Crafting A Holiday

In most parts of the city, the moment that the month ends in ber, it is time to break out the christmas gear. There is nothing that Filipinos love more than to celebrate and this season is an absolute favorite.

In our family, the tree doesn't go up til a few weeks before Christmas. Usually we put up the decorations sometime in the 2nd week of December. It is a family event with everyone helping to setup the tree, decorate it and set up the other little touches throughout the living room.

This year, I have been both excited and worried about Christmas. I love the season of giving. It is fun to try and come up with the perfect give for the loved ones. I enjoy the christmas shopping with my siblings and the wrapping of presents. This year, we've begun teaching the kids about what the season means and the traditions we follow.

The worry has been more of how to manage to get gifts for everyone. The cost of things has been rising and there may not be enough for everyone. It is more difficult to find the time to go around and do my Christmas shopping. There is just so many people on my list. How do I make the budget stretch? I figure though that somehow, it will happen. It somehow always does.

Christmas has apparently also brought out a new interest in me. Growing up I absolutely disliked arts and crafts - no patience for it. Lately, I find myself wondering if I could actually make those quilts or knits or whatsits. I find myself thinking fondly of my maternal grandmother who exposed us to the joy of knitting, crocheting and other creative projects that actually allows me to believe that I can do these, if I just put my mind to it - and practice. I am thankful I won't be doing it all on my own though. My sister Tina has always been gifted in these things and so is my daughter.

I have to go back to poring over the christmas crafts book I have here. Still haven't quite figured out how to make one of the pieces I want for christmas .

Enchanted Date

Enchanted was the chosen movie of the month and the kids were excited. I checked out the various cinemas around us and was surprised that Gateway only had 2 viewing times listed for it on their website, which would mean waiting til late afternoon to enjoy the film - not ideal for our schedule. So I checked out the other malls and we settled on Galleria.

In Galleria, there were 2 cinemas set to show the movie. One was reserved seating, the other not. We opted for the second - and a good choice it was. The cinema was practically empty!!! There were only 4 other families there to enjoy this Disney movie.

We were early so we got to sing along with the various christmas carols playing over the sound system. These were christmas songs performed first by various Disney characters followed by some performed by the muppets. We enjoyed trying to identify which princess was singing in the 12 days of Christmas.

Between one moment and the next, the trailers began, It was funny because you'd think a gun had gone off. The kids were cringing in their seats since the volume of the trailer was REALLY LOUD and it was National Treasure: The Book of Secrets which had a suspenseful kind of background music. I laughed even as I encouraged them to straight in their chairs.

Then the movie began and it was so well done! It was like watching one of the classic Disney animated films I love yet it wasn't. The Disney castle in the opening is CGI now and even more magical and as the camera pans to a window it focuses on a book with the same title as the movie.It opened with pop up figures telling of the wicked stepmother who was definitely not looking forward to the day when Prince Edward, her stepson, found his mate.

Giselle is not a princess. Like Cinderella, she talks and sings with the animals. Like Sleeping Beauty, it is her voice that draws the prince to her. They decide to wed the next day.

Now that definitely did not suit the wicked stepmother in this tale. She send Giselle into the water and into a place where she says there is no such thing as happy ever after - NEW YORK!

I have to say I love the outfits that they made for the lead actress, Amy Adams. The really big skirt and hoops had me laughing. The dress she made after her first night in New York was so cool - my daughter loved it.

Kudos to Rick Baker, the guy who made the hag in reality! Talk about hideous old bat!

We all agree that we love the scene in the park. Typical Disney - sing at an outburst of joy. It was a really fun production number, makes me wish a trip to Disneyland was in the budget at this point. You can watch the video here if you can't see it below.

Some things I found funny because they were inconsistencies or unusual:

• Giselle knew the names of the various appliances such as the vacuum cleaner though you'd think she'd never seen one before.
• She had a new pair of shoes on her second day but she didn't buy any. Wonder if they just magically appeared the next morning when she made her second dress? They weren't the same as her first set of shoes.
• In most of the film, Giselle wears her princess style dresses while everyone else is in everyday wear. At the ball, everyone is dressed in period dress while she's in an evening gown of modern style.

While it is understood to have a happy ending - that goes without saying for fairy tales - this one had some nice twists before getting there. Since I hate to give spoilers beyond what I already may have, let me just say, I hope you watch the film - irregardless if it's in the cinema or if you wait for the DVD. Don't forget to watch the credits!!!! Watch the shapes - that's all I'll say . Now I have to go get the soundtrack for the kids. They want to learn the songs and sing along - just for that, Disney, I LOVE YOU!

I Want A PADD!!!

I have become an ebook addict. It soothes my need for instant gratification - no need to go to the bookshop, line up, pay and navigate home before getting to read my book. You want it, quick search on the net and voila! if you are lucky you can immediately start reading.

The thing I dislike the most about the current setup though is that I read my ebooks either on my computer- meaning a long time sitting in a chair when you want to be reclining and resting, or on my PDA phone - which mean teeny tiny letters. Neither is very comfortable or good for one's health.

Makes me long for a PADD (Personal Access Display Device) just like in Star Trek. These handy portable devices are used everywhere. They are wireless computers that are bigger than PDA's with huge capabilities. Lapatops are close but still too big and clunky. I heard that Nokia and Sony have both been trying to come up with something but haven't hit it on the head yet. I hope it gets invented soon. While I am still partial to the feel of an actual book in my hands, a data padd that I can hold easily and use to read comfortably would be cool!

Whats In A Name

****Warning! This is a bit of ranting so feel free not to read*****

There are advantages and disadvantages to having a unique name or nickname.

Advantages

• people remember your name more easily
• you are instantly unique - stand out from the crowd of Janes, Christines and Jennifers

Disadvantages

• Your name often gets mispronounced
• Some a----- make fun of your name

Most of the time, everything is pretty cool. Everyone has a live and let live policy. Heck! If you were born with a name like Procopio and just want to be called Cop, why should anyone mind or care? It is none of their business anyway.

Hay! If you don't like your name, go ahead and change it. Leave those of us who do like our names alone. We don't go picking on you just because you chose to use a nickname that means a piece of land!

Enchanted

I love Disney movies. I enjoy the imagination and skill that goes into putting together their films. I also like the fact that their films are those that the whole family can enjoy.

I saw this trailer online but I haven't seen it listed on any of the local offerings for the year. It's titled "Enchanted" and stars Patrick Dempsey. If it shows in the cinema, I'm definitely watching. Watch the trailer below.

New Worlds: Meet and Party Time!

Looking forward to Samhein? Ready to do a little trick or treating? Before that, why not wander over and visit New Worlds at the Glorietta Activity Center on October 27. You may just meet some interesting people and have a blast exploring the various science fiction and fantasy fandoms active in the Philippines. The event starts as soon as the mall opens and lasts the whole day. There are activities lined up for everyone to enjoy.

Now, I can hear some people going, “are you crazy? Go to Glorietta after the bombing (or whatever it was)?!?” I would answer YES! In fact, why not? It is the safest place to be because the security there is on high alert. Besides, if we cower and hide away, they win.

In times of uncertainty, it is the time to seek joy and be a source of happiness for others. Come and be a part of New Worlds. Boldly Go and Use the Force. Let magic fill your day and maybe discover Heroes standing right in the mall.

The event doesn’t end on October 27 though. There’s also a party on October 30 at the Hard Rock Cafe which has been dubbed “Dare to Pair: A Rockin’ Halloween Tandem”. This is a halloween party that also encourages you and a friend to come in costume as a pair. Get creative, be unique, beautiful and interesting and you may just bring home the prize of P10,000 cash!. Interested? You can click here for more details.

Desktop Meme - Tagged by Ade

Really not into these meme whatever-they-are but since Ade was sooooooooooo nice and tagged me and then YM’d me so I could not escape knowing I was tagged, I complied.

What does this mean? I was happily blogging when Ade said I had to click on a link. I did. It led me to his post. Then he YM’d me and logged out. So nice! (Just wait, you noisy, noisy man!)
I’m tagging the following to get into the spirit of this thing:

• Peter
• Nina
• Nick
• Mark
• Alec
• Adrian

You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile! You must follow the My Desktop Free View Instructions below:

1. Upon receiving this tag, immediately perform a screen capture of your desktop. It is best that no icons be deleted before the screen capture so as to add to the element of fun.
2. Post the picture in your blog. You can also give a short explanation on the look of your desktop just below it if you want. You can explain why you preferred such look or why is it full of Icons, things like that.
3. Tag five of your friends and ask them to give you a Free View of their desktop as well.

Different Shows, Same People

I just finished catching up to the latest Stargate Atlantis episode. I only today realized that the doctor is played by the woman who plays the engineer in Firefly/Serenity. It has always been a point of interest when favorite actors and actresses would appear in the shows like the Star Trek cast members appearing on either Stargate SG1 or Atlantis. Some have appeared on Heroes, too, and on a few more shows.

I wonder though if in Hollywood, actors are reluctant to take on the roles? Afraid to get type cast? Well, if that's so, they are missing out. As the cast of Star Trek and Star Wars and a whole slew of other science fiction shows can attest, they have careers that last long after the show is cut, simply because the shows are unique and capture the imagination.

Mall Sight!

Times really have changed. We are not only less formal, socially we are less concerned about appearances. While we were in Trinoma yesterday, I saw this group resting on one of the sofas set on the second floor. Around them other people were eating, malling, talking, etc. This group just wanted to catch some zzzz.

Now, we all usually try to be understanding and just say that they must have been really tired. I still couldn't resist but take their picture anyway. They were so at home in the mall that not only were they zonked out, the male actually took off his shoes and put up his feet (at least there were socks) on the opposite sofa.

The changing of the times....for the better? Sometimes, not necessarily.

A Seinfeld Moment

Sometimes I spot the funniest things. As I left the elevator, another person just entered the building. I guess he didn't see me because he very swiftly lifted his arm, checked for wetness and then smelled himself! Yes, you read right. He was checking his stink level. Now I'm all for ensuring one's deodorant is not six dwarves, dead rat or unwashed socks under the bed but there are more subtle ways to find out if you've been let down by your current brand and now have that corn chip stink.

I had a hard time keeping a straight face as he passed me. Thankfully he didn't stink - at least not enough to be noticeable in the corridor in front of the elevators. I have to admit though that even if he looked like this:



I would have said "yuck!" if he smelled like a skunk.

Anyway, I then hopped into a cab to take me home. I thought I'd gotten a good one since it was from a taxi fleet that normally has great service. No prob with the driving - true; but I thank goodness for windows that you can roll down manually and let the air in.

"Why ?" you ask. Have you ever seen that episode of Seinfeld where they talk about BO? It was that kind of moment. I didn't want to embarrass the driver but the stink plus the icky sweet scent of the My Shaldan orange air freshener was turning me green. I quickly lowered the window about 1 1/2 inches so that I could get some of that quickly moving smog into the cab and hopefully some of the stink out!Fortunately it was a very short cab ride and I am safely away from the stinking taxi. I am happy to report that the odor did not transfer to my hair or clothes but stayed in the cab with its driver. Good luck to the next passenger.

My LSS Named At Last

Usually when you get LSS (last song syndrome) it's from a song that you recently heard. In my case, I've had a song playing in my head which I haven't heard in months. The funny thing is I can almost sing the whole song yet I do not know it's title or it's singer.

So what do you do nowadays when you want information? Yes, that's right. I googled it! I wasn't expecting anything since the last time I searched I didn't find it. Apparently, I wasn't the only one who was stuck on this song. I found the song by hunting for the first line of the song which led me to a blog talking about that same song.

Oh but there goes my rambling tongue. Here's the first stanza for those who'd like to identify the song:

Hello Joe, goodbye
I never thought I'd see you go
hello, goodbye
it wasn't really hard to know
we had to throw our memories behind
and start anew
until then will I say

Goodbye Joe, hello

The title of the song is Desire, who'd have guessed? I still don't know the original singer though in the playlist it is listed under VA - not a familiar singer and definitely not the original recording I heard. I wonder if this is a Ryan Cayabyab composition? Anyone who knows, feel free to share the details.

In the meantime here's a link to a lovely site that had the song amongst all the other beautiful OPM songs on their playlist. It's a really good selection of songs with over a 1000 tracks included. Drop by their tambayan and enjoy the music. They have hits from old and new including songs from APO, Asin, Sampaguita, Cinderella, Hagibis,Gary V, Kuh Ledesma, The Eraserheads, The Company, VST, Akafellas, Brownman Revival, Bamboo, 6 Cycle Mind and so much more. Enjoy!

Sleep Deprived Ramblings

It is really tough to live with ones clock off sync with the rest of the world. You are asleep when they are awake. You're awake while they sleep. You don't see your family and friends unless you don't sleep until you absolutely have to.

Today was a really tough day. I slept but woke up not feeling rested (grabbed 5 hours) before my system refused to let me have any more zzzz. I watched a few movies before getting ready to leave for the company activity. That lasted until almost 11 - at which point it was time to go to work.

Looks like I'll be spending my Sunday just passed out on my bed again - oh joy! I am such a bundle of fun lately. Oh well....that's the way life goes.

Trying hard to stay awake through the remainder of a very long, toxic shift. Thank God that there's a comedy showing on TV that is really funny - no idea what the title is so can't tell you.

Found! To Boldly Go National Museum

Via Astris has an interesting set of activities called "To Boldly Go..." We had gone to the National Museum and stopped by the park after on one such trip. It drove me batty when we couldn't find the pictures afterwards. We thought they'd been lost when the hard drive crashed. Thanks to Picasa, here are 4 of the pics from that trip.

The Future's So Bright I Gotta Wear

I was tempted to make the title "3 Blind Mice, 3 Blind Mice" but didn't want people to get the idea or impression. No they aren't blind. They are just having some fun posing with the shades given by the company.
The kids get to pose "cool". Getting a good shot with people walking behind them and with them giggling was tough! The shades didn't suit the image of the guys below and they nicely gave them to me knowing that kids get a kick out of them.

If you want to see these three clowning around, singing Stevie Wonder's "I just Called To Say I Love You", drop by again when I've converted it to AVI or mpeg.

Personality Test Yet Again

A Thousand Marbles

I first heard this 5 or 6 years ago and it's a story that I love so much I want to share it. The original was written by Jeffrey Davis. Since I do not wish to infringe on anyone's copyright, let me encourage you to please click on this link for the simpler version or this one for the version with more ham radio jargon.to be brought to where the story is already published with permission.

If you feel like going out and buying your own thousand marbles... kudos!

Marking Time

It's amazing how fast time flies.

Though I feel young still, I know that I am no longer a fresh grad out of college. My appearance may have changed but inside though, I still feel the same, if a bit more comfortable with who I am and more in touch with what I want for myself, my family and for my life.

Unmistakable markers to the passage of time though are my kids. They are indeed growing up fast! One moment they were nothing but armfuls. Now, they are all walking, talking, running, gabbing and utterly delightful beings. Even my youngest strings sentences already. Gone is the baby talk. As he says, he's no longer a baby.

I often find myself thankful for a quiet day. I can now relate to the elders telling us to be quiet. It always feels like the house is full of noise - happy noise but loud sounds nonetheless. It can make one feel like one's head is ringing from the sounds that kids can make. I try to keep in mind though that I will definitely miss those sounds as they grow older. Best to enjoy it now.

What are the kids into now? Art is still something my girl loves. JL sings quite well. Both of them are into Taekwondo now. Our youngest is really into swimming and has no fear. He just jumps in!

Getting them to pose for this pic was fun! Aren't they all so cute? Better sharpen the knives and prepare the shotgun. I'm sure they'll be needed soon based on this pic.

Why Not Romance?

A couple of days ago, one of my office mates brought a romance book to the office. She instantly got teased by all the boys in the team. They would go so far as to read out loud (with feelings!) portions of the book and always get the perfect spot! They would get the steamy scenes in the book. As one of them said, it's the most read part of the book.

Girls always get teased about reading romances, but I ask, why not? Guys read their war stories and the like. To each his own. Besides, it can actually be educational. Any guy who wants to improve his relationship (and be a better lover) should take the time to read a few romance books. Don't believe me? Just try reading a few. No, you don't need to read in public (LOL). Of course you can always do what my sister does. She wraps her books in opaque paper so no one can see the covers and no one will know what she's reading unless they ask or pick up the book.

There are many great authors out there but I do enjoy reading the works of Julie Garwood and Johanna Lindsey. They are not wham, bam thank you ma'am people and their stories actually have some humor. I love "The Secret" of Julie Garwood. The opening scene had me laughing my head off. Johanna Lindsey's Malory's are absolutely lovable but I think I like "Tender Rebel" best.

The new authors may be more explicit in their descriptions - but on the whole, the stories are usually good even without the scenes. This is useful for guys who get told by their women that they have no idea what fore play(yes I know there is no space! Just making sure I don't get blocked from my ads by this one word!) is .

Romance....we can never have enough. Why not read some?

Stick It

I recently got to watch this movie. Since I've always loved gymnastics, the movie sounded really interesting. Have to rate this movie a 3 though. It's just so so.

It's a typical theme found in American teen movie flicks. Rebel, buck against he system. Find a way to be unique. If you can't beat em, stick it! Don't quit and walk out but stick it. If you don't get my drift, watch the movie.

What they said about gymnastics is very true though. The dedication and hard work required of them in order to get where they are is true of any discipline. We push to excel. That is something everyone admires.

It's a Disney flick. Stars Jeff Bridges and Missy Peregrym. No need to introduce Jeff Bridges. He made his mark a long time ago with movies like Jagged Edge and Mirror Has Two Faces (he has more recent films, of course). If you can't recall Missy Peregrym, she's appeared in Heroes and Smallville.

Done With Harry Potter, At Last

If you haven't read the book yet, I bet you now wonder if he dies in the story. With so many rumors and versions floating around both on the net and off it, people haven't been sure what to believe. READ IT FOR YOURSELF! I don't post spoilers.

We reserved our copy through PHP (Pinoy Harry Potter) which had a tie up with Fully Booked. The book was in our eager hands the moment the go signal was given at 7am. My LP was very generous and allowed me to read it first. Thanks, sweetie! And yes, it's a good read.

I'm glad that JK Rowling wrote these books. I hope at some point the books can be translated into a TV series or mini series that will then do full justice to the story she wrote. The movie makers tried but it is really hard to capture in a 2 hour film all the nuances of any of the HP books.

JK Rowling, this muggle thanks you for writing the story of Harry Potter. It has made for a number of nights without sleep - when I couldn't put down the book but who cares! I'm glad magic exists somewhere.