'Royally mental'...

...and it's awesome!

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by PAM

"It's okay to suffer as long as you talk about it - it's not a weakness."

Prince Harry hosts a BBQ for @heads_together with sports stars to talk mental health. Here's what they had to say...https://t.co/nQhrLKwI4t

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) July 25, 2016

It's really good that someone of 'royal stature' like Prince Harry (and even the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge) are not afraid to speak about about mental health, and how their own mental health is also vulnerable to being compromised by untoward experiences - like all of us.  It is excellent that, with Prince Harry's 'princely crusade on mental health, there is now greater awareness and interest in it because this is one aspect of human health that is often neglected, and even ignored altogether. And this is odd because, in many cases, crippling physical pains can be manifestations of poor mental health.

These days, we have students who were star students in High School, and they go through College showing less than stellar performance.  And, it makes me wonder all the time why this is.  You ask them about it, and they just give you a shrug of disinterest... or avoid the question altogether.  They suffer silently... and their performance in the University is

On his mother's death, H said, "you know, I really regret
not ever talking about it."

compromised, when they should be having the time of their lives, transitioning from kids with big dreams to responsible and capable adults - well-shaped by their education.  They shy away from talking about their ordeals, allowing these to gnaw at their minds, and their mental health suffers... their insecurities taking up a great space in their minds, and the little part that's free from insecurities are used in figuring out ways to dodge situations that would expose their insecurities.  Their whole mental energy is exhausted by this fruitless cycle.  With their mental health compromised, they fail to progress in their studies... and their insecurities grow even bigger and more crippling.  In the end, their personalities are altered - for the worst, and their future, adversely affected.  The failure just keeps mounting, one on top of another.

Sometimes though, I ask myself, was that their failure... or ours?

It's great that Prince Harry lends his royal star power to shed light on this issue... encourage young and old people alike to come out of their shell and speak up, speak out... talk about their issues, and unload their minds from their troubles.  Free their minds from the weight of fear of being judged, self-doubt and uncertainties; allow their minds to breathe and gain health... in order for the cloud to lift, and for them to have a clear vision of themselves in the future, and allow this vision to guide them as they move forward... enjoying life, as they do!

Aaww, H, you're such a true princely hero! :) 

***
Photo credit:  The photos were grabbed from the BBC video - thanks. Also, embedded is the tweet from @KensingtonRoyal - thanks.

*** 

Friday night music...

...just because.
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by PAM

Whoa!  I know I need a little something to sooth the soul as 'good old' stomach flu struck again, and it's physically painful. In other words, I need to listen to some music to dull the pain.  And, since my iPod is busted - clearly, I don't recall what life was before these 'enslaving i-stuffs' came to be - and there's nothing remotely close to even a merely "passable" music for me on the radio at this point, then I have no choice but to ring in good old reliable YouTube!  

Look what I found... 

@FLOTUS: "I felt the spirit!"

...it was something more than just music.  It was a horde of a laugh, and some reason for admiration, too! :) The First Lady of the United States of America, Michelle Obama, no less, hamming it out with 'the James' in Carpool Karaoke! And, Missy Elliot joined in as well to spike up the attitude. That worked, too.

I saw that episode of The Late, late Night with James Corden earlier this week when 'the James' showed a preview of the Carpool Karaoke with @FLOTUS.  That got me really curious, although I wasn't expecting to come across it so soon.  I gotta say, it's really something... and it's all fun!

Speaking of fun, here's when 'the James' actually went to a different level of stardom - getting Clooney and the Pretty Woman herself, Ms. Julia Roberts, carpooling with him... and karaoke-ing as well with the gorgeousness of Gwen Stefani.

Clooney to 'the James':  "As long as you get to work, we're happy."

What fun that was!  Oh, dear James, you are so close to awesomeness now!  I'm almost convinced that you are truly awesome, actually, but see if I'd admit it. ;)  Yep, if the Brits can do it, I can do some snobbery as well, mate... and why not? :)

And here's one of my personal favorites - the crazy carpool with Red Hot Chili Peppers...

"I always knew that this would be like a fun part of my life - being in a car with you.

It wasn't up for debate that it would be one."

Haha... good time!  Alright, James dear, go and get Duran Duran, and let them take you to work, too, will ya now?  Go on... while I fight death from this awful stomach pain!  Ugh!

***

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

***

So long, Dave...

...you'll be missed.
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by PAM

"It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve our country
as Prime Minister..."

Just when I'm really, really liking David Cameron, UK's immediate past Prime Minister (PM), due mainly to the wider involvement of UK in global development through education and cultural exchange; and have been considering his opinion on many things in my collage-of-things-that-I-enjoy-thinking-about just because we are in the same age bracket, he decided to exit 10 Downing Street prematurely - after merely a year into his second term as British PM. Okay... from another perspective, it could also be said that fate decided to evict him from 10 Downing Street.

Of course, his move out of 10 Downing Street crystallized from 'Brexit', UK's decision to leave the European Union in a tumultuous referendum, which happened about three weeks back.  People would argue that Cameron brought this to himself by calling the referendum,

Giving tribute to his beloved wife and children as he said his last
goodbye to the country that he so ably served as Prime Minister
for six years.

which exposed a horrendously messy Tory Party, and divided UK to a bitter debate.  Cameron was usually adept in taking 'calculated risk' since his fresh-faced MP days... and he is a real risk taker, too.  But he got this one wrong... obviously!  

The EU leave-remain referendum eventually resulted to a 52%-48% win for the Brexiteers, led by one of Cameron's old friends from his Old Etonian boyhood, the flamboyantly indomitable former Mayor of London, Boris Johnson.  While in heated and bitter debate, it was indeed remarkable to watch the two prominent Old Etonian battle it out, making their case to the British public with Cameron campaigning to remain in EU and BoJo campaigning for the opposite.  It turned out that Cameron's charm, or the lack of it, was no match to Johnson's no holds barred messily out-and-out appeal that incited the British public to let the worst in them poke its nasty head through, especially on the issue of immigration. The scandal on his late father's involvement in seeking to grow his business through investment in tax havens, implicating Cameron, which unfolded prior to the vote didn't help his case. His popularity dipped as more and more flaws in hid government were found and magnified under the lenses of the referendum.  These got everyone's mind wandering away from all the other practical issues of being in or out of EU.  I watched in awe of the eloquence, and admittedly, sometimes in pure disgust, as the debate between the two camps went bitter and ugly.  While always remaining quite intelligent in words, the opposite sides missed going in depth on essential aspects of their respective arguments.  And yet, I have to admit that it was a wonderfully entertaining alternative to the Philippines' own Presidential and Vice-Presidential race around the same time.  But, let's not go there... because I cannot say that I've recovered from that as of yet.

Going back to David Cameron, I'm really fascinated by his sharp mind and eloquence, becoming the

Farewell, PM Dave!  
Will miss all the eloquence and rhetorical swagger.

youngest British PM in almost 200 years at the age of 43 years... it's the UK, so that's gotta mean something huge.  While he did have a 'snubbish' upbringing... and many believed he brought this to 10 Downing Street, including myself, he got a number of things good for UK.  He moved to 10 Downing Street while raising a young family, and that's after the world saw him and his beautiful wife, Samantha, mourn the death of their eldest son, Ivan, from a neurological disorder.  I also enjoyed tremendously his gag of a sense of humor - that 'very British' kind - that he used so masterfully in besting counterparts across the aisle in the Commons. :)  Amid the challenges that go with his work as British Prime Minister, he seems to be a good family man.  It is particularly wonderful to see how he beams with pride of his wife, and what tender words he has for his children.  All the wonderful speeches, all the progress that UK enjoyed under his Premiership... there are simply so many things to think and marvel about his brand of leadership.  Although, of course, other people have other ideas, believing he made a mess of the government he led and failed miserably to forge unity in the Tory party on the way to Brexit.  Anyway, I just realized that I took all the good 'Cameronian' stuff for granted over the last six years.  In fact, I'm so utterly surprised that, after all these years, I can't find a 'David Cameron' tag in my blog!  I was fascinated, but I never actually expressed it, believing then that there was plenty of time to, one day, write something here about David Cameron.  

And then... Brexit happens.  And the 'future' suddenly became the past.

And all that was left for me to do is to stay up all night and watch him go about the business - a remarkable British tradition with Her Majesty, The Queen - of "changing of guards" in the highest office of the British government, family in tow.  And, I have to say that, with a shade of yellow in her first-day-as-PM coat, Theresa May is probably off to a good start... never mind that she doesn't have children!  *wink-wink*... *sigh*  See, if some Brits can hurl something hurtful like that to a woman who was bound to become their PM, there is no telling how they'd rate their outgoing PM based on 'sky-high standard'. 

Anyway, I wish Cameron and his family the most wonderful days after life at 10 Downing Street.  I will always be fascinated... then again, from the "Lord of the Rings" to James Bond to Beatles to Adele, I've always been fascinated by many things British since girlhood... it just doesn't always seem that way.  Or, doesn't it?

***
Photo credit:  Grabbed from the BBC video - many thanks!

***

And Andy grabs the big green one...

...for the 'first time'.
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by PAM

It must have been truly special for Andy Murray, as he hugged the Wimbledon Gentlemen's Singles Championship trophy to himself, after beating Milos Raonic from Canada in this year's championship in straight sets, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-2) at the All England Club.  

The temperamental Scot was absolutely emotional from the time he raised his hands in victory, more so when he received his trophy.  One would think it was his first time to win the championships when, in truth, it was his second time.  The first time he won in

To win the second time is sweet, one can cry.

Wimbledon was three years ago, in 2013 - against the Number One player in the world, Novak Djokovic.  The year before that, he was runner-up to Roger Federer, who collected his 7th Wimbledon title to equal the record set by Pete Sampras in 2000.  Prior to this, Murray and Federer clashed at SW19 for the 2012 Summer Olympics where the Scot emerged on top of the Swiss Maestro to win his Olympic gold for Great Britain. It was a big win for Andy, and for Team GB, too.  But the man and the country remained wanting for more, hungry for more, thirsty for the 'big green one', the one that belonged to the British soil.  Both finally quenched their thirst when, after 77 years, Murray won their first Wimbledon - and from a back-breaking, nail-biting terribly exciting of a contest with the 'iron man' himself, the World #1, who was perceived by many then as utterly unbeatable.  That year, Murray took the Wimbledon title as the reigning Olympics gold medalist - only the second tennis male player to do so in the open era, after Rafael Nadal.  Now, he is the first male tennis player in the Open Era to win SW19 twice as the reigning Olympics gold medalist.  

In 2013, when he collected his first Wimbledon championship trophy, it was for his

country, and only a little bit for himself.  UK had waited long enough to see a Brit win in

Dave Cameron, the outgoing Brit PM, took the jeering with humor.

the most revered tennis court in the world.  Before seeing Murray win in 2013, the whole nation would usually express their 'eloquent disappointment' whenever he came up short within mere inches from the trophy... and it drove him over the edge, making him not just temperamental and moody, but utterly sulky.  His self-doubt was almost tangible, palpable, always muttering to himself on court at every error - forced or unforced... and the whole tennis world grieved with him, while the Brit crowd expressed how unforgiving they can be.  Such is the terrible cruelty of the British public when their lofty expectations are not met.  Andy knows this, that was why he felt compelled to sort of defend the outgoing British Prime Minister, David Cameron, when he was jeered at by Brit fans when Andy acknowledged his presence. 

But, yes, in 2013, UK's #1 son in tennis finally delivered the goods: he won Wimbledon for the 'first time'... and it heralded a national celebration that freed Murray from the 'obligation' to win any more.

Therefore, when lady luck favored the Scot to get a hold of the Wimbledon trophy once again, he hugged it to himself - this time, he won it for himself.  This one he will keep as his, and his alone.  This one he will actually enjoy, and the taste of victory in garnering it he will savor with true gusto.  And we all rejoice with him - nuts of tennis fans that we all are!

Congrats, Andy!  Enjoy your victory... you so deserve it!

***
Photo credit: The photos are a screen captures I took from the live telecast by Fox Sport - thanks.

***

Saturday photo

Jinguashi Gold Ecological Park in New Taipei City, Taiwan

I had a chance to see the breathtaking view shown in this Saturday's featured photo, which was taken from the Gold Museum at Jinguashi Eco-Park in Ruifang, New Taipei City. The Eco-Park was a mining site. In front of the Museum, after emerging from the Benshan Fifth Tunnels, one can have a sweeping view of the mountain town with the East China Sea in the background.  

A big part of the town used to be a mining site, which was closed after its service years have been reached.  Upon the closure of the mining business, the town that used to be a rich community was plunged to poverty, and became a "ghost town".  The mining site was

The Gold Eco-Park or Gold Museum could be
a place for cozy stroll, not just for tourists
but for the locals as well.

then re-opened into a "Gold Ecological Park" in 2004.  It was then renamed "Gold Museum" after the renaming of the former Taipei County to "New Taipei City" in 2010.

I was very much interested in visiting the Park as I wanted to see how "abandoned" mines could be converted to Eco-Parks - tourists destination - that could fetch sustained income for the community even after the surge of income when the Mines were still operational dies down.  This is because I strongly believe that, if responsible mining is observed, the mine sites could be maintained and kept safe for the community while operational, and then restored to their original beauty after the mine site's service years.  If converted to museum, or even laboratory for aspiring mining engineers, they may provide opportunities for education about the interesting science of mining and mineral processing.  This could even heighten people's awareness and discipline in how we could use the gifts of nature, and take care of it, give back to it by restoring its former beauty, and even enhancing it, making it resistant to even the harshest parts of the cycle of natural renewal.

Yes, I strongly believe that there is, indeed, such thing as RESPONSIBLE MINING.  There are sophisticated technologies that allow for this, that make this possible and achievable.  What we need to establish is INSPIRED AND INSPIRING but FIRM LEADERSHIP in making sure that policies are strictly observed... and, in fact, happily observed because of people's love for nature and country, which can be inspired by an inspiring leadership rather than a hysterically threatening one.

***

Saturday photo

Sleep... he'd do it when he feels like it - wherever, whenever and however.

So, we have a new 'furry friend' at home.  In fact, this adorable Labrador has officially became a member of the family about a month ago, when he turned 3-week old.  His name is Bono... yeah, named after 'he' who is a music genius...of the Irish variety.  Why?

A master of hilarious sleeping positions.

 Because this Lab can 'howl' with such 'eloquence'! :)  As he is growing so fast, I'm sure it's only a matter of a few weeks when he'd be chasing the stray cats in the front porch.  In fact, he is already chasing us around the living room to our bedrooms with his over-enthusiastic puppy antics!  Sometimes, I'm not sure if I had the energy to be chased by this playful one... we'll see.  But I do love watching him sleep as he has a hundred-and-one sleeping positions! :) Most are hilarious, others are downright worrying as they are quite 'acrobatic', and with his acrobatically twisted body, we often wondered if he was still breathing!

Hmmm... with one who seems to relish a good laugh from his companions, it looks like we're in for many hilarious moments with our new 'furry one'.  Looking forward it!

***
Photos:  I took these photos.  Perhaps, I was intruding in Bono's private moment?

***

Purple memory...

"...it's such a shame our friendship had to end."

Ya know, if I could sing like that... and play the guitar like that, I would've beaten Adam Levine to performing "Purple Rain" to give tribute to the late Prince - a music icon of my youth.  But, alas, most unfortunately of all unfortunately's, I can only admire good music... and music geniuses!  Therefore, I'm posting the music video above here in my blog.  It's all I could do... to express my sorrow for the recent passing of one of Prince... my humble little way of expressing my gratitude for and salute to one of the people who provided the 'background music' for the wonderful memories that shaped my youth.  

While I was a HUGE Michael Jackson fan, Prince's music always made me turn the other way in curiosity as he provided an alternative beat... an alternative approach to appreciating music - brooding and pondering the depth of the musical art's reservoir as he entwined it with the complexities of life... and it always worked!  It always got me!

Now, some of my tendencies to brood and contemplate on things that are bothersome and complex are sort of 'borrowed' from Prince, if not inspired by him.  Well, I'm sure it's inspired by a whole generation of incredible artists of the '70s and '80s, '80s mostly, actually... but Prince was an enigma... and his music and persona 'invite' one to think deeply, question common things curiously as if they were some kind of phenomenon, ponder in wonder of our own feelings and vulnerabilities... and turn all of these to a work of art using our strengths - the unique gifts bestowed upon us by The One whose generosity and love is everlasting... and leave a legacy that is uniquely ours.  

I haven't even recovered from the passing of David Bowie and Glenn Frey of the Eagles, and here we are... struck by the passing of Prince, and the doves cry.  Oh, well....

"U're so cool, everything you do is success.
Make the rules then break them all cuz you are the best."

Indeed, it's hard to let go... I just hope that the elusive 'Purple One' is now basking in the sweetness of gentle purple shower.  

Just don't forget to take off your 'raspberry beret', dude, as you feel the gentle shower on your face... and as you take a bow.  R. I. P., 'my friend'. 

***

Saturday photo

A good "harvest"... and yet, we ache for more.

I know that this blog is "(almost) never about work", but I just have to post this one... and, hopefully, my colleagues and our students in the University would be able to read it.

***

I have a dream...

It has been a good year, it has been kind to us... and we are nothing but, oh, so thankful!  To God be the glory!  

Indeed, the Academic Year has been rewarding our hard work for the past three years with "sweet fruits"... and yet, our mouth waters from the definitely sweeter "fruits from our dreams".  While we savor the sweetness of our harvest, and we murmur a sincere prayer as we take a bite with real gusto...  I cannot deny the fact that, yes, we are hungry for more!  At least, I am.

Recently, all six of our Programs in the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Santo Tomas were granted either Center of Excellence (COE) or Center of Development (COD) by the Philippine Commission on Higher Education (CHED).  Our Chemical Engineering Program was recognized as COE while our Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics and Industrial Engineering were granted COD.  As much as I personally wished for all the Programs to be granted COE, I would have to make do of COD status, considering the long-distance run that we had to make over the last three years to cover miles and miles of slack.  I commend my Team for braving the torturous three-year 'marathon', and for keeping up with the metric I laid on the ground as we all dashed to the "finish line" - as a Team.  Of course, a few of them could have done better for us to have obtained better results... but that's not mine to lament - it's theirs.

Many of our counterparts who have long started to run the marathon while we "slumbered" in the comfort of our old and withered laurel crossed the finish line ahead of us, therefore, picking up the COE accolade for most of their Programs.  It was good for them! I sincerely commend them for their great efforts and their success... knowing what kind of effort was necessary to merely cross the finish line, if at all.

The glory is good... but that's not why I prefer that all our Programs be granted COE.  My objective is bigger than mere glory!  I wish for our University to continue catering to students from a wide range of income bracket, especially extending to the low-income bracket.  But, in this day and age, high-quality engineering education entails high cost.  A COE receives PhP 2M per year from CHED on a project per project basis in the areas of teaching-learning, research and extension service.  This is to achieve high-quality delivery of curriculum.  Rather than letting the students bear the cost of high-quality education through high tuition fees, the COE grant could help alleviate, and even prevent, tuition fees increase.  While the PhP 1M per year that CODs receive, also on per project basis, is substantial, 2M would undeniably go a long, long way!  Therefore, getting the COE recognition helps a private University to make high-quality education accessible to students from low-income families.  In a way, working to get the COE status is one way for us in the private education sector to make the income tax paid by citizens to work for them.  And, that's one way for us to become an effective partner of the government in nation-building and sustained progress.

Six Programs: one COE, five CODs.  Things are good for now... but they should get better next time around.  In fact, they should constantly keep getting better and better!  

So help us God.  Amen.

*** 

Saturday photo

Getting to know the aunt... of my "friends".

Aaah, I finally found it in the bookstore!  And, just before the national elections in the Philippines, too.  

I thought I'd need something to get my mind off the 'craziness' after the elections, so I thought of re-reading "The Viscount Who Loved Me" from the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn.  I thought I could use some quick wit and a good laugh to distract me away from the TV screen with a bunch of local "journalists" and their "opinion cronies" whose views are blatantly and shamelessly biased anyway.  Anthony and Kate's banter might prove more useful, and far more entertaining.  But I needed to visit the bookstore to pick up a few things and some magazines... and then something pulled me towards the "fiction" shelves, and true enough, Anthony's aunt 'smiled' at me!  JQ's promise of bringing back some Bridgerton coolness was fulfilled right before my very eyes: "Because of Miss Bridgerton".  

The much awaited book came out in the shelves and on-line last March... but, for some reason, it wasn't available in the Philippines. The whole month of April saw me getting frustrated as I can't download it on my iPad nor can I find it in the local bookstore either.  I 'busied' myself with JQ's The Bevelstoke Series to assuage some of my frustration.  Uhm, yeah, these things are this important to me! Haha...  The Bevelstokes books were okay, but I absolutely loved "What happens in London"!  The main characters, Olivia Bevelstoke and Sir Harry Valentine, were great; and so was Sebastian Grey, Harry's cousin.  I should love to write about it at some point.  

But I digress... anyway, just when I've finally given up and just resigned to reading "Because of Miss Bridgerton" (BoMB) during the break from the University in June-July, there it was dominating the historical romance section.  There were only four left... I was tempted to buy all four copies, but I looked back to my 'miserable existence' in my search of the coveted book, and I took pity on those who were also in search.  I took one copy and raced to the cashier to pay and read it pronto... in case the world ends in a few hours, at least, I've already read the book! 😂

***
Anthony's aunt is fiery

Sybilla Bridgerton, or 'Billie', was one fiery tomboy.  She was the eldest in the Bridgerton brood, with eight years between her and the heir to the Viscountcy, her brother Edmund, Anthony's father.  In the book, Billie was a 23-year-old ball of live-wire energy.  Edmund was still in Eton for his schooling, and Billie was home in (the now famous) Aubrey Hall in Kent with her 14-year-old sister, Georgiana or 'Georgie'.  Billie was one practical young lady with deep interest in running his father's estate, and she's adept at it, too.  She was intelligent and dependable.  For all the awkwardness of her unladylike ways, she was respected by everyone in the estate for her knowledge of agriculture, which she worked hard for by reading relentlessly, and her wisdom in deciding the best possible solution when a problem occurred in the estate.  She just knew how to fix things.    

Three miles away from Aubrey Hall was Crake House where their nearest neighbors, the Rokesby family, with the Earl of Manston as head of the family, lived.  The two families were of such strong alliance in friendship for centuries that they were almost a single family.  The Bridgerton and Rokesby parents were wishing that such alliance be formalized in a marriage between their children.  

Billie grew up as best of friends with Mary Rokesby, the only girl and the 4th child in a brood of five.  Billie was such a spirited girl that she ran around wildly with the older Rokesby boys, Andrew and Edward - in breeches - in their beautiful surroundings in Kent.  It was easy to imagine where all that love of the country among the older Bridgerton boys in the next generation, Anthony and Benedict, came from... well, aside from the long walks and horseback rides they took with their father, Edmund, of course.  Billie was such a true-to-heart country girl... and Andrew and Edward shared this passion of hers. But she was always at odds with the very proper and stiff heir to the Earldom of Manston, George Rokesby.  As Billie was reckless, daring and frank, George's behavior was often calculated and guarded - too formal for Billie.  On the outside, one of them couldn't be anymore the opposite of the other, and they judged each other harshly.  But the turn of events threw them together.  And, when they had a closer look at each other, it brought to focus the things that they appreciate in each other.  And, love bloomed naturally... and reading about how it did was, indeed, very delightful.

I love how they found so much in common with each other while they played Pall Mall, ganging up against a person they both unexpectedly found 'evil' and, therefore, became their common 'enemy'. Although it was nothing compared with the Pall Mall game in "The Viscount Who Loved Me", it was one of the coolest moments in the book... aside from the opening scene, of course, on top of the roof.

***
The banter is great but the story is pale

As usual, JQ showed how good she is in writing those witty banters - she's just brilliant!  There were a number of unforgettable scenes as Billie and George outdo each other in conversation to undo the tension between them.  As they tried resisting the urge to insult each other, they found out that the cerebral tension turned the corner to emotional tension, and then to an intense attraction that they didn't recognize as they never associated this with one another - given their history.  Needless to say, it was sweet to see the two main characters turning different corners in the plot, surprising themselves each time, and then ultimately finding their 'happy ever after' at the end of the road.

If it was just the characters and the minor characters that mattered in a book, BoMB was great... although I would've loved to learn more about the easy-going Andrew and his uncomplicated view of life.  He reminded me of Seb Grey in "What Happens in London", who lighted up the scene whenever he appeared, and of course, Colin Bridgerton in all the previous Bridgerton books. 😍  But, in my very humble opinion, and recalling the first eight Bridgerton books, the characters had to revolve around a story that challenges the reader's reasoning and imagination - for the book to be a legitimate cerebral entertainment.  I am sad to say that the story was not as compelling as the other works of JQ.  She started many things that roused curiosity as the story proceeded to unfold, and then all just fizzled to nothingness as the story closed 'abruptly'.

I really think that George's 'undercover' activities in London did not necessarily enhance the story as they just made it convoluted.  I wish there were more details on Billie and Mary's friendship, and a little something on Edmund, too.  I guess, JQ was giving his Bridgerton fans something to keep tuned in to the series.  Very clever... because now, I am curious about Edward and his plight in 'the Americas', and what will happen to Andrew as he recuperates in Kent.   It's interesting how Georgie would bloom into a Bridgerton beauty, and if Nicholas, the youngest Rokesby, would notice the way George noticed Billie.  And, I know that JQ said she wouldn't want to write a book on Edmund and Violet... I would love to see if she'd change her mind at all.

So, was all the 'obsessing' on BoMB worth it?  I guess, for a fan of the Bridgertons, it was.  It was an easy read that one can finish in one sitting for a few hours... although, in my case, the great anticipation did not match the overall experience.  Anyway, I am willing to let this issue on a 'pale story' go... but I expect that the second book in the series will be a lot better. 

***

Cooling down...

...with the phenomenal Adele (and a 'bonus').
=======================================================================
by PAM

It's getting 'hot' in here... what with the Vice-Presidential race in the national elections still on - more than 48 hours later... after the polls closed.  

Therefore, let's get Adele and James Corden in Carpool Karaoke...

"Leeeaaave me aloneee!  It's just me and my cats!"

...to pour some 'coolness' in this scorching heat. 

And what do you know... that completely beat the heat, that's what!  

Oooh, my goodness, it's too good... even if I've seen it a handful of times already.  Adele is really awesome, and JC is hilarious... they both are, actually.

Alright, I'm feeling better now.

But because I promised a 'bonus'... I'm throwing in a bonus.  Here goes...

"We could now make a video with choreography... in our matching outfits....
I can bring something to the band, guys!"

Hahaha... 'perfect'!

Alright, that should do it.  Back to... whatever it was that made me drop by here.

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

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