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“We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake.”

“It is not light that we need, but fire;
it is not the gentle shower, but thunder.
We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake.”
Frederick Douglass

So I decided to have a day-off today. I may or may not work tonight but right now, I think I’d update the blog.

Today’s news is the 6.9 magnitude earthquake that hit Negros at 11:49 a.m. earlier today.

Jette, Ivy and I had just finished breakfast (we had spaghetti). I was at the sink, rinsing dishes so I can wash them. I felt the earth move and though a truck was passing outside. But then I heard a noise like one of the airplanes landing at the near-by Sibulan Airport and the truck-passing-by rumbling of the earth intensified to a gentle side to side movement THEN to an intense rolling movement like the earth was trying to split itself open. Ivy watched the TV shake and Jette and I had grabbed the bathroom’s doorframe and waited for the earth to still.

It didn’t… for long, long, long seconds. The earth still shook and gave out that terrifying angry rumble which grew louder and louder. The cups were rattling, my dishes were rattling, the trees outside were waving like crazy and I could see PJay moving too. The sink and the doorjamb shook beneath my hands.

I really believed that somewhere nearby, buildings will collapse and a tsunami will ensue. It was that strong.

Anyhow, the earth gradually stopped shaking until, I guess, it was just me. We scattered to text family and friends to check how they were.

A tsunami alert had been raised, and apparently, a wall collapsed and a child died. News here. So far, we haven’t felt any more aftershocks after the first long, strong one.

I feel equal parts terrified, fascinated and humbled. Terrified because I have lived through the 1990 earthquake (I was ten. Do the math.) and remembered being horrified at how Baguio had looked like. Fascinated because I could imagine tectonic plates moving beneath my feet to form and reform. And humbled because mankind may be at the top of the food chain, but at the end of the day, we still owe our excistence to something far greater than we are.

God bless us all.

Merry Christmas!

Let’s not take our blessings forgranted :)

Ranks and Titles for $1,000

I went to bed early but ended up staring at the underside of the top bunk of my bed so I decided to download a new audiobook into Acheron and listen until my brain shuts down. But as the iPod decided to take its sweet time creating a back-up, I ended up checking my Sim and my CastleVille kingdom and ended up playing Jeopardy on Facebook.

I remember playing an 8-bit version of the game on the PC when I was young, and I always ended up winning because of the “Bible” category. The computer game was saved on a diskette (the big, thin ones) and had five questions for all five categories so you’re really playing the whole game. I loved it and Wheel of Fortune and Family Feud.

Anyhow, I saw Ivy was playing it so I decided to start, for old times sake. I sucked haha but I noticed that I’m good at US history and geography. And then there was “Ranks and Titles” that I saved the best for last on my first game, thinking that I kinda know stuff about lords and ladies and dukes and duchesses. Wasn’t expecting this to come up but it had me laughing out really loudly.

Nanalo tuloy ako haha US Air Force FTW!

Anyway, audiobook is loaded, and eyes are droopy. Off to bed. Good night!

Human Heart Nature’s Natural Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner are My Hair’s New BFFs

My hair just found its new best friend in the Human Nature Natural Moisturizing Shampoo and Conditioner combo. I’ve been bemoaning the fact that my hair is in desperate need of deep conditioning but I’m too lazy to go to the salon for one (or for a haircut, which I’ve been planning for the last two weeks). And I’m also unhappy with my current commercial shampoo brand which I bought when I ran out of the original formula Moisturizing Shampoo and Body Wash (Aloe Vera, Egg White and Mandarin) which the company has discontinued. I was kinda disappointed because it was the one shampoo that my hair really liked so it took me a while to accept the new shampoo. Well… it took me dry hair and itchy scalp :p

Anyway, earlier today I received my order (yay!) which included the following:

  • Natural Moisturizing Shampoo with CREAMFoam® Technology
  • Natural Moisturizing Conditioner
  • Intensive Hair Mask – Gugo Bark & Avocado (Jasmine Scent)
  • 100% Natural Tinted Lip Balm (Flame Tree)
  • Body Butter – Goat’s Milk & Cocoa (Mango Scent)

I’m going to be a first time user of the most everything except for the Mango-scented body butter which I can guarantee is made of pure awesome. Aside from the fact that I love the mango scent, it also REALLY moisturizes the skin. I use it after baths and/or before I sleep. And I wake up to really soft, smooth skin. I really felt the difference the first time I used it. I thought something was wrong with my hand when I touched my arm. Plus it somewhat cured my mild KP (Keratosis Pilaris). And THAT should be a different review but hey! I really love the product. And the banana-scented Hand & Foot Salve ;)

Okay, back to my hair experience. I was so excited to try out the new shampoo and conditioner, I immediately jumped into the shower.

The Shampoo
The original shampoo (which I reviewed here) had a jelly-ish feel. You know, when you pour it onto your hand it won’t run down the sides and would actually wiggle. The Natural Moisturizing Shampoo feels like your usual commercial shampoo.

I poured a small amount on my palm then latered my hair. And that was when I understood the “CREAMFoam” bit because it did feel creamy. You know when you put on shampoo and lather your hair, and the bubbles are everywhere until you get a white sudsy Afro? This doesn’t have that kind of foam. It’s like a milk foam in a cup of coffee rather than a Tide foam in your laundry. I like it. It feels like your shampoo is concentrated on your hair rather than foaming up for show.

And when I rinsed it, I was met with the familiar sqeaky clean feel on my hair. Yes, it actually squeaked when I ran my hands down in *sigh of contentment… for both me and my hair* It immediately felt lighter. And that may be in my head, knowing that I just washed down a couple of months-worth of chemicals from my locks. It also has the mandarin scent of the original shampoo which I appreciate.

The Conditioner
I’m definitely more excited about using the conditioner because… well, of this. I love the after-the-olive-oil treatment but I can’t exactly do that everyday, can I? My hair needs conditioning!

So after rinsing my hair, I immediately poured just the right enough amount of the Natural Moisturizing Conditioner on the palm of my hand. It’s richer than the shampoo, and has the consistency of lotion. So I rubbed it between my hands and lathered my hair. I ran it over my head and between the strands. And I kid you not, my fingers just went through the tangles right on the first pass. I thought it was because it had the product in it, so I shrugged and bundled my hair at the top of my head while I went through the rest of the motions of taking a bath. But when I rinsed it, my hair still felt soft and silky. I stayed under the water longer than I normally do because I thought I wasn’t rinsing the conditioner.

The next challenge is for how it would feel when my hair dries. I didn’t comb my hair after the bath and allowed it to air dry. I have curly hair so tangles are a normal part of life. I did break a comb once when I was trying to tame my hair, so yes, that really happens in real life. Anyway, I lost track of how long I sat, waiting for it to dry until I ran my fingers through my already semi-dry hair and encountered not one tangle.

I think I’m in love again.

So do I recommend this combo? Heck, yes. But of course you have to keep in mind that your hair might not react to it the same way as my hair did.

I can’t wait to try out the hair mask too. I’m thinking tomorrow. But since I already know that it works, having used the original scented one before, I just want to see how the jasmine scent works out.

So again, thank you Human Heart Nature for making these exceptional products.

Photo is from Human Heart Nature Facebook page.

And this is the reason why I’m in tears…

I’ve been crying since 6 p.m., watching coming home videos, military honors and even performances of the national anthem. I swear, I cry at everything! But then again, I’m putting myself into a role in a book so allow me my eccentricities. Thank you.

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