coffee talks

Old Photos No More.

2009-08-28T14:29:00.006+08:00

Everyone wants to be a photographer. I know people who have just the "interest" go out and buy professional camera's just for the fun of it. I am no exception. I love taking pictures, it's one way of preserving memories.

Digital cameras have come of age but I still crave for the film types. I think working with film, developing the prints and shots is an artform in itself. It tests how much you have learned in photography and how well you have developed into an artisan.

Now, you don't have to be an expert to take really good pictures, there are several graphics software which can do that job for you. Adjusting brightness, superimposing, layering, adding other elements. It's like having a personal photographer and graphic designer inside your computer.

I have used several products but have found Adobe Photoshop useful. It may be heavy on the memory aspect of you hard drive, but its worth it. I have used it for years now and so have my friends, and it has helped us on a number of projects and even businesses. I most especially like their rendering feature, my favorite aspect of the Adobe Photoshop franchise. Lucky you, Adobe Photoshop CS4 is already around the corner, so I can't wait to get my hands on this graphics software and tinker with the new features.

I also have an affinity for Corel Draw. Although it may be a bit complicated, I find it quite as useful as photoshop. There are many options and choices for this product , especially for the effects, some are already present in photoshop though (for the version I have used), and I think they have developed some solely for themselves, just to make them unique.

So who said taking pictures is an old school thing? Think again. :)

a new career

2009-08-28T13:57:00.002+08:00

It's been two weeks since I quit my job (woohoo) and honestly, I've never been happier except financially but I think I can get around that in time, at least I hope so.

I've had the funniest two weeks happen. I tried my luck in Makati City having a few interviews and exams lined up, but ditched them a t the last minute (imagine standing at the bottom of the building, all geared up for an exam scheduled 20 minutes after thinking "I don't want to work here"). How funny can that be?

Anyways, I'm currently engrossed in working on my blog andI want to monetize it. I know it will take months before I can really launch my full blast blog into cyberspace but I hope this takes care of the financial aspect of my life.

Anyways, you'll be hearing more from me more frequently.

TOUCHÉ!

watering my blog

2009-07-29T23:51:00.002+08:00

OK...

I know I promised to constantly update the contents of this blog (for the past few months, argh), but I just couldn't find the time to do so i guess...

I may lack update worthy materials because I haven't been scouring the city well enough I guess, but hey, there's more!!! (to make it sound more commercial)...

Starting August 12 2009 (yes, you heard it right, August 12, 2009) , I will officially have all the time in the world to update this blog with better posts and content. Rest assured that all entries will be juicy as a medium rare tenderloin steak.

Oh well, as for now... nytie!!!

~Ciao!!!

STRICLTY

2009-06-24T12:37:00.004+08:00

OK...

It's been a while since my last post, and honestly, I have thought of giving up on this blog.
All that's in here are mistakes, mistakes made by other people and myself (well, mostly by other people)... And I'm starting to think that there is no use in pointing out these mistakes because people just continue making them anyways.

But then again, what the hell, the important thing is, we ENJOY them...

So here's another one to celebrate these things which make us UBER happy...

Aside from the STRICT implementation and observation, they also seem to be in abundance of Application Forms...

Touche to faulty grammar and spelling... Touche!
Until next time...

~Ciao!

anything vintage?

2009-03-17T14:46:00.003+08:00

OK...

After a long hiatus... I'm back in the neighborhood... Up to my old tricks again... and this time, I hope its for good...

Another day another sign...

So we had this huge sale here a few days back... although this was supposed to be the "biggest" discount fest for the year, I wasn't that excited to indulge myself amidst the sweaty people with bulky belongings and flocks of families roaming around... Trust me, it ain't that pleasant to watch...

Albeit my boycott for the said event... I was in the mall just for the purpose of working... yeah, the mall is my second home... or my home is my second home... I couldn't really get that right sometimes, anyways...

I met a crony and we looked for an SLR bag, this was after I got my hair chopped.... hehe... note the term "chopped"... So off we went for an SLR Bag and met her family (this story is so exciting, the progress and character development is so good!)... And I just magically stumbled onto a sign...

And it went something like this..

Yeah... Ok... I guess since it was a sale... It was a part of their whole "Marketing Plan"...

More people would notice once the spelling is incorrect...

Muhahahha...

Until next time... I just love how the story progressed (again!)...

Spoon and Pork

2009-01-15T10:45:00.002+08:00

OK...

Now you would think of all the companies scattered across the Philippines, one would be careful with the signs that they post...

But hey, we're all human right?

Here's something I got from a Supermarket...

I mean, plastic fruits, those are acceptable but pork??? And they come in dozens!!!!

"And by the way Ma'am, we also have our own assortment of Plastic Pork in case you want to display them on your dinner table. They are located between the popsicle sticks and the chopsticks in the utensils aisle."

Wahahha.... Good Morning!!!!

~Ciao!!!

We are tighten our inspections

2009-01-14T14:24:00.003+08:00

OK...

Clearly, they need to increase the salaries of those writing their notifications and advisories.

This photo was taken last June of 2007, and I almost forgot about it until I decided that my blog should have one area of concern... So I chose Signs that made my day, days, months, years... heheh...

I don't know where to start with this advisory...

I know they mean well, and they only look after the safety of their passengers (or else, they could be sued several times over and over) but they could have at least looked at it before posting it.

A lot of plurals which should not be plurals, this is clearly one of those things which cross borders and break boundaries. I commend the culprit responsible for this one. My former English teachers would have all gotten heart attacks because of this.

And thanks to you... it brightened my day again (as I am sick right now)...

Anyways, until the next victim...

~Ciao!!!

Any Costumers?

2008-12-22T14:56:00.005+08:00

There are just certain things that we tend to take lightly and just ignore once in a while.

And right now, I have this knack for finding signs that really liven up the senses. You know, those that perk you up once you see them - a few simple giggles or hilarious laughs perhaps- (making you deliriously happy).

Of course it's no fun to point out other people's mistakes but let's just imagine that they purposely did these things to make passersby happy from their dull and monotonous 8 hour shifts.

So this new addition was discovered in Delgado. It used to be the Tilipunan Chicken House but the name has been changed to Fish Fort (OK, a weird name right? imagine a fort built by stacking one fish on top of the other.), you can't miss this place aside from the fact that it is just a few steps away from the Pirated DVDs center and the newly revamped Amigo Mall.

Ok, so you wouldn't really notice the problem on the signage, but come to think of it, only those in COSTUME can park? Add to that the fact that they had to be FISH FORT COSTUMES!!! And in singular form?? So there is only one right???

Wahaha... Let's end there... I wanna sleep...

~Ciao!!!

a montage of the moon...

2008-11-14T00:17:00.002+08:00

I've been haunted by the moon recently...

It has never been this beautiful...
yet, I always felt that it was sad...
If it spoke (aside from questioning my sanity), I guess it would speak of sadness and longing...
I always thought of it like that...

It has always been beautiful, yet it has always been so distant...
I guess some things just remain like that...

For you to appreciate something for what it is...
You just have to let it be...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

The past few days have been... well... hard...

Ever heard of the cliche ".. sabi kasi ng puso ko... "...?

Then I remember something my friend told me...
"...di naman kelangan mahal mo agad yung isang tao sa umpisa eh, natututunan din yan"...
I guess what I'm trying to say is that, there is no such thing as heart over mind...
It has always been mind over matter... mind over everything else...

No matter what happens, the grass can only be as green as you can see...
You only see things the way you want to see them...
The way you expect them to be...
You will never see things for what they are unless you want to...
Unless you allow yourself to...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yeah... Everything was fixed because of an email...
I guess we have always been like that eh?...

And I appreciate it, it has been such a long time...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

I've always been the emotional one...
I guess I was built that way... Is it to my advantage? I dunno...
But when my emotions are tapped... I break down...
Sad to say, that's how I am...

Now I'm starting to hate myself...
Letting myself get caught up in a whirlwind of emotions...
Should've just backed away right from the start...
Now things are a getting complicated...
Di ko na alam kung san ako lulugar...
Kung ano na ngaba 'to...

Bwisit, tagalog na naman (accept mo na yung fact na line of 7 ka kasi sa filipino before)...

And you know what...
I'm quoting my previous post right now...

You’ve been playing with how I feel…
I don't know how I feel right now...
I have fallen for you I guess...
And I would fall for you over and over again...

But I dunno if that matters to you…

If I mattered to you…

of solace and melancholy

2008-11-08T21:56:00.002+08:00

just when you thought you wouldn't find comfort...
Comfort finds you...

Yet, why do you still feel so empty?

Dreams

2008-11-05T19:37:00.002+08:00

We all have our own sets of dreams...

Yeah, I said that before somewhere in this blog...
I dunno if the insecurity is finally sinking in...
But I'm starting to question what I've done so far...

Life isn't what I've wanted it to be, 80% of the time...
I haven't been able to achieve the things I wanted to, most of the time...
My dreams... Well, I dunno until how long I can convince myself that they would still come true...

If only you could fix my dreams...

nonsense

2008-11-02T22:18:00.002+08:00

Know what...

I would've fallen for you...

But then...

Diablo III: Updates

2008-10-21T03:02:00.004+08:00

OK..

I've been waiting for this game for like forever and it's good to finally hear and find updates about this... It's still currently under works, as per Blizzards statements...

And one improvement is the addition of the Wizard Class, we only had the Barbarian and the Witch Doctor previously... Finally, another long ranged fighter... Caster... whatever...

Here is the trailer as well as the job description for the new character class...

A few more months to go then... Gonna plan out my strategy as early as now... nyahahha...

~Ciao!!!

Coffee

2008-10-21T02:39:00.002+08:00

OK...

Know what...

3 Packs of Iced Coffee can really wake you up...

Hahaha...

~Ciao!!!

Over The Weekend...

2008-10-21T01:54:00.004+08:00

OK...

I decided to finish everything that I started over the weekend... or over the course of my days off rather...

It's fun to unwind for a bit after a week of torture... On a mental level that is...

We were supposed to have a client audit on the site starting last Sunday (which is my day off, hooray!) until Tuesday (ok, I’ll be back in the office by this time, bummer), and based on what I heard from my office mates, it went along pretty well (*cross fingers*).

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I finished fate stay night... which is long overdue... I downloaded the series a year ago i think, and I went around telling everyone that it was good (after seeing only 2 episodes) and I stopped there... After mee6ting with some friends and talking about recent updates in the anime world (sorry but we're a bunch of geeks), I felt bad not finishing the series so I decided to have an anime-marathon just to finish it (and I did! weeee...).

And needless to say, it did meet my expectations... cheers to that.

Waahhh... Excalibur, Avalon, Gae Bolga (correct?), Arthur, Gilgamesh... Such an epic anime... It made me remember history back in high school, all the hell I went through to pass that ill-fated subject (sorry sir dan)...

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Naruto is getting pumped up...

Yep, pain is still ravaging the village and the kids are getting ready to fight back... Who is PAIN anyways? One finding is that he is not with them (the ones who are actually attacking the village right now, as this was also disclosed by Jiraiya on his message)... Some sort of puppetry as well, without the string but using some kind of complex mechanism, hmmm... a genjutsu of some sort.

Dam Danz0, I hope he burns in hell for several times over and over again... Killing the frog that was supposed to inform and bring Naruto back to the village.

Next chapter please...

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And right now...

Aside from updating the blogosphere... I'm listening to old sappy MP3s, sorry bout that... while reading Kikomachine comics by Manix Abrera... RAKENROLL!!!!

~Ciao!!!

Naruto 420

2008-10-11T04:07:00.001+08:00

OK...

Now this is the chapter where all the action begins...

Pain in now in Konoha... Naruto has somewhat mastered sage mode and the techniques...
And Tsunade has declared Battlefield Konoha...

Can't wait until the next chap!!!

~Ciao!

I'm Sick

2008-10-10T10:16:00.002+08:00

OK...

It's been a while since I really got sick.
And this time, I'm really feeling like crap.
I didn't expect to be sick anytime soon, hmmm...

I dunno, just relied too much on my immune system I guess...
But yeah, I am sick right now, and I still go to work.
Beat that.

~Ciao!

Naruto 419 and below

2008-10-08T15:28:00.003+08:00

OK...

It's been a while since my last Naruto post, and yeah, It's not like I forgot about the manga/anime that started it all (for me at least)...

Hmm... Where should we start...? Ah, Ok...

Naruto has already, well "supposedly" surpassed Yondaime as he has completed the imperfect Rasengan (Hence the Wind Shuriken Rasengan, if I'm not mistaken). And now, with his training from the old toad (sorry, I forgot his name), he ahs supposedly surpassed Jiraiya as well. we could all remember that when Jiraiya transforms into hermit mode, he looks like a mutated frog of somewhat, but his power has amplified. Currently, Naruto can do that but he has no trace of any frog like characteristics, well except for the dark circle around his eyes (so that must mean something right??). So how will he do against Sasuke when they meet? He is also practicing on something under the nose of the old toad, so what could that be. And if I remember correctly (sorry, my memory really fails me right now), Itachi imparted something to Naruto as well, so as to counter Sasuke if ever they meet. Hmm, so a few more nuts to crack eh???

Akatsuki (or Pain rather), has already invaded Konoha, so how will Konoha react? Beats me, but there is sure gonna be a hell of a fight. I can't wait to see Kakashi and the others go into battle again. It's been quite a long time.

Twisted Thoughts

2008-10-08T15:06:00.004+08:00

OK...

I just finished reading the existing series "Soul Eater", and Stein has got to be one of my favorite charactersm, due to the screw or bolt on his head.

Albeit the fact he is not the lead in this manga, he brings a lot to the story.

His name is Dr. Franken Stein, yes, similar to what we all know. And another yes to his interest in human dissection. His curiosity has lead him to become one the best and strongest Scythe Technicians of his time (aside from Shinigami Sama ofcourse).

Currently under the influence of insanity (this sounds familiar), he left Shibusen together with his current Weapon (Marie: Who was partnered with him specifically for the purpose of calming him down and hindering the onset of insanity). Aside from his extreme power and unique skills, his ability to analyze transcends that of any normal being (who would? He wants to dissect everyone and run tests on them).

Other than that, he's a pretty nice guy, and I'm looking forward to seeing some more action in the upcoming chapters (Can't wait)... Aside from being affected by the insanity that currently clouds Death City, he is on a mission to find out who killed JB.

If you still can get into the whole gist of what I'm saying right now, you better read the Manga (its at Mangafox and OneManga: 53 Chapters as of my last count).

~Ciao!

...final day of rest...

2008-10-08T14:50:00.002+08:00

OK...

Finally, my rest days are over... By 5pm tomorrow, its be all about work again...

So how should I spend the remaining hours of my day? Hmmm... I've already finished reading Soul Eater... (too bad the series isn't finished yet, was ready to finish 'em all today, only did 53 chapters, will wait for the new ones to come in). next on my list is Kikkomachine, hmmm... I partly read it last night but I dunno where the book went, maybe my great aunt brought it along with her). I'm done with thinking, and I hate the fact that I have no work to take my mind off of these things, I tend to overthink because I have nothing to do right now. Not to worry, only a day left before work starts again. Whew...

I've returned to my old habit of listening to sappy songs, should I be happy about it? Argh...

Maybe I'll just grab some shut eye for now...

~Ciao!

Soul Eater

2008-10-06T09:45:00.003+08:00

OK...

After, or while, eating at a resto, my friend introduced me to a new manga. I was hesitant as I thought she was lying or that it was just a ploy to make me read the damn manga (btw, she has this knack for semi porno stuff: you know who you are).

To feed my curiosity, I checked it out on the net and the first episode, which basically sums up the entire story is actually good.

The story is a bout a Scythe Technician (note the analogy: Soul eater = Soul Reaper; hence the use of the scythe as a weapon/tool), who is on a quest to become the best. I dunno how I made that rhyme, but it's a typical story, I thought it would be bleach related as well as I saw shinigami stuff over a few pages of the first chapter, but it also has Shaman King elements as well, the plot though is totally different. A must read I say! And I can't wait for this to be converted into anime, just imagining the graphics gives me chills, Nah.

I'm downloading all the chapters right now, so you might as well too!!!

~Ciao!!!

Signs

2008-10-01T14:19:00.002+08:00

Ok...

We encounter different signs everyday, and they all come in different shapes, sizes, forms, and the like.

But this one really takes the cake. We just saw this on our way to celebrate a friend's birthday somewhere in Smallville.

Warning + Insult = Perfect Sign.

~Ciao!

1000 Visitors

2008-09-23T02:41:00.001+08:00

September 23, 2008!!!

1000 Visitors!!!

Nyahaha...

102nd not so significant post

2008-09-23T02:20:00.004+08:00

OK...

I know it’s actually the 102nd post, but who cares, go rant on your own blog if you don't like it...

***Insensitive: Jann Arden***

Oh you probably won't remember me
It's probably ancient history
I'm one of the chosen few
Who went ahead and fell for you
I'm out of vogue, I'm out of touch
I fell too fast, I feel too much
I thought that you might have some advice to give
On how to be insensitive

Now, the question is, what to post? I don't really have anything in mind right now, and I'm just writing based on impulse and whatever it is that comes to mind. But come to think of it, nothing's brewing in the old noggin'.

What about now...

Haha, "What about now" is actually a song by Daughtry and i kinda like that song. Speaking of songs, just listened to Jann Ardens "Insensitive", and right now, Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car" is playing.

***Fast Car: Tracy Chapman***

I remember we were driving driving in your car The speed so fast I felt like I was drunk
City lights lay out before us
And your arm felt nice wrapped round my shoulder
And I had a feeling that I belonged
And I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone

How the hell did that get on my phone? Haha... Maybe just wanted to fill up the memory stick. Yeah, I always wondered if Tracy Chapman was a man or a woman, who cares, she's got a great voice. And she got nominated (or won, I can't really remember) for a Grammy, for "Give me one Reason", which is another awesome song from yours truly.

~~~~the damn rain~~~~

It's raining again. I like the rain. It's comforting, and you can't really predict what it'll bring. The last time it rained, it brought a lot of mud to the city. *teehee* I know this is not a laughing matter, but when you think of it. Everything that comes our way is a double-edged sword. It can bring both good and bad things to people.

Take the rain for example; it’s a symbol uncertainty to most of us. To me at least.

***Stitches and Burns: Fra Lippo Lippi***

Time after time, nothing that I can do
Knowing your ways and loving your ways
But not getting through at all
Day after day, leaving the past behind
Coming to terms with stitches and burns and
Learning to fly again

What comes to mind when it rains? It always bothers me. It sends some kind of signal that something good is about to come. But then again, like tears, it also welcomes the advent of something not necessarily bad but unhappy (I hope I got that right; and sorry for the analogy).

***Wishful Thinking: Duncan Sheik***

And I try to realize
That I needn't look any further
the whole of the universe is plain to see
And I try not to rely
On another world or the future
The whole of the universe is a mystery

We have all experienced different things, at least I have, in or out of the rain (hmm, sheltered guys, sheltered).

Fell in love.
Fell out of love.
Hugged.

Shared an umbrella.
Got angry.

Cried (stupid me!).
Laughed and had fun.
Ran across the street.
Played in the football field.
Threw waterbombs. (kinda redundant eh?)
Lost someone.

Effin' rain. Hehe. But then again, when it all comes down to it, the rain has always been there during those times. At least, in times when I needed someone, the rain was there. You might say that I'm such a loser for being thankful but having only the rain. But lemme say this, there are times when we need not to be around someone, that the last thing we need is human interaction. And the best company is the rain, coz yeah, the song may go "rain rain go away" but in reality, you can't make it go away. The rain may temporarily stop in plain sight, but in another part of the world, it's raining; that in another place and time, someone is standing alone in the rain, with invisible tears and smiles. All thanks to the rain.

***Runaway Train: Soul Asylum***

Can you help me remember how to smile Make it somehow all seem worthwhile How on earth did I get so jaded? Life’s mysteries seems so faded

I know, again, I may have seem to be devoid of emotions when I was born, but that's the way that I handle things. I'd rather be alone than to share everything with someone. I don’t know why that is but that's the way my life is right now.

I just haven't found something, someone that would change all of that yet.

***When She Cries: Restless Hearts***

She’s always been there for me
Whenever I’ve fallen
When nobody else believed
She’d be there by my side

Ever wondered if everything is worth it? It’s like this, you believe that you can deal with any sort of emotion, but when the influx of emotion comes flooding in, You just stand there. Just when you thought you could do without everything else, you begin to eat your words and break down. Well, it’s all SITUATIONAL and none of this really happened. Or maybe not all of it. Partly at least.

***Somewhere Only We Know: Keane***

I came across a fallen tree
I felt the branches of it looking at me
Is this the place we used to love?
Is this the place that I've been dreaming of?

And then it hit me, I’m a damn EMO. Haha. But that’s the way that I am. I also tend to be melancholic, not that I try to be. I don’t know. But is that a bad thing? I like being sad. At least it’s an emotion right? So I’m not totally numb to emotions then. Great!

The rain stopped. Just a few more trickles.

At time like these, I just want to lie down and listen to music. And that’s partly what I’m doing right now.

***Someone: The Rembrandts***

We've been together now for such a long time
Through every trial we'd ever care to go
When I look back I almost can't believe it
We're not the same people that we used to know

It’s starting to rain again (damn, I really must have a lot of time on my hands). And all the songs playing even agree with how I feel right now…

There are these things which we don’t like. Mine is expecting, and making someone else expect. I mean, I wouldn’t want to be in the receiving end of the two I mentioned a while ago. None of us want to expect too much, it’s hard to expect, and it’s even harder to make someone expect. I’d rather be told up front than to be misled by empty words and actions. I mean, there is nothing wrong with that right? Another problem, I tend to be stoic when it comes to someone else’s emotions. Don't you? It's hard to assume and and it's hard to be stoic. The answer this, do you assume or do you just let it be?

Going back to expectations, If you don’t want to, then fine by me. I’d rather deal with it now than to bear the cross and find out later on. You do know what I mean right? It's not like I'm trying to convince anyone. It's just that nobody wants to feel like crap at the end of each day. Just wanted to say it.

Better end it here… I don’t want to get into the details.

~Ciao!

JPIA Poster

2008-09-16T15:25:00.004+08:00

OK...

Just to cap off the senti mode from college thing, I found a billing that I made for the UPV-JPIA, Inc. Acquaintance Party. The last I attended as an accountancy graduate. Hehe...

Sorry for the crappy scan, I wish the scanned could've been bigger.

But this is how it looked like basically...

This was the first time that we had a THEME Party, and yes, the theme was Harry Potter, just to welcome the Freshmen... Or was this made for the Conclusion of the Scions' Cup??? Dammit, I forgot...

This could be the last(????)

~Ciao!