i had a great ending for 2011..the very last day, i flew to the US for an on-site assignment. yes, i’m in MN. and so far, i have:

1. attended 2 parties — new year’s eve (the day i arrived) and a going-away party
2. learned how to comfortably drive on the freeway and on snow-covered streets
3. been visited by college friends from New Jersey, North Dakota and Toronto
4. learned how to ski

i am having fun here, thanks to my housemates and friends.

of course, i am missing my baby a lot already. most times, i wish that she was with me during my adventures. we try to talk at least thrice a week via skype, but i miss hugging, kissing, and smelling her even if she did not take a bath. lol! homesickness has been very hard to deal with, but i’m surviving. i just keep on hoping that it’ll get better soon, while keeping in mind that i won’t be away for much longer.

anyway, i am looking forward to my upcoming trip to SFO. i just booked a flight and i’m really really excited to see my brothers, cousins, nieces and nephews — hopefully some friends too!

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A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl.

Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, ‘Tell me what you see.’ ‘Carrots, eggs, and coffee,’ she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma the daughter then asked, ‘What does it mean, mother?’

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

‘Which are you?’ she asked her daughter. ‘When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Think of this: Which am I?

Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.

When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.

The happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can’t go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling.  Live your life so at the end, you’re the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

You might want to send this message to those people who mean something to you (I JUST DID); to those who have touched your life in one way or another; to those who make you smile when you really need it; to those who make you see the brighter side of things when you are really down; to those whose friendship you appreciate; to those who are so meaningful in your life.

If you don’t send it, you will just miss out on the opportunity to brighten someone’s day with this message!

It’s easier to build a child than repair an adult. This is so true.

May we all be COFFEE?

Part 1:  Ten-Gilled Fish + Jaymz Reamico

[MHWGO - Part 1]

Under the Bridge (acoustic)
You’re A God (acoustic)
Lightning Crashes (acoustic)
Big Empty (acoustic)
Interstate Love Song (acoustic)

To Be With You (acoustic) by Jaymz and Moji
Himig Natin (acoustic) by Jaymz and Joji
Kaleidoscope World by Ten-Gilled Fish with Jaymz

High and Dry
Santeria
Hey Jealousy
Counting Blue Cars
Come Together

Part 2: Juan 5 Band

[MHWGO - Part 2]

Walk dont run/ Bulldog / Pipeline (Ventures Instrumental)
Something
Hurtin’ inside
Kind of Hush
Happy Together
Bus Stop
Love Potion #9
Knock on Wood
Daytripper
Back in the USSR
Wooly Bully
Honey Dont
Johnny B. Goode
I saw her standing there

Part 3: Eve Awakened + Mira + Kyla

[MHWGO - Part 3]

Buses and Trains
Strong Enough
The Only Exception
To Make You Feel My Love
Lunod
Sundo
Realize
Time after Time (with mira)
My Immortal (with mira)
Torn (with kyla)
Sabihin (with Jay and Mark)
Tumatakbo (with Jay and Mark)

Part 4: Ten-Gilled Fish

[MHWGO - Part 4]

Drive by Epi and Jay

Soul to Squeeze
Universally Speaking
Easily
Can’t Stop
Basketcase
Plush

Tomorrow
Selling the Drama
In Bloom
Today
Song 2

"My Heart Will Go On" (Diabetic Ako, Wag Tutularan)

“My Heart Will Go On” (Diabetic Ako, Wag Tutularan)
June 4, 2011 Rockville Timog Ave., QC 8PM

Please support this benefit gig! Tickets sold at PhP250 each, inclusive of a free drink.

Contact: manongguard@yahoo.com 09178504191. Thanks!