{En Route to ?}

Recrap to a Minimum

2010-03-13T11:53:00.013+08:00

Recrap: to sum up a discussion composed largely of useless bullshit.

Usage:

Person 1: "Tell me about Ms. Petunia's amazing talent at gold mining!"
Person 2: "It's a rather complicated craft that's passed down through generations, but allow me to recrap..."

Person 3: "What did your mother-in-law say about Skipper's spastic brain damage?"
Person 4: "It's such a pity, but I'll try to recrap what she said for you.."

*Definition courtesy of urbandictionary.com, the best site for awesome, witty, word-inventing peoples of the world

Everyday is Halloween

2009-11-30T16:45:00.013+08:00

This is a late Halloween tribute to the genius that is Tim Burton, who is currently holding an exhibit at one of the most awesome museums in the world, the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

The following photos were borrowed from The Museum of Modern Art, displaying the exhibit installations as they were being put up. The exhibit will run from November 22, 2009 to April 26, 2010, in case any of you decide to drop by.

Speaking of Halloween, last October, I have had the chance to join the ranks of the meanest ghouls, bandits, matronas and Jennifer (of Jennifer's Body) in a Halloween/Pre-Birthday party hosted by none other than the most awesome graphics designer the Philippines has ever known.

Photos have been cropped to conceal identities--we are privy to the secrets of Web overexposure and the dark side of search engine optimization and photo manipulation. If only you knew what we could do to your identity, IF we wanted to.. Hahahahahaha! (rolling thunder)

Trick or treat?

photos taken by nebuer

In our crazy, creative and literary world, where imagination transcends reality, everyday is Halloween day!

"This is Halloween, this is Halloween,
Tender lumpings everywhere,
Life's no fun without a good scare."
-The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

I heart long weekends

2009-11-28T12:50:00.001+08:00

Reminder for the day

2009-11-28T12:39:00.004+08:00

“Realize that this very body, with its aches and it pleasures… is exactly what we need to be fully human, fully awake, fully alive.” ~Pema Chodron

Have a mindful weekend!

A tribute to awesomeness

2009-11-18T11:56:00.003+08:00

Because awesomeness is a gift, not an acquired trait..

Laban

2009-08-06T12:48:00.007+08:00

photograph by -mondi- bz

As the streets are swept clean of all traces of yesterday's events, as the countless yellow flowers offered as a last goodbye turn to dry, as we return to our everyday routines... Do we look back at August 5, 2009 and simply say, "there was a president who was so loved by her people", or "that was the day that she once again united the entire nation"...

photograph by brand_D

Or do we eternally commemorate the cause and sacrifice that this one person stood and fought for and really think, "this legacy that she has left us, as a people, what can we do to further it for the common good? What can we sincerely do to help in our own little ways? What can we do right now?"

photograph by fly888

Thank you and goodbye, Mrs. Cory Aquino.

Go Green Advertising

2009-04-25T22:46:00.009+08:00

In this ad-congested society, check out how marketing can take the green route and successfully get their message across. CURB is the first natural media company that offers media solutions that use natural based products. On their website they posted this question- "Why can't a great media solution be sustainable, natural and highly effective?"

The good thing is they found an answer to that. Check out how they do it here. It would be awesome if more environmental groups can apply these marketing techniques to help strengthen what they stand for.

Take a look at Yawners Corner

2009-04-15T20:46:00.002+08:00

At yawner's corner, everybody yawns to say hello.

Danish photographer Peter Funch, stakes New York City street corners out for two weeks at a time, taking pictures of passersby from the very same spot. He then uses Photoshop to composite the results into single images. (via BoingBoing)

Funch's work reminds me of the "Where's Waldo?" books, I used to enjoy reading when I was younger.

Enjoy taking a closer look. :)

Fly to Mars for only $99

2009-04-04T19:09:00.003+08:00

Expedia now offers its customers flights to Mars for only $99 .

You might want to start saving up, so that you can fly out just in time for when the world ends.

Power to the Peeps!

2009-03-29T20:55:00.004+08:00

There's no better PMS food in the world than Marshmallow Peeps, 2 boxes (!!!) of which I had to pick up at the cargo place, sent to me by my dear mother.

Army of Peeps: "We stick to the lining of your stomach forever!" (just kidding)

Reliving my childhood years as a sugar junkie, I found myself shoveling one peep after another into my mouth.

Yellow Peep: "Eat me!"

"Yeah, PMS sucks. It's a good thing you have Peeps to stuff in your mouth to keep you from saying mean things to people!" - Sheila

Happy birthday, Sheila!

Flow in Travel

2009-03-18T22:40:00.001+08:00

To Jill

2009-03-05T08:08:00.004+08:00

TO WHO
by Jill Roy

To you I am a shadow who reflects nothing,
So you change me
To you I am a speechless voice,
So you do not hear anything other than self

To you I am the second chance to fix the errors of life
So you do not hear my cries of pain
To you I am the servant that will not ask for pay,
So you ignore me

And I know that you do not see it
But I will not tell you because...
To you I am the light of the morning sun
So you sit and watch

To you I am the scream of direction
So you listen

To you I am the one who makes the difference
So you adore it

To you I am the jewel of the crown
So you care for me

But I do not want to be to you
For to me is what I praise

For to me I am the individual in the crowd
Though no one sees me

For to me I am the sound of help
When no one is brave enough to ask

For to me I am the last hope
When the battle is yet to begin

For to me I am the employer
Though the reward is far greater than the deed

And though it may seem to you now,
That you are to me nothing

You are to me more
To you is strong, to me is better

To me you are the monster
So I dare not try anything

To me you are the dictator
So I rebel

To me you are the guidance
So I will not question you

To me you are freshness in the air
So I gaze at you

And now to they...

To they is the terrors of life

To they is the walls we hide behind

To they is the secret we wish never to meet

To they is nothing

To they is the cause of all wrong

To they is why we hide

To they is the evil

For to they has become great
Though it should not be

For those who listen to they
Are the losers of life

The losers who hide behind walls
Walls that crumble and destroy you

Jill is a 12 year old who visits my office everyday (I work in a school), speaks perfect English, with great diction and perfect manners. Compared to her mental maturity, mine is at a tender age of ten. Anyway, she ended up writing about 5 poems one night because she did not have any homework. This is just one of them. I started crying when I read her poems for the simple reason that it feels like we've been searching for the same thing from this world- our identity. It made me envious that she had a gift- the gift of courage. The courage to face uncertainty, to question what it means to become who we truly and to see the world as it is. Oh, and more importantly, to write and share about it. She's amazing.

I want to be 12 again- minus the curfew.

Hurry up and learn to have some patience, will you!

2009-02-27T14:55:00.011+08:00

Patience is The Foundation for a Better Life's theme for the month.

Which is quite appropriate, especially for brooding monsters who like to PMS (yes, I just used PMS as a verb).

I signed up for FBL's daily quote newsletter months ago, hoping to get my daily dose of inspiration and pass it on to others who might be interested as well. Here are some that they've sent me the past week:

“Face your deficiencies and acknowledge them; but do not let them master you. Let them teach you patience, sweetness, insight... When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another. ” (Helen Keller)

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” (Harriet Tubman)

“Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them - every day begin the task anew.” (Saint Francis de Sales)

Now isn't that reassuring? Go ahead and pass on some values.

Going Ballooney

2009-02-20T20:13:00.017+08:00

My theme this month seems to be all about flight.

The 14th Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, better known as "the weekend of everything that flies", wowed the audience as hot air balloons of various colors, shapes and designs lifted into the air and floated off to wherever (nobody knows?).

How many people does it take to inflate a balloon? a panoramic shot

The flag jump headed by the Armed Forces of the Philippines

Stacked skydivers as they descend from an altitude of 5,000 feet. My aunt, who is also a skydiver herself, headed the skydiving committee. Upon touching down on the ground, each skydiver would give out a Skydi-bear (little stuffed bear in diving gear) to some random person in the crowd.

Look, it's a piece of ham! It's a marshmallow! It's a can of soda! It's..... ???

Night glow

These beautiful photographs were taken by none other than my Uncle, who just loves his Nikon D80!

When literal becomes hyper-literal

2009-02-17T12:18:00.003+08:00

In search for a perfect table? Found one at www.boingboing.net

Click to know more about this awesomeness!

On Stillness

2009-02-09T20:13:00.012+08:00

Can you be still, without thinking?

above: Siddartha Gautama Buddha, one of my great grandfather's many amulets

"Here is your safety. This is going to be your special place. When you feel confused or when someone is trying to make you what you are not, come back to this Bodhi tree. Sit and close your eyes. Wait for silence. Do nothing to make it come to you. It will come of its own accord."
- Buddha: A Story of Enlightenment, by Deepak Chopra

Back to Film

2009-02-07T21:34:00.003+08:00

We lucky stumbled upon Rico's old film SLR which is a Pentax P30T Film SLR. When we used to have photography classes in school, digital cameras weren't as popular as how it is right now. (almost every single person owns a digital camera, and families invest in a digital SLR)

I remember how I loved and hated the class. Loved it because, well for the simple reason that it's photography. Hated it because it was just freaking expensive to buy film and have it developed every week (with a student's allowance). So the bottom line is; I never really got into it and I slightly regretted it.

But now that the opportunity has presented itself again I can't help but not succumb to an old flame. It feels like an indulgent hobby, but the thrill of the chase makes it all worth it.

I'm loving the fact that I'm never quite sure how the picture is going to turn out. This process has taught me to rekindle the flame of joyful abandonment...

the one that kinda reminds you that the on-going wow is happening right now.

Mommy, I want!

2009-02-02T23:41:00.013+08:00

Introducing the Lego Death Star Playset (from the Star Wars collection)! It comes with Lego Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Chewbacca, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Senator Palpatine, C-3PO, R2-D2... and many more!

There's different compartments like the trash compactor, Leia's detention cell, conference chambers, hangar bay, the emperor's throne room. Isn't that awesome! It's 16 inches tall.

Despite having forgotten many things about my childhood, I know for certain that it consisted watching the Star Wars trilogy in Betamax every weekend and playing with my Legos, scattering them all over the floor and building different odd structures each time!

It's a geekazoid's dream come true.

Animals Gone Wild

2009-01-30T17:02:00.001+08:00

Kamasutra for Dummies

(Wild Edition)

By the way, no animals were harmed or damaged in any way.

They were all fully aware that this was "just" a one-night thing.

Duck-flavored Coffee

2009-01-30T14:08:00.000+08:00

I was feeling quite snoozy one humid afternoon and was about to doze off when my finger puppet duck (who was, before his attempted suicide, resting on the tip of a pencil eraser) took a dive into my coffee.

I randomly picked up this pack of animal finger puppets (a set of 10, for all of a normal person's fingers!) on a shopping spree at Ikea one summer.

They have proven to be quite effective in entertaining me during my more solitary moments (like racking my brain over something to write, the grand mental circuses in my head, cookie-cutter moments in my job hunting phases).

Yes, we communicate telepathically.

I only have four left now, since I have given them away one by one to my friends (and baby cousins) who still appreciate the beauty and comforts of being childlike from time to time despite the demands of acting like an adult and taking life more seriously in this so-called real world.

Do you still remember what it's like to be a kid?

Odd invitation

2009-01-24T10:41:00.000+08:00

Spent a Sunday at La Mesa Ecopark and found some old- school graffiti.

I wonder what the "Butete" gangsters do on a Friday night or if they have a secret handshake?

Hello change, it's nice to meet you.

2009-01-24T10:33:00.000+08:00

Here's to being part of the of the generation that can cause a memorable change reaction.

Inaugural words of Pres. Obama (lifted from the NY Times multimedia section)

As we continue to hope while crossing our fingers, may we constantly remember that it takes small but consistent steps for us to change the world. It boils down to being aware of how we can actively participate in the chaotic yet moving world of humanity.

You don't have to be part of an institution to become a change-maker or to wax intellectually about sustainability or social activism. All of a sudden everyone has become aware that we are all capable to become free-agents for change. Because at the end of the day (not to sound preachy), it simply boils down to kindness. It's the random but constant act of kindness towards humanity that initiates long-lasting progress. Slowly, but surely.

We can start with this. :)

http://www.actsofkindness.org/

There are some great tips and "activities" that you can do to make a significant difference in school or your own communities. Just a simple reminder, have fun being kind.

Pass it on.

A Dose of Introspection

2009-01-10T20:32:00.000+08:00

Introspection always does a great deal of good, for the entire universe is a manifestation of your mind.

...And because there is nothing more calming and reassuring in this world of chaos and suffering than Eastern Philosophy.

Success, anyone?

2008-12-14T08:22:00.000+08:00

After we TIP and BLINK, we're off to the next step, success. Here's the best 5 things I've heard recently.

Gladwell's Five Steps to Success

1. Find meaning and inspiration in your work.

2. Work hard.

3. Discover the relationship between effort and reward.

4. Seek out complex work to avoid boredom and repetition.

5. Be autonomous and control your own destiny as much as possible.

Time to get the book?

A Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

2008-10-20T08:45:00.000+08:00

"Resurrect subprime morguegages!" - Zombie Dude

Cooking Risotto

2008-10-04T09:05:00.000+08:00

I successfuly prepared a risotto meal this evening, even without the white wine. Sabroso! Thanks to Giada de Laurentiis' Mushroom Risotto recipe.

Mushroom. (I miss!)

Extra Virgin olive oil

Arborio rice

Onions

Red wine. Well, this particular meal didn't exactly go with red wine but it's all my mom and I had. But it was good nevertheless!

Frozen Delights

2008-10-01T05:07:00.000+08:00

You guessed it---I'm a sucker for ice cream and frozen yogurt.

My personal favorite: Pinkberry green tea frozen yogurt with strawberry and chocolate chips. Just heavenly!

Mochi Ice Cream from Ooki Sushi. (1573 3rd Avenue)

Red Mango green tea frozen yogurt with Ghirardelli dark chocolate and strawberries.

Grom gelato, in pistachio and stracciatella.

Walking around, I saw... #2

2008-09-30T08:31:00.001+08:00

To Love

2008-09-21T21:43:00.000+08:00

“Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity.”
—Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933), author, educator, clergyman

Congratulations, Paola and John!

Walking around, I saw...

2008-09-17T06:23:00.000+08:00

Photographs of NYC during its last days of summer.

I had no idea! But then again, nowadays you can fry almost anything, including your brain. Click here for recipe.

Yummy yummy treats for my tummy! I had chocolate covered strawberries, though. But these look delicious as well, wouldn't you agree?

Arc of balloons on every block. Reminded me of a DNA double helix.

"We have not inherited the world from our forefathers -- we have borrowed it from our children." - Kashmiri proverb

Badger, badger, badger, badger, badger... Mushroom, mushroom! (please click this link, I beg of you. It's insane)

"We have staff to answer the phones, 877-234-6545, and immediately offer you the help that you require to meet your portable sanitation needs." - A Royal Flush, Inc.

Post Boracay syndrome

2008-09-15T23:20:00.000+08:00

All I can think of right now is drinking red wine from the bottle while waiting for the sun to set. I wish I can get paid to do that. I can be a sun set connoisseur! It's amazing how you see that lot can change in thirty minutes. It's true what they say, "We don't spend enough time looking up."

Sizzle, sizzle, I hope it never fizzles! 'fo shizzle, thank god it didn't drizzle. Just sit down and let it sizzle!

Fall and Rain

2008-09-15T00:58:00.000+08:00

Summer is finally making its transition into fall. Walking around the city, my attention was called by the drama of it: brown leaves on the ground, the cool breeze, grey skies and scattered rainfall.

A pile of brown leaves gather at a small gate near the United Nations General Assembly Building.

I saw a bunch of these spraypainted on the street and wondered whether they were meant to serve as location markings of some sort, or marked randomly (meaning, whichever curb the artist happened to be sitting on at that moment, taking a break from life). Doodling away. Spraypaint as a medium, asphalt as a canvas.

One would never conceive that bunnies were as special as deer so as to be watched out for while driving. Until the unraveling of this road sign. Hail to egalitarianism!

For additional information, kindly refer to the House Rabbit Society and Deer Crossing Signs and Technologies websites.

I was watching the downpour from a local coffee shop, musing over the usual questions.

It's boot season, everyone! Don't forget to carry around an umbrella at all times.

"Fall is my favorite season in Los Angeles, watching the birds change color and fall from the trees." - David Letterman

Look to the sun

2008-09-13T14:17:00.000+08:00

Local skim boarders strutting their stuff on the shores of Boracay.

It's five-o-clock! Another day of work done for most of them.

A life lived is a form of art in itself...

The Smashing Pumpkins: A rediscovery

2008-09-10T19:15:00.000+08:00

Sheila and I were talking just last night about the music we used to listen to as teenagers.

Apart from the teen angst phases, Fiona Apple and Stone Temple Pilots, another thing we had in common was The Smashing Pumpkins.

How we loved The Smashing Pumpkins.

"Of all the major alternative rock bands of the early '90s, the Smashing Pumpkins were the group least influenced by traditional underground rock. Lead guitarist/songwriter Billy Corgan fashioned an amalgam of progressive rock, heavy metal, goth rock, psychedelia, and dream pop, creating a layered, powerful sound driven by swirling, distorted guitars.

..Unlike many of their contemporaries, the Pumpkins were able to withstand many internal problems and keep selling records, emerging as the longest-lasting and most successful alternative band of the early '90s."

- read more about the band on MTV.com

Listen here, I took time to compile some of their greatest hits and our personal favorites.

Also, track #13, a beautiful remake of "The End is the Beginning is the End" was used in the trailer for the much-awaited movie The Watchmen, coming to theatres March 6 2009.

Track list:

1. Tonight, Tonight

2. Stand Inside Your Love

3. Today

4. Ava Adore

5. 1979

6. Bullet With Butterfly Wings

7. Eye

8. Perfect

9. Disarm

10. To Sheila

11. Rhinoceros

12. Cherub Rock

13. The End is the Beginning is the End

14. Landslide

Fortunes for the Kooky

2008-09-08T06:35:00.000+08:00

Fortune (noun)
according to the Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, it is:

"1. The arrival of something in a sudden or unexpected manner; chance; accident; luck; hap; also, the personified or deified power regarded as determining human success, apportioning happiness and unhappiness, and distributing arbitrarily or fortuitously the lots of life."

The following fortune cookie "fortunes" have been gathered from my last two months of binge-eating on General Tso's Chicken in various Chinese restaurants:

I find it a bit odd that the "fortunes" aren't exactly fortunes, according to Mr. Webster's standards.

But hmm.. Perhaps they're called fortune cookies because it does seem quite fortuitous how the little wisdom strips seem to relate exactly to the things that I am going through at certain points in my life. Bravo!

They're almost the same as the wise maxims written all over my Doodle Notebook (quotes from various individuals, blurted out during heady/reflective/avid conversations or in the midst of almost-stagnant cigarette smoke and AZ-ness at the back of BPI Main).

What a pleasant surprise it is, each time I get to crack a cookie open!

"C is for cookie, that's good enough for me! Oh cookie, cookie, cookie starts with C." - Cookie Monster (please click the link, it's just the greatest thing ever)

Shine, Google, shine!

2008-09-06T06:51:00.001+08:00

click to view larger image

Presenting the Beta version of Google Chrome -- "a browser that combines a minimal design with sophisticated technology to make the web faster, safer, and easier."

My curiosity, along with a friend's comments on its sleekness, pushed me to download the application to see for myself.

Apparently, Google Chrome aims to address "the bottleneck that chokes the speed and abilities of today's Web-based applications. (click to read article)"

Quite true. This was a relief to me, since I'm quite heavy when it comes to web applications, streaming audio and video usage. I've always felt frustrated at how Firefox tends to send my CPU crawling once I load sites in five different tabs, not to mention the long wait that I have to put up with to access other applications running in the background. Looking at the memory usage of Chrome, however, I'm quite glad to see that its much lower than when I'm on Firefox, even when I'm streaming videos from Youtube.

Listed below are the perks that I discovered in using Chrome:

It is quite sleek. It's clean, it's intuitive, the better user experience is definitely a big plus.
Everytime you open a new tab, you get a thumbnail preview of your most visited sites.
Unlike Firefox or Internet Explorer, every tab in Google Chrome runs independently. This basically means that if an application in one tab crashes, the whole browser (or the rest of the tabs) will continue to run.
You can also choose to view sites incognito so that it does not show up in your history file (sneaky!)
Safety: Chrome will notify you if you are about to access an unsafe site.
Don't like tabs? Drag a tab out to create a new window. Also, you can drag tabs from one window to another to group them.

Sigh. I've always loved tabs.

In short, Google Chrome's great and I'm loving it so far!
Download it here.

Walk-in Musuem

2008-09-04T22:13:00.000+08:00

"Cubao X refers to the group of artists running their own shops inside the historic Marikina Shoe Expo at the Araneta Center, but it has since come to mean the epitome of creativity and cooperativism."- www. pinoycentric.com

In a thrift shop called Heritage in Cubao Shoe Expo, I saw these wonderful pieces for sale... with a whole lot more art work lying around. Some date from the 40's (or even earlier!) and god knows what else can be found there. I felt like I was in an unfinished and abandoned museum. It was one of the best Sundays I've ever had.

The more I come across random paintings or artwork created by Filipinos, the more I fall in love with our culture. And it has always been a nice feeling... to wander around aimlessly and find myself falling in love with my own heritage.

B for Burn-out

2008-09-03T16:30:00.000+08:00

I hate the reality that comes with the term Burn out.
Though, I came across an interesting read in ODE , hope it helps anyone who's been feeling all sparked up...

Burn bright, don't burn out
Four ways to recharge your energy while you're changing the world.
When you think of someone standing up to battle the status quo, you probably envision a lonely individual facing insurmountable odds. After all, in films like Norma Rae, Erin Brockovich and To Kill a Mockingbird, the passionate change-maker is usually teetering on the edge of burnout.

P.S: Ode is one of my favorite on-line magazines. I absolutely love it!

The Peace List

2008-09-02T01:54:00.000+08:00

As a follow up to my last entry on my not-so-Zen visit to the Mahayana Buddhist Temple, this post is inspired by and dedicated to the concept of inner peace.

Sheila, who used to teach the most adorable preschoolers on earth, shared with us The Peace Book, which made us extremely happy and relieved that the possibility of achieving peace is not as complicated as one (an adult in this day and age?) might think. The Peace Book summarizes/illustrates a child's simple, honest and sincere definitions of peace such as "giving a friend a hug", "listening to all sorts of music", "being free"...

Because of this, I took to making my own Peace List as well (taken from an entry in my Doodle Notebook three months ago):

Peace is having a nice, long talk over ice-cold beer.

Peace is listening to the sound of the ocean.

Peace is writing to your heart's content.

Peace is taking photographs of beautiful Philippine sunsets.

Peace is backpacking with your best friend.

Kudos to Todd Parr for sharing with the world books that are "cheerful, kind-hearted, refreshing and reassuring"!

More to come.

You can make your own Peace List as well! What are the simple things in your life that make you feel peace in your heart?

Buddha in the West

2008-08-31T07:52:00.000+08:00

I went on a journey to #1 Canal Street a few weeks ago to visit the Mahayana Buddhist Temple. The purpose of my visit was to have some quiet time on my own and de-clutter my mind.

Mayahana Buddhist Temple (right side) on #1 Canal Street, Chinatown, New York City

But what is one to expect of a temple that is located smack in the middle of a busy city like New York? I found my way around the main hall as quietly as I could, making sure that I didn't knock over any statues or pots (I wouldn't be surprised if I did--clumsy old me). I realized later on that my cautiousness was unnecessary because all the people around me were making a lot of noise. Hmmm. By a lot of noise I guess I mean more noise than I thought people should be making inside places of worship?

Shrugging off the possibility of having some quiet time, I felt relieved that I brought along a camera. In the center of the main hall was a 16-foot high golden Buddha with neon blue halos. All around the hall were illustrations of Gautama Buddha's journey towards Enlightenment.

I suppose it's honest to say that I initially felt disappointed since I don't exactly agree with this commercialized/Westernized version of the Buddha or its very AZ (Anti-Zen. It's a word I invented--learn it) location. But later on I realized that it was alright, as I believe that true peace should emanate from within and not be dependent on one's surroundings. Walking around the hall following Gautama Buddha's life rekindled a simple thought inside my head: There is no cause for despair. Everything is good!

Buddha rocks.

“Peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart.” - Author unknown

To Serve

2008-08-27T21:02:00.000+08:00

"The serve is one of the more difficult shots for a novice, but once mastered it can be a considerable advantage. Advanced players can hit the serve in many different ways and often use it as an offensive weapon to gain an advantage in the point or to win it outright." - borrowed from Wikipedia

I totally agree.

. . .

I went to Flushing Meadows (USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center) last Sunday to watch the pros practice. It was the day before the US Open, and you could see on their faces the determination and passion they put into each serve and return.

The US Open, by the way, is one of the oldest tennis championships in the world. It is also considered to be the most well-attended sports event in the US. For more facts and figures, check this out.

Elena Dementieva (#5 seed, Russia)

Rafael Nadal (#1 seed, Spain) How could I not upload this? :)

Anna Chakvetadze (#10 seed, Russia)

Andy Murray (#6 seed, UK)

Being there brought back so many memories. Perhaps I should start playing again. It was truly one of my greatest joys, being on the court--the crisp sound of the ball when it hits the racket, the adrenaline rush, the feeling of surprise whenever you serve an ace. Priceless.

“To serve is beautiful, but only if it is done with joy and a whole heart and a free mind.” -Pearl S. Buck, writer, Nobel and Pulizter Prize winner

Run for Buns

2008-08-26T22:56:00.000+08:00

I found the most amazing thing to eat while watching a movie... Taters 5 flavored (wasabi, white cheddar, nacho cheddar, barbeque, I forgot the other one) popcorn (all in one bag!) Glorious! I'd feel bad when a piece would fall. Believe me, my brain would go "Omygawd, what flavor did i miss?!)

And here's Rico (incognito) eating his Chorizo Burger (Glorious!) from Bun on the Run. You gotta love the "Road Signs"... Clever clever!

P.S Despite the non-stop robot or tech sounds... Watch Wall-E! Robots have hearts too y'a know... remember the Tin Man? I got surprised myself.

Chuck you, Chuck me!

2008-08-26T22:14:00.000+08:00

It's called a clog (Collaborative Blog) for a reason. A post on Chucking it clearly showed how your shoes can take you anywhere, or how you can take your shoes anywhere.
Here's for inspiring me to explore and look for the adventures I've been looking for.

P.S:
Okay, so this is my friend's Chucks... but need more to time to explore with mine...
Is'nt the tie- dye cool? Like Lucid dreaming!

Where you been, Chuck?

2008-08-24T11:33:00.000+08:00

A tribute to my loyal Chucks, who has stuck with me through the years and in all my journeys halfway across the globe.

Click to view locations.

Cork it!

2008-08-21T18:26:00.001+08:00

Cork it like it's never been corked before!

Shall we take a closer look?

And Voila! Clever, clever! Clap, Clap, Clap!
Please pass me the wine, I'm gonna make myself a cork board.

Everyday Questions

2008-08-21T18:16:00.000+08:00

For some odd reason, this called to me
like a moth to a flame.

Okay, that's a metaphoric exaggeration.
Here's my existential question for the week.

Do I park or do I wait? Or does it mean the same thing?
Intention. It all boils down to intention.

I likey, likey... everything in the world asks you some random question.
Whats your question for the week?

I Heart Art

2008-08-20T22:08:00.000+08:00

I finally found the time to lose myself in the one thing that I've always loved as a child: art.
I found myself in awe as I walked around Blick, a huge art warehouse downtown on Bond St. Walking home with all my materials in hand, I felt genuinely happy.

I also realized that I'm not such a bad sketcher after all! Imagine that. It's always cool to discover something new about yourself.

Happy times.

Meritocrazy

2008-08-18T22:35:00.000+08:00

"Status Anxiety: A worry, so pernicious as to be capable of ruining extended stretches of our lives, that we are in danger of failing to conform to the ideals of success laid down by our society and that we may as a result be stripped of dignity and respect; a worry that we are currently occupying too modest a rung or are about to fall to a lower one."

What is one to do then, as humans in this meritocratic day and age tend to be greedy and materialistic, no matter how much they try to deny it? Maybe not materialistic all the time, but constantly put under the pressure that they are required to live up to certain expectations.

It pains me a bit that the possibility of freeing yourself from this suffering I have to learn from books. From blogs. How can one establish a solid sense of self-worth that is not dependent on one's environment, if the very core of their values are shaped by people who believe otherwise?

Is status anxiety, then, really inescapable?

Hello Long Weekend

2008-08-16T11:02:00.000+08:00

It's my 1st day of freedom. I plan to deconstruct and construct my weekend.
Sprinkle it with raw and unfinished ideas...
Finally a fun and random "to-do list".

1. Jog till my lungs can handle it
2. Listen to Rico's new unfinished songs
3. Draw... what I can
4. Hang out in a coffee shop and do Numbers 2 and 3
5. Eat some sausages... uhm, let me rephrase that... eat some german sausages...uhm... juicy german sausages FROM THE DELI... sounds slightly better
6. Read more Alain de Botton
7. Do whatever... cause it's just Saturday! Woohooooo!!!

Hope you have a great weekend...

QC-izzy

2008-08-16T10:32:00.000+08:00

Lifted this info from wikipedia...

"In the early 1900s, President Manuel L. Quezon dreamt of a city that would become the future capital of the country, replacing Manila."

Hmm, I actually didn't know about this... no wonder all the government offices are sporadically found from one end to the another...

The Lake, Central Park

2008-08-15T11:37:00.000+08:00

All I want is peace.