Today, I was asked to write on a letter-sized piece of paper with a black sharpie my answer to the question,
"What inspires you?"
The person [the director of innovation marketing] asking this question is going to compile everyone's answers paired with each individual's portrait to create an in-house book, which will then be given out to each person in our department as a gift for the new year. I thought it was a nice, thoughtful gesture + loved the idea of being a part of it.
We were told not to think too hard on our responses as they want it to be spontaneous + real. So, I just wrote the first thing that came to my mind. I didn't have much time to reword it, so it's not my best writing, but it works. And so it goes...
My past mistakes are my greatest inspiration. Each time I'm reminded of them it drives me to do even better than before. There is nothing more inspiring than knowing you have a second chance at something.
A few things I learned + reaffirmed within me this morning...
These are notes for me to think about + remember, but if you'd like to read them, too, feel free.
• Being anxious is painful. Pain tells us that something is not right. • Anxiety is a gift from God. • Don't be anxious in anything, but in everything, by prayer + petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. —Philippians 4:6-8 • Prayer is an ongoing conversation with God. • Declutter your spirit of the silent things piling up inside through prayer. • Prayer recalibrates us spiritually.
My old workmate + good friend, Mike, had asked me to photograph his wedding + I was very honoured to do so. I invited my one + only brother along all the way from Miami to partner up with me + shoot the wedding. It always helps to have another perspective when shooting such an important event.
This is a collection of photos from my point of view. Just a small sneak peek for now. The couple still needs to see their proofs. :)
First of all, this self-portrait marks the completion of my second 52 Weeks project series! I can't believe I've already reached Week 52. It kind of caught me by surprise as I've just been going through the motions of surviving whatever life has been throwing at me while taking self-portraits simultaneously. As I've said before, this hasn't been the most inspired set of portraits that I've done, but I guess completing it is what counts. I haven't given up on the project even though there were many times when I just wanted to throw in the towel. Hopefully if I choose to commence another series it will be more creative + thought out.
This week also marks the last week that me + J will be living in our city apartment in the sky. Kind of sad about it as it's been our trusty home for the last 4 years with the best view on this earth. :) Our apartment is also in the middle of a great location just up the street from the shops + restaurants of M Street / Georgetown. The parking wasn't the best as we would park as far as 4 blocks away on a consistent basis, but we would always feel safe.
Now, we will soon begin a whole new chapter in our lives with owning our first home. I am excited to take on the many challenges of being a first-time homeowner. It hasn't been easy thus far + we aren't even living there yet. ;) Life just continues to get more + more interesting as each day goes by.
_ 26 Aug 2k9 _ around the house [which you probably can't tell, but is in disarray from moving] _ Week 52 / 52 Weeks
Mir-Hossein Mousavi supporters wearing all black +/or green + face masks, holding signs that read "Revote", "Ahmad Get Out", "Where is my vote", + showing large posters of the bloody protests on the streets of Iran were just in my hood. The U.S. secret service police scooted them out shortly before 8pm tonight.
Those Who Died in Christ 13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
You know that getting a phone call late at night is never really a good thing.
Throughout life, we tend to think that our parents are invincible + that they will always be around forever. We think they will be there to witness every life-changing event whether it's when we make achievements in our careers, when we make that commitment to move to a new + exciting city, eventually get married, have our own children, or even watch our children have children of their own. Unfortunately, the nature of being human is to be born onto the earth + later pass on into the soil. Each + every one of us—with our own individual lengths of thread—go about our daily lives never knowing exactly when that delicate thread will be cut short.
Yesterday, my dear close friends' father abruptly passed away. Apparently, he has been dealing with some sort of sickness* for quite awhile, but sometime in the mid-afternoon he had a heart attack, was rushed to the hospital, + was pronounced dead. It was so unexpected + unbelievable. I am still in shock of the fact that he is no longer with us. It just hits too close to home. My eyes well up whenever I think about him being gone + about all the grief my friends + their family are currently undertaking for their significant loss. I cannot even begin to imagine the amount of sorrow filling their hearts at this time.
Last night, I had a dream that my friend sent me a text message revealing that it was not her father that had passed, but in fact it was an uncle of hers that had lost his life. I woke up sad, but regrettably relieved that it was not her father who died.
Then, after realizing it was only a dream, I began to feel the sadness overcome me once more.
Be in peace, Uncle Angel. { 1952 - 2009 }
My prayers are filling up the heavens for you guys...
*EDITED: The sickness he had been dealing with was congestive heart failure, shortness of breath, then finally his heart just gave way. This was his second heart attack. :(
"The rules are that for 8 days you have to post something that made you happy that day."
—quote of someone quoted by my sis
Day 8 // I made LOTS of progress on a freelance web site that I've been trying to push out the door. I think that was a 24-hour day? Or maybe a 48-hour non-stop day... I'm already forgetting. Hoping the client will be as pleased as I am.
And that, my friends, marks the final alleged "Days of Happiness". :)
"The rules are that for 8 days you have to post something that made you happy that day."
—quote of someone quoted by my sis
Day 6 // Me + the mister decided to go all out this year for Christmas week + cook up a bunch of heart-warming meals for ourselves. We don't normally cook lots of food every. single. night. since we are just two people living in one tiny apartment in the sky, so for us this was a treat. I considered it practice for the day we will hold our *own* Christmas dinner at our house... Maybe even invite some peeps over. ;)
Today on this sixth day of happiness, we cooked all that goodness below. :)))
"The rules are that for 8 days you have to post something that made you happy that day."
—quote of someone quoted by my sis
Day 5 // So, since I've started my 8 Days around this time of year, I can't help but have Christmas-related topics for this blog series. For today, I found happiness by turning the mail-key + opening our mailbox door to find an influx of Christmas cards staring right back at us. It is so nice to receive hellos from around the world.
"The rules are that for 8 days you have to post something that made you happy that day."
—quote of someone quoted by my sis
Day 3 // Christmas Eve marks the third day of happiness. Me + the mister did not go home [aka Flo-rida] this Christmas, so we tried our best to replicate our parents' dishes that we would otherwise enjoy at home. Two savoury treats that we cooked that day was breaded mushrooms [his rents] + fried plantains [my rents]. Yes, food makes us happy, but it was also a kind nod to our awesome parents for providing yummy food for us all these years.
Me + the mister are staying put during this year's Christmas holiday. Sure, I may get homesick missing my family + friends, but I am more than pleased + excited to have much needed rest + relaxation time with J. :)))
"The rules are that for 8 days you have to post something that made you happy that day."
—quote of someone quoted by my sis
Day 2 // Today was a quiet day at the studio with only a skeleton staff roaming the halls. The work day was a bit on the uneventful side as well. Happiness today comes from listening to my iTunes playlist with Vince Guaraldi Trio's "A Charlie Brown Christmas" album playing to me while I work.
"The rules are that for 8 days you have to post something that made you happy that day."
—quote of someone quoted by my sis
Day 1 // After months + months of persistent + shamelessly blatant hinting [can I call it 'hinting' even though I cut right to the chase?], the mister just called asking me what version of GuitarHero is compatible with a Mac/PC.
*le sigh*
Important geeky backstory... This is going to sound so superficial, but I am focusing on the mere gesture rather than the outcome. Now, J was very impervious to my numerous sales pitches as to why I want to buy the popular video game for us [he has his counter-reasons, haha]. Since we have been keeping diligent on saving for our first place, we always try to be very good about how + what we spend our money on. But, every now + then I like to splurge on the fun things + somehow I just could not convince him on this one. So, just hearing him tell me that he was at Best Buy tonight asking the sales reps where to find GH World Tour just melts my corazón. Yeh, the version I wanted is "Legends of Rock III" due to the WT computer version not being available yet. "So much for it being a surprise," he said. But, a surprise it was... Even if he didn't end up buying the game.
I keep thinking that my pup's birthday is in September only because that was the month that I woke up as early as 7am to go with my dad + pick her up at his workplace.
Back in 2001, one of my dad's workmates was giving us a puppy. A mutt, mind you, but cute as ever. His workmate pulled out a cardboard box from the back seat of her car + revealed this wrinked, furry little creature that we later named Nala. She was wide-eyed + looked a little tired; most likely from napping while waiting for us. When my dad drove us back home, she was napping again right on my lap [yeh, she was that tiny!] + not moving an inch during the whole ride. I will never forget that day we brought Nala to her new home. :)))
I will need to scan photos from that morning. She is still cute as ever + of course, has her dispositions [I'll save those stories for another time; for those that know me, just ask, hehe]. But, I love that monkeyface all the same. ;)
Transcribing + recording what little I wrote in my Kolkata trip journal... merely for my own accounts, so it may or may not be amusing for you to read.
Written during our 6.5 hour layover in Chattrapathi Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai, India:
03/29/08 - 2:46AM
Welcome to India As the official words "Welcome to India" were being spoken over the cabin intercom by the flight attendant, the realization of actually being in India became closer to 100%. My seat on the plane was located in the center far removed from window view, so besides observing the different types of people surrounding me, the environment of flying *over* different countries was not apparent.
Jet Airways is the international Indian airline we took, which I noticed did a few things differently compared to other flights I've been on. For instance, before last de-boarding, a pair of male flight attendants walked simultaneously up + down separate aisles spraying cans of aerosol towards the ceiling--I'm guessing to purify the air if not to freshen it up.
At the beginning of the flight, the attendants would hand out menus that designated what was to be served at each meal of the day. When it came time to be served, an attendant would ask you, "Veg or Non-veg?" Those were your two choices + you had to be prepared to answer right away since they did supply you with meal descriptions early on. At first, I would ask, "What does the Non-veg have?," + they would immediately reach for the menu + re-hand it to me as my answer. I learned quick, let me tell you.
Another thing I noticed... The women attendants all had classy make-up + hair. They each wore a black pants suit that was overlaid in a golden yellow button-up blazer that extended past the hips; in a sort of modern Indian style. At the beginning + towards the end of the flight is the only time they wore the golden yellow coat over their suit. I noticed an elaborate gold embroidery at the cuffs of the black, long-sleeve tops. I wish I was brave enough to ask one of the attendants if I could take their portrait, but they were always so preoccupied with something that I never mustered up the courage.
Oke. I'm really losing energy + getting cross-eyed. Need to get some rest. FYI: Movies I watched:
Atonement
Juno
Enchanted
the first bit of Bee Movie
Also watched episodes of:
The Office
30 Rock
My Name is Earl
They had video games, too, but nothing that interested me.
...
Just got back from freshening in the ladies' room here at Mumbai's International Airport. It wasn't that bad actually--had plenty of toilet tissue within reach, seated toilets [yes, the squat toilet is a plentiful in India], + soap in the dispenser. But, I didn't want to chance brushing my teeth with water from the tap without a bottle of water. Me + team are currently cramped in a seated area at the end of a hall trying to do their own thing--from napping, journaling, reading, snacking, or listening to music. We patiently wait. It has been a long journey thus far.
Alright time to decompress from thinking, if that makes any sense. Cross-eyed I am. Writing like Yoda I am, too.
...
Bullet points of events that happened after finally arriving in Kolkata:
Took a bus from Kolkata Airport to BMS Guest House
We each chose our own designated beds [yes, just like in the Real World, or any other housed reality show on the tele]
Ate lunch c/o the kind folks at the guest house
Everyone took a much-needed nap
Met Surojit; he gave us a tour of the currently under-construction International Mission of Hope Society building which is to become the nursing school for CMM
Took our first team group photo on the roof of the future nursing school
Arrived @ CMM Hospital; Met Orejit; discussed opportunities
Transcribing + recording what little I wrote in my Kolkata trip journal... merely for my own accounts, so it may or may not be amusing for you to read.
Written during my cab ride:
03/27/08 - 11:40AM
To Ebz So, I missed my bus + end up taking a taxi to meet the half of the crew @ Ebenezer's coffee house. Today is the day that we embark on our trip towards Kolkata, India. Already, I am experiencing another's culture as I hear the cabbie speak with someone on the phone in his African tongue while munching on red grapes. I didn't get his name... He is wearing a beige Clairborne Outerwear jacket + beige hat. Nice guy. Says he'll charge me only 12 bucks for the ride. Hopefully that will be the case when he drops me off as his cab still has no meter whatsoever.
Collecting my thoughts + experiences from my 2-week trip is not as easy as it sounds. I'm feeling I need a few extra days to process everything from my time in India—especially since tonight I will need meet with my team to be interviewed on video about my personal experiences from the trip, how it has reshaped my thinking, + what I was able to take away from it. Seems easy enough, right? Praying that the words will come to me...
Still at work while all this is going on in the background of my mind. Time to multi-task.
There are a number of vaccinations + prescriptions each of us are required to receive before our India trip for the prevention of certain diseases. So, I made an appointment at the infectious disease travel clinic + in one day, I received a total number of 4 shots—1 in my right deltoid [for Hepatitis A/B] + 3 in my left deltoid [for Typhoid, Tetanus / Diphtheria / Pertussis, Polio].
These are the most shots I've ever had in the last decade, so it was a bit overwhelming. I have to say that I fared pretty well, didn't look or flinch, but felt a little faint after the fourth one. Unfortunately for me, it's not over yet. Since the Hepatitis A/B vaccination is administered in a series, I have to come back to receive 3 additional shots in a week, then 2 weeks from that, then another after a year. After the series is completed, this vaccination will last a lifetime. Let me tell you, these shots don't come cheap, but are definitely worth the expense.
On a mission... At the end of March, myself + 10 others from NCC will embark on a 12-day trip to Calcutta. We will be volunteering our time with Calcutta Mercy Ministries [CMM]. While we are there, we will have the immense privilege to work alongside the staff + volunteers at CMM, and to serve the people of Calcutta in a variety of practical ways: including assisting the feeding program, painting + repair work on buildings to conducting arts programs. In addition, I will have the opportunity to capture the stories of the trip and the children treated at the Calcutta Mercy Hospital through photography. Along with our time at CMM, we will also volunteer at Missionaries of Charity, which is a Mother Teresa charitable organization.
To give you some additional background on Calcutta Mercy Ministries, they do a wide variety of work, which includes feeding more than 25,000 people daily; they have established more than 700 churches, 50 schools, a hospital, vocational schools, teacher's training college, a school of nursing, children's home, rural medical clinics, and village Mercy Centers.
The trip will also include a visit to the Taj Mahal in Agrah on our way back to the U.S., which will be such an amazing experience. I believe this trip will be an unforgettable one. Not only will I have the opportunity to help the people of Calcutta in a number of ways, I will also get to travel to new land so full of beauty + culture.
The total cost of our trip is $3,000 + we have a deadline of March 24, 2008. If you feel moved to support us by contributing a financial gift towards our cause, please feel free to email me* + I will give you more information on how to do so. Any amount would help and will be greatly appreciated. Also, all donations are tax-deductible for those of you in the U.S.
I thank you all for your good thoughts, friendship, + support. :)
*please leave a comment if you don't have my email
Just wanted to say for the record that I really REALLY love my Zumba class! :))) I went last MON + I'm going again tonight, so I'm stoked. You can tell I'm really enjoying it when I think about it enough to blog it down.
Also, last night J's uncle was in town for business + he treated us to dinner, which was nice because we went to this fancy g-town seafood restaurant down by the river. I ordered the fried "Colossal Shrimp" + finished the whole plate. *NYUM* Ohmygaw, those scrumps were JUMBO! It was awesome being able to check off another restaurant from our long list of places to eat in this town. Actually, it's kinda sad on our part since we've been here for years now + haven't really explored that part of town [i.e. down by the river, haha]. But, you really can't blame us. It was a bit out of our average price range for eating out.
Soo so busy at work.
Don't mind me... Just typing my train of thought...
» Last of the Mohicans_ The end of an era occurred over this past weekend. I had my first ever eye doc check-up since for the past month I've been seeing a white flash go from up to down the side of my right eye. My mom thought it was a symptom of retinal detachment, so she suggested I go get it checked out. I've also been getting headaches due to my right eye's vision being slightly blurred than my left. [Si, si, I did many self-eye exams + the right is definitely wiggin' out on me.]
While filling out the patient form at the eye doc's office, I come to a section where you check boxes of certain health conditions you may or may not possess. One of the items is "Works at a computer". I'm thinking, "Oh great." *check_yes*
Long story short, the doc said my retina looked perfect, but I will need glasses. Fact: I am the last in my family to acquire glasses. The doc diagnosed my vision as "20/20 with a prescription". Now, is that even possible? If my vision is less than clear/perfect, doesn't that define my vision as less than 20/20? No idea how that works... This means, that I am neither near-sided or far-sided, but will require glasses while I am working at a computer or seeing anything close distance in order to stop the headaches... She thinks that I am having "optical migraines", which could be causing the light flashes. She said the light flashes I was describing to her did not sound like the symptoms of retinal detachment. *phew*
"Computer glasses" or "reading glasses" is what she called it. Oke. I'm down with that. Hopefully, that's all they'll ever be + my eyesight will remain "20/20 with a prescription" because I think I would not enjoy wearing contacts on a daily basis. But, that's just me. :P I will be receiving my swanky specs 10-15 days from my appointment. If you're lucky enough, maybe I will post a visual. ;)
» Sugar Pup_ My dad called last night to let me know that my doggie Nala was just diagnosed with Diabetes. :((( She was a plump 45 pounds when I last saw her + now she is 35 pounds, which is the healthier weight for her size [yeh, she was a tad overweight]. But, unfortunately, she lost the weight for being sick, which wasn't the way we wanted her to slim down. :( She was born in 2k1, so in my mind Nala is still my baby [even though in doggie years is older than I, hehe].
Today, she will be at the vet overnight so the doc can monitor how much insulin she will need on a daily basis. I'm so sad that she will have to get shots daily for the rest of her life. Luckily, my dad said that she didn't even feel it when the doc gave her her first insulin shot. My poor baby...
Passionately Pink for the Cure "Showcase your passion for the cure by uploading passionately pink photos to help raise vital funds for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Share photos in honor of a survivor, in memory of a loved one, to celebrate Passionately Pink for the Cure events. Or simply share a pink photo that inspires others to rally around the cause.
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Yahoo! will donate $1 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, for each pink photo added to this flickr Group from October 1-31, 2007 up to $50,000! This donation will be used to fund breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment programs.
Pick your Pink. Play Your Part. End Breast Cancer."
+++
On a very personal note... In June 2003, I underwent surgery to have a large tumor 2 inches in diameter removed from within my left side. When it grew noticeably large, I was really freaked out + too scared to figure out what I needed to do that I didn't tell anyone about it at first. I waited too long to have it checked. Then, I told my parents about it, + of course they were upset with me that I didn't tell them sooner. They said that our family really has no history concerning breast cancer, so that weirded me out even more. I was 25.
I have been thanking the good Lord that the biopsy proved it benign. The doc called it a "giant Fibroadenoma", which is the most common benign breast tumors seen in women under the age of 35 years. It was the very first time I have ever been under the knife so it was quite nerve-racking. I wanted to recount what I was feeling during that time, so I leafed through my online journal archives + found the entry I wrote after it happened:
out from under | 24 June 2k3 _ 01:01 p.m.
"The weekend _/ i am back from going under. everything went well for those of you who are aware. it all happened last Thursday afternoon. the 1.5 hours of preparation. the reading + the signing of the millions of papers. the waiting. "You're going to start to feel a bit relaxed, hon." photos to document to be picked up tomorrow evening. recovering from a deep sleep an hour or so later. very supportive family + friends. phone calls from distant + not-so-distant loved ones. much needed days off. first [+ hopefully last] time for everything. thank the lord for watching over everyone, meaning EVERYONE involved."
To all the ladies out there, examine yourselves + be aware.
PHOTO NOTES: _ 15 Sept 2k7 _ The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
The weather is beginning to look + *feel* a lot like Spring. Freakin-a, did it take its sweet time though. I mean, I love snow + all, but not in April when I want to enjoy the cherry blossom trees. Dag, I mean dag.
In other news... I will be making a trip to *dun* *dun* *duh* THE PHILIPPINES! Wow, huh? It takes a whole day just to fly there—with connecting flights, of course. Yeh, that's next week for a whole week. It's not a vacation, mind you, so don't get too excited. This is all for my dear Lolo as well as my beloved Lola.
This trip is a big deal. It's been *17 years* since I've been back to "the homeland". I imagine it's going to be a very emotional week coming up, physically [major jet lag + time difference] + mentally. I am actually really nervous about it, for a whole bunch of mixed reasons. But, I'm sure everything will turn out fine. Just need to prepare myself...
This is my journal. I am a full-time interactive designer + freelance photographer with immense love + respect for art, travel, food, technology, + music. Back in 2000, when I first began writing my musings online the content was solely based on my life experiences. Over the years I've meandered from writing on the introspective side + found myself expressing various thoughts, ideas, + interests through photography-inspired posts with little to no narrative. Though, when I tend to think aloud I share them on Twitter. The entry style may have changed, but this site still serves as my chronological journal of random occurrences, introspective or not.
I love{ sketching, design, photography, good typography, XHTML, CSS, constant education, staying current, being with the mister, family, preserving social ties, respect, islands, all things music, plucking guitar strings, sushi, henna mehndi art, photo booths, house hunting, Zumba dance, Body Pump, video games, road trips, rice, spicy food, nature wandering }
Feeed me, Seymour. 
