2010

Welcome 2010.
So many plans for you.
Many oppurtunities waiting.
I can't wait to start doing them all.

Excitement fills me now.
The cup is once again empty.
I will fill this empty cup
With all the hopes and dreams,
And ambitions that's begging
to see the light of day.

Let me start by allowing
my body to recharge
with a good, deep sleep.
It's 2 AM, Jan 1, 2010.

So fired up.
Good morning world!

Fired Up!

It's amazing how a simple plan -- conceived in my dreams -- wakes me up and keeps me fired up at this early hour.

Indeed, if an endeavor is grounded on a deep purpose, on a powerful WHY, the HOW, no matter how absurd, now seems feasible. Though it's still far away in the future, the triumph feels so real
now.

Back from the grave

Finally!

Wow. It's been long while since I've posted here. After my hard drive crashed, I can't for the life of me remember my password and ID. I should have disallowed the "remember your id, password" option in the first place.

That old 80 GB hard drive stored three years of priceless documents, PICTURES, videos and memories. Now, gone forever. I still can't figure out why a hard drive -- untouched and unmoved inside the CPU -- will crash when it practically does nothing but store data - in 1's and O's. I always thought of getting an external, inexpensive hard drive. Now I should really get one.

Anyway 2010 is coming, I might as well start the rebuilding process now. Time to get my old Nikon and start firing away. Hopefully I can still save some images on what's left in 2009.

Open letter

Is hell exothermic or endothermic?

The following is an actual question given on a University of Washington engineering mid-term. The answer was so "profound" that the Professor shared it with colleagues, and the sharing obviously hasn't ceased.

Bonus Question: Is Hell exothermic (gives off heat) or Endothermic (absorbs heat)?

Most of the students wrote Proofs of their beliefs using Boyle's Law, (gas cools off when it expands and heats when it is compressed) or some variant. One student, however, wrote the following:

"First, we need to know how the mass of Hell is changing in time. So we need to know the rate that souls are moving into Hell and the rate they are leaving. I think that we can safely assume that once a soul gets to Hell, it will not leave. Therefore, no souls are leaving. As for how many souls are entering Hell, let us look at the different religions that exist in the world today. Some of these religions state that if you are not a member of their religion, you will go to Hell. Since there are more than one of these religions and since people do not belong to more than one religion, we can project that all souls go to Hell. With birth and death rates as they are, we can expect the number of souls in Hell to increase exponentially.

Now, we look at the rate of change of the volume in Hell because Boyle's Law states that in order for the temperature and pressure in Hell to stay the same, the volume of Hell has to expand as souls are added. This gives two possibilities:

1. If Hell is expanding at a slower rate than the rate at which souls enter Hell, then the temperature and pressure in Hell will increase until all Hell breaks loose.

2. Of course, if Hell is expanding at a rate faster than the increase of souls in Hell, then the temperature and pressure will drop until Hell freezes over.

So which is it?

If we accept the postulate given to me by Teresa Banyan during my Freshman year, "...that it will be a cold day in Hell before I sleep with you.", and take into account the fact that I still have not succeeded in having sexual relations with her, then, #2 cannot be true, and thus I am sure that Hell is exothermic and will not freeze."

This student received the only A.

- Unknown

Eating fruits

Got this from my email. Seriously considering a purely fruit diet in the next three days... lol.

------------------------------------------

EATING FRUITS

We all think eating fruits means just buying fruits, cutting it and just popping it into our mouths. It's not as easy as you think It's important to know how and when to eat..

What is the correct way of eating fruits?

IT MEANS NOT EATING FRUITS AFTER YOUR MEALS! - FRUITS SHOULD BE EATEN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH. If you eat fruit on an empty stomach, it will play a major role to detoxify your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities.

FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD - Let's say you eat two slices of bread and then a slice of fruit.. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it is prevented from doing so.

In the meantime the whole meal rots and ferments and turns to acid.. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil.

So please eat your fruits on an empty stomach or before your meals! You have heard people complaining - every time I eat water-melon I burp, when I eat durian (fruit from Asia with a foul smell yet delicious flavor) my stomach bloats up, when I eat a banana I feel like running to the toilet etc - actually all this will not arise if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. The fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas and hence you will bloat!

Graying hair, balding, nervous outburst, and dark circles under the eyes - all these will not happen if you take fruits on an empty stomach.

There is no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon are acidic, because all fruits become alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did research on this matter. If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruits, you have the Secret of beauty, longevity, health, energy, happiness and normal weight.

When you need to drink fruit juice - drink only fresh fruit juice, NOT from the cans.. Don't even drink juice that has been heated up.. Don't eat cooked fruits because you don't get the nutrients at all. You only get to taste.
Cooking destroys all the vitamins.

But eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. If you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it.

You can go on a 3-day fruit fast to cleanse your body. Just eat fruits and drink fruit juice throughout the 3 days and you will be surprised when your friends tell you how radiant you look!


KIWI: Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E & fiber. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.

APPLE: An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoid which enhances the activity of vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.

STRAWBERRY: Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals.

ORANGE: Sweetest medicine, eating 2 to 4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessens the risk of colon cancer.

WATERMELON: Coolest thirst quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene - the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are vitamin C & Potassium.

GUAVA & PAPAYA: Top awards for vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene; this is good for your eyes.

A thousand words

Budget setting

We're now in the middle of July. I analyzed our expenses for the month: the OTHERS portion seem to be getting bigger and bigger.

Groceries	16%
Bills	21%
Eating Out	14%
Gasoline	19%
Others	30%

The others include: vitamins for dogs, key duplication, airsoft reg fee, mailings, tips during eating out, newspaper, dog chain, blank cds and many other small, unimportant stuff.

As it is with my life, I realize that the minor, even negligible, things when added together take up a huge portion of my time and energy. I guess learning to manage these small things could mean greater productivity in the long run. As Covey clearly puts it: small, private victories precedes great, public ones.

Iconic

After days of being bombarded with Michael Jackson's stories -- death, life, songs, videos -- I am tired of hearing about him anymore. And so I have tried ignoring any MJ related news, but this pic, posted in a FB account of a friend, caught my attention.

Two icons: one just made his final, albeit celebrated, farewell; the other is, well, silently vanishing into oblivion.

Cotabato memories

In the news today: A homemade bomb exploded in front of Immaculate Conception Church killing five people and injuring more than 40 others.

Bombings in and around Cotabato City are almost no longer a big news. This one though caught national attention because it happened in front of a Catholic Church.

Across the Church is a Mc Donald's restaurant. A short distance away from Mc Do is Dr B's clinic. When I was still travelling to Cotabato, I frequented these places: Dr B's clinic, Mc Do and the church.

I get nostalgic when I hear news about this troubled place. There has been so many memories there -- happy and not so happy ones -- that I think help shaped the person I am today. I was assigned there for less than one year in 1998 and came back in 2008, that's a full ten years gap. The long, five to six hour drive to Cotabato has been precious contemplative, even productive, moments for me.

Early rise

We arrived at the pier at around five in the morning to shoot the rising sun. We ended up shooting each other most of the time.

photo by RGCphoto by ARD

Dex

I surprised Gem with a new puppy. We call him Dex, short for Dexter. He's a 2 month old golden retriever.

The other dogs seem to ignore him; except for Chase who plays with him.

Long live and prosper.

Rules to live by

Over the years, I have tried to live by some simple rules. I do stray from them a lot. But I strive, sometimes with great difficulty, to get back on the right track again.

I started with three simple rules: the first three on the list below. Over time, my list increased -- usually because of a personal life changing event or because of a powerful insight. I have tried to make these life rules as few as possible; it would be difficult and unrealistic to create more and not follow them.

Today I add a new one: I will listen.

I will listen, and listen well, to what other people have to say before making any response. I regularly interrupt while the other is still talking, and I do this a lot especially with those closest to me. And sometimes this has caused some hurt and strain in my relationships. Darn.

1. I will never put off later what I can do now.
2. I will honor all commitments big and small.
3. I will never think, talk, and harbor ill will against any man.
4. I will be kind especially those who have less in life than me.
5. I will do something everyday to improve my life.
6. Five minutes of deep prayer every morning right after waking up.
7. I will not squander my time with worthless activities.
8. I will listen.

Accepting Consequences

Hayden should accept the consequences of his actions. He should say, "I f__cked up really bad, I accept the punishments due my crime. I can go to jail, I accept the revocation of my doctor's license." If only to preserve what little dignity left of his family name.

Taking video without the consent of his sexual partners is WRONG. I don't know the specific law he violated but taking advantage of his partner's trust, in a devious way, should be enough to condemn him to eternal damnation and shame. Saying that Hayden is mentally sick is an understatement. Deranged would not even come close.

Now the question: who dispersed the videos for all the world to see? That is clearly the crime here. Because, if the vids didn't come out, Katrina's lips would still be sealed. Yes, sealed forever with the most powerful Epoxy.

Katrina shouldn't say, "binaboy nya ako". Lol. I saw the vid. (on a tv doc, hehehe) In no way was she forced to do anything. She willingly, lustfully went up and down on her own. She committed a grave blunder in having illicit encounters (note: encounterSsss) with a man, whom she -- and, apparently, the whole universe -- know is in a long-standing relationship with Belo. With or without the video, that is wrong. And that mistake has severe consequences, as well.

The police are serious again in cleaning the streets against the proliferation of sexual videos, not just of Katrina's; and, whatever their agendas, fiery talks of privacy and pornography resound once more in the sacred halls of our Congress. Now that is not a bad thing for our country.

Light and Shade

I was basking in the glow of the setting sun at the top of DBP Building. I took this shot of the San Pedro Church Cross as the sun began to disappear over the horizon.

As I turned to leave, I came face to face with this shadowy figure.

Survivor

Still you survived. You are all over. How do I control your growth?

Blake

Blake remained still, long enough for me to take this shot.

The dark horse wins

The dark horse, the underdog wins.

Although Kris has always been safe in the voting for American Idol, I always thought Adam will win. It's a bit of a shocker, for me, at least; Simon did not even stand when the camera zoomed in on the judges when the result was announced. Throughout the season, Adam made great performances, one after another, while Kris seesawed from good to exceptional. Kris last performance was ludicrous considering he is a finalist of a song competition where thousands auditioned for. It exposed the weakness and limits of his voice.

Last night, despite Adam's phenomenal performance, Gem sensed that Adam will be in trouble; especially after Kris's teary-eyed Mom and Dad narrated the free song coupon that Kris, as a child, gave to his mom. I think, Gem was silently hoping -- even pleading with the American voters -- that they had cast more votes for Adam than for Kris.

I texted Gem as soon as the result was announced. She immediately called and asked if the difference in the number of votes was announced, too; the sound of despair evident in her voice. I said no.

Earlier in the season, there were talks of a Christian vote going strongly for Kris and Danny, both very active in their respective churches. Talks of the Christian votes began after photos of Adam, like this below, and a gay porno video, with him as an active participant, started circulating around the net. Kris said he hoped the outcome wouldn't be decided by "having the christian vote."

I think this is why Simon consistently remarked that this is a singing competition and that the better singer should win.

“After the third one leaves, you wonder where do the votes go from that third contestant,” Paula Abdul said after Tuesday's showdown. Evidently, Paula, you have your answer.

It's amazing how a reality TV show can evoke a feeling of loss or triumph not just from my Gem but from a lot of people, as well. The time and effort invested in following the progress of each contestant week after week, perhaps, created a special bond by viewers toward the competitors. And the hopes and despairs, the joy and elation of the contestants are shared, too, by their loyal followers.

Wilderness Time

I'm halfway into finishing "Living in Wilderness Time" by Melissa Walker.

Someday I will experience some of the excitement, the peace, the calm, the clarity of purpose she experienced in her months of solitude in the wilderness of America.

I was reading blissfully at the coffee shop at Caltex until around 9 Am when some lawyer (I think) sat down, opened his laptop and started talking loudly on his phone.

I moved to another coffee shop.

About the book: Soon after her fiftieth birthday, Melissa Walker set out on a journey that many women of her generation have mapped only in their dreams. Having spent her adult life raising children and climbing the academic ladder, Walker decided to put some of the environmental theories she'd taught into practice. Leaving her suburban life, she ventured into the wilderness.

Treky once more

That's it. After watching J.J. Abram's Star Trek, I'm a treky fanatic once more. I never expected the movie to be great. I thought a pre-kirk-the-captain story will be boring. Totally not. Even Gem couldn't stop talking about it through most of our late dinner.

Easily one of the best Star Trek movie ever. The story on how its famous crew came to USS Enterprise was fresh, original, thrilling, even exhilarating. It captivated me from start to finish with almost no lull in the pacing. Hell, even those who know NOTHING about the world of Star Trek will find this enjoyable. This reinvigorated the Star Trek characters and its universe.

This is not the same Enterprise crew that I have grown to love -- being on an alternate reality, with the Vulcan world destroyed and two Spocks coexisting -- but I'm craving for another adventure with these guys.

Main Door

Repair or replace? $$$ Darn.

I need you

One of our all time favorite songs.


I Need You

I wanna drink that shot of whiskey
I wanna smoke that cigarette
I wanna smell that sweet addiction on my breathe
I wanna ride across W Virginia in the back seat of a Cadillac
You know some cowboys like me go out like that
So I need you

Like a needle needs a vein
Like my uncle Joe in Oklahoma needs a rain
And I need you
Like a lighthouse on a coast
Like the father and the son need the Holy Ghost
I need you

I wanna get lost in some corner booth, Cantina Mexico
I wanna dance to the static of an AM radio
I wanna wrap the moon around us, lay beside you skin on skin
Make love til the sun comes up, til the sun goes down again
Cause I need you

Like a needle needs a vein
Like my uncle Joe in Oklahoma needs a rain
I need you
Like a lighthouse on a coast
Like the father and the son need the Holy Ghost
I need you, OOH I need you

I wanna drink that shot of whiskey
I wanna smoke that cigarette
You know some cowboys like me go out like that
So I need you, wohh I need you
I need you I need you I need you, I nee-ed you

Multiplicity

For a long time, I have been planning to create a multiply account. Well, I finally did it. http://manuelcartagena.multiply.com/

Blogger is uncomplicated, easy going, and smooth while Multiply is elaborate in its attention to details and organizes lots of things I want to see in a webpage. My multiply account can be programmed to update blogs every time I have new entries or changes in my blogger account. Amazing. It has links too with my flickr and youtube accounts. But if I can an make auto updates on these accounts too -- I still don't know.

I think I'll maintain both Blogger and Multiply accounts for now. But journalling (open journal, that is) will still be done in blogger.

Leading With His Chin

Reading "Leading with My Chin" by Jay Leno

I was laughing most the time when I read this book, which prompted a waiter to ask what the book was about. Jay Leno always sees the funny side of life. Because of his job as a comic, he'd been turned down and ridiculed many times that it's just amazing he didn't give up early on. His love for his parents, his humorous childhood escapades, his hard life on the road, all his odd jobs are some of the funniest -- and inspiring -- stories of his life.

As I go through this pivotal moment in my life, Leno's life is, somewhat, an inspiration. I realize that with his persistence and his hard work, there was really no way he could have failed. A lot of people, too, helped him along the way, come to think of it, even those who tried to bring him down gave him the tenacity to persevere with his trade. I remember this quote: when you walk with purpose and perseverance, the world will step aside and let you pass. This is so true. People who have no goals and just drift through life will give way and, even, help someone who moves with purpose and determination.

Leno is very persistent:

"To audition in places like Catch a Rising Star and The Improv, we would start lining up outside the clubs at two in the afternoon with hopes of getting onstage sometime after eleven that night. You'd spend your whole day sitting in the curb, waiting and waiting. Inevitably, somebody in front of you would say, "This sucks!" and walk away. I always enjoyed that. All of a sudden, I had moved up! Without doing a thing, my standing had just improved! That process seemed to encompass my philosophy in life."

"The point is, any idiot can have a life. If you're breathing you've got a life. I've never been better at anything than anybody else. Which meant that I would always just have to work a little harder to keep up or maybe even pull ahead. Like the turtle who raced the hare, I plowed forward, slow and steady. Even if it meant sitting on curbs all day or sleeping on the back steps of comedy clubs all night."

I guess, this story summed up how I felt when I decided to make the crucial change in my life, too. From the book:

"One comic I knew just left for California and, within a few months, POW!, he was booked on The Tonight Show."

"That night, I was back in my Boston apartment, watching the Tonight Show. The comic did okay, nothing special, but there he was --- performing ten feet away from Johnny Carson's desk. I thought, "Geez, I often did much better that this guy when we played clubs together." And I couldn't shake the thought. Now my gut was burning and I knew it."

"I'd already quit my job at Foreign Motors to focus on comedy. Now it was time to make the next big decision. If I stayed in Boston, I would want to have a nicer apartment or a better car --- and suddenly I'd be stuck there, married to these possessions. In such pivotal moments, you either stay or you go. I imagined there'd been a fire in my apartment -- which wasn't far from the reality of what a dump it had become! What would have I really lost? A refrigerator? A christmas tree?"

"Sometimes before The Tonight Show ended that night, I just said, "That's it. Let me call the airlines and book the next flight to California."

"Which is what I did. I told the neighbors that they could take anything of mine that they wanted. I packed up whatever else I needed and just walked out of the door. And that was that."

It took him more than a decade before he eventually became the host of The Tonight Show.
.

Moon Lighting

It's cloudy and rainy tonight. But, for a brief moment, the moon shines through illuminating my part of the world, casting this soft, gentle light over our home.

8:30 PM / Shutter 15 sec / Aperture 7.1 / ISO 200

Hang to dry

Red pajama.
White dots.
Hang to dry.

Nailed down

Nailed to a dead tree.
For what purpose?
I don't know.

reminder: ask Aunt Baby about this nail

Her Nursery

Make it as comfy, as snugly, as cozy my friend.
Your kids will live here for some time.

Courtesy of the early worm

Oh if you’re a bird, be an early bird
And catch the worm for your breakfast plate.
If you’re a bird, be an early early bird
But if you’re a worm, sleep late.

--Shel Silverstein
Where the Sidewalk Ends

Be still

Be patient.
Be still.
The wait maybe long.
The future unclear.
But hang on.
And be tough.
Be strong.
Be true.
Soon your time will come.
Soon you will bloom in perfect splendor.
You'll see.

Vet for a day

Became a vet again today. I vaccinated Aunt Baby's new puppies against common dog diseases.

These are difficult times. The 5 in 1 vaccine just cost P150; a vet charges around P400. With four dogs and counting, big savings for me.

Aunt Baby's new puppy: Kobe

Lighter Side

I love to see sunlight pass through the glass windows and settles on the floor tiles. It lights up the house; and starts another great day.

One of Gem's steel musicians plays on the floor

Morning readings

After a rush of morning chores, settling down with a good book makes for a perfect morning -- one of the benefits of my early retirement from work. Reading, at least, one book a week these days. And loving it.

mornings at home

Turning 60

The best thing on turning 60, Mama says, is the 20% senior citizen's discounts! Plus free movies on any theater every Tuesdays.

She is thankful and surprised of the two dozen red roses we gave her. We invited them for a simple dinner at home.

What is left of her cake.

Escaping to Mati

I believe in angels,
The kind that heaven sends,
I am surrounded by angels,
But I call them friends.

Dinosour Island, Mati

Back to some good times in Tagum.

You don't even have to try
It comes easy for you
The way you move is so appealing
It could make me cry

Go out driving with my friends
In Bobby's big old beat up car
I'm with a lot of people then
I wonder where you are

I don't want to say goodbye
Don't want to walk you to the door
I spend a little time with you
I want a little more.

Good times, bad times, give me some of that
Good times, bad times, give me some of that
Good times, bad times, give me some of that

Tagum Team,2003

Song: Good Times
Artist: EDIE BRICKELL
Album: Picture Perfect Morning (1994)

Rules from God

Wake Up

Decide to have a good day.
"Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it"
Psalms 118:24

Dress UP
The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance; but the Lord looks at the heart."
I Samuel 16:7

Shut Up
Say nice things and learn to listen. God gave us two ears and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking "He who guards his lips guards his soul."
Proverbs 13:3

Stand Up
Stand up for what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything.. "Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..."
Galatians 6:9-10

Look Up
Look up to the Lord.
"I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me."
Philippians 4:13

Reach Up
Reach up for something higher. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, And He will direct your path."
Proverbs 3:5-6

Lift Up
Lift up your Prayers.
"Do not worry about anything;
Instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING."
Philippians 4:6

(A friend emailed this.)

Life Quest

Life is more than a series of events that happen to us.

If we stand on the sidelines,
we will watch the world go by without us.
To regret, someday, what might have been.

We are always faced with a stream of choices
to test the depth of our convictions

Circumstances will make the course challenging
but let us not be disheartened.

It is through times of struggles
rather than of ease and comfort
that bring out the best in us.
















Life on autopilot
takes out the thrill of living,
the sense of being alive,
and the joy of purposeful living,
















Life by choice and in constant pursuit of a goal,
makes our lives special.
















So, Life--we stand at the crossroads of our past and future
Ready to face You.
Ready to brave the rapids --
To buck the tides and gales of an unstable world around us.















Watch out! Here we come.









At Tudaya Falls

(poem from the net)