really?

The day we're about to leave for PI, I decided I'd buy Nikon J1 for Anna. Huge mistake. Of course, we wanted the white version. Which apparently and oddly sold out in Best Buys and Targets in our area.



With a $600++ price tag, you'd think most people would rather go for an SLR since it is one of those hybrids that Sony came out with the NEX. I did try one on display stand, and I wasn't impressed since I'm already all too familiar with it's bigger half brother SLR, it did not appeal to me.

So I told Anna that her only hope would be to find one at our stop over in Incheon. I made it clear that if the SRP goes above $50, I wont buy her one.



We then arrived at Incheon 5AM and naturally most of the major shops don't open till 7AM. Our stop was only three hours which translates to an hour window to shop. Soon as the stores opened, we threaded the airport-mall-in-one from gate to gate. Luckily, we found a way better deal not offered anywhere in US -- read freebies: tripod, strap, nikon hot-stamped leather case, and extra wide lens! And yes, they have white in stock! Needless to say, i made the wife happy with her new toy.

We're goin home

All packed and ready to go.

Or make that "Semi-packed" and "ready to-go" with a question mark.



We're still out buying last minute stuff up to the wee hours. And we still had to go out and buy more stuff on our way to the airport.

Party 2011 - ICU style

Sharp ICU's Annual Christmas Party was again, a success. I was the "official" photographer and the moment we stepped in the venue, we were surprised by the sheer number of people present.



There maybe about 70% of the regular staff that were there and the rest are our co-workers in the hospital.



Everyone had a great time, especially the kids. Food was overflowing and the music was great.

Apple

Iphone 4s, Nano 6th gen and Steve Jobs book. The way to end the year.

RIP Pootee

And Pootee has her days numbered.

Anna's phone is showing signs of old age. Considering its just two years old. Technology may be advanced but quality sometimes can't keep up from all the stuff that's coming out of the market.



Or maybe it's just a scheme to let us buy new gadgets, as Anna would put it. Only thing here in the US is soon as you step out the door after buying, it's worth half of the original value.

You may put it up for sale either on EBay or Craigslist. But don't expect it to rake more dough than it's original worth of course, not even close.

Nevertheless, we'd still end up buying that new Iphone. So Apple, when will you stop thinking of these great things to rest our wallets?

Thanksgiving 2011

It's been a tradition that my dad would be here every year during Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, I'm working this Thursday and Friday. So I would be on the sidelines for this years Black Friday Sale.



We were at Best Buy four days before the big sale and yet, people are all lined up already. Seriously lined up in tents with packed meals in this freezing weather....just to get doorbusters items.


We still went and bought not wanting to let items on sale just go to waste hehehe!

bye cast

We're both glad that it's over. The x-ray findings showed that the bone growth turned out ok. And her arm is back to normal.

After weeks of having the cast on, we're not worried that they might do surgery. Hopefully this
would be the last.

Would there be a 4th?

I'm not saying that he shouldn't win. We may not be boxing analysts, but it sure seem that Pacman did have a hard time with Marquez. Would Mayweather see this as an oportunity or shy again and talk trash how puny and weak our Pacman is.



Again we support Manny all the way (there goes our $65 for PPV). Let's do a fourth match. And maybe, just maybe, people would be convinced.

11-11-11

One of those days that are special? Activities? Nope. Event? Nope. Happenings? Nope. So what's special then?

And we thought.....

After a week of wearing the elastic bandage Happy got a cast in place yesterday.



Back in the day in PI, we had to do our casts the old fashion way with plaster of Paris--yup those white things. And if u know what i'm talking about, you'd know that it takes forever to harden. Here it's different. Casts are made of fiberglass that you dip in water, mold and dries for a good 2-3 mins. And it even come in different colors too! We chose red since I have an idea how we'd make it look when we get home *wink*



Soon as we got home, right after she stepped out the van, she's all over the place again. Mind you, this is a little girl that has a fracture on her right distal humerus. She even banged the cast on the floor and said "look mommy, tok-tok", as if nothing's wrong.



Thank God she's young and will heal fast on it's own.

if only

I did play a lot as a kid. But never have I once been through anything serious. Maybe the occasional fever or so. And as a kid, I never really realize how parents worry about stuff that we do now that i am actually one myself.

Rady's Childeren's Hospital

Happy was the same. She played a lot and was all over the place-- just like any other kid her age. It never really came to me that she might get into anything that will make us worry. Until yesterday, when she fell from the couch.

She cried... Shrill cry and scream that sounded different until she fell asleep. She woke up an hour later and still the same. That's when we noticed that her right arm was swollen. We immediately went to Rady's Hospital.



After a few x-rays later, we found out that she sustained fracture on her humerus (funny bone).

I could just imagine how much pain she had to go through. It's unbearable to see a small child who's not supposed to be in this predicament. She's should be playing with her toys and running around. I then realize the things my own parents had gone through when i was a kid.



If only I could take the fracture away or give her my good arm i would in a heartbeat. After seeing all those movies about parents saying they'd rather be them than their kid, is making all sense now. I really wish it was me rather than Happy.

If only I could.

playtime

I guess Jun had to go back to basics of playing when he met Happy.

toyrun

How do you spend a weekend with a friend that you haven't seen for the longest time?



Jun's been here since Friday night. Since then, we haven't had any decent sleep nor rest. We've been stuffing our faces with so much food that our tummies feel like it's goin to burst.

We have a long day ahead us. Even right now that I just woke up, my body is nagging me to stay put.



I'm trying to convince myself that today's agenda would be worthy of the aches but will definitely take it's toll on everyone. We're about to go to Staple's Center as Jun requested. We're not there to watch a game nor go to an event. He wants his picture taken in front of the freakin stadium!

SDCC exclusive Swamp Thing

Crowded as it may be, the Con is still worth goin to. Three good reasons to go to would be, the latest updates with toys, cosplayers and exclusives.

Packaging comparison

One particular exclusive would be worth getting is Mattel’s DCU Swamp Thing.



Just by looking at it, you’d think that this was a statue. The only visible joints would be the hips and shoulders.

When previews came out on the web, they explained that the rest of the joints would be concealed and had some sort of an endoskeleton, but it was just an experiment and they wanted to find out how the public would react.





When I got hold of one, I immediately opened it expecting to get a grotesque figure of Barbie gone wrong. To my surprise, it was a decent figure.

Rubber feet

Yes, it was Barbie disguised as an action figure. But I liked it. I did not even bother how the boxed looked like, or with the packaging that it came with. Shaped in the Swamp Thing’s head, this by the way was made of pulp material.

Indeed, articulation was an issue. It was limited. But come on. I may not be that familiar with the character, but I don’t think you need to pose him like Snake Eye’s or Spider-Man having their limbs all stretched out. Correct me if I’m wrong but this guy looks slow. Like a couch potato that would barely even move to grab a soda sitting on a table in front of him.

Making him stand in one leg can be a task. Since both of his feet is mostly made of rubber.



Again, another issue would be the creases that would be visible once you started bending the joints. This is minimal and barely noticeable, probably because of the material they used for the skin which I think is made of rubber. And texture feels right. It sticks to your finger which adds character to the figure.

Creases on the elbow joints



Creases on the knee joints



The figures design was done with intricate details, from the mushrooms growing on the limbs, flowers blooming on his chest and the red eyes which add contrast. It was nicely done.

Besides the figure, it came with a base, a pamphlet, a box shaped as a head and the Un-Men.

Extras

Size comparison

If you were to grab any of the SDCC exclusives for this year, add this to your list, and you won’t be disappointed.

I rate this figure: 8.5 out of 10

Mine is as Hard as Wood

After moving to our new house, we immediately started doing projects. From small things such as shelves and hooks to painting the whole house.

Before

After

The floor was a big issue before we even moved in. So we decided to change the 2nd floor and the stairs with new carpet. And if we have enough money left, the rest of the house with hardwood.

Before

After

We then got a good deal with the hardwood, but after getting two quotes from different contractors, I asked myself why would I pay these guys almost a grand (labor only) when I can do this. I was then dead-lock in doing this project by myself (of course, I had help from Sensei Vinh).

Glorified tablet

Happyvil, sort of a farmville and all the ville in social networks.



After spending days at The Con last week, I had to at least make our anniversary gift a little extra special.



The only thing that came up was an Ipad. The diamond ring did pop up, next was the LV bag, but those two are way out of my league for now.

SDCC 11 Videos

Here's my first hand experience in this years Comic-Con.

Day One


And I'm not expecting it to change in the next ten years or so.

Day Two

SDCC 2011

It's my fourth SDCC, and it gets worst every passing year. I do remember when I was still back in PI wondering how it was like going to this event. And I did not imagine it to be this way. Long lines are now a staple, spending hours just to get into a panel or even to get those convention exclusives. Even getting freebies like bags, comics and pins can be 15 minutes (if you're lucky) of staying in line.



I went for five days which gave me the privilege to get my next year's tickets any day I want. But it was no better. I chose Friday, but I had to be in line at two in the morning and that's already more than a mile away long for a booth that doesn't open until 8AM.



Another complaint would be the lack of space at the convention. This has been an issue for years now. Huge crowd was such a headache!



I was actually looking forward to be with Happy, taking pictures of her with all the cosplayers, etc. But I soon realized that the Con was not as kid friendly as before.



I'm still hopeful that things would turn out for the best next year. But this is a shoot to the moon and I might as well ride a unicorn and have Wonder Woman as a bodyguard for next year instead.



I still did have fun and was able to get most of the stuff I wanted. Here's more highlights of this year's SDCC.

Toys

Optimus Prime

Star Wars Box Set

Voltron

Sucker Punch Baby Doll

Lion O of the Thundercats

Cosplayers

Iron Man and Black Widow

Teela of He-Man

Han Solo and Princes Leia's

Matty of Mattel

Sucker Punch