what the: CAPS

I don't know the name for this "fad", but I don't like it.

The picture I took obviously doesn't do it justice but the point I think is made. What the heck is up with the caps that just graze the top of the crown? That sit on the head? Some with a slight tilt. Usually seen on people who sport the baggy pants and garish gold "bling".

Every time I see it, I wanna run up to the person and give him/her a good hard PAT on top of his head. Hitting 2 birds with one stone: 1) to push the hat down firmly onto his/her head and 2) a well deserved smack for sporting such audacity ;)

As always, different strokes for different folks. Just not my stroke. Lol.

Bedtime

There was a time in my life that I was so caught up in work that I'd come home and just fall asleep. Sometimes with the TV on, usually without getting the chance to wash up. I'd wake up a zombie the next day and drag myself to work. Felt kinda like groundhog day as this would just repeat itself over and over and over again...

You need to get that I love unwinding before bedtime, so for me to have completely let all of that go over my head for an extended period of time.. you knew there was something amiss. Lol. Let's just say I'm glad that time of life is over and done with :)

Turn on your AC + a yellow bed side light.
Place HOT tea next to your bed (so by the time you get into bed its at the right temp).
Take a long hot shower & do all your night time clean up rituals.
Climb into fresh clean jammies.
Jump under cover of newly made bed with clean crisp sheets.
Clean my phone of the day's messages + review what needs to be done the next day.
Write in journal &/or record past week in planner (with a list of the day's blessings of course!)
Read a few pages out of a book.
Turn off the light.
Snuggle down into pillows.
Say prayer.
Drift off to sleep......

Now there are a few variations here and there but this is pretty much the routine! Best way to end the day. Promise :)

Sugar & Spice & Everything Nice

Nice people are just.. well.. nice! I'm not talking about the "sugary-sweet-bordering-on-plastic" nice, or the "overbearingly-annoying-i-wanna-hide-from-you" nice, but the people who are just "genuinely-sincere-gosh-darn" nice!

I was making calls the other day updating clients, and it was delightful speaking to people who were pleasant and accommodating. No crabby old secretaries for me please!

There is also a custodian in our office who helps start my work morning off on the right foot. He's at work bright and early, happily mopping the floor or emptying out waste baskets and he never fails to wish every single person he meets a good morning. Seriously, outside of Snow White & Amy Adams, who else do you know whistles a happy a tune while sweeping the floor? Or while doing ANYTHING for that matter?

In a world where there are so many sullen and irritable people to deal with on a regular basis, it is great to unexpectedly engage with people who are not only helpful but who exude a sense of peace and happiness. It really makes a difference and can fortunately, be quite catching.

what the: INDOOR SUNGLASSES

This has been a long time "eh?!" of mine: seeing people wear sunglasses indoors.

I get that maybe some people do it for:

1) Fashion Statement (though.. for me it makes a whole different kind of statement)
2) Not feeling themselves (sore eyes or possibly drugged up :|)
3) Hide from people (though.. doesn't it attract more attention when you wear it indoors? well, I at least you will definitely have my attention)
Either way, doesn't make too much sense to me. But different strokes for different folks I suppose.

Early Christmas Start

Filipinos are known to start the Christmas season early. Once the "-ber" months roll around (SeptemBER, OctoBER.. you get the drift), it is not uncommon to hear Christmas jingles piped into mall sound systems, or holiday decor suddenly for sale under major flyovers.

But for me, nothing rallies up the old Christmas spirit better than singing Christmas carols with my choir, especially the Filipino ones. There's just something about my native carols that make me feel happy and warm inside; they seem to really capture what Christmas in the Philippines is really like.

I still remember my first year as a trainee in my choir learning Tagalog Christmas carols. So much fun because some of the melodies were kinda-sorta familiar... but i had ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHAT I WAS SINGING ABOUT. Memorizing anything in Filipino for me was like memorizing a string of disjointed sounds; ma-ba-da-da-da-nga.. etc. LOL. Not that that I'm an expert now, but trust me, I am far far better now at it than I was before. Mangled Filipino or not though (ya ya... mangled most of the time!), Christmas with my choir, my family, my friends? No other better feeling in the world. Dig through my treasure trove of memories and you'll find many a happy Christmas related ones!

We started singing carols for an upcoming December concert at rehearsals last week. Boy was it nice! Rather timely too as the general mood in the Philippines has been down due to the recent destruction brought on by Ondoy, and I feel it maybe down for some times as we climb our way back out and up. Regardless though, while Christmas this year may not be as festive (though, I could be mistaken, Filipinos can surprise you like that), I do feel it will be more meaningful. If there's one thing Ondoy has taught us, it is to see beyond the material and really appreciate the things that really do matter in life; family, friends and the love that binds us all together.

what the: URINALS

Do guys really have smaller bladders? I would assume that between the two, girls have smaller bladders. So why are urinals more prevalent on the roads than I dunno.. portapotties? Not that I think any girl I know would want to use a public portapotty unless desperate (then again.. maybe even when desperate, still may opt to hold it in), but it just makes me wonder. And what's up with boy bathrooms smelling more than girl bathrooms?

Laptop Love

One of the smartest things I did for myself this year was to get myself back on a laptop.

Due to professional and personal circumstances, I made the switch from a laptop back to a desktop about a year ago. For a while it wasn't too much of a big deal, but as I started to get busier, the more it made sense for me to get one.

I originally planned on getting a netbook. As a constant commuter, having something lightweight and compact was a desirable prerequisite. But thinking long term, a regular sized lap top made more sense. Plus I'd look pretty funny jabbing away at a computer much much tinier than I!

It's been a little over a month and it's already made such a difference in my life. While I have now rejoined the anti-social world of peeps who disappear into their laptop every chance they get, it has more importantly, made a lot of positive changes. It has allowed me to make better use of my time and also allowed me to turn work in faster, both reasons why I opted to buy one in the first place.

Still looking for a name though! Sylvester & SylviaLaTorre don't sit completely well for me so I'm still on the look out for a better name for my new limb extension.