i almost wept when i saw that my last post was more than two months ago. i totally skipped most of april and the whole month of september. but what da heck, it's been crazy busy from my bird post. i went back to the middle school. back to the rigorous work of reading and writing strategies, practice, and the time consuming grading of papers. there's finishing my grad school work, thesis, the whole graduation affair.
i can't believe i finished grad school in one year.
oh, and did i tell you?
i got married.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
scales starting to grow...
this has been a stressful month for me. classwork in grad school is much more demanding and can get frustrating sometimes. my stress levels with grad school and wedding planning has driven me to sabotage my figure. today is the first day that i am cake free. for the last month i have been stuffing myself with red velvet cupcakes. i am happy to say tha i have been good with non-smoking.
work, at summer camp is just wonderful. i love what i do. last session i taught a mythology and heroes class. we ended the course with a final smackdown where my kids got to battle each other as their custom made super heroes.
for this session i am facilitating a newspaper writing class, and a comic book writing class. i am always surprised and amused by my kids' creativity and smarts. it never gets dull with kids around.
this week too i have picked up the neil gaiman book i have forgotten to read. The graveyard book is another spine tingling bite your nails i want my mommy kind of book.
tomorow, i go with my girls to fit and try on some bridesmaids dresses. wish us luck.
work, at summer camp is just wonderful. i love what i do. last session i taught a mythology and heroes class. we ended the course with a final smackdown where my kids got to battle each other as their custom made super heroes.
for this session i am facilitating a newspaper writing class, and a comic book writing class. i am always surprised and amused by my kids' creativity and smarts. it never gets dull with kids around.
this week too i have picked up the neil gaiman book i have forgotten to read. The graveyard book is another spine tingling bite your nails i want my mommy kind of book.
tomorow, i go with my girls to fit and try on some bridesmaids dresses. wish us luck.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Vacation Bible School
i just came from day 1 of vacation bible school at my church. i volunteered to help out, but ended up being one of the teachers since, hey, i do it for a living. :)
it's a new adventure, to say the least. i feel weird being there being a teacher and all, when i know i have a lot of learning to do when it comes to the bible. but y heart is in the right place. it was a joy to see little ones so enthusiastic to participate as romans, visiting Paul and the underground church.
i have the oldest kids, and because there were only two in my class, it was pretty easy. what caught my heart were the pre-K kids. they are so cute. i want to take one home.
during the drama part where we visited Paul in his prison cell, i felt a tear fall on my face. i remember Sunday school and for a second, i was reminded of my young self, sitting in class, listening to my sunday school teacher, basking in the wonders of Jesus' love for us. I thank my mom's family for instilling the value of worship at an early age. it faded during my smart ass/angsty stage, but when I reunited with Jesus, I felt i had that in me all along.
as i looked at the innocent faces of those children, the yearning to have one of my own became clear. if God sees it fit to bless me with a child, i know where i can raise him/her.
for now, it would be my joy to spend time with the little ones, and hear what they have to say.
it's a new adventure, to say the least. i feel weird being there being a teacher and all, when i know i have a lot of learning to do when it comes to the bible. but y heart is in the right place. it was a joy to see little ones so enthusiastic to participate as romans, visiting Paul and the underground church.
i have the oldest kids, and because there were only two in my class, it was pretty easy. what caught my heart were the pre-K kids. they are so cute. i want to take one home.
during the drama part where we visited Paul in his prison cell, i felt a tear fall on my face. i remember Sunday school and for a second, i was reminded of my young self, sitting in class, listening to my sunday school teacher, basking in the wonders of Jesus' love for us. I thank my mom's family for instilling the value of worship at an early age. it faded during my smart ass/angsty stage, but when I reunited with Jesus, I felt i had that in me all along.
as i looked at the innocent faces of those children, the yearning to have one of my own became clear. if God sees it fit to bless me with a child, i know where i can raise him/her.
for now, it would be my joy to spend time with the little ones, and hear what they have to say.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Getting an A
Dear Mr. J.B.,
I got my A because I am a more passionate "showgirl" in my classroom. I have learned to manage my time, resources and energy to come up with a bag of tricks i have designed for the entertainment, enjoyment and growth of my students.
I am a teacher reformed by my experience in teaching Special Ed. I smile more openly to my students and colleagues. I welcome each class with an unwavering vigor, because I know that I am blessed to love what I do.
I no longer seek to punish students who are lazy. I seek to recognize their efforts and their good points. When I enter a grade on the computer, I try to think far ahead into the future and see how a grade would impact my student's future?
I am now preparing for a presentation for my colleagues on how to enrich their bacg of tricks in the classroom using technology. I am excited to share with them the wonders of podcasting, short videos and, online collaboration. I am thrilled to help them befriend technology.
Thank you for being an A profoessor.
I got my A because I am a more passionate "showgirl" in my classroom. I have learned to manage my time, resources and energy to come up with a bag of tricks i have designed for the entertainment, enjoyment and growth of my students.
I am a teacher reformed by my experience in teaching Special Ed. I smile more openly to my students and colleagues. I welcome each class with an unwavering vigor, because I know that I am blessed to love what I do.
I no longer seek to punish students who are lazy. I seek to recognize their efforts and their good points. When I enter a grade on the computer, I try to think far ahead into the future and see how a grade would impact my student's future?
I am now preparing for a presentation for my colleagues on how to enrich their bacg of tricks in the classroom using technology. I am excited to share with them the wonders of podcasting, short videos and, online collaboration. I am thrilled to help them befriend technology.
Thank you for being an A profoessor.
oh the drama
there are times when i can do with a little drama, and then of course there are times when I wish I can be spared of it.
a few days ago, i have been approached by my co-teachers about my transfer back to the middle school. when they asked me how i felt about being transferred, i said, it was okay, it was like coming back home. i'm not overjoyed and leaping and dancing, but i welcome the idea of going back to a place that has made me a better teacher. i am glad to return to a family of not just co-workers, but also friends.
it did not occur to me that most of my coworkers at the HS would think that i requested the transfer.
i didn't.
my transfer back to the MS meant that someone from the MS would have to be transferred to the SH to cover my position. this teacher was not so happy with this change/transfer. she was upset.
i didn't understand why she was upset. but then again, when i got the job two years ago, wasn't too excited either. what baffled me about her reaction was the fact that she is a more experienced teacher than me. i did't think i had anything to tell her that she didn't already know.
i wish her and my kids the best.
in the world of possibility, this may be a whole new world of wonderful adventures.
a few days ago, i have been approached by my co-teachers about my transfer back to the middle school. when they asked me how i felt about being transferred, i said, it was okay, it was like coming back home. i'm not overjoyed and leaping and dancing, but i welcome the idea of going back to a place that has made me a better teacher. i am glad to return to a family of not just co-workers, but also friends.
it did not occur to me that most of my coworkers at the HS would think that i requested the transfer.
i didn't.
my transfer back to the MS meant that someone from the MS would have to be transferred to the SH to cover my position. this teacher was not so happy with this change/transfer. she was upset.
i didn't understand why she was upset. but then again, when i got the job two years ago, wasn't too excited either. what baffled me about her reaction was the fact that she is a more experienced teacher than me. i did't think i had anything to tell her that she didn't already know.
i wish her and my kids the best.
in the world of possibility, this may be a whole new world of wonderful adventures.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
lighting a spark
Roz and Ben Zanders shared stories in a world of possibilities when someone entertains, or even embrace the possibility in an otherwise hopeless situation.
I'm sure you've all had teachers who have lit a spark in your life, one way or another. They have left a warm ember in your heart that you kept within you, and before you know it, it had lit up inside of you and have resided in there, with a steady burn.
Although I'm an English teacher, it was not my favorite subject in school. It was not because I did have excellent teachers, it's just that my Social Studies teachers have always lit a spark in me.
I have always maintained close ties with my first batch of students. Most teachers will never forget the first batch of kids that they taught. On the weekend before my birthday, I saw 3 of my former students, all professionals, all grown up.
It always gives me pride to see them, and how well they have succeeded in life. We talked about their high school days, the laughable moments and the silly stunts they pulled. I look at the man and two ladies and for myself, I wish that from then until my last teaching day, I can light a at least a tiny spark in my students' life.
I'm sure you've all had teachers who have lit a spark in your life, one way or another. They have left a warm ember in your heart that you kept within you, and before you know it, it had lit up inside of you and have resided in there, with a steady burn.
Although I'm an English teacher, it was not my favorite subject in school. It was not because I did have excellent teachers, it's just that my Social Studies teachers have always lit a spark in me.
I have always maintained close ties with my first batch of students. Most teachers will never forget the first batch of kids that they taught. On the weekend before my birthday, I saw 3 of my former students, all professionals, all grown up.
It always gives me pride to see them, and how well they have succeeded in life. We talked about their high school days, the laughable moments and the silly stunts they pulled. I look at the man and two ladies and for myself, I wish that from then until my last teaching day, I can light a at least a tiny spark in my students' life.
scratch that...
i'm one of those kids who get very excited about new things. a new kin d of shampoo, new seasoning mix, a new candy flavor, new book.
a new program to create games.... hmmmm.
and so last year in my mythology class, i thought of using scratch. We didn't really get too far with it. I was a bat frustrated because I felt like an idiot most of the time. But then again, I wasn't a student of EDMT yet so it was not natural (yet) for me to get my fingers dancing on the keys to type and search for video tutorials.
I saw the video tutorials about scratch. it was simple enough, but I think someone, if not me, can make an easier and a simpler and ,ore effective video tutorial. My teacher in our Digital Media and Education Applications class have ingrained a standard in me about length and coverage of video tutorial. "keep it short and simple; break it down."
i'm gonna try scratch with my mythology class again. Maybe we'll get farther this year. :)
a new program to create games.... hmmmm.
and so last year in my mythology class, i thought of using scratch. We didn't really get too far with it. I was a bat frustrated because I felt like an idiot most of the time. But then again, I wasn't a student of EDMT yet so it was not natural (yet) for me to get my fingers dancing on the keys to type and search for video tutorials.
I saw the video tutorials about scratch. it was simple enough, but I think someone, if not me, can make an easier and a simpler and ,ore effective video tutorial. My teacher in our Digital Media and Education Applications class have ingrained a standard in me about length and coverage of video tutorial. "keep it short and simple; break it down."
i'm gonna try scratch with my mythology class again. Maybe we'll get farther this year. :)
Here's Showing you what I Know
Wow, This is it, the last day. Unbelievable. No bull, I didn't think I would like this course as much as I do. I love this course, I've learned so much about different aspects of Media Presentation, and I am embarrassed to say that I haven't even seen all of the tech advice my teacher has prepared for us. No excuses, Sir B. I do want to take your course, (I mean audit it) because I think I want to learn more so I can share more with my kids.
In terms of my final media project, I am still undecided as to which media I will use. I have learned though that thoughtful planning and insightful thinking are both beneficial for a good choice. I am comfy with making slide show with audio, but is that the best medium for mt thesis presentation. I'm still not sure.
Here's what I know though. Technology, or media presentation tools in particular have been created to make the teaching and learning experience mire dynamic and engaging. This generation of students are more challenging to engage, and it is up to us, to keep up their interest. It is our responsibility to give them our best so that we can cultivate the best in them. (yes, this is still, no bull doodoo).
I have my first day of camp tomorrow, and I still have last day of school, as in my work, so I can't make it to my first class in camp. I could have easily just asked for a substitute and give my kids some busy work until I can meet them on Tuesday.
BUT...
I want them to feel that I am thinking about them, and I am excited about learning with them.
Paper or plastic"
Eerr, I mean a letter or something else?
I got on my trusty Mac and recorded a laughable video of me talking to them since I can't be with them live.
I used Keynote, got some images off the nest and pasted their URLs, and voila, uploaded it on YouTube.
And oh, this is also to show my latest action figure.
Of course I could've made an a longer video, but then I had to stop myself and assess the situation. I just want to introduce them to the course. That 3 minute video is actually long and cold be edited, now that I think about it, but then there's tomorrow, and the next day and that gives me time to think of exploring other media to use in class.
I'm thinking of trying Mr. Smith's top picks of free 3D animation software for my class. I'm so excited, I'm so excited!!!!
Thanks Mr. B, for giving us some direction to make our presentation skills better, and more organized (crossing my fingers on that).
In terms of my final media project, I am still undecided as to which media I will use. I have learned though that thoughtful planning and insightful thinking are both beneficial for a good choice. I am comfy with making slide show with audio, but is that the best medium for mt thesis presentation. I'm still not sure.
Here's what I know though. Technology, or media presentation tools in particular have been created to make the teaching and learning experience mire dynamic and engaging. This generation of students are more challenging to engage, and it is up to us, to keep up their interest. It is our responsibility to give them our best so that we can cultivate the best in them. (yes, this is still, no bull doodoo).
I have my first day of camp tomorrow, and I still have last day of school, as in my work, so I can't make it to my first class in camp. I could have easily just asked for a substitute and give my kids some busy work until I can meet them on Tuesday.
BUT...
I want them to feel that I am thinking about them, and I am excited about learning with them.
Paper or plastic"
Eerr, I mean a letter or something else?
I got on my trusty Mac and recorded a laughable video of me talking to them since I can't be with them live.
I used Keynote, got some images off the nest and pasted their URLs, and voila, uploaded it on YouTube.
And oh, this is also to show my latest action figure.
Of course I could've made an a longer video, but then I had to stop myself and assess the situation. I just want to introduce them to the course. That 3 minute video is actually long and cold be edited, now that I think about it, but then there's tomorrow, and the next day and that gives me time to think of exploring other media to use in class.
I'm thinking of trying Mr. Smith's top picks of free 3D animation software for my class. I'm so excited, I'm so excited!!!!
Thanks Mr. B, for giving us some direction to make our presentation skills better, and more organized (crossing my fingers on that).
Friday, June 26, 2009
gym happy
i went back to gym after, oh two months. it took me long enough, huh? i have so many excuses i don't even know where to begin.
today was quite difficult, but the endorphons kicked in. i feel that i have ,melted a bite out of the cupcake i just ate yesterday.
48 thousand more calories to go.
48 red velvet cupcakes to go
5 cream puffs.
5 pieces of party puto.
huff huff huff.
i can do this.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Stick-'em!
Last night, the numero uno team chupacabras prime and our dear instructor for MAC got together last night for a session in skype and stickam.
We are so high-tech, I feel like a Jetson, I kid you not!
It never fails to bring me joy and excitemetn to talk about technology and its application to my everyday life and in the classroom, I really feel like a walking talking advertisement for FSO. I know it tickels the socks off of my mom when I tell her about a nerw thing I've learned in school, or a new gadget. Part of it is excitement and the other half is the joy, that there is something I can share with my mom, or teach her. Every now and then I would call her up when I have a grammar4 question that I can't seem to find an answer to. Thank goodness for international calling and the popularity of mobile phones in the Philippines.
Anyway, so the gang and Mr. Joe shared inisghts and of course a few laughs on some of the week's topics. i got kicked out a few times and managed to get back in live, a few minutes before we ended our session. Thank goodness we were on skype so I can still gen into the conversation as I tried to log in 48 million times.
Stickam still has a lot of glitches, but hey, it's free. I know pretty soon the web 2.0 community will come up with a fortified and more nutritious version.
I'm thinking of recommending stickam to my former students in the Philippines who are trying to organize their 10th year reunion. They have met on a conference chat via yahoo messenger. Although I am a loyal YM user,I can alreasy foresee the chaos of having 17 twenty somethings trying to group chat purely by text.
I told them to take advil 30 minutes before the conference.
I initally thoughtof Wimba, but then again, it's not a free program.
So thanks, Mr. Joe B, for introducing us to stickam.
We are so high-tech, I feel like a Jetson, I kid you not!
It never fails to bring me joy and excitemetn to talk about technology and its application to my everyday life and in the classroom, I really feel like a walking talking advertisement for FSO. I know it tickels the socks off of my mom when I tell her about a nerw thing I've learned in school, or a new gadget. Part of it is excitement and the other half is the joy, that there is something I can share with my mom, or teach her. Every now and then I would call her up when I have a grammar4 question that I can't seem to find an answer to. Thank goodness for international calling and the popularity of mobile phones in the Philippines.
Anyway, so the gang and Mr. Joe shared inisghts and of course a few laughs on some of the week's topics. i got kicked out a few times and managed to get back in live, a few minutes before we ended our session. Thank goodness we were on skype so I can still gen into the conversation as I tried to log in 48 million times.
Stickam still has a lot of glitches, but hey, it's free. I know pretty soon the web 2.0 community will come up with a fortified and more nutritious version.
I'm thinking of recommending stickam to my former students in the Philippines who are trying to organize their 10th year reunion. They have met on a conference chat via yahoo messenger. Although I am a loyal YM user,I can alreasy foresee the chaos of having 17 twenty somethings trying to group chat purely by text.
I told them to take advil 30 minutes before the conference.
I initally thoughtof Wimba, but then again, it's not a free program.
So thanks, Mr. Joe B, for introducing us to stickam.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Wk3 Ron Smith Interview Interactive Q & As
1. What is the name of the school where Mr. Ron Smith teaches?
Media Academy in Hollywood High School,
Hollywood California
2. What is the specialization of the Media Academy in terms of training students?
Mr. Smith teachers the students anything related to media as a training for the media industry in Hollywood.
3. According to Mr. Smith, what type of media do his students gravitate to?
Usually Flash animation and Video
4. In terms of engaging using technology in engaging his students, how does Mr. Smith view his class and his students?
Mr. Smith views his classroom like a laboratory and tests whatever new technology he has read up on or heard of on his students. Examples are podcasts and text messaging when they came out.
5. What presentation technology do teachers use that are already outdated for today’s students?
Examples of technology that are still used in the classroom that are not considered relevant to students are : power point, overhead projectors, and word documents projected on screen.
6. Why is digital media such as Flash, as a presentation tool, such a hard sell for most teachers?
It is a hard sell for most teachers to use digital media because it is
time consuming .
7. What is Scratch?
It is an open source software that lets you create your own game online or in your own computer.
8. What is SketchUp?
It is a Google program that lets you create 3D models.
9. What is Blender?
It is an open source 3D animation software.
10. How does Mr. Smith introduce the software to his students?
He does not tell too much information to his students, and he lets them explore and play with t on their own.
Media Academy in Hollywood High School,
Hollywood California
2. What is the specialization of the Media Academy in terms of training students?
Mr. Smith teachers the students anything related to media as a training for the media industry in Hollywood.
3. According to Mr. Smith, what type of media do his students gravitate to?
Usually Flash animation and Video
4. In terms of engaging using technology in engaging his students, how does Mr. Smith view his class and his students?
Mr. Smith views his classroom like a laboratory and tests whatever new technology he has read up on or heard of on his students. Examples are podcasts and text messaging when they came out.
5. What presentation technology do teachers use that are already outdated for today’s students?
Examples of technology that are still used in the classroom that are not considered relevant to students are : power point, overhead projectors, and word documents projected on screen.
6. Why is digital media such as Flash, as a presentation tool, such a hard sell for most teachers?
It is a hard sell for most teachers to use digital media because it is
time consuming .
7. What is Scratch?
It is an open source software that lets you create your own game online or in your own computer.
8. What is SketchUp?
It is a Google program that lets you create 3D models.
9. What is Blender?
It is an open source 3D animation software.
10. How does Mr. Smith introduce the software to his students?
He does not tell too much information to his students, and he lets them explore and play with t on their own.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
First thoughts on The Art of Possibility
photo from : www.coverbrowser.com
The Art of Possibility - Stepping Into A Universe of Possibilities
Let me just start that had this book could not have come to me, (even as a required reading) ata better time. I used to be one of those “too cool to care, or too cool to be kind” people, and I was too cool to be caught with an inspirational book.
Fast forward to June 2009, and I am loving every page of this book. I think if we “feed” a little bit of this book to every American, we will be a nation of shiny happy people. Organically happy. Seriously. There is just too much negativity in our society.
So much fear. So much hating. So much worrying.
You know I thought when I came to live here in the USA, I would be happier or my life would be better. Well, it is now. But before I got to this point of happiness and peace, I must say that I was more worried about making it here in US compared to making it in the Philippines. I am not putting the blame on America. I am pointing my fingers at our culture of fear, commercialism and our massive superiority complex. The bottom line is, even though we are more comfortable compared to other people living in less affluent countries, most of us are still not happy. I know I wasn’t.
I had to be reborn spiritually to come to where I am now.
And so I embrace the Zanders’ book with a warm hug. Here are a couple of thoughts on the first chapter.
On the two marketing scouts for a shoe company
“ A shoe factory sends two marketing scouts to a region of Africa to study the prospects for expending business. One sends back a telegram saying
SITUATION HOPELESS STOP NO ONE WEARS SHOES
The other write back triumphantly
GLORIOUS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY STOP THEY HAVE NO SHOES
Needless to say, this anecdote cracked me up. After a few moments of settling my laughter, this story made me reflect on my which kind of person I am. The anecdote made me ask myself, which one am I? Am I the like the first scout or am I like the second scout? I was very much like the first scout for most of my life. It’s been two years now that I seem to be more and more like the second scout.
When I resigned from work and got rehired by my district as a Special Ed High School English teacher, I was scared and worried. At one point I was grateful for getting rehired. However I also felt sorry for myself for being stuck with the school’s baddest of the bad. For a hile too, I thought I was being punished for making hasty decisions.
What a trip!
What was I thinking?! Teaching special ed has been a great blessing! It really is. And to quote my “kids” I say teaching special ed is a blessing. Dead ass. Do you want to know why? Because not every teacher can teach special ed and live to tell the tale. Being that I have been blessed to be in this field for 12 years now, I suppose you can say I have the right to say what I said.
Teaching special ed, for me was not a punishment. It was a privilege. It was a privilege to teac my kids and to be a able to get to know then. I feel that I have learned so much from my two years. I feel that I emerged from my experience a better teacher, equipped with new skills.
This coming school year, I am moving back to my original home, the middle school. My principal was able to get first pick, and I feel so loved that he asked for me to come back. A part of me is sad to leave my kids. We have a strong bond already. But see, If I wallow in sadness, then I would not see that I am embarking on a new adventure at the middle school.
I choose to step into the universe of possibility.
“We grow up in a world of measurement, and in this world, we get to know each other and things by measuring them (p. 18) ”
I was immediately struck by the similarity of this message to a passage from The Little Prince. There was part in the beginning of the story when Antoine de Saint Exupery’s pilot’s character when he was describing how grown ups put importance in numbers. This is so true. Sometimes, when I catch myself giving in to self pity because I don’t earn as much money as my childhood friends, I tell myself off and remind myself how blessed I am to love what I do. My fiancé reminds me every now and then, of how happy he is that I love my job. He’s right. I do love what I do. Who wouldn’t love waking up in the morning and preparing for a day full of surprises,( both pleasant and otherwise?) Who wouldn’t love playing dress up for school , dressing up for a show? Who would not love hanging out with teenagers and inviting them to express how they feel about stories written by people who have long gone, or of stories from another place and time, either real or imagined?
I know I do.
And though from time to time I am still plagues by values of measurement, I try my best to look at life as little adventures and my successes with them. After all, there is always something gained from experience, be it a good or a bad one.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Neil Gaiman-topia
I am a huge Neil Gaiman fan. my favorite book is American Gods. As soon as I finished the book, I became obsessed with the idea of putting up my dream cast for the movie version that I wish they would make. Of course there is no movie version. Yet. I am hopeful that some Hollywood execs might pick it up and make thousands of fan like moi, very mvery happy.
The premise of AMerican Gods is quite similar to another Brit great, Douglas Adams' Long Dark Teatime of the Soul. The only twist is, Ragnarok in Gaiman's novel take place between the old gods of ancient mythology and the new "American" gods such as Money, Technology, Media, etc.
I'm gonna sopt before I drool on my mom's netbook.
Anyway, as I was re-reading my favorite book I am already forming a dream team in my head. Shadow can be played by The Rock, his cheating wife can be played by Renee Zellweger. Johnny Depp can play the role of Wednesday (Odin) . Eminem can be a deity of television or MTV.
It is indeed an amazing and sometimes mind blowing thing to really absorb how many books are published each year. SO many books, so little time. And not much money to create film versions of the books. sigh.
I am still hoping for American Gods on the big screen. I'm hoping it's the real, old school hollywood movie without too much CGI, but any attempt will do.
Any takers?
The premise of AMerican Gods is quite similar to another Brit great, Douglas Adams' Long Dark Teatime of the Soul. The only twist is, Ragnarok in Gaiman's novel take place between the old gods of ancient mythology and the new "American" gods such as Money, Technology, Media, etc.
I'm gonna sopt before I drool on my mom's netbook.
Anyway, as I was re-reading my favorite book I am already forming a dream team in my head. Shadow can be played by The Rock, his cheating wife can be played by Renee Zellweger. Johnny Depp can play the role of Wednesday (Odin) . Eminem can be a deity of television or MTV.
It is indeed an amazing and sometimes mind blowing thing to really absorb how many books are published each year. SO many books, so little time. And not much money to create film versions of the books. sigh.
I am still hoping for American Gods on the big screen. I'm hoping it's the real, old school hollywood movie without too much CGI, but any attempt will do.
Any takers?
33
I turned 33 today. and like birthdays past, I spent a few minutes thinking of my mother. at how things were with her life when she was my age. it always amazes me how simlilar and different we are. at 33, she has three kids aged 16, 15, and 11. She was a single mom earning a living for 3 kids.
as for me, i am thousands of miles away from my mom and brothers. this is my 8th birthday away from them, and although it gets easy, there is till a part of me that wishes i can spend my day with them.
enough of the drama, for this is a day of thanksgiving to God. I am so blessed to be here, year 33, alive, fighting the fight and living with more love for everyone. this birthday is more special because I am in the middle (or 3/4, rather) of my master's degree program, I am engaged to my mahal, and most of all, I am saved.
I went out to lunch with my tutees today. They are an important part of my life. They teach me as much as I teach them. Indeed, the Lord has blessed me with them, because I get to experience the joy of being like a parent to them. I am so proud of them.
MAC Class Wimba Week 3
Post 1
I've forgotten how I first felt about Wimba. Man, it's been 9 mos. We are almost there.
When i tell people about my online courses at FSO, most of them are amazed and awed at how "hi-tech" my classes must be. Last month, Dr. Siegel used the video/webcam feature of Wimba so we can actually see each other as we talk and ask questions, and discuss the week's topics. I had so much fun seeing my classmates on video. This month we continued having the web cam feature on and with my current professor, classes been going well.
I bet that when I get the chance to tell my graduate story experience to my former colleagues and students, their jaws would drop. really. Man, I used to imagine classes like this when I was a kid. Seriously. Well, at first I used to imagine that we can talk on the phone and see each other, and then I used to play pretend where my "teacher" would be somewhere in another country and we would "watch" her teach us from our own classroom in the Philippines. Well, it's really here and i totally blows mind when , now at 2009, this online class is a reality.
Did I mention that though we are hi-tech now, some things never change?
We would pass notes to each other during class. :)
I've forgotten how I first felt about Wimba. Man, it's been 9 mos. We are almost there.
When i tell people about my online courses at FSO, most of them are amazed and awed at how "hi-tech" my classes must be. Last month, Dr. Siegel used the video/webcam feature of Wimba so we can actually see each other as we talk and ask questions, and discuss the week's topics. I had so much fun seeing my classmates on video. This month we continued having the web cam feature on and with my current professor, classes been going well.
I bet that when I get the chance to tell my graduate story experience to my former colleagues and students, their jaws would drop. really. Man, I used to imagine classes like this when I was a kid. Seriously. Well, at first I used to imagine that we can talk on the phone and see each other, and then I used to play pretend where my "teacher" would be somewhere in another country and we would "watch" her teach us from our own classroom in the Philippines. Well, it's really here and i totally blows mind when , now at 2009, this online class is a reality.
Did I mention that though we are hi-tech now, some things never change?
We would pass notes to each other during class. :)
Monday, June 15, 2009
On Being Christian and Harry Potter
I became a born again Christian on January 27, 2007. It was literally and figuratively being a new person. I am a new Christian, a toddler if you can call it, so I have a lot more learning to do.
As I walk with Lord, I have come to face my past. One of my past is being quite the Harry Potter fan. I remember getting involved in heated discussions with "narrow-minded" parents who have strongly opposed reading HP in the English class. I remember a lot of things from my old life, and I just shake my head and laugh to myself. Now back to "the one who lived." I remember reading the 7th book in record time, 7 hours and 10 minutes. I read the book within 24 hours. I', sure I'm not the only one with such fanatic tendencies.
But since becoming a Christian, I just felt a natural ebbing away of my enthusiasm regarding anything Harry Potter. I have not even had a recent viewing of any for the 5 movies (all of which I have on DVD) OI have all 8 books in on my shelves, but for some reason, the excitement is not there.
I am glad to have read Chapter 5 of Convergence Culture. I can relate to the dilemma of which side to take. What is a Christian to do?
I was enlightened that some Christians are taking different approaches to deal with Harry Potter and how huge it has become in our culture. I agree with some christian groups who have taken discernment as an approach to look at HP and use it as a means of
strengthening our faith and evaluate the book from a Christian standpoint. I still give credit to JK Rowling for creating readers in a generation of computers, TV, and video games.
I am not going to burn my copies of HP. Maybe on of these days, after grad school, I will read it again and look at it from a Christian discernment standpoint, and maybe share something with my students in Sunday school.
As I walk with Lord, I have come to face my past. One of my past is being quite the Harry Potter fan. I remember getting involved in heated discussions with "narrow-minded" parents who have strongly opposed reading HP in the English class. I remember a lot of things from my old life, and I just shake my head and laugh to myself. Now back to "the one who lived." I remember reading the 7th book in record time, 7 hours and 10 minutes. I read the book within 24 hours. I', sure I'm not the only one with such fanatic tendencies.
But since becoming a Christian, I just felt a natural ebbing away of my enthusiasm regarding anything Harry Potter. I have not even had a recent viewing of any for the 5 movies (all of which I have on DVD) OI have all 8 books in on my shelves, but for some reason, the excitement is not there.
I am glad to have read Chapter 5 of Convergence Culture. I can relate to the dilemma of which side to take. What is a Christian to do?
I was enlightened that some Christians are taking different approaches to deal with Harry Potter and how huge it has become in our culture. I agree with some christian groups who have taken discernment as an approach to look at HP and use it as a means of
strengthening our faith and evaluate the book from a Christian standpoint. I still give credit to JK Rowling for creating readers in a generation of computers, TV, and video games.
I am not going to burn my copies of HP. Maybe on of these days, after grad school, I will read it again and look at it from a Christian discernment standpoint, and maybe share something with my students in Sunday school.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
THE STAR WARS SAGA
I have mixed emotions about Quentin Terentino’s StarWars Chapter (Jenkins, 2006). For one thing, Jenkin’s discussion illuminated both the fans and the creator/artists side of creative convergence on the whole Star Wars universe. I definitely gained insights from both sides. At first, I sided with the Star Wars fan in their battle against Lucas and his big guns. This is why I recall definitely enjoying watching the Southpark brat pack jab at George Lucas in their signature irreverent humor. In that particular south park episode, George Lucas’s character was portrayed as overprotective , lawsuit-happy artist who acted like a diva and would not allow any change, be it major or minor to be done on any of his “works” without his approval.
The age of internet has definitely brought a forceful change in the artist/creator-fan dynamics. Fans can gather in cyberspace and discuss anything and everything they want about their favorite artwork and or artist. These discussions can also inspire creative fan work as an homage to the artist. I can see how this is exciting for any hardcore fan of comic books or film. Indeed, the internet has provided the venue and platform to which fans can meet and interact without even stepping our of their doorsteps.
On a personal note, As much as I am thrilled to find and interact kindred spirits. I am more of a purist. I let the artist do as s/he pleases. I respect the artist’s work and I’d like to leave her/him in peace. I suppose the Star Wars fans are a different breed of fans. They really hard core, and they,live, eat and breathe Star Wars. I guess I’m what you may call a distant or a diluted Star Wars fan. I have a few action figures, a talking Yoda doll that every new guest has to pose with for pictures. I love Kevin Smith movies because Jay and Silent Bob always makes cultural reference about GL and Star Wars. Yada yada yada. I geddit, some of us can’t seem to get enough of it, so much so they have perverted some of the characters and wrote erotic fan fiction about Star Wars Characters. I mean, really? The only hot character I can marginally consider as hot is Han Solo, but then I’ve had a crush on him as Indiana Jones.
I take the side of GL on this erotic fan fiction thing. I mean, those works are simply disrespectful and irresponsible. Discussion boards and offshoot stories are fine. I think they actually help enrich he Star Wars universe that GL may not (gasp) have thought of. Point in case is the game aspect of the Star Wars business empire. The game developer has acknowledged that he used the help of Star Wars fan to recreate a richer Star Wars environment since they obviously know a lot about the SW world that he does. In this case, two heads is better than one. Parodies may be fine to a certain extent and to a certain degree of humor, Star Wars erotica is stepping over the line.
The age of internet has definitely brought a forceful change in the artist/creator-fan dynamics. Fans can gather in cyberspace and discuss anything and everything they want about their favorite artwork and or artist. These discussions can also inspire creative fan work as an homage to the artist. I can see how this is exciting for any hardcore fan of comic books or film. Indeed, the internet has provided the venue and platform to which fans can meet and interact without even stepping our of their doorsteps.
On a personal note, As much as I am thrilled to find and interact kindred spirits. I am more of a purist. I let the artist do as s/he pleases. I respect the artist’s work and I’d like to leave her/him in peace. I suppose the Star Wars fans are a different breed of fans. They really hard core, and they,live, eat and breathe Star Wars. I guess I’m what you may call a distant or a diluted Star Wars fan. I have a few action figures, a talking Yoda doll that every new guest has to pose with for pictures. I love Kevin Smith movies because Jay and Silent Bob always makes cultural reference about GL and Star Wars. Yada yada yada. I geddit, some of us can’t seem to get enough of it, so much so they have perverted some of the characters and wrote erotic fan fiction about Star Wars Characters. I mean, really? The only hot character I can marginally consider as hot is Han Solo, but then I’ve had a crush on him as Indiana Jones.
I take the side of GL on this erotic fan fiction thing. I mean, those works are simply disrespectful and irresponsible. Discussion boards and offshoot stories are fine. I think they actually help enrich he Star Wars universe that GL may not (gasp) have thought of. Point in case is the game aspect of the Star Wars business empire. The game developer has acknowledged that he used the help of Star Wars fan to recreate a richer Star Wars environment since they obviously know a lot about the SW world that he does. In this case, two heads is better than one. Parodies may be fine to a certain extent and to a certain degree of humor, Star Wars erotica is stepping over the line.
On Being A Potterhead
I am a Harry Potter Fan. I am such a huge fan I attended two midnight parties just so I can get my shaking and caffeine powered hands on the book as soon as it is released to the muggle world.
These pictures were taken on July 16, 2005. The pretty lady I am with in the picture, sporting the same Griffyndor rugby shirt is my partner in crime and bestfriend, Charly.
We had so much fun that night, and we got many compliments on our shirts, which we bough at Old Navy. We found some party pooper Slytherin students in our local Barnes and Noble so for the sake of the book, they agreed to take a photo with us.
These pictures were taken on July 16, 2005. The pretty lady I am with in the picture, sporting the same Griffyndor rugby shirt is my partner in crime and bestfriend, Charly.
We had so much fun that night, and we got many compliments on our shirts, which we bough at Old Navy. We found some party pooper Slytherin students in our local Barnes and Noble so for the sake of the book, they agreed to take a photo with us.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
The American idol Phenom
Yes, I also used to watch American Idol.
Yes, I have, at one point called the 1866 or 1800 to cast my vote.
I love Kelly Clarkson.
The chapter on American Idol brought back memories of eagerly making it home in time to plop myself in front of the TV and yell out loud to it, either in glee or indignation at the talents and/or lack thereof on the contestants. The cattiness of Simon Cowell was also amusing.
Reading Jenkins book was amusing too. I can definitely say I am one of the people he's talking about. Yes, I was guilty of voting for Jasmine Trias, the Hawaiian contestant because of her Filipino ancestry.
What blew my mind (a bit) was how it took one show to fast forward the popularity of what now is seemingly and indispensable means of communication : texting. FI\inally, America embraced the wonderful world of text messaging. Finally, we caught up with the other half of the world who has used text messaging for quite some time now.
Again, the question the bugged me was, can we use text messagins for a greater good other than teach our youth how to be creative spellers?
I kid you not. In the Philippines, since we don't have 911, one can just text his/her friendly police station for help.
gah.
Yes, I have, at one point called the 1866 or 1800 to cast my vote.
I love Kelly Clarkson.
The chapter on American Idol brought back memories of eagerly making it home in time to plop myself in front of the TV and yell out loud to it, either in glee or indignation at the talents and/or lack thereof on the contestants. The cattiness of Simon Cowell was also amusing.
Reading Jenkins book was amusing too. I can definitely say I am one of the people he's talking about. Yes, I was guilty of voting for Jasmine Trias, the Hawaiian contestant because of her Filipino ancestry.
What blew my mind (a bit) was how it took one show to fast forward the popularity of what now is seemingly and indispensable means of communication : texting. FI\inally, America embraced the wonderful world of text messaging. Finally, we caught up with the other half of the world who has used text messaging for quite some time now.
Again, the question the bugged me was, can we use text messagins for a greater good other than teach our youth how to be creative spellers?
I kid you not. In the Philippines, since we don't have 911, one can just text his/her friendly police station for help.
gah.
Spoilers and Survivor
I admit. I was a survivor fan. Had I been a hardcore one, I would've really enjoyed visiting the spoiler sites. At some degree, I can understand the obsession and the mind play that came along with unraveling the mysteries of location, casting and order of contestants being booted off. The whole angle about ChillOne's real identity and the speculations that ChillOne may be Mark Burnett himself was fun reading for me.
It just makes me wonder : If total strangers can come together and rally behind a reality TV show. Can we turn this power of convergence for the common good?
I sure hoppe we're getting there.
It just makes me wonder : If total strangers can come together and rally behind a reality TV show. Can we turn this power of convergence for the common good?
I sure hoppe we're getting there.
What I know
learning is not an individual endeavor. im m experience with my classes in FSO, i learn ed most from the experience and knowledge of my selfless and super helpful classmates.
I have discovered this shortcut to upload slides into iphoto, which i can then use for imovie.
I have discovered this shortcut to upload slides into iphoto, which i can then use for imovie.
week 1 videos
this new class is a great tool for us to streamline our media projects and polish some rough ends on the skills and knowledge we have acquired in the past several months.
i like how organized my professor is. his videos are also short, to the point and easy to understand. so far the book we have on convergence culture has been interesting, but i don't find it as engaging. maybe chapter 3 will shed some light on it.
food for thought : Just because a media is cool and complex doesn't mean it's always the best choice to use for a presentation.
must remember that.
i like how organized my professor is. his videos are also short, to the point and easy to understand. so far the book we have on convergence culture has been interesting, but i don't find it as engaging. maybe chapter 3 will shed some light on it.
food for thought : Just because a media is cool and complex doesn't mean it's always the best choice to use for a presentation.
must remember that.
Friday, June 5, 2009
It's about time
background music : it's about time by the lemonheads
Oh bo, by george, can you believe it, it's month 9 already!!! agrh!!!!
unfortunately, all the grad school work has kept me from blogging about mindfarts and the like.
and to continue with the whining... i just realized that neil gaiman has two books i haven't read yet, and i'm buggin out about it. in fact, rick riordan's last book of tbhe Percy Jackson and the Olympian Series is already out and i didn't have a seizure when i didn't get it on the day it came out.
ah me. i'll get back into shape after graduation. it's all good.
for this month in grad school we will be learning how to manage our media assets, hence, hthe course title. so far the book has been entertaining. i'm reading up on the spoilers of the survivor tv show. i can't wait to read the chapter on harry potter.
lots more to learn, and I am psyched!!!!
Oh bo, by george, can you believe it, it's month 9 already!!! agrh!!!!
unfortunately, all the grad school work has kept me from blogging about mindfarts and the like.
and to continue with the whining... i just realized that neil gaiman has two books i haven't read yet, and i'm buggin out about it. in fact, rick riordan's last book of tbhe Percy Jackson and the Olympian Series is already out and i didn't have a seizure when i didn't get it on the day it came out.
ah me. i'll get back into shape after graduation. it's all good.
for this month in grad school we will be learning how to manage our media assets, hence, hthe course title. so far the book has been entertaining. i'm reading up on the spoilers of the survivor tv show. i can't wait to read the chapter on harry potter.
lots more to learn, and I am psyched!!!!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
engaged
was caught off guard, to say the least.
there had been days when i've been a bit impatient with how things are going with our relationship. several times, Z would make playful references to our married life, but the proposal never came. i mean, honestly. i went halfway around the world to meet his family (and i fell in love with them) check that. what do you think is next?
maybe it is too romantic to ask for, but i do want to be proposed to.
i was never asked the first time. look at how that one ended.
this time i want it to be real. i want to be asked the question. i want a ring. it does not have to be a huge ___ diamond ring, but a simple ring that symbolizes his intentions and feelings.
i got that on memorial day. romantic my prdelka, it may not be hollywood romantic, but for me, it was sweet the way it was.
i thank you God, for being so good to me, because yesterday, you answered my prayers.
Z had something romantic in mind, but being that I was sick, it sort of messed up his grand scheme of proposing to me.
but it came, and i would not have it any other way
there had been days when i've been a bit impatient with how things are going with our relationship. several times, Z would make playful references to our married life, but the proposal never came. i mean, honestly. i went halfway around the world to meet his family (and i fell in love with them) check that. what do you think is next?
maybe it is too romantic to ask for, but i do want to be proposed to.
i was never asked the first time. look at how that one ended.
this time i want it to be real. i want to be asked the question. i want a ring. it does not have to be a huge ___ diamond ring, but a simple ring that symbolizes his intentions and feelings.
i got that on memorial day. romantic my prdelka, it may not be hollywood romantic, but for me, it was sweet the way it was.
i thank you God, for being so good to me, because yesterday, you answered my prayers.
Z had something romantic in mind, but being that I was sick, it sort of messed up his grand scheme of proposing to me.
but it came, and i would not have it any other way
Monday, May 4, 2009
NO DOUBT i had fun this weekend.
bruce and i zipped down to AC this weekend for some fun. the objective was to spend part of the day with Z, and spend most of my evening to see No Doubt in concert at The Borgata.
unfortunately, mother nature kinda ruined my plans so i slept most of the afternoon in pain.
I went to the concert with D, Z's housemate who has a great taste in music, fun, and a total player. we also went with N, a former housemate of theirs. we got to the venue at 6:30pm. the line was already long and we heard there were people in line as early as 4:30. the concert didn't start until 8pm.
tainted windows, with taylor hanson and james iha. they were good, though i was more excited to see no doubt. anyway, i'm kinda glad i wore heels that night (though it did mess up my dancing and jumping around), because being that i am short, at least i saw the band onstage. i had a brush with a burly guy who had the nerve to cut in front of me, into the second hour of the concert. i gently poked him by his back and asked "are you gonna be there in front?!" i guess he kinda got the message and moved to the right so i can have my view back. heck, i did not pay the money to see his nape fat!
anyway, the band IS AWESOME!!! gwen is gorgeous and funny and just amazing on stage. i now have gwen as my inspiration to get my butt back in the gym and shape up, seriously. i will work hard to lessen ze flabs .
and tony. sigh. i just love tony.
after about 10 songs, i said goodbye to D and N. i've had my fun, and i decided to drive off early to avoid the traffic. headed back to Z's place to spend some time with him. we saw part of the diary of a mad black woman on cable.
i left AC early this morning. took a nap and called up my student for help on my project for grad school. after 3 hours, the project was done, and now my task is to submit it and face the chaos that i have made in my apartment.
i look forward to a new week, and the next time i get to spend with my fave czech boy. i'm thinking a strawberry picking date would be nice.
have a great week!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
easter treats
my lolo used to say that the most joyful and most important christian celebration is easter. he said it should be bigger than christmas.
me : why lolo?
lolo : because anybody can be born, but only Jesus rose from the dead.
and so, this year, true to my lolo's advice (one of the many) i went all out for easter celebration. by all out, i mean i cooked. Z came over Saturday evening so we can both go the Sunday service at my church.
in the kitchen i tried my hand at two new recipes : braised lentils with chorizo served with a slice of goat's milk as garnish. for easter lunch i made lancaster country slow cooker pork roast and sauerkraut on boiled potatoes. yummm.
czech boy liked both dishes, but liked the cocka (choch-ka), the lentils better. as cook, nothing brings me more joy than to see another person enjoying the food i prepared. Z was very appreciative so i am more motivated to cook for him.
after lunch, i suggested we take a peek at skype to see if his family from CZ are online. and they were :)). the pleasant surprise was, his whole family were in his parents house so we got to video chat with all of them, even the kids. after the chat with his parents, we called and had video chat with his uncle's family, my host family on my trip to CZ last christmas. we are both very happy to have had the chance to chat with them, this time Z was translating for me. i wish my mom is also hooked up at home so we can video chat with my grandparents and cousin and my two brothers.
things are cooking up relationship-wise. with God's grace, we might be preparing for a party when and if my mom can visit me this summer. yeah, it's that kind of party. :))
time to really shape up and burn more fat.
me : why lolo?
lolo : because anybody can be born, but only Jesus rose from the dead.
and so, this year, true to my lolo's advice (one of the many) i went all out for easter celebration. by all out, i mean i cooked. Z came over Saturday evening so we can both go the Sunday service at my church.
in the kitchen i tried my hand at two new recipes : braised lentils with chorizo served with a slice of goat's milk as garnish. for easter lunch i made lancaster country slow cooker pork roast and sauerkraut on boiled potatoes. yummm.
czech boy liked both dishes, but liked the cocka (choch-ka), the lentils better. as cook, nothing brings me more joy than to see another person enjoying the food i prepared. Z was very appreciative so i am more motivated to cook for him.
after lunch, i suggested we take a peek at skype to see if his family from CZ are online. and they were :)). the pleasant surprise was, his whole family were in his parents house so we got to video chat with all of them, even the kids. after the chat with his parents, we called and had video chat with his uncle's family, my host family on my trip to CZ last christmas. we are both very happy to have had the chance to chat with them, this time Z was translating for me. i wish my mom is also hooked up at home so we can video chat with my grandparents and cousin and my two brothers.
things are cooking up relationship-wise. with God's grace, we might be preparing for a party when and if my mom can visit me this summer. yeah, it's that kind of party. :))
time to really shape up and burn more fat.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Hall of Justice
I had an encounter with a rude regular ed kid.
my kids put her straight.
at the end of period 2, i stood by my doorway to shoo away my period 3 students as i got ready for period 3. a couple of sophomore girls stood a couple of feet in front of me and one of them was giggling and pointing at the kids in my class room.
see, i have a special ed classroom, and i have very few students in each class. the biggest class i have is a class of seven.
every now and then some mean spirited "regular" ed kids would pass by, look from the outside and make fun of my kids, because they are in the "ED" class.
this really pisses me off.
it's not like they are much smarter than my students. i bet you some of my kids are probably better than some of them.
anyway, so i got miffed so i asked, "can i help you?"
mean girl : (distorts her face even further) what you screamin at me for? get out of my face.
me : i'm not in your face.
mean girl : get the fuck out, i'm not scared of you.
me : i'm not asking you to be scared of me.
mean girl: don't scream at my face.
she proceeds talking to her friend referring to me with "F this" and "F her"
me : you're still here, you get out of my door way.
one of my kids from last year, pacified me and said it's not worth it, the same mean girl got her ass kicked last week, by a boy. i listened and chilled.
I caught one of my kids to identify the mean girl because I was about to write her up. I had a hunch who she was, but i needed to be sure.
my student confirmed it. and asked me what happened. i told him the story.
three minutes later, a bunch of my kids came storming in all riled up. a couple other kids, who are not my students, but i'm friendly with came too, all vowing to beat up mean girl.
i laughed it off and told them not to get in trouble on my behalf.
a couple more came in. same story.
at the end of third period, one of my homies delivered mean girl, who at this time, looked as meek as a lamb,
homie 1: go say it.
mean girl : i'm sorry for cursing you out.
me : do you really mean it? are you sincere?
mean girl : yes, (some lame excuse as to why she was laughing) and i never apologize.
me : okay.
homie 1 : see, ms. A, i told you i got your back.
me : thanks, homie.
situations like this make the stress of almost choking some of my kids who are difficult, all melt away.
Thank you God, for my kids. They may be difficult, but I love all of them, just the same.
for real.
Monday, March 30, 2009
like a deer in headlights
yesterday, in the midst of two major grad school projects, i prepped myself for church. this timei went solo, as Z is in his own house. so i got to church early enough to get a parking spot on the street.
as usual, it was a great service. i had thought of joining the church's theater ministry, but with this week's sched, and with my looming midnight deadline, i couldn't stay another hour in church (our service lasts about 2- 2 1/2 hours).
i made my way out as inconspicuously as i could. i got to bruce and was about to open the door when one of my church mates called out. i don't know many of the members yet because i am pretty new, but i have seen this guy before and he even sat next to me once. anyway, he came nearer and asked me for my number. i thought "oh well, maybe he was the one assigned to get to know me since I signed up to become a new member of the church. so i wrote down my name and number on the piece of paper that he provided. then he asked for my address. he said he wants to send postcards to his friends. so, okay, i wrote that down too. he kept on talking and talking about his vacation (which was on august) so I started feeling a bit strange. So i told him I'm gonna go already and then he went on about how he wanted to tell me how pretty i looked, this, that and the other thing.
this is me : (eyes getting bigger by the millisecond, a look of panic and discomfort on my face)
uhm. okay, thanks. that's nice. God bless you.
what got to me was how i reacted. i was totally rooted on the spot, and i couldn't even think of something funny to say.
i was blushing scarlet my entire ride home.
i got so shaken up, i called the boyfriend right away, via Skype video chat of course...
Z: next time ask him for his number and tell him your boyfriend wants to have beer with him.
sigh. guys.
okay, siempre na flatter naman ako, pero hello sa simbahan ba?!
as usual, it was a great service. i had thought of joining the church's theater ministry, but with this week's sched, and with my looming midnight deadline, i couldn't stay another hour in church (our service lasts about 2- 2 1/2 hours).
i made my way out as inconspicuously as i could. i got to bruce and was about to open the door when one of my church mates called out. i don't know many of the members yet because i am pretty new, but i have seen this guy before and he even sat next to me once. anyway, he came nearer and asked me for my number. i thought "oh well, maybe he was the one assigned to get to know me since I signed up to become a new member of the church. so i wrote down my name and number on the piece of paper that he provided. then he asked for my address. he said he wants to send postcards to his friends. so, okay, i wrote that down too. he kept on talking and talking about his vacation (which was on august) so I started feeling a bit strange. So i told him I'm gonna go already and then he went on about how he wanted to tell me how pretty i looked, this, that and the other thing.
this is me : (eyes getting bigger by the millisecond, a look of panic and discomfort on my face)
uhm. okay, thanks. that's nice. God bless you.
what got to me was how i reacted. i was totally rooted on the spot, and i couldn't even think of something funny to say.
i was blushing scarlet my entire ride home.
i got so shaken up, i called the boyfriend right away, via Skype video chat of course...
Z: next time ask him for his number and tell him your boyfriend wants to have beer with him.
sigh. guys.
okay, siempre na flatter naman ako, pero hello sa simbahan ba?!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
springing in
and now it's spring. it has been quite a long winter and i have had enough of it, honestly.
incidentally, spring also marks the last and third trimester of this school year. i am teaching writing strategies to my high school classes and we are well under way into finishing their 5 paragraph essays. if you ask me, i am a bit impatient or unsatisfied with the slow pace and the decrease in the material that we have covered in class, but it's okay. as long as the learning is going on, quantity should take a backseat over quality.
as for grad school, i really shouldn't be spending my time blogging as i have two major requirements due this weekend. ahhh, the procrastinator in me. it's amazing that it's already month 6 of my program. i'm halfway, baby!!!
and for the cherry on top -- i found me a church. i've been going to this church for several weeks now, and let me tell you, it just keeps getting better. i feel energized and inspired going to, being in, and leaving church every sunday. and through the week, i catch myself reviewing in my head the sermon of our highly energetic, entertaining, and humorous pastor. i am grateful that God led me to this place that I can worship and share prayers with fellow Christians. Z has gone to a couple of services and PJ also visited when she came over two weeks ago. i am thinking of volunteering my services and energy to their theater ministry.
health wise, i am enjoying spin classes in my gym. i wish i can discipline myself to stop eating so much. i have gained a few pounds and i am psyching myself for bikini season in the summer to motivate me enough to burn as much fat as possible. i've been on the fat zone and i do not want to go back to that, not if i can help. 
i went to my first beer-fest in Atlantic City last weekend. i had fun, but going to the bathroom for a pee break was such a hassle. a drunk little irish lady told me to wear "depend" next year.
i'll post pictures as soon as beer david sends them my way.
let me get my butt back to work now,
Thursday, February 26, 2009
gym face
i've been going to my real gym for more than a month now, and it amuses me to note how rich in wiritng material possibilities this place is.
before i got serious in changing my lifestyle, i went to an all women's gym. the arrangement worked out pretty well, but i foud myself looking for a more rigorous workout.
cut to my NYSC. this gym is serious. for a considerable amount of money, i signed up and decided to make my membership really work. i was excited to go to all the different classes i wanted to go, i like the machines, and hopefully, i can muster the courage to use the weights too.
my eagerness and happiness was put off balance for a while when i have observed the dynamics between men and women in the gym. man! my gym seems to be a hook-up place!i felt so self conscious for a while. i guess i was real slow at catching up. the deal breaker came when, in one of my dorky moods, i donned my charcoal colored aquaman t-shirt and my usual workout pants and sneakers. some snotty ladies in the lockers gave me disapproving looks. hey i didn't really come to the gym to make "porma" no! when i got to the main floor, some of the guys gave their initial once over looks and then proceeded to go on their business.
i looked at the women in the gym and realized how well dressed and well made-up the majority of them are. i almost fell off my stationary bike at my discovery.
the more i paid attention, the more things became clearer to me. a lot of these women actually put on make-up before working out. wow. they wear cute, coordinated sporty outfits and --- push up sports bra.
jane told me not to go overboard, but it may be a good idea to choose cuter and more feminine workout clothes in the future.
and that i did.
no worries, i still don't put on make-up before i work out.
Monday, February 9, 2009
jane's shopping spree, and my weekend of sorts.
< despite starting week1 of my Digital Media and Educational Applications class this month, the weekend proved to be a great one. Of course the sunny weather and a slightly less cold temperature helped in pepping up the weekend in the jersey area.
i tortured as usual. we're learning about africa these days. i can't complain because i never really had the chance to study much about african nations in school. social studies has been my strongest subject in school so it was a treat for me to study with V.
after almost a three hour session, i went to the gym to sweat it out a bit.
the good news is, i'm starting to make my way back into my old clothes again. gaining those pounds over the last month, i couldn't even button my pants! now they fit better, but i still have quite a belly and some fat that can and should be melted off.
i need a whole new post about the gym. one day soon i will.
anyway, so, i spent an hour and a half in the gym. according to the machines i burned a total of about 500 calories, so it worked for me. i used the stairmaster, "climbed" 33 floors (that's about 15 minutes). then i burned about 300 calories on the cardio- elliptical machines for another 30 minutes. took a shower, got another cup of coffee and went to the mall.
well, i had a fabulous time there and i scored me some colorful tops ready for spring. i also got me a pair of purple skinny jeans
jeans : $13.50
i can't wait to have it hemmed and wear it. i also treated myself to a new silky night gown. in silk leopard print. fierce. 
floral top : $ 19.80
slip set : $ 14. 80
this is jane's doing.
all these goodies i scored at forever 21, by the way.
since i was having a ball already, i went to Macy's' and got some cute intimate wear. and a corset. which i'm wearing now.
let me tell you. it makes a big difference. somehow i enjoyed walking the hallways today. tee-hee.
i went shopping again on sunday, but at a different mall. i suppose i was too tired to even bother looking for clothes so i ended up with just three items from H&M. a couple of cotton knit sweaters and a printed long sleeved top.
after this, i went home and did my homework like a good student should.
i can't wait to wear my new clothes!
Monday, February 2, 2009
simple joys
i had a great weekend. much better than the previous one when i spent most of it in bed, asleep most of the time.
my system seems to beat this virus that gripped me drowsy most of last week. i guess it was also a relief that another graduate class is finished, and the new one begins today. wow, this is already my 5th class. 7 more to go and i'm done, together with all my wonderful classmates who have been nothing but helpful and selfless. FSO EMDT October '08 batch-- we truly rock.
on to simple pleasures...
Z came over for the weekend. he was done with something last week too. good thing this weekend was on the mild side so we were able to go to the mall and to my local ikea. i got me an 5 quart aluminum pressure cooker for $24. Not bad at all. Then off we went to Ikea to look at bunk beds for Z, who wants to maximize the space in his bedroom. too bad the boxes won't fit in bruce.
in other news, i've been getting in touch with his family more frequently via Skype. just over the weekend, his dad had skype installed, so there's another family member of his in my buddies list :) . i think i better learn a few more czech phrases so i can talk with them more. i need to get passed "how's the weather there?"
how i wish my mom is tech savvy and can get skype too.
i put my cooking skills to the test with my new pressure cooker. i cooked a batch of czech beef goulash. the first time i tried cooking goulash, the meat wasn't so tender, and I am an impatient cook, so i finally got me a pressure cooker to cut down my cooking time. well, let me tell you that my goulash was a hit with my favorite czech boy.
the best compliment a cook can get is a an empty plate and a big smile on the diner's face. i now have three czech dishes up my sleeve. on to my next kitchen adventure.
a high school, friend sent me a link to a recipe for the best chocolate cake ever. i'm keen on starting this project, but i need to get me an electric mixer as well as some baking pan. the only experiment i've tried on baking was to make a carrot cake one thanksgiving years ago. i guess it's about time i clean the oven.
don;t worry, i'm not getting overly domesticated. in fact, i'm on my way to the gym after tutoring today. time to burn some blubber.
Monday, January 26, 2009
vertigo-vanity
don't blow your nose too hard. you just might find everything in sight spinning like crazy. it would be nice if you were on a ride or something, but it isn't so when you're all alone in the bathroom at 6 in the morning.
i've been feeling under the weather since wednesday of last week. i thought it was just my allergy, so i didn't think anything of it. i forgtd on with my routine, even going to the boxing and kickboxing classes. by saturday morning i felt worse.
i woke up the usual 5 am and started my breakfast of cold oat bran and granola. being the impatient multitasker, i turned on the TV. but wait, i thought i could squeeze in one more thing. and so i went to the bathroom and decided to put on the avocado seaweed mask on my face. and so there i was masticating my breakfast, setting the green gunk on my face while i watch mtv3. somewhere in the middle of my breakfast i had the urge to blow my nose and i went to the bathroom.
i blew my nose and then everything went spining like a crazy spiral. i almost fell on the floor, but i grabbed on to the sink and closed my eyes real fast. dizzy. dizzy. scared. where's my phone? it's in my bedroom. too far. opened my eyes. everything spinning still. dizy. dizzy. dizzy. i felt cold and afraid.
after a few minutes i groped my way back to my bedroom and called up Z. what, no 911? what can the bf, who lives 130 miles away, do to help me? why didn't i call the ambulance?
because i had green gunk of my face, that's why. i didn't want to freak out the paramedics, nor do i want to be known as the girl who was so sick her face was green. as in ugly kangkong green.
Z would've come and played nurse, but he is sick too. so we just skypped most of the weekend, our two sick selves comforted that at least we can video chat between these chats i slept most of the weekend.
now i'm back in school and during my break i went to see the doctor. she says i have a virus that's been going around. she's seen several patients having the same symptoms. she didn't want to give me antibiotics right away so she said to just fight it off and wait 'til wednesday. if i don't feel better by then, i should call her again.
i've been feeling under the weather since wednesday of last week. i thought it was just my allergy, so i didn't think anything of it. i forgtd on with my routine, even going to the boxing and kickboxing classes. by saturday morning i felt worse.
i woke up the usual 5 am and started my breakfast of cold oat bran and granola. being the impatient multitasker, i turned on the TV. but wait, i thought i could squeeze in one more thing. and so i went to the bathroom and decided to put on the avocado seaweed mask on my face. and so there i was masticating my breakfast, setting the green gunk on my face while i watch mtv3. somewhere in the middle of my breakfast i had the urge to blow my nose and i went to the bathroom.
i blew my nose and then everything went spining like a crazy spiral. i almost fell on the floor, but i grabbed on to the sink and closed my eyes real fast. dizzy. dizzy. scared. where's my phone? it's in my bedroom. too far. opened my eyes. everything spinning still. dizy. dizzy. dizzy. i felt cold and afraid.
after a few minutes i groped my way back to my bedroom and called up Z. what, no 911? what can the bf, who lives 130 miles away, do to help me? why didn't i call the ambulance?
because i had green gunk of my face, that's why. i didn't want to freak out the paramedics, nor do i want to be known as the girl who was so sick her face was green. as in ugly kangkong green.
Z would've come and played nurse, but he is sick too. so we just skypped most of the weekend, our two sick selves comforted that at least we can video chat between these chats i slept most of the weekend.
now i'm back in school and during my break i went to see the doctor. she says i have a virus that's been going around. she's seen several patients having the same symptoms. she didn't want to give me antibiotics right away so she said to just fight it off and wait 'til wednesday. if i don't feel better by then, i should call her again.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
wistful wednesday
i am sitting here in my quiet classroom, being lulled to sleep by the hum of the heater. it is bright and sunny outside, but cold.
when i woke up at 3:30 AM, i was excited to go to work and welcome the kids to a new day, for this is the first day that our OIC sits in his office. a lot of teachers were moved to tears watching Mr. Obama take his oath. I fought them back because I didn't want my kids to make fun of me, but oh my heart swelled with pride and hope. On a personal level, this is the first time that I have prayed for the President of my country, and I prayed that Mr. Obama would always consult the number one Adviser up there in heaven, for this is the only way that our country can succeed.
on a lighter note, i've been watching the videos of my classmates and i am both amazed and amused by their creativity! one of my buddies interviewed max headroom. tee-hee. his video is hysterical.
on other developments, there are talks and whispers of a date to the altar. but baby steps dear reader, we're taking our time on this one. z is getting more and more nervous about the number of people who might make their way to our celebration, and for a quiet and shy guy like him, this is pretty daunting. i told him he's lucky we're not back home, tee-hee.
Friday, January 16, 2009
defrosting my behind
in this freezing temps can be a challenge, so i decided to post and chronicle the goings on the past few weeks.
grad school is still taking up a lot of my time. my classmates and teachers are the best part of school. i'm doing a course called corporate training and motivational development. so far we had to create a survey for a training class and produce a prodcast interview. i'm still a noob in imovie, but i can see its potential on my future projects. apple is really way better than PC.
in other news, eversince i packed on several pounds this hibernation season, i signed up for a year's membership at my local new york sports club. this gym kicks ass! it's the real deal. i can't wait to go ot my first kickboxing class tomorrow. i also signed up for a trial personal training session and i think that will be next week. meanwhile, to avoid looking like an idiot in the gym and avoid the risk of injury and permanent damage ot my morale, i just kept to using the elliptical cardio cross trainer. I went to my new gymfor the first time on wednesday and i went on this machine for 25 mins. when i woke up yesterday morning my lower body felt so sore. last night i went on it for 30 minutes, burning 310 calories, and boy i felt good. now my mindset is this "it takes half an hour of semi-misery on this machine" to burn that tiny bag of lil bites brownies i like to munch?
forget that. gimme some gum.
so far i've been doing the half hour workouts since monday, but i inted to go to curves in the morning fro my circuit training, and then go to NYSC for some evening cardio. we'll see how that plays up. i woke up at 5:45 this morning and believe me, that's late for me already. i didn't go to curves this morning, but i will go to NYSC after torturing R and O tonight.
i'm a zeytinia groupie. i think i go to this food store about twice a day. they have the best salad bar and they made me a big fan of soup. so far my fave has been the red cabbage salad, mushroom, chicken and asparagus salad as well as a little bit of avocado salad. yum. for soup, my faves are the shitake-tofu miso soup and their good ol' chicken noodle soup. did i mention their coffee trumps starbucks?
Thursday, January 1, 2009
2008 in less than 365 words
(inspired by Steve and Liza Hards)
It has been a year of blessings for me and my loved ones.
The last Sunday of January was a pivotal day in my life. I have come home to Jesus and I have accepted him as my Lord and savior. Things have never been the same again.
The rest of the winter months winded down with much warmth. With a new full-time job as a Special Ed English teacher at DMHS, indeed God has planned some new adventures for me.
The heart of Spring was celebrated with a reunion with my closest high school friends : Lubs, Candy, PJ and Aileen. We met in South Beach and enjoyed a girls only weekend cruise to the Bahamas.
A sweet reunion with my dear, dear pal Amy.
For my birthday, I learned how to ride a bike, thanks to my able and patient instructor, Zibee. Now my Bruce has a little two wheeled brother, Jack.
The summer months were spent playing with the wonderful kids fromEMS, the best summer camp in our side of the woods.
A chapter of my life was peacefully closed.
On August 26, a miracle was born to close friends, Steve and Liza.
September saw me welcoming a new batch of students in Room 236. It also gave me the opportunity to work with and get to know a sweet young lady, Victoria, and her loving family.
Richard and Olivia continue to amaze me.
I officially became a student at Full Sail University on October 2.
A visit from Diane that same month.
In November I met the first of Zibee’s family, Marek.
Meeting Marek paved the way to December…
And what a perfect way to end this blessed year -- Christmas with Zbyszek’s family in the Czech Republic.
I thank God for all the blessings that He showered on me. I thank God for my family, friends and students.
I welcome the new year holding the hand of the man who I hope and pray to be with me this year and beyond.
It has been a year of blessings for me and my loved ones.
The last Sunday of January was a pivotal day in my life. I have come home to Jesus and I have accepted him as my Lord and savior. Things have never been the same again.
The rest of the winter months winded down with much warmth. With a new full-time job as a Special Ed English teacher at DMHS, indeed God has planned some new adventures for me.
The heart of Spring was celebrated with a reunion with my closest high school friends : Lubs, Candy, PJ and Aileen. We met in South Beach and enjoyed a girls only weekend cruise to the Bahamas.
A sweet reunion with my dear, dear pal Amy.
For my birthday, I learned how to ride a bike, thanks to my able and patient instructor, Zibee. Now my Bruce has a little two wheeled brother, Jack.
The summer months were spent playing with the wonderful kids fromEMS, the best summer camp in our side of the woods.
A chapter of my life was peacefully closed.
On August 26, a miracle was born to close friends, Steve and Liza.
September saw me welcoming a new batch of students in Room 236. It also gave me the opportunity to work with and get to know a sweet young lady, Victoria, and her loving family.
Richard and Olivia continue to amaze me.
I officially became a student at Full Sail University on October 2.
A visit from Diane that same month.
In November I met the first of Zibee’s family, Marek.
Meeting Marek paved the way to December…
And what a perfect way to end this blessed year -- Christmas with Zbyszek’s family in the Czech Republic.
I thank God for all the blessings that He showered on me. I thank God for my family, friends and students.
I welcome the new year holding the hand of the man who I hope and pray to be with me this year and beyond.
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