live fire part 2

Headed back to MCS for another round of real guns. More photos posted on my flickr gallery (click on photo to view).

squeeze, originally uploaded by socs.

pisay homecoming

pisay berde, originally uploaded by socs.

a handful of long overdue photos from Pisay's Homecoming held last September 6.

Quezon City Circle

It was a Saturday, my chores were all done and I didn't want to waste a perfectly good late afternoon, so I decided to hop on to a jeep with my camera to take photos at the nearest place I could think of.

Sometimes all a girl needs is a walk in the park.

grill, originally uploaded by socs.

counting up: days 30 til 37

I missed several days, I know. But its all because progress has been taking place.

On day 33, document 1 arrived, but I was not here to receive it. It had to wait for me until day 34. On day 35, I've set the submission date for document 2 requirements for day 36.

So day 37 is actually day 1 of waiting for document 2.

accessory to a crime

To regular folks, a "despedida" party would consist of food, drinks, going-away presents and the company of friends. But, if you throw in my boyfriend and his "war" friends and you've got yourself a despedida turned into a scheme worthy of crime TV.

The objective was to acquire and subdue the target and deliver him in one piece (preferably, I think) to the venue. All sorts of plans have been hatched, including staging a looting of his house, grabbing him off the street in the middle of a routine jog and utilizing any means -- physically or chemically --- to subdue him. The idea was that he'd be out somehow someway, allowing transport to the venue. In the end, the final plan involved a note, a briefcase, radio, rubik's cube, chocolate bar, bottle of water, LED light,calculator and the trunk of a car. His car.

I won't go into detail as this is their story to tell. I will say that I had orignally planned to just be a witness, I never thought I'd end up participating.

counting up: day 28 and 29

I'm starting to get bored with seeing "counting up" on every single blog entry. But hey, I started it, I have to stick with it.

So...I still havent received the papers I need to proceed. And like all the other times when I receive some significant update on the process, I am both scared and excited by the news. The day draws nearer and nearer..and I feel so much more unprepared each time.

like christmas

I was informed today that I should expect another gift from a friend...I already know what the gift is, I just have to wait a bit until I can use it...and its something that will come in very handy to what Allan already gave me.

Wow. All these gifts are overwhelming...everything I've received so far are things that I really really really want. Thank you!! :)

counting up: day 27

Document 1 is released today. It will soon be in transit and then I can proceed to acquiring Document 2.

I'm also trying to determine if I need Document 3, no thanks to those who should know these things.

At this rate, I'll probably count up to day 60.

counting up: day 26

I found an old entry of lists of places I wanted to go / things I wanted to do. This was written more than a year ago and I was delightfully surprised that I can now cross out 6 items on that list. So, here's the updated list:

BATANES!
sagada / banawe
palawan
wallclimbing
dive(sort of)
driving school
camsur
donsol
cambodia
egypt
greece
london
bumalik sa paris
mag shopping to the max (budget budget budget!)
corregidor
mt. pinatubo
taal volcano

counting up: days 23 til 25

Day 23 was actually my 30th birthday.
Contrary to what I had envisioned last year, I did not plan for any party. I originally wanted to celebrate moving out of my 20s and into my 30s with something more memorable than just spending the day at work like any normal day. In the end, I didn't think it was sensible to spend for it, so I skipped work that day and decided that I would watch WALL-E (which I haven't seen yet) with Allan. Nothing extraordinary right? Until I found out what he got me for my birthday.

To those who sent me messages via YM, text, email, friendster/facebook/multiply comments....Thank you! I apologize for not responding...I was in shock the entire day (a good sort of shock, of course) I couldn't concentrate on responding :)

The rest of the weekend was spent like any other weekend. At home, taking care of the kids. Tried a bit of their Guitar Hero the one time it cooperated and worked. I suck there, big time.

On Sunday, we went back to MCS for live fire again...while I wont say that I suck there as well, I have little improvement from the last time. I want to be better at it, but at the same time, I'm feeling a little disappointed in myself. I thought I'd be a fast learner with guns, that all. I don't know where I got that idea, but I had hoped it was true.

milestone

Be forewarned: Long entry ahead...

Many moons ago, I picked up the old film SLR I didnt realize we had at home and started shooting with friends. Eventually, an SLR was on the list of my “Things to bring to work on a daily basis”, along with my wallet, cellphone and kikay kit.

When people I met in photography forums started talking about digital photography, I dreamed of owning my own DSLR someday. In the meantime, I concentrated on Aperture, Shutter and Composition. I never felt that I would go into Photography as a career primarily because unlike those around me, I never felt that the talent came naturally. It was something that I had to work hard on in order to achieve results. I argued that I was already working hard on programming skills for my day job, I think getting into another profession where I have to exert a lot of effort on 24/7 would drive me crazy. One at a time only please, one at a time.

So photography was the fun, creative learning part, whereas work was the more serious, learning part. Doing both eventually proved beneficial, as I finally bought my very own digital SLR, Buddy in 2004.

And then I started to really get older. By that I mean, I started getting more responsibilities at home. So Buddy never got any new playmates, save for a basic flash and a 28-105 lens, both secondhand. Ultra-wides were top of my “want” list, but I just couldnt get them...so again, I concentrated on taking my kit 300D and secondhand gear to wherever work took me and took as many photos as I can, however I can, the best that I can.

While all of this was happening, entry-level digital SLRs started popping out left and right, and I feared that Buddy would eventually go obsolete. I made the decision to sell Buddy, partly because I needed the finances, partly because I wanted to make sure that he still had value when I sell him and partly because I wanted to do something drastic to force me to upgrade. So Buddy went along with the kit lens and flash. And since then, I’ve never owned a camera.

Up until my 30^th birthday.

Its the single most expensive gift anyone (parents excluded) has ever given me. That, plus the fact that it IS the single most relevant gift that anyone can ever give me. I’ve never been able to replace Buddy because of so many reasons, yet I’ve always, always, always wanted to get myself a new DSLR. For the longest time, I would go to places and attend events and I would always feel that one thing was missing....my DSLR. In the year and a half without a camera, I fear I’ve lost the little talent I’ve worked so hard to acquire and I’ve always been fearful at the back of my mind that I no longer have a creative and fun bone in my body. Photography was my fun, creative, adventurous side. Without a camera, I am just your plain working girl. 9-to-5-or-so job on weekdays (and usually beyond) and Tita-turned-mommy-turned-household-help on weekends.

Now that I have this still unnamed new toy in my life, I can start re-learning photography again, I have reason to start exploring places that can be captured in photos, and I can re-learn how to see things differently again. I'd be starting from scratch, but I dont really mind. At least I'm starting from somewhere.

Thank you. You've turned my birthday into the milestone it really should be. With every photo I take, I will always be reminded of how much thought (and cash!) you've put into getting me this gift.

counting up: days 17 to 22

happy thoughts:

taking Ally to the salon to have her haircut. she's been asking me to take her for weeks now, but I was away for a while and couldn't. if she had access to my calendar, she would've marked september 7 in big bold red letters. but she didnt have to, I took her last sunday. so now she has her bangs and she looks nice with them.

IDOL fever!! it was a great event, a live gig..something I havent been to in...years! (I think). at the same time though, its a bit sad that he's leaving the group. just in time though, I have the signed CD I promised carl haha! oh and we may be neighbors in the future too. to my fellow groupies, eat your heart out hahaha!

the happiest thought of them all so far: a decision has been made. i hope its the best choice...i do know that its best for us both :)