The First Journal + Ink on Paper

I absolutely love the way it feels to write on paper.  The way my thoughts transform into ink on paper, and the way my pen gracefully glides over its smooth surface gives me a sort of satisfaction that I have long cherished since I was young.

Stained Glass Peter Pauper Press Journal that I currently keep (P630 at Fully Booked)

I got my first journal from a favorite English teacher of mine back in my elementary days in Ateneo.  The pages of the diary were made of recycled paper, it was small in size (very handy to carry around everywhere), and I fell in love with it.  It wasn’t as pretty as the ones that I keep now, but it being my first one, I was just very happy to have it.  I lovingly kept it as my private diary for a long period of time, which had a special place in my heart since it was given to me by someone that I looked up to at the time .  I suddenly turned into a mad writer. I composed poems, essays and was very much into writing snapshots of my life, and this came first before playtime with my friends.

Then a life changing event happened– my mom got us our first personal computer and I turned into a computer nerd almost immediately. Although my writing didn’t completely cease it was clear that I suddenly became more interested in code instead of my very own thoughts (Perhaps I  finally got bored of my own thoughts!)

I have never claimed to be a good writer, even though my family thought so.  My Mom printed out my written works and put them in a ring bind, and to my horror I more than once saw her show them to people. Besides, my cousin Camille was the best candidate to have a great future in writing, so I sort of wandered into different hobby… something I believed  that I could be good at and be confident in.  Plus, I never made it into the School Paper committee in High School, so, thinking logically, I took it as a sign that I was meant for a different career.

Writing took a backseat to coding and design for many years up to now.  I can definitely write a decent e-mail, diary entry, to-do list,blog post, business proposal, etc… but I hand the writing responsibilities to people who are more passionate about it.  Just sticking to what I’m good at!

To add to something random into the mix… I’ve always wanted a Moleskin but I always chicken out of purchasing one.  When I was living alone and was being (or trying to be) independent and responsible in Makati I probably felt like it could be classified as a splurge.  It is quite pricey and I can probably afford one now, but I currently have this Stained Glass Peter Pauper Press Journal still.  I think it looks pretty and I found a pen in the store that matched it’s colors!  Yay!

Pen that matches my current journal.

Strange Kid in the Garden

Back when I was younger, I hung out in my grandmother’s garden a lot.  I actually, which others might think is strange, liked playing on my own (I have also gone to the movie theater alone many times — but that’s a different story). Plus, when I am alone I get to write more!  I remember I would sometimes sit on my late grandfather’s rocking chair, and stare out into space… pen and paper in hand of course ready to jot down whatever it was that was on my mind.

I remember one instance, which my grandmother’s helpers must have thought was weird, when I sat on the grass, quietly observing the dog’s few months old pups running around and playing in the garden, also trying to look pensive and serious at the same time.  I gave them names, wrote their physical qualities on my journal,and also put in a short description of the pups’ individual characteristics.  This was around the time when I also became obsessed with Discovery Channel (remember SELARGON cable days?) and saw a special on Jane Goodall and her work with Chimpanzees.  Yes, as a kid, I was busy channeling Jane Goodall for one afternoon.

Another thing that I was very embarrassed of is that I loved making up my own drama series.  I did a LOT of monologues — locking myself in my grandmother’s room, looking in the mirror playing out a scene, often switching from villain to playing the “aping-api” heroine (HELLO MARA CLARA?!).  This stopped for a time after my Uncle caught me doing this and wouldn’t stop teasing me about it.  Ooh, and what about SOUND OF MUSIC? I’m pretty sure people caught me lug around a small stereo back again in my Grandmother’s garden, breaking out into “THE HILLS ARE ALIVE WITH THE SOUND OF MUSSSIIIICCC…” and utilizing the front lawn as my stage. So embarrassing! What was I thinking?

It’s a good thing we didn’t have YouTube back then or I would find embarrassing clips of these strange things I did as a child in the present time.

Kidding aside, yes, I’m aware I was such an over imaginative kid that did weird things… but at least I never got bored.  There was always something fun to be done like recording my own radio talk show on cassette tape and forcing my younger brother to be either my guest or co-host.  I would never forget pretending to be a WWF (World Wresting Federation) correspondent and asking my brother “Who is your favorite wrestler in the world?!?!?” and to which he gleefully responded “OWEN HART!!!!”.

Weird Boss?

Again back to the present time — i miss those days…  Nowadays I feel too “connected”.  I have many mobile devices, I’m attached to my iPad and I even think emails are “fun”.  Yep this is Eliza busy being all grown up…  and it’s high time for me to do something FUN and out of the ordinary… like:

• When I find myself stuck in a design or coding project….sing— “HOW DO YOU SOLVE  A PROBLEM LIKE MARIAAAA?”  I’m pretty sure my assistant will appreciate the entertainment.
• Instead of doing meetings and trainings with Powerpoint Presentations  — I could set up a skit and do monologues!  “This content management system is nothing but a second rate trying hard copycat!!!” (that didn’t make sense)
• When the HR Manager is interviewing applicants I could take her place, go through her interview questions, and as a conclusion would ask the interviewee – “So [NAME OF INTERVIEWEE], here is my Magic Mirror.  If given the chance, would what you say to it?”

Sigh, if only I could… if only i could….

I get to design structured, and crisp corporate websites almost everyday and just today, a Sunday, while browsing through my old personal blogs, I had a sudden craving to design a fun little blog type WordPress theme. Quirky ideas like this often manage to creep into my mind when i’m bored. A lot of people tell me – you should get bored more often. Just between you and me – I wish I can!

I remember a time when I was in high school (its more than eleven years ago now. the horror!), I spent my weekends tinkering endlessly with my old PC.. I’m pretty sure I was still using Netscape Navigator as a preferred browser. I found this software called JASC Paintshop Pro – somewhat a Photoshop alternative way back then, and this humble application opened up the doors to the magical world of web design for me.

It was a fun time for web design, I could do whatever I wanted. Most of my sites were hosted on geocities.com or xoom.com – popular free hosting services at the time. I changed layouts at least every few days. I was entranced, somewhat obsessed by the whole concept of being able to code and design.

When I was a little kid – I remember wanting to become a doctor at some point in my life and an artist at the same time. My main interests then were science and the arts — now that I think about it, I believe web design is a marriage of the two. There’s this strange but very welcome feeling of satisfaction when I get to do something that involves both logic and art.

Back to the present time… this simple layout is a tribute to the days when I designed just for me. It’s nice to be able to do this again after so long!

Another awesome work week is about to start. It’s nice to be able to come to work with a bunch of like minded people who clearly have a passion for what they do. One exciting project is about to start this coming week – it will be a first for the city. Crossing my fingers on this one!

5 more days ’til I get to be bored — but I have a feeling i’ll be blogging again before then!

My portfolio is currently down but will be up in a couple of days. In the mean time you may check out some of my work at my company’s portfolio at http://illumedia.net

http://elizamagno.com

I’m happy with the new crisp, clean, and simple layout! This part of the site will be shutdown, and I will be putting up posts about web design in the new blog portion of my site soon.

Blogging from new itouch… So this is somewhat a test post for the WordPress app. The last quarter of 2009 was such a blur. I spent so much time working and saving up for the new laptop… Already the mbpro 15″ has proven itself to be a brilliant investment. I no longer have to wait a long time for stuff to render. The switch to mac was fairly easy… I spent nights watching tutorials before I even got it so I knew what to expect….

At this very moment I am sick but not really surprised. I usually get sick whenever I come back to the concrete jungle.

2010 is going to be an interesting year. It will mostly be about spreading my wings and expanding my horizons! How exciting!!! I have already knocked down several walls last year in preparation for new, fabulous, worthwhile life experiences!!! I am SO READY!

Invictus is latin for “unconquered”

Invictus by William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the Pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate;

I am the captain of my soul.