Hazel Ceej

Last weekend my mother sent me a text describing CJ's comment on a page of a volume of his Bible Friends. It was one on the crucifixion: This is Jesus. He said to his Father, why did you forsake me but he did not answer. Oh, what a pity to Jesus. The wrong grammar and shaky semantics amused me. Detaching my rigid academic head off lay stuff was a learning moment. All those fine scholarly writings I encounter at work and I get to witness a child's cute opinion. Don't you just love life's bonuses? Yesterday my mother rang. It was to worry about me and the current flood situation in Bangkok. A couple of minutes in: CJ: (rambling in the background) I can't ride it anymore... (then butting in to address me) Mommmyyyy! why did you tie my swivel chair? Me: Why, what did you do in church? Am I not so deaf?! (nakakaloka ang buhay na to) Ma then explained that she told CJ it was my order to have his swivel chair tied in a corner to prevent 'improper traffic' in the li

Remember that 1995 Sense and Sensibility scene in which dashing Mr. Willoughby recklessly drives a phaeton around town with Marianne Dashwood? The novel was published in 1811.  Fast drag your imagination to 2011 and the two lovers are today's rich hunk and a happy-go-lucky, attractive chick speeding on say, a Lamborghini Reventon. In Pride and Prejudice, obsequious Mr Collin declares, "she (Lady Catherine de Bough) is perfectly amiable, and often condescends to drive by my humble abode in her little phaeton and ponies." pha·e·ton   (f -tn) n. 1. A light, four-wheeled open carriage, usually drawn by a pair of horses.    2. A touring car. ( The Free Dictionary) Jane Austen in Vermont Two ladies in a high perch phaeton. The owners of these sporty, open-air and lightning fast carriages actually drove the vehicle, as there was no place for a coachman. Phaeton seats were built high off the ground, the sides of the vehicle were open to the elements (a top could be pu

As Bangkokians brace for "what now?, what next?..." the end of the country's worst flooding in 50 years seem drowned in the depths of either two major bursting dams. Blame, criticism and serious politicking affect flood (mis)management further.  The situation could be Thailand's halloweenish watery scare. I personally just went out yesterday to pick a few items that will somehow ward off starvation should the waters rush in to where I live. If most Thais are at a loss to understand what exactly is the government trying to say, what and how could anyone who does not speak the local language grasp anything at all?  Maybe Friends of the Nation editorial cartoons can help. A quick fact by the way: Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is sister of former PM in exile Thaksin Shinawatra. 1  2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Thanks to Megan and Janet for hosting Thursday 13 .

In the 80s we had a neighbor who played Senor Don Gato repeatedly on his cassette. The sound was loud enough to reach other houses. Fortunately, the song was amusing - a very cat-like human voice would respond "meow, meow, meow."  It probably helped that I'm an animal lover so I didn't mind hearing the song over and over.  Mozart, my fur kid looks very much like this pooch. See how he dances :) And here's thoroughbred Little Red by Patty Shukla  Some of the things I love about living in Thailand are the elephants ! They are called "chang" here. This is a clip of Thai children singing karaoke about a chang. This post is linked with: XmasDolly @ XmasDolly , Lori @ Shewbridges of Central Florida , Callie @ JAmerican Spice and Stacy @ Stacy Uncorked Denise @ Run DMT hosts Music Monday Blog Hop

Beautiful, sarcastic, funny, pessimistic, creative, to-be-verified, positive, sad, true. Facebook has it all covered. These are shout outs I noticed friends have posted recently.  My faves are those that ring true. 1." Which would you rather be...divinely beautiful or dazzlingly clever or angelically good?" - Anne Shirley 2. What is real happiness ?...It is when you feel fine even if there is nothing left in your pocket...It is when you enjoy life inspite of the problems you have...And most of all,when you still know how to smile and thank God for His blessings even if you are the poorest person and has the least important job on earth... ‎3. ♥ Before Marriage ♥ Boy: At last i can Hardly wait! Girl: Do you want me to leave? Boy: No don"t even think about it! Girl: Do you love me? Boy: Of course, always! Girl: Have you ever cheated on me? Boy: No, why are you asking? Girl: Will you kiss me? Boy: Every chance i get Girl: Will you slap me? Boy: Hell no, are you crazy

There's a marriage celebration in a castle where the bride is hassled for a campaign tagline. Everyone would die did you just sigh? Back to the title Melancholia must be that high. ~ Hazel, Stasia Desiderata Cannes Review Has anyone seen Melancholia yet? I haven't. My coffee and movie meetup group sent me an invite to watch this film which is shown this week in Bangkok.  According to summaries around Lars Von Trier creates psychological devastation.  The sooner we get over it, the better: nobody survives. "In a way, the film does have a happy ending," remarks Trier.  Everyone perishes and there's a happy ending(?). That might send me to the theater to find out how true, how come and why. There are beautiful scenes in the trailer. Watch. This post is linked with ABC Wednesday .

"from Tripoli to the Yellow Sea, from Peru to Cebu..." Quite international: about 16 other locations are referenced on Enya's Orinoco Flow which topped the charts for weeks in the 90s. The mention of Cebu brings me to the summer of 1990.  I was 18, traipsed Cebu and said to myself - one day I'll go look at what's beyond this old city. That is not the only reason I like Sail away (incorrectly thought of as the title).  The arpeggiated harp intrigues me as well. I hope you enjoy listening as much as I do. This post is linked with: XmasDolly @ XmasDolly , Lori @ Shewbridges of Central Florida , Callie @ JAmerican Spice and Stacy @ Stacy Uncorked Denise @ Run DMT hosts Music Monday Blog Hop