Blogworld Saturday

We're just a few days away from Christmas -- where did all the days, weeks, and months go? Time seems to fly so fast these days. Maybe I'm just getting old. I've been prone to thinking about what transpired throughout the year; as John Smith says in the movie Mr. & Mrs. Smith: "I guess that's what happens in the end, you start thinking about the beginning." Except my ruminations aren't confined to just the beginning.

Anywaaaay...

On to the penultimate Blogworld Saturday for two-oh-oh-six (which has been a most interesting year, a year of discovery to say the least).

Irene is a fellow Filipina blogger who has an excellent, excellent post about why she opts to stay here in the Philippines in spite of the decision of her friends to seek greener pastures abroad. I can relate to her post: my siblings live in other countries now (though one of them lives abroad nine months out of twelve since he works on a cruise ship). Travel is on my agenda (crossing my fingers for next year!) but this sweet, heartachingly beautiful, and quirky country is where I want to live, notwithstanding the hardship as well as the farce that goes by the name of politics.

Oregon's Scott is a diverse writer. He blogs about everything from the size of his poo to balls to NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). But his post about perfectionism, love, death, and adroit pizza-making (yes, they're all related) held me in thrall.

My blog buddy Kiyotoe is another person whose writings I enjoy. He can talk about everyday things, but in such an insightful and thought-provoking way. Case in point: his entry about how looks can be deceiving. Judging people by how they look is a common failing and it can prove disadvantageous for both the judge and the one being judged.

Snap judgments are made by both women and men--or the "rougher sex," as Aileen calls them. This rough-and-tumble species can be many things that drive women to despair, but they can be such adorable, exhilarating creatures too. Read about what Aileen loves most about the menfolk in a post that she wrote recently.

The war between the sexes may never come to an end (do we want it to?) but wishing for an end to other kinds of war is something that most of us do. Mimi Lenox has taken a step towards uniting and solidifying these wishes--at least amongst us bloggers--with an initiative called Dona Nobis Pacem. If you missed the maiden voyage, which launched successfully on November 7, 2006 and want to take part in Round 2 on December 24, 2006, just go to her BlogBlast for Peace site, download a Peace Globe, write your name across it, and post it in a blog entry on Sunday, Christmas Eve. At least two other bloggers have been helping Mimi spread the word: Sanni and Prometheus. Like a snowball it's gathering momentum.

Speaking of snow, I was simply bowled over by pictures posted by Ian and Sunrunner showing the incredible amount of snow that fell where they live in Colorado during a recent snowstorm. Here in Metro Manila, Christmas is almost always dry and balmy. But I couldn't help being captivated by the pure, silent beauty of those images of snow.

Bloggers have been writing about what they've been cooking and eating this holiday season, but Michael's post about reindeer hotdogs gave me pause. Poor Rudolph, Dancer, Comet, and the rest of the team. I hope they were too busy to read Michael's blog this month!

What would Christmas be without a little song and merrymaking? Frank Sirianni's 12 Days of Christmas and Matt-man's Christmas Carol are prime examples of these two rolled into one. Sure, they're a bit irreverent and naughty, but what the hey. 'Tis the season to be jolly and these two made me go ho ho ho ha ha ha!

Thanks to Wendz and Sanni for my Christmas presents: virtual bikinis! Now if only I could get the belly to disappear so that I can wear one in real life. :-D Have a great weekend, everyone. Let the bells jingle and tintinnabulate. Happy Holidays to all of you!

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Carol of the Bells (David Benoit)