So long, February 2013...

...may our paths never 'cross' again.  You were too tough!  Whew!
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by PAM

"I should get some sleep because tomorrow might be good for somethin'...."


Ups and downs, laughter and tears, victories and defeats, love and disappointments ... yep, 'crazy' month.  February was exactly that for me this year... or, perhaps, Feb is just a 'little unwell'?  Uhm, yeah, maybe that.  Whatever it was, it was tough, tough, tough!  Even 'moments of victory' had to be won in tough 'contests'... mostly contests between work barking at me annoyingly like a mad dog and personal welfare begging for my attention.  'Madness' almost always won... but ya know, it doesn't matter now 'cause it's finally over! 

Farewell, February 2013....

"I think that my head is cavin' in...don't just stand there,
say nice things to me 'cause I've been cheated, I've been wronged.  
...I wanna push you around.  I wanna take you for granted... well, I will."

...you were cruel and gentle at the same crazy time, you crazy month.  But thanks for the lessons learned, Feb 2013.  I feel that they changed me - in a lot of ways, good ways.  I enjoyed the challenges that brought out some very fine moments of wisdom and strength of character behind this façade of fragile temperament... the hearty laughter that forged new friendships and strengthened old ones, and the priceless moments of affirmation that, hey, I do have a good life!  Priceless, indeed!

But, yeah, ya may go now, Feb... but I know that soon enough I'm gonna think of you... and how you used to be. :)

***

Alright, perhaps, a 'bonus video' is in order.  So, how 'bout this...

"I believe I have the strength to carry on... now it's up to me what will be."

***

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

***

Life is good....

...and beautiful, and colorful, and as fragrant as a fresh flower.
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by PAM

The perks of being a 'spiritual parent' to many kindred souls...

Tough times call for tough measures... therefore, bring on life's irresistible beauty to chase away all the ugliness around! That kind of beauty given with such thoughtfulness by really nice people, those who are destined to make a difference in this world someday... Thomasian Engineers all!

Thanks, guys!  You turned an ugly day to a really beautiful one. :)
***

Break!

Right now!
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by PAM

I need help... I'm drowning in a sea of heavy workload - and on a weekend, too!  :(  I need a break... an outlet to let-off some steam. The pressure is too much, I feel like my brain is about to burst out of my skull anytime. Does anyone have a hardhat to spare? ;)  

Anyway, yesterday I gave a Talk to our graduating students in the ChemE Department.  While I enjoyed giving the Talk, it grudgingly necessitated reminiscin' the good old days in good old Grad School... Cornell, basically.  It brought back warm memories, very good ones, happy ones... and it felt so good. However, it also brought back to the surface some 'what-could've-beens', a few 'what-ifs', a little regret, and some feeling of vindication.  Mixed feelings...  mixed emotions... and yet, I do believe with all my heart that everything happens for a reason - very good reason.  I know that, in time, I'd find out what the reason is for the mixed feelings I'm feeling right now, and I'm sure it will make so much sense. Therefore, I resolve to keep movin' on, and keep enjoyin' this journey... whenever possible, and as much as possible.  

In the meantime, I just want to take a break.  There has to be a song to match this 'inner chaos'. Wait...  'match'?  Right!  Hmmm..... So, how 'bout I take a break with this...

"If you see me out, you don't know me.  Try to turn your head.  Try to give

me some room... to figure out just what I'm going to do."

"... and everyone here knows that everyone here is thinking 'bout somebody else."  Really?  Uh, yeah, ya bet!  It's "Back 2 Good" by Matchbox Twenty... back in the days when Rob Thomas was just all about singing his thoughts and baring his soul through his music - in raw and naked truthfulness and honesty.  But, as his wonderful musicality deepened over the years, he became 'too serious' with sounds, rhythm and the impeccability of notes in his songs.  I prefer the irresistible charm of his 'imperfect rhythm', blended beautifully with the honesty of his soul, and his brand of 'let-lose' sort of emotional gnarling singing... how 'bout you?  Uh, yeah, 'you'!  :)

***

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

***

Saturday photo

by PAM

Faith + Perseverance + Brilliance = A Dream Realized

Speaking of "Fields of gold", the kind that joyfully sparkle with brilliance... I had a chance to walk in one again today - yep, I'm that lucky!  Not sure if I deserve it though.  ;)

It all started with a little dream... Serj (Serjan Abalos), Nica (Angelica Francisco) and Sarah (Sarah Alyssa Cruz) were dreaming to represent the University in a prestigious research contest, like the amazing alumni of our research lab did last year.  Their work was on the production and physico-chemical characterization of yogurt made from heat-treated carabao's milk with adjusted whey protein-to-casein ratio.  They worked very hard... even on weekends and holidays.  Their faith - in God, in themselves, and in one another - grew stronger each day as they persevered through all the 'good-data' and 'bad-data' days, and it made them believe that they can do it.  I am fortunate to have seen their transformation from curious-kids-with-a-dream to humble-little-experts-in-the-making in that little lab of ours... and it's incredible! 

About two weeks ago, their prayer was answered... they got qualified in the Championship Round of the "Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers National Undergraduate Research Contest 2013"!  Unfortunately, pressing demands from work prevented me from experiencing the joy of seeing their final transformation to young experts, first hand, as they presented the results of their research work to a national audience. :(  But it felt wonderful to receive the news that their hard work paid off.  They bagged the first runner-up trophy in a fierce competition!  I almost flipped with happiness when I learned about it! All the sacrifices, missed weekends, and exhaustive struggles to get the job done were so worth it. I hope that this experience would be a source of inspiration for them, and a source of strength and faith when they finally venture in the 'real world' and face some tough challenges.

Ah, the perks of being in the Academe - so many priceless moments! :)  Yep, I'm one very proud research mentor and thesis adviser! :)  Woohoo!

Congratulations, guys!  Good job! 

***

Fields of Gold...

...I'm walking in one right now!
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by PAM


It's been a really incredible week-and-a-half... lots of hardwork and heavy 'weight lifting'.  It was extremely tiring, but was all worth it because the results were too awesome!  Lots of overwhelming moments of little triumphs here and there, tons of sweet bonding moments with people you didn't think you could get along with, loads of amazing discoveries, an overflow of renewed commitment and affection, a rich sprinkling of strange feelings and odd situations but amazingly nice just the same, mesmerizing beauty of friendship, faith and hope.  Lots of love in the air... for each other, for the Institution that sustains our sense of community and friendship, and for the one God that makes all this beauty and sense of appreciation possible.  

Yep, very, very nice days, indeed!  So much to celebrate for... so many, many incredible gifts from up above!  Therefore, we celebrate with something suitable... something extravagantly beautiful, soothing, and deeply touching...      

"Will you stay with me, will you be my love?

...I never made promises lightly.  And there have been some that I've broken.

But I swear in the days still left, we'll walk in the fields of gold."

"Fields of gold" by Sting... one of my favorite songs.  Beautiful words and beautiful music, put together by one beautiful man (*sigh*) - Sting, of course. :)  It's even nicer when you listen to it with earphones, hearing nothing else but the rhythm created by the bass (played by Sting himself) and some drums, the mesmerizing guitar playing, and Sting's beautifully accented singing. 

Oy!  Life is good... challenging, but good!  Thank you, Lord!

***

The celebration ain't complete without some 'rounded beauty'...  and I swear, I need to kick something round around, too, just to dissipate some energy.  My belly is on fire, I feel like I'm spittin' some anytime. :)  Therefore, time for some footie beauty via UEFA Champions League... bring on Milan vs. Barça!  Oy, oy, oy! 

***

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

***

Happy V-day!



Happy Valentine's Day!

And because V-day is all about corny, cheesy (or, is it chocolatey?) and... uh, romance, here's one for the hopeless romantic...

"No, it's not my imagination... I'm the king and you're the queen of hearts."

Oy!  Here's to cheesiness! 

Cheers!  :)

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

***

Inspire me, February...

...will ya?  Please?
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by PAM



And so, another month begins... wouldn't you know it?  Because February is "love month", let's begin our February posts with a celebration of 'the one love' that heals...

"Lord, I know that your love is healing..."

There is too much hurt in this world of ours.  So much so that one can end up covered with wounds and bruises, if one was not careful.  Those wounds and bruises that merely mar the skin are the easiest to handle... but those that violate the heart, or break the spirit are the most dangerous kind... they can cause illness - the kind that acelerates into the "acute stage" in no time, and then traverses the threshold of bearable pain to an extreme case of hatred, which puts out the light of wisdom in our minds, takes away the soothing spring of hope in our hearts, and puts out the beautiful song of trust in friendship that delightfully surrounds us.  And then, we become empty, un-inspired... we lose our passion in what we do, we lose the spiritual fervor that allows us to see the point in commitment.  In fact, we begin to cease seeing reasons, until we see nothing at all... as hatred blinds us, paralyzes us, leaving us unable to feel. 

And so, when we experience pain, it is wise to immediately seek for healing, for hope, for friendship... for God's love.

And, maybe, it helps not to take ourselves too seriously... to keep reminding ourselves that we are 'work in progress' and that we're, actually, not all that great...

"People say that I'm amazing, I'm strong beyond my years...

...they don't know that I come running home when I fall down,
...'cause deep inside this armor, the warrior is a child."

Wouldn't it be great to have a place to 'come home to' when we fall down?  A place that welcomes us when we need to rest, to help us win time's sympathy and heal all wounds and bruises from a gruelling 'battle'... like an ailing child nurtured to wellness by a loving father or mother?  Yes, we could have that anytime... if only we could learn to keep the immaculate innocence of a child's heart... the hopefulness and the delightful cheerfulness of a trusting child... and the wisdom and commitment of a dependable grown up. Yes, we could be in that place anytime - within ourselves - if we could only be in God's loving heart.

Ah, February, you have (so much) work to do.  I hope you're up to it... 'cause imagine if you're not.

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

Escape...

...let me, will ya?
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by PAM


I have a few more minutes of 'freedom'... from work!  Yep, I've become a prisoner... how sad!  But I want to take advantage of this weekend freedom.  To escape... that's what I would love to do right now.  Too many "grown up's concerns"... that children, pretending to be grown ups, or childish grown ups, ignored in the past.  And now, these gnarling concerns tower in front of us, threatening to collapse and crush us all below... and my inside is beginning to melt - from utter exhaustion, trying to will that tower to be still until we got on gear.  I know, there is a way to stop the tower of dire concerns from collapsing... and making it vanish in the end, but it's a lot of work.  Nah, not afraid of work... I'm just afraid of my own human frailty and mortality... 'cause, while my spirit is resilient, I am 'breakable', ya know.

So, let me escape for a while, with this...

"What in the world is this feeling, catch a breath, and leave me reeling? 

It'll get you in the end... tell me, why is it I'm digging your scene?"


..."Digging Your Scene" by The Blow Monkeys.  It's appropriate for me right now, 'cause I'm diggin' someone else's scene now... I wish I was somewhere else, doin' something else - something more fun and less stressful, something I know I'd enjoy.  I wish I was interviewing Tennis's iron man, Novak Djokovic, about how it felt like to be winning the Aussie Open - three times in a row, and against one of the 'Big Four' in each occasion.  Just a couple of hours ago, he dismissed the much improved and much tougher GB's #1, Andy Murray, in a 6(2)-7, 7-6(3), 6-3, 6-2 demolition job in Melbourne.  It's his fourth Aussie Open overall, and his sixth Major Title.  Wouldn't it be nice to be watching him play his hilarious "Djoker side" the morning after winning in a historic fashion?  Ah, I can imagine - sweet!   Yep, I'm that shallow... then again, if shallow was happy, then I'd gladly be shallow. 

So, thanks to The Blow Monkeys for giving me the carpet, on which to fly away, to escape the 'grown-up world' and dream of living in shallowness.  I know they look a bit, uhm, weird... but,  ah, don't they sound good?  C'mon, admit it - they do!  :)  A delicious way to escape... to the '80s.

Here's another one from the Blow Monkeys, "It doesn't have to be this way"...

"You've only got yourself to blame for playing the game....

And they just take all hope away, and I just can't see the sense... and my mind's a haze.

But, you know, it doesn't have to be that way!"

... nice, eh?  Man, if only these 'childish grown-ups' listen to music more... then there won't be misery in this world of ours!  There's just too much wisdom in music... more than enough, actually.  Then again, I guess, it depends on what music we listen to.

Alright, that's enough 'shallowness'... back to (boring) reality: sleep (a little) and get back to (lots of) work (again).  Man, I'm so looking forward to summer break... and, ahem, retirement! ;)

***

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

***

Oy, heart attack... break!

Oy, oy, oy!
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by PAM


Here's a classic from Melbourne...

It's getting a bit too hot in Melbourne now... Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray just negotiated a 36-shot rally in the third set, which Djoker won.  The World #1 and #3 are trying to settle the dispute over the major silverware in the Aussie Open Men's Singles Championship.  The two players winning one set a piece, with no break of serve so far.  Djoker is looking to break Andy's serve to surge ahead.  The intensity is too much, I need a break!

Therefore, music please!  This is a job for Aztec Camera...

"The one thing that's understood is that you can't buy time...
...all you've got to be is true."

..."Somewhere in my Heart" from one of my fave '80s bands, to calm things down a bit. Deep breath... one, two, three....

Alright, back to the game.....

***

Huh? Aussie Open 2013...

...what do you mean, you're almost over?
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by PAM


Just a few days ago... well, at least, that's how it seems, a High School classmate was so generously offering to treat me to the Aussie Open, the first Grand Slam of the new Tennis season.  My classmate was fanning me with
The Tennis Superstars were 'Nickolodeoned'.
(Photo credit: Graham Denholm/Getty Images)tickets to the men's single semi-finals and the men's single final at the Rod Laver Arena.  "All you have to do," the classmate admonished, "is to stop being boring, make the time, and get on that plane!"   

"Make the time", sure... I wish it's that simple.  I know I'm a big fan of Star Trek, and that's one of my fave topics: making time when something is important enough.  The fact that I have not seen a single match - live - not one, nah-ah, in the Aussie Open 2013 confirms that, sadly, Sports is taking the back seat in my 2013 agenda. :(  I'm not sure if I could stand by that tall order... 'cause it's like asking your lungs to make the most out of 'rationed oxygen'.  But a few things have become more important than, say, the great desire to find out whether Roger Federer would shed tears - again - this year, or to find out if this would be the year when he would actually lose his Swiss cool and smash his racquet in the Marat Safin ultimate mental breakdown fashion.  Or, is this the year when Maria Sharapova would find the volume dial to her throat, which seemed to be synchronized with the movement of
Winners: Viktoria Azarenka and Li Na.
(Photo credit: Scott Barbour/Getty Images)her right wrist?  Apparently, Li Na cannot stand the noise either (well, her husband's mere snoring disturbs her) that she found it in her to silence the leggy Russian in their semi-final match with a straight-sets win.  Ah, relief... for our ears, thanks, Li Na!  Unfortunately, for the powerful Chinese lady, she could not find the right touch and will her bones to stop from breaking so she could silence the 'other noisy' woman on the court, Viktoria Azarenka.  The #1 in the world, Vika, became the least favorite woman by the 2013 Aussie Open crowd after her controversial win over the rising American tennis teenage star, Sloane Stephens - the same girl whose brilliance caused Serena Williams to lose it, and go on spontaneous combustion - on court... again. The win by VA over SS was described by many as undeserved... and I can't argue with that.  Nevertheless, VA went on to snatch the Championship cup - for the second time in a row, despite being walloped by Li Na in the first set.  Too bad for the Chinese lady... and us, who are not all that amused by VA's rough manners on court, not to mention, weird fashion sense. 

Don't get me wrong though... it isn't like I wasn't following the event.  I saw parts of the Federer-Tsonga QF match as I rushed through breakfast a few days back to catch a 9 AM - 12 PM meeting, and it took the heart of me a little, to watch RF finding the true Champion's touch to stop
Roger Federer @ 31: genius, elegance and grace in pink.
(Photo credit: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)the gritty Frenchman from advancing to the semis.  That's as good as the final for me as far as RF is concerned.  I also saw some parts of the Djokovic-Ferrer semi-final match (on replay, of course).  And, while I was wow-ing and awesome-ing through the beautiful shots from the Djoker racquet, my heart completely bled for the admirable Spaniard who is #5 in the World, David Ferrer, trying to equal Djoker and trying to fill-in the Rafael Nadal shoes in the 'Big Four', but coming up short... too short, actually.  I was especially ouch-ing for DF when he tried to return that baseline powershot from the Djoker racquet, but couldn't jump high enough to catch the ball.  Oh, boy... tough!  And, I dizzied myself to sleep through the (replay of) Federer-Murray semi-final match.  RF was cursing... hah!  Mental breakdown?  Nah... just weird officiating that ought to be questioned, really.  But, that was the first time that these two ran the distance in a Grand Slam:  fiver-setter.  Man, RF still has it in him at 31 to challenge these younger players in the 'Big Four' with iron abs and biceps - awesome!  Oh, and loving the baby pink trimmings of his gear and baby pink shoe laces - too cute. :)

Hmm... how will I maintain my status as a 'card-carrying' tennis fan, when I have not seen any match - live - in the Aussie Open this year?  I'm fearing disbarment from the 'federation of tennis geeks'!  Tsk!   :(  Oh, well....  Fortunately, YouTube is there to the rescue... while it's
Iron men: Novak Djokovic & Andy Murray, who's tougher?
(Photo credit: Julian Finney/Getty Images)not as exciting to watch the replay as the live match (and what is Sports if you take away that sort of nail-biting, nerve wracking excitement?), at least you don't feel left out when your fellow tennis geeks are passionately discussing how incredible it is that Caroline Wozniacki had miraculously held on until the fourth round!  Yeah, imagine that!  :)

Well, it would be exciting to see if, finally, Andy Murray, would find the true 'Brit grit' a la James Bond under a 'licensed-to-kill' sort of a tennis hero mission, as he did in the London Summer Games, and whip the butt of Novak Djokovic to finally earn the right to raise the Normal Brookes Challenge Cup above his head!  Now, this one, I'm going to have make the time for.  I'm really curious to see if they could match the incredible Nofael Djodal iron men match-up last year in Melbourne... and I want to follow - as it happens, live!  With the gruelling grind I had to go through last week and the week before that, I deserve this much! 

Therefore, sorry, work... you are taking the backseat within the next few hours.  Besides, it's weekend for cryin' out loud!  Alright, work, scoot over - now! 

Oy, oy, oy, Aussie, Aussie, oy, oy, oy!  :)

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