Arashi

Yes, this is the new craze.

Thanks, Marky!

Marky is my fave grad classmate. He's four years my junior and 'adopted' brother. Actually, he's more like my fave pet. Haha.

On Valentine's Eve, we had a treat for the couples at Church. I was trying to connect my laptop to the LCD projector and failing miserably. So like the clueless-maid-I-am as regards tekky stuff, I called Marky for technical support. He patiently taught me what to do in a step-by-step manner. I realized the reason I'm not very concerned about learning these stuff is because my classmates in grad school including Marky had spoiled me during presentations in class. It was never my concern since they do all the preps for me! Yes, they love me that much!

Here's my thank you note to him after:

Hi, Marky!

I just want you to know how grateful I am for all your help esp. today. It was a successful event! I had no idea how to proceed if not for your support. Salamat, maasahan ka talaga! (Thanks, I know I can depend on you!) I owe you big time! God bless you!

-Ate Len


He calls me "Ate Len" like most of my classmates do, especially because I'm practically the oldest in class. Yeah, most of them are four years my junior or even younger! And yes, because I am their Ate (big sister) and glad I am.

The pictures were taken at our classmate Itchie's wedding on 28 December 2010.

Taken

I had a wonderful time meeting my classmate last night for an impromptu dinner. We were discussing the Japanese imperial family, structure, politics and so forth and then our favorite Samurai/Japanese movies. We ended up talking about Arashi members. I told him I'm an Arashi fan and Sho is my fave. He was familiar with two of them, Ninomiya and Matsujun. The latter starred in a remake of one of Akira Kurosawa's classics. He asked me, "What if the Crown Prince of Japan asked you to be his princess?" I said no, I wasn't interested. "How about the Crown Prince of England?" Same answer. What if Matsujun asks to court you?" I told him the truth, "I would turn him down." "Why?" he asked. "Because Sho is whom I like." He smiled and said, "I see. So, your heart is already taken."

Legend of the Seeker

This is the new craze... Richard and Kalan.

My WHM Family!

I love these guys!

ROSE

~Forwarded Story~

The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.

I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being.

She said, 'Hi handsome. My name is Rose.. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?'

I laughed and enthusiastically responded, 'Of course you may!' and she gave me a giant squeeze.

'Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?' I asked.

She jokingly replied, I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids...'

'No seriously,' I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.

'I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!' she told me.

After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milk shake.

We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this 'time machine' as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.

Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.

At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor.

Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, 'I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know.'

As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, ' We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing.

There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die.

We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!

There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up.

If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight.

Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets.

The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets.'

She concluded her speech by courageously singing 'The Rose.'

She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago.

One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep.

Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be.

These words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE.

REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL. We make a Living by what we get. We make a Life by what we give.

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

'Good friends are like stars....You don't always see them, but you know they are always there.'

Ecclesiastes 3:11, 12:1-2 NCV

There is a time for everything, and everything on earth has its special season.

Remember your Creator while you are young, before the days of trouble come and the years when you say, "I find no pleasure in them." When you get old, the light from the sun, moon, and stars will grow dark; the rain clouds will never seem to go away.

Joshaholic Buddy

I have a joshaholic buddy who just got married last August. She's adorable. She sent me a link to her wedding pics. I just can't get over with how lovely they are. Congratulations, Heather & Thomas!

Scorpy

My buddy, Biday, gave me a Valentine gift... it's the newest member of my little toys... I built it myself. Haha! Meet SCORPY :)

(I'm glad I was able to figure it out... I'm honestly thinking I would have to make my brother do it for me... that's how bad I am in this area.)