Day 358 Mar 31, 2012

Earth Hour:

Every last Saturday of March is the world-wide celebration of Earth Hour celebration. This year, that makes it the 31st, and as you can see in this LCD of Starbucks, there are announcements left and right with the hope of making sure people volunteer an our - from 8:30 to 9:30pm - to have a lights out moment in solidarity with everyone else to show we are aware and serious about conserving energy.

Well this particular year, we were not really able to practice Earth Hour - although, when you think about it... we actually did. How so? Simple... we were watching a movie - Hunger Games, and though we did not intend for this to coincide with Earth Hour, we were able to get tickets for the 7:40pm showing. Doing some mental math, I thought, we'd be inside the theater for the most part of Earth Hour... but would come out and still see it happening around the Greenhills theater. Unfortunately, the movie lasted longer than expected - so by the time we went out, all lights were on. Oh well... at least, all lights were off while we were watching the movie - thus actually practicing Earth Hour.

Then again, should we not want to experience the one hour lights off - watching a movie would be the best reason to go around Earth Hour and still be able to say you were practicing it (while watching the movie). As I was going into the movie... I chose not to bring the DSLR - so I used my Blackberry to take this picture.

Day 357 Mar 30, 2012

Breakfast for three:

Though we're not in the picture, Barbie and I are ably represented by our Starbucks breakfast, while Bernice is left to smile into the camera. No occasion, really... just the fact that it being a Friday, Barbie need not go to work, and being a month-end, I had to go to Makati to get my paycheck. Hence our finding ourselves here in Starbucks Greenbelt 1.

I used my DSLR for this, deciding to use the ambient lighting, which was more than enough to get a nice shot without having too little or too bright a light... more so the latter when you think that we're right beside the window - and had it not been for a partly cloudy day, such glaring effect might ruin this shot.

As for my breakfast - the french toasts were heavy... and I did not need to place the syrup supplied with it. The toast size not withstanding, I would have wanted it to be a bit more saucy - as in possibly marinaded longer in the milk and egg mixture. I should know because I have cooked these way back when I was a teen. What can I say, I've got impeccable taste.

After this, the plan would be to try going to S&R and hope the lines aren't insanely long... other than that, the day is relatively flexible - and I plan to enjoy it.

Day 356 Mar 29, 2012

Turkish Delights:

This is me discovering this delicatessen - a little something brought back for us by Brian. It's know by its more familiar 'Turkish Delights' label... or Lukum by the Turkish and/or Arabic people.

My first impression when taking it? Its got a powedery cover - much like our local espasol, so eating it can be a bot of a powdery mess... just saying. But unlike the espasol that has a bland taste as only ground root crops tend to have, these lukum come in different and for the most part, sweet flavor.

I don't know if they happen to be done this way all the time (it is my first taste of it remember?), but based on my first impression, it is good. Sort of like a fruity flavored orange jelly - it you've tasted those... but not just orange, and instead of the usual sugar coating... as I said, more like confectionery (powdery) sugar is used. Personally, its good, and I have it on good authority that it goes great with Turkish coffee - which I still need to look for.

This is another Instagram picture... and yes, it also covers my picture as part of my photoblog - the last one being about 10 pictures ago. Yes, I know... not too far off - but this is a 'first' event. I mean, think of it... 51 years before I even got to taste these things.

Day 355 Mar 28, 2012

Brian's in town:

Fresh from Dubai, Brian planed it to spend a few days (literally about 2 weeks) with his wife and newly born baby.

Since he's just arrived, and Ben fetched him, they went here first, so Brian could rest a bit. While resting, he logs into our WiFi and takes a few winks. This picture is when Brian was logging into Buffy's Domain (yes, that's what I named our WiFi domain), while Jude just got used to his presence and did not feel that intimidated with the 'stranger' in our home.

If the picture quality is a bit grainy, this is because I used Instagram for this (via my iPad), so I had to work with a lesser megapixel camera, and possibly an even lower pixelation via Instagram too. I don't know if there is a way to tweak the picture quality for a better quality shot - at least, as of this time, I am not yet aware of such a technique.

Day 354 Mar 27, 2012

Waiting in J&J parking:

Seeing as this week is a relatively free week for me (no work assigned to me), I find myself fetching Barbie from work, then driving home.

Along the way, we talk... maybe do the groceries, maybe stop by some place to have a snack - or early dinner... this latter option being when either of us has something to do before going home.

Now, as I wait... I either read a book or a few comic books, maybe even read an ebook with my iPad - or simply play games in said iPad as well. Maybe if the wait is rather long (due to Barbie's unanticipated meeting with her boss - thus unable to leave as intended... hence my waiting this way as well... anyway, yes... if the wait is really long, I might do just all of the things I mentioned earlier.

Once again, I used my Blackberry camera for this... talk about getting bored huh?

Day 353 Mar 26, 2012

Aircon cleaning:

This is how our black car looks with all its wirings from the dashboard exposed... a necessary move to reach the car's aircon, so it can be cleaned.

Apparently, this is one of the more labor intense aircon cleaning models - not just because of where the aircon is hidden, but also because of the fact that since this is an automatic model, the dahsboard is a bit more complicated to take out - as its got so many components that are individually screwed. I mean, I was... for the most part, observing how things were being done - and I have to say I ran out of patience while waiting for this to be done. I just had to leave the shop (which was quite close to my place) so I could have lunch and rest a bit. Yeah... since this entire week is a free week, I'm starting to catch up with pending stuff that needs to be done - this was one of them... and by no means is this done. The car also needs an oil change and to be registered... preferably before Ben leaves for Dubai.

This shot was taken using my Blackberry smart phone's camera. After all, I did not want to wait out in the open toting my DSLR or my iPad.

Day 352 Mar 25, 2012

Chatime:

Looks like this is getting to be a habit - the enjoying of Chatime drinks that is. Whenever I find myself in Greenhills, we (that is, Barbie and I... and normally, with Bernice as well as this instance connotes) would decide to get some Chatime milk tea.

In our case, we normally gravitate towards the red bean variety - a best seller, if their ads are to be believed... and I personally like it because their red beans remind me of hopia... or in some way, halo halo (no surprise as it happens to be the same red beans in the halo halo - and most probably the same as well when it comes to certain hopia variety.

But what is also great about this is that we can opt to have it less sweeter (my preference) and it always comes in a refreshingly cold temperature... a definite plus factor in this hot summer season. I tried taking thsi picture with and without a flash... for some reason, I prefer the non-flash option... it looks fuller, as the flash option lessens some inherent shadows and or reflections.

Day 351 Mar 24, 2012

14th Celebration:

Bernice turned 14 today, and we just thought of a little get together with family who could make it (which means mostly from Barbie's side, as my side of the family is rather far... as in Batangas far).

We ordered some pizza (El Buono over-sized 24" in diameter), made some pasta, got some KFCs (a bucket of 15 pcs) and some drinks. That was more than enough for all of us... in fact, we even had some spaghetti for take home by some of our guests

As for the simplicity of said party, our celebrator (Bernice) did not really mind its seeming frugal manner as she had already treated her friends the day before. This, then, was a purely family focused celebration.

If you're wondering where I was in this occasion, I was actually taking the shot - besides, as I said, it was a purely family affair... done at our place, so Barbie and I were not at our party best. Far from it, as we were still in the process of doing the necessary preparations for this 'late afternoon to evening' gathering. Ben, also not in the picture, was the one who cooked the spaghetti. 

So Happy Birthday Bernice! We all love you. 

Day 350 Mar 23, 2012

Rare gathering:

This is a picture of my friends/ sometime gaming group members - yup... these people were (or should I still use the word 'are'?) gamers. For most of us, gaming is what we were doing and this is how we met each other.

This particular Friday evening, we all got together - at least, those of us who could make it (others could not) to share dinner with JP - who would be around only until his daughter's graduation. The reunion was timed for dinner and we all ate at North Park, Makati Avenue. In between we would play catch up with each other's lives. It was great to see them... and hopefully, we'll be able to repeat this practice soon.

On another note... wow! 350th entry for this Photo blog... hard to consider that this started 350 days ago - and I'm just talking about year 2. Obviously if we include year 1, we would have to add 365 to the day 350. Meanwhile... thiws milestone means I just have 16 (leap year) days before this project (Year 2) ends. Whew... and just like after I did year one, I will revisit the year that was.

Day 349 Mar 22, 2012

New Comics:

If I were to look for certain constants in my life, based on the pictures this past year (and last year as well), I would have to say that comics would appear on a semi-regular basis. Then again, it shouldn't be surprising to ma - or anyone who knows me, that the hobby I have been enjoying for nearly 5 decades now, would prominently figure in my life.

I enjoy reading them... as I've surely said before. If not... well, its quite obvious, with all the pics I've posted regarding them. After all, I do collect them on a regular basis - hence it will not be more surprising if I so not show another batch of new acquisitions within the month... more so when one considers that I normally purchase these on a weekly basis. After all, they are marketed by spreading the titles across the 4-weeks of a month... this assures that there will always be comics coming out each and every week.

My collections are not limited to just one company (the way I used to just stick to Marvel, until DC came up with an interesting title (New Teen Titans) by a creative team made of ex-Marvel talents. Nowadays, aside from Marvel and DC, I dabble in a few IDWs (Rocketeer), Dynamite (Vampirella) and maybe even Dark Horse. These independents come up with great titles.stories that are hard to ignore. It is also indicative of the industry's health that such independents have the capacity to thrive. Soooo... expect that this will not be the last entry showing comics... not if I know me, and assuming there are no other, more interesting pics to show. After all, I'm willing to bump off comics pics for such unique shots.