PARK(ing) Day

Tina sent this link through the arki2004 yahoogroups. Verrry interesting. :)

PARK(ing) is an investigation into reprogramming a typical unit of private vehicular space by leasing a metered parking spot for public recreational activity.

We identified a site in an area of downtown San Francisco that is underserved by public outdoor space and is an ideal, sunny location between the hours of noon and 2 p.m. There we installed a small, temporary public park that provided nature, seating, and shade.

Our goal was to transform a parking spot into a PARK(ing) space, thereby temporarily expanding the public realm and improving the quality of urban human habitat, at least until the meter ran out.

I think it would be great if someone here in the Philippines could do something like that...as a personal project, a school project, or even a company-sponsored one. It's a very simple, yet very inspired idea. :) I'd do it if anyone else is interested in doing it with me. :) The MMDA will probably be breathing down our backs, though. But that's part of the challenge too, right?

A few groups around the world have taken the big step and have used this PARK(ing) project as their inspiration for their own projects. Others who have PARK(ed):







John Gilbert Architects

Glasgow, Scotland

RYF Organization

Trapani, Sicily

Santa Monica Rec. & Parks Commission

Santa Monica, California

Hello? Calling out to U.P. College of Architecture! Hehe. :)

Check out the VIDEO TRAILER as well as the PICTURES. Their website also has a how-to file to help out aspiring PARK(er)s. :)

Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again

Dearest MacMacky,

I miss you.

It's been (almost) 2 months since you've been gone, but I can still vividly picture you in my mind as if you're still here. Sometimes, I even half-expect to see you sleeping on the floor beside my bed, or to see you panting and slobbering everywhere. :)

It's really hard to forget you, you know. It hurts most especially in the morning as I leave for work; and at night when I get home. Up til now, my days never seem to be complete without you: No more slobbery-happy face to see me off in the mornings; no more slobbery-happy face to welcome me at night. :(

I was at Eastwood City tonight, and I got to see some people with their pet dogs, walking around the mall. I always planned to bring you there before. You would've loved to walk around and pee everywhere you wanted to. And I could just imagine you backing away from the escalator, as you were always afraid of heights. Hehe. I'm really sorry that I wasn't able to bring you there...or to Tiendesitas...or to the U.P. Acad Oval. That would've been fun, eh?

Up til now, I still cannot understand why you are gone. I admit that there are times when I am angry at God for taking you away, especially when He knew that I explicitly prayed for your long life and your health; especially when He knew how much I loved you. He's really unfair sometimes, isn't He. :(

I guess people don't understand why I still get so depressed over you. There are times during the day when I would miss you all of a sudden: fleeting moments that leave behind a large amount of pain. And the biggest factor for my depression is guilt: I still blame myself, even if everyone tells me I shouldn't. I can't help feeling this way...I'm responsible for your life; that should ultimately make me responsible for your death as well. :(

Losing 2 dogs in a span of one month doesn't exactly put me in the best light. People either think that I am very unfortunate, and they will sympathize with me; or they think that I did not do a very good job of taking care of you and Petunia. It breaks my heart when people say "Baka naman di mo inaalagaan" (and there are people who have said that to my face). I get hurt because it undermines my love for the 2 of you, and because I'm afraid that some part of it might be true; that maybe it's my fault that you and Petunia are gone.

:'(
*sigh*

Macmackyboyboyboyboy, there are SO many things that I want to say to you: I'm sorry. I wish you were here. I miss you. I love you. I hope you and Petunia are happy there in doggie heaven. I hope you have enough shoes to chew, and enough trees to pee on. :) I hope you know that I did try to take care of you the best way I could...

I hope that someway, somehow, you could hear all of these thoughts running through my head, and that you could understand them. I'm sure that you and Pretty Petunia are in a better place because you are such good good doggies. :) Mmmwah. Amishoo.

Wish that you could've spent this New Year's with us. You'd probably be hiding under your chair, and Petunia would probably be barking up a frenzy...but at least you'd be there.

Watch it!

I watched the video (see entry below) again tonight. Wala lang, I just wanted to.

Naiyak nanaman ako. Hehe. I don't even know the couple (Andrei and Minerva!) personally, but I could see all of the love they have for each other, bursting out of that 3++ minute video. *sigh*

The song says it all: LOVELY.
(to those reading this post right now: WATCH IT! And tell me what you think!)

I wish my (future) on-site video is as touching, and as inspiring. :) Aaaah.

/me goes into senti-daydreaming-mode again...

**If you wish to see more inspiring/romantic/sweet/wow wedding videos, visit http://jasonmagbanua.com. He rocks! :)

* * * *

Lovely

by Michelle Tumes

You're the sweet dreams that soothe me

When I can't fall asleep

You're the field in the middle of the city

When I'm rushing by at the speed of light

You're the strong resolution when I find no peace

You're the church bells ringing in the evening

When all is quiet You whisper comfort

That lifts my heart

I get so weak

Chorus: Ooh You're lovely, lovely
You're the center of my universe
A thousand times I look around me and I find
Ooh You're lovely, lovely
You're the center of my universe
A million ways could not explain
You're lovely

You're the soft words that touch me

When I just can't speak

You're the breeze on the ocean in the morning

Reminding me to greet the day

You're the flowers I remember seeing in Italy

Colors through a golden haze

Bright and radiant, soft and fragrant

In the noon day sun, it makes me sing

Chorus

I understand there may be grief

And there may be pain

But I'm aware You blind the darkness

With Who You are

Because...

Chorus

Lovely

(Click image to watch video)

I've been addicted to Jason Magbanua's website for the past week, and I've been viewing the videos he has done for weddings. So his fee is a little bit steep; but his videos are brilliant, and the other videographer's works (that I've seen so far) aren't up to par. I'll definitely be saving up some moolah so that I can hire him as my wedding videographer (for the far far future). Yay.

This is my favorite video, so far. I loveLOVElove the song...very romantic. :) *sigh*

Elf Yourself!

If you're feeling like a Scrooge this Christmas season, I know of the perfect website to cheer you up.

http://www.elfyourself.com

You can turn yourself into an elf, just for kicks! Or you can turn other people (yung mga gusto mong pagtripan) into elves, and laugh at them all day long. Heehee.

HI-larious. :D

Click HERE to see the one that I did of K-Fed. Wahahaha.

Before He Cheats - Carrie Underwood

Man, this song is F-I-E-R-C-E!!! *roar*
Go Carrie! :)

Before He Cheats
Carrie Underwood


Right now he's probably slow dancing with a bleach blonde tramp,
and she's probably getting frisky.
Right now, he's probably buying her some fruity little drink
cause she can't shoot whiskey.
Right now, he's probably up behind her with a pool-stick,
showing her how to shoot a combo.
And he don't know...

That I dug my key into the side of his pretty little souped up 4 wheel drive,
carved my name into his leather seats.
I took a Louisville slugger to both head lights,
slashed a hole in all 4 tires
Maybe next time he'll think before he cheats.

Right now, she's probably up singing somewhite-trash version of Shania karoke
Right now, she's probably saying "I'm drunk"
and he's thinking that he's gonna get lucky
Right now, he's probably dabbing on 3 dollars worth of that bathroom polo.
And he don't know...

That I dug my key into the side of his pretty little souped up 4 wheel drive,
carved my name into his leather seats
I took a Louisville slugger to both head lights,
slashed a hole in all 4 tires
Maybe next time he'll think before he cheats.

I might have saved a little trouble for the next girl,
Cause the next time that he cheats.
Oh, you know it won't be on me!
Ohh... not on me.

Insomniac

It's 4:12 a.m., and I can't sleep. This is really weird, considering that I have been out drinking last night and my head feels like it's filled with lead. I'm thinking about so many things, and my brain doesn't seem to want to rest. Boo. I really should learn to stop worrying too much.

One of the things I'm getting all wound up about: Graduate school.

Two weeks ago, I had a telephone interview for one of the courses I applied to at UCL. The course director told me right then and there (after interviewing me for an hour!) that he was recommending me for admission into his course. He said that he thought my answers were good (bola skills from U.P. do come in handy), and that I would fit nicely into the course. Yay. So I'll be receiving the offer for admission anytime soon.

Also, I submitted an essay for the other UCL course I had applied to (as requested by the course director). No word from their department yet. Maybe they didn't like what I wrote (about indoor environmental quality. Blah). 2000 words of technical hoohah. At least I learned a lot while researching for that shiteous essay.

I also got accepted into the University of Sydney just last September. The application process for that was pretty quick, though. I submitted the application form, along with other requirements (diploma, transcript, IELTS result etc), and I received a firm offer of admission ONE WEEK after I sent it out through FedEx. That's it? Go figure.

But that doesn't matter anyhow, because I'm leaning more towards UCL. I haven't even received my admissions letter yet, and I can visualize myself roaming the streets of London, all bundled up, blowing steam out of my mouth. Whee. I am going to freeze to death in that place. It's weird that I'm looking forward to that.

Is it crazy that I'm prepping myself for this trip even before I have even confirmed it? I'm stocking up on winter coats, and they're only gathering dust in my closet (when would I be able to wear a (faux)fur-lined coat here in Manila?!); I'm compiling a "leaving on a jet plane" playlist on my iPod (Makita Kang Muli, Don't Forget to Remember Me, etc. just to give you a preview. Harhar).

I haven't been away from my family for more than a week. I have never lived away from home in all my 24 years. How the hell do I expect to survive living in a foreign country, all by myself, for a whole frickin' year?!?! I must be crazy.

I have only been an average student in college. Not even close to honors. And I procrastinate to death. How in the world will I go through graduate school?? I must be delusional. I had better switch myself to *nerd* mode for a year.

10 months away, and I'm having an anxiety attack.