Two more hours and it will be 2012. 

Cheers to a new year, new life, new mornings, new chances, new ideas, new excitements, new travels, new dress, new shoes, new love, new feelings, new food, new fireworks, new hair, new eyeglasses, new posts, new blogs, new photos, new calendar, new friends, new time, new gadgets, new dance, new steps, new shows, new acts, new fears, new faces, new furniture, songs, new wine, new bottle of wine.

God had blessed everyone of us that we were able to pass through the year 2011. Let's make the most out of life for this coming 2012.

Just learned that the Gaisano Capital has been burned down when I was on my way to Bohol because the smoke coming from the burned building was obviously visible from where I was sitting inside the Supercat vessel.

Thinking about the employees and the people who work for the said mall made me sad. It was two days before Christmas and the terrible thing happened. I wonder how they felt about it and how they spent their Christmas knowing that they don't have work anymore. That isn't a cool Christmas present after all.

There were rumors that the Gaisano Capital management had intentionally burned the said building. I couldn't really comment but there were sayings that the building is ensured to three insurance companies and that burning it down won't affect their income.

Going back to work from a vacation means bringing home a "pasalubong". Pasalubong is any gift or souvenir brought for a family, loved ones or friends after being away for a period of time.

For almost three years, I would always buy Calamay or Peanut Kisses as pasalubong to my colleagues whenever I go home for vacation. For those who are not familiar with the two, Calamay is a sticky sweet famous delicacy of Bohol, it has been famous because of it is distinctively sold inside halved smooth coconut shells, but nowadays, this has been sold in plastic containers also for convenience. Peanut Kisses on the other hand is made from peanuts and egg whites shaped like miniature Chocolate Hills, the famous tourist spot in the island.

I am but proud that ma and pa had reached this point, indeed having Christ in the center of a marriage is essential for it to nourish and stay healthy and in love always. Last December 23, 2011, my parents just celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary. That was the same day that I went back to Bohol because of course of the said celebration.

Though there were a lot of passengers, I am thankful I was able to get my round trip tickets via Supercat. I would always love to travel with this vessel because though the price is a bit high, the service is extremely nice. We met at Bohol Quality mall as soon as I arrived and before going home, I bought a Choco Caramel Cake from BQ's bakeshop.

However, it's not an assurance that one can get home as soon as you want. There will be problems like fully booked boats and weather change. There was a recent storm which hit the country and which had caused a severe damage to the country. I am referring to the storm named Sendong. Of course you must have known about that killer storm. Anyway, these are just matters we can't handle and we can't do anything about it.

This is a late post actually however, I want to share how I love KFC SM Branch's new and younger vibe. I have indeed experience a new atmosphere in there. My friends and colleagues love KFC because of their cheap yet yummy Chicken Steak and of course the look and feel inside the said place.

My eyes can't get enough of the collage designed on the walls of the restaurant. I love the new KFC and the service was extremely faster compared before. We placed our orders at the counter area and were given with our own priority numbers. There's an LCD screen which will display the specific order numbers once it is available and ready for pick up. I had observed that this is a much faster and efficient way of serving the customers. Above all, what I really do love about it is the fact that anyone can take either solo photo of themselves or with the group because KFC has a new photo both just inside the dining area. So while still waiting for our orders, we stepped out and take a photo of us first.

Here are the gifts I purchased way before and a couple of days ago and were finished wrapping yesterday. I am happy I could share my blessings to those people I love. I have gifts for my godchildren as well and of course for my little niece, Aiesha. There are still a couple of people whom I haven't bought gifts yet, I will try to buy something for them before I go home in December 23. Well, hopefully I could get to do it while still able to manage my time with work and sleep.

Merry Christmas to everyone in advance. I know we think of gift giving when we talk about Christmas but I pray that each of us will be reminded of the right reason why there is Christmas.

I bet you have heard of what our fellow Filipinos from Iligan, Cagayan De Oro and Dumaguete are experiencing right now. I know you have watched, read or even heard of advertisements or postings about helping our brothers and sisters. I don't want to post pictures that may make us cry but I would like you to know that our kababayans are in deep need right now. 

Sendong had caused flash floods which had taken hundreds of lives and had left bruises, scars and wounds to those family members who lost loved ones. I believe that there is a reason why this had happened, I strongly believe that God has seen all these things and He is faithful enough to heal those wounds and give us hope.

The new Facebook timeline gives your Facebook page a more "magazine-like" feel and will tell the story of your life. - Mark Zuckerberg.

Aha! Since September, Facebook users have been going gaga about this new profile look and feel, yet they or shall I say we never waited for the release date instead, forced ourselves and found ways on converting the personal profile to be one. I won't deny liking it's lay out and I love the thought of having a customized profile header or cover instead. In fact, I have also shared how I converted my facebook profile to the new timeline before. Those who were techy and a bit pursuant in giving their profiles the new vibe paved their ways for the new timeline while the others patiently wait.

I went to the Social Security Service office last November 21, 2011 to update my incorrect SSS information  and the lady officer informed me that I have to wait for a month  for the changes to take effect. In my head, I thought a month is very long for just one info to be updated though I already know a lot of Filipino citizens might have been going through the same issue.

So today, even if it wasn't a month long yet I tried logging into my online SSS account. Surprisingly, my last name seemed to be changed already! From Butihan, now it's Butihen, my mom would be happy once she knows about this. Hooray!!! SSS seemed to be fast now. I wonder if this has been already updated weeks before. Anyway, this is actually great news!

Last weekend, right after we bought some groceries from Fooda Mambaling branch, we went straight to Oslob because it was their town fiesta. It was like months when I last went there and I was kinda excited because I will be seeing my godchild, Shaika (guess I have introduced her to you before). 

It was a bummer because I slept early on Saturday night so I was not able to roam around the town during it's feast day. They said there was a live band disco that night but I stay lying in bed the whole night, I woke up at three in the morning having a feeling that it was still seven in the evening.

Fooda Saversmart just opened today, December 10, 2011 and since the mart is just a few blocks away from where I live, I went there with James and tagged his younger sister also. As expected, the place was very crowded. The area was not that big though especially the cashier part that the lines were too long it had covered the grocery items. We were having trouble with getting the cocktails because it was over crowded by a cart full of junked foods.

The spaces between the carts and the grocery items were too narrow that it was impossible for one to move from one spot to another. And newly arrived customers would be very disappointed because they can't get to the items in the front part.

Today we welcomed a new pair of guppy fish and a white female fighting fish. The lady at the pet shop said the guppies are safe with Azule. Without any negative thinking, we placed all four of them inside the bowl with their new home since we bought a new artificial rock with weeds on it and colorful pebbles too which made the bowl aquarium pretty clear and lively.

Unfortunately, something bad happened. We were merrily watching the four of them when Azule attacked the male guppy and bite its tail. Good thing we were there and took Azule away from the poor guppy. Now the male guppy could hardly swim, he is very pitiful and I wish I have not placed it with Azule. I felt sorry thinking about it and realized Azule should be grounded by not giving him food but I can't stop myself feeding him. 

December is my second favorite month of year because parties and gift giving is happening all month long, I find it really pleasing to my eyes. In line with that, our team just had our Christmas party yesterday. I know its very early knowing it's still the first week of the December. It was intentionally planned this way because of the drastic changes that our account is experiencing right now.

See most of the team mates are going to another account next week and that made the party that early. The truth is that our team had gone through some emotional challenges because of the transfer that had happen, most of the people who were transferred are those who had been with the account for more than five years. They had already considered the account as their second home and it was really painful leaving the support. It had become their comfort zones, though it was really unacceptable they got no other choice than to leave and move on. Change is really inevitable especially in this type of job, I am just blessed that I was not included in the transfer.

I can sense that December will be very good to me and to James as well. Yesterday, I received my first Christmas gift and named him Azule, he is a blue fighting fish and then today, James got his first Christmas gift in a form of a gadget. He just purchased a new Acer Aspire One D257 today at SM City Cebu Cyberzone. 

It's has been weeks since we started hunting for the best net book which will suit our preferences and needs. Today, that has been put to an end since at last, James had found the one for him. Blue has been our theme color for this month and so, he purchased the blue one. The truth is, we never thought about it until we realized after buying.

Today, I have just received a blessing. It's the birth of a new member of the family and I am so happy having him. Since before, I want to have a pet, something which is easy to take care of and not too costly. I am glad that finally, I was able to get one. It's indeed a joyful way of welcoming December, my second favorite month of the year next to my birth month, January.

So, without further a do, I would like to introduce to you my fighting fish pet Azule. The truth is, I don't know if Azule is a boy or a girl but since his color is blue then I would consider him as a boy and his name is obviously because of his color. Azule, exaggerated word for asul, a Filipino term equivalent to blue. He is my first Christmas gift!

So why did I choose fish?