Friday, November 5, 2010

anonymous proxy: frequent visitor =)

Two days ago, I visited my blog site to add a blog entry. I looked at my Feedjit application and saw a visitor from Poland in my blog site once again. This is the third time a Polish flag appeared in my blog site. The visitor arrived from Facebook and viewed my entry titled "change is inevitable" hmmmmm...

polish flag =)
 the visitor arrived at my Facebook account and read this post...
where is the Polish flag? hmmmm....
Despite three visits, I can't see any display picture of Polish flag in my Flag Counter application. It's so strange to say the least. I clicked on the Flag Counter app and looked at the visitor information.


Aha! The reason I can't see any display picture of  Polish flag is because the visitor used an Anonymous Proxy server. Anonymous Proxy is a proxy which is not identified, recognized and unknown where it comes from (the origin ip address). At times, blog visitors use proxies to hide one's tracks or one's location. The visitor could be in any country(?) using an anonymous proxy server.

What is the point of hiding your location or identity online? Reasons? For whatever reason, I am still thankful that this visitor with an anonymous proxy server is frequently visiting my blog site. =)

Thursday, November 4, 2010

snail mail...

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What is snail mail or smail ? From Wikipedia: (from snail + mail) is a dysphemistic retronym — named after the snail with its slow speed — used to refer to letters and missives carried by conventional postal delivery services. The phrase refers to the lag-time between dispatch of a letter and its receipt, versus the virtually instantaneous dispatch and delivery of its electronic equivalent, e-mail. It is also known, more neutrally, as paper mail, postal mail, land mail, or simply mail.

Asus, susô talaga! As in, sobrang bagal! We received a notice with demand letter dated 16 September 2010 from Sta. Lucia Realty & Development Inc., this is with regards to our monthly amortization in Carmel Town Laguna. The letter states that if we would not be able to update our account within (5) days from receipt of the said letter, they will cancel the Contract to Sell and forfeit all payments made. Well, the letter arrived in our house today. It's November already!! Waaaaaaah! We failed to give preferential and immediate attention to this matter due to super dooper slow snail mail. We lost a hundred and fifty thousand pesos. We are not wealthy. So, it's really a huge financial setback for the whole family. =(

Still, I know we can cope with whatever setbacks we may be facing right now. I believe we have a better future ahead of us.  We put our trust in the Lord. We will give Him all of our hearts. Surrender it all. Lean on Him for strength in time of trouble or weakness. We will not try to understand God's ways. We will just obey Him. Acknowledge Him as our Lord and Savior. He will direct us in the way we should go.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understandings; In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)
 
Goodbye, Carmel Town Laguna!

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

change is inevitable ♥


new image insert technique


I went to upload some pictures onto my blog on Edit HTML setting, and the set up was different. Yeeeeea! Blogspot has a new image insert technique. Now, I can select more than one picture at the same time without going back and forth between the upload photo window and my document files. It will make uploading images to the blog more useful. Love it! =)

new font size on facebook news feed page

I logged in to my facebook account earlier this morning. I thought there is something wrong with my vision. I tried to figure it out. Voila! Facebook reduce its font size on the news feed page. Why, Oh, Why! It makes me unable to read certain conversations at all. hahaha! (chismosa mode!)  It is so true. I can barely read some of the posts. Hopefully, Facebook administrators will fix this soon. =(


my favorite love story online is this one...♥


Love cures people~ both the ones who give it and the ones who receive it. ~Karl Menninger


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Read on...

Carla and Jun have been married for almost 10 years now. She was on a flower business and he was a military officer.

 "Mahal na mahal kita," she said. She always says it to him the moment she opens her eyes and see him beside her. They spend their time together as much as they could. Kahit nga sa pag-totoothbrush magkasabay pa rin sila. They are like kids, nagaasaran , nagkukulitan... both of them are jolly, caring, loving and hardworking. Sa tagal nilang mag-asawa hindi pa rin sila nagkakaanak until now.

After a long walk they sat on the bench, and wait for the bus to come. They were holding a cup of coffee in their hands. "Inaantok pa ko, pwede bang matulog muna sa balikat mo habang wala pa ang bus, Mr. Handsome," Carla inquired smiling at him.

These are their daily routine... wake up at 4 am, clean up, eat breakfast, fix themselves and wait for the bus together. But abruptly everything change when an accident happened to Carla. She was hit by a car along the street when she was going to the shop. "Wala akong makita, everything was black. Jun, are you there?" crying and hopelessly she said reaching for the hand of Jun.

The first 3 months was hard for her. Jun guides her with her stuff and in every minute that she have to move her body. "I can't be with you everytime, you have to practice yourself doing your own work. Hindi na ko nakakapasok sa trabaho. Hindi kita kayang bantayan habang buhay. Ihahatid kita sa bus stop, from this day on, kailangan mong pag aralan lahat ng daan at kabisaduhin ang bawat hahakbangan mo," Jun said in a tone that you know she wouldn't like.

Napilitan si Carla na pumasok sa trabaho on her own. Mula sa pag aayos ng gamit, sa pagkain, sa paghihintay ng bus. She felt that her husband was starting to hate her dahil sa bulag na sya. "Dahil ba sa pabigat na ko sa kanya..." She would always go to the flower shop on her own. Make her own coffee. Fix her own clothes to wear. It was like a new world without her loving and caring husband. She started to think na hindi na sya mahal ni Jun. That time will come na iiwan din sya nito at maghahanap ng iba. Dahil yung dating love ngayon ay awa na lang.

Pero isang araw, habang pasakay na sya ng bus... "Miss, can we ask you something? Why does every time na sumasakay ka sa bus namin there is this man right next to you? And to add...

...he was wearing a fatigue like he was a military officer."

Her eyes were then filled with tears.

End...

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

happy birthday, kristine! my bestfriend for life ♥

"We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a little of each other everywhere." ~Tim McGraw

Kristine Espinosa-Peleno





Kristine and I have known each other since we were in freshman high school at Canossa Academy. Although we weren’t friends in elementary, she's a transfer student from Tiyani Elementary School. In freshman high school, we became friends and the following year, we became inseparable. Kung nasan siya, andun ako. Kung nasan ako, andun siya.

Magkakabit nga daw ang bituka namin. Kapag di namin kasama ang isa’t isa, ang tanong ng mga tao, "Nasaan si Kristine?" But being together didn’t mean coexisting harmoniously. May mga times na nag-aargue kami over petty things (petty tlaga!)... kasi ung crush nya, naging crush ko din! hahaha  =)

But then Kristine had proven to be a great friend in the awkward stage of adolescence. When we graduated high school, we enrolled same course in the same school. Inseperable nga, db? =)

When she fell deeply in love with someone, we parted ways. I focused on my studies. She got married and start a family of her own. I graduated from college and got my first job.

Now that Kristine is working as full time mom and wife, we have never had the chance to be together. I mean yung "kaming dalawa" lang. We would see each other in barkada reunions and other celebrations. And although we would be both busy with our respective lives, text messages keep us updated.


I have known her for 20 years. We grew up together and I would always remember her as part of my "innocent years."  Yes, we grew up together. We have become mature now. I told Kristine, "di ako makapaniwala ganito na pinag-uusapan natin ngayon…" and she said, "kailangan na natin mag-grow up." =)

Yes, it's so true. We’re grown ups now. Gone are the days when we worry about assignments, graded recitations, first loves and menarche. Now, we get anxious over mature things like -- family, love & career.

But through the years, one thing has remained constant in our lives — and that is our friendship. Nothing has changed, siya pa rin ang Kristine na protective of me. She didn’t want me to get hurt then, she doesn’t want me to get hurt now. Isa siya sa takbuhan ko kapag may issues ako with my lovelife. Isa siya sa tinetext ko at kinukwentuhan, and she listened patiently. And she’s supportive of my decision, kasi she knows  I am happy with it. Mapa-career man o lovelife, Kristine is always there for me.

And sabi ko nga, isa siya sa mga supporters ko. I am assured that Kristine loves me for who I am, kahit ano pa siguro kagagahan ang gawin ko, I know she would understand me and she would be there for me.

And as she turns a year older today, I just want to express my gratitude for the twenty years of friendship that we have.

I am so lucky to have you in my life, Kristine. As in! My high school and college life won’t be the same without you being a part of it. Who would have thought that more than a decade after our graduation, buo pa rin tayo. 

Now that we’re adults na, you have still proven to be a wonderful friend — you are always there for me. Again, Kristine, many thanks for everything. I love you!

And, happy happy birthday. I do wish you would find what you’re looking for — fulfillment sa career kase sobrang happy ka na naman sa lovelife mo eh. You have been a good friend, sister, and daughter. I know you are a great wife and mother too. =)

bittersweet anticipation: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

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I am bloody excited for the release of the movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows-Part 1, which will be released worldwide starting November 18, 2010. =)

I kinda have mixed emotions about this. I am excited but kinda sad because it won’t be long now until we say goodbye to the much-adored Harry Potter series. =(

With the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, a lot of fans would feel bittersweet as much of this generation has grown up with the orphaned wizard. We have seen him being in danger; from the command of the evil Lord Voldemort, to the ruthlessness of his own relatives, the Dursleys, and being push into the new world of wizardry.


Monday, November 1, 2010

my all-time favorite romantic movie list... ♥


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Kate Mosley: I love you.
Doug Dorsey: Just remember who said it first. ~ The Cutting Edge





Michael O'Neill: Kimmy says if you love someone you say it, you say it right then, out loud. Otherwise the moment just...
Julianne Potter: Passes you by... ~ My Best friend's Wedding

I am a sucker for romantic movies, especially westerns. I  watch them because they make me happy, because I love the acting and the story. Everyone has movies that they tend to watch over and over and over again. So, I thought of doing a list of my all-time favorite romantic movies.

 And now, here are the movies…synopses/summaries of the movies c/o IMDb ♥

1.) The Cutting Edge (1992)~ (on top of my list!!!) this is a movie that I will never get tired of watching! At the 1988 Winter Olympics at Calgary we see Doug Dorsey (D.B. Sweeney) battered in a vicious hockey game against West Germany. We then see a Kate Moseley (Moira Kelly) doing her program and falling when a lift goes bad. Both have fought all their life to get to the Olympics and suddenly the dream has been shattered. The movie then follows a tempermental but talented figure skater Kate through many partners until finally her coach resorts to recruiting a hockey player. Through the difficult training of 15 hours of skating a day they finally prepare for Nationals and the Olympics. A romance is budding and their final show could bend or break them as they try to achieve their dreams of an Olympic Gold medal. (D.B. Sweeney & Moira Kelly)

2.) Twilight  (2008)~ This film focuses on the development of the relationship between Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), and the subsequent efforts of Cullen and his family to keep Swan safe from a coven of evil vampires and his rival, Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner), a werewolf.
(Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson & Taylor Lautner)

3.)  My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)~ Julianne Potter (Julia Roberts), a 27-year-old New York restaurant critic, receives a call from her longtime friend Michael O'Neil (Dermot Mulroney). In college, the two made an agreement that if neither of them were married by the time they turned 28, they would marry each other. Four days before her 28th birthday, Michael tells her he is about to marry Kimberly Wallace (Cameron Diaz), a 20-year-old University of Chicago student from a wealthy family. (Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney & Cameron Diaz)

4.) A Walk to Remember ( 2002)~After a hazing incident goes wrong, popular but rebellious Landon Carter (Shane West) is threatened with expulsion. His punishment is participation in various after-school activities, including the spring musical, where he meets quiet, bookish Jamie Sullivan (Mandy Moore), the only daughter of their church's pastor, (Peter Coyote).Landon has difficulty learning his lines, so asks Jamie to assist him. She decides to help him but under one condition: Landon must promise not to fall in love with her. Landon and Jamie begin practicing together at her house after school. As they spend more time together, a friendship begins to develop. Landon discovers Jamie’s wish list of everything she aspires to accomplish in life, which includes befriending someone she doesn't like, getting a tattoo, being in two different places at once, and making a telescope. However, she doesn't tell him her number one wish. One day, Jamie approaches Landon when he is hanging out with some of his friends. When Jamie asks if they are still on for practice that afternoon, he smirks and replies, "In your dreams". His friends laugh, and Landon's smirk falters as Jamie feels betrayed and embarrassed. That afternoon, Landon arrives at Jamie's house in the hope that she will still agree to help him, but she refuses to let him in. Landon eventually learns the script by himself. (Shane West & Mandy Moore)

5.) Anne of Green Gables (985)~ An orphan girl, sent to an elderly brother and sister by mistake, charms her new home and community with her fiery spirit and imagination.(Megan Follows & Colleen Dewhurst)

 6.) The Truth about Cats and Dogs (1996)~ Abby Barnes (Janeane Garofalo) is a veterinarian, who hosts a Los Angeles radio show called "The Truth About Cats and Dogs." The use of this as the title of the film also suggests the combative nature of male-female romantic relationships. Abby strikes up an unexpected friendship with her neighbor Noelle Sluslarsky (Uma Thurman), a traditionally attractive model who is sweet, but not very sharp. When Abby makes a blind date with a caller to her show (Ben Chaplin), her insecurity with her own appearance leads her to convince Noelle to pretend to be Abby when meeting the date. Unfortunately, both women develop feelings for the man, leading to a comedic series of misunderstandings, as their unintentional deception grows deeper. (Janeane Garofalo, Uma Thurman & Ben Chaplin)

7. ) Some Kind Of Wonderful (1987)~ The tomboyish Watts (Mary Stuart Masterson) has always considered working-class Keith Nelson (Eric Stoltz) her best friend. But when Keith asks out the most popular girl in school, Amanda Jones (Lea Thompson), Watts realizes she feels something much deeper for him. Hardy Jenns (Craig Sheffer), Amanda's jealous former boyfriend from the rich section of town, still wants her and plans to get back at Keith. Eventually all this is sorted out, with Amanda realizing she needs time alone, and Keith cluing into Watts's feelings and realizing he loves her, too. ( Mary Stuart Masterson, Eric Stoltz & Lea Thompson)

8.) 10 things I Hate about You (1999)~ Meet the Stratford sisters: pretty and popular Bianca Startford (Larisa Oleynik), who has never had a date; and Kat Stratford (Julia Stiles), her older sibling, an ill-tempered harridan whose acerbic wit is matched only by her steadfast determination to alienate any guy who might be remotely interested in her. Unfortunately, strict rules in the Stratford household forbid Bianca from having a boyfriend until her odious sister has one of her own-a situation that seems highly improbable considering Kat is a social disaster. Bianca's desperation for romance turns into a convoluted scheme to match Kat with her male equivalent--a guy whose reputation is so infamous, Kat might rise to the challenge and find him worthy of her concealed charms. Mating mayhem ensues when Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) -- a sullen young man with a mysterious past -- is bribed by Bianca's wannabe boyfriend to woo and win Kat, in order to clear the way for Bianca to begin dating.  (Heath Ledger & Julia Stiles)

9.) (500)Days of Summer (2009)~ I even made a separate blog for this movie. You can read more about this in my previous blog entry  titled, "this is a story about LOVE: (500) Days of Summer" Well, here's the summary from IMDb.... After it looks as if she's left his life for good this time, Tom Hansen (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) reflects back on the just over one year that he knew Summer Finn (Zooey Deschanel). Despite being physically average in almost every respect, Summer had always attracted the attention of men, Tom included. For Tom, it was love at first sight when she walked into the greeting card company where he worked, she the new administrative assistant. Soon, Tom knew that Summer was the woman with whom he wanted to spend the rest of his life. Although Summer did not believe in relationships or boyfriends - in her assertion, real life will always ultimately get in the way - Tom and Summer became more than just friends. Through the trials and tribulations of Tom and Summer's so-called relationship, Tom could always count on the advice of his two best friends, McKenzie and Paul. However, it is Tom's adolescent sister, Rachel, who is his voice of reason. After all is said and done, Tom is the one who ultimately has to make the choice to listen or not. (Joseph Gordon-Levitt & Zooey Deschanel)

10.) Sweet November (2001)~ Nelson Moss (Keanu Reeves) is a man devoted to his advertising career in San Francisco. One day, while taking a driving test at the DMV, he meets Sara Deever (Charlize Theron). She is very different from the other women in his life. Nelson causes her to miss out on taking the test and later that day she tracks him down. One thing leads to another and Nelson ends up living with her through a November that will change his life forever. (Keanu Reeves & Charlize Theron)

11.) Pretty Woman (1990)~ Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts) has found a way of living by working as a prostitute on Hollywood Boulevard. When she runs into the prince of her dreams, who comes along on his wild horse, she first does not recognize him as her saviour. The prince, a ruthless and wealthy businessman by the name of Edward Lewis (Richard Gere), does not know that she could be more than just a girl from the sidewalk, but he changes his decision after the first night with the beautiful stranger. Her being the first person in a long time who could surprise him, Edward can slowly feel the light at the end of the tunnel. He is on his way to become a better person, whereas Vivian has got a new chance to start over again. (Julia Roberts & Richard Gere)

12.) If Only (2004)~ Ian Wyndham (Paul Nicholls) is a British Businessman who lives with his musician girlfriend, Samantha Andrews (Jennifer Love Hewitt) in London. Ian takes Sam for granted making Sam feeling vulnerable in the role of the one who loves more. Taking us through a day in Ian and Sam's life, the film opens by showing different events such as Sam getting burnt on a kettle, Ian's watch breaking, Sam getting Coca-Cola spilt on her and Ian being interrupted by Sam (who mistakingly believes Ian forgot his paperwork, when in fact it was just other files in a similar folder) during an important meeting at work. As the day progresses we see Ian in a taxi. He tells the driver (Tom Wilkinson) about how he and Sam are going through difficulties. The driver recommends he should just love her. After Sam's concert that night, Ian tries to dismiss Sam's favorite student. At dinner Sam confronts Ian where her frustration boils over. She gets angry at Ian for his attitude toward her and tells him that she just wants him to love her. Sam storms out of the restaurant in tears, Ian following close behind and asking for her forgiveness. Sam gets in a passing taxi and as Ian tries to get in beside her he notices that the driver is the same man who he traveled with earlier that day. The man gives Ian an ominous smile and as the clock hits 11 PM, Sam closes the door, leaving Ian standing there. As he watches the taxi drive away, Ian makes one last attempt to reconcile with Sam and runs after the taxi as it stops at a traffic light. Before he gets there, the lights change and the taxi begins driving again. As it speeds up, the taxi is stuck violently by another car and comes to a halt on the middle of the street. Ian halts and falls on his knees shock. (Paul Nicholls & Jennifer Love Hewitt)

13.) When Harry Met Sally (1989)~ Harry Burns (Billy Crystal) and Sally Albright (Meg Ryan) meet when she gives him a ride to New York after they both graduate from the University of Chicago. The film jumps through their lives as they both search for love, but fail, bumping into each other time and time again. Finally a close friendship blooms between them, and they both like having a friend of the opposite sex. But then they are confronted with the problem: "Can a man and a woman be friends, without sex getting in the way?" (Meg Ryan & Billy Crystal)

14.) Ever After (1998)~ Andy Tennant's film "Ever After" tells the "real" story of Cinderella. In this film version, Cinderella is Danielle De Barbarac (Drew Barrymore}. Our heroine does have a wicked stepmother and stepsisters, but in no way is she in need of rescuing. Contrary to other adaptations of Cinderella, Danielle rescues herself from her horrible family and the prince from gypsies. With help from her fairy godmother Leonardo da Vinci, Danielle overcomes hardship, marries Prince Henry (Dougray Scott), and lives happily ever after. (Drew Barrymore & Dougray Scott)

15.) The Notebook (2004)~ The movie focuses on an old man reading a story to an old woman in a nursing home. The story he reads follows two young lovers named Allie Hamilton (Rachel McAdams) and Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling), who meet one evening at a carnival. But they are separated by Allie's parents who dissaprove of Noah's unwealthy family, and move Allie away. After waiting for Noah to write her for several years, Allie meets and gets engaged to a handsome young soldier named Lon. Allie, then, with her love for Noah still alive, stops by Noah's 200-year-old home that he restored for her, "to see if he's okay". It is evident that they still have feelings for each other, and Allie has to choose between her fiancé and her first love. (Rachel McAdams & Ryan Gosling)

16.) Legends of the Fall (1994)~ Set in the Rocky Mountains of Montana in the early 1900s, this is a tale of love, betrayal, and brotherhood. After being discharged, Colonel Ludlow decides to raise his three sons in the wilds of Montana, where they can grow up away from the government and society he has learned to despise. The three brothers mature and seem to have an unbreakable bond, until Susanna enters their lives. When Samuel (Henry Thomas), the youngest of the three, returns from college he brings with him his beautiful fiance, Susanna Fincannon (Julia Ormond). The eldest son, Alfred (Aidan Quinn), soon finds himself in love with his brother's fiance, and things get worse when he discovers a growing passion between Susanna and Tristan (Brad Pitt). Colonel Ludlow's favorite son, Tristan is willful and as wild as the mountains. As the brothers set out to fight a war in Europe, suspicion and jelousy threatens to tear apart their once indestructable bond. (Julia Ormond, Aidan Quinn, Henry Thomas, Anthony Hopkins & Brad Pitt)

17.) The Lake House (2006)~ In Chicago, the lonely architect Alex Wyler (Keanu Reeves) has a troubled relationship with his father Simon Wyler. In 2004, he buys an old glass house in a lake, designed and built by his father, and he finds a message in his mailbox from the former tenant, the also lonely Dr. Kate Forster (Sandra Bullock), asking to deliver her correspondence in an address downtown. Alex meets his brother Henry in Chicago and when they go to the address with Dr. Forster's correspondence, they find a building of luxury apartments under construction to be delivered eighteen months later. After some messages, Alex and Kate disclose that she is living in 2006 and Alex in 2004, they fall in love for each other and they try to find means to meet each other. (Keanu Reeves & Sandra Bullock)

18.) The English Patient (1996)~ The film is set during World War II and depicts a critically burned man, at first known only as "the English patient," who is being looked after by Hana (Juliette Binoche), a French-Canadian nurse in an abandoned Italian monastery. The patient is reluctant to disclose any personal information but through a series of flashbacks, viewers are allowed into his past. It is slowly revealed that he is in fact a Hungarian geographer, Count László de Almásy (Ralph Fiennes), who was making a map of the Sahara Desert, and whose affair with a married woman, Katharine Clifton (Kristin Scott Thomas), ultimately brought about his present situation. As the patient remembers more, David Caravaggio (Willem Dafoe), a Canadian thief and intelligence operative, arrives at the monastery. Caravaggio lost his thumbs while being interrogated by officers of the German Afrika Korps, and he gradually reveals that it was the patient's actions that had brought about his torture. (Juliette Binoche & Ralph Fiennes)

19.) Far & Away (1992)~ A young man (Tom Cruise) leaves Ireland with his landlord's daughter (Nicole Kidman) after some trouble with her father, and they dream of owning land at the big giveaway in Oklahoma ca. 1893. When they get to the new land, they find jobs and begin saving money. The man becomes a local barehands boxer, and rides in glory until he is beaten, then his employers steal all the couple's money and they must fight off starvation in the winter, and try to keep their dream of owning land alive. Meanwhile, the woman's parents find out where she has gone and have come to America to find her and take her back. (Nicole Kidman & Tom Cruise)

20.) Somewhere in Time (1980)~ The movie opens with college student Richard Collier (Christopher Reeve) gathering rave reviews for his new play. At the party, he comes face to face with an old woman who presses something in his hand and whispers, "Come back to me." He opens his hand to find an old pocket watch. Cut to several years later. Playwright Collier is in the midst of a break-up and writers block. He leaves the city for awhile to think things out and finds himself near his alma mater at the Grand Hotel. While wandering around the hotel, he finds a photograph of a beautiful young woman. Richard is entranced, and tries to find out all he can about her. During the course of his research he learns she was Elise McKenna (Jane Seymour), an actress from the turn of the century. He also discovers that she was the mysterious old woman who gave him the watch. Finally determining that he must meet her somehow, he employs self-hypnosis and wills himself back to 1912. He meets Elise and they fall in love, which does not make her manager, William Fawcett Robinson, happy at all. (Jane Seymour & Christopher Reeve)

21.) A Walk in the Clouds (1995)~ Shortly after the surrender of Japan, marking the end of World War II, United States Army Sgt. Paul Sutton (Keanu Reeves) returns to San Francisco to reunite with his wife Betty (Debra Messing), whom he married — following a whirlwind courtship — the day before he departed for the Pacific. The war has left him with emotional scars, and he experiences flashbacks on a regular basis. Paul's reunion with Betty is strained, especially after he discovers most of the letters he wrote her were set aside unopened. He is determined to make a go of the marriage however, and hopes to establish a new career for himself. Betty insists he continue to sell chocolates door-to-door, and he sets off to Sacramento. En route, he meets fellow bus passenger Victoria Aragon (Aitana Sanchez-Gijon) , a Stanford University graduate student whose Mexican-American family owns a vineyard in the Napa Valley. When he learns the unmarried woman is pregnant by her professor, Paul offers to introduce himself to her very traditionalist family as her husband. (Aitana Sanchez-Gijon & Keanu Reeves)

22.) How to Make An American Quillt (1995)~ Following a proposal of marriage from her boyfriend Sam (Dermot Mulroney), Finn Dodd (Winona Ryder) decides to visit her great aunt and grandmother to finish her thesis and think over the proposal. At her grandmother's house, a quilting group congregates, and she's shocked and surprised to discover that the current quilt that they're working on is a wedding gift for when she gets married. The theme of the quilt is "where love resides". As Finn is unsure whether she's ready for marriage or whether he's "The One", the stories of the women in the quilting group open her eyes to the different kinds of love that exist. (Winona Ryder & Dermot Mulroney)

23.) Sabrina (1954 & 1995) - I watched both the old & the new version. Sabrina Fairchild (Audrey Hepbrun/Julia Ormond) is the daughter of the Larrabee family chauffeur. The Larrabees are a wealthy and prominent Long Island family. Maude is the mother, Linus Larrabee (Humprey Bogart/Henry Ford) is the elder brother, who took charge of the company after his father died and has devoted his entire life to the company, and David Larrabee (William Holden/Greg Kinnear) is the younger brother, who has not worked a day in his life, and who has had numerous girlfriends, but Sabrina is nonetheless enamored with him. But David just thinks of her as the frumpy daughter of the chauffeur. Maude arranges for her to go Paris and work in Vogue. Her fascination with David grows, David in the meantime, meets Elizabeth Tyson and tells Linus and Maude that she could be the one. What he doesn't know at first is that Linus wants to go into business with her parents so he encourages the relationship. But when David finds out, he is furious, Linus then tells him that it's about time that he contributes something and that this deal with Tysons is worth a billion dollars. David somehow proposes to her and she accepts. It's not long after that, that Sabrina returns. And David doesn't recognize her at first, cause she's now a little different. David is also entranced by her. Linus and Maude are concerned that the deal is in jeopardy, if Elizabeth or her parents find out about his pursuit of Sabrina. David injures himself, so Linus tries to distract Sabrina from him. but Linus finds himself feeling things he hasn't felt in years. (1954: Audrey Hepburn, Humprey Bogart & William Holden/ 1995: Julia Ormond, Greg Kinnear & Henry Ford)

24.) Gone With the Wind (1939)~ I fell in love with the romantic book at the age of 14 when I borrowed Gone with the Wind from our school library (Canossa Academy). After I read the book I liked it so much that I watched the movie and even the sequel, Scarlett.  This tale of the Old South from the start of the Civil War through to the period of reconstruction focuses on the beautiful Scarlett O'Hara (Vivian Leigh). Before the start of the war life at the O'Hara plantation, Tara, could only be described as genteel. As for the young Scarlett, she is without doubt the most beautiful girl in the area and is always the belle of the ball. She is very much looking forward to a barbecue at the nearby Wilkes plantation as she will get to see the man she loves, Ashley Wilkes. She is more than a little dismayed when she hears that he is to marry his cousin Melanie Hamilton and in a fit of anger, she decides to marry Melanie's brother. War is soon declared and as always seems to be the case, men march off to battle thinking that it will only last a few weeks. Now living in Atlanta, Scarlett sees the ravages that war brings. She also becomes re-acquainted with Rhett Butler (Clark Gable), whom she had first met at the Wilkes barbecue. Now a widow, she still pines for the married Ashley and dreams of his return. With the war lost however, she returns to Tara and faces the hardship of keeping her family together and Tara from being sold at auction to collect the taxes. She becomes hardened and bitter and will do anything, including marrying her sister's beau, to ensure she will never again be poor and hungry. After becoming a widow for the second time, she finally marries the dashing Rhett but they soon find themselves working at cross-purposes, their relationship seemingly doomed from the outset. (Clark Gable & Vivian Leigh)
 
25.) Gidget  (1959)~  Whereas her friend's thoughts are now toward the opposite sex, seventeen year old southern Californian Francie Lawrence (Sandra Dee) just wants to continue with the innocent, carefree and more tomboyish pursuits in which they've always partaken. While on a manhunt at the beach, Francie's friends are interested in the young men there, but Francie becomes more interested in what those men are doing: surfing. All the surfers treat Francie like one of the guys - albeit a smaller, less experienced one - and nickname her Gidget (short for girl midget). The surfers' unofficial leader is known as the Kahuna, a thirty-something man whose sole goal in life is to travel the world looking for the perfect waves. All the younger guys aspire to Kahuna's life. Despite their less than amicable start, Gidget is ultimately taken under the reluctant wing of one of those younger guys, nicknamed Jeffrey Matthews aka Moondoggie (James Darren), who comes from a privileged background but who wants to live life on his own terms, just like the Kahuna. As she spends more time with them, Gidget realizes that she is beginning to have those womanly feelings, specifically for Moondoggie. Gidget has all summer to try and get Moondoggie to notice her as a woman. If he doesn't, perhaps Jeff Matthews will, he being the college aged son of a friend of Gidget's father, who has been trying to set up the two all summer. (Sandra Dee & James Darren)

26.) Dying Young (1991)~ After she discovers that her boyfriend has betrayed her, Hilary O'Neil (Julia Roberts)  is looking for a new start and a new job. She begins to work as a private nurse for a young man named Victor Geddes ( Campbell Scott) is suffering from blood cancer. Slowly, they fall in love, but they always know their love cannot last because he is destined to die. (Campbell Scott & Julia Roberts)

27.) Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)~ Struggling writer Paul Varjak (George Peppard) moves into a New York apartment building and becomes intrigued by his pretty, quirky neighbor Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn). Holly's lifestyle confuses and fascinates Paul; in public she flits through parties with a sexy, sophisticated air, but when they're alone she changes into a sweetly vulnerable bundle of neuroses. (George Peppard & Audrey Hepburn)

28.) Coyote Ugly  (2000)~ Violet Sanford (Piper Perabo) leaves her hometown of South Amboy, New Jersey, her father Bill (John Goodman), and best friend Gloria (Melanie Lynskey) to pursue her dreams in nearby New York City. When leaving town to become a songwriter, she signs an autograph which is pinned on the wall of the pizza place where she worked. The wall has many other autographs signed by the rest of the employees in South Amboy that left town hoping to make it big. Violet tries unsuccessfully, dozens of times, to get her demo tape noticed by the recording studios. With only a few dollars left in her pocket after her apartment was robbed, she goes to an all-night diner and notices some girls flaunting the hundreds of dollars in tips they earned. After inquiring, she finds out that they work at a trendy bar named Coyote Ugly. She finds her way to the bar and convinces the bar owner Lil (Maria Bello) to hire her. Lil hires her and explains she did so because Violet looks like a kindergarten teacher who the childish bar patrons will come to see. She is reluctantly nicknamed "Jersey". After starting her job, she quickly discovers she must learn the ropes of singing, dancing, and performing wild acts before a rowdy crowd. (Piper Perabo & Adam Garcia)

29.) Date With An Angel (1987)~ Jim Sanders (Michael E. Knight) is soon to be married to Patty Winston (Phoebe Cates), but when he wakes up after a bachelor party thrown by his friends, he finds an injured angel (Emmanuelle Beart) in his pool. When Patty sees her, she thinks he's seeing someone else and gets upset and tells her father. Now he has to figure out how to; cure the angel, tell Patty what happened, keep his friends from taking the angel to the papers, and keep Patty's father from killing him. It's no wonder he has a headache. But Jim also suffers from a brain tumor, and his headaches have gotten worse. Indeed, it is suggested he will die, and an angel arrives on the scene, given the task of bringing Jim's soul back to heaven on the night of his engagement party. (Michael E. Knight & Emmanuelle Beart)

30.) BIG (1988)~ At a carnival, young Josh Baskin (Tom Hanks) wishes he was big - only to awake the next morning and discover he is! With the help of his friend Billy, Josh lands a job at a toy company. There, his inner wisdom enables him to successfully predict what children want to buy, making the awestruck, naive Josh irresistible to a beautiful ladder-climbing colleague. But the more he experiences being an adult, the more Josh longs for the simple joys of childhood. (Tom Hanks & Elizabeth Perkins)


If you haven’t seen them, give them a try. =)


THANK YOU, LORD, FOR REALIZATIONS/LESSONS. 🌹

  1. Happiness is where you are now, or nowhere at all. – It’s not a NEW RELATIONSHIP, it’s not a completed goal, and it’s not a new car. Un...