I just found out that In the U.S., they also buy and sell used computer hardwares and there are even large companies who do this. Of course they buy those famous brands like used cisco hardwares, etc. I’ve always wondered about this because unlike here in the Philippines, almost all people in the states seem to be capable of buying brand new products and thought they’d never settle for second hand or used products. Here in the Philippines, people would keep their computers as long as they could because life is hard. My cousin even bought our old one when we upgraded to a new one because they can’t afford to buy a new one. Life is hard, isn’t it?

On the other hand, stay tuned to this blog. I’ll give it a brand new look next year!

A few relatives from the US will be spending Christmas and new year here in the country. So, next week I’m pretty sure we’ll be doing some shopping for pasalubong for some relatives who didn’t come. Of course, there’ll be food for them like sweets, bagoong, boneless tinapang bangus, and pickled green mangoes. I’m also thinking of buying those funny t-shirts for my cousins. What’s that called again? I forgot what it’s called but I know that that’s always been a hit to the Pinoys in the States. I’m sure my mom will also be buying undergarments for the kiddos and maybe videos for kids. They ask us to buy DVDs here because they’re pretty expensive in the US, not the pirated ones of course, and some they don’t have it there yet like Hi-Five, etc. Can’t wait to go shopping next week!

I remember the last car accident I was in… we were all girls in the car and we were really shocked when it happened because our car wasn’t even moving because we were waiting to make a u-turn. A few days after that, my friend, who was also in the accident, already left for the US. When we talk on the phone, we are sometimes reminded of that terrible day and she would tell me stories about car accidents near her place. She even had a friend from Maryland who was involved in one and was injured badly. Good thing her friend found a good Baltimore car accident attorney who helped her with her case.

Here in the Philippines, I don’t think people really rely on their attorneys when they’re involved in a car accidents, unless of course it is a big one. I think the process here is to report it to the police and just hope the insurance company will pay for the damages. Sad but true. I think this is because those who are involved in vehicular accidents usually are those who can’t even afford to pay the damages. Like in our case, the driver of the van who bumped our car doesn’t even own the vehicle he was driving. He was just a hired driver and he was drunk at that time and the owner of the vehicle didn’t even care about what happened. Sad isn’t it?

I feel so sorry for my nephew… He saved up to buy an iPod and after a little less than a year, it’s not working anymore. Somebody borrowed it from him and when it was returned, it wasn’t working anymore. We don’t really know what’s wrong with it and I think he already gave up on it. But I’ll still convince him to bring it to the Apple Center to have it checked, for all we know there’s just something wrong with the batteries. Or maybe I can buy him one of those great iPod batteries replacement kit. I remember when he first bought it, he returned it after just a few weeks because our pc suddenly stopped reading it. He returned it and the guy he bought it from gave him a few instructions on what to do. Apparently, a lot of costumers were returning their iPods because of the same problem. So now we’re thinking of the Creative Zen instead of an iPod. I just wish I had the money right now… it’d be a perfect Christmas gift for him.

I’ve decided to go into a small business… I’m a freelance layout artist and my focus right now is doing layouts for photobooks for children’s parties and christening. I’ve done a few invitations but they are mostly for my niece and nephews and a few other relatives. So now I’m thinking of offering my services which includes layout for tarpaulins and banners, photobooks, birthday, christening and first communion invitations, etc. I’m planning of starting here in our village… I’m going to have a tarpaulin printed with the services that I offer and my contact number, then I’m going to ask the guard to hang it on the entrance of our village. Maybe I should one outside our house too. I’m getting excited already!

Of course, I’m still waiting on my friend’s business proposal. We’re planning to put up a media group and our first focus will be weddings. My friend is a great photographer and he also does independent films. I’m also really very excited about this one, but for the meantime I’m gonna focus first on my small business. Wish me luck!

My brother-in-law will be coming home next month from his US vacation. He’s very excited because he and his cousins are planning a Colorado bed and breakfast weekend getaway before he leaves. It’ll be his first time to go to that part of the US and he’s really looking forward to it. Last year, when he and my sister went to the US for a vacation, they traveled around San Francisco, Los Angeles and Nevada.

Me, on the other hand, will be looking forward to the photos from his trip so that I can make him a scrapbook. LOL! I think I’m too addicted to digiscrapping! But I’m still not yet done with their first album. I’m still organizing the photos and gathering more info for them. I hope I’ll finish it before the year ends so I can start with the next one when my brother-in-law gets back from his vacation.

My friend called the other day and she told me that the earliest she’ll be coming home will be on April. So, I still have more time to prepare for our trip and save up for a DSLR. Anyway, I checked my travel stuff the other day and I think I need new Body Shop supplies of toiletries. Everything’s already old and some of the products are already expired. I need a new pair of bath gloves, body butter, body wash and lip balm. I love their Mango scent, especially the body wash. Yes, I use body wash when traveling because I don’t want carrying a wet, sticky soap in my bag while traveling around.

I’m not gonna buy sunblock lotion anymore. I think I still have about 5 bottles from last year’s and that’s a lot, isn’t it? Have you seen how much one bottle costs? Things are getting more expensive these days. Good thing my sister has a friend who works for the company who manufactures Coppertone here in the Philippines so she gives us a set every Christmas as a gift.

My best friend, who is a physical therapist, finally got her Green Card and she can finally get home for a vacation. She was really lucky with her stay in New York for she found an employer who helped her with her visa. Her lawyer was really nice and she even became friends with some Washington DC medical malpractice lawyers. But one of our school mates from high school was luckier than her. He met a doctor at a bar, not knowing that the doctor has a very good reputation, the doctor asked him to be his partner. So they set up their own clinic and now they’re earning more than one can imagine. He is very lucky! How I wish some of his luck would rub on me.

I remember when I was in college, World Youth Day was celebrated here in the Philippines. I was a participant and I was very excited about it. It was really fun and my blockmates and I met a lot of new friends from different countries. One of my blockmates was even lucky enough to be a volunteer in a group who will guides special kids with cerebral palsy. Of course we didn’t see the Pope up close but it was still very moving. We traveled around the metro for a couple of days and on the final we spent the night in Luneta Grandstand. We almost had no sleep that night and the next day, at the end of the event, we had to walk going to Manila City Hall just to get a ride. It was an unforgettable experience for me!

My best friend was really excited when her trip to Nevada was finally pushing through. She went there with her guy friend and they stayed in a hotel in Vegas. They toured the Grand Canyons and she was pretty excited about it because she dreamed of going there.

She called me today and told me what happened to them in Las Vegas. It was supposed to be a special trip but she found out that her guy friend fell in love with his best friend when he went home to the Philippines for a vacation. She was kind of hoping that they’re gonna end up together but instead he told her that he wanted to marry his best friend. It was really sad and I feel for her.