My Weekend Journal

For the first time in almost twenty years, there will be a blue moon on New Year's Eve. Do not expect the moon to actually turn blue, though. It is just the term used for the second full moon in a calendar month. There is a lot of "hush-hush" over the definition of blue moon but I will leave the controversy to the experts. ;) United States, Canada, Europe, South America and Africa will have New Year's Eve blue moon. However, the full moon does not show up until New Year's Day in Australia and Asia, making January a blue moon month for them. Another "magical" New Year's Eve event is the partial lunar eclipse on the Eastern Hemisphere. The eclipse will not be visible in the Americas. The Philippines would not only welcome the New Year with a big bang but with both Blue Moon and partial lunar eclipse!

I had this timely letter from my inbox. This might have been in circulation for a very long time. I found the message so meaningful and thought of sharing this to you. It is true that some people have forgotten what they really celebrate on Christmas Day. This day has always been a family day because family members find their ways to reunite. However, we should always keep in mind that without our Father on this day, our family will never be complete. Letter From Jesus As you well know, we are getting closer to my birthday. Every year, people celebrate the day in my honor and I think that this year the celebration repeats. During this time there are many people shopping for gifts; there are many radio announcements, TV commercials, and in every part of the world, everyone is talking that my birthday is getting closer and closer. It is really very nice to know, that at least once a year, some people think of me. As you know, the celebration of my birthday began many years ago. A...

My brain is not working! Maybe it is still asleep. A coffee break would ( I think ) wake it from its slumber. I got a cup, put sugar, cream and coffee and headed to the water dispenser for hot water. While the water was flowing to the cup, I noticed my coffee did not mix well. Ooops, I forgot to turn on the water dispenser! I turned it on, discarded the cold coffee and waited for the water to become hot, hot, hot. Tick, tack, tick, tack. Finally, I got my hot coffee. I consumed it until its last drop and waited for some time to feel its effect. It has been an hour now and I still have the clouds on my brain. Drinking hot coffee did not have any effect on my sleepy head. Maybe it would do wonders if I have poured it on my face instead. ;) The luck arches the closing ozone.

I feel a little dizzy today. My head is throbbing so hard and my eyes seem to roll on their own. I did not have enough sleep for three days now. My five-month old baby has changed his sleeping pattern. Normally, he sleeps at around 9:00 pm and wakes up at around 11:00 pm but sleeps again after drinking his milk. Now, he still sleeps at 9:00 pm, wakes up at 11:00 pm but would never sleep again even after drinking a bottle or two; and stays awake until at most 3:00 in the morning. Last night, he turned from one cute little angel to a fussy baby. I gently rocked him, sang a lullaby, gently patted his back and tried all things I know about calming a fussy baby. It did help for a while but then again he would continue crying. I wonder why he is not himself anymore. I checked his body for some causes of irritation but found none until I noticed that his tongue keeps on flipping his lower lip. I checked his gums and was surprised to see a tiny white speck. My baby is teething; and he is...

Tiger Woods has been dodging rumors of infidelity. Every day, more and more women come out of the woodwork, revealing intimate details of their affairs with Tiger; and reports say that at least 14 women had affairs with the golf icon. It seems his marriage is irreparable now. There were reports that Elin Nordegren, the Swedish nanny and former model who married Tiger Woods in 2004, is shopping for divorce attorneys. According to media reports, Elin will divorce the billionaire golf icon following the $candal that halted his career. An unnamed source close to Elin told ABC News, "Divorce is 100 percent on. She's not rushing to divorce, however. She’s going to take her sweet time. She wants all the dirty laundry to be out on the table before she signs anything." People magazine reported she has met with lawyers to renegotiate her prenuptial agreement with Woods. US Weekly reports the couple has a prenuptial agreement worth $300 million, which would make this the most expen...

Couples experience stress-related arguments that may be due to finances, outside influences, and unmet expectations. Instead of finding acceptable outlets for stress or developing coping skills for anxiety or relationship management skills, spouses tend to personalize pent-up emotions toward each other and eventually become a recipient of unspent anger and frustration through nagging. Nagging is defined as the bothersome, annoying, incessant, irritating fault finding or voicing of unmet expectations or tasks that need to be done. It takes the form of verbal reminders, requests, and pleas said in a number of different ways repeatedly. For years, this has been a problem between men and women and some would want to end the relationship just to escape the feeling of being under constant pressure. Through time, women have earned the reputation of being the “nagger” and men the recipient of the nagging. However, there are some cases were the roles are reversed. Male nagging is not discus...

Women are less likely to cheat than men. In the old, old days, women cheating on their spouse were unheard of but in today's modern times, the number of women who cheat on their spouse is growing exponentially. The difference in men and women cheating is that men often cheat for physical reasons while women often have emotional reasons for cheating on their partner. While estimates of infidelity are difficult to establish, surveys consistently reveal that wives tend to be more faithful than husbands. When a wife cheats on her husband, she is more likely to have an emotional affair and tends to cheat with someone who is part of their social group – a friend, a co-worker, someone from school, church, etc. Cheating wives tend to have affairs with men who have more status and resources than their husbands or with men who are better relational partners – someone who is more attentive, appreciative and understanding. Women are also more likely to use cheating as a means of getting re...

The audio of Tiger Woods leaving a voicemail message for his alleged mistress, Jaimee Grubbs, was released on December 2, 2009, by US Weekly. Any doubt that he had been unfaithful to his wife, Elin Nordegren, was immediately erased. Audio: Tiger Woods Voicemail Message "Hey it's Tiger, I need you to do me a huge favor. Can you please take your name off your phone? My wife went through my phone and may be calling you. So if you can, please take your name off that. Just have it as a number on the voicemail. You got to do this for me. Huge. Quickly. Bye." However, even if Tiger grovels for forgiveness, you cannot blame Elin if she questions whether he can be faithful in the future. Will Tiger — and other cheaters — stray again? The answer may put nerve shocks but makes total sense. “A small number of men have an addiction to cheating — regardless of what their relationship is like. But most men stray because something is lacking in their union, be it $e×, attentio...

We had our company Christmas Party last Saturday. It was held at the rooftop of Apple Tree Suites. The Christmas party venue is simple yet elegant; and you could feel and smell the refreshing cool breeze of December. If you were planning a company Christmas party for approximately less than a hundred heads, the place would be perfect. It was a bit odd but I had a strange feeling of sadness and loneliness. I missed some friends, oh, how I wish they were still here to attend the party. So much with the blues. Keep the party rolling! :) Rhumer started the party with a solemn song prayer followed by an opening remark from our generous COO. Everyone's face was so serious but when the emcees, Orson and Danessa, announced the surprise presentation number from surprise guests, heads turned with eager faces. Everybody was alive when the song played and the team danced... I gotta feeling... That tonight's gonna be a good night That tonight's gonna be a good night That ton...

Last night, hubby and I were discussing about the Christmas gifts we would give our manito on our company Christmas party. Our kids were with us and they heard our small talk. They asked me, " Ma, what Christmas gifts would you give us? " Well, I never really thought about that lately, not that I would not give them any Christmas presents but because Christmas is still too far away on the calendar. I have no other great Christmas gift ideas for them than what I could give right now, my love and affection. I answered them, " I will be giving you my love and lots of hugs and kisses! " They reacted over the idea and asked for some "material things" as Christmas gift. I told them, " Love is the greatest gift of all! It's the best Christmas gift I can give you. Don't you want Mama to love you? " They answered back, " We do! But it would be better if you love us and give us Christmas presents, too! " I laughed and asked them, ...

We tend to deviate from our diet plans during Christmas season. We overeat during the holiday because there is so much tempting food around. We engage ourselves in "emotional eating" due to holiday stress; and we lower our discipline in anticipation of the new weight loss diet and exercise plans we intend to start as part of our New Year's resolution. Whatever the reason, here are some diet tips that would help you adhere to your diet plans while enjoying the holiday feast. First, focus on weight maintenance, not weight loss. Weight maintenance is a big enough challenge during the holiday season and this is not a good time to try to lose weight. You only set yourself up for failure by making unrealistic goals for yourself. Plan on " not dieting " after the New Year; instead, work on your wellness eating disciplines: portion control, more fiber, less fat and consistent exercise. Eat a light snack before the party. It is not a good idea to arrive at the party...

In building family relationships, it is important for family members to eat together at least one meal a day. Mealtimes are special moments of sharing stories and forming family memories. Sharing meals helps strengthen family relationships and encourages bonding. A sense of belonging and mutual trust foster when adults and children eat together and enjoy each other’s company. Eating meals together boosts emotional health. Laughter often happens at the dining table . Mealtimes allow adults and children to express their feelings freely and help the members get along better. Each member knows about the others’ lives and is able to help each other get through difficult challenges. A good mealtime experience nourishes the mind, body and soul. It provides a setting for moral and intellectual discussion where family members share family values. When children help with meals, they learn skills such as setting the table, preparing food, serving food and cleaning up. Children learn to share, b...

I remember going to the store to buy a Christmas gift for my Manito. If it is hard to choose a gift for a special person, I would say it is much harder if you are buying a gift for a person you do not even like. I do not have any Christmas gift ideas for him but for sure I would be buying a cheap Christmas gift considering my budget. I was a High school freshman then. Before Christmas break, it was a school tradition to have a Christmas party and pick our Manito or Manita. We did not use code names so we know whom to give our gifts. I would take this a blessing in disguise when I picked the one person I hate most in the classroom - Roderick. He used to bully me every single day because of my skin color. I have dark skin because I love the outdoors and I love to swim every weekend. He would always tease me and would never miss his chant, " uling! uling! uling! " (a Cebuano term that means "coal"). The day before the party, I went to the store and walked over the ...

We were late for work … again. Hubby and I had a hard time commuting. There were no available public utility jeepneys at the Opon terminal. There were numerous stranded passengers waiting. We even walked from Menzi to Gaisano Mactan so we would have a bigger chance of getting a ride. Jeepneys bound to Mandaue-Highway were always full and even the taxis were all occupied. Rain poured early morning today. I thought this was just an ordinary rainshower. I was not able to hear the morning news because we have not turned on our radio lately. According to the 5:00 a.m. weather forecast update from Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration ( PAGASA ), at 4:00 a.m. today, Tropical Depression URDUJA was estimated near Dinagat or at 50 kilometers East Northeast of Maasin, Leyte with maximum winds of 55 kph near the center and forecast to move West Northwest at 15 kph. In the Visayas, Public Storm Warning Signal No. 1 was raised over the provinces of Eastern...

Our company will be having a Christmas Party. The party committees were very busy preparing for the event for the past few weeks. Thankfully, the program and the venue are now ready. Were they missing something? Of course, there should be a party invitation! How could anyone forget that? Well, before we get frantic, our witty animators had taken care of that. In fairness, it was pretty well done! It is clever and humorous indeed! Why the long wait? Here it is! A video invitation for the annual OSI Christmas Party featuring the FatBoys Slim with Santa Claus courtesy of wonderboykun .

Christmas Day is an annual holiday celebrated on December 25th that commemorates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. Modern customs of the holiday include gift-giving, Church celebrations, and the display of various decorations—like Christmas trees, Christmas lights, mistletoe, nativity scenes, and holly. In gift giving, we remind ourselves of the importance of selfless act, which is the foundation upon which we build trust, friendship and love. In receiving a gift, we are reminded of the practicality of the wisdom the more we give the more we receive. Christmas in the Philippines is one of the biggest holidays on the calendar. Philippines has earned the distinction of celebrating the world's longest Christmas season. The Filipino Christmas would not be complete without the traditional Philippine Christmas symbols and decorations. As early as September, people would start putting up Christmas trees and decorations. They adorn their homes with "lanterns" or " parol ...

Thanksgiving Day is a time to give our Thanksgiving greetings and Thanksgiving wishes as an expression of our gratitude for all the blessings we received. It is always easy to be thankful for the good things. However, have we ever been thankful for the "not so good" things we had? We may have faced difficult times and committed many mistakes still we should be thankful because during those times of hardships, we grow and through our mistakes, we learn; and we became wiser. We should find a way to be grateful for all our troubles. If we find this in our hearts, those troubles could become blessings. It would be best to make every day a Thanksgiving Day and appreciate our blessings daily. If we do not have much to offer, a simple Thanksgiving card would be the most thoughtful Thanksgiving gift anyone could receive.

When Tribu ni Lapu-Lapu ("TLL") was founded in travian.comx, many of the elders envisioned a glorious experience. We did not aspire for the World Wonder ("WW") victory back then. We took aim in establishing our name as one of the toughest there ever was. Our playing styles and strategies, which were to slay the enemies or die trying, suit many of us. As true sons and daughters of Lapu-Lapu, we never back down from any fight. Though the enemies are colossal, we face them head-on without blinking. Our power comes from our kinship. TLL - Cebu In the recently concluded server, TLL joined the WW race for the first time. From the very first week of the server, while most of us are pillaging and banging the enemies, our leaders laid out a plan for the WW and engrossed themselves with diplomacy and the like. What a good plan it was! Everything boiled down to our performance along the way. If we had not established a stronghold and made everyone know that we are a fo...

Over the years, I have accepted the hurts and disappointments and have moved on. Now, whenever I hear those songs, they bring back many memories. The difference is that I could smile over the foolish things I have done, laugh over my mistakes and learned so many lessons from the tears I have shed. I learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world does not stop for your grief. I also learned that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you have had and what you have learned from them and less to do with how many years you have lived. Back to >> My First Love

A break up is like a broken mirror. It is better to leave it broken than hurt yourself trying to fix it. There is no use asking for that love to come back. Time goes by, life goes on, and all I can think of is how to move on. I loved him but he broke my heart. Now, it is time for me to let go and love myself more than anyone else would do. I would never forget him, and I do not have to. Memories are the best souvenirs and with them are lessons only life could give. Go to >> I Remember the Boy

The night totally turned dark when I saw him standing in front of the church smiling over a pretty girl. Tears kept falling down my face. I could not breathe, I could not move. I just watched them as they walked holding each other's hands. I was so thankful to have friends on my side on this very painful moment of my life. They kept me company, listened to my outbursts, gave me sound advice and reminded me of my self-worth. They did not allow me to drown in self-pity. Without them, I would never know how to deal with my pain. Next >> Fixing a Broken Heart

I am feeling a little bit lazy today. The time is dragging slowly, a perfect moment to indulge myself to some "luxuries" of a couch potato and while away the hours listening to music. Music has always been a part of my life. It is the "other half" of every memorable experience. Let me share some music that I cherish on every phase I went through when I was still young and in love. My First Love We were on a beach, sitting on the sand, while peacefully watching the sunset. Some friends came over with a guitar, picnic mat and finger foods. We laughingly sing this song under the beautiful rays of sunset - a beautiful scene - a wonderful work of art. Total Eclipse of the Heart Next >> My First Broken Heart

I missed the fun last Saturday. The group went to Hidden Paradise for a weekend escapade. I really would love to go and see why they call the place Hidden Paradise but I have to stay home and take care of my four-month-old baby. Hubby joined the party together with our two kids. I am glad hubby took our kids. I do not want them to miss the experience. From the look on their faces when they came home, I figured they had lots of fun. Though they look tired, they were still in for a story marathon. What they did not like on the place was the rough side of the swimming pools that left scratches on their feet. Hidden Paradise Escapade Welcome to Hidden Paradise! LOVERS IN PAR ad I S e Nine years of being married to hubby did not give me a hint that he also loves guys! LOL! Hidden Paradise S¢anda£ Glad you came safe traveling on a broom in a broad daylight. Were you from a nearby town? Hhhmmm ..... Tongue-Tied? Going Down the Monkey Walk Weeeeeeeee ...

Thank God, it's Friday! This is my favorite day. Aside from it being the last working day of the week, we have free snacks courtesy of our generous Executive Officers. Today, we have ice cream and cupcakes. What is so special today? We are celebrating a friend's birthday! Happy Birthday, Junele! Our happiness would have been complete if only some of our colleagues and friends were not leaving the company. We have been working together for more than three years. We may have transferred from one department to another but the silent bond is still there. I really hate goodbyes. Where is the good in goodbye? I much prefer saying, "See you soon!" because I am still holding on to the hope of meeting them again in the future. "May you always have work for your hands to do; May your pockets always hold a coin or two; May the sun shine bright on your windowpane; May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain; May the hand of a friend always be near you, And may...

We cannot recover four things in life. From these things we learn, we grow, we live. "I've spent my life running from the emptiness that haunts me And I've spent my whole life trying to ease the loneliness away And I die inside when I think of all the people that I've damaged I'm tired, I'm so tired and there's no one else except myself to blame" The stone … … after the throw! "My life's been wasted, everything is gone". Was there a time in your life when you have everything, wasted it, and now left with nothing but regrets? When you have the power, but abused it and now, you cannot take over. When once you were famous but became egomaniac and insufferable and all the people who were head over heels with you would spit on your face if given a chance? Value what you have now before you end up craving for them when they were lost. The word … … after it's said! Have you ever been wounded by words? I have, and most...