When I'm Sixty-Four

Are you familiar with the Beatle's song, "When I'm 64?" One of the lines of the song goes like this... "Will you still need me, will you still feed me,
When I'm sixty-four."

We're having a vacation in Bacolod City as of the moment and we are staying in my aunt-in-law's house. My husband's aunt is almost 80 years old and her husband is even more older than her. I marvel at the way they still lovingly treat each other even after all these years. During breakfast, it's still my aunt-in-law who serves her husband's breakfast. They still kid around with each other which makes us also giggle with admiration.

I hope and pray that our marriage will also last as long as theirs. I dream that my husband still remains as loving as he is even when I am old and gray. I hope that I won't need to buy anti aging supplements for me to stay looking young and beautiful. I won't mind getting old and wrinkled up as long as I spend loving moments with my husband until the day I die.

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Do you remember MacGyver?

The 14th episode of Glee started this week and I was glued to the television set once again. I'm not much of a TV buff but once I have favorites, I never try to miss an episode. One such show is MacGyver. Do you still remember this show?

I'm such a fan Angus MacGyver, the secret agent cum scientist who is known for his resourcefulness in using everyday things to create the extraordinary. He's never without a duct tape and his Swiss knife that it became my habit, too. When I don't have a roll of sticky tape in my bag, I have a tube of super glue ready, haha! I remember an episode where he solved the case of an unidentified human skull by using clay and pencil erasers. Now, that's what I call ingeniuity!

MacGyver probably inspired me to apply for an Electrical Engineering course for college. My mother naturally frowned upon the idea. I ended up graduating with a degree in Political Science. (Look, where I am now, Ma! Teehee!) I also tried to take up Computer Science that could have made me an eligible applicant to various IT Jobs here and abroad. Nevertheless, my present work is still related with computer stuff so I basically am enjoying it a lot.

Hmmm... I think I'd look for MacGyver episode DVDs soon. I can't wait to let Rap watch it. I'm sure he's going to enjoy it as much as we enjoyed watching Monk.

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A Baker Wannabe

I just bought an Elba oven last month from my December and January blogging income and made it the latest addition to my newly renovated kitchen. The oven starts my journey into baking. I know how to cook and family and friends appreciate my cooking. But I have never tried baking on my own and in my own kitchen yet. I mean, I have already learned how to bake cookies and cakes back in high school but that was way too long ago.

Should I study a course on baking or just reading recipes and watching Youtube videos will do? How about other baking tools? Should I buy the traditional mixer or will I settle for the modern handheld one? What kinds of pans and cookie sheets will I buy as my starter set? These are just a few of the questions that I'd like to ask from more experienced mommy bakers. Just let me know about your suggestions by commenting to this post. :)

I am really excited to start baking any time now. Never mind that I might need weight loss products for the flabs that I'll surely have from all this baking and tasting. Cooking for me is therapeutic and it makes me feel good about myself when my boys complement my cooking. I hope they'll love my baking, too.

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After 15 Years!

The months I have spent planning our high school batch reunion is finally coming to an end this Saturday. It's been 15 years since I left my Alma Mater and I'll be finally seeing my batchmates again. I haven't seen some of them since our graduation!

There's something about high school that sends happy thoughts into my being. I don't know about you but I guess I'm one of the people who gets "senti" upon hearing Sharon Cuneta's High School Life song. I had a fun high school life and I'll never exchange my batchmates for anyone else. Never mind that we didn't have a JS Prom because our batch was so naughty. Never mind that we made some of our teachers cry. I'll be meeting them again on Saturday and I know that we'll have so much fun catching up. I know I won't need doses of quick trim extreme burn to look slim and pretty because they'll accept me for what I am just like the old times.

How was your experience in high school? When was the last time that you met up with your high school buddies? I'd love to read about it!

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Flex your brain muscles and win FREE Galileo Math-Art Sessions for your child!

Moms and Dads, here's a cool summer contest from our friends at the Galileo Enrichment Program! It will only take you a few minutes to solve this very easy question. I was even able to solve it while working on my quick weight loss product review articles!

DO YOU KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS MIND-BOGGLING QUESTION?

What number comes next in this sequence?
2 6 5 9 8 12 ____

2 winners will be chosen each day! Each winner gets a free Galileo Math-Art Session of their choice! Winning is so easy! Here's how:

1. Be a fan of Galileo Enrichment Learning Program on Facebook.
2. Share The Galileo Summer FUNtastic Challenge album on your Facebook wall. (Visit this page to see album: http://ow.ly/1vcF7)
3. Email your answer to: info@galileoerichment.com NOW with the subject: "Galileo FUN summer."

If you have a TWITTER account, follow @galileoenrich
Retweet the following message:
RT @galileoenrich: Join our Summer FUNtastic challenge & get a chance to win FREE Galileo Math-Art Sessions for your child! http://ow.ly/1vcF7

There will be 2 lucky winners everyday from April 7 to 9. The 5th and 15th e-mailer of the day wins! Winners will be notified by e-mail. Contestants can submit 1 entry per day but will only be allowed to win once this week. Contest is open to Metro Manila residents only. Galileo Math-Art is open to children ages 3-12.

Questions? Comments? Clarifications? Send a direct message or email: info@galileoenrichment.com

Construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of contest rules are to be determined by Galileo Management.

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The perks and pitfalls of being a freelancer

It was during the same season last year when I decided to take a rest from tutoring and be a full-time freelance web content writer. Blogging opened a world of new online earning opportunities for me. I was able to learn about freelance web content writing and other online earning stuff. At first, I was just writing for one client for a job I applied at oDesk.com. The next thing I knew, this client directly hires me outside of oDesk and refers me to his colleagues.

The rest is history, so they say. I am proud to say that I am now regularly writing webcontent for a local textbook publishing company's online newsmagazine and online encyclopedia. I am also busy writing web content for a web solutions company that will be launching in the US soon. We're quite excited about the project, actually, since they're going to set up a Philippine site as well so that may mean long-term projects for me. Aside from these three, I also accept other web content writing jobs as they come. I also maintain three blogs and act as administrator and editor of Rap's blog. My blogs earn, too. I need to constantly write relevant content and maintain a high level of site traffic so that my blogs get continuous ad placements.

I can say that is is one of the perks of being a freelancer. I get to wear as many hats as I can. I have the liberty of time to follow my own work schedule and also get free time to attend to my boys' needs. I can bring work my work with me anywhere as long as there's a power outlet where I can plug my laptop into. Not to mention that I also get play online games without a boss telling me not to. Yeah, I play some FB games to free my mind in the middle of article writing and to avoid mixing up information. Just imagine me writing 20 different articles of the same hgh supplement and you'll understand why I need to visit Cafe World and Farm Ville every now and then.

Of course, there will always be pitfalls when there are perks. One disadvantage of being a freelancer is that I become obliged to work during the wee hours of the morning on some occasions. I have clients in the US and the earliest time that we can meet for project updates is an hour after midnight. Some clients can be so bossy that I have to be invisible in Yahoo Messenger and Skype. Lastly, since the work is freelance, I don't get to enjoy employee benefits just as I did when I was still teaching in a preschool. Still, I can say that I am enjoying this kind of career as each day goes by.


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Avoid raising doormats

I came across an article about the book "The Doormat Syndrome" by author and psychologist Lynne Namka, Ed. D. published in 1989. Just in case you're not aware of the term, a "doormat" is a person who allows himself to be hurt or taken advantage by others. There is a big difference between being an innately good person and being a doormat. When someone avoids conflicts, he is usually tagged as a good person. However, in times of conflicts, this person can always speak his mind out and stand for what is a right. A doormat, on the other hand, will just let things pass and let more powerful persons trample on his rights. It's like willingly submitting himself in an abusive relationship.

I learned that door mats actually develop this kind of wrong submissive personality from growing up in a closed family system. A closed family system is one where children are not allowed to speak up and "rock the boat." The unspoken agreement is that the parents are always right and that children are supposed to follow without question. Classic doormats communicate with others as though they are constantly asking for permission or apologizing for mistakes that they haven't actually done. For example, in ordering in a restaurant, a doormat will say, "Could I have hamburger?" instead of just saying "I'll have a burger." This makes them a magnet for bullies and other people who will take advantage of their weakness.

It is therefore important for parents and children to have open communication. Let your kids speak about how they feel while still keeping their respect for you. Let them have a say on family issues especially if these concern them the most. Should you find their decision unacceptable, explain to them the pros and cons while also giving them a chance to explain their side. In the end, with this kind of give and take communication, you and your children will definitely find a way to meet in the middle and compromise. Open communication doesn't necessarily mean that kids can forget who's on command. Rather, it gives them a sense of independence and self-confidence that they will need when they grow up.


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The Guitar Hero 5 that was almost ours

Image source: videogamesblogger.com

Remember when I wrote about how my husband planned to buy Band Hero for Rap if he gets the gold medal this year? Well, Rap took home the silver medal this year plus two other medals for his extra curricular activities. We are still super happy of his achievements so my husband decided to get him a Guitar Hero instead!

Right after the Recognition Day, we went straight to Toy Kingdom in SM Megamall and bought the Guitar Hero 5 bundle which cost Php 6, 699.75. Included in the bundle is the guitar controller and 1 original Guitar Hero 5 game disc. Alas, when we got home, our Wii unit did not recognize the disc. My husband had to return the whole package to the store the following day.

Much to our dismay, the people in Toy Kingdom SM Megamall advised my husband to bring the package to the other branch in Podium. They do not have Wii testing units in SM Megamall so we had to go to the other branch in Podium. The Toy Kingdom staff in Podium are totally more accommodating than the ones in SM Megamall. They assisted my husband and tried the GH 5 disc that came with the bundle. The disc worked in their Wii unit.

My husband then called me up to bring our Wii unit to the Podium branch to have the Toy Kingdom - Podium staff downgrade our system. Ours is a US modified unit and we bought it in the SM Megamall branch by the way. They did not inform us that it will not work on our unit and we were not able to test it in their branch as well.

We did not have our system downgraded since unofficial Guitar Hero discs that we bought from St. Francis Square worked on our unit perfectly. We were then advised to just return the package and buy a China-made Guitar Hero controller which was just Php 1,999.75. We spent the excess amount on additional wii accessories and were able to buy an extra remote control and nunchuk, a remote control charging dock, a Wii Fit battery charger, and a Wii gun control for our Resident Evil game.

I didn't even know that Toy Kingdom has this return/exchange policy if it were not for the sweet people of Toy Kingdom Podium. The people at the SM Megamall branch should have offered it when my husband was returning the package prior to us going to the Podium branch! Lesson learned: When it comes to buying gadgets, it will always be the Toy Kingdom Podium branch over the one at SM Megamall. Boo!


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Rap starts his training at the Center for Pop Music Philippines today.

In December of last year, Rap won 2nd place in their school's Solo Singing Contest for Grade 3 and Grade 4 students. He was awarded a 500 peso cash prize and a certificate. He received his silver medal for the contest in their Recognition Day that was held just recently. It was his first singing contest and I think the win inspired him to train a little more. So this summer, with his blessing, we finally enrolled him at the Center for Pop Music Philippines - SM Megamall Branch.

Every Sunday, at 5-7 p.m., CPMP SM Megamall holds a free 2-hour training singing enthusiasts. I let him attend the free training even though I was already enrolling him. I am happy with what I saw and I think he enjoyed the training. Now he knows the basic techniques that will help him sing better. Rap has an excellent singing voice and he's always in tune. It's just that he still doesn't know how to use his diaphragm in singing. I'm confident that there will be improvement on his singing after the program.

By the way, we enrolled him in the Starlite program which consists of 20 2-hour sessions. The entire package costs Php 12,200 which already includes the practicum and recital fees. He will train at least twice a week starting tomorrow. I am still thinking if we will upgrade his package into the Starborne course which has 26 2-hour sessions and costs Php 15,000 since I was informed that this is the formal Level 1 singing program of the school.

If you are interested in enrolling your child at the Center for Pop, you can visit wwww.centerforpopmusic.com for more details. Meanwhile, you can contact the SM Megamall branch at 633-2180 or 496-7508. The Pasig branch is actually nearer but we chose to enroll him in the SM Megamall branch so I can run errands while he's in class. The Center for Pop is located at the 5th level of the SM Megamall. Just be wary of the men in long sleeves and ties that give out "raffle coupons" and insurance quotes. There are lots of them on that level, hehehe.

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