I'll get by...

...with a little help from my 'friends'.
======================================================================
by PAM


Have you ever had one of those days when none of the very few good things that are not brain-numbing around you can seem to console you into believing that you are going to survive another day without freezing your brain over?  Well, I'm in that 'hole' right now, and boy, is it dark!  It's not that there aren't enough good things in this world, 'cause there are -  more than enough, too, actually.  It's just that they decided to take a 'vacation' today... and they didn't say so.  So, I planned to conduct my day as I usually do.  However, without the good things around, it's the worst of worst ideas!  

But because it's all here, and I'm not about to go wailing, I'll deal with it. Therefore, I'm getting my 'friends' together and haul 'em all in to my 'happy place'.  

"The silicon chip inside her head gets switched to overload...

...tell me why I don't like Mondays."

Hmmm... I did say 'happy place', but Sir Bob is wailing like a wounded whale. Oy!  C'mon, Sir Bob, lighten up, will ya now?

But, we gotta understand, aside from that being his singing style, it was an emotional day for the big guy.  He just saw his "big vision", "Live Aid", become a reality.  Live Aid was the biggest gathering of artists back in the '80s in various rock stages in the world, but mainly in Wembley Arena in London, England and in John F. Kennedy Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.  Phil Collins had to famously take the Concorde to perform in both the Wembley Arena and in the JFK Arena on the same day.  The live performances were shown around the globe via satellite on 13 July 1985, and with the crowd in Wembley seeing what's going on at JFK and vice versa.  Uh-hmm, that's right, they did it back in the days when internet (and all its "brother and sisters", and "cousins, too") was merely taking off. 

Actually, Live Aid was the concert that seemed to have come so naturally after assembling the biggest British acts of the '80s to one group called, Band Aid, just before Christmas of 1984.  The objective was to record a song,"Do they know it's Christmas?", and all proceeds from record sales was to be used to bring aid to Ethiopia, which was hard-hit by drought and economic woes resulting in widespread famine and death.  The front man of Boomtown Rats, Bob Geldof, and Midge Ure of Ultravox assembled the Brit acts to form Band Aid.  Little did they know then that such a seemingly small act of compassion would turn to a historical moment in the global music industry.  More than that, it turned the world's eyes to the dire plight of the Ethiopians... making many people in the world more conscious of the economic, political and social aspects, and even the scientific aspect, of the famine that they were suffering from.  It was, indeed, an eye-opener for the whole world... one that will change the way we view our global community.

"There's a world outside your window, and it's a world of dread and fear."

Hmmm... of course, Phil Collins had to play the drums.  It's such a natural thing to expect from the man.  But, Sting and Bono, and Boy George and George Michael together... and Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet together?  And Paul Weller and Paul Young, and Bananarama, too? You bet!  And back in the days when they're all in their glorious "big hair" days, too. :) Too good, too good!  Just beautiful.

I say, forget NATO, let's celebrate Band Aid and Live Aid instead!  And then... reality hits.  NATO is here to stay - and, indefinitely, too.  Oh, well....

So, why is this important... to me, that is?  Well, it is very important because most parts of this huge idealism that I carry around like a sack full of bricks rooted from this.  It was when I was watching the live broadcast of this concert on our worn out television that I truly understood what idealism meant!  It was when seeing how these guys who loved what they do turned their joy in doing what they do to something really useful and meaningful.  Everytime I felt lonely in my own "crusade" to make a difference in my workplace, I'd always turned to these guys.  That's how I know that what they did back then had a lasting impact.  And, this is part of the reason why I really believe the '80s was a golden decade... and I'm proud that I was a part of that generation that saw the '80s become such an unforgettable decade.

Hmmm... since I'm now in my happy place, let me make the most of it with this...

"Every little thing the Reflex does must be answered with a question mark..."

Bizarre lyrics, bizarre get up, bizarre dance moves... ah, happiness! :)  

Now, that was good.  Thanks, 'friends'!

***

Video credit:  Thanks, YouTube, for the video links.

***

Oh, gosh...

...I need a break, I'm not kidding!
===========================================================================
by PAM

Alright, I'm going to have to drop whatever it is that I'm doing right now, or I swear, I'd drop cold and dead this very second - right here, right now... wherever is 'here', I'm not even sure where!

One full week of heavy schedule, with three extremely busy ones before it... and now, this week is as grueling as the previous one.  My calendar shows another heavy schedule next week.  Just looking at it is enough to make me want to throw up from exhaustion. Oh, my!

And because I haven't even checked one fourth of my 'bucket list', I refuse to just drop dead now.  At the risk of sounding self-important, many of the things I do are quite important, I think, but none of them would warrant forgetting about my 'bucket list'.  In other words, none of these things in my schedule in front of me is worth dying for!   Therefore, I'm dropping out of it all for now.  I'm taking a break this evening... to dig through iTunes for something pleasing to the ear, and forget about work!  Dang, I owe it to myself!

So, I found this... uh, ahem, to be more precise, I looked for it, and found it. :)  Yep, it's "Drag Me Down" by One Direction.  I gotta say, it's quite easy to find, too... it's all over internetdom!

"With your love, nobody can drag me down!"

Yeah, not so bad, huh?  What is surprising is, I tried re-arranging the songs in my iTunes playlist to accommodate this song... humming, counting the beats, considering the quality of voices of the singers... and, guess what?  I found DMD between "Don't you (forget about me)" by Simple Minds and "Affair of the Heart" by Rick Springfield.  I know... I had to blink a few times, too, to check and re-check.  I tried fitting it into the Taylor Swift and 'the likes' cluster... but it just sounded odd with those songs.  Heck, it even sounded odd with the old 1D songs!   

Okay, let's see... what's with Simple Minds and Rick Springfield, anyway?  Why should it be remarkable to find one's song in between theirs?  Well, Jim Kerr, SM's lead singer, is the pop singer with the voice of a rocker dude while RS is a rocker dude with pop music followers (just because he is too 'pretty' for most rock fans to admit a liking for him).  There is some raspiness in the voices of the lads now, especially that of Harry's, quite 'delicious, I must add.  And they sing with some precision in their notes that makes the song sound surprisingly 'clean'... sound mature, and 'legit' even when the lyric is not as brilliant as those from the "British Invasion" era.  Yeah, they sound a bit serious now... and yet, the relaxed and playfulness quality is still there... especially, in the accompanying music video.  At least, they're not pretending depth.  So, I imagine, while they stop 'mature' music enthusiasts to have a listen, they still make the girlies scream in such abandon and 'religious' adoration.     

So, what does this mean, is One Direction jumping that gaping distance between pop-pop-ish music-for-the-screaming-little-girlies music and the seriously-they-sound-legit-artists music?  If they are, good on them, right?  Of course, they started as a 'money-making machine" for Simon Cowell... and, at their age then, it was kind of tragic... although, of course, I imagine, with the money they made, they could live the life of an indolent now, and will never starve.  However, even with that option, they're trying to actually make music now... and, I imagine, it isn't "walk in the park", too.  You gotta give it to the lads. To be honest, I started getting interested in the music of these lads when I heard them sing this more than a year or so ago...

"...everythin' that you ever dreamed of, disappearin' when you wake up...

...even when the night changes, it will never change me and you."

I thought they sounded good.  Naturally, I did not understand all the bashing that they get for allegedly sounding like crap.  So, I searched their old music videos and, truly, there was a big difference from how they sounded then and now.  In fact, I thought it was worth it to spend money to watch them perform live in Manila!

Legit music or not... whatever it is they make, you gotta admit, the lads are entertaining.  It's relaxing to see them perform... and to watch their music videos.  They can even be hilarious in their interviews... yeah, Brit brains, truly! :)

Oh, and, uh, I almost forgot to mention, Zayn Malik's decidedly best voice among the five lads' is no longer in the 'new' 1D music.  Hmmm... I almost did not notice, fancy that!  Then again, perhaps, that's why they sound different... even better?  Ouch!  I do not wish to anger Zayn and his fans (not that they're paying attention to my blog), but the four remaining lads' voices seem to blend with similar sharp and raspy quality about them, which Zayn's voice did not have.  Zayn's voice is soulful and as smooth as silk... beautiful, especially with the right material... and, you gotta admit, his brooding sort of personality does not blend well with the 'fun craziness' of the remaining four lads'.  And, it's nice that they seem to enjoy what they do... while Zayn would've brooded his way through the videos, looking mightily taxed... while, I imagine, it would always be heaven for the girlies to see him smile a sincerely happy, and even simply amused, smile though it all.  But, hey, you gotta do what makes you really happy... being one of the quintet, no matter how great it may sound to most, no longer thrill Zayn.  So, let's leave him alone and wish him well.  Goodness gracious, I'm speaking like a fan here! :)

Alright, this kinda got me breathing in the right rhythm now, but... I'm still taking the rest of the evening on a break - from work!  But, my goodness, what in Pete's name is this?!  It's Saturday night, why do I feel guilty for not working?  I'm doomed, I just am!

***

Video credit:  Thanks, YouTube for the video links.

***

Escape...

...a much needed one!
=======================================================================
by PAM


Uhm-hmm, yeah... the going gets tougher and tougher everyday!  There is too much 'excitement'.  As a natural consequence, work is relentless, and my brain seems to bleed from exhaustion.  You can just  imagine how the whole body might be screaming, "break, break, break... I need a break!"

More than any part of my body, my brain needs some time outside the 'pressure cooker' - to be refreshed, re-calibrated, and renewed.  And, what can be more refreshing than a trip back to "teenage days" when all we had in the beautiful world we lived in then were science fiction, fantasy and the 'middle earth', James Bond, silly romance books, and lots of '80s music?  And so, I put on my 'teenage slippers'... and took a walk down my beautiful teenage road.

There were a few interesting 'crossroads' down the path... and I bravely took one of the 'rosy' ones leading back to the future. Guess who I met as I did?  It's the Harvard-educated Regency Romance phenom, Julia Quinn!  And guess who were present in my first 'meeting' with this #1 NY Times best selling author?  Well, it's none other than the adorable Bridgerton family, of course! :)  Ha, trust JQ to bring her biggest guns to shoot you straight in the heart... as she did to me!  And, guess what... I didn't mind, not at all!

The adorable Bridgerton siblings, circa 1813 ("The Duke and I" by Julia Quinn)

(Image credit: bechedor79.  Thanks for the loan of the image.)

It's funny that I've not been one for Regency romance, even when I was past my teenage days, and yet, here I am, writing about a whole regency romance series!  Yes, I of all people, I know! :)  Oh, OK... so I confess to owning a few historical romance by Barbara Cartland when I was in my late teens... but those were 'inherited' from a relative who was a romance freak, and did not know what to do with her horde of books.  So, I took pity and helped alleviate her burden by accepting her old books.  What else can I do?  And yet, BC's stuff, at least those I read, can hardly be considered "regency romance" just the same.

For one who is trying to find a breather from the extreme pressure at work, Quinn's Bridgerton series is worth investing time on - for the witty banters that usually get extremely funny, described in a scene that puts the imagination on full throttle.  They simply lift the clouds over one's head, and allow the cheerful sun to do wonders on one's disposition.  I'd often find myself convulsing with laughter in the dark at night with my iPad... and wake up with a smile on my face the next day... the exhaustion from the previous day almost forgotten, all because of the Bridgertons.  There are wonderfully crafted characters in the series as well that lights up a 'scene' each time they appear.  One example is the extremely adorable Colin Bridgerton.  Ah, how I wish he did exist in the 'real world'!  Escapism to the max, indeed!  

The series is about the eight Bridgerton siblings: Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory and Hyacinth... yep, from eldest to youngest - named alphabetically. :) It's all about how they found the love of their lives... and how they made it work, 'cause there were challenges along the way, of course.  There were minor characters

A little sample of what goes on in Anthony's head.
(Source:  Julia Quinn's website.  Many thanks, JQ!)

who are equally adorable and funny that I liked very much: the dowager Viscountess, Lady Violet Bridgerton - the awesome mother of the Bridgertons, and their family friend, the indomitable Lady Danbury.  Both ladies were predictable as their characters are so defined... and yet, they end up surprising you each time they make an appearance in a scene that often proved to be the turning point of the story.  They did make their presence felt in the whole series.

I like all the eight books in the series, including the ninth, "The Bridgertons: Happily Ever after" (the collection of 2nd Epilogues for the first 8 books).  I read and re-read them all in six weeks as a much-needed 'escape' from daily excruciating work.  My favorite book is the first in the series, "The Duke and I", just because the Bridgerton banters were at their best, and JQ did a very good job in introducing and defining the characters, which were to bloom in the next seven books... well, eight, including "Happily Ever After".  But, I did like very much Anthony and Kate's story in "The Viscount who Loved Me".  Their story developed and ended in the most unexpected way, with many laugh-out-loud hilarious scenes, therefore, very interesting... and, in the end, compelling... even when both did not agree on anything in the beginning.  There were so many extremely funny scenes where the two sparred in wits and humor that made it impossible not to believe that Anthony and Kate were a perfect match.  And there were many, oh, so touching moments, too, that did melt the heart.  Anthony was very romantic, and it was wonderful that he did not have a clue that he was; and Kate imagined herself to be cold and too practical to be attractive, but she was adorable.  That Pall Mall game was a 'readers-only' sort of Bridgerton 'memorabilia' stuff.  Having read it made one feels like a part of a 'lofty' exclusive club. Really swell!  Ha! :)  

As for the eight Bridgertons, while I really adored Colin, I liked Anthony's character best. As the head of the mighty and hugely popular Bridgerton family, who inherited the Viscountcy at the age of 18 after the untimely death of their father, yes, he can be quite arrogant, and close to being imperious at times - especially inside his own head... but he was unselfish, responsible, and truly loved his family... not to

It's all about having powerful brothers... trust the
Bridgerton brothers to take matters into their own
hands when the reputation of any one of their sisters
might be in peril.
(Source:  Julia Quinn's website.  Many thanks, JQ!)

mention well-educated and very intelligent, and funny without even trying, especially when he lets his heart out in the open.  As for the sisters, Daphne seemed the wisest and the closest match to his older brothers in terms of strength and the ability to make sound decisions.  However, I love the sense of adventure of Eloise in "To Sir Phillip, with Love"... and her usual tenacity whenever she decided to pursue something.  She might have started with many insecurities... what with seven very charming siblings, but she rose above her own insecurities and took charge of her life.  It was hard not to applaud her in the end.  It did help that Anthony and she had "that talk" to help her navigate the complex workings of her own mind, of course.  I really enjoyed "that talk"... I loved Anthony even more after that.  It's almost as heart-warming as the scene when he and Daphne had a brother-sister bonding in "The Duke and I" as they drank cold milk in the middle of the night while Daphne tried to figure out how he felt for Simon... and that "talk" Anthony's had with Simon ("the Duke") himself when he was helping to patch things up between the Duke and Daphne when the two met a sticky situation in their marriage. Come to think of it, there were many heart-warming Bridgerton moments in the eight books where Anthony was at the center of it all.  It just went to show how he really cared about his family, and how he took the happiness of each of them to heart even when he outwardly tried to be severe and 'preachy'.  As Simon himself thought, 'Anthony had responsibilities Simon had never even dreamed of.  He had brothers to guide, sisters to protect.  Simon had a dukedom, but Anthony had a family'.    

While Hyacinth's character was "overdeveloped", I think, throughout the first six books - and she just completely "growled" fiercely in "It's in His Kiss" (her book) - it's a pity that Benedict's was not as developed in the first two books.  He was not even a participant in the Pall Mall game in the second book.  Therefore, I read (and re-read, I must confess) "An Offer from a Gentleman" (Benedict and Sophie's story) with such ferocity and voracity to discover more about Benedict.  As it turned out, he's the silent type but with a depth of character that simply takes one's breath away.  He was passionate of his convictions and

A little bit of mystery, some enchantment and fun...
...a lot of love - the kind that lasts a lifetime.
(Source:  Julia Quinn's website.  Many thanks, JQ!)

devotion to the people he loved, albeit silly at times, and shallow when left unchecked; he was dependable and kind... and I loved it that his mother thought him to resemble their late father (Viscount Edmund Bridgerton) the closest, and that he, too, will make a very good father in her opinion.  And Sophie, the wonderful woman who stole his heart in their "Cinderella story", brought out the best in him... aided some by his own mother... and, at times, by his own sisters.  It makes one realize how unselfish Benedict was, just leaving the rein of leading their huge family to Anthony rather than competing with him for attention and leadership.  He tried to find his place in the world silently and unassumingly instead.  As it turned out, he was a talented artist.  In the end, he lived the life of a quite withdrawn but renowned artist, content and happy with his wife and family in the peace and quiet life in the country... while still maintaining the air of a mighty Bridgerton about him.

There were so many good things about the Bridgerton series, but the very best is the love and familial loyalty that bind the Bridgertons together.  They were a TEAM... and a formidable one at that!  It was always heartwarming when they all come together to rescue one of the family members in times of peril... even imagined ones. And this is probably the attraction of the Bridgertons to me... it's all about family... and love, of course... and lots and lots of laughter!  Indeed, reading the series is one unforgettable experience.

Alright... work 'calls', I'm going to have to end here.  Make no mistake though, I should like to talk about the Bridgertons again - sooner than later.  Yes, that's how extremely stressed out I am these days.  Thanks, Julian Quinn, for the respite - you're my hero! :)

Oh, and Happy Valentine's Day to all, by the way! :)

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