I was out of town from Friday afternoon until about 1 am today, Sunday.  While I was gone, I thank you for continuing to visit my site.  As much as I would like to reply to the comments you have posted, I was not only preoccupied helping out for our Dad’s reception dinner but the Opera Mini on my Blackberry has been having small issues when I make a reply.  I eventually gave up and just focus on what I had to do while I was there.

Now, that I’m back, I’ll definitely keep up with your blogs and promise to reply on the comments that you left on my site.  But if you may, it’s 2:54 in the morning now and I must take myself to rest.

Have a Blessed Sunday everyone!  Until later….

The Labor Day weekend was known as the unofficial last days of summer.  The weather was good with the sun shining just like on normal summer days.  We were able to do a lot of things.  From harvesting corn to fishing, tubing to riding the 4-wheeler.  It was fun when it lasted.  But soon after that weekend, the cold wind starts to blow and certainly leaves are starting to change their color.  They may not have fallen yet  for autumn but you can definitely feel that winter is just around the corner.

It is going to be my first winter here in Minnesota.  I don’t know what to expect but it’s better to expect the worse, right?  Right now, I am just taking comfort looking at the pictures of our last days of summer.

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I have gotten used to the convenience of the washer and drier.  But trust me, I came into a challenge when we started to live in an apartment where the unit doesn’t have its own but is shared by all the units in the same level.

It wasn’t bad at all.  I have learned to adapt the set-up until the obsessive-compulsive side of me surfaced.  I took pride in doing laundry.  That is because I make sure that whatever comes out of the dryer would not only smell fresh but absolutely clean.  I am very particular with whites.  I made sure that whites are pre-soaked overnight… if not with bleach at least with Oxi-Clean.  I want them to come out bright and spotless.  But not having the washer/dryer to ourselves brought a little concern this time.  I can’t soak the whites in the washer for someone might want to do the laundry before I do.  I made some thinking…

Then I came up with the idea of going back to basic.  I grabbed our laundry container and emptied it.  I sorted the clothes-separating the colored from the whites.  I then put enough scoops of Oxi-Clean and dump enough hot water in it.  Then I soaked the whites and made an effortful stir and left it overnight.

Going back to basic isn’t that bad at all.  Until…

I won’t be blogging much today.  I’m sick and I need a time off the computer.  I have to have the much needed rest.  I will try to reply to your comments.  I will suspend my blog hopping until I will get well.  For now, I’ll just have to nap and hopefully be well soon so I can bounce back and visit your blogs and keep you updated with my happenings too.

My Red Blackberry Pearl

You’ll be amazed at the small, sleek form factor of the BlackBerry Pearl. It’s like no other BlackBerry. But it’s more than just a new look. This BlackBerry delivers everything its predecessors delivered and a whole lot more. The BlackBerry Pearl offers new features never before seen in a BlackBerry like, a 1.3 mega pixel camera, voice recognition, and an MP3 player to name a few. Try it for a few hours and you are hooked!

Yes, you heard me right.  I have a new phone.  I earlier posted about my Blackberry Pearl 8100 White.  But yesterday, Travis came home with a surprise… the same Blackberry phone model but this time it’s in one of my favorite color- Red.  Ruby as others call it.

True enough, this phone is outstanding when it comes to functionality, this is not far behind the other Blackberry devices.  It has been proven from the time that I used it.  Today, after I got from my interview and decided to hang out at Travis’ workplace, I used my blackberry to serve as modem to connect to the internet since there was a very low Network Connection avialable in the Lunchroom where I stayed.  Prior to that, I have been exchanging YM messages with Melody and my sisters while we were still driving and did not have access to my laptop.

I am loving it especially not that it comes with my favorite color.  Of course, I have my own wallpaper set-up.  The same wallpaper I have in my laptop.  So, wherever Travis will be, he can never be too far away.  He’ll just be in my fingertips….

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The Minnesota State Fair ’08 popularly known as the Great Minnesota Get-Together has culminated last Labor Day Monday.  My first experience of being in such a huge event was in no doubt stupendous.  The State Fair hosts a lot of activities for fun and enjoyment for people of all ages.

Travis and I left home at around 9am and drove to the Co. Rd. 73 Park and Ride (Transit Center).  From there we took the bus that brought us in the front gate of the Fairgrounds.  We started to explore what the Fair has to offer and we sat down for awhile in the Rodeo Arena watching people showing off their calves and cows for judging. While I was there, all I could think of is how tasty their meat must be.  I was hungry and before I turned crazy, we decided to leave the arena.

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After spending the Labor Day weekend in Fergus Falls, I am back!

It wasn’t a very long time away and I feel I didn’t miss much online. Thanks to my phone that keeps me connected and brings my email right to my fingertips.  I think it’s worth the additional $20 for the blackberry service.  Not only that I get unlimited messaging with other Blackberry users (my brother in law and some of Travis’ former colleagues), but I also get unlimited internet service on my phone.  I can connect my laptop to my phone and use it to connect myself to the internet or I can simply browse the internet with Opera Mini browser that I had installed in the phone.

Now that I’m back, I have a lot of stories to tell.  But give me a little time to recuperate and I’ll bounce back with energy to blog.

I have been detached from a personal mobile device for more than a year now.  Last year, I just felt no need for one since I have my Voice Over Internet Provider (VOIP).  We had our VOIP disconnected this year when I left for the Netherlands.  When I came back, I started applying for jobs and recruiters would call me through Travis’ mobile.  It was okay at first when Travis didn’t have work yet.  But it is starting to be disappointing when Travis would get calls for me about jobs and I would only be able to call them back when TS is home from work which is usually when recruiters’ are out of the office as well.

Yesterday, we were both came into a decision that I need a phone.  He asked me if I wanted a mobile phone or we’d simply get another VOIP.  I weighed things and it turned out that I’m more inclined to get a mobile phone in case I might start a job, at least I have it with me all the time.  I first considered of having a prepaid phone.  Afterall, I won’t be using the phone that much unless I get calls or I need to call my prospect employers.

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Last night, I was very excited and eager to cook the Fried Chicken Recipe that I learned from my sister-Rema.  The first thing I did in the morning was to get the chicken out of the freezer and had it thaw.  I got all the seasonings ready and the bread crumbs in handy.  I prepared the mashed potatoes with sour cream and chives ahead of time.  That way, all my attention will be on my chicken dish.

I started season the chicken drumsticks with onion powder, garlic powder, Italian season, salt and pepper.  It already looks good.  I poured enough amount of flour inside a quart size Ziploc and added enough bread crumbs in the mixture.  I started coating 1, 2 and 3 drumsticks and pan-fried.  I noticed that even if I had the fire set to medium-high, the skin starts to burn slowly.  So, I investigated and tasted it.  To my astonishment, it tasted sweet and came to a conclusion that what I thought was flour turned out to be a confectioner’s sugar.  I knew it right there and then that I burnt my reputation along with the chicken on fire.

If Gordon Ramsay was here, he would already be all over my face.  I immediately corrected my actions by tossing the breading to the trash and made a new one with just bread crumbs.  As for the chicken that has been cooked, I pierced each piece and fry them again to cook thoroughly.  The second batch turned out better.  But I should’ve used new cooking oil instead of just straining it.  Another mistake made… but certainly lessons are learned.

I have had my setbacks in cooking.  I’m not a chef but I can cook and I can innovate a little bit.  According to TS, it’s not innovation it’s semi-following-the-recipe.  Although Travis attempted to imitate Ramsay with his language and tone, he still enjoyed the chicken dish that for me tasted almost like “banana cue”.  I love cooking because every time I cook, I learn something.  I enjoy cooking because it is how I express myself.  It is where I poured my love to those who are eating the food that I have prepared.  Now, I just need my own kitchen.  For I have just started and I will never stop improving my cooking skills even if Gordon Ramsay will yell, “shut it down!”.

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I have finally declared myself a revolutionary after witnessing the Eco Experience at the State Fair yesterday.  It was a different experience.  It has strengthen the environmentalist in me after it was awaken by my sister-Rorie‘s post entitled Environmentalist Forever!  The Eco Experience was definitely a one place to stop and learn more about adapting a “greener” lifestyle.  There are exhibits of lush rain gardens, a cutting-edge eco home, and displays on renewable energy, organic products and services.

Being a revolutionary, I commit myself to use a “green” bag (non-plastic and non-paper bags) when I go to stores.  Bringing my own bag helps me avoid bringing garbage in my home in the form of plastic or paper.  This way, I won’t be concern on how and where to dispose them.  Although, I must admit I still have those plastic bags but I am reusing them as garbage liners and such.

There are more ways to help our environment.  You can find more at www.reduce.org and be a revolutionary yourself.  This is just my first step and will continue to live a “greener” lifestyle.  Reduce.org… if not you, then who?