Let them say 'Yes'

My brother Cak, gave me this book to read. I call it the 'Diego Manual'.. hehe. I've never really started reading it yet, though I was able to browse through. It does say that it

"is a practical resource for parents dealing with children's resistance, stubborness, opposition, and defiance.....helps parents recognize, understand, and cope with child's resistant behavior--whether it arises as part of a normal stage of growth, stems from a child's temperament, or has developed from other, less easily definable sources..."

The book has a per chapter specifically for a certain age group, from one-year-old toddler, two-year-old toddler, even up to understanding school-age children, the preadolescent years (10-13 year-olds), and up to adolescent (14-18 year-olds).

Not that I badly need it, it just seem to be a promising read!

Di nila kinaya ang superpowers ni ZZZ!!!!

Congratulations to Tanghalang Pilipino!
Zsazsa Zaturnnah Ze Muzikal has been nominated for Best Musical Production in the 19th Aliw Awards. Also receiving noms are Tuxqs Rutaquio for Best Stage Actor (Musical) and Eula Valdez for Best Stage Actress (Musical). Sana manalo kayong lahat! :-)

The Aliw Awards is an annual event which honors achievements in live performances. The ceremony will take place this Thursday at the Manila Hotel.

Post lifted from Carverhouse

Lobat na ko

Coming home from work is most of the time, a relief. Though how corny it may sound, I usually enjoy getting a copy and reading the Libre tabloid given out at the MRT every morning. I do take a peak at its 'Kapalaran' or horoscope section just for kicks... and an occassional snort or giggle with my daily dose of Pugad Baboy.

This morning, the headline reads: Lobat na ko.

The word 'lobat', short for low battery (or battery low, for that matter) a term coined whenever your cellphone battery's almost out, was declared as the 'Word of the Year' during the Sawikaan 2006: Pambansang Kumperensiya sa Salita ng Taon, a yearly conference of the Filipinas Institue of Translation, National Commission for Culture and Arts, and the Blas F. Ople Foundation. This event aims to view the progress of the Filipino language (through new words, and or phrases) that have an effect or influenced Filipino's socio-cultural standing. The word 'lobat' won among other entires because of its witty or whimsical translation pertaining to a Filipino's likening to a cellphone's battery gone low-- in regards to personal problems, hard work, the society, etc. Other words 'nominated' are: botox, toxic, spa, orocan. Also spa, karir, payreted, birdflu and chacha. Interesting 'no?

Tears enough to rust metal

I was already crying when Diego sat beside me and gave me a hug. I heard Andee sobbed and saw that she had tears pouring out her eyes while trying to supress whatever she is feeling that very moment. I called her over. She sat next to me and buried her face in my chest. She then began to cry more...wawa naman baby ko..!

This was the scene my mom saw when she walked into the living room... her 30-something (hehe) daughter and her 7 and 4 year-old grandchildren huddled in a chair with tears in their eyes while watching a scene from Warner Bros.' The Iron Giant on VCD (which is incidentally one of my favorite animation flicks during my stint with Warner Bros., and I've got its wonderful soundtrack to boot! ..hmmm... now where is it?!!?!)

The Iron Giant tells us a wonderful story of a boy and his robot, with funny gags, poignant moments, and important messages. After watching, Andee was still so 'high' about it... her most memorable scene was when the Iron Giant left, or rather, flew away from the town because a nuclear warhead was about to hit him. She remembers the giant saying he was "Superman' and that we 'chose what we wanted to become'. Though there are some scenes that need parental guidance, like when Andee asked why the giant, when its dormant defensive systems kick in, suddenly (almost!) shot at the boy, Hogarth, while the latter was playfully pointing a toy gun at him. 'Akala ko friends sila?' (I thought they were friends?). Anyway, since Andee can't get enough of it, about an hour after the movie ended, and she has dried her tears and taken her bath, she asked permission to watch it again, this time, with my brother Cak.

And so they watched.

And this was the scene my mom saw when she walked into the living room the second time: Her 30-something son and her 7 year-old granddaughter huddled in a chair with tears in their eyes while watching a scene from Warner Bros.' The Iron Giant on VCD!

Botanical Art Peacock Tile Coaster

After what seemed like forever, I finally got another email notification from Cafepress that I had a sale from one of my shops, My Backyard Gallery.

This peacock design is the more popular one from my collection (hmm...I STILL have to frame the original botanical artwork!). It's been a long time since I've updated any of the shops with new designs. I've been so busy with work, the ZZZ site, and other things. I hoped to finally fix everything up into one big shop to maximize the designs as well as marketing them. But that's another story...

To the nice lady from New York who believed in the design and bought the tile coasters (4!), thank you!
Sa uulitin! hehe

Uno, Dos, Tres (tagged by Jheck!!)

3 People who make me laugh:
Uno: 4 year-old Diego
Dos: My officemate, Dykee
Tres: My mom

3 Things I love: (aside from my kids and family, of course)
Uno: Cuddling
Dos: Going out with a good friend
Tres: Sim City and Rollercoaster tycoon

3 Things I Hate:
Uno: Getting my feet wet when it rains
Dos: When time flies when you having fun
Tres: Conversations with people who think their God is better than yours

3 Things On My Desk (at home):
Uno: My 2006 365-page Cat Calendar
Dos: Photo Albums
Tres: 2 old wallets with old, old pictures and receipts

3 Things I Am Doing Right Now:
Uno: Reading
Dos: Smiling
Tres: Thinking

3 Things I Want To Do Before I Die:
Uno: Visit all amusement parks in the world!
Dos: See my grandchildren's children!!!
Tres: be seen in one of the billboards at Guadalupe, Edsa (hehe..tough luck!)

3 Things I Can Do:
Uno: Put on make-up in less than 5 minutes
Dos: Run in high heels
Tres: finish a sketch/art project in one sitting; an hour or two at the most

3 Ways to Describe My Personality:
Uno: hmmmm.....
Dos: ummm....?
Tres: well...... :-)

3 Things People Might Not Know About Me:
Uno: I dreamt of being a back-up singer (one of those "chuwari-waps" during concerts!)
Dos: I wear my skirts mid-thigh short (hehe.. lakas ng loob..!)
Tres: had a 12-year butch-femme relationship (gasp..!?!?)

3 Things I Think You Should Listen To:
Uno: Your conscience
Dos: Your best buds (sometimes you regret not listening to them in the first place!)
Tres: Your kids (esp. when they gotta use the bathroom!!)

3 Things I Don't Think You Should Listen To Ever:
Uno: Your conscience (?!?)
Dos: Your kids (esp. if they are begging for 4 orders of McDo's Happy Meals to get ALL kiddie toys available!)
Tres: 'I Love You's' from a person you just met!!!

3 of My Absolute Favorite Foods:
Uno: inihaw (any) with spicy soy and vinegar!
Dos: KFC's Zinger
Tres: fetuccini in carbonara sauce

3 Things I'd Like to Learn:
Uno: belt out a song
Dos: manage my time
Tres: secrets of google adsense!

3 Beverages I Drink Regularly:
Uno: coffee
Dos: Ehem...water :-)
Tres: Coke Light

3 Shows I Watched When I Was A Child:
Uno: Kaluskos Musmos
Dos: Electra Woman and Dyna Girl
Tres: Uncle Bob's Lucky 7 Club (grabe!!! antique na talaga!!)

3 People I Tag to Do This Crap:
Lahat ng nagbasa nito! (anyone who reads this!!!!)

Whew! more please!!!! :-)

PARENT - Job Description

This was forwarded to me by Ed. Thanks :-D

POSITIONS:Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma, Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, and various other titles

JOB DESCRIPTION:Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities! Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES:The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs P100.00 . Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat if needed. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be willing to beindispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include the fact that your charge can ultimately surpass you.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:None required unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION: Get this! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When ! you die, you givethem whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS: While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs for life if you play your cards right.