Saturday, March 31, 2007

Good things --

So many good things have been happening to me --

To my surprise, I was elected as one of the board of directors of my high school's Alumni Association last February. The elections happened during my high school's 95th Foundation Day (and I wasn't even there when it happened!) I'm currently the assistant secretary and we're getting ready for our Induction Ceremony, which is happening in June.

I'm also thinking about Seth's 1st birthday and I'm very happy about the decision Johann and I made to keep the party small -- 40 people total. I admit that the temptation to throw a BIG party creeps in from time to time but I remind myself that there are plenty of opportunities for big events in the future -- ones that Seth would remember.

I finally got to watch 300 and thoroughly enjoyed the experience -- I want to watch it again and again! >_< Now I'm looking forward to the director's next project -- Watchmen.

* * *

Random photos --

I love summer. I love how many fruits are in season this time of year. I love how fresh the vegetables are.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

<-- the last photo is of kamunsil or camachile (Thanks Jayme for this information! ^_^) It's actually a seed pod of some tree and you eat the meaty part. My aunt told me today that this is their family's favorite fruit and that she and her sisters (my mom included) can eat bags of this stuff.

Saturday, March 17, 2007

I made this --

My mom is turning 60 on the 22nd. (Actually, she's turning 59 but, for the Chinese, it is unlucky to celebrate any birthday that ends in 9 so you skip it.)

Initially, she wasn't planning on a celebration. She was going to use the money for her birthday and donate it to their Eco-Reach program, which helps mothers start a small business.

My dad decided that he wanted to throw her a birthday so we're having a simple one on the 22nd.

We decided this last Tuesday, the 13th and we had 9 days to pull it off.

I made 100 invitations for her using my Gocco and this is what it looks like --

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

I am very proud of this work -- I used two screens to complete. The first screen has the cherry blossom-esque tree design in the background which I printed with pastel green ink and the second screen had the words which we printed in gold.

This was an odd-sized index card (5x8) and we couldn't find envelopes to fit it so we used parchment paper and gold ribbon.

Total cost of one invitation = 5.33
Blank Index Card 5x8 = 36.75 for a pack of 50 = 0.74/invitation
Parchment Paper = 16.00 for a pack of 10 = 1.60/invitation
Gold Ribbon = 90.00 for a roll (90 meters) = 0.50/invitation (we used less than 1/2 meter/invitation)
Inks for printing = 175.00/tube = 0.58 x 2 colors = 1.16/invitation (I used about 1/3 of the tube to print 100 invitations)
B6 master = 133.00 = 1.33/invitation

The best part is, it really didn't take me long to make the invitations. I spent more time fixing the layout on the PC than the actual printing process.

I love my Gocco. ^_^ (It's a shame they've discontinued it.)

My parents were so happy with the outcome that they've given me permission to purchase more Gocco supplies. H'ray!

* * *

Linkie! --

For future reading -- Drawn

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

This is another " This is how I know I married the right guy" post

Johann and my sister are both engrossed in Kevin Anderson's Saga of the Seven Suns and they finally decided to buy Book 5 in hardcover yesterday.

After lunch today, this was the scenario --
Johann was reading Book 5 in bed and Seth was playing beside him. Katya warned him that Seth might tear the dust jacket and told him to remove it. She left the room to handle some WOW business.

A few minutes later, I hear a loud ripping sound.

No, it wasn't a dust jacket -- it was a page.

Katya comes in and Johann tells her that she needs to do her special book-repairing skills. (Kat repairs all the books that Seth gnaws or tears.)

Kat: I told you he'd rip the dust jacket.
Johann: Ha! You're wrong. He didn't rip the dust jacket. (And proudly shows the torn page.)
Kat: Ohmygod! (And quickly takes out her pair of scissors and roll of tape <-- Armack is the best brand, according to her and my dad.) Your son is a bookripper. I warned you.
Johann: But you warned me about the dust jacket. It's like warning me about a tornado and an earthquake happens. It's a completely different catastrophe.

While this ridiculous exchange was happening, Seth had moved on to a different book and was nibbling on it.

I love my family. ^_^

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Meme: One Book

1. One book that changed your life.

The very first "serious" book I read as a college freshman was Like Water for Chocolate and I thought it was the most wonderful and magical piece of fiction ever written.

2. One book you have read more than once.

There are several books I've read more than once --
I read Tuesdays with Morrie on New Year's Eve. (It's my road map for the year ahead.)

I read Possession during the summer.

I read Fables every chance I get.

I read Mike Gayle and Nick Hornby's books whenever I get the blahs.

3. One book you would want on a desert island.


One of Mike Gayle's books for fluff reading when I get bored on the island.

4. One book that made you laugh.

Anne Rice's Beauty Trilogy.

5. One book that made you cry.

Every year when I read Tuesdays with Morrie, I cry. I'm a weeper -- I cry over everything. The last book to make me cry was Suddenly Silver -- a collection of the comic strip For Better or For Worse.

6. One book you wish had been written.

My own -- my "great Filipino novel" -- lol.

7. One book you wish had never been written.

I'm tempted to say Mahabharata because I did not enjoy reading it but I know it's an important part of literary history so ...

8. One book you are currently reading.

Worried All The Time by David Anderegg <-- it's an interesting discussion on parenting in the 21st century

9. One book you have been meaning to read.

Lol, this list is long --
All the books that Johann suggests I read (and don't) which includes Zadie Smith, Orson Scott Card, etc.

March by Geraldine Brooks -- I bought the copy and read through the first chapter and ... well.

Tagging: Johann, Eric, Mahar, Jayme and Tarie

... I'm also curious how my two brothers would answer this. ^_^

Saturday, March 03, 2007

Travel for PhP1.00 (plus tax, of course)

Cebu Pacific is having a seat sale for both Domestic and International destinations. The seat is PhP1.00 plus taxes.

Yes, it's ONE PESO.

To give you an idea of how cheap that is -- a round trip ticket to Singapore costs less than PhP3,000.00 and round trip to Malaysia is a little over PhP3,000.00

For domestic destinations, round trip from Iloilo to Manila is less than PhP2,000.00 and to Cebu is PhP1,400.00++

Sale ends on March 8 and travel is between June 15 to December 15.

Check your calendars, plan your leaves! ^_^

(We're planning another trip to Cebu -- just trying to figure out when. ^_^)

Friday, March 02, 2007

My youngest bro will be pleased --

We now have Discovery Travel and Living --

Wednesday night is Nigella night and Thursday night is Jamie Oliver night

Joy and Jubilation!