City of Angels

The gym I work out at recently have become a part of Fitness First. Of course a lot of changes came with it, some good and some not so good. One of these changes is that I can hire DVD’s for free. You have to turn them back in after 2 days. This way it will motivate their members to go to gym every 2 days. I like this idea, and I like them to think “with” the customers. Same like the free fruit. I sometimes forget about my daily vitamins, but when I see a basket full of fruit in front of me every few days, it will be hard to neglect it.

So, recently I decided to re-watch City of Angels. I remember the first time I saw it I found it a little slow paced. But back then I was still a impatient teen, and probably had no good intuition and sense to interpret the movie in the right way. Although I did remember that I still liked the movie in some way. Not to mention that I really love the song "Iris" by the Goo Goo Dolls. Which is of course one of the songs on the original soundtrack of this movie.

(The following text might contain some spoilers)
For those who’ve never seen City of Angels, it is a movie about an angel called Seth (Nicolas Cage) who gradually falls in love with a doctor Maggie (Meg Ryan). Maggie is able to see Seth only when he wants her to see him, and of course she has no idea that he is an angel, neither does she believe in such existence. She has to face life and death every single day yet she doesn’t believe in heaven, nor can perceive such thing. Seth actually has the answer to all her doubts and questions. And he present these in his own way. Not really with words, or something you can perceive directly, but just with his presence, and he seems to give her the feeling that she’s know him for a long time.
Seth doesn’t have the gift to feel hunger, pain, or to touch people. Only humans are able to do so. Of course this all wouldn’t enhance his possible relationship with Maggie.
Eventually Seth realise that he can choose to become human. As he choose to become a fallen angel, but in turn he has to give up all he has known, and give up his existence as an angel.

Maggie dies in the end of the movie, while Seth already gave up his existence as an angel, but the time they had together was a very short period of time. Still Seth insisted that he rather be able to touch her just once, than never been able to do so.

Even though Maggie and Seth are divided by death, I tend to think that their love is eternal. Since Maggie, will always be in Seth’s heart, and he never regretted that he give up his divine existence in return for his very short time with Maggie.
Ok, it might not really befit me to act so sentimental, but this all seems a little touching to me. Especially the fact that Seth is willing to give up so much for just a moment, and the fact that he never regretted that he give up everything for just that one moment in life somehow touches right into my heart. I’m not fully aware if I would ever be able to do so, but I really do feel Seth, but too be really honest I haven’t really found my Maggie yet. Actually recently I thought so, but it turns out not the way I wanted to be.

C'est la vie… being able to be together, means being able to be apart, but most importantly is that there were times of being together.

Fate (Yun)

Chinese have a word called "Yun". Literally it can be translated as fate. Lately, I have been living in a melodramatic world, but I always tend to take some time for myself during these times. Thinking about what happened, trying to take a helicopter view, away from the "situation" I've been in. Reading helps a lot. It clears my mind that has been really misted up by the clouds in front of me. What I didn’t know and couldn’t see was the clear sky behind the clouds.

Behind the clouds is a new sky. One that is clear, and can be seen as new horizon of opportunities. Still, there’s one more dilemma left. Something that I would call fate. What should I do when something “slips away” from you? It might be fate that it slips away, and all my traditional Chinese wisdom tells me that I should be able to accept this, as life cannot always come the way as you want it to be. Yet I feel like fate is something you “create” yourself too. If there are still chances to recover, should I still accept “fate”? I still wouldn’t know what might happen if I try to recover it. Too be honest, things are still beautiful, I still have the nicest of the incidents that happened, but should I still pursue for more? Isn’t love the most beautiful when it can last forever in your memories? Or should we be able to posses the things we really want?

This impasse is still haunting my thoughts, but gradually I tend to accept fate, and am able to tolerate the fact that I will have to let go. Letting go, will make our memories beautiful as they are, and hopefully last forever. Not because I'm oblivious, but because I understand...

一切隨緣

Iris - Goo Goo Dolls

And I'd give up forever to touch you
Cause I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be....



This song adds this melodramatic feel to the atmosphere, but one that can almost be considered soothing, yet so sad. There are times when we all feel left along in this world, and nothing soothen us more than having pity on ourselves for a short moment. Some people choose to reach out at this moments, but yet I choose not. It's hard to keep this moment as a brief one, but yet there is no other way than to do so. It's the sweetest when it's short.

It's a totally different feeling from the experience between sleeping and waking. That's my delight everyday. But there are times, I tend to think it's the same. These little moments, makes us to enjoy and cherish life the most....

A light that never goes out

Ansem: All worlds begin in darkness, and all so end. The heart is no different. Darkness sprouts within it, grows, consumes it. Such is its nature. In the end, every heart returns to the darkness whence it came. You see, darkness is the heart's true essence.

Sora: That's not true! The heart may be weak, and sometimes it may even give in. But I've learned that deep down, there's a light that never goes out!

Love

The greatest distance divided us,
Not because you are oblivious to my love,
When I stand in front of you,

But because we love each other,
Knowing fate will forever keep us apart...

- Priest Tripitaka (Nicolas Tse), Chinese Tall Story

Slam Dunk 2.0!

Q. Will there be a sequel to "Slam Dunk"?

Currently there are no plans for a "Slam Dunk 2" or any sequels.
However, according to Mr. Inoue, "I'm waiting for the desire to draw it to come naturally from within me. Since it won't be because somebody is making me do it, but because I want to enjoy drawing it myself, when the time comes for me to deal with those feelings, there will probably be a #2."
(Comment made by Mr. Inoue on NHK TV's "Top Runner" on 6/15/2000)


Wot wot wot? OMG... Slamdunk probably will be back! Can't wait for the sequal of the Manga! Wonder how long it takes till Inoue-sama till Slam Dunk 2 comes naturally from within him. This comment was made in 2000... While 2007 is around the corner.. lol.

Educating your childeren the "Asian way"

We probably all know how Asians like to educate their childeren. If they are not willing to listen, they have to feel. A lot of Asian families have a duster at home, and yet it's never used for cleaning. It's rather a symbol of order. When a mother holds the duster in the air, it's like she's swinging with her scepter, ruling over her kids. And suddenly the childeren are silenced, and trembles in fear.



I always wonder what it's like to hold the duster. For a parent it must be the symbol of power and authority. Like holding a magical weapon in the hand. *Muhahahaha~~~* <--- evil smile. Personally I'm not pro-smacking. Not that I have childeren, so it's easy talk for me. But I believe there are tons of way to discipline your childeren, so resort to "voilence" isn't really needed. Next to that, it makes me weak to think that I have to use "physical strength" and source of "authority". To keep order in the house. I would rather use my knowlegde, logic, and experience to reason with my childeren. Most important thing for me is not to make my childeren fear me, but instead have them to understand me. It's less efficient, but probably more effective in the long run. Of course, when they understand, but yet feels to apply disciplining is needed, but voilence should be the last resort. And I believe that younger childeren don't understand my reasoning at all. So, this doesn't count for them... hitting them on the hand or their hineys is probably the only way for the first few years, but never forget to tell them why you hit them though. But I still have to admit that hitting them is more efficient. And the lure to the darkside is always tempting.