BACK TO LIFE

No, I wasn't in any way resuscitated and restored back to life-Thank goodness!

But pretty close- if I had not taken a 5 week holiday back home in the Philippines, I would have been writing here about that too. The challenges of my work, writing and hectic lined up of scheduled activities in the past months and other personal issues were too unbearable at some point. My allergies, asthma, flu and cough and colds became my best friends that I've spent so much bonding with for quite sometime- a time when I'd wouldn't even dared to say the phrase "best friends forever".

My trip to the Philippines was awesome. The 20 hour long haul flight didn't seem to matter with all the pump of adrenalin rush of excitement inside me to see my family once again. Moreover, I was hell bent to break away from the humdrum daily routine of work-home then work again and short weekend respite kind of schedule every single day. The pressure of daily grind took a heavy toll on me.

Seeing the light of day hearing the cockcrowing sound and mild tropical breeze touching my skin instantly reminded me – that I was home. Home is always where your heart is just like what they say. And it will always stay that way.

Having a great time with my family dinning out, playing badminton, shopping here and more shopping there may seem common Sunday family activities. But not for somebody like me who do not see her family on a regular basis.

I have often asked if we went sight seeing. The answer is no, my husband and I purposely didn't do that as we preferred to spend more time catching up with more stories funny ones, gossips, goofing around and updated them with our life happenings in Croatia. The travel experience is simple, unfettering and reminded me not only to spell out again the five letter word R-E-L-A-X but more like the real meaning of it. It was priceless.

I couldn't stop hearing the tune of "Put Your Records On" by Corinne Bailey Rae playing in my mind.

"Girl, put your records on, tell me your favorite song
You go ahead and let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams
You go ahead and let your hair down
You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow."

On the way back to Croatia, stopping by Amsterdam Airport, I chanced upon a SPA parlor within the airport called "Back to Life". It caught my attention. Turned my head and chuckled. But deep inside, yes…that's it. I'm back to life. I'm going to take it slow because I know that I know I'm going to find myself somewhere…somehow.

Sun, Sea, Sand and Chicklit

Getting ready for the beach? Hold on a second. Before you leave, check all your stuff in your duffel bag first. If you think that you got all your beach paraphernalia-sun cream SPF 30, bikini, tanning oil, shampoo, conditioner, aloe after sun gel packed in and you figured that something is still missing, and then take a one more look. You may be missing the most important stuff that will keep you company during your sun worshipping moment - a book.

For those ladies who bask clutching a romance comedy novel ( or for those of you who consider romance novel as an item that you will not be caught without aside from your iPod), here are some good beach read that I highly recommend. Amusing, charming, sparkling with wit and humor all in one is all what you need to keep you entertained you while getting your sun kissed bronze.

Here's the list:

Chasing Harry Winston- Lauren Weisberger
Everyone Worth Knowing – Lauren Weisberger
Certain Girls – Jennifer Weiner
Shopaholic Series – Sophie Kinsella
Something Borrowed- Emily Griffin
Baby Proof – Emily Griffin
Eat, Love and Pray – Elizabeth Gilbert
The Art of French Kissing –Kristin Harmel
Rise and Shine – Anna Quindlen
Belong to Me – Marissa De Los Santos
Beyond the Blonde – Kathleen Flynn Hui
The Diplomatic Corpse – Anne Marshall Zwack
Dot.Homme – Jane Moore

There are heaps of titles of other Chick lit books that are out there in your local bookstore. But the ones I've mentioned above are the ones that I can give my thumbs up. Whether you're going on an island hopping or simply plunked down on a hammock under a coconut tree, take one of these books on your summer jaunt.

Oh and don't forget your IPod too.

Have a great summer!

Croatia's Smoking Ban Takes Off and Takes Ashtrays Away

Stop Smoking- the staunch slogan of the Croatian Government slammed against "Stop Smoking Ban" clamor of coffee shop owners after the Croatian government implemented its strict law against smoking on indoor public places on May 6, 2009.

The government is bent to execute strict "No Smoking" law to safeguard the physical health and well being of Croatian nationals from the hazards of smoking. Prior to the new law, the government's media propaganda against smoking apparently, did not create much of an impact- thus, had fallen into deaf ears.Restaurants, coffee shops, ice-cream parlors and malls from run-of-the- mill to high end food service joints were filled with employees taking a break from work, friends engaging in a tête-à-tête, football aficionados, coffee drinkers including mothers with tag- along -babies in strollers.

These coffee shops habitués either active or passive smokers, oblivious to the dangers of smoking frequent to the coffee shops at any time of the day as part of their daily routine schedule.However, on the 6th of May 2009, the Croatian government blew its whistle and put a big stop sign to smoking. As the law stipulates -those who are caught smoking in an indoor public place shall be slapped with 1000 Kuna fine for smoker and 15,000 Kuna for business owner to ensure that Croatian public knows that the government means business this time (no pun intended.)

Since the Croatian government guards public places keenly watching for smokers who consist of more than half of the coffee shops' costumers started to wane their regular visits to coffee shops for their daily fresh espresso and cigarette ritual. Thereby, sudden drops of profit sales have recently been the cause of ire of food service entrepreneurs that consequently precipitated a protest among coffee shops owners and restaurateurs requesting the government to relax the smoking ban law.

During the first month after the law was strictly enforced, the once smoke filled coffee shops are not only devoid of smoke but with customers as well. It's an awful scenario to see coffee shops with empty seats throughout the day.To cope up with the sudden drop of sales, coffee shop owners opened the backdoor terrace or provided an open air make shift terrace or pitched small umbrella tables along the street curbs just so as not to lose old coffee shop patrons. The temporary resolution of setting up an open air smoking venue to regular coffee shop habitués is akin to putting on a band-aid to a big economic wound to stop the momentary financial bleeding.

The coffee shops' nightmare has started to be felt during this early summer days when occasional rain showers and cold breeze prevent customers to sit in the terrace.
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Recently, it was reported that a significant number of coffee shops and restaurants have already closed down due to the unexpected plummeting profit sales. Subsequently, the whirlwind effect of unemployment of wait-staff whose salaries could not be sustained by their employers is becoming a serious problem.It is a known fact that smoking causes 95% mortality rate due to lung cancer as verified by Dr. Desmond Carney, Oncologist and Secretary General of the International Association of Lung Cancer in Dublin.

The European Union Commission has made a giant step to create a conscious effort to promote a strong general awareness among EU member states by imposing tighter rules about smoking.Hence, the complete makeover of Europe's image as an erstwhile smoking haven now is heading towards a smoke free zone. Ireland initially banned smoking in 2004 followed by Italy, Sweden, Malta, Estonia, Finland, Germany, France and Hungary (not necessarily in this order.)

Clearly, the effect of the banning of smoking is helping the prevention of the spread of lung cancer among Croatians. However, alongside with that, it is now building up symptoms of economic cancer especially during the rainy months of autumn and cold winter months where people would prefer to stay indoors drinking hot coffee rather than stay in terraces.The idea whether the government would give in to the food service entrepreneurs' lament of relaxing the smoking ban is still hazy at the moment.

It's still too early to say at this point. Who knows? This could be an advent of embracing new coffee drinking habit of taking "coffee to go" clutching coffee mugs to work giving Starbucks,Costa Coffee, Peets Coffee and Tea and Caribou a fair chance to compete in the Croatian coffee market.The owners' petition to establish categories among coffee shops whether smoking or non-smoking has already reached the government. Whether the government considers it seriously or flexes its muscles or plays arm wrestling, the response to their plea is well much anticipated. In the meantime, coffee buffs continue to sip their hot espresso and puffs their cigarettes on warm sunny days in open air terraces and enjoying the feeling while it lasts.

MICHAEL JACKSON ROCKS THE WORLD FOR THE LAST TIME

Michael Jackson is dead at 50.

What could be worse news to see on your morning papers or in Yahoo news at the start of an early Friday than seeing an eye popping headline that the king of pop music is dead. A thought that's almost inconceivable almost mistaken as a hoax akin to regular text messages con game. Until reality sets in that Michael Jackson is gone- not ill or seriously ill or recuperating from illness but gone.

It's indeed a day of mourning in the City of L.A. And this time I sincerely wished that I was there at this moment to grieve with his millions of fans awaiting for his body to be released from L.A. Hospital side by side with the venue of paparazzi vultures taking snapshots.

Growing up in the early 70s, Michael and the Jackson Five had been my personal favorite choice as far upbeat pop music is concern. The Jackson Five made a loud resounding statement with regard to their musical standing in the US music chart from 1976. Hits like "Ben", " Rocking Robin", "Got to be There and The Brand New Thing" among others made MJ stand out from his bros during the early 80's. Titillated young and old ladies shrilled at the top of their lungs as they watched an eight year old boy's magnetic charisma worked his way on stage with his impressive snappy dance moves (that he can only do in perfect 10.... remember moonwalking?.) I knew this because I was one of those voices that gave out an ear splitting screams as a young girl whenever I saw him on American TV shows during the early 80's.

I practically grew up hearing his songs on the radio, watching him on MTV basically witnessing his successes and downfalls. I didn't bother much to know what was in with Michael since he was like a permanent fixture in the US Music Industry.

His songs were heard all over everytime -one hit after another. We all knew that Michael was just there somewhere around the corner of LA rehearsing perfecting his craft conceptualizing next MTV or finishing an album to surprise everyone at any moment. To date, I still delight in listening to his hit songs that made waves in unsurpassed decades of reigning on top of the game shoving away tons of Michael Jackson copycats and wannabees.

But sad to say, the prize of fame is indeed very costly. The guy had been a lot of tremendous pressures for maintaining his status as the King of Pop Music-straightening out his court cases, rising above from financial quagmire and most importantly dealing with his sanity in the midst of bad publicity. The viewing public all over the world had been harsh, relentless and brazen in skinning him alive when it comes to criticizing his grotesque looks, his questionable fondness for kids and Neverland, his gender, his rumored bankruptcy among others.

Inspite of the sensationalized and magnified issues to the inane cheap celebrity gossips hurled at him, based on what I've read, people who knew him have only one common thing to say about Michael- that he was a person with a good heart. This ofcourse I can't verify as I did not know MJ personally (wish I could say we grew up together and name drop him to everyone.) However, whenever I check out http://www.tmz.com/ where you can find paparazzi's videos of Hollywood celebrities, you can see other celebrities turning violent losing tempers when pestered by journalists. However, it was always a different case with Michael, he graciously declined ambush interviews and spoke short casual pleasantries then ended up the casual chat with calm "peace brother".

This part of him was not known probably by the viewing public. But as human nature dictates highlight the negative first then downplay the positive, right?

Michael's demise will always be a bitter reminder to us to look beyond what our eyes can physically see. I think there was more to Michael than the pop legendary icon sensation, the image of a cosmetic surgery gone awry or a feigned philanthropist sharing The Neverland to young children.

There was once a lonely person hurting and concealed behind the almost deformed face battered by multiple plastic surgeries. Michael Jackson the King of Pop unselfishly shared his incomparable talents and outstanding music fit to perfection for the whole world to see.

May you rest in peace, Michael!

THE YEAR THAT WAS

Tomorrow, June 23rd, I'll be turning 47. Ok not bad if you consider that life begins at 40.
In retrospect, my 46th year wasn't a bad year at all. As a matter of fact, heaps of blessings came in my way which I initially didn't perceive it as such. Work wise, it was a great year with a few challenges along the way. Health wise, I can consider myself in pink health except for a few asthma attacks, allergy rhinitis and bouts of severe dysmenorrheic cramps sans any signs of recurring pneumonia, thankfully.

This year, opened a wide door for me to pursue my personal passion for writing. My non-fiction book has finally reached the end of its 2nd draft. Indeed, time flies like an arrow.
I remembered how I grappled with all the ideas I could come up with to form my outline in the midst of my sunbathing session during my summer break. Burning with enthusiasm, I inched writing chapters or more like few pages every night after a hard day's work, sleepless nights or sometimes missing my regular shopping dates to be with my newly found best friends-my monitor and keyboard.

At a certain point in February, I felt that I needed a break from writing ideas related to my teaching profession for my book. Then I discovered a romance short story writing contest which I exuberantly joined. The competition is based on the number of votes of readers instead of the merits of your writing. Though it looked kind of foxy to me but what the heck, I thought, I joined just the same. Fortunately, my entry won the grand prize. And I got an unexpected $250 prize for that. Not bad for a first time short story writer, huh?

My story? It's entitled " Winter Dream." Honestly, I didn't plan out the plot. Believe it or not, the ideas just flashed in my mind while I was browsing through a news about a winter storm that got passengers stranded at the Madrid International Airport. Not only because of my winning experience but the feedbacks of my friends who enjoyed reading the story plot brought a lot of confidence and assurance that I could pull off a non-fiction chick lit style novel one day ( this year I plan.)

More than all of these salient colorful events of my year, the one that I loved and enjoyed tremendously is my glaring passion for cherry picking. Thankfully, the school where I work has beautiful cherry trees with sturdy branches bearing abundant cherry fruits that I devoured like being stranded in an island without food except cherries.

It was fun picking cherries-poking the fruits with a broomstick, using a ladder and pulling the sagging branches to reach for the maroon over ripe ones became my short obsession. Just like cherry picking, my 46th year was no different from that. With the challenges that I struggled during the year, I did everything to make things happen to rise above the hurdles just like everyone. In the end, a special bonus awaited for me-a bowl full or light, dark red and maroon over ripe soft sweet cherries that I delightfully nibbled under the tree.

Jumpstart

My Romance Short Story is now featured on “Enchanted” a newly published book containing a compilation of entries to the short story writing contest in February 2009 on a Be My Valentine Short Story Writing Contest. The book is now on sale for $8.24. For your book orders, please check out World Wide Association of Writers’ website
( http://www.publishyourself.com/)

Story Title: Winter Dream

Synopsis:

A light romantic love story that involves a vibrant career girl, Amberly who travelled to Europe on a business trip and unexpectedly got stranded at the airport because of a Snow storm. Little did she know that this grueling experience of waiting for her flight back to the States is a blessing in disguise. Her ho-hum life started to change drastically after an unexpected special romantic meeting that eventually marked her future.

BLAME IT ON THE WEATHER

Have you been feeling feverish or struggling with inexplicable tiredness? Or a sudden swing of clock pendulum mood that shifts from blissful temperament at one moment then ends your day with crestfallen feeling?

Does this experience of an abrupt change of mood make you feel crabby at work that make your co-workers brand you as one of the people that they can’t stand? How often do you make mistakes on your shopping decisions or picking dingy clothes instead of bright and vibrant colors. Do you flounder unexpectedly when you do your writing?

Good news to all and sundry. If you can’t find any source of this enigmatic changes that’s overwhelming you, then, blame it on the weather.

Weather has been the most convenient excuse people use for almost everything from common embarrasing blunders to the most trivial unthinkable faux pas such as fumbling at work, ordering the wrong dressing for your salad, sleepless nights or simply having a bad day? It’s the weather, as they always say. I hear this everytime from people uttering the “maybe-because- of- the-weather chant like a mantra sans the lotus position. Why blame it on the weather? It’s easy. You can get away with it without pointing a finger to others or to yourself at least no arguments or altercations with anyone.

Poor old weather-always gets the receiving end of the people’s condemnation. But hey, something has to take the blame, right? Not yourself, not anybody. I’m sure the weather won’t take it personally if you do.Whatever kind of weather it is, it doesn’t matter. People still preceive it as a yardstick of how our mood and disposition will turn out for the day.

So, if you think that I’m not making any sense on my blog today, I say, maybe it’s because of the weather.