Sweet Valley Twins

Remember them???

My introduction to great literary works started with the book series called “Sweet Valley Twins” and that would be Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield. Elizabeth is the older twin, considered the good, smart and serious type kind of girl, and helps Jessica when she gets into trouble. While Jessica was the opposite - she loves boys, gossip, fashion and is a member an exclusive club called The Unicorn Club which consists of the prettiest and most popular girls in school. (Ain't we all have these kind of girls in our school huh?). I guess I am more of the Elizabeth type, but we all love Jessica, she's the one who spice the story and we all need that.

And then there are other memorable characters like their big brother Steven, Elizabeth’s bestfriend Amy and Jessica’s best friend and enemy Lila Fowler. Now that I thought of it, I think Jessica and Lila were the “original frenemy", well for me anyway. And who will forget (I know I won’t) Elizabeth’s sort of boyfriend Todd Wilkins. I believe that these two were the first love story that i ever followed. I remember my first copy of Sweet Valley Twins was titled “Elizabeth’s First Kiss” and to my surprise it was my brother who gave it to me. How cheesy, but it does make me smile thinking of it now.

I don’t own a lot of books so I borrow at the school library and I have a friend who owns a whole set of Sweet Valley Twins, High, and University. Going to her house was like going to a library, I suppose I read more of her books than she did. If she ever reads this, I know she knows that I am referring to her and hopefully she will be smiling.

Now I'm reading different genre of books and the stories are more complicated than those that I read in my elementary years. I suppose as you grow older and change, your taste in books also changes. But like any other first times in our lives, I never will forget my first love of books came from these series.

Note:

Oh and this is my first ever, most personal blog that i wrote to date, so this is kind of embarrassing for me. But following my intention for creating this blog is to remember the small things forgotten in my life and the things that when I look back, I smile and say "I remember that!".

Being Happy...

Tree of Life

This one is made by someone very special... Ik hou van je!

Three Little Pigs With a Twist

Found this funny story, thought i put it here:

The mind of a 6-year old is wonderful. First grade... true story:

One day the first grade teacher was reading the story of The Three Little Pigs to her class. She came to the part of the story where the first pig was trying to accumulate the building materials for his first home.

She read, "...And so the pig went up to the man with the wheelbarrow full of straw and sand and said, "Pardon me sir, but may I have some of that straw to build my house?"

The teacher paused and asked the class, "And what do you think that man said?"

One little boy raised his hand and said, "I think he said... "Holy sh**! A talking pig!""

The teacher was unable to teach for the next 10 minutes.

As I Lay Me Down To Sleep - Sophie Hawkins

Salay Sunset

Beautiful sunset, taken at my mother's hometown of Salay

Quote of the Day

Laughing With by Regina Spektor

I'm a big Regina Spektor fan and today is the day that she will release her new album "Far" and for that reason alone I will post something from her. Her new track is called "Laughing With". Again, another great song from a talented artist. Here is the official video, and the lyrics is simply amazing as well. Watch and Enjoy!

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God
When they’re starving or freezing or so very poor

No one laughs at God
When the doctor calls after some routine tests
No one’s laughing at God
When it’s gotten real late
And their kid’s not back from the party yet

No one laughs at God
When their airplane start to uncontrollably shake
No one’s laughing at God
When they see the one they love, hand in hand with someone else
And they hope that they’re mistaken

No one laughs at God
When the cops knock on their door
And they say we got some bad news, sir
No one’s laughing at God
When there’s a famine or fire or flood

*Chorus*
But God can be funny
At a cocktail party when listening to a good God-themed joke, or
Or when the crazies say He hates us
And they get so red in the head you think they’re ‘bout to choke
God can be funny,
When told he’ll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious
Ha ha
Ha ha

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God
When they’ve lost all they’ve got
And they don’t know what for

No one laughs at God on the day they realize
That the last sight they’ll ever see is a pair of hateful eyes
No one’s laughing at God when they’re saying their goodbyes
But God can be funny
At a cocktail party when listening to a good God-themed joke, or
Or when the crazies say He hates us
And they get so red in the head you think they’re ‘bout to choke
God can be funny,
When told he’ll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus
God can be so hilarious

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one laughing at God in hospital
No one’s laughing at God in a war
No one’s laughing at God when they’re starving or freezing or so very
poor

No one’s laughing at God
No one’s laughing at God
No one’s laughing at God
We’re all laughing with God

Beauty Tips for a Better You

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

For beautiful eyes, look for the good in other people.

To lose weight, let go of stress, hatred, racism, anger, contentment and the need to control others.

To improve your ears, listen. Rather than focus on the thorns of life, smell the roses and count your blessings, giving thanks for each one of them.

For poise, walk with knowledge and self-esteem.

To strengthen your arms, hug at least 3 people a day. Touch someone with your love.

To strengthen your heart, forgive yourself and others. Don't worry and hurry so much. Rather than walk this earth lightly, walk firmly with determination and leave your mark.

Doing these things on a daily basis will certainly make you a more beautiful person.

Author Unknown

---

Cannonball by Damien Rice

I just simply love this song...

Cannonball - Damien Rice

There’s still a little bit of your taste in my mouth
There’s still a little bit of you laced with my doubt
It’s still a little hard to say what's going on

There’s still a little bit of your ghost your witness
There’s still a little bit of your face i haven't kissed
You step a little closer each day
That I can't say what's going on

Stones taught me to fly
Love, it taught me to lie
Life, it taught me to die
So it's not hard to fall
When you float like a cannonball

There’s still a little bit of your song in my ear
There’s still a little bit of your words i long to hear
You step a little closer to me
So close that I can't see what's going on

Stones taught me to fly
Love taught me to lie
Life taught me to die
'Cos its not hard to fall,
And I don't want to scare her
Its not hard to fall
And i don't want to lose
Its not hard to grow
When you know that you just don't know

Stones taught me to fly
Love taught me to lie
Life taught me to die
So its not hard to fall
When you float like a cannon.

Quote of the Day

The Painted Veil

One of my favorite movie is "The Painted Veil" starring Naomi Watts and Edward Norton. It is based on a novel of the same title by the author W. Somerset Maugham. It is a period drama set in the 1920s China and England. The movie is about a marriage in distress between Walter and Kitty.



The beautiful music played in the movie is a French children song called "A La Claire Fontaine" translated in English as "At the Clear Fountain". Makes me want to learn it and sing it to my kids in the future, but perhaps i will sing it into English and/or Dutch, hehehe, or in Visayan too, why not. If you like it and want to practice your French then you can sing-a-long, this is a challenge though, more like a tongue twister.

"A La Claire Fontaine"

À la claire fontaine, (At the clear fountain)
M'en allant promener (While I was strolling by)
J'ai trouvé l'eau si belle (I found the water so nice)
Que je m'y suis baigné (That I went in to bathe)

Refrain :
Il y a longtemps que je t'aime (So long I've been loving you)
Jamais je ne t'oublierai (I will never forget you)

Sous les feuilles d'un chêne, (Under an oak tree,)
Je me suis fait sécher (I dried myself)
Sur la plus haute branche, (On the highest branch,)
Un rossignol chantait (A nightingale was singing)

Refrain

Chante rossignol, chante, (Sing, nightingale, sing,)
Toi qui as le cœur gai (Your heart is so happy)
Tu as le cœur à rire, (Your heart feels like laughing,)
Moi je l'ai à pleurer (Mine feels like weeping.)

Refrain

J'ai perdu mon amie, (I lost my beloved,)
Sans l'avoir mérité (Without deserving it,)
Pour un bouquet de roses, (For a bunch of roses,)
Que je lui refusai (That I denied her.)

Refrain

Je voudrais que la rose, (I wanted the rose)
Fût encore au rosier (To be still on the bush,)
Et que ma douce amie (And my sweet beloved)
Fût encore à m'aimer (To be still loving me)

Refrain

The Paradox of Our Age

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Written by a former pastor Dr. Bob Moorehead

Dreaming of ...

Simply amazing... I'm dreaming of being in this place now, the four "S" - the sun, the sea, the sand and being with your someone special. But for now this picture will do, even just looking at it gives good vibrations.

Quote of the Day

Better Than Ezra - A Lifetime

My interest in music was mostly influenced by my two older brothers. Way back then, our house was filled with basically alternative rock music played in high volume. This time around, its only me playing not-so-loud music. One of the bands that I listened when I was in high school was Better Than Ezra with their hits like Good, Desperately Wanting, and Rosealia. I can still recall singing along with these tunes (and my brother's theme song is definitely Desperately Wanting.) Better Than Ezra has been around for 2 decades already, I believe they are one of the most underrated bands but I guess its better that way. BTE has a strong fan base though, so thats good.

Allie woke up 8AM Graduation day.
Got into a car, and crashed along the way.
When we arrived late to the wake,
Stole the urn while they looked away,
And drove to the beach 'cause I knew you'd want it that way.

And you were standing on the hood of the car
Singing out loud when the sun came up.

And I know I wasn't right, but it felt so good.
And your mother didn't mind, like I thought she would.
And that REM song was playing in my mind.
And three and a half minutes felt like a lifetime. It felt like a lifetime

And you move like water I could drown in you.
And I fell so deep once, till you pulled me through
You would tell me "No one is allowed to be so proud
They never reach out when they're giving up."

And I know I wasn't right, but it felt so good.
And your mother didn't mind, like I thought she would.
And that REM song was playing in my mind.
And three and a half minutes felt like a lifetime. It felt like a lifetime

Are you sitting in the lights? Or combing your hair again?
And talking in rhymes? Are you sitting in the lights?

When I got home, heard the phone, your parents had arrived.
And your dad set his jaw, your mom just smiled and sighed.
But they left soon and I went to my room.
Played that disc that you'd given me, and I shut my eyes
Swear I could hear the sea.

When we were standing
On the hood of your car
Singing out loud when the sun came up.

And I know I wasn't right, but it felt so good.
And your mother didn't mind, like I thought she would.
And that REM song was playing in my mind.
And three and a half minutes felt like a lifetime.

It felt like a lifetime

Why So Serious???

"I swear its not me!!!" "

"Don't worry, I forgive you, how can I not huh?"

Ah, this one just warms my heart.

P.S. Unfortunately this is not my dog.

What Pet Are You Like

You Are Like a Horse

You are strong, steady, and devoted. You are a good partner. You are gentle and sensitive. You can be easily frightened. You are usually quite stable, but you do have a wild streak that comes out from time to time. You are cooperative and not a solitary creature. You like to be around others.

Yipee!!! I'm a horsie, I really admire horses since way before I am fascinated with elephants. But both animals (among others) are very strong and beautiful creatures.

Be Strong

So true...

Disney's Desperate Housewives

And they lived happily ever after... The End.

Cute Little French Girl Telling a Story

Ahhhh I can't help it, this is just so cute!!! I like it when i hear people talking in French even though I don't understand it and even though they are shouting at each other it will still amuses me. This cute French girl in the video below will definitely capture your heart, she is a natural storyteller. Want proof, then watch this:

Once upon a time... from Capucha on Vimeo.

The girl's name is Capucine, a 4 year old from France. Her mom decided to use Capucine's popularity put into good use. A project called "Capucine's Library" was set up to raise money for Edurelief. Edurelief is a development organization based in Mongolia, who helps provide school books to Mongolian kids. If you want to get involved in their goal, here is the link.

Today's Weather

It's A Sign!

I saw this sign outside the chapel of the Monastery of the Transfiguration in Malaybalay, Bukidnon and took a photo of it, as though at that time God showed me a "sign". Time to time I reflect on this quote.

Ain't No Reason

Today is Independence Day, and for some reason this is the song on my mind, and the video suits the song too... moving and thought provoking.

I Am, I Feel

This song was playing in my head today and I find it nostalgic... not because of any particular event but just songs you hear way back when I was high school. It's a feel good song...

I Am, I Feel - Alishas Attic


an excerpt:

I click my heels together three times
They sparked a little, but nothing happened
And the big bad wolf's still in my bed
I am, I feel
(I sometimes think that you forget) that
I am, I feel
I got to get away from here
I am, I feel
This girl's a person y'know
I am, I feel

Quote of the Day

I found this quote on my notebook dated 2002, that's along time ago. I'm trying to make my own creation / design as i look for more quotes from my old notebook...

As I Lay Me Down To Sleep...

All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindegarten

Here is a lovely excerpt from one of my cherished book "All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten" by Robert Fulghum.

ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate-school mountain, but there in the sandpile at Sunday School. These are the things I learned:

Share everything.

Play fair.

Don't hit people.

Put things back where you found them.

Clean up your own mess.

Don't take things that aren't yours.

Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.

Wash your hands before you eat.

Flush.

Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.

Live a balanced life - learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.

Take a nap every afternoon.

When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.

Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.

Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we.

And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK.

Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and equality and sane living.

Take any of those items and extrapolate it into sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your family life or your work or your government or your world and it holds true and clear and firm. Think what a better world it would be if all - the whole world - had cookies and milk about three o'clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments had a basic policy to always put thing back where they found them and to clean up their own mess.

And it is still true, no matter how old you are - when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.

A Reminder:

My "PersonalDNA"

I am a fan of online personality tests and I take part on some of them that are fun, cool and i like it especially when i can say that a certain test blew me away. Recently i stumbled on such a site, where one can assess one's self just for the heck of it. The result will surprise you, but a word of advice: be patient and be true to yourself when taking this test. Try it here.

Here is my PersonalDNA:


and my complete report is here.

Come on, take the test... Just for fun, i sure did.

Quote of the Day

"Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot, who calls you back when you hang up on him, who will lie under the stars and listen to your heartbeat, or will stay awake just to watch you sleep... wait for the boy who kisses your forehead, who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats, who holds your hand in front of his friends, who thinks you' re just as pretty without makeup on. One who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares and how lucky he is to have YOU... The one who turns to his friends and says, "that's her"....

-Unknown (Website)

Happy Monday: Ostrich vs. Elephant

This one made me laugh, but poor ostrich... but im sure that they were just being kids, oh-so-playful.

A Reminder:

Yes, everything's gonna be ok...

Regina Spektor

I heart Regina Spektor, and i find it kinda sad that i don't know anyone who share the same fondness i have for Ms. Spektor. But i found a way of spreading the love...

Regina was born in Russia but when she was 9 years old moved to New York. She is an anti-folk/pop singer/songwriter/pianist and she is known for her eclectic use of words and unorthodox style of singing.

She is brilliant, super talented, smart, amazing, adorable, funny, unique and beautiful. Her most familiar work would be "Fidelity" and "Samson", but that's not the only reason why i listen to her, cause there are so much more (hint: Better, Hotel Song, On the Radio... ) I've been listening to her music for more than 2 years now, and I never get tired. And she has a new album coming up too! Cant wait.

Here's an unofficial video for "Raindrops", the video itself is adorable and its a shout out to my yojimbo!



and here's another brilliant live performance of "Fidelity: Enjoy!

The key to life . . .

When I was 5 years old, my mom always
told me that happiness is the key to life.

When I went to school, they asked me
what I wanted when i grew up.

I wrote down "happy".

They told me I didn't understand the
assignment and I told them they didn't
understand "life".

Storyteller's Creed

I believe ...

That imagination is stronger than knowledge.

That myth is more potent than history.

That dreams are more powerful than facts.

That hope always triumphs over experience.

That laughter is the only cure for grief.

And I believe that love is stronger than death.