So yeah, the new layout. It’s actually a work in progress as it only looks properly done when viewing on Mac browsers. When I looked at it on Windows’ Firefox and Chrome, it didn’t match the lines. But amazingly, looks almost right in IE7. Don’t look at me, I don’t get it at all. And yeah, I feel the need to match it up, so yeah, am still not done with this.

I wanted a layout that will hide my procrastination, not force me to post long posts. I’ve gotten so used to microblogging, I just can’t think of so many things to say. A previous layout (Letterhead) served that purpose, but with the sudden influx of Wordpress updates, it was suddenly outdated¹.

It was my first foray into % and em as units of measurement for font sizing. Which turned out to be quite the hair-pulling experience. And I definitely need more experience and practice. I also learned the image scales I used are inconsistent, hence my old posts with images rendering my exact sizing useless. I’m going to let them go for now, as I either need an automatic image rescaler (divisible by either 3 or 18) or I resize everything which I just really can’t afford doing².

I was also actually planning on doing a grand drawing that will be the highlight of this design but I couldn’t settle on a sketch I wanted to use. So I settled for washes and a simple self-portrait doodle on the side.

Lastly, I wanted to design and code my own personal project after almost a year of doing other people’s projects at work. And with this and a couple of new techniques, I wanted to learn some more.

Now, onto other projects so I can go back and finish coding this one. I have a lot of things to do.

*cracks knuckles*

1. I’m planning to update it and publish it as a free theme though, so watch out for that if you’re interested. ↩
2. Seven years worth of posts? Aye, caramba. ↩

• I’m currently playing around with a new layout for this blog. I feel iffy that as a Web Designer, I am using a WP theme by another person. Hopefully this new layout will not pressure me into writing long posts.
• We have a planned trip this coming November, to Singapore yet again, for AFA 09. This time, our stay will be longer than the last time, so we can actually get to go around.
• I’m also planning to get a small arts & crafts sewing machine so I can actually create or adjust clothes for dolls. As well as create nifty little items for them. I just need the space for a work area as well.
• So far, I’ve also been using some of my spare time building Gundam kits. So indeed, I got a whole lot nerdier.
• Also, I do hope we can move out to a better place soon. For peace of mind’s sake.

Other than all those things, work has taken over most of my time. This is one of the consequences of having telecommute work. It just takes over your own time as well.

UP AME Roll Call
Sister safe in Los Banos
Parents got stuck in Cainta for almost half a day. But already home safely. Still no other contact though as phonelines are down. Got in touch with mom, that they are all safe. Feels so much better now.

How you can help.

posts via MLQ3 here and here (mirror).
Philippine Flood Donations Appeal

Ondoy Hotlines

Reposting via Flori

Emergency/Rescue/Evacuation

• Red Cross: 143, 527-0000. Centers for relief: Red Cross chapters in Rizal, QC, Valenzuela, Bulacan.
• Phil. Nat’l. Red Cross Rizal Chapter operations center hotline: 635-0922, 634-7824. Send full address of stranded friends/family to Sen. Dick Gordon 09178997898/0938444BOYS
• National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) Emergency Numbers: 912-5668, 911-1406, 912-2665, 911-5061. Help hotlines: 734-2118, 734-2120.
• Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA): 136
• Philippine Coast Guard: 527-6136
• Bureau of Fire Protection Region III (Central Luzon) Hotline: (045) 9634376
• San Juan City Hall Command Post: 468-1697
• MERALCO hotlines: 0917-5592824, 0920-9292824
• Contact NCRPO 838-3203, 838-3354 for rubber boat requests. You can also text 0917-422-6800 or 0927-675-1981 for rescue dump trucks. Appeal for those able, to lend 4×4 trucks for rescue: Pls. send truck to Greenhills Shoppng Center Unimart Grocery to await deployment, tel. 09209072902.
• 505 Rescue needs life-vests & rubber boats for their rescue operations. Please bring to Villamor Air Base.
• Office of Sen Villar to rescue stranded people: 0917-4226800, 0917-2414864, 0927-6751981

Relief and Charity

• Red Cross donation through SMS: text REDAMOUNT to 2899 (Globe) or 4483 (Smart)
• TextPower
• Relief goods for Red Cross (drinking water, baby formula, canned goods, clothing):
• Red Cross Rizal Chapter operations center 635-0922, 634-7824 needs drinking water, canned goods, clothing for Cainta, Marikina, San Mateo, Pasig. or go to Red Cross QC Chapter, QC Hall Gate 7 along Kalayaan Avenue, tel. 920-3672.
• The Philippine National Red Cross appeals for monetary donation to be able to purchase the following:Non-food Items: mats, blankets, mosquito nets and jerry cans Food Items: rice, sardines and noodleHygiene Kit: toothbrush and toothpaste, bath soap, sanitary napkin, shampoo, towel and alcohol.

I look at the youth of today and see that they have the same interests I had a couple or so years back. I feel nostalgic yet distant. I remember sharing the same interests as they do, sometimes even more passionate.

But here I am, concerning my self with ‘adult’ things: work, finance, responsibilities. Issues I couldn’t care less before, but now is a matter of life and death.

Yet in the distance, I feel there are so much more. Looking outside while taking a break, I know there are infinite possibilities to look forward to.

But the moment, in the here and now, stuck at the office doing overtime work.

I can only sigh.

Moments of my life have been summarised into 140 characters publicly and privately. I share any trivial or random stuff via an intuitive sharing community. I tag all online researches or interesting links I find via online bookmarking. These and everything else — can be random videos, feed finds, blog feeds — are then currently aggregated to my umbrella site, which was formerly my portfolio.

And because my current work doesn’t exactly involve work I’ve trained my self with, I am getting a bit rusty. So work I get on the side helps a lot, and as well tinkering around all my current sites. But my busy schedule hasn’t been really kind, having a day-job that extends til evening and being a full-time wife now.

I have so many designs in my head I can’t put to good use yet. I don’t have the time for my personal projects like I did before. (Hence using a good WP theme from 5thirtyone)

I sometimes feel guilty that I don’t get to update this blog as much as I could before. But then I told my self that I shouldn’t feel pressured into blogging often. This is my own place for my own run-on thoughts however mundane or serious they may be. So I might not be able to blog often, but I’d still blog.