By J, on October 12th, 2009
I can still vividly remember the time when I purchased my first ever computer. Being that I’m not a techie person, I had a lot of anxiety as I was not confident that I would make the right choice. I was torn between buying a laptop and a desktop. I loved the idea of having a laptop for its portability but that was just about the only thing that I knew. Clearly, I needed to do a research and had to get hold of a buying guide to help me sort it out. At that time, I was not aware of ShopWiki.com, where I could have obtained a very comprehensive buying guide.
My husband and I now rely on each of our notebooks. We got rid of our desktop more than four years ago and each of us now enjoy our his and hers Sony Vaio. Oh yes, we are self confessed Sony lovers. In fact, you’ll find Sony’s all over our house. But the funny thing is that my husband has been recently eyeing a macBook Air. Where is the Sony loyalty I’m talking about, you may now ask. Well, all I can say is that, obviously, the man of the house can also be unpredictable and fickle minded.
By J, on October 10th, 2009
If you have been following me on this blog for a while now, you must be aware of my issues about our ’sitting duck’ : Cordie, our very idle car. While most vehicles pass the annual inspection without glitches, ours failed last year due to the fact that it is barely used.
Yes, a vehicle is meant to be driven after all. Thus, in order for our car to pass the annual inspection last year, the service department at the dealership had to run the car through the dynomometer. I was really bent on not having to go through the same process again this year. And that is the reason why I have made it a chore to always take the car for a spin every week, and clock in at least 50 miles every week. It paid off!
Last month, the same day I went for my biannual checkup with my Breast Oncologist, Cordie was just a couple of blocks away from the Doctors office, getting the annual inspection at the service shop at the nearby dealership. Just in case the car fails the inspection, I figured it was best to have the inspection at the dealership’s service center. Was I glad to find out that the dynomometer was not needed this time for the car to pass inspection. That means, my ‘take Cordie for a spin’ day works, and that is all I need to do, to ensure that the car will pass the annual inspection without any issues.
I look forward to going for a spin next week, as I also need to check out some industrial safety supplies. This time, I may even have to drive farther. Cordie will certainly appreciate that.
By J, on October 2nd, 2009
While I was really looking forward for my husband’s two weeks vacation, I must admit that the devastation brought about by the recent typhoon Ondoy (international name : Ketsana) to Metro Manila and nearby provinces put a damper on my jolly mood.
It’s tough to see the live feed on TV. Having lived in Manila for more than half of my life ( I went to school there), it was surreal seeing familiar places submerged in flood water. I can’t help but be really sad while looking at the effect of the wrath of typhoon Ondoy. Loss of lives and properties, damage to properties, people dislodged from their homes and now, the struggle for basic commodities is very disheartening. I can’t even imagine how the affected families will start all over again. How will they begin their lives after this devastation?
Immediately after the typhoon, it was a big surprise for me that the international news was not picking up the latest story from Manila. I got my information mostly from my subscription to two Filipino channels. After three days, I then saw few seconds of air time showing clips of knee deep flooding and no clips of the locales where homes were submerged. I had the impression that the international community was not aware of the wide spread damage and devastation that the typhoon caused. Somehow, I think that this is the reason why the United States government sent only a total of $150,000 in aid ( an amount that is relatively small as compared to the aids they extend to other countries).
Relief efforts are being conducted, and it’s such a joy to hear that in the midst of this devastation, Filipinos find it in their hearts to help each other. Donations have been pouring and although the different organizations were and are presently able to attend to the many basic needs of the people affected, it is the aid to help rebuild these people’s lives that is even more critical.
One typhoon out, and another one is coming. This time, they are expecting super typhoon Pepeng (international name: Parma) which is expected to intensify this Saturday and is threatening to smash Northern Luzon.
By J, on September 24th, 2009
How can I even consider doing a 7 day colon flush when I’m constantly thinking of these foods?
  
Blame it on my husband who has gotten me into these combination of foods. I must admit, these three things blend well nicely as far as my palate is concerned. I have been craving for these for the past two days. It’s amazing how I still have a voracious appetite in spite of my sniffles. I guess, starving my cold just doesn’t work. It has never been, actually. As far as I can remember, even as a child I would still eat my normal portion even if I was down with a cold.
How about you?
By J, on September 24th, 2009
Is your home secure? How many of you have an ADT Home Security installed in their property? I could have mentioned any other home security system available out there, but I mentioned ADT Security because they are hands down the industry leader. With more than seven million homeowners now in the United States who are sleeping in deep slumber every night and having peace of mind whenever they are away on vacation, there is no way anyone would be reluctant and trust ADT to protect their properties and families.
Nowadays, with the bad economic climate, skimping on home security should be far from our minds. If you already have it in place, kudos to you! If you are a homeowner and have not yet considered having adt security installed in your home/property/business, you should not think twice. With the steady rise of crimes brought about by our rough economy, now is the best time to consult an ADT professional and start to enjoy the peace of mind that only the industry leader can bring.
We invest on different insurances, so why not invest on home security likewise? It’s such a small amount to pay for the kind of 24/7 security monitoring that only a home security system can do. In fact, with a home security installed on your property, you may even get a 20 percent discount on your home insurance. See? It works both ways for you.
Be proactive, and don’t wait for a disaster to happen before you act on ensuring that your home is properly secured. I’m sure that you only want the best for yourself and your family. Since ADT has been named as the Home Security ‘Best Buy’ by Consumer Digest, you may as well go with the best. You’ll be, glad you did. Theres’ nothing better, knowing that you are protecting what you value the most.
By J, on September 23rd, 2009
My Tuesdays have become ‘take Cordie for a spin day.’ As some of you may know, I’m pretty much regimented in the sense that I have a specific chore to accomplish each workdays of the week. My weekends officially start on Fridays when I’m totally off from any household chore including cooking except baking. Well, I don’t regard baking as a chore; it’s a hobby for me. Such that, when my husband is on vacation(off from work), I’m also on vacation and someone else has to take on my chores. Fair deal, isn’t it?
Going back to ‘take Cordie for a spin day,’ yes, driving our vehicle for at least 40 miles each week and have it running on expressway speed has become a chore for me. Who would have thought I would succumb to this?
This is the only way to keep the vehicle in good shape. It is barely used. A 2004 model which we purchased in 2003 with only 11,000 miles. We seldom drive; we’re both lazy. Whenever we travel and could have had the chance to take a long drive, we chose to fly. Driving around on weekends to do what we please, is simply not enough, even with my weekly errands around the neighborhood. Although this summer, we needed to drive a lot too on weekends, but it is only temporary while we are on a ‘mission’. If only my husband drives to work, then this added chore will be eliminated. Driving to Manhattan(the big city) as everybody is aware of, is a pain and add to that the exorbitant parking fees.
We have to follow the suggestion of the mechanic : “take your car for a drive regularly, or else the catalytic converter will give in.” We already replaced the battery twice, two years in a row – February of last year, and the day before Memorial Day this year. I simply have no choice!
By J, on September 22nd, 2009
I think I’m coming down with a cold, and I can’t believe it that I’m getting one this early. It’s only the first day of Fall. In fact, it didn’t even feel like Fall today, because it was warm and humid. Change of temperature, perhaps? The past few days were relatively cool around here where we live. I practically had to wear my light jacket whenever I had to head out.
Right now, as I’m typing away and sort some important documents, I feel congested, and it’s not the best feeling. I’m trying to help tweak around a business plan. I feel kind of ‘rusty’ because I haven’t had to do business planning for more than ten years. It would have been a different story, had I been still in the corporate world. I’m challenged and I’m not too sure of my input and output. It would be nice to have in my disposal a good team of business plan consultants.
Thinking back, when I was still in management, I didn’t work on the annual business plan for my brand alone. Although I had my own directions set, it was still the collective work of my business team.
Ah… those were the days. I miss it sometimes minus the stress and pressure that is synonymous to brand and business management.
By J, on September 19th, 2009
Almost ten years ago, I dreaded cooking. I was not proud of the fact that I didn’t know how to cook and had no experience at all in managing a kitchen. But hey, when you’re single and you happen to have access to a live-in cook, cooking would be the last thing on your mind.
As a newly wed then, I didn’t have the confidence to whip up anything from scratch. Simply put, I had the case of an ‘anemic’ fried chicken, steamed rice that was as hard as stone and all the big and small goofs that I would do in the kitchen then. To top it all, I had a lot of burns and cuts on my fingers, something that went on for the fist two years after I got married.
Through it all, because I was interested and determined to learn, I’m now a confident cook and a master in menu planning. I can now also proudly say that I have the potential to be a good baker, all of that without any formal education.
However, there is one task in the kitchen that I still dread to do – opening a can using a can opener. I’m still at a lost how to use a manual can opener. And that is not without constant practice, because I own a manual can opener too, aside from my so called life saver: the Black and Decker Gizmo cordless can opener.
Thus, I was on panic mode when I discovered that my Gizmo died on me last Wednesday in the middle of cooking. I had to open a can of peas and I thought the Gizmo would magically open the can for me as usual, but the poor thing just wouldn’t turn around the lid of the can just like I’m used to seeing every time. No, the rechargeable battery was not the culprit, as the power was still fine when pressed. The spring on the magnet gave in.
I’ve had this baby since 2003, and it has been the biggest kitchen miracle for me. I was in the brink of crying as I tried hard to maneuver my manual can opener to open that can of peas. I was sweating not from the heat in the kitchen because the central AC was on, but from the frustration.
Apart from the furnace filters that I need to order, I now also have to start my search for my dear Gizmo. I gotta have it… soon!
Oh, and would you want to know if I successfully opened the can of peas? Yes, I did but just imagine a botched can. Something that only me can probably do. No, I gave up using the manual can opener. I used my Wusthof chef’s knife. Go figure!
image credit: wikio.com
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