MORE BOOKS FOR THE WEEKEND

Another glorious day done and gone. Another week completed. Three books read and two to go for the weekend. This week was a quiet one. I spent more time reading than anything else other than working.

So far, I could say only 'THE KITE RUNNER' was worth talking about. The other two I've read wasn't as interesting. James Patterson's Double Cross was ok. However, my reading of the book was more of a thrill induced rather than a curiousity ilicited fixation . There wasn't much of a substance to it. Unlike The Kite Runner, you learn about another culture, place and dogmas. Usually, when it's thrill induced, you sort of know the ending even when you're still in the middle of the book.

The view right now from our bedroom window

Yearning for a more daedal anthology (probably due to my inability to withdraw totally from Twilight), I rang my sister for more book recommendations, and she said '...find Kabul Beauty School and A thousand Splendid Suns'. So off I went and got the two books at $24.99 each.

I got told by the sales lady that she's seen the documentary of the Kabul Beauty School and she said it's awesome...So I've decided to read Kabul Beauty School first.

I can feel a migraine looming over the weekend, so I'm hoping I can get through before I get totally debilitated by the resounding-throbbing pain and sensitivity to light and sound. Yes, I'm one of 'em unlucky ones...

Anyway, I hope you all have a fun weekend. Enjoy and be safe.

THE KITE RUNNER

My sister sent me a book by Khaled Hosseini, which I got last week through Kuya Boy. Most of you may have already heard of it because it's been produced as a motion picture by Dreamworks. I haven't. I only read it over the weekend, and boy was it an awakening weekend. The title of the book is 'THE KITE RUNNER'.

Afghanistan- First thing that comes to mind is: Al Qaeda...War...Terrorists.

This book gives out a different picture, a smoother backdrop, a more ethnic awareness and even the point of humour from a country now so perceived as riddled with evil and inhuman acts. This is a book about the Afghanistan before the Russian Invasion, the aftermath, and the present Afghanistan.

It's about the humanity in Afghanistan and the culture within back when freedom was not an exorbitant commodity but rather a conventional bystander, one , which was often taken for granted. Now an impossible dream.

I don't want to impart much of the plot because some of my friends already expressed interest in reading the book. I'd rather they read the book and perceive their own natural conjectures based on the status quo of Afghanistan. Midway of reading, I am sure they're in for an educational awakening.

My sister's also sending me a DVD copy of the movie. I just hope it'll get here as quick as my patience can hold, because right now, I am so wanting to go to Video Ezy to rent a copy of the DVD.

Thanks sis.

PROCRASTINATING TO THE MAX

It's now Sunday afternoon. My procrastinating days are over. I'm due back to work tomorrow and I do expect a busy week ahead. But with the full intention of making the most of my time off from work, I wasted no time in wasting all of it in gallivanting around with my hubby and friends.

This car goes well with this booty

Most of Saturday was spent in my car driving around for garage sales to looking for Cat's prospective car-to-be then test driving a V8 Holden Statesman, to ransacking a Filipino Farm in the rural area half an hour drive from my house-well, really, about 3 hours drive wasted on looking for the right way after getting lost several times. Thanks to the GPS in my Nokia N95/8G, we found the right farm and our way out.


Mona got dropped off by her husband here at my place about 7:00AM. Cat arrived shortly after with her laptop on tow (not intending to let Papa Eric miss out a bit of her day-owwwsssweeeet), then we had breakfast before we started the never-ending drive.

Negotiation Skills at its best comparable to that of a Hostage Negotiator

We went to some garage sales looking for essentials to furnish Mona and Allan's newly bought house (another hang-out-to-be). Although it was not as productive as we hoped, we somehow saw an area just right along Stuart hi-way full of private vehicles for sale. Cat is currently looking for a new car because her Emina is already starting to falter on her. She's only had one look at this V8 Holden Statesman and she's fallen in love with it. So typical of her. So Cat and my husband joined forces with their negotiation skills...in translation, BARATAN talents...the Statesman was being sold for $22,000.00. Cat managed to get it down to $19,000.00...But my husband has an unbeaten talent in BARATAN, he got it down to $17,000.00.

Cat: Yes! This is better than any man!!!

Mona: Buti pa to pati upuan leather.

They arranged to meet with the owner, then we went ahead and pursued another garage sale in one of the rural communities here in Darwin. Again, without any luck, we decided to go to Kuya Leo's farm (a Filipino Farmer here in Darwin).


We've been to his farm so many times before (specially during Mango season), but amazingly, just one missed turn then we were lost. Anyway, yes we found the farm and raided from it cooking bananas (Saba), pumpkins (lots of it), kalamansi and banana blossoms, which Cat later on cooked with Gata (Grabe Sarap! Swerte ni Papa E).

The Banana Plantation

Mona will never survive in a farm... She stayed most of the time inside the car, scared of such a gentle creature...Earth Worm. Snakes are rampant in the farm, but she wasn't scared of that, she was scared of Earth Worms. She'd probably kill an Earth Worm with a full Magazine of UZI if given the chance. For some strange reasons...she loathes these creature with the absolute degree of loathing.

We came back to Palmerston and headed straight to McDonald's McCafe for some very refreshing Frappe. In the afternoon we test-drove the V8, Cat falling in love with it more, but hated the owner for being such a DH. So she decided to give it a miss. Geees, she would have bought it had he given her extra attention. Looking back, I think she made the right decision anyway. A V8 is so costly in fuel consumption, plus the fact that it runs like a wheeled missile...Not a good choice for someone with 4 little kids. The sound of the car alone sounds so intimidating.
Pumpkins and bananas for the matatakaw.
We spent the rest of the day cooking and eating here in the house...and oh, consoling Ate Luz with her love problems. She came here late at night in tears, so being the good friends that we are, we had to lend our ears. But like most marriage problems, friends can only listen and give assurances

By 10:00PM we've all fallen asleep in my family room, probably due to exhaustion...
Xander up in a mango tree-braver than his mum
Ate Luz having a nightmare while Cat is in la-la land


Well, that's how my cookie crumbled on Saturday....

Early this morning, we decided to go to the Sunday Rapid Creek Market, bought food then went to the Nightcliff Jetty for some fresh Air. It probably did good in Ate Luz's system because she started smiling and laughing again. We've made bets on the odds of 'someone' either coming back to Darwin this week or not. Unfortunately, shortly after we've closed the deal, we found out the answer...my group lost. So we have to shout the other group a lunch at the Sky City Casino next week.

The showbiz mother and son

Cat in la-la land again

So there goes the finale of my week off from work...Exhausting but good. Productive? Not really. But that was the intention for taking this time off from work...rest and cruise around.

Who's taking who to lunch again? I think I said he's coming back....

I'm now looking forward to the April holy week long weekend....Ang sarap pala ng walang ginagawa kundi lakwatsa ng lakwatsa....

3 DAYS PRINGLES BINGE

It's been a while since I've last eaten Pringles. Although it used to be my favorite past time junk food, I must've had too much of this at one point years ago, that I simply got too sick of it.

But long time ago... My sister used to get a lot of Pringles from her suitors, boyfriends and admirers. Back in Pinas way back when dagohoy ruled, Pringles was so expensive, so it really is a treat having this junk food. My Mum never wasted money on junk foods, so Pringles came few and far between. I only depended...well, prayed so often that my sister will have more rich admirers so I can have more Pringles. The richer the admirer is, the more pringles she gets. Not that she gave me often...I'd have to beg for it...to the extent of even stealing inch thick worth of Pringles each time from her bed room where she keept all the goodies from her admirers.

I'm telling yah, desperate need means desperate measures. It's like Mission Impossible having to bribe a cousin as a lookout in exchange for a couple of chips of Pringles, or any quid pro quo. It was like the most precious 'caviar' while living in CMU.

When I came to Australia, I had such a bender, over indulging in Pringles. That's how my revulsion came about. One day, I hated Pringles so much. I could not even stand the smell of it at one point. I was sick sick sick as in sick as a goat with Pringles.

Anyway, I've taken three days off from work starting yesterday (I am due to go back on Monday). So last Tuesday, I went to buy some groceries intending not to leave the house but stay home and rest/procrastinate/watch TV/read books/listen to music/surf the net/eat-all five days, weekend included.

Guess what I found. Yes a SIX-PACKER of Pringles. I don't know what made me do it but I bought it anyway....

Believe it or not, I am back binging again. My hubby even got surprised when he saw this box and asked me, "How come you bought Pringles?"

Well, maybe I'm having this 'BACK TO THE FUTURE' moment.

It's still the same yummy old crispy Pringles that has, no doubt, a lot of MSG.

OH MY LORD, three more to go....

Please note, all photos are mine, modelled by my friend Cat. It's not an AD from Pringles.

GREATNESS AND TALENT

Maybe I'm just really one of the less endowed population in the world who are unlucky enough not to possess any talents at all.

One of my friends told me recently that when I want something, I tend to obsess about it. Her words were, 'KINA-CAREER'. She's right, you know. I often find my self totally engrossed in things that I find interesting. And guess what! I find it so hard and long to get over these things. When I like something, my focus gets out of balance. It's like loosing my periphery on my whole personal entity and social life.


Notwithstanding my dedication and perseverance, I still fail to deliver brilliance in anything I put my hands, mind and heart into. I'm now starting to think I really have no artistic inclinations nor have I managed throughout the years to circumscribe my self into any creative forte.


I've tried sports (tennis) during my younger years...Don't ask me about it. I sucked so bad!!! It felt like having two arms and two legs but attached to the wrong side of my torso.

I've tried the literary gridiron during my high school years...It's never receptive to a mediocre intelligence like mine.

I joined a cultural dance troupe in college, but managed, once, without great effort to bring down the group into a comedic parody in a concert that was meant to be a portrayal of a Bukidnon legend.

I tried cake decorating, which I really enjoyed the first few steps of the way but rendered me despondent towards the end.

Now, I'm laying my hand on photography, and I've not been thinking of anything else the last few weeks, but concentrating earnestly on getting a compelling subject. Yet, I feel I am failing to deliver...Again.

What is so wrong with me???


What am I really destined to be? What am I good at? I know for a fact that what I do for a living right now, is not a pursuit I'm hoping to ascend upon and look back to when I'm 65 years old and could honestly cerebrate and possibly say, "Wow, I did good in something I truly loved doing". Yes. I will forever be grateful for such a blessing. God bestowed me such a decent, respectable and a relatively easy job. It can be stressful sometimes, but overall, it's not something that consumes me and my life. I will forever be thankful for having been given the opportunity to do public service.


Behind all gratitude, contentment and comfort, there is that incite that keeps on prodding in my being to do better. To reach the zenith of my capabilities. To do something grand. Not for financial bliss but more so an act of mental, emotional and social dissection. Testing my own yardstick, so to speak.


Unfortunately, it looks bleak right now. It seems that the benchmark I've so far established is not that eminent just yet.


But I have recently realised that the criterion for greatness is not relative to the perception of others, rather, it is the act of seeking greatness. It is the acknowledgement of the fact that individuals can take on anything yet fail on everything, but realising that testing oneself is greatness in itself.


Life is too short, if I don't put my toes in any murky waters, I'll never know what and how it would feel on my skin. I will continue to be scared of failure and be forever entombed in a small narrow world.


So now, I've decided I will not question my ability. Instead, I will go on and explore this vast macrocosm, the many possibilities, appreciate the beauty of the diverse humanity and never be scared to test any waters.


Come my deathbed, I can say, " I tried that, I failed...I tried those, I failed...But at least I know what they are, because I've tried them."

I don't want to become like this flower that holds no memory of what it once was...



So for my 'pangangareer' in anything that fascinates me...onward I go. I say, bring it on!


What's next? Maybe write a book???? Oh-oh

HAPPY VALENTINES

Happy Valentines day everyone!!!

Hope this day brings a lot of love and romance in your life. Enjoy.

THE AUSTRALIAN SPIRIT AMIDST THE FIRE

The embers still glowing, smoke rising and fire surging. The bushfire in Victoria has stupefied the whole nation. Families torn. Houses destroyed. People died and some dying. Identities erased. Personal belongings charred.

It is hard to understand the intensity of this catastrophe when you're merely hearing it from the news. Although bushfires are fairly common here in Australia, nothing has prepared anyone to this severity. Brought about by changing weather, several heat waves whipped across Victoria and Adelaide the last few weeks. The actual mass fatality from burning and smoke inhalation was precedented by deaths from exhaustion and dehydration due to the rise of temperature down south. It's alarming when you see articles in the news saying Northern Territory is the coolest place in Australia nowadays, when Northern Territory should be the hottest this time of the year.

Bushfire warnings were issued as experts anticipated these kind of occurrence during bushfire seasons. But the breach between warnings and apprehensions has proven to be as devastating as it is when Tsunami hits a shore. No one can ever predict the fervor of any calamities irrespective of any forecasts.

The death toll stood at 181 this afternoon but experts warned it can go up to 250, as the search goes on for the 80 who are missing. There were reports that dead people were found inside cars trying to get away from the fires but got caught

in the deluge of blazes. Those who escaped compared the torrent of fire to that of a tsunami, which was impossible to outrun.

One town with 200 inhabitants lost 15% of it's population to the fire. In my almost 15 years of residency here in Australia, I've witnessed cyclones, floods and bushfires. However, they are nothing near in comparison to this. This is by far the biggest devastation I have ever witnessed since I came here. I am not in Victoria but I can feel the percussion this bushfire has befallen in every Australian.

A politician here in the NT, one who witnessed cyclone Tracey as well as this bushfire, said she'd rather relive Cyclone Tracy than this.

It started over the weekend when an arsonist started the Gippsland fires which somehow spread across the state. Coupled with strong winds and extremely high temperatures, it was the perfect concoction for a super bushfire.

There are photos surfacing of people deliberately lighting fires around bushfire prone areas. You sort of wonder what are in the minds of these people. What do they expect? What do they get out of it? Do they have some kind of fantasy to get burned? Why?

What we know is that this act is nothing short of MURDER, worst than murder. It's mass murder. I strongly suggest that the arsonist responsible for this bushfire should be burned to death. When I saw the desolation the victims were going through, looking for loved ones and trying so desperately to salvage anything from the ruins that may help them prove who they are at the very least...I thought to my self, why am I complaining about my old, atrocious and faded quilt cover?

Although we get a lot of rain here in the Northern Territory, we also have the dry season, which can also lead to bushfires. These photos I've posted are actual bushfires that happened in front of our house last year after we've just come back from holiday. It's the area where I took the sunset photo, which I've posted previously. It may look safe because you could actually see a fire truck containing the lit area. But it still looked and felt scary because I can physically feel the heat and hear the creaking sounds even when I was several meters away from the fire.

In times like this, you can really see the Australian spirits trying to surge amidst devastation. You can also see in them the 'bayanihan' spirit that we, Filipinos, so nurture within our society. It's this spirit that made them survive Cyclone Tracy, the Bali bombing and the Port Arthur massacre.

Estranging my self from my roots and culture is virtually impossible. I even make sure that my son knows and understands more of it than he's meaning to take on. But in tragedies like this, I am very appreciative of the fact I am also an Australian. An Australian who feels the pain that the whole nation is feeling right now. How the nation stands so dignified after the many catharses it's gone over and around throughout it's young history is a classic example of real Aussie vitality. Something to get inspiration from, and something to learn from.

Filipinos might say, " mabuhay ang Pilipino!!!"

Aussies go, "AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE OI! OI! OI!"

More better, "NO WORRIES MATE!"

GET WET IN DARWIN

I'm lovin' the weather here in Darwin the last few days. It's wet, it's gloomy but it's cool. (Like Forks!!! Ahahahaha! Singit na naman).

Edward can live here anytime...I'll shelter him from the sun! Free board and lodging. Anyway, he does not eat, and I love dinugoan...and he doesn't sleep. He can always sneak in our masters bedroom when my hubby's away...

Anyway, Queensland's had a cyclone, Adelaide and Melbourne had heat waves, but Darwin's welcoming the wet. Monsoon trough brought extended rain period this past week. It's cooling down this normally humid season and giving every Darwin household a free garden re-hydration. The only drawback is, our yard has become an oasis for Cane Toad wanderers. It's not safe for my adopted son to go out on his own even in our own backyard. He hates their croaking sound and would love to tear their skin out...which will be fatal for him. If you have read my post loooong time ago about cane toads being pests here in the Northern Territory, Queensland and West Australia, you'd know why. I suppose there is no hope for these disgusting looking toads to be eradicated.

I'm hoping this weather's gonna go on 'till May...then we'll have the cold southern winter wind. Wouldn't it be good....

I'm getting sleepy now with the tripitraptrap sound up on our roof...Good night.

Oh, how are my pictures? Any comments?

COLECCIONES DE ESTANTE

My sister's just about done reading the first three books of the Twilight saga. Last time I spoke to her, she told me she's slowly reading ECLIPSE because she does not have BREAKING DAWN. She got sucked into the frenzy too, and so did my cousin, Bebz. Once you've gone past TWILIGHT, and started on NEW MOON, there is no stopping anymore. I hope my sis have finally found the last book because I know how it feels to search every corner of every bookstore you get into for the missing book. In fact, I have searched the whole of Australia for ECLIPSE back in December (or something). It's an atrocious experience. I had nightmares!!!

Anyway, my sister told me she's really going to put the whole series of books on he 'ESTANTE'. It's funny, because she's never the kind who parades books as some form of house decors for people to see in her lounge room. It's also funny because I have done exactly the same thing. I have a book shelf full off books in our study, far from guests sights. But since that book shelf is so full already, I have decided to fill up another bookshelf in our first living room with only my favorites, if not my first choice(s).

Now, they definitely look like house decors. Weird and...just weird. But there is no better place for them to be in right now but somewhere where people/guests will recognize straight away that whoever is living in this house is a TWILIGHT addict...and they better not criticise the saga and Stephenie Meyer, unless they want to be thrown out of the house!

For the longest time, I have not read a book that has really impressed me the way these four did. The last ,I think, was ' THE DA VINCI CODE' and ' ANGELS AND DEMONS'. I've read a lot of books since then, but nothing that made me think, how the hell did this writer come up with such a plot?

If you want to know how piteous I've become when it comes to this saga...here's an approximation...how about reading all four books 5 times since December?

God, I need a shrink!

Here's another Stephenie Meyer's which I bought today, THE HOST. Is it the weekend yet? Don't think its a good idea to start this one now. I Won't be sleeping tonight.

Monday down....Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to go...........

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

This is the beauty of digital photography...If you did it wrong, you can always go back and correct any mistakes. Any flaws captured, you can always eliminate. Any unwanted objects, you can delete. It makes me think however, one does not necessarily have to be artistic, one just needs to be techno-savvy to create something brilliant out of a flawed and amateur composition.

My bro and sis pointed out to me in my previous post not to put a subject right in the middle of the photograph, which really makes a lot of sense after reading "THE RULES OF COMPOSITION" . So here is an edited version of the 'Lilly' photograph which does not break the 'RULE OF THIRDS' anymore.

Here's an even further enhance version of this photograph. Notice the difference in colors? It's a lot stronger and more pronounced. Wonder what else I can do with this picture? Maybe put a butterfly on the flower? Oh...sis, can I borrow that broken winged butterfly?

For someone like me, with creative aptitude deficiency, I dare say, thanks God for digital photography and editing!

STALKING THE GECKO

One of my models (CAT) went for a holiday in 'Pinas', so I'm left with only my camera to experiment on. Although Mona's still here, Cat left some threatening words just before she left..."NO PICTORIALS WHILE I'M AWAY". Mona's not taking that threat for granted, and we intend to make true to our promise to wait for her before we experiment further along with photography and modelling.

But she did not stipulate anything against getting a new model. So while sitting in front of our house in Farrar, waiting for the sun set, and hoping to get another twilight view, I caught sight of this magnificent creature. I thought this is a better model than Mona and Catrina...Someone who does not bewail about clothes and make-up and does not ask for copies of photos for FRIENDSTERS and FACEBOOK!!!

Please welcome, THE GECKO!

One lonesome and unsuspecting lizard, traveling past my driveway while I was armed with my new toy. There is no better way to waste time, but stalk a gecko. I felt like an idiot looking like a paparazzo around my own backyard. My neighbors must've thought I was spying on the neighborhood. Unbeknownst to them, I found a more intriguing subject than human form itself.

I am still determined to learn how to make use of this camera. So here goes more of my practice subjects... No idea what I was doing...All I was trying to achieve was to get a clear photo. Any constructive criticisms are welcome.
I wake up each morning with this view across the street from my window. Our suburb is a very young residential area, so most of the lands are still up for grabs. But there is an existing covenant protecting this very land that I took a shot of. There will be no building/housing structures to be erected in the next 5 or so years. I think they intend to just make this a nature strip. If you're lucky, kangaroos and Dingos do pop out of this mini-jungle from time to time.

When we walk our adopted son, Ikki, out (that's actually his toilet right there), specially at night, we do carry with us a piece of stick to whack on a dingo, should one come out and decide Ikki is looking delicious.

The sun sets straight across the horizon from our bedroom window. It's a view to die for. Above photo is what this view looks like during day time.

Right down the bottom is Ikki. He got invited to a pug birthday party this

coming weekend. We're hoping we could go, so Ikki can have fun too...smelling and kissing butts out there.

Anyway, I have to go, take some more photos... Who knows, I might chance on a subject worth millions.

Yeah Right!

Ikki, go fetch a vampire!!!

Now, that would be something to see!

PRACTICE WITH A TWILIGHT TWIST

Being the first long weekend of the year (AUSTRALIA DAY), I am determined to learn something about my newly acquired toy from my brother. Took a lot of photos...with models of course....inexpensive ones (free actually)

I tried so dang hard to forget about Twilight, unfortunately, it just keeps popping up in my head. We went to the casino (mind you, I'm not a big gambler), and I saw this machine with a big Wolf theme. So I decided to forget and let go of a ten dollar note in my purse...just wanting to see the Wolf cry....Well wadayaknow! Made an eighty dollar return in my purse! All the while, only thinking about Jacob. Hah!

Anyway, I took some shots of my friends Mona and Cat. Then I decided to create a TWILIGHT theme on one (of the hundreds) of Cat's photos. This is my blog's version of Bella Swan-The Vampire....

The photos do not look professionally edited just yet, but give me a couple more months...or a year, I'll master this craft. I would like to say I love the camera, but how can I love something when I still don't know how to use it to it's full potential?

I am enjoying, however, the company of this powerful toy. If you have not noticed on this blog, my peer group has no shame, what so ever when it comes to facing cameras. We can already see projects lining up for my models...They've even got costumes ready, women magazines to study and locations to explore...Feeling professional kami lahat!!!

But in fairness, bagay naman sa kanila di ba? Tingnan nyo naman, Pang Twilight talaga.

Just have a look at Cat's transformation...

See below...We've already got a New Moon Version...Actually, NEW MOON CAKE version. That's Monalisa, dressed up like an oriental Bella Swan. Took Cat a few minutes to do Mona's make-up. Then, she did hers as well trying to impersonate a glamourous photo of Angelina Jollie, only to end up looking like a vampire...Pero pang Twilight na Vampire no!

NEW MOON CAKE

EMMETT'S TRUCK NASA FARRAR!!