Sunday, December 31, 2006

Like Water for Coke

My new year's resolution for this year is... to drink more water.

Quite simple right? But I think this is something important that I have been not giving much attention.

As you may know, aside from coffee, the Coffee fairy also loves Coke Light (equivalent to Diet Coke in United States and Europe). I've been trying to avoid it but the flesh is weak :P. Imagine how hard it is to resist the Coke Light temptation everyday at work where we have a refrigerator full of it. But yes, I do get to resist the temptation sometimes so there are days when I do skip my one can daily dosage :) . The idea that it has zero calories gives me this psychological assurance that it is not unhealthy but yeah, of course that is just what we call conditioning of the mind because we know that too much caffeine is not good. When I was in California last August though I discovered this Coca-Cola product: Caffeine free Diet Coke!!! It was the perfect solution to my caffeine intake concerns but too bad it is not available in Singapore (yes, I tried loking for it in the imported products grocery but didn't find it.)

Anyway, going back to my new year's resolution: I am going to drink more water because water is essential in maintaining a good health. We've heard this a lot of times I'm sure, from our moms, our doctors, health advertisements, everywhere but we tend not to take it seriously, do we?

So I do hope that this year I'd be less stubborn about it. A simple thing like this indeed may seem easy to fulfill but never underestimate the power of non-water seductions. :P


Cheers to year 2007! Happy New year to everyone!

Tuesday, December 26, 2006

I Miss Him

He is my bestfriend, my confidant. He has always been there for me, thru thick and thin. I've known Him since I was a child but it was only a couple of years ago when our relationship bloomed when I devoted myself to Him, all my heart and soul. I survived because of Him, He gave me a second life which I now am living.

Yet as time passed and I have finally taken hold of my life, I have taken Him for granted. He is still in my heart but I know I have been distant. I have been busy making myself busy that I have not given Him my time that He deserves. We used to talk before I go to sleep, we used to spend quality time on Sundays talking about His love for the world. I used to read His works. But now I fall asleep as soon as I lay on my bed, my Sunday meetings with Him seem to just be a part of my routine -- I go to His house, I stay for an hour then I rush off.

As me and my family gathered around our Christmas eve dinner and I led the thanksgiving prayer, I bowed my head and closed my eyes...and I saw Him smile as I said out loud for us to remember the real essence of Christmas -- His birth. I felt His presence and my heart felt the familiar warm feeling of being close to Him. I miss Him and I know He misses me too.

And so I am going to spend more time with Him. Yes, I will.

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Happy Holidays!

The coffee fairy is spending the holidays back in her homeland, the Philippines. :)
Oh yes, two weeks of eating galore for sure. So much for wish list number 16. hehe. =P

Maligayang pasko at manigong bagong taon!

(Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year!)

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Mon Homme Idéal

Mon homme idéal est un homme de Dieu. C'est spirituel et il va à l'église. Il est fidele et honnête. Il a compassion. Non, je ne chercher pas un prêtre, just un bon homme.

Mon homme idéal adore le voyage comme moi et nous verrons le monde ensemble. Mon homme idéal a un travail stable. Il est responsible et fiable. Il a des bons principes dans la vie mais il comprend et respecte mes principes, aussi. Il aime ma famille et mes amis, et ma famille et mes amis aimes lui, aussi. Il m'aime beaucoup même si je suis de mauvaise humeur.

Parce que mon Française est limité, je décrirai just mon homme idéal physiquement maintenant: Mon homme idéal est grand mais seulement maximum un metre 80. Il est intelligent mais ce n'est pas un genié. Il a des beaux cheveux blonde comme le soleil. Il a les yeaux bleu comme le ciel. Il a un beau nez. Il a un sourire gentil qui fond mon coeur.

English translation:
My ideal man is a man of God. He's spiritual and he goes to church. He is loyal and honest. He has compassion. No, I am not looking for a priest, just a good man.

My ideal man adores travel like me and we'll see the world together. My ideal man has a stable job. He is responsible and reliable. He has good principles in life but he understands and respectsmy principles also. He likes my family and friends, and my friends and family like him too. He loves me very much even if I am in bad mood.

Because my French is limited, I will just describe my ideal man in physical aspect now:My ideal man is tall but maximum of 1.80 meters. He is intelligent but he is not a genius. He has nice blonde hair like the sun. He has blue eyes like the sky. He has a beautiful nose. He has a gentle smile that melts my heart.

*****

My first semester of my Elementary French language course ended today. I really enjoyed the class because I have a wonderful teacher and classmates. For the last 8 weeks I had something to look forward to every Wednesday night (and had a good excuse to leave work early, hehe). For our last session, our professor asked us to describe in no less than 100 words, our ideal man/woman. Hence, my composition above (with corrections from my professor). Reading it again, I am quite proud of what I have been able to write given my limited knowledge of the French language. Hopefully, in a few more months I'll be better with my French and maybe someday I'll be fluently speaking it as well. But I want to emphasize though that the part where I described my ideal man in aesthetics is just for me to be able to use what we have learned in our last session, that is, physical description. In reality, I believe each man can be handsome in his own way. ;-)

Friday, December 08, 2006

My Christmas 2006 wish list



My good friend Maia asked me this morning to send her my wish list for this Christmas which made me thought of creating this blog entry. So here you go...

1. My Story by Dave Pelzer (book)

2. Tape measure for carpenters (I want to measure my bedroom windows to know the length of the curtains I need) =P

3. Bridget Jones diary CD soundtrack

4. The Best of Enya /Paint the Sky with Stars CD

5. Cute stress ball

6. 2007 Planner/organizer desk notebook – one week per 2 pages

7. 2007 pocket planner – one week per 2 pages

8. 2007 desk calendar in cute design =)

9. Clinique Happy perfume

10. Simple beige office bag big enough to contain an A4 sized folder.

11. Simple black shoulder bag big enough to contain my gym clothes, rubbershoes, wallet and a pocketbook but without making me look like I am carrying the world.

12. There’s this pair of very nice black stillettos at Charles and Keith that’s on 20% off sale =D

13. There’s this nice brown belt at Espirit…

14. Ipod nano 30GB/ Creative 30GB

15. Tennis racket (thin grip and lightweight)

16. 5 kilos off my current weight

17. Speak and write in French just as how I can in English

18. 60 days annual paid leaves at work

19. Unlimited travel voucher to anywhere in the world

20. Toyota Vios/Honda City/Mazda ZoomZoom

21. Ranch + orchard + vineyard

22. House in Orange County , CA

23. Have magical power that will make my bedroom spic and span in one clap

24. Mr. Right

25. World peace

****

haha, I think I'm too much wishful thinking with this list. I'm fine with any gift, I'm happy enough to be thought of this Christmas ;-)

Sunday, December 03, 2006

Notes from Siem Reap, Cambodia

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~While waiting at Changi airport for Debbie, one of my best friends since High school: It's impossible for me to read/study when I wait in excitement.

~While spending 6 hours in Changi airport to wait for our flight to Siem Reap: Waiting is not a drag when you have somebody to talk to. Even if the flight is an hour delayed. :)

~Upon arrival at Siem Reap International Airport: Impressive! An airport that looks like a resort!

~After passing the Immigration: Unbelievably, there is one place in the world that the Philippine passport is more privileged than the powerful passports (e.g. American, European, Singaporean, Japanese). All foreign visitors to Cambodia are required to get a visa except for nationals from Brunei, Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia. Yeah baby! ;-)

~On my first glimpse of Siem Reap: The place reminds me of Nueva Ecija, my province in the Philippines, except that in Siem Reap, hammocks are part of their life, almost all houses have hammocks.

~While touring the floating village in Siem Reap's river,Tonle Sap (Asia's largest river): People who live along the lake must have really strong arms from all those paddling to move around...

~On the Land Mine museum: I was expecting for a typical museum but voila! But it's still nice for me and it's free!

~On Siem Reap going about: Whoa! I was like in an American France or a French America - An interesting irony in Cambodia is that you can buy everything by using US dollars and yet all around the place are French translations.

~On the elephant ride: I felt like a princess being paraded around. haha. =P

~On eating green mangoes and almost a pint of ice cream: I should never ever do this again. Lactose intolerance plus wrong food combination equals stomach revolution.

~On tomb raiding the temples of Angkor Thom, Bayon and Angkor Wat: Magnificent is an understatement. Just be ready with your legs, need to do a lot of walking around and climbing to
explore them.

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~On our dinner at our last night in Siem Reap: I felt so privileged that our tour guide took us to a non-tourist place, as in it was the usual restaurant of the locals where the guests had their own little hut with hammocks (of course) on the sides and in the middle is the table without legs and no chairs so it was like Japanese style. We played cards while waiting for our food.

~On our tour guide asking me and Debbie how long we've known each other: Almost fourteen years! Oh my God, has it been that long now?!

~On having a tour guide: Having a tour guide does not mean there will be no spontaneity. With limited time of stay, one could not afford to lose time experimenting how to go about. And it depends on the itinerary as well. Our tour guide, Vichet is the best! Thanks a million to missy G-Clef for recommending him to us.

~On this trip in general: One of my best travels! I love love love! =D


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*Photocredits to me and Debbie. ;-)