Books are getting expensive these days. That is why it is much better to read from e-books as it comes out cheaper. It is also environmentally friendly that way. Imagine, trees are being cut to make paper. And to print books, paper is necessary. As much as I would like to campaign for the printed word, I am having doubts as trees are dwindling in number..

The last books I bought for Lili are the two books found below:

Well, we save on costs. We also save lots of trees.. What do you think?

When it first sold its video, I have already seen The Secret. Rhonda Byrne has really hit the mark, and I so love the fact that the video is truly helpful. I read the book too. Although they were pricey, I found them to be a great investment. But after TS Sendong I lost my book and video to the mud. But last weekend, I was able to get hold of an e-book and an audio of The Secret. I automatically found a vlc media player download, and in no time, I was already listening to it while I worked my tasks through the night. I am really very happy that I can listen to it again. Somehow, it keeps me on the ground and keeps me looking forward to what the universe will give me. Oh, I actually know what they are, as I have applied The Secret on all my goals. I just can not wait when they all happen.. And they all will.

I just saw this image posted by a friend of mine in Facebook and as a postcrosser, I was really in awe as I saw the love soil painting postcards made by artists from Bukidnon.

And yet, here we are, postcrossers from Cagayan de Oro City and Mindanao, having a difficulty in finding a unique postcard to send our friends all over the world.

A fire broke at NOVO in Butuan City early this morning. So far, it is the biggest fire this year, and I do not really know the reason behind it for I have not read nor heard anyone say what it is exactly. All I read was that, the fire started at 3:45 in the morning, according to the news online. I wonder of scraped wire covers have something to do with it. But one sales lady who managed to escape said she was awakened by a loud explosion. It’s still under investigation, and perhaps we’ll all hear about it in the next few days, as soon as SOCO is done with their investigation.

My sincere condolences to the families of the victims:

1. Rogelyn Mantumbacan -Secretary Butuan City
2. Junalie Amor -Sec. valencia City
3. Judylyn Ore – Asst. Supervisor Dipolog City
4. Villa Rose Dumagpi -Asst. Supervisor Iligan City
5. Elllienie Ocoy – Asst. Visor Malaybalay
6. Frances Grace Sayre – Cashier -Ozamiz City
7. Honey Joy Laguna- Cashier Ubon Camp Philip ,
8. Mylen Lirazan – Cashier -sindangan
9. Pengky Despolo – Cashier- Tandag City
10. Jessie Dayuja- Cashier – valencia
11. Princess Mae Figueras – Tandag
12. Irene Baliquig – Laperlan zambo
13. Hazel Cabana -valencia
14. Liezel Dalaygon – Oroquieta City
15. Jeba Salbigsal – Iligan City
16. Maribel Buico – Malaybalay
17. Glades Hope Sabila Ozamiz..

I got the names from the list posted online…

My daughter and sister loves this Chocolate flavored Tropicooler from Greenwich. I love the rich chocolatey taste too.. We most often visit Greenwich for our lunch, snacks or dinner, whenever cravings would haunt us. And this treat is never absent, especially this summer..

Apart from this, we also love ice cream and everything cold that our hands can hold..

I watch this television show called Extreme Couponing, a reality television showcasing people who use coupons and get away with great big savings on anything and everything that they purchase. Imagine getting vegetables, fruits, meat and poultry, eggs, party foods, cereals, medicines, even clothes, for hardly a dime or penny. Some even get petsmart coupons to pay for pet products that totally rock their grocery experience as well. If we have the use of coupons here too, I would definitely study how it works and apply it in daily living. It may seem easy, but seeing how they do it in the reality show, I think it takes more time and dedication to be able to get away for $600 worth of items in the shopping cart, and pay only $ 0.10 for everything…

Iligan City has again faced some harsh events that has claimed two lives and twenty others injured. Apparently, an unknown individual or individuals have thrown a grenade at El Centro, in Iligan City. We all know that Iligan City is one of the cities hit by TS Sendong last December 17, 2011, and has not yet fully recovered from said tragedy. I wonder why persons would want to hurt people and harm many. I wonder why that person had to throw the grenade.. Was it premeditated, or was it just an accident? What’s the motive behind it? It could be revenge on someone at the area, or some clumsy fool didn’t know how to handle dangerous weapons of destruction…

I pray that the people of Iligan City gather enough courage and strength to face everything at this time.. My condolences to the families of the victims…

My friend who is now a music teacher in Japan is coming home for some family reunion of some sort, and he told us that they shall be having a mini concert at their grandparent’s place. Of course, he will be playing the piano, and will be using some Hal Leonard The Beatles Complete Scores Book as well as his latest compositions. Funny thing is that, he is inviting us to join them. Which is highly unlikely because we are not part of their clan. But, since we are friends with most of his family, who knows?

I am 99% sure that we will not go. But we will surely miss the mini-concert.. Oh dang!!!

I hate it when brown outs occur as they always take away so much from people and businesses. When we arrived here in Butuan, we were told that the rotating brown outs had already taken effect and that every Sunday, all of  Butuan equally experiences twelve hours of no electricity, while on ordinary days, it ranges from one to two hours of brown out which varies in schedule per barangay or district.  I know friends in Davao and General Santos had already experienced their share of brown outs, even in Zamboanga and all other places in Mindanao, Luzon and the Visayas.

Now, I am so sad because instead of promoting renewable energy to help solve the problems of brown outs, Coal, which is harmful to the environment is what is being pushed. Solar Energy is better than that, but it is not given any attention.

A friend of mine who is actually a home builder has just been awarded with a new project that he so happily says is a streak of luck. See, he has just bought so much items from a steel building clearance sale, and thought that he will not be able to use them anymore, until the project was given to him. Now, he chants that he will be earning triple because of the sale items that are now back to its original price. That’s apart from his project fee and all other fees that he shall get afterward.

Hmm.. I should marry an engineer, if all of them as lucky as my friend is, lol..

Sleeping here inside this room in my aunt’s house is truly relaxing. The sound especially during midnight is such that it sounds like having a water feature mounted on the wall, or installed at a corner. But really, it’s just the sound of the rain by the window, plus the the silence of the night at the rice fields behind the walls of the backyard.

With this thought, I am thinking of having a wall fountain someday. That is, when Lili and I would have our own place. Maybe when we no longer have to rent apartments and live in rented spaces. That is the sound of relaxation— enough to make us feel more at home with our home..

A bottle of Coca Cola is never absent in any gathering. I guess you could say that we all love to have a glass or two of ice cold Coke. It may be good for you now, but, as my uncle would point out, it is when man ages that he feels the aftermath of taking in so much junk when one is younger..

I bought this cheap perfume for only P 79.00 and I am so loving it.

Why? Because it is small, it can fit in my pouch. It’s absolutely weighless, so I wouldn’t feel it heavily in my pouch and most importantly, it smells wonderful. Compared to my other colognes and perfumes which take up space in my bag, this trendy item is also very easy to find. No need to worry if I run out of cologne or perfume because it is available at the department stores..

But of course, I will still use the expensive ones that I have in my collection, as I am a sucker for scents and perfumes.

Time flies when people are having fun. My former student for conversational English, a Japanese, who I remember was so good in playing golf, who I remember to be buying logo golf balls for his golf games, sent me an email this morning and told me how much he enjoyed the Philippines again. He and his family are in Laguna right now, for a vacation. Well, it is actually expected that the content of his email are all of good reviews of the places they went to. He has been telling me of the wonderful places he visited even when he was yet my student. As a matter of fact, during our conversation drills, his topics were all about the beautiful places he went to. I am happy that he and his family are visiting again. Our conversational English lessons stopped when he went back to Japan as he was reassigned back to his home country.

I have been drinking tea again, and I feel good about the fact that tea does not only help me with digestion, but also helps me combat my eye bags problem. You may find it impossible but yes, it is true.

After I am done with a tea bag, I normally place the used bag in a small container and place it the refrigerator. I can use it again for a second cup of tea, or, I can get the cold tea bag and place it unto my eye just as you would with a slice of cucumber to make it relax, for the eye bags to go away.. hehehe..

I met a really interesting person two days ago. Her business revolves around the making switch plates. I do admire the fact that she makes a variety of switch plates from rubberized switch plates to ceramic switch plates, wood switch plates, fiber glass switch plates, recycled paper switch plates as well as polymer clay switch plates. All her client will do is present the design they want, choose the variety and make, and wait till the order is done. So I thought of a design and emailed it to her for some quotation. Price would range from the variety and design. I am so excited. I can’t wait.

I have been making this breakfast since God knows when.. and I am loving this still.. Fried rice and home made bacon.. Well, it may not be a healthy choice, but like what I said, I love this breakfast set.. I simply omitted the fried eggs to lessen the danger of dying early, lol..

So I am about to take a break and prepare t yummy breakfast while everyone’s still asleep.. yey.. Bye for now..

Yesterday, the two kids received money gifts from me and my mother as they have received honors during their recognition program. Lili got P 600 for getting a Gold Medal, and River got P 200 for getting a Bronze Medal. Now, all that’s left of their money are coins, as they have bought so many items from the amount they each received. Lili has more left as she is trying to save some of her money. I told her to have some share for her bank’s savings account.

Anyway, I was really happy for the two. I am so happy that Lili made it on top and River is part of the top third as well. If only Sendong did not happen, I think my baby brother would have also landed on the top second. I am relieved too that they are both looking forward to getting the top spot next school year..

I just turned a year older today. Whew.. Makes me think deeper about my health. Makes me think seriously about career choices parallel to my daughter’s future. Makes me want too badly to build my own house. Makes me want to seriously pursue so many things. OMG! Four more years and I’ll be forty. I have to do something much more drastic to get there in a more appealing fashion.

It’s a serious thing to consider a lot of things for the betterment of life vis-a-vis, the responsibilities I have towards my daughter. I need to make things happen, not only for myself but for her as well. And I am racing against time here. Although I am going one day at a time in my approach, I can’t help but wonder and worry sometimes.. Well, sometimes.. hehehe.. Gotto work harder.. and make better choices..

We are currently busy with Extreme Mindanao (#eXtremeMindanao) since it will be in two months. I am busy with my tasks and finding the right Insurance provider for our participants. I know this friend of mine who sells Insurance for adults as well as insurance for children. So maybe he can help us out. We are simply wanting a 1 year accident insurance since our activities are kinda dangerous being extreme sports and hobbies.

Well, I am sure I can contact someone, I just need names right now. Calling all Insurance agents out there.,. hehehe