Being Eleven

The best thing about turning a year older on a Friday is you get to celebrate on your actual birthday and let it spill over into the weekend.

Before heading off to school, we made a stop at the local doughnut shop to buy some goodies to share with her class.

Her godmother sent this birthday card in the mail. It also included a bracelet depicting the life of Jesus Christ in a succession of beads & charms.

There were only two items on her 'wish list', one of which is this doll that we got at a large-box store.

*Update: Mom got her a radio with a CD player.

Her closest friends arrived with pillows & sleeping bags in tow. And they spent a few minutes goofing around while opening her presents.

Then off we went for some ice skating fun! Did I mention it was cold there? Well, it was FREEZING cold!!! Free-skate time ended at 10:15 PM. But not before meeting another friend at the rink. The girls had lots of fun. And the 'thumbs-up' says it all!

She got an overseas phone call from an aunt in the Philippines while her friends were posing for the shot.










We had to make do with whatever candles were readily available. Hence, the skull & tea light! Home-baked brownies and chips kept them up until 4:00 AM.  She needed as much sleep as she could get! Saturday was a big day for her!




A 2-mile run at 12:00 PM and a sparring day at Karate Class were still on her schedule.  Here she is at the start/finish of her 2-mile run. Then Karate class at 12:45 PM.   An awesome first day at being eleven it was indeed!

They Grow Up Too Fast!

They Grow Up Too Fast!
Originally uploaded by jomak14

She turns eleven today. Happy Birthday, Mariel!

EF 85mm f/1.8 II USM on a 1D
[ 0.008 sec (1/125) | f/1.8 | FLength 85 mm | ISO 400 | Manual exposure ]

In Denial

In Denial
Originally uploaded by jomak14

It's getting to a point where it's a 'no-brainer'. I say, embrace it for all its worth! My eyes will thank me for it. ;-D

EF 85mm f/1.8 II USM

[ 1/16000 sec | f/1.8 | FLength 85 mm | ISO 400 ]

Framed & Wired

Framed & Wired
Originally uploaded by jomak14

Mastercard, VISA or MAC are accepted here for purchases. SEPTA Train Station, Willow Grove, PA.

EF 85mm f/1.8 II USM

[ 0.013 sec (1/80) | f/1.8 | FLength 85 mm | ISO 400 ]

1966 Ford GT40 MKIIA - Alan Mann Racing Ltd.

The Ford GT40 was a high performance sports car and winner of the 24 hours of Le Mans four times in a row, from 1966 to 1969 (1966 being the Mk II, 1967 the Mk IV, and 1968-1969 the oldest chassis design, the Mk I). It is so far the only American car to win overall at this race (Although the Mk I and the Mk II were actually designed and built in the United Kingdom). (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_GT40)

Ford's entry at the 1966 Le Mans 24-hours is the strongest works entry ever seen: no less than 8 factory Fords MkIIA are sent to La Sarthe.  The #1, #2 and #3 are entries by Shelby American Inc., aligning 3 American and 3 New Zealand drivers. (It's not clear why Lloyd Ruby, winner at Daytona and Sebring was not selected by Carroll Shelby). The #4, #5 and #6 are entries by Holman & Moody using four American racers (among them NASCAR specialist Dick Hutcherson), one Australian and one Belgian. Finally Alan Mann Racing Ltd., located in England, shows with two cars (#7 and #8) with its traditional racers: F1-world champion and Indianapolis 500 winner Graham Hill, Sir John Whitmore, dr. Dick Thompson and Australian Frank Gardner. (Source: LE MANS 1966 FORD DRIVERS by Ken Miles) 

Car #8 clocked the second fastest grid qualifying time behind eventual winner car#1 but DNF'd due to clutch problems.

Pos Car # Drivers Car Entrant Laps DNF Reason Grid Qual.Time 1 2 Bruce McLaren/Chris Amon/Bob Grossman*/Dan Gurney* Ford Mk II [1046] Shelby American Inc. 360 4 3m32.6 2 1 Ken Miles/Denny Hulme/Lucien Bianchi*/Richard Thompson*/Lloyd Ruby*/Mark Donohue* Ford Mk II [1015] Shelby American Inc. 360 2 3m31.7 3 5 Ronnie Bucknum/Dick Hutcherson/A.J.Foyt*/Bruce McLaren*/Peter Arundell* Ford Mk II [1016] Holman & Moody 348 9 3m34.6 DNF 8 John Whitmore/Frank Gardner/Mike Salmon^/Jack Sears* Ford Mk II [XGT-1] Alan Mann Racing Ltd. 31 Clutch 3 3m32.2 (Source: http://www.teamdan.com/archive/wsc/1966/66lemans.html)

Porsche 911 GT3 RS

A tricked-out GT3 RS was at the auto show but this burly security dude prevented me from capturing its rear-end! Tried my best to work around his leg but the photo's perspective was askew! Wasted photo opportunity it was.  

The new 911 GT3 RS passes 60 mph mark in 3.8 seconds. Short ratios increase the acceleration potential in all six gears. Consistent aerodynamics, designed for downforce, allow high cornering speeds and excellent driving stability and performance. However, the top track speed is still an impressive 193 mph. The 911 GT3’s weight to power ratio is 7.1 lb per hp. In the new 911 GT3 RS it is 6.7 lb per hp. (Source: Porsche GT3 RS Features)
 

A Classic Pony Car

A Classic Pony Car
Originally uploaded by jomak14

The paper-thin depth-of-field and the out-of-focus areas' rendering into a pleasing blur is what draws me to wide-aperture lenses. The creamy smoothness and fascinating circular highlights are certainly a visual delight!

Minolta Rokkor 58mm f/1.2 on a 30D
[ 0.001 sec (1/800) | f/1.2 | FLength 58 mm | ISO 800 | +1/3 EV ]

Pre-Valentine's Day Breakfast

Roses and chocolates, nothing could be more cliché for Valentine's Day.  Nevertheless, the combination always finds a sweet spot with my girls.

 

Since 'heart-day' falls on a Monday, we wouldn't have time to sit down and have breakfast together.  So, I decided to pamper them a little on Sunday morning.  Heart-shaped pancakes, bacon, sausage links and a cheese omelette were ready and waiting.  Fresh strawberries plus a choco-chip cookie brownie for dessert afterward!  *nom* *nom*

 
I can cook but I can't bake if my life depended on it!  But to my surprise, it wasn't all that hard to follow the instructions on the back of the box.  Duh!  And the end result was very satisfying, if I may say so myself!

 I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day with your loved ones!

Subaru Impreza WRX STI

Featured here is the 2011 Impreza WRX STI which boasts a 305 hp 2.5-liter DOHC turbocharged engine with a high-cross-flow-design intercooler, maximum boost pressure: 14.7 psi, 18 x 8.5-inch, multi-spoke aluminum-alloy and performance-design front seats with fixed integrated head restraints.

Rear spoiler (4-door / 5-door)

Ken Block Gymkhana Video Demo in an Impreza WRX STI

Performance-design front seats with fixed integrated head restraints

Turbocharger with high-cross-flow-design intercooler. Maximum boost pressure: 14.7 psi.

With all that horsepower on tap it still manages decent mileage!

Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 HEMI

For the 2011 model, a refreshed SRT8 will enter production, with the new 392-cubic-inch 6.4L HEMI V8. The new engine will feature Variable Camshaft Timing, as well as the Multiple Displacement System featured on the 5.7L HEMI.  Thanks to the revised engine, Chrysler engineers cited a quarter mile (~400 m) time of 12.4 seconds at 110 mph (180 km/h) - bettering the outgoing 6.1-Liter Hemi by 0.8 seconds, although that figure has varied wildly between automotive magazines. (Source: Wikipedia)

The 392 Hemi (6.4 liters) is rated at either 475 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, or 470 hp with 470 lb-ft, depending on the source. Both V8s shut off four cylinders when not needed (except with manual transmissions). It starts at $43,380, plus any gas guzzler taxes.  (Source: www.allpar.com)

See more details here.

Chicken & Pork Adobo

Browning in the broiler

My grandmother always said,  "Learn to cook the dishes you like to eat!"


One of my all-time favorite Filipino dish is Chicken & Pork Adobo.  The meat is braised in soy sauce, vinegar, chopped fresh garlic, black peppercorns & bay leaves.  Once the meat is tender, it is sauteed to a golden brown and simmered again in the braising liquid on low for a few minutes.  Serve with freshly cooked white rice and freshly cubed tomatoes, it is the perfect meal!

Simmering in the braising liquid

My version substitutes fresh garlic with the granulated variety so my fingers don't reek all day long.  Instead of sauteing the meat, I broil it to a golden brown.  This way I don't splatter oil all over the range top and on my arms.



Give it a try.  My girls love it!  I'm sure you'll like it, too!


Ingredients:

• Cut up chicken & pork (I prefer belly for the fat layers!)
• 1 c. soy sauce
• 1 c. vinegar
• 2 c. water
• 1 tbsp. granulated garlic
• 1 tbsp. brown sugar
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. black peppercorns
• 1 pc. bay leaf

Audi R8 Spider

Its outer skin is made of carbon fiber composite in some sections and the V10 engine produces 525 hp.  It launches the open-top two-seater to 60mph in 4.1 seconds on its way to a top speed of 195mph. 

Check out its features here!

American Pride Camaro SS at the Philadelphia Auto Show

This 2011 Camaro SS was painted by artist Mickey Harris.  By far, the best paint job at the recently concluded Philadelphia Auto Show!  The level of detail is both stunning and spectacular!   My images do not do justice to this patriotic "mural on wheels"!