The Shinning

I'm a Stephen King fan. Since high school I tried reading all of his novels and his movies. I have read The shinning even watched the mini TV series remake. I haven't watched the Stanley Kubrick version. I am a horror fanatic. I do try to watch the latest horror flicks but I also try the classics. The shinning is one of the movies I want to watch.


This film had mixed views. Even Stephen King had apprehensions with this version (he even produced a mini tv series remake later). I am not a film critic I'm more of a horror film lover so I will not dwell on how the critics received the film. The movie did deviate from the novel. Still this version has spot in my heart. Others might not like the slow pacing but for me I liked. I guess I like my horror slow. I love the vast eerie empty interiors of the Outlook view hotel. If I were a little child I would definitely loved exploring this hotel.

A horror movie would not be complete without the carnage.


This scene is just sublime. Dexter would love this then again maybe (definitely it would remind him of his Mom).

I don't recommend this to everyone. Some could fall asleep in this movie. The scary moments aren't enough. But I love Jack Nicholson's portrayal of Jack Torrence. Thought it is not faithful to the book but he is one scary Dad.

My Makeshift Home Entertainment system

The TV in my room is busted. At first watching cable wasn't possible. The only thing you can do is watch DVDs. Now you can't do anything with it well except staring at your own reflection. I bought a portable dvd player when I was in Cebu. I remembered that I could rig the cable with it. So there you go I can finally watch cable table. I even attached the old computer speakers to boost the sound. hehehe

New Hair Cut

My old boring hair

I am bored with my lifeless hair. I really don't have a cut in mind. Something short just to cut off the remnants of post break up dyed brown hair last year. My sister and I was waiting for my bf to arrive. My sister told me about the Korean saloon just across the street. I knew we had a lot time so I gave it a try. I just picked out a cut short hair from the catalog.

My new hair....

I want You

It's been quite a while since the last time I went home early and had the library and computer area by myself. I miss those times when I had lots of idle time, lots of things to ponder and plenty of angst to fuel my writing. I was living a very complicated life then. I was very rebellious and angry. I wrote poetry like this

It was never meant to beHe was the forbidden fruit of my wretched garden of
sinHe thought that he could have meI was the one who corrupted his mind.

temptation of a prince -02-27-2005

I saw the person who inspired this poem. It reminded me of the days when I was still emotional, impulsive and very experimental. It was a very dark phase for me but somehow I learned a lot from it. It's been four years since dark dark year and a lot has changed. Right now my blog entries are boring and less meladramatic. Now I see things differently but in a better light. That Prince I mentioned in my poem has also matured. Still he is the silly guy I like hanging out with. We both chose different paths but somehow crossed paths again because of a sad circumstance. I hope he has found peace as I have found mine.

Sigh this so I unlike me soooo EMO. hehehe

PS. I didn't know what titled I would give this entry so I just shuffled my ipod and named the blog after the song on my Ipod.

My Current Vice

My original title was My current Vice-online shopping then I wanted to change it to my current vice-book buying still I feel that is not it. So that the title would be just My current vice. In this article I want to talk about my (ummm do I sound like I'm talking to a shrink?) impulsive buying lately. Early this month I bought a box set of Charlaine Harris' The Southern Vampire series. Right after watching the whole season of True Blood I wanted to read the book series. I knew I could not find the series at local National bookstore I opted to buy the books online instead. I ordered for the books and hoped for the best. While waiting confirmation of my order I saw that there was a boxed at National. If I purchased it there it would be cheaper because there won't be any shipping cost. I didn't but it immediately. I thought about it buying it later but when I asked the saleslady if they had other stocks she replied that it was the last stock. My online order didn't confirm and it was already two days so I decided it was best to buy it. My money was P100 short so I had to withdraw from atm.

Then a few weeks later I saw that avalon.ph was having an anniversary sale. The book auctions started at P10. So I placed bids and won a couple of books (I won six books to be exact). I also found The Ultimate Hitchiker's Guide book was on sale. So without batting an eyelash I bought a book. Saturday and Sunday I finally got my package.

Among my purchases I really love this one.

My story doesn't end here. I also bought another two books still from avalon.ph auctions. I'm going to get the books by next week...and I also bought a new pair of shoes...

Sigh Why was online shopping invented now I'm a click away to unleash my impulsive shopping antics....

Collections

I was bored at home I went around the house to take random snapshots. I realized that my family likes collecting things. I used to collect books...but that's another story. Here are some of my family's collections.

my sister's flip flops

colorful nail polish
(it's rather a small collection but I took a picture becuase I think it pretty)

My Mom's white breakables

hmmm a beautiful angel playing the guitar

my Mom's tea set collection

....even has a religious theme tea set

What do you collect?

Helping Out

It was a boring weekend. I just stayed at home, watched dvd's and slept. My sister on the other hand was very busy. She was working on her individual Case Presentation. I offered my help to make the into part unfortunately when I finally sat down and read an example I didn't understood a thing.
All the medical terms made me feel like I'm having a nose bleed. After a couple of tries I give. I am very thankful that I'm not the medical field. Right now I am still up because I'm assisting my sister in the printing. At least I know I could do that.

Summer Ad Camp

I remember the time when I had my practicum. I had a lot of fun but I also learned a lot. It was my first time to be exposed to the real advertising stuff. Now summers comming and my company will have a Summer Ad Camp.

Open to all incoming college seniors taking up fine arts, masscom, and business administration/management, who see themselves working in the advertising industry soon, Summer Ad Camp is initially being offered to schools within Cebu. Only six (6) trainees will be accepted – all of whom will go through 7 weeks of intensive training that combines advertising theories and hands-on work that includes marketing, research, creative conceptualization, and the implementation of a real advertising campaign. The application period for Summer Ad Camp 09 runs for the whole month of February. Interested applicants may approach their respective school departments, visit the agency at 6/F BF Building, Escario Street or e-mail: summeradcamp@campcebu.net.

Cornify!!!

Click the button and see my blog cornified! hehehe!

More than Just blogging

Internet is the most accessible way to connect to people. Everyone has a secret wish to be famous or maybe at least be known to a number of people. I used to search my name in search engine just to see my online presence or just maybe someone wrote about me. I know its wishful thinking. Blogging for me is not just about making public personal journal. It’s a great opportunity to share information. It may not be scientific facts but small personal discoveries that could help other people in my case fellow artists. It’s like having your own PR manager.
Blogging is your own personal thing. You can be a neurotic blogging or can be a very organized one. If you want to reach as many people as possible you have to have an audience in mind. The blogs I always visit are the ones are easy to read and that have topics that I can’t relate to. The design for me is also a key. I’m a very visual person so aesthetics is a must.
Besides sharing information or personal opinions blogging is also an advertising opportunity. Effective bloggers not only get to have an audience but also earn from blogging. Since the boom of blogging advertisers could use bloggers as a tool. When they advertise on blogs they can get to target market easily. They can choose blogs that is related to product or service so that their ads won’t be a waste. It’s like hitting a bull’s eye.
I have blogging for several years now. I am not that active since my schedule can be erratic. It may not be my full time hobby but it is one of stress release pastimes. I friend recommended me to payingpost. I wanted to try my luck again with earning from my blogs. The signup is easy and the I also loved the simple and clean design. I like how uncluttered their opportunities page


Hopefully blogging will more than writing stuff from the top of your head. I will try to use my blogging constructively. May it be from sharing my views or even earning from it.

Inspiration VS Discouragement

When I am browsing through art blogs I discover several works of artists. I am not really good at names but I remember the different art styles. It's like knowing the lyrics of the song but can't really remember the specific title or the artist. But there are names that really stick with me.

These are the artist that really look up to. When one work of artist has an impact to it tends to lead to two things...inspiration or discouragement. There are certain works that when I see it makes me grab my pencil and start drawing. There are also works that are soooo good that makes me wonder about my skills.

I will give you concrete example.

May Ann Licudine





I stumbled into her blog when it was nominated in a blog award last year. I really love her style. Every time I see her works it really puts a smile on my face. She is close to my age and she is also a Pinay like me. She already known and has done a lot. She always inspires me to practice my illustration skills. Every time I feel down I always look at her works.

Paolo Ramirez





I found his site through the M magazine (he is the creative director). His name is so familiar that I decided to check his site out. He is Dabawenyo like me and there is a possibility that he was my classmate in my elementary. He has a very different art style than mine (well maybe there was a point of my life when I strive to do awesome portraits). I really love his realistic remditions of portraits. His works made me that skills seems to be inadequate. (I had to gobble a lot of chocolates afterward hehehe)

When I look at it I am usually inspired/discourage with young artists. When I was younger I really believed that one should be good even at a young age. I guess I was in hurry then. Now I have a different mantra. I did see that experience is also a key in developing your skills. Maybe I relate more to May Ann because I see myself in her. Paolo in the other hand seems to has a different set of discipline than mine. In the end of the day I still love them both.

....yes a post valentine's post

As cheesy as it might get I did get chocolates and a heart shape cake!

Good Friends or Chocolate to uplift your spirit

Melissa Arbotante: huhuhu suya ko naa ko nakita sample works sa artist diri tagadavao
Melissa Arbotante: http://****.multiply.com/
Melissa Arbotante: feel naku naclassmate naku gradeschool pero dili ko sure
norbertelnar: ahahahaah
norbertelnar: saon
Melissa Arbotante: familliar kaayo ang name tapos ang age kay duol ra
Melissa Arbotante: suya ko niya kuyaw kaayo siya magillustrate!
Melissa Arbotante: nadepress na nuon ko kay nagatubang ko ug menu layout
Melissa Arbotante: huhuhu
norbertelnar: hahahahhaa
norbertelnar: hala oi
Melissa Arbotante: maski dili perfect iyang anatomy pero kuyaw lang gihapon siya magcolor
norbertelnar: sure ka
norbertelnar: iya jud ni worK
Melissa Arbotante: iya lagi
norbertelnar: aw maau jud cya
norbertelnar: ana lang
norbertelnar: eat chocolates nalang mel
Melissa Arbotante: ginatanaw man naku iyang dev art karun
Melissa Arbotante: sagdi lang mas gwapa man ko sa iyaha (wahahaha loser)
norbertelnar: ahahahahhaa
norbertelnar: saon
norbertelnar: relax lang oi
norbertelnar: tuo man ka niya
Melissa Arbotante: hehehe
norbertelnar: unya naa cyay boots?
norbertelnar: pareha sa imu?
Melissa Arbotante: hahaha
Melissa Arbotante: ngee wala man sa boots nu
norbertelnar: naa ra jud na sa boots mel
norbertelnar: nganu mka inom cya ug 25 liters of iced tea pareha nimo
norbertelnar: ?
Melissa Arbotante: hello wala na baya ko nag inum ug ice tea karun
norbertelnar: hahahahaha
norbertelnar: maka kaon cy aug 17 pesos ila manang?
Melissa Arbotante: hello dili na baya ko kakaon didto!
norbertelnar: wa jud na cyay binatbat nimo mel
norbertelnar: as in

Boredom. Trying to get by....

There are days when I am swamped with work. Then there are days when I just wait for a new task. Days like these I have to be creative in order to survive the day (and avoid falling asleep). Today are one of those days....zzzz.

I'm such a restless person most of the time. I have be doing something. I try to juggle reading, writing, watching, and creating something.

My ways to get by my boredom

Reading
I read a lot. Now I don't have so much time in reading that I do it in between everything. I read the book They Whisper by Robert Olen Butler when I wake up....when I'm in the toilet (hehehe). When I'm in the office and I read blogs and recently I started reading manga too. After office when I am waiting for my bf I read the first book in Charlaine Harris Southern vampire series.

Watching
I don't watch tv but I love watching movies and TV series. In my lunch time I usually watch the scrubs or the latest movie I have downloaded. I had just finished watching Slumdog. Lately I have been watching oscar nominated movies. Somehow what I am watching is connected to what I am reading. Like for example True Blood I had just finished season 1. I liked the series when I learned that it's based on a book series I bought myself a boxed set and not I am reading the first book. It's not always watching it first. With Gossip Girl me and sister had been reading the series a long time ago. When I learned that it was made into a series I wanted to see it. Movies or series aren't usually faithful to the book.

Writing
I am not really a good writer. My spelling is bad and my grammar needs adjusting most of the time but that doesn't really stop me from writing. This is just one of my outlets. I used to write poems and stories right now all I could do is blog.

Creating
I promised myself that this year I will strive to creative more stuff like drawings, photography sets, paintings and what not. I have been low in this part. This involes a lot of focus and time. These days I seems to ran out of that.

Everyday I try not to waste my time and stare at space but there are times when my top four boredom busters don't work I usually really in my imagination and just day dream. hehehe

What do you do when your bored?

Love/Hate relationship of Making a Mock-up

After how many hours making the compre, after having it approved by my superiors I will finally make a mock-up for the presentation. A mock up will simulate what would your design will look like in real life. For example you designed a packaging for cologne. A mock-up would mean printing then sticking the label to the packaging (if you are lucky that the client gave a sample of what their bottle...if not then you have to find the closest thing).

Making the mock-up is good and a bad thing. For a Designer it could be fun and also can be frustrating. The process could be fun...for me its fun. It's my break from staring my PC for to long. Cutting cardboard can stress release. BUT if you are not focus in your cutting there is only a possibility you will cut yourself. Apparently yesterday I did cut myself.

After all the measuring and cutting now you will assemble it. Then you realized that your measurements were wrong or you had a mistake in cutting. It can be hell but you will see what not to do next time. After everything you will see the final product.

It's either you will love it (makes you feel you a design God) or see that it's another lame excuse for a packaging design (makes you wish you picked another line of work).

Yesterday I made a mock up for my menu. The printer here smaller compared to the printer in the Cebu office. I had to make a puzzle our of a big menu. I also miss the ruler, cutting mat and table in Cebu. After a days and a few cuts I finally finished the mock-up and board up of the studies. Hopefully the client will approve the studies. Wish me luck!