last post for 2009...

"last day of 2009... make it count.... still a day to do at least one more thing on our to do list before the year ends...."

Happy New Year

To You All!!!

GOD willing...

see you all in 2010!!!

pioloholic, I Am!!!

so against my better judgement, I bought Piolo Pascual's latest CD, DECADES... where he covered songs from the 50's , 60's, 70's & 80's.... the songs were well known enough but just by browsing at the selection - I already had an iffy feeling about it.... was I right.... as sweet as his voice is when talking and singing, the songs were just, mostly, not fitting to his vocal styling and powers... still, am sure the target market (myself included) will be buying the CD & will even enjoy it enough....

and in fairness, the producers included some really nice photos with the packaging.... for some, worth every cent already....

potentials not flaws for 2010

We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives... not looking for flaws, but for potential. ~Ellen Goodman

weThink, weShare: We are what we believe we are. -C. S. Lewis

so this is the Quote of the Day I got below.... and it got me to thinking.... all through breakfast, showering, and getting ready.... I suppose it is a GREAT thing, as it can PUSH us to our LIMITS... to reach for the stars.... to attain all that we wish for and reach all our goals.... but what of the other side of it - where some actually fool themselves into believing they are who they think they are - they tell themselves this and they actually end up TRULY BELIEVING... then wouldn't their lives be just BASED ON LIES?

I have seen this TRAIT on someone very close to me... at first I tried to understand, IGNORED it, DEALT with it.... and in the end - it caused such a biiiig rift between us - a rift that could never, ever be repaired... a rift that even caused a bit of unwanted/ and very unnecessary dramas over this year's XMAS celebration....

I mean, I believe in: "to each his own"... "whatever gets you through the day".... or just the plain fact that people do NEED TO BELIEVE IN CERTAIN THINGS to get them through their days... but if these will cause HARM to others, to friendships, to relationships... and eventually, their own selves... then why CONTINUE? why not just BE REAL? didn't someone say to "just tell the truth then you do not have too much details to have to remember"....

oh well, in lieu of the Holiday Season, I suppose I will just let it be.... and just hope 2010 will be a much simpler and most of all, REAL!

MERRY XMAS to you and yours!!!

wishing you all a SAFE & FUN Xmas filled with joy, laughter & love... with family, friends, love ones... and even on your own... and of course, here's wishing for
PEACE ON EARTH...

and give to you all, my FAVE XMas song of all time:

"Have Yourself a Merry Little XMas"... this time from the always soothing voice of the great, late Karen Carpenter.

My Ever Changing Moods

PAUL WELLER is still TOPS on my FAVE LIST!!!
would be GREAT to see another concert of his... that would be one XMAS WISH that will surely ALWAYS be on my list...

timeless.... and the message still LOUD & CLEAR

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, everyone!!! Enjoy your times with family, friends, love ones... but do SPARE a LITTLE THOUGHT for the others who are LESS FORTUNATE, as well.... KEEP SAFE!

Single Chipettes

saw this PREVIEW of Alvin & The Chipmunks:The Squeaquel, when I went to see AVATAR - just crack the heck out of me... almost wanna mak me go see the movie just from this part alone... LOLs!!!

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NOTE: 4 More days Before XMas... hope you are all getting everything done... I know am not... hahahahahahaha

XMas Splendour

just sharing a few of the things I LOVE about XMAS more... and they none-more visible in ASIA than in the Philippines where people are predominantly celebrates and revels on this HOLIDAY....

Photo Left: Fresh Puto Bungbong & Bibingka - treats that one can usually get right outside the churches around the Holidays...

Photos Below: Xmas Trees, Xmas Window Displays & Parols (ornamental Star shaped wonders.

NOTE: 5 more days before XMas... more places to hit and snap photos of... (^_*)

:((

"even the angel cries on

a lonely flight back home"

Jason Wu Sighting in Taipei!!!

well, not really Jason Wu, himself(SIGH!)... but definitely another FAB Jason Wu creation...

walking by BREEZE SHOPPING CENTRE last nite to meet up with David I was attracted by the Red XMas trees they had on display at the main entrance and just had to go in and snap some photos... as I got closer, admiring the mini flatscreens on the trees playing runway shows, as well as and tote bags as ornaments, I noticed a signage -- did not understand all the Chinese writing but sure did catch Jason's mug on it... got excited and took even more photos.... and then I noticed that the tote bags on the trees bear his name.... and that the runway shows were actually for the Jason Wu collection of clothing... YOWZA!!! Such a pleasure to see a familiar face on the streets of Taipei -- even just in a photo... and of course, a certain amount of PRIDE came over me for having known the man all these years...

sorry I do not have the writing translated yet... last nite was a late nite for us running errands, and this morning David is already off to work, so no time for a translation just yet...

and then there were two!!!

Just as when I was about to fill up the first display showcase completely (45 in all) - Mary (BAD BAD MARY!!! (^_*) hehehehehe) went and sent me more for XMAS that required me to get a 2nd display showcase.... good thing they happen to be ON SALE!!!

so am back to, basically, square one, trying to fill up the display showcases.... LOLs!!! Aaaaah.... the JOYS of COLLECTING.... to my delight though - Juliana is also on her 2nd displayer... MISERY LOVES COMPANY, indeed!!!!

XMas Tree Revelers

10 More Days before XMas... so far, only a few handful have seen our tree in person... surely wish that more friends are close by and can just drop by to take a snap with the tree.... thought it would make a FUN photo album for this XMAS....
anyway, here's the GALLERY of XMAS TREE PHOTO OP victims, so far.... still Plenty of time to snap a few more drop bys... even in my absence, photos will still be taken - FOR SURE!!! hahahahahahahahahaha.... So if you happen to be in the neighborhood - FEEL FREE to STOP BY and get your photo SNAPPED... (^_*)...

COMPLETE ALBUM HERE

why not go all the way???

they always say that: "Knowing is Half the Battle", if this is so why not go 100%, go all the way, and make the change...

Just A Thought...

12 dAyS of XMaS

did I say "days"??? I meant Gays!!! Got this from a friend of mine and just had to share... these bois are FIERCE - truly will liven up the last 12 days before XMas!!!

Watch & Enjoy!

XMas Get-Together #2

We had our Annual XMas Get together with the girls (Juliana, Sue n Cecilia) last nite, SAT the 12th... The place: why our home of course!!! Now you know why we have been cleaning all these weeks!!! If you have ever had a few friends over for a Holiday get-together... or any kind of get-together in your home - am sure you can relate and know that it is quite a feat to pull it all off... making sure - not only what one is serving is good, or at least edible, but also that the place is clean and nothing out of place... and of course, no matter how you clean and clean and clean - to you, it is NEVER ever going to be clean enough.. LOLs!!!

Anyway, ready or not, we had it last nite and luckily enough - it went off without a hitch... it helped that the girls are really sweet and were not grading us at the end of the meal - like that BBC show - Come Dine With Me"... so a GREAT TIME was had by all....and as always, Chef Marketchow did not disappoint and treated us to some very nice dishes... and I even got to help on a few of them... just don't grade my Salmon Cakes shaped as gingerbread man and stars... well, they were supposed to be anyway....Party finished at almost 11PM... and we SURVIVED!!! and BEST of all, next dinner is at Sue & Cecilia's home.... weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee............... but we could not rest yet - now we gotta get ready for a lunch party at Shaun & Lyn's home the following day...

COMPLETE PHOTOS HERE

a very Be@rbrick XMas...

...thanks to you Miss Mary!!! got the BOX today - totally UNEXPECTED.... love them all - Just Perfect as I do not have any of these Be@rbricks in my collection yet.... they certainly will LIVEN UP the display case....

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, Mary!!! Love Ya... Always!

love*amore*mahal*amor*ai*aisteru*liebe

Loving this Limited Edition Love Heart Be@rbrick, designed by Alexander Girard. The Heart on his chest is made up of the word LOVE in numerous languages - perfect to display anywhere or anytime of the year....

Limited to 1000 pcs only, this one was recently released XClusive to ISETAN Shinjuku.

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thought I'd accompany this photo with a quote from MADGE, who sure knows a lot about LOVE - not sure if it's quite fitting but I love the quote, nonetheless... hehehehehe:

To be brave is to love someone unconditionally, without expecting anything in return. To just give. That takes courage, because we don't want to fall on our faces or leave ourselves open to hurt.

- Madonna

4 down - 2 more to go...

well, am getting there with my OPEN YOUR DREAM Premium Toys Collection.... so far i have been able to acquire 3 of the ones from 7-11 and the SPECIAL (BIRDEE) one, XCLusive to COSMED...Now if only I can get LUCKY and get the other two am missing.... especailly the one that I covet most....WISHING.... for now, I leave these 4 cuties to ENTERTAIN ya' all....

aaah the MAGIC of HOLLYWOOD!!!

here's something GUARANTEED to put a smile on your faces on this HUMP DAY!Good thing he has a BODY to DIE FOR - or else his career could be over just as when it is picking up steam...

I wonder who leaked this photo.... "OFF WITH HIS/HER HEAD!!!"

at long last... SNOW!!!

okay okay, don't get too excited... no SNOW in Taipei City.... this is just a BUS STOP all made up this way for an advert.... still, it is eye catching and it does give one a sense of seeing snow - from a far anyway.... took this while I was riding the #262 Bus heading to Chung Hsiao East Rd... the actual Bus Stop is Bade & DunHua corner... Passed by it many times the last couple of weeks and it always makes me smile... so I thought I would taka a photo and share with you all... this is most likely as close as I would get to seeing snow this year..... *SIGH*

Nicole Kidman's "Unusual Way"

anyone else out there looking forward to seeing the movie adaptation of the Broadway Musical, NINE??? how could you NOT with it's stellar cast: Daniel Day Lewis, Penelope Cruz, Dame Judi Dench, Marion Coitlard, Fergie, Sophia Loren, Kate Hudson, & Nicole Kidman -- some of the finest actresses in the BIZ... singing their hearts out for director, Rob Marshall... same one who helmed the FAB CHICAGO....

am so HAPPY this movie is finally coming out as I have been excited about it since it was announced.... and for the little clips I have been seeing here and there, am sure am going to LOVE it.... and as an added BONUS, Miss Kidman gets to sing my most FAVE song from the movie, the haunting, UNUSUAL WAY (full recording version here), which I think she did well with.... not as dramatic as most of the Broadway stars who have recorded it but I actually liked the simpleness and subtleties of her delivery here.... see Preview below:

NINE Movie Trailer

RELIEF FUND REMINDER

with this weekend coming to a close - I wanted to send a SHOUT OUT to you all and send another REMINDER about our XMAS TYPHOON RELIEF FUND DRIVE... the DEADLINE is coming up - the 15th of DEC - that leaves you all 8 More Days to help make the drive even more of a SUCCESS, as it was last time out.... after all, we all could use a bit of help - especailly during the Holidays...

Click Here For More Details

or FEEL FREE to email me (wtsrudi@yahoo.com) if you have any further questions!

Fridae Funnees Addendum...

Just had to add this joke i just got from my friend Carg today... as am pretty sure, too many of you are dependant on GPS to navigate your daily drives - you'll love this one:

The DOWNSIDE of GPS

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Question: What do you get when you mix PMS with GPS?

Answer: A crazy b*atch who WILL find you!

Fridae Funnees

this week's edition brings us FUNNY TAKE on one of this Season's smash hit movie, NEW MOON... well, why not dream, right???

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and this one is from a PINOY RAG paper - the articvle headline is just too funny not to share:

LITERAL TRANSLATION: MURDERED: DUE TO HANDSOMENESS

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HAPPY FRIDAY !!! ENJOY YOUR UPCOMING WEEKEND and SMILE!!!

angel on our shoulders

...sometimes, moments where u wonder why life is such, comes around.... and around... and around.... U just gotta stop wondering and just GO WITH THE FLOW.... there will ALWAYS be an ANGEL to watch over us...

XMas Window Magic

well, this XMas window display at SOGO Department Store in Taipei is not quite like the ones (Saks 5th Ave, Macy's, Neiman Marcus, etc..) am used to growing up in San Francisco but it is none-the-less magical enough... truly brings out the child in all the passers by-myself, included...

NOTE: 22 More days Before XMas!!!

1st Official XMas Get-Together

So I had my first official Holiday Get-Together for lunch today with Juliana... Since I had stuff to pick up from her and momokos to deliver to her - we decided to make just go ahead and make a lunch outing out of it... at our FAVE hangout, too - TGI Fridays, over at Chung Hsiao East Rd... right next to the ever festive, SOGO Department Store... which is nicely decorated for XMAS btw... we got to enjoy their XMAS decor a bit right after lunch, as we walked around the Department store - mainly, the Toy Section, of course!!!

Lunch, as always, is GREAT - nothing like good all American burger now and again... plus the Three To Share Appetizers is always tasty and filling - Potato Skins, Buffalo Wings, plus Mozzarella & celery sticks.... but the food always takes a back seat from our GAB fest.... catching up with this and that and everything in between... 2 or 3 hrs is never, ever enough....

we did an early exchange gift as well... love our SNOWMAN pair from Starbucks & Bumble Bee Molly is just the cutest... so basically I had two firsts today - 1st Official holiday Get-Together plus 1st XMas Gifts for 2009...

COMPLETE PHOTOS HERE

XMAS is DEFINITELY IN THE AIR....

24 more days before XMAS.... I cannot help but get excited even more.... my FAVE holiday of the year is once again upon us.... most of my friends and family knows how much I love this Holiday... and each year, no matter how I say I am just to busy... am always on the go... so I need not put up a tree... somehow, I always manage to put one together at the last minute... XMas is just not XMas without a TREE... and there is something about it that just brings JOY and WARMTH feelings to me, each and every morning I wake up and see it...

Since am soooo missing white Xmasses lately... missing the snow... as I used to make a trip to NEVADA or New York to see snow over the Holidays, when I was still in SF; or Japan or Korea - or anywhere there si snow in ASIA, now that am here in Taiwan... since I know I will not get a chance to see snow again this year, I decided to settle for a white XMas tree...

without minimal budget and just a lot of imagination - I GOT MY WHITE XMas - and I could not be HAPPIER!!! and since it is already DEC 1st, XMas music will fill this house already... and not forgetting to mention, the first of my XMas get together happens for lunch today - with Juliana...

XMas is DEFINITELY in the air, indeed!!!

MORE PHOTOS HERE

DEC. 1st - WORLD AIDS DAY!!!

Don't forget to wear your RED RIBBON and HELP SPREAD AIDS AWARENESS in however you can.... do this in honour of the brothers & sisters - the world over - who has fought this battle and lost... and those who are still fighting the battle... we are all in this together....

READ MORE ABOUT IT HERE:

HIV/AIDS AWARENESS DAYS