All About Me: On Blogging and Writing

You have until March 17 to make this "poor soul" happy ;) 

Hey it’s my birthday week! So why not share some weird things about me?  Let’s start with the blogging/writing:

• I write better when music is plug in my ears matched with a mug of coffee. I have a variety of choices but on top of them are Gregorian Chant, Enya, Barry Manilow, Jim Croce and believe it or not – Queen’s Freddie Mercury (“Queen Live in Wimbley” is plugged in my ears while I’m writing this)
  
  For coffee – not too sweet not to creamy – preferably strong!  I don’t mind the brand as long as it smells and tastes like coffee.
• I have a 500 gig external hard that carries my photos for blogging.  Each photo in there carries a story in my brain’s draft folder.
• I’m a magnet to dramatic, sad, lonely post which I am really trying to minimize.  The irony is that I’m a very happy person.
• I don’t comment to a blog post that I didn’t read with understanding. I’d rather not comment at all.
• I have habit of spontaneously back reading posts of the blogs in my roll.  I usually don’t comment on the posts while I’m doing this. But I always try to make a mental note on posts that I like and if says about anything on the blogger’s personality.
• I have a secret list of favorite bloggers not because they are my friend but because I really love the way they write and express.
• If you link my blog or include my blog in your blog roll,  I will link you back at least to one of my blogs regardless of your Page Rank.
• I don’t mind putting too much links in my sites even I’m aware that they will negatively affect the SEO  thingy I’m confident that I can pull it up by making quality posts.
• I write to express NOT to impress.
• Never in my entire life that I didn’t have a writing desk.
• My father said that I’m in my weirdest when I’m writing.  (Back in the province when I was younger) He’s always amazed whenever he stumbles upon one of my scattered drafts and always ask “Did you write this?” LOL!
• And as Freddie Mercury says, I write better when “Under Pressure!”.

… hmn there’s a lot more. till next share!

Note:
The organizer’s photo is taken aboard a plane. The scribbles is a list of posts that I plan to write while on a trip and I am surprised to find that all topics were posted/published in my blogs.

Bazaar! Bazaar!

When: February 24, 2013

Where: Pasig Capitol Community Church
San Rafael Kapitolyo, City of Pasig Philippines

Proceeds of this bazaar will be used to fund various outreach programs of the group Pinoy Bloggers Outreach (PBO).

For good Samaritans who wanted to support this project for a cause you can get in touch with PBO through Twitter, Facebook and Blog Site.

See you all there!

***

"We are created for community, formed for a family, fashioned for fellowship, and none of us can fulfill God’s purposes by ourselves. It is because our ultimate life's purpose is to be of person to others." ~ PBO ~

Jim Croce Songs

I am supposed to write a product review today but unfortunately I’m sick.  I don’t think I would be effective in writing positive things while feeling low and sick.  So here I am in bed scribbling incomprehensibly of topics I’m not sure what about when suddenly the music floating in the house called my attention.

“Jim Croce is in the house!”  I have the habit of posting this status in my social media accounts every time an artist’s album is being played at home especially if I haven’t hear it for quite a while. 

Hubby has the habit of playing my favorite songs every time he feels I’m a bit down plus he’s one real music lover.  His vast collection of musical CDs and downloads can attest to this.  (This reminds me that I haven’t finished my series of post that I called Musical Exposure).

Jim Croce's music was introduced to me by one of my male best friends during high school.  I instantly fell in love with Croce’s songs.  How could I not?  I love literature and Jim Croce’s song lyrics are literature by itself.  They’re the kind of songs that stays in your head and in your heart.

For me there’s a lot of poetry in Jim Croce’s songs.  It is just sad that this talented singer and song writer died young.  But the beauty and mystery of his songs lives on.  It never fails to haunt me,  inspire me, entertain me.

Among my most favorite Jim Croce songs are Time in a Bottle, Photographs and Memories, Operator, Lover’s Cross, These Dreams, Alabama Rain, I Got A Name, I’ll Have to Say I Love You in A Song and a lot more.  How I wish that I could make a post on each of these songs.

The song “Photographs and Memories” is one among my inspiration why I created a category in my other blog "Sunday and Photograph".

This is something I’m trying to find in today’s music genre - a Jim Croce kind of music.  No matter what generation you belong I would say that try discovering these songs and you will understand what I’m trying to say here.

Reviewing Jim Croce’s biography while writing this, I find it amusing that he came into my mind on his birth month.  He was born January 10, 1943.  He died on September 20, 1973 from a plane crash together with his band mate. More details about his life, works and death here.

What is your favorite Jim Croce song?  If none because you don’t belong in his  genre (I don’t too), try checking them out and I promised you will thank me for leading you to these great songs.

***

… if I had a box just for wishes, and dreams that had never come true, the box would be empty except for the memory of how they were answered by you… Time in A Bottle

…cause tables are meant for turnin and people are bound to change. and bridges are meant for burnin’ when the people and mem’ries they join aren’t the same… Lover’s Cross

… summer skies and lullabies, nights we couldn’t say goodbye, and of all the things that we knew not a dream survived… Photographs and Memories

The Things that I Miss When the Christmas Season is Over

A lot of things have been said how good it is to spend the Christmas season in the Philippines and just like every Filipino I totally agree to all of them .

The Feast of Epiphany was celebrated last Sunday, January 6, this also officially marked that the Philippine Christmas season is over.  In spite of the long season of celebration, I still can’t help but wish that it is still Christmas.  Oh how I enjoyed these things during Christmas and now I am missing them…

Simbang Gabi (Dawn Mass)

I am one among the Roman Catholics who annually observed this devotion.  Not only that I am completing the nine-day novena, but I also experimented doing it in my own way.  The mass starts as early as 4:00 AM which means that you need to be awake earlier than that.  This is really challenging especially for  working people who needs to take away sleeping/rest time.

The Food outside the church after each Simbang Gabi
Going out of the fully packed church, you will be welcomed by the delicious smell of Bibingka, Puto Bumbong, Suman, Tsaa (Tea) and a lot more Filipino Christmas food.  Modern food stores are now selling these foods all year round but nothing compares in smelling them right under your nose while they are being cooked and prepared in front of you. and then consumed them while they are still hot!  Oh so yummy!




December Breeze
The Philippines is a tropical country and it’s hot most of the time. The cold December breeze is such a breather for everybody.  At least once a year we can experience a cold temperature less the rain and storms.

Hearing Christmas carols at dawn time
I just love to hear these undying songs especially at dawn time when everything is still quiet and peaceful

Buying and wrapping gifts and receiving thoughtful gifts
Though this part can sometimes drain your Christmas bonus, the feeling is fulfilling though that you are able to express your thoughtfulness even once a year (“Minsan lang sa isang taon” ).



The festive mood and decorations everywhere.
There are people everywhere mostly a whole family.  In spite of the traffic and holiday rush, there’s a unique look of joy in everybody’s faces.



And most of all… isn’t it that most people are extra forgiving, charitable and thoughtful during Christmas?  What about you? What do you miss most about Christmas?

Have a Lucky New Year! Welcome Year 2013

Lucky New Year everyone!  Learn from the past, move away from whatever is holding you back!

Don’t worry Be Happy! It’s New Year!



Thanks for the wonderful 2012 with y’all! Let's rock 2013!

Have a Smiley and Lucky Christmas Everyone!

Happy Christmas everyone!


I apologize for the long absence of post.  I’m still here just enjoying my holidays.  Hope you all are doing the same. 

Remember not to stress yourselves about senseless things and keep in mind what is the real reason for this season!

♫Hark the herald angels sing

“Glory to the newborn King!

Peace on earth and mercy mild

God and sinners reconciled”

Joyful, all ye nation rise

Join the triumph of the skies

With the angelic host proclaim:

Christ is born in Bethlehem”

Hark! The herald angels sing

“Glory to the newborn King!”♫

Cheers to all of us lucky earthlings!

Movie Review: Twilight Breaking Dawn Part 2

I’m glad Aro backed out or I’ll never forgive him for snapping the head of Carlisle Cullen – the vampire character I love most in this saga (next is Emmett).  I might ended up as a Volturi hunter.  Whoops! I’m definitely been carried by the vampire hype.

Ok before we go further, let me mention that I will not be using review scores here like 8 out of 10 or something like that.  My movie reviews will all be based on what goes on my (un)opinionated movie-lover brain and heart.  I’m not an expert in doing movie reviews but I’m giving myself the authority to make my own review simply because I like watching mixture of movies and analyzing them afterwards.  Consider it us my outspoken personal views.

Now, the problem with movies that are based on novels or books are, you can’t give them a perfect score if you are using one.  You will always have the tendency to compare them to the one you read right?  And it’s quite impossible to put every bit of details that we read from the book into a two-hour movie especially if it is a saga.  I’m sure everybody will agree that “bestseller” is an understatement for this Stephenie Meyer creation.

What I like most about the movie.
(Apart from Jacob Black’s abs) The fight scene!  It was magnificently cinematic! Vampires and wolves flying in acrobatic fights, head snapping then burnt whoa! that’s something new in the category called violence! lol.  However, the vampire’s unique abilities and defenses reminds me of the movie X-Men where each mutant possess a unique power.  So that point is not unique at all.

Michael Sheen’s (Aro) scene where he’s reading the mind of Ashley Greene (Alice) and knowing that he's going to be defeated by no other than the lover tandem of Edward and Bella was superb.  His backing out of the fight was entertainingly funny.  It got a lot of “I did not see that coming!” from the crowd.  Woot woot applause applause!

The image inserted here (Mackenzie Foy) is also my most like among the casts promotional photos.  Her face looks perfect for the role/name Renesmee.

What I like less about the movie.
(Apart from Kristen Stewart’s (no)acting) It has a very simple plot and it was drag down to an eternity of discussions and slow walks from the over dressed Volturi. I love the jackets of the Cullen clan by the way.  If in reality the vampire Alice is their fashion consultant, she really has a good taste.  Anyway going back to the simple plot.  The plot of this last installment could have been easily injected into the first movie or to simply say, it should have been just one movie for the last book.  The fans need not wait a year for this.  Their saga should have ended last year.  But for obvious reasons we all know why. 

I say this last installment is especially made to make Twilight fanatics swoon and go home happy.  And if you’re somebody who haven't read the book or watch the first movie installments I strongly suggest not to watch this movie because you will just end up frustrated.  It’s a prerequisite to do so.  Just like Harry Potter you will not totally understand and appreciate the movie version unless you read the book.

So finally the saga has ended (did it really huh?). That future scene envisioned by Alice with the beautiful grown-up Renesmee and Jacob is such a good start for another “weirdos” love story (half human/half vampire ♥ half man/half dog) that I’m sure hopeless romantic fans will all be oh so willing to embrace.

Ok that’s kinda big spoiler for those who haven’t watched it yet. Lucky me! I viewed it on the first day it officially opened in Philippine cinemas - exclusive screening it is courtesy of Nuffnang.ph and Wacoal! Thanks guys!

Photo source: Google images.