My Favorite Poetry Lines

I am so proud that I am back!

Back to myself...coffee is all it takes...

WOOT, I am doing Thursday Thirteen this week.

And I commit to continuously do it...I so hope, for the love me! Ha!

Anyway...as suggested by Colleen, "POETRY" is my theme.

Love my alpha and omega entry... ;)

Enjoy everyone...I'd so love you to drop my your favorites in the comment box! 

Happy hump day y'all! 

1. Pablo Neruda, 100 Love Sonnets 

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you simply, without problems or pride: I love you in this way because I do not know any other way of loving but this, in which there is no I or you, so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand, so intimate that when I fall asleep your eyes close.  

2. E.E. Cummings 

I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my heart)
I am never without it (anywhere I go you go,my dear; 
and whatever is done by only me is your doing,my darling) 
I fear no fate (for you are my fate,my sweet)
I want no world (for beautiful you are my world,my true) 
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant 
and whatever a sun will always sing is you here 
is the deepest secret nobody knows 
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide) and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart 

I carry your heart (I carry it in my heart) 

3. Khalil Gibran, The Prophet 

You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts. 

4. Mary Oliver 

Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? 

5. Walt Whitman 

What is that you express in your eyes? It seems to me more than all the print I have read in my life. 

6. J.R.R. Tolkien 

Still round the corner there may wait A new road or a secret gate And though I oft have passed them by A day will come at last when I Shall take the hidden paths that run West of the Moon, East of the Sun. 

7. Seamus Heaney, Stepping Stones: Interview with Seamus Heaney 

If you have the words, there's always a chance that you'll find the way. 

8. Anne Sexton 

As it has been said: Love and a cough cannot be concealed. Even a small cough. Even a small love. 

9. Ian Fleming, You Only Live Twice 

You only live twice: Once when you're born And once when you look death in the face. 

10. Andrea Gibson 

That night when you kissed me, I left a poem in your mouth, and you can hear some of the lines every time you breathe out. 

11. Mae West 

You are never too old to become younger! 

12. William Shakespeare, Sonnet 116 

Love is not love Which alters when it alteration finds, Or bends with the remover to remove. O no, it is an ever-fixed mark That looks on tempests and is never shaken; It is the star to every wand'ring bark, Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken. 

13. Neil Gaiman, Fragile Things: Short Fictions and Wonders 

She seems so cool, so focused, so quiet, yet her eyes remain fixed upon the horizon. You think you know all there is to know about her immediately upon meeting her, but everything you think you know is wrong. Passion flows through her like a river of blood. She only looked away for a moment, and the mask slipped, and you fell. All your tomorrows start here.

I hope you enjoy my entries! 

Facts About Chocolates

It is nice to be back...

Things are not so well with me. Just so much to do...so little time. For the past days, while I'm not really fond of them, chocolates have been my company at the office. so for this week's Thursday 13...let's talk about CHOCOLATES!

1. It is believed that chocolate was originally used more than 2,500 years ago in Central America. The Mayan civilisation considered Cacao to be a divine gift and held it in high regard. It was used for ceremonies and as a form of currency. 'Cacao' is a Maya word meaning 'god food' which after being introduced to Europe in the 16th century, was the basis of the Latin name for the Cacao tree 'Theobrama Cacao' meaning 'food for the gods'.



2. 'Chocolate' comes from the Aztec word xocalati which means bitter water.


3. More than 66 percent of the worlds cacao is produced in Africa and 98 percent of the worlds cocoa is produced by just 15 countries.


4. More than twice as many women than men eat and crave for chocolate.


5. It is observed that chocolate cravings cannot be satisfied by any sweet/candy other than chocolate itself. Huh!


6. Chocolate produces the effects of a mild anti-depressant by increasing serotonin and endorphin levels in the brain. (No wonder!)


7. Chocolate contains a small quantity of caffeine which emulates mild amphetamine.


8. Although not scientifically proven, chocolate is believed by many, to be an aphrodisiac. The theory is supported by the fact that chocolate does contain among many chemicals the stimulants: caffeine, theobromine, and phenyethylamine.


9. The biggest chocolate structure ever made was a 4,484lb, 10 foot tall, Easter egg, made in Melbourne Australia.


10. 17,000 people in Belgium work in the chocolate industry


11. Despite being high in fat content, chocolate doesn't appear to raise blood cholesterol levels.


12. Allergies to chocolate are uncommon (Good to know!).


13. In 2006 more than 6.5 million tons of chocolate was traded worldwide.

Happy CHOCOLATEy Thursday everyone!!!

13 Interesting Facts About Lipstick

It's Hump Day everyone...I hope you are all having fun. The week is almost over and I am hoping this week will kinder to me than the previous ones! 

I have made myself a promise...to post something here whatever happens. Today I am staying home. Ideally I should be resting that is why I'm home. But then I'm bringing work with me so there goes not getting the rest my body needs again. 

I am doing Thursday 13 today and I couldn't find any feel good topic which I can deeply relate to except lipstick. At least not with the current state of mind and body I am right now.

So here goes Thursday 13 Interesting Facts About Lipsticks

And please I beg for all your indulgence if I am making myself the model today! ;)

1. A survey result taken in 1998 showed that 32% of women claimed that they owned more than 20 lipsticks.

2. 80% of American women regularly wear lipstick. According to some Journal, 65% of women use lipstick on daily routine and 25% won’t leave house without applying it.

3. Lipsticks are sold most during gloomy rainy days.

4. The best product for everyday use is a clear lip balm. Clinique’s world-wide retail operation is reputed to sell one lipstick every second.

5. Applying only color lip gloss on your lips can work a lot and make you to look beautiful.


6. About 5% of the lipsticks are found on cups of coffee or tea, and about another 5% of the lipsticks are found inside the women’s stomach due to new flavors and essences. Isn’t it interesting?

7. Lipsticks are composed of waxes, different types of oils, pigments, emollients, Vitamin E, aloe Vera and sunscreens.

8. It is astonishing but still beeswax is one of the basic lipstick components.

9. Wax help in shaping lipstick and make it easy to apply,  caster oil is one of the most important ingredient which creates a shiny film after drying that does not smear easily.

10. A Survey studies shows that, 5% of the Lipstick goes to tissue papers and cotton tabs at the time of removing the make-up, while 15% goes in drain at the time of washing face and lips.

11. During ancient time, Noble Japanese women were not allowed to appear in public without intensive makeup.

12.he first modern lipstick with metal “bullet” case was manufactured in Waterbury, Connecticut, in 1915 by the Scovil Manufacturing Company.

...this one, has been an outstanding line of Mariposa since time immemorial...

13. Women wear lipstick to warn the men that's its the wrong hole!

I hope you enjoyed your trip up to here...reading 13 stuff can be too much sometimes, you know! ;)

Happy Thursday people...help spread the LOVE!

Art of War

Happy hump day everyone! While I am trying to pull out myself from being pissed, let me share with you interesting qoutes from one of my favorite literary work, The Art War.

Let me present to you Thursday 13 Art of War.

1. This is my favorite!

風　Swift as the wind
林　Quiet as the forest
火　Conquer like the fire
山　Steady as the mountain

2. If your opponent is of choleric temperament, seek to irritate him. Thus I will never give in...(breathe)

3. Management of many is the same as management of few. It is a matter of organization. I couldn't agree more!

4. Build your opponent a golden bridge to retreat across.

5. Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent's fate.

6. He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot will be victorious.

7. What the ancients called a clever fighter is one who not only wins, but excels in winning with ease.

8. To know your Enemy, you must become your Enemy

9. Opportunities multiply as they are seized.

10. Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.

11. The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim.

12. The general who wins the battle makes many calculations in his temple before the battle is fought. The general who loses makes but few calculations beforehand.

13. All warfare is based on deception.

Hope you enjoyed them as much I enjoyed reading the book over and over! ;)

Wish you all a great day!

All About Dumaguete City

As most of you know I am in another city called Dumaguete for the training of my pioneer team, my Alpha Team! ;)

While this city is nearer to Cebu City as compared to Bacolod (where the call center is located and where I will be temporarily be based) it is just way different from Cebu...way different!

So for today, let me feature some facts and information about Dumaguete City which I learned first hand. So folks, here goes my entry for Thursday 13 --

1. Dumaguete is also known as the City of Gentle People. This I have no idea why. I just find it a label too difficult to keep, for one I have encountered several rude people here already...but while I know it is not fair to generalize, it is also not wise to generalize that they are all gentle. But then, yes that is what the city is known for. :)

2. Dumaguete City is the capital of Negros Oriental.

3. This is a city which I'd say has been trapped somewhere in time. The city does not have any cabs nor jeepneys (the public transport here in the Philippines). People here ride the motorcycles and the motorcycles with a side car which we commonly call as tricycle or pedicab.

See this woman? She is dressed well and most likely on her way to work. I cannot imagine myself in my corporate outfit riding one! The government they said does not allow franchise for jeepneys and cabs...amazingly crazy.

Needless to say this makes the like of Mariposa go nuts! I haven't driven for awhile moreso in a new and unfamiliar city...so I have to what, rent a car with a driver?! So crazy!

4. But I found a nice place to stay. Not a fancy hotel but very neat, people are very hospital and the place was able to host all of us. Yes we got the entire place for us!

This is Bolmon Guest House. If want to visit Dumaguete I highly recommend this place for you. I rarely make recommendations and this is one I am willing to promote for free! :) Seriously this place is just nice. Despite all the craziness that I have with transportation and at the other center, it is nice to know that I have a place to rest at the end of the day. This is like home away from home for me.

This is the terrace outside the room where I'm staying. Actually it is the suite. I can see sunrise from here...which I really love!

5. One popular landmark and one of of the city 's historic construction is the Dumaguete Bell Tower (Belfry). It served as a watchtower in ancient times and is now equipped with a lush garden. Devotees visit the place everyday to pray.

6. The Boulevard is Dumaguete’s most famous promenade and I have to admit, I love it, especially with the beautiful view of sunrise that it offers!

Lots of people jog here early morning and I enjoyed my morning walk here with my coffee!

7. Along the Boulevard is also a nice restaurant which I always frequent, Lab-as. It is a local term for fresh, as their specialty are seafoods.

7. The Quezon Park is another beautiful area with some stunning tree lines and a huge play area for children and a venue for concerts and exhibitions as well. A cultural program is being held every week in this park, the Tayada Sa Plaza.

8. Silliman Univeristy. This is definitely one icon Dumaguete has...to a point that I sometimes would say to myself that there is not Dumaguete without Silliman. They are just synonymous to each other. 

9. And the Silliman Beach is a beautiful place known for its relaxed and serene environment. Visitors can also enjoy some popular water activities here. It is especially popular with the younger crowd.

10. The place is famous for Sans Rival.

 11. I love Cafe Antonio! After several nights of searching for a nice coffee shop I finally found a place to stay and enjoy my coffee.

12. The people in Dumaguete speaks the same language/ dialect with the people in Cebu! WOOT! I get to finally talk in my Cebuano dialect. I missed it when I was in Bacolod because people there speak Ilonggo.

13. And finally if there is one thing I need to tell people who visits this place, you are in for an adventure. Should I come back here I will make sure I bring casual clothes to get to ride with their means of transport. This is a place where I feel I am way overdressed even going to work. This is one place I can't stay long...unless I have the IT Guy with me who make sure I get most of the things I need. LOL

That's it for today people...Happy Thursday to all!

Women's Perspectives

For Thursday 13, I'd like to share to you guys 13 words from the women dictionary! I got this from email and it made me chuckle...and smile. Hope it will do the same to you!

1. Argument (ar*gyou*ment) n. A discussion that occurs when you're right, but he just hasn't realized it yet. 
2. Airhead (er*hed) n. What a woman intentionally becomes when pulled over by a policeman. 
3. Bar-be-que (bar*bi*q) n. You bought the groceries, washed the lettuce, chopped the tomatoes, diced the onions, marinated the meat and cleaned everything up, but, he, "made the dinner."
4. Cantaloupe (kant*e*lope) n. Gotta get married in a church. 
5. Clothes dryer (kloze dri*yer) n. An appliance designed to eat socks.  
6. Diet Soda (dy*it so*da) n. A drink you buy at a convenience store to go with a half pound bag of peanut M&Ms.
7. Eternity (e*ter*ni*tee) n. The last two minutes of a football game.
8. Exercise (ex*er*siz) v. To walk up and down a mall, occasionally resting to make a purchase.
9. Grocery List (grow*ser*ee list) n. What you spend half an hour writing, then forget to take with you to the store.
10. Hair Dresser (hare dres*er) n. Someone who is able to create a style you will never be able to duplicate again. See "Magician."
11. Hardware Store (hard*war stor) n. Similar to a black hole in space-if he goes in, he isn't coming out anytime soon.
12. Lipstick (lip*stik) n. On your lips, coloring to enhance the beauty of your mouth. On his collar, coloring only a tramp would wear...!
13. Waterproof Mascara (wah*tr*pruf mas*kar*ah) n. Comes off if you cry, shower, or swim, but will not come off if you try to remove it.
14. Valentine's Day (val*en*tinez dae) n. A day when you have dreams of a candlelight dinner, diamonds, and romance, but consider yourself lucky to get a card.

Happy Thursday to all!

Mariposa's Going Bananas

I've been most of my time at home baking banana cakes the past days. So if you visit you will see bananas all over the kitchen!

So for Thursday 13, let me share with you some facts about bananas -

1. It is believed by many experts that bananas were the first fruit cultivated by humans.
2. The banana "tree" is not really a tree, but a giant herb. The banana is the fruit of this herb.
3. The strings that go up and down the length of bananas are called Phloem Bundles. They help distribute nutrients to every part of the growing bananas.
4. The cluster of bananas sold in supermarkets is a "hand" of bananas, while the individual bananas on the hand are called fingers.
5. The yellow bananas that are most often sold in supermarkets are sometimes called "dessert bananas" because they are soft and sweet. And this is the type I made into banana cakes such as this --

6. Plantains are a type of banana that are not as sweet and are usually cooked. While not as commonly eaten in North America, plantains are a dietary staple in many tropical regions like here in the Philippines!
7. Worldwide, bananas are the fourth largest fruit crop.
8. The banana peel is edible, though perhaps not very palatable unless cooked. Acckkk! LOL
9. The banana split was invented in 1904 by 23-year-old David Evans Strickler, an employee at the Tassel Pharmacy soda fountain in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.
10. The song "Yes, We Have No Bananas" was released in 1923 and became a huge hit. It refers to the banana shortage at the time
11. In 2001, Britain recorded 300 incidents of injuries related to bananas. The majority of these involved people slipping on banana peels. Please be careful of those peels!
12. Alexander the Great first came across bananas in India in 327 B.C.
13. The pejorative term "banana republic" was coined by American writer O. Henry. He used it in reference to Honduras, but the term became widely used in reference to any Latin American, Caribbean, or African country that was politically unstable, relied heavily on basic agriculture, and was not technologically advanced.

So there you go...happy Thursday to all!

Thirteen Things About Tigers!

Since it's the year of the metal tiger, for Thursday 13, let me share with your some 13  interesting facts about TIGERS!

1. Tigers are the largest of the big cats.
   
2. Wild tigers are at the very top of the food chain.
3. There were originally eight subspecies of tiger, the Javan, the Bali, the Caspian, the Indochinese, the Sumatran, the Bengal, the Siberian, and the South China tiger.
4. Unbelievably three of the eight subspecies are now extinct. The Bali tiger met its demise in the 1940s, the Caspian in the 1970s and the Javan in the 1980s. (Yes you read that right--the 1980s!)
5. The latin names for the subspecies are:
              
             pantheris tigris amoyensis - The South China tiger
             pantheris tigris altaicia - The Amur (Siberian) tiger
             pantheris tigris sumatrae - The Sumatran tiger
             pantheris tigris corbetti - The Indochinese tiger
             pantheris tigris tigris - The Bengal tiger
             pantheris tigris balica - The Bali tiger
             pantheris tigris virgata - The Caspina tiger
             pantheris tigris sondaica - The Javan tiger
   
   
6. A captive tiger can live up to twenty years, while a wild tiger can expect to live ten to fifteen years.
7. Tigers are an umbrella species, which means to save the wild tiger we must also commit to saving its habitat and prey.
8. The tigers saliva is antiseptic and comes in handy for cleaning their wounds.
9. An adult wild tiger is a solitary, territorial animal. A single tiger's territory can cover over 160 square kilometres (100 square miles).
10. A tiger marks its territory by spraying surrounding trees and bushes with urine, dropping prominently placed scat, and leaving deep scratch marks on tree trunks
11. In the scent of the tigers urine and scat is a code which can only be deciphered by other wild tigers. The message not only acts as a warning to trespasses, but will also supply all the information needed for a  would  be mate.
12. Tiger stripes are individually as unique as the human finger print and if you were to shave the fur from a tiger it would still have stripes.
13. Tigers reach maturity and are ready for mating at the age of three and the male tiger can copulate up to six times an hour. (Please don't ever think of marrying a tiger because of this fact!) LOL
    

Happy Thursday everyone!

It's All About Women

It's Thursday and I really need to go to bed soon as I have an early appointment later...and with the time now, I think I'm only left with 5-6 hours sleep but then I miss Thursday Thirteen very much that I want to make a quick post before I doze off.

Anyway, here goes, 13 Funny and Interesting Facts about Women!

1. According to Playboy, more women talk dirty during sex than men.

2. Women do NOT want an honest answer to the question, ‘How do I look?’

3. A Saudi Arabian woman can get a divorce if her husband doesn’t give her coffee.

4. It is illegal to be a prostitute in Siena, Italy, if your name is Mary.

5. Women do NOT want an honest answer to the question, ‘Is that girl good looking?’

6. The two highest IQ’s ever recorded (on a standard test) both belong to women.

7. Sex is more physical for men and more emotional for women.

8. It’s okay for women to dance with each other and not be gay, You don’t see straight men dancing together.

9. The first naked man women see is ‘Ken’.

10. Women are never wrong. Apologizing is the man’s responsibility.

11. When a woman answers, “I’m fine, ” after a

few seconds, she is not fine.

12. The average number of items in a typical woman’s bathroom is 437. A man would not be able to identify most of these items.

13. If a man goes on a seven-day trip, he’ll pack five days worth of clothes and will wear some things twice; if a woman goes on a seven-day trip she’ll pack 21 outfits because she doesn’t know what she’ll feel like wearing each day.

In as much as I want to give credit to its source, I got this a friend via email.

Happy hump day Thursday everyone!

Mariposa's 13 Things

It's been awhile since I last did Thursday Thirteen and today is one of those days when sleepiness is avoiding me and so I'm still here blogging my @$$ off and hopefully I get to doze off after banging my head to come up with 13 meaningful and interesting things about me! LOL

For the most of you, most likely you already know some of the things that I'd be listing today but here goes 13 things about Mariposa ---

1. I love butterflies. I chose the pen name Mariposa because of my passion for butterflies. Mariposa is the Spanish of butterflies.

2. I wear too many rings!

3. For the most part I have long hair. I guess...95% of the time.

4. I've had long nails since I was in high school.

5. I can walk better in high heels. (Though I've been trying to wear flat shoes at work for 2 weeks now!)

6. I have to exert effort to reach 100 lbs because my doctor told me so. I used to be just 84 lbs. Today I weighed myself and I'm 1 lb short. (And no, I don't have any eating disorder.)

7. I love watermelon! I can eat it everyday.

8. Life for me begins after a cup of coffee.

9. I can wear something in red or with red for a month without wearing the same clothes again. (My closet is filled with too many reds!)

10. I am very trusting to the people I love and care. The reason for that is no matter what they do and what happens, I'm sure I'm just going to forgive them anyway.

11. I used to paint and earn from it.

12. I love to read and I read a lot. When I'm bored I read anything, even receipts! LOL

13. I already have names for my children. And I'm so guarding it with my life because I don't want my friends or anyone to steal it.


Okay folks, those were another 13 things about me and I'm sure to visit your 13 things in the evening! Wish you all a happy hump day!

13 Excuses For Falling Asleep at Your Desk

Header from Samulli

I'm so happy to be doing Thursday Thirteen again!

This week I'm going fun moments at work...which happens to be the topic for breakfast at home. As most of you know I work in the evening and we were talking about possibilities of "sleeping at work". Then we went on with some crazy ideas...13 crazy excuses for falling asleep at your desk!

(1) "They told me at the blood bank this might happen."

(2) "I wasn't sleeping, I was trying to pick up contact lens without hands."

(3) "I was doing a highly specific Yoga exercise to relieve work-related stress. Are you discriminatory towards people who practice Yoga?”"

(4) "I wasn't sleeping I was doing 'Stress Level Elimination Exercise Plan' (SLEEP), I learned that at the last mandatory seminar I was made to attend.

(5) "I wasn't sleeping! I was meditating on the mission statement and envisioning a new paradigm!"

(6) Raise your head slowly and say, "...Amen."

(7) "This is just a 15 minute power-nap like they raved about in the last time management course you sent me to."

(8) "Whew! Guess I left the top off the liquid paper."

(9) "I was testing the keyboard for drool resistance."

(10) "This is one of the seven habits of highly effective people!"

(11) "Boy, that cold medicine I took last night just won't wear off!"

(12) "Darn! Why did you interrupt me? I had almost figured out a solution to our biggest problem."

(13) "Ah, the unique and unpredictable circadian rhythms of the workaholic!"

Fun Quotes!

It's been awhile now since I did my last Thursday Thirteen.

Below are thirteen fun quotes for the new millennium...

1. The geek shall inherit the earth.
2. Fax is stranger than fiction.
3. Windows will never cease.
4. Speak softly and carry a cellular phone.
5. A journey of a thousand sites begins with a single click.
6. A chat has nine lives.
7. You can't teach a new mouse old clicks.
8. Too many clicks spoil the browse.
9. Oh, what a tangled website we weave when first we practice.
10. Don't put all your hypes in one home page.
11. Don't byte off more than you can view.
12. Know what to expect before you connect.
13. Give a man (or for that matter anyone) a fish and you feed him for a day; teach him to use the Net and he won't bother you for weeks.

It's 8:24 AM here and I'm enjoying my Lengua de Gato with my coffee. Hope you're all having fun!

Butterflies All Around!

It's such a nice feeling to be back, as in for real...like being able to make several posts within the week!

Blessings and graces keeps pouring, and I am grateful for;

- The gift of health. Though the past weeks has been quite draining for me, I'm so glad that despite that and the not so nice weather here, I am still good...I'm usually sensitive to those two!

- Gift of family and friends.

- As I have mentioned in my Fun Monday post, I downgraded my cellphone plan...and since I've been a good customer to them, valuable I mean!, ahem, they still opt to give me a handy phone. Nothing fancy...a Nokia Supernova 7210...cute...and it serves my need!

So I'm able to save several cash because I'm not getting an iPhone anymore...and that is because,


- I'm getting a Lenovo S10!

Thanks to IT Guy for this! This is his gift...well, I told him I prefer this over iPhone...because,

- I can use it to do my other 'ventures', such as doing trainings and studies. Yes, I'm so blessed to meet wonderful people whom I can partner with in making my dream (which is to go into projects base and consulting ventures) a reality!

I have more for sure...as blessings come in so many forms every single moment of our lives! They are like butterflies which flutters around...adding colors to our world...all we need to do is stop whatever it is we are doing and enjoy their fluttering around us.


With that, let me share with you 13 amazing facts about nature...Mariposa's fascination...the BUTTERFLY!


Do you know that...

♥ The word butterfly came from the English word Buttorfleoge. Perhaps because, in mediaeval times, butterflies could be seen hovering around butterchurns or that their excrement is yellowish in colour.

♥ There are approximately 28,000 butterfly species in the world.

♥ Butterflies are the second largest group of pollinators.....next to bees.

♥ Butterflies range in size from a tiny 1/8 inch to a huge almost 12 inches.

♥ Female butterflies usually are bigger and live longer than male butterflies.

♥ Butterflies don't have lungs.

♥ Butterflies taste with their feet.

♥ A butterfly has compound eyes: each eye is made up of about 6,000 tiny parts called lenses, which let in light.

♥ Butterflies can see red, green, and yellow.

♥ Butterflies can see ultraviolet light (light invisible to the human eye) which makes the markings on flowers very vivid to them and guides them to the nectar tubes. Some butterflies have ultraviolet reflectants or markings on their own wings which are visible only to other butterflies.

♥ Butterflies are cold blooded; they do not produce metabolic heat like humans, so they must rely on the sun to raise their body temperature so they can move about. Some bask with their wings open, others with wings shut.

♥ Butterflies cannot fly if their body temperature is less than 86 degrees.

♥ Butterflies have their skeletons on the outside of their bodies, called the exoskeleton. This protects them and keeps water inside their bodies so they don’t dry out.


There you go...


Everyday is the best time
to give thanks!

Please check Thankful Thursday
and together let us celebrate
all the things we should
be grateful for!



For other 13 wonderful things....please visit Thursday Thirteen!

I Feel so Blessed!

It's a fun Thursday, and I'm sharing 13 reasons to smile...laugh...chuckle...giggle! But before you scroll below, let me give you a short run down on what good stuff I have for the week --


♥ Mariposa's Tales will turn 3 years this Sunday! Yes, a thrilling three for my blog! WOOT!

♥ I am glad that my friend was able to overcome her immediate needs. Though most people may disapprove credit, I'd still say, thanks to some organizations who provide payday loans! If it helps people get by, then be it!

♥ My outreach for the children is still going on and I am so happy with it!

♥ My health has been excellent the past days.

♥ Nancie already sent her pretty calendars to me and I am so excited for it!

♥ The mallwide sale last weekend afforded me to buy stuff for IT Guy. Something I don't get to do a lot...it's him who usually buy stuff for me...LOL

♥ The mango float I did last weekend was a big success! People at home love it!

♥ I'm back to doing Fun Monday and I'm hosting it this Monday. I'm inviting you all to join...the theme is at the top, in my sticky notes. I'd be happy to read your high moments...

♥ And I'm happy to announce that I'd be making a great turn in my career and that next year will change my life!!! Ha!


All these things and other little miracles in my life...and in the lives of people around me (in RL and in here) will not be possible without God's grace.
So, for my 13 reasons to make you smile today...if you haven't done that yet, here ya go!!!


Puns and Other Groaners


(1) The roundest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from too much pi.

(2) I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian.

(3) A rubber band pistol was confiscated from algebra class because it was a weapon of math disruption.

(4) No matter how much you push the envelope, it'll still be stationery.

(5) A small boy swallowed some coins and was taken to a hospital. When his grandmother telephoned to ask how he was, a nurse said, "No change yet."

(6) It's not that the man did not know how to juggle, he just didn't have the balls to do it.

(7) Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.

(8) Two atoms are walking down the street and they run in to each other. One says to the other, "Are you all right?" "No, I lost an electron!" "Are you sure?" "Yeah, I'm positive!"

(9) A hungry lion was roaming through the jungle looking for something to eat. He came across two men. One was sitting under a tree and reading a book; the other was typing away on his typewriter. The lion quickly pounced on the man reading the book and devoured him. Even the king of the jungle knows readers digest and writers cramp.

(10) A dog gave birth to puppies near the road and was cited for littering.

(11) A group of chess enthusiasts had checked into a hotel, and were standing in the lobby discussing their recent tournament victories. After about an hour, the manager came out of the office and asked them to disperse. "But why?", they asked, as they moved off. "Because," he said, "I can't stand chess nuts boasting in an open foyer."

(12) Don't join dangerous cults, practice safe sects!

(13) There was a man who entered a local paper's pun contest. He sent in ten different puns, in the hope that at least one of the puns would win. Unfortunately, no pun in ten did.

Truly a beautiful Thursday, isn't it?!


Everyday is the best time
to give thanks!

Please check Thankful Thursday
and together let us celebrate
all the things we should
be grateful for!



For other 13 wonderful things....please visit Thursday Thirteen!

Love Blooms Here

I am so grateful for all the wonderful comments I got yesterday. I thank all of you who made the time to come here and celebrate with me Word Filled Wednesday!

So I'd like to share all of you 13 wonderful and uplifting Bible verses...

For the gift of friends...

(1) A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. - Prov 17:17

(2) A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. - Prov 18:24

(3) Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. - Rom 12:15

In it is always a comfort to know that in times of adversity, we can always seek Him...

(4) He heals the brokenhearted, and binds their wounds. - Psalm 147:3

(5) It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. -Psalm 118:8

(6) Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. -Jeremiah 33:3

(7) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. - Epistle of James 4:10

(8) Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. - John 16:33

And that in times of trouble, God stands firm...oh what a joy!

(9) We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed. - 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

(10) Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me. - Psalm 138:7

(11) Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your soul. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. - Matthew 11:28-30

(12) Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you: He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. - Psalm 55:22

(13) Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever. - Psalm 136:26

I also would like this opportunity to invite you all to come back here tomorrow if you have the time, I have a very moving story to share with you all... Though I already did the post, I decided to tie it up with Friday Haiku to give way to Thankful Thursday and Thursday Thirteen today.

And finally, allow me to say this prayer -

Dear God,

Thank you for loving me.

Thank you for blessing me special friends that mean so much to me.

Help me to show them how much I love them and appreciate them.

In Jesus Name, Amen.


Everyday is the best time
to give thanks!

Please check Thankful Thursday
and together let us celebrate
all the things we should
be grateful for!



For other 13 wonderful things....please visit Thursday Thirteen!

Freedom...Anyone?

This week...I chose to post quotes and quotations on freedom of the press...freedom of expression. This was triggered by two things, a week ago, Cebu celebrated Freedom of the Press Week, and another blogger Lecram made a post on Freedom of Expression - A Plea.

I always try to stay away from political discussion here as most of you know, in as much as I can, I try to make my post here light and personal, yet, there are times when I feel I need to say something...and this is one of those times.

I was supposed to make this post last weekend, but circumstance did not allow me so, here it is.

Blogging has become so much part of the many of us that we most of the times, rant...ramble and shout out our opinions in here. And we do that without fear of being kicked in butt for saying our thoughts. We keep an open mind and go into discussions...and I believe it has become a healthy venue for exchange of opinions.

So what do you have to say if you learn that a blogger was thrown into jail for voicing out his opinions against the government? I can't believe it too, but it happened! No fair trial...no due process...nothing at all!

I never claimed to be well-versed in different laws, but I do believe in due process, and that treating a person innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt is just a universal law...I mean, in a civilized society. So I have included several links here so you can go and read them yourselves.

There is an ONLINE PETITION going on, so you can sign up and help this individual be given at least fair trial.

I did join the online petition as I have my personal stand on this issue. I am not the type to carry placards across the street to fight for a cause, but certainly I am not one person who just bit her tongue when I know what is right.

And Thankful Thursday reminds me once again of the many things I should be grateful for. One is my ability to think freely...and express my thoughts...and more importantly the guidance on which and where to use them not only to my benefit but to the people around me as well.

I am grateful that finally that software which monitors my desktop activity at work had been removed as it turns out it was not supposed to be there...speaking of freedom...LOL

I am grateful for the gift of friendships...as I have always been!

So here are 13 wonderful quotes on our topic today --

(1) “Freedom of expression - in particular, freedom of the press - guarantees popular participation in the decisions and actions of government, and popular participation is the essence of our democracy.” ~ Corazon Aquino

As long as we do not overdo it... ;)

(2) “It is by the goodness of God that in our country we have those three unspeakably precious things: freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and the prudence never to practice either.” ~ Mark Twain

Amen.

(3) “If the freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.” ~ George Washington

This has its wisdom...

(4) “The government being the people's business, it necessarily follows that its operations should be at all times open to the public view. Publicity is therefore as essential to honest administration as freedom of speech is to representative government. 'Equal rights to all and special privileges to none" is the maxim which should control in all departments of government.' ~ William Jennings Bryan

It's always nice to bring balance...

(5) “In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expression. The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way. The third is freedom from want…. The fourth is freedom from fear.” ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

The fourth one made me stare at the line for minutes...love it!

(6) “The most important aspect of freedom of speech is freedom to learn. All education is a continuous dialogue - questions and answers that pursue every problem on the horizon. That is the essence of academic freedom.” ~ William Orville Douglas

This is what I learn most of all in my years of stay at the University of the Philippines.

(7) “Serious violations of human rights, of civil liberties, the freedom of political expression are matters of concern to every member of the international community,” ~ Robin Cook

I agree.

(8) “Internet journalism could advance freedom of expression and wider view points. Although I have been convicted by Iranian courts, I have not lost hope and I am sure that in coming years the rulers of my country will have to respect the flow of information and freedom of expression.” ~ Arash Sigarchi

Surely internet journalism is here and will be here for years to come!

(9) “No one has paid attention to it. But now people are realizing that freedom of expression throughout the world is at stake.” ~ Julien Pain

What do you think?

(10) "The only valid censorship of ideas is the right of people not to listen." ~Tommy Smothers

So very true!

(11) We have a natural right to make use of our pens as of our tongue, at our peril, risk and hazard. ~Voltaire

I couldn't agree more!

(12) The peculiar evil of silencing the expression of an opinion is, that it is robbing the human race; posterity as well as the existing generation; those who dissent from the opinion, still more than those who hold it. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth: if wrong, they lose, what is almost as great a benefit, the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth, produced by its collision with error. ~John Stuart Mill

That is why...true censorship is with the people...who after all has the freedom of thought...

(13) No man is above the law and no man below it. ~Theodore Roosevelt

That is why I signed the online petition in support of that blogger!


Everyday is the best time
to give thanks!

Please check Thankful Thursday
and together let us celebrate
all the things we should
be grateful for!



For other 13 wonderful things....please visit Thursday Thirteen!

Friends are Gifts!

It's Thursday once again...another reminder of what a wonderful week it's been!

I missed both Thankful Thursday and Thursday Thirteen last week so I am making sure I don't miss this week...

So many 13 ideas in mind...but for this week, I am making a pause making sure I get to appreciate all the blessing I've been receiving for the past 29 years of my life.

God is good...all the time!

Below are just some of the wonderful things He graced me with for the past weeks...

(1) Somebody sent me a red dress for my birthday! Remember that birthday wish list I did? Yup, I got it...one of the bloggers sent it to me! Thanks very much Sage! And I know somebody helped him with that...so a big thank you to Smiley as well!

(2) An old friend whom I met and had a chance to get to know well is back...I mean, we do chat again...and it just feels good to be in touch with good friends! He always gives me a difference perspective...and I really admire him as a person. I am not to name names here...but JMD, if you happen to flutter by here...please know how much your friendship means to me.

(3) I had dinner with IT Guys friends Saturday evening, and I'd say, I really love his new set of friends at work...I mean his workplace...LOL They are very nice...very humble...and I really feel their sincerity. More than anything, I am so grateful for the friendship they give to the IT Guy, as there are times, I can't be that to him...

(4) Imagine opening your mailbox and seeing something like this --

the time passed me by
the feelings always remain
silence is not change

absence does change all
acceptance may not come quick
feelings do remain

missing you I am
hard this is to say to you
uncertainty rules

happiness to you
forever will the sun shine
so the world sees you

Will it not make you stop and smile? It made me...and I'm blessed to have this friend with me...we this kind of tug of war relationship...but at the end of the day...we know we are friends and that we are there for each other. Hey, YOU, if you read this...thanks for the 'Ku...so so lovely...now buy that Coastal Scents and send it to me so you get another special mention! LOL

(5) Id like to thank fo0sies for all the premium points he passed me in my Tribal Wars account...not only that, he also put order in the mess, he had arranged my villages so well! Thanks sweetheart! LOL

(6) Still on fo0sies, he promised to make me a menu! Yup, he is a chef and he told me he will make a menu and will name it Mariposa...how cool! I am so excited! What a friend...

(7) Sir Flash who had been patient in answering all my questions...including the nonsense ones! He also had been my virtual tech support every time I have issues with my pc and the IT Guy is not around.

(8) I'd like to thank Nancie for always being there for me...and for continually holding me in her prayers!

(9) Oh Jan...bless you for sending me wonderful messages...they always make me smile.

(10) To Susan, thanks for always remembering me and visiting me here. You have opened my eyes to a lot of things...you inspire me.

(11) I'm thankful to ALL of YOU who continually visits my site...you always make my day right. Your wonderful comments always make me smile...and warms my heart!

(12) To Red, thanks for all... I can't say it any better.

(13) To IT Guy, thanks for being a friend!


Everyday is the best time
to give thanks!

Please check Thankful Thursday
and together let us celebrate
all the things we should
be grateful for!



For other 13 wonderful things....please visit Thursday Thirteen!