The year is about to end and just thinking about it stirs up a mixture of emotions in me. There’s some hint of sadness and regret over some of my unmet goals and plans (sigh) but on the other hand, I am hopeful and excited for what the coming year has to offer (yey!) and very much thankful for this year – for the many realizations, discoveries and challenges, the ups and downs that happened.
We’re about to meet the year 2008 and let go of 2007, and I’m again reminded about time as something that we have no control of and yet it is given to us freely and equally.
My own flawed efforts at time management have taught me two important things:
- to be flexible enough to meet the surprises and unpredictability each moment brings, and
- to be patient enough when going through life’s different seasons.
I do have some goals in mind for the coming year and one of them is to manage my time the best I can.
Here’s a piece of ancient wisdom about time which I’d like to share with you as food for thought:
“There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Here's to a prosperous and grace-filled New Year for all of us! 
Related posts:
33 timeless ideas on time management
3 simple time management tips
Warning! Do not delay! : Lessons in time management for goal-driven fanatics
The wisdom of the perfect time
Most businesses value their clients’ need to have more options and choices, thus giving them more room for creativity - letting the buyer create her own style, color or theme for the merchandise, whether for personal use or for giveaways. For instance, A&W Diamonds lets their clients choose from among thousands of loose diamonds, with many options for diamond shape, clarity, carat and cut for their jewelry. They can select which loose diamond to use for their earrings, necklace, ring and other accessories. It’s good to be able to decide on what you like than settle for what’s on display. Imagine having to visit many jewelry stores just to see whether they have the design you want. Customized products are more meaningful since it involves the client’s own choice and creativity.
to greet all my dear blogsy friends and readers,
a very merry and blessed Christmas
and a prosperous New Year!!!
P.S. To my blogsy friends,
Sorry for not being able to visit your blogs lately. Time flies during the holidays I guess, and I’m having difficulty catching up. This season can be really fun but draining as well. Happy holidays!
Guys are really different when it comes to shopping for their needs. For one thing, they’re not that choosy especially when it comes to clothing. I remember when my boss wanted to buy a shirt, we just went to the mall, went over a few display shelves and after less than thirty minutes, he was already lining up in the cashier to pay. My dad recently bought some shirts too and it didn’t take ages to find what he liked, unlike us girls who had to visit every shop and try on different blouses before finally deciding which to buy.
But I guess when it comes to tools and gadgets (a drill set or a DSLR), guys are very choosy. For instance, my dad spends a looong time in any DIY store and it would be my turn to wait for him and finally pester him that we go home. hehehe… anyway, speaking of tools and gadgets, I bet he would drool over the featured products at Discount-Tools.com where they have a wide range of end mills (diamond end mills, carbide end mills, etc.), disc cutters, countersinks, drills and drill sets, tool bits and more. And since, we will be going to the mall few minutes from now, I bet he will be going around the DIY section again while Mom and I will be over at the Ladies’ section.
Surprise! This is what I got for my blog rating:
Yikes! It means “No children 17 and under admitted.” Huh??!!! Isn't it amusing? It just makes me wonder how they rate blogs with this widget but I strongly disagree with the result.
Anyway, it’s the season of memes, and this is a tag from Francine. So, let’s see what the rating of your blogs are. I’m tagging Daisy, Tony, Leen, Jeanette and anybody who wants to do this meme. Click this link to know your blog's rating.
Now, tell me dear readers, what do you think of the blog rating I got? 
Yup, it’s not only your home and front yard that you can jazz up for the holidays. I discovered this site where you can upload your own fave graphics and music (in mp3, m4a, .ogg, or .wma formats) and your file is then compressed and configured for download to your mobile phone. I’ve just uploaded a Christmas tune to my account at Mobile17 (www. mobile17.com) and still waiting in line for it to be delivered to my phone. Creating a tone for upload enables you to choose a song from your pc and specifying the track info (artist and title). You also need to specify which part of the song you would like your tone to start, and its length (for a maximum of 40 seconds). Aside from tones, you can also create color graphics and photos and transfer animations. If you want faster delivery (less than a minute) to your phone, there’s the express service where they give priority to those who make a donation to their site. Giving your phone a fresh look plus with new tones adds more fun to the holiday season!
Is the concept of wrapping gifts and surprising the recipient with what’s inside not observed that much anymore? These days, most people would ask their loved ones and friends what they’d wish to receive, or they take them shopping, let them choose which item they want as gift and have it wrapped afterwards.
I guess the element of thrill or surprise is not that important anymore when it comes to gift giving these days. Most would prefer being given something that they really need instead of the usual fancy souvenirs or home décors which usually end up collecting dust in the shelves. The option of giving a cash gift or a gift certificate comes as a more sensible option and saves the giver from worrying whether he’s giving the proper gift or not.
With the rising cost of basic goods, practical gift-giving eases up a bit of the holiday expenses. While some would reason out that it’s the thought that really matters more than what’s being given, practicality sometimes supersedes the surprise factor in gift-giving.
Some people say that the level of friendship is tested when it comes to money.
For instance, a friend borrows from you, and promises to pay you back within the week. You lend him your cash which would be used next week since you trust him that he would make good his promise. Now comes next week… and your friend starts disappearing. You try calling him but to no avail. He suddenly becomes the invisible man. Now you’re getting mad at him for causing you worry and inconvenience just because you’re helping him. As a result, your relationship with that friend turns sour. On the other hand, had your friend returned the borrowed money before the week ended, he could have gained more of your trust and your friendship with him could have been strengthened.
This scenario is pretty much the same in the world of credit cards and personal loans. You gain a lot of credibility as a credit card holder if you pay on time. You earn positive points by doing so. If you are delinquent with your payments, your credit score becomes low and it takes a lot of difficulty to win back the trust of lenders when you apply for a loan. It’s hard to get back on track once you have bad credit loans. Good thing there are companies that give chances for delinquent credit card holders by providing them the opportunity to rebuild their credit card history. For those considering these types of bad credit offers, it’s best to compare from among the many providers before choosing which one works for you. BadCreditOffers.com provides information and guidance for consumers looking for ways to rebuild their credit score. The site features credit repair services, credit report and score, home loans, auto loans and personal loans for those with bad credit ratings so they can have the opportunity to regain the trust of credit card companies once more by being responsible payers this time.
Just showing you a list of lab tests which I’ll have to undergo for a general medical checkup (the doc says it’s a work up):
Note how the lady doc’s cursive handwriting is so neat and nice, not like the usual indecipherable scribbles we see when given a prescription which only the pharmacists can comprehend.
“Bring your umbrella, it’s going to rain.” I told my mom while glancing at the weather gadget in my desktop sidebar as she was about to go out. Ever since I installed this temperature/weather program on my desktop sidebar, I find myself checking it often just to get a feel of the day’s weather – if it will be raining or not, or how hot it’s going to be. For some people though, monitoring the weather or temperature mean so much more. There are rooms which need a certain level of temperature for proper maintenance of electronic equipments such as servers.
Most electronic devices need to be stored in low temperature settings, thus a monitoring device is very important for them to function well. For instance, a tech guy from Costa Mesa, CA has been using the Temperature@lert USB Temperature Monitor for months already, and it helped him when there was a time that they were having problems with the AC units in the server room. With an alert from this device, they were able to save the servers from possible breakdown.
The happy girl, happysarah, tagged me with a happy meme about making a LIST. So, we’re talking about tangible things here.
The rule is to “…make your own LIST, meaning, things you hope to acquire in the next 6 months of 2008 and post them! (If you can get pictures, then go ahead, post them as well!)”
Mine is a combination of a wish list and a to-buy (or must-have) list. I’ll just keep to myself which of them are must-buys and which things are simply products of wishful thinking.
Books: more books from Paolo Coelho and Bo Sanchez, plus Covey’s 8th Habit
Clothing: new printed tops and jeans
Footwear: high heeled flip-flops
Health: slimmer waistline (yikes!)
Gadgets: 
Sony Ericsson z750i phone
Nikon D80 DSLR
Travel: round trip ticket to Europe!
Investment: property somewhere in Paranaque
Actually I haven’t made any concrete personal goals and plans for next year yet, even with few more weeks to go before I use my new 2008 planner. Ugh.
Am I tagging anybody with this? Sure thing!
So… Daisy, Tony, Aileen, Virus and Lazarus (and anybody who wants to do this tag), I’d like to know what’s on your list too!
A month before moving to another country, my big sis kept browsing the web for apartments and houses which will be their next home. She gave me links to at least three residences and we were discussing the pros and cons of each unit with respect to the overall setting, the kitchen arrangement, the number of bedrooms, baths, and added features such as steam bath and pool. I was not really convinced about the limited choices given; I guess it’s difficult to find that perfect place to stay that would meet all your needs.
(more…)
While some people believe that changing yourself from the inside out weighs more when it comes to beauty matters, more people now subscribe to the concept of feeling good and being more confident physically with the help of scientific advancements such as cosmetic surgery. This modern way of transforming a person’s physical attributes comes in two basic types – by alteration to improve physical features (due to disproportionate or unappealing shape of nose, cheeks, ears and other body parts) and by skin rejuvenation to minimize the effects of aging, sagging and hormonal changes.
(more…)
“We’ll never find a slot there,” Dad told us matter-of-factly as he eased up the van into the parking area near the building entrance. “Just try, there might be some space for us,” Mom and I told him while we earnestly prayed for a parking space. And to his surprise, there was one space available just for us! It’s always a joy to discover a nice parking space when the possibility of finding one is unthinkable. There would be times when a car was about to go out just as we’re driving in, and oftentimes there’s just one slot left for us, as if somebody reserved the space and knew we were coming. It helps to pray even for the little things such as parking spaces, right? Anyway, these are just the simple pleasures of driving around the city, like going through green lights in succession or cruising along beautiful tree-lined roads.
(more…)
This holiday season, while most of the malls are packed with shoppers still doing some last minute buying, the Internet is also busy with virtual shoppers surfing for some good deals and filling up their online shopping carts. Thanks to this modern shopping convenience which utilizes the ecommerce technology. With most businesses trying to expand their market, an online shopping experience for the clients gives more value to their products and services.
(more…)
While having your own car offers the convenience of being able to go places faster (except when there’s heavy traffic) and getting lots of things done within the day, there’s the difficulty of finding where to park especially in a busy city. We’ve heard news about vehicles being stolen in parking lots and didn’t expect it would happen to us too. Well, at least our van was not stolen, thank God, but our newly bought vacuum cleaner and some hardware supplies which were placed at the trunk were gone after we left the van in the city plaza for about an hour. Of course the vehicle was locked, so those thieves were really good and I wonder how they were able to do their act in broad daylight considering the heavy paint cans and the big box which contained the vacuum cleaner. With so many sad stories of stolen cars and valuables inside, having a place to park safely is every car owner’s wish when going out in the city.
(more…)
Every business has its vision of future development possibly with additional branches, and increase or diversification of products and services. With the expansion of every business though comes the inevitable growth in company data to be handled. This includes the records of the company’s increasing work force plus information on the clients’ profiles and transactions, inventory of supplies and other assets, and loads of other valuable data. Consequently, there is the need for businesses to have their important data secure and stored in reliable servers.
(more…)
Some of us anticipate Christmas to be a season filled with tons of gifts, loads of food and lots of trimmings. And then there will be the endless parties and reunions to attend to with the usual gift-giving tradition and cholesterol-laden dining tables. While some people can get by with these pocket-emptying holiday expenses (imagine if you have a long gift list!), the majority of consumers will be having a hard time managing their budget to meet the expectations of their families and even their own this Christmas.
We all have our fancy ideas of how our holidays should be. I have my own crazy expectations too. I know it won’t be that much fun compared to last year where we had a vacation in Thailand. This year, my siblings won’t be around for the holidays, but deep inside I want to make it as exciting, flashy and yes, laden with all the trimmings. And then I came across an editorial article ‘Kids, holidays and soaring expectations’ from Dr. Jay Hoecker of the MayoClinic.com and his words just hit me on the spot.
“Focus on things that last
"Everything in moderation, nothing in excess" is a good credo for the holiday season — and it doesn't just apply to food and drink.
It's not uncommon for parents to hope, on some level, that gifts will compensate for intangible things that are actually harder to give — time and emotional engagement.
Remember that giving gifts is only one way to show love, and that spending time is more valuable than spending money.”
I have been expecting more of the holidays, but I’m again reminded that what matters most are the intangible things. Reading the article, I realized the holidays can be made fun without the usual loads of gifts, food and trimmings. It’s best to focus on personal change and building relationships. Yes, there will be parties, reunions and gift-giving but they can be made more meaningful with the shared moments, togetherness, fun and conversation – these are the things that are cherished more and last longer. The material gifts and the sumptuous food are what we see now, but they will most likely be forgotten, they may not even be that important or memorable in the years to come.
For most parents, giving the best (and sometimes the most expensive) gifts to their kids is a way to show their love for them. While these would make them happy (or worse, spoiled), they can never compensate for an investment in quality time spent with them. Dr. Hoecker suggests some activities to enjoy the holidays without the usual over spending - doing things together in the kitchen, doing some reminiscing with your family, or passing some of your prized possessions to your kids (or parents) such as your favorite decor or handy tool. There are many ways to go about this and you could be even more creative and come up with your own holiday activities too.
Ever been wondering about gifts to give for him? Well, it really depends on his interests, whether he’s the computer geek type or the one who’s into art, music, carpentry or automobiles. Whatever his hobbies are, there are many practical gifts that would surely be a big help for him – from vacuum cleaners, tool boxes, to USB drives or a set of paint brushes.
(more…)
I haven’t been to Dubai and I am kinda curious about the place since this is where the world’s next tallest building will rise - the Burj Dubai which will be open to the public probably next year. Aside from this, there are many ongoing modern buildings being constructed and cities being developed. Dubai will certainly be one of the world’s foremost tourist destination and business hub in the Middle East. The place has lots of unique and exciting adventures and attractions to offer, from sand boarding in the desert, riding a camel, watching a belly dancing performance, shopping for exotic carpets, jewelry, souvenirs and handicrafts, and more.
(more…)
Ideas are powerful. A train of thought can make or break, build or destroy. The choice is ours. Our ideas become our future. I believe that life’s meaningful lessons are best learned when shared with others.
