Heaven on Earth

"When we choose not to focus on what's missing from our lives, but are grateful for the abundance that's present . . . we experience heaven on earth." ~ Sarah Breathnach

Wandering Soul

"Not all those who wander are lost." --J.R.R Tolkien

I'm glad someone agrees with me.

Neil Patrick Harris aka Doogie Howser

We also know him now as Barney Stinson in the tv series How I Met Your Mother. I like him, but I still can't explain why I'm not so into HIMYM. Anyway, he hosted this year's Emmys and performed a lively opening number -- Put Down the Remote. One of the lines goes "...the curves she has shown, it could make a blind man say 'damned.' She could turn a gay straight. oh wait, never mind, there's John (somebody)"...hahaha...we all know Neil is a very content gay man. Great job for hosting the Emmys! :)

 

Katie Melua: Just Like Heaven

Roses in the morning:)

My beautiful morning made more beautiful by a vase of roses on my PC table. ( A sample of Ethyl's flower arrangement skill) :)

The wonderful smell of roses was with me throughout the day. :) Thanks 'thyl! visit again sometime soon...hehehe

DOST Final Clearance

This morning, I felt like Maxwell Smart the day he became a field agent: oooh! I'm so happy... i'm so happy!  This is the best day of my liiiife! :) After years of putting off my application for a final clearance, I finally did it! It was easier than I thought it was. :)

Robert Ringer is right “Action!:  Nothing Happens Until Something Moves.”  And that “something” is me. I have to act or expect in the future to wonder “What happened?” So, when I finally got over procrastinating, I completed the process I’ve been dreading. I thought it would only be a waste of my effort and time, but I was proven wrong; and I’m happy about it. :)

Now that it’s done, I wish I’d always think the way Thomas Huxley thought when he said, “Do what you should do, when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not.” I’ll keep this thought in mind. *tongue in cheek* :)

 

An afterthought: What's next???

 

Raising the Bar: A TV Series

It's a legal drama involving a group of lawyer friends who were former classmates in law school and now find themselves in opposite sides. Their common trait? They worry too much (sounds like someone I know so well *wink*). The pilot episode wasn't really that interesting but after I saw the second episode of the first season, I got hooked! :) Prudence must be exercised in order to avoid crossing the line. Making a bad case (or anything) look good has its consequences.

Winning is not everything! :) A trite but true maxim that we should remember from time to time.

Solitude

solitude [noun]

Defined by Microsoft® Encarta® as the state of being alone, separated from other people, whether considered as a welcome freedom from disturbance or as an unhappy loneliness.

 

 

 

My personal hobbies are reading, listening to music, and silence. ~  Edith Sitwell (1887 - 1964)

 

So, you may not want to shatter my silence :)

. . .

. . .

. . .

  

 

{it's irritating. . . J I've always believed that it's not what you say, but how you say it that matters. But I realized, it's easier said than done.}

 

 

 

Nothing is so good for an ignorant man as silence; and if he was sensible of this he would not be ignorant.  ~ Saadi (1184 - 1291)

5 Seconds Lost

I was still full of joy when I got on the jeepney that morning. It was the morning after I received the news I've been hoping for after 4 months of wondering and thinking of so many ifs. It was the morning that I felt I could face and conquer anything thrown at me. But, while I was savoring the beauty of the morning, I was totally caught off guard when all of a sudden, within the blink of an eye, I was in the middle of the jeepney aisle, on my knees, almost on top of the back of the lady sitting beside me.

I was so surprised that I thought I was sleeping and I woke up in that position with the passengers sitting on the other side, staring wide-eyed, shocked, but with amusement in their eyes. When I looked at the front of the heap of passengers (which included me), I saw the girl who was also on her knees, looking back at us, smiling. . . wait a minute. . . Why was she smiling? Why were the other passengers staring at us, slightly amused? Why was there silence as if nothing happened? Nobody got angry, nobody was cursing. Why did the car infront of us stop without giving a signal? Why wasn't I holding on the bar that passengers were supposed to hold on to? Why, why, why....But at that moment, I didn't ask for the answers. As if, I didn't care. As long as we're all okay, I was fine with it.

My knees were still trembling when I went back to my seat, I couldn't even hear most of what the passengers were saying, it was so surreal for me. Thoughts of my last will and testament went through my head...eng!uhmn. . . (reality knocked)...do I have one? Well...it was just wishful thinking. :) A lot of thoughts really went through my head. I don't want to go through all the details here because you may not like what you'll read. But suffice it to say, I couldn't help smiling after that incident. Isn't it ironic, don't you think? (sounds familiar?hehehe) Someone once told me that I'm like a mathematician (ironic again).."like everything is connected to something..like every hyp has a reason..."Surprisingly, at that time I didn't care to look for the answers. I was just thankful we weren't thrown out or that the jeepney didn't roll over.

Anyway, until now I still don't know what really happened that morning. Only that the car infront of us stopped without giving a signal so the jeepney driver slammed on his breaks throwing the passengers on his side into a human heap in the middle of the jeepney aisle. Thankfully, nobody got hurt. The moment -- between my last thought, while comfortably seated, to the moment I realized that I was on my knees staring at the back of my seatmate -- was the 5  seconds in my adult life  that I couldn't recall even though I wasn't given a major anesthetic. Everything just went blank. It made me realize that our lives can be snuffed at any given moment. We may never even know what hit us. It'll just be gone.

Most of us usually get to appreciate life when we experience the threat of losing it. That's why (I was told) some people seek thrills to scare themselves, to feel fear, in order to help them appreciate life. Do we need to be scared in order to appreciate life? I hope not.  (I think I'll stop wishing I could bungee jump...for now. :) )

Magical Feeling

The friendship...the rapport...no regrets...better to know than continue to ask "what if?" 'til who knows when...it was good while it lasted, just like the movies...For the person who once called me H., goodbye and thanks for the mem'ries. ;) In case you wanna know, the end was a Magical Feeling.:)

How to Peel a Pineapple

I'm not very fond of eating pineapples, but I know how to peel one (bugera!)hehehe....I've searched the internet and found a step-by-step procedure and a video in case you want to peel-along...hehehe...



I know someone who has no idea how to peel this very complicated-looking fruit. This is for her. But, if you're like her, aren't you glad you found this? hehehe...Happy peeling!:)

Archie Andrews: Getting Hitched?

I read the news this morning. I found it funny coz I never thought Archie's marriage proposal will be news:) But if you've been a player in the singles' field for 60+yrs, it's news! Won't you agree?:) I was never an Archie fan but back in the good old days, I sometimes get to read some of the Archie comic issues (borrowed). But I do admit I bought an issue on Jughead...hhhmmnn...now, i realize funny(?) people really interest me since those days (Jughead amuses me)...no wonder...hehehe...okay, back to Archie...When I read the article, I was surprised 'coz I did not say "who cares?!" I was smiling because I was also intrigued whether he'll propose to Betty or Veronica. If it's going to be Betty, I'll bet she'll be very happy. Or not. If it's Veronica, I know she'll also be happy but with a smug smile on her face, assured that she's always got what she wants. But, can she maintain that smug look? *evil thoughts...hehehe* But, won't it be a surprise if Archie's proposal doesn't get accepted by either girls? That would be a surprising twist to good ol' Archie's player image.ha!;) Will the comic series end after this significant event? Maybe it's about time. Although I no longer read the Archie series, I miss the moments when I read them. The innocent laughs, chuckles, and the thoughts of whether or not I'd get to experience the joy of sharing true friendship with friends, which I did and still do...and infatuation? *big grin*

Can I make new paths?

I was able to chat with a friend who I haven't seen and talked to for quite a while. I missed her. Our conversation was very enlightening and I would really like to share them with you especially if you're someone "reflective" as my friend said. But since I'm kinda lazy pressing my keyboard keys to try to put into words the conversation that has made me happy today, I'll just share her thoughts:

"it is only when we are free that we can truly love...so if in the middle of the journey you find that it's not for you, then you will always have a choice."

"if we always follow where the crowd goes, who can make new paths?"

I wish that like her, one day (soon) I can make a new path:)

Mangape ta!

My favorite drink...perks me up from slumber...

Circles

My "lovely locks"

Someone kind of asked me why I had to chop off my "lovely locks." My response was to get rid of the bad vibesJ But there's more to it than that.  I was inspired by Kate Nowak's article on "The Secret of Living Fearlessly," which states that there is an "exquisite freedom in being possessionless and sweet content in being empty. It is one of [the] paradoxes of life that we must lose everything before we are able to understand that, in reality, we have never had anything to lose." (my mane is one of the things I got so attached to) What better day to start fearless living than today?J

A blunder

I was totally embarassed when my superior learned (from me) that I described a navigation bar in the project I'm currently working on as a "line of numbered buttons." hahaha...Seriously, what was I thinking??? I should have made it short and sweet  (I'm vigorously shaking my head from side to side and rolling my eyes). This is the result when my mind's busy somewhere else (just my excuse to hide my reddened face though...ssshhh) Still....after a very long and busy day, it's good to know that I can still laugh at my own mistakes. I can still laugh!:)

Rejoice!

dawn...dusk

 

Let the sun shine.  -- Henry David Thoreau

The Suffering

Solitude

Gelati

Lime

Passionfruit

* inspired by a friend's photoblog:)*

Troubleshooting a slow connection

A few days ago, my newly configured wireless internet connection has slowed. Since I've networked my PC to Weng's PC on my own (hambugera! daw...hahaha), I'm embarassed to call a PLDT technician expecting that I'd get scolded for messing up the connection. So the next sensible thing I did was to search the internet and voila! I found this article. It says changing my WiFi channel number could be the answer to my trouble...and....it worked!:) According to the article, a WiFi network that shares a channel with another network shares resources for "network connectivity" using up more bandwidth thereby slowing the connection. Honestly, I'm not sure that what I did improved my connection  (i've downloaded this utility that checks whether the channel i'm using is crowded with other wifi routers. none of the channels are even used in our area) but who cares?:)

Chocolate Extreme a la mode

"I am not a glutton - I am an explorer of food" — Erma Bombeck

[caption id="attachment_83" align="aligncenter" width="191" caption="the Chocolate Extreme a la mode is at the highest level of "sweet""][/caption]

Dee's highly recommended "chocolate extreme a la mode" got the best of my sweet tooth as i search for the best a la mode (according to my taste). I'll probably avoid sweets in the next couple of months...i won't try it again Dee...hahahaha...eating this huge and very, very, very sweet dessert made me dizzy....hehehe*peace dee*

DOST Clearance???

A friend did the research for me (thanks J)...hoping i am cleared to personally travel abroad and maybe... find a job???unfortunately(?)/fortunately(?)...i still can't...hehehe.. I honestly don't know what to feel (indifferent?...maybe....bcoz i've been thinking about this hassle for years now...& got tired of just thinking...hehe)

For my fellow "uncleared" DOST-SEI scholars, here are the links for future references:

Clearance Guide

 

Dunong Kalye (a DOST scholar's blog)

Defying Fear

 

v   The wise man in the storm prays God, not for safety from danger, but for deliverance from fear. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson, Journals, 1833

  

v   I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain. -- Frank Herbert, Dune. Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear

  

v    Don't waste life in doubts and fears; spend yourself on the work before you, well assured that the right performance of this hour's duties will be the best preparation for the hours and ages that will follow it. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

v   You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing which you think you cannot do. -- Eleanor Roosevelt

  

v   If I can endure for this minute whatever is happening to me No matter how heavy my heart is or how dark the moment might be... If I can but keep on believing what I know in my heart to be true, That darkness will fade with morning and that this will pass away, too... Then nothing can ever disturb me or fill me with uncertain fear, For as sure as night brings dawning, my morning is bound to appear... -- Unknown

 

v   If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment. -- Marcus Aurelius

  

v   I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear. -- Rosa Parks

  

v   Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear. -- Mark Twain

  

v   Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear. -- Ambrose Redmoon

  

v   Anything scares me, anything scares anyone but really after all considering how dangerous everything is nothing is really very frightening. -- Gertrude Stein

 

v   Anything I've ever done that ultimately was worthwhile... initially scared me to death. -- Betty Bender

  

v   I am not afraid of tomorrow, for I have seen yesterday and I love today. -- William Allen White

  

v   Fear is just your feelings asking for a hug.  -- Danielle Sanchez-Witzel and Michael Pennie, My Name is Earl, "South of the Border Part Uno/Dos," original airdate 7 December 2006, spoken by the character Joy Turner

  

v   Being frightened is an experience you can't buy. -- Anthony Price - Sion Crossing (1984)

YOU

You found me. Are you the One J; or just the Next one L? Whatever [it] may be, I'm glad you found me....[again]....

resulta sa kulang ug tulog:)

Nightshift. Nothing to do but sleep, eat, drink, work, watch movies, listen to music, play pc games, sleep again, work, and text messaging in between. I never liked the work schedule, but it has given me an excuse to not sleep when everybody is sleeping just so I could think (think of what/who???); an excuse to not sleep even during weekends for reasons that bring a smile to my face (smile because of what/who???). *smiling* (really can’t help but smile..hehe) In the past few days I found myself waking to my neighbor’s loud music, which surprisingly did not irritate me as it used to be. I honestly like the songs in the playlist that he/she continues to play for the past few days. They make me smile and let me think of happy thoughts. *smiling again* I even find myself wishing that I’d wake up with those songs playing…which reminds me of James Ingram’s “How Do You Keep the Music Playing”… it goes – How do you keep the music playing? How do you make it last? How do you keep the song from fading too fast? How do you lose yourself to someone? And never lose your ways. How do you not run out of new things to say? And since we’re always changing How can it be the same? And tell me how year after year You’re sure your heart will fall apart Each time you hear his name I know the way I feel for you It’s now or never The more I love the more that I’m afraid That in your eyes I may not see forever..Forever..If we can be the best of lovers Yet be the best of friends If we can try with everyday to make it better as it grows With any luck, then I suppose The music never ends I know the way I feel for you It’s now or never! (How do you keep the music playing?)  The more I love the more that I’m afraid (How do you make it last) That in your eyes I may not see forever Forever… (How do you keep the song from fading, keep the song from fading too fast) If we can be the best of lovers Yet be the best of friends If we can try with everyday to make it better as it grows With any luck, then I suppose the music never ends – that’s it…hahaha….whew! looking forward to fun- and love-filled days….*wink*..hehehe … bunga ra bitaw ni sa y tulog…hahaha….nya wa kasabot sa gitrabaho…sssshhhhh…J…