Flowers and chocolates....

......and small pies -- and more chocolatesssss.... I'm a chocoholic!

My Beverly Lewis Novels

I haven't really read all of them yet and it's not all of them anyway. This pictures show only about half of my collection of her books. I have some left in the Philippines, those I've finished reading there already.

It was just so fascinating to read stories about this group of people that still exist in their own world, according to their own culture, not letting constantly changing material world jeopardize their beliefs and values.

I find Lewis' novels really captivating for their very vividly written scenes and it is easy to read. It's inspirational and educational as well. One thing that really kept me hooked is the fact that the stories are generally about love and friendship, just like a typical love story pocketbook, but not really, for me it's got more substance and moral values in each chapter than the typical ones.

I am really into love stories, may it be movies, plays, novels or whatever, but these ones made me interested not only in the characters and the stories but also in their culture and the people that the stories are telling about. Anyway, to those who don't know, the characters and the novels as a whole are just fictional, they're not a history or geography-type thing, but they are based on the Amish culture.

Monkey Massage

aaaaahhhh, nahurot na jud akong kuto sa wakas.... hehehehe

Just Wondering

Why does music bring back memories?


I have been wondering why is it that when I hear certain songs from the past, my mind automatically goes to a nostalgic state - vivid details of the past conquer my imagination as if they just happened yesterday when the truth is, they were things of the distant past forgotten and set-aside. In a day when I have to remember things and events from the past, they just don't come back that easy. However I try, it just won't happen, but when a music is played that was quite a hit during those times, zooom! there it is!, even if you don't want to welcome it.


A funny example is everytime I hear "What's Up" by 4 Non Blondes, I go back to 1993, I was in 2nd grade, this celebrity schoolmate was singing it on stage during Nutrition Week program then minutes later we have to go back to go back to our room when suddenly I had this very disturbing feeling in my stomach, I had to run to the restroom immediately and I was gone so fast that nobody ever noticed me that I was gone. hehehe... That's all.

I just wondered if it's just me or there is somebody else who's having this experience.

Have a nice day!

My fascination of the Amish People

I took pictures of this cute Amish girl when I bought a pack of her peanut butter cookies. We happened to pass by her small store along a long narrow secondary road and saw her waving happily at us so we stopped and checked out what she was selling. I asked if it's ok to take pictures of her, she said "we don't mind" so I did. I am just so fascinated with these people and it started when I begun reading Beverly Lewis' "Annie's People" series.

some basic information about these people from Wikipedia:

The Amish (Amisch or Amische) (IPA: ˈɑːmɪʃ) are an Anabaptist Christian denomination in the United States and Canada (Ontario and Manitoba) known for their plain dress and avoidance of modern conveniences such as cars and electricity. The Amish separate themselves from mainstream society for religious reasons: They do not join the military, apply for Social Security benefits, take out insurance or accept any form of financial assistance from the government. (funny, but the first two amish I've ever seen in person were in the Social Security Office here in Iowa when I went to get my own SS number)

Most speak a German dialect known as Pennsylvania Dutch (Pennsylvania German or Pennsylvanie Deutsch) at home and in church services, and learn English in school. The Amish are divided into separate fellowships consisting of geographical districts or congregations. Each district is fully independent and has its own Ordnung, or set of unwritten rules.
The Old Order Amish are distinguished from the Beachy Amish and the New Order Amish by their strict adherence to the use of horses for farming and transportation, their traditional manner of dress, and their refusal to allow electricity or telephones in their homes. The Old Order Amish is the concept many outsiders have when they think of "Amish".

Back from the So-called "vacation"

The nicest and most high-tech rest area I've ever seen, though I've never gone too far yet. It's along I-80, I think, somewhere in Iowa.

I'm not so sure what this bridge is called but this one is crossing Mississippi River from Iowa to Illinois. I still need to research but I feel so lazy to do so. I just thought it looks really nice. I took the picture from the Iowa side in the afternoon of coming back home.