a day without a bed(frame)

The bedframe was taken away to be fixed because Stephanie Trading sells inferior furniture that isn't fully treated. Tsk tsk. Apparently, there was a case of bukbok (I do not know the English translation) starting on my less-than-one-year-old bedframe (Mom's birthday gift last year). The all-around wunderkind Mang Hesus treated the bed with Solignum (I believe it was called) and fixed a drawer (yes, my bed has drawers, as all the trinkets and acquisitions need homes). It's since been returned, but last night, it was like Zen-time. Hee. Just was a little disconcerting getting up this morning.

farewell, dragon

Suddenly, the seemingly frivolous, egocentric post I had planned for today paled in comparison to this dire news: Robert Jordan, acclaimed author and high fantasy master, passed away yesterday. The blog post, written by his "Brother/Cousin" Wilson, is here.

Unfortunately, the supposedly last book in the Wheel of Time series, A Memory of Light, has not been completed yet. His widow, Harriet, will ultimately decide if the book can be pieced together from notes and drafts. The Wheel of Time Philippines, the Philippine fan organization/mailing list for the Wheel of Time series, can be accessed and joined here.

I am a recent convert to The Wheel of Time--but I am glad I made that decision to open that first book. I couldn't help myself from keeping it up until I had Crossroads of Twilight, and then, just recently, Knife of Dreams. The ta'veren had me hooked and I became engrossed in the rich tapestry and deep mythology of the world of the One Power, the Aes Sedai, and the Dragon Reborn. At its heart, it is simply a story of good versus evil, but the many conflicts and complications and the credibility and motivation of the characters, make each tale a wonderful page-turner.

In a sad week that also saw the passing of beloved Madeleine L'Engle, we can only say that the torch is being passed, but these authors' greatness and their legacy are immortalized in their timeless tales--be it of the Murrys or the Two Rivers ta'veren.

Robert Jordan/James Oliver Rigney, Jr.: May the last embrace of the Mother welcome you home.

fare thee well

It is, after all, an acceptable time.

One of the zeester's and my favorite authors, Madeleine L'Engle has passed away at 88. The series of books about the Murry children (frail Charles Wallace, the twins, bookish but underachieving Meg who ends up with the cute, troubled jock Calvin) had us hooked since "it was a dark and stormy night" and Mrs Whatsit burst into their lives. Initiating us into the mysteries of the tesseract as well as the nephilim (in the biblical-themed Many Waters), Ms L'Engle piqued my curiosity and helped unleash imagination.

Ms L'Engle reportedly resented being called a children's author, and deservedly so. Her stories, although about children and written in simple prose, are deep, and far-reaching into Christian and mythological themes. Although JK Rowling and Harry Potter will always be close to my heart for the total entertainment and escapist value, Madeleine L'Engle's books will always be part of my soul.

In this fateful hour
I call on all heaven with its power
And the sun with its brightness,
And the snow with its whiteness,
And the fire with all the strength it hath,
And the lightning with its rapid wrath,
And the winds with their swiftness along their path,
And the sea with its deepness,
And the rocks with their steepness,
And the earth with its starkness,
All these I place
By God’s Almight help and grace
Between myself and the powers of darkness

current pet peeve

Ladies at the School Supplies section of UniMart. First, I wait and wait and wait for someone to come over to the far side of the counter opposite the cash register, where the item I want to buy (dressmaker pins, don't ask) are located. No, both of them are busy servicing the customers at the cash register even if one of them would do. So, I fall in line with the people paying, and of course, when I reach the register, they have to give me the item, right? But Ms Register lady of course, doesn't wait for her assistant/alipores to hand me the item, instead, she moves on to the next customer. Who bought a number of items. Whom I had to wait to finish, bagging and heat-sealing and all. [Sigh, National doesn't heat-seal anymore. You can reuse the plastic bags.] When I could have finished before her. I wasted a good ten minutes of shopping time there!