Wait a minute, are christians the only ones celebrating Christmas? I mean, it is a holiday and most of the people are in their homes. What do they do? If they aren't Christian people, then, how do they celebrate christmas?

It's pretty simple. Some people just live on their normal lives because they are not used to having these kind of celebrations, but mostly, people from different culture and different religion celebrate with the Christian people. They share in the Spirit of Christmas. Some may call Christmas the "Holidays", some call this day "Yuletide..", others just relate it to a simple holiday but still, it is quite a celebration for all.

It is really quite a great day for all of the people especially for those who are followers of Christ. Like me, I believe in Jesus Christ, I believe in his teaching about the "common good". All people in the world may not agree with what I believe in but we should all remember, why do we have a religion? What does religion teach us? Is it not being good to our neighbors, to our fellowmen? Is it not teaching the common good?

Christmas reminds us that there is no barrier in attaining the common good. Jesus was born in a manger that was offered by a Jew. Wise men of different beliefs arrived in the manger just following what they believed in. If these stories were true then it reminds us of how we are united in Christ. And if it wasn't true at all, then the story just reminds us that we can attain the common good by sharing, like what the jew did, sharing his manger to a woman giving birth. And by following one's faith which may lead us to enlightenment to what ever awaits us.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and all the greetings that i missed out, to all of you and may you have a bountiful next year.... 

During those times of hibernation, i felt like everyday is a 10 mile hike. A never ending cycle of eat, sleep and work. During the past four months I've been doing nothing but school work. I'm so glad that I've finished my project proposal thanks to my hardworking teammates. I was hoping that I could graduate this March 2009 but sadly, I wasn't able to get the cut. I'm am trailing many subjects so I guess I will finish my college this October of 2009.

My goodness what a hard time it was these past months, I hardly relaxed myself because of the constant pressure. I have to meet deadlines and all. It was the most tiresome 4 months I ever had since I was starting my education. I thought it would be an easy come and easy go thing, but, I was wrong.

So, for now, I'll try to relax myself and have a taste of the best things that life could offer.. hehehe. This is the first time in four months that I will surf the web not for school stuff but for liesure. May the force be with me..!!

- yours trully-
By Andrea Syrtash, ONDating Special to Yahoo! Personals

You've had feelings for your friend for a while and you're worried about crossing the line and ruining the friendship. That's not really true, of course, but that's what you keep telling yourself so you can justify not putting yourself on the line and risking rejection.

Sure -- it's possible to love a friend of the opposite sex without picturing him or her in bed. Having feelings for your friend doesn't necessarily prove Harry's theory in "When Harry Met Sally" who famously declared that "No man can be friends with a woman that he finds attractive. He always wants to have sex with her."

There are exceptions to Harry's rule, but one thing is certain -- being seen as just a friend by all the people you want to date can be frustrating. So here are a few ways to prevent being stuck in (cue scary music): 'The Friend Zone':

1. Do Flirt

It's okay if romance is on your brain when you greet your friend. In fact, it can fuel the chemistry. It's good for your friend to catch you subtly checking him or her out. As long as you're not drooling or gawking, it can be sexy. You want your friend to think he or she imagined the look. Light touching and sincere and specific compliments are great for flirting, too.

2. Don't Be the Problem Solver

Are you on speed dial every time your friend needs something fixed or wants to process a bad relationship? It's nice to help your friend occasionally, but make sure you're not the one he or she associates with problems.

If you do come over to help, mention that you're happy to assist for an hour but have plans after that. Better to remain a little mysterious and have your friend wondering who else is getting your attention.

Create unique memories. You're aware of your friend's passions, so initiate fun and interesting activities that you know your friend will enjoy but isn't doing with others.

And -- if someone has dumped you, confide in a friend you don't have feelings for! Remember to keep an upbeat attitude and stay confident -- those are two of the most attractive qualities cited by singles when looking for a mate.

Of course, not every friendship ends with a romantic happy ending and you may have to be prepared that your crush just wants to stay your friend. You'll have to decide if that's enough for you.

In the meantime, if you feel like you often end up in the friend zone with people you want to date, plant some of these seeds and see if anything grows in your relationship. Sometimes a glass of wine or a flirtatious exchange can change the dynamic... and you look at each other and wonder why it took so long.

    Lately, I've been thinking, am I in the right track? Is it the right and safest way to reach my goal in life? And if its not the safest way, will I endure all the stresses and challenges that I will face along the way?

    Since then, all I want to be when I grow up is to be successful one day. Success to me, honestly, means to finish my studies, help my brother and sister achieve their goals in life, build my mom and dad their dream house, be the richest man in the world and have a family that is God fearing. All of these seem to be a long way from where I am now. I'm still a college student struggling from the pressures of projects, examinations and other activities.

    I am the kind of person who is not tires of dreaming big things. I have a wild imagination. I want to climb to the top. To tell you honestly, I think I'm less than halfway to my goal but, I'm never giving up.

      Before I thought that the course I'm taking is the easiest way to achieve my dream. At first, it was cool and easy. It felt like I'm gonna get my prize in no time. But winds turned the table. Right now, It feels like I'm carrying the weight of the world behind my back. Subjects get harder and harder and projects become more complicated. What I thought was just a matter of time, now, feels like forever. Now I know that it is not easy out there.

    Still, I'm here standing. I'm gonna make it, I know I will. God is always there to help me no matter what. I got my family behind me. My friends are there to cheer for me.

    Even though the road ahead is bumpy, I know that as I reach the end, there will be a wide horizon full of possibilities, and one of those possibilities will be my ultimate goal in life. 

“That’s my son over there,” she said, pointing to a little boy in a red sweater who was gliding down the slide.

“He’s a fine looking boy” the man said. “That’s my daughter on the bike in the white dress.”

Then, looking at his watch, he called to his daughter. “What do you say we go, Melissa?”

Melissa pleaded, “Just five more minutes, Dad. Please? Just five more minutes.”

The man nodded and Melissa continued to ride her bike to her heart’s content. Minutes passed and the father stood and called again to his daughter. “Time to go now?”

Again Melissa pleaded, “Five more minutes, Dad. Just five more minutes.”

The man smiled and said, “OK.”

“My, you certainly are a patient father,” the woman responded.

The man smiled and then said, “Her older brother Tommy was killed by a drunk driver last year while he was riding his bike near here. I never spent much time with Tommy and now I’d give anything for just five more minutes with him. I’ve vowed not to make the same mistake with Melissa.

She thinks she has five more minutes to ride her bike. The truth is, I get Five more minutes to watch her play.”

Life is all about making priorities, what are your priorities?
Give someone you love 5 more minutes of your time today!

-Anonymous- 

    And so it came to pass. Time is so swift. Its "May half-way, what can you say?" Seems like everyone has been through a lot this summer. Some, happy because they were able to get the rest they deserve after months of school work. Others, sad, (because their boyfriends spotted a girl in the beach and they broke-up or the other way around). It isn't always sad or happy. It really depends on how you deal with things.

    I have some tips for those who want to get the most out of their summer break and end this season with a big smile on your face with no regrets and looking forward to the next summer time.

    1. Always put a smile on your face when you step out your door.

    2. If you find yourself in trouble call a friend and ask for help. (Do not put alcohol in the middle of your conversation, things might get worse.

    3. If you are in a relationship, go out with your partner, not on the usual dating place but into some new place that you both haven't gone yet. (make sure your budget's OK).

    4. Suggest to your mom or dad that you should go to the beach at least once this summer and bond to forget the stressful things during the busy days.

    5. Be cool. I mean be comfortable of what you wear. dont mind the brand, it doesn't count,  as long as you think you are comfortable with  it, then that's it.

    6. If you are bored surf the internet, find ways on how to make your day not boring. (hehehe)

    7. Have enough sleep this summer. Cover up all those sleepness nights you had during the busy days.

      Thats all my friends. I hope one of these 7 tips will help you. Good Luck and God Bless.!

    When I spoke with her on the phone, I directly fell in love with her voice. So, captivating, full of enchantment (a bit exaggerated). She knew me as a friend, and I too felt the same. But as time passed by, as we exchanged instant messages and txt messages, It felt like I'm starting to feel something about this girl. I don't know if its love but I surely know that it makes me smile thinking of her. (Hope she doesn't read this entry). 

    I know it would be impossible to have a relationship with her. The fact that she and I, are a thousand miles away and she is gorgeous and I'm just the other guy. But the fact that I'm her friend, may it be millions of miles, I'll still be here for here no matter what happens. God Bless all of you! 

This is a story about two very different people who live in two very different places separated by vast waters. One day, a guy was online. He was looking for a blog spot and found one. He felt at home with that spot and started to be involve in the community of the blog spot. He joined the forum and interacted with the people in it. One day, he saw a very interesting girl in the forum. He started replying in most of the topics the girl was into. Then the time came that the girl noticed that guy. They started to talk to each other with their replies and until such time they exchanged IM id's.

In their IM's they talked a lot and started to get to know each other. They freely express what they feel. The two of them have some things in common and a few differences. Their similiraties are their drive in building a very nice online friendship.

It was February 13. Around 10-11 in the evening, the guy realized something that he had never knew until that day. He started falling in love with the girl online. He didn't why it happened but he felt it. He never seen her in person. He was in love with the character that she was showing to him. She was as true as he believed. Though she's faraway, He loved her. The guy hoped that the girl would feel the same about him because he knew that chances are to few for them to meet. But the guy vowed to see the firl someday and one day it will end just like in the fairy tales...

We never know how their love would end up. It's up to their determination and how they would succeed all the obstacles that they will face. 

The Corrs - What Can I Do To Make You Love Me (The Corrs)
[audio:http://shadeofblue.i.ph/photo/d/133-2/The+Corrs+-+What+Can+I+Do+To+Make+You+Love+Me.mp3]

Roses are red, Violets are blue, I know its true, but where are you? Yes you!

Love is in the air. Obviously, Valentine's Day is just weeks away. The time for passion and romance and time for the crushes and stuff to ripen, you get what I mean.

All my life, I spend my Valentine's Day without a special someone. Not that I don't have my family, it's just that, I never experienced having a girlfriend before. Would you like to know my routine every Valentine's day? Ok. Here it is. First, I go to school (if it falls on a school day, if not, just sittin' by my computer), next, is watch others enjoy the day with their special someone, giving gifts to each other and those sort of things. And after all of that, I go to church and offer a long-stemmed white rose to Mother Mary (I've been doing this for the past 7 years).

I wonder how it feels to have a special someone whom you could share dreams with? You know what, I've been like this because of the many mistakes I have done in the past. Some of these things are, not telling my crush that I liked her until its too late, ignoring someone who likes me until such time I realized that I liked her too, then it becomes too late cause she's hanging out with another guy, and being a jerk, playing as a hopeless romantic hoping that with just one line of speech and then it would be magic!

You know what, I still believe in destiny, I believe in fairy tales, and I really believe in magic. I know that someday, on the right place at the right time, destiny will work it out, and I will find "the girl" that will return the missing pages I seek.

Cupid just missed me this year, I mean for the past few years. I may not be as easy as a target but I know, he'll get his luck soon. And so am I.

The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation. And every afternoon when the man in the bed next to the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed would live for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the outside world. The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake, the man had said. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Lovers walked arm in arm amid flowers of every color of the rainbow. Grand old trees graced the landscape, and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance. As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man could not hear the band, he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words. Unexpectedly, an alien thought entered his head: Why should hehave all the pleasure of seeing everything while I never get to see anything? It didn't seem fair. As the thought fermented, the man felt ashamed at first. But as the days passed and he missed seeing more sights, his envy eroded into resentment and soon turned him sour. He began to brood and found himself unable to sleep. He should be by that window - and that thought now controlled his life.

Late one night, as he lay staring at the ceiling, the man by the window began to cough. He was choking on the fluid in his lungs. The other man watched in the dimly lit room as the struggling man by the window groped for the button to call for help. Listening from across the room, he never moved, never pushed his own button which would have brought the nurse running. In less than five minutes, the coughing and choking stopped, along with the sound of breathing. Now, there was only silence--deathly silence.

The following morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths. When she found the lifeless body of the man by the window, she was saddened and called the hospital attendant to take it away--no words, no fuss. As soon as it seemed appropriate, the man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look. Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it all himself. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall.

Moral of the story:
The pursuit of happiness is a matter of choice...it is a positive attitude we consciously choose to express. It is not a gift that gets delivered to our doorstep each morning, nor does it come through the window. And I am certain that our circumstances are just a small part of what makes us joyful. If we wait for them to get just right, we will never find lasting joy.

The pursuit of happiness is an inward journey. Our minds are like programs, awaiting the code that will determine behaviors; like bank vaults awaiting our deposits. If we regularly deposit positive, encouraging, and uplifting thoughts, if we continue to bite our lips just before we begin to grumble and complain, if we shoot down that seemingly harmless negative thought as it germinates, we will find that there is much to rejoice about.