Thanks for another satisfying episode (s05e16) for us, Dan and Blair fans.  We know it will be short lived, but their scenes are just heart stopping. Thank you!

After predicting last episode 13 that Dan uploaded the video and hoped I was wrong, I’ll make another one and hope I’m right.

Obviously, when Blair will find out that Dan uploaded the video, she’ll hate him and go to Chuck.

Here’s what I think.  I think Dan only did it because someone forced or influenced him to do it.  Blair’s Mom?  Dad?  Step-Dad? (flash back scenes on how it happened)  Either way, Blair will learn about this, then finds it in her heart to forgive Dan. Maybe before this season ends or the next one?  Then this time, their happy moments in love won’t be short lived anymore.

Am I close GGWriters?

Hoping for more Dair in love moments but it looks like Chuck will already spill Dan’s secret on the next episode.

Thanks for giving Dan and Blair a beautiful love story. We love every second of it. We appreciate it. ^_^

Thank you!

Sincerely,
Mrs. A

2. Eat less.
My ideal 96-98lbs. weight seems light years away with my eating habit and sedentary lifestyle.

3. Read.
I’d like to add the word “more” after “Read”, but the truth is I don’t do substantial readings anymore; books, relevant articles and/or journals. I know I should… but I don’t.

AND the list goes on but definitely this is my top 3. What’s yours? ^_^

1.Twitter (the social network)

When hubby gave me a smart phone for our wedding anniversary last October, this also started my frequent relationship with Twitter. I had my account for months already, but it was only when I had my phone where I regularly tweet and follow people both celebrities and personal friends.

I think Twitter is the venue for my being talkative. I don’t want to change Facebook status every time I want to share something. More often than not, what I have to share is not FacebookStatus-worthy, thus I tweet them away.

I still check on my Facebook but not as often as I check my Twitter. I’m on Twitter almost 24/7; i check it almost every so minute, especially if my routine chores are already done. Hahaha! I know life is not a spectator sport, but if it is, I’m the champion. =))

2. Local (Philippine) Showbiz

Now, this one is brought about by the aforementioned Twitter. In the Philippines, I am not a fan of showbiz talk shows like Showbiz Central and The Buzz. Then, I got to follow celebrities’ tweets and got in on their personal lives; I got really curious with some of their tweets, especially when they are involved with some intrigues or scandals. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Not good, right? =))

There was one time I got so frustrated I couldn’t get a live stream of a showbiz talk show; they were about to air some revelation of some scandal. =)) Hahaha! I thought to my self, if only I was in the Philippines, I could just turn on the TV. But then again, if I were in the Philippines, I wouldn’t bother this much with these showbiz chizmiz. Bad Twitter! Turned me into this cyber chismosa. Hahaha!!! )

3. Radio

I was never a radio person; even way back in high school when some friends are into listening to our local radio stations and maybe idolizing some DJs. I was and still is (i’d like to think so) TV/Movie addict.

This changed last November when out of boredom I downloaded a radio application in my phone. While doing my kitchen duties that morning, I randomly tuned in to Magic 89.9′s Good Times. At first I didn’t know who were the hosts but I had an idea that one of the voice was of Mo Twister. Sure enough it was him together with GMA 7′s Grace Lee, Survivor Philippine’s Angelicopter and Mojo. The show just entertained me so much and kept me laughing, especially Mo Twister’s witty comments.

Since then, I see to it that I listen to them every 7:00-10:00am (6:00-9:00am Philippine Time). They make me smile and laugh like an idiot while doing my chores. Too bad though that the show’s only four times a week, Mondays to Thursdays. This also got me to listening to a few of Mo Twister’s podcast. It’s a bit green but still very hilarious.

Yay to radio! If not for Japan, I wouldn’t have appreciated its value.

4. Gossip Girl (and other Hollywood TV Dramas)

When I got a little tired of watching Koreanovelas (watched a total of 4 while here: You’re Beautiful, My GF is a Gumiho, The Greatest Love and Mary Stayed Out All Night), I went back to my first love – Hollywood Dramas/Sitcoms and Movies.

I watched a few movies, and watched the series finale of my pre-loved dramas/sitcoms (The O.C., Boy Meets World, etc..) Then I started watching Dawson’s Creek for the first time ever. Hahaha… Got so hooked that I finished the entire seasons by focusing on the Pacey-Joey storyline. When I was done with all of these, I then was convinced by Ate Aileen (a Pinay PhD student) to start watching Gossip Girl. I watched season 1-2 religiously that I lacked sleep, grew big pimples and was groggy in the day. ) At this point i stopped.

Then last December, both Ate Aileen and Sol (another Pinay friend) convinced me to catch on because Dan Humphrey (a low-profile character) developed a thing for Blair (one of the queen bees of the show). This got me pumped and started watching from the point Dan and Blair got “close”, Season 4 Episode 11. Breezed through the episodes until I caught up with Season 5′s mid-season cliffhanger last year.

And just yesterday (Japan time), the 2nd half of the season started. Watched it, read reviews, viewers’ comments and spoilers for the upcoming episodes. I gotta say, I’m loving the writer’s angle for Dan and Blair! With the hopes that the writers give Dan and Blair a chance, I’ll be religiously watching each episodes. And oh! Their 100th episode is on the 30th. According to the producers and writers, a must-watch! ^_^

Back home, when I scan through the channels, I just jump through Gossip Girl. My thoughts then was the show is immature, bad influence, childish and nonsense. Now that I am in a foreign country, at some degree yes, the show at times can be those things but i look past them and just see its entertainment value to me. Hey, the show made me fell for the different characters, let me learn about them as if they were my friends (hahaha!) and I was just hooked. While watching I smiled, laughed and cried. A roller coaster ride, especially now that poor and good-hearted Dan is vying for Blair’s heart against two rich giants: a Prince and an Heir. ^_^

There you go. I have four so far. All thanks to mobile gadget, netbook and the Internet, i get to be entertained and at some point, be hooked.

As parents, Tope is the good cop and I on the other hand is the bad cop.  I am the tigas one who doesn’t cave even if their super pa-cute or kawawa during a scolding session.  Jacob mostly gets these sessions (I think because Miyuki is still very young. Good luck to me when she gets to Jacob’s age).  He does get so difficult and stubborn that there were times that the scolding and cry-cry session became a daily basis.

When I hear jumping, banging, or any loud noise made by him, I would go “Jacob, unsa na man pud na?!”, “Stop lagi na.” or “Diba ingnan ka nga mag-careful?”.  We do have to be really quiet here, our walls are paper thin with three very quiet Japanese neighbors on both sides and upstairs.

But, when it’s me who makes noise, Jacob doesn’t go bezerk like he sees me do.  For instance our toilet bowl seat and cover always slides off and makes this very loud crashing sound when it hits the floor.  I have reprimanded Jacob many times for always letting this happen.  But the other day, i accidentally forgot about the loose toilet seat attachment and it fell on the floor with a loud crash… then i hear Jacob say from the other room, “Nanay,,,! It’s okay…!  It’s okay Nanay…” in a very sweet voice.

During every scolding session, and he’s all tears and sip-on all over, he would go “tissue, tissue”… he asks for tissue to wipe all the liquids in his face.  Me being the tigas (kuno), would tell him to get it himself and wipe up.  Slumping he would go get one and help himself clean-up in the midst of his crying.

But, when it’s me who’s crying, be it because of something i watched, or i was being sentimental or was just frustrated, Jacob would go, “Nanay, do not cry… Naa si Jesus…” Then he would go to the tissue box and get me a couple of pieces.  ”Don’t worry Nanay, ayaw na cry…” in, again, a very sweet and concerned voice.  This happened many times.  Like tonight, I sang Someone’s Waiting for You to Miyuki for her to sleep.  I got caught with the lyrics and got really sentimental.  My voice choked up, and Jacob said, “Nay, cry ka?  Do not cry… naa si Jesus.  Hmmm….(thinking) Tissue!”  Then he got up to get me one.

These and in so many ways, I see God blessed Jacob with a good heart; the way he gives in to his sister’s demands (after a few minutes of greediness and thinking over his action), when he shares his food even only a little or one of it is left, how he set his comfort secondary (“Dili sa ma play2x si Cocob, mag sleep pa si MikMik?”), how he easily apologizes and means it, the way he wants no sadness in a room so he makes us smile or laugh, his patience and being understanding (when not gutom or sleepy “Mag-wait lang si Cocob, Nay? Mag-wait?”), etc., etc.  On top of his being so makulit and stubborn at times, we pray that his good nature will not fade away as he ages.

Even on the many times I’ve gone Mommy Dearest on him, scolding him and being the bad cop parent, he never fails to be the first one to approach and apologize.  He says sorry with kisses and hugs… Sometimes so kulit and lambing in apologizing that yes, the bad cop me caves and smiles.

Jacob: I love you, Nanay… I love you!  *with a big bright smile on his face*  (Just melts my heart every time)

On the thinking part, sometimes, I do mundane things and it reminds me of happenings in the past; but mostly on people who are really important to me. I’ve been this way ever since the lost of our beloved house help Ate Vic. When she suddenly died, there were so many things I wanted to tell her and so many things I wanted to know about her difficult life. This got me thinking about mortality and how fleeting our time here on earth, and that the people we leave behind might not have gotten enough of who we truly are and how important they are to us. Bottom line, I want to show appreciation to the people who touched my life by documenting the memories I remember of them. Letting them know I didn’t forget.

So this got me thinking on setting up another blog. The problem is, a blog doesn’t really suffice my needs – categorizing my blog entries won’t do it for me when writing about someone more than one time. Example, I remember my late Lola Clarit when I cook tosino so i’ll write about that. Then later, maybe i’ll remember her again, when I comb my little girl’s hair (it hurt when she does mine when i was little), so i’ll write another entry about it. The only way to view entries of one person is through the blog category but all entries are mixed up and presented linearly.

Another problem of setting up a blog for my bits of memories of the people in my life, is that when i write about someone, it won’t show my relationship to that person (e.g. aunt, neighbor) or the profile of that person. The entry should only be about the memory, not introducing that person over and over again every time. Then lastly, why blog just won’t do? It doesn’t show the connection to the people i write about in a big picture. In short, blog doesn’t build family tree.

From time to time, I research on what should I use for this little project of mine. I felt it’s sayang to just post here the bits of memories and it will just be burried with all of my other entries archive chronologically. For sometime now, I didn’t found any. I just let these fond memories (e.g. when my best friend lost her phone on our vacation, how my tito showed me the ropes on drinking ) ) be queued in my mind until I can find the web application that I want to store and share these memories in.

A few hours back, when the kids were once again hogging the computers, I watched a few TED talks on my phone. Then I stumbled into Adam Ostrow: After your final status update, a talk that discussed about what to do with all our digital information/memories when we pass. The talk made a lot of points. What happens to all these digitized diaries, pictures, videos and other memories we felt important to write about when the user is no longer there? I am now deviated from my original point, but going back, I got a really good tip from this talk on where to bank and share these pieces of memories (archived per person and builds family tree). – 1000memories.com.

I finally found it! In 1000 Memories i can create profiles for the people I want to write stories about. The connection I have with these people can be seen in a tree structure. I can add pictures, videos, quotes, documents, stories, etc. that reminded me of them. This got me really excited that it got me to wake up at 2:30am when it’s peaceful here and and write this very long blog about it. )

For now, I just registered and set-up the family tree (up to my grandparents). Downloaded their phone app Shoebox for “scanning” old photos to archive (i think it’s just taking picture of picture). Now I want to go home to “scan” photos. If only, I can imagine myself going through all those albums just gathering dust at home. I am so excited to fill the tree with family and add friends so every time they cross my mind with a bit of story from the past, I just can write them on my 1000 Memories account.

Jacob: King si Jacob. (with a very big smile)

Then he walked towards me and place his “crown” in my head.

Jacob: King si Nanay.

Tatay: Dili. Kung girl queen.

Jacob: Queen si Nanay.

Nanay: Basta girl Queen or Princess.  Pag boy King or Prince.

Tatay: Si Jacob prince.  Si MikMik princess.

Jacob:  (still holding the toy crown in my head) Si Nanay… Princess Frog*!

Hahaha!!! The best gyud ni akong anak! hihihi… )

*He enjoyed watching the Princess and the Frog a few days back.