Monday, December 27, 2010

Tonsillitis

So after all the Christmas celebration is over (at least for me it is), I'm now down with tonsillitis. The left side of my throat hurts a lot, especially when I swallow anything. Well, that hasn't stopped me from eating a lot, hahaha!

I hope everybody had a great Christmas celebration like I did with my family!

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Merry Christmas!




Merry Christmas everyone!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Need Help with your Home Appliances?

It was that day of the week again where I need to do laundry, an activity I do every week. I have a Maytag washer with a model number of LAT9206BAE, and it’s been with me for several years already. So, with everything set, I turn it on and guess what? My washer won’t start. So what’s wrong with my washer?

I’ve seriously considered getting a new one, especially since I’ve been using this washer for like 5 years already, and that’s saying a lot. But with the holidays just around the corner, I was a bit hesitant in spending money for a new washer. Besides, what will I do with the one I currently have? I’ve never had any problems with it before until today, so I was really confused.

Since I knew my washer’s model number, I headed to my trusty laptop to check the internet. I was thinking, I couldn’t possibly be all alone in the world with this same problem, right? That’s when I came across this website, Partselect.com. It’s a pretty cool website which allows you to buy parts for various home appliances.

But it doesn’t stop there. Partselect.com not only allows you to buy parts from them with same-day shipping (a big plus especially if you’re in a hurry to get something fixed like I am), they also help you diagnose what could be wrong with your appliance and presents you with possible solutions to fix it.

For my washer, after I entered the model number (if you don’t know what your model number is or where to find it, all you need to do is to click on the little guy at the bottom right corner of the screen and he’ll help), the website gave me a list of the problems other people were having with my exact same washer. And guess what? There were other people whose washer’s wouldn’t start either, so I clicked on that to get some help.

Turns out, all I need to replace with my washer is the Lid Switch Assembly, a part that costs $21.10. Partselect states that replacing this part fixes the problem 100% of the time (of course I checked if the washer was plugged into the outlet). And since I’m not a technical type of person but I wanted to save as much as I can, I was pleased to find out that there were plenty of detailed installation instructions to help. All the tools I would need in getting it done was also listed, so I prepared in advance. I also showed my husband the diagrams and he read the instructions (a lot of them said it would take less than 15 minutes to get everything done). They were right! Hubby was done replacing our Lid Switch Assembly around 6 minutes tops.

Thank you Partselect.com! You saved me $$$ by showing me how to repair my washer and now it’s up and running again! Now, off to do some laundry…

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Home for the Holidays

My relatives from Canada are arriving in the Philippines to spend the holidays here. My aunt is already here, someone I haven't seen since I was born (and I'm 27 for crying out loud!). Her son is coming over too, I think on the 20th.

Henry, the kids, plus 2 puppies I guess are coming with us tomorrow to visit her. This will be the first time I'll get to see her, although I've already seen her pictures. Well, I guess there's always a first time for everything.

I'm also excited to see my eldest sister Elena. Even though we always talk on the phone, I'm always excited to see her. We always rant on each other, but that's the way we talk. I'm also excited for them to see my kids, since my mom hasn't seen my kids for several weeks already. I just hope we can stay up to the afternoon so my dad can see the kids as well when he gets home from work around 5PM I think.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

No Christmas Tree This Year

I've decided not to put up our Christmas Tree this year, 2010. There are actually a number of reasons why I am not going to put up our tree, aside from the obvious that I have waaaay to many things to do and I am just so beat up from my daily grind that I can't seem to find the time to put it up.

First of all, all our 5 shih tzu puppies are still with us. Putting up a tree when we only had 2 adult dogs was a mess - they always chewed on the decorations and jumped up the tree, so imagine the house with a total of 7 dogs - ugh.

Then, we're also planning on moving to the province towards the end of the school year, so digging up the tree from storage and then putting it back in its box when we move just doesn't seem right, so I might as well leave it as it is.

Third, I don't have a househelp anymore compared to last year who helped me put up the tree. I don't think I can do this all alone. :(

So there, I'm not being lazy, I just think it's unreasonable to put up the tree this year, although I know next year when we've already moved to a bigger house things will be a whole lot different.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Happy 7th Birthday Keisha

Happy 7th Birthday Keisha! Hope you like your McDonald's party at school today!

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Caught Off Guard

I have known for a fact that earning online is something that isn't permanent, and I always tell that to myself. This weekend while at the mall with my kids, I bought my laptop with me to show my mom in law the playground where we take our kids at. Unfortunately, the email that I first read was the one where an assignment of mine which paid $10/hr had ended suddenly, without warning. Ugh.

I'd like to think that in a way, this is a reality check for me that I shouldn't be too complacent about how much I earn and I should strive to have every amount I can save be put in the bank. However, I can't help but feel sad about the bad timing this news came about - with my eldest kid's 7th birthday a few weeks away plus Christmas just around the corner. Oh well, this is freelancing. :)

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

The Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese people are all celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival. Cheers to our Asian brothers and sisters!

Sunday, September 19, 2010

All I can say is w-o-w!

Henry purchased this for me this evening, and although I didn't really want to replace my first netbook, having this Acer e-machines D730 is really a treat for me.

Henry also gave me another gift just this weekend, an elliptical machine! He's been every supportive after we both found out I lost around 12 pounds already, so he bought me this so we both can use it here at home.

This day has really been a great and memorable day for me, and this will surely go down in the history books.

Monday, September 13, 2010

What to Do in Shenzhen

A lot of travelers find themselves headed to Shenzhen for different reasons. Some are in the city for work, while others are wondering what to do in Shenzhen because they are there just for fun or maybe on a leisurely trip.

I've come across some good reviews of Suzy's Lounge Bar in Shenzhen, China and from what I've read, there are quite a lot of foreigners hanging out in this bar. This is probably because of the fact that all the female staff of the bar speak English, some are good but all of them can certainly carry a decent English conversation.

Aside from the staff, what sets Suzy's Lounge Bar apart from all the other Shenzhen bars is the reason that they offer a lot of drinks. From imported beer to the local drinks, Suzy's Lounge Bar in Shenzhen has all of them. You can check out their drinks list here. And just in case your favorite drink is not in that list, you can tell the bartender and they'll try to make that drink available on your next visit.

So, if you're thinking of what to do in Shenzhen, stop by Suzy's Lounge Bar. I forgot to mention - new customers get their second drink free, too!

Thursday, September 9, 2010

An Unhappy Ending

I've been keeping a blog daily for weddings for a client of mine, and today my services were effectively terminated. Somehow, I am "relieved" to know that our contract has been ended.

I am sad in a way because because of the length of time I've been writing for her, I have learned to see her as a friend. Both she and I shared our experiences when our mothers got sick, shared stories about our kids, and other experiences as well.

Because of that friendship, I have learned to ignore and look past the fact that she was constantly late on sending payments. I have had to constantly remind her that the payment was due every month, and she was always late for like a week or even more. I did not mind as a friend, because what was important is the fact that I actually got paid, even though it was late.

What upsets me most is the fact that today, I finally receive my payment for the posts written for August, and it says in the note that my services are terminated immediately. But before this, I have been emailing my client and sending her IMs which I did not receive responses to. Well, so much for a friendship! Or maybe it was only me who thought that I had actually made a friend. Maybe I imagined the whole stuff up. I wish she had the decency to reply to my emails or at least inform me if she did not have money yet to pay me with - I don't mind waiting and her being late, but a heads up would be nice. I'm in for the work because of the money, and reliable payments mean a lot to me. But since I have other clients who do pay me on time, I don't mind her being late, but letting me know beforehand that the payment I am waiting for isn't going to arrive on time is the decent way to do business. The professional way would be to not be late at all.

So, I am unpleasantly relieved to be released from this contract. Good thing I did not make more posts for September had I known this was going to happen. Besides, what writer in their right mind would want to continue writing for the current month if the whole previous month you wrote for was unpaid? I have not been inactive, I was just using my common sense.

Monday, August 30, 2010

Our New Puppies


Our pet Princess gave birth a few days ago to 5 beautiful puppies, 3 boys and 2 girls. The pups are all doing well, and are feeding from Princess without any problems. My husband and I take turns in watching over the pups to make sure each of them get their fair share of milk, as some of the bigger ones literally "box out" the smaller ones during feeding time.

Since the birth of the puppies, we've been receiving inquiries about how much we intended to sell the pups, and whenever we say that we don't have any plans of selling any one of them, we get a bewildered look. Is it so strange to hear that someone would like to take on the responsibility and challenge of taking care of 7 shih tzus all in all? I think not.

My husband and I mutually agreed not to sell any of the puppies, even before Princess was in heat. We already imagined this day would come as it would, and way back then our minds were already made up. I couldn't bear to imagine selling them to someone who did not know how to properly care for a pet, someone who would hit them whenever the puppies peed or pooped where they shouldn't have, or leave them at home all alone, hungry, and with plenty of knots and mats in their coat.


One who will remain anonymous even told my husband that we would be on the losing side in terms of finances if we keep all the pups, as there are more males than females. Food, vaccines, maintenance, trips to the grooming salon, cages, etc. I wanted to tell that person that I never purchased Ron and Princess in the first place to make money - they are just my pets. I also do not have any intentions of making money through their puppies. How my pet Princess cried while giving birth and how she is sleepless while taking care and feeding her kids is not a joke to me. How she wakes up in between her naps when one of her pups makes noises. And how she looks at me and my husband whenever we touch her puppies and how she seems to count them when she enters their cage means a lot to me, too. How in the world could I separate her from her puppies? More importantly, how could I let go of the puppies I love, too? Our pets are not just pets - they are part of the family for me, so I guess that's mainly the reason why other people have difficulty in understanding me and my husband. Because for some people, dogs are just pets. But for me, they're part of my family.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

About Shenzhen Bars

A couple of days ago I wrote about Suzy's Lounge Bar, one of the bars in Shenzhen which open around the evenings and stay open up to the wee hours of the morning. I've been doing some research and found out that Shenzhen is really a great place to have fun whether you're a local or a foreigner, as the nightlife in Shenzhen is very much alive and upbeat.

I envy the locals though, because after a whole day of hard work, they can easily just drop by one of the bars in Shenzhen along their way and enjoy a few drinks or two to calm their nerves and soothe their tired minds and bodies. The city itself is brimming with life and beautiful lights at night, and bars in Shenzhen abound.

What I like best about Suzy's Lounge Bar though is that the place is fun and beautiful yet it is cozy and comfy at the same time. It's really a great place to hang out and unwind, yet is still a great place to have fun at the same time. You can enjoy great drinks, play pool, mingle with the other guests and staff, and just hang out. Also, new customers get their second drink for free, and that just adds to the fun.

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Happy Birthday Ate Elena!

When my eldest sister and I were younger, I recall many, many instances where we would pull at each other's hair by the roots (sabunutan), fist fights, slapping (sampalan) sessions, and other numerous fighting episodes. But now, as we grew older and the years passed by, a lot of things have changed between us.

One thing I would like to say is that having my kids really changed me. I began to appreciate my parents more and even began to understand them (I know, but back then I couldn't understand why I got my butt black and blue or red because I got spanked but then they would explain they did that because they loved me). And with my second daughter, I began to appreciate my sister a whole lot more.



When Keisha became an older sister, I saw how hard it is for her with everything we expect her to do and be - have an endless patience towards her sister Nicole, always share everything, and restrain herself to not fight back because she's the older one, etc. That got me thinking, "it must have been this hard for Ate Elena too when we were growing up."

If I had the chance to relive everything again, I still would not change anything. All the fighting and the tears, the misunderstandings, and slamming doors at each other's faces were well worth it. Of course, if I knew we would turn out like this eventually, I would have gone easier on my sister - just easier, not totally lenient, lol! Happy birthday Ate Elena, you're the best eldest sister there is.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

About Bars in Shenzhen

I'm trying to promote Suzy's Lounge Bar. It's a comfy lounge bar located in Shenzhen, China and is a few steps away from the Kempinski Hotel, so it isn't hard to find at all. Suzy's Lounge Bar is made up of friendly female staff who all speak English, some really fluent but some not, but all of them can carry a conversation in English.

I hope you will take the time to visit and like their FaceBook page, follow them on Twitter, and visit their official website. If you also have time, why not drop by for a visit? Suzy's Lounge Bar is offering the second drink free for every new customer who visits.

Call or text them on 13590213422

Get in touch with them via email at info@suzy.nu and suzysloungebar@gmail.com

Drop by for a visit at:
120 Coastal City, East Block
Wenxin 6th Road (off Haide 3rd Ave)
Nanshan, Shenzhen
(next to the Kempinski Hotel)

Monday, August 2, 2010

Sad

I really felt bad last night, because Keisha got scolded by her dad. Her scores on her mid quarter exam were quite low, and what made her dad all the more upset was the fact that her dad reviewed all of the questions with her. I was very sad because I hated seeing Henry mad, and of course Keisha was crying because she was afraid of her dad. I grew up being spanked by my parents, and I never understood why as a child how I could learn from it, but when I grew up I knew it was to make sure we didn't forget our mistake and not do it again. I also realized I associated my pain with the mistakes I made, so if I didn't want another sore butt, I better not do what I did the other day. But I still didn't like seeing the people I love mad, angry or hurt. Yesterday wasn't a good day, I guess.

Friday, July 23, 2010

On Casino Gambling Index

Casino games online are very popular nowadays, mainly for the reason that you can play casino games wherever you are, in the comfort of your own home and at any time you choose to. Compared to going to a regular casino, you would likely have to spend on transportation in getting to the casino, make reservations for a place to stay in especially if it is far from home, and also spend money on food. But if you choose online casino games, you can just focus on the game itself and nothing more.

Naturally, people look for the best online casinos for US players. If you do your research, you will find casinos that give joining bonuses and other incentives to get you to play on the site. Of course, you should also look into the kind of customer service the site provides just in case you run into problems. You can find thousands of other players on Yahoo casino games and get to know the mechanics of the game first and play for fun. Once you're more comfortable with playing online casino games for free, you can move onto other online casino game sites where you can play for real money against other competitors.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

An Early End to a Busy Night

I've been extremely busy juggling several clients with my online work, and it's something I am not complaining about. Although every day I feel exhausted, it's a different exhaustion - mental exhaustion. I feel like I'm taking College Algebra again (a subject I had to take twice, hahaha!).

Even though I am always tired and always sitting in front of the PC, I feel that this job is the most rewarding I've had so far. I get to use my brain, research, and speak, read, and write English. Compared to working in a call center where I have to memorize a script and not think outside of the box, here I am learning, working, and earning online at the same time. 

Monday, July 5, 2010

Me and Ate Elena



My eldest sister Elena scanned this picture of me and her when we were really young, and uploaded it on Facebook. Looking at old pictures really puts a smile on my face.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Some Lessons Are Learned Best the Hard Way

I always say that some lessons are learned best the hard way, and I've proven this time and again. The other day, this hard truth smacked me hard in the face again.

My eldest daughter Keisha was asking which club she should join for school, as they are required to join one for the whole school year. Her choices were the Art Club, Math Club, Star Scout, and the Young Readers Club. I wanted for her to join either the Art Club so she could be more adept with arts and drawing, and also the Young Readers Club so that her pronunciation skills could be made even better. Henry wanted her to join the Math Club so that she could become even better at Math (something I am admittedly not), but we both disagreed on the Star Scout Club.

A lot of Keisha's classmates were signing up for the Star Scout, but I seriously did not want her to join that club. I felt that she would only become excessively tired if she did, and I was also worried about the strenuous physical activities they might do. Keisha's really not that athletic, and I guess it's partly our fault because everybody treated her like a baby. She was the first grandchild, and both my parents and Henry's mom was crazy about her.

After explaining to Keisha what each club was about, we all three mutually agreed on the Young Readers Club. Keisha does like reading stories, and she agreed to join the club after learning that they would mostly be doing a lot of reading. I signed her notebook with the corresponding club of our choice using a pencil, as I couldn't find a pen at the time. 

Keisha went home from school the following day and told me she erased the check mark on the club we chose and checked the Star Scout because a lot of her classmates were joining there. I was upset not because joined the club we didn't want her to join the most, but because she went behind our back and erased my signature.

I was very mad and hurt for what Keisha did, and although we got everything resolved by night time, I was left with a shocking truth - what Keisha did was very minor compared to the heartaches I caused my parents. I had a hard time imagining how hurt they must have been when I got pregnant and married early. And as I always say, some lessons are learned best the hard way.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

We're Going to Have Puppies! (hopefully)

Yesterday, we took our shih tzu pets to the vet to help them in the process of making babies (lol). Our female is already in heat, but our male shih tzu won't do it with her. I read a couple of articles on the internet wherein if the dogs grew up together and they feel like they're already siblings even though they're not really related, they just won't mate with each other. But the vet said it could also be because of Ron, our male shih tzu dog's age. He's just a year old and it could be that mating isn't really his thing yet.

We still have two more stud sessions left, and those are really just to be sure. If Princess, our female shih tzu does not become pregnant during this time, we get the next stud session free the next time she goes in heat. But the vet said that he was positive yesterday was Princess' fertile day, after they conducted the vaginal smear on her. I'm praying that when she does have puppies, she won't have a hard time, and that all of her puppies make it alive.

The picture on the left is our dogs. The female one, Princess, is the black and white one, and she's doing the humping in this pic (lol!). Our male one Ron is the mahogany and white with streaks of black one. Ron is actually a standard size shih tzu, while Princess is a bit smaller than the standard size.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Happy Father's Day!

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Keisha's First Day in First Grade

Yesterday, June 15, was Keisha's first day in school as a first grader. Her schedule is really early and long - her classes start at 6:45AM and ends at 12:15PM. I was worried about how she would adjust to staying that long in school as her previous schedules only took about 3 hours at the most.

On her very first day, Keisha came home with a star on her hand and another one today. She said today's star was for finishing what her teacher asked her to write the fastest, and her star for today was for behaving really well.

I'm glad Keisha's adjusting to being in the first grade really well, and I'm looking forward to more stories about the new teachers she will meet in the coming days.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

It's June!

June marks two very important events for me. First, in a few days or weeks, my eldest child Keisha is now in first grade! Yipee! I'm very proud of her, not to mention the fact that I seriously can't help but feel like I'm getting a whole lot older, hahaha!

Second, my second daughter Nicole will be having her third birthday, and I'm really looking forward to it. Time truly flies so fast, and my youngest daughter is growing up so fast. I wonder if our planned trip to Tagaytay will push through, or if we should just go to the mall and watch a movie or something.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Shrek Forever After in 3D at the Mall of Asia

I just got home from watching Shrek Forever and After at the Mall of Asia. This is actually my first time ever to watch in an IMAX theather (pity me, lol!), and a first for the kids as well - but not Henry though! I remember old 3D glasses, the red and blue ones...hahaha! But the glasses at IMAX were amazing and the 3D effects made you feel you were really in the movie and that bits of fire, smoke, and other falling stuff in the movie were really going to touch you.

I really enjoyed the movie, as at one point in life I did feel like how Shrek was feeling - that he just needed time off for himself and that he wanted a break. Having 3 kids can be quite stressful, and Shrek is in a life he wasn't used to. Loving Fiona made him change his previous ogre ways and although it was for the better, there was this part of him that missed his old life.

Although there are times that I feel I need a break, I do know for a fact that I am more than blessed. I know I'm lucky to have a great husband, and equally great kids who may drive me nuts and not give me a moment's peace while they're awake, but it's something I wouldn't exchange for anything else. I guess Shrek just needed to figure that out for himself too, and I just love the romantic lines he said to Fiona when he only had a few more minutes of existence - he didn't care what would happen to him at that point, he just wanted to make sure Fiona was safe. This movie made me want to watch all the Shrek movies again. :)

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Guest Post - Savings Guide for Parents


  

photo: alancleaver
 
One of the toughest jobs parents have to face is the responsibility of saving up for the family. It can be a difficult lifestyle to adapt into especially for first-parents. There’s also the misconception that savings is only for the kids’ college education when in reality, you can apply this into so many things.

You and the family no longer have to skip another fun summer getaway if you have a travel savings on hand. Every once in a while you and your spouse can splurge on couples’ time if you have savings for dates. Your kids no longer have to experience the usual hand-me-downs if you have savings for their other necessities such as clothes and school supplies.

Log Your Monthly Expenses

Before you begin creating your savings project, it’s important to set realistic goals first. Make it a point to log down every expense you’ve had for the previous month until the present. Distinguish them between bills and personal expenses. From this list, you can begin trimming off those which you can actually do without.

You can also make some adjustments on some of the expenses you have like travel. If you think you spend too much for gas then if possible, take some days off from using the car and just take public transportation to work. If the kids get too much allowance because you allow them to buy food in the cafeteria, then give them home-made meals on some days.
Just remember that these changes do not have to be implemented right away. If other family members will be involved and are likely to get affected, then make the changes slowly and gradually. Also, let them know why such changes are to be done.

Include Yourself in the Expenses

Most parents forget this when planning for a savings. This does not mean splurging on the first pair of shoes that catches your eye nor finally buying that SUV you’ve been eyeing all these years. What this means is that you also give yourself some practical amount of expense every month so you don’t end up feeling deprived and at the most unprecedented time suddenly feel the urge to splurge.

You should also include here starting your own savings fund such as a retirement package or saving up for health insurance. Aside from you, your spouse and your kids will also benefit from these life-savings programs.

Always Pay Your Debt on Time

Do not miss out on monthly debts especially if they are charged to your credit. Most people end up being drowned in debt because of the interest that builds up from it. Another way to counter this problem is to use your credits wisely. If it helps, leave the credit cards someplace safe and uneasy to reach so you would not get tempted to use them.

As you create your monthly expense log, most of these debts would fall under the bills section. Keep in mind that the bills are equally important with the personal expenses, if not somewhat more important. If you can’t pay for the month, make sure you track the interest rates or find a way to make even staggered payments just so you can avoid tarnishing your credit history.

Savings Guide for Parents
  was originally posted on the SaveBrite.com blog

Saturday, May 15, 2010

A lot of Gifts from Henry

Today I got 3 presents from Henry, all of which I was pleasantly surprised. He got me a weighing scale (to motivate me in my quest to lose weight and keep it off), an Ab Rocket and a Body Slender machine. I feel like we're going to start a small gym in the near future, lol!

Since I started taking Leisure 18 and my appetite has dramatically decreased, I thought it would be a good thing to get moving and exercise as well, since in that way I'd be able to see results faster. My husband was totally supportive of the idea so today he went out with my youngest kid to the mall and after a few hours, came back with all these stuff.

Being a stay at home mom and working full time on the computer surely has its setbacks for me, since the most physical activity I get is typing with my fingers. I don't go out to walk, commute, and my days are spent pretty much sitting in this computer chair I'm in right now. These exercise machines will surely help me in breaking a sweat and in my quest to firm and tone my body. Thanks again Henry...you just made my day. :)

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Happy Mother's Day!

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Featured on Loqal.ph

Recently, I was featured on Loqal on their article about freelancers and freelancing. I cannot say anything else except for the fact that I am extremely flattered with the mention. I've been making a couple of posts on my blog about oDesk and how much I earn from it, but I never seriously thought other people would come to recognize it.

One thing I would like to point out though is the fact that oDesk is not a get-rich-quick-scheme. It entails lots of honest and hard work, and I think you should have a profitable skill even before venturing in the site, like writing, translation, etc.

Sure, I made Php71,000 last month on oDesk, but it wasn't an easy feat. I was almost always short of sleep, and I think I only got out of the house twice in that entire month for grocery shopping. I admit that time management is one thing I have to learn, since I really suck at it, lol! I feel like I'm always rushing through deadlines.

I have also been blessed with extremely great clients who for reasons of non disclosure I can't mention, not only have ongoing projects which I've had for months (some years), are a dream to work with. I know I've been lucky in that part, as some of my other friends get clients but after the project's over, they have to go through the entire process of searching and applying for jobs.

So for anyone who would like to take the gamble of working from home, I sincerely recommend keeping your existing job or whatever source of income you have before you decide to become a full time freelancer. Tread the waters first and make your decision from there. As the saying goes, don't take the plunge blindfolded.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Twitter Followers

Wow.

I'm suddenly getting a lot of Twitter followers! I rarely log onto the site, but now I guess I have more reasons to as there are a lot of people checking out what I write. ^_^

I'm very happy and flattered. Thanks guys!

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

House Season 6 Blogger Episode - Private Lives

The night before yesterday Henry and I spent our evenings up to the wee early hours watching the torrents of House season 6. I was fascinated about the episode where House and his team treated a blogger who documented everything about her life, she and her partner's arguments, and even the doctors and the treatment being done to her.

Well,the episode did not make any mention of the patient having like a Twitter account or Facebook for instance, but the episode did imply that she was pretty popular online. When her kidneys were failing and she blogged about it, a few hours later a reader of hers from a different country called Princeton Plainsborough Teaching Hospital and was asking how hard it would be to donate. Cool, huh?

I recall one point in my blogging in this particular blog how Henry asked why I even blogged about something, although I can't remember what it was. I also don't remember if I took the post down or not, and I think I most probably did. For me, like House's patient, this is where I can share anything I want to. It is easy to be honest to people you don't see, but that can also be misconstrued into being easier to lie to people you don't know. This is where I can say what I want to without being rejected because hey, if you don't like what I'm saying you can easily stop reading and close your browser, right?

I also really liked in this particular episode how an old film of Wilson was used by his college roommate and turned it into a porn movie. Posters were everywhere and Wilson set out to find something he could use against House. He did find a book of sermons House was reading secretly, not because he was changing spiritually, but because his biological father wrote it.

I seriously love this TV show, and if anyone can point me to where I can download a torrent of the episode entitled Knight Fall, I will forever be grateful. ^_^

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

A Trip to Bulacan

Henry and I took the kids to Bulacan as we visited his aunt who came home to the Philippines for a 2 week visit. She's actually a US Citizen and if I'm not mistaken, she lives in California.

I really like visits to the province, especially in Bulacan as my dad is also from that province. We went there last Monday, as that is the only day of the week where I am not too busy with my online writing stuff. I really liked the break, the fresh air, and how my kids got to meet the kids of Henry's cousins.

Along with Henry's aunt, his cousin also came home for a visit. This particular cousin of his is one of his cousins whom he grew up with. I'm glad they got together and bonded again after 10 years of not seeing each other. We weren't able to take a lot of pictures though, but I say the trip went fairly well.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Awake for 25 Hours and Counting

I've been awake since a little before noon yesterday and now I am still awake typing away on my laptop. I am so darn sleepy but I want to finish a project of mine so that it will be paid out this Friday. If I am able to do so, I might just have enough cash as a down payment for a second hand car, which will also be my very first one.

My mother in law might be in the states earning a considerable amount of money when converted into my currency, but I do not want to be dependent on her for the things I want, need, and want to give my kids and my family. So here I am, even though I am just a stay at home mom, I manage to earn a couple of hundred of dollars a week, but I already look like the guy in this picture from this site I stumbled upon. Oh well, I guess I can keep my eyes open for a few more hours if it means that I can get one of my goals done.

Friday, March 19, 2010

What do you think of the new dNeero homepage?



I haven't been to dNeero lately, although I have like $5 as a balance from previous conversations I've joined. I was glad to receive an email from them about this new conversation, and it's focused on the opinion of users on how we like the new site design. It still has the familiar look and feel of the old site, but the new design is great. Good job guys!

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Another Blast from the Past Picture


That's me standing with the green shoulder bag...I honestly did not recognize myself but I recognized that Lacoste bag of mine. Sob, I guess it's time I accepted how much weight I put on after 2 cesarian sections plus staying at home in front of the PC all day. I wonder how my friends managed to keep all of these old pictures with them when I don't even have a single one?

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

A Blast from the Past


A college friend of mine posted this in FaceBook...and all I can say is OMG! I was so thin back then...and that shirt does not fit me anymore!!! I think it would fit my eldest daughter though...so I was that freaking thin back then? Whoa!

Monday, March 8, 2010

Should I....

My husband Henry asked me if I wanted to trade in my netbook for a dual core Asus laptop that comes with a 12 inch screen. I'm not sure of the model yet, but the person whom we bought my current Neo Vivid netbook does offer trade ins for a reasonable price. I've always wanted a bigger netbook with bigger keys, not to mention something that came in black since this one I'm using never fails to give out signs of daily use.

What I'm concerned about is how I'm so used to everything with this netbook I currently have, and getting a new one would be like getting to know a whole new person. I know the guy we bought this from can transfer everything that I have on this netbook to the new one I'll buy, but I'm not sure...so should I or should I not?

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Rehab 101

Helping someone who doesn't want to be helped or thinks that there is nothing wrong with him or her is a very hard thing to accomplish, especially if the case is addiction. Fortunately, there are plenty of drug rehab in Ohio you can seek help for your friends and family members. 

The Ohio Drug Rehabilitation can help your loved one in so many ways. Aside from drug addiction, this facility can also help your friends and loved ones get over other addictions such as alcoholism. Addiction is often caused by pain from a past trauma that a person tries to hide or numb with the use of substances. We all know that you can't hide the pain forever, and using such substances is bad for anyone's health. Having a family member who is addicted to such substances also affects everyone in the family, not just the addicted person.

The Ohio Drug Rehab has different ways in approaching treatment for addiction, including long term treatment. Your loved ones will be receiving a combination of cognitive therapy and medical treatment. More often than not, detox doesn't always do the trick since some patients tend to jump right back into their addiction after they get out of rehab. Finding out what the root cause is and working from there while treating the addiction medically is the best way to go.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Happy Valentines Day!


Happy Valentines Day to everybody!

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Worried About My Mom


I'm really worried about my mom. She's like 60 years old and she started urinating blood a couple of days ago. When she was urinating blood, she felt a plop and saw a stone on the toilet bowl. I'm worried since we live in a different house, I can't take care of her as much as I would want to. 

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

I Need Time

I am dying to have some time for myself...like time to just sit back without having to think about anything like the online work I'm currently swamped with or anything else. I want to relax for a change, and not have to worry about deadlines, whether my kids have taken a bath, they've eaten their lunch or taken their vitamins. Don't get me wrong - I love my family and my kids more than life itself, but I just want to sit back and take a break for a while. Am I bad?

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Oishi's Vegetarian Chicharon


I am so addicted to Oishi's vegetarian chicharon! I like how it's made from green peas and a bunch of other vegetables and spices but tastes so much like the real thing. I prefer this flavor, Salt and Vinegar, over the plain salted one that's colored blue. They both taste great and I love munching on it every time!

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Deadlines 101

oDesk has proved to be really profitable for me. What I thought was impossible is now packing me with deadlines to meet, and plenty of online earnings. When I first started on oDesk, I thought landing my first job would be impossible, now things are very easy for me I guess in part of the feedback I have built up.

Over at my other blog Rant and Rave, I've been posting several tips on how to make money on oDesk and how to earn a lot from it. I may not be able to post tips daily or even every other day, I will however exert every effort to post at least twice a week - that's how busy I am with hourly and fixed price jobs over there.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

A Cool Software Upgrade for my Nokia 5800

I am loving my Nokia 5800 as time goes by. Instead of me wanting to get a new phone, the software updates that Nokia comes up with keeps my phone abreast with the newest models they release. Plus, with WiFi, Bluetooth, USB, and downloadable songs and games, I really can't ask for anything more when it comes to the features of this phone. My newest phone update today was version 40.0.005.

What changed is the fact that my contacts bar is now not limited to only 4 entries, but I am still not sure as to how many entries I can exactly store. Plus, it now has the ability to scroll left and right, unlike before when it was just stuck at the front of the screen. The icons for the contacts bar are also a lot bigger, allowing me to see the thumbnail photo of my contact a lot better.

The contacts bar also comes with a shortcuts bar at the bottom where you can easily access frequently used applications of your choice. I have my music player, Bounce (the game Nicole loves to play on my phone), gallery for quick and easy viewing of images, and the communities icon wherein it allows me access to FaceBook and Twitter easily on my phone.

Friday, January 1, 2010

Happy New Year!



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