It is raining cats and dogs here......

I love it. :]

I am one of those who prefer the solitude of silence and darkness when I lay myself to sleep. The only lullaby which can accompany me on my journey is the soothing sound of raindrops falling.

Oh yeah...I do know a person who can only fall asleep by being immersed in the liveliness of noise....A jarring cacophony of sounds is needed to escort that someone to the land of dreams cuz she needs to feel that there're people around her....

When is the solitude time of a day for me? The moment the lights are turned off after my private moments with HIM in prayers and I am waiting to be transported to my dreams. Looking at all the discernible silhouettes in my room, I'll wait for my night ship in the darkness. I love it when the symphony of rain plays throughout the whole night. Its soothing rhythm will fill the night sky even after I’m fast asleep.

Mind yawl….I gotta wear my glasses – strictly no contact lenses for at least 3 weeks…I am going for my pre-op for my LASIK….soooo yeah…looking mucho scholar-y…LOL!!!

I visited them…the family…just for a quick afternoony-evening bite as invitation said…then I left….I guess it went okay??? I felt like they kinda given me a cold shoulder and pretentious welcome…AS EXPECTED….!!!! Oh well...I refused to let 'em bother me....I wouldn't stoop to be just as strife-loving as they are! WORLD PEACE EVERYONE!!!! LOL!!!

Anyway I had a delicioso Pear Salad…awesome….. it is so easy to make. It is tangy from the blue cheese, fruity from the pears, and crunchy from the caramelized pecans. The mustard vinaigrette pulls it all together…..



INGREDIENTS
1 head leaf lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces
3 pears - peeled, cored and chopped
5 ounces Roquefort cheese, crumbled
1 avocado - peeled, pitted, and diced
1/2 cup thinly sliced green onions
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup pecans
1/3 cup olive oil
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons prepared mustard
1 clove garlic, chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
fresh ground black pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS
In a skillet over medium heat, stir 1/4 cup of sugar together with the pecans. Continue stirring gently until sugar has melted and caramelized the pecans. Carefully transfer nuts onto waxed paper. Allow to cool, and break into pieces.

For the dressing, blend oil, vinegar, 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar, mustard, chopped garlic, salt, and pepper.

In a large serving bowl, layer lettuce, pears, blue cheese, avocado, and green onions. Pour dressing over salad, sprinkle with pecans, and serve. Voila!

"Praise the LORD! Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? Who can declare all His praise?" Psalm 106:1-2

I thank HIM for the many blessings HE has provided me. It still amazes me that HE never gave up on me throughout all of the years that I ran from HIM. My life with HIM since then has been so rich and full of happiness. He has protected me and guided me each day and I am so grateful to HIM for HIS everlasting grace and mercy.

I pray for the wonderful blessings to those around me…my brothers, my sis-in-law and the kids, all the extended families, my dearest and close friends..........

A little of my personal thoughts...

No one would be able to REALLY understand the emotional aspect of why decisions are made and even the pain she has to go through…….nor the dilemma she faces and the amount of effort she had put through to fight her inner self...

Yepper….you wouldn’t know how it felt until you are involved in it... !!!! Many people tend to think that a bystander's or 3rd party's point of view tend to see a clearer picture…well, yeah, maybe it is true…realistically but not emotionally….

It’s totally easy to judge a person merely based on what you see/gather from the outer... but internally, DO you know what is truly going on???? It is easy to pinpoint a relationship and blame it on "the person" you think is at fault... but maybe…if you sit back for a second to contemplate that person’s reasons….then you might realize that she actually had valid reasons….and doesn’t deserve anything that is thrown at her just because of one mistake she made...

My honest opinion, I don’t think it’s appropriate for ANYONE to judge someone else’s relationship, who is at fault or whether she deserve whatever that is coming cause after all we are not the one involved in it...

I guess having gone through the many ups and downs especially when relationship is concerned made me realize that not everything is what you think, see or know, there would be of courze some emotional factors to consider and not all things are visible. I do believe that everything happens for a reason and behind a person, there is always an untold story that no one knows except for the person herself... Even if you were to put yourself in her shoes and said that you will never do it, it’s still not fair cuz you are DEFINITELY not her... you are you... the stories and chapters in your life are completely different from the owner's...

So before you judge anyone and say that you couldn’t understand or that she deserves it, perhaps you should sit back and think of how to be there for her instead...

NIGHTY-NIGHT!

Difficulties with “his” family….

Well, his family has been given us a hard time…bcuz we weren’t really truthful about going away together to Sydney…..etc...etc..


He does have nettlesome relatives who seem to ruin each time there is a "what should be a joyous family get-together" by expertly pushing all his/my buttons…..they are highly demanding, extremely critical and constantly try to meddle in every situations…..SIGH!!!

He tells me many, many times, over and over again…..not to give up bcuz these differences create certain unique issues for us that have actually strengthened our relationship, helping us to respect each other.

SIGH…SIGH…SIGH!!!!

Seriously, I was gonna buy some of these weird jerkies and give ‘em to someone as gifts..cuz he…he..truthfully, I just couldn’t see myself munching on those….YIKES!!! I am wondering what would be next: Cassowary, Goanna, Duckbill Platypus, Dingoes, Echidnas, Wombats jerkies? LMAO...JK guys...for those animal lovers..PETA ppl.....

YUCKY!!!! Vegemite is the registered brand name for a dark brown, salty food paste made from yeast extract, mainly used as a spread on sandwiches and toast, though occasionally used in cooking.

It is supposedly popular in Australia and New Zealand and is known as a national food in both and the brand is owned by Kraft Foods (an American company)......

I tried...just becz it is considered very Aussie but YUCK..YUCK...salty, bitter...kinda beef bouillon-y...margarine-y all mixed up and kinda like beer-yeasty spreads....???? HIGHLY POPULAR IN AUSTRALIA...WHY?????

Yummy Australian Nougats.....made with honey, roasted almonds, walnuts, pistachios, hazelnuts and chopped goodies, like candied fruit....!!!













Sydney Town Hall on George St.















Visited the famous distinctive Sydney Opera House

I am trying to make my way back home....my babe left yday..and lemme reminded you all that UA's customer service isn't the bestttttt.......SIGH!!! Leaving tmrw....Jan3rd......!!!

Shopping in the city

Chifley Plaza
World-class shopping and dining experience - a timeless architectural icon of space and grandeur, reminiscent of a classic New York skyscraper. International and Australian fashion designers, including Leona Edmiston, R.M. Williams, MaxMara, Max & Co, Herringbone, Pancaldi 1888, Marina Rinaldi, Fragile and Pierucci.



Queen Victoria Building
Romanesque architecture both inside and out, important historic building located on the site of Sydney’s 19th century market place, unique stores specializing in art and antiques, jewelry, gifts and fashion


Skygarden
Located in the Pitt Street Mall. A superb mix of fashion, food and homewares with more than 30 retail outlets.

Bobbin Head Natural Attractions - Bushwalking

I PROMISE TO SEEK HIM FIRST! - Call-Me-Miz-M's New Year Resolution!!!

Everything is renew in CHIRST! JOEL OSTEEN

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me." (Psalms 51:10)

With the new year comes fresh starts, resolutions, and new beginnings. It is a time of making plans, setting goals, and writing visions. But the greatest "new start" of all comes through Jesus Christ. II Corinthians 5:17 says: "Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a NEW creation; the old has passed away, behold the new has come."If you need a new beginning this year, in any area of your life, allow Christ to make you a new creation and the old will pass away! He will put a new and right spirit within you when you call upon His name! This year, make your relationship with Him your number one priority. As you develop an intimacy with Him through daily prayer and the study of His Word, you will experience the joy of newness of life!

A Prayer for Today
God, this is the year I put You first. I want to start with a clean slate and begin anew as I develop a deeper personal relationship with You. Thank you for sending Your Son who gave His life so I could have a new beginning.

Sydney enjoyed fireworks displays tonight to mark New Year's Eve on Sydney Harbour.

More than a million people gathered around the harbour as the family fireworks display filled the skies for 10 minutes. It was really great, I loved the colors and the lasers coming off the bridge and children dressed up for the family show, whose theme was The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

The $4 million New Year's Eve festivities, which have been dubbed a Diamond Night in the Emerald City, also commemorate the Harbour Bridge, which celebrates its 75th birthday in March 2007.

In her New Year's Eve message, Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the Harbour Bridge symbolized extending the hand of friendship to others at home or to other parts of the world.

Counting down the end of 2006............10, 9, 8, 7, ......

Last Cigarette: I don't smoke – not anymore!
Last Alcoholic Drink: Rose champagne
Last Hug: Tight squeeze from my niece
Last Good Cry: Watching Charlotte’s Web the movie w/ my niece and nephew
Last book bought: PERSIAN NIGHTS by Diane Johnson
Last Book Read: The “Good Book” each night before shutting my eyes to sleep
Last Movie Seen in Theatres: Charlotte’s Web @ Macquarie Centre
Last Movie Rented: The Notebook for a girls'-night-in with "Barbie"
Last Cuss Word Uttered: Probably "SH**"
Last Beverage Drank: Water
Last Food Consumed: Nando’s Peri-Peri Flame-Grilled Chicken (Portuguese) - Chatswood



Last Crush: ...The cute boy who plays the bass…Kidding! As if the answer is not obvious enough!
Last Phone Call: Just 2 mins ago from my bro asking for my sis-in-law
Last TV Show Watched: That's So Raven - Disney Channel w/ my niece
Last Time Showered: About 2 hours ago
Last Shoes Worn: Nope…wore my SKECHERS sandals


Last CD Played: Kim Possible Soundtrack on the way to Jenolan Caves w/ my bro + fam, my other bro, fam friend and hunney.



Last Item Bought: BIONICLE LEGO toy for my nephew @ Myers



Last Download: ----
Last Annoyance: Rain is being predicted on the New Year’s Eve :(
Last Disappointment: Not able to stay sandboarding longer @ Port Stephens - Sand Dune



Last Soda Drank: None - actually a ‘lil sippy from my niece McNuggets’ meal (Fanta Orange Soda) on the AUNTIE & NIECE DAY just a few days ago



Last Thing Written: Blog
Last Key Used: "Backspace"
Last Words Spoken: "One more minute, almost done" (was called for dinner 5 mins ago)
Last Sleep: Last night/this morning
Last Ice Cream Eaten: Green Tea Gelato @ Y2K Supercafe - Dixon St.



Last Chair Sat In: Bro’s computer room/desk
Last Webpage Visited: Yahoo Mail

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Pangs of Melancholy 2:
Karaoke w/ good companies….my babe sang cheesy songs for me…awwwwwwwww….one song that he dedicated to me (so he said) "Sometimes When We Touch"......LOL...yeah pretty CHEESY...LOL!

Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial Rose NV Champagne





Preparing for a house party!!!

Good companies...El Fresco dining!!!


Smoky Cape Lighthouse is one of the historic lighthouses...

HORNSBY WESTFIELD, DARLING HARBOUR




























Maritime Museum

Aquarium

Skywalking