….on MR. BIG…

Mr. Big. The name says it all. From the moment he came onto the scene, he was larger than life, dashingly handsome, and oh-so unattainable. Like a gentleman, he helped Carrie pick up the spilled contents of her purse when they collided, but he kept no secrets about what was going on in his head when he handed the condoms back to her. For four seasons now, we've kept him in our sights and sighs. For years he has been in and out of Carrie's life. But what does she really know about Mr. Big? This man of mystery has tried to keep us at arm's length, but we've managed to figure out a few things.

Let's start with his undeniably positive traits. Big is the quintessential New Yorker, the man about town. He loves jazz music - it embodies the cool, suave attitude that he exudes. His irresistible smile and teasing eyebrows are appealing to be sure, but when he drives up on the most disappointing of birthdays with chilled champagne and a big bunch of balloons you can't help but fall for him all over again. In fact, his unpredictable behavior and passion constantly stirs the drama-seeking soul of our Carrie.

And of his "other" traits, the ones that make him harder to define? We know he's extremely successful (witness the chauffeur Raoul, the exquisite apartment, the Armani suits, and vintage Jag). What specifically is his lucrative profession? Something in finance, we presume. Moving on. He has an affinity for gorgeous women, models and actresses alike. His ex-wife Natasha the "stick figure with no soul," "Silent Y", starlet Willow, the list goes on. Ironically, it is meeting his first wife which gives us hope that he will come out of the modelizer trance that he's under and settle down with a real, flesh and blood woman. We know he goes to church with his mother on Sundays like a dutiful son. What girl wouldn't love that? Probably a girl whom he refuses to introduce to his mother.

With Big, though, it's the traits that frustrate us most that we are most drawn to. He does care, and he does love. We even think that deep down, he knows that Carrie is the one for him. At one point during their affair, he tells Carrie he will end things with Natasha so that they can be together, but Carrie knows it will never be that simple.

There is an elusiveness to Big that most women have encountered at some point in time. And just like the real-life Mr. Bigs, he makes Carrie believe she is the one who can get into his heart. She will be the one to break through, and capture his affection for eternity. But she never quite gets through. The potential for commitment is enough to sustain her for a while, but Carrie can only endure so much ambivalence and heartbreak.

Still, Carrie can't separate herself completely from Big. Big becomes a special friend and in spite of (or maybe because of) their complicated past, he manages to ground her when she's feeling scared or alone. When he tells Carrie he's moving to California, Carrie compares his leaving NY to the Chrysler building leaving NY. That's how big a part of Carrie's life Big has been. Since leaving the City, Big and Carrie have continued to talk on the phone, and have managed to cross paths a couple of times. An angioplasty caused Big to momentarily open his heart to Carrie, expressing his true feelings, but Carrie had already learned that waiting for Big to come around for good could be an impossible task.



….on AIDAN SHAW…

The man who manages to stake a more than temporary claim on Carrie's heart would have to be really something. We've seen a parade of paramours - from a pee-happy politician to a jittery jazz guy. Aidan is irresistibly charming, with laid-back sex appeal - witness the slow smile, the twinkle in his eyes, the sweet sayings - that slays Carrie. There are actually two Aidans: the before Carrie had the affair Aidan and the after they got back together for the second time Aidan. And many audience members are specifically in one camp or the other. The before Aidan was a little more grungy and a little softer - the slightly scruffy shaggy hair, the funky shirts, the leather thong around his neck, the backward baseball cap.

Then there was the after Aidan - the new, slick look: a short haircut, a sleek dark jacket over a crisp white shirt, the buffed-up body. Those who like the new Aidan say he used to have a belly and those who like the old Aidan say heartbreak made him tougher. Both sides will agree that he definitely looks good now. Aidan Shaw - furniture designer, dog owner, guy with a country cabin - he's the perfect opposite to the commitment-phobic, hard to pin down Mr. Big. Aidan is so warm and accessible and THERE for Carrie. He even refinishes her floors and makes her a home-cooked meal.

They met when his furniture designs were featured in a newspaper article. Best guy pal Stanford dragged Carrie down to Aidan's shop. After a slight contretemps between Aidan's dog and Carrie's thigh, the woodworking hunk soon had her eating out of his hand - or at least plunking down her credit card to acquire one of his sensuous seating designs. "This leather is over 100 years old," he says. "Feel it." Who could resist? If Aidan tells a girl to feel something, she will. And how. Several thousand dollars later, Carrie's almost hooked.

Aidan has the courage of his convictions. Carrie finds out on their first date that, to him, smoking is a no-no. He's even willing to risk losing the girl. But never fear, the course of true love will be helped along by the nicotine patch.

And then there are the nicknames: Puddin' and Ladybird (Where is he from?). Who wouldn't love a guy who says: "I have a life, I'm just making room for you in it," or "You make me happy," or even "Let's get you a donut." There seems to be nothing wrong with him - not a flaw. He goes to help Miranda (sprawled naked on her bathroom rug) when her back goes out. And he doesn't even sneak a peek. Not Aidan.

His downside may just be those darn convictions. His inability to bend his slightly rigid moral code. When Carrie reveals her secret steamy affair with Big, Aidan's out. Carrie's thrown back on the Manhattan singles merry-go-round for a while. And Aidan nurses his broken heart off screen. But one look at the improved, spiffed-up Aidan at the opening of his and Steve's new bar, and Carrie's a goner - she just has to convince him. Aidan needs serious convincing - he's been burned. Once Aidan realizes that Carrie is serious, he manages to get past their past.

When he gets down on his knees in the middle of a moonlit street and proposes, we all sigh and join Carrie in saying, "Yes". For a while, Carrie is swept along by Aidan's excitement, but as the reality of marriage sinks in, Carrie is increasingly fearful. As Aidan tries to tie her down more and more, Carrie realizes that, unlike Aidan, she needs to be out in the world of Manhattan. And then there is the realization for Carrie that Aidan does not really trust her. With unbelievable sadness but with great respect for each other, Carrie and Aidan call it quits for the second time. Although, this time, it appears there's no going back.



….on JACK BERGER…

On the surface, Jack Berger seemed like the perfect match for Carrie Bradshaw. Like Carrie, Berger was a professional writer that always had the perfect one-liner for any situation.

Carrie's first time out with Berger was actually a "non-date" since he was already involved with somebody else. Luckily, Berger dropped the other woman (and picked up a motorcycle), opening the door for Carrie to step in. When the pair met up at Bobby and Bitsy's wedding, there was definite "zsa-zsa-zsu" in the air, and the future looked bright for the two authors.

Unfortunately, the magic didn't last. Berger's writing career stalled out just as Carrie's was heating up, something that he had a very hard time coming to terms with. Dates became sniping matches between the two, with every meeting ending up with hurt feelings. Berger eventually appeared to come around, but wound up sneaking out of Carrie's apartment in the dead of night, breaking the relationship off via a Post-it note. Carrie held onto the Post-it for posterity, but it seems as if Berger will wind up as nothing more than a bad memory for Ms. Bradshaw.



….on ALEKSANDR PETROVSKY…

When Carrie and Charlotte make a visit to an art gallery, the pair run into famed Russian artist Aleksandr Petrovsky. While Charlotte is thrilled to meet one of her favorite artists, Aleksandr clearly pays more attention to Carrie. Later in the week, he calls her up to ask her on a date, which Carrie accepts.

Carrie eventually meets up with Aleksandr at Russian Samavor for a late dinner, followed by another trip to the gallery in which they first met. Although the evening has a few awkward moments, Carrie eventually surrenders to his charm, with the couple sharing a passionate kiss.
Currently feeling: ecstatic
Posted by norah_mae on January 4, 2005 at 01:02 AM as a stickied post | sIlEnCiO....
...it is a sight for sore eyes..seeing those fashionable dress and shoes....my gosh.. I can never get tired looking and marvel at the uniqueness of their designs...

...to the fans of SEX AND THE CITY...i present....

THE LOOKS
(thanks to HBO)


Carrie gets all tangled up in a Calvin Klein silk tank dress topped by a vintage floral print opera coat (direct from Sarah Jessica Parker's closet). She tries to find her balance in platform Miu Miu shoes, and clutches a vintage Dior envelope.


In search of the elusive "fake" Fendi guy, Samantha wears a Katayone Adeli camisole and cropped Roberto Cavalli jeans. Fellow Valley girl/gal pal Carrie dons a peasant top by D&G.


Carrie arrives in Paris in a whimsical and thoroughly French ensemble. She wears a sailor-inspired flower-festooned top by Sonia Rykiel under a shimmering coat by Benaz Sarafpour. A Judith Leiber cream clutch and a Chanel cap with pearl trim complete the look.

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Currently feeling: enthralled
Posted by norah_mae on January 4, 2005 at 12:23 AM as a stickied post | sIlEnCiO....
.......here's for all the fans of Sex and the City.....

on CARRIE BRADSHAW....
"The only thing I've ever successfully made in the kitchen is a mess. And several small fires." - Carrie

No one captures the lives of the lovelorn and the love-seeking in New York City better than columnist Carrie Bradshaw does. As fodder for her column, single and fabulous Carrie looks to the experiences of her best friends and her own. Never shying away from difficult or delicate subjects, Carrie has covered everything from emotional dependence to sexual independence. And somehow, through all her research and realizations, she's remained open to the possibility of finding love among the ruins.

Of all her paramours over the past few years, no one has captured and frustrated Carrie's heart as much as Mr. Big. Their sexual chemistry was undeniable, as was the fact that Big would never fully commit to Carrie.

And every time Carrie mustered up the strength to say goodbye, there he was, driving up in his chauffeured car and luring her back with his charm. Until he married. Then, along came the anti-Big, Aidan Shaw - good-hearted, good-looking, emotionally honest and ready to commit. Carrie fell for Aidan's authentic charm. Still, the bad girl in her couldn't sever itself from Big and she embarked on a torrid affair with her married ex. When she came to her senses and ended the clandestine tryst, she confessed to Aidan and watched him and his broken heart walk away.

Until Season Four, that is, when Carrie and Aidan were reunited - each a little older and wiser. However, at each step forward in the relationship - living together and then getting engaged - Carrie was overcome with doubt. She struggled to quiet her fears, but ultimately realized she wasn't quite ready. When Aidan pushed her, she realized he still did not trust her and the relationship ended with heartbreak and a desperate need for a bank loan. Single again, Carrie turned to getting her life in order. She moved from being a "renter" to an "owner" and put her career on a new track with a job at the mecca of fashion journalism, Vogue. Nothing signaled the "end of an era" more than Big's decision to move to Napa, California. Carrie said goodbye to her past and faced her future with renewed strength and hope.

In Season Five, Carrie struggled to define herself - and her weekly column - outside of a relationship. With the publishing of a book of her past columns, her career became front and center. Yet despite of or perhaps because of her professional success, Carrie became increasingly cynical about love. Upon meeting fellow writer Jack Berger, she felt that unmistakable "spark" - but Jack was spoken for. On a book tour to California, Carrie reunited with Big for a night and satisfied her longing for some sexual satisfaction. But realized, that even no-strings-attached sex with Big is never simple. Back in New York, Carrie crossed paths with Jack again and learned he was newly single. After a promising flirtation in the Hamptons, Berger got nervous and backed off. But while dancing at a wedding the two decided to overcome their fears and go out on a date before breaking up.

Unforunately, as we learned in Season Six, Berger wasn't Carrie's perfect man. Despite the seemingly ideal pairing of two professional writers, Berger just couldn't cope with Carrie's growing success. Carrie's luck with men stayed consistent (consistently bad) with a horrible fling with a friend of Harry's, followed by a heartbreaking experience with Big. Then, when she least expected it, Ms. Bradshaw met the world-renowned artist Aleksandr Petrovsky, a man that seems to have swept her off her feet with his European charm and natural charisma. Perhaps the mysterious Russian will prove to be the man that will finally be able to keep up with Carrie for good.

Fashion Sense

The most fashion-forward of all the Sex and the City girls, Carrie's style defies all categorization. Rummage through Carrie's closet and you'll find haute couture pieces side by side with vintage frocks, downtown club wear and miles of Manolo Blahnik stilettos. Carrie expresses her eclectic, whimsical self and that of her city through a masterful and sometimes outrageous mix of these styles. A fashion chameleon, Carrie can start her day looking like a streetwise pixie, change into a neo-bohemian outfit for lunch, don an elegant princess dress for dinner and slip into a skin-baring ensemble for a late-night party. Every season, she makes a signature statement through her accessories. First it was the nameplate necklace, then the flower pins, and "baguette" bags and then, gloves, newsboy hats and the diamond/gold stackable jewelry from Mia and Lizzie.

....on SAMANTHA JONES...
"Sex with an ex can be depressing. If it's good, you don't have it anymore; if it's bad, you just had sex with an ex." - Samantha

Scintillating Samantha is a successful PR exec who knows what she wants - and most of the time, she gets it. She radiates confidence in everything she does, whether it's landing a star client, getting a table at the trendiest restaurant or bedding the hottest guy in a room. Samantha embraces her uninhibited sexuality with a diverse (and large) group of lovers, from wrestling coaches to power bachelors to a studly farmer. Forget wedding dreams; Samantha takes lust over love any night, and she's proud of it. Once, she even experimented with lesbian love, but when her "girlfriend" demanded more intimacy, Samantha knew it wasn't going to work out.

Her next conquest, the unabashedly confident ladies' man and hotel magnate Richard Wright, seemed Samantha's perfect match. But as the sexual affair progressed, Samantha found herself feeling much more than lust, and she eventually declared her love to Richard. Somewhat resistant, Richard offered to try monogamy. When Samantha caught him cheating on her, she was thrust into uncharted territory : the land of the broken-hearted.

Samantha gave Richard one more chance, but the trust had been broken, and around every corner she imagined he was cheating. She chose to walk away from him, scarred but with her dignity.

When Samantha met the sexy Smith Jerrod, the last thing on her mind was a long-term monogamous relationship. However, the "Absolut Hunk" got under her skin like no one had ever been able to do. Despite her constant denials (both to the girls and to herself), she found herself completely falling for Smith. Has Ms. Jones finally found herself the one man that can keep her satisfied in every way? Only time will tell.

Fashion Sense
Samantha's high-power lifestyle demands a wardrobe ready to make a statement at every occasion. For work, she gravitates towards body-accentuating suits in bold colors and at night she turns up the volume with racy ensembles that show off her bombshell figure and personality.

...on CHARLOTTE YORK....
"If you had a patient who had a very very slim chance of living, would that be good news? Would you tell the family, "Buck up, he's got a shot in hell?" - Charlotte

Charlotte has a refreshingly optimistic outlook on love and romance amidst the ever-complex dating scene of NYC. Well-bred, she walks through life with a perfect sense of decorum. And a lot of idealism. For years, Charlotte had a crystalline vision of the life she wanted to have. First and foremost, she wanted to get married. She wanted true love. And she wanted her husband to be wealthy, handsome and belong to the social elite. Dr. Trey MacDougal seemed her Prince Charming, but her marriage was far from what she had hoped it would be.

Not one to give up easily, Charlotte worked hard at her less-than-perfect union - from dragging Trey to sex therapy to confronting her meddling mother-in-law Bunny to quitting her art gallery job to devote herself to wifely duties.

The sex got better, but when Charlotte decided it was time to procreate, things began to unravel again. Unable to conceive naturally, she started hormone therapy and considered adoption. Trey's reaction to Charlotte's determination was to pull away and question the decision to have a child. As Charlotte became aware of their very different visions of the future, their marriage quickly dissolved. Giving up her dream of holy matrimony hasn't been easy, but Charlotte hasn't become embittered about love or life.

Charlotte met her 36th birthday as a divorcee and came face to face with her fears of becoming an old maid. Chin up, she followed the relationship advice of self-help gurus but had trouble letting go of her feelings of disappointment and disillusionment over the end of her marriage. But ever the optimist, Charlotte continued to believe in love. When her uncouth divorce lawyer, Harry, proclaimed his lust for her, Charlotte threw aside her prim and proper ways and had sex for sex's sake. As the affair continued, though, she realized she might be falling in love with a man who represented everything she thought she didn't want.

This realization lead Charlotte to convert to Judaism in an attempt to land Harry, who had promised his dying mother that he would only marry a Jew. Charlotte successfully made the conversion, but was so stressed out from the whole process that she blew up at Harry, causing the pair to split. Several weeks of moping around came to an end when the two ran into each other at a mixer, with the couple becoming engaged to be married minutes later. The actual wedding ceremony was somewhat bumpy, but all indications are that Charlotte has finally managed to find herself the perfect man.

Fashion Sense
Charlotte's wardrobe reflects her Park Avenue lifestyle and feminine charm. Her classic and chic style is timeless. Pastel pieces coordinated with matching accessories show off her girlish side.

...on MIRANDA HOBBES...
"Do any of you have a completely unremarkable friend or maybe a houseplant I could go to dinner with on Saturday night?" - Miranda

Miranda is smart, self-assured and proud of her achievements. She raises the bar for herself continually, be it in her professional or personal life. She made partner in her law firm and was able to buy her own pre-war apartment on the Upper West Side (Take a look inside). However, she's struggled with her love life and, at times, abandoned the pursuit of love altogether. Tough and down-to-earth, she doesn't open up easily, masking her vulnerability with cynicism and self-deprecating humor. Throughout her long-term relationship with Steve, she had bouts of doubt about her true feelings and was constantly frustrated with Steve's laid-back approach to life.

His attempts to bring their relationship to a new level only seemed to push her farther away. They gave up, but managed to salvage their friendship. Much to her dismay, Miranda's post-Steve dates haven't panned out. When Steve lost one of his testicles to cancer, Miranda boosted his male morale with a night of passion. Shortly after, she realized she was pregnant. She had every intention of having an abortion, but minutes before the procedure, she had a change of heart and decided to keep the baby. She wondered if this was her last chance at motherhood. As her pregnancy progressed, she feared she didn't have a maternal instinct and struggled to juggle her demanding career with her new identity as a mommy-to-be. Nature took its course, and, with Carrie and Steve by her side, she gave birth to Brady Hobbes.

Not shockingly, Miranda grappled with her new role as a single working mom. She had to come to terms with how being a parent would change her relationships with her friends and any new man that might come along. And Miranda and Steve accidentally rekindled their sexual relationship one night, forcing Miranda to take a hard look at her complicated attachment to Steve. A brief relationship with the dashing Dr. Robert Leeds ultimately ended, due to Miranda's feelings for Steve, but fortunately, Steve's feelings proved to be mutual and the two decided to make another go at it.

Fashion Sense
For pragmatic Miranda, fashion is more about getting the job done than following the latest trends. By day, her lawyerly look tends towards smart tailored suits. This year we've seen her experiment more with color, especially rich wines and purples that accent her fiery red crop. Though she tends toward casual sportswear on the weekend, she keeps up with the girls just fine in sexy slip dresses and funky accessories. Take a closer look at Miranda's style in our fashion slideshows.
Currently feeling: cheerful
Posted by norah_mae on January 2, 2005 at 01:24 PM as a stickied post | 2 lIgHtEd cAnDlEs fOr pEaCe
A tear trickled down my cheek as I watch Mr. Big hugs Carrie in the lobby of a posh hotel in Paris....yes..this New Yorker girl is home again...in the arms of the very person that makes her heart beats erratically for 6 years.....was it really 6 years?.....



Posted by norah_mae on January 1, 2005 at 03:52 AM as a stickied post | 3 lIgHtEd cAnDlEs fOr pEaCe
As 2004 waves its goodbyes and 2005 makes its grand entrance...it is but fitting to post this award winning speech by Patricia Evangelista...

I'd say ...we are Filipinos..wherever we are and whatever we do...and WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT
================================================
WHEN I was little, I wanted what many Filipino children all over the country wanted. I wanted to be blond, blue-eyed and white.

I thought -- if I just wished hard enough and was good enough, I'd wake up on Christmas morning with snow outside my window and freckles across my nose!

More than four centuries under western domination can do that to you. I have 16 cousins. In a couple of years, there will just be five of us left in the Philippines, the rest will have gone abroad in search of "greener pastures." It's not an anomaly; it's a trend; the Filipino diaspora. Today, about eight million Filipinos are scattered around the world.

There are those who disapprove of Filipinos who choose to leave. I used to. Maybe this is a natural reaction of someone who was left behind, smiling for family pictures that get emptier with each succeeding year. Desertion, I called it. My country is a land that has perpetually fought for the freedom to be itself. Our heroes offered their lives in the struggle against the Spanish, the Japanese, the Americans. To pack up and deny that identity is tantamount to spitting on that sacrifice.

Or is it? I don't think so. Not anymore.

True, there is no denying this phenomenon, aided by the fact that what was once the other side of the world is now a 12-hour plane ride away. But this is a borderless world, where no individual can claim to be purely from where he is now. My mother is of Chinese descent, my father is a quarter Spanish, and I call myself a pure Filipino -- a hybrid of sorts resulting from a combination of cultures.

Each square mile anywhere in the world is made up of people of different ethnicities, with national identities and individual personalities. Because of this, each square mile is already a microcosm of the world. In as much as this blessed spot that is England is the world, so is my neighborhood back home.

FILIPINO DIASPORA

Seen this way, the Filipino Diaspora, or any sort of dispersal of populations, is not as ominous as so many claim. It must be understood. I come from a Third World country, one that is still trying mightily to get back on its feet after many years of dictatorship. But we shall make it, given more time. Especially now, when we have thousands of eager young minds who graduate from college every year. They have skills. They need jobs. We cannot absorb them all.

A borderless world presents a bigger opportunity, yet one that is not so much abandonment but an extension of identity. Even as we take, we give back. We are the 40,000 skilled nurses who support the United Kingdom's National Health Service. We are the quarter-of-a-million seafarers manning most of the world's commercial ships. We are your software engineers in Ireland, your construction workers in the Middle East, your doctors and caregivers in North America, and, your musical artists in London's West End.



Nationalism isn't bound by time or place. People from other nations migrate to create new nations, yet still remain essentially who they are. British society is itself an example of a multi-cultural nation, a melting pot of races, religions, arts and cultures. We are, indeed, in a borderless world!

Leaving sometimes isn't a matter of choice. It's coming back that is. The Hobbits of the shire traveled all over Middle-Earth, but they chose to come home, richer in every sense of the word. We call people like these balikbayans or the "returnees" -- those who followed their dream, yet choose to return and share their mature talents and good fortune.

In a few years, I may take advantage of whatever opportunities that come my way. But I will come home. A borderless world doesn't preclude the idea of a home. I'm a Filipino, and I'll always be one. It isn't about geography; it isn't about boundaries. It's about giving back to the country that shaped me.

And that's going to be more important to me than seeing snow outside my window on a bright Christmas morning.

Mabuhay and thank you.
Posted by norah_mae on January 1, 2005 at 03:23 AM | 2 lIgHtEd cAnDlEs fOr pEaCe
Death count exceeds 70,000 with ten of thousands still unaccounted for.......a tragedy indeed in Asia that affects all corners of the world...

Disaster still pursue us in the closing of the year 2004...what with the passing of some renowned men n women too.....which only goes to show that life here on earth swings on borrowed time....

ANd now....the passing of my half brother....the eldest of my dad...

I just came from Paz (QC) and I couldn't help missing my dad (RIP)...coz my eldest half bro is or should i say was a mirror image of my dad....

My half bro passed away at the age of 84...yes...84 and he's my half bro...thrice my age...I know..

You see... my dad was 71 when I was born..talk about having a dad and a granddad....yup!! my mom was the third wife of my dad....long family history....

God has been kind....he passed away in a sleep...without any suffering...

A Good Man...indeed
Currently feeling: melancholy
Posted by norah_mae on December 30, 2004 at 02:44 AM | sIlEnCiO....
it's sUnDaY....and I'm suppose to stay at home...I DON"T THINK SO....

inspite of a bout of flu...I still managed to have a hearty lunch with family friends in President Restaurant in Ongpin.....and then rushed home to wait for my friends to pick me up at 2 pm daw...hay naku....started to have migraine sa kakahintay...yun pala...they were caught in the traffic... kaya by 2:45 anthony called me up to walk na lang daw along T. Mapua St.......hay naku....nakarating ako sa Lope dela Vega...i think around 4 blocks from my house...and as expected nagkasalisi kami....by the time they picked me up...my migraine was acting up....'not now...my goodness..' hehehe..napakalakwatsera ko talaga...

hayun....so we decided to go to shangri la mall in edsa....window shopping lang...coz ayaw ata akong pabilhin....i want to buy a apir of black boots....but alas....wala ng size ko....o o o...wag mo ng tanungin ang size ng paa ko..ok

anyway...anthony n julie both just bought a new 3G nokia fone (6630)...as usual...sobrang excited kami....picture taking here n there...as if mga tourist..hehehe....

ako naman.....becoz of sun unlimited promo...puro telebabad sa cell....hehehe..halata ba?

then ...after lakad n lakad n looking n looking...nakabili ako ng bluetooth device for my pc....then...of course....starbucks muna bago uwi......got home so late na....and mabuti na lang at naka inom na ako ng antibiotic...and then...IM ONLINE!!!! again....

Posted by norah_mae on December 20, 2004 at 12:52 AM | 5 lIgHtEd cAnDlEs fOr pEaCe
....a woman gave this picture to me in PNU campus....last last week.....sa totoo lang i dont know her name...pasensya na po...anywayZ...i smiled when I saw this pic...kasi naman I miss them coz I dont get to see them anymore...ganyan sa graduate school....minsan kasama mo..minsan hindi...

...kaya nga..a forwarded email sent to me by a friend na nasa arizona came to mind.....

....SECRET,,..hehehe

....si Rollie...na masayang kasama..I remember yung nasa Pizza Hut kami sa SM Mla...sobrang palpak talaga ang service..as in talaga....can you imagine...tatlo lang kami....and we have I think around 9 glasses of water...sobrang tagal ng food...dumating ang drinks namin ng tapos na kami kumain....so etong si Rollie..eh gigil na gigil na...but POISE pa rin siya..imagine a person who talks calmly but with eyes that are so big..that you would say...WHAT BIG EYES YOU HAVE GRAND MA?....hehehee the situation was so hilarious that natatawa na lang ako instead na magalit....

...etong si Beatriz naman eh my classmate na NOW YOU SEE HER NOW YOU DON"T....I remember na kaming dalawa lang ang pumasok sa class ni Dr. Tabbada last MAY1...hello?! naisahan nga kami eh...ako ok lang coz i reside in Manila but she came frrom...san ba yun? basta malayo..

ayun..di ko na sila nakikita..and i miss them....la lang

Currently listening to: A night to remember-Yanni
Currently reading: duh?!
Currently feeling: natutuwa
Posted by norah_mae on December 17, 2004 at 12:59 AM | sIlEnCiO....
....When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us....

I'M GUILTY YOUR HONOUR
Currently listening to: rIcH gIrL-Gwen Stefani
Currently feeling: blank
Posted by norah_mae on December 13, 2004 at 12:12 AM | 1 lIgHtEd cAnDlEs fOr pEaCe
...tremendous pain like broken glasses pierced through my left head as I raised myself from bed....black and red images blot my eyesight......am I going blind?...

why now when i have so many things to do...papers to write....assignments to pass...classes to attend...music to arrange...music to record...students to teach....

i reached for ibuprofen+paracetamol and settled back to take a rest.....I cannot ignore what my body is shouting.....REST REST REST...
and my mind sunk into the haze of unknown where nothing exist....


"Reduce the complexities of life by eliminating the needless wants of life, and the labors of life will reduce themselves." _ Edwin Teale


================================================

You've Got Stress.
Who Are You Going To Call?
Stress Busters!

In the early 1960's experts predicted that the work- week would soon decrease to four days, possibly even three. Labor saving devices would make housework and home maintenance a breeze.
But those rosy predictions have been replaced by this harsh reality: people today are working harder and longer than ever! In spite of life's demands there are many simple, effective steps that you can take to ease your daily pressures. Remember stress reduction starts with you! You have to be willing to make changes in your own life to begin to reduce the stress.

Stress reduction begins with an evaluation of one's life. Taking a close look at your life and the things that you can control will help with your evaluation. Here are some ways you can reduce stress in your life:

1) Rather than jumping out of bed and rushing to start your day, plan to get up 15 minutes earlier each morning and take time to meditate and pray. Beginning this way provides a foundation for the rest of the day.

2) Live in the present moment. Anxiety increases when we brood about a past event or fret about a future obligation.

3) Approach a stressful event with a positive attitude and it will boost your energy.

4) Remember, you get to make mistakes in life. Don't be so hard on yourself.

5) Give yourself some credit. Each day take a moment to give yourself a pat on the back for all the things that you do. Appreciate the great balancing act that God enables you to pull off daily as you manage multiple responsibilities at home, at work, at church and in the community.

6) Take the time each day to create peaceful images in your mind. During your workday, occasionally pause to imagine yourself in a tranquil setting.

7) Change your eating environment. Get out of the office or your patrol car and enjoy your meal in the park. Occasionally eat by yourself in silence. Eat slowly, and enjoy yourself and be thankful for your meal.

8) Observe your breathing. When we are relaxed, our breathing is slow and even. However, when we are anxious or upset, we tend to breathe irregularly.

9) Take a brisk walk. Exercise burns off the excess adrenaline that fuels feelings of anxiety and stress.

10) Practice hospitality. Greet people with a smile; this will make others feel good and in turn, it will give you a deep sense of ease, calm, and peace.

11) Just say no. You don't have to accept every project, every invitation to become involved, and every opportunity to attend a meeting.

12) Relive a happy memory. In a time of stress look back and remember a pleasant experience or satisfying moment in your life.

13) Settle for good enough. It's amazing how much stress can be completely eliminated when we decide that we don't have to have the cleanest house, the best manicured lawn, and the most well behaved children.

14) Walk in someone else's shoes. Try to see a conflict or difference of opinion from another person's point of view.

15) Don't bring work problems home or home problems to work. When you pull into the driveway, take a minute to orient yourself to being with your family and entering your home.

Most of us aren't able to get rid of all the stress in our busy lives. However, by finding ways to cope with and reduce stress and keeping your live simple, you can begin to start sorting out what really matters in your life.


CHEERS!!!
Currently listening to: I need PEACE and QUIET
Currently reading: with my deadly migraine....NO WAY!!!
Currently feeling: MoLtO aGiTaTo
Posted by norah_mae on December 4, 2004 at 10:30 PM | 1 lIgHtEd cAnDlEs fOr pEaCe
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