Living Inside My Head

It was my 25th birthday last June 26, and instead of celebrating it with my family, I decided to go out of town and meet mt boyfriend. The reason for this: boredom. I've spent many days in our house virtually alone almost everyday. My usual cure for boredom is reading books but since I haven't read anything for the past couple of days because I haven't bought any new books yet, I was stuck in the house watching tv. Not a good past-time, I think. I've been controlling myself from going to the nearby bookstore to browse and buy books, because I had planned to go to Manila for my birthday. Two days before my birthday, a typhoon surged and flooded many roads in out town and in Manila, so I was worried that my plan to go there might not pull through. Thankfully, on the night of the 25th, it stopped raining heavily already, and in the next morning, the 26th, the sky is still cloudy but there were no signs of an impending rain. At around 10am I took the bus going to Quezon Cit

One of my favorite anime shows from childhood is G Gundam. And a few days ago, I started re-watching it. Couple of years ago, I was able to purchase a DVD copy if it in Japanese language with an English subtitle. It's a completely different feeling to watch it in its original language after many years (I watched it for the first time when I was 14 or 15 years old when it was aired in a local channel and it was translated in Tagalog). Few days ago, I started watching it in English dub, and although I love the feeling and emotion of the Japanese dub (the Japanese dub is top-notch and nothing could ever reach that level), the English voice actors also did a great job in portraying the characters, which is quite a rare thing in English dub anime these days.

These past few days, I've been spending much of my free-time watching old-school anime. Back when I was young, I used to watch Japanese anime a lot. I remember turning on the TV early in the morning to watch my favorite animes, and the anime programmes would continue until early in the evening. I also remember being impatient to go home to watch, and end my day going to bed feelings satisfied but at the same excited for the next day. Those were the glorious times of anime in our local television channels. Nowadays, almost no anime is being shown on TV. They were disappointingly replaced by Korean and Mexican soap operas. I have nothing against this current phenomenon, but as a child growing up devouring every single anime on TV and turning them into inspiration, I was and am totally sad and disappointed with what is happening. Children of the '90s in our country, in my opinion, were more well-grounded, simpler, more inspired, more well-motivated and more care-free but certa

When I was young, I used to watch anime. I remember, I was always excited to go home to catch up on my favorite anime on TV. They were my source of comfort after a long day in school, and I was happy and delighted to finally have the time to sit back and enjoy. And I have to admit that I’m currently feeling very happy and light-headed because of this amazing show. Sounds corny? Nah…come on, I guess this is how things work when you are growing up…when you are looking for something, like contentment. It’s quite amazing how simple things can have such big and positive effects on me…And I trully feel contented after watching… Somehow, it seems to me that the world suddenly becomes perfect, even for a while…that no matter what difficulties that may come my way, yakang-yakang ko ‘to! Another one of my consolations in life: God will never give us problems we cannot solve… that not all the time we will experience happiness and pleasure. There’s always a time for joy, and there’s always a time

I ordered the book Tiaras: Past and Present by Geoffrey Munn from Book Depository, and I was thrilled to finally received it yesterday morning (May 31, 2011). I waited 3 weeks for the book to arrive. Upon receiving it, I immediately devour it while at the same smelling the pristine condition of each glossy page. This book is truly an eye-candy, and I am left wanting for more! Next time when I have the budget, I'll try buying the other tiara book also by Geoffrey Munn. It's quite expensive and it's very difficult nowadays to find a new copy of the book costing below $50. But with its 400+ pages, the money is all worth it, and I think it will greatly satisfy my craving for these wonderful and exquisite works of art. 

My brother and I took this exam yesterday. Very difficult! We arrived at the testing center at 7:15 AM, looked for our room assignments, and after fixing my signature and securing my pictures at a large piece of paper, I took my seat. At exactly 8AM the exam started. There were 150 items in total, composed of English vocabulary, word usage, paragraph composition, logic, mathematics, and of course about the Philippine Constitution. I spent the whole 3 hours allocated time to finish the exam. Very tedious and the questions definitely gave me headache. I hope we'll be able to pass the exam. *fingers crossed*

I am a self-professed bookworm. I love reading more than any other hobbies, and I grew up with fascination with books. In reading, I find a sense of comfort and relaxation, and in a world where everyone is busy living their lives, it has become difficult to find time to sit calmly and ponder things. I can become extremely busy sometimes and become very tired because of work, but when I get a free time, I prefer to spend it with reading. Reading has given a wider sense of what the world is like, of the feelings and emotions of people, of how people lived and live their lives in the past and the present, and how society works its way everyday. I can take a peek into the lives of many people, and understand the way of the world. One cannot underestimate the power of it: reading about history makes readers wiser, poems make readers witty, philosophy can make readers deep, logic and rhetoric make readers able to contend. Reading has been my consolation and I learn a lot because of it, and i

The rainy day season has certainly entered the Philippines, bringing with it a typhoon that is currently giving the country large amount of rain-shower. The capital was in signal number 1, but despite the two-day continuous rain, I find myself very much delighted to this type of weather. I always hated summer, and find the smoldering heat plus the humidity totally unbearable. During summer days, I am limited to staying at home, almost always doing nothing. Any kind of work, even doing simple household chores can make me sweat so much, and eventually render me completely exhausted. Summer is an unproductive season for me; it also often makes me irritated, lazy, and weak. But when the rainy season arrives, it is like a manna to me. Suddenly, I find myself beaming with energy to do many things. Doing household chores gives me enjoyment, and even though it's raining very hard outside, I can go out and stroll in the mall for hours, looking for a nice sweater and a couple books to re

I've been suffering from severe eczema for two weeks now. Actually, this skin problem started when I was 22 years old. During that time, my mother and I wasn't surprised at all when I first told her about the tiny fluid collecting in the skin of fingers. She has had it from time to time. Then I realized that eczema is hereditary, and now I am also inflicted with it. The summer heat in the Philippines, where recent temperatures climbed around between 36-38 degree Celsius took its toil in my already dry skin. As a wearer of contact lenses, I didn't want to use lotion to my hands. It felt uncomfortable and dirty. And so my skin was left totally unprotected. Several days ago, vesicles started appearing in my skin. I'm used to this kind of scene when temperatures are extremes. The vesicles erupt, dry up and crack and usually heal by themselves after putting an emollient. But not this time. The vesicles gradually became worse. Soon, my fingers were already red, very itchy,

Have a blessed Easter everyone! 

Summer is now here. And today's weather was very hot, with temperatures soaring up to 30 degrees Celsius. While it wasn't the hottest ever recorded, the day was still stifling hot and dry, with no clouds and wind. It's very difficult to move around - even the slightest activity can greatly reduce one's energy. I drink more water than usual, and my appetite is poor. Clearly, summer-time and summer-heat are the most daunting experience in a year for me, and I really hate this season although food is more abundant than ever, with all kinds of fruits and vegetables available in the market today. In addition, I'm not in my productive moments in this season. Honestly, I still prefer the rainy days. :)

"People change. Some for the better, others for the worst."

Dad's birthday + trip in Subic Bay + baby-sitter for my 1-year-old nephew + Internet surfing + Sim-ming for days = tired! All I need now is a good night's sleep. Whew! 

Today is my father's 55th birthday. Yeah, he's getting old. Haha. We'll have a birthday luncheon tomorrow and our relatives are coming. We're expecting more or less 30 people coming tomorrow. Wow. I bet it'll be a tiring day. But that's ok. ;-)

 I went to a bookstore that sells second-hand books today and was happy to find a rather interesting book - Queen Eleanor: Independent Spirit of the Medieval World . It is a biography of Eleanor of Aquitaine, one of the most powerful, influential and remarkable women of the Middle Ages. I don't know much about this lady, but after browsing through the first few pages of the book, Eleanor already come up as an interesting figure, and I'm pretty sure that I will enjoy this book thoroughly. The book is highly readable, not complicated and not too detailed, which is an advantage for me since this is the first time that I will reading a biography of Queen Eleanor. I'm going to start reading this book tonight.

I've been spending my free time playing Sims 2. I've been doing so for the past few days, and I love it. Sims 2 is my all-time favorite PC game. We got all its expansions but we can only have one extension installed in our PC at a time because of the size of the memory and the hard drive. I really enjoy this game a lot.

This an extract from the letter of Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark referring to the recent death of her mother Queen Sophie of Greece, and the pain of losing one's both parents. This greatly reminds of someone who also had to experience this kind of ordeal. "The loss of our beloved Mother...was almost more than one could bear & heal, only time can ease the pains. Having lost both our beloved parents life doesn't seem worth living any more & one misses them everyday more. The only consolation is that at least they are happier on the other side without all the trials & difficulties of this hard life."

I have been itching to buy this book, but I'm refraining myself from doing so because I'm planning to purchase this before my birthday as a birthday present for myself. Hahaha! At $13, I think it's very reasonable since every page of this book is a sure feast for the eyes. Hope I can keep myself from clicking that order button until June.  

Nineteenth-century writers, artists, readers, and theater-goes were fascinated by stories of death and mourning—especially of a young and beautiful woman. Famous poet and essayist, Edgard Allan Poe, was also fascinated with this, in fact, almost all of his poems have this topic. He asserted that  "The death of a beautiful woman, is unquestionably the most poetical topic in the world." Death of Elaine by Thomas Hovenden, 1882. There has been a long-standing philosophical problem of how tragic representations of suffering and death, especially of a beautiful woman, can arouse aesthetic pleasure and fascination. But why does this hold so much appeal and fascination to people? Death is often given the role of providing a sense of closure in written narratives and theatrical performances, for it is an act of greater finality and completeness than any other. As a writer quoted, "Death is the sanction of everything which the storyteller can tell. The death of

I took this picture of our 6 year-old half-Labrador, half-local dog, Tootsie. She is such a cute big dog and is so adorable and good-tempered. But she could be lazy most of the time and grouchy especially to strangers. Generally, she is civil to people she doesn't know, and if the person is a friend, family or acquaintance of ours, Tootsie can be indifferent. 

This is an enchanting portrait (and one of my favorites) of the beautiful Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna of Russia , a granddaughter of Britain's Queen Victoria. Elizabeth or "Ella", as she was affectionately called, was married to Grand Duke Serge Alexandrovich of Russia, a younger son of Tsar Alexander II. The belle of the Russian court, Ella was photographed here in all her splendor when she was in her early 30s - at the height of her beauty - wearing the Russian Court Dress made of silver. She was also wearing a kokoshnik or a traditional Russian headdress, adorned with emeralds, diamonds and pearls, and a necklace of big emeralds and diamonds. She was such a lovely sight to behold!

My whole day was spent today with my cousin. We hanged out together in two malls in Quezon City. We went window shopping/shopping, went to the three different bookstores and had food-trip, which was very enjoyable. We were on our feet almost the whole day that's why my feet are aching now. But I had a great time with her. I haven't had such bonding time with her for four months and I missed her and our chit-chat together. My cousin was like an older sister to me. She is all kindness and understanding, and she is one of those few people who never let her judgment of other people fail her. She has such a heart of gold.

The beautiful and courageous Queen Louise of Prussia , commanded universal respect and affection, and nothing in Prussian history is more admired than the dignity and unflinching courage  with which she bore the sufferings inflicted on her and her family during the war between Prussia and France. Queen Louise influenced her contemporaries and modern Germany probably more than any other woman.  She was often called the “Queen of Hearts” because she impressed those around her with her charm, charisma and cheerful, friendly nature. The royal couple’s comparatively simple, down-to-earth way of life and their caring relationships as spouses and parents were the reason for the Queen’s popularity, particularly among the middle class. This popularity and Louise’s premature death in 1810 at the age of 34 soon led to cult-like adulation of the Queen that continues to the present day. The French court painter Elisabeth Louise Vigee Lebrun painted Queen Louise in the early 1800s and was charm

Spent the whole day today with my sweetie. Chatted the whole day and had food trip. I missed him terribly but am very happy and satisfied that we're able to spend another day together. I just love him more and more! :-)

Three days ago, my friends and I were able to meet each other after almost 6 months. I was intensely happy and excited. This was the first time we went out together after 6 long months, and it was because of Joy finally going back to the Philippines. Of course, we missed her so much. Everyone missed each other too. And there are so many things that we had to catch up on. Joy treated us for dinner in a buffet restaurant, very delicious. And later that night, it was Chase's turn to treat us for coffee. Expectedly, he was the one talking almost all the time, which is okay since he was so funny. We are very glad that Joy is already here with us. She was such a presence to all of us. As for me, she was more than a friend. She was like an older sister, and it is she who keeps everything about our group organized. Good thing she will be staying here from now on. 

Finally got my copy of "Born to Rule: Five Reigning Consorts, Granddaughters of Queen Victoria" by Julia Gelardi this morning. I started devouring the first two chapter and I'm on the third chapter already, and so far, I'm utterly loving this book! It's refreshing to know more about Queen Victoria's lesser known granddaughters who became consorts of European monarchs. I've read so much about Alexandra of Russia, and it's a good thing that more attention is placed to the other granddaughters. My next few days will be less boring because of this wonderful book. :)  On a side note, I went to a local bookstore a while ago and I got my very first copy of Majesty Magazine. It's an interesting magazine, all about royalty of course. Hopefully I'll be getting more copies of this in the future. ;) Another precious book to join my ever-growing collection of royalty books. 

A poem to celebrate the arrival of  Princess Alexandra of Denmark in Britain, as the future bride of the Prince of Wales. It was written by Lord Alfred Tennyson in 1863. A Welcome to Alexandra Sea-kings' daughter from over the sea, Alexandra! Saxon and Norman and Dane are we, But all of us Danes in our welcome of thee, Alexandra! Welcome her, thunders of fort and of fleet! Welcome her, thundering cheer of the street! Welcome her, all things youthful and sweet, Scatter the blossom under her feet! Break, happy land, into earlier flowers! Make music, O bird, in the new-budded bowers! Blazon your mottos of blessing and prayer! Welcome her, welcome her, all that is ours! Warble, O bugle, and trumpet, blare! Flags, flutter out upon turrets and towers! Flames, on the windy headland flare! Utter your jubilee, steeple and spire! Clash, ye bells, in the merry March air! Flash, ye cities, in rivers of fire! Rush to the roof, sudden rocket, and higher Melt into st

I have been eying these following books for the past few weeks, but I keep on restraining myself from buying another royalty book without yet receiving the book I have purchased from Better World Books last month. Jeez, what is keeping this book so long? I'm so excited but the excitement is slowly building into anxiety already. Hopefully this week I will be able to receive it already. A book about the magnificent jewels and the unparalleled riches of the Romanovs. Judging from its size, weight and the quality of the photos inside, it's the perfect coffee table book, and perfectly befitting any history buff...just like me. Truly an eye-candy! :-) A more recent biography of dear Ella. I think this book offers new insights about the interesting life of this wonderful woman, who had a beautiful character to match her lovely face. 

 A very impressionable photograph of the lovely Audrey Hepburn , the epitome of grace and style, sophistication and glamour. She's a beautiful person, inside and out.

My dear friend Joy has finally come back from the US! What a surprise! I was one of the very few people to announce her return. She wanted to make it a secret first. She wants me arrange for a meeting with our other dear friends. I know everybody will be happy with this pleasant surprise. Can't wait when we'll see each other again! Looking forward to it.

After a month and a half of not seeing each other, me and my boyfriend were finally able to spend time together again. I missed him so much. With all the things he had gone through these past few weeks, I know I ought to make him happy 

The Empress Elizabeth of Austria , widely known as 'Sissi', is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful women in history. Her slender figure, her glorious ankle-length chestnut hair, her impeccable taste in fashion and her skills as an equestrian made her a legend. Despite her fairytale wedding and being the empress of one of the most powerful ruler in the world, Elizabeth was a deeply unhappy and restless woman. Her pursuit of happiness was all in vain and her tragic death ended a life full of bitterness. But her memory and reputation survived up to the modern age, and people can't help but feel fascinated about her, just like the times when she was still alive. To read about the Empress and her life, click this link: Elizabeth, Empress of Austria Some portraits of the tragic empress: This is probably her most well-known portrait. It was done by the German court painter, Franz Xaver Winterhalter in 1865, when the Empress was 27 years old. In this portrait, the artist

I've always had a penchant for beauty and a high regard for beautiful women. So it's no wonder that I'm again an adorer of another beautiful woman, whose pictures I've been seeing a lot since these past days. Recently, I find myself falling in love with the lovely Princess Alexandra of Kent , The Hon. Lady Ogilvy. She is the youngest granddaughter of George V of Britain, and a cousin of the current Queen. With her classic beauty and innate elegance, Alexandra is the quintessential princess, and I find her rather irresistible. I don't know but the princess's face has a soothing effect on me. She actually reminds me of her great-grandmother and namesake, Queen Alexandra of Britain, who's a noted beauty as well. Just a trivia, a new specie of rose was named after the Princess.

Yesterday, I watched the 2009 movie "Hachi: A Dog's Story". While the title may seem sounds cliche, the story is far from that. It's about a dog named Hachi whose loyalty and devotion to his master was so great that it may even transcends death. The movie was based from a real life story back in the 1930s in Japan about a dog named Hachiko. The dog's story captured the hearts of many Japanese people and until today Hachiko is held in high respect by the Japanese people. He became the symbol of loyalty. The movie is a real tearjerker and will definitely break your heart. I don't usually cry when I watch movies but this movie really hit my heart so much that I found myself crying so bitterly while watching the last half part of it. Until now, I haven't move on yet. :) What struck me the most about the movie is the way it was presented from the dog's point of view. It vividly portrayed the tragedy of Hachi. His love and loyalty to his master was

If I were to die today, I'd die a broken woman.

 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.