New Year’s just a couple of days away. Preparations for our annual family reunion is in full swing. With the calamities and the bad economy, we’ve decided to keep it simple this year. What is important is to see my family together even for just one day a year. Happy New Year to one and all. May we have a better year this coming 2010.

Work has started on my daughter’s bathroom. Aside from expanding her old one, all fixtures are all going to be changed. As always, I’m going with American Standard toilets which are very reliable and fashionable as well. The style of their fixtures also match what my daughter has in mind. I’ve seldom used other brands. I’m looking forward to this projects completion. I’m sure my daughter would love the outcome.

I’ve managed to resurrect my old motorcycle which I plan to use for my road trip with some friends. I’ve also purchased new safety wear for the trip. My old ones are faded and in tatters. But aside from these, it’s also important be be legally safe especially with the increasing bike accidents. So I’ve hired a motorcycle accident lawyer which is a wise decision when going on trips like this. We’re still finalizing our itinerary and route. So it seems that all systems are go. I’m already excited as this is my first one in decades.

My aunt passed away last April and I surely missed her last Christmas. She used to prepare the Christmas feast and we all missed her delectable cooking. My Mom had a crash course in cooking. It’s only been several months since she started to learn to cook. I must admit, she’s gone a long way. Armed with a cook book, she was able to prepare a fantastic feast. From appetizers to dessert, I really had a grand time. I’m looking forward to her New Year party already.

Christmas is a time for parties. And when I say parties, I mean dozens. It’s a month of merrymaking and a time to gain unwanted pounds. But I’m determined to keep my weight. Even if  I try to moderate my intake, I wouldn’t want my friends to think that I don’t find their cooking good. A friend who’s in the same dilemma as I am is now checking some diet pill reviews to help keep his weight in check. He’s my exercise buddy and he truly needs to lose thos extra pounds. I really need to choose the parties I’ll go to next year.

Aside from celebrating the birth of Jesus, many parents also see this season as the best time to welcome their babies to the Christian world. Since the start of the month, baby announcements have been very frequent. Just yesterday, our friend had her firstborn baptized. It’s a perfect time especially for Catholics to have their kids baptized or confirmed. And even more try to time their kid’s birth during this Christmas season. Truly December is a month for children.

It’s been my practice to share whatever I have especially during this Christmas season. I try to spread this practice to my friends. I believe that the more people I expose to this practice, the more love we share to others. The bug seems to have caught on and more of my friends have given holiday gifts to the less fortunate. Christmas may just be once a year but to make those who think they’ve been forgotten feel someone still cares can really make a difference. How about you, how do you share the love?

Distance once hampered work and this made working more tedious. Business took longer and transactions slow. Necessity being the mother of invention, technology soon found a way to communicate faster and sped up the process of doing business. Fax machines, cellular phones, emails and even instant messaging  took the backseat. We  now have video conferencing which has taken communications to new heights. Meeting between offices can now be done without traveling. This drastically cuts operating costs and can save your company thousands if not millions. Decisions can be made faster which allows for smoother operations. Checking out how your branches are doing or even presenting your idea to a potential partner is made possible without leaving your office.

Even calling family, relatives and friends is given that personal feeling without leaving the comfort of your homes. Imagine interacting with your loved ones as if you’re right there next to them. Now you can virtually see them everyday. All you need is an internet connection and everyone will be in reach even if you’re miles away.

Technology has really made the world smaller. It has enhanced our everyday lives. Now everyone is within reach. Now a simple click can take you anywhere you want to be.

I find most political ads crappy. In fact, there are those you would easily know as frauds. Case in point, a billionaire who claims to be poor and a convict claiming innocence. What’s funny is how they are able to convince people that they’re the real deal.

The billionaire is a known land grabber while the convict was pardoned due to his age. The Philippines sure has one of the more immature electorates. Most base their votes on what they see on TV. At the end of the day, hoodlums get elected and the country suffers.

This is the reason why I’ve been trying to educate the new voters to really get to know the candidates before deciding who they’ll vote for. I’m glad that thos I’ve come across. Political ads really has a big impact. What voters should do is to read the papers, watch the news and be informed of the issues attached to these candidates.

Only in the Philippines can you see crooks get elected. I hope the next election will be based not on patronage, not on personalities and not on political ads.

I must be going through another phase in my life. Believe it or not, I’m spending more time playing PC games. I’m going gaga over CounterStrike which I really enjoy so  much. I never let a day pass without playing a round or two. I was a bit rusted at first but I’m relearning the moves quite fast.

It’s been ages since I last played this game and even played it with my kids and my nephew. Perhaps I just want something to vent my anger on. At the rate politics is going in the Philippines, anyone would look for a way to release their anger and frustration. Oh well, I’ll play another round before I go to sleep.