A glass of milk

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door.

Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it so slowly, and then asked, How much do I owe you?" You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness."

He said ... "Then I thank you from my heart."

As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit. Many year's later that same young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to her case.

After a long struggle, the battle was won.

Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words ...
"Paid in full with one glass of milk"
(Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly.

Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: "Thank You, God, that Your love has spread broad through human hearts and hands."

There's a saying which goes something like this:
Bread cast on the waters comes back to you. The good deed you do today may benefit you or someone you love at the least expected time. If you never see the deed again at least you will have made the world a better place - And, after all, isn't that what life is all about?

Send Money Free

As was advertised on this week’s Filipino Asian Journal newspaper, for your first transaction using the coupon, here’s what to do:
1) Go to xoom.com, or click the logo on the right side of this webpage, and type in the information; contact, recipient, and the amount you want to send
2) Select delivery method; cash pick up, home delivery or direct deposit at their participating banks; be sure to use the coupon code MABILIS965 (this offer expires 10/31/2006)
3) Select a payment method; bank account, credit card or Paypal information
4) Let your recipient know the money is on the way, xoom.com will email the receipt and tracking information.

I have used Xoom for awhile and I haven't encounter any problems so far, and as what promised delivery was always on time.
The other reasons are:
Low fees – up to 80% cheaper than Western Union and MoneyGram’s online services, you can send as low as US$3.50
Convenience – you can transfer money anywhere and anytime they are online
Reliability – offers the customer a 100% satisfaction guarantee, you don't want your hard earned money to go up in ht eair
Flexibility – unlike with traditional money transfer companies, you have different choices of delivery options, they offer direct deposit to a bank account, cash pick up, secure debit cards, or home delivery.
Pick up locations are everywhere, to name a few, Equitable PCI, Cebuana Lhuillier, One Network Bank .

Disadvantage? I noticed that their exchange rate is somewhat lower compare to other Filipino owned door to door services. So before you decide, you may want to used the calculator to compare the fees on delivery against the exchange rate.

Flowers

A business was moving into bigger quarters and one of the owner's friends wanted to send flowers for the occasion. They arrived at the new business site and the owner read the card; it read "Rest in Peace."
The owner was angry and called the florist to complain. After he had told the florist of the obvious mistake and how angry he was, the florist said, "Sir, I'm really sorry for the mistake, but rather than getting angry, you should imagine this: somewhere there is a funeral taking place today, and they have flowers with a note saying, 'Congratulations on your new location.'

6 Foods that will make you beautiful!

Nourishing the inside of your body is just as important as pampering the outside. Eat your way to good health and great looks with these beauty boosting superfoods:

1)Wrinkle busting blueberries – Just half a cup of these antioxidant packed gems can help rebuild collagen and stave off wrinkles, says Tufts University researchers.
2)Nail growing soya – shoot for at least five grams of soya per day, and you can bet on longer, stronger nails, report dermatologists at the University of Alabama
3)Face softening fish – fatty fish like salmon, sardines and tuna are swimming with skin softening omega-3 fatty acids, which replenish skin’s natural lubricants, says Dr. Grossman
4)Skin saving avocado – according to research at the University of California, it’s loaded with vitamin E which boosts elasticity
5/6)Age erasing cantaloupe and tomatoes – both are loaded with lycopene, which helps prevent wrinkles and gives you a youthful glow, says Nicolas Perricone, M.D.

Mixed uP! Heat or ice to an injury?

Ice is always the best choice at first, says Dr. Matthew Shapiro, a spokesperson for the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Iced decreases swelling by restricting blood flow to the area. Cold also reduces pain. “If you put ice on a sore knee for 20 minutes, it could give you 2 hours of pain relief”, says Shapiro. Place a thin towel between the ice and your skin. After 20 minutes, remove the ice pack and wait an equal length of time before reapplying it. Don’t leave it on for longer or you may actually get frostbite. If the ice tray is empty, use a bag of frozen vegetables (peas and corn work well). Use caution when using blue frozen gel packs, says Karen Merrill, a spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise. “If there’s any kind of rupture, that stuff will burn,” says Merrill, who has seen clients with second and third degree burns from chemical inside. In fact, it might be best to avoid them altogether. After 48 hours of treatment with ice, you can use heat to address any lingering stiffness and muscle soreness, Shapiro says. “It helps loosen things up.” Apply a heating pad or hot water bottle for 20 minutes every hour or so. Repeat as needed. Better Homes and Gardens, Kathleen Parrish

Really, a free internet calls?

I was trying to find out the validity of this websites internetcalls, and jajah to make free calls. The way it works is somewhat different from the regular internet calls, though they have the sip (session initiation protocol) option. From the main site, I punched in my cell phone number starting 001 Canadian international code. Next, I punched in the destination number. I decided to call my friend in the U.S. which is listed as one of the countries listed as free calls. Suddenly I heard my cell phone ringing. From my cell phone I heard my friend saying hello.
Wow, I got excited; I was talking to my friend! Then after awhile I thought about something. I checked my cell phone call log and surely it says call received from my friend. I text'd her up and her call log said same, too.
Who initiated the call? Your guess are better than mine.
I hope my telephone carrier won’t charge me, hehehe.

PC getting more and more Affordable

I was planning to send a desktop pc to my niece until I came across this promo from a famous pc outlet store, Ngenius IT Hub, Metro Cebu. Why buy overseas, let’s go local. With free installation and no hassle warranty, I am sure I’ll have my money worth. Aren’t you glad you’re helping out our economy?

Eat Meal That Makes Women Thin!

Researchers recently studied the eating habits of nearly 3,000 volunteers who had lost an average of 70lbs and kept it off for 6 years. Their findings? A whopping 78% ate breakfast every single day. People often say eating breakfast makes them hungrier the rest of the day, but that’s probably because they’re eating the wrong foods.
Refined carbohydrates like doughnuts or pastries that cause blood sugar to rise and then drop, which leads to that very hungry feeling midmorning.
However a breakfast menu of juice, whole grain cereal, toast or waffles, with fresh fruit and a glass of fat free milk provides you with complex carbohydrate and protein for just 400-450 calories
.. and it will keep you feeling satisfied all morning
.…and skinny for years!!!

My first blogging month

It’s almost a month now since I started blogging and yeah with all the hectic to do lists that I have been courageously dealing with, added to the caring of my lovely golden girls, Nana, etc, plus dusting off Mr. Woo’s mansion, with all those church activities, I‘m surprised and can’t imagine how in this digital world I did survived. I know it is still a long way to go.
Thanks for all you pushers, the instruments who have been in more ways influenced me so much and have played a special part of my blogging mainstream.
Although the web page format is not as pro looking like other sites, I am slowly yet delightfully sharpening my writing ability, striving to tweak my mother tongue Cebuano, English, Tagalog lingual twist.
My message is simple and clear. As one of those thousands overseas workers who have been tirelessly wandering around the world, I enjoy with pride sharing the information and experiences I gained that I came across, may it be educational, entertaining or failures and hoping that somehow serve lessons and affect others daily lives in a positive way. The road is quite long and narrow and I believed as what a lot of us OFW used to sigh “there is always light at the end of the tunnel.”

Humor Time!

Sister Mary Catherine died and went to heaven. St. Peter asked if she had any regrets. “It was always my dream to travel,” she replied, “but I didn’t get the chance,” St. Peter said since she’d led such a good life, he would let her visit any place on earth as long as she called him within 24 hours.
Exactly 24 hours later the phone rang. “Hello, St Peter, this is Sister Mary Catherine. I’m in Rome. I got to visit the Vatican and meet the pope!” St. Peter decided to let her visit any place she chose, as long as she called in 24 hours.
“Hello, St. Peter, this is Sister Mary Catherine. I’m in Paris,” she said the next day. She spoke excitedly of lighting candles in Notre Dame and visiting the Eiffel Tower. St. Peter told her she could have one more chance to travel, but she must call back in 24 hours.
Three weeks later St. Peter’s phone rang. “Hi, Pete, this is Cat –I’m in N’awlins!”

Paradox of our Times

A Wonderful Message by George Carlin:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoyless. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time.
We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships.
These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes.
These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.
It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom.
A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent. Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Reduce your stress:

We all have stress, right, but slowing down can make all the difference. How can you reduce your stress level? Its Friday and it should be slowing down.
Let's try the ff:

Stretching – even a few minutes of it releases muscle tension, says Arlene Brown, M.D. of American Academy of Family Physicians.

Drinking herbal tea – research shows that peppermint tea calms our nerves, leaving us feeling relaxed.

Trying herbal supplement – studies say valerian is a great stress reliever. What about the amazing anti stress powers of ginseng supplement? Countless studies have found combining both types American (Panax) and Siberian, effective at soothing the nervous system.

Taking a deep breath – the extra oxygen will relieve some of our body’s stress

Saying a little prayer – it is good for spiritual health

Listen to music – play that soothing sound to block away the buzz noise

Get an aquarium – sales of tropical fish have soared more than 25% in the past three years and with good reason. More people are discovering that watching fish glide through water lowers blood pressure and induces a wave of calm. Have you ever wonder why so many dentists and doctors place aquariums in their waiting rooms? They have read the research proving it calms down anxiety ridden patients. Scientists, in fact, now know that people who gaze at fish in a tank for just 15 minutes rate themselves 40% less stressed than they do before they watch the fish. Serene, low maintenance tropical fish are the perfect antidote to rat raced harried living. A single goldfish in a bowl will produce the same effect.

Cheese on crackers – if you crave for chocolates during those stress time it is because stress causes your body to pump out the hormone cortisol and research reveals that’s the body’s way of telling you it needs additional glucose or sugar. But other foods will satisfy your body’s demand for glucose without adding more pounds to your belly. Try cheese and crackers, baby carrots and low fat dip or apple slices sprinkled with cinnamon. Any of those will help stabilize blood sugar levels and calm stress.

Sending Balikbayan box to Visayas

I have a Balikbayan box that is almost full now with goodies such as Kisses, M&M, used Levi’s maong, Nike tennis shoes, bath towels, shampoo, bath soap, miniature car toys, etc. I am planning to send it in a couple of months and hopefully, my family will received it in time for Christmas. I was told that the average costs to send one box to Central Visayas is around $100. This will be my first time to do a door to door since my family has been yearning for one. With a mindset frugality added to my curiosity, since I enjoy window shopping and compare prices, I did a little bit of scouting. Hint, if you drop the box to the store you may get an additional discount as high as $20. Other things that you may want to consider:

Size of the box – the more stuff you can inch in the better

Insurance covered – you don’t want your hard earned dollar just go up in smoke, you want to sleep comfortably without any worries at all; ensure the insurance coverage is in par value

Length of delivery – promptness is one of the ingredients why customer keeps coming back, as what was promised to you

Handling services – ask your loves ones on how it was delivered; partially opened on one side, notice the new tape; somewhat wet, may have been left out in an open storage for awhile; looks rounded, it has been tossed out and rolled so many times

I checked out the local door to door companies around Vancouver and here is the result:

Asia Pac Cargo
#3-2551 Vauxhall Place
Richmond, BC
Tel: 604-270-2919
Cost: $95
Size: 18X18X29

EZ Movers Ltd
Unit 18-145 Schoolhouse St.
Coquitlam, BC V3K 4X8
Tel: 604-524-2177; 800-764-4443
Cost: $90
Size: 19X19X30

Forex Cargo
120-12511 Vulcan Way
Richmond, BC V6V 1J7
Tel: 604-278-6476/6078
Cost: $115
Size: 22X22X20

Iremit
1549 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC
Tel: 604-733-3631
Cost: $100
Size: 18X18X29

Jolly-B Box Express
201-2415 Columbia St.
Vancouver, BC
Tel: 604-781-8429; 604-637-3859
Cost: $115
Size: 18X18X29

Manila Express Cargo
3181 Main St.
Vancouver, BC
Tel: 604-874-5571
Cost: $120
Size: 18X18X28

Pasalubong Forwarders Ltd
101-283 East 11th Ave.
Vancouver, BC V5T 2C4
Tel: 604-709-0959
Cost: $115
Size: 20X20X28

Professional Cargo
140-11780 River Road
Richmond, BC
Tel: 604-278-9391; 800-977-3822
Cost: $110
Size: 18X18X30

Traveller’s Card/ San Freight
4603 Main St.
Vancouver, BC
Tel: 604-876-8110
Cost: $115
Size: 18X18X30

Umac Express Cargo
Unit 7-1520 Cliverden Ave.
Delta, BC V3M 6J8
Tel: 604-759-8622; 866-338-8622
Cost: $95
Size: 19X19X30

Just another Holiday!

It was a rest day during the Labor day, September 4, and adding to that weekend event, I felt like I was on vacation again. Together with Ana, Aleli, Dianne, Bong, Ernesto, Bobot and Jomai, we decided to go to Cultus Lake. This is famous for its water park , beautiful lake, and one of the primary summertime destinations in southern BC. Aside from the water park, it has golf courses, miniature golf, bumper boats, go carts, canoe, boat, marina, restaurants, stables, laundry mat, stores and gas stations. It’s a 95 km away from Vancouver, approximately an hour and a half drive depending on the traffic. To get there, head east via highway 1. Take the exit 104 which will take you through small town of Yarrow to the Cultus lake. Signs to the lake are all over and you will not be lost.
We arrived at 10 am at the main lake’s picnic area. Cost to park was $1.00/hour or $5.00 for the whole day. Luckily, we were one of the early birds so we were able to grabbed a picnic table which is free and were able the best view of the lake. We barbecued some chicken legs, pork, hotdog, salmon and bangus fish. We laid out our mat and played unggoy unggoy, pusoy dos, forty one and lucky 9. Dianne and Bong rented a jet-ski for $80/hour. Renting a jet-ski or boat requires a valid driver's license. We took a nap, ate, picture taking, played, snore, bloated out our bellies, and it was a great holiday!

Map to get there try this or this one. Enjoy!

Request your birth certificate online!

Instead of waiting in long lines and sweating out under the sun's intense heat at the National Statistics Office, we can now avail on this very useful online internet services. Thanks Inday for the tip, we can now request at our convenience on birth, marriage, or death certificates especially for our love ones in PI. Please visit ecensus.com.ph. Mode of payment is thru Equitable Bank or Union Bank and other major credit cards.

What a difference a technology can bring us!