Get Ahead with a Good Drum Head

So the time has come for you to replace your drum heads. Then the question pops up in your mind - "What kind of drum heads should I get?"

Assess you playing style. Are you more of a jazz, acoustic or light rock drummer? Or are you the R&B, funk, and heavy metal kind? The choice of drum heads is dependent on the kind of music genre that you play. 

Drum heads come in single/one-ply or two-ply variants. The classic aquarian drum heads at wwbw are single ply drum heads that provide sensitive response and produce a rich, brightly resonant sound. If you are unsure of whether to get one-ply or two-ply drum heads, I would suggest the one-ply clear drum heads because it offers full frequencies from top to bottom suitable for all playing styles. There is nothing more satisfying than having drum heads that give high performance and versatility. 

Then and Now

I had a blast looking at old photographs of my children. It seems just like yesterday that they were still in diapers. Motherhood is such a rewarding experience. To witness your child's every milestone achievement is so heartwarming.

Here are my children's  "Then" and "Now" pictures. Sharing with you a happy moment I had last night.

Kristine Anne ("Tin-tin")

Then: 8 months

Now: 26 years old

Irvin Jason ("Aton")

Then: 4 months

Now: 22 years old

John Michael Clarence ("Mickey")

Then: 5 months

Now: 20 years old

Half the Deal is the Eye Appeal

I have yet to learn of a bass guitar player with only one guitar. These artists usually have two or three, maybe more. It could be the kind of strings, the neck, the shape of the guitar body, or even the kind of gig they would be performing in. The rationale behind this is to enable them to produce the particular sound for a particular genre. 

One great set of guitars to choose from is the new b.c. rich bass guitar. The Mocking Bird ST Model is my personal choice. It has an ergonomically designed mahogany body for easy handling and playing. Its classic design would blend in any kind of performance - jazz, rock, blues, or pop. The tobacco burst color is so cool! Aside from the design of the guitar, the best thing is the full bass tones you get with every strum. 

Definitely a good investment!

Travel Fun in the Metro

I was born and raised in #Quezon City Philippines. I could not even imagine living anywhere else! I love the hustle and bustle of the big city. I love the convenience of living close to shopping malls, major grocery stores, churches, schools, hospitals, private corporations and government offices. My neighborhood is full of friendly people, ready to greet you with a smile and best of all, its flood free!

Getting around could be overwhelming for someone who arrived in Metro Manila for the first time. Let me show you the modes of transportation we usually take to get from point A to point B.

1. The tricycle

The vehicle of choice for short trips of not more than 2 kilometers. In the area where I live, the fare is Php17.00 per trip, maximum of two passengers. A third passenger would cost an additional Php8.00.

2. The Jeepney

Originally crafted out of old World War II jeeps, these vehicles can now accommodate up to 24 people inside the cab. Now called the "Jeepney," this vehicle plies most major roads (except EDSA), bringing students, employees, and any other passenger to their destinations. Baseline fare for a 4 kilometer ride is Php8.00

Another variant of the Jeepney is called the "FX," which is an airconditioned asian utility vehicle carrying only 10 passengers maximum. This is the vehicle of choice if you want to travel with a little more comfort.

Colorful jeepneys doing their daily routes

Guess who? Its Vin Diesel taking a jeepney ride in the Makati Business District

Vin Diesel getting off the jeepney

3. The Bus

Buses take the daily commuters along Metro Manila's major thoroughfares - EDSA, Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon Avenue, Ortigas Avenue and others. Taking the bus would be the best choice if you want to be guaranteed a seat - unless of course you get caught up in the rush hour madness. They can fill those buses tighter than a can of sardines.

A bus with free wi-fi. Keep yourself busy with your smartphone while stuck in traffic

4. The Commuter Trains

There are 3 major commuter train lines operating in Metro Manila. There is Light Rail Transit Line1 (LRT Line 1) that goes from Balintawak to Monumento. The LRT Line 2 connects with Line 1 at the Recto/Doroteo Jose Station in Manila. LRT Line 2 stretches from Santolan, Pasig to Recto, Manila. Passengers on this line are mostly students because of the numerous colleges and universities located along its route. The Metro Rail Transit (MRT) runs from North Avenue in Quezon City to Taft Avenue in Pasay. This line runs alongside EDSA, Metro Manila's main highway. People from the working class take this train and it can really get jampacked during rush hour. It sometimes makes you feel that your face got swapped with somebody else's.

Light Rail Transit Line 1

Light Rail Transit Line 2

Metro Rail Transit

5. The Feet

For really short trips to the grocery store, drug store or wet market, or sometimes a school or church, the best way to go is to walk. No traffic, no throngs of people, no rush.

Travel safely, everyone!

Beat.Mix.Believe.

Just when you've gotten the hang of building your rhythm on your good old set of acoustic drums, an innovative musical instrument finds its way in the market. Voila! Technology brought us electronic drums! 

Totally unheard of during the baby boomer era, electronic drum sets provide musicians certain benefits that cannot be seen in an acoustic set. The most noticeable benefit is its compact size. In addition, electronic drums do not need complex microphone arrangements and can be played at lower volumes.  

The alesis dm10 pro kit is a handsome looking, top performing electronic drum kit. The hardware components are a snare, 4 toms, 1 kick and 4 cymbals. It has 100 preset drum kits. It delivers a unique experience with 1047 preset sounds. What is more amazing it that its built-in sequencer can play accompaniment parts for practice sessions or for recording your musical masterpieces. 

Electronic drum kits have changed the way music is being created, played and recorded. Less the bulk, more of the richness of tones. In full support to budding musicians, electronic drum kits also have the ability to hook up to an external CD or MP3 player for practice jamming. Unbelievable.

I am astonished at the genius of this new technology. It does keep me at the edge of my seat with the question "What could be next?"

Vocabulary Booster: Wave 1

Every day I eagerly await Fox News Channel's "The Factor" with Bill O'Reilly. There is never a dull moment in the show. Mr. O'Reilly's topics are always about interesting news and events that may impact our daily life.

The best part of the show for me is the #Factor Word of the Day. It is interesting to learn about a new word, how it is used and its etymology. 

Allow me to share with you my love for languages and the latest group of words I have learned.

1. PECKSNIFFIAN

A word that came from the brilliant mind of Charles Dickens. It originally referred to a character is one of his books, Seth Pecksniffian who was a land surveyor.

By definition, the word Pecksniffian means "blatantly hypocritical," "self-righteous." People who are labeled as Pecksniffians put up a facade of having high moral principles, being benevolent and righteous. However, deep underneath, they are highly critical, mean and treacherous.

Sample sentence: "You know you're in trouble when a Pecksniffian smiles at you." 

2. NUGATORY

The word "Nugatory" was first used in 1603, the origin of which is from the Latin word "nugatorius." Merriam Webster's online dictionary defines it as "of little or no consequence."

In modern day language, the word "Nugatory" would be similar to the words "invalid" or "non-binding." Practical applications of the word could be seen in legal documents pertaining to corporations and contracts.

Sample sentence: "The majority vote rendered the bill nugatory."  

Credits:
http://www.billoreilly.com/factor-words-of-the-day
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nugatory

Fasten Furious

The modern skyline is filled with unbelievably tall buildings which seem to touch the clouds when viewed from the ground up. Amazing feats of architecture have been sprouting all over the world, with each new structure trying to outdo the most recent, tallest building. 

Engineers are the go-to persons that describe and define the types of materials to be used in a major project. It is then critical to make the right choices in the selection of materials to use. An essential  part of this selection would be to decide on the size, gauge and material to be used in the construction and industrial setting. Another factor would be that these materials must come from a reputable dealer. Most, if not all civil and structural engineers would choose reid. A vast array of fasteners, nuts, bolts, u-bolts, screws and other building materials make planning a easy task. These are all guaranteed to be made of the best raw materials made to last a lifetime. 

The combination of materials that are structurally sound and the architectural appeal are an engineer's dream come true. The assurance of safety and security as you stand way up on the topmost floor of a skyscraper or on the second floor of your modest home is yours.  

Achieve Your Dreams with #Globe

An inspiring video aptly entitled "10 Age-Old Truths that our Generation has Defied"

I strive to be like Number 3.

I am proud to have #Globe to take care of my cellphone and internet connectivity needs. Started out with them since I got my very first cellphone and I have no intention of switching to another provider.

Inspiration + Hard work + #Globe = SUCCESS.

#Globe and me. Me and #Globe. FOREVER!

Image credit: www.gadgetpilipinas.net

The Ultimate Assistant

In days of old, composers would go out of their way to search for an instrument that makes a distinct tone to complete a masterpiece. Some artists are very particular in choosing a musical instrument that will make their music stand out. This may be a special guitar, a kind of drum or a native instrument.

Nowadays, song writing, musical arrangement and creation of sound effects have been rendered easy with the influx of technology. Composers and artists no longer have to go far and wide to find that instrument with a distinct sound they need.

The Native Instruments Komplete 9 Ultimate offers 65 instruments and effects, with over 16000 sounds and 370 GB of samples. This cutting edge software offers an easy user interface and fast hassle free installation enhancing any professional's workflow. Cost effective and versatile enough to use for a variety of needs like music production, live performance, instrument and sound design, we can be assured to save on ni komplete 9. With this great product on hand, we can have more time to concentrate on performing and creating unforgettable masterpieces.

Coping with Diabetes Mellitus Type 2

I was diagnosed with Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 in 1998. Its not a surprise, being an offspring of pure line diabetics, coupled with my dietary preference for sweets.

It was not such a big deal for me early on in the disease until I started getting all the weird stuff. Nagging headaches, numbness in my toes and hands, dizziness and increased sleepiness. My endocrinologist had to keep me in the hospital for 3 days because of dehydration (apparently I had more sugar in my blood than normal). 

I was put on home medication (Metformin 500 mg and Pioglitazone 15 mg) for a good 5 years, and then I was shifted to Metformin 850 mg because I was rapidly gaining weight with Pioglitazone. And then I was fine. 

Until two weeks ago.

I started having chest pains, breathing problems and nausea. I was extremely thirsty all the time and no amount of fluid would quench the thirst. I was ordered to have my blood chemistry done, together with a urinalysis and 2D echocardiogram. 

Wake up call.

My blood sugar is out of whack again. Way too high. The doctor is amazed I did not have any episodes of losing consciousness. She ordered for a new set of medications because she wanted to decrease my sugar level rapidly to avoid damage to my liver and kidneys. I have to take my blood sugar reading twice daily - after I wake up in the morning and another one two hours after dinner. (Ack! Those glucometer strips cost a fortune!) 

My urinalysis revealed a 4+ presence of sugar. I guess my body can't contain all of it and starting throwing it out in my urine. Another sign that I really need to start taking care of myself.

Lastly, my blood cholesterol levels are unbelievably high too. In Type 2 DM, increased blood sugar levels impairs the function of the liver to break down fat in the diet. This fat (specially the Low Density Lipoprotein of "bad cholesterol") may be deposited in the walls of blood vessels putting me at risk of a heart attack. Hence, the request to have a 2D Echocardiogram done. 

During first few days of drastically altering my diet, I was practically in tears every time I would sit down for a meal. I totally shunned rice and replaced it with complex carbohydrates like sweet potatoes. I had boiled vegetables instead of stir-fried, and I had my favorite spicy pork adobo with nothing else. Can you imagine a Filipino having adobo without any rice? What a bummer.

I shifted my love for packaged snacks to boiled peanuts. White bread to wheat bread. Water, water and more water. The only thing I haven't done yet is to start an exercise plan. I can't do it yet without my doctor's approval. 

So now, I go along each day with the feeling of a hatchet hanging over my head. That things can go wrong anytime. 

Until such time that I get assurance from my endocrinologist that everything is under control, I would have to do my part to manage my sugar and cholesterol levels in the best way I can. 

I have drafted a strategy to accomplish this goal:

1. I will eat healthy.

2. Doing housework will be my exercise. 

3. I will stay away from stress (Avoid the undesirables at work who do nothing but cause stress)

4. I will never fail to measure my blood glucose levels at the appropriate time

5. I will take my oral medications regularly to avoid having to shift to using an insulin pen

6. I will do calming exercises. (Blogging IS my calming exercise)

7. I will always be "HAPPY HAPPY." (Just like Coach Ty Bundit tells his team when they have their backs against the wall - "You play happy happy!")

So there. I am now on the journey to get back to the pink of health. 

God willing, I will get through this.