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By J, on November 4th, 2011
There’s not a lot to do around here which is why I’m really into pageants. Since I was a little girl my mom liked to dress me up and now that I’m in my mid-20s I’m still entering myself in tons of pageants to show off my poise and grace. It’s expensive, though, and just the pageant coach alone is about $100 a session but it’s something I love to do and I think having hobbies is really important.
I got internet in ohio for my house so I could look up upcoming shows since sometimes they’re states away and I have to plan for them months in advance. It’s also hard to save up enough money to enter them too, that is, if I haven’t been winning recently. I know I’m getting kind of old and should probably hang it up, but I just love this too much to let it go!
I get such a good feeling from having the judges tell me I’ve done well!
Contribution by Michale Greer
By J, on November 3rd, 2011
Having been to many major cities around the world, I can say with certainty that nothing beats the ‘beat’ of New York. I’m not trying to be bias, I’m just stating a fact. This city never fails to amaze me. I’ve been a constant visitor for many years prior to becoming a resident thirteen years ago, and even now that I reside in the city that never sleeps, I’m still a tourist at heart.
Recently, my husband and I had a day of ‘FUN’ in Manhattan. Armed with my trusty but powerless Canon point and shoot, I captured quite a few photos before the landscape changes in a few weeks in time for the Holidays.
Around the Empire State Building, tourists were milling around as usual.
I told you, I was armed with a ‘powerless’ cam, so please bear with this capture. It would have been great to snap the top of the Empire State Building. It is also for the same reason why I can’t get a decent shot of the Manhattan skyline in spite of my unobstructed view from home.
The largest and one of the most significant US research library in North America – the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue. I can still vividly recall the first time I step foot on this gigantic library in 1993.
For now, these pretty Fall blooms are the centerpiece around Rockefeller Center. The giant Christmas tree will soon take center stage in a few weeks.
The ice skating rink is nothing but…
How can anyone miss New York’s bravest? The FDNY (Fire Department). Something was brewing around the area.
And the highlight of my day? A good hour with John Grisham (no, he is not the famous author). He is a Gemologist at the Cartier flagship on Fifth Avenue. Thanks John for your time and help. I’m still in awe  . Too bad, taking pics inside the flagship store, as it has always been is strictly prohibited (security is tight). It would have been nice for you to meet JG.
As many of you know, the best way to explore Manhattan is by foot. I had soreness on my legs at the end of the day but we had FUN.
By J, on October 30th, 2011
Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the spookiest of them all?
Meet each of them here to see for yourself.
By J, on October 29th, 2011
Tuesday’s visit to my Allergist went well and it sounds promising. The prognosis is good, and my Doctor was so pleased. It’s been two months since my last visit and my condition improved remarkably. I was told that if there was no remarkable improvement, the next step would have been to put me through the usual course – allergy shots.
It may have taken quite a few weeks for the meds to finally kick in and I can’t ask for more. I should have figured that out, and that nothing works overnight. For now, Zyxal is my real best friend and Flonase comes in second. I was switched to once a day use of Flonase instead of the original twice a day dosage and that means a lot to me. I’m hoping that I will finally be able to be off it in a few weeks.
My Allergist is doing a good job. I don’t need a rocket science nor extensive research to figure that out. I may need a lot of research though to understand what credit card factoring is all about. I better stop here and get going.
My research work starts here.
By J, on October 25th, 2011
Yellow colored precious metal is definitely back in a big way. You see the deluge of yellow gold jewelries adorning models in fashion magazines and the runway. Not that it was totally ‘out’ in the past decade or two, but the truth of the matter is, most women embraced and continue to love precious white metals in their jewelries. Yours truly was, and not an exception.
My yellow gold set jewelries that have been long embedded at the safe in the bank vault had to come out in the past few months. I love the refreshing change. Could this be because of the rising cost of gold? I don’t know.
Just like the many women out there, an update of what is in my jewelry box (in yellow gold) is in order. Almost three months ago, I got my first piece of yellow metal after more than a decade (fifteen years to be exact).
Clic-Clac H Wide bracelet (black in yellow gold)
It feels good to be reacquainted with an ‘old friend.’
By J, on October 22nd, 2011
Earlier today was a very unusual Saturday. For once I was up early today, but it was not without a reason.
I was booted out of bed by my husband. Why? My sister and brother in law dropped by unannounced, to drop off a week’s supply of fresh fruits. Although I talked to her yesterday, she didn’t mention her intention to drop by. I later found out that they went to check out rear mount curt hitches on display for their truck on a store that is located not that far from where we live.
The fruits they brought to us were purchased from one of those Green Markets and she thought of buying for us too. That means, I will save a trip to the nearby fruit store this Monday. Best of all, our supply for the week is gratis a.k.a. free. If only for that, I didn’t mind cutting my sleep short.
Over tea and coffee, we didn’t realize three hours had passed by. We later headed out for lunch at the nearby Italian restaurant. We were at the resto for another three hours.
What a way to start the weekend! I really didn’t mind, as we had nothing planned out for the day anyway.
Hope your weekend is going great too.
By J, on October 21st, 2011
My husband’s passport expired last July. With three months left before expiration, he traveled all the way to the Philippines – not for leisure but to accompany me to the wake of my Mom. Although, the six months passport validity restriction applied, he got an exemption upon entry.
Thus, passport renewal was priority upon our return. After filling out the renewal form and had his photograph taken, I sent out the renewal application, and in approximately two weeks, the new passport was sent to us. A few days later, we got the old passport back.
The new and improved US Passport is impressive (it’s new to us because we are holders of the old version for years, but maybe old news to many). It looks really good and the quality of the paper is much better than the old. Aesthetically speaking, I’m giving my thumbs up to the new passport. It’s too bad, mine is still the old flimsy version. I have a few years left before renewal.
The pic on the left is the old, the right photo is the new.
 
This is the inside (front cover). The left pic is the new and the old passport is on the right.
 
This is the new passport’s page immediately following the details page. See the art?
These are pages from the old passport.
  
These are pages on the new passport.
  
This is the back (inside) cover.
The new passport is loaded with security features. The cover is thicker and harder. It is not as flimsy as the old one. This will definitely be able to withstand more of the abuse that it normally gets from numerous travels. A passport holder is still needed though for protection.
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