to the fullest...

Work like you don't need the money
Dance like no one is watching
Sing like no one is listening
Love like you've never been hurt before
Live your day as if it were you last....

Boredom Caused by the Typhoon....

With not much to do, and too much to think and stress about, over the last two days of Typhoon weather -- I tried alleviating my time with surfing the net - here's the results of my BOREDOM:



you can easily generate them here: - PhotoFunia

Typhoon Lai La!!! (Typhoon is coming!!!)

And yet once again, we are bracing for another TYPHOON... it is being reported as having such HIGH INTENSITY that Monday is already being declared as a NO WORK, NO SCHOOL Day!!! And that is something that does not happen quite often here... so it must really be BIIIG!!!

Hope the weather is much better in your parts of the world....

Forever???

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I ask about your STANCE on FOREVER.... Do you believe there is such a thing??? and why??? what is your DEFINITION of FOREVER???
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NOTE: this is brought on by my 16 year old niece, Ameera (and her recent BLOG entry), who is now in college - following the footsteps of her Kuya Ace... taking up HRM @ MAPUA..... she has been going out with the same boy from her Montessori HS days for about two years now... and recently, been going though rough times, as they are both in collecge and going to different schools.... she has taken up BLOGGING, as like me, she basically wears her heart on her sleeves....

anyway, I find it interesting that at the tender age of 16, she talks so much about FOREVER.... professing Forever Love.... promising Forever Devotion.... etc..... so it got me to think about MY STANCE on the subject:

I DO believe in FOREVER.... but for me FOREVER is however long one has/had with the other person... be it a lifetime or just a month... that is our Forever...

When I love someone, I love fully... so Togetherness Forever automatically comes into the picture... but circumstances are never the way we Imagined or wished them to be - most of the time... and more so than never, we part ways... but the person touched my heart, became a part of my life already... and FOREVER will be in your Thoughts and Heart... even if not in my Life!

"forever may not be long,
but if you take the chance,
to experience some form of romance,
thats long enough to know..."

PoCoYo - A New Favourite!!!

how could I have missed this cutie, POCOYO??? I was turned on to him while searching for a few VINYL TOYS to add to my collection... so far I have only see PLUSH toys of him though.... but I have really fallen for him and his friends...

Check out this YOU TUBE of them (Promos from first and second seasons) - I guarantee - you too, will fall for them....


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according to WIKIPEDIA:
Pocoyo (Pocoyó in Spanish) is a pre-school animated cartoon series about a young boy who dresses in blue and who is full of curiosity. Viewers are encouraged to recognise situations that Pocoyo is in, and things that are going on with or around him. Pocoyo's world is set in a 3D space, with a plain white background and has no backdrops.

Two series (or seasons, to use the North American term) have been produced, each consisting of 52 seven-minute episodes. A future third series is on hold as the makers wish to embark upon other projects, one of which may be a Pocoyo movie.
Characters
* Pocoyo: The eponymous main character of the series. He is a young boy who is full of curiosity and loves to play games, as well as discover new things. He is always shown wearing blue clothes and a hat. Pato, Elly and Loula are his friends. He is (always) four years old; his "birthday" (when he inevitably turns four again) is October 14.[6] Pocoyo's name was provided by David Cantolla, one of the creators, after his daughter used it in her nightly prayers. "Pocoyo" roughly translates to English as "like myself".[7]
* Pato: Pato is a yellow duck who wears nothing but a small green hat. Pato means duck in Spanish, Portuguese, Tagalog, and Papiamento. A favourite amongst the young children due to his enjoyable dancing. Although friendly, Pato is the most fussy and impatient character (indicated by his beak that bends in an angle when disappointed or shocked); on occasion he completely loses his temper, jumping up and down and quacking furiously.
* Elly: A pink elephant who always wears a blue back-pack, but despite her size she is a graceful and gentle character, capable of ballet dancing. She usually rides around on her scooter.
* Loula: Pocoyo's orange-yellow pet puppy and companion.
* Sleepy Bird: A teal-coloured bird. She does little but sleep, and usually flies with her eyes closed. Named "Pajaroto" in the Spanish version (reportedly named after a Zinkia employee nicknamed "Maroto", and bearing a strong resemblance to him), and "Pájaro Dormilón" in the Latin American version.

Each character has its own distinctive dance, and most episodes end with the characters dancing.

LaLa - LaDiDa.....

the newest member of the Wu Family is this cute dog, Lala.... he is a strange & cute one... yes, you read that correctly - HE!!! not really sure why he is named Lala -- no wonder the dog is confused.... he is totally cute... knows a few tricks - like shaking hand - as seen on this video with me trying my darnedest to speak to him in Chinese.... and he knows how to play dead... you say Bang Bang and he drops dead on the floor....

so you would think he is a smart one.... then why oh why can he not find his way home??? and he has been living there for over half a year already???? hmmmmm.....
I really like this dog too... am normally scared of bigger dogs but he is just too sweet... follows you around and always loves to be petted.... makes me wish for a dog of my own again....

Just Hanging About with David & The Girls....

"But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life; and thanks to a benevolent arrangement of things, the greater part of life is sunshine."
-Thomas Jefferson:
Another get together at Juliana's House (click for more photos).... Saturday: July 19th -- lunch was really good -- courtesy of David with Cecilia's assistance... they slaved in the kitchen while Julian, Sue & I chatted and played waiting to be fed.... of course, the company and fun chats are even more delicious... I always look forward to our get-together... it is a fun escape -- from either the SUMMER HEAT or the TYPHOON weather we have been having of late.....
***Our Delicious Salad Prepared and presented by David... Note: the beautiful printed napkin came all the way from Germany... brought back by Juliana...***
***5 Kinds of Desserts courtesy of Sue & Cecilia***

We were even treated to Juliana's very recent Germany Tour photos... wonderfully put together with soooo much info... all HAND WRITTEN!!!!..

Sue and Cecilia gave me one of the MSN Vinyl Premium, as well as, their point cards for the new Monkey King program.... so am steps closer to getting another one.....

Family....

Family life is full of major and minor crises -- the ups and downs of health, success and failure in career, marriage, and divorce -- and all kinds of characters. It is tied to places and events and histories. With all of these felt details, life etches itself into memory and personality. It's difficult to imagine anything more nourishing to the soul.
-Thomas Moore

"CRY" by James Blunt

Learned of this song from a friend... it is a beautiful song with really emotional lyrics... so I am sharing it here... CLICK PLAY - YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY!.


"Cry"

I have seen peace. I have seen pain,
Resting on the shoulders of your name.
Do you see the truth through all their lies?
Do you see the world through troubled eyes?
And if you want to talk about it anymore,
Lie here on the floor and cry on my shoulder,
I'm a friend.

I have seen birth. I have seen death.
Lived to see a lover's final breath.
Do you see my guilt? Should I feel a fright?
Is the fire of hesitation burning bright?
And if you want to talk about it once again,
On you I depend. I'll cry on your shoulder.
You're a friend.

You and I have lived through many things.
I'll hold on to your heart.
I wouldn't cry for anything,
But don't go tearing your life apart.

I have seen fear. I have seen faith.
Seen the look of anger on your face.
And if you want to talk about what will be,
Come and sit with me, and cry on my shoulder,
I'm a friend.
And if you want to talk about it anymore,
Lie here on the floor and cry on my shoulder,
Once again.
Cry on my shoulder,
I'm a friend.

Happiness is... Making Lasting Impressions.....

"We are so often caught up in our destination that we forget to appreciate the journey."

sometimes we really get caught up in all that we do... so focused on our everyday work and such we lose track of the little things in life.... as little as coming into contact with people in our everyday life and dismissing them as just other souls passing us by.... we fail to notice that sometimes we actually do make a lasting impression... one of those little things in life that we often miss but boy, does it feel good when we do become aware of it....

with my many visits to Manila - I have hung out at the NINOY AQUINO Airport quite a lot.... normally I would only walk around for about for 15 mins after checking in and clearing immigration.... I check out the record shop for last minute CDs... and the bakery for some ensaymada to bring back... now and again, I would stop by for coffee.... there's really just a couple of places to get good coffee there...Bo's Coffee and another one whose name I do not even know....

anyway months ago - i was helped by someone with one of the best smiles I have seen in a very long time... dimples and all.... never saw the person again -- and months went by....

on this last trip back, with no coffee in my stomach yet that morning, I decided I needed a caffeine fix... so I went to get coffee... lo and behold, the same server was there... sweet smile and all.... I went up to the counter to order my coffee and what I expected to hear the person say was "WELCOME!" or "WHAT CAN I GET FOR YOU?" instead he uttered: "I remember you from months ago.... I was hoping you would come back again.. you were one of the friendliest person I have ever served.. with such a nice smile." (it was all said in TAG-LISH btw...)

This put such a nice feeling in my heart and of course, a big smile on my face..... I mean, I thought he had a nice smile that is surely memorable... but never did I once think that I would make an impression as well - no matter what it may have been - for the person to remember me.... after all, am just one of the many passengers passing by - day in, day out.... and with how busy they get I did not even once noticed the person looking my way the whole time I was having my coffee back then....

anyway, not much more to the story really.... just really made a difference in my hurried, tiring trip.... so instead of going back to TAIWAN with a heavy heart upon leaving Manila once again - I said goodbye with a smile on my face.... knowing that people do not just view me as someone who is always on the go -- and not much more.... and it is nice to know that no matter how little time we spend with others - we sometimes do leave lasting impressions ... it TRULY IS one of the most fulfilling feelings in the world....

and as I always say, it is always the smiles and friendliness than often will be remembered.... whether or not we see those people ever again....

here we go again....

FAMILY MART unveils their PREMIUM program for SUMMER '08 - and I could not be any happier and more excited.... The series is based on the legendary tales of The Monkey King, so all 8 entries are characters from the novel.... The program is the same as the previous ones: for every 66NT$ purchase you get a sticker; 10 stickers you get to redeem one freebie... But if you want to redeem a bit faster, collect 5 stickers and pay 39NT$ and you can already redeem one....
The Whole Collection On Display
The PIG - he is the first one that I acquired...
Note: Thanks to a wonderful old woman, who happened to be at the shop while I was there... she did not want her stickers and saw that I was collecting them so she gave them all to me.... LUCKY ME!!!!
For this one, I opted to redeem the faster way... 5 stickers plus NT$39 - and am glad I did - as I got this boy and I like him a lot.....

So guys... next time you are at FAMILY MART - and got a sticker that you do not want - do remember to send it my way pls.... I really HOPE to complete this whole series..... Wish Me Luck!!!

Happiness is.....

"Happiness is not something ready made.... It comes from your own actions."
-Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama


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Find ecstasy in life; the mere sense of living is joy enough.
-Emily Dickinson

am afflicted with LD Personality!!!!

Just got this fun personality type test from a friend of mine... with a few mins to spare I took it.... found it interesting and just RIGHT ON THE SPOT! try it - am sure you will agree with the results, too....

Laid-back Doer (LD)
(Just visiting? Take the free test and determine your personality type!)

Laid-back DoerLaid-back Doers are friendly, happy persons. They enjoy being together with other people. Smart, eloquent, witty and charming, they like to be the centre of attraction. They do not like to be alone. Their zest for life ensures that others feel well in their company and that they quickly get to know people. Laid-back Doers get the best out of every moment - many people of this type have a gift for making their whole life one big party. Boredom is unknown in their presence because they are very good at carrying others away with their enthusiasm, their good mood and their optimism.

Abstract thinking and profound philosophising about the meaning of life appeal less to Laid-back Doers. They are pragmatic, realistic and live completely in the here and now. At work too, they prefer it when it’s all go and they can act out their purposeful manner to the full. They have no problem handling several tasks at once and they blossom out in crisis situations! A varied field of activity with a lot of social contacts is just the right thing for them. One will also seldom find them inactive in their spare time; due to their open, curious nature, they mostly have many hobbies and interests. They are not afraid of the unknown: as they are flexible and creative, they quickly adjust to new situations and make the best of them. They sometimes come into conflict with strict rules or hierarchies by which they quickly feel constrained and against which they rebel.

As friends, Laid-back Doers are generous, helpful persons who attach great importance to harmonious relationships and a good atmosphere. Their sociable manner means that they have a large circle of friends and they love having the house full of many different types of guests. They are happy to give in to their spontaneous moods and fancies in the just one or two important things. This makes them appear somewhat unpredictable to those with a quieter nature. When it really matters, you can rely on them one hundred percent. As partners, they are creative, impetuous and imaginative - as long as their partner knows how to fascinate them. They can hardly stand boredom or routine in a relationship. They do not like conflicts at all; if a relationship becomes too strenuous or involves too much effort, they tend to withdraw from the partnership and start to look for a new partner. However, if one manages to keep their curiosity alive in the long term and surprise them again and again, one has a loyal and loving partner.

Reaching Out....

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"Sometimes when we meet a stranger we can be excessively reserved and distant. This reaction is not logical. Actually, we have no good reason to fear contact with other people. We only have to realize that they are human beings like ourselves, with the same aspirations and the same needs, and it becomes easy to break the ice and communicate."

-Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama

She Blogs, She Blogs....

there is truth to the old adage: "the apple never falls far from the tree..." though I do not have kids of my own, I feel that my nephews and nieces are quite an extension of me.... you have already seen and met my nephew Ace from my previous blog.... now pls meet my niece, Ameera Roxanne Breiz, my sister Rowena's youngest child -- she just turned SWEET SIXTEEN and already starting her college years this month... following her brother Ace's footsteps, she will be attending MAPUA University and taking up HRM, as well....

Ameera, for the most part, is another kooky person... she is a talker - much like her MOM... and a prankster, like her Dad... she is loving, very kind to animals, and the girl can sing -- wish she would sing more often!!! she is also one of the most down to Earth people you will ever meet.... not at all snotty and THANK GOD, have outgrown her brattiness.... I always feel that she is wise beyond her years... if I have to compare her and her brother Ace - I would say that she is much more mature, though Ace is 5 years her senior.... she is fun loving and a really friendly kind of girl... due to personal reasons, we do not get to see each other as much lately - which I miss as she has a way of making me laugh all the time... she is tireless in entertaining me - no matter how sleepy I may already be.... LOLs....

Possibly though, the biggest thing I love about her is the way she wears her heart on her sleeves, much like me.... i have always thought so and reading entries in her newly started personal BLOG, Ameera's Modern Life, I am even more positive that she is this way - just as I am.... she is not shy to put her feelings down in words... for herself and for anyone else to read... I know that she has been told by a couple of people close to her that they do not agree with what she is writing as they are too personal....but she does not care.... For Ameera, she will write down how she feels... it is her way of expressing herself.... and isn't that what personal blogging is all about...Besides, what do most 16 year old girl's talk or write about anyway but boys, loves, and everyday life.....

why do I Blog???

First of July.... the beginning of the second half of the year..... I would like commemorate it by addressing a question a contact posed to me a few days ago: "Why do you open yourself to the public this way? Why are you so open? And why subject yourself to comments and skewering by your contacts / readers?"

Ever since I can remember, I have been pretty much like an open book.... I have written journals here and there.... excerpts of which were read in my English/Literature classes from time to time - as they so fit.... not once have I cared how others would perceive me... it is more an expression of what I am, how am feeling, and what am going through.... For the most part it is for the sole purpose of writing down my thoughts which later on I can read, and reread, again and again.... ponder on where I have been... what I have done... and possibly have an idea of where am going....

I use blogging as a tool to keep up with my friends and family... keep them UPDATED with my whereabouts; plus what and where I am in my life.... a person like me who travels and move around so much... who lives, most of the time far from home , family and friends -- it is always a good way to keep in touch and stay close by to my love ones....

But another aspect of why I write or keep a blog is because I have always been the kind of person who believes in the art of communicating and sharing... reaching out and hopefully whatever am saying/writing resonates with people - even just a bit.... There is a certain join that comes with others sharing my dreams and nightmares; happiness and loneliness; favorites and pet peeves; triumphs and failures; loves and despairs; and everything else in between....

Keeping up with BLOGS also doubles as an outlet for creativity...
-and isn't the nature of creativity to catch someone's imagination or attention... embed itself in another person's life and in a way, making a mark in the world... -and do we not all wish, in our own ways, to be able to leave marks, traces of our lives, in this big old world. A world that seems to be shrinking by the day - thanks to the help of AVIATION, MEDIA & CYBERSPACE...

Friendster, BLOGSPOT, FACEBOOK,and so many others are examples of great places in the CYBERSPACE to reach out.... and make one's mark in this world. With your own blog - you can be whomever you want to be - but it is BEST if you stay TRUE to yourself.... to be REAL! You can talk about anything and everything.... get it all out... get it off your chests.... don't matter if anyone is listening or reading.... it is a form of release and it does help - A LOT - when it comes to staying sane....

So there you have it - reasons why I BLOG.... so FAIR GAME.... all your comments are WELCOME - there are no BAD COMMENTS - unless of course, they are just pure EVIL, VINDICTIVE, and SPITEFUL.... so never feel that you have to HOLD BACK with me.... as long as your SHARING IDEAS and FEELINGS, they are all much appreciated....