2008 Christmas wishlist

I find that as every year closes my wishlist gets shorter and shorter, but not necessarily less expensive.  Here are the things I wish to have for Christmas, whether I buy it myself, or family and friends get it for me:

• external DVD writer
• subnotebook like the Asus EEEPC 1000h or the MSI Wind
• jeans
• t-shirts that fit me right
• office clothes
• loafers
• cash
• wallet
• bag - this is always welcome.  I love bags

Thanks to one of my clients paying on time I was able to get myself an external HD as an early Christmas gift (to myself), which is why I did not include that in the list anymore.  That, at least, served as a pick-me-up.  I've been running out of HD space on the laptop and I've resorted to burning episodes to disc in batches just to make space.  With this purchase I don't need to worry about that anytime soon ... which was the point of the purchase.  I was actually deciding between Maxtor and Western Digital.  WD won hands down.

Here is a list of things I DO NOT want to receive:

• lotion - I just end up giving them away as gifts since I rarely, if at all use, lotion.  I have several bottles / tubes still in storage just waiting for the right person to give them to.
• make up - In case no one has noticed, I don't wear make up.  I HAVE make up (lots of it) and I know how to use it.  I'm just not a fan of it.  The most make up I usually wear is lip stick and powder and I already have a lot of those.
• cologne - I end up using it just to freshen my clothes in the cabinet, sort of like an air freshener.  Sayang.
• Fruitcake - don't give me fruitcake!  I'll be making fruitcake as it is for friends who have requested it.  We don't have space in the ref and I don't really eat it.

I don't know what Christmas will be like this year.  I'm not really looking forward to it.  Here's hoping for the best as the year closes.

Fully Booked Bloggers Event

I love to read books. I've done so ever since I was a kid. I also enjoy reviewing books I've read thereby letting other people know my personal recommendations. So when I heard about the Fully Booked Bloggers Event I felt that it was an opportunity I could not miss! I had no idea what I was attending but I figured, it's for bloggers, Fully Booked is a bookstore, it has to have something to do with books! Hopefully, we get free books (at the very least!) for attending.

After registration the first thing we did was tour the facilities of Fully Booked from basement and back to the Top Shelf on the 5th floor. This is how I discovered that they had a mini movie theater set up called U-View which they rent out for public use. There were store buyers on every floor to explain the kind of books they select, which was all self-explanatory since everyone present could read (there were signs all over the place). It helped to know that Starbucks and the public restroom were both on the 3rd floor. I always wondered where the restroom was, just never got around to asking.

Once we made our way back to the 5th floor our food was served. The food was beautiful and delicious! (Thanks, Az, for the photos.) To my delight the caterer for the event was Hizon's. We were served the following:

• bagette topped with tomato and basil
• pasta - our choice of penne or fetuccini with either carbonara or meat sauce with rolls
• roast beef with mushroom gravy sauce
• fish fingers with tartar sauce
• salads    
  • asian salad martini
  • green salad martini
  • maki salad in a pita roll
  • chicken bbq salad in a pita roll
  • vegetable sticks
  • fruit salad
• about 10 types of dessert        
  • blueberry creme brulee
  • strawberry pannacotta
  • tiramisu
  • coffee mousse
  • etc.
• washed down with iced tea and water

While we were eating they decided to run a trivia game. For every correct answer, the winner of each question won a gift pack which contained a book (courtesy of Fully Booked) and a token from Yehey.com (pen cum 1 Gb USB flash drive). After the trivia game they made an exciting announcement:  everyone who attended were given the chance to choose two books each from four piles. Look at what I got!


There were a LOT of books to choose from and the hunt for a good book turned into a feeding frenzy. I had such a difficult time choosing but opted instead for these two books because I've been wanting to get them for some time and just haven't gotten around to it. Now, I guess, I will end up completing both series.

The best news, though, for me was what was announced after. Everyone who attended the event were made members of the newly formed Fully Booked Book Bloggers Club. Being a member means:

• monthly book club meetings, which I presume means possible free books and we will need to write book reviews
• first dibs on visiting foreign authors
• P1,000.00 gift certificate for selected blogger of the month if your review is selected for the month.

If there are any other features I missed I'm sure we will be informed in the incoming months. At the moment, applications for membership in the Book Bloggers Club is closed but hopefully they will open soon so that my blogger friends who were not able to join the event could be part of it, too.

This event was in cooperation with Hizon's and Yehey.com.

Wanted: overseas job for my skillset

Every day is one day closer to May 7 and every day I find it harder and harder to breathe. I keep waiting for my client to give the go signal for the site revamp just so I can breathe a little easier knowing that my daughter's tuition will be partially covered and the amount I have to raise will be less. Unfortunately, a month ha passed and I have not heard from them yet.

PANIC ATTACK!

I've always wanted to work overseas. But now, I feel it has gone beyond want to NEED. I NEED to earn the euros or the dollars. I need viable options ASAP. A friend of mine who currently works on a cruise ship has suggested that I work on one, too, and it seems to be a very viable option.

I haven't worked for someone else in so long, and I'm no spring chicken so I think I need a leg up.

Friends, HELP! I'm a panicking mother!
I'm hoping that I could get an overseas job by June this year. I NEED to make earn much more and soon.

Singapore, Indonesia, Dubai, Australia, New Zealand, U.S. Europe, Canada, on the ocean, anywhere ... I have to work, I NEED to work. Right now I am seriously looking at options to work as Cruise Staff. I wonder if I am eligible for that?