Reader's Digest

I'm an avid reader of Reader's Digest. My grandfather was a subscriber of Reader's Digest and my mother and uncles inherited his fondness of this book. My mom influenced me on it by at first, gifted me with a 1-year subscription. And so, for the straight 3 years, I've been a subscriber and I always look forward on the next month's issue.

I love Laughter the Best Medicine, Life's Like That and most especially their Book Bonus or Featured Article because it is based on a real life story. Actually, I love all their entries and that also includes Facts and Dear Aunty. I learned a lot from Facts, too, and even answered my simple question like why is W called as "double u" when it looks like "double v"? It said in there that the earliest form for w was probably uu that was used by scribes in the 17th century. But years later, early printers sometimes used vv for the lack of a w in their type but the pronunciation stuck around til now (January 2009 issue).

What's interesting also is that they include Sudoku Puzzle that I love to answer. It makes my brain work! Their vocabulary helped me understand how to use a certain word in a sentence. It really helped me a lot.

Watch It!

I love my water resistant Timex watch! My husband gave this to me as Christmas gift 2 years ago. And it was the first time he gave me something sporty. I've been using this mostly in my outdoor activities and recently had it with me when I took a plunged at the water.

If you're interested to have this kind of watch, below is the description & specs:

Expedition® Adventure Tech™
Product Code: T423819J
From the mountains to the sea, Timex Expedition has no boundaries. Worn by extreme outdoor adventurists like Conrad Anker, Timex Expedition belongs to the great outdoors.

* Brown Leather Strap
* INDIGLO® night-light
* Brushed Case
* Water Resistant to 100mi
* Size: Medium
* Timer
* 3 Time Zones

Coffee Lover

I love coffee and its aroma brings life to my system. Just this morning, I drank one cup and I really felt good afterward. I read at the net some benefits of coffee and I would like to share it to you:

Coffee drinkers often are concern that their delicious java is too much of a good thing that it must be bad for you. After all it tastes great and really peps you up so. Not so say researchers, it has been shown to coffee is generally safe with moderate consumption and that surprisingly, coffee is actually good for your health. Several studies have linked coffee with reduced risks of Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes, gallstones, cancer, heart disease and osteoporosis.

Coffee beans contain anti-oxidants and other substances that provide these health benefits. Additionally these anti-oxidants can be found in either regular or decaf coffee.

The recommendation for most people would be to enjoy one or two cups of coffee a day, which will allow you to capitalize on its health benefits without incurring health drawbacks. Note: each person is different - so keep this in mind when deciding how much coffee is right for you. Avoid coffee after 3 pm to prevent insomnia. This is especially important if you have problems falling asleep.

If you need to avoid caffeine for health reasons, stay away from coffee and other caffeinated beverages altogether. If you can't live without your coffee, you can purchase decaffeinated coffee that has had the methylene chloride removed during a steam process. Such coffee is available at better health food stores.

If coffee doesn't agree with you, try alternative beverages, such as Inka Naturalis, dandelion blends, and Teeccino that have the flavor you want, without the negative effects.

Congratulations Manny Pacquiao!

The Pride of Philippines, Manny "Pacman" Pacquaio, did it again. His fight with Ricky Hatton seem to brought retirement to the 'Hitman', as what most observers said. It only took 2 rounds to make the game over. Below are the excerpts written by Kevin Iole, Yahoo! Sports

LAS VEGAS – Four years ago, in the very same ring where he scored a crushing second-round knockout over an opponent many thought would give him the challenge of his career, Manny Pacquiao lost a decision to Erik Morales. Morales was one of the most entertaining fighters of his time, but never once were “Morales” and “all-time great” ever used together in the same sentence.

In 2005, Pacquiao was a good and exciting but hardly great fighter. After Saturday’s K.O. of Ricky Hatton, though, he stands atop the boxing world, even with the heavily hyped return of Floyd Mayweather Jr., who had been a near-unanimous choice as the world’s top fighter prior to his untimely retirement in June 2008. Mayweather Jr. unretired on Saturday and said he’d fight Juan Manuel Marquez in July, but he’ll have to defeat Pacquiao if he wants to be regarded as the best after Pacquiao decimated Hatton at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. Pacquiao knocked Hatton down twice in the first round and then knocked him cold with a crushing left hand that may have been the best punch of his career late in the second round. Hatton fell face first and laid motionless for several minutes as the arena erupted.

If the Pacquiao Era hadn’t started with his decimation of Oscar De La Hoya in December, it began with a straight left that left promoter Bob Arum squealing. Arum has promoted many of the game’s finest fighters, including Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran and Marvin Hagler. Arum was so ebullient after Pacquiao’s devastating victory, he was comparing Pacquiao favorably to Ali.

Read more about Pacquaio by clicking this: There’s only one Manny Pacquiao

Whazz Up?!

I used to like Wednesdays because I felt that the time I spent at my working area is shortened. Every Wednesday morning there's a meeting that lasted for about 2 hours before we proceed to our work. However, lately, I don't like it anymore. What was discussed the previous weeks were tackled again. The burned issues were brought up again and same people were always being reprimanded that made most of us sick in hearing all these. Can't they just stick to the main issues? Or maybe they're experiencing Alzheimer's or memory loss already or maybe they suffered neologism that they can't stop repeating the same thing over and over again. Can't wait to get out from their sight, too, even though I don't have any issue with them. Hearing them made me sick because for how many months I've been with them, none of their problems were solved. And if ever there's a solution, they look for another problem again. Sigh.

Beach

We went to the beach this afternoon. There were plenty of people but it was peaceful. The weather was great, too, that we were able to appreciate the view, the place and what we saw. We just stood near the water but did not swim. We just felt the sand...

We dined at a certain resort in there. They also have a swimming pool but we were not interested to take the plunge, anyway. So, we just ate there together with some of our family members. We stayed for awhile in the evening. It was so relaxing lying on the hammock that the resort provided. But since we didn't plan to sleep in there so, we went home. It was a nice Holy Thursday but I thought it best to stay home and do some reflection :)

Holy Week

It's already Holy Week and I thought of the usual stuff I did back when my dad was still alive. We used to go to the Church and made the Station of the Cross. After that we would buy some peanuts and fruits and ate it either at the park or at home. He was religious. I missed those moments with him that until now, I could still vividly recalls his times with us together.

Anyway, for this Holy Week, I plan to follow his tradition. However, it was quite hard to follow everything as I have my own family now and we also have different denominations. I might still visit the church but I know I would be on my own. Then, I'll be back with my family at home after wards. Not much to plan but stay home and maybe do some cleaning or read a bible story with my kid. Have a meaningful Holy Week to all of you and advance Happy Easter!

Palm Sunday

Today is Palm Sunday, a Christian moveable feast which always falls on the Sunday before Easter Sunday.

In many Christian churches, Palm Sunday is marked by the distribution of palm leaves (often tied into crosses) to the assembled worshipers.

In the Philippines, there are some places where a re-enactment of Jesus' triumphal entry occurs. The priest rides a horse and is surrounded by the congregation, bearing palms. Sometimes women spread large cloths or aprons along the procession route. Palm branches, called palaspas, are taken home after the Mass and are hung beside, on or above doorways and windows.

I attended the mass this morning and bought a 'palaspas'. My child was so eager to have it blessed that she was the one holding it. Well, this day marked the first day of Holy Week. I hope to celebrate it with my family and I also plan to do some fasting, too ;)

Summer Time!

Summer's here once again. Although we have a tropical weather for the whole year but summer is hottest season in our country. A lot of people wanted to go the beach or go for the swimming pool to feel the coolness of the water. Some opted to go on malling or stay at home to avoid the heat of the sun.

But if you were to ask me which season I would chose, I will definitely want the heat of the sun rather than having heavy rain where you will get soak or wet when you go out or stranded at some place and laundry won't dry up, too. Anyway, I hope you will have a great time during this season. Have Fun!

April Fool's Day

The origins of April Fool's Day:

April Fools' Day, sometimes called All Fools' Day, is one of the most light hearted days of the year. Its origins are uncertain. Some see it as a celebration related to the turn of the seasons, while others believe it stems from the adoption of a new calendar.

In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII ordered a new calendar (the Gregorian Calendar) to replace the old Julian Calendar. The new calendar called for New Year's Day to be celebrated Jan. 1. That year, France adopted the reformed calendar and shifted New Year's day to Jan. 1. According to a popular explanation, many people either refused to accept the new date, or did not learn about it, and continued to celebrate New Year's Day on April 1. Other people began to make fun of these traditionalists, sending them on "fool's errands" or trying to trick them into believing something false. Eventually, the practice spread throughout Europe.

April Fools' Day is observed throughout the Western world. Practices include sending someone on a "fool's errand," looking for things that don't exist; playing pranks; and trying to get people to believe ridiculous things.

Source: http://www.infoplease.com/spot/aprilfools1.html