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

LLDD-BABY RECITAL VIDEOS ARE JUST THE THING YOU NEED

In a world as chaotic, scary and stressful as ours, one thing we can universally agree on is the comprehensively soothing power of a child's song and dance.

Stated otherwise I'M DRAGGING YOU ALL IN TO WATCH HOME MOVIES OF THE LLDD-BABY PERFORMING

Trust me, it'll be good for you.

Book Week

Family Day

Ballet Recital

Lavish musical numbers not really your thing?  Fine, here's a loop of the kid happily skipping away...

...or just freestylin'

Admit it, you feel better already

'CAUSE TONIGHT, IS THE NIGHT, WHEN II BECOMES I

...I had a little love, now I'm FSO IV...





...FSO III, it's the only way to be...





...FSO II as good as I remember baby...





...and tonight is the night, when II becomes I

Be a little bit wiser, baby

SENDOFF FOR A SECFORAF

As you may have heard in the news, our Diplo-Elvis was leaving the building. Now, I never got to work that closely with this boss, and I was posted abroad when Pardek said his goodbyes to the Department years ago, so I had no sense of what the last day at work of a Secretary might be like.

Turns out, pretty cool.  

While work-as-usual continued throughout the day, the different offices found time to drop by the guest of honor's room and leave some going-away presents. My office gave a fine, stone-inlaid case hand-crafted by Visayan artisans.  Really tasteful and classy.

So much so, you know I had nothing to do with it

At the end of the work day, everyone headed down to the auditorium for a final gala of testimonials, videos, musical numbers and other senior official performances

When we say we'll have singing ambassadors, we'll have SINGING AMBASSADORS

And keeping it hip, everything ended with some epic groufies

Can you spot the pandork in this picture?

Then people just found themselves lining the long, last walk to the main doors. Smiles, cheers, tears, hugs, handshakes (even a slow-clap!) all the way out.   A couple of senior officers and I may or may not have also been loudly humming the Battle of Yavin Medal Ceremony theme.

And of course, for the final "Riding off into the Sunset" moment, 
some lens flare

God speed, and thanks for the memories.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT STOCK PHOTO-HEADLINE ALGORITHM THIS NEWS SITE IS USING...

...but I approve!

I mean, the thing's already foreseen that mechanical bugs will become sentient and turn on their human overlords!  Just like the prophecy/supreme court decision said they would!

(on the other hand, its stock photo of a lady scientist might also just be Denise Richards, so there very well may still be a flaw in the programming that mankind can exploit during its fightback)

SEVENTH HEAVEN

Just celebrated our Seventh Wedding Anniversary the old-fashioned way: check into a hotel in the morning, then get some "paputok" at night (twice!)

So first the hotel...

Then, not one but TWO "paputoks"! Dutch and American style! 20 minutes long each! With less than an hour's rest in between!

Yeah, baby.  Getting better with age.

THAT CAPTAIN DFA, HE'S A QUALITY GUY

I'll be honest, I never previously got what those ISO and quality management systems were all about. Aside from being the butt of a thousand Dilbert strips, the whole thing just seemed so massive and complex and would always go entirely over my head.

That was until the office held a weekend seminar and explained everything! And now I'm all in! Well, no, I still don't fully understand all of it and have a lot more to learn. But that seminar, man...it just blew my mind! First, it had an opening rap number (always a winner). Then it had some people sing "ISO the Sign" -- to the tune of "I Saw the Sign." (I know, right?).  And then, it finished off with some totally righteous Captain and Kapitana posters!

So now I know.  ISO is 9001 different ways of saying "Husay"

(and is 2008 kinds of awesome)