Photo Talk: Good Friday 2013

Some random shots I took while roaming around the city and nearby provinces on Good Friday.

Roman Catholics call it faith.  For non-catholic I suggest to consider it culture and heritage.  Everyone is invited to make their own photo caption through the comment form below.

Sunday Thoughts and Photograph: You Never Fail To Surprise Me

You don’t look like a nerd. You do a lot of stuff. You’re into a lot of activities…

I seldom see you hold your books and seriously study for exams…

And yet you're able to squeeze your name in the over all list of Outstanding Students - one among the few first years who managed to do that…

I was thinking it's kinda "Mission Impossible" for you because you’re taking a course that is far from your comfort zone.

You love English and Language… now you’re dealing with a field that requires a lot of Mathematics…

So I was ready that mom's privilege and pride would stop when you graduated from high school...

But you still managed to have me climb the recognition stage with you... feel that mom's privilege and pride once again! It’s becoming an annual habit you know…

I am surprised with the recognition… but what surprise me more is this…



Me/Mom: Hey take a look at this they look amazing. Who did this?
                  This is my favorite (photo above)

Son: Hmn? Really? You like it?

Me/Mom: Yep. It’s really good.  See, I took a photo.

Son: (Grinning) It’s mine. I made it he he. It was a rush job you know.. he he

Me/Mom: (speechless…)

The photograph is taken from my son’s school lobby.  It was the school's Academic Recognition Day and College Fair at the same time.  He is among the academic awardees - Outstanding Students from overall ranking.  I was waiting for the recognition program to start so I  decided to roam around and found several art works displayed all over the school.  I never really thought and expected that the one I'm looking at is my son's work.

I know he plays the piano, the guitar. He cooks and do the chores when I'm too lazy to do them.  He's an Altar Boy who sometimes talks like Google (lol).

But this... it's simple but.... really... I'm speechless...

Thank You God! It’s An Awesome __ Years!

Two days ago was my birthday 

and I am now orbiting to another 365-day journey around the sun.

I'll make sure that I'll enjoy the trip!

I want to thank everybody who took time to greet me.

 That meant more to me than you all could ever imagine.

I am happy, blessed and loved... 

THANK YOU GOD! It's an awesome __  years!

♥♥♥

My sincere thanks to these sweet people who spared some time out of their busy schedule to make these special picture greetings, more so within a very short time frame.  Again, it means a lot to me. THANK YOU so much!

These messages are so special that I compile it with my favorite song about friendship "Friends Will Be Friends" sang by my most favorite artist Freddie Mercury of Queen.

In order of appearance ...
(listed according to who sent the earliest greet)

Bino of Damuhan

Genskie - Genskie's Written Voices

Zai - Zai Moonchild

Anthony - Free To Play

Lalah - Telelalahbells

MEcoy - I am MEcoy

Denggoy - denggoy palaboy

Gracie - Gracie's Network

Senyor Iskwater - Kwentong Iskwater Mula sa Iskwater

JonDMur - JonDmur Blogerong Penguin

Bagotilyo - Bagotilyo Your Online Superhero

Empi - Kol Me eMPi

My non-blogger BFF Mac

Super Mario - Unplog

Mak -  Christian Song Lyrics

My Non-blogger friend JaeArh

Pao Kun - To Infinity and Beyond! Pangkalawakan!

Joanne - Joanne's Blog

Arline - the Pink Line

Lea - Travel Quest

Wrey and Robby - fasHiOnmOTO

This blog will be opening a new feature soon and the above list will be on the priority lane.

♥♥♥

SOME FACTS ABOUT ME (Warning: This is a bit conceited):

1. "You look a lot younger than your age" is a very common comment that I am receiving in reply to the "age question"
2. I maybe among the few women who doesn't hide about age.  When someone asked about it, I love to make a guessing game and it's consistent that nobody got it correct. 
3. When people asked "What's your secret?" I automatically answer "I'm a vampire!" LOL

Hey bear with this conceited soul!  It's my birthday anyway ;) Hugs to y'all...

Beware The Ides of March! Picture Greetings Please?

Naaah! It’s not the assassination of Julius Caesar nor a Shakespeare tragedy will happen!   But yep! it is actually a special day for me on the Ides of March! … and I want to ask for a special request from you my dear friends….

Care to send me a picture message/greetings please for my birthday? I saw this from other blogger friends and it seems fun (copy cat and “gaya-gaya lungs”)! 

I’ll wait for your messages until March 17, 2013 to my email address balutmanila@gmail.com

Sorry for the short notice but hey I trust that you love this poor soul and you will grant my wish! Yey THANK YOU!

Mixed Nuts: So Much To Be Thankful For

So February bid goodbye and as it left I wish that it brings along with it the heart aches and pains I had on top of which is the death of my beloved cat.

But this does not mean that I despise February.  I still feel so blessed in spite of the heart aches because there’s so much to be thankful for that happened to me on this month. So let’s forget about the heart aches.  Instead I want to share to you all the blessings that I am very thankful for.

The promised gift from my anniversary post.
Slowly (but surely I hope) I am able to send out the gifts that I mentioned in my anniversary post.  Some of you might be seeing by now that some blogger friends are posting about the thank you cards they received from me.  They are token of appreciation to these blogger friends who never fail to support my blog and for simply being my friends in the blogosphere.  I did not post a list on who are these people because as I always say, I love making simple surprise to people.

There are still some token that I haven’t sent out yet.  It is because I want to send them with uniqueness and sincerity.  My token may not be expensive in value but it carries with it pure sincerity.



Blogger’s Meet and their awesome presents

Spontaneous and unplanned!
That is so me again.  Just how much I love to make small surprises for people, I love to surprise myself as well. I got the chance to meet some bloggers unexpectedly and unplanned.

The meet up photos and details will be posted on another post but I am dying to thank these sweet people for their awesome gifts.  You really “hit me in my best spot” (wink*).

The father and son tandem, Juicy Jay of About Jay's Journey who just arrived from KSA and Arvin of Chateau de Archieviner who just arrived from New Caledonia gave me this bag of goodies.  The goodies were so meticulously packed/stuffed in a paper bag by Jay while the son Arvin is busy being in love (lol).



The bag contains a lot of awesome stuff including a cute bottle opener and chocolates from Jay and chocolates and tea-towel from Arvin but the ones that made me jump are these – tadaaah!

Ten Riyals and Framed Coin Collection! from Juicy Jay and  Mille Francs (New Caledonia Currency) from Arvin

As for the reason why these items made me jump, you may want to check it here.

Another unplanned meet is with a bunch of awesome bloggers during PBO's 1st Bazaar for a Cause.  I said that I will not discuss the meet up here because I will do that in a separate post but I can’t help but thank all the bloggers present during the bazaar. THANK YOU all for the very warm reception you gave to me – that was unforgettable!  Thanks as well for this cute button pin/badge.

PBO Button Pin (I bought the mug in support to the bazaar)

It was hard to contain myself again not to jump out of  joy when Senyor Iskwater of Kwentong Iskwater Mula sa Iskwater (love the title of this blog :) and Super Mario of UNPLOG handed me another addition to my collection!  Yey! THANK YOU Senyor and Mar!

Australian Dollar and Riyal (Qatar Currency) from Mar and Singapore Dollar from Senyor

The second card from a fine lady in Norway

Finally I received the card from a fine lady of  Norway Joy of Joy's Notepad.  It is so sweet of you Joy to send me another card because the first one got lost in the mail.  THANK YOU for this wonderful card with the sweetest message and an advance greetings for my birthday.  And yes I am really looking forward to meet you in person.

The Noob Sketch 

In the middle of February while I’m still gloomy for the lost of my cat and was sick at the same time, another fine lady from Norway - Gracie of Gracie’s Network tweeted me this noob sketch of a cat.  Tears automatically poured out of my eyes.  But at least this time there’s a mixture of joy.  It is very comforting to know that you have a friend around who cares and ready to cheer you up during gloomy times even she’s miles away. 

THANK YOU Gracie… looking forward to meet you in person and extend our friendship beyond the blogosphere.

Special mention about me…

THANKS for the special mention by the beautiful persona of Zai of Zai Moonchild and congratulations El Presidente for the very successful bazaar! THANKS as well to my fave blogger boy MEcoy for the special mention – really appreciate it!

My apologies for the late acknowledgment

These didn't happen in February but I am guilty not acknowledging these two sweet bloggers who made special mention about me.  Good thing that I did some back readings on their blogs and I was really surprised finding their posts about me.

THANK YOU Anthony of Free to Play for the Super Miss Popular Award (SMP) and my apologies that I was not able to acknowledge it earlier and that I may not be able to make a post about the SMP tag because I already made the same here.  But I do appreciate the tag a lot!  And extra THANKS for this special post as well. 

THANK YOU Lalah Of Captured Realities for tagging me in your holiday post that I also found when I did back readings in your blog.  My apologies as well for not thanking you earlier.


So February is gone and another month came in without a warning!  Good thing is that this new month is one of my most favorite month.  I actually call it as “The Merry Month of March!”.  Why? Keep visiting here and you’ll know.  Meanwhile let’s enjoy and make this new month a happy one! Cheers to y’all!