Needing a Good Nights Sleep.

It's been a long time since I've really had a good nights sleep. I do get rested at night, but getting that fully charged feeling after a deep slumber has been quite elusive. My suspicion is that I am unconsciously unable to rest because of the state of my room....it's too crowded. To be fair, I have a big room. In fact, some studio apartments may even be smaller than my room but I have a problem with keeping things neat, and I think this affects the quality of my rest. I do think there is a strong mind-body connection so perhaps, the negative energy in the room because of the clutter is crowding my psyche.

Before the year ended, I started cleaning up and letting go of old things. I now am at the point of contemplating renovating the room and perhaps replacing the furniture to something that is more sleek and chic. One thing I really would love to get is one of those contemporary bedroom sets because since my sister left and I fell in love with my Bubba, I have moved my bed to the floor so I could sleep beside him. I'd like a set that comes in a fabulously amazing color scheme complete with side tables, bed ruffles, a comforter...the whole shebang! I think I have not given my bed enough importance, as seen by the ordinary sheets I throw on it, perhaps that's also that contributes to the unrest. Add to that the fact that I have gained a lot of weight and I'm not getting any younger either, so getting down to the floor has been quite a strain on my back. I hope I get to attend to this soon as I really, desperately need a good nights sleep. SOON!

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When Does Parenting Go Wrong?

On the way home from work today, I heard a comment on the radio that irked me. It said something in reference to why Jason Ivler, the wanted fugitive who was arrested this morning, became the way he is today. The comment went on to say that he became the criminal he is because he came from a dysfunctional family and he grew up with a step-dad. No doubt coming from a family filled with tension, conflict and was dysfunctional does have an impact on one's mental health, but that comment made me angry. Why? Because there are so many of us who come from dysfunctional and broken families but we are not criminals.

I feel that sometimes, parents are unfairly blamed for the way their kids turn out. But then, I am not a parent, so what would I know, right? I just feel that poor parenting is only one component of who we become. In my studies in Psychology I have grown to understand theories of child and personality development and I do not discount the gravity of a parents role in child rearing. The question begs to be asked, though, when does parenting go wrong?

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Virally Spreading the Silver Lining.

It took me quite some time to decide whether or not I would pursue a Project 365 this year because after attempting it and failing miserably last year, I thought to myself why set myself up for the hassle. However, after some time, I came up with an inspiring idea (well, I find it inspiring, hopefully someone out there will agree!) that made me decide to finally take the plunge and do my 2010 Project 365.

The next question I grappled with was where would I put this project this time? And then I remembered Yahoo! Meme.

Sometime ago a group of my friends were talking and microblogging about this but I didn't pay much attention to it because I had no idea what it was about but during the Blog4Reviews Christmas party, Yahoo! country community manager for the Philippines Jonas De Los Reyes gave a presentation about Yahoo! Meme.  He talked about how the site can be a quick and easy way to share ideas, photos, videos, audio clips, music and the like. As he defined it during the presentation, it is a postulated unit or element of cultural ideas, symbols and practices and is transmitted from one mind to another through speech, gestures, rituals, or other imitable phenomena. Through the Meme, these are all easily re-blogged thus making for quick viral sharing.Prononuced as "mim", it is in many ways, a reflection of what is going on in the community.

photo credit: Az of azraelcoladilla.com

With that, my Project 365 found a home. I like the fact that not only am I adding content to a site, but that in my own small way, I can hopefully help others become more optimistic and hopeful this 2010. As my Yahoo! Meme title goes: 365 of 2010.....finding the silver lining in every day, one photo at a time. While this may be a Project 365, I have already accepted the fact that I cannot manage to upload photos daily, no matter how easy it is to do it via the Yahoo! Meme. Nonetheless, I take the photos daily and upload it when able. Granted that that is not the "right" way the project should be done, I will do it that way! This is what my meme looks like as of now:

 Through my meme's content, I can remind people that in whatever situation, there always is a silver lining that we can hold on to, no matter how bad things can get. Do follow me at Yahoo! Meme. As always, just look for yapatoots!

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Take Me to the Movies.

In the last year, I rediscovered my love for movies. For a long time, I was more into television series' rather than movies because I liked the continuity of a storyline and the attachment I built with the characters of the show, such as Meredith Grey of Grey's Anatomy, Carrie Bradshaw of Sex and the City, Chuck Bass of Gossip Girl and Addison Montgomery of Private Practice to name a few. However, thanks to the movie bloggers and media outfits like Warner Bros. Pictures, I rediscovered the cinema. It started surreptitiously...an invitation as a blogger friends' guest to the screening of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. From then on, I was hooked! So much so that I set a goal to watch at least 30 movies in any cinema for 2009. However, I failed to meet that! I only was able to watch a total of 24! Not only was I too busy, there were a few movies that didn't really peak my interest too much. However, after watching The Spy Next Door last week, I realized I shouldn't be too stuck on a particular genre because I may just be surprised. That film was indeed an unexpected and pleasant surprise because I initially had dismissed it as corny, but I was dead wrong!

This 2010, I am looking forward to more movies. Hopefully I get to hit the mark of 30 this year. I am optimistic about this because the line up of upcoming films is simply amazing but also because of last years' experience that has widened my appreciation for the big screen a lot. So far for 2010 I have seen 3 movies: the local hit I Love You, Goodbye, the eye-catching and action packed Sherlock Holmes, and the hilarious The Spy Next Door. Other films I am surely looking forward to are the following:

Sex and The City 2!!!! As the teaser goes (I saw the trailer during the screening of Sherlock Holmes), this 2010, "Get Carried Away". I loved the series, I loved the first movie and I am sure I will love this too!!!

 
The Blind Side starring Sandra Bullock. If I'm not mistaken, Sandra Bullock was nominated for this film. As far as I know, too, the movie has gotten rave reviews.

Where the Wild Things Are. Based on the classic children's book of the same title, I am curious as to see how this translates to film. Honestly, though, I never got the story hehehe.

Being a big Morgan Freeman fan, Invictus is something I am looking forward too. There's something about him that really captivates me and I have yet to find a Morgan Freeman film that I have not found one I did not enjoy.

and lest I forget, the romantic comedy Valentines Day for the non-Valentine girl in me!!!

There's also Harry Potter 7, Clash of the Titans, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs....so many movies to see! So...take me to the movies?

photos all courtesy and copyright of Warner Bros. Pictures. 

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Dreaming a Little Dream For Me

Sometimes I wish I had a more flexible work schedule, one that would allow me to go on extended vacations. Don't get me wrong: I do love my teaching jobs immensely but every now and then, I wish I could be like some of those people who get to spend long periods of time in various places. Take for example Elizabeth Gilbert, the renowned author of the New York Times Bestseller Eat, Pay, Love. I would love to have the opportunity to take a year off from the everyday routine of work to take some "me" time while working on a novel (yes, my not-so-secret dream is to write a book someday!) and yet not have to worry about where money is going to come from or how I can live a normal life while away from my homeland. I wouldn't like to live as a tourist for extended periods of time after all. If I could do what she did in that year of traveling and discovery to the three lands of "I" (Indonesia, Italy and India), I'd try to find a place to live and move around the city without having to rely on hotels and the like for long. As long as the funding is around, I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to find a short-term lease for an apartment or a room somewhere, as well as finding transportation around the city. I'd like to think that the internet would be a great tool in managing these. Car Rental Comparison, apartment hunting and other short-term leases can be explored and planned out before booking a flight to wherever you go right? Maybe someday this dream can be more than just a dream for me.

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Great Laughs with The Spy Next Door

To be honest, I was not all hell-bent on watching the flick The Spy Next Door starring Jackie Chan in the beginning. Why? I never liked Jackie Chan movies!!! I always felt that his movies were on the brink of corny. However, after being invited to catch a special screening of the film last Thursday, January 14 at SM Megamall, all my perceptions about Jackie Chan changed! He was HILARIOUS! I loved this movie. It had a good mix of comedy, family drama and action all rolled into one.

The story revolves around secret agent Bob Ho as he contemplates giving up his high-action spy life to settle down with his girlfriend Gillian (played by Amber Valletta). This decision apparently brings Bob's biggest challenge: getting Gillian's three kids to welcome him into the fold. However, chaos ensues when Russian terrorists discover that one of the kids inadvertently downloads a formula for their newest weapon.

What I liked best about the film is the impeccable timing of comedy, not just on the part of Jackie Chan, but also that of the characters of the three kids. It was a great way to end the work week for sure!

Directed by Brian Levant and released here in Manila by Viva International Pictures. Catch The Spy Next Door in theaters nationwide starting January 15, 2009.

Much thanks to Viva International Pictures through the coordination of Az Colladilla for the Bloggers invitation to the special screening!

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Calcu-what?!?

Being a teacher, I often get requests for various tutorial services, especially from parents of my former preschool students. When they were younger and still in grade school, I gladly helped them out with their homeworks and reviewing for examinations. Math homework, however, was always a challenge. I remember how one time I really drew a blank when working with one of my middleschoolers' math assignments. And yes, we were just dealing with fractions. So now that one of my first ever students is almost graduating from high school, I had to finally admit that I can no longer help her with her studies. Solve calculus, advanced algebra and geometry? Me? Hah!

While the family is trying to find a suitable Calculus tutor and a replacement for me, I suggested she try finding free math tutoring online so she can cope up with her lessons, especially since we are late into the school year already. Finding Calculus help and free math tutoring is now just a click away after all. As I was telling my student, she's lucky she lives in a highly technological day and age where finding free math homework help is so much easier.

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Happy Birthday Mariel!

One of my really good friends Mariel celebrates her birthday to day and I want to wish her all the best this year. I am thankful to have her as a friend and a kumare as I am her eldest daughter Denise's ninang or godmother. She has taught me a lot of things about life...about how to be grateful and to not sweat the small stuff. We may not see each other often and we don't get together as much as I'd like to, but our friendship I believe goes beyond that.

I am especially thankful this year for her support in my new venture...baking. Well, to be honest it isn't really a new venture as I have been baking for the holidays with my cousin for more than six years now but this year, I am hoping to widen my product base. This is our first order!

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Workless Wednesdays.

Starting this week, I am officially jobless on Wednesdays. Well, to be fair, I do not consider my preschool class as "work" because it's definitely more of my passion compared to something I do for a living. Sure it helps augment my income, but it's all relative to me. So since I need to find a way to finance my luho's or extravagances. So I decided to check the Classified Ads. Initially I thought about going to the news stand and getting a copy of the Manila Bulletin or one of those papers that list not only corporate jobs but even more service oriented type of jobs. Then it hit me: why not go online?

As I browsed the site, I noticed a lot of ads by teachers and private tutors. I think that could be something I can explore. Lessons are definitely up my sleeve, after all, I do teach preschool and college, right? Other than tutorials, I can even teach cooking, arts and crafts or creative writing for kids. However, as I scrolled down futher, something caught my eye: How to Start and Operate a Bakery.

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 As many of my blogger friends know, I've have a home-based baking business. Perhaps since I am workless on Wednesdays, I can do this on the side. What do you think? Unfortunately, the seminar is scheduled for Saturday, January 16 and I am not available to attend this. Maybe some other time!

While I initially aimed to browse only job opportunities on the OLX Classified Ads, I couldn't help but unleash the inner shopaholic in me. Ooooohhhh.....Games, gadgets and toys galore! The upside to shopping online is that I think twice before purchasing something, as compared to in reality where I find myself in the checkout counter before I know it. To be fair, shopping online is also very easy because most sellers allow for PayPal, Bank Deposit and similar payment methods.

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It's in the Small Details: A Sherlock Holmes Movie Review

It's the small details that tell the whole story, says Sherlock Holmes.

Okay, admittedly, I am not one for the small details. In fact, much as I try to recall, I can't remember what it is exactly Sherlock Holmes (played by Robert Downey , Jr.) but in essence, he tells Mary Morstan (played by Kelly Reilly), the love interest of his long-time partner and sidekick Dr. John Watson (played by Jude Law) that the small details are the most telling.

As a child, I loved reading Nancy Drew and Bobbsey Twins stories. However, I never was quick enough to pick up on the clues of these stories. Suffice it to say, I never really ventured into reading the Sherlock Holmes novels or short stories created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Being the lazy reader I am, I was so glad to have gotten the chance to reknowned character brought to life in a film by Guy Richie.

The story takes the viewer to old-town London as Holmes and Watson try to solve the mystery of Lord Blackwood (played by Mark Strong) and his devious plot to destroy England. The duo take on the streets of London  looking for clues to stop this from happening. Add to the mix "the woman", the only woman to impress Holmes in his stories, Irene Adler (played by Rachel McAdams). Her presence, as well as Watson's pending engagement, brings Holmes into a quandry emotionally.

I loved how the cinematography and scenery really took me back to what that era must really be like. From the costumes to the cobblestones of London's streets, the carriages and the tunnels and canals, I really felt like I was taken back to that time period. However, it seemed to me that there was still so much of the story left out, mainly because I am not a big Holmes/Doyle fan (as I said, I never really sat down to read the stories!), thus I really had no background about the characters and the prevalent storyline. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the film a lot, especially as I saw how all the little details and a bit of chemistry tied the story up well in the end.

Watching the Sherlock Holmes press screening last night with many of my blogger friends was indeed a great way to kick off 2010! I hope this year I really get to meet my goal of seeing 30 movies. I missed it by 6 last year!

Many thanks to our friends at Warner Bros. Pictures for the invitation :-)

Sherlock Holmes opens in theaters nationwide on Friday, January 8, 2010.

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Living on A Budget

If there's one thing I suck at, it's math. Ergo, because I'm bad at math, my plans of living on a budget always fail. Okay, okay, I know I'm making excuses here!!! Seriously though, this 2010 I have to work on this aspect of my life better, after all, I'm not getting any younger!

One thing I always make sure I have planned out in my budget though are the insurance premiums I have to pay every quarter or year. Besides my auto insurance, I am also on the final leg of my life insurance policy payments. This year I'm contemplating upping my car insurance to include the "acts of God" clause, especially after the aftermath of Typhoon Ondoy. I have a couple of weeks to decide, as my present plan expires mid-February. In the meantime, I'm doing some research and reading about what the benefits of each company or plan may be. It's kind of difficult to decide because each has it's own pros and cons. I even read about Temporary Insurance and short-term plans that are available. I guess what I should do first is to list down my needs and use this to determine what plan works out best for me.

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My Grown Up Christmas List

One of my favorite Christmas songs is My Grown Up Christmas List. From it's haunting melody to it's beautiful words, this song serves as an inspiration for me. Over the past holidays, I have had a lot to time to reflect on the year that was and the road that lies ahead. It got me to thinking about what it is I would wish for if I made my own grown up Christmas List.

When I first started thinking of wish lists, it was because of a giveaway I read about at NomNomClub.com, but the more I thought of it, the song kept playing in my head so I knew this was what my wish list would be all about

Borrowing the melody and part of the lyrics, here is what I would wish for:

Do you remember me
I sat upon your knee
I wrote to you
With childhood fantasies

Well, I'm all grown up now
And still need help somehow
I'm not a child
But my heart still can dream

So here's my lifelong wish
My grown up christmas list
Not for myself
But for a world in need

No more CHILD LEFT BEHIND
That ALL WOULD HAVE A CHANCE
TO MAKE A BRAND NEW START
And everyone would PLAY IT FAIR
And JUSTICE WOULD PREVAIL 
And LOVE FOR THE EARTH WILL NOT END,
This is my grown up Christmas list

I know the things on my wish list may be impossible to meet, but I still believe that if we all cared enough, SOMETHING CAN BE DONE.

While I was in Boracay over the holidays, it kind of saddened me when I saw rows of Aklanon natives begging for food and money as we tourists enjoyed ourselves in the island paradise. Two of the kids even begged my mom for some of the food on her plate while in the buffet line. These children are left behind by society: they will be uneducated, unfed and uncared for unless we try to do something. On the upside, I think some companies in the island are helping them by providing opportunities for these families to make a brand new start, which is my second wish. For example, the Greek Taverna Cyma in Boracay is holding a special dinner on January 24 when part of the proceeds will benefit the natives of the island. Another shoe company is doing the same thing. For my part, I will make it a point to get more involved in advocacies this 2010 which will benefit the underserved populations in our country.

One of the biggest problems in our country is that people just don't play fair. On the road, for example, people try to get ahead by cutting in front of others, all for a few measly minutes. If we all played fair, traffic would be so much less. In the same way, if we just play fair, things would be so much nicer!

In the same breath, I wish that justice would really become a reality. Take for example the Ampatuan case and the Maguindanao massacre. If we don't become vigilant and do something about it, it could just be that justice will yet be another elusive dream.

Lastly, and perhaps the most attainable of all of my wishes, is that we all will not stop loving our earth. We have seen the onslaught of Mother Nature last 2009. Her fury was felt by millions and unless we start making changes, we will continue down the destructive path till the world as we know it would be so different. We can make little changes in our own ways everyday...be it by bringing your own baon to work or school to becoming a more responsible steward by refusing plastic and recycling.

So these are my wishes...truly very different from the childhood dreams I had whispered under my breath and written to Santa about. This is my own grown up Christmas list.

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