Happy Monday Everyone!

First of all...I'm fluttering by once again! LOL

Life has been on the edge...should I say extremes once again...

Work is killing me...making me spend so many hours...two Mondays ago I was forced to be at the office for 22 hours! So...do the math, and think how long do you think will it let me to recover the sleep I'm missing...when the days after that...were like 10-12 hours at work! Pffft!

Add to that other personal issues that need some sorting...and well, on a happy note, everything is going well now. I do get some minor bumps once in awhile but things are getting way better!

This post will really be a mixed nuts...with 2 posts dedicated to Fun Monday...yup, I signed up for last week and well, did not make it to hit publish button because of some urgent things at work...which asked me to get there like 3-4 hours earlier than usual!

Jo, my apologies, but well, better late than never!

Jo of Chocolate and Other Things was so sweet to host last week's Fun Monday! And guess what, her topic for this week? It's ALL about our Mom and/or Grandma! Isn't it nice to make one post for that great woman whom we all look up to?!

Okay, this one was supposed to be posted last week, but something came while I was making this post...so it took me another week to open my blog. /SIGH

Below is a photo of me and my Mom...this was take 2007, and was posted originally HERE. That's the photo I can grab last minute... ;)

Though unmotivated to blog for weeks now, Jo, made my fingers type today...because if anything that is about Mom, I'm on it! ALWAYS!



And since this post is quite late, yes, a week late, i'm just linking up to this POST. Because that is what my Mom to me, my super hero!

Now, for this week.s Fun Monday, our host is no other than the lovely Sayre Smiles! And her challenge this week is --

What are you and your family doing to deal with the current economic situation on a personal level? Obama's got a plan for the nation, but how do you/will you deal with your own economic stress?

This is quite interesting! I'm not from the US, but no one is immune from economic downturns...and well, my country? We are always on the downturn...ok, make that most of the time!

Though most people look at me and would say on of the many things I'm good at it spending...on the other hand, I deserve an award for holding off my spending since last quarter of 2008.

I, and IT Guy (since we share most of our finances...and yes, we're getting married!) have done the following;

♥ We have successfully lowered our communication expense. For example, I used to spend Php 5-6k minimum on my cellphone bills...so that is excluding my land line bills. I have lowered it drastically...and it is giving me so much savings!

So how? Well, if there is a land line I use the land line...and I opt to text him now than do an out right call to ask if he gets my texts! I know I'm crazy...LOL

♥ Less shopping for me. I am now planning more my purchase of shoes and clothes...so rather than shopping by impulse, it is now shopping by needs...and to be honest, I don't need much because I don't even get to wear some of the newly purchased clothes.

♥ We have also saved on fuel since we are using the old car most of the time...and it is run by diesel...which is way cheaper!

♥ We have slowly cut our spending on dining out...though I have to admit the past 2 weeks were just different..yet, we needed to spend more time together...because our work has been burning us out!

♥ IT Guy installed a financial manager software and I have to tell you, it is really helping us a lot! It allows us to put in all income versus expenditures...the fixed, the recurring and the variables. I have to say...it is unplanned spending that always kill our budgets...because before we know it, money is gone...and we can't really trace it back. We started using the software December last year and I would say, it is really giving us more savings now.

♥ Ah, also, most of our other incomes and allowances at work that are given to us through checks...automatically goes to our checking accounts...and once the money is there, it stays there...to cover recurring bills and become savings ultimately...because if we encash it, it does not get to stay long in our wallets!

♥ We are also forcing ourselves to go into long term investment. So our other savings we put into that...plus, we allocate a certain percentage of our earnings to go into that. So in case, we screwed up our savings today...we still have something in the years to come.

♥ Lastly, we take good care of ourselves! Because we can't afford to be sick in times like this...

* Not really an option to all, but I'm getting extra sources of income. :)

Please visit Sayre Smiles for more meaningful tips! ;)

There...hope I did not kill with you my 2 posts up there...and if you are still alive to this part, I hope you find the time to scroll down and read below.

I got it from an email....

If you’re mad with someone , and nobody’s there to fix the situation… You fix it .

Maybe today, that person still wants to be your friend . And if u don’t, tomorrow can be too late .

If you’re in love with somebody , but that person doesn’t know… tell her/him.

Maybe today, that person is also in love with you .

And if you don’t say it, tomorrow can be too late .

If you really want to kiss somebody… kiss her/him.

Maybe that person wants a kiss from you, too . And if you don’t kiss her/him today, tomorrow can be too late .

If you still love a person that you think has forgotten you…. tell her/him.

Maybe that person have always loved you. And if you don’t tell her/him today , tomorrow can be too late.

If you need a hug of a friend… ask her/him for it.

Maybe they need it more than you do. And if you don’t ask for it today, tomorrow can be too late.

If you really have friends who you appreciate…. tell them.

Maybe they appreciate you as well. That if you don’t and they leave or go far away today , tomorrow can be too late.

If you love your parents, and never had the chance to show them… do it .

Maybe you have them there to show them how you feel. That if you don’t and they leave today , then tomorrow can be too late.

I'd like to thank anyone who emailed and wish me well! I'm fine...and I have temporarily put down my HNT...so no invite for people because the site is like dead for now...I hope to be back with HNT by next month!

Thanks to Sage and Autumn for all...and also to Vixen!

I wish everyone a FUN Monday!!!

Better Late Than Never

Jan. 10, 2008 was proclaimed as a Day To Read...

I had to leave early from work last Wednesday...and I had to stay in bed since then...I have fever and cough...but I did read!

I will post my reading report maybe later today...

For the meantime...better late than never.

Happy HNT!

My 2007 Favorites!

I got this Meme from one of the bloggers who comment a recent post...for whatever reason I can't seem to find her anymore...but will looking later. If you get here sooner, pls do let me know so I can link to you...

Anyway, I am to pick 1 fave post from each month of last year's entries. So here they are...

January - Happy New Year

February - Unfortunately, We're Through

March - Butterflies...

April - I Found The Cure

June - Uncertainties...anyone?

July - Shout Out

August - Mariposa Learns To Fly

September - Clueless Me

October - I Keep Falling In Love With Everyone

November - Intoxication On A Thursday

December - Auld Lang Syne

Wow! There were really months that it's just hard to choose which one. But it feels good reading old entries...makes me ask...why in the world I wrote this...LOL

Happy HNT everyone!

Restless Legs Syndrome?

I just got home and I badly need to sleep, yet I can't...

I'm trying...really hard. I had been up for 16 hours now, and will be at the office in the next 6 hours, so I need to sleep.

BUT

I'm restless...no, not me, my legs!!!


After a very long day, they're definitely tired.



Maybe they need some relaxing...




Maybe they need some stretching...




Maybe they need to be elevated...



Maybe this would finally do it...



My legs, they just have this irresistible urge to move!



I need to sleep...my eyes are willing but my legs are not! :(

P.S. Happy HNT everyone!!!

A Woman

One favorite hobby of mine is collecting sayings and quotations. And I have been doing this for the past 20 years. As I was going through an old notebook, I found this one. This is from the Hebrew Talmud. It's a book where all of the sayings and preaching of Rabbis are conserved over time.

"Be very careful if you make a woman cry,
because God counts her tears.
The woman came out of a man's rib.
Not from his feet to bewalked on.
Not from his head to be superior,
but from the side to be equal.
Under the arm to be protected,
and next to the heart to be loved."

Reading this line, makes me think and smile...

I smile because it reminds me of us. "Us" is a world only I and him understands. It is bounded by infinite space and time. And within the confines of our own bubbles, not only he made me feel we are equal...but more importantly complimentary (just as complimentary colors essentially make one another stand out), needed and wanted yet, protected and loved.

With him, I am a woman, a girl and a friend, rolled into one.

Happy HNT everyone!

Intoxication on a Thursday

The spirit in you and the spirit in my glass come together as one. Together they whirl about like tiny tornados that tear up my halcyon world and toss it away like a child throwing a stick with gleeful abandon. Words cannot describe the energy you infuse in me, and the surge of life you inject into my calm demeanor whenever you come around.

I hold you close, and sip from your cup of love, rolling my tongue around the smooth silk, breathing deep the heady aromas that rise from the tumbler and go straight to the head. Your alluring smile draws me into your mystical web, and ensnares me with velveteen, enveloping arms. Your touch warms me from the inside, and your cold fingers chase tiny shivers that grow into a rumbling quake that leaves me befuddled and bemused.

You engage me with electrifying fire, burning me up with passion and fuelling me to highs where there's only sheer white light, soft on the eye, and a rush to the blood. And just when we can't soar any higher, can't have any more, the bottom falls away and I dive down into a clammy grey, arms spread wide and wind screaming past my ears I fly. The clouds come up to meet me in a tantalizing hurry, as if time were rushing out from a broken hourglass. I reach out and taste you again on a numb tongue and insensate mouth, an enthralling kiss getting lost in the midst of a swirl of flashing memories and luscious smiles. With a roar the surf breaks over me, and lands me on the beach, feeling the sand drawing away from between my fingers as the rip tide pulls away and another wave crashes into me.

On the euphoric plateau stern resolutions are waived, and promises meant to be broken are made. The more I have, the more I want. The tempting taste of you lingers in my hungry mind, and the unceasing desire to make more memories, to seize the unwilling day and rattle the placid night. The spirit is willing and the flesh submits again, yearning for platitudes to quiet the savage being within.

I reach out my hand and touch you, drawing you closer. My rapt, spellbound gaze only broken as you lean into me, and hold up another glass.

So much with that...

HAPPY HNT everyone!

Note: Sorry that I have to embed this word in the photo...somebody suggested it to me. :D

It's Thursday!

I wanted to do Thursday Thirteen but I find this one quite interesting, so I opted to do this instead.

This has been passed on from different bloggers and obviously, some lines were deleted in the process cause there are only 8 currents, and 7firsts...

10 FAVORITES

Favorite Color: Red and Black
Favorite Food: Sushi
Favorite Month: December
Favorite Song: this is tough because I have a lot of faves...but topping them is Windmill Of Your Mind
Favorite Movie: Gone With the Wind
Favorite Sport: Basketball
Favorite Season: Summer
Favorite Day of the week: Saturday
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Mocha
Favorite Time of Day: 5am/pm - 7am/pm (I love sunrise and sunset!)

9 CURRENTS

Current Mood: Lonely
Current Taste: Sweet and Sour
Current Clothes: A pair of slacks, a blouse and a coat (working clothes)
Current Desktop: 2006 Steelers Super Bowl Victory montage
Current Toenail Color: Pussy Red
Current Time: 11:35 am
Current Surroundings: my bedroom
Current Thoughts: I need a massage.

8 FIRSTS

First Best Friend: Georgelyn (in my elementary days...)
First Kiss: SJI
First Pet: Einstein (my favorite dog!)
First Piercing: ears
First Crush: Frank (my classmate in fourth grade!)
First CD:When CDs came out, I got myself The Phantom of the Opera

7 LASTS

Last Cigarettes: 3 days ago
Last Drink: Last Thursday
Last Car Ride: 2 hours ago, was on my way home
Last Kiss: Today, from my Mom! Real one...few weeks ago
Last Movie Seen: UltraViolet
Last Phone Call: About an hour ago?
Last CD Played: The Chicago Story by Chicago...was listening Hard Habit to Break

6 HAVE YOU EVERS

Have You Ever Dated One Of Your Best Guy/Girl Friends: Yes
Have You Ever Broken the Law: Yes, mostly traffic laws...
Have You Ever Been Arrested: No.
Have You Ever Skinny Dipped: Yes ;)
Have You Ever Been on TV: Yes
Have You Ever Kissed Someone You Didn’t Know: No

5 THINGS

Thing You’re Wearing: Right now? A slip on dress
Thing You’ve Done Today: Worked
Thing You Can Hear Right Now: my cellphone ringing, and I'm not answering it! :P
Thing You Can’t Live Without: Lipstick
Thing You Do When You’re Bored: Blog/ Listen to Music

4 PLACES YOU’VE BEEN TODAY

1. Office
2. Bank
3. my Doctor's clinic (yes, I don't feel well...)
4. Kul (where I and my good friend Wini eats everyday...)

3 PEOPLE YOU CAN TELL ANYTHING TO

1. Yummy
2. Wini
3. SJI

2 CHOICES

1. Be on TOP
2. Be on HIGH

1 THING YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE: Have children!

So I guess, this also reveals some things about me, addressing more or less the goal of Thursday Thirteen...and before I leave...allow me to say....

Happy HNT everyone!