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!

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

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QOTD #19: Small folks dealing with towering challenges...

...and winning, too!
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by PAM

"Saruman believes that it is only great power that can hold evil in check.  That is not what I found.  I found that it is the small things, everyday deeds of ordinary folk, that keeps the darkness at bay.  Simple acts of kindness and love.  

 "Why Bilbo Baggins?  Perhaps it is because I am afraid, and he gives me courage."

        - Gandalf the Grey
          "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"

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I had one of the most disappointing and spirit-crushing days today.  :(  Many positive things to rejoice for, but people chose to emphasize the one negative point in the order of the day, which I didn't have much control over - yet - as they very well know.  Oh, well....

I resolve not to dwell in negativity, and focus on the good things instead.  For instance, I have a great Team.  We have accomplished so many positive things in so short a time.  I will focus on that... and keep doing our best to  accomplish the big tasks in front of us, bringing more positive feelings to people who matter to us.  Those who cannot handle what we handle... we'll let them drown in the pool of their own negative thoughts, but we'll remember to keep throwing them sweet pieces of understanding just because none of them can fathom the incredible magnitude of challenges that we have to deal with every single day!  We are luckier... because we are stretched to our limit.  And, in the process, we get to know what we are capable of - especially in the most difficult times! 

We will keep marching forward... one step at a time - filling our energy and inspiration tanks with the 'simple acts of kindness and love' by those who matter to us.  And, I will draw strength and courage from my great Team... and their 'simple acts of kindness and love'.  So help us God!

"Do not be afraid...  you are not alone."

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

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Saturday photo

For the habit of giving... via "The Hobbit".
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by PAM

"The Hobbit for the Habit of Giving"
a fundraising activity of the Student Brothers of the Dominican Province of the Philippines.

"Far over the misty mountains cold

To dungeons deep and caverns old

We must away, ere break of day,

To find our long-forgotten gold."

Yep, we're all set!  We have our Dominican Studentate statement t-shirts.  And we have our tickets for the special screening of the much-awaited film by the award-winning director from New Zealand, Peter Jackson, based on J. R. R. Tolkien's novel of the same title, "The Hobbit".  

This first installment of Jackson's three-part film adaptation of the Tolkien novel, is entitled "An Unexpected Journey".  It is the account of the adventures of Bilbo Baggins of The Shire - a delightful character from one of Tolkien's best works, "The Lord of the Rings" (LOTR) - that led to 'the One Ring to rule the others' finding its way to The Shire.  Jackson also made the Tolkien epic fantasy trilogy that is LOTR into a massive film trilogy, each part was a worldwide mega-hit, both in the box office and in the Awards circuits. This thrilled all the avid fans of Tolkien and his works, especially LOTR. I remember catching the comics version of the book as a child, and later watching the cartoon adaptation of the trilogy on TV.  The last installment in the 2001-2003 film trilogy, "LOTR: The Return of the King", won Jackson the coveted Best Director award in the 2004 Oscars, among many others.    

Proceeds of this Dominican fundraising activity will be used for the Student Brothers' apostolic endeavors.  Those who are interested in supporting this activity may call Br. Jayson R. Gonzales, O. P. at (+63917) 833-0583.  Dominican and Thomasian geeks, UNITE!  December 13, 2012, 7:00 PM... see you all soon!  :)  

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Playtime...

...with "The Hobbit"!
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by PAM


My name is Philip, it's been 28 hours since I last 'set foot on the ground' - like 'normal' human beings do.  Of course, there was that four-hour sleep... but that doesn't count as an interruption in my current state of being, just because I dreamt about 'backpulsing' bacteria, retained by 0.45 micron-pore size microfilter from some tropical beverage under refrigerated temperature and about a hundred kPa of transmembrane pressure in a cross-flow membrane module, using either carbon dioxide or compressed air.  Geez, don't I know it! Sleep should be 'off-limits' - anything work-related not allowed. But, yeah, I've been floating, stuck on this Membrane Technology 'cloud', trying very hard to prevent my energy level and my capacity for logic from going 'flat line'... especially that a menacing 'deadline' is staring me down like a true bad, bad, BAAAD one-eye bandit! And there's a huge que of intimidating deadlines behind it, too.  Therefore, I'm holding my breath as I try to work, work... and work some more!  

But... I cannot take this anymore!  I need a break!  Therefore, playtime!  ;)

And what better way to spend a break from this mind-numbing work - on a weekend, mind you - than with some "Middle-Earth delight"?  Some awesomeness from the genius mind of J.R.R. Tolkien + some lushness of creativity from the richly imaginative mind of Peter Jackson + stratospheric budget that I'd duel a mean Uruk-hai for (a la Aragorn) to get for my research project (o, ya! ha!)... and look at what we've got here...   

For over the misty mountains cold/ To dungeons deep and caverns old/

We must away, ere break of day,/ To find our long-forgotten gold.

..."The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"!  Oy, epic!  And, it's snickering its way to us in hurried little steps with no signs of stopping.    Then again, imagine if it stopped!  It's rolling, rolling now in thunderous promise of adventure... and we can't hide our excitement!  Our precious... "long-forgotten gold".  Oy, December, why can't you come any sooner??

"O! Tra-la-la-lally/ here down the valley! O! Tril-lil-lil-lolly/the valley is jolly!"  Oh, yah, Bilbo Baggins is young again... and so is Gandalf, our fave wizard!  Therefore, y'all, Middle-Earthlings... unite!  Bring out your worn-out paperbacks and review.  Prepare for our next "World Convention"... coming soon in theaters worldwide!  Boy, I can't wait!

Riiiing....  Alright, that's all the time I have... back to "the cloud"!  Ugh!  Oh, well....

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