Oranges and Melons

Here’s my take for this weeks Saturday Six

1. On an average year, how many days before Christmas do you generally finish your Christmas shopping?

** usually just 3 days before

2. Is the economy making you spend any less on gifts this year, or are you spending about the same?

** I’d say I’d be spending a lot lesser this year, focus on only key friends family members that have been with us sticking through thick or thin.

3. What part of the Christmas scene do you find the most chaotic? What part do you generally worry most about?

** The christmas shopping, there is just people everywhere..lots of them even of you go to just the tiangge or the night market. Also the banks.

4. Take the quiz: What Movie is Your Christmas Most Like?

Your Christmas is Most Like: A Charlie Brown Christmas

**
Each year, you really get into the spirit of Christmas.
Which is much more important to you than nifty presents.

5. What Christmas movie is your favorite? Which one is your least favorite?

6. What Christmas tradition from years past do you miss the most now?

** The early dawn mass, I used to complete the 9 mornings then, but now, due to unpredictable work schedule I am unable to do that anymore.

Join us HERE

We were quite late for the early mass, nevertheless this took my attention so I took a quick photo of the lights of the city hall situated just near the cathedral. Advanced Merry Christmas to all.

PhotoHunt

Wide array of clay arts made by the participants of the DOPPSA camp. Photo taken last September. I hope it fits the theme well.

I am participating this week on Aggie’s Meme.. Aggie Wants To Know (AWTK#5), here goes the:

2008 Wrap Up — Second Half Edition:

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE THAT YOU’VE NEVER DONE BEFORE?

** digital scrapbooking, I just discovered that creative part of me August this year when I decided to focus on making layout designs for my family.

DID YOU KEEP YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS?

** some of them, I think that is what I have to really work on this coming year.

DID ANYONE CLOSE TO YOU GIVE BIRTH?

** none, so far

DID ANYONE CLOSE TO YOU DIE?

** not really close to the person but he is the uncle of my mom, he dies 2 weeks ago I guess, they just texted me the news.

WHAT COUNTRIES DID YOU VISIT?

** never had visited any foreign country though.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR THAT YOU LACKED EARLY THIS YEAR?

** hmm this is one tough question to answer, I’d like to have consistency in things that I am working on for about few months now and a little more stability would really be of a lot of help.

WHAT DATE WILL REMAIN ETCHED UPON YOUR MEMORY AND WHY?

** November 19…because thats when I was given another opportunity that I would really be thankful for.

WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT OF THE YEAR?

** being able to learn how to scrapbook digitally, learn Photoshop little by little by just reading through online tutorials, and starting to learn the ins and outs of blogging..well if you really wanna learn something nowadays, it is either you research and learn by it on your own or pay for it…nobody really helps nowadays you know.

WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST FAILURE?

** well I had several “failures” in my life and I am trying to learn from them, probably what I learn is justto value whatever it is that you have.

DID YOU SUFFER ILLNESS OR INJURY?

** with Gods grace I haven’t so as with my family

WHAT WAS THE BEST THING YOU BOUGHT?

** I didn’t bought this technically but hubby did, my laptop and the digital camera.

WHOSE BEHAVIOR MERITED CELEBRATION?

** my family

WHOSE BEHAVIOR MADE YOU APPALLED AND DEPRESSED?

** some people I thought were friends

WHERE DID MOST OF YOUR MONEY GO?

** bills, family needs..the basics you know

WHAT DID YOU GET REALLY, REALLY, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT?

** christmas, we will be getting 2 weeks off so I am excited to again stay home and spend time with my kid, I think he really misses me and H much.

WHAT SONG(S) WILL ALWAYS REMIND YOU OF THINGS THAT HAPPENED EARLY THIS YEAR?

** Ne-yo’s Closer…I hear it a lot and I like the music.

COMPARED TO THIS TIME, LAST YEAR, ARE YOU:

I. HAPPIER OR SADDER?

** 50-50..thsi year is more of a point of realization for us.

II. THINNER OR FATTER?

** I am not sure, I look the same though… I still need to lose some more weight.

III. RICHER OF POORER?

** mone of the above..hehehehe, just average.

WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU’D DONE MORE?

** patience

WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU’D DONE LESS OF?

** whining *wink*
HOW WILL YOU BE SPENDING CHRISTMAS?

** just here at home with my family

DID YOU FALL IN LOVE?

** of course I did, with my H and K

HOW MANY ONE-NIGHT STANDS?

** I am soooo way over that.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TV PROGRAM?

** Charmed….but now I watch Barefoot Contessa

DO YOU HATE ANYONE NOW THAT YOU DIDN’T HATE THIS TIME LAST YEAR?

** nope

WHAT WAS THE BEST BOOK YOU READ?

** Shopaholic and Baby by Sophie Kinsella

WHAT WAS YOUR GREATEST MUSICAL DISCOVERY?

** none so far

WHAT DID YOU WANT AND GET?

I had 3 things I wanted that I got this year…..my digital camera which I got last January, my laptop which I got around February and the Belle de Jour Planner that I won from Yen’s contest just this month.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE FILM OF THIS YEAR?

** Eagle Eye… I loved the movie

WHAT DID YOU DO ON YOUR BIRTHDAY, AND HOW OLD WERE YOU?

** H and I went to the mall with our kid to celebrate my birthday, we just bought a dozen of my favorite doughnuts, ate out, had my kid play xbox on a gaming shop, went to a nearby church to say thanks, bought myself a pair of shoes and we went home after.

WHAT ONE THING WOULD HAVE MADE YOUR HALF YEAR IMMEASURABLY MORE SATISFYING?

** I would get back on you with the answer for this
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL FASHION CONCEPT THIS PAST HALF YEAR?

** just  the same, I don’t really dress up or buy things to go with the trend, just the regular jeans and shirt or blouse is fine.

WHAT KEPT YOU SANE?

** my family and the internet of course hehehehe!

WHICH CELEBRITY / PUBLIC FIGURE DID YOU FANCY THE MOST?

** Reese Witherspoon

WHAT POLITICAL ISSUE STIRRED YOU THE MOST?

** 2008 US Elections

WHO DID YOU MISS?

** my parents and siblings

PhotoHunt

There goes my kid anxious to eat that Kopi Roti bun. Happy Hunting to all!

1) What is the most unbelievable thing you have ever witnessed?
**Hmmm, probably when I saw the lightning struck the tree.

2) If you could change your identity completely (money no object), what would the new you be like?
** Hmmm.., this one is tough but I think it would have nothing to do with the identity, I’m pretty much contented, it would be more of physical, I would love to slim down you know

3) What would you do if you saw someone making fun of another person?
** Just give them a stare if I don;t know them but if I do know them, I’ll certainly give thema piece of my mind.

4) If you could go back to the Garden of Eden and talk to Adam and Eve for five minutes, what would you say?
** That life has been hard after they shared the apple hehehehe
5) Show and Tell. What comes to mind first when you see this picture? Or, tell a story if it reminds you of one.

** There might be a ceremony of some sort, since the room is decorated with lots of flowers and it has lots of chairs,

Ito ay kuha nuong 2004, ang aking anak at kapatid ay nagkakatuwaan at pinaglaruan ang baby powder. And resulta madumi silang dalawa pati ang bahay.

{ Photo taken last 2004 mg sister and my kid was playing with the baby powder, the result a dirt house and their dirty selves.}

1) What book has most touched your soul?
**  Chicken Soup for the Working Mom’s Soul
2) How do you think being a teenager today is different from when you were a teenager?
** There are lots of areas of difference and are many to mention, but just to give an example…in our time a teenagers doesn’t talk back to their parents and has high respect to their parents but nowadays even a 9 year old can talk back without fear.
3) If you found out for sure there was no afterlife at all, would you change how you live your life?
** No, I would live the same way but there might be some things to change.
4) What is the biggest regret of your life so far?
** None so far
5) Show and Tell. What comes to mind first when you see this picture? Or, tell a story if it reminds you of one.

** reminds me of nature, of being out there to explore the wonders of life.

1. Between breakfast, lunch or dinner, which meal are you most likely to skip on a typical day?
*** breakfast…hubby and I are not breakfast eaters, we just have coffee and thats it, though sometimes we do eat breakfast…but we make sure our little one has his.

2. Do you prefer a hot breakfast, like oatmeal, or a cold breakfast, like cereal?
*** hot breakfast..like eggs, bacon, toast..oatmeal is ok but I’m not much of a fan, though hubby is

3. When you’re in the mood for a big breakfast, what do you typically crave?
*** bacon, home-made pancakes, sunny side up eggs…sometimes garlic bread, coffee or orange juice.

4. Take the quiz: What kind of muffin are you?
*** You Are a Blueberry Muffin

You are a nurturing, domestic, homey person.
Of all the types, you are the most likely to make your own muffins at home.You don’t like to rock the boat, and you’re most content when you’re making everyone else happy.
You are very loyal. You’ll defend your family and friends, even if you secretly disapprove of what they’re doing.

You tend to be a bit shy and withdrawn. You don’t make friends quickly or easily.
But once you do make a good friend, the chances are high that you’ll be friends for life.

5. What are you more likely to cook for yourself for breakfast if you’re alone: a stack of pancakes, a waffle, or grits?
*** Pancakes, if not home made theres those easy to cook ones, and we usually do have pancake syrup at home and some nice butter…so there.

6. What’s your favorite beverage to drink with your breakfast?
*** coffee…nothing beats coffee

Join us HERE

Twing Bagong Taon, aming kinagisnan na maghanda ng mga pagkain na bilog kahit na yung 12 prutas na bilog. Hindi kami masyado naghahanda pag pasko, mas gusto namin na maghanda para sa media noche. Yan ang kinagisnan naming mag-asawa.

{ During New Year, we always prepare food that are round and sweet, even the 12 round fruits are has always been tradition even to other families. We don’t usually prepare much during Christmas, we usually celebrate New Year more.}

Join the fun HERE

1) Whose thoughts would you most like to read?
** Oprah’s
2) How do you feel when someone smiles at you?
** I’ll smile back, I don’t want to be rude
3) If you were allowed to teach any course (real or made-up by you) at any university in the world, where and what would you teach?
** I would teach English Literature at UCLA
4) If you could be buried or have your ashes spread anywhere at all, where would it be?
** My ashes will be scattered in the ocean
5) Show and Tell. What comes to mind first when you see this picture? Or, tell a story if it reminds you of one.

** actually it is too small to tell but probably it is a building about to fall down.

PhotoHunt

My favorite Krispy Kreme flavors “togeher” in a box. Photo taken during my hubbys arrival from Manila. Just love it.

Dahil sa dahilang ako ay walang naka scan na mga lumang larawan para sa tema ngayong linggo, naisip ko na itong unang araw ng anak ko sa iskwela at ang unang pagkakataon na sha ay pumasok sa skwela ang shang aking ilalahok sa tema. Sana magustuhan ninyo.

{ Because of the reason that I have no scanner to scan my old pictures for this weeks theme, I thought that this photo of my son during his first day at school would be just m entry for this week, this was taken before he was on his way to school and it was his first time schooling as well. Hope you like it. }

1. What’s the best new website you’ve found?

• Overseas Pinoy Cooking
• Stuck in Customs
• Jen Wilson Designs

2. What’s the best movie you’ve seen?

** Terminal

3. What’s the best quote you know?

**  Change in all things is sweet.
Aristotle

4. What’s the best book you’ve read?

** Books written by Sophie Kinsella

5. What’s the best thing someone’s done for you?

** Accepting and Understanding me for who I am

6. What’s the best thing about your job?

** I get to talk to people outside my country

7. What’s the best CD you own?

** Babyface CD’s

8. What’s the best new TV show you watch?

** Barefoot Contessa

9. What’s the best car you’ve owned?

** Hmmmm…never owned one