QOTD

 QOTD #30:  When reality strikes... and it takes you by surprise.

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by PAM

 

"...and since I am currently one of the women sitting home thinking, 'if I could only find a man like Aragorn', he picked me.

- Lorelai Gilmore, "Gilmore Girls" S4:E22 

I wasn't thinking of posting anything here today... or in the next few days, or maybe weeks.  I have planned to spend my 'free time' just getting back to healthy state and just forgetting about work, or anything that requires an effort to not be the introvert that I truly am - regardless whether the reason for getting out of my 'introvert cocoon' is a family matter, friends matter or what have you.  I planned of locking myself inside my own little introverted world and resume

binge-watching "Gilmore Girls" (GG) on Netflix... and ignore the (ignorable) fact that there is a whole wide world out there... a teeny tiny part of which is curious whether I am still alive or have ceased existing altogether.  

And then GG S4:E22 came on - an episode where Lorelai was contemplating dating her long-time dependable and permanent ('cause nothing much in Lorelai's life is permanent, except the love between her and her daughter, Rory) friend, Luke Danes.  In the previous episode, Lorelai and Luke attended Luke's sister's wedding... and they 'oddly' hit it off as they danced at the reception... and after Luke realized in the middle of listening to a self-help audio book that at every important point in his life (good or bad) in the last (almost) two decades, there has always been that one person he would like to share it with - Lorelai.  Hence, the odd feeling of being together at the wedding, and saying goodbye afterwards at Lorelai's doorstep... which did not escape Lorelai. So, in E22, she was dissecting the situation with Rory... trying to determine whether Luke would really like to date her, or just taking pity on her newly single self (again) after her last relationship ended abruptly due to 'family complications', which is almost always the case for Lorelai's lovelife.

Ah... that caught your attention, didn't it?  Lovelife!   You think I'd be talking about my own lovelife here.  Well, I am sorry to disappoint but I do not have a lovelife, at least, not the romantic kind that you might be expecting... and therefore, there is nothing of the sort to talk about here.  That's the reality, my reality.  It's a good reality, too, and I'm happy.  So, deal and move on!

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Thinking of Aragorn in a universe parallel with Lorelai Gilmore's

What caught my attention in GG S4:E22 is Lorelai's mention of Aragorn from the "Lord of the Rings" (LOTR).  I've seen this scene before... but it still caught me by surprise.  I blame my current (and, perhaps, forever) 'single blessedness' to him, Aragorn.  He is so dashing, brave, intelligent, incredible leader, and just about perfect, especially as portrayed by Viggo Mortensen in the series of films by Peter Jackson. That 'Aragorn speech' at the Black Gate in "LOTR: The Return of the King" (LOTR:TROTK) alone, and the courage he showed to make good his speech all throughout the film series, especially in that monumental Battle of Helm's Deep in "LOTR: Two Towers", and in the books by J.R.R. Tolkien, will forever haunt me, and will always be the standard on which men should be measured... in my book.

"Hold your ground, hold your ground... this day we fight!"

So, if this scene from LOTR:TROTK made many women in this world, including the fictitious Lorelai Gilmore, to expect even the smallest hint of perfection in men, can you blame them?  Can you blame us?  Still speechless in amazement?  Uhm, yeah... that's what I thought!    

Alright, back to GG... and the thoughts of Aragorn. Oy!  

Ciao!

***

Video Credit:  Thanks, Youtube, for the video link.

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Enduring the flu...

 ...again! Ugh!

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by PAM

And here we go again... down with the flu. Man... insane.  

And as flu caught me alone in my second home, I have no

A sick person's meal, prepared by the sick person.

choice but to tend to myself.  I have been cooking my meals even when I feel like I am unable to lift the spatula.  I know I could just order food... but that's a lot of wrappers and wrappers and packaging and packaging, layer after layer - too much waste, I can't bare it... especially after enduring that 'parade of typhoons' that hit the Philippines over the last few weeks.  No, thank you.  It is time to take action and contribute in mitigating climate change... no matter how small the contribution is, it is still a step towards the right direction.  So, yeah, I'll do my best to cook.  So far, I am able to manage... without aggravating my health condition... I think... uhm, I hope! 😅 The effort is real, and the hunger that builds up while cooking progressed so very (very) slowly is like Smaug himself waiting to devour Bilbo Baggins!

One of the things that I really, really hate about coming down with the flu is that flu usually goes with a sore throat.  And if one had been terribly abusive of one's health (hence, the flu in the first place), the sore throat can be so terrible that it goes with a 'shut-off vocal cords'.  Air is blocked completely from creating sound waves... one can't make the smallest of sound no matter how hard one tries to scream.  It is totally frustrating that I just want to stuff my mouth with food to compensate... but swallowing is a labor, too.  So, yeah... did I mention frustrating?  'Cause it is! 

***

The voiceless pain

Feverish, mightily uncomfortable from body ache and painful throat, dizzy and weak, watery eyes and no voice... that's me today.  And I am very, very frustrated. 😞  As I write this post this very moment, I am binge-watching one of my ultimate favorite TV shows, the "Gilmore Girls" (GG) series, because I have been so bored staring at the ceiling in my bed. And I am extremely frustrated that I am unable to sing along with the show's theme song, "Where you Lead" by the brilliant Carole King (CK).  

🎶"I always wanted a real home with flowers in the window sill.

Well, if you wanna live in Stars Hollow, baby, you know I will...

Where you lead, I will follow, anywhere that you tell me to...."🎶

I do enjoy singing the theme song. In fact, for hardcore Stars Hollow fans, it is one of the highlights of watching GG.  Every episode begins with some sort of an overview of what the next 45 minutes will be about... and then just when you are about to say, "huh? What?  Whaaat??", the theme song rolls in, and you know you are, indeed, at the right place.  So, you cozy up with a bucket of popcorn on your lap, and all other concerns in life far, far away from your mind.  Every episode also ends with some sort of an "aaaww" or an "oh, nooo" moment that made us want to speed up the week back in the early 2000s in order to see the next episode.  These days, with Netflix stringing the episodes per season in a binge-worthy array, the "aaawww" or "oh, no" moment is followed real fast by the "whaaaat" moment.  And something has to relieve a fan from such heightened emotion.  I guess I do not have to emphasize that the relief comes from the theme song.  A moment when one's sanity says bye-bye momentarily as one sings along with the fabulous CK while watching highlights of the show.  

So, imagine how painful it is for an avid GG fan like myself when he/she is unable to get the smallest of sound to sing along with CK - argh, torture!     

***

The sweetness of working from home

As I mentioned before, I have been appreciating my new surroundings in my second home, close to my new primary workplace.  I have been realizing in the past days as I work from home

Through the sheer curtain at the window,
it seems that something is 'on fire' outside.
But it is just the sunset... in its glorious beauty.

that wherever I sit to work in my new home, I see the very green sceneries outside through the 'countless' windows we have.  I have been complaining to my sister that I have no blank walls to hang paintings and pictures, and there are very few spaces where I can park my favorite art pieces.  These days, I am beginning to accept... and appreciate the big windows that allow me to see my green surroundings.  At the moment, that relieves my painful and watery eyes, and I'm grateful.  The small lanai by the side of the house, or the small backyard, allows me to soak in the healing warmth of sunrise.  Also, in many places where I can sit to work in the afternoon while I eat snacks before taking medicine (again), I have a view of the lovely sunset in this part of the world... and enjoying the sunset is one of my 'guilty pleasures'.  I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to enjoy these things... even if what afforded me to enjoy them is a health issue.  There is always something good in any of our experiences.  Sometimes the goodness is an immediate outcome that we can enjoy, other times, we need to dig deep to discover it.  And the greatest gift is experiencing goodness without having to dig too deep.  These days, I appreciate that enjoying sunrise and/or sunset does not require digging deep. So, again, I am grateful.

My 'voiceless pain'... or 'painful voicelessness' is kind of taken over by the sweetness of working from home... even when the reason for working from home is the 'voiceless pain'.  And yes, I am grateful. Indeed, I am.

If you have gotten this far, uhm... I am so sorry but did I just waste three minutes of your life?  I did?  I knew it!  I am extra-incoherent today.  But, hey, I am grateful... to you for enduring my incoherence.  I appreciate you.   

***
Image credit:  The photos in this post are mine.  I took them, they belong to me.

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Friday night is music night...

 ...not!

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by PAM

Friday night is normally 'music night' for me.  Uhm, not that anything in my life's schedule is 'normal'.  I usually spend Friday night listening to my favorite songs and discover new ones... except that all my Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube premium accounts are dedicated to Jungkook's music.  That has been the 'norm' for almost a year now when "Still with you" and "My you" came out in July last year.   So I am just letting JK own all my accounts... except when his hyungs release new singles or albums.  In those cases, I kind of let the hyungs 'borrow' one or two of the accounts in support to and to show appreciation of their efforts.  I am still an ARMY - the authentic kind.  The kind that cares about all seven guys but with a 'bias'... and a 'bias wrecker' (or 'wreckers', to be accurate, in my case).  Obviously, JK is my bias... although he's never been 'wrecked' really, just 'co-biased' every now and then.

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Friday night, movie night

Anyway, this evening is not about music... it's about movies this time.  

It's been a very busy, challenging... and exciting week for me - all rolled into one short week.  Seriously, I need more days in a week!  As darkness crept in, the day got drenched in a late afternoon heavy rain that is becoming more and more a 'regular' thing as we approach the 'wet season' in this tropical country of ours.  Too tired to mind all the attention-seeking events of the early evening, including my endlessly beeping phone as it notifies me with this and that, I fell asleep after praying my favorite prayer: the Angelus.

I awoke just before 9:00 pm, and I felt so much better.  Rather than going back to work, I decided to just call the night a 'me time'.  JK's voice still fills my house... but, rather than watching his music videos, I decided to watch a movie instead.  I scanned and scanned Netflix and my YouTube subscription... so many 'serious' films, but I paid them no attention.  About five years ago or so, I decided that my days of watching, analyzing and getting emotional talking about  serious films are over!   No more 'intellectual' films for me... I just want entertainment because, anyway, which film can top the "Godfather" series, "Love Story", "The Way We Were", "Good Will Hunting", and the likes?  Of course, all variants of the Avengers, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings and Star Trek films, and the likes are exception.  Not to say that the movies I watch these days are shallow... I just want straight-forward message, no pretensions and trying-(too)-hard-to-be-deep scripts... and no 'artsy-wannabe' either... to pass the time while getting much needed relaxation and updates on 'pop culture'.  I still rave over a number of films, of course... but if it's more than one-and-a-half hour film... I'd think twice.  This is why, these days, I go for TV movies.

There are films that are as short as TV movies but as substantial as my old faves.  I found one of these gems this evening, and I am so happy!  The film is entitled, "Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong" (ATHK), and it's absolutely brilliant!

"You took a chance, and you went for it.

You never have to look back and wonder 'what if'."

ATHK is a nine-year-old film.  It stars the fabulous Jamie Chung as the LA-based Chinese-American Ruby Lin, and the brilliant but so underrated, Bryan Greenberg as that "Expat" in Hong Kong, Josh Rosenberg, from New York. I love both Chung and Greenberg... and they portrayed their roles in the film so brilliantly.  

The plot is simple enough... just a case of "right person, wrong time":  two people meeting unexpectedly and connecting so wonderfully in the chaos of Hong Kong nightlife.  You rejoice at how they just hit it off so naturally... except that one of them is involved with someone else.  It's like seeing two people enjoying each other's company who are perfectly matched with each other... in wit, in sense of humor, in values and views of the world.  They were strangers, and yet, they managed to uplift each other's spirit, and brought confidence when there was doubt.  You'd wish that, after that evening when they first met, they'd meet again in the future... and have a chance to be together.  And when they did meet later after a year, it didn't feel forced and fairy-tale-ish.  The chemistry between them is so strong... it felt as if they were really meant for each other even when the impediments in their becoming a couple were still there, and even more complex this time.  Perhaps, it's because Chung and Greenberg are a real couple... and they made the film just before they got married.  The chemistry between them just colored the entire film, and it's nothing else but lovely!  

The script is fantastic in that it seems simple and straight-forward enough.  It feels like eavesdropping in the engaging conversation of soulmates (if there is such a thing) who found each other one fine evening when the stars aligned.  The way the two actors brought life to every word with their body language, every glance, every stare, every smile, their tone when they speak... every pause, every small hesitation, every discreet sigh of masked disappointment, every expression of fascination that is pure joy but restrained by a touch of sophistication and the desire for propriety, every playful banter... ahhh, it's too beautiful, I loved it!

The film sets the scenario in which a tug-o-war between what feels right and so natural, and what feels unjust for the people the lead characters are committed to, was central to the story. "Emotional cheating" was a thing in the film.  The way the actors showed restrain in fully giving in to the natural course where life seems to take them, and the overpowering longing of being together just because it feels so right was awesome.  In the end, they let the viewers decide the ending... and it's brilliant!

Have you already seen this film?  Not yet?  Intrigue?  Good!  Go watch... I promise you won't regret it.     

***

Video credit:  The owner is indicated in the video itself.  Thanks, YouTube, for the video link.   

A 'personal tradition' ...

 ...as life goes full circle.

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by PAM

I think that I already established the fact of my 'shallowness' in happiness.  Simple little things make me happy... the simpler, the bigger the happiness.

Six years ago, 2017, on the same day as today, June 27, I found this wonderfully heartwarming TV movie by Hallmark Movies and Mysteries.  It is titled "Christmas with Holly", and it starred one of my fave Hallmark actors of all time, Sean Faris, who played the character of Mark Nagle, and that versatile actress, Eloise Mumford, who portrayed Maggie. The movie came out in 2012 as a 'Hallmark Hall of Fame' movie but I only got to discover it on YouTube in 2017 while recuperating from a terribly  'jealous of a flu'.  For some reason, that seemingly simple TV movie had an incredible impact on me, and I began watching it every year on the same day that I found it on YouTube.  I never talked about this favorite 'personal tradition' of mine though... until today.

Mark:  "I didn't know anything about raising a kid.

She said you just start

by loving her.

The rest will follow."

It's amazing that, after six years, I still found the movie engaging, touching, beautiful... magical!   

To me, that long-haired Sean Faris in the movie is still one of the prettiest men in the universe, from whichever angle you look at him... uhm, including his back. 🤭😅😂  He also did well portraying Mark - the single guy who lived in Friday Harbor that became an instant Dad when his elder sister, Victoria, who was a single Mom was killed in a vehicular accident in Seattle. He had to stand in as parent for his orphaned niece because he was listed as legal guardian by his sister.  I still think that the twin child actresses (well, child then, that is), Lucy and Josie Gallina, who played the role of six-year old Holly - Mark's niece, were superb.  They conveyed so much emotion even without speaking a single word - amazing acting there! The same is true with the actors who played the role of Mark's brothers, Scott (Dana Watkins) and Alex (Daniel Eric Gold).  It wasn't exactly that Hallmark 'formulaic' TV movie as it did have a wonderful story line that deviated a bit (or, a lot?) from the Hallmark 'cookie cutter' of movie production, and it's great.  This is probably because it was based on the novel, "Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor" by Lisa Kleypas. It is the first book in the Friday Harbor four-book series of the New York Times bestseller author. 

The movie counterpart had all the 'cuteness Hallmark armada': grown-up brothers who all lived in a huge dilapidated house by the water who bantered so comically on a daily basis because that was their way of preventing a deluge of love for each other lest they embarrass each other if they showed emotion; a beautifully vulnerable woman, Maggie, whose heartbreaks made her believe that she wasn't as amazing as she was... until a very good-looking guy with a heart of gold, Mark, came along to give her back her faith in herself by letting her show him how to find his own confidence in himself in raising this child who was thrown off by fate and was groping around, looking for true love to hold on to that only he can give; the cutest of all little girls who was so emotionally broken but spiritually whole because of true and unwavering love from his uncle; and a dog that knows what it wants and knows how to get it!  Simple plot, simple scenes, no deep intellectual points to ponder, no pretentions... uhm, yeah... I know, I've mellowed... and I love it!   

These days, it amazes me that one of my favorite BTS songs, "Magic Shop", which was partly produced by Jungkook, has an almost the same name as the toy shop owned by Maggie,

Magic Mirror Toy Shop. The new shop that Maggie built in Friday Harbor was pivotal in the story because that was where Holly found her inner strength to speak again after her Mom's death confused her so badly it afflicted her with temporary muteness.  She just shut down, and only trusted her uncle Mark, and later, her two other uncles.  When Mark and Holly met Maggie at the ferry, on their way to Friday Harbor from Holly's home in Seattle, Holly seemed to have opened up to Maggie.  It was a slow process of gaining trust and giving trust between Maggie and Holly... until that day when Holly fully gave her trust to Maggie... and to life itself again. Holly spoke again, and her first word was her mother's name, 'Victoria'. The safe and magical environment that Maggie created in her toy shop that encouraged Holly to hold on to the love she was offered was quite similar to the 'magic shop' of BTS for their ARMY... and it's amazing! 

Indeed, this is all that we need in life... nah, not magic. It's love.  It is central to the story... love in many forms... but in whichever form, love's effect is the same - beauty and happiness in life - in all forms.

So, yeah... this is a sweet tradition that I intend to keep for the rest of my life.  

***

Video credit:  Thanks, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, for the video and photos.  Thanks, YouTube, for the video links.

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QOTD

 QOTD #29: The simple little things in which we find joy... and a lot of 'cheese'.

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by PAM

"...small things are the big things. The good things only happen from all the hundreds of  tiny steps you take along the way."

- David (Tyler Hynes), "It was always you" (A Hallmark movie)

Can you keep a secret? I have a confession to make. Ah, uhm... I'm a Hallmark TV movies junkie! Shhh... don't tell.  Haha... 

Of course, I always appreciate beautifully produced full-length 'Oscar-worthy' cinematic films, especially those that are superbly directed and edited; and with excellent cinematography and musical scoring, too. Sometimes though, especially when I'm dealing with complex matters, mind-boggling films are simply not appealing.  I just want to be entertained with some light, feel-good, wholesome, uncomplicated and family-oriented 'bite-size' movies that takes my mind away from complexities. And that's what Hallmark usually offers... and they have tons of movies to choose from, albeit formulaic and very predictable.  In that pile of 'cookie cutter' movies, there are a good number that are worth watching and re-watching with deliberate plan to enjoy rather than just to mindlessly decompress.

While I 'seasonally' like sappy movies, I remain to be that 'tough little cookie' who wears that engineer's hat underneath the big Higher Education admin hat that's humbly decorated with a passionate teacher's tiny golden apples and a (wannabe) scientist's magnifying glass. There is always room for 'simple little things' that bring enormous joy in a world where people expect you to be constantly busy thinking deeply, critically and analytically. *eye roll* Haha...  In fact, I make room for simple little things in my own life... no matter what! So, whenever time allows, and especially during holidays, my favorite thing to do is to curl up in the big chair in my bedroom with a bag of chips, a bowl of hot chunky salsa dip and a tumbler of soda... and go on a Hallmark movies marathon like there's no tomorrow!  And when the situation chooses to be stingy with personal downtime, I wrestle it to make time!  

I particularly love the heart-warming Christmas themed Hallmark TV movies that revolve around family and loved ones.  I have soft spot for those that involved cute and smart kids, and/or pets, especially dogs.  I love how Hallmark movies show that nuggets of beautiful lessons in life can be picked up from these movies without the disturbing images of violence, sex, and the lust for material things... or some 'so called documentary' of a royal family's lives from the perspective of one (supposedly) love-stricken 'royal' who refuses to grow up, tirelessly tries to invade everyone's universe while (supposedly) begging for privacy because wailing on media is so much easier and obviously more lucrative than doing actual work. *sigh*  As to how one tries to heal from mental health issues by publicly humiliating and inflicting pain to one's own family members - incredibly mean and hypocritical, and I imagine, effectively burns all bridges - is terribly confusing for me. But I digress... back to wholesome Hallmark movies!  Haha... I know, I'm too 'old-fashioned'... but I do enjoy the peace of mind that being 'old-fashioned' brings. So, old-fashioned is good for me.

I have many Hallmark TV movie favorites.  Some are really old, and mostly the inspiring and tear-jerker kind... and I've watched them like five times each! And I cried each time! Hahaha... I do have one relatively newer fave that came out in 2021 - "It was always you". It stars the fabulous Hallmark 'heavy weight', Erin Krakow (Elizabeth, or Lizzy), and the always-fascinating, Tyler Hynes (the globe-trotting David).  With two of the most reliable crowd-drawer stars of Hallmark collaborating, I knew it's going to be great.  And, nope, they did not disappoint because, as usual, they both did a beautiful job! 

Erin made Elizabeth to be this funnily conflicted highly organized predictable dentist who has a deeply guarded 'adventurous side' that wants to explore the world. Her predictable Elizabeth side fits well with George (David's eldest brother who is a dentist, too), a childhood friend with whom she was engaged. Her adventurous Lizzy side, which is the one she really prefers and what makes most of herself, fits with a 'zing' with David - another childhood friend with whom she had a 'cat-dog' relationship since they were kids. A bridge mishap that cut-off George from their island town left Elizabeth to be stuck with David to tick-off her wedding plans checklist. Their new-found closeness empowered Elizabeth to muster the courage to let her true self come to the surface, and to be true to the desires of her heart.

To make the not-so-long a story short, Elizabeth broke off her engagement with George, and set out to fulfill a childhood dream to travel the world with the hope of 'rediscovering herself' and finding out what she truly wanted, one tiny step at a time, before following a meticulously 'planned' life that strictly adheres to checklists and stern focus on her dentistry practice just like George. She came back home, resolved to follow her heart, and that led her, one tiny step at a time, to David. 

It turned out that David has been pining for Elizabeth since the day he discovered her written travel wishes and lists in between the pages of a travel book in his family library when they were 13 years old. It was this that inspired his globe-trotting adventures later. He then wrote a note for Elizabeth, expressing his affection for her, and his hope to travel with her to the places that she wished to see. He put the note between the pages of another travel book.  He hoped she'd find it but Elizabeth never did until he showed her much later when they met again upon her return from her one-year travels.  Romance bloomed... you know the rest.  

This made David's family happy as they saw from the very beginning the 'zing' between Elizabeth and David even in their teenage days when they can't seem to get along.  On the other hand, George discovered 'zing' with a co-worker that he always had a soft spot for because of shared values and passion for their profession.

Tyler's David was hilarious, adorable... and extremely charming even when he tries to be annoying. He has that effortless good looks and easy acting talent - so relaxed and natural - to pull off the combination of adjectives that befit a perfect Hallmark romcom hero, too. I like Tyler a lot. I love the characters he played in every Hallmark movie that I saw him portray.  Five of the more recent ones are his remarkable team up with Lacey Chabert in "Winter in Vail" and "Sweet Carolina", the very deliciously emotional "Time for him to come home for Christmas", and the hilarious "An Unexpected Christmas" and "Three wise men and a baby".   He has such a commanding presence on screen. He either appears to have that man's man aura about him that positively fits every damsel-in-distress' vision of a knight-in-shinning-armor, a moody and distant fellow but with a heart of gold appeal, or simply, that guy that treats a woman as his equal and challenges her to discover her many strengths in a no-nonsense, humorous and supportive way without being patronizing.

Erin's own engaging acting talents and picture-perfect cuteness fit so well with Tyler's. She has grown so well to be that highly effective actress - from lots of practice in "When Calls the Heart" for sure. She can be funny, awful, funnily awful, moving, the sweetest thing... she's just captivating.

Tyler and Erin's acting timing together was always perfect in this movie, and with just the right amount of seriousness, humor and, of course, romance. It's so adorable how they banter relentlessly only to warm up to each other, one tiny step at a time, in the end - everytime.  Their screen chemistry is fantastic, too. They didn't have to try hard to make falling in love with each other so believable. And the gorgeous location of the movie adds to the sweet atmosphere that's made for falling in love.  In the end, I was fretting that the movie was too short!

So, if you are looking for uncomplicated entertainment that makes you laugh, teary-eyed... and can provide you with your fix of falling giggly in love, this movie is highly recommended. You'll find yourself 'grinning that silly grin' without knowing it - promise. Go for it!

"...you can't force 'zing', and you can't deny it when it's there..."

***

Image credit: All photos featured in this post were screenshots from watching the featured Hallmark movie. Thanks, Hallmark.

Video credit:  The video featured in this post belongs to Hallmark Channel.  Thanks, YouTube, for the video link.

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Not a fan of K-Drama...

...but I am making exceptions.
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by PAM

I've always been clear, and annoyingly so for some probably... and sorry, I'm not sorry: I am not a fan of Korean Drama or Korean Telenovela, or simply "K-Drama".  I know that I probably should.... Uhm, nah, I know there is no 'should', not even when paired with 'probably', and that it is okay that I am not trying to be a fan. I really dislike the "tutti-frutti" appeal, and all things cutesy and dreamy... and heavily made-up faces of men that confuse the eye because they are prettier than their female counterparts that it's not fair, and I cannot stand it. And there's very few girls/women in K-Drama that can match the

Capt. Ri Jeong Hyeok who got me, oh, so hooked!

beauty of their male counterparts, and it's annoying.  I know, I am such a snub, I feel like smacking myself... but, whatever!  I am not a fan. Period.

And then along came Hyun Bin... the 2017 and up version of Hyun Bin, that is.  All of a sudden, K-Drama is happening in my boring and bored... life, or, uhm, non-life. 😯

I first saw him in Crash Landing On You (CLOY) last March as this stoic and man-of-few-words Captain in the North Korean Special Police Force, Capt. Ri Jeong Hyeok. His usually calm aura, easy gentleman stance and expressionless face were the things that got me curious in CLOY, especially because of those to-die-for dimples that lights up his face without even trying. Hoy! 😍😅 He made me pay attention. And, before I knew it, I was actually paying attention... to the story, and the interesting characters in the drama, especially Capt. Ri, needless to say! 🙊😁  And then, I got hooked... and then, I got so, so hooked! 😅😊 And then, I got desperately hooked, whipped... hopeless, helpless... aargh! 😂  And you know what, I did not resist it... I gave in to the pull, and enjoyed, uhm... the heck of it!

*To be continued... hyperventilating, whew!*

***

Photo credit:  The photo is not mine, but grabbed in the internet - thanks to the owner.

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Sunday night, movie night...

...and just about right!
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by PAM

Okay... so I am officially an 'old lady'!  Hooray! 😉🎉

I used to pass the time, or take a break from work, scanning clothes or shoe stores, or scanning songs in record stores, or checking out new restos, or adding to my Precious Moments collection. Lately, however, I'd rather just stay being cozy in bed. I feel tired... exhausted, even! 😫 I simply do not have the energy to do the things that I used to do... I've become really boring and 'uninterested' because all my braincells seem to be overloaded with concerns... that aren't even my personal concerns! I feel like I'm living the proverbial "spinster's life"! 😐I'm not in the stroking-the-head-of-cat-while-in-my-pajamas phase yet, I must say, but that's only because I am a... dog person. 😂

So, in bed, I stay this Sunday night. But then, I may have become boring but not completely so, that staring at the ceiling still drives me insane.  So, I had to do something without pushing my braincells to overheat!  Solution: movies!  The feel-good ones... naturally, Hallmark movies come to mind.  And, boy, am I lucky... 'cause I found one that really warmed the heart.  The movie was "The Last Bridesmaid", and it starred the talented and lovely, Rachel Boston as Becca, and Paul Campbell as Kyle.  It's a very well-acted TV movie.  The editing was good, too - short and snappy, but it seemed long enough to have that natural development of character, and the natural blooming of feelings between the two leading characters. Or, I guess the actors were just very good, especially Boston.

"Or, if you spend all your energy looking for something so specific,
you might not recognize it (love) when it arrives." 

The story was simple.  Becca, the 10-time bridesmaid-never-the-bride gal, was set to inherit a thriving Accounting firm from her retiring parents who built it from scratch.  With her focus and determination, everybody thought she fits the bill perfectly... until she met this wedding videographer of an inspired and inspirational artist, Kyle.  They were a very unlikely pair, until the kind and optimistic Becca, empowered by Kyle, found herself boldly letting her love and natural talent for jewelry designing and making come through through all those layers upon layers of Accounting Firm owner forced coat.  The naturally talented film maker, Kyle, in turn was positively influenced by Becca to allow his film making genius shine forth. It was a lovely movie... it wasn't an "Out of Africa" sort of a film, but it was enough to make being lazy in bed worthwhile.  I enjoyed Boston's Becca... her fashion sense, pretty face and stance, and her projection of this composed lady under pressure.

Sweet... but too short!  Therefore, a second movie is in order!  

I luckily found another one by just clicking here and there, and I am glad. The movie is called "Hearts of Spring", starring the talented Lisa Whelchel as Carly - single mother, florist and a Mom blogger, and the versatile, Michael Shanks as Andy - single father, pediatrician and an accidental blog nuisance to Carly.  What caught me the first time was what Carly said about flowers, in which she quoted Ralph Waldo Emerson, "the earth laughs in flowers".

Andy (Dad) to Troy (son):  "When did you get so smart?"

Carly (Mom) to Sadie (daughter):  "You've grown up to be an incredible person,

and a really great friend."

At about 1:20:00, my tears were flowing non-stop. And, it's a 'Mom-and-Pop' sort of a movie... a TV movie, too, at that!  Didn't I say 'old lady'?  And so, it's been perfect!  I saw in the movie what I am experiencing now... that you can learn many very good things from  young people - if you just open your mind - and heart, too - to what they have to say and what they wish to share on matters that involve them in the first place.  Sometimes, when you are open enough to accepting the validity - and wisdom - of their experiential learning, it might just add to your own learning as well, making you a better person.  

I may not be a parent to fully understand what the movie was trying to impart to parents out there, but I can relate based on what I have been experiencing with 'my kids' at School.  Those beautiful kids who make learning - about life - to be such a wonderful experience for me - addictive even... that I keep thirsting for more. 

So, yeah... we do not have to always struggle for sophistication in the things that we do and prefer.  We just have to know what we are looking for... or, at least, open to what life has to offer, and believe that every single life's 'package' that comes our way has a value... we just have to keep scratching the surface, and work our way down to the heart of it, until the heart reveals that grain of an invaluable gem of a message that can enable us to continuously transcend ourselves until we become what God has willed for us to be.

My rating:  If you have time to spare, these movies are worth your every minute.

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Video credit:  Thanks, YouTube, for the links to the movies.

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"Maybe we'll learn to be kind."

"Noah"... a film for the Holy Week.

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by PAM

It took five years before I finally mustered the will to watch this two-hour saga of a film from 2014.  I wanted to see it when it was first shown, but the moment I learned about how grim and dark it was, both in storyline and film making techniques, from film critics reviews, I retreated.  I was not ready yet those past years to taint the Holy Week memories I had as a little child with my siblings and our deceased mother, huddled in our little sala, eating home-cooked merienda - mother's concoctions - watching biblical films,

The epic saga that was anything but...
...uhm, biblical?

such as "Noah's Ark", "Jesus of Nazareth" and other children's films, such as those depicting the lives of children saints in Lourdes and in Fatima who witnessed the apparition of the Virgin Mary. I was not ready to blemish those memories with a grim film that could ruin Holy Week traditions for me.

This year, it's been different.  I am trying to decide on something big... and I have been torn between love... and mighty annoyance (hahaha...); several years of inspired service that is begging to be continued until the 'time is right' to pass on the baton to God's chosen successor vs. a barren do-as-you're-told situation, in which I am coerced to abandon dreams and aspirations as a leader and follow instructions without much thinking - for the sake of uniformity just because one believes that uniformity is achieving order, and order leads to success; and sealing a meaningful legacy with a 'sweet kiss', so to speak vs. resuming an 'old affair' with intellectually stimulating pursuits that grow irresistible by the day because of a potentially life-changing experience that will benefit many... plus it leaves time for the self and loved ones.  Yes, it is truly tough... and it is, indeed, requiring deep contemplation.  And yet, it isn't up to me... it all depends on God's plans.  I am a mere servant, and so, I submit myself fully and completely to His will - as before, as now... as always. 

As such, I needed another perspective... while I actively pursued our usual family Holy Week tradition and practice, I thought I'd mix it up with something else - watching a Holy Week-themed film.  And I thought of "Noah" - the film by Darren Aronofsky that starred the fine, fine actor, Russell Crowe in the title role, with Jennifer Connelly (Naameh), Emma Watson (Ila), Ray Winstone (Tubal-Cain), Logan Lerman (as Ham), Douglas Booth (as Shem), Leo McHugh Carroll (as Japheth), and the brilliant Anthony Hopkins (as Methuselah).  But, I was wrong... I did not find utter enlightenment in the film.  I should have listened to film critics, religious and evangelists.  It was a lovely film, yes... if it did not claim anything related to the The Creation in the bible, that is.  The critics, and even Aronofsky himself, are correct - it was the 'least biblical' film there was!  I thought it was merely seeking to make a statement about taking care of planet earth, which was once destroyed because of man's folly, and was made to thrive again by 'The Creator', as referred to in the film, in a 'second chance' covenant sealed with a rainbow.

And yet, the film had its moments.  I particularly like the conversation between Naameh and Methuselah, in which Methuselah justified the impending destruction of all, including Noah's decision to make sure that the existence of man ceases with his family as the last men to live, as part of his obedience to the will of 'The Creator'.  The world must be given a second chance to flourish without the wickedness of man, Noah thought, and which 

Duty vs. love... what is greater? 
Why can't it be duty AND love?  Can they be one and the same?

Methuselah supported.  Therefore, Noah and Naameh's two other sons - Ham and Japeth, must not seek wives to reproduce; and that Shem, who was with Ila, must not be allowed to reproduce either.  Naameh was incredulous.  She said, "I can't believe that's true.  Not when I look at my sons.  All they desire is love.  Isn't that all their hearts need to be good?"

When Ham was visibly distraught for losing the girl he meant to make his wife, and whose death Noah allowed, adhering to his belief that man's existence must cease, Noah explained to Ham, "I'm very sorry about that girl.  And I am sorry for you.  But we have been entrusted with a task much greater than our own desires."  

Father and mother... we see the contrast in this case.  The mother seeks what will and can make her brood happy and good while the father remains steadfast in obedience and adherence to duties - no matter the consequence.  Ah, how we must all be wishing that duty and love are one and the same!

But I do think that the highlight of the film was the conversation between Ila and Noah, when Noah explained why he did not kill the twin daughters of Ila and Shem even when he believed before their birth that he was duty-bound to do so, "I looked down at those two little girls, and all I had in my heart was love."  And so, there it is... duty vs. love, love won!  But with 'The Creator' allowing Noah's decision to keep the twin girls alive, He must

"...it begins again with you."

have meant duty AND love can be one and the same, too.  It was a beautiful moment in the film... and a beautiful realization for the audience... well, at least, this audience.

The treasure of the film poured out in that scene, and it continued to pour out when, after Noah humbly admitted his failure to obey God by allowing Ila's twin girls to live, "I failed Him", he said; and Ila said, "Did you?  He chose you for a reason, Noah.  He showed you the wickedness of man and knew you would not look away.  But then, you saw goodness, too.  The choice was put in your hands because he put it there.  He asked you to decide if we were worth saving.  And you chose mercy.  You chose love."

Ah, there it is... my clue! 

And yet, the biggest moral of the film, I think, is what the emotionally tortured son, Ham, said to Ila as he bid her farewell, leaving the family to live on his own. "For all it's worth," he said, "I'm glad that it begins again with you. Maybe we'll learn to be kind."

So, yes, no matter what we decide to do in this life... we can't go wrong by going for, and going with kindness - true kindness, not self-righteousness or quickness to judge without truly knowing and clearly understanding, or worse, deciding that one's self is kinder than the rest without 'looking in the mirror' first.  True kindness... goodness from the heart that bears positive outcome that is love... and not merely for show nor feeding the ego by being widely liked and being popular.

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Image credits:  All mages above were borrowed from Rotten Tomatoes - thank you.

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Tuesday night movie...

...because the night calls for mindless entertainment.
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by PAM

The last five days have been quite a 'roller coaster ride', wherein health kept getting in the way in getting things done... and it was impossible to avoid annoying individuals who refuse to be team players because their personal agenda is bigger than the Institution's thrust. And what is worst is that when you try to pull them back on track, they 'yelp' loudly and play the 'victim'... and just like that, they divide the Team - the Team built for a long time with tears, joy and common vision... thriving in camaraderie and love.  While

Smiling in optimism regardless of odds.

it is true that the strength of a true Team should not be undermined by one annoying individual, when one's agenda is venomous enough, one strike can 'kill'!  And so, it's been a very toxic five days.

There were saving graces, so many of them, actually, thank goodness! I do love the commitment, and the innocent and sincere thirst for knowledge of my undergraduate students, especially my research students.  They cling to their vision of contributing something substantial to the body of knowledge in our area of research, and they maintain optimism as they look forward for this contribution to be making positive impact on the lives of farmers and other workers in the grassroots.  Yes, they subscribe to the wisdom of bringing Science & Technology to the grassroots... and it simply is inspiring to experience their dedication, optimism and unwavering perseverance no matter how challenging their circumstances are, and no matter how the odds seem to be against them most of the time.  Ah, to be young, idealistic and pure of heart - essential in a beautiful and rewarding life!

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See a feel-good movie, and feel truly good 

But, yes, the staggering 'ups and downs' of the past five days have been emotionally taxing, no matter how huge the happiness dosage that my students provide.  Therefore, time to whip up some mindless entertainment to rid the thoughts of negative elements. So, I went for my trusty feel-good Hallmark TV Movies, and I found this...

"Manhattan is the best, but you gotta manage it.

Move faster, push harder, talk louder.  It's the survival of the fittest here... 

You're cool, Ohio. Just remember, just be yourself." 

The tv movie is called, "Summer in the City", and it stars two actors that I'm not too familiar of: Julianna Guill (Taylor Morgan) and Marc Bendavid (Philip Bartell), with support from the trusty actress, Vivica A. Fox (Alyssa Stone).  Taylor is this talented and smart gal from a small town in Ohio with a lovely personality.  She dreamt of becoming a big player in the fashion industry of New York City (NYC).  While she waited for that dream to become a reality, she worked in a women's clothes store in her town... until this NYC high fashion store owner, Alyssa, walked in.  Impressed by the apparent 'fashion psychic' in Taylor, Alyssa offered her to become the manager of her NYC store, A Line.  Hoping to expand her business, Alyssa pinned her hopes on Taylor to come up with a 'game changing' plan to bring in more customers and investors to A Line.  It was all going good... so much so that Taylor's honest and lovely 'small town' Ohio gal personality was not only winning new customers but also won the attention of Philip, a young realtor who was set to inherit his family's business... although his heart was somewhere else: to own a chain of food trucks, with a menu of his own creations. Being both kind and of lovely personalities, the two clicked right away, encouraging one another to pursue each other's dreams.  It was all going good until Taylor had a falling out with Alyssa, and she decided to go back to Ohio.

After realizing how Taylor was right in her assessment of A Line, and how it should move forward - carrying Alyssa's own designs - Alyssa went to Ohio to offer Taylor partnership in A Line.  Later, with encouragement from Philip, Taylor proposed a business plan to Alyssa that made the latter drop a pending big money agreement with an investor that was about to completely change A Line from a high fashion icon to a store of mass produced cheap clothes but with huge return of investment. Alyssa favored Taylor's proposal over the investor's, and they both work towards the attainment of their common goal.  With Alyssa's encouragement, Taylor sought Philip to admit her feelings for him and accept Philip's offer to bring their relationship to the next level.  She didn't find him in the Realty Office.  Disappointed, she turned away... only to be stopped by a call from the driver of a food truck - Philip!  And they lived happily ever after.

Hmmm... it was a simple feel-good movie, but it was special in that it was well-acted.  The characters are very good people with real concerns, making one realize that one can be in challenging situations and still retain good nature and kindness - a lesson for me, actually.  Taylor's looks, voice and kindness also reminded me of a very good friend of mine back in my days in Cornell University, Julia Fritsch from Brazil... who even have similar name as Julianna!  So, it inspired very good and warm memories... I love it, if only for that!

The verdict:  Instead of being idle and broody, go for it... it'll be worth your while.

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

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Saturday photo

Lorelai and Rory:
The calm before the storm... as history takes aim at repeating itself.

It's amazing how life sometimes takes a 'sharp turn', takes you by surprise as it does... and then stuns you with a gentle force that wakes you up from your deep slumber in blind acceptance of what you believe is your fate in the confines of your dwindling self-worth. And life does shake you up with what it has in store for you... just waiting at the corner.  And then you feel the caking blanket of acceptance that's enveloping you like a cemented cocoon cracks, and gently falls off, one little dried chip of cemented complacency at a time.  Slowly, you feel that you are able to breathe comfortably again, and the relief is astonishing! And you can't believe how long you have been holding your breath, waiting to exhale.  As the dried cake continues to fall off, you slowly hear, and feel, your heart beat again.  And you feel suddenly alive - again!

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That familiar sound of witty banter

I had this wonderful chance of re-living the early 2000s - thanks to Netflix, where my pop culture memory is dominated by that epic of a TV series, Gilmore Girls.  It's the only thing that can eclipse the memory of the 'changing of guards' in the tennis world, also in the early 2000s, as Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi were being edged off by that genius Swiss Maestro, Roger Federer, whose brilliance is only challenged by that 17-year-old force of nature from Spain, Rafael Nadal.  Gilmore Girls was one heck of a TV series!  The witty banters - episode after episode, were unparalleled; and the mix of drama and humor is nothing else but a stroke of rare perfection that one would think it was penned from heaven itself!  

In a way, watching the mother-daughter tandem of the single mother, Lorelai Gilmore (Lauren Graham), and her only daughter, Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel), whom she had at the age of seventeen years, unleash their unparalleled wit in brilliant banters was very much like watching tennis.  It was always as if the players were engaged in an exciting rally that, in the end, it didn't really matter who won the point because you were entertained tremendously anyway!  You just felt lucky to see the ball being 'battered' in relentless effort from the players to never allow it to bounce out of the court.  Add to the two young Gilmore girls Lorelai's mother, Emily Gilmore (Kelly Bishop), whose ability to win an argument, even when she was always fighting a lost cause, was outstanding... and, yes, bewildering at the same time, and you got yourself a real treat!  Add to the mix, the snotty concierge at Lorelai's Independence Inn, and later, Dragonfly Inn, Michel Gerard (Yanic Truesdale), and you've got yourself a popcorn-worthy, slumber party TV marathon material -  complete with Mickey Mouse socks!  The banter-filled script was superb - in every single episode!  And yet, what good is a great script if the actors cannot keep the ball flying, and leave the audience either open-mouthed in awe... or bursting at the seams in convulsed laughter?  I say, the casting was a work of a genius, too.

Anyway, after a "hell" of a week, and the week before, too... with only a couple of hours of sleep each night - maximum - it is, indeed, an incredible gift to re-discover an old fave!  I'm in love again! 

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Wake up call... from the girls

But what made the time with my fave TV girls fantastic was the fact that they led me to a glorious epiphany!

I've been dragging myself from one week to the next, struggling to fuel myself with enough inspiration to keep going... trying to convince myself every single morning, when I wake up, that the struggle, while painful, is worth it!  It is a good thing that I have these beautiful kids that I love to bits who give me enough reason to keep smarting off from the painful struggle, giving meaning to what I do in my workplace - every single day.  Whenever I begin wishing to be anywhere else but in my workplace, I think of them... and the thought that they might just be outside my Office, and seeing me not giving my 100% scares me because I never ever want to be a bad example to them.  And, so I gather whatever little scraps of inspiration I can find, and move the day to productivity.  With prayers - lots of it, and the good people around me, I always manage to have a satisfying day... never mind that, some people see us in my Office as their workhorses that they can kick around to perform stuff for them.  Indeed, people can be very demanding and incredibly arrogant like that sometimes!

And yet, it makes me think... why do I feel that what I do, while important and meaningful, and my Team and I were able to accomplish unprecedented things in the history of our Institution, is becoming more and more of a burden rather than a joy?  Perhaps, with all the varied challenges we face, the bulk of work has become physically impossible to perform without enough assistance.  So, the joy that I used to get from reflecting over our work vanished because there hardly is time to pause and rest these days, leaving a time for reflection to be next to absolute impossibility! 

Speaking of reflection, almost a decade after the end of the original series, a sequel to the original Gilmore Girls was distributed by Netflix, "Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life".  It was a four-part mini series that updated fans with the whereabouts and goings-on in the lives of our fave girls.  It was surprising to find out that the now 35-year-old Rory, while a success in Yale, was hopping from one 'gig' of a job to another.  And she was without her own place.  Her love relationships were messy, too!  And, while she struggled to put her life together, with the transitions in the lives of Lorelai and Emily in the background, it led me to my own reflection, too. 

I was going to do great things after Cornell!  I believe... I did, too.  At least, that's what the facts and numbers in my workplace say.  And, yet, I do not feel like I have fully utilized the 'tanks and tanks' of knowledge and experience that Cornell loaded me with while I was with them... just like Rory was nurtured to do great things by Yale during her time there.

And now, I am 'restless'... the 'tanks' are about to 'explode' on their own, they want to be 'opened and emptied'... because they want a 're-fill'... perhaps, in another Ivy League Institution, or its equivalent somewhere else.  In the last installment of the four-part sequel of Gilmore Girls, Rory decided to work on her own 'tanks'... had an epiphany on the 'best place' to do so, and she dropped everything to get there!  Once there, 'greatness' just poured out in beautiful waves of delectable brilliance... and the result is bound to become a masterpiece.  So, all was well again for Rory!

I desperately need to be in my own 'best place' to open my 'tanks', 'empty' them... and 're-fill', too.  And that is the reason why what I do has become a burden, it is preventing me from getting to where I should go.  And yet, I understand that my realities are not as simple as Rory's scripted life.  Therefore, I continue to pray.

At the very end of the Gilmore Girl's sequel, just when you think that all is well, Rory revealed a secret to Lorelai that was bound to make history repeat itself. I do not have such kind of secret. Uh, wait... maybe I do have, too?! ;)

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Image credit:  The photo was a mobile phone shot from the 4th episode of the Gilmore Girls sequel - thanks, Netflix.

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