Cradlesong

I grew up in a family that consists mostly of boys who love music like the ones from Nirvana, Third Eye Blind, Silverchair, Matchbox Twenty, Green Day, Semisonic, Oasis, Blink 182, Sum 41 and other bands and singers of the same genre. Growing up listening to them made my ears accustomed to their voices, their rhythmn... everything about their music that even until now, I still find myself not getting enough of them.

And now I'm kinda crazy about Rob Thomas' latest album titled Cradlesong. The lead singer of the Matchbox Twenty is also performing as solo artist and Cradlesong is actually his 2nd solo album. The album, released last June 30 has 14 tracks and has six bonus tracks. The album's first single, "Her Diamonds" (my favorite among the 20 tracks in the album) is about his wife and her struggle with the autoimmune disorder similar to lupus erythematosus.

The album with a pop rock feel debuted on the Billboard 200 selling 122,000 copies.

Tracklist
Her Diamonds
Gasoline
Give Me the Meltdown
Someday
Mockingbird
Real World '09
Fire on the Mountain
Hard On You
Still Ain't Over You
Natural
Snowblind
Wonderful
Cradlesong
Getting Late

Bonus tracks
Little Wonders - OST of Disney's animated feature Meet the Robinsons
Sleep Till the War Is Over
Believe
Years From Now
Remembered Well
Overrun

As usual, Rob Thomas did a great job on this album and like his first album and other Matchbox Twenty albums, I'll keep on enjoying every beat, every word they instill on their songs.

(Listening to the album while posting this.)

Annoyed... Again!

After a few hours (ok almost the whole afternoon) of kilig moments digging Rob Thomas' music, I am again facing the same predicament I faced yesterday - feeling annoyed to anybody or anything I ran into such as...

• My underage cousin who I think should learn to become responsible of her actions. She is so dependent on almost everybody that sometimes I want to strangle her along with her cellphone (She keeps on texting even if you're talking at her).
• My high school friend who seemingly wants me to feel that I MUST text him always. Yeah it's good to keep in touch with each other through text but... text him everyday and talk nonsense? Nonsense for me because I think he is not one of the persons who can keep me interested in the conversation no matter how hard I try to make it fun and interesting by adding some jokes.. His serious, so proper and almost nice guy approach is giving me headaches. Maybe I'm just used and too comfortable with rambunctious guys having grown up together with my brother and cousins who are all boys.
• This little thing called stupidity. My brother have been texting me to open the gate but wasn't able to read his message because I'm trying not to get near my phone to avoid text messages of the above persons (my cousin and friend). Fortunately, he managed to get in (I don't know how) and didn't complain about me not opening the gate. But I feel guilty...

I know some do not believe that these things are something to be annoyed at but well... this is me. I do have mood swings at times and noted as the "one with crooked and almost nonsense reasoning". My hormones made me see some things annoying though in fact they have nothing to do with me.

A Father's Day Prayer

Let us praise those fathers who have striven to balance the demands of work, marriage, and children with an honest awareness of both joy and sacrifice. Let us praise those fathers who, lacking a good model for a father, have worked to become a good father.

Let us praise those fathers who by their own account were not always there for their children, but who continue to offer those children, now grown, their love and support. Let us pray for those fathers who have been wounded by the neglect and hostility of their children.

Let us praise those fathers who, despite divorce, have remained in their children's lives. Let us praise those fathers whose children are adopted, and whose love and support has offered healing.

Let us praise those fathers who, as stepfathers, freely choose the obligation of fatherhood and earned their step children's love and respect. Let us praise those fathers who have lost a child to death, and continue to hold the child in their heart.

Let us praise those men who have no children, but cherish the next generation as if they were their own.

Let us praise those men who have "fathered" us in their role as mentors and guides.

Let us praise those men who are about to become fathers; may they openly delight in their children.

And let us praise those fathers who have died, but live on in our memory and whose love continues to nurture us.

- Kirk Loadman

(I came across this while browsing the net for some info I need for my squidoo lens about fathers. I decided to post it here in time for Father’s Day.)

Traffic!

Last week, I was bothered by the sudden drop of traffic on one of the sites I handle. From rank one (google) on a certain keyword to rank 135 and rank 179 later. Darn! I worked long and hard to get to that spot only to lose it overnight.

And then just this evening, traffic ruined my day. I was stuck amidst noise, smoke, vehicles and other passengers for almost one hour. Vehicles are moving so slow that it took me almost one hour to reach the place which can be normally reached within 10 to 15 minutes. Grrrr! The delay made me want to get out of the jeepney and run until I reach my destination but didn't do so because it is quite far for me to run. And besides, my outfit is not appropriate for running so that would certainly embarrass me. Good thing I do have french fries to munch on... I was able to keep my sanity.

End of rant!

Thanks to you...

My last blog post before this was almost a month ago. Haven't had time to blog since the first of May kicks off. Just want to thank my good friend (take note: good friend!) John Ross for editing my blog layout (additional sidebar). It is always a blessing having him around (college projects and exams, great books, foods, movies, books and more books... ).

Hopefully, I'll never get a strike on the nape when he sees this. :P

Sandbar at Nasidman

Last Saturday, we endured the approximately two-hour travel just to reach the wonderful Nasidman, an island located at Ajuy, Province of Iloilo. From Tagbak Terminal Jaro, Iloilo City, we rode a bus to Brgy. Barrido, Ajuy. Bus fare is supposedly Php 95 but we are lucky enough to be mistaken as students thus we paid only Php 75 (HPQ Transit conductors do not ask for student IDs... :D). We reached Nasidman Island through a ten-minute boat ride from Brgy. Barrido. Boat fare is Php 10.

While on our way there, I was expecting typical beach setting - lots of cottages with lots of people. I was wrong! In fact, when we arrived there, we are the only visitors or should I say tourist in the place. Many people have not explored (and abused) the island yet. The crystal-clear water is so tempting that I almost want to submerge into it the moment we arrived there.

Here are some photos of the place...

Approaching the island

The sandbar almost disappeared during high tide

Clear water

Sandbar during low tide
More photos...

Win Manduka eKO Lite Natural Rubber Yoga Mat

Invite a friend to join the United Yogis community, and you could be the next proud owner of a Manduka eKO Lite natural rubber yoga mat.

The person who sends the MOST INVITES will win the GRAND PRIZE of a Manduka eKO Lite natural rubber yoga mat.

As a bonus, each invite will also get you an entry in our RANDOM DRAW. The more invites you send, the higher your chances of winning RANDOM DRAW PRIZES like

Manduka eQua TowelONYA reusable bag
or Klean Kanteen water bottle

See how this contest works

Me and My Dog

Me and My Dog is the name of my newest blog, obviously, about dogs. The content of this blog isn't just about me and my dog alone. It covers anything with regards to dogs - care, training and amazing dog stories.

This is a no-expert's attempt to unravel secrets hidden behind the so-called man's best friend.

Daddy's Rules for Dating

One of my tasks in the office is involved with the tech support center of my client's website. I sort customer emails (called tickets) - remove spam, categorize the tickets and reply to tickets under the technical problem and customer service categories. While doing the task this morning, I saw one email with "Daddy's Rules for Dating" as the subject. I should have deleted it at once knowing that the subject alone is not in any way related to my client's website. But out of curiosity, I opened it and spend a good number of minutes reading the content before hitting the "mark as spam" button. I'm quite amused with the mail and thought of posting it here. So here it is...

• Rule One
  If you pull into my driveway and honk you'd better be delivering a package, because you're sure not picking anything up.


• Rule Two
  You do not touch my daughter in front of me. You may glance at her so long as you do not peer at anything below her neck. If you cannot keep your eyes or hands off of my daughter's body, I will remove them.


• Rule Three
  I am aware that it is considered fashionable for boys of your age to wear their trousers so loosely that they appear to be falling off their hips. Please don't take this as an insult, but you and all of your friends are complete idiots. Still, I want to be fair and open minded about this issue, so I propose this compromise: You may come to the door with your underwear showing and your pants ten sizes too big, and I will not object. However, in order to ensure that your clothes do not, in fact come off during the course of your date with my daughter, I will take my electric nail gun and fasten your trousers securely in place to your waist.


• Rule Four
  I'm sure you've been told that in today's world sex without utilizing a 'Barrier method' of some kind can kill you. Let me elaborate, when it comes to sex, I am the barrier, and I will kill you.


• Rule Five
  It is usually understood that in order for us to get to know each other, we should talk about sports, politics, and other issues of the day. Please do not do this.. The only information I require from you is an indication of when you expect to have my daughter safely back at my house, and the only word I need from you on this subject is: 'early.'


• Rule Six
  I have no doubt you are a popular fellow, with many opportunities to date other girls. This is fine with me as long as it is okay with my daughter. Otherwise, once you have gone out with my little girl, you will continue to date no one but her until she is finished with you. If you make her cry, I will make you cry.


• Rule Seven
  As you stand in my front hallway, waiting for my daughter to appear, and more than an hour goes by, do not sigh and fidget. If you want to be on time for the movie, you should not be dating. My daughter is putting on her makeup, a process than can take longer than painting the Sydney Harbor Bridge. Instead of just standing there, why don't you do something useful, like changing the oil in my car?


• Rule Eight
  The following places are not appropriate for a date with my daughter: Places where there are beds, sofas, or anything softer than a wooden stool, places where there is darkness, places where there is dancing, holding hands, or happiness. Places where the ambient temperature is warm enough to induce my daughter to wear shorts, tank tops, midriff T-shirts, or anything other than overalls, a sweater, and a goose down parka - zipped up to her throat. Movies with strong romantic or sexual themes are to be avoided; movies that feature chain saws are okay. Cricket games are okay...Old folks homes are better.


• Rule Nine
  Do not lie to me. I may appear to be a potbellied, balding, middle-aged, dim-witted has-been. But on issues relating to my daughter, I am the all-knowing, merciless god of your universe. If I ask you where you are going and with whom, you have one chance to tell me the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.. I have a shotgun, a shovel, and five acres behind the house. Do not trifle with me.


• Rule Ten
  Be afraid. Be very afraid. It takes very little for me to mistake the sound of your car in the driveway for a chopper coming in over a rice paddy near Hanoi. When my Agent Orange starts acting up, the voices in my head frequently tell me to clean the guns as I wait for you to bring my daughter home. As soon as you pull into the driveway you should exit the car with both hands in plain sight. Speak the perimeter password, announce in a clear voice that you have brought my daughter home safely and early then return to your car - there is no need for you to come inside. The camouflaged face at the window is mine.

There you have it guys. If your girl's dad has rules like the ones mentioned above, you shouldn’t be naughty or else you’ll be sorry.

Greenery

I love colors! I love being in a colorful environment. It made me appreciate the beauty of life. But among these colors, my most favorite is the color GREEN. The sight of anything green makes me feel refreshed and relaxed. That explains why I am loving the rice field and the sight of the green lawn after days of heavy rain.

With this, I made a little research about the color green.

In biology...
Green symbolizes life, growth, renewal, health and environment.

In Western Culture...
Green symbolizes life, fertility and rebirth. In Ancient Egypt, it symbolizes resurrection and immortality. The color is also known to signify witchcraft, devilry and evil. Green is also associated with decay, toxicity as well as misfortune and death.

In Eastern Culture...
Some Asian cultures use green to symbolize sickness and/or nausea however, in China, green is associated with the east, with sunrise and with life and growth.

In Politics...
Green politics is a political ideology which places a high importance on ecological and environmental goals as well as feminist, peace movements, civil liberties, social justice and nonviolence.

Mental and physical effects of the color green:

• improve reading ability
• helps reduce depression, nervousness and anxiety because of its calming effect
• good health (eating green leafy vegetables)
• stimulates the mind
• good memory
  

So if you're having a bad day and you feel like you need to change your life, your perspective and you need to deal with fear and anxiety, just turn to anything green- wear a green shirt, change your curtains to green or if you like, you can paint your bedroom wall with green.

Now I know why I'm always drawn to the bright side of life, why I can overcome depression and anxiety without much trouble. I have lots of green stuff - bangles, headbands, handkerchiefs, bags and pouches, slippers, shirts, my umbrella and even the curtains inside my room.