!(coffee.equals("will make you sleepy")

i pestered my french officemate to teach me how to use the cappuccino maker -- again....... unfortunately, it only makes espresso, they don't want to put milk on the cappuccino maker...... so anyway, this is like the 3rd time he taught me how to use it..... i tried to use it twice..... the first time i can't put the lever back in place, lol....the second time, i still can't put the lever back in place...... it was a good thing that this morning i was able to catch him making himself a cup of espresso so i was like, "can you teach me how to use that again?" ...... and he was like "you want one, you can have my cup"....... so he gave me his cup and made another one for himself and taught me how to use the cappuccino maker --again..... i'm slow sometimes, lol......

so what's with the title? i just had my shot of espresso and i'm still sleepy! (ergo the "!" before the statement)......

p.s.
i still want my own cappuccino -maker!
i wonder if salvation army sells one, hehe

p.p.s.
i'm still a hot chocolate drinker

the sad truth....

If a man wants you, nothing can keep him away. If he doesn't, nothing can make him stay

Travel Factor's Surfvivor Series making it big!

just sharing with you an article by J.S.

i am so proud of our surfvivor series! i wish i was in the philippines when the first surfvivor challenge was held........ i was one of the "pasimuno" of surfvivor (and was the one who named it as such) and seeing it boomed this big is really really heart warming! i love my partners talaga! i just have one wish though that my name would be mentioned someday (and not misspelled as mareen, or gawd knows whatelse, hmpf), hahaha........ ang KSP ko talaga, lol............ but leia and tyx deserve all the credit because they do all the dirty work kaya mwah! mwah! i love you two talaga!

anyway, i'm getting carried away again.............. here's the article....... feel free to re-post this, we need all the exposure we could get so we could come up with another Surfvivor Challenge........

LA UNION: SURFING SHAKEN AND STIRRED

TRAVEL FACTOR & POSERS (The Philippine Organization of Surfers)
in cooperation with SANUK and STOKED Inc.
present
THE SURFVIVOR CHALLENGE @
THE BILLABONG SURF SCHOOL (La Union)
by J.S.

The combustible ingredients to a witch's brew of surf enchantment?
Take two chartered tourist buses, 5 vans, 25 SUVs, 51 cars, 257 surfers and aspiring surfers…
Vigorously mix it with an arsenal of surfboards enough to take over the Philippine coastline, balearic beats coupled with alternative rock, plus a sneaky pinch of Tom Jones…
Seductively stir it up with 78 Sanuk sidewalk surfer sandals, 97 Billabong boardshorts, Seven Thousand One Hundred and One shots of Antonov Vodka, 6 lost bikini tops, 23 lapdances…
and shake it up with a pumping swell at the Bacnotan surf break in La Union…
and Voila!
Take a delectable bite of the supercool surf lifestyle concoction as SANUK with TRAVEL FACTOR & POSERS (The Philippine Organization of Surfers) presented The SURFVIVOR Challenge @ The BILLABONG Surf School (La Union)!

Ripped surfers in the latest boardshorts, tanned bikini-clad babes, beach party music soaring through the sea air, and a colourful quiver of surfboards appeared like a supernova starburst along the La Union coastline for a weekend of wave-riding fun put together by SANUK and Travel Factor. Hundreds of surfers and wannabes descended on the beach town of San Juan to try out surfing, win heaps of surf-related items, and just have an obscenely great time away from the city. "It's the first time we directly took part in a surf event of this caliber," reveals Vangie Chua, marketing director for Sanuk. "After all, our surf-lifestyle inspired sandals are worn by the most exciting international surf figures including surfer-celebrity Shane Dorian and surfer-musician Donovan Frankenreiter. Sanuk's are fun, cool, and utterly comfortable. We're definitely inspired to be right here in the thick of the surf action."

The weekend's event was bigger than everyone expected. Even the sponsors and organizers were surprised at the record turnout. " The SurfVivor Challenge has turned out to be an exciting travel experience that runs in perfect correlation to the aspirational and healthy lifestyle our product embodies. We've gone beyond expectations. We're absolutely thrilled to have Sanuk make its entry into the surf and beach scene together with POSERS and Travel Factor," Vangie proclaims. "SurfVivor has been a remarkable adventure, and Sanuk will play a major role in the adventure tour scene. We're driven to positively impact on the Philippine surf theater in many years to come."

Equally excited was the biggest surf company in the world, Billabong, as it firmed up its commitment on the back of the local surf scene's eruption. "Billabong recently took the helm of the Siargao international surf competition proving our sheer resolve in promoting Philippine surfing," states JV Borromeo, Stoked Inc.'s young CEO and exclusive distributor of Billabong. "Surf events crafted by proficient collaborations such as surf organization POSERS with Travel Factor will catapult that giant leap in growth for surfing all over the Philippine islands. Working with them on their chosen projects is something in which Stoked Inc will significantly participate. We are happy to see everyone so stoked and joyful over this wonderful sport and lifestyle. We're even happier on how well it's helped out the local communities. It's a positive thing all told. Stoked Inc. and Billabong will charge with unparalleled commitment onto the Philippine surf scene starting now," assures JV.

Surf lessons, courtesy of The BILLABONG Surf School, with head instructor and Stoked Inc. chief team rider Luke Landrigan, were given to a contingent of aspiring surfers who wanted to try the magic of wave-riding at sunrise. Surfers from Manila, Germany, even Denmark, took to the sea and got hooked on the surf feeling by midday. The professional staff of Billabong Surf School instructors ensured that everyone had a terrific and safe time in the ocean; battered enough to realize the energy of surfing, yet stoked enough to enjoy the beach party at night. "There's nothing more exhilarating for us then witnessing the unabashed glee, bliss, and 1000-kilowatt silly smiles lighting up our students faces when they taste that first ride of the surf," chuckles Luke Landrigan. "It's heartwarming to know the experience is as rewarding for them as it is for us here at the BillabongSurf School."

The afternoon gave way to the exciting surf competition for beginners with 19-year old Ateneo college student Isabel "Chabeli" Bengzon emerging victorious in a surf battle that stretched all the way till sunset. Thereafter, the novices with water marshals on hand to assist in pushing the boards had their own final by way of the tandem division: a surf student on board pushed by her instructor. Once again, the ladies took the grand prize with Glenn Abad winning the final. And what a moving sight it was in the idyllic Bacnotan surf break that sunset: a long line of surfers along the shore cheering on all the competitors. The stuff of surf reverie.

The evening festivities kicked-off with nothing less than a massive lechon buffet prior to the awarding ceremonies. Antonov Vodka with the J&S Surf Shop surprised the surf travellers by raffling of a brand new surfboard. Stoked Inc., Sanuk, and Aloha Boardsports provided ALL the prizes for the participants. The party and the music rocked the South China Sea from the evening till dawn.

The competition and surf tour weekend was a resounding success in large part because of Travel Factor and The POSERS surf organization working in close tandem. The partnership has become one of the most dynamic groups in the fast-growing Philippine surf scene today.

Operating efficiently out of a
multiply.com site (http://thetravelfactor.multiply.com/), Travel Factor is currently the biggest and best adventure tour company in the country. "We've brought over a thousand students to the Billabong Surf School in La Union in just one surf season. We're greatly impressed with the professionalism of the surf school's instructors. Most significantly, our client base always say they had a superb and unforgettable time. They're the ones that really matter to us, the ones we need to please, and our feedback from them is nothing less than a heapful of glowing accolades for Luke Landrigan and his charming instructors at The Billabong Surf School," exclaimed Travel Factor President Leia Nagal. "We brought two chartered buses and over 100 surf students to La Union this weekend alone. We've seen our client growth rise exponentially as surfing has exploded on a global and local level. We expect to introduce thousands of students to surfing at The Billabong Surf School in La Union and other surf destinations in 2008," Leia adds.

Travel Factor is presently looking into other surf spots in the Philippines and beyond. "We are constantly searching for numerous interesting and beautiful surf locales in the country that our clientele will enjoy," says Travel Factor Founder Tikoy Tan. "Currently, we're developing packages for surf tours in Baler and Siargao, plus we're definitely creating one for the paradise isle of Bali within the year."

Travel Factor's creativity and intrinsic naughtiness doesn't stop there. "We've also got a 'singles-only' tour currently in development! Only single guys and girls allowed on this one. Travel Factor will put together 50 to 100 singles on a surf tour or adventure weekend. What a great way to meet new people, perhaps even find a special someone," laughs Tikoy. "As with any Travel Factor tour package, we keep our rates affordable. Why? Because our surf tours are always priced with value-for-money in mind. We want it accessible for everyone. Our surf travels are definitely downright fun, awesome, and truly memorable. They're fantastic experiences you'd want to join again and again."

The POSERS (The Philippine Organization of Surfers) functions as the chosen umbrella organization for Travel Factor's surf travelers. "With our founders and board of directors comprised of Leia Nagal & Tikoy Tan of Travel Factor as well as Spencer Ty of the J&S Surf Shop, the POSERS organization have developed a systematic effort in which we can make our membership base grow on an extremely rapid scale. We expect this to result in the best consumer deals and the finest surf experience for our members. Through this organization, we intend to work with the friends we've made in the local surf communities and bring in the lucrative business for them and to them. We believe this will jumpstart the local economy, result in more jobs and commerce, and hopefully, improve their lives very much," says Joncy Sumulong, executive director for the POSERS surf organization. "Sharing the surf with them has been completely gratifying. We'd like to do our modest part in giving back."

The swift ascent of the surfing population is nothing short of impressive. "Presently, we have about 250 members and we expect to grow that membership to 5 thousand within this year alone," says POSERS President Paul Diaz. "The POSERS together with Travel Factor will be bringing them to La Union, Baler, Siargao, and perhaps Bali just to spice things up. With the surf scene growth accelerating at breakneck speed, we'll be bringing our membership to different surf spots that will open their eyes to a unique and amazing experience. This awareness will translate into a lot of business and commerce for the surf communities we visit. We're doing our part for Philippine tourism and bringing business to small local communities in a very fulfilling and fun way. In my belief, the local surfers are definitely the coolest people in the entire archipelago."

Spencer Ty, CEO of The J&S Surf Shop and founder of The POSERS reveals there's a lot more in store for POSERS members and Travel Factor clients. "Through Travel Factor and POSERS, we are efficiently and with purpose creating a massive database of potential surfers and recreational surfers. We encourage all the companies to tap into this immense consumer group. Surfers love to shop after all," says Spencer. "Going forward, we're tying up with formidable corporations and surf companies to organize more tours and events. A direct corollary of this will be discount cards for our members, cheaper ways to purchase equipment by buying in bulk, bigger events in which our members can participate in and win lots of cool surf gear, and above all, generate business opportunities for local surf communities with whom we are honored to work closely. We'll be joining a big environmental group that will be launched by a competent group of high-ranking professionals very soon. The POSERS and Travel Factor feel these are the magical components to having a very good surfie time."

..when you don't know what to tell your friend anymore

now this is a long story....... and i really need your advice........... if you think you can't stand reading thru this just see the last 2 paragraphs (written in bold-italics)......please....


i have this girl friend who trusts me with all her secrets (yeah, she knows i'll blog this so don't start, lol).......... now, this friend of mine is way more complicated than i am because atleast i know what i want (i think, lol) and she doesn't....... now here's her story and please help me on what to tell her because my love life is messed up too, so i'm lost for words, lol....

she has a long time boyfriend but broke up with him when she thought she fell inlove with another guy........... i keep telling her it's probably because of boredom but she won't admit it, lol........ they've been together for 8 years when she broke up with the ex......... anyway, so they broke up because she feels like she's being unfaithful if she's still with him but she's thinking of someone else....... that "someone else" and my friend never really been an item (the object of affection of my friend doesn't know that my friend likes him) but she still thinks she's being unfair to his bf (now ex) if she's still with him............ so they broke up but my friend and her ex still goes out even if they are not an official couple anymore........ they said it wouldn't hurt to remain friends and they're both single anyway.........

after a year, my friend realized she's not inlove with the other guy anymore and she's thinking of getting back together with the ex because she said she still loves the ex but the ex was not ready........... he said he's been traumatized by the whole thing......... i think i will be too if i am in my friend's ex position, lol........... i mean, that's 8 years we're talking about here........... anyway, my friend understands so they didnt get back together and they still remained friends, you know, still hangs out and stuff until she had to move to davao................ she's a social worker, btw and she was assigned to work there and was thinking of staying there........... she still loves the ex but she wasn't sure if the ex still does loves her and well, she's like me in some ways, i can't stand "the waiting" specially if i'm not sure if there's something to wait for, so she kinda thought maybe it would be better if she opens herself to a new relationship............. after a few months in davao she met a wonderful guy and they clicked and eventually they became a couple.............. but the relationship didn't last, the guy had gotten someone else pregnant............. so whatelse should she do but to let him go.......... just between you and me, if i was my friend i am so going to get even, lol.............. i'll go smack him on the head, lol............ he deserves to be thrown in a big pan of boiling booger, lol............ anyway, almost a year had passed after that last relationship and yeah, my friend and her ex (the manila ex, not the davao ex) remained friends even during that time that my friend has her new boyfriend.............

my friend still loves the manila ex................ although she thinks she's cheating on the new bf by thinking about the manila ex but she said she can't help thinking about him and still wishes that they get back together but she just feels she's not worthy to be with his ex anymore because she had hurt him twice---the first breakup and then when she had a new bf.................. i keep telling her that she never cheated on the ex because he knows what's going on and that she shouldn't feel guilty but, well, she still thinks she's at fault because she shouldn't have broken up with him in the first place.......... oh well........

she's still free and available, same with the manila ex................. there are still other men who wants to take chances to be with her but the last breakup made her more cynical........... she has some trust issues now but she said she still dates once in a while and that infact there's this one guy that she met who is truly wonderful but she can't have the guy be part of her life yet (aside from the trust issues she has) because she still has hang ups with the ex, the manila ex, not the davao ex.............. the new guy knows about her story and is willing to wait but my friend, being the worrier that she is, thinks she's being unfair with the new guy because she doesn't want the new guy to think that he's her reserve, her back up............ i was teasing her that maybe he's keeping the guy as "panakip butas".......... heck, if a scream could kill, i could be dead now, lol............ she screamed at me like a crazy hyena when i mentioned her that, lol.......... love you friend! i know you're reading this............ she just have this high-pitched voice whenever she gets excited, lol.................anyway, so yeah, she said the guy's not her back up and she can see herself spending the rest of her life with him if only she could get over with the manila ex..............

now, i told her to talk with the manila ex........ to ask him the real score......... at first, she's not keen about the idea.......... i don't blame her, you know how filipina women are........ shy and pakipot........ they don't want to take the first move............. but i told her: "fine! if you want to be forever hanging and to wait forever go ahead, be my guest, but you might lose that other guy you said you like.....that guy who loves you and is willing to wait for you"....... oh, a brief summary about what's going on between my friend and the newest guy: my friend had already told the newest guy her complicated story........... she already gave him the heads-up that even if she and the manila ex didnt get back together that doesn't mean she'll choose him (she doesn't want to give the newest guy false hopes)........ she told him that he shouldn't be wasting his time waiting for her because she can't promise him anything and that there maybe other girls waiting for him and he's just not seeing them because he's wasting his time on her.......... but the new guy insisted that he'll wait......... that no matter what she says he'll wait.......... he said she should respect his decision the same way he's respecting hers............ heck, if that's not true love, i don't know what that is......... lol, sorry, what can i do, i told you i'm a hopeless romantic .....lol.........

so....now..... here's the problem...... my girl friend have already talked to the manila ex (it's about time!)........ the manila ex told her that he still loves her but he isn't sure if he wants to get back with her........ that sometimes he wants her to be in his life again but sometimes he doesn't and that he hasn't put much thought into it yet because he's always busy......

now my friend is in a limbo......... she doesn't know if she'll wait until the manila ex makes up his mind or she'll just have to move on........... i told her to give the manila ex an ultimatum but she said she can't because she still feels she's the one at fault and she has no right to pressure the manila ex........ i'm not sure if she's right or not......lol.......

so what do you think?

...empty

still empty.

hibernate.

again.

another cooking moment: honey walnut shrimp

weekend nights are usually my cooking moments........ because i can stay up late and i don't have to worry about oversleeping and missing my free shuttle to the train station......... and tonight i was in the mood for some honey walnut shrimp.........i have bought the ingredients a couple of weeks ago so i guess it's time i take them all out of the kitchen cabinets---and freezer.......

so here you go....the honey walnut shrimp.....

the first time i tasted this dish was at mai lai wah........ it's a chinese resto at china town in center city philly......... i liked it and i was wondering how the sauce was done and was playing guessing games with myself on what the ingredients might be, lol........ i remember a black friend who would make fun of the way i eat because he said he can see from the expression on my face that i am trying to figure out what the ingredients are.......... he said it's the way i chew and the way my eyes looked, lol......... i digress........... fortunately, i saw the recipe of honey walnut shrimp while i was browsing thru a friend's blog (popcorn, thanks! i saw it on your foodie blog).....

so without further adieu here's the recipe.........

Ingredients:
1 lb of large or medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup egg whites
1/2 cup oil


Sauce:
2 tbs honey
2 tbs mayonnaise
1 tbs fresh lemon juice
1/2 tbs condensed milk
1/2 cup walnuts (you can buy glazed walnuts from the grocery store)

• Mix cornstarch and egg whites together to form a thick, sticky texture and mix well with the shrimp.
  
  
• Mix honey, mayonnaise, lemon juice and condensed milk in a bowl until smooth.
  
  
• Heat oil until boiling then deep try the shrimp until golden brown.
  
  
• Drain shrimp then fold in honey mayonnaise mixture. Mix well and sprinkle with walnuts, arrange on a platter and serve.

 

happy anniversary!

feb 14 2007, nj had a snow storm while i, with my friends/ex-gxs-colleagues, marie and dolf were airbourne.......

our first stop was guam....... i was detained there for a bit........ made marie and dolf dead worried because they were talking to this pinay lady at the airport and she was telling them stories about how people got detained and they were deported back to the philippines..........

i, however, wasn't nervous at all.......... maybe because i'm welcoming the thought that i'll be sent back to the philippines......i know, i can be really weird sometimes............... but anyway, they just asked me a few questions......... asked for some documents......... i was asking them if there is a problem and the man who was looking at my papers was like, "no, no, we just want to ask you a few questions"..............  i just shrugged........ but i think i know why i got detained....... i have two u.s. visas stamped on my passport............. one is from gxs, my b1/b2 visa which doesn't expire until june of 2007 and ofcourse my h1b (working visa, the reason why i have to go to the u.s.).............. but everything was cool and i saw dolf and marie again waiting for me at the door to the waiting area for our next plane...........

that was our last plane together because once we got to hawaii they have to take a plane that would take them to detroit (but i think they have to stop at texas first) and i have to take a plane that would take me to new jersey........ i arrived at newark airport on feb 15, 2007, at past 6pm -- alone................ as expected it was very cold but i was prepared...... so i was really bundled up........... so yeah, happy 1st USsary (thanks to jonas for the coined word, lol) for me.....

i was thinking of having a housewarming this sunday to celebrate my 1st year anniversary (haha, how jologs) but i'm not ready so i thought i should just have a housewarming sometime in april.......... to celebrate my 1st year anniversary in pennsylvania, hehe.....


on another news.......

 

see that photo right there? that's feb 13, 2007....... my last day at gxs and the day before i left the philippines........ and those two beside me are my bestfriends at gxs and they are coming here this year!!! i'm excited!

joy's leaving for oregon on sunday for a training and she'll be in the u.s. probably until june..... peng (jasper m.), on the other hand,  is leaving on the first week of march to work and live in texas (yep, h1b too like me)........ hopefully i would be able to meet with them........ actually, i'm pretty sure i would be able to see peng because he'll be staying here for good but i'm worried that with joy i might not have a chance because i know she would be too busy and they are not allowed to stay longer after their training........ but on second thought, hmm,  i can fly to oregon one weekend if i have to.......... so, yeah...... i shouldn't worry about that......

ok, i've babbled enough.......

 

if you're stubborn like me...

i was reading the reading for today that my co-SFC sends us everyday...... and i specially like the last paragraph..... and i'm adding my own.... and this is how a stubborn like me prays....

glory and praise to you, God,
thank you for all the blessings you always so generously showered me....
God, im giving all my hurts, my resentments to you..
help me tame my pride, my insecurities, my selfishness, my being stubborn
help me become someone you want me to be,
help me not hurt the people who love me...
and help me love the people who hurt me...

you are my true north, God
you always point me to the right direction and without you i will be lost
but i always get distracted and i always get sidetracked....
take the wheel God and guide me to the path you prepared for me...

ok, now i really have to go back to work....
have a great weekend everyone!

please help me not do anything stupid today

this is going to be my morning prayer from now on..

gmorning lord!
thanks for this new day...
please help me not do anything stupid today...

amen.

:P

but being the stubborn me, i bet i'll still do something stupid....but atleast i started my day right, lol

bye-bye love...

it's 10:43 pm now............. it was busy at work as usual............ but i managed to sneak out at lunch time for some shoe shopping with 2 of my colleagues at DSW (found me a nice pair of tan sandals)........... had jr bacon cheeseburger and small frosty at wendys for lunch--drive thru......... had a slice of cake because it was an officemates 40th bday............. then started working again........... i came home around 5:45pm....... checked my mails--no mails, just junk.............. changeD clothes........... i don't feel like eating so i just sat infront of my computer, one hand on my chin while browsing thru ikea's site looking for decorations, throw pillows, frames and other stuff............. printed the things i want to buy from ikea then started working for a bit for travel factor................. but i wasn't really in the mood for anything and i just feel so tired that i decided to hit the sack early, it was 8pm............ but i woke up an hour later............... i checked my emails then started working for an hour and a half for travel factor again............. my phone started ringing but i wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone so i just ignored it (if you're reading this, i'm sorry), i just want to finish what im doing.....

*yawn*

now i'm really going to bed.......... i'm beat....

it's 10:58pm, this is ayeen signing off.....

bye-bye love day.... over and out....

p.s.
so how was my valentines day?

go figure.

where are all the men on the bus?

it was a regular day.......... i'm wearing my usual office clothes-- winter boots, jeans, turtle neck, sweatshirt, winter coat, scarf and bonet.............. then i got on the train, 10 minutes later it's my station so i got up like everyone else preparing to get off the train......... i didn't even realize it's valentine's day until the people on the train started greeting everyone a "happy heart's day"......... and then one of the lady started telling a story while we were all waiting for the train to completely stop:

lady: yeah, yeah, this morning on the bus i was like, where are all the men of this bus? and they were all lined up in a card shop buying flowers and chocolates..... and all the men on the line are on their cellphones telling their bosses they would be late.......

*lady laughs* *we started laughing*

lady continues: and the boss was like "don't you love your job?" and the guy would be like "i do, but i want to live........i'd rather be late for work or just look for another job"...

don't underestimate the power of women...... LOL

anyway........

i'm so tempted to say valentine's day is nothing more than a ploy by hallmark and flower shops to raise sales (i mean, we should celebrate love everyday!) or something similar but you would think i'm sour-graping, lol, so yeah, happy commercial, i mean, heart's day everyone!


......... and while i'm at it i want my peach (yeah, peach is my fave color) and white roses, please or yellow or white tulips............. forget the chocolates, i'm on an all-cereals diet (the winter season is always making me fat) LOL

p.s.
btw, february 14 of last year was the day i left the philippines to come here in the US as h1b............ and tomorrow is my 1st year anniversary...... well, i've been going in out of this country since 2005 but tomorrow is my anniversary as someone who works and pay taxes in the US............ marie!! 1 year na tayo dito!!

i'm closely guarded but not completely closed

"im closely guarded, not completely closed"

i would never forget those lines from a friend of mine because that holds true for me too....


i hate being vulnerable........... i would filter my thoughts and my feelings fearing that if i don't i would be exposing my weak spot and that i would be giving bad vibes/aura a chance to seep thru me and make me vulnerable........... i always have my guards up and it doesn't stop there.......... if i do feel i'm about to get vulnerable i will go and find a diversion........... it could be finding a new hobby or finding another person or finding a new country (yeah, i have a tendency to just pack and leave)........... unfortunately, sometimes the diversion gets me in trouble  but i'm learning and i don't mind making mistakes again..............after all, my mistakes doesn't define me.......... it would shatter me into pieces sometimes but it teaches me a lesson.........


being away from friends and family and living all by yourself in a foreign country would make you discover things about yourself that you didn't know about....... some of those things that you will discover will bring out the best in you--- and also "the" worst......... and you should learn how to handle those "discoveries" because it can either make--- or break you.......


i am closely guarded but not completely closed....... enter at your own risk.....

 

ofcourse i'll choose a coffee shop over null pointer errors

the weather is nasty outside but i'm still in pretty good spirit....

my officemates and i were supposed to go shoe shopping last monday (we have our company formal dinner party on the 23rd and we need shoes! :P) during lunch break but we moved it to wednesday because it was too chilly to go out last monday......... today's wednesday but the weather is nasty with all the snow and sleet and rain and slippery road, so no DSW today too....... maybe tomorrow....


i need to start working on introducing Travel Factor to balikbayans and expats here in the U.S........ well, actually, just in some parts of pennsylvania, new jersey and maybe new york........ i'll have to work my ass off every weeknights and weekends for this....... need to finalize the packages that we offer for balikbayans/expats............. i already received my travel factor business card (although i still need to buy hard papers to print those) and i just bought a printer/copier/scanner/fax so i'm ready to print out and distribute the travel factor flyers once i'm done finalizing the details .......

i'm also talking to a friend of mine whose family has a travel agency in indonesia...... that's Bali baby! so anyway, once i get to finalize that travel factor is going international and we are taking you to indonesia! 2008 is a good year...........

ok, back to work i go...... i have null pointer exception to fix, bug fixes to take care of and some code enhancements to deal with.........  do i still love my job as a java programmer? well, it's a love/hate relationship but i'd rather have my own coffee shop and travel factor on the side....

p.s.
hey, if you know some pinoy stores/restos/company and they wouldn't mind having some travel factor flyers sitting around in their establishment please let me know.....

 

we always want something we can't have..

that lil swan always wants something that she can't have...

she's always that way....

...not that she's not being thankful for what she already has but there's just something about that "something-that-she-can't-have" that makes her want it more......

maybe....maybe it's the "challenge" she gets from trying to get it......

home sick?

not to be melodramatic but i miss home...... maybe i should just go back to the philippines.....

but first i need to try to live and work in australia or uk....lol

philly auto show

im going to philly auto show (phillyautoshow.com) tonight...... my friend and i are supposed to see it last saturday but i was busy with something else....... my friend's been raving about this for gawd knows how long, lol...... so yeah, i'm going to see it...... one of my friends told me to watch out for rd8, or was that r8? anyway...... im excited...... i've never been to a car show....... plus, the nicest part is my friend and i are going out for dinner (my friend's treat ofcourse, lol) to celebrate my friend's promotion! congratulations buddy!! you deserve it..... i'm so proud of you!  i've never met someone who goes to work at 5am and leaves at 8pm? 10pm? sheesh! lol.....

the only sad part about my friend's promotion is i might not get to see my buddy that often anymore because the promotion means a lot of travelling.......... but hey, im not complaining i might even get to tag along....... right, buddy? i won't mind going to london with you..... lol.....

 

praying for tax refund

finally, i have my W2 from my previous employer after bombarding them for 3 weeks, LOL......... my current employer gave me my W2 1st week of january and i was just wondering if my previous employer is just trying to get even because, well, we had some issues that almost lead me to complain to DOL but well, that's over and i know they can't hold my W2 because that's against the law......... but well, can you blame me if i'm anxious to get my w2? i just want to have it the sooner the better, so i could file it AND, most importantly, so i would know if i have a tax refund!

my best buddy had his, for like, $1200...... i wonder what mine is...... i hope it would be enough for a nikon d80, hahaha....... im asking too much, i know...... or, hmm..... enough to buy me a Wii would be nice :P........ anyway, i'm going to H&R block today or tomorrow..... yeah, *imitates commercial* "i've got people", lol.......

eto ang malupet!

talagang detalyadong pix ng First Surfvivor Challenge!

morning session part 1 : http://cedsaid.multiply.com/photos/album/91/Surfvivor_1_Morning_Sessions

morning session part 2: http://cedsaid.multiply.com/photos/album/92/Surfvivor_2_Morning_Sessions

main event part 1: http://cedsaid.multiply.com/photos/album/93/Surfvivor_3_Main_Event

main event part 2: http://cedsaid.multiply.com/photos/album/94/Surfvivor_4_Main_Event

party mode: http://cedsaid.multiply.com/photos/album/95/Surfvivor_5_Party_Mode

morning after: http://cedsaid.multiply.com/photos/album/96/Surfvivor_6_The_Morning_After

maraming-maraming salamat ced! mwah!

oist! awesomeness mga pix jan ha, kaya wag bad ha, give credit where credit is due.... link back to ced! ...

aliw! ayeen wants to surf again!!

some photos from surfvivor competition joiners:

http://productred.multiply.com/photos/album/40/Surfvivor_Challenge_2008_Plus

http://pindarti.multiply.com/photos/album/64/Surfvivor_2008_-_San_Juan_La_Union

 

sino ba naman hindi maiingget sa photos na yan....tsk! and to think na once upon a time when travel factor is still on its brewing stage tyx, leia and i leia had to put our heads together and brainstorm and chat online till the wee hours of the morning to put our first surfvivor (1st wave) together and now look! a first surfvivor competition! and i wasn't there!!!!!!! a real bummer....oh well.... i just have to make sure that i'll be in the philippines for the travel factor's next big event....

*sulking*

all pictures courtesy of randy tamayo

watch out for our surfvivor surfing competition at solar sports!

yes, we had a successful Surfvivor Challenge Surfing competition...

photos here: http://thetravelfactor.multiply.com/photos/album/15/1st_SURFVIVOR_Challenge_part_1

we're still waiting for the schedule on when the competition will be shown at solar sports, so stay tuned!!

p.s.
i am so proud of my partners!!!!
big big hug to leia and tyx and rege!

p.p.s.
i am so "ingget" i wasn't there!

one of our surfvivor series video for your viewing pleasure

do you want to take a peek and find out how fun our SURFVIVOR series can be?

here's the video -> http://thetravelfactor.multiply.com/video/item/2/Surfvivor_Video