Well, I Guess They Haven't Lost That Magic!

Sorry guys, I gotta do this. It was a real heart-thumping game between Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics last night at the Amway Arena in Orlando. After the loss of Magic over Celtics last Dec.25, and at home, plus the fact that Boston is a real tough team, who would thought that Orlando will have the victory? From the very start of the game, Celtics already leads 9 points ahead for only a couple of minutes. It has gotten worse when the lead came up to 16 at the 2nd half. Magic fans feeling hopeless, including me and my husband, it makes me wanna throw-up, seriously. We thought that when Jameer Nelson was able to make those 10 consecutive points in the first quarter, that they'd be able to atleast keep up. But the Celtics simply can't stop. 3 points everywhere from almost every member of the team. Ray Allen, Rasheed Wallace, Eddie House, oh my, I thought they had it all!
Then the 4th quarter, Magic made a big come back. With all those big and important guys of Celtics in foul trouble (4 each)...Magic took that advantage. We were even surprised to see Howard and Gortat play together! I guess that's Stan Van Gundy's strategy...to intimidate the Celtics bullies. Well, it works excellent. The use of the "twin towers" works very good.
I feel bad for Vince Carter. He's a great player but since he's been injured left and right, he has not been himself. He's been playing poorly. I even get upset and wondering why Van Gundy keeps on using him. I love Vince but he needs a break! He's just simply in a bad shape and needs enough rest to recover.
But what made us so excited is when Dwight's getting good shots, Gortat is doing a good job, JJ Redick put that 3-point dagger that tied the score in the last 15 seconds. Then the last 14.1 seconds is where the decision will be made. The original play was Redick will pass the ball to Carter and Carter will make the shot. But because of the strong defense of Celtics to Carter, Redick made the smart decision of passing the ball to Rashard Lewis who was just standing in the corner, and when he saw that Redick and Carter is being hustled by Pierce and Allen, he ran towards Redick and get the ball realizing that the time is running out. So, for the last 5 seconds, sweet Lew drive the ball to the basket and made 2 points leaving Celtics 1.3 seconds left to try to tie the score, hopefully. On the other hand I thought that maybe Van Gundy plays reverse psychology with the Celtics. Probably Celtics think that Carter will get the ball and so they guarded him strictly leaving Rashard open. In NBA, never under estimate the 1 second. A second can still make a lot of difference. And so Rondo passed the ball to Wallace for a catch and shoot play. Wallace, never get the chance to aim, missed the 3 point shot that sealed Magic to victory! Whew! What a game!!!!
In every game or sports, the mind plays the big part. it's all about strategy. I even thought that Garnett should have fouled Lewis and even he made the free throw shots, this will still give them atleast 3 or 4 seconds left and can tie the game for an overtime!
Oh well, that's smart playing I'd say...it's a real exciting game.
Congrats to Magic. So, I guess, they haven't lost that magic!

Back Home Moments

Some of the photos of friends and family during our vacation in the Philippines from Dec 1 to Jan.12.

The Vacation (by Irene Reding)

This will just be the first part...It's a good flight in general. Although watching the movies on Northwest Delta is not an exciting thing to do, we had little sleep and the sound system is busted....what more can you ask for? But atleast the flight attendants are nice and friendly, and the food is good. It was more than a month of staying in the Philippines. It's an unexpected and unplanned invite from a friend who's in a mission of finding a mate. So we were privileged to travel. And we really appreciate it from the bottom of our hearts. Took the opportunity to spend time with family and friends. Although the time is not enough and wished we could extend our days more. It was a real STRESSFUL VACATION if I lack of a better word. Get to see the places we have been before. But it's always not enough. Not as enjoyable as we had before. I dunno, there's a lot of hassles along the way and lots of unwanted popping out of mishaps. But in general, I would consider it good. Get to meet nice sisters and brothers. Even meeting old friends unexpectedly which gave me a real good lift. Steve and I wished we went to Mag-aso falls in Bohol earlier that day. But since our tour was done in a reverse way, which I don't know exactly why? We didn't made it to the falls. Yeah we made it there but it's already dark and the place is already closed. Though our friends still went there but you cannot go swimming anymore.
But in general, we just make the most out of it. I had the best massage in my life in Cebu, for only Php200. I was able to do my mexican chili for my family and relatives. Get to see my bestfriend's baby sister get married and I took some photos the best I could and somehow practice my skills. It turned out good anyways. I will feature that in my next blog. We went back to see Banaue and the breath-taking rice terraces!
I wanna thank my husband Steve. For being supportive and understanding despite negativities. The day we arrived and I saw my mother in her urn is so painful. I went to open her closet and seeing her clothes... kills me. But Steve is there for me. But not until a couple of nights before we left had I was able to blurt it out big time. The anticipation of leaving is so great that it tears me apart and finally realizing that my mother is GONE. She's not there anymore...she's not at home when we arrived. She's just....not there. Something is missing. And wherever we go i see her face. Whenever I see an older woman with grey hair, I see my mom's face.
And I guess that's one of the reasons why my patience has become so short for the past days. And only then Steve realizes how hard it is for me. That's why whenever I hear complains, whining and unappreciative gestures, it drives me insane! I just don't get it when people can't appreciate what they have and complains all the time while there's a lot of unfortunate people on the other side of the globe can't even have a meal for a day!
And that's what I said in my previous blogs, that sometimes "poverty" has it's advantages. Because if we grew up in poverty, we tend to appreciate what's in front of us. But if we were raised as brats, we cannot live out of our comfort zone. And there's a big difference between sympathy and empathy. You can say you pity people but not unless you put yourself in their shoes, must you can say how they really feel. Empathy will teach us to LEARN and NOT JUST NOTICE. Yeah we see them in their worst but have we really put ourselves to them and apply what we just noticed and learned from it?
Anyways, I dunno if this is making any sense anymore. I just discover a lot of things and had revealed an enormous truths and had learned a lot of things in this vacation. And I appreciate it very much. I learned lots of lessons. It may not always good but it sure made me see things differently. I learned to know more about people and friends and that gave me a good perspective.
But here's a photo that proved we enjoyed our vacation anyways!
Kudos!

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.'