Feels Like Insomnia

I'll be back to Boracay with A, the gang and the kids on May 14th until the 17th. We'll be flying through Seair and will be staying at The Tides, the same hotel I stayed the last time my friends and I went there. Hamy won't be coming with us much to my dismay. I think it would be really fun but A didn't like the idea of Hamy traveling that far. So, I didn't push it.

What can I say? I loved The Tides! I don't mind going back. I don't know about Seair though. We usually fly through Cebu Pacific or PAL so this would be our first. Seair came with this Tides peak season promo. It's pretty reasonable so we took it despite the travel arrangement. I hope we made the right decision.

Anyhoo, Best and I will attend this workshop on May 2, a five Saturday sessions on basic photography which makes the trip more exciting for me. The fact that I'll be able to shoot and practice the things I've learned from the workshop at one of the beautiful places on Earth is enough to give me insomnia! Oh gosh, I can't wait!

Out Of Whack

Last time, my iBook was giving me some scares by suddenly switching off. It has been resolved by resetting the PMU. Now, Dino won't charge or won't even turn on.

We went to PowerMac Center at Greenbelt to have it checked. I was blaming the faulty charger and the battery life the whole time but according to the technician both are working fine and the problem might be the Power Manager. Dino was sent to San Juan to be diagnosed further. I have to wait 5-7 days for the result. Ugh.

In a desperate attempt to understand it better, I went to Apple to research and here's what I got:

"The Power Manager is an integrated circuit (computer chip) that is usually on the logic board of the PowerBook and iBook. As the name implies, it is responsible for power management of the computer. It controls backlighting, hard disk spin down, sleep and wake, some charging aspects, trackpad control, and some input/output as it relates to the computer sleeping.

Over time, the settings in the Power Manager may become unusable, which can result in operational anomalies with the computer. Examples include not turning on, not waking from sleep, not charging the battery, or not seeing the AC Adapter, among others."

I'm wishing and hoping and thinking and praying that the problem does not involve replacing anything inside the computer chip. I can't afford a new logic board let alone a new laptop boo hoo! I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Honey, I Shrank The Crocs

This may sound strange but my Alice Crocs shrank about half a size smaller. I dismissed the idea that my shoe size got bigger because that's even crazier. I haven't worn it for a long time but it was just in a drawer together with my other shoes. It was the perfect size when I bought them from my SIL, what have gone wrong?

Apparently, it's not a weird thing at all. Crocs does shrink when exposed to high heat. A Google fact that will never be known to a Crocs owner had the shoes not shrink. Crocs website says extreme heat can cause warping, and that exposure to too much sun can cause them to fade but it never mentioned anything about shrinking.

I was about to call Customer Care to shoot a complain when I stumbled upon this article saying that shrunken Crocs can be unshrunk by washing them in hot water to loosen up the material and then immediately wear them for a while. There are also other ways such as putting them in a boiling water for less than a minute or throwing them in a clothes dryer with some towel for 2-3 minutes. These methods are said to be effective in loosening up the Crocs material which allows them to re-stretch when you put your foot into them and walk around in them immediately. If you want to ditch them to someone who is 2 size larger than yours, putting 2 or 3 of super thick socks before you slip your foot into them will do the trick. The hitch? Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, because different pair of Crocs are made from different batches of materials blah blah blah.

Oh well, there's no harm in trying. I'll give the "washing in hot water" method a try and will probably try the "putting on socks" thing on Hamy's Crocs to re-stretch it a little. It starting to get smaller on her hehe. And if none of these methods work, I swear I'll send the shrunken Crocs back to China.

My iBook Gives Me the Creeps

It suddenly won't turn on. I know it's a dinosaur but I need it and it has all my files!

I was getting nervous every second. The battery was fully charged and it was even plugged in to the wall when it shutdown on me without warning. I switched it on but it won't power up. I removed the battery pack and put it back in, pressed the power button and was relieved when it started up. However, after a minute or so it went off again. I did the same steps and this time it was on for 30 minutes.

I went to the all mighty Google to search for an answer fast. I luckily found an article that has the same dilemma and it prompted me to reset the Power Management Unit (PMU). It sounds technical but really all you need to do is shut it down, hold Shift+Ctrl+Option and the power button simultaneously for 5 seconds and then power it up. It worked! Hallelujah.

For a minute there I thought my iBook was dying. I hope I have it completely fixed. If not, I wish it's not a logic board failure or else I'm dead. I heard it's frighfully expensive to have it fixed. Looks like I have to be extra careful with Dino from now on. Oh and yeah backup all the files every chance I get. Whew.

An iPod That Talks

Image from Apple

Presenting the new iPod Shuffle. Remarkably smaller than an AA battery and can actually store up to 1,000 songs! How can a small thing like this holds a thousand songs? Beats me. Well, they wouldn't call it "the world's smallest music player" for nothing.

All of the controls is on the earphone cord making it easier to navigate. You can now switch playlists with it compared to the old Shuffle who randomly pick songs for you and its VoiceOver feature lets you HEAR the name of the song and artist playing. It can speak 14 languages: English, Czech, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish and Turkish. Cool.

The new Shuffle has stainless steel clip that can be securely attached anywhere and can have it engraved, too. It also comes with an aluminum case in silver or black. Double cool.

Nice! I would not mind getting this for $79 but with gazillion things inside my bag and its teeny-weeny size not to mention my short memory make it impossible not to lose it or break it. Hell it might get thrown along with the trash. Yikes! Scary thought. I'm still happy with my dilapidated but reliable iPod "lolo" Video, thank you very much.

Farewell FM

Baby Grasshoppers by Francis Magalona

"Mga Kababayan" was the first cassette tape I bought and it was also the last. I remember I had my Uncle buy it for me since I was only 7 years old then. I had to save half of my allowance just to buy myself a copy and be part of the cool craze. Yes, I was a big fan back then. Come to think of it, I never stop being a fan. I still love his music.

Did you know he's also into photography? And man, he's one good shooter. He bagged two trophies for the Camera Club of the Philippines 2008 Annual Awards and the photo above was one of the winning shots.

Just like everybody else, I was completely shocked hearing about his death. I didn't know he was under a very critical condition. Did some research and turned out the overall cure rate for patients with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML) is likely lower about 20-45% survival rate.* According to news, he got the worst of its kind.

Reading his blog where he chronicled his battle with cancer was heart-rending. I admire his courage and determination. Despite all the pain he went through, he didn't lose hope and stayed positive all the way. He did fight a good battle.

Francis Magalona will surely be missed but he will always be remembered as his music and legacy lives on. I'm happy that he won't be in any more pain and suffering now that he's at home with his Master.

We offer our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the Magalona family. May you rest in peace FM.

http://francismagalona.multiply.com/
http://happybattle.multiply.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/francism/

*Source: Wikipedia

WS: Angel Sky

The clouds shaped like an angel's wing.

weekend-snapshot

Beer for Bags Sale

This may be the craziest promo stunt I've ever seen.

From February 21 to 26th everyone (over 18) is invited to turn over beer and other food items to the Crumpler Store at Bonifacio High Street in exchange for free bags. In case you’re wondering what will happen to all the beer from the sale, Crumpler will serve them at a party on February 27th, 8pm at Warehouse 135a. One free bag gets you one ticket to the party.

Crumpler's Australian owners have been running the same kind of sale back in their homeland and also in their stores in New York and Toronto. It was such a sellout but will Pinoys bite the bait? I'll probably would if they have camera bags on sale.

For more details on how you can barter beer for bags, please go to http://crumpler-beer-for-bags.com/.

What's Up With BB G?

OMG. First, the he-woman shocked the world with these glamor shots.

And now this video. I'm seriously having a hard time understanding what's he's trying to say here.


WOW! What a big leap from this hunk. But I must say GOOD JOB BB! Change is good indeed.


*The photos were splashed all over Google. Credit to whoever posted them.

I'm Back!

Yep, I'm still alive! I just took a long break from blogging. I've been extremely busy the past few months.

Okay, let me go through some of the things that I haven't had time to write about:

• Our New Year's resolutions. We had health and fitness on top of our list along with saving a bit more for the future pledge. My own personal resolution was to be more organized and I'm trying all my best to stay on track. A on the other hand said he'll quit smoking for good but then he keeps on putting it off. Well, he's not completely ready yet.
• Our four-day trip to Bangkok. A and I went to Bangkok for a convention. We didn't get to tour outside BKK much to our dismay but we had a good time. We gorged ourselves on two things without guilt: food and shopping!
• My very own DLSR. Finally! We bought a Canon 450D on our trip to BKK. I was originally leaning towards the Nikon D40x or the D60 but upon holding the 450D, I found it easier to navigate. It was a good buy, too! We got it 17% lower than its market price here. It also had a free 8GB memory card. And to top it all off, we went home with at least 2,000 baht worth of tax refund. Sweet deal. Oh, it has a name. A named it Muymuy. Hehe.
• Our first time at Bag of Beans, Tagaytay. And here I thought it was just a small coffee corner. I heart the tenderness of their Roast Beef. The yummy gravy sauce went great with it. A loved their huge and tasty Porter House Steak.
• Our second wedding anniversary. We didn't plan something big because we already had a pre-celebration thing at BKK. We just had dinner at Outback because A was craving for steaks again. We're supposed to go bar hopping after the dinner but A was a little under the weather so we decided to continue the celebration at home. We brought Cuervo Gold and Vodka Ice packs home and drink the night away!
• My Hamy's first time at Enchanted Kingdom. It was super fun! My baby enjoyed all the rides. She even wanted to try Anchor's Away. We'll be back on summer.
  
• Our first trip to the beach this year. We went to Canyon Cove (aka White Cove) to celebrate my father-in-law's 62nd birthday. I was surprised by the development. The place was awesome! I loved the big pool. The rooms were not in mint condition though which was a little surprising for something that went under reorganization but that's okay. It's still lovely.

So there. I welcome myself back!

WS: Sawatdee Kaa

The busy street of Bangkok

Worshippers of Ganesha The Elephant God

Thailand is abundant in flowers

The wonderful architecture of Suvarnabhumi Airport

Souvenir Gift


The beautiful lotus flower

Sunset at 35,000 feet

These are photos from our business trip to Bangkok. A and I had to attend a convention in BKK and we had the pleasure to stay in one of the most beautiful five-star hotels in Asia, the Centara Grand. Aside from the fact that buddhist shrines are everywhere, Thailand is abundant in flowers and fruits. I love Thai's magnificent architecture. Their temples, palaces, and even the airport are simply works of art. Sawatdee Kaa means Hello in Thai.

weekend-snapshot

Twilight

Bella: So what you’re saying is, I’m your brand of heroin?

Edward: Yes, you are exactly my brand of heroin.

This book melted my heart. One of the best contemporary love stories I've read. It's so hard to put down I finished it in 2 days! The story revolves around Bella Swan, the heroine, a beautiful 17-year old brunette who is very much mature for her age, thus the strong character. She moves to Forks, Washington to live with her Father. She's quickly gained lots of attention from the local boys. None of them interests her except for this one guy who is so godly handsome but seems repulse by her, Edward Cullen. To make the story short, Bella's attraction remains despite his dark secrets and they fell in love with each other.

Sigh.

What could be more romantic than forbidden love? The book was being narrated by the heroine so when you read it, it's like you're actually Bella herself. You feel her emotions; her pain, her excitement and her love for Edward. Well, I can't blame her. Edward also made me weak in the knees. His love for Bella was so great you can't help but to envy the girl.

I'm dying to see the movie. A and I will check it on Thursday. I hope it captures all elements of the story. Thanks to my BFF Toni I am so hooked I can't wait to read the rest of the Twilight series!

WS: Can You See The Moon?

Can't see it? Click the photo

Taken on All Soul's Day. The sky was so clear we can see the the half moon peeking. The moon became a white tiny speck on the huge blue sky.

weekend-snapshot

Krispy Kreme Gateway Mall Opening

Everyone's invited to the opening of the 9th store of Krispy Kreme on November 14, Friday at the Ground Floor of Gateway Mall at 10:00 AM.

And here are more reasons for you to line up before the store opening:

• 1st customer to ring the cash register wins 1 YEAR SUPPLY of Original Glazed Doughnuts*
• 2nd customer wins 6 months supply of Original Glazed Doughnuts*
• 3rd customer wins 3 months supply of Original Glazed Doughnuts*
• 4th to 200th customer wins 1 month supply*

*1 dozen per week

Mechanics:

a. To win, customers must stay in line from the time they lined up until the store opening - 10:00 AM of November 14 at the Gateway Mall store and purchase at least a dozen doughnuts.
b. Customer may only win once.
c. To claim the prize, winner must present the prize certificate to the manager on duty at Krispy Kreme Gateway Mall only to claim the 1 dozen Original Glazed Doughnuts per week. Validity of prize certificate is1 year from date of issuance.
d. The prize certificate is transferable but not convertible to cash.
e. Employees of Krispy Kreme and relatives up to 2nd degree of consanguinity or affinity, PR Agency are not qualified to join.

Per DTI-NCR Permit No. A3-0998, Series of 2008

WS: Trick or Treat!

weekend-snapshot

Angels and Demons Official Trailer

Angels and Demons was the prequel to The Da Vince Code. If you're also a fan of Dan Brown's novels then you'll be as excited as I am for this film. The story was centered on Robert Langdon (Tom Hanks), a Harvard symbologist who's trying to solve a murder that involves the Illuminati, terrorists, and the Vatican. This was a hard book to put down. A story full of action and mystery from the beginning to the end -- shockingly, wonderfully written! So I am very much interested to see how it'll translate into film. Hopefully, it will be as good as the trailer promises and better than The Da Vinci Code.

Angels and Demons will hit theaters on May 2009. I can't wait!

http://www.angelsanddemons.com/

To Maintain A Healthy Level Of Insanity

This is an email from a friend. Some are so silly they made me laugh.

---

• At lunch time, sit in your parked car with sunglasses on and point a hair dryer at passing cars. See if they slow down.
• Page yourself over the intercom. Don't disguise your voice!
• Every time someone asks you to do something, ask if they want fries with that.
• Put decaf in the coffee maker for 3 weeks. Once everyone has gotten over their caffeine addictions, switch to espresso.
• In the memo field of all your checks, write 'For Marijuana'
• Finish all your sentences with 'In Accordance With The Prophecy.'
• Skip down the hall rather than walk and see how many looks you get.
• Order a diet water whenever you go out to eat, with a serious face.
• Specify that your drive-through order is 'To Go.'
• Sing along at the Opera.
• Put mosquito netting around your work area and play tropical sounds all day.
• Five days in advance, tell your friends you can't attend their party because you have a headache.
• When the money comes out the ATM, scream 'I Won! I Won!'
• When leaving the zoo, start running towards the parking lot, yelling 'Run For Your Lives! They're Loose!'
• Tell your children over dinner, 'Due to the economy, we are going to have to let one of you go.'

10 Things That Made Me Happy On My Birthday

1. The beautiful and loving family I am blessed to have in my life.
2. The sweet birthday kiss I received from my little girl.
3. The fabulous weather. The sky was so unbelievably blue!
4. The gotto and crunchy tokwa't baboy I devoured for breakfast. Delish!
   
5. The first lotto ticket I'd ever bought. It would be more fun if I won the lottery though.
   
6. The big bunch of flowers from A. They were so beautiful.
7. The dinner date at Le Souffle Rockwell with A. Great ambience and great food. A loved the succulent rib-eye steak and the Ciabatta bread and the grilled chicken and dessert I had were superb. The only thing that ruined the moment was the little roach roaming around our table. Thank God the roach decided to stroll before the first course was served or else I'll freak out. They had us of course moved to another table.
   
8. The steaming cup of Morrocan mint tea after the heavy supper.
9. The amazing feeling of being surrounded by books. We had a Fully Booked trip after the dinner. I was tempted to buy Sherry Argov's "Why Men Marry Bitches?". Not that I'm a bitch or anything. Well, okay define bitch. Hehe.
10. The late night movie to cap it all off. We watched "Tropic Thunder" which is by far one of the funniest movies I had ever seen. I swear I had no clue it was Tom Cruise!
    

My First Rubik's Cube Solve

My first attempt to solve a Rubik's cube and I couldn't be happier. I am no genius OK? I followed the algorithms correctly to put them back together. And it took me an hour or so to figure everything out. Back then I can only make one side and wouldn't bother attempting the rest of the cube. Now, A and I are hooked. He even bought his own cube so we can work together or compete. We also bought Hamy her own toy cube so she won't mess with ours. Now, I'm trying my best to memorize the algorithms so I can put them into use without the cheat sheet.

Why don't you try it? Boost your brain power with Rubik's cube exercise. I warn you it can get a little addictive.

http://www.rubiks.com/

Barney Live at SM Cinemas

Image from Ticketnet

This would be our first time to watch Barney LIVE and we're so excited for our dear Hamy. She loves the purple dinosaur to bits! I hope it won't scare her to see Barney so big in person. Well, she's not afraid of mascots so I have high hopes here.

Yes, this would be a tee-rific time to have fun with your kids so check your calendar and buy your tickets at any Ticketnet outlets or call 911-5555. Here are the details of the 40-minute show:

Ticket Prices:
VIP - P1,150 (Hitch: The chance to take pictures with the cast)
Deluxe - P930
Premiere - P590

Showtime: 12:00 nn/3:00 pm/6:00 pm

SM North EDSA Cinema 8
November 22 & 23 (Saturday & Sunday)

SM MOA Centerstage Cinema
November 29 & 30 (Saturday & Sunday)

SM Sta. Rosa Cinema 3
December 6 (Saturday)

SM Dasmariñas Cinema 2
December 13 (Saturday)

SM Megamall Cinema 4
December 14 (Sunday)

There's only limited seats so hurry up and book your tickets as early as now. Toodle-oo!