BUDDHAS DAILY STATS AS OF NOVEMBER 2008

Number of loafers and lace-ups I happily destroyed due to too much walking since 2006: 7(OK, I'm rewarding myself tomorrow with a new pair of Suede lace-ups)

Number of days that I have not gotten a shower: Zero! I'm pretty proud of this accomplishment. Although, it's sad that maintaining basic hygiene is now the way that I define "accomplishment."
Number of bags I now use: 4. I keep rotating between my Jack Spade canvas, that brown bag from Powerplant I got 2 years ago, a new tan bag Pupie got in the US last week and my favorite Margiela canvas man tote I got on E-bay (truly awesome!!!!).

Record Number of Royce chocolate squares in one day: 2 boxes.

Record Number of Tissue rolls used in one morning: 3, I seem to be wandering around at work, sick, drenched in my own myriad of fluids and I still have a presscon tomorrow!

PRE CHRISTMAS STRESS

My doctor says "reduce your stress,get rid of things that aren't necessary" Ok, so no Christmas gifts this year people instead, i'll be sending cards haha. Marked off my list.

Best way to detox next month - two weeks down south, sun,see and the farm!

To do list:

• play golf with dad
• visit the farm
• beach

CHASING LIGHT

The optimist says, "We live in the best of all worlds."The pessimist says, "Yeah, I know."When it comes to the Creative Commons and photography, it's no surprise that the reactions to my blog entries on the subject seems to come from extremists one either one side or the other. Their common misunderstanding is that I feel the Creative Commons itself is flawed. True, I've stated that because photography is a common, everyday thing that it is a poor fit for the Creative Commons. But this is the pessimistic viewpoint of a more neutral reality of my message: that it's the byproduct of how itis assigned to photos, and how people generally acquire it in photos that creates most of its problems.

--

some pictures I took last Sunday after service.

Found + Bought = Happy purple espadrilles

I have a thing for these brightly colored, rope-soled shoes known as espadrilles. I prefer them in bright sunshine colors (I have 4 pairs) paired with sear sucker shorts sans the socks. Espadrilles are the summer footwear of young classic men, cheap and come in zillions of colors. They’re also very light on the foot and comfortable, perfect for a leisure day at the beach or just hanging around somewhere. I remember my grandfather (Lolo Maning) telling me that they are in fact the sign of identity of the posh Spanish, known as Pijos". Espadrilles became the 'play shoes' for European style-makers like Coco Chanel in Biarritz , Picasso and Dali in the Costa Brava. If you want a pair of handmade espadrilles without traveling to Spain, visit + AC32 ( same owners of Firma), Tips and Toes nail salon and weekend bazaars all over the metro.

WHAT'S ON MY DESK?

Reading my blogs, twitter, e-mail, my mobile phone, stock of magazines in the bathroom and the newspaper every morning has gone from a daily chore to a habitual craving. I get asked some of the strangest questions you could imagine.This question though, was rather interesting. "Martin - Hey Ram, what's on your desk right now?"

• pile of monitored news clippings- my office laptop. (Let's not forget the spiffy mouse pad with my employer's logo strewn about)
• My mobile phone indicating that I've just received a text message. Now WHO could that be from...
• A telephone
• A plastic water jug from Sea World
• An office cup full of pens, markers, highlighters and confiscated thumb drives
• A Chinese box with business cards that I'm too lazy to scan into my address book
• My man bag
• My old moleskine
• a desk calendar
• photo of me and my sister and friends
• huge neon plastic clips
• A blue cardboard container full of folders, envelopes, UPS slips and a rim of bondpaper
• A number of post-its of pending projects
• A calculator from my previous boss
• A stack of notepads (letter size, legal yellow of course)

Alright, you know what's on MY desk. What's on YOUR desk? Speak up!

I COUNT – 1, 2, 26! My wish list

"You have a dream inside yourself, and it is an impossible dream. That is why the Creator gave it to your crazy ass. If it was easy, He would have given it to someone else."

I’ll be turning 26 in just a couple of days ( August 4). This year I only really had one thing on my birthday wish list, and that’s already arrived, a happy life and an intact family ( Love you mom and dad).

I have a lot to be grateful for this year and a few "impossible" dreams for the year to come. Do Good as, "inspiring people by seeing the efforts of others in hopes that they will be moved to act themselves."

I am incredibly spoiled. However, I have had the occasional “so, what do you want for your birthday?” inquiry. At this point, I’m pretty much set, so kind wishes will do me just fine. But if someone’s determined to spend a little money on me (okay, not terribly likely, but you never know), bags and surprise parties are always appreciated. I’ve got a bunch of each saved in my bluefly, ebay and tralala Wish List, but there are three things that I’d like to call special attention to.

1. A new big tote for work and play ( think Jack Spade)
2. new pair of lace-ups
3. that red sw**r sneakers at dotdotdot ( it’s on sale!)

Other than that…(shrug)…as I said, I’m not too greedy. Well-wishes and kind words will work just fine.

SEEING DOUBLE

Picture above totally reminds me of myself minus the newsboy hat , glasses and my extra baggage around my waist.

1. blue gingham dress shirt
2. blue jeans
3. tan bag
4. tie from Vietnam ( gift from R. Ricafort)
5. multicolored socks

picture taken from Altamiro NYC : http://altamiranyc.blogspot.com

PROJECT: LW

I have been yearning for today for the past many months, and couldn't stop smiling when I woke up this morning. So many of the un-named fears I have had seem to lessen their frightful weight with the simple knowledge that I am gradually feeling it. Of course I'm unendingly hopeful that everything is going to work out the way I want to, but I'm also so comforted by the fact that now, at my 5th day, the odds are finally His favor.

WHAT'S IN MY BAG

Bag: Fred Perry Canvas everyday bag. This simple canvas bag is large enough to hold my notebooks, magazines, camera and even an extra shirt when necessary.

1. Kiehl’s lip balm #1: has SPF 4, tastes icky but it works
2. Burt’s bees beeswax lip balm : tastes yummy and it works too
3. Moleskin plain notebook: large enough for note taking at meetings and for polaroids. This is where I keep my lists of everything and notes of last Sunday’s service. Also great for quick sketches when bored.
4. Planner from my best friend Cheska: A pleasure to use every day

5. 1976 Rayban aviators from Dad: I like simple, well-made things, both of these have held up through endless travels
6. Fino orange leather card case: It is not huge, but is big enough to hold business cards, and all other necessities.
7. After coffee mints: you don’t really want to smell bad!
8. Orange and Green fluorescent markers: glow when you cant find them
9. Office ID
10. Silver Canon digital IXUS I zoom : I click when I see something nice ( and I mean it!) haha
11. My old Nokia N70

WHO WEARS SHORT SHORTS - 2

Well I do, and now it is PINK!

Yesterday, I scared the hell out of my cousins by showing up for lunch in preppy pink country club shorts with my gigantically blistered heel literally oozing out over my white leather lace-ups. I sat down and held my legs out so everyone could see how completely massive my entire legs have become with the crazy water retention I've been experiencing for the past few weeks. I can push around on my calves and feel the puffiness in them, and the big muscle aches strangely, as though I've been burning up hours in some kick-butt aerobics step class. I know, rationally, that my gigantic feet and calves are just swollen, but damn, they look hideous. At least in flip-flops. I'm thinking my friends and cousins might not be able to stand the horror either.
---
Picture taken at a condominium helipad somewhere along Manila Bay, June 6 2008

Blogging merry-go-round ( now I’m dizzy!)

I haven't been doing too much blogging lately. And most of the blogging I have been doing has been less than profound. I guess I'm in this place right now... like, this limbo. My life is good. I am happy – very happy actually. There is SO much going on, all the spinning feels like a familiar merry-go-round. Like the ride is fun, but it's making me just a teeny bit dizzy. (Ok, I'm probably the only person in the world who'd get dizzy on a merry-go-round.)

I am in the space between deciding where my life will lead... in my work, in location, etc. I am not trying to make any major decisions today or even in the near tomorrows, just thinking, praying, seeing where it takes us.

I am standing still while the merry-go-round is turning and I'm very happy standing still in this moment.

WHO WEARS SHORT SHORTS?

WELL I DO! haha

After seeing things like pseudo zebra print shorts and graphic t-shirts, I'm surprised by barely anything anymore in thrift stores. But today, I spotted something that made me scramble for my camera phone one day. I stop by the mall when I'm feeling tired ("retail therapy," right?), and last Friday after work, I came upon this rack that had shorts calling my name. Epiphany baby! I was at Shang and boom, last 3 pairs of Ralph Lauren pink walking shorts. WHAT? EPIPHANY! Yes, I'm a complete fool for paying this much for a pair of pink shorts and I don't want to dwell on that.

anyway

I should take a walk around my area more often. Yesterday I recovered myself roaming around the heart of Salcedo Village and there my eyes were so pleased to see the people in all their frenzy pace. Everything was so garish, plushy and fancy. Once, I was passing by the entrance of Velasquez Park, a patch of green along Leviste and Tordesillas and I noticed THAT someone outside Coffee Bean and Tea leaf, resembled a known face. I walked back and I attempted to recognize the person with a quick look as discreet as I could. I was right, there she was. My friends yaya was sipping iced blended mocha from CBTL with my friends puppy. What the?

360 degree turn to contentment (Still Pushing)

I never thought I could be so happy with a bunch of incomplete stuff around me. Life is good ...

I can make these confessions of sloth and ineptitude because I feel no shame whatsoever! My previously pristine pad is now what I would describe as 'Almost Tidy' and, for the first time in ages (pun!)

I'm not overly concerned with my extra weight, the size of my thighs or the wrinkles (or are they laugh lines?) around my eyes.

I'm not overly concerned because (drum roll) I've got more important things to worry about! The things that used to seem vitally important to me are just not so important anymore. Maybe, this change in priorities seems like an obvious development to everyone else out there but, well, it's been a real 'Helen-Keller-hand-under-the-water-faucet' kind of awakening for me.

It's been an awesome and ferocious month and I suspect the next few months will be equally as dizzying and as bittersweet

I find myself really missing the South these days - and wishing I had my family around to share all this with.

avoiding That FOUR letter word

I’ve pretty much avoided the SALEs so far. I absolutely hate sale shopping. It’s just too stressful, and I just can’t be bothered to sift through rails and rails of rubbish in the hope of finding one gem, in my size, at a decent price.

Now saying that, I’ve bought a couple of things, a crisp dress shirt from Rustans, a store that is beautifully peaceful even in sale time. I don’t have the energy to get it out and photograph it, which is terrible blogging. It was way out of my price range, but it was just one of those items where you try it on, and there is just no question, you have to have it. I wore it last weekend and managed not to ruin it, and am still absolutely in love with it.

I also bought a pair of black oxford semi slim from (…), remarkable practical for me. I had eyed them up earlier in the season, but wasn’t convinced enough about them. Then when I saw them in the sale I just decided to go for them, and I’m really glad I did. But those are the only things I’ve bought.

Actually that’s not strictly true. They are the only fashion items I’ve bought. No, this weekends sale has been seriously wardrobe update focussed.

Oh well. Sometimes theses things just have to be done.