Emotion with a Z.. :D

I would always have the graphic novel The Dream Hunters (collaboration by Yoshitaka Amano and Neil Gaiman) to thank for in my discovery of Zhang Jingna.

I was amazed by the Amano - Gaiman combination so I wanted to see other artworks that would depict the beauty and grace of the Fox in the story that I fell in love with. (Please purchase the novel if you're interested to know the story! :D) I searched randomly for tags like "fox", "dream hunters", etc in DeviantArt.com when I found Jingna's interpretation of the Fox:

Image scanned by a friend.

I was blown away. It's as if the Fox went to her studio and asked Zhang Jingna to take her pictures. Her interpretation captured what I imagined the fox's appearance and demeanor would be if she's real. :D I browsed through her gallery and instantly became a fan. 'zemotion's gallery is a feast for the eyes, I am telling you. (click on the link to visit her complete list of works.)

But after the "Ooohhhh~" and the "Wow!" I thought, "Yeah, so she's just another good photographer. Big deal." I was ready to shrug her existence off again and move on but as I read her blog (which I follow), she slowly turned into an inspiration. I laughed at her silly dream of becoming a Gundam pilot, pleased to know that she also loves Japanese culture and felt hopeful when she revealed what her equipments were when she was just starting her photography career (For I am dreaming to enter the world of photography too.. :D). I was also humbled by her life experiences, they weren't easy but she survived. :)

So, I like her photography because I think it radiates her personality. Strong, passionate and definitely amazing.. :)

And here's my Strike Freedom, I asked him to do a cute pose for you.. :D Smile, Ms. Zhang Jingna, please know that somebody here in Manila continues to dream and you're one of the reasons why.

Firefly Dreamages~ ^0^/"/

Nathan and I were talking about pictures through SMS a while ago. Being the late bloomer that he is, he was rumbling about how pictures prolong memories and how it can be passed on to the next generation, of course assuming that they would be interested enough to look at them. And being the blunt me whenever he's around, I said: "I thought you'll never realize. Late boomer ka talaga, noh?". Teehee, Forgive me, Tan. You're the only person I do consider a friend during my two-year stay at CVG and I hope that you do know the reason behind my bluntness towards you is affection. Yeah, a crazy, kinda messed-up way of showing my lurrrvvve. *heart* We've always had that "what-you-see-is-what-you-get" friendship and you're the only person in this whole wide universe who would be lukaret enough to ask me to buy a "you-know-what" from Recto for him. I always cringe at the memory but it was somehow refreshing since it's a complete 180 from my usual wholesome image. LOL.

Yes, pictures are memories so you need to make and take lots and lots. Let me tell you, when I was scheduled for an interview for the photographer post I applied for months ago, I was thinking for an appropriate answer to come up with in case they ask why I'm into photography. I was ready to answer, to capture memories. Yuck, that sounded like an ad for Kodak. Hoho, but yeah, cheesy as it may sound that would have been my answer. Luckily, they asked me more important questions like "Do you usually dress up like that?". I was wearing my usual jeans and t-shirt since their job ad mentioned something about being one's self, so I said "Yeah." Hmmn, maybe that was the reason why I didn't get the post. Lol. Maybe they should rename their company, The Modelling Agency instead of "The P------ ------y". Or maybe I shouldn't be too stupid either, and update my resume with the correct contact number. But that's a different story. OTL

-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-

Well, anyway, there I go again. Incoherent is incoherent. :p

As a finishing touch, I bring you the ice cream on top of the mumbo jumbo:

http://essiehime.tumblr.com/

Firefly Dreamages.. :)

Shameless promotion of the new photo blog.. :)

What, a girl can dream, right? :D

In search for Infinity

If reading too much about cameras could cause somebody to cough out blood, then I would have died on a pool of my own blood right now. A sea of deep, thick, slimy blood that screams of the owner's masochistic torture of self-induced GASing.

You see, I've been searching for the perfect camera to replace my sacrificial lamb, Nirvana, for weeks now. After giving my enlightenment away to some anti-social gadget freak in exchange for some cash, I went ahead and searched for my Mugen. From tipidpc.com to sulit.com.ph to henryscameraphoto.com, Chrome-san already knows them by heart. It's been my daily routine for the last 2-3 weeks. Even my cousin asked me what do I get from staring at the prices of cameras all day, I said "I was hoping they would magically go down so I could buy one." But of course, they don't and what would magically appear were the little auras I get whenever I have a migraine. If I feel the need to stretch and go out, I would go to my Mecca and have blood oozing out from my eyes and ears instead. I've been to 24k, Meyer's, Henry's, M20, Avenue and all the other camera stores in Hidalgo, I could tell which stores offer which by now so call me the "Hidalgo-hime". All hail the Hidalgo-himesama! OTL

I was so desperate that I even ditched a meet-up with a friend to kiss someone's you-know-what, hoping to please that someone so she could become my Daddy Long Legs and I, her Judy Abbott. See? The lowest of the low.

But what can I do? This is the first time my heart thumped for something aside from paper bishounen. It's thumping so hard that I can barely sleep at night, it beats so fast that it hurts. Whenever I close my eyes, I could see images

Of Ichu's swelling belly

Of Utoy, Jigen and Yael's smiles

Of the moments I might miss

So I stay up, stare at the numbers

and dream awake.

More cheese please! :D

My married girl friend said that her husband never gets angry because he believes that the time spent being mad at each other is such a waste.

But I say getting mad at each other and putting an effort to make up after is an opportunity to fall in love with our partners all over again, so it's all worth it.

After a fight, food tastes better, jokes are funnier and shoujo manga are cheesier. Don't you agree? :D

The evidence that pointed out there's fire

It's been a day since we've since his giant blue head, when I said "No, you can't."

I'm going to ask you, even though I'll be better without knowing

Did you or did you not?

This Old Man

There's this Old Man from our neighborhood whose steps are like of a baby's.

Step, step. step, step. Pause. Step, step, step. Stop. Step, step. step, step. Sigh.

One, two, three, four, five up to twenty steps and yet he's just half way across the street, which people usually cross in three or four easy strides. Whenever he wants to sit, he has to lean on a tree, or on a lamp post or has to get a good aim and pray that his butt reaches its destination safely. (Or something like that.) I once asked Momsie about him and she recalled that this Old Man suffered from a stroke, which affected his motor skills.

The first time I took notice of this Old Man was during Popsie's wake. When everybody else was busy betting for their numbers on the Terembe table or was busy cracking pumpkin seeds, or was busy refilling their glasses with the blushing horse, he was there in his uncoordinated stance, clumsily cleaning tables, arranging chairs and offering more pumpkin seeds to crack to Pops' mourners. He touched my heart, he did. But I was so busy that I soon forgot about him until I saw him recently, not on our streets but in Quiapo. He was there, really! He was bravely waddling his way through the busy streets of Hidalgo. Doing the steps he has memorized since God-knows-when while dodging pedicabs and horse manure.

I know it's pathetic to draw courage from someone else's pain but forgive me if I already did. I am currently unemployed so I am also in pain. Sheesh, what a bad joke. I am sorry. Escaping from too serious topics about me is part of my personality, I'm a Scorpio, you see.

Old Man, you would always be part of my inspiration. Thank you.

But seriously speaking, I think I'm just like him. Clumsily waddling through life's manure. (Oh, hello euphemism, I missed you!) Pausing, stopping, sighing to breathe whenever I can so I won't find myself in the deeper compost of more sheeeet.

Or maybe I'm just making excuses. What the hell--? Whatever.

I blame you, Tiffany!

Ever since my friend Marichu got married, I've been bugged by my friends with the question, "Kayo, kailan?" like there's no tomorrow. I feel like an idiot every time I answer them with a "Naku, matagal pa!" followed by my much heard reason of us being too young, unready and unstable, which I think is true on most part. Though I refuse to believe that Arvin and I are totally unprepared for a lifetime commitment, I find it hard to imagine myself getting tied down (lovingly), developing a much bigger bump in my mid section and assuming the role of a housewife slash okaa-sama. There are still numerous roles I want to portray before settling down or getting messed up, whichever you prefer calling getting married as, haha like "photographer", "graphic artist" or even "sexy star", who knows right? And besides, I'm so not over with my manga marathons, anime addiction and cosplay fascination. Don't tell me to give up on that to make way for diapers and baby bottles. I know I'm associating marriage with babies instead of relationship bliss but I just can't stop myself from thinking ahead. *sigh*

Guys, come on, I'll get married once I've been proposed to and when that happens you are definitely invited! (Unless you're off to Timbuktu or somewhere mining platinum or something.)

Plus, this Tiffany is way too expensive. Maybe if Arvin could afford this then we could get married. Of course I'm not asking him to get me that overly expensive, over the top, disgustingly lovely you'll be my bestest best friend in the whole wide world diamond engagement ring. No way!...

..

..

..

... ?

I kid, I kid! Oh well, maybe. Haha..

Edit: I think some people misunderstood my tone of voice here. I really enjoyed writing this one because I think my sarcasm is, errr, improving? Haha.. Or maybe they simply don't get it.

I try~

I tried writing an entry about my Pops and Lola, but I guess it's still too early since I still don't know where to start. I guess I can compare it to Murakami's Norwegian Wood, when Watanabe was describing how hard it was to write about Naoko back when the memories of her were still too real for him. *pauses* (I suddenly heard the faucet running, even though I'm the only one here in our room.. Papa talaga o! O__O)

Anyway, we visited them last July 14 even though PAGASA raised the Signal No. 2 warning, we were utterly pleased of their inaccuracy. It was sunshiny.

We arrived at Papa's place, said our prayers then left. I still can't bear to take pictures there.

We sang Happy Birthday when we got to Lola's ground. (You see, Lola's birthday was July 12th. Two days after, Papa passed away. Then two months after, Lola passed away. Now I am afraid what's gonna happen two years after.) It was weird since everybody's singing a song to celebrate birth but all we can see were tombstones. It was the saddest birthday song I've ever heard.

Come to think of it, we lost 3 family members within the span of two years. Tita Janet, Lola and Papa but God is good, he gave us Rameses (That little kiddo in front, who was born 2 weeks after Papa passed away), Baleleng's second baby (I think she's going to name him Genesis since that's what's written on the Facebook page she already created page for him) and Neneng's baby (who was scheduled to come out that same day we went to the cemetery but for some reason he's still clinging inside his mama.. :D)

We're still a big, dramatic, happy family.

And remember that"Lost Ann" anecdote Papa used to tell? I took a picture of that legendary bricked path by Quirino's resting place.

Papa, I'm still lost. Hurry and save your little girl.

Back to ranting~ :D

The sharing of good news! :D

1. Nodame Cantabile The Movie II (のだめカンタービレ 最終楽章　後編 / Nodame Cantabile Saishu Gakusho Kouhen) is a Japanese movie directed by Hideki Takeuchi. It will be released by Toho in Japan on April 17, 2010. It follows up the events of Nodame Cantabile The Movie I, which was released on December 19, 2009.

Me: With the manga ending, the anime on it's last season and the translation of the Opera-hen on hold due to lack of raws, (please, please, raws please~) this is definitely an oasis for the thirsty NodaChi fans.. :D These two are as adorable as ever.. ^___^ (Though I think Ueno Juri lost too much weight..)

Here's the trailer:

The new film picks up where the first installment left off—Nodame (Juri Ueno) and Chiaki (Hiroshi Tamaki) mutually decide that it would be for the best if they parted ways for a while so Nodame can practice for an upcoming competition. However, when things don’t go her way, she gets impatient and depressed. While Nodame is away, Chiaki’s former pianist Rui Son (Yu Yamada) returns to take her place. To make matters worse, Rui and Chiaki are set to play the song Nodame dreams of playing with Chiaki herself: Ravel’s “Concerto in G Minor”.

~*0*~

2. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (時をかける少女 / Toki o Kakeru Shojo ) is an upcoming live-action adaptation of a manga by Yasutaka Tsutsui directed by Masaaki Taniguchi. It will be released by stylejam in March 2010.

Me: One of my favorites, I really love Ghibli Studios.. :)

Here's the trailer:

The film stars Riisa Naka (the voice of Makoto in the 2006 animated film) as Akari, the 18-year-old daughter of the protagonist of the original novel, Kazuko Yoshiyama (played by Narumi Yasuda). When Kazuko is injured in a car accident and falls into a coma, Akari leaps back in time to the 70s to seek out her mother’s first love, Kazuo Fukamachi. Instead, she meets a college student named Ryota (Akiyoshi Nakao) who helps her with her search

~*0*~

3. BECK is an upcoming live-action Japanese movie directed byYukihiko Tsutsumi. It’s based on a manga by Harold Sakuishi which was originally serialized from 2000-2008.

Me: This is the only anime I watched with Arvin, so this is really special. We're looking forward to it. (See? I got his interest when I told him that there's a movie adaptation of BECK).. haha.. :D

Here's the trailer:

Through a chance encounter with a talented guitarist named Ryusuke Minami (Hiro Mizushima), an ordinary high school student named Koyuki (Takeru Sato) is encouraged to pick up the instrument himself. The two eventually form a band with bassist Taira (Osamu Mukai), lead vocalist Chiba (Kenta Kiritani), and drummer Saku (Aoi Nakamura), naming it BECK after Minami’s dog.

~*0*~

4. Ooku (大奥) is an upcoming live-action Japanese movie directed by Fuminori Kaneko. It’s being co-distributed by Shochiku and Asmik Ace Entertainment and will be released domestically on October 1, 2010.

Based on a popular manga by Fumi Yoshinaga, the film is set in an alternate version of Japan in which a disease has drastically decreased the male population, turning the nation into a matriarchal society. The film will cover the Mizuno arc from volume 1 of the manga. Kazunari Ninomiya will star as Hiroyuki Mizuno, a young man from a poor samurai family who decides to join the palace harem to earn a huge amount of money. Kou Shibasaki will play a new Shogun named Yoshimune who inadvertantly involves Mizuno in a grim tradition.

Me: One word. Awesome.. :) This wouldn't win the "I-Forgot-Which-Award-And-Is-Too-Lazy-To-Google" award for nothing.. ;)

Here's the teaser, no trailers yet.. :D

Ooku is set in an alternate version of Japan in which a disease has drastically decreased the male population, turning the nation into a matriarchal society in which young men are treated as a precious commodity never to be risked in sports or war. Hiroyuki Mizuno (Ninomiya) is a commoner from a struggling samurai family who isn’t allowed to marry the woman he loves because he’s too poor to afford that right. To earn money for his family, he decides to enter Ooku (the palace), where young men like him are simply added to a harem as a status symbol for the wealthy and powerful. Mizuno quickly establishes himself as someone not be be trifled with, setting himself apart from the other men. However, when the unmarried Yoshimune (Shibasaki) takes over as Shogun and chooses Mizuno as her first consort, a long-standing Ooku tradition threatens to cut their relationship very short.

~*0*~

5. The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya (涼宮ハルヒの消失 / Suzumiya Haruhi no Shoshitsu) is an upcoming Japanese animated film based on the fourth light novel of the Haruhi Suzumiya series of the same name. It’s currently being produced by Kyoto Animation and will be released in Japanese theaters in spring 2010.

No trailers though.. :(

So there, all the good movies I'm hoping to see this year.. :) I was sure that there's an adaptation of Haruki Murakami's Norwegian Wood starring Ken'ichi Matsuyama as Watanabe but I didn't see any info on that yet except for this Wikipedia article:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_Wood_(novel)

We'll wait and see then.. ;)

Back to my wormhole again~ Jaa ne! ^0^

** all from http://www.nipponcinema.com/

Dehado?

Everybody I know seem to get promoted these days to some higher position. Most of them have acquired some managerial/ supervisory role, upped to become an admin or dropped the 'Associate' from their title. It's somehow unnerving for somebody like me who started working the same time as them. Envy and jealousy. Yeah, I know these are not so nice emotions to harbor but heck more than being envious and jealous, I really am sad to see them leave me behind career wise. I am truly, from-the-bottom-of-my-heart happy for my friends and I won't wish anything but the best for them. They've worked long and hard to get where they are unlike me who has worked halfheartedly and yes, I am fully aware that the only person to blame is the same person who's writing this blog post. Argh, I didn't work hard enough Essiehime, so shoot me. @__@

Gotta run after them, get my ass off my chair and move it.
Easier said than done.
Where to start?
Here?

Back to work, Essie!

Back to work.

Back and work ("to" in Nihongo means "and")

Back, like my back pains

Work, the cause of the pains.

Lol, word pun.

So there, my 2-week "vacation" ended in a snap. I didn't finish the novel I was hoping to finish but I got to spend time with family and friends.

Can barely wait for July.

haaaaay~

Tadaima!~

It's been a while since I stayed in front of the computer. My lower back was really aching these past few weeks so I couldn't go online much. It's been really hard for me to sit even on a padded couch, much more on a hard stool but after the PT, I could say it's gotten better, yey! Hooray for Pain and Rehab! *clap clap clap*

Oh yeah, I was diagnosed to have Lumbarsomething Somethingscoliosis. Basta, scoliosis! I guess my spine's curving left, uwaaaa~ Here's the Xray, you'd get the idea.



The perpendicular line was suppose to hit the middle of the spine but it doesn't, so there. Whatever. I'm a tech support, so ask me about Internet connectivity questions, I might be able to answer them but not this. Toink.


Anyway, I'm surfing the net like crazy right now. Uploading pictures, visiting blogs, checking my DA, whew~

I still need to finish my 10 chapters, uwaaaa~ I hope Miss Hazel would still accept my supah supah late work.. Y__________Y

Jaa ne! ^0^

Poor Kazehaya-kun!

Something fuwa fuwa~ nyehehehe.. Click to view full reso.. :D
L - R, onegaishimasu! :)




I just love Kimi ni Todoke, it's something that brightens up my week, aside from the Nodame Final-Hen and Nodame Opera-Hen updates..


Argh, Kazehaya-kun's so slow, even in the manga! Aggggrh!
(But I guess that's his lovable point.. :D)

Nyah~

Oh, I'm still alive! Just a quick, err, rant. Go along now, move it, there's not much to read.. Happy New Year by the way.. ^___^



*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I think I'm prematurely breaking out of my shell again. I keep telling myself that it's not yet time and I have to stay inside just a bit longer, before I test my wobbling feet on the less greener, harsher green fields. I guess I'm just too sick of my comfort zone and I'm really eager to get out.

"I guess I'm just too sick of my comfort zone and I'm really eager to get out.."

-- Oh my, I know I'm gonna regret saying that in the future.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Quarter life crisis sucks, if there's such a thing. I think this is more of self-imposed worrying. Heck, haha.