Casper and Daffy

Sometime last July, we got our new pet, a black labrador retriever. We gave her the name Daffy. She’s such an adorable puppy, so playful and so hyperactive.

In the beginning, we were quite worried that our Japanese Spitz Casper would get jealous of Daffy. He had too little patience, and she pestered him a lot. We put a muzzle on Casper for a few days, but eventually took it off so he could freely play around with her. We had to keep an eye on both of them to make sure he doesn’t hurt her at anytime at all.

Well, as of this time, they’re ok together. I’m glad, and relieved too. Somehow, Casper has gotten used to Daffy, and Daffy already knows when Casper is in no mood to play around with him.

Here’s a little video of the two dogs playing together…

Sonicflood Live In Manila

Allow me to describe this concert in one word…. BEAUTIFUL! 

I never knew the Sonicflood group before.  When I saw the ad on TV a few weeks ago about their coming to Manila, I really wondered what they were like.  I’ve never watched a Christian Music concert before, so I asked my honey if we could go to the concert to watch them on August 15.  At first, he was quite hesitant, simply because he didn’t know the group either.  He read about them on the internet, and thought they might be interesting too. So we invited my mom to come with us to the concert, and she gladly said yes. 

The concert was awesome!  They were really good!  Not only were they good, but they had everyone on their feet clapping and singing along as they sang their songs.  If you wanted to enjoy and see them well, you had to be on your feet too, because almost everybody was standing all throughout the show!

 Their lead vocals, Rick Heil related his story how he struggled with an incurable intestinal disorder for years, and by his faith, he was healed!  The most touching moment of the event was when they sang a song that almost everyone knew… the song “HERE I AM TO WORSHIP”.  He invited the audience to come over at the front of the stage as they were prayed over by other people, pastors, friends and other people in the audience.  It was so beautiful until the end!

Here’s the video of the song HERE I AM TO WORSHIP, which they sang at the concert, from Youtube

Photos at the New Home

  

   

  

   

Air Supply Live in Manila 2008

We just watched the concert of the Air Supply at the Araneta Coliseum last Sunday. It was a successful concert and everyone enjoyed the whole event!

View a slideshow of the photos that we took during the concert here

Philippine Driver’s License Renewal

I just renewed my driver’s license yesterday.  For those Filipinos who intend to renew their driver’s license, these were the costs and requirements that were asked from me yesterday, when I went to have my Non-Professional Driver’s License renewed at the LAND TRANSPORTATION OFFICE (LTO main) located at East Avenue, Quezon City

LICENSE TYPE:   Non-Professional Driver’s License

Requirements:

1.  THE OLD/EXPIRED DRIVER’S LICENSE FOR RENEWAL.  You need to present your old/expired Driver’s License as you go along with all the procedures.

2.  DRUG TEST.  The cost of the Drug test is Php 250.00.  Before you can fill up the application form for Driver’s license renewal inside the LTO, you have to take the drug test.  There are several medical laboratories along East Avenue, right across the LTO.  They will take your urine sample and you can wait for the results right away.  After that they issue you a receipt for the amount you paid for the test. 

3.  MEDICAL EXAM - Next is the Medical exam were they get your height, weight, and give you a Vision test.  The cost of this is Php 100.00.  You also wait for the results and will be issued a receipt for this test. 

3.   APPLICATION FORM FOR RENEWAL.  After the first two procedures, you proceed to the LTO building to fill up your application form.  You obtain the form from the Customer Assistance booth, where they will give you a number, and the application form that you need to fill out. 

4.  PHOTOGRAPH.  When your number is called, you will present the documents - the drug test and medical test results, and will be asked to wait to be called so that your photo can be taken and your specimen signature can scanned.

5.  PAYMENT FOR RENEWAL.  After your photo and your signature has been taken, your name will be called by the cashier, where you will pay the required amount for Driver’s license renewal.  The following is the breakdown of the cost of renewal that I paid yesterday:

                           License fee:               Php 180.00

                          Revision of Records:           30.00

                         Comp. Fee:                           67.63

                         Total:                           Php 277.63

Note:  The Revision of Records was charged for the change of address on record.  I believe that if there is no change of data from your previous license, there will be no additional charge of Php 30.00

6.  CARD RELEASING.  After payment has been made, you will be asked to sit and wait for your name to be called to receive the new card type Driver’s License. 

The whole process took less than 2 hours before I finally received the new license card.  Office hours at LTO is from 8am to 5pm.  I heard that if your documents are not in for processing by 4pm, the new license card will be released the following day. 

Beautiful

Each of us are born with our own unique physical qualities.   As they say, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.  But we are all beautiful, in the eyes of God! 

How do you appreciate these unique qualities that are given to you? Are you happy and content with the way you look? Do you wish for something more?  Or do you want something less?  Do you have that strong desire to undergo surgery just to change certain physical aspects in yourself?  

Here’s a video of an amazing young girl who, inspite of her physical appearance, accepts her condition, and is happy with herself, and her life. Feel free to share your thoughts and ideas about what you see..

Click to watch video

JAMES BLUNT live in Manila Concert 2008

Last Monday was an unforgettable evening for me!  We watched the James Blunt Concert held at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

The concert was fabulous!  James Blunt performed with full energy and everyone enjoyed the whole event!  He played quite a number of songs from his albums Back to Bedlam and All the Lost Souls.  The best song of the night was his performance of the song YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL.  It was so romantic and so meaningful and all the audience couldn’t help but sing along together while he sang!

Here are some other photos that we took during the concert… 

PHOTOS HERE

The Upset Monster

He sure has the nerve to be upset! 

Josef Fritzi, the man who locked up his own daughter in a dungeon and raped her for 24 years, fathering all her 6 children, still has the audacity to feel upset about being referred to by the media as a Monster!  He probably believes they even owe him their lives!  Wouldn’t you just despise the man?  This is sick!  He deserves to be called a MONSTER!  Read about this!

Fox news reports

 ’I Could Have Killed All of Them’:

Incest Dad Upset at Media for ‘Monster’ Image

 VIENNA, Austria —  The man accused of imprisoning his daughter in a dungeon for 24 years and fathering seven children with her met for the first time with a prosecutor Wednesday and agreed to further questioning, an official said.

Fritzl’s lawyer, Rudolf Mayer, said his client had access to a television in jail and was closely watching coverage of his case, which has garnered worldwide attention.

Mayer made his comments when asked to confirm a report Wednesday by the newspaper Oesterreich that quoted Fritzl as saying he was not a monster and that without him, the 19-year-old would no longer be alive.

Fritzl was bothered by the fact that he was being made out to be a monster. He said Fritzl told him: “I’m only being portrayed as a monster and not as someone who committed monstrous acts… I could have killed all of them — then nothing would have happened. No one would have ever known about it.”

My First Pagerank

 May 1, Thursday 11:58pm

Just a few minutes before midnight now.  I’ve been busy with work all day, but I just couldn’t miss this opportunity to express how happy I am to get my very first pagerank… a FOUR!  YESSS! 

This blog happens to be just an extension of my other blog, paulynramirez.com, which also had a 4 when I started it.  Unfortunately, I messed up.  I broke some google “rules”, so I lost my valuable pagerank.  It still hasn’t gained back that pagerank it used to have.   That makes me sad.  But I’ve learned my lesson!  I am really really proud that this new blog has earned it’s own pagerank!  Thank you google!  

Working with your Partner

I’ve read some articles that seem to discourage spouses working together in a business.  But as I go over these articles, I can’t seem to get myself convinced that it could never work.   Almost two years ago, my fiancé decided that I should quit my job.  I agreed, with the assurance that we could survive all our financial expenses.  We decided to start working together in a web development business.  We brainstormed and discussed comprehensively just about every little detail that would be involved in starting this business together.  Honestly it scared me a lot, considering the fact that I had barely any knowledge in this kind of business.  But his confidence and determination was strong, and I have so much faith in him.  He studied graphic design, programming and all other complicated issues in developing a website, and required me to study photoshop.   In just a few months, we were both ready to start working together.  Up to this point, I can say, I have no regrets in doing this business together with him.  He is the boss, I support him in every way.   He does the grunt work, and he lets me handle the admin.  I love doing what I do, and being where I am,  behind the man whose achievements I feel are my own achievements as well.  He is consistent, and I’ve seen the genius in him pour out in each of his creations. 

He values my opinion as much as I value his.  We need each other’s point of view in every project we undertake. Our relationship is marvellous!  We are learning a lot from each other.   Yes, we do engage in “constructive discussions”, (as our kids would refer to it) about certain issues once in a while, but it seems we always arrive at an agreement in the end all the time.  The love and respect we have for each other seems to have the power and authority over us that we both totally dislike the moments of disagreement.  We both have that need to always be one.   Having the need for each other, I guess is a necessary ingredient in any relationship. One successful partnership I read about is the story of Penny and Stephen McKee who started out their business together.  I was so amazed at how one complemented the other, and how it didn’t matter who was the boss.  I believe it’s a matter of sharing the same goals that make it stronger.  As long as you both aim for the same thing, I believe little or hardly any tension could occur between couples. As I would quote writer Azriela Jaffe, “To expect that you can work with your spouse every day and not experience any tension is unrealistic. But with the right working environment and a special relationship, employing your spouse can be the best thing that ever happened to your marriage and your business.”