I'm Back!!

Its been a month since my last posting. Been busy lately. With what? Well I have acquired new gadgets and have been tinkering with it every now and then, spending most of my time exploring their potentials.
I decided to replace my AcerOne net book. Don't get me wrong here, there is nothing wrong with the AcerOne net book. In fact I was really impressed by what it can do. It was more than I expected. But I still decided to upgrade to something that I could use for the demands of both work and play. No, I did not get myself a new laptop, I still want a net book but with a better feature than my AcerOne.
So, I got a Samsung NC10 net book. Basic specifications includes a 6 cell lithium battery (as compared to a 3 cell battery of AcerOne); a 160 GB hard drive (120 GB for my Acer); a 1 GB RAM; a 10.1" screen; and a built in Bluetooth. The keyboard is much bigger and more comfortable for somebody with large fingers like me, avoiding typos. Most other specs are more or less the same with AcerOne. I got a white one just like my AcerOne. The thing that made me decide to get this net book is the upgradable RAM. When I ordered this net book, I included a 2 GB RAM. The RAM is accessible at the back of the net book and upgraded easily , which I did even before turning it on for the first time.
I am impressed with its wi-fi reception. With my AcerOne, I use the wi-fi when I am at a hotspot like at the Telecom lobby. I only get a one bar signal at home. But with the NC10, I get a good signal and have been using wi-fi when going to the net with it. Though I still installed an external USB modem which I use when I am at work.
Just like the AcerOne, the NC 10 speakers is not worth the mention, but with a Bluetooth built -in, I use my Bluetooth headphone and get a good quality sound.
Next gadget I got is my Sony Webbie Camcorder. It a new video camera from Sony. A very handy High definition(??) video camera which uses a memory stick as storage instead of a hard drive or tape. It can also take a 5MP still photos, good enough for 3R or 5R size photos.
I tried this cam for the first time and was impressed by the video quality it produced, and to think I used it indoor at night time. The video was bright even without using the built-in spot light. Se , the video was even better when I used it outdoors when we had lunch by the beach.
I got a 8gb memory stick with this camera so I got lots and lots of pictures and video storage. The drawback of this video camera is its battery. It is built in and last for less than 2 hours and has to be plug to charge. So if you ran-out of juice during a take then you have to stop and charge for about an hour. Not like a conventional camera where you can get an extra battery and charge one while using another so you can take videos for hours.
But still, this videocam is a good buy. It simplicity and handiness would be worth your money.
Lastly, and what made me really busy is the last gadget I got. It got me sleep late at night from the time I got it. Its not a new gadget available in the market, but it really made me excited when I got it. It brought out the kid in me, literally.
I got myself a Nintendo DS bundled with a Guitar Hero game. This game really got me hooked. The day I got this game, I did not stopped until I finished the easy round which was about 3 in the morning. I now realize how the kids feel when they got a new toy and wants to play with it all day through. This has become my relaxing therapy when I come home after work. Presently, I am starting with the hard level.
The music line-up is very good. I like playing Nirvana's Breed, Santana's Black Magic Woman and Skid Row's Youth Gone Wild. When you're hooked, you tend to head bang with the music, and start to feel as if you are really playing a guitar. I cant wait until I get my hands on a full size Guitar Hero Game.
I have the Guitar Hero on Tour game and planning to buy the Guitar Hero Decades version. But I will try to finish this game first. I am having a hard time with the first stage of the Hard Level so I think it will still take time before I get to purchase this Decades game.
Now you know the reason why I have not updated my blog. And since you know I am still around, I can now get back to my gadgets……see you later…

Christmas time

Let me see, Christmas is the time for giving, loving, sharing, forgiving and best of all, food!

It’s a friend’s birthday a day before Christmas so I was invited to their place and join the celebration. Since it’s also Christmas Eve, we planned to stay up celebrating all night. There were a lot of dishes prepared for that day. The main dish for the day was a roasted turkey, courtesy of the celebrant and her uncle who combined their grocery bill 2 days before so they can avail of a promo where if you spend $75 on groceries, you get to pick one whole turkey for free. And since its Christmas and her birthday, they were able to buy more than $75 worth.

Aside from the turkey, there were other good dishes served. There was Menudo, spaghetti, lumpia sahnghai, rice cakes, pizza and of course a birthday cake for the celebrant courtesy of her dad. I contributed a vegetable salad for that day. Hmm…which one to start with? Hmmm..everything looked so good and tasty.

Let me start with the turkey. The turkey was tender and juicy and very tasty, not dry and bland tasting. According to my friend they started marinating the turkey the night before in some herbs and salt rock. Then earlier that day wrapped it in foil then placed over charcoal for 4 – 5 hours then placed in the oven to brown it. They also prepared mashed potatoes with the roasted turkey. And what is a roasted turkey and mashed potatoes without gravy? Sure enough they were able to have someone prepare good gravy to match the two dishes.

Then there is the spaghetti which was prepared by the celebrant herself. The sauce was made of meat, plenty of herbs and some spices and lots of cheese. The aroma of the sauce itself would make your mouth water. When she told me she would be the one preparing the spaghetti dish, I said I would come early and see how she does in cooking the sauce. But when I came she it was almost done, with the help of her aunt.

Also prepared as a request of the birthday celebrant, was a thin crust pizza. They prepared the dough ahead so by this time it was just a matter of putting in the ingredients on top. There was a 3 cheese mix and a pure mozzarella cheese available, olives, ground beef and green bell pepper as toppings. I was hoping to see how they mixed the dough but then I would ask them later on.

I prepared a vegetable salad that day. Lucky me huh! Anyway, its lettuce, tomatoes, dried cranberries, dried apricots, ham and roasted almonds all tossed together. For the dressing it was Vinaigrette or otherwise known as Italian sauce or whatever; it’s just a mixture of vinegar, sesame oil, salt, sugar and mince garlic, onions, ground pepper and bell peppers mixed in proportion to suit the taste of whoever prepares it, in this case me!

Tere were Leche flan and some guest brought a very sweet and tasty rice cakes. And again of course, the birthday cake. The host put out some red wine and soft music to set the mood. Everything was set in the garden and good it did not rain, or should I say, it just drizzled for a few minutes during the party and eventually poured after the party.

So we started eating after singing to the celebrant a happy birthday song and the traditional blowing of the candles. Food was a plenty that night and everyone ate at their own satisfaction. For me no diet for this evening and really enjoyed the turkey.

At midnight we all greeted everyone a merry Christmas and the host started his gift giving. I was surprised to receive a gift for myself. Merry Christmas. But the best part of the night was when a friend’s daughter got her gift.

You see, she is the Goddaughter of the host. Every time she would visit the place she has her interest with the hammock that the host owns. That night upon after arriving, she requested to be placed of the hammock. They were teasing her that if she can remove it, it hers. But she would just look at her mom and contend herself using the hammock. Then at the strike of midnight, Christmas day, the godfather gave her her gift and insists on her to open it up. And when she did, wow, the priceless smile, the jump of joy and the excitement on her face, says it all. And yes, it was a hammock, just like the one she really likes. That was a picture of a very pure happiness and innocence of a young girl.

Well, everybody gets to go home happy. My birthday celebrant friend was also happy with what she got that night for her birthday; I get to go home with an unexpected gift and bag of left-over for the following day. Well, the following day was another birthday celebration, and this one I will attend the party in church. Merry Christmas everybody……….

This is the season.........

Christmas is just around the corner. People are now busy shopping and preparing to celebrate this season of love and giving. I remember in the Philippines, the season starts as early as September. People start spending and preparing for Christmas Day and when it comes, pooof, the day is done.
I don't want to be negative today but a situation that happened a few hours ago makes me really look at the negative side of how we people came about and celebrate this season. I am actually doing a draft of my recent trip to Hawaii but then again, I would like to vent my present mood. And so it goes.....
I recall in my grade school years at Immaculate Heart of Mary College in Quezon City, which were run by Nuns, that Christ who was born on this day, teaches us living in the simpliest way. He was a Gift from God and a symbol of God's love for us. Thus, Christmas which is the birth of Christ, becomes a symbol of giving and loving and live his life in the simpliest way.
Through the years, it has become a tradition to give gifts and show love for our friends. People buy gifts for their friends and acquaintances and even their "enemies" at work. No matter what the Economist tell us on how the economy is bad and going down, people still queue it up at the cashiers of stores, malls and the like. Lucky are those who can really afford. I admit I was one of them who equate Christmas with money in order to have a happy holiday. I became one of those people who go to malls and shops and compete with other people buying so many things that makes me think do they really want these? And do I really need these things that I am buying right now. Christmas then has become a season of shopping sale; buying things we really don't need, getting hold or whatever fad that is there that season.
I remember trying so hard to grab every duty in the hospital just to have more than enough pay for Christmas day. I forgot what my mom and dad taught me in previous Christmases when we celebrate the season in the most simple way, no lavish gift, few here and there, no buffet at the table, just a pot of may dad's very delicious arroz caldo, but what is more important for that day was we were all together, go to mass and talk. That was the perfect Christmas. A simple reminder and a day of thanks for what this day really means.
After shopping and on your way home, reality sets in. You would notice street people, asking for alms, old ones looking worried and probably thinking where I would get my money to buy my family something for Christmas, kids in their shabby clothes, their eyes on other kids holding nice toys, a very sad scene, really. Peoples life plan changes in this season, their priority changes to things they don't need and only thinks they need it because its the fad or what is "in" during this time. I know its their right to celebrate Christmas, but again, one can celebrate it without all these shopping. Gone were the days when a simple Christmas card would be enough to brighten the season.
Anyway, because of this mentality that we equate Christmas with lavish living, people would also start doing stupid things just to be " in". Robbery, hold up,, snatching etc, becomes rampant and this year I became one of the victims. And this is why I have this blog.
Earlier this morning, at around 3:30, I was roused from my sleep by a thumping sound coming from my window. I thought it was Kikoy, my cat who was doing the sound trying to catch his favorite toy, live lizards. I did not try to shoo him away that time. Probably 3 or 4 thumps that I heard. Then later, I was roused again by the sound of my cell phone. Every time you would remove the phone from its charger it would make a sound. So again I thought it was Kikoy chasing his latest victim and got tangled up with the cellphone charger wire. Then the cellphone lit up and when I look, the light was moving. I thought it fell down but instinct told me that something was wrong.
I stood up and there, a man who is in my house!. I shouted at him and gave chase but he ran and I even think jumped from my veranda to the ground floor. I turned on the lights and was trying to check what was taken. On my work table, was my digital camera, electronic book and wallet were still there. My entertainment center was in order, my back pack where my laptop is was still in the same place it was, my sunglasses are still in my divider so it was just my cell phone he took interest in. The front door was open and that was his escape route. It made me think how did he got in? Was it through the door that I forgot to lock? Then I remember the thumping sound when I saw Kikoy coming if the house. I check my window and there you have it folks, the entry point. Lucky for him I was charging my cell phone that time so he was able to get the charger with it. My Land Lady and her son came up a few minutes after and apparently heard me shout. I told them my suspicion that that person knows and has been in this place because he knows which window can be easily pried opened and where I usually put my things in. Beside the window was my entertainment center where I keep my DVDs and DVD player. He could just easily go through it and not even enter the house. I thought of calling the police but what will they do? It also made me think that if he would have done it 2 days earlier, it would have been a jackpot for him, because I was off-island for a week. Well again, since this is the season of giving, then let him have it, he probably needs it more than I do. And since this is a day of thanksgiving, I am also thankful that that was all that happened this morning.