I wonder, Is it really worth upgrading to Wordpress 2.8 as early as today?

If I get to have my ultrasound tomorrow, am I ready for the results?

Would it make me happier if I buy myself a Macbook Pro 17″?

I may not have the answers to these questions, but I’m quite happy that I was able to answer one question that has been haunting me for the longest time now: “How can I become a better writer?”

If you’re a procrastinating-slash-struggling writer like me, you better check out the link below.

I was able to give a quick shot at a random writing exercise and I can say that I wasn’t that bad in writing after all.

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lab.drwicked.com

Nowadays, it’s so easy to have your own place in the world wide web. Aside from having your own page in social networking sites (Facebook, MySpace, Multiply), there are free-hosted blogs (Wordpress, Blogger) which make communication and connection fast and free. But if you want to really personalize your own crib, you can always get your own domain and hosting and either use web templates or wordpress to publish your pages. For those on the techie side, using Photoshop, Dreamweaver, or Flash to design their sites is as effortless as toothbrushing.

For those on the not-so-techie side, but would really want to have their own personalized site or blog, I can come to the rescue. I am offering web designing, web hosting, and domain name registration (free for annual plan). I just finished designing and setting up a blog for my friend Dennis and you might want to check it out. If you’d like to have a website as cool as his or my other client Vacation Frills & Thrills, drop me a line below, and let’s get started with your own crib in cyberspace.

Back to you techie guys, check out this hosting site that rocks! Enter the coupon code below to get $2 OFF from your monthly webhosting, or as much as $24 OFF when you get a one-year subscription.

Coupon code: DEATABS-970

Plan Silver, payments every month – monthly price $5.84 (original price $7.84)
Plan Silver, payments every 12 months – monthly price $4.84 (original price $6.84)

Plan Gold, payments every month – monthly price $8.84 (original price $10.84)
Plan Gold, payments every 12 months – monthly price $7.84 (original price $9.84)

I was with some of my friends the other day and we were laughing hysterically about this Teppanyaki concept that we had in mind. Teppanyaki, as my Chef friend says, is a Japanese way of frying or boiling on an iron plate, which sometimes may involve the chef to exhibit skillful handling of the knife (and food). I haven’t seen live Teppanyaki exhibitions but it would surely be a delight if I would see one. Back to the Teppanyaki concept, we just thought what if we come up with a Class C-D Teppanyaki foodcart and the main attraction would be the knives exhibition. So it should be affordable for the target market right? But how do we make it affordable when it will cost us so much to get high caliber Japanese-trained cooks who are also skilled in playing with knives? Then we started imagining morbid things happening like someone getting his face accidentally cut from watching the food preparation, and it would also mean the cook cutting his own nose and ears. Then there’d be high employee turnover because of such mishaps. Oh well, it’s not exactly funny now that I’m writing it, but we sure had loads of laughter when we were just talking about it. Duh. Sometimes I wish I could write like those writers do in MAD TV, 30 Rock, or my all-time favorite That 70s Show. LOL!

And I couldn’t even remember what our last exchange of words were because there was so much noise in the airport. I felt stupid for choosing to be speechless instead of saying what I really felt. But I know that he felt it too. It was like saying goodbye to a brother. This is perhaps one of the saddest days of my life.

Check out Vacation Frills and Thrills.  This is the first major project I did with Aleah for this year. It is also marks my web designing comeback. By web designing, I mean “front end” concept+design. I want to thank my friends Marvin (flash animator) and Roel (web master) for helping me in putting this site up. So if you need a website, let me know and we’ll create your dream website to life… You’ll be surprised to know how easy and affordable it can be to finally have your own crib on cyberspace. 

If you want to know more about the rates, kindly leave me a comment below, and make sure to include your email address so I could send you the web design packages.

I was watching Tim Gunns’ Guide to Style this evening and I suddenly remembered how long it has been since the last time I shopped for clothes. Funny thing is that whenever I have the time to shop, I just find it such a hassle to have to go through fitting all those clothes only to confirm my suspicion that they won’t fit. I remember this sales lady from BENCH who told me that they don’t have any size that will fit me. I was like, whatda…!? Didn’t your mom teach you manners!?

I have this two-in-one stationary bike and treadmill and yoga ball at home and I rarely use it. Since I bought that bike/treadmill last January, I only used it like three times! And that yoga ball would be so lucky if I’d been able to do one straight set of situps without slipping, for lack of balance or sheer abdominal strength. Talk about wasting 12 months of gym membership last year only to gain back the 20 lbs  I lost! Come to think of it, I weigh much more now compared to last year. UGH!

What if I reverse the process? Instead of waiting for me to fit into those ridiculously petite-sized blouses and jeans before buying them, what if I buy them first, then commit myself into a workable weight loss plan? Just so I could do a regular shopping therapy?! Sounds impractical. And that is sooo not me.

I’ve been through this with myself many times over, thinking that it’s all in the mind. That it’s more of “feeling good” than “looking good.” I’ve been through it in circles and I’m kind of fed up already. Somebody please hit me on the head! Okay, i’ll take that back, hitting wouldn’t be so necessary. Unless I find myself saying this again in my future posts.

For now, my resolution is this. MAKE TIME FOR EXERCISE. And STAY AWAY FROM THE KITCHEN! Sounds too easy!? It should be, because as I see it, that’s the only way it’s going to work.

I was sick for a week. After doing hardcore cleaning on the dirty kitchen the whole Sunday afternoon last week, I just felt ill come sun down and bang! I got the flu. NOT SWINE FLU!

What happens when I get sick is that my nose breaks out with zits and I cough relentlessly like a dog. Yeah, what a bummer! On top of that, I still had to work with my regular shows and do rush projects for a Chicago-based client.

Now I’m back (well technically I was never gone, i was just hiding) and still busy as ever. Ooops! But wait, there’s more! Lookie what we bought last Saturday…

A 32″ Samsung Series 3 LCD TV. It’s not exactly my dream TV, but what the heck!!! It’s way better than our first 21″ Sanyo color TV! WOHOO!!!

We cashed out 5K and we paid the rest by using my one month debt-free credit card and PJ’s  card for a good deal. After roaming SM stores for the past few months and all of Trinoma for the past few weeks in search of the best priced LCD TVs, we came across this store called Theaterworks in Trinoma that sells about 5k pesos cheaper (10k if you buy in cash) compared to other stores like Appliance Center, Anson and Abenson.

Next on my “TO BUY” list… a butt-kicking home theater sound system!

I did not realize that house cleaning can be so expensive. We spent around PhP 2,000 on cleaning materials, disinfectants and insecticides. Since we moved last Sunday, all I did was do major cleaning! Since I am such an OC person, I would not stop scrubbing and washing anything I touch until it turns white. LOL! Anyways, there are still a few more areas in the house that needs cleaning and lots more boxes to unpack. (Ugh! I wish we had a helper!) It’s only Tuesday and I feel tired already. But it’s alright, I’m still happy. I’ll be back with more good news!

Two days ago marked the sixth year of my being a responsible citizen when I filed my ITR.

Every day I work my butt off to make sure that there is food on the table, that we can pay for the bills and save some for the rainy days. Every payday I check my pay slip and smile at the fruits of my labor. I dare not look at how much tax is withheld for the risk of heart attack. Since I left my regular job, I have to go through the rigors of filing my own ITR every year.

I take pleasure in everything that I do… except filing my taxes. I will not even waste my time and effort elaborating why. I just want to make it plain and simple to make change feasible.

It would really really make this annual filing of ITR a pleasant chore if…

1. They stop posting those streamers of their greetings and their priority projects in every corner.

2. They stop excavating and repairing roads that are not broken.

Are these too much to ask!?

It’s just a matter of coping with changes and grabbing opportunities fast.

Since I lost a TV show to cost-cutting reasons, I had the privilege of enjoying two rest days in a week. On such days I would enjoy the comfort of my bed and think of money-making ideas. One such idea is moving nearer to EDSA. It’s not exactly a money-making move, but it’s more of a preparation for the opportunities that will be knocking on my door.I guess it is true that only when you are aligned to your heart’s desire, everything will fall into place. True enough, I still haven’t moved to my new address in Project 8, but I already have enough projects on my plate until June.

My project line-up made me realize that I still can do other things aside from what my present job is demanding from me. Only, I need to be pushed to the wall to get my brains working in top shape. By working in top shape, I mean getting myself to do serious writing and conceptualizing. The downside of working at home is that I have no one to compete with. So the job gets less challenging and the brain exercises less compared to that of having a “real” job. Anyways, I’ve always been a sponge for new information so I guess getting on new work experiences will be a breeze.

Recently hubby and I have also decided to venture into franchising. Right now we’re still saving up for the initial capital and franchise royalty fee. We’re thinking if we can get at least two of these franchise businesses running within the year, we can expand into other businesses and then we can save up for our dream house. Not like the first house that we initially bought last year. But if not for that house, we wouldn’t have been wiser. Truly, everything happens for a reason.

So, while most people are talking about this recession thing, I’m keeping my hopes up because that’s the only way to beat it. I thank the Lord for leading us to the right decisions and to the right connections. Truly, his will is for us to prosper and to enjoy the fruits of our labor. I’ll end this note with a passage from the Bible…

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” — Jeremiah 29:11