Tales From The Darkroom

What the ...!!!

Our group was disappointed with Scubaworld's judges last night at the Halloween costume party held @ Grilla, Makati.

Warning: Some images are very disturbing.

... 'kaw ng maging make-up artist! Prostetics and the works!

Sayang, the first prize was a Tubbataha trip pa naman. Pffft!
Madge got the third prize lang which is a Puerto Galera liveaboard certificate.

She won first prize.

Feathers? Scary? HUH?!!!




But this...




















































... is what you call scary!!! :)=

Oh diba?! VERY disturbing!!!

Tsk tsk! See what happens if you spend too much time with photoshop!
Bad Jim bad! :P


Have a safe Halloween everyone!

Sigh...

Stolen shot.

Smell the air...

It's that time of the year... it's getting near.

Dami ng nagbago di pa man tapos ang taon.

~~~~~
On my iTunes: Toni Braxton's The Christmas Song.

Marriage

This wedding thing I'm doing is sinkin' into me more and more. I mean, I used to just shoot shoot shoot. Now I'm getting more attached, more involved with it. Just like falling inlove... There! I said it! I'm falling inlove with my work!

Is it good or is it bad?

I really wanted to do travel photography but since some people are taking care of it already, I might as well stick to my gun for the meantime.

But falling in love with weddings have some side effects too... go figure.

Home sweet & eerie

Remember when I said that our 20-year old house will be torn apart?

Guess what? The new house is almost done.

The kitchen is nice. - I'm tempted to learn how to cook!

My rent's room is so kinky! - That's the best description I can give right now. :D

Got myself a darkroom too (finally, made sense with my blog title! :D) I just don't know when I'll be able to fill it up with enlarger and other darkroom stuff.

My room's a lot bigger than the old one. Close to my dream room but not quite. Not after hearing from Madge last night (who has sixth sense) that there's something wrong in my room, an eerie kinda wrong, specially my bathroom.

I told myself that I'll ignore what she said. "Spoiler!"

Earlier today I was doing some rounds with our Architect, painter, electrician and foreman. We were checking/listing some detail stuff inside the house.

Obviously, part of the rounds is my bathroom. I was pointing some faulty paints infront of the lavatory mirror when suddenly the freakin' faucet suddenly poured!!!

We were like "Huh?! Who did that?!"

Should I believe Madge now??!

Naah!... nuninuinuninuninuninu... I'd like to think that that's my lolo guarding me... and trying to scare me??

So when are we moving in?

I'm guessing, give it a month before we really move in to this new house... and I hope by that time my room's more at peace.

Wanna sleepover Joice? Chix? Anyone? :))

Awakening

Got sad news from Manang Pinay (our cook) today. She got cancer of the uterus and it's stage 3 already.

It might be too late, but who knows... doors DO open.

Wedding songs

I'm compiling some songs that are good for a wedding video (ala MTV style).

Got some suggestions?

C'mon, think of those cheesy songs that you sing when you think of that someone... upbeat songs are very much welcome too. :D

Some on my list (the usual I guess):

That's All - Michael Buble or Sinatra
The Way You Look Tonight
For Once In My Life
Someone To Watch Over Me
Fallen - Lauren Wood
Love & Marriage - Sinatra
Couldn't Ask For More - Edwin McCain
My One & Only Love - Sting
Spend My Life With You - Eric Benet & Tamia
Only Time - Enya
Going To The Chapel - My Bestfriend's Wedding OST
I Just Wanna Get Married - Jagged Edge

Will post more later.

Addendum:
Everlasting Love - The Company (how can I forget?!)
Butterfly Kisses - Bob Carlisle
The Prayer

From Rene:
Love Moves in Mysterious Ways (Julia Fordham)
Umagang Kay Ganda (think may Jaya/Ogie na version)
More Than You’ll Ever Know
Forevermore (Side A)
Kailangan Kita (Ogie)
I’ll be (Edwin McCain)

Thanks a bunch! Keep 'em coming!

Pseudo relationships

I got this from friendster. See if you can relate to this one. :)

~~~~~

The "parang kayo, pero hindi" stage. Others call it MU or mutual understanding. Pseudo-relationships. Pseudo-boyfriends. Flings. Almost like a relationship, but not quite. It is a phase where the persons involved are more than friends, but not quite lovers. Puwedeng may verbal agreement, puwedeng wala. One or both of you may have admitted your feelings, possible ding hindi. You just let your gestures do the talking for you. Walang pormal na ligawan na nangyari. Hindi kayo mag-dyowa. Pero sa kilos niyo, sa mga sinasabi niyo, parang kayo, pero hindi.

This kind of "relationship" can happen at different stages for different reasons. It can happen after a break-up. You still love each other, and you want to be with each other but you broke up for a reason. And for reasons that you alone know, ayaw niyo na muna magkabalikan.

It can also happen before a relationship, iyong pareho kayong nakikiramdam. Possible din na ayaw niyo munang mag-seryoso kaya kunwa-kunwarian lang muna. Testing lang. Puwede ring hindi puwedeng maging kayo kasi isa sa inyo --usually the guy --may ka-relasyon na. Kaya habang hindi pa siya nakikipag-break doon sa girl (sabi niya makikipag-break siya soon pero di naman niya ginagawa), wala muna kayong relasyon para nga naman hindi siya nangagaliwa
kasi "hindi naman kayo."

This pseudo-relationship stage, for a time, can be fun. Lalo na kung naghahanap ka lang naman ng "kalaro." Pero huwag ka lang mag-e-expect na
may patutunguhan kayo kasi wala talagang kasiguraduhan.

So bakit ang daming nagse-settle sa ganitong setup ganoong hindi naman sigurado kung may patutunguhan?

Iba't ibang dahilan. Puwedeng for fun lang. Puwedeng "buti na iyan kesa wala" or puwede na iyang "pantawid-gutom." Meaning, habang wala pa iyong the real thing, doon muna sa kunwa-kunwarian.

For those who are not in a serious relationship, they would think that pseudo-relationship is better than no relationship at all. It would be fun, if all you are after for is that "kilig" feeling.

Aminado naman ako na once upon a time, may mga pseudo-relationships din ako. No commitments involved. For the simplest reason that they couldn't commit, because they were either committed to someone else, or that they weren't ready to commit.

My rationalization, "okay na iyun, kesa wala."

Ang habol ko lang naman, iyong kilig feeling. Iyong merong nagtatanong kung kumusta araw ko. Iyong merong ka-cuddle sa beach outing. Iyong kapag tumunog ang cellphone, mapapangiti na ako dahil alam kong galing sa kanya ang message. Iyong merong laging kasama. Habang wala pa ang the real thing, puwede na itong pagtiyagaan.

But then I learned that although it was only a pseudo-relationship, the emotions were real. And usually, in this kind of set up, ang babae lagi ang lugi.

Una, you can't ask him to commit. Since it's not really a relationship, you can't demand commitment from your partner. Ano ba kayo? May K ka nga ba magpasundo ng hatinggabi? You will always be uncertain about your role in his life. You can't expect him to be always there with you. And if you feel jealous of the other girls, you just have to keep it to yourself. Ano ka ba niya para magselos?

Pangalawa, what if you fall deeply in love with him? You can't be sure if he feels the same way. Baka nag-a-assume ka lang na mahal ka rin niya. Even if you are dying to tell him you love him, you can't. Because you're not sure if he'll like it. Baka mapahiya ka lang. This stage will always make you wonder where you are in the relationship. Or if there is a relationship at all.

Pangatlo, what if you become attached too much? What if you have invested all your emotions and this man hasn't? What if you remain faithful to him, not entertaining other guys, only to find out that he is seeing other girls?

Isa pang downside ng pseudo-relationships, it is fleeting. When a disagreement sets in, or when one of you gets cold, then that would be the end of it. Unlike in a serious relationship, hindi mo alam kung saan ka lulugar sa isang pseudo-relationship. Wala kang pinanghahawakan. Kasi sa pseudo-relationship, there is no "us." Meron lang "you and me," hindi "us."

Buti sana kung pseudo-pain din lang ang mararanasan mo. Kaso, hindi eh. Real pain. And usually, kahit tapos na ang pseudo-relationship, hindi mo maiwasan umasang one day, may karugtong pa rin iyun. And you will be miserable, hoping to bring back what you used to have, only to find out eventually that the guy is in another pseudo-relationship with somebody else.

Ang hirap, ano? You agreed to this kind of set up for fun and then you'd end up hurting yourself in the process.

Pero puwede naman maiwasan ang pain eh. Puwede naman na hindi mo muna isipin ang future and just enjoy the feeling, without thinking of the consequences.

But if you are certain that you are going to hurt yourself in the process, kailangan mo mamili. You can be happy and live the moment without worrying what would happen next. Or you can stop settling with pseudo-relationships and wait for the real thing.

When I was younger and in a pseudo-relationship with an unavailable guy, a friend told me, "Sige, kung ayaw mong magpapigil, bahala ka. Magpakasaya ka. Pero huwag kang iiyak-iyak pagkatapos, dahil tatadyakan kita."

Ang bottom line lang naman, kung magpapasaya sa iyo, gawin mo. Ihanda mo lang ang sarili mo sa consequence. Dahil ang "parang kayo pero hindi" stage ay bihirang nagiging totoo. Usually, hanggang doon lang siya… almost, but not quite.

This will be my pet for the meantime...

Our little house-monster. :D

Upah

Meet my brother's new pet, Oprah! A two-month old pug.

As my 3-year old nephew would call her "Here Upah!"

I want my own shih tzu!

Quarter life crisis alert

Another one of those most hated days...

I'm pretty f**ked up lately (pardon the language but that's the best description). Can't figure myself. I am lost.

~~~~~

" SLOW ME DOWN, LORD

Ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting of my
mind. Steady my hurried pace. Give me, amidst the
day's confusion, the calmness of the everlasting
hills.

Break the tensions of my nerves and muscles with the
soothing music of singing streams that live in my
memory.

Help me to know the magical, restoring power of sleep.
Teach me the art of taking "minute
vacations"...slowing down to look at a flower, to chat
with a friend, to read a few lines from a good book.

Remind me of the fable of the hare and the tortoise;
that the race is not always to the swift; that there
is more to life than measuring its speed.

Let me look up at the branches of the towering oak and
know that it grew slowly and well. Inspire me to send
my own roots down deep into the soil of life's
endearing values...that I may grow toward the stars of
my greater destiny.

Slow me down, Lord."

~~Wilfred Arlan Peterson~~




Thanks for sending this one Jim, appreciate it.

~~~~~
Listening to Dude's Must Get Out.

Suntok Sa Buwan

Boys and girls, sessiOnroad's long awaited album is now out!

BILI NA SUKI!

anx·i·e·ty (ng-z-t)

n.

1. A state of uneasiness and apprehension, as about future uncertainties.
2. A cause of anxiety.
3. A state of intense apprehension, uncertainty, and fear resulting from the anticipation of a threatening event or situation, often to a degree that normal physical and psychological functioning is disrupted.
4. Eager, often agitated desire.

Hello world! Aaargh! I hate this feeling.

(edited)

This is bad, the left side of my body's feeling numb since last night... plus this anxiety. Great! :(

Oh com'on!

What's the difference between being humble, modest, and a person who's bad with accepting compliments?

I think I'm more of the latter.

Friday coding

What to do on a Friday when you can only drive on a limited time and area?

I'm cleaning my inbox right now, loads of unread email, forwarded messages mostly. Should I clean my closet next? Or my room? :D

I was thinking of watching Open Water or Shark Tale with my niece and nephew, hmmm... bahala na. Basta today is my no-work related day. I need to unwind. No cameras, no dive, no badminton.

Have a good weekend peeps!

~~~~~
Chx, Happy Birthday!!!

Yesterday's trip

Simbahang Bato @ Tagaytay.

We had to hike 20-30 minutes going to Ambon Ambon falls for the 2nd time. My back was aching bad even before we got there. Now it hurts more. Tsk.

~~~~~
Some interesting topic while on the road with the crew. (I was just listening to them, really)

The two types of ladder according to him: The do-able, and the not do-able.
And the meaning of fling according her.

Guys I'm waiting for your updates of explanation. :D

Huh?! What Clam?!

I was at Anilao last Sunday to witness and shoot (with Jong) the event of Dive & Trek Giant Clam Hatchery Ground Breaking with Miss Earth Candidates.

It was a first time here in the Philippines to have such event, culturing and hatching clams that is. I think Miss Earth has been a regular stint here in the Philippines.

Miss Earth Candidates had to clean the clams, place a label with their country name on it, and then hand it to the divers back to the ocean.

Mark Abaya has his eyes on Ms. Brazil... but her mom's with her the whole time. Hehe!
She looks like Camille Velasco, don't ya think?

And I thought men are the only ones who's gonna drool on these event, but lo and behold, I saw someone to drool on... err... lemme rephrase that, I have someone to set my eyes on while men set their eyes on the candidates on their skimpy bikinis. :D

Whatta cute clam ya got there 'mate!
Marc Nelson shooting for Sports Unlimited.

Oh, Tricia Chiongbian was there to cover the event for Gameplan too.

We had a chit chat with some of the candidates during the evening. Miss Egypt is my favorite, she's very friendly, very natural. And Miss Peru... and Miss Nepal.

More pictures to come.

Which reminds me, my Olympus digicam got flooded. S**t.
It's now under repair. *crossing my fingers*