Happy New Year!

Haven't blogged in 2 months and I don't have a valid reason as to why. It is true that I was busy, but not busy enough not to be able to come up with short entries every now and then. Maybe I got lazy, that tends to happen to me. Or perhaps my interest waned a bit, it happens to the best of us, so I don't see why it can't happen to me. Or maybe I kept procrastinating that whatever I wanted to write about just wasn't current or worth writing about anymore. Whatever the reason, I'm back.

I think birthdays and New Year's day is alike in a lot of ways. For many, it's another start, a rebirth of sorts. You can make a new year's resolution too if you want. It's a symbolic first step, a fresh start if you will. And while it's impossible to truly start from scratch (would you even want to if you can?), what is truly important is the renewal of the mind and the recalibration of perspective.

So yeah, I'm back. Somehow, whatever mess ups I've put myself into, I can get out off and build up on. To anyone else who celebrate their birthday today, come, celebrate a new beginning with me.

You're the 1, Goldilocks

How to raise a picture perfect baby: A Goldilocks experience

I was told that I wasn't always the easiest baby to take a photo of.


But it wasn't long until they found something that catches my attention instantly.


It is said that from that day on, I became a happy child.


Taking baths was no longer a chore as I simply sat there mesmerized.


I even learned to walk just to be able to get to it!

And finally, I did... can you guess what it is?

My very own, mom-customized, goldilocks chiffon cake! Happy birthday to me!


You're the 1, Goldilocks because you've been there for me since year 1... (and 2... and...)


...and for making me give the cutest smile when I was still considered cute!


See? A great service to mankind huh?

Reflections: The day this was

I've really nothing much to say. Birthday was fun in a very understated way. I guess it has something to do with getting old, I turned 28 in case you wondered (yeah, just crossed the threshold of my midlife). It was fun and boring at the same time. I worried about the same things--food and money to pay for the food--all for nothing really as God has always provided for me. Hey, don't get the wrong idea, I don't worry about my daily bread, I meant food for birthday celebrations hehe... yeah yeah, I guess my problems are problems some people would love to have.

A lot of friends greeted me. I didn't realize they did thought until I logged on to , YM, Facebook and Friendster (oh, and also a couple here). I still prefer the old way of receiving calls, birthday cards (and gifts? :p) or even the text. Those I can respond to in kind right away. Still, I appreciate each and every one of those greetings. I suppose not all of them carry the same warmth I'd like to think they do, but I don't care. In my mind, a greeting is taking the time to make somebody else feel good for the day--that right there is plenty warm enough for me.

So why do we celebrate birthdays anyway? All we did was not die for a year. I'd like to think it's because we are given another year to hope and to love. Celebrate not merely to revel, but to reflect. Establish new game plans and redraw old strategies. Mark a day in our life each year to check under the hood and see if we're alright. And maybe, just maybe, to celebrate and give thanks to Him to whom our lives we owe.

Lord, I thank you for all your love and blessings... for the last year and my entire life. I may not yet be the son you want me to be, but I pray that in time you will mold me to be the Christian worthy of bearing that name. Thank you for the gift of seeing another year, grant me the strenght and wisdom to make full use of the time you give me. Thank you for the gift of friends and loved ones, and thank you for the gift of opportunities and experiences. Forgive my selfishness and pride, my actions and inactions, and may I somehow, in my own feeble way, give glory to your name. Amen.

My birthday wish list

Ok, I'll be 28 soon. And while I don't think wish lists are generally useful for getting what you want (as evidenced by the failure of this list), its useful to at least keep a list of things I might consider getting myself. That's primarily why I'm updating this list. So here it is, my official birthday wish list.

Material stuff:

1. Books almost always work for me... This list turned out to be a fiasco when I received Book 9 and it turned out that I actually have read it. I still haven't read Books 10 and 11 of Wheel of Time Series though. I already have both Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point, and Blink, but I want his new one The Outliers. To anyone who's considering giving me a book as a gift? It doesn't even have to be new! I'm of the philosophy that it's the content of the book that matters, not the cover. Oh, and I'd been wishing I could get a hold of a copy of Freakonomics too hehe... I like Yancy's stuff too, but I already have Soul Survivor and The Bible Jesus Read.

2. Practical stuff works too... I don't like buying clothes, so if your fashionable and think you can rub some of your fashion sense on me, feel free to try. A portable hard drive is pretty practical too you must admit.

3. I've been meaning to get a foldable bike. Or even a nice summer chair that could comfortably sit me outside in the warm summer months (or generally warm climate of our country).

"Big" stuff:
1. Gift of your time and your ears. I'd like to share someone really important to you. He's someone who gives me hope and assurance and I I'd like you to meet Him too. It's the perfect season too, after all it's His my birthday.

2. If you want to give me a gift that's really a gift for you, just go ahead and sponsor a kid at World Vision. (If you're interested and want to ask questions, feel free to contact me.)

3. Discipline and drive. Honestly, if you have a suggestion as to how I'll manage to get these 2 things, I'll appreciate it.

Others:

1. Hmm... something really helpful like inside information. If you have any tips to give me, say real secrets to losing weight, maybe a certain stock will hit the roof, or whatever... that would be most welcome.

2. Hard cash!

3. If you still can't choose from those listed above, easy choices include a new phone, a laptop (or a mini notebook hehe), a car, Wii, a job that pays 7 digits/annum (ok, so this one is pretty serious--if you want to pirate me, please, I'm willing.)

Super wishes:
1. Ability to fly (if you can grant this, forget the car but I still want the bike).

2. Ability to read minds (not hear them like in What Women Wants mind you--that would be maddening).

3. Charm... oh wait, I already have that, except I'm somehow only able to charm the young ones and the young once... can't figure out the ones in the middle.

Oh, and if your planning to get me something that's not on this list, just go ahead and surprise me. (WARNING: Pens, towels and mugs are not considered surprises.)


Or forget everything I wrote and just give me a reason to smile or better yet laugh.

This one sure made me laugh!¹

¹By the way, I regret to say that I won't be attending IBlog 5 dahil di ako na LBC... hehe... corny! Anyway, due to a number of unavoidable circumstances, schedule conflicts, birthday weekend, etc... I won't be able to make it. Sure sucks because I found IBlog 4 really cool! (If this is the first time you've heard of IBlog and wish to know more, go ahead, click the link and have the fun I'm sure I'll miss this weekend.)

NB If you don't know me and came across this list and somehow think, "My, how cheeky! Maybe I should grant a wish or 2 (or 3)..." You're more then welcome to do so.

Happy birthdays!

I'm sure a lot of people are celebrating their birthday today. If the figure 6.7B is an accurate estimate of the world's population and assuming birthdays at this level can be safely distributed to all 365 days of the year with negligible statistical difference, that's 18.4M people celebrating their birthdays!

Not that I'm inclined to want to actually greet 18.4M people nor do I expect them to care that I did, but if you happen to be one of them, this entry is partly for you. Happy birthday! If you're curious, you share the same birthday as, F. Sionil Jose, Brendan Fraser, Daryl Hannah, Julianne Moore, Andy Williams, Kim Dae-Jung, and if you must know, Ozzy Osbourne. That's among a handful of top artists, head of states and curiously nobel laureates.

(WARNING: Cheese ahead!)

I personally know 3 friends who celebrate their birthday on this particular date. I'd like to greet Runaway Cat. May you find the peace you're looking for and the fulfillment of your evil plans hehe... Now go to sleep!

The second is my good friend Fenalon. He was my bestfriend back in the days when the term "bestfriend" is still used. We have drifted apart these past few years moving along in different circles now, but we've remained quite good friends. To Fenalon, may God bless you and prosper you in all you do.

The third and last person I'd like to greet, the main course if you will, is none other than...

(drum rolls please)

My dear mother.

Sure we don't agree on a lot of things, at times I just feel like pulling all my hair out in frustration at the times I can't understand her or when she refuses to understand me. But for all my ungratefulness and general pain-in-the-neck-ness, she's managed to tolerate me and love me even. And while I may not say it often enough (believe me, there's no one sorrier than I that I'm just not cut out to be able to say it as often as necessary), I love her. Oh and if you run into her, feel free to tell her I told you so (she doesn't read my blog you see), maybe somehow that will compensate for my hardheartednesses.

Happy birthday December 3-ers.
Happy birthday Ma!

Happy birthday Apple!

Who's Apple? My dear sister of course. Today she turns 23. Waaah! You're getting old! Of course birthdays can be viewed as reminders to take stock of our lives--what's wrong and what's right. To re-orient ourselves with our goals in life, rewriting them as necessary. It's also a time to give thanks for the blessings of the past years.

I've been asked a lot of time how to say "happy birthday to you" in Chinese, I've decided to just point them here...

祝你生日快樂
(zhù nǐ shēng rì kuài lè)

And here in our family (as I'm sure is true in some other families as well) no birthday is complete without the traditional misua (egg noodle soup)!

Here's a different view of the noodles which is said to promote longevity.

It's a very thin noodle garnished with black mushroom, hard boiled egg and chicken! Truly a feel good dish!