Me, myself, I and David Foster

Our Weekend Memoirs: David Foster & Friends
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The Hitman, David Foster and his sidekicks finally performed live in my backyard last Monday. My ineptness at the camera has been a serendipity. I came up with halloween shots as well. Meet the ghosts of concert present: don't they shape up better than Casper?

Opening score: Theme of the Calgary Olympics

Mr Foster did his homework by remarking about the flood in the northeast. And here they are doing (Michael Jackson's) the Earth Song

David Foster, Peter Cetera, Ruben Studdard, Natalie Cole, Charice, and The Canadian Tenors

I went to this concert mainly for the household names and revel in memories of familiar titles: St. Elmo's Fire, Unforgettable, and many more.

Peter Cetera can't reach his high notes anymore =)

But it's okay. He's still The Inspiration. Besides I can't complain when someone half my age mistook me for a 20-something girl in the parking lot. But even if I did look my age, I admit Charice does deliver.

'dismembered' from the Charice Fan Club

It seemed like phones were intercepted inside Impact Arena. I got to socialize with friends only after the concert -

Singles Club for The Canadian Tenors

Seventeen years ago I could have turned into a zombie if I came face to face with them. The relevance of their songs was just too striking on my god forsaken love career. I'm thankful for the passage of time.

Ebie and Arlene host Our Weekend Memoirs. Thank you, Jen for the Earth Song shot :)

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Sunday Stealing: The Meme About Me, Myself and I

Today we ripped this meme off a blogger named Lucy at the blog The Smallest Smallholding. She states that she was tagged by her friend Amy at the blog Turn to the Music. But, it was probably stolen there as well. So, of course, that will be as far as we go. Tracing back our theft's thieves might take some time. Link back to us at Sunday Stealing!

1. What inspires you to blog? Getting myself involved in things I love

2. What’s the best thing about blogging, for you? the learning, the fun

3. What is your favourite book of all time? No fave. I love every book I collect

4. It’s 9pm and for some reason you’ve been hungry all day, despite the three square meals. What do you rustle up? Whatever's available or I ring some food delivery

5. Who are three of your style icons? Me, myself and I

6. What’s your current favourite song/piece of music? No fave. I love every song I choose to listen to

7. What is the last book you read? Jane Austen Volume 2

8. What is your current favourite recipe? Fried tofu with cashew nuts, tuna and orange

9. Who or what first inspired you to set up your own blog? Myself

10. What object could you not live without? I wish you could specify some context

11. Where do you see yourself in ten years? in fairyland

12. Who or what made you into the person you are today? parents, mentors, and literature heroes

13. What have your learned from blogging? It's important to be just as nice as when you are with fellow homo sapiens offline

14. Knowing what you know now, what knowledge would you pass on to your past self? There is always more to life than rotten apples

15. Sunday roasts - lunchtime or evening meal? lunchtime

16. What has been your best blogging-related experience so far? meeting and interacting with capital fellows in cyberspace

Bud Weiser hosts Sunday Stealing

Ticked off creepy

Musical Monday: It's Hard to Say Goodbye
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In 1993 Asia's songbird Regine Velasquez and Canadian singer/songwriter Paul Anka recorded what was then Laura Branigan's Foolish Lullaby. That looks like a creepy period drama going on while the song is sung. Can anyone tell me what's the title of that film? (if it's a film or what)

Amanda @ Bloggin with Amanda hosts Musical Monday

Denise @ Run DMT hosts Music Monday Blog Hop

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Monday Mayhem: Are ya ticked off?

1. What ticked you off last week while you were on your way somewhere? attractive little fashion shops; they distracted me off my main purpose to browse antiques.

2. Who in your house really ticked you off and how did they do it? a reading lamp that died on me without saying goodbye

3. What politician or political event really ticked you off last week? I stay away from politics because they tick me off all the time

4. Tell us what ticked you off on TV last week. the entire TV disappeared. thanks to the storm

5. What ticked you off online last week? not having enough time to go online

6. What celebrity ticked you off last week and how? don't care enough about any celebrity to be ticked off

7. Tell us something food related that really ticked you off. insane toaster that burned my honey oat loaf

Harriet @ Harriet and Friends hosts Monday Mayhem

Classic Rust

Our Weekend Memoirs: Mabuhay Restaurant
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A cousin and I went shopping in Pratunam this past weekend. There is a Filipino restaurant there where we had lunch.

I was thinking of fall colors. Look at that Bopis. I wonder what's that -

This one I know though: beef caldereta. At home I remember there's only one aunt who can cook caldereta well. The one who owns a carenderia, lol...

Our sinigang... Operation Tangigi. Slurp!

This buko salad is obviously imported. The ice cream taste is very pinoy.

Cousin Vi took home the rest of the sinigang and I took care of the caldereta. I still have some leftover in my fridge right now. (Along with the rest of the food I can't consume duh) I'll go heat the bahaw.

Ebie and Arlene host Our Weekend Memoirs.

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Sunday Stealing: The Presuppose You're Living in New England Meme

Today we ripped this meme of a blogger known as Wayfarer at Wayfarer's Journal. Wayfarer doesn't explain if he wrote it or stole it. But if he did, it was probably stolen there as well. So, of course, that will be as far as we go. Tracing back our theft's thieves might take some time. Link back to us at Sunday Stealing!

Cheers to all of us thieves!

1. Have you turned the heat on in your house yet this fall? I live in the tropics

2. Do you allow your pets on the furniture? I normally don't but my spoiled rotten poodle has different ideas.

3. What were your final words for September? See you next year

4. What are your first words for October? Semestral break, hurray!

5. Do you think you’ve ever seen a ghost? nope

6. What is the one color that represents this time of year? over here it's rust

7. Which of your senses do you think is most sensitive this time of year? my shopping sense

8. What is your favorite thing to do at the county fair? watch activities

9. What do you like when you have a cold? inhaling eucalyptus steam

10. Are you willing to spend over $100 for a piece of winter clothing, like boots or a coat? When I live in a cold country I'll let you know

12. What do you have too much of in your kitchen? food

13. What gripes do you have about this time of year? I've never been to a halloween party yet and I'm curious

14. Other than yourself, are you responsible for getting anyone ready in the morning? nope

15. When was the last time you cleaned your gutters? I have no gutters

16. So, it’s after Labor Day. Will you still be wearing white? dunno this q

17. What shows are you most looking forward to this Fall? Downtown Abbey if I could

18. What three things have you just not gotten around to from the summer, but probably should do before snow flies nah...read answer #1

* "presuppose" should I have answered this as if I lived in New England?... nahhh this is getting complicated

Bud Weiser hosts Sunday Stealing

The Dead Sea for a backyard

October means work break for me. A plan to head down Khao Yai National Park is in conflict with a friend's timetable. I am forced to socialize elsewhere. These are what I saw and did at Camp Facebook:

1. "Expecting the world to treat you fairly because you are a good person is little like expecting the bull not to charge because you are a vegetarian." -Dennis Wholey

2. A few acquaintances want to troop down some videoke bar, but have no idea which bar. I suggested Bangkok Hilton. The staff there tolerates the indignity of my off-keyness.

3. “Cases of involuntary disappearances are usually filed under kidnapping, murder .... Our laws should recognize this distinction from other offenses,” emphasizes Miriam Santiago, a Philippine senator. She eats death threats for breakfast. I like her. Minus her breakfast.

4. It's raining men hallelujah! Seriously I hope the floods in the northeast stay there.

5. Yeah, yeah, I'm so getting it..., my reaction to "Getting your PhD? ..." from the NCA. What was flitting through Strategic Communications Laboratories last night for?

6. A cousin's daughter announced that she hates it when she wants to see someone so badly and she can't. I was her age when I was stifling my own emotions unsuccessfully. Being Facebookless 17 years ago, my pathetic blab got published instead in a national women's magazine. I now consider that piece one utter embarrassment.

7. Poor D is desperate for a nanny. I want to lend her my son's, but it will only complicate things. I was in the hospital when D was born. Time flies. Now she's a medical doctor and a mom herself.

8. A former classmate, now a mom of 3 in Texas broods over that fungus-infected tree knocked down by a storm. Part of her honeymoon was a tour of the Anne Frank house.

9. "Aweright, aweright paradise here we come!" my liveliest shout-out so far.

10. chattered I, "eyeing The Shadow of Sirius by Library of Congress Poet Laureate, W.S. Merwin. 'oracular, unpunctuated... empathic collection.' That's rather my pull."

11. Another former classmate and psychological sparring partner dropped by from Australia, "somewhere the Perseids are falling toward us already at a speed that would burn us alive if we could believe it...."

12. I thanked him for the warm-up, "research, geared up for the raw, the skeletal, the quantitative has deprived me of poetry in awhile." I need a qualitative chock.

13. Hi Heart, how's life with the Dead Sea for a backyard?

Megan and Janet host Thursday 13

Turn to page 331

"So that's how it looks like," I thought as I stared at a blurred image on Cambridge U's 800th anniversary portrait. The page shows a document stamped S E C R E T. I leafed through and tinkered with the text mode of my camera. But the real fun was just setting eyes on things for the first time. It makes up for not having been to any museum in awhile. Besides, I'm not sure how easy or difficult some of these things are to view from anywhere other than the book. This is what I meant on my T13 last week when I said, "into my lap a treasure fell..."

1. Extract from the annotated first edition of Principia Mathematica, 1686

2. Undergraduate record card of Frank Whittle, inventor of the jet engine

3. A 3D silicon nanostructure fabricated using chemical vapour deposition

4. In the pages of the Blue Boy Magazine, err... the Varsity

5. John Milton's manuscript of Lycidas

6. Ernest Rutherford's notes on the structure of the atom

7. The Chancellor's Medal, 1813, awarded annually for the best poem in English written by a student.

8. Roger Morris's index to the Entring Book, an important record of life in the late 17th century

9. A page from the Shahnama of Firdausi, the Persian Book of Kings

10. Nobel Prize certificate awarded to Paul Dirac in 1933 for the discovery, with Erwin Schrodinger, of new productive forms of atomic theory

11. Charter of Edward I, 1291/2, confirming the privileges of the University.

12. Title page of the first book published by Cambridge University Press

13. Fragment of a Genizah manuscript

Megan and Janet host Thursday Thirteen

Spirit House

As a Buddhist country, Thailand has plenty of beliefs and practices arising from Animism or Spirit Worship. A major feature of animistic practice is the spirit house. Its purpose is to provide dwelling for spirits or celestial beings on land. Thais believe that spirits are either good or evil and most expect respect from humans, like being informed if humans would want to start a business in a certain spot. If these spirits aren't, they can cause disastrous interference to any venture. (Reference: Chiangmai and Chiangrai)

A Thai spirit house can be seen in front of homes, hospitals, company buildings, everywhere. You can see it "on a pedestal in front of every hotel. It dresses the corner garden area of a restaurant ... at outdoor food markets. They are built on the grounds of Buddhist temples, outside caves in the mountains, near fishing ponds in the valleys, and occasionally in the middle of an otherwise uninhabited forest." (Source: Uniquely Thai)

This is a spirit house in front of a university on a rainy day. Everyday employees pass by it as they scan their finger in computers beside the gate to report for work. Buddhist/Thai employees wai at it. The international staff, some after having been around for many years, tend to duck their heads as they make their way in and out the campus.

The same spirit house at night.

My World Tuesday is brought to you by Klaus and the My World Team Sandy, Wren, Fishing Guy, Sylvia

Peace, people

Musical Monday: She Bop, Cyndi Lauper

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You are most probably aware of the controversy behind Cyndi Lauper's She Bop. Allusion, sticker, it's not like we don't know whatever. I hope you enjoy the beat at least. I do. Guess I always will.

Amanda @ Bloggin with Amanda hosts Musical Monday

Denise @ Run DMT hosts Music Monday Blog Hop

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Monday Mayhem: The 6 best pieces of advice

Scroll up for Musical Monday

1. Someone playing this meme has music playing on their site and it is disrupting what you have playing on your computer while you play this wonderful meme. What's your best advice to people who auto-play music on their site? Make the turn off button easily accessible and functional.

2. What is your best advice to someone thinking about getting married? It's only the beginning so good luck.

3. What's your best advice for someone wanting to purchase a new phone? Check out iPhone

4. What's your best advice to offer to the younger generation? The sooner you mature, the better for yourself and everyone.

5. What's your best advice for anyone wanting to buy a car? Know what you want or need.

6. What's the best advice to give to everyone? Remember Desiderata

Harriet @ Harriet and Friends hosts Monday Mayhem

Furry and juicy

Our Weekend Memoirs: Roadside Fruit Stand
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Tupi is called the fruit basket of South Cotabato. It was only four months ago though that I really paid attention to the many fruits that I take for granted when I'm home. MG3, a pineapple label, is something new to me.

The is the fruit stand in Kablon, a barangay near Dole, the pineapple giant. I bought loads of avocados. They're quite pricey in Bangkok. Whereas in SC 5 USD go a long way.


We made several stops on our way home from the airport. This watermelon stand is in Gensan.

Luckily, people at home are fruit eaters. It's no fun to eat alone.

Click here for more OWM.

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Sunday Stealing: Another 50 Questions Meme, Part One (perhaps)

Today we ripped this meme of a blogger known as Nigel Vanstone at Away for a Bit. Nigel explains that he was tagged to do the meme, but does not credit the blogger. But, it was probably stolen there as well. So, of course, that will be as far as we go. Tracing back our theft's thieves might take some time. He promises to post the next 25 questions, soon. If he writes them by next Saturday, we will complete his meme. Link back to us at Sunday Stealing!

Cheers to all of us thieves!

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought? tell me who's the fairest of all

2. How much cash do you have on you? tang mot leaw (cash gone)

3. What’s a word that rhymes with DOOR? FLOOR "and if I have to crawl upon the floor or come crashing thru your door..." Reo's forgotten what he'd started fighting for

4. Favorite planet? If I spent a month in Uranus, a month in Neptune, the next month in Jupiter... only then would I know which was my fave

5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone? Bob Hope

6. What is your favorite ring tone on your phone? Trill.aac

7. What shirt are you wear[ing]? I'm not wearing a shirt right now

8. Do you label yourself? no

9. Name the brand of the shoes you’re currently wearing? They're all in the office; can't remember the different brands

10. Bright or Dark Room? it depends

11. Did you do anything to celebrate John Lennon's 70th yesterday? Imagine, "you may say I'm a dreamer but I'm not the only one" So that's what I saw Yoko Ono, Sir Paul, etc on Larry King yesterday for...

12. What does your watch look like? it's got a tiny inscription that says "don't worry, be happy"

13. What were you doing at midnight last night? feeding on my Twilight fix

14. What did your last text message you received on your cell say? You have 4 missed calls

15. Where is your nearest 7-11? down the bend

16. What’s a word that you say a lot? methinks I am in heaven above

17. Who told you he/she loved you last? lol! how corny

18. Last furry thing you touched?

19. How many drugs have you done in the last three days? none

20. How many rolls of film do you need developed? I don't get this

21. Favorite age you have been so far? 19

22. Your worst enemy? boredom

23. What is your current desktop picture (extra points if you post it.)?

my part-time religion

24. What was the last thing you said to someone? sweet dreams

25. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly what would it be? I nothing.

Firft in Englifh, of ancient liberty

My reading pile is still a pile - book reviews, press releases, SEO pieces, but TGIF! I'm putting them all aside to have a look back at my week. Which to be honest has been a bit bumpy as far as work is concerned. Thank goodness there's personal life to run to and where we have better control over the happiness meter. I took my own sweet time enjoying life's little pleasures --

1. Cousin weekend. Being an only child, the closest person I have to a sister is cousin Vi. Her young sons are well-behaved, loving, brainy and they call me Auntie :-) Meals and chatter with them are quadruple the fun. I love them even more for agreeing to stay at home while Vi and I went shopping at a night bazaar.

2. Camera. When a hesitant techno-ignoramus finally approaches features on a gadget, the result is fun galore. This is Milton's justification of the blank verse of Paradise Lost. The literary legend used f for s, a strange character for c and so on. I found it fascinating.

3. Silent beauty. To avoid harmful rays, I walk behind the guard house to the office and back. The path is dark, but I know a secret. This:

4. Lanzones. Two kilos for ฿50.00 ($1.70). They're great on the taste buds after drinking morning coffee.

5. Croaking at the top of my voice: for He's more wonderful than my mind can conceive, He's more wonderful than my heart can believe! He goes beyond my highest hopes and fondest dreams....

Two cleaners peeped, "Ajarn Mae?" I thought the hallway was completely empty. Ah well, they would never know that only half an hour before my solo concert I was dealing with a psychological attack in the vice president's office.

Visit Susanne @ Living to Tell the Story for more faves.