Thursday, November 27, 2008

holidays a'commin'

Carmen Marc Valvo
Gold Cotton-Silk Metal Beaded Dress


Vera Wang
Red Silk Square Neck Belted Dress


Cynthia Rowley
Blue Gold Silk Brocade Strapless Dress


Sunday, November 23, 2008

goodbye for now


I can't believe that you're really gone now
Seems like it's all just a dream
How can it be that the world will go on
When something has died within me?

Leaves will turn, my heart will burn with colors of you
Snow will fall but I'll recall your warmth
Summer wind breathing in your memory
I'll miss you

But there will be a time when I'll see your face
And I'll hear your voice and there we will laugh again
And there will come a day when I'll hold you close
No more tears to cry 'cause we'll have forever
But I'll say goodbye for now

I can't imagine my life without you
You've held a place all your own
Just knowing you were beneath the same sky
Oh, what a joy I have known

On rainy days, in many ways, you'll water my heart
On starry nights I'll glimpse the light of your smile
Never far from my heart you'll stay with me
So I'll just wait

'Cause there will be a time when I'll see your face
And I'll hear your voice and there we will laugh again
And there will come a day when I'll hold you close
No more tears to cry 'cause we'll have forever
But I'll say goodbye for now

But there will be a time when I'll see that face
And I'll hear your voice and there we will laugh again
And there will come a day when I'll hold you close
No more tears to cry 'cause we'll have forever
But I'll say goodbye just for now

Goodbye for now

- By Kathy Troccoli

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

how much is 2 cents?


I am suddenly interested with this amount as I happen to get advices all the time. For what's the worth of a friendly word or reminder?

In my Nokia Inbox:

"Don't let someone become a priority in your life when you are just an option in theirs. Relationships work best when they are balanced."

"Value yourself. Sometimes your very existence gives hope to others."

In my Yahoo Inbox:

"Angels exist, only sometimes they haven't got wings and we call them friends."


"Control your emotions. You should also know and realize that the people who make your day bad are jewels because you need them for you to mature.
"

In my Hotmail Inbox:

"
Take the domestic flight of Vietnam Airline from HCM city to Hue at the earliest time, depart at 7:00 and arrive Hue at 8:20 am. In Hue, you book the Saigon Morin Hotel that has a good view by the river."

"Pour water directly into the vase to provide moisture for the plant."

In my Flickr Inbox:


"
I presume the photo was taken in the afternoon. You can lower your ISO to say 120, apperture to 7, speed to say below 100 to give you a not so saturated shot."

"Pay very close attention to the reflections & lighting behind you - and any shadows. Eliminate them whenever possible."


HERE ARE MY TWO CENTS.

Meaning: An individual's opinion. Origin: "My two cents' worth" (or "two bits' worth") implies that, in order to express and opinion, a small charge is levied. This could well be a simple notional charge and not related to any actual payment. It has been suggested that "two cents" was the minimum wager required of a new player in order to enter poker games. There's no documentary evidence to support that idea. The US version of the phrase is pre-dated by the British "two-penneth" and there's little reason to believe "two cents' worth" to be anything other than a US translation of that. The card-playing origin of the phrase could just as well apply to the British version but, without evidence, that's merely speculation. [The Phrase Finder]

"My two cents" and its longer version "put my two cents in" is an American idiomatic expression, taken from the original British idiom expression: to put in "my two pennies worth" or "my tuppence worth". It used to preface the tentative stating of one’s opinion. By deprecating the opinion to follow — suggesting its value is only two cents, a very small amount — the user of the phrase hopes to lessen the impact of a possibly contentious statement, showing politeness and humility. However, it is also sometimes used with irony when expressing a strongly felt opinion. The phrase is also used out of habit to preface uncontentious opinions. [Wikipedia]

list #01 of harry and hangers

Though I've never indulged in them yet, I love lists. Just like the way I love to make sure that the spaces on the left side and the right side of a book laid down on a table are equal.

The bedroom of Nika and Gela is the best way to start my list mania. They've left for school, and without argue, they also left a trail behind them. Scattered together with the sheets and pillows on the still unmade beds, sprawled on the floor carpet, under the side tables, in a jumble on top of these side tables, taped on the wall, and hanging from the cabinet handles.

9-year old dirty-gray shirted plush puppy toy
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, hard-bound
damp pink terry towel
damp yellow terry towel
St. Mary's School necktie
half-opened blue umbrella
list to bring to school on Wednesday, November 19
Speedo Smoke/Titanium Rapide Junior Goggles
a plastic bottle half-filled with stones
green pants hanger
pink blouse hanger
9-year old neck-injured dirty-yellow plush giraffe toy
Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You
little pink heart note sheets
red tomato-designed pin cushion
My Scene yet unopened Chelsea Sailor Sweeties doll
a plastic organizer half-filled with sea shells
The Labrador Retriever, a Terra-Nova book
Card Captor Sakura picture cut out from a poster
bubble gum wrapper
purple colored pen
YSL Baby Doll Eau de Toilette pink box (where's the bottle?)
YSL Baby Doll Eau de Toilette blue box (where's the bottle?)
an unfinished "Bayanihan sa Pamayanan" homework
a blue comb with a lost tooth
Tinker Bell wallet
socks, socks, socks, socks

What can I say -
this bedroom bedlam is a fantastic way to start a list series!

Sunday, November 16, 2008

when i play secretary


After three years of being the Secretary General of the Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce & Industry Foundation, I hung my performing hat and bag of tricks, signifying the end of being the eyes, ears and hands of an organization.

A few weeks after leaving the chamber, the family business worked on its incorporation and I was automatically named Corporate Secretary. I think it was expected. The rest of the family must think I am so attached and friendly and familiar with papers and records.

My photography group, the Oro Photographic Society, recently elected its officers and hands-down, I was named Secretary. Maybe because I'm the sole female member, and maybe also because that was the guys' plan all along.

Being the Secretary is a boon and a bane. You know everything, and having access to the information gives you a central role to the organization. But it's just like being a bridesmaid too - you are so there in the altar among the officers, yet you are not actually the bride wearing the gown of power.

I have always dawdled and put off the preparation of the papers of the corporation I'm organizing. Should be the best time to finish it and for a change - be the President!

Saturday, November 15, 2008

how to be a teacher


After a complete week of classes, I was already armed with the first paper submissions of the 170 students enrolled in the Business Management subject that I teach.

Angela, my undeniably 9-year old Mini Me, was reading the papers and checking out which one she would like. After picking up one with a respectable cover and with more features than the rest - because she said this one had a goal, and she liked that - Angela has lined up for me the Do's and Do Not's of teaching.

She was at it a good deal of the day so I asked her to write them on paper so I won't forget. Here are the seven points she laid down for me:


1. Once you get inside the classroom say "Good morning" or "Good afternoon".

2. Bad posture is bad so make sure they are seated properly. If they are not, say "Please sit properly: back straight and feet on the ground".

3. If you are discussing and you notice your students are not listening, call their attention for a "quiz" to check if they were listening.

4. Once you told them that you are having a "quiz", tell them you will only say the question 2 times.

5. If they talk to you not in English, do not entertain them.

6. If you want your class to enjoy, have fun or make fun with them at the end of your class.

7. Once you say goodbye, tell them to wait for their next teacher.

P.S. When they ask you why you are so strict or how did you get these ideas tell them: "You will/shall learn the basics in college if you want to be a teacher." Don't tell them your daughter (me) taught you.


The view from a grade school girl! My work load is just two hours a day. But oh boy. My business students will get a surprise next week!

Angela's photo by Mike Mendoza

Sunday, November 09, 2008

these precious moments

Fifth photo walk with Mike today.
Destination: Camp Phillips, Bukidnon
Time start: 05.30am
Time end: 09.30am


cold relaxed drive
flower-lined lanes
proud pine trees
smell of a new day
dew on the grasses
shy sun through the trees
quaint houses in a line
people slowly walking to church
men jogging in the soccer field
a grandpa leading a young boy
pausing to take photos
confirmation in a touch
the search for breakfast
a sweet weekend morning

wonderful moments to make beautiful memories

Photo by Mike Mendoza
My 5th photo walk photos here

Saturday, November 08, 2008

renewing vows

I love weddings. Whether they hired a professional organizer or not. I always hold my breath for the what is for me the most important thing.. that bride's walk to the altar. It's the clincher to the entourage. It's the choir's dream song. It's the grand entrance. It's the close-up moment.


We attended a wedding ceremony today. Curious to check out the motif and flowers. Time to listen to cheers and advices for couples - be they newlyweds or not. And to play dress up with the man who waited for me at the foot of the altar almost twelve years ago.


Photos by Mike Mendoza

Thursday, November 06, 2008

some classes to teach

Course Number:
BM12

Course Title:
Business Research

Course Description:
The course affords the student a look into the factors that make a business enterprise successful. The student realizes that a business entity is not put up overnight but that a thorough research into demand analysis, production, finance, marketing and economics is needed. Business research aims at maintaining competitive advantage and attaining organizational objectives efficiently.

General Objective:
At the end of the course, the student is expected to submit a business plan and to defend the plan before a panel.

Specific Objectives:
1. To introduce the student to the world of business research.
2. To illustrate how a thorough business research can aid in the formulation of a business plan.
3. To illustrate how a thorough business research increases the feasibility of a business plan.
4. To involve the student in the actual planning, organizing and strategizing for a business enterprise that they will actually be implementing.

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

a wife's life


What the!?!

That is not just a question anymore. It has evolved into a full-pledged expression of its own too. Of surprise and astonishment, anger and rage, surrender and capitulation.

I am not sure if wives know it, but their lives are a big WHAT THE!?!

You pick up after,
wake up before,
carry a name owned by,
make meals for,
sleep fitfully beside,
get glamorous around,
tighten your resolve about,
ride the emotional roller-coaster games with,
pound sense into,
receive endless excuses from,
work really hard to truly see through..

him.

Wives deserve ten stars.

Photo of this wife by Mike Mendoza