I bought a new Canon i950 Photo Printer two days ago. I tried out the HP 130 PhotoSmart and it was great. I wanted one that would print borderless 8 x 10. That way I can proof the lay-out design of the ads I do. I can also print up the photos I took before in the manner that I want it, touched up or in most cases, turn bad photos into artwork. I intend to do a portfolio and eventually exhibit. I was even contemplating on visiting my Alma Mater and scrounge through their files for the works I did while I was in school. A few years back, I heard from Amay who went to the same school that my photos were exhibited in the university library. Apparently, the university professors have a high opinion of my works back then. I did a photo journal of black and white portraits from shoot to developing to enlargements. One of the probable reason why the portraits I took are still being exhibited is because some of them were taken at the Smokey Mountain which is now all but a memory. I would have to love a copies of them. Somehow, I don't know whatever happened to the negatives. With the technology today, I could of course scan the originals and produce copies. It would be great to exhibit them myself now.
In the missing box are photography books and manuals. It's still missing. There's a couple of books about setting up a dark room. Is it another sign?
I have to set my priorities. I have a To Do List which of course, I am trying very hard to do. I have a tendency to get sidetracked, totally immersed with whatever occupies me at the moment with such passion. I have a knack for details that I sometimes forget to look at the big picture. I get carried away until I get bored and move on. I like beginnings ... starting something but not really finishing it in a straight line. I have a tendency to beat around the bush, get confused even if Im the one who's making the point and get lost in my own ideas. I don't really much care about what people think about me, I just go about being me and as long as I feel good then everything is just fine. I try hard to please and be responsible for obligations bestowed upon me. I have always questioned the role I feel I have to play in this world. It's not at all pleasant. Teaching, training and sharing ... I majored in Communications Arts and I do have not just the talent, it's been a polished skill from experience. That is one of my greatest gift and the many blessings. Only thing is, I've burnt out and losing patience ... Please God, give me the strength and stay in me ...
Thursday, October 02, 2003
I Want My Box!
That's three checked. Actually four since I also met up with Dave already. I got the inside scoop of what's happening on his end re Diveshoppe. Cool Dogs may just be on its way too. And on Monday, we're going warm-water diving. I organized the underwater photo and video equipments and sorted them out while my significant other already prepped the scuba gears.
We've lost seven dogs this year already (Mocha, Xylo, Berry, Rhumba, Samba, Techno and Sugar). Cob is on its 10th year. Most of our dogs are over 5 years old. Twenty pecent are like over 8. Sharpei don't live long. 8 years and above is considered long. Most of them pass away at 5 on the average. Some even younger, as early as two years old. Thirty percent are Sharpei and they're all past 5 ...
Now this is a bomber! We shipped out two boxes from while we were away and we're missing one that has all my computer and dog books, scuba weights and soloflex straps ... lotsa dog chews and dog treats. I wonder if there's still hope of retrieving them. I need the soloflex strap to be able to start on my fitness program. Hmmm ... I did say yes to Kate about playing badminton with them. That's a thought. There's another sign right there!
Please, please God! I want my box!
We've lost seven dogs this year already (Mocha, Xylo, Berry, Rhumba, Samba, Techno and Sugar). Cob is on its 10th year. Most of our dogs are over 5 years old. Twenty pecent are like over 8. Sharpei don't live long. 8 years and above is considered long. Most of them pass away at 5 on the average. Some even younger, as early as two years old. Thirty percent are Sharpei and they're all past 5 ...
Now this is a bomber! We shipped out two boxes from while we were away and we're missing one that has all my computer and dog books, scuba weights and soloflex straps ... lotsa dog chews and dog treats. I wonder if there's still hope of retrieving them. I need the soloflex strap to be able to start on my fitness program. Hmmm ... I did say yes to Kate about playing badminton with them. That's a thought. There's another sign right there!
Please, please God! I want my box!
The Chinese Way Of Doing Business
I met up with my lessor today.
GOOD AND BAD.
Mom came with me. It's good for old people to be around when talking to old people. It's bad because even if you're past 40 and menopausal, in their eyes, you are but a child. Old people understand each other. They are from the same generation, more or less. They speak the same language. They share the same values and traditions, more or less.
MORE OR LESS.
"You're like family," my lessor says. LIKE family. "We don't need a contract," he adds. "Families don't have contracts. You are like my daughter. We've been doing business for over twenty years now."
And the old folks chitter-chatter. Babbles about their kids, their worries, the hard times. They talk about health. They reminisce and talk about the good ol' days. And they never talk about what we actually set out to talk about in the first place. And everytime I opened my mouth, it was the same time both started on their chitter-chatter about the good ol' days.
THE GOOD OLD DAYS.
I'm getting old. When my mother and I got out of the meeting, we had our blood pressure checked. Mine was up. But hey, I'm still a child. If I'm getting old, my mother is older.
GOOD AND BAD.
Mom came with me. It's good for old people to be around when talking to old people. It's bad because even if you're past 40 and menopausal, in their eyes, you are but a child. Old people understand each other. They are from the same generation, more or less. They speak the same language. They share the same values and traditions, more or less.
MORE OR LESS.
"You're like family," my lessor says. LIKE family. "We don't need a contract," he adds. "Families don't have contracts. You are like my daughter. We've been doing business for over twenty years now."
And the old folks chitter-chatter. Babbles about their kids, their worries, the hard times. They talk about health. They reminisce and talk about the good ol' days. And they never talk about what we actually set out to talk about in the first place. And everytime I opened my mouth, it was the same time both started on their chitter-chatter about the good ol' days.
THE GOOD OLD DAYS.
I'm getting old. When my mother and I got out of the meeting, we had our blood pressure checked. Mine was up. But hey, I'm still a child. If I'm getting old, my mother is older.
BTW, need to do a bit of correction. Just for the record, my significant other and I made the commitment on my 40th birthday. So, it's actually just four years and not five. What's been confusing me in my mind ... ONLY IN MY MIND is IN HER MIND, we were just fooling around. She might have been just fooling around BUT I, on the other hand ... well, anyways ... having been together since back then, there's nobody fooling around ... or at least, for the time that we've spent together ... it's definitely more than just fooling around. So we're actually five and a half years going on four, something like that. And if there's a fool, it's certainly neither one of us but someone else somewhere out there, I suppose ...
It's definiely not me.
It wasn't me in the first place.
I was IN LOVE and still AM IN LOVE.
AWWW ... heehee.
It's definiely not me.
It wasn't me in the first place.
I was IN LOVE and still AM IN LOVE.
AWWW ... heehee.
How One Actually Forgets What One Has Written Previously
I really don't understand. Really. I don't. Two of my computers - those intended for video editing are not starting up: The Power Mac G4, mind you ... the one I loaded up with 6 x 120HD's and maxed the RAM MEM is not booting at all. I turn on the power and the apple logo shows with this circle below that just keeps on going in circles. The other one that runs on Windows 2000 just keeps saying "Windows is starting ..." BUT IT IS NOT!!! It actually started the first night I got back but I updated to Service Pack 4 then hit cancel. What I don't understand is I unplugged all the power to make sure that nobody touches these computers and mess ém up while I'm gone. Nobody - I am sure touched these two computers so why aren't they starting up? When I got back from my winter sojourn, all I did was beef up all the computers in the house. I wanted to log all the videos, all the music in my audio library and yes, organize and update ALL my files. For one, I wanted to work on my raw footages and do some editing for submission to the Vancouver Film Fest or ... whatever ... like maybe when there's some sort of contest going on ... like the last time - National Geographic or something ... At least, I'm ready and I would have something decent to submit. When I left this spring, all the computers were set up and working. Too bad, I never had the chance to work on them. After a week, two of them were already malfunctioning in terms of the wireless network connection. But what I really don't understand is how a computer would just not function when nobody even used it ... or uses it? Or why, why does it have to be the the beefed-up ones that act up? I have the dinky dinosaur IBM 200MHZ - MMX, mind you that I have not touched since Y2K was the buzz word and it's still working! Hmmm ...
IS IT A SIGN?
BIG SIGH :(
And ... I was blogging ... and the power just went off and lost what I've already typed so far.
IS IT ANOTHER SIGN?
BIG BIG SIGH :(
It's amazing when you've written something ... how one actually forgets what one has written previously if it was lost - like because of power failure ... One can not really rewrite it exactly the way it was first written. Unless, of course, there is a hard copy available. Even if sometimes you've finished whatever - right ... like when you go over it and start editing ... It's never quite the same. It's like when you're taking a quiz or a test. You've answered everything and go back to the ones you've missed like when you're unsure of the answer. So you start guessing and then you go through everything and end up changing your mind. In the end, you end up with the wrong answer when in the first place, if you didn't change it - it would have been right and you get check marks for correct answers instead of "X" for wrong ones.
AAAARRGGGHHH!
Maybe ... just maybe, these are signs.
:(
IS IT A SIGN?
BIG SIGH :(
And ... I was blogging ... and the power just went off and lost what I've already typed so far.
IS IT ANOTHER SIGN?
BIG BIG SIGH :(
It's amazing when you've written something ... how one actually forgets what one has written previously if it was lost - like because of power failure ... One can not really rewrite it exactly the way it was first written. Unless, of course, there is a hard copy available. Even if sometimes you've finished whatever - right ... like when you go over it and start editing ... It's never quite the same. It's like when you're taking a quiz or a test. You've answered everything and go back to the ones you've missed like when you're unsure of the answer. So you start guessing and then you go through everything and end up changing your mind. In the end, you end up with the wrong answer when in the first place, if you didn't change it - it would have been right and you get check marks for correct answers instead of "X" for wrong ones.
AAAARRGGGHHH!
Maybe ... just maybe, these are signs.
:(
Sunday, September 28, 2003
Nah! She Can't Be Dying Soon.
The first thing she said to me was how fat I was. Those taking care of her probably just wish and the reason why she wasn't eating is because she just didn't want to be a burden and thinks it's best to speed it up a bit by refusing to eat.
The eleven dogs are out of danger. The neighbor did not really step out of bounds. All is well with just a few minor inconveniences. The kennels need some touch-up work. It has been over five years anyways.
We went around trying to spot spaces for lease. One of my business competitor shut down. So much so for franchising my business. That didn't work out for my competitor. The place has a sign up for lease. The space I was interested in last year is for lease again. The company the lessors decided to award it to didn't last very long. Business is really bad. I'm meeting with my current lessor early this week. One wonders how that will turn out? Two of my biggest worries weren't anything major. My aunt is still very much coherent. The chlorinated dogs survived the crucial two weeks. The neighbor who allegedly used my fence as the walls to their house did not really use my fence. It's just that their roof touched the fence of which their point of contention is that I surpassed the demarkation marker in the lot boundaries. Nothing to it. I just have to vuild the fence higher, maybe 6 feet more so that they would have no ventilation and toast. Turn bad to something good, well ... touch up the canine haven while doing the fence. Repaint the kennels or whatver needs additional coating. The roof, too, needs work as well as other stuff. Maybe, I will celebrate my birthday over there this year which would also be my significant other's and mine, our fifth year together.
The eleven dogs are out of danger. The neighbor did not really step out of bounds. All is well with just a few minor inconveniences. The kennels need some touch-up work. It has been over five years anyways.
We went around trying to spot spaces for lease. One of my business competitor shut down. So much so for franchising my business. That didn't work out for my competitor. The place has a sign up for lease. The space I was interested in last year is for lease again. The company the lessors decided to award it to didn't last very long. Business is really bad. I'm meeting with my current lessor early this week. One wonders how that will turn out? Two of my biggest worries weren't anything major. My aunt is still very much coherent. The chlorinated dogs survived the crucial two weeks. The neighbor who allegedly used my fence as the walls to their house did not really use my fence. It's just that their roof touched the fence of which their point of contention is that I surpassed the demarkation marker in the lot boundaries. Nothing to it. I just have to vuild the fence higher, maybe 6 feet more so that they would have no ventilation and toast. Turn bad to something good, well ... touch up the canine haven while doing the fence. Repaint the kennels or whatver needs additional coating. The roof, too, needs work as well as other stuff. Maybe, I will celebrate my birthday over there this year which would also be my significant other's and mine, our fifth year together.
Saturday, September 27, 2003
Things To Do List:
1. Visit my aunt.
2. Check out AsoCasa (the neighbor and all the dogs specially the ones that were chlorinated).
3. Appointment with lessor of my business establishment.
4. Anniversary preps.
5. Retrain staff.
6. Set-up new endeavor: Cool Dogs!
7. Downsize kennel and find good homes for dogs not to be used for breeding.
8. Catalog video and photos. Log and edit for submission to various agencies or organizations.
9. Shoot. Set up darkroom: Black & white photography. GOAL: exhibit works.
10. Attend painting workshops.
11. Exercise. Keep fit.
12. DIVE!!! Dive and shoot!
13. TRAVEL: El Nido. Bohol. Cebu. Thailand. Micronesia. Indonesia. Malaysia. Bali. Australia. And all the great divesites all over.
14. Train dogs. Set-up ABCD and get into agility.
15. Franchise existing business.
GET BUSY! GET PRODUCTIVE! ENJOY LIFE!
2. Check out AsoCasa (the neighbor and all the dogs specially the ones that were chlorinated).
3. Appointment with lessor of my business establishment.
4. Anniversary preps.
5. Retrain staff.
6. Set-up new endeavor: Cool Dogs!
7. Downsize kennel and find good homes for dogs not to be used for breeding.
8. Catalog video and photos. Log and edit for submission to various agencies or organizations.
9. Shoot. Set up darkroom: Black & white photography. GOAL: exhibit works.
10. Attend painting workshops.
11. Exercise. Keep fit.
12. DIVE!!! Dive and shoot!
13. TRAVEL: El Nido. Bohol. Cebu. Thailand. Micronesia. Indonesia. Malaysia. Bali. Australia. And all the great divesites all over.
14. Train dogs. Set-up ABCD and get into agility.
15. Franchise existing business.
GET BUSY! GET PRODUCTIVE! ENJOY LIFE!
Friday, September 19, 2003
Blink
How things change in a blink:
The clock struck twelve and I was still up, I knew right there and then, the day ahead is going to be a shitty one. We had to get going by seven in the morning to avoid the bumper to bumper rush going downtown. We had to be at Tinseltown before eight and try to get the PRC picked up before nine to catch our Final Cut Pro class at West Broadway. Well, for one, I totaly forgot about the PRC thing when I paid and booked the class. As a recourse, well ... our Edmonton visitor can keep mom company, I assumed but of course, she is on vacation, has a life and ... had plans of her own. :(
So, there I was ... stressed out with heart burn from piggin' out instead of stayin' at home, relaxed with the usual routine. My God, we even had to rush feeding the dogs at eleven at night! And when we snuck back at home (because somebody forgot the present for the birthday celebrant) ... of course, the dogs let in by the old ladies in the basement unsupervised (it was raining hard and so the ladies' thought it was mean of us to leave them outside) ... Dogs being dogs, left to their own devices, chewed on whatever there was to chew on which I had to clean up. Dogs have fur and as I recall, the breeds we have have waterproof coats plus an undercoat to boot. Oh well ... whatever ...
Half past midnight, I had to get back up and online. People from the islands should have faxed the Import Permits two days ago! I have been sending text messages and NADA ... NOTHING ...
One other thing... there's the Guiguinto problem again. Not the dogs this time but the hood is back!!! Oh, yeah... it's September. It was September 25, 5 years ago when my neighbors complained about the kennels. This time, the lot next door decided to build a house and used our fence as the walls in their house.
And yes of course, Manila was trying to fax me until about 1:30 am. I was awake at 5:30 am. Four hours of sleep. That's enough to make me grouchy all day today.
Now to continue with MY BLOGDAY TODAY (which I keep getting interrupt ...ed) ...
The clock struck twelve and I was still up, I knew right there and then, the day ahead is going to be a shitty one. We had to get going by seven in the morning to avoid the bumper to bumper rush going downtown. We had to be at Tinseltown before eight and try to get the PRC picked up before nine to catch our Final Cut Pro class at West Broadway. Well, for one, I totaly forgot about the PRC thing when I paid and booked the class. As a recourse, well ... our Edmonton visitor can keep mom company, I assumed but of course, she is on vacation, has a life and ... had plans of her own. :(
So, there I was ... stressed out with heart burn from piggin' out instead of stayin' at home, relaxed with the usual routine. My God, we even had to rush feeding the dogs at eleven at night! And when we snuck back at home (because somebody forgot the present for the birthday celebrant) ... of course, the dogs let in by the old ladies in the basement unsupervised (it was raining hard and so the ladies' thought it was mean of us to leave them outside) ... Dogs being dogs, left to their own devices, chewed on whatever there was to chew on which I had to clean up. Dogs have fur and as I recall, the breeds we have have waterproof coats plus an undercoat to boot. Oh well ... whatever ...
Half past midnight, I had to get back up and online. People from the islands should have faxed the Import Permits two days ago! I have been sending text messages and NADA ... NOTHING ...
One other thing... there's the Guiguinto problem again. Not the dogs this time but the hood is back!!! Oh, yeah... it's September. It was September 25, 5 years ago when my neighbors complained about the kennels. This time, the lot next door decided to build a house and used our fence as the walls in their house.
And yes of course, Manila was trying to fax me until about 1:30 am. I was awake at 5:30 am. Four hours of sleep. That's enough to make me grouchy all day today.
Now to continue with MY BLOGDAY TODAY (which I keep getting interrupt ...ed) ...
Tuesday, September 16, 2003
The long wait is over.
Just a few more days. Four months have passed, almost. I am very relaxed with minor inconveniences ... Actually, it's like a year and a half that I've just been picking my ass, wondering what to do and wandering aimlessly. It's clearer now, at least. It's just a matter of doing it, whatever it is I somehow decided on. A lot of hard work ahead. It's not going to be easy. But hey, I might have fun along the way, eh. How about that?
It's funny, the things I planned on doing while I'm waiting ... things I thought I would do to pass the time, I never got to really sit down and do it. Like I lagged along 2 external hard-drives that needed organizing but somehow, never really sat down long enough. I tried but there's this feelin of I'm missing out on something if I just sit in front of my monitor skin. What have I accomplished? Well, 10 lbs. ... at least, I lost 10 lbs. from walking the dogs and biking. I also sort of managed to keep the house clean and... even my mom is kind of picking up on the "clean as you go" principle however she does not really clean very well. She bitches about cleaning very well tho'.
So whatelse? Cold water diving is nothing compared to warm water diving. And am taking computer classes right and left. Spent a lot of money too but hey, what the heck? The raeson why you work hard and save is so that you can be able to afford things you want ... you can't take the money to the grave. So, I still think howevermuch my mom, of course nags me... What good is money you have when you don't get to enjoy on spending it, eh?
It's funny, the things I planned on doing while I'm waiting ... things I thought I would do to pass the time, I never got to really sit down and do it. Like I lagged along 2 external hard-drives that needed organizing but somehow, never really sat down long enough. I tried but there's this feelin of I'm missing out on something if I just sit in front of my monitor skin. What have I accomplished? Well, 10 lbs. ... at least, I lost 10 lbs. from walking the dogs and biking. I also sort of managed to keep the house clean and... even my mom is kind of picking up on the "clean as you go" principle however she does not really clean very well. She bitches about cleaning very well tho'.
So whatelse? Cold water diving is nothing compared to warm water diving. And am taking computer classes right and left. Spent a lot of money too but hey, what the heck? The raeson why you work hard and save is so that you can be able to afford things you want ... you can't take the money to the grave. So, I still think howevermuch my mom, of course nags me... What good is money you have when you don't get to enjoy on spending it, eh?
Thursday, September 11, 2003
Coming and Going
Recently, I was just talking about an aunt of mine who took care of me between the ages 8 onwards. Yesterday, she crossed my mind but I chose not to mention anything about her in the conversation I was having. Today, she again was in my thoughts.
I just found out that her time is almost up and just waiting. I would very much like to go visit for one last time.
It's sad how people come and go in one's life. At certain phases, you spend 24/7 with them to a point that they drive you crazy and as you move on, others come while the ones previously where always there fade away. And you kinda take for granted sometimes when they are far away and you go about doing your thing as you so please until it's too late to do anything about lost times ... could have's, should have's and what if's.
The pain never goes away, it remains just tucked somewhere in the inner recesses of one's soul.
I just found out that her time is almost up and just waiting. I would very much like to go visit for one last time.
It's sad how people come and go in one's life. At certain phases, you spend 24/7 with them to a point that they drive you crazy and as you move on, others come while the ones previously where always there fade away. And you kinda take for granted sometimes when they are far away and you go about doing your thing as you so please until it's too late to do anything about lost times ... could have's, should have's and what if's.
The pain never goes away, it remains just tucked somewhere in the inner recesses of one's soul.
Tuesday, September 09, 2003
Decayed
Ten years from now, I will just be living of interests (HAHA!) or maybe, royalties from ART's V franchise stores and a number of Cool Dogs' branches local and international, eh.
I can dream, can't I? SURE, I CAN!
I can dream, can't I? SURE, I CAN!
Reachable Only As I Wish
Less than two years from now, I will take it easy ... basking out in the sun, snoozing during the midafternoon breeze and at dusk, watching sunsets with my loved and cherished one. I will wake up to glorious days of fresh air, cool breeze and warmth of my beloved. Some days we will go down under, some days taking beautiful postcard pictures somewhere ... other days, simply making music together. Of course, four-legged friends tagging along or maybe, out in the field indulging in some kind of dog activity. Diving in different places. Travelling from time to time. Check trustworthy, responsible and reliable people who takes care of the businesses once in awhile. Also, by this time ... I should no longer be an amateur photographer and videographer as well as, my significant other ... would have published her photographs, too if not her coffee table book. Stress-free ...
reachable only as I wish.
My Dream.
reachable only as I wish.
My Dream.
Sunday, September 07, 2003
Red Roses for the Unspoken Dream!
And yes, I made sure. I ran down the patio stairs out the backyard door into the front to look at my mom's rose bush garden. It dawned on me that people arond here do have rose bush gardens, my mom and Mom Lets too by the way. Yesterday, mom asked me to drop off Brunn cakes for them but as I was pulling up the cul de sac, at the curb-there they were in their car headed for our house. So, I just handed them over the cake as they pulled up closer. Then after that, I turned around and went back home never having the chance to walk up their doorstep to notice Mom Lets rose bush garden and what color they were. My mom's are pink and kinda yellowish, somehow with a blend of like pink but not the bright yellow sunflowers are. So there you go ...
RED ROSES.
RED ROSES.
The Sign
RED ROSES! RED ROSES! RED ROSES!!!
As I was stepping over the barrier from the kitchen going to the patio door, I accidentally focused on my neighbor's stairs and stemming out from the steps were red roses in full bloom. I rushed and looked at them more closely. It's a full branch filled with red roses in bloom while the two other bunches were all dried, withered and brown. How about that? Thank You for the sign, thank You for the blessings!!!
As I was stepping over the barrier from the kitchen going to the patio door, I accidentally focused on my neighbor's stairs and stemming out from the steps were red roses in full bloom. I rushed and looked at them more closely. It's a full branch filled with red roses in bloom while the two other bunches were all dried, withered and brown. How about that? Thank You for the sign, thank You for the blessings!!!
Saturday, September 06, 2003
The Silent Wish
Red Roses for the unspoken dream. White for peace, a fresh start and new life. Yellow to stay ... rooted and stable.