iT'S THE "ONCE-iN-4-YEARS" DAY!

I never realized that it's actually February 29! Seems like any other day to me - ordinary. I don't know if I have to feel something - this day happens only once in four years for a fact. Should I be jubilant then because it's February's rarest number?
I don't think so. Nothing unusual happened today. Nothing out of the ordinary.
If February 29 was my birthday, maybe that would change the story.. People born during February 29 think they should celebrate their birthday every 4 years, and they can only add one year of their life everytime. Foolish. Legally, these leapers or leaplings (as what these people are called) have their legal birthdays on March 1 every common year in some countries. Other countrys' laws actually make their legal birthday every February 28.
I bet almost all know why every 4 years, an additional day is given to the calendar, hence the story of the leap year and the infamous leap day. But why February?
I tried Wikipedia, and with all the "vernal equinox" shenanigans and "day of the Moon" crap, I found out that the early Gregorian calendar was designed to keep Easter Sunday (which has been consistently celebrated during the months of March) as accurate as possible from a certain phenomena. Thus every 4 years, they need to add another day before the month of March - and voila! February 29 was born.
In some countries, it has been a tradition that women can propose marriage during leap day, and guys are fined if they refuse! Talking about mass pikot (marriage against man's will)! Greeks, on the other hand, refer to leap year as a bad year for marriage.
So we learned something today. Still it is no reason to rejoice, but why do I get the feeling that I have to?
It's leap year. It's February 29. Leap year means Olympic Games. Leap year means current year is divisible by four. Leap year means 366 days rather than 365. What else..
Well then, I'll just sit around and see if something interesting happens before March arrives. A fair lady's proposal perhaps.. =P
Source URL: http://jameellamellannyes.blogspot.com/2008/02/
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SALTWATER CHRONiCLES

"Ngano askad kaau ang dagat? (Why is the sea salty?)", asked the birthday girl, Vierna, while we were all immersing ourselves together with Erwin in the saltiness of one of the beaches in Cangmating, Sibulan.


"Naa man nay legend ana di ba (There was a legend about that, right?)", Erwin replied. "Nalimot lang gyud ko (I just can't remember it)".


"Dili, ang tinuod nga reason ngano askad siya (No, the real reason why it is so salty).." Vierna insisted.


"Ako maoy pangutan-a kabahin ana (It should be me you should be asking about it)", I told them with confidence.




Of course I know the reason why it is salty. I read about it somewhere from one of my good ol' government issued textbooks way back in public elementary. Freshwater carry with them tiny amounts of salt from the mountains into the sea. And while the water in the sea evaporates, the salt remains. Of course it took so many many years for the river to deposit so much salt into the ocean. Kind of like "salining me gently" sort of stuff.


Well, it's been four months since I last bathed myself in the salinity of the beach. I think the last one was with my KiNeSyX buddies (my dance group in college by the way) in one of Lapulapu's beaches. I still think nothing beats warm sunshine and the refreshing coolness of the beach water right into your very skin. And our country is so blessed with numerous beaches - some well known like Boracay, while others lay unknown within the confines of faraway towns.


Beach outings are never complete without my favorite part - FOOD! Thanks to Joricyl for that ice cream she bought. Although it was a birthday gift for Vierna, I just can't resist helping Vierna strip off those excess pounds by eating most of it myself!


We didn't just had enough of the beach. We actually went swimming in the pool courtesy of Joricyl's residence after it (I didn't even know they had a pool in their backyard after all these years, pfft..). And so we just couldn't help ourselves but swam again until our calves ached, took foolish pics while doing crazy stunts in the water, and talked about high school life and how awfully good it was to experience all of its horribleness (We were all high school friends by the way).


All these stuff we did was all I needed to relieve myself of the pain of boredom while looking for a job - even for just a day. It also reminded me how terribly fast my pounds are building up and how badly I need to get in shape before I finally turn into what I fear most. I love the beach, but I have no intention of turning into a permanent resident whale.
Summer is almost at reach, and in no time, the human population will be flocking the beaches in no time. I just had a dose of summer, though. Now I just can't wait the whole season to arrive.


And so the dream of sexy two-pieces swimming in the water in front of my eyes is almost at hand. Mwahahaha..
Source URL: http://jameellamellannyes.blogspot.com/2008/02/
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O HAiL WiFi!

I just had to write this post while I am here in Jollibee near Silliman University for a dose of one of technology's greatest breakthrough - WiFi! At last, me and my 2-year old laptop were able to enjoy (for the first time in the history of my existence!) free wireless internet. Actually I had to order something to get the passkey for the connection, so I went for a spaghetti and burger combo.


Bless me (Or should I say, shame on me!) for not experiencing this phenomena before! It felt like I was born just now.. and I call myself a gizmo guy for years??? Talking about humiliation from within. Of course I have heard about WiFi. I just never had the chance to try it.


The connection is actually blazing fast! Ingnorance really pays off, ehehe.. gives that extra feeling of, uh.. discovery? And it feels really gooooood..


I just had to try it. Erwin, the devil disguised as a part-time clinical instructor in a nearby university, told me to drag my computer out of the neanderthal era and step to the wonders of WiFi right here at Jollibee! Too bad my WiFi lasts proportionally with my laptop's battery span, and that's about less than 2 hours or so..


Well I have to make use of that span.. Still have jobs to apply, resumes to send, and Naruto episodes to stream.. =)


Ciao..
Source URL: http://jameellamellannyes.blogspot.com/2008/02/
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IT'S NOT BROWN, IT'S GREEN!

Two years ago, I bought a cool t-shirt which was luckily on sale at the mall. Having worn it a lot of times, I have never spoken about its design and color until months ago, some friends just happened to talk about my light green t-shirt when I was wearing it.

The problem? All along I though it was light brown.

Yep, you've guessed it. I am colorblind. And those many instances where my friends found out I was mistaking a color for another were just mere jokes in my mind. They even thought I was just playing around. I just thought my eyes just needed some rest.

Two days ago, I was able to confirm that I was officially red-green colorblind. A friend told me to try out an online colorblindedness test because it was one medical prerequisite of a nice job I was looking forward to apply. Having no clue at all, I took the test.

They call it the Ishihara test for colorblindedness, developed by a Japanese man named Dr. Shinobu Ishihara. It is a series of colorful spotted plates, where normally, one should be able to see a specific number hidden in the spots, such as this:


Do you see that number 45 in that sea of spots? Wow, good for you, because I don't! And so does the rest of the colorblind population. Colorblinds, according to the test, won't see the number 45 however brain-wrecking way they try to. And that's just one plate. The Ishihara Test has at most 24 of them. Try this one:If you don't see anything, don't freak out. You're perfectly normal. If you see the number 5 like I do, then you're definitely colorblind. Try these sites if you want to see the rest of the slides:
• 
  
  http://www.toledo-bend.com/colorblind/Ishihara.html
• 
  
  http://www.sometests.com/tests/SelfAssessment/TheColorBlindnessTest.html
You might think that I should see a real doctor before concluding anything, but the mere fact that my whole family (I even invited our helper to try the test) was able to see all those numbers easily while I kept wondering what number I should be seeing on those damn plates, it meant that these online tests, in such a way, hold something true..
I am therefore colorblind. Such deficiency is hereditary, and unluckily, has no cure. Red-green colorblindedness, like what I have, is the most common one, especially in males - it's 1 out of 12 in men, while it's 1 out of 200 in women.
Why it happens more in men lies within the genes - it's the X chromosome which is the culprit. Women, which in chromosome terms are XX, have an extra X in them in case the other X is positive for colorblindedness. Both X's should be postive for them to be colorblind. Men, on the other hand, are coded XY, which means it only takes one bad X to take effect.
I should blame my mother then. She isn't colorblind, but genetically she gave me the X.. pfft..
Colorblindedness is such a harsh word. People might think colorblindedness is the absence of color in sight if it were that way. I prefer to call it color deficiency.
People might say "so what if you're colorblind?". Although most colorblinds are having no problem at all in their daily lives, looking for a job becomes a problem. The army, navy, and air force do not accept colorblind men, therefore implementing Dr. Ishihara's tests on aspiring applicants. And so do other companies and industries.
Even though I am red-green colorblind, I can definitely identify these colors independently with ease (except those colors which are almost alike, especially light pastel colors). My only problem is that Ishihara test thing, since it is a part of most medical exams. Just when I though I was having a hard time looking for a good job, now I have to consider that I am colorblind, and that I will definitely fail in Ishihara tests! And this condition limits my possibilities.
The day I found out I was colorblind was, let's say, a bit disappointing. I felt so down that I did so many pathetic things just to prove that I wasn't (denial stage in short). I tried to adjust the lighting, flipped my laptop in various angles, even took a bath and ate a lot just to see if it makes a difference. I called my nurse friends and asked them about a possible cure- and yet I know it's genetic! Up to the day I am writing this post, I am still taking the Ishihara exam over and over again, hoping I would notice something from those damn spotty plates. There was even a day when all I did was stare at the wall, point blank, thinking why of all people..
(dramatic score starts playing here)
I have a friend who have known he was colorblind ever since he was in elementary, and he already learned to accept his deficiency. It hasn't been a week since I learned that I am colorblind, and I am still in the process of, well, accepting it - sticking into my mind that I am, and that there's nothing I can do but live with it.
Again, statistics show that 1 out of 12 men is colorblind. I, supported by my colorblind friend, think that this data also holds true for the ratio of handsome men in the population, ergo.. (somebody stop me..)
I am sharing this so others may be educated about it, also hoping that while I am sharing this, I may feel better about myself.
Color is power. Yeah right. Next time I would want to buy a shirt, I'll just keep to myself whether it's light brown or light green, as long as I look good on it, who cares..


Source URL: http://jameellamellannyes.blogspot.com/2008/02/
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Sports & Bollywood Fun.

Fun With Sports
Do you want to introduce a child to sports in a fun non-threatening way? That’s our specialty. Numerous outdoor recreation games can be played in the school yard, back yard or almost anywhere. Young children will develop important skills such as timing and hand-eye coordination while advanced players will enjoy more challenging games.















Fun with outdoor games and indoor games. Outdoor games like Hockey, Football, and Cricket. Indoor Games are Video-games, Computer Games, Internet games etc. Now a days in our world, launching a new mind games also like sudoku, math game, logic game etc.
Fun with Bollywood
Somebody said that Indian cinema is getting 'bold' with every passing day. Well that's not the correct word. Indian cinema is getting 'Sleazy' with every alternate film and very soon 'Soft Porn' will be a new added genre in film directories.


Amisha Patel

Bollywood is related with Hindi movies, mausic and Fun. The Indian Cinema is given Fun, enjoyment, mental relax ion, comedy etc. to the every Indian. In our country every people want to see Indian Cinema. In our bollywood it contains various types of movies like action, comedy, suspense movies, horror movies, and masala movies etc.
Source URL: http://jameellamellannyes.blogspot.com/2008/02/
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FOOD TRiP, COOK TRiP

Yep, no better way to spend the dullness of the day than munching your worries off from your favorite snack or from a hefty serving of any good food..


I have read somewhere that eating is one way to reduce stress, as certain types of food contain endorphins that trigger happy thoughts (which makes me wonder how far obese people had gone just to "de-stress" themselves). Many problematic people tend to overeat, which is psychologically true to those who have seen happiness during their childhood years with just a bar of chocolate.

Stressed or not, I love to eat - which is a big question why I never came near of becoming a whale with such an appetite. I can gulp down up to 8 tall glasses of iced tea, consume up to 5 plates during eat-all-you-can restos, and have been always very consistent in keeping my plate clean (minus the dishwasher's help).

If you love to eat, you definitely have to love how to COOK. This rule makes me an avid cook, a frustrated one actually, hehe. I could have been in food technology or in culinary school if I had chosen to, but given the family's preferences and the country's economic instability, I have no future in such dream (like the "fine arts in exchange for medicine" thing). I have no other way in cultivating such interest than in a form of a hobby. Hobbies are there to supplement one's ego - giving him an illusion of another world he can be in, contrast to what he is already living. That is why you can't consider cooking as a chef's hobby.

And so, with my unemployed status, cooking at home became my so-called hobby, and of course my it also became my very own help around the house. I only cook during dinner, though, and my experience isn't that amazing. Good thing is I chop my own ingredients - I want everything done by my own hands, from preparing down to serving. (Inset: Chopped onions, garlic, and bell peppers - the start of every good dish)


The best part of every cooking session is always the sauteing part -where sauteed garlic is always my favorite smell. I sometimes burn the garlic black just to be able to smell it!


My father was the best cook of the house. He was a commrce grad, but he was an excellent cook. He would let me help him cook some of the dishes he was good at, and gave tips on the hows of cooking. He died about three years ago by the way. And so started my so-called cooking career..


Chopsuey, pansit canton, macaroni and cheese, etc. etc. I cook almost anything I could think of, make use of available ingredients, and even create my own recipes - which may or may not be edible, though.. pfft.. These ideas always crossed me while watching the free recipe labels of certain food items, watching cooking shows (which I actually get stuck watching while surfing channels), or just mere looking at magazines. And since father is already gone for cooking guidance (and mother sometimes doesn't let me cook since I experiment with ingredients too much), I go to my major mentor in recipes - GOOGLE. Yep, a whole lot of recipes online, all waiting and screaming their teaspoons for me to give them life in the future.. So much for screaming teaspoons, all I see is a future for me to binge upon.

My first vegetable chopsuey was a success (with a bit of Google's help), I just had urge to take a snapshot of it..


Like an actor is nothing without fans, a cook is nothing, without a taster (or whatever you may damn call it). Except for our dog, I've got my sisters to do my bidding. Mother's a little tricky to feed something made by me. She thinks it's always poison.


So if you've got nothing else to do, have fun in the kitchen! Other than murder, i agree that kitchen knives also serve some purpose. Cook something out of the ordinary, burn some pasta or overcook some vegetables - as long as your dog has the stomach to eat it, it's no problem.

The best way to anyone's heart is through the stomach. Don't know about you, but this sure is true for me.. ehehe..
Now hmm, what else to jab my knife on..
Source URL: http://jameellamellannyes.blogspot.com/2008/02/
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CAN'T HELP BUT WAiT

This isn't a story about love, so mind you those nuts who'd think this would be a blog version of R&B singer Trey Songz' hit (I love this song by the way).

Yep, that title seeps through my veins as of the moment. Ever had that cold feeling that you're waiting for something that might never happen, but since you have waited so long for it, you couldn't help but just sit, relax, and wait? It sucks. You feel like a moron, but what else can you do? Your humongous ego is prompting you to continue, backing out just leaves all your effort worthless, and the fear of being haunted by the ghost of "what if" scares you.

Can't help but wait, then.

This is my story. I am in th middle of an adult crisis where a simple decision can ruin the rest of my life.

No money. No job. No girlfriend. No kidding. What more can a loser ask for..

When it comes to decisions, I have always regarded planning for the worst as the best tactic. There should always be a Plan B. Risking was always the last resort. The only problem would be when I would be facing decisions which are strictly two-sided. Now or never. Yes or No. Deal or No Deal. No turning back, Plan B is not an option, and escaping is futile. It's 100% risk, and I am 100% freaking out.

This time is one of those risky instances - I have chosen a side of the coin, and now I have to wait. Having no money is no problem. All I need to do is get a job. Building up a so-called girlfriend relationship is no problem, too, as long as financial resources are stable. This goes back to the problem of money, and all boils down to one solution - a JOB.

It's not my fault that I am picky for my first job. Okay, its sort of my fault, but I was trained to soar high, aim high, blah blah blah.. I even turned down a job I was hired last month because of my unusual sense of finding the most confortable job, may it be a high-paying or a regular-paying job. Of course, less than regular would never cross my resume..

What's a comfortable job for me, then?
1. 
   
   It should be at or near a city, where leisure is abundant and commodities are at reach. Cebu City is my priority, though. I came to love that place, and the cost of living is waaaay too cheap than Manila. Also, most of my friends are working there, so reaching them out for a lunch chow or a videoke trip during weekends is as easy as a walk in the park.
   
   
   
2. 
   
   high salary is a plus, but I can live with a regular pay.
   
   
3. 
   
   If it's away from the city, a Sun Cellular signal would be nice. I love my current network communications provider - it's unbelievably cheap, most of my friends are also using Sun Cellular (which is a big advantage if eveyone's in the same network as I am), and I hate changing my phone number!
   
   
4. 
   
   A free bunkhouse room is way cool and a big plus, but it's just optional.. hehe..
5. 
   
   Let it be internet-accessible! Wireless, Landline Broadband, watever. Now this is compulsory.
   
   
6. 
   
   If it has its own gym, or if there is one in the nearest vicinity, it's one huraay.. I honestly have to cut down my tummy. It's like getting bigger, and not even a sign that it's going to stop. Seriously.
   
   
7. 
   
   And lastly, may it be a vicinity with cool chics.. How do you suppose am I going to work with the "No girlfriend" problem?. Tsk tsk.
Now all of these are all packaged into one job offer that I have applied weeks ago. This is one good opportunity. The company told me to wait for an interview schedule. Neat. No sign if there was hope to be hired or none. They just told me to wait.

And here I am, waiting. I did not apply to any other job, but just waited for this nice oppotunity. Why didn't I look for Plan B jobs? Because all available Plan B jobs as of the moment failed to meet my checklist.


All I can say is, I can't help but wait. The fictitious Hannibal Lecter said that "great things come to those who wait". Hope he didn't try to munch out the brains of that company's HR, hehe..
What will happen to me from now on? That, I have no idea. We'll just have to see.

Now for that you, too, have to wait..
Source URL: http://jameellamellannyes.blogspot.com/2008/02/
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A BLOG iS BORN

Let there be light...
and there was "my blog"..

Actually I never thought of my blog as a way to enlighten myself or any one else. The light there actually signifies, well, nothing. I just thought the phrase was a good catch). And so why, after all these years, did I finally decide to make a blog? Good question. I have no idea!

Let's just say, given the circumstances that I am into right now, a blog of my own would be a way to put those crowding ideas into trashable entity, may it be in a virtual sense. In other words, it's a way to keep me sane (which I think I still am) by creating a so-called mental balance. You get my point. You don't want trash piling up in your skull, do you? So, might as well start a garage sale - displaying one's trash so that others may try to appreciate the whole crap..

And so my blog is BORN! And it's crap.

And to what circumstances am I into right now that psuhed me to create this crap, you might ask? Well, I am in one important turning point in my entire lifetime - and no I'm not getting married yet! Having already earned my college degree and even my professional license last year, I am now experiencing one of life's goint-into-adulthood-thing ritual where I felt like I was freed of the bonds of the academic world. Oh these bonds, which have been chained on me ever since my dear mother abandoned me in kinder school with a freaky teacher, armed with a ruler ready to flatten anyone's little hands for disobedience, telling stories about the children-eating big bad wolf to keep me from going out of the room to chase dear mother, and giving away cheap candy to shut my mouth (and well supposedly close my tearducts for good). Minus all these bonds, this is the point where I can say that I am now a certified professional adult - and to be able to complete these ritual I now have to fulfill one more task - get a JOB. Seconded by my mother.

And what's the connection between getting a job and creating a blog? You make the connection. Blogs are made to display to the world how everyone is so unique in ways of creating virtual confidence or just trying to screw themselves up. One can write anything in a blog - may it be writing about one's firsts, advertising oneself for instant relationships, or just simple nothings - like perhaps the miserable adventures of getting a job. In a blog, one can write all the trash his fingers can type. In a blog, one can choose to be a poet, a rebel, a democrat, a lunatic, and all those other suppressed alter egos, revealing all the trash hidden all along.

One thing's for sure. People love to sink their teeth in others trash (it's a human thing), that's why blogs are a major hit in the 21st cntury. And that's also the reason why my blog is named that way it is- it will BITE sooner or later. It could be someone's trash, or even my own.

Let the biting begin..
Source URL: http://jameellamellannyes.blogspot.com/2008/02/
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