tokidoki Tees for Japan, too!

The Josh Duhamel's tokidoki Relief Run for Japan I blogged about a few days ago is now over -- but you can still get in on the fun and support our friends in JAPAN by going to tokidoki.it and purchasing the COOL FUN Tees designed XClusively for this relief campaign...

100% of the profits goes to Japan's Relief Fund via RED CROSS International. Available in both Women's and Men's Sizes... Check them out!!!! And here's th SEXY Josh Duhamel, himself, sporting this ultra cook & fun tee...

MOS Bruger SIngapore Supports Japan

To raise funds for the recent Japan disaster, MOS Burger will be selling limited edition t-shirts, specially designed for their "Japan You Can" t-shirts campaign.

Each design will have up to 5,000 pieces available for sale and the first design will be launched this Friday, March 25. The shirts can be purchased at all MOS Burgers in Singapore (Wonder if they will make it to Taiwan?). Am hearing that each t-shirt will go for $10 each and will be available in 5 sizes: from SS for kids, S, M, L and XL.

This is another GREAT RELIEF FUND EFFORTS to help our friends in JAPAN!!!!

Wet Weekend....

Nope, not a Wet & Wild Weekend, as some of you might be heading to on these Summer Months... it was plain and simple, a Wet Weekend.... basically Non-Stop rain that continued on through all day and nite Monday.... so wet that even the buses are drenched inside from all the umbrella carrying passengers - myself included!!! And with the way things had been lately - it almost felt as if it was just not raining outside but inside as well, emotionally speaking.... I do not mind the rain, I actually like the feel of it now and again - but when it is like so - NON STOP - I could go batty... it is hard to get motivated... even to exercise - as the walk to the GYM is quite a cold and puddle challenge one.... getting anywhere, somewhat wet, if not soaking wet, is never a pleasant feeling... and it does not do wonders for one's appearance.... that's for sure... LOL.. Still, I managed to do this and that.... as much as I could muster the energy for anyway... walked to and back from a few places.... Saturday, I went to Juliana's home to return the looong overdue shopping bags full of dolls.... then we waited for Sue N Cecilia - to have lunch and celebrate Juliana's upcoming BDay... it was a FUN time with the Girls - as always.... and we were stuffed from the many food ordered at Chili's and of course, from the fun conversations....

Sunday, still raining non stop, it was a nice time at Church... being reflective and just rejuvenating myself, through the Music and the Peaceful ambiance....Then Monday afternoon - with the rain letting up a bit, I braved the coldness and went to Warner Viewshow to catch the afternoon showing of "SUCKER PUNCH"... been dying to see this movie and am sooooo glad I did... it was PURE ADRENALIN FUN..... Great Escape movie with Glorious cinematography.... Great Texture and Design on the films.... and KICK ASS Girls doing their thing... purely, an entertaining almost 2 hrs long kind of a film... A MUST SEE - TRUST ME!!!!So TRULY, just as the sign above says.... it is as Beautiful As you Make it to be.... come rain or shine....

Summer Movies 2011

For some reason I woke up at 6:00AM this Saturday morning.... triued as I might, I could not go back to sleep... so I finally got up at 6:30AM.... having my coffee... having a hard time to focus.... so I got thinking about Great Escapes.... mainly, summer movies am excited and dying to see.... brief escapes are always needed and a MUST - and NOTHING Beats Great Escapes than Super Hero Movies!

Lots of Super Heroes and Hunks dominating the Summer Months.... and I cannot wait to see each and everyone of them....
First Up: Kick Ass Girls - SUCKER PUNCH: OUT NOW

THOR (with Oscar Winning fave, Natalie Portman as the Lady Love)

Chris Evans as Captain America

and of course, Ryan Reynolds as The Green Lantern

-and one SEQUEL am DYING to see: SCREAM 4

have you seen this Traveling man???

...came across this photo on the NET and just had to repost.... do not know who the model is? nor what this photo is for? don't think it is for an actual LV Ad - hahahahahaha

no matter, it made me SMILE... had to share...:) ENJOY and Happy SUMMER Travels....

You Gotta Give For What You Take!!!

I do what I do, I help where I can, because I like to... Never Do I Ever Expect Anything back... or to get compensated for the things I do... It is just the way I am... the way I have been since ever since I can remember.... Most everyone knows this of me.... or should have.. especially those close to me....

The most I ever ask for is NOT TO BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED and NOT TO BE ABUSED - and yet, somehow, these couple of things turns out to be TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR!

-Why does it seem TOO MUCH TO ASK to be SHOWN some APPRECIATION now and again??? Not with GIFTS but by a simple Thank You... an ACKNOWLEDGEMENT..... why am I made to FEEL BAD when I SAY NO??? as with everyone, I too, get Busy & Tired - both physically and mentally... and should be entitled to a break now and again... and DEFINITELY NOT made to feel BAD and GUILTY for saying NO....

GRENADE: Cover by BOYCE AVE...

Loving this very HEARTFELT COVER by Boyce Avenue of a Bruno Mars song, GRENADE. Totally made me LISTEN to the words for the very first time....

BOYCE Avenue is quite a POPULAR Band on YOU TUBE - they have some of the HOTTEST & BEST Covers of Today's Hits of late.... with this one being one of the latest....

More Boyce Avenue Here:
-Official Site
-You Tube Pages

AIT Taipei : Organization at it's BEST!!!

Don't have the need to go to the Ameican Institute in Taipei (AIT) - for Political Issues, it cannot be called a US Embassy - today was, only my 3rd time going.... First time was back in 2002 when I lost my PASSPORT..... then it was 3 years ago for additional pages... and now, once more, as I have already ran out of pages.....

The two bus rides - coming and going... the 2 1/2 hour wait.... and even the US82 Fee for the service... these are all nothing as it was TRULY HASSLE FREE to deal with.... The process is quite simple: you make your appointment online; you go to AIT at the appointed time: you check in and give all the necessary papers; pay your fee; and you sit and wait.... depending on how busy they maybe at that particular day - should take no more that an hour really, like the last time... today, it was a bit busy and it took a little over 2 hours for the whole thing.... still not a bad thing....

So I got my additional pages - should be good enough till I renew my passport NOV of 2012... and I even like the design and color tone of the additional pages!!!

Family Mart X "One Piece"

Today, Family Mart started their "One Piece" Premium Toys run.... and I could not be happier.... I skipped the last two offerings they had - as they just did not strike my fancy enough.... but this new one certainly does.... A FUN Manga and GREAT CONCEPTS on each of the Vinyl Toys offered in the collection.... The Program runs starting today thru the end of May... You can find out more about "One Piece" manga here on this WIKI LINK....

(Be) Happy Sunday!!!

Sunday Morning.... the SUN is out and shining brightly... still with a Breeze of Fresh Air.... Having my coffee.... listening to Hayden.... and just catching up a bit on emails.... 365..... Facebook.... will soon Prepare for Church and the day ahead.... Just wanted to Wish You All A Great Sunday!!!

"tokidoki" cares....

tokidoki cares: tokidoki is strongly committed in a series of events to support the disaster relief efforts in Japan.First Up: Josh Duhamel’s tokidoki Relief Run on Sunday, March 27th at 11:00 a.m. at Santa Monica Beach. All proceeds from this run will go to the American Red Cross Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami fund.
tokidoki is also giving a special print on canvas for #PrayForJapan Art Fundraiser hosted by Sweet Streets and exhibited at JapanLA. 100% of art sales will be donated to the American Red Cross and those close to us.

Opening reception will be held on Saturday March 19, 2011 from 7pm-10pm at JapanLA, located at 7320 1/2 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046. Please stop by and show your support.

...aaaaaaah youth.....

Just getting out for a little Coffee Break and Fresh Air.... away from CNN's coverage of the continuing Japan's rescue and recovery mission, plus the unsettled Nuclear Power Plant Bout... Heartbreaking & Intense - and yet, one cannot turn the TV off.... so we walk away form it all.... at least for a little while.....

Baby sitting for Jewel the last couple of days, since coming back from Manila... it has been both Good & Bad in terms of CNN watching... It is Good as am keeping abreast with the situation... but it is Bad as am being affected by all the images and news of loss and despair....

One of the reason why I do not even mind not having Cable at home - I escape most of these sadness & turmoil in the world... and yet, at times like these, one must really keep up and stay up to date as to what's going on with our neighbours, friends, love ones....

Let's Hope & Pray that all will stabilize soon.... In the meantime, here's a few photos to take your minds off the SADNESS - even for just a bit... so lovely to be a child... with no cares and worries for the world yet.... where life is just about napping, eating & playing.... surrounded by love... and kept safe from harm and despair....Happy Happy Joy Joy
With her new friend, Paddington.. a Gift from the nice 7-11 Employee - who was taken in by Jewel's sweet smile....

JAPAN DISASTER: Doing What We Can

"It is not enough to be compassionate. You must act. There are two aspects to action. One is to overcome the distortions and afflictions of your own mind, that is, in terms of calming and eventually dispelling anger. This is action out of compassion. The other is more social, more public. When something needs to be done in the world to rectify the wrongs, if one is really concerned with benefitting others, one needs to be engaged, involved."

"Today, more than ever before, life must be characterized by a sense of Universal responsibility, not only nation to nation and human to human, but also human to other forms of life."- Dalai Lama

========================================================

For a lot of us, we see JAPAN as one of the strongest, most capable countries around... long been the source for some of the BEST, INNOVATIVE, SLEEK, FUTURE FORWARD, etc.. products around... we ADMIRE them for always being Fashion Forward and Stylish.... as well as, for the way the Government seems to have a Better Handle with the well being of its' citizens... and of course, for alot of us VINYL TOY LOVERS - some of our most coveted collections and favorite toys have come from Japan.... Yes, they are these and so much more.... But, as we all know, these does not exclude them from Natural Disasters that leaves so much ANGUISH, LOSS, & DEATHS.... and most of us, around the world, sits around watching CNN and other News Programs - feeling their SORROWS and so HOPELESS...

Last nite, I could not sleep much as after watching 2 full hours of CNN, the IMAGES weighed heavy on me.... it is soooo DISHEARTENING watching everyone try to make sense of what has happened (the Quake & the Tsunami) and the THREAT that is still looming: the Nuclear Plant Saga... I cried watching people try to locate their love ones... seeing them breakdown in front of, what used to be homes of their friends and love ones, now a vacant lot or just plain rubbles... Hard to swallow knowing that the Death Toll has already reached over 3,500 and is expected to climb even higher with soooo many more people missing...

I woke up, with all these still on my mind and decided, I should also do what I can... and what I can is try to help in what I know how - just as I did when ONDOY battered the Philippines a couple of years back.... Besides the different ways you can HELP that I mentioned in the POST BELOW -- Tragedies & Disasters -- we have also started a RELIEF FUND - to be DONATED to a CHARITY (either RED CROSS or we will COORDINATE with a JAPANESE FRIEND to see if there is a LOCAL CHARITY that is TRUSTWORTHY and can get the DONATION faster....)

==========================

So between now and the end of March... we will have a Japan Relief Fund Drive... Percentages of the SALES between these dates will be Calculated and Added to the fund.... they will be as follow:

-25% on all Susie, R&D Fashions, & Angels Sales
-10% from all Others

You Can See the OFFERINGS HERE: http://www.rnddolls.com/ * Only IN STOCK Products are Included * Pre Orders are NOT INCLUDED.
Of Course, STRAIGHT DONATIONS will be ACCEPTED, as well. Pls Email: wtsrudi@yahoo.com

Tragedies & Disasters

Am pretty sure that eveyone by now have heard and seen graphic images from the very recent plight of the Japanese people against an 8.9 magnitude Earthquake, coupled with the devastating TSUNAMI that washed away countless of cars, houses, farming, ships, planes, trees, lives.... and as well as, HOPE.... I for one, can relate - having gone through the '89 Quake that devastated the Bay Area... even shared in the agony of losing friends and acquaintances... then of course, the one that totaled and claimed so many lives in Taiwan back in 2001....

Often, at times like these - many lose their hopes - understandably so as they see & experienced first hand the aftermath of such disasters... losing just about everything is already devastating enough but to lose love ones, family & friends - it makes the pain and suffering even more so....

Believing that we are all in this world together... we are all interconnected.... we are all linked... we all MUST do something to bring back HOPE & LOVE.... and HELP our neighbours REBUILD.... We all, in whatever way we can, however BIG or SMALL, must show our friends in JAPAN that we care, they are loved and thought of....

SO, DO CHECK OUT THE MANY WAYS YOU CAN HELP AND DONATE IN AIDING OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS OF JAPAN - HERE'S A FEW LISTING OF AID RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE TRUSTWORTHY:
-RED CROSS

-GLOBAL GIVING
-SAVE THE CHILDREN FOUNDATION

-SHELTER BOX

===========================
"There is a saying in Tibetan, 'Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.'
No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that's our real disaster."
— Dalai Lama XIV

"Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work."
-Mother Teresa

Loving This Song Right now....

"To Make You Feel My Love" I actually heard it the first time from watching "When in Rome" with Kristen Bell & Josh Duhamel... the movie was OK enough but this song captured me in an instant... Adele's voice is soooo raw and sooo special... every note hits you....
Both Versions.... Such an EMOTIONAL song...
Adele's Version: Was re watching "When In Rome" again tonite, as I work around the house, and was reminded of the song again.... so I searched it on You Tube and also found Kris Allen's version.... never seen of heard of this version before so I was pleasantly surprised... his take had a bit of a Country Flavour to it - but nonetheless, Emotional and worked it's magic on me, too...
Kris Allen's Version

Henry Cavill is Superman!!!

First Ryan Reynolds is Green Lantern, then Chris Evans as Captain America, now comes news from The Tudors Site on Facebook that Henry Cavill, Brandon on The Tudors, will be donning the blue suit and red cape as SUPERMAN!!! Just read this today really!!! Just Too Cool, as he is my FAVE in The Tudors actually... I mean Jonathan who plays Henry is cool and hunky, too - but what a personality... but that's another story... Anyway, a cover story on Entertainment Weekly plus the INTERNET all abuzz about this casting coup... He follows the the great George Reeves, Christopher Reeve & the last one, Brandon Routh...

From what I hear he actually beat out a couple of people I really like, as well, for the role -- Matthew Goode (who's donned Superhero Tight suit in WATCHMEN, for the same director who will be lensing this installment of Superman); and Ian Somerhalder, who is HOT Damon of The Vampire Diaries. Either one of them would have sufficed for my TASTE =, too... but i think, Henry, will fill the suit much better... and if you have seen him in The Tudors, you would agree that he could bring much more depth to the role... So here's to the New Superman!!!

Happy 1st of March All!!!

Another new month, another 1st day almost over with.... today was such a busy day with work and such, i did not have much time to do anything... not even to go around and look for something to capture for my 365 Project's day entry... heck, I even forgotten about it for most of the day... not till I was already frustrated from the day's work, and took a little walk just to get my mind off things for a bit, that I remembered... and am sure glad I did, go for a walk that is... seeing the sights of this Blossom tree just put me in a better mood....
And then a stopover Jewel's place to sit for her for a couple of hours, as Wu Papa had to see a doctor, was just what was needed.... Jewel turns 5 months in a few days... and she is just getting bigger and wiser.... She gets moody and boy, does show her feelings - be is Happy or Sad or Mad.... she does not Hold back... hahahahahaha.... But for the most part, she is a Happy Kid... with a bit of mischief in her eyes...as you can see in this shot I took this afternoon...All in all, though frustrating work day, it was a nice day....