Wednesday, August 30, 2006

birds. in heaven.

last saturday, i tagged along a couple of pinoy photographers i met in a forum on a photoshoot in a wildlife sanctuary a few clicks outside Orlando. we've been planning this mini-get-together for sometime now, but for some reason, it kept on getting cancelled.

but not last saturday. with entirely everything of my photography equipment in tow (my camera, two lenses and a tripod, that is), the struggle to get a good shot was a consolation. i know of the hundred i took, a few came out good. less post-processing except for the usual dodge and burn thing, i could say that i've taken some passable shots.

a sample pic of a tri-colored heron (or whatever; guess i'd still have to consult with a bird expert here):



the whole gallery can be viewed by clicking here.

* * * * * * * * * *

a minute sad anecdote, though:

my lola died Sunday night in Manila. she was 85. i was one of her favorite apo, and i couldn't be there for her wake. she will be laid to rest on Saturday, September 2.

it's ironic that she died on my mom's birthday.

latest musing of Etchie at 15:42 0 comments

Thursday, August 24, 2006

sober

Sideways made me believe that i am still capable of mush.

and i appreciate and welcome the thought [contrary to a previous post].

fifth time i've seen the fucking movie, never fails to impress. the writing. and the jazz score. and paul giamatti.

and the ending. ambiguous it may seem, but it has hope.

first time i saw it, has pinot noirs written all over. there is difficulty in the beginning. the cultivation falls short. an acquaintance flops the film. his inclination to put Blade 3 into a must-see list elevated the desire. but i'd rather wait.

hbo was bomb. not until they decide to rerun movies on a constant basis that we decide that we'll have to cancel the subscription. but yeah. thank God, anyhow.




...


and, oh. i still haven't seen Blade 3.

latest musing of Etchie at 00:51 1 comments

Monday, August 21, 2006

dinner. mints. and a blog.

damn. i'm on a streak.

this is the first time in the history of my blogdom that i managed to scrimp three entries in a single day. the fourth one is forthcoming, well, up until i decide not to post this one...

anyway. finished dinner while waiting for sas, the kids and the mom-in-law to arrive. actually, it was lunch. i didn't eat this afternoon while lounging at the office [i might say that i was busy---but i think nobody would believe me]. sas brought me a tumbler-size serving of wonton soup and a large styrofoam heap of steamed rice she bought at a vietnamese resto. however, i made a point of grabbing something to munch on before i left for work this morning, and the willing victim of my gastronomical impulses turned out to be a philly-cheese steak hot pocket sandwich, granola bar and dr. pepper. to sum it up, i expected the sugar fix would be more than enough....

...enough to put me on a writing mode that i, myself, could not believe i was capable of doing. hehe. now, the streak is filling the mileage even the most fuel-efficient sedan wouldn't dare.

* * * * * * * * * *

i started on a friendster blog that most bloggers hate to admit that it sucks.

i do. and yes, it sucks alright. that's why i merely put a link that direct would-be voyeurs to this blog instead. yeah. the faux blog does exist and it's right there smack inside that bloody friendster site.

i won't be doing much updates on that journal. cross-blogging isn't what i'm ruminating right now. besides, No Smoking Joint would continue to puff and huff as long as i'm capable of plunking the keyboard.

* * * * * * * * * *

thank God for dinner mints.

it's the toothpick for dypepsia.

latest musing of Etchie at 18:35 0 comments

mush II

speaking of mush.

this is what i'm currently listening to right now.



it's about time - kenny loggins

mushy it may seem, but doesn't matter. in some way, i could relate to some of the words of his songs.

for an appropriate introduction, his Leap of Faith CD is a good start.




(dang. something's wrong with the photoblogger button. can't upload the frigging pic of the cd. i might try again later)

* edited post * there you go. hehe.

latest musing of Etchie at 14:37 0 comments

mush

i've realized (and noticed) that most (yes, most, not all blogs, if you tell me---there's something strange about the mushy thing, i guess) blogs i accidentally stumbled upon consist of anything but a whole truckload of mush.

yes. you heard me. mush.

something for the sappy and the romantic. probably an attempt to fish out someone who shares the same sentiments as the creator of the blog. no, don't get me wrong. i carry no grudges against them who write as if their whole world would collapse on the weight of being single and searching. i once was [single and writing about it but i didn't have to tell the whole world how unfortunate i was].

likewise, mushy entries are, in my case, relegated to a private journal away from the prying eyes of voyeurs like me [though, i don't get a boner simply by jerking off on someone's sappy entries]. yeah, censorship should be followed. bear in mind that blogs are for public consumption, and people like me (and probably those listed on my link [and on the links of their links]) would get the utmost high on having our visceral senses ogle on your literary masturbations.

latest musing of Etchie at 14:16 0 comments

what the * bleep *?

yey. a post a week.

somehow there's an improvement. besides, there's nothing much to write. the series of vignettes i was thinking lately had gradually disintegrated along with a planned short story about the manila earthquake of 1968. yep. limited research resources perpetuated the decline [googled twice, but ended up with two unhelpful links---except for a washed-out photograph of the collapsed structure].

(if someone could point out to me the exact location of the ruby tower, and, if i may prod, the events thereafter, i could very well start putting the pen into it. hehe. tough luck, i know).

anyway, the eventual fall of my babbling could be a result of the result of my inability to preclude myself from spilling out details. in other words, i'm beginning to exercise one would call personal censorship. it's not that the state is after me or something, nor my posts could generate an uproar---though sometimes i'd like to see argumentative responses---it stimulate brain cells, trust me. or some crazy phallus-centric moron would inadvertently (and premeditatedly) eradicate what i've written just because he wanted to [he'd probably say the entire blog is hogwash and only sensible entries are allowed, to which i'd agree with him wholeheartedly], i don't fucking care.

i'll stop. i've written much. well, whaddyaknow? i almost filled up a whole bloody page, eh? my apologies. caffeine had gotten the rest of me.

i'll stop. i still have work to do.

latest musing of Etchie at 10:50 4 comments

Monday, August 14, 2006

if Poe had too much coffee...

...he'd be like me.

unable to write. mind's a mishmash of disorganized ideas. bulbs that went kaput all of a sudden. plugs corroded with the cerebral rust. blank as an empty Word document.

Poe should thank God he's six feet underground. if not, he'll be hurling out invectives on a trapshoot.


**********

anyway, yesterday was Sas' birthday. yep. she's one year, eleven months and six days older than me. probably why her assertiveness stretches out miles than I expected. hehe. we're both Leos. and that's also one reason why we get along. two carnivores battling out who should be the ruler of the pack.

hehe. i know. i give way most of the time.


**********

six more hours and i'll be off to work.

sometimes it made me think that my job is one thing that keeps me occupied and financially-relieved. confucius once said that if you love your job, you won't have to work a single day in your life.

... but i'm working my ass off.

latest musing of Etchie at 01:35 0 comments

Sunday, August 06, 2006

twenty-seven

i'm twenty-seven.

a year older. and my birthday's coming to a close in 3 hours. and that means, i'll be assuming i'm twenty-eight starting at midnight. three hundred sixty-five days and counting. twelve months and three hours.

and i don't exactly know if my growth is for the better or worse. maybe in forty more years, i'll get to answer that question. yup, they say that you'll see your whole life in front of you when death is knocking on the door. in that case, i'll probably be prepared to say if my life was worth going all the trouble. hehe.

besides, the evidence is clear enough. i have a family- - -a loving wife and two beautiful daughters. that huge chunk of my existence is sufficient to say that i'm on the right track.

i'll stop ranting (um, was i ranting? well, sometimes i think i am, perhaps because i've been a lot of hell recently and trying to post something in this blog had turned to be one exhausting endeavor).

it's my birthday. i should be happy. and, yes, i am.

latest musing of Etchie at 20:15 4 comments

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