the most expensive art heist to date...

at the Isabella Gardner Museum... The stolen artworks include some of the world’s most important cultural riches: Rembrandt’s only known seascape...Storm on the Sea of Galilee (1633); the contemplative and remarkable The Concert (1658-1660), one of only 34 known Vermeers in the world...the worth of these 2 pieces of art is in the millions now, more than 100 million USD each claimed by the FBI who is in charge of the recovery of these lost stolen art treasures since day one...Let's hope that they will be returned soon :)

malinak lay labi, calm is the night...

Malinak Lay Labi

Malinak lay labi, Oras lay mareen
Mapalpalnay dagem, Katekep toy linaew
Samit day kugip ko, Binangonan kon tampol
Lapu'd say limgas mo, Sikan-sikay amamayoen

Refrain:

Lalo la bilay no sika lay nanengneng
Napunas lan amin so ermin ya akbibiten
No nanonotan ko lay samit day ugalim
Agtaka nalingwanan anggad kaoyos na bilay.

Repeat refrain...
***
...translation...

The night is calm my love
And time is fleeting still

The wind is breathing low
Kissed by the evening dew

How sweet it is to dream
That I have to wake for you

Your fair attemper face
I shall always caress

O when the night is come
And you my love I see

The sadness all is gone
Buried deeply in my soul

Whenever I recall
Loving ways you are won't to

I shall not forget you
Till I am laid to rest...

hmn, it sounds like a poem, lovely!...and yeah, trying hard that is me, laughs. i have to sing it if i like it even i don't speak the language, a pangasinan favorite tune. i am an ilocana and there is no translation in my dialect, so i go with the flow :) pls. don't box me, laughs, for you did stepped on me not only once, not only twice but 3x now, so you've crossed that line...life will dole out to us back what we dole out to others, but i'll be good for i will pray for you and let God dole out that divine justice...He's kind so not to worry :) even though we are sinners as long as we repent and ask for forgiveness, right? our world after all is entertwined with others, love them and love will be in our doorsteps and it will take an extra ordinary person to walk that extra mile, but for God why not?...xmas vacation or any vacation is always great :>

refreshing rain...

captivating art by William Davis...

on rainy afternoons...one step towards the beach where fresh water touches your tired skin as the clouds let out to cry and unburden their sorrows with each drop of rain falling from the sky. one by one and then in a flash like a sad symphony these clear crystals that wash up dirty pavements and cleanse our hearts. this fresh liquid taken by the grass to be revived, as if it is a saviour to brighten up spent gardens that are ready to die, giving them one more time to spark before the cold winter will swallow them away and turn them into a white, cold and barren wasted land. raindrops, rain dew, ice crystals then snow...all are water in different shapes, cycles, and in different forms hidden from us...but the best is the rain falling out from the sky, the rain that refreshes our hearts one more time until another heartache will come...or maybe not...until another thunder and another lightning will come our way bringing rain to us one more time...a cycle that rolls and repeats until the end which is death...but in the meantime... let's catch the rain, enjoy it and play with it while we can. for time is precious, time will pass and so with the beauty of the rain, it will be gone...

miraculously saved, a church spared by the 12-26-'04's asian tsunami...

A Roman Catholic Church in India, the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health, known also as the Lourdes of Asia...when approx. 280,000 humans perished in that deadly December tsunami, 2,000 worshippers inside this church were spared as the waves stopped on its steps...as people outside were taken by the water and drowned...we don't know when divine grace will save us as these very lucky people did not know then as well...according to Fr.Mary, the "b.i.b.l.e" meant basic instructions before leaving earth :) then the more that we need to pay attention to this holy book then :>

happy x-mas but what have we done...

                                                                                 
so this is christmas
another one to pass
another glimpse
another chance
another hope
for a better life

another song
another winter
another cold season
but where are we now

did we make a mark
to a life without the sun
did we exchange hands
did we touch a heart
did we wash a tear
in some body's eyes

did we put pink ribbons
did we share a smile
did we laugh at each other
did we write, care and love

did we open windows
and crack all doors
did we let the breeze in
even how stale is the smoke

did we write a single verse of thank you
to any one's line of hellos
did we make an effort to make them feel
that they're there for you
or we just ignore them
as they're just dirt in your road

did we sing a sad song
or a cheery tune
did we make them feel
that life is worth living
in spite of the blues

did we, did you, did all
for it's xmas once more...

but as i've said if you're just like me nothing much, nothing done...although i could hope for more in the years to come :) and the favorite song in my home province, 'malinac lay labi' meaning a peaceful night, in pangasinan. although i am an ilocana, i like this song...when Jesus was born, i'm sure it was a holy and a peaceful night :> although also it could be a timeless love song for your muses guys, laughs, or for our lovey dees be that of wives, husbands, mistresses, boyfriends, GFs, or significant others, no gender preferred, laughs. oh well. it just boggle the mind why some men are attracted to men and girls have eyes for other girls that a few are even taking it to the extreme meaning they go for sex change operations. that i think in one confused person, lost and confused. but hey, we are all entitled to seek our own happiness even if it is really very incomprehensible to some. it's their lives after all and who i am to question that...so go for it...(^_~)...for no one cares...(^&*)...

touches of thanksgiving

did we give a smile
as one passed by our side
did we wave a hand
to acknowledge a life

did we say hello
to the humans that we knew
did we pen a note of thanks
to our relatives and friends too

touches of thanksgiving
are sparks of living
matches that burn
our love for each other

beggars and bums
uppers and class
little or lots
love is a must

as raindrops gush
that refreshes us
that's a sign of love from
our Father above

touches of thanksgiving
show that we care
as our time ticks away
as our days roll over...

A BLESSED THANK YOU DAY TO US ALL...

not just things for chevy runs deep

The Bridge of Sighs

the bridge of sighs by john singer sargent ...the best all around painter a century ago, although best known for his life like portrait paintings of people of that era...when you think about the limitations of the tools for his art at that time, this man not only excelled in his craft but is a genius in the true sense of that word...i am amazed with his paintings of women and men with all its details, be on their facial expressions or emotions but with their spectacular outfits as well. wow, i'm thinking, people with such talent should live forever...how about it God :) i know it's too late for him but how about a resurrection of his talent to another person, that will be really cool :>

timeless...

Jesus and music are timeless...but sadly humans and other living creatures are not...so let's use our limited time on earth thinking of others, loving others plus being kind to each other...(^_~)...whether you will have 20-30-40 or 100 years to live on this earth. for some people think that they will live forever by the way they act and behave...three tools in our disposal to live wisely are love, prayer and forgiveness...happy thanksgiving to all :>

The Good Things in Goodbyes

Cascading softly on a mountain top
Dripping not so quietly from up above
Water so clear like a shimmering prop
Dropping in landing at your back

Waterfalls are just like pouring rain
Like teardrops trying to escape the pain
Cleansing the soul of a heavy heart
As it mends, repairs and blots

Bid adieu, goodbye at last
To a nasty and cruel past
Of temporary laughter and of smiles
Of illusions, unreal and of lies

Door closed now, left to depart
Means an end but an open chance
For new beginnings, a renaissance
A spring of happiness, and a new hope in life... :)

the good things in goodbyes are... a new life, a new beginning and a new hope for happiness...(^_~)...so let's welcome it :) God knows what He is doing after all :>

the psychology of love...

if you love you are loved in return if love is present. if you cared you won't let anyone that you care shed a tear. for if you do that is the beginning of the end. for love is only once and once it's gone, it's gone. treasure love for it is as fragile as a glass. once it is broken there is no way you can put back the pieces together, all the scattered remnants will be like a knife, it is very sharp. be careful, for a love that is broken is like a heart that had bled to the max that no CPR could ever revive and make it alive. once it's dead it's totally dead and it would take another love to resurrect it in another human or to make love spring once more to become alive...yes, my thoughts on love, inspired by the recent tweets of ms. kris aquino :)...so guys and gals, value love once you have it, for it will make you sad once it died...love is magic only if love is protected, respected, taken care of or watered like a plant to be alive :> the psychology of love from me, laughs, as if anybody cares...

the opposites...

here and there, hot and cold, ice cream and hot soup...which do i prefer? both :) for they are my worlds :> the only thing is i've never been in a cruise, just a mere trip to Bataan before on board a very big government service ship and also i've never been to a snowy place like this so grand. just snow filled roads in our state and the sight of our snow covered backyard during cold silent winters...but i am hoping that in the future that will change...(^_~)...this is thanksgiving holiday week here and as i am typing this there are lots of air planes above in line hovering around coming for a landing at metro detroit airport for the holiday break, one beautiful sight to see as i look up above beyond the bare sycamore tree in front of me :) on a busy day or night there are around 5,000 planes above the US of A flying around...and the best part is i can see some of them hovering above with their front lights on, red on the right, blue on the left and 2 big whites in front...with 2 engines for domestic flights and 4 for international :)

the evergreen...

it comes in different varieties, pine tree is one of them which is most commonly used as the yule tree. maybe because here in this part of the world Christmas comes during winter time and it is only the evergreen who has not lost its leaves, so it is the tree of choice to celebrate the birth of Christ, i think so...yes, the tree for all seasons :)  it's green and it's ever that way come fall, winter, spring and summer, no change...i wish the little diamond like glitters dressing up this cute evergreen tree can be seen in this video but sadly not. i just put in a 12 hrs. night shift then and went to accompany JC for his environmental science nature field trip at kensington park and it is about noon when i recorded this video, a bit tired but was so amazed by these glitters...a very nice treat after a night of no sleep and it's 12 noon so i am just ready to dive in bed thinking that evergreens are the ultimate tree for they stay green whatever the season is...and hmn, there is a barbra streisand song too with that title... (^&*)...wonderful :) ...yup, there are watery diamond crystals that glitters after the rain and here is proof of it...

after the rain when the heavens cry the tears kept rolling as it lands on evergreens. the reflections will create some multitudes of dangling diamonds shining as the sun's rays come to dry them up and turn them into vapor like made of unseen gas. then it rises up to form as clouds who will hold and store another rain that will fall on us, or on evergreens as the cycle of life moves on and comes to pass. there should be one most powerful mind who is the source of all of these. God, the most powerful, the almighty made our world that is so filled with natural wonders that are priceless, awesome and grand. how lucky can we get sometimes...yes, this was one of my lucky days for i never noticed these sparkles again ever since...

did you remember me

season comes and leaves, winter changes and becomes spring, summer will turn into fall, but as the falling leaves of autumn is here, you did not remember me at all. as i walked by past at your door, no hellos not a single song. as i flip the cover of my book, you were never there for you were lost...

when will i see you again, tell me. when will that sky breaks free, of its dark dawn of today. tomorrow may never come as we know. life comes and goes who knows, the sun may never shine again and it might be night all day. no stars, no moon, no sun to guide our way...

did we remember us to pray, did we remember us to embrace, did we remember us to be... kind and loving with eternal hope of spring. for life is moving on past by us, let's catch some of its thrill in our hands, let's try to make some marks and web some memories that will last...

for today is all that we have...today... not tomorrow which is still a dream that is hard to grasp...

christmas in pinks and gold

even under the sea it sure felt like it's xmas soon, very pretty and unusual...xmas decors are now everywhere. the top image from the www is very unusual and so unique for it is a living ocean creature shaped like a christmas tree. it reminds me of 'adele' and a 'kiss' both are Klimt's paintings...adele is the most expensive art to date. is it worth the price? maybe because it says that this art is made of gold...so this is one expensive xmas, laughs, which sadly i can't afford...(^&*)...

it's always been a GM chevrolet

my camaro, my first car ever and now the lumina...GM cars run deep in my veins :) this year GM, general motors posted some profits in the billions after losing the top place car manufacturer to toyota who is having break problems recently. our '97 lumina has 150 thousand miles on it but clark howard, the CNN money guru says, that good cars could go up to 250 thousand miles till they conked out so around 100 thousand miles still is available, knock on wood. so 12 thousand a year goes for 8 more years before buying a new car which is the impala, another chevrolet. who knows but if we get 5 more years i will really be very happy :) i know a toyota could roll over and over with mileage meaning into thousands and thousands and it is still drivable even a 20 year old one but, we'll see :) car talk, yes, car talk of the poor like me (^&*)...bec. for the rich, you can hear, porsche, jaguar, lexus, cadillac, bentley, mercedes benz and etc. although i noticed when he was in asia recently our president barack obama's car is a special made to order GM made limo cadillac so i think impala is the wise choice for me for the lumina is not being produced anymore. U.S. presidents bring their own cars anywhere in the world and there is always another spare like air force one, it has a twin just in case something happens to the other one. yup, traveling U.S. presidents meant lots of dollars spent in millions that a republican congresswoman falsely estimated it to be 200 million USD a day but that is a stretch not true said the Obama people. they don't really publicly announce the cost spent by traveling presidents here but that estimate is really to the roof expert says, laughs. oh well. what can you expect from the opposition right? bloated, big, false estimates to put their foe to shame, as if we do not really know that :)

the beatles is now on itunes but...

you have to buy the whole album even if you want only one song. i want this song only but i can't have it not unless i'll buy the album, so i turned to you tube instead, it's free pa, gosh! so much for that trick! :)

how do we humble ourselves...

today at EWTN's homily given by the best priest ever, a brilliant servant of God... Fr. Wade Menezes. scroll down to archived video, then hit 300K...to listen and to view his very intelligent sermon about humility for today :) you might have to wait late after noon to view it though...image is our lady of the angels' chapel at EWTN, (eternal word television network) in irondale, alabama, usa...

colors at the final days of autumn

amazing renditions, a fantastic duet...

"the prayer" and "blue christmas" sang by the talented 7 year old rhema marvanne with terry white...of course it will be a blue christmas for people who lost their muses, or that it had to be you love, laughs...but to this very young and pretty music angel, blue xmas is losing her mom to ovarian cancer 2 years ago...imagine that, love lost even of any kind is painful, trying and a soul searching experience more so to the older generations than her i suppose. music heals, music expresses our sorrows as music elevates us from suffering to acceptance and eventually to joy in our hearts, hopefully...(^_~)...when life's turn to depart there's nothing we can do about it. when love leaves us we are sad but life goes on as the world turns, as the time ticks as the sun rises in the east for we do not have any control of that...we are just puppets in this universe so to adjust we must, to roll with the punches, to pick up the pieces, to move on with heads up high, to turn to hope for a brighter spot in the next days to come. it is not the end of the world after all, as the sun sets in the west it will rise again on another day in the east bringing us another lovely dawn :)

SMILE *:-D...

smile, what's the use of crying...life is hard na nga, let's make it lighter :) imagine yourself giving sunshine instead of the rain to whoever you cared for...and the top is saint peter basilica in Rome. i will really be smiling for sure once i get to this holy place in the Vatican City, the one dream of my life...coz i'd like to do something in there :) to pray and one more thing plus one more other thing :> in our lives we have things that we wanna do to make us smile and be happy and hope for the best that they materialize but if not what can we do. it is never meant to be and understanding that is also a smile bringer for you've got wisdom instead as i remember the desiderata poem in college, a favorite :)...what a genius man...it's time for silence, blogging silence, maybe...

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself to others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the the world is full of trickery. But let not this blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all it's sham drudgery and broken dreams; it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

-- Max Ehrmann