for workaholics

this clipping makes me want to go home on the dot later!!!

This might make you cry

http://perezhilton.com/2008-07-24-this-might-make-you-cry

This is so sad, yet touching.

Reece Fleming was diagnosed with leukaemia back in 2004 when he was just 4 years old.

He battled the disease for years until this May, when doctors gave the 8 year old boy only a few weeks to live.

The family decided to try and help him achieve most of his goals before he would pass. And one of those was to marry his school sweetheart, Elleanor Purgslove.

Reece's mother said "When we found out that we only had a few weeks with him we tried to do absolutely everything with him that we could. Him and Ellie had been 'special friends' for a couple of years but then they broke up. We said we'd have a pirate party, and Ellie came. She went to visit Reece a few times in hospital as well."

Then during a recent laser tag party, Reece "proposed" to his little friend.

After she accepted, their parents arranged a pretend wedding at Reece's home (not the kids pictured above).

The families went out to dinner in the mayor's limousine and organized the wedding with rings and even a fictional certificate.

The kids got married on July 4th. And Reece told his mom, "I can go now," after his wedding wish had been fulfilled.

His mom added, "He was so proud of her, and we were proud of them both."

The following day after the wedding, Reece died at home with his family.

Soooooo sad!

During the funeral, the mourners followed a horse-draw hearse on foot.

His mom added, "Even on the Saturday that he died, he got out of bed and walked to the sofa. He always tried walking, right to the end, so we thought if he walked for us then we would walk for him."

What an amazing little boy.

This post reminds me so much about "A Walk to Remember" a novel written by Nicholas Sparks and was put into film and directed by Adam Shankman. That film never fail to make me cry even when I watch it to this day. For those who are familiar with the movie will recall this scene...

Jamie: [after she and Landon keep switching the radio station] Forty-two.
Landon: "Forty-two", what do you-what do you mean "forty-two"?
Jamie: Forty-two is "Befriend somebody I don't like". It's a to-do list I have.
Landon: What, like getting a new personality?
Jamie: Spend a year in the Peace Corps, make a medical discovery...
Landon: That's ambitious.
Jamie: ...Be in two places at once, get a tattoo.
Landon: What's number one?
Jamie: I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.

---

Landon: So, what's your number one?
Jamie: To marry in the church my mother grew up. It's where my parents were married.

Awww!!!*tear*

relationship essentials

I have received this chain email a couple of times in the past couple years, yet I never really get this thing about relationships to sink in. Maybe because I was a no believer that a perfect relationship does exist back then. Before I thought that relationships were designed to be hard. Really hard! But now that I've matured and was having the best time with Micmac that I realized that relationships can be easy when you put your heart into it.

I got this email today from Jonathan Din. (I miss you bro!) Reading this today made me feel overwhelmed with gratitude. It reminded me of how blessed I am to be in a relationship so beautiful and strong. It also sort of reminded me that we are on the right track.

I hope you get inspired by this post. Sometimes, when things are not going our way, we have to be reminded of the essential things so we can pick the pieces back and start again. Either way, people we love are blessings. So we need to cherish them and play our role right. May it be as a girlfriend, sister, mother,wife, friend etc....

TRUST is a very important factor for all relationships. When trust is broken, it is the end of the relationship. Lack of trust leads to suspicion, suspicion generates anger, anger causes enmity and enmity may result in separation.

A telephone operator told me that one day she received a phone call. She answered, "Public Utilities Board." There was silence. She repeated, "PUB." There was still no answer. When she was going to cut off the line, she Heard a lady's voice, "Oh, so this is PUB.Sorry, I got the number from my Husband's pocket but I do not know whose number it is."

Without mutual trust, just imagine what will happen to the couple if the telephone operator answered with just "hello" instead of "PUB".
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
NO POINTING FINGERS

A man asked his father-in-law, "Many people praised you for a successful marriage. Could you please share with me your secret?"
The father-in-law answered in a smile, "Never criticize your wife for her shortcomings or when she does something wrong. Always bear in mind that because of her shortcomings and weaknesses, she could not find a better husband than you."

We all look forward to being loved and respected. Many people are afraid of losing face. Generally, when a person makes a mistake, he would look around to find a scapegoat to point the finger at. This is the start of a war. We should always remember that when we point one finger at a person, the other four fingers are pointing at ourselves.

If we forgive the others, others will ignore our mistake too.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
CREATING PERFECT RELATIONSHIPS?

A person visited the government matchmaker for marriage, SDU, and requested "I am looking for a spouse. Please help me to find a suitable one." The SDU officer said, "Your requirements, please." "Oh, good looking, polite, humorous , sporty, knowledgeable, good in singing and dancing. Willing to accompany me the whole day at home during my leisure hour, if I don't go out. Telling me interesting stories when I need companion for conversation and be silent when I want to rest." The officer listened carefully and replied, "I understand you need television."

There is a saying that a perfect match can only be found between a blind wife and a deaf husband ,because the blind wife cannot see the faults of the husband and the deaf husband cannot hear the nagging of the wife. Many couples are blind and deaf at the courting stage and dream of perpetual perfect relationship. Unfortunately, when the excitement of love wears off, they wake up and discover that marriage is not a bed of roses. The nightmare begins.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NO OVERPOWERING

Many relationships fail because one party tries to overpower another,or demands too much. People in love tend to think that love will conquer all and their spouses will change the bad habits after marriage. Actually, this is not the case. There is a Chinese saying which carries the meaning that "It is easier to reshape a mountain or a river than a person's character."

It is not easy to change. Thus, having high expectation on changing the spouse character will cause disappointment and unpleasantness.

It would be less painful to change ourselves and lower our expectations..

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
RIGHT SPEECH

There is a Chinese saying which carries the meaning that "A speech will either prosper or ruin a nation." Many relationships break off because of wrong speech. When a couple is too close with each other,we always forget mutual respect and courtesy. We may say anything without considering if it would hurt the other party.

A friend and her millionaire husband visited their construction site. A worker who wore a helmet saw her and shouted,"Hi, Emily! Remember me? We used to date in the secondary school." On the way home, her millionaire husband teased her, "Luckily you married me.Otherwise you will be the wife of a construction worker." She answered ,"You should appreciate that you married me. Otherwise, he will be the millionaire and not you."

Frequently exchanging these remarks plants the seed for a bad relationship. It's like a broken egg - cannot be reversed.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
PERSONAL PERCEPTION

Different people have different perception. One man's meat could be another man's poison. A couple bought a donkey from the market. On the way home,a boy commented, "Very stupid. Why neither of them ride on the donkey?"Upon hearing that, the husband let the wife ride on the donkey. He walked besides them. Later, an old man saw it and commented, "The husband is the head of family. How can the wife ride on the donkey while the husband is on foot?" Hearing this, the wife quickly got down and let the husband ride on the donkey.

Further on the way home, they met an old Lady. She commented, "How can the man ride on the donkey but let the wife walk. He is no gentleman." The husband thus quickly asked the wife to join him on the donkey. Then, they met a young man. He commented, "Poor donkey, how can you hold up the weight of two persons. They are cruel to you." Hearing that, the husband and wife immediately climbed down from the donkey and carried it on their shoulders.

It seems to be the only choice left. Later, on a narrow bridge, the donkey was frightened and struggled. They lost their balance and fell into the river. You can never have everyone praise you, nor will everyone condemn you. Never in the past, not at present, and never will be in the future.

Thus, do not be too bothered by others words if our conscience is clear..
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BE PATIENT

This is a true story which happened in the States. A man came out of his home to admire his new truck. To his puzzlement, his three-year-old son was happily hammering dents into the shiny paint of the truck. The man ran to his son, knocked him away, hammered the little boy's hands into pulp as punishment. When the father calmed down, he rushed his son to the hospital.

Although the doctor tried desperately to save the crushed bones, he finally had to amputate the fingers from both the boy's hands. When the boy woke up from the surgery & saw his bandaged stubs, he innocently said, " Daddy,I'm sorry about your truck." Then he asked, "but when are my fingers going to grow back?" The father went home & committed suicide.

Think about this story the next time someone steps on your feet or u wish to take revenge. Think first before u lose your patience with someone you love. Trucks can be repaired.. Broken bones & hurt feelings often can't. Too often we fail to recognize the difference between the person and the performance. We forget that forgiveness is greater than revenge.

People make mistakes. We are allowed to make mistakes. But the actions we take while in a rage will haunt us forever.

The Quarter-Life Crisis

When JC went to our place to use the internet weeks ago, we talked about work, relationships and basically... what our daily lives are... totally consumed by problems, pressures and full of questions.. what lies ahead of us? He was telling me what happened when he met his high school buddies during their reunion and all the success stories of his friends that made him reflect on his own life. Then he blurted out.. Maybe I'm just going through a "Quarter-Life Crisis". And that just got stuck in my head. Yes, maybe there is such a thing. This may be the answer why people my age(around their 20s), my peers, are all talking non-stop about the future, finding what will make them happy, and brainstorming about the best options to take in life. May it be in a relationship, career, or personal growth. I told JC, I might be going through the same thing as a pointed on a pile of inspirational books on top of the computer.

So I had that idea in mind and when I went to work that night, I told Michelle about my conversation with JC and she also agreed. She told me that sometimes, she feel sad because she still hasn't accomplished her goals. She has set herself to have her own house when she reached 25. She just turned 27 this year, still living with her in-laws. And it just puzzled me.. for someone who seems to have a comfortable lifestyle, have a work that buys her anything she wants, happy marriage and an adorable daughter.. she is still not satisfied of her life.

Tried to talk to Mai, a friend in her 30s. When I told her about all my disappointments and things bothering me, she just shrugs it off. She said that I am to young and that I have all the time in the world. Then it dawned into me, that yeah.. maybe we are the only ones giving pressure to ourselves that's why we feel terrible about our current state. We feel we have to prove something at this point. We feel that a successful career, perfect relationship or our great stature will put us in a level of bliss. I also realized that having this goals in mind is not bad, it can actually be used in good effect. But if it leads to having a crisis with yourself, then maybe you have to shake it off a bit and try to enjoy;) Stop pressuring yourself!

I bumped into this article blogged by Charisse Vilchez in Multiply. I read it and reminded me of
this scenario I had with my friends JC, Michelle and Mai. Bottom line is, we all go through phases. For me, feeling a bit of anxiety about what is ahead of us is normal. We are ALIVE. We are not robots to be controlled, our emotions and thinking brings us to our destination. So feel every anxiety, fear and pain, because it all teaches us a lesson. And it's always to BE BETTER:)

The Quarter-Life Crisis
by unknown

It is when you stop going along with the crowd and start realizing that there are a lot of things about yourself that you didn't know and may or may not like. You start feeling insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or two, but then get scared because you barely know where you are now.

You start realizing that people are selfish and that, maybe, those friends that you thought you were so close to aren't exactly the greatest people you have ever met and the people you have lost touch with are some of the most important ones. What you do not realize is that they are realizing that too and are not really cold or catty or mean or insincere, but that they are as confused as you.

You look at your job. It is not even close to what you thought you would be doing or maybe you are looking for one and realizing that you are going to have to start at the bottom and are scared.

You miss the comforts of college, of groups, of socializing with the same people on a constant basis. But then you realize that maybe they weren't so great after all.

You are beginning to understand yourself and what you want and do not want. Your opinions have gotten stronger. You see what others are doing and find yourself judging a bit more than usual because suddenly you realize that you have certain boundaries in your life and add things to your list of what is acceptable and what is not. You are insecure and then secure. You laugh and cry with the greatest force of your life. You feel alone and scared and confused. Suddenly change is the enemy and you try and cling on to the past with dear life but soon realize that the past is drifting further and further away and there is nothing to do but stay where you are or move forward.

You get your heart broken and wonder how someone you loved could do such damage to you or you lay in bed and wonder why you can't meet anyone decent enough to get to know better. You love someone but maybe love someone else too and cannot figure out why you are doing this because you are not a bad person.

One night stands and random hook ups start to look cheap and getting wasted and acting like an idiot starts to look pathetic. You go through the same emotions and questions over and over and talk with your friends about the same topics because you cannot seem to make a decision.

You worry about loans and money and the future and making a life for yourself and while wining the race would be great, right now you'd just like to be a contender!

What you may not realize is that everyone reading this relates to it. We are in our best of times and our worst of times, trying as hard as we can to figure this whole thing out.

Bill Gates' 11 Rules

Got this email from Marty and find it cool so I'm sharing it to you guys. Sometimes we think successful and great people got it all easy. Reading this made me realize that we too can do great things, let's just not let our "issues" hinder us. I'm sure these rules that Bill Gates discussed were based on his own life lessons.

Bill Gates' 11 Rules:

Bill Gates recently gave a speech at a High School about 11 things they did not and will not learn in school. He talks about how feel-good, politically correct teachings created a generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept set them up for failure in the real world.

Rule 1: Life is not fair - get used to it!

Rule 2: The world would not care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something before you feel good about yourself.

Rule 3: You will not make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You would not be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.

Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait until you get a boss.

Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity.

Rule 6: If you mess up, it is not your parents' fault so do not whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents were not as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parents' generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers but life has not. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they will give you as many times as you want to get the right answer. This does not bear the slightest resemblance to anything in real life.

Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You do not get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you find yourself. Do that on your own time.

Rule 10: Television is not real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you will end up working for one.

quote for the day

Have you observed a rice field and noticed which heads are bent and which ones stand up straight?

Well the empty heads are standing tall and high. The heads that are FILLED with grains are bending low.

Indeed, the true and great and strong people are humble and gentle. True giants don't mind bowing low.

quote for the day

This quote for the day entry is a handful. Let me know which is your favorite and why? Let's try a little interaction. :)

*There are times we treat life like a mysterious door. It doesn't open no matter how hard we push it because we never seem to notice the huge sign that reads "PULL".

*You can't hold too many things, no matter what you do to make them stay, and no matter how much they want to stay, the wind will always blow them away. So learn to let go and choose carefully which you want to stay because like a sand, only those which are in the center of your palm will last.

*Simple thought: Never get tired of doing little things for others because sometimes, those little things occupy the BIGGEST part in their hearts.

*I don't know that I've ever valued anything that came easy. Sometimes it's the fight that makes a thing worth having.

*Proving happiness isn't seen on how many times you laughed. It's finding that sensible reason everytime you laugh.

*God needs to hear what you want not because He easily forgets nor He doesn't know. It's because He loves to feel the sweetness of your prayers.

*Life has it's own way of making us smile even when we want nothing else than to give up and lose hope. Because certain surprises come our way just when we thought we would never smile again.

*Everything you've done will become someone else's memory. The person might forget the exact words you said but no way to make them forget the way you made them feel "happy".

*When you're down to nothing. God is up to something. Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible. So always walk with faith.

*The importance of good friends in our lives is like the importance of heartbeats. Though not visible, they silently support our lives.

*If one dream should fall and break into a THOUSAND pieces. Never be afraid to PICK one of those pieces up and BEGIN again. That's the beauty of being alive -- we can always start all over again.

*One thing we've got to learn is that no person is better than the other. Some are blessed with intellect, some knowledge, some with great wealth and some with strength and some with a unique gift from God that they have yet to find. The essence of being is not your rank or "greatness" but being who God made you to be- radiantly beautiful inside or out.

*Sometimes, you just have to put a period on something that has to end and not just settle on a comma. WHY? Because time will come you'll realize that it's nicer to see a complete sentence rather than seeing a phrase that's completely hanging and doesn't even make any sense.

*You can choose to blame your circumstances on fate or bad luck or bad choices. Or you can fight back. Things aren't always going to be fair in the real world but that's just the way it is. For the most part you get what you give. Rest of your life is being shaped right now with the dreams you chase, the choices you make and the person you decide to be. The rest of your life is a long time and the rest of your life starts now.

*God did not give us revolving heads so that we keep on checking the past. But he didn't lock our heads in place also; instead, we can still look back, if only for a glance. God made us so to remind us that we must not forget the past, only get over it.

Let me hear from you!:) To post your comments, visit http://sugarcoatedsunshine.blogspot.com/

Because Candy Says So...

I was editing my Friendster sites(yes I have 2 accounts) and saw a couple of pictures that means more to me than merely just adding the caption "with Nicole in Libis" etc. Indeed pictures can paint a thousand words and these pictures reminds me of the lessons that I've learned along the way. Some entries may sound a bit Dr. Phil-ish but all of the words are all based on my realization. I can do a lot of blog entries like this! (IDEA KACHING KACHING) hehe:) I so love pictures and putting captions on them can be another thing. Hope you guys enjoy this entry.

**Teach a child to do things! (teaching Ardee how to color)**

Teach a child to do things and they will remember you. I can still clearly recall who taught me how to tie my laces -- Tita Lissa:), how to color inside the lines -- Mommy, how to brush my hair -- Lola, how to keep my hair clean and "kuto free"hehe:)- Tita Dina.. etc.

**Bring out the inner child in you:)**

A thing that worked for me when I'm down in the dumps and want to have a quick mood booster, is to see my sister Nicole or my cousin Sacha. They remind me of how we used to be when we were young. Carefree, Young and FULL OF HOPE that there is a BIG TOMORROW ahead of us. So I made this mantra for my sister and cousin, WHEN SAD, JUST REMEMBER HOW WE ARE WHEN WE WERE YOUNG-- and you know where to reach me. :)

**CAUTION SHALLOW WATER, NO DIVING...**

I noticed this picture and saw the sign behind us. Indeed true. It has been a tried and tested thing that the stuff that works in life are those with strong foundations. Sometimes we dive ahead not knowing what's ahead of us, and if the water is shallow we get hurt. Same goes with relationships, always face it like there's a warning sign and don't go for the "kilig(shallow)" feelings right away. Just go for it when you know that it's deep enough, with a foundation. Mic and I started from strangers to colleagues, friends to best friends and now partners in life. MICMAC = my part time lover full time best friend for life...AND IT WORKS FOR ME.

**if your soul is shining,it won't matter if it's raining outside**

Nuff said. I heard from a friend that there's this girl who keeps on checking my Friendster and then talks shit about me. Girlie, the news keeps on reaching me. You don't know me to judge me, and it won't matter anyway. Piece of advice, save the effort and move on with your life. Insecure girls talk about other girls. Quit it and do a favor for your self esteem:)

**Conquered my fear of deep water-- Childhood dream: Be Ariel of Little Mermaid:) *check**

It was a lot of gathered strength and courage. At first I thought I will quit. I hyperventilated the first try, but I said to myself, I'm not going home with no stories and UNDERWATER PICTURES! So that's it! All I thought was my passion of having pictures and I did it. A very liberating experience. DARE TO CONQUER YOUR FEARS. IT'S A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.

***CANDICE means RADIANCE***

My name means radiance. I hope I'm living up to my real name. I know I'm doing a good job with my nick Candy(sweet) hehe:)

***black and white Baguio Sunshine--turning point--***

Some events in our life are unexplainable and still have a lot of hanging questions. Though how painful this events may be, it happened for a reason. And sometimes, you don't have to hear the answer from the person/people who caused the pain. Sometimes all you need to do is find the answers yourself and learn to know yourself more.

***ipod therapy--music soothes my soul..lalalalala:)***

Music is made for the soul. It's amazing how music can speak to your heart and sometimes we can relate to them. The irony of it is that it makes you feel you are not alone in the world who felt the exact same emotion you felt through the words of the song. For me, it made me feel that I'm not journeying alone.

***the spark--that started the rest of my life***

SIDE STORIES.. I have a lot of them. I found this pic and said YES THIS IS THE PIC! -- that started the spark of my new found life. It changed me and it nudged me of what I wanted my life should be. I don't want to dance alone anymore:) AND IT HAPPENED!

**CANDY WINK by the kids***
(Brea and Jersey--Michelle and Dhayve's daughters-- shot using my camera phone)

I love it when I see this 2 girls. At a young age, they've become friends(they just turned 3). And they love each other and kiss each other. It's just so sweet. I love a friendship like that, innocent and sweet. I still have a few friends who were my friends from the innocent and sweet stage and still is my friend up to now at my SWEET ONLY stage. Hahaha:)

**I love cute stuff:) it makes me kikay like that...**

I keep on buying small cute stuff. I think it's sort of RETAIL THERAPY. Well I noticed my number of "abubut" when I packed my stuff and moved out that I have plenty of them..some were even not used at all.. Well what I did was gave some to my sister Nicole and some to daughters of friends. :) No regrets. It made other people happy and I won't keep myself on my next impulse on buying that cute thingy.

***crossroads of my life! im not afraid to cross them:)***

Let me quote Meredith Grey on this one: "At some point, you have to make a decision. Boundaries don't keep other people out. They fence you in. Life is messy. That's how we're made. So, you can waste your lives drawing lines. Or you can live your life crossing them. But there are some lines... that are way too dangerous to cross.."

***hmmmmusicbytes -=candy=-***

To live is to dance and to dance is to live. Dance to life's tunes. and let the hmmmmusicbytes(this is my original word)

***Clearwater, FL :) --the bridge is quite shaky--***

When we cross bridges in our life and it's a bit shaky, it's not the end of everything. Quakes in our life teaches us to be calm and composed, time for yourself to think of the next great step. Slowly step by step, you'll be able to reach on a solution. Sometimes there's a raft waiting at the end to save us. Doesn't mean that you're done with trying, it's just that your on a better path on surviving:)

***WONT B. USED == may she rest in peace***

OK girls, Wont B. Used already passed away. She's no good role model or example so let's just focus on another model. It's time we learn from great females of our time. Learn more about Dame Mary Warnock. (Research Time!) for starters hehe:) Googling...

***Kick the nasty habit guys! (poof all i see is red)***

Yes I was a smoker and I did quit cold turkey style. It's hard especially during stressful days and you're used to de-stress using a stick. This habit used to comfort me at times I can't get anyone to run to but still it's BAD HABIT. It serves it's purpose when I needed it at the moment but it will slowly kill me. So just like bad relationships that can be addictive, I tossed this just like that:) It taught me something, DETERMINATION. It's almost a year and I'm enjoying the smoke free lifestyle.

*** STRESSTABS! haha***

WORK + FUN = BYE BYE STRESS - trying to stick to this formula. Hehe!

***sunrise that should've been spent together -- but now we're together:)***

There are places and things that we didn't attend to because we have to do something else. One thing I learned about regretting not going to places and events is not to worry if you can't make it at that moment. Sometimes there is a bigger surprise waiting. No hurries, live life day by day.

***candy = an animated storyteller***

People say I'm very animated when telling stories. Sometimes I can make a corny joke sound.. ok not funny but more corny... because I'm like acting along with it. That is just my thing. Watch me when I talk:) haha!

***Friends are our journal keepers!(my gfs unite! rc, kaye, inna and jess)***

My Journal Keepers are the ones that will remind me over and over again during get togethers about my stupidity, mistakes, LOL moments etc. I'm glad I was able to let the girls of my life meet and eventually they've become friends too.

Jessica- gf since Grade6, Kaye and RC- ICT gfs, Michelle- Branders gf

***dare to be crazy!!! (my bodyguards)***

Sometimes, what a group of people need is a good laugh. I did this as a dare when the OMS team went to Enchanted Kingdom for Team Bldg. Katch asked me to pose with 2 security guards in exchange of 2 PTO(Vacation Leave) and I DID IT:)

***YOUTH is not defined by your age:) -- Our hip-Lola, she brought us up with Style:)***

My grandma is 70 years old and she can still pass for someone that look like my mom. She's very conscious about her health. She's into vegan lifestyle, still very much updated in fashion, goes to the gym regularly and still have her complete set of PERMANENT TEETH:) She's an inspiration for me.

***set apart-- i enjoy my quiet time:)***

We need time to set apart and enjoy ourselves. I'm now a believer of the saying -- In order for others to enjoy your company, you have to enjoy your own company. Realize what are your traits that other people raves about and also rants about you. Strengthen the raves and change the rants:)

***ICT ad *dream to be on print ad, billboard and posters* CHECK!***

Another childhood-dream-come-true!

***aspiring photographer and lomographer***

Working on this other dream;)

5 Lessons

Five (5) lessons to make you think about the way we treat people.

1 - First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady.

During my second month of college, our professor
gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student
and had breezed through the questions until I read
the last one:

"What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"
Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the
cleaning woman several times. She was tall,
dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name?

I handed in my paper, leaving the last question
blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if
the last question would count toward our quiz grade.

"Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers,
you will meet many people. All are significant. They
deserve your attention and care, even if all you do
is smile and say "hello."

I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her
name was Dorothy.

2. - Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain

One night, at 11:30 P.M. , an older African American
woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway
trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had
broken down and she desperately needed a ride.
Soaki ng wet, she decided to flag down the next car.
A young white man stopped to help her, generally
unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s. The man
took her to safety, helped her get assistance and
put her into a taxicab.

She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his
address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a
knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a
giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A
special note was attached..

It read:
"Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway
the other night. The rain drenched not only my
clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along.
Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying
husband's bedside just before he passed away... God
bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving
others."

Sincerely,
Mrs. Nat King Cole.

3 - Third Important Lesson - Always remember those
who serve.


In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less,
a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and
sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in
front of him.

"How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked.

"Fifty cents," replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled is hand out of his pocket and
studied the coins in it.

"Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired.

By now more people were waiting for a table and the
waitress was growing impatient.

"Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins.

"I'll have the plain ice cream," he said.

The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on
the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice
cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress
came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the
table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish,
were two nickels and five pennies..

You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had
to have enough left to leave her a tip.

4 - Fourth Important Lesson. - The obstacle in Our Path.

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a
roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if
anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the
king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by
and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the
King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did
anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of
vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the
peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the
stone to the side of the road. After much pushing
and straining, he finally succeeded. After the
peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed
a purse lying in the road where the boulder had
been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note
from the King indicating that the gold was for the
person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The
peasant learned what many of us never understand!

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve
our condition.

5 - Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When it Counts...

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a
hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who
was suffering from a rare & serious disease. Her only
chance of recovery appeared to be a blood
transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had
miraculously survived the same disease and had
developed the antibodies needed to combat the
illness. The doctor explained the situation to her
little brother, and asked the little boy if he would
be willing to give his blood to his sister.

I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a
deep breath and saying, "Yes I'll do it if it will
save her." As the transfusion progressed, he lay in
bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did,
seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his
face grew pale and his smile faded.

He looked up at the doctor and asked with a
trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away".

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the
doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his
sister all of his blood in order to save her.

2 cups of coffee

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee:

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous 'yes'.

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

'Now,' said the professor as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions. And if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.'

'The pebbles are the other things that matter, like your job, your house and your car.'

'The sand is everything else---the small stuff' 'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.

The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.' 'Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with your grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

' Take care of the golf balls first - the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked.' 'The coffee just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'

Got this email from Tita Dina. Indeed true, we always have time to sit down with a friend, sip coffee, relax and de-stress.

There are studies that proves coffee is high of anti-oxidant components or the "free radical scavengers" slowing the ageing and damage of our system. A lot of studies also proves that laughter is also good for the heart and mind. So share that antioxidant dose and forget your worries in life while sharing laughter with a close pal.

I have my own circle of coffee girls;) and I can say that bonding time with them really helps me forget even for a while all my worries for the day. We learn from each other and it's also great to be able to impart life lessons with your girlfriends. I know that they are there for me when I'm facing family, work or any issues in my life. My coffee buddies are tried and tested when it comes to "being there" for me during low times. They enhance whatever I have in my life right now And I love them:) Family(+Micmac) + Friends + Work + Coffee gals = AWESOME LIFE.

Its another story to hear
Its another laugh for two
Its another take a look on the clock
And the magic shared by you

A cup in hand
You know its worth a while
A cup in hand
Let's sit and stay a while
When we deserve the moment
Let's sit
Let's talk
One moment
(from Nescafe Theme)

*hormonal*

I've been on high and lows with my emotions and I'm going crazy. The being emotional part is a side effect of the medication I am taking. The inconsistencies of my mood may be a mix of medication, sugar rush and adaptation to my new lifestyle. Sometimes I just find myself welling into tears when I have this sad feeling that's overpowering, but sometimes it's at no reason at all. Sounds crazy huh? I'm just blessed to have a very understanding partner who never fail to lift me up and also let my bitch fit just pass:)

I can't wait to be at the prime of my health once again. Other than my work issues, MY HEALTH is my topmost priority now. Anyway, I am now in good terms with my mom. Ever since I moved out, I can say we are making progress. Now I have Micmac, Dad, Mom, Lola, Mommy Josie and my doctors helping me recover. They are all God's angels sent to me to help and guide me everyday:)

So if you're my friend or officemate and I threw some bitch fit on you, I'm sorry! I'm just being HORMONAL:)

the GIRL and her BOAT

This is a story about a young girl, who wanted nothing else in the world, but a boat. A small boat, just right for her size, that would take her anywhere she dreams. Her father was a carpenter, and everyday, she would ask him to build her a boat.

The father, protective of her, would always say no. She would cry in secret, unable to understand why her father would deny her one, simple desire. But her father heard it - all the sobbing, all the tears. It hurt him to break her heart, but if she only knew. Her father started building the boat three years ago, even before she asked for it. He knew exactly what she wanted, and he prepared well for it.

Slowly, he built the boat, careful with every piece that went into it. She is much too young to sail on her own, he thought. So he took his time. Then one day, when she least expected it, her father showed her the finished boat. It was exactly what she dreamt of.

She cried a river that day, she was so happy. And her father was well pleased. Then, her journey began. She went to places she only used to visit in her dreams. She enjoyed every moment. She kept sailing away. She went too far away. The waves drifted her farther and farther… She wouldn’t have realized she was in trouble when the storm didn’t come. But it did! And it stirred up the seas, it rocked her boat. She panicked. She was afraid. She didn’t know what to do. She cried out to her father. “Father! I’m sorry. I’m sorry I wandered very far. I planned to come home after one destination but the waves set me adrift. Help me father!” She prepared herself for the worst – the boat will surrender to the waves and she will drown. She closed her eyes, waiting for her doom. But it didn’t come.

The boat made it through the storm. Tears fell from her eyes. Now she realized why it took her father so much time to build it. She made it home. And her father ran to welcome her back. “I never thought I’d make it back home. I was so scared. I never want to go anywhere again.” she said. Her father replied, “But the boat, my child, was built to endure even the greatest storm. And don’t say that you never want to go anywhere anymore. Just don’t go anywhere alone.”

---
Sure, a lot of things rocked my boat. I made mistakes. I sailed on my own.
I wandered far. The storm came, and I was ready to drown.

But then I realized, this boat was made to last.

Then, Jesus calmed the storm.

How could I have forgotten? He was in the boat with me all along.

(Matthew 8:23-27)

Oprah's Opinion about Men

Oprah's Opinion about Men
I know my girlfriends will have fun with this post:)

- If a man wants you, nothing can keep him away.

- If he doesn‘t want you, nothing can make him stay.

- Stop making excuses for a man and his behavior.

- Allow your intuition (or spirit) to save you from heartache.

- Stop trying to change yourself for a relationship that‘s not meant to be.

- Slower is better.

- Never live your life for a man before you find what makes you truly happy.

- If a relationship ends because the man was not treating you as you deserve then heck no, you can‘t "be friends". A friend wouldn‘t mistreat a friend.

- Don‘t settle.

- If you feel like he is stringing you along, then he probably is.

- Don‘t stay because you think "it will get better." You‘ll be mad at yourself a year later for staying when things are not better.

- The only person you can control in a relationship is you.

- Avoid men who‘ve got a bunch of children by a bunch of different women. He didn‘t marry them when he got them pregnant, why would he treat you any differently?

- Always have your own set of friends separate from his.

- Maintain boundaries in how a guy treats you.

- If something bothers you, speak up.

- Never let a man know everything. He will use it against you later.

- You cannot change a man‘s behavior. Change comes from within.

- Don‘t EVER make him feel he is more important than you are... even if he has more education or in a better job.

- Do not make him into a quasi-god. He is a man, nothing more nothing less.

- Never let a man define who you are.

- Never borrow someone else‘s man. If he cheated with you, he‘ll cheat on you.

- A man will only treat you the way you ALLOW him to treat you.

- All men are NOT dogs.

- You should not be the one doing all the bending... compromise is a two way street.

- You need time to heal between relationships... there is nothing cute about baggage... Deal with your issues before pursuing a new relationship.

- You should never look for someone to COMPLETE you... a relationship consists of two WHOLE individuals... look for someone complimentary... not supplementary.

- Dating is fun... even if he doesn‘t turn out to be Mr. Right.

- Make him miss you sometimes... when a man always know where you are, and you‘re always readily available to him - he takes it for granted.

- Never move into his mother‘s house.

- Never co-sign for a man.

- Don‘t fully commit to a man who doesn‘t give you everything that you need.

the great umbilical cord

Ma. Digna *MARIDI* Dilla- Aquino

She is my FIRST great love, FIRST kiss, FIRST best friend, FIRST teacher, FIRST fashion mentor.. and a lot more. Yet she is also my worst critic and enemy.
Of course, SHE IS MY MOTHER.

She may not be a kissing mother but I know that she loves me with all her heart.
Even if we fight a lot, at the end of the day, she's the one I want to talk to and share my daily stories. Whenever I fail, she's also the person I want to hear say "I told you so!"

We are in a "growing pains" stage in our life right now. I'm glad we're now getting to the smooth road. Life won't be the same without my mom.

I love you mom! Sorry for all the pains and disappointments! THANKS FOR EVERYTHING!!! You're life's greatest blessing to me! I love you!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL!:)