Mona Lisa Smile

First of all, isn't Julia Roberts so beautiful here?! I do think I'm beginning to like her. Anyway, I'm having a trouble in sleeping again so I decided to watch a movie that I have ignored for a long time now. It's Mona Lisa Smile. It was the only movie I haven't watch that's available so I thought maybe I could see it for a change. I was surprised how the movie caught me. I didn't know that such movie could be so worthwhile for me. I mean, the cast were all girls as if it's a movie for girls, the setting was sometime in 1950's and I didn't even know when it was shown on movie houses. It struck me really 'cause I have in fact identified myself to the demeanor of the protagonist especially in the latter part of the story. I have been in that situation months ago and all the while, I'm a little unsure if I made the right decision. All the while, I have been in some doubt about me being really firm on the values I treasure 'cause a lot of people just seem to show and say that in order to succeed, you have to be practical… practical in a sense that you should sacrifice some, or sometimes, a lot of your principles. This is especially in working with other kinds of people, in having a job and working in an organization... if you know what I'm saying. After watching the movie, I think I just lost that uncertainty. I think I pretty much did well in my experience. Perhaps compromising the good values should never even be a choice.

Top Things Drivers Don't Know/Do That They Should Know/Do

As I was driving from school a while ago I noticed quite a number of things I just think are not agreeable on the road. What are the top things that drivers don't know/do that they should know/do? I think there are a number of these things. So after some contemplation, I came up with these things. Actually, I really wanted to do this even before. I've also included things that I have learned that I think works for me and that not so many know. If you have some comments or something you'd like me to add, do message me. Share what you know too. So here's my list. Pretty much small things but, I think, we must know.

Top 10: stay with the pace

People! There's already too much bad traffic caused by narrow road constructions and too much cars. Don't add up with the problem. If we can really do this, I do believe that we can help our country move a little further to being really stable, 'cause not only we can get to our destination early, but we also get to help others make use of their time more productively instead of spending it in traffic.

Top 9: have a wise and safe distance with cars in front

You'll never know what could happen and what kind of driver the car in front of you has. Keep at least a car distance up to 0-39 km/hr, 2 cars from 40-79 km/hr and at least 4 cars from 80 above km/hr. This is what I do. The idea is to have enough distance with the car in front for you to have sufficient time to make your car stop safely if ever the car in front of you stopped suddenly. In a stop instance, 3/4 of a car distance would be helpful. This strategy really works for me especially in changing lanes, again from a stop. Not only steering gets easier for me but I also save my time, and in some instances, the time of the driver I am overtaking 'cause I don't have to spend too much time in steering the wheel.

Top 8: use the law of inertia

When I was new on the road I keep on wondering, do you save less gas in 5th gear than on 2nd gear? Well, since a lot of advertisements say that you spend a lot of gas going fast you can then say having a moderate speed is cheaper. But you know what I think? If you really want to save gas, use the law of inertia. Yup, I even came up with a theory for this. The more you step on the stop pedal, the more potential savings you lose.

Top 7: break gently

Yup, breaking gently is in my top list. Of course it is. We should all know that we should be sensitive enough with our passengers. Take note that sometimes, some breaks are not so disturbing for you but for your passengers, it is. For some drivers, sleeping passengers are just irritating but I do think it's flattering. Think about it, if you'll drive people, why don't you make it quite a moment for them? Right? Right! Actually, I think I got the trust of one of my ex's mom in driving her car with this one. (I think so... or maybe she's just so 'mabait')

Top 6: don't throw things on the road

Come on! Come on! Come on! Don't throw things on the road. Do you want seeing a lot of trash on the road? Then don't make our country a big trash site. Some people reason out that the sweepers will take care of their trash on the roads but think about it, not only you'll just make their work harder but you still made our country a less good place to live in even for a couple of days(or for a week... or weeks... months? maybe? ...do they really clean? hmmm..).

Top 5: signal before changing lanes not only in turning

Don't underestimate what a signal can do for you. It do saves us from accidents. I think we shouldn't wait 'till we get into one to realize this. And in overtaking, I think it's more helpful to signal than to act as if you're a notorious cool guy, 'cause in signaling, for me it's like a 'please' in a sentence in asking if you could go in someone's lane ahead. In this way, other drivers then can be more giving to you. I see a lot of drivers don't do this that's why this stays on the top 5.

Top 4: use all the mirrors

Mirrors are there for reasons. Well, of course, all drivers use mirrors but I think not all uses these 3 mirrors adequately. So when do you think you're maximizing the use of the mirrors? Nope, it's not when you have perfected using it to craftily check on the hottie beside you. Well, that adds up of course. :) But seriously, I think it's when you like have a bird's eye view of your car. When you know what's in the right area, left, front and in the rear area.

Top 3: break or at least half-break for every intersection

This is so important. I do think it is. This has saved me in quite a number of times from getting into an accident. From school, I usually pass through narrow roads with intersections that are not usually taken by people. Cars here at times just come out surprisingly. Half-breaking/breaking really is a must in intersections.

Top 2: give way

Now, this is what separates educated people from uneducated people and showoffs. Being selfish is just what makes many roads a disaster. This is one of the profound reasons why many people just hate it driving or being on the road. We should give way. What's a 5 second stop to give way to car that is causing the other lane in having a bad traffic? What's a 3 yard space to make someone feel glad that someone like you exist? I think, for every instance on the road, what we have to look forward to is when is the time we can give and not the moment we can get something. Try doing this for a change 'cause believe me, it's really nice when people look at you and wave their hand smiling to thank you.

Top 1: pray

Praying really helps. Prayer does work, yes. But take note, a prayer is a prayer if it really comes from the heart. I remember my mom telling me how praying makes her feel relax and how it gives her a peace of mind on the road. Of course I also remember how corny I felt about what she was saying. Well, that was until I tried praying at the start of my everyday trip on the road. It makes you aware of the things you should be aware of. It gives you the right attitude in driving. It makes you confident 'cause you know Someone is watching over you up there. : )

A Productive Sunday

I got up at around 4 in the afternoon today. It was a little late. Yup, just a little late, 'coz after summer my sleeping hours became really abnormal. No matter what I do, I fall asleep from around 5am to around 1pm. I think my body got used to with the time after the nightlife I had in summer. Anyway, I’m pretty satisfied with my day today 'coz it's pretty productive. I went to Green Hills to buy some things and went back to Galleria to buy some things again and finally hear mass at the shrine. I had some thoughts while waiting for the priest about hearing mass. Just this summer, for the first time, I met someone who flat out believes that hearing mass every Sunday is not an obligation. I was pretty shocked 'coz the person doesn't really look like someone who had that kind of belief. I firmly believe that it is an obligation, basically because that's what the brethren in my school told me back in high school. But then again, I was kind of confused with this belief for the time being, until I get to hear mass again today. Honestly, the priest seems unprepared for his sermon but nevertheless I can say I have learned significant things from him. I then got to realized that no matter how unprepared a priest is in his sermon, he always has some good things to say for us to be reminded. Well, that was enough for me to realize that I should hear mass every Sunday and I think verifying whether it's an obligation or not isn't "that" important anymore. Besides, what's an hour for Him? Right? Come on! No matter how unlucky you say you are, there are still so much things to be thankful about and for which, we should even give him more than an hour... way more than an hour...cliché but true... don't you think? : )