FYI

89/365

Statue of Saint Being Prepared for Procession

Taken yesterday during my daily walk.

88/365

Honey is Alive!

Honey is Nicole's rubber reindeer. She pricked it with a pin . Jay fixed it when he got home from work yesterday.

87/365

Nicole Crying

She pricked her rubber reindeer with a button pin and started crying when she heard the air hiss. She said sorry so many times even if I didn't get angry.  She realized she made a mistake and was horrified.

No More Bad Hair Days

I will post Project 365 photos tomorrow.

I just want to say my hair is the nicest it's ever been in my entire life! I love it!  Two more inches and it will be perfect.

I can only think of one reason for the nice hair- exercise.

Walastik, exercise does work.  Haha.

I didn't get to exercise today because i had to wait for Jay's cousin to pick up his guitar. By the time he came by, it was already dark. So to replace my daily walks and to burn off calories I will clean my bathroom :-)

YLSL*

All this talk about Ricky Martin on Twitter brought back memories of me being 11, spending the last day of my summer break singing this song on Karaoke:

"Gotta catch a plane at 7:30, why haven't you come to say goodbye..."

Wahahahaha.  It was my last day in Bicol, I was set to go home (in a bus!). Over the summer I had fallen in love with a boy named Jeff and I was heart broken.

*Everybody now- eww.

86/365

Nicole Stretching

The little sweetheart attended Dance Factory's orientation yesterday. Her summer ballet lessons will start on April 8.  She'll be in full uniform then, remind me to post a photo :-) I am raising a girly-girl.

85/365

Healthy You Chewy Guyabano Bar

Sold exclusively at Robinson's. It was so good.  It was like dried mango. I only bought a pack because I just wanted to try it. Now I want more.

84/365

5K

*Choking on Tears*

(via Saab Magalona)

The National Geographic Earth Day Run 2010

At first, I was a little hesitant to join the National Geographic Earth Day Run. Like I said in my previous post, I am an unfit cow.  But when Iris said that the point of joining is not so much to win the race but to inspire people to take action to save the earth, I thought, OK, why not? I happen to love the earth plus I'm really pushing my butt to be more active.

I registered last Sunday. There was a minor glitch in the online registration because my credit card number is similar to a previously blocked card but it only took several minutes for PayEasy's customer support to fix the problem.  I registered for the 5K run.  The registration fee was P600, processing fee was P90 and courier fee for the race kit was P150. I received my race kit yesterday.

I checked the NatGeoRun's website today and look, my name's on top of the list of the confirmed participants for 5K :-) Wohooo! It's alphabetical and I still use Ambat. LOL

The race is on April 18, 2010, Sunday, very early in the morning at the Mall of Asia grounds in Pasay City.

There are three distance categories: 3K, 5K and 10K. When you register, you get a free National Geographic Shirt (Gray& white for the 3K and 5K distances and black & yellow for 10K).  The registration fee will help fund Design Against The Elements, a global architectural design competition for a disaster-resistant eco-village.

For more information on the event, visit: http://natgeorun.com/

I'll see you there!

I have a confession

I used to be on the yellow team. Last year, I signed up online to be a volunteer for Noy's campaign. While I had no money to contribute to his campaign I was certain I wanted to help. I had that ad space up there reserved for him.  I was going to blog about him. But I had to do my research first. I wanted to make sure I was supporting the right candidate. At that time, I volunteered right away because Conrado De Quiros, a writer I admire, said Noy is the right president for this country.  I was also still very emotional about Cory's death. I had the yellow twibbon on my Twitter avatar until late January.

The yellow team has my mobile number. I still get texts from them. When I posted this link on my Facebook, I was still very much on Team Noy. That's why I found it very funny.  But I couldn't stand behind my choice of the man completely so I kept my mouth shut. I was almost sure I was making an emotional choice. I was too angry at GMA to consider Gibo and too annoyed at Villar for abusing the poor in his campaign ads. So I chose NoyNoy. But even if I had chosen him, I was not sure how I truly felt about him because of Hacienda Luisita. I know the issue is complex and goes really deep, even beyond Noy's control, but how can you look at the problem of Hacienda Luisita and not demand a good answer from Noy? Farmers shed blood fighting for land. (Read GMA's 4 part story on Hacienda Luisita: part 1, part 2, part 3 & part 4).

Then last month, Gibo's supporters started to become more visible online.  I knew I had to make my decision quickly so that I could also start showing my support for my chosen candidate.  For a brief moment, I considered switching to Gibo's team. He is a very intelligent man, with intelligent and charismatic supporters.

I really want to vote for a candidate that is intelligent, has a very good track record, is passionate about this country, and who doesn't sell bull crap. I have been thinking about who to vote for since last year. I don't know why I never considered Gordon from the very beginning but based on the above criteria, he really is the best man for the job. And that's why all of my online profiles now feature Dick Gordon for President photos. I do not care if I am the only one in my family voting for him. He is my choice. My vote is only wasted if I do not vote for the man I truly believe in. 

I know people are saying Gordon can't open his mouth without mentioning Subic. But you can't fault the man for being proud of his accomplishments, can you? Can you even talk about Subic's history without talking about Gordon? He is the only candidate who has held both administrative and legislative positions in government. He's a UP graduate (Go Maroons!). He has been the Red Cross governor since the 80s.  The man is an achiever. And I'm buying his ideas. He doesn't tell me he will lift me out of poverty. He tells me I have to lift myself out of it. He tells me, he tells us, we have to take a pro-active position, to change the course of our nation. 

"Bawal ang tamad, lalong bawal ang tanga." (Read Gordon's 10 Principles for Success in 2010 here.)

"Pinoy- always ready, always first, always there." 

Walking/Running Sweethopia or 84/365

I suppose there's no need to wait two more months to do a big reveal.  I have been walking.  That is my big secret.  I have been walking 5 kilometers every other day for one whole month. Beginning last Monday, I stepped it up and have been walking daily. I jog a little but I mostly walk because I am an unfit cow. I cannot seem to push myself to run. Maybe I am over-thinking it.  My friend Gracinha sent me a link to a marathon training website several years ago but I can't seem to do the whole alternating, walk-run thing. Maybe I am over-thinking it. Or maybe I am too fat to run. I cannot fathom the idea of finishing 5 kilometers in under 30 minutes which you can achieve with proper training. 

I didn't want to blog about it at first because it could end up to be one of those things I start but don't stick to (you know like cross-stitching, vegetarianism, piano lessons, guitar lessons, and the list goes on and on). But I've been doing it for a month now and so far I have no plans of stopping. In fact, I invested in a pair of running shoes :-)

I am the queen of instant gratification and I easily lose interest when I don't get results instantly.  With walking, I experienced positive results almost instantly. The week I started walking, all my joint pains went away.  Maybe that's not a big deal but that was enough to get me walking the following week. And now 5 weeks later, I'm still walking.

I know I probably won't lose a ton of weight just by walking but I enjoy doing it. I enjoy it because I get one whole hour to be alone with my thoughts. I have that hour to think and yet not have to think about anything in particular, you know what I mean? 

So there, the secret is out- I walk and I enjoy it.  I am not going to attach any expectations to it and just enjoy the process.

I usually post my Project 365 photo a day later but here's my 84th:

All Sweaty After My Walk

I received my NatGeoRun shirt through Air 21 today and wore it right away (because I read you're not supposed to try new clothes on race day).  I registered for the 5K NatGeo Earth Day Run.  I will blog it tomorrow.

83/365

"Take The Lead- Nike"

I know I promised I wouldn't buy shoes this year. This pair, I swear I need.

82/365

Nicole Singing On Stage

We're officially done with nursery. 

Sometimes I wish life had a pause button.

81/365

For Crypticmess

Several years ago, when you didn't come home to Cavite often, you asked me to take photos of Paredes St. and the old Paredes house for my Explore Silang blog. I only got to take photos this week. hahaha. Hindi na kailangan. :-P

Eat, Pray, Love

I don't like to admit it because I have a great life but there are times  I want to get away.  I think everybody gets that feeling. During the few times Jay takes Nicole to his parents' home and I am left at home alone, I get deliriously happy with the peace and quiet.  Can you imagine having peace and quiet in a place totally new to you? I bet my mind will explode.

There are four places I want to visit in this lifetime: India, Thailand, Antique*, Batanes. I should have traveled when I was young and had money. Or a few years ago when I was not yet afraid of credit card debt. LOL. Shoulda, woulda, coulda. Time to eliminate those words from the vocabulary.

I will go away soon.  I can feel it in my bones. I hope this going-away feeling is not death. LOL.

* I don't even know what's in Antique. haha. But many years ago, I saw a TV ad for Susan Calo-Medina's travel show and she was in Antique and I remember telling myself- what an awesome place, I should visit.

80/365

Nicole Practically Lives in The Box

Twice this week she refused to go with us to the town plaza because she wanted to stay in her box.

79/365

Silang Central Elementary School

It's where I spent the last 2 years of grade school.  Jay and I went there yesterday to play BINGO, the school's fundraising project :-)

Today's Good News

Burger King now serves beer.
Too bad I'm under medication and can't drink alcohol until December. :(
Twitpic by @burgerkingph

78/365

Life In This Part of the Planet

77/365

Summer = Halo-halo <3

76/365

Summer= Mangga <3

75/365

My Dad is a Simple Man with a Single Obsession: The TV

Jericho is Cute Again

Several years ago I lived in a small house in San Juan with about 8 other girls. There was only one TV in the house- a 14-inch color TV in the living room.  Every night after dinner, the girls would sit in the living room in their pajamas and wait for the Jericho Rosales-Kristine Hermosa soap opera to go on (I cannot for the life of me remember the title of the soap).  At first I wasn't interested but how could I possibly ignore 8 shrieking girls in one room?  How could 9 girls in one house ignore a beautiful boy like Jericho?

Jericho Rosales is a pretty boy who can act. It must be difficult to date boys like him. We were watching from a teeny-tiny TV and his puppy dog eyes got through our hearts. Boys like Piolo, John Lloyd and Jericho, it will probably take all of your will-power to say no to them. I mean how can you say no to this face:

photo from celebrityhotshotph.com

I hate Max's chicken but I eat there because I love Piolo. LOL. Yes, pretty boys with pretty eyes can have that effect on consumers. :-P

Which brings me to the point of this post. When Jericho dances for you- you eat the chicken.  I don't care if the chicken is drowning in sweet, orange sauce (yes, I have tried the meal in the local Chowking and the chicken was DROWNING in sauce), you just eat the chicken. 

video by chuvaness

Yes! Jericho is cute again. 

Recycle, It's a Snap! by Len Peralta Gonzales*

Going back to my life when I was still single, I would never consider myself as thrifty. My family and friends could attest to the fact that I spent a lot.  Everything changed when I got married and had children. We are a one income family and it wasn't easy to adjust to fact that I don't earn my own money. I learned how to spend wisely. I tried to find ways to save like looking for great deals, using 2nd hand items and recycling.:) I got more into recycling when I was preparing for Paolo's 4th birthday. It was a challenge because I wanted to make sure that the stuff I would make wouldn't  look cheap.

giveaway container made of recycled coffee creamer container!

Recyling can be fun. Creativity is endless with all the materials that we already consider as junk. Now I try to save most the materials that I used to just throw before. I even ask my friends to save some for me. I will soon be known as the garbage lady! Hahahaha!:))

robot decoration made of recycled materials

Lately, I was just checking Lily's cabinet and realized that she doesn't have enough clothes for spring and summer. I was lucky that before she was born, the group of friends I have around here gave me pre-loved clothes for Lily to use. Kids grow so quickly and they know how much kid's clothes cost. It saved us a lot!
I know I'm still going to buy the kids new clothes but it will save us alot too if I recycle some old ones. So when I was checking crafting blogs online, I saw a tutorial on how to convert an adult shirt into a kid's summer dress.:)

This will be a nice summer dress for Lily.:) Now I had to go check the bag of clothes that we're planning on donating to Goodwill and see if there's old clothes there that I can recycle.;) My mother-in-law would always tell us, "A dollar is not a dollar without the penny. So every penny counts!" Every small thing that I can do to save will go a long way! As Paolo would always say, "Recycle, it's a snap!:D
*I am reposting this blog from her Facebook account with her permission.  Len is one of the most creative people I know. All her home improvement and art projects are always inspiring.

For US-based readers, you can have a piece of Len's creativity through her hand-made hats and accessories. Visit her online store.

Making The Shift: From Well-Having to Well-Being

I caught the end part of Leonardo Di Caprio's The 11th Hour on HBO.  It was just what I needed. It was a good reminder that there are still things we could do to save this planet. In the last two weeks, I have been entertaining thoughts of the world ending in my lifetime.  I was only praying that my family be spared from suffering. BUT at the back of my mind, I've also been thinking- why should we be spared? 


The 11th hour talks a lot about the things that are going on in my mind right now. Except that at the end of the movie, there are discussions on what can be done to save the earth, to save humans.  There is hope. 

The movie is also a great reminder that "personal actions add up to something meaningful". We can start in our own homes, do certain things differently and build a better future for all of us.

I will admit that there are areas in sustainable living I fail miserably at. Like, I can't seem to stop eating factory-produced potato chips. And I can't stop drinking Coke. Plus I have a hard time recycling every small piece of paper or cardboard.  

But there are areas we've been successful at like keeping our electricity consumption to a minimum. Our electric bill has been at the $10 price range for 3 months now. I have not bought shoes in the last 3 months and don't plan on buying any shoes the rest of the year. We have just enough clothes and just enough of the things we need.  I have planted my own basil plant. We have learned to be happy with the things we have. Of course it's easier to be happy with the things you have when you can't afford to buy a lot of other things anyway. LOL. But seriously, in our case, just having enough proves to be more of a blessing than anything. We know what we need, we know the things that are important in our lives, and we don't kill ourselves to earn more, buy more.  

In the movie, someone said "Things are thieves of time". People are losing sleep, getting stressed out, spending less time with their loved ones, to work more, to earn more, so they can buy more.  Personally, I have made the shift from well-having to well-being.  I don't feel guilty about sleeping 8-9 hours a day anymore. That is my blessing, for choosing the work and the life I have now.  There are trade-offs of course. Like not having a new mobile phone, not having a new camera, not having multiple laptops, not having a car, not having a lot of other material stuff but I can tell you with all honesty, I don't feel like I'm missing a lot in my life. Plus it makes me feel a little proud to know that I'm not buying things that contribute to the destruction of the earth.  Every little thing we own, comes from the earth. It is our responsibility to use the things we have to the fullest and make things that we have, last longer.

This happiness I feel, this contentment, did not come easily. It took several years to achieve this state of mind.  Because like what was discussed in the movie, I used to define myself with the things that I had.  Just a few years ago, I blogged about wanting a Louis Vuitton bag! Just several months ago, I was still obsessed with shoes.  These days, I may desire material things but I can easily shake the feeling off.  

74/365

A Cow Photo Taken with Shaky Hands

At first, the cow was just eating grass but when I was about to take a photo it started to stare at me and I got scared.

73/365

Ohana :-)

Overnight swimming at Banio Kreek, Pulong Bunga, Silang Cavite.
The only people brave enough to swim in COLD water that night: Nicole, Jay, Kent, Tem and me :-P

72/365

Inihaw Express SM Dasma

I had barbecue, sisig & rice for P 79 :-)

71/365

Nicole Inside a Pig Bubble Head

70/365

Back to Eating Beef

Shawarma at Robinson's Dasmarinas

69/365

Minsan Lang Sila Bata

:'-(

"You may already be aware about the tragic deaths of six local staff in World Vision Pakistan’s Oghi office in the Manshera District of North-West Frontier Province on Wednesday, March 10 at 9:20 a.m. local time.   


Please help us pray for the bereaved families, and fellow World Vision staff in Pakistan.
The office was attacked by masked gunmen who herded our staff into one room and shot them indiscriminately before setting off a bomb as they left.  Four male and two female staff members were killed at the site and eight staff were injured. 
Four of the injured staff were treated and released, while four others remain hospitalised for serious injuries.  
All operations in Pakistan have been suspended until the situation can be fully assessed, including a thorough review of security measures.  
Security at our Oghi office was in compliance with both World Vision and industry standards. 
The government of Pakistan has pledged full support to World Vision. Local armed police responded immediately on the scene in Oghi, and continue to provide additional security."


*photo and message from World Vision Philippines

I have been taking photos

I 'm just being lazy with uploading. Tomorrow I will upload three.

When I logged in, I was supposed to tell a story. But now I can't remember what I was supposed to blog about.

Anyway, here are a few things that happened to me this week:

1.) We were supposed to watch Paramore but didn't. I won tickets from Globe Tattoo but we gave them to Jay's niece.
2.) Nicole will be done with Nursery next week.  We're not sure if we want to send her to the same school next year. It is an awesome preschool but just too expensive for us.  If we send her to the same school next year, I will start a Gapang Parents Group :-P
3.) Jay said, "Para palang sira-ulo si Bea nung nagkakilala sila ni John Lloyd ." He's talking about Miss You Like Crazy.
4.) Our firewall is now fixed and our house newly-painted (exterior). We are ready for the coming rainy season.
5.) I'm just drifting.  This happens every year during the first quarter, I get a little sad.

High School

I am laughing in my seat right now, talking to old friends from high school on Facebook.

Inspired by Crypticmess who uploaded photos from 2001, I uploaded one photo from 1994 in my Facebook account.  People had a blast seeing their scrawny, 15-year-old selves.  That one photo prompted my friend Eames to upload more photos which prompted me to upload even more photos. LOL.

You know what, no matter how much I say I hated high school, I actually didn't.  I had fun in high school. I had fun until I started to think I was too cool for it.  When I started to think I was too cool for anything, that's when I stopped participating in things that made high school fun.  I stopped being part of the dance troupe. I didn't participate in the COCC training to become officer.  I refused to have my photos taken in photo studios with clouds or tie-dye backgrounds. LOL. I started to hate the teachers. And I just stopped having fun. Emo? LOL.

But yes, I enjoyed high school.  I enjoyed it as much as an insecure, angsty teenager possibly could.  

Look, I even had my own zine! 

Before blogging was invented, kids would make their own magazines, xerox them and distribute them. 

Now I feel old. hahaha.

68/365

Class Photo in a Hangar*

In the 80's, the cool kids wore Reebok! haha.

This photo was taken during the class field trip when I was in third grade. It was the coolest field trip I've ever been to. We went to a hangar in Pasay and went inside an empty plane (no seats, no nothing) then we went to the Planetarium. Our last stop was Harrison Plaza. LOL.

* I don't know who took this photo.  My friend Eames Gana uploaded it on Facebook.
My Project 365 has transitioned into 365 totally-random-past-&-present photos :-P

67/365

A New Photo of an Old Photo 

Laguna, 1994. haha.

Conversations with Nicole #2

For three weeks now I've been taking Nicole outside at night to look at the stars and make a wish.  Two days ago I opened our bedroom door that leads to the terrace and told Nicole to make her wish quickly because it was cloudy and there weren't many stars out. 

Nicole: Papa, come here, make a wish.  It will come true!

Jay: OK, wait, I will make a wish.

Me: Go, make a wish. What's your wish Nicole?

Nicole:  (looks at a star) I wish for Mama and Papa to be happy.

66/365

Taco Chips 

I can't get over the plastic rose lights on the Taco Chips Cover. Yesterday was Tacos day at home :-)

65/365

Clouds at Sunset

I saw nice sun rays shining from behind dark clouds at sunset last Saturday but I didn't have my camera with me.  So I had to rush home to get my camera.  By the time I took the photo, the sun rays were no longer as bright but they still shone nicely on some clouds.

Pond's Search for the Next Cosmo Intern

Click on the photo to see the poster's full size

I want to join the make-over contest (I sure could use one) but I don't have a receipt for Pond's Flawless White.

If I were single and below 30 I would definitely join the intern search :-)

64/365

Betamax*

I guess I no longer have to say I like eating stuff other people consider disgusting?

*grilled chicken blood= yum

p.s. Weh, I don't know why the orientation of the photo is like that. I uploaded it horizontally.

63/365

CD-R King Has Everything

But they have the most annoying system of selling.  

Mommy Sweethopia

Motherhood, it's not the easiest thing for me. What I have going for me is the awareness that I am a shitty mom. Because I know how bad a mom/person I could be, I work really hard at becoming a decent person, good enough to raise another human being.  Parenting, it's serious business. 

When I complain about the tough times I have with raising Nicole, it's not that Nicole is an awful kid, it's just that my temperament, my attitude, they don't exactly make me a fantastic mom. I struggle. You know how some women are naturally kind, speak in a gentle tone, and are natural givers? I am not that kind of person. So I struggle. I know I am not alone.  I'm certain there are millions of mothers out there that struggle. But I'm just a fat whiner.

Let me get to the point of this post. Nicole and I have many gentle, fun, loving, and even creative moments together. Not all of my loving, wonderful, and beautiful parenting ideas are originally mine. I copy inspiring mothers. I even copy movie mommies.  I copy blogger mommies. I look at how other people raise their children and pick up ideas for my own parenting "adventure".  So far, I'm doing well.  I could do better but I really am trying to do my best.

Starting today, I will post some of the things I do for Nicole.  I know I'm not the greatest mother to ever walk the earth.  Like I said, I try my best but I also struggle.  But I cannot avoid blogging about Nicole. I am with her 24 hours a day, almost 365 days a year.  At the moment, my life revolves around her. 

Now, this is something I do for Nicole everyday- I sing this verse to her: 

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are gray

You'll never know dear how much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away.

She loves it.  It is my official song for her; something I intend to sing to her everyday until she tells me to stop.  Now this singing thing did not come naturally for me. It's completely staged.  When I started getting sick I realized I had to create a ritual, something Nicole will remember me by should I die early. And I thought singing her a song would be perfect.  She can sing this verse on her own now and I also learned I'm not dying anytime soon :-P (My illness is perfectly curable, I just need to take meds for 12 months). I may have had selfish reasons for starting to sing this song to her every morning but I feel good that I have established a ritual that makes her feel special.

62/365

Old Photo of Me Playing in "Snow"

I'm definitely cheating now. :-P This is an old photo but you have to believe me, I exerted effort to find it.


Yesterday, I was reading Rajo Laurel's blog and saw his NY photos where he was playing with his friends in the snow.  I have never seen real snow. But I remembered the time (2004) there was a penguin show at a mall in Pasay and I dragged Jay to the show. I only insisted we go because I read an article in the Inquirer that said you could pet the penguins.  They didn't allow us to go near the penguins. I guess they only let the press go near the penguins during the media preview.  It was a lame show. At the lower level there were penguins who looked bored. Then you could go up a flight of stairs to the exhibit area where there were environmental messages on boards. Then there was an area where you could play with "snow".  That's where this photo was taken.

I'm Getting Obsessed with Earthquake Safety

I was in 6th grade when the 1990 Luzon earthquake happened.  Our class was in the library for library ed. class. I think we were writing an essay when the kid seated across me at a library table pointed to the house across the school and said- "Tignan mo, kumakalog" (Look it's shaking) I looked outside and saw the house and a nearby Meralco post swaying. Soon the school building was shaking. We started shrieking. I think some of the kids in my class started laughing. Our teacher, a devout Catholic told us, "Kids, don't be noisy.  Let's all pray" then she closed her eyes, did the sign of the cross and started praying. I can't remember how long the earthquake lasted.
I believe in the power of prayers. I really do. But in emergency cases, I think it is important to know what to do to stay as safe as possible.


I lifted these tips on staying safe during an earthquake from the FEMA website:

If indoors

• DROP to the ground; take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and HOLD ON until the shaking stops. If there isn’t a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building.
• Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture.
• Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake strikes. Hold on and protect your head with a pillow, unless you are under a heavy light fixture that could fall. In that case, move to the nearest safe place.
• Use a doorway for shelter only if it is in close proximity to you and if you know it is a strongly supported, loadbearing doorway.
• Stay inside until the shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Research has shown that most injuries occur when people inside buildings attempt to move to a different location inside the building or try to leave.
• Be aware that the electricity may go out or the sprinkler systems or fire alarms may turn on.
• DO NOT use the elevators.

If outdoors

• Stay there.
• Move away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires.
• Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops. The greatest danger exists directly outside buildings, at exits and alongside exterior walls. Many of the 120 fatalities from the 1933 Long Beach earthquake occurred when people ran outside of buildings only to be killed by falling debris from collapsing walls. Ground movement during an earthquake is seldom the direct cause of death or injury. Most earthquake-related casualties result from collapsing walls, flying glass, and falling objects.

If in a moving vehicle

• Stop as quickly as safety permits and stay in the vehicle. Avoid stopping near or under buildings, trees, overpasses, and utility wires.
• Proceed cautiously once the earthquake has stopped. Avoid roads, bridges, or ramps that might have been damaged by the earthquake.

If trapped under debris

• Do not light a match.
• Do not move about or kick up dust.
• Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing.
• Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can locate you. Use a whistle if one is available. Shout only as a last resort. Shouting can cause you to inhale dangerous amounts of dust.

Last Modified: Wednesday, 24-Feb-2010 21:51:03 EST

Last year, I demanded that Jay review these tips.  You need to read these tips over and over for them to stick.  I have read these tips several times over the last several months but when I hear about earthquakes happening in other countries, I still ask myself- "If an earthquake occurs when we're in bed, should we (Nicole and I) really stay in bed or should we go under my writing desk?"   I think we should have a safety drill at home. I am now obsessed with earthquake safety.  Read these tips, try to remember them.  Let's all stay safe.

61/365

Stuff we steal from Jay's parents' home :-P 

I really shouldn't drink Coke for numerous reasons (health reasons, environmental reasons) but Jay's mom gets free Coke every February so it's hard to avoid drinking sodas during the first quarter of the year.  Plus Coke makes everything taste better.

I can only drink Pineapple juice when it's very cold so I put one in the freezer every morning so I can drink a can of it during morning merienda.

Online Contests & My Twitter

I wasn't always an online contest junkie. In fact, I only started joining contests in 2009 after I met Animetric online in 2008. Animetric is, for many of the mommies in the blogging platform Multiply, the original contest queen :)  Since I spend more than 12 hours online daily, I thought what the heck, I might as well join the different internet contests and promos.  So far, I have only won small items. I do have a pretty good batting average and have won many of the contests that I joined. I do not get to join a lot of contests because I don't join when there is public voting (I tried once and lost miserably).  I also do not join contests that require too much effort (I started an essay for National Bookstore's My Favorite Book contest last week and have written only 200 words. LOL. I will finish the essay within 2 weeks, I promise.) I join mostly online raffles because I'm pretty lucky :-P

I share information on the different online contests that I discover through my Twitter account: @raz_ambat. If you have a Twitter account, follow me.  I post around 2 contest alerts per day. You can search for previous contest alerts by searching for the hashtag #contestalert. I have also placed a Twitter widget on the right side of this blog.  You can take a peek at the contest alerts there and random tweets about my life.

That's all. :-)

60/365

The Moon

I don't know how to take good pictures but the moon was so beautiful I had to try capturing it in photo.  The photo failed to capture how round and orange the moon was last night.  

59/365

Nicole Being Interviewed by Clowns at a Friend's Party

Nicole does not look too happy in this photo but she had fun :-) I didn't get to take a better photo during the party :-(

p.s. I'm late with uploading photos again :-P