My A-Bit-Big-Time Christmas List

Merry Christmas everyone! If anybody out there has a bigger heart and wants to give something more, something not in my list previously posted, this is for you.

1. Kick-ass Computer. As some of you may have already known, I am part of the Multimedia Ministry in church. My task is to do computer layouting. Well, I've been a layout artist before so I don't have a problem with that. I have only one problem though: I don't have a computer. And I'm the only member of the group who doesn't. It is just reasonable to put this on top of the list. Please take note of the the term "kick-ass." Some people do not really get the meaning of this expression. It means something cool, powerful and a cut above the rest. In other words, I want a computer powerful enough for picture (and video) editing, movie marathoning (if this word will appear in the dictionaries, I claim to have coined it) and downloading. For further specifications I want a dual-core AMD Athlon for a CPU (2.6 Ghz or faster), at least a 128-MB video card and 2 gigabytes of random access memory (DDR2). I really like to have a desktop, but if you guys want to give me a laptop, I would more than gladly accept it.
2. Professional Camera. Remember "Be still."? The photography business venture of my friend and me? We still don't have a camera and, as a consequence, no customers. I'm not really familiar with the good brands of camera, so I am looking at widely known brands such as Fujifilm, Canon and Kodak. I had a digital camera before. It was a Fujifilm. It performed quite well, so I'm guessing it was of a quality brand.
3. Music Phone. After letting a chance to get a walkman phone (sony-ericsson) slip more than a year ago, I have been secretly wanting to have a music phone. And after my girlfriend got a new xpress music phone (nokia) a few weeks ago, my craving got stronger. Will somebody buy me a new music phone? This time, I prefer one from samsung.
4. Hard Disk Drive Digital Video Camera. Lately, I have a crazy idea of shooting an "indie" film. And after watching a video shot with a hard disk drive digital video camera from JVC last summer, I knew a camera of the same caliber would do the trick. So please get me one.

My Not-So-Big-Time Christmas List

September is almost over [thinks of the song Wake Me Up When September Ends]. And on this part of the planet, Christmas has already started. In case you guys want to play nice to me, here's the list of things I want for the Season.

My Not-So-Big-Time Christmas List:

1. Motorcycle Helmet. The helmet I am using now is already dilapidated. It has a big crack! And I never really liked its design and color. So, number one in my list is new helmet that looks like the one in the first picture below. You may also give one that looks like the one in the second picture (Spyder [brand] has one that looks so cool; If you prefer to give me one like this, please buy one from Spyder). To complement with the color of my bike, please buy me a black helmet. (Red will also do but I like it less than I like black.)
2. Jacket. The one thing I like least in driving a motorcycle is the fact that you are (or I am) exposed to the weather. I have to wear a jacket. I have two jackets: a college intramural jacket and one which I used in Japanese winter. The former is little big for me and is not effective against rain. The latter on the other hand, is too thick for Philippine climate. So, somebody please buy me a black jacket (kinda like the one shown below) that is not too thick and is effective against the onset of rain. I like one that will make me look professional at the same time.
3. Crocs. Just recently, I felt like I have to have a pair of Crocs before the year ends. And, as further justification for my craving, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Cebu is now strictly imposing a law that prohibits driving motorcycles in slippers. I think Crocs will be perfect, especially if you are (or I am) driving early in the morning and have not taken the shower yet. So, I want a pair with these specifications: model/design: Cayman (or Beach); color: dark grey (if there is any; if none, black or dark green will do.); size: small (men's)
4. Second Helmet. The law here allows one passenger on a motorcycle. He/she also has to wear a helmet. So I have included in this list a second helmet, preferably like the one below and of the same color as the driver's.
5. Motorcycle Goggles. If you have noticed, the kind of helmet that I want has no visor. It is just logical that I included in my list a pair of goggles like the one in the picture below. I prefer one from Spyder (brand).

first gig

September 5th, Friday, was the day “Kape ug Kanta” was revived. It was also the day of Two Copper Coins' first gig.

I really do not know how to look back to that day. So many things happened around and within me.

I could look at it as a disaster. I was the (unofficial) organizer of the event and I totally forgot to prepare the sound system. People were asking me where were the speakers and other equipment. It was scheduled to start at half past seven in the evening and it started some minutes after nine. For almost two hours, people were asking me, “What time will we start?”

So few people came. My girlfriend was pissed with me the whole stretch of the “show.” My good friend Koren was there to watch us perform but instead ended up watching my irresponsible persona fail and falter.

I could also look at it as a selfish act. The idea of me and the other guys of Two Copper Coins performing has taken the better part of me. The major reason I forgot about preparing for the event was that I was so excited and so busy practicing for our performance. Until now I continue to ask myself if I exerted a considerable amount of effort to revive “Kape ug Kanta” to bring back into existence a good venue for young Christians to hang out, or to provide a venue for me to perform.

It was supposed to be all for the glory of God. The event. Two Copper Coins. All these came into being to praise and glorify the Almighty. I failed to look past myself and look up to Him.

But of course, I could look at it another one of God's intricate plans. Despite my failures and questionable motive, it all worked out in the end.

Lord, I'm sorry for my selfishness. May you be glorified in everything that I do.

We hope to make “Kape ug Kanta” a regular activity of the young. And we strive to cling on to the purpose of honor Him, and Him alone.

The Pen

The Pen. . . gives. . . permanence to the evanescent thought of a moment.
- Horace Smith, Tin Trumpet

Ever wondered why the pen is mightier than the sword? This maybe is one of the endless list of answers. The pen is mighty because it gives permanence to man's most powerful abilities - his ability to think (which is to say his thoughts).

Evanescent means "tending to vanish like vapor." (From wikipedia.org)