My Swiss Christmas (Strolling Down in Main St., Midway, Utah)

On Saturday, December 6th, I checked out this Swiss Christmas Festival in Midway, Utah, a quaint old town just 6 miles from me. It was more than a Strolling Down experience but a humbling one instead. This is Midway Town Hall where they held this yearly traditional Swiss Christmas program and Swiss Market. My Christmas childhood came back haunting me again as I saw little girls dancing and doing ballet, some piano playing, and solo and choir singing classic Christmas music. There were about few hundreds of people, mostly local folks, who came to watch the programs.

This moose and bear sculpture were displayed outside this town hall.

As I strolled down this old Swiss town, I took photos of all the landmarks on Main St. This is Midway Mercantile, an antique store. There's more antique stores in this town than anywhere else I've been.

This is the side walk where I was strolling at. Notice the beautiful mountain backdrop. If you've been to Switzerland, you'll feel the similarity.


This is Edelweiss Gallery. There are quite a few impressionist artists and painters in this small town so you'll see fine art galleries everywhere. I like going in to these galleries and meeting the artist and knowing their inspiration for their art. Most of these buildings were built in the late 1800's.

This is the biggest and tallest pine tree that I've ever seen. This has been around for more than a hundred years.

Gigantic logs displayed on an empty lot. These interesting old houses were preserved to keep the Swiss heritage and culture alive in Midway. It's a law in this town that if you are building a new house or structure, it has to be Swiss-themed from the outside architectural design and color. This is Midway Adventure Company. There are an array of winter (and summer) activities in this town such as snowmobiling, snowshoeing, tubing, and cross-country skiing. The only thing missing is the SNOW!
Horse drawn carriages were roaming around town on this day for $15 a ride! I remember we have 'Kalesa' rides in Gasan, Marinduque, but with wooden wheels! This one has the same wheels as your bicycle! This horse is HUGE! Our Philippine horse will look like a donkey compared to this one.
OK. This part has melted my heart. These were Swiss Carollers outside the street! I hung out here almost tearfully. I never felt more humbled and Christmas-spirited! I suddenly missed my family Christmas tradition in my old hometown of Sta. Cruz, Marinduque... and my old friends when we used to do carolling singing in our neighborhood.

My BLAH Moment of the Day - Utah Jazz

So last Friday, my husband asked me to watch a live Utah Jazz basketball game in Salt Lake City's Energy Solutions Arena. I have been wishing to do this for so many years. Not prepared at all and too tired from work, I did not have a chance to change outfit at all! I realized I was overdressed when I showed up with my tall boots, long skirt and woolcoat, when everybody was in their sweats, jeans and snickers. My husband made fun of me and said, "Honey, you don't look like you're going to a Jazz game. You look like you're going to the Mormon Temple to watch a Tabernacle Choir Concert. Or better, you look like a Mormon Missionary sneaking out of the Temple." I wonder where he is learning all these witty comments.

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!)

My BLAH Moment of the Day - Snip

A guy friend happily announced that he will finally be “snipped” this week. I asked him what “snipped” was. He said, “Czarina, that’s what they do to guys who should not have anymore kids.” Apparently, he already over-exceeded the Utah reproduction limit. OK, I get it now. So I came to him and asked him how that "snipping" procedure is done, and he was clueless. So I asked him instead, “Do you want to know what they did to my dog when they snipped him?” “What did they do?” he asked. I said, “Well, he was put to sleep first…” “And then what happened?” he was curious. I opened wide my big eyes and my big mouth and said, “They sucked his b@lls out! I think they vacuumed it or something!” He turned pale and crippled, and started crying to his disbelief. I felt so sorry for the guy and I thought to myself, “Poor puppy!”

PS: Due to the graphic content of this blog, there will be no picture exhibition.

Me, Twilighted...

First of all, I can’t believe that it’s already December 1st! I didn't realize that until I was changing my voicemail greeting at work today. Where did my whole year go? Well, we’re not going to talk about that.

Let’s talk about what every girl is crazy about here in America…. A girl’s new fantasy… that pale-faced... waxed-eyebrow... cherry-lips... sun-glistening cold-skin... speed-flying... eye-changing colors… that gorgeous teen vampire Edward Cullen. I could go on and on about him, and I will not run out of adjectives.

Here's my reality. I never liked fantasy movies (or books), more so a series of it... like Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter. I can’t relate and I don’t really care, period. Speaking of Harry Potter, I saw another trailer of its upcoming 10th sequel… When is it ever going to end? I guess they won’t stop making Harry Potter movies until Harry is 99 years old (or worse, dead!), or until every child in the world is converted to witchcraft. God forbid.

So, I wanted to watch “Australia” last weekend, but my husband paid me a whole ensemble of holiday party outfits and accessories from a mannequin display at Express and a couple of new Miracle Bras from Victoria Secret, which is truely “miraculous" by the way… (what a way to bribe me!) just so I would watch this Twilight movie with him. No regrets.

Surprisingly... I got hooked! And I was “Twilighted.” In short, I kind of fell in love in the movie…Yikes! The story obviously has thrown a spell on me big time. I am now itching to read the book. Funny thing was, I kept thinking about Bella Swan’s mouth… I am convinced that Edward fell in love with her two front teeth! I mean, the poor girl seriously needs some bronzer or blush and she can’t keep her mouth shut, I mean, closed. Okay, fine. I’ll stop mocking this movie now. I guess they are supposed to look cold, and not supposed to smile a lot… weird. Just watch the movie or even better, read the book!

I just got so mesmerized with the author of this best-selling book. The author, Stephanie Meyer, earned her English degree here in Utah (BYU), and I watched her at Ellen DeGeneres show on Thanksgiving. She kind of inspired me as she only started documenting her dreams and it got so long and became a fantasy novel... and now a series of 4 books... and now became a block-buster movie all over the world with sequels to follow.

Which gave me a fabulous thought…. what if I can write something similar in a Philippine setting? Like a convoluted love affair between a "manananggal" (a self-segmenting flying viscera sucker in the Philippines) and a preacher… Hmmn, I’ll try to find my inspiration by snacking a snickers bar and watching a Shrek Christmas movie! Let's see what kind of nightmares I can recollect and turn into a best-selling novel.

My BLAH Moment of the Day - Good Puppy

I probably should stop calling cute babies "CUTE PUPPY!" And stop saying "GOOD PUPPY" if I mean "good job!"

What I Know For Sure

"Our beliefs can move us forward in life - or they can hold us back."
From Oprah Winfrey

My BLAH Moment of the Day - Nothing

Why keep opening the refrigerator everytime, when you know there's nothing in there?

Black Friday in America

I’m really not in the mood to write today as my tummy ache turned into headache from over-eating on Thanksgiving Day! I just can’t let this day pass by without mocking this Black Friday holiday after thanksgiving.

Today, the day after Thanksgiving, is the year’s biggest SALE EVENT in America during our tough economic times. People from all walks of life had instantly turned into mad cheap-a$$ out-of-control shopaholics, dangerously attacking the malls at 3AM on Friday morning… just to get a dollar off of a toe nail clipper!

I have never been a big fan of this midnight sale madness, ever. I’d rather stay home and chill like a bloated turkey after Thanksgiving. Eew, Bloated Turkey? That’s disgusting!

Pretty Punishment

As women here in America are obsessed with silicone implants, hair extensions, and botox, I am obsessed in having fake nails! This is the only treat that I give to myself!

Displaying my Power Ring here earlier on my maintenance-hungry hands is just destroying my composure. I believe that if I don't take care of my hands or nails, I am not taking care of my self.

So, it's about time to turn in myself this week for a FULL SET at our local nail salon. To educate you all, this is no ordinary manicure. For me, this is both an emotional and psychological makeover. I do this purposely to "punish" myself. Yup, you heard it right... to punish myself.

OK, I have this stinky habit of scratching my face... whenever and wherever I have zits! Disgusting, I know... My real nails are too weak and too sharp so I have to put on
"cement" or acrylics to thicken, lengthen, and strengthen my nails. With acrylics, my nails won't scratch my face anymore!

So now, I have scraped off my old acrylics and it's time for my regular nail visit. My nail technician is a Vietnamese male. He has been doing this for 16 years. I have been doing this for my self for 3 years. My face has been flawless ever since...

Here's the process of this pretty punishment!

He files my nails using a nail electric "drill" or filer! Pretty scary stuff. Nail dusts are all over the place, on my black suit, and on my technician's face!






He then glues the tips, so I can have longer nails. He cuts it to my desired nail length. And, he is now wondering why I keep photoshooting my hand. I told him I do scrap-book!







OK, this is the torture part! The purple liquid's chemical smell is very strong. He dips the brush in this liquid and then dips it to the acryliuc powder to paste on my nail. I asked my nail technician if he suspects if this chemical fume causes infertility. He said, "Are you kidding me? I already have 3 kids!" OK, fine!



Now, my acrylic nails look more natural. He has to drill it again to smoothen the surface. He files and buffs all around it. That means more dusts that I have to endure.

One hour later, here's the finished product. The price of this vanity and punishment is $30.

Happy Thanksgiving

To all my friends and family,

Thanks for visiting my vlog!! I'd like to take this moment to greet you all a Happy Thanksgiving!

Thank you all for your friendship and for your love, prayers and support to me and my family through all these years! Your love and friendship means so much to me!

Thanks to my family all over the world who have been my inspiration to strive and to pursue all my dreams!

To all of you have touched my life in one way or another, THANK YOU to having you all in my life!

I love you all from the bottom of my heart! May God continue to bless us all and may we be thankful everyday for every single struggle we endure and blessings we enjoy.

Love,
Czarina

My Own Vision (To All the Kids Born on 1950's to 1980's)

I posted the blog below “To All the Kids who were born in the 1950’s to 1980’s” so I could react to it. I thought this spam email that I got was worthy of my time reading and sharing with you all.

Here’s by own flashback… I was born in 1975 in the Philippines.

Knowing the sex of a baby while still in the mother’s womb was impossible at that time. My dad was hoping for a boy, but the nurse brought me to him in a pink blanket! Delightfully, my parents wished I never grow up…. But I did!

While growing up, the kids in my neighborhood were all my friends and playmates.

I could compete in the Chinese garter and Jackstone Olympics! I was that good!

We would go caroling in our neighbors every Christmas time!

Eating Pringles with Pepsi in the cellophane was the best treat!

I rode a wooden sled (we called it “kangga”) drawn by a carabao (Philippine Buffalo) in my grandfather’s farm with my cousins! That would always be the highlight of our summer vacation!

I also rode at the back of a goat with my grandfather holding me. (That made me teary-eyed for a second… I remember I had this photo…. somewhere.)

I’ve seen carabaos, horses and cows peeing and pooping, and pro-creating! These shameless beasts! Gross.

I bathe in the rain with my friends, out in the streets! And “drank” the rain water from the “alulod” or the gutter.

I bathe in the river, and “drank” the water from the river, too. During that time, people (and stray animals) do “everything” in the river! I mean, everything!

I ate cheese with rice. I still do.

I ate margarine with white sugar on my bread, and on my pancake. I still do. I ate Indian Mangoes with white sugar. I will still do.

I had my mom and dad, my grandparents, and nannies around me while growing up. We ate together and chatted over meals.

Our nannies did all the household chores for our family. I’d get in trouble if my grandfather saw me sweeping, washing dishes, doing laundry or cooking.

I remember I had to win the declamation contests 3 times before my dad would buy me my first karaoke machine. I sang my parents favorite standard music like Moon River, My Funny Valentine, My Way, All the Way, etc. rather than sing Madonna’s Borderline and Like A Virgin. Our most high-priced and high-tech “thing” was our Yamaha Organ that we all can play.

In high school when I was a varsity in volleyball, I would wrap a masking tape around my chest. Sports bra does NOT exist at the time. Training bras were useless! I remember I used minimizer bras until I was 27.

In high school, we asked our friends to write in our “slumbooks!” It’s like your bio-data on a perfumed stationery type notebook with personal questions like, What’s your ambition? I wrote “to be somebody someday” like everybody else. Duh, can I be more specific? What is Love? I wrote “Love is something beautiful between you and me, or me and “him.” Yuk. How corny! What is crush? I wrote “Crush is when someone’s looking at you with sparkles in their eyes and you are kilig (giggle!)….” Ha-ha-ha! That’s so cheesy! Are you engaged? I wrote YES. I remember getting in trouble with this. My poor grandmother… she freaked out when she read that I put YES on the “Are you engaged?” part. Gee, I was like 10 or 11 years old then and I don’t even know what that meant! Later, I learned.

Here’s my reality now that I’m grown up…. 2008, Domestic Diva in America.

No more nannies. I learned to do everything. I do the laundry. I cook. I clean. I drive.

My kids are 2 shih tzu puppies, boy and girl. We bought them from a breeder 100 miles away from us. If people asked me if I have kids, I said YES with big bright smile on my face! And I’ll pull out my cell phone and show them their pictures! My puppies are now full grown at 11 pounds each and will never grow bigger!

Kids in our neighborhood don’t do caroling. They only do “Trick or treating” on Halloween in their “Witch” and “zombie” costumes.

Families rarely talk because they have their TV on over dinner. Young girls learn everything from Paris Hilton on MTV and the internet and not from their parents. Their parents (single or divorced) can’t spend quality time with them. To make up for the lost time, they buy them laptops, cellphones, ipods, and all the gadgets you could ever think of. They have 400 to 1000 virtual friends from all over the world that they don’t even know. When you ask them what’s their ambition? They have no clue what that meant.

People here in America ate and drunk the “cleanest” water and food in the world. But yet, they have cancer and all these weird illnesses. In the Philippines, we have “flies and bugs” all over our house and over our greasy and fatty foods and we are fine. I drank rain water from the gutter, remember? Luckily, I’m still alive.

The bra-issue is over. I didn’t need Dr. Vicky Belo to do the magic. I found everything that lifts and fits at Victoria’s Secret. I can jump, spike and run without worrying.

I don’t see all my friends everyday. I chat with them on Yahoo messenger on my phone or on my laptop, or see them occasionally in parties. They are all in my Friendster account, or Facebook, and we would exchange messages once in a while. The last time I counted, I have 250+ in Friendster, and 150+ on Facebook, and it’s growing everyday. Do I really know all of them? Hell, no.

To go back to the slumbook questions: What’s my ambition? I still want to travel and see Europe. What is Love? Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. What is Crush? Crush is what you do to the lemon if you want to make your own lemonade.

To All The Kids Who Were Born In The 1950's to 1980's

I got this funny email from a couple of friends and I thought I'd post it here in my Vlog. Medyo mahaba ito but it's worth reading. Promise.

TO ALL THE KIDS WHO WERE BORN IN THE
1950's, 60' s, 70's and early 80's!!

First, some of us survived being born to mothers who did not have an OB-Gyne and drank San Miguel Beer while they carried us.

While pregnant, they took cold or cough medicine, ate isaw, and didn't worry about diabetes.

Then after all that trauma, our baby cribs were made of hard wood covered with lead-based paints, pati na yung walker natin, matigas na kahoy din at wala pang gulong.

We had no soft cushy cribs that play music, no disposable diapers (lampin lang), and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, no kneepads , sometimes wala pang preno yung bisikleta.

As children, we would ride in hot un-air conditioned buses with wooden seats (yung JD bus na pula), or cars with no air conditioning & no seat belts (ngayon lahat may aircon na)

Riding on the back of a carabao on a breezy summer day was considered a treat (ngayon hindi na nakakakita ng kalabaw ang mga bata).

We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle purchased from 711 (minsan straight from the faucet or poso)

We shared one soft drink bottle with four of our friends, and NO ONE actually died from this. Or contacted hepatitis.

We ate rice with star margarine, drank raw eggs straight from the shell, and drank soft drinks with real sugar in it (hindi diet coke), but we weren't sick or overweight kasi nga......

WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, and get back when the streetlights came on. Sarap mag patintero, tumbang preso , habulan at taguan.

No one was able to reach us all day (di uso ang cellphone , walang beepers ). And yes, we were O.K.

We would spend hours building our wooden trolleys (yung bearing ang gulong) or plywood slides out of scraps and then ride down the street, only to find out we forgot the brakes! After hitting the sidewalk or falling into a canal (seweage channel) a few times, we learned to solve the problem ourselves with our bare & dirty hands .

We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 100 channels on cable, no DVD movies, no surround stereo, no IPOD's, no cellphones, no computers, no Internet, no chat rooms, and no Friendsters. ...... ...WE HADREAL FRIENDS and we went outside to actually talk and play with them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no stupid lawsuits from these accidents.The only rubbing we get is from our friends with the words.. masakit ba? pero pag galit yung kalaro mo,,,,ang sasabihin sa iyo..beh buti nga !

We played marbles (jolens) in the dirt , washed our hands just a little and ate dirty ice cream & fish balls. We were not afraid of getting germs in our stomachs.

We had to live with homemade guns, gawa sa kahoy, tinali ng rubberband , sumpit , tirador at kung ano ano pa na puedeng makasakitan. . .pero masaya pa rin ang lahat.

We made up games with sticks (syato), and cans ( tumbang preso )and although we were told they were dangerous, wala naman tayong binulag o napatay.paminsan minsan may nabubukulan lang.

We walked, rode bikes, or took tricycles to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just yelled for them to jump out the window!

Mini basketball teams had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't pass had to learn to deal with the disappointment. Wala yang mga childhood depression at damaged self esteem ek-ek na yan. Ang pikon, talo.

Ang magulang ay nandoon lang para tignan kung ayos lang ang mga bata, hindi para makialam at makipag-away sa ibang parents.

That generation of ours has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers, creative thinkers and successful professionals ever! They are the CEO's, Engineers, Doctors and Military Generals of today.

The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.

We had failure, success, and responsibility. . We learned from our mistakes the hard way.

You might want to share this with others who've had the luck to grow up as real kids. We were lucky indeed.

And if you like, forward it to your kids too, so they will know how brave their parents were.

It kind of makes you wanna go out and climb a tree, doesn't it?!

My Fine Dining Experience at Sundance, Utah

To start off this fine dining experience, I made sure I was taken cared off... so there's my coke and a bottle of white wine (Riesling)... that I shared, of course, with my Zermatt friends at my table...

.

This fine dining restaurant is called the Tree Room at Sundance Resort where we had our Zermatt group dinner last Friday night. Very rustic and rough . But you will be forgiving as it is the theme of the resort. It was a worthwhile experience. Great ambience and fantastic cuisine!


These were the wonderful people at my table. Four of us didn't have our partners with us, so we called our selves losers that night... but it doesn't look like it!

Prior to our 4-course meal, was this Chef's welcome treat! The name of this appetizer escaped me when I swallowed this down my throat. It was awesome though!

This was my scallop appetizer. Really tender and refreshing.

This was my second course. Sweet Potato and Pumpkin Bisque. It was sweet and definitely a new taste for me. They used a giant soup bowl for a 3/4 of cup soup.


My third course was Utah Trout! I don't cook fish in my house so when I get the chance to eat out, I always order some seafood. It was delicious!


Well... this was not part of my meal, but this tea candle holder caught my attention. This is made of recycled glass and made in Sundance Resort.


I wanted something light and fruity for dessert. So this was my fourth course, Berry and Custard!


It was delicious and pricey! After 3 hours of being served these wonderful culinary creations in this unforgettable night, we proceeded to the Owl Bar where there was a band playing some American Honky Tonk Music, and of course, concluded by more photos at this hidden treasure in the Utah mountains.

Creation of the Power Ring

Part of our managers retreat in Sundance Resort this week is to cultivate our creativity, whether it's in pottery or jewelry making. Knowing that I'm obviously NOT a big bling fan, I signed up in the jewelry making class. I thought we were just gonna do some bead work. But I was wrong.

Here's my photos of the "Creation of the Power Ring" from Sundance Resort's Art Shack's Jewelry making class. This will be Zermatt's souvenir for me. What a treat!


There were hundreds of stones to choose from. Turquoise is my favorite! I have every kind, but I don't have a ring yet... so it was not a hard decision. I needed silver to wrap it around. (Excuse my unmanicured nails!)


Fire melted another piece of silver to attach both ends. Made sure it fits just right.


I used a silver plate as a base. I had to cut it around and attached both wrap and base together.


My right hand middle finger is size 8! The power ring will hold this.


I attached the silver ring to my base. Can't you see the excitement on my face?

Tada!! Here's my finished product after polishing.


Next step will be... Manicure?

Piece of my Mind

I can keep writing on and on, but believe it or not, I am not the most opinionated person that you will ever know. There may be a ton of issues around me that I may not even be aware of until you tell me or until I watch it on TV or browsed through the internet. When people are talking passionately about issues on religion, finance, politics and even homosexual rights, I keep my mouth shut. Even if I can hear people stubbing each other's back, it goes to one hear out the other. But since I know that the freedom of speech still lives in this country, I’ll use my writing to voice a piece of my mind on several topics that I care and don’t care about… I’ll be very frank here but please don’t take my “opinions” personally.

Polygamy
This is a popular topic about Utah, and I’m tired of it. LDS at present time don’t practice this anymore. However, Fundamentalist LDS still does and they live in their own private community in southern Utah. This is part of their religious belief. Leave them alone as they will never try to convert you. I believe this polygamy is still being practiced all over the world. So quit bugging Utahns about it. YOu want my opinion? It will not work for me. Imagine that I’m already a lot of work for my husband. If he has to manage 4 more of me, he would end up in a mental ward.

Family
I remember in kindergarten, my teacher taught us that FAMILY means “Father and Mother, I love you.” Obviously and sadly, the “FAMILY” in our generation is under attack. If your parents are still happily married together at this point, then you are rare as a diamond.

Marriage and Divorce
Marriage is an act of love between God, man and a woman. That’s what my Pastor implanted in our minds on our wedding day, and that’s what I will believe in for the rest of my life. However, for some, marriage is just a piece of paper, and nothing more. Sad but true, most people have done everything they could to mess up this simple sacred sacrament. At present, every other marriage is expected to end up in divorce. Remember, marriage is not an escape, so is divorce.

Gays, Lesbians and Same-Sex Marriage
Can I tell you how thankful I am that I am married now? If I remained single at 33, I will be so worried to death in dating and scaring a straight guy. Gays and lesbians are like sand in the beach. They’re all over the place. I have best friends that are gays and lesbians, and they are good people. I love all my friends for who and what they are, and I accept them for who they love and sleep with or marry, even if they marry a goat or a horse!!! Their lifestyle is their own personal choice and moral issue. I chose NOT to deal with it.

Wild Teenagers
They are products of irresponsible parents. Period. I can’t say much because I don’t have one, I don’t want one, hopefully I will never have one, and thankfully I was not one.

Christmas Gift Giving
If my friends and family happens to read this part, I do not plan to give anymore material gifts this Christmas. And I DO NOT WISH to receive anymore gifts! So please… I don’t need any more purses, shoes, jewelry, accessories, candles, kitchen stuffs, house décor, etc. And I’m sure you don’t need anymore stuffs! If you have extra money to spare, please give it to those who really need it or donate it to your favorite charity. What I will be willing to give to and receive from my friends and family is TIME. Nothing more but quality TIME… Like let’s sit down and have coffee and chat and laugh out our tears and pains away. Let’s inspire each other and pray together for peace and healing. I think that will be the most precious gift I could ever give and receive this Christmas and throughout the year.

Filipinos in America
Most people that I meet at work thought I was born and raised here in America because of the way I talk. I have acquired a bit of that Amercan accent. But when they get to know me a little better, they will know that I totally had a different lifestyle in the Philippines seven years ago and that English is only my second language. It is very interesting to be exposed to both American and Filipino culture here in America. The more that I want to be Americanized, the more I feel proud that I’m Filipino, and different. Filipinos here in America, they are still the funniest people on earth, no matter if they have everything in life or have nothing…

Life
Life is short. Spend it with laughter around good friends and loved ones. Take a job that you love. You may have all the nice and shiny things on earth but you can never take them when you die. Nourish your soul and know your Lord and Savior, because at the end of your life, He will only look for one thing and it’s not how much or how little good you did on earth…. It’s who reigns in your heart!

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.

My Clevah Vritish Accent

Have you ever thought why you still maintain a house phone but never really uses it, or you never answer it when it rings? You ask me. I get all kinds of telemarketers, from Owtel to car insurance, to credit card offers and one of those “Congratulations, Chuva, you just won a trip for two to the Bahamas! Blah-blah-blah!! ”

I have done the Do-not-call-list thing and for some reason, it’s not working for me. I would still come home and have at least 7 or 10 spam voice messages to erase. And if I happen to pick up these calls, I will tell them all kinds of lies to avoid the conversation. I tell them that I’m just a nanny or housekeeper here, or that I'm a robber, or that I'm just a ghost! Or worse, I’ll scare them away with a screaming voice in my crispy Marinduque accent even if they don’t really understand it, “Hindi mo ‘ga ako atantanan ng kakatawag dini ay? Ako’y nagaluto dini ay ako ay inaabala mo laang ay! Kung ika’y nandini laang ay ahampasin ta na ng sandok at nang magtigil ka! Isa pang tawag mo dini ay talagang a dimanda ‘ta na!! Hay-p ka!” (Quite exxag, I know...)

To my displeasure, none of my gimicks really worked. I've given up. I still get flooded with these annoying calls. I think I’m cursed! So one day, I was ready to kill... I started digging a grave in my backyard to bury this cursed house phone. Until I thought of this clever idea…..

I've had this telephone greeting for 2 weeks now and VIOLA!! People still leave me messages! Grrrhhh!! Maybe I'll try a Pakistani accent next time...

To Blog or Not To Blog… (That is the question)

Blog is such a weird word. My spell check does NOT recognize this word. People from all walks of life DO it – whether they are professionals, politicians, reporters, and the masses. If you have a web page on Friendster, Facebook, MySpace, Multiply, etc. that you update regularly, then you have a blog, and so you are a blogger, whether you like or not. You have a story to tell about yourself. It’s your photos, videos, slideshows, writings, bulletins, quotes and shout-outs. They can reach out to hundreds (if not thousands) of people in your network. Bloggers like us are changing the world, for better or for worse. Chances are your kids have their own blog and hopefully they did not post their naked, seductive photos in it, or much worse, your nude photos!

Public and private sectors, especially these political campaigns use blogs to promote and send spontaneous messages to masses. Millions of people are online-addicts, and so they read and write blogs like crazy.

Blogging is a form of mass journalism. It is both stimulating and terrifying. The average person can now share his/her opinion to the world freely, without having to abide to journalistic standards. Many bloggers can use malice, lies, and revenge that can hurt others. But some bloggers can use their creative talents in writing or photography to inform and entertain readers.

I think and write better blogs when I’m inspired. Someone has asked me what inspires me to write. Where do I get my ideas and creativity? Where does the words come from?

I write blogs because I wanted to leave my own memoirs to my friends and family. My mind has a supply of interesting ideas and funny stories that I wanted to share not only to them, or my network, but also to the world. I believe I can reach out and make people laugh or giggle or simply make their day, even if they don’t really know me.

So, just chill out! I believe that laughter is the best medicine. But too much laughter can cause laugh lines, which is just a pretty name for wrinkles. Wrinkles aren’t really pretty. Anti-wrinkle creams cost a lot of money. And buying these things can lead to debt, then bankruptcy, then stress. Stress can cause gas, hair loss, over-eating, and even depression. Depression can lead to suicidal tendencies; psychiatrists recommend “laughter” to depressed people. So… wait a minute. Why did I end up in this conclusion when I was just talking about blogging? I really don’t know…. I just lost my focus. Am I having an A.D.D. moment or what?

For the sake of fun and laughter, here's my funniest photo on Halloween! That's me as the Fabulous Vampire, Romie as the "Bangkay" with false eyelashes (look closely! ha-ha-ha!) and Jane, the crazy party hostess, as a half "Aswang", half Little Red Ridinghood!

To see more of my hilarious Halloween photos, go to http://thehottienottiediva.blogspot.com/.