Sunday Quote and Photograph: Forgive Them Anyway–Mother Teresa

“People are often unreasonable and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are honest, people may cheat you.
Be honest anyway.
If you find happiness, people may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough.
Give your best anyway.
For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.”

***~***

The photograph subject was from a pamphlet given to us along with some rosaries by the missionary nuns when we visited Missionaries of Charity Home of Joy for the Sick Children in Tondo, Manila, Philippines.

I took the photos earlier today as I woke up inspired by the news that Mother Teresa of Calcutta will be canonized.   Then I posted this at around 6:00 PM on a Sunday, 4th of September 2016 while watching CNN's current news that the noble Mother Teresa has just been named a SAINT!

She’s now Saint Teresa but I still prefer to call her my Mother Teresa.

***~***

TRIVIA/FACTS:

Mother Teresa is known in the Catholic Church as Saint Teresa of Calcutta since her canonization today 4th September 2016. She was an Albanian Roman Catholic nun and missionary born Anjeze Gonxhe Bojaxhiu on August 26 1920 and died on September 5, 1997.  She founded the Missionaries of Charity, a Roman Catholic religeous congregation which run homes for people dying of HIV/AIDS, leprosy and tuberculosis. Source: Wikipedia

***~***

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Sunday Thoughts and Photograph: The Mojos Are Back

It’s Sunday and raining heavily everywhere, my whole hypothalamus system is celebrating yey!
Sunday is usually my laziest day of the week.  When the family is not out during Sundays, this is when you will literally find my body littering and loitering in every corner of the house except in the corners where the wifi signal is weak ha ha.  This is the time when I’m ignoring the dusts, the sink, the laundry etc etc.  This is the time when my being OC is in immunity mode.

Though sometimes my being a mother interfers with my lazy Sunday when hubby and kids specifically request for a dish or menu that they missed from my cooking.  If not, then we are all dependent to food delivery or eat out on Sundays. You can also call this as my procrastination day or whatever term that is synonymous to being LAZY!  yes LAZY!

Sunday was also (used to be) my union day with my lappy and other gadgets that’s why in spite of my being busy with my regular job and motherhood, I still managed to create blog posts from time to time.  Reading online about miscellaneous topics was also my time to sneak in my blog hopping. 

Then suddenly… for some reason that I can’t really recall (until today) I stopped blogging, blog hopping and stop doing things related to blogging.  HIATUS! Even updating my social media accounts became lesser, to the point that my Instagram “The366DaysAttempt2016” was also affected.  Though I have daily photos to post, my interest became as tasteless as the sugar brand “Equal”.

Today… tonight… I found myself reading stories in Wattpad, I rested for a while to stay away from the lappy’s heat but before I left my swivel I grabbed one of the books piled on my home desk beside my lappy.  As usual It’s one of Jessica Zafra’s which later I realized I’m done halfway with the book but… unfinished.  Just like the rest of the books that I started some six months ago.

After the book break I remember I was googling something when I chanced upon a link that mentioned about my blog site.



I won’t detail how this made me feel “emo”.  But after reading the link I started typing away.

Finally I am materializing what I have planned with my “The366DaysAttempt2016”.  I picked a skeleton post from my Instagram and created a full blog post.

***

This post first appeared on my Instagram and Twitter.



The scene was captured at past 3AM on a Monday but this was a scene the whole day of Sunday, 14th of August 2016.

Books, Wattpad and Open Live Writer are all present on this Sunday – the whole day.   This means that I’m back to reading real books and online and OMG blogging! 

Hope the mojos would stay and not only an effect of my pluviophile heart and brain.

Today Is A Good Day To Write - Sharing My Pluviophile Playlist

7:55AM on A Monday, 8th of August 2016

If you happen to see a lady standing under the rain capturing the moment in still photo or video - that is probably me!

Up to you if you consider me insane. but hey don't you know this is the reason why I chose a waterproof mobile phone? So I can capture the rain anytime that I'll be caught at the moment.

Dunno why, but the rain is my cathartic to a lot of things, It makes me feel calm. Makes me think logical. Makes me break the hiatus on about anything. Motivates me to write (and I'm redundant on anything about the rain so forgive me).

Anyway, you might have noticed by now that this is not the first time I posted a rain video on my social media accounts. I think just the other night I also posted one. Though I didn’t like that one much because there was lightning and thunder. It's not calming nor cathartic. I like the rain but not the storm .

So just to make this one different, I'm going to share another idiosyncrasy of mine on being a pluviophile.  When it's raining I'm playing songs about rain... go ahead laugh!  But you might want to listen to my "Pluviophile List"

10. Rain by Creed
  9. Early Morning Rain by Peter Paul and Mary
  8. Crying In The Rain - Cover by A-Ha
  7. Rhythm Of The Rain By Cascades
  6. November Rain by Guns N' Roses
  5. Have You Ever Seen The Rain - Creedence Clearwater Revival
      (This is a 1970's song but I also like the 2006 Rod Stewart cover)
  4. Tag-ulan by After Image
  3. Ulan - (I love the original by Rivermaya but) Bamboo's version is gold
  2. Ulan by Cuesh

  1. Sa Tuwing Umuulan - Earser Heads Cover (Regine Velasquez cover when I'm feeling "emo")

I just listed ten songs but there's actually more.  What about you? Do you play songs about rain when it's raining? 

***

P.S. 

If anybody is searching among my list the song "Basang-Basa Sa Ulan" by Aegis - it's not in there but I play it when I'm trying to annoy a person who's on emo due to a heart problem .   I usually play this song when the person is least expecting it and it never fails to make everybody laugh ha ha.

*****

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The Windmills On My Mind

I’m writing this around 5:00 AM on a Black Saturday, 26th of March

I’m still fascinated by the feeling I experienced when I get to come near and see with my own naked eye this fascinating creation – a WINDMILL!  

The Windmills Of My MInd - Kizoa Video Editor - Movie Maker

54 MW Pililla Windfarm - Sitio Bugarin, Pililla Rizal

The WINDMILL which actually is a product of human technology but I confess that I am soo soo fascinated with it.  So you must understand that I will be narrating my experience through this post with much feelings to the point of over reacting (forgive me)! 

Seeing a real windmill is actually in my secret bucket list that is why the wind farm in Ilocos Norte is in my travel list this year so I can see the Bangui Wind Farm.  While waiting for my hopeless schedule to free-up so I can sneak the Ilocos Norte travel plan, I came across a post by a fellow blogger about a wind farm in Pililla, Rizal. I was like – OMG! it’s technically within Manila!

So you can’t imagine my excitement when while we were driving through the mountainous and beautiful roads of Rizal during our annual Vicita Iglesia, I spotted a glimpse of the gigantic tall windmills towering among the mountains of Rizal!

I was screaming excitedly to my husband that we need to get off!  And when we reached the foot of the hill where the windmills are planted , I was over excited that I didn’t even feel the burning temperature of the vicinity. I ignored the burning heat, the dust and vehicles that were driving through and out of the hill. I completely forgot everything! I was just looking up astounded by the sight of the windmills.

CONFESSION:When I came very near the foot of the windmill, the sight overwhelmed me. I was drowned was engulfed by an unexplainable feeling while watching the blades gracefully but powerfully rotating in front of me. I became more fascinated by nature - unbelievably thinking how STRONG the wind that can make these gigantic blades to wheel.

While hubby was taking my photos with the windmills as back draft, I was actually checking my back from time to time  I was paranoid with the idea that the giant blades will slash my back. Crazy thoughts I know but it’s actually what I felt.

 

TRIVIA:
One of my most fave TV advertisement when I was young was the “Dutch Maid Milk” commercial.  I’m not sure if anyone out there can still relate to this (LOL).  The reason why I like this ad is because there were windmills on that advertisement (another LOL to myself).  When I’m mentally writing stories (yes I do that) with farm setting, there’s always a windmill in my mental illustration.  This is how much I’m fascinated with windmills back then and till now.

FACTS:
The "Pililla, Rizal" Wind Energy Service Contract granted to Alternergy Philippine Holdings Corporation (APHC) covers an area of 4,515 hectares.  This Wind Energy Service Contract (WESC) has two phases, Pililla Wind Power Project and the Mt. Sembrano Wind Power Project.  The project consists of 27 wind turbine generators grouped into three clusters with aggregate capacity of 67.5 megawatts (MW). The said project, after completion will interconnect to Meralco’s Malaya-Teresa 115 kilovolts (kV) transmission line located just 10 kilometers from the project site Source: Wikipedia

MORE FACTS:
The title of this post is inspired by the song titled "The Windmills of Your Mind" by the French composer Michel Legrand and English lyrics written by American Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman.  The song was introduced in the film "The Thomas Crown Affair" in 1968 and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in the same year.  Several great singers recorded this song but I love the version by Barbara Streisand and Jose Feliciano. Source: Wikipedia

The same song is the background music in the video on this post.

~***~

This post is part of my “The 366 Days Attempt 2016”  and first appeared on my:

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Random Thoughts: There Is Always Something To Be Thankful For Everyday – A Special Thanksgiving Post

I woke up today in a messy room and bed disoriented on what day is today.  I look at the calendar hanged from a distant wall but it made me more confused. Not that I’m suffering from an early stage of alzheimer’s, it’s just that for almost a week now I am working on night shift because I need to complete a training course for my new job appointment.  I haven’t been getting enough sleep probably because my body hasn’t been adjusted to the new schedule plus, I came from a company party last night. All of these factors made my body clock turned upside down.  I also have cough and cold since yesterday, probably the effect of fatigue and lack of sleep.  Sigh…I am stressed and sick I know.

As I attempted to call someone’s name, I realized there’s silence around the house.  Ah!   probably everyone already left.  As I look at the wall clock to check on time, I instantly confirmed that I’m alone at home by this time of the morning.

Walking out of bed I caught the view of stack of old boxes from the store room just outside our room. I saw the boxes as if they's are giving me an accusing look and telling me “waiting for you”.  They are the Christmas tree and décor boxes that has been waiting for me to set-up since mid-November (the usual date that I used to set them up).  And it is just 28 days before Christmas.  Sigh… gotta move my fat **s soon!  Yes I’m stressed, sick, alone at home with lots of clutter and behind with a lot of things.

As I go down and straight to the kitchen I saw more clutters.  Obviously, our family schedule is so messed up (specially mine) that no one is available to tidy up the house.  The funny thing this is that in spite of all the clutters it doesn’t bother or annoy me at all.  The untouched batch of hubby’s shoes in the stairways (he never learns to organize his shoes in the shoe racks) instantly reminds me that today is Friday because he is yet to be back tomorrow, Saturday from an out of town trip.  Sonny boy’s necktie which is obviously lazily thrown at the back of one of the dining table’s chair reminds me that he’s wearing casual outfit today and he’s done with his OJT interview.  The (not so) little girl’s rubber shows reminds me that she’s wearing her leather shoes today with her regular school uniform therefore it’s not PE day today.

All of these made me smile plus the sight I found in the kitchen table (which has more clutter than everywhere else).  Pandesal, ham, cheese and a (broken) sunny-side-up egg is waiting for me.  Aaah just in time for my growling tummy!  As I prepare my coffee, some thoughts made me smile the more.  I suddenly felt the kisses and whispers while I was asleep early this morning… those sweet kisses and whispers of "love yous'" while telling me that they need to leave for school. 

These all made me smile.  In spite of all the clutters in our lives, there will always be something to smile about or to be thankful for. Some things which are more important than being stress, sick and worried.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING everyone!  I know that this is an American tradition and is not an official occasion in the Philippines.  But heck at least it reminds us to be thankful for our blessings even the simplest ones.  Isn’t that by just waking up this morning alive is something to be thankful for?  So HAPPY THANKGIVING to all of you!  Whoever and whatever. Cheers!

***

But wait… What is that blazing red light blinking at the side of my home desk?



Oh jeez!  it’s my mouse!  Tsk tsk tsk…

Thank You Is The Order Of The Day And A Special Greeting Too–To One Super Guy Named Mario

I’m ignoring the fact that it’s already mid October because I’m supposed to post this last September.  And as usual alibis alibis blah blah…. STOP!

Anyways, as I mentioned from my last post that “I have been wanting to write about for months now and this is to say an official and BIG THANK YOUs to a number of good people that I am blessed to encounter with in cyber space.”

Here’s one super guy who never fail to surprise me as in an out of the blue SURPRISE!  He did it
again! Yes that surprise when one day I found my name tagged in some social media posts with this!

A doodle! 


Aaaaw! Isn’t that sweet! It really made my day (mas kilig pa sa AlDub ha ha).

Wait there’s more!  He did not make only one doodle but a LOT of doodles!  And to top it all, he posted them on his blog! 

I’m really amazed with this cause I already know that apart from he’s being one good looking guy (chos!) he is also one good blogger/writer.  But this artistry is wow!   I’m really really amazed with his keen for details.



I said that because I totally “dig” what’s behind the doodles that you made for me.  I read your thoughts Super M! and let me share those thoughts to the people reading this.

1. Characters wearing shades – these are ME!  My blogger friends knew me as someone who always wear shades  which I think is really funny.  (The reason behind the shades by the ways is that my eyes has a bad case of astigmatism.  Sudden exposure to light and sun can make me instantly dizzy.)

2. “Tse” by the lady at the right – Exactly me. An expression that I replied to Super M when he first joked that I just share the doodle of another blogger whom I share the same first name initial “B”. 

3. “Peyborit” (Favorite) – Well, Super M “claims” he’s my favorite ha ha. Oh well...

4. “Run” – As most of you know I have a passion for running.

5. “BM”  and the “eggs” - is of course for “Balut Manila”

6. “Blogger Celeb” written upside down at the bottom near the edge – is for “Celebrity Blogger” that they call me which amuses me until now.  (Ikaw ang nag-pauso neto Super M no?)

7. The  "positive chaos" of people and things around the whole doodle – is how my life and blog is.  It feels and look so hype, so full and so everything. 

The details is so unbelievable and I really love them.

So BIG THANK YOU to you Super M!  As I’ve said people like you is one of the reason why I can not give up on blogging.  I would also like to send my special greetings for you.  This is not a belated one cause I knew that it was your birthday (am not posting the exact date here), but I didn’t greet you in any of your social media profile because I want to make this special greetings from my own home.

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY Super M!  I wish you all life’s wonderful blessings.  I have one more wish though… apart from your doodle craze post, I hope you will find the time to write again a post that is something like my "peyborit" post of yours. Umuulan kasi while I’m writing this.

Again THANK YOU and Cheers!

***

To know more about Super Mario, you may check him out here: 
Blog: UNPLOG by Super M – mind you people he’s one GOOD writer
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(TIP: Ladies, as far as I know - he’s single wink*)

Thank You Is The Order of The Day– To One Fine Lady From Norway

Since it seems like my blogging mojo is a bit back, let me prioritized what I have been wanting to write about for months now and this is to say an official and BIG THANK YOUs to a number of good people that I am blessed to encounter with in cyber space.

Let me start by saying a HUGE APOLOGY and THANK YOU to one sweet blogger friend who thoughtfully responded to my published post back in January of last year -  “A Book is Added to My Wish List”.


It caught me by surprise when one day around March last year (my birthday month) I received a registered mail notice from my local post office.  You see this kind of registered notice doesn’t say much about what’s on the parcel so you don’t have a choice but to actually check at the post office what this is about.

If you have been following this blog you will know how much I hate dealing with government offices. Their “system” never fails to drain the very minimal bits of patience in my body.  But I didn’t have a choice then so I summoned my guts and gathered the remaining stock of my patience and checked about the package.  As as I expected I ended up very annoyed and upset because all along I knew that the parcel is supposed to be delivered to my door step and yet for their God-forsaken-reason they turned it into a “mail-for-pick-up-parcel”. I was upset because my annoyance about the situation had taken over my excitement for the parcel.  It sort of ruined the surprise factor feeling when you received a surprise from someone.  Know what I mean?

Then probably out of my disappointment I messaged the sender to simply let her know the parcel’s delivery status.  However, when I went back reading our convo on a later date to collect some delivery details, I realized that all through out our convo I really sounded disappointed about the parcel which I am really not.  I don’t think it was ethical on my part to even bother the person who sent me the gift.   Jeeez I should have slapped my own face!

It was not my intention to sound upset to the person who sent the parcel. however, I  feel like I really did (sigh).  What was I upset about was the situation where I am trapped between rebelling against the postal system but at the same time I can’t just ignore the parcel because it is very important to me not because of it’s material value but because I know that it was specially sent to me and those special thoughts are included in that parcel.

To make the story short, I was able to collect the parcel after some time when my head cooled down.  And when I finally got it I was really overjoyed and my plan was to write a special thank you post to surprise back the sender.  But… in my intention to make the post a special one.. it resulted to a much-delayed post until it dragged on to my blogging hiatus days. The “surprise thank you” almost did not happen… until now.

So I would like to say my HUGE APOLOGIES and THANK you to one fine lady from Norway who has always been very kind and thoughtful not only to me but to everybody I know that she knows.  




THANK YOU Joy for your thoughtfulness of responding to my post.  I am so sorry that I failed to thank you immediately or even confirmed with you when I already received your gift for the reason that I already mentioned.  And I really hope that I did not offend you in any way when I messaged
you about the delivery status.  I am feeling guilty ever since.  Please know that I appreciate this very much and  words can not express how much this gift means to me.  THANK YOU!



By the way, Joy ordered and sent me these books through Amazon.com and it’s supposed to be a door-to-door delivery but those bozos from my local post office managed to put their hands on it.