Change

I decided to change the look of my blog. I'm not sure how long I'm going to keep this design. I think it's a little busy for my liking. On the other hand, I love the new look on my Project 365!

I do like that this design is more personalized. See the little sticky notes on the side? :)

Technologically Speaking

 I just finished reading my friend Fonda's blog post and it got me thinking about the Internet, social media and this whole technology thing.

Where was I technologically speaking, 10 years ago? 15 years ago? Maybe even 20 years ago. Let's see...

I remember Paul's cellular phone, it was so big that it has it's own bag and it needed to be plugged in the car for it to work. I remember him having a pager for work and I thought he was all that (this was before we were married). In those days, only doctors have pagers!

If I remember correctly, I got my very own cellphone in 1996 or 1997. It was gigantic candy bar style cellphone compare to the size of the phones now a days. I know it was a Nokia, because I remember thinking what a strange name and that it would be great to invest in the company if I had the funds to do it. I wish I did!

In 1998, I created my very first website called "What's Up?" (very creative, huh?) when I lived in Rockford, Illinois. I had to learn and teach myself HTML, back then you had to know how to write HTML code to publish your own website. Not so anymore. I remember one of the members of my family being upset because I had posted DD and my pictures on the world wide web.

It's so strange to think how far we've come, technology speaking. We have the internet at our fingertips, we blog, we twitter and facebooking is now a verb! We can surf the internet, send email, take pictures and even make movies with our cell phones.

I wonder what's next? What about you? Do you remember your first cellphone or computer?

25 Random Things About Me

By now you’ve undoubtedly been tagged at least once for that “25 Random Things About Me” Facebook note that has spread across the social networking sphere like some kind of self-revelatory virus. Love it or hate it, its rapid proliferation is unprecedented in social networking’s young history — Facebook reports that nearly 5 million notes were created by its users during the week of January 26 through February 2, which was more than double the amount from the previous week and more than any other week in the company’s history.

But still, no one seems to be able to get to the bottom of who actually started it, or why Facebook users are suddenly so enamored with this particular means of sharing both intensely personal and highly mundane details about themselves with hundreds of friends and acquaintances in their news feeds. “We don’t have specific data on the types of Notes users are creating, but we think this growth has a strong correlation to the sharing of the 25 Random Things About Me Note,” wrote Facebook spokeswoman Brandee Barker in an email message. “Other types of content, like photos or news stories, have spread rapidly and widely on Facebook, but this is the first time I’ve noticed a Note gain such distribution.”

Complete story here.

So, should I post 25 random things about me? What about you?

In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb

February has come and gone. It has been a very mild winter, but I have heard that March is known for coming in like a lion and going out like a lamb. I'm hoping it will be a lamb this year. I hope we don't get any snow since I've already started taking down the plastic insulation over our windows. Apparently, this winter has been the least snowiest on record.

My spring flowers are starting to come up, I'm excited to see the bulbs I planted last Fall growing. I mentioned to DH I needed to get my tomatoes and other vegetable seedlings I want to plant this year. But, he is not as enthused about it as I am. He has put in for a couple of bids out of Washington so we are kind of up in the air right now. Regardless of were moving or not, I will have my tomatoes, eggplants and herbs this year!

I started going to a work-out class called Zumba on Tuesdays and Thursday... very fun fitness program! I have much to do as far as "Spring Cleaning" goes, I'm editing a lot of our stuff in our house. So much to do!!!

No turning this day around!

You definitely can't turn this date around. Apparently it’s only the second palindrome day of the 21st century, meaning that if you flip the day over it reads the same: 01/02/2010 or 01022010.

Palindrome days, at least in the long run, are rarer than visits by Halley’s Comet, which swings by the green planet once every 75 or 76 years. Yes, the last palindrome date wasn't that long ago, on Oct 2, 2001 – 10-02-2001, but the one before that came a full 620 years earlier, on Aug. 31, 1380, in the year Charles VI, the French king, declared no taxes forever.

The next palindrome day, which will be the third out of 12 in the 21st century, will be on 11-02-2011. The 36th and last palindrome date of this millennium will occur on Sept. 22, 2290. The next one after that will be Oct. 3, 3001. A bit spooky to think of, that.

Happy 2010

The old year has gone. Let the dead past bury its own dead. The new year has taken possession of the clock of time. All hail the duties and possibilities of the coming twelve months!
~Edward Payson Powell

Bayanihan Spirit of the Filipino People

Bayanihan. Pronounced like "buy-uh-nee-hun," bayanihan is a Filipino word derived from the word bayan meaning town, nation, or community in general. "Bayanihan" literally means, "being a bayan," and is thus used to refer to a spirit of communal unity and cooperation.

I'm sure you have seen the news and heard of the devastation in the Philippines cause by Typhoon Ondoy aka Tropical Storm Kestana. It's heart wrenching to see these people suffer. Watching TFC (The Filipino Channel) in the comfort of my family room, I saw many Filipino helping each other. OFW (Overseas Filipino Workers) and Pinoy Expats sending help. I can see that bayanihan is alive and well in my home country!

(Photo Source)

(Photo Source)

When I called my brother to check-in on how things are with them, he assured me that him and his wife and the little girl we are adopting are safe. The area where they live is about 130 kilometers (80 miles) north of Manila and has been spared from the floods. So, I breathe with a sigh of relief.

If you are interested in helping, you can donate thru the Philippine National Red Cross. It is one of the major organizations providing aid to those affected by the floods. Wherever you are in the world, you can send your donations to them through this online donations form. Choose “Typhoon Ondoy” in the Project/Activity drop down selection.

Somewhere over the Rainbow

I've been feeling melancholy lately... I don't know why. So I decided to make a playlist for one of my favorite songs.

This is a collection of many different versions of Somewhere over the Rainbow. From the classic & original Judy Garland, the blues sound of Ray Charles, the Hawaiian style of Brother Iz, sweet voice of 6 year-old Connie Talbot, to the rock and roll version of Jimi Hendrix and every thing in between.

I'm looking for Norah Jones and Whitney Houston's version. If you have it or any other version please let me know. I hope you take time to listen to Connie Talbot's version, she's a 6 year old singing sensation.

Enjoy!

Summer Round-Up

Summer is quickly coming to a close and fall season soon to begin! I'm sorry to see summer gone but I am ready for the cooler weather and I am ready to end my hiatus from updating my blog!

DH had to work a 6-day week pretty much all summer. The extra money from over-time was very nice. But we weren't able to do our favorite activity which is to go on road trip on weekends, to visit nearby towns and check-out festivals around the area. Although, we had a chance to go and explore the Olympic Peninsula while visiting his parents in Bremerton.

I have lots of photos to share, and DH just bought me an external hard drive (1Terrabyte) so I can organize my pictures. I will try and upload some photos soon.

Celebrate Growing Older

48 life lessons for my 48th birthday.

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
17. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
18. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
19. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
20. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
21. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
22. The most important sex organ is the brain.
23. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
24. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: "In five years, will this matter?"
25. Always choose life.
26. Forgive everyone everything.
27. What other people think of you is none of your business.
28. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
30. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
31. Believe in miracles.
32. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
33. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
34. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.
35. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
36. Read the Psalms. They cover every human emotion.
37. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
38. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
39. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
40. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
41. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
42. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
43. The best is yet to come.
    
44. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
45. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
46. If you don't ask, you don't get.
47. Yield.
    
48. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

I would like to take credit for these life lessons; but this was written By Regina Brett, a Columnist for The Plain Dealer in Cleveland , Ohio. It is the most-requested column she's ever written.

Dropping By

Sorry if updates in my blog is kind of slow (more like non-existence) but time is not on my side as I juggle to finish commitments and everyday chores.

Anyway, just drop by to say that DH and I are doing well and will try to get an update soon!

I Feel Good

Whoa-a! I feel good, I knew that I would, now
I feel good, I knew that I would, now
So good, so good...

You know when you've accomplished something and it makes you feel good about yourself... that's how I feel right now.

Last week, I've been working around the house to get the boxes unpack and put away. The boxes in the living room are all gone! The kitchen, living and dining room area are organized. My china and crystal are safely put-away in the china cabinet. My Christmas Village collection is displayed, pictures and painting are hang on the wall. My house is starting to look and feel more like home!

Next week's project: the family room and the office.



Today I joined an exercise class from our church... I have been thinking about exercising and getting to know the women at my church and this was the perfect opportunity. After class, I went with two other ladies for a protein smoothie and brained stormed for some ideas for the Women's Ministry. Our church is a small congregation and they can used some help; so I think will jump right in with both feet. I figured it would be a good way to get to know these women and get involved with the church.

My week has been busy and fulfilling. I hope yours was too!

The PacMan vs The HitMan

I'm not really a big boxing fan. But since Manny Pacquiao is from the Philippines and my fellow countryman, I thought I'd write a little about him.

PacMan as he is widely known, is considered as the pound for pound champion of the world. Manny’s fighting record stands at 48 Wins, 3 Losses and 2 Draws. Those 48 wins include 36 knockouts. He is a source of great pride and is considered a hero in the Philippines.

Good luck Manny... I hope you win!



Update:
Congrats Manny! Pacquiao deafeated Hatton in the 2nd round!

Should We Worry About The Swine Flu?

Today I sneezed and made a comment about getting the swine flu!

Well, DH was not very happy about what I said and told me that the swine flu is very serious and people are dying. So, somewhat chastised I decided to do a little research on flu pandemic.

According to what I found online, the last great flu pandemic to hit the world was in 1918. That flu killed 2.5% of all people it infected. This new swine flu is killing 6%.

So why not worry?

Think about 1918. There were no anti-flu medicines. There were no widely-available face masks. There were no quick diagnostic tests. There were no governmental early warning systems. There was no widespread knowledge of how to avoid infection, or quick access to medical personnel if one did have an infection.

Today, people — even in the relatively poor country of Mexico — are being screened weeks earlier, preventative measures are being taken, quarantines are being put up when they can still be effective, and information about this situation and how to prevent it is a knowledge that pretty much everybody on the planet now possesses. We are a cleaner and healthier race than we were 90 years ago, and the immediacy and quality of our medical care is vastly improved in even the poorest corners of the planet. The United States alone handles millions of flu cases per year, and while the swine flu is a specially bad version of the flu, it is still the flu.

Can a disease still come along that will again wipe 40 million people? Possibly... but if it does, it will be something new and unexpected to which the tried and true methods of infection avoidance prove to be ineffective.
_________________________________________________

A little swine flu humor added in for levity's sake:

No Reservations!

One of my favorite chef/foodie celebrity is Anthony Bourdain. He finally went to the Philippines and did a show about the country of my birth! It's too bad he didn't eat "Balut" (fertilized boiled egg) and "Dinuguan" (blood pork stew) on the show... Bizarre food with Andrew Zimmern (another favorite show) did!











I hope you enjoyed the show.

Then and Now - Dear Husband

My DH took a picture of himself while at work today and emailed it to me.
I found an old photo of him at his heaviest and wanted to share it.

This and That

Writing about the weather seems to be an easy subject when I can't think of anything to say. I will do my best to not focus on the weather since I can't really do anything about it. Although it's been warmer and sunny the last two days, it's still too cold to work in the yard.

I have been kind of in the dumps lately. I just haven't had the motivation to get these boxes unpack. Believe me I have the plan on how to do it, what I don't have is the motivation to get going. Every day I tell myself: "August, you need to unpack these boxes. Start with one box!" But when I see the mountain of boxes in the living room, family room and garage, it's just so overwhelming!

I think I know what's bothering me... it's the possibility of moving to Texas. DH hasn't heard anything from them, but he did tell me that they sent his boss some sort of "evaluation questionnaire" so they are looking at him. At this point we don't know anything yet. It's the waiting and not knowing that's so hard!

Last week DH and I went to Outback for dinner and the service was so poor that the manager didn't let us pay. I felt sorry for him because they ran-out of a lot things and he was going from table to table explaining and probably giving them a free meal as well. He told us because of the weather their delivery truck was stuck on the other side of Snoqualmie Pass. Our date wasn't a total loss, we still had a nice time talking with each other.

Because of the economic downturn, DD (darling daughter) lost her job and got-laid off. So yesterday, Sunday, she moved in with us until she figures out what to do. This is going to be a big adjustment, she hasn't lived with us and had her own apartment for the last 3 years. Come to think of it other than summer and holiday breaks, she really hasn't lived with us since she left for college in 2003.

Wow, I didn't think I have that much to say! I guess I better stop for now before this becomes a big wall of text.

Until then,

Computer Virus, Spyware & Malware

This week I had a really bad computer scare! My system was infected with Spyware Protect 2009. It happened the day that DH left for Florida. So I had to deal with it myself. DH told me what I needed to do while waiting for his flight. So with the help of Spybot Search & Destroy and Ad-Aware, I managed to remove it from my computer.

I've always known NOT to click on any unknown pop-ups. But Spyware Protect 2009 looks very legit. Regardless to say, I learned my lesson the hard way. I'm just glad my computer is working now and it is virus free at the moment.

I'm Back!

Just a quick note that I am safely back home with my DH! It was snowing when I left for the Philippines and it was snowing when I arrived in Spokane. At least I had almost 3 weeks of heat and sunshine. :)

I will post some photos as soon as I can.

Sunday Round-Up

Philippine Week-in Review:

Monday, 2/16 - Arrived in Manila International on time (11:00pm local time). Then took another 3 hour drive to get to the house from Manila to Pamatawan, Zambales. We got in around 3:30 am Tuesday.

Tuesday, 2/17 - Not much sleep! We went into the city (Olongapo City - about an hour drive) to do some shopping. When we got there, the whole city doesn't have any electricity. Electric company was doing some maintenance and the power was out all day. Regardless to say, every store we went in was like a hot spa inside. I was sweating or should I say... perspiring like a pig.

Wednesday, 2/18 - Stayed home to recuperate! I had a home-service massage for 1.5 hour for the cost of measly $3.00... that's not a typo, it's really $3.00!!!

Thursday, 2/19 - It's the local "Market Day"! Niece #1 and I along with my brother went to do some shopping. We bought a lot vegetables, fish, a big sack of rice and other "stuff" that I can't find in the states.

After lunch, we went in the city for some pampering at one of the high-end salon/beauty spa. We had our hair done, facial, manicure, spa pedicure and also had face waxed. We were treated like royalty and service was excellent! Can you guess how much it cost for all this? ... $50.00 ! ! !

Friday & Saturday, 2/20-21 - We left for Baguio City, the Summer Capital of the Philippines for the weekend! Got up really early since it's a 7 hour road trip. We decided to take the bus which is called Victory Liner. The bus itself is very much like Greyhound bus, the seats are comfortable and it's air-conditioned. The scenery was lovely and we stayed in a very nice bed & breakfast type place instead of a hotel. Our excursion was alot of fun!

Sunday, 2/22 - Finally managed to find an Internet cafe close to the house. I was able to chat to DH. Also saw DD online so we chatted a little.