Star-Box-Heart

Thanks to boredom, an addition to my camera accessories was created. I got the idea from this site: http://www.diyphotography.net/diy_create_your_own_bokeh

I changed the design a bit because I want to use different shapes without doing several cardboard hoods. So, I made a slot in front where I can slide a card with the shape cut-out. Thus, mine looked like this:

I am not really good with crafts like this so it didn't turn out to be a neat work. Anyway, as long as it functions properly, I'm happy with it. I made rectangular-, star- and heart-shaped cut-outs for my customized bokeh, and I tried it by using a flashlight as my light source.

(The photo in the first column is taken without the cardboard hood.)

Come nighttime, I tried my cardboard hood outside and took pictures of the surrounding lights. I'm looking forward to trying it out again tomorrow.

(It was a starry night, then I turned it into a hearty one. Haha.)

Reaching goals: One journal at a time

The final major test of pursuing my MS EnE degree is my thesis. With all its meticulous conceptualization, laborious experiments, brain-racking paper writing and terrifying defense, who would say that they are tremendously excited for it? Definitely not me. Yet, I have no choice but to go through these steps if I want to graduate (well, I do!).

First and foremost, I need to find a topic for my thesis. I find this the most difficult part. It's like writing an essay where the appropriate first words always seem to elude us. However, after we've started writing, the next words just flow from us with less effort.

I plan to have nanotechnology as my research topic. What about it, I'm still not sure. I have yet to read loads of journal articles on related researches to better define mine. Just thinking about it already tires me. But, as they say, "No pain, no gain." And, if I want to achieve great things, I need to put extra effort on it. Gotta start now!

A random day

Sembreak is finally here!

My typical day would consist of food, computer, TV, computer, food, more food and sleep. After this break, I'm definite that I would gain something I don't want. 

Today, I bought some stuff at the supermarket and, afterwards, treated myself for some choco-banana shake. When I was about to drive home, I noticed this and I couldn't help but take a picture using my phone (which explains the low-res photo):

I read 7777 km from my odometer. Then, I made a wish. :) Yes, I am that type of person who says a wish whenever I see the clock turning 12:00 midnight or whenever I see 11:11 from a digital clock. Random weird stuff I did since I was child, and reminds me every now and then that I am still a child at heart. 

When I got home, I drank my choco-banana shake until I could no longer sip any. But, I knew something's still there, so I opened the lid, and look what I found:

A chunk of banana! No wonder I couldn't sip it. Well, so much for blended drinks. I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Anyway, I'm conditioning myself now to start studying for my thesis. I hope I'll be able to start soon.

On love and parking spaces

One Thursday afternoon, it was so difficult to find a parking space near the College of Engineering that I was only able to park beside the Computer Center - which is quite a distance from the college (relative to where I usually park). While walking, my friend and I saw a free parking space in front of the ChE lab and, wanting to park there, we hurriedly went to the car. As we drove towards that spot, we saw another car already parking on that same space. Sadly, we had to find another and, while we're at it, the love conversation began and went something like this...

"Parang opportunity lang yan eh, dapat grab agad." (on losing our parking space)
"Parang love, minsan walang nakalaan sa'yo." (on no free parking space)
"Emo lang? Hindi, parang love lang yan, 'pag may nakalaan sa'yo, sa'yo talaga."
"Hahaha, tama. 'Pag for you, for you."

Then, as expected, the only free slot was the one where we were parked earlier.

"'Pag sa'yo talaga, dun pa din babalik."
"Kasi naman, meron na ngang nakalaan sa'yo, naghahanap pa ng iba."
"Pag for you nga, for you talaga."

And, we just laughed at the weirdness of our conversation. We parked the car, and did not look for any other free parking space.