The Lost Symbol

Finally I've finished The Lost Symbol (TLS) by Dan Brown late last night. (Thanks to Julie for the book.) I often say that if you've ever read one or two books of Brown, you have read each of his books. You are just waiting for the catch. And you probably know what the catch is even before you reach the middle of the story. The clues in TLS book did not come right away but still, you can already predict long before or somewhere near the climax of the story.

I enjoyed The Da Vinci Code (the book, not the movie) but after that, everything else I read from his books is just too Dan Brown. Predictable. Formulaic. Too contrived. Add more synonymous words or phrases here.

As for TLS, it was a roller coaster ride for me. At some point I was bored, I got excited on a few. A lot of situations are just too forced. Some conversations to emphasize I-don't-know-what-point are just too long. They can actually be deleted. One example I can't believe Brown even included here is how Katherine, the Noetic scientist, was able to weigh the human soul. Geezaz. Right. The way it was delivered here was really mediocre.

The build up on the national crisis fell short. In these days when scandals of high profile celebrities and "important" people can be categorized as common, who else gets shocked in a magnitude that will stun the world as described in the book.

This Dan Brown book is actually a soap opera, a high tech soap opera. The climax was good. The mother in me was touched. That twist satisfied me though I already guessed what it could be while nearing that part of the story. I excitedly read on to see if my theory was right. I felt victorious, lol.

I cannot find any reason why such a respected, intelligent Harvard professor can be duped twice. One, a phone call from a supposed assistant of his mentor. Second, a police woman in a hurry informing him about the state of his friend. The situations are just too obvious not to be in doubt.

I cannot find any reason also why after such a heartbreaking revelation about Langdon's friend's son was suddenly set aside by everyone to talk about "the lost symbol". Recovery from the revelation was so easy, huh. I thought it will end there but there are still a few pages left.

I was waiting for this book to end. I was really interested with their conversation about the power of one's mind - what your mind can perceive, your body can achieve. But heck, it's just too long. I will gladly read The Secret again.

One engrossing part for me is how Washington D.C. and the Capitol building were described. Looking out for all those symbols and signs would be very fun.

I still praise the research mixed with fiction on how the dots connected but there were so many scenes are like a repetition of the previous scenes. Doubts, surprised reactions, being convinced...and the cycle goes on.

There are no new developments in this book. What could have been a great plot that should have been explored, exploited further is about Mal'akh. That could have been more interesting.

Basic Customer Service Goes A Long Way

I must say if there is one thing that Typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng taught me, it's to be more consciously appreciative of what I have, most especially my relationships with my loved ones and with the people I encounter daily, strangers or not. Be more patient. Know what really matters. These are the things I have developed through the years but now more than ever, I have learned to be consistent in demonstrating them when the situation calls for it.

This attitude manifests even on the simplest, most trivial things. Like my internet connection. My connection for two days now have been intermittent again. Yes, intermittent again. This was the scenario for three weeks last September up to the
first 3 days of October. I almost jumped for joy when it finally stabilized. But barely two weeks the connection is crappy again. The complaint period was longer than the good service I was having. I am paying for this service and being a loyal customer, I deserve a 100% functional DSL at any given time.

I admit the intermittent issue got the better of me for an hour or so. I attributed it to my PMS but right away I felt sorry I was not able to get hold of my temper. There were other productive things to do on a Saturday afternoon than worry myself over an internet connection.

I made an action plan about this, moved on and did not bother myself about the connection. It also helps that the customer service of Bayantel DSL is generally respectful especially the one I've talked to today. I regret I was not able to get his name. His customer service is ideal and worthy of emulation by his peers. Of all the customer tech support reps, he was the most logical I've talked to.

I know that he is protecting their brand, careful of what he was saying but I know too he sincerely empathized with me as a disgruntled, frustrated customer. He did not answer me with scripted, generic phrases. This is his job and he's doing it great. Let me applaud him for that. I will get his name later so I can commend him when I send an email to their department.

I have talked about the intermittent connection of Bayantel DSL twice or thrice in this blog. Let me just say also that the reason why I haven't left Bayantel DSL yet after all the complaints is that there are people who listens from the other end. A few are knowledgeable, some are just okay, tolerable. I just don't know why their technicians cannot pinpoint the cause of the problem. In any case, Bayantel DSL's recurring intermittent connection will be the reason why I will change ISPs, but pray tell, what is a better choice? PLDT DSL so my neighbor said. We'll see if I will get convinced in the next weeks to come.

Good interaction is vital in any transaction no matter how small it is. Simple things mean a lot. These simple things I get to appreciate now more than ever. It does not mean I will be passive about the whole thing but customer service can buy time in some cases. A simple act of sincere customer service goes a long way for me.

First Stop: Bookstore

Almost always our first stop when we go to the mall is the bookstore. Both me and my daughter are book lovers. But my daughter can beat me to finish a new book. One time she was able to read a 300 page book in one day. I often think her books are one of her motivations to finish her school work so she can continue reading them.

She has passed the stage of Dr. Seuss and Roald Dahl but these books she treasures. She loves Amelia, Madison Finn, Candy Apple, Meg Cabbot, mostly books created for middle school children. I know when she gets to be a little older she will appreciate one of my favorite books of all time - J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye.

There are times it gets her a while to choose a book. She looks on practically each book on the shelf, pull out what she likes and starts browsing on the pages. If she reads faster than I do, she takes longer than I do in choosing a book.


Look, look and look some more.


Finally she got one, sits her herself comfortably on the floor and prepares to read a few pages before she decides if she's having it.


She couldn't wait till we get home to start reading some more.


***Read more sharing at Mommy Journey.

Blog Action Day 2009: Climate Change

We have been experiencing erratic weather patterns for several years now. We find ourselves in the middle of strong rains during summer months. In other cases the day is unevenly divided to wet or damp and scorching hot. Oftentimes we travel on the road experiencing two different weathers in areas just adjacent to each other. We are saying the weather sequences were not like they used to be.

"The weather is so weird!" Like most people, that's my favorite expression for this crazy weather pattern. I blurt out, almost nonchalantly, this is the effect of global warming or climate change. That's it and then I go about the normal daily business as if nothing else matters.

Until recent events made me realize the impact of climate change. Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) submerged 80% of Metro Manila underwater as well some parts of neighboring provinces. A week after, Typhoon Pepeng (Parma) ravaged Northern Luzon. Huge amount of money, unwavering faith and courage, continuous moral support are necessary in the rebuilding of lives and properties.

Nowadays, the slightest rain and cloudiness alarm people. Facebook statuses are about the latest weather update as well as the latest weather related worries. People are afraid. I know some people who cannot have a good sleep when it rains incessantly during the night.

A tragedy made us realize how nasty the effects of climate change is. Manifestations such as strong rains which we have not experienced ever in our lives surprised us with devastating flood waters. Water world. What is next?

True, both the people and the government have their own major shortcomings before, during and after Ondoy and Pepeng. Climate change was not a priority in the government's agenda so it seems. Disaster preparedness was zero. Nobody had seen it coming. Did we, us people, take time to think and actually do our part to protect Mother Earth from global warming?

Now you can hear about climate change discussions from almost every group of people. The government is passing the Climate Change Act of 2009 and will create a Climate Change Commission.

As a citizen of Planet Earth, what can I do?

I will understand the platforms of all the presidential candidates and they must include concrete action plans on climate change and environment protection. Urban planning for one needs to get the government's serious study, recommendation and implementation. This includes strict laws and protocols on waste management system.

Save electricity. I have a habit of turning the television on even if I am doing another thing. Let me break that habit. Continue using energy saving lights.

Reduce, reuse, recycle. Also, I will regularly use cloth bags whenever we do our groceries.

Make the shortest route possible, schedule logistics of errands to save on gas. Take the train whenever possible.

Little things like what I have mentioned can make a big difference if religiously implemented. Sharing during home owners' association meetings and office meetings are ways to encourage others to do the same thing. There are a lot we can learn through sharing.

My daughter is already aware of global warming and climate change as they are being discussed in school. What better way to reinforce her awareness but let her be involved in the things we do to protect our Mother Earth. This is her future after all.

***Read more about climate change from bloggers from all over the world at Blog Action Day 2009.

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On a More Optimistic Note.....

A link from Time's Tweeter caught my attention, Overrated Optimism: The Perils of Positive Thinking. Intrigued, I clicked on the link and read on. On my mind was what can be the perils?

I know that positivity resulting to complacency is one. It can be detrimental if all one does is sit all day, do nothing but just give oneself sweet talk that good fortune will come like magic. That will cause agitation at least for me.

The article as I understand it commented on certain groups of people and even organizations whose reading of positivism became more of wishful thinking to the point of sugar coating words thinking of this as motivation and optimism.

What comes to mind are the two leaders I encountered in my corporate life.

Mr. Action Man simply inspires the organization, from the lowest level up to the top management. He kept the flame, which was already quickly fading, so alive for the people once again.

We can attribute his charisma to sheer sincerity of his intentions. He is a man for others and truly an action man. He was very sensible and charismatic without being big on words. His words are not rehearsed but always with so much wisdom. His very presence vibrate positivity.

The work environment suddenly turned from tired and worried to one that is dynamic, positive and harmonious. True enough, our organization turned around barely six months after he assumed CEO position. The company made its profit after years of being in the red.

Then the torched was passed on to another leader. I commend her attitude for trying to reach out to everyone in the organization. I just don't know why her sincerity cannot be felt. She is good in delivering speeches, in making presentations but none of these were able to ignite the passion the organization once had. Even the middle managers do not feel any vibrancy on her leadership.

A leader cannot just be full of positivism and words to live by but lacking concrete and effective directions. The people will readily perceive false optimism.

Mr. Action Man managed to put actions into his words. He gets things done without much ado. He is very positive that the action plans will work and he, together with the whole organization, worked hard to make them real.

I can see where the article is coming from.

True, there were a lot of factors why the organization went back to being in the red. This is not to say it was just about the change in leadership. For one, the employees across all ranks and departments have their roles to play. The economy, the competition were the biggest hurdles (but that's why there are CEOs and executive committee).

But regardless of all these, an honest to goodness positive attitude and management are still possible as we have already proven.

"Stuff happens" as mentioned in the Time article but positivity cannot be discounted. Sobriety, when called for, should not harm our passion. Keep faith and optimism alive. Stuff happens and you start to be negative about everything, you're doomed. I still choose positivity. What else is there in the first place?

That's the point I want to deliver when it comes to creating and implementing positivity in our lives, professionally and personally. Positivity is bringing out the best in a situation, implementing actions with conviction with an unwavering faith and belief to what God can do in helping us achieve our goals.

One thing that did not sit well with me in this Time article was the way life coaches like Joel Osteen and Tony Robbins were regarded. These people live what they preach and they are not out there just to sweet talk the people. I did not mean to say the article implied something like that. But it felt like it downgraded how powerful and real life coaches like them are able to share to the people who listen and reflect.

"Optimism was not only patriotic, it was a Christian virtue, or so we learned from the proliferating preachers of the "prosperity gospel," whose God wants to "prosper" you. In 2006, the runaway bestseller The Secret promised that you could have anything you wanted, anything at all, simply by using your mental powers to "attract" it. The poor listened to upbeat preachers like Joel Osteen and took out subprime mortgages. The rich paid for seminars led by motivational speakers like Tony Robbins and repackaged those mortgages into securities sold around the world." *Overrated Optimism

I do believe that God wants to prosper us. God is good all the time. I will let this post end with this question again, tell me, what better else is there to believe? I will always choose positivity and being optimistic the way I stated it two paragraphs above. They are still more practical choices if I may say that.

Sport: Swimming

Swimming is said to be one of the best workouts we can do everyday as it involves movement of the whole body. I'm happy to note that this is one activity my husband and my daughter love to do. My daughter will also agree with me that it is one sport that gives so much fun. It can be a competitive sport or it can simply be a favorite recreation of the family. I can't swim alright but I can float and I can walk through the waters provided it's not beyond five feet, ha!

This is one of the reasons why I was so keen on enrolling my daughter in a swimming class. I want her to be a good swimmer and enjoy the waters as much as she can. She started at four years old and had been loving the waters since then. Last March, they had a preview of their swimming class for their Physical Education (P.E.) for this school year. Needless to say she had fun in the water with her classmates. Their P.E. on the last semester will be spent on the pool. Imagine the excitement of the kids.


Swim, baby, swim!

Can this pass as water ballet?

Fun in the water

Water baby
***See more pictures with sports as theme at Photo Hunt.

Music and Me...and My Daughter

"Only know wherever I go, we're as close as two friends can be. There have been others but never two lovers like music, music and me." Those were two lines from Music and Me, one of the songs of the greatest performer who ever lived, Michael Jackson. I will not really be talking about him but my daughter's love for music.

Love for music runs in the family. My in-laws and my father listen to a lot of Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams, Engelbert Humperdinck and Elvis Presley. My mother is more upbeat. She loves The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Everly Brothers and the like.

Definitely my love for music and my husband's were influenced by the music playing in our respective homes as children. It was music which made me first notice my husband. He was singing Doctor, Doctor by The Thompson Twins. I like that song. We used to have the same preference - pop, R&B, a little of jazz, new wave and alternative music. But my husband is inclined to classical and jazz music now. I stick to pop.

Then came our daughter. I let her listen to music even inside my tummy - classical yes, up to the time she was an infant. She learned all those toddler songs and nursery rhymes. At one year or two years, she was humming to a song frequently played on our music player - Cruisin' by Gywneth Paltrow and Huey Lewis. I remember she keeps on listening to it my ears almost bled. Haha.

As a tweener, she definitely has her own taste for music. Some I know like Miley Cyrus, The Jonas Brothers, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Paramore and my favorite too, Taylor Swift. A lot of her other favorites I don't know so I take my time to research about them like Boys Like Girls, Hey Monday, Panic at the Disco, Metro Station, Justin Bieber, etcetera.

She was really excited when we watched Metro Station's concert a few months ago and had her CD signed by the band members.


To support her love for music, we let her take up guitar lessons last year. She continuously play the guitar and tries to complete a whole song.




Watching the 3d concert of Miley also meant purchasing the CD.


One of our gifts to her during her birthday this year was a Taylor Swift CD but she's holding here what seems to be Jonas Brothers'.


What music keeps me company these days? Kanye West...no, of course not though I love his song Heartless. But I'd rather listen to the version of The Fray or Kris Allen.

Stay safe everyone. Let's pray that Pepeng weakens and will not wreak havoc anywhere.

***Read more sharing at Mommy Journey.