Thank You, Lord, For Your Blessings on Me

The song says it all! Thank you, dear Father, for all the blessings that you have bestowed upon me.

The Deserted Beach Test

I am Determined

I do things my way, and I always get results. I'll work as hard and long as it takes. I am completely fearless. I refuse to let fear control me. I am proactive, and I try not to let anything slide. I avoid lazy thinking habits. I always have a way when my will demands it. I don't consider failure an option.

What about you?

Effortless Cool

They're considered as one of Hollywood's power couples. Young, talented, successful and popular. Together, they're worth more than $160 million. Beyonce is a daring fashionista who never fails to turn heads whether she's in a sexy designer outfit or in her figure-flattering rocawear jeans and killer heels. Together with hubby Jay Z, the hip hop superstar who always look cool in his white tees, denims and oversized glasses, this couple epitomizes what we call effortless cool.

Solo or Group Thinker?

I am a Solo Thinker

I am strong willed and strong minded. I have the mental chops to get through anything. I am proactive, and try not to let anything slide. I avoid lazy thinking habits. I have to tell it like it is. I am compelled to be honest, even when the truth isn't popular. I am driven and energetic. I always have my eyes on the prize.

What about you?

Friday Photo Flashback

Eileen and me

Our mothers are the best of friends. They were office mates at the Provincial Treasurer's Office of Negros Occidental where they worked since the 50's until their retirement in the late 90's.

Eileen and I were born in the same month and year. She's just older than me by 6 days. Her mother is my godmother. We were also classmates in high school.

Eileen is now in Australia while am here in the U.S. Although we are continents apart, we continue to keep in touch, mostly through the net (thank you, Facebook!).

The Flashback photo I posted was taken when we were 2 or 3 years old during our mothers' office Christmas party. Eileen is the pretty girl in ponytail seated while I'm the button-eyed girl standing behind her holding an apple.

The Winning Hit

On Saturday, Derek Jeter made history as the first Yankee and the 28th baseball player to reach 3,000 hits. Not only that. His 3,000th hit was a solo home run.

Being Yankee fans, hubby and I were THRILLED that we were able to witness that great historic moment even if it was only through live t.v. coverage. As we all know, the guy who caught the ball graciously returned it to Derek Jeter. That famous ball may be worth thousands of dollars in the market, but to baseball giants like Jeter, it is priceless.

Hubby is a staunch baseball and Yankee fan. He's got quite a collection of baseball memorabilia like autographed balls, gloves and a lot of baseball collectibles. The other day, I've been looking into personalized baseball bats. That could be another great gift for this big baseball fan.

The myth is that you put a Yankee uniform on a player

and he becomes great.

- Manager Birdie Tebbetts

Sweat it Out

Hubby and I had an "active" evening at the gym. After spending a couple of minutes in the whirlpool, I walked across the pool to do a few laps. We are now on our third week of diet, and exercise helps us burn more of those unwanted pounds.

When I am not in the pool or attending Zumba class, I walk or spend time at the treadmill or the stationery bike with my constant exercise companion, my Ipod. Thanks to my Ipod accessories; listening to music makes long-distance walking and gym enjoyable.

Weekend in The Villages

The Villages is a picturesque community located in Sumter and portions of Lake and Marion Counties in sunny Central Florida. The place is a great weekend getaway.

See for yourself.

Welcome to The Villages, Florida's friendliest town!

Sunrise offered a very beautiful spectacle;

the water was quite unruffled,

but the motion communicated by the tides was so great that,

although there was not a breath of air stirring,

the sea heaved slowly with a grand and majestic motion.

- George Grey

A lake is the landscape's most beautiful and expressive feature.

It is earth's eye; looking into which the beholder measures

the depth of his own nature.

-Henry David Thoreau

I hear lake water lapping with low sound by the shore...

I hear it in the deep heart's core.

- William Butler Yeats

I'm an old-fashioned guy..

I want to be an old man with a beer belly sitting on a porch,

looking at a lake or something.

- Johnny Depp

Relax

How do you unwind after a long and stressful day at work? Aside from watching a movie or our favorite Yankee team on t.v., hubby and I love soaking in the whirlpool at the gym to relax our sore and tired muscles. On a sunny weekend, we love to dip at the backyard pool and enjoy the cool water.

Just before we left Hawaii, we stayed in a condo in Waikiki. There was a hot tub on the roof top of the building overlooking the Magic Island. Hubby and I loved taking dips in the hot tub late in the afternoon or during cool evenings. The hot tub has no cover though so the maintenance personnel has to regularly sanitize the tub. A Beyond Nice hot tub spa cover would have been a help in keeping unwanted objects like dust, falling leaves and other kinds of debris out. It'll also provide better insulation which helps in energy conservation.

Tree on the Lake

A reflection of a tree beside the lake at our backyard.