Day 46, May 25, 2011

Nature's Canopy:

Okay so it sin't all encompassing as - say, the rain forest covers, but this tree is still impressive enough to cover a lot of space - specially when you consider that this is not a jungle but some place in the metro (the orchids should have been a dead giveaway).

I was trying to get a silhouette style pattern, but what I got was seemingly better. I like how the branches spread out and get smaller (presumably higher too). I like how the greenery shows in the picture. I like how the tree's bark shows a stark contrast to the near smooth flow of the tree's leaves. Yeah... I like a lot of things about this. But modesty aside, I like how it was I that took this picture - one that can easily be a picture in a magazine.

Day 45, May 24, 2011

My work stuff:

Yeah, these are what I lug to work on a daily basis... though normally the pen is in the bag, and the ID's around my neck.

The button is just for show though, since I'm not really assigned to the U2K2 project as a trainer - but as PMO.

This means I coordinate... and do this a lot. I also prepare reports and monitor metrics. Its not a glamorous job - and it can be better served with someone who is a stickler for details - but I do get by. As for benefits, well the job does pay better than training (though I still miss training), and it helps me save up for tuition fees, so you won't hear me complaining.

I was surprised at the quality of this picture. Focus was sharp and I did get the proper angle. See, here's what I'm saying about surprising myself. I both like and don't like it. Like because I discover what I'm capable of... and dislike because I can't pin it down to a mastered skill yet. Oh well... more practice.

Day 44, May 23, 2011

Barbie:

She definitely will not approve of my posting this, but Barbie shows some endearing qualities in this photo. What exactly?

For one a sens of humor - hence the sticking out of the tongue as I try taking a picture in an otherwise serious demeanor. Next is of course, the deadpan face as she does this.

Otherwise, she would come across as serious but slightly sophisticated - in her defense, the day did not warrant sophistication, and yes, maybe a hint of tolerance to a husband who tries acting like a paparazzi.

Day 43, May 22, 2011

Believe it or not, I had to come to work on a Sunday, because of certain reports that I had to finish. Had I been able to work it out at home, I need not have gone to the office - but security firewalls and all - well, what can I say?

Anyway, I just had to get to the office, send the report - check for updates to the email then go back home.

But the reason I took the picture was because these 'banderitas' were just recently installed maybe yesterday, and they gave the office - even in it's deserted Sunday environ, a fiesta-like feel. So what's the occasion? Simple, the start of the End User training phase. So yeah, we've reached another milestone (hence the reports I had to do). Oh well... such is life.

Day 42, May 21, 2011

Colleagues:

In the picture are (from let to right) Benj - back turned, Fiel, Gina and Mon - all fellow trainers since the PrimaryEdge days, and with exception to Benj, fellow trainers as well in Phoenix One.

But this day's get together, though somehow training oriented, had nothing to do with either company. Nope, hopefully, this little get together is the start of us forming a new company - or in this case, reviving one.

Hopefully, we can represent ourselves better with this - and with the same effort we're exerting, this time, we would be enriching ourselves and not other companies. It won't be easy... I know, but it will ultimately be better for us. So good luck to us! Oh yeah... and I don't think we'll limit ourselves to just training either.

Day 41, May 20, 2011

Coffee beans:

Yes this is one big grinder - and no, this isn't home... I would be hard pressed to finish even a 20th of what's in that bowl. Nope, this is a picture of the type of grinder that Starbucks uses on a daily basis - and of before, you'd think 'that's a lot of coffee', to Starbucks it may very well be just a day in the life of grinding and serving their customer's needs.

When I saw the grinder, I had to take a quick shot - and was trying to get a better angle when the shop's guard said it was not allowed to take pictures of the store or the merchandise. So, I reluctantly stashed my camera into the bag - but at least, I got this before I was told. In some way, I question the need for such a restriction... I mean, what are they afraid of? Unsolicited comments or possibly negative feedback?

Though in this blog entry's case, it;s neither... after all, I just want to practice taking pictures - and am glad that the guard in tis particular store was either a bit too slow - or secretly agreeing with the excess restrictions being unnecessary, thus just making a show of the need to stop, but not after I'd taken a few shots.

Day 40, May 19, 2011

Marco shot:

This is a picture of a plant I took - out of a sense of... well, curiosity. I wanted to take a shallow depth shot - a macro shot, if you will.

As before, I optedo come in close and focus on the closer leaves... trying to blur out the rest.

I must say that the effect was more dramatic than expected for me - pleasantly so. Unfortunately, it also means I've yet to really master the technique. How will I know I've done this mastering thing? I guess it will happen when I can remember settings that I need to use to come up with a desired effect. But to look at a picture and feel surprised or elated at tis outcome? I don't think I will ever get over that. Neither, do I think will any master of the craft for that matter.

A nice picture - and I did not have to make any post-production editing, as they say. In fact, one of the things this picture reminds me of are the old 3D movies that have these kind of shots with the image stretching out of the screen going to the audience.

Day 38, May 17, 2011

New stash:

Yes, I got to buy a few new titles today, and a couple of these are revolving around the FF (previously referred to as the Fantastic Four, but until recently has had a name change to Future Foundation), and Avengers (counting Cap and Spidey as members).

Of said bunch, let me just sing praises for Johnathan Hickman's FF, followed by Secret Avengers, which, unfortunately will see Brubaker leaving the helm of writer. Hope the new writer can come up with equally compelling stories. Other than that, it was just simply some Batman Inc. and a JSA annual (seeing as I somehow stopped collecting JSA) which I wanted to look at - specially since it's a one shot issue. Weakest title in the bunch? New Avengers - as the story seems to have a dichotomy between Bendis and Chaykin. The premise was weak, and the pacing awkward. Then again, what did I expect? Not much, to say honestly.

Day 39, May 18, 2011

Extra garlic, extra cheese!

Yes, this is a Shakey's pizza - the garlic and cheese variety, with an added order of extra garlic and cheese. We always get the thin crust version, as it comes across as crunchy - as well as tasty (though others might argue that the thick crust is more filling).

Add to this the combination of Mojos and Chicken, and you get a great meal combination that non-dieters will thoroughly enjoy and dieters may just cheat at... so they too can enjoy.

It's not everyday we do this - otherwise it wouldnt' be as enjoyable too... but Shakey's has been around for - well, for ages - and the good thing about this? We're eating it at home - and you know how much I prefer eating withing the peaceful walls of home than in the chaotic environs of malls. Naturally, this meal rounds up nicely with an ice filled glass of Coke (Light),

Day 37, May 16, 2011

Pistachio ice cream:

It may not look like it - because many people would look for the greenish hue, but this is a pistachio flavored (and chunky) ice cream. It's from Cara Mia - the desert side of Amaci and yes, when we eat at Amici, we eventually gravitate to taking our dessert at Cara Mia - whether they be cakes or ice cream. So yeah... I like getting this flavor, and likewise try out the others once in a while.

When we order our ice cream, we always choose to have the in the bowl-shaped waffle cone which serves as both a container for the ice cream as well as the crunchy counterpoint to eating said ice cream> If you have not yet tried the ice cream (or should I refer to them as gelato?) at Cara Mia, you should give it a shot. I don't know if they've a branch in the Amici in Don Bosco Makati though. Since I've never been there yet. But I can vouch for the Greenhills branch.

Day 36, May 15, 2011

Amici:

This place seems to be a frequent favorite of ours when we want to just have some 'authentic' Italian dishes (like pizza and pasta), yet want it to have both quality and reasonable pricing.

Amici in Greenhills is where we go to for those special Sundays - or special occasions like graduations, birthdays or simply when we find ourselves wanting to eat there - I mean, we need not wait for the next special occasion, right?

What we normally get would be the  4-cheese pizza, and the seafood pasta (in olive oil), and maybe a few cheese sticks for starters - grab a pitcher of ice tea and we've  a family meal enough for the four of us. Being creatures of habit, we seem to stick to this again and again. I'm sire Amici has a whole lot more in its menu (which is what this picture is showing, by the way ) but w're really satisfied with what we order... then again, at times we also order the spinach pizza. But you get the point. Lunchtime after mass can normally become Amici time.

Day 35, May 14, 2011

New Look!

Just for a day anyway. You see this was the time I had a new haircut while Barbie got Bernice a new set of shades (hence her sporting the shades).

Don't let the styled hair fool you - its only because I'm fresh out from the parlor that I'm sporting a new look with a gelled hairstyle - come next day this won't be the case, and I'll be back with my usual charming look.

No offense to who gave me the look of course, but aside from the fact of Barbie liking the look on me -maybe for the novelty, I find it frivolous and people might think I'm pretending to look younger than I really am. Sure, there's looking young even for one's age - but following the hairstyle trend used by the teens... well, it's a bit uncomfortable for me.

This was taken by Barbie at Figaro's Podium, while I was enjoying some coffee.

Day 34, May 13, 2011

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More comics:

One of things I tend to do is get comics from more than one shop - you see, I get some issues form shops I normally find close to where I am that particular day.

However, I do have one shop where I can be considered a regular - with some fringe benefits like their reserving copies of comics for me - or in this case, giving me copies of FCBD issues, even if I did not ask for them.

But yeah, it gives me great pleasure ot know that I'm a valued customer - nad they give me such perks. Cool, right? Thanks to Filbars' Makati, and for that matter, Filbars' Greenhills as well. Other shops I frequent - albeit in a less regular frequency are Comic X in Makati and Comic Quest in Mandaluyong. Nice to know there are several shops these days, catering to my interests.

Day 33, May 12, 2011

Bryce:

I've been practicing close ups while making sure I start feeling comfortable with cropped heads - moving away from the Photographer's notion of getting the entire head - as opposed to focusing on the face (who needs the entire head?)

Yeah... sometimes it looks terrible - but in other occasions it does look striking, and I would like to think that this particular picture of Bryce comes across as my wanting to maximize the picture's capability to display a subject, by focusing on one aspect only (in this case, the face) and zoom in close. I must say that it looks different - in a good way, but then again, I'm biased.

Day 32, May 11, 2011

Semi-Kal!

Yup that's Jude with his new look - the semi kalbo hairstyle, and his beaming mom, Bea.

Personally, I think he got it easy - he almost sported a Mohawk look, and up until his actual haircut day, Bea was fixated on his getting the mohawk look.

I don't exactly know why it did not push through, but Jude may thank his luck in the future - when his pictures in FB may; in the future, be seen by classmates.

Wow! A better organized Photoblog!

Yup! Can yo believe this was actually due to an accidental discovery of how to alternatively align photos, I mean, sure... it was not that hard to do - but the process was poorly documented. After all, had I not actually 'accidentally' disturbed stuff and try fixing them, I would not have discovered the way to fix my Photoblog pictures properly, simply because these ways seem to be built with secrecy in mind. I mean, c'mon... where's the documentation to do this?

Ah well, at least I can now work back to my previous pics and fix how my 2nd photoblog looks - hmmm...

Day 31, May 10, 2011

Ice Cream:

This is what I call my Valencia (meaning Orange flavored - coming from the fact that Oranges were once connected to the name Valencia... a possible point of origin for shipping Oranges before) flavored cooler. It's made of Manila Vanilla (a.k.a. Mantecado - which is a richer buttermilk variety)  flavored ice cream - thus giving it a slightly yellower color than your plain vanilla ice cream.

Added to this are some Orange flavored Kit Kats; I think these are just trial products - I've never seen them before, and I doubt I'll be seeing them all the time, in which case, this will be a rare treat... unless demand for Orange-flavored Kit Kats hit the ceiling and they decide to make this offshoot version a regular, and regularly come out with such a  flavor. To complete the rare treat, I add a dash of Cointreau - an orange flavored liqueur.

Now, since the Vanilla is a neutral flavor (or as neutral as its going to get) the orange taste will naturally stand out - giving the vanilla just enough of a contrast against its milky flavor... and no, I think choosing an orange flavored ice creme might be too monotonous a combination - not to mention harder to find. Now... imagine all these flavors mixing in you mouth - the coolness of the ice cream, with the contrasting slightly bitter sweet flavor of Cointreau (not to mention its being a liqueur and therefore a bit hot to the stomach, plus the chocolate crunchiness and orange flavor of this Kit Kat.

How does one describe this treat? I guess the best way to say it would be 'yummy', or if you prefer more sophistication to the answer, I'd go with exquisite or heavenly. In fact, I once described this as heavenly sinful.