new year's resolution

I never thought what will be my New Year's resolution and I am actually writing this, less than an hour before the first day of January 2009. So what will it be?

Resolution. According to Wikipedia, New Year's resolution is a commitment made by an individual - it can be to change one's lifestyle or to reform a certain habit. Reform which is to change. Maybe, change for the better. In my case, let me think. First on my list will be LONGER PATIENCE. Yes, it has been my weakness ever since I was born. But I have noticed lately, for the past months, I have learned to remain silence whenever I can sense my patience already waning. Unlike before, easily get pissed out and becomes hysterical. Talk about being rude too, especially to the person/s who literally irritated me. Special mention: my brother.

Second will be being positive, especially to how I look. I always feel insecure, this is a trait that has always dragged my self-esteem down. I want to feel positive. I want to be POSITIVE. I am an optimistic person but this personality of mine has been a wayward trademark on me.

What should my other resolutions be? I haven't got any for last year though, as far as I can remember. It is still a good thing to have resolutions. They serve as reminders of what you should do or improve for the coming days of your life. Just as long as they live up to their purpose. It will be a sad thing not to put an effort to make those plans come true for you. Life could be way. . .way BETTER.

Good luck to your New Year's resolutions. Keep on living!

MY BROTHER IS A PRINCE

Actually, he is not. Absolutely NOT. If he's a prince, then I should be a princess, but I'm not. He's not blue-blooded either. So, what's with the fancy title? It's because he ACTS LIKE A PRINCE. I don't mean to speak badly of princes but it is a general fact that a prince is served. Yes. A prince doesn't do his laundry, someone else does it for him. He lives in a grand palace and everything's set without him moving a finger. Bath, clothes, meals, dirty dishes. . . and even money is no hassle. He can spend on anything, someone else pays it for him (it can be his family's bank or the king's wealth itself). And that is how it compliments my brother well. He always feel supreme, an egoistic air floats around his character making it worse. I do not mean to be rude to my own brother but he started it. He is the one being RUDE and UNFAIR that it always makes my blood boil.

My brother can be charming and sweet, if he wants to. And that includes those times he needed something from me or from my parents. Like money to buy new clothes or stuff to give away to some "special" friends. He doesn't even focus on his own studies! What the heck?!?! I just . . . I just want him to be CONSCIOUS. To be wary of what he is doing, my mother is having a HARD TIME with him. He never offers help. And if he did help, it's quick as a lightning. He mostly TALKS BACK. I don't think he has the right to talk back when he, in the first place, doesn't act and behave well. I'm not perfect, okay? I'm not judging my brother. I just feel sorry for him. He thinks he KNOWS everything. He acts as if he is SMART ENOUGH to get away with his own mistakes. I know he is smart academically, but he is JUST LAZY to even push an effort to enhance his school performance.

I know my blog should be about me, but I'm talking about how I feel about my brother. I love him so much. I know I've never been the perfect sister, since I could be a BRAT when it comes to him. I care for my parents. I care about him. I just hope, this coming 2009, he will decide to be better. And I for one, will just pray for patience to absolutely stay firm. I do not wish to be back to the way it was before - the two of us constantly bickering. I'm tired to even do that anymore.

So younger brothers out there, be sensitive. Do not make your parents' or sister's lives harder than they were. And older sisters like me. Patience is all I can say.

shopping everyone?

It's a common practice, or should I say, a required routine for people to go shopping, especially during the holiday season - Christmas and New Year. And I admit, this year has been a grand shopping experience for me.

Let's just say that I have been to three-days shopping spree, one before Christmas and two before the celebration of a brand new year. I'm not bragging that I have the MONEY and the TIME to do this kind of thing. I'm just spending what money I've saved for the past months. Yes, money I patiently stashed in my wallet, controlling myself not to spend it otherwise. So what's with shopping? Many people love to do this stuff, and I'm not included. Actually, I do shopping whenever my wallet and schedule permit me to do so! Those will be when I need some stuff, as in NEEEEEEEED them badly that I have to ask my Mom to accompany me to the nearest mall. Beside those circumstances, I do not favor going to the mall regularly. Really. But I still like looking at the dresses and the bags and the shoes and the sandals. Ohhhhkay. I must admit I still like shopping, as long as it won't take me too long to stroll inside the mall.

And now that the season is back, more people are swarming inside the mall just to get their hands on the year-end sale. Too many people are flocking in, their money in tow and a long list of things to buy. Well, you can't blame them. It has been an insistent fact that they must have new stuff, especially circular things when the break of another year comes in. Homes must be sparkly clean and the table is filled with delicious feast. You won't know who's coming over to eat and chat!

As for me, my shopping experience is fun. I bought a lot, much to my expectations - bags, sandals, tops, shorts, dresses. Thanks to my savings, I had pull it all through. Still, I kept in mind to buy a simple gift for my Mom, for her wondrous efforts. She sweetly asked for it, though, I just can't say NO of course!

And yes, even if still there are people who can't shop till they drop, including me, let's not forget the values of sharing and saving. It's never a huge responsibility to give something to someone. And it's a good thing to save, for whatever future's has in you.

So, are you ready to do more shopping? :)

achoo!

I hate having sneezes. Did I use the right term? And having it just couple of days before New Year makes it worse. But my case is not just a simple sneezing, but a repetitive one! Yes, not just once, but even more than 5 in a couple of minutes. It will leave me with an aching throat and weary body, not to mention, my poor nose! My friend, who has the same regular problem told me I have ALLERGY RHINITIS. So, I checked the internet to read something about it, though I'm very familiar with the term already.

ALLERGY RHINITIS is an inflammation of the nasal passages, usually associated with watery nasal discharge and itching of nose and eyes. The characteristic symptoms include repetitive sneezing, as I mentioned a while ago, rhinorrhea, post-nasal drip, nasal congestion, itchy eyes, ears, nose or throat, and generalized fatigue (thanks to this website - http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/208/main.html). It's my first time to encounter RHINORRHEA, and it means "runny nose". And this badly needs a lot of supply of tissues, I tell you. So that is why I am having a VERY hard time getting out of the bed this morning, my body seemed carrying a pile of cement on the back! I find it hard to speak audibly, my voice is groggy and creepy (yes, it's a mixed muffled and husky voice - if I described it right). This has been a usual predicament for me, repetitive sneezing, runny nose and nasal congestion. The last one makes it difficult for me to SLEEP. I will find myself having a hard time breathing, as if I'm suffocating that I have to breathe using my mouth LITERALLY.

Well, I read more and saw ways to treat this ailment, through antihistamines, decongestants, nasal sprays and even allergy shots, since allergy rhinitis is caused mainly by allergens. I think I'll be needing some medicine. For the past years, when I have such condition, I just drink water or wash my face. And endure it. i guess it won't work that well.

Is this inherited when my father has a record of ASTHMA? Hmm..

....

Ma, do we have Benadryl? (me trying to ask my Mom for an antihistamine drug).

hello 2009

Another year is on the roll and now it is time for the year of the Ox, as based on Chinese calendar to take its toll. I decided to search some basic information about this year and soon enough, predictions for the 2009 are already available on the web. The pinoybusiness.org provided a lengthy discussion on what to expect and what to prevent in the coming year. With my heightening curiosity, I decided to click on the forecast for those born in the year of the snake ( I am born on year 1989). I read about three unlucky stars who will bring about bad news to my life - an elderly getting sick, fluctuations and "emotional rollercoaster", as the article stated in relationships. But since there's no elderly in my family and I'm not in any kind of relationships (boy-girl, of course), can I say it won't be applicable for me? Next stop is the lucky stars, as Chinese astrologers called them, and it was written that there are more shining lucky stars on Snake-borne individuals like me, compared to the past years. Promising marriages, promotion, salary-raise, and improved leadership skills are waiting to be achieved! Is that a VERY good sign? I can say, yes, but only one can be possible for me, and that is IMPROVED LEADERSHIP SKILLS. I'm never that good even though I have been elected officer many times back in high school days. As far as I can see, I'm a mediocre when it comes to leadership.

Okay, forget about my leadership skills and back to the main gist - year 2009. I am not the kind of person too inclined on forecasts or superstitions, not to mention astrological beliefs. Even in my own country's "pamahiin", I do not personally obliged myself to apply them in my life. Just a few, maybe, and mostly influenced by my mother. Yet, I respect those people who firmly believed on such, to the point they depend their lives on these superstitial stuff. If it applies to them, why not?

The bottomline is, you make your own future. Yes, another year will come, again and again, it is up to an individual to work it all out. Even if I've read on predictions that I, who was born in the year of the Snake will have it good this year, I can even make it better. Life has many surprises waiting to be unfold, and I won't doubt 2009 has more to deliver. May it be inspired by the stars or good luck, year 2009 will depend on where you are, what you are and how you are doing it. If you want change, then CHANGE. If you want to be the same, stay the same.

As for me, I'm willing to do BOTH. Change for a better person, which I badly needed to do (learn patience!) and stay the same as the simple and family-oriented girl, born in the year 1989.

A BLESSED HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!