Christmas | Travel Light

Books on sale

We didn’t know that inside the entire SM Mall of Asia complex two massive sale events were being held: the 4-day mallwide sale and one of the biggest book fairs at neighboring SMX Convention Center. Everywhere were people in shopping frenzy while soft jolly Christmas songs played in the background…well, to get everyone into shopping for holiday gifts this early. That’s what “Ber” months are about anyway in retail vocabulary.

While waiting for the 8pm AS1 concert at the adjacent event venue, we decided to drop by the Manila International Book Fair at SMX. I was torn between inspirational books, Maxwell’s series on leadership, Christian theology, Jane Austen titles and Wuthering Heights by Charlotte Bronte. But since I have no time to gush over English romance and doctrinal studies on religion require so much brain energy, I opted for a book on marriage. To prepare for it just in case. I can sense it coming my way real soon. By the way, I got the book called “Pillow Talk” for only P75. Not bad for a future investment.

Manila International Book Fair ends tonight. Entrance fee is P20 for adults, plus you’ll get a raffle ticket to win books or something more juicy if you’re that lucky.

Personal goals for 2009

January 15, 2009 Life's musings

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The last Christmas tree standing

It’s not yet too late to set your personal goals for 2009. The cold January weather makes the surroundings conducive for goal-setting, like Christmas has never left at all. (Wait until the April sun burns a hole on your roof.) I also suggest reading Max Lucado’s “Cure for the Common Life” should you be interested in unearthing those gifts God gave you. Believe me, every living person is gifted with something and we all have specific roles to play. I will share what I have discovered in the next few days.

I have put one of my notebooks, and the pens Arni gave me last month, to good use. Two days ago, I decided to come up with my own list that would either accuse me of procrastinating or cramming at the end of the year. Here they are:

Visit two places I have never been to. Potential candidates are Naga City (Mayan and I have been discussing this for a decade) and Batanes (hopefully).

Get another investment. While the chips are down and everyone around is having a sale.

Create my own web template. I have announced it to the world after my “graduation” from Dreamweaver class. So I really should start doing something before I say this again in 2010.

Do a wardrobe inventory. There isn’t much in my closet I tell you. I’ve been wearing the same set of clothes for the past two years or so. My newest shoes is turning 1 in two months. The oldest, a Naturalizer, has just celebrated its 4th birthday. Maybe I really should consider updating my style.

Buy a pair of running shoes. For early morning walking exercises. Instead of enrolling in a gym or buying a best weight loss pill, walking is the most economical way to get rid of those flabs.

Learn oil painting. I have not graduated from watercolors for the past 10 years. It’s time to do an upgrade.

Join a small group. It’s high time to go back and think of ways to serve. By the way, I attend church services at CCF.

Give. Give. Give. God’s blessings are in fact too much for just one person to handle.

Laptop. I’ve missed out on this one last year. Actually, I wonder where all that money went.

Start dating. Seriously.

Now I’ve got a long list to go back to from time to time. What are yours?

Six ways to combat post-holiday blues

January 5, 2009 Life's musings

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Dining inside a fast food joint at midnight is fun. Queer, no?

The holiday fever is over the moment leftovers of New Year’s eve disappear from the fridge and “bah humbug” literally takes the form of your supervisor or those annoying collection agents from hell. (Now what did I just tell you about those uncontrollable appetites credit cards would love to baby sit?) The dreaded race to survival officially starts TODAY. Uh-huh.

Don’t worry, the magic still does work come Valentine’s Day. Splurge and repent by Holy Week. Anyway, given that scary scenario, I thought about a handful of antidotes to ease up the post-Christmas pain and sadness hovering above you like rain clouds.

1. Pray. Set your goals for the year, everyday ask God for guidance in prayer and do something about it.

2. Buy a book. Because I also belong to the Weekday Fright Club, I bought Max Lucado’s Cure for the Common Life. Excellent read for those faint in heart.

Tuna on wheat bread plus freebies

3. Schedule your own Sabbath. Decide a place and a day when you can laze around and do nothing but refresh your heart, soul and mind. I find lurking inside Starbucks with a good book between 10am and 11am on a Sunday therapeutic. I get freebies too (he he). Also try McDonald’s at midnight. It’s fun.

4. Movies. Can’t go to Australia? Escape through here.

5. Make new friends. Not that the old ones have died. Some simply decide to spend the rest of their lives with their better halves. Others were hostaged by mommyhood or have gone abroad. You need to expand that little horizon of yours.

6. Work. Hard. There are electric bills to pay, school fees to settle and auto insurance quotes to consider. Convenience comes with a price tag.

Best book sale ever

Personal goals for 2009

Six ways to combat post-holiday blues

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