Marriage (Kid's Point of View)

I saw this in the net and it so funny. Marriage in the KId's Point of View.

How do you decide who to marry?
You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.
– Alan, age 10

No person really decides before they grow up who they’re going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you’re stuck with.
– Kristen, age 10

What is the right age to get married?
Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.
– Camille, age 10

How can a stranger tell if two people are married?
You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.
– Derrick, age 8

What do you think your Mum and Dad have in common?
Both don’t want any more kids.
– Lori, age 8

What do most people do on a date?
Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.
– Lynnette, age 8

On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.
– Martin, age 10

What would you do on a first date that was turning sour?
I’d run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns.
– Craig, age 9

When is it okay to kiss someone?
When they’re rich.
– Pam, age 7

The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn’t want to mess with that.
- - Curt, age 7

The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It’s the right thing to do.
– Howard, age 8

Is it better to be single or married?
It’s better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them. — Anita, age 9

How would the world be different if people didn’t marry?
There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn’t there?
– Kelvin, age 8

How would you make a marriage work?
Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a truck.
– Ricky, age 10

Eid and a Cake

It’s another Eid holiday here, Eid al-Adha also referred as “cow cutting eid”. This is the Eid where a family will sacrifice a cow, a goat or camel. They divide the meat amongst themselves, their relatives, friends and they give a portion of it to the poor people too. So, before the Eid day, you will see cows, goats being sold along the streets. And since it is Eid, the office gave a week long holiday plus the weekend, a total of 9 days, too bad I don’t have my visa and passport yet, so I wasn’t able to go out of the country and spend the holidays somewhere else.

Since it’s holiday, and even if I’m trying hard to diet and lose weight, I decided to give in to my craving of eating a “sans rival cake” which is not available here, by baking the cake myself. I searched the recipe from the net and read some reviews also from those who tried baking it themselves, and even Marketman find it's a torture to bake the cake. With the recipe at hand, the ingredients prepared, I braved myself in baking my first cake.


I boiled the syrup and at the same time melting the butter, which I should have not melted in the first place. Well, it's my first time to bake a cake so I thought the butter should be melted :-). I run out of the required amounts of chopped cashew nuts, so I just mixed it with almond nuts and another nuts, is that a walnut? And the egg yolks that should be beaten until creamy, well, I'm using only a hand mixer and it was a torture holding it for an hour just to make the eggs creamy. I got tired and the eggs are not that creamy, maybe because I melted the butter? Halfway at baking the meringue, I got scared that it will explode inside the electric oven since it just kept on rising and rising and rising. But after it was done baking, it stop rising and went back to its normal height.

And, because I don't have more than 1 Pyrex, I decided to bake all the mixture in one and just thought of slicing them when it's done baking. Only to find out that slicing this meringue is "sticky and a tough job".

So, instead of 4 layers, I was able to slice it only into three and its not perfect. I filled it with the "watery butter cream" and sprinkled it with lots of nuts and put it in the freeze, with lots of hope that this will turn out okay.



And the verdict: it is PERFECT! Just the right sweetness for me, not too sweet which will make you stop finishing a slice and not too bland that will make you guess what kind of a cake it is. The crunchiness is perfectly chewy, I love it! I just can't believe that my first attempt to bake a cake was almost perfect, almost because I didn't perfected the butter cream and the layers. But anyhoo, this is still one perfect cake for me and to share with special friends.

What Happened The You were Born

In 1980 (the year you were born)

Jimmy Carter is president of the US President Carter announces punitive measures and embargoes against the USSR in retaliation for the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan Mount St. Helens in Washington state erupts in a violent blast estimated to be 500 times as powerful as the Hiroshima atomic bomb Ronald Reagan is elected the 40th US president in a sweeping victory US Representative Michael O. Myers is expelled from the House for his role in the Abscam scandal Hewlett-Packard announces release of its first personal computer Microsoft announces their version of UNIX, Xenix Christina Ricci, Chelsea Clinton, Venus Williams, Jessica Simpson, Macaulay Culkin, and Jake Gyllenhaal are born Philadelphia Phllies win the World Series Pittsburgh Steelers win Superbowl XIV New York Islanders win the Stanley Cup The Empire Strikes Back is the top grossing film "Lady" by Kenny Rogers spends the most time at the top of the US charts U.S. viewers get caught up in the "Who Shot J.R.?" cliff hanger on the soap opera series, Dallas, which is solved on a November 21 episode, drawing a record numbers of viewers

What Happened the Year You Were Born?

One Year

"We do not remember days, we remember moments, not whole days, weeks, months or years - that we will finally remember. Whatever happiness and joy is to be found in life will be found in moments. Each moment is sacred. And each holds a special place in time. In the end, it is these moments you will cherish and remember."

I survived!
November 24, 2007: the first time I arrived in this country, unsure of everything, with only one goal: to save for the future. It’s been a year, and so far, everything is fine both professional and personal life. I did survived and hope I will survive again. Good Job and Happy Anniversary to me and my department!!!

Let me walked back to the memory lane:

I have 2nd thoughts when I was at the airport already, waiting for boarding time. But all the time, I’m consoling myself that this is the best for me, financially and professionally. I have to do what I want to do and I’m being paid for it. And, I psyche myself not to get lost of my focus. My first time to work abroad and my first time to be away from my family, tough huh! I always have a silent prayer that God will continue to bless me and guide me, so with my family.


Arriving at Zia International Airport: So, this is their airport, I’m so glad my country’s airport isn’t the worst after all:-) everyone looks Bombay (kid’s general terms for citizens of this side of the world). And there are lots of people outside waiting for their relatives perhaps, same in the arrival station of Philippine airport. I feel lost:-) Gladly, there is someone who came to picked us up, Shantanu. Hmmm, what a long and curled eyelashes. Tall, tanned, deep eyes and high bridged nose. He is the first colleague I met.


The following day, I met the CEO and CHRO, who dropped by our apartment early morning. After lunch, we are toured around the main office. I will have my own office together with my staff once the construction of a new office is done. Wow! Feels like a big boss  then we have to go to Shewrapara Branch to sit in with the Saturday meeting with the CEO regarding category management. Hmmmm, this showroom is something I can overhaul. I met my colleagues but I don’t know why I can’t remember them at all now whose who. I only can recall this girl wearing a black saree and who will turn out as Bonny. The rest is hazy.

November 25th: My first official working day. WE are so early compared to the rest of the people.We are use to starting early in the Philippines. Since I don’t have yet a pc, I have to look around if there is someone in the office already that I can use the pc. Lo and behold, there is one loner. Walked in and asked hoping he can understand English: “can I borrow your pc and use the internet?” Maybe I shocked this loner, coz he suddenly stood up and cordially replied “yes ma’am”…. Wow! What a gentleman and he can speak English. And this loner guy is no other than Alvin. I was surprise to know his name because it’s an English name, which he explained that’s because he is a catholic. Oh! That’s good, I thought all my officemates will be Muslim. I met my staff also.

From the time I started with the company, we’ve been busy with showroom planograms, exhibits, photoshoot, showroom set-ups and opening of new showroom. The very first project was the DITF or Dhaka International Trade Fair 2008. IT was a great success, with lots of commendations and praises both from directors, colleagues and competitors. We are bench markers, we set the standard and we break our standard. DITF 2008 Pavilion
Kid's Fair Booth Photo ops after a whole day Photoshoot

Then CITF follows on February. I visited Chittagong for the first time.

Showrooms were changed. VM is seen all through out. Something new to this people, a new look and whole new concept. Somehow, it helps in boosting the sales.
There is also a new showroom: MIrpur Branch. My very first showroom. It’s not that much but I’m proud to finish the set up and open it on time. The ladies had their first taste of working late too. Something new for them and at the same time, new friendships were found.

I also got to experience the long preparation of a wedding, such as the preparation of the gifts to give, the mehdi and other stuffs. For this wedding, I got the chance to wear a saree thrice. First was on the akd, the holud and the wedding proper. I have lots to thank for this experience.


I tried tasting their food, the food that is not too spicy. I experienced their culture. Joined them in their Iftar during Ramadan. Had a very funny experience with the iftar inside Nandan grocery. Enjoyed the Eid-Il-Fitr with my staff and their family. I got to wear a salwarkameez on this holiday and received 3 sets from my colleagues and Bonny’s mom. And, I got to ride the rickshaw, the CNG and the cab, but please, don’t let me ride the public bus.

There was also the Team Building that was held in Cox’s Bazaar. What a very long travel, feels like going home to Ilocos, 10 hours bus ride plus the stop over, phew! The beach is nothing compared to Philippines’ white sand and blue water beaches, but the long uncut stretch of the beach is something that Bangladeshis are proud of. It's one of the nominees for the World's Top 10 Natural Wonders. The Team Building was full of fun and fond memories.

And, I celebrated my birthday for the first time without my families, in a foreign land with my foreign colleagues. It was fun and memorable, if not one of my memorable birthday. My first birthday ever without rain or typhoon before, on and after the date. Got the chance to blow my birthday cake in public and got tons of gifts too from my colleagues and staff.


I also got the chance to visit Kolkata. And now, the showroom there is complete and ready to operate. Another feather in the cap.

There are sad stories too, the untimely passing of my staff and the resignation of two close colleagues. But as they say, the show must go on. So, here I am, standing strong, the light of my department, the confidante and big sister figure to my staff that consists of 4 girls. Armed with the courage and faith, I keep going on with the work that I love and enjoy, I learned to accept the negative things that goes with it, and try to keep things in control and in stride. With a constant prayer, that the Good Lord will keep me safe in this foreign land and my families that are in different countries, and continue showering me with His blessings, and that I will be successful with this chosen career of mine.

Along the way, I lost friends but I met new friends too, both locals and fellow country men. These are the people that I consider family here, in this foreign land. It is them who help me cope up with homesickness, but my family is the strength that keeps me sane and keeps me going.

Something to Ponder

Marriage 101 by: Gerald Foley

Silence is a relationship killer...you need to FIGHT

Studies show that couples who fight have a stronger relationship and marriage. An old axiom says, "The dirtiest fighter is the one who refuses to fight at all." Someone who doesn't want to rock the boat, and skirts the issues to avoid conflict, ultimately damages the relationship. Fighting can actually get us through a conflict to a level of greater intimacy. So, Fight for your relationship...it's the best thing you can do.

Fight Fairly

Remember that you are trying to grow together. Often we learned unhealthy or unfair ways of fighting from parents or from our culture. These make winning at any cost the most important goal. If one spouse wins...both lose.

No Name Calling
Calling a spouse a name such as "stupid" simply backs that person away from a fight. Do not call each other names except the affectionate ones you normally use, such as "Honey" or "Dear."

Do Not Involve Other People

The argument is between the two of you. Young couples make the mistake of involving friends or parents (usually mothers). The damage comes later in several forms; 1) A parent will more than likely remember the issue long after a couple has forgotten. 2) The respect and perception once held by a parent for a childs spouse will decline. 3) A couple may feel uncomfortable facing the parent even after an incident has been resolved. 4) A parents natural reaction is to protect a child and this reaction may cause further damage to the relationship.

No Past History

If it's already been settled, don't bring it up again. It is irrelevant and merely a way to smear your partner. It is OK to go back to learn, but not to get something on your spouse.

Stick to the Subject

Stay focused. Find the issue and don't bring in other issues just to prove your point. When he comes home later and she feels taken for granted or unloved, deal with feelings to make the real issue apparent.

Don't Hit Below the Belt

Don't throw your partners weaknesses in his or her face. You may win the argument but lose more than you gain. On the other hand, don't be too sensitive to what your spouse says.

Don't Go to Bed Angry

Finish the Fight. Dragging a fight out is as life-draining as avoiding a fight. Unresolved anger can destroy intimacy.

Maintain a Sense of Humor

Laughter is sometimes the best medicine. It's good to be able to laugh at yourselves, but don't laugh at or make fun of your spouse.

Hold Hands and/or Look in Each Others Eyes

Being in contact with each other, rather than turning your backs, is the hardest rule. However, it takes the focus from the issue and places it where it belongs, namely on the most important person in your life.

Don't lose that 90% that you already have ..
by: Bo Sanchez

Adultery happens when you start looking for what you don't have. "Wow,this girl in my office is a real looker. I'm crazy about her because she's also understanding, intelligent, tender - so many things that my spouse is not."

Somewhere along the way, you'll find a woman or a man who will be more charming or sensitive. More alluring. More thoughtful. Richer. Have greater sex appeal. And you will find a woman or man who will need you and pursue you and go loco over you more than your spouse ever did. Because no wife or husband is perfect.

Because a spouse will only have 90% of what you're looking for. So adultery takes place when a husband or wife looks for the missing 10%. Let's say your wife is melancholic by nature. You may find yourself drawn to the pretty clerk who has a cherry laughter. Or because your wife is a homebody in slippers and pyjamas, smelling of garlic and fish oil,you may fall for a fresh-smelling young sales representative that visits your office in a sharp black blazer, high heels, and a red pencil-cut skirt. Or because your husband is the quiet type, your heart may skip a beat when you meet an old college flame who has the makings of a talk show host.

But wait! That's only 10% of what you don't have. Don't throw away the 90% that you already have! Add to your spouse's 90% the 100% that represents all the years that you have been with each other. The storms you have weathered together. The unforgettable moments of sadness and joy as a couple. The many adjustments you have made to love the other. The wealth of memories that you've accumulated as lovers.

Adultery happens when you start looking for what you don't have. But faithfulness happens when you start thanking God for what you already have. But I'm not just talking about marriage.I'm talking about life! About your jobs. About your friends. About your children. About your lifestyles. Are you like the economy airline

The main message: If you start appreciating what you have right now, wherever you are is FIRST CLASS!

LO 001

Celebrating Eid-Il-Fitr with friends.


CREDITS: Paper: "Serendipity" by Mandy Mystique; Elements: Dream_Mzp, Summer_Mzp_Elements.