Christmas Wish: FOUND

In general, I limit my love for techie stuff to photography-related items. I desire the coolest laptops just because I want to have the perfect storage and post-processing medium for my photos.

I’ve never owned a Gameboy, a Nintendo DS, a PSP. Neither do I have an iPod.

But now, I do believe I have finally met my match in all things gadgetry. And it isn’t related in any way to photography.

Meet my Heart’s Desire:

Hello, Love. I've been waiting for you all my life.

This is the Nook eBook Reader. A portable eBook Reader. It can hold up to 2GB worth of eBooks, which is, around 1,500 eBooks.

IMAGINE HOW MUCH BOOKS I CAN READ WITH THAT AMOUNT OF MEMORY SPACE.

I am hyperventilating. Somebody please calm me down. You see, aside from that ginormous amount of memory space, the battery can last up to TEN DAYS without recharging. Oh, it’s also WIFI ready, so you can instantly download eBooks from anywhere. O_0 I swear. Someone please get this gadget over here pronto!

Anyway, here’s the link to the product, in case none of you understood my exhilarated gushing.

I think it’s an exclusive Barnes and Nobles product. That lessens the possibility that it will ever be sold here. =( Oh well, if not, maybe I’ll just hope for a Kindle.

Again, from Mr. Gaiman

“Let us begin this letter, this prelude to an encounter, formally, as a declaration, in the old-fashioned way: I love you. You do not know me (although you have seen me, smiled at me). I know you (although not so well as I would like. I want to be there when your eyes flutter open in the morning, and you see me, and you smile. Surely this would be paradise enough?). So I do declare myself to you now, with pen set to paper. I declare it again: I love you.”

Photo and edits by me
Nikon D40x, 18-55 mm

Puppy Talk

AHOY! Puppies again!
Litol Obi’s babies are hereeeee!

They’re black, tiny and oh-so-sweet. <3

Oh, hello! Can you handle my puppy-doggie-blink-blink-stare?

Yes? Can I help you? *U*

So suweeeeeet!

HEEHEEHEE Call me curlytops *-*

Uncle Brownie (the most issues-filled dog in the world), chillin' at the Pet Penitentiary. HAHAHA

My name is George, and I mingle with the dawgs.

Heartbreak from Typhoon Ondoy

I didn’t think it would be this bad. I didn’t think it would happen. Not to us. Those things are seen only in newspapers, in the news. Not to us. We’ve had rough storms before, but it wasn’t so bad, we would be okay. It wouldn’t be so bad. Not to us.

But it did.

It was like watching a train wreck. We watched, in horror, as the flood waters rose. We had already put up some of our stuff, emptied the lower drawers and cupboards, but it still continued to rise — past our shins, past our knees. Our container of medicines and vitamins toppled over, the water threatened to flood the television set, already perched on a much higher table. Our couch, already on top of two chairs, suddenly gave and floated away. We were on the verge of hysteria. The dirty waters were ruining everything my parents worked hard for.

Outside, in our garage, were our cars. We didn’t know where to put them. The waters rose, and rose and rose. Until we looked inside, and the interior was flooded. Everything inside the car was floating in the murky, muddy waters. Our hearts broke. Not the cars. All the others, we could wash, we could leave under the sun to dry, BUT NOT THE CARS. =(

But it happened. Such damage. When the waters subsided, our cabinets were warped, the wood softened by being soaked for two days. The cars are ruined. Outside, it was a wasteland. We were devastated.

But then we saw the news. People were dying. People were stranded on rooftops. And then we realized, we were one of the lucky ones. It is painful to see your belongings ruined so helplessly by the flood, but even more painful to see those in need on TV.

We are the lucky ones. We are alive. We have the means to get back up and move on with life.

And so we will. We will be grateful. And we will give back. I never fail to thank the Lord for sparing us, for sparing Sharkboy’s family who live so near the area of devastation.

So, as a sign of gratitude, I am paying it forward. I am spreading links, ways to help out. There are hundreds of us who were spared. It is time to help out and act like a true Filipino. This is our heritage.

Here are some links, where we can find ways to help out:

Very detailed list of venues, ways to help from blogger Bianca Gonzales

Philippine National Red Cross (you can even send a simple SMS to donate cash! so easy to help)

Tulong, tulong tayo, Pilipinas.
God help us all. God bless us all.

Letters Left Unsent

I used to write quite faithfully to my diary. By ‘write’ I mean literally write long-hand, using a pen, on paper, with no abbreviated words whatsoever.

Today at work, my trusty laptop broke down. No Internet, nothing to keep me occupied. So I cleaned my desk drawers. Underneath a pile of JO’s and Signed CE’s, I found my old diary from the years 2003-2006.  I was so entranced by all my drama during that time, I was such a hopeless, hopeless romantic. 

I particularly had this thing of writing letters I’d never send. I’d just spill my heart out to that person, randomly writing, being mushy and gooey and so hopelessly lovelorn. Looking back, it’s amusing, but at that time, I  really meant every word I wrote.

Here’s one example:

Dear Science Classmate,

You make the 3-hour periods worth it. Even the surprise quizzes and the long boring lectures. Seeing a glimpse of your sweet smile makes up for it. You will always be that boy who stole my heart right from the start.

AWESOME. Lovesick, sappy and utterly hopeless. Hahahaha

Well, I never had the guts to approach this boy, much less give him the letter. But it’s all good. Somehow, it’s fun looking back and having that fairy-tale boy you adored, untarnished by the realities of life. I guess, in my mind, that boy, whereever he is now, will remain that boy who made 3 hours of Science class so worth it.

So, whether you’ll read this or not, thank you, dear boy. You make reminiscing my “youth” so much sweeter.

And even if we’re both happy with our respective lives (I’m sure you are, you’re that sort of person), I’m still glad that when I press “publish”, this unsent letter will be unsent no more.

Just FLY

- words from the great Neil Gaiman
- photo and edits are mine <3

MOAR MUSH ATTACKS FOUND HERE.

Remember When?

Who would have thought that yellow blossoms would get my mind back on track? A sleepless night, endless thoughts, Tori Amos on my speakers — none of them worked. Only a short text message. No frills, brief, recounting a random memory, a lovely moment.

He caught that cherished moment on camera. I was giggling that time. We were walking hand in hand, carefree. I picked up a yellow bloom that matched my top so perfectly. He couldn’t resist. He took his camera, and clicked.

Remember?

He remembered for me.

Flashes of yellow blossoms. A giddy joy at spending the afternoon together. Our Love Walks.

He remembered for me. We’ve come full circle.

I’m back, sweetie.

I’m getting too mushy for my own good.

“Love isn’t about the romantic nights or gifts. It isn’t about fireworks going off around you when you have that first, real, kiss. Love isn’t about kissing in the rain and dancing beneath the stars. It isn’t about the big moments or the big surprises. Love is not a fairytale. Love is about still having the butterflies after years. It’s about the second looks and laying in bed wide awake, all night, because you can’t go to sleep mad at each other. It’s about being willing to sacrifice, literally, everything for someone, just because you care so deeply for them. It’s not about buying them gifts, but it’s about leaving them little presents here and there, just to remind them that you are constantly thinking about them. Love is about all of the little things, that add up to really big things. Love is rare and special, but should not be treated as if it will break. Love needs to be thrown around and beat up a little bit, worn in, but not worn down. Love needs to be a comfortable feeling, a place to go when NO ONE else in the world can relate. A safe place, where you know that no matter how ugly you look or how angry you are, you will still be… loved.”

— Unknown

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Just lovely. <3

This book is LOVE. <3

“Felicity” shaped my teen years

The dialogue below is one of my absolute favorites. SERIOUSLY. I get so kilig everytime Ben and Felicity get together. <3 I LOVE. And Ben Covington? SWOOOOON.

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Meghan: This is how I know Felicity still likes you. You ready?

Ben Covington: Yeah. Wha… what is it?

Meghan: Sarah McLachlan.

Ben Covington: What?

Meghan: When Felicity showed up last year, head over heels for you, Sarah McLachlan was all she listened to. If “Fumbling Towards Ecstasy” wasn’t in the CD player, it was only so “Solace” could get a little airplay. I started calling it ‘Ben music’… not to her face but behind her back. But then it went away, and I thought Sarah was gone for good. I almost started celebrating. And then you showed up again. You offered Felicity this cross-country trip of a lifetime, which means I got to memorize every lyric from “Surfacing”… all 10 songs! This year started off McLachlan-heavy, until the big break-up, and then all of Felicity’s hair went away, and so did Sarah. Until you guys broke into the pool. Now maybe it was a coincidence, but guess who started to make a comeback? It was gradual, but constant, and now if you want me to, I can sing any song from “Mirrorball” which really annoys the hell out of me! So if you’re ever curious about whether Felicity has the hots for you, just check her boom box.

Ben Covington: That’s the dumbest theory I’ve ever heard.