I woke up yesterday with a splitting headache... not again... It's one of those days when I can't even get anything done. I decided to stay home. I though I might be in denial that my chronic headaches could somehow be a sign of bad vision. I decided to get my orbs checked. Glasses are no stranger to me. I had a pair prescribed to me when I was in 6th grade that I wore until my freshman year in high school (imagine the emotional torment I had to endure as school bullies call me "nerdoid," I was scarred permanently.) What I hated most was the responsibility to keep them in good shape. I thought to myself, "I may have to go through that ordeal again, great..."
Earlier today, I became a (not so) proud owner of prescription glasses that I still don't know how to take care of... The optometrist forgot to fill me in on where to get those lens cleaners and stuff. My headaches gone though...
|
It was nothing more than an ornament at home.This old telephone who sits on a corner.
Yet, I am almost always drawn to it.
Particularly, the mystery of the number on its face.
Whose home did this telephone used to serve?
What kind of people were they?
I always believed that we leave a part of ourselves
on the people we encounter and hold dear.
Could we have the same effect on the things we possessed?
If so, am I mystified by the soul that lent a part of itself to this old telephone,
or am I leaving a part of myself instead...
Yet, I am almost always drawn to it.
Particularly, the mystery of the number on its face.
Whose home did this telephone used to serve?
What kind of people were they?
I always believed that we leave a part of ourselves
on the people we encounter and hold dear.
Could we have the same effect on the things we possessed?
If so, am I mystified by the soul that lent a part of itself to this old telephone,
or am I leaving a part of myself instead...
This illustration was used as main visual for an article of the same name in the Family Finance column of the September 2007 issue of Baby Magazine. As usual, an editable copy of this artwork is available for FREE... BUT! only if you are subscribed via email, that is, and remember to ask nicely.
It started raining again and I just remembered something that I wanted to blog about when I was too busy to even read some of my favorite blogs. It was about a month ago when typhoons Dodong and Chedeng wreaked havoc on our city streets. Because I was living just a couple of city blocks away, I got to the office just before my walking route became submerged and rendered impassasble for small vehicles and foot traffic (unless you don't mind some weird skin allergies). I had to stay at the office until after 7PM to let the flood water subside so I can safely walk back home (without said allergies). I was cursing at the ever reliable (sarcasm alert in case it wasn't obvious) people at our government offices and their efficient response to emergency situations. I mean "Haven't we seen enough of these flash floods every year for us to be so ill prepared? It's already August for f***'s sake. We should have been ready since June." (pardon the swearing if you are reading this via feed, I forgot kids might be reading this... edited for propriety)Anyway, as I was crossing Buendia Ave., I saw the man I should be screaming my filth on, the MMDA Chairman himself, Bayani Fernando with his trousers soaked in flood water, instructing his boys on what appears to be an excavation work to remedy the watery situation. Unfortunately, I didn't have a camera on me to take a snap shot of the scene so I went back the next day to see how they were doing. I could have snapped more if they didn't start coming towards me and asked me where those photos are going to end up on. I could just grin idiotically and say that its purpose was personal. A month since and still no flood water on my intersection. I guess it is better late than never for these guys. Thanks Mr. BF for doing your job right. I'm sorry for the obscenities I uttered in solitude. At least you didn't have to paint my turf pink.
Here's one tool I've been using for a while that needs special mentioning. When I first heard about del.icio.us, I thought it was a godsend. It was what I have been praying for since I first met the internet. Believe it or not, I used to type all my bookmarks in a text file that I save in an email I send to myself so I can access them anywhere. Something I find funny now that del.icio.us is around. As if having your bookmarks available to you from anywhere is not enough, del.icio.us introduces "social bookmarking" (I will not define what this means 'coz thats what wikipedia is for) making related information much more easier to access with more peers to share bookmarks with. Although far from being a "designers resource" I usually take advantage of the social bookmarking feature to stalk.. err... I mean follow up and research on graphic design trends or some other news bits that I can learn new things from. Now if there was something like this designed specially for creatives... share please...
I know I missed this... Anyway, It has been a very busy month for me. So much that I have missed many opportune events and stories to blog about. But that is behind me now... I am back and revving up the keyboards to start writing about the things I "see."
For a little Baby update:
September is almost done so get your copy of Baby Magazine before the new one hits the stands on October. I must say that I love each new issue better than the last one because we try to improve the magazine (both content and visual) as much as we can.
As usual, this issue is packed with the stuff parents (as well as anyone who deals with little kids) need to be better at being parents. This months special, though, is about getting ready for your first kid. What are the hospital bag essentials? How do you know you are going into labor? Are you financially ready for your first bundle of joy? What is waterbirth? and is it really better than regular birthing method? These and a lot more questions are addressed in this issue. The girl on the cover is Gianna Fernandez, photo by RealKids.
The October issue, on the other hand, has already gone to press as of this writing. As I have mentioned in earlier blogs, this is the 11th anniversary issue of the country's first parenting magazine so watch out for some surprises in this ish.
Wow! It feels good to be back.
|
For a little Baby update:
September is almost done so get your copy of Baby Magazine before the new one hits the stands on October. I must say that I love each new issue better than the last one because we try to improve the magazine (both content and visual) as much as we can.As usual, this issue is packed with the stuff parents (as well as anyone who deals with little kids) need to be better at being parents. This months special, though, is about getting ready for your first kid. What are the hospital bag essentials? How do you know you are going into labor? Are you financially ready for your first bundle of joy? What is waterbirth? and is it really better than regular birthing method? These and a lot more questions are addressed in this issue. The girl on the cover is Gianna Fernandez, photo by RealKids.
The October issue, on the other hand, has already gone to press as of this writing. As I have mentioned in earlier blogs, this is the 11th anniversary issue of the country's first parenting magazine so watch out for some surprises in this ish.
Wow! It feels good to be back.
Actually, It has been available for a week now. I just didn't have the luxury of time to write about it. Anyway, I am especially proud of this issue as well as the one we're working on right now. I guess things are looking up for our little bundle which dedicated to help you care for your little bundle. The cute baby on the cover is Maxine Briana Sanchez. Photo by Ralph Alejandrino.For subscription inquiries, you may contact Baby magazine through the following:
Phone: (+63 2) 728.36.55
Email: babymag@globelines.com.ph
Baby Magazine is the Philippines' first parenting magazine and is celebrating its 11th anniversary issue this coming October.
Things are getting a little tight with 2 magazines and some other stuff I'm getting busy with. I will be slowing down for a while just to get some things done. I'll be back with more photos, illustrations, designer resources and a few more irrational rants. See ya!
|
Congratulations and Best wishes to our friends, Gerald and Celia for finally tying the knot at a church wedding last Saturday, 28 July 2007 at Sto. Sepulchro Parish Shrine at San Pedro, Laguna. You make a very beautiful couple.
"Just when I thought things can't get any worse..." I found myself repeating this phrase innumerable times that day when the above photo was taken. That was the day I was supposed to take my drivers license card from our very customer friendly people of LTO Pasay.
The day started like any other day except that I had this nagging feeling that this is not a good day for me. A week before, I applied for a drivers license but I wasn't able to get the plastic card because their computers we're offline and couldn't process my records. This is the day I came back for my card. I went to the records window and gave the lady the receipt of last weeks application and asked me to wait by window 2... It was either that or she asked me to wait 2 hours... 'coz that is about the time I waited by that window before I asked the lady why all the other people I came in with 2 hours ago had already had their photo taken for their card. I found out my form was missing...What the Hell!? You can imagine my frustration. It was already after lunch break that they found out that my papers weren't missing but were in fact found at the hands of an evaluator who neglected to inform anybody that there was a problem with my application. The LTO database showed another license application of mine from 1999 that expired in 2002. I had to go to the main office in Quezon City to pay the penalties and come back to Pasay to reconcile my records.They could have told me this before they went on lunch break. Off to QC I go... This is where the photo up there comes in. The cab I was riding turned right from Timog Avenue to EDSA when 2 buses (seemingly) racing against each other slammed on both side of the cab pushing us about 10 meters. I couldn't get off from either doors so I had to climb out of the car from the driver side door. IM IN A HURRY FOR PETE'S SAKE!!! I didn't even think that I could have died in that cab if I had my head against the window. I had to walk the rest of the way to the LTO main building and guess what... It began to rain. I love rain, but at a time like this... uhhhggg... I was ready to go ballistic that I sneered at the fixer who offered to "help" me transact faster and avoid all the bureaucracy inside. It took me another 2 hours inside the Licensing office before I got my turn at the licensing officer... I am literally at wits end. It was too late for me to go back to Pasay so I elected to go home. There was no cab in sight and since it is raining, I took the bus going to Makati... I felt miserable as I shivered in the air conditioned bus for the whole trip home. In 2 weeks I'll be going to the Pasay office again to put this exercise in stupidity to rest... If anything like this happen again... I'm going to give up driving for good.
