Point and Shoot

My friend May in Sydney has been encouraging me to join Photographer's club or groups and even join some contests. I said, I got no dslr yet. All i got is a regular digicam that all you have to do is "point and shoot". And i really have sooo many ideas but i am so limited. But when I was in college, photography is my most favorite subject (i took fine-arts). But back then, we are using the manual stuff. Which is more of a "you have freedom" so to speak. You can adjust the settings and control pretty much everything, except that you can't see the outcome until you develop it. Which the digi-SLR has great advantage. So, here are some of the "point and shoot" i did yesterday...I guess i have to save money and buy me the real dslr soon. I hope i can get a good deal.;O) I also post here the first produce of my vegetable garden. My patio tomato, cherry tomato and jalapeno. My okra and green and red bell pepper and lettuce are not quite ready yet. Enjoy!

Force of Nature

This ia an old post in my Friendster Blog account and I thought of posting it here. It is regarding our Circuit Overseer's Talk. We are truly blessed that we are provided the spiritual food for the right time. Totally enriching and serves as reminders for all of us specially in these "last days". One of his talks include how to use our tongue wisely. That the tongue, though very small and can barely see because it is hidden inside our mouth, can be very dangerous and fatal. It can even burn the whole forest, so to speak. Using beneficial advices from the scriptures, he addressed on how we, christians should avoid speaking hurtful words towards others. For us not to be hurt in return. That we should be careful and wise in choosing the words to say to our fellow man. Though it's not that easy because we are only human. And as humans, we tend to err. I myself is not exempted, everyone does. There are times that due to so much pressure and stress, you say the words that later you regret. Unintentionally hurting the ones we love. So, that talk really helps. Then another talk is about "how do we know if we qualify to the new system of God?" There he says of we should not question the other people's standing before God, but instead we should focus on ourselves on how we can qualify under God's kingdom. We should not judge others for us not to be judged. Examine the motive of our hearts.
It is truly an eye-opener for all. Because sad to say, people tend to look and criticize others rather than look at ourselves.
It's just sad when people try to put you down and has very bad motives for you. When you are in every good intentions for them. And the ironic thing is, what they wished for you, happens to them in return. Well, that's what i call "force of nature". And you cannot simply control it. It's a simple thing as what Brandon Boyd puts it, "Circles", what goes around, comes around, everything moves in circles...to know that it will come back around again...you only get what you give. I personally and totally believe in it. That whatever you show and give, it will surely comes back to you. That's why i try and do my best to show, give, and feel positive in everything i do and say. So that i will get positive results in return. It's not easy because we are only human. But it's possible and we can...because i have proven it myself.

The Holocaust Experience

Last week, My husband Steve, Chris and a friend Justin packed our things and made a roadtrip to Alexandria, Virginia. It was about 14 hours of drive, including stops/rest. And gotta let you know, i drove about a 100 miles from Brunswick, Georgia to i don't know where, ha! Steve let me drive the I-95 since it's just a long straight highway. And it's funny because I was the one who got the most difficult part of the journey. It was raining, the roads are under construction and so i had to stay on the lane all the way through until i got tired. Steve was so scared that he wants to cry while I'm driving. And I said, "yeah, I feel like I want to throw up!". Anyways, here's the mission of the trip...we are getting Steve's Honda Shadow Aero which he bought thru ebay. To my surprise, the owner of the bike is Asian. His name is Mike and he's chinese though he said he grew up in Mauritius. His family is nice and friendly and they got this overweight friendly maltese named Lucky. Anyways, let's go to the holocaust thing. Since Alexandria(pretty little town) is just 10 miles away from Washington DC, we thought that it's best that we go there and see the sights. We took the metro because they told us it's the best way to do it since the traffic is horrible there and it's hard to park. For me, i like it because that's what I am used to back in Manila. I actually missed riding the metro and buses, the jeepneys. All those public transportations and get to see and meet different kinds of people from all walks of life. And so i enjoyed it. We went to see the Capitol building, Obama's office. The Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial,Natural History Museum(which they said it was the one in the movie Night at the Museum)...Smithsonian Palace and of course, the United States Holocaust Museum. We only had two days there and it's not enough. The one day alone, we spent it just for the holocaust museum. Well, we all know what happened during the holocaust. That's when Hitler persecuted millions of Jews, Romas(gypsies) and of course, my fellow brothers and sisters, Jehovah's Witnesses. It's amazing how one man can do this evil thing? Well, it's not surprising but still, you cannot imagine how a man could be so angry with people who doesn't agree with his beliefs and ideals. He's got reasons of course, whether it's good or bad, but it just struck me big time to see how these people were tortured...just for being a Jew..just for standing firm for their faith(which the Witnesses are) and not joining the military. As`we were watching a couple of film showings they had, and looking at the pictures, things they recovered from the concentration camps, how they were being punished and tortured, how they were killed, I am holding my breath and just keep on sighing on things i see. But what really gets me and i can't help it anymore and tears roll down my eyes is when i see a "pool of shoes" from those who died during the holocaust. I can't help it....as if i can see them wearing those shoes! And what's more is their "hairlorns". Their hair was shaved or cut before they were either beheaded or put to firing squad or gas chamber. The Gestapos collected all these and some of them they even sell those hairs and made bags and accessories out of these victims hair. What a terrible thing and it really breaks my heart. It's like travelling back in time. But there's one thing that delights us. Out of all the things they recovered from the concentration camps, there's only one Bible they got. And it was owned by a Jehovah's Witness. It puts a smile on our face knowing that it really proves that Witnesses are spiritually-minded people. That even in times of persecution, the consciousness for spiritual need is always there. Because that's what Witnesses hoped for...the Kingdom of God that will soon rule the earth under Christ. That soon, all these human government will put to an end. All the sufferings, pain, prejudice, sickness, death will be no more. And how refreshing it is to know that soon, these faithful ones who died during the holocaust will be resurrected. And that's what matters most. The Witnesses died for standing up for their faith to Jehovah. The One who will give them the "real life"...an everlasting one in perfect condition. That no human government can give. Not even Hitler. Here's some photos of the Kusserow family, Helene Gotthold(witnesses persecuted and died during the holocaust). One photo is with the woman who survived the holocaust. And some of the sights in Washington DC...enjoy!

Monuments And Melodies

It's funny. Before I left the Philippines, I made a compilation of Incubus(i know the name is not good, i personally didn't like it) songs in an MP3 format and I titled it myself and called it Monuments and Melodies. Which is one of their songs but was not in their albums. Then just a few days ago, I read in an article thru online that Epic records is coming up with the much awaited Incubus Greatest Hits CD and they titled it Monuments and Melodies! Isn't that amazing? I thought that's an appropriate name for a greatest hits album, and so do they. Oh well, i just thought if only they had come up with a contest like "name that greatest hits album" I could have won, ha! I am sure Brandon came up with the idea and I said to myself, " hmmm...artists really think alike!" This 2 disc album will come out in June and the group will have another world tour i suppose. They will have two gigs here in Florida. One in Tampa and one in Miami. And both are too far from where I am(daytona). So, no concerts for me. I have seen them twice in Manila anyways so it's alright for me. Probably, and more likely I will get the "real" Monumenrs and Melodies myself soon... Kudos!

Daytona Bike Week

It may probably late but oh well, I know I should post this. I got to work during the bike week last Feb.27 to Mar.1. It's all new to me since we don't have such thing back in my hometown in the Philippines. Although there are groups of different bikers but not a particular bike week exclusive for bikers. Well, i got to work in Patch Stop (the name of the store) which obviously sells patches and some stuffs for the bikers. And my job is to "sew" patches for the bikers. It's funny because it was far way different from what i used to do, which is animation. But, still it has to do with hands, ha! I am not a real seamstress either. I just learned to sew during high school and took "dressmaking" as my vocation. It was fun yet very much "pressured" because when the customers starts to line up and they were all around you watching you sew adds up to the pressure. Not to mention the sun is up and my sewing machine is right in front of the booth and i have not enough shade that i actually got "sunburn" bigtime! But totally it's fun. They have these bad impressions about bikers that probabaly because of their "tough look" and like Steve said that bikers used to be somewhat like a gangster type of thing. But not anymore. It's more of a hobby now specially i noticed most are retired militaries. And it's nice to get to know them too. Their backgrounds, where they came from, their accents and such. Now i get to distinguish which is the so called "southern accent". Well, there's a lot to tell. But here's some photos i took... I worked with Sunny. She works on the cash register. And it's nice because almost all who worked are sisters and brothers from our congregation. The owner of patch stop just simply trusted the Witnesses, which is neat i thought. Until next time....

Daytona 250 Truck Race

I am not a big fan of car race or anything to do with that. But we were invited by the Johnsons to come and watch with them last friday, Feb 13. And it's funny because my husband has been here in Florida for 10 years or so but never ever been to a race. It's fun and it's amazing to watch how fast these vehicles are. 190 miles per hour, can you imagine being with the driver as a passenger? I think it's faster than riding a rollercoaster! They would just past by your front in split seconds you can't even see who's truck is who? Here's some shots i took...enjoy!

Denny's Over David Archuleta

Me and my husband were supposed to have breakfast in this new German restaurant in Port Orange where some of our friends were working. Steve and I loves to eat out for breakfast and we usually go to Pat's or Tim's. But we'd like to try this Bavarian restaurant which our friends highly recommend. Plus, the real catch for today is that the American Idol finalist David Archuleta will be there for an interview for a radio station. I am not a fan of him although I would agree he sings good. Then this morning, my mother-in-law called us and says that Denny's is having the Grand Slam Breakfast for free! Who can't beat that? Completely forgetting about going to the Archuleta thing, me and Steve head off to Denny's at beachside. It was packed! But all you have to do is give your name at the counter and wait to be called. It's just about half an hour and there we go....enjoying the grand slam breakfast! I am not a big eater and normally Steve and I split meals...but i have to finish this one big breakfast! Feeling full that I thought..."goodness, this could be my meal for the whole day!" Totally forgot about David....But then I thought, what if it's David Cook or Chris Daughtry? It could be a different story....(LoL!)