Me Want: Photo Gears

I am a noob photographer. I love taking pictures using Bonus, my friend's DSLR. I always bring Bonus with me because I make it a point to capture every moment. However, no matter how good (I assume) my shots are, photo sharing can only be done once I muster the diligence needed to upload them. Unfortunately, I am not as diligent as I would like to think I am. 

I was browsing through some photo gears this afternoon while trying to kill time (literally, ehe)What captured my interest at first was this Look Lock Item. You can attach an IPhone using this sturdy articulating aluminum arm. What's the sense of having Look Lock?

• Instead of always peeking-a-boo, you can play videos to make the kids smile without looking funny or horrible to the people around. Haha. 
• You can record a time-lapse of a photo shoot.
• You can turn on the camera to let the models see themselves while having the shoot.
• Put lyrics of a song which is very helpful in doing a cover of a song.
• You can also run a teleprompter while having a video shoot.

See, Look Lock is indeed very useful for every capturing moment.

But what really hooked me while browsing the site is this item called Eye- Fi. Eye- Fi is an 8GB, orange SD card which can also be used as a wireless uploader. You can now upload your photos and videos using your dSLR and this wi-fi SD card.

Eye- Fi is an SD card and Wi-Fi in one. Amazing noh?

Wireless Phone? Check! Wireless Laptop? Check! Wireless Camera? CHECK! 

How it works?

• Set up the card with the included USB card reader.
• Choose what photos will be uploaded.
• Specify the photo uploader you will use.

And voila! Once you have your photos taken, upload is just done in an instant through this very techie SD card/ Wi-Fi detector. Magical isn't it? 

How to purchase these two Cam- gears? Visit PhotoJojo Site. Happy shooting and sharing! ^_^

Song of the Sentimodes

I love you with a fire

Ablazing till times end

But what good is a heart

When it shudders to speak.

I guess it's too late now.

- Wanted to be near you but somebody owns you now. 

Step One: ADMIT

Some days are ordinary. It's normal. But when most of the days become ordinary, something is wrong.

It's when you will wake up (God- willing) and you have to do something just because it is already part of your system. But deep inside, you feel empty. You are not enthusiastic about everything. You just want the day to end well but in reality, you know it will not be well simply because you are not well. Not because you are physically sick but you are emotionally sick and tired--- of doing the same things over and over.

I have a normal full-time job in an exciting environment (I suppose.). This job had been my dream job when I was young. I remember when I was in my childhood days, I used to play "teacher-teacheran" with my friends. I played the role of the teacher most of the time. I enjoyed teaching my playmates of lessons I knew they were taking up in their school. Because of this, I believe that I want to become a real teacher someday. And finally, I am now a professional teacher. So what's wrong with that?

I have been teaching for almost 2 years. During my first semester, I always came to school with zest. Ganado lagi. I didn't allow myself to enter the classroom without preparation. I always think of activities which will not bore my students, and me, too. I provided them with handouts which are self-made. I even gave them supplementary materials to help them better understand the lesson. That was before.

When something is new, we become excited and that's normal. But all new get old eventually. 

I don't complain seriously. I actually feel blessed because God has been with me in dreaming and in making my dreams come true. It's just that I don't feel that thing other people say about their careers like they are “living the dream”, “being at home”, “following their hearts”, “loving their jobs”, “not working because they love what they do” and so on. I think that thing is called passion and I think I don’t have it ANYMORE.

I'd like to think I am enjoying what is happening at the moment. Yes, I've got a good career, a loving family, a very supportive and wacky set of friends and an all-in-one boyfriend. However a void remains. I don’t feel any passion for anything in particular. I know that it isn’t something you feel all times but you certainly feel it sometimes. I've read it feels like a runner’s high. I’ve read that the time literally stops- that everything becomes a blur because of the attention one gives to something he/she is passionate about. Sir Ken Robinson, an educationalist, calls it being in “the zone” and finding your “element”. I wish I could feel that.

I started to think I may never find it and it makes me feel blah. I’m not depressed but I feel disappointed finding a new deception in my life, like when I found out Santa and Prince Charming only lived in my expectations. It feels like passion is yet another myth and if it turns out to be a myth it would be the cruelest one.

I don’t want to give up on hope about this one though. Steve Jobs said that one should keep looking for it. And I must admit it’s becoming the last piece of hope I’m grabbing to about giving life a meaning or at least fighting for a meaningful job.

As for now, I feel this is just the first step toward renewal of passion- by admitting that you are passionless. Whatever next step I'm going to take is I don't know and am not sure of yet. But I am confident that I have a very bright future ahead of me for God says in His Word: I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out - plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. I'll rest on that wonderful promise hoping that someday, passion is waiting for me to grab it. 

Ego turned Super Ego

your lips leaving kisses

trailing a path down my spine

your hands glide over every inch

as if searching unexplored territory

you press your mouth to my ear

your breath feels warm and moist

as words are whispered

laughter is shared and covers thrown

as the sun’s sweet rays illuminate the room

fingernails digging into each other’s skin

legs like passions intertwine

eyes so playful locked on mine

overcome with such warmth

such loving desire

and there is laughter

between passion

our eyes never shut

we pay no mind to the light

ending in such sweet embrace

a high unachievable by any drug

gently brushing my hair out of my face

your fingers linger as you gently kiss

my lips, my heart, my soul are yours

and as the sun’s rays trace every curve

your fingers follow as if walking the earth

the world takes on a new light

as we live our love, intertwined.

Self Inflicted Pain

I remember there was a time

you were my SUNDAY AFTERNOON

a breezy bike ride in central park

a sun drenched picnic in may

you were my FAVORITE BOOK

the song that I sang in my sleep

that comfy old hoodie

you adored but let me keep

but our world became cold

and you pushed yourself away

I lost a little piece of you

with every passing day

but you were a WILDFIRE

never to be tamed

I was a fragile sapling

that would never be the same

now you're in the silence

every empty glass of whiskey

and I replay that drunk voicemail

when you said that you missed me

but time heals all wounds

      ones that burn

      ones that bleed

and this lonely scar

is exactly what i need

Sweets for the Sweet

The day of flowers and chocolates is approaching. It has been a tradition that for the V-day, one must give sweets to keep the sweetness of the hearts' day. Guys invest for this much awaited event and they think of unique ways on how to give these saccharine stuff. 

Imported chocolates, I think, are overrated, most especially Ferrero Rocher, Kisses, Cadbury and M&Ms. Good thing, we have local brands which are way cheaper than the imported ones. And with that, here is my list of favorite Pinoy sweets:

1. Cloud 9 

This small bar of caramel, chewy nougat, and peanuts wrapped in thin chocolate is surely a hit when you want to spend less without compromising the sweetness of how a chocolate should be. Cloud 9 comes in different flavors which all deserve an A rating. You can buy solo of these in any convenient store for only 7-10php. (even in Aling Nena's tindahan actually, ehe.)

2. Flat Tops

These small circular chocolates wrapped in silver and orange foil is a familiar taste for everyone. Flat tops are often sold for only P1.00 per piece in the nearest sari-sari stores. However, you can also buy these in packs which don't cost much (P34 for a pack of 30pcs.) Soft when bitten into, chewed or left to melt inside one's mouth, Flat Tops are creamy with a faint milk chocolate flavor. Its sweetness borders on the less saccharine side of the spectrum, a probable reason why it takes little effort to finish off a pack. 

3. Big Bang

Big Bang's three layers of delectable goodness which include rich milk chocolate with chewy nougat and crunchy rice crispies can satisfy your sweet cravings. True to its product name, Big Bang is a truly a blast with every bite you make. You can enjoy this exploding sweets for only P10. 

4. Choco Mallows

This fluffy yet chocolatey biscuit is one of the favorite field trip baons ever since. What makes it fluffy is its marshmallow inside (product name says it) covered with layers of chocolate. The biscuit under the soft/sweet mallow gives variety to the texture of Choco Mallows. It is now available in snack pack for only P16. 

5. Chooey Choco

Chooey Choco has been true to its name because undoubtedly, it is very chewy. It would take you time to finish a bar of this since this sweet is nougat-like and its butterscotch caramel inside are really sticky to the teeth. It's a plus factor because it only shows that every sweet and chewy part of this chocolate is willing to be tasted by your buds. For only a peso, you'll surely have fun chewing Chooey Choco. 

6. Hany

Hany has been one of my favorite "pantawid gutom" ever since. This chocolate/peanut butter bar has the taste of the perfect sweetness- not to sweet yet not too tasteless. With regard its texture, it's not messy to eat since Hany is moist and compact. Its price? yep, this is very affordable. A peso for every piece and 24-30php for every pack of 24. What I love about this are the memories it brings back everytime I eat Hany.wehehe. 

7. Choc-Nut

As you peel off its red pinstripped wrapper, Choc- Nut almost always crumnles. The fragile milk chocolate confection has a subtly grainy texture and has a delightful nutty taste. It is cocoa powder, milk powder, ground roasted peanuts and sugar mixed and molded into thumb-sized, ridged candy bars.  Not as sophisticated as imported chocolate candies, this humble ‘choco’ like candy is much loved by most Filipinos. Choc-nut's taste does not change as years and decades go by-- another good thing? its price, too, remains the same. 

So there. Being sweet doesn't have to be costly and Americanized. Just let the Pinoy blood rush into your heart. Have a sweet chocolatey-filled Valentines' Day every one (with a sweet tooth)! ^_^