SportsFest 2010 (Sept. 23-25,2010)

I'm a blue team member of our Intramural program. We had three days of fun filled actions, happiness and excitement, I gain new friends from different year levels, took pictures with my crushes and other members of the team. This will also be my last time to have this in my school. When I go to college I won't experience this kind of fun event anymore. I'll be focusing on my studies and be serious in whatever I'll do in college. So I enjoyed this to the fullest!
I just want to give credit to Berhel Doria for taking this picture on the left. I asked him to take some good shot of me.
A lot liked this on facebook even though I looked hagard. I just finished dancing cheeradance exercise here.

Let me share with you some significant things happened from each day of our SportsFest.

1ST DAY:

Our team coach let me play volleyball. It wasn't really my sports, but I know how to play it. It was my first time to slide and roll inside the court while many audience are watching the game. My knee hurt and got bruise. I tried to receive the second ball, but my teammate wanted to receive it too but she's not suppose to because the ball is coming to me, so we stumbled.

2ND DAY:

Early in the morning I was hit by a ball at the corner of the court. Nobody apologized, and still many saw it. It was a little embarrassing but I just smiled and think nothing major happened. Seriously it hurts, especially when hit on the face. I didn't play any game, I was too busy selling raffle tickets to my schoolmates for our Sci-Math club. It was so hard to convince them to buy even one. Lucky many bought them.

3RD DAY:
It was our championship day, also the day when we will present our cheerdance exercise competition. Every team had a unique dance routine that made the judges hard to choose which to win. We found out the over-all champion last Monday, and it was GREEN TEAM

.

Science Fair 09.16.10

It took me a week to update the recent events happened inside my school. It's either I have no time or I am lazy. Anyway here I am to show you some exhibits of the Kindergarten, Grade school, and High school students for the Science fair.

It took me an hour to make my own photo for a 3d effect. I thought it was easy. I made some at photoshop

Santol Skin Tea.

Pineapple Soap

Lanzones Peel Candle

Ipil- Ipil Floorwax

Bubble made from leaves

My brother's project :P

Those were the only photos that I took. There are lot more in Highschool. Atleast being there that time was fun an amusing.

pole-r opposites

I just read this post from a friend, and I just want to share it to everybody

Kid: Ms. L, will I see you at the pole?

Me: Excuuuuuuuuuse me???? What is THAT supposed to mean?

Kid: Um, it's like a prayer group thingee. At the flag pole.

Me: Oh. The flagpole. Right. Um, sure! I'll be there in a second.

Kid (walking away, says to friend): What pole did she think I meant?

Friend: Dude, I'm afraid to tell you.

Oh geez.

tick, and tock...

perhaps i'm a little too contented in life.

maybe i should start living with an aim..
but what do i want?
i'm too realistic to dream for something too far-fetched..
plus, things that aren't would be just too predictable. and boring.

right. i know i know. i should aim to get myself a super huge house with a skating rink inside. just like Michael Jordan's, but mine will be more awesome (wink!). oooohhh.... *slurps*
that way, it'll be far-fetched AND predictable. the best combi ever.


for those of you who take interest in what i'm actually doing in my small little hometown....
well, i occupy my time by searching for something i can be occupied with. and believe me, time passes by really quickly that way..........

Stick drawing

This is Jamila Marie Diasanta Solano's drawing of us three. This is exactly our sitting arrangement facing the blackboard. I'm the girl in the middle. Since nobody is sitted next to the guy (Jan Red), Jamie decided to draw casper beside him. LOL.

Before I forgot, Jamie is the second girl. We all look awesome here :D

Life is like Grammar

Interesting.

And frustrating.

But necessary.

Every "rule" isn't really a "rule" because it sometimes has more exceptions than it had "rule" in the first place.

See, with commas, there are very specific instances in which you should use them. In lists, for example:

"I enjoy eating curry, sleeping in, and petting dogs."

But that only applies if I didn't present it with "I enjoy these three things in particular..."

Had I begun it that way I would have to use a SEMICOLON. Or maybe a colon. Frankly, I don't feel like pulling out the book to check.

It's like how you don't use your fingers to eat UNLESS you're presented with chicken wings and/or pizza. UNLESS you're in the company of someone who eats their pizza with a fork. Then you may want to consider doing so, as well, so as to avoid potential embarrassment.

And what about "'i' before 'e' except after 'c'?"

It works with most things like "receive" or "friend."

But what about "seizure" or "species," huh?

Maybe that's the same as when mostly you're supposed to wear clothes that look, I dunno, fresh and clean and new. But sometimes it's okay to buy jeans that already have holes in them?

And then there are the homonyms. "Affect" is to influence and "effect" is to implement. "Stationary" is not moving, whereas "stationery" refers to paper.

Mostly I think that's like how people with names like "Chelsea" or "Amber Lee" were likely born in the Mid-west to East-coast region, whereas people named "Chyelsiee" or "Embur Leigh" were likely born in Utah Valley.

And then there are the grammar-element personality-types. I know you know some.

Dash-people: always putting in their aside comments and silly puns.

"I told her I'd be there - but really I'd rather jump off a cliff! HAHA!"

Hyphen-people: long-winded folk who need a good excuse for a run-on sentence life.

"My brother's-best-friend's-ex's-mom's-favorite-baby-sitter is MY best-friend's-cousin's-cousin and I just found out that her favorite thing is under-water-basket-weaving and orange-mochan-frappachinos!"

Parentheses-people: Unobtrusive individuals who have their own thoughts, but you never really know it.

"Here's that report you asked me to do (even though it's not part of my job description) and I really need your signature on those forms I gave you (two weeks ago) and thanks for the chocolate birthday cake (even though I'm allergic...)"

Ellipsis-people: Melodramatic in nature. They leave you always wondering what they're REALLY thinking.

"You're wearing THAT?"

"What's wrong with this?"

"Oh....nothing...it's just...well...never mind..."

Is it not all the most true?

And amusing?

Oh grammar.

I guess I'd better get back to studying you, now.

to catch a butterfly.

happiness is like a butterfly:

the more you chase it, the more it will elude you,

but if you turn your attention to other things it will come

and sit softly on your shoulder....

- thoreau

says the status at my twitter. a direct message, from my dearest friend. Thanks for the encouragement. the words typed in there, they didn't seem long to me anymore. it was heartfelt.

inside me, there was a subtle, silent confidence. but even more to it, there was self doubt; as contradictive as it sounds. right now, instead of pushing hard to change who i am, i decided to take a slight step back. to absorb all that is around me. just by opening my mind, i was able to experience the difference.
now, i am preparing to open my heart, to believe that i can. even more sincerely this time. now, are you with me?

A change, for a start

yes. i finally changed the blogskin. this time, i'm satisfied. for now, anyway. let's just say that it's a new beginning to a mediocre ending..... :)

will pen down more soon.
till then :)

God's Artistry

(click on image to enlarge for better view)

This is a picture taken by a friend who is vacationing in Hawaii.

It's so incredible, it's almost unbelievable.

Just remember, the God who made this.... cares for you.

A Manic Monday!

Thank God, He is still beside me to guide and remember all the lessons that our teacher had discussed to us a few days ago, (sigh).

I have two Math subjects, they are College Algebra and Calculus. The subjects for today's exam are MAPEH, ENGLISH, and CALCULUS!

Speaking of Calculus, I had a mistake of what subject to review yesterday. I was thinking that it will be Algebra today so I reviewed it. Not remembering that it's suppose to be Calculus. Gosh! I started to panic that I might not remember everything that was tackled, and I haven't memorized parabola yet, which is the hardest part of the exam. But I didn't lose hope. I know I can still answer the items with all my stock knowledge. And Fortunately, praise the Lord, I was able to, (sigh).

I wasn't that stupid at all :)

give, and you'll get even more. really

i know what i am suppose to do within this 5 years time. work hard. work with the heart of giving and sharing.

work with the sole purpose of achieving my dreams. i saw my possibilities, i believe that i could, and now, i just need

to do even more to get even faster results.

i hear often, with what i'm doing, "it's a great idea. but it's difficult. it's not for me".

but the irony? they don't even have the slightest idea of what i'm actually doing, day-to-day basis.

it's a matter of choice, really. when you are placed in a position to choose, people will always opt for the comfort zone.

but when u're actually working for your employer, would you dare to disobey his orders? however difficult of a task it may be? answer, NO. people would normally just suck it up and do it anyway.

so the key point here is, difficult is not the problem. the mindset is.
we choose to think it's hard, that's why we fail.
we keep thinking of an alternative way out, that's why we can't focus.

these are mind games that we're playing with, if you do not already realised.

and so, i've been sitting and thinking about my dreams one day. it's always a little different each time. a little more..

keep thou, my feet

There are things, decisions, of other people that I do not understand. They are the type of things that make the inside of my chest feel hollow. They cause a dull, aching feeling when I breathe deep. It’s a feeling I’ve been acquainted with before. If left alone, it burrows deeper into the soul—penetrating confidence and challenging faith… a dangerous place to be.

This time, I asked God to fill up that hollow space with His love. I asked Him to turn the ache into something beautiful. And when I finally woke up this morning, these words were in my mind above all others:

keep thou, my feet.

i do not ask to see the distant scene…

one step enough for me.

Imma be

I'd really love to blog.. =(
But with all the homework and tests and PERSONAL STATEMENT piling up.. I just can't find the time to...
Have got so much to update bout.. All I need is more time..

September 18, 2010 (Saturday)

I had my entrance Examination in Ateneo de Manila University today. It was kinda easy and hard. There were at least 20,000 examinees who took the exam this day, and there will be more tomorrow. It was so traffic before you reach home, and I was able to eat my lunch around 2pm. I'm so exhausted and tired, and it made everything worse when the sun was extremely high while I'm stucked in traffic. I got home so brain dead and I have to rest, but I can't please my body to, but my mind was so tired that if it has eyes it would cry out of madness. Then I decided to open the computer and start blogging again. By the way I have to start reviewing again for my exams this coming Monday up to Wednesday in school, but I feel tired so maybe I should start tomorrow.

September 19, 2010 (Sunday)

I think there will be a problem in studying. I haven't memorized parabola yet. In the morning I have to clean the house because dad is arriving. maybe by afternoon I'll have that little chance to study. At night we'll going to pick up dad at the airport by 9:30 PM. He had mentioned that he wanted to have dinner at the restaurant, so let's say we'll be staying there for an hour . That counts as 10:30 PM. He also wanted to visit duty free and buy something there. Let's say another one hour, so it's 11:30 PM. It takes two hours to arrive home. Oh gosh! It's my examination day that day! I'll have a short sleep. I have to wake up by 5 AM. I hope I can prepare well.

September 20-22, 2010 (Monday to Wednesday)

Goodluck to me! It's my examination day. I hope I can cope up with the first day.

September 23-25, 2010 (Thursday to Saturday)

It will be our Intramural! At last, I don't have to study for those days. We'll be playing all day long. Oh, and on 25, the championship day, It's going to be our cheering competition. I hope we win!

September 29, 2010 (Wednesday)

Oh no! Another examination again! It will be our NCAE (National Career Assessment Exam). When will I have my full rest? Tambak na ako ng aktibidad!

Oh well, the rest of the day will be in a regular schedule Not until I reach October 2 for myexamination in Miriam College.

That's how you define a responsible student :)

P.S. Dad will be staying here for a month. Love him.

Until I post another one again,

Erica

LIFE: Spilled-Out

Recently, I had reason for some introspective pondering of my life.

My life is an explosion; loud and noisy, spilling-out, messy, overflowing. Not for me are the neat and tidy compartmentalized segments of life, carefully not touching, easily moved out of the way until their proper time to be displayed.

My activities spill over into my family time, my school work , church work, my family crosses lines with my activities and church until it's all blended and interwoven into one vivid, exciting, abundant life.

What does your life look like?

The Advantages of Being Narrow-minded

If you are a Christian, a genuine follower of Christ who believes in the Bible and all it teaches, be prepared. You are ... narrow-minded. Yes, you. You're not a "free thinker" (defined, oddly, as "one who doubts or denies religious dogma"). By aligning yourself with all that stuff you stand in opposition to all sorts of stuff like "free love" and science and ... well, all sorts of stuff. You, you ... you narrow-minded bigot! Of course, the label is common, but the truth is far from it. Consider a couple of examples.

The Bible teaches that sex was created by God for a man and woman who are married. "Oh, now that's narrow-minded." It is only for the man and woman who are married, and it is primarily for the purpose of reproduction. "See? Prude! Puritan! Victorian!" And so, if we concur with the biblical perspective, we are the ones who are "narrow". The "open minded" among us see sex as entertainment. No limits. No "primary purpose" except personal pleasure. Now that's broad thinking, see? Of course, I'd have to answer with "No". The biblical perspective on sex holds it in much higher regard than the standard view of today. It is physical, sure, but it is much, much more. It is emotional (which is being more and more disregarded today) and, beyond that, spiritual. It is the mystical union of man and woman. The two become one in much more than a merely physical sense. It is an actual joining beyond the simple connection of bodies or senses. All of that is far outside the perspective of the modern "free thinker". It cannot be. The Bible isabundantly clear that sex is pleasurable. You can't read the Song of Solomon without coming to that clear conclusion. Solomon quite wisely counseled young husbands regarding their wives, "Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight" (Prov 5:18-19). The high view, then, that the Bible holds for sexual relations certainly includes the "free thinker" concept that it's pleasurable and good. So, if the "narrow" view includes a high regard for sex as well as a genuine appreciation for its pleasure, but the "open" view only allows for pleasure, which is the broader view?

How about the "science versus faith" controversy? If you are a follower of the Bible, you will certainly end up on the "bad" side of that fight. You are narrow-minded if you think that "God created the Earth" and all that nonsense. The "open-minded" folk know that there is no god. Stephen Hawking assured us of what atheistic science has claimed all along -- that science (with a prerequisite commitment to pure physicalism) doesn't need God anymore because science has all the answers. Now that is "free thinking". Or ... is it? You see, we who claim that God created all that is are the only ones with the answer to the question, "How can there be something from nothing?" We're the only ones with a rational explanation of the vast data encoded in DNA. We are the only ones with answers to the origins of life. Further, because we are committed to "God created" does not mean that we cannot appreciate science. It was, after all, the perspective that God created everything and, being a rational being, would likely have made the universe rational that started modern scientific inquiry. No, believing in a Divine Being encouragesthe enjoyment of "thinking God's thoughts after Him" -- of scientific studies. So we have one side that denies any possibility of the supernatural and the other side which embraces both the supernatural and the natural. So ... why is it that the side with only the natural is labeled "free thinking" while the side that embraces both is "narrow-minded"?

It's an interesting thought exercise. The more you meander down this road of biblical versus worldly thinking, the more evident it becomes that biblical thinking is much broader than worldly thinking. It seems like those who are "open-minded" let their brains leak out or something. I'll take the "narrow-minded" label any day if it means I can see more broadly than the "open-minded". Of course, we're going to have to work on definitions -- again -- aren't we?

From Bad to Worse

I had a cold. the doctor came

and five assistants, too;

They laid ten icy hands on me,

And now I've got a flu.

Dewdrops on Ladybugs

Persons are Gifts

Persons are Gifts of God to me that come all wrapped so differently

Some so loosely, others so tightly

But wrappings are not the Gifts.

I am a Gift of God to me

Do I accept the Gift I see?

I am a person and for the reason

A wonderful Gift of Love

I am a Gift to others too

That must be giv'n to you and you

We are all persons, we are all Gifts

So let's have a grand exchange of Gifts

"Call me after an hour"

Dela Vega: "Hello? may I speak to Erica?"

Me: "It's me. What's up?"

DV: "It's about our investigatory project"

Me: "Okay. What about it?"

I'll skip the part of what we have talked about. It's not important anyway.

So a few moments later ....

Me: (Mom calling me to have dinner from the background)

"I have to go now. Mom's calling me for dinner."

DV: "But we are not yet done"

Me: "CALL ME AFTER AN HOUR"

DV: "Okay."

after an hour passed ...

Dela Vega: "Hello? may I speak to Erica?"

My sister: "Oh, she's snoring already !"

hahaha. I feel so sorry for him. This is not the first time I asked him to call me back, but this always happens when he calls for the second time. :D

The love for Fablehaven

I'm waiting for October to come. The last series of Fablehaven is not yet out in our country, or in the bookstore I always visit. I had the four books with me already and I can't wait to complete another set.

I had a better imagination for my own DIMKA!

I am a fan of Vampire Academy novels. I almost completed the whole set of that book (the last will be released this December). I also had a crush on one of the characters in the story, he was named Dimitri Belikov (Dimka as a nickname). And this afternoon I searched at google if there's any image of the said character to have a better view of what he really looks like in reality. I turned out very disappointed. I imagined him very much stronger, great, awesome, and whatever I wanna describe him and I just can't find those words to say. The way he was described in the book was really much better than on how he looks like in what I have seen in the internet.

These photos are trash.

Anyway, in the story that I read, he's far better than Edward Cullen (twilight).

I just got nothing to do :)

Many things happened in just one day

After we arrived home from school, There were three significant things happened that day. The first thing is after I stepped out of the car I was horrified when I saw in our garage a dead rat! A dead ugly hard rat! I feel sorry and scared at the same time. My grandma asked me to throw it myself away. but I don't want to. Instead, mom did it for me. Here how it lookied like.



The second thing is we, the family, went to MIRIAM COLLEGE, where mom finished her course. I am getting an application form there when the wheater keeps on changing. When we arrived there it was raining moderately. Mom asked me to bring the umbrella with me so I won't get sick (She wants me to go alone). I did. But did you know what I do? I didn't use it at all. I'm very stubborn when it comes to using the umbrella for my own protection. I don't want to use it because I feel so uneasy. It's a burden for me. So I just ran toward the office like a somewhat stupid with the umbrella on my side.

Now that I'm finished with all the things I am doing inside the addmissons office, I went out. The sun was out and giving me a very hot temperature. The umbrella was still with me. I know how useful it is to many, but I find it useless to have. Instead of opening it, I walked at the parking area and proceeded to our car still stubborn. There was no chance of using it. I'm so in sane, I know.

Lastly, we went to the mall to spend our remaining time window shopping and having a snack there. After eating, we entered National Bookstore and looked at many new released books. There are no other interesting books to buy, not until I finished collecting the VAMPIRE ACADEMY Series and FABLEHAVEN. Luckily, I saw the 5th book of VA. I didn't doubt if I should wait for christmas to buy it. I paid the book with all the allowance I had (it costs 400.00). I don't care if tomorrow there will be no money. Yet I feel so sad taking away my money from me (that is also a reason why I can't reload my cellphone and buy new clothes and shoes, I spend too much for books).

Ok, so there will be one last book to wait for the release of VA and FH.


And that's what just happened yesterday.

5th Placer, not bad at all

It was our REPORT CARD DISTRIBUTION last September 9, 2010. Parents have to go to our school to get our report cards and know the results out of it. They can also view at the bulletin board the list of honor students for that grading. We've finished 1st grading and there will be three more to come.



Mom first visited my brother's room.



I'm hopeless that I will never be included to be listed as one of the honor students because my scores at my previous exams didn't satisfy me. When we were there already I asked my younger sister to view the list of honors for me because I am so nervous I might not be included. She agreed, then walked away to see it.



After a while, she came back frowning. I asked her what happened. She said I didn't make it!



I DIDN'T MAKE IT! that was harsh of her.


Now I'm sweating all over and worried what mom will say to me once she found out, and what my teacher will tell her.



It's about time when mom will visit my room to get my card. I'm not yet saying about this to mom. I just want to see it for herself- or for myself. I agreed easily with what my sister said.



I passed by the bulletin board where the honors are posted. I took another glance to ensure that I'm not included. And God! I was surprised when my name was there! The only student who has the longest name printed there! Phew! I shouldn't agree so easily with my sister. She tricked me! She even started laughing at me when she realized I found out the truth!

I felt a relief. But wait, It's a tie! There's another classmate of mine who was also ranked same as mine. Not bad anyway.



I realized that I can do it better next time, I'll try making it at the top, top1 to be exact.

Like what they say, There is no harm in trying.

P.S. This is what I keep on praying also at night. Thank you, God, for letting me have this achievement.

Do the Physics

The Law of Gravity -- "objects with mass attract one another". Simple. We got it. Thanks.

The force of gravity is defined by Newton's formula:

F=Gm1m2/d2

In this formula, F is the force of gravity, G is a constant (the Gravitational Constant) which can be measured, m1 and m2 are the masses of the two objects in question, and d is the distance between them. And there you can see that gravity follows the inverse square law. Nice!

Okay, now the brilliant Stephen Hawking has just been quoted as saying, "Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing." Clear enough. So we have gravity (given) and we have nothing (given), so let's put it in the formula and see what we get.

F=((6.67300 × 10-11 m3 kg-1 s-2) x 0 x 0)/0. The answer? Yeah, I don't think we need a calculator to figure that out. Not so brilliant!

3...2...1...0!

What if today was your last day?
Would you want to get square with the person who hurt you or just let it go?
Would you want to count your net worth or give it all away?
Would you want to catch your favorite TV show or share your hope with someone?
Would you want to surf the 'net or share a meal with your friends?
Would you want to swap gossip or share your hopes and love for those around you?
Would you wish you would have spent more time doing a million different things or more time trying to hear God's will for the days you lived?

What if today was your last day?
Would you be preparing your defense to give before God or preparing your thanks for all that He gave you?
Would you be explaining why you didn't seek to save the lost, why you didn't go where Christ went, why you didn't associate with the people Jesus tried to reach or preparing to share stories about the incredible opportunities He put before you?
Would you be thinking about how your did church at the building or how you took apart of church (his body) into the world?

What if today was your last day?

If today were my last day, I would be a bit confused because there are things I'm having trouble letting go of that I need to let go of. There is pain, resentment, desires - there are things I am being challenged with that I'm having trouble letting go of and it's not the way I want to go meet my Creator and Savior. There are things I need to work on, to pray about and to accept God's love and grace so that I may share what He gives in abundance.

What if today was your last day?

Grace and peace to you.

Hooray!

Someone just gave me a compliment that my grammar is improving!

Thanks to that person.

As you can notice, I started blogging last March and my grammar isn't that good. I also posted before that I want to improve it so I can do better in school. Now that I achieved my goal, I am also thanking blogger for helping me giving a good practice.


Chao!

Gross!

I hope that there will be an automated door next time I'll enter the cubicle inside the ladies' comfort room (In our school!). I never wanted to touch it anymore after what I had experienced earlier!

I'll tell you why. One afternoon, I needed to pee so I proceeded to the comfort room. As I pulled the cubicle's door, I felt something sticky and wety in my hand. And, Eiiwww!.... There's a booger and a blood (you know, girl thing) stuck on my hand! Yuck, It's so gross!

I Double Dog Dare You...

...to leave a comment...just one...just one little itsy bitsy comment...

Is There Any Wonder?

Well of course English is a difficult language when a word like "hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia" means "the fear of long words". Sigh!

Define 'Happines'

I am going through some of the hardest days in my life. Days that I didn't see come. Days I didn't plan for. Days I haven't thought of alternatives or ways to overcome them. They say that something good must come after a lot of bad, and I await passionately and anxiously and also willingly with a smile to see what is next.


I am excited about what is next.

I know what is happiness.

I know where is happiness.

I have found happiness.

Have you?

back at it

I'm giving credit to WG after reading her funny yet crazy post. Read it. It's totally awesome.

WG: Can I help you find something?

Student: I'm looking for Room 23.

WG: You found it.

Student: Where?

WG: This room. It's number 23.

Student: No, that's where I'm going.

WG: But you're already here.

Student: Where?

WG: Room 23.

Student: Yeah, where's that?

WG: (Sigh) Go ask the teacher next door.

Kids Say the Darndest Things

Meet Gabi. Gabi will be 6 on Sunday. Gabi told me I have to be at her birthday party. Gabi is in love with the idea of being in love. Everything is weddings or boyfriends or something in-between. When asked the very important question of "How do you show Jesus you love him?" Gabi's response was "When you love Jesus you get married." (Her answer graced the front page of the sacrament program.)
A few nights ago I was cuddling with Gabi in the living room. "Guess who I love," I said to Gabi. She looked up me and said all seriously, "Fox" (Fox is a friend of mine who Gabi hadn't seen in MONTHS. I think Gabi is in love with Fox.) I laughed and said, "I love YOU Gabi."

Gabi looked frustrated and threw her hands up in the air and said rather loudly and with a tone, "If everybody loves somebody why doesn't anybody EVER get married???"

A very good question my adorable niece, a very good question indeed.

The Problem with Cash

I've recently been called on, again, to help a friend in need financially. I've done so on many occassions and have learned a lesson that many people go through life not ever really understanding. "More money doesn't solve money problems." That may sound incorrect, but the fact is you can give away as much money as you want - to fill someone's needs or not - and the same problems will come their way again.

"Then what does solve money problems, Mr. Know-it-all?" Without this turning into a lecure, let me keep it to a simple answer of "Financial education" and "Personal Development". I wish I knew how to share this with more people. Have a great day my friends - who haven't asked money from me yet. :)

Overheard Conversation 2.0

This doesn't seem like an overheard conversation, but the people talking here are only them, and I'm not included.

Earlier in school, we checked our seatworks, That was in TLE time. The Items were over 20 and I only got 19 (phew! too bad, didn't make it). I was with my buddy, Dela Vega, that time. We were talking when another classmate butt-in.

The conversation started:

Classmate: Jan, what's your score?

Dela Vega: 19, why?

C: Oh, nothing. We just have the same score. It's just that yours is one higher than mine.

DV: Ah------ hahaha! (sarcastic)

Me: (Listening to them)

After they had there little talk I approached DV again and said, "He is weird. It's so weird. It's so, so weird!" (Making face), And he just kept laughing about it.

The Things People Say

People say some really stupid things sometimes. To often it gets passed off as "cool" or, worse, "wisdom." "I've got a mind like a steel trap," someone might say. What does that mean? It's rusty and illegal in 37 states? There are famous quotes from famous people, like when Queen Elizabeth II asked the Beatles, "So, what do you do?" Or when the Foreign Minister of Vietnam said, "We are not without accomplishment. We have managed to distribute poverty equally." I particularly liked Samuel Goldwyn's classic, "A verbal contract isn't worth the paper it's written on." Or the wise guru who said sagely, "It's like the sound of one hand clapping."

There are the classics that everyone has heard. "It's always in the last place you look." Of course it is. Why would you keep looking if you found it? "There are more fish in the sea." So ... what's the connection with "fish" and the person you just broke up with? The opposite sex is all wet? Slimy? Easily hooked? What does that mean? How about this one? "If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times." What is that ... a proverb for the math challenged? And a phrase I've never understood: "I couldn't help it." I know it means, "I couldn't stop myself from doing that", so what does "help" have to do with it? It's like, "I could care less" used to mean "I couldn't care less." It doesn't make sense.

Then there are the contradictory ideas peddled as wisdom. Take, for instance, "Many hands make light work." Okay ... but we also know that "Too many cooks spoil the broth." So, which is it? We have all heard, "Look before you leap," but we've also heard, "He who hesitates is lost." So, which is it?

When I was a junior student, I remember telling my PE reacher, "I can't do that." I don't remember what "that" was, but I do remember his response. "'Can't'," he told me loudly, "means 'didn't try'." Even at my young age I understood that that made no sense at all. "I want you to fly up to the top of that pole and catch that bird." "I can't!" "'Can't' means 'didn't try'!" Um, no, "can't" means "I lack the ability." "Go rob that bank." "I can't!" "'Can't' means 'didn't try'!" No, again. "Can't" in this application means, "I am not allowed to do what you're telling me to do." Of course, explaining the various definitions of "cannot" and their ramifications to your junior high gym teacher who is three times your size and screaming at you at a distance of 2 inches isn't likely the right choice. So I proceeded to demonstrate to my coach that, in this case, "can't" meant "I lack the skills to do what you ask." While I get the intent of "'Can't' means 'didn't try'!", I question the wisdom.

One you've all seen, I'm sure, is the bumper sticker that settles everything. "God said it! I believe it! That settles it!" This one hurts me as much as it tickles me. You see, in this structure, there are two factors that determine if a thing is settled -- 1) God said it, and 2) I believe it. I picture God making a statement and then waiting, with bated breath. "Sure," He thinks, "I've met the first criterion ... but will he believe it? Oh, I hope, I hope ..." You see, it's sheer arrogance. The sticker would make sense if it said, "God said it! That settles it!" You could tack on "I believe it" at the end if you wished, but it would have no bearing on what determines a thing is settled. God saying it is all that is required.

I'm sure we all have things we hear and, more to the point, things we say that, if we thought about them, just wouldn't make any sense. I suppose our hope is that no one is listening, eh? No, that can't be right ...