to cosmetic surgery that her face had changed grotesquely with too many foreign substances added to it. She wasn't really ugly (See picture below). I think she just wanted to see how she will look like when she had some parts altered. The problem was that she got addicted and wasn't able to see that the plastic surgeries were making it worse than better. Her face turned uglier and the damage was irreversible. Now she regretted and hopes she could have her original face back. I thought about Michael Jackson when I read the story. More information here.

The woman's picture before plastic surgery

I've heard that in Korea (from a Korean student), it is common for people to have plastic surgery. Most actresses have had something altered on their face or body. This might be just a rumor or a hasty generalization. It sounded like people have better chances of finding a job or looking for a partner if they're more beautiful or good looking than everybody else. Maybe it has become a part of the culture and if you haven't been operated, it would appear that you're not "in". Teenagers especially are pressured to have designed and better bodies and so they augment their bust sizes, change the eye shapes, etc.

Who doesn't want to be flawlessly beautiful?

I think that cosmetic surgery is a really helpful technology especially for re-constructive purposes like to repair congenital defects or damages after an accident or fire. But people have been using it to change their bodies to make them more suitable to their taste. I am not against people who have undergone or will be taking these procedures. It is a personal choice and of course everybody has freedom. On the other hand, it might appear rude to our parents that we try to change our physical features - these could only mean we are not satisfied with the genes we have inherited from them.

There's a going trend now of women wanting to have labiaplasty - an operation to change the way the vagina looks. Some people contest on the moral and ethical issues of this procedure but let's not go into the details of that yet.

What I am trying to say is, let's be warned, cosmetic surgery might be addicting! Women who take surgery from time to time maybe suffering from a deeper problem - lack of self esteem. I hope we don't put much value on outward appearance so that people won't be so pressured to look unrealistically beautiful.

What do you think about plastic surgery?

Photo Credit: Telegraph.co.uk

Disclaimer: I am sleepy while doing this article so if you find inconsistencies or errors kindly let me know so I can edit. Thanks!

What I learned when I lost my boyfriend

"What if he's gone?" kept nagging in my head when after three days he still didn't show up after our supposed date on our second anniversary. Even his parents didn't know where he was.

I thought that I might never fall in love again. I might never marry. I don't feel like dating another person from scratch again after I've been so comfortable and sure about him. I felt weak and fragile just imagining that my best friend, cheerleader and support strength is gone. Life must go on but how? How am I going to face tomorrow when I've always imagined him on it? Honestly, I didn't have a plan of my own - we have always planned and looked forward to a future together. If he isn't on it, how do I carry through it? Yet I know that God knows the plans he had laid out in my life so although I resisted the idea, if what I was thinking is true, I submitted and prayed, "Lord, your will be done."

I realized how uncertain life is. We make plans, hope for a better future and do all the necessary things to make them work. We choose how to live every single day but there are things beyond our control. If one's lifetime is up, no matter how we protest or how hard it is to accept it, we can never do anything about it. A man lives and a man dies. Your life and mine - aren't ours to keep. But God holds the world in the palm of His hands and there's nothing else I am most sure of but that He holds me securely. But I was drifting away from His grasp, and I was slacking in my personal relationship with Him. Sometimes, other loves compete my attention and I'd put Him aside. I would feel guilty at times when I'd get so committed with my family or friends and boyfriend especially but I put God aside. What if I die today without me knowing it, how will my sins be forgiven?

The experience also made me understand that I shouldn't have any unrealistic expectation on anyone. Any human being is capable of hurting us, failing us, taking us for granted, abusing us, neglecting us, using us even only once. But that doesn't mean we should stop trusting and loving people. When we do, we also cut ourselves from being happy. We only feel truly happy when we have meaningful relationship with God and with the people He gave us to love and trust deeply. In the process, we expose ourselves to pain and hurt as we learn and get more mature in loving. In reality, we never really learn to love until we learn to forgive other people's faults and mistakes and accept them as they are no matter how much they hurt us. Of course, there is a big difference on being foolishly martyr. Don't just ask me how to draw the line.

My boyfriend showed up on the fourth day. He told me that he sent me messages of his whereabouts but I am sure not a single one reached me. It is not really important. On the lighter note, I can always tease him about it now. One single gaffe cannot erase all the other good things he did for me. I know he would make more blunders in the future and I will as well. We try to forget about our shortcomings and make new and better memories out of our best times.

Where to buy best deals on electronic gadgets and gaming consoles

I always wonder how technology would turn out a few years from now. It is hard to imagine, what do you think?

One of the benefits of today's new and emerging technologies is that they keep improving. I asked my Japanese students what innovations that are not developed yet but they hope to be invented in the future - they said they can't think of anything else to ask for. They think that the introduction of mobile computing especially cellphones, computers and the Internet have dramatically changed their lives and seems they're already content with how things are turning out.

Aside from the ubiquitous Internet and the very useful PCs and mobile communication devices, we have our personal favorite technologies. What's yours?

Many of my students mentioned portable gaming consoles as one on top of their lists. I don't see any surprises especially when they preferred Nintendo DS games. Personally, I like the thought of gaming consoles being translated into fitness equipments like the Wii Fit. These are really beneficial especially if we don't have enough time to go to the gym or play sports. Nintendo Wii is an interesting substitute. Its interactive environment simulates a real-life experience with games for everyone in the family. Mario Kart DS is of course a classic favorite of my geeky programmer friends. I prefer Mario Kart Wii though.

Nevertheless, it is so hard to choose from and since I am trying to put much value on the money I am earning, I researched for a site where I could find the best deals in electronic gadgets and gaming consoles without necessarily sacrifing quality. I found SaveBuckets offering cheapNintendo DS games and will sure invest when I've had enough money.

Sweet friendship poem to pass around

It is hard to imagine a life without friends. A friend makes burdens lighter. Friends make life much happier. If it weren't for the friends I've met through blogging, I would have succumbed to the pressures of life and forget writing on this online journal altogether. Thanks to Iceah for this sweet friendship poem she shared with me. She's the lady with beautiful legs, maker of sumptuous cheese cakes and other delights and a darling wife and mother with a chicken heart.

When I was little,
I used to believe in the concept of one best friend,
And then I started to become a woman.
And then I found out that if you allow your heart to open up,
God would show you the best in many friends.


One friend is needed when you're going through things with your man.
Another friend is needed when you're going through things with your mom.
Another will sit beside you in the bleachers as you delight in your children and their activities.
Another when you want to shop, share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be.
One friend will say, 'Let's cry together,'
Another, 'Let's fight together,'
Another, 'Let's walk away together.'


One friend will meet your spiritual need,
Another your shoe fetish,
Another your love for movies,
Another will be with you in your season of confusion,
Another will be your clarifier, Another the wind beneath your wings.


It may all be wrapped up in one woman, But for many, it's wrapped up in several...
One from 7th grade,
One from high school,
Several from the college years,
a couple from old jobs,
On some days your mother,
On some days your neighbor,
On others, your sisters,
And on some days, your daughters.


So whether they've been your friend for 20 minutes or 20 years,
AND ONLY IF YOU'D LIKE TO,
Pass this on to the women who has a place in your life/lives.....

Sharing this to all my women friends in the cyber world

Update!

I am OK now. I am sorry I haven't made the continuation of my entry last time yet.

My boyfriend is back and we are still together. He didn't explain the details and I didn't ask. It's my time to forgive him. He just wept and was sorry. He's trying hard to make up for the lost time. HAHA. Will disclose details next time.

Deciding which credit line to apply? Check their reviews

Credit cards are handy, cash dispensing little small plastic cards that allow you to buy now, pay later. But which credit card company gives the most secure, most convenient, low interest rates with perks, gift certificates and other benefits? CompareCards is an website with tools by which users can compare different cards according to quality, category, brand, issuer, popularity, etc. It also provides information on user ratings about a particular credit card provider.

I use to think that credit crds are not good. I think it is not really. Money is not evil either. It depends on how man uses it. Man's greediness makes money or credit cards evil. If we wisely spend our money and not just splurge on anything we want to - we can benefit a lot from a good credit line provider like CitiBank.

Whether it is money or credit, let's make use most of our money. If you are looking for a good financial institution to aplly a credit line with, begin by researching different credit cards in the market.

Had to lose my boyfriend to learn a lesson

On Thursday, Nov 6, my boyfriend didn't come as expected.

I was excited. Happy. I was anticipating his presence. But he didn't and I started getting worried.

What if something happened? What if he's dead? Why didn't he send me a message that wouldn't be able to come on the night of our anniversary. Thinking of the negative "what ifs" made me numb; as I lost control of the tears streaming down my face. I wanted to make a blog entry about it but I lost my way with words. I just couldn't find the words to write.

I could only scribble "I am under repair!"

We exchanged text messages with his mother. The next day, the next, and the next, still no sign. I didn't know what to do. But life goes on. I still worked. I tried to fake the cheerfulness that I always have when talking to my students and I did! Faked it until it became true.

It was a mentally and emotionally exhausting experience. When you are waiting indefinitely; you hope for something that you're not sure if it exists or not. But I definitely learned something, it was a humbling experience and God caused it to show me insights I wouldn't have noticed in ordinary situations.

What did I realize? Can you guess...

Out of order

Might not be able to respond to messages/comments/ex-link requests for a long time :(

Report and look up unwanted callers

While looking for possible articles that my Japanese students and I can discuss, I've come across a gadget that helps block unwanted calls especially from telemarketers and voice phishers.

I've never really applied for a call center job that would make me do outbound calls to customers. Myself included, most people find it annoying. It's the same thing with email spammers, they just waste your time. We try to be nice to them (of course) - because they're just making a living. But what if you consistently receive prank calls or threats especially in the dead of the night? You might have to address this problem head on and seek help to the authorities, install the gadget that would eliminate cold callers or find out who the culprit is by doing a harassing caller report to ReportPhoneNumbers.com. The site is really helpful... at least they can track who are your enemies; that way, you have a better chance of winning against them.

Photo credit: Yahoo Tech Blog

Top Ten EC Droppers

A big thank you to all EC droppers. I could testify that EC really increases traffic and Alexa ranking. I've been dropping 300 EC drops a day since two weeks ago when I am free; and my Alexa ranking decreased by 500,000 points.

It's time to thank the people who've been consistently dropping here. My personal top 10 are as follows:

Please take time to visit them as well...