Gem's Insights

Have you watched the movie CONTACT? a 1997 American science fiction drama film about a SETI scientist portrayed by Jodie Foster? In the film, she found strong evidence of extraterrestrial life and is chosen to make first contact, thus, the film title. credit I was asking because, I haven't watched the movie yet, but we'll do this summer! LOL! The point of interest is in the VLA, do you see the satellite-looking-dish antennas in the photo? Well, in our Physics class we had a field trip and visited the "more than 300 million US dollars" VERY LARGE ARRAY. The Very Large Array is one of the world's premier astronomical radio observatories. It has 27 radio antennas in a Y-shaped configuration on the Plains of San Agustin fifty miles west of Socorro, New Mexico. According to inside information one satellite costs about 4 million! Since, it was paid for by the US taxpayers, we basically own the machine. More information could be found in the NRAO - National R...

Funny how my husband would always push me, mmm, the correct word is, FORCE me to do something more with my life. He says I am wasting my time with Facebook, and he isn't delighted with that! He's got this big belief in me that I could be so much more and do so much more. In his mind, I need to do something now. I need to stop procrastinating and just push myself to the road less taken. Of course, I resist. But, due to a change of heart... We are here at Socorro, NM for 5 days (my family's with me because of free housing) to commence my becoming a graduate student of New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. It feels like home! Maybe, the passion for learning and learning some more, is just within me! I loveeee it! So, back to my story. I was burning my eyebrows last night because of too many write-ups!!! (plus Facebook! lol) and went to sleep like 1 AM already. I woke up to a big breakfast of fried rice, eggs and sausage! Hehe My husband prepared it all (one time, he d...

Prelude to Socorro Adventure post here .   The truth is I am studying again. Read more: Socorro Adventure Day 1: Thirst for Knowledge Socorro Adventure Day 2: Finding Balance Socorro Adventure Day 3: Making Contact   Socorro Adventure Day 4: Sparks of Understanding Socorro Adventure Day 5: More to Come NAMASTE.

Prelude to Socorro Adventure post here .   The truth is I am studying again.  I've once written in this post GIFTED BUSINESS , that universities here in the US wanted me to retake all academic units in Masters in SPED-Gifted again (even if I finished all academic units in the Philippines already). Mmmm... I would rather study something new than pay to study the same thing! So, I just decided to take the Praxis test in Gifted Education... Thank God I passed it and was given a certification for it. Yay! But, the bottom line is, I still don't have any Masters Degree in my credentials. I have two choices, to finish my graduate studies online via schools in the Philippines offering online graduate courses or take it here. I chose the latter.  So there it is, I spilled the beans! Lol! Happy to be a student again! - and lovin' it - even in the heat of the Socorro sun!

The key to a healthy body is sweat! I have not been sweating for months because of the winter season. Now that it is summer, I am beginning to feel it! ... especially here in Socorro, NM! credit We drove today for 3 hours from Gallup because I will be attending a course in Physics! The whole family joined me since we were given free housing for the week. But, my, my, my! it is sooooo hot!!! It is now 10:40pm and still I am sweating.. and all I am doing is browsing the internet and Facebook! Major why? they are using swamp coolers in the university , and I think the pump installed in our apartment is broken! Great! Everyone's asleep though, because we all took a bath and felt refreshed. Thanks to the fan and the opened windows! It's 5 days of "I-don't-know-what-is-in-store-for-me-in-the-course" I did not even teach this school year and definitely not Physics! Oh well, excitement is in the air! Lol! So, for the next 5 days, I'll be updating you all with our...

Introducing  W R I T I N G  GEMS http://gemwritinggems.blogspot.com - My Dailies back up :)

Since daddy worked abroad we were blessed with high technology toys and gadgets growing up. I just remembered because every time I would drive and need to cross roads, my mind would automatically switch to game mode! Lol! You see, I used to love this Chicken Crossing The Road Game using ATARI then. I would control the chicken's movement so it wouldn't get killed while crossing, the chicken needs to walk past 4 lanes to get a score -mmm, to get the worm at the other side!  credit So,  just to make a connection, it could be that when we are constantly faced with the same challenges everyday, even via online games, we also subconsciously get to actualize it. It no longer matters if it's just a game or the real thing, we react the same to it! The point is REPETITION, VISUALIZATION and MIND CONDITIONING may actually work especially in achieving our goals or achieving our dreams. What do you really want? If, say, we really want to become a millionaire... then we may set up situat...

It started the night of Pacquiao and Bradley's boxing fight! A group was cheering on a basketball game. I have not watched BASKETBALL in yearssss! True!!! (I think the last time was in high school! Lol!) So, I asked about it and remembered hearing about a Filipino-American coach leading Miami Heat basketball team. I instantly cheered for them - JUST BECAUSE Eric is a Filipino.. race connection! Lol! Miami Heat won vs Boston Celtics. Eric Spoelstra From then on, the same group of basketball followers would gather from one house to another to watch the finals - Oklahoma Thunders vs Miami Heat, from games 1 to 5. It was hilarious since the group has both OKC and Heat followers. We were dancing the chicken dance, chanting "an-na lang" (I think it means, that's the way to do it.. just like that!), shouts of "shooooot", raising of arms and major clapping!  It was a gathering of great minds! Lol! since we talked about ideas Lol!, we ate (pot luck every time) and ju...

Reminiscing memories, Funny incidents, Happy explorations and Road trip adventures! NISSAN QUEST August, 2008-November, 2008 NISSAN VERSA  November, 2008-December, 2008 TOYOTA COROLLA December, 2008 to present Happiness! one less credit!:)) visit me here too! -day 183

credit I started this 365 days project of writing last December 12, 2011. Who would have guessed I am halfway done? This is my 182nd day already!!! Here's an excerpt from my 365 days project post. I've always wanted to write everyday... One day at a time... one story at a time.. for 365 days . I hope that you'd join me as I write my her heart out... Stories of my life. Stories to share. Stories to learn about. stories to read. Positive that as I uncover mysteries of life in its simplicity and beauty, YOU will also be able to relate, find common things, learn, unlearn, undo, redo, own, justify, correct, metamorphose, change… life as it is. Did I religiously write everyday? No, it is hard! Sometimes, I just don't know what to write! But I try to compensate days I haven't written so I could catch up with the project. I just need to think outside of the box to it happen! What have I learned so far? I've learned all the more, how powerful our minds could g...

Here's celebrating 30,000 visitors!!!! credit Thank you , Merci, Muchas Gracias, Ngiyabonga, Ighamsiqanaghalek, Eso po yu,Ọ se, Kammagar, Ndza nkhensa, Enkosi, Jai-rruh-jef, Diolch o galon , Tennäsi, Xin cảm ơn, Grassie, Gracies, Katta rahmat, sağolun, Ke a leboga, Ndi a livhuwa, Баркала, Mālō ‘aupito, Tenkiu tru, Gunalchéesh, Obrigadu, Küp räxmät, Māuruuru roa, Tusen tack, Asante , Nuhun pisan, Daank, Grantangi, Źĕkujom, Dźakuju , Mahadsanid, Hvala, Ďakujem, Masi, Ngiyabonga, hennaid, Grazzii assai, Sinde baniha, Waita zvak,  Ke a leboga, Ke a leboha haholo, Хвала, Móran taing, Thank ye, Gratzias meda , Fa'afetai tele, Giitit itt , Noaʼia, Nais, Engraziel, Maururu, Hantanye, Urpichay sonqoy, Obrigadinho/a, Dankscheen, Dzięki, Dankscheen, Tanggio, Grassie tant, Danki , Nifee deebiru, Miigwech, Mange Takk , Fakaaue, Ngiyathokoza, Cenca tlazohcamati, Eio, Maltiox, Mersi, Kia ora, Grazzi ħafna, Misaotra, Weebale, Pilamaya , Ko rab'a, Khublei , Gura míle, Quyan...

To the father of my children,  my very unique, supportive and all-around husband Happy Father's Day!!!!  Popai :)) click here - Dennis, the Great! -day 180  

Dearest Daddy, I know I am your little girl, Lol! Not little anymore, but in your heart I will always be right? Growing up you were always calling out my name.. always looking for me! I guess, I always seemed to have my own agenda Lol! I remember when I failed to recognize you when you decided to come home to surprise us. I opened the door, and asked who you were. You looked different, you just came from Saudi Arabia with all the beard and mustache! Lol! I think I burst into tears knowing what I just did! Lol! Daddy, I just want to thank you for all the sacrifices you have done to our family. Thank you for the many years that you have been an OFW just to support our studies. Education, you and mommy would always say is the only inheritance you could give us and it won't be taken away from us. Thank you for the gift of education. I was able to study in Manila because of your trust, confidence and belief in me. Thank you. Thank you for the many opportunities that you have given me an...

read here: on bullies and antidote! "First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you,  then you win ." - Mahatma Gandhi “The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not bully ; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly.” - Jim Rohn "In any situation, the best thing you can do is the right thing ; the next best thing you can do is the wrong thing; the worst thing you can do is nothing." - Theodore Roosevelt http://pinoyteacherstories.blogspot.com Check out my Laughing Matter!   post at PINOY TEACHER'S STORIES . Thanks for reading! :)  NAMASTE. -day 177/178

credit While driving, a police car passed me by, turned around and followed me. I slowed down.  credit It gave a warning for me to stop. I did.  I was running a lot of excuses in my mind but decided to put it all aside. I prayed instead - Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be. A police women came. "Hi!" I said, "Hello!" "Ok", she said, "I pulled you over, because you were running at 60mph in a 45 lane". I said "I'm sorry". She said "Now do you have driver's license, registration and insurance?" I said, "Yes". There was a pause (Oh, I guess, this was the time when I should have given her everything already), she repeated, "So, you do have your driver's license, registration and insurance?" I said, "Yes", and took out my driver's license.  She took it, and said, "so you've never been stopped before?" I said, "No, so it was 60mph really?" She said "Yes"....

credit Every time I speak, I would hear them laugh. Well, sometimes, I just wanted to be me and say something funny but it was irritating to hear them laugh especially if it was obvious they were laughing at me! BULLIES! Well, maybe, because they hear different diction and well, Filipino-English accent and they were not used to it! The truth was they very well understood what was being communicated, they just chose to be bullies! I remember back in New Orleans, our students were all Black-Americans and every time they would hear us, their Filipino teachers, talk to each other,they would mimic and joke aloud, "ching chang chung ching ching chang". It was funny at first, but annoying really. As usual, I just had to stop it and let them taste a dose of their own medicine. Loudly, I confronted my two lovely girls and said aloud (this time in an American accent and "I-am-kidding-no-more" and "You-must-know-how-MEAN-I-really-am" acting skills). "Laugh some ...