The day is almost over, but I really would not let the 3rd of September just pass me by without writing even just a short post to celebrate Jan’s birthday.

Yes, today September 3, is the birthday of our No. 1 Emerging Influential Blogger for 2009, Mr. Jan Geronimo who’s power comes by mere exhaling as he weaves his very stimulating articles in his blog.

Our friend Jena, actually started the celebration yesterday in her blog, in facebook, and in the Power50 circle. And though this may not be the official wrap up post, I am trying to continue what Jena Isle has started.

And here’s hoping that the next post would come from the man himself… please Jan, keep on exhaling.

Happy birthday, Jan! You are the real prolific writer.

P.S. Please write soon

One of the my frustrations as of late is trying to make my house into a home. I mean where my children would love to live and stay in, so that they would not go out so often. Which is really a quite tall order, because right now we do not have too much home furnishings and decor that would entice them to be homebodies. Aside from some basic furniture like a plain living room set, dining table and bed in their rooms, our house is practically bare.

And speaking of their bedroom, I also hope that I can add study tables in their every room, complete with desk lamps so that they would be encourage to study well and develop a good study habit. I read that one good way to develop a good study habit is to have a permanent place where they could do their lessons. That is why I am planning to let them have their own study corners.

I know I still have a long way to go as far as home accessories are concern. I still have to get a lot of items and arrange them carefully around the house to make it pleasant to the eyes and be comfortable place to stay in. Yes indeed, I am determined to make our house into a home, a place where a happy family would love to live in.

There are when I can’t help but reminisce when my kids were still babies,  especially when I see families in public places carrying their babies with them. I remember when they were still in their strollers and we would go around the neighborhood early morning or late afternoon, and almost all neighbors would greet us and say how cute our babies were.

I remember how to sing them lullabies just to put them to sleep. I do not know if it was my voice which put them to sleep or they got dizzy because I was dancing around as I was singing for them.

I remember when we were first time parents, and it was our first time to go to a store that sells baby things to look for strollers and other stuff. It was like entering a baby planet strollers world! There were lots of stuffs for babies there that I did not even know exist.

It was also then that I realized that when you buy a stroller, it was also inevitable not to buy  stroller accessories for your baby! You know – mobiles, toys and other stuff. It was either I was convinced or the saleslady was just a good in delivering her spiels. Nonetheless, there were no regrets with what we bought for our babies then.

I really miss those times when they were still the cute and adorable babies that they were.

A re-post from the old struggling blog.

Writing… Just for the heck of it!

What a title! Did it catch your attention? I bet it did! If not, why did you reach this far? Honestly, it’s hard to start a topic especially when you don’t really have any idea in mind of what to write about. You feel that you need to express something.

Something within is just raring to go out, it wants to escape, it wants to be heard, to be seen, to be read, TO BE SOMETHING!

You know it, you can feel it, but you just can’t put a finger on it. Really now, is this really something worth writing? And afterward, something worth reading? I really don’t know. It doesn’t really make sense, does it?

Well, sometimes life doesn’t really make sense.

Second paragraph – still pounding on the keyboard without any definite topic in mind. Blame it on the neighbor who plays too loud a music. There’s a birthday party going on next door. It’s a children’s party. We could have been there, except that my children aren’t here.

They are staying at my mother’s house because nobody will look after their needs here. My wife is with her mother; she’s staying there because she is sick. She has kidney problem, actually she has already undergone three dialysis sessions. She has to stay with her mother because nobody will take care of her here because I have to work. We can’t afford to hire household help.

So I’m here in our house by my lonesome. Fighting loneliness with the help of my keyboard. It’s a difficult set-up, but when you realize that it’s all for the better, you may learn to accept it, though not necessarily agree with it.

Anyway, I can visit them on my way home from work.

That is why I’m here, in front of my computer pounding on the keyboard without any specific topic to write. Maybe, I’m just trying to fight the bitterness. Heck! I don’t want to write about bitterness! It isn’t helping anybody!

So, what is there really to write about? The party next door? There is nothing really going in there, loud music, children screaming, maybe some balloons, cakes and ice cream, clowns perhaps. But what do I care? I’m not there. I surely would not attend a children’s party without any children in tow!

Maybe the party is almost over, as I don’t hear the emcee talking anymore, just continuous playing of loud music. Maybe it’s chow time! I even hear some vehicles already leaving. Can’t blame them, it’s almost eight in the evening.

Okay, so much for the party. There is really nothing much interesting going on. There’s nothing good on TV, don’t have any new VCD to watch. Maybe I could play the guitar later, perhaps I could write another song. But then again, the song that I’ll write maybe as vague as this one I’m writing now. The same may be true if I attempt to write a poem.

Wow! What a predicament I’m in! Having an itch and not knowing how to scratch it!

Meanwhile, the music next door gets louder as ideas in my mind get more scattered. I’ve reached this far, without any concrete subject to talk about.

But, is it really possible to write an article or essay without any specific topic?

I mean, how would the ideas flow? How would it start? How would it evolve? How can you elaborate it? And finally, how can you conclude it? AM I GETTING ANYWHERE?

Honestly, I already read some articles in newspapers and magazines wherein authors don’t have any specific topic. They just keep on blabbering away. Putting in highfalutin words, that not all readers really understand. Making them appear intellectual and powerful writers. But when you begin to analyze and dissect their article, you will see that they don’t really have any good thing to write about. They are just going in circles, making their topic appear long enough. Just one smart way of beating the deadline.

Maybe, this one is just like that. Except that, this one makes no pretensions of being an excellent or an intellectual article. It doesn’t have to. There is no deadline to beat, no name or image to uphold, and no monetary compensation to consider. It’s just that the author wants to say something but just don’t exactly know what it is.

I long have been wanting to go back to writing. It’s been too long since I really poured my soul into text. Trying to paint a vision… an emotion… in black and white. Through the use of printed words.

But without any specific topic to write, how should I start? But if I don’t start, how can I squeeze those literary juices?

So I start, hoping that it would make those creative juices flowing. To write something… anything… just write – for the heck of it!

Note: This one was written and resting on the hard disk of my PC since 2004

No, I don’t have superpowers. I cannot leap over tall buildings nor run faster than a train. I don’t have metal armors, laser vision eyes, magic potion, a powerful ring, telekinetic powers, or super speed. But even without these superhuman abilities, it doesn’t mean there’s nothing I can do to help.

There is something I can do… and there is something you can do… because we have a heart.

Even as we speak, the floods in Pakistan continue to wreck havoc. And because of the floodwaters, thousands of people who are affected by the calamity have been cut off from help.

Fortunately, the World Food Program is doing everything to be able to deliver the much needed help to them. WFP is stepping up airlifts of desperately needed food and supplies to help those who are isolated, to keep them going until the waters recede.

And what does that has to do with us? A LOT!

We can help WFP help those who are affected by this flooding. We can help make a difference, even if we do not have superpowers.

Wherever we are in world right now, we can do our share.

We can make donations to the WFP on the widget in this blog post. It does not have to be so much, any amount that you can give… a little goes a long way… a very long way. Because when all those little amounts have been put together, they can do great wonders for this cause.

But who are the World Food Program?
The WFP is the worlds’ largest humanitarian organization and the United Nation’s frontline emergency relief agency, and this flooding in Pakistan is but one of those emergencies they are putting their priorities on.

Their main mission is to help fight world hunger and malnutrition, by helping deliver the much needed food for the mothers and children who need them the most. You can help this fight against world hunger by helping to fill the cup. Just click the widget on the side banner to do your share and help fill the cup.

Here’s a video of who WFP is and what it does.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=XA2xkaXcyuE

Yes, I am not a superhero. I don’t have superpowers… but there is something I can do…

And so can you.

Right now, she’s still young, barely 12 years. So she is not yet into fashion… well, not so much really. At lease that’s what I thought. Lately though, I find myself looking at wholesale handbags prices whenever I go out. Either in the malls, in the public market, or anywhere I go that I see those beautiful lady bags. And yes, I take a look at them even if I am just alone.

I remember to buy my wife, even though just on special occasions. Now, I think it won’t be long til I will be buying for my daughter too. Especially now that she seems to go out a lot lately.

Lately also, I noticed that she fancies belts too, different kinds of belt – wide belts, thin belts, western belts, plastic belts, string belts, all kinds of belts. I haven’t really bought her yet, but I noticed her looking at those every time we are in the malls.

And of course, not to mention – the accessories. So, I might as well be on the lookout for wholesale jewelry prices too. Not really much to spoil my daughter, mind you. Just wanting to make her happy, without necessarily making her look like a walking Christmas tree.

I guess, she’ll grow up eventually. Whether I like it or not, so I might as well be prepared for it.

What would make The Struggling Blogger happy?

Well, if you can deliver her to my doorstep, that’s a good start. But that would be impossible, right? And it’s not really the topic of this post. Admit it though, it got your attention.

So since you’re already “captured” why don’t you sit down, relax, and let’s continue discussing what could make The Struggling Blogger happy, who knows? You might be able to help.

What about Infolinks makes me happy?
No, Infolinks didn’t give me millions. Not yet at least haha… To be honest, I have yet to get my first payout, because I haven’t reached the minimum payout threshold so far, which is only $50 by the way. But I’m not complaining.

It’s not their fault really. Of course, I am responsible for the content of my blog. And being a personal blog, I really don’t use enough keywords just to earn. I am still for the content of my blog, and not my earning. But having Infolinks there wouldn’t hurt.

But what I really like about Infolinks, aside from it being easy to install and run, is that whenever I have a question, I always get a response from them in my email, no matter how trivial they are.

In my post about Infolinks, I was very much honored that Sarah from Infolinks dropped by my blog and even left a comment, acknowledging my post. Has any other done that? Not to me. It was totally a first time.

And I also got a response when I asked Sarah about having an affiliate account with Infolinks. And this I need to mention, the emails/responses I received were not “system generated” wherein you get a standard answer and a control number. The emails were answered by real people.

What can Infolinks do to make me happy? Really happy?
I really thought long and hard, when I receive this email from Infolinks, which says “Dream On” and say whatever it is that I wish for Infolinks to do to make me happy.

I almost wanted to ask, “Can you guys give me a car?”

Seriously, for a single father, my first priority always has been my three kids. And being in a tight financial fix, I haven’t really been able to have a good time with them lately. How I wish I can take them out, for a whole day – movies, eat out, bowling, buy them new clothes perhaps, or just goof up in the mall.

I remembered my son, when he was younger, and asked me if we can spend one night in a hotel. He was curious because he wants to experience how it is being booked and treated a VIP in those luxurious hotels. Of course, I didn’t say “no,” but I didn’t say “yes,” I just said “someday.” Until now, with my son already a teener, that “someday” hasn’t arrived yet.

Happy memories with my kids while they are still young. Definitely, that would make me happy.

And while I’m at it, can I throw in my eternal childhood wish of a “choo-choo” train set too? Haha… I have always dream of that. Whenever I hear the word wish, picture of a toy train running on its track with realistic sound and smoke, always flashes in my mind.

But of course, my kids are always the priority.

Now you know, what would make The Struggling Blogger happy… happy memories, that I would be able to look back to when I am older.

Yes, The Struggling Blogger is a personal blog.

Of course, you knew that. But guess what, I don’t. Well, at least not until recently.

When I started this blog, I was really hoping that I could ride on the blogging craze of “earning money online,” so I thought it was a blog about online opportunities.  But just like the myth that it was, I never really earned any, thus it was impossible to be that kind of blog.

Then I also blogged about Manny Pacquiao – his fights, deals, and careers, so for a while I thought, this blog could be a sports blog. But other than posts about Pacquiao, which were really borne out of trending rather than genuine interest on the sports of boxing, there is nothing sportacular about this blog. So a sports blog, this ain’t.

Posts about twitter, facebook and other online stuff don’t really make this blog a techie blog nor a social media blog. Personal accounts of the movies I’ve seen with the kids, like Karate Kid and Bedtime Stories, do not really make this a movie blog.

What remains really then is the personal blog category. Because I really expressed nothing but personal thoughts and opinions, reactions and views of the things I’ve seen, heard, read about me. Be it the movie, current events, sports, social media, blogger’s event and more.

There’s no particular niche, but a mix bag of everything and anything that I fancy writing about. Because I also have my views on a lot of things.

And another reason for claiming my blog as a personal blog is to identify what category you could help me, in my quest for this year’s Philippine Blog Awards or the PBA 2010. Yes, it’s a long shot. But it’s worth a try. After all, I do have some interesting posts on this blog too.

Scout around, and I’m sure you will find something that could interest you.

This is my blog, and everything here is personal.

In my occasional web surfing, looking for information and some opportunities, I often encounter the phrase reverse mortgage as one source of additional cash. And I noticed that this kind of credit facility is usually offered to the elderly or the seniors, especially the retirees since it does not require repayment really from their part, thus leaving them without worries in their financial management.

But are reverse mortgages really advisable? It really depends on how you look at and how stable is your present financial standing.  Searching for  reverse mortgage information I found in this type of loan facility, the borrower, usually an elder, is offered a loan with his lien on his property as the collateral.

Once approved, the borrower receives the money and spends it in whatever way he pleases. He need not worry about amortization of his loan, because he won’t be paying it. When the buyer passes away or leaves the house for some reason, the property will be sold and from the proceeds, his loan availed via reverse mortgage will be paid.

So do you think it is a good credit facility? I guess so, if the borrower does not have any relatives who will be running after the property.

As I was about to wrap up my guest posting marathon, I had an even crazier idea – that was to challenge myself in poetry. So I made an announcement in my Facebook profile, inviting all my friends to “Challenge me to poetry.”

I asked them to challenge me by giving me a word, phrase or subject that they fancy and I’d try to write a decent poem it. And boy! Did they challenge me! And I love all the challenges given to me, it really made me think.

I’ve never written so many poems in so little time in my life.

Here is the first list of the finished poems, and I haven’t even reached half of them. So expect at least two more installment of this list.

Yesterday, my name was happiness
A sentence submitted by Manuel Villoria, and I used it as a title for the poem although I never really used it in the poem itself. A poem that speaks of how happiness can come… and go in such a short time and what remain were only memories of yesterday.

Queen of the night
My friend Jan Geronimo submitted “cougar” to challenge me. Upon reading it, images of Demi Moore, Sharon Stone, and Halle Berry flashed in my mind. But I didn’t write a poem about them, instead I wrote about a typical next-door cougar and guess where she has been.

Anyang kayanakan tamu (When we were young)
Another Kapampangan poem, for words “bacting” (small bell) and “sorbetes” (dirty ice cream) submitted by high school batchmate Arnel Gutierrez. The poem recalls the simplicity of playing in the street in those times, and waiting for neighborhood ice cream man (sorbetero) to pass by.

Maari ba akong maging iyong kulambo? (Can I be your mosquito net?)
OFW and artist Ever Villacruz simply replied “kulambo” (mosquito net) to the challenge. So wrote I poem where one likens himself to a “kulambo” and protecting his love while allowing her still to breathe and move around.

Don’t grow up so fast, my son
High school batchmate Girlie Pascua Sarte challenged me to write a poem about a mother’s love to his son. She thought of the subject because her son is celebrating his 10th birthday this month. S0 I wrote a poem about a mother’s love and her anxiety for son who seems to grow up so fast.

100 things that make me happy
My friend and Entrep forum-mate Iva Borja asked me to write a poem about 100 things that I am thankful for. One of the challenges that wasn’t really fulfilled because I didn’t really give 100 things. Read the poem to find out why.

Storms don’t scare me
An inspirational poem from the challenge submitted by Joy Pangilinan who gave me “God and me.” I wrote a poem the storms that come in our lives and why one brave is afraid of all the storms.

Do you know where your children are?
An advocate of online safety, it is no surprise that Sonnie Santos challenged to write a poem about “web safety.” The poem that I wrote asked parents to be wary of their kids’ online activity and to have open communication with them.

Gray rainbow
From the word “rainbow” submitted by high school batchmate Rose Almonte, I wrote Gray rainbow instead. It tells of how one chases rainbow, only to find out that they are not really as colorful as he thought them to be. A not-so-happy poem. Consider yourself warned.

Nine poems down and 15 more to go. It’s a good I put in “No rush” in the rules, because I cannot really put out those poems so fast lest they will have a “mass-produced” appeal, and lacking in sincerity that I always put in my poetry.

It’s a good thing I can always summon the power of Royverine to help me finish this challenge.

Again, this is all part of the personal mission of “burying myself” and “writing it all down.”

And do watch out for the poem on “Soliloquy” submitted by Yatot. I don’t know what would come out of that self-talking.