I Love/Hate America

IF YOU LOVE THIS , YOU'RE PROBABLY OLD

There's a saying among us, in the Bisaya language, "karaang tao" which is literally translated to "antiquated person." In other words, "old." 

I never used this phrase since I left my country 10 years ago. Until somebody commented on my posted video of 80's music at Facebook, "Bing, ayaw pagpahalata nga karaang tao ka. Puro gi-amag naman ni imong mga videos. LOL!"  (English translation: Bing, don't make it obvious that you're antiquated. All your videos are moldy. ) It cracked me a whole room-wide of laughter.

But I never knew that I'd be among those whom they call "antiquated persons" who worship music which the younger generation now call "classic." Classic, was a word that I denote with pop-culture that was reminiscent of my parents' and grandparents' heydays. You know, those Mozart and Beethoven sonatas, and Browning and Bronte's literary works, rare Coke mementos and the first few Superman comic books. What was defined classic is now relative to time and to the breed of digital-electronic-dependent youth.

When did Duran Duran become classic? Or as a rock song goes, "When did Motley Crue become classic rock?" The same song, answered it, "It was in 1985." I graduated from high school in 1984 at the age of 16 (Filipinos only have 10 years of schooling before college) about 25 years ago, I guess my taste is classic. But does 25 years of  age qualify to be sorted as "classic?" That was when Madonna ruled the pop-charts, and Michael Jackson churned best-selling music of all time. But Madonna still makes music and Wacko Jacko still stirs a few roaring headlines. They haven't bitten the dust yet. And I thought classic was for those stuff who/which, are dying, withering and/or already dead.

Am I that too old? I am sharing you this quintessential video from the decade of decadence. If you love this video, you're probably  old just like me. Or uncool.

This one is titled, "Video Killed the Radio Star", by The Buggles  which was the first music video aired on the first MTV broadcast in August 1981. I was then 13 years old.

This is another 80's music video that any typical stuck-in-the-80's "kid" would love to see and hear. Entitled, "Whip It" by Devo, this is one of my favorite 'classic music." This was first released in 1980 when I was 12.

DEVO - Whip It
Do you like the song or the video? Did you ever live around the time when this song caught the top of the airwaves? If you do, do you think you can accept being called an "antiquated person?"

CAPTURE THE BLACK-AND-WHITE MOMENT TAG

A new blogger-friend, Monica,  tagged me with this fun photo tag. I initially wanted to post my B/W kiddie pictures but later opted for this photo of my niece. The last time I saw her, she was 7 months old and now she's 2 1/2 years old. She's really very cute, adorable and precocious little angel.

 

This is my 2 year old niece, Petricia Jelena or "Peejay" dancing to the tune of Beyonce's music. She was rocking it all out swaying and dancing like there's no tomorrow.

"A good Snapshot stops a moment from running away."

When you photograph people in color, you photograph their clothes. But when you photograph people in B & W, you photograph their souls." -Ted Grant

Rules:

1) Copy the quotes above.

2) Post a photo of your own or your loved ones' Black-and-White captured moments that you want to cherish your whole life.

3) Tag 5 people.

Fedhz, Juliet Cacai, Riaboo, and Shie.

Anyone can grab this tag, anyway.

FOR SECURITY REASONS

Moving to a new house in the next year is one special event that I am looking forward to. As early as now, I have been scouting for movers, home decorations, light fixtures and furniture online. I have made a list of them and inquired the everything about them that I am so concerned about. But as I made my list, I have noticed I almost forgot one most important thing---security system.

RUN! THE BLOG COPS ARE HERE

In the blogosphere, there exists a group who enacts, imposes and "authorizes" blogging rules and regulations without them realizing they have become---the blog police. These are fellow-bloggers who keep watch over other blogs by pinpointing other blog's flaws and imperfections. They scrutinize and grill other blogs but instead fry them through a post in their own(blog cops) blogs. There, they write either an informative or hoity-toity post about what they find despicable in other blogs.

Through my 9 months of blogging, I had a run-in with the law several times. The blog cops would bolt out from the blue, and then arrest me being caught violating their rules. They send me shouts or leave comments or post tags on my chatbox telling me that my blog has broken the commandments. Although oftentimes, they try to be gentle, they leave you feeling charged with the faults they see.

We, the "ordinary blog citizens" can become disturbed and perturbed by this type of bloggers. Who gave them the privilege of dissecting other blogs and criticize the authors for such "sins." What's more upsetting, who drafted these laws? Do we have a blog president? Or the Blog of Senate? Are there really a "black-and-white"  and "cut-and-dry" blogging rules and regulations? If there are, who did propose, draft  and legislate them?

I assume these all originate from top-notch professional bloggers like John Chow who dish out tips and techniques to make the best out of blogging. However, I don't think they are the "law." Unfortunately, some bloggers regard them as the ultimate statutes for blogging, when in reality, these were intentionally assembled as "fundamental guidelines."

I have no problem with these blog cops but the problem lies that most of them are "doing for the heck of it"---those bloggers who nit-pick and reprehend other bloggers just to make them feel good and to make their blogs look better. If their blogs are much way better than mine, I'd welcome the appraisal, but if their blogs are at the bottom of Alexa and Google P.R. , honestly, I get upset. Why? As I've previously reiterated, these are the ones who just want to make you feel bad by making their blogs look better through their unsolicited "advices." If the critique comes from a friend, I sincerely appreciate it. If not, they're just pompous by struggling so hard to be "authoritative" hence making their blogs look the most grandiose.

I have come up with a list of blogging sins that the blog cops would apprehend you one of these days. Some of them I have been nabbed of, while some of them I have read in other blogs writing about "what makes them not read your blog" or "why does your blog don't get enough traffic?" written by non-professional bloggers (really, they're not!)

Here they are;

1) The blog cops watch if your blog has a lot of paid posts. They said they don't read your blogs if your blogs contain posts  promoting a product or service knowing that you get paid for them. They wonder why these blogs have readers when they themselves don't want to read them.

My take: Don't read the blog. Each to his own purpose why bloggers created a blog; either to make money or not. The blog police, sad to say, don't probably make enough money by always spending their time looking out for other blogs' foibles and glitches.

2) The blog cops don't read your blog if you have a free host such as Blogspot or Wordpress. (I have read this post in a blog who's an Entrecard member). Some comments stated in that post, "how pretentious!" probably being riled by the author's way of ditching blogs that don't meet his standards.

LIGHT FIXTURES FOR A NEW HOME

As I had blogged previously about my plans to move to a new home, and decorating it myself, I had spent some time looking for light fixtures online. Being meticulous in choosing lights around my home, I examined each site's fare. I found that this online lighting store  has a wide selection of lights, lamps, outdoor lighting  and other lighting fixtures in varied styles and available at discounted prices. As I wanted to create ambiance lighting in all the areas of my new house, I think I am definitely going for  these beautiful and spectacular home lighting products this site sells.

SMART BLOGGER GOES INTERNATIONAL

The title above is just a pun that I made up out of 2 awards and a tag  I received recently.

Some bloggers think I am a "smart blogger" and I also like to think that I am. This is the Smart Blogger Award that Gagay, and a new friend, Shie passed on to me.

And this fabulous Blogger Trophy Award came from Mimot.

Meanwhile,Katherine, Bill, and another new  pal, Amy tagged me to join the International Bloggers Community.

LOCAL ONE-STOP DIRECTORY

Dining out is one of the things my husband and I enjoy doing during weekends. We both love to try new restaurants and diners to taste great food. Sometimes, we checked out events such as fairs, plays and concerts. But every time we are trying to look where to go, we end up using different local yellowpages and searches online.

CALL MY NAME AND I WON'T BE THERE

"What did you just call her?" my mother asked when one time I called her  friend by her first name. Of course, it was a joke. I apologized immediately. She sternly reprimanded me never to call  anybody older than me  by their name ever again.

Filipinos, by nature are very patient and respectful people. It's a cultural trait embedded deeply by strict and traditional upbringing of Spanish-influenced Catholic beliefs. Even our language, especially the national language, Tagalog, has an inherent quality of piety and respect to authorities and older people. The words "po" and "opo" which have no literal English translation, are used to denote acknowledgment of esteem towards older people and superiors.

Kinship hierarchy is particularly noted when you hear Filipinos say "Ate " for older sister and "Kuya" for older brother. These are derived from the Chinese kinship terms and some Filipinos adapted the other kinship terms for their families such as "Diko" (2nd older brother) and Ditse (2nd older sister) and Sangko (for third older brother) and "Sanse" (3rd older sister).

Friends of parents and other older people not old enough to be called "Lolo" (Grandpa) or "Lola" (Grandma) are addressed as "Tito" (for men) and "Tita" for women. Tito and Tita are actually Tagalog for Uncle and Aunt respectively.  At the workplace, you can never call your superior by their first names, unless it's normally accepted and tolerated in that environment. You have to call them "Sir" or "Ma'am." Generally, it's not acceptable to call your superiors by their first names because it conveys dishonor to their positions which are they are qualified for.

On the other hand, Americans have a propensity for first names. They love their first names so much that some of them are so hung up on names---their meanings, their popularity, their effects on the growth of a child, and the psychological consequences of the names.

So, imagine how appalling it was for me to hear "my kids" calling me by my first name, Viviene. I remembered exactly the moment when I asked my employer what did these children call their former nanny, I was astounded. She said, "Oh, of course her first name." I wanted to make a plea to ask her children call me something other than my first name , but I could not think of anything. Of course, it would be inappropriate and unfathomable for them to even stomach the idea, so I backed.  In my tiny country, calling older people by first names is like vitriol spewed ---an utter mark of discourtesy, dishonor and impertinence. But not to Americans. They just love their first names. American kids call their parents' friends and their friend's parents by their first names. Shocking to my senses is quite an understatement.

It was strange when after I got married, my mother-in-law said it was fine to call her by her first name, Carol. To me, it was disconcerting. So I told her I would call her Mom and she was  okay with that. Nobody in my country, would address their mothers-in-law by their first names. Even if their mothers-in-law are monsters in disguise.

STAINLESS STEEL HOME DECOR

Home decor is one of my weaknesses. Adorning my home with beautiful things ignite the creativity in me , and the pleasant aesthetic value it adds to my surroundings elate me. It's always relaxing to come home to a house that I love filled with exquisite decorations. Stress is immediately reduced replaced by feelings of comfort, luxury and calmness whenever I relax in a comfortable, lovely home.

WHY EASTER EGGS FOR JESUS' RESURRECTION?

Tomorrow is Easter Sunday. The whole Christiandom will be celebrating the day the Savior Jesus Christ resurrected from death. His death for the redemption of our sins paved the way for  us to  a new life, and granted us  a place in heaven. That is what Easter is all about.

For so many centuries, the commemoration of His miraculous restoration was signified more commonly by bunnies and eggs. We wonder where is Jesus there? What do eggs and bunnies got to do with Jesus dying on the cross and coming back to life? Back then I thought it was ridiculous to reduce this holy day to mere eggs in a basket, pink-colored bunnies with cute button eyes and sweet chocolates. What's the cross have in common with the egg?

But with a little research, I learned that these symbols are actually pagan images incorporated to Christianity. During the Spring Equinox, the focus is on the "rebirth" of living things where flowers bloom, trees grow leaves, and animals coming out from their  hibernation after a barren and depressing winter. The ever-producing rabbit or the hare, during the early pagan times, is believed to be a fertility symbol sacred to the pagans' goddess of Dawn, once known as Eostarra from which Easter derives its name. So they celebrate the rituals of spring with bunnies conveying the meaning of "rebirth" occurring in spring.

The egg, in many ancient cultures, is a common symbol for life. The Romans believed that  "all life comes from eggs" and Christians deemed that the egg is  "the seed of life." When Christianity was spread, the missionaries adopt and imbricate pagan rites and customs with Christian beliefs to attract them to come to church and lure them away from their practices of honoring nature as divine and sacred. The Easter Bunny is one of the pagan symbols that Christians used to get the pagan's attention thereby converting them into Christianity. This method of incorporating their customs is one of the most important factor in bringing these unbelievers to listen to the gospels. Since the Christian church observes the day of Jesus' death and resurrection at the onset of spring, it made sense that these events are immortalized on the same period of the  pagans' rites of the Spring Equinox's  to make Christianity more believable and logical to them.

In short,rabbits and eggs have been marked as symbols of "new life" and "rebirth", which are exactly what Jesus gave to us by His death and resurrection. We, who believe in Him who was born as a man to die to save us from our sins on the cross and  who came back to life, are promised new life by being forgiven of our sins and assured of eternal life.

So, now all of you who believe in Jesus' saving grace, let us celebrate Easter Sunday, not only with eggs, bunnies and chocolates, but most importantly, a grateful heart and spirit that our Savior will always be with us in our "new life"  and in our way to His kingdom in heaven.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have an eternal life." John 3:16

Happy Easter everyone!

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RV CAMPING AT GETTYSBURG

For such a time since the first day of spring, I began jotting down some plans and vacation wish-lists for summer. In the past years, we went to typical summer fares and destinations, but never on a camping trip. I had read America is teeming with a lot of camping sites for the adventurous and people who adore the outdoors.

KEEPING FIT AND IN SHAPE

When it comes to weight and fitness, I am fortunate that I maintain a healthy weight and a lean body. For as long as I can remember, I never had any problems with weight, no matter how much I eat. But there are times fats store up in places where I don't want them to show up, such as excess fat in the lower abdomen. As the warm weather sets in, I have ample time to get to jog, hike and play outside . Outdoor activities can really help me tone up my body, not only for a better shape but also for optimum health.

SPRING CLEANING OF BLOGROLLS

Spring is the time I always make sure I do general cleaning of my surroundings. This week, my husband, who enjoys a 9-day spring break from work, has helped me lift and move furniture, dust, and vacuum our humble abode.  One good thing about living in a condo-building is that we don't need to mow the lawn,  clean gutters and rooftops and neaten up the driveway. So though he does not really enjoy household chores, he confessed he loves it when we spend doing things together.

Also I noticed some bloggers doing some blogroll cleaning-up and I think I needed to update my blogroll. There are 2 kinds of blogrolls here in my site; the first one  is for friends, and  the second is for those I read regularly and/or bloggers who asked me for exchange-links. I checked some blogs who had previously requested for exchange-links and found out that my site is not even in their blogroll list. So I deleted those links. I thought exchange is reciprocal but to my dismay, it was one-way.

For those of you who have listed my site in your blogroll, please take note that my URL has changed to ;

http://www.ilovehateamerica.com

Please make the changes if possible.

And if my link is on your blogroll and you're not on mine, please tell me so by leaving a comment here.  I am sorry I am unaware of it. But I will gladly add you up in my blogroll.

COMFORT AND FASHION FOR THE OUTDOORS

Ever since I was a child, I enjoy dressing up. The first few conspicuous signs of a young fashionista  emerged to the delight of my parents. Wherever I went, I needed to be dressed to the nines. But as young as then, I also preferred comfortable clothes. So as I grew up, I tended to become particular with comfort as well as style.

When I got married, I became interested in a lot more outdoor activities with my husband. Especially in the summer, we love going to state parks , relishing the joys of kayaking and the kicks we find from hiking in the woods. Summer this year can really be exciting as we are planning a lot of outdoor activities in our itinerary. These plans also include making sure I have comfortable outerwear that are also fashionable. With about 2 months to go, I  sat down to search for affordable and chic active clothing online and I found Columbia Sportswear.

SWEETEST LOVE & FRIENDSHIP FROM BLOGGERS

Throughout my stay in the blogging world, I have been blessed with, not only regular readers, but also blogger-friends who  share their genuine interest in me and the sincere appreciation of my writings. Their friendship not only pushes me to keep on blogging but also their generosity to extend me recognition that demonstrate they really do love me and cherish me as their friend.

Here are the awards that I just received and 2 of them are from Bill;

This is the Brigadeiro Award.

"Brigadeiro" is a popular Brazilian chocolate candy ,which is of course very sweet.

I think Bill gave me this award because he wants to infest  me with ants  that were swarming all over him. Some people think I am sweet , some don't agree. But who cares? I just love being called "sweet".

The Blogger Friendship Award.

And this one came from Mimot ;

This "I Heart Your Blog" award came from a young lady who admires me and my blog. She looks up to me and she confers with so much praises. Mimot is her name and she is one pretty, exuberant and saccharine-sweet lass who constantly seeks my counsel.

I'd like to pass the Brigaderio Award to Mimot and Mye, the Blogger Friendship Award to my new friend, Badet and Elmot, and I Heart Your Blog Award to Clarisse and Jan.

Pass these awards to anyone you know  who deserves them.

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BUYING EVENT TICKETS

As the warm weather gradually makes its way, there is  an anticipation of going more outdoors. Like a little girl celebrating her birthday bash, I am very thrilled to engage in a lot more activities than when I was comfortably nestled inside at home during the cold season. I love going to the parks having barbecue meals, taking a dip in the beach and even just chasing Mr. Frostee along with his happy melodic jingle to have my taste of delicious ice cream. There's really a lot more on the outside than one could ever do. But one thing I and my hubby enjoy doing in the summer is watching games in the ballparks and seeing our favorite musicians gigging.

ANOTHER REASON TO BE COUCH POTATOES

One of the best things happening during springtime is the opening of the MLB (Major League Baseball). Today is the 1st day of the games and simply put, another good reason to stay away from the computer. The best MLB team, the Boston Red Sox gears up for a chance to repeat their champ prowess in the World Series this year as they did on 2004 and 2007.

I love watching baseball games especially my favorite team, the Red Sox. Honestly, when I came to this country, I did not understand how the game works thus never could appreciate it. I'd been a baseball fanatic in the Philippines, a basketball-nation. It was difficult for me to grasp the wonder of baseball because it is a traditional American game. Five years ago my husband introduced me to the fine art of appreciating the world of baseball. We only have one television set and I didn't have any choice but to give him the rein of the remote when it comes to watching sports on TV. Since I'm "forced " to watch it with him, I gradually learned to understand baseball.  A game I never thought I would like had become my post teenage-fascination. And of course, my husband hailing from Massachusetts, gave me a taste of how it is to be a fan of his home team. Soon, I became crazed with the magical mania of being a Red Sox fan. 

That year was 2004 when the Red Sox topped that season and won the World Series. With their winning, I became enamored with this great team. Soon I found myself buying Red Sox merchandise such as shirts, caps, pajamas, framed photos and books about Boston's pride. Then they attained the same feat again in the 2007 World Series. The mania just got hotter and I'm caught by the fever. My husband feared that it had become an obsession and I am entirely aware that my enthused fanaticism could apparently turn beside myself. I cheer and leap rabidly ala Tom Cruise on the couch  every time the Red Sox  score or get a homerun. In fact, I  had been imagining crafty and devious ways to get my favorite player pose for photos with me or sign autographs for me ---signatures of Josh Beckett, Jonathan Papelbon, Dice-K, Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, etc.

A SUMMER RETREAT

Though it's raining all day today, I'm still pretty excited about the summer which is about 2 months away from now. The dreaded winter season is over and I find myself planning where to go for a summer vacation. My aunt told me that a year ago that they had gone to the beach strips of North and South Carolina which she adored so much and called her vacation heavenly. 

FAVOR PLEASE!

My husband just recently entered another contest in the hopes of grabbing another guitar for a prize. Well, he"badly desires " it so he sought my favor to post a plea  in my blog to my friends and readers.

It was a rendition that I previously posted here but this time he submitted it to the Riff Contest sponsored by Washburn Guitars. It's his composition titled, "Shredding Action Mania" , obviously inspired by Eddie Van Halen's "Eruption." So, I urge you my friends and readers to please vote for him , "Stephen Coyne" at the Riff Contest site (http://www.riffcontest.com/videos/searchresults1.asp?id=59&searchbutton=Search).

My husband and I will greatly appreciate your support.

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SHREDDING ACTION MANIA