This Side of Heaven... where angels love to tread!

This blog was supposed to come out the day after my hubby had his b-day but unfortunately, I didn't get past the title of my entry and so it stayed that way for 4 weeks. Four weeks, can you believe that??????

But anyway, the entry is supposed to be addressed to all relatives and friends who sent their well-wishes to my hubby and since I am the one who usually takes care of all this social obligations I decided to put it here on blog so that I won't have to be answering each email individually. It seems that the minutes, hours, days and months have become shorter and there is not enough time to do all what we humans are supposed to do and here I am also a victim of time.

Since our wedding anniversary, hubby's birthday and daughter Dominique's birthday are just a week apart, we celebrated in the usual way: eat out. I love this idea and now that my 2 daughters have jobs, they picked up the tab too, which makes it more sweet.

To all our loved ones who sent their birthday greetings, hubby and Dominique sends you their love..... until next year

Early this year during my youngest daughter's winter break from college, we accidentally stumbled upon the AZN (Asian) channel showing an episode of Coffee Prince. Funny how my daughter was drawn to it as she my husband watched it mesmerized (I guessed you have to be if you have to read the hardsubs to be able to understand what's going on). Though I was in the room with them, I was so busy with some other things in my computer that I didn't pay attention to it. Strange indeed for I am one who is most of the time drawn to such kind of shows (together with my eldest daughter, Karrol) while youngest daughter, Dominique, is very much like her dad who is not into this sentimental and emotionally charged activities.

Dominique like the story line that she watched the rest of the Korean drama (as we later found out) on the internet and tried to finished watching the 10+ episodes before she went back to school. Of course, knowing her own mother, she told me to watched the show cause I'll definitely like it.

True enough, when I started watching it, I fell in love with the drama; hook, line and sinker. Though I was able to watch it for free on the net (check it out and other K-dramas on mysoju.com) I still had to have a copy of the dvd just in case so I bought a copy.

And that's how I was introduced to anything Korean. Suddenly, Korean way of life was filling in thru my consciousness. It became a frenzied obsession for awhile there, watching k-dramas late into the night, vowing to learn to use chopsticks (Mind you, I'm the only one in the family who does not know how), searched the web so much for anything I can find on k-dramas, loved the ost's (official soundtracks) from the shows and learned how to download them since this is the only way I could listen to them as they cannot be found in mainstream radio. Discovered Pucca and Garu along the way and now they are my favorite cartoon characters.

One of the best thing that I can say came out of this was when I met online Giein of Koreanpaper Arts. My friend, Giein, is an artist from South Korea who is so talented with the traditional Korean art using hanji as her medium. However, I found out later on that she also paints and is great in photography. I discovered her website while I was searching for hanji dolls which I first saw in one of the Korean movies that I saw called "Unstoppable Marriage". The first time I watched the movie I didn't really pay much attention to the dolls that the main character supposedly was doing as a primary pre-occupation. It was only after I saw the movie the 2nd time with Dominique that I really fell in love with these dolls. So I ventured for a search on the web and though there were some sites it was not as widely blogged about or nothing is sold which I am interested about.

After weeks of search, I finally discovered Giein's site and we started corresponding after that. I think that in her, I have found a kindred spirit. Her website is truly a work in progress for she not only displays her works of art but also takes the time to introduce and explain the process of how she works on her material to her readers and visitors. We have shared the same sentiment that her art should be preserved and we both are hoping that the next generation will find an appreciation for an art that is truly a part of one's own cultural spirit.



Words are not enough to express how I feel looking at these dolls. For me, they are not your ordinary Barbie, Bratz or stuff dolls.... I guess that you can call these dolls more like figurines wherein they are meant to be looked at and admired rather than played with. The way they are created by the artist makes them alive. It is like a 3-dimensional scenery or a diorama. I guess that this what appealed to me the most since they evoke life and spirit when I look at it. At right is a sample of Giein's work which she calls "medicine girl". This doll is actually part of a bigger scene and you can see it on her website if you want to see more of it.

Most of the doll arts are presented depicting everyday Korean way of life and this could run the gamut of the mundane to the humorous.

This in a nutshell is how I came to find a new friend from so far away in South Korea without leaving the country. I believe that this only goes to show that we are all connected in ways we might never realized and humans really do share something that makes us want to reach out to each other.

Dearest friend Giein,


I thank you for your well-wishes. Our family had a good time that day: having a good meal and doing a little shopping. The long week at home was a welcome treat for us since we do need this once in a while to get out of the office frenzy and to renew our spirits before the new school year starts.

Our daughter, Dominique is back at her dorm and has set up her room. Karrol is presently working temporarily at her dad's former office.

I apologized that the Korean flag flying at our school is upside down... please forgive the ignorance. I will request the person in charge with the grounds to set it up properly.

You speak of the fall coming soon in your country... fall is also upon us here in Massachusetts. We never had much of a warm weather here since there were more cooler days than hot this summer of 2008.

Even though I haven't received your gifts yet but I am so indebted to you that I do not know how to return the favor. I will always be forever in your debt for your kindness and for sharing your God-given gift/talent. I wish to tell you that whatever you have to give whether in person or just sharing your work on the web is already a blessing and a gift to anyone who enjoys art.

I hope that your mother is well and is feeling better nowadays. My prayers are always with you and your family.

Also, I hope that the rest of your family is well and in good health. Are your sons back in school too? I wish them success in their daily and future endeavors.

As always, I wish you and your husband more good times together.

If a mountain trip is calling to you, I hope that your trip will also help renew your spirits. We do need this in our lives every now and then.

Hope to hear from you again.

Cheers,

Serey

I had Spandau Ballet featured before in my blog early on and also featured some of my fave music from the band. True being my top choice always brings some sort of nostalgic feelings that would automatically make me stop on my tracks or whatever it is that I'm in the middle of and just drift towards the time when the song became known to me. Hmm! right now I can't think whether something significant was going on during that time in my life. Maybe, I'll have to ponder on that some other time but for now, let this video take you back in time...


Song lyrics | True lyrics


However, in the early 1990s, a hip-hop/R&B group P.M. Dawn sampled Spandau Ballet's True and titled it Set Adrift in Memory Bliss. I guess that with this version, there was not any quarrel on the remake since Tony Hadley, Spandau's front singer even appeared in a cameo role in their video. I'm glad coz I also love this version, too. Watch for Tony near the end of the video. He still is eye candy although what's with the mullet? (Okay! okay! I had to back track myself, that must be the fashion, I guess, during that time.)



Whatever your drift is, the music and the sound is undeniably soulful. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

I haven't had music in my blog for sometime now. Might as well start with this dance tune by Marky Mark released in 1991 called "Good Vibrations". This brings back good music in the early '90s.

When I got home last night, my wife demanded that I take her some place expensive....
so, I took her to a gas station.

And then the fight started....

************************************************************

After retiring, I went to the Social Security office to apply for Social Security. The woman behind the counter asked me for my driver's license to verify my age. I looked in my pockets and realized I had left my wallet at home.
I told the woman that I was very sorry, but I would have to go home and come back later.

The woman said, 'Unbutton your shirt'.

So I opened my shirt revealing my curly silver hair.

She said, 'That silver hair on your chest is proof enough for me' and she processed my Social Security application.

When I got home, I excitedly told my wife about my experience at the Social Security office.

She said, 'You should have dropped your pants. You might have gotten disability, too '

And then the fight started.....

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My wife and I were sitting at a table at my high school reunion, and I kept staring at a drunken lady swigging her drink as she sat alone at a nearby table.

My wife asked,' Do you know her?'

'Yes,' I sighed, 'She's my old girlfriend. I understand she took to drinking right after we split up those many years ago, and I hear she hasn't been sober since.'

'My God!' says my wife, 'Who would think a person could go on celebrating that long?'

And then the fight started....

*************************************************************************************************************

I rear-ended a car this morning.

So, there we were alongside the road and slowly the other driver got out of his car.

You know how sometimes you just get soooo stressed and little things just seem funny?

Yeah, well I couldn't believe it.... he was a DWARF!!!

He stormed over to my car, looked up at me, and shouted, 'I AM NOT HAPPY!!!'

So, I looked down at him and said, 'Well, then which one are you?'

And then the fight started.....

Hello All!

First of all, my apologies to those who have visited this site every now and then and mostly to those who have left messages. The past months was full of activities either of the social and familial kind, work-related and just plain exhaustion from trying to multi-task. I guess that age and its accompanying physical deterioration which no amount of mind-bending and altering mantras could ever overcome really takes its toll on the human spirit.

However, I plan to be back blogging and hopefully I would be more inspired to share more of my side of heaven...

Also, I just found me a new blog template which I would like to put up soon but then, I realize that at this time of the "Mercury Retrograde" it would better if I hold off and wait till this comes to pass... Another site to look into about the retrograde is from one of my fave websites, Crystalinks. Through the years, I've observed and learned that this yearly event should at least be given its due consideration when making important decisions and when faced with a task on hand. The Universe really affects our life whether we realize it or not.

Too many things have come to pass in my side of heaven and I hope to share it with you soon. Now, I wouldn't know where to start...

Let me leave you with this youtube video of Nick Pitera singing Aladdin's "A Whole New World". If you haven't seen this yet, you will be amazed by his incredible voice. Please don't think that this is just another performance by a young male singer. Watch it till the end...



Can't believe your eyes and ears? Wait till you see this other video of Nick singing Leona Lewis' "Bleeding Love". Enjoy!!!



I think I like this version better :-)

Make a slide show, scrapbook, or ecard

Thanksgiving as always was spent at home with family and friends. We are always thankful of what we have in our lives; a good job, healthy kids, a house to go home to, loved ones and most of all friends (old and new) who make our lives more interesting and colourful. The Altarejos' would like to thank our guests: the Boados (Ching, Cel, Melissa, Zach and Jayden) and Sunny for making this year's Thanksgiving holiday another memorable day of celebration.

Let's do this again next year???

Just added recently to my "must visit links" is Vern's blog Aim for Awesome.



Visit his site and you'll see why...

Halloween may have come and gone, but these photos of adorable babies in costumes will live forever...





















I wonder why adults don't look this cute when they are wearing costumes???? Hmmmm!


Source: Mimoza P

A print of a cup of Folgers coffee was placed on top of manhole
covers in New York City, USA. Holes on the print allow the steam to come out. Wording around the cup reads, "Hey, City That Never Sleeps. Wake up. Folgers."



An innovative idea on a large billboard in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It really makes people want to grab that "Heineken".



Life-size stickers of people were stuck on automatic sliding doors at a mall in Mumbai, India. When someone approaches, the doors move apart and it feels like the people on the door are moving away. The person entering finds the message , "People move away when you have body odor".



An advertisement found in Malaysia. A sticker was placed on the high voltage box depicting that powerful Duracell batteries were used.



An ambient exercise to promote Eatalica burgers. A "Caution ? Wet Floor" board was placed near an Eatalica burger signboard. The copy on the board reads, "Oogling at the burger may involuntarily cause drooling, which may in turn lead to a wet floor. Issued for your safety by the management of Eatalica Restaurant". Eatalica is an American-Italian food joint in Chennai, India.



A giant mirror was built that allowed passers-by to stop and look at themselves wearing Individual clothes at a shopping mall in Tokyo, Japan.



Advertisements for a job-recruiting company in Berlin, Germany depict people working in vending machines and ATMs. It delivers the message, "Life is too short for the wrong job".



Stickers were placed in selected car park locations and car workshops where M-Tech Plasma HID lights are sold in Malaysia. It delivers the message that these headlights are 300% brighter than regular headlights. The burn-effect sticker from the headlights really leaves an impression.



This is an advertisement found in Vancouver during their National Non-Smoking Week. The car was placed at the Vancouver Art Gallery and the message. It reads, "Death from car accidents: 370. Death from smoking-related causes: 6,027. Quit now before it kills you."



In another creative idea by The Fitness Company, "dumbbells" were placed at various subways in New York City, which create an illusion that the person holding the safety bar is doing weights.



A very cost-effective advertisement in Hong Kong for a yoga school showcases
the prowess of a yoga practitioner on the flexible stems of drinking.
straws. Enquiries and enrolment went after up this promotional stunt.




A creative ad by Mini Cooper placed at the Zurich, Switzerland train station,
shows people climbing into or out of the car, when they are actually entering or exiting stairs.

Source: Hanni D

• You had that Fisher Price Doctor's Kit with a stethoscope that actually worked.

• You owned a bicycle with a banana seat and a plastic basket with flowers on it.

• You learned to skate with actual skates (not roller blades) that had metal wheels.

• You thought Gopher from Love Boat was cute (Admit it!)

• You had nightmares after watching Fantasy Island .

• You had either a 'bowl cut' or 'pixie', not to mention the 'Dorothy Hamill'. People sometimes thought you were a boy.
  

• You had rubber boots for rainy days and Moon boots for snowy days.

• You owned 'Klick-Klacks' and smacked yourself in the face more than once !

• Your Holly Hobbie sleeping bag was your most prized possession.

• You wore a poncho, gauchos, and knickers.

• You begged Santa for the electronic game, Simon.

• You had the Donnie and Marie dolls with those pink and purple satiny shredded outfits, or the sunshine family.

• You spent hours in your backyard on your metal swing set with the trapeze. The swing set tipped over at least once.

• You had homemade ribbon barrettes in every imaginable color. (Oh yeah!)

• You had a pair of Doctor Scholl's sandals (the ones with hard sole & the buckle). You also had a pair of salt-water sandals.

• You wanted to be Laura Ingalls Wilder really bad; you wore that Little House on the Prairie-inspired plaid, ruffle shirt with the high neck in at least one school picture and you despised Nellie Olson!

• You wanted your first kiss to be at a roller rink!

• PONG! ('video tennis' )was the most remarkable futuristic game you've ever heard of !

• Your hairstyle was described as having 'wings' or 'feathers' and you kept it 'pretty' with the comb you kept in your back pocket. When you walked, the 'wings' flapped up and down, looked like you were gonna 'take off'.
  

• You carried a Muppets lunch box to school and it was metal, not plastic. With the thermos inside some were glass inside and broke the first time you dropped them.
  

• You and your girlfriends would fight over which of the Dukes of Hazzard was your boyfriend.

• YOU had Star Wars action figures, too!

• It was a big event in your household each year when the 'Wizard of Oz' would come on TV. Your mom would break out the popcorn and sleeping bags!

• You often asked your Magic-8 ball the question: 'Who will I marry? Shaun Cassidy, Leif Garrett, or David Cassidy?'

• You completely wore out your Grease, Saturday Night Fever, and Fame soundtrack record album.

• You tried to do lots of arts and crafts, like yarn and Popsicle-stick God's eyes, decoupage, or those weird potholders made on a plastic loom.

• You made Shrinky-Dinks and put iron-on kittens ! on your t-shirts!

• You used to tape record songs off the radio by holding your portable tape player up to the speaker.

• You had subscriptions to Dynamite and Tiger Beat.

• You learned everything you needed to know about girl issues from Judy Blume books. (Are you there God, It's me, Margaret.)

• You thought Olivia Newton John's song 'Physical' was about aerobics. (?? Its not??)

• You wore friendship pins on your tennis shoes, or shoelaces with heart or r a i n b o w designs.

• You wanted to be a Solid Gold dancer.

• You drowned yourself in Love's Baby Soft - which was the first 'real' perfume you ever owned.

• You glopped your lips in Strawberry Roll-on lip-gloss till it almost dripped off.

Thanks to Hanneli for sharing.