Living Inside My Head

 Is there anything that makes a man happy and contented than in living a simple and idyllic country life?

Recently, I've taken an interest in growing plants. This new interest gave me so much amusement, especially that nowadays I have so much free-time. A few days ago, I decided to grow some aloe veras in our backyard. I've been suffering from oily scalp since I was in college, and I know that aloe vera can help me in keeping my scalp and hair healthy. And so I planted two sets of aloe vera in pots. During this time, I also noticed the spindly growth of our Chinese bamboo. Although it has become abundant in foliage since we transferred it from our front yard to the back yard, I didn't like the way it looked, and so I put it back to its original place in the front yard with the other Chinese bamboo. The palmera is also showing signs of spindly growth so I decided to trim some leaves and change its location so it would get enough sunlight.  Yesterday, while preparing some scallion leaves for soup, I noticed that this vegetable, that has been in the refrigerator for quite sometime

I went to a second-hand bookstore near my home this afternoon and I'm so lucky enough to find books about royalty! It's quite rare to come across a book or books about royalty in that bookstore, and also in our country. And really, it's tiring and requires a lot of effort to dig on those countless piles of books! Good thing, everything is worth it. At the end of the day, I was able to get my hands in these books and I'm very happy about it! Sovereign: Elizabeth II and the Windsor Dynasty - Basically it's about the present Queen and her descendants. Alice: Princess Andrew of Greece - An intriguing biography of the mother of Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh and mother-in-law to Queen Elizabeth II Roosevelt Women: Not a book about royalty per se, but I think the stories of the women who belong to this famous American family are quite interesting. I hope I'll be able to come across more great and rare finds like these in the future! ^_~

Obligation without love makes one irritable Righteousness  without love makes one cruel Truth without love makes one a fault-finder Upbringing without love makes one two-faced I ntelligence without love makes one cunning Affability without love makes one hypocritical Competence  without love makes one uncompromising Authority without love makes one a coercer Responsibility without love makes one arrogant Honor without love makes one haughty Wealth without love makes one greedy Faith without love makes one fanatical

They are the most striking architectural features I have ever seen. Their ethereal beauty is enough to steal one’s weary soul away. Their towering magnificence in the backdrop of a cloudless blue sky is treasure in one’s eyes. They look even more enchanting in the first crack of dawn – when the first rays of the sun cast on the golden domes. Or during wintertime, when they are snow-covered - it creates a wonderful contrast of gold and silver. They evoke a feeling of strange calmness and otherworldliness that seems to lighten one’s senses. Perhaps it is because of their colouring or the way they were exceptionally designed or maybe because they are associated with the divine. But there is more. They are monuments - reminders of a bygone age that the people nowadays feel very nostalgic about. They are also the symbol of their faith and that of their forebearers. Their religion suffered so much throughout the ages, but it still remains true, unchanged and forever mystical. Through these

Portrait of Queen Alexandra of Great Britain by Franz Xaver Winterhalter when she was still Princess of Wales. Alexandra's ravishing beauty was perfectly captured here by the artist. Beautiful, elegant, charming, and possessing a good nature, these qualities befitting a princess and a future queen, quickly endeared her to the British people the moment she arrived from her native Denmark, and this affection held to her would last until after her death.

We're finally home. Whew! After spending several days in the hospital, we were finally able to go back home. My mom had a herniorraphy and so I had to stay in the hospital with her for three days. Good thing everything went well with the operation; a few hours after the operation, she was able to eat and walk already. The only bad and the disappointing thing about the whole experience is the insurance company that was supposed to pay for her hospital bills. Shockingly, even a single cent was not paid by them! They talked about so many reasons, so many exceptions, which aren't valid of course. Why the hell is the purpose of that damned insurance if not to pay for their clients' health care fee?! And yet, they failed. Sh*t to all of them! Good thing we were able to settle everything within the day of her discharge, and was finally able to go back home. Well, this is what I can only say to those damn insurance b*st*rds: to hell to all of you!!!

Its color consumes the last rays of a distant memory. Tranquility… No, something is looming from behind. It is calling me as gravity pulls my aching feet. Drowning in the dark abyss called dream, I breathe in a phantom reality. I woke up to find the night-sky dark…and lonely. But there is something about the whisper of the wind and the faint moonlight against the curtains. And so I wonder… Does everything else still matters when life is over? What about the treasure of memories that have been stored in the most hidden part of our consciousness? Maybe silver tears are not enough… not even love. And even though I cast my shadow against the flickering candle light, I know you could still see the path that only you could travel. So continue walking because I won’t vanish…not like a smoke that makes the sky raven-black. But when it rains, I want you to flood me with your melody. With that, nothing else matters, except for that ethereal scent that induces somnolence.  

I wrote this poem in August 2005 about a person who I became attached to but because of our differences, we drifted from each other and now he is only a part of my past. I reposted this poem here because I remembered receiving good comments about this poem. Of course I'm proud of being able to write a poem that other people can relate to. When the sun and the moon fell in love A nuptial knot between them is unthinkable There is no way they could ever be in the same sky Because time just won’t allow them to be. Just like the fire burning tremendously Only the water could dissipate it But water can be vaporize by fire And so only one of them has to exist. Blunt words are sharp like knives And they could shatter a fragile heart An enthusiastic traveler cannot be tied down domestically And timidity has no place to a sociable world. You are a risk-taker and I am cautious as I can be You crave for new things and I can’t let go of the old ones Love will never be enough

Mom has not been feeling very well since these past two days. She's been suffering from insomnia and was absent from work since yesterday. I accompanied her to the doctor this morning. He gave her a medication so she could be able to sleep, not a sleeping pill, but an antihistamine, to induce somnolence without the risk of drug dependence and rebound insomnia, and multivitamins. Hope she'll be able to sleep later. 

Few weeks ago, I was suffering from depression, exhaustion and a general feeling of weakness. Those were terrible times for me, and the most terrible I have ever experienced in my entire life. I felt I had no life at all. Everyday I felt hopelessness, fear and anxiety. I had no peace of mind, and my lack of sleep made my feeling even worse. I found myself crying almost everyday that I thought I'd suffer a breakdown. I felt so miserable. I was no longer enjoying myself, my life..Even simple things that most people overlook seemed so precious to me. That kind of life and that way of life was never for me. I knew it from the very beginning. But I thought I could give it a try, keeping in my mind that nothing in this world is simple. And yet in the end, I still prove to be right. Now I'm happy that I was able to do away with that kind of life. It was a great relief for me: sleeping in the night, being with my loved ones during the weekends and the holidays, spending time with my fr

I found a rather interesting article about women born under the zodiac sign Cancer. I was born under this sign. You are among the people most likely to: Cry after making love. Why? Because Sensual Cancers are among the most emotional and sentimental people in the Sensual Zodiac. Secretly, people wonder… Are you real ­ or are you really a fairytale princess come to life? So soft and so sensual, you are like a slice of sunlight brightening up every room you walk into. Your sweet smiles, graceful ways and expressive eyes make you look staggeringly beautiful. You are a joy to watch on the dance floor. You glide when you move and when you laugh it sounds like a thousand violins gone wild. Your eyes reveal so much about you… …your richness of emotions, hopes, joys, passions and insecurities. You long for protection. Your shell is that secret place you retreat to. You don’t like mean and you don’t do ugly. Perceptive, Intuitive and Insightful You have the ability to absorb nuan

A perfect poem for this season of love by German poet Heinrich Heine . You are as lovely as a flower, So pure, so fair to see I gaze on you, and sadness Comes stealing over my heart. I had gladly folded my hands Upon your soft brown hair, Praying that God may keep you So lovely, pure and fair. This poem reminds me so much of the lovely Grand Duchess Elizabeth of Russia. ^_~

  Enjoy this day with your special someone! 

Portrait of Queen Victoria  on her wedding dress and veil. It was done by Franz Xaver Winterhalter in 1847 as a present for her husband, Prince Albert.

Few days to go before Valentine's Day, and you might be already thinking of surprising your special someone. But sometimes, it can get a little difficult picking up the right flower to give on Valentine's Day. Flowers have different meanings, it maybe in the color or in the variety. The following is a look at what flowers are perfect for this holiday of love. Rose : Roses represents the never ending feeling of love and passion. Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love, presented a rose to Eros, the god of love. Roses can convey various sentiments, according to number and color. This flower rules the world of beautiful flowers with diversified effective usage in different situations of life. Red roses for love, romance and passion; yellow roses for friendship; pink roses can mean admiration and appreciation; and white roses represents innocence and purity.   Tulip : This amazing flower got its origin in Persia; tulips were at one time as expensive as a house because of their rarity.

  The banner speaks everything. Hmm. I'm thinking of going. The last time I went to the Balloon Festival was in 2009. Very disappointed. I didn't even get to see a single balloon flying. They were just being inflated and that's it. But that was quite understandable because we went there in the afternoon. All we saw were kites and the military sort-of-thing exhibition. To enjoy this colorful sight, the best time to go there is around 5am. So early!!!

It's almost bedtime but I can't sleep. I don't feel like going to sleep. When I don't have peace of mind, it's difficult to sleep. So painful. I'm thinking about him. I'm thinking about his current situation, his seemingly hopeless situation. The difficulties he had and he have to go through. That's right. I I almost forgot that it has been two years since those dreadful times, but until now it isn't over yet. And things can still get worse over time. Everytime I think about him, and what he's been going through, I can't help myself but break down and cry. The thought that he's been suffering pains my heart so much that sometimes I can't bear to listen to him anymore. The distance that is separating us prevents me from being by his side every time he needs support. I wish there is something I can do to help him other than supporting him emotionally. Unfortunately, even emotional support is sometimes very difficult to give. I always ha

It's quite a boring day. Nothing much to do. Woke up around 8:30am by a call from Baby. Spent the whole morning surfing the internet - for wedding dresses! Haha! Yeah, wedding dresses. But I'm not getting married and I will not anytime soon. It's just that I am very fascinated with them and decided to take a look at designs that would catch my fancy. Every girl dreams of the day when they will be wearing one! Anyway, I stumble across this rather wonderful and interesting quotation about wedding gowns:  "Real princesses always wear sleeves so why do we all go for strapless? " And I couldn't agree more. Strapless, backless or with low cut neckline wedding gowns are sexy, modern and very flattering but honestly, I think  nowadays we are loosing more that mysterious and ethereal look of the bride. We tend to reveal more and hide less. Personally, I prefer a wedding dress that has a touch of vintage, one that has sleeves or a boat neckline. These styles are real

I really love this Van and Hitomi painting (from the anime Vision of Escaflowne ) done by French artist Nathalie Roberts. I had this printed from my computer printer and hanged it in my room. Van and Hitomi are my favorite anime couple, and seeing a painting of them showing that after the series they were finally reunited greatly satisfied me. It gives me such a feeling of nostalgia. The painting shows Van and Hitomi, reunited. Aren't they such a cute couple? They are wearing Fanelian traditional costume, which speaks that they are now the rulers of the Kingdom of Fanelia. Hitomi is probably pointing at the sky and the Mystic Moon (or Earth). Perhaps she's giving Van a little geography lesson. ^_^ All credit goes to the creator of this painting, Ms. Nathalie Roberts.

 "If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man’s life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility.” -- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

 Today I went to Trinoma Mall in Quezon City with my brother. He intended to buy a Valentine's gift for his lady-love. Since I was pretty much bored staying in the house for many days, I decided to go with him. Since I will be going to Manila, I decided to cook something for my Sweeie and bring it to him. So I woke up early and cooked kare-kare. Then I took a bath and prepared to go. Since Sweetie had decided to have a day off today, I became excited to see him. We haven't seen each other for two weeks, and I really missed him. Anyway, my brother and I took the bus at 10am and arrived in the mall at 11. We met Sweetie there, and he and I decided to go around the mall just the two of us. I was able to buy a shirt and pants, and it only cost me 500 pesos. So inexpensive! Around 2pm, we met again with my bro and we decided to eat. I've been craving for a Burger King hamburger with fries so I bought a set of that. My brother also. Sweetie ate the kare-kare. Until now I'm s

 Another poem, dated 2005. It was originally posted in my now-obsolete blog, and I got it reposted here. *** (Ok… I am depressed for a couple of days now. I keep on thinking about one of the most special things I had with me for years and how I lost it together with all its precious content. It is as if I also lost all the beautiful memories I have for a very long time. I still can’t believe it. *sobs*) *** One night, it became sad unbearably In this deep melancholy I recalled the distant past The memory of what was gone forever When everything just fell in full oblivion I recalled the dream of a childhood Thought about all the tears that are shed All the lies that are told in the world Where pointless suffering seems to have no end Blood just spilled and flooded the ground Hate and fear enslave the heart All the beauty seems to fade away Happiness replaced by grief and misery Trust is shattered by doubt Everyone is blinded from the truth Self-sacrifice is a beautiful illusion And love

This is the second poem I've written in July 2005. I was inspired to write this poem after spending one cool December day with a special someone. Unfortunately, that person and I slowly drifted from each other, and nothing came up from that friendship. But it's ok, because now I'm happy. It was a dream of faraway that I was loved But I hope to wake up to find it true On a daylight when the trees sleep in coldness It was a fateful encounter of two different spirits. Feeling overwhelmed by conflicting emotions So many things that others cannot understand It is tough to accept everything that I see But I will go on searching for the truth. The future will not arrive If I stay like this, I will never see it This small shell of mine, I have to get out And wander for sometime in the desolate world. Things that cannot be change And feelings I cannot explain They will go on deciding the path And in the end of it, love is glowing! I will endure the feeling of being alone Trying to b

This is the very first poem I've ever written, way back in 2005. It speaks so much about my state of mind at that time: sorrow and hope. It seems that I was writing about myself, and at the same, I was also writing about someone..Someone that I wanted to protect, despite my own loneliness. When the pain of the world seems too heavy to be carried Always remember to look up the sky Because beyond this very magnificent azure You will find the courage to go on Your faith will never lose you It will always guide you to the right path And never forget to look back At the times that were filled with happiness and joy And when sadness descended to your heart And tears spilled with the stream of stars Remember that the rain will wash the pain away And the sun will appear once more to light your way Your brown eyes are windows to your soul They glisten so wonderfully with innate depth And in them I see with wonder A great soul forever longing to belong I wish with all my heart to feel you fo

OMG! This McDonald's commercial reminds me of my childhood! It was from 2000. Just look at those children and teenagers' hairstyle! Typical hairstyle way back then. Haha. Some of the scenes were shot in the very first two McDonald's in our town, and the high school students were also from a well-known school here! I myself was a highschooler when this was first aired on Philippine TV...and now I'm 24. So many years have passed since then. Oh I miss my childhood so much!