Lessons

I am actually enjoying my studies this time. The module is interesting. I'm done with dreams and now, I'm in the Conditioning and Learning topic. A few more chapters to go and I'll have to submit another exam. If I go like this everyday, I'll be done with this course hopefully by April. It will be interesting to see how I could apply all I learned to the boys and our homeschooling. I'm really glad I took this course. Not only is it very interesting but it really opens my eyes to a lot of things. Anyway, maybe in the future I could pursue a more formal education. For now, I am content with my lessons, my pace and my learning.

Important Possession

Me in front of an important possession: my laptop. Let me make it clear that the only reason it's important to me is because it's my lifeline to Ruther. That's it and that's all.

Campbell's 15-Minute Herbed Chicken

1 tbsp. vegetable oil
4 boneless chicken breasts, halved
1 can Campbell's cream of chicken with herbs soup
1/2 C milk

Heat oil in skillet. Add chicken and cook until browned. Add soup and milk. Heat to a boil. Cover and cook over low heat min or until done. Serves 4.

Missing Japan

Now that Ruther is back in Japan, I am missing that country all the more. I remember last year when we were there, it was still pretty cold at this time. I would still wear like 3 layers of clothing because it was my first taste of winter. I miss the new experience, waking up to a new day everyday, always anticipating what would happen the next few minutes and hours and wondering if I'll be learning something new that day. I miss days when I would ride the train and not worry about getting lost. I miss cooking for my family and planning menus. I miss sharing new experiences and making it on our own in a new place, in a new country. It was all so exhilarating. But most importantly, we were together and THAT is what I miss and want the most.

Our Love Is Here to Stay

by Nat King Cole

It's very clear, our love is here to stay
Not for a year but ever and a day
The radio and the telephone and the movies that we know
May just be passing fancies and in time may go

But oh, my dear, our love is here to stay
Together we're going a long, long way
In time the Rockies may crumble, Gibraltar may tumble
They're only made of clay
But our love is here to stay

In time the Rockies may crumble, Gibraltar may tumble
They're only made of clay
But our love is here to stay

Today's Happenings

I haven't been updated with the news for a while now. It's not that I don't care (okay, maybe a teeny part of me doesn't) but politics does not interest me at all. I find it very disturbing, boring and utterly chaotic. Besides, I would not want bad news from the politicl arena to ruin my day so I try to stay away from the news as much as possible. I figure, if it's THAT important, I would hear about it anyway. But this morning, when I went to the bakery to buy some hot, yummy pandesal for breakfast I decided to get a paper as well. Well, the only word I could use to describe the headlines was "shocking"! I mean, what is happening to the Philippines? I know there are problems in the government but all this transparency is destroying us all. I mean, isn't there a more subtle (I'm not saying "hushed") way of fixing all these problems? Frankly, I don't even know what all the problems are. I hear things like ZTE, stocks falling, calling GMA's resignation (is this going to be a frequent thing in Philippine history?!?!?), J de Venecia and all that. It's all very disturbing, confusing and irritating. Really, who could take the Philippine government seriously with all these controversies? Really really depressing. I wish all those people would just resign on their own and fresh new people step up. Or, we could always migrate. Now that's an idea...

.....

The weather is so wonderfully cool these days. I don't know and I don't care if it matches my melancholy mood but it's just nice to sit in front of the window and look at all the gloominess around. I would curl up in bed with a good book hugging Ruther's pillow and have my coffee nearby. I would walk to the bakery with a light jacket because if I don't, I would have goosebumps when I reach home. It's just so wonderfully cool but then again, such weather just makes me miss my sweetie all the more.

Sigh. I hate this.

Missing My Baby

At Racks, Greenhills. Miss my sweetie so much...

Since I'm Alone This Valentine's Day...

Have a date with yourself
By Niño Mark Sablan
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Last updated 18:47:00 02/12/2008

MANILA, Philippines—The number 2 seems to be the official number of Valentine’s Day. Everyone is in pairs: lovers in Luneta, couples enjoying dinner at the best restaurants in town, partners watching a movie or a special V-Day concert.

No need to fret though if you are alone, single and cannot grab the nearest person even for a faux date. This February 14, why not spend quality time and have a date with someone who will never get enough of love from you?

I’m referring to you.

Love yourself and don’t feel guilty or selfish about it. V-day is for loving, after all, even if it doesn’t involve another person.

Below are some “me-date” ideas that you might want to do on the 14th—and maybe on the next days to come! Remember, love shouldn’t be expressed only during special occasions.

If watching a romantic movie all alone while being surrounded by lovey-dovey couples makes you want to roll your eyes for two hours, consider enjoying filmdom’s best at home then.

Bring out those Meg Ryan (the queen of romantic, feel-good films) DVDs or VCDs together with a box of tissue since you’ll probably end up sniffing within the first 30 minutes.

Why not rent those Drew Barrymore and Reese Witherspoon movies and relate to their breakup scenes or even be inspired by their eventual meet-Prince-Charming point?

The best thing about watching romantic movies at home is you can cry your eyeballs out without bothering your seatmates.

Are you the type who’d feel bad if you found yourself the only single person in a couples-filled restaurant?

Don’t go out then and just bring the candlelit dinner to your home. Flip through your recipe books or go online to find a special dish that sounds both yummy and easy. Dash to the grocery and grab your ingredients. And then head home and release your inner Wolfgang Puck.

Don’t forget to light a candle, dim the lights and play some Sade before you enjoy your culinary creation.

Afterward, congratulate yourself for a cooking job (hopefully) well done. If you feel a bit sad, pat your back for being so independent—and maybe for being like those movie characters waiting for happy endings—and everything should be peachy.

Pamper yourself
One way to love yourself is for you to take great care of your body. So instead of the usual shoe-shopping or wardrobe-hunting, a great idea is to head to the grocery in search of the healthiest food and drinks around.

Not only will you do your body good, you’ll also realize how long you have been missing out on some of the best-tasting treats out there such as cranberry juice, granola bars and soy milk with green tea.

After shopping, try out even for just a day some physical activity that you’ve never entertained doing. The options are several and all of them are surely fun and calorie-burning: muay thai, yoga or indoor wall-climbing.

Nothing beats some all-day pampering so, while everyone is out having dates, schedule an appointment with your favorite manicurist, barber and masseuse. Have those nails cleaned and colored.

Moisturize your stressed and traumatized mop of locks. Ditch the already-passé Rihanna hairstyle (even she has ditched it already!) and go for a new chic cut.
Glow after a facial. Groom those eyebrows. Have your teeth cleaned or whitened. Opt for a Brazilian wax.

Moan as someone gives you a massage.

E-mail the author at ninomarksablan@yahoo.com

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/you/2bu/view/20080212-118430/Have-a-date-with-yourself