a speed test.

I thought my cable connection was 512kb. Boy, was I wrong!

updated signature.

For quite a while, this was my email signature:

"A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks
out."

- Walter Winchell

Now, I am using this new quote as a signature:

"It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness."

- Eleanor Roosevelt

deep thought.

I have seen this quote a few times before. I decided to post a brief entry about it.

Sometimes when you try too hard to get something, you won't be happy. Usually, you have to let things happen naturally and enjoy life, then you'll be truly happy.

delicious italian cake.

Neal and I went to Trader Joe's for dinner 2 nights ago. We wanted to
get a quick sandwish or wrap before we went to a joint Deaf
organizations' Happy Hour fundraiser.

While we were at Trader Joe's, and after we picked our choice of food to
eat, we went to the food sample serving area. We found someone working
the table and asked if we could get our food microwaved bec it is so
cold outside. The worker reminded us that they aren't supposed to warm
up food for customers, but sensed our urgency and went ahead anyways. I
noticed a tray with slices of some kind of bread with diced fruit in
them. I tried a sample...

Mmmmmmh! It tasted really good!

While our food was getting heated up in the microwave, I asked about the
price of the type of bread. I forgot how much exactly it was. I can't
find the receipt, but I know it was somewhere between 6 to 7 dollars.

There was a big stack of the fruit bread in boxes. I noticed the boxes
came in 2 colors. I asked the salesperson what's the difference. The
darker colored boxes are raisins with candied fruit bits, and the
lighter colored boxes have cranberries instead with candied fruit bits.
Based on the salesperson's suggestion, I made my choice and grabbed it.

» insert classic zelda sfx «

Huzzah!! I bought a package of Trader Joe's Cranberry Panettone!

lomography fisheye camera

I've had my eye on this camera for quite some time. I think I will get this within the next 2 months for my Photography class at CCBC. Amazon is selling it right now for $36.60 with free shipping! It's times like this that I wish I was employed! :(
link...

tags: [lomography] [cameras]

via Wists: link

cat humor.

a nice surprise.

I was baking 3 kinds of cookies today when Neal came home from work. He walked in the kitchen and we chatted for a bit while I set the dough on the coockie sheet. He was playing with Pepper, then asked me to close my eyes for a minute. So, I shut my eyes.

He tapped me on the shoulder and I opened up my eyes. He held up a box with a small fiber optic Christmas tree in it.

I didn't have Christmas things or decorations around the apartment. Neal felt bad that he and his family will celebrate their Jewish traditions and holidays this month, and I won't be celebrating Christmas. Now the little tree is sitting in the corner of the living/dining room area.

I'm really touched. It really meant a lot what he did for me today! I wonder if he understood what that meant to me..

Anyway.. Happy Hannukah (spell? I'm gonna check dictionary for this one), Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, y'all!

Testing Blogger.com

The damn blogger service won't work 3 times already.

a favorite anime.

For as long as I could remember, Grave of the Fireflies is the only anime that made me cry. It was very thought-provoking and heart-wrenching. I'd recommend this movie to everyone.

Blockbuster Online - Grave of the Fireflies on DVD

women with raging testosterones.

Rosie O'Donnell might be going too far, too quick with her recent spat with Kelly Ripa about Kelly's comment towards Clay Aiken. Wow. And, Kelly's comment towards Clay were pretty harsh.

Whether Kelly meant that comment as homophobic or not, I have to wonder if the only phobia she has is towards germs. Why else is she the Tide spokeperson?? Kelly's response about flu and cold season makes perfect sense. Although, she should have kept her tongue in cheek, because, as the saying goes, "If you have nothing good to say at all, don't say it."

And, poor Clay. I'll bet Clay didn't expect this would happen to him. He should have kept his hands to himself unless he is "really close, best friends" with Kelly Ripa. Then, it would have made sense for him to cover Kelly's mouth. Thank goodness, Clay had clever help from Tori Spelling to lighten the mood of the controversy!

Really. I think people, especially a select group of women with abnormal amounts of testosterone, really need to lighten up and back off.

http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=2672565&page=1

wacky haiku.

By MadHaiku:

just in time for thanksgiving...
a new cooking show:
"eat, drink, puke with rachael ray"
she's so glamorous!

personality colors test.

I love taking personality colors tests! I learn more about myself everytime! I think everyone else should make it a habit to play a few personality colors quizzes or tests once in a while!

Here's my result from this test:

You Chose:TYPE 5
High Sensation Seeking

High Sensation Seeking (HSS) means that you really enjoy high-energy, thrill-seeking kinds of activities. You seldom follow the crowd. Your idea of a good time is a thrilling emotional experience that challenges you to the max. Because you seek out high-energy experiences, other people probably think of you as a risk-taker. The people in your life may admire you as an avant-guard, leading-edge kind of individual who is likely to be tuned into new trends ahead of the curve. People are drawn to your adventurous spirit.

Find out more about your personality here!

spam poison?

I've used it in the past, and wasn't sure if it really works. Won't hurt to try posting it again!

ten on tuesday.

Every Tuesday, check here for 10 on Tuesday's latest meme! Here's this week's meme:

10 Things You Love to Eat During the Holidays

1. Molasses Ginger Cookies.
2. Ganache on fresh fruit pieces.
3. Warm Neiman Marcus cookies.
4. Homemade vanilla bean ice cream.
5. Homemade apple pie with cream.
6. Fruitcake and milk.
7. Homemade cheesecakes.
8. Caramel covered apple slices.
9. Turkey meat on legs and wings.
10. Cooked grated carrots with bacon bits.

free rental

Check out redbox to pick up a free movie rental! I like renting new releases from Redbox because it's only a buck per night! One drawback though, it's due the next day by 7 pm. So, you better plan on watching what you rent! Ya don't want the moolah go to waste, huh?? ;)

YOU MUST READ: Issue with Forwarded Emails

I am trying to be nice. I am gonna do a soft, short and sweet rant. I am sick and tired of getting forwarded emails from family and friends who don't know how to use the [Bcc:] feature! So, I typed out this email and sent it via [Bcc:] to everyone's email addresses I could find in those forwarded emails. Read the following:

Hello everyone!

I'd like to take a few minutes of your time. You'll find out why I have your email address.

Four of my family and friends sent me several forwarded emails with loaded with attached email addresses. If you got this email, it is because your address was also listed!

Not to worry and thank goodness for YOU, I am not a spammer and I do not work for advertisement in pornography, sexual medical advisement centers, drugs or other junk companies.

I feel this this is my civil duty to inform you the following -

Keep in mind that I say this with much love and respect.. and a lot of patience.

If you love, respect and cherish your family and friends, PLEASE stop using [To:] for listing your family and friends' email addresses whenever you forward emails! Learn to use [Bcc:] and use it faithfully and religiously! [Bcc:] stands for Blind Carbon Copy. When you send out emails via [Bcc:], everyone will NOT see other people's email addresses! Only the sender's. If you use [To:], you only want to use your own email address. If you add other email addresses in [To:], you are exposing your family and friends' addresses to potential strangers when the forwarded email arrives its destinations several times. Where is the privacy?!?

If you got a forwarded email and before you forward it again, PLEASE erase any listed emails FIRST, those people would appreciate your support and help in respecting their privacy. Your family and friends would appreciate NOT having to scrooooooooooooooooooooooooooooll down past all the former recipients' and senders' email addresses and forwarded subjects and inset lines sometimes with double and repeated posting of the email's contents all the way down and a few more clicks of the mouse scrolling to the bottom to get the point of the message. (annoyed loss of breath) Get my point?

If you already practice using [Bcc:] and cleaning your forwarded emails by cropping out unnecessary contents and former recipients' and senders' email addresses before you send it out... THANK YOU with the bottom of my heart! Well, your family and friends will THANK YOU tremendously, too!

It will reduce the spread of unwanted spam and virus.

I'm happy to be here to help you understand the joys of using [Bcc:]!

Happy Holidays!
Philip

P.S. Please forward this email to your family and friends, I am sure they would appreciate to learn of [Bcc:]. Before you do that, erase the senders' or my email addresses from this email! thanks again!

P.P.S. I rarely use this email account, so I probably cannot reply.

pilates and diet

I was reading on the Craigslist forums, and found a discussion group where a person was complaining of a bad back as a result from surgery. Several people made suggestions on exercises. One of them said a few words about checking out the Winsdor Pilates, "Perhaps this exercise would work?"

I immediately replied with the following:

I have had a weak, bad back for quite a number of years.

I got fed up with feeling depressed, sore and fat. My depression often gets so bad to the point where it was disabling me, rendering me a hermit, always living indoors away from family and friends. I started taking Pilates over a year ago, and it was tough and hard. I kept at it and wasn't easy for me.

Now, it has been a year and a half, and I am so GLAD I took Pilates! My back problems have reduced maybe 80% less than before. I don't get that painful twinge in my lower back anymore. I have more energy, better posture and happier attitude.

I've been on diets and exercise programs before. Nothing worked. I was quickly gaining what I have lost and some extra. Ugh!

After starting Pilates, I went from 239 lbs to 214 lbs in 18 months and the weight STAYED OFF! Just be consistent with your Pilates routine, eat whole wheat products, more fruits/vegetables, proteins and drink lots and lots of water. Changing the way you eat is your own decision. Don't immediately force yourself on a diet, or you'll feel overwhelmed and give up. My changes in diet happened v e r y  s l o w l y. I made one or two adjustments here and there. It does make a difference! I still eat fattening foods, but ate in good moderation. Don't forget to follow the recommended serving size!

After exercising for long enough, I noticed my cravings for my favorite soda and sweets have gotten less and less. :D In the end, the changes in eating habits along with my exercises have helped me overcome most of my depression issues.

I haven't given up my sweets and soda yet! ;) Gotta have my chocolate fix!

Anyway, Pilates won't work unless you really want it to work. If you gave up on it, that means you don't want it badly enough. You have to really want it badly enough to make a positive difference in your health!

bitch mood.

I'm in a bitch mood today.

I'm tired of having to get permission to love someone unconditionally.

a poem.

Do not stand by my grave and weep
by Mary E. Frye

Do not stand at my grave and weep:
I am not there.  I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the softly falling snow,
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the field of ripening grain.

I am in the morning hush,
I am in the grateful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight.
I am the starshine of the night.

I am in the flowers that bloom.
I am in a quiet room.
I am in the birds that sing.
I am in each lovely thing.

So do not stand by my grave and cry.
I am not there.
I did not die.

dessert at centerstage

Neal, Gerri and I went to see a Russian play, "The Three Sisters" in Baltimore. I had the honor to meet two actors, Wawa Snipe and Willy Conley. Wawa was there to watch the play. Willy is in the play. His wife and her friend were also there. It was great making friends with new faces!

Anyway, Neal, Gerri and I had a quick dinner before the play started. I bought dessert and got this some kind of chocolate covered, layered cake with a slight taste of mocha with molasses or maple. I have no idea what it is called! Never seen such dessert before! If you know, please let me know!