Not A Sermon, Just A Thought

This was sent to me from a friend who thought of me as she watched it.

My take on life: Simplify your life by eliminating as much drama as you can.
My take on exercise: Somethin's better than nothin'.
My take on money: Give it to Ernie.

Hot Christmas Toy 2008?

Although Christmas is still ten months away, the hot toy for this year may have already been picked and is already sold out. And no, I'm not talking about Nintendo Wii.

Lego has released five sets commemorating "Raiders Of The Lost Ark" in honor of the new Indy Jones movie, "Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull" out this Memorial Day weekend.

The five sets were released in time for Christmas 2007, and toy stores worldwide quickly sold through them. Empty shelves at the toy stores remain because Lego has not been able to keep up with today's post-holiday demand.

Toy analysts predict that Lego will retire these five current sets and release new sets pertaining to "Crystal Skull" as early as September 2008.

Toy enthusiasts (aka "nerds that don't act their age"): the five sets are destined to become collector's items, so buy and stock up now if you can find 'em.

SAD Is Sad

Mom and I signed up for a two hour seminar the Cancer Center had put together for patients and their caregivers. It was called "Eating For A Lifetime: Health Supportive Foods". It was about cooking and eating the right foods to promote better health among those whose lives are currently fighting cancer.

I learned a lot, plus I got to sample and eat many dishes prepared by an expert chef on cooking for cancer patients. Bottom line of the seminar: S.A.D. (Standard American Diet) is bad because the foods an average American eats are way too "refined'- too processed, too pulled apart, and completely unnatural.

Are You Trailer Trash?

Maybe (you do after all, read my blog), but I know you want to watch these trailers. Hope the movie's worth the hype- I sure enjoyed these sneak peeks:

"Indiana Jones And The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"

Did Carrie marry Big?
Did Charlotte get pregger?
Did Steve cheat on Miranda?
Did Samantha find a man she hasn't slept with?

See for yourself on a new extended trailer of "Sex And The City"

(Thanks again, Phyllis.)

Dream/Reality

Okay...let's set the record straight regarding the entry below:
*Yes, I have had a photographer take pictures of me, but they're not buried like a treasure- the shots were done in good taste, so I put them in an album that's in plain view on my desk at home.
*Pictures of Paul and I in "compromising positions" do not exist. (Ew gross, people. We're cute, not tacky.)
*A shoebox full of "that kind of stuff" does not exist, either. If it did, do you think I'm that big of a goof to store it in my parents' basement?

One thing I've learned from sharing this dream: apparently, many of you out there have your own "container of private things." (Thanks for sharing.)

To each his own.

Now I'm Really Opening Up To You-

Confession: Today was a terrible day. A terrible, nightmare-ish day. Something so big that I never thought would happen actually and accidentally took place today, and the memories will forever haunt me every day for the rest of my life.



Approximately eleven years ago, I felt as if I reached the pinnacle of male physique: I was lifting weights, doing tons of cardio, and to top it off, I started doing gymnastics twice a week. I was flexible, strong, and more importantly, extremely muscular.



Since I thought that this could be the best shape I may ever be, I decided to have pictures taken by a professional photographer to memorialize it, focusing on my overall appearance, from semi-nude shots to pictures of me completely in the buff. They were tastefully done in black and white photography. I shared the finished work with some of my closest friends. They liked them and giggled like third graders.



I filed those pictures, shots of Paul and I completely nude and in compromising poses, along with other (um, how should I say it?) "adult erotica" in a shoebox, sealed and wrapped it up in electrical tape and stored it downstairs. That box became a time capsule.



Well, today out of the blue, Dad decided to clean shop by tidying up the basement, and as he ventured along, he came across the shoebox. Curiously, he unwrapped the tape and discovered what was inside.



I, of course, was away when this occured, but when I returned home and walked into my room, the pictures and the entire box's contents were placed in piles, face up, revealing everything shamelessly, all over my bed. It was like an art exhibit in poor, poor taste.



I completely lost all color in my face. Busted. What did my parents think of me now? How am I ever going to explain this? What can I possibly say?



I shamefully walked upstairs and found my mom and dad in the living room. I walked in and realized that they had company, and were occupied with entertaining them. My dad turned to me, gave me a look, which I understood, that because of the box, all his trust in me had completely dissipated into thin air. I couldn't look at my mom in the eye who was busy smiling at the guests and pretending that everything was okay. Everything, all the thoughts, all the good times, all of the happy memories of what our relationship was is now smeared with what happened today. What was I going to do?



I woke up with my heart beating like a jackrabbit's, and the total catastrophe was over.

(This was a real dream/nightmare that I had last night.)

You're Such A Kid (Or Geek) At Heart!

I am an avid ebayer. But I'm not busy selling, I'm a very busy buyer. And in order to prove to you that "I act 7" (see "About Me" on the left), here are the top things I shop for nearly everyday on ebay that make a drain on my bank account:

*Lego misb (mint in sealed box)

*Cabbage Patch Kid mib (mint in box)

*Fisher Price Little People misb

*Weebles mint

*Swatch 1984, 1985, 1986 "never worn" or "mint"

*Various models of Hot Wheels die-cast metal cars from the 1970's

E-sellers philosphy on all these items: "Why pay retail when you can pay quadruple?"

I wonder what I've spent more on: Louis Vuitton or these useless toys I get from ebay that I once had as a child?

You Are Worth The Calories And The Fat!

If you ever needed an excuse to come down to Charlottesville, Virginia (besides visiting me), here it is- it's so delicious that I happily eat it without a care aout how unhealthy it may be.

Brick Oven, known for its "extraordinary pizza", has an appetizer called "stuffed breadsticks." Don't be fooled by it's simple name: the dough for the bread is wonderfully buttered, crunchy on the outside, and ooey-gooey on the inside. Found within the bread is a tasty melted pepperjack cheese and enough pepperoni to add yet another dimension to this delicacy. Brick Oven accompanies the breadsticks with a marinara sauce that's perfectly seasoned for dipping.

It's almost like you don't even need to order a pizza.

Anytime you want to go, just give me a holla'!

Riddle-d With Fatigue

Q: What does a tricycle and my wellbeing have in common?

A: When it comes to the bottom of it, it's tired, tired, tired.

My routine for the past three days:
1. Get up and eat breakfast
2. Go to the gym for a light, non-intensive workout.
3. Come home and lay and eat in bed (under an electric blanket) for the rest of the day.
4. Shower and call it a night.

Seriously. I'm always so cold and tired I can barely walk across the room to go on-line. Sorry if I haven't replied to your e-mail.

Perhaps it's better to call me. At least the cell phone is near the bed.

Love! Love! LOVE!

In the words of my mom (and her filipino accent): "Happy Balemtime's!"

Things I love: food, fancy shopping malls, Julius (from Paul Frank)

Things I like: fast internet, a good thirty minute run, and my ipod touch (which I named "Touchy")

Things I can't stand: waiters with attitude, the line at the post office, and anemia (which I now have, thanks to chemo.)

But one thing I'm not so sure whether to love, like, or dislike is "Lipstick Jungle", which premiered on NBC last Thursday. Based on Candace Bushnell's book, I found it hard to judge the show after the pilot episode.

My first reaction was "I'm watching Samantha and Charlotte from 'Sex And The City'".

My next reaction was "Mercy me, child! Brooke, you've had more plastic surgery than Joan Rivers."

I'll still tune it in tomorrow night, in its weekly spot Thursdays at 10PM.

And...

Whatever plans (or lack thereof) you have for "Balemtime's", have a great ooey-gooey-lovey-dovey day. Don't have a special someone in your life? Then get out there, love and pamper yourself!

"Fighting Cancer":

I've been wondering lately what that phrase means.

It hasn't even been a week since my first dose of chemo, and I am feelin' rotten and tired all the day long.

So, if I'm told to "fight cancer", does that mean to "take it easy", by relaxing, getting plenty of rest, and eating healthy? Or does "fighting cancer" mean to "keep on keeping on"- to live a normal life and do your typical routine to inhibit cancer from taking more of a foothold in your life?

Or does "fighting cancer" mean to "live each day as if it's your last"- to pamper yourself with things you've always wanted, to travel and see the world, visit friends, and eat and drink whatever you want, regardless of potential hazards to your compromised health?

It's been thoroughly confusing, because there have been many days recently that I don't know what to do. I want to do "x", but I feel like I should "y".

Your feedback would be appreciated.

(Except for the suggestion of "a combination of all three, depending on how you feel." What "I feel" may not always be what's best for me or my health.)

Charlottesville High School

Go, Black Knights!

If this sounds familiar then, you, fellow alumni, went to my high school. And you're being hunted down: a directory of Charlottesville High School graduates is currently being put together.

It's all legit- a reputable company has been authorized by Charlottesville City Schools to assemble it. I even checked it out myself- I called them and poked all around (ain't no way I'm falling for identity theft.)

All you have to do is call 1-877-721-1950. Give them as much or as little information as you want, it's your choice, whether it's your current address, job, e-mail, whatever.

At the end, they'll try to sell the directory to you. Don't buy it because I did, and when I get it, I'll let you know. Then you can e-mail me the people you want to find out information on (previous high school crushes, prom dates, boyfriend/girlfriend disasters, etc.) and I'll tell you what info they've got.

(You know exactly what I'm talkin' about.)

Chemo Or Dreamo?

Yesterday was my first dose of chemo. I'm on two types of drugs- CCNU and Avistan, both of which I took yesterday.

While the doctors said I shouldn't feel anything right away, I've felt woozy and tired the whole day, and it hasn't even been 24 hours since they put that poison into my body.

I honestly can't tell whether this is real or psychosomatic.

(And to tell you the truth, I'm also a little bored, because I'm stuck at my parents' house.)

More later.

i-volution

Just when you think you've got the hottest and newest ipod, Apple releases another version that makes yours look, well, old and dated.

Today, Apple unveiled yet another new model of the iphone and the ipod touch, with more giga-muscle than ever before. You can now purchase an iphone with 16 gigs of memory, or an ipod touch with a whopping 32 gigs of memory. Each is priced at $499, and will not change the prices of the 8 gig iphone and the 8 and 16 gig ipod touch.

(I'm still happy with my touchy. I think.)

If you buy it from Best Buy (which is what I did), you have thirty days to mess around with it and return it with no additional charges (like a restocking fee.)

Quote From Dicky Fox

"I don't have all the answers. In life, to be honest, I've failed as much as I've succeeded. But I love my wife. I love my life. I wish you my kind of sucess."

Congratulations, Giants!

And to Coca-Cola, for winning my favorite Super Bowl XLII commercial. If you didn't see it, you were hiding under a rock or watching "Meet The Fockers" on ABC. Watch it here.