Things We Lost in the Flood

Back at work after a week's recovery from the flood. Been cleaning and scrubbing all week. My back hurts, my hands and feet cramped. Can't even bend my fingers. But I'm in good spirits. My family and friends are all safe. We had salvaged what we can, cried and let go of the things we can't. We survived and we are luckier than most. Thanks be to God.

I will try to post possible charities you can donate to if you want to help those who need help. Internet accesss is not readily available for me at this point but we'll see. Will also post a more detailed scenario soon. Until then, satisfy yourself with pics. I'm sure there are plenty more online.

Law of Attraction

Like most of women's thoughts, it originated from one episode of Oprah. They were discussing the book called "The Secret" by Rhonda Byrnes. And my sister insisted that she needed that book. And someone gave it to her on her birthday. Was she the wiser after reading it? Na-ah!

I've been preaching The Secret since I started my small business. But it was not Rhonda Byrne's words but those of Paulo Coelho of the Alchemist. If you've been reading this blog, you must have spotted it more than once since I tend to repeat myself a lot. Anyway, I really believe in it. What you think, you attract. You work towards your passion and the world will conspire to give it to you. It does happen.

Okay, you might say that it does not apply to all aspects of life. As my friend has aptly put it: "Girl, what have you been thinking all these years that has made you remain single?" - Gulp! My response: "Girl, I may have remained single but I have not ran out of love." wehehehe. What you think, you attract. Truth is I've been thinking of all the right things - so specific in fact - that it was impossible to attract it. I was thinking "Atticus Finch" - and he is as dead as the character in the book. So much for wanting the right guy.

Anyway, something really nice happened to my friend this month. She's in her forties, single and without even looking for it, she bumped into her perfect guy :) So how can the law of attraction apply to her? My theory is that she started to think of loving herself first. And when she did, she attracted the guy who loved her for who she is. Does that make sense? Hehehe. Maybe not.

But this I tell all of my friends. Love will come at any age. It doesn't matter when or how. When it feels right, it is. We just need to think it. Period.

Personally, I'm not giving up on my Atticus Finch. I hope the God or Goddess of the universe will understand that I meant the man the book represents and not a real guy. But hell, love will come. I think. I believe. Therefore, I attract.

Am I the wiser? Na-ah!

Imbierna

If one can flip and see red by just reading an email, I just had that moment.

AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH !!!! (times 70)

If someone accuses you to be racist, and color hadn't even crossed your mind, who is the real racist? If someone accuses you of considering America as a 'white country' when that phrase have never even traversed your vocabulary, who's idea was it?

Those who think, do. That's all I'm saying.

Addiction.

After American Idol Season 7, we experienced that familiar withdrawal symptom of not being able to see it anymore. So we shudder with need and crave for more. And we only get relief by reading bits and pieces of news on You Tube and fan sites.

That addiction passed with a substitute drug: 3 seasons DVD of Lost. And we watched it every free hour and sometimes until early morning. We wondered if Kate, Jack and red-neck Sawyer will ever get home. And just when they did, well ... we got the all too familiar withdrawal symptoms again.

Past addictions included: CSI, Criminal Minds, Life, ER, Grey's Anatomy, House, Ally McBeal, Boston Legal, Shark, West Wing, Sex In The City, Entourage, Desperate Housewives, Brothers and Sisters, Heroes, Harry Potter books, Lord of the Rings book series.

Shudder. Crave.

Wonder what the next fix will be?

I wonder if there is any addiction in the world where you will never ever experience withdrawal symptoms? Hmmmmmm ...

Need Air

Since Friday, I've been reading the HTML Dog, The Best Practice Guide to XHTML and CSS by Patrick Griffiths. It is a 336 page book about things I already know but need to know more about. So I was determined to finish it. When the power went out, I moved outside because it was too warm to stick it out inside without a fan. My Dad had put up the old hammock and despite of the smell of dogs (I'm allergic to dog hair and asthmatic) I love reading out there. And I finished the book. When they had the power back on, I suddenly hated the inside of the house. Out there is where I'm supposed to be. Under the large green trees, the warm but moving wind and the smell of dogs.

I grabbed another book. Javascript this time. And went out of the house to read some more. But somehow, it just wasn't enough anymore. I wanted to walk. Just walk anywhere. Under the trees. I just need to feel air around me. So I did. Walked to my friend's house and we talked about everything and nothing under the sky and I walked home again when it started to get dark.

Today, I just needed to get some air. I've just been too shut-and-locked-up for the past few days. And I just needed to breath again. Out there.

Even with the smell of dogs.

Zodiac

Got me an email and would just like to share it:

CAPRICORN - The Go-Getter (Dec 22 - Jan 19) Patient and wise. Practical and rigid. Ambitious. Tends to be Good-looking. Humorous and funny. Can be a bit shy and reserved. Often pessimistic. Capricorns tend to act before they think and can be Unfriendly at times. Hold grudges. Like competition. Get what they Want.

AQUARIUS - The Sweetheart (Jan 20 - Feb 18) Optimistic and honest. Sweet personality. Very independent. Inventive and intelligent. Friendly and loyal. Can seem unemotional. Can be a bit rebellious. Very stubborn, but original and unique. Attractive on the inside and out. Eccentric personality.

PISCES - The Dreamer (Feb 19 - Mar 20) Generous, kind, and thoughtful. Very creative and imaginative. May become secretive and vague. Sensitive. Don't like details. Dreamy and unrealistic. Sympathetic and loving. Kind. Unselfish. Good kisser. Beautiful.

ARIES - The Daredevil (Mar 21 - April 19) Energetic. Adventurous and spontaneous. Confident and enthusiastic. Fun. Loves a challenge. EXTREMELY impatient. Sometimes selfish. Short fuse. (Easily angered.) Lively, passionate, and sharp wit. Outgoing. Lose interest quickly - easily bored. Egotistical. Courageous and assertive. Tends to be physical and athletic.

TAURUS - The Enduring One (April 20 - May 20) Charming but aggressive. Can come off as boring, but they are not. Hard workers. Warm-hearted. Strong, has endurance. Solid beings that are stable and secure in their ways. Not looking for shortcuts. Take pride in their beauty. Patient and reliable. Make great friends and give good advice. Loving and kind. Loves hard - passionate. Express themselves emotionally. Prone to ferocious temper-tantrums. Determined. Indulge themselves often. Very generous.

GEMINI - The Chatterbox (May 21 - June 20) Smart and witty. Outgoing, very chatty. Lively, energetic. Adaptable But needs to express themselves. Argumentative and outspoken. Like change. Versatile. Busy, sometimes nervous and tense. Gossips. May seem superficial or inconsistent. Beautiful physically and mentally.

CANCER - The Protector (June 21 - July 22) Moody, emotional. May be shy. Very loving and caring. Pretty/handsome. Excellent partners for life. Protective. Inventive and imaginative. Cautious. Touchy-feely kind of person. Needs love from others. Easily hurt, but sympathetic.

LEO - The Boss (July 23 - Aug 22) Very organized. Need order in their lives - like being in control. Like boundaries. Tend to take over everything. Bossy. Like to help Others. Social and outgoing. Extroverted. Generous, warm-hearted. Sensitive. Creative energy. Full of themselves. Loving. Doing the right thing is important to Leos. Attractive.

VIRGO - The Perfectionist (Aug 23 - Sept 22) Dominant In relationships. Conservative. Always wants the last word. Argumentative. Worries. Very smart. Dislikes noise and chaos. Eager. Hardworking. Loyal. Beautiful. Easy to talk to. Hard to please. Harsh. Practical and very fussy. Often shy. Pessimistic.

LIBRA - The Harmonizer (Sept 23 - Oct 22) Nice to everyone they meet. Can't make up their mind. Have own unique appeal. Creative, energetic, and very social. Hates to be alone. Peaceful, generous. Very loving and beautiful. Flirtatious. Give in too easily. Procrastinators. Very gullible.

SCORPIO - The Intense One (Oct 23 - Nov 21) Very energetic. Intelligent. Can be jealous and / or possessive. Hardworking. Great kisser. Can become obsessive or secretive. Holds grudges. Attractive. Determined. Loves being in long Relationships. Talkative. Romantic. Can be self-centered at times. Passionate and Emotional.

SAGITTARIUS - The Happy-Go-Lucky One (Nov 22 - Dec 21) Good-natured optimist. Doesn't want to grow up (Peter Pan Syndrome). Indulges self. Boastful. Likes luxuries and gambling. Social and outgoing. Doesn't like responsibi lities. Often fantasizes. Impatient. Fun to be around. Having lots of friends. Flirtatious. Doesn't like rules. Sometimes hypocritical. Dislikes being confined - tight spaces or even tight clothes. Doesn't like being doubted. Beautiful inside and out.

My Post Secret secret

I told my friends
I was meeting a client
to skip dance class
when
I was really heading home
to watch David Cook
on Larry King Live!
hahahaha.

Pathetic.

My honey won!

I got the news the first hour the final show aired. I have spies watching way before it showed on my own TV. So I am just sooooo happy he won. I want to buy his first album - me who never buy albums! And I want to buy his next album. And the next. And the next! Simon Cowell said that David Cook is the type of artist he would like to hear for his own personal entertainment. I so agree with him. I love listening to him being interviewed. He uses words like chagrin and albeit in ordinary conversations. Hehehe. I get easily impressed with men who has a way with words.

Now that the show has ended, I get hungry for news of how his career is doing. It's almost becoming a really bad infatuation bordering on obsession. Can't help it. I sooo love his voice. And it doesn't help any that he has a degree in Graphic Design, is a word geek and has a birthday two days before mine. Hay!

I need this addiction to wear off soon. I need new inspiration. So I'm looking forward to the Sex in the City movie - hehehe.

Weather weather lang

I've been feeling a bit under the weather for the past week. Literally. I haven't done anything productive. Managed to grab a few minutes of study here and there but nothing seems to stick. It's the unexpectedly early rainy season. It is supposed to be sunshine and extremely hot during May but all we are getting are storm signals, flood reports, heavy winds and rain in the early morning. I like it because it's cool. But the cooler it gets, the more less likely I'm inclined to work.

My current project is moving at a snail's pace. We are waiting for something so my client has given me license to procrastinate. I can even work on other projects but I haven't closed the deal with those yet. I thought I will be very busy this month. But well, who doesn't like time off, right?

Me. Hahaha.

The time off doesn't really bother me. I welcome it once in awhile. But projects hanging unfinished do. I'm the person who reads a book, finds out that the plot sucks, but needs to know how it ends anyway. I get overly frustrated when a book doesn't have a last page after I've read the whole thing. I have managed to squelch this overly OC symtoms but a bit of it manages to sneak in most unexpected moments. Like hanging projects. Whistle. whistle.

I'm playing Zuma. I can't touch my project and still waiting for the next one. As cool as this part of the planet maybe - really nice and cozy - I'm bored.

Sabi na kuya Kim, ang buhay aypa weather-weather lang.

Personal Legend

My friend has been telling me all about Oprah. She can't stop watching her and the wisdom - mostly for women - that she gets from the show. I'm an Oprah watcher too. I don't watch it every night but I do enjoy it when I can. Today, I got home and my sisters were watching Oprah with guests like Martha Beck etc. They were talking about thinking positive, the laws of attraction and something about a love list :) They say what you give off is what you attract.

And I remembered this tiny book that has words that I keep repeating to myself over and over again. Paulo Coelho's "The Alchemist" says:

"When you pursue your personal legend the universe will conspire with you to make it happen."
"My heart is afraid that it will have to suffer," the boy confides to the alchemist one night as they look up at a moonless night.
"Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself," the alchemist replies. "And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second's encounter with God and with eternity."

I just came home from a talk with a friend. She was asking me if I could be part of a panel to talk to kids - about 500 of them all about my days in the youth ministry. I said no for personal reasons. The reasons were superficial but might prove to be something the kids need not hear - at least, not until they've grown in their spirituality. I told her I am pursuing a journey, that I am at home with myself, and that I appreciate what I have and what's been happening to me. And she affirmed, I am in the right place :)

I am in pursuit of happiness. :) My own personal legend. And it is what I choose it to be. And I do believe that the universe is conspiring to make things happen to me. And God is happy with that.

My last post, I was talking about needing new clients for the second half of the year. A day after, I got an email from a client asking for a meeting. How's that for conspiracy?!

I need new website clients for the second half of the year. I'm thinking of pimping myself with flyers and brochures when I go to Boracay this week. Made a pic of some of the websites I created for the past year. Kinda like seeing them all grouped together like that. I think it's a passable flyer. So pimping in Boracay. I don't know if I can pull it off. Would need to grow thicker skin. Hmmmmmmm.

Maybe I should offer incentives to people who could refer me to future clients? Would 5% of contract be enough? ANYBODY OUT THERE NEED A WEB DESIGNER? PLEASE EMAIL ME! I don't like having nothing to do!