Of Moleskins and Cattleya Notebooks

Yesterday, I bought 2 Cattleya notebooks. In the past, I used to buy pretty and expensive notebooks, those kinds that can be bought in higher class bookstores and stationery shops. There was even a time when I lusted over a moleskin notebook, just because most writers like Butch Dalisay share that they have a moleskin notebook to scribble sudden waves of inspired ideas in. The problem is, I never could write on them. I just felt my handwriting is too terrible (ugly) and undeserving to appear on their smooth pages. It would be like graffiti on the Taj Mahal walls. I’d be more stressed out about how my writing would look on my pretty notebooks’ pages than what I am writing, then I’d be guilty about amassing such pretty useless notebooks, stashed somewhere in the black hole I call my closet.

So to put an end to this anguished cycle, I bought 2 simple 100-page spiral notebooks with plastic covers, the kind I used to buy when I was in college. One would use one as my idea notebook, a scratch notebook if you will. It is where I will jot down my ideas, fashion them into an outline which will hopefully end up as my first draft. The second notebook is my journal…again. Yes, I will try to write daily. My other pretty notebook which I assigned this honorable assignment, to document my daily thoughts and activities, didn’t quite serve its purpose as I thought. It was compact and portable, so I can stash it in my bag and write anytime inspiration strikes, but it has proven too small for comfort. My hand aches when I write on it.

That is why yesterday, I decided to drop all pretenses and bought two Cattleya notebooks, so I can send a message to myself and out to the world: this time I am serious. I’m not in it for the frills or the trivial joys of it, I know I have a long way to go, having started late in the game, but I am serious. I will write.

2010 ELECTION CUPS

With only a few more days to go before the May 10, 2010 elections, surveys are conducted left and right. A few weeks ago, the primetime news featured 2 stores that joined the band wagon. Taking advantage of the summer’s searing heat, Frutas, a company that sells fresh fruit juice and shakes, and 7-11, a convenience store located at almost every corner decided to launch their own version of a mock election. When a customer orders a fruit shake or a big Gulp, the customers are asked to choose which cup bearing a presidentiable’s face they want. Each cup is considered as a vote for the favored presidential bet. The stores will tally these “votes” and will release the results of their mock election just before the actual May 2010 election.

The Good:

• This allows the common person to easily show support for their chosen candidate, while enjoying a cold tumbler of fruit shakes and soft drinks.
• This can reflect the political trend for a certain area. This can create an environment of healthy competition among supporters within the same area.
• This is a smart marketing ploy for the companies.

The Not-So-Good:

• Question of credibility and reliability. People don’t really know their system of counting the votes.
• Not everybody buy from these stores, whether it be a question of taste, budget or proximity to a store.
• There is no buying limit. A customer can come back several times a day and order a round of drinks, and these “votes” will be counted in favor of his or her candidate. The more money, more votes... much like in the real elections, I guess.

Personally, I really like the idea of the Presidential Cups. Although there is much debate about the use and reliability of surveys, I think there is nothing wrong with showing your support for your candidate in whatever way you can especially if all is done in the spirit of fun. Kudos to Frutas and 7-11 for coming up with this gimmick.

So, are you feeling thirsty? Why not order a tall Noynoy Aquino, a chilled Manny Villar shake or an Iced Gibo Teodoro?

Photo hunt: Three

I found these three mini-scrolls in a little bottle. Mini messages in a mini bottle.

Shopping for the Perfect External Hard Drive

A few years ago, my laptop conked out on me. I lost valuable files and photos. I kept a brave front and told myself everything is a learning experience. I re-formatted my laptop, installed the necessary programs and started loading it again with various files and photos. I noticed my NEO Laptop was slowly but surely getting filled up to the brim. I decided to burn important files into DVDs as back up, just in case. This plan worked really well until the DVD drive itself conked out on me. That was when I decided to get myself an external hard drive. I dragged hubby to Megamall’s 4th floor where gadgets and gizmos abound. After wearing our feet out from going in and out of the stores, we were able to find an affordable 320GB external hard drive. It was a black Fujitsu costing P3,900 if you paid in cash and a bit more if you paid in plastic. We gathered up all our available money (forgotten coins from the corners of my gigantic bag included) and paid in cash, just to avail of the discount.

Earth Hour 2010

You have been hearing growing concerns about the sorry state of our environment and mother earth, but you feel the problem is just too big, too complicated or just plain hopeless. Here is a simple way any man; woman or child can make a stand against climate change. Participate in Earth Hour 2010.

In 2007, in an amazing feat, some 2.2 million homes and businesses in Sydney turned off their lights for one hour to show their concern and stand against climate change. After a year, it became a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries participating. Global landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and Rome ’s Colosseum stood in darkness for an hour. They became symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour.

The Taste of My Hair

As I wait for my friends to call me for lunch, for no reason at all, I felt the powerful urge to place my hair in my mouth. I know. No sense right? I suddenly saw myself staring at nothing in particular with my hair in my mouth, my tongue carefully tracing each strand. I ponder at the current state of my hair. It’s dry, limp and prematurely gray… poor hair. For something supposedly “relaxed” it looks too stressed out to me.

Photo Hunt: Spiral

Here's a picture of the metal grills on our windows. It acts both as a protection against robbers who might attempt getting in the house through the windows and as a design to add some aesthetic value. When our house was built some 20 years ago, this was the "in" design. =)

I made the last minute decision to post this as my spiral entry when i read tnchick's entry... my first choice was the telephone cord too! hahaha!

Great Singers Voted Off American Idol 9

I think America made a pretty big mistake as American Idol eliminated two of the most powerful contenders of the season. And what’s worse is that one of them is my favorite.

Earlier tonight, the final 12 lineup was finalized when Katelyn Epperly, Lilly Scott, Todrick Hall and Alex Lambert were voted off. I wasn’t really that surprised when Epperly and Hall got the boot after their weak performances during performance night. Epperly sang the Karaoke staple “ I Feel The Earth Move” by Carole King while Hall sang gospel version of Queen's "Somebody to Love" that drew praise from the judges but not from the public. I don’t really like Lilly Scott that much with her platinum blond hair and all, but I’ve got to admit, she’s got some singing chops! She sang Patsy Kline’s “I Fall To Pieces” and was great as usual, sadly the voting public didn’t agree. It was pretty obvious in her reaction that she did not see this coming.

The thing that got to me was when James Morrison voice-a-like Alex Lambert was booted off after he sang Ray LaMontagne's "Trouble". He had so much potential, and his voice was really good! It is also sad that he was given the boot just as he was getting over his stage fright and was beginning to show the true performer in him. "There's a lot of things America hasn't seen me do yet," he said. "And a lot of things I know I'm capable of. ... I wish I could have just broken out of my shell."

I feel Aaron Kelly and Paige Miles should've been the ones sent packing.

Truly a very sad day for American Idol.. at least in my book.

At least I still have Crystal Bowersox and Lee Dewyze to root for.

Sony Ericsson Satio

It seemed only yesterday when i was drooling for the sony ericsson c905. (see blog entry). then after thinking about it a million times over, i finally got it as a gift for myself. I am very happy to report that I noticed none of the negative feedback other users experienced with the C905 on my unit. The earpiece and keypads are working just fine.
I am glad i took a chance with this phone. I am so happy that Sony Ericsson didn't let me down, so it is still my favorite cellphone brand, and i am also proud to report that my last 5 celphones were all Sony Ericsson units!

I was happily tinkering with my 8-megapixel phone when i noticed a big sign along EDSA... it was an advertisement for the new batch of sony ericsson phones and guess what? they are jumping on the touch screen bandwagon. They launched several phones, one of which is the Sony Ericsson Satio. Here are some of its specs:

Photohunt :: Daily

One day as I was browsing thru our local used books store, I chanced upon the book Writing Down The Bones by Natalie Goldberg. I was overjoyed! I often see this highly recommended book on online stores... and i got it for only P120. Talk about a bargain! Anyway, the author of the book preaches only one thing... if you desire to be a good writer... write DAILY!

No need for long prose or mind boggling essays... just write about any random thought in your head... no need to edit or proofread. in fact she says it is better not to go back and re-read what you've written until you've finished. The goal is to make writing such a natural experience for a person that it has become second nature. Time will come when you will be able to write no matter where you are, who you're with and what the condition of your working environment is. Through the practice of daily writing, you'll be able to free the writer from within.

That's exactly what I intend to do... I will write DAILY. I've got enough notebooks for this purpose... I just chose these two flowery notebooks to be included in the photos because I love the burst of colors.

That's the plan and challenge... WRITE DAILY!