Assalamualaikum all. Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Adha….

Last weekend 3 EF crew went for a mock fashion shoot. The model is Miss Freda with Miss Gelly as the make up artist. The cloudy and a bit rainy morning discourage us from shooting outdoor..so we went to the KL Train Station for a bit of shooting. I’m inspired by Manny Librodo and locally by my own friend Hermanz. It was unfortunate that he was too busy and couldn’t join us for the shoot.

I’m not really into fashion shoot. This is the first for this year. Last year I did 2 model shoots. And I felt that my model directing skills are quite rusty..hehehe

2 concept were planned. The first is bright and bubbly while the second one is a sexy and mysterious lady. All shot using D700+Nikkor 85mm f/1.8 lens. This is my best 12.

Which one do you think is the best?

I recently did a photoshoot with my wonderful photographer: my Mom! As I work on my singing, recording and album, I want to make sure I have some great photos to share with you all. I hope they can be an inspiration to you!

I am so interested in the American tour that Sarah Palin will be promoting this week for her book Going Rogue: An American Life. I think there is something we all can learn from this. If anything, it is a media spectacle unlike anything ever seen before: Sarah Palin, the former Governor of Alaska, who makes history as the first female Vice Presidential candidate for the Republican Party, dishes her perspective on the inside story behind the McCain campaign. While I haven’t read the book myself, (I plan on buying a copy soon,) it will be interesting to see how this all plays out in the end and how it will bode for the future of national and global politics, if at all.

So *this* is where all the cool kids hang out. IVSA (Import Vintners & Spirits Association of BC) in Vancouver was a good time had by all at the Four Seasons downtown (this hotel really supports the wine world, hey?). If you are in the wine industry, you should consider joining the mobs of wine agents and buyers. If you’re not, you should find a way to get there next time around.

Roaming the room, taking it all in and chatting with familiar and new faces, you couldn’t help notice the serious on-a-mission tasters for wine columns, blogs, party recommendations, surrounded by the not-so-serious having a grand ol’ time with old friends industry veterans. Everyone was in great spirits and it felt a bit like Christmas in early November.

I met some lovely people, tasted some doozy wines, but there was no hope you could even dream of tasting half of the room in the 3 short hours, so I tried to stick to some bubbly on the note-taking, seeing as it is almost the season, and list a few sparklings, the real deal Champers plus a few bonus tracks for the holi’s:

• Bastianich Flor Prosecco – $19.99 – easy to drink and your fills the mouth with florals and light, lovely bubbles
• Codorniu Pinot Noir Sparkling Brut, Cava, $19.99 – full of zest but smooth as butter, and with a pinky-orangey hue for all you pink fans out there
• Nicolas Feuillatte Particuliere Brut, Champagne, $59.99 – Gismondi 90 pts.
• Champagne Moutardier Carte d’Or, $58.99 – unique 85% Pinot Meunier must try – 90 pts Burghound



Bonus Tracks:

• Penfolds Grandfather Port, $84.99 – nutty and rich, melts in your mouth and hangs around for a long time but not long enough!
• Chateau d’Orignac Pineau des Charentes, $39.99 – Wow. Two-thirds Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, one-third Cognac and ten years to produce – think thick, rich honey in a beautiful wine. Excellent value.
• Blue Raspberry Vodka, $23.75 – And why not add a little fun bubble-gum-esque blue vodka into the Christmas stocking? Goes with every typical mix I’d imagine or on its own on the rocks.

Thanks to Catherine at Rare Finds and Risha at Select Wines for making certain I made it out.

Was just talking with my friends today and shared something that’s been on my heart lately:

You are responsible for your own dreams.

This just came to me as I realized that you can’t go throughout life thinking you are going to achieve your dreams, if nothing you are doing is actually moving you toward them! Are you understanding what I am saying? The reason I brought this up is because so many of the things I want to do in life, I don’t do, simply because I either have been afraid of what others might say or afraid of what someone might think.

No more!

I realize, especially this Veteran’s Day, that there have been many, many men and women of all ethnicities who have fought for the freedoms we enjoy in my country, the United States of America. What a waste it would be to neglect the gifts and talents you have been given and, as the Bible speaks of, hide them in a hole in the ground because you are afraid of the consequences! I don’t want to say at the end of my life, “Well, I was too afraid to do anything with my gifts and talents, so I just decided to waste them by not doing anything with them.” No! I refuse. I will not do that.

So, in conclusion, as in the parable of the talents, spoken of by Jesus, do not let your talents go to waste. Whether they be in money, fame, title, abilities, skills, education, resources, vision, ideas, etcetera, don’t let anyone stop you from investing your talents where they need to be.

One of my favorites songs is “Sailing” by Christopher Cross. If I could change one word in this song, for me, it would be to change “Sailing” to “Dreaming.” “Dreaming takes me away to where I’ve always heard it could be. Just a dream and the wind to carry me and soon I will be free…”

This is Will Johanning, signing out!

Love you all.

These profile pic designs were some off-the-cuff things I did when I felt an urge of inspiration come upon me. They are my Facebook and Twitter profile pictures. I thought they represented myself well. (Which is what a profile pic is intended to do!) And they truly express how I was feeling at the time. I don’t know if it’s classified as art, but it definitely felt like inspiration to me! Copyright © 2009 Will Johanning. All rights reserved.

Not really, but that’s how I’m feeling right now. 

So I have 2 best friends from high school.  Technically they are best friends and I am the 3rd wheel who got added on to give our group numbers in our tiny class.  But it’s generally worked out.

Obviously, coming to college changes some things.  I came to Boston College in Chestnut Hill just outside the city, and I live on the bubble-like campus.  One friend stayed in Worcester (the outgoing, bubbly, flirty one) to be a nursing student, so it’s not very easy to hang out with her unless we go home.  The other friend (the sarcastic, funny, sometimes mean one) also came to the Boston area, although she’s actually in the city, but she’s only like 5 or 6 T stops away from me, but with conflicting schedules it still isn’t easy to plan.

But really, it seems like something continually gets in our way, and she makes no effort to make things better.

Take, for example, last year.  I went home and hung out a bit with the one friend, and then had a series of adventures visiting the other.  I went to her Sign Language choir performance, I got lost driving there and then got a parking ticket, and I always hang out with her friends and roommates.  Like, that’s dedication to our friendship.

But then, look at them.  The two of them came to visit me only once, together, and the Boston one brought her roommate.  And there was quite bad planning on my part I admit (it was the dayof the Notre Dame vs. BC football game and it rained), but they also came 2 hours later than we originally decided, didn’t want to see any part of my campus or friends, and then we ate at Applebee’s so they could be close to the T and book it out.

And then this, the first week we moved back to school, I went and visited the Bosotn one at her school and we ate out and I came back.  And then once the Worcester friend had come out and I again had to go out to see them so one could go shopping (I was leaving right afterwards though to see family).

It’s just a little lopsided, in my opinion.

And yeah, we hung out a ton during the summer when I wasn’t at camp, and it was great.  Even though we have changed a lot (some more than others, and me the least), very little anout the dynamic between us ever changes, so it’s always fun.

But now, I doubt if I can ever get them to come see me.  Like I’m not worth it to them.  I mean, I don’t really expect the one nursing friend to make the trek out here all the time, but the other is like not interested in making things work!

Like, she was supposed to come visit me this afternoon and I was going to make her something vegan to eat, because that’s what she is, although she mentioned something about her roommate coming again.  But I said whatever because I want her to come see my new dorm suite.  And then I mentioned that my roommate is in a production of The Good Body (a series of monologues along the lines of the Vagina Monologues) and maybe she’d like to go.  She was up for it and immediately asked if she could bring more friends and suggested we eat out.  Only a little peeved, I told her it was fine.  But then when we were trying to set specific times when she was getting here, she said her roommate had a 4:30 hair appointment, and that they might have to meet me at the theatre before the show and we could eat dinner after the show.  By this point, I was getting kind of sad, and just agreed.  Of course, when talking today, she said she had to work late and couldn’t come.

Which is how it always is, and probably always will be.  I bend over backwards for the few people I care about, and get ignored for it.  Maybe the conversation would have been a little different had we actually been talking rather than texting, but whatever.  And since our schedules conflict tomorrow (she has some work event and I’m meeting John Krasinski), we are making tentative plans for next Saturday.  Which I doubt will come to fruition.

I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

By: Colbie Caillat

I’ve been awake for a while now
You’ve got me feeling like a child now
Cause everytime I see you’re bubbly face
I get the tinglies in a silly place

(chorus)
It starts in my toes and I crinkle my nose
Wherever it goes, I always know
You make me smile please stay for a while now
Just take your time, wherever you go

The rain is falling on my window pain
But we are hiding in a safer place
Undercover staying dry and warm
You give me feelings that I adore

Its starts in my toes, make me crinkle my nose
Wherever it goes, I always know
You make me smile please stay for a while now
Just take your time, wherever you go

What am I gonna say
When you make me feel this way
I just…hmmmm……

And it starts in my toes makes me crinkle my nose
Wherever it goes, I always know
You make me smile please stay for a while now
Just take your time, wherever you go

I’ve been asleep for a while now
You tuck me in just like a child now
Cause everytime you hold me in your arms
I’m comfortable enough to feel your warmth

It starts in my soul and I lose all control
When you kiss my nose, the feeling shows
Cause you make me smile
Baby just take your time now
Holding my tight….

Wherever, wherever, wherever you go
Wherever, wherever, wherever you go.

He came to some of the last summer sectionals. I didn’t know his name, but, wow, did he impress the instructor.

He played drums, that much was obvious. He had control in his hands and knew his rhythms better than us. He was going to be in pit with us. Maybe battery rejected him or something, but I don’t know why. But he was with us.

He was silent all during band camp, too. I would talk to him and once I asked him if he wanted to have lunch with us. He always ate alone, reading his recommended reading book. I felt bad for him and that’s why I asked him if he wanted to eat with us. He was unsure and took a long time packing up his lunch, and when he was with us, he stayed silent the entire time. Just eating something out of his lunch pail in complete silence. He didn’t pick up his book, but he looked so uncomfortable I almost wished he had.

In a few weeks, though, he suddenly opened up to us. He got bubbly and wore a smile on his face when he got really into a topic. Instead of having the same, bored look plastered on his face, he wore a light, enthusiastic smile.

I call him Meowth on here because, when Yuki and I were Team Rocket, we made him be Meowth.

On Friday, when I was changing out of my uniform and Yuki had left just me, Meowth, and the Pecker to talk. It takes me less time to change than it does the guys, but I’m talking with them, and I stand by them even though the Pecker keeps glancing down to my chest. I’m mostly just talking with Meowth, anyway.

I discover that his favorite words are butt-rapist and yeast infection. His usage of them bothers me, but I let it go and the words filter out in my brain. When the Pecker starts to talk to me about his family, Meowth interrupts and says that Yuki is probably waiting for me. And I leave, silently thanking Meowth, who chooses to wait with the Pecker so I don’t have to.

And he helps me to bring up my chimes during practice. They are heavy, probably two hundred pounds, but when I am about to take them down, he says to me that he can take them instead. He says this with such a straight face that I don’t know what to make of it.

It’s too early to tell, anyway.

Something wrong with me, this happen for years, feels so guilty, but it so damn hard not to do it anymore..

1. my daily hours all went wrong, since i woke up till i asleep.
2. it seems i have no time for a thing, come on… i have 24 hours to do everything.
3. toooo much fat HERE!! ( yeah, everywhere in my body )
4. what is the last subject i learn? when was it? being a dumb and dumber everyday is not good.
5. goal?dream? whats mine? oh helloo, i used to have soo many
6. how much do i spent my money this month? aha!! this is it!! a really big issue for me.

Lets clear up those mess!! starts now!!

Anti-Thanksgiving Dinner

_____

Serbian police charge President Boris Tadic for opening champagne at a football stadium to mark World Cup success…. From BBC News. Full story

This site may contain information about: ocean temperatures. The blog is also related to: oceanic.

Serbian police charge President Boris Tadic for opening champagne at a football stadium to mark World Cup success…. From BBC News. Full story

This site may contain information about: football shirt. The blog is also related to: european soccer championship.

Hello all out there in Internetland! I am starting my blog. Officially. Today. Why am I doing this? It all goes back to an experience I had when I was working on a printing press! While I was in high school, I took a job as an apprentice for a company in Butler, Wisconsin. The company’s name was Western States Envelope Company. I would go to school during the day and after school, would drive to work for a few hours. I was assigned to work on a printing press for six months to completely understand how the press and the printing process worked. Now, this was a little boring for me, as I was a “jogger” most of the time. What’s a jogger? They “jog” the paper before it gets sucked into the press. One shifts the sheets and ensures that they get filled with air. This prevents them from clogging the printing press. Anyway, while I was working this job, I, of course, daydreamed. All I can remember dreaming about was starting a newsletter of my own. Now, I know that a blog is not a newsletter, but I remember how cool I thought it would be to be able to write stories and journalistic experiences, and have many people actually read my words! It was invigorating. It was exciting. It was idealistic. It was in my head, and it helped me get through that experience! I always told myself that I would somehow start a “newsletter”-like production and get it out there for people to read. After all, I think I have some great things to share with you. So, it is in that spirit that I officially start my blog today. I hope you are positively impacted by it.

| Food & Wine |

| “food is sex”… Anthony Bourdain |

Anthony Bourdain

Food & Wine pairing is very popular here on the central coast where the wineries are abundant and the Chefs are eager. The irony of these food and wine pairings is that the classics, the basic rules, and the jaw-dropping perfect pairings are far and few between. Sure, you can try to match food to wine. It’s hard when all the wines are similar and from the same producer, but what about matching wine to food? Does anyone do that anymore? Why do fois gras and sauternes create a culinary epiphany or goat cheese and Sancerre the perfect balance? The secret is having all the options you could ask for and experiment with. Food is culture and so is wine, which is why Anthony Bourdain’s quote at the top is so apropos.

There are so many opportunities to experience great food and wine pairings at 15c! Every Thursday night Chef Jeff Scott prepares authentic cuisine specifically matched to the wines that are the theme of the evening.

So today began the famed Homecoming Week celebrations.

First clue: Announcements. They usually take about ten minutes, but today, included the “positive” message of Homecoming. Honestly, not a single soul in my History class paid any attention to the announcements. We never have.

Second clue: Music at lunch. I was actually pleasantly surprised; usually, the soundtrack for lunch is either rap or Mexican Independence music. Today it was Queen. The song “We are the Champions” has been forever disgraced. /facepalm

I honestly don’t get how cheerleaders do it. My friend suspects crack. They’re always so happy, even when you’re the saddest person in the universe. Wait, maybe it’s botox. But not even the freshmen are jazzed about Homecoming. There is a sophomore I know, though, who comes into the classroom so bubbly I’m afraid my head will implode.

Speaking of implosion…

I actually get very embarrassed on a regular basis. But I can take a joke.

T-shirt expresses person? No

Words describing person and font:
Kiddy
Bubbly
Blotchy (Messy)

Words only describing font: None

Person is more creative

I’m thrilled to inform you that I’ve just discovered that I am in fact NOT crazy.  I’ve filled you in via facebook in the past that I do indeed possess a dichotomous personality.  No. I’m not bipolar.  It’s just that my personality has always clashed with itself.  Well, I’ve just found a name for it.

This is thanks to my everlasting appetite for information, and my desire to read about how demented we all are.  I read Psychology Today from time to time.  Yes that’s the kind of girl I am.  Inquisitive.  A curious seeker looking to delve into the human condition and the commonality of our weirdness.  I consider it a beautiful thing……our shared fuckedupedness.

There was an article about mixed signals and being misunderstood.  The article was followed by a guide about the most frequently misunderstood types.  and there I was!  The Bubbly Introvert.  Hooray! I’m not crazy.  (When there’s a name for things, it helps us think we aren’t crazy…shhhh.  let me take comfort in this please.)

Anyways, here it is:

“The Bubbly Introvert:  When people come across as vivacious, exuberant, and cheerful, we assume they’re extroverts.”

(Okay…this article was so meant for me.. I mean they used the words vivacious and cheer just like me! I take every sign that the universe gives me)

“But some lively people are actually gasping for time to themeselves.  Having good social skills isn’t the same thing as wanting to be around people all the time.”

“The Fix:  Like other introverts, bubbly introverts have to be vigilant about guarding their alone time. ”

ahhhhhhh.  This diagnosis was like a chunk of dark chocolate for me.  Seriously this has been a struggle of mine for as long as I can remember.  I’ve always loved having fun and socializing and then I become exhausted and need a reprieve.  I have admitted to being a social hermit, but have never really met anyone else like this.  This is my truth.

Anyways, now I can officially tell people that I’m a Bubbly Introvert and I’m sorry it’s a curse.

Some others:

The Shy Extrovert

The Effeminate Heterosexual

The Accidental Flirt (Now this one is fun too!)  “Some people are so naturally flirtatious that they send the wrong signals, inadvertently communicating “”I want to sleep with you”" when what they really means is “I’m friendly”.

hahahahhaha! That just described most of my sister saucy vixen friends! (I’ve got a Saucy Vixen post coming soon)

So it’s official.  I’m a misunderstood type and the next time that I’m being a social butterfly and happen to graze your husband’s trousers just so….. please know that I’m just being friendly and I will be disengaging and retreating to solitude in no time.

And also know that I don’t use the word trousers in real life.  It just seemed the right fit for that sentence.  Only Grandpas wear trousers and I’m not that kind of girl.

I’ve developed a hobby of seeking out and buying different moscato d’asti, especially the ones on sale for $12 that were originally +$20 a bottle! Can’t resist; I’m a sucker for fake marked-up prices and “sales”. Sigh.

Some of my latest finds!

Sorry for the terrible picture quality. D:

‘Vino de Fratelli’ – found at QFC for about $10. It’s probably the most tart moscato I’ve had– not too classy or refined, but it was an enjoyable drink because it felt lively and energetic (I’m a terrible wine reviewer). Would definitely buy again at the sale price, NOT the $25 they were originally asking (like seriously?)

I fell in love with the label on this bottle! Easily the swankiest looking label from any wine I’ve had, though maybe it’s just I’ve a thing for black/yellow and textured paper and flowy text. Fontwhore!

This bottle was found from Uwajimaya of all places. The first cashier I took it to wouldn’t let my buy it because the Underaged Twins were with me, but I had them go wait in the car while I grabbed another bottle and went to a different cashier. That system just ASKS to be abused, pffft.

$15, originally… $20 something? I don’t remember these things.

Super sweet. Very sweet. Small delicate bubbles. Notable fruit flavors, but I couldn’t tell WHICH fruits. SO PRO. Would probably NOT buy again, simply because it was muuuch too sweet for me. I like a little tartness. Such a pretty bottle though, I haven’t the heart to recycle it yet, which is the reason why it’s currently sitting on M’s coffee table. Empty. For the second night in a row.