FF on a bright Saturday AM
Appetizer
Did you sleep good last night?
Oh yes I did, I promptly fell asleep the minute my head hit the pillow. Now that is a very rare occasion. I even had a pleasant dream which explains my smile this morning. Too bad it was merely a reverie.

Soup
What is your current computer desktop image?



Desert Flowers on the east side of the Carrizo plain, in the Temblor Range (about 50 miles due west of Bakersfield, California)

Salad
When was the last time you planted something, what was it and where did it go?
If I remember correctly it was some time in April or was it May? Several flowery shrubs at my parents' humble abode right below the front window. They are now in full bloom.

Main Course
What's your favorite condiment?
Mayonnaise

Dessert
Share a quote that you like, for whatever reason.
"At times, life never seems to be the way we want it, but we live it the best way we can. There's no perfect life but we can fill it with perfect moments."

"This is how you remind me of what I really am"
All those rock songs on Rockstar: INXS is rubbing off on me, in a good way!
My windows media player is blaring with:
Suzie McNeil - Losing My Religion
Nirvana - Lithium
JD Fortune - California Dreamin
Creed - With Arms Wide Open
Nickleback - Remind Me
Bo Bice - Vehicle
Doobie Brothers - Long Train Running
Tonic - If You Could Only See
Ashlee Simpson - Pieces of Me
Liz Phair - Why Can't I?
Joss Stone - You had Me

It puts me in an upbeat mood.
It motivates me to strive on.
To work faster 'cause I have 3 more assignments to go.
I want to get them done by this weekend.
So I'll be free for the rest of the month.

I like it L-O-U-D.
As in my heart is pounding fast ... L-O-U-D.
As in the speakers are blasting ... L-O-U-D.
As in missing your stop coz the jeepney driver didn't hear you shout "Para" ... L-O-U-D.

I'm so happy 'cause today
I've found my friends ...
They're in my head
I'm so ugly, but that's okay, 'cause so are you ...
We broke our mirrors!
Sunday morning is everyday for all I care ...
And I'm not scared
Light my candles, in a daze
'Cause I've found GOD
Hey, hey hey

Yes it was very loud indeed!
I didn't hear the doorbell when the DHL guy came to deliver a package, this afternoon.
I didn't hear the cordless phone ring.
I was totally absorbed with my work.

Life is bigger
It's bigger than you
And you are not me
The lengths that I will go to
The distance in your eyes
Oh no I've said too much
I set it up
That's me in the corner
That's me in the spotlight
Losing my Religion
Trying to keep up with you
And I don't know if I can do it
Oh no I've said too much
I haven't said enough
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try

But alright, yes, ok I will tone it down a bit now. After all, it is already 3:30 AM! Teehee =)

Blah
I liked my old template but it looked strange when the background picture won't load properly. So voila I had to scout for a new one, right away. I need to tinker with it more but I got tons of assignments I need to deal with first. For now, this will do! =)

"Travel becomes a strategy for accumulating photographs" Susan Sontag
This site features really beautiful images of landscapes, I've ever seen. All of them taken by Erik Gauger who narrates about his numerous trips around the world.


Curious Lake of Baja Norte Mountains


The Loneliest Road


Bombay Beach, California




You might also want to read this article in this week's Time Magazine about interesting travel guides online.

Book Meme c/o Toni
Number of books on the shelves:
Over 100 scattered in shelves in my room, my sister's room, the hallway while the rest are at my parents' house.

Those that I own/ bought:
Too many to count!

5 last books that I bought:
1. The Exile - Allan Folsom
2. The Body Artist - Don Delillo
3. Veronika Decides to Die - Paul Coelho
4. The DaVinci Code - Dan Brown
5. Angels & Demons -Dan Brown

Book/s I'm reading now:
I can't make up my mind which one to delve into.
My choices are either this, this one or this book.

Last 5 books read:
1. The Exile - Allan Folsom
2. Have a Nice Day - Dennis Bloodworth
3. The Global Soul - Pico Iyer
4. The Runner - Christopher Reich
5. The Brotherhood of the Rose - David Morrell

Books I'll cherish:
1. The Global Soul - Pico Iyer's amusing anecdote of people who continually search for a place to call 'Home'.
2. Home Leave - Libby Purves who coined the term 'Diplobrat'.
3. Almost Heaven - Marianne Wiggins Hauntingly beautiful love story.
4. A Cup of Comfort for Women - Short inspirational stories.
5. Webster Dictionary - When I was reading "Have a Nice Day", it was peppered with words which drew a complete blank. It came in handy to have a dixtio right there on my bed's panel. Instead of getting out of bed to access this site, online which believe me I did a lot in the distant past. Then totally get engrossed online and forget about the book! =)

"7" on August 7
Seven things that scare me:
1. Cockroaches
2. Failing health of my loved ones
3. Death
4. Clowns
5. Ghosts
6. Mascots
7. Horror movies

Seven things I like the most:
1. Chocolate ice cream
2. Books
3. Watching movies
4. Traveling
5. My family
6. Scented candles
7. Listening to music/songs

Seven things important in my room:
1. My computer
2. The fax machine
3. A Canon printer
4. Book shelf
5. The scented candles
6. My bed
7. Straightening iron for my hair

Seven random facts about me:
1. I don't like eating in dark or dimly lit restaurants.
2. I eat popcorn only before the movie begins, I stop eating to focus attentively to the film.
3. I have a US $ bank account.
4. I have awful penmanship.
5. I like bright red nail polish for my toes.
6. I am a soup person.
7. I like my picture in my current passport.

Seven things I plan to do before I die:
(a tough one because I don't really plan that far ahead)
1. Soak in a jacuzzi.
2. Go to New York City for my 40th birthday.
3. Ride a hot air balloon.
4. Visit Portugal
5. Explore Australia
6. Cruise along the Pyramids
7. Frolic in Spain

Seven things I can do:
1. Speak French (Ok I stutter nowadays but still)
2. Listen when you need someone to talk to
3. Be really patient
4. Sing in the shower not at karaoke bars
5. Sleep all day because I can and I want to
6. Write really long emails
7. Sit in a lotus position while working in front of my computer

Seven things I can't do:
1. Swim
2. Drive
3. Bike
4. Eat ampalaya, papaya and balut
5. Open my eyes underwater
6. Go shopping for shoes because they don't have my size
7. Speak Japanese

Seven things I say the most:
1. Gosh
2. Really?
3. Owwws?
4. What tah?
5. Merde
6. Wtf
7. Whatever

Seven things that attract me to the opposite sex
1. Honesty
2. Wit
3. Sense of Humor
4. Intelligence
5. Good conversationalist
6. Kind hearted
7. Passionate

Seven Celebrity crushes:
1. John Vause
2. Edward Burns
3. Josh Holloway
4. Jon Stewart
5. Rob Thomas
6. Dave Navarro
7. Johnny Depp

Take it easy!
Whew so that was pretty brutal. Complete bed rest did the trick, I feel so much better now. =)

So far:
1) I've finished reading "THE EXILE" (fascinating!)
2) I have done 2 out of 8 assignments for this month.
3) I emailed ER about potential date with M.
His advice => 'Go for it'

I have to:
1) Finish the rest of the assignments/projects.
2) Buy a gift for my father's birthday. (August 22)
3) Buy a gift for a friend's son who celebrates his first birthday (August 20) I can't believe it has been one year!
4) Set my derma appointment. My skin suffered a lot.
5) Go for a hair protein treatment.
6) Find time to read 2 books. Which one to read first?
Gore Vidal's Washington D.C or Irving Stone's The Agony and the Ecstasy.
7) Pay the bills.
8) Diet so I don't look like a beached whale.
9) See AT LEAST one foreign movie from CineManila.
10) Set the rendezvous with M. I haven't even asked for his cellphone number, yet! Yes, call me a prude but I usually wait for them to give me their numbers. I'm getting older with every minute ticking by so I reckon I need to make the first move, right?

It seems the list is endless. Whenever I get weary of my routine, I simply peek out the window. The view which greets me every single, precious day makes me smile as I chant: Take It easy, take it easy
Don't let the sound of your own
wheels drive you crazy
Lighten up while you still can
don't even try to understand
Just find a place to make your stand
and take it easy

Doozy
As much as possible I try to resist the urge to turn into a pill popping babe. But when I felt like pulling every single strand of my wavy hair out due to a terrible toothache, I surrendered.

Monday - I was totally drugged with pain killers to numb the ache.
Yesterday - I woke up, toothache was gone BUT menstrual cramps took over. The first time in ages, I was actually happy 'it' finally decided to show up after quite a delay. Phew what a relief. Je suis pas enceinte, quel bonheur!!!

So popping 500 mgs of Ponstan continues.
I'm heavily medicated and I look like something the cat dragged in so I think it is wise I just lie down and get lost in a sordid tale about the re-installation of a Russian Tsar in "The Exile".

Never mind that ...

I have a Monday deadline (I'm a last minute kinda gal when it comes to my work, anyway)

Johnny Depp with his weird costumes and funny one liners is waiting for me to feast my eyes on his Chocolate factory.

Or that Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle and a strong ensemble cast are "Crashing" at the cinemas.

I had promised ER I would be online to chat with him after being AWOL from Mirc for 10 days 3 hours 45 minutes & 25 seconds.

I finally got an email from someone who has agreed to go out with me. (meet ME for real)

They can all wait. Frankly, I feel like I am being sucked dry by a very hungry vampire! Lord, have mercy!