Tombstone

Done With "The Zahir"

Wow. Although not as compelling as “The Alchemist", Paul Coelho’s new book “The Zahir”was thought- provoking, similar to “Eleven Minutes”, written by the same author. After reading its final page last night, I sat still on the couch, mulling over questions provoked by Coelho’s thoughts.

Thoughts about love, marriage, rules, taboos, happiness and life. I sat there and reviewed my life, my past personal history and how much of it was spent conforming to other people’s rules and standards. How I should love. Who I should love. How I should be loved. How long I should love. That marriage should be according to whatever our own religions taught us.

I wanna write more about the book and the stuff it made me think about, the feelings it stirred in me and the new learnings it brought to my heart. But I shall not do so. I know I have a few friends who might wanna read it too and I don’t wanna spoil it for them.

All I can say is that after reading the book, I decided that I shall let no one dictate me of how and who I should love, ignore the pressure of social norms and let go of my personal history for me to enjoy life today. I shall go and do things not because I read them in some stupid “Things To Do Before You Turn 30” kind of books but because I made my own list.

And when I grow old, I will be happy for I charted my own course and drew my own map.

And so my epitaph shall say:

Here lies a woman who lived and died without regrets…

Itunes + Phone?

Should I seriously consider getting this new phone? My contract with T-mobile expired a while ago so maybe I should give this phone a test drive at the Cingular store. It's first phone in US to play Apple iTunes and holds up to 100 iTunes songs! It includes surround-sound stereo speakers and headset.
Hmmm.... Sounds good but... we'll see.

Too Soon

Isn’t it too soon for overcast skies and cooler temps? Too soon for falling leaves and earlier sunsets. No, I’m not ready for Fall yet. I haven’t had enough with my Summer. I haven’t had enough of late sunsets, blue skies and the warmth of the midday sun. No, please, don’t go yet Summer. Stay for a while…

(I still have new running shorts to wear and cool tank tops I just bought. Hehehe.)

But I know you will go and nothing can stop you. You will leave me just like all the Summers in my past. They all left me, pining for more. But nevertheless, they all left me knowing that in less than a year, another Summer will come. Another Summer shall caress me with its warm days and beautiful sunsets. Another Summer that will always seem to be better than the last.

Oh Summer. Why do you have to be so fleeting? Why do you have to leave me dreading long winter nights and cold, rainy days? When will I learn to enjoy Winter just as much as I enjoy you? And when will I learn to embrace Fall just as much as I embrace you? What with its beautiful warm colors that soothes the heart that still grieving for Summer. Spring comes carrying bouquets of pretty flowers yet still not enough to cheer my heart that’s still longing for Summer.

Though I’m quite sad that you’re leaving this soon, I won’t cry. I will just rest inside my warm cocoon, content to just wait for another Summer to come.

So goodbye Summer. Go. Don’t hesitate now. No more of those tiny glimmer of false hopes peeking through dark winter clouds. And please don’t confuse me anymore with warm temps in early spring that last only for a moment.

Please, just go. And let me patiently wait for my next Summer to come. And when it does, your memory, too, will be long gone.

The New iPOD Nano

The New iPod nano - everything you love about iPod... only smaller. Up to 1,000 songs.

Excerpt From My Fave Author

from pp. 34-35 of Paul Coelho's book: "The Zahir"

“Some people appear to be happy, but they simply don’t give the matter much thought. Others make plans: I’m going to have a husband, a home, two children, a house in the country. As long as they’re busy doing that, they’re like bulls looking for the bullfighter: they react instinctively, they blunder on, with no idea where the target is. They get their car, sometimes they even get a Ferrari, and they think that’s the meaning of life, and they never question it. Yet their eyes betray the sadness that even they don’t know they carry in their soul…

“I don’t know if everyone is unhappy. I know they’re all busy: working overtime, worrying about theur children, their husband, their career, their degree, what they’re going to do tomorrow, what they need to buy, what they need to have in order not to feel inferior, etc. Very few people actually say to me: ‘I’m unhappy.’ Most say: ‘I’m fine, I’ve got everything I ever wanted.’ Then I ask: ‘What makes you happy?’ Answer: ‘I’ve got everything a person could possibly want – a family, a home, work, good health.’ Iask again: ‘Have you ever stopped to wonder if that’s all there is to life?’ Answer: ‘Yes, that’s all there is.’ I insist: ‘So the meaning of life is work, family, children who will grow up and leave you, a wife or husband who will become more like afriend than a real lover. And of course, one day your work will end too. What will you do when that happens?’

“…What they say is: ‘When the children have grown up, when my husband— or my wife— has become more my friend than my passionate lover, when I retire, then I’ll have time to do what I always wanted to do: travel.’ Question: ‘But didn’t you say you were happy now? Aren’t you already doing what you always wanted to do?’ Then they say they’re very busy and change the subject.

“If I insist, they always do come up with something they’re lacking. The businessman that hasn’t closed the deal he wanted, the housewife would like to have more independence and more money, the boy who’s in love is afraid of losing his girlfriend, the new graduate wonders if he chose his career or of it was chosen for him, the dentist wanted to be a singer, the singer wanted to be a politician, the politician wanted to be a writer, the writer wanted to be a farmer. And even when I did meet someone who was doing what he had chosen to do, the person’s soul was still in torment. He hadn’t found th peace yet either. So I’ll ask you again: ‘Are you happy?’”

Ako Ba Ang Malabo?

Ang kulit talaga minsan!

Tumawag ako sa Lucky Money kanina para ifollow-up kung natanggap na ng tita ko yong pinadala kong pera kasi tinatawagan ko ang cellphone niya, eh, wala yatang load. Anyway….

Eto ang conversation ko sa taga Lucky Money:

Siya: Hello
Ako: Itatanong ko lang kung natanggap na ng recipient yong pinadala kong pera nong isang araw.
Siya: Kelan niyo po pinadala?
Ako: Noong August 30
Siya: Ok. Pero kailan niyo po pinadala.
Ako: August 30 nga
Siya: Oooh. August 30 nga pala.

Ang gulo! So binigay ko information like receipt number, recipient name, etc.

Siya: Nasa banko na po yong pera pero hindi naming malalaman kung pinik-up na yong pera. Pero ti-next na po yong recipient.
Ako: Yon nga yong problema ko, kaya kahapon pa ako tumwag sa inyo. Kasi wala na yatang cellphone yong pinadalhan ko ng pera.
Siya: Paano niyo alam na wala nang cellphone.
Ako: Eh kasi tumawag ako, eh wala yatang load, kasi cannot be reached.
Siya: Pero ti-next na po siya eh.
Ako: Baka hindi natanggap yong text kasi nga hindi yata nag-wowork yong cellphone.
Siya: Eh sabi niyo tumawag kayo. Paano niyo alam na wala na siyang cellphone.

By this time, sobrang iritado na ako! Gusto ko siyang murrain kasi hindi niya magets yong sinasabi ko. Pero naisip ko, baka naman ako ang malabo! No wonder bakit maraming relasyon na hindi nag-wo-workout. Mahirap pa ring makipag-communicate kahit pareho na kayo ng salitang ginagamit.

Ako: Kasi nga, (malumanay tinig ko – nagpipigil lang ako non) tumawag ako, eh hindi na nag-wowork yong telepono. Siguro walang load. Dahil don, baka hindi natanggap yong text na ipinadala ng bangko sa kaniya para pik-upin na niya yong pera. So ngayon, hindi niya alam na may pera palang nag-aantay sa banko. Anong paraan ang pwedeng gawin para masabihan siya.
Siya: Ay, mahirap po yon, kasi text lang talaga pwede. Sige, padalhan na lang po naming siya ng sulat.

Kamot ako sa ulo. Haaaaay. Makapag-lunch na nga lang.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

Got this email at work today so I'm posting it here just in case someone wants to take advantage of this opportunity...

Hi All,

ABC's hit reality show Extreme Makeover Home Edition is looking for API's to be a part of their program. This is part of their effort to include more people of color in their programming. Below are a few guidelines for consideration.Please support their efforts by forwarding this message to clients, friends and acquaintances. Remember, you can nominate families who you think are deserving of this wonderful opportunity.Please note the deadline date for submissions, and please send your nominations/applications directly to CHARISSE SIMONIAN, Family Casting Director at Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (address below) so she can review the applications personally (as opposed to the general p.o. box on the application).

Melinda

ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"

We are currently casting families in the Southeast / South and Southwest for Winter shoots. All others are still welcome to apply, however if they're on the East coast we can't consider them until Spring of 2006.

* Families must OWN their home. The home should not be larger than 2,000 sq.Feet and MUST be a single family residence (no townhomes, condos or apartments)
* Families must have a clean criminal history and pass an extensive background check.
* Families should have children (School age) still living at home
* Families should be outgoing, emotional and yet humble and extremely likeable.
* Families should speak Fluent English
* They should be in a situation where, by changing their house in some way,we can help that situation. Their story should be compelling & moving.
* Currently we ARE NOT looking for the following stories relating to: Adoption, Wheelchair accessibility, Cancer, death of or dying parent, ArmedServices, hearing impaired or visually impaired
* They should be "deserving" - i.e. help out the community, their neighbors or hold jobs such as police, fire, teachers, nurses, medics, do voulnteer work, non-profit, etc. (not all members but one at least!)
* Families houses should LOOK like they need repair!
* And, finally families should live on an accessible street, no hills, no cul-de-sacs

To download an application for the show, go to this link:http://abc.go.com/primetime/xtremehome/casting.html

Applications should be sent DIRECTLY to me at the address below, NOT the PO Box on the application. This way I can personally review each application.If the family is in the Southeast or Texas, we will need applications in nolater than Sept. 15th! If they're in California, October 1st.But, the sooner the better!

Charisse Simonian
Family Casting Director ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"
1149 N. Gower St. Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90038
extremehomes@hotmail.com