ravings and rantings of A gaylord focker

An Apple A Day...

2011-08-30T09:38:00.000+08:00

"You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something -- your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life."
- Steve Jobs

Head on? Nope, I Mostly Shy Away...

2011-08-27T13:45:00.000+08:00

Too often, we run from challenges. Yet the people we love to read about in the Bible are impressive becausethey battled challenges. Consider Paul. With the confidence of God’s help, he faced troubles head-on—and conquered them. Christ’s promise to Paul and to us is: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). Like Paul’s example, in the confidence of God’s care we can say to the next challenge: Bring it on! —Dave Branon

More Pictures

2010-09-03T20:12:00.000+08:00

The only willing "models" I can coax to try out some simple tricks our point and shoot Canon can do...Bono our boston terrier and a gum's plastic container.

"wha...what's going on?"

"Okay, stop it...you're embarrassing me"

"Just wake me up when you're done."

Cutie Bono

The Photography Bug

2010-08-02T13:46:00.014+08:00

A friend who recently bought a Lumix GF1 gave me several 10 to 15 minute “lectures”, a photography 101 of sorts. So there was talk of shutter speed, apertures, contrasts, histograms and then some. I was a bit dizzy afterward but my interest was piqued. He was by no means the first one to eagerly explain in great detail the nuances of digital photography, but somehow, his talk enticed me into reading, experimenting and trying out some simple but quite surprisingly neat camera tricks. I don't have a single artistic bone in my body. You see, I can't draw (I can only do stick men). I can't paint. I can't sculpt. Heck, I can't carry a tune to save my own life. Now, when I took these pictures and applied long shutter modes and some photo effects...man, I couldn't believe how I still sucked with the aid of technology! Even though the pictures weren't works of art, I realized that manipulating the settings of our lowly Canon PowerShot SD450 was so much fun and it felt like I was creating something. This supposed basic point and shoot camera can really do some amazing stuff and it's up to me to discover them. I started thinking what I could do if I had a dSLR, but that's a story for another time. I don't want to be one of those SLR toting Tom, Dick and Harry (more Juan's and Maria's) in the malls and other public places because there's just something wrong with that picture, pardon the pun. I don't have anything against them but if I could get a dime for every Juan who carries an SLR and knows how to use it, I won't even have a buck. Yeah, I know. I'm just green with envy that I don't have one! What I'll try to do though is just try my hand at photography using basic point and shoot cams.

Lashing out

2010-07-18T00:11:00.005+08:00

It's sometimes nice to lash out and just not care about the consequences. The feeling of unbridled emotional release ranks somewhere between genuine happiness and your run-of-the-mill pre-dawn euphoria. Problem is, every time I get the urge to just let it all out, I bottle things up...afraid of the repercussions and the guilt which starts to eat me up inside immediately after hurtful and probably unfair words comes out of my mouth. We are taught to hold our tongue, to be civil and not make rash retorts that would escalate already negatively charged situations...so in the meantime, my punching bags (be it running a kilometer more, hitting that tennis ball extra harder, adding more weights to the usual rep or simply writing) will have to bear the brunt of my anger.

Thank you, Sony!

2010-07-15T20:06:00.012+08:00

My once cool Vaio VGN-CS290...reduced to being a lowly desktop

Thank you Sony for producing such high quality products that breaks down less than a year from the purchase date. Thanks for all the shutdowns this Vaio does at the most inappropriate of moments...when showing PowerPoint presentations, after composing an important, long, unsaved email ...the usual stuff. Thank you, Sony, for rousing my resourcefulness thereby effectively grounding a laptop onto a desk with a fan pointed at its side to prevent it from overheating and shutting down. Thank you Sony for making me lose face to my friends whom I bragged about your superior laptops. Lastly, thank you, Sony, for your excellent chat, email and phone support for delivering me this message: we can't help you.

Between A Rock and A Hard Place

2010-05-23T11:40:00.002+08:00

What if this is as good as it gets? What if second gear is all this machine, called my life, is able to shift to because the third, fourth and fifth gears are simply not available? What if this is where I'm meant to be? What if my expectations are nothing more than wishful thinking? What if, after all that work, I already did "arrive" and just do not see it that way and thereby effectively blinding me to expect more? What if I have already attained my limits and I am just trying to overextend my reach?

Maybe this is all there is to it.

My Niece: Jillian Reese

2009-03-26T13:53:00.004+08:00

Isn't she the cutest?

Bite Off More than One Can Chew

2009-03-26T13:19:00.002+08:00

I'm having a great deal of difficulty with this 10pm to 6am schedule. I find that it's harder to concentrate on little things that I badly need to do...LIKE STUDY FOR THE BIG ONE!!! It's just been a little over a week since I got the night shift but it feels like ages. I'm irritable and I feel like sleeping all the time. I'm sleepy when I'm awake but I'm half awake when I'm supposed to be sleeping. Man, I'm really starting to think that scheduling The Big One this May was a huge mistake. With the rate things are going, I won't be able to comfortably cover all the topics that I need to read with the time I have left. GGGGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!

The Dynamic Duo

2009-03-20T14:03:00.001+08:00

I would just like to thank the dynamic duo for showing me around the work area and taking me under their wing. I learned a lot of useful stuff from them and I'm sure I'll continue to learn some more as the days go by. I am blessed to have you guys as my teachers :-) One more thing, there's nothing like a 22 year old girl telling a 31-year old man to do his job -- that's one wake up call that stings! Ouch!

DispatcheD ! ! !

2009-03-16T16:12:00.001+08:00

I am so psyched! Finally, after a few months of patiently waiting I'm off to my first "attachment". Don't get me wrong, I appreciate and totally enjoy basking in the cool climate of our HQ where I was able to study in preparation for the Big One but I was starting to feel left out as most of my batch-mates were already moving from one attachment to another.
I don't have any misgivings about being placed in the night shift but I just thought that after leaving my old CS job that I'll never come in for work at night anymore. I do consider this as a blessing though because night = fewer patients which means a smooth transition for me from doing minimal work for the past few months at HQ to a relatively not so busy scene which gives me ample time to learn the ropes of the new place. This is just perfect for someone who's a little bit slow on the uptake. Sweet.

RN Bum No More

2008-08-05T16:35:00.001+08:00

I can't express how happy I am! There will be exclamation marks all over the place so forgive me! After more than 6 months of slamming doors and seemingly impregnable walls, I finally caught a break and landed a job! This is big! This makes up for all those times I was turned away because I didn't know the mayor or didn't have a hospital administrator for an uncle. Man o, man!

I owe a big "THANK YOU!" to a couple of friends who told me about the job opening...I never would of known, much more applied to X X X if not for them. Dennis, Marie...I thank you from the deepest recesses of my heart.

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God..." Romans 8:28.

2008-06-10T01:31:00.011+08:00

It's already June so summer is officially over. That doesn't mean we can't hit the beach and fill our lungs with fresh air coming from the open seas. The pristine and unadulterated breeze certainly helps in purging the mind and spirit of accumulated negativity that one imbibes over time from living in the city.

Thanks hon! Where would I be without your constant badgering?
That was definitely better than just sitting at home :-)

All Bent Out of Shape

2008-05-31T10:05:00.008+08:00

You know how it is when you're seeing red and you feel like you just have to let loose or else you're literally going to blow up? Then after a few minutes, you're all "what the heck was I so mad about", well that's what this sarcasm laced letter is. Frustration got the better out of me and I should have just let it slide and moved forward without a peep but I just had to speak my mind for my own sake.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wow, I really was a fool to think that an elitist organization like yours would ever take me in...an average person who didn't graduate from your fine institution. One would think that people of your "stature" and intelligence could have handled that so called "screening" last Monday (May 26.2008) in a more refined and professional manner. It just goes to show that intelligence and good manners don't come hand in hand.

I never thought I'd be written off just like that, yet here I am. Hmmmm...I wonder what the criteria was for selecting 40 lucky candidates out of the almost 200 that was there? Oh, right! They didn't tell us what the criteria was. Could it be because some of the slots were already taken by people who had connections and all they had to do was go there and act as if they were applying? Could it be that they had preferences as to where the applicant graduated from?
Too bad, I'll never know because they didn't bother to tell us how they were going to make the selection.

It took them NO more than 2 HOURS to "screen" the almost 200 strong applicants. It took me longer to write my letter of intent than for them to "screen" 200 people. What does that tell me? hmmm. If I was a malicious person, I'd think there was some cooking going on in there and I definitely didn't like the food. The snide and unfeeling comments of the two facilitators only revealed their prejudice and partiality. To what? I don't know. But saying "Di naman kami Fatima na tumatangap ng madami" and "yung mga tatawagin naming pangalan, pwede na kayong lumabas at subukan nyo sa ibang hospital, baka kailangan nila kayo dun" is quite telling of their state of mind. So no interview or any kind of interaction with the applicants were done. They looked at our credentials and that was it. To add insult to injury, we had to do a walk of shame on our way out of the room as our names were called. It felt very much like being voted off the island and I didn't even know SURVIVOR had a [name of hospital] version.

Damn right I'm sour graping...that I'm not related to some politician or some [name of hospital] staff who's got some clout.

Good luck to those who'll be applying. You'll need it more than your above 80% board rating.

Thanks!!!

Of Slamming Doors and Dead Ends

2008-05-27T11:58:00.002+08:00

It’s been almost six months since I decided to quit my CS job and focus on getting my act together as a nursing professional. So for the last 160 days or so, I was at home bumming around trying to finish some PSP game or I was bouncing from one hospital to another trying to get the latest "word" if hospital A (to Z) was hiring. Now if they weren’t, the follow up questions were did they need volunteers, were they conducting trainings, do they have on the job trainings and other substantial queries I could think of just to make my visit worthwhile. Yeah I could have just called to get the information that I needed but that didn’t get me anywhere the first quarter of the year when I tried to let my fingers do the walking. You get the idea that it was a tedious and grueling process and the summer heat didn’t help either. I wouldn’t have minded all that if I had something to show for it after, but I didn’t. Some of these hospitals had train-to-hire schemes for a fee not lower than P8,000 (yes, we’ll pay them to work our butts off) but even these programs were always full. I've probably submitted 7 packets containing my credentials and I've yet to receive an email or a phone call saying "not in a million years" or something to that effect.
I’ve learned quite a few things these past few months and the lesson that resonated so loudly is that in this time of over abundance of nurses, its not what you know but who you know that matters in order to simply start your career. It’s hard not to paint everyone with the same brush when you can see it happening right in front of you. Nepotism and favoritism is definitely part of our culture and I don’t think that’s going to change anytime soon. My only request to people who’re able to callously get their sons, daughters or other relatives into a training program or even a position in a hospital simply because they work there or know someone who can pull some strings is to think of the people that were cut from the program or circumvented from getting a job because your son/daughter/relative TOOK it from them.
I’m currently waiting outside a huge closed door as I write this. When it opens in order to commence the process of screening train-to-hire applicants, I will find myself either taking my first step officially into my profession or once again have a slamming door in my face.

Manila to CDO in 3 days: My Poor Attempt to Chronicle the Trip

2008-02-18T09:22:00.006+08:00

Almost 1400 km on land and who knows how many nautical miles, this was a trip that I thought would never happen. Road trips are economically and physically taxing and being the perennial homebody that I am, I'd rather catch a few z's, kick some alien butt on my PSP, see a nice movie in the comfort of our home or just read a good book. This time around though, I felt like I needed to just get out and go. So I went for it. The fact that Lino (Trip Boss)and I had been talking about doing this for some time and that he would be taking care of everything from the vehicles to our lodging made my decision much easier. Dex (Dr. Schumacher) and I were in between jobs so all we had to shell out was sustenance and our...ahem...highly developed pro driving skills.

It was a cold Saturday morning when The Trip Boss, Danica Patrick (Stella), Dr. Schumacher and I went on our sleepy but merry way. We were on the SLEX around 3 a.m. and Dr. Schumacher was first on the helm of Everest I. Ever the speed demon, Dr. Schumacher was eager to floor the accelerator of the vessel to showcase his Formula One prowess and display his oneness with the road. I was able to sway his urges early on (that didn't last, of course) so we were doing under a 100 km until we made our way out of the SLEX with The Boss trailing behind driving Fortuner 2 with Danica riding shotgun. We reached Lucena City around 6 a.m. and after maybe a couple more hours made our first scenic stop somewhere en route to the Gumaca town proper to stretch our legs and take in the fresh air.

We didn't get much sleep the night before...

Reaching the town proper, we unwittingly (I saw an old church and thought maybe it's something historic) made our way to the Cathedral of San Diego De Alcala and took a rather modest number of pictures because we simply didn't know back then that we were in the presence of the oldest and biggest Catholic church in the province of Quezon (from WOW Philippines website).

I was behind the wheel after we had brunch and if only Everest I could talk, he'd surely say "don't let that maniac drive me again" because Dr. Schumacher had a pissing contest earlier with another lunatic on the road. I don't remember who started it but neither driver wanted to back down and wouldn't let the other pass him. I felt like I was talking to a rabid dog who's seen a small animal run by as Dr. Schumacher ignored my instruction to slow down for my own safety. I don't condone reckless driving but Dr. Schumacher won that race hands down. Danica was driving Fortuner 2 at that time and I thought that she wouldn't be able to keep up, I was wrong because man, she CAN drive.

It was already near mid-afternoon when we caught sight of Mt. Mayon and thought that maybe we should make the stop and take some pictures. The images below were taken in the Cagsawa Ruins and unfortunately, only the foot of Mt. Mayon was visible in the pictures. Too bad really.

A very cloudy day

It was almost sundown when we reached Matnog where a barge will ferry us to the other side. I think it was 6 p.m. when we officially left the island of Luzon and headed for Samar.

The sign says "you are now leaving the island of Luzon"

Rose and Jack on the Titanic? heheh!

Thankfully, the barge ride didn't make any of us queasy as we sailed on calm waters for about an uneventful hour. It was really dark when we disembarked from the vessel and a light drizzle as well as bad, unlit roads welcomed us upon our arrival. Dr. Schumacher was driving again and the unfamiliar and bad road conditions didn't deter him from driving the way he usually does. After two hours or so, we reached Calbayog and spent the night there in a nice enough motel and that sums up how our first day of driving went.

The Boss served breakfast in bed and after dispensing with the morning pleasantries (read: bathroom/toilet business) and switching vehicles, we went on our way around 9:30 a.m. Wohooo! We were en route to Tacloban. Our second day was underway and driving Forturner 2 was sweet but the ride was a different story, I think it's safe to say that Everest I gives a smoother ride.

IF anyone asks me if I have gone "off-roading", I can honestly say that I have because the roads the night before could be considered the Uberbahn compared to the roads from Calbayog leading to Catbalogan. The unpaved roads were so bad that even monster trucks and mammoth buses were brought down to their knees by the craters and crevices. Yes I'm exaggerating but only a little bit. It was rough road to the nth degree. I had fun at first because I get to drive a on roads it's supposedly built for but after doing the look-out-for-moon craters -and-mounds then evade and recover maneuver numerous times, it gets physically and mentally tiring.

After going through and I can't remember how many kilometers from Catbalogan, we were back on paved roads and we knew that meant we were nearing the famous San Juanico Bridge that connected Samar and Leyte.

SAN JUANICO BRIDGE

Can we take pictures here? Yeah, knock yourselves out.

Too bad we left our fishing poles

When he's not drivin' he's filmin': Doc S's video of the bridge.

It was almost 3 p.m. when we stopped over at a local McDonalds in Tacloban for sustenance but The Boss informed us that if we don't make the 6 p.m. barge in Liloan, we might have to spend the night there and take the first barge the following day. After a lengthy discussion, we decided to try and catch the 6 p.m. barge and not take our sweet time getting there. After seating the fastest drivers on the helm we made our way to Liloan and since Dr. Schumacher and Danica were given free reign as to how fast they can go, I was virtually given front row seats to a car rally and drifting hybrid ride. So after throwing all caution out the window and with total disregard for our own personal safety and others, we were able to make it on time with minutes to spare. If we arrived a few minutes later, we might have stayed in the terminal for the night because other vehicles would have taken our place. I only have this to say, Doc and Danica can drive REALLY fast. We got on the barge, got ready for the 3 hour trip and left for Surigao, essentially from Visayas to Mindanao.

On barge no. 2 from Liloan to Surigao

Barge ride 2 was a little different from barge ride 1 in that it was longer and the sea was uneasy. The barge rocked to and fro, side to side quite a bit one hour or so into the voyage and it felt like the waves were getting bigger and stronger...so much so that I was secretly looking for the life preservers. I couldn't locate any. It was a good thing that my exhaustion overpowered my fear of the ship sinking so the rocking boat lulled me to sleep and I snored my way to Surigao.

It was a pleasant surprise that when we made our way out of the barge we were welcomed by the well lit, nicely paved roads of Surigao. Good thing The Boss has an aunt who resides in that quaint part of the country so our 2nd day ended with us sleeping comfortably and hassle-free.

The city hall and their version of Rizal Park is situated in the vicinity of where we stayed for the night. Yup, acted like tourists!

Nice shirts

The 3rd day started with a hearty breakfast and after taking care of business we were off to Butuan.

We drove on nothing but beautifully paved roads and bridges all the way to our last stop before reaching CDO. McDonald's was again our nutritional choice in Butuan and at that time I told myself that I wouldn't touch another burger with a 10-foot pole but I downed a Big Mac anyway. It sure was tasty. After that quick break we were on the road again, eagerly anticipating the end of the 3 day road trip which will officially end in a few hours. The drive was uneventful, bordering on boring but important thing was we were all safe and sound as we arrived in CDO around 7 p.m.

Personally, I felt that our arrival was a bit anticlimactic and the saying that "Life is about the journey and not the destination" somehow came to mind.

Papa

2007-12-27T02:24:00.002+08:00

No longer will I hear him caution me about life or just about my driving. No longer will I hear him sound asleep when I come home late. No longer will I see him drink his freshly brewed coffee with a contented face after the first sip. No longer will I see him on his couch watching TV. No longer will I hear him comment on the latest fiasco the government finds itself in. No longer will I hear him call out my name. No longer will I have this invisible net that I know will catch me when I fail. No longer can I draw strength from him when I find mine to be wanting.

All I have is this scar that refuses to go away.

What I would give to go back in time and cherish every single moment spent with him and not take him for granted. If I could just take back everything I've done or said that was hurtful to him and be the perfect son. If only I straightened out my life early so he could have seen me succeed and be truly proud of his second son. If only I could have told him more often that I love him.

The only thing I can think of doing now is treasure the fond memories I have of him...and that will have to be enough.

glib

2007-08-30T03:45:00.001+08:00

"My entire life has been about the same cause, which is making sure wherever you come from, whatever your family is, whatever the color of your skin, you get a real chance to do something great in this country."

- John Edwards

MiracleS

2007-08-29T04:46:00.000+08:00

Wohooo!

I passed!

I am so happy that nothing can dampen my spirit… for a month!! Passing that freak of an exam was nothing short of a miracle. I of course, have God to thank most of all because no way would I have made it without Him. My friends and family also had a big part in THAT feat. I felt sorry for not having done a chore or of had gone out with them because I was “studying” but most of the time, I really wasn’t…the boob tube was a huge distraction. Now I don't have to feel bad about that, hehehe.

God, thank you for sparing my face from that huge egg :-)

Judgment Day

2007-08-22T06:54:00.000+08:00

The moment of truth will be on the 27^th or 28^th. Early next week will bring either a great deal of joy for me and my family or a mammoth sized egg on my face that will never wash off. I am hopeful that a favorable verdict will come to pass and I’d be spared the embarrassment, humiliation and shame of immense failure.

Let there be celebrations!

PLEASE!!!

No Call No Show

2007-08-09T04:59:00.001+08:00

When it rains, it pours. Literally.

It was raining hard Tuesday night, I thought about not coming in to work because a mini Mississippi river was flowing right in front of our house. As luck would have it, the rain weakened so I unwillingly went out and fought the receding flood that was right in our doorsteps. I said to myself “this is going to be a long commute” after arriving at the place where I’m supposed to wait for a jeep to work, it started to rain hard again and I saw people treading knee deep waters and vehicles were being pushed by their anxious drivers and enterprising bystanders. It was time to call in and notify somebody at Workforce (OSC) that I won’t be able to come in.

Here’s how the conversation went:

I gave my name and department

Me: I won’t be able to come in today because I’m stranded.

Prick from WF: (after looking me up in his system)

So you can’t come in due to (sic) flood?

Me: Yes

Prick from WF: What time is your shift? (even though it shows in his system)

Me: 9:00pm

Prick from WF: So you’re calling in a few minutes before your shift starts? You’re suppose to call in 2 hours before your shift starts if you’re going to be absent.

Me: I was on my way to work but I can’t get a ride because of the knee deep water in the area.

Prick from WF: (as if not hearing anything that I’ve been saying) I’m going to tag this as

A … no-call ----- no-show.

ME: What? I’m at a sari sari store right now making this call. The reason I’m here, stranded, is because I wanted to come in but can’t… again because of impassable roads and all. You can come and pick me up here if you like.

Prick from WF: (as if not hearing anything that I’ve been saying, again) I’m going to give you a confirmation number and will transfer you to a TM (TL). Your confirmation number is……..

Me: (Right, like I was going to whip out a pen and paper or my mobile phone at a sari sari store). OK.

Prick from WF: I’m transferring your call now, don’t hang up.

Me: I WON’T

Unknown TM: Hello

Me: Who’s this?

Unknown TM: I’m ****

Me: (didn’t quite get the name) Can I talk to TM ****?

Unknown TM: He’s not around but I’ll handle your concern.

Me: OK. I’m not coming in because (repeating myself again)…

Unknown TM: You’re supposed to call 2 hours before your shift….you’re aware of that, right?

Me: But I didn’t plan on not coming in, it’s just that I’m stranded right now. Should I have called 2 hours before every time it rains hard?

Unknown TM: You live in the area so you should know if flood is going to be a problem.

Me: (silence)

Unknown TM: (Thinking he’s got me stumped) Am I right? You can come in late if you don’t want to get a NCNS.

Me: So you’re telling me to wait the rain and flood out?

Unknown TM: Yes.

Me: (silence)

Unknown TM: Just text or call *** if you decide to come in or not.

Me: Ok.

To be continued…NOT

16th Floor Musing

2007-07-25T06:08:00.000+08:00

Seeing the light shine through the clouds

early in the morning gives me a certain

reassurance that everything will be okay.

It is the complete opposite of the dread

and extreme feeling of doom that I feel

during the night. This happens

everyday and I doubt that my emotions

pertaining to this will ever change. I've

felt this way 4 years ago, I'll feel the

same way in the future. The work I'm

doing doesn't have anything (well,

partly) to do with it, it's a simple case

of night equals bad and day equals good.

Simple as that. It's 5:30 a.m. now and

the sun is getting brighter and eating

the night away. I can't help but think

how symbolic that is. The night has gone

and the day has come to take its rightful

place as the king of the world. What a

righteous and magnificent king it is. The

night will surely shroud the day but

forever it will not.

Another day, another dollar

2007-06-25T14:06:00.000+08:00

After a very loooong hiatus….I’ll be part of the workforce again. I’m not sure how this will turn out but what I can say is that this move does feel right. I hope I still feel the same way three months after.

The BIG Three-O

2007-06-15T10:05:00.000+08:00

My brother says that it’s all down hill from here. I said “I hope not because I don’t think I’ve even reached halfway UP the hill yet” hehehe. Faith, family, friends….what more could one ask for without coming off as selfish?
Reaching the age matching that of the tail end of a calendar month isn’t as bad as most people state. Like the saying goes, don’t knock it till you tried it.
I am indeed blessed and I have God to thank for my health, family and friends. I don’t even think that I deserve this much.

Now that that's over...

2007-06-12T05:03:00.000+08:00

I’m not sure if I did well enough to pass that freak of an exam. All I know is that I wasted time coming in to review class because the topics discussed were way off mark with the actual exam content. I have to hand it to the BON. IF they wanted to discredit review centers in general, they did a good job. IF they wanted people to fail on the first day of the exam and pass on the second day, they did a good job. IF they wanted to piss us all off, they did a good job. I’m sure these aren’t any of their goals. I’m just in the mood to buy a one way ticket to bittersville, stay there for a few days and fan the flames circulating in the rumor mills.
Now that that’s over and done with…I hope the heavens open up because I’ll be sending a barrage of “please let us pass” prayers for me and my friends.

Unlocking the E62

2007-05-02T06:33:00.000+08:00

First thing you need to do is call Cingular and ask for the subsidy unlock code. There's no way around calling the carrier for the code, for now. Once they email you the unlock code, all you have to do is follow these simple steps and voila, you have an unlocked E62. Here's the unlock procedure:
1 Insert non-Cingular SIM card
2 Power on the handset
- Undo request will display
3 Press the # key once
4 Press the P key once
5 Press the W key once
6 Press the + key once
7 Enter the unlock code
8 Press the + key once
9 Press the 1 key
10 Press the # key one time
- the handset is now successfully unlocked

No Brainer

2007-04-25T07:05:00.000+08:00

Memory plays a large and important role in learning. The way I see it, there's nothing to analyze and think about if nobody's sitting on the seat of consciousness. Right? Anyhooo, this rant is largely about my inability or agonizingly slow endeavor to remember what I've read numerous times. I'm getting tired of making up silly stories just to remember terms and disease conditions. It was fun at first but I'm running out of stories to tell myself. Creativity isn't exactly my strong suit. For example, just to remember which is which (you see how easily I get confused?) with rubella and rubeola I remind myself that the latter comes first since it only has one L therefore it's your garden variety measles whilst the former has two L's and therefore is a more specified kind of measles...the German one, hehehe. See how silly I have to be just to remember something so simple? Man, I kill me sometimes. Another one is Hodgkin's disease. Guess how I remember the cancer cells in this disease. It's similar to a local actor's name!
Don't get me wrong, I see how effective making up stories and making connections to names and processes where there is none but why can't I just REMEMBER things automatically? Rote sounds good.

It's story time once again. What shall it be about now?

2007-04-20T21:56:00.000+08:00

The Heat is On!

2007-04-19T13:56:00.000+08:00

I can't believe how hot it is...CNN Weather says we clocked 36 degrees celcius the other day and the local weather people says it's bound to get hotter as the summer season peaks. I would gladly do my crazy dance if that meant rain. RAIN, PLEASE, RAIN! Did the dance, no rain.
Moving an inch without perspiring is almost impossible to do and turning on the A/C 24/7 isn't an option so the next best thing is walking around the house half-naked. HA! Now, how am I suppose to study?

Breaking the Barrier

2007-04-13T18:00:00.000+08:00

It's so frustrating when one tries to do his best yet it doesn't seem to be enough. At least one thinks he does his best.

The results of the self-tests I've been taking are very disappointing yet very telling. They reveal a constant score of 58 to 62 out of a hundred. Dismal. I've taken almost 1000 questions and 58 to 62 out of every hundred of those comes to... NOT EVEN CLOSE TO READY. I am thankful though. At least I know where I stand...or wobble. This evidently shows that I should work triply hard on the content now that d-day is fast approaching. I refuse to believe that I have hit my intellectual ceiling but it sure feels that way because fo the results. Breaking the mediocre barrier will be difficult but I know that I'm up to the challenge.

Snob, NOT!

2007-04-11T08:00:00.000+08:00

I remember saying to myself, “she’s beautiful but probably a snob and an airhead” the first time I saw her. That was almost four years ago and I have since dropped the snob and airhead bit and added smart and fun loving when describing her. What I noticed about this dame back then was her ready smile to people whom she were already friends with and that she gives people she didn’t know the cold-shoulder. I wanted so much to be on the receiving end of her charming smile, that privilege however, didn’t come until later on. Much later. Better late than never, I always say.

So, what else can I say about this feisty and fashionable lady? She’s quite intuitive when it comes to the realm of relationships and the heart. She likes chocolates and that Pooh character to death :-) and I mean to death! I’m not a discerning music lover but from what I can see (or is it, hear?), her taste in music is first-rate and the way she can recall the titles and lyrics, it would give any jukebox a run for its money.

I consider having known her at all, a milestone in my life and getting to know her better, a blessing. Live long and prosper, friend!

Happy Easter!

2007-04-08T20:07:00.000+08:00

So, how do I look?

2007-04-07T14:22:00.000+08:00

I thought about changing this blog's look so many times. I finally did.

I knew it wouldn't be a walk in the park, it wasn't! I made a mess of things and it took me most of Good Friday to make it look, well, this way. I'm not doing that again unless Blogger makes it as easy as changing shirts. I do like how it turned out though.

A huge THANK YOU goes to Blog U and to Jim!
I wouldn't of made it through this happy ordeal without their useful blog.

The Circus that is Philippine Politics

2007-04-02T09:52:00.000+08:00

Some loud and very obnoxious noise woke me the other day. It was some politician's desperate attempt to get voters attention to be known and remembered come election day. They were of course using nasty and unpleasant jingles coupled with cheesy lines that even the most credulous won't believe. I'd very much like to tell them off. I'd scream and shout at these 'tards, tell them to shut up and let decent people get some more sleep, it's a Saturday for crying out loud! But I can't do that since it's election season and people expect this kind of thing. I 'd be the one looking like a 'tard if I complain. You can see why I just like election time.

The circus that is Philippine politics includes but is not limited to annoying the heck out of the "taong bayan" via the said jingles. It also includes visually and auditorially repulsing us with their dancing and singing. I'd love nothing more than NOT see and hear them but that's kind of hard to do when they've got money to advertise the talents they wish they had.

Celebrities have been part of the political scene ever since I could remember. They either support a politician or run for office themselves. I don't know what's worse, a cruel and calculating seasoned politician or a dense and untested famous personality...

I know that it's foolish to paint everyone with the same brush but with the way things are going here, I feel vindicated doing so.

Here comes one of those roving political ads, I can hear it a mile away. Please! Busted speakers and faulty electrical wiring, now! Please!

TeThErEd

2007-03-30T09:48:00.000+08:00

Got a mobile.

'nuff said.

The Home Stretch

2007-03-28T11:22:00.001+08:00

Like an annoying p.a. system, I can hear the words "last two minutes, last two minutes" blaring inside my head. The end game is close, yet I'm nowhere near prepared. Someone told me that you'd never feel prepared, ever. So I spread the word around when people say that they're not ready. Only I add "if you feel prepared THEN you'd fail". Hehehe. Now, let me make this short so I can heed the words of the prophet of doom that loudly resonates in my skull.

Second Chances

2007-03-24T22:46:00.000+08:00

SACRIFICE...

MAKE IT COUNT...

THANK GOD FOR IT...

DO NOT LOOK BACK ...

NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF THE GOAL...

PUSH YOURSELF CONSTANTLY WITHOUT FAIL...

REMEMBER THAT NOT EVERYONE IS AS BLESSED...

THINK AND THANK THE PEOPLE WHO MADE IT POSSIBLE...

MAKE COURAGE AN ALLY...

FORGE STRENGTH...

Totally Irked

2007-03-14T06:31:00.000+08:00

I am so MAD! Right now, doing a bathlet-wielding-Klingon on a rampage sounds sweet. Ahhhhhhggggg!!! If only cutting off limbs and heads were socially acceptable deeds to demonstrate one's dissatisfaction... if only.

I woke up before 3:00 A.M. today, almost ecstatic at the prospect of having a real income after a two and a half year hiatus. It must must have been the early morning endorphins doing its magic because the cold air, empty roads, soulless sidewalks and quiet surroundings brought about a jubilant spirit that I have long forgotten. I was happy. I was informed the day before that call time was going to be 4:00 A.M. on the 14th. So I arrived with four minutes to spare, brought out my handy dandy NCLEX book and started reading. A few minutes later I was ushered along with the new guys to a room and thought that training is about to begin. Great. A few introductions and mindless chit chats later HR girl 1 comes in with our contracts in tow. After skiming through the pages I was ready to sign when someone asked HR girl 1 what our job description was. I thought to myself "what a stupid question!". How can anyone come in this early without knowing what he/she applied for? To cut the very long and boring story short, I was lucky that somebody asked that question. I ended up leaving because what they were offering wasn't what I signed up for. Their HR people really sucks as this wasn't the only screw up they made but in true passive-aggressive fashion, I clammed up instead of speaking my mind.

I went home still feeling a bit euphoric but as the last drops of endorphins were exiting my system...the noise and heat rising...KABOOOM!

cold

2007-03-12T10:03:00.000+08:00

UNRESPONSIVE

Yearning for Yesteryear

2007-03-06T18:16:00.000+08:00

Is it normal to feel nostalgic about a time one wasn't old enough to even be part of? I am thinking about late 70's Manila...the old model cars, a wide and less crowded Highway 54, empty lots that now have colossal buildings on them. I was too young to remember anything from that time but when I see really old pictures of the old metro, I just can't help but feel that those were the better days and that what we have today are just leftovers...

Me Sans My Treo

2007-02-24T18:37:00.000+08:00

It's been more than four months since my trusty Treo 600 bit the dust. Funny how I went through the 5 Stages of Grief over something that's not even alive. After the charger fried the unit's motherboard (says several "technicians"), I tried to resuscitate it by using another charger. Even as I felt the back of the phone/pda heat up while it's plugged in, I kept on telling myself that it's probably just a busted charger or something minor... nothing a little tinkering won't solve. The Denial stage was short lived as I found myself hurling invectives at the previously treasured Treo. Anger of course turned into a haggling exercise as I bargained with the inanimate object, promising to never ever charge it without a voltage regulator and to get it a new screen protector. As you might have imagined, that didn't do me any good. There I was, a man deprived of the comfort and convenience that he previously took for granted. Depression started with "What in the world am I going to do now? No more instant info whether be it academic, social or trivial. Maybe I should just forget about everything. That's it, I'm done for." Accepting the fact that life goes on without the gadget wasn't a pleasant experience as I had to get a dictionary and several books to function as information banks, a job the Treo carried out so beautifully before its untimely demise.

Hohum.

C'est la Vie.

Not having a mobile phone isn't such a big deal, it's the PDA that I'm so bent out of shape about. I'm a bit harder to reach these days but at the risk of sounding full of myself, I always believe that if you're important enough, people will look for ways to get in touch with you. To be sure, I've missed sms messages here and there, some important and some not so important.

Life became a bit less hectic. The calm that not having a beeping thingamajig on me had a very soothing effect. It took some time before people I know realized that I REALLY didn't have a mobile phone and tha I wasn't just "faking" it. In a country where almost everyone from all walks of life has a mobile phone, friends and acquaintances started to accuse me of being too stingy to get a cheap phone.

Truth is, I love the peace and quiet.

Did Microsoft rip-off Apple Mac OS X in Windows Vista?

2007-02-20T15:36:00.000+08:00

I just love the sarcasm in this video. OSX rules, baby!

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR ! ! !

2007-02-18T09:00:00.000+08:00

Cool New Graphics - MySpace/Friendster

busy, busy, busy

2007-02-07T17:02:00.000+08:00

I've been very busy lately. Between school, studying and looking for a job...it's been really hectic. I have to say that whoever planned or integrated hospital duty during the final semester should be fired. I barely knew January and here comes February ready to go into mid swing. Talk about fast paced.
Now, I have my priorities straight and the only thing to do is follow-through on my plans. I'm afraid my batting average regarding "follow-through's" is as bad as my forehand follow-through's. This reminds me, I haven't been to a tennis court in ages. After ALL OF THIS is over or when I get the time and the resources, the first thing I'd do is visit my sanctuary and beat the heck out of a ball. I can't wait.

FrIeNdS

2007-01-19T23:34:00.000+08:00

Want one? Go to www.geocities.com/testiflash

Click on letters A to Z!

Maslow is a verb: Maslow it!

2007-01-14T16:49:00.000+08:00

I've been reading Kaplan's NCLEX-RN Exam Review (as per my brother's advice) for the better part of yesterday and today. It's a really good book. The test-taking skills discussed are particularly helpful and aside from the test questions in the book and accompanying CD, they also threw in, for a limited time, access to their online qbank (only 20 questions though). Hey, the more test questions I answer the better. Just like what the book says, in order to know which strategies to use come exam time, one needs to practice, practice and practice. I have yet to answer the questions on the CD but if I understand correctly, the software is suppose to churn out results regarding the test taker's area of weakness. Of course I don't need some software to tell me which area I need to improve on but the validation would certainly help. One of the ten strategies taught in the book is to "Maslow it". This method entails prioritizing physiological needs over psychosocial needs. Very simple yet effective. I like it. I like it soooo much, in fact, that I can't stop saying Maslow It! inside my head for quite some time now. It's starting to irritate me.

More on this after I'm done with the book. One more thing...style and strategies are great but if you don't know your stuff then you'll be in trouble. This is why I'm working on the content as well.

Label Cloud

2007-01-12T11:29:00.000+08:00

I've envied blogs that has word, tag and label clouds for some time now so I've decided to put one in mine. I just googled "label clouds for blogger" and came across phydeaux3 blog (btw, I thank you!). I simply followed the instructions there and voila, I have my lovely cloud! Just look at the lower left side of the page. Now, put one in yours!

I've Learned that...

2007-01-12T09:08:00.000+08:00

I've learned that knowledge is no match for wisdom. I've learned that the words "tengo familia" is true. I've learned that both good times and bad times WILL pass. I've learned that permanence of the state of things in this life is almost impossible. I've learned that one should have a plan b, c, d in life. I've learned that those plans should include God, family and friends. I've learned that no matter how hard I try to change, I am who I am. I've learned that being a yes-man is detrimental to my well-being. I've learned that people see you for what you do and not for who you are. I've learned that as humans, it's inevitable that we'll let people down and people will let us down. I've learned that there's much to life than what I see in front of me. I learned that luck does exist, it goes along with extremely hard work. I've learned that I can still recoup my losses in the past by doing well today and the days ahead of me. I've learned that there is still a lot to be learned.

ACQUAINTANCES

2007-01-03T22:38:00.000+08:00

Cameron: I don't own House's cases. You had just as much right as I did to write it up. You should have told me, but, I should have handled it better too.

Cameron: If we want this not to get in the way of our friendship, I think we both have to apologize and put it behind us.

Foreman: I like you. Really. We have a good time working together. But ten years from now, we're not going to be hanging out and having dinners. Maybe we'll exchange Christmas cards, say hi, give a hug if we're at the same convention. We're not friends. We're colleagues. And I don't have anything to apologize for.

Excerpt from HOUSE, Season 2 Episode 18: SLEEPING DOGS LIE

I am not much of a people person. I tried several times being all nice and friendly but it’s something that just doesn’t agree with me. I just don’t have the charm chi in my genes. Maybe I’m shy, maybe it’s a self-esteem thing, maybe I’m lazy having to sound and look interested, maybe I feel so small in the midst of over-achievers, maybe I don’t want to mingle with dim-witted people, maybe I’m just preoccupied with my own life. That’s a lot of maybes. I’m really not sure. Perhaps I’m just wired to be this bumbling, inarticulate and stuttering fool among acquaintances but this almost eloquent, lucid and expressive person when among friends. I don’t know what that says about me but the bottom line is that comfort and function should always win over aesthetics. Huh??? Read it again, it’ll make sense :-)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2007-01-01T09:00:00.000+08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR ! ! !

Want one? Go to www.geocities.com/testiflash

HoLidAyS

2006-12-30T15:21:00.000+08:00

I feel like I should apologize for not writing anything for the past three weeks. I think you guys know how it is during Christmas season. The festivities were just too tempting to turn down, even for a bore like me, that I was too tired or too uninspired to write when I got home. I did go to several gatherings that are customary during the holidays and if I wasn't busy gobbling up food good for two at those little get-togethers I was working on some papers and statements at my friend's company. I was able to squeeze in several study sessions though, which was totally not the plan. The plan was to study more and eat less. My strategy got all messed up and I'm to blame for it. All in all, this was a very busy holiday for me and I have pictures to prove it (I'll post some later). I'm happy :-)

It's New Year's Eve tomorrow...wow, time really flies when you're nearing the big three O.

I wonder if I should bother myself with a new year's resolution list or just forget about it. I can't remember ever fulfilling any of what I list down anyway....

Hoops, I did it again.

2006-12-09T20:28:00.000+08:00

After who knows how many years, I got to play basketball again last night. I huffed and puffed and blew my arteries out only to find out...that I still suck at it :-) Seriously, there was a point where I thought that I was going to just drop dead right then and there. I didn't realize I was so out of shape although I was never IN shape, hehehe. Maybe I should just stick to walking.

I did have fun though.

I came, I saw, I wrote

2006-12-07T07:12:00.000+08:00

I perceive writing as a trustworthy friend who is always ready to sit down with me and listen without judging. It has a relaxing and soothing effect on me that rivals any kind of relaxation therapy that I have experienced. I think most people feel the same way too because of the number of personal blogs that are put up and maintained daily. Most don’t care if anyone reads the entries or not. What is important to them, and me, is to get a thought, a feeling or an emotion out there in the open.

Pleasure and pain can be derived from writing. I say that because a writer can have instant gratification when he is able to express his feelings and emotions clearly and unmistakably. In his book, Politics and the English Language, George Orwell said, “A scrupulous writer, in every sentence that he writes, will ask himself at least four questions, thus: 1. What am I trying to say? 2. What words will express it? 3. What image or idiom will make it clearer? 4. Is this image fresh enough to have an effect?” Once a writer has the right answers to these questions, you will see him with a big smile on his face merrily tapping away in front of his computer. Writing can also be a source of extreme displeasure. This is especially true when words just escapes a person who is trying to finish a simple essay or a complicated manuscript for a book.

Every writer starts out writing for themselves but eventually the situation changes as the writer matures and essentially wants to be recognized. The only way that is going to happen is if his works gets published. There is no way for that to occur unless he makes some compromises. So, sooner or later, the writer has to take into consideration other factors such as what is currently a popular subject so as to have some kind of a chance to be noticed.

Fortune smiles upon the writers of today. The Internet has made it possible for aspiring writers and those who are just starting out as one to have a launching pad of sorts to propel, if you will, their articles to greater heights and to a broader and wider range of audiences. For the would-be writer, the Internet offers rich ground where they can hone and improve their skills. To those who have been around and has started to make a name for themselves, they will still be able to speed up the process of being acknowledged by utilizing websites that exist mainly to receive and distribute articles thereby giving their works the proper exposure that it deserves. This does translate into more people reading and more people recognizing the authors because of that. These sites make the writer’s life a bit easier, now they only have to worry about the essential stuff, which are inspiration and the dreaded writer’s block. Being a writer these days do have its advantages after all.

small fruit of my labor

2006-12-04T08:24:00.000+08:00

I got a somewhat decent score in our post-review exam yesterday, no doubt a direct result from studying beforehand at another center. I didn't bomb the test, which is good, but I also didn't do splendidly either. The good thing that came out of yesterday's exam wasn't much of how I did in the test but how I'll still be on my toes after it. The worst thing I can do right now is not to score below average but to let my guard down. Complacency will be a killer and vigillance a life-saver. The real thing will happen in six month's time, I really can't afford to relax.

I might do well in some of the practice exams and do extremely bad in others but having the will to carry on and try to get better after a massive setback will be the key to achieve my goal. Now, before I sound like a self-help book, I must say that I'm glad I spent some of my brother's money (thanks Ko!) on that review I did back in October and November. It was money well spent. I also thank the progenitor of this whole review thing, I would not have thought it prudent to cough up some extra dough that I didn't have if it wasn't for his great idea. Thanks Jon.

It's December!

2006-12-01T16:57:00.000+08:00

Wow, the week just blew by me with nary a sleepless night nor an entry in my blog (except this of course). Hmmm...I would like to think that I spent most of the week studying or preparing stuff for me to study. Yes, I'd like to think that. Now, if only fact is the same as perception, then I'll be all set. Hahaha.

The year is almost over and it is again almost time to look back and reflect on the year that was. I said almost, so I won't be doing that right now. I'll save that for the end of the month. It's always a pleasure to do that -- NOT.

Laid back Saturday

2006-11-25T18:13:00.000+08:00

Didn't do much today. Read a couple of pages, memorized a few lab values, answered fifty question from an NCLEX book...I didn't do so well with that. This was a very unproductive day, if this keeps up, I will know the meaning of a screwed up second chance. Although, I am betting on common sense to take over very soon. I should be on cerebral cruise control by December. Why? I don't know. I just think that the jovial mood I experience during that time of the year acts like an unrelenting caffeine delivery system that invigorates the heck out of me. Hopefully, that energy will be channeled towards studying and nothing else.

E tu, Kramer?

2006-11-23T05:07:00.000+08:00

I just found out about the Michael Richards incident today. It looks like the anti-Semitic remarks from an inebriated actor earlier this year found an acquaintance. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, it was like witnessing a beloved uncle going mad. I still can't believe it. I am a huge Seinfeld fan (the whole family is) and next to Jerry, Kramer was my favorite character in that show. If you don't know what I'm talking about, just watch the video on top of this. I was really disturbed when I saw it. The way he kept on drilling those guys and saying the N word, it was really horrible. He kept on at it after some people in the audience shouted "that's uncalled for" after which they promptly walked out on him. It was a pitiful sight. He could of had hundreds of reasons for acting the way he did but I'm sure none of them will be accepted by the public as ground for behaving like a jerk. I don't know if I'll still enjoy watching Seinfeld reruns after this. I should probably separate Kramer from Michael but that's next to impossible to do. Who am I kidding, of course I'll still enjoy the show! A good dose of time and selective recall should do the trick. Now excuse me, I have to break the news to my Seinfeld loving family.

Succumbing to the Friendster Juggernaut

2006-11-18T22:00:00.000+08:00

Okay, okay...after three years of refusing to have anything to do with social networks, I signed up for a Friendster account. So sue me :-)
In honor of my treachery to the anti social networking society, I offer to you an article about tinkering with your profile. Read on and enjoy.

Profile Up My Space

By TomTakihi

My Space is a popular social networking website that boasts of 95 million existing members and 500 thousand new members each week. If you've been spending even just a small amount of time online, I'm sure I didn't have to tell you how popular it is. Just the other day, CNN.COM reported that the U.S. Marine Corps has made use of Myspace.com as a recruiting tool seeing that this website has been the rage with teens and the early twenty something crowd. This invasion, if you will, would indicate the mass appeal of this social networking website that even a branch of the U.S. armed service found it advantageous to use it.

If you've seen personal pages at social networking sites like MySpace.com or Friendster.com, I'm sure you've found the vibrant people maintaining these sites to be a colorful and outspoken bunch. The amusing images are always a delight to see while the witty remarks in the comments area are often interesting and entertaining. My Space is all about personality and individuality. Members generally want a page that mirrors who they are and what they are all about. They want to put themselves out in the open for old and new friends to see. Now, a basic member's page is definitely not going to do that. Nobody wants his or her page to be just like everyone else's. Members usually upload video, graphics, pictures, background sounds and themes to their accounts and use them to personalize and enhance their pages. Another way to use images, videos and audio recordings would be to store these files in other websites and just put the links of these files in the preferences page at My Space. But other members want to make theirs really distinctive. So how would you make yours unique? The answer to that would be to customize the page using tools and implements not found in the My Space's built in preference panel. We have My Space tweak and modifications websites to thank for this truly personal option. Where else can you get a good code that won't mess up or slow the load time of your profile? Where else can you find a theme that reflects your style?

The tools found in these customization websites will help in generating little codes that will further make your page stand out by using images, pictures and sound that you have picked for yourself either from your own collection or from those that are already provided. This would be the ultimate in creating a tailor made page that suits who you are. Not only do these sites help you make your own layouts and graphic images, they also assist in making your page more to your liking be tweaking your comment boxes, how your profile is positioned and resize your comment images. I've saved the best for last. The niftiest thing that these customization sites can offer, for me anyway, is you can add flash games onto your personal page so people who view them can take a load off and play a game or two before looking at what's new in your page. Neat isn't it?

About the Author
Tom Takihi is the proud owner of the top My Space tweaking site. To get working on your profile, please visit: http://www.Profile8.com

Article Source: http://articles.simplysearch4it.com/article/35852.html

An Itch that Needs to be Scratched!

2006-11-17T20:52:00.000+08:00

Bored....bored....bored...

FaViCoNs

2006-11-13T17:39:00.000+08:00

I always wondered if I could have one of those cute and diminutive icons found in the address bar when I go to Foxnews.com or any other "big" sites. Now, I know I can, thanks to Annie of Blog U. I was able to make it work by following the simple instructions found in her blog. I'll add this to one of life's simple pleasures...seeing my favicon beside my blog address.

Nice, isn't it?

C S R going semi-postal

2006-11-13T10:08:00.000+08:00

Listen to this. Witness the customer service rep going postal on a customer. Too bad she was sorry after she exploded. It would have been way cooler if she stood her ground and didn't make excuses for her actions. Well, I guess she had something on her mind like maybe HER JOB. I wonder if this recording is authentic though.

Seinfeld: George Screening Calls

2006-11-09T23:35:00.000+08:00

All you Seinfeld fans out there, you got to hear this again! I'm certain you'll appreciate the trip down memory lane with George and Jerry. I'd use that song if I had an answering machine. Enjoy!

chinesepod.com

2006-11-09T00:28:00.000+08:00

I have been trying to learn Mandarin my whole life. I remember cringing in fear when afternoon Chinese classes are about to begin back when I was in grade school. It was hard not to go into terrorized mode when you had no inkling as to how to go about surviving the whole afternoon. Primary source of fear would be an old, fierce and ointment reeked teacher. Second, would be the fact that these lovely educators are licensed to do me bodily harm. Nothing serious though, just the usual ear ringing and wrist slapping. Third, was that I don't undertsand a word the teacher is saying. The literature being taught was in Mandarin but since the Chinese in the Philippines are predominantly Fukien, then everything had to be translated into Fukien. Ha! As if an eight year old doesn't have enough problems with math, English/reading, Filipino, civics et. al. So each and every afternoon, I really felt like I was blind, but the strange thing was, I COULD see. Sure I was able to pick up a few words and phrases along the way as I miserably toiled the halls of our school but that's about it. I have a vocabulary of a four or six year old at best.
About a month or two ago, I saw a segment on CNN about the Mandarin learning site chinesepod.com. I got a few of the free classes that they offered and tried them out. I had fun repeating the phrases and trying to get the correct intonations. Too bad I'm no longer a kid with a sponge for a brain to absorb and remember all the information but I am hell bent into learning as much as I can via chinesepod.com. If any of you are interested to learn just go to their site or you can also download some torrent files of their past lessons here. Just look at the lower left part where it says torren downloads. Good luck. I know I'll need it.

The Dems Have It! (or not)

2006-11-08T10:01:00.000+08:00

Watching the U.S. elections unfold on CNN has been more than just interesting. There is a tinge of excitement as the Democrats are hopeful that this will be an election year to remember. They are poised to take the majority in congress, this feat has not occurred in more than a decade.

Some say that this will be good for the United States and essentially, outside it. This is because we all know how this country's influence extend well beyond its borders. Whether you love that fact or hate that fact, it's a FACT. Personally though, I'd like the Republicans to have more time in control so they can follow through on their local and foreign policies. I'm not even sure if Congress has anything to do with foreign policies but I have a strange feeling that they do. The changing of the guards in congress will only help in satsifying the currently disgruntled political party (they won't be disgruntled for long now) that has been castrated back in the nineties. I hope something good comes out of the castration reversal.

Just my two cents worth.

Flyingsausage

2006-11-06T06:48:00.000+08:00

Click on the picture above to listen to some outstanding tracks from an excellent band. Ladies and gentlemen, for your listening pleasure...Flyingsausage.

Rock on, Rico boy!

DepLeteD

2006-11-04T18:00:00.000+08:00

I feel so exhausted

Final Fantasy X

2006-11-03T11:31:00.000+08:00

I remember investing sleepless nights playing FFX back in '03. I still haven't finished the game...life got in the way :-)

Sweet November

2006-11-03T00:17:00.000+08:00

Too many bad stuff happened last October. I get depressed just thinking about that month. Here's to a sweet sweet November!

An Article About Domain Names: READ

2006-10-26T08:02:00.000+08:00

How To Find The Best Domain Names
by: Tom Takihi

Registering a domain name is a pretty straightforward matter. You find a web hosting site, register with them, look for a desired domain name, select one that suits your business or personal fancy, choose what’s available and then you will be on your merry way to building the website’s innards. Easy, right? Not exactly because there is more to it than just getting a name that is appropriate for the business or a personal preference. The steps mentioned earlier would result in an ill constructed site that is going to be nameless in the world wide web and will be doomed to failure on the get go. This crude way of doing things will get you nowhere fast. Now why would anyone want that?

There is a better approach in making a name for your business or yourself on the net. It will be a presence that will be felt and sensed by your target audience whether they are your customers, prospective clients or a particular group of people. It’s easy enough to do this. You just have to know the right place to go on the web for help. Searching for the right domain for personal use or for a business is job best suited for professionals who understand the significance of internet jargons like keyword density, key phrases, search engine optimization, ranking and tags. What all these means is basically to have your site primed for search engines to find when people put in a search that concerns the subject, business identity or personal matter of your particular website.

Websites that exist for the sole purpose of locating or creating a new domain name for you are very reliable in terms of achieving their goal of increasing the likelihood that your site will come up on top of the list of sites when search engines spews out seek results. These so called domains finders are essential in any enterprise that is bent on achieving an online presence immediately. It is an established fact that search engines churn out sites that have been around for years. In other words, the age of a site does count when it comes to search results. How does this concern your site?

The domain finders are in the know as to which existing domains would not be reregistered or renewed by the current owners. Just imagine if your business coincides with a domain name that has been around for years. You’ll have first dibs with that domain name through a domain finder, in effect, they’ll claim it for you resulting in a well positioned new website with old rankings that will put you on top as quickly as when your site is ready. Another advantage of having a domain finder in your corner is that you can consolidate your entire site building needs from creating or finding a domain to the theme and content of your site. This would mean lesser legwork and lesser expenses since their comprehensive service would cover everything so you won’t end up paying more.

About The Author

Tom Takihi is the owner of the Domains Finders website. To gain more information, please visit http://www.domainsfinders.com

It's Over!

2006-10-23T00:08:00.000+08:00

It's over.
Game Over.
Over and done with.
fin.

rEv

2006-10-19T02:07:00.000+08:00

So far so good on the Review front.

Freaky Typhoon

2006-10-11T20:57:00.000+08:00

We finally had our power restored today. It took the power company almost a week...I'm sure they were on the problem like white on rice but I still hate the fact that we had to endure the heat and boredom for such a llloooonnnnnggggg time. Cable is still out.
That freaky typhoon really messed things up for me bigtime. I am thankful though that the only casualty I incurred was my trusty Treo. Others lost way much more than pda :-(

ReView :-)

2006-10-02T23:47:00.000+08:00

I am not sure if I should be doing this but I am taking the plunge. I believe that this is for the best. Getting myself into a review program should motivate me to devoting more time to studying. At this point in time, the plan is enhancement of knowldege and getting acquainted with test taking skills. That requires ample amounts of repetition which the review program should be able to give. Something is bothering me though. I would be lying if I said that I am not concerned about the issues surrounding this particular review center but I know it's still the best in spite of all the bad press it's been getting. I have to believe that because I already paid in full :-)
So...it's go time!

An Article About Website Promotion: READ

2006-09-29T11:21:00.000+08:00

Article Submissions- The Quickest and Most Cost-Efficient Way To Promote Your Website
Author: Gloria Smith

Websites are all about information. There is a website for almost anything you can think of or imagine. News sites are aplenty and so are technology centered websites catering to the techie in all of us. Just the other day I stumbled upon a website that taught its visitors how to take game consoles apart the correct way (with the proper disclaimer of course). The text was very accurate and complete in that the step-by-step process were guided with images and detailed specifications. This would have been very useful if I wanted to take my Playstation 2 apart either to fix it or make some modifications. Sadly, not all websites are created equal. Some are better than others in terms of content, aesthetics and overall coolness.

So if you are the webmaster of one cool and exceptionally useful site, you have got to let the world know of your site’s existence. I mean, it would be a crime not to. Right? If your reason for having the site is monetary, the mantra of “more traffic equals more commerce” is very appropriate here. If you put up the site for non-monetary reasons, you would still pine for more traffic if only for awareness and appreciation causes. So what do you do other than employ the usual word of mouth promotions to friends and colleagues? Instead of annoying people with your constant physical advertising campaign, why not have a go with a tried and tested method. I am talking about link building. One way of doing this is through article submissions. This approach involves two steps. The first step is having an original article concerning the subject matter or focus of your site. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy but it should be relevant and center on keywords that pertains to the subject of your website. The second step is the tedious labor-intensive process of giving away your original article. Why and how should you give it away you ask?

Why do we usually give something away? It’s to get something in return. In this case, we want links back to our website. Let’s say someone with a website takes a liking to your article. He/she uses it on his site that includes a link back to your site and someone else who visits that site sees your article and link and puts it on his/her site and so on. That’s basically how it works. Now onto how you’ll go about giving away your article in the fastest most effective way possible. Remember I mentioned tedious earlier? If you’re up to registering and signing up then you’ll have fun doing this but most people would rather have other people do it for them. There are hundreds of sites that pool articles according to category and detail types readying them for use. They’re either in text or html format for easier download and website integration. Visiting each one to sign-up and submit your article would be fine if you are not busy with other aspects of running a website. Outsourcing this task would be a more cost-effective way of doing this.

Noticing an increase in your number of hits will just be the beginning, as the article submission method will take your site to new heights.

About the Author:
This is article is brought to you by Gloria Smith at LegalHomeForms.com. Created by a former, licensed Real Estate Agent, LegalHomeForms.com was designed to offer instant access to the most sought after type of real estate forms. For the cost of what others charge for one real estate contract, you can have instant access to over 60 downloadable real estate forms. You can find all these real esate contract forms at: http://www.legalhomeforms.com

Learning How To Create The Ultimate Blog

2006-09-05T10:51:00.000+08:00

If you don't have any idea what blogs are or if you're new to the wonderful world of blogging, read up...

Learning How To Create The Ultimate Blog - By: Tom Takihi

One wonders where all that pent-up rage, radical views, strong opinions and peculiar beliefs would be deposited without blogs. For some people, blogging offers a cathartic experience in that they are able to write about who or what is troubling them. Yet for others, by simply being able to put an idea out there is help enough for their egos and self-esteem. Writing in a blog would definitely be much cheaper than a session with an overpriced shrink. Entrepreneurs, newsmakers, tech tutors and a whole lot of others also employ the use of blogs for profit or for up to date information. There are numerous reasons for putting up and maintaining a blog but all of them have one common goal, how to get your thoughts across clearly and effectively.

Blog 101’s are as ubiquitous as blogs themselves in the Internet. The obvious way to go here is to look for an excellent site that will be able to deliver the goods on creating and keeping up a blog. These sites offer guides, tips, how-tos and even some useful tools that will help you in the wonderful world of blogging. The topic commonly discussed initially is finding a home for your blog or the seemingly thankless job of looking for a host, free or otherwise. You might think that it’s easy enough to look for a host, google “blog host” and you’ll see that it’s not as painless as it appears. The wealth of choices available simply overwhelms the soon to be blogger. Now, let’s say you finally found a suitable home for your blog, the next challenge that you need to hurdle would most likely be the design. If you build an attractive and well-arranged blog, then they’ll most certainly come. Most blog hosts have built-in tools that will help you with that but the myriad “ready-to-wear” designs will almost certainly baffle the unversed. Blog tutorials have simple yet useful guides about designing blogs that includes topics ranging from text positioning to color schemes. Now comes the best part, content. A truly good blog tutorial site will stand out from other pretenders when it’s able to supply bloggers with relevant information concerning content. Ideas on where to get content are very crucial. The only way you are going to get considerable amount of traffic in your blog is if people are INTERESTED in it. Your content plays a very critical role in your blog’s success, it is the lifeblood of every single blog out there. If you keep good content flowing steady and fresh, that can only stand to help your blog achieve a level of greatness. Tips on the finer points of increasing traffic for your blog are very abundant in the tutorials. Be sure to take heed because dealing with keywords and search engines will be a joyful task if done properly and with decent supervision.

Bottom line is that blog tutorials are essential partners in your blog making travels because they serve as competent and experienced guides. Up until such time that you get your blogging legs true and steady, I recommend not letting go of these sites.

Tom Takihi is the proud owner http://www.blog-tutorials.com – a site that gives you daily tips on how to create a popular and profitable blog.

Electronic Windows to Our Soul

2006-09-02T09:34:00.000+08:00

Another interesting read...

Free Blogs: Electronic Windows to Our Soul

By Tom Takihi

It is often said that the eyes are the windows to our soul. The interpretation of that saying would depend on people’s point of views but for me, this is because how we perceive or see things through our eyes often conveys who we are. True or not, I’ll leave that to the pundits of human behavior. What I do know is that there are other portholes into our soul. In this day of stem cell research, mobile phones, computers and the internet, I say that blogs are the new windows to our soul.

Web logs are all the rage these days that we see them popping up by the hundreds every few hours. Commonly known as blogs, these online journals give their authors a stage where they are the central character in a theatrical piece rivaling that of a Shakespearean play. The drama, adventures, misadventures, hobbies and dreary day-to-day happenings are the usual subjects of a personal log. The author’s thoughts, ideas, concepts and opinions on anything that strikes his or her fancy would be the object of an entry. Fiery comments and views are common logs to anybody who has a blog. It does serve a cathartic function for many, providing a very economical and accessible means to blow off some steam rather than hurling inanimate objects or visiting a shrink. In the process of reading someone’s blog, we get a glimpse of who or what the author is all about. More importantly, for people who do maintain these internet-based diaries, a journey of self-discovery also takes place when they embark on such an excursion. You really do not know who you are until you see your thoughts in black and white or in the case of blogs, you’ll see your thoughts in any color that you want printed on a background of your choosing. Confused feelings and how you hold certain events in your life often goes unobserved. This is because when that fleeting moment of rushing emotions and sentiments has gone by, the clarity that you experienced at the time will degrade exponentially. How long before you lose the lucid thoughts depends, but “writing” it down helps very much in this situation. Leaving yourself wide open for other people to see, prod and judge takes a lot of courage. You won’t always like the comments that people leave in your entries but that is all part of having a blog.

Of course blogs aren’t just glorified diaries. It has become a staple tool in news agencies utilizing them like they would a bulletin board where they’ll have regular updates on news postings. Photo and video blogs are also numerous as various enthusiasts and other organizations discover the ease to which they could disseminate information to members.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have something that I need to get off my chest. It’s about life’s intricacies and the triviality of experiences that we all go through that make us who we are. You are welcome to read it by the way.

About the author:
Tom Takihi is the proud owner of the Bloggy Network. To sign up for your free blog, please visit: http://www.aBloggy.com

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Webmaster Tools -- READ

2006-08-18T07:23:00.000+08:00

Webmaster Tools All For Free - By: Tom Takihi

Just about anyone with a computer and an internet connection can make a website. Creativity and purpose though, solely rests on the author’s shoulders. There are plenty of free web hosting services out there and you only have to look for one that suits your needs. Features like customizability, available space, uploading/downloading method and scripting are usually what sets these free hosting sites apart from one another. If you find these sites too limiting for you, paid web hosting sites are available and they do provide more advanced features like larger web spaces and a more intuitive interface for site management. The good support, bandwidth and uptime percentage absolutely makes the paid web hosting sites a favorite for people who are trying to create a website for their business.

Whether you are putting up a website for your business or if you are just a hobbyist, you will have needs that both the paid and free web hosting sites won’t be able to satisfy. That’s where tools that enhance your website comes in. Like a site director supervising in an actual physical site, the webmaster needs certain tools and apparatus’ that are essential in running a website. Basic web tools like guest books, counters and link checkers are some of the staple tools that every good website should have. Aside from increasing the efficiency of your website, these tools also enable site administrators to gather some statistical data that will help in the upkeep and development of the site.

A byproduct of that statistical data, personally, is the gratifying or dejecting experience to see how many hits you had (or lack of it) in your site for one day or since its inception. More advanced web tools like meta-tag generators, link popularity and Google predictors assist in making your site’s net presence more visible to a bigger and more relevant crowd. More utilities and tools that function to augment your website are out there. Fortunately, there are websites that exist for the sole purpose of being a “toolbox” for webmasters. These nifty sites are invaluable in that aside from providing free tools, they also include information about how to use the tools provided.

Nothing is more frustrating than having to figure things out for yourself in a trial and error manner, which consumes too much time. Crafting, constructing and designing will really be easier and faster with the aid of these toolbox websites. The time you save in formatting, organizing and devising your website can be used in making or researching for the content on your site. Content being the primary reason as to why people would visit your site.

What better way to get you started on the internet than by making your presence known via your own personal website. And, what better way to create the perfect site than to use free and readily available tools in the net. If you know your way around cyberspace then you’ll surely appreciate the advanced tools that make maintaining and gathering information from your website a breeze.

Tom Takihi is the proud owner of http://www.Webmaster71.com - a website that offers a mass of free tools and resources to webmasters.

Crazy cat in dogland

2006-07-31T19:47:00.001+08:00

This can't be right, can it?

The Gambler's Tavern

2006-07-30T03:38:00.000+08:00

The Gambler's Tavern

By Tom Takihi

Gambling has been around since the dawn of mankind and it will probably outlive any and all of its detractors whether politically or morally. It does not matter if you are for or against gambling, we can all say that it was part of our history and it will be part of our future. Today’s advanced technology has allowed gambling to reach an even wider audience that transcends nationality and race. Online gambling isn’t new and its popularity is only growing stronger with each new recruit that it welcomes to its fold.

Maybe you are into gambling because of its recreational value or for it’s more serious and destructive characteristic, money. Most are into these games because of the somewhat controlled risk involved. Combined with the rush that people feel, the experience will be bringing an emotional high tantamount of those derived from drugs. If you are new to online gambling, by all means, tread carefully.

Taking care not to lose all your money online is not enough. There’s always a chance that your urge to say “just one more” will get the better of you. It’s not far fetched to say that this would lead to pathologic gambling, a condition we’re only all too familiar with, thanks to movies about gambling. Therefore, creating a system in the way you gamble would most certainly help. This is not just for seasoned gamblers since your goal, other than to win some money, is not to lose your existing stash needlessly.

Online gambling portals helps in more areas about gambling than just how to play the various games available. This tavern of sorts will have basic information like legalities on gambling and the like. Nothing beats having an expert guide to almost anything about gambling. Tips about online casinos, their reputation, how fast they give payouts and a lot more are often found in these portals thereby essentially directing you to good and legal online casinos. Other tips that involve gambling like playing smartly and more effectively than just unwittingly throwing your money around.

Basically, these portals will help tip the scales of lady luck into your favor and believe me, you’ll need all the help you can get. Let us not forget that same as in physical casinos, the games are designed and made to be in favor of the casinos. The chance for you to win is certainly there, only, it’s a slim chance.

To be sure, charlatans and dishonest casinos exist out there. Some even go as far as to blatantly point unsuspecting gamblers to play and ultimately lose to their sites. Fortunately, the use of portals is on the rise thereby curbing operations of illegitimate casinos. The relationship between the portals and the shady sites would have to do with the gambling portal’s relevant and up to date information about known deceitful sites. Do not be a victim. Visit the portals and take the time to look at updates other relevant news. If you are a novice, spend more time reading F.A.Q’s and special segments for beginners that are available in some portals.

About the author:
Tom Takihi is the proud owner of the Discovery Network. For more information on this topic, please visit the dedicated portal: http://www.DiscoverGambling.info

Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Version 2.0

2006-06-29T06:46:00.000+08:00

Due to some technical difficulties at school, Jon and I had to make some kind of group upgrade. I am having fun getting to know each and everyone of them and it's not as tiring as as I thought it would be. I'm actually having a blast with this new set-up. Ladies and gents, introducing Version 2.0

World Cup Fever

2006-06-07T05:56:00.000+08:00

World Cup 2006 is just a few days old. Here's an interesting article about the world's favorite game. Enjoy!

The World Cup Fever!! - By: Tom Takihi

Waiting for the World Cup to start has always been a punishing yet rewarding experience for soccer aficionados. The former is felt days after the last World Cup ends, the latter, days before the next one starts. Soccer fans will declare that the long four-year wait is all worth it once this truly world event begins with that starting kick off. All that pent up excitement has to come out sometime and what better way for it to go than through the explosion of cheers, applause and jubilant gestures of support once the games are underway. Finally, the excruciating wait is over as the eight groups of thirty-two teams from various countries compete for the World Cup Trophy and their respective nation’s pride. Last Friday marked the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany. Several countries virtually went into a standstill as history unfolded in the Allianz Arena at Munich.

This truly is an occasion of global proportions as football devotees root for their country’s team with fervent display of loyalty and zeal. In the 64 grueling and exciting matches ahead, soccer fans are sure to get a treat as the likes of Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, and Beckham strut their wares on the road to football glory. The powerhouse that is Brazil is clearly the team to beat this year. In the seventeen previous tournaments since the first World Cup in 1930, Brazil has been a dominant force having won five of the seventeen events including the one back in 2002. The defending champions shouldn’t take it easy though because hot on their heels are other soccer superpowers and they are not trailing far behind in talent and passion. Italy, England, Germany and Argentina are only few of the countries that will surely make Brazil’s journey to the finals very difficult. The other countries in FIFA’s top world ranking list includes Spain, Mexico, Netherlands, Czech Republic and the United States. These are all formidable teams that can certainly hold their own in this tournament and could easily be this year’s World Cup champions. It is almost an impossibility to predict who will raise the trophy in Berlin on July 9 but that’s simply the beauty of it! One thing is for sure, the country that gets to keep the World Cup Trophy for the next four years will have justly earned and deserved it. All this rich history, glorious pride, legendary teams, prominent personalities and beautiful venues will be the making of one of the best tournaments thus far.

Talking about the World Cup would be incomplete without mentioning the hooligans that this event seemingly attracts. Add booze to the mix and you’ve got an explosive situation warranting a serious once over.

Too often, the World Cup has been analogous to thousands of people trooping into colossal stadiums, euphoric crowd shouting, ultra tight security and some minor riots happening near and around the stadium. Although there is nothing wrong with this image (except for the riot part) and all the fanfare, the real value of this monumental event is not just about winning the most sought after accolade in sports. It is the coming together of different countries and cultures under one common goal. Let’s play futbol!

Tom Takihi is the proud owner of the Talk World Cup Forum. Visit http://www.talkworldcup.com to get all the latest news and gossip and compare your ultimate fantasy team with other members!!

voluntary alopecia

2006-04-03T17:59:00.000+08:00

Yes, Rowena did not approve of the "me sans the hair" look.
No, I wasn't out of my mind when I decided to go Luthor.
Yes, that Winnie the Pooh throw pillow is indeed mine!

La Luz et al. trip

2006-03-08T06:35:00.000+08:00

More PiCtuReS

tRip TriP LaNg

2006-03-07T03:01:00.000+08:00

Some pictures from our very short vacation

Of gallbladders and gallstones

2006-02-28T23:13:00.000+08:00

This picture was taken on my 2nd assist from a cholecystectomy procedure. I tell yah, I was so EXCITED. My first foray in the OR as a scrub was a cesarean delivery. Boy, was the procedure quick. I think it took less than 20 minutes from the first cut to the last stitch.
That gallstone is a whopper. I've seen others now but this one still tops the charts sizewise.

Happy Birthday, Doc ! ! !

2006-02-04T15:56:00.001+08:00

Have a good one and I hope you have plenty more "happy birthdays" to come.

StaT ! ! !

2006-02-03T15:58:00.000+08:00

The MMC staff hard at "work" :-)

MMC E.R.

Making use of the downtime...chatting away :-)

What God has joined together let no man put asunder...

2006-01-24T08:05:00.000+08:00

My cousin got married yesterday. I am so happy for her.

FaceS

2006-01-18T15:48:00.000+08:00

Good food...good times :-)

Growl ! ! !

Who farted? ...???

Hon at home

2006-01-17T15:28:00.000+08:00

Finally, hon's home.

rainbow

2006-01-16T14:28:00.000+08:00

"Take a little time baby
See the butterfly's colors
Listen to the birds
That were sent to sing
For me and you
Can you feel me?
This is such a wonderful place to me

Even if there is pain now
Everything will be alright
For as long as the world still turns
There will be night and day
Can you hear me?
There's a rainbow always
After the rain..." ---- SB

time to grow up

2006-01-15T15:55:00.000+08:00

I think it's time to sell my comic collection and ps2. I think...

PiCtuReS ! ! !

2006-01-10T09:15:00.001+08:00

The guys at school that I just can't get enough of :-)

dEprEssEd and diSmaYeD ! ! !

2006-01-09T15:48:00.000+08:00

I didn't do to well with the exam that I thought I was prepared for. I can just feel it. This is no good. I have to change the way I "study". I just don't know what to change. I've been studying the same way ever since I could remember...hmmm...that might partly be the reason I haven't been doing well ever since I could remember :-)

On the lighter side of things...

I just love reading the forums at www.mapalad.org
Plenty of funny and interesting people there plus of course, I get some really good tips on how to use and abuse my Zire 72 :-)

Another site I love going to is www.pinoymac.org
Reading the articles and forums from pinoymac helped when I wanted to use a cheapo webcam (iSight's are really EXPENSIVE). Great site I tell you.

Exam Time!

2006-01-04T14:20:00.000+08:00

I have a prelim exam in less than three days and I haven't even covered half of the material. To say that I'm in trouble is an understatement. I plan on sleeping just a couple of hours tonight so I could at least be half ready for the exam before its way too late.

Why I'm spending time writing this log when my time would be better spent memorizing and understanding the inner workings of the heart and the GIT is beyond me. So....

Later.

H a P p Y n E w Y e A r ! ! !

2006-01-02T02:04:00.000+08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR ! ! !

A fresh start...

A brand new year...

It's like being born again.

Nothing feels like the promise of a new year. I just hope I do something good or significant before the novelty of the new year wears off...like those of the previous years :-)

I have a good feeling about 2006. This will be THE year.

*****||||||||||||****|||||||||*****|||||||||||********

Christmas Day 2005

2005-12-25T18:42:00.001+08:00

I've spent the better part of the day watching season three of The OC. Yes it was a waste of time but I just love movie/series marathons...it's so much better than having to wait a week at a time for fresh episodes and the continuity is just a killer. This was no way to spend Christmas day but I'll remember to say a little prayer when I go to sleep later on.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Me and my hon

2005-10-16T00:41:00.000+08:00

Nice view out here.

The Hair Up There!

2005-10-13T13:07:00.000+08:00

Finally got a haricut today. Last one I had was back in June. What can I say...I feel lighter :-) Definitely, there is an improvement, don't you think?

In the beginning...

2005-10-12T07:54:00.000+08:00

This is my third attempt to put up and keep a blog. I hope I do a better job this time...because the last time I did this, I just didn't know what to write about or what to do in general. I must say....ravings and rantings is an apt title for this blog because I plan on talking about a lot of things without actually saying anything. Does that make sense? I hardly make sense but then again, so do half the people on this lovely planet.