Picture of the Day

A lonely man stands on a west coast beach.

Pic of the Day

Heres the new pic of the day. It's a cabbage tree. Ever heard of that? they're pretty cool trees.

Girls, Take Care of Your Hearts

Both sides of my family has a bad history of heart problems. My maternal grandmother had several heart attacks, but it was eventually a stroke that killed her. As for my paternal grandmother, she's still going strong, but she's gotten a few heart attacks herself. Both of them suffered from heart attacks mainly from their rich fatty diets. Compounded with my maternal grand mother's bad diet was a genetic malformed valve (mitral valve) which my mom and sisters also have. I have an enlarged heart due to a bad case of rheumatic fever having affected my heart when I was younger.

I thought this was a quite interesting and helpful article to read. It was a huge misconception in the past that only males or mostly males suffered from heart attacks, but now we're seeing otherwise. Girls, girls- take care of your hearts too!

Women Do Need to Worry About Heart Attacks
One minute Elizabeth Baska was wrapping Christmas gifts … “and suddenly I couldn’t breathe,” says the Seattle mom, who was 36 at the time.

Just as she had done during a similar episode two years earlier, she called 911. And, once again, the paramedics who came diagnosed the incident as an anxiety attack. But this time, Baska’s symptoms continued to worsen, so the emergency personnel gave her an EKG—and determined that she was having a heart attack. “If I were a man, I think everyone would have been quicker to realize that it was my heart,” says Baska, who now takes pulse-slowing medications to keep her safe. “I never considered the possibility because I didn’t think women needed to worry about heart attacks.”

The truth is, more than 450,000 American women die from heart disease each year. For two decades, it has killed more women than men, and the gap is actually widening as men’s heart attack death rates improve faster than women’s. Yet only a third of women in the United States consider themselves at risk for heart disease, according to a 2006 poll.

“Most women worry far more about breast cancer than heart disease,” says Elsa-Grace V. Giardina, MD, cardi­ologist and director of the Center for Women’s Health at New York Presbyterian Hospital and Health Editorial Advisory Board member. “But for every woman who dies from breast cancer, 10 die from heart attacks.”

There have been advances: Heart disease deaths in women actually declined between 2003 and 2004. But the lifetime risk of dying of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is still nearly one in three for women. And that’s why the American Heart Association (AHA) recently released new guidelines underscoring the impor­tance of healthy lifestyles in women of all ages to reduce the long-term risks of heart and blood vessel diseases.

For starters, you need to forget most of what you already know about heart attacks. The conventional wisdom has long been based on the male experience, but doctors are now realizing that heart disease can be very different for women—from symptoms to diagnostic tests to effective treatments.

Two thirds of women who have heart attacks die without ever knowing that they’re having one. In large measure, that’s because the symptoms, like Elizabeth Baska’s, can differ from men’s and are often misinterpreted by the victim or misdiagnosed by their doctors.

“Most people think that if you’re having a heart attack, there’s going to be chest pain and left arm numbness. But that’s not always the case for women,” explains cardiologist Nieca Gold­berg, MD, associate professor of med­icine at the New York University School of Medicine and director of the NYU Women’s Heart Program. “Women commonly experience different symp­toms, such as shortness of breath, fatigue, pressure in the abdomen, and jaw pain.” And these are often misidentified as stomach ailments or anxiety attacks, so the early warning signs go unheeded.

Even when doctors suspect heart disease and order an angiography or angiogram (a diagnostic X-ray of the heart and its blood vessels), they often don’t see problems, something that has long baffled them. But findings of a 10-year study by the National Institutes of Health—the Women’s Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) completed in 2006—appear to unravel the mystery.

WISE researchers discovered that two-thirds of the study participants with chest pain had “clear” angiograms, but half of those women had a condition called coronary microvascular sydrome, in which plaque coats small arteries in the heart rather than building to clumps in larger vessels.

“Instead of discrete obstructions, the plaque is evenly distributed throughout the blood vessels, so it’s pretty much invisible on the angiogram,” says Dr. Goldberg, who’s also an AHA spokeswoman.

Click here to read the whole article

Life's essentials

It should be mandatory for every household to have Calvin and Hobbes :D

And .... new favorites:

more animals


more animals


more animals

Wonder food

It's been recently found that sweet potatoes are also high in glutathion which is used to treat toxicity, acne, cancer, allergies, Alzheimer's disease, cystic fibrosis, arthritis, diabetes, hepatitis, liver dysfunction, and more.

SWEET POTATO

Health Benefits of Sweet Potato

Super Foods that Heal - SWEET POTATOA An endorsement of sweet potatoes as a nutritious food helpful in the prevention of disease comes from the North Carolina Stroke Association, American Cancer Society, and the American Heart Association. And they're not the only ones noticing the attributes of sweet potatoes.

In 1992, the Center for Science in the Public Interest compared the nutritional value of sweet potatoes to all other vegetables. Considering fiber content, complex carbohydrates, protein, vitamins A and C, iron, and calcium, the sweet potato ranked highest in nutritional value. According to these criteria, sweet potatoes earned 184 points, 100 points over the next on the list, the white potato. The Center strongly recommends eating more sweet potatoes since a nutritious diet is one that is high in fiber, provides many nutrients, is rich in complex carbohydrates, and is low in fat.

More Fiber

The sweet potato is a good source of dietary fiber, which lowers the risk for constipation, diverticulosis, colon and rectal cancer, heart disease, diabetes and obesity. The fiber in sweet potatoes provides a feeling of fullness and satiety, which helps to control food intake.

More Antioxidants

Antioxidants play a role in the prevention of heart disease and cancer, and sweet potatoes supply plenty of the antioxidants, vitamin E and beta-carotene. These substances are effective in neutralizing free radicals, which are responsible for damage to cell walls and cell structures. Vitamin E also protects against heart attack and stroke by reducing the harmful effects of low-density cholesterol and preventing blood clots.

Antioxidants are essential for good brain functioning and in delay in the effects of aging on the brain. A low level of vitamin E has been linked with memory loss. A Columbia University study showed a delay of about seven months in the progression of Alzheimer's disease when subjects consumed high levels of vitamin E. This fat-soluble vitamin is found mainly in high-fat foods such as oils, nuts, and avocados. Only the sweet potato provides vitamin E without the fat and calories.

Sweet potatoes contain 30 mg (50,000 IU) of beta-carotene (vitamin A) in one cup, which is four times the USRDA. You would have to eat 23 cups of broccoli to consume the same amount of beta-carotene. Health professionals believe that carotenoids give protection from the formation of free radicals and are chemo-protective against cancer.

The Finnish study of 10,000 smokers, reviewed in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1994, tested the effects of taking beta-carotene supplements to prevent lung cancer. It was based on the earlier finding that individuals who have higher blood levels of beta-carotene have a lower incidence of lung cancer. To the researchers' horror, those who took the supplements actually had a higher rate of lung cancer and the study was discontinued. Researchers concluded that beta-carotene has a protective effect only when consumed in food, the original and best source. The nutrient-packed sweet potato is the richest source of this protective substance.

Low Glycemic Index

Different foods have different effects on blood glucose. The glycemic index is a measure of how quickly glucose is absorbed after a person eats, how high glucose rises, and how quickly it returns to normal. A low glycemic index is desirable and is characterized by slow absorption, a modest rise in blood glucose, and a smooth return to normal. Fast absorption, a surge in blood glucose, and an overreaction that plunges glucose below normal are undesirable and are the result of eating foods with a high glycemic index. This distinction is especially important for people with diabetes, whose good health is dependent upon stable blood glucose levels. As a result, getting enough carbohydrates without causing glucose spikes can prove challenging. For example, white potatoes, corn, rice, and white bread all have a high glycemic index and can cause a spike and an ultimate drop in blood sugar. Diabetics and others wanting to avoid glucose highs and lows can turn to sweet potatoes, which have a low glycemic index.

Excellent Source of Potassium

Potassium plays a major role in maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance and cell integrity. Controlling potassium distribution is a high priority for the body because it affects many aspects of homeostasis, including a steady heartbeat. Fresh fruits and vegetables are the best sources of potassium, and sweet potatoes are among the top three richest sources, along with bananas and white potatoes.

Dr. Robert Cordell, emeritus professor of cardiothoracic surgery at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, highly recommends sweet potatoes. "Sweet potatoes, a readily available and wonderfully tasteful root vegetable in the southeastern United States, are frequently overlooked regarding their health value. Most remain unaware of the significant health benefits of this low-fat, high fiber vegetable that is such a rich source of vitamins A and E. Sweet potatoes, therefore, contain significant deterrents to heart disease and stroke, both of which tend to be higher in our part of the country. In addition, reports have suggested anti-cancer effects. With these facts in mind, all of us should make sweet potatoes a more frequent part of our regular diet."

For the complete nutrition index, go to:

Sweet potato fries is one yummy way of cooking sweet potatoes. For fries- it's great cut into thin circles as well, then flavored with curry, salt, and cinnamon. Korean pepper/Korean ketchup sprinkled with sugar is another great way- or go, the rather unhealthy but extremely delicious Filipino way, fry the sweet potatoes in melted sugar.



Even its vines are good to eat both on the level of taste and health.

Avo, The Cholesterol Fighter

I like avocados, but more importantly - Sam, my co-author and "m8" loves them.

Avocados grow quite abundantly where I live, in fact we've got at least 3 mother trees who all have totally different shaped avocados. One of the trees gives perfectly round avocados about the size of soft balls, the seeds are just a little smaller than a ping pong ball, and the meat is beautifully buttery and smooth. One of our other trees gives long avocados shaped quite like distorted balloons or something of the sort. Avocados grow so well around here that in some places, the fruits are just left for the monkeys and pigs to eat.

Avocado has surprisingly good effects, including helping with weight control!

Here's a little snippet on avocados:

CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING AVOCADO: Healthy Fats, Lower Cholesterol

Avocados are a great source of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat—a type of fat that may actually help to raise levels of HDL ("good" cholesterol) while lowering levels of LDL ("bad" cholesterol). And these delectable green orbs pack more of the cholesterol-smashing beta-sitosterol (a beneficial plant-based fat) than any other fruit. Beta-sitosterol reduces the amount of cholesterol absorbed from food. So the combination of beta-sitosterol and monounsaturated fat makes the avocado an excellent cholesterol buster.

Eat some today

Avocado is a bit high in calories. Your best strategy: Use this luscious veggie in place of another high-fat food or condiment.

Get this much

The American Heart Association recommends that you get up to 15 percent of your daily calories from monounsaturated fats like those contained in avocados, but some heart experts recommend an even greater percentage. (In an 1,800-calorie diet, 15 percent translates into 30 grams per day.) FYI: A whole avocado has about 300 calories and 30 g fat.

From: MSN


One of my favorite ways to eat avocado is in salad or in sandwiches. It's especially good with Kimchi:
. (I need to get myself a camera so that I can post some fuuud pix!) Since Kimchi is somewhat a salad/pickle, and contains high amounts of enzymes. Not only that, but it's also got heaps of chili in it, making it a good way to keep off pounds. It's great layered in with sandwiches - be it a nice little burger or just some sort of a tofu crumble or something of the sort. It actually goes real well with avocado, mustard, cheese, pickles, and the other usual ingredients of good sandwiches.

Avocado is an incredibly versatile ingredient to work with, good when salty, sweet, or even spicy. Just don't ever bake it- it turns out horribly bitter, - or at least from my experience that's what has happened!



This avocado tart recipe is another favorite of mine. It's easy and fast to make, and is real enjoyable. The cashew milk blends in real well.

These pre-baked pastry cups filled with a custardlike cream will please your vegan friends. Best served freshly chilled. Cholesterol-free avocados are loaded with potassium, vitamins A and C, and niacin.

Pastry:
1 cup unbleached white flour
2 Tbsp. raw sugar
1/2 tsp. egg replacer powder
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
3 Tbsp. safflower oil
Water for binding

Filling:
3/4 cup fresh cashew milk*
1/4 cup raw sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/8 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups ripe avocado
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
Fresh mint leaves for garnishing

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Mix the dry pastry ingredients together in a medium bowl. Rub in the oil with your fingertips until evenly crumbly. Carefully add just enough water to make a soft ball of dough.

2. Lightly oil 4 mini tart pans or custard cups, or a standard muffin tray with 6 cups. Divide the pastry into 4-6 pieces depending on the size and choice of pan. On a floured work surface, roll each piece into a circle about 1/8 inch thick.

3. Place the pastry into the pans and mold to fit. Prick the bottoms with a fork. Bake for 20-30 minutes until light golden. Cool and remove the shells from the pans. If you are using custard cups, bake first, then remove the pastry shells from the cups and bake on a tray, bottom side up, for another 5-10 minutes.

4. Prepare the cashew milk as directed below. Blend the cashew milk and the next 4 filling ingredients until smooth. Add the lemon juice and mix. Spoon the filling evenly into the cooled shells and chill briefly. Garnish with fresh mint leaves.

Makes 4-6 tarts

*Cashew milk: Blend 1/4 cup raw cashew pieces with 1 cup hot water until smooth. Strain through a fine strainer.

Nutritional Information Per Serving:
Calories: 293, Fat 15.3g (138 cal), Carbohydrate 34.7g (139 cal), Protein 3.8g (16 cal)
Added information: Saturated Fat 1.8g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 202mg, Dietary Fiber 2.7g

Pic Of The Day

Heres a nice little pic of the dunes In Whangamata.

Pic of the day

This sweet little pic of the day was taken In northland. I won't just keep posting waves I promise. But doesn't it just look beautiful! :D

New Zealand Pic of the Day.

Heres a sweet little pic of the day from Port Waikato.

Discover a hidden gem of New Zealand just an hour south of Auckland - Port Waikato. Stroll along the sublime beaches, surf some good waves, tramp the dunes, or just enjoy the laid back atmosphere of this seaside township.

The 'Port', as the locals call it, is a magical place where you can experience true Kiwiana. The pace of life is a bit slower and relaxed and beauty of New Zealand natures abounds all around. Whether its the majestic sand dunes, the mighty Waikato river which flows into the Tasman Sea, the impressive surf on Sunset Beach or the otherwordly limestone landscapes in the hinterland - there is always something beautiful to discover at Port Waikato.

Taken from: Port Waikato

Surfing is the most popular thing in Port Waikato, but it's also a great place to go to bike and kayak. If you're interested to come, here are some good places to stay:

Port Waikato Accomodation

Below are some of the fantastic places if you'd like to escape to Port Waikato for a spell:
Waikatoa Surf Lodge

* Small, friendly and relaxed.
* Enjoy modern facilites with great indoor/outdoor living
area. BBQ facilites.
* Two minutes walk to surf beach, and spectacular sunsets
* The best fish and chips.
* Superb surfing
* Coastal Walks
* Fishing, kayaking, mountain biking (equipment available)
* The Lord of the Rings - 'Weathertop Hollow' - Film location at Port Waikato

Click on the following link to visit the Waikatoa Surf Lodge
Westside Bed and Breakfast

* Private self-contained unit
* Twin or King sized bed
* Ensuite
* Television, radio, CD player, SKY television, microwave
* Electric fry pan and cooking facilities
* Guest surf-casting fishing rods
* Continental Breakfast
* Plenty of space to park your boat

Take a walk around the rocks to the seal colony and check out some fossils - Port Waikato is renowned for its fossils. 3ha park-like grounds - quiet & secluded family camp. Caravan & tent sites, tourist cabins, kitchen cabins, motel units, onsite caravans, campervan sites. TV lounge, equipped kitchen, fridge/freezer, microwave, games room, internet/email access, photocopying, fax, barbecue, spacious grounds, boat ramp

How to Relieve Upper Back Pain

The old-fashioned way to exercise to relieve pain and muscle tension just doesn't work. When our upper back muscles hurt, we How to Relieve Upper Back Pain
The old-fashioned way to exercise to relieve pain and muscle tension just doesn't work. When often try stretching to loosen up. But the pain returns, doesn't it?
Work, everyday activities, and lifestyles are harder than ever on back muscles. Our activity levels are diminished. Our jobs require sitting for long periods of time, adding to our inactivity. These habits restrict movement, circulation, and metabolism.
Because of the extremely inactive nature of our lifestyles, typical old-fashioned stretches are not effective enough to loosen tight muscles.
Understanding posture, pain and muscle balance.
To know how to use exercise effectively for pain relief, you must understand posture, and how pain arises from muscles out of balance.
Posture is compromised by sedentary jobs, or jobs that put our bodies in awkward positions. Some muscles get overworked, while others get underworked. This creates muscle imbalance and poor posture.
Pain will arise when a muscle imbalance develops. In order to address the imbalance and relieve pain, treatments (like exercise) need to focus both on the overworked muscles and the underworked muscles.
When you feel pain or tension in upper back muscles, you need to also treat the muscles on the front-side of the body. Most commonly, the muscles on the front are tight from being overworked, and the upper back muscles are being overstretched and underworked. When the chest and arms are working hard, the upper back muscles are strained and pulled taut.
Relieving upper back muscles with new exercise rules.
In order to prevent and relieve muscle pain due to postural imbalance, you'll need to apply some new exercise principles.
1) Don't stretch the pain away- The old-fashioned way to relieve tension is to stretch the pain away. This is partly why yoga has become so popular in recent years.
For stretching to be effective, we must stretch the overworked muscles. When posture is compromised, causing tension to be felt in the upper back, then we need to be especially conscious to stretch the muscles of the front-side of the body.
2) Getting stronger- Back muscles often feel painful because they are overstretched, or weak. Therefore, exercises to strengthen the upper back muscles often provide instant relief.
3) Move along- Cardio exercise brings fresh blood and oxygen to restricted areas. Cardio exercise increases movement, decreases pain, and naturally stimulates your body's own painkillers. It benefits both the underworked and overworked muscles, and every cell in the body.
Apply these three fresh principles. Abandon outdated ideas that aren't helping you.
You can prevent aches and pains, and relieve tension, with a simple shift in your exercise program.

A lot of interesting stuff on this blog about Womans health

Pic of the day

Here's a nice little pic from right up north of New Zealand. We went and caught those waves soon after this :)

The Best Adobo

My sister is one of the best cooks I know, and I figured I'd share her recipe for Adobo on here.

Adobo is one of the best known Filipino dishes - you can make almost anything into adobo. Sitaw (pole beans), potato, sweet potato, taro, fried bread, tofu, bread fruit, meat, and even rice- whatever else you can think of, can be made into adobo. It's also basically the easiest thing to make.

All you need is equal parts of soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar, then, depending on how much you're cooking, - usually just a teaspoon of garlic (semi crushed or cut real small), and a whole onion. Leeks will do too. Then saute the garlic, and onions till the onions get nice and caramelized. After that, throw in the s ugar and soy sauce (it'll fizzle and sizzle), throw in whatever you'd like to make into adobo- be it fried tofu or whatever it is - mix it around, then add the vinegar. You can actually add the vinegar in early, but if it's vegetables that you're turning into adobo, it usually takes a lot longer for the veggies to cook when there's vinegar in the pot, so generally speaking, if it's a vegetable, put the vinegar last. But if it's more on the carbs side of things, then there's no problem adding all 3 ingredients in at the same time.

Let things simmer, you can even cover the pot, put it in semi low heat - and let the ingredients suck in all the sauce. After you can garnish with toasted sesame seeds and fresh chives or leeks, and fresh tomatoes! It's especially good and pretty with the tomatoes. Even lettuce goes with it.



Enjoy!

Autumn

Autumn pics. I took these last year. Just playing around.

My work mates are getting me down :(

What exactly is this world coming too? I work with about 5 people who have absolutely no life. They work all week so they can spend it all on alcohol and drugs. They don't even like the work they do. They have absolutely no appreciation at all for nature or the environment. They are just totally locked into their little world. So many people are like that that I know. They are totally destroying their bodies with the toxins they throw into it everyday. I can smell the toxins on them everyday they come to work. It's oozing out of them. I wish I could just slap them and tell them to wake up haha. A few of them are actually really nice people but they just have no purpose for their life. Work, drugs and fishing is about it haha. I'm not trying to criticize them and put them down. They are free to do whatever they want but I would hate to live my live and then look back on it and think "damn, I lived for nothing".

Cell phone dangers

Here's a short video clip on the dangers of cell phones. It reminded me of one of my teachers, who died when he was 52, - of brain cancer which the doctors believed was caused by his use of cell phones. He was always traveling and because of his business, he was always using a cell phone. 6 months after he was diagnosed with brain cancer, he died... his brain was already half eaten away.

For most of us, our days aren't quite complete without using cell phones, computers, maybe even watching television. It makes me wonder what type of deaths people in our generation will suffer from. Just like the scientists did not tell people about the dangers of cigarettes - I think we may have the same dangers/side effects of using cell phones.

It's especially dangerous for young children.. tbc

Onemana

I went to Onemana today, a really nice little beach. It's a perfect temperature out there lately. I got a few nice pics. I like the artey little pics of nature if you can't tell already. My favorite time of the day to go for a walk on the beach is when the sun is going down into the ocean. Unless it's windy then I'll stay inside. It's a very mode of goodness time to be with nature. Makes me feel good :)

Chuva lang

Ito. Meron na akong nahanap na mga Filipino doon sa NZ. Buti naman. Kung ako lang ayaw kong lumipat doon pag nag asawa na kami. Mas gusto ko parin ang Pilipinas kahit saan bansa na akong nakapunta, dito parin ang aking puso. Siguro masyadong malakas yung hatak ng aking ugat dito saatin.

Ikikilala ko ang aking mga kababayan doon para naman meron parin akong mga makausap na Pinay palagi kung mapadpad man ako doon!

The ocean

Days are good in a sense that each day we’ve each got the choice to change. Each day we’ve got a choice to make things better, keep them about the same, or make them worse. I’m happy to have the chance to make things right after making so many wrongs, and I’m happy to have the guidance of family and friends which pushes me and makes me want to do better all the time.

The years have gone by so quickly. It seems only just yesterday that I was a 12 year old, much affected by the influx of puberty, wanting friends, and wanting so much to be accepted. Now, 10 years later, I’m still studying, but I’m also a teacher to many now. It’s hard to believe my mom was a mom at this age.

Things change so much, and people change so much all the time. The beautiful ocean is a great reminder of this. From a young age I loved water, I loved the ocean- and it’s only in the past few years that I’ve finally lived right by it. I just got back from a swim and it was so beautiful and clean out there- and no shark sightings again - so it was good.

As that saying goes, “the ocean of ever change” - ah, it’s so true. Yet despite its changing all the time, in a sense it’s somehow calm. I seem to find a sense of calmness in the ocean, a kind acceptance of its sometimes cruel, crashing waves- which on other days is so calm and unmoving that it seems to be more like a lake than the ocean. Calmness. Beauty. Water is so powerful. Nature is so full of beauty, splendor, wonder. Yet not a speck of nature crows of arrogance. It is all just like a manifestation of Supreme Beauty and Supreme Acceptance.

My side of it

Sam just posted his first post, I'm not sure if he actually read the first one I put up, or the little "about us" post I sneaked in. He suggested I write about us tho- being.. well, in the situation that we are- engaged- but far, far apart.

To make the background short, I didn't think I'd ever get married but well, Sam came along and now I'm engaged. On some occasions I wonder what in the world got into me- or perhaps, what I've gotten myself into. Here's someone from a totally different culture and country, haven't known for very long - but well, hey- my parents and family really like him and so do I. We've got similar views on a lot of things and ... well basically I think it'll work out really well. (I'm hoping that anyway.)

We don't plan to marry anytime soon. We're both basically working students now and there's so much more to do before actually settling down and marrying - or at least that's how I feel- but despite all that- I'm happy and feel lucky to have him.

It's not exactly easy to be so far apart, but it's also not easy to be all too close while we're not yet married. I'm a bit more on the conservative side of things, so in a sense us being far apart will be much easier for certain things. It's been almost a month(!) since I last saw him. I've got at least a few more years to go before I actually see him again. Thank God for technology!

Anyway, that's all I'm willing to say now.

In relation to that first post I made, I had an odd dream last night about my pregnant German Shepherd. I dreampt that she gave birth already and there were like 13 puppies but 3 of them died. It was a pretty weird dream. She gave birth for the first time last year on December 22, unfortunately, the 3 puppies she gave birth to all died before or on December 25th. I never saw a more broken hearted dog. I couldn't believe how well she would pick up on my mood/feelings as well. The day one of her puppies died I quickly brought its little body out of the room she was in so that she wouldn't see it. But she kept looking and looking. And she kept looking at me like, "So, ok, cut the crap, where'd you put him?" The worst was on Christmas morning tho, when the last puppy died. I folded up all the blankets and put aside her whelping bed, and started crying when I was fixing up. She started crying in her dog way too. It only just made me sadder. For at least a couple months after that she kept on looking at me and doing her doggy cry- still asking where her pups went. Anyway, I'm praying we have better luck this time.

My fun surf trip

Well, Me and a few friends decided to go on a camping trip to Hot water Beach on Friday night. It's about an hour away from where I live. It's called Hot water Beach because hot springs come out of the sand. You can literally see the sand boiling in spots. All you need to do is dig a hole in the sand at low tide and voila! You have a hot pool. Pretty cool yea?

Anyway we went up there because it has a really fun surf break. It turned out to be pumping! As you can tell by the pics. We actually went up there not expecting too much but it turned out to be so much fun. The wind was pretty hard offshore but then it died down. We camped there on the beach that night then got up at 4:00 am (low tide) and dug a hole. It was so nice to lie in a hot pool looking up at the stars feeling the cold wind sweep across your face. The surf break is just behind us in the pic. After we were too hot we went out and caught some more fun waves! It was an all around good camping trip topped off with good waves and really hot, hotpools.

Golden Retriever Adopts Tigers

Omg. I'm going to die of cuteness overload. Just check out Msn for the complete set of pictures.
I think some human mothers can learns some things from this golden retriever who adopted tiger cubs.

Ni Hao

Da jia huan ying! Zhe shi liang ge ren de blog.