Ariel Magno's Blog

My Bad

2009-04-26T17:54:00.000-04:00

Gosh, what's with this Multiply! I'm trying to cross-post a few recent updates from my Blogger site and some old threads and whatever went back to circulation. And those that are supposed to be here as recent were not even cross-posted. 'Happened a long time ago and now this again.

Sorry guys for flooding your 'Inbox' just in case. I'm not sure if I'll try again but then again one more time. I hope that my older posts from some years back won't come up. That's what the archive is for anyway.�

Somerset Academy's Science Fair - 2009

2009-04-26T12:18:00.014-04:00

We went to Somerset Academy's Science Fair on April 22. We were more fascinated this year than the prior years. The parents ...err, the kids did a wonderful job. There are many science projects that are quite amazing. From the 3rd grade and up, the science projects are open for awarding. Last year, David won third place for the 3rd grade level. This year, he was not that fortunate and was quite disheartened by it. Now he really has to learn how to accept things like these. We were not really able to prepare ahead of time for a topic that can 'wow' the judges but I believe his project was a really nice one. Better luck next time.

Some photos from the experiment.

From Missy's 'Density Stacker' project:

From David's 'Which Coin Drops Fastest' project:

David is TEN

2009-04-10T19:28:00.005-04:00

We had a surprise birthday party for David on April 5, Sunday. At first, he asked if he will have a party and we told him, we haven't decided yet but we can see how eager he was to celebrate his birthday with a party and also disappointed if he will not have one. Of course, kids his age are not contented with receiving one or two gifts from the family only but I promised him we'll get him a big Lego Star Wars with more than a thousand pieces instead. His motivation was to get more than he will receive from us. Missy even bought him a Lego Sponge Bob kit from her own money. She was also excited in finding and giving a gift to his 'kuya'.

We were just mum about the whole thing but we did ask some family friends to save the date although some already had other plans especially that it was spring break. We just actually told him, we have invited Ophine's cousin's family who were visiting from the Philippines although we have already met them a week before that and that they'll not be in South Florida anymore on April 5. At least, he will not be surprised with the preparations of having some guests coming over.

We were quite successful in keeping it a secret. His Ninang Pauline volunteered to bring the ice cream cake so that was settled. I'm not sure if he noticed that the food was a lot more than what two families with small kids can really partake of.

Ophine didn't do any kids' games anymore but she had an egg hunt for the kids since it was an Easter weekend. I'm sure they enjoyed that.

The following day, we had a 'just-us' family celebration at our favorite restaurant, 'The Ark' in Davie. Their Mondays are always 'Kids eat free' days so that was our 2nd motivation so to speak. Besides, with the way David and Missy eats, it's not 'sulit' for us to have dinner there if we're not taking advantage of the 'promo.'

Anyway, I remember when I was ten and right now I'm thinking of introducing him to the story of 'the birds and the bees' very soon. My only concern is him blurting it out to Missy. This summer, I'd like to start teaching him how to shoot starting with an air rifle. I'm not a gun advocate but since we're living in a country where the 2nd amendment rights of its citizens are protected, I believe it will be safer if he gets the proper education. He had been asking me in the past about my favorite movie which is 'Schindler's List' so I did give him some history lessons. He's eager to see the film but I don't think he's emotionally ready right now. Maybe in two more years.

David Gets his 'Student of the Month' Award

2009-03-23T11:45:00.006-04:00

Just like last year, David got chosen again as 'Student of the Month' and the trait is for 'Honesty'. This was on March 18. The school year is 3 quarters out and we're happy that he got this award before the school year ends. The students are the ones who vote for the awardee and I coudn't agree more, David is such a sincere and truthful boy! The kids know and are quite aware that being thruthful regardless of whatever mistake or wrondoing they have done, they have to let us know. Of course, it was not easy at first and there were some struggles in the past but I believe they have learned their lessons and have learned them well. This is very important to us and we're fortunate that we have instilled this trait in them in a very positive way. Hopefully and prayerfully, they will not forget as they grow older and wiser, even when there are more temptations and influences that can affect them.

Meeting Pastor Rene

2009-03-12T01:53:00.001-04:00

Every year, we almost always never fail to meet with our pastor from the Philippines and that's what we just did on Mar. 7. Pastor Rene Atienza visits regularly this part of South Florida for the Evangelism Explosion International Conference at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale. This mega-church founded by the late Dr. D. James Kennedy is the HQ of E.E. Inter'l. Chito and Cindy Abadines who have become our friends too through Pastor Rene always play hosts in their home in Margate and that's what they just did on Mar. 7. We have always received an invite every time he's here since David was still a baby. Although we missed a few through the years, we always try to be there especially when we don't have prior commitments and it has always been a pleasure meeting our dear pastor.

Memorial's Annual Picnic at the Park

2009-03-10T09:29:00.018-04:00

Last March 1 at C.B. Smith Park for Memorial Healthcare's Annual Picnic. As usual, when David and Missy have days like this one, they always sound out 'best day ever' after the event. 'Can't blame them.

On Top of Planet Everglades

2009-02-27T21:14:00.006-05:00

Since I came across this Photoshop tutorial on how to make your own 'planet' from a panorama, I wanted to make one with my family on it and that was probably two years ago. There were a number of opportunities when I could have done it but I always forget until I have to wait for another one. This time, the Everglades would be an appropriate place so on the way out, we stopped, set-up my tripod on the other side of the road and made a number of family photos. To complete, I just added two more images for the 'sides' to make a panorama from.

Then with just a few steps in Photoshop...

A Day Trip to Everglades National Park

2009-02-26T17:54:00.000-05:00

The best time to visit this park is always winter. This is the time when you can see more of the migratory birds compared to other seasons and more importantly, there are less mosquitoes if any to bug you. In summer, it's almost impossible to escape from the bugs even with a ton of repellent on you.

The forecast was for a cooler weekend (low 50's to high 60s) and since we're all free, we planned to visit the park on Saturday, Feb.21. The last time we went was like 2 or 3 years ago and I don't want to miss it again this year. The kids were excited to have a sort of picnic at the Everglades and at the same time check out the alligators.

We left home at 8am and by 9am we have reached the park entrance. We checked out the visitor center first, then we went straight to Anhinga Trail where one can see closely the alligators, the anhingas, herons, gallinules, vultures, etc. This is after all the best place to see wildlife up-close. An alligator was directly on the 'walk', you can't get any closer than that.

It was already 12 Noon when we left the trail, drove for about 20 miles to reach the 9-mile pond were we planned to have our lunch. Fortunately, we found a nice spot and a vacant table right away. We just brought MREs for lunch, remnants of emergency food we keep for the hurricane season. They're not bad at all and since they're self-heating, was very convenient.

Stayed there for a few hours more while the kids and Ophine enjoyed 'blowing bubbles' and 'pretend fishing' since I didn't rig the rods. We were planning to fish in the marina area. Too bad, the spot didn't have any toilets and soon we were on our way. Visited the other spots, albeit hurriedly now until we reach the marina at the end of the park. We didn't do any fishing anymore after checking out two guys who said the fish were not biting. After the marina, we went around some more and by 5:30pm, called it a day and soon we were on our way home. It was a wonderful time spent with the family and I'm glad we got the Everglades N.P. already bagged for the year.

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008)

2009-02-12T17:57:00.006-05:00

I blogged about Matt Harding and posted his 2006 video two years ago HERE.

I still consider him the luckiest guy in the world being able to travel almost anywhere he likes without any worry on how he can fund his trips especially now that StrideGum sponsors his continuous travelling. I haven't checked his site lately but discovered his 2008 video can now be watched in HD on YouTube. You can also watch it here, just click on the bottom-right arrow to choose the version you want. Let it 'buffer' first before you play the whole video if needed.

To find out more about him, just check his website.

Awesome Music Video

2009-02-12T11:55:00.007-05:00

Amazing what stop-motion photography can do especially to a music video. The creativity is way, way up there. The song is quite cool too.

Her Morning Elegance by Oren Lavie. Watch it in HQ if you have a fast connection.

Lyrics:

Sun been down for days
A pretty flower in a vase
A slipper by the fireplace
A cello lying in it's case

Soon she's down the stairs
Her morning elegance she wears
The sound of water makes her dream
Awoken by a cloud of steam
She pours a daydream in a cup
A spoon of sugar sweetens up

And She fights for her life
As she puts on her coat
And she fights for her life on the train
She looks at the rain
As it pours
And she fights for her life
As she goes in a store
With a thought she has caught
By a thread
She pays for the bread
And She goes...
Nobody knows

Sun been down for days
A winter melody she plays
The thunder makes her contemplate
She hears a noise behind the gate
Perhaps a letter with a dove
Perhaps a stranger she could love

And She fights for her life
As she puts on her coat
And she fights for her life on the train
She looks at the rain
As it pours
And she fights for her life
As she goes in a store
With a thought she has caught
By a thread
She pays for the bread
And She goes...
Nobody knows

And She fights for her life
As she puts on her coat
And she fights for her life on the train
She looks at the rain
As it pours
And she fights for her life
Where people are pleasently strange
And counting the change
And She goes...
Nobody knows

Poor Bill

2009-02-08T18:34:00.010-05:00

What makes Hillary do this to Bill? Oh well, Bill is not the president anymore and President Barack Obama is definitely the 'hotter' one. Fox News even named this clip 'Love Triangle, lol! Poor Bill.

Seriously, both Clintons made a gaffe. Hillary passing Obama without acknowledging him and Bill trying to remind his wife about the miscue but then decided to give his wife a kiss but it was too late. Bill was no longer within Hillary's peripheral vision.

Full Text and Video of the Inauguration Speech of President Barack Obama

2009-01-20T16:57:00.020-05:00

What can I say...it was beautiful watching what had transpired on this historic day.

INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF BARACK OBAMA

'We seek a new way forward'

Full text of the speech given before more than a million on the National Mall

January 20, 2009

My fellow citizens:

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often, the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land--a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today, I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America--they will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit, to choose our better history, to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted--for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things--some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.

Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions--that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act--not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. All this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions--who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them--that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works--whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account--to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day--because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control--and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on the ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart--not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: Know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with the sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort--even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus--and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West--know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to the suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment--a moment that will define a generation--it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends--honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism--these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility--a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence--the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed--why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to [the] future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive ... that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet" it.

America: In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested, we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

Thank you. God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.

Fort Pulaski National Monument on our Last Day

2009-01-18T07:47:00.003-05:00

It's the last day of our vacation but we're not leaving until we take a look at the Fort Pulaski National Monument at the nearby Cockspur Island. We passed by the place from the Tybee Island Lighthouse just to check their schedule the day before.

We woke up the kids at 7am for an early breakfast and soon we were on the way. At the gate, we found out there's a scheduled 'firing' of the cannons. Cool! Although we were not sure if we can wait for it since we really didn't want to stay too long. It's going to be an 8 hour drive plus plus depending on how long we take bathroom and meal breaks. There were several factory outlets on the way back but if we just even think of dropping by, we would probably have to find a hotel to stay for the night.

Fort Pulaski was part of a extensive chain of coastal forts built to protect the country from foreign invasion. Construction was started in 1829 and required 18 years and 25 million bricks to complete. It survives as one of the nations's best preserved fortifications.

As impenetrable and invincible as it was thought to be when it was made, it was surrendered to the Union soldiers on April 11, 1862 after a bombardment of 30 hours resulting to gaping holes in the 7 ft. thick walls. It was the first time the James rifled cannons were tested and it sure was the deciding factor. The Confederate Colonel Olmstead thought it was better to surrender than suffer from the improbable blasting of the whole fort if the main powder room explodes from enemy fire. The damaged portions were rebuilt but one can still see the tell-tale signs of it's storied past.

We were glad that we visited the place. Aside from learning about the history of the place, we were amazed on how well preserved the fort was. It also showed that a masterful planner did the work and it was a job well done.

It was also the first time we've watched some re-enactment of how a cannon is fired. David was adamant that we wait for it so that's what we did. You'd think it was easy like just 'pulling the trigger' so to speak but it was done in military precision composed of a series of steps. It was loud too! But of course, no real cannon balls were fired.

It was already 12 noon when the firing was finished and it was time to leave. One more bathroom break and then we were on our way home. I filled up on gas in one of the gas stations close to Savannah at $1.45 per gallon for regular. I almost can't believe my eyes but we were happy with that.

We got home at around 9pm on Jan. 3 after a 500 mile trip from Savannah. It was a wonderful 5 day vacation. Would I suggest to friends to visit Savannah especially? Definetely! But only if they are the type of person who appreciates history and can find beauty in the timeworn but well-preserved structures of the past. If their cup ot tea is only the Disneyworld kind of stuff, then Savannah is not for them.

It's time to explore more places we've never been to or visit again the same places we've treasured for next time but Savannah will continue to be in the list for the future.

Willie Nelson was here...lol.

On Top of the Tybee Island Lighthouse Video Clip

2009-01-17T15:46:00.008-05:00

Cruising Savannah Video Clip

2009-01-17T12:16:00.027-05:00

I tried hacking the youtube code to have it embedded here in HD but looks like youtube is no longer allowing these hacks. The better quality version though can still be watched directly by clicking the video link to the youtube page and then you can click on the 'watch in high quality' button.

update***finally I was able to embed a higher quality version of the video here. I've seen videos on youtube that are viewable in HD and I'm still trying to figure out how to upload and embed HD on default. Hopefully, I'll be able to do this on my next upload.

Missy Makes her Pick at River Street Candy Store Video Clip

2009-01-16T23:49:00.009-05:00

Missy Makes her Pick at River Street Candy Store from Ariel Magno on Vimeo.

Jan. 28 update- 'just finished uploading the following video clip to Vimeo so here it goes...

On the Way to River Street in Savannah from Ariel Magno on Vimeo.

River Street of Savannah at Night

2009-01-14T21:46:00.024-05:00

We were at the Tybee Island Lighthouse until closing and that made us hungry again. Before heading up our hotel, we discovered this burger joint just next door to the hotel called 'Five Brothers' where everything on it and in it can be custom ordered. We ordered our food to go and inside the bag, every burger is numbered with a printout of what's in the bun. There was no mistake who ordered what and which one. I ended up having a very thick sandwich as I had them put everything on their list in it plus the optional ones. I like mine 'spaaayciii'.

After that burger dinner, we relaxed a little bit, watched Wheel of Fortune on TV and then off we went to River Street. We just needed to cross the street from the hotel and walk down the cobblestone path. Waiting for the pedestrian light to show we can walk was even a longer wait. If you want to see Savannah at night, this is the place to go to. A lot of novelty and souvenir shops, restaurants (more like tourist traps), candy and ice cream shops, curious tourists and 'talented' locals performing their crafts for some 'donations'.

Winter time in Savannah is more on the 'lean' season but there were a lot of tourists' enjoying the night on River Street. There was a free tour of a "pirate ship" near the dock so we went there too. Anything that is free should be good, right? Well, in this case it was not bad. This ship, the name of which I can't remember was made in Brazil and then rigged here in the US. I won't mind sailing on this kind of ship and the 'tour at your own phase' was 'interesting.' They were only asking for donations. David and Missy were so proud they gave a dollar apiece.

After checking out the food shops for some ice cream and freebie tasting of the candies, having some more photo ops with Santa, we headed back to the hotel for some good night's rest. On the way back while snapping more photos, a car behind me pulled over and a woman passenger asked if I'd like to take her picture. I asked here if she was sure since I felt something strange is about to happen. She was already gesturing that she's about to 'flash' me but I guess she saw that I was with my family so she played it safe. Whew! From the looks of it, I believe she had one drink too many.

This was our last night in Savannah. The following day we're heading back to Tybee Island right after an early breakfast, actually the island before that know as Cockspur Island where we are going to check out the Fort Pulaski National Monument before heading back home to South Florida.

On to the Tybee Island Lighthouse

2009-01-14T21:00:00.018-05:00

After that heavy meal at Geneva's, we drove to Tybee Island which is about a 30-minute leisurely drive. There's another lighthouse to conquer. Ophine was so sleepy that she decided not to join us up the lighthouse and slept in the van. So she was more full than I thought she was, lol.

Together with David and Missy, we explored the grounds first for some more photo ops., Ophine might change her mind or so I thought. Finally we decided to just get the tickets and go up. As with any lighthouse we've been, there are floors so one can stop, rest, enjoy the view from the window and most importantly not rush. Climbing is part of the experience and not just the view from the top. Somehow, the kids have learned what to expect and that 'phobia' of heights have somewhat diminished. What I have discovered is that there's not so much difference with the physical aspect of climbing or watching the horizon from the top but each single lighthouse is quite unique, has it's own distinctive charm and it's really windy up there, hehehe.

I was glad the kids were game with the continuous snapping of my camera. Missy especially being my preeminent model (diva, ehem...) was super cooperative and hence I was able to make a ton of photos of her. David was okay too but he gets bored easily when I point my camera at him. Today was kind of perfect!

The mainstays of the lighthouse.

Downtown Savannah on Day 4

2009-01-14T20:08:00.025-05:00

I always get hotels with breakfast included so after a hearty one, we went out to 'just walk' but first we drove around the historic district just to get a feel again of what's out there and then pick out which area we'd like to go to. We already decided to check out the Juliet Gordon Low house, the birthplace of the founder of the Girl Scouts. I took a picture of David and Missy on the steps leading to the house during our first time here and I wanted to do another one again just like doing a '5 years later shot...'.

The first time, we did the trolley tours, the house tours and the like. This time we just wanted to do everything on our own like visit some 'Squares.', have a photo op at the Sixpence Pub' where Julia Roberts and Dennis Quaid shot a movie scene and just walk and walk around. Then we went to their 'City Market', a small area with more shops, art stores, restaurants and the like. I found a 'below the ground' area that would be nice for some quick family portraits so we did that.
A half day of just walking around was not really enough but since we were planning to spend the rest of the day at Tybee Island, we had to go but first we needed to go to Geneva's for lunch. Oh yes, we went back. Thought about Paula Deen's 'Lady and Sons' and 'Mrs. Wilkes' but based on the reviews, Geneva's was not to be missed. The comparison was more like 'where the locals go' instead of 'where the tourists had to go' kind of thing.

So we drove back to Geneva's. After ordering, mine was the 'baby fried bird' and Ophine got the 'oxtail something' and the kids some chicken nuggets and hamburger steaks plus a variety of 'sides', we were given the house appetizer', the best cornbread I've ever tasted, seriously. Together with the pear butter, it was the 'bomb'. Not that I'm willing to die for it (maybe to kill if somebody will give me the recipe), but the cornbread was just perfect. Cake-like texture, not too moist or dry and a little on the sweet side. David never liked cornbread but he did ate a lot and we had to ask for another freebie loaf. We just had too, the restaurant was just undermanned, we were so hungry and it took some time for our orders to arrive. I forgot to take some food shots before we devoured our food. Such was our hunger. Our food was excellent, not spectacular but we were happy. After that, I decided to find the same cornbread recipe, if not a copy of it. When I find it, it will be posted here.

Breakfast at the hotel.

Around the 'Historic District'.

I don't know what kind of flower this is but it is pretty.

Where the Forrest Gump scene of the floating feather was made.

City Market Area.

Lunch at Geneva's.

Saint Simons Island on the way to Savannah on Day 3

2009-01-11T20:43:00.021-05:00

After saying our bye-byes and even receiving more 'for the road BAON' from the Kabilings, we went on our way to Georgia. First stop was Saint Simons Island. I really never heard of this place until it was recommended to me by the hubby of another of Ophine's cousins who lives not so far from our home. What a better time to visit than now. It's located basically between Jacksonville and Savannah. Savannah is just two hours away from Jacksonville. I've read they have a wonderful lighthouse on the island. It was Jan. 1 so I was not really expecting it to be open but we still have to go somewhere. After driving around the town, we immediately looked for the lighthouse. Ophine was thinking of visiting Jekyll Island first but since we left Jacksonville quite late, there was just no time to do it so it will only be the lighthouse for some photo ops. It sure was closed so we just toured the grounds, the same with the other tourists who dropped by to check it out. At least the property was not gated (like in Amelia Island) and even though we were not able to climb the stairs, we stayed there for at least an hour before driving to Savannah. I guess we'll do more exploring of the Golden Isles next time.

It's probably about an hour long drive to Savannah and before we checked-in at the hotel, we decided to check out a local restaurant that is #1 on Tripadvisor's list of restaurants to visit in Savannah. I always check out Tripadvisor for reviews from hotels to restaurants to places of interest and so far we've been right on the money 99% of the time. The place is Geneva's, not too far from the 'historic district' where our hotel is located. We don't have relatives in Savannah, LOL. Too bad it was closed so we ended up eating at Crystal's next door, a local burger and chicken fastfood joint. Their chicken sandwiches are very good and David liked it so much.

After dinner, we checked in at the 'Inn at Ellis Square' on Bay Street which is just next to River Street, Savannah's famous waterfront. Twice before we stayed in Springhill Suites which is also a nice hotel located in Midtown about 15 minutes away from the 'Historic District' but this time we'd like to try a 'new' one. Come to think of if, almost all things in Savannah are famous. With so much history, almost every square foot of Savannah especially in the historic district tells a story. It is said that Savannah has 1,200 historic structures. If we count all the bricks and cobblestones, I'm sure it would run to more than a few hundred million.

The 'Squares', 21 in all around the historic district are arranged in a grid-like pattern. The squares are like small 'plazas' with it's own centerpiece, gardens and benches all around. Savannah has a reputation as one of the best if not the best "walking cities" in the US. It's so easy going around just checking out every square, every nook and cranny, every house, many of them famous and that's why we keep coming back. If you really want to enjoy the place, one should stay for at least 4 days just to go around. Not that it's too big but there are just so much stuff to explore and learn from. There were some Hollywood movies shot here too, from Forrest Gump to Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil to Something to Talk about with Julia Roberts.

So much for that, it's time to take a rest after a long day and the next day will be another long one.

------------------

This shot was taken with the Lumix LX3. I'm holding a mini-monopod a la XShot to get our group photo. It also helped that the LX3's widest focal length is 24mm equivalent.

Saint Simons Island Lighthouse photos.

Kids Enjoying their Sparklers on New Year's Eve Video Clip

2009-01-10T08:58:00.012-05:00

Here's a video of the kids on New Year's Eve together with their 2nd cousins Mark and Angela and their friends in Jacksonville, Fl. I'm really amazed with the Lumix LX3's low-light capability.

A Visit to my Cousin

2009-01-09T16:26:00.010-05:00

It was Dec. 31 and the Kabiling would be hosting a party for their friends to welcome the new year. Perfect timing! But first, we made arrangements to pass by my cousin Edith Tiamzon's place just a stone throw's away from where the Kabilings live. The last time I saw my cousin and her family was 5 years ago when all our kids were still very young. She now has two college students and a 10 year old girl.

After basically dining on a feast two times, we welcomed the new year with fireworks. The kids surely enjoyed it since there were a lot of kids in the party waiting for the same thing. When midnight struck, Ophine told the kids to jump and keep jumping to make them grow a few inches. There was a kid who honestly believed she grow taller that night. It sure is fun to be a kid once again.

Amelia Island on Day 2

2009-01-09T16:04:00.015-05:00

After a good night's rest at the Kabilings, we proceeded to Amelia Island, San Fernandina Beach to be exact. It was a good 40 minute drive from the house. You can read about it's history HERE. It's a very popular place and rightly so, it has it's unique charms similar to small, quaint towns and with it's Victorian-era architecture, the place is quite special. As expected, the town is dotted with novelty shops, restaurants, old churches and old houses. We strolled around the center of the town aptly named Centre Street, went to the modern marina with it's million dollar yachts, checked out a burger joint named "WhataBurger" since we don't have it in South Florida and looked for the local lighthouse. I forgot that the lighthouse was located on a private residential neighborhood and was not really open to the public unless you request for a special tour from the local office handling it. We were only able to view it from the gate with a big 'No Trespassing' sign. Sayang!

On the Way to the Top of St. Augustine Lighthouse Video Clip

2009-01-09T12:33:00.010-05:00

On the St. Augustine Lighthouse -Dec. 2008 from Ariel Magno on Vimeo.

update 2/08/09: The ff. video is basically the same as the above video but it's double the length being a 6-minute clip that I uploaded to 'Youtube' recently. I think I'm getting successful in uploading HD versions of my videos to youtube. You can toggle between the standard quality and high quality versions of this clip depending on your connection.

Vacation Time Once Again

2009-01-09T10:24:00.040-05:00

This is the time of the year we usually take our family vacation. There's nothing like having cool weather make your travels more enjoyable. What is better is the cheaper price of gasoline thus some long drive will just be wonderful. We decided that we'll do it after Christmas and just like last year, we greeted the new year far from home. We had a 5-day window where we can visit Jacksonville where Ophine and I have cousins who live just a mile apart from each other and then go to Savannah in Georgia. So that was the plan, stay 2 nights in Jax and 2 nights in Savannah.

St. Augustine which is like the 'Intramuros' of Florida is just about 40 minutes away south of Jax so that was the first leg of the trip. We have visited this area in 2003. That was also the first time we visited Savannah and fell in love with it. In 2005, we went to Savannah again with my Mom on our way to the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee. Of course there are so many places on our probably '50 places to see before we die list' but I don't mind coming back to some places that are just so beautiful and this includes the Yosemite valley in Ca, the Smoky Mountains especially Cades Cove inside the national park and again Savannah.

Even if this was a 'repeat' performance so to speak, there's just so much to see in this wonderful, very historic city. Besides, we missed exploring some nearby 'must see' places the last time we were here like Amelia Island near Jacksonville, Saint Simons Island which is part of the Brunswick and Golden Isles area in Georgia just an hour south of Savannah and Tybee Island which is just about 18 miles south of the city. We went to Tybee Island in 2003 just to check out the 'Crab Shack' which is quite a famous restaurant in the area but found out it was overrated.

We left on Dec. 30 at 6:30 am for the 5-hour trip to St. Augustine. We never stayed here for more than a day since it's just so near Jacksonville that surely having free accommodations with Ophine's cousin Cris beats any hotel in St. Aug. The last time we were there, we went to Castillo de San Marcos, part of the chain of forts dotting the east to coast made to thwart any foreign invasion a few centuries ago. As much as we'd like to visit it again, we settled with going to the St. Aug. Lighthouse and checking out the local winery, the San Sebastian Winery. David and Missy were not able to go up the lighthouse in 2003 since they were too young to be allowed. I was quite confident, they'd be allowed this time.We arrived before noon, drove around the city for awhile, crossed the 'Bridge of Lions' which was under repair. I was planning to take a walk there but it was not meant to be. We went back to the historic district to visit the winery and stroll the city proper on foot. Something we did not really do the first time. The winery is just a moderate sized building since basically most of the production is done on their 80-acre farm in Clermont.

A long time ago, my sister in Ca brought me to Napa Valley and I was able to visit a number of wineries. I was more concerned with savoring the views and capturing the moment with my camera thus I didn't go into any wine tasting tour. Not this time, the San Sebastian winery do offer tours and wine tastings so this was included in our 'to do list'. Let me just say that after tasting at least 8 kinds of wine and some from Ophine's glass too which she didn't prefer. I was tipsy. Why waste a few ounces of good wine? The kids were so afraid I might go driving under the influence, lol. Nothing that a good walk in the city can't cure anyway. After taking a look at their local museums and shops, we went to the lighthouse. I like this lighthouse a lot. It has the best views one can see from the top. We didn't really plan it but we were able to visit 4 lighthouses on this trip. More about them later and the next post.

After climbing the 219 steps and staying on top for at least 45 minutes, checking out the museum, we were ready to go. We met with Mike and Cris Kabiling and their kids Mark and Angela for dinner in Jacksonville. The local Golden Corral was the best one I've been to and after a long day, the buffet table was a welcome sight.

Jingle Bells by David and Missy

2009-01-07T21:52:00.011-05:00

A little dated now but I really want to put this up even when the kids said it was kind of embarrassing. This was on Dec. 26 during Gail's (Edna T.'s daughter) birthday party done in their house.

Jingle Bells from Ariel Magno on Vimeo.

Family Portrait

2008-12-20T22:02:00.010-05:00

We have been planning to do this one since November for our Christmas card to friends and family. After Missy's doctor's visit and a 'long stop' in Ikea, we rushed home to do this year's family portrait. No time to go to the park or set-up for a studio shoot thus the backyard had to suffice. I would have wanted to do it an hour earlier to catch some nice backlight for accent but everybody had to be ready and it was not the case. As usual, making self portraits is always harder since nobody is really behind the camera to give ample directions and corrections and the only way to do it is shoot a lot and sort later. Thank God for wireless triggers. Anyway, this will have to do or else we have to do a re-shoot which is quite unlikely given the busier Christmas season schedule.

David and Missy Dancing the Cha-Cha Slide

2008-12-18T20:34:00.005-05:00

December has always been a month of going to parties and get-togethers. Last Dec. 13 was MRH's 6 Central's Christmas party so off we went there. I have been enjoying my Lumix DMC-LX3, mostly shooting some videos with it and the party was a good way to test it's capabilities. I already signed up with a free Vimeo account but haven't decided yet if I want to get the $60 per year premium membership for unlimited HD uploads with a 2GB weekly file size restriction. Right now, I'm getting by with a once a week HD video upload with a maximum 500mb file size, roughly a 3-minute video thus a clipping is usually needed. I've read that 'youtube' has HD uploads now but I still have to check it out.

I thought I can do some serious editing when I came across a free MOV to AVI converter without compression called MP4Cam2 AVI Easy Converter v2.79 but the audio was not syncing properly and the delay was like at least 10 seconds. So much for thinking it was a goldmine but I'm sure there's a way to fix it. I just need to explore it more. Anyway, here's a sampling from the LX3's night scene capability. As usual, the HD version can be seen only by clicking on the link and when you want to view it full-size.

6 Central's Christmas Party-2008 from Ariel Magno on Vimeo.

Missy is Student of the Month

2008-12-13T15:15:00.011-05:00

Missy is once again Student of the Month. It's her first for 2nd grade and we went to Somerset to watch the program last Wednesday. This time the award is for 'Citizenship'. I can't agree more. She is such a wonderful, kind, thoughtful, obedient, friendly little girl. We are so fortunate to have this gift from God to daily show us that God is real in our lives. Hopefully, our other gift, David will also get chosen in due time.

I was able to test my new toy, the Lumix LX3 and it does make wonderful HD videos (still too). The video here is not actually HD but if you click on the link to the vimeo site, you'll find the HD version of this video.

Student of the Month Assembly-Dec 2008 from Ariel Magno on Vimeo.

I also took some snapshots with the LX3 and here they are.

At home, available light with the LX3.

New Toy

2008-12-13T12:02:00.023-05:00

Finally, I was able to find a serious compact to fill-in those days I'd like to shoot but I don't want to bring a full-size DSLR. I'm not aware of any digital point and shoot that a real photographer would like to use. One thing is picture quality. Full control is another thing. Shutter lag is the worse.

Enter the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3, which is basically a carbon copy of the Leica D-Lux 4 but at about 50% less in price. It still has the Leica lens and operates at the same focal range. It was introduced sometime in August but I was not in the market for a compact thus I was not really aware of it's existence. There is the Canon G10 but I was not convinced that it's the right compact for me. What I had my eyes open is for a small videocam that would shoot HD videos and it should have optical image stabilization but it shouldn't break my wallet. I was not successful in finding one with the right specs. at the right price. I'm glad I waited and not just took the plunge or else I'd miss this wonderful little gem, the LX3 which also makes wonderful HD videos.

In reality, it has controls much similar to a full pledged DSLR, full manual control capability including manual focusing, almost no shutter lag if prefocused, can shoot RAW, has continuous autofocus, dynamic tracking and multi-area focusing capability, can do 6 frames per second and so on. I'm a sucker for fast lenses and this small compact has a max. aperture of f/2.0 at 24mm super wide focal length and f/2.8 at it's max. focal length of 60mm. I know, it's only 24-60mm range (35mm equivalent) but for day to day snapshot kind of thing shooting, this will cover probably 95% of what I'd like to use it for. Of course, I don't see sports photographers using this on the field but for parents with kids who would like to capture the precise moment (not when the subject is already 10 feet away), this will suffice.

First impressions... picture quality is quite good, not SLR quality but for prints up to 8x10, I believe it can manage. With software, it can be pushed for sure. I don't want to do a full review. There are tons on the net right now and all I can say is that I'm pretty amazed with this one. The only drawback I see is that the video format is MOV. Not that versatile in terms of the capabilty to edit unless you are a MAC user. With Windows, Apple's Quicktime Pro can do a quick edit but there's no bell and whistle here. Forget converting it to AVI or other formats, the quality will suffer. Anyway, still there's no buyer remorse here.

Thanksgiving Weekend

2008-12-06T10:54:00.000-05:00

This time, we opted for a simpler Thanksgiving dinner at home. Of course, there was the usual roast turkey, cornbread. the fixins and pies. It had to be traditional or why bother at all, right? It had to be turkey, there are just so many things you can do with the leftover as well, lol.

My brother-in-law Alan arrived from the Cayman Islands together with his friend Larry on Thanksgiving day to do some bargain shopping since the best time to do real shopping is really on Thanksgiving weekend. That is if you're okay with waking up early or not even sleeping at all to take advantage of the deals. Sawgrass Mall was open from Friday midnight instead of the usual 5 AM store openings for the big stores on Black Friday. They said that when they got to Sawgrass at 2 AM, they can barely find a parking spot. So much for the 'recession' unless the mall was saturated with non-stateside tourists like them. Anyway, I was able to snatch some bargains too. I went to Sears and Home Depot to get some more power and hand tools. Aside from trekking to the brick and mortar stores early Friday morning, I did some online shopping too. Thank God for the online deals as well and together with Microsoft Live cashback scheme, I was able to add as much as 30% additional discount for Ebay purchases. Checking back recently, it's now at 8% cashback. I'm glad I took advantage of the deals.

Saturday evening, Ophine's cousin Cris Kabiling together with hubby Mike and kids Mark and Angela visited us from Jacksonville. It was a full house all right and the kids enjoyed playing Wii with their 2nd cousins. They stayed overnight. Alan and Larry left early Sunday morning before most of the people were awake for their trip back to the Cayman Islands.

The Day After...

2008-11-05T14:58:00.007-05:00

CRCC Family Fun Night

2008-11-04T14:43:00.017-05:00

Our church CRCC holds 'Family Fun Night' every year and it has become a well anticipated event not only for the church members (esp. the kids) but the whole community as well. It was done to have an alternative to how people celebrate Halloween. All the people who have become regulars to the event enjoys a special time with their kids without really spending a dime. Everything is free from the rides, fun activities, bounce houses, inflatable slides and even the food and drinks and most importantly the candies. Who wouldn't want to come here every year. Aside from having an excuse to 'hide' from the trick or treaters, the night has become a memorable event for people who just want to have fun in a safe and family-friendly atmosphere.
The church also puts up a prayer tent who just wants to talk and be prayed for. Although we were not able to really watch the shows, we have them there too.

David is Indiana Jones ...

2008-11-04T14:30:00.004-05:00

Although lacking in costume authenticity, we make do with what we have and some DIY prop (i.e. whip). David pretended to be his hero and we did some quick shots in the yard. I think I will have to redo this when we have a more appropriate attire. He needs a safari shirt and the right jacket and I was not able to get that in time. A studio shoot with low-key lighting will make David a happy boy.

Missy at the Somerset Storybook Parade

2008-11-04T13:18:00.016-05:00

As tradition at Somerset Academy, the school holds a 'storybook parade' on Halloween for the kindergartners up to the 3rd graders if I'm not mistaken. David is now in 4th grade thus no more character parades for him even though he really wanted to dress up as Indiana Jones. The kids don't get to wear anything they like just because they want to. All of these are related to a character in their book report and this year Missy's book report is about 'Rani', the heroine in the book 'One Grain of Rice' by Demi. She is an Indian girl who outsmarted a selfish Raja. By doing a good deed, she was rewarded by her choice just plain rice starting with a single piece of grain on the first day doubled every day for 30 days until she was able to acquire all the rice the Raja had kept for himself and then give them away to the hungry people. It was a wonderful story and fortunately we were able to get the Salwar set that Missy wore from Ebay.

Some more from home.

Manny Pacquiao was on ESPN Today

2008-10-28T22:08:00.009-04:00

For pride and country...

PBASF Game Photos - Oct. 26

2008-10-27T17:22:00.029-04:00

We won our third game last Sunday (against Miame Vice...that's right about the 'e'). Getting closer... Still took the time to shoot some games but not our game anymore. I may have to shoot next time, some teammates are looking for their photos. I hope my teammates are not thinking that they're not getting their fair share of action photos. Not only is it getting hard to concentrate but I needed more time to catch my breath.

One thing I realized more. The difference between the juniors and the seniors games?...that BenGay smell.

Phil-Am Basketball Assn. of South Florida Game Photos

2008-10-23T00:50:00.015-04:00

I brought my camera last Sunday to shoot some action photos of the games. Fortunately there was enough light to shoot without a flash or else I won't be shooting at all. Nick Bustos was not available to shoot so I said I'll shoot some of the games. We had a scheduled game against the 'Baby Boomers' so I can only shoot the 'other' games. I thought I won't be able to shoot our own game but I just can' t resist the urge to shoot our game too so in between playing and resting on the bench, I used the time outside the court to shoot. It was really fun to watch and shoot at the same time. The juniors were so fast and really flying high. It's good that I was not playing with the younger players. It would be torture to even try to keep up with them.

Our division , the seniors are still a very competitive lot. Many players are still so talented and you can easily determine that some of these guys were the MVPs during their prime. Now, since we're older, most of them are MBPs (B for balyador) since some are just relying on making "gulang" to gain an advantage. At least, we're wiser now and there's no more intense emotion when one is trying to put one over you so to speak. Everything is just taken in stride, a smile and 'it's just a game' attitude.

Btw, we won our game by at least 20 points I believe.

Here are a 'few' photos.

The Golden Boys...our First Basketball Game

2008-10-14T12:10:00.014-04:00

Finally, we had our first basketball game last Oct. 12 at Washington Park in Hollywood. The tournament for us 'oldies' is under the Phil-Am Basketball Ass. of South Florida (www.pbasf.com) and our team is composed of guys from 41 to 62 y.o. We won our first game (44-43) against the team 'Veterans'. It was a close game esp. in the second half and we were so happy we won. It was 43-40 less than a minute away from the buzzer but the other team made a 'Three' but fortunately one teammate was able to convert on a foul shot 5 seconds before the game ended.

I was not expecting to be this competitive at my age but it really just draws you to do it when you're in the game. It's been a long time since I was into team sports and I had to say it was a welcome treat for me. I somewhat missed the game, the spirit, the camaraderie, the emotion and all the baggage even; the physical aspect of the game, banging bodies and sore muscles. All these just rushed in especially after the game.

I'm now looking forward to playing the game once again and looks like I'll be going to play every Sunday for a little while after about twenty years of "staying retired". Hopefully, we'll all stay healthy, safe and free from injuries. This is still a country for old men I guess.

photo credit: Mr. Nick Bustos

Weekend Getaway in Key West

2008-10-08T21:34:00.105-04:00

This was my 3rd time in Key West but the last one was like almost 8 years ago and since my mom is visiting us right now, we wanted to bring her to where she haven't been before. Key West is still part of Florida but is really down south. It's even nearer to Cuba than to where we live here in South Florida. The Keys as it's called is composed of 1700 islands starting from Key Largo after leaving the mainland. Other 'bigger' well known islands are Islamorada, Marathon and Bahia Honda. All in all there are 34 islands or "keys" that are connected by US-1 and the last one and of course the best known is Key West. One of the longest bridges we passed is known as the 7-mile bridge made famous in the movie 'True Lies' starring Gov. Arnold S.

We left home at 6:30 am on Saturday and got to Key West around 10 am I guess. It's only about 170 miles from home but since most of the traffic is 2-way, the speed limit is generally lower. I'm quite aware of the numerous speed traps in the keys thus I just drove quite cautiously. There were periods of light rain esp. in the morning but it was not really a deal breaker as we were still able to walk around and enjoy the place.

A visitor's impression of Key West will probably be like it's such a sleepy town. It's so laid back but once you visit Duval Street where most of the 'attractions' from shipwreck to art museums, to restaurants and bars to some high end stores are located, one will easily feel that this is indeed a very 'intense' city. Famous personalities who once made Key West one of their regular abodes were Pres. Harry Truman and Ernest Hemingway. Their houses now used as 'attractions' for those who want to cough up some dough to visit. It's the low season now but we actually like it this way.

Sunday, after one last hurrah at the historic district, we left for home. We have planned to stop by Bahia Honda State Park so the kids can swim at the beach. One thing I will definetely remember though the next time we come back is to bring a lot of coins for the meter parking. A quarter will only buy 10 minutes of parking time and we are constantly scavenging for coins everywhere we went and making sure we come back before the time expires.

A hole-in-the-wall kind of place I read about in the New York
Times so we tried it. Not bad!

Mama is from Orion, Bataan. Get it? lol!

Tasting an award-winning key lime pie.

At the Hotel

Key West Museum of Art and History

Inside the shop at the museum.

Mallory Square

One of the more famous landmarks there.

Bahia Honda State Park

Some video clips:

Southernmost Point.

Just walking around.

Driving around Duval St.

Driving around Mallory Square.

Would You Get Married In this Dress?

2008-09-30T20:14:00.009-04:00

Found this image from a photography forum and is believed to be from Russia. Snopes even has IT. Geez, I don't think the bride would even blush if she gets into an 'accident' while throwing the bouquet or dancing. Why did she even bother covering up?

Anybody noticed the nice DSLR on the far right? And yes, you can click on the photo if you want it full-size.

A Visit from Mama

2008-09-29T12:46:00.012-04:00

My mom is visiting the US right now. After two weeks in San Diego, Ca with my sister's family, she finally came here on Friday. I had to beg off from our basketball team practice to pick her up from the Fort Lauderdale airport. We haven't seen each other for 2.5 years since we had that family reunion in California. David and Missy were excited to see their Lola again and was busily waiting for that Friday.

After the church service on Sunday, we treated her to a brunch at 'The Ark', our favorite place to 'pig-out' (pardon the word). They really have a great selection of food and even the kids have their own favorites. We're teaching them slowly to choose well when we eat there 'para masulit' as in 'para hindi malugi' instead of eating just regular McDonalds or Burger King type of food. At least they're learning and David is now patiently anticipating the prime rib steak they do serve there and it's there specialty.

This weekend, we'll be going to Key West for some R&R. We haven't been there for quite a long time and hopefully the weather will cooperate with us. There's still that occasional rain although it's getting cooler now. That's a welcome respite from the hot Florida summer.

Photos-

Taking turns with Ophine's p&s. Our group photo done by the server is just bad so it's not here. I think it's high time for the hospitality industry to include 'how to take pictures' in their training. Everybody knows that the server is the first person customers ask to take their group picture. Just sounding off...

One Year After...

2008-09-13T09:16:00.033-04:00

This week is exactly one year after I started getting back on track to living a healthy lifestyle. Last year after the '9/11' event commemoration, I just decided to lose weight and thankfully I was quite successful. The reasons I did it, too many things my body was telling me to do it and my kids are still young. I used to weigh almost as much as Shaq but without the additional 11 inches and now 110 lbs lighter I have more energy than I used to have. I'm still religiously keeping a regular exercise routine that is composed of weight training and some form of spinning for cardio.

Even though I have reached the weight I want to keep, I decided to do it further by increasing my lean body weight and lose more body fat. A month ago, I began with following the basic guidelines of 'The Abs Diet' by David Zinczenko who is the Editor-In-Chief of Men's Health magazine. It's not for everybody who wants to lose weight since the premise is really to increase your basal metabolic rate to lose fat by increasing muscle mass and that you do by a committed exercise program of weight training. Of course you can do cardio but only weight training will increase your muscle mass. An additional pound of muscle will burn 50 more calories daily. At just 6 lbs. more, you get to burn about 2.5 lbs more per month without basically limiting your caloric intake. That's a lot in one year. Zinczenko also listed some 12 basic food groups (he calls it the Power 12) where you should basically design your meals around. I have no problems with the choices since these are the food groups I've mostly 'utilized' since I started dieting last year.

I also got a new weighing scale based on his recommendation. The brand is Taylor (model# 5571) and aside from your weight, it also measures your body fat. I got it for only $25 from Walmart. I didn't even expect to find it there. You just input some numbers like age, height, weight, gender, etc. it keeps tab of your progress. It can 'remember' up to four different sets of people's data. So far, I'm doing okay following the program but not as fast I have hoped for. Too much beans I guess but I'm cutting it just a little more.

Last week I have committed myself to joining a basketball tournament for 'oldies' like me. Well, for 40 y.o. and above anyway. I was very non-committal the first time I was invited by a team to join them. A matter of fact, I haven't played 'whole court' for 20 years. The last 'half-court game I have played was just a little more than 10 years ago and it was just for a day. Well, okay probably a year ago but it was in my dreams so I don't think that counts. You can imagine my apprehensions since I was already thinking if my body especially my joints and bones can handle it. I had thought of bringing my crutches (for a sprain I suffered while visiting Disneyworld some years back and I have two sets, the second one from another foot 'ailment') and a lot of ice to the first practice I had with them last night. I did not but I'll do it next time just in case. I just ordered a pair of basketball shoes and a pair of ankle supports. I found my old knee supports and soon I'll be good to go. Haha, this is I guess how old warriors prepare when they go to war again.

I have no illusions on what I can do now but I believe I've played better than my own expectations. Some of them said I still got 'game'. Well, thanks to the better conditioning I have now but I was definitely rusty and my timing was off (must really be the age factor). I can feel that basketball sense is still there although the body lags. I just got somebody's ire when he thought I was using my shoulders and elbows to make "gulang" on low-post plays. Well, that was how I was taught to play the game in high school by 'Bino', our HS coach and I still remember it. At least some players defended my style.

In a month's time, the tournament will start. It's only about a total of 6 games. It's a yearly event that has been going on for several years now organized for the Filipino community who still loves to play. If it was open for all ages, most of us oldies will be in trouble. This time being "underaged" is prohibited. LOL!

Am I still going to play next year? I'm not sure yet but I'll take this new endeavor, 'one practice at a time, one game at a time' and I'll see. But I'm not looking back, I'm going to continue living a healthy lifestyle. Besides, losing a lot of weight if I have to do it all over again is NOT easy and I don't want to go that route again.

Light and Shadows

2008-09-09T09:08:00.005-04:00

Last Sunday, we were in Coral Springs as I was contracted to shoot the very first service of Covenant of Praise International. The new church had their service at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts. I was planning to just go by myself but Ophine wanted to attend their service too so we all went there. We were early so I can shoot the preparations being made. When I saw the shadows being formed by the pillars leading to the big room, I just can't resist so I called Missy to be my subject for the images here. Ophine and David also went out so we did a fast mini-pictorial. I should have made more but I went there to work so here's just a few.

David and Missy's First Day of School

2008-08-27T22:06:00.007-04:00

Two extra days of vacation so their first day of school was moved to Aug. 20. Thanks to Fay but it's back to reality now for David and Missy. David is now in 4th grade and Missy is in 2nd grade. We're happy that their respective teachers are by reputation very good. We missed the deadline for requesting for a specific teacher by a day but all is well now.