My Neighbor Totoro (Tonari no Totoro)

I'm blogging so I could remind myself that just in case I get too busy taking care of my health while my son's on his way, I want the nursery to be painted with a full sized Totoro!!! ^_^


I've come to learn of Hayao Miyazaki from http://www.linesandcolors.com
and was fortunate enough to find his works immediately.

Here are some of his classic animated films:
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
Laupta: The Castle in the Sky
My Neighbor Totoro
Kiki’s Delivery Service
Porco Rosso, Princess Mononoke
Spirited Away
Howl’s Moving Castle <-- most recent

Quoting linesandcolors:
"If you’re not familiar with most or any of those, it’s the fault of a narrow-minded American movie distribution system and/or Disney, who has the rights to distribute and promote Miyazaki’s films in the US, but apparently doesn’t have a clue how to do so. (To their credit, they’ve done a pretty good job with the packaging of the US DVD versions)."

Sigh~! Totoro's just so.... dreamy I guess is a proper word instead of "cute".


- just sharing ^_^

A Blog Post by Singapore's Youngest Millionaire

By Adam Khoo
On Money

Some of you may already know that I travel around the region pretty frequently, having to visit and conduct seminars at my offices in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Suzhou (China). I am in the airport almost every other week so I get to bump into many people who have attended my seminars or have read my books.

Recently, someone came up to me on a plane to KL and looked rather shocked. He asked, How come a millionaire like you is travelling economy? My reply was, Thats why I am a millionaire. He still looked pretty confused. This again confirms that greatest lie ever told about wealth (which I wrote about in my latest book Secrets of Self-Made Millionaire) . Many people have been brainwashed to think that millionaires have to wear Gucci, Hugo Boss, Rolex, and sit on first class in air travel. This is why so many people never become rich because the moment that earn more money, they think that it is only natural that they spend more, putting them back to square one.

The truth is that most self-made millionaires are frugal and only spend on what is necessary and of value. That is why they are able to accumulate and multiply their wealth so much faster. Over the last 7 years, I have saved about 80% of my income while today I save only about 60% (because I have my wife, mother in law, 2 maids, 2 kids, etc. to support). Still, it is way above most people who save 10% of their income (if they are lucky). I refuse to buy a first class ticket or to buy a $300 shirt because I think that it is a complete waste of money. However, I happily pay $1,300 to send my 2-year old daughter to Julia Gabriel Speech and Drama without thinking twice.

When I joined the YEO (Young Entrepreneurs Organization) a few years back (YEO is an exclusive club open to those who are under 40 and make over $1m a year in their own business) I discovered that those who were self-made thought like me. Many of them with net worths well over $5m, travelled economy class and some even drove Toyotas and Nissans (not Audis, Mercs, BMWs).

I noticed that it was only those who never had to work hard to build their own wealth (there were also a few ministers and tycoons sons in the club) who spent like there was no tomorrow. Somehow, when you did not have to build everything from scratch, you do not really value money. This is precisely the reason why a familys wealth (no matter how much) rarely lasts past the third generation. Thank God my rich dad (oh no! I sound like Kiyosaki) foresaw this terrible possibility and refused to give me a cent to start my business.

Then some people ask me, What is the point in making so much money if you dont enjoy it? The thing is that I dont really find happiness in buying branded clothes, jewellery or sitting first class. Even if buying something makes me happy it is only for a while, it does not last. Material happiness never lasts, it just give you a quick fix. After a while you feel lousy again and have to buy the next thing which you think will make you happy. I always think that if you need material things to make you happy, then you live a pretty sad and unfulfilled life.

Instead, what make ME happy is when I see my children laughing and playing and learning so fast. What makes me happy is when I see my companies and trainers reaching more and more people every year in so many more countries. What makes me really happy is when I read all the emails about how my books and seminars have touched and inspired someones life. What makes me really happy is reading all your wonderful posts about how this BLOG is inspiring you. This happiness makes me feel really good for a long time, much much more than what a Rolex would do for me.

I think the point I want to put across is that happiness must come from doing your lifes work (be in teaching, building homes, designing, trading, winning tournaments etc.) and the money that comes is only a by-product. If you hate what you are doing and rely on the money you earn to make you happy by buying stuff, then I think that you are living a life of meaninglessness.

NOOKA -- Nokia Only Obeys Krisha Alone!

October 18, 2008 -- Nokia Presents Rockin' You @ Warehouse 135

Line up for the night:
Pin-Up Girls
Nyctinasty
Miguel Escueta
Musical O
Sleepwalk Circus
Up Dharma Down aaaand
Rico Blanco!

I had a great time amidst the multitude of teenagers donning their best Saturday gear.

In the show, sponsored by Nooka, a games was held. Out of 5 contestants, one must create a sentence with words starting with N, O, O, K and A. Someone even attempted to do a taglish line, but panicked! Had I been up on that state,I would have said Nokia Only Obeys Krisha Alone. (For the lack of a better Noun starting with the letter K) Kudos to the winning girl, who said "No One Orders Kimchi Alone." Oh, galing diba?

Yun lang medyo entertaining that happened to me for the entire month of October. I went to "Above and Beyond" but last only 2 hours because Glooooria didn't make the 31st a holiday. Aynakow. Looking forward to Armin Van Buuren on Nov 21. Yahooooo.

Welcome October

Finally, last day of the week!!! My last weekend of the month was a relief as a series of not-so-fortunate events came streaming my way.

Sigh~! … But life has been good! And on the lighter side, my friends’ birthday party was so much fun! The joint birthday slash costume party (compliments of JC…hay nako) turned out to be a hit!

I was super stressed trying to figure out what to wear to this party, prior to going to Chicane on that same night. Thursday night, I was hanging out at Lanie’s pad when I saw her Japanese school girl costume. Her skirt was a much more profane version of my high school uniform, and so I decided to look for that old thing and be her diverse twin. Cum Saturday, I was delighted to see everyone such a sport and pretend Halloweens Day came in early this year! Also, was extremely happy to see that my high school uniform still fits.. like a glove too!

The celebrants came as a Nymph and Greek Goddess. Then all sorts were there. You have the usual hot she-devil, “Kamatayan” (Mr. Death), Angels, 60’s basketball player, nurse, soldier, police man, security guard, Egyptian, blondes and so on. The other guests I guess were misinformed; they probably thought it was a “headband” party, coz that’s what they all had! Most unusual, peculiar or special as some would say, was Eng's nurse/angel costume. His man-hair peering through his white stockings was quite a disturbing sight. Kudos to everyone and happy happy birthday Ja and May! (Some of the pictures may be viewed at jajalopezbday.multiply.com)

A little after midnight, I had to bid them farewell as I say hello to Chicane! Well, Nick B performed with a British band, although I have no idea what the band was. We arrived just in time for Bruised Water! It was a very typical night-out. Could’ve been worse. But then again it was so much better than the Chicane Event in 2006. So, I can’t complain.

Although the other half of the month didn’t turn out as great, September this year wasn’t super bad. But, National Holiday on a Wednesday (that's tomorrow)... very very warm welcome, October!!!

Deep Dish - We Gonna Feel It

Kickass September!

One of my bestfriends Tom, refuses to read my blog because its deep he says. Hey! I recent that!!! ... I can be shallow sometimes!

September still has 15 more days but I already have quite a number of things to rave about.

Was in HK for 5 days and this was by far my best HK trip. Allow me to enumerate why:
1. Alot of good alcohol was soothing to my soul
2. I went to meet up with a friend, I haven't seen in 2 years. Our ETA coincided which made us conveniently "bump" into each other at the immigration area
3. Ebenezers! (Their shawarma with just hummus and veggies was to die for!)
4. I went everywhere looking for the perfect gladiator sandals and I eventually did...at Wanchai!
5. Met up Amy -- a good friend I haven't seen since 2005!
6. The lockers at Elements Mall ($3.00 / small locker $5.00 / big locker)
7. Discovering Deep Dish's "We Gonna Feel It"!!! (*DancE! buMp! dAnCE!* To listen, check out the next blog)
8. Witnessing the sun rise on a Sunday Morning (Any air, other than what you inhale from the bar is considered oxygen)
9. Meeting this quirky pinoy at DROP (Who said cigarettes can't bring people closer?)


I know things could've been worse but what i did not appreciate were the ff:
1. Missing our flight back to Manila and since there was no Cebu Pacific office at the airport, we had to go back to Tsim Sha Tsui. When we got there, they do not accept credit cards, so we had to look for a machine and a money changer and finally get a new ticket.
2. The mystery meat that was revealed in the free soup we got from our "black peppered beef".
3. The mediocre meal we had from this steak house at IFC.
4. There's so much acid in my system, I've been shying away from it and drinking beer instead.

Yun lang talaga. Thank you so much DJ Denz, Ted and DJ Mike for making our stay enjoyable. Will see you beery beery soon.

Alive and Wagging at 15!!!

I've been wanting to move out of our condo so I can raise and have a dog again. Like most filipino-chinese families who claim to be canine lovers, every mom has had some hairy toy dog like a shih-tzu or lhasa apso. I had my first toy dog for my 8th birthday. It was a beautiful white Pekingese named Celtic. His dad and grandad were champs, so he came with papers. Papers said Celtic so we stuck by it. My family had a problem saying those two syllables so Cel-tic eventually became "Tic-tic". Then, Auntie Lily just assumed that it was "di di" (弟弟) which means little brother so that worked too.

Well Celtic got really sick after 7 years and mom had him put to sleep forever. I was so busy with my workshop that summer that it took me a few days to realize what mom did. And since I was super busy with my concerns as a teenager, I forgave her (mom), even before she apologized. We could tell that Celtic was in serious pain, it was just really hard for me since he looked exquisite on the latter days of his life. And I refused to take in another pet after that.

Fast forward, my ninang's brother from HK was migrating with his entire family to Australia. Him and his family passed through Manila on the way and was able to sneak "B 仔" (pronounced as B Zai in cantonese) in the ship.

I didn't like him at first. It was a 3 year old mongrel. Physically, it looked like a stuffed toy from Blue Magic. But it was a happy dog. He minded his own business and barked occasionally when necessary. But I refused to allow him be Celtic's replacement. (First pet never dies...)

Well, we loved him alright. He kinda potty-trained himself and would open the door with his snout and bark for us to open the door. He was safe to children and we groomed his hair short so he's low maintenance. What more could a pet owner ask for? My dad liked it so much, it slept with him.

"Sao" is cantonese for hands. So mom trained him to give her his paw when he hears "sao sao". Of course yaya thinks it could also mean ..."saw saw suka, mahuli taya...". Who knew dogs could be bilingual?

Well, when dad died in 2005, mom moved to a condominium that didn't allow pets. So we sent "B 仔" off to my ninang's house to be taken care of.

I was amazed to see him alive and wagging! He's around 15 years old now, human years, could barely see but I call him a certain way and it responded like how it used to! I was sooooo happy to see my second pet, if only it could talk, I'd be in deep trouble. Alas! He was neutered in HK, which is probably why his appetite and bowel movement is normal still, but he moans and groans alot. So what to do?

Mom said it could be in alot of pain. But no, he has no reason to go to sleep now. So, picture picture nalang muna kami. =)

The word "仔" (zai), is used to refer to a kid. Now, we no longer call him "B 仔", instead we call him "B伯" (B Ba), like how we would refer to an uncle. So "B伯" is alive and wagging at 15, enjoying his very own electric fan, and is sometimes annoyed by 2 chow dogs who think they're the same age.