Parabéns Portugal!

(Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images)

Champions finally! (Getty Images: Matthias Hangst)

Ronaldo (still a crybaby) and his moth before he was carried out of the field. Apparently there was a moth infestation during the game.

Too bad I didn't follow this year's games, though I was able to catch the last few minutes of the final (TV replay) just before the winning goal was made. Congratulations! Yay!

P.S. Where's Fabio Coentrao?

Flying Beings

The other night I had this dream. It was long, one of those adventure types, and the last thing I could remember was that I was in this large building with a very high ceiling. Someone was with me, a classmate from high school, but she was just there. I couldn't recall anything that she did. So it was at the end of that long dream that the scene in the large building happened.

People or 'beings' gradually came into view. I don't know much about dream sequences, but sometimes transitions just don't happen. And this was one of those times. These beings appeared, and they were flying, like a flock of birds, only they looked vaguely human. Usually when events like this happen in my dreams, I get scared and try to walk away. But this time, while the feeling of fear was still there, there was a feeling of wonder as well. So I took out my phone instead and recorded them on video. They flew from end to end, then dived right above my head. I also caught them on camera hanging around my companion, although curiously these beings on the ground can't be seen by the naked eye.

That was the dream, or at least the end of it before I woke up. It was something that I would have forgotten if not for the Bible reading that day, that's why I am writing this here.

July 9, 2016 Saturday
First Reading: Isaiah 6:1-8

In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, with the train of his garment filling the temple. Seraphim were stationed above; each of them had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they hovered.

One cried out to the other: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts! All the earth is filled with his glory!” At the sound of that cry, the frame of the door shook and the house was filled with smoke.

Then I said, “Woe is me, I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” Then one of the seraphim flew to me, holding an ember which he had taken with tongs from the altar.

He touched my mouth with it. “See,” he said, “now that this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed, your sin purged.”

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” “Here I am,” I said; “send me!”

The text below is from the Meditation that accompanied the readings:

Anyone who encounters the Lord is both attracted to Him and yet afraid. We are drawn to Him, for our hearts sense that this is what we are made for, that this mysterious, beautiful, merciful, personal Presence is what we long for -- and yet we also know instinctively that we are not like Him, and we are unworthy to be in His Presence. (The Anawim Way, Liturgical Meditations)

Crochet Smittens

mittens for couples

My gift for the newlyweds May & Jed, a special request by the bride, so they can HHWW abroad.

May+Jed Wedding

Last June 11 was a reunion of sorts for the del Castillo family (my mother's side). We celebrated the wedding of my cousin May, only daughter among five children of my aunt W. It's been a long time since I picked up the camera for an event like this, so I brought it with me.

This kid started running on the aisle.

This might be the first Catholic church wedding of a grandchild attended by my grandmother. The previous one was in Manila so she couldn't go. I'm glad she has been able to experience this.

Because I was lazy that day, all these were taken using the Auto no-Flash setting. I missed a lot of shots, and several were either bad or blurred. Maybe it's time to take up the hobby again?

Hay, James Spader

James Spader in Pretty in Pink

You make me want to blog again.

I know how this all started. An FB friend posted about making her very own YouTube playlist because she missed the 80s and 90s. And who wouldn't want to listen to 80s/90s music? So I happily clicked away, listened, until If You Leave played and I suddenly had the urge to watch Pretty in Pink again. And I did, that day.

The first time I watched Pretty in Pink in high school, I was a big Andrew McCarthy fan. Naturally, I was team Blaaaaane. But after rewatching this month, I thought his character was weak (while Duckie was still annoying). Andie and Blane's relationship would not have lasted long.

The most intriguing character, however, was the rich jerk played by James Spader, who for four years tried unsuccessfully to go out with Andie. Four years! Unfortunately, we couldn't do anything about it now.

There was another trivia that I just discovered. Robert Downey, Jr. could have played Duckie! I wonder...but I digress.

So that started my James Spader month. When I looked him up on IMDB, I realized I have not been a good fan. That's why I'm keeping up with the Spader movies. First, and this was something that I have been putting off for so long, was Secretary, the original 50 Shades.

Spader likes eccentric friends. Spader likes playing eccentric characters.

Then just this Easter Sunday, I finally watched Sex, Lies, and Videotape. I kind of hesitated at first because, obviously... and it was Easter. But it was just a case of don't judge a movie by its title. It's the type of movie that I really, really, really love. All talk, yes, but you would be glued to the screen. And it didn't even show any skin, which I liked.

Next, since I'm about to give up on Mr. Robot, I will give The Blacklist, Spader's current TV series, a try.