Category Archives: Big, Fun and Scary Things

Big, Fun and Scary Things, Booked

Twilight, and other books

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For the past month, I haven’t been doing much reading. I felt a bit guilty for not doing so since I promised myself 50 books this year…and see how much I’ve been reading. *points to counter* See. And I haven’t budged from my 24 remaining book reviews, which means I’m totally falling behind. There you go.

Yesterday, after packing my stuff for the building transfer at work, I walked around Eastwood while waiting for my brother. I visited Toy Town to check if they have some rubix cube for my brother, then I dropped by A Different Bookstore, but didn’t find anything interesting, only books about camping gear. Since my brother hasn’t texted yet, I headed to National Bookstore to see if there was anything. I wasn’t really planning to buy anything since my dad is about to arrive with the books I ordered plus I badly need to finish Pride and Prejudice before I lose what I understand of it so far (classic novels with old language make me do that :p). But the moment I stepped inside National Bookstore, I knew I just had to buy the book I spotted: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer.

I only heard of the book from Ate Toni, but I never found the book. But yesterday, there was an entire display at National Bookstore, with the next two books also available (but not in paperback, huhu). I immediately took a copy of Twilight to the counter, and to my delight, it was 25% off. :D

I’m halfway through the book and I am loving it. I think it helps that I could imagine Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen, so it’s easier on the image. It’s a mature young adult book, and since it’s new, it’s very easy to relate to. And I know this last thing is kind of shallow, but I love that the book is so thick, meaning there’s more to read. That probably didn’t make sense, but what the heck. :P

I have a feeling Lizzie (the other and newer credit card) will be exercised again in the next few days as I think once I finish this book, I will buy the next two ones, even if they are in hardcover (unless the paperback versions come along all of a sudden :D). I’ll definitely post a review of this once I have finished it, and I’m pretty sure I would have fallen in love with all the characters by that time. :P

But wait, there’s more! :P My dad arrived today with my stash of new books (as if I don’t have enough books waiting to be read, heh), which would definitely perk up my reading activities:

Books!Top to bottom: Stargirl Journal, The Message Remix in Hypercolor Pink (my second one), 50 Reasons I Love Being Catholic by Liz Kelly, Miss Invisible by Laura Jensen Walker, Sushi For One? by Camy Tang, Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Yay. :D I still have a lot to finish reading, but the excitement of these new ones just fueled my desire to read them as well.

Now I’m off. Must not let Bella and Edward wait. ;)

Big, Fun and Scary Things, Dear Diary, Entertaining Angels

The January BFS Year Update: Exciting Times

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I was planning to write this update at the end of the month but I realized that I may not be able to write one at that time because of my suddenly too busy schedule. Eep. So after 25 days of 2008, here’s the mandatory Big, Fun and Scary Year update for January.

For reference, here’s the Goals for 2008 list. :)

  • Mission: Sydney. Well, for starters, I should write something on the blog. :P But anyway, I’ve saved up some more cash for the Sydney fund, and I’ve got another source of income to add some more. I’m due for some research for my friends who want to go with me. Oh, and I found some other people who are planning to go, and I’ve coordinated with them, so I’m just waiting for news. Ticket prices are outrageous, but my parents told me to check with travel agencies and as I’ve heard, ticket prices for July will be out by March…so we have time to save up. I still don’t know if this would really push through, but I’m still hoping it would. Next month, I promise to compile all information I can get to be ready.
  • Drive on my own. Not much driving done, but I did drive when we were at Tagaytay. I managed to drive and manuever the (automatic) car successfully. Of course, there were no other cars in the road, so that made everything easier. But I think I can do this, and I’m hoping for another practice session on a Sunday. :)
  • Lose weight. I had a hip-hop abs session once, and I’m hoping to get to do this more often. I have yet to visit the boxing gym. On the up side, I’m walking around a lot (especially since we always get up late so I end up commuting to work instead of being dropped off), so that makes up for the non-exercise times. I’m drinking lots of water and eating healthier now, though. I can now resist the call of chocolates. Hee. I remember having a discussion about liposuction back at work, and there really is NO way I will be doing that in my lifetime. Exercise times again!
  • Book reading and reviewing challenge. I finished reading my first book in 2008, and currently reading two more books which I am almost done with. My first book review is also up. :D I should spend more time reading during my free time if I want to read this all. :) I’ve installed the Now Reading plugin to keep track of these books, and they’re in the Library.
  • Shopping. I think I kind of spent a bit more than I wanted to this month, but then I realized: one can never have too many tops. Or…something like that. Heh. For this month, I got 4 tops, 2 pairs of shoes and my hair done. :) Yay. Next month I’m planning to get some pants…and probably some more accessories (like medical id tags? Nah).
  • Hosting business. Much thanks to Happy and their web class, I just sold some of my space to her friends. This is where the additional Sydney funds are coming from. :D
  • Prayer Time. I can say I’m starting to have a more or less constant prayer time this year (right when I get to work). I’m looking for new devotionals to read, though, and I think it’s really about time to read not only the readings for the day, but other Bible readings for study. I missed my first Wednesday mass for January, but I made it up for first Friday. :) Oh, and I just realized, Holy Monday falls on my birthday — that’s something new. :)
  • Try something new. I’ve saved this one for last because there seems to be too many new things in my life right now that it’s got me overwhelmed…in a good way, of course. I got this leadership position for a project team in our account (where I would have to give a short presentation for later during our team’s GA), and as for our meeting tonight there’s a lot of things I have to do. Plus seeing I’m the first leader to go through the rotation, I have this feeling I have to set a standard for the other leaders to follow in the next quarter. Pressure much? And, I just became an elected officer for IBS Club. Good luck. This should be a pretty interesting year, yes?

Whew. I haven’t started on any of the other goals, but I think this is pretty good progress for January. :) All these things remind me of one song I used to listen to before I started a new job, Exciting Times by Across the Sky:

Things can happen so rapidly
Then again, they can take a lot of time
But I know these things are not up to me
But I’ll be ready in the mean time
Opportunity is calling out to me
I lay it all on the line…
This thing is bigger than me
And I’m just wanting to be a part of
Anything and everything You ask of me.

Listen to the song here:

[audio:exciting-times.mp3]

Truly, these are exciting times. And I know I’m up for a lot of challenges ahead, which I don’t really mind though I can’t help but be nervous about it. Sometimes it feels easier to just go back and be a part of the crowd, and not do anything out of what I ordinarily do. But that’s hardly living…at least to me. So, as I always say, bring it on! God is faithful, and I know He won’t leave my side as I face all these challenges and try to reach for my goals. :)

How about you? How are you doing on your 2008 goals so far?

Big, Fun and Scary Things, Entertaining Angels

Extraordinary (Mandy Moore)

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I'm ready to be extraordinary.

I’m not much of a pop listener anymore, and I was never a fan of Mandy Moore (except for her duet with Jon Foreman in Someday We’ll Know), but this song is just so positive that I can’t help but keep it on repeat. :)

[audio:extraordinary.mp3]

Extraordinary
Mandy Moore
Album: Wild Hope

I was a bay tree
Quiet and unseen
I lived in stories but inside I kept a mystery
I was a starling
Nobody’s darling
Flying in perfect circles just for company

And now I’m ready
And now I’m ready
And now I’m ready to be extraordinary

A midnight airplane
A window blowing
I know I am another sparkle in the sky
I shine on copper
Still undiscovered
But you might see me in the corner of your eye

And now I’m ready
And now I’m ready
And now I’m ready to be extraordinary

Waking up to wake up someday
I am my own parade
Stopping off at a sidewalk cafe
Wind is playing in the trees
Kick up confetti leaves
Seems as if it’s all to say

And now I’m ready
And now I’m ready
And now I’m ready to be extraordinary

And now I’m ready
And now I’m ready
And now I’m ready to be extraordinary

Listening to this song makes me smile and be positive and all. :) Hello, BFS. :)) I’m ready to be extraordinary. :)

Anyway, I’m turning in early tonight for a change, even if I don’t really have to be at work too early tomorrow because of a meeting I have tomorrow night. Seems like my “try something new” is starting already, as I was given the leadership position for a committee at work. Not that I mind; I was actually planning to volunteer if ever they need someone, but I wasn’t expecting it to be soon. Oh well. And I still have no questions for tomorrow’s meeting, hah. I should think of some tomorrow morning. :) That’s why I’m going to work early; I see. Heh.

Okay, time for bed. Good night world!

Big, Fun and Scary Things

The Australian Dream

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So…Australia. Sydney, specifically.

No, I’m not planning to migrate there or anything. But it’s no secret that I’ve been planning to go to the World Youth Day 2008 since last year. And I’ve been planning to go to Sydney since November of 2006. It’s a tall dream, which I think (like…50/50) I can afford on my own and something I’ve been wanting to do for the longest time but is only having the courage to do so now. At least, start something.

But the thing is…I don’t know who I’ll be going with. See, I heard last month that the screening for Philippine delegates was finished last November. There were no announcements, no nothing. I have no idea if anyone is planning to go from SFC, I have no idea if there are any other groups planning to go. My friend from Singapore offered me a spot at their group, which means I’d be going to Singapore first, but then I think it fell through since it would be easier if I come from here since I’ll be getting my visa here too.

So here’s the question: should I go through with it?

Continue reading The Australian Dream →

Big, Fun and Scary Things, Say Cheese!

Even the office is cooperating

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2008 Goals - Total Wellness Program of IBS

Ha, even the office is cooperating with all the goal-setting I’ve started this year. On the first working day for 2008 (and my official sixth month at work, woot woot!), I was greeted by that piece of paper on my desk. This piece of paper is from the Total Wellness Program of our company, a program of our HR department which aims to develop their employees as a whole. Most of the focus of the program is the employees’ physical and financial aspects, as well as the working attitude. I find this program really cool because it makes me feel like I’m being taken care of. I remember one time before Christmas, all employees got 2 apples, 2 bananas and 2 oranges each because it was antioxidant day. :P

Anyway. So this little piece of paper greets me and it’s about — exactly what it says — my goals for 2008. And I just have to laugh because I just wrote my own goals the day before. Even if this is from the office, the instruction on this card says we must not put work-related goals (since we have that in a separate document which is required every year), but things we want to achieve within the year. It must be something that could stretch our limits, yet attainable. We were encouraged to write them down, and put them somewhere we could always see it (which reminds me, I should do this one for the previous list I made). We could even partner with another employee to check the progress. I have a feeling that sometime in the middle of the year or at the end of the year, they’d be asking for contributions on how the goals set at the start of the year were accomplished.

As you can see, my sheet’s still blank. It only has space for five goals, so I’m choosing which ones I would write there. I promise to write them and stick them on Guilo’s (my PC at work) CPU so I can always read them. :) Let’s see how this works.

And can I just say (again)? I love my company. :D

Big, Fun and Scary Things

Goals for 2008

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Blogging is more fun if you have a new layout, yes?

Just like last year, I spent the first hour of 2008 in reflection and prayer. I admit my prayer time is very different from last year’s (sometimes even non-existent…hay), but this year’s first ever prayer time is still a prayer nonetheless.

I re-read my journal from last year and I just have to laugh at my old goals. I won’t list them down anymore since I hardly fulfilled any (see, 2007 was a difficult year), but this year, I want it to be different. As what Bo Sanchez said in today’s Didache reflection: Friend, write your dreams! So…here we go!

2008 Goals (The Year of Big, Fun and Scary Stuff):

  • Go to Sydney for World Youth Day 2008. The thought of this scares and excites me, and a part of me feels like I should not push through. Sometimes I feel too lazy to save up or plan…but this is the first BIG trip I’m planning for myself. I want this. And by God’s grace, I will get to Sydney…with friends, of course. :) I heard the screening for Philippine delegates (the sponsored ones, I think?) is over, but I can still go! This just means I’m going to have to be stricter with my budget (say goodbye to any plans of getting anything big and expensive, like plasma tv lifts) and do a lot of planning. Hmm.
  • And speaking of traveling…visit at least two other places in the Philippines. 2007 was a year without beaches, or special trips out of town, except for Naga and Singapore. This year, I want to be able to go to out of town trips around the country. Not necessarily the beach, but at least somewhere outside Manila. Oh, and properly document it.
  • Drive on my own. This has been on my goals list since I learned how to drive, and I haven’t done it. Ehehe. The only driving I do lately is take out the car from the garage. I just keep on having visions of myself crashing whenever I drive. Or bumping someone. Bah. This year, I promise to practice driving whenever I can and to get rid of all the bad visions and trust that I would not get into a car crash nor scratch the car or be the cause of traffic.
  • Lose at least 20 lbs and/or 3 inches. I’d say 50 lbs, but I figured I should start slow. I will eat healthier: more fruits and veggies, less meat. I will stop eating too many sweets and fast food, drink more water and juice instead of soda. And I will exercise. Time to get those boxing gloves out again!
  • Learn how to jumprope. My coordination skills are so blah. This year, I promise to master the jumprope!
  • Finish my 2006 NaNoWriMo novel. Because I missed writing chicklit last year and I really want to finish Rain’s story.
  • Establish the PinoyWrimo community and bring attendance to events to at least 20 people. After the success of last year’s events, this year should be better, right? :)
  • Read at least 50 books in one year, and review at least half of it. Hello, 50 book challenge! This means I’ll be reviewing more books come 2008.
  • Reward myself with new clothes/shoes every month. This is in connection with what I elaborated with in this post. Yes, this is a goal, because I am not a “shopper”, even if I am a girl. I’d rather spend my money on food or books, instead of this one, really.
  • Revive Godchicks. The group of girls are okay, but the website is dying. ^^;
  • Start my own blog hosting/hosting business. I did not sign up for Dreamhost for nothing. :)
  • Bake any one of the following: apple pie, double-layered cake or cheesecake. It’s time to expand my baking abilities, yes?
  • Try/learn something new. What “something” is, it’s yet to be determined. New food, new sport, new place, new anything. I’ll have to make a list of this after this year’s over. :P
  • Give time for Gawad Kalinga. I read the company’s report on GK for last year and I got psyched again. This year, I’ll volunteer for Gawad Kalinga again, and bring some teammates as well. :)
  • Renew my prayer time and grow in my faith. In what way I will accomplish that, I have no idea. But I will do my best to attend first Wednesday and first Friday mass and confess at least every two months.

And in an attempt to watch over these goals (which I bet will still grow), I created a new category just for this one to keep track of my goals. Oh wait, one more goal:

  • Document everything. Bring my camera everywhere to “capture moments” and write about everything I can (online and offline).

There you go. Like I said, this list will most probably grow and I will favorite this so I can keep track. Also, feel free to bug me about these goals every now and then, especially if I’m not posting anything about them. :D

Before the first day of 2008 ends, I’d like to share something from Pareng Oswald (Chambers), in his My Utmost for His Highest devotional. I wrote this in my journal last year, and I wrote it again this year because it’s beautiful:

It is true that we have lost opportunities that will never return, but God can transform this destructive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future. Let the past rest, but let it rest in the sweet embrace of God. Leave the broken, irreversible past in His hands and step out into the invincible future with Him.

Good night everyone!