Desmond Rocket

Oh Well

2005-04-27T17:23:00.000+08:00

I didn't make it to my Mindanao adventure. I thought that the world should know. Well, there weren't any more slots at the C-130. Thinking that it's "Standing Room Only" on that flight it's probably a good thing that I didn't. But all is not lost, GK still has something exiting for me to do. I'll be part of the documentation team on the Gen. Nakar site in Quezon province. I'm still finding our who else is going on the team, but from what I gather from the orientation I'm going to make like Lonely Planet and put togaether a documentary. I hope to get some pictures posted.

We leave 2 days from now, and except for me the rest of the team is a bit "iffy". Hey, what can I do it's volunteer work. I'm still negotiating a video cam and am hoping that it's a 3 CCD. Worst case scenario is that I be a 1-person docu team. Wow, talk about a trial by fire. And now I'm off to make my shot list. Hey, I'm only 31 for a moment, might as well make the most of it :D

Basically, that's me

2005-04-15T16:29:00.000+08:00

On my last day at the office, Gelbert, our editor/ webdesigner/ techie took this picture of me. I did a bit of Photoshop of course. The boss gave me a send-off. It's flattering to get a send-off. This is the second company that formally gave me a send-off.

I got a month to step away from "work". Then, we'll see.

T-Minus

2005-04-07T12:38:00.000+08:00

I'm heading into the last week of my stay here. After that it's the wild beyond. Already I have 2 mission trips lined up after I resign. I'll be trading this job so I can build houses for the less fortunate. Noble as it may sound I still have no idea how I'm going to pay the bills while I'm doing that. However, I put my faith in the great Provider.

Everyone at the office knows by now, I think. I've made the last round of announcements just this lunch. Some were surprised, well, most were surprised. Me, the pioneering artist/ art director/ writer/ project manager/ counsellor/ snadwichmaker/ dishwasher will be resigning on the 15th of April 2005. Wow, that's alot of work. just imagine what they would think when I tell them that I'm going to Vocation Classes. Bwahaha.

It's a lazy day and a long night ahead. Let's see what the Lord cooks up.

Trying to Work

2005-03-30T10:42:00.000+08:00

I'll still be around till next payday and now I'm hashing things together so I can get something done. Working through lunch crossed my mind since it would more or less allow me to concentrate on my work. That is, of course, if there are no sudden busts in the office to stop what I'm doing and think of another project proposal.

I don't mind having many projects, mind you. Deadlines get my adrenaline pumping. It's the half baked ideas that fry my brain. Getting something on a formal project proposal level would at least calm me down. At the very least, it would be comforting to know that it wasn't carelessly thought about and may have a chance to be used some other time.

Ok. One more email to check, then it's time for the headphones and the pencil :D

Freefall

2005-03-29T13:00:00.000+08:00

It's been a while since my last entry. This April 15 I begin my freefall. My resignation from my present company is credited to Burnout; a condition that is said to affect only the most passionate and enthusiastic employees.

Now I contemplate on my freefall. A leap of faith some may say. With bills to pay and people to support I should say it is. Honestly, with all the possibilities of my career I haven't really thought of what I'd be doing for money after that date. Charity work is on my list, and we all know that doesn't pay much if not at all. There are still alot of things I'd like to do with my talents and my career. Unfortunately, I don't have the convenience of persuing them at the moment.

Even with the thought of just bumming around and drawing to my hearts content for a month I doubt that I'd be able to focus on my craft with all the other responsibilites presented to me. There's the Chapter at SFC, then there's the house and the food, GK work, did I mention bills yet?

I've got talent that, I believe, hasn't reached its full potential. And I've got a heart that seems like in the same place. Come to think of it, my phillanthrophic eandevors have also reached beyond my pockets. So, what now?

Recently I've joined an informal vocational group just to find out what my Creator has intended for me in this world.

Freefall. A leap of Faith. All yours Chief!

Storms

2004-12-03T10:23:00.000+08:00

I was bracing for a really big storm last night. Typhoon "Yoyong" was about to hit land at 7pm that night. Sure enough it came, the wind howling behind the cliffs that surround our apartment complex. Text messages came in asking for prayers and donations to the previous typhoon victims. A blackout followed. Power resumed after 15 minutes.

I awoke this morning expecting a dark sky and howling winds, instead there was only a slight dristle of rain under a cloudy sky. Sometime last night the storm decided to turn north. Only God can turn a storm. Just like the storms in our lives we can never weather them out by ourselves. Even with a thousand friends to help us. Only God can turn a storm. I said my prayers last night to let the storm pass, but also to prepare me for anything in case it's His will that it arrive. Everyhting else was up to the Lord.

Here's a popular Psalm I know many are familiar with. I'm posting it just in case there might be somebody out there who might be weathering a personal storm in their lives.

PSALM 23

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

I'm thankful that the storm has past. There are still lots to do and there are many things planned for the weekend and more wonderful surprises to look forward to.

Kawaii

2004-11-10T11:53:00.000+08:00

It's Japanese for cute. The Japanese seem to have this thing for cute things. Hello Kitty came from Japan so did Astro Boy. Even products with a more meture theme are cute. They got pink and baby blue everywhere, just look at the Cherry Blossoms with Mt. Fuji in the background. Even "Ghost in the Shell" had touches of Kawaii.

So, why am I in a cute mood? Maybe it's because of this site. Now the creator isn't Japanese. I'm not even sure if it's a him or her but I find the images pleasantly cute. Now, there are different types of cute, there's; annoyingly cute, baby cute, interestingly cute, pretty cute, sexy cute and, of course ... pa-cute.

... uh where ws I going with this?

Picanto on My Mind

2004-10-27T09:11:00.000+08:00

Now here's something at the back of my mind. The Kia Picanto, packaged in Europe as the next supermini, this little baby's got a 3 year warranty. There's a 1 month reservation period and they're asking for a 30% downpayment. For a brand new car Php66,000.00 or so is a good deal to start off with.

Now if I had the money, and if learned how to drive then everything would be sweet.

Mind Dump

2004-10-22T10:05:00.000+08:00

It's been a topsy-turvy week. An Astrology friend of mine might have something to say like it's a mercury retrograde. Things slow down or speed up when we least expect it. Projects that would normally take a few days extend a few days more. The Lord sends you people to cheer you up but you can't help but feel the stress all around. I guess I'm still recovering from it. Though I have a clear view what I got into the day, the follow through comes in a bit off.

On other news there's Dylan Wilk.

A Rags to Riches story of a guy from England who sees the vision of Gawad Kalinga. As the Lord would have it he's into gaming. For 5 years he was in the business 24/7 and now he's a philanthrophist. Now, how do I get to where he's at? Okay, now he qualifies as one of those contemporary figures I look up to in business ... along with Steve Jobs and Richard Branson.

Where's this life headed? Only God Knows. Right now, I have opportunities in China and Davao but I have this stick-to-it-iveness that gets me sticking to the company I'm at. I guess I can still give it a year ... but then again, only God really Knows.

The Taal Expedition

2004-10-18T17:51:00.000+08:00

Early into High School I remembered we had a project for our Earth Science class. Our class was divided into teams. Our team chose to check out the volcanic deposits of Taal. Why? I'm not really sure now, but I think it might have something to do with finding out if we would be endowed with mystical powers at the end of the trip. There was Patrick, Neal, Maynard, Albert, Arnold and Michael.

Here is one of the rare times I got my Picture taken. I'm the guy with the Adidas shirt. From the left after me is Albert, Maynard is behind him, then there's Arnold, Neal then Mike.

That's Patrick waving, Maynard is in the middle and Arnold's right beside him. Can you guess where I am? Yeah, that's me way back there. I was pretty much a lone wolf then. Now, I'm surrounded by people.

Friendster got me in touch with Patrick. He has a piggery somewhere in Batangas, Arnold is a musical arranger, Maynard is a Lawyer. I'm not sure what Mike and Albert are up to.

Wow, High School seems so far away these days. Back then we didn't have bills to pay. Looking back, I had a happy adolescent life though it may not have seemed like it at the time. It's great to be alive.

Beer for Lunch

2004-10-15T16:25:00.000+08:00

Now, beer for lunch is probably as regular as having water in some parts of Europe, I tried it today. Being a payday weekend I thought I'd treat myself so something. I was at the penthouse canteen of the Makati Stock Exchange having a lunch of sisig. Having finished my one cup of rice with lots of sisig left over I thought of making may way to the other wing of the penthouse, the Bar. San Mig Light wasn't available so I opted for San Mig Strong Ice. My colleagues were surpried as I approached our table. Hey, sisig didn't seem complete without the beer.

The sisig was average, but the beer was great. Half expecting to be sleepy, I leisurely walked out of the canteen. I realized the benefits, my mind was calm and yet I didn't get into a siesta mood in the afternoon. I was working like it was 9am. It works for me, might do it again. Now, I'm at an office that doesn't really have a problem with this thing, so check with company handbook before doing anything like this.

And, oh yeah, drink moderately.

Baby Names

2004-10-14T13:21:00.000+08:00

I know it ma be a bit off for a guy to think of Baby names when he's single. Even more when he's unattached, but I did anyway. These names have been hanging around my mind for some years now.

Samantha Nicole - the eldest daughter
Stephanie Anne - the next in line
Jaqueline Marie - the youngest

So far I've only come up with one name for my boy.

Jonathan Patrick

I think I'll actually have my wife take her pick for the boy's names.

Why did I put this together? I dunno, I guess it's about time that I did? Because it's there?

Who knows maybe my future wife muight be reading this hehehe.

God Knows.

Back in the saddle

2004-10-14T13:10:00.000+08:00

I'm drawing again, thank goodness. It's been a really long time since I've done some "real" drawing. Though I confess that it'll take some time before I get back into the groove, I'm happy that I am. It took a while for me to get back. 3 days to be more precise. I almost forgot about thumbnailing before creating an artwork. It's almost like forgeting to pray before eating. I admit it was a bit stressfull at first, but I'm getting a hang of it.

Being a part-time mission worker isn't an easy task. You got work during the day and you got work during the evening and on weekends. So why do I do it? Well, sometimes I feel that when projects don't push through at the office it's comforting to know that work elsewhere gets done. There's that sense of fullfillment that things are being done for a good cause. Somehow the Lord lets me balance the situation ... or you might say that I let Him put it together for me.

I think I'll be busy until Christmas. I'm thankful that everything's been fun.

Slow Monday

2004-10-11T16:18:00.000+08:00

It was a heavy weekend filled with meetings, birthday parties and progress reports for project benefactors. (Uh oh, I have to finish that thing.) I had trouble getting my mind into gear but I managed to get things done. It's close to cloosing time, I thought I'd get this in my Blog to set my mind away from work a bit.

Ugh. Can't wait to go home. Oh well, back to work.

Earthquake

2004-10-09T16:12:00.000+08:00

An earthquake hit the archipelago last night. It hit 6.6 on the richter scale according to a US Geological report. Epicenter was at Mindoro.

I as leading a Chapter Gathering then. Though most of us got a text message from friends about how strong it was, we never really felt a thing. There was something about last night's Chapter Gathering that was spacial. Though we were few in attendance the Chapel was filled with so much life. There were many powerful sharings, all of them seemed to heve brought us closer together.

I guess the Lord was letting us know that the are somethings more important to pay attention to than a 6.6 earthquake.

Rocket House

2004-10-08T17:10:00.000+08:00

Welcome to the Rockethouse.

Desmond Rocket, billionaire philanthrophist is a character I cooked up who sets out to save to wrold in his own little way. Now, I'm in no way a billionaire (yet) though I would qualify myself as a philanthrophist of some sorts. For the last 30 years I have, like most I suppose, dwelled om the reason for my existence. Not being able to come up with one solid reason, I just did the Christian thing and decided to help whenever I can.

Now, I'm not neccessarily a Saint. I have my drawbacks, too. Though, I think it's healthy for an individual to believe in something. I chose to believe in the "Big J". What happens next? I honestly have no idea. But it's all good.