Our Own Open Theater

Watching movies is a great bonding activity we do together with our friends, family members and love ones. It is fun and entertaining. However, as much as we all want to watch a movie, we cannot do it all the time. Other than it is costly, we it is hard to squeeze in a date with the important people in our lives because of our busy schedules. In addition, it is hard to go out and watch a movie because of the weather.

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Fortunately, my uncle bought a video projector online a few days ago and asked me to set it up. He said that we could use it watch a movie using our laptops. I could also borrow it once in a while. He said that watching it through a projector can make you feel as if you are watching from a movie theater as well. He is right. Right after, my cousin and I set up the projector and laptop in the garden we all turned off all the lighting fixtures except the round step lights to watch the movie. 

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The step lights specifically the round step light with grill 20 watt 12 volt jc were initially set up to highlight their beautiful garden in the backyard. The round step lights were also set up for the safety of everybody. But I guess the step lights are not only made for these reasons. They are perfect for open theaters as well. Since the round step lights are UL (Underwriters Laboratories Inc.) listed and ETL (Intertek Testing Services) approved it assures us that it is safe to play and have fun in the yard even if the lawn is wet just like watching a good movie in our make shift open theater together with your loveones.

I guess my cousins and I will be spending more bonding moments at my uncle’s place. It is a relief that their house is just across ours. My uncle also promised me that I could borrow the projector once in a while so I could also have a movie-theater like experience at home. But I would rather watch it at their place since it is so much fun watching the movie in their bigger yard together with my cousins.

Protecting Our Planet With LED And CFL Lamps

Earlier today a received a phone call from one of the representatives of Greenpeace-an independent global campaigning organization which promotes environmental awareness and protects our environment-acknowledging me as one of their supporters and asking for financial aide. I did not promise them anything as that would require my full commitment. But as advocate for a clean and green environment, I can help by promoting environmental awareness through the different social media. I can also help by planting trees in my community and by conserving energy at home as well.

In fact we have been using LED (light emitting diode) lamps and CFL (compact florescent) lamps since incandescent light bulbs have been banned by the government as it consumes a lot of electricity to produce light. We use these LED lamps and CFL lamps not only at home but also in our little grocery store. Initially, we were using a 200-watt incandescent lamps in our 12” by 12.5 " vented top warehouse shade wall sconces in the grocery store. But after the decrease in our electric bills at home, we change all the wall sconces to LED lamps. I am also pleased that the online shop where we bought the warehouse shade wall sconces allows us to customize the kind of lamp that we want. So when we ordered additional warehouse lights in the grocery store, we requested for a 57 watt Fresh Green colored lamp. The price of these LED lamps and CFL lamps are much higher compared to the incandescent lamps. But since we started using these energy saving lamps, we have save a lot in our electric bills.

In addition, I have also been looking into using solar panels to operate our home. I have heard a lot of good feedback from my relatives who have been using solar panels to run their home and farm. According to them the best things about using this recyclable energy is that they are not only protecting and conserving the environment, but they are also free from paying their monthly electric bills. That is absolutely a lot of savings. Using solar panels to run our house is quite ideal since we enjoy a lot of sun but as of yet getting the solar panels for my home has to wait.

Landscape Lights For The Safety And Beauty Of Your Lawn

Adding walkway lights and outdoor path lighting in your yard may sound luxurious to some. Perhaps it is, as these types of lighting fixtures are often found in some elegant restaurants, hotels and even in the mansions of the rich and famous. But that is not always the case. My siblings and I agreed to add these lighting fixtures for our elderly parents’ sake. These walkway lights and outdoor path lighting are for their safety as they have difficulty seeing in the dark just like everyone else. It is also for their enjoyment knowing how much they love an evening stroll in the garden.

No words can describe the look on our parents’ faces the first time they have seen these walkway lights and outdoor path lighting brightening up the beautifully designed landscape. We made sure that they will be pleased with it as they love the outdoor so much especially at night. We also love it that we started having our dinner in the garden every night since their wedding anniversary last February 14th. Who wouldn't? The landscape and garden looks magical at night because of these walkway lights specifically the half moon step lights. The landscape and garden is definitely breathtaking. Moreover, we get to enjoy the cool fresh air which is a rarity in the city. It would be a waste if we let this kind of opportunity go.

Looking at our beautiful landscape and garden now gives us a feeling of satisfaction. It is hard to believe that this lawn was once neglected and unkempt. Our parents are too old mow the lawn and are having a hard time finding someone to do it for them. Spending our savings to beautify our unkempt lawn is definitely worth every penny. I only hope that we could find someone soon to help them maintain the beauty of the yard.

Wedding Anniversary On Valentine's Day

Three more days and it is already Valentine’s Day. This day, is probably the dreaded day of most single people who had experience the pain of love. They wish that this day should never come. On the other hand, some people, especially lovers, are looking forward to this day. They wait for this day to come in order to profess their love for each other. Some make this day extra special for their love ones by taking them to some fancy hotels to dine or take them to places which bring them good memories or remind them of the good days they have together. Some are even waiting for this day just to propose.

Some people find it cheesy and overly dramatic especially when you can always do these special things for the person you love anytime of the year. Why wait for Valentine’s Day? Why not February 12, March 14 or any other month and day? Well, it has something to with the martyrdom of Valentinus or St. Valentine in February 14. Saint Valentine was famous for performing marriage rites to Christian couples and helping Christians who were being persecuted at that time. My parents were a devotee of St. Valentine which is why they chose this day to tie the knot.

The preparation for the wedding anniversary is almost ready. For the safety of everyone, aside from the exterior wall lights, we also added several outdoor path lighting fixtures and landscape lights which arrived today. We thought that these lighting fixtures will not arrive on time since we ordered them online three days ago. The effects it did to the landscape and garden was amazing. We were all enthralled when we turned on all the landscape lights. It made the place almost magical. I am sure that my parents, whom we have sent away to my aunt's place while preparing for their wedding anniversary, will be please of this new addition to her garden. It will be a lovely surprise for both of them. We all wish that this day will be extra special to them.

What Hospitals Should Look Like

Hospitals are among my least favorite places. It is maybe a place where sick people are being treated. But for some reason, I feel like it is the opposite. In addition, I find the place scary and I know I should not feel that way. However, several of my friends and colleagues think the same way about hospitals as well.

It would be nice if the architectural designs as well as the interior designs of hospitals look interesting and fun enough which can make the patients forget even just once that they are sick just like the hospital where my cousin had her fourth baby. Aside from the good nurses, doctors and other staffs, I like that place because looks more like a home rather than a hospital. The wall colors are also immaculate white but they added some wall art or graffiti which can make you stop and look around. They have added some indoor plants which has interesting planters. They also have these fancy ceramic wall lights which you can find in the rich peoples house, hotels, cafes and other commercial places. But what really caught my attention is the landscape and garden. It looks pretty in the morning but it is prettier in the evening. I can say it looks enchanting. I was mesmerized the first time I saw that part of the hospital. That is all because of the step lights which were artfully arrange to highlight the lovely and landscape and garden as well as provide lighting for the pathways. The step lights were also beautifully designed. It has a moon shape design which complements the landscape and garden in the morning.

I wish all hospitals will look less like a typical hospital. It should be a place which does not only heal you physically but spiritually as well. Adding wall arts or graffiti, a beautiful landscape and garden, and good lighting fixtures can help a lot in improving the atmosphere in the hospitals. Perhaps if all hospitals will look less like a hospital, more people might be willing to undergo treatment and that includes me.

Vapor Tight Fixture As Street Lights

I used to walk down the street without any fear that something bad might happen to me. Our street has always been secured. Everybody is friendly in our neighborhood. I also know everyone living in our neighborhood. But for two days, our street did not look so friendly. One of the street lamps has been broken. According to the CCTV (Closed-circuit television) cameras, one of the neighboring kids accidentally hit the lamp while playing baseball in their yard two days ago. The parents apologized and promised to replace the broken lamp after they were informed of what happened. They already gave the replacement lamp yesterday but nobody in the maintenance team is around to install the light bulb. A few of the neighbors are also complaining about it. My friends’ teenage son promised to replace the bulb instead but we all oppose to it.

The homeowners association apologized and asked us to be more patient. But some of the parents cannot wait any longer. Luckily one of the fathers’ stepped in and agreed to do it himself. He also advised to use vapor tight fixture in the future instead as this architectural lighting fixture is not only perfect where dust, moisture dirt and humidity is present, it is also perfect for situations like this. He proposed the 13 by 12 Saucer Vapor-Tight Pendant Light. The aluminum guard will surely protect the bulb inside. The homeowners association agreed to look into it. We also promised that if we need to raise fund for the installation of the vapor tight fixture, we will do it.

As the infamous saying goes, “kids will always be kids”. This is not the first time that something like this happened and surely not the last time. We do not know how many more light bulbs and even windows might be broken. We are hopeful that the vapor tight fixture is the perfect solution in a situations like this.

Lighting Fixtures That We Cannot Live Without

Lighting fixtures is a necessity which we cannot live without. We are so used to these lighting fixtures that majority of us find it hard to imagine a place without it. The thought of not having any of these lighting fixtures illuminating and giving beauty to our surroundings at night sounds scary even to the adults as we all know that most criminals strike at night or when the place does not have any lighting fixtures or security system.

However there are still some places in this world that live without the luxury of these commercial lighting fixtures as well as residential lighting fixtures such as my grandmother’s birthplace. They have nothing but these lamps which are fueled by kerosene to light their homes every night with the exception of those who belong in the middle class and upper class who have electric generator or solar panels to run their house. I felt small next to them. They have so much to complain about but surprisingly they are happy. Compared to their problem, slow internet connection is just a tip of an iceberg. At first I thought that they are like that because they have no ambition of improving their lifestyle but I was wrong. Every family in that small community is in fact saving to buy solar panels which will at least provide enough energy to power up one or two lamps. In their neighboring community, almost everyone is using solar panels which power ups their lighting fixtures. But road lights are still a problem since there are a lot of things which need to be considered such as budget from the government.

My two days and one stay at my grandmother’s birthplace taught me a few things. I learned to appreciate the things I have - even the slow internet connection. I also complained less. Most importantly, I learned to value the solar panel operated lamp post which lights our yard every night.