Stay In It: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

I bought a Canon EOS500D in February of 2010. Since then I ventured into photography. I went inside a different world. My fingers slowly learned to play with manual mode. My eyes began to see things in a different perspective, and wished they could take pictures.

Two years ago, I stopped. I wrapped my gear with a cloth bag and kept it inside my cabinet. It has been there ever since. For some reason, unknown to me then, I stopped. I traveled to so many places without it. I settled with a mobile phone that could take pictures. I have experienced so many things, tried so many adventures, tasted so many foods, and ventured so many roads without my camera.

I felt bad. I felt like I have let so many good photo opportunities pass by, like I failed to capture them. Until I saw this movie I have been waiting for. A scene from The Secret Life of Walter Mitty made me understood myself.

I won't give much details about the movie and I will go straight to that favorite conversation.

Start

Walter Mitty found Sean O'Connell in the Himalayas trying to photograph a rare snow animal. Sean is a photojournalist for LIFE magazine both work for. When the animal suddenly appeared before Sean's camera and their very eyes, Walter asked,

Walter Mitty: When are you going to take it?

Sean O'Connell: Sometimes I don't. If I like a moment, for me, personally, I don't like to have the distraction of the camera. I just want to stay in it.

Walter Mitty: Stay in it?

Sean O'Connell: Yeah. Right there. Right here.

End.

Now I understood why I stopped taking photos for a while. For a moment, maybe it was because I didn't want to be all consumed more by how beautiful my photo will turn than actually seeing the real beauty of that picture perfect moment. Maybe, I didn't want to miss it. For some moments, I'd get frustrated that the camera could not depict the real beauty I was seeing. That's why I just let my eyes take the photo and my mind to keep it. Like what's mentioned in the movie, "beautiful things don't ask for attention."

Am sure I'll use my gear again. Maybe, I won't. For now, let me stay in it. Right there, right here.

You Still Have the Candy

Am out of town with friends this weekend. Yesterday, while we were waiting for the rest of the group to get ready for dinner, some of us decided to turn on the tv and catch whatever we can.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is on! I've seen this twice and it never ceases to capture me. Today, another line hit me.

SPOILER ALERT

Willy Wonka, the owner of the reopened chocolate factory, has released an invitation to five lucky kids who will find the Golden Ticket from five of his many chocolate bars released to the public, to visit the factory.

Charlie, a kid from a very poor yet loving family, dreams of getting one of the tickets but knows that his chance is slim, almost none. His loving parents (and bedridden grandparents) wanted to support his dream. On his birthday, they bought a chocolate bar hoping he would find a ticket. His dad just lost his job so buying the chocolate also means they have given up the money they would have used for food.

When Charlie's father handed over their gift to him, the whole family was happy to see a Willy Wonka's chocolate bar. His father said, "Whatever happens, you still have the candy."

End.

When we don't get what we want, the tendency is to ignore what was given instead. Whatever happens, you still have the candy. You always have a candy.

Photo: Hot chocolate from Gloria Jean's

Spin Fast

Photo source here.

Entry # 65 of The Eavesdropper

Spin and spin and spin really fast... That's what love is like, makes your heart raise and turns the world upside down, but if you're not careful, if you don't keep your eye on something still, you could lose your balance. You can't see what's happening to people around you. You can't see that you're about to fall...

Nicole Kidman as Gillian Owens in Practical Magic

Figure the Streets Out

(You already figured the streets out?)

You gotta control your smiles and cries because that's all you have and nobody can take that away from you.  - Ethan Hawke as Jake Hoyt in TRAINING DAY

What we Deserve?

Photo source here.

Charlie: Why do nice people choose the wrong people to date?
Mr. Anderson: We accept the love we think we deserve.

- The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Riding Waves

Photo source here.

Riding waves... it's a state of mind. It's a place where you lose yourself and you find yourself...

...Look at it! It's a once in a lifetime opportunity, man! Let me go out there and let me get one wave, just one wave before you take me in.

 - Patrick Swayze as Bodhi in POINT BREAK

Honoring all the surfers in the world, famous or not!

Hibernation Station

Photo source here.

I made plans before the weekend - spend movie night with friends, swing by a store to buy a book, and savor a favorite Filipino pizza for Sunday. None of it happened.

Instead, I drowned myself with good movies over a cup of caramel chocolate and food, no bath for two days (all of us should do this at least once in our lives), a journey down the lane with the Beatles collection, a delight from other equally brilliant yet not-so-famous musical geniuses, a second trip to a book I've gone through in the past, and a taste of poetry.

My brother and I decided to clean up the files in my computer to give way to new ones. As I was reviewing each, I found hidden treasures of movies, songs, audio books, ebooks and poems that I have not paid attention in a long time.

First one I delved deep into was the Beatles collection. I like listening to the Beatles. Aside from their brilliance, it reminds me of my childhood days. It reminds me of that time when my father listens to it to remind him of his younger years. Music is timeless. It was nice to go back old school, sing and dance and shake-yer-head the Beatles way, when no one is looking.

Another gem I found was my collection of Manchester Orchestra songs. In this collection, I found Andy Hull's (lead vox) side solo project Right Away, Great Captain. RAGC is a concept album in trilogy. It talks about the experiences and emotional journey of a sailor in the old times whose wife cheated on him with his brother. The songs are extremely painful and are deep in a sense that it allows you to see its darkness. I do not glorify the negative feelings of the character but I like its honesty and rawness which gives me a good grasp of people going through the same. Other than the dark side, it gives you a glimpse of hope and the inherent goodness in people, thus gives you the war within human.

Aside from music, I also got to see about three movies, one of which instantly made it to the top of my favorite movies - INTO THE WILD by Sean Penn. The movie was based on the real life account of Christopher McCandless a.k.a. Alexander Supertramp who hiked the Alaskan mountains after graduating from college,leaving his family with no trace and donating his $24,000 savings in order to find himself into the wild. The movie is a self-discovery journey at its utmost resignation from the materials things of the world and a giant leap of faith. It was about something I wish I could do but will probably never find the reason and the courage to do so. It wasn't a perfect journey as it also covered human errors and failures. You could feel the pain in some parts of it and joy in most. The scenes brought me freedom, nature, beauty, art, humanity reason, faith, relationships (and the joys and pains of the lack of it) and God's presence everywhere.

*SPOILER ALERT

The movie blends reasons with a balance. It gave us the realization of two facts -

Happiness is only real when shared. 

One thing Chris realized after living on his own for a long time and limiting his interaction with the people that he meets along the way especially when he feels the connection is getting stronger. He believes that people do not need human relationships to be happy because God is all around us. He wrote the above line before he died.

What if I were smiling and running into your arms? Would you see then what I see now?

This was the last line of the movie which balances all. It validates how the journey gave him what others might not have and what he may never have had he not stayed. The scene closes with a great view of the sky and a note: 

I HAVE HAD A HAPPY LIFE AND THANK THE LORD. GOODBYE AND MAY GOD BLESS ALL. 

It is a LIBERATING story for me. 

What made it more beautiful was the soundtrack featuring the works of a master, Eddie Vedder. Guaranteed, a beautifully written song sends chills up my spine. It is one song I want to hear while traveling. 
 
After seeing this movie twice, it inspired me to search and learn again. It was this eagerness and inspiration that brought my eyes upon a book I have already read twice in the past. I read TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE for the third time and it still felt like it was the first. I still shed a tear on two particular scenes in the story.

The story was written by Mitch Albom about his Tuesdays with a former professor dying of ALS. Both were working on their last thesis together learning how to live life by learning how to accept that we will all die eventually therefore we should do things differently. They talked about the world, about feeling sorry for oneself, regrets, death, family, emotions, the fear of aging, money, love, marriage, culture, forgiveness, perfect days, and goodbyes.

I can talk more about those two days but I'm sleepy now and have not had a good rest in the last two days so I'll stop. But I won't let this end without saying that it was one of the best weekends of my life and we all need a hibernation station once in a while.

On Richard Parker

Photo source here.

More than a week ago,my friends and I went to see The Life of Pi. Although I am not in total agreement with the final message of the movie (at least how I interpreted it), I can say bravely say that it was brilliantly made and definitely not a waste of money.

This is not a film review so please do not take it as such. I found all the scenes in the movie very endearing especially those where a human shares the screen with an animal. Richard Parker is such a sweetheart to me. He reminded me of my own little tiger at home - Champ. 

Among all the scenes, there was one I can't forget. It hit home. Here it is-

*SPOILER ALERT*

Pi was the only one in his family who survived a sea disaster. As he was trying to figure out how to stay alive in a lifeboat he managed to keep despite the strong current, he finds a zebra, a hyena, a monkey and a Bengal tiger. The first three didn't make it. The Bengal did.

It took time for him and the tiger to get used to and to even be near each other. I actually think that it is one of the best parts of the movie - how Pi managed to stay alive while keeping Richard Parker (watch the movie to know the story behind the name) alive too. He was able to find ways on how to feed Richard Parker and himself. His survival instincts, prayers and hope (the last was repeatedly mentioned in the movie not to be given up) kept them alive.

What struck me was these words from the movie -

I never thought a small piece of shade could bring me so much happiness; that a pile of tools, a bucket, a knife, a pencil, might become my greatest treasures; or that knowing Richard Parker was even what might ever bring me peace.

Without Richard Parker I would've died by now. My fear of him keeps me alert, tending to his needs gives my life purpose.

We all go frenzy over finding our purpose in life. We think that having lots of money will give us more chances to help others, or maybe build a foundation or a charitable institution. Some of us wish we are more popular and think that it will give us a better chance at finding our purpose. Some of us wish to look better because we think that being accepted by everyone is what will give us purpose.

We want so many things and so many people in our lives and forget to pay attention on the things and the people we already have. Our purpose starts at our own circle - our family at home and at work. Imagine a pastor, or a priest, or a church leader, who is hated by his own family. Who would ever believe what he says? Imagine a teacher whose own child cannot go to school. Where's the real value of education?

Our first ministry should be our own. If we are able to fulfill God's purpose in our lives in our own circles, I can guarantee that it takes almost no effort to make it outside that circle. We should make the most of what we have and the things that God graciously gives us and be ready for, maybe, something bigger in time.

Who can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.
Luke 16: 10a

So where is your piece of shade? What's your pile of tools? your knife? your bucket? and your pencil? Who are your Richard Parkers? Who and what give purpose to your life? I tell you, don't look too far for answers.

Ultimately, we should never falter in the basic truth - our purpose should be after God's.

The Right Question

Photo source here.

The Right Question

Eavesdropping in the Film American History X (1998)

Dr. Bob Sweeney: I need to know the truth about how you feel.

Derek Vinyard: ..I don't know. I don't know what I feel... I all... I feel a little inside out. I... I don't know. There's some things that ... that don't fit.

Dr. Bob Sweeney: Well, that happens... but Derek, you are too damn smart to be floating around here pretending you don't see all these holes in this bulls**t! 

Derek Vinyard: Listen, you see I said I was confused. I didn't say I didn't believe in it.

Dr. Bob Sweeney: .. Right now your anger is consuming you.You anguish is shutting down the brain God gave you.

Derek Vinyard: You know man, you've been talking about what's going on with me since I was in high school. How the f***  do you know so much about what's going on inside me?

Dr. Bob Sweeney: No. I know about me. I know about this place. I know about the place you are in.

Derek Vinyard: What do you know about the place am in?

Dr. Bob Sweeney: There was a moment, when I used to blame everything and everyone for all the pain and suffering and vile things that happened to me; that I saw happen to my people. Used to blame everybody. Blamed white people, blamed society, blamed God. I didn't get no answers coz I was asking the wrong questions. You have to ask the right questions.

Derek Vinyard: Like what?

Dr. Bob Sweeney: Has anything you've done made your life better?

(Derek shakes his head and asks for help.)

A Thin Blue Line

Photo source from this link.

Eavesdropping on the Film
End of Watch

(2012)

I'm the police and I'm here to arrest you. You've broken the law. I did not write the law. I may even disagree with the law but I will enforce it and no matter how you plead, cajole, beg, or attempt to stir my sympathies, nothing you do will stop me from placing you in steel cage with grey bars. If you run away, I will chase you. If you fight me, I will fight back. If you shoot at me, I will shoot back. By law, I am unable to walk away. I am a consequence. I am the unpaid bill. I am fate with a badge and a gun. Behind my badge is a heart like yours. I bleed, I think, I love, and yes, I can be killed. And although I am but one man, I have thousands of brothers and sisters who are the same as me. They will lay down their lives for me, and I, them. We stand watch together, a thin blue line, protecting the prey from the predators, the good from the bad. We are the police.

- Officer Brian Taylor (Jake Gyllenhaal)


My grandma... when me and Gabby got engaged she asked me one thing... "can you live without her? And if the answer is YES, man up and forget her. Don't string her along".

- Officer Mike Zavala (Michael Peña)

My Bwakaw Aftemath

Photo Source: Cinemalaya.com

I have always been a fan of independent films. My Literature professors in PNU have trained us well in being able to see a film more than its commercial value. I always look forward to Cinemalaya movies. I see to it that I get to watch at least one of its entries every year. For more information about Cinemalaya, take time to see this. 

One of its Director’s Showcase entries is Bwakaw directed by Jun Robles Lana. The movie is about a grumpy old man, Rene, living the last days of his life in irony - live to wait for death. 

Photo Source: Interaksyon.com

Last Saturday, my friends and I weathered the heavy downpour to watch Bwakaw in Trinoma. Needless to say, the movie was graced by the brilliant acting of veteran actors like Eddie Garcia, Rez Cortez, Bibeth Orteza, Beverly Salviejo, Armida Segion-Reyna, Gardo Versoza, Soxie Topacio and a lot more. Equally brilliant, is the Aspin (asong Pinoy or Filipino native dog), Princess - the dog who played Bwakaw. We couldn't stop commenting about her over-the-top acting while watching the movie. Human actors can learn from her. I later found out that Princess is a highly-trained bomb sniffing dog. Hail to Aspins!

More than the brilliant acting was the story of the movie which I will try hard to conceal as I write this. 

The greatest part of the story is showcasing the friendship between the human and the dog. It was the kind of relationship developed by circumstances. It wasn't planned. It just happened. It was a decision the human had to make. I bet the dog didn't even have to think about it.  

Nurturing the friendship, just like any relationship, every single day is another decision to make; especially in a human-dog friendship where the dog cannot really give you anything material in return. If things get rough, there's that choice to give up the dog. If bills pile up because of medical concerns or everyday expenses, and you know you can't even fend for yourself, it is so easy to just give up and let the dog survive on its own. But as you show concern one circumstance at a time, you also invest time and emotion. As you decide to rub that tummy the dog shows you, you also make a decision to think less of yourself and more of your dog. As The Little Prince puts it,   It's the time you put on your rose that makes your rose so important and You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed. 

The plot of the story thickens when Princess falls ill.  (That's the last spoiler you'll get!) In Rene's struggle to keep Princess alive, he also finds his own reasons to continue to live life. 

If you have a pet, be prepared to love your pet even more after watching this movie. I hugged my pets tight when I got home. If you don't and you are thinking of getting one, please bear in mind that having a pet is a lifetime decision. It is not a passing fascination or fad. Remember, you become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed. 

ON RELATIONSHIPS: How much is too much?

Photo from Imdb

Eavesdropping on the movie “Going the Distance”


Corrine, Erin’s sister, talks to Garrett (the latter’s boyfriend) about Erin’s decision to give up an incredible job to be with him in New York.

Corinne: So, must be excited huh!

Garrett:  Yeah excited!

Corinne: It's wonderful... you know, Garrett, how much I love my sister, right?

Garrett: Of course!

Corinne: I mean, she means everything to me. And that, as you can see, I'm very protective of her. So it's been very hard for me watching her struggle with this decision to come with you or to take this incredible job. But you know, she loves you. And, uh, I know how much you love her. But you need to know how much she's giving up to be with you. So don't break her heart. Ok? …

__________

We all have made sacrifices for the ones we love. Some have given up a favorite hobby, some have given up a person to stop jealousy issues and some have given up a habit that took them almost a lifetime to break. Some have gone farther by giving up a dream, an incredible job, a family’s acceptance or even a good name; all these and more in the name of love. But when is a sacrifice too much? I honestly don’t know. I guess there is no measurement to the sacrifices that we do every day. Also there is no guarantee that we get what we expect to get.

We can make sacrifices all we want but these sacrifices should never, in any way, stop a couple from growing together. Little sacrifices here and there and a few compromises right and left meeting halfway may (or may not) be the answer. A relationship should never stop us from discovering who we really are, to do the things that we love and to grow as we should. A relationship that stops you from growing and developing will more likely slowly kill you until that day when you no longer know who you really are.

__________

Corrine: … or I'll cut your balls off.

Eavesdropping on The Karate Kid (2010)

Jacket On! Jacket Off!

Eavesdropping on The Karate Kid (2010)

This is the conversation between Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) and Dre Parker (Jaden Smith, the cute little kid from The Pursuit of Happyness) on Day One of their Kung Fu lesson.

Mr. Han: Pick up your jacket

Dre: Oh...So basically Mr. Han what I'm trying to say is... I got a good foundation here...You know, like I said... It might not be as hard to teach me as other people you know.

Mr. Han: Hang it up.

Dre: And now?

Mr. Han: Take it down.

Dre: (wondering) But you just...

Mr. Han:   Take it down.

               Put it on.

               Take it off.

Dre: I already did all this...

Mr. Han: Take it off.

Dre: Can you just tell me why I'm doing all of this?

Mr. Han:   Take it off.

               Hang it up.

               Take it down.

               Put it on the ground.

               Pick it up.

               Hang it up.

               Take it down.

               Put it on.

               Take it off.

               Put it on the ground.

               Pick it up.

               Hang it on.

               Take it down.

               Put it on.

              Take it off.

              Hang it up.

From a different scene...

Mr. Han: Kung Fu lives in everything we do Dre. It lives on how we put on a  

             jacket, how we take off the jacket. And lives on how we treat

             people. Everything is Kung Fu.

Does not make sense? ... Watch the movie!

物極必反 Wù jí bì fǎn!

The Prayer of Eli - Eavesdropping

An Eavesdropping on the movie

"The Book of Eli"

Dear Lord,

Thank you for giving me the strength and the conviction to complete the task you entrusted to me.

Thank you for guiding me, straight and true through the many obstacles in my path; and for keeping me resolute when all around seemed lost.

Thank you for your protection and for your many signs along the way.

Thank you for any good that I may have done. I am so sorry about the bad.

Thank you for the friend I made. Please watch over her as you've watched over me.

Thank you for finally allowing me to rest. I am so very tired; but I go now to my rest, at peace; knowing that I have done right with my time on this earth.

I fought the good fight.

I finished the race.

I kept the faith.

- Eli

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

         - 2 Timothy 4:7

Just Keep on Swinging - An Eavesdropping

An Eavesdropping on the movie "Everyone's Hero"

My favorite radio station is bidding goodbye tonight. I tried for a few hours to divert my attention to a movie I have already seen. I 'eavesdropped' on the conversation between the main character Yankee Irving and his father.

Father: Did you play ball today?

Yankee: Yeah, but I don't think I wanna play anymore.

Father: Hey! I thought you loved baseball.

Yankee: Well, I think I'm in a slump.

Father: Hmmm, you know I was watching the team practice the other day and it struck me. Here are guys who made a living playing baseball. They play everyday and even on the day after they lose the game. They're still standing at the plate swinging that bat. And you know how they got to be so good?

Yankee: They just keep swinging?

Father smiled.

Whatever your passion is - be it writing, singing, dancing, blogging, cosplaying etc - if you keep doing it with a heart despite failing every now and then; you'll be good at it in no time. Just keep swinging!

I still turned on my radio and caught the last few minutes of NU. I said, 'I'll just keep rockin' ".

This has been reposted in my other blog called "Eavesdropping"

Eavesdropping on Eat, Pray, Love

Eavesdropping on Eat, Pray, Love

Fox Llante

Sharing a favorite conversation between Groceries and Richard from Texas from the book 'Eat, Pray, Love'.

“What’s got you all wadded up?” he drawls, toothpick in mouth, as usual.

“Don’t ask,” I say, but then I start talking and tell him every bit of it, concluding with, “And worst of all, I can’t stop obsessing over David. I thought I was over him, but it’s all coming up again.”

He says, “Give it another six months, you’ll feel better.”

“I’ve already given it twelve months, Richard.”

“Then give it six more. Just keep throwin’ six months at it till it goes away. Stuff like this takes time.”

I exhale hotly through my nose, bull-like.

“Groceries,” Richard says, “listen to me. Someday you’re gonna look back on this moment of your life as such a sweet time of grieving. You’ll see that you were in mourning and your heart was broken, but your life was changing and you were in the best possible place in the world for it — in a beautiful place of worship, surrounded by grace. Take this time, every minute of it. Let things work themselves out here in India.”

“But I really loved him.”

“Big deal. So you fell in love with someone. Don’t you see what happened? This guy touched a place in your heart deeper than you thought you were capable of reaching. I mean you got zapped, kiddo. But that love you felt, that’s just the beginning. You just got a taste of love. That’s just limited little rinky-dink mortal love. Wait till you see how much more deeply you can love than that. Heck, Groceries — you have the capacity to someday love the whole world. It’s your destiny. Don’t laugh.”

“I’m not laughing.” I was actually crying. “And please don’t laugh at me now, but I think the reason it’s so hard for me to get over this guy is because I seriously believed David was my soul mate.”

“He probably was. Your problem is you don’t understand what that word means. People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that’s what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that’s holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life. A true soul mate is probably the most important person you’ll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then they leave. And thank God for it. Your problem is, you just can’t let this one go. It’s over, Groceries. David’s purpose was to shake you up, drive you out of that marriage that you needed to leave, tear apart your ego a little bit, show you your obstacles and addictions, break your heart open so new light could get in, make you desperate and out of control that you had to transform your life , then introduce you to your spiritual master and beat it. That was his job, and he did great, but now it’s over. Problem is, you can’t accept that this relationship had a real short shelf life. You’re like a dog at the dump, baby — you’re just lickin’ at an empty tin can, trying to get more nutrition out of it. And if you’re not careful, that can’s gonna get stuck on your snout forever and make your life miserable. So drop it.”

“But I love him.”

“So love him.”

“But I miss him.”

“So miss him. Send him some love and light every time you think about him, and then drop it. You’re afraid to let go of the last bits of David because then you’ll really be alone, and Liz Gilbert is scared to death of what will happen if she’s really alone. But here’s what you gotta understand, Groceries. If you clear out all that space in your mind that you’re using right now to obsess about this guy, you’ll have a vacuum there, an open spot — a doorway. And guess what the universe will do with that doorway? It will rush in — God will rush in — and fill you with more love than you ever dreamed. So stop using David to block that door. Let it go.“

- Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Attraversiamo!