BFF Gold Card Award

Thank you ZJ (sreisaat) for giving me this award last week.

Sorry it took time for me to blog about it!  It is because… I don’t know how to react! Hahaha!

Of course, ZJ, you’re my BFF (and blog mentor)! And I really appreciate the award! Actually it is my first award or tag…

The reason for the delay is…I don’t have enough blogger friends (yet) to give it to– being a relatively new blogger who pretty much keeps to herself and has no time to go around the blogosphere (para magpakilala)…

So after some thought, I am giving this award to two of my (other) blogger friends (utang na lang muna yung isa pa):

Dusk Fading: Hers is one of the blogs I often visit and one of the nicest bloggers around (Kasi she replies or visits back– di tulad ng mga iba kong binisita in the past.  Bitter much? Hehe!) She’s also a teacher and a gifted writer. She’s soon to be a mom so i wish her (and her baby) good health and many wonderful blessings!!

Buhay Pinoy: I love history, that’s why I support BP’s photoblogs that show pictures about our culture–noon at ngayon.  I also love these ‘visual’ blogs for the fact that they don’t have words much (minsan nakakapagod din magbasa ng mga sinusulat ng mga sangkatutak na bloggers) but instead show beautiful and interesting pictures that the blogger took time to research and collect from others (so that you don’t have to). As they say, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” Buhay Pinoy is one of my blogging mentors, too, when it comes to putting up a photoblog (I have one… still in the works but it’s coming soon!). Thanks, BP!

And back to my friend ZJ whom i would like to thank for the kind words about me! A friend since college days, ZJ’s one of the earliest Pinoy bloggers around (since 2002?) that I know of and have encouraged me to blog for the longest time…  An adventurous traveler and talented photographer with a huge heart. And a true PINAY–strong, independent, and free-spirited! Cambodia (and Rob) is lucky to have her. PS… mare, ym ym na lang ha? hehe.

 

everybody’s still dancing the thriller

Even after 26 years, the young and old are still dancing (or know the steps to) michael j’s ‘thriller.’ Many US cities are holding ‘thriller’ dance marathons, or attempting to break the record for the largest number of people dancing to this global pop phenomenal hit.  This craze had a major resurgence in popularity and appeal due largely in part to the highly-viewed dance routine of the Cebu prisoners that was first posted in youtube in July of last year.

Even the yahoo logo is in on it for sheer fun!  … Click on the Yahoo site and watch the cartoon zombies do the Thriller dance. They even have a Jack o’ Lantern (the middle guy below) who is unmistakably wearing what looks like a Cebuano inmate’s orange prison uniform!…

When you go to the site, just hover your mouse pointer over the middle pumpkin on the logo and out pop the zombies, doing little Thriller dance steps. But if you hover your pointer over the base of the logo’s exclamation point, you’ll get the whole dance routine. Try it–it’s fun! Hurry before it disappears forever after Halloween!

 

grumba’s fun photos

Had fun with some photos… the one who created this site is pure genius! Hope he/she can come up with more effects…

Here are some samples…fun pix of Grumba (the uberstar!):

Grumba: Warhol’s Muse

In Grumba We Trust

A Work of Art

“A little higher, please…”

Must-See TV

Grumba’s Fans

Isn’t it amazing? We can’t tell what’s real or not anymore though… kinda scary, wondering where this ‘deceptive’ technology might take us into the future.  Hmmm… But for the meantime, let’s just have fun with it, shall we?…

 

one step at a time

Not feeling great lately. Pushing myself to do stuff not because i want to (it’s because i have to). As a result, I’m a bit behind work and school.  Hope it’s just a phase though. Need to kick myself in the a**.  Kept reminding myself to do one step at a time, and that before you know it, it’s done.

Guess i’m having a slight case of mild burn-out. Mindtools says, according to their “burn-out online test,” i got a score of 45 and that I’m “at risk.”

The Science of Burn-Out:

Burn-out could be caused by different reasons: exhaustion (physical and emotional), diminished interest, or depersonalization/cynicism.  (Info source: wikipedia) I guess I’m just exhausted from meeting deadlines and the stress brought about by such.  I think my experience from undergoing my recently-concluded practicum is now taking its toll on me–physically and emotionally.  Before, it was “rah-rah-rah!” But now that it’s done, I’m like: “don’t care…leave me alone.”

(Based on my experience, I just like to add that burn-out can be accompanied with a sense of ‘purposelessness’… Times like these, I often ask myself, “What’s the point?” If there is none [and even if there is, you just don’t WANT to see it], it’s hard to wake up, face the day and go through all the usual routine.)

To recover, one suggestion that I’m keeping in mind is to use burnout as a trigger for personal growth:

This is probably one of the most positive ways that people manage burnout: By using it as a wakeup call to re-evaluate the way they want to live their lives and what they want to achieve.

The site suggests that in order to do this…you should:

• “…understand why you are burning out.” Ok did that already. Next.
• “Move on and evaluate your goals…Self-Reflect. Right…
• Then, redirect or change your direction to reach those new (or same) goals.” … Goals are seen as the exit if you’re stuck in a maze (or a rut) and can’t get out. It is like bringing back that sense of purpose that you lost along the way (which is basically to get out of the damned maze!) Ok, got it. Thanks.

I would like to add one tip though: And if you have accomplished your goals, give yourself a reward for a getting yourself out of the rut! (I’m smiling now as I’m thinking of MY reward)

That and chanting a personal mantra can help, too, I guess…   one step at a time… one step at a time… one step at a time…