He Had Me At HE-WOOF!

For the past weeks I have been dreaming of having an DSLR camera (see previous blog entry) and a pet dog. My first choice pet is a chow chow but I have heard negative feedbacks about its temper and grooming. Also, it is quite expensive. The one I saw at SM Fairview costs P22,000.00. My next choice, a beagle. I remember, seeing one at Serendra last Mother's Day. Also, it reminded me of Snoopy and the Underdog.
So last Wednesday, I went online to look for one which could fit my budget. After hours of surfing, I came across this ad at Sulit.com.ph:

I took a closer look at the pup's photos and I knew that this is THE ONE.



I immediately contacted the owner that same night and asked certain details about the pup. We sort of sealed the deal in a matter of minutes. We agreed to meet up somewhere in Katipunan Friday afternoon. My good friend Perry was there to help out because I know I might have a hard time driving with a dog for a passenger.

I immediately fell in love with the beagle puppy the first time I caught a glimpse of it. He was even wearing a blue bandana around its neck.
After asking several questions about the pup and being handed with the papers and medical records by the owner, we went straight to the mall to buy the basic stuff that the puppy needed.
On our way there, we talked about the dog's name. Perry suggested "JONGLE" (jong+beagle). Uhm... NO WAY. Parang bisayang pronunciation ng "jungle". I wanted a name that is single syllable. I am a big "Will & Grace" fan. So I named him...

WILL

We of course took pictures right away...

Will is generally a happy puppy... well, sometimes too happy.
He loves to play.

He sniffs everything around him and likes to run, run, run. I think I've reached my quota of cardio exercise for the month. What I love most about him is that he doesn't bark even if all the other dogs around him are in a barking frenzy. He didn't even make a sound when we bathed him.

My nieces and nephews just adore him.

He moves around happily in his new domain.

WILL-come to my life...

CAM to me now....

I was first introduced to (or at least was made aware of) the SLR digital camera during my Pastry Arts class last year. While I used the small digital camera that I borrowed from my brother-in-law so I could take snap shots of the pastries that we made, several of my classmates (namely, Kathie, Jeca and Pia) brought these big professional-looking cameras that I thought were only used in magazine pictorials. I wasn't that interested during that time but was of course impressed by the quality of pictures they produced.
The same thing happened in my culinary arts class. Some of my classmates were like Japanese tourists moving around the kitchen (uhm... Hyuri, Donna, Debbie and Dundee). Still not so interested.
It was the recent trip to Tagaytay that got me interested in SLR digital cams and, eventually, entertained the idea of possibly having one. The teeny-weeny cam that I used can only do so much and I felt then that I could have captured more stunning images had I used, let's say a Nikon D90.
So for the past week, I have been obsessed with having an SLR digital cam (and a pet dog, preferably a chow-chow or a beagle... but that's another story). I even asked an office mate who happened to be a professional news photographer about the unit I should have as a beginner and where to take photography classes. Needless to say, I also went online to get various info about it.
Having photography as a hobby is quite expensive. The price of the basic camera alone would range from P20,000 to P30,000 at least. So right now, I would have to put this particular dream on hold. (But of course, if a benevolent soul with a heart of a saint will surprise me with an SLR digital camera as a gift... it is very welcome...)
Yesterday morning,I saw a segment on the TODAY SHOW about the Oscar award-winning actor Joel Grey's other passion which is, well you guessed it... photography. He has been a professional photographer for a number of years now and he just released a coffee table book containing the pictures he took using his camera phone!

1.3 - Images from My Phone is a collection of photographs cut from diverse visual worlds: street art and still life, advertising and architecture, shadows and reflections, natural beauty and urban grit - and all taken using the 1.3 megapixel camera of Grey's Nokia 133 cell phone.

So, inspired by Mr. Grey's book (and as I wait for the universe to supply me with my very own SLR digital camera), I made some attempts to capture some interesting images using my Sony Ericsson K800i with 3.2 megapixel.

I just took shots of random objects that I found around the house on a rainy Friday afternoon. I gave them titles just because, well, I want to... hehehe.

"GREEN BULBS"

"WOOD & STEEL"

"RED ROOF"

"GREAT DIVIDE"

"KALEIDOS-ROOFS"

"CAT WALK"

"BETWEEN"

"CUNNING"

"DOGGIE BLUES"

SLR Digital Camera... can't wait to have one of my own...

"That which I seek is seeking me...
That which belongs to me will come to me..
It is done unto me..."

FUN FAMILY DAY AT TAGAYTAY HIGHLANDS

I was really looking forward to the weekend because I haven't been to Tagaytay for quite a long time. I think the last time that I went to the place was when I was still teaching at CDSL for our yearly retreats (note: I miss going to retreats too).
It was really fun this time around because I was with my family... plus, the fact that we were going to unwind at the very posh and much-talked about exclusive residential and leisure place overlooking the Taal Lake--- THE TAGAYTAY HIGHLANDS.

The group met at a Shell Station along SLEX.

Diane... apparently bored.

Siomaing while waiting at Hen-Lin... hehehe

this was the same gas station where an entire ATM machine was pulled out and stolen... talk about desperation and determination.

A short stop at CROSSWINDS TAGAYTAY

Here, soon, a house shall rise... but for now, pine trees... hehehe

Ging, Nanay and Ate Gina (who appears to be smelling something... hhmmm..)

TAGAYTAY HIGHLANDS

Nanay and me

HIGHLANDS RESIDENCES

Highlands China Palace

"MANO PO 10" cast: Me, Ate Gina, Nanay, Ate Marlene, Ate Agnes

Highlands Club House

The Gym

The Dining Area

Me and my Casenas Pamangkins (JR, Ging, Brian)

My Lunch!

TIME TO BOWL

THE CABLE RIDE

Diane and Me

Niko and Micah

Bridge to the Pool Area

Wish I brought my board short so I could enjoy the pool...
oh well... pa picture na lang...

MORE PICS!!!

A mannequin chef... who bakes and cooks better than I do... huhuhu

Enjoying the view...

GROUP PICS!

DINNER TIME!

The day was also in celebration of JR's birthday and his first year wedding anniversary with wife, Pia. (According to her, magpaparamdam daw sya sa hangin... hehehe... uwi ka na Pia!). It's been a year... but it's as if it was just yesterday...

THIS IS THEIR WEDDING MUSIC VIDEO:

LET'S EAT!!!

A Chinese Food Fest!

Whatta fancy Fruit Plate!

It was a fun family day!
We should do this more often!.. hehehe