My Peculiar 3 Days

While waiting for some projects to come in, I decided to give 3 days of my time to helping other people. At the end of these 3 days, I had several realizations and one great turn of events happened.

I want to start with the 'great turn of events' that happened, or it may appropriately addressed as 1 event as a whole. This is about my NBA team, the Phoenix Suns. Before Monday, the Suns were down 0-2 to the Los Angeles Lakers and all hopes were going down already and everybody was expecting that the season for the Suns would end with the Lakers on the roll. With the Suns' bench not stepping up and missing badly in the 3 point attempts and Stoudamire struggling against the length of LA's backcourts, it seemed like the end for the Suns.

When Monday came, I woke up late and I was pissed off to take a taxi going to the DTI office to conduct the training with Sir Loy, Ace and Kristine. Not to mention I left the house at the opening tip of the Suns and Lakers game. When I reached the training area, my bad aura disappeared when I met my co-trainers. I honestly took the offer to train with the mere fact that I had nothing to do within the week, but all these changed when I reached the training room. The training was about teaching SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) about how to make Electronic Brochures / Bulletins and I honestly didn't expect the actual business owners to join the program, but I was wrong! Then my mood started to change, it is a great honor use my talents/skills/learnings to teach these prominent people into making electronic brochures and later uploading them to their respective websites. Then I said to myself that I am going to give more than a hundred percent for this training. Then when snack time came, I checked the nba website and was happy to find out that Phoenix had a lead in the 3rd quarter. Then the training resumed, I had all the time to go to a vacant computer and watch the game till the end but I chose not to, because I am serious about the training and then, everything fell into place.

It was fun to be in the same room with the owners of major businesses here in Davao such as Tevanj, PorkyBest and a lot more! I am really happy because although some of the participants were really old, they were really passionate and eager to learn everything that we taught them. Imagine 40 to 50 year old people, learning Adobe Photoshop? Some of them even encountered the software for the first time. But then, 3 days passed and somehow, the program went smoothly. This may be because of the readiness of the trainers to conduct the training, yes. But it also had to deal with the interest of the participants to actively interact and learn as many things as possible. I want to congratulate everyone for a job well done. A few hours ago, we ended the training with the participants presenting their final brochures, and you can't believe that these people made these brochures in just 3 days not to mention some of them were old already and some encountering the software for the first time.

It was a good 3 days (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday). Now my team managed to tie the series with the Lakers already and with great momentum, hopefully can advance to the NBA finals (I wish!) but with a team like the LA Lakers, winning 2 consecutive games this deep in the playoffs against them is already a great achievement. I was really fulfilled and full (because of the free snacks/lunch and food samples of participants hehehe). It is indeed a great feeling to invest your time into something productive and the feeling of helping others is really incomparable. I also realized that traveling to the other side of the city in the morning and going home in the evening is not a simple thing. I end up taking the taxi to be in he training area on time and I end up sleeping in the jeepney on my way home tired of all the day's activities. I was tired but I am happy. I realized that nothing can stop you if you are interested and you are loving what you're doing. I expect my life will be like this, given the chance that I will be leaving the country in the future and I am happy to feel these things right now. Definitely, these 3 days gave me challenges, happiness and dedication to work that can greatly shape me into a better professional.

3 days? It was definitely worth my time!

Mr. Lapu-Lapu - Rest in Peace

I have been a pet lover since I was a child. As a child I had several pets including birds, cats, dogs, chicken (yes you heard it right - chicken), spiders, and my most favorite pet - fish. As I can remember, I had my first aquarium when I was six years old and way back then my father and I would spend time to take care and enjoy seeing fishes. As a child I would go to the beach, not to join my cousins enjoy bathing in the beaches around Davao City, but to have my mask and snorkel and explore the different fishes in the shallow waters of the beach area. But in the house, my pet fishes were mosty fresh water fishes and among my favorites were - bala shark, golden shark, red-tail shark, rainbow shark, discus, arowana. But I have also had angelfishes, goldfish and carps. (Never really appreciated the flowerhorn - for personal reasons hehe - I'm just not fond of the fish.)

It wasn't until about 3 years ago that I emptied my aquarium in the house with freshwater fishes and tried having marine fishes. At first, it was hard. My father and I had to get salt water from the sea and transport it to our house for the aquarium water (not really a fan of the salt solution present in pet shops nowadays because I preferred the natural sea water). I experienced having marine fishes like clown fish (nemo!) with anemones, butterfly fishes and the likes, blowfishes and family, porcupine fish, lion fish and others. then about 2 years ago, I went crazy and tried to have a pet Grouper aka Lapu-Lapu (never had a picture of it, but it was around the same size as the one in the picture above). At first it was still small and didn't mind the fishes around it, but after some time that it became bigger, it started to eat the small fishes around it. At first I was so mad but eventually accepted that it will be the only fish that will be in my aquarium. Later on, I found myself enjoying the site of my pet Lapu-Lapu, eventhough it looked so flat (only with colors gray with black spots) and everytime my mom goes to the market, we would buy small fishes for my lapu-lapu. 2 years passed and my lapu-lapu went fat and big, I think it was already about a foot long. I enjoy the site of it being so energetic in the morning when we get near the aquarium to eat the fishes we put in the aquarium. After eating, it will then be resting at the bottom of the aquarium with a big tummy and sit like a rock for the rest of the day - what a BORING site! But then again, when the morning comes, it becomes energetic and cute again! hehehe

My pet lapu-lapu had a color like this one - the one with a diver in the picture, but not as big as this one. hehe These past few years the lapu-lapu became close to our family. My mother would even get mad when I joke around saying that the lapu-lapu is so delicious and ready to cook already. When I was away for work for a few months, my mother would proudly say over the phone that she already fed the lapu-lapu.

But all these changed last Saturday (May 22, 2010) when after 3 years I had to clean the aquarium as there were already a lot of salt-deposits at the sides of the aquarium and in my filter. This was the only time in several years that I can dedicate to my aquarium. It took me about 3 hours to clean the aquarium and brush off most of the salt deposits in all the aquarium paraphernalia. We placed mr. Lapu-Lapu in a container with sea water in it. When I was finished cleaning the aquarium, I noticed that Lapu-Lapu was dizzy and I think it kept on banging its head around the container edges. And I think the pressure and depth of it's new container is not the same with the one in the aquarium. Being a bottom dweller, mr Lapu-Lapu didn't go up the container to reduce the pressure and continued to stay on the bottom of the container. Then, it was already too late. Mr Lapu-Lapu just had very little time in the newly cleaned aquarium and a few hours later, he already passed away. T_T

I became really sad about this incident. Mr Lapu-Lapu was already part of the household for 2 years. And eventhough I constantly joke around saying it is time to eat mr. Lapu-Lapu, we jus't can't imagine eating something close to our hearts already. My tita asked if she can cook mr Lapu-Lapu, but we refused and just decided to throw away mr Lapu-Lapu's body. Never in our wildest thoughts that we envisioned Mr. Lapu-Lapu to be in a bowl cooked like the one in the picture above - we just never could! May you rest in peace Mr Lapu-Lapu. Your memory and everything we shared will always be remembered!

Invest Safely with Government Bonds

Investing is so important in this day and age. It might seem like with the crash of the stock market in the early 21st century that investing is not a smart option, but really it comes down to being smart about how you invest. Some investments are riskier than others, and if you're worried, then look for investments that are more secure. Typically these types of investments do not yield the same as riskier investments, but you'll still gain more from them than you would keeping them in your bank account or under your mattress.

One secure investment is with government bonds. In the United States, you can buy government bonds that mature anywhere from a month to 30 years. Short-term bonds are called Treasury Bills and you can buy bonds of this type that mature between one month and one year. On this type of bond, you will not get any interest payments before the bond matures.

A longer bond, and probably the most common bond purchased today, is the Treasury Note. These bonds can take as long as 10 months to mature. They must be purchased in denominations of $1,000. These bonds pay out coupon payments, or interest, every 6 months and then the principal is paid back when the bond matures. But the longest bond is a Treasury Bond, which matures between 20 and 30 years. Coupon payments are distributed every 6 months with these bonds as well.

A fourth type of bond is a municipal bond, which is issued by the government to fund for special projects. These bonds are issued on the state, county, or city level and the interest is exempt from federal taxes, which is a bonus with these types of bonds.

But no matter what type of bond you choose to invest in, be sure to hire a bond manager, who can help you keep track of bonds and get the most out of your investment.

Use Coupon Codes for Online Purchases

If you are in the market for a new computer, then there are a few things you should know before going out and spending a lot of cash. Computers can be expensive, but there are ways to lower their cost without losing value. You should always do your research before making a large purchase so that you do not have buyer's remorse.

You can save money on your next desktop computer or laptop by searching for promotions on the Internet before you buy. Chances are that there will be a coupon code, printable coupon, or other promotions that will help you save money on this big purchase. This is even true if you are looking for a specific brand. There are websites where you can easily compare savings and choose to use the promotions that suit your needs the best.

If you are a fan of Dell laptops, then you are in luck because it is easy to find Dell coupons on the Internet. You can take a percentage off the total price just for knowing a little coupon code. You might even be able to find a coupon code for free shipping or select savings on certain laptops or desktop computers. You are throwing money out the window if you purchase something online without using some kind of promotion.

It is simple to use a promotional code when you are shopping online. All you need to do is enter it in the field that is provided when you are at the checkout. The savings will instantly be applied, so you will know how much you are saving and not have to worry about if the code worked. Before you go shopping for your next laptop or desktop computer, make sure to have a coupon code to help you save money. There is no need to pay extra money for something when it takes two extra minutes to find a discount.

Considerations in Drug Addiction Recovery

Drug addiction does not have to be a lifelong problem. Some people think that if you are addicted to a substance, you will always be addicted, but that is not necessarily the truth. Joanna, a young lady who was addicted to "crystal meth," now finds that the smell makes her nauseated. She has no more desire to use it. She chose to change; she found a way to do it, and her body supports her in that decision. For her success meant temporarily finding a new environment, gaining support of family members, and obtaining counseling.

While some addicts can make such changes on their own, many do better with a drug addiction recovery program. A treatment that is personalized for individual needs can be very successful in helping the addict recover and maintain a fulfilling life without drugs. It is essential that the recovering individual be taught to recognize his or her own power to make decisions, thus being enabled to say no and gain power over drugs.

The long-term goal of recovery is usually permanent abstinence, but sometimes this must be done gradually, through reduction and learning self-control. As the addict improves in ability to function, continual progress can be made. For some people, and some drugs, medical intervention is necessary. Deciding the best kind of recovery program depends on the individual. Their spiritual viewpoint, financial status, personality, type of drug used, mental health, and desire for abstinence are all factors.

While it is generally agreed in society that "drugs are bad," it is also evident that drugs, whether legal—such as alcohol and tobacco—or illegal, are a large part of many social environments. The user needs to decide whether complete abstinence is the desired outcome. A good recovery program should take the decision-making ability of the individual into consideration.

Scott Kay Provides Bold and Daring Pieces for the Selective Consumer

Scott Kay initially had no interests in jewelry or fashion. However, as the story goes, he found a lug nut in the street and fashioned it into a ring. Upon this awakening, he applied to the fashion institute of technology and after his initial rejection, he finally was allowed to join. He's become known in the fashion world for blazing his own path above and beyond anyone's expectations and his collection does the same.

His wedding collection has numerous unique pieces including styles that are more traditional. He offers engagement rings with the traditional round cut diamond, but even these are spiced up by the inclusion of platinum rather than gold. In addition, some of the settings include detailed engraving and diamonds offset from the center stone. Moreover, he offers a unique selection of men's wedding bands that include the traditional bands crafted out of platinum, but also intricate engravings such as the vines of the various Sparta bands and the solid weaved look of the stitched style, which are both striking and masculine.

In addition, he offers a wide range of fashion jewelry. Rather than simple chains or pendants, he draws inspiration from some of the most powerful styles in European history. He offers pendants with dark Gothic designs. He crafts bracelets with ivy reminiscent of the Greek columns. He dares to push fashion to the limit with provocative cufflinks sporting Celtic crosses or skulls. Scott Kay remains unafraid to use non-traditional materials including onyx, black sapphires and even cherry wood.

One has chosen to make a statement when selects Scott Kay. His work challenges conceptions of design and material. When you wear one of his pieces, you are making a bold, daring and provocative statement. You declare that you are anything but boring.