The pie should be an indication that this was taken when we were back on training at the Marriott. Back to the rich food and the endless supply of coffee and the information overload that comes with the training.
I'm not sure if it's a comprehension issue with me or just an overload of the things we're trying to learn.
So the food helps and the breaks allows us a free time from trying to comprehend everything and for a short while we get to enjoy that we're in a hotel and enjoying awesome food.
On Rebel's 3rd birthday, we decided to take him with us on a photo shoot and a walk at CEMPARK.
It seems a lot of people still enjoy taking walks or jogging there as well as walking their dogs and having picnics. However, it's prohibited to have a photo shoot at the cemetery. Well, unless it's just fauna then all's good.
I used to run there when I was still in uni and a few years after while I was already working. It was a form of de-stressing from all the stuff at work.
I've met a few friendly strangers at CEMPARK. Usually joggers as well and a few old women who walks around the area while talking shop.
I miss it. I haven;t had time to run there like I used to. I now live far from the area but I try to go there sometimes if I've got the time. And maybe for special occasions with the monsters.
I took a photo of an enclosed space with no ceiling. And it was pretty and yet creepy at the same time.
It made me think what it's like for someone trapped or imprisoned with only the sky as the view. I find it a cruel punishment. To trap someone and entice him with such a view. It's like pushing someone end up as someone who's always looking up and imagining the world outside that's under the same sky or someone who would hate the sky and always look at the ground denying any hope in looking up.
It isn't because I do not agree on corporal punishment or imprisonment. Some people are just not agreeable with society or some people commits acts that harms people and themselves and I agree that exposing them to society would be a disaster. I guess what I am trying to say is, their punishment is something I never really thought about. Jail time, enclosure in a very small space with people who just might have far more violent tendencies than they do.
In a way, I am appreciating my current freedom right now. Literal and figuratively speaking.
I'm not sure if it's a religious practice to abstain from meat on Fridays. However it has become a practice wherein one day in the week people abstain something.
Well I do and some do. However I don't think everyone is into it.
Usually I abstain from meat once a week and stick to fish and vegetables. More like fish since despite that I now eat plants I don't see myself becoming a vegetarian in this lifetime. But who knows right?
Now my current project is to get working out into a routine wherein I would abstain once a week. LOL That would be something.
However when I really think it over, I used to abstain once a week from playing volleyball so I could spend time with my family.
So mind over bloody matter. I hope I get to have it into routine soon. Specially that I am now in the EMEA shift and I have time before work to do some personal errands and tasks which should include going to the bloody gym and jogging in the wee morning.
With all the rich food we've been eating during training, I am thankful for the coffee and water the staff has provided.
As they say, water is life. LOL
And my first thought with that line is the Avatar cartoon, then comes Captain Planet and finally the Japanese series "My Boss My Hero".
(I never claimed to make sense all the time)
Third day of training was held in the Cebu City Sports Club instead of the Marriott because someone booked all the conference rooms in the Marriot before the TRAX could book for the entire two weeks training.
The venue wasn't altogether that grand since there were some repairs being done and the conference room was rather small for our group. But the food was definitely awesome and so photogenic. I'm running out of memory on my current card. I would definitely need to get a new one soon. At this rate, I might fill up the card before the month ends.
(Reminding myself to get back to the gym *sigh*)
Second day of training at the Marriott was better and far more productive than my first day.
I think I was making up for the fact that I was mostly not making sense the previous day, thus the extra attention and questions.
Food photography would probably be what I would be into while I'm in this training for two weeks. The hotel has been serving awesome food that are definitely picture worthy.
I have a number of guys in the team asking me to post photos of our food on Google+ as well. I have taken the liberty of creating and album dedicated to our food during our training, separate from the training group photos.
(I would need to get back to the gym with this diet.)
First day of training at the Marriott was tough. I was a walking zombie.
My flight back to Cebu was in the morning and I had to drop by the office to get the laptop they've issued to me for the training.
The "unlimited" coffee was a big help. But I still caught myself falling asleep, nodding off, zoning out. You name it. I was just really out of it.
I tried writing down notes during the lecture just to keep me busy, which did help a bit. Although it seems I've written one sentence three times. (Just shows how my brain was running on low battery)
Despite the sweets and coffee, my brain was barely keeping up. Around 2pm I guess my brain decided to wake up a bit. Ended up sleeping immediately when I got home. Just enough time to brush my teeth and wash my face before everything went black.
The day after the wedding we visited Ate Grace and the kids at Cavite to celebrate her birthday. Kuya Prime was online and was able to view everyone at his house...everyone, having fun, playing, singing and eating lots of food. Pretty cruel of us to make Kuya Prime envious.
The great thing about technology, is making distance between people seem smaller than it really is. What's that commercial ad? Connecting People.
My sister and I had an awesome Sunday with family I don't get to see often.
And to end the day, we went to Tagaytay to check out the view: An awesome sunset with family.
Noel's wedding day. I have to say I wasn't the only one anticipating his "I Do" since this would be his 5th attempt to get married and there were too many reasons why the wedding was called off.
I am glad to say that he did say his "I Do's" and I promptly tweeted about it. Family.
It was just a bit unnerving that there were only a few of us from Noel's side of the family who were able to attend the wedding.
However, despite the lack of family members, we were still the noisiest group during the reception.
Welcome to the family.
I wasn't able to go on leave for my cousin's wedding so I had my flight to Manila on Friday evening just a few hours after work. Arrived in Manila with my sister and had our cousins picked us up from the airport, where I ended up buying everyone coffee from the Starbucks Drive-through.
It seems our cousins were late for picking us up cause they had to buy cupcakes as giveaways for the wedding.
We ended up at Ace's condo where his wife was busy making bottoneers. I', not sure if I spelled that right. But is was for Noel's wedding as well.
So as Lorraine was working, the usual talk between family rose up. From the wedding's impromptu decision and date as well as the preparation (or lack thereof).
Well, what can I say. Through good and bad.
Family.
I find glass ornament pretty. the fact that I like taking photos of light fixtures and glass figurine could attest to that.
However, as pretty as they are and as often as I am tempted to buy whenever I see one that really catches my fancy, I cannot and will not get one.
I live with monsters.
Anything breakable isn't really something I can have around the house.
My mother is a bit frustrated with that fact but has to accept it. She's seen how "energetic" the two could get.
So, I admire from afar and take lots of photos.
Safer this way.
Waiting isn't one of my favorite things to do.
I used to be on time or early for most meetings, meet-ups, scheduled shift and or any agreed appointment. Working in a call center has thought me the value of time. Added the fact that there was an incentive for no tardiness in a single month.
However, I have had very bad experiences with meetings with friends; where I usually wait up for an hour or 2 before they would show up. And it got really frustrating to a point that I don't show up on time. At all.
I make it a habit that when they give me a time to meet up, that would be the time I would walk out of the apartment, grab a cab or ride a jeepney to get to where we're meeting up.
And I think it has affected my work. I barely show up on time now. Unless the shift is in the afternoon and I'm always early or on time for work then. Morning is a challenge for me. Partly there's the traffic to blame and the location where I live has heavy traffic during mornings. The other part would be because my brain refuses to just get up and work through the routine of getting to work.
Since I have been drafted to the EMEA shift (thank God), I'm sure getting to the office would be a breeze. As for meeting friends on time...I'm partial to that resolution. Either I would start to go on time and leave if I have to wait for more than 30 minutes.
We'll see how this resolution goes.
With the booming 24-hour companies all over the city fast foods are on a high demand.
Practicality's sake, it does work. The previous company I worked for was a call center operating 24-hours a day, 7-days a week and there was no suck thing as a holiday. I barely have the luxury of taking my time with anything.
As an analyst for several accounts, Stress became such a familiar word. Added that we mostly ate out at fast food stores or ate take out, health was something I've come to struggle with when I never had a problem with my weight and sleeping habits.
Right now, I am dealing with trying to lose weight, get more sleep and get back to an active lifestyle.
My new job just might allow me to do so, just as soon as I finally have a steady shift and not one that changes every bloody week.
I used to really like the Triangle shape. The angles the, the 360 degree summed up angles and even the theorems involved with triangles. I even liked my ES 12 finals submission for a Icosahedron. 20 triangles forming a spherical shape. I enjoyed drafting the darn thing and got a good grade.
I think that's when I started looking at stars differently. They looked like a combination of triangles and whatever polygonal shapes. They are just so damn pretty.
Hoshi!!!
P.S. Thanks for the Star Kalen!
I remember the day I first watched Stitch on cinema. I wanted to fully enjoy the animated movie, so I decided to go alone. No friends to tell me I'm too old to watch cartoons, no boyfriend who just wants to indulge my what he calls quirks (asshole!) or well meaning friends who just might interrupt my viewing pleasure.
So I watched Stitch alone...and didn't anticipate that there would be a lot of kids who would watch it as well (duh!). The movie house was almost filled up to capacity.
I was thankful though that the kid sitting beside me wasn't the really noisy type. He even shushed his mom in when she tried to ask him if he wanted popcorn (hooray!!)
Almost to the ending, where Dr. Jumba Jookiba caught up with Stitch and Stitch was trying to explain what he was waiting for. "Ohana" is a Hawaiian word that could bring tears to my eyes. Both for the meaning and for the memory of Stitch.
I know. A little strange. I've been told that a lot.
The kid beside me noticed I was crying. (I'm a sap!) The little twerp patted my arm, trying to comfort me.
See why I love Stitch?
Alien. Strange. Blue. Pointy teeth.
Awesome memories. And to whoever that kid was, Thank you. =)
Under incandescent light, this particular window...well it's not really a window, more like the prepared opening for an AC that's not been used. It's not ugly per se under incandescent light...more like a little off, but in the morning when the sun's just on the right angle and the lights are turned off in the room, it's damn pretty.
I guess in a way, this is what photography is for me.
It's not the artistic angle that I need. It's the exact moment when I see it and it holds me captivated.
When something I take for granted everyday shows me something different than what I usually see. Or it could be the same thing everyday, and it still fascinates me. Or it could be the same thing everyday and the first moment I really take notice.
Photography is a hobby. I like having images of somethings I find fascinating, beautiful, ugly, comforting, disturbing...it is a still representation of emotions, a multifaceted catalyst for memories.
I'm not really a fan of hard liquor and have not been into beer as I used to when I was at uni.
Yes. Probably the aging process. I can't really call it maturing or being responsible. More like , it gets really tiring going home drunk and having to wake up early the next day for work or wasting the rest of my day offs to sleep in after a Friday night of drinks.
I'm not saying it wasn't fun. It was. I'm not discouraging people from alcohol, specially if they are of age. It's a choice. The same type of choice I've made not to indulge too much on it anymore.
Sure. I still go out sometimes with friends. But note the word "Sometimes", where it used to be "often".
I guess, if one should really go for it, all nighter and all, just be responsible. Don't drink and drive. Don't get into fights. Don't be mean and obnoxious like alcohol was the catalyst and a hangover should absolve you of everything.
I try to avoid consuming coffee too much, specially when our schedule falls on the EMEA shift, 3pm - 12mn. Instead of coffee, candy works.
So far, I'm glad Guen has introduced me to sugarless candy Halters. It might be mojojojo advertisement for sugarless candy, however, rather late in the game to tell me when I'm already addicted.
And it does help to keep me awake specially when I'm on my usual average of 5-hour sleep.
Added the fact that they come in a number of flavors and different colors, I bought more than a dozen. Feels like buying a couple of cigarette packs. LOL
I know. Strange connection. But it's what comes to mind. Probably since I used to smoke and bought packs of candies so I could have a stash in my bag all the time. So that after smoking I could get rid of the cigarette taste, specially when a toothbrush wasn't all together in hand all the time.
Maybe the candies are my new cigarettes. Sugarless (probably) and sweet.
I love the fact that I get to have lunch with my co trainees and get to discover places where we could eat awesome yet cheap food.
One of the places we frequently visit after lunch is a small bakery 2 corners away form the office. We usually end up buying all kinds of bread for snacks later on the day. (Exceptions can make one really really hungry)
I got to buy the Egg Bread because it looked odd. What makes an awesome photo subject aside from beauty would be oddity.
It was rather okay; taste-wise. I mean, the great thing about food as a subject is I get to eat it after.
My friend Jay-R's idea of a birthday or post Christmas gift, whichever or both, was a girly set.
Maybe my friend is changing or I am and the gift is a rather odd thing to give, well for us both.
I do recall the last time he gave me a key-chain from Korea, a few years back was a coffee mug from Krispy Kream. A Body lotion...or body butter as the container indicates and a body spray is rather...of the charts.
However not too alarming.
When he starts giving me something else entirely, it would either mean his mind is in the gutter or we have a TMI kind of friendship. The fact that he's my official sex slave...well.
LOL
(Thanks J!!! I had an awesome time. I haven't had the time to give the stuff to Lane or Inda. Come to think of it, Lane and I met up a few days ago and I totally forgot about it. Hopefully we could meet up on another date.)
