Photo of a fun and colorful toucan balloon here in my other blog.

Last summer when I went to take photos of sunflowers, I chanced upon a flock of birds walking. I slowly and quietly walked to where they were and followed them, taking several photos. These winged creatures didn’t seem to notice me.

Until one sort of turned around and saw me. I froze.

They changed course and I managed to take several photos until another one looked at me again before they vanished among the grasses that hid them completely.

Of course it was fun while it lasted. I just wish I knew the names of the birds.

Have fun doing PH!

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A few months ago, I got a new battery pack for my (several years old) mobile phone.

Up until now, I am still holding on to my old battery pack. Not that I am wishing it will still be used but because I have yet to go to a certain mall where they have depository for batteries to avoid being thrown just about anywhere.

Why is it important to dispose battery packs properly?

• Battery packs are should NOT be disposed of just about anywhere because these are hazardous to the environment.

How should people dispose battery packs?

• Disposal should be done in approved disposal sites. FYI, there are disposal areas in several malls here in MegaManila.

• Battery packs are not to be thrown in a fire, thrown in a trash bin not intended for these and discarded just about anywhere (like in one’s backyard where a pile of leaves are waiting to be burned)

• Battery packs should not be pierced, nor hammered nor stepped upon.

• Should you notice any leaks or odors, discoloration or deformity, return to where it was purchased to be replaced.

Let us all be kind to Mother Nature. Little things like proper disposal of battery packs can go a long way.

We Filipinos have a very musically-inclined culture. We love music. Many a gathering these days seem incomplete with the guests belting out their favorite masterpieces in front of a videoke or karaoke for others.

We have a lot of untapped and undiscovered talents out there, waiting to be discovered. And waiting for that chanced to be given a contract to sign up with.

Now this is going to come true for 7, yes, seven grand winners who will be picked to win one-year recording contracts with Jeepney Music through MTV Emerge.

Apl.de.Ap of Black Eyed Peas is the founder of MTV Emerge.

What is MTV Emerge?

This MTV, Jeepney Music, and Department of Tourism collaboration aim to have unsigned music talent in the Philippines to show their talents and be able to grab the opportunity to win a one-year recording contract with Jeepney Music. The winners will be mentored by none other than Apl.de.Ap himself. The contract also includes artist management and promotion, digital distribution of 3-6 songs and marketing strategy plans to penetrate not just the local market but the international market as well.

Featuring the hottest unsigned music talent from all genres of music, MTV Emerge is an online community where local fresh musical talents are waiting to be discovered.

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Some friends are wanting to take a few days off from work.

I know we are getting closer to spending our Christmas vacation so maybe this thought will keep them from booking caribbean vacations unless they really want to go there. I know I do.

Stress is something we need to deal with positively, otherwise we will end up sick and unable to function well.

Why is it important to get a few days off from work?

People whose work deal directly with people go through a lot of stress. In an article I have read (which I did not bookmark) there were several occupations that were listed as most likely to cause a lot of stress: teachers, rescue workers, people in sales, fast food crew, HR and management people and yes movie celebrities.

We can’t be forever stress-free for if we do, we may never be able to see how far we can go with our (in)abilities to cope and how well we can stretch our selves to do things that seem impossible.

I think it is a matter of how one deals with the stress. For me who deals with children who have special needs, I not only deal with them directly but with their parents and doctors too.

If I allow stress to take over, I will not be able to function well and deal positively with whatever obstacles that come along.

Yeah, and please pass that stress buster AKA bar of chocolates for me, will ya?

We love music.

August Rush is my other entry.

This was a previous post of PH theme about music.

Jazz and new wave are two kinds of music hubby and I both love. He likes 50s and 60s songs while I enjoy rock and yes, classical music.

Classical music is something I love to listen to again and again even as a young child. My line-up does not just consist of those sleep-inducing lullabies instrumentals but I also have a few arias in my collection. One of my favorites is Carmen Habanera.

Click here to listen to Maria Callas singing Carmen Habanera.

By the way, what is your LSS?

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Last week, parents from my eldest daughter’s school got an email about a book donation drive that will happen this Friday, November 13, 2009.

Part of the email details are:

“As you may all be aware by now, our school went under 8ft of floodwater that easily devastated the whole school. Our library, in fact, is almost bare with a good 99% of our books washed away in the flood.

Thus, in line with our book month in November, we are urging everyone to HELP IN RESTORING OUR LIBRARY BY DONATING BOOKS ON 13NOVEMBER09, FRIDAY.

For this purpose, our principal, _____________, specifically REQUESTS FOR NOVELS so our kids can start reading their favourite titles again. As a book donor, you will be provided book stickers where you can put your child’s name and these shall be placed on the books you will donate. For starters we are enclosing 3 book stickers but you can donate more than three books, of course. There will be more stickers available during the book donation activity on Friday, 13NOV09.”

The school suffered some major damage when Typhoon Ondoy ravaged the country. Classrooms were submerged in flood waters, library books and school supplies left in classrooms were deemed unfit for use.

If there was something positive about this, it was that the deluge happened on a Saturday afternoon morning and not when the children are in school.

No need to order Amazon books, too little time to do that. I plan to scour bargain book stores on Wednesday or Thursday to get books for the drive.

Holler if you have some books you can spare and I will get these from you