My Christmas Wishlist

Where to send the gifts? Email me at orangeinapod@gmail.com or send a meebo message, leave your contact no., let's meet and have coffee, my treat! :-)

The Worst Last Minute Christmas Gifts

It's always a stressful time hunting for Christmas gifts to give to friends and co-workers. Yeah, everyone wants to give cool gifts, but most of the time we're a little strapped for cash. And you know how malls are packed with people - crazy, hot-headed people, that is... Add to that the pressure of getting a gift that will make its recepient say "Wow! What a great present!" Even if we don't have the time to shop or we don't have enough money for that "WOW!" gift we can still find good bargains around.

But please, AVOID giving the following gifts for Christmas:

1. Scented candles - Unless your friend is a new age junkie and digs weird wicca stuff, scented candles are way UN-cool!
2. Bars of soap - we're not elementary students anymore doing the "exchange gift".
3. Exercise Videos or Diet Books - even if the package is cute and you mean well, it is impossible to give a gift of this kind without offending the receiver.
4. Ceramic Figurine - see #2
5. Face Towel - see #2
6. Cartoon Character Ties - what are you stuck in the 90s? Whoever still wears cartoon character ties should be shot... on the spot!
7. Photo Album - this is probably the worst of all... and that includes a photo frame. Burn whoever gives you a lousy photo album (or photo frame) this Christmas.
8. Socks - most people are happy to buy their own socks and would rather do so than receive them as a present.
9. Punch Bowl - who would use a punch bowl these days?
10. Ugly hand bags - why are they even made in the first place?

They all say, it's not about the gift, it's the thought that counts, right? WRONG! If you're giving horrible, tacky, and tasteless gifts for Christmas, that equates to THOUGHTLESSNESS on your part.

Oliver Twist on Radio!

I'm now on radio! Tune in on 96.7 K-Lite, the No. 1 Hit Music Station in Baguio City. I'm gonna be a semi-regular co-host of Dana Grey on Heart to Heart, weeknights, 7 to 9 in the evening. AND catch me on K-Lite Interactive with Hanna Grace, every Saturday 7 to 10 in the morning. AND I'm gonna be playing the Top 25 songs on The Weekend Countdown, right after K-Lite Interactive until 1 in the afternoon.

So, keep it right here on 96.7 K-Lite... the Official Radio Station of the Yuletide Season!

Only in the Philippines

Typhoon lashed RP, followed by an earthquake... then (another) coup attempt. What's next on the list? Only in the Philippines my dear friends!

Oy, Mina!

The temperature here in Baguio City suddenly dropped as Mina closed in on the capital. As I write this post, I await for the cancellation of classes in the university.

My Anne Rice collection... so far!

I'm a big Anne Rice fan. I was introduced to her, eons ago, by a very good friend, Mike, who's now in Cambodia and is also collecting her books. The first Anne Rice novel I've read was Cry to Heaven. It's her finest novel I should say, with all the rich details of 18th century Italy and compelling characters. Given the time, I would love to re-read it.

Currently I own 12 of her novels, most of them from Book Sale (a second-hand book shop) and some, gifts from friends. I was lucky enough to get a hardcover edition of The Tale of the Body Thief for only 150 pesos, the others, like The Queen of the Damned, I got for only 70 pesos. I got her latest book, Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt 20% off from National Bookstore. A few days later, a friend gave me another copy from the United States (with the silver cover), so now I have two.

The hardcover edition of Pandora is Mike's. I wasn't able to return it to him that's why I'm taking very good care of it in case he comes home to the Philippines and asks me to return the book to him.

My Christmas wishlist includes all Anne Rice's books not in the picture. If you wish to send me the books, just let me know and I'll give you the address where you can send them. Hehehe!

OrangeinaPod is BACK!

The orange is ripe and ready for the picking!

OrangeinaPod's Podcast Alley Claim Tag

My Podcast Alley feed! {pca-d0808100c6d66ec20ff269cd2f247687}

Finally... a Josh Groban Christmas Album

The Grammy-nominated, twenty-something, pop-classical phenomenon's fourth studio album is an expertly accomplished entry to the holiday marketplace. Noël tackles the familiar sounds of holiday music with a charmingly eclectic array of guest vocalists and a wide range of material. The songs range from the sacred to the secular, while Groban--buoyed in spots by none other than the London Symphony Orchestra--soars in his duets with Brian McKnight, Faith Hill, and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. There's even a song with a gospel choir directed by Kirk Franklin. Produced yet again by crossover maestro David Foster, the arrangements never overwhelm the songs. Groban's smooth and supple vocals can be hard to categorize--seeing how his range is somewhere in-between a high baritone and a low tenor--but he always finds and emphasizes the emotional core of these songs. And whether they have origins in pop or classical music seems not to matter. The addition of messages from troops stationed in Iraq on top of "I'll Be Home for Christmas" is undeniably heart-wrenching, while the album's highlight is its most spare song, "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," which finds Groban alone at his piano, sounding very much like some kind of angel. (Amazon.com)

For more info visit this link.