so long 2008, hello 2009...

Here's Wishing for more Greatness, Happiness, Prosperity, Love and Great Health to Us All!!!

XMAS Is For Love Ones!!!

For XMas day, the 25th, I got to see my Mom again this year... Went to see her in Rizal with Nanay, Ace, Nicole and this year, David... for the first time my half brother, Roummie , was there too -- back from working in Saudi... and my brother in the US Air Force called and spent a long time talking with my MOM -- which made her sooo happy.... which in turn, made me happy... after all - isn't XMAS for bringing joys to the people we love....

Cannot wait to ring in the NY... They will be coming to the city on the 31st to welcome it with all of us....

a Family Mart we will go...

The collecting frenzy continues....If your reside in Taiwan, head on to your local Family Mart, as they have started their PREMIUM Program once again.... this program runs through Chinese New Year... this is one I wait for each year, as it is always with a Chinese Theme.... This year Chinese New Year Premium program consists of Assorted Animals, considered Lucky by the Chinese -- right now there are 6 different styles but am told an additional two will be introduced come January... Just right up my alley... They all carry a Golden Coin so they all signify FORTUNE....
As always, those of you who does not collect them and frequents family Mart -- Pls Do Send Me Your Stickers.... Much Appreciated... Thanks In Advance!!!

Friday Nite Funnies

Last nite was spent helping Shaun cover up his white hair, while David makes us LASAGNA for dinner -- still in preparations for the wedding...

I have not done this in quite some time now.... not even with my own hair.. so it was quite funny... took me back to my High School / College days when friends and I would get together once a month and do an all niter session of coloring hair each other's hair...

Okay, so that's another thing to check off my list, of things I can do to help with the wedding...

Monster Gear : Vinyl Toys Heaven

Tracked down where to pick up one of the things on my wish list, MyBu Collection led me to this spanking, brand new Vinyl Heaven shop in Taipei, Monster Gear!!!

Had to spend a couple of hours in the shop chatting with the staff, Rita & Eva - very friendly and accomodating, plus perusing through all the goodies... tokidoki, molly, scavengers, be@rbricks, dragon figures, brothers' free figures, etc.. -- and there is sooo much more of them to see... I know I will be needing to get back soon just to really take it all in....

The shop showcases Molly, another creatiions by the team dehind Hong Kong's Brother's Free... She is just aout 2 ywears old but already gaining q big following here in Taiwan... Molly arts, shirts and figures are scattered throughout the shop... I held off though, as I know if I buy one of her -- I will be in BIIIG TROUBLE... it will be a start of another collection....

Truly my kind of shop...
see more of my photos here: Monster Gear
HAPPY FAN GOING HOME WITH MONSTER GEAR GOODIES!!!

cOoKiEs - Wedding Preps Continues...

Wednesday the 17th was spent shopping for - I LOVE THIS PART - COOKIES!!!

Over the years living in Taiwan, I would sometimes be surprised with cookies delivered in some of the fanciest packaging ever... all sorts of shapes, colors, designs, and material... most of the time, the packaging are a whole lot better than the cookies in them... I have come to know that this is a custom for the Chinese that the bride to be's closest friends will be given these Western Style cookies... and this past Wednesday, I had the pleasure accompanying Lyn and Shaun in search of the perfect ones to give away to Lyn's closest friends...

We headed on to Wen Li St in the Shilin District of Taipei - a long street that is really cookie heaven... Shop after shop devoted to catering to the bride to be's cookie needs... and I have come to realized, it is quite a big industry this whole thing is...

I so enjoyed all the choices... was sooo hard to really choose as I was excited by sooo many of them... Louis Vuitton looking bags.... apple shaped containers.... antique style Chinese carrying case... etc.... if I could have it my way, I would have opted for an assortment of choices -- a different one for each different friend... but of course, as we all know far too well, in business quantity dictates the purchase price... and I suppose, it is BEST that everyone gets the same one so as there is no jealousy whatsoever...

So we are now down to two styles to choose from, now it is up to the final pricing from a couple of places to make the final decision... I cannot wait to see as for sure, I will be getting one... LOLs!!!

Fell in love with this cookie jar, Limited Release to welcome the upcoming Year of the Ox! Another MUST HAVE!!! More Photos Here: COOKIES!

Holiday Wishes To You All!!!

Got this from a friend -- and thought it GREAT & FITTING -- So I decided to PASS ON TO YOU ALL.

As we get closer and closer to XMas, life becomes more hectic and stressful even, running around making sure the last gift on the list is bought, all presents wrapped, XMas cards sent, RSVP to parties filled out and returned, etc... So take a deep breath and READ ON -- we all could use some ORDINARY MIRACLES!!!!
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I Wish You All a Day of Ordinary Miracles

A fresh pot of coffee you didn't have to make yourself.
An unexpected phone call from an old friend.
An unexpected visit from a friend, new or old.
Green stoplights on your way to work or shop.
The fastest line at the grocery store.
A good sing along song on the radio.
Your keys right where you look.
I wish You a day of Peace, Happiness and Joy.
Happy Holidays 2008!!!

love,
Rudi

chibi maruko chan @ McDonalds, Taiwan

During Xiao Pang's last visit in Taipei, they happen to take him to McDonald's for dinner - and he bought one of the PREMIUM Toys McDonald's, Taiwan is offering right now for the Holidays -- Chibi Maruko-Chan, from a popular Japanese Animated Series. I got to see it when we joined them for a nite out and of course, liked it a whole lot right away...

The day after, during a coffee get together with Juliana on the 9th, she had McDonald's for lunch so i was able to get the Premiums for myself... there are 6 different offerings in the set... alas, as always, am missing one to complete the set....
Not sure how long the campaign is gonna go on for - I am determined to complete this set before XMas!!!

Wedding Gown Blues, Part II...

Mirror, Mirror on the wall.. which 2 wedding dresses and 5 gowns are the Fairest of the all??? Pictured are some of the BEST Choices.... Lyn in Various Choices...

Wedding Gown Blues

The morning was spent shopping for "this and that" - things needed for the wedding... a quickie lunch @ MOS Burger, and then off to pick out gowns for Lyn...I must say, as exciting as it is to go through countless of gowns - both wedding and evening gowns - to pick the right ones (we needed 2 White Wedding Gowns and 5 Evening Gowns), it is just as tiring and frustrating...
The Wu Siblings shop for NEIKU (undies)!!

A tired Bride to be, a frustrated Groom to be, and Director brother.

Of course, it was a lot of fun for David, Liya and I - as we just need to pull gowns after gowns for Lyn to try on... but for Lyn and Shaun - it must have been really trying as they just do not have that much time to spare... Good thing we were actually all in agreement for the most part... so 4 hours later and numerous gown changes we chose what Lyn will be wearing for the pre wedding photoshoot (very romantic clooks), and for the actual wedding (sexy and glitz galore!)...

Liya & I even found time to goof around in between gowns.

As a THANK YOU and a SURPRISE for us helping through the day -- Shaun took us all to see the MAYDAY's concert -- one of Taiwan's Premier College Bands... a nice way to end a very tiring day...

-SHOPPING PHOTO ALBUM

Have Yourself A Merry Little XMas

11 more days till XMas!!! I finally got my XMas CDs out... listening to it while I process photos of yesterday's Wedding gown hunting trip.... so of course, the first thing I played is my FAVE out of all the XMas songs - for many years now, this has been my ultra FAVE: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas by Judy Garland.


This VIDEO is actually from the movie, Meet Me in St. Louis…. in my opinion, simply the BEST version of this song…. and am not just saying it because I "happen to know Dorothy" - so am automatically supposed to like Judy Garland…. Just feel her version is so understated and so direct …. and yet you can still feel the sorrow, hope and sweetness in her voice….

I was introduced to this movie one XMAS year…. just as most of my XMasses in the US, I was alone… my family is all over the world — with their very own families… and my partner at the time, usually goes home for XMAS to be with his family… we welcomed the New Year together instead… so the words to the song kinda hits me more…

of course life has changed for me of late… having moved back to ASIA, albeit in Taiwan… I am now much closer to my family in Manila so I am blessed enough to go home the last few years… but my love for this song never wanes… and the memories of it keeping me company over those bleak XMasses spent in America will always be appreciated….

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Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Written by Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
From now on your troubles will be out of sight, yeah

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Make the Yuletide gay
From now on your troubles will be miles away, oh ooh

Here we are as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore, ah
Faithful friends who are dear to us

Gather near to us, once more, ooh
Through the years we all will be together
If the fates allow
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough, ohh
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now
Oooh…

Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us, once more, ohh
Through the years we all will be together
If the fates allow, oh yeah

But ’til then we’ll have to muddle through, somehow
Oh yeah, oh ooh oh
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now

and so it begins....

Last nite, I accompanied Lyn & Shaun check out a couple of places for the wedding ensembles.... I never knew how time consuming and frustrating something like this is... I thought, you go in, you talk price, agree, and then the fun begins -- you try on the clothes... WRONG!!!

First place we went to, the negotiations went on for over 4 hrs... and still came to no fruition... at least, the 2nd place, armed with what we already know from the previous pone, went smoother and faster.. It helped that Lyn's colleagues used them for their own wedding a couple of years ago... with that accomplished, we go back in this afternoon to start trying on dresses and hopefully pick them out -- a wedding gown plus 3 other wardrobe changes...

Today we will be joined by David and Liya, who is back from England for a couple of months... 4 differing opinions at play -- this should be a fun afternoon... LOLS!!!!

"Love Actually" - A New XMas Tradition

12 more days till XMAS!!!!
Well, most of us are probably watching the classic movies that gets re broadcast year after year during the Holidays: "White XMas", A Christmas Carol", The Sound Of Music", and so on... or Newer XMas Classics: "Home Alone", A Christmas Story", Scrooged", etc...

One movie that has become a tradition for me is "Love Actually"...  The movie follows 8 interrelated couples - all dealing with their own kinds of LOVE -- set during the frenzied month of DEC...  culminating on XMAS DAY... 

It is one of those movies that has everything and are all well told, well paced, and each with its' own HAPPY ENDING -- even when the couples do not really get together in the end... It is both heartwarming  and REAL....  Below are the two STAND OUT story arcs in my opinion... 

The BEST STORY LINE:
This Kiera Knightley one is one of the sweetest pay off in a love story movie...even though the GUY does not get the girl....

The MOST HEARTBREAKING one:
Midlife Crisis at its' most devastating....  knowing that your other half is having an affair....  the look on Emma Thompson's face upon opening up her XMAS gift of a Joni Mitchell CD is so heartbreaking.... 

...The other stories are just as GREAT and TOUCHING... this is truly one of the BEST Holiday movies for the MODERN TIMES.....  and will Forever be Timeless.....

Excitement & Craziness

So most Catholic and Western people I know whose marriage is dampen by a Death in the Family has to CANCEL or MOVE their wedding to a different, later date... but for the Chinese, the Belief is that a couple must be married within 100 days of a family member's death... As Shaun's father very recently passed away, the countdown begins for his wedding with Lyn (David's sister)-- couple this with the belief that The Year of the OX is not a good time for marriages (seems it is considered an unlucky year to get married)-- what usually takes a year in planning will have to be done before the Chinese NY (3rd week of JAN)! Hence, all the craziness and excitement going on in our household at this time....

This will be an AMAZING feat to accomplish as basically it will be three celebrations: one in Nantou (Shaun's familial home); Kaohsiung (Lyn's); & Taipei - where they both now resides and most of their colleagues and friends are....Now factor in the Feng Shuei part of the whole thing - where one needs to consult with the fortune tellers to see which dates in that little time frame, are good for each of the rituals: family engagement, wedding ceremonies/banquet in the three places, etc... and all the running about trying to get everything accomplish and done: wedding gowns, photo shoots, catering, etc... Let's not forget WORKING throughout all these preparations...

I myself, would just run to the nearest CITY HALL and get it over with -- but if anyone can make this HAPPEN, I know THEY CAN!!! They are two of the KINDEST & SMARTEST people I know... and Lyn is one of the most AMAZING women I have ever met -- very Dedicated, Diligent, and most of all, ORGANIZED... if you meet her you will be able to tell right away that she is totally one of those POWER WOMEN who knows how to take charge and be in control - FAIRLY, mind you...

For our part, David & I, are here to lend support... in any way we can... first up for me is to go WEDDING GOWN shopping this weekend... that should be FUN! This is actually my FIRST REAL CHINESE WEDDING to ATTEND - you know am EXCITED!!!!

LOTSA LUCK & LOTSA LUV Shaun & Lyn!!!!

Tickled Pink!

Get ready to Rumble!!!
The Pink Variation of the tokidoki Tiger Series is Finally in the House!!! This little one gave me a bit of a hard time, got me on the run scrounging around for him... I got the other three in Taipei - but this one was SOLD OUT... then I tried to get some friends to pick him up in MANILA but to no avail also... Good Thing the tokidoki shop in Los Angeles still have it - and I am now able to complete the set. Extra THANKS to Mary for helping me get Pinky here....
Just glad he is not too pink... just the right shade of PINK for me....
Soon Pinky gets to join the rest of the TIGER Tribe!!!

A Weekend with Xiao Pang

Over the weekend I had the pleasure of visiting with Xiao Pang again -- Saturday in Nantou, his hometown; and Sunday he came up with his family to Taipei... Alas it was under somber circumstances, as we had to attend his Grandfather's funeral.. His Grandfather is Shaun's father... Since I last saw him, he is a bit taller, tummy a bit bigger, and definitely a whole lot smarter...
We got to take a little drive just to give him a break from all the Funeral goings on... and we were even joined by Wu Papa who also attended the Funeral... Wu Papa, like me, is just a kid at heart and Xiao Pang brings out the kiddies in us!!!!

On the 8th, Xiao Pang and his family came up to Taipei, as his Grandfather's ashes was placed in a Mausoleum in the city. We had dinner and even got to ride the Taipei Eye... and had just a blast screaming our lungs out...

tokidoki XMas Tree - I WANT ONE!!!

Boo Hoo... somebody beat me to a tokidoki themed XMas Tree...
even a HANNUKAH MENORAH to boot!!!!
Look at all these tokidoki goodies doubling as ornaments.... This is TRULY a tokidoki heavenly XMas!!!

Okay, am really not that upset about being beaten to a tokidoki themed XMas tree - as this is done at Royal T in Los Angeles, close by to the tokidoki offices. Royal T is a Cafe, Tea House, and from what I read, "a gallery full of Yoshitomo Nara, Takashi Murakami, Aya Nakano and a host of other equally awe-inspiring artists". YOWZA!!! It sounds like a MUST SEE place....
One can visit the tokidoki tree and Royal-T at:
8910 Washington Blvd
Culver City, CA 90232
(310) 559-6300

Kawaii Ne!!!

Window XMas Shopping (am stressing WINDOW SHOPPING ONLY HERE!)the last few days during what little free time I have, I came across these really cool looking My Melody Vinyl Figures... Cute and Functional as they double as little mirrors, too! They are offered by HANG TEN, for the Holidays, along with a couple of Hello Kitty Coin Banks (in red or gold)... Of course,m I had to break down and get them...

Though I have liked the SANRIO stuff for many years now, I have always opted for the "not so pink" stuff... so these Goth Look works for me.... alas, the 3rd one in Pink is part of the set and one can only buy them as sets....

Anyway, all these Sanrio cuteness reminded me of the photos we took of the "oh-so'cute" Hello Kitty Waiting Lounge at CKS Airports' Terminal 2 - Taoyuan, Taiwan. I have never seen soooo much Hello Kittyness in one place... even more overwhelming than the SANRIO Shop I used to go to on Stockton St, in downtown San Francisco.

So I dug up the photos right away and UPLOADED them on Flickr - Hello Kitty Lounge, CKS.Below: The Actual Waiting Lounge

For We Need A Little XMas!

Since yesterday's post was a bit of a downer.. I thought I would turn it around a bit and post something light and XMassy... First a photo of our Little XMas corner here in Taipei, it's only little as we spend our XMasses in Manila each and every year.... so it is just this tiny gold wired tree, a Princely coin bank, and a couple of early XMAS presents from Juliana already.... ow for the real Xmas Decor:
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Not once - ever since I moved out of my parents' home - did I repeat the same theme for my annual XMas Tree.... it was just something that I did and became somewhat of a TRADITION for me... must be because growing up I kept having to put up the same tree and decorations each year....

Over the years I have done various themes - some turned out nicely (like my ODE to BAXTER -- POLAROIDS of him with my different friends who got to meet him and gold DOGGIE Biscuits) and some were disastrous (like my RECYCLING theme (everyone thought it looked like TRASH!)... i have had them in green, white and even black! Hung them on the wall, upside down from the ceiling, you name it.... oh well, YOU WIN SOME, YOU LOSE SOME... no matter, as I am pretty much happy with whatever I do...

This year, in Manila, am doing GREEN... all because of the Paper Mache' Holy Family I found at Rustan's back in OCT.... so I built on that... actually am still building on that -- as my tree is not quite finished yet... LOLs... so am sharing some photos here....

Last Year's COPPER colored theme:

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

...Not at all in the Spirit of XMas....

Just a little while ago, my housemate Lyn, was telling me about an article she read on today's, paper earlier today... it happened in Tainan, a couple of hours away from Taipei....

It seems an older man was a victim of hit and run which he survived... but was hit badly that he could not get up fast... it seems no one bothered to help this man at all -- but there were bystanders... along came another car and hit him again - this time fatally...

Alas, no punch lines guys... this is a TRUE STORY right from Taiwan's newspaper for the day...

It is a SAD state when you hear about these things... a simple act of kindness or showing concern for a fellow human being could mean saving a life... and yet, so many people do not want to get involved...

Are we so NUMB to what's going on around us?
And is it maybe from all the SADNESS & DEVASTATION we have witnessed in our lives?
How can we expect to get along with our neighbouring countries when we cannot even show concerns for our own countrymen???

No Matter, there are NO EXCUSES to not knowing that it is our GOD GIVEN RIGHT to lend a hand, show care, & compassion for our fellow men - to just REACH OUT and TOUCH somebody's Hand, somebody's Heart...
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Truly not a story one would like to read in keeping with the Xmas Spirits.... makes one think of all the other bad stuff happening in the world, of late, the mindless bombings in MUMBAI, India.... senselessly, so many lives were lost...

Orange You Glad It's Dec....

So I got another early XMAS present... this time from my roomie, Lyn, who just came back from her -- what seems like -- bi-monthly trip to JAPAN... this year - she decided to give everyone Fleece Jackets... so she came home with a suitcase full of Fleece Jackets in varying colors... as she knows that i love colors and am a bit more adventurous when it comes to wearing colors, she opted to give me the brightest one of all - ORANGE!!! Works fine with me as I even have a nice scarf to go a long with it... HAHAHAHAHA....

And it just so happen that, yesterday the 2nd of DEC, I had a get together, catch up, coffee break @ STARBUCKS with Juliana (hey did we not just see each other a lot? Hahahahahaha) -- so I had an excuse to put it all on as weather here is quite cold lately... freezing to be exact, only thing missing is the snow... PERFECT really to wear such a coat....

@ Taipei Starbucks... same XMas Decor as Manila's Starbucks -- but alas, NO PLANNERS/NO STICKERS!!!!

at long last...

....a new COMPUTER!!!! okay, it is not a MAC AIR or Mac Book...but really no matter... it is MINE and I LOVE IT!!!

Actually just an HP ELITE BOOK 2530P laptop... means nothing to me except that, it is FAST and easy for me to use... plus since it is a laptop, i now have the luxury of typing in bed... like now!!!! Still learning the ropes with this one... plus still, have many software to UPLOAD.... he (my computer is manly, of course!) is lite so will travel really, really well... the only drawback for me is that it has a built in WEB CAM - TEMPTATION, get thee away from me... am told that this is Business person's type of laptop -- so I might have to withhold doing YM, cam to cam.... HAHAHAHAHAHA....One of my roomies, SHAUN, who has connections got me this HP for less than HALF the going price.... Boy, working for the leading Taiwan newspaper really has their benefits... they get the BEST DEALS!!! As an added bonus - since it is almost XMAS, it came with this mini XMAS tree that has a USB connection and when plugged in, lites up in all it's XMAS GLORY! FUN!!!
So for now, I will not be having COMPUTER BLUES - I HOPE!!!!

STRABUCKS Planner 2009

Am soooo EXCITED to see that STARBUCKS will have another planner for 2009.... I enjoyed the one for last year and though, this is not as good as the leather bound one from 2008 - some of the graphics inside are really, really nice.... so am working on getting one...

PROMO is already running.... and will run till the 6th of JAN.... you will need 8 stickers from the coffee purchases... and 8 from 3 of the HOLIDAY SPECIAL drinks: Dark Cherry Mocha, Praline Mocha & Toffee Mint Latte = a total of 16 stickers!!! Not too bad as I remembered last year being sooo much more.... Thanks to Juliana's recent trip to Manila, am 4 coffees and 2 special drinks away in completing mine... Imagine, even on our way to the airport to catch a flight back to TAIWAN, we still managed to stop by a STARBUCKS for two more stickers... LOLs....

Not sure where else this PROMO is running... certainly not here in TAIWAN... boo hoo... but it is available in all STARBUCKS in Manila...

Be Sure to check out this really cute HOLIDAY REINDEER they are offering.... it is small enough to fit inside a mug for a SPECIAL GIFT.... and of course, cute enough to buy for yourself!

PS:
am not a SHARE HOLDER of STARBUCKS - I WISH!!! I am merely sharing INFO... hehehehe Below are a couple of ILLUSTRATIONS from the planner that caught my eye....

24 Days Before XMas!!!

...and the COUNTDOWN BEGINS... tis' the season once again... so make your preparations... leave the troubles behind.... and share in the joys of the season with family, friends, love ones, & even strangers....

Here's a funny looking XMas thing to get to started... I met him during the last travel to Manila, just last week....