bought and sold

Sold "Irene" (my pistol) yesterday. I posted it on an airsoft board a few days ago and someone bought her last night.

I initially asked, 5K for it but to cut the long story short... I got 3.5K for her. Not bad given that she had a broken slide and that I bought it 2nd hand. But she was a steal for 3.5K... bought her at 5.5K way back when... complete with box, manual, tools and an extra mag... and I never really had a chance to use it in a game.

I did feel kinda bad when I got home. But such is life, you win some... you lose some. Now what can I buy next? hehehe...

I want!!!

http://chrislagman.com/blog/2006/08/25/watch-skydiving/

PSHS alumnus... military personnel... skydiving...

one out of 3 isn't bad is it? demmit, I wanna go skydiving!!!!

to or not to...

Lately I've been contemplating on a few things:

1. Paint Michelle - she's got some battle scars and she's getting more each time I play. I don't mind battle scars much anymore, I've grown accustomed to see my gun look like it's seen a lot of action and getting tango's left, right and center. However, she's getting a bit too much of it and I'm afraid all that none of the paint would be left. Sooo... either I repaint her flat black or paint her camo. There are a lot of pros and cons in painting her camo... perhaps I will list them down next time.

2. Sell Irene - she's got a broken slide and a faulty hop up rubber. Should I decide to buy replacement parts, its probably gonna cost me 4K bucks. I could get a replacement pistol brand-spanking-new for around 7K I think. But then again, I do need to get a metal slide for it which will cost me another 4K.

3. buy another gun - M249, M14, another M4, an Mp5, or a G36C... the options are endless...

Oh boy....

getting inked up

A chat over lunch with Christian and Joel brought out my desires to have a tatoo once again. I just don't know what to get and where to put it.

Joel has a great idea of a shoulder-arm tattoo that shows just a bit after the sleeves of a shirt. I have always been fascinated by the structure of the upper back and how a tattoo goes well with the curves. Then I saw this website -> http://www.tattoo-world.ru/index.php/ru/. Huge tatoos that traverse the body with unique art... not them sissy generic tribal tattoos.

I'm not in a hurry though, things like this needs time and preparation. One day...

airsoft devils and angels

I found an airsoft shop here in Makati that was on my way home and fortunately it had the primary item I was looking for, a new motor for Michelle. I had also been looking for decent kneepads and a face mask so it was a good opportunity to scout the place as well.

As soon as I got there, I took a quick look at some of the accessories they had. I didn't want to look too much as I knew my imagination would start churning and the airsoft devil tempting me to want to have some of the items. I got the motor without much fuss (luckily they had one last in stock) but I felt something was lacking, until my eye caught the "gear rack". I finally found the kneepads I wanted! So I took them off the rack and placed them beside the motor. Then I saw a face mask... luckily(?) I didn't have enough cash. But I did buy a bag of BBs in preparation for Sunday's game.

All in all I ended up buying nearly 3000 bucks worth of stuff. Waging war ain't cheap you know. But at least I'm happy with what I got, the motor rocks and the kneepads are exactly what I wanted.

in sickness and in health

Disclaimer: To all you guys who might be thinking something else, hold that train of thought and read through the blog entry first

Almost a month ago, I got sick. Some kind of throat infection. I was bed ridden for a week and the inflammation was so bad, it was getting hard to swallow. Even drinking water and taking soup was becoming painful. Luckily, after a few days of bombarding my body with anti-biotics and an anti-inflammatory mouthwash I was ready to head back out into the world.

But then I realized that my clothes started to feel loose. And when I weighted myself, my worst fears where confirmed.... I lost a massive 10 lbs. People in the office noticed the change immediately. After getting sick for a week and not eating much, it doesn't come as a surprise. But I did feel bad losing all the weight I worked hard for.

Until yesterday.

I weighted in again at 150lbs. That means I shouldv'e been 160lbs by now and should be on my way to getting that ripped Greek god of war physique (hehehe, sorry imagination running wild). But it's no use crying over spilled milk, so I'm just looking forward to putting on more mass before getting the 'cuts' I desire. I'm wondering if I can reach 170lbs before then though...

07-01-06 FTX After Action Report

After weeks of planning, numerous setbacks and rescheduling, the fist ever SPL WarGroup Inc.* Field Training Exercises pushed through. Eleven elite troops, together with three Special Forces soldiers spent an entire day going through simulated battle scenarios with the aim of developing skills in small unit movement and tactics.

The sun bore down the heat early on during the day, but the men (and women) soldiered on. After a few sessions in urban battle, the group moved on to jungle warfare for the rest of the day. The thick brush and the sounds of the jungle was a complete step back from the urban setting, but everyone got into grips with jungle warfare pretty quickly.

As all exercises do, this day ended sooner than most people would like. At least they have more to look forward to in the next FTX.

no jump tonight

Tomorrow's war is aborted. All troops are on stand-by until further notice. Demmit.

War is hell...

civil affairs

Recently I have received a whole bunch of notifications from friendster. First it was a message from some stranger, then it became friend requests, then more messages AND friend requests! Weird...

Don't get me wrong here, I'm open to meeting new people and interacting with other people but I can't seem to make myself click on the 'Yes' button for their requests. I have nothing against them personally, it's just that they are not my friends. (Don't start with the arguement that meeting friends is the point of friendster. Yes maybe, but I like to keep my list clean of quick acquaintances and people who simply want to increase their "friends count")

Anyhoo, I also realized that there have been a bunch of strangers viewing my profile. So it really got me thinking as to why people are viewing my profile on the same time frame, given the numerous friendster accounts circulating. Good thing one of the messages sent to me actually explained how she got directed to my profile... my main picture was apparently part of friendster's featured photos.

Mystery solved! :P

D-Day minus 15

Last friday, I finally confirmed 20 troops that are ready for deployment in 2 weeks time. After planning this for some time now, I was naturally getting excited with the fact that it will finally push through.

Somehow, I got myself to organizing the stuff I would be bringing on the deployment 2 weeks from now! As I laid down some of my stuff on the floor, I realized I have a shit load of gear, even though I was just sorting my primary items. Of course I had to take a picture hehehe



I am now "good to go!"

run or fight?

In certain cases Special Forces soldiers (SF) either disengage contact or head on full force. They lay down a massive amount of fire to cover their retreat and scramble to a pre-determined rally point (PRP) to regroup and re-asses their situation. Or when push comes to shove... close the distance, take the fight to the other side and hope for the best.

This decision is usually done in a split second and the reason the decision taken is backed up by training and experience. If I where in that situation, I think I would just stand still and weather it out. Which is the wrong decision and means that I'm dead.

Both decisions may look opposing, but in actuality they are the same. You do not sit around and wait for things to happen, you act according to your guts and do something. You get up, push hard and complete your objectives.

letters and words

As I was reading a book given to me by a friend on my birthday, I realized that the list of books I am supposed to read has just gotten longer. Although I do not consider myself a bookworm or even an avid reader, I do have a wishlist on the books that I want to read.

I was currently reading “Patriot Games” by Tom Clancy, and the initial plan was to read all of the Jack Ryan series books in chronological sequence. Although I have read most of the books in the series, including “Patriot Games” (PG), I have not read them in any particular order since I have mostly borrowed the books from friends or from the library (yes, I did go to the library to borrow books). This plan was also an opportunity to have a copy of each of the books and start on my own library. Although I have not been able to read much of PG since I have the hardbound version so it’s a bit cumbersome to read during the busy commute to and from work.

Then last Friday I had a nice surprise and got a book that puts a spin on Sun Tzu’s view of waging war. I started reading a few pages as soon as I got it and was planning to read this and a little pocket sized version of Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War”.

But then again, someone gave me “Immediate Action” by Andy McNab. I am hoping I can finish it quickly so I can continue on with reading all the other stuff I’m supposed to read. It looks to be a good read though so that’s good… but it was written by an English bloke so the humor and the slang are a bit difficult to understand at times hehehe

objective completed

Before the end of last year, a handful of officemates and I made a bet to get ourselves in better shape. Although our targets where as varied as our reasons it was still a good motivator for all of us to get into shape, which was what was important in the first place.

My goal was 150lbs by April (exact date depended on the last person to come back from their respective international assignments). And last night as I stepped on the scale, lo and behold... 150lbs square. I wasn't a pound heavier or lighter. Talk about hitting the nail right on the head!

Despite reaching my objective, I feel that I can still improve on it. I am thinking of going up to 160lbs. Scouring the internet for an ideal body weight for my height, I found that the range I should be shooting for is 154 - 169lbs. Additionally Karl da German sent me a link to the Ideal Grecian Proportion and with a 6.5 inch wrist, I still have a lot of mass to build.

So an additional objective has been set...

a little something

where?

Somebody took my car yesterday. Well, technically it’s my dad’s car… and in recent time’s used by my sister. But for some time in my life it was mine, and now it’s gone… sold to some anonymous buyer.

It has been with us since 1994 and I learned driving with it, when my dad and I would switch seats a few hundred meters away from my high school and I’d drive us in. I eventually was able to take it out on my own, and by the time I was in college it was practically mine.

I would commute to school with it, visit some friends, go out to parties and overnighters (school related or otherwise). It was my constant companion and I always kept it at least half a tank full of petrol, thanks to the free 300 liter my dad gets every month hehehe

I was always willing to give a ride home to friends in far off places like Sucat or Pasay. If anyone wanted a ride and I wasn’t busy, it was never a problem for me. I could always count on that car, I’ve taken it as far as Tagaytay, Antipolo, Batangas and everywhere in between. I may have abused the engine at more than a normal driver would at times (thanks to JM introducing me to some racing concepts) and drove with an intense need for speed on more than one occasion, but she never got me to an accident. Except for 2 spin outs, but that didn’t hurt anyone hehehe

I always thought that someday (a very far off “someday”) when I had a girlfriend, I would be able to have her beside me in that car and go wherever. Have that long drive with your girlfriend beside you and a dependable car in your control was the shit for me. But I guess that will never happen (not with that particular car).I’ve always told my friends that my car was a go-anywhere-car, and I guess it still is… it just went to another person that will take it anywhere they desire.

of measurements

I went back to my gym yesterday and the first thing I did was do a weigh-in. According to the scale I am at 142 lbs. Now I don't know what to think about that since looking at my "records" I previously weighed 141 lbs a few days I arrived in Cyprus and 146 lbs a week before I left. So it would seem like I didn't gain any weight in Cyprus, which is contrary to what people say and what I feel. And simply looking at the numbers would also mean I lost 5 lbs in a week, and that seems highly unlikely.

Going to before I left for Cyprus, I knew my weight to be 137 lbs on the same scale I used before yesterday. This consistency shows that I must have gained around 5 lbs in a span of 2 months, regardless of my pre-departure and current weight. Bottom line is, I gained weight.

Although the gains were not as obvious as before I am glad I am still on the right track... and the fact that I may have lost 3 lbs 2 weeks before coming back due to stress, means that my 150 lbs goal is definitely attainable, especially with the help of my trainer.

Now, I am considering getting up to 160lbs and my trainer even suggested going to 180 lbs. I'm not sure about going 180 lbs but we'll see, one notch in the scale at a time...

dawn of a new day

Written by a sleepless guy at over 30,000 feet above sea level, doing 1,000 km/h... just past the Arabian sea.

I saw my first glimpse of sunrise today… whatever day it is, given the complexities of international travel. The imagery I saw seems befitting what I feel, a streak of soft orange light emerging from the darkness. Dark grays slowly receding from the warmth of the sun.

I can’t seem to remember the last time I have seen and appreciated the sunrise. I usually sleep past it or too groggy to care. But now, despite not having slept in 18 hours I am pondering what lies beyond the horizon. I am captivated by the realization that we are heading straight into the point of sunrise as if trying to reach it but in fact, the final destination is beyond it. Past the horizon, past plains and mountains and the endless sea… to a place where location does not really matter.

Nearly everyone else on the plane is off to dreamland trying to reduce the stress this 8-hour flight will inflict. While I revel on dreams of my own, and damn the jet-lag that may ensue. Even though I will be arriving home just as the sun sets, I feel that my day will just about to start then.

just like that

I've always wanted to dive in Cyprus from the moment I knew I was travelling here. So when I found out that the diving season opens on March 1, 12 days before I leave, I set things in motion to get me 60 feet under water. Even though I knew that the temperature would still be low (lower than what we tropical people are used to), I just had to dive the Mediterranean.

Last sunday, an officemate and I headed to the dive center in Agia Napa. Despite not having my trusty navigator with me, I managed to get to the center without having as much as a wrong turn and we were off preparing our gear in no time. A few minutes drive later we were on our jump off point.

Two things I learned after our first dive... it was cold, even with double 5mm wetsuits and hood. And it was salty, saltier than normal... I around 15lbs of weight to help me get to the bottom. Now 15lbs is not a big deal when you're underwater, the problem was I had to lug that and all my scuba gear from the water up to our car which was a good 20 feet away.

On our next dive site, we again had to lug the same amount of scuba gear down a series of steep steps. But I guess it was well worth it. As we were slowly working our way up to the surface along the walls of the cliff, the sun shone down on our area illuminating it as if we were in a cathedral. It was just wonderful. Clear water, beautiful sunshine, cliffside walls, and the slow carshing of surface waves. I wanted to stay there and relax but we had to surface as I was running out of air.

Now that was the end of the diving experience... but not of the day.

Another thing I wanted to do in Cyprus was jump off a cliff. I didn't care if it was cold and I that would have to swim back to shore, or worry that I might land incorrectly and hurt myself. I had to jump if I could... no questions asked. Fortunately the last dive spot was also a place where you could jump off a 6 meter drop.

The area had a small chapel in it and I said a quick prayer as we passed by. Near the edge I had a fleeting thought, wondering why the hell would I do this. But I didn't entertain it. I let it go as soon as it entered my mind. After a pre-jump picture, I again had thoughts of 'what-if'. Again I just told myself "dude, you're right there", just a step away. So I got on the very edge, my mind focused on each movement and prepared myself. Breathe in, breathe out... counting 1... 2... 3... and thinking jump. But I was still standing there.

Then it hit me. It's actually that simple. So again I breathed 1... 2... 3... and I just jumped. I closed my eyes and jumped. No frills, no thrills... just jumped. For the few seconds I was in mid-air, I didn't feel as if I wasn't falling... I as just there in that "moment". When I hit the water, it was as if I was being cradled... no pain, no shock to the system, not even relief of making it. Surfacing from the water was pure elation. And not of the fleeting kind either, I was bathed in it even as I got out.

I wanted to dive in Cyprus even though I knew it was cold, and that it would be twice as expensive as back home, and that I would have to drive an hour to get there. I wanted to jump off a cliff, even though I knew I would've been scared to shit when I stepped on the edge. But I wanted to do it... and so I did.

I guess what makes life great is to go out there and do what you want. Despite the fears and the worries and all the variables that concern it... to just take a leap of faith. And damn the consequences.

teaser

inspired

People say they write better when they are inspired. Or when they are depressed. Or whenever that specific feeling pushes their mind into overdrive and the words just start to flow.

Recently, I have not updated my blog as much. And some might think that I lack the environmental stimuli that promotes new blog entries or that I am uninspired. I would say the former is true, but the latter is definitely not.

I am inspired, I have a wave of emotions swirling and crashing within me. But no blog entry. Perhaps it is because I have been swept away and now I float in an endless sea of contentment where no amount of words, mine or otherwise, would express that.