Coffee anyone?

I am not a coffee drinker. That was my line way back college days.

Now? I am.. and I think, an addicted one. There was one day this week when I thought the cause of my dizziness and dull head-ache was the absence of caffeine in my system.

I even made a special trip to the shop, just to pick my now favorite brand.

I think, I am following the trek of my hubs. =D

I used to make Hubs coffee, no fuss. One teaspoon of coffee and same sugar. Done.

But, that and with all the cups of coffee that I drunk, I still don’t know how to make one for myself. I want my coffe with cream and I can’t make the right combination of coffee, sugar and cream to make a steamy and yummier one. I always end up making use of what I can make. Sometimes, sweeter, bitter, bland or creamier.


And so, I just turn to three-in-one. Now, making coffee was made easy for me. ^-^







How about you? How do you want your coffee, fella?

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Wishful thinking for Israel and Lebanon fit

Pitched battles raged between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters on the border Thursday, and Israel warned hundreds of thousands of people to flee southern Lebanon "immediately," preparing for a likely ground offensive to set up a buffer zone.

As the death toll rose to 330 in Lebanon as well as at least 31 Israelis, Lebanese streamed north into the capital and other regions, crowding into schools, relatives' homes or hotels. Taxi drivers in the south were charging up to $400 per person for rides to Beirut — more than 40 times the usual price. In remote villages of the south, cut off by strikes, residents made their way out over the mountains by foot.

I only have vague idea how this chaos started and went too destructive, but I dearly pray and hope that this will end soon, peaceably and amicably. I know miracle happens... and God works in great wonder!

Related article: Yahoo News

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rain...

again (sigh)

its gloomy outside.. been raining for fortnight now...

im being nostalgic without hubs on my side. (sniff)

if we could get lucky next week... i might be with him on our 1st anniv.

God please!

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First Piece

I am a trying hard and frustrated writer. I just attempt to write about anything. The attempt reached to umpteen times, but had only the guts recently to publish on our Office Circulation, Express Yourself section. Read on... and let me know what you think. =D


When I Grow Up, I want to be
Date Posted: 7/11/2006 11:05:55 AM
Author: Hotlips

How many of us are in the path that we really want, career-wise or otherwise? How many of us have achieved the goals that we dreamt of when we were no less than toothless, bothersome and inquisitive kids?

I would be happy for you, if you are on the right track, a street that you dearly see yourself walking on. Because I, among the many, have been for almost seven years of my working life, traveling on the street that I barely know and comprehend even after graduation in high school.

When I was a kid, I dreamt of being a writer. I can’t remember who my inspirations were but at a young age, I unconsciously honed my skills by reading a lot, talking endlessly while awake and at some point by writing.

But perhaps, my convictions and inclinations to those fields weren’t that intense that after high school, I fancied taking up Mechanical Engineering. Way too far from my “when-I-grow-up-I-want-to-be” pledge.

Four years later, I marched with my head high, alongside my proud parents among the eager graduates of BS Accountancy. What a twist of fate! Yeah, I enrolled to my course blind-folded. I didn’t even know then what job I would get after graduation. I was just often told that it was the most lucrative and practical program of my time. Yet, it was then for me to find out.

Sure thing, I quickly got a job related to my program. Time and events unfolded and I found myself propelled from one function to another in Finance Division.

I am happy and fairly challenged of what I do now. I am able to do things that I love doing and somehow have a “balanced life” that everybody is striving to have.

In the attempt to balance my life, sparing time for entertainment and leisure is a must. I then recounted stuff that I fondly do. I awakened the lurking desire to be a writer…a desire that has been deeply buried to the recesses of my mind and heart.

Is it now too late to embark on that new career? I reckon, no! Inspirations are over-flowing. I am married to a frustrated writer who has a knack for poetry. I suppose we will make a good tandem in the future. A leader cum friend (you know who you are) has been gently encouraging me to join the Toastmasters or write a piece for Connections, and this is it, for a start!

I am not saying that I will leave my current job to focus on my “first love.” I am just thriving to spare a time to make my little dream come to life even in an austere way. At the end of the day, it is always the things that you do, which makes you happy that counts.

Now, I have more reasons to be happy and thankful. It is a great relief to free a somewhat “caged” part of me.

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Wish Granted

…somehow.

Roger Federrer made it against Rafael Nadal. Told you, grass court is his forte. =D


Though, I am a bit disappointed at the results of the Women’s Single Finals. Amelie Mauresmo indeed proved to Justine Henin-Hardenne that she owns the Australian Open trophy.

Better luck next time, Justine.

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Update....

I am a bit disappointed to the Wimbledon semis result.

Marcos B didn't make it to the finals. Well, he's still young... a long way to go for him. Who knows!

But, definitely.. I am ecstatic for Roger F. Got cold feet somehow (Roger versus Rafael) but grass court is his forte.

I wish Roger and Justine well for the finals!

= Cant wait again for the finals result!

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Coincidences

Just sharing a nice story. Got this from ChickenSoupForTheSoul. Read on.


First Penny
By Bernice Bywater

My husband and I had birthdays six days apart. We always celebrated on a day in between by giving ourselves a joint present. One year we decided to buy a rosebush. So, on a cold, blustery January day, we set off eagerly for the nursery to make our selection. After much thought, we chose a gorgeous, velvety, deep burgundy rose named 'Mr. Lincoln.' With tall, straight stems, it's as stately as our sixteenth president.

It was sure to do well in our Northern California climate. And since my husband's name was Abe, we thought it a good match.

We followed the planting directions and by early July, the 'Mr. Lincoln' bush was loaded with lush burgundy blooms. I cut bouquets for most of July and well into August.

Years earlier, my husband and I had started a tradition. We loved to take early morning walks together. On our walks, the first one to spot a penny could keep the coin for the day's good luck. At the end of the day, the "First Penny" was deposited in a small crystal dish. When there were enough pennies in the dish, we'd go out for an ice cream treat for two.

Years passed, happy years when the roses bloomed and the copper coffer grew.
Then, it was over. On a July second, when 'Mr. Lincoln' was in full bloom, my own Abe died. There would be no more walks, no more talks and no more First Penny contests. I went to the garden that day, cut a bountiful bouquet of the roses and tearfully closed a chapter of my life.

Or so I thought.

A decade passed and on another July second, I set out on my solitary walk. As I passed our rose garden, I thrilled to the bounty of blossoms on the 'Mr. Lincoln' bush. My walk took to me to a nearby park, and, as I came up behind the bandstand, there on the path, shining in the morning sunlight, was a bright copper penny! When I got home, I took the long-unused crystal dish out of the cupboard and put my First Penny in it.

Each morning in July after that day, I took a walk and found a First Penny - sometimes shiny bright and sometimes tarnished - but always there. I began to look for it eagerly. I sensed that a countdown was underway, though I didn't know to what. One penny, two pennies, three pennies - more. At the end of July, thirty copper coins were in the crystal dish.

August first brought me the shining realization that the pennies were counting the days till our wedding anniversary on the eighteenth. If I found one every day between the anniversary of Abe's passing on July second and our wedding anniversary on August eighteenth, I would have forty-eight pennies.
Suddenly, I had a thought. Could it be? I counted out the years. Yes, it was true: This would be our forty-eighth wedding anniversary!

I'm not a superstitious person, but I got hooked. The small ritual became a consuming passion. Eighteen days until our anniversary! I scarcely slept at night waiting for the dawn and First Penny. I found the penny on the path in the park, in front of the convenience store, in the parking lot at the mall, and in front of the grocery store. Not a day was missed.

August eighteenth arrived. There were forty-seven pennies in the crystal dish. Would there be that last forty-eighth coin?

On the afternoon of our anniversary, I drove to the supermarket to pick up some groceries. On the way back to my car, I looked down and there it was: First Penny, shimmering brightly in the late-morning sun!
But there was more. When I returned to my car, there, on the hood, lay a single, long-stemmed 'Mr. Lincoln' rose!

I picked it up reverently and pressed it to my lips, allowing the tears to flow unashamedly. How could this be? How had he done this? As I stared at the lovely flower in amazement, a young man closed the trunk of the neighboring car and walked up to me.

"Oh," he said. "Sorry! That's for my wife. It's our anniversary."

"That's quite all right," I said, smiling at him through my tears. "Thank you. Thank you so very much." I handed him the rose, and he smiled at me.

"You must be thinking of someone special," he said gently.

"Yes," I replied, "and he's thinking of me."


Love makes wonder indeed!

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