Football Fever at Penn

Keywords are also getting in line with the season. I have been reading news about football play-offs in Yahoo. I checked my assignment and Penn State football is on queue. I visited the site and it's under campus photography. Photos of their stadium, their mascot and the people behid the team can also be viewed from the site. Penn State fans can order prints of their favorite highlights of the campus' football season.

Where Art Thou, Ate?

I've been trying to contact Ate Nats for the past three weeks. I sent an email to all of her addresses that I saved and I also tried calling her phone but it seems out of reach. The last thing I heard about Ate was she's in Las Vegas, where you can find world class hotels and casino like the Bellagio hotel. I visited her blog and found out that she's living with her mom and sister and I think she already graduated from the Environmental Education course that she enrolled in a couple of years ago.

I just wish I can get in touch with her again.

5:48 PM

It's almost 6, and I'm still here at the office. I turned my computer off earlier, but am still waiting for someone before I get home. Barbecue sauce with a little kick of Coke still lingers on my tongue. Traffic. I'm imagining how horrible the traffic will be later because it's Friday+sweldo+gimik. 

Aaaaaaaaah!

Megamall will be my destination, and I'll be braving the bus to get there. I always ride the bus on the way to Ortigas, but I usually do that before rush hour. I'll buy two boxes of Krispy Kreme.

Wala lang, trip ko lang mag uwi ng madaming pasalubong. 

Seems like I'll be waiting for a while since I can still hear a sound of hitting keyboard keys. 

This post is very random. 

Ang tala na ito ay makabuluhang pampalipas oras lamang. 

Home Improvement 101

I always admire well-designed homes. I'm not really familiar with the terms and the type of designs so I created my own classification like Western or European. The details of these kinds of houses were to die for like its fully crafted windows and doors, beautiful garden, etc. Of course, the cost of these kinds of havens would be sky high, but it definitely is a dream come true to live in a stylish, cozy and state-of-the art houses designed to your living needs. Plus, do you know that having a state-of-the art homes increases its market value?

Home improvements are the in thing now in achieving your dream house. Anglian, a home improvement company in the UK, may give you some ideas on how to create a masterpiece out of your homes. Elegant designs for driveways, kitchens and conservatories are some of the home improvement designs they offer. More than thirty-six years of expertise can assure you that you'll be getting the best home improvement ideas and services from Anglian.

Itching to Rant?

Fall tv shows are back! After months of eagerly waiting to see what's going to happen to Nakamura, Scofield, Scott, Kent and the Gilmores among others; here they are again storming their way to our local boobtubes. Maybe some of you find it hard to decide which ones to watch first, right?

Admit it: you have your own theories on what's in store for fans as these shows start their respective seasons. I'm pretty sure these theories have been the favorite topics during lunch and coffee breaks. Itching to rave and rant more but don't have someone to talk to or a blog to write to? Unleash that critic inside you and post your thoughts about your favorite tv shows and even movies in Critics Rant! Read updates about upcoming season episodes and movies, and even score a free DVD daily by just sharing your rants and raves. :)

Tiger ♥

She's the new addition to the family. She's one of Charcoal's babies. The other one, Whitey, is a snob and really gets annoyed when you take pictures of him. But we love him too, hehe. 

Tiger and her brother are now starting to explore the house. They're sometimes under the computer table, under the sink or running around. Hiding from Doobidoo (our dog) and climbing then jumping from the first step of our stairs are some of their favorite playtime activities. I tried inviting Tiger to sleep beside me last night, but she's a bundle of energy and remained (and roll) on her rug. *sighs* Maybe if she's bigger, she'll be fond of my bed, like her Lola Brush and Uncle BM.

The Tattoo Connection

Some people find their mates because they listen to the same type of music. Others have the same fascination about the books they read or a sport that they are both passionate about. The world wide web also have its contribution for net surfers longing to find their match like chatrooms and networking. Of course, there's Friendster, MySpace and Multiply among many others which revolutionized the way to make friends.

There are some exclusive websites where you can meet and be acquainted with people that enjoys a similar hobby. One website I found is totally dedicated to tattoo singles, or tattooed single men and women who wants to meet other tattoo enthusiast online. So if you are a fan of tattoo art or have tattoos to show off and wants to try tattoo dating, click on the link at the end of this post.

Tekken

I'm starting to form a habit of playing Tekken every night before I sleep. The one installed in my PSP was the converted PS2 version of the game. Actually, that's 2 pre-bedtime habits for me since I also spend an hour to two hours of reading a book. There are two other games available for me to play, but I love the adrenalin rush whenever I beat someone in Tekken. :)

Haunted by Hormones

Biology lessons once again haunt me as I checked on my post assignments. One of the keywords assigned to me for this week was progesterone. I remember how awkward it was for the whole class when we discussed the reproductive system, and progesterone are among those terms that we encountered. As I remember correctly, it's a hormone that works hand-in-hand with estrogen during menstrual cycle.

From Paris To Pinas

My mom and I really stayed up late last night to watch KC: From Paris to Pinas. It was KC Concepcion's documentary about her living-alone-and-collegiate-slash walk-in-tour of Paris. It wasn't really a habit in our household to stay up late because everyone have their early morning schedules (4am- early), plus it was a Sunday; but KC is KC. I wouldn't be surprised if ABS-CBN got 99% viewership ratings last night, because Pinoys' are just enchanted by the ubiquitous charm of Sharon Cuneta's eldest.

Every magazine covers, sold out; every TV ads, a hit; and every TV appearances, always a buzz. This time, KC gave us a bigger picture of what her life was, first-hand, when she made the biggest decision of her life to leave everything behind and study in the most romantic place on the planet. 

The TV special was aired later than expected. 10pm became 10:30. But it was a given since TV shows doesn't really start on time these days.

Watching the documentary is like having a close friend reminisce her adventures while you're sitting in a coffee shop one lazy afternoon. KC really connected with her audience right away as she began the segment with how nervous and excited she was when her mom allowed her to study in Paris when she was 18. From her old apartment, to her school, to her friends, and to her secret favorite spot in Paris; KC gave a fast-paced and very informative tour of the city the way she lived it. Bits of the feature came as a surprise, maybe not only to me, but to everyone who had this idea that KC was living the same privileged lifestyle that she had when she was here. In Paris, she lived like everyone of us -- normal. She lived in an inexpensive house, she did her laundry, cooked her food and even applied for some part-time jobs for extra cash. There were testimonials from KC's friends about her bubbly personality and how they were amazed, knowing that she was a celebrity here, that she succeeded in adjusting to the common Parisian lifestyle. 

My most favorite part of the documentary was when KC talked about her friendship with Ate Leslie, an OFW who works for one of her friends. Leslie was a TNT in Paris so her face was all blurred-out. KC shared that through Leslie's stories, she was able to overcome her sadness and homesickness. It's really humbling.

Production-wise, I think they did a great job with the editing and the script. I read in the credits that the concept was all KC's so the whole documentary really had a personal touch to it. 

After watching From Paris to Pinas, my mom and I now know the reason why she gave it all up. All the comfort, the limelight and everything else that she had that any college girl, or any girl for that matter, wants to have. She is no celebrity, but an individual who really wants to find her purpose by accepting the challenges that came and will come her way. 

I am looking forward to seeing more projects like this from KC.

*video from kc concepcion

Mountaineering

I almost joined a mountaineering club before. I really wanted to experience the thrill of climbing tough terrains and having a goal of reaching the highest peak of a mountain or a hill. I am afraid of heights, and engaging to these kinds of activities might help me overcome this fear. I am not getting any younger, a high risk life insurance might really come in handy if I wanted to try this sport in the future. Pretty extreme, huh?

Pillow Talk

I hate it when my pillow and bed sheets have ruffles. My mother would insist that it should be more girly, and should match the curtains. Our cushions have had the same designs all these years. I'm not really complaining because it's my mother's labor of love. I have been scolded sooo many times about my messy bed in the morning. I've had this habit of fixing my bed AFTER I ate breakfast eversince I've learned how to fold my blankie. Maybe it's time to give my mom suggestions regarding beddings. Good thing, there are lots to choose from at visionbedding.com! The website features wide array of bed and pillow design categories; from basketball, bmx, butterflies and themes that would fit a teens room (or teens-at-heart in my case, hehehe). I personally love their Asian Bedding designs (like the one in the photo). I definitely would recommend their personalized pillows, where you can print your favorite pictures as your design. Cool, eh?

Kuya Rey

Fall Out Boy

So Fall Out Boy (FOB) maybe playing their first song at this very moment at The Mall Of Asia activity center. They have a special autograph-signing show, and I am sure that it's going to be packed. I wanted to go, I actually asked Gene if she wanted to check the band too since she's also a fan.

But it was just a plan.
 
My brother's a big fan of the band too, but can't go to the mall show since he has to recharge for his late night shift. Sugar, We're Going Down is still my favorite FOB song. Their recent releases were good too. I wonder if their performing it right now. Maybe. Or maybe not. 

I want to meet Pete. Well, I only want to because he was in One Tree Hill, hehe. I heard the band is touring with Ashlee Simpson, which is Pete's current beau. 

I'll stop ranting now. I am not going, anyway. Gaaaaahhh!

Wanted: Smorty Bloggers

Having my own blog is like having my own magazine. I can post anything from movie reviews to everyday rants and raves. And now I found ways to sort of upgrade my magazine, so to speak, by writing press releases and advertorials!

There are numerous advertising websites that gives bloggers a chance to blog for money. Blog advertising is a growing online industry, and some web log enthusiast are swaying their way to the trend. Getting paid by simply writing your opinion about something? Who wouldn't grab that?

Another blog advertising site I googled is Smorty.com, where they directly assign to bloggers what to write about. They also provide keywords and give a summary on what to write about. All intersted bloggers and advertisers can register by completing the application form directly from their site. Submitted blogs will be reviewed and the blogger will be sent a notification of approval from the Smorty administrators within 24 hours. Once your account is approved, you can blog away! :)

Ang Aburidong Ibon

Note To Self

Don't ever, ever, EVER forward anything through YM. 

Kuya Rey shared that these forwarded messages might be a fishing ploy for those ill-intentioned hackers! I was once reprimanded by Ate Nats about this. I forwared something through YM before, which I verified as a fact.

I sent a message a few minutes ago about Yahoo allegedly cancelling accounts if that infamous message is not sent to all the contacts on your messenger list. Turned out, it was a hoax.

Can you see the big "L" on my forehead now?

Belo's Haven

I was reading Yes magazine over the weekend. The magazine has its regular feature about local celebrity homes. This month was Vicky Belo's. I can't remember how many photos were published, but for me the really cool part of the house was the room of Dra. Belo's son, Direk Quark Henares. The room was set up with state of the art home theatre system, with a home theater carpet to match; plus thousands of to-die-for original DVD collection!

Adopt me, Dra. Belo! Hehehe :)

1408

"We've only just begun...to live..."

That's just a simple lyrics from that famous song from The Carpenters. Very inspiring, very encouraging, very melodic. But after watching 1408, it became very creepy!

John Cusack did a very disturbing but genuinely impressive portrayal of Michael Enslin, an author and the hero of Stephen King's short story.

Scouring the country, anywhere from cheap Orlando vacation rental homes to the most expensive hotels, skeptic Enslin embarked in a journey in search for the creepiest places. Though he was known for publishing books that tell tales of horror, Enslin never encountered a ghost.

Until he checked in at Dolphin Hotel's room 1408.

The whole movie revolved around Enslin's battle with himself and some dark memories of his past while inside 1408, a restricted room at New York's Dolphin Hotel. With cautious warning from the hotel manager, played by Samuel L. Jackson, Cusack's character insisted that he was the man with no fear and can take anything the infamous room has to offer.

Enslin had been warned that nobody lasts for an hour in 1408. The famous song of The Carpenters signaled the start of terror as the room becomes haunted with every tick of the clock. I was definitely holding my breath on some of the scenes but the movie did not really focus on scaring the audience, but more on being involved with Cusack's character.

My favorite part of the movie was definitely the shocking ending.

I give this movie 4 stars.

HSM2 On Theatre

I'm definitely High School Musical fan! I'm 24 and I still enjoy it. Some of my friends finds it weird and funny that I am still fond of things teens love. Last year, there are some theatre adaptation of the TV-Movie musical phenomenon. I wonder if they're doing an adaptation of the second installment...better score those High School Musical tickets as early as I can! :)

Postie Means More Sweets Plus More...

Finally! My first PPP post was approved! I was getting a little frustrated since I completed my assignment a week ago. I'm just waiting for my two pending posts to be approved, then I'm good. Im guessing the delay (usually, the post was supposed to be approved 48-72 hours after submission) is because of the the website's thorough traffic generation, meaning the administrators really screens each and every posties' posts, which means your work is not wasted. My approved post kinda' started the ball rolling for me; that my writing style met the PPP standards. Naks!

Project loads at work have been so light for the past week, that's why I found time to update my blog as often as possible. Creating posts for PPP's advertisers have been fun since you are asked not really to "sell" anything, but more of give a review of a webiste, a movie, a new gadget, etc. Posting opportunities are posted 24/7; you just have to be a fast clicker to catch up with the best offers.

Being a Postie means more chocolates for me then! :)

Friday's Feast

I was browsing theDailyMeme.com and came across a blog meme site themed for Friday. I find the poll of questions interesting so i re-posted it here with my answers:

Appetizer
Who is the easiest person for you to talk to?

- My best friend Peng. I can talk to her about almost anything. Minsan nga para na akong sirang plaka. But she's always there for me, always ready to be my sound board. I love her for that ;)

Soup
If you could live in any ancient city during the height of the quality of its society and culture, which one would you choose?

- Definitely Greece. I want to meet all the scholars like Homer and playwrights like Euripides who wrote those tragedies during those times.

Salad
What is the most exciting event you’ve ever witnessed?

- So far? That would be Fete Dela Musique 2005 in Ortigas. OPM Music was just starting to regain its strength back then, so there were a lot of new acts included in the lineup (who are now famous) like Up Dharma Down, Hale, Pedicab, Itchyworms etc. Almost all of my favorite local bands in one place, for free!

Main Course
If you were a celebrity, what would you do for a publicity stunt?
- Nothing that would require me entering a drug rehab, singing out of tune would do the trick. Well, I'm always out of tune, hehe :D

Dessert
What do you consider the ideal age to have a first child?

- As long as someone is emotionally mature to take care of a child. I think that's the ideal age.

All I Can Do Is Drool

I really did miss a lifetime not watching the Dare You To Move Tour last Monday. Some old friends, whom I haven't seen for almost a year now, were there. Switchfoot played all their hits plus new songs from their album with their 12-song set. I browsed on the different photo albums uploaded at Multiply with pictures from the concert, and it definitely made me drool. Some of them were lucky enough to meet the band up-close. Nina uploaded some clips from the concert. I downloaded this one:


I was watching the clips from the concert this morning, and was asking myself over and over why am I not there? These are things that are not to be missed by a fan like me. But then, I thought, important things must come first. There will always be next time.
That was also my line when I missed Jason Mraz, D'Sound and Michelle Branch. Bitter, yeah, but also hopeful ;)
Oh, by the way, I used blogger's new add-video-to-post feature where you can post raw video files directly on your entry. Cool huh?

Early Christmas Deals

There are two things I like during -ber months: creating a Christmas list and the line of discounts you can get from malls almost every week! Shopping establishments are swaying their way to follow the Christmas bug as it starts as early as September. Splurging a little isn't a crime, but getting familiar to stores that gives great deals can be a real treat.

For those who prefer on-line shopping, don't fret! There are websites which provides great Christmas gift ideas armed with great deals and discounts like CouponChief.com!

Visit their website and score different coupons from their partners like Gap, Dell etc.

Switchfoot

Waaaaahh! Tomorrow's the concert, and I can't believe I am missing it! I am a fan of Switchfoot eversince A Walk To Remember. I've heard them coming over to Manila two months ago, but I just can't find a way to "secure" decent money for a single ticket. *sniffs* Actually, I planned on asking my mom if I can have the money for the ticket, but it's not a great timing to watch a concert and have other extra expenses at the moment. 

I just wish they'll have a mall tour or TV guesting for me to have a glimpse of the band. I want to hear them play "Dare You To Move" and "Stars" live. I heard Magic 89.9 is sponsoring the tour. I wonder if they'll have a live interview at their studio or a meet-and-greet contest. 

But I guess I'm too late to join that now :(

Overspeeding

Being reprimanded by the police because of speed driving have been a part of all of the series I've seen. From Beverly Hills 90210, Dawson's Creek, Gilmore Girls, and even Smallvile; there is one or two episodes with that scene. I wondered how police officers track down these overspeeding vehicles along the highway and found out that they're using radar detectors. Innovations of this device have been developed, and some of them made it to the radar detector reviews poll.

Chandelier Galore

House decorating isn't really my thing. My mother always say that a key to a warm home ambiance is good lighting. She gets frustrated everytime we pass by a house with poor lighting. We have a mini-chandelier-like light in our sala and a couple of table lamps all around, but my mom would definitely rave about these stylish lights at kichler lighting :)

Muffin Proposal

Richard propsed to his girlfriend on national tv! He and Mae have been together since college. It was an on-and-off relationship. I was surprised when I got Richard's text message about the airing schedule of the segment in Sharon. I called him right away and confirmed because I really thought he was kidding. He joked that finally he will be seeing me wearing a gown! I asked if he already started mailing wedding invitations, but he said they will officially start planning the event next year.

Bakasyon

Palawan and Bohol are two of the best destinations for me to unwind. I've never had a real vacation, with no worries whatsoever. White sand, perfect beach, picturesque sunset... *sigh. I'll definitely bring my camera! Maybe a week of just exploring and just chillin' would be a dream come true. I wonder how much a vacation home rental would cost?

Score From The Past

Learning from the past is the best way to move forward!

Score Learning Center is seeking parents to blog about their children's past, present and possible future experiences at Score and be an Innovative Tutor. Helping children ages 4 to 14 to make significant academic progress have been the core of Score, so join now!

I Want My Holga

And I hope I can get my hands on one by the end of the year. I find the toy camera interesting because of its simplicity and the amazing results of the shots. I'm planing to buy a Holga 120N camera. I still don't have any idea where to purchase it though. Photography has been my secret passion over the past years and I really want to expand my knowledge by trying different ways to capture stills. I've heard of lomographic cameras before from former colleagues and found it interesting. Then I forgot about it, until I saw a segment on Us Girls last Sunday about the different toy cameras available in the local market. The segment mentioned that the camera is really cheap, around php2500 to php3500, but the image quality and that element of surprise when you finally get your photo processed are some of the factors that keeps on pulling me to it. 

I'm looking forward to be able to take images like these ones I found in a lomo enthusiasts' blog.

For those of you who doesn't have any idea what a Holga camera is, here's a short description from wikipedia:

Holga is an inexpensive, medium format 120 film toy camera, originating in Hong Kong in 1982, that later came to be appreciated for its low-fidelity aesthetic. The Holga's cheap construction and simple meniscus lens often yields pictures that display vignetting, blur, light leaks, and other distortions. Ironically, the camera's quality problems became a virtue among some photographers, with Holga photos winning awards and competitions in art and news photography. The camera was originally intended to provide an inexpensive mass-market camera for working-class Chinese in order to record family portraits and events.

photos by marge, melay and dontblink

Changing Paths

Another keyword given to me today is drug rehabs. Then I thought if there was anyone I knew who have been admitted to or still in a rehab. Thankfully, I don't, which means that I have good set of friends over the years. I remember a friend of mine sharing that it really is the decision of a person to stop using drugs and not on what programs they've been to in rehabs. That no matter how long they stayed in a facility, it is up to the person to change his path in life.

Bathwater

Morning baths are beginning to get colder and colder as -ber months begin. Shower faucets may come in handy to save bath time, but combination of tabo and timba is still the best way to do it. It has been my habit to boil at least a kettle of water to make my bathwater lukewarm. My morning baths is like a trip in a spa ;)

Plasma What?

They're really serious about not having a chance to choose or have suggestions about the assigned topics. I checked my blog assignment mailbox and found plasma cutter in the queue. I've only heard plasma coined with TV sets. I googled it and found out that a plasma cutter is an equipment that uses electric-charged plasma to cut through metals. Cool, eh? :)

Facts of Life #1

Seven years. That's how long we've been staying at our house in Binangonan. Good thing, my parents never really went through the trouble of dealing with a real estate agent for the property. My grandfather gave the lot to my mom. The amazing thing about it was, back then when my granfather's parents bought the property for only 300 pesos!

Celebrity Duets

My weekend was filled with random couch potato duties. 

Caught the 8pm weekend news in Channel 2. One of the headlines was a pachingco-like accident involving two cars, a ten-wheeler truck and a taxi. More than ten were injured. Bah! Reckless drivers driving as if we have things like a New York car accident lawyer to help them fix the trouble they made. 

Anyway, going back to my weekend TV, the Philippine edtion of Celebrity Duets is one of the most disappointing yet entertaining show I've ever seen. The show is a franchise of the show created by Simon Cowell of American Idol fame, and have Regine Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid as hosts. Eight celebrities are part of the contest competing to win one million pesos. The good thing about the prize is that a part of it will go to the chosen charity of the winning celebrity. 

Yesterday was its fourth episode, and I just hate it that designer Frederick Peralta was voted out! He and Wyngard Tracy deserves to be in the finals because there are the only ones who really can sing. Well, it's the texters who decide. But, hey wake up! It's a singing contest! At least choose a winner who really CAN sing. I will not be surprised if Wyngard Tracy will be the next voted out. Not bad if Dr. Hayden Kho will be the victor because he's the next one who really have what it takes to sing among the group. 

But please, pretty please! Not Tim, Jessica or Tessa.

Buntis Matters

Who would've thought that tank tops, trendy long sleeves, and dresses with sexy cuts can be a part of an ensemble fit for pregnant women? Malls nowadays have different stores that sell clothes for women who still want to look fashionable during pregnancy. For those of you who shop online, check out this site with wide selection of maternity clothes. Check out testimonials from satisfied customers and enter their Belly of the Month contest!

Beach

I was 5 years old when my father brought me to the beach. The memory was still vivid, as if it was yesterday. It was in Anilao, Batangas. It was my father's barkada outing, and total bonding time for us. I can still remember the texture of the sand and the rush of the waves when we went boating. My father knew a thing or two about fishing and had his conventional yantok-made fishing rod. Can't remember if we caught any fish though :)