The Last One For 2011

My last post for 2011, and I better make it worth the effort. Last year at this time I made a decision, and here I am a year later and I am in a much better place in my life, with very little regrets. There are things I miss, but there are things I will always miss, and I am blessed enough to not want important things in my life. And that's that. It's funny, because on all the news reports on Times Square, the balminess over there is what everyone is mentioning, and I just went to throw the garbage and felt a chill. So it looks like I have a colder New Year's Eve here. So there, for better or worse, are the facts. 2011 was a pretty good year for me, but then they are all good years nowadays, since I want to always look at the good things. You know what, too? 2012 will just be better, better than the best. I know it will be. Let's all do this together!

Ratty - Out!

I have started my (now) yearly tradition of throwing 100 things before the New Year. I realize that I am still finding things I brought from the big move that can be disposed of. There are quite a number of things I brought that are still in boxes, and between now and Saturday, I will dig a lot of them out, and chuck them. Just last night, I am finding T-Shirts that are really ratty looking. And I had planned on using them for lounging at home, but I have enough lounging tees so I am eyeing the real ratty ones to throw away. Or even the halfway ratty ones, they could go, too. I am just glad that I got rid of all the kitchen stuff from long ago, but there are times when I do miss them, like the other day when I needed to use a tong and couldn't find one. But, those instances are few and far between.

"A rock pile ceases to be a rock pile the moment a single man contemplates it, bearing within him the image of a cathedral."

- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

There's Got To Be A Morning After

And just like that, Christmas is over. All the stress, all the preparation, gone in 24 hours. But it's not over yet, that spirit of giving and kindness can be left in our hearts for the rest of the year. I am just getting read now for the New Year, and this may be the last year of our lives if, indeed, all the predictions for 2012 being the end of the world, prove to be true. Let's live this year fully and make it count. 

"Where there is much light, the shadow is deep."  - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

This Christmas I Give You My Heart

Christmas is almost here, and it's quiet right now. I marvel at how stress-free this one has been. I bought my gifts way back when I was in New York, and whatever I bought recently - not really much - has just been "incidentals."  My life now is just totally more quiet, and I like that. With old age comes a desire for serenity. I love how it's not nearly now about material things for me, for I value life experiences  much much more nowadays. In an hour or two, we are all going to my brother's house where there is a little bit of a spread. I have my specialty "Pernil Puerto Rican Style" roasting in the oven and it should be ready by then. Sleep in Heavenly Peace.

A Day

Here is the photo of the Botteha Veneta.  Ever since I got my iPhone, i have been taking Daily Pictures for the photo blog I created: 

luhaday.blogspot.com

A Picture A Day takes the Luha away !

The Gift

The Holidays are really here, whether we like it or not. I got my sister's gift today. She had been harassing me in regards to what to get me, and I honestly didn't want her to get me anything. I told her that I understand times are tough ow, and she has kids, and I wanted her to make them her priority, but she was insistent, and was incessantly texting me, so I acquiesced. I told her to get me the small bottle of Bottega Veneta. I have been admiring and testing the thing for a couple of times now, but every time I try to get it, something better always comes up for me to buy. Every time I sniff it, the combination of jasmine and the buttery leather always gets to me, and it's a reasonably-priced gift, too so I am happy about getting this now, and will be wearing it tomorrow. I finished the last lot of my Christmas shopping last night, at the mall, of all places. I can't remember the last time I went mall shopping, and I thought it was going to be a madhouse, but it was surprisingly pleasant. I did the bulk of my shopping in NYC when I was there the beginning of the month, so this year I am not as stressed. It will definitely be a very different Christmas this year, my first here at the desert. I look forward to it, there's a novelty to the whole Holidays here that I am enjoying. My first Christmas somewhere else after 27 years, who would have imagined?

Hunting Hunter

Health Is Wealth

I started new blood pressure medication last week and when I was in LA noticed that I was having some nausea and vertigo, so when I got back I called my doctor and told her what was happening. She told me she was going to give me new medication but it has been so busy today that I didn't even suggest picking it up. And when I checked my blood pressure earlier, it was high. I hope I get to be better. I always go through this whenever I change medication, and it is kind of frustrating for me. Oh, health is wealth. I hate when I don't feel well.

"If Shadows could talk they would tell us there is gold to be mined, in every experience." - Debbie Ford,

And All Is Well

Just got back from Dim Sum, and all is well. The long weekend served its purpose, and now I am rejuvenated and ready to go back to work. I have a lot to look forward to during the week, and as I aid all is well. I am ready to roar. I still have two slots to fill for my theater viewing and I am getting very close as to what y decision would be. And again, in that case all is well. I feel much better now.

"God turns you from one feeling to another And teaches you by means of opposites So that you will have two wings to fly, Not one." - Rumi,

Relax

I am calm right now, and that's just fine. There is something rally good in stillness. I finished a book in an afternoon, and I feel really relaxed. Isn't that what I always crave, though? Shortly after this, I will pop a Blu-Ray and watch, and that's all I want to do right now. By the middle of the coming week, i will be in New York, and I am still finding the right balance for these trips. The last time I kind of did not where I fit in the city yet, but I have a better idea now. I will still be going through trial and errors, but my expectations now are more realistic. I also don't want to overtire myself this time around, cause that happened the last time. That way, I can enjoy the experience better. I also don't have the overwhelming need to see everyone and everything because pacing is key. 

Art washes away from the soul
the dust of everyday life.
~ Pablo Picasso

The Turkey Day At The Desert

So yeah, it's Thanksgiving. Or it was. My first one here, and it was kind of sweet actually. I wanted to do a turkey but I know I would be the only one who would eat it, so I got a whole chicken, which I baked and roasted. It was a country french recipe - with white wine and celery and onions, and it came out well enough. Plus, they wanted me to do Puerto Rican Pernil so I did that as well, and that was pretty fantastic, and was the hit of the table. It was just me, my dad, my brother and his wife, and the dogs. It was simple, and kind of sweet, and it was perfect for me. I don't think I would have wanted a bloated affair with me trying to be all fake with people I don't know. Same time last year, I never would have thought my next Thanksgiving would be at a desert. I watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with a little wistfulness, and truth be told, I never really appreciated it as much, and took it for granted most times. I kind of loved the parade of Broadway shows and tore up a little bit. But I will be there next week, so there's a lot to look forward to. 

"The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Tristesse Dos

Holidays After All

So now it looks like we will having a Holiday Reunion after all.  Jeff had asked me a while back if I was available the second weekend of December to go to LA, and I really was unsure, but I just had a flash today, and I said why not, and then it was like kismet that I got an email from Spirit Airlines advertising $17.00 fares to LAX, and I just said fuck it all, and bought tickets. I haven't asked at work, and I of course will have just gotten back from NY by then so it's gonna be tight, but it should work, and it should be fine, and I am just glad I will be seeing Pipo and Jeff and Mike that weekend. It promises to be a repeat of the Pipo birthday weekend with the same cast of characters and it was so much fun the last time and it will be yuletide fun this time. The funny thing now is that Pipo is still in South Africa right as I type this and he doesn't have a clue that this is all going to happen. I think that he just thinks it's Jeff who is arriving and when he arrives it will be Welcome Back, and guess what we are all going to be there ! Hallelujah!

"Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it." - Groucho Marx

Incessantly

I love Adele and I love her song "Someone Like You," but for heaven's sake pop radio plays that song at least once every half an hour. Seriously. Our secretary has the local Top 40 radio station on and they play that song incessantly. I sometimes don't want to hear it anymore but it just is that kind of song that will hit you, and no matter how many times you have heard it, well, a good song is still a good song.  I just heard it and I am in love with the song again. and again, and again.

Music washes away from the soul
the dust of everyday life.
~ Berthold Auerback

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like...

I was at the Supermarket tonight and of course, I know that Thanksgiving is just around the corner so I see all the ads and specials for turkey and pumpkins, but they were playing Christmas music the whole time and it just kind of surprised me. Well, I know I shouldn't be surprised but it just stuck to me, and right there in the middle of the produce aisle I realized it will be my first Christmas here and I don't know how I feel about that, I am honestly still processing the idea in my mind. Oh how my life has changed from a year ago, like night and day. This time last year, I don't even think the move was an iota of idea in my mind. And look at me now. While at dinner last night with a bunch of people, someone asked me "Are you happy here?" and I couldn't answer the question.

"The bliss you seek Can't be found by another Not friend or dad or mom or lover Begin within and you'll see Its yourself that sets you free." - Jackson Kiddard

Sushi And Sake

For The First Time

I never thought I would do it, but there is always a first time. Last night, i went to a Pacquiao Party. I thought I would hate it, but I didn't, honestly. Well, most of the time, I isolated myself to read via my Kindle, but when the main fight started, I went to the main room with everyone and started watching. And it was kind of exciting, to tell you the truth. I now understand why people love it. Is it something I would always do? Probably no. My taste would tend to be more towards Hugh Jackman Back On Broadway.  But it is always interesting to see how the "other side" lives.  I do hate what the win does for Filipinos - they become these arrogant, belligerent people who thinks they are the shit. I still contend that one person's success does not mean it's the whole country's. But then, I mostly just steer clear of them when they start getting unbearable, and it was back to the Kindle for me afterwards. 

I begin to understand as never before
that holiness is made of dailiness,
of living life as it comes to me,
not as I insist it be.
~ Joan Chittister

Veterans

I just want to thank all the veterans who have served our country so we could be free. Oh, and I also want to thank them because tomorrow, because of the day honoring them,  there's no work! So hurrah, hurrah, hurrah. Plus it's 11/11/11, and isn't there some kind of asteroid that's supposed to hit something? I just keep on hearing Rufus Wainwright's song "11:11" in my head, and right now I am just in that place where I may actually relax. Do you realize it is almost Thanksgiving? Wow, time is sure flying by fast.

"If the single man plant himself indomitably on his instincts, and there abide, the huge world will come round to him." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Delilah's Fault

So maybe it was all Delilah's fault. We were on the car this evening, when while flipping through radio stations, chanced upon the Delilah show. Oh wow, I used to listen to this a long time ago, but I haven't in such a long time. And it is still as cheesy and saccharine as ever, but in my heart of hearts, I loved it. All these people falling in love, falling out of love, falling back in love. All the stories may sound the same, but the beats of each heart are so different. And beautiful. And when I got home, saw the GLEE episode, and it's the one about first love, and first time, and it just tore me apart. I am such a wreck, that I found myself hysterical in tears and I look at myself in the mirror and I ask myself, how did I get here, at this point of my life, and I had no answer.  but now I am okay, and I can just say I like the way I have lived my life, mistakes and all. And I vow never to listen to Delilah again. 

My private measure of success is daily.
If this were to be the last day of my life
would I be content with it?
To live in a harmonious balance
of commitments and pleasures
is what I strive for.
~ Jane Rule
  

Cutey Critters

Fall Back

We got an extra hour of sleep, yay. So of course, I woke up earlier than normal. But maybe because my body clock is one hour earlier? It's been a very quiet weekend, I had a lot of shows on my DVR and I took time to catch up with them. So, I am finally caught up with PAN AM. The series really picked up steam after a couple of episodes. I glad I stuck with it because now the characters are a lot more interesting, although I think the tone of the whole series needs to be more focused. And I still think Mike Vogel is the cutest thing. Unfortunately, I found out he is a Fundamentalist Christian, which means he is probably homophobic. This almost makes me want to stop watching the series. And I just realized Thanksgiving is right around the corner. I don't even know if I am doing any kind of celebrating this year, but it is kind of frightening to think that Christmas is right around the river bend. Yikes. 

Having been created in the image and likeness of God,
unlike trees or flowers or fire or the moon,
we are most fully human when we love, forgive
and work toward peace.
To be violent, vengeful or selfish is to be un-human!
~ Daniel P. Horan

Booked

I made a vow to visit back every quarter, and so far, so good. I have been checking fares daily and today it went down, and I said no more thinking about it, and boom, I bought the plane ticket. I also got my desired flight, the red eye going there which maximizes my time, and then leaving there Sunday afternoon, arriving here evening with plenty of time to spare to rest for the next day. I am just excited to go back, and I am now one by one planning the shows I will see, and just cross y fingers that everything works out. It will, I have faith.

"Perfect love is to feeling what perfect white is to color. Many think that white is the absence of color. It is not. It is the inclusion of all color. White is every other color that exists, combined. So, too, is love not the absence of an emotion (hatred, anger, lust, jealousy, covetousness), but the summation of all feeling. It is the sum total. The aggregate amount. The everything."

- Neale Donald Walsch

Dreams

Amidst all the pomp and circumstance of Halloween, I remember my mom. I took a nap this afternoon and dreamt that I was at Loyola visiting her, so maybe she is remembering me too today. I suddenly feel a little lost, and I am thinking of her. I miss her, and I don't think I miss her less than 20 years ago. I am just in a wistful mood all of a sudden, and I am realizing what's important, what's essential in life. Life is full of ups and downs so you just need to focus on what goes right.

"Yes, I am a dreamer. For a dreamer is one who can find his way by moonlight, and see the dawn before the rest of the world."

- Oscar Wilde,

To Ask?

Saturday night, almost midnight and I am here. There is a Halloween party tonight with some people from work, but I begged off. Literally. I had to beg to *not* go. Is it weird for me not to want to go? I barely know these people and I honestly am too old to try and do small talk with them, and feel uncomfortable on a night when I could be resting. Ultimately, that really is just what I want to do. And so unapologetically, I am here, I took a long afternoon nap, and I feel good. I was going to get a costume for the party - I was thinking either a policeman or fireman - but now I am just going to watch television. Besides, I already did my obligation lunchtime when I went to one of our employee's Christening of his child party so it's not like they can say I am uncooperative. I enjoyed the lunch, it was at a Brasilian Steakhouse so it's not like it was a bad time. But I just like to enjoy the quiet and serenity of a weekend. Is that too much to ask?

"Pick the day. Enjoy it - to the hilt. The day as it comes. People as they come... The past, I think, has helped me appreciate the present - and I don't want to spoil any of it by fretting about the future."

- Audrey Hepburn

You're My Thrill

Thrill of the day: I found out how to make iPhone ringtones from my mp3s so I am having fun with that. I am assigning specific tones based on my contact's personalities, and it is kinda fun. Oh God, I have become such a boring person, haven't I? But I spent a whole night doing that, and now I have close to 100 ring tones to choose from, spanning all genres of music! Now, if I could only decide who to give Nora Aunor's "Banjo Boy" ring tone to, I would be truly happy. But is anyone really truly happy anyway?

"If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe."  

- Carl Sagan

Walk West

I saw this picture today, and I felt suddenly sad. I have walked this block a hundred thousand times, on my way to the Christopher Street Station on Hudson, and it made me wistful, as here I am, 5000 miles away. It made me think about my old life, my old train station, the old me. 

Tristesse

The 4S

So I got the iPhone 4S last Friday and I have been using it since. It took maybe half an hour on the phone with Verizon to have it turned on, and I thought that didn't bode well for me, but I carried on. My verdict - it's definitely nice and fast, but.. it's not the revolutionary life-turning thing that people have made it out to be. I mean, I love the apps available, and the ease, but do I really not get all these things in any other phone, without all the hype and the agita that comes in getting an iPhone? Time will tell, I guess but as of right now, call me slightly underwhelmed. Maybe if my expectations weren't too high, I would be more impressed.

"Live out of your imagination, not your history."

- Stephen Covey,

Do Something

Yesterday, I was vegging and I just stood up and said to myself, "Do Something!" I didn't want it to be one of those "lost" days when I would realize by the afternoon that I had done NOTHING. So I showered and walked, and told myself why not go to the gym and then see a movie, and the only movie that matched my schedule was "Footloose," and I figured oh well, better than just sitting in bed. But it turns out that the movie wasn't bad at all, and is getting 73% approval rating at Rotten Tomatoes. And Kenny Woreland (or whatever his name is ) is a sexy MF. When he dances he is even sexier. I think he may have a bright future ahead of him if he finds the right projects to showcase his talent. Julianne Hough - she grates on my last nerves, and I am sorry, but she projects way too old to be a High School student. Why is it when I was young, I never had a problem with ONJ in Rydell High, but Julianne is just too unbelievable for me - maybe because she looks like a cheap 42nd Street hooker. I would just rather have her brother, please.

With any trial and circumstance,
a person's true color either shines or darkens.
~ Shannon Walker

Call Of Duty

Still a little bit exhausted, it has been a busy week. Last night, May's dad had a party at Krung Thai, and of course, the whole office, or most of it, was in attendance. And I had to kind of play host. It was a good time but the whole thing felt like a chore. Basically, it was part of my job to smile, greet, and be amiable to everyone when all I wanted to do was go home and sleep. I hate to sound meanie, but these people just don't share my interests. They kept on egging me to sing a karaoke version of Beyonce's "Single Ladies," but I made do with Amy Winehouse. Good enough. There is still leftover lechon because there was just too much there, so all is good. Now they are off to the Epic, and I wish I were coming along but I realize I have enough blessings this year - the Baltic Sun trip was all I could wish for. Anything else would be cherry!

"Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers, but to be fearless in facing them. Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain, but for the heart to conquer it."

- Rabindranath Tagore

Officially

Well, it's official. Mike and Christ got married at City Hall last Wednesday, which makes them my first official friends to be "official." Sigh. I would have been the witness if I were still there. Here's a picture of the wedding march. If you knew the two of them, of course you would know how precious a picture like this would be.

 

The groom wore Vivienne Westwood, just like Carrie Bradshaw.

Jean Generation

I just realized that I wear jeans to work everyday now. (In the summertime I wore shorts to work) And I have been remiss - a lot of the jeans I have been wearing are too lose, shapeless, and frankly, old. Most are frayed at the bottom, and it really is such a messy look. So I vow to change. I still have some that are unworn, and why the hell I am I saving them for? I am going to start wearing them, and I am going to throw away these ones I have been wearing. Yes, they are soft and comfortable, but they are also kind of...dinghy. And I have always been careful with my wardrobe before, and I am getting to the point where I am getting careless. It's another one of those things that I am getting too comfortable with, and it really isn't me. I need to stop wearing jeans everyday, and maybe one day a week I will "dress up" a little bit. It would be very overwrought to wear my shirts and ties (and I still have those, too) but I could very well go a little dressier. So tonight, I vow to throw away these four or five jeans I have been using past couple of months, and take out the newer, un-frayed ones from my closet and give them a "coming out" party. Oh, and it all coincides with National Coming Out Day, which is today.

The head thinks, the hands labor,
but it's the heart that laughs.
~ Liz Curtis Higgs
  

Already Thoughts

I am just a little bit exhausted right now. My sister was in town so we were out most of the weekend. She left early this morning, so hopefully I can get some rest. And then, my brother and sister in law leave for the Epic this weekend, and it should be hectic at work. Such is life, full of excitement. But I am really not complaining.  A lot of people have it much much worse. On my mind right now.

1. I really dislike Lady Gaga's music. It's so derivative. I have made a decision to take her album off my iPod Nano, the one I bring with me everywhere. I won't miss it, because every time any of her songs come on, I skip to the next one. Meanwhile, whenever it chooses an Adele song, I stop and listen, and don't seem to mind. So Lady, it's been nice (actually it hasn't) but...sayonara.

2. Saw "No Other Woman" at the Regal Village on Friday night and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Anne appears to be better than Christine all in all. The movie vacillates between camp and taking itself too seriously, but all in all much better than a lot of things I have seen from Star recently. And the place was jam-packed. We couldn't get decent seats, and we heard they had to add a second theater to accommodate the crowds. I was surprised, and was a little bit frightened by the crowd.

3. I really did not like the first half of "bridesmaids," so it took me a couple of days to finish it, but by the end of the movie, I was hysterical laughing and of course love that my beloved Wilson Phillips was prominently featured. And it was surprisingly sweet and romantic, and it tugged my heart, too. Yes, I was a Bridesmaids hater, but I have now seen the light. Hold on for one more day!

I know for certain that miracles happen,
but only for those who hang on to hope.
~ Nick Vujicic

Almost New

I  was admiring the pics of the "new" iPod Nano during Apple's press conference, when I realized it's the same Nano that I have with different software. Oh well, I said to myself, I will just wait. But when I plugged my Nano in this morning to edit songs, it asked me if I wanted to download the new software, and after I did, I realized that it is the same one as those in the pictures I was looking at, and voila! now I feel like I have a new Nano. I use this a lot, it's the one bring to work, and use while walking and I also bring it when I go to the gym. I feel so happy! And they even have the Mickey Mouse Clock as an option for when you just want to see the time. I usually out the current dance stuff that Jimmy sends me in there, to get my heart beating, but I also put a ton of jazz vocals and most of the "newer" things I have that I want to listen to and absorb more.

We don't understand life any better
at forty than at twenty,
but by then we realize it and admit it.
~ Jules Renard 

Feeling Dirty

So Apple announced the "new" iPhone today, and I have been waiting for this. My Blackberry for Verizon is almost three years old now, and has now a habit of freezing, so I am really due for a new phone. And I have been waiting for this iPhone. But...they did not announce the iPhone 5, rather a variation of it - a better version of it, if to quote a song. I think i will get it, because I suspect and believe that when iPhone 5 comes out next year, it will be a Sprint exclusive. Everyone should only have these kinds of problems. I wore this white polo shirt today, and it really is so comfortable. I have had it for a while now, and it has kind of become one of my favorites to wear. The pique cotton has gotten so soft now. But then I realize that there are some yellowish stains on the front. They aren't the most noticeable, but I felt so....dirty the whole day. Not many may have seen it - indeed, most probably no one has - but *I* know about it, and it really got me so disturbed. I am throwing it away. I got it on sale, and it has served me pretty well. There really is no sense holding on to it. God knows I have enough to choose from. I just need to let go of it.

"Don't cry when the sun is gone, because the tears won't let you see the stars." - Violeta Parra

S

Drops Of Rain

It rained today, a lot more than I have ever seen here. And it turns out, people here cannot handle rain. Just as I was glancing at the window and saying to myself, "Wow, that's really coming down," well, our phones started to fizzle, and the power went out. And I mean, this rain is not even heavy duty rain. I mean, it's more so than usual, but in reality it's nothing more than say, a Summer Afternoon shower back East. Hence, here we go again with my comparisons. I shouldn't, really. They are two different worlds. In my head I keep on hearing Eponine's song Les Mis: "A little drop of rain can hardly hurt me now." Weak sauce, weak sauce.

"Don't wait to realize you shouldn't have waited." - Ofer Moses

A Lady At The Cinemas

The year is almost ending, I realize this as I look at at the calendar and it's October. Christmas is coming soon, and I am not emotionally ready for it. I went to the movies today and the weirdest thing happened. As we were waiting for the movie to start, ushers came in and started checking for people's tickets. And then I realize, they had a target, a lady was spotted going into a second film after coming and finishing one. They actually escorted her out of the theater, as she protested and started screaming, "I want to speak to your manager now!" It felt kind of sad. I guess she had a lot of pride and did not want to just accept her mistake. I suspect they had been watching her and maybe she got defiant. I am not going to lie and say I have never done it, but I find that the second movie always suffer when I do cheat like that, so I don't really do it often. I can count in one hand the number of times I have done it. Still, it must be embarrassing for her. I kind of felt bad.

"Good, the more communicated, more abundant grows."
— John Milton

Still Kinda Summer

I am seeing all these updates of my East Coast peeps saying fall has arrived, and I am missing the "seasons" once again - that time when you start putting away all your summer wardrobe, and you start layering. Layering is a good thing, layering is one of my favorite things. Right now, the weather here is certainly more pleasant - it's not the scorching hot of summer anymore, but...it's still 89 degrees. It's not hot - there is a nice breeze and there is no humidity, of course, but it is still kinda summer. My morning walk is really nice now, but it is still kinda summer. Fall here is still kind of summer...and I miss my Autumns. But there's no point in missing, I guess.  I love my Kindle. It's smaller, and sleeker, and just like their advertisement, it fits at the back of your pants pocket. I really don't know what I did before this - imagine now I have almost a thousand books in this small gadget. It is kind of like when the iPod was invented. Now I can't imagine myself lugging around CDs. It's a digital world. We are living it now.

"Life is a great mystery to be lived moment by moment, not a problem to be solved once and for all."

- Jackson Kiddard

Reading Is More Fun Again!

I got a new Kindle. When they released the new regular versions yesterday and saw that the prices were down to about $70.00 for a regular one, I just couldn't resist. My current one is now from three versions ago, and I want to bequeath it now to my sister, who has been asking me for one for a long time now. I think of it this way - all the money I save now because I just download books will pay for this thing. And I have a new toy - it is definitely smaller, lighter, and the screen brighter, which is now perfect for my eyes. Ever since I started using the a Kindle, I can definitely say, Reading Is Fun Again! Now I just have to go through the arduous task of transferring all my book files to this new Kindle. I now have 800+ books , and more that I need to unzip,which I will now do so I can transfer a whole heap of words. I cannot wait. Oh, and to go back to my constant complaining about call center attendants from the Philippines, I was with one of them via Amazon earlier, and the experience was actually pleasant. I still cringe at their lame attempts of an "American" accent, but I am kind of happy for them. Oh, Jeebus, could I really be in a good mood?

"What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise."

- Oscar Wilde

An Opening

Well, looks like next year's vacations plans are solidifying. Jeff and I got an email from Desiree yesterday saying that a spot has opened up on the Paramount Deck for the RSVP Danube River Cruise for next year. It was a quick decision - it was the room we wanted to be in, it just matches, and yes. I was just going to write an email to Jeff when there he was, calling me, telling me we should go ahead and do it. And then we did it. A couple of hours later, we get a confirmation and we are in. It was essentially a quick and painless process. And I never really looked at the ship website before, but I finally did (after booking the cruise, curiously) and now I am doubly excited because it looks like a glamorous ship, and the itinerary looks wonderful and all in all it looks like another trip of a lifetime. But then again, all the trips e take, we make sure they are trips of lifetimes. It will be the very first RSVP for us, and it would be kind of interesting, as we have done Atlantis before and we want to compare and contrast. Will it really be a calmer, more subdued crowd? I guess we will find out in July!

"Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."

— Guillaume Appollnaire

Rajo Laurel for Nora Aunor

All So Predictable

Very rarely does it rain in Las Vegas, or so I have always been told, but it did yesterday, if briefly. I think the Universe was trying to tell me something, because I was walking from the movies and was totally contemplating going to the gym. I was almost totally not going to go, but then it started drizzling, and I heard thunder. And guess where was teh nearest "shade"? The gym, of course. So maybe someone, something, was telling me to go go go, and I just had to obey. I saw Abduction, which I review here,   but when I was deciding what to watch, it was a toss-up between that and "Sarah's Key," which is a French movie about the Holocaust, and I thought, well I think I would prefer something light and mindless. I kind of regret that now, but maybe not. Taylor is eye candy, but he didn't really show a lot in the movie. Plus, even though he seems "amnly" with all his martial arts and stuff, he has such gay voice that it is pretty hard to believe he doesn't play for the team. I predict years from now, he will come out and write a tell-all. It's just so easy. 

Instead of viewing God
as one who helps me accomplish my purposes,
it is now my joy to help God
accomplish the divine purpose -
seeking the best for others
and seeking the growth of the beloved,
which is to say everyone.
~ Philip Gulley 

Bit Of Time

Well, whaddaya know? Sometimes things do work. My Blu-Ray player is all set now to stream through Netflix, and it may have taken a little bit of time to get there, but I *am* there. I could just get very impatient at times. Patience has never really been my greatest virtue. But I try, I really do try. Tonight was my first day back at the gym and I feel good, at least about the fact that I was back. I know that I walk about a mile and a half a day, but I always feel like it's not enough. Actually, I know it is not enough. I had my blood pressure taken at work yesterday and I was surprised how it was on the higher side. Well, I have a confession to make - I have not really been regular with taking my medicine. Actually, I haven't been taking them of late. No wonder. I know it's stupid for me to be like this, but I have only myself to blame, so there you go. Sometimes things work, and sometimes they don't.

"Meet this transient world
with neither grasping nor fear,
trust the unfolding of life,
and you will attain true serenity."  

- Bhagavad Gita

Walk 9/21/11

I went back to working to work in the mornings, and I love it. here are the pics from my walk on Wednesday morning.