Saturday, March 31, 2007

Seven Songs - Seven Moments in Time

ImageChef.com - Create custom images Rachel of Heart of Rachel tagged me to name the seven songs I am currently listening to and then I am to tag 7 more. Here goes: 1. White Christmas (Bing Crosby) holds my childhood and my memories of the excitement reading brings. I saw this tiny book that my cousins used to keep in their pockets. It said on the cover: SONG HITS. One day they just left it on a table. I gingerly peeked at the pages and saw the lyrics to White Christmas. I didn't know the tune so I memorized it as a poem. I guess I should say I rapped it (grin). 2. Dream, Dream, Dream (Everly Brothers) always reminds me of my second son, Patrick, when he was almost four. We were still in Nigeria then. Every morning for almost a month, that would be the first song he would ask his dad or me to play on our boom box. He even added his own lyrics to the song. I am sure now he sings it to his sons, Jacob and Joshua. 3. You Are So Beautiful (Joe Cocker) always puts a smile on my face. When Lester, our eldest son, was courting Rachelle, he didn't stop until he found the lyrics and singer to this song. I won't be surprised if he still sings it to her now, after almost 8 years of marriage. 4. Still the One (Shania Twain) is my youngest's theme song. Jonathan made a pact with Sarah's dad that if after five years they would still be a couple, her dad wouldn't object to their relationship anymore. On the fifth year this song was the hit. They thought the song so fitting to how they survived the test to their commitment to one another that they made it a point to sing it whenever it was karaoke time with his brothers. Last New Year's day, they were blessed with their own little cupid - Matthew David. 5. An Affair To Remember (Vic Damone) is a song that reminds me of my first puppy love and heart break. I was in high school. Ah, what sweet memory! By the way, I still watch the movie with Deborah Kerr and Cary Grant and each time, I still cry at that scene when he found out why she couldn't meet him at the Empire Building. 6. Making Love To You (Perry Como) doesn't need any explanation (chuckle). How many of you have heard it? 7. Through the Years (Kenny Rogers) is one song that Ed kept rewinding the tape of until he memorized it! After all these years of being together, the song says it all! Sorry, Rachel, that I cannot tag anyone at this time. I've been trying since last night but I don't know what's happening to my computer. I couldn't link back nor could I leave comments on someone else's blog! I couldn't even publish my post at Pinoy Moms!! I'll try again tonight. Happy weekend!!! I'll try to e-mail the following friends so I can tell them that I am tagging them for the "7 Songs" Update: 7:17 pm (links working again) Rondah Gloria Analyse Grammie DellaB Andy (I know, I need to tag one more)

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

March 29th is Rachel's big day !!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RACHEL !!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RACHEL !!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RACHEL !!! The blogger with a beautiful heart! (mysoulfulthoughts)

Monday, March 26, 2007

Jacob Went A-Bowling

My, Lola, this ball is sure HEAVY !!! I don't need to look. I'm sure it will be a STRIKE!!!

Gloria and I traveled .... Part II

gloria and princess on the trail This was the route we took in July, 2001: California - Nevada - Utah - Idaho - Wyoming - Montana - Washington - Oregon - California I decided to embed the pictures from my album at Webshots.com but after I did I thought the slideshow (which I couldn't change) isn't that good. Oh, well......

Sunday, March 25, 2007

Gloria and I traveled the Western States -Part I

This is the story of my friend, Gloria, and me when we left our husbands and went on a road trip along the Western States! She thought she needed a vacation. I thought I should pay a high school friend in Wyoming a visit. So there, we had situations, we found a solution! (We didn't purposely leave our husbands behind - their bosses didn't let them take their breaks!)
Here are the highlights of our adventure.
One of the many inns we slept in. Gloria didn't want us on the road once the sun starts going down.
This was one barn that I had to take a picture of. It was a converted barn somewhere in Idaho.
We thought
the trip to Salt Lake City in Utah wouldn't mean anything if we didn't go to The Temple.
The Snake River was awesome in its stillness. We were on our way to
Wyoming from Idaho.
A house with interesting
architecture

OOOHHHH My Brain !!!

You Are 55% Left Brained, 45% Right Brained
The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning. Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others. If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic. Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet. The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility. Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way. If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art. Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.
I had fun today doing tests after tests (wheewww) at blogthings.com. In addition to being Left Brained, I also found out that while I am a beagle puppy because of my amazing sense of smell, I can be fairly lustful, too (31%), a percentage I can raise even higher if I painted my bedroom blue to stabilize my blood pressure which will result to me having a sound, peaceful, soothing sleep (I hope after the lusting and loving?). My test results also revealed that I am pretty lucky with an 82% Luck Quotient despite the fact that I am 10% (I'm glad it's not more!) evil. I still have plans on taking more tests cuz I want to find out what my name means in Mexican, Japanese, Indian and Irish!

Friday, March 23, 2007

SERGIO's dream!!!

He looked so dapper in his JROTC uniform as he strutted towards my desk to drop some ingredients he and his group would use to prepare a recipe. There was not a single wrinkle or a misplaced crease on his shirt that holds all the pins and medals he had earned. His pants dropped perfectly from his waistline that was held by a belt locked with a buckle that shone like a 24-carat gold. His hair? - every strand was in place. He looked so commanding even with his smiling face. I asked if I could take his picture to post in my blog and, almost shyly he said: "Oh, yes, Ms.!" Curiousity hit me so I inquired how he got into the program. "I had a friend who needed to recruit someone so he could earn his badge and I wanted to help him." I couldn't help but smile at his remark . "Do you like it?" "Well, Ms., at first I didn't but as I got deeper into the activities I learned to like being there very much." "And afterwards?" I asked again. "I plan to go into the Army and be an officer." I patted his shoulder and assured him: "That's nice, SERGIO! Good luck! See you in 5th period!" "Thanks, Ms." Ahhh, another youth and his dream!!!

Thursday, March 22, 2007

Julie practices

Julie and Victor holding their practice fruit tarts
Julie, (shown with Victor at a recent training at Mission College) a senior in International Foods class, will give a culinary competition a shot this coming May. She will show her skills in proper handling of knives and accuracy in making several vegetable cuts like brunoise, julienne, batonette, different sizes of dices, tourne and slices. She will also mince parsley until it is in dry, powdery form, in front of no less than 6 judges. To showcase all these, she will have to prepare 2 plates of the pictured salad with vinaigrette dressing. But that's not all. She will also prepare a 3-egg French omelette with herbs. If she makes it, then she will go to the final competition with yet another set of dishes to prepare. But for now till the preliminaries, she needs to practice, practice, practice .......

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

More Poems ......

Cake
I have to walk to my kitchen
I'm thinking of cooking a chicken
Or what if I bake
A beautiful cake.
I need to take out flour, eggs, milk, sugar and butter
But first I have to verify with my father
Before I start I wash my hands
Then I take out all the pans
I get the ingredients, first I measure
Oh, my what a pleasure
I start to mix, it's the easiest part
Wait a minute, has someone spiced a tart?
I'm ready to put in the oven my cake
I'm so happy it is finally going to bake
I hold the pan really steady
I'm just hoping it will soon be ready
The time is finally up
I poured some milk in a cup
I get an oven mitt
Take out the cake and let it sit
I cut the cake
And put it in a basket
To take it to eat
By the lake.
-- Jennifer L. --
A POEM
The smell of warm tortillas captures my attention
I walk toward the kitchen in suspension
I walk in as my eyes open wide from all the utensils
I ask my grandmother if she needs an assistant cook
She replies yes as her head shook
I pick up a rolling pin
And I roll the dough thin
I make sure the board is floured
So the dough wouldn't stick
Everything is in mise en place
Soon the family will applause
The dough
Is ready to go
The oven is preheated and the pan is greased
I stand to the side of the oven
So I won't get burned , Then I open
i use an oven mitt
So the heat won't hit
I close the oven, and watch the time
So the tortillas will all be mine
It's time to make sure the cooling rack is clean
Because soon it will be in use
So my tortillas don't burn
I sanitize the plate that I will place the tortillas on
Then I turn off the oven
A traditional Mexican cuisine
tortillas, rice, and beans
boil the rice
until it cooks nice
and season and stir in with a wooden spoon
boil the beans
until they look brown and lean
prepare the table, clean the plates, spoons and forks
or maybe will use sporks!
Use proper etiquette
Use the napkin when you sneeze
ask to be excused when you leave.
The end.......... Melanie

Monday, March 19, 2007

Cartoons for your blog

cartoon from www.weblogcartoons.com

Cartoon by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.

Found this link from Liz of My Year of Getting Published. Thanks to you, Dave and Liz.

Make Some Time Out

Dianne Hales wrote in the March 18, 2007 issue of Parade Magazine:
"Make time for yourself. Take time out from work to listen to music that stirs or soothes you. As human beings, we must feed our souls."
She enumerated some strategies one can do to get started: - track where your time goes - identify what you like to do - schedule leisure first - unplug - build pleasure into everyday - plan your breaks She did a nine-year study of 12,338 men ages 35 to 57 and found out that the incidence of a person having a heart attack was related to the number of vacations a person took. She cited the following authors, too: Leslie Godwin, From Burned Out to Fired Up; Pamela Dodd, The 25 Best Time Management Tools & Techniques; Kenneth W. Christian, Your Own Worst Enemy. While I agree to most of her findings and suggestions I seem to question this one statement: "Look for time-devouring sinkholes like reading blogs.... Is this the best way I should be spending my time right now?" What do you think?

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Saint Patrick's Day

(MAHJONG TILES)
HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY
You must be wondering, why the mahjong tiles?
Well today is also Edgar's birthday. (My hubby, remember?)
His second love is being able to play mahjong (I am sure I am his first {big, wide grin}), with his cumpares. I can order him to jump from a tower and he'll do it just so I'll allow him to play! But of course I wouldn't do that, just yet.
While we invite almost everyone to come to my birthday, friends and relatives invite themselves to his birthday! Why? Because I don't invite anyone who might be offended that while they are here to celebrate his big day, Edgar, is with three others in the garage unmindful of the rest of us because the four of them are all too concentrated on which tile to move, call, or throw. Just in case you don't know, when you play mahjong, you don't ever feel hunger, sleepiness, or a need to pee (chuckle).

Friday, March 16, 2007

Sing or recite your food

Writing is one activity that my students like the least, so try to imagine their reactions when they saw on the agenda board that they were to compose either a poem, a song or a story and that they have to use, primarily, words that are included in their vocabulary lists. In between their grumblings are the following results:
Food Poem Food is delicious, enjoy it Then wash the dishes.

First do the mise en place before youbegin to cook in class.

Keep the veggies far from meat For a safer meal to eat.

Careful not to burn yourself

and put ingredients back in their shelf.

Wear gloves when you open the oven
All you need is food for some lovin'
Do you want soup or cookies or pie?
I can make it just give me the time.
I love cooking in the kitchen
Gimme an apron, chicken's sizzling!
by: Sandra
Food Poem (how they came with the same title, I don't know)
pastry, pastry, bread and wine,
I cook and then watch people dine.
pastry, pastry, bread and wine
what I cook is truly divine.
breakfast, breakfast, toast and cheese
that pepper makes me want to sneeze
breakfast, breakfast, toast and cheese
pass that jam over here now please.
apples, cherries, grapes and juice
such great treats after a snooze
apples, cherries, grapes and juice
in the kitchen i'm an animal turned loose.
I love to cook I love to create
oh, you'll just love my chocolate cake.
mix blend pour and bake
that is how i make a cake
cut dice slice and saute
that's my style of cooking today
mince and chop for mirepoix
I keep my spice rack always full ahh.

By: Sylvester

(more to come)

VirtualDNA?

Following Rachel's suggestion and lead, this is my VisualDNA. It was fun doing it. What is more fun is what I learned about my choices. Thanks, Rachel.

Monday, March 12, 2007

Monday Monday

I was driving to work this morning deep in thought of what a dragging Monday it would be, when joltingly my attention was caught by what the announcer in my favorite morning station was saying to his co-announcer:
"Listen to this. An 88-year-old teacher, she teaches English at the Palisades, is now the oldest in the Los Angeles school district. Her enthusiasm for her work is known by everyone in her school. She even wore a red helmet during her lesson about fire brigades to fire up (announcer laughing) her students' enthusiasm........."
I didn't catch the rest of what the announcer was saying because I suddenly felt guilty that here I am, much younger than she is, and complaining about Monday just because I lost one hour of sleep! I got so pepped up that this had been the best Monday I've had with my students yet.

Saturday, March 10, 2007

I was tagged ...

The last time I was tagged was when I was in my PE class so many, many, many years ago. My classmates and I were playing the "Drop the Handkerchief" game. All of us were standing in a circle, an arm's length apart, and facing towards the center. An IT student was selected and given the handkerchief. He or she would walk behind the students and discreetly drop the handkerchief behind a girl or a boy, usually one that the IT person has a crush on or a best friend, who now became the TAGGED. If the TAGGED would pick up the handkerchief before the IT reaches the TAGGED's space, the IT goes back to the circle and the TAGGED became the IT. The purpose of the game was to have everyone tagged. I remember this game because I was, surprisingly enough, tagged by Yvonne. The topic? AM I TALKING TO YOU? Let me try. Who do you see as the current (or future) audience for this blog? I see writers who are looking for new ideas, business people interested in new ventures, students who are frantically looking for topics for their term papers, people who enjoy reading quality blogs. Who are you and what draws you here? I am a grandmother to three adoring boys, a mom to three equally adoring sons and wife to a great guy who never complains about my quirks and mood swings. I teach young kids how to prepare and enjoy good food, and then I encourage them to use what they learned to pursue their dreams. I am drawn to your blog by the rich ideas that your posts feed my curious brain, which, if not fed enough, will just collapse unnoticed. Why do you come back to my blog? Because I know that I will read and find new things that will inspire me to write, just like what I am doing right now (on the side: I've retyped this twice because the edit function of the blog is acting up again - it wouldn't save or publish the second time. I hope it does with this one). Another thing, your blog is very generous in leading me from one great blog to another. What do you want to read here? As a neophyte in the field of blogging, I welcome anything that can and will make me think and write. What do you think is missing? Is there too much "fluff" and not enough "solid" information? For me, everything is just right. I find every post helpful and informational for my own need and purpose. I am still hungry. What is one thing you truly don't like about this blog? If getting excited to read the latest post can be counted, then that is it. What aspects can be improved, and how? What needs to be added, deleted or fine tuned? I don't see anything yet. Is the current focus too broad? What do you see as the preferred focus of this blog? I read each post independently. For me, the broader the better since every blogger or reader has his own interests. You give us the privilege of making a choice. Does the blog meet the title promise of "Grow Your Writing Business?" I think it does because it was able to make me answer a TAG! Thanks, Yvonne!

Thursday, March 08, 2007

Another young soldier .....

As I was tidying up my desk for the new semester I found this postcard in between papers that I almost threw away. I wonder where and how John is now. I sent him an e-mail thru the dot mil but I never received an answer. Neither have I received any news about him. Just like any mother, I wish I know. I placed the postcard 'neath the glass top of my table so I will always remember to pray for his safety. I am sure he will pay me a visit upon his return as he did before he left for Fort Knox. May God keep you safe and healthy, John!

Friday, March 02, 2007

Potpourri

Woke up earlier than usual because I had to drop Patrick off at work since Mylynn will pick him up after school so they could use the carpool lane on their way to Big Bear for a weekend with friends. (I have to breath, haaaah!) Attended a faculty meeting where we were brutally subjected to a 35-minute lecture on some chemicals. We were told it would only last for 10 minutes! Went out of my way to drive a friend to the La Brea Mall area where her son could pick her up otherwise she would be waiting for her husband for 2 hours in the dark faculty lounge. Had sardines from a can for lunch because it is a Friday in Lent. Almost banged my head on my keyboard for frustration from not being able to use the editing toolbar and when it finally cameback, some icons were missing plus edits made wouldn't publish. Watched taped episodes of "The View" Ed had to work tonight so we can have some extra "baon" for our planned trip in July. Read posts of other bloggers. Tried doing the flowermap again but forgot the steps so I could post it right. Ate half a bagel that Ginny offered. The cream cheese was good. Thought of cleaning the kitchen. Still unsure of whether I should clean or just dust the countertops.....

Thursday, March 01, 2007

Good Manners and Right Conduct

I don't watch The Oprah Show regularly but whenever I do I turn off the TV enlightened, informed and sometimes even forgiving. Today the topic was on resilience and the one that really left an impact on me was that of a man who grew up very poor, was unschooled, got drawn into the mess of drugs, caught and imprisoned when he was all of 15 years! What was so amazing about his life story was what he did to get up from where he stumbled. While he was in prison he honed up his culinary skills while working in the prison kitchen for which he received kudos not only from his fellow inmates but from his superiors as well. Those praises buoyed up his self esteem so when he got out of prison he used the same skills, plus more, to climb the corporate ladder. Today he is an Executive Chef of a restaurant in one of the top 3 major hotels in Las Vegas. How he did it? He taught himself good manners and right conduct!