Young Diva

Like every Filipino, I am proud of Charise Pempengco, known around the world as The Young Diva. Watch her on "Ellen.

Ultimate Gift for Law Students

This Christmas…

Give the ultimate gift for the law student in your family!

(Click on the link for larger picture.)

Masci '91 Reloaded

Calling all my batchmates from Manila Science High School Batch '91, please join our new yahoogroup, masci91reloaded. You may email me at galadriella2007@yahoo.com or visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/masci91reloaded and sign up!

-- From Laura, Compton-Edison-Calvin-Faraday

Advice from a Tree

I learned it while walking around the redwood forest at Muir Woods in San Francisco. I take it with me as I start a new journey tomorrow.

Advice from a Tree
By Ilan Shamir

Dear Friend,

Stand Tall and Proud
Sink your roots deeply into the Earth
Reflect the light of a greater source
Think long term
Go out on a limb
Remember your place among all living beings
Embrace with joy the changing seasons
For each yields its own abundance
The Energy and Birth of Spring
The Growth and Contentment of Summer
The Wisdom to let go of leaves in the Fall
The Rest and Quiet Renewal of Winter

Feel the wind and the sun
And delight in their presence
Look up at the moon that shines down upon you
And the mystery of the stars at night.
Seek nourishment from the good things in life
Simple pleasures
Earth, fresh air, light

Be content with your natural beauty
Drink plenty of water
Let your limbs sway and dance in the breezes
Be flexible
Remember your roots

Enjoy the view!

Copyright 1993-2003 Your True Nature, Inc. For Advice from a Tree books, journals, posters and other nature products, visit www.YourTrueNature.com or call 800-992-4769.

Two Quotes I Like

Last Song Syndrome (LSS): Mamma Mia

I went to see this musical in Mandalay Bay Hotel, Las Vegas last Saturday. The tune is still ringing in my head even up to now.

Mamma Mia is entertaining and I could not believe how many ABBA songs I could sing-along with. This is one of them.

Mamma Mia
ABBA

I've been cheated by you since I don't know when
So I made up my mind, it must come to an end
Look at me now, will I ever learn?
I don't know how but I suddenly lose control
There's a fire within my soul
Just one look and I can hear a bell ring
One more look and I forget everything, w-o-o-o-oh

Mamma mia, here I go again
My my, how can I resist you?
Mamma mia, does it show again?
My my, just how much I've missed you
Yes, I've been brokenhearted
Blue since the day we parted
Why, why did I ever let you go?
Mamma mia, now I really know,
My my, I could never let you go.

I've been angry and sad about things that you do
I can't count all the times that I've told you we're through
And when you go, when you slam the door
I think you know that you won't be away too long
You know that I'm not that strong.
Just one look and I can hear a bell ring
One more look and I forget everything, w-o-o-o-oh

Mamma mia, here I go again
My my, how can I resist you?
Mamma mia, does it show again?
My my, just how much I've missed you
Yes, I've been brokenhearted
Blue since the day we parted
Why, why did I ever let you go?
Mamma mia, even if I say
Bye bye, leave me now or never
mamma mia, it's a game we play
Bye bye doesn't mean forever

Mamma mia, here I go again
My my, how can I resist you?
Mamma mia, does it show again?
My my, just how much I've missed you
Yes, I've been brokenhearted
Blue since the day we parted
Why, why did I ever let you go
Mamma mia, now I really know
My my, I could never let you go.

The other musical I watched was Phantom of the Opera over at the Venetian. I fell asleep four times and my friend had to wake me up so as not to miss my dollar's worth. I was too tired, really, and just wanted to take advantage of the half-priced ticket that we bought. I liked Mamma Mia more than Phantom. I guess my state of mind affected my taste last weekend.

Next year, I hope to watch a couple of shows on Broadway.

Just So You Know

Ella is currently out on a two-week trip. Her irregularly-updated column will be back whenever she finds the fortunate combination of time, inspiration, and Internet access.

Please pray for our safe travel and for a smooth, tangle-free conference. Thanks!

Fewer Words; More Meaning

I've been accused of keeping another blog where I lived a different life. Sometimes that's true, except both are fed to my Multiply site.

I did some Haiku practice, or whatever this is. It’s been years since freshman English class.

1. Oh my no means yes;

The lightning should have warned you.

Believe what you must.

2. You step on damp grass,

Walking away forever.

I watch you leave me.

3. Breath of your release,

The night wind blows you away.

I have words unsaid.

4. Another you next time.

He will listen; he will stay:

Then I must be there.

I'd Rather be Dancing

I consider time at car service centers better spent elsewhere (a parlor or a spa, for instance). Last Monday, I had the car tires checked due to frequent problems I had had with them.

After reading all the motor vehicle magazines available and getting bored to death, I thought of all the other things I would rather do at that moment, like dancing (to the beat of the songs Karreen compiled for me to exercise with) or sleeping. It was another rainy Monday, after all. I remembered that I needed a massage, a facial, and a pedicure, but I couldn't get those services from within walking distance of the tire shop. I just imagined I had enough money to start a business, and thought of opening a shop that provided pampering services for women while giving the best services for their cars.

I knew it was not an original idea, and I did find several shops online that gave that combination of services, abroad. Hmmm. While reading up on my brilliant but, alas, unrealized, idea, I also ran into this joke, which already made the rounds of egroups a few years ago.

OIL CHANGE INSTRUCTIONS FOR WOMEN:
(1) Pull up to Service Center when it is time for your next oil change
(2) Relax in a massage chair with a glass of wine, soda, coffee, or cappuccino while reading the latest Magazine or working on your laptop.
(3) 45 minutes later write a check and leave with a properly maintained vehicle where the fluids have been topped off, car has been washed, tires rotated, and courtesy inspection completed.

Money Spent
Oil Change: $34.95 (non-synthetic oil change)
Wireless access: FREE
Glass of wine, soda, or coffee: FREE
Courtesy Inspection: FREE
Massage in chair: FREE
Total cost of peace of mind knowing your car is maintained: PRICELESS


OIL CHANGE INSTRUCTIONS FOR MEN:
(1) Wait until Saturday, drive to auto parts store and buy a case of oil, filter, kitty litter, hand cleaner and a scented tree, write a check for $50.00
(2) Stop by liquor store and buy a case of beer, write a check for $20.00, drive home.
(3) Open a beer and drink it.
(4) Spend 30 minutes looking for jack stands. Jack car up.
(5) Find jack stands under kid's pedal car.
(6) In frustration, open another beer and drink it.
(7) Place drain pan under engine.
(8) Look for 9/16 box end wrench.
(9) Give up and use crescent wrench.
(10) Drop drain plug in pan of hot oil: splash hot oil on face and arms in process. Bleep!
(11) Crawl out from under car to wipe hot oil off of face and arms. Throw kitty litter on spilled oil.
(12) Have another beer while watching oil drain.
(13) Spend 30 minutes looking for oil filter wrench.
(14) Give up; crawl under car and hammer a screwdriver through oil filter and twist off.
(15) Crawl out from under car with dripping oil filter splashing oil everywhere from holes. Cleverly hide old oil filter among trash in trash can to avoid environmental penalties.
(16)Drink a beer.
(17) Buddy shows up; finish case of beer with him. Decide to finish oil change tomorrow so you can go see his new garage door opener work.
(18) Sunday: Skip church because "I gotta finish the oil change." Drag pan full of old oil out from underneath car. Cleverly dump oil in hole in back yard instead of taking it to recycle.
(19) Throw kitty litter on oil spilled during step 18.
(20) Beer. No, drank it all yesterday.
(21) Walk to liquor store; buy beer.
(22) Install new oil filter making sure to apply a thin coat of oil to gasket surface.
(23) Dump first quart of fresh oil into engine.
(24) Remember drain plug from step 11.
(25) Hurry to find drain plug in drain pan.
(26) Remember that the used oil is buried in a hole in the back yard along with drain plug.
(27) Drink beer.
(28) Shovel out hole and sift oily mud for drain plug. Re-shovel oily patch of ground and avoid environmental penalties. Wash drain plug in lawnmower gas.
(29) Discover that first quart of fresh oil is now on the floor. Throw kitty litter on oil spill.
(30) Drink beer.
(31) Crawl under car getting kitty litter into eyes. Wipe eyes with oily rag used to clean drain plug. Slip with stupid crescent wrench tightening drain plug and bang knuckles on frame.
(32) Bang head on floorboards in reaction to step 31.
{deleted}
(36) Beer.
(37) Clean up hands and forehead and bandage as required to stop blood flow.
(38) Beer.
(39) Beer.
(40) Dump in five fresh quarts of oil.
(41) Beer.
(42) Lower car from jack stands.
(43) Accidentally crush remaining case of new motor oil.
(44) Move car back to apply more kitty litter to fresh oil spilled during steps 23 - 43.
(45) Beer.
(46) Test drive car.
(47) Get pulled over: arrested for driving under the influence.
(48) Car gets impounded.
(49) Call loving wife, make bail.
(50) 12 hours later, get car from impound yard.

Money Spent
Parts: $50.00
DUI: $2500.00
Impound fee: $75.00
Bail: $1500.00
Beer: $40.00
Total: $4165.00 -- But you know the job was done right!

For the Lawyers in North America...

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Please visit http://www.mclepro.com/www/email_flyer_mcle.htm for more details.