loryces online

Tolkien, Tolkien, and more Tolkien


Fossil watch

Before I start my post, let me indulge myself with some few calming breaths. Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out. Okay I'm ready. But wait. Notice any differences with the site? Here's a clue: look at my wishlist, the aptly titled "my preciousss" box. Kita mo na? Yep your eyes aren't deceiving you. I BOUGHT THE LOTR FOSSIL WATCH!!! I can't believe it myself!!! Aaaack!!! I'll tell you the whole story ha!! It's a bit amusing and I really want to share it with you. Okay, here it goes. Months ago, TORN posted this news about a limited Collector's edition of a LOTR Fossil watch, with just 3000 pieces in stock. Of course at that time, like many other droolicious Tolkien stuff, I know I had to pass over this collectible. All I can do is watch it disappear and despair over it. I just had to content myself in reading and re-reading it over Fossil's official site. But then I decided to research more about Fossil and their locations, especially domestic ones. There's not a lot of malls that has Fossil booths; those that are nearby anyway. I finally found one that my aunt mentioned to me in passing -- the Woodfield Mall. I committed it to memory, thinking that I could go there one day when I can bravely drive for more than 10 miles, provided of course the watch is still there. Either that or wait for a chance to go there. But since it's out of the way, I never found a chance. Anyway, this week, my uncle's cousin came here from the Philippines. My aunt toured her within Chicago's finest sights and malls. I never went with them though. Yeah, a lot of good moments to practice taking pictures; not to mention, sights to see. But I'm risking my digicam so I passed up those tours. Oops, I'm digressing. Anyway, today's her last day so they decided to grab the chance and buy more pasalubongs -- in Woodfield Mall. My aunt asked me if I wanted to come; of course, I immediately agreed. My aunt was surprised because like I told you, I never went with them during their tours. So gulat sya at biglang oo ako. As soon as we arrived at the mall, I immediately looked at the mall directory to find out where the Fossil store is. Armed with subtlety and kakapalan ng mukha, I steered our tour into finding out where it is. When we found it, I was so elated at the thought of finally looking at the LOTR watch in the flesh. Without a sideway or backward glance to the other merchandise, I began my search for the much-coveted collectible. At last, I found it!!! I badly wanted to touch and wear the watch but alas, I was too shy to ask the saleslady for assistance. I just kept on circling and circling the store and coming back to the counter where the watch was displayed. Much to my chagrin, the saleslady noticed. Hehe. So she decided to help me out and offerred that I could, indeed hold the watch. Grabe when I held it in my palms, I can literally hear the music "Alleluia, A-L-L-E-L-U-L-I-A!" playing in my head. I also showed it to my cousins and aunt. Like me, they were awed. It was my aunt who asked me if I wanted to buy it. Heck of course I want to buy it!! But it was too expensive, even for Fossil. But then she reasoned that it's a collectible and that certain watch is the last piece in the store so I should go ahead and buy it. Needless to say, I did. Or my aunt did. I just told her I'm going to pay for it back at the house (or so I thought). The rest of the trip was a blur. Really. All I could think of was the watch in my hand. I was ecstatic... exhilirated... seventh, no make that ninth heaven (pun intended -- you know, nine for the Nine Walkers). I felt I could never be happier. I was wrong.

After our shopping spree in Woodfield, we decided to go to Borders and use my cousin's gift card. Wow. Ganda ng Borders. I miss going to bookstores like this. The smell of new books, the feel, the sight... wow. Anyway my first stop was the Science Fiction genre -- and lo!! A jaw-dropping, saliva-drooling sight. Tolkien books everywhere. Even hard to find books. Different editions of the literary masterpiece. Audiobooks. Trading card games. Board games. A sight to behold definitely. I know I'm known as tending to exaggerate stories but this time, exaggeration has no room. I'm telling it as it is. I've never seen a gathering of Tolkien merchandise as big as this. Naglaway talaga ako. Remember this pic? Guys and gals, wala syang binatbat. Proof? Here it is.

Tolkien stuff


There are at least 3 more shelves dedicated to Tolkien stuff in the Borders bookstore we went to. O di ba?!

I looked at the books and decided to buy the Annotated Hobbit and People's Guide to LOTR by TORN. A bit expensive but I bought them anyway. Couldn't find any copies of the books in Waldenbooks. There are other books I wanted to buy, ie Illusrated Silmarillion, hardbound LOTR books, Tom Shippey books, etc. Argh! Torture talaga. But I didn't. I couldn't. Some other time maybe. For now, I'm contented with my treasures. Again I let my aunt charge it to her credit card and told her I'm going to pay her back later.

Later...

Ack!! She didn't let me pay for it!!!! Grabe!!! She spent a lot in treating our visitor out in malls and restaurants and now she even sort of treated me out because of the items I bought and she paid for. I can't let this happen!!! I can't!!! But I did. Sabi nya, it's because she always ask me to do things for her (read: laging nauutusan) so it's like a gift pero hellooo!! That's pretty okay with me. I mean, it's okay really for her to order me around. Yes I complain but it doesn't mean it's not ok with me. I'm a pal -- palamunin -- so I don't mind being ordered around. It's the least I can do for them. But I just said thank you and vowed silently to do all the things they asked me to do. *sigh* Hiya ako...











On a sidenote: One of the things that entered my mind after she refused my payment was "Sana bumili na rin ako ng Illustrated Silmarillion." Hehe kupal talaga.

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TTT matte paintings

Hey look at these:



Wow!!

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These days, I would often hear my aunt say this:

Problema ng iba, problema ko pa rin ba?


Syempre, I was a bit saddened by this, not to mention, guilty. Fortunately, I wasn't the only source of this. Remember my cousin who attempted suicide months ago? Well as it turned out, he's still "in love" with his former girlfriend and he wants to come here in August. My aunt doesn't want him to because she suspects that he'll do bad things, both to his ex-gf and her new beau. If not to them, to himself. His parents can't do anything about it, not even his brother. He always threatens them that if they don't permit him to come here, he'll kill himself. Sarap batukan. He doesn't seem to see how much trouble he has caused over this nonsense -- to his family, to my aunt and her family, to himself. *sigh* Anyway I know the quote wasn't really directed at me but at my cousin but still, I can't help but feel quilty. That's why I'm doing my damnedest best to help out...



...even though I hate doing chores....




...I absolutely detest it....





...sigh....


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Random Rants (just some rants I need to jot down)


Get out of my head, you stupid git!!!

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My friend u l a n put up a link in her blog -- some tips about taking better pictures. Badly needed this one. Hehe. First tip pa lang, tamang-tama na sa akin. I want to capture this... I want to capture that... Hala, ang laki ng scope ng picture but no definite subject. In other words, useless.

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Sabi nila (me included) "Don't try to hold on. If it's over, it's over. Let it go."

And now I'm holding on to something that's not entirely mine -- who am I kidding?? -- that's not mine and I doubt, will ever be. I'm holding on to things and/or people when I shouldn't be. Anubatoooo?!? Stop bugging me, you stupid git!!

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My online friend will finally touch Philippine soil after 3 months in Thailand. But I don't think I'm entirely envious of him. Half of me, yes... but the other half, I dunno. I'm scared that someday I wouldn't even dream of going back home. That's just sad. And now I am too.

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Our message archive is nearing its capacity so I decided to delete some of the messages. I came across some of these messages posted by our dear friend Janet, who passed away around February-March. I so miss her.

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Lubayan ako PWEDE!!! I hate thinking these kind of things. I want to be logical about it but in my experiences, matters of the heart are never logical. So please stop bugging me you stupid, stupid git!!

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Here's a webfind for the day. Go to Google. Type in "weapons of mass destruction" including the quotation marks. No, don't hit the Google Search button. Instead hit the "I'm feeling lucky." You should then find an interesting read.

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For the last time, GET OUT you git!




Haay....

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Your life has seemed so hard
It's been dried up angels
That can't keep guard
I'm trying to reach your hand
But I'm on fire I never planned to
Fade away, stay with me
Stop pretending when they say you're nothing
Are you sad
Are you holding yourself
You shouldn't be
Are you sad
Are you locked in your room
You shouldn't be

I'm drowning inside your head
Help me to answer help understand
But it's been so long since we talked
Like friends, please forgive me
I'm just a man whose made mistakes


-- Are You Sad?, Our Lady Peace

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I have passed my 25 mile-mark. I have reached Greenhill Country. Yeba! Now I'm on to the second leg of my journey -- 550 miles more to go. Ha! At this rate, I'll be done when the ROTK Extended DVD comes out.

BTW took some pictures of Tolkien books in a local bookstore. Haay it just kills me to look at them.

huwaw!



If things don't work out for me here, expect me to be indulgent of my vices. Daming preciousss ang mabibili at maiuuwi ko neto. Mwehehehe. I'll probably buy the Tolkien books above, Xena Season 1 DVDs, Niea_7 DVDs, a Palm Zire 71, TTT Theatrical Edition DVD and some whatnots. *rubs hands together with a slight mischievous smile*

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We had an incident in the public library this week. According to them, we still haven't returned 2 children's books. We were surprised since we know we returned them promptly. To add to that, our library privileges were revoked -- no borrowing of things whatsoever until this issue is resolved.

BTW, Websmileys is temporarily down so for smilies/emoticons, head over to MySmilies.

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How many times have you been
Pushed around
Is anybody there
Does anybody care
How many times have your friends
Let you down
Is anybody there
Did anybody stare
How many times has your faith slipped away
Is everybody high
Is everyone afraid
How many times have you wished you
Were strong
Have they ever seen your heart
Have they ever seen your pain

Life is waiting for you
It's all messed up but we're alive
Life is waiting for you
It's all messed up but we'll survive

-- Life, Spiritual Machines, Our Lady Peace



Nice noh. I think most of us can relate with the song. I'm trying to upload the mp3 to my previous Tripod account. Let's see if you'll like it. Just right-click here and save target as.

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Random clicks ahead!

Wow. A rating for your blog. Hmm now where to put this?

g
What rating is your journal?

brought to you by Quizilla


Another net find -- this one is hilarious -- Octodog's Frankfurter Converter. Hehe cute. LOL.

And yikes! Here's another blogging software -- this one with a lot of nifty features, not free nga lang -- TypePad. Me want an account here. Oh yeah, and a domain name please. But first have to work muna.

And nope. I AM NOT BORED. I just ran out of things to blog about. So here I am, pestering my readers (readers???) with nonsensical links. But hey bear with me. When you don't have a job (or anything to do for that matter), you run out of things to write about so in the end, you have to resort to desperate measures (read: link-a-hopping).

BTW, happy birthday!

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Found this on the net. Haay true, SO true. I'm guilty as charged.


50 Deadliest Dieting Mistakes

1. Having a negative defeatist attitude.

2. Going on any diet that is NOT a manner of eating that you can adhere to for the rest of your life.

3. Believing that you can eat cabbage soup -- or any other low-cal, but monotonous fare -- every day for the rest of your life.

4. Obsessing over counting calories.

5. Weighing in too frequently.

6. Not drinking enough water.

7. Drinking sugar-laden drinks.

8. Eating more bread, pasta and potatoes than proteins, lean meats, fruits and vegetables.

9. Consuming processed foods more often than fresh foods.

10. Taking the benefits away from vegetables by overcooking them.

11. Not having a plan.

12. Blaming others for your shortcomings.

13. Being quick to judge.

14. Not being aware of the nutritional benefits or detriments of what you consume.

15. Finishing every last bite of a meal, even after you are full.

16. Going back for seconds at meals.

17. Eating at "all-you-can-eat buffets" and consuming large amounts "to get your money's worth."

18. Skipping breakfast.

19. Starving all day.

21. Thinking you are genetically destined to be fat.

22. Not believing that you have the courage to change.

23. Confusing "fat" as a personality trait.

24. Thinking you are unattractive.

25. Not living each day to the fullest... thinking that will come when you are thinner.

26. Wasting time.

27. Not finishing tasks you begin.

28. Postponing tasks that need attention.

29. Rationalizing.

30. Thinking pills, powders or potions are more powerful than they really are in achieving weight loss.

31. Thinking of exercise as a chore, instead of a way to improve your health and your life.

32. Not scheduling exercise as a vital part of your day and week.

33. Indulging excessively in alcohol.

34. Watching sports rather than participating in sports.

35. Watching too much television.

36. Not giving enough time to personal hygiene and appearance.

37. Refusing to read self-improvement materials on a regular basis.

38. Giving up and resigning yourself to being "fat."

39. Finishing the food off of your family's plates while you are doing the dishes.

40. Tasting and nibbling on food while you are cooking it.

41. Baking cookies, pies and cakes more often than for holidays or very special occasions.

42. Always having candy in dishes, supposedly for guests, but eating more of it yourself.

43. Buying unhealthy snack items "for the kids," but eating some yourself.

44. Not having vegetables and/or fruit with each meal.

45. Serving more carbohydrates than any other food group for meals.

46. Thinking that "dieting" sprees -- and not total lifestyle change -- will garner lasting weight loss results.

47. Not visualizing yourself actually living and enjoying a healthy lifestyle.

48. Not taking vitamins and proper supplements.

49. Consuming fast foods on a regular basis.

50. Waiting for tomorrow to "get started" rather than RIGHT NOW!


Well it's not that easy really. But at least I'm trying.

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I have half a mind to buy me a cellphone tomorrow. Well my aunt'll be at work, my uncle might go somewhere (together with my cousins) so that leaves me (and my granny) home alone. Either that or I could accompany my uncle. He's going to our other uncle (who has cable btw). Hmmm, options, options... Hee hee. Ended up buying Matrix Reloaded OST and some what-nots. I'll probably buy the Animatrix DVD tomorrow. And the Niea_7 DVDs on.. on... I dunno when exactly. Probably after I buy Season 1 of Xena . Oops. Gastadora talaga noh.

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Found a good site. Good in a sense na it's Pinoy-made, she's a PT (so relate ako -- not to mention we went to the same college) , and it's guaranteed to make you laugh. Gad I remember our college days and what we went through just to pass. Sayang I didn't have a blog back then. To read some of her funny and nasty posts, click here.

BTW watched Oprah the other day. The episode then was something like Oprah's favorite things for Spring. Well if you're a fan like I am, you know what happened. Yup she gave away a lot of stuff... again. Here's her complete list. Two things that really got my attention was the Apple iPod 15-GB MP3 player and HP Digital Camera, Printer and Dock. Wow. She just gave them away to more than 3 dozens of her viewers. She's really unbelievable.

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Long overdue chat

I bought a phonecard yesterday. La naman makausap. Called one of my friends. Good thing she woke up early today. We finally had that long overdue chat. For the first minute, all we did was scream "Kumusta ka na!?! Miss you na!" at each other. Hehe. I had to shout at her to stop giggling and all since we can't talk that long. I suspected the phonecard won't last even half an hour. Boy was I right. It's a bit annoying really since that stupid card has 150 minutes for the price of $10 but our talk lasted for just 20 minutes. I should have bought those Pinoy phonecards we always use when we call Pinas. Problem is I don't know where to buy them. For $5, there's a total of 60 minutes (actually, just 30). Not bad, if you compare it to the one I bought. Ah well, it's ok. A chat with a friend is priceless anyway. Although it wouldn't hurt if I could buy cheaper phonecards.

BTW happy birthday!! You might have read this a bit late na coz I think there's something wrong with my account. Nevertheless, I just want to greet you a happy birthday.



Hey the Iloilo-Bacolod peeps are having their first moot on Sunday!!! Woohoo!! I'm so excited for them. Hmmm wait, 12nn on July 13... that means, it's 11pm July 12 here... gotcha... will call you guys!!! I hope I could sneak out a phonecard.

New template

Darn Blogger. It won't seem to update my blog! Grrr. Anyone else having these kind of problems? Duh. Of course you won't be able to comment since you can't even see this damn post!!

Woohoo!! It's up, it's up!! My site's up. Finally. See any differences? Hehe.

Hay ewan dibale na nga lang. Anyway took some pictures of the public library here. Drool alert to all the bookworms and CD aficionados out there.

Digicam

I'm so happy with my digicam. I'm absolutely enthralled with it. Dala-dala ko sya palagi wherever I go. Of course it's concealed within the depths of my pockets. Har har. Today we went to the public library so I'd be uploading some pics of it. Plus some pictures I took of err... anything I was inclined to shoot. But not now. It's pretty late...err... early pala. I still have to edit them. They're a blurry bunch. Gad I need help and practice in this department.



Haay I just love my digicam's portability feature. Not to mention, it's easy to use. Yeah I'm looking for expensive, nifty cams but hey who's in a hurry? Gotta get some sleep now.



Anyone care to adopt him? He was given to me by my uncle last week. I think it's free at the place where he worked. He got us 4 bears, one for each of the kids. I'm not much of a stuffed animal fan though. I prefer the living ones especially cats. But then no one is going to take care of him here so I think I'm just going to do it myself. Unless you want him.

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Fourth of July celebration today. Went to see the parade. Lots of goodies and freebies for children, as well as for adults. Amusement rides and playkits, free meals, kiddie games -- these are just some of the things I saw during the celebration for Independence day. I would have taken some pictures so I could show you guys how Independence Day is celebrated here but alas, I didn't have a digicam then. Anyway at 7pm we went to this high school baseball field and waited for the fireworks display to begin. But before that, let me just tell you that I bought my digicam that afternoon -- that's why I wasn't able to take pictures of the parade but of the fireworks instead. Yep you read it right. Hehe. I just hope my mom and aunt won't see this or else, I'm good as dead. Here are some pics I took during the wait for the event:



And here are pictures of the fireworks itself, these ones taken with a 3D sunglasses (hence the additional rainbow lights hehe):



And these are the ones seen by my naked eye:



Ganda noh! I should have bought a SD/MMD card so I could at least capture even a 15-sec video clip of the whole display. Ah well, at least I was able to take some pictures. ('Twas hard watching the display at the same time sneaking to take some pictures when you're not supposed to have a camera. Hehe.)

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Return of the king eh?

Hehe! Look at this. Saw this from Gary's site. (Hilarious site, mind you. Enter at your own risk.)

return of the king


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Edited my site again. Wow I did it. I really did it. I especially like the moon thing. Uhm you don't see it? Look at the bottom-right corner and then scroll up and down. You should see it by now. Nice noh? Took me a while to figure that out. I'm not that well-versed in CSS so it's a bit mind-boggling but cool, nevertheless. *sigh* Love it.

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Another happy day today. I got my very own website -- no pop ads or banners whatsoever -- under one of my friends' sites. Thanks ha!! Eto sa yo: . Hehe! I'm getting sick of those annoying banners. It can make anyone sick and throw tantrums, you know. Grrr. Kaya thanks talaga. I owe you one. Heck I owe you more than one.

Anyway haven't told any of my friends yet. I wonder who'll notice it, IF they notice at all. Hehe.


*looks around*


I think I did great. I just love it.

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