Mozart CD from Reader's Digest

I'm so delighted to find a CD of Mozart's music from Reader's Digest at our sala tonight (The title is "Getting Smart With Mozart"; very clever). For that reason, I love Reader's Digest so much! (I rarely read the magazine, hehe). They always send their subscribers quality music. The previous CD they sent us was "The Best Beloved Classical Melodies". I really like classical music, especially Mozart, since it's said to have a beneficial effect on the intellect (I've read before of a research that was conducted on the positive effects of classical music, particularly Mozart, on the intellectual faculties of the brain). I have a cassette tape of Mozart that I used to listen to often. Now we have a CD copy! Wow!

Silver Wedding Anniversary

My parents will be celebrating their Silver Wedding Anniversary this Thursday, 23rd. I am so excited for them. Oooopsss... I am dating myself... Hehehe. Yup, I'll be a quarter century old this November...

We (or more appropriately, they, my mother and female cousins, since I haven't really been helping out with them) have been quite busy with all the preparations: Booking the reception, which will be in Chateau de Busay (A very beautiful garden restaurant which sits atop a mountain in Busay. It's perfect for wedding receptions and romantic dates!), preparing the invitation cards, the souvenirs, organizing the program, etc...

25 years... That's a very long time. Now that's true love. I also pray that my relationship with my Pangga will be as lasting and as strong as my parents' relationship. :)

Psalm 32: Remission of Sin

Today's Psalm reading is so beautiful:

Of David. A maskil.

Happy the sinner whose fault is removed,
whose sin is forgiven.
Happy those to whom the Lord imputes no guilt,
in whose spirit is no deceit.

As long as I kept silent, my bones
wasted away;
I groaned all the day.
For day and night your hand was
heavy upon me;
my strength withered as in dry
summer heat.
Then I declared my sin to you;
my guilt I did not hide.
I said, "I confess my faults to the
Lord,"
and you took away the guilt of my
sin.
Thus should all you faithful pray
in time of distress.
Though flood wasters threaten,
they will never reach them.
You are my shelter; from distress
you keep me;
with safety you ring me round.

I will instruct you and show you the
way you should walk,
give you counsel and watch over you.
Do not be senseless like horses or
mules;
with bit and bridle their temper
is curbed,
else they will not come to you.

Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
but love those surrounds those who trust
in the Lord.
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice,
you just;
exult, all you upright of heart.

(The New Catholic Translation)

I don't know what "maskil" means. In the New Advent online Bible the beginning of the first verse is translated as "To David himself, understanding..." I wonder why the two translations differ in the numbering of the chapters. In the NCT it's chapter 32, in the New Advent version, it's chapter 31.

Random stuff

I just got back from the Department of Health blood bank in Jones Avenue with my mother, brother, cousin Lorianne (who recently became a registered nurse), and Tita Indang. My brother and I were to donate blood for my Tita Epil, who has cancer. But the guy there said I couldn't donate blood because my left ear have a pierced mark. Yeah, I had my ear pierced when I was in high school (I was young and naive). That was many years ago, but they still wouldn't let me donate. I really felt sad because I realized I wouldn't ever be able to offer my own blood to help those who need it, like my Tita. Offering one's blood is such a privilege because you help save peple's lives, and I will forever be exempt from that great privilege! (In some hospitals, though, they do allow male donors with ear-piercings; I've tried it before in Cebu Doctors').

Tita Epil's cancer is terminal. She has been suffering for many years already, had several surgeries, been admitted to hospitals countless times. And now her time is seem to be drawing near. We her family seemed to have accepted the reality that she may no longer remain with us in this world for very long.

I realized also tonight that my driver's license has already expired and since November last year pa lang. So I've been driving with an expired license for three months! Maayo na lang wala ko madakpan, kay they said driving with an expired license is a criminal offense, which means I can go to jail!

We had our hospital duty today at the Talisay District Hospital. It went well. We were assigned in the OPD, so all we did was interact with the patients and took some vital signs. Some of us did skin testing and removed sutures. A lot of the patients were infants, and I liked it because I got to hold some babies... :)

Sassy Lawyer on "entertainment" shows

Connie Veneracion, aka Sassy Lawyer, in her Manila Standard column a couple days ago had a very interesting critique of "entertainment" and "game shows" like 'Wowowee'. Reading her article is such a delight for me because I've always shared the exact same thoughts about "entertainment" shows. Very eloquent article.

I have one question...

What the heck is Budoy (of Junior Kilat) doing in Pinoy Big Brother????

I was shocked when I read about it in SunStar the other day.... Hahaha.. Budoy on TV? So, meaning, "celebrity" na jud diay siya...

So I'm watching PBB tonight just to see Budoy... I can't believe my eyes. This is actually just my second time (the first was last night) to watch the show (I've said before I don't watch it and I've stated my reasons). I am just curious this time...