Jacob, you're tagged!

Jacob, my five-and-a-half-year-old grandson, was tagged by Yohan, Rachel's fantastic son, to do a meme on 8 Random Things About Me.
Here are those 8 according to Jacob's daddy and me:
1. Jacob is a loyal son. Ask him who is pogi (handsome) and it is his dad, and nobody else. Ask him who is maganda (beautiful) and it is his mom, no one else, not even me.
2. Jacob is a good reader. He always gets a star from his teacher for finishing his reading assignment and he loves going to bookstores and libraries.
3. Jacob is a protective Big Brother to Joshua.

4. Jacob is a handsome boy. Anyone who says otherwise better watch out!
5. Jacob lost his two front teeth and Santa hasn't found a replacement yet.
6. Jacob thought peeing in the bush is acceptable. There was a time when his mom had to go to Palmdale for a special class and while cruising down the desert road, he decided he wanted to pee. His dad, finding no recourse, stopped the car and guided him to do his thing by the shrubs. It took his teacher to convince him otherwise.
7. Jacob knows that at Grannie's house, he can do anything, anything at all! (His writings on the walls are still there).
8. Jacob is a linguist. He can say numbers, colors and a sprinkling of some often heard words, in Tagalog, Spanish, and English.
Thanks to the wonder of CDs, DVDs, television, and bilingual households!

Thankful Thursday

Before this day ends, I decided to join the many who are thankful for everything and anything and blog about it.

Today, on this my first Thankful Thursday, I am thankful for:
***Jacob, Joshua and Matthew, my grandsons. They assure me there is continuity of life.
***my sons and their wives. They make me feel fulfilled.
***my students. They keep me fully awake for at least 35 hours a week.
***my relatives and friends. They give me that sense of complete belonging.
***my co-bloggers. They make me wish I had more hours in a day.
***Ed. Because I know he loves me.
***my health.
***my life.

Visit here for more thankfulness,

Viva! Las Vegas!

Las Vegas. Just seeing or hearing those words, anywhere, makes one see, as if by magic, sparkling lights, neons announcing fantastic shows, and tall buildings that make one feel as if he's flying around the great cities of the world. And oh, I almost forgot - casinos. Wouldn't you like to actually be in that fabulous city of lights instead of just dreaming about it? Yes, like, physically being there and experiencing and feeling its glamour 24 hours a day? Well, you can by getting a piece of Las Vegas condos, a high rise condominium complex that boasts of life's luxuries within one's reach. Each unit is thoughtfully designed, both in style and quality. Owning and/or investing in Las Vegas condos can guarantee anyone a solid investment.
Are you a smart investor?

Sincerely, From Gloria

My friend, Gloria is one who wouldn't give a gift wrapped alone. She has to find, by all means, a fitting card to go with it. She will spend hours and hours inside a store until she finds the "right" one. And she does not go by the cover alone. The words inside the card must also be up to her standards. Often times I wish I am as meticulous as she is.
This year, for my birthday, this is what her card says:

You're a Treasured Friend

A friendship like ours
gives life a sweet sense of continuity.
Our relationship combines the past and future
in a way that is natural, comfortable....reassuring.
And while other friends,
new friends,
see the me that I've become,
you know the me
I've always been,
just as I know the history
you grew from,
the stories that shaped you.
In this world of change,
it is a rare thing,
a precious thing,
to know and be known so well.
A friendship like ours, is something to cherish.
And I want you to know
I do.

Happy birthday, dear friend.

Touch Down

I am clueless when it comes to football. But I get excited when I see players tackle one another, or when a player is able to catch the ball and run the whole length of the football field and make that elusive goal. Or, should I say touch-down?. I still can't understand how, amidst the chaos and confusion, one player is able to keep his eye on that one ball and catch it. My husband said that is what a wide receiver does. Oh? So, that's what Jerry Rice was before he joined that dancing contest. There is this new WR named Brandon Marshall of the Denver Broncos (he is a a 2006 draftee, so basically, he had just passed his rookiehood. Brandon is currently creating a buzz, and I don't mean a small buzz but a big mean buzz, in the world. He's big, strong, and very nimble on the football field. Did I forget handsome? And he can score (4 goals in 4 games)! What more, he's still very young, only 23 years old. I say, watch out for this Denver Broncos kid.

Wordless Wednesday #7

Every Wednesday, at the Santa Monica Promenade, farmers and other agricultural merchants gather to sell their produce and products. Fruits are so fresh you can eat it right there and not be afraid of getting sick. Leafy vegetables look so crisp and shiny. Carrots and beets and chards create a rainbow of brilliant hues. Anyone seeing those won't be able to stop imagining how he will create his own salads. It is only in farmers markets like this that you can find tender green and butter asparagus side by side with orange, yes, orange beets. And I thought beets come only in purple! By the way, anyone for Brussel sprouts and radish?

Have fun with Wordless Wednesday participants here!

Bright Eyes

A pair of eyeglasses is one of those accessories that can make or unmake a person. During my last trip to my eye doctor I was attracted to a frame in one of the display cabinets. The technician, sensing my desire, talked me into buying the frame, which, to my chagrin, cost much much more than I had expected.
Had I seen Zenni Optical that sells glasses and frames complete with a case before that fiasco, I could have bought another set that I can use while working in front of my computer and still another one as a sunglass and would still have extra in my pockets.
Zenni Optical: Sell Rx Glasses $8 with case! carries frames and lenses in different categories and materials. And, note this, their price starts at $8.00, plus, whether you intend to get one or a hundred items, shipping and handling cost is the same - only $4.95 - as long as every thing's placed in one order.

Join Us

Inang and I celebrated our birthdays last Saturday, (actually mine was on the 24th, hers was on the 25th) at Marilu's (SIL) place in San Pedro. Seibert (BIL) prepared a sumptuous lunch/dinner faire for family and friends.
Here are some sweet things we want to share with you. A cake from Matthew Red roses from Ed Cakes from Sis and Bro-in-laws Inang (MIL) and I holding the "Edible Arrangement" from Lester and Rachelle.

In Your Defense

There are legal aspects to everything we do. To make sure we are on the safe side, whether it be before or after the fact, we must know who to turn to like the Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney | California Felony Misdemeanor DUI Specialists
With this group is Kestenbaum, Eisner & Gorin, LLP, a top criminal defense law firm in Southern California. It is a partnership of experienced and scholarly defense attorneys whose experiences as prosecutors and as college law professors add integrity to the firm. Their offices are all over Southern California.
If you want to seek their help just go to http://www.kelawyers.com. They are available for consultation twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week.

Linking for LOVE

Link Love
Julie and Rachel tagged me to do a Linky Love tag:

These are what I have to do:

This link loving in 2008 came from Maiylah

I have randomly selected 5 of you below to be tagged and I hope that you will similarly publish this post in your blog. You will have to tag 5 other bloggers and just keep adding on to the list. Do not replace, just keep on adding! Yes we hope it will be a long list!)
It’s real easy! Tag others and see your Technorati Authority increase exponentially!
The benefits of Viral Linking:
* - One of the fastest ways to see your technorati authority explode!
* - Increase your Google PageRank fast
* - Attract large volume of new traffic to your site
* - Build your community
* - Make new friends!
Add your blog url here…

The Strategist Notebook | Link Addiction | Ardour of the Heart | When Life Becomes a Book | The Malaysian Life | Yogatta.com | What goes under the sun | Roshidan’s Cyber Station | Sasha says | Arts of Physics | And the legend lives | My View, My Life | Beth| What Women REALLY Think | Not Much More Than This | Jayedee | Jenn | Christie | Marla | Cailin | Simone | FlipFlopMom | Katrina | Gill’s Jottings| Work of the Poet| Wakela|Modern Day Goddess|Livin With Me| Writing in Faith| Maiylah’s Snippets| Soulful Thoughts of Rachel |GreenBucks | cookntchermom| you are next ......

Now, add/tag 5 of your friends' blogs…

Photo Corners | Napaboaniya | PTParungao | Lusciousnis | Blogsilog | Nina | Chona |

Please continue this and gain new blog friends :)

Shop and Save

How often have you bought something only to find out, after reaching home, that someone you know have bought the very same thing for a much lower price? Impulsive buyer like I am, it had happened to me so many times before and the experience would give me sleepless nights. Why didn't I canvass first? Why did I have to buy from the first store I went to? Why didn't I ask so and so where or how much he or she bought that computer which is very much like mine? Questions that could be enough to give anyone nightmares.

Looking back, it could be the lack of time on my part. As soon as I am done with work all that I have in mind is how soon I can reach home and take my much awaited rest. I am not much of a mall goer either so the fastest I can go in and out of a store the better. But my shopping ways may change.

Recently, my daughter-in-law and I had been wishing for our own laptops . At http://www.savebuckets.co.uk I can go to hundreds of different shops in a few minutes and compare prices of several items, say, a computer-hardware or a laptop or anything I have been dreaming of. And they have lots of categories to choose from.
Another good thing about this site is the fact that I can indicate how much I am willing to pay for an item and if a matching price is found I will be notified. That means I can stay within my budget.

Now, why don't you start looking for that dream laptop from Savebuckets and start saving.

Today Is ......

My Birthdate: January 24

You understand people well and are a natural born therapist. A peacemaker, people always seem to get along when you are around. You tend to be a father or mother figure to friends, even to those older than you. You enjoy your role, and you find that you are close to many people. Your strength: Your devotion Your weakness: Reliance on others for happiness Your power color: Lilac Your power symbol: Heart Your power month: June

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

Wordless Wednesday #6

Short Term Loans

Your child's wedding is coming and you are still short of money to secure the reception hall; or, your wife's birthday is in a week and she had been hinting on an expensive gift but your payday is still two weeks away, or, your daughter needs tuition money, so that in two days, she can register for a course she needs badly to be able to graduate this year or else she will have to wait for another year. You've checked your bank and credit card statements and you have almost nothing left in every account. What are you to do?
No Fax Payday Loans offers short term cash loans to people like you. It will not verify your credit standing, all information you will supply is kept confidential and secure. There is no paperwork involved because you apply online, and best of all you will get No Fax Payday Loans approval in minutes. If you prefer to apply by phone, a toll free number is listed. You don't have to leave your house or office because the agreed upon loan amount will be directly deposited to your bank account. To pay back your loan, you are given the advantage of choosing from several payment options. If you want a free quote, you can request for that, too.
One important thing you have to do, though, is to promise yourself that you will be a responsible borrower.

Jacob's Journal

To encourage Jacob to read and write I bought him books appropriate for his age. I also bought a neat looking notebook, still in its original plastic wrap, that I happened to find during one of my exploratory trips to a nearby thriftstore. He now knows that every time he comes over he has to read a page or two from a book and he has to also write on a page or two of his notebook before he can be allowed to watch his favorite TV show.
Yesterday, as he was writing, his mom came and urged him to write "I am a good boy." No amount of prodding could make him write "good" saying he wanted to be a bad boy.
When Jacob's dad was about Jacob's age, hubby and I would have to tell the dad the opposite of anything we wanted the dad to do if we wanted to have peace and quiet around.
Jacob is his father's son, therefore, I rest my case.

Welcome to Dreamland

The rain stopped. I could still feel the soft wind passing through the screen of our open window. I've just finished watching my favorite TV show and have selected what I would wear for work, so off to the bedroom I went all the while thinking that I had to get up early so I won't get caught in the morning traffic. Oh, it felt so nice to get under the satiny sheets. The temperature was perfect. I turned off the lights and closed my eyes.
I thought I was dreaming when I felt like I was rolling off the bed! But no, I wasn't. My hubby was getting on the bed and his weight was pulling down the mattress on his side! He had been always careful not to wake me up but last night I was a little more sensitive. Could it be because of the rain?
That's when I thought of the sleep number beds. These are beds that have Digital Numeric Inflation System. One simply pushes a button to one's desired number to set one's side of the mattress to a desired softness or firmness, thus, diminishing the uncomfortable wavy feeling one gets everytime one of the couples moves. Another positive thing about the system is the back support one gets all through the night. And most of all, the comfort a perfectly firmed mattress can definitely give.
Since Valentine's Day is approaching, maybe I can drop my hubby a hint. What do you think?

UNITED

Chona and Norman were united in marriage yesterday afternoon (Philippine time).
Chona is the only daughter (she has three brothers) of my sister, Norma.
To both of you, a heartfelt wish for a blessed, healthy, prosperous and everlasting togetherness.
May God bless you always.

Received this picture from Rachel (Chona's SIL) early this morning (California time).
Thanks, Rachel. I am sure you haven't slept yet.

Friday's Feast (1)

Feast One Hundred & Seventy Six
Appetizer
What is your favorite beverage?
Coffee, black.
Soup
Name 3 things that are on your computer desk at home or work.
Here at home: a coffee mug, pads of paper, a Thesaurus.
Salad
On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being highest), how honest do you think you are?
I can often be honestly brutally frank.
Main Course
If you could change the name of one city in the world, what would you rename it and why?
Sorry, but I haven't been to or heard of one that I didn't like the sound of.
Dessert
What stresses you out? What calms you down?
Just the thought of being late for anything stresses me while the sound of running water calms me.

Have fun. Join Friday's Feast here.

9th Graders

This is the first intersession class I've ever handled where 90% of my students are 9th graders. Even during the regular semesters, I've always had more upper graders. So, naturally, after all what I've heard from my colleagues, I was apprehensive coming to my first meeting. Oh, yeah, even with my teaching years behind me, I still do feel that way. But to my surprise, my 9th graders are little darlings. There is David who never fails to show me his Rubik ingenuity, Giovanna - her athletic muscles, Abiud - his big brother attitude and Byron - his "Please, Ms., I will do anything just don't mark me tardy, please!" exclamation! (Is that redundant?)
Today they had their second quiz and first laboratory activity and almost everybody showed me how he wants me to keep him in my class the rest of the session. ( All students are aware that, during intersession, if one misbehaves he can be told to leave the class with an F U U, no questions asked.
I think I will have an interesting 4 weeks ahead of me.

Why Businesses Need Banks

When my eldest sister got married, she and her husband wanted to open up a building construction business since he was a rising architect at the time. They borrowed some amount as capital from an uncle to start their venture. I remember seeing graphing notebooks where they would enter, I suppose, money that was coming and going. Then, after a year, I noticed my sister getting moody. When I asked why she told me that the capital was gone and there was nothing left in their "account", meaning their purses, and on top of it all the uncle was asking them to give back what they owed him.
This is a perfect example of why commercial banks are important to people who are in business, or, are thinking of putting up a business. Banking professionals can offer assistance in the funding for small business loans, mortgage loans or development loans, to name a few. They can offer helpful and intelligent advice on how the loan may be used and how a business man can use returns profitably. Finance specialists can easily detect if a business is in financial need and the same specialists can help businessmen use their business current account to solve whatever financial problem they may be in at the time.
Alliance Leicester Commercial Bank is one bank that can be a friend to any business entity or person. It offers several loan options and flexible payment schedules according to a business' status and needs.

I signed up with PPP

Every time I visit a blog my eyes are always pulled toward the "PayPerPost (PPP) logo (whenever a site had one)and I would start reading the quote inside: "Get paid to blog about the things you love." Of course, the make money or "get paid" part was a great incentive but for a whole year I kept postponing joining because I didn't think I can "write" about anything that anyone would be willing to pay for. (Yes, you guessed it right. I am that insecure!). Then I took a vacation and spent some time with my niece-in-law, Rachel (of My Soulful Thoughts). The topic about blogging came up and told me a blogging friend was encouraging her to start getting paid for her posts. She said she was seriously thinking about it. My vacation ended and I didn't give PPP any more thought.
On New Year's day I was thinking of a resolution that I could really follow or do and I saw the PPP logo and quote again. I told myself: "Why not!"
My blog got accepted right away. I was ecstatic, to say the least. Because my computer IQ is rather low, I thought I was making a mistake every time my PPP tool was rejected. I contacted the Help Center and at once they sent me their reasons as to why it was happening and told me to keep on trying. After a few days I started seeing opportunities on my account.
My heart was pumping hard as I was writing my first post. What if it got rejected? Well, to my horror it was rejected! Why? Because I forgot an important item on my blog - the Disclosure Policy! Thing of all things! (Didn't I tell you I have a low computer IQ?)
After I corrected my shortsightedness and re-sent my post, it didn't take a whole day for "PPP to accept and approve my very first post. I thought that was very nice and professional of them and I thank you, "PayPerPost . I thought that was a sure sign that you will stand behind whoever signs up with you. I hope to gain more confidence with my writing and be successful with this blogging adventure of mine. If and when I get my first million bucks, then I can plan on what to do with it (chuckle).
Signing up with PPP , I know, will be a great blogging experience for me.

My New Colors, - Many Thanks to Rachel

I am sporting new colors! Have you noticed? I wanted to try a three-column template and consulted Rachel (My Soulful Thoughts) about it. She immediately e-mailed me some sites with templates I could look at. I was able to select one but I just didn't know how to transfer my old one to the new chosen template so, you must have guessed it - I e-mailed Rachel again even if I knew that she was so busy at the time preparing for a SIL's wedding (in fact the wedding is happening right now)! I wasn't expecting anything not until after the affair, but to my surprise, when I opened my blog a few days ago, this beautiful page came before my eyes! Rachel, I want you to know that I am very grateful for your time and artistry. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!

Disclosure Policy

This policy is valid from 18 January 2008 This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation. The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or posts made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post may not always be identified as paid or sponsored content. The owner(s) of this blog is compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner(s) of this blog receives compensation for our posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers' own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question. This blog does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest. To get your own policy, go to http://www.disclosurepolicy.org

Massage, Anyone?

Wouldn't it be nice if every time you get home after a hard day's work, you could just flop into a chair, snooze and get up feeling like you had just been to a massage parlor or spa?
I don't know about you, but everyday I could feel my neck muscles getting tighter and tighter as the evening gets nearer and nearer. My shoulders feel like there's a leg-o-ham that wanted to get out. And as I alight from my car, I almost can't pull my legs out of the car seat because I can feel my thigh muscles pulling my waist down.
But there is a solution to all these muscle aches and pains: "Massage Chairs" that had been engineered very close to the human touch whether that touch be from a massage therapist or a chiropractor. A chair so ergonomically styled that every movement makes one feel as if a real person is running his hands, fists or fingers around one's sore or strained muscle; a massage chair that can even be programmed so that it works only on areas that one specifically desires to be touched, a machine that will follow one's wish to be pampered aggressively or delicately, sitting or lying down.
Come on, let's get that massage feeling like it is coming from your own favorite masseur.

Wordless Wednesday #5