Only Our Temporary Home

I'm balling right now, oh well, since last night. Not because I have to shovel this one foot snow from the overnight storm that dumped on us, but because I was listening to Carrie Underwood's new song, 'Temporary Home" from Youtube as I wanted to share it in my Facebook. Now I can't help but to blog about it...

I try to avoid watching depressing news everyday but I can't ignore anymore this recent apocalypse in Haiti. This is a sign of the times. A big flashing neon sign from our Creator and He is telling us that this is only our temporary home.

I can relate to this song personally. It is powerful and deep. And I don't have to go as far as Haiti to tell you... But I just have to look around me, at people I know who are my closest friends and relatives... Kids struggling through their parents' divorce, teens not getting the right attention, single moms who try to make ends meet to support their children, sick people fighting for their lives, or ordinary families just simply working so hard in America to keep their house and their jobs in this unstable economy... and I can go on and on.

I know this is only a temporary home for me, so whatever great opportunities come my way, I have to grab it... Whatever sadness and adversities, I have to win it. Whatever prosperity and success, I have to share it. Whatever daily blessings, I have to be grateful for it. Whenever God gives me one more day to live, I want to make it a happy day. And that's my choice.

Check out this new beautiful song of my favorite singer, Carrie Underwood. And I hope that whatever your temporary home is like, I hope you believe that you can have a choice to make it worthwhile, even for just a day.

Piolo Pascual Fan

OK, I admit. I'm Piolo Pascual's fan, only because he resembles my husband (I'm sure you know which one is my husband here in the above photos!). But recently on my way to Chicago, I encouraged my self to listening to ballad music (instead of my usual country-rock music) to relax me on this long flight. So, I played Josh Groban and Piolo Pascual on my Ipod. And what a revelation! Piolo has a beautiful and passionate voice on his songs, and I sorta, kinda like to fall in love in his music.... Eeeeww!

Yesterday, I found myself singing Piolo Pascual's songs again as I shovelled the foot of snow that dumped on us over Christmas day. So, to mock my new crush "Papa Piolo," I recorded my self just miming and emoting on his "Ikaw ang Buhay Ko" song (You are my life, in English!) using my snow shovel as mic, and my back deck full of snow as my own stage... and my neighbors as my audience, and my puppies as my screaming fans in the background!! ha-ha!



To all who are not Piolo's fans yet, here's his video for you to see and hear your new crush. (To all the ladies, hold your pants!! No kidding!)

Santa, Pleeeeease..... (A Toni Braxton Christmas Special)

In the entire course of my lifetime... Correction, I mean... in the month of November... I have been addicted to listening and downloading Christmas music to set me in the mood for Christmas as my overly-decorated house isn't doing it much for me. I have practically heard every kind of Christmas music, in every version imaginable of every traditional songs that I've known since I was a kid, from "The First Noel" to "Last Christmas," from the classic version of The Carpenters and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, to the titillating melody of Mariah Carey, to my childhood favorite and obnoxious trio, Alvin and The Chipmunks.

Three weeks ago, I grabbed this last standing Christmas Album of Toni Braxton called Snowflakes (2001) from a clearance rack at Rite Aid. I listened to the first couple of songs and to my disgust and disappointment, I thought I couldn't stand it and that I should just give it away.

My direct TV receiver in my living room broke down last Tuesday, and I needed to listen to something that night while cooking "kaldereta" (yummy spicy beef stew). So, I thought I need to give myself and Toni Braxton another chance.

Ladies and gentlemen, for your curious imagination, allow me to play for you Toni Braxton's "Santa, Please." Turn down your lights to "soft mood" as this is your ultimate "turn on" music. This is not your average Christmas song as the message of this song is "Santa, please, take my honey home now 'coz it's time to make love by the Christmas tree..."



Don't get me wrong. I love Toni Braxton. But her very unconventional voice and orgasmic breathing in this song just made me want to throw away my apron and flannel pajamas, and put on my tiny silk night gown and dance some sexy rhumba. I finally tolerated her, and I decided to keep this CD.

PS: Santa just told me that he has a "response" song to Toni, and it's about him telling her that he can take her honey home in one condition.... after Santa makes out with her by the fireplace. (Talk about whipping a naughty Santa!)

God Bless America, Land That I Love

Tonight was an eventful and passionate night for America as the whole world watched us made history. WE as a nation have just elected our first black President.

I was anxious to come home from work to be glued on the election news coverage. After I prepared my toasted corned-beef sandwich for dinner, I have just turned my kitchen into somewhat like my own newsroom. My TV was on ABC News. On my laptop, I was in Yahoo, Google and CNN websites. Then on my blackberry, I was chatting with my friend in NY as I watch the live news coverage at Time Square as it becomes quite the party place. And at the same time, I was talking to my sister in Houston on the phone. I was wired and hooked on this election results and not paying attention at all to Utah's first winter snow storm that's dumping outside.

It was around 9:00PM Utah time when ABC News officially declared Obama as the President-elect. I could not contain my emotions as I see Obama's face on all my websites home page, and people screaming, crying, hugging and kissing on TV. It was a very emotional experience for me, even if I was just at home. I was happy deep inside me that Obama won this presidential election. I suddenly felt confident and proud to be living here in America as a second class citizen, and witnessing this promised change unfolding right before my eyes. Millions of Americans have gathered in major cities and turned their streets and city parks into a unity party celebrating this momentous day. I was very humbled and got teary-eyed after McCain's and Obama's speeches. I have never been more proud of America as this minute than the last 7 years that I lived here.

Yesterday and today, I keep singing "God Bless America". For the sake of my vanity and patriotism to America that I now call home, I have recorded my self singing it in acapella. I'm not an American but I'm a true American at heart and have always tagged myself as an "All-American-Girl." So to celebrate our nation's democracy and freedom, I wanted to share with you all the song that keeps playing in my head these days. May God bless this beautiful country and land of opportunity and all of us whose American dream still lives in our hearts.

Czarina Singing "Can this Be Love"

I like Sarah Geronimo's version of "Can this be love", so I thought I'd record my own version.

Czarina Singing Karaoke "Because of You"

Some of you may know that I love to sing KARAOKE. This is what I love to do in parties! At home during my relaxation time, if you don't catch me cooking or cleaning, or bonding with Shilo and Lily, you'll find me in my concierto mode in our entertainment room in our basement. I have recorded one of my favorite songs, and I dedicated this song "Because of You" to my sister Diana when she got married.