I skipped gym for a week due to colds and cough. Then I capped off the week with an all-nighter party and when I woke up the following day, I had a full-blown sore throat that disabled my speech. So a week later, I was taking antibiotics and another medicine, thus making me feel lethargic that I'd only run for 2km, work on the elliptical for 20mins and then I'd be done. Now what kind of work out was that?

I took last night the last capsule of medication, which immediately lulled me to sleep. So I skipped gym this morning again. Haha. Speaking of which, my membership is about to expire next month. To renew or not to renew? I have yet to decide.

Despite the lack of training, I decided to run 10K on the "day the whole world stopped to run." But I didn't sign up for the McKinley run. I ran alone. I knew that I lacked training and was afraid that the uphills would kill me, even though during my first and most difficult 10K, I savored the uphills. I just didn't want to do too much uphills, as the Makiling Challenge would be bringing a lot of those.

The hurdle and the geek
After my run last Tuesday, I put the sensor in sleep mode and then I reset my SportBand. So Sunday came. And I thought that I wouldn't be able to run at all. The SportBand would flash "WALK" and then it would just revert to displaying the time. So while I was there with other joggers and cyclists, I took out my left shoe, fingered the sensor and tried switching it on. I tried walking again. It still wouldn't work. I was getting nervous, the sun was almost up but there were looming clouds, and there I was--wearing only one shoe and trying to figure out what to do with my sensor.

What's interfering with the wireless communication of the sensor and my SportBand? The geek in me wondered. Or my sensor is completely dead? Then I looked at my socks. Don't tell me it's the socks! They're not running socks, but is it possible that it has materials similar to that of the RF-blocking paint that can be used in information facilities like the Pentagon? My father had already walked a kilometer, while I was still trying to figure out if I successfully switched on the sensor or if my socks are ideal for Pentagon protection.

Finally, the SportBand detected the sensor and off I ran. I was too excited that when I glanced at the SportBand, it read that I was running at a pace of 3'22".

Slow down, I told myself. You're going to tire yourself.

So I gradually decreased my speed until I was in the range of 5'50" to 7'20". It had been raining in Laguna and because of that millipedes were everywhere again. As I neared the other gate of the village and the very grassy area part, there were lots of them. They bothered me at first--I could hear their body crunch when I step on them, and the sound was enough to make me cringe.

Oble haunts me
The sun was already up, and it was directly behind me. No drop of rain fell, and the gray clouds earlier are nowhere to be seen. I found it amusing to watch my shadow in front of me as I ran. I stretched my arms to my side, wondering if my height and my wingspan are equal, as was the measurement when I was in college. Silly me. Of course, it was my shadow and my legs were unusually longer. So instead of determining the accuracy of that measurement, I was reminded of Oblation and thus, of the Makiling Challenge. It thrilled and scared me at the same time.

Small talk
When I do long runs alone, I am normally focused on such things as my physical state (Am I getting dizzy? Is my breathing ok? Running form? Anything aching? Am I thirsty?), traffic condition (No one likes to get into an accident; that's also why I run without an MP3 player), safety (I sometimes do long runs at night, so think bats and deviant people) and the weather (Will it rain? Why can't I feel the cool wind on my face?). I also get to think about other personal matters--things I think about before going to bed. I also pray while I run. In fact, sometimes I think I say the most fervent prayers when I run.

Thus, other things are in the background--I hardly notice other people. That's why I was surprised to hear one of the cyclists remark out loud "Tibay nito, kanina pa to tumatakbo." I thought he was probably refering to the other runners. Then another cyclist asked, "Ate, kanina ka pa? 6th round mo na?" I glanced at my SportBand--6.27km. Wow, he can count! I barely count my own rounds at the park, how could he count other people's rounds? "Opo," I said. "6km na po."

An hour and 13 minutes later, and after multiple millipede murders, I finished the required 10K. After a visit to one of our dog's litters, I uploaded the run. It's quite an embarrassing record. I knew the run wouldn't look good on graph, dashing when the SportBand finally detected the sensor and then slowing down. Nonetheless, I'm happy that I ran the day the whole world ran. :-)

And I was extra happy to have finally met another puppy rott--the descendant of our four-year-old dog--who untied my shoelaces and wanted to use my running shoes as his new toy, who licks my hand as if I'm his master, and savors the pat on the head I give him. I miss having a puppy.

à Carol

Aqueles olhos...
Ah... aqueles olhos...
Aqueles olhos que na noite penetraram
Que fizeram de mim reles poeta abandonado
Aqueles olhos "de poema transladados"
Aqueles olhos
Em meu peito enamorados
Por entre a bruma aqueles olhos feneceram
E de meu canto mais uma estrofe mereceram
Aqueles olhos que outro dono encontraram
São os mesmos olhos - em outro tempo, apaixonaram
Mas ela é toda
Toda olhos, seios, lábios
Toda pêlos, sonhos, medos
E só tê-la tornou-se o meu desejo
Mas o seu rosto, os seus olhos e o seu corpo
Que me encantaram e certo dia me envolveram
São apenas simples traços que morreram
E em meu quarto em sonhos tristes se perderam.

Laguna, 16/01/2001

Lo primero fue coger el coche y dirigirnos al puerto de Cotos; lugar desde donde comenzaría nuestra excursión por el parque de la sierra de Guadarrama alcanzando la laguna de Peñalara a los pies del pico del mismo nombre y regresando por un camino que va bordeando una montaña y desde el que se divisan espectaculares vistas.

Nada más comenzar a subir (la ruta parte de una altitud de 1850 metros y llega hasta los 2100) uno ya se da cuenta de que las vistas son increíbles. La estación de skí de Valdesqui parece cualquier otra cosa al no estar cubierta de nieve, y sus pistas son como extraños cortafuegos por los que meses después la gente se deslizará envuelta en capas y capas de ropa mientras el blanco de la nieve lo cubre todo.

Tras subir por unas pendientes bastante empinadas (optamos por no seguir la ruta más simple, sino que empleamos un sendero que lleva hasta el refugio Zabala desde donde bajaríamos hasta la laguna) enseguida llegamos al punto más alto de la ruta y aprovechamos para detenernos un poco y echar un vistazo al paisaje que nos rodeaba.

Un precioso arroyo nos daba la bienvenida a un lugar en el que los excursionistas y las vacas compartían prados en armoniosa paz. Lo que más llama la atención de lugares como estos es el fantástico silencio que hay en todo el lugar, sólo roto por el sonido de los cencerros y algún que otro mugido esporádico de los animales allí presentes.

El refugio Zabala estaba sólo unos metros por delante de nosotros; y una vez alcanzado de ahí en adelante todo sería cuesta abajo, así que sobre unos peñascos nos sentamos un rato a descansar, disfrutar del paisaje y comer algo, que ya llevábamos un buen rato subiendo cuestas y el estómago empezaba a protestar.

La laguna de Peñalara estaba delante de nuestras narices, y sólo nos faltaba descender una zona de grandes rocas para estar en su orilla. De todos modos, éste era un momento inmejorable para hacernos unas fotos de recuerdo; tarea de la que se encargó mi hermano.

Comenzaba el descenso; del que apenas saqué esta fotografía puesto que no estaba el terreno como para tener una mano ocupada sujetando la cámara. Aprovechando un repecho entre dos rocas guardé la cámara en mi mochila pero no sin antes retratar a esta tranquila vaca que miraba a la laguna como nosotros unos instantes antes.

Una vez en los prados dejamos atrás la laguna y nos dispusimos a disfrutar de las geniales vistas que había tanto de las montañas que hay en dirección Norte (lo que acabábamos de dejar atrás) como de los bosques de hayas y pinos que teníamos por delante. Lo estaba pasando como un enano, y prueba de ello es la fotografía que me hizo mi hermano nada más dejar atrás la zona rocosa.

Las vistas de las montañas eran preciosas, pero también lo eran los bucólicos prados en los que más vacas pastaban sin preocuparse de los pocos excursionistas que un Lunes a primera hora transitábamos por aquellos lugares.

Mi hermano también se lo pasó en grande, y sobre todo tuvo un primer contacto con la montaña que le enseñó la importancia de emplear bastones en el senderismo para optimizar esfuerzos, la tranquilidad que se respira en estos parajes y sobre todo que hay lugares con mucho encanto y muy pocos kilómetros de la ciudad. Estoy seguro de que no será la última excursión de este tipo que haremos.

Entre prado y prado cruzamos algún que otro arroyo más que siempre se prestaba a captar una instantánea del momento. No estaba muy acostumbrado a este tipo de paisajes, por lo que no dejaría escapar la ocasión de hacer fotografías a todo lo que me rodeaba.

Un vistazo a lo que vamos dejando atrás nos hace ver la belleza de un paisaje en el que las sombras de las nubes se tatúan sobre las montañas. Decimos adiós a las rocas y decimos hola a los espesos bosques y las vistas espectaculares que nos van a acompañar en los próximos minutos.

El paisaje que se divisa hacia el sur no es menos espectacular que el que acabamos de dejar atrás. Centenares o más bien miles de pinos y hayas parecen saludar desde todos los puntos y vemos montañas hasta donde la vista alcanza. La naturaleza se muestra en todo su esplendor en un paisaje absolutamente fascinante para los que amamos los pequeños detalles de cada día.

Claro, entre tanto árbol y rodeados de montañas es complicado que los teléfonos móviles tengan cobertura, así que ante una llamada más o menos urgente hay que improvisar para tratar de captar algo de señal. Joe lo consiguió, pero tuvo que hacer malabarismos sobre una roca.

Parece mentira los paisajes tan increíbles que tenemos a sólo un rato de la bulliciosa ciudad de Madrid. Si estáis un poco agobiados del tráfico, los humos, los ruidos, el estrés y todo lo que conlleva una gran urbe, una mañana haciendo una ruta como la que hicimos nosotros (que es apta para cualquier persona) os dejará como nuevos; os lo garantizo ;-)

En fin, una mañana inolvidable rodeados de naturaleza a la que seguiría una divertidísima tarde de la que os hablaré en breve. La verdad es que fue un día de lo más completo del que hoy sólo os he mostrado la mitad. En una próxima entrada os aseguro que os vais a sorprender y a reír a partes iguales.

¡Un abrazo!

Jeden Tag führt mich mein Weg in München an einem großen Mercedes-Händler vorbei. Dort stehen aufgereiht die Luxuskarossen mit Stern. Gestern kam ein Kollege vorbei, berichtete von einer witzigen Greenpeace-Aktion und machte ein Foto für meinen Blog (danke MIK). Humor hatte die Aktion, die gleich von der Polizei beendet wurde. Die Aktivisten haben einen großen Mercedes rosa angemalt und mit Schweineohren beklebt. Dahinter ein Transparent „Abspecken fürs Klima“. Ich bin kein Freund von Greenpeace, aber in diesem Falle haben sie recht. Es ist nicht mehr zeitgemäß, PS-starke Monster zu bauen, die literweise Sprit schlucken. Das trifft alle Hersteller, sei es Porsche, Mercedes, BMW oder Audi. Klar, die Flitzer sehen stark aus, aber trotzdem. Wir stehen daheim vor der Wahl auch ein neues Auto zu kaufen. Unser alter Audi A4 hat jetzt 200000 Kilometer auf dem Rücken. Er droht über kurz oder lang schlapp zu machen. Also muss ein neues Auto her. Einen Van will ich nicht, obwohl es mit zwei Kindern praktisch wäre. Ich will einen Chrysler C300, aber der Bezinverbrauch ist Wahnsinn. Eigentlich brauche ich einen Ford Mustang, denn die Midlife-Crises steht bevor und sie muss kompensiert werden. Die Tochter meinte, ein Cabrio wäre auch fein Ich unterstütze sie, bekomme aber die rote Karte von meiner Frau. Ich spekuliere auch mit einem Lexus mit Hybrid-Motor. Neulich waren wir Probe fahren mit einem Renault Laguna, schönes Auto, aber eben kein Mustang. Warum können die Autobauer keine schönen Autos bauen, die mir gefallen und Sprit sparen?

Mientras hacia unas búsquedas en Google me lleve una gran sorpresa...  o_O 

haha, saludos!!

[gallery]

The pictures above may look familiar. Apparently I took the pictures for a salon client,  made a short feature on it, and included some of the pictures, in this same blogsite(http://letsgopinas.wordpress.com/2008/06/16/paradigm-shift/).

But there was more to just having a pictorial with the client, Paradigm Salon. Apparently some of the pictures were submitted to a hairstyling contest sponsored by world reknowned hairbrand, Davines (http://www.davines.com/).  The main focus was on the hairstyling itself, but as a photographer I had to capture the right angles, correct haircolor and incorporate a certain mood to the pictures for editorial purposes. But obviously, it was still a team effort with the stylists and the management of Paradigm Salon.

Just last week, I found out that one picture I took was chosen as part of the finalists among the thousands of hairshots presented. And on the final night, the group of hairstylists  of Paradigm Salon need to create the same hair couture for the ultimate judging. And the group hopes we get the plum prize, for some bragging rights.

Just the same even if we don't reach the top, thank you, Mr. Mhel (Owner) and Tony (Manager) for the opportunity to work with you. Goodluck to Paradigm Salon. Goodluck to us.

I can't recall at this time what model I was using, really only that it was a Laguna electric, 4-string, fretless bass. It has a 2-band EQ, for highs and lows, and a toggle switch, Not your ordinary toggle switch, though. It switches between the "standard" pickup and the "solo" pickup. Going to the solo pickup will give you a boost of about 10dB for a nice solo that will stand out quite well.

For a bass guitar, this one is comparatively light, although that is still kinda heavy. Bass players will quickly get used to the guitar's weight, as will guitarists with heavy guitars. It isn't neck-heavy, though, so it won't focus the weight of the whole instrument on your one shoulder.

Overall:

Playability- 3/5 (5/5 for experienced players)

Sound- 4/5

Features- 5/5

Overall- 4.5/5

Great for the experienced bass players, guys who are to dependant on frets will probably need to pass this one, though.

[gallery]

It was not my first time to trek to this mountain. I was in second year highschool then, when my class teacher had decided to bring his whole class supposedly to the top of Mt. Makiling. After hours of torturous foot ascent the whole class found out that we needed to still climb a tree to enjoy a panoramic view. We weren't sure if it was worth the energy.

This time, I chose to bring my guests to the popular (among students of UP Los Banos) Forestry area. There we found out that there was an exhibit of live raptors up in the mountain. For a while I thought of creatures during the dinosaur era, but it turned out raptors were birds of prey which included eagles and hawks. After more than a hundred step hike, we were able to see different types of about fifty eagles, falcons and hawks in their supposed natural habitat into the mountains. There was only one hitch - all were caged. Since the rain pelted on us, and it was difficult to make good photos, we decided to go down again. The climb could have been worth it, if only there were no rains, and had plenty of time.

Next, I decided to bring my niece and her family to where artistry and talent abound - the Philippines High School for the Arts (PHSA). It was a steep and tortuous (not yet torturous though) drive for our AUV packed with adults. During our climb, I would wonder why in heavens Imelda Marcos whose brainchild was the PHSA had chosen such an isolated place for young students to stay in for a lengthy time. But if only to give the students the most ideal venue to teach the highest forms of arts whether in dance, drama, music and visual art then it is worth the vision and its actualization. The place can give energy to create rapturous artistic expressions indeed. Too bad some us needed to decompress and had to do some errands before retreating back at the rented villa at nearby Pansol thus we were not able to explore the campus grounds. And we were afraid that our vehicle's break system was suspect hence our very careful descent.

Our sidetrip could have been better if conditions allowed us to get immersed in the places or maybe if only there was a "tree" for us to climb and see the total beauty of the the raptors and the raptures.

Before making a cooking demonstration at the Festival of Arts on Sunday, Marcel Vigneron of Bravo's reality show "Top Chef" first stopped at the Laguna Beach jail on Saturday.

Vigneron was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving at 12:45 a.m. Saturday off of Pacific Coast Highway in Laguna Beach, according to Laguna Beach police records.

Laguna Beach police pulled over the reality show star near Vista Del Sol and he was given a blood test when the officer noticed he may have been under the influence, said Sgt. Jason Kravetz of the Laguna Beach Police Department

Vigneron, who was initially stopped on suspicion of speeding, was taken into custody and his bail was set at $2,500.

Vigneron, runner-up on the second season of "Top Chef," was among the celebrities who attended the Pageant of the Masters benefit gala Saturday.

On Sunday, Vigneron made his scheduled appearance, where he gave a cooking demonstration.

Vigneron, a Las Vegas resident, can still drive a vehicle despite the DUI arrest, Kravetz said. He has 30 days to notify the Department of Motor Vehicles, but authorities here can also notify Nevada officials.

SOURCE

Toca mi piel, mi cuerpo…

A mis oídos susurra la

soledad paciente del barro de

la fría ciénaga que espera,

quieta,

un septiembre lluvioso para

desinfectar su piel,

arrugada de pisoteo, y

putrefacta de la muerte pequeña

que ha dejado el estiaje ahogado…

ése que comienza a marcharse.

El viento norte,

en lenta promesa de hombros ardidos,

esquiva la aerodinamia de

un ceño que va al frente y

arremolina en

la nuca de pelos cortos

todos esos mimos de quien

llega, besa y se va.

Besa en el aire,

baboso el diablo,

en lengüetadas erógenas de

arañas que vuelan buscando

un sur de orgías y abundancias.

El sauce que se vuelve

humo y polvo no me deja…

Me envuelve una y otra vez,

por más que rote mi ubicación en

la rueda del fuego.

Me quiere de ojos vidriados y

olor a rancho.

Lo sé…

son los celos por

estos primeros calores que

bañan mi cuero en

sudor salitroso de matices dorados.

Costas barrosas que todavía agonizan frías, norte que empuja humedad desde la lejana selva atlántica, sol que broncea y hace sudar… El río despierta de su invierno frígido para volverse la primaveral amante histérica.

Lentitud de meses… pero, paciente, empieza a buscar su orgasmo de mosquitos, flechadas dérmicas y tormentas eléctricas. Se va otro invierno.

EL ESTIAJE ES LA BAJA DEL RÍO, SU MOMENTO DE MENOR CAUDAL. AQUÍ, EN NUESTRA SUDAMÉRICA DE LA POBREZA Y LA EXCLUSIÓN, EL ESTIAJE SE DA EN EL MES DE AGOSTO. AGOSTO SE TERMINA Y, CON SEPTIEMBRE, LLEGA EL AGUA LIMPIA DE LAS SELVAS CHAMACOCO Y GUARANÍ. VIENE EL AGUA Y LAS LAGUNAS RESPIRAN, LAS PLANTAS REVERDECEN Y LOS PECES NACEN Y SE CRÍAN DENTRO DE LOS ESPEJOS CLAROS.

VIENE LA PRIMAVERA. YA VIENE...

Goddamn, it's a long way to go, but I find no reason to stop. Talked to my parents and I'm real glad that they're happy for me even though there will still be trials and shit. My dad even gave me money! Hooray! Maybe I'll buy that cassette recorder that I've been meaning to get for weeks now.

I went to Ciciboy's place yesterday and recorded a song for El Explorador--it's awesome. Anyway, I have to go now--I'm gonna walk around and try to interview people what they think about the park that they're building along Alabang. Furthermore, I'll visit the Baranggay Hall. High Five!

Remigio Caunin

70 years Old

Address:31 Banaybanay, Cabuyao, Laguna

Cell Phone: 09268276605

Link - http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5424434168214025056&hl=en
Duration - 39 minutes.
Authors - Daniel Kachakil ( Electronic Dreams ) and Pedro Laguna ( Informática64 )
Date - 7 October 2007

[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-5424434168214025056]

Na Laguni je v torek dogajalo... dobri bendi... smešni trenutki... polno ljubezni... punce so kričale na ves glas... škoda da nisem imela čepkov za ušesa, bi mi res prav prišla...

Ja Omarju je res dogajalo... mogoče spet preveč alkohola? ja? ne? Odkrito povedano ne vem,ampak zabavno je bilo ful. Na odru se je odvijalo nekaj čudnega, prisrčnega, zanimivega in čustvenega...

Ko pa je Omar prišel iz odra, se je hotle malce pozabavati še z dekleti...

No sej je sam mal heca... upam da noben ne zameri... mal heca mora vedno bit ;)