tum dee dum de dum de dum

I finally got my prize for that photo contest bit I won a month ago. Got a cool Sony tripod, rechargeable batteries and charger and a cleaning kit for my camera. Now, if I can only get that DSLR, then maybe I'd start feeling like a real photographer. For now, I'm just a wanna be.

Anyway, my younger sister's computer broke down. It probably can't handle the dsl speed. And my older sister's lap top crashed. So I'm the only one left with a computer. Which means, I will need to share it again.

I have no drive to study this week. I get asthma attacks early mornings which makes me feel real tired at work. I have books I want to read but don't feel like reading. Just feeel bored.

I'm watching yet again, the movie Thomas Crown Affair. Yesterday, it was Pride and Prejudice. I tell you, there is something about the British that fascinates me. Maybe it's the accent. I mean, most of the British I see on TV are real interesting, distinguished and intelligent. I wonder if they all are. I even love Billy Elliot.

I'm bored. I will just have to look forward to the Spiderman movie date on Wednesday and the Labor Day holiday. I hate being bored.

blooooging

The good news is I finally got the router configured - after swearing at it and slamming doors and missing American idol. So I'm feeling super-doooper proud of myself that I can follow instructions without hurting anyone. Hehehe. So this means, I can just start my computer and be online any time of the day. Without having to see Weng sulk because she had to get offline. Without having to wait for someone to get off the phone to get to my blog ... blogs ... I have five. With so many, I just maintain one religiously - that's my secret secret blog that anyone smart enough could probably find anyway.This finch one is just for ... hmmmmm ... for public use so I can get feedback from people who go to my doodle website. My secret blog contains all the dirty laundry and everything I write in my other blog goes there too. A repository of all my weirdness. So I keep it away from prying eyes.

Anyway, got my first big client. For a remarkable sum of 5,500 pesos. Hahahaha. I knew I was not going to get rich by following my passions. But they are passions. Web and graphics design make me happy. And if I earn by doing it, then that would be really great. A validation that I have aesthetic and common sense - which I sometimes doubt in myself. But I once said to a colleague, I do it because it's fun. The moment it ceases to be, it then defeats its purpose. And pursuing it would be ... futile. Because it will not give me joy.

I sometimes think that all this talk about happiness is over-rated? But, it's this simple philosophy really that makes me want to live longer. I'm the kind of person that needs meaning, purpose, joy in life. I guess most people do want that but can't seem to have it. Me, I want it more than anything else. And the rest of the world ... is just something we just need to appreciate and enjoy because God put it there for that particular purpose. Very zen don't you think?

Houston, we have take off

Overjoyed! We have Broadband at home! Glee!

The problemn is, my sisters now want a piece of my computer. I don't really mind but I really hate it if I have to wait to work till they finish on my computer. I hope my sister gets hers fixed very soon.

By the way, we went to Lombuyan, San Joaquin yesterday to witness a small tradition. Young men rides on horses and try to shoot their fingers on rings hanging on a line across the road belonging to the young ladies of the village . At the start of the race, they already have one particular ring in mind. If they do get the ring they want, they win a chance to be the first to court the girl for the whole summer. One friend said I should have brought my own ring.

Anyway, with DSL, I might be able to blog some more. Oh happy! Oh glee! Oh joy!

Saturdays

Saturdays have lost its luster. I used to love Saturdays. It's my only chance to sleep through the day and not get out of bed until I get hungry or had to pee. But now, my Saturdays are spent in front of the computer, working extra hours for the office, or working on some project for some added income. Now I know what my Mom felt when she had to teach on weekends just to get seven loudmouths through college.

The business is picking up but sad to say, I still find it difficult to get a client to pay the price I want. Everyone wants cheap labor and instant results. Nobody seems to want quality work anymore. Numbers are important they say. I know numbers are important to me. I do want to get enough for all my trouble. But working is not exciting anymore if I have to count on money more than fulfillment. I guess that's how the cookie crumbles. I will get there. I just need to build a reputation and a steady clientelle. Sigh. I knew it was going to be hard.

Look! I'm in good company: Another Girl At Play

Anyway, a new vector. This time it's of Liam, the small impish Canadian guy that visits the office often, steals my apples, give out tight hugs and big kisses. He turned five a few days ago. Click on the image to see website for bigger view.

Rewards and Punishment

After a grueling three weeks of work, I should be reaping my rewards just about now. Hehehe. But I can't. Because I made plenty of mistakes - minor though they may be - but it has resulted to the postponement of the above mentioned rewards. So I'm being punished instead of being rewarded. It's easy to laugh it off now. The stress has lessened, my ego inflated (you would be too, if you see your work displayed and congratulated), and my soul at peace. But I will be denied of my rewards two days late. And I'm fine with that.

The best part is I get my reading time back. Current read is "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy:

"Ammu said that human beings were creatures of habit, and it was amazing the kind of things they could get used to."
"It is curious how sometimes the memory of death lives on for so much longer than the memory of the life it purloined."
"It was a time when the unthinkable became thinkable and the impossible really happened."

New vector art to come soon.

Pamalandong

I have been silent online. That’s because I have been very noisy offline.

Just finished a seven-day exhibit at SM City with my Photo Class sponsored by Camera Haus. I unexpectedly won third place over-all and bagged 1st place in the Festival Category. I used shots from my point and shoot Canon Powershot A400 – probably an obsolete camera. I was competing with very expensive DSLRs, which to win was quite magnanimous. Anyway, I got a 3,000 gift certificate from Sony for the third prize and a 500 pesos Sony gift certificate for the Category prize. It would have been useful if I can afford a DSLR but I still can’t. So I might just settle for a tripod and some batteries. Here are my shots:





And with that, I have started helping out for yet another exhibit of Iloilo heritage and illustrious leaders. That kept me busy even till late morning. I haven’t returned to my normal sleeping hours yet.

I’ve also been assigned to help out on games for family day. I was exhausted last Monday. And asthma on the brink of exploding.

And to add to that, it’s the campaign period. And I get jobs left and right for campaign posters, stickers etc. etc. I should be happy that I’m getting added income, right? But it sucks. I get soooooooo tired that sometimes wonder if it’s all worth it. And I’m being paid below my business price. And I hate myself for settling. I should learn to say no. No no no no. Why is that so hard to say?

So I should just put up my feet and rest since it’s Holy Week. But I can’t. I have last minute jobs which will probably take me three days to finish and conceptualize. I dug my grave. All I have to do is lie in it.

So I’m blogging while I can.

By the way, I’m watching a new TV series that I highly recommend to single 30ish women living everywhere. It’s called Number One Single starring Lisa Loeb in ETC. It’s like missing SITC and I really like Lisa Loeb. Wonderful eclectic girl.

I bought an all in one card reader by the way. One more dream come true in my wishlist.