Josh's Graduation Beach Party

It's a beautiful Saturday. Shortly after our door to door service in the morning, brothers and sisters of South Daytona Congregation went to this public beach park to celebrate our brother Josh McCann's graduation. of course lots of foods, drinks and friends came. Tana made the tables and they were pretty. Therisa helped and others in the congregation. Here are some photos i took...i regret that i didn't take pictures of the food. Guess i'm afraid that i may be left out.(LoL!) Enjoy...

The Underdog Unleashed.....(Orlando Magic's victory over Cavaliers)

They deserved it. The hard work, the beat ups, the play, the controversies, the undermining, the disrespect,the bd calls,the team effort, the focus. I guess that's all the Magic players have in mind and helped them motivated to fight to win the Eastern Conference Series. Honestly, when the Cavs won game 5, some speculations(including me) thought that because of the bogus happens in NBA, the Cavs might win it in game 7. But as we hold our breath in game 6, Magic unleashed their best effort and beautifully triumphed over the Cavaliers 103-90. Me and my husband Steve are quite surprised with LeBron not driving to the basket that much and get the fouls he needed. Probably because they changed their gameplan. They might have thought that LeBron might get hurt doing that because Magic might as well give him a hard foul or just let him fall on his own and hurt himself. Then we also noticed that their big men Varejao, Ilgauskas and Wallace are not tying around Dwight that much anymore because they will be fouled-out and Dwight makes the free throw anyways. So either of the two, their gameplan won't work! I'd say, the cause of Cavs loss is bad coaching plus the fact that the men around LeBron is not competitive enough against Magic. I'd say that game 6 with the Cavs is one of Magic's best. Finally! I have not been satisfied with Magic's play since game 1 with them even though they are ahead. One of the best they had was the game 7 against Celtics. Finally, Hedo Turkoglou's got help from parents to take care of the baby. Finally, Mickael Pietrus back in shape. Finally, Dwight Howard's making it in free-throw line. Finally, no bad calls! It's almost like a miracle watching the game without bad calls from referees(LoL!). Of course Mo Williams is disappointed saying LeBron should get a foul when Magic touches him. But hey, the king hardly gets to the rim that much, which is actually a surprise. He's moving the ball around trying to make his team help and contribute. I don't know it could be either Mike Brown's plan to move the ball around and let the whole team work or is it LeBron's personal decision to shun the issues that it's one-man show. But they said that LeBron does what the coach told him to do so. So, it's more likely Brown's gameplan after all. Or was it LeBron just don't want to get all the blame if ever they lost? Whatever the case is...it's over. It's just bad that Lebron just left, didn't even shake hands and congratulate the Magic. Went straight ahead to the bus and left. Leaving the media behind. It's hard on him.It's full of emotions on his part. But it's not good for him not to show sportsmanship. I'd say he doesn't deserved it. He's one heck of a player. He did everything....he's just not in a good place.
Oh well...i hope this is enough of the controversies. Let's do it professionally okay? So where's the NIKE puppet commercial after Magic won? Where's the VITAMIN WATER ad? Can NIKE replace the puppet? Or just add Dwight between Kobe and LeBron wearing the Superman cape?(LoL!)
Now with the Lakers....i wonder if it's gonna be a different story.

NBA: Where Bogus Happens?

That's what my friend Joma calls it to replace the NBA's one-liner ad, "where amazing happens". Maybe most of you are tired of reading about NBA play-offs and all that AMAZINGLY BOGUS happening inside it. The Kobe-LeBron dream match up has been a pressure for the NBA, fans and even sponsors. But what's disappointing is, they will go so far as to make "bad" calls on teams they don't want to be in the Finals. It's pitiful to see that over 20,000 people in Quicken Loans Arena(Cleveland) plus the millions of people watching at their homes around the world, how Mo Williams hit the ball to Dwight Howard's back and the 3 referees didn't saw it and should have call it technical foul! It's so frustrating that everytime LeBron drives the ball (in a purpose of getting a foul) is not called for offensive foul. But Dwight or any of the Magic team's slight touch to LBJ is called "foul". The term "flagrant" has become popular if you "intend" to hurt someone. I dunno what's the difference when Anthony Johnson's elbow hit Mo Williams's face in the act of shooting and call it "flagrant". And when LeBron's elbow hit Mikael Pietrus face and just call it a "personal foul"? Oh i know the difference....Anthony Johnson is not LeBron James, period. So he doesn't deserved a "hollywood" treatment like LeBron. And what can you say about they call Technical foul for Dwight for being "happy" that he made a shot and call it "taunting"? So what about other players who made good shot and they were just excited? LeBron does that a lot, Kobe does it too, even Michael Jordan and almost everybody. I like it when Stan Van Gundy said, that he thinks there is more problem being excited when you make a good shot than Varejao's arms around Dwight Howard's neck. Isn't that annoyingly funny? You'd really lose respect for these referees and the inconsistencies of NBA. Those flagrant, technical fouls and suspensions...that doesn't apply to all. It is biased. They have favoritism, as bright as the morning sun. And this is what kids of our generation will see? Is this sports at all? They should realize that kids look up to these players as inspiration and the NBA is not giving them a good example. I feel sorry for LeBron. He's a great player, no question. He is awesome. But it's such a waste seeing him making huge scores and working his butt out to win the game. And yet, they still lose because he can't get enough help from his team. But in fairness to Cavaliers, Delonte West did a good job and so is Mo Williams. It's just that they can't match up with Magic. They were confused on how to do their game plan. Their game plan is, to stop Dwight to dunk on the ring. They'd rather foul him and see him go to the free throw line thinking that he won't make it. But to their disappointment, Dwight's doing good in free-throw line. Making almost 70% of his shots. So, cavs got the foul and magic got the score. And even when they guard Dwight inside the paint, or even guarding Hedo Turkuglou and Rashard Lewis won't do any good either because they will just leave Rafer Alston or Mikael Pietrus open and make 3 point shots. Even Mo Williams said they keep on rotating and probably confused on who they will guard. And LeBron even admits that he wants to "clone" himself because he can't do it alone.
I feel bad for him. He's the MVP of the year and he doesn't have the right people around him, and no championship ring yet. He's doing his best, hurting himself, working his butt out, making 40 plus points each game but still can't win it.
Magic is just one game away to make it to the finals. I'm a Magic fan. And even though they won 3 (should have been a sweep if not for that miracle shot) i'd say that since game 1 with the Cavs, Magic is not at their best yet. Specially Hedo. Though he did good in game 2 that should have brought Magic to win. He's not in his best shape. Probably of tiredness. They have been playing non-stop. Plus he's got a newborn daughter and he even said they need help to keep the baby from crying at night. I hope he will be at his best in game 5 tonight. Because he's not been like that during the regular series. Oh well, i just hope NBA will have a "revamp" regarding officials. They are really disappointing. Yeah i know it's all because of making money. They want the Kobe-LeBron match because it means more money on their pockets. It's all GREED. It's not about sports anymore, it's about the MONEY. So desperate...
I stole some pics from the official website of Orlando Magic. And these are from Game 4. Thought you'd might enjoy it....

Point and Shoot

My friend May in Sydney has been encouraging me to join Photographer's club or groups and even join some contests. I said, I got no dslr yet. All i got is a regular digicam that all you have to do is "point and shoot". And i really have sooo many ideas but i am so limited. But when I was in college, photography is my most favorite subject (i took fine-arts). But back then, we are using the manual stuff. Which is more of a "you have freedom" so to speak. You can adjust the settings and control pretty much everything, except that you can't see the outcome until you develop it. Which the digi-SLR has great advantage. So, here are some of the "point and shoot" i did yesterday...I guess i have to save money and buy me the real dslr soon. I hope i can get a good deal.;O) I also post here the first produce of my vegetable garden. My patio tomato, cherry tomato and jalapeno. My okra and green and red bell pepper and lettuce are not quite ready yet. Enjoy!

Force of Nature

This ia an old post in my Friendster Blog account and I thought of posting it here. It is regarding our Circuit Overseer's Talk. We are truly blessed that we are provided the spiritual food for the right time. Totally enriching and serves as reminders for all of us specially in these "last days". One of his talks include how to use our tongue wisely. That the tongue, though very small and can barely see because it is hidden inside our mouth, can be very dangerous and fatal. It can even burn the whole forest, so to speak. Using beneficial advices from the scriptures, he addressed on how we, christians should avoid speaking hurtful words towards others. For us not to be hurt in return. That we should be careful and wise in choosing the words to say to our fellow man. Though it's not that easy because we are only human. And as humans, we tend to err. I myself is not exempted, everyone does. There are times that due to so much pressure and stress, you say the words that later you regret. Unintentionally hurting the ones we love. So, that talk really helps. Then another talk is about "how do we know if we qualify to the new system of God?" There he says of we should not question the other people's standing before God, but instead we should focus on ourselves on how we can qualify under God's kingdom. We should not judge others for us not to be judged. Examine the motive of our hearts.
It is truly an eye-opener for all. Because sad to say, people tend to look and criticize others rather than look at ourselves.
It's just sad when people try to put you down and has very bad motives for you. When you are in every good intentions for them. And the ironic thing is, what they wished for you, happens to them in return. Well, that's what i call "force of nature". And you cannot simply control it. It's a simple thing as what Brandon Boyd puts it, "Circles", what goes around, comes around, everything moves in circles...to know that it will come back around again...you only get what you give. I personally and totally believe in it. That whatever you show and give, it will surely comes back to you. That's why i try and do my best to show, give, and feel positive in everything i do and say. So that i will get positive results in return. It's not easy because we are only human. But it's possible and we can...because i have proven it myself.

The Holocaust Experience

Last week, My husband Steve, Chris and a friend Justin packed our things and made a roadtrip to Alexandria, Virginia. It was about 14 hours of drive, including stops/rest. And gotta let you know, i drove about a 100 miles from Brunswick, Georgia to i don't know where, ha! Steve let me drive the I-95 since it's just a long straight highway. And it's funny because I was the one who got the most difficult part of the journey. It was raining, the roads are under construction and so i had to stay on the lane all the way through until i got tired. Steve was so scared that he wants to cry while I'm driving. And I said, "yeah, I feel like I want to throw up!". Anyways, here's the mission of the trip...we are getting Steve's Honda Shadow Aero which he bought thru ebay. To my surprise, the owner of the bike is Asian. His name is Mike and he's chinese though he said he grew up in Mauritius. His family is nice and friendly and they got this overweight friendly maltese named Lucky. Anyways, let's go to the holocaust thing. Since Alexandria(pretty little town) is just 10 miles away from Washington DC, we thought that it's best that we go there and see the sights. We took the metro because they told us it's the best way to do it since the traffic is horrible there and it's hard to park. For me, i like it because that's what I am used to back in Manila. I actually missed riding the metro and buses, the jeepneys. All those public transportations and get to see and meet different kinds of people from all walks of life. And so i enjoyed it. We went to see the Capitol building, Obama's office. The Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial,Natural History Museum(which they said it was the one in the movie Night at the Museum)...Smithsonian Palace and of course, the United States Holocaust Museum. We only had two days there and it's not enough. The one day alone, we spent it just for the holocaust museum. Well, we all know what happened during the holocaust. That's when Hitler persecuted millions of Jews, Romas(gypsies) and of course, my fellow brothers and sisters, Jehovah's Witnesses. It's amazing how one man can do this evil thing? Well, it's not surprising but still, you cannot imagine how a man could be so angry with people who doesn't agree with his beliefs and ideals. He's got reasons of course, whether it's good or bad, but it just struck me big time to see how these people were tortured...just for being a Jew..just for standing firm for their faith(which the Witnesses are) and not joining the military. As`we were watching a couple of film showings they had, and looking at the pictures, things they recovered from the concentration camps, how they were being punished and tortured, how they were killed, I am holding my breath and just keep on sighing on things i see. But what really gets me and i can't help it anymore and tears roll down my eyes is when i see a "pool of shoes" from those who died during the holocaust. I can't help it....as if i can see them wearing those shoes! And what's more is their "hairlorns". Their hair was shaved or cut before they were either beheaded or put to firing squad or gas chamber. The Gestapos collected all these and some of them they even sell those hairs and made bags and accessories out of these victims hair. What a terrible thing and it really breaks my heart. It's like travelling back in time. But there's one thing that delights us. Out of all the things they recovered from the concentration camps, there's only one Bible they got. And it was owned by a Jehovah's Witness. It puts a smile on our face knowing that it really proves that Witnesses are spiritually-minded people. That even in times of persecution, the consciousness for spiritual need is always there. Because that's what Witnesses hoped for...the Kingdom of God that will soon rule the earth under Christ. That soon, all these human government will put to an end. All the sufferings, pain, prejudice, sickness, death will be no more. And how refreshing it is to know that soon, these faithful ones who died during the holocaust will be resurrected. And that's what matters most. The Witnesses died for standing up for their faith to Jehovah. The One who will give them the "real life"...an everlasting one in perfect condition. That no human government can give. Not even Hitler. Here's some photos of the Kusserow family, Helene Gotthold(witnesses persecuted and died during the holocaust). One photo is with the woman who survived the holocaust. And some of the sights in Washington DC...enjoy!