Friday, January 06, 2006
GOODIE GOODIE
In honor of the Good Omens reissue (February), decided to share with you the New Year's Resolutions of Crowley (a Demon) and Aziraphale (an Angel) by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett over at the Harper Collins site.
Crowley:
Resolution #1: I must accept that Super-Gluing valuable coins to the sidewalk and then watching events from a nearby café is not proper demonic activity.
Resolution #2: The same applies to rearranging the letters on wayside pulpits.
Resolution #3: Try to come up with something as good as cell phone ringtones, following one last stab at convincing Downstairs that cell phone ringtones are right up there in the whole Human Misery stakes. And iPods. Has anybody Down There even said thank you for iPods? Or "Googling yourself?" Frankly, I deserve some kind of award for "Googling yourself."
Resolution #4: I must encourage greedy people to use the term, "Low-hanging fruit," because that's just like old times.
Resolution #5: This year, I will get a desk near the window.
Resolution #6: I will try to understand why Hell is a no-smoking area. I just think it's ridiculous having to stand around outside the gates, that's all.
Resolution #7: On the orders of Head Office I will encourage the belief in Intelligent Design, because it upsets everyone.
Resolution #8: Stop Googling myself.
Aziraphale:
Resolution #1: Spread peace and love and glad tidings of great joy throughout the world. Also try to get out more.
Resolution #2: I will be charitable to people who use the term "core values," however difficult this may be.
Resolution #3: Notwithstanding Resolution #2 (above), I will redouble my efforts to have the utterance of the phrase "core values" classified as a deadly sin. I believe Himself is with me on this one.
Resolution #4: I will try to be nicer to the customers. They want to buy books; I want to sell them. It can't be that hard. (Memo to self: Regular opening hours? Mark prices on books?)
Resolution #5: I will try to be polite to Gabriel, no matter what the provocation.
Resolution #6: Find out exactly what an "Internet" is.
Resolution #7: Really must resume dancing lessons. Learn the "Galloping Major," the "Gay Gordons," the "Mashed Potatoes." Possibly even the "Twist"?
Resolution #8: Thwart Infernal Wiles (ongoing).
Resolution #9: I will try to understand why Heaven is a non-smoking area.
Resolution #10: On the orders of Head Office I will encourage the belief in Intelligent Design – despite the fact that the human airway crosses the digestive tract. Who thought that was intelligent?
Resolution #11: Feed the ducks.
Crowley:
Resolution #1: I must accept that Super-Gluing valuable coins to the sidewalk and then watching events from a nearby café is not proper demonic activity.
Resolution #2: The same applies to rearranging the letters on wayside pulpits.
Resolution #3: Try to come up with something as good as cell phone ringtones, following one last stab at convincing Downstairs that cell phone ringtones are right up there in the whole Human Misery stakes. And iPods. Has anybody Down There even said thank you for iPods? Or "Googling yourself?" Frankly, I deserve some kind of award for "Googling yourself."
Resolution #4: I must encourage greedy people to use the term, "Low-hanging fruit," because that's just like old times.
Resolution #5: This year, I will get a desk near the window.
Resolution #6: I will try to understand why Hell is a no-smoking area. I just think it's ridiculous having to stand around outside the gates, that's all.
Resolution #7: On the orders of Head Office I will encourage the belief in Intelligent Design, because it upsets everyone.
Resolution #8: Stop Googling myself.
Aziraphale:
Resolution #1: Spread peace and love and glad tidings of great joy throughout the world. Also try to get out more.
Resolution #2: I will be charitable to people who use the term "core values," however difficult this may be.
Resolution #3: Notwithstanding Resolution #2 (above), I will redouble my efforts to have the utterance of the phrase "core values" classified as a deadly sin. I believe Himself is with me on this one.
Resolution #4: I will try to be nicer to the customers. They want to buy books; I want to sell them. It can't be that hard. (Memo to self: Regular opening hours? Mark prices on books?)
Resolution #5: I will try to be polite to Gabriel, no matter what the provocation.
Resolution #6: Find out exactly what an "Internet" is.
Resolution #7: Really must resume dancing lessons. Learn the "Galloping Major," the "Gay Gordons," the "Mashed Potatoes." Possibly even the "Twist"?
Resolution #8: Thwart Infernal Wiles (ongoing).
Resolution #9: I will try to understand why Heaven is a non-smoking area.
Resolution #10: On the orders of Head Office I will encourage the belief in Intelligent Design – despite the fact that the human airway crosses the digestive tract. Who thought that was intelligent?
Resolution #11: Feed the ducks.
FRIDGE
From Kitty.
If you like playing with refrigerator magnets but lack enough letters, well, this site is for you: http://www.dietcokelovelife.co.uk/
Sunday, January 01, 2006
SUNSET '05
I got to (dusk?)watch this sky with Kitty last Friday.
We were at the UP Lagoon area as we waited for friends (including videoke capo Is It Safe and the long lost Souljacker) who'd be joining us for a simple last minute gathering before the year ended. The sky had been white and gray with faint strips of blue so this was a pleasant surprise. It was as good a sunset as can be expected from an afternoon that was mostly overcast.
I was content.
And then, a few moments later, it got better.
We were at the UP Lagoon area as we waited for friends (including videoke capo Is It Safe and the long lost Souljacker) who'd be joining us for a simple last minute gathering before the year ended. The sky had been white and gray with faint strips of blue so this was a pleasant surprise. It was as good a sunset as can be expected from an afternoon that was mostly overcast.
I was content.
And then, a few moments later, it got better.
I gazed at this silent eruption. Bathed in cool firelight.
Realized that this was how 2005 for me.
After 2004, I knew the next year would be better. Had to be better.
And it was. It actually turned out great. Not because of lowered expectations, but because '05 simply had exceeded whatever expectations or notions I had in my then long-haired head as I stood on the front porch to watch Metro Manila vanish underneath firework smog a year ago.
2005 had been a time for the closing certain books while beginning new chapters for others. Receiving text messages about deaths and wakes. Getting invitations for weddings and baptisms. Weeding out terrible acquaintances. Cultivating terrific new friendships. Discovering new places. Visiting old haunts.
Existing. Living.
Longing.
Loving.
The light began to fade.
And although it really wasn't the last sunset of 2005, I silently said a fond farewell to the year that was.
Realized that this was how 2005 for me.
After 2004, I knew the next year would be better. Had to be better.
And it was. It actually turned out great. Not because of lowered expectations, but because '05 simply had exceeded whatever expectations or notions I had in my then long-haired head as I stood on the front porch to watch Metro Manila vanish underneath firework smog a year ago.
2005 had been a time for the closing certain books while beginning new chapters for others. Receiving text messages about deaths and wakes. Getting invitations for weddings and baptisms. Weeding out terrible acquaintances. Cultivating terrific new friendships. Discovering new places. Visiting old haunts.
Existing. Living.
Longing.
Loving.
The light began to fade.
And although it really wasn't the last sunset of 2005, I silently said a fond farewell to the year that was.
