The Day Before You

I could say that Matthew West is one of the best musicians there is. I seem to like all his songs. Last week Ate Ami was playing Matthew West songs in the office and told us about The Day Before You--which she thought was a worship song at first.

I found this nice (and only) video of Matthew West singing The Day Before You. Well this is not really just a video. Great and sweet story behind it...

KLMguitars: With thanks to Joel West, I was able to go backstage with my girlfriend (now fiancé) propose to her and then meet Matthew West as he sang "our song" especially for us! She had no clue it was coming. It was an absolutely amazing evening one that will be told until the day I die. Thanks so Much Matthew and Joel.

While looking through YouTube, I realized that it's Rascal Flatts who got the song popularized. Well, I like both versions but I think Matthew West gets the higher score for me since he wrote the song. To equalize, I guess Matthew West's version is good to listen to if you're on your way to sleep and Rascal Flatt's when you wake up in the morning.

Coincidence? Not likely...

FB chat is always offline for me when I go to Facebook. But tonight, my sister asked me to go offline to see if her classmate is online. I didn't like it because I have no plan of staying long in Facebook and to get caught up in chat is the last thing I wanted tonight. My sister told me that I could go offline right after she's seen who's in my online list. But after scanning the online list, a part of me didn't want to go offline. Perhaps, I want to chat with whoever will pop up. I haven't chatted for a long time and so I gave way.

In a short while there were two pop-ups. Those were my college classmates. It's great to keep in touch with them and to see where they are going. Encouraging them in starting small in their chosen career is the best thing I can do for them. After sometime too, the OM Philippines director popped up. Here's our short chat:

Jun

hi christin

good evening...

9:05pmChristin

Hello Brother Jun! Good evening din po! :)

9:07pmChristin

Kamusta na po yung mga pupunta ng Logos Hope? Have they gone to the ship na po ba? September na po kasi di ba.

9:08pmJun

one left for Logos Hope the other week. another left for doulos last tuesday

a family is set to join doulos in october...

9:08pmChristin

Wow! :) For two years po uli kayo sa Doulos? God bless po!

9:10pmJun

hindi po kami. ibang family po.

9:11pmChristin

A family.. sorry di ko po nabasa ng maayos. "A" family po pala. :) Kala ko "my" family po sabi nyo.

9:12pmJun

haha ok lang. sana prophecy yan hahaha. di pa po ngayon kasi malaki na mga boys namin. di na cover sa school on board.

9:18pmChristin

Magandang prophecy po yan. :)

9:18pmJun

haha paunahin muna kita...

9:18pmChristin

Meron po ba kayong guidelines like list po of requirements (besides what you texted) for STEP?

Hehe... maganda din pong prophecy yan. ;)

9:19pmJun

yes. i will email you the list.

9:21pmJun

sige. good night na and greetings to everyone in the church.

9:22pmChristin

Good night din po! :)

Thank you po.

9:22pmJun

thanks din...:)

I don't know about you but this chat gave me hope and it served as a sign. For the past months I haven't really been progressing on my desire to enter STEP (Short Term Exposure Program) in Doulos. I've been studying my heart. I don't want to go to Doulos just because I want to. I want to go because I want to go and the Lord wants me to go. Hearing the OM Director himself say that he wants me to go is a very encouraging thought. That would be very exciting if I could go... besides my passport is on the way in a few weeks' time. We'll see what path God wants me to take...

Another chat incident was right after the OM Director finished our chat. This time it came from a neighbor. She asked me if I could tutor her son on weekends. I was a bit taken aback since I'm in my half-year gap and I'm not keen on getting employment except for volunteer works. Something in me said yes but I still have to talk to my mom about it. Well, I would know her answer but still it's different when your parents know what steps you are taking in your life. No matter how little.

Another incident is off chat but well it happened today. It's a writing offer in True Love Waits. I'm really excited about it since it's going to be more than volunteer work as the TLW director told me.  Nothing specific yet but I'll see where the Lord will lead this. Well... those are all the incidents for today. The Lord is Jehovah-Rapha!

Drenched In Cheddar and Sprinkled With Parmesan

In the wee hours of the morning I was backing up files. I was getting so sleepy and a bit unoccupied. I needed to do something. Like, I wanted to laugh. So I Googled the famous Pinoy cheesy lines to see if it can make me laugh. It did.

Good thing everyone's asleep or else I would have been found guilty of insanity. :D Below are my responses. Though they are all so cheesy and corny they never fail to tickle one's humor.


1. Minamalat na naman ang puso ko..
*** Paano kasi, laging sinisigaw ang pangalan mo.

Sana magkaroon ka ng tonsilitis.

2. Ikaw ba may-ari ng Crayola??
*** Ikaw kasi nagbibigay ng kulay sa buhay ko..

Duh! Faber Castell kaya ang art materials ko!

3. Uy picture tayo!!
*** Para ma-develop tayo!!

Duh uli! Digital camera kaya gamit ko.

4. Kung ikaw ay bola at ako ang player, mashushoot ba kita??

*** Hinde, para lagi kita mamimiss..

Mukha ba kong bola ha?!

5. Can I take your picture??
*** `Coz i want to show Santa exactly what I want for Christmas!!

Sorry, I don't believe in Santa Clause.

6. Exam ka ba??
*** Gustong gusto na kasi kitang i-take home eh!!

Ikaw, exam ka ba? Gusto kitang bigyan ng singko!

7. Lecture mo ba ako??
*** Lab kasi kita..

Sorry my course is arts related at hindi science so wala akong lab. Lecture marami. Gusto mong sample?

8. Centrum ka ba??
*** Kasi you make my life complete!!

Hindi naman ako mukhang gamot di ba?

9. Miss pwede ba kita maging driver??
*** Para ikaw na magpapatakbo ng buhay ko..

Kung kabayo ka, sure why not?

10. Mahilig ka ba sa asukal??
*** Ang tamis kasi ng mga ngiti mo..

Ay hindi eh. May family history kasi kami ng diabetes.

11. Pinaglihi ka ba sa keyboard??
*** Kasi type kita..

Ikaw, pinaglihi ka ba sa liquid eraser? Gusto kasi kitang burahin.

12. Ibibili kita ng salbabida..
*** Kasi malulunod ka sa pagmamahal ko..

Di bale na. Marunong akong lumangoy.

13. Pwede ba kitang maging sidecar??
*** Single kasi ako eh..

Bakit mo ba ko hinahahalintulad sa mga bagay?

14.Me lisensya ka ba??
*** Coz you're driving me crazy eh..

Wala akong balak kumuha ng lisensya. Sana tuluyan ka nang mabuang at makulong sa mental.

15. May kilala ka bang gumagawa ng relo??
*** May sira ata relo ko.. Pag ikaw kasi kasama ko, humi­hinto ang
oras ko..

Watch repairer lolo ko. Dadalhin kita sa kanya.

16. I'm a bee..
*** Can you be my honey??

Sorry tutubi ako.

17. Am i a bad shooter??
*** Coz i keep on missing you..

Duling ka siguro.

18. May lahi ka bang aswang??
*** Ang pangit mo kasi eh..

Ikaw kaya mukhang tiyanak.

19. Naniniwala ka ba sa love at first sight??
*** O gusto mong dumaan ulit ako??

Sige daan ka uli at papatirin kita.

20. Mabilis ka siguro sa mga puzzle noh??
*** Kasi kakasimula pa lang ng araw ko, pero nabuo mo na agad..

Talaga? Dali sirain uli natin ang puzzle!

21. Excuse me.. Are you a dictionary??
*** Because you give meaning to my life..

Uh sorry? Encyclopedia ako eh.

22. Bangin ka ba??
*** Nahuhulog kasi ako sa'yo..

Hinde noh. Di ka lang tumitingin sa dinadaanan mo.

23. Pustiso ka ba??
*** Kasi, can't smile without you..

Ang gross mo naman! Braces kaya ko!

24. Pagod na pagod ka na noh??
*** Maghapon at magdamag kana kasing tumatakbo sa isipan ko eh..

Duh! Bakit ko naman papagurin ang sarili ko sa pagtakbo kung pwede namang maglakad?

25. Me butas ba puso mo??
*** Kasi natrap na ako sa loob, can't find my way out!!

Kala mo lang yan. Nasa loob ka lang ng Bilibid prison.

26. Anung height mo??
*** Pano ka nagkasya sa loob ng puso ko..

Hindi ako yan. You need an operation. Oversized heart lang yan.

27. Sana "V" na lang ako..
*** Para i'm always right next to "U"

Oh come on! X kaya letter ko!

28. Nde tayo tao..Nde tayo hayop... BAGAY tayo! BAGAY tlga tayo!

Tao ako. Ikaw hayop siguro.

29. Ako ay isang exam! kaya sagutin mo na ako...

Di ka accredited ng CHEd

30. Mag empake ka...sama ka sakin....punta tayo home for the aged......
*** Kasi i wanna grow old with you......

Mag-isa ka!

31. Alarm clock ka ba?
*** Kasi ginising mo ang natutulog kong puso.....

Malamang isa kang bangkay kung tulog ang puso mo.

32. Alam mo bang parang 7-11 ang puso ko?......
*** Kasi 24 oras bukas para sayo.....

So what? Mas gusto ko sa Mini Stop kasi masarap yung tig-15 nilang sundae cones!

33. Nung mahalin kita.....daig ko pa ang na traffic sa edsa......
*** I can't move on....

Nabangga ka siguro sa concrete barriers ng MMDA.

34. Nakalunok ka ba ng kwitis?
*** Pag ngumiti ka kc...may spark....

Ay hindi kwitis ang nilunok ko. Sinturon ni hudas.

35. "Pag ako gumawa ng planeta, gusto ko ikaw ang axis ko..
*** Para sayo lang iikot ang mundo ko.."

Tamaan ka sana ng bilyong bilyong asteroids!

36. You look like someone I know
*** My next Girlfriend

You also look like someone I know. Yung babastedin ko.

37. Ako na magbabayad ng tuition fee mo!
*** Basta pag-aralan mo lang na mahalin ako.

Graduate na kaya ko!

38. Feeling ko mouse tayong dalawa...
*** You know, we just click.

Hindi ako daga.

39. Excuse me, tatanong ko lang kung didiretsuhin ko bang daan na `to mahahanap ko ang daan,
*** O may ibang shortcut sa puso mo?

Wala. Dead-end meron.

40. May free time ka ba? Samahan mo naman ako sa psychiatrist. ..
*** Magdala daw kasi ako ng kinababaliwan ko.

As if sasama ko sa'yo.

41. Kung may business ako, lahat ng tao bebentahan ko ng mura,
*** `Kaw lang ang hindi. Sa'yo lang ako magmamahal.

Babagasak ang business mo dahil di ako bibili sa'yo.

42. Bukas sisingilin ko na yung bayad mo sa renta...
*** Tagal mo na kasing naninirahan sa puso ko eh.

Haller?! May bahay kaya ko. Baka may anay dyan sa puso mo.

43. Miss meron ka ba ERASER??
*** Hindi kasi kita mabura sa isip ko.

Dali ka at ako mismo magbubura ng isip mo.

44. Papapulis kita
*** Ninakaw mo kasi puso ko..

Tatawag akong 911, mukhang mamatay ka na.

45. I lost my number.
*** Can i have yours?

Sure, ask my dad.

46. I forgot your name.
***Can i call you mine?

Ah, walang mine sa birth certificate ko.

47. Nasaan ka kagabi? Bakit wala ka sa panaginip ko?
***Di tuloy sweet ang dreams ko.

Lagyan mo ng asukal ang mata mo bago matulog kung gusto mo ng sweet dreams.

48. Hindi mo ba naririnig? Parang cellphone na ko na ring nang ring
***Bakit di mo ko sagutin?

Ang ingay mo. Nilagay na kita sa Silent Mode diba?

49. Kung pagsasamahin ba ang salitang ikaw at ako...
***magiging TAYO ba?

Malamang hindi di ba? Tingnan mo kaya spelling ng tayo.

50. "Pag laki ko, gusto ko maging..







***SA'YO.. :)"

Bakit?! Inaangkin ba kita? Ilang pages ka ba? Ang kapal mo kasi. Bwahaha. Corny!

51. Sana holdaper ka na lang...
***Ibibigay ko ang lahat sa'yo wag mo lang akong saktan.

Military to bro. :p

52. Aanhin pa ang gravity...
***kung lagi naman akong mahuhulog sa'yo?

Waahpak! Kausapin mo si Newton at Einstein!

.:::.:::.Yeah, I'm a bit sarcastic. :D

Bothers Evolving to Distractions

I have not been on Facebook for a week now. That's because I deactivated it. Much to the surprise of many because they never expected that I would do such a thing especially I'm a Facebook fan.

One of the prime reasons is the video I'm making but well there are other contributing factors that made me really decide to deactivate Facebook. It isn't the Playfish applications. Restaurant City and Pet Society are pretty controllable things to me. Quizzes aren't much of the factors since I don't take quizzes a lot. And so what is it?

Well for more than a year now there has been something in Facebook that frequently bothers me. It comes and goes away--but doesn't go that far to lose its way from coming back. For a year now the bother has become quite stable but then again just more than a month ago another bother came and joined the older one. Ah, this one is afresh and isn't likely to go away so soon. And that's bothering. Distracting.

So I had to leave Facebook.

My leave is temporary though. Perhaps once the video is done I'll get back to Facebook. I can't bear that all the photos I've shared to friends who don't have cameras will be gone. Most of them are missionaries who have scarce Internet connection. The photos I took are the only ones they can share to their folks back home. *sigh* If it weren't for them I would never go back to Facebook again.

Battle of Halfs

I'm 25% underway on the video I'm making for the church anniversary. This is just so hard because I talk and critic everything I do. I need someone else's criticisms. Videography is a descendant of photography yes so I have some ideas on how to do it but well... okay it's still hard. Is the zooming and panning all right? Does this clip matter? Does it show emotion essential for the whole project? *sigh* Hard talaga! And now, a banner shows itself atop my crowded mind, "DO HARD THINGS!"

My other half wishes she's never met Do Hard Things and then the other half is rejoicing that I met Do Hard Things. Okay, Do Hard Things-hater, I'm sorry but even if it's hard, I rejoice with the joyful half because if I hadn't met Do Hard Things mind-set, where would I be now?

So I Dumped A Chick Magnet

Well, that's according to a friend.

We were having a friendly discourse and the topic came on if I have ever been asked out or anything on that subject matter of row-men-ticism. I told my friend that I never had anyone ask me (well, except for one). They're crossing a dragon lair if they dare to. I have burglar alarms around me and so I know if someone's intention is more than friendship.

I went on to tell about someone who used to call and text me a lot. This guy doesn't seem to have any idea on what I stand for and so I turn his calls into lectures and principles. When he was with me in the old lady of the sea, he asked me if there's any book I want to buy and that he'd buy it for me. Inside of me the sarcastic reply was, "Hello?! I want all the books here. Would you buy it for me?" but what came out was a controlled, "No, thank you. I've bought everything I want." Well, after a two years this guy finally stopped texting and calling. Good for him. Good for me. We could be friends but if it's more than that, let us be respectable and go separate ways.

After telling this story, my friend was like. "Christin, you're a legend! You dumped a chick magnet?! Wow!"

Well, I did not really dump him and he's not garbage anyway to dump. He just realized that he's set the burglar alarm off and is in a dragon's lair so he immediately scooted off with his more than friendship intentions.

And if he really is a chick magnet then all the good for him. Serves him right and should learn that not all girls would swoon after him. And yeah, for your information, we are good friends. I just pray that he's reforming his ways regarding romantic relationships. I bet he hasn't read I Kissed Dating Goodbye.

Yiruma

It was three years ago when I first heard of the Korean pianist Yiruma. I remember having a conversational English session then with my Korean student Michelle. Our conversation from Korean dramas shifted to piano and she highly recommended Yiruma.

Yiruma's really good. I like the quietness of his nature when he plays. No bravado. It's as if it's just him and his piano. His pieces can be heard often in Korean dramas especially that of the Endless Love Four Seasons series. I only have to frown now because I just learned that they used River Flows In You in Twilight! Twilight is a poor movie to put Yiruma's music in. It degrades Yiruma's quality piano playing for poignant Korean dramas.

*sigh* I guess I would just have to deal with it as I learn how to play it. ;) Yeah, I'm no piano player but I try to play pieces that I know or would want to learn. Canon in D Major is all I've ever known for the past years... time to move on with it! :D