THE NEXT ACT

Two movies have different descriptions of Zombies.   In Warm bodies, zombies were dead people who walk stupidly slow in which some of them have a possibility to be resurrected as instigated by the lead role who fell in love with a warm-body human.   In World War Z on the other hand Zombies could run fast, lifted walls and were strong yet so scrupulous with the type of blood they should devour: they preferred healthy blood and once one become a zombie, it was end of the line.     I grew up with movies that portray Zombies as evil stricken unlike the current movies which originate Zombies from virus.   And so I would say early zombie movies are more in the horror genre than the current zombie movies which may more categorised in the science fiction or suspense thriller.   Zombie: the sound of it is already a giveaway in each origin – AFRICA.   And that was my first impression when I got to be introduced with the whole idea of zomb...

The story of Martha and Mary in John 11:17-40 is such a reminder to everyone that there is time to work and there is time to seat still. I have heard it every time and even just in my head that sometimes doing nothing is the best thing one can ever do at a moment. We have been introduced to wisdom that in order to win, we ought to push your limit. Yes it is absolutely true. This wisdom holds true all the time. However the question is what are you winning for? What are you trying to achieve? "I gotta finish painting the whole house until the sunset no matter what and so I gotta work double time," you say. And then you achieved with aching back and sore arms and you began asking, “Why in the world did I finish it wherein I still have all the time tomorrow? Now all I need to do is rest the whole night and I have no energy to spend quality time with my kid.” This reminds me of my fave book First Thing’s First. And it talks about priorities that are put into quadrants...

An Ungrateful man is like a hog under a tree eating acorns, but never looking up to see where they come from. Timothy Dexter Sometimes it’s hard to take it when you have been giving much effort and time to help out someone and still he/she is being ungrateful for the trouble. Yes, there is a good virtue in having the attitude of never expecting something in return on the good deeds you’ve done. Yet, I felt sorry for someone who seldom looks back on the one who’s done him/her a favour because he/she is too preoccupied on how he/she indulges his/her selfish motives. This reminds me a scene in a Rocky V, when retired Rocky disappointedly stared at his protégé who has been caught by too much ego which made him wanting to beat Rocky in a match. You never know what comes up with the human minds and intentions. You were exactly sure in a moment that he deserves your attention. Yet the next moment the wind blows and his attitude is tarnished. Nothing is really certain except God’s love. And ...

One good habit that I want to keep at lunch time is spending time reading or meeting up with Claire at the library which is a few walks from the council.   The frequent meeting place is at the library, outdoor in the library garden whenever there is wonderful warm day or indoor on a not so warm day yet occupying a good spot by the huge window overlooking the garden.   Sometimes Claire wouldn’t make it but I keep the habit.   Another habit that I want a keep is to bring a mug of mocha chino which Claire and I enjoy.   Reading by the window is so much amusing yet it becomes more amusing when a glance through the window captures my attention to what’s going on outside in the garden: some colleagues jogging which makes me wonder if I should do the same, a friend who is a mum who takes walk with her baby in a stroller, fellow engineers fixing the rivers, young skateboarders having fish and chips, the yellow leaves in autumn which prompts Claire to ask me to take photos ...

Copyright@2013 Jonathan Santos Let there be light and there was light The sky, the sun, the stars, the sea. The air we breathe, the creatures on sight You reign in all seen and unseen Yet after all Your Wondrous Deeds And Your Name all great men heed. Chorus: More than anything else You love us so dearly. You gave us Your mercy. More than anything else You suffered and died From sins, we are free. On the wedding at Cana, You gave them wine You fed the many with fish and bread. You cured the sick, the crippled, the blind At your command you rose up the dead. Yet after all Your Wondrous Deeds And Your Name all great men heed. (Repeat Chorus) On bended knee, on high I stare I call Your Name and You are there. (Repeat Chorus)

We’ve discussed about fish passage in river controlling structures in the meeting.   This one of the free flow permitted activity conditions one should look at in installing dams, culverts and weirs in the river.   As a river management engineer fish passage is one of those I almost neglect in the designing river controlling structures. I am more on the flood control scheme, managing flows, improving hydraulic efficiency, decreasing roughness of the channel. And then I was given a task to come up with public information to be published region wide and online about the awareness of fish passage.   I was given a task to enlighten the community about something I need to be enlightened about as well.   On the brighter side, I begin to know better.   The migration of fish is part of their life cycle.   Culverts, dams and weirs that are not designed the right way would disrupt the life cycle and become hazards to the whole ecology.   I am imagining that ...

I finished reading the book Inferno by Dan Brown.  In this book, the author’s imagination took him to make Dante’s Divine Comedy the main tool to stir up the story.  I had no knowledge about the Divine Comedy until Dan Brown made Inferno.   And so because of curiosity I just needed to find out what Divine Comedy is all about.  Wikipedia, Goodread, Youtube and Game.  Yes there is a game called Dante;s Inferno which is based on the first part of the Divine Comedy.  And there was this black and white and no talk film of Dante’s Inferno done in the days of Charlie Chaplin’s time I guess.  I watched a bit of it and I got bored and nauseated because the screen was wiggling once and a while and there was no sound – no talk and no music.  And my impression was that it was badly made.  There was this scene that there were dozens of naked guys sleeping or dead and lying on the ground and there was this one naked guy who raised his head and looked...

……… the essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride. Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere flea bites in comparison: it was through Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind. C.S. Lewis There were times that I could not figure out the streamline between bragging and being confident. There were moments that I wanna take charge and be zealous in order to get the right result but I was prevented by the thought that maybe people might think that I was just showing off which jeopardize my focus on doing it right. It’s a matter of examining myself consistently about the intent of my endeavours. .It’s a matter of making sure that pride does not tarnish my true intention in the process. C. S. Lewis (my all-time fave author) said that pride is a dangerous vice to obtain for it will lead you to all kinds of sins. Lucifer left the kingdom because he is too proud to accept that man was made in...

Discipline is the key to growth.  The word keeps ringing in my ear as if it is becoming my personal watchword.  It might be something that I have to sink into my system as I come to realise that the many flaws that I am keeping have come from lack of discipline.  It might be important tool to solve many of life’s problems particularly some of my personal issue. God has a way waking me up to reduce some my setbacks.  Endeavours to sort life will be easy if not for discipline.  Discipline coincides with pain most of the time.  Yet those things that hurt instruct.  I hate pain.  And maybe this is why I dillydally so us not to go there.  My procrastination wins over as I hope that the stern undertaking will go away.   Skirting around the problem does not go anywhere.  I need to meet them head on.  Get on with it.  I got to suffer through them once and for all.  Suffering is a gift.  Make the most of it....

There is a point that we need to change for the better and yet we are held back by our comfort zone.  Who Moves The Cheese is a book that speaks the same thing and I am so grateful to my cousin's hubby who gave it to me.  And I just thought about it when I was reminded by many instances that I have been dragged back by so many unchangeable circumstances in the light that moving forward is the option to take.   Do not attach the changeable to the unchangeable. I have written a song that was in line with this statement as a home work in the song writing course I took in the past.  It was a song about a lost that was attached to many existing and haunting unchangeable things.  Milk is always milk.  A baby does not stay a baby.  A baby has to grow and needs to move forward and let go of the bottle.  A butterfly needs to leave the cocoon to spread the wings.  People may have thought that their cocoons are their comfort zones until they let go and...

I haven't ridden the roller coaster since Euro Disney of my ancient self until I rode with my son who was doing it for the first time. He tested the water first. Oberving how the passengers who went ahead of us. Finding that they are still alive he hopped in to one of the cars and he got the thrill of the life time. I got the thrill as well but not the ride but how I see my kid's thrill. I had my moments and energy of being so charmed with the loops, the scare and adventure in my hey day. Not anymore. Now I won't do it for myself. I am too old for this. The palpitation rate says "A-ah, take it easy".  I know my limits. The ride is just a few seconds I thought. And to my son it would have been a slow motion moment which may  take one frame per minute to delight. I ride with and for my son. Let' do it!  And there yah go.  That few seconds sucked away the liquid in my throut I thought I needed a drink. My whole head complained a bit which is not case in my younge...

I watched the whole episodes of the Bible shown in History Channel.  I like it.  I Like how they approach the story which is more like a mild version of Game of Thrones.  Each episode starts with a caption saying that the series would show as close as to what has been told in the Bible.  But in the line of telling it as it is, they highlighted as well humanity, politics, war, grief, sacrifices, brutality, death, miracles, faith, love, conviction, envy, murder and evil.  There are some who had made bad reviews of the series about inaccuracies in the story, too much violence, racial/ethnic portrayals and too Hollywood.  Angels are portrayed like warriors in hoods who know how to fight like Ninjas.  Satan looks like Obama.  I think it is also History Channel or maybe National Geographic that showed a study of how the parting of the Red Sea possible in a technical point of view which is maybe caused by a pulling back of water as preemption of a tsun...

Who wants to suffer in the first place? You may say that if it ain't for something good you prefer to have a worry-free, careless, fantastic life.  I would rather lie down on the beach than crawling in the wilderness.  Or I prefer to eat a burger over a plate of mashed carrots.  Or I would rather watch TV than mowing.  But there must be something good behind the pain. Sacrificing is making you suffer for a good cause. A lady colligue of mine shaved her whole head in support for the cure of her bff's cancer. She used to sport a fantastic short blond hair sparkling a flyaway on her back neck.  And she was willing to go bald.  She came over my desk bald and all with a money basket. I who has been used to credits did not have cash at that moment but I promised to go over her desk to donate once I got the cash which I did.  Sweet. I mean who would refuse to give money to someone who has deprived herself from looking good to show that she cares and tha...

Who am I not to give in to the one who knows me best?  He knows the numbers of the strands of my hair.  He already knew me before I was born.  He knows what’s best for me.  He created me in His image and likeness.  He has given me gifts.  He has given me freedom to exercise these gifts.   The reasons of my existence is how I was created and in accordance to the gifts given to me.  The only thing that absolutely matters is giving back the favor.  The only thing that matters is to submit to Him for He has already plans for me.  The plan is in light to how I was perceived when He created me.  Who am I in the eyes of the Almighty?  What am I in the grand design?  Am I fulfilling it right?  Am I in the proper place?  If I am doing what I am supposed to do for His Glory, I won’t allow anyone to snatch away the achievement for the one that is being snatched is the fulfillment of the work that He has started....

First blogging of the year. I thought of scribbling and finding out how it goes. I think that has been the essence of the theme of this blog. Random thought I have called it and the title is a bit cliche to some. Not when I began putting up this blog site I suppose. I started it for the sake of writing and knowing myself. And I thought of sharing it to others by publishing it. But it does not count much if no one reads it.   Appreciation from readers is a plus and I am being thankful but then again I believe I benefit most to what I write.  It's like spitting out bits and pieces of what's inside my brain and laying them on the table for me to see. "Hmmmm. What have I feeding myself lately?"  And so that's how I discover more of myself.  They may be shallow to some readers and they  may be profound to others.  I thought of keeping my writings to myself but I have a divine urge to share it regardless of the outcome. It is not frustrating if it's not a hi...

We have shifted houses at last.   Who loves doing what we have done?   However, finally we’ve done it with many loose ends.   That’s okay, as long as we have moved.   One by one sorting junks will be the daily routine.   It will take a couple of days, maybe over a week.   The big eye opener is the reality that we ought to throw away things we don’t need.   Clothes, toys, old receipts, papers, empty perfume bottles and all sorts that we still brought in to the new dwelling.   Now that they are here in the new dwelling and exposed as a bit of nuisance, they are sorted with things to be disposed soon.   Nuisance: rude as it may sound, but they become as such to the things we ought to devote our attention with.   They have been in their good used before but it’s time to retire in order for us to move on.   I am sentimental guy and that is why I can’t give up that easy on things right away.   I still keep the two old faded cordu...

In my last blog, I mentioned about a dead snake behind my office computer.   It happens to be that I have so many cables around it.   I thought of figuring out how I arrived with this messy predicament.   I have two dongles for two delicate software I am using and once in a while I am plugging them in and out at the back of the computer the endeavour which is too tedious consisting of leaning, squeezing and back aching thus arriving in a strategy of installing two long cables plugged at the back serving as the insertions of the two dongles that is reachable in front. I got two external hard drives which incidentally need cables: one serving as back up and working area for the modelling programme and the other is my personal where I keep my music that I listen to while working: we were told by the head of IT that I we should not use the our personal network drive for keeping mp3s – so there.   Right now, I am listening to the Christmas songs by Christina Perri. ...

Sorting out electronic files may be daunting.   But when you get the ball rolling I am coming in to a sort of amusement of rearranging, folder creating, renaming, removing, replacing and assigning.   It’s a matter of prompting a quick start I would find myself enjoying the undertaking. It’s different with the physical cleaning which is not my best area of expertise but maybe I am just not doing my best effort.   Or the effort could not be enough in the light that there are things I don’t see that some skilful cleaners can see.   It’s like I am living in a parallel universe where some objects are just ghosts to me.   The socks on floor seem not there all the time or onion skins and sachets clatter unnoticeably while cooking for instance.   Anyhow, what can I say?   My office desk: Wires and cables lie like dead snakes all around the computer; files on shelves are yet to be sorted from what are needed and what ain’t; I got too many jugs and mugs ...

There are times that I have exhausted my reasoning on how to arrive in a decision.  I have put out all the cards of options on the table and rate them according to how we want it to be basing on our needs and a bit of our whims.  I may arrive with a decision out of our scrutiny and yet our confidence is not enough to say “this is it.”  Our own knowing falls short to give our thumbs up.  Opinions of others are sought and may give bearing but it may be yet not sufficient.  Is this good?  Am I being paranoid?  I believe that I am just being God Fearing that I consider that the last say would be the One above as I pray.  May he guide me to the right decision.  He completes the process.  Sometimes I may not receive an answer in the light that I should make a decision right away.  That’s an instance when I would get into relying on my own reasoning to choose yet praying that He would bless my last say.  I believe sometimes He want ...

Looking for a house is such a pressing task.  We are hoping that we could find the right place at the right time.  But what is happening at the moment is that we could not find a house that is just in the right complete package.  There is always something that put us off in each place.  We needed to increase the range of rate so us to broaden the likability of the options.  And yet we are staying in the backseat and waiting for the right house to just happen in midst of our time ticking out.  The list of houses is I may say hmmmmm just okay but I am still waiting for a big wow house.  Nevertheless the big decision would be when the three of us will be happy with the chosen one.  There are houses that are good and bad to look at in the picture but the opinion can be otherwise when you get to view the exact outside location.  Once you are happy with what we are seeing outside, we request for view inside.  But then why not reque...