They’re Back!!

Oi! They’re Back!

McLeod’s Daughters is finally back with a new season. I accidentally found out about it last night when I was flipping from one channel to the next to keep me occupied when instead I should be working on a group assignment. For those of you guys who aren’t out partying on a Friday night, you can check out the show on Channel 70 (Vision Channel) at 10:00pm. Hope you guys like it!

San Francisco

San Francisco, California ( 06 - 11 Feb 2007)

I was in San Francisco 2 weeks ago for the American Stroke Association’s Annual Stroke Conference and it was my first time there. Unfortunately, I didn’t really have a lot of time to sightsee as our days were very packed with sessions and symposium. On top of that we had dinner meetings too. Saturday was a packed day cause it was the only day for sightseeing. Peterson (my co-worker) and I went to Alcatraz, even though that was his third time going he still kept me company. It was an interesting experience. It wasn’t very creepy cause there were so many tourists in there. It kinda reminded me of Mauthausen, a concentration camp we visited in Austria cause everyone was quiet and just talking it all in in their own way.

After the trip to Alcatraz, Peterson and I went to Fisherman’s Wharf and had crab for lunch. Walking by stalls after stalls of lobsters, crabs and shrimps kinda made us hungry. It was fun though! Standing by the stall, picking on the warm juicy crab! NUMMY!! I’ll definitely do that again.

After that we just walked around the wharf and the pier and headed towards the Ghirardelli Ice Cream Shop. I had their brownie sundae and man that was some smooth, creamy ice cream and chocolate. I definitely recommend this place to anyone who is visiting San Francisco. Even if you are watching your calories, one ice cream from Ghirardelli is worth screwing your calorie count for. Well, that’s my opinion anyway.

I should mention though that while we were sightseeing it was raining in San Francisco. It was raining the whole time we were there, alternating from light to heavy rain. Then on the day we were leaving, it was damn bright and sunny. It’s gotta be me travelling. I can never catch a good weather.  Oh and to top it all off, our flight was delayed leaving San Francisco because the approach sensors on the airplane weren’t functioning. Goodness!! I couldn’t believe my luck! Here I was in the same position I was in 2 weeks prior. Needless to say, the last 3 times I’ve flown in a span of 6 weeks, I’ve had problems with my flights. The most problematic was my flight back from Toronto when it was delayed at the airport for 2 hours because the cargo door wouldn’t close. Finally they got that closed and we were off. Then in mid-flight they discovered that the problem was a bit more extensive than the cargo doors. One of the main hydraulic engines weren’t functioning well and wouldn’t do well with Vancouver’s turbulent weather. So we had to make an emergency stop at Calgary, got off the plane and waited an hour for another plane from Vancouver to bring us back to Vancouver. It was a disaster! I was supposed to arrive in Vancouver at 8 pm and didn’t actually get there till 3 am. I was not impressed! This was what I was worried about when they told us in San Francisco that they were having problems with the approach sensors. Granted California wasn’t that far and the flight wouldn’t take that long but it was the fact that I was on another plane with another malfunction. Well, hopefully I won’t have this same experience next time I fly which won’t be for a little while.

Anyway, San Francisco was really nice. I got to walk around Downtown a little bit on Sunday morning before my flight. Those hills are deadly! Well, I didn’t try walking it anyway. Why should I when there’s a perfectly functioning cable car that would get me to where I want to go? Maybe another time. It would be a good exercise though if you walk or jog that hill everyday, but that’s for the people who live there.

I’ve posted some photos in my blog album. Check em out!

Step Up

Step Up

I am so addicted to this movie! I have seen it at least once everyday for the last few days. The dance moves in this movie were very well choreographed. The dancers moved so fluidly that I could not believe how their body stayed together. It looked like their arms and legs were going to pop out of their sockets. Watching all the dance moves kinda motivated me to go back to my dance classes. Hey whatever works right! I wasn’t gonna pass up that motivation to get my butt off the couch. I also liked all the dresses that the lead female dancer was wearing during the movie. Maybe when I actually go frequently to dance classes then I can justify buying those tights and wrap around dresses.

If you guys like dance movies at all, check this one out. It ain’t that bad. Here’s a link to a website that has some of the video clips/trailers of the movie:

http://myspace.com/stepupmovie

Enjoy!

Sidney Sheldon 1917 - 2007

In Memoriam:

Sidney Sheldon, 1917 - 2007

I just found out today that Sidney Sheldon has passed away last January 30, 2007 due to complications from pneumonia. It’s sad to know that there will be no more Sheldon novels to read.

It was my aunt who got me started reading his novels. One summer while I was still living in the Philippines, she went home and she brought tons of novels that she’s read already and gave them to me. I got started reading one of Sheldon’s books which was titled "Nothing Lasts Forever". I remember thinking, this guy really had me going in circles. I was amazed at how he wrote he story. It was gory or morbid at times, but it definitely made the story interesting. I think I’ve pretty much read all his books and I like them all but I definitely love the very first one I read.  I liked all the mysterious tidbits he included in the story and how it all added up in the end. When you read a chapter, you kinda think, what the heck does that have to do with the story, and then in the end it all clicked in to place.

For those of you who haven’t read any of his novels, borrow one from the library and see what you think of it. It’s all about the mystery and suspense in the story. If you like that kinda of stuff, I’m sure his novels won’t disappoint you.

The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker

This holiday season, Keith and I watched Ballet BC and Alberta Ballet’s co-production of "The Nutcracker". It was performed very well by all the dancers but I found that I liked the group performances more than the individual or pair performances. Watching the ballerinas on their tippy toes, swinging and dancing as the distinctive ‘ping’ of the bells of the music was being played by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra was ‘enchanting’. It is definitely a fairy tale - just with the music and the costumes, everything were classy and elegant. I bet that most boys watching the show did not have as much fun as the little girls. At the end of the show you kinda notice all those little girls trying to dance on their tip toes and asking their parents if they could be a ballerina when they grow up.

I’ve actually been trying to figure out where i first heard of the music for The Nutcracker and I think it was from Disney’s Fantasia movie. I seem to think that the Waltz of the Flowers was played during the segment where a little fairy was dancing on the frozen lake and making some very interesting squiggly art on the ice. But I can’t be so sure, it’s been a while since I watched that movie. I guess i’ll just have to watch Fantasia again.

Why can’t I??

Why can’t I??

Recently, I’ve been planning on what I would do for my upcoming birthday. I kinda wanted to do something "good". That doesn’t necessarily mean I wouldn’t go out partying the next day. I was hoping I could donate blood so I started looking into what the requirements were before I can donate blood. I looked up the information at Canadian Blood Services website: http://www.bloodservices.ca/CentreApps/Internet/UW_V502_MainEngine.nsf/page/Donors?OpenDocument&CloseMenu

and I found out that you have to be a certain weight for a certain height. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t make the cut off. I thought I could finagle my way in eventhough I was a few pounds less than their minimun weight. However, they had told me I needed to gain 3 more pounds for my height before I can donate blood. I was extremely disappointed but what else can I do. All these requirements are in place as safety/security measures for the donors and the recipients. I haven’t fully decided yet whether I will try and gain that "3 pounds" in order to donate blood.  I guess I’ll just have to do something else while I make that decision.

For those of you who aren’t vertically challenged as I am, and are able to donate blood. THINK ABOUT IT!! I’m sure someone out there would appreciate your gesture.

Body Worlds

Body Worlds 3 at Science World, Vancouver

This weekend, I saw Body Worlds with Keith, CJ, Rosemarie and Kiara. It was a really fascinating exhibit! For those of you who haven’t heard of it, it is an anatomical exhibition of real human bodies. Now before you guys say this is inhumane and unethical, know that these bodies were obtained by donation. The deceased, prior to dying of course, had signed an agreement or consent for their bodies to be part of this exhibit.  Some people may think of this as very morbid but the exhibit was done really well. The bodies were presented in a very educational format and in no way disrespects the person’s dignity or spirit.

I would definitely recommend seeing this exhibit. It doesn’t matter if you are not in the health care or health sciences field, or haven’t taken any extensive anatomy and physiology courses. It is for everyone! Plus Science World rents out audioguides that provide more information about the exhibit as you walk from one section to the next.

The bodies were apparently preserved using "Plastination" which was invented by Dr. Gunther von Hagens. The whole purpose is to stop the decay of the tissues. You can learn more about this process in their official website:

http://www.bodyworlds.com/index.html

You can also watch a video in this link below to learn about what other people thought about the exhibit:

http://www.scienceworld.bc.ca/bodyworlds/video.html

HOW I WISH!!!

HOW I WISH!!!

I had a great time today cause I got to test drive a MINI COOPER S!

I love how this car makes me feel a little bigger or taller cause it fits me just right. The handling on this car is amazing!!! It hugs those tight corners smoothly and it accelerates really quickly too. I hope someday I’ll be able to own one.

What a rockin’ concert?!!!

The Emancipation of Mimi Tour 2006

I’VE FINALLY SEEN MARIAH CAREY IN CONCERT!!!! SHE WAS AMAZING!!! I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to finally watch/hear her LIVE. She has an amazing vocal range and boy how I wish I had that too.

We got great seats cause we were only a few feet away from the center stage. I got to see her up close and personal. I would never have thought that this would have happened. Now, everytime I sing her songs in the shower or while I’m cleaning the house, I’m definitely gonna think about how much fun I had that night. Ida and I were screaming our hearts out…more like our lungs. We had such a great time!!!

Note: I know this post is a way late considering the concert was back in September but I wanted to pay homage to my singing hero in my own way….

What I’m listening to….

I’ve recently bought John Mayer’s latest album entitled "Continuum". I must admit that I bought it because I heard one of the songs used in CSI’s season premiere. I’m so hooked into it that, as usual, it’s the only thing anyone ever hears being played at our place. Luckily, Keith ended up liking it too cause it kinda reminded us both of Eric Clapton.

Mayer moved towards more bluesy songs in this album but there’s still songs with the same melody as "Your body is a Wonderland".

I’m not sure whether his second album did well, but I think this new album is worth trying. Check out his website, there’s a video/audio link to some of the songs in this new album. He’s also got some pretty interesting blog entries.

www.johnmayer.com