Thank You!!

A year older and a day.,.  So far so good..  

Still joyous for all the Wonderful Greetings and Wishes received...  And am still receiving...

Thank You All so very much!!!

My Day 2013

Well, not much can be said about this year's BDay - it was pretty uneventful with touches of frustrations here and there..  Still, it was a day full of reflecting and being Thankful for surviving another year... 

The day started on a sour note - waking up to a stressful note on FB...  Something that could have been resolved quite easily but ended up with an hour's worth of back and forth... Having to defend myself for things I should not have to..  In the end, i took the high ground to put it to rest..  Just cut my losses and went on..

By the time i finished with this, it was just enough   time to get ready and make my way   to church...  During this Sunday's service, i was a bit put off by something the  Priest said about Karma...  His stance on it totally put me off...  I mean, I have always felt that religions are to be taken for what is good in it and what applies to one, the rest can just be ignored...  But his views on Karma, i just could not shake off.. Almost to a point that I wanted to raise my hand for discussion..  And/or just walk away...  I come from a view of being respectful to all religions..  To embrace CO EXISTENCE amongst all nations and religions but it was obvious this Priest was not...  Anyway, o sat through the whole service with every intention of writing to the Parish later on...

Then, as with most birthdays, I wanted yo do something meaningful in a way of giving back...  And one of the easiest and best I could think of is donate blood...  Went to the local Red Cross, much to my sadness, Blood Donations are no longer accepted from foreign nationals...  I never knee that hiving could have so much red tape around it..  So I walked away, a bit sad...

All of that sadness and frustrations was alleviated by treating myself to a showing of, Now You See Me - a really slick movie that is both trippy, mind boggling and absolutely satisfying!!!

Wanted to top it off by "Having It My Way" at Burger King on Nanjing East Rd.. On the way back home.. Sadly, this particular BK had closed...  Instead I chose to eat at KFC..  Which was not a bad alternate as I git to try their Spicy Chicken Wrap and the oh so yummy, Mango Tart...

Now  capping off my nite, sitting by Dajia Riverside Park...  Admiring the night light.. Watching all the bikers and runners... enjoying the breeze..  And of course, writing this entry - best place to do so, if you ask me...  

So even with the frustrations and disappointments here and there..  Things not going as I would have wanted them to - am still Grateful..  Grateful for making it through another year.,.  Grateful for the highs and even the lows  as they thought me something about life and myself...  

The Day - INSTAGRAM STYLE!!!

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Most of all, Grateful for my family, friends and love ones...  The dearly departed and the ones who have come in and out of my life...  For I believe that each and everyone has come into my life,for one   reason or another, imparting wisdom, beautiful memories,  & love... and even Grateful  for those who have hurt me - as I know that from them I acquired more strength ...  Strength to face more trials, more high and lows, and more of whatever else life has in store for me... 

Here's to another year of living life as best I could and facing all with a SMILE on my Face - Smiles to Share with the World...  

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Thought that was the end of my day but I got one more surprise at the end of the night...  Juju with her Papi were waiting for me at home with a SPECIAL BDAY cake....  Juju, with the help of Papi sang me the "Happy you" song as she calls it... help me blow out the candles - am either 12 or 21...  either way it is fine by me...- and truly put a smile on my face... nice way to end my special day....  sadly, Mami was still at work - catching up from work demands especially after being in JAPAN for a week....  but am thankful as I know she was behind this lovely gesture....  :)

Mom: 1st year Death Anniversary

"When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure."

Hmmmmmm...

I swear, it's an Olympic Sport!!!

Happy Hump Day All!!!

Dynamic Duo

Nope..  Not Batman and Robin but one of Summer's Blockbuster Movie Tandem - Captain Kirk and Mr Spock of Star Trek!

They really do not need much of an introduction as by now, most everyone on the planet Earth who has access to TV, Movies and/or Magazines have seen and heard of them...  And most who have are Fans already...  Myself Included!  And they make quite a nice BROMANCE duo, too... never one to shy away from professing and displaying affection for each other....

So they are this week's Hump Day Hotties!!!

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Thank God that Lindsay Lohan movie, Just My Luck, did not ruin his career from the get go.. Chris Pine has been steadily building up quite a resume.... we already know he can do action, be dashing and funny....   but the BOY CAN REALLY ACT!!!  Just see "People Like Us'...

Chris Pine in the latest issue of OUT Magazine.

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Zachary Quinto, of course I first found in HEROES... his SKYLAR is soooooo juicily evil - one cannot help but root for him - though his deeds were all bad.... then he came out and he was even more attractive to many - Straights and Gays Alike!   Then in American Horror Story Season 1, not shying away from playing Gay - he was both campy and wickedly delicious....

(ANYTIME SPOCK, ANYTIME!!!)

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NOTE: This post was actually for LAST WEEK's HUMP DAY - right after I saw STAR TREK - somehow I got sidetracked - staring at all the photos I was GOOGLING no doubt, I completely forgot to POST... LOL!!!

UniQlo X Be@rbricks

Another heavenly collaboration in my book!!!  It was just a matter of time for this collaboration, I say...  makes sense...  both popular household n global brands...  both Japanese...  and here they are... Now if I can just get my hands on them...

Shanghai UniQlo were the first to offer them ...  word is that Hong Kong will get them the 20th of this month with Bearbricks to boot!!!  Then Malaysia the month after...  waaaah, what about Taiwan???

Note: Photos are not mine.  Copied from various postings online...

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Just found this posted - an actual flyer of the Premium Program UniQlo Hong Kong is doing... not just two but 9, yes 9 little BBs to collect!!!

Mother's Day 2013

Well, I know it is the day after...  I did the ritual:  thought of my Mom a lot, prayed in Church, and tried to smile through it all..  It, being the fact that it is the first Mother's Day since her passing...

 

Having left my Mom's side at a young age to live with my Dad in the US, I have spent many a Mother's Day without her... not to mention, living apart for so many years - me in the US and now in Taiwan - while is in the Philippines with her 2nd family...  so, not having her around really is nothing new...  I should have been used to it....

 

Still, this time it was different...  I ended up feeling such emotions as longing and wishing...  Longing for my Mom...  and the opportunities to see her now and again....  Longing to see her smiling face when I come through the door to wish her a Happy Mother's Day - with or without flowers in tow...  she always have the same smile - happy and full of life.... and Wishing I could just pick up the phone and call her on this very day, even if I could not make it to see her.... 

 

But that is all quite impossible now... but I do know in my heart that she knows how am feeling... how she is missed and loved... and will be forever more....    and in some ways, I do know that she is looking after me....  still dream of her now and again....  having conversations with her....  though I do not see her face in my dreams - I do know it is her am talking with... sharing some times with....  and for this, am Happy!

Above Photo:  Possibly the only photo of me with her, when I was a little boy, in existence.... the Baby girl is my half sister...  not sure who the teenager girl is though....

 

Happy Mother's Day, Mom... 

Simply, I Love and Miss You!!!

Star Trek: Into Darkness

Amazing Visuals. Awesome Special Effects. Adrenaline Pumping Action. Hot Villain.  Super Showcase for Captain Kirk n Spock - BroMance Included.  Everyone in Top Form!  What else could anyone want for in a Star Trek film?  Aaaaah yes, there is one thing....,,,,.   MORE!!!!  Get the third one going already Mr Abrams!!!

The Fantastic Cast!

No complains for me about the casting and am quite Happy everyone returned...  my only complain would be in that - with this large of a cast on a two hour film, not everyone will get enough to do....  and though the movie tried - it would have been IMPOSSIBLE.... 

The minute I read that Benedict Cumberbatch (Sherlock Holmes of BBC's Sherlock) was on board to be a baddie - I knew I was in for a juicy treat....  and he did not disappoint...  such a commanding presence and talented actor....  almost stole the whole movie right under Chris Pine's and Zachary Quinto's noses.... He made one Hell of A Khan!!!   :)

The BROMANCE between Captain Kirk and Mr Spock reaches a new level of deepness when lives hang in the balance... handles quite well, sticking well into characters... Both Zachary and Chris handled all the emotional scenes well... They will put tears in your eyes - for sure!!!

American Horror Story.2

Once Again am blown away by this series....  Watched the whole 2nd Season in two sittings...

The first season scared the crap out of me...  Took me by surprise actually as I had nit seen anything like it on TV..  Especially nothing I expected from the creators  and producers of GLEE...  I was hooked from the very 1st episode...  And the whole season did not disappoint, except when it ended it's run...

Loooong wait for the 2nd one for me...  But am glad I waited till I could get my hands on a DVD copy with the complete season in it already...  I took my time to watch it...  I wanted a time where I can really sit through the episodes one after another.,,  believe me that was hard...  I mean the anticipation of seeing where the producers and writers took the show for it's sophomore run...   Hearing friends in the US talk about how great it has been...  Seeing some of the finest actors around right now on TV , headed by Jessica Lange...  Plus other returnees: Zachary Quinto, Lilly Rabe, Sarah Paulson & Evans Peters...  Thrown in the talented newcomers to the show, Jim Cromwell, Chloe Sveginy, Clea Duvall and Joseph Fiennes...  Then a dash of surprise returnees: Dylan McDermott & Frances Conroy...  I was in for a really surprising, suspenseful, topsy turvy, 2 day marathon of Season 2...  Oh of course, worth mentioning Adam Levine in a few episodes - Heaven!!!  

 Am so glad i did not read any reviews or fanfare for Season 2...  Everything really came as a Shock... A Surprise...  Another season worth savouring!!!

The actors are soooo great, it is a given already with the uber talented Jessica Lange..  She was robbed of an Emmy btw...  But the others really held up their  own...  They were all surprisingly  and satisfyingly good!!!  I was hesitant at first, how am I going to forget them in their roles from last season - but not only did I not remember, i was juiced up and totally could not wait, episode per episode, to see what their characters were up to...  Truly some of the finest actors on TV at the moment...  I say they all should have been nominated for Emmys...  Even if they do not get to take home the statuettes, at least be rewarded with nods...

So I hear Kathy Bates is joining the 3rd Season cast...  I can only imagine the Juicy Duels she will have with Miss Lange..  Both of them Oscar Caliber actresses!!!

Double The Hotness

Did not want to let this Hump Day go by totally unwarranted... 

Happy Hump Day All!

365 SMILES Project

Been amassing FAVE Smiley photos from here and there.. Always catches the eyes...  

For More of my SMILEY PICS - PLS CLICK HERE:

Just Smile - 365 Smiles Project

Vanness Wu Live

Happen upon the Taipei Metro Street Dance Competition yesterday... Was meant to play with Juju outdoors but the sudden downpour caused us to ho underground...

What luck as the Press Conference was just starting... And Vanness Wu of the F4 fame was the event's spokesperson... Besides the obligatory photo shoot with the organizers and the events' sponsors, he wowed us all with a couple of numbers... Can't say am a fan of him or his singing, but can this boy dance! I actually feel he is one if the best around but he dies not get enough materials to showcase his strengths.... Not forgetting to mention, he is not bad to look at.. Not bad at all....

This is the 2nd time I have seen him perform live and i have to admit, am thrilled watching him dance.....