Except probably for Mr. Bowie, all CDs are best for long drives (especially for 4-hour 300 kilometer drives across Switzerland and Italy). Trust me. Morcheeba, CPearl's "Not This Time" and Josh's voice were as cool as snow in summertime.
TOP 5 FOR THE LAST 30 DAYS or Top 30 in the last 30
Ok. Time Flies. Really it did. It’s been 30 days since I arrived in Europe. Although the vacation was surely enjoyable, my wife would aptly put it in her great way with words – that of describing the feeling that, “leaving is more painful this way, when you have enjoyed, cried, hoped, and laughed, TOGETHER”. But we look forward to the next visit, and the next moments again thereafter, traveling, marveling at God’s wonderful creations and simply, being “physically” with each other!
Top 5 Places Visited Pwede Top 10?
Job 42:3 "Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know."
10. Colosseum and Forum in Rome
9. Milan, Italy – the Duomo’s top view
8. The Sistine Chapel – finally…
7. Zurich, Switzerland – shopping mecca
6. Montreux, Switzerland – and its jazz (er, rock) fests
5. Rome, Italy – and all its ruins and dirt
4. Vatican – and all its grandeur
3. The Bellagio, Lake Como, Italy – fronting the island of Princess Padme Amidala in EP2
2. Simplon Pass – beauty and serenity combined atop 2,000m and in between mountains
1. Lake Como – and its environs including Villa Balbianello
Matthew 13:44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field."
5. “Memento” DVD at CHF 25 or Php 750 only
4. “Morcheeba” CD – “Charango”
3. David Bowie “Concert Ticket” at the last minute
2. Bally Leather Shoes at Php 725 only
1. Inner Peace with the most important person in my life – my wife
5. No haircut. See Elvis Pressly reference below.
4. No DVD. All VCD, 24 of them including “Pagdating ng Panahon”, “Videoke King” and 20 other English/French (“Amelie”) films
3. No Sunday Mass in English in the last 5 weeks (1 Portuguese, 2 French, 2 Italian Masses)
2. No Tagalog TV, No ESPN, No Star Channels, No HBO!
1. No pounds lost. Probably gained pa nga!
Job 8:21 "He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy."
5. Leaving our Rome Plane Tickets at home, and discovering it halfway to the airport
4. Discovering that I have a chance to be like Elvis Pressley, complete with the sideburns.
3. “Friends” VCDs Season 8 Episodes 1-12, kept us in stitches
2. Passing Gas not in the gasoline station
1. Being with each other, every minute of the day
Numbers 6:26 "...the Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace."
5. Being part of the Papal blessing during Sunday mass at the Vatican.
4. Seeing The Lake Country (refer to Star Wars EP2) and hoping to visit Princess Amidala
3. Lake Geneva sunsets
2. Our discovery of what lies ahead
1. My wife and her loving glances my way.
5. In 1790, Congress declared the city of Washington in the District of Columbia the permanent capital of the United States.
4. The world's first atomic bomb is secretly tested in the desert near Los Alamos, New Mexico.
3. The novel "Catcher in Rye" by JD Salinger is first published in 1951.
2. In 1969, Apollo 11 is launched with Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin, Jr., and Michael Collins aboard.
1. An intensity 7.8 earthquake ocurred in the Philippines in 1990...
10. Photography Books - my wife has been haranguing me about my closeups and nightshots...grrr. Am also angry about not learning much.
9. Morcheeba CD - "Charango" - great CD (next up would be Norah Jones CD)
8. Usual Suspects DVD - no need to explain who Keyser Soze is. But who is he really?
7. Depeche Mode: One Night in Paris - I was in Switzerland when they were in Paris. But I have the DVD. So for me, that's fine.
6. Amelie DVD - speechlessness
5. Julia Fordham "Concrete Love" CD - long overdue. Me and my wife are true-blooded fans of this deep-voiced lady.
4. U2 "7" - collector's item. You only get them from Target stores.
3. Memento DVD - i suddenly forgot why I wanted this DVD. Maybe I have short memory problems myself. Great great flick!
2. Kobe Bryant: McFarlane Action Figure - hahaha, what's a 33-year old wanting a 23-year old's action figure? Ask me!
1. Additional Compact Flash Memory - well, i needed it yesterday.
If and When asked which CDs I couldn't live without if I were stranded on a desert island, my list would look like this:
8. 101, Depeche Mode - for me, it is the best DM Collection ever, as it starts with David Gahan's familiar voice "Good Evening Pasadena!" you are drawn part of the whole concert as well!
7. Zooropa, U2 - personal best for U2 as they grew more mature in their composition
6. MTV Live, 10,000 Maniacs - the best MTV Live recording and without bias that it so happened to be 10,000 Maniacs
5. Surfacing, Sarah McLachlan - if only I can take my whole Sarah stash, but if I have to choose, I'll bring this one
4. Blind Man's Zoo, 10,000 Maniacs - another genius work by Natalie and the rest of the guys
3. In My Tribe, 10,000 Maniacs - third disc from the group and I'm not going to part ways with it
2. Music from the Buffett Table, Barbie's Cradle - only local CD I will bring with me, no questions asked
1. Steve Green by Steve Green - everyone needs God when in solitude, "I Want to Know You More" will be apt when I'm alone in that deserted island!
1. Was 23 years old, 129 lbs.
2. Was wearing starched pin-striped long sleeves and blue neckties to office
3. Was the youngest and most aggressive Management Committee (MANCOM) member in our office
4. Was able to buy my first car, a Toyota Corolla Liftback from my savings
5. Was dreaming of travelling abroad
5 Years Ago, I
1. Was 28 years old, estimated 135 lbs.
2. Was married happily for the last 2 years
3. Was still wearing starched white long sleeves and wide neck ties to work
4. Was already dealing with top honchos of big telecoms in the Philippines
5. Was able to travel to Asia already
3 Years Ago, I
1. Was scared of pushing 30 years
2. Was already happy to start letting go of my neckties
3. Was able to build my CD collection revolving around 10,000 Maniacs, Sarah McLachlan, Indigo Girls and Tori Amos
4. Was able to have an office-paid car, free from paying gasoline and parking expenses
5. Was still dreaming of travelling outside the Philippines (after going to Batad (Banaue), Vigan (Ilocos Sur), and Boracay)
A year ago, I
1. Was 32 years old, and 160 lbs.
2. Was working in a dotcom and was extremely enjoying it.
3. Was able to work in an office with me being one of the most mature in age (office average was just at 25 years young)
4. Was going to office in shirt and anything I wanted to wear
5. Was able to travel to Europe for the first time!
Yesterday, I
1. Weighed 162 lbs.
2. Went to a Swiss grocery and spent CHF 88 (P 2,700) on the next few days food ingredients
3. Watched "Sum of All Fears" on video
4. Was happy that Michele was back home
5. Was able to sleep comfortably for the first time in a month!
Today, I
1. Didn't check my weight. Still was 33 years young (same age as Jesus)
2. Didn't go to the grocery but went to the laundromat.
3. Didn't watch any foreign film, instead saw a Sharon Cuneta flick instead (I missed Filipino movies already)
4. Blogged on both my blogs, this and my other blogsite.
5. I finished 2nd Quarter Review slides of our own small business back in the Philippines.
Tomorrow, I
1. Will balance my finances.
2. Will call Mama and Papa and ask them how they are (missed them already)
3. Will have car all tidied and washed up
4. Will finish some more work
5. Will help in the house, with the 3 C's (cook, clean and care)