Alch3mist's Simple Reminders III

Here we go again. Life is full of surprises so ponder on these few thoughts I've heard and read. First, have a firm handshake. Look people in the eye. Sing in the shower. Own a great stereo system. If in a fight, hit first and hit hard. Keep secrets. Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen everyday. Always accept an outstretched hand. Be brave. Even if you're not, pretend to be. No one can tell the difference. Whistle. Avoid sarcastic remarks. Choose your life's mate carefully. From this one decision will come 90 percent of all your happiness or misery. Make it a habit to do nice things for people who will never find out. Lend only those books you never care to see again. Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all that they have. When playing games with children, let them win. Give people a second chance, but not a third. Be romantic. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know. Loosen up. Relax. Except for rare life-and-death matters, nothing is as important as it first seems. Don't allow the phone to interrupt important moments. It's there for your convenience, not the caller's.Be a good loser. Be a good winner. Think twice before burdening a friend with a secret. When someone hugs you, let them be the first to let go. Be modest. A lot was accomplished before you were born. Keep it simple. Beware of the person who has nothing to lose. Don't burn bridges. You'll be surprised how many times you have to cross the same river. Live your life so that your epitaph could read, "No Regrets". Be bold and courageous. When you look back on life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the one's you did. Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them. Remember no one makes it alone. Have a grateful heart and be quick to acknowledge those who helped you. Take charge of your attitude. Don't let someone else choose it for you. Visit friends and relatives when they are in hospital; you need only stay a few minutes. Begin each day with some of your favorite music. Once in a while, take the scenic route. Send a lot of Valentine cards. Sign them, 'Someone who thinks you’re terrific.' Answer the phone with enthusiasm and energy in your voice. Keep a note pad and pencil on your bed-side table. Million-dollar ideas sometimes strike at 3 a.m.! Show respect for everyone who works for a living, regardless of how trivial their job. Send your loved ones flowers. Think of a reason later. Make someone's day by paying the toll for the person in the car behind you. Become someone's hero. Count your blessings. Compliment the meal when you're a guest in someone's home. Wave at the children on a school bus. Remember that 80 per cent of the success in any job is based on your ability to deal with people. Don't expect life to be fair. There you go! I've highlighted the few thoughts whom I think is most important of all for me. Life has its ups and downs. Just learn to be flexible like the bamboo. When strong winds hit them, they bend and never break. Yes we should be strong but we have to flexible at certain times also. Cheers!

Carrot, Egg or Coffee?

You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again. A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed that as one problem was solved, a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She then pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me, what do you see?" "Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied. She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, Mother?" Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity -- boiling water -- but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water. "Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?" Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity? Do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor of your life. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you changed by your surroundings or do you bring life, flavor, to them? ARE YOU A CARROT, AN EGG, OR A COFFEE BEAN?

Regaining Trust

Trust in more important that monogamy. Regaining trust is so hard to do. You will have a series of difficulties and lot of doubts between partners. Dub Dub and I had a very nice relationship before. We trudted each other so much. We never had doubts until Dub Dub failed. I really felt so betrayed and I wanted to end the relationsip real time. I was thinking that, if he did it once, he could do it again. We've had a series of fights and arguements. We almost lose each others love just because we started to doubt each other.

Broken Heart

Dub Dub broke my heart. Sometimes people do things without really thinking. I'm still asking myself why did it happen. Was it special or was it merely the act itself? But the decesion depends on me. There is no guarantee that it will not happen again. So, I have to think a trillion times. I'm guessing that yesterday, I was in a kind of a denial. I was thinking that it did not happen and I was trying to accept it yesterday and was telling myself that it's okay and that I can move on. Last night was the only time it all sank in. I was really broken. In the back of my mind I was trying to fix things because of the time I have spent with Dub Dub and the comfort we have already established and the fear of doing it all over again. Starting over. I hope I'm sure of what I am doing. Whatever I do, I have to do it fot the right reasons. They say that a person who could afford to hurt me that much is not worthy of my love. If I think that I can be with him and forget what had happened and then just moved on. Then, that would be great. Why cry over a spilt milk. I have to forget about that things that have happened because if I do not, we will only end up begrudging him all of the time and we end up fighting.

Brent Corrigan

Brent Corrigan, (Sean Paul Lockhart, born 1986) is an American gay pornographic model who claims to have been born in 1986 in California. Corrigan started his career in pornography in 2004 at Cobra Video, as a young twink model in Every Poolboy's Dream. He quickly became one of Cobra's most famous performers even showing a double penetration scene with Brent Everett and Chase McKenzie in Schoolboy Crush.Corrigan is noted for his apparent display of pleasure when having anal sex. He performed in bareback sex scenes in his debut video and the 2006 release Cream BBoys, but a condom was used in all scenes starring both Corrigan and Brent Everett for Cobra. According to Cobra Video, he is a skateboarding enthusiast. Corrigan and Cobra Video have each created separate "official" websites promoting the performer.

Deny Yourself Not?

Bisexuality is the human sexual orientation which refers to the aesthetic, romantic, or sexual desire for people of either gender or of either sex.Gay is an adjective meaning "carefree", "happy", or "bright and showy"; however in modern usage, gay is a word usually used, as either a noun or adjective, to refer to same-sex sexual orientation; homosexuality.In short, being "bi" or "gay" is just a person's preference(s) of the people he likes to have sex with.However, it seems that in our country, the stereotype of a "gay" person is the effeminate or cross-dressing male who we see in beauty parlors or in the pageants we see on television. This was, I think due to Dolphy's portrayal of this subtype during the 1960's and 1970's. As a result, the straight-acting gays are now confused of where they should be, and now define themselves as "bi", when in truth they have no iota of interest in girls. Likewise, the effeminate bisexuals have also taken to calling themselves "gay" although they have wives whom they have sex on a regular basis.Moral: Stop confusing your sexual preferences with your personality. Either you're a straight heterosexual, an effeminate heterosexual, a straight bisexual, an effeminate bisexual, a straight-acting homosexual, an effeminate homosexual, a cross-dresser, or a transvestite. Each has its own definition.

Kung Fu Panda...

After going up the mountians of Guadalupe earlier that Sunday morning, we went to church to hear mass and go with the procession. We went to Ayala after and had dinner there. We ordered our favorite Chicken Lauriat from Chow King. We had pineapple juice for our drinks and I ordered fried dumplings and an extra rice. We were so hungry that evening. After eating few of our friends arrived. We chit-chatted fro a while then bud goodbyes and went on our each other ways. We went to see a movie. It was Kung Fu Panda. We had a nice time laughing and enjoying the movie. We were holding hands and hugging each other. We give each other a comforting hug. I kissed him softly, too. Letting him alwasy know that I will be always at his side. "Through thick and thin alright?", Dub Dub said. I told him, "Together. Walang iwanan sa eri!" Then, we smiled.

Kung Fu Panda is the story of Po, (voice Jack Black), a sweet, but clumsy Panda who has dreams of fighting with the legendary Furious Five and protecting the city against all threats. The only problem is that Po has no real life experience of kung fu, and his real job is serving noodles at his dad's noodles shop. News of selecting the Dragon Warrior is sent out from the Jade Temple, and the whole city along with Po, go to the celebration. The competition is between the Furious Five: Tigress (voice Angelina Jolie), Viper (voice Lucy Liu), Crane (voice David Cross), Monkey (voice Jackie Chan), and Mantis (voice Seth Rogen). Po accidentally enters the contest and is named the Dragon Warrior. Master Shifu (voice Dustin Hoffman) must find a way to train Po and make him a Kung Fu Master, especially, after they learn that the snow leopard, Tai Lung (voice Ian McShane), is headed their way.

Up The Mountains Again...

Dub Dub and I decided to have a night out with our friends last Saturday. We were so excited to see them again. Unfortunately we did not make it that night. Dub Dub and I were so tired the past three nights buying flowers and decorating them on the St. Anthony of Padua's Chapel near his uncle's home. It is a very antique image handed over form generation to generation.

Anyway, we didn't make it that night but we made it early dawn where most of our friends were already heading home. We met them at around 4 o'clock.

At around 6 o'clock, everybody decided to go home. Dub Dub and I went to Guadalupe to eat puto maya and sikwate. We also had eggs. It was our breakfast. Typically a Filipino breakfast. I used to eat those when my grand mum was still alive. I've missed the taste of those food.

After eating, Dub Dub wanted to show me a cave up the mountains. It was the cave where a certain villager found the image of the Our Lady of Guadalupe several years ago. They call it the "La Cueva La Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe" or The Cave of the Our Lady Of Guadalupe.

After there, Dub Dub took up the mountains of Guadalupe again. It was a different view form where we previously been. It was breath-taking. I mean the sight that you see below plus the climb uphill. Hahahaha! I'll take pictures soon. We'll climb up again. We were having fun. Identifying trees and grasses on the way up. Teasing each other and whispering sweet "I love you's".

We hiked up the mountain and into the forest. It was nice. Big tall trees everywhere. We kissed and we swore and vowed to be loyal to each other. Some sort of a simple short marriage. We were both happy.

We passed by Beverly Hills, where the rich and famous "used to" live. We saw beautiful houses. There were nice beautiful bonsai trees. We'll take pictures soon. We'll go back there next week.

After there, we hiked down. But, it did not end there. We went to the Taoist Temple. Where all Asian religion meet. It was the first time that I went there. It was nice that it was Dub Dub who took me there.

I saw Lutos flowers. They're so beautiful. They're pink and glorious. The waterlily's were pure. They were white and subtle.

At around 10 o'clock, we go home. We marched down the hill. Found an empty cab and head home. We dozed off for a little while hugging each other.

Waiting...

Real Boys, Kiss Boys

Real boys, kiss boys. Apollo and Hyacinthus. Achilles and Patrokulos. Alexander, the Great and Hephaestion. They were good friends and they were lovers, too. They loved each other so much. Apollo lamented so much when Hyacinthus died. Achilles killed Paris as a revenge for what Paris did to Patrokulos. Why would people try to illegalize something that is so beautiful.

28 Things That A Perfect Guy Would Do...

1. Know how to make you smile when you are down.
2. Try to secretly smell your hair, but you always notice.
3. Stick up for you, but still respects your independence.
4. Give you the remote control during the game.
5. Come up behind you and put his arms around you.
6. Play with your hair.
7. His hands always find yours.
8. Be cute when he really wants something.
9 . Offer you plenty of massages.
10. Dance with you, even if he feels like a dork.
11. Never run out of love.
12. Be funny, but know how to be serious.
13. Rea lize he's being funny when he needs to be serious.
14. Be patient when you take forev er to get ready.
15. React so cutely when you hit him and it actually hurts .
16. Smile a lot.
17. Plans a romantic date full of cheesy things he wouldn't normally like to do, just because he knows it means a lot to you.
18. Appreciate you.
19. Help others out.
20. Drive 5 hours just to see you for 10 minutes.
21. Always gives you a peck on the cheek when you depart from each others company, even when his friends are watching.
22. Sing, even if he can't.
23. Have a creative sense of humor.
24. Stare at you.
25. Call for no reason.
26. Quit smoking, chewing, drinking, or drugs - just because he loves you that much to quit it.
27. Cuts work just to be with you.
28. Would make time for you without any excuses.

A Valentine's Day to Remember

More than a year ago, I was with someone I cared for. I was almost in the brink of giving my all to him, giving all of me. I always had a haunch that this guy was cheating on me so I started to back off and then I fell out of love for him. He wasn't the one I am willing to give my whole heart to.

14.February.2007

I believe trust is more important than monogamy. Once broken, you can no longer put it back. Just like Humpty-Dumpty. Stupid of him to sat on the wall and fall. And so stupid of me to have written this. However, if you can put it back, it may never be the same thing again. The truth hurts. It's powerful. It's like a sharp knife. It may be used to crave images and inspire others but can also inflict so much pain. Things honestly said won't hurt that much. One must face the truth, for truth set things in their proper order. Trust! A difficult thing to fix. And if you can't fix it, just step on it.

The Law of the Garbage Truck (adopted)

How often do you let other people's nonsense change your mood? Do you let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive employee ruin your day? Unless you're the Terminator, for an instant you're probably set back on your heels. However, the mark of a successful person is how quickly he/she can get back her focus on what's important.

Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson. I learned it in the back of a New York City taxi cab. Here's what happened.

I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car's back end by just inches!

The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us.

My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was friendly. So, I said, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!'

And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.'

Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they'll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on you, don't take it personally.

You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on.

You'll be happy you did.

So this was it: The 'Law of the Garbage Truck.' I started thinking, how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people: at work, at home, on the streets? It was that day I said, 'I'm not going to do it anymore.' I began to see garbage trucks. I see the load they're carrying. I see them coming to drop it off. And like my Taxi Driver, I don't make it a personal thing; I just smile, wave, wish them well, and I move on.

One of my favorite football players of all time, Walter Payton, did this every day on the football field. He would jump up as quickly as he hit the ground after being tackled. He never dwelled on a hit. Payton was ready to make the next play his best.

Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting. Good parents know that they have to welcome their children home from school with hugs and kisses.

Teachers and parents know that they have to be fully present, and at their best for the people they care about.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let Garbage Trucks take over their day.

What about you?

What would happen in your life, starting today, if you let more garbage trucks pass you by?

Here's my bet. You'll be happier.

So, love the people who treat you right. Forget about the ones who don't. Believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get a chance , TAKE IT! If it changes your life , LET IT! Nobody said it would be easy. They just promised it would be worth it!

Solitude, Soulmate, Chance or Choice?

When we meet the right person to love when we're at the right place at the right time. That's CHANCE.

When you meet someone you're attracted to, that's not a choice.That's CHANCE.

Being caught up in a moment (and there's a lot of couples who get together because of this) is not a choice. That's also a CHANCE.

The difference is what happens afterward. When will you take that infatuation, that crush, that mind-blowing attraction to the next level? That'swhen all sanity goes back, you sit down and contemplate whether you want to make this into a concrete relationship or just a fling.

If you decide to love a person, even with his faults, that's not a chance. That's CHOICE.

When you choose to be with a person, no matter what, that's CHOICE.

Even if you know there are many people out there who are more attractive, smarter, and richer than your mate, and yet, you decide to love your mate just the same, that's CHOICE.

Infatuation, crushes, attraction comes to us by CHANCE. But true love that lasts is truly a CHOICE. A choice that we make.

Regarding soulmates, there's a beautiful movie quote that I believe is so true about this : "Fate brings you together, but it's still up to you to make it happen."

I do believe that soulmates do exist. That there is truly someone made for you. But it's still up to you to make the choice if you're going to do something about it or not.

We may meet our soulmates by chance, but loving and staying with our soulmate or our partner is still a choice that we have to make.

Together The Whole Day

I had a nice time with Dub Dub the whole day yesterday. He and I had two separate plans. We started our day by having brunch at Kenny Roger's Roasters in Ayala. We had crispy chicken, a glass of iced tea and a box of muffins. We had a great time. We enjoyed being with each other. \After eating, we went to Flower Trends to order flowers for Friday. I enjoyed the flowers. They have mums to anastasia to roses to gerberas.We had separate plans after. I'll be gymming and he'll off to school to finish few paper works and other stuffs. Then, we'll meet and then go to Mactan to inquire about having the image of St. Francis Xavier carved out of pure wood. And by the way, I've met a very good sculptor. He carved images so beautifully. Every minute detail was terrific. He was good. Wow! The plans changed. And here's the sweetest thing Dub Dub ever said on that day. "Lub Lub, I won't go to school anymore. I just wanna be with you the whole day." Awwww! That's sweet. So, that is why we went to Mactan to meet the sculptor and went to light few candles in the church of the Our Lady of Rule Parish in Opon. We took the ferry from Opon to the city then went to Guadalupe to check few emails. He also had to have a haircut. It's the first day of school tomorrow that's why. I was feeling a bit sick. I was guessing earlier that I might be having a fever in a while.\We went home. I took a dump and freshen myself up. I took a shower and then Dub Dub took a shower after. We got dressed and took a cab to SM City Mall. He had his haircut taken there. We saw Niel, Kirby and Kal, too. He looked beautiful in his new haircut. I fell in love with him again. I didn't want I was feeling but I missed so much even though we were just inches away. I missed him that much that I told him teary-eyed: "Dub Dub, together always? Don't leave me, please... Don't leave me hanging..." He looked at me and said: "Together forever. I will never leave you." We bought flowers also because he had to change the flowers in the chapel. We bought yellow chrysanthemum, dancing ladies and few leaves and ferns. We took a cab to the chapel and then I dozed off by the corner waiting for him to finish arranging the flowers. He finished at around 11 o'clock. He woke me up and then we head home. I was so sleepy and he was so tired. I dozed off in his shoulders and he whispered: "Thanks for being with me for the whole day." I woke up half-asleep and then smiled at him saying: "Always welcome Dub Dub. Thanks for having me for the whole day too." Then, our lips came together. The next thing I know is that I was home. Home is where the heart is and my heart belongs to Dub Dub. I will always be home whenever we're together.