Twi-Bite

Okay, so despite the fact that I haven't seen the new Twilight movie, "New Moon" yet, I drove to a Burger King and bought their exclusive BK Burger Shots 6-Pack New Moon Meal and supersized it so I can have the New Moon soda cup. It's the Happy Meal for tweens and Twi-Hards aged 1 to 92! (Although I hardly qualify as one, since I haven't read any of the books.)

BK Burger Shots are as miniscule as White Castle burgers. You can wolf it down easily or share with a friend. The vampiric value meal also comes with fries, soda (the large size is big enough to hold about half a liter, it seems), and a special "fan pack" with collectible New Moon character cards which also double as savings coupons at the back for New Moon merchandise.

I also bit into the New Moon aluminum bottles offer: Edward and Jacob bottles for the price of one ($9.99 + $4.99 shipping)! Early stocking stuffer for myself! Now I can quench my thirst Twilight-style! And besides, I've always wanted to own such eco-friendly water bottles.

Watch the Burger King TV ad featuring New Moon (Are you for Team Edward or Team Jacob?):

The Spirit Is Willing

It's the Eve of Thanksgiving Day. My grandfather has spent the last eleven days here at the hospital since his initial stroke. He's taken a "field trip" from the ER, the PCU, a regular ward, the ICU, then back to PCU.

This hospital forbids visitors below 18 due to swine flu precautions. We resquested hospital administration to allow our younger cousins to see our grandfather while he was in the ICU last Saturday. They gave permission as long as the kids did not have any cough or cold-like symptoms. They were made to wear face masks, the duck bill type, which made them look like little fowl fellows.

My grandfather got teary-eyed seeing them. It was precious having them hold his hand and say the words that matter most: "We love you, Tatay" and "Get Well Soon."

My cousin Abby brought her red octopus plush toy (named "Okting") with her that day. She left it with our grandfather to squeeze....helps exercise his dexterity which he is slowly regaining.

His flesh may be weak, but his spirit is willing. Right now, that's something to be thankful for.

Senorita Sue Sylvester Spells Out "More Fun Time"

If you're a "Gleek" like me, you would hate cheering squad coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) so much you'll love her. Her sarcasm and scathing sense of humor...not to mention her preference for track suits, make her seem like Sporty Spice AND Scary Spice combined...with a dash of some other kind of spice.

She's the new spokesperson for XBox 360 Elite, coaching families on how to enjoy it and what not to Twitter, among other Sue Sylvesterisms. So can people also surf about random things like rv insurance with it?



And here's one "Behind the Fun" look at this green Xbox Lady:



(How about "Fling Ur Netbook" as another acronym for FUN? Well, I mean, if you can do all those things with the new Xbox, you might as well do it. Fling it my way, my friend!)

Kris Kindle

How did Amazon come up with the name for their digital reader, "Kindle?" Sounds clever, if you ask me. With such devices, one can "burn" books in it...thereby kindling the Kindle! I know someone who would love the Kindle and a pack of Dutch Master as stocking stuffers. Their snazzy new commercial promises "books in 60 seconds." It has global wireless capacity, too! I love the whimsical song they used for the commercial, "Fly Me Away" by Annie Little (the same girl you see in the ad!):

If you love the song, you can download the MP3 for free from Amazon.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

I love Christmas packaging and products. I consider them eye candy---or should I say, eye candy canes! Even Bath & Body Works' holiday line has festive names.

Christmasy coffee cup at Starbucks!

Tinsel-tinted store window at Express.

Snowy store window at J. Crew. It says "Best in Snow."

And with the holidays just around the corner, lots of stores are doing employee screening to hire enough seasonal workers to help out in the busiest shopping time of the year. Are you making a list? Is it twice as long as last year's?

Like A Thief At The Stroke Of Midnight

That's how my grandfather was robbed of his health early Sunday when he had a stroke. It's dreadful to learn about a disease the hard way, that is, witnessing it firsthand on someone you love, and seeing the effects of its unwelcome progression on my grandfather.

First was the facial droop on one side of his face, then the slurred speech--like he was speaking gibberish. Little by little, all the things we take for granted were being taken away by the cerebral thief that has crept up his cranium: things like his ability to speak, his motor skills, his ability to move on his own. It is a painful sight to watch, like an injured bird slowly weakening in your hands.

I've been aggressively involved in making sure he is cheered up, talked to, held, touched, and comforted. Drugs can only do so much, but the soul also needs healing by knowing that he is surrounded by people who care for him, pray for him, believe that he can win this "battle of the brain" with God's mercy. Love is a powerful and potent potion that needs no prescription.

That's why I never left his side on his first night in the ICU when he had a restroke (apart from the initial one that sent him to the ER). I became familiar with the numbers that flicker on the monitor screen, knew what they represented, understood the normal ranges, became paranoid when his heart rate was too low or that his respiration became abnormal.

I encountered the terms "lacunar infarct" and "evolving stroke" for the first time. I just want that stroke to go into permanent extinction. Medical terminologies became a must-know for me so that I can participate in my grandfather's recovery effectively.

I do know that things like this test our faith. I know that my grandfather will be strong enough to break free from that inner prison in his head, I know that he loves us too much to give up the fight. I know that because he emerged victorious from his previous health battle.

Thanksgiving is looming upon us. His recuperation will definitely be on the top of the list of things we will be thankful for. Nevermind that he won't be able to wear a spiffy pair of Stuart Weitzman shoes that day. What matters is that we're all together as a family, and that we're surrounded by a wonderful group of friends who provide sincere support to us in good times and in bad.

Chiquita, Tell Me What's Long?

Why, Chiquita Bananas, that's what!

One of my guilty pleasures is plucking out fruit labels off the fruits at the produce section--the stickers that tell you where the fruit was imported from. My favorite stickers are the ones on the Chiquita bananas. At first, they had quirky messages on them like "Yum, yum Potassium!" and "Place sticker on forehead. Smile." But now, they have crazy faces on them, too!

And their stickers have led me to their cool new website, EataChiquita.Com, which lets you customize your own sticker which automatically gets posted on their virtual sticker wall! You can download your creation to post on Facebook or your blog, such as this sticker I designed above. It's a cannibalistic baseball fan! He eats Phillies! I mean, Philly cheese steaks! Haha!

Your plantain persona can also explore Chiquitaville and earn points to unlock more sticker pieces.

Go forth and "bananafy" yourself! (And watch a banana with a hullahoop while you wait!)

P.S. This banana-shaped 1GB USB from their online shop is too cute! With this, you can literally put a banana in your purse!

[banana usb image from chiquita online shop]

West Point's Cadet Color Guard

In honor of the recent Veterans Day, here's a postcard featuring the Legendary Corps of Cadets on parade at the United States Military Academy (USMA) in West Point, New York. The magnificent parade uniforms of the Corps are those of the American Infantry of the War of 1812.

West Point is located on the west bank of the Hudson River and is the nation's oldest military post in continuous operation. A permanent garrison of American Revolutionary troops was stationed here on January 20, 1778, to thwart British efforts to control river navigation and split the colonies. The USMA prepares selected young men and women for careers as Regular Army Officers.

[information from back of postcard]

I've been to West Point several times. Miss Iggy (my traveling doll) has been there, too. There is a guided bus tour at the West Point Visitor's Center which requires guests to provide a photo ID in order to get on the bus. Don't forget to check out the free museum showcasing American military history after the tour.