A Tiny Strip called Dannevirke

The first time I arrived in Dannevirke, my heart was pounding. A new place where I know no one. Not even one soul. And I have to live here for more than a month. It was a feeling I didn't care to have, but a feeling that was inescapable nonetheless. And to make matters worse, it was so small it made my hometown look like an entire country! Of course, since a long time ago, I've become a master at disguising my emotions, and disguise I did.

Slowly, one by one, I got to know the people of Dannevirke, and as pinoys tend to stick closely to their own kind, especially in another country, I got to know the pinoy community of Danne too! And let me tell you, they're an awesome bunch! I guess the loneliness of the place and the homesickness bonds everyone more than any other feeling. Missing your home country makes one want to spend more time with people who have the same background as they do. It makes the "missing" part so much more bearable.

At first, I hated the place. Or, wait, "disliked" might be the proper term since "hate" is so much stronger and my discontent isn't anywhere close to that strong a feeling. But you get the picture. I didn't like how there was so little to discover. How there were so few people in the town. It was barely a town. Almost ghost town-ish. That's how quiet it was. And being a girl who grew up in the big city, well, this was deafeningly silent for me.

Waikanae

It's been a roller coaster ride from the very moment I step foot in this country. It's been fun, yes, but it's been lonely too. Of course, no one really appreciates true happiness until one experiences the bad things, and not having my family and friends here? That's definitely a bad thing. So I guess I'm more appreciative of what I had before leaving my home country, I guess.

Anyway, the upside to all this is, to name a few, meeting new friends, visiting new places, eating good food and experiencing new things. Letting my adventurous side loose, I am definitely enjoying the nature and greenery that surrounds, almost hypnotically, the entirety of New Zealand.

And Waikanae definitely proved a good place to have all of those. Tracy, June and Ate Recy invited me over to have a wee good time with them post-CAP (that one short time where stress piles up on you more than you could imagine and you get to feel like a student again), before I head off to Hamilton to spend my Christmas holidays and my lull whilst job hunting.

2012 Christmas Wishlist

My 2012 Christmas Wishlist. Just some of the things I wish I had but I don't. A few wishes and dreams can't hurt anyone. Especially if someone somewhere out there is willing enough to answer your prayers. <3

 

PS: These are in random order.

1. Samsung Galaxy Camera

          One of the first of its kind, its a product that incorporates all good things about a digital camera and Samsung Galaxy SIII Android system. It's not just awesome, it's AWE and then some. =D

2. Pink Lamborghini Murcielago LP460

             I recall having this same car as part of my previous Christmas wishlists and I have a feeling it's gonna be part of many other wishlists in the years to come. But hey, what can I say? It's my dream car. <3

3. Pink Trenchcoat

               I'm not really big on the designer outfits and I could care less on who made that. But if I get a pink trenchcoat this Christmas, I would be in cloud 9. =)

4. Tramping Shoes

            I'm not the most athletic person in the world, but since I'm going tramping with a bunch of friends in a few months, I'd better get prepared and not mess up the uber awesome adidas shoes I got from sisterette. =D

5. My Family

            Because I miss them more than I miss anyone else in this world. There's a void in my heart that only their presence could fill. And thinking about them not only makes my heart ache and my tears fall, it also makes me realize how incomplete I am without them. I've been to every Christmas tradition for the last 24 years and now, I'd have to spend my first Christmas holidays far away, in a new place, away from home, away from warmth, away from noche buena, away from the crazy pictures we take, away from them. I miss them every second of every day, and if I could wish for anything, it would be to spend Christmas with my family.

So there you go...have the most awesome holiday season everyone! <3

xoxo

-hny-

Squiggles and Long Walks

I don't really have anything sensible to say right now. Except maybe that I'm bored and want to go out but haven't bathed so I can't and it's too cold outside anyway even if it is summer and I still have to get my watch fixed and some batteries on it and that I need to get my hitachi flashdrive from nanay which I was supposed to get 2 days ago and I am getting the urge to buy something but I'm trying to save money and I have to finish writing my critical analysis on all my clinical skills for my workbook and a bunch of other stuff that seems to escape me right now. So there. Whew. That was a mouthful. =p

Things are going slow and yet somehow fast too. It's that kind of day when you know you have too much to do that you just freeze up and end up not doing any of it and then at the end of the day realize you just wasted an entire day thinking of what to do first. Yeah. It's a bummer. But I can't help it. My lazy bones are at its prime and I can't put up a fight.

The Light From Frozen Graves: A Repost

 

"But I just want to stop feeling."

"As far as I can tell, there's only one way to stop feeling and that's to die."

"That seems a bit drastic."

"It is drastic. Perhaps the most drastic thing there is. There are other ways to kill feelings, like drinking a lot or working hard, constantly, pushing those around you as far away as possible until there's no way for you to reach out to them but ultimately, the only way to completely stop feeling, forever, is to die."

"I'm not sure I'm ready for that."

"Good. You'll be a better person for it."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that the most interesting, amazing people I've ever met, the ones who influenced and shaped the universe itself, are the ones that felt too much but lived through it."

"That sounds hard."

"It is. It involves living."

 : A repost from I Wrote This For You

Across Boundaries

It's not easy being the new girl. And being the new girl in a different country is even harder. But if you find the right company, no matter the challenge, no matter the hardship, the journey will always be fun. =D

It's my last study day with them today and I found it imperative to right something to show them at least some gratitude for sharing the experience with me and making the situation more...acceptable. =D If it weren't for these group of people, I never would have survived the many weeks of studying and bookworming (yes, I know that's not a word. It's called neologism. ^^), so I am extremely thankful to these beautiful ladies and handsome gents (I think an "s" in this case is appropriate =D) for having shared some of its burden and making the entire time more fun. =D

Breaking Dawn Part 2

This blog has me standing on edge. Not because I'm scared, terrified and whatnot, but because I'm just too excited my finger muscles are tingling and my mind is working overtime that my fingers just aren't typing fast enough. =D Yeah, the title alone gets me excited. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2. *SPOILER ALERT*

Life and Death

Let's face it. We see death all around us and we are either too scared we ignore it or too wound up we overemphasize it. Either way, it's not really living.

I'm not saying that I've lived a full life, because frankly, I'm not sure if I've lived it to the fullest, but looking back, I can say that, yes, I do have regrets (I mean, who doesn't right?), but generally, I'm quite happy with how my life has turned out and with how my past and present has shaped itself to be. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for the future to be the best that it can be. =D

Moving on, what I'm getting to in this blog is that, in my line of work, we see death more often than the average person that it becomes almost a "monotony" to a point. And it's the worst feeling one could ever have. Because who want's to feel numb with death facing you in the face? Nobody wants that. I'm pretty sure my patients and their families don't.

Movies I'd Watch Before 2012 Ends

MOVIES I WILL WATCH BEFORE 2012 ENDS:

1. TWILIGHT: BREAKING DAWN PART 2

           Who can resist that vampire love? Especially when they make vampires look so...tasty. =D

2. The Hobbit
            Always been a fan of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. But more than that, I've read the book "The Hobbit" so its interesting how they would portray it on screen. =D I got invited to the premier at Wellington but was told we could only see the actors and not the actual movie. Not one for all that crazy scenes, I decided against going. Although sometimes, I do think I'd end up regretting that decision. =p

Penny for My Thoughts

In life, we don't always get what we want. But we do get what we need. That has been a line that's been passed down from several generations ago and I've tried researching who the originator of that line is, but all to no avail (as is the case for most "words to live by" we encounter daily). But regardless of who that was, it's interesting how selfless he got. How much of the world and that of beyond he sees that he is able to grasp the concept of just getting what you need and then being contented with it.

As humans, we aspire to have a lot of things. We want. Always want. Sometimes, greedily. Getting it and then wanting even more, always not having enough. I'm not sure if you can call that human nature, but if you want to, then so be it.

Quit Complaining

In the last month that I've lived here in New Zealand, I've noticed how much I have complained and got depressed about my situation. I keep saying things about being homesick, being lonely, feeling isolated, and generally just being unhappy. I have an insecure side I just can't seem to rectify. And then, one day, someone told me this: "You have got something others could only dream of having." And that got me thinking straight.

A year ago, I could only hope my application pushes through with little obstacles. I could only dream of being able to travel and experience these "greener pastures" everyone's been raving about. I, too, was complaining then. Of how unappreciated I was at my job and how unhappy I was with my place in life. And then, the good news came, and finally, after a lot of hard work, I got to be here. To be able to step forward and start realizing my dreams of the future.

Dannevirke - Week 1

Notice how my movement in New Zealand has been from a populated area -Auckland-, to a lesser populated area -Palmerston  North-, to a barely populated area -Dannevirke-. Funny, actually. It's like, I'm being sent to a place with less and less people everytime. Tsk.

Anyway, my first week here in Dannevirke hasn't been as eventful as one would think. Yes, its a new place to explore, but well, with Dannevirke's size, there really isn't much to explore. And because of a lack of public transportation, being in Dannevirke has limited me to either being at the rest home where I work, being at home, or at New World for some emergency shopping needs. And that's about it.

It's funny how much I've changed in just a couple of weeks. 4 weeks ago, I never would've thought I'd muster enough courage to ask someone I haven't met yet to give me a ride to work. And yet, somehow, I did just that. Crazy how this place changes you.

Palmerston North - Week 3

So, my third and last week at Palmerston. It was uneventful, to be honest. No pictures (new ones anyway) were taken because, well, we've pretty much seen what we can see. =)

The same routine as the week before were done this week. Wake up, go to school, attend lectures, go home, go on the internet, freeze to death, sleep...and the cycle goes on everyday. =p

However, we were getting a bit restless because since it was our last week of lectures, it could only mean one thing. Practicals. Placements. And work. More work. Which is fine if not for the fact that we were being sent away from Palmerston to some places we didn't even know existed until then, to workplaces where we knew no one, and to do work we weren't even sure how to do. So yes, it was a struggle.

My Birthday Weekend: Hamilton, Hobbiton

I've been meaning to write this for a while now. It's been more than a week ago since I had my birthday weekend, and still, all the details are fresh in my memory like it was just yesterday. Maybe because the past weeks have been far monotonous than I expected that the sudden change of pace, and not to mention place, was a welcome sunshine in my world.

So, 19th to 22nd October 2012. My Birthday Weekend.

Since my birthday fell on a friday, I had to endure classes for the entire day and take a Drug Calc test (which I passed with flying colors, thank you very much). Later that night, I gathered my stuff, hopped on a taxi and then a bus, and was finally on my way to Hamilton.

Marae: Experiencing the Maori Culture

One of the most unexpected moments I've had since I've arrived (let's face it, I've had this a lot for a while now) was being able to go to a Marae and getting to experience a day in the life of a Maori tribe.

For some bits of information, just so we are on the same page, let's get some definitions of these words in (I know they sound foreign). A marae "is a communal or sacred place that serves religious and social purposes in Polynesian societies" (wikipedia.org). And Maori is the general term used for native New Zealand tribes or people. A marae is typically a small unit of the Maori community that houses a particular Maori tribe (or at least lets put it in that sense just so we understand each other).

Now that we've got that straightened out, let me get on to my story-telling.

Palmerston North - Week 2

It hasn't been long since I've been here and I feel like I've been here forever. Yep, that's how I feel. It's been tough, and though my first few days have been great, the next ones were tougher than I expected.

Here's the story of my 2nd week in the land of wind and rain.

Palmerston North.

Monday to Thursday

15th-18th October 2012

Palmerston North - Week 1

Sunday, 7th October, 2012

As I said in Auckland - City of Sails Day 2, I arrived to a freakishly cold, barren, ghost-town-like Palmerston North. Not a very good first impression, I thought to myself. But as I had no other choice, I braved the winds, the 2-degree Celsius temperature, and the constant chills I began to exhibit and made my way to my homestay. By this time, I had Elbert (boyfie who so kindly accompanied me in my long journey toward Palmy) and Ishi (roommate who I met in the bus terminal about half an hour after I arrived so I had some company with me to battle the unforgiving cold night air. =D

Auckland - City of Sails Day 2

So it's taken a while before this blog...been quite busy these days. Lotsa things to do in school, and lotsa things to adjust to in a new land. =D Anyway, as outlined in my previous blog, I've just spent my first day in Auckland. First day in a new country EVER, and it was one helluva day. =D

Here's the story of my second day...

Auckland, New Zealand: Day 2

So I woke up to a really warm bed, courtesy of Demi Luv's heated bed (cool aye? =D), and immediately went to preparing for Mark's birthday celebration. What a way to start my first few days here in NZ, right? Thought so too! =D

Auckland - City of Sails Day 1

I was waiting for when I could get hold of my camera but lo and behold, it'll be another week before that happens and it'll be too late to make this blog by then so what the hell. :)

So here's finally my blog about my adventures in New Zealand. This'll be a several-part blog, designed to divide my activities in Auckland and Palmerston. :)

So. AUCKLAND.

Arrival

Arrived at the Auckland International Airport at around 12-something pm. Immigration went smoothly which was great luck. Heard of stories otherwise. Went out of the gate expecting boyfie, Elbert, and his friends greet me only to find myself surrounded by huge white people. Knowing you're going to a white country and then totally seeing it for yourself is totally different.

Last Days in Pinas

I don't really know what to say coz right now my brain and fingers are freezing off from the cold. So let me just narrate what happened in the past week.


CEBU

September 30, 2012

Me and my family went out for lunch for some yummy grub. This time, I loved where we ate coz it was Japanese food (Nonki at SM) so I had the grandest time. I wasn't really thinking about the reason WHY we were having this meal. I was just sort of enjoying the entire experience. It was mine and my sister's treat for my family. :) Then, since we wanted more (although we were practically bursting from a full stomach), we stopped by Fudge (one of my dessert places) for some mouthwatering cakes (their mud cakes are incre-delicious-ble!).'

Open Letter to My Family

So I'm leaving Cebu 5 hours from now. I'm not leaving for good, of course, but since this will be the longest and farthest we'll be from each other, I'm writing this blog entry as my personal tribute to my beloved family, who's been with me through thick and thin. And because I will miss them. So much.

09302012

Dear Family,

I've made you cards which I placed on my top dresser so if you could just read them all personally, I would really appreciate it. There are just some things I can't write here. :)

Sweet, Stormy Escape

Since I'll be MIA for the next few months - I'm hoping it's only months, not years - I took a little trip down our little, cozy island to bid my "hi's" and "bye's" to some of my super extended family members. It wasn't as bittersweet as I hoped it'd be, owing I guess to my already being MIA for the past years. However, this short little trip reminded me of my upbringing and kept me even more deeply rooted to the ground that I've been standing on for the past number of years of my existence. It was a humbling experience.

Left for Leyte at around 9pm of Sept. 21, 2012 and arrived around 3am the following day. Of course, I didn't get much sleep since sleeping on a boat was rather uncomfortable so I busied myself with reading. A lot of reading. But I kept surprising myself at how I've gradually developed a sort of immunity to sleepless nights - probably since I've had lots of these in the past decade and a half. It was somehow comforting finding myself still well rested despite the barely 2-hour sleep that I've gotten in almost 36 hours.

books vs internet

I've been practically internet-less these past days. Same old problem with our stupid and inefficient network provider. Tsk.

But surprisingly, the absence of an internet connection gave me more time to snuggle up with my long lost bookish self. I haven't read a book in a long time and well, now, I'm feverish and greedy to read more books. Quite a satisfying change of pace for me.

I guess, I'm more surprised with myself seeing how well I'm coping with less than minimal internet connection. I'm more of a bookworm than I thought. :)

Just saying.

xoxo

~hny~

Fifty Shades. Period.

I've finally plucked enough courage to say in this blog that indeed, I was...interested, with a slight touch of captivation, of my latest read, Fifty Shades [of Grey, Darker, and Freed]. I surprised myself for the first time with this. I never expected I'd find it interesting. Let alone finish all 3 books in just 4 days. I'm not sure if it's a product of boredom, sheer interest and too much time on my hands, but yeah, I finished it. Surprise, surprise.

books, desires, and confusing ideas

I've been reading a book for a couple of days now. Three books in three days, to be exact. I'm not sure If I have the courage to pinpoint the specific title of the books just yet because, frankly, these were never my type. I just wanted to see what all the hype was about. Maybe I'll have the guts to mention them in another blog, but right now, I'm a chicken.

Yes, at first I was skeptical. The book's plot never held enough promise. In fact, it was so cliche that I never gave it a second though. Until now. A product of having too much time and too little stuff to fill it with, I guess. So unlike me. But when you're bored and desperate, a lot of things that's so "unlike you" can happen. So I guess this one's one of those.

Or maybe I'm just making excuses so I hide my desire to read them. I'm not sure.

Yuumei

Music is my life. Art, my passion. A combination of these two? Just pure bliss.

Since I'm almost always on the internet, majority of the time I spend there, if not watching some drama or variety show for laughs, I spend searching for beautiful art and music. I'm a sucker for great photography, impeccable artistry, and soul-numbing music. I'm always amazed by how creative the minds of people are. They transcend our current reality and transport us into another world.

I stumbled across this particular artist on a social networking site. http://yuumei.deviantart.com/

Three's A Company

Most friends we make in highschool, we lose contact with as we grow up. At least that's what I was told. I guess I'm one of the lucky few who still have 'em.

This is another one of those unplanned bonding sessions. Unplanned because, well, we really didn't plan anything. We just sort of let our feet take us to where we were going. More fun that way, don't you think?

[Unplanned] Itinerary:

1. Have Lunch.

Begin and End in Laughter

When all else fails, laugh. The hardships get easier and life gets better.

Bridal Mask

It's my new obsession. Bridal Mask starring [Moon] Joo Won, the multi-faceted talent that shook Korea and the world overnight. He sings, he acts, he cries on the spot! Oh and he's super great at sports he could be an athlete in real life! =D

The show is set in traditional Korea and is about a hero (Gaksital [Bridal Mask] -- Lee Kangto [Joo Won]) who fights for justice to regain Korea's independence from Japanese rule. It rewrites Korean history like it was never written before.

Of course, everybody loves a great hero. And in this one, Joo Won, with his superb acting skills captivated all of the hearts of women across all age groups with his portrayal of Gaksital.

I'll be looking forward to more of Joo Won in the future, that's for sure! =D

xoxo

~hny~

A Two Year Journey

On a certain day in July, 2010, four silent souls entered the realm of CHH 6B in the hopes of learning valuable lessons from the then seniors of the station. A month later, their journey through fire, ice, and everything in between began. These four souls eventually grew up noisy and boisterous but yet confident and well, skillful (enough) to become seniors in their own respective rights.

Two years later, one of the four eventually ended the contract and left in search of her own future. Because she is thankful and grateful despite all the hell she's been through, she decided to relay her niceties in her blog. =)

Joo Won

Name: Joo Won
Real Name: Moon Joo Won
Birthdate: Sept 30, 1987
Height: 185cm
Weight: 68kg
Star Sign: Libra

CNU: My Alma Mater

Yes, we complain and cry and attempt to disown it, but deep down, loves, we are graduates of an amazing school. Cebu Normal University, a state university first known for its outstanding training with those majoring in Education, has now cemented, plastered, and bound its name onto the minds and hearts of people nationally by its consistent impressive performance in the widely anticipated annual June Nursing Licensure Examinations.

Step Up Revolution

STEP UP REVOLUTION. Awesome. Hot. Jaw-dropping. Superb.

If only I could post the entire movie, I would. I am still in shock and awe at the amazing dance routines, the hot guys (Ryan Guzman....*sigh*) and girls (Kathryn McCormick....I wish I was as hot as you!), and did I mention the dance routines? It was a great movie and for a dance enthusiast like me, it was like food for an empty stomach.

Ryan Guzman and Kathryn McCormick played Lead.

Three's A Company

08-20-2012

With my impending trip and Reena's departure for MNL the day after, we only had that one day to get together for the last time this year (and probably next, too) so we did what we could. It was short, but it was sweet. A little heartbreaking but a moment I will never forget.

For the first time in years, we went out with no pictures whatsoever. No documentation was taken at all. No studio pics, no phone pics, none. It was refreshing although I am a bit regretting not taking one.

For this year's barkada trip, only 3 of us were able to make it. Reena, Chibon and yours truly. Raye was on a 24-hour shift at the hospital (bummer) and Elaine, though confirming the day before, cancelled at the last minute because she wasn't feeling well. Booo T>T

Just a Hobby

A little something something to brighten up my day. I've never been the best image editor so bear with me. I'm still learning. However, let me be thick faced enough to post my latest editions in my blog in hopes that I find...well, I don't really know what I hope to accomplish from doing this...let's see...clients? Haha Kidding aside, I'm hoping I get to be good enough to accept image editing orders or jobs of the same later. An additional income for doing the work that you love never hurts anyone, after all. Surely beats all those stressful days spent at my actual work =D

So here they are, and yes, criticisms (hopefully constructive) are always welcome. =)

SOLO PICS:

Hidden Paradise

On the eve of whenever, bestie, Chibon, and I were bored. We talked and, well, I guess two bored friends spell a lot of trouble cause, by the end of the conversation, we decided to have ourselves a little fun under the sun. I can't pinpoint the specifics because its been a while and I've seriously forgotten the details of our talk. Just know that it ended up with us deciding to spend 2 days and 1 night somewhere. Where that was, well, we didn't really know. Nor did we care. The company was all that was needed. ^^

on one of our spontaneous slumber parties.

On the morning of the day we decided to hold our crazy adventure, we expected the sun to greet our happy faces with its radiant shine. But alas, we were let down. A storm was brewing and the sky was dark. Trickles of rain from the day before was evident on the ground. Wet, dark, and gloomy, that's what that morning was.

But we weren't about to let the depressing greeting of the world turn our smiles upside down. We were dead set on pursuing our 2-day adventure, by hook or by crook.

Baby Shower

With her baby bump about to burst, the new mother-to-be, Mimi, spent her birthday celebrating her little baby girl's Baby Shower.

Last July 29, 2012, Princess and I attended a gathering of a few friends and family of the bloooming preggy hosted by her Tita. =D With her ever supportive hubby, Miko, by her side, co-hosting the event, she glided from group to group entertaining everyone like the gracious host she is. =D

*That's JULY 29, not June ^^*

Lee Seung Gi: Losing My Mind

LOSING MY MIND
By: Lee Seung Gi

Lee Seung Gi: Facial Expressions

Lee Seung Gi's cute facial expressions... ^^.

Lee Seung Gi

Name: Lee Seung Gi

Birthdate: 1987-Jan-13
Birthplace: Korea
Height: 182cm
Weight: 70kg


Profession: Singer, actor, MC
Talent Agency: Hook Entertainment
Education: Sang Gye High School, Dong Guk University


Star sign: Capricorn
Skill: Fencing
Hobbies: Listening to music and soccer

You Walk In It

I'll cut the intro and get on with my main point. Let's talk shoes.

What kind of shoes to girls really want to wear? Well, I don't know about you but I prefer the comfortable ones mostly. Of course, there are exceptions like on dates and other occasions where you feel you need to kill your toes to look extra gorgeous to the audience (whoever they may be). So in this blog, let's tackle on the pros and cons of some types. Starting from number 1...

1.) The Sky Highs

 

The Vampire Hunter

Mr. President. The Vampire Hunter. Now wouldn't that be cool? Eh? Not.

For another one of those somehow-getting-frequent spontaneous girl's day out with my bestie, we decided to have ourselves some movietime. =D

Took a quick (and really cold) shower, a little food to sustain me self for the travel, and off I was in a cab speeding towards SM under the rainy downpour of Cebu. Met up with Chibon, lots of chikkas happened, lotsa laughs and window shopping, a little time over the ATM for some greens and then more chikka moments in Flame It for an early dinner. Finally, movietime. =D Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. =D

Beach Tents and Falling People

~ H + A = ?? ~

That's the phrase that got stuck in my mind since my beach day with the 6B gang. As a consolation for Ariel and the rest who wasn't able to attend our station outing, as a team building excursion for newbies and old bees to bond, and mainly as a despidida party for dear Bon who will soon be flying outta here and onto the next chapter of his life, we somehow got to organize this get together. It didn't matter where, all that mattered was the company and moments we shared. Emo much?

THE MEET-UP.

June 23, 2012 5:30am, I woke up feeling giddy for the upcoming event. Hurriedly took a shower, some chinese-inspired breakfast my mum was serving, and finally I was on my way to Mimi's (was gonna hitch a ride with her and her hubby, Miko). Ran a little bit late and arrived a little over 7am. We then headed straight for the meet-up place (Mandaue) to pick up some stray passengers (haha).

Miko and Mimi <3

Snow White and The Huntsman

It's Independence Day for all Filipinos so Cheers to us! =)

A while has passed since my last movie excursion and since today was a holiday and a day off, I felt that itch to have me some movie time. =D

For today, I asked my brother and sister (my eternal movie buddies) to watch Snow White and The Huntsman with me. =D I've been wanting to watch it since I saw its first movie trailer a long time ago as is evident in this post. =D And now I finally get to see it! =D

A Week from Then

I've now officially finished my 5-day long vacation leave. =) And what a way to end it. =p Tady woke me up bright and early at 6am (was still mid-dream by this time so of course, I didn't take kindly to it. Never did like being woken up by others.) to ask if I could work earlier (10am) since one of the staffs in the day shift was absent. As I was already getting bored being stuck at home all week, I just couldn't say "No" (although, I was tempted. Do not underestimate the power of sleepiness. ^^). What stuck to me though was her very...realistic introduction.

"Hon! Mata na diha! Dili ni damgo!", she said.

"Ha?", I replied, already thinking that I was still dreaming.

Keep The Faith

I'm not very much of an optimist and since my last great effort to be one of the world's few positivist, I have since gone downhill from there. I realized, scrolling through my posts especially in my alternate blog Confessions of the Caged,that my blogs have been arbitrarily depressive. It's an "emo" blog so to speak and it's not very healthy, for me or the occasional passers-by. So to keep from going deeper into my melancholic subconscious, here's my last ditch attempt to keep the fire burning.

Let's all stay positive people! Nothing can be overcome with negativity. There's hope as long as we're alive. =)

In the Midst of My Confusion

Legacy. If there's ever anything I worry about the most, it's if I ever left my mark in this world. I never really thought of it consciously before, but since I began this somewhat moronic vacation leave with no apparent reason, I've been given time (too much time) to think about what I've done, what I'll be doing, what I might be doing, and what I did not do.

Then I got to thinking, if ever, for some reason, I drop dead this instant, even as I'm writing this blog, would people remember me? If they did, what would they remember me by? Did I do something worthwhile? Did I do something that would stand the test of time? Would I live in the hearts of those I touched? Or was there ever anyone whose lives I touched? If somehow I suddenly left this reality, would people be able to carry my spirit on? Would my legacy continue to shine? Or have I even left a legacy to begin with?

Kyle's 14th

Today was my cousin, Kyle's birthday. As is tradition in our family, a family dinner is always done, of course separate from all the other birthday dinners the celebrant is to attend. ^^

For today, we attended mass (a must especially on a birthday) and headed to the mall after. This was beginning to be a pattern these past years. But nonetheless, it's fun. It's always fun with the family. It doesn't matter what place we go to, or what thing we do, the company makes it all better. Sort of. ^^ On the good days. hahaha ^^

When it Rains

It's the 31st of May, 2012. It's my day off. And it's raining.

I am not writing this blog with a specific thought in mind. I just want to keep someone posted as to my whereabouts and happenings.

Right now, I'm in the bedroom, on my sister's bed, cradling the laptop and listening to the sound of raindrops falling outside. It's been raining heavily for a couple of days now. Quite a big change from the striking heat we experienced the entire summer. With this strong rain though, I betcha it won't take long before people start missing the heat and the dry roads.

Must See!

I'm a sucker for movies. True. And this year boasts of a wide collection of films of different genre that would surely keep us on the edge of our seats.

The following are the trailers of movies I would love to watch, by hook, or by crook. ^^

1. Les Miserables - Anne Hathaway's rendition of I dreamed a dream is one of the most touching and heartfelt songs I've ever heard. I must say, I had goosebumps. =)

Light at the End of the Tunnel

The time of the great depression is now over. That melancholic state which I exaggerated for probably a bit too  much is now at its end. I think.

The Ashes From Which I Came

I may lose sight of what my purpose really is. I may be swayed by ill-intentions. I may lack discipline. I may falter. I may fall. But He will always be there to help raise me up from the ashes from which I came.

FAITH.

xoxo

~hny~

The Bridge We Must Cross

It hasn't been my half-a-year. I've been depressed a number of times. More than I've ever been before. The unknown future, the uncertainty of it all, and just everything that's been going on has been a struggle. It's a struggle I've been fighting with barely a sight of hope at the end.

Of course, that's all primarily because I have this pessimistic side I just can't seem to let go of. I try to be as optimistic as I can but there's always that nagging feeling of "what if's" hanging behind my head. I'm not sure why. Partly coz that's how I'm wired. Maybe.

Girls and Make-Up

Don't try to understand it. Girls and make-up is like boys and beer. They just go together. Like bread and butter. ^^ It's nothing complicated. Not at all. It's as simple as counting. It's just natural. ^^

No matter how much a girl says they don't like make up, one way or another, they wear them. Heck, even the boys wear 'em! ^^

Right now, I'm on the hunt for the perfect lippies. ^^ I have my eyes on something (it's a secret) but I don't think buying them right now is very...need-worthy. So I think I'll take my time before purchasing. ^^ Who knows, I might find better products along the way, eh? ^^

I've already recently purchased the following for..um...future uses. (My previous products have now gone bye2x...) ^^

On the 3rd Month

May 11, 2012

Dear You,

That Little Isle

Pandanon.
Bohol Island.
Philippines
07 May 2012.

Finally. After a loooong time, we had our much awaited station outing. Being in the station for 2 years, I am yet to experience a full-blown outing. Now, I have. And I'm really glad. =D

The Avengers

It hasn't been that long since my last movie in a cinema. I remember my Hunger Games moment with my friend and confidante, Sofia. It was a blast! I had a blast! Both with the movie and the company. =D But now, since Elbert's been out of the country, it's been pretty hard to find movie buddies. Everyone's busy doing their own thing, busy getting on with their own little piece of paradise, and me? Well, I'm left to fend off for myself I guess. =)

Everything Indie

I've been going crazy for this one particular band...and Indie band of all things! WALK OFF THE EARTH absolutely rocks. I mean really! It takes a lot for me to say that coz, even though I'm into music, I'm not much of a fan when it comes to Indie bands. And don't really know much about them either. I just know they do their own thing. And that's it.

But then I come across this band. First, of their 5-man rendition of Gotye's Somebody That I Used To Know which was epic! Then of the 2-man band for Man Down which freakin-tastic! And I knew I was hooked. Not instantly.

Walk Off The Earth

♫♪

Roses and Dreams

There was a party. People dressed in all kinds of gowns, colors of different shades, sparkles everywhere. It was a mixture of my past and present friends, acquaintances and people I don't even recognize. Some of the faces I can see and recall, others I can only hope to make out of into a silhouette.

I was there, attending. And beside me, my boyfriend looking dashing in his suit.

Then an announcement, and all the world seems abuzz. I couldn't catch the announcement, I was too distracted to observe everyone, catch who were there and who weren't.

Happy Ever After

All hopeless romantics out there must know where I come from when I say all weddings must lead to a "happily ever after". Yes, to some, it's a silly thought. School-girl-ish even. But I believe that. With all my heart.

I hear people around me say that present-day marriages are hard to work out. Harder even than those in the past because of the conditions newlyweds are thrown into once married. The harsh reality of life. The watchful eyes of the public. The close scrutiny of the family members. The pressure to succeed and lead a happy life. And just about every single person you know waiting for you to make a mistake, fight over something most married couples usually do, and then say "I told you so".

One Step At A Time

It's that kind of day when you wake up in the morning and everything that needs to be done is slapped on your face like a deck of cards.

Time is flying fast. And it took me quite a while to realize this.

I've been swinging back and forth between work and play, not realizing that I have to seize the moment and make them mine because I won't have many more days like these soon.

I'm at the transition stage. I'm at the junction. I'm standing at the crossroads between past and future and I have so little time to decide which path to take.

Generation Gap

Sometimes, it bugs me a lot that the generation before us blame US for living in a world that was, for one thing, created by THEM.

They say we, the younger generation, have become so "worldly", so "rebellious", so "techie" that we've lost all meaning to social contact.

They throw mean looks at us for simply learning to live through everything we've been given. And what's pathetic is that they were the ones who gave it to us.

Comfort Food

Mum's been going gaga over her "korean phase". She's been watching movies and series from Korea, listening to korean music and it has come to a point where she knows more korean stars than I do!. =D

But no, I'm not complaining. =D Because from all this comes our korean foodtrips! =D

Mum bought korean ice cream last night. Most were ice cream sticks of different flavors (I ate the strawberry one just a little while ago. Yum!!) including tangerine, red been, kiwi and strawberry. But she also bought some of the Fish Ice Cream she was bragging about before. =D

the hardest part

It's been a week since he left...and I don't think I ever got over it. Or if I'll ever get over it.
It's hard, missing someone. Yes, it makes it better knowing that I'll see him again, but...

...the waiting kills me.

The waiting will always be the hardest part.

I miss you.

xoxo

~hny~

Gems in the Desert

When all seems amiss, it's nice to know that friends are there to help get you through the day (or week, or month, or year).

Real friends are not the ones who stick by you when you're at your best. No, they're just leeches. Real friends are those who stay by your side even when you're at your worst. They say the things you least wanted to hear, they say the meanest things in the most honest way, they slap your face with the reality of it all just to help you get over whatever it is that's bothering you. And when you feel that it's too much, that you just can't handle any more, they stay silent, lend their shoulders, and allow you to cry.

It's Still There

Just when I thought the pain had come close to a soft halt, the wounds in my heart opened up again and I found myself back inside that dark, windowless room with nothing but myself for company.

The tears have come back. The pain has come back.
No, that's not right. It never really left.

It just hid itself in the fine corners of my subconscious, ready to spring itself on me at the very first moment of vulnerability. It's stealth is incomparable. It's strength, out of this world. It's power, suffocating. It pulls at the very fiber of my being, waiting for it to snap at the immense pressure.

Dissociation

When the pain is too much, when your world is getting too weary, when everything else seems amiss, lose yourself in the dark confines of your mind. Worry not, for this shall all pass.

The Last Day

The following would account for one of the saddest, most unbearable moments of my entire life. For this blog, I will recall everything that happened. Not because I find it nice, but because this marks as one of the biggest changes I would have had to face so far.


March 07, 2012 12:00PM

I spent the day with Elbert. My last day with him before he leaves for New Zealand. We attended the PDOS Seminar together. Met up at Robinsons Mall at around noon for some grub with his Mum (we ate at RaiRaiKen's...the only Japanese place there) and talked. I was a bit nervous being with his Mum but thank God she was very nice (of course, I've met her before but we haven't really talked like REALLY talk). =)

03062012 7.52PM

Dear Self,

You've been through so much haven't you? I know. It's hard. But life is always hard. That's part of the deal. However, try to keep positive. If there's ever anything I can tell you, it's that things will always get better. Life is a cycle. These days might be really hard, but someday, it will end. And you'll find yourself laughing again. And then, you'll realize how precious this life really is. How beautiful and wonderful it is to keep living.

The final day (365 day project)

 DAY 365 02282012

taken: feb28, 2012 ~at various times~

Letter to Myself

Life is cruel. Unfair. Unjust. And boring.

Life is exciting. Upbeat. Unpredictable. And fun.

Whichever those descriptions of life you're leaning on, one fact remains. Life is life. And life is better when shared with another. Going through the cruel things with others can help lessen the burden and ease the load. It can help put a sense on all of these trials. And much more so when going through the fun ones.

The Grinning Fool (A Repost from I Wrote This For You)

Each night, somewhere out there, people go to bed petrified that I might be as happy as I am.

And I wake up each day and make their worst fears come true.

Immortal Beloved

In the spirit of Valentine's Month, here's Ludwig Van Beethoven's love letter to his anonymous "Immortal Beloved". (source here)

The entire letter is written on 10 small pages, in Beethoven's rather inconsistent handwriting. The first section occupies four pages. In the following, the dashes and underlined words are as in Beethoven's manuscript, crossed-out parts are enclosed in “<...>”.

My Valentine

February 14 is a day known to all. Of course, I am not one to break tradition. =)
Here's what happened to mine. =)


Went on duty early on the day. Woke up at the crack of dawn to prepare for my first day back from vacation. Work wasn't so bad. The usual sounds of stressed-out nurses, tired doctors, and aching patients filled my ears. And though I've been at this job for quite a while, having just gone on a relatively long vacation, I actually needed time to reorganize myself and adjust to the hospital environment. =p My head kept spinning the entire time and the only thought in my head was "Work's gonna end soon..." over and over and over like a broken record.

The Guy: How To's

When your girlfriend stares at your mouth ,,kiss her gently..

when she pushes you or hit you cause she thinks she is stronger than you ,, Grab her in your arms and dont let her go.

when she start cursing you acting she is tuff,,,just grab her and kiss her and say her I Love You..

when she is quiet ,, ask her if everything alright.

when she ignores you ,,give her all your attention..

Happy Birthday Boyfriend 02-12-2012

Words are not enough to express how thankful I am to this one special person who helped make me a better person. And since this is his special day, I would like to take this opportunity to at least try to convey my gratefulness.

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Valentine's Day Blues

V-day is coming up. And to top that off, it's our 52nd monthsary today. And as if that wasn't enough already, it's his birthday tomorrow. =p *sigh*

I pride myself at gift-giving coz I somehow always know what to give to people instinctively (especially when that "people" is "me" haha) but come this time of the month, I always arrive at the exact same spot every year. Nowhere. I am nowhere near buying the perfect gift for him as I am at reaching whatever dreams I have.

He's not the most materialistic kind of guy so I don't think he'd be happy with just the random stuff other girlfriends give their boys. He's mature and funny and techie and deep and he wants company more than anything else...something I can give, given I quit work, probably. =p

It's more fun in the Philippines!

Feb. 07-10, 2012
Puerto Princesa, Palawan
El Nido, Palawan


Despite many downs, this week was a definite upper. =) And although I had to shed tons for this trip, every cent was worth the experience. One I can never get back. And one I will surely never forget. =)

Leaving at noon of Feb. 7, 2012 and arriving the afternoon of Feb. 10, 2012, it was one of the best weeks and vacations of my life! =) Stayed at Hadefe's Cottages. Not so grand a place, but has a great provincial feel to it. They also treat their customers really great!

Quake hits Cebu (Feb.6,2012)

A 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit Cebu 20 minutes ago. I felt it. For the first time, I felt the shaking and the unsureness of what's gonna happen next.

There I was sleeping peacefully in my room, when all of a sudden, I got jolted right out. I felt the bed start to shake, slowly at first and then gradually build its speed and intensity. Then, for a few seconds, I heard and felt the world rumble a deep, frightening sound. Then it ended just as abruptly as it started.

My instinct told me it was an earthquake, so I just stayed where I was (since I was already in the lower bunk of the double-decker). But I really thought I was dreaming until the lady on the radio said "it's important in an earthquake that you do not panic". That confirmed it. I just felt a 6.8M quake hit Cebu. And I dreaded what might happen next. Aftershocks can happen anytime.

The Love Month

It's February and yes, I'm feeling the love. =)

Everyone's celebrating the month with hugs and kisses and chocolates and roses and what do I do? I'm going to Palawan! =)

With barely a month left with him, how can I not? He'll be leaving soon and I'm told I have to do what I can to spend my days with him. Yes, I'm pretty sure we'll meet again. In about five months, maybe, but the time can and will take its toll somehow. And something might change. Something will. So before anything goes awry, I've decided to do what I can to savor these last days with him. And if things go better than planned, well then, its a good hoorah for us, ei? =)

Let's Welcome 2012

New Year with the Castillo's =)

December31, 2011

Spent the day at SM. And yes, with the entire family in tow. =) It's always more fun with the family. =)
So to commemorate the end of 2011, we ate at a restaurant we've never tried before (again, another tradition..or more like a "thing" we have were we try out new places in town...or at least new places to us^^). This time, it's Krua Thai. =) Absolutely loved it there! Yummy food. Great ambiance. Great service. Oh, and a very awesome lighting for picture taking! Hah! Perfect end-of-the-year dinner, right? Right. =)

Pink Christmas

*Another late post*

December 24-25, 2011

So it's Christmas and as is tradition in our family, we get to celebrate it together. As one. As a family. =) I would like to think that we are close-knit. And I really believe that. Yes, there are the occasional bickering, nagging, and senseless fights but we patch it up and move on. Why? Coz that's what a family does. =) Or at least that's what our family does.

So here's what we did last Christmas. =)

Don't Ask, Just Drink

Me and my awesome friends went to Bohol last year (sorry, this one's such a late blog, but hey, it's better than nothing!), at around November (2011) for some much needed relaxation. Stress from work was getting to be too much and we just couldn't stand it anymore. =p It also doesn't help that my friends and I are one crazy bunch that's really concerned (if that is the right word for it) with hanging out and going on an adventure-filled cruise. =D

So, to Bohol, Philippines it was! =D

ACLS and ECGs and MEGACODES and whatnot

January 30-31, 2012. 8am-12pm

He practically forced me to do this. ACLS Training, I mean. He just couldn't stop convincing me that I should (no, I'm not saying "I can"...it's "I should") attend this. It's a "once in a lifetime opportunity", he says..."one you don't really get that often that's as good an offer as this one". Okay, so that part I spiced up just a little bit but you get my drift. =p

something something

I've been playing with points and clicks and colors the past 2 days. I've stopped doing this for a while so I can't say they're the best out there but they're all I can offer at the moment. =)

Edited by: author

Through: Adobe Photoshop CS5