Turning a New Leaf

"What had been the focus of my entire adult life was gone, and it was devastating," Jobs said in his Stanford speech. "I didn't see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.".... Steve Jobs. former Apple CEO

I kept reading Jobs's thoughts on being fired from a job he so loved .... and realized that the end of a beautiful thing need not be the end of everything ... as has been said, everything has a season .... with each beginning comes an ending ...... and so with this blog as I make one last post .... to end this chapter of my life .... there were good times, there were bad times ... there were times I simply coasted along .... somehow I got through... calloused, bruised but wiser and richer with experiences that imparted a lot of lessons .... As I turn the last page of this episode, a new leaf unfolds in my new home.... if you were with me in this

journey, join me in 22karat which will be my soundboard from now on ... For starters, the name pretty much describe my current state ..... golden and proud ..... It could have been the purest thing, 24k .... but after some thought, 22k is just the right mix for this perfectly imperfect human being ....... enough of the teaser as the rest has to be told in the new place ..... I will still revisit this old home that has given me so much security and comfort ..... to feel the familiar ... on those times when I feel the need to relive the memories. Like before, there is hesitation to leave the familiar .... but it's time to move on .....

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One Fine Day

Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing. Mother Teresa

One last look before I stepped out of my homey abode painted a priceless picture of my three lovable dogs by our door looking at me with sad eyes as I left…. That nearly made me change course but the practical and thinking side of me prevailed over the weaker and emotional me …..

Smile …. Read this sign posted on a corner sari sari store…. And I can’t help but put on a smile, taking care not to let anyone see my silly grin. I was walking thinking my day is made with one single sign. As I continued walking, I would see two elderly male neighbors in a huddle with one of them giving out a familiar boisterous laughter…. I would secretly laugh remembering Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman in the movie, Bucket’s List….. One of my male neighbors maneuvered his bike to head home but instead of going straight to his destination, stopped me on my tracks to ask about the remedy for his dog’s skin ailment. He also happily told me about his dog giving birth. The same dog he tried to breed unsuccessfully two years ago at a very young age for which I ‘scolded’ him after it was revealed to me that he asked me to have that dog mated with mine without telling me the real age of the dog. He never got back to me after the first incident. Now he is back asking me about dogs which he thinks I master. He is the same person who brought me his dog halfway through whelping with a puppy’s behind protruding. I gave him and the dog a ride to my vet. Instead of dismissing him, I listened to his problem and offered a suggestion promising to give him a better treatment in the weekend if he comes to my house. He went his way after our brief conversation.

The other elderly gentleman likewise had his time with me as he called my attention with a question. He asked if I am on a diet. I had to ask him to repeat his question and I heard him right. With a sly smile, I said "no and I never diet". He said that I am sexy. And I couldn’t contain the laughter, biding him goodbye and going my merry way…..

All the way to the office, I had my thoughts trained on something else… perhaps this is the perfect time to carry out my long-conceived plan…. Deep in thought, I sent several text messages to the vet who will make a house call later; a dog owner in my phone book listed as owning a stud that I need for this heat season; my helper to give additional instruction for the vet’s house call; and my handyman/contractor to talk about a project related to my plan….. was thinking perhaps the time is near ……

As I near the office, I felt the all too familiar hesitation in my steps like something heavy puts enough burden on my feet. I have to drag myself to reach my destination. I recall yesterday’s meeting with the top official as she told me to do one final act of appeasement with my ‘enemy’….. and it’s not only getting to be a habit, it’s becoming tiring too. For crying out loud why should we always have to give in to mindless, whimsical follies like her …..
Recently, I met a former colleague on a project I worked on not too long ago and she asked about me. She must be feeling good about herself as I heard she now heads a department formerly handled by an ailing top official of their office. I gave a curt one-liner to her question, “Crossroads”… followed by “as always”. She acknowledged with a knowing smile followed with a lunch invitation. I replied saying, I’ll arrange something with our other friend-colleague and will get in touch soon.

All of this happened one fine day …….

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Blogging is not for the Faint of Heart

The most earth-shaking news is the discovery of this blog by the appointed henchman of RB .... baby, what a big surprise, right before my very eyes ..... as Peter Cetera, lead singer of Chicago choruses in the band's 70s hit.... big freaking deal ..... before everyone panics, here are a few things about blog and the art of blogging according to wiki .....

The term "weblog" was coined by Jorn Barger on 17 December 1997. The short form, "blog," was coined by Peter Merholz, who jokingly broke the word weblog into the phrase we blog in the sidebar of his blog Peterme.com in April or May 1999. Shortly thereafter, Evan Williams at Pyra Labs used "blog" as both a noun and verb ("to blog," meaning "to edit one's weblog or to post to one's weblog") and devised the term "blogger" in connection with Pyra Labs' Blogger product, leading to the popularization of the terms.


The modern blog evolved from the online diary, where people would keep a running account of their personal lives. Most such writers called themselves diarists, journalists, or journalers. Justin Hall, who began personal blogging in 1994 while a student at Swarthmore College, is generally recognized as one of the earliest bloggers, as is Jerry Pournelle. Dave Winer's Scripting News is also credited with being one of the oldest and longest running weblogs. Another early blog was Wearable Wireless Webcam, an online shared diary of a person's personal life combining text, video, and pictures transmitted live from a wearable computer and EyeTap device to a web site in 1994. This practice of semi-automated blogging with live video together with text was referred to as sousveillance, and such journals were also used as evidence in legal matters.


Early blogs were simply manually updated components of common Web sites. However, the evolution of tools to facilitate the production and maintenance of Web articles posted in reverse chronological order made the publishing process feasible to a much larger, less technical, population. Ultimately, this resulted in the distinct class of online publishing that produces blogs we recognize today. For instance, the use of some sort of browser-based software is now a typical aspect of "blogging". Blogs can be hosted by dedicated blog hosting services, or they can be run using blog software, or on regular web hosting services.


Some early bloggers, such as The Misanthropic Bitch, who began in 1997, actually referred to their online presence as a zine, before the term blog entered common usage.

An emergency meeting ensued after the discovery of this now 'famous' blog, where the subjects were called one by one to digest what must be so unpalatable and incomprehensible to some of them. Like in a cult, a spell must be cast to enrage the already irate subjects.... something must be done....fast .....

Just like old times, these subjects are so into me ..... I noticed though that they have been disturbingly quiet... quite a surprise... still doing under the table tactics and murmuring to each other what they don't want their 'enemies' to hear but any average person knows about already .... At least now, there is a reason for their resentment .... unlike before that they were brainwashed into thinking the same thought as their cult leader .....

The thing is you intruded my blog, like you trespassed my house.... on your own volition. Just

like a surprised visit, I hope you do not expect that the dirty socks are neatly stashed in the
clothes hamper; no dirty plates are piling on the sink and every nook and corner of the house are spotless.... You were not invited to visit, just like you were not asked to set sight on this blog in the first place. Be that as it may, since you have visited my humble blogbode, you are welcome just like any other guests here. You may want to comment if you want to and that would be dealt with accordingly. If you don't like what you see, you are not forced to stay and can leave anytime you don't want new surprises or discoveries... but because you chose to stay and discover more, do so at your risk.... if you feel you're alluded to, what the heck is your problem reading this..... can't handle the truth? well, that's another story .... but if you think what is written does not have a tinge of truth, why bother with this blog .....

Whatever course of action you take, I'd like to thank you for giving me my 3 minutes of fame unwittingly .... The best way to spread something is to tell someone to keep it to yourself ... it's human nature, duh ..... It has been said that you cannot have your cake and eat it too.... but I've had my fix and my hits.... well, this blog has been a source of a cushion for me and has kept me intact all through those years .... but the recent hits have been unprecedented in its history ... the way it overtook my most cherished posts and perhaps my most widely read post and a recent fave .... what more, the icing on the cake is that you lead some of your irate former subjects to this site and now that old wounds are reopened, they have been sharing unabashly what made them decide to leave your kingdom.... again thank you.... keep on visiting...... who knows the next post may be about you .... yes, you!

Related posts:
1. Blog
2. Online Diary
3. Introduction to Blogging

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Feeling Old

I am at that point when I am beginning to feel like an adult... you see I never feel like one all this time until recently. Most of the time, I get by almost hassle-free. Someone is always taking care of things for me or things fall into place like my life follows a certain order of the universe that works its way out .... I am not saying I don't deal with problems or difficulties ... I do .... but somehow I know how to put things to a halt when I can't take it anymore and just let things be ... akin to lying on your back on water and just flow with the tide.  Sooner or later, I get a clearer perspective and the problem works its way out or would simply go  away.

Well, like any grown up, I have a family, a home, a job, friends....  like many of you.  At any point in time, I would always be dealing with issues related to any or all of these competing concerns.  There are clear set priorities and that's partly the reason how things get worked out.  There are facets of life that are simply non-negotiable and all else can be given up.

If you were to ask me what my topmost priority is.  Clearly, it's my family ........ the children in particular.  When they were small, I was very protective of my kids.  I think I have not really let go of that tendency up to now.  I need to ascertain their whereabouts all the time.  It has nothing to do with trust as they are good kids, not perfect, but I am glad I have them and I cannot ask for more.

Being with our family day in and day out makes one unmindful of the passing time.  Suddenly, the babe I used to carry in my arms is lifting me off my feet.  The kids bring out the child in me that we would often horse around.  Before I would give them a piggy ride which doesn't look feasible now as at least two of them are taller than me.  And lately, we don't horse around as much as we used to.... if at all.  The kids are so preoccupied with lots of stimulation provided by education, technology, social connection.

What more... knowledge is expanding exponentially.  Education is boosted with the aid of technology that things are happening a lot faster and at a grander scale... there is hardly time to breathe.  Kids are busier and consequently stressed out than we were in school.  What is supposed to be well-rounded education produced kids who are smarter and always lacking in time to appreciate the finer things in life.  I would feel guilty when I want to have fun with them and they can't join in because they need to study or work on a project with their classmates.  Suddenly, it's hip to be square .... Didn't we use to make fun of  'square' people ..... hmmmm

On one hand, it may be a good thing to have kids who are responsible..... More and more, the kids, the girls in particular, are being given more grown up tasks.  ED and MD help save the day for me when I can't make it to some of MS's activities.  Now I can delegate some of my responsibilities as a parent to either of my two elder girls.... like getting of the report card of MS.  As soon as she got her license, ED drives MD and MS when she is free from school.  The set-up also works to both our advantage.  I've been loving being free from driving duties while ED gets to hone her driving skills.  I bet she is still excited learning this new skill like I was as a new driver.

At home, MD gets the bigger pie of the responsibilities because she is better than her elder sibling in doing chores and even working on some of my business activities.  So she gets most of these tasks.  Oftentimes, ED and MD would work together on some of the tasks I assign to either of them.

What about youngest, MS?  To his credit, he has become more independent as far as school work is concerned.  He can be relied on some small tasks.  Like this summer when one of our helpers was on vacation, he readily washed the dishes when I told him to help out.  He doesn't want polishing the stairs anymore but prefer other tasks.  He also helped out in weeding the garden when I asked him to.  Well, not much is really expected from him but I am thankful enough when he helps out.

With all these developments, I should be pleased.  I am... Isn't it every parent dream to make their children the unique, functional, and responsible individuals that they are supposed to be?  I am also thankful for the free time I have in my hands I can use for myself or to be with friends or pursue other interests ... something that I can't easily do in the not so distant past.  Lesser stress comes with lesser responsibilities, too... I used to savor the idea of having grown-up kids who can take care of themselves... Yet just as this is happening, I sometimes find myself thinking that soon they won't need me anymore.  Then maybe, life would cease to be as colorful as it used to be when there were lots of frustrations, worrying, arguing, screaming, tugging, juggling  ......

Maybe, the time has come ...........  for me to pull over and watch from the sidelines ... how my kids have grown to face and take on their own horizons ..... and probably MS's worst fear would soon be a reality ....

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Switching Off for Earth Hour 2011

What will you do tomorrow evening? ..... any thoughts?

We're One 

For the past three years, our family have been participating in the Earth Hour .

Earth Hour is a global event organized by WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature, also known as World Wildlife Fund) and is held on the last Saturday of March annually, asking households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights and other electrical appliances for one hour to raise awareness towards the need to take action on climate change. Earth Hour was conceived by WWF and The Sydney Morning Herald in 2007, when 2.2 million residents of Sydney participated by turning off all non-essential lights. Following Sydney's lead, many other cities around the world adopted the event in 2008. Earth Hour 2011 will take place on March 26, 2011 from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., at participants' respective local time.

I am not really sure if we are contributing well to the global effort.  On our initial attempt, one of my kids was uncooperative and was challenging my patience.  That time, MS and I made a bonfire.  The flames served as a nice backdrop as MS listened intently why we need to do something about the environment.

On the second year, there was differences in opinion in the planned activities.  MS wanted so much to replicate the bonfire but MD was against it saying it is bad for the environment....  and she's right.  I was caught in a dilemma.  But MS's soulful eyes glimmering in the darkness was just what I needed to proceed with the original plan.... and MD was reprimanding us .... and like little kids caught with their fingers in the cookie jar, MS and I felt a little guilty but enjoyed the moment.  Hubby and MD were together in the second floor balcony looking who were with us and who were not ...... We made the fire bigger as the helpers, MS, and I gathered dried leaves, branches to burn... MS was amused but MD was not very pleased.  ED was not with us but was in her dorm for some school activity.  She told us, she and her dormates switched off.

This year, it would most likely be a repeat of the past two years.  I guess MS and I would be getting it from MD again, maybe from ED too....  What more, we'd be participating in the comfort and serenity of my newly renovated sanctuary.  The new environment would make staying out more worthwhile....  and everyone goes out on Earth Hour... because there literally nothing to do inside the house... unless one prefers to sleep sweltering in the summer heat.

Our family will once again make history on Earth Hour tomorrow.  The bigger challenge is to make the intent of the effort a part of our daily habit.  Switch off when electricity is unnecessary.  Limit wastage of things we use and consume.  Avoid buying for the sake of buying.... and indulge in the 3R's....

The one hour break may even give the family the much needed time to bond.... because the world has become estranged with all of  life's modern trappings.  Even family members become strangers as communication is lost with so many things taking time off our hands .... Make the Earth Hour work for mankind and for your family .... it takes only 60 minutes to make all the difference....

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My Life's Journey So Far ....

Today is a most special day for me as I came to this world wiggling out and screaming from the safety of my mom's womb more than twenty years ago ..... a lot more actually .... a whole lot more .... HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME :)

Life's not perfect but not without its moments. I feel lucky at times and a total failure some other time. I had days when I shed buckets of tears but those cannot eclipse the days when my heart was drowning in joy. There were times of plenty and more times that I had to deal with want. People come and go in this life but I have accepted that this happen for a reason. I can take the fact that in the end only those who accept you for what you are, remain when the light dims and everything's been taken ......

With all the ironies that life presents, I cannot ask for more. There still a long road to travel.... some parts may be paved but some will be littered with potholes and dirt ... the stuff that makes the journey all the more challenging and interesting ....

To my loved ones and friends, thank you for loving me despite my flaws ..... and if you're still there, thank you for bearing with my foul moods, inconsistencies, selfishness, and a lot more things I don't like about myself, all this time... If some of you are gone by now, thanks for the time that you've given me and the life's lessons you've left me ..... To all those who are yet to become part of my life, I wish you luck as I look forward to meeting you sometime ....

To myself, learn to let go, forgive, and forget..... as the years roll by, learn to take things in stride and take it easy.... live in moderation ...... and maybe take the road less traveled sometimes ....

It's been one heck of a trip.... I still don't know where life will take me but the journey goes on ..........

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The Lessons of the Bamboo

One of the best tales I have read is that of the bamboo and the grass. Although the bamboo is part of the grass family, many of us cannot look at a bamboo and not think of it as some kind of a tree, weird as it is.

And so it was told that once there was a man who planted bamboo and grass on some land. After only a few days, the grass grew and within the next few weeks and months, the land became verdant. The man was pleased with th grass but quite disappointed with the bamboo which remained the shrub that it was when it was planted. It grew a little over the year but not enough to impress the man. The grass remained vibrant over the years. Then one day, the man would notice that the bamboo has become sturdy and has grown poles so tall and lush with green leaves. The story would conclude that all those time that the bamboo remained a bushy plant, it was actually growing its roots. As soon as it gained ground firmly embedded itself to the earth, there it was ..... a beautiful, sturdy, presence on the a green land. The man was finally happy to see both the grass and the bamboo fully grown on his land.

I have always loved bamboo for its nonchalant charm. The rustling leaves when the wind blows remind me of happier times when life was simple yet fuller. Seeing one allows me to travel back in time when summer was spent with my grandparents at this rustic place where I felt everything was so laid back.... As a child, I didn't want spending time in my mother's hometown but it was to be part of tradition and our escape from the scorching heat of the city..... probably my mother's respite from baby sitting her three grown children. My grandparents had no TV, stereo, or fancy food that we had anytime in the city. Everything we had to eat was food cooked by my grandmother. I would long for the hotdogs and other processed food as well as the sodas and ice cream. We had no toys but played games under the sunny or moonlit skies. I simply hated the laidbackness of provincial life.

But now, I have been given new eyes to view those childhood scenes...... and how I long to go back and once again taste my grandma's steaming rice and simple viand as my cousins and I gathered on her long dining table awaiting our hot meal........ Food was short but we were happy and contented, even competing for more portions of her simple fare. There, we would play hide-and-seek under the big starry skies. The dogs would be our running mates. We were reckless and would jump straight to the river from the bridge whenever we want to take off the heat from our sweaty bodies. Fruits were in abundance and accessible. We would climb trees not simply to get its fruits but just for the thrill of it. I got bruised, cut, hit my head, broke a bone, actually fell from a tree but nothing could deter us from enjoying those simple pleasures. Ah, those were the days..... and if I could only move back the hands of time.......

The bamboo is a gentle reminder of a time of my life long gone.......

About a year ago, our eternally evolving pocket garden was overhauled because of a drainage problem..... My insatiable desire to shake things up in the house came with the renovation of a pocket garden in addition to the drainage work. There were small patches of landscaping work. On two corners of the garden, I wanted bamboo plants or tree or grass....whatever..... My landscaper did as I wished.....

Like in the story, it took about a year until the bamboo would grow. In time, the bamboo would have sturdy poles and leafy growth all over, mostly on top. It actually reached my bedroom window that I would be able to touch its leaves. But there is one problem, only the bamboo on the right corner has really grown how it is supposed to be. The bamboo at the left side remained to be small...sure it grew some leaves but that was about it.

I was bewildered. Those bamboo, although planted apart, exist in similar conditions, and are provided the same care. Why would one grow and the other left behind? I don't understand..... and perhaps I never will...... Months passed and the bamboo that grew continued to develop sprouts which would later become poles. We would be cutting some of the poles to prevent the bamboo from spreading out further in that corner. Still, the other bamboo remained little.... that I would forget about it.......Until recently when my eyes were drawn to the spot where the little bamboo is..... I noticed that it has grown compared to how it was a year ago. The leaves are beginning to come out too.... Could this be the start of its full blooming?

I don't know.....

Nothing is set out or laid out for us. There are no perfect moments....... just opportunities to seize at any given time. And some people and maybe even things can find that opportunity to make things happen. It can be through a gentle nudging or a violent shaking; some provocation or a sudden realization imploring us to act swiftly to seize the moment.

And so it is with my tiny bamboo. My constant rambling must have shaken the earth that holds the tiny bamboo.... Just yesterday, I saw a sprout and what could be the beginning of a pole....

And my bamboo might have finally came to seize its moment... It is its time.... and like any other occurrences in my life, I would learn from it.....

I should not be comparing...... I was thinking these two bamboo are living in similar conditions and expected to get the same outcomes....it is not to be..... How can I missed that even siblings raised in the same home would each have their own unique personalities..... I should just learn to appreciate each one's uniqueness. Besides, we end up frustrated when we fail to get what we expected.

In all things, patience is a virtue. I should keep in mind that answers to our most fervent wishes come at the right time in accordance with God's perfect plan..... I should not be questioning that.

From now on, I will let my tiny bamboo draw into its own strength to deliver its promise..... no rush. I will be patiently waiting for that moment when your sturdy pole with your leafy top will be the view that would greet me as I clear my mind in solitude from my bedroom window.

My bamboo will a constant reminder that hope springs eternal.......
Related Posts:
Bamboo Fiber and Bamboo Bedding
The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter

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I Dream a Dream in FB

It must be maddening not to be facebooking in a day.... The various applications or apps take people by a storm.... that working and facebooking or studying while facebooking or twitting is now our current way of multitasking.... as we try to get connected with people all over the globe.

My fascination with facebook came quite late. All my friends kept telling me to use it. I signed in early enough but unfortunately couldn't log in all the time. Our office network has a firewall which blocks the application. Thank God for one lucky break.... Our network bogged down and we had to be connected to the server of the building which houses our office..... actually ilegally connected as intimated by our all-around colleague who also performs network job for us. I would accidentally discover that facebook can be accessed. Since then, I am always logged on to facebook and would discover its various apps. I recently joined twitter. I have been a long-time multiply user for many reasons. Of course, I will not abandon my yahoo for sentimental reasons.....

Unless you're septuagenarian who is tech-phobic, you know what I'm talking about and in all likelihood is hooked too. So what are the apps I go for in facebook?

I play scrabble on a regular basis. I have these running games with a couple of formidable opponents, one, a fellow Pinoy and another an Englishman who's not from New York..... I developed an addiction to this game probably a year ago. I was playing at games.com until the scrabble board was closed because another party bought the rights to the game. I was devastated to say the least, because I was a purple player already.... two notches lower than the two highest notches, a red player and an orange player. Naturally, when I rediscovered scrabble in facebook, I was ecstatic.... so much so that there were times I was trading sleep for playing. Over time, I tempered my addiction and content myself playing with these two guys. On occasion, I would play with new opponents. At the height of my addiction, the network would be sooooooo slow or would just quit on me and I'd lose a game because my opponent would force forfeit when you can't play within the time limit. I play two-minuter because I get bored when an opponent takes too long. I lost many games where I was ahead because the game was forced forfeited. Some sneaky players would do so just 1 sec after your time lapsed. As I tempered my addiction, I got to know good players whom I play with on a regular basis. Soon, we would just play open games without time limit. Occasionally, I would indulge in a game or two with new opponents.

But I can't believe there are creeps in what I consider a mentally-stimulating game.... I encountered bigots a number of times....... I would also get some indecent proposals from virtual lotharios. They would usually be friendly and ask if you could be friends. Once you agree, they will begin checking you out... your profile, photos, maybe your mind through your posts...... Then, offer you the opportunity of a lifetime..... There was this guy from Australia who ask if I was married. I told him that is my son I am smoldering on my profile picture. He repeated his question. I told him I am. Undeterred, , he ask if I would like to have an affair. I asked him why the hell is he looking for a tryst on a boring game like scrabble. He quited on me and I won the game...... I was way ahead anyway. Inspite of this and even if I am past my addiction, I still love this game.

As I begin getting acquainted with more apps, I would notice that these apps would eat so much of your time if you play them on a regular basis. I do...... along with my work in the office, in school, and at home. I manage but would hardly stand up from my seat the entire day that I would not notice the passage of time.

After scrabble, I discovered farmtown when I accepted a friend's invitation. Later on, I noticed there was farmville too. Before I knew it, I also set up a farm in farmville. Initially I thought, it was simply planting, harvesting, and selling and buying stuff for the farm. I would discover many things you can do in your farm. These games are constantly evolving too as the site developers add more features to the games to make it more interesting.

At some point, I was becoming bored with farmtown partly because the animals are useless. They do not help increase your money. Farmville became more interesting. That was until I accidentally discovered working for other farms can make you earn more and having other farmers work in your farm increase your crop value and save on plowing costs. These twists switch my interest back to farmtown that I now find earning more money is faster in farmtown than in farmville.

Recently, a cousin whom I have just "friended" (heard that unfriend is the latest "in" word) told me that one can adopt various animals, get stuffs, and earn bonus points by watching out friend's activities. Upon learning this, I immediately applied the new-found knowledge. Now, my interest has been shifted once again.

My farms for both farmtown and farmville have an uncanny similarity........ like where cottages are located or where the animals are placed; how the trees and crops are arranged. I want simlar trees bunched together like most farmers I know and visited. Both farms would give a glimpse of my character. Being Pinoy, it is important to have security, I had my entire farm fenced at the very start. It was still small so it was manageable. As it grew, I had to rearrange and buy more fence materials. After some time, I decided to stop fencing my farm and would just consider it when my farm is arranged to my liking.....

I am thinking about getting my mansion for the farm which my mind resist. I want the farm to maintain the charm of the countryside and that would mean doing away with the trappings of city life. A mansion or a villa would make my farms too cosmopolitan. Recently, I set up a river that flows around my farm. In real life. it will take enormous resources before one could set-up his own river or lake in a farm. In farmtown and farmville, just work for the money and one can have anything. Purchases add up to one's XP........ which means I might not be able to avoid buying the mansion after all.

As my fascination with the different apps grew, I was struck by a question raised by ED's friend as narratyed by ED during one of our family casual talks. ED's friend was asking why oldies play farmville or farmtown. Hmmmmmm, I don't know how accurate the question is ...... because it sounds as if the oldies, them and aww shucks alright, me, have a monopoly of the game.

I did a quick check of my neighbors and fellow farmers and indeed the rather amusing but astute observation of ED's friend looks like a valid contention. MD would somehow seem to confirm this observation as she blurted out that one of her BFF's mom also has a farm.... This would bolster the validity of ED's friend hypothesis. Now, I am raising the same question.... Why are the oldies farming?

Let's put the question in the proper perspective. Is the observation true across genders, geographical boundaries, classes, status, and other demographic delineation? How do we define oldies? baby boomers, seniors, gen x, y? Let's see.

Let me base the facts of this case on my own expeience as a 'farmer'. My neighbors for both farmville and farmtown are mostly females save for a couple of boys and one or two guys. I can hire people to plow for farmtown which means I have more than 11 neighbors, 16 actually. I have more neighbors in farmville because of my cousin, a farmville addict, who asked her brood of 6 to befriend me on facebook. Not all of them are into farmville, only the girls. Not all the girls are my neighbors, only the younger girls. Her teenage daughter plays farmville but is not my neighbor. Even my own girls are not into farmville and farmtown but they play another farm apps which they claim to have better graphics. MS used to have a farm until his FB was accidentally invalidated.

In the real word, most of my 'neighbors' are working or are in business that require them to use a computer. Hence, they can sneak into their 'farms" in the virtual world many times in a day...... like I do. I am also assuming that my 'neighbors' are PC or laptop owners and not merely relying on hardware in the office or school. Why? Because there are responsibilities to owning and tending a 'farm'. Crops can rot if left unattended after they become harvestable. One should be attuned to the timing of their crops. There were times I had to wake up in the middle of the night or early morning to check on my crops. I used to do this at the height of my addition to scrabble..... and here I am again.

A few of these neighbors have grown tired of the application and are now hardly touching their farm. A number of guys whom I invited to become my neighbors set up a farm just for the heck of it and never touched their farms or have abandoned their farms totally.

Most of my neighbors are fellow Filipinos but I have a couple of neighbors and some buddies from foreign lands. In the market place, I notice that there are generally more women than men at any given time. Most of my neighbors and even myself are also into other apps.

The above information will give me a profile of a typical farmer in farmville or farmtown. Farmers who stay for the long haul are mostly women; gainfully engaged in work or business; have family; are not too young nor too old; are multitaskers (based on the number of apps they are using plus the fact that we are able to juggle real and virtual work); and are bound to be compulsive users of the apps until satiation sets in. Having compiled this profile, I think I am inclined to agree with the hypothesis of ED's friend that farming is for oldies.

Now, lets try to explore that question a bit further and ask why we are playing farm..... This time I am basing the answer on my own personal opinion. I can only half-guess what's on the minds of the rest of the farmers.

Among the apps, I chose to play farming because it is like living a dream. The prospect of owning a farm in real life seems far-fetched right now even if I would like that so much. Imagine spending a weekend in a farm with its fresh air, trees and crops, animal sounds......... a commune with nature after a long and stressful week. Doesn't that sound cool? Just thinking about it make my mind drift from my reality.

However, it's not going to happen anytime soon. Aside from the lack of resource to buy a land to convert into my dream farm, time is also wanting. I don't even know how to stretch the weekend to do my chores at home. How can I even think that I would have the luxury of time to spend the weekend in a farm......

With that dream buried somewhere in the deep recesses of my mind, farmville and farmtown would be the next best thing as these apps provide the platform to make my own dream farm. These apps provide instant gratification as one can see immediate results from the fruits of one's labor. If one 'works' hard, she can easily transform a simple farm into a dream farm in no time. Excitement builds up as one aspires for attaining his goals in transforming her farm every step of the way. There are also learning experience as one is taught planning; saving; investing (in equipment or building wih usage) vs consumption (of decorations and buildings for recreational purposes); comparing alternatives (hiring vs. own labor); and learning from mistakes or experience( I accidentally deleted a plant monster purchased by MS as a gift for me). Here, the impossible becomes possible. In real life, I could not buy a river even if I have the means but the platform allow me to do that...... and I love the waters...... The whole farm can be rearranged to one's specification as trees and buidings become movable properties which can be moved, sold, or used which is infeasible in real life. The thrill comes from seeing one's farm improve as one keeps on playing the apps.

I have also been receiving invitations from friends to try cafeworld, mafia wars, yoville but I have kept these invitations at bay. The apps are really time-eaters because they tend to become compulsion after sometime. For now, I am contented with my make-believe farms. Lest, I am willing to risk developing carpal tunnel syndrome..... even now, I can feel some sensation and tension on my wrist whenever I spend too much time on the pc or laptop......... it's worst when I am using laptop actually......

However, there are still dreams that are waiting to be lived out even in the virtual world. Like most people, I would love to have my own business, a restaurant perhaps, and be my own boss........... Hmmmmmmmmm.......Pretty soon I think that I am gonna have my own cafe-resto at cafeworld..... That will be the culmination of my virtual dream for now.......

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My Guest Posting at Barrio Siete

May I invite you to visit barriosiete and spare some time reading my post on Why I Wouldn't Vote for Noynoy? This is my first guest posting on another blog. I hope I could expand my horizon by interacting more in the blogophere.

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Prayers for Cory Aquino

Let us offer a prayer for Cory Aquino, the last remaining bastion of democracy.

By the way, my mother bears a striking resemblance to Tita Cory. She succumbed to cancer after a long and painful battle (fortunately or unfortunate, I don't look a bit like Kris). It's not really because of the similarity in circumtances or physique that made me link my own mom with Tita Cory. I just recall vividly how she and my dad encouraged us, their children, to join the throngs at EDSA in fighting for our democracy. While some would cower in fear and shield their kids from imminent danger, my parents were probably thinking if democracy would be restored, we would have to seize the moment right there and then for us and our future children and grandchildren and all of the future generation (The first grandchildren were not allowed to join us at EDSA, however. My nephew and niece were toddlers around that time.). After four days, democracy was won.... led by a woman in yellow.

We may feel that democracy may fall at times but let's give it to this wonderful woman who made possible the restoration of democratic and peaceful means after the dark years of the Marcos dictatorship. I believe that God knows what is best for Tita Cory and her family.



My fellow bloggers, I invite you to Touch a blogger: Tie a yellow ribbon for Cory Aquino! Very simply:

Create an entry entitled: Touch a blogger: Tie a yellow ribbon for Cory Aquino!. A link to this original entry will be appreciated, but is not required.
Post a yellow ribbon in your blog for President Cory Aquino. Whatever form of yellow ribbon that your creative imagination can come up with.
Invite other bloggers to tie a yellow ribbon for Cory.
President Cory Aquino has done a lot for us Filipinos. She’s suffered more than enough. I might not agree with some of the things that she has done but that is beside the point. My respect is unconditional and I will thank this great woman for the biggest and most valuable gift that she has given us Filipinos – giving back our freedom and liberty. And as a blogger, there is not much that I can do, other than offer prayers for Cory Aquino.

With this, let’s show our love and respect for Cory through our blogs and I invite all the writers of Barrio Siete, readers and commenters to Tie a yellow ribbon for Cory Aquino!

Thank you!

~La Kapitana~ Barriosiete.com

Thanks to Mahalia of Chocolateword for the tag.

Please join the prayer brigade.

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A Welcome Addition to the Blogging Community

Finally my friend whom I have been convincing to blog has a blogsite.... and I didn't know it until she casually mentioned it in our chat session earlier. I have long been convinced on the benefits on letting off our steam through writing. But my friend said it was not her thing and so I thought she would never do it until I saw her blog. Through this post, I hope you can give my friend's site Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow a visit. She's a mom like me and there are so many things to share.

I am still waiting for my other friends to join us in the blogging community. They would always complain on the lack of time, too many activities, work, home, intrusion of privacy, lack of access to technology, inability to take advantage of technology, and a whole range of excuses not to write their thoughts. Let me tell you how liberating it is..... It is also amazing how we can reach out to others by sharing our thoughts and a part of our lives...

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How they came up with Beijing Olympics Logo

Please view the following pictures in chronological order for better appreciation of the creative process in designing the Beijing Olympics Logo.

Ready, aim...............


Fire....



There he goes.........



......... and the prototype



The Final Design



How cool is that.......

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Blogging and loving it

I never thought that my thoughts would find its way to countless people. The marvel of technology continues to amaze me and provide alternative medium to frustrated writers like me. I was hit by the writing bug at a young age and yet never found the chance to express my imagination. I am always bursting to the brim with ideas and yet I always lack the motivation to write because I like my writing to be published. I attempted a number of times. I was successful in only three or four attempts when my piece got published in a daily, school paper, and a souvenir program. Contemporary media have made it difficult for budding writers to get the break.........standards are way too high and writing is too constricted. This can proved limiting to the writer whose style might be cramped by too many restricrions imposed by traditional media.
It is high time that we break out of the norm and make creative expression a way of life. Probably, a lot of ills of society can be healed by free expression. Rage is the consequence of too much repressed anger, depression, frustration afflicting people today. If people are allowed full expression, their pent-up emotion can be released and may even be avenues for undiscovered creativity. Idle minds can go wayward.
Since I discovered blogging, I am a less stressed out, more open, and generally a much happier person. I have yet to become the great novelist, poet or writer of my time, but the freedom that blogging provides has given me the impetus to awaken the writing bug in me that has long been in inertia. While I have written for other people in my work but I have never been this happy in the pieces that I turn out.... in my struggles as a hesitant and uncompromising adult trying to fit in world bound by too many rules. There are still uncharted territories waiting to be discovered. But now that the gates have been opened, it would be easier to get there. When freedom is unbridled, creative expression has limitless possibilities and the potentials for great writing have suddenly become within reach. Flaws will always be there but blogging have made these the spices in an otherwise bland concoction . These can very well make your dish too salty or too spicy. Aside from allowing greater freedom of expression and personal style. blogging is more forgiving. One writes what he or she feels or believes with less inhibitions and freer-flowing train of thought. That is what makes blogging the preferred medium for wannabes like me.

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Life's lemons

I am almost midway to a hundred years and still battling it out and been dealt with life's lemons so to speak. Contrary to popular belief, I did not simply make lemonade out of these delightful citrus fruit but have instead turned these into palatable main courses, appetizing desserts, cocktail delights, illness busters, household aids, innovative home decors, and other assortment of products............ akin to a life well lived. In my forty something existence, my own transformation ranged from a simple product innovation to a drastic and total product change that some of my friends and relatives may not even recognize me. Oh and I am hoping I won't be candidate for a product recall as my warranty expired a long time ago. With life's ups and downs and some lemons thrown my way, I have managed to live life fully and foolishly at times. Thanks to the people I met, observed, admired, loathe, pissed, and those who stayed to leave permanent imprints on my life. Thanks to new-found knowledge and the zeal to learn some more and may alzheimer's not descend on me so I could still retain old knowledge. Thanks to wisdom gained in the process which makes aging a little easier to accept. Thanks to the wonders of technology that have forever reshaped the lives of generation of humankind. These influences have put the right colors into my otherwise mundane existence.

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