2 May
Just a 2 minute time-out from this chaotic world. This is a music video of 4th Impact, ( real siblings ) a girl group ( P-Pop ) from the Philippines. Click cc for subtitles.
Here’s another one from my super fav P-Pop group , SB19, at their first ever concert with audience, held at the Araneta Coliseum ( tickets sold out in 1 hour. )Check it out, just 51 seconds…. a dance break. Yum, the body roll.
Eukraine, I still care. This is just a time-out.
31 Mar
I know ! I know ! This is a tasteless joke. It was just too good to resist.
Wait ! There’s more ! The photo below shows the son of Philippines’ former dictator Ferdinand Marcos and Imelda Marcos, killer and thief duo, and said son is now running for President, believe it or not. My parents are freaking out.
24 Mar
About Ukraine:
I have not watched the news since 2 weeks ago. I can’t stand this feeling of helplessness anymore. Out of sight, out of mind.
I’ve also become a little bit paranoid. The computer system of the dairy company where I work had been hacked, big time. We didn’t get anything done for 5 days. The first thing that came to my mind was a Cyber Attack. Good thing we managed to ship out our products to Taiwan and South Korea just before the hacking. Our milk exports to these 2 countries are our bread and butter. We export our products thru COSTCO’s Kirkland brand. And , oh yeah, we also produce for Walmart ( Great Value, their store brand ) , Target, and other big supermarkets. Not producing anything for 5 days is quite a big loss to the company. Now, we’re working overtime…. no days off for me.
My computer was hacked, too, using my Facebook account. Warning ! ! Don’t buy anything online thru Facebook ! I reported this to my credit card company. My card was frozen for 2 weeks , then the company sent me a new card. Something else happened, and I think it was a dry run for a future scam. I received an Amazon Prime package last week. The sender was the daughter of my first cousin who lives in the Philippines. I video called my cousin , and showed her the package with her daughter’s name on it. She got scared. Well, me too. I’m sure the scammer randomly picked off her name from my Facebook list of Friends. Guess what’s in the box. ….. A strainer/sieve and 2 plastic clothes cover, like the one used by Dry cleaner shops. The heck ! I also reported it to Amazon and my credit company. Good thing the Amazon package wasn’t charged on my credit card. I informed the credit company ( Fraud department ) that I wouldn’t be using my credit card for at least 6 months, except for 2 automatic payments to Netflix and Comcast.
Another warning ! ! Majority of online scammers speak with a very particular accent. I don’t want to offend a certain group of people , so I won’t tell you which accent I’m talking about. Some scammers use emails , but these online scammers are more nefarious and relentless.
Forewarned is forearmed.
This is all for now.
12 Mar
Putin is destroying Ukraine with impunity. All he does is threaten the world with nuclear war, and that’s it. Everybody folds up. I understand it’s extremely risky and dangerous to call Putin’s bluff because this man is evil personified….. a madman of the first order…. a criminal. So, what can the world do? Sending water, food and nappies won’t help Ukranians win the war. They need the tools to block Russian advance … rocket launchers and advance military weaponry. But then, NATO doesn’t even want to stop importation of Russian oil and gas. I have no more words to describe the feelings I have right now.
But this quote from Churchill ( although not verified if he really said this) just about sums up nicely and clearly muddled thoughts that are swirling on my mind. By the way, this quote is from Lydia Ecklund’s website , https:alotfromlydia.com , titled Putin’s Empty Peace negotiations. Thank you, Ms. Lydia.
Next is Taiwan, and the rest of Asia.
14 Feb
REO BROTHERS doing a great cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s Sound Of Silence. Check it out.
11 Feb
Video below is by the REO BROTHERS, a Philippine band , ( real brothers ) that covers pop classics, like those by the Beatles, Beachboys, etc. Their cover songs are spot on ! ( And LIVE, of course ) I’m sure our Baby Boomers will feel nostalgic.Please check this out.
7 Feb
This is a reblog of my 2013 Valentine’s post. This is just my fun take on heartbreaks, unrequited loves, and rejections. Shed some tears then move on, ladies. It’s not the end of the world.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
.Are you alone ?
.
.Have you been friend-zoned ?
Did you let him know of your feelings , but you were rejected?
.
So, your maiden’s feelings and pure heart have been hurt.
You don’t have to do that !!!!!! Get off the rails !
.
.
Bam ! An uppercut ! You wish you could do that, huh.
You can talk to me, you know. Let it all out. Cry.
I feel you, sister.
I know it’s hard but get a grip on yourself, mull it over and meanwhile …….
.Are you done ? Well then , let’s move on, shall we ?. We lonesome singles should stick and do stuff together. Let’s be happy in our misery.
You’ll forget, sooner than you think, I guarantee that, and then you’ll laugh it off.
And you’ll wonder, why the heck did I ever get attracted to this guy?
* walks off *
Let’s just go watch The Notebook.
.
3 Feb
I know discussing my parents’ last will and testament is such an unpleasant topic, but , I guess this is something we cannot avoid. I just want to share my thoughts , you know.
My parents are planning to retire soon and wish to spend the remaining years of their lives in the Philippines. Why the Philippines and not the US ? The foremost reason is financial. They say they cannot live comfortably on their Social Security pension here in the US. If they bring their dollars to the Philippines, they will live very comfortably, and can even afford to employ 2 caretakers aka household helpers. Now, just in case something happens to them while still living in the US, this is where the “living will ” comes in. My parents own 2 houses here in the US… and it’s only now that they’re disclosing how much money they have in the banks. Not much, but still substantial. They also have so many properties in the Philippines, mostly real estates with buildings on it, like our house, a vacation house on Boracay Island ( internationally famous resort island ) and a townhouse. They have already told us the beneficiaries of the properties will be the three of us siblings, all together. My sister will check out the website Legal Zoom, an internet law firm that specializes on living wills. Ahhh, it’s so complicated, and so unpleasant.
Photo below is our property on Boracay Island, 7 bedrooms, 5 toilets/bath, etc, which my siblings and I are planning to covert to Airbnb and to build a coffee shop in front.
Boracay Island:
Interior of our house in Boracay Island
Rooftop with a million dollar view of the sea
The house used to have a South Korean tenant, but left when the pandemic happened. The new tenant, a local, is renting the first floor, the one with a small kitchenette, but the rest of the house has been vacant for 2 years. We plan to convert it to Airbnb, and build a small coffee shop in front.
Do you know that all incomes earned by Americans, worldwide, should be disclosed to the IRS, and are taxable? We can circumvent this by applying for dual citizenship ( be a Filipino citizen without renouncing American citizenship ). This way, we can avoid Double Taxation because a treaty had been signed between the Philippines and the US wherein income earned in the Philippines by an American citizen ( though disclosed to IRS ) will not be taxed by US goverment ( though we heard the state like California will tax us. Ugh.
So, frankly, do you think we’re dreaming ?
Sorry I think I’m blabbering. Just my thoughts.
Oh, the possibilities !
27 Jan
My Mom has been posting on Facebook for over a year now. At first, she just wanted to reconnect with relatives and friends, especially those living in the Philippines. But now, she feels she has to get out of it. She thinks Facebook users live in Lalaland and just want to show off a life of privilege and bliss. She understands the motive , of course. Who wants to post about a life of destitution and misery in public, anyway? ( shakes head )
As for me, I made my Facebook page private. Only relatives and close friends can see my stuff . Now, why did I do that? Do you remember the photo below ? My ex -boyfriend did that when I updated my new relationship status on my Facebook. New boyfriend just 3 months after break-up…. I guess he was offended.
Mom also feels overwhelmed with spiritual, religious, and inspirational Facebook notifications from friends and relatives. She’s like, ” I get it ! Stop !” I guess her friends and relatives are at that age where they’re starting to prepare to meet their Maker. ” Say AMEN if you want Jesus to heal your wounds.”
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I watched how, last month, a Category 5 typhoon Odette wreaked havoc on a large area in the Philippines on YouTube. The Philippines is the center of typhoons in the Asia-Pacific region , getting at least 20 typhoons a year, half a dozen of which are very destructive. Check out the video below. It’s jaw dropping.
This is all for now. Stay safe.
31 Dec
Clockwise: pastries from 85 degrees ( the best, ever ), baked macaroni, beef with mushrooms, pork asado, embutido ( pork loaf ) pork eggroll
Hot egg drop soup with soft tofu, made from scratch
Baked macaroni ( I didn’t have time to cook bechamel sauce on top ….. the macaroni sauce has tomato sauce, ketchup, heavy cream,milk, cheese, fish sauce and soy sauce….. the fish sauce and soy sauce make this pasta dish typically Filipino, but, believe it or not, it’s a winner…… in fact, when I cooked this dish for our potlock at work, my co-workers nagged me for the recipe, which I was UNWILLING to give away because it’s a secret , family recipe, ha haha ! My Mom had a successful catering business in the Philippines, and you know, just like you don’t ask a lady her age, you don’t ask a caterer for the recipe of the dish…(“…”)
Beef with mushrooms
Chicken macaroni and fruit salads
Mango, ube ( purple yam ) Boston Creme cakes
Cheesecake
Sister and Dad
I just love these pastries from 85 degrees. If you’re in California, go in and buy their pastries, especially their French bread.
Well, this is all for now, folks. Happy 2022 !
24 Dec
And CHRISTMAS GREETINGS from YOURS TRULY. May you all have a HAPPY CHRISTMAS and a PROSPEROUS 2022 ! Be safe, be well, be healthy.
18 Dec
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all !
Guys, I’m sorry I haven’t posted for quite a while. Since November, I’ve been working 12 hours a day, for seven days, without days off. Not complaining , though, because, $$$$$$$$. Right ? I work at a dairy company, and though it’s always been this busy during the holidays, this year , production has hit the roof. It’s a good thing, of course. Business is very , very good this year. America should rejoice. Our company also gave us the usual ham and 2 boxes of our own products. I donated all of that to Loaves and Fishes, a Catholic group that feeds the homeless. I hope they have enough space in their fridge for all the dairy products that I donated. Loaves and Fishes is our family’s favorite charity group. Our cash donation is a n automatic monthly salary deduction….. not much, but it does add up to a hefty sum in one year. I’m not tooting my own horn…. this is just to let those who care know there are others who care as well.
My Mom was just told a surprising little tidbit by an old friend of hers. He asked mom if M…. was her relative. M… was mom’s relative, and knew her in college. Then he told her that a very popular , but sad, Filipino Christmas song , Paso na, Sinta ko ( It’s Christmas, my beloved ) was composed for her by the University of the Philippines ‘ Concert Chorus’ conductor. The story was, M … had a boyfriend who was also a member of UP Concert Chorus. But then, M… and her family immigrated to the US without even telling her boyfriend. Poof !!!.. she just disappeared in his life. He was so emotionally distaught that it affected all the members of the choir. This sad situation inspired the conductor, Elly Estanislao , to compose the song. The original title of the song was ” Para kay M…. ” ( For M… ) The opening lyrics , in English is ” It’s Christmas now, my beloved, I’m still longing for you… why did you leave me ? ” It’s so heart-breaking.
This is the music video of the Christmas song. Surprisingly, the best rendition , in my opinion , was sung by an American choir group. Check it out… but take note, don’t pay attention to the dancers . They are so annoying and distracting. I don’t know why they were even there , dancing what they thought was something cultural ??Aaaargh. !
This is all for now.
But before I end this, I hope you can listen to a joyous Filipino Christmas song.
1 Dec
Compared to previous Thanksgiving feasts, this year we had less dishes on the table.
grilled chicken and embutido ( pork loaf )
My Mom’s favorite, Bopis. I don’t want to say what’s in there, LOL. Spicy and delicious.
Lechon with liver sauce.
Chicken macaroni salad and cassava cake….. not shown, fruit salad with pandan cream. Pandan is called vanilla grass .
Heart attack Humba dish. It does look unappetizing because of the fatty pork belly, but it’s very delicious, our family’s favorite. It’s pork cooked in Sprite ( instead of water), soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, salted black beans, dried banana blossoms, bay leaves, garlic, onions.
Garlic fried rice, of course.
My brother and sister.
My cousin and her hubby. My boyfriend couldn’t go because he was coughing so much…. didn’t want to infect the family. My sister’s hubby was also sick. …. just keeping everyone safe.
I decorated the house early. Hahaha!
Guys, do you know I was in Hawaii for 2 weeks this November ? ( Pics on next post )
Bye for now. Hugs and kisses to all. Stay safe. There’s Omicron.
30 Oct
My sister all suited up to clean up burned down areas in Northern California. She works with California environmental agency as a toxicologist.
dreamsending
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