SVH

I came across the word Palisades just now (from people.com) and memories of my teenage years flash back. Palisades High was one of the school features in the Sweet Valley High pocketbook series.

If you were born in the '80s, that makes you a teen by the '90s, you surely did not miss reading at least one Sweet Valley High pocketbook. Who does not know Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield? And Todd and Ken, their high school sweethearts? Or Lila Fowler, the rich bestfriend/close competition of Jessica when it comes to boys? One simply identifies with either or both the twins.

Elizabeth was always described as the tamer twin. She was a classic blonde and did well in school, writing in the school paper etc. Jessica on the other hand was more into cheerleading than studies. She loves clothes and boys.

I remember that the books come in three, with Part 1, 2 & 3 forming one story. There were also the Special Editions like Elizabeth's and Jessica's Diaries among others. And then it became a TV series due to popularity. I think that was the time the cover of SVH had pictures of real people in place of colored sketches. And the Daniel's twins become the Wakefield twins themselves (I find them fitting for the role, they are equally beautiful and blonde). There were other versions of SVH, the Sweet Valley University, Sweet Valley Jr, the Unicorn Club to name some.

We had quite a collection and I would like to think we had at least half of the total published. We arranged them by number to make it easy to search for the next part. I was still studying in the province at that time and there was always eagerness and excitement when I knew my sisters would come home for their school break in Manila (where they were taking their secondary education) and I was sure they would be bringing new SVH books with them.

Some of my favorite stories was when Jessica dated someone from Palisade who later died from a gang fight (or was it a car crash?). That was when the emotional side of Jessica showed that she is not just your typical blonde cheerleader. I also liked it when they had their high school prom (oh, I wish I had one!) and the time when Elizabeth and Jessica went abroad for internship and dated royalties.

I am not sure when I stop reading pocketbooks- was it Francine Pascal did less follow ups on the lives of the Wakefield twins or did it end when my young heart found something else to take interest in?

Images from www.soundtrackcollector.com and www.thehiddenbookcase.com

The Age-Old Question...

Why is it that when you have so much of one thing, you ignore it? And when it is gone, you want it so bad? To rephrase, why do humans want what they do not have?

I ask the question because I was surprised to have eaten ten mini chocolates today plus some M&Ms.

Just to give a brief background, an officemate of mine recently won a trip for three to NYC. As a coming home present to our team, she bought a variety pack of Mars mini chocolates (Snickers, Milky Way, Twix, and 3 Musketeers)and an XXL bag of M&Ms dark chocolate candies. I had some. And then some more.

To tell the truth, my sisters and I are very picky with food. And desserts are not an exception. We prefer the more popular brands -also because they have better quality. Since we have tried some of the best ones within our reach, our standards are upped. Hershey's Kisses which we rarely had when we were younger are now something ignored. We also used to love donuts (specifically, choco butternut) but because there are more options now and for health reasons, we do not even dare have a bite of this sinful delight.

Going back, if those chocolates were at home, it would not be moved from it's place in the fridge until before they expire and maybe even when they have gone bad already which is when we throw them away.

Why the difference in behavior? (Psychologists, please help!)

See our fridge?

What a collection! (I am sure you have yours too!)

I predict my sister plans on making homemade icecream this weekend.(Proof:the ice cream maker ready for action!)

I am never going hungry.

By the way, those cold treats were something my sisters insisted on buying and which I also wanted to buy. And now, after a month or two, they still have not been fully consumed. Those chocolates would soon be one year tenants inside our chiller.

We have better kinds of chocolates at home which we barely touch. How is it that I ate ten at the office today? Surely not because of stress.

I hope you do not think I am a shallow person coming up with this long entry just because of food. The question definitely applies to life in general. I do not wish to elaborate. You can do it on your own.

And so, I come up with an answer to my own question. Why is it that when you have so much of one thing, you ignore it? And when it is gone, you want it so bad?? Why do men want what they do not have?

I believe everybody is guilty of not living the moment because we are either too busy dwelling with what cannot be undone or planning for the future. When the "present" is gone, that is when we realize what we lost and then we want it back. Same with people. I am sure there is a long list of people with whom you want to spend some time, if only for one more day, or hour.

Going back with the chocolates, the more probable reason is with the human nature that men are hard to satisfy. We cannot be content with what we have and so wish for something more and something we see in other people (jealousy, envy). We want security, security that we have something at home which we can have when we want it and how we want it.

I hope I made sense.

A Piece of Cake

It is not just a piece of cake. It is a piece of CHOCOLATE cake.

I have always been fond of chocolates- in any shape, size, or color. Over the years, I have acquired a more defined taste. I like some chocolates, others I do not. Whether it be in any form-tablea for my oatmeal (aka champorado), chocolate bars, in cookies, as an ice cream flavor, topping, cakes- as long as it is good chocolate, I will have it. There are times though when I have had too much and need to rest my taste buds. But chocolate is as certain in my life as breath and blood are. And at the end of the day, it is still chocolate I love.

Today, the last slice of cake from my youngest sister's debut has been eaten. I love the cake because it is moist and the icing is made of meringue (the same kind I had for my 18th birthday and which I single handedly consumed). After two weeks of having one slice of cake for dessert every night, reality has sinked in that tomorrow there will be none for dessert. How boring that will be!

It is funny I was thinking a while back that I have two options

(1) Wait for another occasion and request for the cake to be made of chocolate so that we will have some in the fridge after the party.
(2) Buy one even without any occasion just to have something to satisfy my craving.

You may ask why not buy the usual cake from the bakeshop. Well, simply because I like the meringue instead of the more commonly used butter icing, and cakes with meringues are rare. Besides, I think the cake is better and less commercialized when you order it ahead instead of the ready made ones.

How will I have my chocolate tomorrow? We will see then...

Look What I Found

These are the one of the hottest accessories to date. Long necklaces. A gold and silver one in my closet are perfect to pair with any outfit and glam up on the look.

One of the Things I Learned...

Is to speak up.

Stay humble always but never take the blame for something you did not do. I have been a quiet person since I can remember but that should not hinder me from speaking up in times I should be defending myself.

There are always people pointing fingers at you. It is really okay to admit you have done wrong but to take responsibility for an offense you did not commit is just not right because it is contrary to what you know for yourself.

In the past, in instances where people say I did this or that, I have always kept my mouth shut for some reasons such as I do not want to argue anymore, God knows who did it, or I do not care what people say. Thus, becoming a martyr.

At work recently, one of the things one of my team leaders have taught me is to communicate. Because if you keep quiet, no one is going to speak up for you other than you youself. So speak up for people to understand you and not think bad about you and assume you are the criminal. Becoming a martyr does not get you anywhere. Assess the situation, and if you know you are right, speak up! Because it is so wrong not to.

Image from http://www.ffitz.com/ff/main/graphic2/no_evil.jpg

He's Just not that into You

I can not wait to watch this in the big screen. Produced by Flower Films and starring Drew Barrymore, my ultimate idol, there's more reason to watch the movie because of its power cast which includes Jennifer Aniston, Scarlett Johannson, Jennifer Connelly, Ben Affleck and more.

The movie is based on the best seller self-help book of the same title and is out in theaters in 2009. Shooting already began on September 10. The story, by the way, is inspired by an episode of the popular Sex and the City series "Pick-A-Little, Talk-A-Little".

*Flower Films is Drew's own production outfit which produced Never Been Kissed, Charlie's Angels, 50 First Dates, and other Drew Barrymore movies.

Related link and images from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/He's_Just_Not_That_Into_You http://www.people.com/people/gallery/0,,20056263_6,00.html and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/He%27s_Just_Not_That_Into_You_%28film%29

What's on Your TV? (part 1)

One of the greatest inventions of all time is the television. How many households do not have one? They may not have a telephone, refrigator, and a personal computer (mobile phone, maybe yes!) but TV, definitely a must. In fact, one of the first things an overseas worker buy with his money is a TV, a big big one or a flat screen even to boast of his new lifestyle. I love TV myself and even if there are no watchable shows on air, I have a compulsive habit of switching from one channel to the other. Just a trivia I read somewhere but am unable to cite the source because I forgot where I read it, that in US alone, the number of television sets outnumber the population 1.5:1.

So with this and because we are TV-loving creatures, I am going to list down some of my favorite shows. The more popular ones, I will exclude from this list because they are obviously on everybody else's "favorite TV shows" list. Who does not recognize and watch the highly creative and well-plotted primetime shows (courtesy of cable channels) Lost, Grey's Anatomy, 24, Alias, Heroes, CSI, Sex and the City, Desperate Housewives, Nip Tuck, Smallville, American Idol, and Friends to name some.

I have been wanting to write this entry down for quite some time now. Here is MY list of current favorites shows (TV personalities included):

TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO AND LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O' BRIEN. I love the wit of these two comedians more than that of David Letterman or Jon Stewart. Although late night talk shows have very similar formats, these two guys deliver their lines so well it is as if they know what your funny bones are. Their monologues and stand up jokes at the start of the show are hilarious and the different segments are very entertaining. Interviews with celebrity guest stars are also excellent.

Special mention is "The Max Weinberg 7" from Conan. Max the drummer and Conan click when the poke fun at each other. One time Max was made to wear diapers. Hehe. And considering his age, you do not want him to repeat that stint again. Conan's wiggly hair and funny face add to the comedy.

By the way, Jay collects cars and Conan will be taking over Jay's show in 2009 when the latter retires. Jimmy Fallon will succeed Conan on his show.

Related link and images from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tonight_Show_with_Jay_Leno http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Late_Night_with_Conan_O'Brien