sophie's fair

Up the Steps with Rocky

2008-07-22T14:05:00.003-05:00

C. Sophia aka boy crazy: remember the guy from tuesday? pray that he asks me out!!!
Tim: do you want me to pray now or in my private time?
Aileen aka Old Lace: must we always talk about you?

Friday, February 2, 2007
Subject: where have the good(looking) men gone?

hi tim,

it's almost impossible to gather your thoughts in one sitting seeing that you only have 19 mins left to use the darn internet. anyway, I was just thinking about the fact that the world as i observe now, is lacking of its most basic need: cute men.

sometimes it's a struggle just getting out of bed, curling your hair and painting your face with all the rainbow colors knowing that as soon as you step outside, there is simply nothing out there...

oh well.. and to think this is already california. i wonder how goes in other parts of the world?

sighingly yours,
boy crazy

Friday, January 5, 2007
Subject: east coast girl forever

hey tim,

happy new year. hope you had a great(er) time wherever you spent it.

still in sunny cali which (surprisingly) hasn't been so sunny the past couple weeks. family's a-ok, that i'm thankful. on the other hand, i'm not very happy about being back, (frankly, i haven't blogged in awhile, decided to "hibernate" after probably a year and a half of posting, so if i'm babbling -- slap me.) well, you know how i feel about cali, right? yup, i'm back in california where everybody insists i belong. i've never "belonged" here, to be honest. my home has always been the east coast. out here on the west coast, it's different. I accept it as it is, with all its superficiality and cleanliness (not that it's wrong, it just decided to be what it is now without my help)... but i cannot love it the way it wants to be loved (by me). a childhood friend
sells cali like a used car salesman, like, " cali 's the BEST" (in bold italics,
mind you)... can't blame him, he means well. besides, he was born and bred here.

philadelphia is another story. philadelphia was my sanctuary for 6 years. i loved philly. i will always love philly. it kept me away from everything i dread. It embraced me wholeheartedly and taught me to be strong. to be me. i will forever be grateful to philly.

and if it were a guy, i'd have stayed. yup, if philly were a guy, i'd have stayed and loved [him] for the rest of my life... oh well... 'nuff of that. In fairness to californians, cali 's one of the most beautiful states we have. it's a wonder really, why i know in
my heart of hearts i belong elsewhere. you see all kinds of cars (ie benz, bentley, BMW, lamborghini etc neatly parked in every lot); people combining furs with flipflops (yup, only in cali); 100 grand worth of bags and jewelry items just to walk around santana row; then, there are those cali boys who party and drink from 7 am to 7 am (a little exaggeration there.. erm just a teensy bit i might add).

since i came back, i've been drinking nonstop myself. i can't wait to leave, for now i'm hypnotizing myself to enjoy every minute of my "journey" reminding myself i'm going away soon. i want snow! i want freedom to go anywhere i want on a metro, not a flashy car! flashy cars become a bore when your butt sticks to it like a magnet for a long time. no exercise there.

sorry for dumping this on you but there's one consolation out of all my misery these days: family's a-ok.

signed,
boy crazy

Sunday, December 10, 2006
Subject: [Another] Philadelphia Story

Dear Tim,

In a week, everything will change. Philly's blurring even as I write.
Promise you'll keep in touch?

Old Lace

On 12/15/06,
cecilia sophia wrote:

> hello everyone, i know i know... it's past 2 am and here i am, typing my heart away but this is the only time i get to email since i'm flying back to san jose on mon to visit family for the holiday season.

> i'm sure we'll update one another *hinting* on, during or after the break. my oh my... just imagine the feasting and pound-adding holiday cheer... ha! i hope everyone will have a wonderful christmas, though :)

> IT'S BASICALLY MY LAST WEEK IN PHILLY, LORD KNOWS WHY I SHOULDNT BE SPENDING MY LAST DAYS IN GOOD OL' PHILADELPHIA AND NEW YORK JUST PLAIN HAPPY. WHY NOT DATE A LOCAL BOY? I HAD LUNCH WITH TIM FRIDAY LAST WEEK AND MET A WAITER ( OR "FOOD
SERVER") WHO'S UBER-CUTE AND A BITTY METRO (YOUNGER VERSION OF MATTHEW BRODERICK).. HE WAS SO CUTE AND VERY SWEET I KEPT BLUSHING AS HE JOKED ABOUT MY PRESENT TO TIM

> (TIM WAS LATE IN COMING AS USUAL), I DIDNT MIND THOUGH, I ACTUALLY WISHED TIM WASNT COMING AT ALL! ABOUT 15 MINS LATER, MY SISTER AND I WERE STILL WAITING FOR TIMOTHY WHEN THIS GUY CAME UP TO US AGAIN (THE NTH TIME) TO ASK IF OUR FRIEND REALLY KNEW WHERE "SHE" WAS MEETING US.. MY SISTER GOES, "HE KNOWS." HE GOES, "OH.. HIM." I WHISPERED TO MY SISTER TO LET TIM SIT WITH HER SO THE GUY'D KNOW HE WASNT WITH ME.

> WHEN HE CAME BACK, I ASKED FOR HIS NAME.. YUP, ME.. GOOD OL'
ME, ASKING FOR A GUY'S NAME BUT SO WHAT? IT'S MY LAST WEEK IN PHILLY, RIGHT? HE HELD OUT HIS HAND AND TOUCHED MINE, I BLUSHED AGAIN. TIM COMES IN, LEARNS ABOUT THIS GUY AND MAKES A CRACK ABOUT GIVING MY INFO TO HIM. I SAY, "WHY NOT?" YUP.. ME. MY FIRST TIME TO WRITE DOWN MY INFO TO SOMEONE I DIDNT EVEN KNOW; MY FIRST TIME TO MAKE THE FIRST MOVE... U COULD IMAGINE HOW MY SIS AND TIM REACTED.. IT WAS A JAW-DROPPING MOMENT FOR BOTH OF THEM. I CALL THE GUY, ASK FOR A PEN AND PAPER, THEN WROTE DOWN MY INFO ALONG WITH, "THANKS FOR THE TIME!" CALLS HIM BACK, GIVES HIM THE PAPER AND SMILES SWEETLY, HE GOES, "IS THIS FOR ME?" I
SAY, "YES, DEFINITELY." TO MAKE THE STORY SHORT, WE LEAVE THE RESTAURANT AND AS WE'RE ALL WALKING AWAY, I LOOK BACK AND SEE HIM LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW.

> my goodness, those are the times u just cant forget huh? :) anyway, just sharing this with u guys, i'm sending more ny and philly pics when i get the chance. it's very sad, my speech went along well reme, i got a plaque from the philadelphians which made my heart break even more. but i'm very happy just to have met all of them.

> i gotta go, i'll write/call when i'm in cali.

> love
always, sophie

November 2006 (my speech to philadelphians on sunday)

i just scribbled a few stuff since i have already said a lot on this podium for the last couple of years. i'm leaving philadelphia which was my home for the past few years, and as excited as i am to venture out into the open world, i am saddened by the people i'm leaving behind. i know that till i'm old and grey, i will always remember philly, the church, and you. i like to think that i have touched the place and the place touched me. * i thank God for that opportunity and the times i was with you.

***
"I walked the avenue till my legs felt like stone."**I know the streets of Philadelphia like I know my family. They're quirky but totally lovable. If I walked a few blocks to the Swann Memorial Fountain and the Four Seasons Hotel, something amazing was sure to happen, like the time I accidentally met the New York Knicks. A few more blocks and I'd be on 17th & Market, seeking out Liberty Place for my favorite shops and a milkshake. It was intoxicating, the feeling of being free to do whatever I wanted, whenever and still feel safe with the whole city watching my back.

Philly, the City of Brotherly Love, was home to me for six years. I moved four times around Center City and cursed myself each time I did it (if you've experienced the wonders of packing, moving and unpacking, you'll know what I mean) but at the end of the day, it's all good. I found it ultimately rewarding. My very first apartment was in Rittenhouse Square on Walnut Street (shopping!) with Rittenhouse Park just a stone's throw away. I could go barefoot, read, munch, draw, watch concerts, chat with artists working en plein air, take a picture, lie down on one of the park benches. and no one bothered me (too much). My second apartment was on Locust Street right next to the Academy of Music. At night, I would walk with friends along the Avenue of the Arts, drinking in all the culture it has to offer. My third home was in Society Hill, on a quiet, tree-lined street featuring gorgeous Georgian architecture. A few blocks down is eclectic, bohemian South St. (not too far away is Pat's where the cheesesteak, with or without cheese and onions, is to die for). At The Artful Dodger, my friends cheered on as I finished a pitcher of beer. They also cheered on while I ate foot-long hoagies, wondering aloud where I was putting it all. And speaking of pubs, I frequented McGillin's on Drury Street, the oldest tavern in town, Monk's Café on 16 th & Spruce, for the Trappist ales and fries, and the Manayunk Brewery for everything they have. I cheered for the Eagles and Sixers, careful not to jinx them (the Red Sox, however, is a different story).

My fourth move took me to Logan Square in the Art Museum area. I loved living in the vicinity of four museums best of all. I'd step out of my building and literally run into The Thinker. With the Rodin Museum in front of me, the Philadelphia Museum of Art to my left and the Franklin Institute and the Academy of Natural Sciences to my right, I was a happy camper. Running up the museum steps ala Rocky was one of the most exhilarating things ever. You just have to try it for yourself (if you've seen In Her Shoes, you'll know what I mean). Ben Franklin Parkway, practically my backyard, is where they would hold parades and concerts and every 4 th of July, I only had to walk a few steps to watch the fireworks. I wasn't prepared for Live 8, though. The Parkway, by noon, was swarmed by nearly a million people and I had to retreat to my place for air. A couple blocks down, on Vine, is the Free Library, a favorite hang-out where I attended lectures by Newt Gingrich, James D. Watson, Umberto Eco and other fabulous authors. Behind it, on Callowhill, is Whole Foods where I bumped into Denzel Washington and Scott Speedman (in the pasta section, between the breads and meats). Further west, on 30th and Market, is the Amtrak station where I departed and arrived countless times to/from Boston, New York, Chicago, DC, even California (and where I caught the eye of Leo diCaprio for two minutes). I always came back, except for last year when I knew it was time to move on.

I walked and drank my way around Philly, from Logan Square to Rittenhouse to South Street to University City to the Main Line and back, in a blizzard, a heat wave, in my high heels. Some people call Philly the City of Brotherly Snob. Well, okay, maybe it's not always the friendliest of cities. (Incidentally, it's been called New York 's sixth borough. If New York's The City, Philly's definitely The Town). My philosophy is, if you're not feeling the love, pass it on and it might just come back to you. It worked for me, a hundred-thousand fold.

* quoting James D. Houston
** from Streets of Philadelphia by Bruce Springsteen

A Girl and Her Story

2008-07-22T14:03:00.007-05:00

(from PFBC Newsletter, November 2006)

What happens when our hearts are shattered and our dreams just seem to pass us by? We go to God in prayer and in turn, He gives us people to help ease the pain. They're there to guide us in our walk with God, constantly putting in mind to take one step at a time because for what it's worth, Christ loves us.

This song reminded me of the day I needed to talk to someone so badly and you were there. I’d like to share it with all of you.

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence, Until you come and sit awhile with me. You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains; You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas; I am strong, when I am on your shoulders; You raise me up: To more than I can be.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Thank you so much and God bless.
~ Sophie

You Raise Me Up, Composed by Rolf Lovland and Brendan Graham; Performed by Josh Groban; Girl Making A Wish, copyright Linda Bronson

love in november

2005-11-22T02:49:00.000-05:00

- what does it all come down to? love? Love

if you like and i

like,for the reason that i hate people and lean out of the window is love,love

and the reason i laugh and breathe is oh love and the reason

that i do not fall into this street is love.

-- e.e. cummings

today's my birthday. looking back, i thank God for these ('though it took a while to blog about it... yikes!) --

cheers to grandmother's health!
canadian cutie loves me
i'm going back to a prestigious school (details later)
sister gave the loveliest fiorentina leather journal for my artworks
two great guys took me out to lunch

everyday, i thank God for His faithfulness. He has been so good to me eventhough i don't deserve it. i'm not saying that i am more blessed especially in the face of other people's misfortunes. i believe God has given me good things and has taken one out of impossibly difficult situations so that i may be an effective witness for Him. He loves me as much as He loves the next person. and nope, He doesn't play favourites... whew.

Be she whole, or be she rent,

So my fancy be content,

She's to me most excellent.

-- Robert Herrick

God in the midst

2005-10-31T03:04:00.000-05:00

Ice Skaters in Central Park New York City, New York USA (c) Ray Laskowitz

friday night was very emotional for me. my dad called and warned me not to freak out. i appreciate that my dad is sensitive and protective of my feelings but i'd rather hear things straight off than break it to me gently. my grandmother was rushed to the hospital that same day and my parents were about to leave to see her. i emailed all my friends in the wee hours of the morning not to vent but to tell them i was going on sabbatical. i also emailed my best friend separately and told him i needed to rejuvenate. i've dropped off the face of the earth once so i promised them if that happens again, i'd tell my guys first. in the email, my opening words were, "i don't know how this email will turn out but here goes." because i really didn't know. i ended up telling them about my questions for God. the night was cold but i felt hot inside. i was angry and all the pent-up feelings came flooding out. i had so many questions like, "how do you [God] feel, really? how do you feel when people die, or when someone's heart is broken? well, mine's broken now. do you feel it, too?" i guess i was crying so hard my face felt numb from the cold. normally, i'm good at logical reasoning and philosophizing. i can hold my ground fairly well. but there are times when it doesn't matter. sometimes, people don't need some proper (smart-alecky) christlike answer, they just want to know if they aren't alone in their feelings. my mom, dad and friends didn't try to sound clever or upright -- no sugar-coating, no sentimental bull -- just unadulterated sincerity from people who deeply care.

i'm hoping my grandmother will recover as she did months ago when i was forced to go back to the bay area. and if you must know, i decided, i shall walk with God all the days of my life because well, someday i want all my questions answered. and yes, i do love Him.

"Come now, let us reason together," Says the LORD.

-- Isaiah 1:18

the other sox!

2005-10-27T00:38:00.000-05:00

i've been a boston red sox fan for as long as i can remember, so imagine that jaw-dropping moment when "my sox" finally won last year after 86 years! oh yeah chicago, i feel for ya! congratulations!

"It's unbelievable, unbelievable," catcher A.J. Pierzynski said.

It was the third title for the White Sox, following wins in 1906 and 1917. And it was the first since "Shoeless" Joe Jackson and the "Black Sox" threw the 1919 Series against Cincinnati.

In the Windy City, where the Cubs have been long king, Chicago's South Side team for once trumped its North Side rival, no small feat for the Sox.

the first time i've watched "Eight Men Out", i had mixed emotions. i cried at the end of the movie, actually (and it's NOT even a chick flick). to fully appreciate the white sox's victory, i suggest you guys watch it, if you haven't yet. it's worth your 121 minutes.

soooo.... who's next to root for? better be the cubs!

for women, by women

2005-10-25T00:00:00.000-05:00

that's my personal description up there. uh yeah, see above. i actually got the result from here. it's good to be admired and complimented, isn't it? but what about those who need it more?

i don't want to rain on your parade (if you ppl are having fun today) but i want to inform you, it's domestic violence awareness month. my sister and i came up with an idea and discussed it with the other ladies a couple of days ago -- we're sending out special "somethings" to women in shelters. when misfortune strikes, people donate (or give if you prefer to call it that) the two most basic things that we can't live without, food and water. and that's just fine, however, women need more than those. they also need (don't laugh at this) cosmetics (unused! who wants a half-full lipstick?) and other personal hygiene products. so, the women in our circle agreed to put together items that any woman would appreciate and hopefully, bring confidence back. i can't imagine what life such women went (or are still going) through but i feel deeply for them...

(if you want to start your own drive, contact your local YWCA, church, or women's shelters.)

personally, i love flowers but it also depends on what kind of flowers i get.

I GOT FLOWERS TODAY...

I got flowers today.

It wasn't my birthday or any other special day.

We had our first argument last night, and he said a lot of cruel things that really hurt me.

I know he is sorry and didn't mean the things he said,

Because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today.

It wasn't our anniversary or any other special day.

Last night, he threw me into a wall and started to choke me.

It seemed like a nightmare. I couldn't believe it was real. I woke up this morning sore and bruised all over.

I know he must be sorry,

because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today, and it wasn't Mother's Day or any other special day.

Last night, he beat me up again.

It was much worse than all the other times.

If I leave him, what will I do? How will I take care of my kids?

What about money? I'm afraid of him and scared to leave.

But I know he must be sorry,

because he sent me flowers today.

I got flowers today.

Today was a very special day.

It was the day of my funeral.

Last night, he finally killed me. He beat me to death.

If only I had gathered enough courage and strength to leave him,

I would not have gotten flowers today.

(author unknown)

rose among thorns

2005-10-24T23:59:00.000-05:00

All I was doing was trying to get home from work.

-- Rosa Parks

since i have paid special tribute to the wonderful men in my life, i thought of doing the same for the women.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Rosa Parks, whose refusal to give up her bus seat to a white man sparked the modern civil rights movement, died Monday evening. She was 92... Mrs Parks was 42 when she committed an act of defiance in 1955 that was to change the course of American history and earn her the title "mother of the civil rights movement."

i just watched "fresh prince of bel-air" on nick and in tonight's episode, they tackled black history. i didn't know that an extraordinary individual passed away until i came online and read the news. rosa parks will always be every woman's hero(ine) -- whatever our race, ethnicity and culture be.

got milk?

2005-10-21T04:02:00.000-05:00

milk ad

brrr... i left all the windows open last night so i woke up this morning freezing. it's funny because when it happens, my nose is the only part of my body that feels very cold when touched. anyway, i have tons of emergency supply to "warm up" the whole army -- tea, coffee, milk, cocoa, etc etc. milk is my personal favourite though, so if you guys need a warm fall drink, just try this out!

Warm Almond Milk with Honey

Serves 6

4 ounces sliced or slivered almonds
4 cups milk
4 cups honey
2 ounces amaretto (optional), or to taste

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Spread almonds in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet, and toast until golden and fragrant, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven; let cool and roughly chop.
2. Place milk in a medium saucepan; cook over medium heat just until milk begins to steam, 5 to 6 minutes.
3. Combine milk, almonds, honey, and amaretto in a blender. Start blender on lowest speed, and puree until almonds are ground to your liking, at least 30 seconds. Serve as is, or strain through a fine-mesh sieve.

good guys vs bad eggs

2005-10-19T22:38:00.000-05:00

I wish you to read this book with open heart and pleasure...

K.G.

a simple, heartwarming note from my very good friend of 5 years. above is an old photo of him.

A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down.
-- Arnold H. Glasow

i was in a whirl the past few days, and it was pure heaven. however, if there's heaven, there's also hell. let's say, i kinda experienced both. i reinstalled instant messengers (aim, google, icq, msn... you name it) to use for 4 days and it was a blast. messages from old friends filled my screen that it nearly crashed my computer (no joke), well you know the shitty pop-ups and stuff? yup, those too. anyway, i was undaunted because i was actually having a great time without so much blinking an eye.

When a woman like that whom I've seen so much, All of a sudden drops out of touch; Is always busy and never can, Spare you a moment, it means a man.
-- Alice Duer Miller

actually, i was the one who dropped off the face of the earth. i've lost touch with many of my friends (most of whom were guys). but the good news is, i was able to track them down, we're all keeping in touch again, and so, to these wonderful men i'm dedicating this [personal] entry.

The bird a nest, the spider a web, man friendship.

-- William Blake

just recently, a man scared the hell out of me. i've already met him around november last year and hated him but couldn't figure out why (actually, it's good to trust your instinct because most of the time, it tells the truth.) i attended a gathering when this man appeared again after how many months, i was about to scurry away like a mouse when he called after me, "angela, angela" ... how on earth did i come to be angela?? mattie, one of the women at the gathering heard him and said, "her name's not angela" (i was thinking, "god mattie do NOT correct him, i don't want him to remember my name!"), but too late she already did. i almost ran off. he sat with me and spoke with that philadelphian drawl, and then i realised why he was so repulsive. he was very conceited i couldn't help but bitch. YUCK. see, i thought i could handle myself well. i looked around for help but people were doing their own thing, besides, who'd think this man's a pervert? he looked decent and very normal. i couldn't even reach for my bag to get my spray if he did something funny. i was thinking about my shoes, my shoes could literally make a man go blind but to take it off would take 2-3 secs, what if i didn't have that much time? "go to the bronx and find yourself a girlfriend -- no one gets out of there alive so sayonara you jerk," i thought. i was beginning to think that men are bastards except for one thing: my guy friends aren't. once, when my best friend thought i was in trouble, he quickly said, "if you see him, it will be with me."

When a friend is in trouble, don't annoy him by asking if there is anything you can do. Think up something appropriate and do it.

-- Edward W. Howe

thinking about all this, weighing the difference between good guys and bad eggs made me thank God for giving me men that i could trust and be friends with. the men in my life are practically the best. i want these guys to know that. i thank them so much for their protection and respect for me. and if other girls have made them cry once (or how many times) i want them to know they are definitely worth the keep and i'm just one lucky girl.

makes "sens"

2005-10-16T02:42:00.000-05:00

I went to a fight the other night and a hockey game broke out.

-- Rodney Dangerfield

ok fine, so it isn't the bruins or sens but it still is a pretty good "animated" picture. my best friend told me his aunt and the kids were coming over the weekend to watch hockey with him. my spirit soared when he mentioned which team the ottawa sens would be up against. MY TEAM. chuckling, he said, "interesting. a couple rooting for different teams." naturally. i may be falling for this guy but i'm still a sucker for the boston bruins.

Hockey is murder on ice.

-- Jim Murray

however i've got to admit, the ottawa sens closed out an outstanding game with their 5-1 win over the boston bruins.

The Senators are considered by many to be one of the top teams in the NHL and it was easy to see why. First period shots had the teams even at 12 apiece, but Ottawa controlled the pace and was able to put together consistent offensive pressure from the opening stretch to the final buzzer.

not exactly my night. luckily, my best friend isn't the taunting type -- now if i were him, i'd have three words prepared for such an occasion, "root, hoot and boo"... but let's not get into that. so, i exit gracefully with, go fish.

How would you like a job where, every time you make a mistake, a big red light goes on and 18,000 people boo?

-- Jacques Plante

take me out to the movies

2005-10-15T11:31:00.000-05:00

so why do [more] moviegoers opt to stay at home and just watch tv, thus, making hollywood feel crappy about the reports of bad box office receipts?

Trend-watcher Faith Popcorn says contributing factors are high ticket prices, high gas prices and the fact that many people are just too tired to sit through a film.
"People are worried about traffic, gas prices and getting a babysitter. It's impossible. Life has become too difficult. You're too exhausted to go out," she says. "People don't have the concentration to sit through a whole movie anymore."
So, instead, many are watching at home. Some are choosing services that mean they don't even have to go out for the DVD.

i did my own investigation.

What's your diagnonsense?

-- Girl, Interrupted

i installed reliable instant messengers to talk to friends near and far to see what's the biggie about online chatting. here's what i came up with: the internet can literally make you sit on your ass 24 hrs straight because, truth be told, it's more entertaining than a bad remake of, say, a horror movie.

The Internet: Transforming Society and Shaping the Future Through Chat.

-- Dave Barry

a couple more interesting facts about watching movies at home:

1) if you're at home watching a movie that sucks beyond all reason, just flip through the channels without the expense of paying to see another excruciatingly lousy movie... aahh, the power of remote control.

2) propping your feet up on the couch with your favourite (bootleg??) movie, a bucket of "theater popcorn", a large diet soda, and a laptop and you'll be in seventh heaven.

but if you ask me, i'd still want to go out and have some fun, you know? because at the end of the day, interactions between human beings do pay off.

George: Kindred spirits, eh?

Julianne: No, he's nothing like me. He's like you, actually, only straight.

-- My Best Friend's Wedding

sophia a la mucha

2005-10-11T03:37:00.000-05:00

courtesy University of St Andrews

we all have different views on what beauty is about. if alphonse mucha were alive, he would've drawn me exactly like the portrait above...

you know when you suddenly feel like writing something else on your blog/journal/diary (or whatever you call it)? that's what i felt tonight. i was delighted when i received a package from a poet friend. inside was a book of poems my friend has written through the years. lately, i've been thinking of hibernating from social callings and such (if only for a while) but reading my friend's letter to me kinda changed everything. i couldn't "grow" without you, the letter said. i was happy. i was proud. i gave myself a pat on the back. to have the ability to move people and impact them deep within is a joy so profound words cannot describe it -- and anyway, i don't consider myself eloquent. but like mucha, i'm an artist, i see beauty quite differently.

Do not confuse beauty with beautiful. Beautiful is a human judgment. Beauty is all. The difference is everything.

-- Matthew Fox

beauty saw herself reflected on every page of the book and i'll remember the day rg made me feel perfectly beautiful.

hair made of love

2005-10-08T00:48:00.000-05:00

Long Hair (c) William Whitaker

I'm undaunted in my quest to amuse myself by constantly changing my hair. -- Hillary Clinton

i have shoulder-length hair and i'm growing it 6 inches more to donate it to locks of love. it's one of my to-dos over on 43 things.

What is Locks of Love?

Locks of Love is a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children 18 years and younger suffering from long-term medical hair loss. We meet a unique need for children by using donated hair to create the highest quality hair prosthetics. Most of the children helped by Locks of Love have lost their hair due to a medical condition called alopecia areata, which has no known cause or cure. The prosthesis we provide help to restore self-esteem & confidence, enabling them to face the world and their peers.

this particular goal has tugged at my heartstrings because i was sickly when i was a kid, and though i didn't lose my hair, i understand how it feels to be sick. so every chance i get to help, i'd certainly do it.

i've pulled off a variety of hairstyles -- from curls to bobs to long straight hair. oftentimes, i wondered (after the hairstylist was done with the masterpiece, and let me say i wasn't always happy with the result), "did they throw away masses of hair or give them to worthy causes?"

it's the fall season meaning, once the cold weather kicks in, it won't be a toilsome effort to grow my hair out and afterwards, cut and donate it. i know most men like women with long hair but, oh well, i'll just have to live with it, right guys?

When I get older losing my hair many years from now,

Will you still be sending me a Valentine, birthday greetings, bottle of wine?

-- John Lennon & Paul McCartney

blinking

2005-10-05T03:38:00.000-05:00

i've always been volatile but as i walk through life i've also learned to keep my attention intact, so that balances my character and the choices i make.

people who say they speak their minds really don't and usually don't know their minds. to quote the Implicit Association Test (IAT) Group, "understanding such divergence is important to scientific psychology."

if anyone's interested to take the IAT, click:
https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/demo/

the test only requires that you focus, to answer a brief questionnaire and an IAT as quickly as possible. are you as "colour blind" as you think you are? are you sure you don't prefer whites over blacks? Race IAT is one of the multiple selections on the website.

You don't choose to make positive associations with the dominant group... But you are required to. All around you, that group is being paired with good things. You open the newspaper and you turn on the television, and you can't escape it.

-- Mahzarin Banaji, Harvard University

shrimp ahoy!

2005-10-04T02:08:00.000-05:00

Cocktail Hour (c) Joanna

Some people ask the secret of our long marriage. We take time to go to a restaurant two times a week. A little candlelight, dinner, soft music and dancing. She goes Tuesdays, I go Fridays.

-- Henry Youngman

got shrimp? on second thought, allergy sufferers, watch out! otherwise, just feast, sing and merry be. i once served an evening of delectable seafood to a friend which he ate with gusto. within an hour, he was rushed to the ER. yikes. he had food allergies but what sucked was, nobody not even himself knew. since then, i've been feeding friends chips and soda. aahh... all this reminiscing makes me shudder. anyway, i was watching food network when they announced a special event on october 5th that will surely make pigging out guilt-free.

In the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, our fellow citizens are once again facing unprecedented hardship. Please join us on Wednesday, October 5, as a participating restaurant or as a guest, to raise funds for the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. 100% of the funds raised through Dine for America will support the American Red Cross Hurricane relief efforts.

meanwhile, as you wait for the big event, do this girl a favour? help overcome her fear of seafood by trying out the recipe below. it's a 30-minute fast and easy meal.

disclaimer: recipe not my own creation so let's just say, you're safe!

Barbecued Shrimp in Lettuce Wraps

Recipe Courtesy Rachael Ray

16 jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined

Light oil, such as vegetable oil, for drizzling

1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Salt and pepper

1/3 cup orange marmalade, eyeball it

1/2 cup hoisin barbecue sauce, available on the Asian foods aisle

Bibb lettuce, for wrapping

1/4 cucumber, julienne slice

Preheat a grill pan over high heat. Toss shrimp with a drizzle of oil and season with crushed pepper, salt and black pepper. Mix marmalade and barbecue sauce.
Grill shrimp 2 minutes on the first side, turn and baste liberally with sauce.

Cook a minute or 2 longer, turn and baste again. Cook 1 minute more then transfer to a serving dish.
To eat, wrap shrimp in lettuce with cucumber.

All great deeds and all great thoughts have a ridiculous beginning. Great works are often born on a street corner or in a restaurant's revolving door.

-- Albert Camus

but if there's a time to (totally) indulge in all sorts of culinary delights, oct 5 is it. so go, grab a date on wednesday.

fall in the city

2005-09-29T05:04:00.000-05:00

Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.
-- Stanley Horowitz

the smell of fall... *sighs*

i noticed the dramatic temp change last sunday. i wore a light pink sweater but the change still had me chilled to my bones. just last autumn, i was hoping for a favoured season -- some turned out [so] good, and some, well, they were lessons that would never be forgotten. i remember when spring came, i wished for a summer-like weather. now that summer's over, i'm actually relieved. it seems there is always that feeling of a new beginning when autumn comes.

losing a buddy and everything else that i have experienced the past months induced me to reaffirm my faith in God. i don't have qualms when i say i'm no saint because it's the truth -- professing one's christian faith can be more daunting. somehow, christianity is associated with bigotry (see the harvard crimson). but today, today was different. i didn't exactly know what to pray for, so all i said was, "i have faith in you, because you live." once again, i'm hoping for a favoured season. both yours and mine.

lost in translation

2005-09-27T13:56:00.000-05:00

Blue Nude 1902 (c) Pablo Picasso

notice how stress can affect a healthy outlook on life? well i was one of those, you know.

I'm free but I'm focused

I'm green but I'm wise

I'm hard but I'm friendly, baby

I'm sad but I'm laughin

I'm brave but I'm chickenshit

I'm sick but I'm pretty, baby

i have a series of artworks to finish and what's nice about it is i get to choose my subj. i call the shots. lately, i've been under stress and the drive to create just wasn't there. pranking my mom on the phone was a welcome diversion -- i told her i got paid $5 for cleaning 3 toilets, of course she nearly passed out but when she recovered, she asked if i even wore gloves... yup, that's mom for ya. hilarious? talking to my cousin later that night was much more. in fact, it tore my ribs apart. she was gushing about a boy whom she called "babe", i said that sounded very outdated, very corny. she said, "what? horny? are you sure?" she was using a three-way call so you could imagine how many times she called him "horny" while i sat back listening. i didn't have the energy to correct her, so i let go. anyway, as i was saying, i've slacked off. my rebellious days are over but what to do if sometimes you just want to break away from social conformity? when life kinda burns you out? sitting on the piano at 3 am just looking out the window made me think of the things i've done in my life (a breathtaking city view often has that effect in the wee hours of the morning), once in a while giving myself a pat on the back for eschewing the temptations that were hurled at me -- oh, some minor stuff such as, let's see, i've never flicked a cigarette (ordinary cigarette or otherwise) because smoking doesn't cut for me. when suddenly, like smooching leonardo diCaprio, it hit me: you find patches of your calling (or purpose) and put them together to make sense of life.

And what it all all boils down to

Is that no one's really got it figured out just yet

I've got one hand in my pocket

And the other one is playing the piano

these days, i'm not living only for myself. i'm gaining more [teen] followers and the responsibility scares the hell out of me. but it's also giving me back my inspiration. despite my recent sluggishness, i'm eager to pick up a pen and get creative again. so yes, i'm alright. a temporary setback... nothing to it.

And what it all comes down to my friends

Is that everything's just fine fine fine

I've got one hand in my pocket

And the other one is hailing a taxi cab

Artist: Alanis Morissette

INXS's fortune

2005-09-21T00:06:00.000-05:00

JD Fortune (c) CBS

Rock is young music, it is youth oriented. It just speaks for a generation.

-- Ruben Blades

oh yeah, a handsome chunk, isn't he? definitely not so typical rock star. well, INXS has made their decision and the new frontman is canadian -- watching "Rock Star: INXS" on CBS (fyi, i hardly watch tv with all the reality crap popping up on screen), made me put down my iPod and listen to the final three rockers give their best. "these guys know how to emote," i thought. i knew in my "throbbing" heart who was going to win. mig, with the voice of freddie mercury (almost) and the looks of david bowie, was the first to go. he exited with dignity that impressed me. and although marty had the voice of a true rock star -- rustic but tastefully melodious -- he too, had to go...

I always wanted to be a rock star. That was my childhood dream. That's what I told everybody I was going to be when I grew up.

-- Chester Bennington

i was flushed with excitement when INXS announced their guy -- i heard jd fortune sing and boom!, he took my breath away. there are so many (in fact, too many) rockers and wannabes who turn the stage into their personal interpretation of cirque du soleil simply because they can't carry a tune.

Rock 'n Roll: The most brutal, ugly, desperate, vicious form of expression it has been my misfortune to hear.

-- Frank Sinatra

yes to an extent, frankie, but this new rock star (crooner, if he chose to), is an exception. his voice harmonizes and belts out the music, believe me. oh well, i'm not a rock fan(atic), either. so why am i blogging about this? because... because... *smiles*

Rock groups, by their very nature, are hysterically funny. They are usually a mixture of working class lads and art students which is odd. Then there's the commitment, the sincerity, the pseudo philosophy of a rock group -- it's sexy when you're 21 but absolutely ridiculous when you're 41.

-- Gary Kemp

ah dare ya!

2005-09-19T18:03:00.002-05:00

Yosemite Sam (c) Warner Bros

i can't help but post this ludricous (or is it ludicrous? ha!) brit humo(u)r that completely left me gagging for air. since it's a monday, why not start the week off "rofl"? the newspaper office where i work part-time, jokes and "insists" about me being a die hard independent... ah only do ma job, ya rackinfrackin' varmits!

warning: (no) pun intended!

Message from John Cleese - To the Citizens of the United States of America

To the Citizens of the United States of America:

In light of your failure to elect a competent President of the USA thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately. Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths and other territories (excepting Kansas, which she does not fancy). Your new prime minister, Tony Blair, will appoint a governor for America without the need for further elections. Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire may be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed. To aid in the transition to a British Crown Dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:

1. You should look up "revocation" in the Oxford English Dictionary. Then look up "aluminium," and check the pronunciation guide. You will be amazed at just how wrongly you have been pronouncing it. The letter 'U' will be reinstated and you will learn to spell 'doughnut' without skipping half the letters, and the suffix "ize" will be replaced by the suffix "ise." You will learn that the suffix 'burgh' is pronounced 'burra'; you may elect to respell Pittsburgh as 'Pittsberg' if you find you simply can't cope with correct pronunciation. Generally, you will be expected to raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels (look up "vocabulary"). Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises such as "like" and "you know" is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication.

2. There is no such thing as "US English." We will let Microsoft know on your behalf. The Microsoft spell-checker will be adjusted to take account of the reinstated letter 'u' and the elimination of "-ize."

3. You will relearn your original national anthem, "God Save The Queen", but only after fully carrying out Task #1 (see above).

4. July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday. November 2nd will be called "Come-Uppance Day."

5. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you're not adult enough to be independent. Guns should only be handled by adults. If you're not adult enough to sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist then you're not grown up enough to handle a gun. Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more dangerous than a vegetable peeler. A permit will be required if you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public.

6. All American cars are hereby banned. They are crap and this is for your own good. When we show you German cars, you will understand what we mean. All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will start driving on the left with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric with immediate effect and without the benefit of conversion tables. Both roundabouts and metrication will help you understand the British sense of humour.

7. The Former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (which you have been calling "gasoline")-roughly $6/US gallon. Get used to it.

8. You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French fries are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly called "crisps." Real chips are thick cut, fried in animal fat, and dressed not with mayonnaise but with vinegar.

9. Waiters and waitresses will be trained to be more aggressive with customers.

10. The cold tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not actually beer at all. Henceforth, only proper British Bitter will be referred to as "beer," and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be referred to as "Lager." American brands will be referred to as "Near-Frozen Gnat's Urine," so that all can be sold without risk of further confusion.

11. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as good guys. Hollywood will also be required to cast English actors to play English characters. Watching Andie MacDowell attempt English dialogue in "Four Weddings and a Funeral" was an experience akin to having one's ears removed with a cheese grater.

12. You will cease playing American "football." There is only one kind of proper football; you call it "soccer." Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play rugby (which has some similarities to American "football", but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full kevlar body armour like a bunch of nancies). Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the "World Series" for a game which is not played outside of America. Since only 2.1% of you are aware that there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable.

13. You must tell us who killed JFK. It's been driving us mad.

14. An internal revenue agent (i. e. tax collector) from Her Majesty's Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all monies due (backdated to 1776). Thank you for your co-operation and have a great day.

15. Start pronouncing "Queen Camilla." She will be your next queen!

ain't misbehavin'!

2005-09-14T00:52:00.000-05:00

Frigate (c) Sophie

All the world's a stage,
And all the men and
women merely players:
They have their exits and
their entrances;
And one man in his time
plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages.
-- William Shakespeare's As You Like It

has anyone read, "dennis the menace ain't misbehavin'?" i found the book conspicuously tucked beneath my grandfather's selection of law books (don't ask me how or why it got there), and quickly adopted dennis mitchell's credo at an age where mischief was the name of the game. i was remarkably sanguine -- ok fine, i am remarkably sanguine. true, i have outgrown most of the stuff i've daydreamt about (e.g. playing pirate or indiana jones's love interest), but the more attainable ones, i'm proud to say, have come to pass. there are four major things in my adult life that i still fancy:

1.) create a masterpiece

well, why not show [off] a little bit of talent? it isn't as if i claim to be this generation's michelangelo buonarroti, although there's no harm in wishing -- perhaps the vatican could build another sistine chapel and request the honour of my company -- it has been decades since the world has had a taste of true masterpieces...Tanto nomini nullum par elogium. (No praise is sufficient for so great a man.) -- michelangelo's monument inscription. what would mine be -- Eternalii Overconfidentii. (Eternally Over-confident.)?? aahh heck.

2.) be a real ballerina

i've studied classical ballet and modern jazz, but ballet is what i want to pursue, and well, you know if you're good at something, right? you feel it the most in the pit of your stomach. i felt it, luckily, i didn't throw up when it was my turn to perform on stage while the russian ballet company looked on.

3.) live life like indiana jones

can anyone believe i used to want to be this ancient playboy's girlfriend?? actually, i still do sshh... seriously, i can't imagine myself being domesticated... at least, not yet. my favourite reverend said, in his lifetime, he discovered that only a handful of people have real bright eyes and i'm one of them. i guess what he saw was my thirst to go the distance.

4.) become a shakespearean actor

"Wherefore art thou?"

"So you walk softly and look sweetly and say nothing, I am yours for the walk; and especially when I walk away."

... it's one of those nagging thoughts and yet...

"I shall forget, to have thee still stand there, Remembering how I love thy company."

... indeed.

if you remember your childhood fantasies, would you still chase after them now that you're fully grown? or would you let go?

Let us have fantasy, boldness, unexpectedness, enchantment -- above all, tenderness, and morbidezza!

-- George Bizet

a tale of two cities

2005-09-11T22:46:00.000-05:00

Early Evening, New York City by Sophie

as i've stated here, new york and i have a peculiar love-hate relationship -- but as always, i end up going back because it is, after all, my city, too. last night, uncle and aunt came over fresh from their trip to napa valley, california. it was my cousin's wedding and we had a blast talking (or, rather, "toasting" -- it was an extended celebration as i put it). the pictures were very lovely and my cousin glowed. we rambled to other topics that included new york and new orleans. rest assured that whenever 9/11 or hurricane katrina is mentioned, it gets ugly. some theorize that the reason for the prompt response to the 9/11 tragedy was, new york was a greater loss than new orleans. others say, "blame the lack of response in new orleans on FEMA (and the president... oh no, let's not forget him)." many have predicted the looming disaster that was to hit new orleans and its surrounding counties, among them was brendan loy -- it is indeed disturbing that help came after four days, you'd think we've learned to listen after 9/11. anyway, i refuse to be political because compassion is what people are crying for at this moment.

At 8:46 a.m., there will be a moment of silence at Ground Zero to mark when the north tower was struck by the first plane. At that time, churches across the city have been asked to toll their bells... The morning will have four separate moments of silence, two to mark the time each plane struck and two when each tower collapsed.

i know these days, it is even harder to trust in a God who is unseen but what if, just what if, we learned to trust not in man but in God? what would He do?

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

-- Psalm 23:4,6

elle raconte l'histoire en francais (or she tells the story in french)

2005-09-08T22:40:00.000-05:00

Yes, I did get over David and I'm cured. Now, I don't know how to get over the cure.

-- "Sabrina", 1954

"sabrina" is a featherlight story of a shy, gawkish young woman who has been besotted all her life with david, a millionaire playboy who ignores her existence. she goes off to paris, and returns a fashionable, uber-refined lady. suddenly, david is smitten by her, and so is his brother...

watching a classic brings back sweet memories. being grandpa's little girl, i've often sat with gramp to watch old movies or just to pass the time (that was the best). when i became deathly sick, my grandfather flew 7,000 miles to be near me, dragging my grandmother with him who said he wouldn't have done it for anyone, not even for her (and she was his great love). ahh yes, my grandfather spoiled me giving all he had (a relative was so jealous he badmouthed me every chance he got and though i don't feel anything for the kibitzer, i could understand the jealousy, i mean i'd be jealous of "me", too.)

i was devastated when grandfather passed away, i couldn't and wouldn't cry -- it took three guys to break the pent-up anger within me -- God, joey and brent. undoubtedly, God will walk with me all the days of my life, but for a while it was hard to figure out which of the other two guys would be holding my hand as i continue the walk. well if you must know, instead of walking, i'm taking the adirondack route. and when i draw near the end of my journey, i shall tell my story in french. why? because "french" is another word for "love". ask sabrina.

repondez s'il vous plait

2005-09-05T03:22:00.000-05:00

or R.S.V.P. for short.

in the blogosphere, anything goes. weblogs can take the form of an online diary or an ongoing commentary. whatever you post is instantly accessible and readable by 580 million internet users. mine is very eclectic -- i use it as my thought depot, my travel portmanteau, my memory bin. (i draw the line at mudslinging and veiled trashing. if i have something against a person, i say it to their face.) some of my readers requested that i put a comment box, but i politely refused because i don't need to have my thoughts/actions validated. imagine how surprised i was when the emails kept coming. this one, wanted to talk about my chance meeting with a celebrity a few summers ago. i couldn't call it just "one of those letters", it was very warm and personal, and i guess, that's what i want from readers. then came more. the latest email tugged at my heartstrings.

From: J
Mailed-By: aol.com
To: ceriesling
Date: Sep 2, 2005 11:11 PM
I am blown away by the sheer beauty that is within you! I too believe in God and love him with the flames of a thousand fires. Yet you are truth and innocence and wonder and wisdom and love all wrapped in a cute little package. I know that that sounds strange coming from a girl that you hardly know and you are probably freaked out yet i am just in awe. My name is... I live to love, and i love to live. I haven't yet had a proposal yet i have had offers of 'forever relationships' but thats all to talk about later. Anyway, you are the true meaning of follower and leader. You see all that is there and all that could be there and i like that. I love the fact that you see love in a lot of things. I admire that trait for few have it... I thank you for making me understand that there is innocence in the world still, and that it is very peaceful and beautiful.
God Bless You and May all your Prayers and Hopes and Dreams Be Answered,

to have this kind of effect on people overwhelms me. i asked for permission to post the letter so others would know it really is a beautiful world out there. your views can impact a stranger's day, for good or ill. i choose to post non-edited, non-copied versions of me.

in search of new orleans

2005-09-02T21:29:00.000-05:00

New Orleans Traveler (c) Cynthia Williams

29th august, 1:05 am. a friend showed me the link to hurricane katrina. the forecast revealed a frightening tropical cyclone with a speed of 250 km. i wondered how i could possibly shake off the jitters? i got down on my knees to pray. i live several states away from louisiana but i knew the aftermath would affect many lives in different parts of the US.

"I'm not doing too good right now," Chris Robinson said via cellphone from his home east of the city's downtown. "The water's rising pretty fast. I got a hammer and an axe and a crowbar, but I'm holding off on breaking the roof until the last minute. Tell someone to come get me, please. I want to live."

an acquaintance who lived in new orleans for 10 years and still maintains close ties to the city, tearfully criticized the sluggish federal help they've been receiving. before the national guard arrived, watching the news conjured up horrible images of women being raped in public bathrooms, and civilians walking in the sts with shotguns and M-16 rifles.

"We are out here like pure animals. We don't have help," the Rev Isaac Clark, 68, said outside the New Orleans Convention Center, where corpses lay in the open and evacuees complained that they were dropped off and given nothing.

whether the disaster was prophetic or bs, the question is how do we reach out to those who suffered a grievous blow? i don't think my conscience could take it if i didn't help. it's impossible to have fun without feeling a sense of guilt. i'm not saying we should wallow in the dark but i guess, if we feel guilty it only means we've missed out on doing good. i believe what the bible teaches, but as God said, the one thing that is greater than faith or hope (or a thousand prophecies ever written) is love.

So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less? -- 2 Corinthians 12:15

give to American Red Cross.
roundups and tags here, here and here.

qui m'aime aime mon chien part deux

2005-09-01T00:27:00.000-05:00

His master's voice (c) Francis Barraud

does this look familiar? ever heard of a "gramophone" or a "phonograph"? i've always wondered if the dog in the painting was real. apparently yes, and its name was "nipper." i'm posting barraud's painting in honour of the new orleanders' pets that were left behind. when i read the news about the plight of animals in new orleans, i was crushed. to some, animals should be the least of our worries, but see, they can perceive pain, and as such, it is our duty to treat them humanely.

In one example reported last week by The Associated Press, a police officer took a dog from one little boy waiting to get on a bus in New Orleans. "Snowball! Snowball!" the boy cried until he vomited. The policeman told a reporter he didn't know what would happen to the dog.

The fate of pets is a huge but underappreciated cause of anguish for storm survivors, said Richard Garfield, professor of international clinical nursing at New York's Columbia University... Valerie Bennett left her dogs with an anesthesiologist who was taking care of about 30 staff members' pets on the roof of the hospital, Lindy Boggs Medical Center.
The doctor euthanized some animals at the request of their owners, who feared they would be abandoned and starve to death. He set up a small gas chamber out of a plastic-wrapped dog kennel.
"The bigger dogs were fighting it. Fighting the gas. It took them longer. When I saw that, I said 'I can't do it,'" said Bennett's husband, Lorne.
But the anesthesiologist, a cat owner, promised to care for the other pets.
"He said he'd stay there as long as he possibly could," Valerie Bennett recalled, speaking from her husband's bedside at Atlanta's Emory University Hospital.

these people have had a blow-by-blow experience. i actually was planning to post an entry on kanye west but rather than be political (again), i opted for this (click here for the hurricane katrina animal welfare resources.)

Animal rights advocates remind us of this admonition: The ways in which people treat animals will be reflected in how people relate to one another.

-- William Greider

love. it's a verb.

2005-08-26T18:59:00.000-05:00

I'd like to run away

From you,

But if you didn't come

And find me...

I would die.

-- Shirley Bassey

love. it's a strange little word with a myriad of meanings, isn't it? i'm delighted that my favourite girl cousin is getting married very soon. if i'm looking smug right this minute it is also because i'm very much elated -- i came up with a classy design for the wedding invite. i do love weddings and would wed too, (un)fortunately, mine is a higher calling... for now. i've had two marriage proposals -- the second came from my own best friend. it seemed the whole world knew about us and he was rudolph valentino. i giggle when i think of how crazy it was to be in his arms.

I have loved to the point of madness;

That which is called madness,

That which to me,

Is the only sensible way to love.

-- F. Sagan

there's another guy who wants to be a part of my life. he offered several times to be my "date" at my cousin's wedding, i thought it was very sweet of him. men rarely "invite themselves" to meet the parents but green-flecked brown eyes doesn't mind... at all.

I love thee, I love but thee

With a love that shall not die

Till the sun grows cold

And the stars grow old.

-- William Shakespeare

my younger cousins protested when i turned down the second proposal (they think the world of him). personally, i think i know now whom i love but how do i respond to his affection?

"mon cher,

je m'excuse de vous avoir fait attendre.

(my dear, i'm sorry i kept you waiting.)"

hero or villain?

2005-08-24T00:38:00.000-05:00

Bugs & Daffy (c) Warner Bros

a friend said, "if you're gonna play villain, play it well. if you opt for hero, pad the polls." that was some advice. i'd say, i'm somewhere in between...

Every hero becomes a bore at last.

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

the same friend also said, "some of us may be living our lives vicariously through yours." i honestly never thought of it. ethics asks us to consider our actions, but to say that i consider mine is only half-truth because most of the time, i don't. i may be the unparalleled villain one moment, and the next, a swashbuckling hero(ine) -- if 'i' could call 'myself' that.

In the old days villains had moustaches and kicked the dog. Audiences are smarter today. They don't want their villain to be thrown at them with green limelight on his face. They want an ordinary human being with failings.

-- Alfred Hitchcock

i don't regret playing "villain", sometimes you learn more by being one. don't get me wrong, merriam-webster perfectly describes it in its ugliest form. on the other hand, i have learned the definition of "good" not in the dictionary but through the oodles of mistakes i've done in my life -- that shaped my character and behaviour. i became reformed.

The real hero is always a hero by mistake; he dreams of being an honest coward like everybody else.

-- Umberto Eco

who isn't afraid of stigmas? we tend to duck our responsibility for personal reasons (i.e. we're concerned about those busybodies who devote swaths of time to yakking... well, some people are bound to gossip, that's the way life goes.) i don't waste my energy over such trivialities.

I worked with all of the big guys because I play a good villain. And the better villain I am, the better they look.

-- Brion James

c'est entendu. indeed.

monkey see, monkey do

2005-08-23T22:59:00.000-05:00

Bugs (c) Warner Bros

No man is ever great by imitation.

-- Samuel Johnson

i had an unusual experience last saturday. of course on a weekend, the sts are usually swarmed by holidayers. trolleys were crowding the sidewalk when, a guy came out of nowhere and without much ado, rolled the trolleys in the middle of the st that caused confusion. everybody was in shock, one trolley after another was pushed right in the middle of the road... cars honked, people cussed, but nobody did anything. the guy eventually left, none of us knew where he came from, what possessed him to do the unthinkable and if he was ever coming back to undo it. minutes ticked by and the guy was a no-show... i wondered who'd be willing to sacrifice standing in the middle of the already chaotic st just to push the trolleys back to their place. nobody moved! it seemed as if everyone was in the twilight zone, staring at the monstrous trolleys that wouldn't budge! i couldn't take it anymore, i thought, might as well end our misery -- i crossed the st and stood right in the middle, gathered the trolleys and pushed them back to where they originally were. i giggled letting out the stress i've been feeling lately. when i turned back, people were cheering, finally relieved of the burden -- a girl said she could've done it herself, only she couldn't leave her shopping bags. i tried to keep a straight face. anyway, i thought about how other people would be willing to take your place when they see you basking in the light.

forging someone else's identity can make one an overnight success but, to what extent and for how long? no, i'm not talking about the girl who couldn't leave her shopping bags, it was her prerogative to stay behind. i'm talking about a more vicious nature... some bloggers turn apoplectic at the mere mention of 'copycat' -- i can understand what all the fuss is about.

take for instance, the producers of the movie, "mr and mrs smith". they could've gotten the idea from a 1943 classic, "beyond suspicion." however, it wasn't a reproduction of the original work, they must be wise enough to know that the original's always the best. sadly, a lot of movies these days are remakes, even the music and fashion were once the 'latest fad' of yesteryear. just ask mom and dad and you'll find yourself screaming, "it can't be true." pitiful. well sure, it's good to emulate someone/something if they're worth emulating but to take someone else's credit is downright crooked. if you ever encounter copycats, my advice is, to stay away from them. they're like leaches that would suck your life force out of you. now, if you're a copycat -- first, breathe in... so far, so good? then be yourself once and for all! geez. anyhoo, you may have something 'original' hidden up your sleeves (probably device a plan on how to live in mars with fellow clones) or, better consult a therapist. uh uh, no more wagging of tongues (and jumping on couches), mr tom.

saeva indignatio

2005-08-17T17:50:00.000-05:00

Bugs & Sam (c) Warner Bros

well, i'm done with my drawings. i'll be seeing the fruits of my labour soon (and i'm posting 'em when everything's all good.) i know i've been bad at keeping [my blog] updated but as my days go on a more relaxed pace -- i'll have time to post an entry. i've hibernated enough so nitpickers, get ready to flap your gums [once more]. might as well give you something to bitch about.

i had the unfortunate experience of reading one of the worst letters in the history of e-mail. a bigoted jackass wrote fanatically about his views on racial intelligence that set me off. normally, i ignore milksops like him but my conscience wouldn't let me. i could've sued the bastard, only his letter wasn't for me. instead, i decided to email everyone on my address book -- i attached his perfectly horrid and offensive letter, tried to be objective and loving which was an impossible task. of course i was taught to love my brethren, but the guy simply failed to make the cut.

he gave all that his peanut-sized brain could squeeze, explaining how eugenics could make the world a better place to live, also putting freaky hitler on a pedestal. i know what free speech means, however, some ideas are like poison.

i got a mixed reaction from many people who read my email, finally giving their two cents' worth -- some were effusive, others were nonchalant. the reason for the "nonchalance" though was, they were afraid for me. people who know me know how passionate i am, i get into lots of trouble for it.

standing in someone else's shoes takes guts. to fully understand them, you either went through similar situations or you're genuinely compassionate (and compassion is innate.) it cracks me up when some idiot announces his/her flawless character with trumpets because frankly, nobody gives a damn until you shut up and begin to practice humility.

a man is not defined by the nature of his job, his social status, or the colour of his skin. if you can't figure it out yourself, you aren't one. now, fetch my slippers, you manging mutt.

We fight for men and women whose poetry is not yet written but which will presently be as enviable and renowned as any of them.

-- Robert Gould Shaw

raising sophie

2005-08-08T18:11:00.000-05:00

Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. That's relativity.

-- Albert Einstein

stupendous... hilarious... animating... extraordinary. spending time with my younger bay area-based cousins for almost two weeks somewhat cured my insomnia. i slept for 12 hrs straight after they left (it used to be 3-4 hrs, poor me). at the airport, i cried as we hugged each other and said our toodle loos. i wasn't expecting to be that emotional but i couldn't help myself. being with these thrill-crazy youths actually taught me a lot about love, life and everything in between -- who would've guessed? they left last saturday yet, to this day, my eyes are blurry with tears of laughter. it would take forever to put in writing the things that were said and done but i'm blogging it anyway, as a 'memoir'... well, sort of.

when it was time to take charge, i told my cousins to "let it all out" while with me, so they did. inside the apartment, they yelled, screamed and laughed themselves silly at 3 am that could've waken the whole building, the city, and the dead. feeding them croissants and ice cream calmed my wretched nerves if only for a bit. what caught the girls' attention was my ultra-baffling love life. "he held me as he sobbed... i never saw him or any guy for that matter cry like that so i cried with him...", my youngest cousin almost broke into tears when i finished my story. "but see, i'm with someone new now, and i'm in-love." i said, putting the rose-coloured roaring twenties teddy bear my cousins gave on the piano. "if you didn't know both guys and just saw them from afar, who would you come up to meet, the one that looks like brad pitt or the one that looks like orlando bloom?", asked one of my cousins. "tricky question... the one that looks like orlando bloom, of course, he's my present, brad's history", i answered. the youngest didn't want him to be history so i gave her a pair of earrings that he loved to cool her down. the girls wouldn't let it go easily, so for a full week, we talked about the two guys in my life.

their days in this city were filled with "kodak moments." we went to the world-renowned art museum that's across the st from where i live (ken, the only boy in our group took photos of my drawings and told me that there's an empty space in the museum for my artworks to be hung, i wanted to throw my arms around him and weep); introduced them to a cute guy named 'kevin' that one of my boy crazy cousins got a crush on; took a glimpse of the pool outside of the apartment in the heat of the day; ate at a local pub where benjamin franklin and thomas jefferson hung out; gave the 'mallrats' a tour of the famous malls in the 'burbs; watched "phone booth", "laguna beach" and "nick-at-nite" till 4 am; fed them more college foods at the end of the day. they were so used to my lifestyle, they missed their flights and had to take the next.

am i a bad influence? i should hope not, but boy, was i true to my word -- i was never boring, nor was i ever saintly -- just a regular girl with many darn good ideas up her sleeves. thank God for that!

poppins for a day

2005-07-30T01:25:00.000-05:00

Mary Poppins (c) The Walt Disney Co

Mary Poppins: First of all I would like to make one thing perfectly clear.
Mr Banks: Yes?
Mary Poppins: I never explain anything.
(exits)

my two teenage californian cousins are visiting the east coast for a couple of weeks and the other two will arrive this weekend... imagine the thrill of seeing them once again... and the intermittent headaches my aunt n suffers in the hands of these headstrong, crazy youths... i just laugh at the thought. i had my own share of experience monday night during dinner, yup, my turn to be mary poppins...

the two were all over me. one kept talking about her shopping spree while the other kept talking about her newfound love. naturally, the whole family would freak out if they found out about the boyfriend's intention of marrying her (well, if a member of my family's reading this, you know now). my cousin begged me to call her boyfriend because she's grounded from the phone ("or maybe your boyfriend if i can't call mine", she said eagerly). apparently, her guy called very late the other night (probably PDT, not realising we're ahead by 3 hrs) and woke my uncle up, "who are you?" the guy asked. my uncle replied, "who are you?" well... the rest is history. call me a sucker but when i heard about my cousin's boyfriend's tragedy, i took the law (erm phone) in my hands and dragged my cousin to the study so she could call him while i stood guard. half an hour later, i was in deep shit, even i am grounded from the phone indefinitely. i just wonder if it ever occurred to my aunts that besides not being a teen anymore, i have a cellphone so it kinda beats the purpose? sheesh.

the next day, we all went out and passed through the lincoln tunnel, a 1.5 mile-long tunnel under the hudson river. in the heat of the day, i felt like a roasted chicken in the backseat of the car, my sunglasses couldn't protect the rest of my body. as i pondered my misery over the 4 bottles of water that i gulped down before we left the house, my 13 year old cousin suddenly spoke, warning us to hold our breaths because it's bad luck to breathe inside a tunnel -- (huh??) the other cousin heeded the advice and held her breath (i told them the tunnel was very long and it was traffic so by the time we got out, we'd all be dead.) the one who heeded the advice kept asking, "are we there yet? how long is this gonna take?" luckily, we got out of the tunnel still alive but my two cousins were barely breathing.

after that shenanigan, we got out of the car and walked around for a bit, one of my cousins almost got into a fight with a guy whom she insisted was staring at us. she said, "stop looking at my cousin, you freak!" omg. these californians do not know what tough is, #1 rule, do not get into a fight with a new yorker. sigh.

so, what do i think about our little (mis)adventure(s) at the end of the day? we had the best time -- we totally rocked! i can't wait to get my hands on all four cousins next week, throw out old school while they're with me! if mary poppins used a spoonful of sugar that helped the medicine go down, i'll definitely use pizza.

my 1st, said she

2005-07-19T01:35:00.000-05:00

'hear me out'

Sophie,
You're the type of girl, who can make any man fall head over heels for you with a single word.
Your friend,
J.D.B.

I've got sunshine on a cloudy day.
When it's cold outside I've got the month of May.
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl).
Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl).

I've got so much honey the bees envy me.
I've got a sweeter song than the birds in the trees.
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl).

Hey hey hey
Hey hey hey
Ooooh.

I don't need no money, fortune, or fame.
I've got all the riches baby one man can claim.
I guess you'd say
What can make me feel this way?
My girl (my girl, my girl)
Talkin' 'bout my girl (my girl).

I've got sunshine on a cloudy day
with my girl...

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. -- Romans 8:39

mapping life

2005-07-17T01:33:00.000-05:00

Bugs & Sam (c) Warner Bros

Make someone happy, make just one someone happy.

Make just one heart the heart you sing to...

i'm barely awake now and still have to be up early in a few hrs but i thought of posting something -- anything for my dear readers' amusement. yup, one of the 43 things i want to do is to make someone happy come hell or high water (don't worry, i'm only melodramatic when i'm almost ready to pass out for the night). it's my blog's 1st yr anniversary on july 19th and i might just concoct something very interesting, we'll see.

i've dealt with every [un]imaginable issue since i've started blogging and got in trouble with my critics for being too political (and critical towards other bloggers who boast about their sex life as if they really have one -- for pete's sake, GET A ROOM you nasty) so i've decided to keep a low profile (indefinitely). yup, i've ruled out the idea of totally becoming a vexation of the spirit. anyway, below are some of my daily affirmations and the witty comments i received.

learn how to remember people's names -- face with a name

sophie: i get pissed off with myself for forgetting people's names, i always remember a face but it'll be more cool if there's also a name attached to it.

comment: who cares about names
who cares about names- just make them up and just say you were kidding when they correct you. or alternatively invest in a notepad

sophie: impressive
i'd be saving money if i said i was kidding, you're brilliant!

comment: guru
i am the guru of all knowledge! between me and my chimp friends we can answer any question and solve every problem... easily

sophie: dynamic guru
as u can see, i have 9 things on my 'to do' list and more to go, and obviously you're much better than yoda, i may need your help one of these days!

live in the moment -- moment by moment ;)

sophie: i'm a risk taker, after all, we only live once... but before the thrills and chills, check out your brain without chucking it out, otherwise, spend the rest of your life throwing pity parties.

comment 1: What next..
I have found an effective method, that balances your work and your feeling about living and current.
Just predict what is going to happen, (in let's say next hour) and you can be much closer to reality.

sophie: aartist
predictions can be pretty accurate, let's just hope mine are...

comment 2: A way with words
I like that: "thrills and chills" and "check... before chucking" and "throwing a pity party." That's a witty way with the words. Enjoyed your entry!

sophie: and a way with people
i've read your entries and peeps are cheering for every list u make, why, coz they're all worth the cheers =)

make someone happy -- spread the laugh

i really do think that life's too short for bitching and all that crappiness coz at the end of the day, it would only leave a hollow feeling. making ppl happy on the other hand, could open new doors (and relationships), it could even probably untangle the knot in someone's heart.

*yawns* sweet dreams. ciao baby.

designing girl

2005-07-15T01:12:00.000-05:00

From: cecilia sophia
Date: Jul 15, 2005 5:45 AM

Subject: hi from the city of brotherly love

hi everyone, i hope everything will go smoothly this weekend for all of u... thanks for the cool stuff btw :) reme, omg i love 'always in my heart'! i believe it was composed in 1942 but i can only take a guess who [else] sung it -- perry como (although he came about 2 decades later), but what i do know's both tommy dorsey and glenn miller bands were the first to have their hands on it... hmm.. what do i recommend when the rain's outside, it's almost midnite and [i] left [my] CD player in the car? lol i love questions like this actually, if u have a musical instrument hidden somewhere in the house, that might do the trick, OR sing. yup, sing and dance to your own tune, that's what i'd do. i recommend 'moonlight serenade' for u...

live 8 was a huge success plus my prediction came true, i was on tv!!! (not on 'america's most wanted' pls ;) i was looking around for some souvenirs and got pissed off (didnt have a wink that night so i was in a pissy mood) with a couple guys who were breathing down my neck, i turned and lo!, it was the WB17 crew!

... on the down side (everybody has one), a couple nights ago, a fishbone got stuck in my throat and i did everything i could -- i mean everything. i didnt do any grocery shopping so i just swallowed anything i could push down my throat i.e. canola oil, metamucil, stale bread, frozen cake, sticky rice etc and when those didnt work, i threw up (cant outline them all or you'd be too grossed out ;) finally, at 11 pm, i found myself walking in the st to buy a banana (i ended up swallowing all 4 but even that didnt help). anyway, i didnt wanna go to the hosp for something as minute as a fishbone ('though literally, it was quite big) so who did i end up with? the greatest physician of all... God definitely heard me and comforted me as i looked out the window at 2 am whimpering. i was such a baby but just think about it: a sharp needle right in the middle of your throat: cant speak, cant laugh, cant cry, cant shout, cant turn your head sideways... it was literally a thorn in the flesh. well really, men are great comforters but God is indescribably cool. i'm just glad that saga's ended.
last week, i was offered to be co-editor/photographer for the city's newest [4-1-1] newsletter :) i have no experience but this is another challenge i'd like to take. at first, i was reluctant to take such a responsibility coz u all notice, i misspell words when i'm tired (i spell misspell right, no? jk!) and i can be grammatically erroneous.. bah who cares, i'm just co-editing (i'm interviewing ben, a painter and teacher who hates star wars), and there's the matter of photography, i havent even taken a class but we'll see.. it's their film and camera, if i mess up, might as well mess up good :) i'm just thrilled that i'm officially a photographer, thank u thank u... which reminds me once again, i've taken pics of live 8 and stuff using a disposable camera so when i send the pics, go easy on me!

i'm attaching an invite... my cousin's getting married!!! yay!!! PLUS i designed the invite, yup, moi, yours truly... my first ever wedding design, cool huh!

email when u all can and take care! i gotta go!

all my love.

ode to green-flecked brown eyes

2005-07-11T03:27:00.000-05:00

A Repeat (c) Sophie

strange. he used to show me the links to trucks and beetles, and now you're doing the same -- except your reasons are far different than his, but still, wanting to entertain me. i'm currently working on my '43 things', and i want to include you on the list, let's wait and see. outlining the advantages and disadvantages of being with you was wicked funny when i finally put it on paper. we both dismissed it. i, for the reason it was too hilarious to dwell upon, and you, for some other reason i may never know. you said so yourself, you're "as calm as a corpse." isn't it crazy? you're calm, i'm passionate; i'm restless, you're stable; you're focused, i'm flighty and so on and so forth... yet, we tolerate each other so perfectly. i guess because we let each other breathe and grow. i'm happy.

I want you to know

one thing.

You know how this is: if I look

at the crystal moon, at the red branch

of the slow autumn at my window,

if I touch near the fire

the impalpable ash

or the wrinkled body of the log,

everything carries me to you,

as if everything that exists,

aromas, light, metals,

were little boats

that sail

toward those isles of yours that wait for me.

Well, now,

if little by little you stop loving me

I shall stop loving you little by little.

If suddenly

you forget me

do not look for me,

for I shall already have forgotten you.

If you think it long and mad,

the wind of banners that passes through my life,

and you decide

to leave me at the shore

of the heart where I have roots,

remember that on that day,

at that hour,

I shall lift my arms

and my roots will set off

to seek another land.

But

if each day,

each hour,

you feel that you are destined for me

with implacable sweetness,

if each day a flower

climbs up to your lips to seek me,

ah my love, ah my own,

in me all that fire is repeated,

in me nothing is extinguished or forgotten,

my love feeds on your love, beloved,

and as long as you live it will be in your arms

without leaving mine.

-- Pablo Neruda

passion is my middle name

2005-07-05T01:39:00.000-05:00

Giant from the King of Ireland's Son (c) Sophie

this is a fun way to express yourself (i should know, i'm already on to it)...

People have known for years that making a list of goals is the best way to achieve them. Why is that? First, getting your goals in writing can help you clarify what you really want to do. You might find you have some important and some frivolous goals. That is OK. You've got space for 43 Things on your list. Not every one of them has to change the world (but save room for the ones that might).

-- 43 Things

well, i want more than "43" but what's exciting about the site is you get to share things you want out of life and let other people cheer you on and vice versa. so, what're you waiting for? discover your "43 things." chop-chop!

sophiesfair (that would be me) is, so far, doing 9 things:

9. Have conversations late into the night with fascinating people -- nocturnal

just when i get to be most creative, people have fallen asleep!

8. Live passionately every single minute -- 'passion' is my middle name

i'd rather live life to the fullest than regret not having a single "kodak moment."

7. Read the bible

i consider God my best friend, He's the only one who sees me when i cry or dance for joy at 3 am; and the only one who knows my innermost thoughts.

6. Find the most elegant yet comfortable shoes

i love to walk, but i also want my feet to look pretty when i do :)

5. Get a hundred emails a day

... as in "literally." it's good to be remembered every few seconds ;)

4. Be 10x richer than paris hilton

why not? :)

3. Take more photos

savouring each picture perfect moment.

2. Create a personal travel map -- and become the world's greatest cartographer!

my own blueprint for travelling :)

1. Create a masterpiece

well, why not show [off] a little bit of talent? it isn't as if i claim to be this generation's michelangelo buonarroti, although there's no harm in wishing -- perhaps the vatican could build another sistine chapel and request the honour of my company -- it has been decades since the world has had a taste of true masterpieces... Tanto nomini nullum par elogium. (No praise is sufficient for so great a man.) -- michelangelo's monument inscription. what would mine be -- Eternalii Overconfidentii. (Eternally Over-confident.)?? aahh heck.

34 more to go...

grillin' (& chillin') season

2005-07-04T00:09:00.000-05:00

1776 (c) Warner Bros

Happy 4th of July!

as they say, "there's no coincidence." after the biggest concert on july 2nd (did i mention i was on WB 17??), here we are again, celebrating "the most memorable epocha in the history of America." pomp, parades, [more] concerts i.e. peter nero, bryan adams, rufus wainwright, elton john..., grillin' and chillin' highlight 4th of july.

as i'm typing this, fireworks are making me jump off the chair... uh-huh, quite an early start for the big event later. anyway, i thought of posting a backyard BBQ recipe but decided against it, why? because traditional peeps (or grill masters) use their 'own' recipes, and i don't want to mess with that. who knows if theirs were even passed down from generation to generation... hmm... food for thought, eh? but take heart, i still have a couple of tricks up my sleeves, nothing fancy (i don't want to upstage the grill masters), just grilling tips & tricks and a holiday drink recipe appropriate for the occassion.

Top 5 Grilling Tips & Tricks

Courtesy Food Network

1 A hot grill is your best defense against sticky situations. Be sure that grates are piping hot before laying down your food -- or be prepared to clean it later!

2 When cooking anything skewered, like kebabs, soak the wooden sticks in water first to prevent them from burning.

3 Try a dry rub on chicken instead of traditional barbecue sauce. BBQ sauces contain sugars that caramelize and then quickly burn. Cook your chicken almost all the way through and then baste with a thin coating of sauce.

4 Keep a spray bottle of water closely by to tame any flare-ups.

5 A great way to oil up your grill without creating a wild fire: fold up a cotton kitchen towel, lightly dip in vegetable oil, and use your tongs to glide a coat onto the grates.

Peach Bellini

Courtesy Food Network Kitchens

The famous Harry's Bar of Venice, Italy, began serving this drink in 1934. Named after the Venetian painter Giovanni Bellini, fresh grated peaches are mixed with sugar and then topped off with sparkling Prosecco for a truly decadent drink.

6 peaches, (about 1 pound, 8 ounces), halved and pitted

1/4 cup superfine sugar, plus more for garnish

1/4 cup water

1 bottle Prosecco (750 ml or 3 1/3 cups), chilled

With a box grater grate peaches into a pitcher. Add the sugar and water to the peaches and place pitcher in refrigerator until chilled and sugar has dissolved, or until needed.
When ready to serve pour the superfine sugar on a plate and invert a chilled Champagne glass in the sugar to coat rim. Pour about a 1/8th of the peach mixture into the prepared glass and top off with Prosecco. Stir gently and serve.

Have Fun!

The second day of July, 1776, ... will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward for evermore.

-- Wikipedia

snap!

2005-07-02T13:44:00.000-05:00

With the stroke of a pen, the world's 8 most powerful men can change the lives of millions.

-- Will Smith

i havent had a wink and i feel like a zombie but still up for anything. Live 8 is now several hundred thousand strong (and so are the port-a-potties! good thing my bathroom's just two minutes away) -- yup, welcome to adrenaline high!

quickie: check me out on WB17! woohoo!

some critics have been gnashing their teeth 'thinking' that live 8 could only worsen the situation. well if they don't like it, then they should come up with other ways to help because frankly, running their mouths isn't going to feed the 30,000 children who die everyday from starvation.

It's amazing that where you're born can decide whether you live or die.

-- Rob Thomas

i've signed the ONE declaration. have you?

ONE

2005-07-01T18:59:00.000-05:00

The White Band

rc: sophie, are you comfortable speaking before a large crowd?
me: i don't mind, why?
rc: coz you're going to, on june 12th.
me: (brain freezes) ok... what about?

sunday, 12 june.

hello everyone, i was asked by the missions board to talk about our concerns... and i do love talking but not exactly in public, so i thought of a cure... i'm gonna think that everybody here is a friend. u know, when i was a lot younger, i used to not care about other people's financial needs, i mean, what was i to do, give my allowance to every destitute person in the sts, when i was also dependent on my family's generosity? i lived off my allowance buying stuff for myself and there's nothing wrong with that, except it's always a temporary thrill like the one u get, riding a roller-coaster-type space adventure. but see, God has a way of moving us, simply coz he knows us well. there was a time when i squandered what was left in my pocket and i didnt know what else to do, i didnt know how to get home, i couldnt even call my mom or anybody else to pick me up, it was definitely a long walk home and i didnt dare do it at 9 pm. all i had was a banana that a friend gave that afternoon. there was a guy that almost walked past me had i not stopped him. i asked him if i could exchange the banana for a ride back home. honestly, i didnt think he'd help, but he did with no strings attached -- he paid for my fare and told me to keep the banana. people are really giving, if we only learn to ask and humble ourselves. that night, i've learned that it's almost impossible to live in this world with nothing at all. i guess, this is what Jesus meant when he said, "for everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required, and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more." people are dying everyday for lack of financial resources, please remember that some of us are richly blessed so we could share our blessings, following our saviour's footsteps.
a thousand thanks and God bless us all.

North American Christians have long sought to ease the plight of the poorest of the poor. For more than fifty years One Great Hour of Sharing has made development aid, disaster relief and refugee resettlement assistance possible in more than 70 countries around the world.

by jeeves, er, jove!

2005-06-29T23:41:00.000-05:00

By Jeeves! (c) Sophie

once again, we close the month with a bang! it has been awhile since i've last posted a trivia -- so, might as well bombard the mind with 'wholesome, humorous' facts about life, the universe and everything, erm right, jeeves? Very good, Miss Sophie... uh-ahem, meet my imaginary butler... till i'm able to afford a real-life, bona fide "jeeves."

Trivial facts are often the best hints to what is going on.
-- J.M. Roberts

20. X-ray technology has shown there are 3 different versions of the Mona Lisa under the visible one.
19. Honey is the only food that does not spoil. Honey found in the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs has been tasted by archaeologists and found edible.
18. The city of Chicago has the only post office in the world where you can drive your car through.
17. The shortest war on record, between Britain and Zanzibar in 1896, lasted just 38 minutes.
16. A bibliophile is a collector of rare books. A bibliopole is a seller of rare books.
15. A poem written to celebrate a wedding is called an epithalamium.
14. In 1945 a computer at Harvard malfunctioned and Grace Hopper, who was working on the computer, investigated, found a moth in one of the circuits and removed it. Ever since, when something goes wrong with a computer, it is said to have a bug in it.
13. Fourteenth century physicians didn't know what caused the plague, but they knew it was contagious. As a result they wore an early kind of bioprotective suit which included a large beaked head piece. The beak of the head piece, which made them look like large birds, was filled with vinegar, sweet oils and other strong smelling compounds to counteract the stench of the dead and dying plague victims.

12. "Ough" can be pronounced in eight different ways. The following sentence contains them all: "A rough-coated, dough-faced ploughman strode through the streets of Scarborough, coughing and hiccoughing thoughtfully.
11. Barbers at one time combined shaving and haircutting with bloodletting and pulling teeth. The white stripes on a field of red that spiral down a barber pole represent the bandages used in the bloodletting.
10. The last thing to happen is the ultimate. The next-to-last is the penultimate, and the second-to-last is the antepenultimate.
9. The symbol on the "pound" key (#) is called an octothorpe.
8. The word "assassination" was invented by Shakespeare.
7. Sherlock Holmes never said 'Elementary, my dear Watson.'
6. The Hoover Dam was built to last 2,000 years. The concrete in it will not even be fully cured for another 500 years.

5. Dueling is legal in Paraguay as long as both parties are registered blood donors.
4. A Saudi Arabian woman can get a divorce if her husband doesn't give her coffee.
3. The two lines that connect your top lip to the bottom of your nose are known as the philtrum.
2. Aztec emperor Montezuma drank 50 golden goblets of hot chocolate every day. It was thick, dyed red and flavored with chili peppers.

and finally,

1. In the late 19th century, millions of human mummies were used as fuel for locomotives in Egypt where wood and coal was scarce, but mummies were plentiful.

... morbidly clever, eh? excusez-moi while i philosophize.

my top 3 newsmakers of the month:

1. Bigger Brains Make Smarter People
2. Corporations Entering the World of Blogs

3. Bloggers go mainstream in government battle

oh and before i say 'adieu', On average women say 7,000 words per day. Men manage just over 2000. how utterly... true.

Trivia Source

Live 8 where i live... CARPE DIEM!

2005-06-27T16:05:00.000-05:00

Princess Daffy (c) Warner Bros

From: cecilia sophia

Date: Jun 27, 2005 4:50 AM
Subject: Live 8 where i live

For this time it isn't fascination
Or a dream that will fade and fall apart
It's love
This time it's love
My foolish heart

hi guys, ... thought i'd send a quick email... thanks for the 'sumptuous' emails, i was happy with all the lettres i got and totally blushed, swooned and kissed the screen jk :) rg, i love the songs u mentioned, i took the advice so now i'm including [once again] a song that u might like... i think roberta flack's version's the best but that's just me... me, a comic writer?? um if somebody's got the balls to risk his life savings to publish me... :p yes, let's get together -- custard's my fav dessert btw jk jk! rs, i know! -- the guy who now owns congo the chimp's paintings must've been delirious when he bought them, cant let that go so i'm still bitchy about it, oh well... it'll pass... lol i dont know about the guy that fake (emphasis on the F) gypsy talked about, i tore her 'business card' to pieces and threw it -- if that happened a long, long time ago, she'd burn at the stakes along with 'the groom'. kb, i'm gonna try the hi5 again, thanks so much for that, hope u and ch are having the best time, pls give my regards to everyone in cali.
ppl (and cousins) i know i've been bad at catching up but i'll email separately tomorrow. oh and if some of u havent watched "mr & mrs smith", what're u waiting for, go watch it! i'm not a filmgoer myself but that is one heck of a movie.
anyway, LIVE 8 is performing across the st from where i live... AAAHHH!!!! (mh, you'd love it!) 3 museums encircle the apartment (museum of art, rodin and franklin institute - north, west and east) and LIVE 8 will be on the steps of the art museum, if i peep out the window of the lobby or walk across the st, i'd be jamming with bon jovi and stevie wonder :) now, all i got to do is pounce on kevin one more time and not let him go til the cameras are fixed. sometimes i wonder if God listens coz i dont "feel" Him but really, to me it's a matter of commitment, like u know, admit it, we dont "feel" our families sometimes esp when they piss us off but that doesnt mean they dont care or we stop loving them. i'm saying this coz god i'm so lucky, i mean, i've been eating spaghetti (spaghetti bolognaise, spaghetti with sardines, spaghetti & sun-dried tomatoes, baked spaghetti, spaghetti & tomato sauce... u get the point) everyday for almost a month now coz i've been saving up for other stuff and yet, wonderful things still pop out of nowhere, like LIVE 8! the only thing that could cramp the concert's style's justin timberlake. anyhow, the point is, be thankful with what u have and always be up and ready for the unexpected, life's like that and it's beautiful.

update, update and update pls! take care, have fun and God bless!

all my love.

queen of wishful thinking

2005-06-24T01:52:00.000-05:00

Unmade (c) Sophie

has anyone noticed i flatter myself these days? in my past entries (this, this and this), i've "featured" my old drawings not just for the heck of it, but they were suitable for posting. why not show [off] a little bit of talent? it isn't as if i claim to be this generation's michelangelo buonarroti, although there's no harm in wishing -- perhaps the vatican could build another sistine chapel and request the honour of my company -- it has been decades since the world has had a taste of true masterpieces... Tanto nomini nullum par elogium. (No praise is sufficient for so great a man.) -- michelangelo's monument inscription.

what would my own inscription be -- Eternalii Overconfidentii. (eternally over-confident.)?? ah heck.

LONDON (AFP) - Three paintings by a chimpanzee named Congo were sold at auction in London to an American buyer for a total of 14,400 pounds (26,250 dollars, 21,610 euros), many times the estimated price.

Congo's works went under the hammer in a sale that included works by French impressionist Pierre-Auguste Renoir, French cubist Fernand Leger and US pop artist Andy Warhol.

wow, i never realised i'd wake up one day envying a chimp called congo. so much for that. maybe congo and i could team up in an extravagant, never-been-done-before exhibit of the century. yeah right... fat chance, congo. congratulations, anyway, you lucky mojo jojo.

Who, or why, or what Is the Akond of SWAT?

Is he tall or short, or dark or fair?

Does he sit on a stool or sofa or chair,

or SQUAT,

The Akond of Swat?

... Does he study the wants of his own dominion?

Or doesn't he care for public opinion

a JOT,

The Akond of Swat?

... Does he wear a white tie when he dines with friends,

And tie it neat in a bow with ends,

or a KNOT,

The Akond of Swat?

... Some one, or nobody, knows I wot

Who or which or why or what

Is the Akond of Swat!

-- Edward Lear

we, the bobo(s)

2005-06-21T00:40:00.000-05:00

coffee, tea or me? (c) Sophie

The hot new trend is called "Bobo," which is short for "Bohemian Bourgeois." Just think rich hippie and you've got the idea. The skirts are full, the sunglasses are huge, the hats are large-brimmed and the accessories are expensive, in the new Bobo look. Huge mufflers and baggy cardigans are key. But the mufflers are cashmere and the cardigans are Marni.
-- The New York Times

"hobo" look is out and "bobo" is in, huh? we, the bohemians -- the real mccoys -- aren't embracing this newest (bobo) fad crap without a fight! what about our bohemian lifestyle for yonker's sake, (torn jeans, smelly socks, mold & mildew bathroom, decomposing food and hairy armpits) oh yes, we've come a long way... must we finally succumb to the dictates of today's beau brummels??

Lauren Stover, the author of Bohemian Manifesto: A Field Guide to Living on the Edge (Bulfinch Press, 2004), has noticed the trend, which has cropped up in moneyed communities from Beverly Hills to the Upper West Side, where young women wear grandma's crocheted shawl, moth-eaten cashmere sweaters and scuffed cowboy boots. "It's perfectly fine to look like a bag lady," Ms. Stover said.

oh. in that case, we're with ya. and yes, i was only kidding. by all means, succumb to oakleys and manolo blahniks (even men discuss the importance of expensive shoes) and get a total makeover. if the bills pile up, face it like a true bohemian would -- by golly, move on!

Fifty years ago, it was the dream of every bohemian artist to be seen getting out of a limousine wearing blue jeans and sneakers. Today, it's the dream of probably half the people in the country. -- Brad Holland

two guys and a girl up into the silence

2005-06-17T02:03:00.000-05:00

up into the silence the green

silence with a white earth in it

you will(kiss me)go

out into the morning the young

morning with a warm world in it

(kiss me)you will go

on into the sunlight the fine

sunlight with a firm day in it

you will go(kiss me

down into your memory and a memory and memory

i)kiss me,(will go)

-- e.e. cummings

bozo,

just before i hopped on the train, you pulled me and gave me the quickest, sweetest hug i've ever experienced in my entire life. i didn't look back, i wasn't even crying but i knew something had changed. you've always cracked me up whenever those big, mischievous blue eyes casted a pleading glance at me to join your hair-raising schemes -- of course, i didn't need any coaxing (god our private jokes would've offended everyone, by the way). but now, goofing with you all across new england's over, we've both grown and another story begins. thanks for proposing to me a hundred thousand times. who's the smartass that said, "marry a friend?," i'd like to thank that person, too. it may not have worked for us but it's still true. it baffled me for a while why two people who fit each other so perfectly couldn't stand each other after only 2 mins of talking, i guess because we were so much alike.

i've fallen for my other best friend, and you know it freaks me out sometimes that you two are practically twins (though not temperamentally). his cool, green-flecked brown eyes aren't devilish (like yours) and he doesn't have anything up his sleeves (like you do), but he makes my heart go thump. when somebody asked me to compare you both, i said, "well, one cheers me up and the other makes me smile."

thank you for putting up with me and making everything easy for me; for literally calling me ten times a day and being my tv guide at night; for (almost) defending me with a baseball bat and taking care of me when i was sick (yes, i've marked my territory in every corner of your room); for laughing at me when i smashed the phone to pieces all because of you.

is closure possible? yes, it is. i'm doing it now. one thing's for sure, i'll remember you as the only guy who knew how to handle me. everyday was disneyland with you.

i know you hate sappy, schmaltzy, sugar-coated talk but you're my bestest friend, after all. as cliche as it may appear, i wish you all the good things.

forget not me?

sophie

beat it, billie jean

2005-06-14T03:38:00.000-05:00

Bugs & Rocky (c) Warner Bros

i can't believe i'm doing this -- after the tom cruise shenanigan, here comes jacko filling my latest entry with his acquittal. am i stuck blogging about celebrities the whole month of june?? uh-uh, hell no. but some of us still need to adjust our jaws after hearing the [jackson] charges and verdicts. let's see, 'the juice', 'mickey blake' and 'peter pan' all got away scot-free, whereas, the queen of mean made one lousy phone call and it was the slammer for her. sure, i'm defending martha stewart... ssheesshh. the thing is, in comparison with the charges against those three, hers was lame. now that michael jackson is free, why not throw a thriller party for all? maybe invite little susie, dirty diana, and tomkat for one big, scream ride in neverland. i wonder how tom would introduce katie to jacko, "oh yeah, the girl is mine. ain't got no sunshine without her. you are not alone michael, together we will heal the world through my religion. no black or white, not even a smooth criminal will jam with a therapist again, not on my watch." ooops, my bad.

so, wanna be startin' somethin'? try out this off the wall refreshing summery recipe.

Pistachio Gelato

Makes about 1 quart

source: Martha Stewart

2 cups shelled pistachios (1/2 pound)

3 cups whole milk

5 large egg yolks

2/3 cup sugar

1 cup heavy cream

1. Preheat oven to 350º. Bring a saucepan of water to a boil. Add pistachios, and cook 30 seconds. Drain pistachios. When cool enough to handle, remove outer skins; discard. Spread nuts on a baking sheet, and toast in oven 5 minutes. Let cool completely, then coarsely grind. 2. Combine milk and ground pistachios in a medium saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil, cover, and remove pan from heat. Let steep 2 hours. Pass through a cheesecloth-lined sieve, pressing hard on solids. Reserve strained milk, and discard solids.

3. Combine egg yolks and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Cream at medium-high speed until very thick and pale yellow, 3 to 5 minutes. Return milk to a simmer.

4. Add half of the warm milk to egg-yolk mixture, and whisk until blended. Return new mixture to saucepan with remaining milk. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon.

5. Have ready an ice-water bath. Remove saucepan from heat, and immediately stir in cream. Pass mixture through a sieve set over a medium bowl. Place bowl in ice-water bath, and chill.

6. Freeze in an ice-cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Store in an airtight plastic container up to 2 weeks.

cool change

2005-06-10T02:02:00.000-05:00

Andaman Sea

If there's one thing in my life that's missing

It's the time that I spend alone

Sailing on the cool and bright clear water

There's lots of those friendly people

They're showing me ways to go

But I never want to lose their inspiration

Time for a cool change

I know that it's time for a cool change

And now that my life is so pre-arranged

I know that it's time for a cool change

my first try at blogging was back in july 2004 which reminds me, it'll be my [blog's] 1st yr anniv next month... whew! it was really just for kicks (or call it "therapeutic purposes", if you prefer) but as i was getting the hang of this blog thing, i've also accidentally (and regrettably) come across a couple of very crass bloggers: ms motormouth's chief concern was to bitch about her poor mom 24/7 (and i'd rather not talk about her reasons because they're just full of shit), and this other beastly site just can't stop talking about sex like their lives depended on it. i mean, why be the amoeba that feeds off of the parasites that are hosted by the slime that feeds off of pond scum? (god i love quoting myself tch tch)... i was peeved (the understatement of the year), so i've made it my business to be a true-blooded kid-friendly blogger. i've also begun writing for and/or about teens. yeah yeah, most adolescents don't like it when they're referred to as "kids", i know because i have a younger cousin who made my life hell each time i reminded her how old she really was. anyhow, i wouldn't be posting tonight had i not read this wretched news.

Washington (Reuters) - According to a study released on Thursday, more than half of America's teens know friends who have experienced physical, sexual or verbal abuse in their dating relationships.
Among those surveyed, 13 percent of teenage girls, admit to being physically injured or hit and one in four report being pressured to perform oral sex or engage in intercourse, according to the survey by the private research group Teenage Research Unlimited.

think of it this way, does anyone have a right to lay a finger on you or pressure you to do something you don't want to do just because you want to please that piece of crap you call your bf/gf? yes, i'm addressing the issue with both boys and girls.

one time, i was shopping and overheard a teenage girl and her mom arguing about the skanky outfit her daughter tried on. apparently, the mom wanted the cheap, sleazy material for her little girl because she "looked fabulous in it." some parents are too cool for their kids' own good. this is probably one of the reasons why kids mature before their time.

well, it's useless to blame each other now -- hollywood, the parents, britney spears, friends or the dog -- rather, preparing adolescents for responsible adulthood is a step toward a better future for most of them.

I've never been romantic

And sometimes I don't care

I know it may sound selfish

But let me breathe the air

If there's one thing in my life that's missing

It's the time that I spend alone

Sailing on the cool and bright clear water

It's kind of a special feeling

Out on the sea alone

Staring at the full moon like a lover.

Little River Band

mission: whodunit, smeagol?!

2005-06-09T18:07:00.000-05:00

Tom Cruise (c) Ed Wexler Illustration

The best mind-altering drug is the truth.
-- Lily Tomlin

who woulda thought tom cruise would one day piss the living daylights outta me?! his "generic tom cruise character" bores me to tears -- and i'm positive brooke shields would second that motion (if she read this). in one of his recent interviews, tom cruise criticised brooke shields for taking antidepressants. hey, what gives??

Tom should stick to saving the world from aliens and let women who are experiencing postpartum depression decide what treatment options are best for them.

-- Brooke Shields

i'm no fan of the actress but i gotta admit, she's right. i have a couple of friends who are undergoing psychotherapy (or "counseling") simply because it works for them. we can't be a bunch of little hitlers and feed people's minds with our own beliefs. it took years to wash away the stigma of therapy, that it isn't necessarily for cuckoos, but for anybody -- rich or poor, young or old -- who needs help and is not afraid to acknowledge it.

watching smeagol a.k.a. gollum in "LOTR: The Return of the King" on encore, made me think of tom cruise's "erratic behaviour" nowadays. well no, he isn't like smeagol but i was thinking, "hmm... what if smeagol had counseling and took antidepressants, maybe his MPD could've been brought under control."

tom cruise's hodgepodge philosophy should definitely be kept among his precioussss inner circle of [scientology] friends. i could only hope he lightens up, as his fellow co-celebrity, robin williams said, "You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it."

i'm no man

2005-06-06T20:16:00.000-05:00

Which LOTR Lady am I?

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (c) New Line Cinema

What is a youth?

Impetuous fire

What is a maid?

Ice and desire

The world wags on

A rose will bloom,

it then will fade

So does a youth.

So does the fairest maid.

-- Nino Rota Ballad

Eowyn, the shield-maiden of Rohan and daughter of kings, who defeated the King of the Nazgul in the battle for Middle-Earth.
I learned to depend on my own strength and nobility to help Rohan and all of Middle Earth.

i slew the lord of the wraiths. now, why on middle-earth didn't aragorn (and elfie) see this???

sophie's herald-making ballyhoo

2005-05-31T01:19:00.000-05:00

A beauty is a woman you notice. A charmer is one who notices you.

-- Adlai Stevenson

It's official. I'm a 'heartthrob' -- to all toddlers and teens. i do love kids but why, oh why can't they be grown men, for a change?! "go with me to the zoo, or maybe to chuck e. cheese's?", asked a very hopeful, dreamy-eyed 4 yr old -- then offered me the only drink he ever knew in his young life... milk. he was looking at me so intensely that i had to smile and break it to him gently, "well, maybe next time -- when you're older". "oh boy, what a ladies' man," i told his mother while he gazed at me with stars in his eyes. before they left church, he demanded to be hugged, and coaxed me one last time to 'go out with him.' sigh. well at least, i still get to be noticed... c'est la vie!

anyway, before this month ends, i'm posting my list of top 5 pulsating news.

To a philosopher all news, as it is called, is gossip, and they who edit and read it are old women over their tea.
-- Henry David Thoreau

1. Biometrics 2010

Yes, we know, you're one in a million. But you're much more unique than that, in ways you've probably never imagined. Here are some of the more unusual biometric methods now being explored.

if some of you haven't read this and you're into all that sci-fi hoopla, this is absolutely the news for ya, i guarantee.

2. Chirac Begins Shake-Up After Charter Blow

PARIS - President Jacques Chirac moved swiftly forward Monday with a widely expected government shakeup to save face at home as European Union officials worked to control damage after French voters rejected the EU's first constitution, dealing a potentially fatal blow to the charter.
The results of Sunday's referendum were a humiliating blow to Chirac and a disavowal of his government, left reeling by the decisive victory of the constitution's opponents.

paris my love! if eet is zee way eet is going to be, stand your ground and be 'eard!

3. Planets with Two Suns Likely Common

In the Star Wars saga, the Skywalker clan has its roots on the Tatooine -- a desert-covered planet revolving around two suns. A theoretical investigation has explored the likelihood for worlds like this to exist.
And it looks like the nearest Tatooine may be closer than a galaxy far, far away.

uh-huh. another treat for star wars junkies.

4. Why Teens are Lousy at Chores

Finally researchers have come up with a reason other than pure laziness for why teenagers can't shower and brush their teeth or unload the dishwasher and wipe down the counter.

it seems science now has a plausible excuse for teens after centuries of parent yapping.

5. CIA's Internet War Exercise Wraps Up Today

CIA is conducting a secretive war game, dubbed "Silent Horizon," this week to practice defending against an electronic assault on the same scale as the Sept. 11 terrorism attacks.
The three-day exercise, ending Thursday, was meant to test the ability of government and industry to respond to escalating Internet disruptions over many months, according to participants.

oh, and while you're at it, can you pleassseee defend your people against pop-up assaults?! CASHBACK BUDDY is one of the freakin' nastiest pop-up ads ever to self-install on my pc!

ok, i honestly don't want to include this crap on my list, but what the heck? some might even get a kick out of its gross stupidity.

well, that's all folks! another month, another fresh start.

the animal song

2005-05-28T23:50:00.000-05:00

Daffy & Taz (c) Warner Bros

Eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside.

-- Mark Twain

nice template, huh? yup, my 7th -- i'm getting the hang of html and css. i also tweaked my sister's template and a couple of friends'. anyway, i was going through my past entries and realised it has been awhile since i've last posted a recipe. it's memorial day, and i thought the hotdogs and clams could sit alongside the mushrooms... plus i'm too beat to think tonight... no animal is harmed in this recipe (i can almost picture cow and chicken singin' 'rockin' robin' with great gusto). the recipe below is quite fun to make, actually. meat lovers shouldn't be scared of the word "veggie" -- sometimes they taste real good. so, broaden the chest, lift that spine, be a man and try this out! yadda yadda yadda...

Portobello Burgers with Roasted Pepper Paste and Smoked Mozzarella

Recipe Summary

Difficulty:

Easy Prep Time: 15 minutes

Inactive Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Yield: 4 servings

User Rating: 5-stars

This is a vegetarian menu that is super fun and sure to please meat eaters and meat-free-ers alike.

2 tablespoons (2 turns of the bottle in a slow stream) extra-virgin olive oil

1/8 cup (3 splashes) balsamic vinegar

2 sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves stripped and chopped, about 2 tablespoons

1 lemon, juiced 4 large portobello mushroom caps 2 teaspoons grill seasoning blend (preferred brand: McCormick Montreal Steak Seasoning) or 1 teaspoon combined coarse salt and pepper 1/2 pound fresh smoked mozzarella, sliced

Roasted Pepper Paste:

1 (14-ounce) jar roasted peppers, drained

A drizzle extra-virgin olive oil

A handful flat-leaf parsley leaves

1 large clove garlic, cracked away from skin

Salt and pepper

4 large crusty rolls, split

Suggested toppings:

Whole baby spinach leaves

Thinly sliced red onions

Suggested accompaniments:

Onion and Garlic Yukon Gold Potato Chips, (preferred brand: Terra Chips) Tomato and Onion Salad, recipe under this show number: TM1A04 Pasta Salad with Ricotta Salata and Broccolini, recipe under this show number: TM1A04

Combine first 4 ingredients in the bottom of a large food storage bag. Add mushroom caps, seal bag and shake bag to coat caps, then let the mushrooms marinate for 15 minutes. Grill mushrooms on indoor electric grill, starting with caps down, turning to caps up, 6 minutes on each side. Pan-fry in large nonstick skillet for same amount of time. Season caps while they cook on each side with grill seasoning or a little salt and pepper. Melt the smoked cheese over mushroom caps in the last minute of grill time. To make the red pepper paste, combine the roasted red peppers, oil, parsley, garlic, salt, and pepper in food processor and pulse grind into thick sauce. To serve, place the grilled mushroom caps topped with melted cheese on the bun bottoms. Top with spinach and onion. Spread bun tops with roasted pepper paste. Serve with Tomato and Onion Salad and Pasta Salad with Ricotta Salata and Broccolini.

courtesy Rachael Ray

goin' out of my head

2005-05-27T03:24:00.000-05:00

Skyscraper heels (c) Katherine & Elizabeth Pope

From: cecilia sophia
Date: May 27, 2005 4:13 AM
Subject: till there was you

It was fascination, I know

And it might have ended right then at the start

Just a passing glance, just a brief romance

And I might have gone on my way empty-hearted

It was fascination, I know

Seeing you alone with the moonlight above

Then I touched your hand and next moment I kissed you

Fascination turned to love...

hi everyone! thanks very much again for the poignant words/emails/msgs/calls, it feels so good knowing that i also bring a smile to someone's face (esp when needed :) i also wish the best for all.
i have to be up early (ppl are actually wondering how i sleep verrryyyyy late and still wake up early... do that for a week and you'll be doing it for yrs, ha!) i went shopping a couple days ago, i know, it must be every girl's aphrodisiac but my mission that day was a necessity, not the "paris hilton-throw-the-darn-money-away" kind. i actually blogged about this but it was just so funny i'm gonna email it. i was putting on a nice baby pink tank top when i heard a woman in the next room moaning and groaning, i was stifling my laughter to hear what was going on... "oooohhhh... aaahhhh.... ooohh... it's killing me..." -- nope, it isnt what u guys think it is, u bad u jk :) the tortured soul was either giddy that she finally found the right clothes to wear, or was hyperventilating coz they didnt fit. and i wondered, wow i mean, some women really go through extremes to be noticed. cant blame them too... can u picture a size 4 wearing size 0 or a size 14 wearing size 10? dont try to understand, some things are better left alone *sigh* anyway, my teenage cousins are planning to come and visit soon, i feel like maria in "the sound of music" eversince i've heard of the plan from my aunts. i'm very fond of my little *ahem they dont wanna be called that* "younger" cousins but how does one entertain teens these days -- teens as young as 13 -- in a sophisticated, kid-unfriendly environment?? my girl cousin who's a shopaholic specifically told me in many of her emails and phone calls that she wants to go on a shopping spree in new york... tch tch. by the time i was done reading her last email, i had to pick myself up on the floor. and what about the boys? (the other is sporting a rebellious image) the boys would need some entertainment, too. apparently, they also want a "slumber party" while here... my heart jumps to my throat when i think of what to do :p oh well... i miss them, though.
i've been reading motivational books to prepare for their short visit lol ... um, let's see, this is something i wanna share with everyone as well:

The worst possible thing you can do is to fail to make a decision at all... There is only so much time you can spend in deliberation. Yes, you have to make sure the decision is your own and not someone else's opinion. Yes, you have to weigh the benefits and liabilities and determine if the decision is right for you. But eventually you need to act. One of life's greatest tragedies is to arrive at the end of your journey and realize you could have done more, laugh harder, played more intensely, and lived more vivaciously if only you had taken the day by the throat and steered it the way you wanted to go, if only you had made a concious decision about what you wanted to do. (excerpt from "Maximize the Moment, TD Jakes)

omg this is a very long email! gotta go and i'll update u guys again (stop shuddering :) take care and *yawn* sweet dreams. God bless.
all my love.

sticks 'n bones

2005-05-24T03:41:00.000-05:00

Olive Oyl (c) Paramount Pictures, Inc

... she's the shape of a toothpick... She's perpetually 29 years old, 5'10" and weighs 96 pounds... She wears size 14-AAAAAA shoes so she can't fall over in a strong wind.

Flat as a board, with a pickle-shaped nose and fickle heart to match, Popeye's "goil's" measurements are reportedly 19-19-19!

-- Hy Eisman on Olive Oyl

welcome to the fitting room. yup, i went shopping today... woohoo! anyway, i was putting on a very sweet light pink tank top when i heard a woman in the next room moaning and groaning, "ooohh... aaahhh... it's killing me..." -- the tortured soul was either giddy that she finally found the right clothes to wear, or was hyperventilating because they didn't fit. can anyone imagine that a size 14 gal would wear size 10, or a size 4 would wear size 0? all in the name of beauty.

It is a woman's business to be beautiful.

-- Godey's Lady's Book

i was flipping through channels at 2 am (didn't i say, this girl's nocturnal?) when i saw on E! Entertainment the newest hype in hollywood -- anorexia. as i watched, i became extremely angry that more and more people are actually adulating, emulating, and encouraging anorexics to stay as they are... i am pissed off with such perverts! they're hooting for some wilted, bony creature who's obviously nearing death. wake up, knuckleheads! you boost their egos by making stuff up like "anorexia pride"! anorexia nervosa is an illness -- it isn't something to flaunt in anyone's face. it is deadly, very deadly. i once was anorexic, so yes, i know what i'm talking about and no, i'm not flaunting it. it was one of the toughest confessions i had to make. it took a full-length mirror -- and sleepless prayers -- to face that biting reality. what on earth was i doing to myself? i definitely didn't look gorgeous. on top of it, for the first time in my life, i was battling with low self-esteem. i wanted to look attractive but ended up with an almost withered body. i've decided enough's enough. the girl's going to rise up and kick ass again, and i eventually did. nope, it wasn't easy but making the right decision is a huge step to the good life. on the other hand, there are folks who persuade others that it's ok to be overweight. are you folks sure you have no ulterior motives behind the "gentle" counsel? let's all pause for a moment and ask ourselves, "is being overweight what i truly desire for myself?" we only have one body, i don't care how much your mother loves you, she can't give you another body to use and/or misuse. jesse, chef-extraordinaire, makes his own ice cream, his own yogurt... etc, and i want huge, huuuge portions of whatever he concocts. his sage advice? "everything in moderation."

i think we need to be aware of what we're doing to ourselves. if you don't love yourself, who else would ever love you the way you really want to be loved?

There are no ugly women, there are only lazy women.

-- Helena Rubinstein

enhance your God-given beauty but do not overdo it nor overlook it.

And your fame spread among the nations on account of your beauty, because the splendor I had given you made your beauty perfect, declares the Sovereign LORD.

-- Ezekiel 16:14 NIV

the saga is complete

2005-05-22T02:26:00.000-05:00

Star Wars: Episode III (c) Twentieth Century Fox

woe, woe, woe, the saga is complete. definitely not my saga, alas, my saga isn't as colourful or elegant as jedi lightsabers... (ok, maybe a little colourful but not as glittery)

"This is the weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or as random as a blaster, but an elegant weapon for a more civilized age." -- Obi-Wan Kenobi

there was an article on "star wars: episode II" that totally cracked me up -- a guy burst into uncontrollable tears on his way home after watching it. he was brutally reminiscing about the early days when star wars was star wars. but in the third and final installment of star wars prequel trilogy, george lucas rules once more.

if george lucas hadn't sold many of his innovative ideas -- technologies that would later appear in home stereos, cell phones, medical imaging devices and virtually every hollywood studio, there probably wouldn't be billion-dollar companies employing thousands of people, oh, and pixar inc might not have been born. it is george lucas's brilliant mind that's feeding our hunger for entertainment these days. the master storyteller has come to life bringing the long-awaited conclusion to the star wars saga .

Critics Review

Bluntly put, Sith's the best Star Wars movie since the best of them all... -- Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A return to the classic space opera style that launched the series. -- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun Times

This is by far the best film in the more recent trilogy, and also the best of the four episodes Mr Lucas has directed. That's right (and my inner 11-year-old shudders as I type this): It's better than "Star Wars." -- A.O. Scott, New York Times

did you know...

Originally, a young Han Solo was going to make an appearance in the film, living among the Wookies on Kashyyyk.

There are over 2,200 special effects shots in the film, more than Episode I and II combined. Star Wars (1977) only had 350 such shots.

George Lucas played a prank on Christopher Lee, where a puppet of Master Yoda was placed on set, complete with fangs or vampire teeth.

As of this film, Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader has been played by seven different people. David Prowse in the first three films, classified as Episode IV, V, and VI, inside the suit of Darth Vader. James Earl Jones as the voice for all films containing Vader on up. Bob Anderson as the duelist for the fight scenes in The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983). Sebastian Shaw as Anakin Skywalker once Darth Vader's helmet is removed at the end of the "Return of the Jedi" and Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader in Episode II and III. And finally Jake Lloyd in Episode I as a young Anakin Skywalker.

The Darth Vader mask for this film was rebuilt from scratch, using a new digital design to computer-lathe the base master, from which molds were made to cast the on-screen costume masks. The resulting masks are, for the first time in Star Wars history, truly symmetrical.

Obi-Wan Kenobi says the series' trademark line, "I have a bad feeling about this," during one of the first scenes of the film. See also _Star Wars (1977)_, _Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)_, _Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)_, _Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)_, and _Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)_.

Director Cameo: [George Lucas] The blue skinned Baron Papanoida who appears during the opera scene.

Source

wild over you

2005-05-19T02:07:00.000-05:00

P. Le Pew (c) Warner Bros

Love not me for comely grace,
For my pleasing eye or face;
Nor for any outward part,
No, nor for my constant heart;
For those may fail or turn to ill,
So thou and I shall sever.
Keep therefore a true woman's eye,
And love me still, but know not why,
So hast thou the same reason still
To doat upon me ever.
-- John Wilbye

i have written a series based on my friendship with two admirable guys back in november 2004 (two guys, a girl and someone better; two guys, a girl and a birthday suit; two guys, a girl and black friday; two guys, a girl and ever after), and in the process, have learned that one of the toughest decisions in my 'adult life' is choosing mr right. sure, it doesn't take a whole lot of left-brain thinking to handpick the right person. i've laughed again and again at the silliness of pepe le pew's quirky character -- Pepe Le Pew has all the qualities of a great lover. He is a born romantic. His enthusiasm knows no bounds. His ego is as big as the Eiffel Tower. He showers les femmes with flowery come-ons, champagne, and gifts. He purrs. He coos. He cajoles... All in that entrancing French accent. Perhaps Pepe Le Pew would have less trouble with the lovely ladies if he stuck to his own species. Pepe has an unfortunate habit of falling not for skunks, but for discolored black cats with white stripes painted down their backs. Sometimes these cats are escaped wild cats... Sometimes the cats get their stripes by backing up into recently painted poles or benches; other times dye down their backs gives them their skunk-like appearance -- hmm... i wonder, how many can relate to this misguided, lovable skunk? you'd think pepe would've figured out that his "femme fatale" is actually a wild cat with white paint on its back. same goes for people. if you're smart, you'd single out the right person among a throng of wrong people in a heartbeat, but is it possible to have two [mr/ms] rights?

When love is right, he finds in her what he could not find in others. She is in a class so alone that she has no contenders. She has his rhythm and hears his beat. -- TD Jakes

i have yet to find the answer -- or perhaps, it has already found me.

Pepe Le Pew's famous love quotes

"Darling, you found me! How sweet *kiss, kiss*, how clever *kiss, kiss*, we will never part again!"
"You are here to interview about the greatest love of my life, yes? Very well. Come with me to Casbah... a very long time ago...."
"You know, most men would get discouraged about now... fortunately for her, I am not most men."
"Ah, this tempestous one. She is overcome by her emotions at seeing me again."
"You know, it's not just a case of physical attraction, I admire her mind, too."
"I'll tell you what, you stop resisting me, and I'll stop resisting you."

le pews

2005-05-16T19:32:00.000-05:00

Pepe Le Pew (c) Warner Bros

blogging can be downright confuzzling but worth the ginormous amount of time spent. i was debating between posting an entry about star wars (which could turn political as they say) and the "le pews" of our time... the le pews win.
i call my fellow artists "pepe le pew". pepe, to some who don't know him, is an impassioned skunk with zee delicious accent, no? anyhoo, don't get me wrong. although he's a skunk, he has class with an uncanny knack and passion for life. he's like a hot lava oozing out from somewhere in the back alley of paris.
i live in a city that is thriving with exceptional artists -- actually, my place is literally swarmed by dozens of glorious, world-renowned art museums (which i am proud of, to say the least). a couple of days ago, i was asked to help in a workshop for struggling artists (no, not the penniless type o' thing, that is an oversimplified assumption), i'm talking about an artist's temperamental makeup. the truly gifted ones are notorious for their ahem... "our" huffing and puffing fits of emotion. but i've also realised that it is no excuse to be insane and maniacal just because "i'm an artist." there are ways to pull one's self together and this is exactly what i'm going to share with my fellow le pews. and to the le pews around the world, who obviously can't make it to the workshop, maybe the guidelines below can help, who knows?

How to Stay Young attributed to George Carlin

1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctor worry about them. That is why you pay him/her.
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

look at me, i'm sandra dee

2005-05-15T17:49:00.000-05:00

Peter Pan (c) The Walt Disney Co

"She wears no makeup except lipstick and eye-liner... At a time when Elvis was putting sex into rock 'n' roll and Marlon Brando and Marilyn Monroe were steaming up the movie screen, Sandra Dee emerged as a sweet, old-fashioned, virginal throwback to more conservative values. Sandra brought freshness, a wholesomeness and an innocence which endeared her to everyone."

this is like reading about myself! well, almost...

25 things about me

1) i only use a cross fountain pen for my artworks.

2) i love "walking" around the city for hours on end.

3) my favourite dessert is not creme brulee but mcdonald's strawberry milkshake, so it's safe to ask me out.

4) my sister and i used to play "blue moon" on the piano. i take the melody so we're always in perfect harmony.

5) i wear a hundred yr old forget-me-not ring on my left ring finger, and my grandmother's ring on my right middle finger.

6) i honestly don't remember birthdays which is why i get my ass whipped several times in a year.

7) i took care of 23 stray cats and 9 mongrel dogs.

8) i can't stand dirty bathrooms.

9) i used to hide behind the stairs (every year) on the morning of my birthday knowing that anytime my mom would be playing the piano while my dad would be singing the birthday song. *cringe*

10) i can't stand copycats.

11) i used to believe that i'd marry peter pan someday.

12) i'm a traveller at heart.

13) i've watched the movie, "glory", 13 times.

14) i'm obssessed with lipstick... pink lipstick.

15) i'm very nocturnal. nighttime is where i'm most creative.

16) my favourite winter coat will be 28 yrs old this year. it was my grandmother's, and she saved it for me.

17) i still watch the disney channel.

18) i always forget my cell phone at home.

19) i was a DJ for one day.

20) i was shirley temple in a one act play and won a prize.

21) i was with a jazz group that front-acted for the russian ballet company.

22) one time, i ran after an alternative folk artist, slipped and was caught by him.

23) my favourite nightwear is an old over-sized tee.

24) i've met the knicks and scott speedman in person.

25) i caught the eye of leonardo dicaprio... well, for two minutes, at least.

sandra dee and audrey hepburn are my two favourite actors. sandra dee passed away at 63 after complications from kidney disease on 20 february 2005.

the gamer's green thumb

2005-05-12T22:46:00.000-05:00

"I pity the fool who don't play this game!"
-- Barret Wallace, Final Fantasy VII

nope. i refuse to overwhelm myself with politics and philosophies these days as i've practically discussed everything under the sun in my previous posts. i'll let other bloggers do the thinking for me -- for now.
what caught my attention was this. when i saw my best friend (yeah yeah, that entry was all mushy and stuff), he gave me "quite possibly the greatest game ever made", according to gamefan magazine, and i'm positive most of the guys would agree. i have been spellbound by the creative use of intellect and skill by grown men who turn into giddy little boys when they start battling the virtual world. take for instance, the mercenary, cloud strife, whose enormous sword can cut almost anything in two -- wouldn't that be every guy's final fantasy? but video games aren't just for able-bodied men (and women). apparently, when stroke victims played virtual reality games in which they imagined they were diving with sharks or snowboarding down a narrow slope, their ability to walk eventually improved, researchers reported in a small study.

"This was a group of people that you would not expect to improve, and that's what made it interesting that they did."

-- Dr. Robert Felberg, Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans

i know final fantasy VII had curative effects on my best friend's uncle, a stroke victim. (btw, the guys were a tad more emotional when a beloved character died). brilliant plot, stunning animation, awesome soundtrack, fascinating characters... moi can't wait to join Avalanche, and give aeris and tifa a run for their money.

did you know... in

1971-72: Computer Space and the Odyssey are released; Atari is officially established; Atari releases first game, PONG; Gregory Yob creates Hunt the Wumpus; Willie Crowther creates original Adventure game

1975: Atari releases home version of PONG

1977: Atari releases VCS; Blank and Lebling co-write original ZORK at MIT

1980: Namco/Midway releases Pac-Man to arcades; Mattel launches Intellivision Master Component; Atari releases Space Invaders for the VCS; Ken and Roberta Williams start On-line Systems; Zork I released for Apple II

1983-84: Atari releases I, Robot and Star Wars; Cinematronics releases Dragon's Lair; Mattel's Aquarius computer hits the market; Nintendo introduces the Famicon in Japan; Coleco's ADAM computer debuts; Sierra releases King's Quest; Jack Tramiel resigns from Commodore; United Artists releases WarGames

Source: The Dot Eaters Videogame History 101

little reds and big bad wolves

2005-05-10T22:57:00.000-05:00

below is my excerpted email to friends:

From: cecilia sophia
Date: May 9, 2005 4:23 AM
Subject: moving on

hello guys, it's mon today so i thought i'd start the week (b)right by emailing and wishing everyone peace and goodwill... yikes... where did that come from. anyway, the "CS" chronicles (or better yet, CSI) continue, i just didnt have the motivation to run my mouth (and fingers) but yes, i'm still alive, thank God. i was just having a bad case of the "blues"... i know, it got me too :(
anyway, as they say, "when it rains it also stops" ... erm whatever... let's see... pigging out didnt shake off the blues but sorta helped (running to the weighing scale afterwards is a good exercise i realised), actually i've found out a few other things, such as keeping your mouth shut when strangers (no matter how good the intention is) try to get u in a conversation with them. i thought at first he was only being friendly... normally, i dont talk to strangers esp when they approach me in the sts (note to all the girls: do not attempt to smile, even if the creep's funnier than jim carrey). when he wouldnt leave, walking with [me] for [how many mins], saying, "if this girl that i'm dating doesnt call me again, then i'm free, actually i'm free on sunday, do u have plans?... any plans for mother's day, my parents and i dont get along, so u have somewhere to go on mother's day, i dont..." it bothered me big time. what do u do when u couldnt shake him off, knowing that he was getting more hyper and aggressive? other people were beginning to stare at us, should i make a scene while the sts are still crowded? well, maybe he's no serial killer but should u shrug off your instinct when it's telling u to run as far away as possible? anyway, my sister was very upset with me... [after it happened]... telling me i shouldnt be running loose on my own if giving my name to strangers has become a habit. no it hasnt, and it never will be, but i was a sucker that day... anyway, other irritating-but-not-altogether-bad things happened but great news hopped my way, too :) at the end of the week, i got a wonderful, surprising, tear-jerking news that i cannot yet say at this point and a girl friend called sunday morning to tell me that she found her "place at last" -- somewhere in ***. we're making plans for a trip around *** sometime this year before one of us erm settles down.
take care everyone and i promise to send the pics soon.
have fun.
all my love.

it is no joke, actually. when a stranger comes up to you (and i'm not just talking to the little girls out there, some adults suck at good role modelling, i.e. "i don't remember the name but s/he sure was good!"), be aware that you have no basic knowledge of them, so it is wiser to trust your gut feeling regardless.

the "teen" commandments according to Sophie

1) thou shalt listen to authority (thy parents).

2) thou shalt not talk to a stranger even if he looks like jesse mccartney.

3) thou shalt not accept anything from a stranger.

4) thou shalt not bat thy eyelashes to attract more attention.

5) thou shalt not flirt with a stranger.

6) thou shalt not accept a ride or go with a stranger.

7) thou shalt walk AWAY.

8) thou shalt be aware of thy surroundings esp if thy parents are not around.

9) thou shalt carry a pepper spray whither thou goest.

10) thou shalt not forget to pray for protection.

kids' safety

add two cups of love

2005-05-07T19:04:00.000-05:00

Fairy tales can come true

It can happen to you if you're young at heart

For it's hard, you will find

To be narrow of mind if you're young at heart

You can go to extremes with impossible schemes

You can laugh when your dreams fall apart at the seams

And life gets more exciting with each passing day

And love is either in your heart or on its way...

maymie dearest, oh i should've started listening more to you back when i was five! your words have more wisdom than all others' combined.

thank you for not giving up on your daughters (since there are two of us and well, "daughters" are more difficult to handle than "sons"), cooking for us and taking time to tie our shoelaces and hair ribbons. if i had the chance to live over again and pick the mother i wanted, you'd win hands down. i thank God that He chose me to be your child, and guess what, you'll always be my baby.

happy mother's day to my maymie and my grandmother who add colour and spunk to my life. i love you both with all my heart.

Don't you know that it's worth

Every treasure on earth to be young at heart

For as rich as you are

It's much better by far to be young at heart

And if you should survive to a hundred and five

Look at all you'll derive out of bein' alive

And here is the best part, you have a head start

If you are among the very young at heart.

-- Frank Sinatra

Written by Carolyn Leigh and Johnny Richards

all that

2005-05-05T20:15:00.000-05:00

Mickey's dream (c) Peter Ellenshaw

The Idealist: ENFP (Extroversion / iNtuition / Feeling / Perception)

I love being around people, and I am deeply committed to my friends. I am also unconventional, irreverent, and unimpressed by authority and rules. Incredibly perceptive, I can usually sense if someone has hidden motives. I use lots of colorful language and expressions. I'm quite the storyteller!

Idealists are rare, making up between 20 and 25 percent of the population. But their ability to inspire people with their enthusiasm and their idealism has given them influence far beyond their numbers, according to the AdvisorTeam.

one way to bring out (or down) the narcissism in all of us? take a personality test.

i am 60% normal, says blogthings. how 'bout that?

i am normal.

Marvin the Martian (c) Warner Bros

Otherwise known as the normal amount of normal. I'm like most people most of the time. But I've got quirks that make me endearing, I'm unique, yes... but not frighteningly so!

my extreme sport is white water rafting.

Get in some lV class rapids... and see if I can stay in the raft.

wanna bet? anyway,

if i were a pup, i'd be a beagle.

Cheerful, energetic, and happy-go-lucky. And my sense of smell is absolutely amazing!

apparently,

my inner european is french.

Paris (c) Andrea Laliberte

Smart and sophisticated. I have the best of everything -- at least, *I* think so.

i supposedly belong in the 70's... groovy!

Scooby Doo (c) Warner Bros

Bold and brash, I take life by the horns. Whether I'm partying or protesting, I give it my all!

i am 35% Left Brained, 65% Right Brained. my right brain rules!

Bugs and Daffy (c) Warner Bros

The right side of my brain is all about creativity and flexibility. Daring, intuitive, right-brained people see the world in their unique way. Since I'm right-brained, I have a talent for creative writing and art. My right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.

i am 50/50 extrovert/introvert

Bugs and Rocky (c) Warner Bros

I'm a bit outgoing, a bit reserved. Like most people, I enjoy being social... But I also value the time I have alone. I have struck a good balance!

guess my lucky number really is 7

The Seven Year Itch (c) 20th CENTURY-FOX

When I fall in-love, I experience it to the fullest. I am a cheerful, joyful soul -- and I attract people easily. While I fall for people quickly, I also fall out of love quickly. It takes a dynamic, exciting lover to keep my attention long term!

ask my friends.

Pooh and friends (c) The Walt Disney Co

I'm always willing to listen or lend a shoulder to cry on. I'm there through thick and thin. Many people consider me their "best friend."

o captain! my captain!

2005-05-02T02:50:00.000-05:00

i've talked with a buddy (never you mind that he's a first-rate chef/physics major/photographer/poet/computer whiz -- all you fabulous dahlins, eat your hearts out), and almost passed out when i've heard that he already went sailing and i didnt even get a chance to tell him i wanted a postcard from the virgin islands, too -- however, i got a more "personalised souvenir." i asked if i could post photos of his recent travels, i guess he isnt mortified to be included in my blog... erm... right, jesse? besides pestering him with my boy problem(s), i seek his advice regarding photography and yes, motorcycles (but that's for later posting). so, now we see where i got my "flair" .

we're both travelers... i roam the land, he navigates the sea. below are some of the photos he has taken himself, oh and fyi, that cute guy in the picture... yup, that's him.

Jack Sparrow: [walks over to the helm and looks around fondly] On deck, you scabrous dogs! Man the braces! Let down and haul to run free. Now...bring me that horizon. [hums and takes out his compass] And really bad eggs... drink up, me 'earties, yo ho.

-- Pirates of the Caribbean

(c) Jesse Fitzgerald

"I dreamt about you the other night. We were walking along Washington in the summer. You picked up a fallen leaf on the street and held it up proudly. You handed it to me and kissed me on the cheek. I blushed and spun the stem in my fingers and you laughed. You surprised me while I was lost in thought by tossing your arms around my neck and trying to hop on my back. You were a big joker that afternoon."
-- Jesse

the US army and me

2005-04-28T02:03:00.002-05:00

Women at War - a kiss goodbye

"It's Tommy this, and Tommy that, And chuck him out the brute,

But it's 'Savior of his Country,' When the guns begin to shoot!"

-- Rudyard Kipling

From: cecilia sophia

Date: Apr 27, 2005 11:23 PM

Subject: the US army and me

hello everyone, i hope "everyone's" enjoying the week... i'm still on hiatus but i need to come out of hybernation coz i need to finish a lot of deadlines before this week ends. on the brighter side, i have 95% chance of displaying my artworks in 2005 (more details later) and my blog just had a total makeover -- all for my 19,468 viewers (yes, and in less than a year!!!) wooohoooo!!!! oh yes yes yes!!! i thought my days would be crappy considering the deadlines and truth be told, even if there were no deadline, i'd feel crappy -- my parents sent a package filled with food last week and i'm supposed to be gobbling em up by now but oh no, the little pricks havent arrived yet, i've been starving myself to death for a week now, just waiting... waiting for my mother's homemade "supplements".
but the crazy part is, while i'm starving right now, i cooked for 25 or more people and served them hand and foot (figuratively speaking) last sun. ok, wednesday last week john, one of our friends called me and asked if we could meet up at 7 pm to discuss the -- what?? ok, i didnt get that, john... cook for sun? i didnt wait for 7 pm to meet with him, as soon as i got off the shuttle, i met john... well, u know the traffic, people chatting, cars honking... maybe i misheard?? "sophie, you're in-charge on sun"... "excuse me john, um.. this sunday?"... he looked at me and said, "yeah this sunday... sophie, what exactly are u gonna uh prepare?" well, being gallant and all i said, "maybe some mediterranian cuisine or something?" how hard is it to cook anyway? saturday. low, low energy. been busy, hardly had time to sleep, then this cooking thingy. been a photographer, artist, designer, volunteer, sounding board, and now... a chef??? how in the world did i get into this. good thing i have my mother to fall back on. 8 pm. my mother called and asked if everything's ready... um, i havent cooked anything yet. she freaked out. but i mean, how difficult is it to cook anyway? a little bit of this and that and bam!, you're done. 2 am, i was sobbing in the kitchen coz i wasnt even halfway done.
sunday morning. glorious morning, birds chirping and cinderel... actually, no birds chirping, gray skies and cold icy feeling. most of all, no painfully nice cinderella as soon as this girl woke up. after the booze and the delusions of grandeur have worn off, i was bitchy, cranky, tired and about to bite people's heads off if anyone even smiled.
now time for church. i gave everything that was in the bag to gertrude and went to the young adults' class. as soon as i peeped in, 7 men were there, including the pastor. oh dear God, i love men but all 7 of them?? where are the girls?? and where's brad, or mike or ben, u know, the guys i'm familiar with??? like a dead girl walking, i quietly withdrew... too late... the reverend already saw me. "sophia? sophia come in, come here and meet our boys." "uh... hi, reverend minister". (i've been a christian girl practically since birth but to this day i dont know the diff between a rev and a minister). "i'm so sorry i'm late for the nth time rev". but that's ok, considering nobody told me to hire a team of helpers. we (or rather, the guys) talked for sometime while i dozed off, finally, our pastor mentioned something like the army(?) oohh... these men are all in the army? what is it with [clean-cut] men in uniform? anyway, to tell u all the truth, i wasnt thinking anything like that at the time coz my head was practically hanging out. pastor asked me what i thought about -- erm what? a bible passage. i started talking and couldnt stop -- i was telling myself to shut it but couldnt, i just rambled on and on. 15 mins later, i was still yakking. i couldnt believe i girl-talked the army. they were like, "really? why did u cut people off, ppl u care about?" anyway, my last piece of brilliant conversation was, "i was messed up, but i'm not anymore, i mean, i dont need a therapist or anything like that anymore, not that i ever needed one." i hate it. i was supposed to comfort my newfound army buddies, not the other way around.
upstairs in the dining hall, i was in-charge of serving tea. someone gave me a teakettle without the tea yet. people already fell in line to be served. one older woman asked for tea. "young lady, i see water, but where's the tea?" "um tea's not ready yet but the water is." "here, i'll take that for u". it was mattie. good thing there're folks like mattie, i gratefully looked on.
in a nutshell, my cooking ability was a hit and i have no idea why. a miracle or something, probably. i just thank God it's over. but thinking about it now, i realise why of all days, i was put in that position. i guess coz my army buddies would be there and u know, there's a purpose for everything right? at least, i was able to feed them, being grateful for watching over this country. my only regret is that i didnt tell them how much i respect men like them, one of the boys even said he's from WV and a simple, country boy.
i love getting emails from everyone so keep em rolling.
have a great week and God bless.
take care
ALL MY LOVE.

pep talk for young girls

2005-04-26T05:10:00.000-05:00

Lipstick Girl (c) Abbi Brown

Who is she? Who are you when you're not busy trying to be everything to everybody? ...

I know it takes courage to drop the mask. Suppose you are rejected? Suppose people laugh at you? False friends may be appalled by your transformation, because when you change your role, they might be forced to change their own. Well-meaning family members may be concerned -- after all, why should you change? You were everything they thought you should be. But you can't maintain the status quo at the expense of your destiny. You'll be shortchanging yourself and everyone in your life if you don't fulfill the promise of who you are meant to be.

-- T.D. Jakes

From: cecilia sophia

Date: Apr 23, 2005 4:07 AM

Subject: young girls

hello everyone, hmm.. i'm very surprised to get emails from young girls who read my blog, girls 12 yrs old + (i'm actually pleasantly surprised that people i dont know took the time to read em and email -- not to compliment, but to ask for advice). ladies (i.e. bowlingsoupfreak), u know who u are and i may not be the best person to run to but i'm still glad u did. um well, u girls have the same questions and going through similar stuff, i havent updated my blog since i came back from cali but i will, thanks for reminding me...

i remember the "scott speedman posting", someone also emailed me about him asking me if she could post my blog about scott speedman on her website. anyway, oh boy, well the questions are kinda tough, let's see...
1) yes, tell your parents u need privacy too, i mean, even your pets have privacy right? i think that your cozy bedroom can be a great sanctuary, there u can be creative rather than be destructive out in the sts with pimps and bimbos. there's nothing wrong with going out to parties/movies with friends and have fun, i love going out personally, there's no better way to express yourself than be with people, but choose wisely who u hang out with. who gives a if they're popular, rich, beautiful people, if they pressure u to do something u dont wanna do, well, u can think for yourselves right?
2) u shouldnt worry about your age. a lot of women in their 40s (u know, the ones u think that built the stonehenge?) they'd give everything to be u again, no joke. who cares if people call u a kid or something? i'd rather hang out with u guys than with adults at times. think about this, u dont really need makeup to hide your glow coz it comes out naturally, u dont need to worry about next month, where to get money to pay the bills and stuff, u can eat anything u like (i'm always told that with the junk i put in my tummy, i'll regret it someday) i mean, i see grown men and women dying outside a krispy kreme window. and yes, i love cartoons and i dont need to be ashamed of it.
3) hmm... the eternal boy question.. "does he like me". ok, hmm.. well, i have wonderful guy friends, they're great, funny and charming. guys can be very loyal too, believe it or not. but i also agree that some guys think they're all that when they're not and why? coz some girls love rubbing their egos. i have nothing against giving compliments esp when deserved but sometimes, it's better to hold your tongue. hey, remember the boy who's always there for u, who studies with u and listens to your neverending problems? and u see him as a friend? maybe u should take a really good look at him. maybe, just maybe that's the one who really likes u. but u know what else, its good to be young, at your age young ladies, boys are all eager to show off and fight over u, and when u grow old you'll all be fighting over them. take it easy, let the boys fight over u while it lasts. you'll meet a lot of them as u grow older...

nightmare in new york

2005-04-14T20:38:00.000-05:00

From: cecilia sophia

Date: Apr 14, 2005 2:15 AM

Subject: nightmare in new york

hi everyone, i hope everything's ok with y'all. i'm so sorry that i didnt respond to emails/return calls (yes, as most of u know by now i always forget to bring my phone with me) but i just got all the notes/msgs and i intend to reply separately soon. i'm brain dead tonight and will go to bed after i finish some stuff, i just wanna relax for a moment and email.
i only have 3 pics of new york to show everyone (might i say, very artless too) and it's all coz of one stupid, senseless mistake. i'm actually pissed off now that i think of it. being queen scatterbrain, i didnt check the weather in ny, it was a beautiful weather so i thought hmm... why not just put on the lightest outfit and enjoy frolicking in ny, probably blend in with the crowd (and new yorkers are the hardest to please), a little picture taking here, a little picture taking there... oh and maybe even watch the "chitty chitty bang bang" matinee?? as soon as i stepped outside of the subway in midtown (manhattan), my legs froze right where i stood. why not, i was wearing a summer outfit for god's sake! short skirt and sleeveless top - the only cover i had was a very light cardigan... and the weather? 48F. what did i do? if one of u ever saw a crazy girl in a summer outfit running around midtown, uptown and downtown nyc, that's me. i was literally running - not jogging. running. i was literally catching the sun, i ran towards madison square garden, towards the empire state building, around times square and yes, even ran up and down the stairs of penn station. people were staring... what, like u never forget to check the weather forecast??? i wanted to ask, only my lips were literally sealed, too hard to speak what with the cold and all. funny, i noticed if one seems to be different, everyone begins to look your way... i wanted to say, should i glue myself to the wall so everybody could have a better look?? finally, i told some ppl to knock it off, quit staring (u wouldnt guess new yorkers stare too). hearing an old man play the theme song from the godfather movie ("speak softly love") was enough to make me have a nervous breakdown. my girl cousin called to confirm our get together.
downtown --- i eventually arrived in downtown in one piece. i made sure i got off the train before it could take me to the bronx, i'd never get out of there alive. i went to check the restaurant (kuma inn - to those who'd like a taste of the bohemian in ny, try kuma inn. not fanciful, or overrated, just plain hip with great food) where my sister, cousins and i would meet up. i was there early so i went inside mcdonald's to buy water and freshen up in the lavatory. less than 5 mins, there was a knock on the door... i said yes, i'm still in here. then another knock, louder this time.. yes, still here!... then... bang! the door broke open and people were all in line by the door looking at me waiting for their turn. hello??? i just got in!!!
i left mcdonald's (and vowed never to return again) and said, NEW YORK NEVER AGAIN! i didnt realise i said it out loud, there was a bunch of cops standing in a corner. my sister and i called our cousin, asked her if i could borrow one of her coats coz i was wearing the stupidest outfit. my cousin was waiting outside of the restaurant with the coat, i ran across the st towards her and she said, "omg you're wearing a summer outfit, u must be cold!" d'uh. i'm forever grateful to her though and i love her to death now. i filled my tummy with all kinds of food (i was so hungry, i didnt eat all day) while she poured her heart out. i was almost too tired to listen but i owe her my lungs (i could've had pneumonia).
oh well. if anyone wants to live in the city that never sleeps, go on, it might be fun but as for me, nope, certainly not i.
i have so much to tell still but this is ridiculously long already, next time, rest your weary eyes for now, everyone *hug*.
i love all of u and God bless always.

sonnet for leo

2005-04-04T20:30:00.000-05:00

Shoe Girl (c) Jennifer Brinley

From: cecilia sophia

Date: Apr 4, 2005 11:34 PM

Subject: mentoring

... reme and marge, you're both right! i should've kissed him or shaken his hand or whatever, "should have"... those words are now ringing in my ears... thank God i wasnt wearing my travel clothes at that time. if leonardo diCaprio told me to take off my 4-inch stiletto shoes (i'd be happy to oblige, those shoes were killing me every step of the way), juggle and recite a sonnet on the rooftop of the building with a pitbull on my head, i'd do it in a heartbeat (of course, i wouldnt do it for anyone else) ...

"leonardo? shall i compare thee to a thousand yuppie-ish young men, thou art more savvy and temperate."

... sigh. oh well. angels really take on human form huh, one angel even became a moviestar.
i might be heading to new york either this week or the next and while there, i'm going to take pics and try this handpainting technique to add to my art proj. also, probably buy the largest leonardo poster i could find ;) yup, i'll be starstruck for the next 5 yrs or so...

diCaprio and me

2005-03-31T18:49:00.000-05:00

below is my email to family and friends and i'm posting it for all the world to see:

hello everyone, thanks for the emails, i'm flattered and very glad that the pics i've taken were well appreciated, no matter how amateurish ;) i'm having such a glorious day today, never mind the bleak, stormy weather, my pc getting bugged and stuff like that, i'm actually on cloud 9 right now, my face is pasted with a grin.
i was so tired when i got off the train, coming home with a disgruntled mood was getting to me. my mind was on my artworks and new hobby (i'd like to learn the art of photography this time) and i already pictured the title for my new proj "a tale of two cities: [my] stories of philadelphia and boston". i've been too laid-back that i got sick and tired of it so i'm finding ways to pay for my keep. anyway, i was too distraught that when i was walking past a hundred people i almost didnt notice this very impatient guy in a dark suit (well, living in a major city u see men like him all the time). hmmm... i thought i saw him before... have i met him... he looks so familiar... heart-shaped face, impatient gesture... i was gaping. then he looked back, omg the kindest eyes i've ever seen. he was looking at his watch, then stomped his foot then looked at me and for a moment, i couldnt breathe, i guess he noticed i was gaping so he smiled. omg omg omg omg where were u all my life???? i wanted to ask!!!! but see, he's no ordinary guy.... right, i've watched your movie, the aviator!!! somehow, he wasnt impatient anymore, but was just looking at me with that sweet sweet smile, probably amused. why didnt he have his tons of staff or whatever they call it, why werent people flocking around, that's leo dicaprio!!! city folks are too sophisticated for that??? i was like the only one gaping foolishly!!! i almost bumped into a yuppie-ish guy with a coffee cup in hand but i didnt care. all i could see was the gentlest, gentlest smile... can angels really take on human form? he was still looking, YES AT ME and i have no idea why til now, but who cares? as i pushed the door open, my last thought was carnal, "what's it like to kiss those lips?" i am not kidding. my heart was making a deafening sound that i'm almost positive i cant hear on my left ear now coz of that. i wanted to scream when i left the building, to stop the whole city from doing whatever it's doing in that one moment, but i couldnt. i was too tired but see, i slept like a baby afterwards.
i never go ga-ga over celebrities, who cares about brad pitt being "almost" single again, or the newest film everyone's going crazy over, but this! this is a blessing :) call me foolish but as soon as i sign off, i'm going to scream at the top of my lungs and wait for security to escort me out of this library.
wish me luck!!!
all my love.

picture perfect

2005-03-30T23:33:00.000-05:00

boston my love... ok ok, i know i've got a lot of explaining to do -- i.e., why i'm only catching up now. unfortunately, it's 12 midnight and i'm too tired to go yakking, so i'm just posting a few of the pictures i've taken during my crazy travels around the US. no need to applaud my artistic abilities (read: pretensions) -- just doing my job here. on top is boston, where my great romance has just taken place.

oh, california! there's no truth to the rumour that your beauty lies only in hollywood... no no no, you're so much more than glitters and chips!

have you seen "calamity jane"? this windy city is definitely one of the finest the midwest has to offer.

rock climbers, i dare you to climb the mountains of colorado in the middle of winter!

hmmm... it'll take someone like elizabeth barrett browning to describe a place like iowa.

see? nevada isnt just a place where people could gamble!

isnt utah beautiful? didnt meet any mormons here.

sophie whistles a happy tune

2005-02-26T17:55:00.000-05:00

The Little Mermaid (c) The Walt Disney Co

take me to any city in the world, give me five minutes, and i'll hold the city in my hand. nope, not bragging. it's a fact that there are people who prefer wide, open spaces, and there are those born to walk the concrete jungles of this world.
i've lived in cities all my life, so it isnt surprising that i prefer a maisonette (within a mile of the museum and restaurant row) over a house atop a hill; like i prefer beef over chicken, winter over summer.
it's not to say i cant be a nature-tripper. i, as a matter of fact, just travelled the length and breadth of these united states, and came out much in awe of what i've seen while roughing it out. yep. armed with baby wipes and my pink lipstick, i took on the backroads and country roads in one great ride. i will never forget the breathtaking, alpine mountains of colorado, or the rose-coloured deserts of new mexico. and then, there were the young, handsome cowboys... read my lips: to. die. for.
i shall be regaling you with my swashbuckling adventures in later postings. ciao for now!

home sweet homecoming

2005-02-17T20:38:00.000-05:00

Snow White (c) The Walt Disney Co

surprise, surprise, i'm back! you havent heard from me in two months and it's 'coz i've gone cross-country (23 states!), finished two humongous art projects, and best of all, went home to my family. i've talked about my great love for the east coast, but i didnt realise how much i missed the bay area. it's like an old shirt i cant ever discard because it's the most comfortable and most comforting i have.
this, by far, is the sweetest homecoming i've ever had. from being my family's sweetheart, to a rebel, into a sweetheart again, i can honestly say i love being ensconced in the family structure. here, i'm a loved one -- an adored daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, and cousin. i have parents, a sister, a grandmother, 20 aunts and uncles, 19 cousins, and now, 2 nephews! can you imagine the noise and clutter we make every weekend? i welcome the noise, because it is twined with the passion for life that is one of my family's traits.
the best news of all... my grandmother's miraculous recovery. a month ago, the doctors were giving her days, weeks at the most. the nurses who visit her at home and her caregivers were preparing us for the time course of dying. now, it's the reverse! the turnaround came two weeks ago, when my grandmother started eating. from being distressingly sallow, she's now her usual cream and peach. she has also gone back to watching jeannette macdonald and nelson eddy. and has become very demanding! petulant, when she cant get her way. i adore her. it's like a hand wrestled her out of death's grip, so that many could witness how God works out miracles.
Jesus is the only life-giver. He sets our times and our seasons. He restores relationships. He restored me.

i feel pretty... oh, so pretty!

2005-01-04T21:26:00.000-05:00

Bugs & Taz (c) Warner Bros

Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment.
-- Matthew 9:22

i felt crappy new year's eve. my aunt called to tell us they've rushed my grandmother to the hospital. it turns out her cardiologist changed her medication, and "miscalculated" the dosage. my pediatrician-aunt said we could sue. anyhow, thank God for lasix. i cant wait to see my grandmother. only for her would i travel to the west coast (and that's saying a lot for this east coast-cleaving gal). i cant wait to hug my grandmother who always smells of apple blossoms; cant wait to kiss the creamy, porcelain-smooth skin; cant wait to show her i've inherited her flair for fashion. i havent stopped praying for her and believing that God is in control.

I feel pretty
Oh, so pretty
I feel pretty and witty and bright
And I pity
Any girl who isn't me tonight
I feel charming
Oh, so charming
It's alarming how charming I feel
And so pretty
That I hardly can believe I'm real

now that the holidays are over, what to do? what to do? extreme makeover or out-and-out make under? hmmm... i'm quite positive gyms and spas will be inhabited by buffs, dieters and other resolutionists. i give them 6 months tops (unless they're doing it for health reasons).
on being beautiful -- just look at this babe, 96 years young and gets to start a new career in modelling.

Irene Sinclair, a Guyana-born pensioner living in London, is appearing on billboards around Britain this month, wrinkles and all, to help sell Dove, a popular brand of facial cream.
"I've never felt beautiful in my life, but I feel I am now," said Sinclair, quoted in the Daily Mirror newspaper Tuesday. "It's all about growing old gracefully."
Her secret? "I don't stay indoors," she said. "I try and get fresh air as much as I can by going for walks."

see? being a pulchritudinously divine creature is a zilch... it's all in the attitude. but of course, it doesnt hurt to enhance your God-given beauty. girlfriends (teens, 20somethings, and beyond), check this out.

because my public demands it, i'm giving out more gmail invites (below). this is the last batch, so go grab!

See the pretty girl in that mirror there
Who can that attractive girl be?
Such a pretty face
Such a pretty dress
Such a pretty smile
Such a pretty me!

(Girls)
See the pretty girl in that mirror there
What mirror where?
Who can that attractive girl be?
(Which? What? Where? Whom?)
Such a pretty face
Such a pretty dress
(Whom? Whom?)
Such a pretty smile
Such a pretty me!
(Whom?)

I feel stunning
And entrancing
Feel like running and dancing for joy
For I'm loved
By a pretty wonderful boy!

sophie's choice

2004-12-31T01:17:00.000-05:00

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.
-- Psalm 62:5

goodbye, 2004... hello, 2005!
well whaddya know, tomorrow is january 1st! but right now, we can still wax nostalgic. seen these?

sophie likes 'em (fabulous movies):

The Passion
Finding Neverland
The Aviator
The Incredibles
Before Sunset
The Manchurian Candidate
The Phantom of the Opera
Bridget Jones's Diary 2
Closer
Christmas with the Kranks

say what? grant barrett writes, "It was the year for FLOPHA, backdoor drafts, and the clear and the cream. If this sounds ridonkulous or crunk, well, it was that kind of year for slang and jargon."

sophie slangs it (from barrett's glossary):

ana, adj., anorexic. The term came to the fore in 2004 through a mention in "Bergdorf Blondes" by Plum Sykes: "ana = anorexic = thin = perfection."
crunk, adj., good, fun, fine. A product of the Southern hip-hop scene. Inconclusively said to be derived from crazy drunk.
gorram, interj., a euphemistic oath, used in place of an actual curse word. From the space cowboy television series "Firefly."
mash-up, n., a blend of two songs or albums into a single cohesive work. Both the term and trend originated in Britain about three years ago, but stateside, rapper Jay-Z was a 2004 mash favorite. Among other works, his Black Album rhymes were mixed by Danger Mouse with the Beatles' White Album to create the Grey Album.
phish, v., to acquire passwords or other private information (of an individual, an account, a Web site, etc.) via a digital ruse.
podcasting, n., the automated distribution of radio-like programming - interviews, music or even content from established broadcasters - to portable digital audio players. From iPod (the most popular portable MP3 player) plus broadcasting.
ridonkulous, n. (very) ridiculous. Also ridonculous, redonculous, redonkulous, redonculus, redonkulus, ridonculus, ridonkulus, redunculous, redunkulous, ridunkulous, ridunculous, ridunkulus, redunkulus, redunkulus, ridunkulus.
spim, n., unwanted commercial messages received in an instant-messaging program. From spam plus instant messaging.
wiki, n., a community-built Web site that allows content to be edited by anyone. From the Hawaiian wiki, which means fast, or wikiwiki, which means very fast.
(this one's from john schwartz) caffèscienti, n., half double decaffeinated half-caf, with a twist of lemon.

it is not all banter. the loss had been devastating for so many.
i believe in miracles...

An Australian woman caught in the tsunami faced an impossible choice. Hit by the force of the water, she was holding her 5-year-old son's hand and cradling her 20-month-old baby. She had to let go of one of them to save the other and herself. Her 5-year-old was swept away. She thought she'd never see him again. Miraculously, he lived. This is him.
A man clinging to a pole saw the boy wash by, grabbed him, and for two hours held him in rushing water up to their necks. So many stories like this, small choices to make, choices no one should have to make. Other stories of survival just as amazing.
-- Anderson Cooper, CNN Anchor

(c) The Walt Disney Co

Hope is a thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings a tune without words
And never stops at all.

And sweetest in the gale, is heard
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little bird
That keeps so many warm.

I've heard in the chilliest land
And on the strangest sea
Yet, never, in extremity
it ask a crumb of me.
-- Emily Dickinson

Another Chapter. Cheers!

Sophie

bling bling! went the strings of my heart

2004-12-28T05:30:00.000-05:00

Bugs, Daffy & Tweety (c) Warner Bros

traditionally, today would be the "third day of Christmas". my watch, however, says differently! i have been giddily observing this wondrous season for over a month (anticipation-stage not included).

my family and i went to church christmas eve and lighted the candles as we sang, "silent night, holy night." afterwards, we went straight to my uncle's, where a sumptuous feast was waiting for us. between gulps (the food was amazing!), i gave and listened to the family's week-in-review. my aunt related a shocking incident that occurred that afternoon. coming from new york, they decided to drop by jersey city to buy some sweets. the parking lot was full, but my uncle saw a soon-to-be-vacant spot. the thing was, one other guy was coveting the same spot. since my uncle's reflexes were faster, he beat the guy to it. the guy was furious and got out of his car. he walked up to my uncle, cussing! "you f*ckng couldnt f*ckng move etc f*ckng etc you wouldnt f*ckng want to f*ckng mess with me i've had a f*ckng bad day etc etc." what a turd. my uncle took a deep breath, controlling his temper. the guy was half his age! my aunt was in total shock because she isnt used to street slang. after two minutes of nonstop jabbering from the prick, my uncle said, "fine, i'll move." we all broke into laughter, and i said, "if i were with you, i'd have given him a piece of my mind," but my mum, equally shocked, said my uncle did the right thing by not succumbing to a fight because it wasnt worth it. now, thinking about it, i admire my uncle's forbearance. i just cant stop giggling everytime i remember my uber-refined cousin's remarks about the creep and his girl, "ghetto* and ghetto's hoe" (*acute accent on the o). the way my cousin said it was funny, not demoralising. story came after story, from the dining table, to the fireside... finally! the opening of presents. yipeeeee!!! i got 3 whopping gift bags.

first, to keep me prettified: a spa facial care assortment consisting of a facial steamer, facial cleanser and pore refiner, and an illuminated beauty mirror (oooohhh yesss, i'm vain!). second, to keep me warm: a luxurious, velvety soft, sueded, 54" x 63" pink down throw (prettified one, pamper thyself!). third, to keep me entertained: 3 dvds, message in a bottle, legends of the fall, and ever after (romantic pampered one, relax thy mind).

christmas day. we woke up late, showered, had brunch, and rushed to loews to see the phantom of the opera. the broadway musical-turned-movie was completely mesmerising. as a kid, i used to sing, "think of me", i cant remember, though, which guy was on my mind at the time. as we were all going out of the theatre, i noticed a bunch of people lined-up to watch the aviator... like i've said, that movie would catapult to classicdom.

we had a superb christmas and i give back all the glory to God -- my most memorable moment was strolling with my sister and cousin around the neighbourhood with the season's first smattering of snowflakes adorning my hair.
since the 12 days of christmas just basically started, i decided to share my blessings with peeps out there who would want to try yummy recipes linked with gmail invites. see below...

Filet Mignon with Mushroom Wine Sauce
recipe from the tender fillet

1 tbsp butter, divided
vegetable cooking spray
1 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
4 (4 oz) filet mignon steaks (about 1 inch thick)
1/2 cup finely chopped shallots
1 tbsp finely chopped thyme
1 1/2 cups dry red wine, divided
fresh thyme sprigs (optional)
1/2 lb fresh shiitake mushrooms (no stems)
1 (10.5 ounce) can beef consomme, undiluted and divided
2 tsp cornstarch
cracked pepper

melt 1/2 teaspoons butter in a nonstick skillet coated with cooking spray over medium heat. add shallots and mushrooms. sauté 4 minutes. add 1 cup wine and 3/4 cup consomme; cook 5 minutes, stirring often. remove mushrooms and place in a bowl. increase heat to high; cook wine mixture 5 minutes or until reduced to 1/2 cup. add to mushrooms in a bowl; set aside. wipe skillet skillet with a paper towel. sprinkle desired amount of cracked pepper over steaks. melt remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons butter in skillet coated with cooking spray over medium heat. add steaks; cook 3 minutes on each side or until until browned. reduce heat to medium-low, and cook 1 1/2 minutes on each side or to desired degree of doneness. place on a serving platter, and keep warm. combine soy sauce and cornstarch; stir well. add remaining 1/2 cup wine and consomme to skillet; scrape skillet with a wooden spoon to loosen browned bits. bring to a boil. cook 1 minute. add mushroom mixture, cornstarch mixture, and chopped thyme; bring to a boil, and cook, stirring constantly, 1 minute. serve with steaks. garnish with thyme sprigs, if desired.

Traditional Pecan Pie
recipe from the little big book of Christmas

Pastry:
1/4 pound plus 4 tablespoopns unsalted butter
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
2 egg yolks, lightly beaten
about 1/4 cup ice water

Filling:
5 whole eggs
1 egg yolk
1 cup packed light brown sugar
2 tablespoons melted butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 to 3 tablespoons bourbon
3 cups pecan pieces, lightly toasted

in a mixing bowl, cut butter into the flour until it reaches the consistency of fine meal. sprinkle on the sugar and add lightly beaten egg yolks and ice water. lightly blend together. firm the dough into a ball, wrap in waxed paper, and chill for at least 20 minutes. preheat oven to 350°F. in a bowl, mix together all the filling ingredients except the pecans and blend well. roll out pastry on a lightly floured surface and fit it into a 9" pie pan. evenly coat the pastry with the pecan pieces. pour filling mixture over the nuts. bake for 1 hour, or until golden brown. cool to room temperature before serving.
serves 8 to 10

if you're here looking for more invites, but finding none, take heart, there's more. email me at sophiesfair [at] gmail [dot] com.

my true love on Christmas

2004-12-25T22:59:00.000-05:00

On the twelfth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Twelve drummers drumming,
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree!

glorious day, Christmas day!
i am loved. flawed but beloved. this is favour.
i wish for you all good things. this day, what was whittled has been restored; what was wretched has been redeemed. let no one take away your joy. allow no one to determine your worth.
be happy, be blessed.

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "The virgin will be with child, and they will call him Immanuel -- which means, "God with us."
-- Matthew 1:21-23