Film Fidelity

2011-04-21T07:30:00.001-07:00

If I find you can't sleep one night, I'll make you a grilled cheese sandwich. :)

(Wow this week is really getting to me.)

2011-03-30T18:30:00.000-07:00

I think being a responsible parent for three large dogs will teach you proper family planning. If someone questions themselves about parenthood and how well they'd provide for them, I say try out with a pet first. Not the small and boring kind of pet, we're talking about the larger species here! TRY LARGE DOGS! As long as it's a pet that weighs as much as you do. That'll be a good test. Excellent, even. Think of 'Marley and Me', look how well that turned out. LOL!

I own three large Labradors, weighing up 30-35kilos each. I tell you, it was terrible family planning for my part, or rather, OUR part, since Mom is the culprit behind all this.

It's quite the exaggeration but if you cared properly for your household pets, you would know what I am talking about. The larger the pet, the larger the requirements for proper care. It's soooo much work, these dogs. But they're totally worth it.

Frisbee Time!

2011-03-29T01:30:00.000-07:00

Guess who's back playing outdoors! :)

2011-03-23T10:18:00.000-07:00

Life just sort of surprises you more often than you'll realize. One can either be living their lives daily in such a repetitive manner that they can easily miss out on those little surprises. Little gifts come to people every single day and not all of them are spotted. Some of these little gifts could happen only once and could just possibly never reappear ever again... but then again, the positive side of us would beg otherwise. The positive side of us knows there's something good everyday. The positive side of us can easily spot these carefully gift-wrapped parcels of kindled surprise. The positive side of us receives more surprises in life.

More surprises means more adventures. Lately, I've begged for it.... and it has come. It took me long enough to realize. All I had to do was to form a different perspective. I formed a different perspective and ALAS, some little new presents had been thrown my way.

It's like Christmas everyday. Haha!

2011-03-19T14:24:00.000-07:00

Get well soon, my dear baby Henry. I love you.

"Who's ready to be all you can be?"

2011-03-14T06:29:00.000-07:00

I did have some catching up with my favorite show, The Amazing Race, and came across the Road Block challenge that said, "Who's ready to be all you can be?"... and the animal in me was shrieking "ME!!! PHIL!!! MEEEE!!!"

That got me excited enough. Well that whole season got me really pumped that I started getting back to some proper weekly running! I've been consuming 30K every week and now I've been doin' some research and I've prepared a little schedule for training for 21K! Yes, I'll be training for a freakin' half-marathon!

I've been wondering how one runner would condition himself mentally with such a demanding and physically draining task... well, I never did find out. It's obviously different for everybody.

Soo... maybe I'll let you know? Haha.

E-L-A-T-E-D

2011-03-04T11:09:00.001-08:00

I feel elated for some reason. The reason I started blogging about this is because I could not really pinpoint an exact source for it.

I am making a big deal out of it, I know.

But I really want to know why I am feeling like this! It is not normal for me to be elated and NOT KNOW what it is exactly.

Maybe I'll find out when I set my thoughts for sleep. Later then.

2011-03-03T05:18:00.000-08:00

When someone cuts you on the freeway, you won't honk your horn. You'll probably stop that other car and hand over a present. You're that irritably nice.

Snapnook

2011-02-24T07:48:00.000-08:00

...because film cameras deserve a decent home. A store needs a decent domain. So... finally!

www.SNAPNOOK.com

This Is A Place We Call Planet Earth

2011-02-17T05:21:00.000-08:00

LC-A Photos from my first hiking trip to Mount Pinatubo

2011-02-16T22:26:00.000-08:00

Back to running today! Wore my new favorite running shirt. This is really the only piece of Leica that I could currently afford. Hopefully someday I could purchase my own Leica M series... but for now, let me just enjoy running with the red dot.

RUNNING ROUTE by Sports-Tracker

Yoga for Runners

2011-02-15T18:06:00.001-08:00

I have an old Yoga mat at home that has been unused since purchase... and this was back in '09! It has finally been put to the test this morning for a little runner's stretch. The videos I got, called 'Yoga for Runners' is designed for the leg muscles and to release tension around the shoulders. It includes the breathing technique for improved running time as well.

But I guess I've totally forgotten about how my mat would turn out because I was the one who has been definitely put the test. I began by trying out the easy 8 to 10 minute Yoga workouts for the ham strings. Then moved on to the 20 minute workout, which I could not finish at all! But my flexibility has improved a lot, definitely. With more sessions, I would be able to do this more comfortably.

I feel great! Really lookin' forward to be running again tomorrow! =)

Some sample Yoga for Runners can be found here:

2011-02-07T03:58:00.000-08:00

Here are the happy medalists after the Condura Skyway Run =)

I ranked no. 791 out of 2,795 Runners for the 10K category, finishing at 01:15:41

Very happy with the results although I know I can still push it. I'm doin another 10K run on March 6. I'll just remind myself to dig deep. =)

2011-02-04T07:19:00.000-08:00

"Yeah, it just got old. I'm well over you. It's like... liberating. Yeah. Finito."

Mmmm... Veggie.

2011-02-01T14:32:00.000-08:00

My first veggie burger. HOMEMADE! The patty is 80% black beans, the rest are bell peppers and spices and it's surprisingly quite good. It's the best you can get out of a veggie burger. Texture is thick and a bit spicy and goes very well with lots of tomatoes and onion. I also just discovered that it goes very well with peperoncini. Really yummmy. =)

2011-02-01T14:24:00.000-08:00

Took one lazy weekend up to Baguio with my Mom. We probably had the most terrible hotel in the city, but all in all it was quite fun. I love traveling with her, she's usually just up for anything. She makes the perfect travel companion, just do not make her walk too much. Hehe. Love you, Mom!

2011-01-31T19:21:00.001-08:00

Singapore, you're so irritably beautiful. I miss you.

100 Ways to Piss Off Your Friends. #37 Shoe Tossing

2011-01-23T18:10:00.001-08:00

#37. When the opportunity comes, take your friends shoes and tie the laces together and toss onto telephone wires, powerlines, or whatever raised wires you could find.

Just kidding. We do not want to purposely piss anyone off... let alone your FRIENDS! I took this photo after my morning run today and I just laughed. It makes me wonder why people have to toss their shoes over power cables. I thought maybe it's some folklore so I googled it. Would you believe that SHOE TOSSING is a folk sport? Really silly. But I went on to read more about it on Wikipedia and came up with this.

"Shoe flinging occurs throughout the United States, in rural as well as in urban areas. A number of sinister explanations have been proposed as to why this is done. Some say that shoes hanging from the wires advertise a local crack house where crack cocaine is used and sold (in which case the shoes are sometimes referred to as "Crack Tennies"). It can also relate to a place where heroin is sold to symbolize the fact that once you take heroin you can never 'leave': a reference to the addictive nature of the drug. Others claim that the shoes so thrown commemorate a gang-related murder, or the death of a gang member, or as a way of marking gang turf. A newsletter from the mayor of Los Angeles, California cites fears of many Los Angeles residents that "these shoes indicate sites at which drugs are sold or worse yet, gang turf," and that city and utility employees had launched a program to remove the shoes. However, the practice also occurs along relatively remote stretches of rural highways that are unlikely scenes for gang murders, and have no structures at all to be crack houses."

Haha so is my neighborhood part of a crack dealership? That's interesting. Haha. I don't know what all the deal is behind shoe tossing but I think it's just plainly for pissing people off. Good morning, everyone! =)

Veggie Burgers, Anyone?

2011-01-22T00:31:00.000-08:00

I started researching on high-fibre diets earlier this week and came up with a plan to bump up my daily fibre intake to 21 grams. I figured it's a good disciplinary action for me to take the high-fibre diet in prep. for my future half-marathon adventure. Yes, yes, yes! I am indeed planning to join my very first half-marathon sometime this year.

My mother acts as my personal physician in regards to this diet... but I just ended up helping her instead! She started eating most of the fibre snacks I got!!! I really needed a reliable source to help out, so I went for Mayo Clinic High-Fibre articles. I printed out the meal planner and made sure I had the basic ingredients I needed daily. I began the meal planning by reducing fat consumption and taking in a lot of fluids. I changed my daily meals from apples, raspberry almonds, corn, broccoli to veggie burgers (black beans and mushrooms) and chicken chili with kidney beans and tomatoes.

They're not so bad as I've instigated in my head for years and years. I've always thought, "High-fibre diet are for cows! High-fibre diet! Boo!"

I am just glad I've tried this. My digestion has never been this excellent since the day I learned how to eliminate. So that's technically NEVER. NEVER. Never 'til this week. Hehe. I also never did like beans! But beans are AWESOME! I realized that with the proper cooking, it can be such a tasty and healthy treat and replacement for the high-calorie meals. It excites me to start eating right during the day. I feel relaxed when I cook for myself, and even better when I've discovered something really good. It's also fun for me to drop by the grocery store and learn about these ingredients that I never really knew existed. For instance, LENTIL's!! what the F are lentils! Haha. That is actually my next target. 'Cause apparently lentils is an excellent source for fibre.

So... veggie burgers tonight! =)

Ready to Start

2011-01-18T20:04:00.001-08:00

We witness the trance
It's falling into existence
Slowly dressed for their beginning.

Taal Squares

2011-01-18T05:08:00.000-08:00

These are my Holga photos from my Dad's hometown in Taal, Batangas. It simply brings back a loooot of memories with the family. More Holga love! =)

On To The Next Thing

2011-01-16T06:27:00.000-08:00

I am impatient. It's in my character to abandon and jump to the next best thing. When I feel like there's no growth, no room to move and just be free and happy... I know myself well enough to just move away and get out of it quickly. It can be a detriment for my part because I may often end up not finishing things that I've started. I should look more into that with my actions every single day. It's a fresh year and that's something worth working on.

Anyway, sometimes I just have to draw a line somewhere and keep my integrity in check. I just have to say that your downward spiral is making me nauseous... and I'm moving on.

My Dad is Mr. Swabe!

2011-01-14T07:09:00.000-08:00

Beantown!

2011-01-14T07:00:00.000-08:00

I'm making a deal to myself just to help me stay fit... and that is to cook at least 1 new healthy dish every week! Easier said than done, I know! But we'll just see where it takes me. Tonight I made Chicken Chili soup with kidney beans and tomatoes. It's surprisingly good. I don't think I've had any decent meal with kidney beans before. It's high fibre too, so that helps. They say beans are the musical fruit. Haha. Please don't make me elaborate!

Doldrums

2011-01-13T05:55:00.000-08:00

Finally! Some film photos! It has been 4 years and I still very much love my Holga!

Bangui Windmills, Ilocos Norte, 2010

2011-01-13T05:43:00.000-08:00

"Lets go fast! I don't want to have time to think about it."- Nat Strand

You Are What You Eat!

2011-01-08T02:46:00.000-08:00

Shopping for groceries can be boring... really, really boring! But apparently it's sheer bliss whenever I'm madly hungry and have the "awesome" recipe in mind. It's all fun choosing your favorite snacks and ingredients and I'm thinking only one thing can possibly ruin the food-hunt... and it's WAITING IN LINE FOR CHECK-OUT!

I have worked my way around the system by going only when it's still early! So naturally, I was hardheaded still and went against the plan. Luckily, there was barely anything to wait on. It was a smooth shop all the way. =)

One of the little things I do to keep myself "entertained" while waiting in line is to subtly look at the person's food selections in front of me. I find it entertaining to see whatever food that person has chosen, and then judge that person from there. (HA!)... just try and see how fun it can be. The person in front of me earlier had the healthiest options (compared to the people I've seen in the past few weeks). She had all the Quaker Oats snack line! I'm not kidding! The rest were fruits and I saw her pop a salad dressing in there. And then I noticed her white uniform coat. That screamed "DOCTOR!", just all over it. Makes sense. You are deffo' what you eat.

The photo here is not from the doctor in front of me earlier!! Haha! Surprise, surprise! These are my goods! I bought quite the healthy selection this time around. I decided to make some more healthy meals after the success of my bruschetta at home. It's not much, but definitely enough for myself this weekend!

I'll be making Tortilla soup, more bruschetta, some carrot dip for snacks, tomato salsa and some grilled chicken. Yum!

Back to Running!

2011-01-06T16:12:00.000-08:00

I came across the E-Registration booth at Greenbelt 3 yesterday and signed up for a 10K run. This event is called "RUN FOR THE DOLPHINS: Skyway Marathon" sponsored by Condura.

This will be my very first 10K run and I am really excited about it. I have quit smoking a week ago and this would be the perfect opportunity for me to just get back to running and training.

So I decided to do a run this morning, and I was sooo early! So early that I finished my run and still the sun has not risen yet!

Here's my training map today. Wee! I've managed to pull my first 6K! It wasn't as difficult as I thought. I probably did well because it was still cold and the sun has not barely come up to irritate the heck out of me. But I will get better. I need to be in just the right shape for the 10K run!

Endomondo Running Workout: "was out running 3.98 miles in 50m:39s using Endomondo."

Get Back to Shooting Film!

2011-01-05T04:34:00.001-08:00

I just realized I've gone off-track here. What I originally wanted for this blog was to post film shots I've taken throughout the year, and to what!? I haven't posted any new shots for months and months! I have about a dozen films here that I need to take to the shop! I will do it this week! I MUST! I MUST! I MUST!

Deviled Eggs

2011-01-02T07:20:00.000-08:00

The devil has just made herself some deviled eggs! YUUUM, by the way! I can't believe I've never made these before. So darn tasty! I think I'll have these again tomorrow! =)

BULA - LA!

2011-01-02T03:54:00.000-08:00

I do not know what has gotten into me but I suddenly got this huge desire to purchase Beanies!!!! I'm pretty sure it came with the rush that I got from watching travel shows. I have this dream of reaching the best outdoor adventures located in the Artic Circle and the Norwegian Border with tech sleds and probably some mountain biking. Hopefully I'll get to do all that within the years before my legs turn into jelly.

So I was on the hunt and came up with the BULA website. They've got about hundreds of beanies and hats to get you all warmed up. And they have more colors for every design which makes it just much sweeter.

It is a little funny because there's absolutely no purpose for me to wear a beanie hat in our fantastic tropical climate... I'm thinking I could own a couple and maybe use it on trips to Baguio or Tagaytay. But hey these BULA Products are innnnsanely adorable... I gotta have one... or two... or... OH HELP ME GOD.

First I may want to use an ocean colored earband for snowboarding. Just cause I want to cover the fact that I just WANT one and try to force it in my head that my ear piercing needs protection (LOL)...

I also love this sun colored trio beanie, it looks just as insane and happily BULA-LA'd like me. These are the first 2 things I picked, but as I went on, I realized that it may take a while to take a good pick... because I loved everything!

Check out their website and drool with Beanies!

Happy 2011!

2011-01-01T00:29:00.000-08:00

2010 has been a beautiful year with countless blessings and with lots and lots of memories to keep. Some of which I may have kept well in my heart, and some I might have carelessly abandoned behind the pack. Lookin' at my existence as a whole, I've realized that I'm just truly thankful for my beautiful family and the life I've been given by God to be fully spent with them. Everyday I try to remind myself to just stop and just take a look around to appreciate what it is or whoever it is that surrounds you. There is so much life packed in 1 year, its truly overwhelming. Just stop for a second to take it all in.

I've been back to smoking cigarettes for 4 months now. I caved in during a trip to Cebu. One stick lead to another, and another. I made a decision to quit again (nth time!) for New Year's. It's a daunting task, and with a half-hearted decision I'm hoping to manage. So... cheers... and good luck!

Sunday Shopping

2010-12-19T19:49:00.000-08:00

Last night, two crazy animals were let loose at a mall in Alabang. Creatures were heard to be armed with loot and poised with a strong desire to overspend. Tsk tsk.

Yes well to lay that out, I basically just went to the mall with the BFF and spent garrulously on the "unessentials". By Unessentials, I meant, those things you can live without. But heck, I made this journal entry to talk about my shopping spree!

So now its time to break down the bare unessentials!

1) Miracle Thaw
Yes, I got an odd plate where you can defrost your frozen meat and poultry within a few minutes time. I thought its pretty cool. I hate having to defrost food over the microwave or waiting for hours just to get the meat nice and moist. This is perfect! Oh yeah, I tried it with ice last night. It works!

2) 2-in-1 Eye Shadow Pencil with Black Liquid Eye Liner
Wipee! Some eye "pretty"-ing tools! (Haha!)

3) Vintage Telephone
Yes, I like vintage stuff. So now I have a vintage looking telephone for my desk. It rings soooo loud... and it lights up too!

4) Yellow long sleeved top
There's this isolated clothes store at the back part of the mall, and I've never been in it for the years and years I've hung around that place! It's called Magarbo. And its pretty darn cool in there. Stuff are incredibly cheap.

5) 3pcs Shorts
Seriously I can never get enough shorty-shorts.

There's about 5 more other unessentials but I find that these are the ones I'm most satisfied with. Plus the rest are gifts so I'll just elaborate on those maybe when I get to hand them over for the holidays.

Happy Garrulous Spending to everyone! Mwah!

Room Revamped

2010-12-17T08:44:00.000-08:00

Here is a before and after look of my bedroom! This was my brother's old room, and ever since I got my very own home theatre, I've just been dying just to get the place fixed. Everything except the floor tiles has been painted and I had the old shutter curtains and cabinet knobs taken out. I kept the old cabinets and my old bed frame plus added some shelves at my bedside. The rest are new. Mom got me this lovely recliner and I love her for that!

I'm trying to keep it organized and that part I'm still very much working on. If you look closely at the photo below, I left my food plate at the table. I should take that out later. Hehe.

This is my favorite place to hang in the house now but probably next to my "work station", where I am most of the time during the day. I know how important it is now to have your very own "calm" room where you can just rest and have that relaxation time for yourself. You feel better knowing where your belongings are and the less frustrated you get when you're on about your daily routines.

Haha I'm less flustered hurrying up doin things now. Lets just hope I keep up the cleanliness and "well-being" of this new sanctuary.

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-07T09:33:00.000-08:00

We're giving away four cameras with films! Just post a link of your favorite lomo photo that you've personally taken and explain why you love that photo. We'll be selecting four people to receive cameras. Happy Holidays, everyone! =)

Prizes:
Underwater Camera 35mm
Pink Plush Camera 35mm

Deadline: December 20

Happy

2010-12-07T08:55:00.000-08:00

December has been really lovely so far! I'm just surprisingly happy with the sudden change of events despite of the turmoil I've encountered recently. I decided to move on as quickly as possible and make a fresh start. That's only natural, isn't it? Just get back on the saddle and trut-trut along. =)

2010 has been a blast, and I'm thankful for the tons and tons of blessings. I am hoping to give something in return. So maybe in a week or two, I'll be doing some charity work with my friends and just help out.

I'm giving away some fun cameras, too. That should make some people really happy this holiday season.

Happy Holidays to everyone!

Happy

2010-11-29T21:12:00.000-08:00

A lot of strong positive energy coming into my month and I'm just trying to nourish myself with it by humbly giving it back to the world. All 25 years of my life I just thought I'd go about it and just have this "Come What May" attitude and an idea like bringing positivity was just something silly to me. I thought giving effort to this sort of thing is rather exhausting and a plain waste of time. Now I've come to realize that it does really contribute well in ones life as long as you apply it in your everyday life. You apply it everyday as genuinely as possible, and good good things will come to you.

I know 2 people in this world has taught me that. And I'm forever grateful for these beautiful people. They can change the world with their magical approach with people. God bless them always. =)

I'm soooo happy today and I just want to stay like this forever.

Doctors Rule!

2010-11-22T06:12:00.001-08:00

Meet the greatest all-lady team in the history of the Amazing Race. Doctors' Kat Chang and Nat Strand of the show's 17th season.

As a pair of anesthesiologists, the first response would be, "Ah they're obviously brainy and fit."... but the show has proven it five times over, especially when exposed of their greatest fears and weaknesses.
Nat has an immense fear of heights and battling type 1 Diabetes and her teammate Kat sacrificed her two-decade vegetarianism just to get ahead of the other teams. As a team they're extremely calm and collected with great survival instincts... I'm sure 7 years of medical practice have taught them all of that. Haha. They never, ever, crack under pressure! I've never seen such response to stress with such positivity and calmness compared to any other players who have come and gone in the Amazing Race. But those would definitely be their best qualities.

Nat and Kat are now one of the Final 4 teams competing for 1 million USD. It'll be the show's very first all-female team to win the race! Watch out!

Skins Novel

2010-10-29T05:30:00.000-07:00

I'm probably gonna say that I am the biiiiggest fan of this TV show in our country. I've seen all four series, kept myself updated almost daily with news, bought magazine covers and have completed the soundtrack and episode tracks. I am the ultimate Skins fan. Hehe.

So I've recently got myself a copy of the novel. The fifth series won't be released for another 2 months so I needed the right fix. I'm such a junkie when it comes to this stuff.

It's what I would call "pocket book profanity", this 300 page novel. It's filled with the usual naughtiness that is Skins. No, actually it's over-the-top profanity. But I have been expecting it. This sort of behavior coming from the characters are very relevant to the characters portrayed in the series. Obviously there are "trimmings", meaning that the bad behavior is toned down for television because it will just turn out bland and simply "too dirty" for viewers.

This show is cheeky and immature, no doubt about that. But I can list down about a million things why it must get the right recognition. This won a BAFTA in the U.K. for F's sake. They give freedom for young writers and real people to all collaborate.

Ok so fuck it. I won't elaborate anymore on how brilliant this show is. I just know this isn't anything like I've seen on any local or foreign TV network and it'll make its mark, if not already, today or soon enough.

It's All Here For You

2010-10-27T10:18:00.000-07:00

Didn't think that a book full of mindless explicit acts caused by teenage hormones would give me something wonderful to think about today. Yes, I got my very own copy of the Skins novel by Ali Cronin!

For the past few years I've believed that in regards to people's actions, there is one straight path and that their behavior towards others go along in that route. Given at this age I've never really encountered or rather, observed actions that involves the slippery slopes or the jagged edges that becomes questionable to one's character. Well, of course I have, but not in the most extreme of scenarios that are completely life-changing. It is a blessing and a curse at the same time. This comes to my detriment since I still end up baffled with most of the basic human behaviors that I encounter in my everyday life as a "normal" person.

I am shocked and I don't have answers for it.

But the book I was reading shed some light on to these ideas. There are sections I've read about ones extreme vulnerability to others, that one is obvious. One can become overdependent. It's the actions they perform to "conceal" that vulnerability is the thing that surprises me the most. Accdg to a fictional character I personally adore, "People do the dumbest things when they pretend they're not trapped."... and now I can see the whole side of this quotation. It is very much true since it is a human instinct to react. But given our highly complicated psychology, we may shoot out an array of insanity... or a discourse of what we expect ourselves to perform, thus, surprising ourselves. I've experienced this for years and have only come to LEARN to digest recently.

I wish I could've learned it waaaay sooner.

Fire

2010-07-05T02:53:00.001-07:00

I cannot sit still. I just really start craving for adventure, for something really new and exciting. Daily routines are necessary in life, but for me it doesnt have to be everything. Such repetitiveness can easily depress me. I feel like it could be quite the torture to see things the same thing every single day, with no course of change or progress. Instinctively, when such moments occur I turn to seek something new in just about everything. It's like when Kurt Hummel does his warmups for a football match like a chocolate souffle, you dont heat it up and it wont rise.

I am going to start praying and initiate actions that completes this blog entry. I want something new. Something new, damn it.

SHAKE n' BAKE!

2010-07-01T09:45:00.001-07:00

Lately, I've become fond of cooking meals for myself. I've never tried cooking for a week straight, nor have I been to the grocery store so often for a week in my entire existence. For instance, today I dropped by to two grocery stores. One, because I felt like baking. I felt like baking ENGLISH SCONES! Second, because I forgot to get myself a roller for the dough that I was about to make.

Yes, I felt like freakin' baking!

I was excited. Too excited, in fact, that I forgot to get that one most important ingredient.... BAKING POWDER! I got the flour, I got the baking soda... but hell I could not dump the dough in the oven without the powder. I need that powder. I swear I could be a lovesick crackhead if I dont get that powder by tomorrow. I'm dying to bake!!!

Arid Comedy Weekend

2010-06-06T10:15:00.001-07:00

...or shall I say, Arid Dramedy?

That should sum just about right and its been a really fun weekend. An overnight stay at the lovely ForestCove had definitely set me into some good grounds, both in my own piece-of-mind and with the company of good friends. Finished off the weekend with a good friend's Birthday dinner and a terribly arid comedy of a movie that is "KILLERS". Ashton Kutcher's perfectly sculpted self just isn't enough!!!!

This trip with my high school buddies has reminded me well about how I used to be when I was, and who I am really today. There's really no 'putting-a-stop' to all that is happening in our lives.... I simply realized we are GROWING UP, and we all still have one another. =)

My First Marathon

2010-05-31T08:11:00.001-07:00

Its impossible to stretch out for miles with your breathing bein' rattled and your legs giving in. Its impossible to say that you are not moved amidst all the heavy anticipation and training for a long run. That Adidas quote nailed it right on, Impossible is indeed nothing. I can run for miles and miles and I am just so determined regardless of the pain from the long stretch. So there, I did it anyway... and its the best high I've ever felt in months, or probably years. =)

Yesterday, I ranked number 726 out of 3,501 runners during the 5K charity run. And I will do even better. Much better. =)

Rank 726 00:35:05
Nature Valley Run Leg 2
5K Run
May 30, 2010

The Active Lifestyle??? Blech.

2010-03-04T05:34:00.001-08:00

Ok so I've been trying to work on my running the past 3 weeks. I'm on the 3rd week level of the Couch-to-5K program. And just last Sunday I've managed to join a bunch of frisbee champs at the big park near us; 3 hours of full on hardcore frisbee tossing. It really comes down to running with Ultimate Frisbee and it is insane. But I swear that trying out the sport (for y'all beginners out there like me), I can guarantee it won't disappoint. You meet new friends, you build up stamina and hopefully lose some of that McDonalds fat you've been stacking up the past week.

I can't really begin phrasing that "the active lifestyle" as some result to quitting a previous vice. Heck I dont even like the "ACTIVE LIFESTYLE" term. It's something I could rap against while thoroughly enjoying a cigarette. 3 weeks into the whole running thing does not actually earn you those two words. I do know that the early morning jogs help me attain stamina by every hundred yards and that inner peace (inside this little tweet mind) that I've been longing for. Good mental health starts with physical health, right?

Oh and yeah, still no film photos so far. I freakin' miss shooting film!!!!

Couch to 5K

2010-02-16T00:51:00.001-08:00

I officially begun a little workout program today. The whole running program is called the Couch-to-5K Running program by CoolRunning.com's Josh Clark. The name itself implies the typical "Couch Potato" and taking that dozy cow out into the road and finishing off 9 weeks with a body fit to run no less than 5K. It will gradually take up those beginners one notch stronger and faster every week. Brilliant, isnt it?

It has made hundreds and thousands of new people running every day. The stories from runners are inspiring and the name alone sells to the lazy market. I myself could not bare to think of doin 3K, let alone 5 to 10 agonizing kilometres! Hopefully in a few weeks of doin the workout, I would get to prove myself wrong. =D

...and I will deffo try to take film photos while I'm at it. A little jogger's photo blog, so to speak.

2010-02-07T19:14:00.000-08:00

I borrowed an old 110 Camera with flash. Its a purple Kalimar. The flash could seriously leave you with impaired eyes. Its pretty fun though, 110 borders and strong colors. =)

Honey & Henry

2010-02-07T19:11:00.000-08:00

My two favorite dogs in the whole wide world.

2009-12-29T08:26:00.000-08:00

The Natori Brothers are so blimin' fascinating to watch. It's more of the big stunts they do, really... cheesy as it may come but their biggest japanese-y smiles at the stunt show were just inspiring to me. I'm glad I caught this one decent capture from a Natori.

I'm a mess.

2009-11-08T18:05:00.000-08:00

I was lying in bed this morning, with zero urge for sleep. I got up and just stopped trying. I've been at it for about 2 weeks now. Staying up all-day for today would guarantee an early scheduled forty-winks for later... that is if I successfully keep away from my bedroom and keep myself awake for the next 6 to 8 hours.

Though without sleep, everything seems like its slower and you squeeze every little bit of energy even for little things that requires minimal effort. Like writing this blog entry for instance, my hands are heavy against the keys and the little bleeps on my messenger is echoing in annoyance.

Wow. I reaaaaaaaaaaaally would like to get some rest now.

Guitar Hero Fan

2009-11-06T03:11:00.000-08:00

This is what we've been messin' around with lately, all the Guitar Hero madness. It's the closest thing I could do to rockin' with instruments really. One can only pretend to be Orianthi Panagaris on guitar solo. Heck, blast a fan with it to get the whole Michael Jackson feel, too. Fun, fun!

Declutter

2009-11-05T01:50:00.000-08:00

My room is a mess! A wicked mess, and I suppose by "wicked" I literally mean that a witch has indeed been staying in it for quite sometime.

So after drooling over IKEA catalogues I decided to spruce up for the li'l game room. I unbuckled the top cabinet doors, put away my sister's wedding gifts, took out the nasty old shelf and threw out all the nasty garbage.

I guess if I work on this room little-by-little, I could one day own the IKEA room of my dreams. The goal is to make it cozy without being cluttered, to be visually charming and comfortable. Now its quite daunting to revamp this small space. I usually begin tasks that I know would lead me to "quick results" and it's surely not gonna happen that way with this room. I'll settle goin' little-by-little and hopefully patience would push me to the very last day.

Now there are about a dozen things I'd like from IKEA but I've narrowed them to two. I'll fuse two of these "IKEA-deas" for my small space. I'm hoping to stick to the original blue colors and just splash 'em with some wild ones. My old shutter curtain has got to go!!!!!!

Wish me luck!!!

Just Been Reminded

2009-11-03T00:07:00.000-08:00

A decade seems to have gone by so quickly, so I've realized. Spent two hours inside the salon where the thought just came to me. I looked at myself thinking about how much change and personal growth have I really encountered for that ten years pass of adolescence. Gone are the carefree days of childhood, but I live it today in a ridiculously easy-breezy way. From thinking of finishing tomorrow's Math paper, to analyzing long-term growth in commercial enterprise. It is pretty easy to let go after all, gone are the easy stuff... but there's just so much in store to brace up for. And who wouldn't look forward to that? It's quite exciting isn't it? High school IS definitely over.

Eyes Open

2009-10-28T23:25:00.001-07:00

Everything just seems well and stable today, and I'm glad. I got to pull my weight ok around the household and my mother is happy about it. Earlier I was finishing up with orders and deliveries when I asked myself, "What do I dream to achieve in life?".

I asked, "What's that certain symbolic object that will constantly help remind you of the things you want to achieve...?"

A friend of mine has put up a snow globe of Rome on her work desk for one day she'll study and do a lot of traveling around Europe. I look at my work desk and see I have a small empty candy machine and empty wrappers of wiggles chocolate covered marshmallows.

I want SOMETHING to help motivate myself and I couldn't really put in the right answer for that right now.

Cameras, on the other hand, makes me happy.

Anyway, on one happy note. My Labradors are 11 days old today. Two of these puppies has just opened their eyes. Off the chart cuteness.

UPDATE: Chat with a good friend. I know what I want now. I'll need to print a bluprint and put it up my wall.

DREAM BIG!

The Last One

2009-10-28T02:30:00.000-07:00

Two gardens in a last expanse
Coiled, in passion and futility
Will come forth a mere shadow,
Ever begging for the light of day;
Yet remains undeterred as it lies.

Happy-History

2009-10-27T06:44:00.000-07:00

Today I went to shoot some photographs at this private book collection for next week's paper. The library's filled with century old books, stamps, magazines, all of which are entirely related to Philippine history. I held 'Noli Me Tangere' and felt like I cradled it as much as I would to a newborn child. I thought I'd touch it too much that I'll tarnish history and I'll vanish into thin air, to a cloud of nonexistence. But luckily, that is NEVER the case. I went home happy from a beautiful tour of Philippine history. =)

Firsts

2009-07-01T10:05:00.000-07:00

One of my first shots from the Holga. This was the nearest church from home in Lincolnwood. I remember thoroughly praying to St. Jude inside this church with my sister so that she could pass her Medical Licensure Exams. She's graduating from residency early next year. =)