chillin' @ chili's

Had a LOVELY fun time at my Nov 1st lunch with Juliana @ Chili's, in the Warner Viewshow area - a themed resto from the Southwest of the good ol' USA... it did not disappoint - it was as TASTY as I was already imagining/dreaming/salivating over everything tht is to be, since the weekend prior to the lunch date.... I SWEAR! (NOTE: now that Juliana is back being a full time working gal - scheduling a lunch get-together becomes tricky once more... but we managed somehow - hehehehehe )
We did not overdo the ordering - as we know the servings are quite big.... we shared a Nachos Platter... A Bacon Cheeseburger.... Bottomless Ice Teas... and the creme de la creme: a Chocolate Marvel for dessert.... this dessert was HEAVENLY - chocolate cake, with creamy chocolate fudge filling inside and topped off with vanilla ice cream covered with hardened chocolate shell.... YUMMY!!! TASTES of the SOUTHWEST, INDEED!!!We were accompanied by three of my Bearbircks - of course!!! Just to add some fun to the day - especially when taking photos.... plus, it gives others something fun to see and talk about, too.... LOL... also, had the pleasure of being served by Jeff, a nice young boy from my Gym.... and the other added pleasant surprise is my Halloween Gift from Juliana - a commemorative, limited edition, 7-11 OPEN chan iCASH card

COMPLETE PHOTOS HERE

Happy 1st Of November Everyone....

Monday Morning.... 1st of November... sun is shining.... am meeting Juliana for lunch at Chilis (cancelled from last week)... and looking forward to lunch with Sue on Wednesday... a few more days before the Opening of the Taipei Flora Expo 2010...
so what else can I say... what else can I ask for....

The Flora Expo Entrance @ Dajia River, where I run regularly... taken last nite... the set up is getting there....

and to top is all off, Jewel is almost a month old & very healthy... and am loving this shot of her with KIKI (named by yours truly!), the little froggie that I picked up at IKEA the other day....

More New Jewel Photos Here

Have a Great Week and a Fabulous November, Everyone....

Taipei Pride - FINALLY!!!

A little over 10 Years of living in Taiwan and I FINALLY got to see / attend the Annual Taiwan Pride Parade.... LOL.... Not because I never wanted to before... more like, I was never, ever around during the other times... either out of town or out of the country.... hard to also plan on this as it happens always in Autumn / Winter time... and am soooo used to San Francisco's annual summer time gay pride parades... where one can really dressed down and show lots of skins.... but that's another time, another story...

Anyway, so we braved the rain and coldness (bundled up a lot) to head down the Parade Route.... an hour's bus ride away.... it was TRULY WORTH IT for me, quite a lot of fun seeing so many beautiful people - just Happy and Proud to show off their TRUE COLORS.... and such beautiful colors they are, that of the Rainbow Flag.... all these peeps braving the rain and coldness - to show their Pride Colors...Because of the weather, i truly did not expect people to show lots of skins... but really, enough people did.... all sizes and shapes.... letting it all hang out.... almost makes one strip down and join in on the fun and the dancing about on the streets.... Braver and Bolder Peeps, I say!!!The whole contingencies are pretty International, too.... lots of EX PATS participating with their friends and better halves.... some great costumes.... a few really phenomenal Drags (i believe from the lad of Down Under)... parents, siblings, friends, and Pets - all rallying with their love ones... and Taiwan's Premiere Gay Dance Clubs, Funky (already a Legend) & JUMP (hip & trendy newcomer), were represented by floats - complete with hotties dancing about.... So many beautiful, indeed!!!

Even my fellow revelers were soooo diverse... young and old alike... some came scantily dressed (saw a man from Japan dressed in just his speedo & a rain jacket alone... and some came overly dressed, but just right for the current weather conditions (like me!)... No matter, a Fun Time was had by all of us spectators, that's for sure.....

MORE TAIWAN PRIDE PARADE PHOTOS HERE (CURRENTLY UPLOADING)

GOD JUL @ IKEA

Was supposed to meet up with Juliana today at Chili's for lunch - but due to a few unforeseen stuff she had to deal with at work, we had to cancel till next Monday.... Too bad as my taste buds were already salivating from some Chili Goodies.... Oh well, just a few days more... hehehehehehe....

But since there was a break from the rain today -- not even a drop of drizzle this Friday afternoon -- I decided to take advantage of it and went for a looong walk... here and there... nowhere really in mind... just wanted to get out and enjoy being out for a change instead of being stuck in the cold indoors - like the past few days..... I was also in search of, if any, Halloween windows.... as it is the Halloween Weekend, after all....

Anyway, found myself at IKEA.... always a FUN & FAVE PLACE to visit... anyhow, I wanted to pick up a STUFFED TOY for baby Jewel - and I know they always have a nice selection of really cute and colorful ones on display and available for purchase.... and I did find out.... this really cute Pale Green Frog wearing a top with Angel wings.... HOW CUTE IS THAT!!!And of course, since am already there - i decided to look around and snap a few photos.... they always have fun and colorful displays... and always something new to offer to the mass shoppers.... the added bonus was that their XMas display & merchandise are already up... scattered throughout the shop and of course, a large section devoted to the "God Jul" line before one exits to pay... Great marketing strategy - No one will be able to resist their INEXPENSIVE Xmas Offerings.... for sure!!!! Myself Included... I was sooooo close to breaking down and buying a few things for my XMas Decor this year, especially after seeing the cute little Gnome ornaments and the Straw Reindeers in various sizes and in Natural or Red colors.... just too cute.... but I held off buying for now -- guess my mind was still more focused on Halloween....

COMPLETE PHOTOS HERE

Another HumDrum Halloween

The start of the weekend is upon us once more.... and this Friday marks the beginning of the Halloween Weekend for most people all over the world... well, most... sadly not for me.... I cannot even remember when is the last time I actually celebrated Halloween - much less, dress up..... and NO, Age has nothing to do with it... hahahahahaha More like, really no opportunity to do so.... at least not here in Taipei.... unless I join the little kiddies of various Babysitting Companies to go Trick Or Treating.... or get down with all the EX PATS at various Pubs - drinking the night away.... Most of you that knows me, for sure will agree, i would rather do the former.... the latter is just not my thing... hahahahahaAnyway... I wish you all, those of you getting to Celebrate this FUN Holiday, a FUN and very SAFE Halloween!!! ENJOY!!!!

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RE: PHOTO ABOVE:
"Terrible Twosome" - as I refer to them..... am so COVETING these two little guys to join my collection of Taiwan Premium Toys.... and they are PROVING QUITE HARD TO GET!!! should have know - just take a look - they already look mischievously wicked... in every way.... the Promo to get them will be expiring soon after Halloween is over - and sadly, I still do not have enough to REDEEM another chance to get at least one, much more both of them.... OH WELL.... Yahoo Auctions here I come!!!

Moving On....

“No matter what you've done for yourself or for humanity, if you can't look back on having given love and attention to your own family, what have you really accomplished?”
-Elbert Hubbard

Nice quote, indeed.... but how true is this for each of us.... we all have our own definition of what is expected of us in regards to our own families.... all of these are dictated, for the most part, by our upbringing, our childhood, and the life we lead into our own adulthood...

I find that nowadays, it is soooo easy to "blame our childhood" -- mostly, for the bad turn of events in our lives.... I mean, not many people will actually jump for joy at the happiest times or victories in their adult life, and thank their parents for their upbringing.... most will relegate it to hard work, and their own focus and determination in life, or maybe even their own family.... But in times of despairs and defeats, most blames what was lacking in their upbringing.... neglect of ones parents.... and better yet, NO LOVE or SUPPORT from one's parents.... But "How far & how much must we Blame?" and "How Long Must we go on Blaming?" and worse, "Even remember even sadder moments of one's childhood that never even truly happened!" At times, some of us gets carried away with our sad memories that they end up being blown out of proportions; and things that never happened seemed to materialized in our minds... and they become so real that they get incorporated to ones childhood suffering memories...

Sadly, I see a lot of these with my very own family.... and it is a vicious circle - and one that seems to not have an end looming anytime in the near future... and even sadder, it gets to me more than anything.... I have wrestled with these emotions with so many members of my family - as I cannot quite comprehend the idea of blaming others for how our lives turned.... I mean, I can relate and understand having a really bad childhood upbringing.... feeling no love or support from anyone at all - truly a sad thing, especially when there is no family when you need them the most... so this is something we do not have any control over.... and I feel, we just make do with what we have and try to get by during these years... till you are old enough to MOVE ON and take matters in your own hands... do what you can to help Navigate your DESTINY... put the Future in your own Hands, so to speak.... and when this time comes, then we have no one else to "blame" or "pat in the back" but ourselves in however our lives may turn out.... as it should be....

So, I say, "Let's All Grow Up Already!" and "Stop All The Blaming and Move On..." all these blaming will lead nowhere but more sadness, more hurt, and more riffs between all the family.... we all need to just get passed the Past, no matter how hurtful we may remember them to be (but of course, NEVER FORGET -- big difference there...) and Move On.... as the world turns and evolves, so Must We.... Forget all the hurt.... be at Peace with one's self.... it is the only thing we can do - to make our life, and those of others affected, more Peaceful....

And though I write this now, in hopes that it will be read and taken into consideration... I also know, am aware, that coming to terms with ourselves requires a lot out of each and everyone of us.... and we all have to do so in our own terms.. at our own individual pace.... but we must also realize that every moment that passes by, are moments we lose out on time that can be spent with love ones...

fred perry X amy winehouse

Love her or Hate her, one thing is certain this fall - you will go Ga Ga over Amy Winehouse's designs for Fred Perry.... They have just been unveiled as part of the Fred Perry Women's Fall Collection.... and La Winehouse even graced her and Perry fans alike with a mini gig on Oct. 21st, in London to help Debut the capsule collection... Of Course, she sported one of the many designs.....

This mini collectiondesigned by Amy Winehouse is said to include about 17 pieces of apparel and accessories. The Collaboration is expected to push Fred Perry womenswear to a new space on the fashion stage, one that will definitely, confronts expectations and stretches conventional views of the brand - For Sure!

It is no secret, her love for Fred Perry, as in numerous occasions she has sported the clothing giant's many designs... But she did voice out at one point that for most, she was too small to fit into his clothes, which started at a size 8. She wears a UK size 6, you see (one size bigger than a US 0) -- so to remedy this, she decided to expand her collection line for Fred Perry to include size 6, for skinny girls like her.

I actually do like some of her designs for Fred Perry.... am surprised and amazed.... and again, if you are not a big fan of Amy - just imagine her designs on yourself, or some of the models around and am sure, you too, will love the line....

So now, you can count Miss Winehouse, as one of the Ultra Cool Designers for Fred Perry, too!

Amy Models Some of the Designs

Amy dons one of her designs from the collection during the line's launch party..

more more moore, julianne moore, that is!!!

‎"we all want to look the Best that we can, but you also need to like who you are..."
-Julianne Moore

Could not have said it any better... I quite agree.... and this i find, to be expected, from this classy, talented, humanitarian actress.... one whom I have loved in just about every movie she has been in (Far From Heaven, Boogie Nights, The Hours, A Single Man, etc..) - even if the movies did not live up to her acting prowess (the very recent Chloe, Jurassic Part II, ASSASSINS & that Sci Fi Screwball with David Duchovny - title escapes me now...)....

So this is how I want to start of my new week - with this quote in mind.... to which am in COMPLETE agreeance with... some of today's starlets/celebrities (Paris Hilton, Britney, and of course La Lohan!!!) should take a cue from this talented woman and be the Role Models they should be... and Give Back some of the Blessings they have received - warranted or not...

Was totally AMAZED as well to know that, this 4 time Oscar nominated Actress, is approaching the 50 year old mark -- she looks far younger than that, of course.... just check out the current BVLGARI print ads... Am sure you will all agree that not only is Julianne Moore is beautiful for her age, or any age for that matter - she is indeed one of the Best Actors Around....

Wow, just though about it - I must be getting in touched with the Feminine side of me as am loving cradling Jewel to sleep; IN LOVE with Julianne Moore; enjoying the Chick Lit, "Eat, Pray, Love".... Thank GOD for some XMEN Cartoon DVD action - I can still keep my pants on and roll with the punches.... which is to say that a woman cannot - on both counts... LOL.....

shaking off my cold... and everything else...

I came home from Manila last Monday, not only did it seem like I brought the typhoon with me from manila, but I also came home with a cold in tow.... almost a whole week later and am still having dry coughs, and sniffling - though at least, the body aches have waned.... so am hoping it is only just a matter of time before am fully recovered.....

So I have not been doing much except catching up as much as i can with work.... emails.... and various projects.... dealing with much more family troubles -- which I feel, is really adding to my stress and my blood pressure rising.... -- hence, another reason why it is taking me longer to recover from this cold of mine... I really cannot stand any kind of Dramas, more so, Family Dramas....

So with this cold of mine, I also am trying to limit my contact with baby Jewel.... I mean, we go see here everyday... cook and eat at their home but am always wearing a face mask and I try not to touch her as much.... am in constant fear of infecting her and passing on my cold to her..... She has gotten a bit bigger, of course... and much like any babies I have been around with - she has her days or non-stop crying.. and days of quietness.... one thing is for sure, she sure loves the feeling of being held all the time.... no matter what position, it seems, as long as she is held - she sleeps in deep slumber....

Wanted to end the week by attending mass... listening to church music.... and the peace and quiet that comes with praying.... and lighting up candles for my Love Ones.... all of these are stress relievers for me, too.... and though am not soooo Religious, these aspects of the church i do enjoy and look forward to....
The only added bonus for the week came while I was walking after church to get back home... I came across a couple of the Pavilions that are getting their finishing looks for the Grand Opening of the 20101 Taipei International FLora Exhibition.... opening in 13 DAYS!!! So many people were hard at work doing all their best to finish up the different exhibitions.... this time around I got to see parts of the Australian, Thailand & Korean areas... all from the outside, looking in, mind you.... it will be an exciting time here in Taipei, am sure when the Expo finally opens.... it will run through the middle of April 2011 - so plenty of time to book your flights to come and see the Floral Wonders.....

British Invasion??? -- Bring It On!!!

If this is what they meant about the British Invasion - then Be It!!!

This shot taken during my recent Manila Trip.... Fred Perry @ The Atrium in MegaMall just finished doing their new window display.... and it works for me.... Fun & Stylish, as always.... no wonder they always stay as one of my all time FAVES!!!

NOTE: There are three COOL Fred Perry locations in Manila - each one STAFFED with some of the BEST and FRIENDLIEST people you will ever meet... and not all shops carries the same items so it is ALWAYS worth it to check out all three locations:

-The Laurel at Greenbelt 5, Makati City

-Authentic Shop at Mega Atrium

-Authentic Shop at Rockwell

Bench Goes Ala La Chapelle and then some....

Could not help but notice (and admire & love) Bench's brand new, strikingly colorful, ad campaign featuring Gerald Anderson & Kim Chui.... all the shots are Great and reminiscent of David La Chapelle's work.... as you know he is one of my FAVE artists/photographer.......and as an added BONUS... Bench's "IT BOY" Jake Cuenca is back in more tittilating shots - for a brand new line of Cologne...
You Did Me Proud Bench!!!

SMILE (*__*)

This trip I was able to find Complete 1st Season of GLEE on DVD - everyone's Fave TV Show of the moment.... so needless to say, I have been playing it over and over.... even to just have it in the background as I work is such a stress reliever... truly makes me wanna sing and dance with the rest of the cast... the show, the stars, the songs... they all put a SMILE on my face each and every number.... one gets to hear a GREAT MIX of so many songs one grew up plus what is Popular and being overplayed now... (^_*) really something for everyone... not just Broadway Tunes and POP songs, but also Rap, Rock, Funk, etc.....

Could not help but single out this Charlie Chaplin tune - simple and breathtaking... it simple verses can still get to you - and the casts' delivery is a fresh & beautiful take on this old time classic...