Balut The Slapsoil Wanderer

30th of March Now, my fair'st friend, I would I had some flowers o' the spring that might Become your time of day; and yours, and yours, That wear upon your virgin branches yet Your maidenheads growing: O Proserpina, For the flowers now, that frighted thou let'st fall From Dis's waggon! daffodils, That come before the swallow dares, and take The winds of March with beauty; violets dim, But sweeter than the lids of Juno's eyes Or Cytherea's breath; pale primroses That die unmarried, ere they can behold Bight Phoebus in his strength--a malady Most incident to maids; bold oxlips and The crown imperial; lilies of all kinds, The flower-de-luce being one! O, these I lack, To make you garlands of, and my sweet friend, To strew him o'er and o'er! ~William Shakespeare, The Winter's Tale (4.4.133-50)\~ The photograph was taken from Paco Park in Manila.  A place that I consider where everything is poetic. A place that I visited during my birthday

29th of March 2014 I was working overtime on a weekend that my mood was so gloomy plus that I’m not feeling that good due to the current back pain that I ‘m experiencing.  In short what I was feeling really sucks!  Whoops! sorry for the language but I can’t think of any other term but “suck”. Whoops again! If I could just make myself a super-machine or grab a magic wand to instantly finish what I’m working on so I can go home.  Or if what I’m working on is not needed I would rather crumple in bed and rot. I mean rest. Though sometimes I call myself a “Super Woman” there are really this kind of time that I tell myself that I am  just human. The surroundings does not help as well as there are few people around doing same (stupid) heroic act that I’m doing. We are wearing the same faces that says “I wanna go home!”  Then someone from another department came in, set up his desk and went straight to the centralized music player.  Suddenly I heard something that I haven’t heard for

23rd of March This coming month of April I will be starting a new series on my blog.  It will be called “Churches and Places of Worship” which will be done through guest postings. Who will be the ”Guest Post”? YOU! Be that you’re a reader, follower or blogger friend you are all welcome.  Anyone who is reading this and interested to be my guest blogger is welcome! What makes this unique? There are a lot of on-going guest posting in the blogosphere but what makes this unique is that we will just be talking about “churches” or “other places of worship”. You may have noticed that I have this special interest (to the point of passion) about churches and places of worship. I already featured several churches here, and there’s a lot more that are on queue to be posted. As always I am just waiting for the right time to post about each church. Then why guest post? The more the merrier plus the fact that I will not be able reach as many places as I want to and feature as much chu

22nd of March I am writing this late tonight, Saturday because I just got home from a tiring but totally awesome Saturday.  I am so tired and sleepy by now that my phone fell while I’m checking the photos that I took today.  Blame my sleepiness for dropping my phone that caused me to cringe when it did a triple somersault and landed in three pieces.  Aaaw!  My only consolation is that it awakens my sleepy head.  At least I will be able to finish this post which is I am so determined to do so.  I don’t want to put this hanging on my draft folder again (along with the many drafts on it), then wake up in the morning with another idea on mind. Na-ah!  So today after doing the weekly laundry (sigh) and tidying the house with cooking on the side (another sigh), I prep myself to attend the invite I got through the email sent by pretty Nella – the Associate Brand Manager of the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (CBTL).  It is the  “Brew Your Best Year Event” that happened at the 26th St Bistro

21st of March I was doing my regular blog hopping and online news reading when I came across this article from CNN - The World's 10 happiest countries.   My love for discovering and learning about places through reading made me quickly browse the link and read. You may click on the link to know the details why they are chosen as the Top 10, but let me share to you the quick list of the Top 10 countries: (1) DENMARK (2) NORWAY (3) SWITZERLAND (4) NETHERLANDS (5) SWEDEN (6) CANADA (7) FINLAND (8) AUSTRIA (9) ICELAND (10) AUSTRALIA. It was a funny coincidence that while I’m reading this article my hubby was doing his favorite morning ritual of playing his vast collections of songs.  What was currently playing that time was the upbeat song “Happy” and hubby was singing along with the tune.  He has a good singing voice by the way. I teasingly interrupted him and told him “Now I know why you are happy, you have been to the three happiest countries in the world and that include

20th of March As established by the United Nations General Assembly, today March 20, 2014 is the second year that the world is observing the "International Day of Happiness". This is one event that I am really confused about or sort of not understanding exactly.  I mean understanding it the way I understand “Earth Day” and the likes. Don’t get me wrong though,  I am not questioning the cause or purpose of the United Nations General Assembly because I am aware that whatever the UN declares is always for the common good of humanity. I’m not taking it literally either but I just can’t help but wonder, is the state of being happy can be told? Or commanded?  If you feel you are not happy can you promote happiness? If your social media statuses are filled with smileys can I call you happy? What makes you happy?  Are you happy? Seriously I wanted to know. *** “It was right then that I started thinking about Thomas Jefferson on the Declaration of Independence

16th of March   “Dear God, Perhaps, it is not too much to ask from you today. I have a good friend named Balut who is celebrating her birthday few days from now. All I wish for her is that you'd grant her all the desires of her heart - be it for anything. I thank you God, for blessing me a friend who truly care and value friendship. Shield her whole family with your mantle of protection. Bless them with all their daily needs. Continue to allow her to be a blessing to others in her simple ways. Grant her the strength when challenges come her way. Gift her with a discerning and faithful heart when crucial matters are to be decided. Never allow evil spirit ruins her good disposition in life. Lastly and most importantly,  grace her with a healthy body and mind as she run her journey here on Earth. This I ask through your son Jesus Christ, with the intercession of the blessed Virgin Mary and all the angels and saints. Amen” *** The huge bouquet of flowers and the card in

15th of March Today is my birthday and I’m not planning anything special. All I know is I want to give myself a relaxing day which I started yesterday by doing a morning run and a walk in the park . I did not even register for a birthday run as I annually do.  Because if I did I will not be able to relax because I need to train.  But this does not mean that I’m giving up on running – I will definitely NOT.  It’s just that I want my today to be simple and really relaxing. I also did not invite friends at home or to celebrate or party anywhere.  Not because that I’m anti-social now LOL . Again, it is simply because of the same thing.  I want to relax. I also did not plan for a getaway because the planning and the trip might stress me out as well.  If I have a choice I want my today to be quiet.  I am supposed to remove my birthday info on my social media accounts but that would mean a lot of work removing it and putting it back on.  Plus that my 365 Day Blogging Challenge will

14th of March A morning run. A walk in the park that I have been wanting to visit. And a sweet surprise from awesome blogger friends! I’m dying to share you the stories but I’m heading out for a date tonight with the man I love. Let us just say that today and tonight is a prelude of happiness for my birthday… which is yet tomorrow.

12th of March Let me take a break for the “All About Me Week” to make way to this important post that I wish to share with everybody! The PASINAYA 2014 now on it’s 10th Year! This is a one-day open house festival held annually at the CCP, the Pasinaya is the biggest multi arts festival in the Philippines featuring the participation of thousands of artists and hundreds of artistic and cultural groups.  It offers to the public a unique “Pay what you can, See all you can” donation scheme the opportunity to enjoy a sneak preview of the CCP Performance Season. Here are some of the lively giant dioramas displayed at the open field fronting the Cultural center of the Philippines that most park-goers are enjoying with. To fully enjoy this event be there at the CCP on March 16.  It begins with an early morning pre-show at 7:30AM with the Marine and Bugle Team heralding the festivities and will be followed by the official opening ceremonies and street parade.

11th of March   After (roughly) 270 days (8 months) I am finally replying to this tag by Senyor Iskwater  (LOL).   Thank you for this tag Senyor. Well it was not because I forgot about this.  I was just really looking for a perfect time to make this post.  And since I am posting an “All About Me” series in relation to March being my birth month, so this is it! A. Attached or Single? Very attached. Very married.  Till death do we part. B. Best Friend? Sorry but I can’t pick just one.  I have several sets of friends that I already considered as family and they are all my best.  Though I have one BFF that I consider my “other half” because we literally know each other too well.  I won’t mention the name so as not to be biased with my other BFF’s. C. Cake or pie? Cake with coffee please! Anybody sending me one for my birthday?  It’s just few days from now so I need one to blow my birthday candle please? (**grin**) D. Day of choice? Any day with my family E. Essential

10th of March This article was originally posted on my blog "The Lucky Blog".  Since I am posting an "All About Me" series here, I believe this is the perfect time to re-post this. *** Hey it’s my birthday week! So why not share some weird things about me?  Let’s start with one of my passion - blogging and writing! I write better when music is pumped in my ears matched with a mug of coffee. I have a variety of choices but on top of them are Gregorian Chant, Enya, Barry Manilow, Jim Croce and believe it or not – Queen’s Freddie Mercury.   “Queen Live in Wimbley” is plugged in my ears while I’m writing this . For coffee – not too sweet not to creamy but preferably strong!  I don’t mind about the brand as long as it smells and tastes like coffee. I have a 500 gig external hard that where I stock my photos for blogging.  Each photo in there has a story saved in my brain’s draft folder. I am a magnet to dramatic, sad and lonely post ("emo") t

9th of March It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold. When it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. ~Charles Dickens~ Wow that was quick ! It was one of those March days when I was born . Consider this as a prelude – let’s talk about me!

8th of February   A wife waiting for a husband driving home late from work, A husband coming home to an empty house where usually the wife is waiting, A mother waiting for her children to be dropped off by the school service. A family member waiting outside an operating room waiting for the doctor to come out, A master waiting for his lost pet to come back home… When someone or something did not arrive or happened in an expected and scheduled time, worry immediately sets in. It is automatic instinct for human to sense that something wrong or bad is happening. Every second, every minute, every hour matters for a person waiting.  The longer it takes, the more agonizing it is for the person waiting. *** I woke up today with the headline news that a Malaysian Airline (MH370) with 239 people on board  had gone missing.  It has been missing for two hours when I first heard the news.  And it has been 14 hours now while I’m writing this.  The plane is still missing and there’s n

3rd of March April means summer season and vacation in the Philippines!  And there’s no better season than to do adventure and explore regional places than the summer season. The Lent season also falls in the month of April and the Philippines being 80% Catholic country you will notice that this month is filled with the festivities (observance) related to Lent or the “Passion of Christ”.  What I did in the list is I deleted some entries list that I think is not very unique.  PANAGABUOS FESTIVAL  April 1-3: Banna, Ilocos Norte BANANA FESTIVAL  April 1- April 5: La Castellana, Negros Occidental KESONG PUTI FESTIVAL  April 1- April 9: Sta Cruz, Laguna SUROY TA  April 1- May 31 : Davao City FIESTA PASIKLAB  April 1- May 31: Commonwealth Ave., Diliman, Quezon City KADAHOMAN FESTIVAL  April 1-May 1 : Lagonoy, Camarines Sur MORIONES FESTIVAL  April 2-7: Marinduque HUDAS-HUDAS  April 4: San Jose, Antique LIBOD-SAYAW  April 4: BINDOY ORIENTAL NEGROS SAGRADA FAMILIA FI

2nd of March fire is beautiful and we know that if we get too close it will kill us but what does that matter it is better to be happy for a moment and be burned up with beauty than to live a long time and be bored all the while so we wad all our life up into one little roll and then we shoot the roll that is what life is for it is better to be part of beauty our attitude toward life is come easy go easy we are like human beings used to be before they became too civilized to enjoy themselves Excerpts from: The Wisdom of Psychopaths: What Saints, Spies, and Serial Killers Can Teach Us About Success ~Kevin Dutton~ Do you agree with the content of that excerpts? I don't. I simply don't because life is too beautiful to turn it to something horrific. The photograph is taken from our own home.  We were preparing for dinner when suddenly these swarm of moths circled around all the lighting in our home except for the bedroom lighting upstairs. I rememb

1st of March Hello March!  Here you are surprising me when I’m not even done with my February postings for my “365 Day Blogging Challenge”.  Your coming made me realized that… I'm definitely nuts! Admittedly February was a struggling month. There were days and weeks that it was impossible for me to sit down and write, even visit my own blogs or to even moderate the comments. I tried to prepare myself for days like this by making my own heads up on how the coming hopelessly busy days will affect my posting.  Drafting some future posts was also not effective because by the time that I go back to those drafts to finalize them, the “feel” and “interest” for the topic is gone .  This is really one hell of a challenge! But if you think that I’m backing out from this challenge because of what I had experienced in the month of February – you are wrong.  Here I am behind by five posts for February and yet I’m still NOT backing out! Yes no! Definitely not!  In fact this became more