RESTING IN YOUR GRAVE

"A German pastor's plan to help parishioners relax from the stress of everyday life by having them lie in an open grave was thwarted by reporters - who shattered the peaceful silence with their questions.

"It wasn't silent, as it should have been," said Pastor Thorsten Nolting. "They ruined it. [They] would not go away, even when I asked them." (New York Post, March 31, 2008)

OK Pastor - truthfully tell me what is so stress-free about laying in an open grave? I would think that would be more stressful than anything!! Actually that story reminds me of an analogy I heard many years ago that goes like this - Picture yourself at your own funeral. Who is there? What is the expression on their faces? What music is playing? How many are there? Is anyone missing?

I guess you can do this but how many of us wake up everyday thinking, "I really need to plan my funeral today." Not many of us I am sure. However, (you knew there would be an 'however", right?) the one thing that is important about the story above is that maybe it is a good idea to lay in an open grave. See what comes to your mind - I can't imagine this being relaxing but what I can imagine is my mind turning to the important things - my wife and family, making sure all of the financial affairs are in order, making sure I leave my wife with NOTHING to worry about except missing me, etc... I have changed my mind - it is a good idea to lay in an open grave but only for different reasons. "Sweetheart, where's the shovel?"

MARKETING MAYHEM!!

Have you ever been tricked in to buying something? Or worse yet, bought something you wanted only to be "cross sold" into buying more than you wanted? This happened to me not that long ago as I wanted to subscribe to a "free trial" for a book of the month club. Sounds good right? Free book...only they forgot to tell me about the other books coming with the "free" book that I would have to pay for. After being told to mail these back (at my expense) everything would be cancelled and I wouldn't have to pay for them. But guess what? The next month more books came. It was a nightmare (and kind of expensive) trying to get the "free" trial cancelled but I managed. These kinds of stories and schemes are very common especially in the area of book clubs, CD clubs and even Event Marketing. I ran across a great article that is really worth reading called, "7 Ways Event Organizers Trick You into Spending Money on Things You Don’t Need". It would be worth your time to be that much more educated and that much more ready for the next time. Just click the link above for the article!

SOME MONDAY EVENING HUMOR

As my day draws down, I ran across this hilarious video - I guess it has received over 10 million(!!) views already - take a look - and enjoy!!

SHOULD HILLARY JUST QUIT?

The answer is getting closer and closer to 'yes'. I read an article about her campaign finances and how she is getting the reputation of not paying her bills. You can read the article here. She even stiffed someone from Iowa - now I'm mad! Another article has Obama 10 points ahead of her according to a recent Gallop poll. It is looking worse and worse but one thing is for certain - Hillary has a "never give up" attitude no matter what the press says, no matter what the polls say, no matter what her husband says (or does). She pledges to take her campaign all the way to the convention. I admire her courage...but that's all. There will be some interesting commercials in the coming days as we brace ourselves for another Presidential election. Notice how quiet John McCain has been?

THE LAST WHALE

As a child, I wanted to be an oceanographer. I loved undersea life and it became something I was enamoured and fascinated with. When I saw this blog about whales, I was immediately interested.

Of note, there is a book coming out later this year called "The Last Whale". It should do well since this topic seems to hit home with so many people. Can you imagine yourself out at sea spotting these beautiful creatures? Can you imagine the waves ripping over the sides of the boat? I can only imagine that upon returning to the mainland from such a journey you would turn around and say "We went out there?" Fascinating! The book is nonfiction so it will be filled with the true encounters of a dedicated group devoted to this worthy cause. It is scheduled to be released in September 2008 by Fremantle Press, so mark your calendars!

CATHOLICS VS MUSLIMS

The Vatican just released a statement that Catholics are no longer the largest religious denomination in the world. Guess who is? The peaceful religion of Islam. Actually, Christians make up 33% of the world's population and Muslims about 19%. Catholics - 17%. What does this mean?

Denominational churches, for the most part, have been on the decline. Independent churches have been on the rise. People are tired of the politics of the church and have been looking for a meeting of like-minded individuals who just want to worship and serve the Lord. The Catholic Church falls somewhere in between. People who were born into a Catholic family tend to stay loyal to the Catholic Church and pass that onto their children.

We are not in a race to see who can have the most converts or members...something gets lost when you do that in the church. But one thing is for certain, "the church" is not doing as good a job as possible - as evidenced by the above picture. Time will tell, but when I say "the church", I don't mean your minister or Father....I mean us...I mean you.

INTERNET REPUTATION MANAGEMENT

You can find anything you want on the Internet. The unfortunate thing is that you can find as much good as bad. One of the worst things the Internet is being used for is to smear and defame others. There is a relatively new field of business called reputation management. IRM is a company that specializes in restoring a person or company's reputation that has been tarnished unfairly and unjustly over the Internet. Their website is filled with tons of great information - especially the section titled, "Ten Easy Steps to an Excellent On-Line Reputation." As bloggers, this is important for us as well so I would encourage everyone to get a copy. Just click here. Our reputation is important - especially since it's there for the whole world to see!!

BLOGGING NO NO'S

We have been blogging now for about two months. It seems longer because we have immersed ourselves in it and are committed to our blog for the long haul. Also, over the last couple of months, I have made a point to read as many different blogs as I can to see what is out there - all the way from the Technorati 100 to the every day blogs of people who are not in it for profit. Here are some "no no's" I have picked up:

1. No plagiarism. Remember the term "copycat"? It's easy to spot a blogger that will copy and paste just for the purpose of getting a post up for the day. For integrity's sake, don't.
2. No attacks. Ever read a blog where there are personal attacks against someone? It's OK to criticize if there is some reasonable evidence to support it, but stay away from attacking others, especially other bloggers.
3. No Pretending. It's amazing to read what people will write about themselves. I've noticed a lot of bloggers making claims about themselves as if they are experts on certain topics and that they have friends in high places. (John Chow is my best friend...on my father's side.)

I need to thank my wife again for this idea of blogging. And she will thank Marie who encouraged her. It has been exciting so far and from what I have learned about blogging, it will only get better and better. Good luck to everyone!!

WHAT'S A SNAPBOMB?

Ever heard of Snapbomb? Snapbomb is a company that specializes in blog marketing and blog advertising. Advertisers are matched to bloggers who, in turn, get paid to blog about various products and services. It's that easy.

Blogging has become an increasing profitable way for businesses to create buzz and awareness about their products and services. It's simple to let others do the advertising for you and that's where we, the bloggers, come in. We are providing a valuable advertising medium for businesses and getting paid for our labor in return. It's that easy. The approval process is quick and painless. Simply register, submit your blog and you are given a decision within a matter of minutes, not days like others. If you are interested in getting paid for your blog and blogging skills, then I would check out Snapbomb today!

YOU WILL LAUGH SOOO HARD

This video made my wife and I laugh so hard our tummies hurt for an hour! I love videos like this - you will watch and re-watch - I guarantee!! We hope all of your have a great weekend....now check this out!!

FAT AND LAZY

Americans have been accused of being fat and lazy. Of course there are Americans who are fat and lazy....no doubt. Obesity and laziness are problems here in the States. But there are fat and lazy people in every single country in the world. However, the spotlight is on this country because we are so prosperous. I do believe the USA is one of the hardest working countries in the world. While this is true, Americans do weigh more and seem more reluctant to take "menial" jobs like fast food. May I say something bold.........there are NO excuses for being unemployed in the USA unless that is your choice. There are always fast food jobs, there are always midnight shift jobs at Walmart and most large grocery stores...and of course, there are endless self-employment opportunities. Anyone, and I mean anyone, can make up business cards and distribute them in the right neighborhoods and find some yard care work, just as an example. No excuses. How's this for an idea....start a blog....clever!! More people from other countries come to the USA to work than ANY OTHER! While Americans stand by, or should I say sit by, and complain about there being no jobs (while snacking on jalapeno flavored Pringles and washing it down with a Colt 45 and eating sardine ice cream for dessert....with Jerry Springer going full volume), others are recognizing the opportunities and taking those jobs. It is not time to wake up America, that time is past. It is time to shake up!!

By the way, the woman in the photo above - she's from London, England.

FROM THE BOBO FILES....

"Police in Missouri are debating whether to charge a man for fatally shooting his wife while trying to punch a hole in the wall with a gun so he could install a satellite television dish. Patsy Long was standing outside the house when her husband, Ronald, got the bright idea to shoot through the wall. She was pronounced dead at the scene."

Let me see....we could approach this little scenario with some biting comments about how stupid the husband was - instead of drilling a hole in the wall to install a satellite dish, he used a gun and shot a hole in the wall. Good thinking, dude. Oops, your wife was on the other side of the wall. Now she is dead. All for some cable TV. Or we could see this for what it really is.....a very sad ending for a woman who started the day just going about her business living life as she knew it. Now, she is gone forever.

Day after day I think about taking advantage of every moment, every day. I hate wasting time. In my younger days I never thought about it so much.....I wish I had. If you are in the age group of 0-39 (it's a complicated formula, I'll share it sometime), then I would advise you (strongly) to redeem the time and make every moment count. You never know what is going to happen - you never know what is around the corner in life. Of course, our trust and faith are in God, but how many Christians today had something bad happen to them? Plenty. No one is exempt. God doesn't always shelter us from accidents. That's why it is important to redeem the time, live each day to the fullest.

NEED HELP?

This is probably an embarrassing topic for men but knowing there are products on the market to help is comforting. Seen the ED commercials on TV? If you don't know what ED is then click here. One of those products on the market is Tadalafil. It is the generic form of Cialis only, as with all generic brands, they are less expensive.

As this topic has been in the minds of aging men, there are products being delivered to the marketplace that address their issues and in many case, change lives for the better. Hey!! Stop blushing - it's a reality and we can be thankful there are products like Tadalafil to help.

THE MAN WITH NO LEGS

My sister and I used to call each other a "stare pot" which means you stared at the other person so long you just made them uncomfortable. I don't remember how we got the "pot" portion of the phrase but to this day I still remember that. We would stay, "Don't be a stare pot!"

Kevin Connolly agrees with me. He is used to being stared at and probably would say the same thing to those people that I said to my sister, "Don't be a stare pot!" The difference between Kevin and I?? He doesn't have legs. He gets around by using a skateboard and has become accustomed to people staring at him. As a kid on vacation at Disney World, a group of Japanese tourists gathered around him and kept taking his picture as if he were some sideshow.......much to the dismay of his father. However, don't feel too sorry for him. He has turned lemons into lemonade. You can read his story and see a short video of him in action here.

Wasn't that great?? Admiration and respect........all for him. But I have to be careful myself because - I saw someone the other day who was missing part of her skull so that part of her head was sunken and I couldn't resist trying to get a second and even third look. I hope she didn't notice. What about you? It's hard but major courtesy and respect to all who are physically challenged in some way. If you didn't already, go back and watch the video about this courageous man. The lesson here? Don't be a stare pot!!!

100TH POST!!!

I just kissed my wife. Hey!! We had to celebrate the 100th post to our blog. We haven't been around very long - less than two months but I have tried to be a blogging machine. Actually and truthfully, the test is not in the first two months but in the first two years. The marathon is harder than the sprint. Can we keep up the pace? Only time will tell but I thought this was a good time to say 'thank you' for visiting us, for the messages you have left, for the comments you have left....it's great to read your greetings and comments and we are always honored to share a little of our life, this Fil-Am Journey, with you and when you share your life with us. We will continue to visit your blogs as they are truly inspirational and informational and we thank you for them as well. Magandang gabi from Georgia!!

RIDING THE "WAVE"

There's a new player in town - bloggerwave - it's another way for bloggers to make money!! I love the idea of competition and a free market society and guess who benefits? YOU AND ME!! Bloggerwave is relatively new but they are gaining momentum. If you have a blog and haven't yet checked out Bloggerwave, then go to their website. Once approved you will be given opportunities to blog and make money!! It's as easy as that. I would encourage all of you to check out Bloggerwave and sign up today!!

THE NIGERIAN SCAM

I blogged earlier today about the latest IRS scam and received a comment from Francesca. She gets emails from scammers wanting to transfer her lottery winnings to her bank account - they just need the account number and voila...instant money!! Only one problem, Francesca has never played the lottery! This reminded me of another scam going around called the Nigerian Scam. You can read about it here. Double click the letter here also and read for yourself. Just for fun, I responded to one of these emails and asked them for the account number, swift code and ABA number of the bank the money was being held in. No response.....hmmm. Anyway, thanks to Francesca for the info and I am sure many of you also get the same kinds of emails. Read about the Nigerian scam - have you ever received one of these? BE CAREFUL!! NEVER respond to requests by email or phone for your personal or financial information unless it is a transaction that YOU initiated!!!!!

PICTURE PERFECT

I love a good digital photo frame. As the picture has evolved over the years so has the picture frame. This is an up and coming market as more and more people have switched over to digital cameras so naturally they will convert over to digital frames. Imagine a picture frame that will digitally rotate different pictures through a frame. Imagine the buzz you would create with guests in your home or even at work? Many digital photo frames can also be tailored to fit your business - from branded frames and boxes to branded wake-up screens and preloaded memory cards with a corporate message. If you click here you will find a site that specializes in digital photo frames. Their prices are very reasonable and the selection is great. They also have frames that play videos and can play music. Great site with great selection at great prices!

REMEMBER THE REBATE?

The IRS has done a good job of letting people know that there are scam artists (why are they called artists?) on the loose trying to get their hands on your tax rebate/refund. Every year we are warned about this. Here is what they are trying:

1. Rebate phone calls - this is an attempt to inform you that you are eligible for a rebate and that they need your bank account number to direct deposit your money - Warning - the IRS will NEVER try to contact you by phone about a tax refund or rebate.....NEVER!!!


2. Rebate emails - Same thing - a convincing email from the IRS informing you of a rebate or refund and needing your bank account number to make the direct deposit - Warning - the IRS will NEVER try to contact you by email......NEVER!!


3. Audit emails - Scare tactic to get you to give them your (you guessed it) bank account number - Warning - the IRS will NEVER try to contact you by email (I am having deja vu).....NEVER!!!


4. Check verification phone call - a phone call from the IRS indicating they mailed you a check but it has yet to be cashed - "Can we get your bank account number and just direct deposit it for your convenience?" - Warning - the IRS will NEVER try to contact you by phone about a tax rebate or refund....NEVER!!

Hopefully we are all aware of this but it is a good reminder since it is "that time of the year." From our family to yours - have a great day!!

UNDER THE BIG TOP??

Police rescued two teenage Bulgarian sisters from a circus in southern Italy which forced one of them to swim with flesh-eating piranhas for the amusement of guests, police said. Wait, let me read that again. OK, I'm done. WHAT??? Read the article here for yourself. The other sister was tossed into a container and the circus staff threw snakes at her. Is this insane or what?? How did they even survive this kind of "job?"

I go to work every day and many of you do as well and we certainly at times feel like we are swimming with piranhas and snakes. But somehow we survive. Certainly our experience isn't as "real" as the sisters above. They practiced literal survival skills every day they "performed" in this circus.

I would like to propose a penalty for the "bobo" owners of this circus. Make them swim with piranhas and deal with the snakes....as others watch. And while we are on that subject, those who watched this atrocity take place should be punished as well. Yes, craziness exists everywhere - but especially in the Salerno province in Italy. Shame.

DEAD MAN FEELS "PRETTY GOOD"

Zach Dunlap was about to get cut open. Literally. You see, he was pronounced dead by doctors after an ATV accident and his organs were going to be harvested. He claims he heard the doctors pronounce him dead. His MRI showed no blood flow to the brain. He laid lifeless in the hospital for 48 days. His family gathered around him to pay their last respects when suddenly his foot and hand moved. Reports claim that his foot responded again to a pocketknife being scraped across the bottom of his foot (for the curious, that is a new fangled way of testing if you are alive or not....or not....or not). Miraculously, the 21 year old young man lived and is now recovering after being pronounced dead. He was quoted as saying, "I feel pretty good. But it's just hard ... just ain't got the patience." We know the feeling, Zach.

I believe this is a true miracle of God, no doubt. I love it when all the medical evidence points in one direction, but God intervenes and points to another way. Here is my hope - I hope this young man understands he is alive for just one reason - God's mercy. I hope he is productive with his life in a positive way that impacts many. I really believe the stakes are high for him because of this chance he has been given. Here is the story. Two things make me sad about this dramatic event:

1. The story doesn't mention anyone thanking the Lord (I may have missed it).


2. The boy's quote at the end of the article, "Only the good die young, so I didn't go."

Young man, may your heart and mind truly comprehend the miracle God "gave" you.....for free.

THE YAHOO / MICROSOFT SAGA

From the news front.........I love Yahoo! I love Microsoft! There are quirks in both companies but they have both done more to advance the Internet than the majority of companies. And now, Microsoft wants to get married to Yahoo! But first, the parents(stockholders) have to agree to this arrangement. Microsoft made an offer, it was too low. Standard negotiating. Start low and move up. Now today, Citigroup announced that they have raised the offer. Good move and good luck!! We will see in the weeks to come if it works out but most experts say it will. The saga continues.........

GIVE BY...SHOPPING??

Here's a great deal.......Get your free ebook "Revamp your Wardrobe on a Shoestring Budget". This will give you all the details about giving through shopping. Intrigued? Jennifer Melnick Carota, known as the Gift Therapist, wrote this ebook for those who are tired of shopping at stores with high retail prices. It is in pdf format so it will be easy to download and the best part is, it is free! She takes you through a wardrobe revamp in basically two phases:

1. The Planning Phase
2. The Shopping Phase

Simple enough. But the best part is the money saving advice. Her goal is to turn you into a super shopper that saves tons of money. From a husband point of view, this sounds really great!! So at the very least be sure to download a copy of her guide and give it a read today!

THANK YOU AFTER THANK YOU

This is how I feel after reading all of your comments for my precious wife. She had a great birthday today and a large part of that was because of your comments. My wife has a gentle and soft heart and my goal today was.......to make her cry!!! GOOD TEARS, of course!!! Tears that meant her heart was touched in a powerful way.

I left the house early this morning for work, but before I did I left her a card, a letter, a small gift and a birthday letter from Daniel scattered throughout the house for her to find. One by one she found them and called me at work....crying!! Success!! Also, I gave her a hint to log on to our blog and she would find another surprise....all of your comments!! I will tell you that all of you touched her heart so much!! She called me after reading many of them and she was.....crying!!! MORE SUCCESS!! And so I wanted to give you "thank you after thank you after thank you!!" We succeeded in giving my beautiful wife a great birthday!! I will tell you also that I brought home a dozen roses, Happy Birthday balloons, Toblerone chocolate (she shared with me!!) and another gift of my affection for her. hmmm....I am so lucky to have her.

Tomorrow I promise to go back to blogging with my sharp wit and uncanny sense of insight and dry humor concerning daily events in our sometimes crazy world. And of course, I will temper every word with...........humility (I hope you are catching on to my sense of humor!).

THE SMARTER SOLUTION

"Learning disabilities in children are tragic, but learning disabilities in organizations are fatal."

I love this paraphrased quote because it refers to a kind of sickness that exists in many businesses. There is a company that helps businesses focus on time-tested principles in order for them to succeed. Smarter Solutions uses Lean Six Sigma principles to develop winning strategies for their clients. They target the following within an organization:

1. Culture and People
2. Metrics and Processes
3. Infrastructure

All of the above are needed in business to sustain growth, remain competitive in the marketplace and of course, to be profitable.

Do you want your blog to be successful? Here's a challenge - look over their website by clicking here. Peruse some of their links that talk about business strategy and principles of success....especially the Six Sigma links. Then think about your blog as a business and implement some of the principles learned there. If you study the history of Six Sigma and look how this company has refined it and uses it daily to help their clients, then you will soon find value in it for your own "business." I would encourage you to visit their website today.

MY WIFE'S BIRTHDAY!!

Tomorrow, March 24 is my asawa's birthday!

I have a plan - would all of you please send her birthday greetings in the form of a comment to this post? I know this would make her so happy. Hopefully you will flood this post with your birthday greetings so that there are so many it will take such a long time to read them all!! I will do my part in keeping her from the computer tonight so that she will wake up in the morning and see this post....but not before then.

This will be her first birthday where we can be together. This will be her first birthday where I don't have to order something online through a Filipino gift site - although I enjoyed doing that. This will be her first birthday where I don't have to rely on someone else to deliver her flowers and gifts to her on time. This will be her first birthday away from her family in the Philippines. This will be her first birthday as a Mommy. It's a special birthday for her and I want it to be as memorable as possible!!

Will you help me?? Thank you in advance!!! We appreciate all of you sooooo very much!!

BEGGARS CAN BE CHOOSERS

Just visit the Chinese city of Kunming. The merchants are so hard up for coins they are asking the beggars to sell them. It seems this coin "shortage" puts the ball in the court of the poor. Guess how they are reacting? They are selling the coins at a premium. In other words, if someone has $1.00 worth of coins, they are selling them for $1.30 or even more. They are making a profit off the coins they begged people to give them in the first place. Interesting.

In Atlanta there is a beggar who is well known, even to the point he gets on the news every now and then. Why is he well known? He spends his days in his wheel chair roaming up and down Peachtree St. asking for change...day after day. He seems to make enough to have an apartment in downtown Atlanta....have you checked the rates for renting in downtown Atlanta? Let's just say he does alright.

Jesus said you will always have the poor among you. I think the poor are one of God's tests for us....how will we react? How will we receive them? How do we respond to the above stories? On the eve of Easter it's good to have a heart checkup. Turning inward often gives us courage to do what needs to be done outward. Happy Easter to everyone. "He is risen" is not a Christian slogan we say once a year - it really did happen!!

TIGER'S REALM

Here is a list of Tiger Woods' homes:

• Jupiter Island, FL - $40 million


• The Hampton's, NY - $65 million


• Dubai, United Arab Emirates - $20 million


• Privacy (his yacht) - $20 million (shown here)

No wonder he won't return my calls. He is never at the home I am calling!! Anyway, what can you say? Pretty impressive for a golfer. I can't really say anything bad about Tiger Woods (except he won't return my calls) because I admire him so much. Not because of all the homes, all the money, all the tournament victories....but I really admire his discipline and his character. He maintains his cool, he always acknowledges the greatness of others, he respects history, nurtures a good attitude and is very committed to his family. Look no further for a hero for the kids. One thing you may not know - he is Buddhist. That is the Thai influence from his mother I am sure. Regardless, he is a great man in our times and with every swing of the golf club, mark my words, you are watching history being made. I think I will buy Daniel golf clubs for his 2nd month birthday.....never too early?

NEW WAVE ALARM CLOCK

I saw this video on YouTube and thought it was funny - I need something like this to wake up every morning. I hope you enjoy...and smile!!

PINOY ATHEIST

I saw a blog today called Pinoy Atheist. I was shocked at the blatant atheism his website displayed - widget after widget, advertisement after advertisement, post after post blatantly flaunting his godless philosophy. I was thinking about giving out his blog address so we could bombard him with messages of the love and hope of our God, when my very wise wife said, "No, you will just give him more traffic." I married smarter than me!

It's Holy Week and what a great and solemn time to think about and ponder what our Lord did for us....and the Muslims and the Buddhists and the Hindus and the Jews and, yes...even the atheists. I guess I was so shocked by the website, not because I have never met or read about atheists, but that he was Filipino. I am confessing my ignorance now and please forgive me but I have always been so impressed with the Philippines and what a religious country it is. But let's not forget, atheism is a religion also. Certainly they are entitled to their own beliefs and of course they have the right to free speech. But it's also important to remember - the Lord loves them just as much as He loves me....or you.

I am grateful for Holy Week...it leads to Easter which is the sole reason we can have eternal life. By the way, Sweden has the highest percentage of atheists.....the Philippines is not even on the list! Let's all pray for the Pinoy Atheist.

WANTED: IDENTITY PROTECTION

Actually, it's needed! Have you ever lost your wallet? Ever lost a credit card or some other piece of sensitive information? Identity theft is prevalent these days...especially with over-the-Internet purchases. There are numerous stories of individuals getting their identity stolen.....which means to say that some piece of personal information was stolen and it compromised their financial situation in some way. Once a thief gets their hands on your credit card number or social security number or bank account number, they can make numerous financial transactions damaging your credit history not to mention your bank account. But there is a company that protects you from being financially hurt should your personal information be stolen - lifelock protects you....up to $1,000,000....should your identity be stolen. In fact, the CEO of lifelock gives out his own social security number on the website - this is an impressive way to prove to us that his product works. He puts his money where his mouth is - giving us the assurance and guarantee that we can be protected against the consequences of identity theft. In this day and age....it's a great idea not only to protect your spouse, your kids and your home....but it's also a smart idea to protect your identity.

A DANIEL UPDATE

I am so proud of our son, Daniel. He is growing so fast and getting bigger every day. His little personality is showing more and more also. I am sooooo grateful he looks like his Mommy...so beautiful! Daniel had his 1 month birthday on Monday and we celebrated by playing golf....just kidding - we wrestled!! It's true - he is one tough cookie!! His Mommy calls him her Raging Bull because he puts all his energy into every movement. Pacquiao.....Pacman....take a close look....this little boy will someday hold your championship belt!! And I will be his manager!! Thanks to everyone for your comments about Daniel and sharing these first few weeks of his life with us. We appreciate all of you so much!

IT'S ABOUT TIME

I love giving to my wife. Whether it's something simple like doing the dishes or the laundry or getting her a gift I know she will love. Since I know she is a fan of watches, in particular,Seiko Watches , I found a website showcasing them and chose the one I would buy. I think I know her tastes pretty well so I narrowed it down to two different watches.....the Seiko Bangle Style Dress Watch seen here or the Seiko Bangle Style Mother of Pearl Watch seen here. Help me out for a moment....which one would you recommend I get? Check them out and let me know. Having narrowed it down to those two, I do know which one I would chose - and that's the Seiko Bangle Style Mother of Pearl. It is sleak and classy looking...very femine and I really like the blueish color in the middle. It say 'Debbie' to me! Agree?

AND A SIDE OF FACIAL HAIRS PLEASE

We hear stories all the time about how restaurant workers mess with our food. There are even TV specials showing hidden cameras capturing the unthinkable....cooks spitting in our food, dropping pieces of meat on the floor then putting it back on our plate, rubbing their hair so dandruff and dry skin fall onto the plate of food...my stomach hurts now. Anyway, here's one more story of an egotistical chef who was offended by a customer.

The chef cooked a medium rare steak for the customer who promptly had it returned because he deemed it to be cooked medium and not medium rare. First mistake....just shut up and eat the food. Anyway, the chef was offended his masterpiece was returned so he proceeded to shave his face over a newly cooked steak. In other words, he allowed facial hairs to fall on top of the steak.....maybe a new seasoning experiment? Second mistake......just shut up and re-do the order, your cooking isn't that great! Fast forwarding to the end of the story, the chef is going to jail. And the customer keeps coughing....for some reason.

Why are people so egotistical? We elevate our own greatness and use it to hurt other people....especially against other people who also perceive they are so great....forgetting that what turns you off in them, really exists in you as well. I will preach this one more time here.....thankfulness is my favorite emotion. Be thankful you have a hot meal to eat, be thankful you have a job. Be thankful period. The chef and the customer's downfall was very simply a lack of thankfulness. Gratitude really is a healing salve on the little bumps we experience in life. Even the big ones. It's lunchtime here, but I think I'll pass.

BASEBALL FEVER

Spring training is here! The Atlanta Braves are in full swing down in Florida right now and other MLB teams are likewise preparing for the another season of Major League Baseball. I can't help but cheer for the Braves but I know they may not be the best team with the best players in the league. That's why I don't do well in fantasy baseball leagues. I am biased toward my favorite team so I have a tendency to make decisions and choices based on my bias toward them. But there is another way to approach fantasy baseball. You know what that way is?? With intelligence!! Try this....Fantasy Sports Prophet's Fantasy Baseball software.

Fantasy baseball has become somewhat of a science as you need to take into consideration such things a player's stats, injuries, etc... The reason Fantasy Sports Prophet's Fantasy Baseball software is so incredible is:

• it's web based and can be accessed anywhere
• actual PhD's designed the software's predictive modeling system
• all data about players is available including mid-season projections via artificial intelligence
• full season roster management

Why is all this important? I saw one fantasy baseball league that paid out $3500 for first prize...enough said! The stakes are high so you might as well be as prepared as possible and get all the advantages available to you. And there's no better way than to purchase Fantasy Sports Prophet's Fantasy Baseball software and guess what? If you purchase linking from this blog, you get $10 off for using promo code BMC200. Just click the words fantasy baseball. Here's a screen shot preview - give it a shot! Don't just win....dominate!!!!!

BAD LUCK CHUCK

Charlie Brown is the name of a cat. I actually prefer dogs but this is one special feline....as you are about to read. There was a tornado around two months ago in Arkansas and his owner's home was ruined in the storm. During the tornado, Charlie hid out in a nearby forest....and survived the storm.....but lost his home. About a week later, his owners were burning debris from the storm but little did they know that Charlie was at the bottom of the pile...asleep. Long story short, Charlie was burned pretty bad....but he lived. The vet said he smelled like "an old, scorched wool blanket....but he will heal, he will be alright."

Wow! What a survivor. I have re-named him Bad Luck Chuck but you know what? He is alive and well today! What a testimony for us.....even though he lost his home during a tornado, even though he was burned in a fire, even though he probably had a lot of medical bills, he is still going strong. He survived! Of course, the burden was on his owners but just look at how little Charlie bounced back from adversity. What about us? Same thing right? How many of us have lost something of value in our lives? How many of us have been "burned" either physically or emotionally? How many of us have financial challenges?

No matter what happens in your life, you CAN make it and you CAN go on! No matter what! I hate to admit this, but I am inspired today by a cat.

STUPID CRIMINAL STORY

I love stupid criminal stories. There are tons of them but this one strikes home....literally. I am from Iowa and this story takes place in my beloved home state. A guy walks into a Git-N-Go (that's the way they talk in Iowa) and proceeds to try to steal $115. Small time right? He then rushes away from the scene of the crime but leaves behind one important thing - his coat. Police discovered something very important in one of his coat pockets......his W-2. hhmmmm....name, address, place of employment, earnings......all right there. The police were handed a gift by the robber who unknowingly disclosed his own identity. By the way, he has yet to be caught.

Now, stories like this are not usually embarrassing to me but this one is. Being from Iowa, it's embarrassing to me that a fellow Iowan was willing to commit a crime for a mere $100. Being from Iowa, it's embarrassing to me that a fellow Iowan was dumb enough to leave behind his coat at the scene of the crime. Being from Iowa, it's embarrassing that a fellow Iowan was EVEN DUMBER to leave his W-2 in his pocket...of the coat he wore...while committing petty theft. Dumb and dumber!! One last embarrassing thing to me - a fellow Iowan had yet to file his taxes. Now that hurts.

LOSING POUNDS WITHOUT LOSING WEIGHT

How, you ask? Just ask Paul McCartney. He lost a lot of pounds today, but still weighs the same. His divorce settlement with his estranged wife, now ex-wife, Heather Mills, is final and he is minus several million pounds. But feel sorry for him not.....he has plenty millions left over for himself!

Mega wealth is hard for me to comprehend. Obviously because I don't have it. Here are my questions:

1. Does Paul just write a check?

2. Does he liquidate a bunch of investments or does he have the cash on hand?

3. Is the payout one-time or over the course of several years?

You know what? Who cares. Let it be...no pun intended. These things are so private and yet the whole world knows and wants to know more. Any of our business?? No, none. When I try to comprehend millions and millions of dollars like this, my mind goes numb.....I just can't comprehend (Maybe that's why I have yet to win the lottery....someday). But trust me, Paul and Heather can comprehend.

FEATURED FRIENDS

Our blog was featured as one of the top 5 picks of the week by Mira and we will do the same for 5 other friends.When you feature your friends' blogs, you will help increase (hopefully) their page rank and yours. You can read more on this here and here. So keep the ball rolling, make your own 5 featured friends. To return the favor, make sure you include the name of the person who recommended you. Example:

1. Lotis is one of our featured friends.
2. So when Lotis will make her featured friends for the week, she has to include my name and she will pick 4 or 5 more from her own list of friends.
3. She will inform ALL her featured friends to keep the ball rolling.

If you use Blogger, you can add your featured friends using the new page element 'Link List'.My Featured Friends Blogs are: Mica, Borski, Lalaine, Lotis, Kheycee and Mira. Keep it going!

CUSTOMER SERVICE?

Customer Service - at its best? This supposedly is a real taped conversation of a Dell Computer customer service rep. You be the judge. In any event....it sure is funny!

THE BABY WITH TWO FACES

This is another really strange story. A baby was born the other day in India. The little girl was born with 2 faces and 4 eyes. It's true! The picture here is from a video of the baby which you can see here. It's really something to see. But that's not the strangest part of the story. Guess what the villagers are now doing to the little girl. They are worshipping her as a reincarnation of one of their gods...sorry, there are so many I can't remember the name. Can you believe it? Someone please explain to me this bizarre interest in crowning people as god. Remember my other post about this - WANTED: A NEW god? Here we go again.

The height of unbelief is a lack of trust. Think about your husband or wife/boyfriend or girlfriend...do you trust them? If there are any hints of doubt, then you are experiencing unbelief. It's a sour feeling right? It's a little haunting as well. Now translate that to this "religion" that seems to put their "faith" and belief in people....awkwardly it seems like they are bent toward worshipping little girls. Not in every case but there is a pattern. But they have unbelief in God. They have unbelief in our Heavenly Father. Can anything grieve the Lord's heart more than not trusting Him...not believing in Him? I wonder. Instead of feverishly working to find medical help for the little girl, they are worshipping her. Odd.

SCORE ONE FOR GRANDMA!!

Meet Bernie Garcia. She is one tough lady. Recently she was innocently putting gas into her car when approached by a man who asked her for money. She declined only to have the man try to grab her purse. Having it wrapped around her hand helped but he still tried to grab it - she retaliated by squirting him with gas. Good job! He kept jerking at the purse, though, trying to wrestle it from her when she fell on the ground. The criminal still didn't stop but dragged Bernie along the ground determined to get that purse. Suddenly a good Samaritan came up from behind and confronted him and he ran off. Good news though as he and his buddies were later arrested. The picture above is Grandma Bernie talking to her grandchildren the day after it happened. Here's the story.

This story is so amazing to me because this precious woman is 83 years old. She is still driving a car and full of life and energy. She wouldn't give up her purse even to a punk thug much younger and stronger than her. Hats off to Bernie Garcia. When asked why she didn't just let go and let him have it she replied, "That was my purse and I was fighting for what was mine." Three cheers.

SPITZER'S BABE

Ashley, Kristen....which is it?? Anyway, you came from a broken home....ran away to NY to follow your dream of being a musical star.......paid the rent by working very hard at.......well, the world's oldest profession. On the top of your client list was good ol' Love Client # 9 - the Governor of New York, Eliot Spitzer. Impressive. But very wrong.

As we all have heard and read, Governor Spitzer resigned recently as he was caught in a prostitution ring. Married with beautiful children (I think 3 little girls), he decided to "get a little extra" on the side with a prostitute....paying out to the tune of $80,000+ over the years. By the way, using taxpayer dollars...just for the record. Here's the shameful part of the whole story.....while Mr Spitzer lost his career and now faces a long uphill battle to even have a chance at returning to politics (he also may face some jail time) and will need to work triple overtime to salvage his marriage and family, Ashley, the prostitute, stands to make a ton of money over this controversy. Everyone wants to interview her....she will get plenty of money making offers, a book deal and maybe even a movie deal or recording contract. All because she was a prostitute and had a high-profile client who got caught. The governor came crashing down while the prostitute is now lifted up. It's the way our "gossip hungry" and "controversy crazed" society has become. Backwards at best.

BLOGGING GURU

This is John Chow. He is a really great person. Just check out his website...it says so right there. Actually he is known as one of the godfathers of blogging. He makes a sweet income from his blog which he rightfully calls, "I Make Money Online By Telling People How Much Money I Make Online" or "The Miscellaneous Ramblings of a Dot Com Mogul." He's a little bashful as you can see but I really like his website which you should check out. I have learned a lot....mainly how far I need to go if I want to be a successful blogger. But that's what I like - the challenge to be better, to get better. I am at my best when I realize how far I have to go. I am at my best when I am surrounded by people who do what I do....only better than me. I am at my best when I take a posture of humility. It motivates me and that's what I like. To be motivated.

There are tons of blogging sites, tons of bloggers....John Chow is considered one of the best. But I have a message for you Mr. Chow, Mr. Cool Blogger, Mr. "I make more money than you" - if you look in your rear view mirror, you will see me coming....fast. hmmmmmmmmm......nervous? Sorry, I lost my posture of humility there for a second.

PAY PER POST VERDICT

The room was tense.......sweat ran down my forehead......the gavel fell.........the judge gave his verdict. APPROVED!! Wow, PPP approved me to get paid to blog....my pleasure! Actually, as you read this you should consider the same. Why not? Get paid to do something you love, right? It's easy. Check out the opportunity here - get paid to blog. The sign up process is easy but be patient as you wait to be approved. Be sure to read their requirements. In the meantime, try PayPerPost Direct....no approval required for that.

PayPerPost came to our attention from our good friend, Marie who also gets paid to blog through PPP. (Thanks Marie and Debs says, "Thanks Sis!") Since then, I have visited their website many times and am impressed with the opportunity they offer bloggers and the organized manner in which they lay out the process. What I love the most about PayPerPost is that it gives you the chance to immerse yourself in opportunities to study different products and services - the challenge to learn the information, try out the product or service and then write about it....then get paid. Furthermore, (I like this) they are looking for honesty so the review you give may or may not be favorable. So bloggers, wait no more.....get paid to blog.....you know you would love to get paid to blog. Turn some spare time blogging into a really nice second income.

Thanks again Marie. Thanks again PayPerPost!

MY RANT

Have you heard Barak Obama's preacher? Have you listened to the awful things Pastor Jeremiah Wright is saying? "American invented aids....America brought on 9/11".....anti-white, hate filled speech accusing our great country of being the "United States of KKK." (Let me check my calendar...(relief) it's 2008. I felt like I experienced some emotional time travel there for a moment.) He even railed against Hillary and reminded everyone of Bill's antics while in office. Pure racism and hate. Here's the story. Of course, Obama denounced what he said, which is good....but what else was he to do? After all, he's running for President, right? Of course we shouldn't assume Barak believes everything his pastor does but guess what? People are now questioning what he believes and rightfully so.

Pastor J, if you hate America so much then LEAVE!! America is the bad guy?? The US supports and defends a huge part of the world. People immigrate here for the opportunity to earn a better living and America opens her arms wide to them....even if they come here illegally...even if they send a lot of that money back to the country they came from. America has been a friend to so many countries that have ended up turning their back on her. This pastor lives in a nation where he can practice his free hate-speech. He should be thankful to be here. He should also get ready for the consequences of his words. Hillary has been given a gift. Judging from her past, she will capitalize on this issue. Meanwhile, John McCain is silently standing by watching the Democratic Party falter. Who will win? Maybe we all will lose. Politics is becoming more and more evil. Even certain messages from the church's pulpit are......well, let's face it......evil. Dear Lord, forgive us all.

STUCK TO THE TOILET

Another believe it or not......a woman was found with her body stuck to the toilet in a home she shared with her boyfriend. Sheriffs were told by the boyfriend that he thought she had been in the bathroom for almost two years and for certain had not come out of the bathroom in over a month. Her skin actually stuck to the toilet seat according to the Sheriff's report. They had to take the toilet seat off in order to transport her to the hospital.(sigh) Some people.......anyway, the boyfriend represented that he brought her food and water and fresh clothing.......well done sir. You took good care of her....all except for her sticking to the seat of the toilet because you never thought for a second that it was unhealthy and maybe she had a mental problem that needed to be addressed after the first month or two of her staying in the bathroom. Unbelievable but true. The Sheriff's office wants to charge the man with mistreatment of a dependant adult. I want him charged with irreversible inability to think....at all!! Authorities also commented that these two were obviously of diminished mental capacity. In other words they were "tanga...bobo!!" Let's learn from this:

1. If your loved one is in the restroom more than, let's say, three days, start to get worried and inquire as to what is going on.
2. Be patient yet firm - insist they come out for periodic breaks to get fresh air and to watch American Idol.
3. Once out, capture them and drive them to the nearest mental hospital.
4. Visit often .

Just think if our friend took my advice, his girlfriend would be all the better. More people should listen to me. (sarcasm)

QUICK FOOTNOTES

1. Look for our newest widget which is a Top Commentors page element. Want to see your name there? You know what to do........

2. Happy Birthday to our wonderful Auntie Cion!!!!! Miss na miss kita Auntie and MAHAL KA NAMIN!!!

AND NOW TURNING TO CHINA.....

I recently read two funny but tragic stories involving Chinese women and what they did to their husbands. The first was a tale of revenge.......

The husband, also Chinese, and his wife owned a cell phone store. Upon hearing the news that he was leaving her, our first subject promptly went to the basement where they stored their inventory of cell phones, gathered them all up, put them in a pile and set them on fire. That really burns me! (bad joke!) The second story has a much worse ending.....

On their honeymoon, our second couple finds themselves arguing out of control about every little, thing. Silly, annoying and childish....but that's what they did to each other. They decided to "take the edge" off their arguing by getting drunk together. So they drank to the point where they were so tired and decided to go to bed. The husband got to bed first but the wife noticed he didn't wash his feet before climbing into bed. Bad move dude.......the wife proceeded to set their bed on fire. Upon waking up, they started to yell at each other again only this time, the man was so drunk he fell back asleep. Remember the bed on fire? It burned the man to death. She killed him for not washing his feet. Don't forget, they were on their honeymoon!!!

Couple 1 and Couple 2's stories are here to read for yourself. Hard to believe but true. I think revenge is in the heart of anyone who feels they have been wronged. The above examples are how NOT to deal with it. But how do we deal with it? My wife and I have had conflict but you know what works best? Respect. We respect each other and we are learning to give each other what we need during conflict. When my wife is "tampo", I have learned to let her be and she will eventually want to talk. When I am upset, she is learning to talk to me about it first. It's just a matter of respecting the "style" of how the other person handles conflict. Now if she sets our bed on fire, I may insist we talk about it right away...hmmmm...another bad joke. How do you and your asawa or boy/girlfriend handle conflict? It's important because communication during conflict tends to be very memorable....whether good or bad. Might as well fight to make it good.

I'LL HAVE THREE TO GO PLEASE

Take a close look - in fact, take a closer look by double-clicking the picture. Stare at them for a while. I love these kids and I have never even met them. They are near to my heart and I don't even know their names. They are all invited to our home but I am not sure how to even contact them. They are precious little babies in Guatemala waiting to be adopted.

I was adopted and sometimes I joke with my wife that at the orphanage where I was kept, they lined us up, like they do at the dog pound, and people paraded in front of us and chose whoever they liked the most. I was chosen last.....hmmmm. Of course this is not true. But in looking at this picture, it seems that this is the way it is done - people come visit the orphange, peruse the babies and chose.

In the Philippines, there is a tremendous need for babies to be adopted. Someday, I promise, my wife and I will adopt from the Philippines. Probably after we move back there. But my heart still goes out to them now. Like I said earlier, I'll have three to go.....please.

NO MORE POPUPS!!!

We found the culprit of all the popups and it was.........rankwidget. It was embedded in our Technorati page rank widget and once I deleted it the popups stopped. That was the most frustrated I have felt in a long time. Stupid popups - as if we will click them, right? Anyway, it seems like things are back to normal for now. Anyone know how to get in touch with the folks at Blogger?

SWEETHEART, JUST CLIMB THE FENCE

"Wait, I forgot you are not in Mexico........rats!!!" Can you believe our immigration system?? Debbie and I abided by the rules, filled out every single piece of paperwork required by the US and the Philippines, attended every required meeting, physical, interview, etc..... It took a while but we did it. And so did many of you.....our great readers. I think a lot about the immigration issues facing the US. The face of this great country is changing which is OK except that the changes are being brought about, in part, because of people who come here illegally. What shall we do with the illegals? Some say give them drivers licenses, some say give them immunity, some say give them amnesty, some say kick them all out.......what do you say? It's a hot topic now especially during this political season. We have them here in Woodstock, I see them every day and when I think about them not facing any consequences for sneaking into our country....when I think about them just skipping the interviews and the tough questions.....when I think about them not enduring the waiting that we did.....it really is angering. But what shall we do? We shall have a clear conscience knowing we did it the right way and hope that some kind of action is taken soon. Of course, if our government doesn't enforce the current laws, how can we expect them to enforce any new ones? To be continued........

POP UP MANIA

What's happening with all these pop-ups? Does anyone have any ideas on blocking them entirely - I have Spyware Doctor, McAfee software, Windows Ad-blocker and Yahoo's pop up blocker but they still get through. Anyone know how to get in touch with Blogger? Please let us know how you are handling this problem.....Thank you!

YOU BETTER NOT DIE

In Bordeaux, France there's a cemetery. But there is a problem with the cemetery. It's full. There is no more room to bury anyone who may die. What's the solution?? Maybe to have the town buy adjoining property and expand? Have a 2nd location nearby? No, the mayor of the town came up with an even better solution - DON'T DIE. Yes, his decision was for the townspeople to just not die - actually, I will give you his exact quote, "....all persons not having a plot in the cemetery and wishing to be buried in Sarpourenx are forbidden from dying in the parish. Offenders will be severely punished." What?? How can you punish someone who dies? Maybe the family will be punished but it looks like there will be some people moving from the village of Bordeaux unless they want to risk dying there and have their families facing some kind of punishment.

Dying became a serious consideration in that town. Actually, I like the effect it may have had - to get things in order before you die. Think about the older generation in that town. They probably are spending their time getting everything in order, adjusting their lives so they are ready and their families won't have to worry....or be punished. I am still fairly young but I have thought about this a lot. I want everything to be in order when I die. I want my wife and family to be well taken care of. I want them to be provided for to the extent that they have nothing to worry about except to continue on being a family. In fact, there is a file saved on our desktop called, "What To Do...." which details all of our accounts, insurance, retirement, etc.... so that Debbie will know exactly how to take care of everything. Tough to talk about but I would challenge every man reading this to do the same....for your wife, for your family. The above decision by the Mayor of Bordeaux, France was silly.....but the result of that decision may have led many to take care of some long overdue business.

I CAN'T BREASTFEED

March 8, 2008 - 5:00am - I got up with Daniel. It's the least I could do for my wonderful wife as she has been getting up during the nights to feed Daniel. She is breastfeeding and....well, I can't do that. In the interests of maintaining her sanity, we introduced formula into little Daniel's diet and now I can get up to feed him and give his Mommy a well-deserved break during the nights/early mornings.

March 8, 2008 - 5:20am - Little Daniel fell back to sleep but I am wide awake. I contemplate doing a post for our blog. Nah.....too tired to focus. I wonder what's on TV at this time of the morning. You will never guess - a commercial for making money on the Internet and one of the ways....was blogging. hhmmmm.....note to self....check into blogging. Wait, I already did....still too tired to focus.

Fast forward to:

March 8, 2008 - 9:00pm - Very tired. Too tired to focus. But you know what? I love my family more today than EVER before. I love being a Daddy! I love being a husband to my beautiful wife! This blog post is a no-brainer - no research - no study or thought - just releasing simple words from my heart about my blessed life. Thank you, Heavenly Father.

FILIPINOS ARISE!!!

I'm American but I really love the Philippines. After all, the Philippines gave me my beautiful wife and now our son. My wife and I will retire there someday but in the meantime I am studying the Filipino economy....I love reading Yahoo! Philippines and INQ7. (By the way....I am also a fan of Game Ka Na Ba (Game Na!!!)) Many times I will ask Debbie if she heard about "this or that" news event in the Philippines and she will say "No." Her hubby heard about it first!!

Salve's Money Blog - I like Salve. I like reading her take on the Filipino economy. Recently she blogged about poverty in the Philippines getting worse. And yet I understand Gloria is bragging about economic growth in her term as President. (Did you know that Bill Clinton and Gloria were classmates at Georgetown University here in the States?) There actually is some growth but Salve is right - the growth isn't trickling down to the poor and I would add - it is not even trickling down to the middle class.

Therein lies the key to the Philippines - the middle class and poor. I am not claiming any expertise here, but I do know there are more middle class and poor than there are rich. Also, I would add, the more a society relies on their government to solve their problems, the more that society resembles socialism. I also know it's an uphill battle, a tough and tiring fight. But I agree with Salve when she says, "If we don’t do anything now, we’re all busted." Yes, the Philippines needs a new President, new leadership but the key is the people....the great people of the Philippines. Filipinos arise!

SAY IT AIN'T SO, BAI.....

"Bai, did you shoplift some batteries and 2 magazines worth only $16 because you were mad at your boyfriend?? Really?? You are a multimillionaire and can afford anything you want...why did you shoplift less than $20 worth of stuff?"

Why do celebrities steal stuff when they can afford anything they want? Here's Bai Ling's sad story. My wife and I loved her in Red Corner with Richard Gere. She is a great Chinese actress....a great actress period. I think she stars in Lost also. But something happened in her mind that day that is probably just a symptom of something bigger. However.....another celebrity bites the dust and makes the news with doing something very stupid. Maybe the lesson is right in front of our eyes - having all the money in the world is NOT the answer to one's happiness. There must be inner substance and wholeness to one's self. Hopefully she will pull herself together and realize the great life she has earned and.....been given. I told Debbie that if ever she is mad at me.....just reach into my wallet and get a $20 bill.