How Could I Have MIssed Out on This???

Juliana gave me this really cute McDonald's Premium Vinyl Toys, last Monday nite.... Have not been to McDonald's lately so I did not know anything about it..... It is an articulated Bear dressed up like Ronald McDonald.... total cuteness!!! Issued to benefit the Ronald McDonald House, an org established to help kids all over the world.

Have come to learn since that there are 4 figures in this collection... and they are all cute.... so I rushed over to McDonald's in hopes of getting the other three.... 3 McDonald's later and still ZERO.... it seems they are all SOLD OUT - SOLD OUT FAST!!! BOO HOO!!!!

And now, it just dawned on me that when I had lunch with Sue at Swensen's recently - the woman I saw taking photos of her little bear in B&W stripes, was playing with one of the figures.... waaaah, i knew I should have approached her and asked when I wanted to....

Not sure where else these cuties are available - but if any of you out there knows - pls HOOK ME UP!!!!

"So In Love"

Dec 1st, 2010 - today marks World AIDS Day and so I thought it would be fitting to post this fave KD Lang song of mine: "So In Love"... of course, it is really a Cole Porter song - the songwriter who wrote this beautiful haunting song for the musical. "Kiss Me Kate"... and this song was also used for the movie on the life of Cole Porter, himself: "De Lovely" - which has a great soundtrack and a wonderful cast btw - so try and see it if you can....

Anyway, this song was recorded by KD Lang for the "Red, Hot & Blue" Compilation Album - with various artists doing Cole Porter Songs... every single song done and recorded beautifully... but i remember being taken by this song the most, from the very first time I played the CD... and once I saw this video, I was even more blown away, affected, touched, haunted...

Do take a listen and watch, in my opinion, it is one of those great timeless songs that gets a modern treatment via a great voice (so much feelings in the delivery) and a really touching music video to boot...

Thanksgiving Week in Photos!!!

well... you are not going to see any Turkey here as I did not get to have any -- for the umpteenth year in a row.... I cannot even remember the last time I really got to celebrate Thanksgiving with Turkey and all the trimmings... the closest I got to it was watching Julia Roberts and company celebrate Thanksgiving in a Heartwarming scene from the movie: "Eat, Pray, Love"... anyway, the week sure was busy enough... and it is not letting up yet..... so am sharing a few photos here....

Since coming back from Manila last Tuesday - it has been NON-STOP digging, unboxing and cleaning up a bunch of dollies for an upcoming project, taking place early in DEC.... those of you who know me well, knows that with the extent of my collection, this chore is HELL.... I have to open up boxes after boxes, trying to find just the right ones for the project... so day after day, it was this chore and communicating with the powers that be - who am working with... the last few nites, I have even stayed up till the wee hours of the morning, just to get more done... with only Rihanna's new, ultra cool CD, "Rebelle Fleur", keeping me awake and going.... it is tiring and frustrating, that's for sure... but it also has been GREAT... like seeing OLD FRIENDS... each one bring back good memories and FUZZY WARM FEELINGS... So my days are spent with nothing but this chore - am almost done but not quite.... the only break I get is when I go to Jewel's home for meals... just to get out... and maybe a run or the gym at nite... just to stay somewhat fit... plus it does take my mind off some other pressing matters - family/love ones-wise...

"Hey Jewel - aren't you supposed to be here to help? hmmmmmm...."

Another highlight for the week is the Post Thanksgiving lunch I had with Sue (Juliana was going to meet us but had a work engagement to attend to, sadly...) in honour of Thanksgiving, I chose Swensen's... yes, all the way from San Francisco... just to geta bit of that Nostalgic Homey feel for the holiday... yeah, that and the chocolate covevered, creamy Ice Cream desserts... hahahahahaha - COMPLETE PHOTOS HERE

and today, I did manage to get to Church... and treat myself to some, down home Pinoy lunch... a couple of my FAVE Ulams (dishes): Tocino & Pinakbet...

so that is about it for this week... hope you are all had a nice Thaksgiving Holiday Weekend... now back to work for me again.... tonite will be another all niter.... :((

...of all the "Crothchery"!

As reported yesterday in the Taiwan Times: "Singapore slams its national water polo team for wearing swim trunks that "the powers that be" deemed as “inappropriate”." What's the Big Deal anyway?

"The trunks, which were designed by members of the men’s team currently competing in the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, show the flag’s white crescent moon jutting up from the groin area with five stars to the side on a red background." It is said to be causing a lot of "red faces" back home... Thank God for the Asian Games rules that stipulates: "a team's uniform cannot be changed once the tournament has begun -- so the government had no choice but to let the Water Polo team play - they finished 5th, btw....

I for one, do not see the big deal.... I actually think it is a beautiful design that shows off the country's flag really well.... I would not even mind having one for my collection of speedos.... hahahahahaha

murakami @ this year's Macys' Parade!!!

Renowned artist & LV frequent collaborator, Takashi Murakami, made a bold appearance at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade both in person and with one of his iconic characters. KAWS was on hand to capture the artist who appeared on the cover of THE NEW ORDER with him for issue 2.　I can only WISH to have been there to see him and his giant balloons in person.... now that would have been something else to be Thankful for!!!

HOTNESS - something else to be THANKFUL for....

HUNKY Matthew Morrison of GLEE.... out of his shirt and cardigan.... just what we need on this COLD WINTER DAYS, right??? and btw, is it just me or do you also think he can totally play Justin Timberlake's brother??? They can do a MUSICAL together....or Justin should just do a GUEST spot on GLEE....

...and here's Justin Timberlake.....

Happy Thanksgiving All!!!

a contact on 365project posted this and I thought it needs sharing:

"people who study positive psychology (yes, there is such a thing) have provided some pretty solid research indicating that people who practice expressing gratitude on a regular basis are far more likely to be happy and healthy than those who don't."

Makes sense to me, really, but SADLY, it is something that is often forgotten. We are reminded of course, over Holidays such as Thanksgiving and soon to come, XMas.... but we need not wait for these moments -- we ought to always give Thanks where it's due... So here, I give mine:

Thank You All for the Love, the Friendships, the Support, and making my days worth living... for continually inspiring me to strive harder, no matter how, at times, things really seem hopeless...

Boy, Oh Boy!!!

Series 21 of my favorite Bearbricks have been announced - Photo and all... and I can see am in for a lot of trouble once more.... besides the obvious: Flag, Batman, Barbie, Tron, there are also too many other cuties to ponder/pine over once more - and add to my collection..... haiiis it will be another Bearbrick XMas - for sure!!!!

Mark Bautista's New CD - Coming Soon!

am soooo vey much looking forward to this - Mark Bautista's latest CD/Album: "Nagmamahal"

yep yep, the OPM singer/actor/hunk, who is truly a FAVE of mine has a new CD coming out next week.... and I cannot wait to get it and of course, overplay it!!!!

sometimes it feels like...

...am barely keeping my head above the water....

fly*fly*fly

Time for that monthly flight once more.... I am used to it, YES... but still gripe over the 1 hour bus ride to the International airport.... which took even longer this morning since there was some rainy day traffic... then a couple of hours wait at the airport to check in, pass through immigration, and board.... not even forgetting to mention the 20 minutes bus ride to the bus terminal that will take me to the airport, and of course the extra hour in the morning to wake up, have some java, and get ready.... then I think of what experience I will have with the Philippine Airline Flight, this time.... LOL!!! All these for a flight that takes less than a couple of hours....Still, I find the whole thing OK now... even enjoy the quiet times on the bus and on the flight.... get myself ready and prepped up for what's awaiting me in Manila.... hahahahahaha and when am LUCKY, I even get to use this FREE NET... plus get to see what's new at the airport.... always an interesting exhibit going on.... and just looking at all the International magazines is an added BONUS....
Anyway, we are being called to go to our flight terminal now.... so must end here and finish up later, once in Manila.... Happy Monday All!!!

Music To My Ears...

Winding down my Sunday nite.... finished, pretty much all I needed to do... will go to bed soon as I have to wake up early tomorrow and still get ready for my flight... Just had to check emails... and as always, before turning in for the nite, check my 365 Project...

So very happy I did as I received such a nice comment/note - from one of my contacts...

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Rudi, you always surprise us with these wonderful finds! You have a great eye and it inspires me to be more aware of what's happening around me, thank you! :) -Yoori
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...and for her to comment this on a photo (posted on November 13th) that I am actually quite HAPPY and PROUD of taking and finding - but sadly, did not get a lot of views - was just a wonderful feeling to end my nite... now I have a biiig smile on my face....