The last time I went out with a group of bloggers was the BlogParteeh ‘07 in January, and I had myself a blast. I told myself, “Chile (sans the D), you should go out every once in a while, or you gone go crazy.”

Well, I’m going out again. This time, I’m meeting all the usual suspects, plus a ton of new faces. There will be food, there will be laughter, there will be too much picture taking.

All this, courtesy of the the folks behind the Taste of Asia restaurant at the Mall of Asia.

On July 3, 2007, the SM Hypermarket (I thought it was Hypermart, but whatever) sponsors over 120 bloggers at 7:30PM at the Taste of Asia Restaurant. We are to get, well, a taste of Asia at the Mall of Asia.

It’s brilliant online marketing, really. We’ll blog about the place, blog about the food, blog about the great time we had there. That’s 120+ bloggers all blogging about this restaurant. It’ll flood the Internet with (hopefully) positive word-of-mouth on the restaurant. Brilliant idea, absolutely splendid. Couldn’t've done better myself.

I’m going as a ‘religious’ blogger, together with nine others, thanks to Jomar. See you there!

(For your listening pleasure, this blog post contains a video upload of Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson’s Because of You, off the Reba McEntire album Duets. If you like what you hear, please leave a comment in the Comments box.)

Country superstar Reba McEntire is shaking things up a bit. Her new album, Duets, is a diverse set of collaborations with a variety of artists, including Season One American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson. Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson duet on Because of You originally by Clarkson, and it is a humdinger. Reba’s voice, while renowned for its emotion, soars to powerful new heights with the drama on this song, and Clarkson, well, Kelly is Kelly.

Give this one a listen. It’s worth it. Video after the jump. Read more

Mae, I know you tagged me to do this ages ago (and for the ‘Proud to be Pinoy’ section!), and I’m sorry! LOL Here it is, thanks for tagging me, I’m honored.

1. I have a routine in locking my car. When I lock Gina, my Hyundai Getz Philippines, I lock her front doors (which automatically locks all doors), then I check each door, going around the car. Then I check all doors a second time. If I don’t do this, I cannot focus for the rest of day, thinking, “Did I lock my car? Did I not?” It went away with the keyless alarm of our old car, the Revorend, but now that we have Gina, it’s happening all over again.

2. I like crushed chips. We used to call them ’sopas,’ or ’soup.’ I used to buy chips and just crush them so I could tip the bag over and just shake the crushed chips into my mouth. The best chips for crushing? Clover Chips Cheese, Nacho Chips Barbecue, and Ruffles Sour Cream and Cheddar. Mmmmm.

3. I choose cartoons. CNN, ESPN, Discovery, National Geographic, ETC, Crime/Suspense, Lifestyle … all take a backseat to the best cable channels in the world, Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, and Cartoon Network.

4. I love my mummy. I am fascinated by mummies. And dinosaurs. I once went excavating in my backyard, only to unearth two lumps of something which I brought to my Mom. I told her they were dinosaur bones. She said they were cat poop.

5. I prefer harmonizing over lead vocals. I’ve been singing since I was four, but I don’t want to be the lead vocal. I like being the backup, the harmony, the second voice. It’s so much easier for me, there’s less pressure, and it’s a heckuva lot more fun. I blame Wilson Phillips.

6. Unchecked, I can finish a half-gallon of ice cream in one sitting. It’s happened. I don’t want it to happen again.

Three reasons I’m proud to be Pinoy? We’re creative, we’re resourceful, and we don’t take ourselves too seriously in times when being too serious can be detrimental.

For either of the two sections of this meme, I tag Ariel, Jax, Forg, PJ, Toni, and the Jester.

A long overdue meme from Joni is finally answered.

1. My family is complete. Baby Nicola Jean has joined Nathan, Cathy, and me to complete our family. I’m still torn between Nicki or Cocoa (pronounced like the chocolate drink), though, for a nickname, hehe. She is healthy, she is beautiful, she will be Miss World 2027. Hahaha!

2. We have a new car. Gina, our Hyundai Getz Philippines, has finally gotten her license plates! We can drive her around in peace and confidence! Plus, she has a new horn, spankin’ leather seats, and awesome car mats. She rocks my socks!

3. Cathy is flying to Malaysia. I’m a little perturbed she’s doing this just as Nicki (Cocoa!) is turning a month old, but then again, my wife is presenting a paper at an international educators’ conference. I’m so proud of my sweetheart!

4. My job rocks my socks. Things are hard here, naturally, but it’s challenging and I love what I do.

5. I’m going to small group tonight! After more than two months of absence, this one I can’t wait for. I’m thirsting for fellowship with my bros from VCF Fort, and tonight I’m finally gonna join ‘em. Woohoo!

Gotta tag some people, according to Joni’s rules, so I choose Red, Tina, Leigh, Lean, and Kim.

(For your listening pleasure, this blog post contains streams of Mandisa’s True Beauty, off the Mandisa album True Beauty. This version is taken from her live performance on American Idol Extra. It also contains Mandisa’s True Beauty lyrics. GannsDeen.com does not offer Mandisa mp3’s for download. If you like what you hear, please leave a comment in the Comments box.)

American Idol Season 5 finalist Mandisa Hundley’s new single, Only The World, hit number one on Billboard’s Hot Singles Sales chart this week, making Only the World the 126th #1 song for the American Idol franchise and Mandisa’s first chart topper. Mandisa’s debut album, True Beauty, follows on July 31.

A second airplay track, however, is the title track from Mandisa’s debut album. She sang True Beauty live on American Idol Extra. People are searching for Mandisa True Beauty mp3s, but we’ll be happy to stream it to you instead to protect copyright.

We also encourage you to purchase Mandisa’s True Beauty legally on iTunes or your favorite digital single store. Visit MandisaOfficial.com or www.myspace.com/mandisa for more information.

Listen to Mandisa True Beauty mp3

Lyrics to Mandisa True Beauty after the jump. Read more

Everyone, meet Nicola Jean Midel Deen, or Nicki. She joined us last June 10, 2007, weighing in at 3.3 kgs and measuring about 50cms.

(For your listening pleasure, this blog post contains a stream of Matt Redman’s Nothing But the Blood, off the Matt Redman album Facedown. It also contains Matt Redman’s Nothing But the Blood lyrics. GannsDeen.com does not offer Matt Redman mp3’s for download. If you like what you hear, please leave a comment in the Comments box.)

Matt Redman, a British Christian worship leader and songwriter, is most well-known for his worship anthem Heart Of Worship. Personally, I’ve always felt Nothing But the Blood was more ministering than Heart of Worship, but that’s just me.

My favorite line: Your cross testifies in grace, tells of the Father’s heart to make a way for us. Now boldly we approach, not by earthly confidence. It’s only Your blood.” Hallelujah!

Listen to Matt Redman’s Nothing But the Blood mp3

Matt Redman Nothing But the Blood lyrics after the jump. Read more

This takes me completely by surprise. Tony Thompson, lead singer of 90s R&B group Hi-Five, which logged in one #1 hit back in 1991 with I Like The Way (The Kissing Game) and two other top 10 hits, I Can’t Wait Another Minute and She’s Playing Hard To Get, died last June 1 of an apparent drug overdose.

The native Texan released his own album in 1995, the independent Sexsational. Thompson was pretty good, and this is a bit of a shock to me, because I had two of Hi-Five’s three albums. Wow, sad. Will post a couple of Hi-Five mp3s later for you to listen to.

I am so psyched! I’m US$5.85 away from receiving my first Google AdSense paycheck. Heeheehee.

What shall I buy to celebrate? A new horn and leather seats for Gina, or maybe some rims? (”They spinnin’, n****, they spinnin’! They spinnin’, n****, they spinnin’! They spinnin’, n****, they spinnin’!!” - Chris Rock)

A pair of awesome Adidas gym shoes?

Oh, wow, I wanted this really awesome boxed set of all seasons of Frasier, which I know Cathy would love.

And I shouldn’t forget God’s 10% share…

Oh, who am I kidding? I’ll give the check to Cathy and let her do with it what she wants to do with it. That’s what faithful, dutiful husbands do. *grin*

Over the course of the past few days, someone has been taking from my roll of paper towels, so I popped this passive-aggressive note on the roll.

I think it would’ve made a bigger impact or difference if there had been more than two sheets left.

It’s not that I don’t mind sharing. It’s just that this paper towel roll was pretty pricey. It was imported and all that. What’s wrong with asking for permission in this day and age, anyway?

Whoever had been taking my towels better fess up. Grrrr.