Halloween Book Review: Kerry Blair's, Ghost of a Chance

This is the first time I read a mystery fiction book. The first time I will post a book review. The first time is always exciting, and yes, sometimes surprising. Kerry Blair's book Ghost of a Chance is truly entertaining. This the kindof mystery book that when presented with love, romance and humor,  becomes truly captivating and enjoyable. Of course, I am always amazed at the author's choice of words when telling the story, it is both easy and funny. This Halloween post is specially prepared for a book review, my first and luckily the best mystery book. 

Ghost of  a Chance by Kerry Blair from Covenant Communications.

"True love is like a ghost. Many people believe in both, but few find either.

Samantha Shade has been hired to find out if there is something more than rats and feral cats haunting the crumbling San Rafael Mission, home of Father Rodriguez's impoverished flock. But soon, the donut-addicted rookie private investigator is sidetracked by a series of murders occurring within the parish — and by the bookish, yet attractive, police detective leading the investigation.

Several young men are found executed in the same gruesome manner — and each is discovered with a marigold between his lips. The clues all seem to lead to someone at the San Rafael Mission. Who could be responsible? Soon Samantha comes all too close to the answer as she is led through the crypts below San Rafael's cemetery on a journey that could only end on the Day of the Dead."

I honestly like the way Samantha Shade includes her faith in God in the story. It feels like almost real. Also it makes me laugh when she doesn't have a watch or a cellphone right in the middle of the cemetery amidst tall and thick weeds. She said she don't even know how to figure out the time by the position of the stars, with reference to the Old Testament prophet Abraham. 

I love how she called Father in Heaven and prayed near the climax of the story when she was alone.

" I prayed for Carlos to be all right until help came. I prayed for Chaiya to be protected on her errand of mercy. I prayed for the killers to stay away and/or for the patrolman to be inspired to check out these streets for no particular reason. I even prayed for God's will to be done, but mostly because I was certain He could see the wisdom in what I wanted."

And the sincere prayer she had of the 'Thy-will-be-done variety' because she honestly don't know what would happen.

Buy the book, or read the first chapter here.

©2008 THOUGHTSKOTO

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The Holy Alphabet

Although things are not perfect  B ecause of trial or pain  Continue in thanksgiving  Do not begin to blame  Even when the times are hard  F ierce winds are bound to blow  God is forever able  H old on to what you know  I magine life without His love  J  oy would cease to be  K eep thanking Him for all the things  L ove imparts to thee  M ove out of "Camp Complaining"  No weapon that is known  O n earth can yield the power  P raise can do alone  Quit looking at the future  Redeem the time at hand  Start every day with worship  T o "thank" is a command  U ntil we see Him coming  V ictorious in the sky  W e'll run the race with gratitude  X  alting God most high  Y  es, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but...  Z ion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!

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The Mormons and Prop. 8

Andrew Sullivan in his post 

The Mormon Church vs Civil Marriage Equality

"The main reason the ban on marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples has been able to finance a massive advertizing campaign is that the LDS church is bankrolling the entire effort. Up to 40 percent of the financing comes from Mormons, who have also sent countless volunteers to the state to canvass door to door. It's all legal, and totally within their democratic rights, but it is striking that one single religious grouping could invest so much in attempting to strip civil equality from gay couples"

Further, he concluded...

 "But watching one religious group swamp an initiative to remove civil rights from a minority is troubling to me. It appears to be based on religious doctrine, not secular argument. If you want to counter the influence of the Mormon church in California's democratic process, donate here."

He has more post focusing on the Mormons stand on Prop 8 linked below.

The Mormon Onslaught

Tearing the LDS Apart

Prop's 8 Chances

Mormons vs Civil Rights

The Mormon Money Behind Proposition 8

Mormons For Civil Rights

plus the California Majority Reports

Prop 8: Mormon Influence on Yes Campaign Now a National Story

The LDS answer to this?

"The church's teachings and position on this moral issue are unequivocal. Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and the formation of families is central to the Creator's plan for His children," the letter stated. "Our best efforts are required to preserve the sacred institution of marriage."

The church's effort against gay marriage is its most vigorous since 1970s

Same Sex Marriage and Proposition No. 8

We urge our friends in California to Vote Yes!

Thoughtskoto - weblogs about reality and opinions.

Rants and observations and musings about faith, hope as well as life and love.

©2008 THOUGHTSKOTO

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She Calls Him Papapa

Hevyn turned 6 months last Oct. 15. She's now a talkative darling. I don't know how she learned it, on her fourth month she first said "mama" while we we're staring at the closet mirror with Winnie the Pooh sticker. She touched the sticker and said "mama"- obviously that's not "mama", but at least she learned now that I am "mama". When she turned 5 months, she became more talkative and seemed to immitate a conversation with us by mumbling (really sounds like she's conversing with us). That's when she learned how to call her father "papapa" in a very sweet darling tone as if saying "helo". Since she's a baby, we're trying to teach her to call him "dada", but this is how she wanted to call him "papapa"....

We co-sleep by the way, and every morning she wakes up she would touch my face and hold my messy hair and say "mama, mama". How sweet, it just feels like heaven to wake up this way. In the afternoon, my dh also takes a nap once he gets home and Hevyn does the same to him, of course he wouldn't be able to sleep. Her sweetness just makes us want to play with her more.

Home is truly a heaven on earth. I couldn't ask for more. I'm grateful for my dear husband who's working really hard to sustain us with our needs. Of course I could choose to work prestigiously as an accountant here. But its truly a blessing to be a stay at home wife and be able to take care of my families needs personally, see my daughter grow each day and be there for her anytime she needs me.

Please bookmark our new website
Http://www.web-ro.com

Thoughtskoto - weblogs about reality and opinions.

Rants and observations and musings about faith, hope as well as life and love.

©2008 THOUGHTSKOTO

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Her Passport Photos

This photo was taken 2 months ago, back when Hevyn was still 4 months old and we are falling in line to process her passport.

Her Mom was falling in line to verify our papers and documents, while me and Hevyn fall in line for her photo. For some reason, the photographer is not around, so she falls asleep while we are waiting for the man. When he arrived, I have a hard time waking her up.

I called her, "Eavenne, wake up baby", tickle her tiny ears, even tapped her cheeks but to no avail. In my desperate attempt to wake her up coz it's already our turn, I raise her above my head amidst the clamor from the mommies around not to wake her up.

I have no choice. Whew! Finally she woke up, we seated at the chair behind the blue background cloth, and a few seconds more, the camera flashes, twice, thrice...4th times just to get a photo of her

Look at the eyebrow raised, and the big wide look in her eyes. She was barely awake.

After the photo shots, she was back in my arms, sleeping, sucking her thumb...

Hevyn is feeling heaven, and getting heavy...lol

Thoughtskoto - weblogs about reality and opinions.
Rants and observations and musings about faith, hope as well as life and love.

©2008 THOUGHTSKOTO

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Some Facts: Crying is Healthy

Did you know that?

There was a study done where a control group of 100
people were  divided into two.
50 people watched very funny, tears-of laughter type
movie.

50 watched a very sad and tears of compassion type movie.

At the end of the sessions researchers collected the

 "happy  tears" and the sad tears" with eye droppers.

They found that "happy tears" are made up of
brine... salt water  and not a great deal else

However the "sad tears" were found to contain
 the very same  chemicals and enzymes that are found in tumors,
ulcers and  other such lumps and bumps and sicknesses through out the body.

 This test concluded that the body, when crying in sadness
 etc is  literally flushing out all of the toxic-chemicals that
accumulate and  are a part of the sadness /heartache experience.

Therefore if one holds back those tears, those
toxic-waters will   find somewhere else to deposit themselves.. .
 and prolonged lack-of-crying- release will guarantee that the body will
 accumulate a  huge amount of internal pollution and toxicity that should
have been  released through the tears.......
 
 is it any wonder that the  eyes sting
so much when we hold back our tears?

 So maybe that's why men die earlier, huh? Women cries while men stick to their pride.

 LESSON FROM THE STUDY: CRY YOUR HEART OUT WHEN YOU ARE
 SAD,  LONELY, ALONE, DEPRESSED, ETC..... IT IS GOOD FOR YOUR
HEALTH!

Thoughtskoto - weblogs about reality and opinions.
Rants and observations and musings about faith, hope as well as life and love.

©2008 THOUGHTSKOTO

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Create Ebook for your Phone or PDA

This is the continuation as promised of the post about Ebook.

I've been enjoying good and classic books downloading ebook from 

GUTENBERG

and converting them into ebook of different types

using

MOBIPOCKET EBOOK CREATOR

Create an ebook in a few clicks by adding HTML and image files to your publication

The Table of contents Wizard enables you to automatically generate links to the chapters of your ebook, based on smart heading extraction

You can add a personalized cover page to your ebook

10 Applications in 1: the built-in Creator templates will allow you to easily create and edit the following databases and ebooks:

My Photo Album, Birthdays and Anniversaries, Date Book, Cooking Recipe Database, Personal Dictionary, GlossaryCocktail, Recipe Database, Personal Travel Guide, QuizzesRestaurant, GuideShopping list, Simple Generic Database, Personal Wine Database..............IT'S TOTALLY FREE!

DOWNLOAD IT HERE

Thoughtskoto - weblogs about reality and opinions.
Rants and observations and musings about faith, hope as well as life and love.

©2008 THOUGHTSKOTO

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How to Put E-Book Reader in Your Nokia and Sony Ericsson Phone?

I have been enjoying books and novels as well as scriptures the past several years using this reader in my Nokia and in my Sony Ericsson mobile Phone

You can choose what to install depends on your mobile phone unit (and pda and palm as well).

Check your phone type in a list here;

MOBIPOCKET

Basically for Nokia and Sony Ericsson you could be using Sis File or Uiq Sis File

For older Nokia, you can use Symbian Series 1

For Nokia 3230/6260/6620/6630/6670/6680/6681/6682/7610/N70/N72/N90

You can use Symbian Series 2

The Latest version uses Series 3 like the N and E Series.

Sony Ericsson currently only supports mobile phone unit such as 

Sony Ericsson P800/P900/P910

Sony Ericsson M600/P990/W950

For Motorala and Samsung phones, please visit the link above.

Now after installing this Ebook Reader, you need to locate the folder My Ebook and paste the .prc files that you can get here, and here.

If you are an LDS, get scriptures and manuals and conference talks here

LDS EBOOKS

or

LDS Book Club

The next post will be about how to convert files from doc and lit to .prc so you can read them, or we might share the software how to convert your files to .prc so you can read them.

Have you read the latest book

THE SANTA LETTERS?

Stacy Anderson is a wonderful author,and a great inspirational blogger, believe me!

The book is a special pre- Christmas gift to friends. Grab one now!

Thoughtskoto - weblogs about reality and opinions.

Rants and observations and musings about faith, hope as well as life and love.

©2008 THOUGHTSKOTO

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The OFW PINOY EXPATS SEARCH IS STILL GOING ON

I must admit it is a one man and one woman organized search project, intermingled with a baby of 6 months to take care and a job so demanding that needs to be fulfilled. Nevertheless its going on smoothly and steady, thanks again to all our friends:

OFWBagongBayani**Damuhan

**The Filipino Web

** Wow Pinoy**QatarFilExpats

**SaudiFilExpats**PinkMother

**MarRoxas2010**DHomemaker

**PinoyMatterSingapore

We discover several more pinoy bloggers around the globe who had been nominated but  unfortunately not included in the list because of the deadline. No worry there will still be 2009.

Now, what's up? Eversince we distributed the polling widget, our number of visitors dropped consecutively, but we expected them. Now those who accused us of organizing this project to gain visitors, you're wrong.

We blog because we wanted to infuse enthusiasm, or somehow inspire others to do good and to be hopeful in this world full of hopelessness. If you blog to earn money, then you are into business, and if you blog to win awards, then you want glory. 

The winners of the Top 10 Pinoy Expats will be recognized in this blog and others that we can persuade too all year long. 

The basis of the selection will be 

Blog Content

Vote Result

Overall Impression

So far in the Vote count, the following are the 2008  TOP 10 PINOY OFW-EXPATS BLOGS

 Ronel Livelihood, UK* (113)

Writing on Air, Australia* (49)

The Sandbox, KSA* (48)

Euroangel Grafitti, Germany* (44)

Pinay Hekmi Ponders US* (28)

Pansitan ni Ate Sienna, US (27)

Astig Pinoy, IRAQ* (26)

A Grateful Heart, USA* (24)

A Chr of a Desert Prince, Kuwait* (23)

Manilenya, Canada* (22)

Sari Saring Kulay, Japan* (22)

Thoughtskoto - weblogs about reality and opinions.
Rants and observations and musings about faith, hope as well as life and love.

©2008 THOUGHTSKOTO

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Live Life to the Fullest

I am going to answer 3 most basic question that each of us must know and so vital in our progression. I hope I won't sound preachy doing this. 

Where we come from?

We live as spirit children of our Father in Heaven. We live with Him, and Heavenly Mother along with all human being born in this earth and in the many earths that man can't reach. 

Why are we here?

In the Grand scheme of the Divines most of us cannot fully comprehend, we were sent down here on earth to obtain physical bodies, born by a loving parents to obtain experiences and gain knowledge essential to the posterity that will come before us. We will be Kings and Queens, Rulers and Leaders in our sphere, and we won't be effective without gaining those knowledge and skills. Do not be blinded by mere challenges and hallow afflictions with the real purpose we come here on earth. To be TRIED, to be TESTED!

Where are we going?

We will live with our parents again, we will live together with our Spirit Father and Mother again. God made a way that all our associations, and families who lived here on earth can be together forever again. I know that. 

That's why every waking hours of the day, and every night before I go to sleep, there is a wonderful assurance that my wife and my daughter, along with the kindness, and beauty and love they possess will be there forever...

Live Life to the Fullest, it will only be once in a lifetime opportunity, we will not pass this way again, hence we call it eternal progression. 

©2008 THOUGHTSKOTO

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Life is not a Race

I've been thinking to write something about life as a journey, not a race.

We seem to get so much busy most of the times trying to gain what will satisfy our desires, but sometimes forget that we are here to endure and enjoy the journey.

Chasing bigger homes and cars, and more money - is this what life is all about?

• Say to yourself "Life isn't a race." Take several deep breaths and relax.
• Pay attention to where you are and what you are doing now rather than thinking about what has to be done and where you have to be.

Life is not a Race Slow down.

Life is not a race... it is  a journey.

Thoughtskoto - weblogs about reality and opinions.
Rants and observations and musings about faith, hope as well as life and love.

©2008 THOUGHTSKOTO

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The First Time I Love Forever

This is by far the most favorite song I ever have all time, all my life. I grow up with this song. I dedicated this to my wife and before we get married I made sure she heard this song. In coincidence or an assurance, she has an MP3 in her Sony Ericsson phone! Mixed with the song is a poem by E. E. Cummings entitled 'Somewhere I have Never Travelled'

Somewhere I Have Never Travelled 

Somewhere I have never travelled,

Gladly beyond any experience,

Your eyes have their silence:

In your most frail gesture are things which enclose me, 

Or which I cannot touch because they are too near 

Your slightest look easily will unclose me 

Though I have closed myself as fingers, 

You open always petal by petal myself as Spring opens

(touching skillfully, mysteriously) her first rose.

Or if your wish be to close me,

I and my life will shut very beautifully, suddenly, 

As when the heart of this flower imagines

The snow carefully everywhere descending; 

Nothing which we are to perceive in this world equals

The power of your intense fragility: whose texture

Compels me with the colour of its countries, 

Rendering death and forever with each breathing 

(I do not know what it is about you that closes

And opens; Only something in me understands

The voice of your eyes is deeper than all roses)

Nobody, not even the rain, has such small hands 


E. E. Cummings 

The Lyrics of the Song

-The First Time I Loved Forever-

The first time I loved forever
Was when you whispered my name
And I knew at once you loved me
For the me of who I am..

The first time I loved forever
I cast all else aside
And I bid my heart to follow
Be there no more need to hide..

And if wishes and dreams are merely for children
And if love's a tale for fools
I'll live the dream with you..

For all my life and forever
There's a truth I will always know
When my world divides and shatters
Your love is where I'll go...

Thoughtskoto - weblogs about reality and opinions.
Rants and observations and musings about faith, hope as well as life and love.

©2008 THOUGHTSKOTO

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