photo-shopper

I am currently "window-shopping" in the Net for ideas for my photo entry to the art exhibit that would be mounted by the news dept. of the network to celebrate it's 50 years of bringing valuable information to the people.

The last day of submission of entries is only two weeks away, and I only have a handful of ideas to work with. I'm even contemplating on buying a new lens (macro), or extension rings. And I'm reading my photography books again.

Processing my shots in Photoshop is one hurdle I'm yet to overcome. I know a bit on working with Photoshop, but I don't have the knowledge and skills to make my photos come out exceptionally well with it.

What nerve to did I have for joining the exhibit!

little boy genius

9AM. I was awakened by the ringing of my cellphone. (I usually wake up around 10AM during weekdays because of my odd work schedule.) Recognizing that the ring was for a voice call, I pried myself from the bed, as if in an automatic sequence of movements, grabbed my phone that's sitting on my desk and answered the call. The delightful voice of my nephew spoke from the tiny speakers.

He read me a letter from his teacher, addressed to my brother and his wife, which tells the (good) news that my nephew will be accelerated to fourth grade (from first), and that he did very well in the Math portion of the exam. And then the line became chappy, so he had to hang up.

Accelerated. Fourth Grade at 8. Math.

Really. The family genes seem to be improving then! Ha-ha.

the view

Often, while moving along busy city streets, you look up at the skyscrapers and find a little platform dangling on the side of a building with people on it, cleaning windows. You know how it looks from the outside and below. Here's how it looks like from the inside...

Just so you know.

tries hands at art

Bought a sewing machine, for I've been itchin' to sew my own pillowcases, curtains, and sofa cover. Yep. I'm that brave - I will attempt to sew cover for the humongous couch in my living room, so large it could double as a daybed. And I have no training - formal or not, whatsoever - in sewing.

One thing I learned from using the sewing machine, though - read the manual before attempting to do anything with a machine that punches needles. Here's what I did:

1. tried to sample stitches on the sewing machine with a piece of fabric.
2. fabric got stuck, but didn't take my foot off the pedal at once.
3. heard a loud snap from the needle. took foot off the pedal.
4. checked the needle - it's intact.
5. checked self - no injury.
6. read the manual, it says something like this: adjust the stitch length accordingly and use the right pattern for the corresponding fabric type. not doing so may cause the fabric to get stuck, causing the needle to hit a metal part in the bobbin, which may cause you injury.

Okay, I'm embarrassing myself now.

Exhibit A below shows how amateur I am with this craft.

But I don't stop at sewing...

I bought these little foam patterns for scrap-booking and is turning them into stamps by sticking them into an illustration board.

So far, I haven't succeeded with any of my "crafty plans." All of the stuff are in my craft box, sitting and waiting for me to be in the mood for art again.

stand still

I stand still as I watch the entire world move around me. Funny when you consider how time flies.

Like a programmed robot, I do things at work. Spinning... spinning... spinning... I watch things happen, as if I don't have any participation in anything that transpires.

Friends doing great at work. Friends having fun with their adventures. Friends finding new loves. Friends finding new friends.

On TV are news of events, diseases, political wars, actual wars, and scandals. Mostly, negative things make the lineup of news-worthy things.

I look at myself and find that I'm still the same. Just sitting here. Sometimes standing there. Sometimes running. Sometimes, too lazy to do anything useful for anyone, including myself. Sometimes trying to break out of the monotony of everyday.

Today, I opened my eyes and saw that a mountain of responsibilities have piled up before me at work again. *Sigh* There are a LOT of things to do to get my arse off the hot seat.

And then I have to think of a subject for my piece for a charity exhibit.

And take care of various matters for the family business.

And plan my out-of-the-country travel.

In the meantime...

the heat and the question that made my mind itch

Probably, staying at the back seat of an fx taxi that's running under the noontime sun isn't a very good idea these days - even though you're in a tight budget and in a hurry to get to your destination and the almost-full AUV is your last option for a ride.

I could feel the sweat popping from my skin pores, especially on my forehead. I felt like siomai cooking in a steamer, and the chef doesn't want to remove me from the heat just yet. Even my palms were covered with sweat - they looked like I've dunked my hands in a bucket of water or something. Really.

The excessive heat was enough to drive anyone crazy... I felt like bursting out from the fx, that is an oven on wheels. However what awaits me then, outside, is the scorching sun. And fumes from vehicles running along the avenue.

What took my mind away from my ordeal was the conversation between my fellow passengers...

Nursing student 1: Target ko, makarating sa Ireland. After graduation, lalakarin ko na papers ko.

Nursing student 2: Buti ka pa may plano na. Anyway, 'yung tita ko, gusto naman akong isama sa New Zealand. Malapit ba 'yun sa Ireland?

Nursing student 1: Hindi ko alam e.

I sooo wanted to answer that question for their sake. Really. But they would be embarrassed. But then again, they should not repeat that conversation elsewhere if they want to be respected. But then again, that's none of my business.

If it was the location of Patagonia they were wondering about, I would've understood. But New Zealand? And I thought the Lord of the Rings saga has already made the country very famous.

A couple of minutes later, I still felt like I wanted to answer that question. And so I turned my attention to the scorching heat. And then I got off at my stop.

Hours later, at the office, I still couldn't stop thinking about that question. I should have butted in their conversation.

feel da heat!

Gosh! It's summer already?! T'was like just the other week, we're all chilling to our bones because of the weather. And now everyone seems to be desperate for an ice-cold drink after spending a few second under the scorching sun.

Imagine that tall glass - soda inside, swimming in cubes of ice, fizzing - dripping with dots of condensation.

It's crazy. My electric fan is close to no use - it's merely circulating warm air. I fall asleep and wake up floating in a pool of my own sweat. And since it's the season of recession, I just can't turn that airconditioner on. *sigh*

These days you just wanna... look at that.

The beach calls, doesn't it?

Don't you just want to pack up, hit the road and get to the nearest beach so you can swim on something like that?

Those are my 2007 photos of Patar Beach in Bolinao, by the way. A beach so wonderful, and yet so far (8 hours from Manila).