Last Wednesday, the 25th of March, I was in Amsterdam again. I have to admit that the weather has subsided a bit in terms of cold but all the same, it is needed to wear the coat outside.

Work has been lighter and lighter because it is after the yearend rush and it is just very relaxing. It is like I am only there for my time and of course doing a bit of this and a bit of that and it is really very light.

For this week, I have finished my two Italian mini books so I am also glad about that. One is the continuation of my previous post’s reading entitled, Marcovaldo by Italo Calvino and another that I was able to start and finish, entitled Vino e Pane (Wine and Bread). With tthese little patience and perseverance (PPP) and practice, I now I would make my way to a better Italian. I am better in understanding than using the words itself to use and I guess it is normal. We are having these reactions mostly when we learn by the books in terms of language.

As for the films this week? Of course I have much as well. I watched “the Beach” starring Leonardo diCaprio, with Anthony Hopkins and Ryan Gosling in “Fracture “ (2007) and a few unknown films such as “the Scrapbook” (2000) “Water’s Edge” and “Skyscraper”. Not much of the big stars/actors/actresses in the last few films but all the same they are entertaining. I was also able to see “Growing Op” and I think it was a good sale of a film but I was not able to remember the actors there. They are big faces though. Just before I sleep last night, I was able to finish “The Ticking Man”.

They are various storylines and plots of course. Like in the beach, it was in Thailand. Well, maybe most know this already. Fracture is about the husband (Hopkins) shooting his wife and getting away with it clean though he had a gun in the hand and a signed confession. This story is beautiful! I like it so much. As for the rest, you may want to Google them, and Water’s Edge is a good watch. I like it “a bit” while “Growing Op” (2008) is really funny and I know you will not regret if you’d watch it.

I have a lot of lessons learned from all those films. What is the use of watching anyway and not learn anything at all?

1. The Beach – “Pleasure is such a narrow thing. It does not last.”

2. Fracture – “Do not provoke anyone too much or else you’ll regret it.” AND “Do not make your gurds down in any way, in any time, especially if you are a lawyer.”

3. The Scrapbook – “True friends are very difficult to find.”

4. Water’s Edge – “Never trust anyone: who knows what evil lurks in his/her mind?”

5. Growing Op – “Never trust anyone, especially if your family is cultivating opium at home!”

6. The Tickin Man – “Killing 15 people is a real challenge, especially if one has a deadline.” ^^
I was not feeling perfect this week and I coughed like a crazy dog but now it has subsided. I went to work five days though and I just took some cough syrup. More updates to come. This has really become more of my personal updates and hopefully no the PR remains and all the good stuffs.

This is my end of the week inventory and I think it's worth to put it here and take a peek some time after and see what I did and how was life. Life for me was really busy for this week. I missed two of my karate trainings but I could not go as I need to go someplace else.

I have done various things actually aside from my 8-hour job for five working days.

Readings:
A. Cinque Novelle by Mario Soldati (a mini book in Italian with 5 short stories)

1. La seggiolina del Florian (The little chair of the Florian [a caffè])
2. Gli stivaletti grigi e neri (The gray and black boots)
3. Il verme (The worm)
4. L'ubriacona (The drunken woman)
5. Un paese in O (The town in O)


I like the style of the author here, Mario Soldati. I have never read such a book where the main characters have all the frustrating struggles and always, yes, always fail! I am not aware if this book has been translated to English. The titles in English above are my bare translations and if indeed they are written in English, these titles might be different than how I understand and how I phrased them.

B. Marcovaldo by Italo Calvino (another mini Italian book)

The same as above, the theme is a bit frustrating from the point of view of the character but it appears funny to the reader like me. I am only beginning to read the third chapter. I have done chapters 1 and 2 from yesterday and this morning while I commuted for work. I also did the raw translation of the chapter titles in English.

The mini book has eight (8) chapters in all so I am not yet aware of the entire story though I have the notion already of how it goes as I finished the first two chapters.

1. Chapter 1 - Funghi in citta (Mushroom in city)
2. La villggiatura in panchina (The little recreation in a bench)
3. Il Piccione Comunale (The native pigion)



C. Films Watched at Home While Munching the Dinner

1. Terminal Error
2. The Pink Panther
3. The Pink Panther 2
4. True Women

Terminal Error is an old film that was released in 2002. This is my first time to views this however. It was directed by John Murlowski with actors Matthew Ewald, Marina Sirtis, and Michael Nouri. I don't know these actors but the film, since it is science fiction based with heavy technology theme, it looks quite outdated in the real technology age which is now. It was about a powerful automation software which eventually begins to make decisions for itself.



As for the Pink Panther, it was a great comedy that I truly enjoyed. The film is loosely based on the 1964 Peter Sellers original film, where the detective (Clouseau played by Steve Martin) must solve the murder of a famous soccer coach and find out who stole the infamous Pink Panther diamond. Pink Panther was directed by Shawn Levy with Steve Martin, Kevin Kline, Jean Reno, Beyonce Knowles and Amily Mortimer as the main players in the film. I like the role of Ponton played in the film. I believe this film was released in 2006.

As for the Pink Panther 2, it never failed the funny reputation it gives to the viewers. Very enjoyable and very light for the heart. I did enjoy watching it. The same is true with the first Pink Panther fun filled film.

The plot is about the inspector Jacques Clouseau teaming up with a squad of International detectives who are just as bumbling as he is. Their mission: Stop a globe-trotting thief who specializes in stealing historical artifacts and the Pink Panther diamond again got stolen. Andy Garcia's acting is great and funny plus the fact that I understand a bit of Italian makes it even more fun!


True Women is kind of old because it is dated 1997 but it is so beautiful. I like it and it is not a gender bias film but it is really awakening to women. I slept so late for this as I never though that it was all the series and it was like two films. But all the same, I loved it.

It was about the stories of Texas women who were caught up in the passions of war and revolution, slavery and redemption, lust and murder. It was originally a CBS miniseries starring Angelina Jolie, Dana Delany, and Annabeth Gish. Angelina Jolie played a major role but she is not the lead actress plus she died in the story.


D. Songs I Remember Listening To

1. Rock Your Body by Justin Timberlake
2. Damn I Wish I Was Your lover by Sophie B. Hawkins
3. Broken Strings by James Morrison feat Nelly Fur
4. I Promised Myself by Nick Kamen
5. Halo by Beyonce
6. Too Shy by Kajangoogoo
7. Miracle by Ilse Delange
8. 1973 by James Blunt
9. Make You Feel My Love by Adele
10. Life in Technicolor by Coldplay

E. Short Trips

1. To Rotterdam for the afternoon of Tuesday
2. Amsterdam last Wednesday afternoon

This message was sent to me by a friend. However, i find it really good to share it with everyone who might need it and for me also to easily access this inpirational writing. Read it and you will realize something.


Let me tell you a crazy story.

One morning, a woman was sad when she faced the mirror. She discovered she only had 3 strands of hair on her head. Suddenly, she smiled. “Today,” she said, “I’ll braid my hair!” And after doing so, she walked out of her home and had fun, fun, fun.
The next morning, the woman woke up and felt sad as she saw the mirror. She discovered she only had 2 strands of hair. Suddenly, she smiled. “Today,” she said, “I’ll part my hair in the middle.” After she did that, she walked out of her home and had fun, fun, fun.

The next morning, the woman woke up and felt sad as she saw the mirror. She discovered she only had 1 strand of hair left. Suddenly, she smiled. “Today,” she said, “I’ll wear my hair in a ponytail.” After she did that, she walked out of her home and had fun, fun, fun.

The next morning, the woman woke up and felt sad as she saw the mirror. She discovered she had zero hair left. Suddenly, she smiled. “Yeepee!” she shouted in glee, “I don’t have to do my hair today!” Immediately, she walked out of her home and had fun, fun, fun.

Do you want to be happy?
Here’s how…

The Difference Between Pleasure and Happiness

A thick wad of P1000 bills gives pleasure.
A chocolate parfait with thick chocolate syrup gives pleasure.
A fun movie, with a bucket of popcorn on the side, gives pleasure.
A roller coaster ride gives pleasure.
A kiss gives pleasure.
What’s the difference between pleasure and happiness?
Pleasure is an outside job.
But happiness is an inside job.
It doesn’t depend on any external circumstances. Yep, even if you only have three strands of hair on your head.
Happiness isn’t the absence of problems.
By the way, do you want me to show you a few people who don’t have problems? Great. Bring your shovel out and let’s dig them up from their graves.

The Bible doesn’t say, “Be joyful sometimes.” Or “Be joyful when you don’t have problems.” The Bible says, “Be joyful always.”
It that possible? I mean, c’mon. No one can be happy 365 days a year.

But the Bible says, “Be joyful always” because happiness isn’t a mood.

Happiness isn’t an emotion either.
Happiness is a way of life.

7 Tools Of Happiness
I know of strange human beings walking this face of the earth who are extremely happy. Not just moderately or mildly happy. But deeply joyful. (Hey, you may be one of them. Congratulations!)
I know them. Some of them are my friends.

Because of my work, I’ve traveled all over the world.
Last count: 36 countries. That’s a lot of frequent flyer miles, jet lag, and lost luggage. But that also means I’ve met more people than the average person on the street. It’s not just the sheer number or the variety of people I’ve met. Because I’m a preacher, I’ve not only met them, I’ve engaged many of them on a deep level. Like on our first meeting (or phone call or email), they open up their heart and pour to me their problems like I was their soul mate.

So I have this distinct advantage of knowing lots and lots of people on an intensity that’s beyond superficial.
So I asked myself this question: Who are the happiest people I know? I listed them down. After sifting through the hundreds of thousands of people archived in my brain, I asked a more difficult question: What is common among them all?
I came up with seven great things I see in extremely happy people.
I call them the 7 Tools of Happiness:
1. Happy people create their destiny
2. Happy people like themselves a lot
3. Happy people nurture connections
4. Happy people find delight everywhere
5. Happy people embrace change
6. Happy people trust deeply
7. Happy people work their purpose daily

Your Body Is Hardwired To Be Afraid

The enemy of happiness isn’t sadness.
The enemy of happiness isn’t problems.
The enemy of happiness isn’t loneliness.
The enemy of happiness is fear.

Our lives are so fueled by it. We run our lives by fear.
In Dan Baker’s excellent book, What Happy People Know, he explains how our body circuitry is wired to fear.

Our brains have three parts. The brain stem, the amygdala, and the neocortex. The more primitive parts of our brains, the brain steam (also called the reptilian brain, because reptiles have these for brains) and the amygdala are programmed for fear.

Why? Our ancestors needed fear for their physical survival. Imagine yourself living in the wilderness with lions, wolves, and cobras around you. Danger lurks behind every tree and shaddow.

Once their brains register fear, the endocrine glands produce our fear hormones adrenaline and cortisol. It gave them super strength to fight or flight. And in fighting or fleeing, they exhaust the adrenaline and cortisol in their bodies. Well and good. But what about us who usually sit behind desks and work on computers?
We still have the same fear mechanism.

But this time, we’re no longer afraid of lions or cobras behind every tree.

We afraid of our rising credit card bills.
We’re afraid of our boss.
We’re afraid of losing our jobs.
We’re afraid for our children—what will happen to their future?
We’re afraid that at 35, we won’t get married anymore.
We’re afraid we’ll grow lonely.
We’re afraid we’ll run out of money.
We’re afraid of social rejection.
We’re afraid of social shame and losing face.
We’re afraid of disease.

And these fears are so real, our endocrine glands produce adrenaline and cortisol as well. And because we’re seated behind our desks, pounding on our computers, we really don’t use up any of it. Adrenaline and cortisol become poison in our bodies, destroying our health bit by bit.

Thus, very few people are happy.
Conclusion: If you want to be happy, we need to overcome our fears.
How?

The Only Antidote to Fear Is…

Twenty years ago, a friend gave me a book about facing fears.
My arrogant response to her: “Thanks for the book. But frankly, I don’t think I need it. I don’t know why, but fear isn’t a problem for me. I don’t have any fears.”
Ten years later, I ate my words.
Because after a deep soul search, I realized how my life was run by many fears. Many of the things I was doing I did because of fear!

I feared what other people said about me.
I feared failure.
I feared angry people.
I feared of not having enough.
I feared of not being enough.
In my life, I’ve discovered that there is only one thing that can overcome fear.

There is only one thing that is more powerful than fear.
The only antidote to fear is love.

When you fill your life with love, your fears naturally disappears.
I’m talking about a love for God, a love for others, a love for yourself, and a love for life itself. The Bible says, Perfect love casts out all fear, and I totally believe it.

In fact, remember the 7 Tools of Happiness I listed above? Every single one of them is really a facet of love—and each tool can drive away a specific fear in your life. Once your fears are gone, happiness will flood your soul.
I’ll talk more about it in my next Blog.
May your dreams come true,

Bo Sanchez

I was on my way to the public or city library this morning to return my borrowed book, “The Triumph of Ceasar” when I really had a great time just walking. The day was so cheerful! I woke up very early as my body clock calls early wakes these past few days. Maybe it is the result of my forced learning of drinking coffee.

I was in the front of the entrance to the library when I took this photo. This is in Spui, right in the Centrum area. There are oriental like Chinese and Asian (Japanes or Thai maybe) fast food and restaurants nearby...
When I was preparing at home, the sun was already brightly shining but the library, called Bibliotheek here, opens at 12:00 considering that today is a Sunday. It is a walking distance from where I stay as I live in the Centrum area so I started at 11:50 not wearing my boots but only my Barbie doll shoes: open, flat and free.


This is between the cityhall and the library. The buildings are 5 meters away from each other. The city hall is the building with white paint that is partially visible in the left side of the photo. The building in front is a theatre if I am not mistaken... schouwburg???
When I arrived at the library, it was still close and maybe it was around 11:57. I had 3 minutes to stay out and roam around. I usually have my digital camera with me so I just took some shots. Obviously, the weather is good, people are strolling and the sun shining. But don’t be fooled by the sun as it is really as strong as it seems: the force of its rays is not enough to combat the cold gust of wind but all the same, it is better than nothing.


This is just the same stuff as photo number one above but all the same I would like to post it here...
At home, the heater is also reduced at the lowest flare, a sign of weather improvement. I already feel hot at times as well. Indeed spring is in the air and I am so glad to welcome it.

Lemme call this place oriental or Asian Center. I think you'd know andunderstand what I mean???

These days I got quite some indulgences. I am not as connected online as before but all the same, I enjoy life to the fullest. I tried to be aware of my surroundings and have some fun as a regular offline individual.

My karate training is progressing quite successfully. I have remembered those lost terminologies I have forgotten 8 years ago. I do the training three times a week and I really enjoy it a young blood. I also enjoy the bruises I get from sparring at least once a week.


I also tried to be aware of the music I am listening too. The past week, I have indulged in some films as well. I just don't know why but I just decided to be not as passive as before. I always can close my self to the outside IF I want it. Meaning, I can shut my ears to noise, be blind to what i don't like see and things like that. I have quite so much control that at times I miss the real world.

Honestly, I also enjoy taking notes of the music I heard here last week as I listen to a streaming digital radio here in Netherlands. I even notice that songs are really repeated in a day or in a week. Just see some in this list I got last Wednesday:

Rock Your Body by Justin Timberlake; Miracle by Ilse DeLange; Walk of Life by Dire Straits; P.D.A - We just don't care by John Legend; Hit 'Em Up Style (Ooops!) by Ben Cantrell.

Not only I awoken my ears for music but I also watched a lot of Hollywood and Italian Films. I had the Phatom of the Opera (the older version); No Evil Can See, No Evil Can Hear; Tu Vieni e Mi Fai Ridere (in Italian, an Italian comedy); and of course, I saw the Slumdog Millionaire this week.

Tonight another film if I can make it as I am tired from karate but I still have four films in that DVD I purchased last week and I only was able to watch 1. Such a beautiful life when one knows how to appreciate it actually.

When you read that title, do not expect that the blogger has to be in the Philippines. Just like me, one fellow blogger in this blogosphere is also a Filipino like me but we are both outside the country at the moment as expatriates. He is currently in Singapore having his profession something related to computers and technology.


Makoy is currently holding a contest is at least $200 and hundred of thousands of Entrecard Credits and a lot more. Click the image to join. State that Webbielady has referred you and get instant 3 points. ^^ Blog, enjoy and earn!
Similar to people who are far from their family members and are alone, this fellow makes his free time through blogging, making online friends, earning online and of course getting entertained online. On the process, by getting entertained online and through blogging, he’s able to share the knowledge as well as the pleasure of knowing some really interesting events in the Philippines and all over the world.

This particular blogger’s name is Makoy or Makoyskie and his twitter account says mark Ferdinand is the name, just see here. Makoy has fur blogs that I know of. See each of them as I enumerate:

The Certified Pinoy Blogger talks on a lot of things from latest Philippines, Singaporean and International events that usually concerns Filipinos. The blog is also sometimes politics-related and show business related. Just look at the title of some of the latest posts here:

Francis Magalona Tribute , Compute Your Income Tax in Singapore, Krista Ranillo Maxim Philippines March 2009, Absentee Voting Registration in Singapore and Top Box Office as of March 1, 2009.

On the other hand, Memoirs of a Certified Blogger talks on almost the same category of things as the categories mentioned above. One thing I like about this site is the update of the peso versus dollar rate from time to time or every week or two weeks if I am not mistaken. This is celebrity gossips and updates loaded as well, both in Philippine show biz and all over the world showbiz.

Makoy’s Take on Entertainment and Arts obviously talks on the famous celebrities all over the world and their arts such as singing, acting, films, and a lot more. I always get entertained if only I have to start reading in here.

Make Money Online With Makoy gives various tips and tricks online, not strictly earning but how to’s such as making a web service and similar stuffs.
I have o admit that the more I read on the post the more I get drawn to the blogs. Try and see what wioll be the effect to you.

As an update to my previous post about becoming a painting model for Tuesday, I am here to post the results. It was both fun and tiring. Fun in a way that I enjoyed the experience not so many of us have and tiring because I really had to act like a statue. It is a great pleasure to be a subject of the art though.

I am so glad that I am so active in my karate that standing so long did not bother me that much. I got compliments that i was a very good and steady and interesting subject. I am so glad the students liked my "waiting of the bus" there. That's the term they used for art models when they pose in that class... wait for the bus... and then for the train..or the tram. Funny!

There were quite a few poses that I did. I had to choose them so I could choose the most comfortable of the pose. Anyway, the discomfort and tiredness come at the 4th or so minute of the pose so no one can detect really the probable discomfort at the beginning. But all the same, it helps if one is comfortable with the position from the start. I will post a sample here of what was painted and will post the others in the next post to this one.

I did five poses, 3 standing for 7 minutes each. And mind you seven minute of being a statue is not simple. Even my eyes I did not move so that the students/painters would not get confused of the position of my eyeballs. There were two of 15-minute sitting in the chair poses and one 30-minute sofa pose. I wanted to have the Roman sit but I was having a doubt due to my outfit and the strength of my arm to hold my upper body if I sit (partially lying) like a Roman.

Special thanks to Iana and Emile.

Come Tuesday and I would be posing for an hour.

That is quite a task huh! And it would be my first time to stay in one position and all angles would be painted. Isn’t that cool? I will be an art class model in my company and I hope all goes well and I can post some or at least one of the free work that eventually be mine. Interesting isn’t it?

Talking about work and art, I always combine both. As an update to my Karatedo activities, I have never missed a lesson since I joined. I am so drawn in this activity. It is a passion for me and I do love it so much. I even borrowed a couple of books in the city library just to be aware of the theories as well. This makes me tired though. When I go back home the same day of the activities, I could do nothing much as I feel tired after eating… sigh.. Do you have any idea how to stay up and alert and don’t get tired and sleepy ater dinner?