PASYAL PA MORE...PA MORE!

So it's been a year already since we got back home, but our bagong salta tour continues! So much fun for me the LLDD-Baby! We especially like places that are not only enjoyable but also teach valuable early life lessons to the young 'un, such as...

Mind Museum   

lesson learned: when you got to go, you got to go

Avilon

lesson learned: daddy's a wuss

Jump Yard

lesson learned: daddy's a wuss who's afraid he might hurt himself at a place like this yet resentful that there wasn't a place like this when he was young

Kidzania

lesson learned: while it is within a country's right to establish a points-based system of immigration as a means, among others, of managing local jobs and employment, the implementation thereof can be challenged in the courts insofar as it may unduly restrict movement of labor across borders particularly in the highly-skilled and creative sectors.

OUR AMBASSADOR TO NEW ZEALAND JUST HAD HIS PRESENTATION OF CREDENTIALS, AND IT LOOKED COOL AS HECK

I always thought the haka freakin' ruled so hard, and that doing it before a rugby match was the coolest thing not just in sports, but in everything.  

Turns out, diplomats representin' in New Zealand get to bask in similar awesomeness.

That up there is our Ambassador at his pres cred, and what they're giving him is the pōwhiri or traditional Māori welcome. It involves a lead warrior dropping a spearhead in front of the Ambassador, who must then pick it up and return it to the warrior without breaking eye contact to signify he comes in peace. The ceremony ends with the traditional Maori greeting hongi where the visitors and hosts press their noses and foreheads together.

So cool.

Hey, remember the pres cred we had in the UK? That was also something.

RECURRING FANTASY

Another year, another title.  No big deal.

(it's a very big deal)

(to me)

THE DORK AWAKENS

So the Star Wars Expanded Universe has expanded even further into my work/life...And I like it!

First, the law firm where I used to work invited me to attend their 35th anniversary celebration, and while it was a fairly straightforward affair not that much different from the other formal receptions I've attended, it had two exceptional shout-outs: 1) out of maybe 500 guests, the emcee did just one of those "we'd like to acknowledge the presence of..." announcements -- to me! (I was the only one to come in a short-sleeve office barong, I guess?); and 2) the grand ballroom big-screens and sound system proudly declared that the law firm was founded the same time as the premier of...Empire Strikes Back!

It was my destiny

A few weeks after that, the LLDD-Baby was invited to her first ever Star Wars-themed birthday party, just like I she always wanted! And let me say, the parents kids were so happy to bring their A-costume game!

Even Chewie got a medal

Then in the happiest/most surreal plot-twist ending of all, parties at my office now apparently carry movie-themes -- with a recent senior officer's despedida setting the Gold Squadron standard.  Let's see...

...it had some junior officer force-choking...

...a framed portrait of the celebrant that CGI-ed Hayden Christensen the hell out of there...

...Rey scavenging some lechon...

...some flexin' Imperial Guard wannabes (made up of the celebrant and the Department's Zumba instructor, obviously)...

...a re-enactment of the "Let me look on you with my own eyes" scene, with a low-rider Stormtrooper giving notes...

...and, why the hell not, all the bad guys grooving to a mariachi band.

So overall, not quite the Cantina, but glorious nonetheless

OH NO STATE

Make of this what you will...

Surely the true intent and meaning was well taken, maybe?

K