Thursday, January 29, 2004
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Do you not know?

That seems to be the line of the moment.

Aragorn: Éowyn, why have you come?
Éowyn: Do you not know?

I've finally determined which direction I really AM supposed to look. I think that sometime ago, I have tried looking there, but again, the entanglement seemed like a huge boulder blocking my line of sight. The boulder is still there, but I seem to have been given a blaster to use in blowing the boulder to bits. The question is, how strong is the blaster, and how much resistance will the boulder attempt to put up? Again, I'm banking on a fool's hope. I just hope that the Force will be much kinder to me this time.

===

Even if it's more than a year away, "New Worlds: Episode 3" is starting to weigh heavily on my mind. The trick is trying to put up exactly what we plan to put up. From experience, it has never been easy to entirely have your way in these things. I have more than a year to learn patience, moderation, and diplomacy. Difficult lessons. Yikes.

Tuesday, January 27, 2004
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Not quite ready to say goodbye...

She's just a dog, yeah. But she's my FRIEND. And when my pet Yoda got really sick the other day, I really didn't know what to do, I was even sleepless for 2 days, watching over her and making sure she takes her medicines and rehydration fluids, checking if there are any changes to her condition. All I could think of was that she has to be given the chance to recover. And I don't care what it takes. She's been with me for 7 years, but I can see it in her eyes... she's not quite ready to say goodbye yet. And I'm so happy she fought and now, she's pretty much okay. I'll just have to bring her back to the vet to be sure.

Thanks for the help, Mr. Azderson. :)

===

Yesterday, footage taken from a Lucasfilm marketing meeting hit the net. It contained some footages from the yet unfinished Star Wars Episode III. Most importantly, it contained footage of the much-anticipated Obi-Wan vs. Anakin fight. Yes, fight. According to stompboxer, it's a fight... a brawl... not a duel. Heheheh. Well, that's just part of the original choreographed fight which supposedly lasts for 12 minutes. According to Nick Gillard, it's going to be the longest swordfight in cinema history. I just hope they don't cut it. As for the brawl, as Nick said in his Hyperspace chat, even though Anakin is the best swordsman there is, this fight will not be won by great swordsmanship alone.

And yes, I'm resisting the urge to download the footage. I want to see that whole sequence in its final form, no spoilers. Can't wait.

By the way, here's a link to a fun read. TF.N editor Joshua Griffin's fictional Episode III review. It's set in the future, and well.... it's fun. Read it here.

===

The other day, I finally admitted to two people what I've suspected all along. It was not an easy admission to make. After all, I've been distracted for weeks, and looking in every other direction except for where I'm really supposed to look. Add to that the fact that there are several... entanglements involved. The bad thing about it is that... well, the Force seems to think it's funny to put me in THAT situation... as in "hahaha". But I don't think it's funny. In fact, it feels like deja vu. And considering what happened the last time, why should I hope the ending would be different? Yes, a "fool's hope". That seems to be all that's left....

Wednesday, January 21, 2004
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From my last two conventions, I discovered....

.... that lightsabers are the stars of the show, no offense to our new friend, Roger. Put some lightsaber replicas on display, or hand a toy saber to a kid and just see what happens! Even non-Star Wars enthusiasts couldn't resist asking to hold the replicas and even asking if they actually work. These weapons are probably George Lucas's greatest inventions... next to the Force, that is. :) "Elegant weapons from a more civilized age." :)

Personally, my own favorite Star Wars scenes are actually lightsaber fights, and my fondest childhood memory of a Star Wars film is the skirmish on the skiff above the Sarlacc Pit in "Return of the Jedi". I clearly remember staring transfixed at the screen when Luke Skywalker jumped off the plank and somersaulted and landed back on the plank in time to catch his lightsaber, which was launched by R2-D2 from one of his secret compartments. Cool. :)

===

Speaking of lightsabers, this is what my very very very very very very very early 2004 Christmas wish list contains:

The Master Replicas Anakin Skywalker Lightsaber (Signature Edition signed by Hayden Christensen, of course. Did you really think I'd ask for less than that? :D )

or maybe....

The Darth Vader Force FX Lightsaber

Santa Claus would probably be cursing me right about now....

===

And while we're on the subject of Star Wars, here's a funny anecdote about one of my favorite people in the production team, Stunt Coordinator Nick Gillard. TheForce.Net reports that in a recent Hyperspace chat, a fan asked if Nick could give the fans a valuable nugget of information to keep them happy. Nick answered that "he could, but to do so would risk grievous bodily harm from Rick McCallum."

*coughgeneralgrievouscough* Mweheheheheh. :) :) :)

Nick will also appear in Episode 3 as a character named "Cin Drallig". Hrmmm... George just loves using people's names spelled backwards. Case in point: "Coleman Trebor". :)

===

Meanwhile, I think I'd better get back to that post Convention article, and sorting through some 2000++ con pictures from everyone else's photo albums! Jinkies.

Tuesday, January 20, 2004
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No greater Force in the galaxy

"A Long Expected Party" is finally over. What next? New Worlds 3. The prospect truly scares me now. After I saw everything that the host group has to go through, I tend to ask myself: is it worth it?

Hell, yes, it's worth it. This is after all, New Worlds 3 for Episode 3. Bring it on.

===

Although I have yet to put my experience during the Con into words, here are some of my favorite pics....

~*~*~*~*

Do you really have to ask why this is my favorite pic??? Come on, that's Harry and Ginny! :D Thanks, HM Cherie!


me and pinoy harry potter, ryan agoncillo. photo by HMCherie. january 17.

Meet our new friend, Roger. He's a Battle Droid. :)


me and roger! photo from my cam, Harry. january 18.

And this is the Star Wars Philippines booth, with the lovely lovely huge tarp backdrop designed by Anakin Malfoy. Pretty cool, eh? :)


swp booth. photo from my cam, Harry. january 17.

===

I really don't know what I expected, but once again, the voice of the Force has prevailed. I was right. There were so many weird revelations, I'm not even sure if I'm still in the universe where I'm supposed to be, or if I got a hold of some teleportation device or something. I'd better get back to reality... though I know not the way....

Friday, January 16, 2004
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Starstruck... this time, over The Boy Who Lived!

Because of a poll that voted Ryan Agoncillo as THE choice for a Pinoy version of Harry Potter, the witches from the Department of Mysteries (me included) over at Hogwarts Philippines decided to embark on a cool project. Make sure Ryan Agoncillo becomes a member of Hogwarts Philippines! So with the help of our very own Monsieur Malkin, tailor extraordinaire cum Gryffindor Prefect, we prepared a nice student package for Ryan. Standard Hogwarts robes and an acceptance letter! With u_l_a_n's intervention (she was excited about it too), we got the robes to Ryan during their Review Night taping! And thankfully, he ADORED the presents! And proceeded to wear the robe during that Review Night episode, which is really really cool. He even promised to be at the Convention tomorrow during this morning's interview with New Worlds Alliance reps during "Breakfast". Woohoo! Gotta prepare my Gryff Quidditch Robes because when he goes to the Con, he will receive his QT robes too! Team photo!!!!! :D

See, doesn't he just look oh so like Harry Potter? :D



And this is my super favorite shot:



I can't help grinning. :D

Thanks to u_l_a_n for all the help and all the pics! The PHP students were absolutely thrilled and are so excited to meet him. I'm so excited to see him in person wearing the costume!!!

===

Oh fudge. The Convention really IS tomorrow. Oh fudge. Oh sheep.

But there are TONS to do! I hope everything will be finished in time. One thing I've learned during the organization of all these events: a solution always presents itself. Just do what you have to do and the Force will help guide you along the way. :)

Wednesday, January 14, 2004
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Playing Dress-Up

I would have really really loved to play Padmé for this weekend's con. Unfortunately, I just don't have the time to go around looking for the materials I need. Time to improvise. I'm hoping though that P17 will be done come Mos Eisley Night 3.

I found a cool reference photo from the paperdoll book.... hrmmm.... wish I could find that paperdoll book.....

===

3 more days until A Long Expected Party. Zoiks. Why am I not nervous or panicky at all? Now THAT is scary, I think.

Monday, January 12, 2004
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Andave emérien enyéta nívelyasse

In Quenya, that's "Long have I desired to look upon your face again." And so I got my wish. And more... Although admittedly, I don't think my Jedi mind tricks are working at all. The Force seems to be on my side, helping to create opportunities, and giving me the courage to take advantage of those opportunities. But nothing seems to be happening. I just HAVE to get over this. Maybe after the Star Wars Prom Night.... Still, I seem to be trying to control those things that may not really be under my control. And it's driving me crazy. Better start trusting in the Force a little more, and learn when to stop being a control freak.

I just pray I don't get upset come New Worlds 2....

===

And long have I desired to see Aragorn's face again. :) Watched "Return of the King" again last Saturday! My opinion of the movie hasn't changed too much. After the initial awe and shock, I think I can now watch the film with a more objective eye. Some of my new rants seem to lie along the lines of "yes, it's been three films, and movie Arwen hasn't redeemed herself yet" and "hey, that didn't happen in the book" and finally, "that CG wasn't too good...". I've learned to accept that the movies will never faithfully follow the books to the letter, but... why does Arwen have to be too damned melodramatic? *sigh*

===

It's been 6 days and I'm still starstruck. This has never happened before. Got to get this under control before I end up with another disaster on my hands.

===

5 days until A Long Expected Party. Fasten your seatbelts.

Wednesday, January 07, 2004
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Starstruck

... so this is how it feels. To be starstruck, I mean, not to be on the show. Heheh. Damn.

And I never thought I would say it, but he looked better than Hayden did on "Shattered Glass" (but Hayden still looked better in "Attack of the Clones", mweheheheh). There. That's as good a confession as I'm going to be able to give.

And I was right. There was no need to make a big deal out of it.

And I am doomed....



Tuesday, January 06, 2004
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Live a little....

I may say that "The brave may not live forever but the cautious do not live at all", but this time I think CAUTION should be my mantra. It happened before and it can happen again. HOWEVER, something inside tells me to live a little and just... seize the day. After all, what harm can come out of that? Carpe diem....

But boy, do I hear Joran saying "You are doomed."........

Jinkies.

Zoiks. I think I've been watching too much "Scooby Doo Where Are You?". Classic.

===

Barely two weeks until the New Worlds Con! Check out the revamped New Worlds website by clicking on the lovely banner below.


Artwork by Gary Mayoralgo, Banner design by u_l_a_n.

Monday, January 05, 2004
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Back to reality....

After such a wonderful vacation, I am now back at the office, and... ack, my calendar looks a mess! Zoiks.

January 7-8 -- Supplier Evaluation
January 9 -- Training Needs Analysis
January 10 -- have to orient new employees!
January 13-16 -- Internal Quality Audit (whole day field audit on the 15th!)
and February 3 -- Surveillance Audit

Plus, New Worlds Convention on January 17-18, how cool is that? Jinkies!

===

Found this cool image from a site called Warrior Princess, which is an Eowyn fansite....



Saturday, January 03, 2004
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A toast to The Professor

Happy Eleventy-Second birthday to THE Professor, John Ronald Reuel Tolkien! *raises a mug of butterbeer*

Oops. Mixed-up fandoms. :D

And Happy I-Am-Not-Sure-How-Old-She-Is Birthday to Krys! :) Miss you, Lifey! :)

===

Looking back at The Professor's works, I rediscovered some words that seem to me to be appropriate for the start of MY year:

The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.

And out to the road I shall go and walk even though "It's a dangerous business going out your front door."

But face life like a true Gryffindor, I should.

 

Start the New Year right!

At least I think I did. How? Watch "Fellowship of the Ring" on New Year's Eve, continue with "The Phantom Menace" and "A New Hope" right after. Pop in "The Empire Strikes Back" in your player next evening, then watch "Sabrina" followed by "Return of the Jedi" the next evening. Heheheheheh. Then watch "The Return of the King" a few days after. Cool. :D

===

There are times when I think that the Force is actually in my favor in certain things. Today, it looks like it is, opening some doors and creating opportunities. I guess my mission is to walk through the door and take advantage of the opportunity. Oh, and make sure I don't get carried away. Not again.... This is the time to trust in the Force, listen, and just do what my heart tells me to do. If it is destined to happen, then everything will fall into place. It's time to let go, unlearn some of the things I have learned, and as my apprentice will say, ride the moment.

Thursday, January 01, 2004
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Happy New Year!

Although my New Year's Eve wasn't really as lucky as I would have wanted it to be (Hayden Christensen in "Life As A House" on Cinemax, and "Attack of the Clones" on Star Movies, and I don't have either channel, then HBO decides not to show the Extended Edition of "Fellowship of the Ring"), I'm hoping that 2004 will at least be easier on me than 2003 was. 2003 turned out to be my challenge year, churning out more tasks, problems, quests, and what have you, in every aspect of my life. But I guess c'est la vie, eh?

As for New Year's Resolutions... I guess it's just to try to plan ahead, take risks when necessary, and just... well, live.

===

I never knew there's more to "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" than just the usual words we know. Turns out the song that Jane Taylor wrote in 1806 is actually three stanzas long!

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!

When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!

Then the traveler in the dark
Thanks you for your tiny spark;
He could not see which way to go,
If you did not twinkle so.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!