A Year After the Tsunami in Japan

I still see vivid images in my head when I watched the live devastation of the tsunami after the 9.0 magnitude earthquake in Japan 1 year ago. It took me several weeks to shake the images off my head. I kept seeing shaking buildings, spilling waves claiming the Earth and the trail of destruction the tsunami brought to Japan.

It has been a year now and Japan rebuilt its nation. It takes sheer perseverance and solidarity to pull oneself out of the greatest natural history of mankind. They are still picking up the shattered pieces and building the society that was once there in Northeast Japan.

Japan is mourning the victims of this natural disaster today as the whole world commemorate the events which transpired a year ago.

Here are some photos of the tsunami before and after. Photo credits: REUTERS/Kyodo

Lunar Eclipse June 2011

I am very fascinated with celestial bodies and seeing the beautiful moon on its total eclipse is such a wonderful experience. The total lunar eclipse this time is viewable in South Africa, Middle East and Asian regions. I am very lucky to be able to witness such phenomenon. It started around 10:20 UAE time and lasted about an hour. I didn't wait for the clearing because it would take around 5 hours for the eclipse to run its course.

I captured the different phases of the eclipse with a normal digital camera on night setting using a tripod. Pardon my amateur snaps because I don't have a very good equipment. The settings of the camera kept changing to the default so you would notice some pics were taken nicely and the others were a bit fuzzy. However, it's very rare that we get to see a beautiful scene such as the lunar eclipse. The next one may be in December 2011.

Here are the snaps for those who missed to see it. Enjoy!

When It Rains...

The first quarter of my 2011 was great in terms of finances. Although my budget seem to be very tight, I had enough to go around until the next pay slip. Blogging assignments were left and right. I had direct advertisers contacting me for link-ups, posts and referrals. However, when April came just as the blossoming of spring, the deluge of paid opportunities and other income had suddenly stopped. As if the events of the first quarter never happened.

Makes me think about the adage that "when it rains, it pours." Well, it certainly does in my case.

Reminder for Earth Hour 2011 - TOMORROW!

Please remember to participate in tomorrow's Earth Hour 2011 event. Just switch your lights off and possibly, other electrical appliances too for an hour at 8:30 p.m. your local time - March 26. 

If we all do this thing together, we can create a magnitude of savings in terms of electrical consumption and the way it will effect out ailing Mother Earth. Let's take part of this worthy cause, shall we?!? Tomorrow it is!!!

My Goals this 2011

A lot of us made our new year's resolution for 2011. I have and I am resolved to do few things which will bring continuous and positive effect until the coming years.

My goals for 2011 (and hopefully to spread all the way to the coming years):

1. Be more healthy. This will stave illness and keep the medical bills away.

2. Be more active. I am done sitting in front of the computer and playing games on Facebook. Yes, I am also one of the millions who got hooked at one point on the ever-addicting social network. I imagined how my life was pre-Facebook. I used to do a lot of stuff and recently I was in a rut because all I did was play some games in that social network.

3. Pay down my credit cards. I do not have to elaborate on this. Many share this sentiment with me. I am tired paying for the finance charges. This borrowing thing has to stop. And it will this 2011.

4. Save, save, save. I used to be very thrifty when I was single. After having my own small family, I noticed my budgeting skill  went a little wayward. I used to save big time and wonder what happened to my spending habits. I counted the chicks when they weren't hatched yet so I used up my savings for things and services I didn't actually need. I am re-focusing all my energy and will-power to save.

5. Be more sociable. I am an anti-social! There, I said it. When I say anti-social, I don't mean the hermit-kind of reclusiveness. I just enjoy small gathering of people I truly know. So, I have to muster the guts to attend to social events where I barely know anyone. I have a problem breaking the ice. I don't have the gift of gab like most people do. That has to change. I have to face my fear of public-speaking and overcome my shyness. Now you know why I enjoy blogging than partying...

6. Learn a new language. I used to speak Japanese, a bit of Arabic and French. All those were side-tracked because I focused more on helping my daughter with her school stuff. I want to challenge my mind and continue learning different languages. I don't know if I'll be able to use any of them in my daily life but it does help to know a different language because we travel a lot. During our trip to France, I was able to communicate with my very little French and found our way around town. I know they have their benefits. I will soon find that out.

7. Move to a new department or have a career change. This one is my last goal for 2011. I am aiming to empower my career so I can earn more but if I don't see any light at the end of the tunnel for the current economic situation, I may have to shelve this temporarily until the dust settles. Our company is still very stable and I don't want to shoot my foot by jumping out. I will probably find another higher position within the company if the recession's tide has still not ebbed.

So, do you have your goals for 2011? 

                                                                                                               

Clean 2011

2010 is gone. It's 2011! Our house is clean. Clutter has been de-cluttered. Unwanted items thrown. Unused stuff donated. Bills paid. Excess baggage - well, I'm working on it. ;)

I am looking forward to 2011. I know it's my year to shine. I am claiming 2011 to be the year of success. I have worked hard for a better life and a better me over the past year and I suppose I deserve a reward too. Like everybody else, we want out 2011 to be positive.

So, take out the trash. Throw it out! We all don't need room for unwanted stuff - be it people or things. We want 2011 to be a clean year of good blessings.

Let's claim 2011.

2011, Bring it On!

What's in store for me this 2011? I ask myself.

2010 was a year full of tribulations and doubts. I was practically depressed the most part of the year. Although my depression was brought about by personal woes and issues I could not address directly. I was smack in the middle of "mid-life crisis" and no pun intended on that. 

I was lost. I had plenty of questions. And those questions until now are not yet answered. However, I cannot let the mistakes of 2010 bring me down as well this 2011. I need to rise up and face whatever challenges head on because that is the only way I will learn. 

I pray with a sincere hope that 2011 brings the much needed break each and everyone of us so badly need. 

So 2011, bring it on!

Ring Out the Old, Ring in the New

Let me quote Alfred Tennyson when I greet everyone a very peaceful, prosperous and bright New Year.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,

Ring, happy bells, across the snow;

The year is going, let him go;

Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,

The flying cloud, the frosty light:

The year is dying in the night;

Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind,

For those that here we see no more;

Ring out the feud of rich and poor,

Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,

The civic slander and the spite;

Ring in the love of truth and right,

Ring in the common love of good.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,

And ancient forms of party strife,

Ring in the nobler modes of life,

With sweet manners, purer laws.

Ring out old shapes of foul disease;

Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;

Ring out the thousand wars of old,

Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,

The larger heart, the kindlier hand;

Ring out the darkness of the land,

Ring in the Christ that is to be.

HAPPY 2011 EVERYONE!

Happy 2011

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I pray that 2011 brings all of us the promise and "hope" of a better year ahead. God Bless all of us.

Welcome 2011 with Hope

2010 has been a year of "greats" - great disasters, great snow storms, great political threats that could shake a nation's security, great attack to Christianity, great economic depression and recession, great rift among nations (N. Korea and S. Korea), great divorce amongst famous personalities, great environmental harm and great deaths. The list can go on but I don't want to press on the negative events of the year that will become a "has-been." Rather, I want to focus on the good things that happened during 2010. I am sure that 2010 did not bring just the unfortunate events. It also brought brotherhood and humility to everyone.

What are the positive things that happened this year which we all find inspiring and worth taking to 2011? I have a few to list here which I feel and think merits recognition for the positive impact they have on a global scale. (Like I said, these are my personal opinion.)

1. Oct. 13, 2010 - Successful rescue operation of the Chilean Miners

All 33 Chilean miners have been trapped for more than 10 weeks. Although the rescue mission took long because of the sensitivity of the mission, the were rescued nonetheless.

Nations prayed together, had a vigil and camped out to await the day of the precise extraction. It came on October 13.

2. June 11 to 11 July, 2010 - South Africa's FIFA global fever

South Africa graced the successful 2010 FIFA and brought about unity and camaraderie amongst other nations and fellow Afrikaans.

It is good that their country hosted the well-known sport event because throngs of delegates and other nationals flocked their country to watch and support their team. And what does that mean financially - money came in.

3. November 16, 2010 - In-Kyung Kim donates golf winning to charity

Money is scarce and the rich are richer. It is so wonderful to know that a young adult is wise beyond her years by doing the thing most young and rich people will not do - give it all. The winning that is.

22-year-old In-Kyung Kim donated her golf winning from the Lorena Ochoa cup to the Lorena charity. Half of her winning went to another charitable institution in the United States.

4. June 18, 2010 - Final installment of Toy Story (3) is released

With the deluge of senseless movies this year, it is breath of fresh air to watch something we will all remember. I have always been a fan of Toy Story, from the very first to the last installment. This movie moves me and make me see toys in a different light.

I love how the theme revolved on the "toys' desire" to be there for Andy no matter what it takes. It showed , friendship, trust, love for others, perseverance, and respect which I don't see too often in other movies these days.

Toy Story 3 may be the last but for me, it will always be one of the greatest animation ever shown. And I will make sure that when I have grandchildren, they too, will enjoy the movie as I have had.

So, the year is about to end. It will be nice to bury the fear, animosity and negativity in 2010. I know it is easier said than done but let's welcome 2011 with a glimmer of hope - one day at a time. A prayer will do wonders too.

Happy New Year everyone. 2010 has been tough and we have braved the tumultuous year standing. 2011 will be challenging but we already know what to do.

Safety First This New Year

Christmas has come and gone and people are now anticipating the coming of 2011. A lot of you may celebrate New Year with a bang, quite literally. However, here in Dubai, residents are not allowed to hold their own fireworks display at home. Maybe some who have permission but it is done by big hotels only or the government body.

So, New Year is rather safe here. We just watch the fireworks from the distance and it is being set up by the professionals. For those of you who are going to have fireworks display, just bear in mind these simple tips to avoid any accidents or mishaps you may regret.

1. Keep all your fireworks in a safe place, preferably away from the reach of children.

2. Don't put your fireworks near hot areas like stoves, fireplace and kilns. This is rather common sense!

3. Set up your fireworks in a vacant yard or at least few feet away from the residential area or where the public has access. You don't want your fireworks to accidentally "blast" on unwitting passers-by.

4. If you need to light up your fireworks the conventional way, i.e., use of a match, please wear protective gloves like the ones used by construction workers.

5. Tie a candle on a long stick and use it to light your fireworks from a distance.

6. Do not fire "weapons." Period!

7. Tap the pots and pans instead if you want to make some noise or put your stereo on for some nice and non-deafening music. 

We have managed to live without the frivolities of fireworks display for many years now. It is a welcome respite though, to see the magnificent display brought by the professionals as sponsored by the government and hoteliers here in Dubai from a very safe distance. Although the celebration back in the Philippines is really missed, I would rather settle for a simple and safe welcoming of 2011 than find my fingers all over the place. If you know what I mean.

So, let us keep it safe and simple. If we can avoid not setting up fireworks then let us do so. However, if one intends to welcome 2011 with grand display of fireworks, be my guest. Just be cautious and have a first aid kit within reach just in case.

Happy New Year everyone. Where ever you may be. Have a safe and peaceful 2011!

Busy Cleaning

I posted few days back that I will be conducting end-of-the-year cleaning. Today is day 1 and so far, I am progressing well. I love to clean up especially when there is no one to distract nor stop me from throwing the unnecessary clutter we have collected over the years. The only sad part is that, we have all fond memories of some of the stuff but I believe we should separate or distance ourselves from the earthly ties we have on material things. So, I am moving on...

Clean, clean, clean. That's what I want to obtain by the end of the year. I am even de-cluttering the negativity in my live right now. I want to welcome 2011 with a positive outlook and determination to beat the odds, no matter what them may be.

I'll say good bye soon to 2010 with a clean house (and mind, heart and soul) and will  welcome 2011 all bright and beaming with joy.

End of the Year Cleaning

We are saying good bye to 2010 in few days. I cannot believe how time flies! I remember making plans for 2010 last December 2009. Here I am, waiting for 2011 with bated breath and praying for a good year ahead.

It is already a habit of mine to clear unwanted stuff by the end of the year. I donate or give them away to people who needs them more. My plan this year is to clear the cupboards and closets of clothes, toys, shoes and household stuff which we no longer use.

I have been contemplating on whether to scrap the red couch my husband bought last year. It is showing signs of over-use because my husband loves to bring friends home regularly. So you can say that the couch is well seated. I really like to replace it with a contemporary furniture but the budget is really, really tight at this time. I want a modular type of sofa and not the classic and big ones. I hope my husband reconsiders my suggestion.

My eyes are also set on the old book cases in the living room. One of them was bought 3 years ago and the other one was older than that which was donated to us last year. My husband's friend was kind enough to give it to us because he noticed how much my daughter and I hoard books. I want to sell them because they are still in good condition. I just want to remodel and refurbish the house while I am doing my end-of-the-year cleaning. Maybe I'll get a big book case instead of having 2 narrow and smaller ones.

The appliances can stay because I cannot replace them yet. They are still working fine (except for the washing machine which I bought almost 8 years ago).

I hope to minimize all the clutter at home when I go on leave by the end of the year. I want to welcome 2011 with a clean and organized house.