aspirations

A Beginner’s Opinion on the Ukulele

Well, it’s official. My finger tips hurt so much.

Pressing buttons on my keyboard right now is utter torture… well, not that much torture. I think I still prefer practicing my ukulele rather than being pulled on a medieval rack or something.

So here it is. Since I am practically too old to Buy Orbeez toys and/ or find new play things, I’ve decided to follow the advice of my favorite female artist, Amanda Palmer, and buy me a ukulele instead.

Suprisingly, it is just as hard as playing a guitar. I tried getting a guitar lesson from my college friends once, and it was horrible. The metal strings hurt, I can’t do picking so much, and I keep getting all the notes wrong.

I guess this means I’m a much better dancer than a musician… even though I may be a little overweight. ~_~

I bought the ukulele on a whim from my devilishly-persuasive conscience (I didn’t even think it was that possible XD). I was very, very enthralled with Amanda Palmer’s version of Creep (as seen in my past post), and I really, really, really wanted to try it. And now that I have it, it turns out that it still takes a lot of work.

I mean, sure, it took me an hour to get a few chords right, but after that, putting a song together is tough, even with a copy of the tablatures are nearby. ~_~”

Or maybe it’s because my pinky finger is way too weak. Anybody got any idea how I can remedy this? My pinky finger feels like it’s all bone and no muscle to press hard into the string.

Not to mention my strumming sucks eggs. ~_~

Anyway, this does not mean I give up though. It might hurt like hell, but I am absolutely loving it. I love it as much as I love to bellydance… which I haven’t been doing for a few weeks now because my Gym ID got lost (huhuhu). I just need lots and lots of practice. I’m actually loving it because… well, it’s the first time I’ve been able to make any music at all at any musical instrument.

So, back to the tablatures! Once I’ve rested my finger tips, though. ~_~

*Yes, this is my sweet, darling, black ukulele, with it’s soft case, tuner and my clear book of ukulele songs*

The Philippine Eagle

* this picture would probably look good in an ipod touch 4th generation picture viewer…*

You know, one of the things that annoy me so much about my childhood was that I never really went to zoos or museums.

Like recently, I came across a Philippine Eagle in the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife… and it was my first time in 27 years to actually SEE a Philippine Monkey-Eating Eagle.

How sick is that. >_<

Yep, in the recent anniversary/ photowalk of our camera club, PnSers.com, we went to the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife and I FINALLY saw this awesome bird. Strange to think that it’s our National Bird and I haven’t seen it until now.

I need to head to zoos and museums more often.

I took several pictures of it, but this one is my favorite shot… mainly because it looked bewildered. It’s face is like, “What is this fat chick doing? Haven’t she seen someone of my kind in her life?”

Quite honestly, if that eagle had the ability to talk and ask me that question, I’d say, “Yes, it is my first time to see a Phil. Eagle up close. What can I say… my parents loved Luneta when I was a kid.”

Anyway, it’s pretty cool to finally a creature this magnificent. It’s horrid to think that they’re endangered. Hopefully, modern science and the government could do something to help preserve and protect these eagles. I’d hate to think that my children (should I have any) would miss out in seeing creatures as awesome as these eagles. >_<

Poem #1: If You Love Someone

If you love someone, set them free.
If they come back, then you’re meant to be.
But if they don’t, do not despair.
There are plenty of hot guys and girls everywhere.

If you love someone, set them free.
If they come back, then you’re meant to be.
But if they don’t and they find another,
Just move on, turn your back and say “Whatever.”

If you love someone, set them free.
If they come back, then you’re meant to be.
But if you find them with someone of their same gender,
Smile and hug them, and say “I’m so happy you guys are together.”

If you love someone, set them free.
If they come back, then you’re meant to be.
But if you really can’t find the perfect one for you,
Then set yourself free and live your life anew.

*Hehehe. Sorry about this. I was struck by a momentary stroke of romanticism while watching Good Luck Chuck. Hope ya liked it. ^_^v*

I Shall Solve The Christmas Wrapper Dilemma XD

YES I SHALL!!!

One of the main issues my mom has when she’s wrapping presents is that the trash we left behind. All the torn paper, the wasted satin bows, etc.

I have a good (albeit crazy) idea how to fix it. In fact, you can call it a delectable Christmas gift idea…

EDIBLE WRAPPING PAPER!!!!

What? WHAT?! It’s a great idea! Just recently, I saw a scientific show about how they were able to make a plastic-like material made of potato starch, and how it wasn’t as toxic as normal plastic, and how safe it is for kids since they can basically eat the potato-plastic. And I thought, well, since they can do that with plastic, why not with paper?

Wouldn’t it be cool to just EAT the wrapping paper after opening your gift instead of throwing it out the trash and risk a replay of the dreaded Ondoy/Ketsana disaster? It’s going to be very Earth friendly, but probably not tummy or carb-friendly. XD Not to mention kid-friendly too, since plastic is one of the main factors of suffocation among young children.

And then… THEN! Every colored edible paper would have a flavor! Like apple for green paper, strawberry for red paper, blueberries for blue paper, etc., etc…

And then the ribbon itself would be made of thin, hardened TOFFEE! XD

Oh wow… talk about trippin’. Harharhar. Yes… too much Internet can fry up my brain. That whole edible-wrapper idea came after I thought about the “blood whales”. ~_~

But still, it’s a good idea, right? I just wish someone could invent something as cool as this, maybe then I can just CHEW my Christmas present open. XD

Tribal Fusion Bellydance: Is It Weird…?

So after an awesome bellydance session at the gym, my instructor and I had a really interesting discussion about Tribal Fusion Bellydancing in the Philippines.

Apparently, TFB (the acronym I’m going to use from now on XD) isn’t very well-received in the Phil. because a lot of people think that it’s “weird” and “not really considered as bellydance”.

Hmm? Really? O_o

Personally, I think TFB is still considered bellydance, and it’s not weird at all. I mean, yeah, TFB costuming sort of makes you wear a lot of tassles, coins, scarves and other jewelry aside from your triton wedding bands, but it’s not so bad. I find it even more challenging, since your feet are pretty much rooted to the ground, so you’d have to really use your muscles to control your movement… kind of like Rachel Brice… *points to video*

In fact, my “blood whale” dreams are weirder than TFB… which will be discussed in another time. XD

Anyway…. my instructor said there are actually very few people who do TFB, particularly in her circle of bellydance friends. I hope someone would expose the beauty of TFB to the Philippines.

Or better yet, maybe I should do it… hahahaha! Just kidding! XD

Dancing Envy And Double Standards

Someday, I want to be this brilliant in Tribal Fusion bellydancing.

If only I had some box converter so I can convert some of her YouTube videos into my television. ~_~

Unfortunately, as much as I love her dancing, society’s penchant for perfection continues to piss me off. Apparently, I’d be considered a freak if I tried to dance this kind of choreography when I am 80 pounds overweight.

Well, that sucks. I didn’t know you were supposed to have a specific bodily figure to bellydance. ~_~

I’ve been reading around the InterNet lately. Apparently, most “fluffy” bellydancers focus more on Egyptian-style bellydancing rather than Tribal Fusion style bellydancing. Which is fine for me. It’s just that there are way too many people who bring these bellydancers down by calling them “fat” or “disgusting”.

Seriously? Since when has dancing for pure enjoyment become disgusting?

Anyway, I really hate these kind of double standards. It’s annoying. It’s like saying you can go and do bellydance when you’ve shed some pounds and become skinny. Which is a total opposite of what belly dancing is all about. Bellydance is all about acceptance, and liking your body no matter what the shape.

Argh. Society sucks sometimes. Honestly. Remind me to find my old bellydance belt and dance my heart out while rising my middle finger to the people who give me disgusted looks. >:(

Support AThinLine.org, Stop Cyberbullying

This… was pretty much some part of my life in high school, except for the fact that FaceBook or networking sites were still non-existent then. We had to take insults like this right into our faces, and in my case, etched in the boy’s bathroom. ~_~

Still continuing on to the cyberbullying issue, I came across this video while I was looking to compare life insurance. It’s about A Thin Line.Org, which is a website and a program by MTV that deals with cyberbullying, sexting, and other abuses that occurs in schools nowadays.

It’s actually a really, really great program, that I wish would be implemented in schools, colleges and even workplaces here in the Philippines. Being the texting capital in Asia, cyberbullying is pretty much just as prevalent here as it is in the US.  Probably just as worse, since I see articles of suicides by teenagers in the newspapers.

It’s scary to think that us, the older generation, are letting these things happen. There are still no laws against all forms of bullying, and there are a lot of schools, particularly here in the Philippines, that do not have anti-bullying policies. Things like the ones happening in this video should never happen to anyone in real life. ~_~

Anyway, calling to politicians, mind you that we need laws against cyberbullying and other forms of abuse through digital means, because believe it or not, THIS *points to video* is happening here too. ~_~

HDR Photography Testing

During the PnSers Photowalk recently, I decided to try my hand at HDR (or High Dynamic Range) Photography, since I’ve always wanted to test it out on landscapes and steel buildings and stuff.

This is what I came up with:

Meh… I think it would’ve been prettier if the canal had been much cleaner. XD

Anyway, it’s not so bad, I guess. The point is, I was able to get how to do it right, thanks to my blogging (and now photography) guru, raredog. I need lots of practice for this, because I have issues with my stabilization (my hands shake REALLY badly ~_~)… I’m going to have to keep using a tripod or a monopod if I need to stabilize myself. ~_~ I’m hoping I’ll be able to use this sort of photography technique when I spend some vacation time in Pangasinan or Marinduque.

The photowalk also included a half-day long workshop on basic photography, and I was able to get a few pointers on how to use the “Manual” mode of my beloved Fujifilm S1800 (which reminds me, I’m kind of envious of raredog and one of our members… they have a name for their camera…. maybe I should come up with one as well? XD). I’ll posting more pictures of my shots soon. ^_^v

So, back to practicing! XD

I Wanna Play Basketball!!!

All this video taping my officemates is making me envious. ~_~

Imagine having to play basketball for almost 40 minutes, and still be able to do it the next day.

I want to be that fit. ~_~

Granted, they are not exactly the most fit of people, (they are probably going to need some creatine powders to get rid some of their belly pudge, harharhar!) but I have to give them credit for being able to play that long. Heck, I can’t even shoot that basketball ball from the free throw line. (Yeah, I suck at basketball)

Anyway, all this watching is making me wish I was fit again. It made me start looking for home exercises. There was even one about prison exercises (you know, the kind that inmates do during their stint in jail) but being a chubby person like myself, it seems… scary. ~_~

I really need to get a DVD… I miss my Rachel Brice CD. I think I’m going to better as a bellydancer than a sports person. Hahaha!

New Year’s Resolutions?

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!

Oh man, I can’t believe it’s 2011 already. I’m going to have to renew my PRC license this year.

Anyway, for those who don’t know, I actually spent my quiet (but fun) New Years in Pangasinan, at my parent’s farm. Which is both pretty great and kind of sucks. It’s great because everything is all quiet and I was able to be with my family, but it was kind of boring without the usual big city fireworks show I always see when I’m here in Manila.

So I was there, of course, I was thinking of all my resolutions for this coming year. We all have that, I think.  But last year, I decided NOT to have any resolutions because, well, I don’t actually do them.

I guess it does show what a weak-willed person I am. XD

SO! For this year, I have come to the conclusion that I DO need a New Years Resolution. And my resolution is….!

TO BECOME A GYM BUNNY! XD

What does that mean? Well, with my current health status, I’m pretty sure that I need to (again) lose weight, so this year, I am determined to reach 120 pounds, and maybe even lower, without sacrificing my health from dieting. Hahahaha!

So, what are your New Years resolution? ^_^v