Are you a Doctor "Doctor" or a Doctor "Nurse"?

The article New Degree Creates Doctor Nurses — And Confusion is quite intriguing! Imagine, a nurse who has a high level of expertise in nursing and has already earned a PhD could finally be called a "doctor". Well people with PhD's are really called doctor for their title but when you are in the hospital setting, when you think of the word doctor it is usually the person who diagnose and treat the disease and had graduated from the School of Medicine and not the School of Nursing.

But if you ask me, the title of doctor should be given solely to the doctors of medicine rather than the doctors of nursing. Why? Well sure some nurses with advanced degrees can diagnose and prescribe medicine but it is true that this would cause some confusion. But if you think of it people shouldn't really make a big fuss out of it. It is true that the real reason behind this dilemma is that egos of MD's are being deflated. The title of doctor had normally came with superiority but this is already in the past because doctors are not better than nurses and nurses are not the assistants of doctors. Nurses are part of the health care team as equal members who collaborate to provide efficient and holistic care.

But if doctors are preventing nurses from obtaining the title of doctor then nurses should also fight for the title of nurse. When you give the title nurse, this should only be given to those with Bachelors of Science in Nursing (and maybe to those with LPN/LVN) but not to the caregivers or nurse assistants. But this is only for the sake of ego and a sense of accomplishment... but in the end these doesn't matter at all.

The patient wouldn't care if you had a PhD or whatever as long as you help them feel better.

Shopping Online for Games

I just LOVE shopping online for games and even gaming consoles! The main reason I got myself a credit card was so that I could buy stuff online. Shopping online saves you time and effort! You don't need to drive all around the city to find the game title you are looking for and you can search for user feedback and reviews about a certain game before you buy it. Knowing the comments of other people before buying a certain game is very important because you don't want to waste money buying something and then finding out when you come home that the game really sucked and that playing it only drains all the fun and life out of you. There are a lot of video games out there but sadly not every one of them will suite your preferred gaming style and genre and even if they do the over-all impact of the game (Plot, Audio, Video, Length of Game, Re-playability) may not be that impressive so reviews and feedback are a must!

But there are some cons to shopping online too. There are so many online stores that it would be very difficult to search for an online store that has credibility and offers great prices! This is where shopwiki.co.uk comes in to save the day! Not only does this site offer great reviews of a certain product like for example their Nintendo Wii Buying Guide, it helps you find online stores in the internet and you can even filter them by the price of the item they are selling!

So if you want to find online bargains and best priced products on the internet, shopwiki.co.uk is the first place to start.

€

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

I'm so happy that I'm able to play a tune on my violin even if it is just "Twinkle Twinkle Little Stars". It is just so hard to play the violin. I'm going to practice, practice, and practice until I make my "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" sound like a song from the opera! If the opera was dedicated to kids hehehe.

13 Year Old Father

Look at this baby-faced boy... look at the baby... aren't these two brothers look so cute together? Well they are cute but they sure aren't brothers! The 13 year old boy is the baby's father!!! Seems like a big joke right? But this isn't any laughing matter.

I first heard of this story on the news but confirmed it at Juliana's new blog WAHM Talks! What is happening to the world? Why are these things happening? I can't believe that a 13 year old boy can become a father! I can't even believe that he lost his virginity at that young age!

This is why kids these days shouldn't be allowed to have intimate relationships like girlfriends or boyfriends because they have no idea what an intimate relationship is really about and where it should be headed...

It such a shame that an innocent 13 year old was already tainted at such a young age. He doesn't even know how grave the situation is.

My Valentines Day

My Valentine's Day turned out great after all. It sucked that I had to go to work today but I was really happy when I came home. I was surprised by my mom's gift: an I ♥ U Chocolate! And I loved it!

It was a very sweet gesture by my mom and I really appreciate it. I may not have that Significant Other but I do have my mom who loves me and I guess that is all that matters to me.

So I'm now not eligible to be part of the statistics of people who didn't receive anything on Heart's Day hahaha! ^_^

Yes! It's for Free!!!

Free Samples

Yes! You heard me right! You can actually get free stuff without any credit card, shipping fees, or whatsoever!

It's really hard to believe huh? But it really is true! You can get Free Samples of food, clothing, office supplies, and anything else under the sun. This really is legitimate and there really is no strings attached.

Free Samples does not only benefit those who receive it but benefits the company giving away the samples more. It's just like a business tactic to inform potential customers that their products can really satisfy your needs and wants.

So if you want to learn more about what I'm talking about, just head on to thunderfap.com to get your own samples.

Guess there are really free stuff in the world.

Decision Pending

These are the two words that makes me tremble and makes my tiny world be flung into utter chaos: DECISION PENDING...

Ah! It's totally nerve wracking never knowing what will happen next and I have to envision different scenarios so that I could cope with what ever will happen next. Oh gosh, the supreme euphoria of being accepted and the extreme depression if ever I don't get admission into University of Alberta is tearing me apart!

How lovely it would be if I could only be a carefree person and just shrug my shoulders and say, "Whatever..." to whatever might happen.

Whatever... LOL!

NEVER Use Dishwashing Liquid In a Dish Washer

Yup that's our dishwasher alright and yes those are soap bubbles that I had to scoop out because I foolishly used ordinary dish washing liquid instead of the standard dishwasher detergent. I know that most of the people out there know that this indeed is a very stupid thing to do but hey how should I know that?! I couldn't find our dishwasher detergent so I thought of using the dish washing liquid since I was thinking that it wouldn't matter because it is used to clean dishes right? Not a good idea...

Anyway out of this very distressing situation, and I mean DISTRESSING because our kitchen was already flooding, I did learn a few things on how to get rid of the pesky soap bubbles. Well I did a few researching, and these are the stuff that will help get rid of soap suds:

• Fabric Softener
• Salt
• Vinegar
• NEVER USE DISH WASHING LIQUID IN THE FIRST PLACE

Oh well, I'll just charge this to experience...

Curing My Social Phobia

I have to admit that I'm not a big fan of people, especially crowds. I hate taking public transit, I hate walking alone in crowded places like the mall, and I especially hate parties and gatherings with people I don't know.

I really don't have a clinical diagnosis of Social Anxiety Disorder (a.k.a. Social Phobia) but how I feel towards other people and how I react maybe qualifies me for being antisocial.

I can open up and talk to people who I am comfortable with (non-flashy, approachable, and the fellow shy-type kind of people) but I really put up an invisible defensive barrier around me when I'm out of my comfort zone (meaning being out in public).

I hate walking in crowded places because I feel like every one is staring at me and mocking me (not to be too conceited or anything, I know that they don't really notice me).

I'd also prefer staying at home than going with my parents to parties and gatherings to other people's house. I feel uncomfortable not being in my own territory. When I'm in parties I usually go with my mom or anyone I know or if the people I go with tend to socailize with others too much I just go out and hide in a solitary space.

One might be surprised how I survive working at Tim Hortons were I'm supposed to take orders from strangers and such. Well it really depends upon my mood, the number of co-workers with me, and there are days where I am the baker and I don't have to be in contact with other people so it's all good.

But I'm slowly coping with this problem of mine. Now, even if I find it troublesome, I go out with friends and enjoy. In fact this coming March 7, my friends and I are going on a skiing trip! The normal antisocial me would rather stay at home and just watch movies on my laptop but I guess socializing once in a while isn't too bad.

Some People Deserve to Die!

In a world where the good and righteous is oppressed, tortured, taken advantaged, and even killed in cold blood....

In a world where the criminals, sociopaths, bullies, and plainly evil people roam the earth freely immuned from what we call the justice system...

In a world where the powerful can step on the rights of those who are weak just because they can and because no one is willing to stand up against them...

I can't live in this world that we live in...

Constantly I fear for the lives of the ones I love as I hear grim stories of innocent people slaughtered on the streets by gangs and criminals.

I hate feeling powerless and I hate how society just sits and even protects these criminals saying that they too have rights... our world is really naive and stupid.

How I wish that I had the power to pass judgment to all those evil people out there making the world such a filthy place to live in... I would trade my soul and my whole humanity just to be able to get rid of all scum on the face of the earth. I don't care if I get my soul tainted in the process and even if I have to spend my whole eternity in hell...

It is so wrong to kill but there are just some people out there who deserve to die. For example, just this afternoon I was walking to work minding my own business when these Indian teenage boys asked for $10. Naturally I just ignored them and just walked passed them and they started cussing at me and harassing me. I just ignored them and it was fortunate that someone else passed by. Who knew what would have happened if I was all alone with those Indians. I don't want to be racist but this event left a foul taste in my mouth that I can't just spit out and forget.

Anyway on with my rant... I actually had a dream early before all of this happened. There was this white woman who went inside our car to tell us to move because we were blocking her way or something (I can't remember it that well). Anyway I got pissed off because how could we move when there were two cars ahead of us, it's not like we could just ram them over right? But I kind of felt guilty for losing my temper because I could have just reasoned with her. Anyway, she left our car (why did she enter in the first place?) and when I looked at her at the back she was mugged by this person with a gun. I was so terrified and he was about to enter our car through my mom's open door so I told her to close the door but she didn't listen because she was preoccupied with searching for something in her purse. She closed the door but it was too late, I was pulling the door close and the villain was pulling it open... I was about to lose my grip when I woke up. Seriously, I was about to call my mom to tell her to lock the door immediately when she hears me scream in a frantic fashion.

Anyway, I shared this dream just to give an example of how upset and affected I am by all the evil in the world. I want to do something about it and I want to have the power to do so. But really... In an act to get rid of all the evil people in the world, I become evil myself in the process... how ironic...

***
Photo Credits to *ANARKYMAN

Glasses to See the World Clearly

My dad has so many eyeglasses. But the problem is he can never keep track of where his glasses are and he usually loses them, destroys them, or I throw them away because they are ancient and it would be a crime against fashion if I let him wear it around in public.

It costs us a great fortune going back and forth to the eyeglass store to get him a new pair at least twice or thrice a month! In fact when we walk in the store, this sales lady would immediately hand us a list of the bifocal reading glasses that my dad likes (which he usually misplaces).

In this time of economic crisis and slowdown, I guess that I just had to find a way to lessen our expenses. That's why I'm so glad that I found an online store that sells cheap prescription eyeglasses! What I liked about this store is that they had trendy, fashionable, and of great quality prescription eyeglasses for a very reasonable price too of $15!

What I like about this store is that they have this thing they call Virtual try-on system that as the name suggests, allows you to try on the product allowing you to know how it would look on your face.

And if you ever dreamed of having different looks every week, optical4less.com grants that dream because as I said they sell their eyeglasses cheap, plus they get delivered right to your doorstep just in 1 week plus they offer free shipping worldwide if you get more than 1 pair of glasses.

Neither a Borrower Nor a Lender Be

This quote by William Shakespeare has really enlightened me and I'm willing to place it in my top 5 most favorite quotes (that is if i had a Top 5 Quotes List). I should have listened to my mother or consulted with my mother before I lent a friend out of my naivety Php 20,000 or CAN$ 500!

Now that friend cannot be reached. Her cellphone is always turned off and she doesn't reply to my e-mails or instant messages. It's funny how easy it was to reach her when she needed money immediately like as in now at this very moment and now that it's time for her to pay it back, it's like she never existed!

I will charge this $500 to experience and I will never lend money to anyone from the Philippines or even anyone that lives near me here in Canada unless they sign a contract with me clearly stating the amount they borrowed, the date they will have to pay me, and the consequences of defaulting upon our agreement.

Asianovelas

I just love watching Asianovelas (a Filipino term for Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Taiwanese Dramas/Movies)! I love them because the stories are very unique and that they have this certain taste that I love.

There's something very memorable in every movie and there are always a message in every movie unlike some of the other Western movies where the plot is shallow.

And on the plus side, Asians are so cute (hahaha!). So if you want to watch Asianovelas, I recommend visiting mysoju.com.

Financial Headaches...

I hate having to worry about money. Ever since I've started earning my own money I started having troubles with my financial profile. I mean now I have to worry about paying bills, saving for future expenses, and keeping my credit score and credit history clean so that I can get future loans for my university (and maybe a car).

I wish we could live without having to worry about money.... but I have learned some things during these past few days and they are:

> Never lend anyone money unless you're willing to accept that you'll never get it back.
> Be thrifty... Spending a few dollars here and there could lead to several hundreds of dollars at the end of the month.
> Use your credit card wisely... you have to pay for it at the end of the month.

But I guess that I have been pretty good at keeping my financial profile clean because my bank just gave me a $250 increase on my credit limit so this gives me more spending money during rainy days (emergencies).

Well I still have 7 months before I get to go back to University, so until then I'm going to work hard so that I can earn more money.

TOEFL Exam: I PASSED!!!

No words can fully express how happy, joyful, thankful, lucky I am to be able to pass my TOEFL exam. Well there is really no passing or failing mark in the TOEFL exam but I did have to meet the University of Alberta's requirement of having a minimum of 26 points (out oi 30) in the speaking category of the TOEFL exam. I really don't need the reading, listening, and writing part because these were waived since I studied for 3 years at Xavier University, which of course is an institution where English proficiency is a norm.

I'm not sure if I passed because I speak English well or if I passed only out of pure luck. But all I can say is my results are quite good. I just have to wait for University of Alberta to receive my results and finally accept me into the fall term... hopefully.

Here are my test results:

Test	Test Date	Reading	Listening	Speaking	Writing	Total
TELXML	January 10, 2009	29	30	26	28	113

Reading Skills	Level	Your Performance
Reading	High(22-30)	Test takers who receive a score at the HIGH level, as you did, typically understand academic texts in English that require a wide range of reading abilities regardless of the difficulty of the texts. Test takers who score at the HIGH level, typically have a very good command of academic vocabulary and grammatical structure; can understand and connect information, make appropriate inferences, and synthesize ideas, even when the text is conceptually dense and the language is complex; can recognize the expository organization of a text and the role that specific information serves within the larger text, even when the text is conceptually dense; and can abstract major ideas from a text, even when the text is conceptually dense and contains complex language.
Listening Skills	Level	Your Performance
Listening	High(22-30)	Test takers who receive a score at the HIGH level, as you did, typically understand conversations and lectures in English that present a wide range of listening demands. These demands can include difficult vocabulary (uncommon terms, or colloquial or figurative language), complex grammatical structures, abstract or complex ideas, and/or making sense of unexpected or seemingly contradictory information. When listening to lectures and conversations like these, test takers at the HIGH level typically can understand main ideas and important details, whether they are stated or implied; distinguish more important ideas from less important ones; understand how information is being used (for example, to provide evidence for a claim or describe a step in a complex process); recognize how pieces of information are connected (for example, in a cause-and-effect relationship); understand many different ways that speakers use language for purposes other than to give information (for example, to emphasize a point, express agreement or disagreement, or convey intentions indirectly); and synthesize information, even when it is not presented in sequence, and make correct inferences on the basis of that information.
Speaking Skills	Level	Your Performance
Speaking about familiar topics	Good(3.5 - 4.0)	Your responses indicate an ability to communicate your personal experiences and opinions effectively in English. Overall, your speech is clear and fluent. Your use of vocabulary and grammar is effective with only minor errors. Your ideas are generally well developed and expressed coherently.
Speaking about campus situations	Fair(2.5 - 3.0)	Your responses demonstrate an ability to speak in English about reading material and experiences typically encountered by university students. You are able to convey relevant information about conversations, newspaper articles, and campus bulletins; however, some details are missing or inaccurate. Limitations of grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation at times cause difficulty for the listener. However, they do not seriously interfere with overall communication.
Speaking about academic course content	Good(3.5 - 4.0)	Your responses demonstrate an ability to communicate effectively in English about academic topics typical of first-year university studies. Your speech is mostly clear and fluent. You are able to use appropriate vocabulary and grammar to explain concepts and ideas from reading or lecture material. You are able to talk about key information and relevant details with only minor inaccuracies.
Writing Skills	Level	Your Performance
Writing based on reading and listening	Good(4.0 - 5.0)	You responded well to the task, relating the lecture to the reading. Weaknesses, if you have any, might have to do with slight imprecision in your summary of some of the main points and/or use of English that is occasionally ungrammatical or unclear.
Writing based on knowledge and experience	Good(4.0 - 5.0)	You responded with a well-organized and developed essay. Weaknesses, if you have any, might have to do with use of English that is occasionally ungrammatical, unclear, or unidiomatic and/or elaboration of ideas or connection of ideas that could have been stronger.

I'd love to talk about the contents of the exam but I sort of written a promissory note that I will never talk about the contents of the exam unless I want to face legal prosecution.

Preparing For Valentine's Day

I'm not actually the one preparing for Valentine's Day. It's actually my friend who is having a hard time deciding what to give his "special someone" for Valentine's Day. He kept nagging me on and on today at work about what I thought would be a great idea for a gift. I got so tired of him asking that I finally caved in and told him just to give her flowers. Every girl loves flowers right? I told him just to get a Valentines Day Flower Delivery and I'm sure that his "special someone" would be happy.

Flowers are a must for Valentine's Day! Flowers can be given along side any gift like chocolates, jewelry, or whatever special but flowers by itself is a great gift as well! Flowers are amazing and beautiful and they have this great impact to any girl who receives them no matter how many times she has received flowers in her entire lifetime.

But if you ask me, if I was to be given a Valentine gift I'd want something edible like chocolates, cakes, or cookies because I love food hahaha! Some cute things like the traditional I Love You bears would be cute too. But I guess any gift that is sent by someone you love would be great, it's the thought that counts and the emotion that accompanies it: L-O-V-E!

Sorry... Just Bored...

What can I say... I was bored so I made this video of me hahaha! Actually I didn't really make the video I just used the Made Up Memories website to make this video. I have nothing better to do with my spare time so this is what I thought of doing.

My violin hasn't arrived yet, my TOEFL results are coming this Friday, and my friend who I lent $500 (PHP 20,000) hasn't paid me back yet... so those are the things going on in my mind as I live my oh boring life....

So... on with the show!

Being One With Nature

I really love nature and all it's beauty. That's why I'm glad to live in a neighborhood with so many plants and trees. The color of green just relaxes me and clears my mind of all the stress and worries in my mind.

That's why I really want to get some indoor planters so that I can feel more relaxed when I'm at home. I really envy our family friend for they have such a great home and what made their home even more beautiful are their plants that added beauty and elegance to their home. And I really mean elegance because they had these gorgeous decorative planters that not only emphasized the plant's beauty but the planter by itself is enough to accentuate the home's beauty.

Speaking of planters, I never knew that there were different kinds and types. If you don't know what a planter is, it's a box or pot that holds plants and it's also called a jardiniere. There are planters comes in different, shapes, sizes, color, material, and even features like self-watering and frost-resistant.

I'm not into gardening but I really want to have plants or flowers in the house so maybe I'll get my self a window box planter to make our home a little bit more inviting.

Just Bought A Violin!

After hearing the anime Shingetsutan Tsukihime's music, I was more hyped into learning the violin. I find the music made by the violin as something soothing, mysterious, and just plain beautiful. I'd always wanted to learn to play the violin and how can I learn to play the violin if I didn't have my own violin right? Well so I got myself a violin today and I can't wait for it to arrive. I was going to buy this violin that cost only around $75 CAN but it had no carrying case or anything but then I decided to buy the violin that cost only $195 US from another store. I bought it because it seemed worth it for a begginner violin as it had all the accessories plus it was originaly priced at $800 US. I wanted to look for a cheaper starter violin since I might not be that good or I might not even learn violin so I didn't want to waste my money. But I failed to consider that the US $ is stronger than the Canadian $ so instead of paying $195, I actually paid for $250 Canadian. This factor even made me want to learn violin more as I don't intend to waste my money. I really hope that I do get to learn violin. I know that it would take patience, time, and practice, practice, and more practice.

Shopping the Smart Way

I used to judge other people for always wanting to go to the mall and shop because I thought it was a waste of money and what would you do with all those clothes anyway? But I finally changed my opinion towards shopping when I already earned my own money and when I go out with my friends we usually go shopping.

I realized that there is nothing wrong with shopping especially for clothes because when I go to university this September (fingers crossed) I would need lots of clothes because they don't require uniforms. Now I miss my school uniform... Also we have 4 seasons here in Canada so our clothing must be appropriate for each season.

The key to smart shopping is to always look for special deals like 50% to 70% discounts and stuff. What I like here in Canada is that when they have sales they do it to attract more customers or they are changing seasons unlike back home in the Philippines when they have sales because the items are either old or have defects on them or if they are perishable goods, they are close to their expiry date.

So my friends and I had no plans to shop, but since this very nice Filipino gentleman we met at the Filipino store offered us a ride to the Cineplex at Edmonton South Common as he was headed that way too. He was going to buy shoes at the Nike store at the strip mall near the Cineplex so we decided to look around. That is when we wear surprised that Guess, Buffalo by David Bitton, and Espirit where all having sales. I usually just walk away from temptations but my friends wanted to shop so we went in and I made an awesome discovery. I have a severe weakness for coats and jackets and I saw this awesome looking black jacket by Buffalo which was normally sold for $200 something and now was $160. And then Guess had an even more big surprise as I found this brown fall jacket which was now only $45 from $160. Ofcourse I checked if there was somwthing wrong with the jacket to make them want to give this jacket such a huge drop in price but it was in perfectly good shape and the style was unique. So I bought them and I was surprised that I saved so much. I can say that I have saved because after the sale, the discounted items will return to their original price so my $45 dollar jacket will be $160 again.

So my friends and I walked away with these bags from these designer stores with smiles on our faces. I can't wait for the next sale event.

Midnight Food Trip at McDonalds

Today was the last day of my 4 straight days of work until my day-off tomorrow so my Filipino co-workers/friends decided to spend it by stopping over at McDonalds to visit our old colleague. Who would have guessed that the majority of the McDonalds staff would be Filipinos including the on-duty managers and supervisors.

It was great how they practiced the Filipino characteristic of being hospitable. I was really amazed how accommodating they were to me and my companions. They personally came to our table and introduced themselves and told us to ask whatever we wanted. They gave us a 50% discount and they even gave us a huge slice of their ice cream birthday cake which I loved of course.

I just am happy to meet fellow Filipinos who are very friendly. I like contract workers better than some immigrant Filipinos because Filipinos who become citizens of Canada or are immigrants think of themselves as superior than those who are contract workers which I personally think is so wrong.

Anyway I am really glad that I went to McDonalds this midnight. I got to eat and I got to meet new people. Great day! I'm hoping tomorrow's movie day with the guys would turn out great as well.

Still Snowing...

My gosh... it's still snowing in Edmonton! Well Winter will officially end in March 21 so it's no surprise why the outside is still a walk-in freezer. I hate winter and the cold! The snow was fun at first because it was my first time to see and touch snow but after several flurries and having walked in knee-deep snow the glamor of snow faded away.

But even if it's freezing I still love to eat ice cream and I've learned to love hot instant noodles. The instant noodles I love are the ones imported from the Philippines: Lucky Me Instant Cup Noodles. Like they're sold here at the Filipino store for $2. That's like Php 80! But I have learned to stop converting dollars to pesos because I won't be able to buy anything if I do. I just love Filipino products and I prefer them over the locally made Canadian and US imported goods here.

I just received my paycheck this week and boy was I disappointed. Having to miss four days of work took a big toll on my paycheck that's why I'm going to work 1 hour and 30 minutes extra tomorrow so that I can get more money in my next paycheck, Lol! I'm now really more concerned in saving money because I've realized how much money I've wasted already but I think I can forgive myself because we really didn't have anything yet when we first arrived here in Canada so investing in our home and stuff is not really a waste of money right?

Today was a great day! It wasn't that busy at work and the customers where 80% good. I loved it when one regular customer gave me a chocolate again. He knew how I loved chocolates! I'd just make sure that I get on his good side because the next time he gives me chocolate it might be poisoned! Lol! The customers kept praising us how fast and efficient we were today. They just didn't take into account that there were no one else when they ordered their food.

I wonder how tomorrow would turn out. Well I'm the baker tomorow and the co-worker that's ultra slow and is of no use at all is off tomorrow so everything seems good.

Lost For Words

It's been a while since I last created a post in my blog. It seems that I have nothing to say at the moment. Nothing really interesting has happened to me lately. Well there are things that I would love to rant and rave about but I'm so fed up with ranting and complaining. There's nothing that I would get from it. Instead of releasing my frustration and anger I just relive the whole experience once again and it's not a great feeling to have.

Well something interesting did happen to me today and that is my Test of English as a Foreign Language Exam (TOEFL). I took the exam downtown and boy am I disappointed at myself. You see the most crucial port of the exam that I really needed was the speaking test but I have to commit a huge blunder at that part of the exam. In the middle of the part of the exam where I have to listen to a conversation and talk about the conversation, I was daydreaming and I was thinking of how I did in the past sections of the exam. By the time I realized that I was suppose to listen to the conversation, the conversation had already ended. So by the time that I snapped out of my day dream I was already babbling not knowing what to say... I'm doomed.

I wish for a miracle... and that miracle would be me getting a score pf 26 out of 30... ok I'm doomed.

I'm Back to Baking!

I'm so glad that they've finally placed me on baking. Well they do rotate us to baking, which is great! I just enjoy making donuts and I'm so proud if they get sold out because it makes me feel that my donuts is making someone happy and "fulfilled" somewhere.

Well one other reason why I love being baker because I get to stay at the back and I don't have to take anyone's orders hehehe. Well I'm so fed up taking orders that even when I sleep I have to remind myself that I'm not working at Tim Hortons so I can't make anyone a large double double (that's Tim Horton Language for a Large Coffee with 2 shots of sugar and 2 shots of cream).

Anyway, I'm off to bed! I have to wake up early tomorrow so that I can prepare for my upcoming TOEFL exam this Saturday. If I pass this test, my future as a Nursing Student at University of Alberta will be guaranteed!

Sharing Memories

Year 2008 has passed but we shouldn't forget all those happy memories that we had and those exciting events that occurred during 2008. We should always cherish those days because we only live our lives once.

And what a better way to treasure memories and preserve them is by taking pictures of those unforgettable events and make a scrapbook! Yup scrapbooking is an undying art that brings a smile upon our faces once we open one and reminisce about the good old times.

Some may find making scrapbooks time consuming and difficult, but with SmileBox.com you have absolutely no excuse not to start making your own scrapbook. It`s easy, fun, and absolutely free to use SmileBox.com to make your very own bundle of memories. Just choose from several scrapbooking layouts and designs and share these memories with friends and loved ones by sending them Free Ecards.

I'm going to start making my own scrapbook right now and send it back to my friends in the Philippines so hope you guys start making yours too!

As Time Passed By

"Tick... Tock... Tick... Tock...," These are the sounds that I hear as I laid down alone in our living room. Everything is so quiet except for the deafening ticking of our clocks. Yes we have a clock in every part of our home and they all tick in consortium as if to warn me of the coming future.

My heart beats faster as if it wanted to outpace the clock's ticking. I'm afraid of what the future holds and as I lay there listening to the ticking of our clocks I somehow feel an impending doom falling upon me. Just laying still simply drives me insane because I realize how fast time is passing by and how much time I waste as I just lay there doing nothing.

The Year 2008 left and the Year 2009 came with great fears and excitement because I know that this year has several new events that I will have to encounter. This year will be the time when I will know if I'm qualified to go to University of Alberta, the year when I will take my driving exam for my driver's license, and they year when I will break free from the monotony and harships of working a blue collared job.

I know that more headaches and obstacles are ahead... that's why I ask God's divine intervention to strengthen me and aide me along the way. Things won't be easy, but it is these problems that makes life more exciting.

Money Is The Source of Problems

I really hate money. Money makes my life so miserable. I mean if I don't have money I can't buy the things I need and want. But if I have money, I worry how to keep that money from being wasted and from being used. You can't have too much or too less of money...

Earning money isn't that simple too. I have to work in a job where I do things that I never thought I would do like serving other people. Oh well when I become a nurse (or hopefully a doctor) in the future I will have to deal with people so being in customer service may be helpful in a way. It can help me strengthen my defenses against those unlikable and rude people by birth. I really hate my current job but I have to stick to it because I don't want to waste my free time by just staying at home and doing nothing.

I have to save money for university and I want to buy myself a car. But then things go crazy again. I have to make sure that I don't have too much money to be eligible for a Canadian Student Loan from the government and I can't have a car since it will add to my personal assets which will affect my eligibility for a student loan. I also have to put in mind that even if I save enough money for a car, I have to continue paying for gas and the car insurance so getting a car is not a great option if I plan on being a full time student. Oh well, guess I have to use the family car to get to my duty areas since my dad doesn't use it to go to work.

Sometimes, money can cause a strain in relationships. I have a friend from the Philippines who wanted to borrow 530 Canadian dollars (that's 20,000 Philippine Pesos) since my friend is having some financial difficulty. I have the money but I was having a hard time deciding whether I should lend my friend the money or not. It's a pretty huge sum (2 weeks pay) but if I don't help my friend in times of need then can I really call myself a friend? It's really hard when there are times you need money but your friends don't help you out because they are afraid of losing money. These are the times of hardship where you can tell your friends from the rest. I was also afraid of losing money. My brother doesn't pay me back the money he owes me and we live together, so what certainty do I have that my friend won't just run away with my money since my friend lives far away. Sure I can sue my friend or chase after my friend through legal means but then it would take time, effort, and more money. Plus it would lead to the end of our friendship, and I don't want that to happen.

But I lent my friend the money anyway because I place my trust and faith in this friend and that I want to be of help during this time of need. I just hope that I made the right decision because $530 is no laughing matter. I really hate worrying about money.

Why Are We So Different?

I really wonder why my brother and I are like opposite charges. Of course I'm the positive one and my brother is the negative. It's like we were raised by two different set of parents although it must be noted that we grew up in totally different environments.

I grew up in an environment where I was first mixed with "normal" Filipino kids and then suddenly sent to a new environment where the kids are privileged. By privileged I mean stinking rich with matching body guards and servants in uniforms. I was placed in an environment where I have to constantly prove my worth by making sure that I have several note worthy achievements. I was faced with high expectations from everyone and this pushed me to work harder. I had to live by myself while I studied in a high school in another city far away from home. I had to buy food from the grocery by myself, budget my allowance, and I had to do everything by myself because I lived alone. I was taught how to be independent and self-capable.

My brother on the other hand went to an average school, met average people, and my parents never expected anything from him, well except to pass and graduate that is. My brother is a spoiled brat and it is my parents who have to put extra effort in making sure he graduates from high school by doing his homework, influencing his teachers to make him pass, and they even have to waste hours trying to wake him up in the morning so that he can go to school. He is literally spoon fed and everything is given to him which never happened to me. Everything he needs is given to him and he never even have to ask for it.

Imagine asking your mom when you were a kid what a word meant and then she tells you to look it up in the dictionary while my brother on the other hand would never ask what that word means so my mom would be the one to tell him what that word meant so that he'll learn something. This is exactly how our situation is.

But I really blame my parents for how rotten my brother turned out to be. Since my parents allows him to do everything he wants, he is always out of the house and he smokes, drinks, and I presume that he does drugs too (he was already caught with marijuana and was almost expelled if it weren't for my parents). If he's not out of the house, he brings his equally pathetic and self-absorbed friends who are too busy trying to look cool and are too occupied with having fun that they forget that they should prepare for the future too and that whatever they have today is temporary.

I'm really sorry for my brother because I know that he's just wasting his life and his future. He was given an opportunity to study here in Canada and live a great life but he wastes it on his so called friends... but I shouldn't worry really, he's not my son. He's not my problem anymore. My parents aren't doing anything so why should I?

Knowledge Could Save You

I recently went to a friend's house for a little gathering and it is there that I met his uncle who suffered a stroke. I was amazed by his story and his fight for his life. He was really blessed because even after being half-paralyzed due to his stroke and his open-heart surgery he is still doing well and is still active.

My friend's uncle was really lucky but not every one will be blessed like that. That is why everyone especially those at high risk of heart conditions should know more about how their heart works, how different heart complications will affect the heart's and the circulatory system's functions, and most important of all, how one can prevent acquiring these problems.

I believe that knowledge could save you and that's why I really recommend that everyone checks out heartlibrary.com because it is the website that has videos and contents about the anatomy of the heart and common heart problems. Real doctors who specializes in hearts and the circulation system informs you about the said topic with an easy to understand language. The website is also a great source for finding a doctor near you and other important tidbits of information.

So as the saying goes, Knowledge is Power!

Boxing Day

Today was quite ok. It was quite busy but I'm kind of used to it. I already came back to work since my back has fully recovered and I didn't want to lose any more potential earnings.

It was quite sad that I wasn't able to come with my family shop today especially when it's Boxing Day. But what is Boxing Day really? Well it's a day when stores have these huge sales and discounts. The savings for these sales are so great that people will literally camp out and wait in line before the store opens. Boxing Day was supposed to be a day of goodwill to the less fortunate but guess it's more of an after Christmas shopping holiday.

But going to work today rather than going shopping was way better because I wasn't tempted to spend money (yes I'm a compulsive buyer) and bargain hunting at crowd-filled stores is not my idea of fun. Besides there isn't anything that I want to buy. Well I do want to buy that HP laptop that has a touch screen which could rotate 360 degrees but I kind of think that it's not worth it because I already have a laptop. I suddenly regret buying an overly expensive desktop which I don't like using anyway because I prefer using my laptop which I could carry around anywhere the house.

Anyway, at least my mom was happy today. She got to buy an Olympus Camera which has 8 Megapixels and is waterproof and shockproof for a very reasonable price too! And she also got an Altec Lansing speakers for her desktop for I think $20! That's a very sweet deal.

There are so many things I want to buy but then I realize that I don't really need them. So I'm quite thankful that I don't frequently go to malls and I don't use my credit card to buy stuff online anymore because I might do something hasty like buy an iPod Touch which I rarely use now. So Boxing Day is not a good holiday for me, but if I have a Million Dollar then you better move out of my way because I'm going shopping! Lol! So much for self restraint.

My Abnormality: My Right Hip

I went to see a Physical Therapist one day as recommended by my examining doctor. I was hoping that the Physical Therapist will give me a massage or some sort of treatment for my aching lower back pain which was actually improving already.

But instead of my anticipated massage (yes I love body massages) the doctor only gave me a thorough physical assessment which I really appreciated. I was even more amazed with the assessment of the doctor when he noticed that my right hip has a limited range of motion as compared to my left hip. So he concluded that this partial mobility of my right hip may have contributed to my frequent lower back pains. So you see, if my hip doesn't rotate well, it is my lower back which would need to twist and turn so my back is easily strained.

Well the doctor did also comment that for a 20 year old, my back isn't that strong yet so I was a bit ashamed of my unfit self and sedentary lifestyle. So I think I have already found one 2009 New Year's Resolution! I will make use of the Tony Horton's 10 Minute Exercise DVDs that I bought so I can get some exercise.

My Wish: Good Health

Christmas is fast approaching and I've got to admit that I'm not that excited really. Christmas isn't that exciting anymore here in Canada. It's my first white Christmas here in my new home but I kind of feel that there is something missing. And I bet that that something are my friends and other loved ones who I have left behind in the Philippines.

Before I was excited for Christmas because of the gifts and all but now that I can afford to buy whatever I want I have realized that Christmas here in Canada is very commercialized. It's only about gifts, the decorations, and the food. Back in the Philippines Christmas was more on the real reason for Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ.

Anyway, the past few days I've been thinking of what I would want for Christmas and after being bed-ridden for 4 consecutive days, missing work and being in agonizing pain, because of a lower back injury I have realized that good health is a great Christmas gift. I used to laugh at older people wishing other old people good health for Christmas but now that I am in such pain I suddenly realized how important and priceless good health really is. I'm just glad that my condition is improving.

I have missed work for 4 days already, a huge loss of potential earnings for me, and I didn't even have the chance to study for my coming TOEFL iBT exam this January 2009. I know what you're thinking, what have I been doing all along while I was at home? But if you were in my place, you wouldn't have the chance to think of studying because of my nagging lower back pain when I sit, stand, lay down, walk or do anything. I couldn't even sleep because of the extreme pain. The only thing that could relieve my pain was a long hot bath or a hot shower but the pain would just come back again. But now I am able to sit and lay down flat on my back with out the pain anymore so this is really a great improvement!

I just have to show up tomorrow for my physical therapy and I'm sure that I'm going to be able to work soon and be fit enough to study and prepare for my TOEFL iBT exam. My holidays are starting to be brighter all along.

A Heart That Bleeds

It never ceases to amaze me how some people can say and do nasty things to other people with out any hesitation. I wish I could do that too. I wish I could just hurt people and never regret it in the end but I just can't. I can't hurt other people nor do I want to hurt them. It makes me ashamed to say that whenever I do things like not saying hi to anyone I know or not being polite to anyone makes me suffer the next day.

I hate it how I tend to reflect upon my actions at the end of the day. I envy those that can just say what ever they want at the spur of the moment without any guilt what so ever. I hate it that I have a heart that bleeds so easily.

Maybe I'm just too week, letting myself be affected too much by the actions of other people. Maybe in this heartless and cold world I have to raise all my defenses if I want to save my self from emotional scars.

I'm just glad that I'm not alone whenever wrong has been done unto me because somehow I get to feel how my Savior was persecuted. I just think of Jesus Christ and I can just smile and in a way forgive.

I don't want to be a nasty person. I don't want to be someone so full of hate and negativity. I want to live my life peacefully.

Stupid Obstacles

There are several obstacles to my future right now. I had already gone through the pains of getting my school documents together and sending them from the Philippines to here in Canada and now I have to face new problems.

First I have to pass a Test of Spoken English. Well there was that English Proficiency Test too but I was able to meet that requirement because I studied for three years in Xavier University which was recognized by University of Alberta. Now I just have to pass that TOEFL iBT this coming January 10, 2009 and I'm all set. But this is better said than done because I have to get a speaking points of 26 from a range of 0-30. Who guessed that speaking English well will determine my future. People does say that my English is very good but sometimes I get my tongue twisted and I say awkward stuff.

But even if I pass that Test of Spoken English I still would have to deal with funding my education. I can get that student loan but I'm torn into two because I want to buy a car but if I buy a car then it would show that I'm not in financial need, which I am. But I guess that buying a car would be ok, I just have to buy a car less than $6,000 but what kind of car would I get with $6,000? If it has heating and it's automatic then I'm fine with that.

Life is sure full of complexities. Tomorrow I have to face my manager and tell her that I don't like it when they send me to other stores... let's see what happens tomorrow.

Ukay-Ukay in Canada

For all those who don't have even the faintest idea of what the word "Ukay-Ukay" means, worry not for I will enlighten you. Ukay-Ukay is a Filipino term for a sale of used clothes at very low prices. Ukay-ukay can be related to flea markets or any sale of second-items where by just pure luck you might find a very expensive designer item for half the price or even lesser.

Well I didn't believe my eyes when my parents drove to a Good Will shop. This Good Will shop has items that were donated by people who want to get rid of their old stuff and if you're lucky you might recieve the old expensive and designer items of a rich person.

I have to admit that some of the items were pretty decent. I got to buy some CD's of Alicia Keys and Craig David, an Anatomy and Physiology book, and some clothes. It was a bit hard to find anything my size since the people here are generally bigger in built. I did see some branded items but I also saw uniforms from coffee shops and other retail establishments. I never thought that people would be wearing work uniforms even if they don't work for that establishment. There were also some decorative items for the house, shoes, electronic items, and believe it or not, an exercise equipment which my dad happily bought, although I honestly would call it a piece of junk.

The Good Will shop is great for newcomers here in Canada but I still see Canadians (white people) buying stuff here so they too might also be looking for great bargains.

So the Good Will shop here in Canada is much like the Ukay-Ukay in the Philippines except that here in Canada you can oay with your Debit Card or Credit Card and there were lesser people.

The bottom line? Finding bargains and deals is a great opportunity for everyone so even if you live in a third world country or first world country, being able to save money and be able to buy some pretty neat stuff is a universal desire.

Some Things Stay The Same

Who would have thought that moving here in Canada would save me from my stupid brother's friends?! I mean seriously?! They come in the middle of the night and just make my life a living hell. They make a mess and they make so much noise. My only relaxation period is disrupted by people who have no decency and who have no idea that there are actually people out there who considers their home as their private get away or sanctuary.

I am so pissed off right now. I'm even more pissed off than when that stupid customer at Tim Hortons threw his half empty cup of hot chocolate at the counter. Well I'll talk about this in another post.

But wait... I think it's quiet already... they must have already left thank God! Geez! These are the moments that I want to live in a totally separate house all by my self. When I can support myself you can be sure that I'll be leaving this crazy family. Well I really don't want to leave them but having to deal with living with my brother is very agonizing!

I LOOOOVE YOGURT!

Yeah I love yogurt!!! I've been eating yogurt when I wake up and before I go to sleep because we have a lot in the fridge. I love the way yogurt tastes good and how it contributes to your health being a great source of protein, calcium, riboflavin and vitamin B 12.

Not only is it a good source of the said nutrients above, yogurt has active and living microorganisms that contributes to the body's natural defense and all. Yogurt isn't yogurt without these microorganisms.

Anyway, I love yogurt and all but I just found out that our yogurt is about to expire soon so I better start eating!

Traveling Nurse: A Goal for the Future

I have been thinking about my future and my career and I have already decided that there is no turning back for me and no more seconds thoughts because I am going to be a nurse for sure. But as I have been exposed to the clinical area as a student nurse I have realized that there are different areas in nursing and there are several career paths that I could take as a nurse.

I could be a clinical nurse specialist, nurse anesthetist, nurse administrator, or even a military nurse. But the nursing career option that is very enticing right now is to be a traveling nurse! Yup there are so many travel nursing jobs out there since there is really is a high demand for nurses.

Being a traveling nurse is great because not only do you get excellent pay and invaluable work experience in notable institutions, you get to travel all around the world too! Imagine, you can work in New York for example, and when winter comes and it becomes chilly you can travel and work in Hawaii!

I have to admit that I love traveling and being able to see all the sights and sounds of different cities and communities is better than having to live a life that is monotonous and just filled with daily routines.

I know that it's too early to really decide what I want to do in the future but becoming a traveling nurse is one of my top three career choices!

How To Lose A Friend in One Second

I have to be honest and admit that I have a very nasty temper. I rarely get mad but when I do I really lose my composure and calm. I'm like a bullet fired from a gun and nothing can stop me until I hit someone in the heart head on. But it's not unusual for me to blow up like that because I tend to keep all the frustrations, anger, and tension with in me so when I get the chance to rant and rave I will not stop until the scene is bloody red.

Fine I have an anger management issue but my co-worker can testify that I had a reason to be angry. Imagine, I was left all alone to take orders from so many people and then I make one tiny mistake of applying a discount to an order and then here comes my other co-worker telling me that I made a mistake yada yada in front of the customer who I served in a very scandalous manner. So if she wants a show in front of everyone then I'll give her one. I took her head on with her complaints and told her to just give that customer his order and I'll pay for the discount that I've applied and then she asks me why I'm mad?! Geez... seriously!

Well I could have just shut up and let the issue blow away like always but it's just that I was tired, grouchy, and I was sort of angry with them for leaving me in front while they just stayed at the back talking and all. I was angry because my job would be easier if they did their jobs too! Although she was assigned to do the dishes that day, there was absolutely no reason for her to just stay at the back when she's already done with her dishes. I was angry because she just ignores the fact that there is a big line up and she just passes by the customers and leave me to deal with them alone.

I was told by a co-worker that she only said those things she said because she cared about me adn she didn't want me to do that mistake again so that my manager and other supervisor won't be angry with me but the thing is she already played their part by shouting at me, "Why did you do this and bla bla bla!" She's always like that, blaming everyone except herself because she's always right and all perfect.

But guess what? Even though I feel bad for what happened and even if I did consider her as a friend, I am not hesitant to lose her as a friend because enough is enough. Friends don't leave their friends alone stressing out in a long line up and then just tell you "Why didn't you call us when it's busy?" Why? I'll tell you why. If you weren't staying at the back chatting and all I wouldn't have to call you right?

Geez... some people... SERIOUSLY!!!

My Future Is Brighter!!!

I am so happy today! I was thinking that my school documents were still flying around the world in some plane but when I tracked it down with the FedEx website I was thrilled to discover that the University of Alberta has finally received my papers and now I have a brighter future!

I'm very happy because I feel that finally everything is coming together great and if this keeps up I can finally be at ease and give out a sigh of relief. But I know that the challenge does not end here and having to re-study everything that I already learned and take the tests which were so hard to pass all over again is a huge challenge.

But I am prepared to take those challenges head on because I really want to finish my university and I want to finish my BS Nursing because this is who I know I can be and who I want to be someday.

Christmas Party

I am quite excited for this year's Christmas Party. Well I am excited for Christmas each and every year but this Christmas is very different from other past Christmas celebrations because this is our first Christmas here in Canada. In my 20 years of existence it is only now that we will finally have our very own white Christmas.

But what better ways to celebrate Christmas but with other people right? All Kagay-anons or Filipinos from Cagayan de Oro are going to have a get together and enjoy Christmas with each other's presence. Being with other Filipinos makes the Christmas less lonesome especially for those who miss their families and friends back in the Philippines.

I'm not in charge with the planning and logistics of the party but I do have great ideas for a Christmas party! Well the ideas are not originally mine. If you really want great ideas and if you're looking for inspiration then you might want to visit celebrations.com.

It is there that I found out about different Christmas party games, decorations, and food like Christmas candy recipes! What would Christmas be with out good old candy right?

I'm sure that even if I'm not into parties that much, sharing this info would be a great contribution to a successful and fun Christmas party!