Tokens of appreciation
I needed to decide what to give to 3 dear people in my life.
1) My friend in Japan c/o of my sister.
I actually had a pretty good idea what to get for him.
A book which IMHO best describes his colorful life.
THE GLOBAL SOUL by PICO IYER.
The thing is that I bought it in Singapore aeons ago.
I called National Book Store - not available.
Power Books - they had "Abandon" his latest novel.
I was this close to losing it until I chanced upon Fully Booked's website.
Their Greenhills branch had the LAST copy of the book. Phew!
2) An anniversary gift for my parents. (Feb. 5, 2006)
This wasn't easy.
Both my sister and I are stressed out enough to come up with an appropriate gift.
Then earlier while I was waiting in line at SM to pay our tons of bills, I saw the list of concerts for Valentine's Day.
If I was in a comic strip, a little light bulb would flash above my wavy hair. So I texted my sister who was having her manicure at Nail Bar, Edsa Shangri-la Plaza.
"How about concert tickets to Andy William's Valentine show at 8pm at the Araneta Coliseum?"
Great brilliant idea!
So there you go ... Problem solved.
I'm a happy trooper! =)
Monday, January 30, 2006
Fatigue
It is defined as extreme weariness from prolonged exertion or stress.
I'm exhausted!!!
Ever since my sister returned from Davao, the place is in a state of total disarray - scattered press releases, documents yet to be filed, dishes stacked up, dust forming a thin film on furniture, newspapers unread, high pile of laundry.
But, there is no rest for the weary soul.
I have to transcribe 345 tapes for her; run all over town doing errands; hunt the malls for a decent pair of boots, gloves and hats for her trip to Japan (Feb 1-5) - which made me realize there is a dearth of stores selling winter clothes in this country; do my work during the wee hours of the morning when I have access to my computer/monitor; research the internet for website after website and more websites providing tons of information about Japan; print them all out for her perusal - hoping she will be able to absorb everything I've been feeding her multitasking frame of mind and also try to explain to her how to get around Tokyo through its complicated myriad of train lines which ER has patiently and diligently emailed me in complete details.
So yes I'm dead tired.
But.
Thank God for the Internet.
But most of all I'm deeply grateful to a dear friend who has helped me tremendously with my sister's trip. He didn't mind me flooding his inbox with my incessant emails. It is just unfortunate he will be on a business trip during my sister's visit there.
Oh well.
It is defined as extreme weariness from prolonged exertion or stress.
I'm exhausted!!!
Ever since my sister returned from Davao, the place is in a state of total disarray - scattered press releases, documents yet to be filed, dishes stacked up, dust forming a thin film on furniture, newspapers unread, high pile of laundry.
But, there is no rest for the weary soul.
I have to transcribe 345 tapes for her; run all over town doing errands; hunt the malls for a decent pair of boots, gloves and hats for her trip to Japan (Feb 1-5) - which made me realize there is a dearth of stores selling winter clothes in this country; do my work during the wee hours of the morning when I have access to my computer/monitor; research the internet for website after website and more websites providing tons of information about Japan; print them all out for her perusal - hoping she will be able to absorb everything I've been feeding her multitasking frame of mind and also try to explain to her how to get around Tokyo through its complicated myriad of train lines which ER has patiently and diligently emailed me in complete details.
Tokyo can be really overwhelming and since your sis may not have much time, I'm attaching a map of West Shinjuku (the three big kanji on the map), with arrows to point out the two biggest shops for buying electronics and gadgets. That way, she can just swoop through and shop quickly. To get to there from Ebisu, she takes the main Yamanote line train up to Shinjuku (four stops), then exit to the West. The exit will feed onto a below-ground level zone with a zillion people going in all different directions, then a taxi zone, and she should take the stairs up to the west exit about 50m before passing the taxi area. The station is huge and confusing (there are six separate shopping malls inside the complex), but getting out to the West exit is the only hard part.
So yes I'm dead tired.
But.
Thank God for the Internet.
But most of all I'm deeply grateful to a dear friend who has helped me tremendously with my sister's trip. He didn't mind me flooding his inbox with my incessant emails. It is just unfortunate he will be on a business trip during my sister's visit there.
Oh well.
Thursday, January 26, 2006
For your information
DON'T EAT TOO MUCH RICE
The human body was never meant to consume rice! You see, our genes have hardly changed in more than 30,000 years. However, our food choices and lifestyle have changed dramatically. The caveman would hardly recognize our food or way of life.
Caveman food was never cooked as fire was not yet tamed. Thus, he ate only those foods that you can eat without treatment with or by fire. He ate fruits, vegetables, fish (sushi anyone?), eggs, nuts and meat. Yes, even meat. You can even eat meat raw if you were starving in the forest. You have the necessary enzymes to digest meat.
However, rice, like wheat and corn, cannot be eaten raw. It must be cooked. Even if you were starving in the desert, you cannot eat rice in the raw form. This is because we do not have the system of enzymes to break rice down. You were never meant to eat rice. To make matters worse, you not only eat rice, but also make it the bulk of your food.
In some parts of Asia, rice forms up to 85% of the plate. Even if you take rice, keep it to a minimum. Remember, it is only for your tongue - not your body. Actually, rice and other grains like wheat and corn are actually worse than sugar.
There are many reasons:
Rice becomes sugar - lots of it
This is a fact that no nutritionist can deny: rice is chemically no different from sugar. One bowl of cooked rice is the caloric equal of 10 teaspoons of sugar. This does not matter whether it is white, brown or herbal rice. Brown rice is richer in fiber, some B vitamins and minerals but it is still the caloric equal of 10 teaspoons of sugar. To get the same 10 teaspoons of sugar, you need to consume lots of kangkong - 10 bowls of it.
Rice is digested to become sugar.
Rice cannot be digested before it is thoroughly cooked. However, when thoroughly cooked, it becomes sugar and spikes circulating blood sugar within half an hour - almost as quickly as it would if you took a sugar candy.
Rice is very low in the "rainbow of anti-oxidants"
This complete anti-oxidant rainbow is necessary for the effective and safe utilization of sugar. Fruits come with a sugar called fructose. However, they are not empty calories as the fruit is packed with a whole host of other nutrients that help its proper assimilation and digestion.
Rice has no fiber.
The fiber of the kangkong fills you up long before your blood sugar spikes. This is because the fiber bulks and fills up your stomach. Since white rice has no fiber, you end up eating lots of "calorie dense" food before you get filled up.
Brown rice has more fiber but still the same amount of sugar.
Rice is tasteless - Sugar is sweet.
There is only so much that you can eat at one sitting. How many teaspoons of sugar can you eat before you feel like throwing up? Could you imagine eating 10 teaspoons of sugar in one seating?
Rice is always the main part of the meal - While sugar may fill your dessert or sweeten your coffee, it will never be the main part of any meal. You could eat maybe two to three teaspoons of sugar at one meal. However, you could easily eat the equal value of two to three bowls (20 - 30 teaspoons) of sugar in one meal. I am always amused when I see someone eat sometimes five bowls of rice (equals 50 teas poons of sugar)!
There is no real "built in" mechanism for us to prevent overeating of rice.
How much kangkong can you eat? How much fried chicken can you eat? How much steamed fish can you eat? Think about that! In one sitting, you cannot take lots of chicken, fish or cucumber, but you can take lots of rice. Eating rice causes you to eat more salt.
As rice is tasteless, you tend to consume more salt - another villain when it comes to high blood pressure. You tend to take more curry that has salt to help flavor rice. We also tend to consume more ketchup and soy sauce which are also rich in salt.
Eating rice causes you to drink less water.
The more rice you eat, the less water you will drink as there is no mechanism to prevent the overeating of rice. Rice, wheat and corn come hidden in our daily food. As rice is tasteless, it tends to end up in other foods that substitute rice like rice flour, noodles and bread. We tend to eat the hidden forms which still get digested into sugar. Rice, even when cooked, is difficult to digest
Can't eat raw rice? Try eating rice half cooked. Contrary to popular belief, rice is very difficult to digest. It is "heavy stuff". If you have problems with digestion, try skipping rice for a few days. You will be amazed at how the problem will just go away.
Rice prevents the absorption of several vitamins and minerals. Rice when taken in bulk will reduce the absorption of vital nutrients like zinc, iron and the B vitamins.
Are you a rice addict? Going rice-less may not be easy but you can go rice-less. Eating less rice could be lot easier than you think.
Here are some strategies that you can pursue in your quest to eat less rice:
Eat less rice - Cut your rice by half. Barry Sears, author of the Zone Diet, advises "eating rice like spice".
Instead, increase your fruits and vegetables.
Take more lean meats and fish.
You can even take more eggs and nuts.
Have "riceless" meals. Take no rice or wheat at say, breakfast. Go for eggs instead.
Go on "riceless" days - Go "western" once a week.
Take no rice and breads for one day every week. That can't be too difficult.
Appreciate the richness of your food. Go for taste, colors and smells . Make eating a culinary delight. Enjoy your food in the original flavors.
Avoid the salt shaker or ketchup. You will automatically eat less rice.
Eat your fruit dessert before your meals.
The fiber rich fruits will "bulk up" in your stomach. Thus, you will eat less rice and more fruits.
DON'T EAT TOO MUCH RICE
The human body was never meant to consume rice! You see, our genes have hardly changed in more than 30,000 years. However, our food choices and lifestyle have changed dramatically. The caveman would hardly recognize our food or way of life.
Caveman food was never cooked as fire was not yet tamed. Thus, he ate only those foods that you can eat without treatment with or by fire. He ate fruits, vegetables, fish (sushi anyone?), eggs, nuts and meat. Yes, even meat. You can even eat meat raw if you were starving in the forest. You have the necessary enzymes to digest meat.
However, rice, like wheat and corn, cannot be eaten raw. It must be cooked. Even if you were starving in the desert, you cannot eat rice in the raw form. This is because we do not have the system of enzymes to break rice down. You were never meant to eat rice. To make matters worse, you not only eat rice, but also make it the bulk of your food.
In some parts of Asia, rice forms up to 85% of the plate. Even if you take rice, keep it to a minimum. Remember, it is only for your tongue - not your body. Actually, rice and other grains like wheat and corn are actually worse than sugar.
There are many reasons:
Rice becomes sugar - lots of it
This is a fact that no nutritionist can deny: rice is chemically no different from sugar. One bowl of cooked rice is the caloric equal of 10 teaspoons of sugar. This does not matter whether it is white, brown or herbal rice. Brown rice is richer in fiber, some B vitamins and minerals but it is still the caloric equal of 10 teaspoons of sugar. To get the same 10 teaspoons of sugar, you need to consume lots of kangkong - 10 bowls of it.
Rice is digested to become sugar.
Rice cannot be digested before it is thoroughly cooked. However, when thoroughly cooked, it becomes sugar and spikes circulating blood sugar within half an hour - almost as quickly as it would if you took a sugar candy.
Rice is very low in the "rainbow of anti-oxidants"
This complete anti-oxidant rainbow is necessary for the effective and safe utilization of sugar. Fruits come with a sugar called fructose. However, they are not empty calories as the fruit is packed with a whole host of other nutrients that help its proper assimilation and digestion.
Rice has no fiber.
The fiber of the kangkong fills you up long before your blood sugar spikes. This is because the fiber bulks and fills up your stomach. Since white rice has no fiber, you end up eating lots of "calorie dense" food before you get filled up.
Brown rice has more fiber but still the same amount of sugar.
Rice is tasteless - Sugar is sweet.
There is only so much that you can eat at one sitting. How many teaspoons of sugar can you eat before you feel like throwing up? Could you imagine eating 10 teaspoons of sugar in one seating?
Rice is always the main part of the meal - While sugar may fill your dessert or sweeten your coffee, it will never be the main part of any meal. You could eat maybe two to three teaspoons of sugar at one meal. However, you could easily eat the equal value of two to three bowls (20 - 30 teaspoons) of sugar in one meal. I am always amused when I see someone eat sometimes five bowls of rice (equals 50 teas poons of sugar)!
There is no real "built in" mechanism for us to prevent overeating of rice.
How much kangkong can you eat? How much fried chicken can you eat? How much steamed fish can you eat? Think about that! In one sitting, you cannot take lots of chicken, fish or cucumber, but you can take lots of rice. Eating rice causes you to eat more salt.
As rice is tasteless, you tend to consume more salt - another villain when it comes to high blood pressure. You tend to take more curry that has salt to help flavor rice. We also tend to consume more ketchup and soy sauce which are also rich in salt.
Eating rice causes you to drink less water.
The more rice you eat, the less water you will drink as there is no mechanism to prevent the overeating of rice. Rice, wheat and corn come hidden in our daily food. As rice is tasteless, it tends to end up in other foods that substitute rice like rice flour, noodles and bread. We tend to eat the hidden forms which still get digested into sugar. Rice, even when cooked, is difficult to digest
Can't eat raw rice? Try eating rice half cooked. Contrary to popular belief, rice is very difficult to digest. It is "heavy stuff". If you have problems with digestion, try skipping rice for a few days. You will be amazed at how the problem will just go away.
Rice prevents the absorption of several vitamins and minerals. Rice when taken in bulk will reduce the absorption of vital nutrients like zinc, iron and the B vitamins.
Are you a rice addict? Going rice-less may not be easy but you can go rice-less. Eating less rice could be lot easier than you think.
Here are some strategies that you can pursue in your quest to eat less rice:
Eat less rice - Cut your rice by half. Barry Sears, author of the Zone Diet, advises "eating rice like spice".
Instead, increase your fruits and vegetables.
Take more lean meats and fish.
You can even take more eggs and nuts.
Have "riceless" meals. Take no rice or wheat at say, breakfast. Go for eggs instead.
Go on "riceless" days - Go "western" once a week.
Take no rice and breads for one day every week. That can't be too difficult.
Appreciate the richness of your food. Go for taste, colors and smells . Make eating a culinary delight. Enjoy your food in the original flavors.
Avoid the salt shaker or ketchup. You will automatically eat less rice.
Eat your fruit dessert before your meals.
The fiber rich fruits will "bulk up" in your stomach. Thus, you will eat less rice and more fruits.
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Double Yay!
1. Manny Pacquiao wins his rematch fight against Erik Morales!!! Woohoo way to go!!!
2. My sister is back from Davao!
I can stop talking to myself now! Hehehe
1. Manny Pacquiao wins his rematch fight against Erik Morales!!! Woohoo way to go!!!
2. My sister is back from Davao!
I can stop talking to myself now! Hehehe
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Quotable quote
"We're all faced throughout our lives with agonizing decisions, moral choices. Some are on a grand scale, most of these choices are on lesser points. But we define ourselves by the choices we have made. We are, in fact, the sum total of our choices. Events unfold so unpredictably, so unfairly, human happiness does not seem to be included in the design of creation. It is only we, with our capacity to love that give meaning to the indifferent universe. And yet, most human beings seem to have the ability to keep trying and even try to find joy from simple things, like their family, their work, and from the hope that future generations might understand more."
Quite accurate isn't it? So who uttered this line?
Was he, a philosopher? No!
A famous author? Nope!
A world leader? Wrong, again!
It was delivered by a philosophy professor in a Woody Allen movie, Crimes and Misdemeanors.
I love his brilliantly witty mind. =)
"We're all faced throughout our lives with agonizing decisions, moral choices. Some are on a grand scale, most of these choices are on lesser points. But we define ourselves by the choices we have made. We are, in fact, the sum total of our choices. Events unfold so unpredictably, so unfairly, human happiness does not seem to be included in the design of creation. It is only we, with our capacity to love that give meaning to the indifferent universe. And yet, most human beings seem to have the ability to keep trying and even try to find joy from simple things, like their family, their work, and from the hope that future generations might understand more."
Quite accurate isn't it? So who uttered this line?
Was he, a philosopher? No!
A famous author? Nope!
A world leader? Wrong, again!
It was delivered by a philosophy professor in a Woody Allen movie, Crimes and Misdemeanors.
I love his brilliantly witty mind. =)
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Enrich your mind
A brain teaser:
A magician was boasting one day at how long he could hold his breath under water. His record was 6 minutes. A kid that was listening said, "that's nothing, I can stay under water for 10 minutes using no types of equipment or air pockets!"
The magician told the kid if he could do that, he'd give him $10,000. The kid did it and won the money.
Can you figure out how?
If these sort of stuff piques your interest, then by all means check out this website. It is loaded with brain teasers, online games as well as other great stuff to tickle your mind.
I do have to warn you ... it can be quite addictive.
Oh by the way, the answer to the above teaser:
The kid filled a glass of water and held it over his head for 10 minutes.
A brain teaser:
A magician was boasting one day at how long he could hold his breath under water. His record was 6 minutes. A kid that was listening said, "that's nothing, I can stay under water for 10 minutes using no types of equipment or air pockets!"
The magician told the kid if he could do that, he'd give him $10,000. The kid did it and won the money.
Can you figure out how?
If these sort of stuff piques your interest, then by all means check out this website. It is loaded with brain teasers, online games as well as other great stuff to tickle your mind.
I do have to warn you ... it can be quite addictive.
Oh by the way, the answer to the above teaser:
The kid filled a glass of water and held it over his head for 10 minutes.
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Boredom
I'm all alone, my sister is in Davao for the ASEAN TOURISM FORUM. Nothing blog worthy to post so I decided to just take pictures using my cellphone camera to amuse myself.
This is WOOLITE, the little lamb magnet/stuff toy that clings around the leather pouch of my new cellphone. Cute no?
This is my new brown tee which I bought in Tiendesitas. That is all I wear nowadays ... jeans and t-shirts.
While this red number is a t-shirt I re-discovered in my pile of woolen clothes. They are all still stashed in boxes over at my parents' place. We went there last weekend to sort out woolen items my sister can wear when she travels to Tokyo, Japan next month for a week. It made me really nostalgic because the last time I wore thick woolen clothes was way back in March 2001. My sister and I traveled extensively through out Europe. Armed with nothing but a Samsonite luggage (Ok so 3 not just one), our passports and a Eurail pass. Ah the good old days! =)
I'm all alone, my sister is in Davao for the ASEAN TOURISM FORUM. Nothing blog worthy to post so I decided to just take pictures using my cellphone camera to amuse myself.
This is WOOLITE, the little lamb magnet/stuff toy that clings around the leather pouch of my new cellphone. Cute no?
This is my new brown tee which I bought in Tiendesitas. That is all I wear nowadays ... jeans and t-shirts. 
While this red number is a t-shirt I re-discovered in my pile of woolen clothes. They are all still stashed in boxes over at my parents' place. We went there last weekend to sort out woolen items my sister can wear when she travels to Tokyo, Japan next month for a week. It made me really nostalgic because the last time I wore thick woolen clothes was way back in March 2001. My sister and I traveled extensively through out Europe. Armed with nothing but a Samsonite luggage (Ok so 3 not just one), our passports and a Eurail pass. Ah the good old days! =)
Thursday, January 12, 2006
What dreams may come
Last night I had the strangest dream.
I was all alone in a spacious house with a sprawling swimming pool. I was swimming and frolicking in the chlorine filled water when suddenly my cellphone rings. So I get out of the pool to answer the call. It was some guy who claimed he saw my profile on Friendster and thought he introduce himself. When I asked him how on earth did he get my cellphone number. He hanged up on me.
Then I woke up.
It was weird because
1) I don't know how to swim.
2) His voice sounded just like Iyad (my ex).
3) I could still taste the chlorine in my mouth when I woke up from my slumber.
Now that's freaky!
Last night I had the strangest dream.
I was all alone in a spacious house with a sprawling swimming pool. I was swimming and frolicking in the chlorine filled water when suddenly my cellphone rings. So I get out of the pool to answer the call. It was some guy who claimed he saw my profile on Friendster and thought he introduce himself. When I asked him how on earth did he get my cellphone number. He hanged up on me.
Then I woke up.
It was weird because
1) I don't know how to swim.
2) His voice sounded just like Iyad (my ex).
3) I could still taste the chlorine in my mouth when I woke up from my slumber.
Now that's freaky!
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
My current book for the month
Title - "The Eighth Day"
Author - John Case
Synopsis - A wealthy lawyer, Jude Belzer, hires part time private investigator Danny Cray for a little damage control. Danny's client, an elusive billionaire, is the target of a vicious campaign in the Italian press that threatens to destroy his reputation. Belzer wants Danny to find out who is responsible - and he will pay handsomely. But the more Danny probes, the more apparent it is becomes that nothing is what it seems. From the powerful world of Washington, D.C., to the ancient grandeur of Rome, from the mysteries of Istanbul to the high stakes drama of Silicon Valley.
Title - "The Eighth Day"
Author - John Case
Synopsis - A wealthy lawyer, Jude Belzer, hires part time private investigator Danny Cray for a little damage control. Danny's client, an elusive billionaire, is the target of a vicious campaign in the Italian press that threatens to destroy his reputation. Belzer wants Danny to find out who is responsible - and he will pay handsomely. But the more Danny probes, the more apparent it is becomes that nothing is what it seems. From the powerful world of Washington, D.C., to the ancient grandeur of Rome, from the mysteries of Istanbul to the high stakes drama of Silicon Valley.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Nothing like sarcasm to get my new year kicking off to a good start
From my Inbox
As I've Matured ...
I've learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is stalk them and hope they panic and give in.
I've learned that one good turn gets most of the blankets.
I've learned that no matter how much I care, some people are just jackasses.
I've learned that it takes years to build up trust, and it only takes suspicion, not proof, to destroy it.
I've learned that whatever hits the fan will not be evenly distributed.
I've learned that you shouldn't compare yourself to others - they are more screwed up than you think.
I've learned that depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.
I've learned that it is not what you wear; it is how you take it off.
I've learned that you can keep vomiting long after you think you're finished.
I've learned to not sweat the petty things, and not pet the sweaty things.
I've learned that ex's are like fungus, and keep coming back.
I've learned age is a very high price to pay for maturity.
I've learned that I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy it.
I've learned that we are responsible for what we do, unless we are celebrities.
I've learned that artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.
I've learned that 99% of the time when something isn't working in your house, one of your kids did it
I've learned that there is a fine line between genius and insanity.
I've learned that the people you care most about in life are taken from you too soon and all the less important ones just never go away. And the real pains in the ass are permanent.
From my Inbox
As I've Matured ...
I've learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is stalk them and hope they panic and give in.
I've learned that one good turn gets most of the blankets.
I've learned that no matter how much I care, some people are just jackasses.
I've learned that it takes years to build up trust, and it only takes suspicion, not proof, to destroy it.
I've learned that whatever hits the fan will not be evenly distributed.
I've learned that you shouldn't compare yourself to others - they are more screwed up than you think.
I've learned that depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.
I've learned that it is not what you wear; it is how you take it off.
I've learned that you can keep vomiting long after you think you're finished.
I've learned to not sweat the petty things, and not pet the sweaty things.
I've learned that ex's are like fungus, and keep coming back.
I've learned age is a very high price to pay for maturity.
I've learned that I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy it.
I've learned that we are responsible for what we do, unless we are celebrities.
I've learned that artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.
I've learned that 99% of the time when something isn't working in your house, one of your kids did it
I've learned that there is a fine line between genius and insanity.
I've learned that the people you care most about in life are taken from you too soon and all the less important ones just never go away. And the real pains in the ass are permanent.
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