HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERY ONE!!!

This is to greet Leslie, Richard, Cecille, Zhey, Grapes, Rose, Devianty, Qwonk and all the blogger out there!!!!

... And the same greeting for my son Cen,

.... With my wish that this year 2009 will be filled with more blessings the whole year through for all of us !!!!!!!!

Source of Pictures:

http://www.pendemonium.com/images/temp

http://www.dgreetings.com/newyear/newyear11.htm

MY PARENTS' VACATION!!

My parents just arrived from Baguio. Supposedly, I should have been with them but because of health issues, the doctor advised me to rest at home. Anyways, they arrived at 3:00pm with all the foods they brought with them. I am glad to see them. They had been sending me text messages every now and then because they are worried about my condition. I asked how Baguio is now because friends advised us that the temperature dropped this month. I think the weather had been fairly fine considering mama said she was sweating when they went to the market. Of course, papa always visit the Grotto every time he goes to Baguio. It is like one of the things that is automatic for him. Mama said there is a traffic now! That is fairly new. Well, not that new! Papa said it is too crowded in the Session Road now. The number of days that they were in Baguio all they did was rest and sleep. They did not roam around much! It is sad that I was not able to go with them. On second thought, I can not really risk my health. Hopefully I would be able to visit Baguio again soon.

Picture of Rice Terraces: Source of Picture:

http://www.norpicture.com/gallery/asia/phillipines/luzon/pages/Baguio%20rice%20terrace%204.htm

WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR!!!

Thank you Richard for this Award and for the previous Awards you had given. I appreciate it so much! Have a Happy New Year to you and your family as well!

Message Content Of The "What Are You Thankful" Award:

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire,If you did, what would there be to look forward to?Be thankful when you don't know somethingFor it gives you the opportunity to learn.Be thankful for the difficult timesDuring those times you grow.Be thankful for your limitationsBecause they give you opportunities for improvement.Be thankful for each new challengeBecause it will build your strength and character.Be thankful for your mistakesThey will teach you valuable lessons.Be thankful when you're tired and wearyBecause it means you've made a difference.GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.Find a way to be thankful for your troubles and,they can become your blessings.

OUTGROWING SANTA CLAUS!

I was looking at this kid talking about Santa Claus. Every time the name came up I vividly remember how my son started wondering if Santa is really real.

I can not recall the exact year then. A few hours before 12:00MN, I was persuading my son to go to bed. He was waiting for Santa to show up with his Christmas gifts. After a number of minutes of what seemed to be like an unendless persuasion for him to sleep, he finally gave in. I kissed him in the forehead and bid nightie night. As I turn off the lights and close the door behind me, I noticed the sock he hung beside his door. I still had to help my mother prepare for our Noche Buena. Too many things needed to do before the clock strikes 12:00MN. I did remember the clock ticking so fast that before I knew it, it was past 11:00PM. That was when I realized! Cens’ sock was still empty. I hurried to the nearest open grocery at the time, grabbed some candies, chocolates and small toys. Before my son woke everything was already in order. Food already served in the table. His sock already full with candies, chocolates and toys. I took a deep breath then and said to myself, whew! Beat the clock. Anyway, it was a splendid night. Just like the other Christmas eve we had. But then, in the morning, while having our breakfast, my brother and my son asked “Isn't it that Santa lives in the North Pole?” I replied “ Yes, I believe so!” Then my son asked “ Isn't it that Santa have this factory where he makes toys and candies and all the gifts he gives to little children?” I replied “Yes, why all the question?” Then my son replied “ If that is so, why is it that the toys i received last night have a price tag from the grocery nearby?” The only thing I could answer was “Ooh, really?!” My son did not ask a question anymore, it was a statement this time when he said “Santa was not here last night. It was you who gave those gifts” In defense I said “ Hey, you can never know, maybe something came up and Santa was such in a hurry that he have to improvised. You know, maybe Santa was so busy that he have to buy those stuff in the grocery store!” Well, honestly I knew my son did not believe my excuse.

I can not recall how I outgrow Santa Claus but I sure remember how my son began outgrowing his idea about the man in the red suit with the “ho ho ho” laugh. How about you, can you still recall how you outgrow Santa?

SOURCE OF PICTURE:
http://afwpi.com/mixers/1202/dec02.html

"SPREAD THE LOVE" AWARD

Thank you so much, Cecille, for the "Spread The Love" Award. You deserve this award. I am passing this to Zhey and to the rest of the blogger out there. Have a nice holiday. You are such a sweet lady :)

PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS, NEVER AN OPTION.

I had been in physical restraints lately. My slip disk recurring evidently and swiftly. I can feel my cervical bone reacting to physical strain. My tongue tastes blood. My hands don’t have enough strength to press a key pad. Every time I tried working on the computer I can feel the strain in my cervix. I can feel my strength escaping in my finger tips. I can not even hold a plate. Just two nights ago I felt my hand going numb again. Just the other morning I woke up realizing I can not move my cervix again. I wont give up that easy, right? I forced my self to do the program given by my doctor. I doubled the counts of my therapy. I feel frustrated though that the things I can do now is very limited. Not the way I used to. However, my mind refused to accept that my ability to move is already limited now. I refused to settle to an idea that there are things that i can not do anymore because of the slip disk in my cervix. I always say “It is mind over body”. I will not allow physical ailments drain me down. Not without a fight..

THE SMILE AWARD

Thank you Richard for this award. And if I may add, it is not just on the phone that you always smile. You smile often when you speak with your co-workers. I never saw you gloomy. You are always in the mood and it radiates to those around you. You truly deserve “The smile award”. My apology I am not able to post it immediately. Though had been late in posting it does not mean it had not been acknowledged immediately. My warmest thanks to you.

The qualifications to receive this award are:
A. Display a cheerful attitude.
B. Love one another.
C. Make mistakes.
D. Learn from others.
E. Be a positive contributor to the blog world.
F. Love life.
G. Love kids.

The Rules:
1. Please link back!
2. Post the rules
3. Choose 5 people to give it to
4. Recipients must fill the characteristics above
5. Create a post to share this
6. Inform the awardees.

Now, It is my pleasure to give this award to Cecille, who is so warm and friendly, to zhey and grapes, my co-worker and also a blogger like myself, to devianty and last but definitely not the least qwonk.

Have a nice day every one!

CHRISTMAS EVE

On Christmas eve we celebrate the traditional Noche Buena. My family observed this tradition every year. We did not fail even once. We are all awake at 12:00 midnight. Of course my mother, myself included, were always awake even before 12:00 midnight for the food praparation. The traditional ham and quezo de bola will always be on the table. In our family theres always the never forgotten crispy pata because it is a favorite of my father and my brother. Hmm..tempting, isn’t it? Anyway, up until now we also observe opening gifts after Noche Buena. Below the 7ft Christmas tree, we have the gifts we bought for each member of the family. After the noche Buena we are all gathered around the Christmas tree, pick and open our gifts. I got a jacket from my parents. I bought a bag from Tomato shop for my mother. A jacket and a wrist watch for my father. Of course for my teenage son you can take your pick. I bought a 21 inches Flat Screen Sony color tv for him. It will replace his current tv set. I bought a laptop for both of us. For my blogging and for his research. There is a bonus because as soon as internet had been set up, he realized research is not the only thing he can do in the internet. I am planning to buy a dvd player for him. We already have one but he used to have a second dvd player that he and only he could use. Its like a personal stuff for him. He had some issues with his personal dvd and I intend to replace it this holiday season. Later I will be going to the mall and I will be buying a pocket watch for him. Also, he is a collector of anime items. I am planning to buy him at least one of his collection. So, what do you think, may I consider any of those as a Christmas present for him? Well, those are the ones I gave to my family. For myself, well I did not really get much this holiday season but it is fine. This season is not about how much or how many I received, right? The love and respect of my son is more than enough. The support of my parents are more than enough. I think that had been good enough for me to survive the trials and to endure some realities in my life. Not to mention accepting that there are things that I should have had but were taken away from me just like that. And of course, surviving the health issues I am facing at the moment. Life goes on and on this season, we should be happy. I hope every one have a pleasant day today!!

SOURCE OF PICTURE:

http://blogs.menupages.com/boston/Christmas%20Eve.jpg

MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

Few hours from now and it will be Christmas. It is my favorite day of the year. It is the season where every one is jolly and in the mood to share. Not just gifts but a sweet smile, kind words and the warm greeting of “Merry Christmas”. Every person I met have the sheer excitement in their eyes. I am sure that just like me, you are also anticipating this day of the year.

Of course, the main reason why we celebrate is because this is day when Christ was born. You know I had been having second thoughts bringing out this theory regarding the date we celebrate the birth of Christ. I will only hope that my reader would understand that there are different views and theories about everything under the sun. More so, I hope my reader would focus more on the real content of this entry. You see, there are beautiful people who had been reading my entries and I am very happy they visit me on my site. Lately I had been thinking of them when I write. Anyways, there are theories that Jesus of Nazareth was born sometime in the fall near the Jewish feast of Tabernacles or in the spring around the time of Passover. On the birth of Christ, bible states that “There were shepherds camping in the countryside, keeping watch over their flocks by night.- Luke 2:8. This is sensitive because we all know that the bible had been translated and transcended to hundreds of copies. On top of that, the bible had been subjected to different interpretations as well. It is said that shepherds can not camp and watch over their flocks on winter because of the cold climate. More so, it had been a practice among Jews to camp their sheep in the field during early spring and bring them home on the first rain which would be on the early to mid fall. Hence, it will defy logic that the shepherds were camping and watching over the shepherds on December. This leads to the theory that Jesus was not really born on December. So, does this mean that if this theory is true we should not celebrate Christmas anymore? I say regardless of the actual birth of Christ we focus on the true meaning of the season. Christmas is about Christ and more than the traditional commemoration of the birth of the child Jesus in the manger it is about warm and hearty hugs to and from our love ones. It is about reconciliation with those who had been detached from us. It is the sweet smile we see in the face of the people around us. That’s what Christmas is all about!! I believe that above all, regardless of scientific and documented theories presented in our face, one concept will never change. It is the fact that despite the uncertainties of this world, we are loved and we should also give our share of love to those around us.

SOURCE OF PICTURE :
http://www.flickr.com/photos/moralesdirect/

SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK OF PAYDAY LOANS?

THE ART OF SAYING "NO"

Sometimes we are confronted by situations where saying a two letter word "No" becomes extremely difficult. Maybe it is not uttering this two letter word "no" that is difficult. Perhaps it is the act of declining itself that is difficult. This is usually true for indirect communicators. Asian race like Filipinos are too warm and hospitable in nature. This brings about a trait wherein turning down a request becomes a great challenge. In filipino term this trait is associated with the word "pakikisama". This is when a person follows a particular flow diligently to the point that saying "no" becomes a taboo. Unfortunately, inability to say "no" sometimes put us in a very compromising situation. Had you been in this kind of predicament? Had you been a part of a scenario where a friend so hard to resist asked a favor and because you can not say a blunt "no" you subconsciously uttered a lame "yes" or made a promise that you will do what you can to meet such favor? Then afterwards regretting what you just said because you know you just made a commitment that you may not be able to meet? If you had not been on this predicament then congratulations, you are a direct communicator. However, if are still trapped on this kind of dilemma then allow me to share my thought. You are not alone, i had been on that boat! But then, think about this. Saying "no" is not a way of saying "I don't want to help" or "I don't care". Instead, it is a way of being honest to what you can and can not do! This will save you from sticky situation and will save your friend from false hopes. We can decline with grace. Say "no" then immediately state the reason why. Give different alternatives, if possible. This would make the person feel that the road is not a dead end. Say "no" in a normal tone of voice. If it will help to say "sorry, i cant help you" go ahead! I think honesty is still the best trait for a lasting relationship, be it with friends, co-workers or colleagues, right? I am also an indirect communicator and i hope i am able to share a thought with you today!! Have a nice day!

Source of picture:

http://www.slipperybrick.com/2008/02/microsoft-yahoo-offer

CHRISTMAS / HOLIDAY FROM DNEERO-ITES

WWW.FRIENDSHIP AWARD

Thanks again Leslie, for this award. I really appreciate the Friendship Award. I think you are the real award winner here! More Power and Happy Holidays for you and your family!! I will further check other blogger who deserve thesame award as well!!

CHRISTMAS TRADITION

Christmas is this time of the year when every one is excited, busy and jolly. Do forgive me because I am about to speak first on the origin and cover the overview of the Christmas season before discussing about the activities that goes with the season. Now i find my self speaking about Christmas activities. We will cover the overview on the next few days.

You see, every family have different activities to prepare for the coming holiday season. In my family, we have a separate schedule for our grocery for the items that we will be needing for Christmas. Items that we will be using for New Year is also a separate schedule. During younger years i was pretty excited because i can buy anything i need and want. However, when i started working, i don't buy for personal stuff anymore. It is now the younger ones who are excited because this is their opportunity to buy anything without any limit. So if you are among the family member, you can already think of your supply for the next number of months. Imagine that! We buy from household needs to personal needs. From the ingredients that i will be using for my yearly salad to what ever you can think of. Yesterday had been our schedule for this activity and to tell you, my dear blogger and dear reader, i was dead tired after all the buying and picking an item and computing everything!! Well, who said Christmas preparation is not tiring as well as enjoyable, right? What about you? What are the activities of your family during these season? Have a nice day to every one.

Source of Picture:
http://www.radicomall.com/gifs/christmas-shopping.jpg

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING I

There i was in the mall shopping for Christmas presents with the little time i had. Making every effort to select the most of what i can to purchase an appropriate gift for my co-workers with the few remaining time i have. Few days ago i was imagining fancy gifts. Gifts that is appropriate for special people who will receive my gifts. The first two are my co-workers Leslie and Richard. And just a while ago would be the gifts for the rest of my team mates. But now, i realized that to be able to give a fancy gift, i should really take my time and check every item in the mall to really feel that "Yes, This is the gift that i would like to give for them". However, time is too short for me. We had been working six days straight and have less day off, not to mention other obligations that i have to meet. Time is one of the challenges on occasions like these. Well, come to think of it, every year of the holiday season was always a rush hour for me. Come o think of it, what is the day that is not a rush hour for me anyway! Well, modest as it may seem, it is not the cost nor the extravagance that matters. Old fashioned as it may seem, it is the thought that always count and matter the most!! Do you agree? Have a nice holiday, every one!

Source of Picture:
http://www.azfotos.com/christmas/christmas-pictures.htm

SPITZ TUNES- CHEER & FEAR

VULNERABILITY

Every one have a vulnerable spot that when directly hit could crush and pull us down to our knees. Even the toughest among us have one or two that have a direct link to that soft spot. It could be our vices, self-preservation, vanity or love. When it comes to love it could be a romantic love, maternal or paternal love. I am sure you can also name a few more. For me, that soft spot is my child. I had been hit by loneliness, vanity, money issues, basic needs issue and self esteem issues even and i can fairly say that i kept on standing up and was able to find my way back to the war zone. I had been wounded and had fallen a countless of times but i did find my way up to the comfort zone. However, an inch of contact to my weak spot and i will surely crawl down and going back on my knees will be the greatest challenge ever. Linking on my soft spot would draw me in the bottomless pit and would keep me in that abyss of endless darkness, as if the cold indifference of cruelty would be the only shelter i would be able to lean on.

As i had mentioned in my entry entitled Dealing With People, i mentioned that there's always two sides of a coin. There's always the positive and the negative side of everything that happened in our lives. We just have to identify which is which. I will have to say that the positive side of the coin will surely be blurred when it comes to linking with my vulnerable spot. Hopefully, I will not be confronted by such predicament because so much had already been taken away from me. However, if confronted by such, i hope i could muster every inch of courage and strength i have to identify the positive side of the coin. I know though one thing. In this lifetime I did gave an unconditional love. The kind where i could willingly lay even my very life. He is the very core of the vulnerable spot in me, he is my only child!

FIRST MONTHSARY OF MY BLOG!

Hello there every one. Just two days ago, i thought my blog will have its monthsary next week. When i went to the bank to make a deposit, i asked the guard about the date that day. He courteously pointed the calendar. That was when i realized how time really flies. One effect of my work is that i hardly keep my self updated of the current date. Well, most of the time i got lost of what day it already is. It felt as if it was only days ago when i started writing. I did not realize it has been already a month!! Well, Happy Monthsary for me, with a sweet smile, of course. It is nice to write and write. Most of all, it is nice to be linked to beautiful people like Leslie, Richard, Zhey and Grapes. I also would like to include the future friends i know i will be able to cross path with through my writings! Have a nice day!

CHRISTMAS SPIRIT AWARD!

Thank you Richard for such a wonderful award. Reminds me that christmas is fast approaching. I think i should already start writing about the coming holiday season. Reminds me too to buy my gifts :). Thanks a lot for your kindness. And thanks for the support you had been giving to all of us blogger in our work place. See you later at work. Have a nice day!

YOU'RE AN AMAZING BLOGGER AWARD

I would like to thank Leslie for such an amazing award. I am so flattered, specially coming from you. Many thanks and do have a nice trip to Los Angeles, USA. Also, again, congratulations to all the accomplishments you achieved. You deserve it. Happy Blogging !!

LADIES NAME AND FLOWERS NAME!

I know of names of ladies that resembles the name of a flower like Rose, Lily, Daisy, Dalia and well, i am sure there are a lot more out there. When i was a little girl my playmates used to call me Lily for my nickname. At first it was just fine. However, when my play mates started teasing me water lily, i started to dislike my nick name. So when i reached high school, i made sure i will be known simply by my first name which is Shirley. No nickname. It was when i was employed that my co-workers started calling me "She." I said i do not have a nick name so they gave me one. After that, it became automatic. It was as if anywhere i go, people called me She. But do you know that the name Shirley is also a name of a flower? Wow! had you heard of a flower "Shirley"? I will not be surprise if you did not. Actually there is a flower "Shirley". It is an annual flower and it glows under the sun. It has large silky blooms on top of its straight stems. Its color varies from fuchsia to pink. The scientific name of this flower is papaver rhoeas. So, for ladies whose name is the same as mine! Believe it, your name is also a name of a flower. Speaking of names, it is said that each name has a corresponding meaning, too! Well, the answer is yes. I know the meaning of the name of my son. However, with regards to the meaning of Shirley? That i do not know! I will just be content that my name is also a name of a beautiful flower. That is already nice as it is. Blogger, readers, friend, have a nice day!

Source of Picture: (Above pictures of flower shirley poppy)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/grand_duchess/2816813854/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisser/55295539/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/63348497@N00/2627123081/

CHRISTMAS PARTY I

I was not able to write for two days because of a hectic schedule. Well, yesterday was the Christmas party in our division. I had been in a call center for a number of years already but this is the first time i attended a Christmas party. Well, the first time i attended a social gathering in my work since i can not anymore remember when. I say it was nice. First time i felt that my working family is my second family. It is the perfect time to forget responsibilities and the things that i still have to do and loosen up a bit. It is nice to be with my team mates outside the working area as well. Laugh, drink, eat and enjoy. There is a bonus for me, too. Something i was not expecting when i came to the christmas celebration. And oh yes, my congratulation to my supervisor, TL Geboi aka Team Lead Gerard for being the top supervisor for the fourth quarter of 2008. And my congratulation to the whole member of our team, for being the Top 1 Team for the fourth quarter of 2008. I call it team work. Cheers for each of my team mates, Kenneth, Pang aka Chris, Kat, Rhona, Kate, Gene, Yani, Richard aka Doods and our team mate who already transferred to another project but still remains in our heart, Leslie. Of course, our ever understanding team lead, TL Gebboi aka TL Gerard. Merry Christmas guys, to all blogger out there.. and Cheers to each of my team mates !!!

Above pictures taken during the Christmas Party of our Division:

DEALING WITH PEOPLE

To quickly criticize seemed to be part of human nature. I am sure every one had the share of pain of being criticized and judged by others even when the person throwing the criticism is basing on impression and had seen only a glimpse of the total picture. Wounding criticism is when such impression had been passed on from one person to another and the person being criticized is the last person to know. It is said that there is always two sides of a coin. There could be a positive and a negative result for the victim of these circumstances. The positive result is that the person being criticized would be able to clearly see the true color of the person around him or her. Circumstances like this would enable the victim to see who are the real friend material and who are fake. The negative result is of course the wound it causes.

However, there is a constructive criticism. For me a criticism becomes constructive when it contains two elements -

1) When such criticism is addressed directly to the person concerned;
2) When such criticism is aimed for the benefit of the person being criticized, like
if it would create a room for improvement or it will save the face of the person
being criticized.

One element missing on the above-mentioned is not a constructive criticism. If the purpose of such criticism is simply to raise the fault of another person, specially when such had reached other ears before it reached the person concerned, it becomes frivolous. It spits venom. On the person being criticized, it puts him or her on a defensive state. I wounds the persons' sense of pride. For the person hearing the accusation, it creates the temptation of contempt and deceipt. Sometimes when we deal with people, we forgot that we are not only dealing with people with reasoning and intelligence. We are also dealing with people of emotion. For me, a person is measured not only on his accomplishments, but on how he or she treats other people as well. Unfortunately, due to the tight competition in the concrete jungle, the latter becomes over rated, which is very sad!

HOPE II

Yesterday starts one of my medical program. As per doctors advise i have to brisk walk for one hour, three times a week. Unfortunately, due to work schedule, it is not possible for me to complete a three times a week brisk walking. So i can only make the most of the remaining day off i have. I ended up brisk walking at 7:00am instead of the original schedule which should be 6:00am or earlier because i still have to finish some errands. It is fine even if i did not start on schedule. It is also nice to see the morning sun. It is nice to breath the morning air. I had the urge to jog and ran faster but i was controlling it. I am not sure if that will be a good idea because i might risk creating further injury to my neck. It is nice that i still can do things i thought i can not do anymore. As i move my feet, inhaling and exhaling the morning air, feeling my heart beating faster, i came to have a stronger feeling towards one belief- that i can beat this one odd. My adrenaline going stronger as i move faster. I can feel the gust of wind against my face. I know one thing sure now, I can beat this one odd. I will get better. I know. Have a nice week day to you, my reader and to the blogger out there!!

SPITZ TUNES WITHOUT A CAUSE