Sunday, November 29, 2009

A dream in a Dream




I dreamt that I had a dream...

I am sitting on a river bank cross legged, clothed in flowing cotton tunic.

I have in my hand a sepukku sword, gleaming silver mirrored the sun causing me to squint as I look at it...

The river continued to hum it's song, one that it has been humming since it was born, oblivious of my presence...

In my mind, I can't be sitting here, I should not be here, I need to be somewhere else.

Somewhere. Somewhere. I need to be somewhere. I know I need to be somewhere but I can't seem to stand and walk away.

Something in here must have called me... asked me to get in this place. The sword is still in my hand... Untainted... Gleaming...

Must be it's scabbard on my side... Sheathed it and hugged it like it's all I have left.

I felt a hand touched my face, I opened my eyes and saw you... breathing lightly, so calm inside my arms.

It was a dream. Just a dream. It was a dream...

I knew I'm home as you burrowed deeper into my arms...

Heard a buzz from somewhere... It's 7PM. And it's cold. I got to go to work...





Sunday, November 22, 2009

A Letter of Love...


Dear SVP Migraine,

In going over last year's records by our Auditing Committee, I have been informed that you still hold 50% approximately on stocks and other securities and assets in the following companies: Sam Hart Conglomerate, Natural At Traction and Head Over Heels (Maker of Quality Hats and Shoes). This will stay as is.


Under the present market fluctuations and depressions, we sincerely advise you to hold your assets tight and reassess the Conglomerate's offer of extending your contract with us to ad infinitum since our present contract that has lasted for 2 years, 1 month and 26 days is still in effect. This will not be considered a breach but rather an overlap continuity as stipulated on provision #19.L on the new merger.


At this writing we wish to inform you that Natural At Traction, touched a new high today and is on the new acquisition of better days (include the hard days), which made me decide to propose an extension of the already existing contract.


Hoping for your kind (and loving) consideration. Hope to hear from you the soonest time possible to stop the feeling of missing you from sinking in.


Yours very truly (and will always be yours),

Honey Kolakoy
President / CEO
Samsonite Ventures
Floor 3 CBR Towers
#143 Highway Bothwayes
Tel: 319-143-4424



P. S.
Excuse my way of writing the letter. It is intended to be a corporate letter.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Love Runs Out ... They say






Does love really run out? Does it flow like water then just trickles down when there is not much left and eventually stops?I have heard friends and even in my family (from uncles mostly) that they have fallen out of love or that the love they had at the beginning is just not there anymore. Not there anymore? Ok ... Given it's not "there" anymore then where did it go?... They'd stutter and give me reasons that I cannot seem to digest (or maybe refuse to digest). At the back of my mind, they'd give every excuse just to push something they do not want anymore away and replace it with something they fancy at the moment. Then why say love just ran out?.... I personally do not think love runs out ...


First, it just gets buried by other emotions like hate and anger. Let's just say that you are the "other half" who had been betrayed and the only one who has been working to make the partnership work but then you don't seem to see that your other half is doing something. You'll get frustrated and your frustration will lead to anger then you'll eventually hate the person.



Second, love gets overpowered by lust. Oh come on! Don't say you have never gone google-eyed on this gorgeous girl who has ass the size of pillows and the sticking-out-like-chopstick tits that you wish you can grab and have your way with it... Guys really love to look at them and a part of them down there can also prove it. Sheesh! Don't you downplay me. I have brothers that's why I can tell.... Or you girls, yeah you girl, had stared at this muscled toned guy with this something down there that even in tumescence still showed that they have something down-there. Guys, and oh even girls just hate to look at their partners with sagging arms, potbellied, with big dark circles around the eyes, smells differently, etc ... etc... Then here comes the line, "I have fallen out of love. I think it would be better if we are just friends".... So euphemistic! How about, "I lust for someone else and to have him/her I need to get rid of you so that I cannot be considered a cheater".



Third, love has been pushed to the side by hubris and self preservation. The "it's all about me" mentality is just not that easy to kill ... Arrogance claws love down... And it could be painful to let go of one's arrogance if you had been using it since the begining of time to shield yourself from anything that could harm you emotionally and mentally. Self preservation (superciliousness) and hubris are both addictions and they just can't die easy, it has molded into one's inner core that to take them all out also means to take away life, die (of course figuratively but nonetheless still painfull).



Sometimes it helps if we just sit down and take time to look at our better halves. Why do you have each other in the first place? Tired of making love work? You refuse to listen ... Now this I can understand because for something to work, it has to be fueled by something, driven by something.... But if you say you can't make it work anymore because you got tired then somehow love is still there, stagnant and gathering moss.... like cracks on a wall that had been withered by wind, rain and the sun.



Wednesday, October 21, 2009

How Could You ..

Just saw one female friend's display message in YM... It says "How do you heal a broken heart that feels like it would never love this much again?"...

Yeah ... I wonder how too.


Do you have "below zero"?

Monday, October 5, 2009

The Vampire Girlfriend





Got to talk to one of my college friends who now works in Manila. Can't help but laugh, I know it's not supposed to be funny but it seems like he got robbed and his money bled dry by his own girlfriend.I cannot do much but listen to him rant. But I wish I could do more than just listen.

He was talked into buying her a car, a condo and a trip to Thailand. And when they came back, she broke up with him.

I know it is easy for me to say that he is so dumb, my point is girlfriend-vampires do exist, the girlfriend who holds your credit card and your ATM cards for the blanket reason of "need to budget". But the longer you ATMs and credit cards stay with her, the shorter your financial life-span gets.

I personally know one girlfriend-vampire (a friend used to have her as a girlfriend and have
utang here and there, she even extorted money from her very bestfriend, the one person that she grew up with. Yes, I think you know her, she is Zorayda De Makulangan, up until now, she still owes my friend thousands), she will suck the life out of your money.... errrr.... rather she will suck your money out of your life.

Watch out for this type of girlfriend. One and probably the best indication is that they whine too much about not having this and that.


Thursday, October 1, 2009

Ketsana Victims Need Help



People in the Philippines desperately need help. If you have something to spare, be it small or large, please send it to institutions like the GMA Foundation or ABS-CBN. In this way you can be assured that those donations, up to the smallest one will reach where it is supposed to go. DO NOT GIVE TO GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS, your contributions will just reach pockets.


ABS-CBN HOTLINE 416-36-41

ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. toll free number: 1-800-527-2820 (for inquiries on how send donations from overseas)

Or check www.abs-cbnfoundation.com

-----

GMA Kapuso Helpline: (+632-9811950-59) / Hotlines: 632 9317013
Or check : http://www.gmanews.tv/story/173288/update-list-of-verified-relief-centers-for-ondoy-victims

Peso Savings
Account Name : GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc.
Account Number : 3-098-51034-7

Dollar Savings
Account Name : GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc.
Account Number : 2-098-00244-2
Code : MBTC PH MM

UNITED COCONUT PLANTERS BANK (UCPB)

Peso Savings
Account Name : GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc.
Account Number : 115-184777-2
: 160-111277-7

Dollar Savings
Account Name : GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc.
Account Number : 01-115-301177-9
: 01-160-300427-6
Code : UCPB PH MM

BANCO DE ORO (BDO)

Peso Savings
Account Name : GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc.
Account Number : 469-0022189

Dollar Savings
Account Name : GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc.
Account Number : 469-0072135

Friday, August 14, 2009

Just Amusing ...


This is a telephone conversation between a hotel guest and room-service at a hotel somewhere in Asia which was recorded and published in the Far East Economic Review… this is really amusing. Just wondering, do we, Filipinos talk like this? :)


Room Service (RS): “Morny. Ruin sorbees.”

Guest (G): “Sorry, I thought I dialed room-service.”

RS: “Rye..Ruin sorbees..morny! Djewish to odor sunteen?

G: “Uh..yes..I’d like some bacon and eggs”

RS: “Ow July den?”

G: “What???”

RS: “Ow July den?…pry, boy, pooch?”

G: “Oh, the eggs! How do I like them? Sorry, scrambled please.”

RS: “Ow July dee bayhcem…crease?”

G: “Crisp will be fine.”

RS: “Hokay. An San tos?”

G: “What?”

RS: “San tos. July San tos?”

G: “I don’t think so”

RS: “No? Judo one toes?”

G: “I feel really bad about this, but I don’t know what ‘judo one toes’ means.”

RS: “Toes! toes!…why djew Don Juan toes? Ow bow singlish mopping we bother?”

G: “English muffin!!! I’ve got it! You were saying ‘Toast.’ Fine. Yes, an English muffin will be fine.”

RS: “We bother?”

G: “No… just put the bother on the side.”

RS: “Wad?”

G: “I mean butter…just put it on the side.”

RS: “Copy?”

G: “Sorry?”

RS: “Copy…tea…mill?”

G: “Yes. Coffee please, and that’s all.”

RS: “One Minnie. Ass ruin torino fee, strangle ache, crease baychem, tossy singlish mopping we bother honey sigh, and copy….rye?”

G: “Whatever you say.”

RS: “Tendjewberrymud.”

G: “You’re welcome!”


Be mindful ...

This is a bit too early for me to post this, but I really cannot help it since this has been written by Mr. Randy David. This is supposed to be for the New Year but I'd like to put it here, for my own selfish reasons.

1. Though our lives may be limited by circumstances not chosen by us, we nevertheless make choices all the time. Doing nothing, letting events dictate our lives, is also a choice. Be mindful of the choices you make. Do not abandon your actions; answer for them.

2. It is necessary to look after our selves. Try to look good always so you don’t add to the world’s gloominess. But do not forget that you also have a duty to live well with others. Give cheer, offer solidarity. Never be the cause of another person’s humiliation.

3. Take care of your body, listen to its needs. It works in powerful ways, but it is not infinite in its capacities.

4. We each have our goals, big and small. Our goals are a mirror of our values. Always be conscious of what your goals are, and what it takes to achieve them. Do not hesitate to review and revise them by going back to the context that gave rise to them.

5. Living is essentially problem-solving. The solutions that work are often formulated from new ways of looking and describing. Observe how others look at life. Read and expand your moral vocabulary. Re-describe your life.

6. To understand a thing, science says, is to measure it against a standard. It is also to comprehend the context from which it sprang, and to know its uses. But remember: not everything is worth knowing.

7. Everyone has values. We acquire these in the course of our lives. Make sure your values serve you well; treat them as your “personal defense and necessity.” Once you’ve settled on your values, live by them relentlessly.

8. The main purpose of living is to turn yourself into a beautiful and strong human being, a worthy link in the chain of generations. Each one of us is given a chance to be an artist: our selves are our first raw material.

9. Too often we become the slave of habit. Take time to pause and be silent, so that you can hear the voice of the inner self that may be struggling to free itself from mindless and debilitating routine.

10. There is no sure-fire formula for achieving anything. Armed with knowledge, you may also draw strength from having a lot of hope.

11. Live without resentment and guilt.

12. Love unconditionally and without expectation.

13. Be mindful of the world around you, and learn from Nature.

14. See clearly and act with grace.

15. Face each day with cheer.

Monday, August 3, 2009

what I want for christmas...







These are what I want for Christmas, errr, either of the two ... guess, I'll just have to dream on.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

How I love you...


Since we have just turned 1 year and 10 months, I want to share my favorite poem. I even stole the book from our library just to get myself a copy of this writer's poems. But sadly, the book got stolen too .... from me.... yup, I can be stupid.... :) Anyway, go on, read ...


How do I love thee? Let me count the ways
by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

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.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise,
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints -I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! -and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.



Saturday, July 11, 2009

One Live Walking Joke



You are one LIVE WALKING JOKE who make people sick with your made-up stories, half truths or whole lies, either way they are LIES. So that also makes you a LIVE WALKING LIE.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

PACIFIC CEBU RESORT and their TRASHY CUSTOMER SERVICE

July 5, 2009

The Manager

Pacific Cebu Resort

Cordova, Lapu-Lapu City 6015

Dear Sir/Ma’am:


I would like to file a complaint against your Supervisor, Mr. Arnold Maspara.

This is in regard to the unethical conversation I had with your restaurant supervisor yesterday around 6:30 pm when I asked for a glass of “tap water” to quench my thirst after I rendered my service to one of your clients having a 2-day beach event in your resort.

Allow me to introduce myself to you. My name is Al-Joffri Bacolod. I work as an Executive in a multi-national European company and a sole proprietor of AXEL Audio Excellence as well.

I was really offended when I was turned down just for a glass of tap water. I can always buy bottled water since he gave me the impression, clearly implying, that water is not at all free in your restaurant. But a little consideration won’t cripple your business income. Very drained and exhausted I must say, since I just had all my heavy sound equipments and band instruments transferred in your Cordova office in preparation for the 2nd day of event. Still I insisted to have the glass of water with a soft-spoken voice (“nang-hangyo”) because I was given a “tap water” prior to the refusal, around 2:00 pm I think. When I told him, “gi-hatagan man lagi ko ganina ug tap water? Ok ra man lagi?” He gave a sarcastic answer in verbatim, “Well, you’re a lucky guy!” I was awed when I heard his reply! But then again, I continued to say, “Hangyo lang ko sir for a glass of water ‘cause I’m really thirsty now. Naa man mi event dinha sa _________.” He answered me with an egotistical voice saying: “Yeah! I KNOW!”

Never had I experienced an exemplary behavior from your “customer-oriented” Supervisor! So to speak! I have a sister who happens to work at Plantation Bay, and some relatives and friends who work in Burj Al Arab in Dubai. They treat every customer, whether a Filipino or a foreigner, with equality and utmost respect. It doesn’t even matter what hotel and resort you’re working at, but I believe it is how you treat your customers so they may have a happy memorable experience in your establishment. Respect begets respect. I can only hope it won’t happen to your other clients.

Sincerely,

Al-Joffri Bacolod


========================================================================


I know some people who had experienced the same treatment from resort employees (not all of them behaved SHAMEFULLY though ). I am deeply saddened that they treat their Korean and Japanese guests better than Filipinos. Their customer service to FELLOW FILIPINOS is EXEMPLARY in RUBBISHNESS, absolutely the opposite of what we were expecting since WE, the CLIENTS are patronizing a resort that is staffed by FILIPINOS.

One colleague was able to observe that they treat foreigners better, so to get treated nicely (since they do not speak Korean or Nihongo) nag-Tagalog sila, at ayun, ang tatamis ng mga ngiti na mga taong naghila sa kayak, they showed off "Customer Service" because nananagalog ang mga "panauhin". What a TOTAL BULL!


Monday, June 15, 2009

Prologue: The Time Traveller's Wife




CLARE: It's hard being left behind. I wait for Henry, not knowing where he is, wondering if he's okay. It's hard to be the one who stays. I keep myself busy. Time goes faster that way.

I go to sleep alone, and wake up alone. I take walks. I work until I'm tired. I watch the wind play with the trash that's been under the snow all winter. Everything seems simple until you think about it. Why is love intensified by absence?

Long ago, men went to sea, and women waited for them, standing on the edge of the water, scanning the horizon for the tiny ship. Now I wait for Henry. He vanishes unwillingly, without warning. I wait for him. Each moment that I wait feels like a year, an eternity. Each moment is as slow and transparent as glass. Through each moment I can see infinite moments lined up, waiting. Why has he gone where I cannot follow?

HENRY: How does it feel? How does it feel? Sometimes it feels as though your attention has wandered for just an instant. Then, with a start, you realize that the book you were holding, the red plaid cotton shirt with white buttons, the favorite black jeans and the maroon socks with an almost-hole in one heel, the living room, the about-to-whistle tea kettle in the kitchen: all of these have vanished. You are standing, naked as a jaybird, up to your ankles in ice water in a ditch along an unidentified rural route. You wait a minute to see if maybe you will just snap right back to your book, your apartment, et cetera. After about five minutes of swearing and shivering and hoping to hell you can just disappear, you start walking in any direction, which will eventually yield a farmhouse, where you have the option of stealing or explaining. Stealing will sometimes land you in jail, but explaining is more tedious and time-consuming and involves lying anyway, and also sometimes results in being hauled off to jail, so what the hell.

Sometimes you feel as though you have stood up too quickly even if you are lying in bed half asleep. You hear blood rushing in your head, feel vertiginous falling sensations. Your hands and feet are tingling and then they aren't there at all. You've mislocated yourself again. It only takes an instant, you have just enough time to try to hold on, to flail around (possibly damaging yourself or valuable possessions) and then you are skidding across the forest-green-carpeted hallway of a Motel 6 in Athens, Ohio, at 4:16 a.m.,Monday, August 6, 1981, and hit your head on someone's door, causing this person, a Ms. Tina Schulman from Philadelphia, to open this door and start screaming because there's a naked, carpet-burned man passed out at her feet. You wake up in the County Hospital concussed with a policeman sitting outside your door listening to the Phillies game on a crackly transistor radio.Mercifully, you lapse back into unconsciousness and wake up again hours later in your own bed with your wife leaning over you looking very worried.

Sometimes you feel euphoric. Everything is sublime and has an aura, and suddenly you are intensely nauseated and then you are gone. You are throwing up on some suburban geraniums, or your father's tennis shoes, or your very own bathroom floor three days ago, or a wooden sidewalk in Oak Park, Illinois, circa 1903, or a tennis court on a fine autumn day in the 1950s, or your own naked feet in a wide variety of times and places.

How does it feel?

It feels exactly like one of those dreams in which you suddenly realize that you have to take a test you haven't studied for and you aren't wearing any clothes. And you've left your wallet at home.

When I am out there, in time, I am inverted, changed into a desperate version of myself. I become a thief, a vagrant, an animal who runs and hides. I startle old women and amaze children. I am a trick, an illusion of the highest order, so incredible that I am actually true.

Is there a logic, a rule to all this coming and going, all this dislocation? Is there a way to stay put, to embrace the present with every cell? I don't know. There are clues; as with any disease there are patterns, possibilities. Exhaustion, loud noises, stress, standing up suddenly, flashing light-any of these can trigger an episode. But: I can be reading the Sunday Times, coffee in hand and Clare dozing beside me on our bed and suddenly I'm in 1976 watching my thirteen-year-old self mow my grandparents' lawn. Some of these episodes last only moments; it's like listening to a car radio that's having trouble holding on to a station. I find myself in crowds, audiences, mobs. Just as often I am alone, in a field, house, car, on a beach, in a grammar school in the middle of the night. I fear finding myself in a prison cell, an elevator full of people, the middle of a highway. I appear from nowhere, naked. How can I explain? I have never been able to carry anything with me. No clothes, no money, no ID. I spend most of my sojourns acquiring clothing and trying to hide. Fortunately I don't wear glasses.


It's ironic, really. All my pleasures are homey ones: armchair splendor, the sedate excitements of domesticity. All I ask for are humble delights. A mystery novel in bed, the smell of Clare's long red-gold hair damp from washing, a postcard from a friend on vacation, cream dispersing into coffee, the softness of the skin under Clare's breasts, the symmetry of grocery bags sitting on the kitchen counter waiting to be unpacked. I love meandering through the stacks at the library after the patrons have gone home, lightly touching the spines of the books. These are the things that can pierce me with longing when I am displaced from them by Time's whim.

And Clare, always Clare. Clare in the morning, sleepy and crumple-faced. Clare with her arms plunging into the papermaking vat, pulling up the mold and shaking it so, and so, to meld the fibers. Clare reading, with her hair hanging over the back of the chair, massaging balm into her cracked red hands before bed. Clare's low voice is in my ear often.

I hate to be where she is not, when she is not. And yet, I am always going, and she cannot follow.

=======================

I want to get hold of the book the soonest time possible ...

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Not For Sale


Not For Sale
Tina Arena


Here we are
Face to face
Who would have ever believed we could
End up in this place
You and I
We've come so far
And darlin' though
You're amazed
That I keep on loving you more everyday
But there's something I want you to know
Even if all my dreams should come true
Even if I should fail
I made you a promise
So don't you worry
This soul is not for sale
Not for sale
You're the one
When it rains
Who I can run to for cover
And comfort from my pain
And bloom like a rose in your sun
And we hold on
To what is real
Not willing to sacrifice this love that we feel
Cause we know where our joy comes from
Even if all my dreams should come true
Even if I should fail
I've made you a promise
So don't you worry
This soul is not for sale
Even if all my dreams should come true
Even if I should fail
I've made you a promise
So don't you worry
This soul is not for sale
This soul is not for sale
Not for sale
Baby it's not for sale


Monday, May 18, 2009

He's Just NOT That Into You...






Just saw this movie yesterday. It made me wake up (as should other girls too ... ) to the reality that guys have their own minds and to control them would just push them to get more elusive, intended or not.

The film starred Ben Affleck, Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore and Jennifer Connelly.

I particularly like the part where Gigi is extrapolating the Exception and the No-Exception rule... Bottom line is, if you are fated to end up with each other then you will end up with each other. Nothing can break you apart. Even if time separates you. Commitment does not always mean getting married. It has got something to do with the willingness of one party (or both) to work to make the relationship work without being told and without being coerced, just do things out of one's own free will, no binds whatsoever.

If you have time, this film is a must see.

================

A friend over-reacted... Girl, you know that I am still on your side. My point here is don't rush things. They will just eventually fall into place. Now, if it did not happen the way you wanted it to, then it was not meant to be. Who knows, he could come back after 5 or 10 or 15 years. That, will make you an exception. For now, stop rushing things and live one day at a time.


Sunday, April 26, 2009

People Management ...


Been a team lead for several months now. It has been really hard for me to lead a group of people, more so because these people have their individuality intact and honestly, I am not a people-person. But thank goodness I have a supervisor who cares enough to show me by not leading but making me understand that there is "No Free Lunch". He said that respect is given because it is deserved and NOT COMMANDED by any position or by the bearer. He has only one rule:

SET AN EXAMPLE AND YOUR SUBORDINATES WILL FOLLOW...

Which actually makes sense. Why? Go figure...


Tuesday, March 31, 2009

An Insult to One's Intelligence... Sad sad thing

Below is article of Mr. Chip Tsao (first time I've heard of him), a writer for a very respectable magazine...
Read on and learn something...

The War At Home March 27th, 2009

The Russians sank a Hong Kong freighter last month, killing the seven Chinese seamen on board. We can live with that—Lenin and Stalin were once the ideological mentors of all Chinese people. The Japanese planted a flag on Diàoyú Island. That’s no big problem—we Hong Kong Chinese love Japanese cartoons, Hello Kitty, and shopping in Shinjuku, let alone our round-the-clock obsession with karaoke. But hold on—even the Filipinos? Manila has just claimed sovereignty over the scattered rocks in the South China Sea called the Spratly Islands, complete with a blatant threat from its congress to send gunboats to the South China Sea to defend the islands from China if necessary. This is beyond reproach. The reason: there are more than 130,000 Filipina maids working as $3,580-a-month cheap labor in Hong Kong. As a nation of servants, you don’t flex your muscles at your master, from whom you earn most of your bread and butter. As a patriotic Chinese man, the news has made my blood boil. I summoned Louisa, my domestic assistant who holds a degree in international politics from the University of Manila, hung a map on the wall, and gave her a harsh lecture. I sternly warned her that if she wants her wages increased next year, she had better tell every one of her compatriots in Statue Square on Sunday that the entirety of the Spratly Islands belongs to China. Grimly, I told her that if war breaks out between the Philippines and China, I would have to end her employment and send her straight home, because I would not risk the crime of treason for sponsoring an enemy of the state by paying her to wash my toilet and clean my windows 16 hours a day. With that money, she would pay taxes to her government, and they would fund a navy to invade our motherland and deeply hurt my feelings. Oh yes. The government of the Philippines would certainly be wrong if they think we Chinese are prepared to swallow their insult and sit back and lose a Falkland Islands War in the Far East. They may have Barack Obama and the hawkish American military behind them, but we have a hostage in each of our homes in the Mid-Levels or higher. Some of my friends told me they have already declared a state of emergency at home. Their maids have been made to shout “China, Madam/Sir” loudly whenever they hear the word “Spratly.” They say the indoctrination is working as wonderfully as when we used to shout, “Long live Chairman Mao!” at the sight of a portrait of our Great Leader during the Cultural Revolution. I’m not sure if that’s going a bit too far, at least for the time being.

http://hk-magazine.com/feature/war-home#comment-2675.


==========================================================


It's quite sad and disappointing. I was hoping that this article will spark a more mature, intelligent and sensible talk about the Spratlys. But all I got is dirt and cheap street talk, slapstick. He just insulted his own intelligence...

Next please.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Hale and Toads

I got stuck in the muck again. The ticket was there and why did I not check on it! How stupid... This day could not be more perfect... From morning until evening, all I have were hale and toads.. Just right. More than just right.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

The Horse in the Year of the Ox...


2009 year of the ox predictions for the Horse (1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990) should be prepared as his luck would go to both extremes in the year of the Ox. Lucky stars shining on him in 2009 would be able to help him achieve success in his career, however some unlucky stars are also shining that could bring him tragedies and difficulties. These difficulties he should all pass before he will be able to taste the fruits of his hard work.

One lucky star that has influence on his work and career is the lucky star Jiang Xing. This star represents bravery, stamina and persistence in achieving success. This star also signifies better social status and leadership skills, which would benefit the Horse who is involved in the upper management, disciplinary teams and key positions in large corporations. They can expect satisfactory performance this year.

The star Di Lie could bring the Horse major problems, but with the help of influential people he would be able to face all the problems and solve them. Another star, Di Jie signifies moving. This could mean a new house for the Horse, a new real estate or new furniture.

Bai Fu is a star that signifies animal bites, Horses who have pets or who are working closely with animals are advised to take extra caution. Another interpretation for the star Bai Fu is a woman without sense who might bring great annoyance to the Horse.

One star that means good luck in wealth and career is the star Jin Gui. However the Horse and his family members might suffer poor health and injury on limbs and some teeth problems. Overall, the Horse can expect to make progress in the year of the Ox, as he can also look to have some changes in his environment. However, special attention should be given to his own physical and mental health and he also need to take care of his family members.


PISCEAN HORSE

Piscean Horses get swept up in the opinions of others. They like to know what other people think of them and can be quick to make changes others see fit.

============


THE OX in the Year of the Ox:

The Ox is the sign of prosperity through fortitude and hard work. As one might guess, such people are dependable, calm and modest. Like his animal namesake, the Ox is unswervingly patient, tireless in his work, and capable of enduring any amount of hardship without complaint

People born in this year are also said to be stubborn, narrow minded, and with low public relations skills.

Interesting combinations, I must say. These and lots more are sure in store for us in the Chinese Year of the Ox 2009. So let’s see what other things are coming for the Ox as well as those in the other animal year.

Continuing with our discussion of the Ox, the male Ox can look forward to a better year in 2009 compared to their female counterpart, as far as the romance department is concern. The female Ox can only expect for short term romances, and she even have to take initiatives at times. On the other hand, with the star Tai Yin shining on them, which represents females with influence to help them out, the male Ox can expect to have better luck on love, and is likely to meet someone he likes.

Aside from the love factor, Tai Yin is also known as a Star of Wealth which means that it can influence his luck on wealth positively. So if the male Ox is working under a female supervisor, he can expect more support and recognition, with a better chance of progress and development in career. But while Tai Yin signifies progress, it is slow yet steady. This means that the Ox should not be pushy or rush his way, if he does, his luck might go the other way.

Another lucky star shining on the Ox (1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 2009) in 2009 is Guo Yin, which is an authority star is also known as the seal of the General. This can be interpreted that his progress and developments will be recognized and achieved with much authority.

Unfortunately, unlucky stars are also shining upon the Ox. These stars are Guan Suo, Gou Shen, Di Sha and Tian Sha which could cause annoyance because of poor interpersonal relationships and some disputes. Guan Suo, for one, represents financial disputes and blackmailing. These unlucky stars can cause turbulence to the Ox’s otherwise beautiful career path for the Year of the Ox 2009. It is advised that he should work on and improved his interpersonal relationships skill, as this is his weakest department, and the area he is likely to go wrong.

PISCEAN OX

Sensitivity influences the toughness of the Ox to produce a delicate personality, with unlimited creativity and perspicacity. Piscean Oxen are artistic and would rather work behind the scenes than be a visible member of the team.


Back to Work...


Got back to work today. My wound still throbs painfully once in a while but it's tolerable. My team welcomed me warmly and they kept on asking where I'd been. Just told them that they'd surely not going to want to be where I got stitched... They smiled but you know they still had a lot of questions to ask judging on the looks on their faces. Luckily, they did not pound me with their questions, instead they gave me space... I heard someone said "yehey! Escalations will be worked on...". Yup, I'm working... Working again.


Sunday, January 4, 2009

excision of multiple fibroadenoma...








I just had an operation last Friday, Jan. 2, 2009, my surgeon Dr. Juanito Dy called the operation as excision of multiple fibroadenoma. The ultrasound image displayed above are the "things" taken out. The ultrasond machine only saw 5 adenoma or growths but when my surgeon opened up my chest, he saw 6, the sixth is just about .02 cms, comparatively small compared to the others taken out, the reason why it was not detected by the ultrasound machine.
Are you wondering if it was painful? Yes, it was. He injected anesthesia 4 times before I went numb. But then when he snips the growths out of my other tissues, I still feel a stabbing pain surge through my chest, before I knew it I had tears flowing at the corners of my eyes, but I was not crying. The pain was just sharp. I was awake the whole time, I tried to sway my attention away from the pain. I opened up a conversation with Dr. Dy, in the background I can hear scissors snipping away something, seems like I am hearing cloth being cut... but then I kept on talking. The operation just took a little over an hour... Finally it was over. I got 31 stitches. I'm amazed I was still able to stand when just a while ago, I saw myself bled.
This whole thing actually made me realize something. I am nothing compared to those people who had stage 4 C's, sure there's Cobalt and chemo, but then there is more to it... Life indeed is a mystery. You thought you had it all figured out but then suddenly it all comes in a rush and you get left with nothing but cold feet.
I also realized that I am still blessed, the people who matter to me love me. I still have a lot to thank for.
One thing more... I'm waiting now for the lab results for the adenoma. Hopefully, it's not what I am afraid it would be.