Blue Monochrome

Oil on paper

This is an oil painting I finished last December. It took me awhile to find a suitable title for this. When I picked it up and studied it closely one day, it just hit me. Blue Monochrome.

Needless to say, blue is associated with calm. It’s the color of the sky and the ocean. Although it used to be my favorite color, I’ll always love it. It’s a part of me, for I grew up loving the blue skies and sea.

The blue flowers in this painting are a reminder of my childhood days filled with gazing at the blue sky and diving into the blue.

This was taken just this afternoon. Seeing Rufus barking, wagging his tail in delight, and jumping up at me when I come home is the best feeling in the world. 

When I’d feel down or troubled, Rufus would look up at me and lick my face as though he were saying, “Everything will be okay. I’m here.” Then I’d hug him tight and feel his warmth lifting up my spirits. 

He’s my world.

A good friend of mine, Patti, told me about Adobe Lightroom, an application for editing pictures. I downloaded this software yesterday and started using it just this afternoon. It was complicated at first—I am no techie, after all—but I figured it out. 

This is the first picture I edited using Adobe Lightroom. Editing pictures can be fun.

I never thought I’d see the day I’ll have my picture taken with one of the most famous Filipino football players.

I just finished ordering my milk tea at Serenitea when I saw him. I stared and couldn’t believe my eyes. He was wearing jogging pants and a green shirt, looking as handsome as he is in pictures. I quickly grabbed my friend Monica and squealed, “Oh my God! It’s James Younghusband! Let’s have our picture taken! Oh my God!” 

He was posing with a group of enthusiastic mall goers who were snapping photos with their phones. After he had finished, he went to line up at Serenitea. Monica and I exchanged looks. His back turned to me, I approached him and tapped him on the shoulder. He looked over his shoulder, turning to face me, and before I could say a word, he nodded and kindly said, “Sure,” with a small smile. I must have looked so starry-eyed to him. Then Monica and I quickly scanned the crowd to ask someone to take our picture for us. A man passed by and offered to take it. But he wasn’t able to take the picture at first, so Monica and I asked James if we could have our picture taken again, and he good-naturedly agreed. 

I was amazed at how accommodating James was. He was really friendly and patient with fans. But most of all, I loved how well-composed he was, since his mother just passed away.  

I have to remind myself that last Saturday night was real.

OH YEAH!

I’ve just finished rereading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets this afternoon, and what Professor Dumbledore told Harry struck a chord with me, “It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”

A few weeks ago, I decided to reread the Harry Potter series and watch its movie adaptations in preparation for the last film that premieres next month. I don’t think I’ll ever be ready to say goodbye to the famous trio whom I’ve grown up with as well as the rest of the cast I’ve admired and grown fond of, especially Maggie Smith’s Professor McGonagall and Alan Rickman’s Professor Snape. 

In the meantime, I’m relishing every word J.K. Rowling wrote and every second of the movie that brought the stories to life.

Tonight, I’m going to watch Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and then begin rereading the novel it was based on tomorrow.

Here’s to a magical night with Hermione, Ron and Harry!

April 14, 2011

Panglao Island

I just wanted to let you know that I miss you, Bohol. 

April 14, 2011

This was taken in Panglao Island after our snorkeling in Balicasag Island which is about a forty-minute boat ride to and from Panglao Island. 

I fell in love with Panglao the minute I stepped on its white sand.