day of love

This is sort of a rush post. I have work in 15 minutes so... I just want to greet everyone in the blogosphere  a HAPPY HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!  ^_^


I hope everyone had a great one, full of love, happiness, alcohol and se-- err... seafood? 'Tis the day to be cheesy. Haha!!

Me and Henden will be working tonight but luckily we were able to have an advance celebration. (wink, wink) Anyway, I wish everyone a great time. Here's to love! CHEERS!

P.S.

Check out today's Google Doodle. Click here. (I'll update the link in the future. This doodle hasn't been posted in the official doodle archive yet.)

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woosah...

I never had it easy but then again who had, right? I think everyone has something to be angry about, something to be bitter about simply because bad things happen whether you want it or not, whether you like it or not.

However, I've always felt I've had it worse than others. I don't know. Maybe I like drama. Or maybe I'm unstable. Anyway, I thought if I write about it without being too detailed (haha!) I might be more objective about the situation.

Of course, the main reason for my bitterness are the people around me. I have hung-ups with family, friends, boyfriend and certain individuals in the organization.

Admittedly, I have done a great deal of wrong to these people too. A GREAT DEAL. Some, I have apologized for, some I ignored, some I'm too embarrassed to even acknowledge and some I have already forgotten (hopefully, the other party too. hehe!).

Today, I have decided that it is high time that I let it all go. It seems dramatic I know but, sadly, due to my dwindling budget, this is the best that I can do. I can't afford regular therapy sessions with a psychiatrist. I know because I checked. *sigh

So, I am celebrating the start (hopefully) of my liberation from my psychological and emotional baggage! Yesssssssss! ^_^

And to seal it off, a shout-out to everyone that has done me wrong in the past and the present (the future will be saved for the future): It's okay now. I'm going to be fine. :)

And to everyone that I have wronged: I apologize.
(If I add more, I would be insincere so that's all, forgive me).

As for certain enemies: War is fast approaching. I am facing it with a more positive attitude. ;)

Inhale.

Exhale.

Inhale.

Exhale.

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copyright

Everytime I go blog hopping I've noticed that people are putting up notices regarding copyrights. Nowadays, copyright is such a big issue that I've decided to make one entry on the topic. I of course want to protect my rights as well but at the same time, I want to be safe from cyber sharks out there. I don't want to be bullied just because I copied a picture from Google images. Hehehe..  :)

So, for everyone's information:

1. All real-life pictures in this blog are owned by me even the ones without the watermarks unless stated otherwise. Although not all of them are taken by me, they are taken by friends and family and I have their permission to post it on my blog.

2. I do not claim ownership to the rest of the pictures/gif seen in this blog. The right belongs to their respected owners whoever they are.

3. My template is from shush, I have given him/her credit before and I will do it again just to be safe. However, the header and the footer were made by me.

4. All articles are copyrighted to my musings formerly unedited ramblings, again unless stated otherwise. The quotes taken from books, songs and movies are all quoted properly.

5. I sometimes grab pictures from the internet so for those who have issues with me grabbing their pictures, please drop me some comments and I will re-post it or take it down accordingly.

6. Since Blogspot is a Google account everything is automatically copyrighted so please when you share give proper credits. Thank you.

Well, that should keep me safe from now. I'm not a big fan of strict copyrights and frankly I won't feel bad if others would copy my work/style/idea. It has happened before and I just kept quiet about it. However, it would be really nice if you give me just a little bit of credit. That won't hurt, would it?

Lastly, I support the call for internet freedom so I believe the open source and open sharing community should  keep on thriving and keep sharing the LOVE. ^_^

Drop me some thoughts on the matter. Thanks.

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anime

Ghibli films recently aired in Disney Channel and it has been trending in Facebook ever since. Being a big fan of Japanese anime, I thought I'd write about them.

My sister loves Miyazaki films. Her favorite is My Neighbor Totoro. In fact she wanted a stuffed toy Totoro last Christmas. I scoured the entire city looking for one and found none and I can't really fly to Japan just to go shopping for one Christmas present. My sister settled for a Where is Wally? set. Hehehe..  :)

If you've watched the film, check the credits. You'll see that the Mother of Mei and Satsuki was voiced by Lea Salonga. Just a bit of trivia. :)

Out of all the Ghibli films I've seen, I like Spirited Away the most. I like the art, their perception on magic, monsters and the underworld. Despite all that however, I am not a big fan of Miyazaki. Everyone who has seen his films and did a bit of research on him knows that he is a pacifist and for that I did not become a fan.

I believe that a revolution is needed to achieve revolutionary change and in a revolution spilled blood is inevitable. I believe that in order to have peace, one must go through war first (I read this in a book by Joma) and in that war we must fight and some will die.

In Howls Moving Castle, war ended because of true love. Huh? The political side of the war was put aside, the economic situation after the war, not to mention the moral of the people having been through hell and back. Howl lived happily ever after. What about the people? The victims of war and injustice? Even my 8-year old sister got confused.

Having said that, I am a BIG fan of One Piece. It is a very popular anime series from Japan. I am currently waiting for episode 534. I have a lot of reasons for liking One Piece, although I must admit I always skip the filler episodes, I don't have the patience for them.

I started watching One Piece due to Henden's suggestion, we were running out of series to download and we were getting bored during the afternoons so we thought we should give anime a try again. We decided on One Piece because it is the most popular manga both in Japan and abroad as of now. The beginning is okay, nothing awesome but as the story progresses, you get hooked then you can't stop watching.

I like One Piece because it  discusses issues in present day society. It discusses corruption and problems in the government (World Government), the military (Marines), the upper social strata (Nobles, Royalty, Celestial Dragons), the masses (citizens, the poor, homosexuals etc), the lumpen (Pirates, Bandits) and of course the revolutionaries (Revolutionaries). It talks about discrimination, racism (or specie-ism?), slavery, poverty, sexual abuse, human rights violations and many more.

It seems too hard core, I know. Which is why I was in awe on how the writer pulled it off. For some reason they were able to insert these issues and maintain the fun in the anime. Kids can still enjoy and at the same time learn real-life issues. Most of all, this anime teaches you to fight. To fight for what is right and to fight back when you are treated wrong.

This is not an exaggeration because in an episode where Luffy declared war against the World Government, Ilaya was screaming "revolution! revolution!" while thumping her fist up in the air. The whole scenario was both funny and scary.

Other than these, the lines are quite good too. Not half-assed as if the viewers were brain dead but intelligent as if they respect all the viewers and has high regard to their intellectual capacity.

In the anime it is implied that a big change will occur soon and it will determine the future of the world. Funny, in the anime the Revolutionaries have a big role on the supposed change. Sort of like in real life. A big change is about the happen and... never mind. ;)

Anyway, for those who have the patience, try One Piece and tell me what you think.

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security pillow

Everyone has a security blanket or something. In my family, my sister and I both have security pillows. I know it seems childish and immature but some for some reason it stuck and now it is basically a part of our identity.

Ilaya's security pillow is named Flower for the flower pattern design it has. It was given to her by our cousin Ilych when Ila was around 2 years old. Flower was bought at SM department store for less than a hundred pesos and was meant to be a temporary thing - a pillow for Ilych's airplane rides. But Ilaya liked it and eventually got attached to it.

Now, she brings it whenever she goes to any overnight trips, sleepovers or vacations.

Here is Ilaya with Flower and Ilych on our way to Boracay. :)

Flower is now 6 years old, she'll be turning 7 this coming October (we base the age on Ila's age to avoid confusion). Flower has been washed so many times that the pattern and color is now slowly fading. It has been repaired, re-stuffed and sewn back again countless times that it now resembles a zombie pillow. There were times that Flower went on unwashed for months that it was torture having siestas with Ilaya. Ugh.

Here are more pictures of Ilaya with Flower. Hahaha!!  ^_^

  

My security pillow has no name. I don't know why. I just didn't think it was necessary to name it but I am as attached to it as Ilaya is to Flower. If you look at the last picture, Ilaya is with a red long flat pillow. That red one is my security pillow. That pillow was given to me by my Uncle whom I call Tatay Willy. Coincidentally, he is Ilych's father. My pillow was given to me when I was in 3rd grade and I still have it until now. I don't sleep with it anymore but I always have it in my office where I spend 80% of my time.

It was brown originally but the old brown cover was so old that my late godmother Tita Chit decided to throw it away and make me a new one in red but with the same texture as the old one. This was in my 1st year in high school. Now, I'm 23 so I have been with my red pillow for about 14 years and counting. The stuffing inside is getting hard and I'm thinking of having it re-stuffed to give it more life/fluff again.

I am not sure about my pillow's age since it was handed down to me. Meaning Tatay Willy used it years before giving it to me. It is one of my priced possessions even though it looks dead now. Haha! I have no recent photograph, I am sorry. I don't own a camera either so I can't take pictures of it while writing this blog.

I think everyone has a security something. My baby cousin has an old mickey mouse pillow (family thing?) and I have a friend who can't sleep without rubbing her hands on a mosquito net. She has a small pillow with a mosquito net cover. She brings it everywhere. :) If you have one or if your friend or family has one, let me know! Ciao!

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jeepney etiquette

My mom and dad don’t own a car so I grew up riding jeepneys. I never liked riding taxis, not only are they expensive but they also make me nauseous. I used to dread travelling with high school friends because they always insist on using taxis for transportation. Now, my family dreads going grocery shopping with me because no matter how many bags I have, I insist on using jeepneys and it can be quite a struggle especially during rush hour. Hehehe...  :)

After 23 years of riding jeepneys in Iloilo, I have experienced many ups and downs, met different kinds of people and encountered quite a few fights. So, for today I have made up a list which I will call "jeepney etiquette" that I hope will help people's attitude the next time they go on a jeepney ride. ;)

1. TIE YOUR HAIR OR HOLD IT -- For those who have long, sometimes beautiful, sometimes not, sometimes treated, sometimes not hair please please please be more considerate to the people sitting behind you. I am sure eating hair is not a great past time for them while riding the jeepney. I know that treated hair can't be tied so try to hold on to them and if you were reprimanded try not to be a bitch about it, it's not our fault we're not hair-bivores. (get it? haha! lame. sigh!)

2. HIDE THE CROTCH PLEASE -- I do not understand men who open their legs as wide as possible in jeepneys especially during rush hour. The jeep is already crowded please make some room! Is there anything wrong with your ass? your balls? your penis? If not, close your damn legs! If yes, well... no comment.

3. HELPING HANDS ARE GOOD -- When you ride a jeepney, you pay by handing out your money to passengers in the front until it reaches the driver. If you don't like touching other people's hands or touching dirty money - buy a car. I do not like people who ignore you when you're practically screaming: "Palihog BAYAD!” I do not care if you think you're too hot for your own good, take the goddamn money and give it to the driver!

4. PAY UP -- My dad worked with the transport sector for a long time so I have met many Iloilo drivers and their families. I have seen how difficult it is for them to make ends meet so please pay the driver and pay them correctly. For student-looking passengers who are not students, do not abuse the student discount. For policemen and traffic aides, the privilege that you can have free rides has long been taken down so pay up. For people who think Php0.50 doesn't matter, think again. And to all other freeloaders - have a heart! (nakz)

5. MAKE SOME ROOM -- Women who wear skirts, especially pencil skirts, sit in a slanting (?) style, this for me is okay, and I do this too, as long as the jeepney is not crowded. However, when it is crowded, try to sit in a straight position. I know it might be difficult but just because you wear a skirt doesn't mean you get special privileges. When new passengers board the jeep, try to scoot over and make some room. I know the song in your iPod must be really nice but try not to be so oblivious about your surroundings.

6. PLAY NICE -- I have seen lots of fights inside the jeepney. Some of them I actually participated in. Haha! But I choose my fights and I usually get into one if the other person did something really wrong, like hurt my sister by sitting on her lap because he or she is busy texting. Others however get into petty fights especially the women. Cat fights are entertaining but all the same, they are petty. Riding the jeep is not a competition so let us all play nice and enjoy the hot, humid and polluted air brought to you by the Philippines. Ahhhhh...

7. SPEAK UP -- When you arrive at your destination and you need to get off the jeep you have to say: "Sa lugar." or "Para po.” This is the proper way to inform the driver that you need the jeep to stop. Whistling or making kissing sounds (tsup tsup) are not appropriate. And if you are not a jeepney conductor, stop banging at the railings like a madman with your 1-peso coin. 

When you say "Sa lugar." or "Para po.” say so in a loud (enough) and clear voice. Don't whisper it and then grumble later on that the driver did not stop right away. Also, please consider the loading and unloading stops; don't blame the driver if he has to stop several meters away from the hospital when you have a broken leg. Blame the government; these after all are their policies. 

8. PUKE FIRST, RIDE LATER -- If you are drunk, riding a jeep might cause you to become more nauseous, so please be considerate enough to vomit first before riding a jeep. Having a vomit facial, in the middle of the night, after a long day's work, in a moving jeepney is not a pleasant experience. Trust me, I know.  

9. LEAVE PERVERTED MOTIVES BEHIND -- There are some people who see crowded jeepneys as an opportunity to touch things they shouldn't touch. Sexual harassment is sexual harassment even if you're in a moving vehicle. So unless you want to get arrested, hands in proper places please. Also, refrain from ogling. It is rude.

10. MANONG DRIVER -- The last one is addressed to the driver. Please don't sulk if a passenger asks for the exact/proper change. Chances are these types of people pay exact/proper amounts to jeepney drivers so don't piss them off. Music is fine, blaring them however to the point that you can't hear your passengers is unethical. When the jeep is full, it's full. Stop hording passengers like there's no tomorrow. And lastly, stop being such a grouch so early in the morning; you're ruining our sunny, happy jeepney joyride.

So there you are 10 steps to a happier, more relaxing, more productive jeepney experience. If you have anything to add, leave me some comments! ^_^

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paint paintings

I was browsing through Henden's Photobucket account and came across some paintings that we did back a few months ago. We're both amateurs but the end result came out surprisingly good, at least for me, that we decided to save them for later. We thought we could print them up and frame them and then use them to decorate our home in the future.

For now however, I thought I could blog about them. Since both my header and footer were done with paint, these paintings of ours will fit right in perfectly. :)

First, we decided to make landscapes. The first one was done by H and the second one was made by me. 

Next, we made portraits of each other. Henden's work was a lot better than mine. Haha! :) But you've got to give me an A for effort.

So there you are, our artistic talent translated in paint paintings. ^_^

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blog makeover

I haven't written an entry for a long time and I thought it's high time I blog again. I have been visiting other blogs these past few days and I noticed a lot of them has given their blog a makeover so I decided to give mine one too! :)  A new look, a new name and a new promise to blog more often.

However, I felt a bit sad saying good bye to my old look and feel really proud about the new one that for my first entry in "my musings" I have decided to document the whole makeover process.

To start it off, this is my old header and footer, my old blog name and old blog description. I took some screen shots before taking them down for good. Hehehe...  :)

And here are my initial failed new look attempts. I used paint since I don't have Photoshop in my laptop (bummer!) and since I suck at drawing, I apologize.

After several hours of painting rainbows, flowers, mountains and whatnot, I finally chose a style/design that I liked. The first one was made by me, the second was made by Henden.

Then Henden joked about adding stick figures and I did. Despite the very amateur, childish look, I liked how it turned out so I decided to use them. The idea for the footer came later and it was good (for me and for H) so I went ahead and added it to my blog.

The name "my musings" has no particular reason. Other names that I came up with were: the boggled blogger, on a daily basis, afternoon musings and light living. I wanted something carefree and light, almost mundane since I'd be blogging about my day to day experiences.

And now... here we are! Yay! :)  I finally have a new look, a new name and a new entry after months of being idle.

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