Bully’s Eye

I opened my YouTube account this morning and a very “eye catching” comment greeted me. It basically said I was an ugly bitch. I checked on the person’s channel and I only saw random videos. I deleted and dismissed it as something that came from a person in need of a mirror. Next, I checked on my website and again, there was an “unbecoming” comment and the person have the audacity to sign in using a Filipino term for pigs. Oh boy! It’s one of those days that I get lunatics hovering around. Did I forget that today is Loony Psychos Day? I marked is as spam and just spent the morning toying with my Fender strat. I checked my channel again and this time, the same person who called me fugly used another username and left bad comments. If I were as sensitive as before, I would be lambasting this douche bag or just sulked all day. However, I was too happy not to delete the comments. What I did was to reply to the comment with gratitude and appreciation. I even featured his link on my channel. Talk about throwing back bread instead of stones. While other youtubers were spewing retaliatory comments on his channel, I ended it with “I am so jealous of you.” I meant to say that I am incapable of being a racist and then using the name of the Lord at the same time. It amuses me that this type of people exists and predictably, they do not have a profile picture to back up their insults. If I were this person, I’d post hundreds of my pictures so that my target of insults can at least see me in case they like to cast a voodoo curse on me. I call this bravery and maturity at the same time. You need to back up your artillery if you really want to get on the nerves of people. I say this now since I have a very extensive experience with cyberbullies- remember Meany Mo in one of my posts. I actually like to thank this creature for dragging my life in the mud on craigslist and on porn sites. Nothing beats laughing at this person who thinks victory has arrived in a teacup and eternally hiding from any confrontation behind all that hideous make- up.

 

 

Below is a list of suggestions to deal with pesky cyberbullies.

1. Thank the person.
2. Do not reply to any insult again
3. If you observe that the person is going too far, report or flag him/ her to the hosting site. (This is would take time)
4. “Leave me alone. Stop what you’re doing.” Say, email or message the person. This is the number one thing you need to do in case your decide to take it further to court.
5. Save every message, email and correspondence in html form. Your lawyers will need this. Most employers do not like employees who are cyberstalking on the side.
6. If you don’t know the person, ignore or do steps numbers 1- 3
7. If you know the person, do steps number 3- 5.
8. Change your email address especially when it was hacked by this bully. In my case, I had to change so many since it was used to sign me up for questionable sites.
9. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE- DO NOT POST your ym, personal email address and your cell number online. (example: Call me at this number or ym me at this address) You never know if the person with a picture of Heidi Klum is actually a convicted sex offender. This concerns people with MySpace and Facebook accounts.
10. Use and enjoy the Internet responsibly. Speak your mind but do not (I pray) end up as a bully too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lip Formula for Angelina

It is a cyclone ride since I took a break from teaching. From the unrestricted number of sleeping hours I get and the Kate Moss size financial budget, I have learned to brace myself for more to come. There are moments that I would smile like a Care Bear because of the abundance of love from my family and friends; then there are times that I sulk like a wombat because of impending bills. Yesterday, I decided to hang out in 14^th Street to see the fashion must have’s for Spring. However, the ridiculous prices sent me packing to Barnes and Noble wherein for three hours, I read four books. I must agree that being on a cash diet lets you do great feats such as reading to tame the grumbling hungry stomach.

After I have absorbed all the information from the Trivia and Spa books, I grabbed a light snack. I stopped in front of Sephora. The beauty store, the Mecca of all cosmetics and the perfect perk- you- up when you are feeling unpretty spot. I went in and browsed the eyeshadow section. I discovered that glitter is back again but I hesitated on putting the blue sparkles or I would look like a circus dog. I hovered like a bee to the spa section where an eager salesperson hinted if I needed help. Help means, “I would love to help you pick out what you WILL buy.” I smiled and said no thanks, I am doing alright. Lying to one self is futile since I cannot distinguish a body butter from a body serum. All I know is that they were both silky on my dry flaky hands. I proceeded to the fragrance shelves where other women were spritzing away. I put on my thinking hat again, are these women choosing fragrances based on their current status? Did that teenager spray on Vera Wang’s Princess because her boyfriend calls her clingy? How about the nice lady who put on Marc Jacobs, is she feeling flirty in her flowery dress or that Asian chick who chose Ralph Lauren Hot to hide her pain from walking on those 6-inch boots/ stilettos? This habit of mine can sometimes be embarrassing since I found the women looking at me while I twirl the bottle of Estee Lauder’s Pleasure in my hands. I spritzed on the new Prada to fan the awkward scene. However, I was coughing to the intense smell of that $68 perfume.

I proceeded to the more complicated shelves lined with foundations, bronzers and self-tanners. I tried to educate myself by trying a few face powders. Well it took me three trials to unmake my face from looking like a geisha. Next, I tried the beige shimmery eyeshadow from Christian Dior. It looked hot but the price was not. I went to finishing up with a cheek tint from Benefit and mascara from Imju Fiberwig Fiberwig. My face was piled up with these concoctions. I looked in the mirror and I smiled. I had a mini- make over courtesy of sampling these beauty products which I honestly cannot afford. However, the thrill and simple joy of being able to “use” them are priceless. It is not everyday that a woman feels beautiful. Pampering ourselves does a great deal for our soul too.

As I head out, I put a lip gloss that swears it would lips fuller and plumper. I finished by putting a pink lipcolor from Stila. I was enjoying myself…I was loving myself inspite of the hurdles I am going through.

Outside, the air was fresh from the recent downpour and I decided to go to another bookstore. I crossed through the park and then I felt it, my lips were having a sensation. A weird one like being stung. Then I recalled that there was nothing to worry. I used the lip product to simulate full lips. It was named aptly Venom.

I arrived at Strand Bookstore and grabbed two books from the best seller’s pile. I stationed myself in the children’s section where the chairs are more comfortable. Before I started reading, I took out my small mirror and sneaked a peek at my made up face. My lips were indeed full- er. Thanks to Venom and those precious woman moments at Sephora, I can give Angelina a stiff competition. Well just in the mouth department.

 

 

 

The Sum of It is

Only the brave dare look upon the gray-

upon the things which cannot be explained easily,

upon the things which often engender mistakes,

upon the things whose cause cannot be understood,

upon the things we must accept and live with.

                                            And therefore only the brave dare look upon difference without flinching.                                                                            ~Richard H. Hungerford  

These words penetrate through me everyday and make me stronger! I recall my difficulty in starting my thesis for my master’s degree but when I chanced upon this, I was so motivated I finished my work in three months.  I am trekking on another path and with me, I carry again the wisdom I got from R. Hungerford 

Swirling, Twirling, Cascading Thoughts

It is already 1:56 in the morning and I still need to convince myself to yawn. My inability to sleep normally is accepted eons ago but this day is something else. Aside from the fact that I woke up so early today, I was in full action the whole day. My time was mainly spent with my adorable niece whom I have set two  goals for this week; for her to master concepts of print and spell her full name. I am fully confident that she will achieve this since she is smarter than most 3 year old toddlers. It is also given that her aunt is a teacher at heart even when it is the winter break.

I was also in non stop chatting mode with my brother. I guess a year of not seeing each other made a big difference. Sadly, he has to fly back to Phoenix later. To distract me from being sad, I again depend on the internet to ease my pain. My addiction to the world wide web has undoubtedly been magnified to the 10th exponent. I have mastered the art of monitoring my youtube account, MySpace page and this site. The thing is I want to keep the relationship with my online friends and viewers online real. I make it a point to drop them a line to say hello, thank you and greeting them when it happens to be their birthday. It takes a lot of time and worsens my eye strain but being sincere is worth it. I try to know them and not just to be in their accounts for statistics’ sake.

So what’s in store later when I wake up (if I ever do get sleep)

1. Start phase 1 of the South Beach Diet with my sister

2. Pilates after 4 days of no workout

3. Do resistance training.

4. Call up my old professor to catch up

5. Practice the acoustic guitar again and again and again. I made a bet with a friend so I am sticking with this.

5. Play more “I spy” games with my niece.

6. Make more sense in my next writing tomorrow.

Hope you had a nice, comfy, (I am so envious) enough sleep.