We moved to a new home! My youngest has reached the age that she needs her own space and that’s the main reason we moved from a two bedroom to a three bedroom apartment. The main thing I like about this new apartment is the view from the balcony. We are still on the tenth floor but the balcony is facing a huge park. In the mornings the park is a really really serene place where birds sing and in the afternoon it is filled with children laughing and screaming while playing games.
Below is how the park looks like in summer as seen from the balcony. The grass is green, the trees are lushed with green leaves and the air is fresh and warm. I love to spend my mornings looking out and enjoying the scenery while having my coffee or doing some stretching.
“The smash hit JERSEY BOYS is a candid and powerful story of how four blue-collar boys from the wrong side of the tracks became one of the biggest American pop music sensations of all time. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million records worldwide – all before the age 30.
Previews of Jersey Boys in Toronto started on August 21, 2008 with the North American touring production. Audiences and reviews alike raved about this Tony Award-winning musical, and a Canadian production seemessly continued performances in Toronto, playing to more than 300,000 people and growing.”
Audrey Dan, President DanCap Productions
The musical number consisted of two acts with a 15 minute intermission. The first act includes popular songs like “Oh, what a Night”, “Silhouettes”, “You’re the Apple of my Eyes”, “Earth Angel”, “Sherry”, “Big Girls Don’t Cry”, “Walk Like a Man”. It’s so nice to see all the retro fashions they are wearing. I feel like dancing with them but I don’t want to embarrass my aunts..hehe. The audience are mostly senior people who were probably in their teens during the groups time in the limelight. I am not complaining but if there were more younger people ...they would probably be standing and dancing and screaming with the band. The second act includes the songs “Bye Bye Baby”, “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”, “Fallen Angel” and “Rag Doll”.
The story line is very good, the jokes were hilarious, there was a bit of drama at the end, the props are very good ( coming like me who is a first timer in this kind of shows), and the choreography is superb. I wish I could watch more musical shows in the future.
I found the video below in youtube. It’s pretty much how the musical went except that the one we saw has different singers.
Victoria Vetra: "Religion is like language or dress. We gravitate toward the practices with which we were raised. In the end, though we are all proclaiming the same thing. That life has meaning. That we are grateful for that created us." ' Robert Langdon: "So you’re saying that whether you are a Christian or a Muslim simply depends on where you were born?"
Vittoria Vetra: "Isn’t it obvious? Look at the diffusion of religion around the globe."
Robert Langdon: "So faith is random?"
Vittoria Vetra: "Hardly. Faith is universal. Our specific methods for understanding it are arbitrary. Some of us pray to Jesus, some us go to Mecca, some of us study subatomic particles. In the end we are all just searching for truth, that which is greater than ourselves."
This is an excerpt from the book which I find true. In the book, Victoria is a scientist and Robert is a Historian. Robert Langdon is the main character ( he reminds me of Indiana Jones!!). This novel of Dan Brown is intriguing to the max as he uses verifiable places and historic events. This makes the story one of a kind. It places the reader in the fine lines between fiction and reality. It breads a vague impression of ‘what if’ this is really true? ‘What if’ this can really happen in the future? What better story is there than one that allows the mind to think and wonder.
The story was about the age old conflict between science and religion. It started with a death of a scientist (which turned out to be a priest too) who happen to discover the antimatter. The death also leads to stolen antimatter big enough to annihilate an entire city. The head director of the scientific company contacted Robert Langdon, a professor of religious iconology at Harvard. Why a professor and not the police? The dead scientist was also branded on his chest the word “Illuminati” which falls under the specialty of the professor and at the same time, the director needs to keep the death at low profile due to the technology involved. Hence, started Robert Langdon’s adventure to the search of the stolen antimatter. He met Victoria Vetra, the adopted daughter of the murdered scientist and together they tried to solve the mystery behind the Illuminati. Their search led them to Rome and the Vatican City where an enclave is currently in progress. From here on was an action pact adventure that includes kidnapping of 4 cardinals, the heinous death of these cardinals on the hands of the Illuminati assassin, the controversy over the untimely death of the Pope, the involvement of the Swiss Guards, the death of the director scientist, the antimatter being located somewhere in the Vatican city ready to explode at 12 midnight and all these while the world is watching. This explosion will evaporate the whole Vatican City together with all the cardinals congregated to elect a new Pope. I especially liked the speech of the camerlengo. How did it ended? Did the anti matter exploded? Were they able to catch the assassin? Who won? Was it the Illuminati or the church? The anti matter did explode. The assassin was stopped. ... and the mastermind revealed (not to the world though). The rest of the story I leave to you guys to read.
The lesson? Why must we be thorn between science and faith? Don’t they come hand in hand? I do admit when we began to study the big bang theory in school, I was confused for a while. I learned very early in life that God has created everything. He made Adam and Eve. But then, at school they were telling me that man came from apes. Did that changed the perception of my faith? No. A lot of things can be explained now through science, but these answers breads new questions. And while waiting for answers, we rely on our faith, on our God, to someday reveal it to us. Let science be the child, curious and hungry for knowledge. Let God be the parents, providing tools and guidance for the child to grow and learn from its mistakes.
Let me end this with another excerpt from the book:
"Mr. Langdon all questions were once spiritual. Since the beginning of time, spirituality and religion have been called on to fill in the gaps that science did not understand. The rising and setting of the sun was once attributed to Helios and a flaming chariot. Earthquakes and tidal waves were the wrath of Poseidon. Science has now proven those gods to be false idols. Soon all gods will be proven to be false idols. Science has now provided answers to almost every question man can ask. There are only a few questions left and they are the esoteric ones. Where do we come from? What are we doing here? What is the meaning of life and the universe?"
Oh my God! He is singing the saddest song ever. It’s one of the songs that have captured my subconscious attention around the early part of this year. I just love Adam Lamberts performances in the American Idol. He’s my secret bet for the winner and I’m just flabbergasted when they announced the first place (same thing happened in the Dancing with the Stars Winner). Adam did well in delivering this song. Even the way he dressed for it, even his very eyes can send out the emotions needed to completely entrance the audience. I knew because all through the performance, I can’t take my eyes off his face. I can’t take my eyes away from looking at his eyes… very intense and full of melancholy. From there and then, I’m Adam hooked.
After the show… I went looking for my daughter and asked her to download Adams Mad World performance in Itunes. I just have to put this in my blog. I promised myself not to talk about the mystery of why he didn’t win because in my mind and heart he’s the winner!
Anyway, here’s the lyric of the song:
"Mad World"
All around me are familiar faces Worn out places, worn out faces Bright and early for their daily races Going nowhere, going nowhere And their tears are filling up their glasses No expression, no expression Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow No tomorrow, no tomorrow
And I find it kind of funny I find it kind of sad The dreams in which I'm dying Are the best I've ever had I find it hard to tell you 'Cos I find it hard to take When people run in circles It's a very, very Mad World
Children waiting for the day they feel good Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday Made to feel the way that every child should Sit and listen, sit and listen Went to school and I was very nervous No one knew me, no one knew me Hello teacher tell me what's my lesson Look right through me, look right through me
Curious indeed!!! It’s more liked bizarre to me. Who would want a backward life? Who would want to go through life in direct opposite of all others? It’s awfully lonely and darn scary! Although scientifically impossible, one (like me ) cannot help put themselves into his shoes.
Benjamin Button, the main character portrayed by actor Brad Pitt was born old. How? Somehow it was linked to a blind man’s clock which winds backwards. I do not want to dwell deeper than that. It was recollection of past events as written in the diary of Benjamin Button himself. It was like a story telling about Benjamin, his life and his love who is Daisy (portrayed by Cate Blanchett) in a very weird circumstances. How his mother died giving birth to him and his father unable to accept how different he is. He was left on the care of a deeply religious lady and then met the girl he is destined to fall in love with. How they met in the middle and how destiny has played its part in their lives.
The dilemma in the movie is more like how would two lives in opposite direction live it’s fullest? Is it fair that Daisy be left alone to raise their daughter? Is it fair for their daughter, Caroline, to be left oblivious of her root? Is it fair for Benjamin to be far from love ones? The author has decided to break them apart for reasons that not everyone would agree with. But life is really accepting whatever the truth is. In the end, Daisy still ends up taking care of Benjamin. Caroline’s ability to love and understand was undermined and she was upset to know about it too late. Why would we prefer normalcy than accepting what is different?
“Pussycat, pussycat, where have you been? I’ve been to London to visit the Queen. And what did you do there? I frightened a little mouse under a chair.”
I’ve been distracted for a while. For the last few weeks I felt like I lost my creative thinking. My mind has shifted to being imaginative to being real (and boring). And sometimes reality is not an easy thing to write. When your body isn’t feeling so good... it drags your mind into it. So I slumped and let the happy moments pass me by without so much as a word. I thought I could shelve the dreams and imaginations for a while and concentrate to a more life threatening matter at hand. I was wrong... I miss my writings on my blog. After two months I realized that I don’t have to be seriously planted on the ground at all times. I can get my mind to rise into the clouds and fly and think of happy thoughts and to dream of a world apart from my physical being. I need to go back to reading, to writing, to a longer commune with nature. And maybe by doing so, I can physically heal faster.
My camera has taken so many pictures of past events. They were never given the chance to be posted. To be celebrated with words and emotions worthy of them. From now on, I will try to give myself some slack ... to go to the shelves of dreams and play a little.... and not be guilty about it.
Inspiration: Emily, my mother's Co-worker and friend Used: Photoshop and HW tablet
I drew this while thinking of Emily.
When you're in a tough situation; in sickness or health; It might seem to be impossible to resolve. When you're world is crumbling and everything seems hopeless. Always remember to smile and we'll help you through it. Whatever the problem and no matter the costs, we'll defy gravity for you. So enjoy every moment of the present. Cherish all of the past and embrace the future.
Blue roses are reality. I'll make sure of it. -______________________________________
The young artist's name is Hannah. She’s only 15 year old but very talented. It was really a surprise to me that she had dedicated this amazing work of art in my behalf. Even the write up is so touching.
To Hanna... thank you for the warm thoughts and the dedication. Your drawing has made me feel a lot better and brought hope to a weary heart. I wish to see you and give you a big hug someday. And this I promise you...
I have decided and truly convinced My life is built on choices, choices I have made Although I was not able to choose my parents, I’ve chosen to live and abide by them I have not chosen to be born poor, But I was given the choice to strive and work hard, make a change I was able to choose whom to spend my life with, A choice in building a government A choice in faith I cannot choose the children that I will bring into life, I was given a pure soul, the rest is irrelevant How to guide them in life, all depends on my choices.
I am here on Earth, half my life spent On choices I’ve made as I pass through time Some choices are not as good as I hope it would be But that is okay, it allows me to learn and make better choices the second time around
To my childrenWhen you were born, I was given the privilege to choose for you It may not be perfect, you may not actually like some it, You’ve cried, you’ve pouted , you’ve rebelled I chose to be steadfast, chose that someday you will understand In time, soon I can see… This powerful of choice shall be handed down to thee Take heed of your choices, choose wisely You will find that some choices are hard to make But as soon as you have decided, be prepared for the consequence Some consequence may hurt, some may not be what you want Choose then, to learn from it For my sweet, we are what we chose to be.
