There’s a car in there somewhere!

Find more photo hunters at PhotoHunt

This is Massachusetts when it’s not being friendly!  Every nasty winter I swear I’d leave the East coast and then the irresistible Spring, promise of a warm Summer and beautiful Autumn comes and I swear I won’t leave town! So goes the four season cycle of my life here…

There’s my car!

The smile is only for the photo op…!

I did a snowy new year greeting last year, thought I’d share some again!

Hey I could do this every year -as long as I’m living in the east coast- there will be snow!

Farewell 2008 with all your sorrows and heartaches,

Welcome 2009 with all your promise and prospect…

Wishing everyone a very healthy, prosperous and peaceful new year- heaven knows we all could use a little break from it all!

I have been feeling the Winter blues for the past two weeks. When you’re thousands of miles away from family and relatives, you can’t help it. Everything seems forced- a smile, the energy to go out in the cold, greeting people- it’s hard when deep down, you wished you were somewhere else…

It didn’t help that Boston had it’s first annual snowstorm last weekend where it snowed for three days! Probably a total of 18 inches of snow after it was over. It is going to be a White Christmas as promised as it has been every year in the east coast. I had a little fun in the snow which was good and I found some more cheering up while I was shopping online at Gap.com.

I’ve loved the Gap store ever since I can remember and its sister companies: Old Navy, Banana Republic and its latest addition Piperlime- its online specialty shoe and bag shop. I could visit these stores every week even just to window shop (in this case, I don’t always leave empty handed- can’t resist the SALE SECTION!) I would endorse it happily for free any chance I get!

They always come up with the most trendy TV commercials and print ads and Gap has ventured into Music Videos of late. Here’s this year’s Holiday carols with an all-star cast from Selma Blair, Rainn Wilson, Freddy Rodriguez, Romano Malco, Jason Biggs, Jon Heder, Janelle Monae, Flo Rida, Trey Songs and Sandra Barnhard to The Dixie Chicks. They are all wearing the Gap clothing of course!

Please click more to view the videos. I’m sorry to note that the videos auto play. Please adjust your sound volume appropriately. Thanks!

Continue on next page…

Winter Songs

Currently playing on my ipod, downloaded from a new cd: The Hotel Cafe Presents… Winter Songs
My mood: subdued

Winter Song
by Ingrid Michaelson feat. Sara Bareilles

This is my winter song to you
The storm is coming soon
It rolls in from the sea

My voice, a beacon in the night
My words will be your light
To carry you to me

Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love…

They say that things just cannot grow
Beneath the winter snow
Or so I have been told

They say we’re buried far
Just like a distant star
I simply cannot hold

Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?

This is my winter song
December never felt so wrong
‘Cause you’re not where you belong
Inside my arms

I still believe in summer days
The seasons always change
And life will find a way

I’ll be your harvester of light
And send it out tonight
So we can start again

Is love alive?
Is love alive?
Is love alive?

This is my winter song
December never felt so wrong
‘Cause you’re not where you belong
Inside my arms

This is my winter song to you
The storm is coming soon
It rolls in from the sea

My love, a beacon in the night
My words will be your light
To carry you to me

Is love alive?

The Hotel Cafe Presents…Winter Songs

The Heartache Can Wait

By Belinda Carlile

You’re talking about leaving
It’s right about Christmas time
Thinking about moving on
I think I might die inside

I’m thinking about years gone by
I’m thinking about church at midnight
I’m thinking about letting go
I think that might finally be alright

But this is where we shine

Silver bells and open fire
And songs we used to sing
One more chance to be inspired
Is what I’m offering if love is not enough
Then stay with me because
The heartache can wait

It’s not about hanging on
It’s making my deal with God
If I could call one last truce
We’ve given it all we’ve got

Then I’m gonna catch my breath
And make it a long December
If we’ve got nothing left
This could be worth remembering
With a smile upon my face

Silver bells and open fire
And songs we used to sing
One more chance to be inspired
Is what I’m offering if love is not enough
Then stay with me because

Silver bells and open fire
And songs we used to sing
One more chance to be inspired
Is what I’m offering if love is not enough
Then stay with me because
The heartache can wait

Mistletoe

By Colbie Caillat

…
Fake plastic Mistletoe
Wrap me in a great big bow
And tear me apart

It’s Christmas time
So open up the flood gates
Tell me that you’ll be late
And rip me apart

Cause you say that, you say that things will be alright
But I’ve heard that, I’ve heard that so many times and I know that

It’s not Christmas if the snow don’t fall
And I’m still standing here three feet small
Lose our troubles because after all
It’s Christmas time

It’s Christmas time…

Cold
Icing on the walkways
Slip in to the games we play
We’re falling apart

A great big house
That’s made out of ginger bread
Crumbles to the ground
We’re breaking apart

But you said that, you said that things would be alright
But I’ve heard that, I’ve heard that so many times and I know that

It’s not Christmas if the snow don’t fall
And I’m still standing here three feet small
Lose our troubles because after all
It’s Christmas time

And I’ve been waiting for you to come
And it’s hard cause I feel so alone
And I just want you to come home

Waiting for you to come
And it’s hard cause I feel so alone
And I just want you to come home

It’s not Christmas if the snow don’t fall
And I’m still standing here three feet small
Lose our troubles because after all
It’s Christmas time

It’s not Christmas if the snow don’t fall
You’re not here to keep me safe and warm
Lose our troubles because after all
It’s Christmas time

It’s Christmas time again
And all your friends, all your friends
Are smiling
It’s Christmas time

“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.”

- Edward Abbey

Winter afternoon cloud formation…

What’s a scenery without clouds…?

Find more photo hunters at PhotoHunt

You are looking at three remarkable landmarks of Yosemite Valley: the El Capitan (the tip partially covered with clouds on the left), the Half Dome (in the middle, smaller view) and the Bridalveil Fall (on the right).
[ Please click on the photos for a better, bigger view! ]

“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity…” –John Muir, 1898

The photos are breathtaking views into Yosemite Valley, one of America’s natural treasures where 95% of nearly 1,200 square miles is Wilderness.  It is located in central Sierra Nevada of California; visited by 3.5 million tourists every year!! Taken in the Winter month of March 2007.

To learn more about Yosemite, visit the US National Park Service department.

with my youngest sister, Inah feeling warm and cozy with her hood on… and that’s me, after a whole day of driving and walking; with 3 hours sleep and waking up at 4am!!

Find more photo hunters at PhotoHunt

01. Call an old friend, just to say hi.

02. Hold a door open for a stranger.

03. Invite someone to lunch.

04. Compliment someone on his or her appearance.

05. Ask a coworker for their opinion on a project.

06. Bring cookies to work.

07. Let someone cut in during rush hour traffic.

08. Leave a waitress or waiter a big tip.

09. Tell a cashier to have a nice day.

10. Call your parents.

11. Let someone know you miss them.

12. Treat someone to a movie.

13. Let a person know you really appreciate them.

14. Visit a retirement center.

15. Take a child to the zoo.

16. Fill up your spouse’s car with gas.

17. Surprise someone with a small gift.

18. Leave a thank-you note for the cleaning staff at work.

19. Write a letter to a distant relative.

20. Tell someone you thought about them the other day.

21. Put a dime in a stranger’s parking meter before the time expires.

22. Bake a cake for a neighbor.

23. Send someone flowers to where they work.

24. Invite a friend to tea.

25. Recommend a good book to someone.

26. Donate clothing to a charity.

27. Offer an elderly person a ride to where they need to go.

28. Bag your own groceries at the checkout counter.

29. Give blood.

30. Offer free baby-sitting to a friend who’s really busy or just needs a break.

31. Help your neighbor rake leaves or shovel snow.

32. Offer your seat to someone when there aren’t any left.

33. Help someone with a heavy load.

34. Ask to see a store’s manager and comment on the great service.

35. Give your place in line at the grocery store to someone who has only a few items.

36. Hug someone in your family for no reason.

37. Wave to a child in the car next to you.

38. Send a thank-you note to your doctor.

39. Repeat something nice you heard about someone else.

40. Leave a joke on someone’s answering machine.

41. Be a mentor or coach to someone.

42. Forgive a loan.

43. Fill up the copier machine with paper after you’re done using it.

44. Tell someone you believe in them.

45. Share your umbrella on a rainy day.

46. Welcome new neighbors with flowers or a plant.

47. Offer to watch a friend’s home while they’re away.

48. Ask someone if they need you to pick up anything while you’re out shopping.

49. Ask a child to play a board game, and let them win.

50. Ask an elderly person to tell you about the good old days.

51. During bad weather, plan an indoor picnic with the family.

52. Buy someone a goldfish and bowl.

53. Compliment someone on their cooking and politely ask for a second helping.

54. Dance with someone who hasn’t been asked.

55. Tell someone you mentioned them in your prayers.

56. Give children’s clothes to another family when your kids outgrow them.

57. Deliver extra vegetables from your garden to the whole neighborhood.

58. Call your spouse just to say, I love you.

59. Call someone’s attention to a rainbow or beautiful sunset.

60. Invite someone to go bowling.

61. Figure out someone’s half-birthday by adding 182 days, and surprise them with a cake.

62. Ask someone about their children.

63. Tell someone which quality you like most about them.

64. Brush the snow off of the car next to yours.

65. Return your shopping cart to the front of the store.

66. Encourage someone’s dream, no matter how big or small it is.

67. Pay for a stranger’s cup of coffee without them knowing it.

68. Leave a love letter where your partner will find it.

69. Ask an older person for their advice.

70. Offer to take care of someone’s pet while they’re away.

71. Tell a child you’re proud of them.

72. Visit a sick person, or send them a care package.

73. Join a Big Brother or Sister program.

74. Leave a piece of candy on a coworker’s desk.

75. Bring your child to work with you for the afternoon.

76. Give someone a recording of their favorite music.

77. Email a friend some information about a topic they are especially interested in.

78. Give someone a homemade gift.

79. Write a poem for someone.

80. Bake some cookies for your local fire or police department.

81. Organize a neighborhood cleanup and have a barbecue afterwards.

82. Help a child build a birdhouse or similar project.

83. Check in on an old person, just to see if they’re okay.

84. Ask for the recipe after you eat over at someone’s house.

85. Personally welcome a new employee at work and offer to take them out for lunch.

86. While in a car, ask everyone to buckle up because they are important to you.

87. Let someone else eat the last slice of cake or pizza.

88. Stop and buy a drink from a kid’s lemonade stand.

89. Forgive someone when they apologize.

90. Wave to someone looking for a parking space when you’re about to leave a shopping center.

91. Send a copy of an old photograph to a childhood friend.

92. Leave a pint of your spouse’s favorite flavor of ice cream in the freezer with a bow on it.

93. Do a household chore that is usually done by someone else in the family.

94. Be especially happy for someone when they tell you their good news.

95. Compliment a coworker on their role in a successful project.

96. Give your spouse a spontaneous back rub at the end of the day.

97. Serve someone in your family breakfast in bed.

98. Ask someone if they’ve lost weight.

99. Make a donation to a charity in someone’s honor.

100. Take a child to a ballgame.

And last, but not least…

101. Forward the list to at least 10 of your friends, or post to your blog and tag the ones who tagged you with it (that’s a sure way to make one smile! )…

I’d like to make the following people smile with some link love

My Consoling Asylum | The Chronicles of a Pinay Dreamer | Digital Guide for Techie Ladies | My Emotional Recycle Bin | Snippets of a Quaint Quill | Stacie’s Blog | The Zen Bitch Speaks | Joan Joyce Says… | Bituwinfish Unwritten | Ink blots Life Unravelled | Linky Love | Pulse by Em Dy | Comics Mix | Ansichtskarten and more | Blogs That Follow | Literary Ek-Ek | Jesie Blog Journey | Malawika | Julia Aquino Blog | Thinking Out Loud | Not a Lawyer | Being Human | PJ Bacolod | 100% Batangueno | Jericho Central | Soapbox Spectacle | Filipina Images | Cyberpunk’s So-called Life | Tech at Hand | No Need For ink | I am Rozeh | Potpourri | Prudence and Madness| Modern Musings | Webbyman | Flygirl | Warmstone | Waliz Diary | Mental Stimulation | JMom | Pusang Maganda | A Linux Sysad Blog |

Hence, the suffering begins. My suffering anyway.

We had the first snow of the year today. Every time the temperature drops to 0C (32F), it reminds me again why am I still in the coldest part of the East coast? I hate Winter. I hate the cold weather! But Boston is truly a beautiful place to be at in the Spring and the Summer! So goes my cycle and dilemma. In the Winter time, I want to move out of this State! In the Summer time, I don’t want to be anywhere else but in Boston.

Today was just a mild snow storm, (a major would be about -20C) but the thing with mild is everything gets iced the next day. You don’t want to walk on ice! I’ve slipped here and there walking on ice, literally fall flat on my back! That happens when you step on an unsalted area and yeah, when you’re as clumsy as I am. You can’t let that happen to anybody walking in front of your house because if they break a bone or something, you can get sued! Seriously.

While living in the cold area has its advantages (no flies, rodents, mosquitoes, you don’t sweat! food aren’t easily spoiled, everything looks extra nice when covered in snow…) I find more disadvantages to it- more like being gloomy and depressed for three months.

The nights are longer and colder (4pm is like 8pm at night)! Driving is awful and doubly dangerous when caught in a snow storm especially at night. Others like the idea of hiding in layers under one’s clothing, not my style! I’m a beach girl! Even with tons of layers, my hands and feet are still icy, my lips chapped, face flushed and since I always forget to wear a hat, my nose and ears- frozen! The air is dry so my nose tends to bleed a little.
Much as I love not sweating, some people think it’s all right NOT to take a shower in the Winter. When you’re in a crowded and enclosed area like the train or elevator, there’s an almost suffocating smell in the air! I think it’s also because they think it’s all right to wear the same clothing for days since it’s still ‘clean’. The heating bill is outrageous, you wish you’ll just hibernate to skip turning up the heat! In an article from Forbes it mentions the 20 most expensive cities to heat in the United States and Boston ranks first. Oh and did I almost forget to mention that you’re responsible for cleaning up your own driveway and dig into the snow to get your car so you can get to work? You’re outside in the cold for an hour or so shoveling and clearing up your area especially the sidewalk for people to pass. You can hire someone to clean for only $100.00 each time!

Snow taller than me! The smile is only for the photo op. Believe me, you’ll hate winter too!!

Ok, I must admit the first Winter and snow experience were exciting! I felt like a kid who discovered “Neverland.” But only lasted a day… I’m miserable in the Winter. Really.

Massachusetts and the East Coast are not really the most popular areas Filipinos would choose to migrate (except perhaps for New York) primarily because of the weather. There are only about 10,000 Filipinos in Massachusetts as opposed to the warmer and always sunny California with over a million Filipino migrants. Yet, the 10,000 seem to love it here because it makes them feel like they belong to the “upper class” (sosyal) as one Filipina I met said to me; While living in California seems like you’ve never left the Philippines at all because it’s too Filipino congested, she further added (meaning what? “lower-class”). I found the comment rather amusing if not shallow and ignorant. I wanted to make a snowman out of her! But I will not rattle on that now.

It’s officially Winter in Boston. Let me out of here!

© 2007