An Adventuresome Day At Work; Looky At What I Found!

This was me a couple of weeks ago at work with shovel in hand, cleaning out the pit of a containment basin so the liner could be cut out and repaired and a new sump pump installed. Needless to say, as you can see, it was a messy undertaking.

The water and muck, all the decomposing leaves, and such, came halfway up to the middle of my calves, but I did have my high-water boots on so I was good-to-go. And I was thankful that I had the boots on, for lo and behold, in one of the shovel fulls we discovered a li'l surprise!

Surrrrr-priiiiiiise!!!!

On second look, though, I realized the boots weren't needed to protect me, for this li'l critter was of no danger at all. It was a harmless garden/garter snake, or such. And don't be deceived by the photo; it's misleading; this tiny thing was not even as big around as my little finger and no more than 6-8 inches in length. I actually felt bad that I had disturbed him because he had apparently burrowed in for a long winter's nap. And as you can see, he was a little miffed at me and showed a wee bit of anger at being woke up.

Dont mess with me.......HISSSSSSSS!

But us being the nature and animal lovers we are, we took no offense at his umbrage. We managed to capture him in a jar and released him in the surrounding woods, where he scurried off in a heartbeat to seek new shelter. And who knows? We may see him again come spring. He will, however, not be a baby then, so I sure hope he doesn't decide to get even with us for displacing him from his comfortable nest.

Count the Ways to Learn Math Better

Some people may find that math is their worst subject, or simply the subject that they don’t like because it seems to be such a mystery, at times. But to be honest, it’s one of my favorite subjects, especially Algebra. I find it easy, though I don’t really consider myself excellent at it. I like solving Math problems and Algebra word problems. But I should say, not all are easy as 1-2-3, but they are definitely challenging.

If I remember correctly, I made one mistake on an exam one time when I was in high-school. That was pretty impressive, if I may say so, and that made me love Math all the more. And though I am not the only person who loves Math, I believe more people find the subject difficult, thus not loving it.

Are you one of those who are having problems with Math word problems and are always having low scores on your Math answers? You may get tutorials or Algebra help through TutorVista. They are offering online tutoring for Algebra at such a reasonable price. They have established a name for offering excellent tutoring and that’s why they are considered as the top online tutoring source in the world. Need more info? Visit them today and get that much needed Algebra 2 help for yourself. And when you do, you can start counting on higher scores.

A Fare Thee Well Moment

Tiger

It was a month ago today when I came home from work and found that Tiger, my cat, had died. He had not been feeling well, as of late, but he'd shown signs of returning to his usual health and I was stunned and, needless to say, heartbroken, for he truly was my buddy.

For a cat, he was different than most. Cats are notoriously independant creatures and not necessarily ones that show affection. When they come up to you and rub on your legs, it's not to show love but to put their scent on you and mark their territory. In other words, it's their way of warning other cats and saying, "Hey, stay away! This belongs to ME!" And though Tiger was a rough and tough and independant alpha male, just like his owner, also just like me he had a soft side and did love to show his affection. At times, he reminded me of a dog because he would follow me around. He would always meet me at my car when I arrived home from work each day. Or when my mother and I would get home to her house after going out, here he'd come from out of nowhere to meet us at her door. It was as if he recognized my car and knew that "Daddy" was home.

Though he spent most of his time outside during the day being a hunter/warrior, he surely did love his creature comforts, as you can see in these pics.

The ol'man in his rocking chair

On my bed with his sis' Lily

He was already two-years-old when my daughter adopted him to me along with Lily. From the very first, they both wanted to sleep with me. But Tiger had this terrible habit of trying to push my book out of my hand while I was trying to read myself to sleep. I broke him of that, however, in a gentle way, and I would wake up each morning with him cuddled up to my belly and Lily lying on my feet.

I really miss him so much, as does Lily; she's not been the same since he left us. This photo was taken right before I left on my odyssey to go meet an Anghel, and I knew that while I was gone that he would faithfully stand guard and protect our kingdom.

A Knight Guarding His Palace

So long Tiger ol' buddy, ol'pal, ol' friend o' mine. I really am going to miss you, even though Lily is still here. But what we had was a guy thing, and we connected in that mysterious arena of male bonding even though we were of different worlds. Go well, my friend, until we meet again, and until then, I wish you happy hunting.

Dream Vacation at The Land Down Under

Nothing could be more exciting than spending your rest and relaxation somewhere, in a strange, yet known, beautiful place that you’ve never been to. If I were to be asked where would that place be, I’d definitely say, Australia! It’s one of the places that I dream of visiting one day. I would love to see its beauty and experience the exciting things that only Australia offers.

Spending the holidays there would be great too, though without a doubt it would be a little expensive. But I know there are great deals being offered now for a wondrous vacation there and that includes Car Hire deals with which you could go anywhere in Australia that you wanted to be at a reasonable price. Just talking about this makes me giddy. I can hardly wait to experience a holiday vacation at the Land Down Under!

Wild Ducks at the Lake

Aren't they pretty? BA took this when he visited the lake a few months ago to take pictures that he's going to show me. These wild ducks live there and look at them, they looked like they're having the time of their lives and enjoying the water. LOL.

There's their group.

A closer look at the brown ducks.

And at the white ones. Cute!

Woe is Me, My Poor Ol' Tree

I was going to begin my Christmas decorating a couple of days ago but, unfortunately, that was when I discovered that I can’t use our old artificial tree anymore. It’s plastic and some of its branches were broken. Maybe that's due to the way it was put up last year. The Christmas ornaments are still good, but I am planning on buying new ones since we will have a new Christmas tree.

I already browsed stores online for decors and ornaments and I already have an idea where to get them. I’ve also seen baby ornaments that were really cute and I will add some of them this year. We’ll be having a new baby in the family real soon because my sister-in-law is now in the family way, so that will be perfect. I can’t wait to see it all properly done and in place with all the pretty Christmas lights glittering and twinkling each night. Christmas is just around the corner, and my eyes are twinkling with the joy and excitement of the season!

Touched Down!

August 23rd, around 10 o'clock in the morning after about twenty hours of travel from halfway across the world, my BA finally touched down to his destination which is no other than here in our city. He took these pictures here as soon as he set his foot on GenSan's soil, just right after he got out of the PAL plane. He almost weren't able to get on board that flight because of a little problem. Gladly, it was solved before the plane took off. It wasn't BA's fault though but the guy from SanFo who gave him his seat number. Oh well...

GenSan Airport

Philippine Airlines Boeing 747

I Gotta Have My Soaps!

Doing the same ol' routine everyday can be utterly boring. My routine used to be work, home, work, home, over and over and over. But that changed after the company I was connected with had problems with their clients and the business dried up. So my daily routine did change to strictly home-home-home, but after a few months of doing the same thing here at home everyday, which includes all the never-ending chores, getting bored is given. And to add insult to injury, if I may call it that, mom just had the cable disconnected because of the incompetent service of the provider. I was being patient with the cable company since I did get to see my favorite soaps, but mom could not tolerate it anymore so it was a done deal and the cable was gone.

But the good thing is that mom’s looking into those great Direct TV Packages after seeing their great Direct TV Deals. They’re known for giving good offers, not to mention the enjoyable entertainment they broadcast as well as providing fantastic customer service. I just hope mom will decide as soon as possible and grab one of those Direct TV Offers because I don’t want to miss too many episodes of my favorite soap. Grab it while it’s hot mom!

The Lake

A house situated near a lake or overlooking a lake is my dream house. It need not be a big house for as long as I have my loved ones with me. This lake here is located near my BA's house, just a walking distance, I think. And he couldn't wait to show me the lake. But since it will be in months' time yet until I'll be able to see its beauty for real so, he made sure to take photos of it to share with me and here they are. Isn't it lovely? The lake look so calm and serene, perfect place for contemplating and daydreaming, huh? Hee hee.

My BA seems like a pro in taking this photo. (",)

Beautiful!

I wonder who owns that house. I envy them. (",)

Oui, Oui! I Want to See Gay Paree!

Paris! Who doesn’t know of this famous city? Considered to be the world’s most visited city, I am one of those who dream of seeing its magnificence someday and enjoy the beauty only Paris brings. Known as the City of Lights, what could be more romantic than spending the night in a hotel Paris and on arising tour the city in fascination, being the quintessential Paris tourist and see those magnificent sights such as the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral.

There are a lot of things to do in Paris and sampling the menus in those fancy restaurants is a not-to-miss experience. And I wonder when I'll be able to experience this magic, including the excellent service of Hotel Paris Metro Denfert Rochereau. It will be a dream for now, I know, but it will not remain a dream forever. I've already told my fiancé where I'd love for us to spend our honeymoon...hint-hint. So see you soon in Paris!

The 3rd Time's a Charm.....

Free at CommentSexy.com

.....and not necessarily a lucky charm. This is the third Friday the 13th in 2009. Fortunately, for those who attach significance to this day, there will not be three of 'em in a year again until 2015. But then, again, that might not even matter if the apocalyptic visions being predicted for December 21, 2012 come to be. That, however, is an entirely different subject, and we won't go there today.

It is funny, though, how we as humans make such a big deal out of certain dates, linking them with luck, be it good or bad. There's March the 15th, the Ides of March, the day Julius Caesar was assassinated, thus coining the words of Shakespeare in the play Julius Caesar, "....beware the Ides of March". And of course, those of us of Irish descent consider St. Patrick's Day a lucky day. Personally, that day, this day, or any other day is just that to me: Just another day.

Luck, if there is such an entity, is totally intangible. I do believe in magic, but not that of the illusionary type preformed by so-called magicians. There are powers and things beyond our wildest immagination in this universe. But a particular date doesn't empower that day or date with any magic, luck or bad luck. Things happen, and what will be will be. We do make choices in our life that lead us to unknown conclusions, but that is of by our own free will and luck has nothing to do with it. However, this day is engrained into our persona, and to learn of it's history, check this link out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friday_13th

But as long as not taken seriously, this day can be fun, just like Halloween. I wonder how many people will be watching Jason Voorhees in one of those classic slasher Friday the 13th films today? In this merchandising age we live in, Jason has become a cult figure/hero, creating a pop-culture franchise.

As for me, I'll take this day as I do all days: one step at a time, while constantly watching my back. And I wish everyone a Happy Friday the 13th. You just be sure and watch your backs, too, because things do happen, no matter the day or date. Go well and be safe, and be sure and keep a sharp eye out for Jason..........(",)

Atlanta Businesses are the Heart of Dixie

Almost every household in the world is now using the internet to search for facts about anything and everything under the sun because almost everything one would want to know is out there, not to mention the fact that it’s so convenient since you do your browsing right in the comfort of your own home by simply using your fingers. Shopping online is the choice of many now since you not only save time and energy and gas, but money as well because there are so many great deals and bargains online. And you also don’t have to deal with the hassle and frustration of crowded malls.

But though everything is right there on the internet, there are times that searching for products and services can be a daunting task, especially if you’re using search engines where there are hundreds or even thousands of products that will pop up with just a single keyword. Some businesses even intentionally link their sites with keywords that have nothing to do with their product or service just so their site will show up on searches. So to save time and energy, search through a business directory listing website like that of TenList. Products and services are grouped into categories so all you have to do is search through that category making your searching easier and hassle-free. You will also find there the top ten businesses in the category of your choice.

Are you in Atlanta? Then check for those atlanta businesses through TenList and you’ll never go wrong. Everything will be quick and easy. I prefer checking on directories myself and I do believe I’m not the only one who’s enjoying the benefits it brings. So don’t make things hard for yourself. Every single thing can be easy as long as you know how and where to do it. So go check TenList and make your day much simpler.

A Magical Mountain Morning Sky

This is the sight that greeted me this past Tuesday when I went to my car to go to work at 6:00 AM on a cool, Fall morn' here in the mountains of Western North Carolina. What a wonderful way to begin the day, my eyes being filled with the wonder and beauty of our nearest celestial neighbor. But unknown to me at that moment, there were more wonders yet to come.

After my 30-mile drive, as I drew near to my work place, my eyes were once again filled with an amazing sight. And what made it so amazing was that even though the darkness had been swallowed by the arrival of dawn, hanging there in the pale-blue sky, just waiting to be plucked, was the same silver apple that had lit my early morning only 40-minutes earlier when I left my home. It was an astounding vista, with the mountains as a backdrop and the colorful fall foliage below as the ghostly Moon raced on to westward heading onward to the other side of the world.

There was yet one more surprise awaiting me, for as I made a 180 degree turn after taking this photo, my eyes were blinded by what had snuck up over my back while concentrating on the silver apple fading into the western sky. I now found the eastern horizon filled with the fiery brilliance ol' Sol, that golden apple that illuminates our world with life-giving warmth. It was a stunning sight, filling me with joy and thankfulness for being alive to experience such a majestic moment.

And such is the beauty of this place I call home. What a perfect start to what would have otherwise been just another dull and dreary day of work. Needless to say, I was in a good mood the entire day. Those silver apples of the moon and golden apples of the sun have never failed to inspire me, and there's a story behind that, one which I will soon share here with y'all, a story which I promised to share with Lynndee some time ago. But as things have went, she and I got distracted by other things, if you will, and began creating our own special story. So if nothing else, I owe it to her to tell the rest of this story about the poem that filled a young boy's mind with silver and golden apples and led him on a life long search for a mystical glimmering girl, a journey that eventually took him half-way around the world to finally find her waiting there for his arrival, which in itself gave answer to her own special search.

I believe in magic, and it's always there just waiting to be discovered. There is a magic in words, magic in this world, and magic in people's lives if only they believe in it, open their mind, heart and eyes and search for it, and reach out and grab it, not letting the moment slip away. On this morn', my entire being was open and I was blessed with three magical moments. And as for me, in more ways than one, I truly am a believer.....now.

Quick and Easy

As technology advances, almost every single thing is becoming easier and quicker to do. And so it is with search engines as they are becoming better and better by the day, offering easier, faster and hassle-free searching. I browse the internet every single day for facts, videos, music, etc,. and just like everyone else, I always choose the fastest I can find, like that of rapidshare search engine. As their name entails, everything from music, video, software search can be done rapidly. No one would want to dillly dally and waste their time in searching. That’s why rapidshare has become known instantly because they offer quick and hassle-free search for just about anything. Beat that!

Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage Parish Church

This is the first church that BA and I ever visited together. It's located in the downtown area of our city and we visited it with my son, Yogi, after paying respects to my hubby's tomb on the Saturday of what would have been his 34th birthday.

We attended the Noon mass but unfortunately the language spoken wasn't in English but in our native dialect, Cebuano. So, as expected, BA wasn't able to understand what the priest was saying nor the songs being sang. We weren't able to finish the mass, though, because my son Yogi was already complaining of stomach pains because of hunger.

BA took this picture himself while he was roaming around the area. The church is just a walking distance from the second hotel where he stayed at during his visit here in our city. I was surprised when I found out that he had roamed around without me knowing. He's new in the city and I was worried he might get lost or something. But as what he always tells me, "He's a big boy and knows how to take care of himself." (",)

Anyway, there's a hearsay that you should make a wish if it's your first time to have visited a certain church and your wish will be granted. I wonder though if BA made a wish on this day? (",)

Affordable AC Parts with Free Shipping

With the heat that we have throughout most the year because of the tropical climate that we have, an AC is really a must have, and not just in our homes but in our cars too. It’s a given, though, that cars have AC but it is also inevitable that AC will eventually have problems.

That being so, if you are searching for high quality, yet affordable auto a/c parts, DiscountACParts.com is your one-stop shop. They are known for offering the best compressors and other AC parts in the market. In addition, they offer free shipping for all orders. What could be cooler than that?

The Graveyard...

...of my BA's departed loved ones. He visited the place during his dad's death anniversary sometime in August. I know this post is a little bit late for All Soul's Day but better late than never, right? There's one reason too why I thought of creating a post about this. Something quite eerie happened here at home earlier though I wasn't able to see it. Only my Aunt, SIL and son were the ones who witnessed it. Well, I don't know if it has something to do with my late husband. We weren't able to visit him on All Soul's Day for some reason and my Aunt said, he paid us a visit earlier.

What happened was, my SIL and son were using the two PCs and they both shut down at the same time. Eerie? Yeah, kind of because there was no electricity fluctuation or power outage. Whatever the explaination behind it, we were totally clueless. And if it was my hubby paying us a visit, then we should be thankful because it only shows that he really loves us. (",)

Girls Like to Play, Too!

If there’s one thing that is fascinating about men, it’s their passion for cars. And that includes not only the vehicle itself but all the other goodies there are that have something to do with cars – racing; magazines; building models; fix-it-yourself manuals; et cetera, et cetera. I’ve been surrounded by men my entire life since I have two older brothers who have always been enamored with what I call “big boy's toys,” not to even mention Dad. One has a collection of car magazines and the other one began collecting toy cars in his teens. Though he no longer collects them, he has his collection preserved in pristine condition, and the other one is still continuing to buy magazines regularly. Car makes and models change on a yearly basis and there is always a brand new one that comes out with all the newest modern gadgets and accessories, but neither of my brothers have gotten themselves that special dream car to fulfill their big boy fantasies.

I, too, have my favorite cars, or should I say my dream cars. And it’s not only one because there are three of them. First would be the lexus rx 450h. I know it’s a luxury car and it will most likely remain a dream of mine to have one, but you never know. Anything is possible in dreams. I also fancy the lincoln mkx. I’ve always preferred an SUV. One reason is their height which make me feel like I can see everyone ahead of me. And the last on my list is the volkswagen touareg. Volkswagen is known to provide quality cars and you will never go wrong with them. And these cars are built for comfort as well as excellent performance.

Though I'm not "one of the boys", so to speak, my big brothers need to realize that their li'l sister is a "big girl," now. And one of these days I just might blow the doors off of them old clunkers they drive and leave them sitting in a cloud of dust when I go zooming by them in my new "big girl pearl" of a dream car. So ya better watch your back, bros!

Lexus RX 450h

Lincoln MKX

Volkswagen Touareg

Change in Season; Change in Color

I used to believe that these trees are made possessing those bright and colorful colors. I have only seen them in pictures or in movies and I even wondered what they were called until a few days ago when my BA enlightened me. In my thirty four years of existence in this world, would you believe that that's the only time I knew about it? That the trees only change their color during a certain season which is the Fall season, I think. I was like, "really?" Wow! That was such an amazing discovery for me. Well, you can't blame me since we only have two seasons here in my country - wet and dry or rainy and summer seasons. It's actually almost summer here all throughout the year since the rainy season is only two to three months though we do experience occasional showers apart from that, the whole year.

Now, aside from looking forward to experiencing different seasons, I am also looking forward to seeing the trees change their color. I know it will be a fascinating sight. These pictures already fascinated me, what more if I'll see it for real.

BA took these photos near his place.

Look at the bright and lovely colors! Beautiful!

I just love it! Isn't it pretty?