This road

For those privvy to the inner workings of my life, you'd know that my life has been a huge pile of mish-mash matters that have come to a head these past months. Its been an emotional roller-coaster ride, its been a seemingly endless tunnel of unnverving moments and not-always-very-nice surprises, and most of all, its been a real test of faith, patience and the belief I've had in many things. But its also been a time of renewal, of new learnings, of discovering new knowledge and a greater understanding of the mechanics of many things, and of a greater appreciation for family, friends that have kept the faith and gone the distance for me- and are continuing to do so- and the simple faith that God has His plan.

Earlier today I found my Ginny Owen CD. Ginny has come a long way for me and some of my friends; suffice to say she's been a Charmed singer of Felicity proportions. Its been a long while since a song got to me like This Road did. Its a beautiful summation of where I'm at and I remain grateful to you all who have kept the faith.

We may not see what lies beyond the bend, but thank God we have good people to make the journey that much easier.

Ginny Owens: This Road
A million miles away from anything familiar
A thousand places I would rather be
So I choke back the tears and try to find the bright side
Though I find it hard to see beyond my suffering
In my heart I know Your plan is so much bigger
But this small part is all that I can see
And I believe you haven't left me here to wander
Still I can't help but ponder where You're leading me

And I ask why this road
Why this way and this load
Tell me how far I must go
'Til I see
'Til I know why this road

A million miles away from anythig familliar
What was it like to be so far from home
And though You came in love the world misunderstood You
There must have been some days when You felt so alone
But You endured 'cause there was joy before You
Joy that came because You sacrificed
Since You gave yourself just to spend forever with me
Surely I can trust You'll lead me through my darkest times

When I ask why this road
Why this way and this load
Tell me how far must I go
'Til I see
'Til I know why this road

From here I can not see why You'd choose this path for me
But I don't have to understand to believe that You know why

You know why this road
Why this way and this load
You know how far I must go
'Til I see
'Til I know why this road

few and far between

Dear God,

You know how much I love Christmas and all that it represents. Thank you so very much for all that you have given me this past year- its been a tumultus year to say the least and its good to know that at through it all you've been faithful when I've so often been faithless; that you have been the Constant in the constant chaos I find myself perpectually in; that you have been gracious when I have was not deserving. That you have loved unwaveringly when I have faltered and doubted.

I want to say a really big THANK YOU for all the very many amazing people you have sent my way this past year. Some I've known for a long time, others not quite so very long, but Time is all relative anyway. People like family, May, John, Jolie, Samuel, Olivia, Ramesh, Gerard, Max, Gabe, Lavinia, Tjin, Peiee, Karyn, Aunty Soy and Sook, Amelia, Debbie, Ruth, Angie and her three totally precous musketeers Alethea, Tim and Nathalie (for afternoons of endless joy) amongst the many more I'm bound to have forgotten but so deserve to belong in the list...

I want to say thanks for all these real-life angels you have sent my way. Some, deserve special mention...

Thanks for dad- for his utmost faith, love and belief in me. The last year has not always been easy for him with my insane schedules and what not. But thank you for the comfort that he's always got open and ready arms to catch me should I fall and ready legs to walk the tough parts of life's journey with me.

Thanks for Ruben- he's been my sanity in the insaneness of this world. For walking the tight rope with me, bearing life's brunts, whips and lashes with steadfastness and calmness. My stressed out nerves are grateful for his willingness to allow them space to ease out a little, and my frayed emotions are blessed for the outlet to rave, rant and be totally unreasonable at times.

Thanks for Kimmy- she's been a source of solace and understanding though she's got her own set of issues to juggle, her own sanity to preserve and her own path to forge. I'm so blessed to have her ready ear, willing shoulder and big heart work overtime for me these so very many months. I think I burned a bit in her handphone/computer bill.

Thanks for Brenda- she's been a phenomenal friend. Its been a tough road for her as well in many ways and yet she's always found time to be there for me when I needed someone simply to be. She's so often been shalved in a tough place and she's been unwavering in her stands, in her convictions and in the path she's on.

Thanks for Clary- I am so blessed through her, my gym buddy, old friend and girly girlfriend. Thanks for using Clary to remind me about the small, yet powerful things in life; like a good meal, good conversations, a good read and a hard, kick-ass workout. I'm so happpy for her as she makes plans to go back to the darn ivory tower. UK's far away, send extra angels to watch over her there ok?

Thanks for Royston- he's been possibly one of the fiercest friend a person could have. We've come a long way, Royst and I and I feel so tremendously blessed to number amongst those that he cares about. His phenomenal generosity, extraordinary patience and big heart where I'm concerned takes my breath away and truly makes me wonder what have I done to deserve all that.

In the precious name of your Son,

Amen

i've got issues

I had a hoot looking at these...

May and I spent a long long time Friday night having huge Harry Potter discussion and playing online Harry Potter games- yeah, the things that entertain me on a Friday night- and much as she knows way alot about loads of stuff, there some Harry Potter issues that she was not able to find me a sufficiently adequate answer, and this was after we actually went online to look for answers. (May and I are weird like that, we talk of having our own little Harry Potter party and all... its strange. Then again, she's the only one who shares not just my Harry Potter fascination, but my previous X-files-in-the-Mulder-days obsession, by Buffy-ness and my Storm Rider raves. She's a fierce friend and a rare find I must admit in the bizzare Cherieness of this world. Thanks May for keeping me sane these past years.)

So, my current hugest issue with Harry Potter:
Hermione earns 11 OWLS (in HBP). From what my understanding, she takes Herbology, Transfiguration, Charms, Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Astronomy, Care of magical animals, History of Magic, Potions. That makes 10 subjects. I refuse to believe Flying is considered a subject, after all, Harry didn't take it, she stormed out of Divination (PoA) and dropped Muggle studies (PoA). So someone please tell me what her 11th subject is.

Don't ask me why this bugs me. It just does. I'm just strange that way. :)

And yes, for the record, I have HUGE issues with Mike Gambon's portayal of Dumbledore.

Toodles...

star awards

There's been much talk and comparisons between Harry Potter and Star Wars. Never really put much thought into it till now.




1. Luke Skywalker and Harry Potter

LUKE SKYWALKER: Doesn't know his parents, raised by aunt and uncle who never tell him who he really is. Is consummate hero, battling the Dark Side regardless of the consequences and often confronting Darth Vader face to face to aid the rebel forces in their fight against the Empire. In Luke's battle with Vader, his hand is sliced off, leaving him with a mechanical hand, very much like Vader who is part human, part machine.

HARRY POTTER: Doesn't know his parents, raised by aunt and uncle who never tell him about who he really is. Heroic Harry will jump head first regardless of the consequences and go head to head with Lord Voldemort to save the wizarding world and his friends from danger. Voldemort's first attempt to kill Harry when he was a baby left Harry with a lighting-bolt scar on his forehead and a few of Voldemort's powers.

2. Han Solo and Ron Weasley

HAN SOLO: Wisecracking, reluctant hero who fights along with Luke and Leia to save the galaxy from the Empire's clutches. Han Solo is masterful behind the controls of the Millennium Falcon, and with it he gets the threesome out of a lot of jams. Has the hots for Princess Leia.

RON WEASLEY: Wisecracking best friend who fights alongside Harry and Hermione to save the wizarding world from the possible return to power of Lord Voldemort. He is masterful at wizard chess and said skill gets the threesome out of a jam. Has hots for Hermione, but is too young to realize it.

3. Princess Leia and Hermione Granger

PRINCESS LEIA: Highly educated young woman who helped save the galaxy from the Empire's control. Always has a cool head and often gets Luke and Han Solo out of danger with the many skills she acquired at some of the best galactic learning institutions. Ends up falling in love with Han Solo even though she originally thought he was a jerk.

HERMIONE GRANGER: Extremely smart young girl who knows every charm, every potion and every historical footnote in wizarding history. Her skills and logical nature have gotten Harry and Ron out of more tight spots than you can shake a wand at. Hermione will almost certainly grow up to marry Ron, even though currently she thinks he's just a stupid boy.

4. Darth Vader and Lord Voldemort

DARTH VADER: Born Anakin Skywalker, the young boy was to become a great Jedi Knight. He succumbed to the Dark Side and underwent a transformation to eventually become Darth Vader, master of the Dark Side of the Force. In the original "Star Wars" movie, you find that mortal enemy is the benevolent Obi Wan "Ben" Kenobi, once his teacher.

LORD VOLDEMORT: Born Tom Riddle, the young boy was considered to be the best student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and had the potential to be the greatest wizard of all time. His thirst for power made him succumb to the Dark Side to become the evil Lord Voldemort. The only wizard Voldemort fears is the benevolent Albus Dumbledore, once his teacher.

5. Obi Wan Kenobi and Albus Dumbledore

OBI WAN KENOBI: One of the most accomplished of the Jedi Knights, Obi Wan was entrusted to take over the tutelage of Anakin Skywalker. He always appears at the appropriate times to act as a spiritual guide in Luke's quest.

ALBUS DUMBLEDORE: Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry who, as a teacher, taught Tom Riddle. He always appears at the appropriate times to act as Harry's moral center.

6. Chewbacca and Hagrid

CHEWBACCA: Extremely large and hairy co-pilot.

HAGRID: Extremely large and hairy gamekeeper.

Originally from "'Harry Potter' may be a new hope in disguise" by Sharon Kaplan for Los Angeles Daily News, Monday, Nov 5, 2001

marred masterpieces

Modernity is the age of the self. Its the age of enlightenment, the age of reason. The age of the advent of science upon the age of tradition. The age where structures become the super-structure, the construction of the matrix amidst the chaos. Yet still, the age of free will, of personal choice over that of the governed, the dictated, the ruled. The age where we abolish the supremacy of one religion, only to have us take on a new one steeped in rhetorical facts, blind-slighted figures, supraquantum experimentation and reprieved theories. Its the age of the belief in the Belief.

Modernity takes its toll on tradition in some ways.



Modernity takes its toll on tradition in many ways.



Modernity takes its toll on tradition in all ways...

broken pieces. whole souls.

broken.
mended. scarred.

happy tea friends

I found myself a keen observer to two of my favourite people's "little tea stand" today when I brought my Mango on a walk-about. Everyone, meet Tim and Alethea. The baby is Nathalie who was not part of the tea making team, but is so totally adorable that I'm putting a picture of her here anyway. The other girl with Nathalie is my little sister Ann. Ok, let's get down to flower-tea making...


Ok, first, you must take your order from your customer. In this case, customer means Mango- my I'll-consume-anything-that-looks-remotely-like-food retriever. So after your customer orders- or in our case, pretend ordering you set about gathering flower-tea leaves. They can usually be found at the side of the road. Well, that was where we found today's stash anyway.


Second, you go load up on water. It needn't be boiled, really. Then you pour the water into the pool of flower-tea leaves.


Following that, you go find a stick (choice of a long stick or short stick- either ways it works) for swirling the flower-tea leaves about. Or you could stomp on the leaves ala wine pressing, we're not fussed really. :)

And you get flower-tea!!!

why I want what i want

Thanks to my friend May- who has so kindly offered to get me the seal/embossing thing for Christmas- is to be credited for my wanting to etch my powerbook. (To Pierre, Neighbour and other powerbook owners: Isn't it just amazing!) Ok, so anyone out there has a lazer etcher?

And go check this out, its what the industry now calls a macquarium. Ram, I want to do this for our office can? I think it'd look so so brilliant- I just need to find space!
Link to all the stuff!

once upon the merry land

Once upon a time, there lived a young princess who was merry all day, and she loved to do all sorts of lovely things like play in the garden, watch the birds fly and all kinds of other merry things. To many, they thought of her as hte most happy princess in the world. Afterall, who wouldn't want to be merry and blithe all day?

But the young princess had a small secret, she was lonely. Even after her royal parents and beautiful and totall brilliant and smart elder sisters did their best to give her everything a young princess could ask for, truth was, she was as lonely as lonely could be. Oh dear, what to do?

In a land faraway, lived a Nice Intelligent Charming Handsome, Overly Lovable And Smart Knight who set off on the journey of his life. He had spent six years battling the Dragon of Psle at mount ROSY THinth and have emerged victorious on the 2nd day of the 5th month of the 7th moon year as calculated from the year of Caesar. And finally, he arrived at the mariann, oops, I mean, merry land of the merry princess.

Alas, just as yin will find the yang; as the moon reflects upon the Gregorian sea; as the toothbrush loves and toothpaste; as the pen needs its ink; as the chicken rice needs its special chilli sauce and the string and bow makes sweet sweet sweet sound....

Alas. Alas. Alas.



Life does end happy after all...

For some of us at least. :)