25 (Very Very Random) Things About Me

Got tagged in Facebook four times now, so I might as well get it over and done with. Sharing with you 25 things about me, here goes:

1. I cried when I watched "Marley and Me" because I was reminded of my dogs in the Phils--I miss them.

2. People who follow my blog assume that I will always write EVERYTHING that happens in my life. I sometimes get reactions like "Bakit wala pa sa blog mo?". I never answer those kind of questions--obviously, I have no obligation to share everything in my blog.

3. I hate waiting because I hate wasting time. BUT I can endure waiting and I forgive people easily when they're late.

4. I drink pineapple juice but I don't like eating pineapple (the fruit)--the smell makes me dizzy.

5. Misconception #1: that I am a coffee addict. The truth: For the past three years, I normally drink coffee twice a week (Friday and Saturday) only. The only time I drank lots of it (2-3 cups a day) was when I worked in Makati for six years.

6. However, coffee addict or not, I love coffee--I'm passionate about it in the sense that I want to learn everything about it.

7. Misconception #2: that I am a chocoholic. The truth: I can actually live without chocolate or at least survive without eating it for the longest time. The only reason why I frequent hanging out at chocolate cafes is because my husband is the one who can't live without chocolate.

8. However, I do have my favorite chocolates: Hershey's Kisses with Almonds, Lindt White, Cadbury Dream and M&M's with Peanuts.

9. I average about 40 minutes of walking everyday.

10. One of the happiest times I've had at work took place inside the training room where I'm surrounded by my trainees.

11. My principle in getting things done: Do it right the first, all the time.

12. The one person that helped me got over my issues/angst in life was a life guru (life coach) who made me realize my substance, self-worth and potentials, and that I'm capable of forgiving.

13. I don't take pride in having too many things. My goal nowadays is to live simply.

14. In relation to #13, I was appalled to see that I have acquired so many clothes (for the past three years that I've been living in Sydney) when I had an inventory of our closest in the new year. I now have a balikbayan box full of clothes that will be sent off to charity.

15. I drink tea twice a day: organic green tea at 10:00am; vanilla green tea after dinner.

16. I'm mataray but never an iskandalosa.

17. One of my dreams is to have a recording studio inside the home.

18. I'm such a big fan of Madonna when I was a kid that I named our first dog "Madonna".

19. I love "Big Bang Theory". My husband uploaded their episodes in my iPod and I always watch them when I'm onboard the train or bus. Even if I've seen all their episodes a thousand times, it never fails to make me laugh.

20. My favorite character in "Big Bang Theory" is (Dr) Sheldon Cooper. He's sooo funny!!!

21. Husband and I made a vow not to buy stuff related to our photography hobby (i.e. new body and lenses) this year. We have chosen to lie-low on our love for photography for a year or two because we are preparing to buy something big next year.

22. Two things I'm know for in my circle of friends: (1) I call my girlfriends "Hane" and (2) During ranting sessions (i.e. barkada talking about her fight with the bf, etc), I would always be the one ask "So, anong learning mo sa pangyayaring ito?"--para sa akin kasi, walang kwenta ang kwento kung walang aral na natutunan.

23. My most favorite cities in the world would be: Dubai, Manila, Cebu, Makati, Hongkong and Sydney.

24. It took my husband two years to convince me to marry him.

25. I never thought I'd love being married---but I DO!

Couple Reflection: The Direction of Your Thought Life

The direction of your thought life can determine the course of your marriage.

"Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life." Proverbs 4:23

As train 8017 made its way through Salerno, Italy on March 2, 1944, it gave no sign that disaster was in the making. The chugging train didn't collide with anything on that rain-soaked evening. It didn't derail or burn. But........shortly after 1:00 am, the train loaded with 600 passengers lumbered into the Galleria delle Armi. When the two locomotives pulling the train reached midtunnel, its driverwheels began to slip. Sand was sprayed on the tracks but to no avail. The wheels lost traction and the train stopped. All else is speculation since both engineers died. Carbon monoxide snuffled out the lives of nearly 500 people.


As analysis surveyed the wreckage, they found that the leading locomotive was unbraked, its controls set in reverse. The second locomotive was also unbraked, but its throttle was positioned "full ahead." The two locomotives had pulled and pushed against each other, their engineers obviously having fatally different ideas about what to do! Some have speculated that no lives would have been lost if the engineers had only been in agreement about which direction to go.


Make a decision today with your spouse that you will both move your thought life in the direction of God----then stay close by the controls of your minds.

Source: from an email forwarded by Gary.

Having True Friends...

make up for not having a brother/sister.

I always think that having true friends is God's way of making me feel like I have a brother/sister (lots of them actually). Anybody may argue with me that having a friend is never the same as having a brother or a sister. Argue all you want, but I'd rather count my blessings and not look for something (or someone) I don't have.

I find it rude sometimes when people immediately passes judgement by saying "Ay, isa ka lang na anak, eh di ang lungkot ng buhay mo?" when I tell them that I'm an only child. And my answer has always been "No". Never in my mind or heart that I feel something is missing in my life just because I never experienced having a sibling. What I always feel is that I have special people in my life who will always be there for me and whom I'm bonded not by blood, but by heart.

When Was The Last Time You Did Something For Yourself?

Yesterday, I decided not to go to work.

I woke up a little late than usual. The alarm went off at 5:30am, touched the snooze button...alarm went off again after five minutes, I didn't get up still. After a few more minutes (that's an understatement), I realized it was already 6am! Immediately, I prepared to go to work. While Husband and I had breakast, I told him, "I don't want to go to work today, I want to go back to bed and sleep." The ever-loving husband replied, "Then stay home, what have you got to lose?"

My husband has never been a big talker but once he says something, more often than not, it is logical and will make you stop and realize, "Oo nga no?"

So I asked myself, "When was the last time I did something like this?"

"When was the last time I threw all my caution to the wind and just do what I want and not care about what will happen next?"

"When did I last rewarded myself with a day of sleeping?"

"When was the last time I gave myself something intagible?"

The answer to all those questions was "I don't know." With that kind of answer, I think that says a lot, doesn't it?

And so I stayed home and slept...and watched TV...and read a book...and just relaxed! It was a glorious day for me. I made up for lost sleep and at the same time, it not only rejuvenated my body, but my mind and soul as well.

Nowadays, it's so easy to get caught up in the web-like array of our day-to-day activities--work, responsibilities, bills to pay, parties to attend, a household to manage, kids to take care of, family and friends to be there for...and the list goes on and on.

These days, we only get to take a day-off when we're feeling really really sick---and more often than not, we even feel guilty for not going to work!

These days, it's just so easy to be an adult because we are faced with obligations. that we sometimes forget the child in us.

But once in a while, no matter how difficult or impossible we think it is, doing something for yourself can be the most rewarding thing. It is healthier too.

So be a kid sometimes and ask yourself, "When was the last time I did something for myself?"