Last rant for 07

2007 will quietly slip away. We'll be home to welcome the new year. A whole lot better alternative than to be out and about in the streets. There's a lot of crazy people out there. Crazy stupid. Like this one who killed 5 family members because he decided to drive his vehicle while under the influence. He drove his pick-up truck on the wrong side of the interstate and collided head-on with the family's mini-van. It's senseless. It's sickening.

On another note, I would like to thank all of you who never tire to visit and leave comments. For those who clicked my url for the first time, thanks as well. I have a lot of pictures to post, and a lot of stories to tell....just very little time to spend on the computer. The family is enjoying the Wii and Air hockey table immensely, there's rarely time to go online. We have been entertaining guests as well, people who we haven't seen in ages.

2007 was a roller coaster year. But If I were to sum it up, despite all the trials and tribulations, I can say that we've been richly Blessed! I learned a lot of valuable lessons along the way. I found happiness in the happiness of others. I learned to focus and be thankful for what I have rather than whine and complain about what I don't have.

I wish you all a Happy and Blessed New Year! Surround yourself with positive people and think positive thoughts. Look in the mirror and say this out loud: "I'M TOO BLESSED TO BE OPPRESSED!!!". Life is good. Think it. Live it. Breathe it.

Greetings

From our family to yours,

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A BLESSED NEW YEAR!!!!

Wannabe

There are about 4 golf courses within the close proximity of our house. I'm an expert putt-putt golf player (I played once before), and I'd like a little upgrade so I'm thinking about trying a real golf course in the summertime. I'm never going to be like Tiger Woods, but I can try it for fun. I'm already looking at Adidas golf gear. Hey, I know I'm going to stink at this but I can at least play the part of a trying hard wannabe golfer.

one more thing

Christmas shopping is almost done. "Almost" being the operative word. I'm feeling a little bit frustrated every time I go to the mall because I get nothing done. I easily get disoriented in the midst of people. It's just crazy out there. Everybody seems to be in a rush. We only have one more family member to buy a gift for (hubby's youngest sister). I might get her and her hubby luggage sets because she had it listed in her bridal registry. I figure why not grant her her wish?

Special Mention

Whoahhh! me like Britney's new song.....

"Piece Of Me"

I'm Miss American Dream since I was 17
Don't matter if I step on the scene
Or sneak away to the Philippines
They're still gonna take pictures of my derriere in the magazine
You want a piece of me?
You want a piece of me...

I'm Miss bad media karma
Another day another drama
Guess I can't see the harm
In working and being a mama
And with a kid on my arm
I'm still an exceptional earner
And you want a piece of me

I'm Mrs. Lifestyles of the rich and famous
(You want a piece of me)
I'm Mrs. Oh my God that Britney's Shameless
(You want a piece of me)
I'm Mrs. Extra! Extra! this just in
(You want a piece of me)
I'm Mrs. she's too big now she's too thin
(You want a piece of me)

I'm Mrs. 'You want a piece of me?'
Tryin' and pissin' me off
Well get in line with the paparazzi
Who's flippin' me off
Hopin' I'll resort to some havoc
And end up settlin' in court
Now are you sure you want a piece of me? (you want a piece of me)
I'm Mrs. 'Most likely to get on the TV for slippin' on the streets'
When getting the groceries, no, for real..
Are you kidding me?
No wonder there's panic in this industry
I mean please...
Do you want a piece of me?

I'm Mrs. Lifestyles of the rich and famous
(You want a piece of me)
I'm Mrs. Oh my God that Britney's Shameless
(You want a piece of me)
I'm Mrs. Extra! Extra! this just in
(You want a piece of me)
I'm Mrs. she's too big now she's too thin
(You want a piece of me)
I'm Miss American Dream since I was 17
Don't matter if I step on the scene
Or sneak away to the Philippines
They're still gonna take pictures of my derriere in the magazine
You want a piece of me?
You want a piece of me...
You want a piece of me?
I'm Mrs. Lifestyles of the rich and famous
(You want a piece of me)
I'm Mrs. Oh my God that Britney's Shameless
(You want a piece of me)
I'm Mrs. Extra! Extra! this just in
(You want a piece of me)
I'm Mrs. she's too big now she's too thin
(You want a piece of me)
I'm Mrs. Lifestyles of the rich and famous
(You want a piece of me)
I'm Mrs. Oh my God that Britney's Shameless
(You want a piece of me)
I'm Mrs. Extra! Extra! this just in
(You want a piece of me)
I'm Mrs. she's too big now she's too thin
(You want a piece of me)
Oh yeah
You want a piece of me

*source: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/britneyspears/pieceofme.html

Phase 1

If you have plans of building your home in the U.S., it is important that you educate yourself first before you invest your hard earned money in the property. Make sure you have experts who can conduct Phase 1 for you before you begin the project.

The purpose of the Phase I ESA is to identify, to the extent feasible, recognized environmental conditions in connection with the property. This assessment will include a site reconnaissance as well as research and interviews with representatives of the public, property management, and regulatory agencies.

(source: www.diablogreen.com)

The purpose of a “Phase I Property Assessment” under the “Voluntary Action Program” is to determine whether there is any reason to believe that any releases of hazardous substances or petroleum have or may have occurred on, underlying, or are emanating from a property including any release from management, handling, treatment, storage, or disposal activities from on or off-property activities.

(source: http://codes.ohio.gov/oac/3745-300-06)

Protect yourself. Protect your property. Know your rights and obligations.

Vanity

I'm not big on make-up, but I do have my staples. Foundation to even out my skin tone, blush on for that rosy cheek look, mascara for enhanced eyelashes, and lipstick for a little color on my lips. I choose mostly earth tones because of my darker skin color. I want a natural look, not like a circus clown when I put make up on.

Anyway, I was browsing online when I chanced upon a website that offers a wide variety of makeup mirrors. I'd like to have one for our bathroom downstairs. I sure could use one. I'm thinking about emailing the link to my hubby. Maybe he'll get the hint.

Bargain Shopper

Are you a bargain shopper? Who isn't? I know I am. I refuse to pay full price on something I know will be marked down in time. Sure, it doesn't always work out. When you wait for an item to go on sale, chances are, somebody else will beat you to it specially when it's considered a "hot" item. If you really really want to have it, you can pay full price and wait for it to go on sale. If it's within the one month window, you can have the original purchase price adjusted to the sale price and get a refund.

And since Christmas is just around the corner, bargain hunters like me are on the prowl. You would not believe the stuff I see at bargain price. I found a treasure trove just recently..... click here if you want to take a peek.

Last Minute

6 days before Christmas. I hope you are done with Christmas shopping. If not, time is running out. I was at the mall this afternoon and it's jam packed with people trying to do last minute shopping. I was one of them. I thought for sure I was done, but something always pops up at the last minute. We're having a Christmas party at work tomorrow and we're supposed to bring a gift for our "secret santa". I picked a nice designer inspired jewelry for my boss (I'm her secret santa). I'm pretty sure she'll like it. I almost bought one for myself but I had to restrain myself a bit.

Kinky? Skanky!

We finally got our cable box working in our bedroom. Now I can watch TV before I go to sleep. It took about 5 visits from the cable guy and it was really getting frustrating.

Anyway, while browsing the VOD (Video on Demand) function of the cable box, guess what I discovered....an adult movie titled Kinky Filipinas. My first reaction was WTF??? What the hell is "kinky filipinas" doing in an american cable company? So perverts can jack off at my fellow Filipinas' expense? I was stunned! Maybe a little embarrassed.

I'm not trying to sound uptight, nor judgemental. It's just that I'm sick and tired of the exploitation of young Filipinas in the western world. This is something I'm not proud of.

Weekend in pictures

wind blowing hard....


snow angel


tackle the big guy


daddy's big helper


neighbor helping neighbors (our neighbor across the street saw us struggling with the shovel so he came over to help with his snow blower...good guy!)

Let it snow

The weatherman got it right after a couple of wrong predictions. He predicted a winter storm, and look where we are now.....It's supposed to go on until 7 pm tonight. Neighbors already used their snow blowers, but the snow is accumulating so fast, you can barely tell. All we have is the regular snow shovel for now....hubby will get lots of exercise! Better him than me tee hee!


backyard


crooked picture of the frontyard

Path to citizenship

Received a notice of appointment for fingerprinting from the INS. I'm scheduled to appear at the Detroit office on, guess what, the 26th of December. Yeah, the day after Christmas!

I'm one step closer.... :-)

Why I hate Google

When I started Piling Piling Pelikula, I had a pr of 4. Well and good. Though I have a blogspot account, I still qualified for a lot of opportunities. I remember girlie saying "strike the iron while it's hot", and so I struck. I was making the maximum posts allowed per day. Good thing I did.

Now my PR is ZERO. Null. Bokya. Itlog ng kubang unat. That means I hardly see opps available for me. No opps means no money, catch my drift? I don't understand this whole PR thing. I don't know why google pr dictates what opps I can and can't take. Sure, my blog is not popular. What's worse is eversince doing SPs, my blogging style became blah. I miss the days when I blog about goofy stuff. I miss my silly tagalog posts. I like being funny. I like making fun of me. Now I'm a bore. I'm the first to admit that. But hey, I have about 3 faithful readers, I swear! Don't they count for anything? hah!

Maybe my other problem is, I'm not a very friendly blogger. I lurk and read a lot of blogs but I hardly leave a comment. I'm just not good at networking. I guess I'm content with the small circle of blogger friends that I have. My bad.

Oh well, that's life. Hopefully it kicks up a notch after Christmas.

Dreams...

I enjoy my job. It offers me the mental stimulation and a social life. There's not a lot of pressure and the hours are great. But it is not something I see myself doing the rest of my life. I don't want to be working for somebody forever. I'd like to be my own boss someday.....

My dream is to put up my own business. Just a small one, to start off. I am thinking about something in the line of service. Maybe a little wellness spa/massage place. I've been to wellness spas many times before, and boy do they charge an awful lot of money. Or maybe a flower/gift shop. I can get wholesale flowers, which I can turn into pretty bouquets in a matter of minutes. I acquired extensive experience with flower arrangements working for a flower shop when I was a struggling student in Germany. Or maybe a car repair shop. My little brother is a technician with Mitsubishi. I can certainly use him.

There are possibilities out there. Who knows....Who knows.....

Aral

Biglaan ang kanyang pamamaalam. Halos ay hindi nga ako makapaniwala ng marinig ko na magbibitiw na siya sa kanyang tungkulin. Ang aking boss. Babae. Tapamanihala ng bangkong aking pinagtatrabahuhan. Mayroon daw siyang kailangang kaharapin. Issue sa pamilya. Sa anak na babae na ngayon ay labinlimang taong gulang na. Pinagsisisihan daw niya ang mga panahong hindi niya nagampanan ang kanyang tungkulin bilang ina. Inuna niya ang kanyang karera. Ang pera. Ang ambisyon. Isinakripisyo ang panahong dapat sana ay iniukol sa kanyang mga anak. Ngayon daw ay tila huli na ang lahat.

Nakapanghihinayang. Mabait ang aking boss. Masayahin. Hindi mo aakalaing may dinadala sa kanyang dibdib. Sana nga ay hindi pa huli ang lahat.

Tree-nga-ling-nga-ling

...........tah dah!!!!!!!!



Got this lovely award from the very pretty hipncoolmomma. Thanks, Girlie!! I'd like to give this award to the Diva from Netherlands thekyababe and the beautiful yummy mummy from Texas.

Click on this link for the code.

Loans

Have you been turned down for a Loan because of bad credit? What do you do in a financial emergency and you badly need a Personal Loan? I know it can be frustrating. A good credit score doesn't happen overnight. You have to work hard for it.

Fortunately, there are lending companies nowadays that are focused on helping consumers with poor credit through Pay Day Loans. It's fast, easy, and doesn't even require credit check. It is designed to help people who are in need of fast cash and whose credit score don't meet the criteria of a traditional bank loan. Interest rates might be slightly higher but you are almost guaranteed an approval. Meeting the criteria of this short term loan is not as hard as the other types of loans.

Putting things off.....

The dollar to peso rate is very dismaying. I put off sending money to my dear grandma hoping the rates go up even just a teenie weenie bit. On the contrary, it keeps on going down. Right now, it's at Pph 40.70 to $1 (luckymoney.com). Arrgggh!! I have to increase my remittance just so she can have a Merry Christmas...

I wanted to go on a shopping trip today. JC Penny is having a storewide sale and I received an additional 20% coupon (off the entire purchase) in the mail good for today only. But the weather is horrible. There's a storm warning in effect (freezing rain) and I'd hate to be stuck out there when it hits.

Anyway, there are other things we can do today. We can decorate the Christmas tree we bought last night. We had to settle for a pre-cut from Home Depot. An 8-ft blue spruce tree for $27 is not a bad deal at all. The whole house smells like Christmas because of the tree.

Later on, we'll be baking cookies and drinking hot cocoa in front of the fireplace. It's a good day to be home!

Tag

The distinguishing traits TAG I got from the very pretty Kapitana.

1. Mention the person who tagged you and create a link back to them.
2. Copy-paste the traits for all the twelve months, click here.
3. Pick your month of birth.
4. Highlight the traits that apply to you.
5. Tag 12 people and let them know by visiting their blogs and leaving a comment for them.
6. Let the person who tagged you know when you've done it!


SEPTEMBER:
Suave and compromising. Careful, cautious and organized. Likes to point out people’s mistakes. Likes to criticize. Stubborn. Quiet but able to talk well. Calm and cool. Kind (kapag tulog) and sympathetic. Concerned and detailed. Loyal but not always honest. Does work well. Very confident. Sensitive. Good memory. Clever and knowledgeable. Loves to look for information. Must control oneself when criticizing. Able to motivate oneself. Understanding. Fun to be around. Secretive. Loves leisure and traveling. Hardly shows emotions. Tends to bottle up feelings. Very choosy, especially in relationships. Systematic.

What about you? Feel free to Tag yourself. It's fun, I promise!!!!

Anniversary

Yesterday, Dec 6th, was our 11th year wedding anniversary. Hubby and I both took the time off from work so we can spend the day together. We went to the mall, watched the 3D version of Beowolf and more importantly, got our hands on the ever popular, oh so hard to get Nintendo Wii game console. We stood in line for more than an hour just for the chance to purchase one for Christmas. The kids will be sooooooo happy on Christmas day!!

Apropos anniversary, it's hard to believe it's been eleven years since we took our vows in the city hall of Vejle, Denmark. It just doesn't seem that long ago since we exchanged wedding bands. We've come a long way. We are so richly blessed!

on it's last leg?

Hubby's laptop seems to be on it's last leg....the monitor flickers occassionaly, as if wanting to get some shut eye (monitor starts turning black). I know it will need to be replaced someday, but, arrggghhhhhhhhh now is not the right time!!! Any suggestions on temporary fix? What could be causing it?

All about loans

The upcoming holiday season is perhaps the biggest contributor in the "depleting pocket" syndrome. People tend to spend more as the Christmas spirit is all about giving. You can see the malls and shopping centers flocked by shoppers. Credit cards being swiped left and right. ahhhhhhhh the magic of the holidays.

Now, if you find yourself in a bind because of overspending, you can do one of two things. Stop shopping as if there's no tomorrow, or get a temporary fix through a financial loan. There are different kinds of loans choose from, depending on your needs. Two of the most popular types are Unsecured loans and Homeowner's loans. The unsecured loans typically come with higher interest rate than the homeowner's loans because the former is considered a higher risk.

Before getting deep into debt, educate yourself and Compare loans because that's how you get the best rates and offers. Know that there are ways to consolidate your credit card debts and hopefully get you out of the hole sooner than you expect.

Making music

Alexis started violin class beginning of this school year. It was a little easier for her because she took guitar class in third grade. They had the so-called "informance" 2 nights ago. It was nice seeing her perform. I'm so proud of her.

Bed

If anybody should ask me what my favorite piece of furniture is, my answer would have to be our King size poster bed. It is made out of solid oak. It took 3 men to haul it upstairs, 1) because it's over sized, 2) it's very heavy. The headboard and foot board boast of detailed carvings. The mattress, firm and comfortable is my source of relaxation after a full day of work and kids.

We had a few choices before we finally made the selection. We were also looking at platform beds, canopy, or possibly the sleigh bed. Platform beds appeal to me because we wouldn't need box springs. Canopy because of it's style. Sleigh because of it's curves.

Choices. Choices. I'm glad we made the right one.

bet365

I was feeling lucky one day so I bought a $10 scratch-n-win lottery ticket. My gut feeling was right, that ticket was a $20 winner. I made me a profit of $10. But like many others, the lure of bigger winnings crossed my mind. My sis-in-law's husband works with 2 guys who won $70K from a $20 ticket. I was hoping it happens to me, too. So I bought the $20 ticket, and lo and behold, I didn't win! I was a bit disappointed, yes, not because I didn't win but because I was stupid enough to not just walk away with my little winning.

I bet this scenario happens more often than I can imagine, to a lot of people. The lure of bigger bucks is just too irresistable to many. That is why any form of gambling is a very lucrative business. Casinos start growing like mushrooms. They pop everywhere. Even in the state of Michigan where it was once banned. I guess the legislators realized that casinos are great money making machines for the local treasury.

Another thriving gambling industry is online casino. The ease of accessing online gambling appeals to many. There's online poker, blackjack, backgammon, sport betting, to name a few. All these in the comfort of one's living room. It's easy to get hooked. It's very easy to gamble away all of your hard-earned money. If you can't be stopped, be responsible at least. Use the most secure and trusted websites for peace of mind.

Go to bet365.com for a full range of online betting services. They provide a one wallet system so that you can enjoy the benefits of a full range of services through one manageable account. They aim to provide customers with a secure online environment for all their online betting needs.

White blanket

Woke up to a blanket of snow. A good 3-inches accumulated overnight. I can't believe the weatherman was finally right. hehe. Little Stevie got so excited upon seeing the snow. He yelled "It's Christmassssssssssss!!". I couldn't help but laugh.

It was an adventure getting to work and back. Will talk about that in my future posts.

Hotel Reservations

To those of you who intend to go on vacation this coming holiday season, here's some good news! You can save up to 70% on your Hotel Reservations when you use this particular website. Look into some last minute deals for the opportunity to relax, unwind and destress.

You can book hotels, flights, cars, vacation packages online or by using a toll free number. They offer competitive rates and great discounts on most worldwide destinations. That means a more enjoyable trip and more money in your pocket!!

Bad weather

We had a little bit difficulty driving home from my in-laws tonight. Snow started accumulating on the road, you can barely see the lines that divide the lanes. The kids were excited, hoping for more downpour so they can play in the morning while I was freaking out because of the road conditions. Plus the fact that I wasn't driving and it brings the control freak out of me.

Anyway, as we got closer to home, it got worse as the freezing rain started to fall. We could feel the SUV losing a little bit traction. But, we made it home safe, and that's all that matters. We made the courtesy phone call to my in-laws as instructed, so everybody can sleep soundly now.

What's the weather like on your part of the planet?

Journey Lite

Want to know the latest trend in surgical weight loss? It's LapBand by Journey Lite. This procedure uses laparoscopic techniques. This means that the surgeon will be making tiny incisions rather than a large unsightly incision typical of a gastric bypass.

The LAPBAND Adjustable Gastric Band is designed to help you lose excess body weight, improve weight-related health conditions and enhance quality of life. It reduces the stomach capacity and restricts the amount of food that can be consumed at one time.

It is definitely a new and improved technique that is less complicated and also allows shorter healing time.

Spare the rod, spoil the child

Now, this is a very interesting TAG from Girlie. It's about child discipline. She wants to know if I use "cane" to discipline my children.

To tell you honestly, disciplining the children is quite a hot topic in our home. You see, Steve doesn't believe in spanking the kids. He'd rather talk to them (in a soft but stern voice) when they do something wrong. He'd put them in time out, ground them, or just plain tell them how disappointed he was. I, on the other hand, believes in tough love. I believe in spanking. Not hard, but hard enough for them to realize mommy means business. I believe in conveying the message that they did something wrong and that they will have to pay the consequence. If they act up, say, in front of other people just because they think they can get away with it, I nip it in the bud right then and there. Steve and I clash a lot of times because of our different methods. I felt like he always jump to their rescue when I'm disciplining the kids (it infuriates me more) and he felt like I was going overboard by using unnecessary force (be it yelling or spanking). He even mentioned one time that there was "violence" in my voice.

But, as parents who want nothing but the best for our children, we've reached a compromise. We met half-way. I still raise my voice a lot and there's still "violence" in my voice but I seldom spank. Steve, on the other hand has learned not to interfere when it's my turn to discipline the kids. In fact, he supports me so much that it sometimes look like we are ganging up on the kids (like my mom says).

Now I'm asked to tag five more and include my answer in the list below.

1. Miche does not spare the rod
2. Chinnee still spares the rod at this moment
3. Girlie can't use the rod at this point
4. I have the rod in the back burner

I wanna hear from these fabulous mom how they discipline their kids
Des
Cheh
Ruth
Nao
Tin (i know tabachingching is still a little baby...but it's always good to think ahead...)

Optics Planet

Yesterday marked the end of firearms deer hunting season. Unfortunately for my father-in-law, he was skunked this season. While the next door neighbors got 3, he got null. nix. zero. nada. Had he been using a night vision goggle to scout the area a little better, he may have found a good spot to hunt. We gave him a deer feeder for his birthday present to help lure the deer towards his hunting blind, but that apparently didn't help much. Hopefully he has more luck during the black powder season which starts in two weeks.

That is why we are shopping OpticsPlanets.com for his Christmas present. They have a huge selection of the finest quality brand name binoculars, telescopes, sunglasses, goggles, rifle scopes, range finders, spotting scopes, flashlights, microscopes, and more! I'm pretty sure we'll find something for our dear hunter.

Even better, they proudly back all of their products with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, and they offer FREE ground shipping on all orders of $29.95 or more! That's definitely shopping with peace of mind.