SOMEONE SAID...

Laughter is the one true thing everyone will always need.

TRANSFORMERS THE MOVIE

OH. MY. GOD!! You have GOT to watch this movie. Never mind if you are not a fan, never mind if you don't know anything about robots, never mind if you are not a guy. You will enjoy this movie as much as I did.

My sister finally had the chance to babysit the boys today. She said she would be free at 4pm after her rounds at the hospital so I agreed. By 515pm, I was at the mall. I was worried about the crowd and probable lack of seating because this was the first weekend showing. I got my ticket (which cost me P122) and bought some food and drinks. I was in the theatre by 540 and the movie was scheduled to begin at 545.

All I can say was that I was muttering and saying "Oh my god!", "Ahhhh!", "Oh no, oh no, oh no..." "Woah!!" and "Cool!" all throughout the movie. I was by myself but I had a lot of fun! I felt like a child watching Transformers cartoons for the first time. There were times when I was literally at the edge of my seat from excitement. It was really exhilarating and fun. I also thought that it would have been more fun watching it with Ruther (he LOOOOVES the Transformers) or if Nikki and Ethan were bigger but still it was a great movie. I don't even care about the storyline, the plot, how true the characters were to the comic book/cartoons, I just enjoyed the movie SO much!

When I got home, all I told my sis was, "Oh my god!" and she shrieked, "You see?!?! What did I tell you?!!" She watched it earlier this week. So now, I'm still all hyped up and all exhilarated. It was such a fun movie. I guarantee it. On the way home, I saw a dump truck and power shovel by the road and then I suddenly thought, "It would be so cool if these vehicles would transform right now." At the same time I thought, "If this jeepney (public mode of transportation here) would transform, what would it probably look like?" That's because I still had some aftershock from the movie.

If you want to go back to your childhood, feel exhilarated and just have a great time, then watch this movie. It's loads of fun! =D

TWO BASKETS

Another one of my artworks from the past. This one is chalk and oil pastel. It's unfinished though. It's untitled and unsigned. Oh well...

A BUNNY

Nikki told me last night that he wants to have a bunny. I was quite surprised about that. He is really not a pet person. But still I asked him why. He said he wanted to have a bunny like Goofy's. That's from a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse episode, in case you were wondering. I asked him: Are you going to take care of the bunny? Are you going to feed it and love it? Will you play with it everyday? He said he will and I asked where we will put the bunny since the house is a mess. He said that we could put it in a basket and let it stay in their room. I asked him if he wanted a boy bunny or a girl bunny. He said a boy bunny. I asked him what name he would give the boy bunny. He said Goofy. Uh, okay. It's his bunny anyway.

I suppose it won't be hard having a bunny. They are quiet creatures and quite tame so I think it would be a nice responsibility for Nikki. Hopefully, Ethan will learn from Nikki as well.

So yeah, we're going to get a bunny.

PHOTOS OF THE HOUSE

As I promised, here are some photos of the house...

Before (taken last March):

After (taken this week):

It actually looks a lot bigger now. The roof is quite high so I decided to make use of the space beneath it as a loft. Ruther's and my room is just behind that wall. =D

The kitchen/dining area. You could see how much further they extended the wall. This is the main reason why many of the people here in the house are coughing and have hoarse voices.

The right door leads to the boys' room. You could see their cute smiley clock. =D The door to the left was formerly (my brother-in-law) Ron's room but will be a guestroom after it's redone. That's Ethan's head in the photo, by the way.

Stairs leading to the second floor. On the right of that window is the door to Ruther's and my room. =D

Formerly the room of my parents-in-law. But it will become the living room once it's makeover-ed. =P

The terrace. The room to the left is my parents-in-law's room. The one on the right is Ruther's and my room.

Close-up of the terrace.

TADAO ANDO SAID...

When you look at Japanese traditional architecture, you have to look at Japanese culture and its relationship with nature. You can actually live in a harmonious, close contact with nature - this very unique to Japan.

WHIZZING BY

I took this photo while we were waiting to cross the road.

Photo taken at Tokaichiba, our home in Japan.

CAN'T THINK

It seems that having cough and colds saps one of his/her thinking ability. (Is there a study on this that can prove the previous statement?) Throughout this day I have been having incoherent thoughts and memory lapses that I can only attribute to my poor health. I think my allergy is coming back (haven't suffered from one since I got pregnent with Nikki) because my eyes seem a bit itchy and sore and my throat is sooo darn itchy I just want to reach right into my throat and scratch it. Sigh... This is really getting to me. I feel like I am having some difficulty functioning around the house when I'm like this (am also suspecting I'm PMSing so can you blame me?) . Plus, my husband is not around to make me feel better.

So woe is me.

NIKKI AND ETHAN

Another cute photo of Nikki and Ethan. Ethan was only a month old here, I think. Or two months. =D

Photo taken at my home in Zamboanga.

7 FACTS ABOUT ME

I was tagged by Stella. Before I start , I would like to ask everyone to please help pray for her father-in-law, Dr. Fiorello Estuar. He really needs our prayers. You could all read what happened to him in her blog. I know our prayers will go a long long way. Thanks you guys...

Here are the instructions:

Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about himself/herself.
People who are tagged need to explain the 7 random facts/habits about themselves in their blogs.
Then in turn, they need to choose 7 people to tag and list their names at the end of their blogs.
The player needs to visit their sites too and inform them (say, by leaving a comment) that they have been tagged and that they need to read your (the player’s) blog to find out more about it.


And now the facts:

1. I am really a simple girl. I don't like too much pizzazz, too much flair. I am happy with ukay-ukay, Baclaran and Surplus Shop clothes. It's fine with me as long as I look nice and pretty. I don't like to splurge because I usually feel guilty about the purchase. But if it's given as a present, then I am a grateful girl. =D

2. I am a sentimentalist and a die-hard romantic. Everything that triggers my emotions, my tears, my heartbeat is close to me and is special to me. It's as simple as that. Poetry, love letters, sweet nothings, cuddles, flowers, chocolates, candlelit dinners, stuffed toys, private picnics, stolen moments, all those and much more. Like I said before, I am in love with love and love is Ruther. (Does that even make sense?!) =P

3. I am a cry baby. I cry at commercials, I cry watching Ruther sleeping and quietly snoring beside me, I cry when I see my boys getting along, I cry when I watch sappy movies, I cry when I hear one of our (Ruther's and my) songs on the radio, I cry when I'm happy, I cry buckets of tears when I'm sad, I cry when I miss you-know-who so much. Yup, I'm a cry baby. You see the ocean? I think half of that is made up of my salty tears. Okay fine, maybe not the whole ocean. The Philippine Sea will do.

4. I love the color lilac and orange. Read my post about that here. I promise, it's a fun post. =D

5. Japan is my second home. The moment I stepped onto Japanese land, I fell in love with the place. Now I can't get it out of my head no matter how hard I try. Must have been Japanese in one of my past lives. Sigh...

6. I love to read anything and everything. Again, another post about that here. Call me a bookworm if you want, I don't mind. So please, if you have any books to donate, I will be willing to accept them. =D

7. I am still on my way to finding out my purpose in life. When I find out what it is, I'll let you know. =D For now, I am enjoying the journey.


So there. I am tagging Moira (how are you?), Penny and Clea. Feel free to do as you please with the tag. =D Take care... =D

VINCENT VAN GOGH SAID...

Love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much perfoms much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is done well.

CEILING ART

I took this photo in one of the malls in Japan. This was during my last day there. =(

I still miss my Japan...

THURSDAY...

Well, my throat now feels like sandpaper and my nose has been runny since I woke up. Even Ethan is catching this "cold" thing. His voice is now a bit hoarse and he sneezes a lot. Nikki seems to be the most unaffected and that is kind of surprising because he's supposed to be allergic to dust, like me. I'm not sure if he overcame his allergy or if his multivitamin works on him but I'm glad that he's not down with a cold. When Nikki feels under the weather, he does not eat so much and that worries me because he could get thin easily. Anyway, will keep everyone posted about our very minor situation. =D

.....

The boys and I went to the mall again today. Ruther wanted me to check a few things for him so I thought, it would be nice for me and the boys to have a bit of fun as well. Anyway, when we got to the mall, it was close to noon so I asked Nikki what he wanted to eat for lunch. Of course, Jollibee chickenjoy, their favorite chicken. Since I was not in the mood to eat (my throat still hurts a bit when I swallow), I decided to have some spaghetti. Nikki ate a lot but Ethan just ate the chicken skin (his favorite part). After that, I let Nikki play for a bit in the arcade. There were a lot of guys there and some were even in school uniforms. But the most disturbing was there was a stocky, 40s-looking guy who was sitting in one of those arcade chairs (the racing ones) and he was fast asleep! I suppose there were a lot of people around and the guard just could not see the sleeping man. Maybe if he snored... There was an instance when I thought of pointing him out to the guard but the man looked harmless and I did not want to be the stoolpigeon so I just let him be.

After that, we proceeded to the supermarket and I bought myself a pair of slippers and bought milk for the boys, juice, and a puzzle for Ethan. The boys wanted to play at the activity area in the baby section so I let them. After a few minutes, we paid for the things and then we went home.

And now, because of all that activity, Ethan refuses to settle down! He still is not napping! Sigh.

.....

Jet Li is in Manila! Why? I have no idea but I saw in the Inquirer site that he's here. I like Jet Li and most of his films. I remember, when I was younger, me, my siblings and my dad would watch the many Once Upon A Time in China movies together. My dad loves those Chinese movies and I guess we were influenced. Anyway, it's nice to see him visit the Philippines. Hopefully that will be in the news tonight and I will finfd out why he's here. =D

YAY!

I just read in the paper that we will have a Krispy Kreme Doughnuts branch here in Manila! Yay! I'm so excited to try those! Any suggestions on the flavors?

Bad news: The branch will be in Greenhills and that's so far from where I live. =( Oh well. Might as well bribe my brother to drive me there next month.

DOC CHILDRE SAID...

Harmonizing heart and brain through love is what can establish a complete intelligence, a complete self, where a child can look at life and realize there are no dead ends, there are always possibilities. The greatest gift a parent can give a child during all the ups and downs of life is love.

FATHER AND SON

Ruther and Nikki enjoying Yamashita Park. (Ethan was asleep then or he would have been running around.) They look so cute together. =D

WEDNESDAY

I woke up at 6:15 am this morning to wake Ruther up (7:15 in Japan). He complained to me that he has been having some difficulty waking up in the morning so I volunteered my services. He did get up then and I hope he was able to leave the house before 8 as originally planned. Hopefully, he won't be late today.

.....

My sniffles has not gone away yet, despite my constant drinking of calamansi juice. I think it's because of my repetitive exposure to the dust here at home. When I woke up this morning I had a bit of a runny nose and I'm hoping it won't turn into a full-blown cold (if there is such a thing). Not only that but my throat now is itchy. Again, probably because of the dust. Sigh. Anyway, I will still continue to take my Vitamin C until I'm confident that I'm all better. Ethan, I think, has a runny nose too because I heard him sniffling last night. Hopefully it won't last as long as mine.

.....

I have taken some photos of the house but I have not taken everything yet because I don't want to get in the way of work/construction/demolition. I will try to do that later on. I promise to post them here soon. (I'm sure you will be quite shocked, Amy!) =D

.....

After 3 days, it will be July! Wow! My birthday is coming up soon! *hint*

=D

BANCAS IN THE MORNING

This one is for you, Mitzh. =D

Enjoy!

PEOPLE WHO ROCK MY WORLD

My sweet friend Mitzh has picked me as one of her blogger friends who rocks. I am truly appreciative of this gesture since (as you very well know) I am a stay-at-home mom and frankly, this job is not so "rock on". So, it's so nice when people acknowledge my blog if only to appreciate the photos I post or the nonsensical things I write about. My sole purpose in making this blog is to give others a chance to take a peek into our little home, our minds and our hearts. Hopefully, I have touched other lives as well.

And now, I will pass this honor and pick 5 women who inspire me and who I think makes this world rock in their own way.

• Amy (Happy Amy) - I pick you, Amy, because: 1. you are so wonderfully you, 2. because you are a talented, bright woman, 3. because you know yourself so well, 4. because you have a big heart and take such good care of Russell and June and 5. because you are a fun-loving, happy girl.

• Jane (Jane's Journal) - Jane, you are such a lovable person. You are such a devoted mom, you care so much for your family. I love your creativity and your contentment for the simple life. You are truly admirable.

• Jenny (Jen's Journal) - Jenny, you have a big heart as well. You love Ed and your kids so much and it shows. You are as creative as your mom and I love how you express yourself so well in your blog. I am sure when the kids are bigger they will appreciate every memento you made for them, every gesture of love you bestowed to them.

• Mio/Mitch (I Can Dream, Can't I?) - My friend from college and who I can confidently say is one of my true friends. You are such a devoted mom to your 2 girls. I love how you enjoy life with your family, how you appreciate your togetherness and how you treasure family bonding. You are a smart, down-to-earth, very unique woman. Not only are your comments and pieces of advice insightful but they are timely as well. Thanks for having my back. =D

• Mieko (Mieko's Diary) - I pick you, Mieko because you give me a taste of Japan everyday and I learn so much from you. You have a sweet soul, you enjoy life and you care very much for your family. Not only that, but you are a great teacher to your students and care for each one of them. You love the simple life in your "old" house and you are one of the people I hope to be able to meet one day.

Thanks to you (Amy, Jane, Jenny, Mio and Mieko) for rocking my world. I appreciate knowing you even if it was only through cyberspace.

It is I think, unfortunate that I only had to pick 5 women. I would want to acknowledge more people but I know that they know I appreciate them a lot despite not being listed here. I leave the choice of tagging other people to you. Feel free to do as you please. =D

SARA PADDISON SAID...

As you continue to send out love, the energy returns to you in a regenerating spiral... As love accumulates, it keeps your system in balance and harmony. Love is the tool, and more love is the end product.

YOUNGER

A younger us. (And thinner me. =D) Photo taken a few months before we got married. You could already say that I was crazy about this guy then...

FEAST OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

Yesterday was the Feast of St. John the Baptist.

From the Inquirer:
Last updated 03:49am (Mla time) 06/25/2007

MANILA, Philippines -- Every 24th of June, areas in the Philippines that have St. John the Baptist as patron saint celebrate his feast day with the traditional “basaan” or “buhusan” (dousing of water).
People douse even strangers supposedly to remind them of their baptism.
In Metro Manila, the practice is done in San Juan, which recently became a city.
Cyril L. Bonabente, Inquirer Research

YELLOW

This photo of a beautiful flower was taken by my sweet hubby. I think it's lovely. =D

SOMETHING

I think I'm coming down with something. What that something is, I don't know but yesterday when I woke up, it was painful for me to swallow. So I was suspecting: 1. my immune system is somehow not in a "I'll beat all disease-causing microorg" mood and 2. I might be coming down with a cold or something. I immediately made a glass of calamansi juice and not only did my throat feel a whole lot better (not immediately of course) but I no longer sounded like I had a wad of cotton lodged in my nose. Last night, I made another glass and drank it all up. This morning, I seem to have a bit of sniffles so I suppose I will have to continue my Vitamin C regimen until I'm confident that I no longer have a runny nose. I think all the dust from the construction has somehow affected me. Just yesterday, 2 workers were tearing down the kitchen wall (they are expanding it) and you could only imagine the dust!! My goodness! Hopefully before the week is over, the kitchen and dining area will be done.

I rarely get sick. Ruther knows this. One time, I had fever but after I slept it off, it disappeared. So yeah, I'm a poor candidate for "I'm sick today, mom, can I stay home from school?" But I DO get headaches. I think that is hereditary. But it's okay. A P7 analgesic is a whole lot better than P??? cost of medical care.

Okay, gotta go make another glass of calamansi juice. =D

.....

And while we're at it: (from Wikipedia)

Calamondin or Calamansi (x Citrofortunella microcarpa) is a fruit tree in the family Rutaceae and a member of citrofortunella that was developed in and is very popular throughout Southeast Asia, especially the Philippines, where it is most commonly used for cooking. In the west it is variously known as acid orange, calamondin orange, or Panama orange, and in the Pacific Islands it is called calamansi. It is a shrub or small tree growing to 3-6 m, and bears small citrus fruit used to flavour foods and drinks. Although sometimes described as a native of the Philippines or other areas of Southeast Asia, the tree is in fact the result of a hybrid between species in the genera Citrofortunella and unknown in the wild.

The fruit of the calamondin resembles a small, round lime, a little bigger than the size of a thumbnail, 25-35 mm in diameter. It has the inviting odor of a tangerine with a very thin green or orange colored peel. In spite of its appearance and aroma, the taste is quite sour. In Asia the juice is used to season fish, fowl, and pork. Calamansi is commonly used as a condiment for dishes such as pancit bihon. Like other citrus fruits, the calamansi is high in vitamin C, and the juice can be a good vitamin source.

VIEW FROM THE TOP

In the plane on our way to Manila. Goodbye Zamboanga! =D

Photo taken earlier this month.

DRESS CODE

Before the mass ended last Sunday, the priest told the people of a new regulation of the church regarding the proper church attire. He said that men were discouraged from wearing jerseys, low-hanging pants, and sandos. For the women, short dresses, sleeveless tops, blouses that were too revealing or had plunging necklines, miniskirts, and low-hanging pants are restricted. I would not have minded this restriction because I love wearing dresses, and my arms are probably too large for spaghetti-strapped blouses but when I heard that wearing slippers was also discouraged, I had to frown at that. I understand the need to have a proper dress code for the church but what harm can wearing flip-flops do? And it can get so terribly HOT at church. And I do love my flip-flops. I am really not sure if the priest meant "slippers" as "rubber slippers" only or if flip-flops were included in that category. Sigh. I'm starting to wonder why I'm so affected by the slipper thing when I'm perfectly okay with the dress code. I'm starting to think of buying a wedged flip-flop. This way, it won't look too much like a slipper but still have the comfort and style of a flip-flop.

Sigh.

LIGHT AND SHADOWS

Another picturesque scene. I love photos that look like paintings.

I took this photo at Alaminos.

MONDAY MUSINGS

Today the boys and I went to the mall to do a bit of grocery shopping. I had to buy some milk for Ethan, insecticide, snacks for the boys, canned goods and other minor things. The boys had a bit of fun before that because I let them play for 30 minutes in the bouncy castle. They really love that! =D I did take more photos of them this time and I will try to post them later on.

.....

Yesterday, Toby from Federal called to tell me that the vinyl tiles I ordered were finally delivered to their store. Yay! My brother-in-law had to buy some things there as well so he drove me and now, I have the tiles for the room! I'm really excited! I want to see how the room will look after they are all laid out. =D

.....

I can't believe June is almost over. I can still remember the anxiety I felt preparing for Ethan's birthday and now, in a few weeks, it will be MY birthday! Time sure passes by so quickly when you don't take notice.

ROB CELLA SAID...

A relationship is like a rose,

How long it lasts, no one knows;

Love can erase an awful past,

Love can be yours, you'll see at last;

To feel that love, it makes you sigh,

To have it leave, you'd rather die;

You hope you've found that special rose,

'Cause you love and care for the one you chose.

CORN, ANYONE?

Ears of corn. There's a bit of reflection on the photo because I took this while inside the car.

Photo taken at Bulacan.

PASALUBONG

Pasalubong is a Tagalog word meaning "souvenir". In the Philippines it has aquired the meaning of a small gift or souvenir from someone travelling either whilst visiting or upon returning home. The literal meaning of pasalubong is to "greet", "surprise" or "meet with". Pasalubong is very popular among Filipinos if good relations are to be maintained. Pasalubong can range from food items such as fruits, imported confectionery goods and other sweets. Pasalubong can also be other items such as shirts, novelty items, knives and toys etc. If it is something that can be bought or wrapped, it's a pasalubong. (from Wikipedia; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasalubong)

.....

My uncle (mom's younger brother) just arrived from a trip to Canada. He was there for a month with his wife. When he came back a few days ago, he brought back a lot of pasalubong from my aunts who are now residing in Toronto (I have 2 aunts, 3 uncles and a grandmother who are Canadian citizens). I heard from my mom that my uncle had SO much to bring home, he even left behind a box because there was just too much stuff for him and my aunt to lug around and they had too much excess weight. I laughed at that because that is very Pinoy (Filipino). If they could pack everything including the kitchen sink, they would. =D

Anyway, these are the pasalubong we got:

I got 2 lipsticks and a tube of lotion. In the photo are my cousins, Kyle and Shini with Santa and Mrs. Claus. (These were the leftover photo cards from last Christmas.)

Cute Nike caps for the boys. =D

A cute pair of silver and black shoes. (My sis said hers were gold and black.) =D

Candies and gum for the boys. But unfortunately/fortunately, they are not fond of these.

A new watch, just for me! =D

I love this photo stand. I am so into cutesy stuff like this! =D

A nice stretch top for exercising.

A shirt for me.

And lastly a very cute summer bag! I just love the HUGE button!

REMINISCING

My family at Yokohama World Porters. =D

AAAARGH!!

When will this ever end?

A few hours ago, we were eating lunch. Nikki wanted to get water from the refrigerator but Ron, my brother-in-law was in the way. So Nikki said, "Tito Ron, I want some water please." And Ron said, "So, what do you say?" And Nikki said, "Excuse me, Tito Ron." AND THEN my mother-in-law said, "That is exactly why Nikki should go to school, so he will learn words like 'excuse me'." Uh, didn't he just say it? I reeeeeally felt so bad!! I just felt like I was belittled in front of the family. And again, Ruther was not here to defend me. =(

Now don't get me wrong. I love my mother-in-law. She is hardworking and diligent and very amiable. But we just have the wrong ideas in rearing kids. I prefer to teach my boys here at home. I KNOW I can give them the best education this way. She thinks that the best way for them to learn is at school. That's simply where the problem lies. So now, I tell Nikki, "The next time lola (grandma) asks you to go to school, just tell her that you are homeschooled." So there. At least this way, Mama won't feel insulted. She might feel slighted if I said it myself.

Sigh. I know I'm a sensitive person but for me, this is a sensitive issue. I CHOOSE to homeschool my boys not because I don't want them to go to school but because I know this is what's best for us now. So okay, maybe in the future the boys will want to try traditional schooling, that's perfectly fine by me. As long as I know that my boys are thriving and learning their own way, then I have no complaints. But for now, all I want is to be able to educate my boys MY way, the homeschooling way.

ROBERT FULGHUM SAID...

I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge -- myth is more potent than history -- dreams are more powerful than facts -- hope always triumphs over experience -- laughter is the cure for grief -- love is stronger than death.

LITTLE VISITOR

Ruther took this cute photo. Do you see something amongst the flowers? =D

RAINY DAY

Today is such a wonderful rainy day. At around 1130 this morning, it started to rain and boy, did it rain hard. Nikki was quite excited about the rain and asked if he could play in it. I let the rain fall for a few minutes before indulging the boys. I must say it was so much fun seeing them running around on the road outside with only their briefs. It brought back memories of me, my sis and cousins at my grandma's house playing in the rain - in our birthday suits! That was always a lot of fun even if sometimes, we would slip and fall on our butts. Nikki and Ethan were the only kids playing in the rain this morning. I suppose we don't have to worry about getting sick and missing school because they are both homeschooled. But we did see a man standing in the rain outside their home (a few houses away from ours). I think he was a bit envious of the fun the boys were having under the downpour. Anyway, after a good 40 minutes of play, the rain let up and I bathed the boys. Nikki tattled on about how much fun he had in the rain so I promised him that he could do that again next time. Me, I'm just glad that it rained today! =D

ETHAN

Took this photo last month. =D

REALLY ASTOUNDING

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/afp/20070622/tod-britain-education-7f81b96_1.html

British girl, aged two, joins high IQ club

LONDON (AFP) - A two-year-old girl with an intelligence quotient of 152 has become the youngest current member of British Mensa, the international society for highly-intelligent people, it said Friday.

Georgia Brown, aged two years and 10 months, was welcomed into the exclusive club after an assessment by a child psychologist, who was said to be "elated" as the findings were what would be expected for a five or six-year-old.

But the little girl, from Aldershot, in southern England, is still not the youngest member ever to join British Mensa. She missed out by six days to Ben Woods, who joined in the 1990s.

The previous youngest current member was a three-year-old boy with an IQ of 137, who joined in 2005.

Mensa normally only tests people over the age of 10 and a half but accepts younger children who are found to be within the top two percent of the population.

The girl's mother, Lucy, was quoted by the BBC News website as saying that she called in the child psychologist to test her daughter's IQ after spotting that she was a quick developer.

"It's fantastic. We're so proud as a family," she said.

Mensa, which is Latin for table, seeks to identify and foster human intelligence for the benefit of humanity, according to its website.

It also seeks to provide a stimulating intellectual and social environment for its members as well as to encourage research into the nature, characteristics, and uses of intelligence.

SYDNEY J. HARRIS SAID...

We can often endure an extra pound of pain far more easily than we can suffer the withdrawal of an ounce of accustomed pleasure.

FIREWORKS

Fireworks at Tokyo Disneyland (one of my favorite places on Earth!) Ruther, my sweetie, took this spectacular photo. =D

See you soon, Disneyland! (I wish!)

MY BIG BOY

I suppose I realized that Nikki was no longer a baby when we hit the arcade. For me, it was like a graduation of sorts: from infant shoes to sneakers, from crib to bed, from supermarket to arcade.

Nikki first had a taste of arcade games (specifically Mario Kart) in Japan. Ruther had a "UFO catcher" phase (of which I collected the prizes of course!) and those places had arcade games for kids as well. Since Nikki is a big Mario Bros. fan he really loved Mario Kart. I never realized that Nikki was capable of "driving" these things! Unfortunately, we haven't seen a Mario Kart unit here so Nikki had to settle for other race themed games at SM malls. Sure, I have to press the accelerator for him but he is very capable of going his way, making time and choosing when to pit. When I saw Nikki having loads of fun "driving", I looked around and thought, "My goodness! Nikki is no longer a baby!" Beside Nikki, I saw kids and even grown-ups pushing tokens into slots to have a turn of fun. It was an overwhelming and weird feeling.

Although Nikki has had a taste for arcade games, he specifically likes only the races. And I'm happy with that. I'm not sure I could handle the thought that my boy knows the moves/combination to Street Fighter or other similar games. Maybe 10 years from now?

When Ruther comes home, maybe this will be a bonding thing for them. I think it will be nice to see the three of them have a bit of fun at the arcades. Who knows Nikki might be the next Mario Andretti... =D

JAPAN STILL...

Colorful depiction of Japan. Photo taken at Narita Airport.

NAME CHANGE

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070620/ap_on_re_as/japan_iwo_jima

Japan changes name of Iwo Jima

TOKYO - Japan has returned to using the prewar name for the island of Iwo Jima — site of one of World War II's most horrific battles — at the urging of its original inhabitants, who want to reclaim an identity they say has been hijacked by high-profile movies like Clint Eastwood's "Letters from Iwo Jima."

The new name, Iwo To, was adopted Monday by the Japanese Geographical Survey Institute in consultation with Japan's coast guard.

Surviving islanders evacuated during the war praised the move, but others said it cheapens the memory of a brutal campaign that today is inextricably linked to the words Iwo Jima.

Back in 1945, the small, volcanic island was the vortex of the fierce World War II battle immortalized by the famous photograph by Joe Rosenthal of The Associated Press showing Marines raising the American flag on the islet's Mount Suribachi.

Retired Marine Maj. Gen. Fred Haynes, who was a 24-year-old captain in the regiment that raised the flag on Mount Suribachi, was surprised and upset by the news.

"Frankly, I don't like it. That name is so much a part of our tradition, our legacy," said Haynes.

Haynes, 87, heads the Combat Veterans of Iwo Jima, a group of about 600 veterans that travels to the island every year for a reunion. He is working on a book about the battle called "We Walk by Faith: The Story of Combat Team 28 and the Battle of Iwo Jima." He doesn't plan to change the name.

"It was Iwo Jima to us when we took it," said Haynes. "We'll recognize whatever the Japanese want to call it but we'll stick to Iwo Jima."

Before the war, the isolated spit of land was called Iwo To — pronounced "ee-woh-toh" — by the 1,000 or so people who lived there. In Japanese, that name looks and means the same as Iwo Jima — Sulfur Island — but it has a different sound.

The civilians were evacuated in 1944 as U.S. forces advanced across the Pacific. Some Japanese navy officers who moved in to fortify the island mistakenly called it Iwo Jima, and the name stuck. After the war, civilians weren't allowed to return and the island was put to exclusive military use by both the U.S. and Japan, cementing its identity.

Locals were never happy the name Iwo Jima took root. But the last straw came this year with the release of Eastwood's "Letters from Iwo Jima" and "Flags of Our Fathers," war films that only reinforced the misnomer.

In March, Ogasawara, the municipality that administers Iwo To and neighboring islands, responded by adopting a resolution making Iwo To the official name. Ogasawara residents and descendants of Iwo To evacuees petitioned the central government to follow suit.

"Though we're happy for Iwo To, which has been forgotten by history, the islanders are extremely grieved every time they hear Iwo To referred to as Iwo Jima," the local Ogasawara newspaper quoted the resolution as saying of the Eastwood movies.

The government agreed; an official map with the new name will be released on Sept. 1.

Still, Iwo Jima is the only name that clicks with most Japanese who aren't from the remote island chain, some 700 miles southeast of Tokyo in the Pacific Ocean.

Even some Japanese war veterans, like 84-year-old Kiyoshi Endo, who heads an association commemorating soldiers killed in the battle, feel uncomfortable about the switch.

"Naval maps have long used the name Iwo Jima," Japan's Sankei newspaper quoted Endo as saying. "We should respect that history."

Today Iwo To's only inhabitants are about 400 Japanese soldiers.

The 1945 battle for Iwo Jima pitted some 100,000 U.S. troops against 22,000 Japanese deeply dug into a labyrinth of tunnels and trenches. Nearly 7,000 Americans were killed capturing the island, and fewer than 1,000 of the Japanese survived.

The Americans occupied the island after the war, and returned it to Japanese jurisdiction in 1968. The U.S. Navy still uses an airstrip on the island to train pilots who operate from aircraft carriers.

MOLLEEN MATSUMURA SAID...

Love is more than just a feeling: it's a process requiring continual attention. Loving well takes laughter, loyalty, and wanting more to be able to say, "I understand" than to hear, "You're right."

BEACH TOYS

The boys' beach toys. My sis took this photo. =D

Photo taken at Hundred Islands.

OUR GREEN ROOM

Woohoo! Our room was finally painted today! I finally got to see how the paint color I chose looked on our walls. I must say, it's a very relaxing color. The moment you enter the room you could almost say, "Ahhhh..." at the peaceful green. I am so excited for the room to be done!!!

This afternoon, I walked to Federal, a place where I could get vinyl tiles for our room. It's not too far from our subdivision so it's conveniently located. Anyway, I picked a dark oak color for the floor. One tile cost only P21.80 (approximately US$0.47). So not bad. I might get the tiles in a few days' time because they have to order it yet. But I don't mind. I'm sure it won't be too long. Maybe we'll get it in the weekend. I'm so excited to show Ruther the color of the room. I'm still not sure how he's going to find the color but hopefully, he'll like it. =D

I've been scanning my magazines for ideas on how the cabinets would look like, on what furnishings will look great in the room, and how we could maximize the space in there. I think hanging cabinets will be a logical choice. Then I'll have to find a nice closet for Ruther and me. Hopefully the one I'll pick will be big enough for us. Hopefully.

I can't wait for the floor to be done so I could start fixing the room up! Will take more photos in the coming days. =D

HOUSE IN THE SKY

I took a photo of this hut as we rode the bus going up to Baguio. It was located on the side of the mountain so beyond the house was a bit of fog and a spectacular view of the valley below. Breathtaking. And dangerous.

DO I DARE?

The other day I was reading an article in a magazine. It listed some tips on how to live life to the fullest. One item there said: Dare to ask a stupid question.

When I read that, it stuck to my head and stayed there. I realized that in the past I never, ever dared to ask a stupid question. Not even a weird question or a questionable question. The first thing that would come to mind would be what other people would think, what they would say and how I would look asking such a stupid question. I could already imagine myself being swallowed up whole by the earth should the question leave my lips. Yes, that's how morbidly terrified I am of being criticized. Before.

Maybe now, I'm older, braver and just couldn't care less if I asked a reeeally stupid question. My attitude now would be, "So what if I didn't know that? It's not the end of the world." I guess I realized that by NOT asking a stupid question I deprived myself of more knowledge, of more information, of more lessons in life. I suppose that shielding myself from criticisms and hurt and disappointment hindered my growth. And it's a good thing I realized that or I would be living in a shell right now.

I actually can't remember the last time I asked a stupid question. I suppose at my age and maturity, I am no longer affected by such things. I think I've finally learned to just let things be, I've learned that there are some things that I cannot control and I just have to accept that (whether or not I like it). I suppose I should ask more stupid questions and see how people react to them. It might make this world a bit more interesting.

So try it. And tell me what your stupid question was. =D

MORNING SKY

Good morning! Such a lovely day. =D

Photo taken at Alaminos.

SOMEONE SAID...

"Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to be, because you only have one life to live and one chance to do all the things you want to do."

HOW I MISS JAPAN

I cannot even begin to express how much I miss Japan. (You might be so fed up of hearing this Mitzh. =D) It's like I discovered a wonderful place, fell in love and now I'm heart-broken because we are miles apart. Never in my life have I ever thought of a country this much. Never in my life have I been so affected by a country, by a culture, by the people and by the uniqueness that makes Japan, Japan. I want to know it more, I want to fill myself with its history and language and culture. I want to immerse myself in it until I am so fed up of it. I just want to go back to the wonderful country I called home for a short 6 months. Sigh. Will I ever see my Japan again?

Japan, Japan. How I miss you so.

MIXING COLORS

Today, my mother-in-law and I went to a paint dealer to have the paint for Ruther's and my room mixed. It's a sort of sage green color. Why did I pick it? Because Ruther's favorite color is green and because it's such a relaxing color. Our old room was old rose and Ruther said it was too stimulating sometimes. So this time, I opted for a cool green to give the room a relaxing feel. The boys' room is an apple green color and it suits their room just fine. Anyway, the paint dealer is just right outside our subdivision. It was recommended by a neighbor so we did not have difficulty finding it. Just to be sure, I brought my magazine with me so they could copy the room color perfectly. I watched while the guy started to mix the colors. He used colors blue, green, beige and white. During the first mix, it was too light so he added more green and blue. After the second mix, it was too green so he added more blue and a bit of green and some beige. He got it on the third try. It was really fascinating watching the guy mix colors behind the counter. I was thinking, "this is such a cool job!" and at the same time, I was thinking that if it were me behind the counter, I would botch up the mixing because I had no idea how much to add or what colors to pick. Anyway, it was really fascinating to watch. =D After he got the right color for my room, he mixed some yellow paint for my brother-in-law's room. My brother-in-law picked a sort of sunflower yellow color so the guy mixed some yellow ochre, yellow and white paint. It also took him 3 tries to get the right color. And again, I really could not help watching how he mixed the colors. It looked like a lot of fun! At that time, I was thinking of what else I was going to paint in my room because I want him to mix more colors! Hahaha! Silly me. But anyway, after that, I paid for my can which only cost P500 (approximately US$10.90) a gallon. The man behind the counter assured us that if the paint was not enough, we could always bring the can back so he could mix more of the paint. Cool.

Now I can't wait to see the paint on the walls. *rubs hands together* Aren't I excited? =D

ICE CREAM BOYS

My boys. Enjoying their ice cream. =D

Photo taken at SM Sucat.

WANTING AND PREFERRING TO STAY HAPPY

I think people with too much emotional baggages is bad for me. I'm saying this NOT because I don't like them, NOT because I don't have friends who are baggage-free and NOT because I don't ever want to have friends who are tied up emotionally. I'm just saying this for the simple fact that I am very sensitive and easily affected. And, I was one those overly emotional people ( I stress on the overly because too much of a thing is always bad) and I relied too much on other people to make me happy. I fed on their compliments, on their reassurances, on their appreciation of me. But later on, I wanted to be more healthy emotionally. I read self-help books, I taught myself to toughen up and I made myself less vulnerable. I became this when I met Ruther. He taught me to be strong emotionally and to be less pessimistic and to view the world as it was meant to be: with hope and love and anticipation. (Thanks sweetie!)

There was a time in my life when I was surrounded by emotionally-baggaged friends (3 of them, actually). I think friends usually like to pour their hearts out to me because I am always available to listen. That took its toll on me. I became depressed, negative and easily tired. Then, after reading an article on emotional vampires, I realized that I was unwittingly vampirized by my overly emotional friends. But of course, I never held it out against them. I just realized that I needed to surround myself with more positivism to repel the negative. So, knowing this, I tried to change my friends' outlook in life instead of just lending an ear to them, I tried to make them believe in themselves more rather than just giving them a shoulder to cry on, and then I tried to teach them positivism based on my own experiences. It was not an easy thing to do but later on, I became less tired and depressed and my negativity disappeared.

It was not easy; this realization that I was once an emotional vampire to my friends. But now that I am aware of this, I just want to influence my friends with happy thoughts and positive vibes. Of course, there will always be a time when I will have down days and bad days and rant days. But unlike before, I take those in stride now. No more endless self-pity and depression. (Maybe an hour or two will suffice. =D) And I am no longer in fear of friends who could overwhelm me with their emotional baggages. I am now emotionally stronger and wiser. So yes, I might still be affected by overly emotional friends, but that does not mean I don't love them, that I'm not willing to hear them out, or that I'm not willing to help them.

PIZZA

Pizzahut's Cheezy Pops Pizza (Bacon Supreme flavor, family size). It's like a pizza and appetizer in one. Those cheezy pops have 3 different cheeses in them and it was really yummy and very filling. I liked it! Of course, my brother (the pizza lover) ate most of the slices. =D

Photo taken at Pizzahut, SM Baguio, June 10.

TUESDAY THOUGHTS

At last we have had some rain this morning. It really makes a huge difference in cooling the air. It was not a downpour mind you, but it was definitely better than having a warm sunny day.

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Ruther bought a bass guitar last Sunday at a flea market at Nissan Stadium. He said it was really cheap so he decided to get it. I'll ask him for a photo so I could post it here. He was so excited about the purchase he emailed me about it and tested it out at a friend's apartment on that same day. He is such a music buff. Hopefully, the boys will follow in his footsteps. I already asked him to teach the boys how to play the guitar. Nikki already knows 2 songs on the piano (twinkle twinkle little star, mary had a little lamb) so I hope that this early exposure to musical instruments will be influential in their choices of music later on in life. =D

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Little by little, I could see the second floor of the house forming. I am now beginning to appreciate the arrangements of the rooms, the largeness of the house (compared before) and how wide and spacious the house is going to be upon its completion. I am already getting quite excited about fixing up the rooms and decorating and such. Hopefully, the house will be completed in the next 2 months. I really hope.

BOAT RIDE

This was not a planned photo. This man standing on his boat just happened to cross the water as my mom and I were taking photos of the morning sun and whaddya know... another pretty picture. Such a calm and relaxing photo...

Photo taken at Alaminos, June 10.

GHOST WHISPERER

Today I watched an episode of Ghost Whisperer on Star World and I must say that it's an interesting series. Jennifer Love Hewitt is the main star and she's a clairvoyant who could see and talk to spirits. I have always been interested in the paranormal and enjoy shows like Buffy, Charmed, A Haunting, Supernatural, well, you get the idea.

Anyway, so far I liked the story today because it focused on helping a spirit to cross over. When he was alive, Jason (the spirit) just found out that he was adopted and wanted to know who his biological mother was but after getting into an argument with his surrogate mother, he had an accident and died. Thus his quest for answers before he could cross over. It was a touching story but not overlydramatic. So it suited me just fine. Jennifer Love Hewitt is a charming actress and I like stories of finding resolutions and closure (and yes, happy endings). Also, this series has none of those scary looking ghosts (remember Sixth Sense? eek!) so a big check from me for this series.

Might have to check the cable guide to make sure I don't miss any of the other episodes. I already missed a lot of On the Lot episodes and it really bummed me out because I really enjoyed watching that!!

That's what I get for being so easily distracted these days... =(

MY MOM IN THE WATER

This is my mom. She was talking to my sis (who was sitting on the shore nearby) and I took her photo because she just looked so relaxed and so nice in the water. I also loved the way the light shimmered on her smooth back.

Photo taken at Hundred Islands, June 9.

WEIGHT ISSUES

Looking at the many photos we took during our weekend trip to Hundred Islands and Baguio, I realized that I have gained too much pounds over the past few months. I cannot exactly pinpoint what caused my weight gain but I suppose it's a mix of inactivity, not watching what I was eating and complacency. Last year, my brother-in-law got married and I was one of the secondary sponsors. Of course, I prepared for the big event and lost some of the weight I wanted to lose before. But 2 months after that, the boys and I went to Japan and I think that's when I gained back all the pounds I lost - and then gained some more. I was not very active during our stay in Japan. I was usually just at home doing chores and tending to the boys. The usual exercises we had were on Saturdays when we played badminton for an hour or two and during long walks to the grocery/supermarket. Oh yes, and when we had to go places as well because we had to walk all the time. So that was basically it. Plus, considering the fact that I wanted to cook sumptuous meals for my husband and he would let me try new food and meals around Yokohama (ramen and chahan! yum yum!) added to my weight gain. And then, after arriving from Japan, we hied off to Zamboanga and again, inactivity and poor diet. I did do some exercises on my mom's stationary bike and tried to eat more fruits and less carbs but I suppose it was just too little impact on my stubborn fats.

So here I am again trudging on my treadmill to once more lose the pounds of fat I lost before. Before, I used to begrudge the fact that I was not blessed with a slim and petite body (like my mom and sis). But I'm over that now. I know that self-pity will get me nowhere. If God gave me this body then I should be happy with it. Not many people are blessed with a healthy body. Not many people remain illness-free for several years (yup, I haven't been sick since ... I can't even remember!). So yeah, I know I'll never have a reed-thin body. I know I need to work hard to lose weight. But if this is an adventure then I'll take it on willingly because it IS after all for my own good. Hopefully, in the next few months, I'll be more comfortable seeing myself in photos - minus most of the fat. =D

ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING SAID...

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.

CANDLES

Photo taken at the foot of Lourdes Grotto at Baguio City, June 10.

BLISTERING SUNDAY

What a terribly hot day it was today! My goodness! We had lunch at dampa (a place where there are a lot of seafood restaurants) to celebrate Father's Day and the first wedding anniversary of my brother-in-law and whaddya know, the airconditioning of the place we went to was busted!! So we had to eat our lunch with fans blowing warm air toward us. Really really not my idea of a fun time. Ethan was so cranky from the heat he preferred standing outside the restaurant where there was a bit of wind to cool him. Sigh.

Then, we had to pass by a place that sells ceramic tiles because my mother-in-law had to buy some tiles for the new bathroom and it was just so terribly HOT there because it was like a warehouse type of store and there was no airconditioning and only ONE fan! So the boys and I crowded around the single fan while Mama and my brothers-in-law looked for the right-color tiles. The boys were so cranky from the heat and because it was time for their nap. Ethan wanted to be carried when he got cranky. Sigh. He's such a heavy boy but I carried him still because he was sooo sleepy at that time. When we got home, we were all soooo thirsty we finished 2 pitchers of cold water!

Sigh. Manila has just become too hot these days... Where oh where are the rains?

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I watched Night at the Museum last night. It was a funny movie. Not really one that critics would love but it was a fun, feel-good, makes-you-happy kind of movie. And I was glad to watch it because there were times when I was laughing my head off and I was glad to laugh, if only because of a movie. (I think as adults, we need to laugh more but I will save that for another story.)

Anyway, Ben Stiller played his usual comedy and even if some of his antics were overdone, it was still okay with me. Owen Wilson and Steve Coogan were funny as well. Robin Williams, a versatile actor, was great as Teddy Roosevelt. There was one scene with a tire that made me laugh so loud I sounded like a crazy person. =D I liked the light story, the characters, the plot. Very enjoyable movie indeed.

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Tonight was the tv premiere of Disney's original movie Jump In. I was really looking forward to watching this because I loved High School Musical and I think that the double dutch concept was a nice touch because it's not that well known here. Anyway, Corbin Bleu's acting was nice. He did good at High School Musical but I think he did great in this latest movie. I loved how the story did not push a love match, how it focused on being true to oneself, how it teaches acceptance, understanding, and self-realization and yes, I was glad that there was a happy ending (of course, it's a Disney movie - duh). It was a nice story. Really straight to the point and let me just say that the stunts and choreography were really awesome!! Really amazing! I nearly clapped during the freestyle show! Yup, really really amazing...

I enjoyed this movie so much. Hopefully there will be other nice movies like this. I think this is a good and inspiring movie for young people out there.

P.S. Am looking forward to watching High School Musical 2 in September! Hopefully it will be as good as the first one. =D