Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you. - Oprah Winfrey

Lucky are those people who do what they are passionate about.  I myself live and breath computers, so it just came naturally that I work with what I consider my lifeline

If you are not doing what you really love to do in life, not even as a hobby, then I suggest you do it.  If you don’t know what it is, find it.  The quest for one’s purpose is half the fun.

Have a great weekend everyone!!!

Anyone can give up, it’s the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that’s true strength.

These words touched me today because it triggered a memory.  A not so fond memory, but rather a strong one.  I vividly recall that during the days after my mother’s passing, I decided in myself to take the mantle of burden for the whole process thereafter.  During the arrangements of the wake, the transfer of my mother’s shell to our hometown, to taking care of the guests, I decided to take responsibility.  “Somebody had to not break down,” I thought.  I was so dedicated in this endeavor that a lot of my mother’s friends have grown concerned during the course of the wake.  It escalated to the point that one of my mother’s bestfriends took it upon herself to tell me that it was ok to cry.  I just answered, “I will have my time, Tita.”

That experience taught me a lot about myself.  Most of all, it taught me how strong I could stand, even alone, amidst the strongest of storms.  These days, when I remember it, it continues to remind me of my strength, and I honor my lineage for that, and the spirit that from an early age my parents nurtured into what it is now.  I believe that it is because of them that I have this strength, because

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. - Lao Tzu

I felt that fierce love from my parents, and I have fiercely loved them back.  It is in that love, that shines as bright as the Sun, that my spirit grew and thrived under.  That is my firm belief.

Now, as I nurture loves of old and new, I can only hope that these are loves that strengthen.  I believe them to be so…

Confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness. Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing. Use the pain as fuel, as a reminder of your strength. - August Wilson

Forgiving yourself, especially for things that cannot be undone, is the hardest thing to do.  More often than not, the most important and devastating events in life are the paths that don’t have a roundabout at the end of the bend.

In these circumstances, it is best to remember the story of Pandora’s box.  When all seems lost and seemingly destroyed beyond repair, there is always hope.  If there isn’t a roundabout in the end, there always lies a better road ahead.  As long as there is life, there is never a dead end.

I read this on All Inspirations.

Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.  -Confucius

We are all humans.  In all our fragility, why do we continue to rise to  become the masters of this earth?  I think it is because we are endowed with the heart that is capable of so much good.  Furthermore, we have the heart that is so pliant to ever changing, ever cruel times.

In my life, I used to honor my past, especially the tragedies of my experiences.  But through the years, I’ve learned that it should not be the times of darkness that I should honor, but the times that I was able get through all of it, into the beauty of the light.

I honor my loved ones, my life, my heart.  Most of all, my heart.

After about an hour of setting up outlook to sync with mobile device…

P. asks,

Is my outlook setup going to be successful?

Shakes 8-ball and turns it up…

8-ball says,

Outlook not so good

so damn accurate hehe

1.  A few days ago I got this

AQVA by Bvlgari, I love it.  Thanks baby…

2.  My good friend Steph and Dudai coming over to OWS for lunch was such a treat.  This is Steph posing with my teammate Louie Girl.

3.  Lastly, a pooh bear that makes me blush

I love this week!

XOXO,

J

I was not feeling very well last night when I left the office.  My knuckle was aching, perhaps because it was really cold, and I had a headache.  I arrived at SM Makati and remembered that I saw a title at the book sale there the other day, so I went.

I picked the book and started to walk towards the cashier when the salesperson ran up to me.  He informed me that the book was a “buy 1 take 1″ offer, so essentially I had to get another title.

I’m telling you I would’ve been happy to have this one book (at 99Php it was a bargain), because finding another title to take home would contribute to my headache.  After about 20 minutes or so of searching, I was already nursing a throbbing temple…

But in all fairness I think I got good titles.  I was wanting the Goddess WorldWeaver, then got the Deprivers as a bonus

And now, I have backlog… and I mean BACKLOG

I need serious vacation time to deal with this… hehe

Now back to the covers, I’m still not feeling very well…

Thanks to our friends from the Southern Europe team who just came from France for this treat.  From One World Square we went all the way to Market! Market! for this.  Well worth the trip to see friends and eat good food

Thanks for the food and the instant reunion guys!!!

A few weeks ago I received a text from my niece, asking (in streetspeak - arbor) for my netbook.  She just started college this semester.  I told her I’ll give it to her in September, preferably before I go abroad.  So the agenda of the month is to shop around for a new netbook.  I’ve finally found it on Yugatech - the Dell Inspiron Mini 10a.

I’ve found my new Alisa, a netbook to replace my present Alisa.

Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz
1GB RAM
160GB HDD
10.1? display screen @1024×600
Bluetooth 2.0
WiFi 802.11b/g Wireless LAN
Webcam

Universe, make it mine

Heartbreaking, isn’t it?

This is the situation at the Fabella Hospital.  I read this on Chuvaness and thought it was sad and hopeless, for about 30 seconds, because after that I realized that we can do something about it.  Affect good change, why not?

Click on the picture or this link to find out what to do.

I saw this on CNN today

PARIS, France (CNN) — Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece the “Mona Lisa” was attacked with a mug earlier this month, but the world’s most famous painting — protected by thick glass — emerged with its enigmatic smile undimmed.

I saw Mona Lisa get attacked by paparazzi once, or tourists turned paparazzi - us hehe.  That ain’t my flash by the way, it’s from another tourist.

Then my friend KC - not the celeb but pretty nonetheless - forced me to take a pic of her with the painting.  Considering the swarm of people behind us, it was mighty difficult.  I wonder if I can get a copy of that pic still?  That was hard work no?!?

1.  I’ve been quite busy since the start of August with work.  Hence the low post turn out.  It should get normalized soon.

2.  I decided to stop looking for something.  I didn’t find it.  It found me.

3.  I’m growing a liking for Pooh and Tigger.  They’re so cute.  Eyelavem.

4.  Speaking of which, who has the book The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff?

May I borrow?  I promise to bring it back before my trip to Europe.

5.  There’s that trip, my second one of that sort this year.  I’m kinda excited.

We watched G.I. Joe last night and it was a blast! (literally hehe)

Anyway, saw this on A Bugged Life, every geek guy’s wet dream hehe

G.I. Joe and Transformers crossover!!!

What a sight it would be if it were made into a movie.  Oh how funny, that rhymes hehehe

It’s easy enough to pray when you’re in distress but continuing to pray even when your crisis has passed is like a sealing process, helping your soul hold tight to it’s good attainments. - E. Gilbert

I am happy.  I am content.  My heart is definitely filled with joy.  I feel like there’s been a shift, a crossover in my life.  An attraversiamo.  I pray to God that He lets me memorize this moment so that it can continue to resonate forever.

Once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it, you must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it.

Furthermore, I will consciously strive to live with this holiday in my heart everyday.

I wish everyone happy weekends… and weekdays on end

Thanks Ate Joy for informing me about this.  This is so lovely, Ninoy’s poem turned love song (by Jose Marie Chan) to Cory

I have fallen in love
with the same woman three times;
In a day spanning 19 years
of tearful joys and joyful tears.
I loved her first when she was young,
enchanting and vibrant, eternally new.
She was brilliant, fragrant,
and cool as the morning dew.
I fell in love with her the second time;
when first she bore her child and mine
always by my side, the source of my strength,
helping to turn the tide.
But there were candles to burn
the world was my concern;
while our home was her domain.
and the people were mine
while the children were hers to maintain;
So it was in those eighteen years and a day.
’till I was detained; forced in prison to stay.
Suddenly she’s our sole support;
source of comfort,
our wellspring of Hope.
On her shoulders felt the burden of Life.
I fell in love again,
with the same woman the third time.
Looming from the battle,
her courage will never fade
Amidst the hardships she has remained,
undaunted and unafraid.
she is calm and composed,
she is God’s lovely maid.

In life you would be fortunate if you find your one true love.  That’s why we call it “our  better half”, because that person should make you want to be a better man or woman.

I want this kind of love.  I used to look for it.  But love is elusive.  The act of looking for love is the antithesis of finding love (yes, just like happiness).  We might call it “our better half” but that doesn’t mean that we walk around this earth feeling incomplete without it.  You will realize, as I did, that at some point you got to let go and sit still and allow love to come to you.

 Sit quietly for now and cease your relentless participation.  Watch what happens.  The bird do not crash dead out of the sky in mid-flight, after all. - E. Gilbert

I took this, in terms of searching for love, as this:  Micromanagement and worrying about finding love will not necessarily yield results.  If you don’t hurry and cease to look for it consciously, it will come.  Fill your heart with love, for yourself and God, and it will all naturally fall into place.

Right now, I’m not in hurry.  After all, I know that I will remain a complete person with or without another person on my side.  The saddest thing is using a partner as emotional crutches.