Randomly Speaking

Cherry-Pineapple Dump Cake

2011-02-28T19:32:00.000-08:00

I've made this cake many times already. My husband and my stepkids loved it. In fact, I just made this delightful dessert again today and our house smells heavenly! :)

Need a quick and easy dessert? This is it! Just dump all the ingredients into a baking dish, mix and bake - very simple but yummy and smells great! You can make it with just about every fruits available but using cherry pie filling and crushed pineapple is my favorite.

Here's how to do it:

You'll need: 1 can (16 oz) Cherry Pie Filling, 1 can (21 oz) Crushed Pineapple, 1 pkg. Yellow/White Cake Mix and 1 stick of Butter.

Grease the 13 x 9 baking dish and pour 1 can of Cherry Pie Filling. ( I used lite cherry pie filling so it wouldn't be too sweet)...

Next up, dump 1 can of crushed pineapple.

Now, stir the mixture together. Once it's all combined...

Sprinkle the dry mix (yellow/white cake mix) on top. Distribute evenly.

Then, slice butter and lay the pieces all over the top, distributing it evenly. Some like to pour melted butter. But really up to you. Now, pop it in the oven and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to one hour (or until cake is brown and bubbly) and voila...

Cherry-Pineapple Dump Cake! Totally easy and yummy! Perfect for 1st time bakers like me. :) You can eat this with something cold, something warm or alone. :) Again, up to you.

Photos source: www.thepioneerwoman.com

Our Valentine's Day Celebration

2011-02-15T16:11:00.000-08:00

...was just like an ordinary day. Nothing special or romantic happened yesterday. No surprises, no chocolates & flowers coming from my dearest husband. Poor me! :) Well, it's no biggie. It was by a choice, actually. We both opted not to do any extraordinary things nor to give gifts to each other, only this time. And we just stayed home, as well. For the past 3 years, we've been celebrating valentines by eating out. Now that we have a house, for a change, rather than go out and spend loads in a restaurant, we decided to stay in, crack open a bottle of champagne and cook. I cooked fried pork chop, corn on the cob, steam veggies & sweet potato, and of course, rice! :)) And I tried making tres leches cake for our dessert. I guess it turned out good because hubby loved it. :) We ended it up by watching Letters to Juliet...pretty good movie!

Though our valentine celebration looks like simple yet enjoyable and relaxing. Hubby and I really had a great time. We were able to spare ourselves from stress of overly crowded restaurants. What we do during valentine's day doesn't have to be grand or cost a fortune to be special. Being together is more than enough. I just hope that we'll all celebrate love not just on valentine's day but every day of the year.

New Year, New House

2011-01-13T21:58:00.000-08:00

Like I said in my previous post, my husband and I really started the new year 2011 with a bang! We just bought a house and we're both super excited! :)...I'll post some pictures perhaps in the next couple of weeks.... We actually can't wait to move in! But the seller was asking if she can stay in the house for a month after the closing. Her place won't be available until end of January. We both agreed since we're not in a rush to move in anyway. We still need to give our landlord a 60 day notice to vacate the apartment that we are currently renting. And besides, the seller is used to be my husband's next door neighbor. How did it happen? The house that we just bought is next to the house that my husband previously owned, before the divorce from his first wife. The ex-wife doesn't live there anymore, in case you're wondering. She sold the house one year after the divorce. At first, my husband really wanted to get his house back because, according to him, he put a lot of effort and time fixing it. So he tried to buy it twice from his ex-wife but she refused the offer just to spite him. Obviously, the house is not really meant for us. My husband even said that he's happy and thankful that it didn't push through because the property that we just bought is far better and twice bigger than what he had. Now I understand why God didn't allow us to get his old house back.

But does it really have to be the house next door? Well, we never thought that we would be buying a house just next door. We've been searching for a house since 2006 and we've probably seen, at least, close to a thousand homes. I've already reached the point where I feel like giving up searching. I got sooo burned out! :) But now that we finally found the house that we like and without a doubt is the right one for us, I've come to the realization that patience really pays off in the end. It's really true that good things come to those who wait. Although waiting is hard but i must say, it's all worth it. :)

Goodbye 2010, Hello 2011!

2011-01-09T11:37:00.000-08:00

It's a brand new year again. I know it's a bit late to wish but nevertheless, happy new year guys! May this year be an even better year for each one of us than 2010. Let's welcome 2011 with an open arms. This is again another fresh start for all of us, so let's not waste each and every opportunity that God has given us to start over.

Recap of 2010

2011-01-08T20:36:00.001-08:00

Hello blog, I've missed you! I"m officially back after an extremely long hiatus! Sorry for the long absence. I have been busy with a lot of things. But everything's great. It's 2011 already and I really started my new year with a bang. But before that, let me give you first the recap of my unforgettable moments of 2010.

New York

One of the places I really wanted to visit was the Big Apple. That's the nickname for New York. Why? I don't know why. Just google it if you're really interested. :) Early April of 2010, my husband and I finally got to go to New York for the first time. Unfortunately, we were not able to explore the entire city. The sole reason we went there was to renew my almost expired philippine passport. But we'll definitely go back there, hopefully soon!

My New Camera

A wonderful birthday gift from hubby. Dreams really do come true! :) Ever since I was a kid, I dreamt of owning this kind of camera.

Amber's Wedding

This is Amber, my husband's lil girl. But his little girl is now a bride. She got married last September to a very decent guy Troy. Her dad proudly walked her on the aisle. No matter how old she gets, to her dad, she will always be daddy's little girl.

Virginia

While everyone was stressin' about their halloween costume and parties, my husband and I drove down to Luray Caverns and Skyline Drive in Virginia. 'Twas a long trip(3 and a half hour drive from where i live, one way) but sooo worth it. The scenery was breathtaking! Since we went there during fall season, we got to see the best fall colors. Our trip to Luray Caverns was also fantastic! As far as I know, this is the largest and most popular cave on the East Coast. It was beautiful inside, so relaxing. If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city life, these two great places are your saving grace.

Here's to 2011!

Sad News

2010-03-03T17:52:00.001-08:00

Life is really too short for some of us. Just this morning, I've got an email from a friend saying that one of our grade and high school classmates died. I haven't heard anything from him or seen him in 15 years, i think. So I was totally shocked and saddened to hear of his passing. At the age of 30's, he certainly died so young. May his soul rest in eternal peace.

When a situation like these arrive, it's a reminder to us all how precious and fleeting our lives are. Let's treasure each day we're alive.

Good News and Bad News

2010-02-28T22:15:00.001-08:00

I've got some good news and some bad news today. Which one do you want first? Okay. Let's start with the bad news. The Depot main office released a memo which says that all employees( full time or part time) must be available to work full shifts on Saturday and Sunday. I never work on a Sunday eversince I started. Then I've received this memo obliging me to revise my availability. Should I fail to do so by March 31, 2010, Home Depot will have no choice but to end our relationship effective on that date. Truly, this pissed me off. I'm already available all day from tuesday til saturday and I'm just part time. Now, they still want me to work on sunday!? Ugh! I really don't want to work on a sunday but hubby said to just go with the flow for now until I can find another job which is quite impossible or it might take a while. Economy is not stable yet. Unemployment rate is still rising.

As for the good news. We had a store meeting early this morning. During the meeting, the big boss just announced that they will give all employees a share in the profits of the company sometime this month. Yey! We're so happy and thankful that we still get our "profit sharing" despite the fact that the economy is shaky.

February 14...

2010-02-14T18:32:00.000-08:00

.. is a month of love, love, love! :)

It makes us laugh,
It makes us sing,
It makes us sad,
It makes us cry,
It makes us seek the reason why,
It makes us take,
It makes us give,
but above all else, it makes us live!
- Jane Fisher

Hope everyone had a wonderful, romantic valentine's day.

The Blind Side

2010-02-08T17:03:00.000-08:00

I loved this movie. It's a true story of Michael Oher (pronounced OAR). A homeless black kid from a broken family, taken in by the Touhys, a rich white family who gave him a second chance at life. They helped him fulfill his potential. With their tremendous support and encouragement, Michael was able to transformed himself into a sucessful football star.

A very good and funny movie, I must say. This is exactly my type of film. Really touching and uplifting story. It shows the human kindness and compassion. It provides a good insight into fears and preconceptions about different races. It's reassuring to know that there really are good people in this world. Amazing how much of a difference a single person can make by stepping out into the unknown. Normally, when people have fear and judge others, they isolate themselves and push those who needs help into the gutter. What Leigh Anne Tuohy and his family did was truly remarkable. Absolutely one of a kind.

Doodled All Day Long

2010-02-07T13:13:00.001-08:00

Due to heavy snow, church service has been cancelled today. Some roads are still covered with snow. I wanted to go see a movie but movie theaters were also closed. So hubby and I woke up really late and dawdled the day away surfing the web. :) Not really exciting and productive but I'm happy though. Hubby got some kind of educational apps downloaded on my ipod. While I watched some filipino shows and checking facebook at the same time.

Hopefully, the county will be able to finish plowing the road tomorrow so I can go out and enjoy my day off. I've heard that we will be having snow storm again on tuesday. Expected snowfall will be anywhere from 2 to 20 inches. Oh no!! I think I've had enough of snow already! Spring, please come quicker. :)

State of Emergency

2010-02-06T18:44:00.000-08:00

...was declared again for the second time in Delaware County due to snowstorm. Got a lot of snow today. I'd say about 21 inches. It was sooo white outside! Everything was covered in snow. Only few business establishments were opened including where I work at. Unfortunately, Home Depot won't close no matter what. Delaware officials encouraged them to stay open in case the state guy needs stuff. But of course, I called off since my block has been untouched by plow. One of my co-workers who showed up at work told me that there were still some customers looking for snow blower. Huh?! :) I wanted to go to work but the snow was already knee deep. Here's some of the pictures I took when I played in the snow. Hubby didn't join because he easily gets cold so he was just taking pictures of me.

Up to my knee.

Am stuck in knee deep snow!

Honestly, I could hardly get up.

Snowball!

Busy Day

2010-02-05T19:49:00.001-08:00

....at work today. Forecast stated that there will be massive storm starting tonight so people were into panic buying. What else is new? Herd of people rushed to depot today to buy shovel, ice melt and snowblower. Unluckily, our shovels, snow salt and snowblower were sold out quickly. The funny part was, when we got down to the last 1 or 2, we had customers fighting over it. Jeez! :)

Also, hubby and I went to grocery store right after I got off from work. Friday is our shopping day for goodies. And guess what? It was packed! I don't understand why Americans act like it's the end of the world. Are they not used to snow storm yet? Don't these people keep any food on hand at home? The weather has been forecasted a couple of weeks ago already so why all the panic? Why wait until the last minute to buy shovel, snow salt, etc.? One more thing, people always go out and buy shovel everytime they call for a big storm. What did they do with the shovel they bought for the last storm? :)

Just thinking aloud here...

Got A Reward

2010-02-04T20:26:00.001-08:00

..from my job for a job well done. :)

I caught a shoplifter trying to steal two big items by switching price. Sorry I could hardly remember what the item was. The not so old guy purchased an item that is worth $679.00 each with a barcode label of $98.00. Can you imagine that? Our store would have lost a thousand dollars, more or less. Unfortunately, I'm smarter than him. hahaha! Kidding aside, the shoplifter went through my register and he was trying to hide the original barcode by facing it down. And the fake one was facing up. But I really checked the item closely and noticed the pasted barcode. I called the head cashier right away but the guy hurriedly left the store.

Switching barcodes and buy merchandise for a lower value is not a new scam anymore. I've caught shoplifters of all sorts several times in the past three years. I guess reading a mystery novel helps, huh? :)

Sherlock Holmes

2010-02-01T20:34:00.000-08:00

Finally saw this movie today and the story goes like this:

Detective Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) and his partner Dr. Watson (Jude Law), must stop a murderous occultist, Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong) who has seemingly risen from the dead.

It's prolly not what most would expect of a Sherlock Holmes story but the film is quite fun and entertaining. Personally, Robert Downey Jr. was excellent at his role. And I loved the quirks of Downey and Jude Law. The only part I didn't like was that, at times I couldn't understand what some of the characters were saying in their british accent. But overall, 'twas a good movie. Hubby and I enjoyed it much. :)

It Was Snowing Today!

2010-01-30T18:11:00.001-08:00

The weathermen were wrong. They said it would turn the other way. Oh well, nobody's perfect! Usually if this happens my hubby will drive me to work. But this time I was already at work when the white stuff started to fall. When I got out, hubby was waiting. He told me to go first and he'll follow to make sure that I'll arrive home safely. But I left him in the dust! When I looked at the rearview mirror he was nowhere in sight. hehe..I was waiting for him at the parking lot instead.

'Twas my first time driving in a really heavy snow(about 2 inches). I mean, I've been driving in snow before but this is my first time to experienced that my car slid. Gosh, it really scared the hell out of me! I was near home when it happened. I pushed the break hard instead of pumping it slowly. My husband already told me tips for driving in snow countless times but I guess I have to learn by doing it. There's nothing like practice for honing one's skills. Get out there, stir up the salt and enjoy. And that's what I did. Thankfully, I arrived home safe and sound. :)

Avatar Movie

2010-01-22T17:38:00.000-08:00

I've heard a lot of good reviews about this from friends and co-workers. Of course, we don't wanna be left out so we went to see the Avatar in 3D this afternoon. Everyone I know that has seen this movie is definitely right. One word sums it up - incredible! So far, this is one of the best movies I've seen in 2010. Kudos to James Cameron! He is undeniably brilliant!

Pandora is sooo enchanting. Despite being entirely computer-generated, with the 3D glasses it looks real. It actually feels like you are right in the action. Some scenes will just blow you away.

So what did I learn from this movie? Well, I have to say I've learned quite a bit.

1. Everything in the world is interconnected. We have to take care everything around us.

2. Anyone can fall in love with anyone. :) Kasabihan nga, love knows no boundaries. :)

3. Some people are dickheads, selfish and greedy. They are only thinking of their own self-interest regardless if there are other living things that might get hurt.

4. Faith and goodness will still prevail in the end.

Whatta Surprise!

2010-01-18T20:07:00.000-08:00

Today is my day off but my husband and I woke up very early for our dental appointment. After we were done with the dentist, we drove past two houses. Both of us didn't like it. When we got home, I started cooking dinner. Then my husband's youngest daughter Aubree wanted to come over. She lives with her mom and she had no school today since it's a U.S. federal holiday(Martin Luther King Day). So while waiting for our food to be done, my husband picked her up. She's 16 and she's not driving yet.

I'm so happy that Aubree liked the food that I prepared. It started when she stayed with us last christmas. Now, she (according to her) always looks forward to it. For someone who doesn't know how to cook, it's really a big deal. And she even hugged me which really took me by a surprise. First time she did that to me. It's not that she didn't like me. There was just not enough time for us to know each other well until last christmas. And it also had something to do with her mom, of course. I'm pretty sure that her mom was feeding her negative words against me and her dad, hence the aloofness. Case point: when she stayed with us during holiday, she uttered something like, "she's nice(facing her dad). I didn't realize that you're nice(facing to me)". Huh? Where the hell do you think she got that idea that I'm not nice? We only met occasionally and God knows I didn't do anything that made her think that I am mean.

Anyway, God is really amazing. Now, she said to her dad that she likes me and she wishes to stay with us. In fact, before she left today, she asked if she can stay with us this coming Holy Week. That would be nice so she will get to know me some more. This is also one way for her to find out herself that her dad is not a monster as what her mom keep telling her.

Before You Judge Others...Know Thyself!

2010-01-13T08:21:00.001-08:00

A young couple moves into a new neighborhood. The next morning, while they are eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hang the wash outside. That laundry is not very clean, she said, she doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap. Her husband looked on, but remained silent. Everytime her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments.

About a month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband: Look! she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her. The husband said: I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows!

And so it is with life...What we see when watching others, depends on the purity of the window through which we look. Before we give any criticism, it might be a good idea to check our state of mind and ask ourselves if we are ready to see the good rather than to be looking for something in the person we are about to judge. Take a look at how you feel about being judged yourself. Would you want someone to look at your actions and interpret them the way you interpret theirs? It's up to you. But please take a look at yourself first before you judge others!

Are you getting enough sleep?

2010-01-12T10:40:00.000-08:00

I hope so since sleep is more important than you think. Not getting enough of it can have serious negative effects both mentally and physically. From my own experience, I can't function at my full capacity when I do not get enough sleep. I get cranky, stressed and can't focus on the task at hand. My sense of alertness goes down too. In fact, just recently I made careless mistakes at work. I misplaced some money and a check. It's not that much but it's something that has never happened to me before. My bosses were worried for me because it happened for two consecutive days. The good news is that my boss and one of my co-workers found it. Whew! Also, my immune system is weak, thus I easily get sick nowadays.

The reason why I didn't get enough sleep lately is because I've been working the late shift at my job. I couldn't sleep right away when I got home even if I was so tired. Until my body got used to it. Little did I realize that it has a negative impact on me. Need to change this before it's too late.

So dear readers, never ever understimate sleep. Not getting enough of it will catch you up.

Oh no!

2010-01-11T18:03:00.000-08:00

I am feeling under the weather again. I probably got this from my stepdaughter Amber, who visited us the other day. She had colds and was coughing terribly. As soon as she left, that's when I started feeling sick. I don't easily get cough and colds but my resistance nowadays is running low due to lack of sleep. For a few weeks now, I've been staying up way too late just downloading free apps to my touch ipod, checking websites that I am part of and editing my blog. Addict much? :)

I know that lack of sleep has negative impact on our health and well-being. As a matter of fact, I'm starting to feel the negative side effects of it already. And I don't like it, of course! :)That's why, part of my new year's resolution is to try to sleep early whenever I can.

Salted Dried Fish

2010-01-05T23:05:00.001-08:00

It was my breakfast this morning with spicy vinegar, warm rice and egg omelette. Salted dried fish is locally known as tuyo, bulad, or buyad(in my own dialect). It's a common breakfast food in the Philippines and goes well with warm or fried rice, egg omelette and a cup of warm coffee or hot chocolate. There are different varieties of dried fish but one thing most have in common is the strong odor when fried or grilled. I have to admit that the smell of it is a bit stinky but tolerable. My husband didn't think so. This morning, he said something like, Ewww, it smells like poop!!!(over and over again). He opened all the windows, switched on the exhaust fan, ran and locked himself in the bedroom. hahaha! And one more thing, I put the salted dried fish in the cabinet where he normally put his cereal and a box of green tea. So everytime he opened the cabinet to get the cereal, the salted dried fish was the first thing he would see. Actually, my husband said that the first thing he saw was the eyeball looking at him. LOL! When I was looking for it this morning, he said that he moved to another cabinet because it was bothering him. He felt like the fish was staring at him. hahaha! Well, one thing I can say, it smells like a dead rat and make you puke but the taste is delightingly fabulous. Yum! :))

New Look

2010-01-04T11:14:00.000-08:00

Since it's new year, I've decided to changed my blog template. I really don't like changing template every so often because of all the adjustment and widgets that I have to add again. Such a hassle! But I got tired looking at my old template so I decided to give this blog a new look. Actually, what I really wanted is to change it into a 3 column. But the 3 column templates that I found so far is in xml files. I need to zip and unzip it to get the code. And I'm so clueless on how to do this. I did try though, but it just keeps blinking and so many windows are popping-up. Sheesh!!! It was drivin' me crazy! So i'll just settle for this copy-paste template for now until i'll figure out how to zip and unzip files. Hope you like it. :)

I'm back!

2010-01-02T07:32:00.001-08:00

..to blogging. Wow, it's been two months since my last blogpost! I've gone into some kind of writing hibernation out of laziness, or simply the absence of compelling thoughts. But one of my new year's resolution is to try to blog more often, so here I am.

These are a few highlights from my past two months that I would like to share:

1. My mom had a successful cataract surgery. Thank God! She had a bad infection and cataracts in both eyes. I shouldered the majority of the expenses. Though it cost me an arm and a leg but I don't mind. I love my mom and I'll do anything for her. I was able to talked to her last christmas and she sounds happy.

2. My husband's youngest daughter Aubree stayed with us since christmas until the last day of the year. She's a nice kid. It's just that her mother didn't teach her things that she needs to learn while growing up.

3. PBB Double Up, Facebook, Friendster, Forums, Blogs, Yahoo Mail, Youtube, checking all these sites eat up so much of my time. Before I know it, I'm already runnin' out of time.

4. Planning our next move for 2010. So many plans and hopefully everything will fall into place.

The Celebration

2009-11-02T05:11:00.001-08:00

For our 3rd wedding anniversay, we were supposed to spend time together out of town. But it got cancelled due to the following reasons: Bad weather, my husband's car was acting up and we were both working that day. So we just celebrated it in a low key style. We went out to dinner at Longhorn Steakhouse. I chose this place because I was craving for their best dessert - Chocolate Stampede. This is absolutely to die for! If you can see, it has two huge slice of chocolate cake packed with six(if i'm not mistaken) different kinds of chocolate. Served with two scope of vanilla bean ice cream, fudge sauce and whipped cream. As I write this, I'm starting to drool already! :))

Overall, it was a great dinner. The food was superb and the service was excellent. Our celebration was just simple yet we both had an awesome time.

Three Years Married

2009-11-01T15:27:00.000-08:00

Last Oct. 28, 2009 was our 3rd wedding anniversary. I know this is a delayed post already but better late than never, right? Anyway, it has been three years since frazier and I exchanged rings and vows. Three great years. I'm not saying that in those years everything was perfect. There is no such word as perfect marriage. Not a bed of roses either. Like most married couple, we've had our share of ups and downs too but married life is like that. Problems and conflicts are always part of it. Marriage really takes hard work, commitment and loads of patience but it's worth it. God blessed me with not just a great man but a great husband. God is good! May the Lord constantly bless me and frazier with many years of happiness and love together until death do us part.:)

Halloween

2009-10-31T21:25:00.001-07:00

I have always wondered why halloween is such a big thing here in the United States. I've heard people talking about it in a month advanced, stressing themselves out thinking about what costume are they gonna wear. Why do they invest so much time in this? I am not anti-halloween. I just don't understand what makes halloween so important here in the United States. Is it because kids can do trick or treat and can dress up as their favorite characters? And women can show off their sexy outfit? As far as I know, halloween is paying honor to our ancestors who passed away already. We're supposed to remember them and pray their souls. So why everyone has to wear costumes, all night partying and drinking? Back home, we do celebrate halloween but not as much as Americans do. Christmas is the favorite and significant holiday in the Philippines. But in here, seems like it's the other way around. Well, just like what my husband always tells me, this is America - so be it! I just hope that everyone had a great, spooky and safe celebration of halloween.

Burger Cravings

2009-10-26T20:35:00.001-07:00

Honestly speaking, I'm not really fond of eating burger. Perhaps because I'm not a bread person. But to my surprise, I found myself craving a burger recently. It actually started when hubby and I went out for grocery shopping. I was a bit under the weather and I was starved that I couldn't wait to get home. Hubby is not much of a fast food restaurant and he already stopped eating burger two years ago. But I badly needed something quick or else I would get headache. So we went to Burger King, since it's closer to where we were during that time. As expected, I ordered chicken fries while hubby ordered the whopper. Whopper sandwich is a hamburger, consisting of a flame grilled quarter-pound beef patty, sesame seed bun, mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, pickles, ketchup, and sliced onion. It smelled and looks good so out of curiosity, I took a bite of the whopper. And I sort of like it.

Another burger that I'm craving for is the Angus Third Pounder from Mcdonald. I accidentally discovered this when I was craving of whopper sandwich. As usual, I was super hungry at that time and there was no Burger King nearby. The only fast food resto that's close to where my husband and I live is McDonald. So we went in and ordered the new Angus Third Pounder. This come in 3 varieties: DeLuxe, Bacon & Cheese and Mushroom & Swiss.

Among the 3 varieties, this is our favorite. I don't know why but hubby and I just love anything that has bacon. :)

Bacon & Cheese

There you have it, my favorite burgers for now!

I Miss Waking Up Early!

2009-10-25T20:46:00.000-07:00

I'm having trouble getting myself out of the bed in the morning lately. I wasn't like this before. I used to be a morning person. Whatever time I got to bed in the evening, I would wake up reasonably early. Because I used to get a headache if I sleep in beyond 7 in the morning. But recently, I found myself frequently burning the midnight candle and waking up late. Even my husband noticed it because I seldom make him breakfast now. He was teasing me that maybe I don't love him anymore. Aw, poor him!..lol.

I want to be an early riser again. I know it's kinda hard due to my work shift schedule. It varies every week that's why my sleep pattern changed, too. But I have to discipline myself to put mind over mattress. Getting a head start of my day simply feels great and productive. There's an adage that goes, "Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise". Hmmm...Not only that, it's a good feeling to wake up that early and feel the chilliness of early morning, to listen to the lovely chirping of different birds and see the sun starts to rise. I should add the rooster crowing but we don't have roosters around here. :)

One of the best way to achieve this goal of getting my butt out of the bed in the morning is to get a good night sleep. So folks, I gotta hit the sack now and wish me luck with the waking up early.:)

Ten Sure Signs for a Career Change

2009-10-23T17:37:00.001-07:00

I'm off today. I don't have to go back to work until tuesday. There is no holiday or any special occasion. I just want to have a break from my stressful job. I have 40 hours vacation time this year, so might as well use it. To be honest, I don't feel like going to work anymore. I am contemplating whether I should start looking for a different job. But then, I'm confused if it is really the right time for a career change? Are you having the same problem I have? Below are the ten sure signs for a career change that I came across online.

10. Your company is unstable.
9. You’re the wrong person in the wrong job.
8. Your health is compromised.
7. Your work relationship is not good.
6. Your job bores you.
5. You feel burned out.
4. You’re not allowed to explore your full potential.
3. Your salary is not enough.
2.You have no personal growth anymore.
1. You're not happy with your job.

Are you having one or two of these dilemmas? Then maybe it's really time for you to move on, quit your job right now, and look for some career that will change your life or something that you love doing. To achieve success, you must find something that you absolutely love to do. But of course, I am not telling you to quit your job right away! New job is hard to come by in today's economy. So always remember that before quitting your job... make sure that you have a sure job replacement.

Car-Not A Good Investment

2009-10-22T20:46:00.001-07:00

That's true. First of all, the value of the car depreciates. Secondly, car accidents are inevitable. When you get into so many accidents, the insurance premium will go up. In other words, you have to pay more money. That's why in my own opinion, it's not really wise to buy or invest cars. I know few people who does. Hubby's friend is one. He has 3 motorcycles (Harley Davidson) and 6 vehicles altogether. Goodness! Why buy a lot when he can only use one at a time? Oh well, it's none of my business. My stepson is another. He bought a truck worth 40k. But the bank eventually repossessed it. He can barely afford the monthly payment and his insurance was sooo high because he's into a lot of accidents. Someone wisely said that rare is the driver who makes it through life without experiencing a few bumps and dents every so often. So why waste money on buying a very expensive cars? Don't get me wrong, I would also love to have nice car. Unfortunately, nice, quality and expensive goes hand in hand. There is this one car I really like. I just don't like the price. :) It's a famous brand name too. Hubby said that it's not impossible to get it after we'll buy a house. But after my two minor accidents, I'm not interested anymore. Anything cheap but reliable and brand new will do. Brand new, so I don't need to fix it as often.

Car Accidents...

2009-10-21T22:43:00.001-07:00

..can happen to anybody who drives. No matter how good and prepared you are, no matter how safe and thoughtful driver you are, it won't prevent you from getting an accident, whether it's your fault or the fault of the other driver.

I've got in an accident myself. I've had two (not my fault and very small) car accidents in my 3 years of driving. The first one happened when I was still learning how to drive. I was in preparation to slow down in a YIELD sign during that time when someone suddenly hit my car. A yield sign means you must reduce speed when approaching an intersection. Give right of way and stop if necessary, if any other traffic is in, or closely approaching the intersection. Apparently, the driver was not paying attention because she was talking on the phone. In fairness, she admitted that it was her fault, she apologized and willing to pay whatever the damaged. But there was no major damaged in my car, just a little scratch. So hubby said to just let it go. Nothing happened to me but I was really shaking. It scared the hell out of me.

The second accident happened just a few months ago. I was on my way to work and I was getting ready to stop at the red light when the car behind me slammed into my car. Good thing there was no other car infront of me. The guy admitted that he was out of control. He was searching some papers while driving fast and he didn't notice that the light turned red. The moment he noticed it, it was too late already. The guy immediately checked on me because I didn't move. I was just sitting at my car for a few minutes to calmed down. I was really shocked. Then he asked me if I could still drive and park on the side so we can exchange information. I did park on the side and got out of my car to checked if there was any damaged because the impact was really strong. Thankfully, I was not hurt and there was just a small dent and scratches on the rear end of my vehicle. I told the guy not to worry. And besides, I was running late already for work. I arrived at work so shaken. But as the saying goes, work must go on. :)

Thermometer

2009-10-15T09:17:00.001-07:00

Which one should I get? After having a fever of 104, I am seriously thinking of getting one. I've already seen several kinds of thermometers but this device below caught my interest.

Infrared Ear Thermometer. This is what my doctor used when I went to his clinic last Monday. And this is how this device works. You put the short tube into the ear. Temperature will be obtain through your eardrum.

Been sick as a dog...

2009-10-14T20:47:00.001-07:00

..for almost a week. That's why I wasn't able to update this blog. Hubby and I went to the doctor last monday because we were both worried that I might be infected with swine flu. This kind of flu has been going around these days. Thankfully, I'm not positive with swine flu. But I had a bad cough that caused me chest pain and a fever of 104. I didn't know this because I don't own thermometer. I know it's necessary to have one. It just didn't cross my mind that I need one until just recently. As a matter of fact, this is my first time since I came here in the U.S. that I got sick real bad. So the doctor gave me prescription and remind me to buy a thermometer so I can monitor my body temperature. He told me not to rely on just touching my body with my hands to know if I have fever because the weather here in the U.S. is different. It keeps changing. My doctor is an asian by the way. So, peeps who doesn't have thermometer yet, better get one now. To those who have one already, good for you. :)

Suka Pinakurat

2009-10-04T16:28:00.000-07:00

Normally, right after church, we'll go straight to our favorite restaurant. But today, since I was craving for fried fish, we decided to just eat at home. After we heard mass, we stopped at the filipino store. I bought one big tilapia fish. While I was about to pay, I saw this small bottle near the register named Suka Pinakurat - a vinegar from Iligan. The name sounds familiar. Some members in the forum I joined always mentioned how good this vinegar is. That they are craving for this so bad. I didn't pay attention about this before for I didn't have any idea what it looks like and how it tastes like. I love vinegar but I never tried this one. Finally, when I saw it, I got curious. Thus, I bought one bottle. When we got home, I hurriedly fried the fish. I also cooked American dish for my hubby. And to satisfy my curiosity, I tried my new discovery Suka Pinakurat. Oh my..I looove it! It is a good dip most especially to a dried fish or to anything fried.

Suka Pinakurat is a spicy vinegar made from fermented coconut nectar and spices grown in the farmland of Iligan City and Lanao del Norte. The word pinakurat derived from the word kurat, which means surprise in Visayan vernacular. Therefore, pinakurat means, a sudden or surprising manner. I will definitely get another bottle of this next week. But I'll use this as dipping sauce because it's a bit pricey. To think that it is just a small bottle. For cooking, I'll still use Datu Puti. :)

Wedding Ring on Fourth Finger

2009-10-02T06:46:00.000-07:00

Nice illustration. Now I know why we put wedding ring on the fourth finger of the left hand. :)

There is no really specific explanations about this. But during ancient times, they come up with a simple possible answer since they can't put the ring around the heart. Ancient people believed that the vein, artery or nerve located on the fourth finger was connected directly to the heart. And as the left hand is a bit closer to the heart than the right, they put the wedding ring on the fourth finger of the left hand.

What a Tragedy!

2009-10-01T06:47:00.000-07:00

I'm deeply saddened by all the news I'm getting nowadays. Manila, Philippines was badly hit by Ondoy's wrath last Sept. 26, 2009. Typhoon is common in the Philippines. We've been lashed by so many typhoons and violent storms in the past. But this time, it's worst. The devastation is huge. Many filipinos were affected, become homeless, lost their loved ones and in dire need of help. Thankfully, my family is okay since they are far from the area. My brother who lives in Manila with his family, is also safe. My heart really goes out for all the victims of that tragedy. The only good thing is that, the filipino bayanihan is alive. Many faceless people are willing to go out of their way to help the typhoon victims.

But, what is this another news I've heard? Earthquake in Indonesia, Tsunami in Samoan Island and another huge storm coming towards Philippines. My gosh! What's happening in this world? To think that we're still coping with the global economic crisis. And Philippines haven't recovered yet from Ondoy's wrath. Some areas are still flooded. According to the news, the storm that's coming named Pepeng could be supertyphoon. Is this God's wrath? Man's folly? or nature's revenge? Sooo sad and scary. Situations like this make me realize that everything in this world is just temporary. Truly, God gives, God takes and God sovereign!

Job Cuts

2009-09-22T07:42:00.000-07:00

The ax is swinging at my job lately. Rumor has it that the management are trying to eliminate those employee that is not productive. Last month, one department head was surprisingly terminated from his position. Earlier of this month, they let our scheduler go. I kinda expected it because he has an attitude problem. And he always messed up our schedules. So good riddance! Then just recently, four of my co-workers got fired. I was really shocked when I learned about this. They were the ones I used to talked a lot at work. They were very helpful too everytime I needed them. Now they are gone. It's just so sad that I won't see them anymore. I'll surely miss them.

One thing I noticed about my job, they easily get fired people. One wrong move and you're done. No warnings and no second chances at all. For me, that is so mean. Everybody deserves second chance. But what can I do? The job I have is an entry level job. Employee will come and go. Usually the position are offered to an inexperienced person like me. I'm just there to learn and gain experience and eventually serves as a stepping stone for higher level jobs. That's why it's hard to invest emotional attachment to my co-worker. There's no guarantees how long can we stay. Either we will be terminated or we will move on.

A Must-See Video

2009-09-18T17:24:00.000-07:00

I had goose bumps while watching this video. Amazing girl! She's merely a child but she is already very much aware and concern about the country's problem. She's one damn courageous girl! Challenging everyone to do our share to help save the world and make it a better place for future generations. I posted this to my facebook profile so peeps in my friend's list can see this. At least in my own little way, I can be able to help by spreading her message. Everyone needs to watch this video and be enlightened with this girl's powerful and inspiring speech.

Massive Servings

2009-09-14T14:53:00.000-07:00

Eating out is one of the things that hubby and I have in common. We both love delicious food. Everybody does, right? As a matter of fact, we used to go out 4 times a week. We cut it down to once a week now. Not for anything else, but we are both gaining weight already and have bulging stomach. Yikes! lol..Well, it's not really impossible to gain weight here. Just look at the picture.That's their normal servings here for one person. One dish can feed 2-3 people. I don't understand, why is the servings here in the U.S. massive? No wonder, mostly Americans are bigger and worst, obese. No offense meant. :)

Famous Dave's Bar-B-Q

2009-09-13T19:58:00.001-07:00

One time, we were at the house of my stepdaughter's boyfriend. While we were eating, his uncles mentioned about this restaurant called Famous Dave's BBQ which at that time, was just newly opened. We heard good reviews from them about this restaurant. So out of curiousity, and I was also craving for barbecue at that time, we tried there. Truly enough, the food was good. Their barbecue is very close to the barbecue that I tasted in Philippines. Since then, we are patrons of the said restaurant. We already tried almost all the restaurants around our area. This is definitely one of our favorites. I even recommended this to all my friends and co-workers.

Rough Day At Work Today

2009-09-12T19:05:00.000-07:00

It was a very rough day at work today. Had an argument with two of my customers over an item that they were trying to purchased. One customer had a moulding. Unluckily, there was no barcode on it for me to scan. He volunteered to get another piece of moulding that has a barcode but he gave me a different one. I told him about it but he insisted that it was the same because he found it on the same rack. He was getting smart and I almost went ballistic. So I followed through with the transaction as quickly as I could. I don't care if it was a wrong one. I just wanted him to be out of my sight. He had only one item anyway.

The customer who was next to that first customer that I just had an argument, did the same thing. He bought a box of floor adhesive and he complained that the price was not right. So I called the paint associate for a price check. But the customer himself went back to the paint department, took the price label and gave it to me. Again, the label and the item didn't match. I explained it to the customer in a nice way, at least, and told him that I needed to verify the item first. But he got mad and started saying that he was in a hurry, blah, blah, blah. This time I really blew my top. I don't care if the management will gonna fire me but I had enough. I told the customer with a firm voice, that I couldn't finish the transaction just because he was in a hurry or whatever. My job is to make sure that I scan things correctly. The item didn't match to the label that he just gave me. Therefore I needed an associate to verify it. Then I called somebody in the paint department. Just like what the first customer did, he started getting smart and kept nagging at me. I just simply said to wait for the paint associate then I ignored him. He was so annoying!

I've been in my job for almost 3 years now. With the kind of job I have, I get to know people from all walks of life. Some are nice, some are difficult to deal with. I'm supposed to get used dealing with difficult people by now since I met them everyday, yet they still get on my nerves. There were times that I would question why God allow such people to exist. Or rather, why God allow me to met those kind of people. But looking at the positive side, I know God has a reason for allowing difficult people become part of my daily life. It has a purpose and that is to teach me the virtue of patience and to be more understanding. Admittedly, I have a short temper. In a way, I'm a difficult person for others too. God is definitely teaching me something here huh? And I'm sure He'll continue doing so until I'll learn to keep my cool and be a better person.

I Love the Sunrise

2009-09-11T15:23:00.000-07:00

The last time I witnessed sunrise was during our trip to Atlantic City last weekend. We arrived there so early so we stayed in the boardwalk while waiting for all the business establishments to open. We had the chance to see the sun rising above the horizon. What a stunning view! I felt blessed. Actually no better words to describe how I felt at that time. Since I came here in the U.S. three years ago, I barely see the sunrise. Watching the horizon turn from black to crystal blue/orange, really was amazingly beautiful. I don't know about you but just looking at the sunrise makes me feel that I'm closer to God, gives me hope and more appreciative of life. Makes me think that after darkness there's always light at the end of the tunnel. Sunrise symbolizes a brand new day and a fulfillment of one's purpose in life.

Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania

2009-09-10T07:33:00.000-07:00

Oh, it's been a while since the last time I updated this blog. I was not just in the mood. I had a long weekend off and made the most of it by going someplace different. Saturday, we went to Atlantic City. I already made a blog entry about our Atlantic City escapades. Then Sunday, right after mass, we went to Longwood Gardens. Hubby and I just love the beauty and the serenity of this place. Besides, we both love flowers. Can't wait to have our own place and have our own garden. We're working on it. :) By Monday, it was labor day. We were supposed to go somewhere else again but we were already exhausted and our legs was aching from walking during our weekend activities. So we just stayed at home and had some relaxing time together.

Here are some of the pictures I captured from Longwood Gardens.

We might come back to Longwood Gardens sometime soon. :)

Weekend Trip to Atlantic City

2009-09-05T19:58:00.000-07:00

Hubby and I just got back from Atlantic City. We were sooo tired. Our feet was sore from walking but we had a blast. We left Delaware around 5am. We arrived there almost 7am. We went right straight to the boardwalk and we were able to see the sunrise. Seated there for a few minutes and just let our mind wandered while staring at the sunrise and listening to the sound of waves and seagulls. It was mind relaxing though.

We also walked around downtown, visited some malls and of course, took some pictures. One thing I noticed about Atlantic City, there are lots of hotels and casinos. On the other side of the street, there's a lot of churches. Hmmm..interesting! Maybe after people gamble, they go to church to confess.Lol! There is more to see but we ran out of eneryg to walk around more. We just stayed at the boardwalk most of the time. It was nice there just sitting on the bench watching people from all walks of life.

We almost changed our weekend trip plans. We were supposed to stay at home and just relax. But I was really stressed out from my job that I needed a change of scenery badly. I have 3 days off from work so I convinced my husband that we need to go someplace different for a little while. Then I can come back to my job with renewed energy and ideas.

Facebook

2009-09-04T18:46:00.001-07:00

I'm currently addicted to Facebook. I think, it's more interactive than friendster. They have games too which makes it more fun. I have so many requests in Farmville, Yoville, Sorority Life and some other games. But some requests are still pending and some I ignored. Well, honestly, I just don't get it. I'm confused and I didn't make an effort to understand those games either. The only games that I played in facebook is the typing maniac. For me, it's not just a nonsense game.Typing Maniac also helps me improve my typing skills which is very useful when you apply in a job that requires typing skills. Anyway, I still do my friendster once in a while because some of my friends are still not into the other networking sites.

Bad Habit

2009-09-03T19:27:00.000-07:00

I really need to get rid of this bad habit of eating before sleeping. I'm gaining weight already. But it's so hard to resist. I'm weighing 110 lbs. now. I used to be 98 lbs..I couldn't wear mostly of the clothes that I brought from the Philippines anymore. And I already have flabby stomach. Geez! My husband keep reminding me to be in a good shape so I won't be having a hard time to conceive a child. But I'm so lazy to do exercise. I tried it just once. I did stretching and stomach crunching. The next day, I was aching all over that's why I didn't do it anymore.

Actually, I was a bit suprised that I gain weight because it's not in our genes to get fat. Some said I ate too much rice. But I've been eating rice ever since I can remember and I never gain weight until I came here. I gain 12 pounds. Could be because I don't sweat that much? Or American foods has a lot of preservatives? Whatever the case, I'm badly needed to shed off some extra pounds! Wish me luck! :)

Our Weekend Trip

2009-09-02T20:19:00.000-07:00

It's second day of Septembah! :) Summer is about to end. But it feels like autumn already. The weather is getting chilly. Hubby and I kinda like it. Spring and fall is our favorite season, actually. We both don't like winter and summer. Winter is just too cold and summer is too hot for us. Although I came from a tropical country, but summer's heat here in the U.S. is just unbearable. It's blisteringly hot! That's why, we didn't do anything or go anywhere during summer. But now that the weather is getting cooler, we're planning an out-of-town weekend trip. Our choice of destination will be Atlantic City. How exciting! We've never been there yet. We were supposed to go last weekend but it was postponed due to stormy weather. This time, we'll go there rain or shine! :)..Atlantic City here we come! Our last hurrah before summer ends.

Month of August

2009-08-31T19:52:00.000-07:00

Wow! Last day of August already? Time flies so fast. Before we know it, it will be 2010 already. Hubby and I has so many things to look forward to on 2010. Major decisions will be made that will surely change our lives. Can't wait already for that day to come.

By the way, have you noticed that August has 5 Saturdays, 5 Sundays and 5 Mondays? A little birdy told me that this happens only once every 823 years. Isn't that amazing?

Gotta go, get some sleep. It's been a long and tiring day.

More Facts About Me

2009-08-30T18:54:00.001-07:00

A. Attached or Single? --- Attached
B. Bestfriends? --- My childhood bestfriends and my hubby.

C. Cake or Pie? --- Cake..and Chocolate Stampede from Longhorn is my favorite.
D. Day of Choice --- Sunday..it's relaxing day or going out with hubby. :)
E. Essential item? --- laptop and digicam.
F. Favorite Color? --- all winter color.
G. Gummy bears or worms? --- what?!?!?..I don't like them.
H. Hometown? --- Philippines.
I. Favorite Indulgence? --- Eating out! :)
J. January or July? --- January because of the New Year :)
K. Kids? --- Soon!:)

L. Life isn't complete without? --- God, Hubby, my family back home and my true friends.

M. Marriage Date? --- October 28.

N. Number of magazine subscription: --- Zero for now.

O. Oranges or Apple? --- Fuji Apple.

P. Phobias? --- Big Dog 'coz I have two dog bites when I was 4 & 8 years old.

Q. Quotes? --- "Live for today but save for your future".

R. Reasons to smile? --- Hubby, friends, food and travel.

S. Season of choice? --- Christmas(lots of gifts)!!!..lol

T. Tea or Coffee? --- Jasmine Green Tea

U. Unknown fact about me? --- I can eat 6x a day without gaining weight but I eat like a bird. hehe

V. Vegetable? --- Broccoli

W. Worst habit? --- Eating before going to bed. :)

X. X-ray or Ultrasound?--- None of them!

Y. Your favorite foods? --- Fried Chicken, Pork BBQ (Philippine style), Stir-fry broccoli and sea foods.

Z. Zodiac sign? -- Taurus

Michael Jackson

2009-08-29T20:37:00.000-07:00

Today is Michael Jackson's birthday. I was not really his avid fan when he was still alive. In fact, I was not updated about his life at all. The only thing I knew about him was his famous moonwalk dance moves and a rumor that he was a pedophile. And that's about it. I didn't know that he was a singer/composer, that he was married and had kids. Lol! That's me! Sooo outdated with the news about foreign artists. Anyway, when MJ died, seems like almost everybody around the world was shocked and sad. I was wondering why people were crying so hard over him and why he was famous. So I started searching and watching his videos on youtube. Then I found out that he was the one who sang some of my all time favorite songs like Heal the World, You are not Alone, We are the World, just to name a few. And it really came as a surprise to me. I really thought that Heal the World was composed by a filipino artist.Lol! Anyway, out of all the songs that he sang or composed, Heal the World is on the top of my list. Everytime I hear this song, it makes me want to be a better person. :)

People can say a thing or two about Michael Jackson, being weird or whatever, but I love his music. Despite all the bad publicity against him, I still believe he's a good man. His goodness reflects on his song. And whatever he did in his private life, is none of my business. I won't judge him either for God is the only one who knows the whole truth and is the One to give judgment as He will to all of us when our time comes. As what they say, NO ONE IS PERFECT!

Happy birthday Michael Jackson. You're gone but never forgotten. Your music will live on in our hearts forever.

Just Venting!

2009-08-28T20:44:00.000-07:00

Just got home from work. Whatta long day! I'm drained. I was supposed to work today from 10 to 2 but my boss asked me if I can extend it until 7pm and I agreed. The problem was, I worked by myself most of the time today and I didn't get my last 15 minute break. We're a bit short of employee and we're not hiring either since America's economy is not getting any better yet.

I work in one of the largest home improvement specialty retailer in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and China. But to be honest, I'm already bored with the kind of job I'm in. Working in a retail store is not easy. It is more on dealing with customer so it entails a very long patience. Unfortunately, I don't have those traits. In simple words, I'm not a people person. I don't understand why God put me where I'm at now, but I'll understand later. My husband told me that maybe God wants me to learn how to be patient and not be shy. :)

On the other hand, just thinking of those people who wish to have the job I have and to those who are disabled, I should be thankful enough that I have a job. This may not be my dream job but this certainly keeps me going. It helps to pay our bills and my shopping addiction. hahaha...I plan to look for another job eventually. But right now, I might stay there until my husband and I will achieve our goal. We're planning to buy a house hopefully next year and we want to include my income. In order to do that, I should be at least two years or more on my job. That's one of the requirements in getting a mortgage loan. My husband's income will be enough but we want to borrow a substantial amount where we have the flexibility to afford a wide range of home prices.

Okay, I'm done venting out some dissatisfaction about my job. I feel better now.:) I know I should be thankful that I'm alive and able to work.

Laughter is the Best Medicine

2009-08-27T11:53:00.000-07:00

I just talked to my mother on the phone a while ago and she told me that I should not take my problems seriously and laugh at it instead. For laughter is a good exercise for my heart and weak lungs. It stimulates my heart, lungs and blood vessels. That is why there's an old saying that says, laughter is the best medicine. This sayings appears to be true until now. In time of stress, laughter is the most effective, least expensive methods to reduce stress as well. So let me share with you some of the jokes I saw while I was going thru this website. Hope this will make you laugh. Remember, he who laugh lasts. lol

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A Filipino Applies for a Job at Wal-Mart

An office manager at Wal-Mart was given the task of hiring an individual to fill a job opening. After sorting through a stack of resumes, he found four people who were equally qualified. An American, a Russian, an Australian and a Filipino. He decided to call the four in and ask them only one question. Their answer would determine who of them would get the job. The day came, and as the four sat around the conference room table, the interviewer asked, "What is the fastest thing you know?"

Dave, the American, replied, "A THOUGHT. It just pops into your head. There's no warning that it's on the way; it's just there. A thought is the fastest thing I know of." "That's very good!" replied the interviewer. "And now you sir?" he asked Vladimir, the Russian.

"Hmm.... let me see. A blink! It comes and goes and you don't know that it ever happened. A BLINK is the fastest thing I know." "Excellent!" said the interviewer. "The blink of an eye, that's a very popular clich·for speed."

He then turned to George, the Australian who was contemplating his reply. "Well, out at my dad's ranch, you step out of the house and on the wall there's a light switch. When you flip that switch, way out across the pasture the light in the barn comes on. Yep, TURNING ON A LIGHT is the fastest thing I can think of." The interviewer was very impressed with the third answer and thought he had found his man. "It's hard to beat the speed of light" he said.

Turning to Eleuterio, the Filipino, the fourth and final man, the interviewer asked the same question. Eleuterio replied, "Apter herring da 3 preybyus ansers sir, et's obyus to me dat the fastest thing is Diarrhea." "WHAT!?" said the interviewer, stunned by the response. The others were already giggling in their seats...

"Oh, I can expleyn sir,." said Eleuterio. " You see sir, da ader day my tummy was peeling bad and so I run so fast to the CR, but before I could THINK, BLINK, or TURN ON THE LIGHT,'tang ina, sir, I had alreydi shit in my pants!"

Eleuterio is now the new "Greeter" at Wal-Mart.

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Best Divorced Letter

Dear Husband:

I'm writing you this letter to tell you that I'm leaving you for good. I've been a good woman to you for seven years and I have nothing to show for it. These last two weeks have been hell. Your boss called to tell me that you had quit your job today and that was the last straw. Last week, you came home and didn't notice that I had gotten my hair and nails done, cooked your favorite meal and even wore a brand new negligee. You came home and ate in two minutes, and went straight to sleep after watching the game. You don't tell me you love me anymore, you don't touch me or anything. Either you're cheating or you don't love me anymore, whatever the case is, I'm gone.

P.S. If you're trying to find me, don't. Your BROTHER and I are moving away to West Virginia together!

Have a great life!

Your EX-Wife

The husband replied :

Dear Ex-Wife:

Nothing has made my day more than receiving your letter. It's true that you and I have been married for seven years, although a good woman is a far cry from what you've been. I watch sports so much to try to drown out your constant nagging. Too bad that doesn't work. I did notice when you cut off all of your hair last week, the first thing that came to mind was "You look just like a man!" My mother raised me to not say anything if you can't say anything nice. When you cooked my favorite meal, you must have gotten me confused with MY BROTHER, because I stopped eating pork seven years ago. I went to sleep when you had on that new negligee because the price tag was still on it. I prayed that it was a coincidence that my brother had just borrowed fifty dollars from me that morning and your negligee was $49.99. After all of this, I still loved you and felt that we could work it out. So when I discovered that I had hit the lotto for ten million dollars, I quit my job and bought us two tickets to Jamaica. But when I got home you were gone. Everything happens for a reason I guess. I hope you have the fulfilling life you always wanted. My lawyer said with your letter that you wrote, you won't get a dime from me. So take care.

P.S. I don't know if I ever told you this but Carl, my brother was born Carla. I hope that's not a problem.

Signed

YOUR EX-HUSBAND, Rich As Hell and Free!

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The Real Boss

A young couple on their wedding night were in their honeymoon suite. As they were undressing for bed, the husband, a big burly man, tossed his trousers to his new bride. He said, "Here, put these on." She put them on and the waist was twice the size of her body. "I can't wear your trousers." she said. "That's right,'' said the husband, "and don't you ever forget it. I'm the man who wears the pants in this family."

With that she flipped him her panties and said, "Try these on." He tried them on and found he could only get them on as far as his kneecaps. "Hell," he said. ''I can't get into your panties!" She replied, "That's right...and that's the way it is going to stay until your attitude changes."

Now, who do you think is the real BOSS??? :)))

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Fun Messages to Leave on your Answering Machine

"Hi, I'm not home right now but my answering machine is, so you can talk to it instead. Wait for the beep."

"Hi. Now you say something."

"Hello. I am David's answering machine. What are you?"

(From Japanese friend ) He-lo! This is Sa-to. If you leave message, I call you soon. If you leave sexy message, I call sooner

"This is not an answering machine -this is a telepathic thought-recording device. After the tone, think about your name, your reason for calling and a number where I can reach you, and I'll think about returning your call."

"Hi. I am probably home, I'm just avoiding someone I don't like. Leave me a message, and if I don't call back, it's you."

"Hi, this is George. I'm sorry I can't answer the phone right now. Leave a message, and then wait by your phone until I call you back."

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I Had a Dream

2009-08-26T22:10:00.000-07:00

I woke up very early this morning with just a few hours of sleep. I don't know why but I'm having a hard time sleeping at night lately. A bad dream woke me up and I couldn't sleep anymore. I was dreaming that someone took all the tires from my car. lol!..Sounds funny but it got me worried for a moment. So I immediately searched on the internet the meaning of it.

"To dream that you lose a wheel from your vehicle, indicated that you are feeling lost. You do not know what direction to go or where you are headed to go."

"Having something stolen from your car represent being taken advantage of, feeling disrespected, not validated or undervalued somehow."

I do believe in dreams but I don't take them literally. I can take it as a warning but definitely not live my life according to my dreams. Some dreams can be prophetic but some are just little dramas our minds make up. Things we experience or think about often enter our dreams as reality (even if it's not). Just like the dream I had last night, it could be because I worried too much about my car. It's acting up lately and had caused me to be late at work, for the first time in almost 3 years that I've been working. Or it could be because I was annoyed by some of my bosses and co-workers' unfair treatment towards me. It is just this thing called discrimination. Or maybe it's telling me to focus on myself, have a goal and see life from a different point of view. Oh well, whatever happens, happens. Just have to trust God and ask for His guidance and protection.

Gossip at work

2009-08-24T10:37:00.000-07:00

One of my co-workers, who just newly transferred at that time from other Depot store, approached me and asked about my husband's age and my age. I was flabbergasted by her being blunt. We never talked or had any conversation at all prior to that incident, since she just moved in. So her question didn't make sense to me at that time. That's when I realized that people at work are actually gossiping about me marrying a mature guy, otherwise she wouldn't asked that kind of question. She should asked first where I came from. Asking somebody's age especially if you just met is rude what more to ask my hubby's age. Obviously, that woman has no proper etiquette. It was kinda annoying but I tried to calmed down myself for I didn't want to stoop to her level. She is still young and still needs to learn a lot as far as proper etiquette is concern.

My husband is the type of person who thinks a lot and a worrier by nature. He takes things seriously. He also got married at the age of 19. So he learned what family responsibility means at such a young age. That's why he looks matured than his age but he's still in his mid 40's.

I don't understand why some people are making age a big deal. So what if my husband is older than me? What is wrong about it? It's definitely my choice! Nobody has the right to question my choices nor judge how I live my life. And besides, I'm not that young anymore either. I'll be 32 early next year. And we didn't do anything immoral. Does age really matters when it comes to love? For us, it's not. Age is just a number. As long as we love each other and we're happy, that's all that matters. Who gives a damn what others think?! We don't form our marital happiness based on other people's acceptance or judgment. Whether the marriage is successful or not, age has nothing to do with that. It's the couple's lifetime commitment. To those people whose business is to mind each other's business and putting someone down secretly, get a life and may God bless you.

25 Random Facts About Me

2009-08-18T18:54:00.000-07:00

1. I am naturally quiet and painfully shy but I tend to be talkative when I'm around people I trust.

2. I'm a good listener and I don't enjoy much talking...makes me tired.

3. I don't know how to swim.

4. I almost drowned twice already.

5. I have stage fright.

6. I joined declamation contest when I was 7 years old and wasn't able to finish it because I forgot the ending part. toink! Lol!!

7. I love to travel and see places.

8. I was 6 years old when I had my first experience being in a plane. We went to Manila for a vacation.

9. I am the youngest of four and the only rose among the thorns.

10. I am quiet when I'm mad because I don't want to say or do things I might regret.

11. I'm loyal to those who deserves my loyalty but won't hesitate to break the friendship once you did something unacceptable to me.

12. Among the filipino foods, dinuguan(pork blood stew) is my favorite.

13. I love lucky me pancit canton.

14. I am very picky when it comes to choosing friends. I don't wanna be around people who thinks a lot of negative thoughts towards other people. I'd rather be alone than having a bad companion.

15. Yes, I only have few friends but they are for life. I believe in quality than quantity.

16. I can keep secrets.

17. I went to catholic school from highschool to college.

18. I broke my left leg when I was 8 years old. I had half leg cast and had to use crutches for almost a month.

19. I love listening rags to riches stories. It's inspiring.

20. I love reading. I don't mind reading the whole day.

21. I had my first boyfriend at the age of 15.

22. I wanted my first boyfriend to be my last but obviously, it didn't work.

23. I don't drink alcohol and I'm a certified non-smoker.

24. I am tone deaf.

25. I love shopping but have no patience walking around the mall. I easily get tired.

Couple of the Day

2009-08-17T11:42:00.000-07:00

Our visit to National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland last July 2008 was really memorable. At first, my husband was hesitant to go since he easily get lost with direction. But I convinced him to go anyway. That's the only way to conquer his fear of getting lost. So we went there and I was the navigator. We arrived there early and peacefully:)..But the gate was still closed. It opens at 8am. While waiting for the gate to open, we entertained ourselves by taking pictures and exploring the place.

At exactly 8am, gates opened and the ticket we bought was a complete package which includes, Dolphin Show and 4D Immersion Theater. We were both truly excited. As we walked inside, one guy suddenly approached us. He introduced himself as the manager and told us in a nice way to follow him. Hubby and I were looking at each other, wondering why. We didn't want to cause any commotion since it was getting crowded, so we obeyed and walked beside the manager. But I was already freakin' nervous and worried. Then the guy tried to get everybody's attention. He wanted everybody to come near him as he had some few announcements. He started by telling the crowd where the exact location of the aquarium, the theater and the dolphin show. Also, the "should do and shouldn't do" thingy to avoid accidents, stuff like that. Then he ended it by telling everybody that they chose us to be the couple of the day. Wow! What a surprise! :)..They gave us hats with the National Aquarium logo and they took us picture together. Here it is...

They also introduced us to all the staff and had a pose with them. Sad to say, the picture was kinda blurry. Before the dolphin show started, the tour guide took us to the backstage and we had a small chat with the trainers. We also had the chance to see the dolphin up close and even touched them. One trainer made a sign for the dolphin to say hello to us and the dolphin splashed the water towards us. That's how the dolphin say hello. Sooo cute! Then my husband had the privilege to participate in the show, as you can see in the picture below. The show was fantastic and we really enjoyed. Same thing in the 4D Immersion Theater. The 4D film was amazing and educational too.

Inside the Immersion Theater

People were clapping their hands and congratulated us after the announcement that we were the couple of the day. My husband was so thrilled, but not me. Don't get me wrong. I was happy but knowing me, I am painfully shy. As a matter of fact, I was blushing and wanted to run and hide at that time. Lol!!!..I actually asked my husband to tell the manager to just find another couple. Obviously my husband didn't listen to me or else we would have missed that once in a lifetime opportunity. Next to the National Aquarium is a cheesecake factory. We were supposed to go there for our lunch but as the couple of the day, we were given a free lunch. The manager and his assistant joined us in the cafeteria. So I had the chance to asked the manager why they picked us. He said, upon entering the door, he noticed that we were the only couple smiling. It showed in our faces that we were happy and excited which is true. When we got home, my husband said that it was actually my exotic beauty that caught the manager's attention.:)..oh well, he is really my husband huh! The whole experience was amazing, educational and undeniably unforgettable. We do hope to go back there someday.

Looks Can Be Deceiving

2009-08-17T11:01:00.000-07:00

My husband and I attended a thanksgiving party of one of my filipina acquaintances. She just got approved of her application for American Citizenship. So many guests attended inasmuch as it was a double celebration. Her daughter was also celebrating her 5th birthday. At the party, my husband mingled with some of "the husbands" while I was also busy chatting with some of "the wives" just across the table. One of the husbands asked Frazier, where was his wife at. My husband pointed at me. The conversation went like this...

Guy: Where's your wife at?
Hubby: She's there (pointing at my direction) wearing a maroon sweatshirt.
Guy: (looking at me)..is she still 19?
Hubby: (laughing) Heck no! she's already 31.
Guy: (surprised)..Really?!? i'm sorry. She looks younger than her age.
Hubby: I know. It's ok, I'm already used to it.

Really, looks can be deceiving. That was just one of the many incidents I experienced. Even at work, I encountered the same. At first, I was annoyed. But now, I am enjoying it especially the part where they found out they were wrong. It's funny looking at their faces with slightly open mouth after they discovered my real age.

Three Years in the Making

2009-08-13T20:25:00.000-07:00

Heaven knows how many times I was tempted to start my online journal but laziness always strikes me three years ago. Not only that, I didn't know how and where to start. And our internet connection at that time was not working too good. It was slow like a turtle. But just the other day, for some strange reason, I decided to signed up and be a part of the blogging world. At last! I am extremely happy because this is one of my goals since I came here in the United States three years ago. Yes, you read it right. My hubby used to tease me that this blog is three years in the making. Well, making blog is not that easy than what I thought. It took me a long while to chose my blog title. Customizing template the way I want it is a bit confusing either, but I'll get the hang of it. Hopefully, I won't get lazy updating this blog. Hmmm...we'll see.