People's Princess & Queen of Hearts

 

Princess Diana's D. Anniversary today. It's hard to believe that she passed away just like that... so tragic and ... Rest In Peace and God bless You!

Wherever she is right now probably in heaven with the angels. For all the good things, for all the good deeds and all the accomplishments she did for her family, friends and all the people who received her love, attention, support, and compassion,  thank you,  we are forever thankful.

Princess Diana will always be the People's Princess and Queen of Hearts. She will always be the world's inspiration when it comes to strength against oppression and adversity. People will always be inspired about her sense of fashion, kindness, humility, exceptional beauty and simplicity.

Always remember that "She's the One."

Photography Time

I'm an amateur photographer so better post some photographs for today. How about fresh blackberries from our yard?

 Blackberries & Strawberries combination

Serve it right!

Be careful when picking berries

Watch out for those sharp thorns and slivers

Clean the blackberries first in a bowl of water, rinse the many tiny thorns and slivers out before you put them in your mouth.

I'm an amateur photographer and trick is not part of my system.
I'm an amateur photographer and I'm perfectionist!

Happiness Is...

Hey it's Tuesday! What should I post this time? Another show and tell or "Fun with Flags?" Ahahahha! I like that portion of "The Big Bang Theory" where Sheldon and his gf Amy had that small production fun with flags and their semi-drama comedy of anything about nothing until you laughed because what they are doing is funny/ridiculous and their facial reactions are somewhat confused, uneasy and camera conscious smart ass.

I know, should not write that "ass" whatever you want to call it. It's just a word. When you fall into trap about finding a replacement for that word it becomes another word and doesn't have the same meaning or definition.

You as a naive, innocent human being was invited by your relative to attend a party and then someone in the party is not your friend and then they talked about you in a situation that compromised everybody that in the conversation somebody is using "a made up name for that somebody that they disliked like the name of the dog or cat for instance is used." It's not funny/hilarious at all. It's sort of a discrimination made lightly to cover up something that's embarrassing.

OMG! Disguises. Do you have a cover when you blog? I think most of you have disguises and cover or using pseudonyms and I can't blame you because publicly you don't want to shame that person or group of people.

It's too late for me to have disguises or pseudonyms in writing. I would like to write the truth just the same as in the Holy Bible. Why lie about everything? What can you get from lying and deceiving people?

Science fiction or fantasy would be a better story  to write or have some adventure and challenges that tackle about anything out of the ordinary. But who cares? This is a blog. This is my diary. If you are not interested in reading my post then jump over to another blog. And then that's what happened why some blogs are blocked or flagged.

My children are grown-ups, they are young adults, no babies at home that's for sure. My home is adult-oriented now and everybody can think for themselves. I'm happy and glad that I don't have to babysit anybody or look after young children. If I would be babysitting that would be fine but at the rate of babysitting nowadays would be $10/hr $15/hr. In 1999 the rate of babysitting per child is $4.50/hr. Would you believe that? Looking after and caring for children is one of the hardest work ever especially if that child is naughty and never listens to command nor never pays attention to elders. There are too many children whose problems are over the roof  ( as if they are mini Darth Vader) that no parents can control them and that's where the government support is much needed. Intervention of extra help is needed for such children to live normally as much possible.

Oh well, there's always a solution for every problem. Bring VICTORIOUS & BIG TIME RUSH shows back to NICK TV so that we're all gonna be happy. LOL.

Monday Post

Yey! It's Monday and it's back to work at my blog. What to write here when I aready blogposted something in another blog and because people need something new to see and listen to. But this is a blog so what should be posted should be a photograph not necessarily a video with sound.

Wow! All of a sudden there's that flashboy who deleted what I have typewritten.  Dude don't hack my computer. You think I can't see you?

So let me post these photos because that's how we start with mnemonic.

 My husband is finished with paint job on the house. He even rented that long ladder to be able to reach the highest point of the wall up to the roof. It's scary to even look at what he is doing but that kind of work is what employment  that pays better: construction, building houses and establishments.  Blue collar jobs are the most in demand work nowadays. Demand for labor and demand for supply.

 I looked up and I looked down and found this old, dry small shrub that was on the ground beside the fence and lifted it and told myself this is an "art."  My son yelled at me to throw it. "Don't even take it inside the house," my husband said. I was staring at that dry small tree and thinking I can paint this and make it a "small Christmas tree." LOL.

Oh well, took more photos of the lively, colorful flowers (plant) that my husband planted. He spent at least $100 worth of florals : begonia, purple velvet petunias, red petunias. Is it worth the price?

After my photography session and after I picked some hearty fresh beans from the garden I decided it's time to cook something for dinner.

My favorite way to have salmon prepared and cooked and baked, yeah the way I want it. Two big fillet of salmon, one is baked with mayonnaise on top and spices  and one fillet of salmon with spices of black pepper, salt, sprinkle of ground oregano leaves, without mayonnaise and calamansi juice poured evenly on the surface of the fish. Yummy good of course! All it takes: 30 minutes in toaster-oven at 450 (degrees Farenheit).

 Dinner & a Movie? My son had chosen Scarlett Johansson's movie GHOST IN THE SHELL. It's not that bad of a story of a perfect soldier named Major used by scientists to be their obedient powerful cyber robot soldier to defeat criminals. Her brain is real human but her body is patches of moulded plastic robots. It's a science-fiction movie similar to Universal Soldier. OMG! Similarities. That's what it is with movies nowadays. What happened to originality? Scarlett is a good actress let her stay with Robert Downey Jr, in Ironman.

Work That Benefit The Whole Family

The frequency in blogging is much admired in many websites around the world. Actually everyday is good as if it's a news network. Blogger made it  a point that Blogger the blogpost.com is sort of a diary for so many of its hundred thousands to millions of its members that's why if the frequency of blogging is everyday let me tell you it is not that annoying. What is annoying is when your favorite blogwriters do not  blog as often as you want them to. You keep dropping by to read something new and you find them in a hiatus for a month without something new to offer or nothing's new to show and tell.

It's not my business anyway, especially if those blogwriters love to travel and their blog is about travelling in Europe, in Asian countries and in the Caribbean or in the Mediterranean countries. They have so much to show and they have too much to spend that's why. Their money is all over their abode.

While me I am stuck most of the time at home and travelling is sort of maybe if there's a special occasion or something very important to do and see for myself what's happening in those places.

With too many expenses such as rental home, electricity, internet, television, food, clothing and other basic necessities in life then to travel in all pleasures is somewhat awful  and absurd. My husband has vehicle and so as my son not only those vehicles need gas, insurance and other miscellaneous bills to pay it's a matter of having to work full time. Remember that in Economics? A full time employment is a much needed to keep yourself afloat. That a rising tide lifts all boats.

Just recently one of my sons had a visit with his dentist and in 30 minutes being there at the dental office for one tooth filling, waiting to be called then the dentist had his gum injected with anesthesia to keep it numb for the dental process and in just few minutes the dentist work is done in less than 30 minutes and he paid for such work. He paid for his own dental fee. One tooth filling is costly. $153. I'm glad he is mature enough to pay for his own dental and medical bills.

OMG! It's nice to have dentists in the family. My cousin is probably lucky to have 2 dentists (son and daughter) in her family, she doesn't need to pay for dental works.

I had problems too with my tooth before when I was young. I ate too much milk nougat and candies with caramel inside those candies. I was 8 years old when I had that stupid tooth that needs to be pulled out. I was afraid to have it pulled by dentist so I waited and waited that I can pull it out without the need to see that long needle (anesthesia injection). I tried my grandmother's old remedy however it only worked for few hours and the pain keeps coming back. Up to the last minute when the pain is unbearable finally surrender to the dentist and have that tooth out. My father was a soldier and all his dependents (whole family)  received free medical and dental benefits and because he also worked in the hospital. That's what is so great about having a military man  in the family.

To others:

Whatever it is, control your intake of sweets especially candies, jellies and caramel. Avoid sweet stuff that sticks to your gum and teeth. Avoid smoking and do not smoke. Cigar and tobaccos are menace to you health and can ruin your teeth. It can cause cancer! Control your intake of sweet soda and sweet beverage and iced tea. Brush your teeth with Colgate 3x a day or every after meals. Don't tell me I didn't warn you.

Bye for now. Gotta watch "The Walking Dead" marathon at aMC Channel.

There Is Always Something New To Blog

What else should be happening in our small island somewhere in the Pacific? Ha ha! You don't know that the island is located in the Pacific? We are in the "Pacific Theatre."

People who live in the Pacific Theatre know how to act and react to any kind of weather condition and all the many disturbances that surround the entire island and the nearby islands. We live in a group of fishermen, carpenters, merchants and God knows what they are doing.

We are not in Venice. Are we in Italy? I don't think so! The new Italian country is now in Global City, Philippines.

However, our small island is still considered as "Total Drama Island" and it's okay to act and react. What else to do anyway?

Everyone has an attitude and thank God we brag about such attitude. It is something to brag because we can't brag about the house, car or any other kind of vehicle because everyone lives in the house and everyone has vehicle. Several people owned electric vehicles and there are spots for EV cars to load/charge electricity within the city and that's the ultra modern technology right there.

Then I looked at our TV and watched this commercial about "Clorox Scrubtastic." Wow! That's neat! I would like to have one like that for cleaning bath tub, that would be handy and it's only $39.99 + tax.

Work With Pay

My husband keeping busy working, definitely WORKING WITH PAY! It's the world of work for him that should bring in the bacon. Pressure washing and painting is not an easy job, actually the hardest jobs because of the risks involved. It's a contractual work so salary or wages are paid after the work is completed.

For other workers doing this kind of job? It would be the same rights of workers being applied.

The World of Work

Watching TV shows and TV series still is the cheapest, economical way to be entertained. However when the news on TV is about terrorism and the many disaster and bad news you don't call that as a form of entertainment. Bad news can lead to depression, anxiety and fear. It triggers a downfall in some of the stocks in the Stock Exchange. It leads to something inevitable crucial moments for those who are involved and most of all it leads to unhappiness.

I wish to have all the textiles I need to keep me busy instead doing something that is more than productive rather than being influence on television shows that promote elimination of race, bullying, and rejection. Groups of people gang-up on individuals they disliked because these people are the quiet-type, no vice (doesn't smoke, doesn't gamble, not a drug addict or individual without friends or not sociable). Why the liars and deceptive people are well liked by such group of people? Creepy?
Maybe it's the social norm that whoever talks too much or an individual who talks more than the non-talker  should be the leader. It should be a person who can reason out better and wisely should lead the group, and somebody who has enough financial capability should manage and lead after all nothing is done when you don't have the capital and financial resources to do the work.

All standby when there's no source of finance. Nobody works when nobody pays.

The world of work is about work with pay! After all the basic needs of humanity have something to do with payment to all such needs and wants.

Can't see or read me here? I'm at MY BLOG, MY WORLD.

Thanks and enjoy the day!

GOD bless us all.

Survival

Are you on the side of food? You wont believe how many times it was proven that FOOD is the most important priority to survive.

Watch ALONE survival show about known survivalists, skilled and efficient contestants who compete in the wilderness with only few chosen tools and clothing to test their skills and ability to survive longer in an island surrounded by water and the forest where they can gather source of food, from the trees where they gather source of heat and shelter despite of the environment's sudden extreme changes in the temperature who among them can stay in the island by themselves without other source of food and means to live in the civilization where they once lived. Of course we can see and view them through the lens of camera they brought and was relayed the happening leading them to starvation because they are surrounded by the environment we thought they can gather food and any kind of fish or marine life edible for food but that's not easy though. When the frail bodies do not gain the nutrients they need to keep the strength to do the work, then the energy is lost and their frail bodies cannot do the work until they become unconscious.All for the prize of quarter million of dollars. That's a lot of money. You wont be able to earn such wages in one month or even in a year. Is that the prize? I don't know the exact prize for such competition on how to starve and survive.

Brooke and her husband thought with better shelter than the rest of their competitors and fire inside their built-in fireplace plus all the games they played to keep busy and few fishes they caught everything's okay. Brooke looked so sick already from the time she was gathering those heavy rocks from the beach to make a customized fireplace. Then the food they gathered like the creatures attached to the rocks called limpids. Do you think that's edible? I never see those limpids at the supermarket. If those creatures are not for sale in the market it only means that's not really edible. It's a risky seafood. Then the giant hairy snails...will you eat such snails? Only when you are starve to death and there is nothing that you can do to get any food, nor no fish or anything, nothing that you can get from the lake. Is that a lake or ocean? What they never try is to build a raft, so many of those trees with trunks and branches to build a boat, because probably the fish are just there at the middle of the ocean or lake. Are they not allowed to hunt deer or any wild animals in the forest?

They are probably doing some kind of test on survival. Everything is about survival. Test and research. How life on another planet would be if all your source of food is gone and survival in another planet would be crucial if the new planet has no vegetation or sort nor any animals to where they can get leather or fur for clothing, most especially for its meat. Maybe if there is source of water at least, humans can live for few days because with the presence of water in another planet could only mean there is air and oxygen and you can breathe, but for how long? Maybe, if you have bags of seeds of all kinds of vegetable seeds and it will take several days for plants to grow. For a brand new tomato seed planted on soil, would take a day for the tiny sprout out from the soil. It will  take 2 months at least for the tomato plant to bear flowers and another 3 weeks for the fruit to come out. For the fruit to grow to its size for picking, give  another month. Well that depends on the amount of fertilizer, sunshine and a lot of care for the tomato plant to exist and bear fruits. For beans to grow and bear the long, chubby beans? It takes 4 months for such plant to grow from its seed to bear its vegetable, right for picking.

In the movie MARTIAN starring Matt Damon as an astronaut stranded in Mars alone, he was able to plant potatoes. It takes few months for the potato plants to grow and yield. Potatoes are root crops and give carbohydrates. When these potatoes are fermented you can produce alcohol, wine, tonic and source of heat and can be distilled as source of energy. The energy derived from potatoes can be a source of fuel for rockets. It doesn't make sense? How could that be? I know, how could sugarcane can also be a fuel for vehicles in Brazil and Cuba?

Photographs and Memories

 I love our garden even if it's a small one at the backyard. Watering the plants feels not a chore but a pleasure to do my best to keep the bean plants (veggies), tomatoes (veggies), swiss chards (veggies) and strawberries growing and bear fruits. Remember tomato is a vegetable not a fruit.

I was amazed of the strawberry plants, only three shrubs but already yield lots of fruits and I first thought after their fruits are harvested that's it no more then another batch of strawberry fruits are growing again and the second batch of fruits are bigger.

 I also love the blackberries. Picking them one by one is such a joy but I can't fill up a bucket yet because the berries do not ripen at the same time besides too many thorns surrounding the branches and their leaves are textured that if you wont be careful your hands will be full of scratch. I wont hurt my hands and arms trying to reach these berries. I only want to taste the blackberry if its sweet or sour.

 Everyday, blackberries have too many hundreds of visitors mostly honeybees, bumble bees, different species of butterflies and wasps and yellow jacket. There's a swarm of those insects and if you're not watchful then you'll get the swarm too on your body. Yuck!

 The only thing that makes me happy is when the garden is the subject of my photography. Well, the picture above was taken by my daughter who I keep on insisting that she should study photography at the local Community College. My daughter Tam knew how to use digital camera and she knows how to focus and aim camera and that's why I am the subject of her photography. Thanks sweetie for this awesome photo.

 Oh those beans. My husband said this is the "Oregon giants." I think this is from my collection of seeds "Dragon tongue beans." Originally from my Mother-in-law's collection of beans from Greystone's garden.

My family had an amazing garden too way back in 1971. My father loves gardening even up to today and he has that green thumb where every seeds grow and yield perfectly.

This is an aerial view of that garden surrounding my family's house in Philippines. We don't have a camera that time so this image below is to show you what was cultivated, harvested and what we had during the Green Revolution Project.

Verdad Family Garden

At the front of our house there were trees and vegetables such as: Guava tree, taro plants, fortune plants, mango tree, coconut tree. The next row, my father planted sweet potato and cassava plants, chili or jalapeno plants, upo and keylimes (calamansi). We also had a small pond for tilapia (native fish) beside the kangkongan plot. We had those stalks, dozen of sugarcane beside the water tap. While my grandmother planted her favorite flowers such as rosal (gardenia), roses, and San Francisco plant at the front house. She also planted the hibiscus (gumamela), jasmine (sampaguita). Right outside our front house's windows where we can see those 3 papaya trees along side the small pond for edible snails (kuhol) which crawled through our windows sometimes. Other trees were planted on the right  side of the house such as: Breadfruit, jackfruits, banana trees and the aratilis tree just grew there by itself. On the left side of the house we had caimito tree, banana trees (dozens of them and younger plants sprout every six months) then mushrooms in hundreds grew under the banana trunks, coconut tree, camias tree that bears non-stop of its fruits since 1971 to 2005. I don't know if that camias tree is alive up to present time. Palagi syang may bunga. All year round the camias yields so much of those sour fruits which we used for sinigang (sour soup base). At the backyard we had guyabano trees (soursop). I'm not sure what year we had those farm animals such as goats, rabbits and chicken (white leghorns) and the brown chicken, the mother hen had its "crown-like head." I remember when the mother hen died and I was crying non-stop and my grandmother stopped me from crying because that's only a chicken. That chicken was my pet that's why.  I think we had the farm animals in 1974 to 1977. We also had a tiger cat and a dog named Mutley. The cat and the dog treated each other like family. The cat Tiger (her name) thought she is the mother of Mutley.  Weird right? Long story to tell. Our pet dog was named after smart Mutley the brainiac partner of Dick Tracy in the Wacky race (my favorite cartoon show on TV). The next dog was named Mutley II and the next dogs are named Hunter I and II.

Oh my memories! I have photographic memory so even if without digital camera way back then I can picture everything through my mind. The best part is I can draw those memories and give life to them the way I want it.

Minimum Wage Hike? Sa Tutuo Lang, Make it Real!

When nothing means a lot. I wish we have our own house and lot but we are only renting a house in Canada just like millions of Canadians. There are house owners who are living in their own homes built probably after World War II and you can see how old the buildings are and so many home owners are residing on houses inherited from their parents. Not too many owned homes here in Canada specifically in brand new houses. Well, there are so many executive rows in executive villages around the island but the price ranged from half millions of dollars to over millions of dollars. Over million dollars house? Those mansions built like a bed and breakfast large homes? They probably owned by doctors, lawyers, accountants and maybe showbiz personalities or celebrities. But who knows maybe they won grand prizes in the keno and lottery. For the ordinary workers to have a half-million dollar worth house is a matter of what kind of job you have or you probably earn $75/hour wage everyday, multiply hours of work/day then to weeks/months then year? However, what's this I heard that if you are a millionaire your debts are bigger than most of us.

Look, the minimum wage is only $11.35/hour (TOO SMALL!) (That's only a piece of tuna sandwich) without pop for workers such as waitress/waiter (+ tip), pizza delivery guy, line cook, sales clerk at the department stores, second-hand man for construction company, cashier, gardener, tailor, seamstress, lawnmower man, teacher, driver,  housemaid, etc.

Workers who work on construction company doing renovations or carpentry job should be paid at least $20/hour minimum wage. Why? It's one of the hardest job and it's risky. Other workers received at least $30/hour depends on the contract and location.

I think nurses received at least $15/hour  to $20/hour depends on the skills of the workers. Doctors earned $70/hour depends on their skills and specialization.

I heard lawyers are paid right from the start you asked questions. Would you believe that? It's like being inside the taxi and the meter is running.

I wonder how much the news reporters are earning per hour? How about the scientists? Are they paid based on what their findings and breakthroughs? Please stop hoarding. Tell us if UFO is real or not... no more hiding.

The only people we knew who are over paid and earning way too much above everyone else are the government officials. $100,000 - $150,000 per annum salary for every government official is like winning the sweepstakes. How fortunate of these people that we can only pray that they are doing the right thing and always care about the people they represent. We can only hope so. So if the minimum wage hike has fully resolved and the next $15/hour hike next to be approved then that's GREAT!

How To Think Of Nothing?

When sometimes it's too tiring to blog. I'm over fatigued actually from doing housework, laundry (4 loads), then I have to cook our family's meals for lunch. What could we expect when the blogwriter is tired and not at best mood? Fake the attitude of being happy when you are not? Pretend nothing's wrong and everything's okay?

Oh, it's the 15th day of the month of August 2017. Is there something that I have to show and tell this time? I should write that nothing to post anymore because all topics were brought up already and answered to the best of my ability.

I'm really tired. Wow! I first thought I am iRobot. I felt the burnt-out and the fallout. What's happening?

Maybe it's okay to be grumpy, grouchy and be normal to show feelings of anxiety and feeling of being annoyed. I am human and I can feel imperfections, anger and hate.

It's time to relax and think of nothing.

Everyday Is A Birthday Blessing

My family celebrates birthday everyday! Why not? Everyday I wake up have to cook special meals for my family, for my husband, for my children.

Cooking is a very repetitive action. Cooking meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner is very repetitious, routinary work for the chef or cook at home.

Preparing the desired ingredients, for the lumpiang shanghai is laborious. Cooks in a chinese restaurants are paid for the preparation of this type of work and for the deep frying of such shanghai rolls (spring rolls). It's not that easy to prepare and cook shanghai rolls but it's already easy as pie making these rolls due to my experience as a cook in a restaurant before.

How about palabok? It's one laborious way to cook palabok but with the availability of ingredients and because my son craves for it, so I cooked it for him. I told him I will cook it for his birthday but he would like it in July instead for August, in advance.

I don't know how to bake or make an ice cream cake for their birthdays so instead we ordered an ice cream from DQ. They have the best ice cream cake ever!

However, I like cheesecake and that's my desserts, pure and simple cheese cake, we bought from WalMart. I love the berry-cheesecake flavor. There are other flavors to choose from: chocolate, nuts, cherry, raspberry,  maple, cranberry.

Wine? Blackberry fruits from the garden are not ripe yet but who knows I might make fresh wine from those berries next time.

I will have to roast beef tonight for the birthday celebrant because that's one of his favorite meal for supper. CHEERS to the birthday celebrant and hope that you will enjoy the day. Wishing you more birthdays to celebrate, meaning wishing you a happy long life. To my son, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! GOD BLESS YOU!

Hats Off

Hats off because I'm wearing a toque!