beautiful in my eyes

If he sings this to me - am sure I will fall to pieces, get up, and forever be his love slave... hahahahaha

Jericho Rosales: "Beautiful In M Eyes"

-this music video came out back in early 2009... but I discovered it only a couple of months back... and am still loving it...

Jericho Rosales is one of Philippine's most bankable and talented actors for the last decade and a half I believe.... he endorses a lot of the local brands so you will see his BILLBOARDS all over... have seen him in a few TV SERIES plus at least a couple of movies and he always manages to WOW me with his acting... not your typical, pretty boy/handsome, matinee idol - but he is HANDSOME and very charming.... especially in person - as I have seen him a couple times all over the city... once at Louis Vuitton - Greenbelt, shopping with his then girlfriend, Heart Evangelista; and another time by himself shopping at Hush Puppies @ Eastwood Mall...

Some of my family and friends are with me when it comes to his acting chops... but not quite with me when it comes to his singing... i would not say he is the BEST out there but something about his voice and delivery that still wins me over.... besides, knowing the fact that he took a sabbatical from doing movies, at the height of his career, to pursue his love of music is very much commendible in my book... so , that makes me a FAN - through and through....

my, my, my beautiful sunday....

Another end of the week is upon us.... with all the threats of TYPHOONS coming our way - so far sooo good.... heavy afternoon and early evening rain fall but not non-stop.... so we have been blessed and lucky so far.... here's hoping it is the same the world over.... and as a BONUS, the sun still manages to come out each and every morning... so am able to start the day smiling - smiling as bright as the shining sun and crispy blue skies...

It's a Beautiful Morning! by rudit · 365 Project

...as beautiful as what I was able to capture here on this latest entry of mine to the ongoing 365 Project - which am finishing my 3rd week btw.... 3 weeks into it and am loving it still... no matter how trying it gets at times to come up with the perfect shot - perfect enough for for me... and as an added pressure - hoping it is perfect enough for all others viewing them, too...well, in any case, am enjoying the challenge - so full steam ahead...

The photo was taken a block away from our home... by the entrance of Dajia River park where I run.... armed with my morning coffee - be it iced (such as this one in the photo or my regular freshly brewed one) - i can admire the view from here... 4 different and distinct bridges, a variety of flowers in bloom and of course, Taipei 101... so what else can one ask for???

BTW, such in beautiful mornings like these - you will probably hear me singing/humming/ or something like it, the song "Who Will Buy?" from the musical OLIVER...

...not the whole song, mind you... just Oliver's part... especially the lyrics:

"Who will buy
This wonderful morning?
Such a sky
You never did see!

Who will tie
It up with a ribbon
And put it in a box for me?"

...put it in a box for me, indeed!!!

and then there were 6....

yes yes.... the set is totally complete..... and I could not be HAPPIER.....
Bearbrick X Jimmy Liao X 6 for Hi*Life is in the HOUSE!!!!

You can tell am really into this Premium Toys collection as it took me less than a couple of weeks to complete it all.... with extras to boot..... how did I do it you might ask? well, like a crazy toy addict that I am - I did all I could to get those stickers collected.... remember it was 40 stickers for a FREE one or 15 stickers plus NT$49 for a one... of course I opted for the latter... 15 stickers is easier to collect than having to wait for 40... beside NT$49 is not a bad price to pay... about US$1.50 - these Bearbricks would have costed more if they were regularly issued to begin with...

I had Juliana teach me all the ways to get the stickers just a bit faster.... as their promotions go - was buying Iced Coffee each day as you get double stickers.... plus certain drinks and food products gets double stickers, as well... not to mention, am always scouring around the Hi Life shops for stickers dropped or unwanted... and believe me, I was LUCKY enough to get most of my stickers this way..... sometimes, I laugh at myself as how strange I must look to people always looking on the ground and picking up these stickers.... hahahahahahaha

These three stickers I actually found yesterday afternoon - outside Hi*Life - WEEEEIIIII!!!!

But in the end, I still got antsy, okay antsier, and got the help of another Bearbrick collecting buddy, Sue - who happened upon the collection on Yahoo Taiwan - all 6 in one shot and at a GREAT price.... Juliana and I both jumped right away - fearing that we will not be able to complete the series as, apparently, a couple of designs are harder to get....

so once again, a BIIIIG THANK YOU to Sue!!!

LSS X 2 : sap sap sappiness

Sappy Songs am LOVING RIGHT NOW!

Take a Listen - you'll LOVE THEM, too... am sure of it....

Alicia Keys: "Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart"

Christina Aguilera: "You Lost Me"

Fun Day with Wu Mama & Wu Papa

Not often that Wu Mama & Wu Papa comes up to Taipei together - so when they do, we all try to make the most of it and drag them here and there.... not an easy thing as, for the most part, they would rather just do the gardening for us (Wu Papa) & shop and cook (Wu Mama)... and in between drag us to the nearest temple and give respect and offering to the Gods...

Well, last July 11th, Liya, Lyn and myself were actually able to convince them for a day out - a trek outside the city.... of course, at first we had to have a purpose - so we went to the Flower Market first under the pretensions that we are shopping for more plants for Lyn & Shaun's roof top garden - which totally makes Wu Papa ecstatic... and once they were out, we knew half of the battle is done and we will be able to drag them elsewhere... not without a fight, mind you.... hahahahaha....

anyway, after the flower market - the 5 of us decided to take the BUS out of the city.... it was easier this way as no hassles driving in the freeway and possibly the rain... plus having to look for parking - since it is the weekend and lots of people are out and about.... First stop was, Jin Gua Shi (Golden Melon Stone), basically a one time place of residence for the Wus.... David & his older brother spent the early part of their childhood here... when The Wus still had a thriving SEWING FACTORY... even Liya, I believe was born here... though only spent 5 days after birth as they were already on the move....

It was soooo WONDERFUL seeing them both so excited, reminiscing about the times they spent in the area.... even more so upon seeing their old factory/home - which is now an ANTIQUE SHOP.... time was spent talking with the locals... some neighbours that they even remembered... Lots of photos were taken to Wu Papa's delight... he wanted to make sure to really mark this day - and be able to share with everyone, through photos this special place of theirs....

Then it was off to Jiu Fen - a very old-style neighborhood that was also an area for movie making.... nowadays it is more like a TOURIST AREA lined with stalls after stalls selling this n that plus a lot of Taiwan's native delicacies to try.... This was not my first time here - probably my 4th or 5th already - so I would not
say I was excited.... still I was so much more excited just having Wu Mama & Wu Papa make comments about this and that, just about everything.... always a delight to hear what comes out of their mouths.... they are so funny and when not forcing me to eat more, they are cracking me up - without even trying....

DAY TRIP PHOTOS HERE

Kurt Wenner: more ART ATTACK!!!

Possibly the highlight of our TREK to Pier 2 Art Center of Kaohsiung is seeing in person, Kurt Wenner's 3D Dragon Painting.... so AMAZINGLY large and sooooo commanding... truly a sight to see in person....Upon walking in - one is greeted by this giant painting on the floor that looks very much, except for it's size, like an ordinary painting... but upon reaching the end where steps are set up just right for a better view - then the whole painting comes alive... truly in the fashion of 3D - cover an eye and it is as if the Dragon is alive and ready to create some menace....The Master, Kurt Wenner, at work - as seen through a streaming video.

In another room a video is set up showing the process in which this masterpiece was done.... with Mr Wenner painstakingly applying each and every color onto the floor painting.... as well as, the actual unveiling of the masterpiece at Pier 2 Art Center - attended by so many people, art critics and art lovers alike... What a Treat for the eyes and senses....

I do not know much about Mr Kurt Wenner, or this particular art form for that matter, but after seeing this masterpiece am a FAN!!!

Manet, Picasso, Miro, Renoir, & Jean Paul Gaultier???

hahahahahaha - most of you must be quite puzzled as to what Jean Paul Gaultier doing with the likes of the aforementioned Impressionists.... well, they are all currently on Exhibit at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, that is!!!!

Juliana & I decided to take in both exhibitions in one shot.... and it was a good move.... we had just enough time to see the both shows before the museum closes.... and also was perfect timing to get out of the rain as it was pouring the whole time we were indoors, but had stopped when we were done.... so the GODS & the ARTISTS must have been on our side that day!!!

Well, the Gaultier Exhibition has been going on for about a month now.... the exhibition is Le Delfile - and it encompasses the costumes made by Mr Gaultier for Regine Chopinot's Modern Dance Ballets... I blogged about it HERE a while back - about a month ago really... and I just now finally able to come and catch it..... and it is worth all the wait... Sadly no one is allowed to photograph the costumes on display... and understandably so as they might somehow damage the fabrics.... Good thing there is a catalog of the exhibition available... so I was able to snap a few pages to share with you all... the exhibition is quite minimal - just like attending a Modern Jazz/Ballet Performance... Black background and just a touch of glitter (silver beading) hanging for accents.... everything on display was just colorful, phenomenal, and all screams GAULTIER!!!!

The other Exhibition, Manet to Picasso, is a collection of Impressionism artwork by some of the mosst famous ones in the field: Picasso, Miro, Manet, Van Gogh, Renoir, etc... paintings and a few sculptures depicting the beginnings of Impressionisms... all of these were on loan from the Philadelphia Art Museum... What a GREAT EXHIBITION.... was able to see earlier works from Miro and Renoir... ang got to know some new ones too: Bastillo & Pissaro -well, they are new to me anyway....

So it was TWO THUMBS UP for the TWO EXHIBITIONS.... just enough to satisfy the art thirst.... and wet the appetite for some more....

PHOTOS HERE

iHEART Kaohsiung & Art

love love love Kaohsiung.... as much as I hate the loooong bus ride to get to this city south of Taipei - everything is forgotten as soon as am city just keeps getting prettier and prettier.... and the city never ceases to AMAZE me as to all the things they have to offer and to discover....

the weekend was spent hanging out with the Wus... eating the local delicacies.... playing with Laifu/Lala .... fending off all the goodies Wu Mama wants to feed me - and believe me, it is never ending.... all the weight I lost the last 10 days - I gained right back the 3 days I was there... waaaah!!!!! still it was not just the feast for the taste buds but feasts for the eyes, as well...

Laifu Takes Refuge From The Summer Heat!!!

There was so much more to discover.... like heading back to the Movie Park by the Love River and taking fun photos with Laifu.... and with the bois, Johnny (formerly Jason) & Todd, now being certified drivers - we were able to run around so much more.... first stop was Johnny driving us to his school where a newly erected Mall/Amusement Park opened... EDA Mall... what a trip!!! Rivals some of the biggest hotels in Las Vegas or Macau.... with it's numerous shopping boutiques; an amusement park; movie house; food court for days - and an adjacent 5 star hotel - no one ever has to leave..... it is enough for a short vacation getaway.... The mall itself is reminiscent of the Venetian Hotel with it's indoor Blue Skies facade... and in the center of it all is a giant fountain with replicas of giant sculptures of ancient Gods....

Later in the afternoon, we switched drivers as Johnny had to go to work, this time out Todd was driving us around the city.... first STOP: Pier 2, where there are so many different Art Exhibitions happening.... and most are FREE ADMISSIONS for everyone to ENJOY.... Kaohsiung is really pushing the ART scene and from the looks of it - succeeding quite nicely.... after a good couple of hours going through one exhibition after another - we headed on to DREAM MALL - yep, my FAVE mall... we stopped in to eat and see "Knight & Day" before retiring for the evening....

So overall, it was a GREAT couple of days..... filled with NON-STOP FUN... all these were done even with the threat of a TYPHOON looming....

COMPLETE PHOTOS HERE (Under Construction)

Cheapman Cutie

Am soooo behind with precessing my Taipei Toy Festival 2010 photos for several reasons... 1) I took way too many photos - and it is harder to pick and choose; 2) my photo editing program is not the best - so it is more time consuming; 3) been busy over the last few days with visits & 4)been so busy with things to do and to attend to....5) last but not the least, been having so much fun with this new toy of mine picked up from the show: "Cheapman"!!!

Juliana & I came across Cheapman's booth as we walked about while we wait for Sue n Cecilia to finish their HUSKY purchases... one look at this cutie in his bunny outfit - and it was love at first sight!!! Mostly on display at the booth were Postcards & pins of cheapman.... art works, illustrations and such.... there were a handful of vinyl figures also on display... and if only I could have taken them all.... alas, only one was available - I HOPE, just for now.....

Meeting the artist and maker was just the added bonus - he was nice and sweet.... his endearing personality truly reflects the character of his creation... he IS cheapman, indeed! One thing that made me SMILE - BIIIG - was when I was listening to Juliana's conversation with him: Juliana asked:"How come you only have one Vinyl Toy for sale?"... to which he replied, without hesitation but with a biiig smile: "Because I have no money to make others!" I laughed inside and was truly endeared to him and his character even more so... right there and then - I loved my cheapman vinyl toy even more....We bought few of the toys (as well as, the cute postcards) - and he graciously signed each and every one of them for us... each of the s we wait, I could notice that each person that passed the booth stops by and were instantly drawn to this little cute figure... and they too, had to go home with cheapman in tow...

LINKS to CHEAPMAN:

Cheapman Home Page

Cheapman On Facebook

My Flickr Album of Cheapman

WAITING ROOM by rudit · 365 Project

Am on my 2nd Week doing 365 Project and still LOVING it all.... be sure to check out my album and FOLLOW ME pls...
WAITING ROOM by rudit · 365 Project
Elizabeth Taylor was once quoted saying: "It is strange that the years teach us patience; that the shorter our time, the greater our capacity for waiting "

- AM NOT FEELING THIS!!

I guess my time is NOT short enough yet - just my patience.... hahahahahahaha

it's the little things.... (JULY 2010)

aaah... was feeling a bit down as I was missing IFDC again this year.... but with all that has been going on personally, it was just not in the cards for me to TREK to Las Vegas and be with some friends and enjoy the convention... instead, Ito contend with hearing about it all from friends.... and admiring all their photos...

Still, I have to say that "Life is STILL Sweet!" I instead over the last few days had my own fun seeing friends.... hanging out with Jason & Todd... taking a side trip with The Wus... and of course, attending the Toy Festival with the girls.... there is not much I can say - no words can describe the feelings except "it's TRULY the little things that makes the difference in life..." So instead of boring you with more ramblings - I will just let the photos speak for themselves...

===============================

3 out of 6 - halfway there... (July 7th)
Hi.Life with Todd & Jason after a BIIIG meal from Wo Jia Niu Pai (July 8th)

Friday @ Fridays with Juliana (July 9th)

Taipei Toy Festicval with the Girls (July 10th)

Day trip with The Wus (July 11th)

...and of course, seeing an entry of mine on 365 Project, as one of the popular ones for the day...

tEmPtAtIoN

The subject of my newest 365 Project entry: Temptation... we see it in all walks of life.... in our everyday life.... On TV, the Billboard ads, the malls, the streets - just about anywhere and everywhere really....

They can be in the form of something sweet - that is bad for our figures, much more to our healths....; they can be in the form of a magazine or billboard ad - enticing us to buy something we really do not need.... and at times looks much better on the ads than on us...; or simply, just a passer by that gives you the "eye/the look" - that if given "the look", as well - could turn into something more... for good or for worse....

So each day is a bit of a struggle with temptations... how to avoid them... how to deal with them.... Really NO ESCAPING them... the TRICK is to figure out how to give in without overdoing so.... as we all know: "Too Much of Anything Could Be BAD For You!"

============================
“Temptation wrings integrity even as the thumbscrew twists a man's fingers”
-Chinese Proverbs quotes

weThink, weShare: dEsIrE

the last few days I have been watching the full season of Desperate Housewives.... have just finished catching up with Season 5 - and now am on to Season 6... yep yep...as always, am behind on my TV viewing - but that's another story....

From Season 5 - was reminded of the JOYS and PAIN of Human Desires... well, it is pretty much the same each episodes with a dash of back stabbing, gossiping, and murder.... but none more so as in one of the episodes... the Best part is the narrative at the beginning & the end part of this episode.... and it goes like this:

===================================
BEGINNING:
DESIRE.... it's an EMOTION designed to lead us ASTRAY...

-causing us to BUY things we CANNOT AFFORD...
-encouraging us to SAMPLE DESSERTS we do NOT NEED...
- and pushing us into LOVE AFFAIRS we are clearly not ready for...

ENDING:
-Persuading those who CRAVE LOVE to make FOOLISH CHOICES...
-Causing those who YEARN FOR FAMILY to ACT OUT in ANGER...
-Allowing those who are LONELY to BEHAVE in RECKLESS WAYS....
========================================

So I ask you all:
- What is your TAKE on DESIRE?
- Which one of the ABOVE are YOU GUILTY of?
- What or Who do you DESIRE....

"charmed, am sure..."

Matthew Goode just being his charming self during an interview... found this in my mailbox this morning.... what a nice way to start my day....

Have a Great Thursday Everyone!!!

BLOOM

for my 2nd day with the 365 Project - I entered this photo of the flowers that blooms in my front garden once a year - during the summer.... though I never knew what it is called - I have come to LOVE IT and always delights and look forward to its' appearance...

The photo also is the inspiration for this entry's 7 Quotes...

====================================
As long as we are persistence in our pursuit of our deepest destiny, we will continue to grow. We cannot choose the day or time when we will fully bloom. It happens in its own time.
-Denis Waitley

If your heart is a volcano, how shall you expect flowers to bloom?
-Kahlil Gibran

Let a hundred flowers bloom, let a hundred schools of thought contend.
-Mao Tse-Tung

May my soul bloom in love for all existence.
-Rudolf Steiner

People deal too much with the negative, with what is wrong. Why not try and see positive things, to just touch those things and make them bloom?
-Nhat Hanh

The gracious, eternal God permits the spirit to green and bloom and to bring forth the most marvelous fruit, surpassing anything a tongue can express and a heart conceive.
-Johannes Tauler

There are souls which fall from heaven like flowers, but ere they bloom are crushed under the foul tread of some brutal hoof.
-Jean Paul

365 Project: A New Creative Outlet

Started a new HOBBY yesterday... well, actually, it is not a HOBBY but an outlet for a couple of my favorite hobbies: Photo Taking & Sharing!!! 365 Project : where one is to COMMIT to a Photo A Day -- for a FULL YEAR!!!

I have known about this for at least a couple of months now... but I have always been intimidated by the COMMITMENT PRESSURE, plus the fact that I never consider myself a photographer... nor think that my photos are never ever any good for people to admire and look at.... and I have seen some of the photo albums there and boy-oh boy, Professional much!!!

But a couple of friends kept encouraging me to do it anyway.... that it would be a FUN & CREATIVE project to do... and another outlet for me to share all the things I love.... PLUS I GET TO TAKE & POST PHOTOS OF ANYTHING and EVERYTHING that I Love or Speaks to me.... so how could I say NO to that....

So please, let me introduce to you all RudiT's 365 Project - am on Day 2 today with 4 followers.... so why not join in on the FUN - if I can do it, you can, too..... and be sure to Follow Me, too... Thanks In Advance!!!

Be@rbrick 20th Anniversary

This year marks the 20th Anniversary for Bearbricks - and Reward or Punish us collectors - depending on where you stand on this - instead of the usual 1 or 2 Surprise/Secret Releases - MEDICOM decided to issue 9 - yes you read correctly, 9 are introduced!!!

LOL, are we in BIIIG TROUBLE NOW!!!

SERIES 20

SECRET 9

..and another New Introduction that I would love to get - Converse X Bearbrick

oooooooh.... what I do for..... Be@rbricks...

So, I got my first Hi.Lite X Jimmy X Bearbrick cutie this last Sunday on my way back from Church.... Guess it was my reward for being a good boy... as if I needed an excuse, right? hahahahahaha.... I opted for the one that was used for the POSTER AD (see photo below)... makes sense, right???

Since I could not wait to collect 40 stickers - I opted for the 15 stickers plus NT$49 - and VOILA, GOT ME ONE RIGHT AWAY!!!! Just could not help myself.... passing by the poster each and everyday just got me antsier and antsier.... so 1 down and 5 more to go.... good thing I have till the middle of Aug....

ME LIKEY LIKEY THEM ALL!!!

1 DOWN - 5 MORE TO GO....

weeeeiiii more for the Bearbrick Collection!!!

more SEXINESS to start the week off....

Each and every year, during the Bench's "Ooooh So Sexy & Must See" Annual Fashion Show - one of the country's HUNK gets to be picked to end the show with a Bang.... and at the just concluded Bench Uncut Fashion Show, that is just what Jake Cuenca did - end the show with a BANG.... much too much to the audiences delights and screams....

Watch the video and you will see why Jake Cuenca was hand picked as the show stopper... have always admired all his UNDERWEAR Billboards and Ads for Bench - he seems soooo CONFIDENT & SURE of HIMSELF.... he knows what people wants and he gives it his all!!!Gotta hand it to Powers The Be @ Bench and it's Fashion Coordinators - with all the HUNKS roaming around the stage - must be very hard to pick who to end the show and leave everyone wanting more... well, so far sooooo good... Bench still thrills, titillates & delights....

Happy 4th of July All!!!

"Liberty, Equality & Justice For All"

May You All Have a Great, Fun & most especially SAFE Holiday Weekend!!!

"Freedom is what you do with what has been done to you."

Bench Uncut - The Show

Been GOOGLING for the much anticipated Bench Fashion Show - BENCH: UNCUT 2010 - that took place last nite.... so far all that I have seen are not sooo good except for this one.... Highlight on young actor/IDOL, Enchong Dee who once had a promising career as an Olympian Swimmer for the Philippines.... from what I know he has since given it up for the fame and fortune of being in the showbiz industry... and is actually making quite a name for himself the last couple of years... and seeing this UPLOAD from last nite's show - I feel he is TRULY going places....

Enchong Dee Links:

-On WIKI

-Enchon Dee World Twitter

-Fan Group

Rediscovering George Michael

After a marathon viewing of Heroes Season 4 - what a waste of my time! - I needed something else to get the bad taste of my mouth and my mind.... needed to hear/listen to something soothing and calming.... so I was going through the stacks of CDs in the house (swear to GOD I need to get through all of them and recycle or burn some already!)... came across the many, and I mean many, George Michael CDs i have accumulated over the years....

So I stated playing them one at a time - and playing my FAVE songs from each album at least twice.... Brought back many memories.... Not only did I "woke everybody up before I go go" each and every morning... I did the whole WHAM white and neon & feathered hair look in the 80's.... and by the time FAITH came out - I was already wearing the ripped jeans and leather jacket with the fringes... and rocked them all.... hahahahahaha maybe I will be able to find photos still - SCARY!!!

But most of all, made me remember how much I TRULY LOVE his voice -- one of the most Talented singers/songwriters ever!!!

Forget that he stopped making all those cheesy music videos that made him popular to the masses... forget all the hoopla with that Public Toilet incident.... forget the drug use news.... forget all the facial hair he loves to grow - some fashionably trendy/some downright scary.... forget the fact that he is as big as a house nowadays... the MAN still has THE VOICE & THE TALENT...

Sad that all the negative aspects of his life has overshadowed his achievements of late.... hence, hindering some of his late recordings.... sad for most of the people really - as a lot of his greater stuff did not get enough airplay or exposure.... his duets with Mary J Blige & Mutya Buena are perfect examples... I feel that minus the negative news - they could have reached the TOP of the CHARTS all over the world...

I can only wish that he would go back to writing songs, ballads especially and start recording again.... I still will buy them... A FAN FOR LIFE!!! For now I leave you with my Most FAVE Ballad by Mr Michael: A Different Corner

Bearbrick X Jimmy Liao X 6

Hi.Life, the closest convenience store near my house, FINALLY has an offer for Premium Toys that is getting me very excited.... 6 styles of Bearbrick - all designed by one of my most FAVE Taiwan artist, Jimmy Liao... each one looking familiar as they are versions of some of the best and most fave characters Mr Liao has ever illustrated for his many popular books....

Already underway, this program lasts thru the 24th of August 2010.. the way it works is this:

-For every 40NT$ purchase you get 1 Premium Program sticker;

-40 Stickers = 1 Blind Box Premium or...

- Collect 15 stickers, add an additional 49NT$ = 1 Blind Box Premium

Again, they come in Blind boxes so one does not really know what one will be getting.... but it matters not, as each and everyone of them would be a welcome addition to ones Bearbrick collection....

Of course am shooting for all 6 of them - one way or another..... hahahahahahahaha