A Full Basket

It’s a sad thing to see the number of visitors go down, and the number of followers as well. I fully understand the people who stopped being interested. I don’t blame them. My apology. I haven’t been able to blog hop, exchange links and comment. Even to write a simple post has been an ordeal many times. Had to compile at my left and right side for some dry sticks. All things I love to do, are in the waste-paper basket. And mine looks much more nasty compared with the one Bunny shows... (down there). Not to mention the promising basket of Little Red Riding-hood! Somehow I hope to catch up with you guys, in the meantime: have a great day! But hey: be careful, there are some wolves out there!

My Little Island Hotel

The past months the settling of requirements and permits made me busy. I got the chance to savor the beneficial sunlight despite all that. In January I had visitors and we decided to loaf around Camotes Island. It was Ylan and I who took the advantage of our vacant time. One of the places we visited was the My Little Island Hotel. Oddly enough, It was my first time to visit that place, knowing that I visit Camotes very often, it's situated in Poro, and this relaxing and very quite place satisfies your thirst for a cool and solemn vacation. Here are some of the few pix we took..

Sorry, i'm not the hotel's model but just a welcomed guest! *wink*

I got camouflaged because of their color motiff..

@the entrance

Lobby Area

The very accommodating receptionist at my back!

Dining Area

@ the Bar

A Deluxe Room

girls on the terrace?

Pool Area (sorry guys didnt have enough pix left)

@ the business center! love the camouflage..

Anyone give me a ride, please...
When I don't get a ride I might have to show off my legs!

Single Questions

The Questions and Answer Tag of Ylan


? Do you want to grow old with someone or be single?
- yes, to grow old with someone

? What were you doing at 8:00 this morning?
- sleeping, I woke up late for the activity I attended last night

? What were you doing the last 30 minutes?
- purchase some stocks

? What was important that happened to you in 1998?
- dec 8 1998 is the greatest memorable day, because this day I fell from a 13 steps stairs that made my back suffer forever. The pain I have to endure for the rest of my life

? If you were stranded on an island with the person you hated and without food what would you do?
-eat her/him! LOL!

? When someone catches your eye, do you try to make eye contact or avoid it?
- I'm the shy kind of person. I would look at him secretly

? What color is your comb?
- lavender, orange, pink

? What was the last thing you bought?
- stocks for the shop

? How do you know when you're in love?
-I don't

? Have you been to China?
-yes long time ago.. hoping to visit again soon!

? Where do you keep your money?
-in my wallet?

? Do you wish you were back together with any of your exes?
-there is no reason anymore!

? Do you like peanut butter?
-not at all

? Have you been to UK?
-not yet, someday I will

? Dream country?
-anywhere in Europe and US

? The thing you love about relationships?
-I don't know, don't remember, it's too long ago

? The thing you love about being single?
-the extra portion of chicken left, waiting in the freezer

? Would you give up a dream for someone you loved?
- it depends

? Do you wanna cut your hair?
-I just had it trimmed only..

? Are you over the age of 25?
-yeah, a little over as in over.. hahah lany hangyua sad ko…

? Do you talk a lot?
- sometimes

? Favorite ice cream?
-double dutch, cookies & creme, mango, ube (same here!)

? Could you date someone who has been only your friend for a long time?
- a friendly date of course I can but intimate date? mmmm

? Are you typically a jealous person?
- if I am, I keep it a secret!

? Is there such thing as perfect relationship?
-nothing is perfect but only if we choose to be perfect it could be..

? Do you chew on your straws?
-no

? Do you have curly hair?
-wavy hair

? The kind of person you’re first attracted to?
-smart yes

? What is something you say a lot?
- sure

? Do you have to work tomorrow?
- I am jobless!

? Who was the last person you said I love you to?
-someone who barely hears it. naks! (oh lan kapoy nani nga word..hehe)

A Buster Of A Bum

Oh dear oh dear: I'm a right Bum of a Bunny today, or shall I blame the Turtle of Connection once more?

Delayed Yet Delighted

I’m the master of delay on delivered awards. I hope you guys who showered me with tags and awards have patience with me? I’m not that too terribly busy, it happens that for almost a month now I’ve really to rely on cafés which give me limited time. Especially the days I’m in one with a very slow connection. Anyhow, I’m grateful that Healthnutwannabeemom gave me an award. Her blog is one of my favorites, it gives me plenty of ideas for dieting and other healthy tips. Thanks Heidi! This Tag is a fairly easy one, the rules are...

1. You need to list 5 addictions that you have.

2. You have to pass this Tag to five or more people with fabulous blogs.

Here are my 5 addictions: I got the 5 B's

1. Blogging
2. Beaches
3. Business
4. Bed

5. Breakfast for two

There has been a difficult part of this tag: to share at least 5 bloggers, since I'm not really active today. I might leave it to you guys to grab this award, please feel free!

Bad Smell Bad Sound

The sound I heard lately, that made me step backwards and not be able to hop and visit you all, actually followed a few days after the smell of burning fish balls had bothered my nostrils. I found out there were great numbers of people expected to celebrate a fiesta or two, right at my shop’s doorstep. With the profit of hard work I ordered for more supply and transferred money through western union. The call to inform me that the money hadn’t arrived, was cashed in anyway by someone of the same name and therefore the delivery wouldn’t take place, hit me in the face. All that money: gone to the dogs! Empty handed and empty stored I take a deep breath…

Bitter Water, Quick Birth

Having read Heidi's post (I hope she won't mind using her first name) that might have given her a giggle and red cheeks, made me remember the post I once started about chocolate and haven't finished till this very day. The preparation of it brought me to get to know words like oxytocin, mentioned by her. If you like to read her very interesting post click here.

Funny: this yesterday's topic of chocolate boomeranged to me through her latest topic. Isn't that a typical thing to happen in this Darwinian Year? What's the link between chocolate and sex, I hear you say? Beside it's believed an afrodisiac? It could be that this oxytocin (greek for quick birth, it helps in giving birth) is also an agent to get a bondage between mother and baby during breast feeding. And the word 'xocolatl', that means bitter water, was associated with fertility by Aztec and Mayan people. They flavoured this drink with vanilla and chile pepper.

The western world was unaware of this drink till the 16th century. First it became a very favorit drink among the upper class. And not sooner than the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century (only then it was possible to get a hard durable chocolate) it became the chocolate as we know it today. Oh, one more thing: if men benefit the most, I don't see how it can harm us, ladies, can you? I'm sure we'll have a slice of the (chocolate) cake!

A Beat To Follow

While facing things that need to be on track again, the news that came to me made me turn and take a number of steps backward. Again some delay in blogging. Because it seems that one might be caught by things of the past, and we're in the aftermath of Valentines Day, I think the next quote is very appropriate:

Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today? Today's a gift. That's why we call it the present.

(Babatunde Olatunji), Nigerian drummer who made Russian president Nikita Chrushchev taken off his shoes and dance, inspired Santana's 'Jingo' and walked the March on Washington with Martin Luther King.

A Kinda Late... Not Stupid

I know it's kinda late, for all of you here in the Philippines for sure, but still out of breathe (running from my shop to the internet caf) I like to wish you a enjoyable Valentine's Day/Night! If you're alone: enjoy these 3.08 minutes of Mmmm....

Torture And Temptation

The Badminton Bunch I told about just lately introduced me to another Wow Thing: a treadmill, not just the usual Machine of Muscles, but one to plug in your Work Out Card, press a button and there you go! Frankly: they showed me a brochure of this one, they hadn’t the real works there, not surprisingly, if I tell you this trainer has a iPod compatible Music Port and a CoolAire Work Out Fan! Isn’t that the perfect combination of Torture and Temptation?

Whispers And Whims

I received an invitation for a beach night party on Valentines. But I guess I prefer to stay in my shop to cater the needs of my customers since I’m planning to be open until midnight. I might sell some goodies for Valentines although my neighbor is planning the same, and I don’t want to compete with her. I stick to my own. I wish someone will remember me, pick a rose or two and hand them gracefully over to me. One thing’s sure: on Valentines I’m very busy, not with whispering dates but with the whims of customers.

A Bulls And Bums Blessing

As usual when there’s time to spare to become a beach bull or bum, and when the weather condition allows, a few girls were bashing in lately! All ready and dressed to hit the blistering sand. Obviously I couldn’t resist this frantic bunch of loud girls. Despite the obstinate fever and spells of cold at night. The more reason to join them, you might say? Anyway, getting there after some hilarious moments, the smiles got a bit frozen: one of the girls had forgotten to take her Canon Powershot with her! That meant, no souvenirs of that day. Just the memories. Oh well, maybe a blessing in disguise: all the foolish behaviour would have been recorded!

A Badminton Bash

A few days ago I met some new people. They invited me to tour some of the tourist destinations here. It was fun and cool. I also got an invitation to join their badminton club. But I have big doubts. I’ve never been to sports all my life. I’m a homebody. I might feel out of place because I have no experience what so ever. Do you think they might have the patience and time to teach me the basics? I don’t know, plus they were all so obviously sexy and in the pink of health!

Growing Greens

Island hopping, driving around some Philippine island on my way to visit friends, family or just for having some beach fun, it still strikes me to see the abundance of different greens that surround me every now and then. The shade and fruit a single palm tree, mango tree, or banana tree provides is stunning. And they’re so versatile, almost everything of them we use. But sometimes I would like to see something completely different. Other shade trees, like Oak trees, gingko trees that make splashing reds, yellows and oranges! Those trees could survive here, but they’re simply not around. Who will drop a seed one day, and try? If monkey’s can, why couldn’t we?

A Salty Splash

Yesterday I had a blast with some new friends in a resort, though I still wasn’t feeling well (thanks for all your best wishes by the way, they’re appreciated). I went with the thought I might feel better after the salty splash. Unfortunately it hasn’t washed away any bad germ. I woke up with the same old painful body. I don't know how much longer I have to endure this pain. I need to get well soon because Valentine’s coming. I need to call someone that day!

A Praying Falcon

I’ve said before that the best way to control your health is a regular work out (tough), perseverance (tougher) and have a critical merciless Falcon Eye on personal eating habits (toughest)? Not to expect the scales will listen and drop the figures to your instant wishes? If not, hereby I underline it once more. Nevertheless, occasionally it can help to resort to a few side kicks, and try to find a diet pill that won’t disappoint or harm you! But be a Praying Falcon above this particular hunting ground as well. I wish you a nice landing!

Rope Dancing

To handle staff is a tough job, it needs a firm detached hand that follows the mutual known rules and policy of the business. And it needs the helping warm hand and patience of a nurse? Rope dancing comes close to it? I wonder why some people can’t follow these rules, show so much impotence and eventually have to be fired. Not the prettiest job to execute but I guess I’ve made the right decision: I fired the one who didn’t listen!

Talk Of Town

Digital signage or sometimes called adfotainment (entertain, inform and advertise) might sound a bit science fiction, but it’s not. Think of, for instance, the electric lightsigns of New York’s Times Square. That’s been around for some time already. The heydays of the classical billboard in urban areas seem to come to a close. For sure if the potential of this new way of communication will hold pace with what happened to the internet. We all know what’s been possible and within our reach in such a short time, don’t we? Availability of large lcd’s and plasma screens, software becoming cheaper and high speed internet connections will make sure that digital signage won’t stop at airports, hospitals or bus terminals. It will add animations, audio and full motion video that can be personalized anytime, where traditional static signs can’t exchange any content. The moment this all will be part and parcel of buildings and infrastructure in general, and your mobile becomes interactive with it to your disposal at any time or place…that’s what you might call the Talk Of (Near Future) Town!

New Area, New Rules?

Last Friday was supposed to be the day of my first mass to attend in this area. I didn't know the exact schedule because during weekdays there’s only one mass a day or none at all sometimes. Despite that I was thinking there would be another mass in the afternoon because it was the first Friday of the month. When the church bell rang I expected a mass to begin, entered the church and joined the rosary. One hour later I asked a lady who was leaving the church if there was a mass after the rosary, and she said no, there had been one that morning already. Whatever the reason might be: I think it an obligation of the church and its priest to have a second mass on the first Friday of the month. Or have they changed all that and I haven’t noticed?

Zealous Zits

Annoying as it is, acne is hard to avoid and is of all ages. Roman adolescents for example had to take refuge to hot sulphur baths that were believed to dry the skin. And it’s unavoidable because during the adolescence there’s an increase of male sex hormones that won’t discriminate between male or female. For most people it diminishes over time. For some it might be a never ending story. It can run in the family, a certain diet might be of influence like the consumption of dairy products for instance. The overwhelming use of refined sugars in today’s food might be a cause. A lack of personal hygiene another one. To find the best acne treatments one has to be aware that there can be many causes, and many causes often mean many treatments. It’s believed that a balanced combination of treatments is most successful. But because of possible side effects, it needs professional monitoring. Nowadays the laser and blue/red light treatments have been introduced. And in 2007 a first glimpse of a vaccin has seen the light of day. No reason to cheer yet: it’s for mice only, so far. Maybe attention and patience are still and always will be, major ingredients in the struggle against Zealous Zits.

Freaky Figures

With less than a week to go to Valentine’s Day there’s a little demon whispering into my ear a burning question: if, as I said lately, 85 percent of all valentine cards are chosen, bought and sent by women, who is going to send THEM a card? Does it mean that only 15 out of a 100 women get one? Is that world wide? Or a US of A phenomenon? Has the earth been trembled by something not being noticed, made the world of dating and mating a very different one? Or are figures once again just telling a part of the whole story? Got us on the wrong track? And there’s nothing to worry about? Maybe the sales of roses has gone up like mad, because 85 percent of the men buy them nowadays? Are men using the internet to show their affection through ecards? C’mon guys, let me know, I’m curious! And for the fair sex: what tops all gifts for you?

A Low Rat Rating

Being moved to Camotes only recently, I still have to get used to new noises during the nights. And with ‘new’ I don’t mean the cars and bikes hooting around, that’s a pretty much familiar sound to my ears. I suspect to have some uninvited guests with nocturnal inclinations! I don’t know if you’ve seen the Ratatouille cartoon with that cute little rat? My visitors are of a less cuddle standard. A friend of mine has already suggested to get myself a cat. That made me start looking for cat supplies. But I’m not sure. Having a cat indoors all day might be as destructive as having rats at night? Besides, I’m more a bird person…then again: the rats might have birdie for breakfast or it could have a heart attack becoming the centre of attraction.

High Waves And Fever

The current rough weather conditions keep the waves as high as my fever. It’s not like me at all to feel ill for such a long time. Must be the adjustment to a new environment? Then again, this island isn’t new to me. With a shuffling gait I have just managed to do the most basic things today. To see there were no paid blogs yet to be done, almost made me feel relieved. Anyway, I hope waves and fever will be gone soon to make supplies come in again. Some nice treats for a candlelight dinner perhaps?

A Lucky Dip Thing

Where have the 1 billion valentine’s cards that we buy and mail every year find their origin? And the earlier mentioned ‘we’ are mainly women by the way: 85 percent of all cards purchased are chosen, bought and sent by them. I’m not surprised. It hasn’t always been this way though.

Take the ribbon for instance that we like to unwrap on our way to get our annual fit? It could be that in Roman times, in the month of February, bachelor boys sliced a goat's hide into strips, dipped them into the blood (hence the color is explained), got into the streets, gently slapped both women and crops with the strips. Roman women didn’t go to the local police station as you might think, but welcomed being touched with the hides: it was believed the strips would make them more fertile in the coming year. Later that day young (only the young? I wonder) women in the city would make sure that their names would end up into a big urn. Each boy would then choose a name out of this urn and become paired with his chosen woman for the rest of the year. It’s said that these matches often ended in marriage. I personally see the risky elements in this ancient Lucky Dip Thing. It’s a kind of blind date. I better stick looking forward to some card coming my way! It might be a bit early for a run to the bookstore, it’s still 10 days to go, but to get in some cuddle mood, here’s a clip for you. Beware of balconies though!

Punched & Pinned

To talk to people with very different professional backgrounds can be revealing, interesting even jaw smacking. At the same time it can be confusing and makes one suspicious of his own abilities to understand, to come even close to a shred of awareness of what these people are doing for a living. My brother who’s an architect, and designs shop interiors as well, got me desperately biting a nail or two and pinned down on my chair lately, trying to explain what ball lock pins are for. Almost like the remnants of a bad dream, I just can remember that those are made for situations that require fast connection and removal of parts of machines, including racking or weight stacks. I’m not sure if my shop will ever need them, if so, they both might become very handy, my brother and those… mmm… things!

Mother Nature's Tricks

Elevators are not just places where feminine, yet tight, belly muscles collapse. As we have seen some time ago. Some bald average looking in-his-autumn-years-male could strike gold in one of them. With a little help of coincidence and luck…then again, he might need that luck very badly in the end… Mother Nature plays her tricks on us sometimes!