Having a camera these days has gone easier than a decade ago. Most have gone digital and most do prefer that because of the savings one gets for not buying film and having it developed. With the digital camera one can take as much as the storage device allows. Delete if the shot is no longer needed and print on photo paper. If you want to edit the photo you can easily do that as long as you know how to manage the image editor.

SLR cameras that have gone digital has made phtography more reachable to many like bloggers who often go to events. It is great for hobbyists as well. For me, though, who can only afford one digital camera, I prefer one that can go under water since I just take shots of what happens as it happens. I will just play on composition and natural lighting. At least I can use the camera on land and in water. Sad to say, though, I can’t use it when it’s dark. So if I have to take still shots and it is dark, I will have to use another light source like a flash light.

Two months ago, during the UCG-Manila Women’s Club, we were introduced to jewelry crafting. Our mentor, Nida Panlaqui (suddenly I forgot her married name! Panlaqui is how I’ve known her since about 3 decades ago!) was our resource person. Her mother is a member of our club. Kids of members were also invited so 2 of my girls were there too.

Nida (in blue) introced jewelry crafting.

Adults and children alike picking their "jewels" to craft.

Everyone was silently busy. I was taking the pictures.

Lunch.

Continuation.

Ria made all these!

I made a pair of earrings. I wanted something different, I made it look like tiny people. I've made more of them later, better and improved.

I turned my "little person" into a zip holder.

It was such a success because after the Show & Tell portion of the club, which usually lasts 45 minutes, that time it continued until the club ended (it started at around 10am and ended around 4pm), while still doing other stuff.

Later for the following weeks, I’ve gone to jewelry craft shops to buy my stones and pins and several pliers. My 3 girls got busy and creative. We were able to sell some just at our door to people walking by. Some were sold during the Church’s recently concluded rummage sale.

I hope to sell them online too once I get a good camera. My phone cam’s not good anymore. I need something that good for real like a digital camera but that costs too much way beyond my budget!

Also, I hope I can do jewelry-making with loose diamonds too! That would be awesome!

It has been 9 years ago when we moved to Talisay to take care of 8 cages of the GIFT (genetically improved farm tilapia) variety where the head is smaller than usual and the body bigger, hence, better for food consumption. The move was a result of my youngest brother’s thesis for which he was proclaimed the best in that year. The feasibility study was followed but scaled in half. The capital was supposed to be 1M. There was only 500k.

It was exciting. It was a new thing. We moved to prevent caretakers steal from us. We learned to go rafting in addition to taking care of the fish like feeding and maintaining the cages clean especially from dead fish.

Hubby carrying bags of GIFT fingerlings.

That's me with my parents and youngest.

Getting ready to raft.

On the sides of the cages.

Sad to say, it had to end with a sad note. Funds were not enough to buy feeds to delay the harvest. Storms came and many died. Early harvest was a must, which means we were not able to get the right weight to earn. We tried it another season and the water was poisoning, coming from the sulphuric emissions of the Taal Volcano and the amonia of the feeds that stay below. The caretaker/feeder was reckless in feeding, just throwing the feeds carelessly.

Last night, I was talking with my brother, who is my direct neighbor, by the way. As we were looking at the pictures, he said he wanted to have his own fish pond. I said why not? I suggested to make one inside his gate. As long as he has the right pond supplies, there’s nothing to worry about.

It looks like a good idea.

One of the finest woodworkers/carpenters I know is my mother’s brother. He learned the trade from my grandfather. When he died, my uncle got every tool my grandfather left. His son, my cousin, is also doing great having the skill he learned from his father.

They made their own house. Neighbors and even people who know them but live towns and even provinces away, go to their shop to have their furniture done, whether it be cabinets, sofa, cupboard, dining table, etc.

I’ve seen my uncle work. Not only was it quality work but designs are intricate. My mom had our sofa made at home when I was less than 10, I think. That lasted for almost 2 decades after so much jumping by us 3 siblings.

Carpentry has to do with the construction while woodworking has to do with the design. Put them together and you get quality furniture.

PR: wait… I: wait… L: wait… LD: wait… I: wait… wait… Rank: wait… Traffic: wait… Price: wait… CY: wait… I: wait… L: wait… YCat: wait… I: wait… Top: wait… I: wait… L: wait… C: wait…

It was in 1989. The Subic Naval Base in Olongapo still existed at that time. A couple (black American married to a Filipina) friends invited several of us young people in the Church to learn how to play golf. There were about 7 of us. It was exciting as I really wanted to know how to play golf. That time, playing bowling for about half a year, I thought that learning another sport was just a great opportunity. I knew golf is sport for the rich but since the door was open, why not grab it?

We were taught all the different golf equipment we need to know about at that time. The stance was very important, as much as the importance of how you hold the club, how you swing and follow through. Even the twist of your body was important.

We were all doing great and having fun until we reached the putting area. I was just a few feet away from the hole. I was told the twist of the body was a bit different. It’s sort of like twisting your upper body leaving your legs in place except for one that twists also. When I tried it, I suddenly fell on the ground, my right knee in pain. I realized that my kneecap moved to the outer side. Realizing I will not be able to stand in that situation, I bravely slapped my kneecap into place, with a loud cry. I asked for ice to apply first aid and stayed sitting on the ground for an hour before I was brought up to a bench.

Going home, I had to be carried. I rode the back of the guy who invited us. It was a sorry state. I was in the middle of a bowling tourney that time and I could not play. I could not even walk. My knee was in bandage but I kept trying to walk. Little by little I did.

The next week I tried to play bowling without the initial strides. I usually make 5 strides instead of the normal 3 that other players make. I stand the farthest from the lane and almost always at the edge because of the 5 strides I have to make. That time I could not walk well, I had to practice playing without a stride at all. It wasn’t easy and my score was not good but it opened opportunity to make bowling more fun. Another was playing bowling with eyes covered. If you did not get a strike, you will be told what pins are left.

I don’t regret that day when I tried to learn to play golf. With the bad incident, I made bowling more exciting. Not that it wasn’t but I was able to have others play with me the new ways I thought of. Oh, and that was the tourney I got the 3rd place in the women’s division. The first 2 were players for 5 and 10 years. I played with passion.

This week, Monday, I was able to get hold of my latest bowling trophy and cash prize for winning the Highest Pinfalls under the female category. The bowling tourney was sponsored by the PA Alvarez, the developer of the St. Joseph Series in Laguna. There were ten teams in all with 12 players each. There were a total of 5 games and our team lasted only up to the 3rd. It was on that 3rd game that I made my top score, 154. Two more weeks for the last 2 games but I did not mind about it since I had to attend to something else.

After coming from Baguio last week, I was congratulated by one of my team players for topping the charts again, now for the 3rd time. Since the bowling tourney started in 2006, I’ve held the top score for the female category. The awarding was held on the day I was still in Baguio. Last Monday, though, I made a visit to our office to claim my cash prize and left the trophy at the office.

Bowling is a hobby I cannot play unless there’s a contest that sponsored since it’s a very expensive sport (at least for me). Back when I was learning how to bowl (1988) it costed me about 30 self-paid games for the first 2 weeks and it was cheap then. After that, I always look for someone who will challenge me for loser’s pay. I played with those who have been playing for more than a decade and that’s how I became very good. Bragging aside, but the last time I played was last year. This year, for the mere 3 games, I got the top record once again with the first 2 not good at all. Ahh…my first self-paid games when I was learning, paid off.

I have known several people who turned from a stick to a trunk. Really, it’s amazing. They used to be feeble and weak, the reason for peers’ teasing. Good thing they took those childhood remarks into positive result.

When I interviewed them after a long while of not seeing each other, they have changed, not only physically but their habits have transformed. From impatience to a lot of patience, from being undisciplined to disciplined, from frequent pouting to smiling.

Something common to all of them is taking bodybuilding supplements since they want to build their bodies faster. Basically, it’s jampacked with protein.

If you merely want to be fit, though, you don’t need to have extra big rocky muscles. It actually depends on your purpose. If you want to join bodybuilding contests, go ahead and build up.

You have probably heard of laser engraving machines, but how does it work and what can it do?

Basically, it follows the design you have by means of a laser beam, thus, the real work you have to do is the design itself. Everything else is computerized.

What materials can be used and what applications?

Arts and crafts as hobby or commercial products like stencils and miniatures. Have you seen

those wooden puzzles that you can assemble to make a specific animal or structure? I used to do the effect of that center image using styrofoam and styro cutter. Not that detailed but that is what you can accomplish with a laser engraver without sweat at all. Woodworking will never be the same again when you use a laser engraver.

Awards and personalization items are also very in-demand. If it used to take weeks to deliver one, now it can take a lot less (isn’t that an oxymoron?), probably under an hour!

Industrial markings and cuttings such as bar codes, signages and metal stencils can be seen everywhere, which means there is a demand for such.

Printing and design not only on paper but also on CDs and textile is also possible with this beaming machine.

Product decorating has never been easier!

How about signs, badges and stamps?

The possibilities are limited by your imagination. Put together an artist and an entrepreneur and your income potential is just great!

You can also use laser engraving machines to mark glass, ceramic, metal (coated and bare), and stone (natural and synthetic).

Cutting, marking and engraving can be done on fabric and leather, paper and cardboard, plastic (sheet, film and molded), rubber (natural, synthetic and foam), and wood.

Ahh…if I have one of those machines, I’ll be may be the start to my first million.