My First Photography Job

Taking pictures has always been my favorite hobby since high school. And it grew more when I took up Advertising in College and Photography is one of our subjects. But during that time, digital is not popular yet. But I'd say that, before, it takes more talent to take photos than today using digital plus the magic of Photoshop. I admit that digital SLR (single-lens reflex) is more flexible, more creativity and more freedom when taking photos. Plus, again, the wonders of photoshop. But during my days (which makes me feel old, yay!)...these additional tools are not available. And yet, you can produce amazing photos. I don't exactly know how I'd feel about professional photographers today using all kinds of "magic" and enhancements to make their photos look great. I know it's a great advantage and I am considering to use it too. But then, how would you really judge a great photograph?
Well, i was watching this program on TV last night called PICTURE THIS. And it's a competition of amateur photographers. They were given different subjects and it's up to them how to interpret them in a photo. Of course most of them use "special effects" thru photoshop. Like the one contestant, her original shot is gloomy and dead...but thru photoshop, it made the picture very vibrant and beautiful! So how would you judge that? Is that really a good picture? Is she really a great photographer? Hmmm....you tell me.
But I'd say if you're doing commercial photography, photoshop is a MUST. If you'll do it as a job like covering events such as wedding, I'd say magic tricks is very helpful. If you want to sell your business, do it. But when it comes to competition, I'd say, it's best if the pictures are "untouched"....That's when you will determine who's got the "good eye"...who's more creative and who's studying their lessons very well.
Here is my first official photo job....it's technically "untouched". Because I have no photoshop, though I will and must have it, ha! The Lafrinere family(from our congregation)asked me to do their family portrait in the beach. I edited some using Windows photo gallery, etc...just the common thing that comes with any computer. But no photoshop. I am pleased whatsoever. They are the most wonderful models I'd say. No hesitations, they just do whatever I asked them to do, no divas hehe....And they are all beautiful!
So now I would probably take this seriously....more research, more practice, more advice from pros. Thanks to Jackie, ,my friend. For giving me tips. She's a pro and takes awesome photographs!
Enjoy....

Be Obedient and Push

Jehovah told a certain man that he had work for him to do. This certain man had a large rock in front of his house and Jehovah explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might. The man did this, day after day. For many years he toiled from sun rise to sun set, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all his might. Each night the man returned home sore, worn out and feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain.

Seeing that the man was showing signs of discouragement, Satan decided to enter the picture and place a few thoughts into the man's weary mind: "You have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn't budged. Why kill yourself over this? You are never going to move it." This gave the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure.

These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man. "Why kill myself over this?" he thought. "I'll just put in my time, give the minimum effort and that will be good enough." And that is what he planned to do until he decided to make it a matter of prayer and Take his troubled thoughts to Jehovah.

"Jehovah, I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do what you have asked of me.. Yet, after all this time I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?"

Then Jehovah responded compassionately, "When I asked you to serve and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to me, with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back is sinewed and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure, and your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yes, you haven't moved the rock but then all I ever asked was that you be obedient and push. It was through your works that you exercised faith in me.

This you have done, and now I will move the rock for you."

At times, when we may tend to think little of ourselves and our service to Jehovah and we become disheartened and discouraged, we need to remember what Jehovah asks of us and that is just simple obedience and faith in him.

By all means, exercise faith that moves mountains but know that it is still Jehovah who does the moving. When everything seems to go wrong, just PUSH.. When your job gets you down, just PUSH. When people don't react the way you think they should, just PUSH.. When people don't treat you kindly, just PUSH. When people reject you in the ministry just PUSH.

PUSH = Pray Until Something Happens!!!

The Reunion

Again, another late posting. It's because I have to do a lot of digging from the "old chest" first before I decided to write this. Last August 31st, a childhood friend of mine named Erlie came to visit America for only a "week". She's now based in Stockholm, Sweden and working as a Marketing Manager in Ericsson. After about a brief stay here in Florida,we flew to New Jersey, where another old pal is waiting. And that's Nelly. And this is something special for us three. We haven't seen each other for 8 years. Specially with Nelly. She's been here in US for 10 years now i think.
So like every girls do, we did a lot of catching up. Never in our wildest dreams that we will meet here in America. Never in our wildest dreams that we'd get to see the Statue of Liberty (we only see it in the movies). And we never even thought that the statue is actually "green". Get to see Washington Monument, Capitol bldg. The White House, Lincoln Memorial and all that! Plus the disappointing reality of New York! Makati and Ortigas is nicer, i should say.
But the highlight of the tour....and a dream come true for us is...the Watchtower Headquarters tour. It is every member of Jehovah's Witnesses's DREAM to go there. Getting to visit the 3 buildings located in New York, one in Brooklyn and two in the upstate NY, which is beautiful...Wallkill and Patterson. It's truly an amazing experience. A real wonderful experience to share with our loved ones and friends back home. And that's what I am excited about. In a few weeks from now, Me and Erlie are going back to Manila, our hometown in the Philippines. Me and my husband Steve had a privilege of taking a vacation with a good friend. So, the anticipation of sharing my experiences here in US to my family is exciting. Though I have mixed emotions because my mother won't be there. It makes me really sad. Just thinking about it makes me emotional. I don't know what my reactions will be seeing her in "urn".
Anyways, let's go back to our reunion. I had dug up some "young" photos of me, Nelly and Erlie here. Plus the latest ones. Hoping we'd have another reunion soon....one week is simply not enough. We'd like to thank Nelly's husband Craig for driving us around and for putting up with us, ha! The girls never seem to get tired. Despite the whole day full of activities, we'd still do karaoke at night and rock their house down, and sleep till the wee hours in the morning! Well, sorry Craig, 8 years is a lot to make up for only a week!
Well, enjoy the photos....:O) Have a great weekend everyone!

The Concert

This story was given to me by our anointed sister, Barbara Clinton. I am not sure where she got this, and I thought to share this to all of you. Here how it goes...

When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that her child was missing. Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway onstage.
In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out, "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star".
At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance. Quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy's ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing."
Then, leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child, and he added a running obbligato. Together, the old master and the young novice transformed what could have been a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The audience was so mesmerized that they couldn't recall what else the great master played. All they recall was the classic, "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."
Perhaps that's the way it is with Jehovah.
What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren't always gracefully flowing music. However, with the hand of Jehovah, our life's work can truly be beautiful.
The next time you feel too downhearted to keep going, listen carefully. You may hear the voice of Jehovah, whispering in your ear, "Don't quit. Keep going."
May you feel the "strength beyond what is normal" and know that His hands are there, helping you...
Turn your feeble attempts into true masterpieces. Remember, Jehovah doesn't seem to call the equipped, rather, He equips the 'loyal ones.'

Sturgis. Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse(the sequel)

So, here's more of the pictures in Sturgis, South Dakota. The still going on monument of the Indian Warchief Crazy Horse. And Poker Alice's house where we stayed for 2 weeks...enjoy!

Sturgis, Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse

They say it's always the biggest bike event/motorcycle rally every year. it's a first time for me and Steve. So, we are excited. It was last July 28 to August 9. This post is late I know. Because of so many things went on and all that. It was a good and crazy 2 week bike rally. It's fun in general. Although we have that one day of unbelievable hailstorm that killed 4 people. It's my first time to ever saw a hailstorm too! So it's kinda exciting and scary at the same time. Hails as big as a baseball and lasted for about an hour is pretty interesting experience, for me atleast. Then, since Mount Rushmore is just about 4 miles from Sturgis, we thought of going there and also the unfinished monument of the Indian warchief Crazy Horse. It's also quite a treat to learn that the house we stayed in Sturgis is owned by the famous Poker Alice Tubbs. And that house is like, built since 1800s and the actual bathtub, telephone, toilet and some of the furnitures are still there. It was bought by a businessman after Alice abandoned it in 1930 and now it serves as bed and breakfast for tourists. So, here's some photos of the place. Enjoy....

My Mother....

It has been almost two months since my mother passed away. And I still haven't had a good cry. Life is too busy that I wanted to stop the time and just spend one whole day alone. But on the other hand, keeping myself busy helps, in a way that it keeps my mind occupied and makes the day go fast. But still, I want peace, solemn peace with myself. Of course I appreciate the company of friends, the comfort my family gives and all that. I guess it's because I still beat myself with guilt, that I was never there for my mother. I know she understands me why I can't be with her physically but she knows I am with her in spirit and she's always in my heart, in my mind and in my prayers. I even have dreams of her...talking to her and me asking forgiveness...and she said it's okay. I know she's not suffering now. She's now sleeping in her death and will wake up again when Jesus would call upon those in the memorial tombs. And that's what keeps me happy in a way. That it won't be too long that I will see her again, in perfect health and young-looking. Together with my father, it will be a grand reunion and lots of keeping up. It's just not easy to accept that I have no parents anymore. I lost my father when I was 8. I am fortunate that my mother lived 74 years. And she gets to see me get married, which is her dream all these years. I want to dedicate this blog to her great contribution in the christian congregation and as a mother of five.
My eldest brother is only 17 and just finished high school when my father died, and I am only in my 2nd grade. But my mother, unselfish for not remarrying and focus herself instead on raising us, gets a job in the local community and make some money. To feed us, dress us and keep us in school. Good thing we got nice public schools then. All those years that she spent for us, without thinking about her own happiness is a big sacrifice. She worked as a seamstress in a baby clothes factory and when we got typhoon, the roads get heavily flooded but she has no choice but walk on the flood and that's how she got her arthritis. Then, she pioneered for many many years and had helped ones to come to the truth. Some are now elders, some are regular pioneers and many who are used to be inactive came back. I am glad that i am still in Manila when she has that part in the assembly where she was interviewed for helping those who are inactive to come back to the organization.
My mother is not perfect. She has her own weaknesses too, like everyone of us. She had trouble herself getting my own relatives and even some of her kids to embrace the truth. But I know she did her best. When her health is getting weak because of diabetes, she had a hard time quitting as a regular pioneer. Instead she applied for continuous auxilliary pioneer which requires less hours. She just can't stop sharing the truth about Jehovah to other people. I remember she used to tell us how she found the truth. It's because she asked for it. She had doubts about her own faith then. She had questions that her church cannot answer. She has come to her senses and start to ask herself if those church traditions she's following is really what God wants? So she prayed for it. She wants the truth. And her prayers were answered. So, i'd say we as her kids are "fortunate"....because it was because of her that we get to know the true God.
Just a few hours before she sleeps in death, i get to talk to her on the phone. Although she can hardly speaks, I know that she knows that it's me she's hearing. Atleast, it makes me feel good that I got to talk to her in her last few hours.
It's a wonderful thing knowing the hope about resurrection. The talk on Sunday morning session during our district convention made me cry. And it's about faith on things unseen and the last part is about faith that the dead ones will rise again and we'd get to see our dead loved ones back to life. I can't help it, i ran to the restroom and cried. I was comforted by one of the sisters from our congregation who happens to be in the restroom too and i like the way she puts it, " Don't worry Irene, she's just napping." There's a sudden smile in my heart when she said "napping". It's true, it won't be a long sleep anymore. It won't be long that she'd wake up again. So it's like only a "nap". And it's gonna be happier to see both my parents come back to life again.
I just hope my family will be complete when we get to see them. I hope my mother's death will serve as inspiration for them and for me too, to strive hard and be more zealous in Jehovah's service. because there's nothing like a Hope like this. Knowing the truth really sets you free. Free from fear, free from false teachings, free from being hopeless and free from man-made traditions and superstitions.

Enhancing Relationships

TRUST is a very important factor for all relationships. When trust is broken, it is the end of the relationship. Lack of trust leads to suspicion, suspicion generates anger, anger causes enmity and enmity may result in separation.
A telephone operator told me that one day she received a phone call. She answered, "Public Utilities Board." There was silence. She repeated, "PUB." There was still no answer. When she was going to cut off the line, she Heard a lady's voice, "Oh, so this is PUB. Sorry, I got the number from my Husband's pocket but I do not know whose
number it is."
Without mutual trust, just imagine what will happen to the couple if the telephone operator answered with just "hello" instead of "PUB".


NO POINTING OF FINGERS
A man asked his father-in-law, "Many people praised you for a successful marriage. Could you please share with me your secret?"
The father-in-law answered in a smile, "Never criticize your wife for her shortcomings or when she does something wrong. Always bear in mind that because of her shortcomings and weaknesses, she could not find a better husband than
you."
We all look forward to being loved and respected. Many people are afraid of losing face. Generally, when a person makes a mistake, he would look around to find a scapegoat to point the finger at. This is the start of a war. We should always remember that when we point one finger at a person, the other four fingers are pointing at ourselves.
If we forgive the others, others will ignore our mistake too.


CREATING PERFECT RELATIONSHIPS?
A person visited the government matchmaker for marriage, SDU, and requested "I am looking for a spouse. Please help me to find a suitable one." The SDU officer said, "Your requirements, please." "Oh, good looking, polite, humorous , sporty, knowledgeable, good in singing and dancing. Willing to accompany me the whole day at home during my
leisure hour, if I don't go out. Telling me interesting stories when I need companion for conversation and be silent when I want to rest." The officer listened carefully and replied, "I understand you need television."
There is a saying that a perfect match can only be found between a blind wife and a deaf husband ,because the blind wife cannot see the faults of the husband and the deaf husband cannot hear the nagging of the wife. Many couples are blind and deaf at the courting stage and dream of perpetual perfect relationship. Unfortunately, when the excitement of love wears off, they wake up and discover that marriage is not a bed of roses. The nightmare begins.

NO OVERPOWERING
Many relationships fail because one party tries to overpower another,or demands too much. People in love tend to think that love will conquer all and their spouses will change the bad habits after marriage. Actually, this is not the case. There is a Chinese saying which carries the meaning that "It is easier to reshape a mountain or a river than a person's character."
It is not easy to change. Thus, having high expectation on changing the spouse character will cause disappointment and unpleasantness.
It would be less painful to change ourselves and lower our expectations..


RIGHT SPEECH !!!
There is a Chinese saying which carries the meaning that "A speech will either prosper or ruin a nation." Many relationships break off because of wrong speech. When a couple is too close with each other, we always forget mutual respect and courtesy. We may say anything without considering if it would hurt the other party.
A friend and her millionaire husband visited their construction site. A worker who wore a helmet saw her and shouted, "Hi, Emily! Remember me? We used to date in the secondary school." On the way home, her millionaire husband teased her, "Luckily you married me.otherwise you will be the wife of a construction worker." She answered ,"You should appreciate that you married me. Otherwise, he will be the millionaire and not you."
Frequently exchanging these remarks plants the seed for a bad relationship. It's like a broken egg - cannot be reversed.
.


PERSONAL PERCEPTION
Different people have different perception. One man's meat could be another man's poison. A couple bought a donkey from the market. On the way home,a boy commented, "Very stupid. Why neither of them ride on the donkey?"Upon hearing that, the husband let the wife ride on the donkey. He walked besides them. Later, an old man saw it and commented, "The husband is the head of family. How can the wife ride on the donkey while the husband is on foot?" Hearing this, the wife quickly got down and let the husband ride on the donkey.
Further on the way home, they met an old Lady. She commented, "How can the man ride on the donkey but let the wife walk. He is no gentleman."
The husband thus quickly asked the wife to join him on the donkey. Then, they met a young man. He commented, "Poor donkey, how can you hold up the weight of two persons. They are cruel to you." Hearing that, the husband and wife immediately climbed down from the donkey and carried it on their shoulders.
It seems to be the only choice left. Later, on a narrow bridge, the donkey was frightened and struggled. They lost their balance and fell into the river. You can never have everyone praise you, nor will everyone condemn you. Never in the past, not at present, and never will be in the future.
Thus, do not be too bothered by others words if our conscience is clear..

BE PATIENT
This is a true story which happened in the States. A man came out of his home to admire his new truck. To his puzzlement, his three-year-old son was happily hammering dents into the shiny paint of the truck. The man ran to his son, knocked him away, hammered the little boy's hands into pulp as punishment. When the father calmed down, he rushed his son to the hospital.
Although the doctor tried desperately to save the crushed bones, he finally had to amputate the fingers from both the boy's hands. When the boy woke up from the surgery & saw his bandaged stubs, he innocently said, " Daddy,I'm sorry about your truck." Then he asked, "but when are my fingers going to grow back?" The father went home & committed
suicide.

This interesting article was sent to me via email by a dear friend and i thought of sharing these TRUTHS on how to enhance relationships. I certainly learn a lot and will take them by heart. And so i would like to share these to all of you...Hope you'd appreciate it.

Gone Too Soon ( King of Pop remembers...)

I wouldn't go much further. Everybody's talking about the pop icon. No question, he's a great artist. I grew up with his music. I love his dance routines and wished I can dance like that. Everybody was shocked and saddened by his loss...it's too soon for a fairly young 50 year-old. But I would like to say that it's good for him. Because of those scandals, debts and troubles in his life, i guess the chance of a second life in the future will be great. I know many would not undestand. But Michael used to believe in the true God, Jehovah, I would not comment about his faith before he died. It's only in the hands of God to remember him in resurrection. It's only in the hands of God, the only one who can read his heart. Whether the accusations are true or false, I would like to remember Michael as a kid-at-heart, gentle person. I cried over Gone Too Soon song (a tribute for the kid who died of AIDS).... Oh well, we just have to let it go.

Laconia Bike Week and Perry Richardson

We just got back from a two-week bike event in Laconia, New Hampshire. Me and Steve worked for patches which we did for Daytona and Leesburg before. Laconia is a pretty town with all those old, big victorian style houses. Lovely trees and flowers. Lakes, rivers and mountains. Our booth is located right in front of the port where the boat goes to the famous Mount Washington. It's a pretty sight. Although there are a couple of days that rained. But it's amazing how people still go despite the bad weather. Sewing patches seemed easy. But it really depends on the material of the jackets and vests. Most are made of leather. Some are thick, some are thin. Some are soft and some stretches. Some are even heavier than me. We worked like a dog the whole 12 days. But it's fun, i'd say. For me, meeting different people, from all walks of life is a nice experience. From locals, to french-speaking Canadians, from Massachusets, Maine, New York, Canada and everywhere. From war veterans, to just plain bikers as a hobby. Biker babes, musicians, teachers, etc..etc...and oh, not to mention i met a rock star. There's this Robert Plant-looking guy came up to me and asked me to sew his patch in his jacket. I can't help myself and told him, "you look like a rock star!" Then he said, "i used to be". And so that started an interesting conversation. His name is Perry Richardson (that's why i titled my blog after his name). He used to play bass for the rock group Firehouse. And now he shifted to country and play for Craig Morgan after the band broke up last 2000. I remember Firehouse back in the Philippines and they were quite big there. And he asked me if i am from the Philippines and i said yes. And he said that they performed once there. He even said that the hotel that they were staying, there is this Filipino band who did covers of their music and he was astounded and even said "they sounded better than us". It's just a nice feeling meeting a celebrity. Although i admit i am not a big fan. But i remember their song " I Live My Life For You" is a big hit in Manila. They were kinda like WhiteSnake, Bon Jovi, style. Sort of a rock-ballad. He's very humble and no "rock-star attitiude" at all. Steve asked him why he shifted from rock to country. He said that it's because there's too much drugs and other bad habits in the rock scene and wanted to clean up his act. But i'd say Craig Morgan is kinda like country-rock style. It's not an old-fashioned country. And so, as i always have my camera with me, I surely didn't pass the chance of not having a photo with me. After that, i quickly made a research on them on the net. I found out that Firehouse won an American Music Award for best rock band over Nirvana and Alice in Chains in year 1992. That was neat!I saw their photos then and Perry didn't changed at all. Still wears that red long curly locks and still looks very much the same.
So the Laconia experience is through. I can't get much chance to get some photos because it's all work no fun for us pretty much. Gotta get up 730am and be home at around 12mn everyday. But totally, it's still fun. Specially I get to have a pretty good TIPS from my customers, haha! It's all worth it! I also took pics of people we worked with and the house we stayed in. It's a pretty log-cabin house in the woods. Also, the world famous Lobster Roll...yummy!Enjoy...