It's Now Or...

It's now or...





NOW!




Did I give myself enough choices? No, because I don't want to.

This is my plan. And there's no room for reroute this time (remember, I took a detour in the second quarter). Although some best laid plans don't turn out as such, I want this simple plan to take its course. I have to put a halt to working. I have to end my 8th job (freelance excluded). Yes, this is my 8th job and I'm looking forward to being a free-spiritted bum once again. (wink)

Mind you, this is an easy decision to make. This is my first formal resignation and I feel that I won't regret this even a bit. No biggie.

Mumbai Mayhem

(photo courtesy of Economist)

MSNBC reports:

MUMBAI, India - They showed up, as they do every night: businessmen for meetings in the elegant restaurant that overlooks the harbor, politicians for cocktails in a bar with velvet seats and wood and marble floors, friends for a steak dinner by the pool.

But then the shooting started.

Explosions followed in and around the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower — a Mumbai landmark with sweeping staircases, onyx columns and high alabaster ceilings, known as the playground of the city's elite since it opened in 1903.

At least 119 people were killed when the teams of gunmen stormed the Taj and another hotel, a popular restaurant, hospitals, a Jewish center, a crowded train station and at least five other sites. A group of suspected Muslim militants claimed responsibility.

At the Taj, anyone who could ran for cover.

While reading the news, I recalled the September 11 attack. They have common denominator - pointing to terrorists as perpetrators.

At first, I thought the Twin Tower bombing was just a scene in an action flick. It was fabulous. It appeared very real. But the moment I started to recognize the anchor's voice, I realized it was really real. Part of the globe was experiencing bloodshed. Innocent lives were at stake.

A greater fraction of the world was astonished. Who could envision a fierce attack on the most powerful nation?

Here comes Mumbai mayhem - multitude was killed. And terrorists are once again under close scrutiny. The coordinated attacks in Mumbai have so far left 119 people dead. And it's all because of their principle. Reasonable or not, fair or foul, you decide.

The Holy Scripture says "Thou shalt not kill." But why are they killing to achieve their so-called biblical end? Go figure.

SHELDONism

Sheldonism.

What's with the coinage?

Sheldonism is a strong belief that Sidney Sheldon novels are riveting, captivating and a must-read. (*wink)

Sheldon was an Academy Award-winning Broadway playwright, Hollywood TV and movie screenwriter, and a best-selling novelist. At age 89, he died from complications arising from pneumonia.

He's really good. And I'm happy to know that Sheldonism is everywhere. My best buddy, some of my classmates back in high school and college, as well as my colleagues share the same fetish too.

I've kept some Sheldonism mementos but I don't have them now. Blame it to a friend suffering from selective amnesia. You know, always forgetting what it is to be returned.

Good thing a Sheldonist is nice enough to send me pdf files. Thanks Raymond.

What makes a good prolific novelist?

Sheldon confessed:

"I try to write my books so the reader can't put them down. I try to construct them so when the reader gets to the end of a chapter, he or she has to read just one more chapter. It's the technique of the old Saturday afternoon serial: leave the guy hanging on the edge of the cliff at the end of the chapter."

His best-selling novels include:

Of the 18 bestsellers, Ive read the 16. Oh yeah, I'm not a Sheldon fanatic. Not much.

Right now, I'm dying to read The Naked Face, his first novel which make him grab an Edgar Allan Poe Award. That's his only novel with a man as the lead character (I've been looking for a copy but I can't find one).

Hail the master storyteller. A toast to Sheldon. A toast to women empowering writing. He's one helluva writer - really!

Right now, I'm completing my novel collection authored by Sandra Brown, Danielle Steel and John Grisham. But I love Sheldon's work best. I'm also thankful to Lala bear for giving me a copy of Agatha Christie's "Hercule Poirot's Christmas." I love the twist.

I Am Pro Life

Silent Cry.

T'was the title of a documentary about abortion. It was shown to us when we were in high school. The purpose: To instill in our mind that abortion is no less than killing. Worse, killing an innocent life.

Life begins at fecundation (the meeting of sperm and egg cell). Once there's fertilization, there's life. More often than not, even before the mother knew she's pregnant, there's already life inside her womb.

The documentary showed the abortion process - uncut. It was horrible. It was gross. Using ultrasonography, I saw how the fetus slowly struggled to stay away from the huge forcep which bit by bit mutilated him. The movements were apparent. The fetus was actually avoiding the fatal intrusion... But to no avail. He was weak and still dependent on her mother. His legs were pulled. Then his hands. The forcep twisted his head. Then the midbody. Finally, the fragments were collected using a hose (which appears more like a vacuum or a device that uses suction). It was brutal.

I pity the babies. Their silent cry were left unheeded even by the very person expected to care for them the most.

T'was in 1997. Today's abortion procedure is far easier. But still butchery.

What pushed me to write this entry

A conversation with a friend.

She's 19. She's pregnant. But she told me she doesn't want to have a baby just yet so she's planning to have an abortion. She asked me about the medicine, the process. But I just can't spill the beans. To do so is to impliedly allow her to kill the baby.

I told her not to abort the baby because he/she has no bearing whatsoever on her personal problems. The baby has no fault. Just the result of her sexual activities. Activities she consented and enjoyed. Thus, she must be responsible enough to face the consequences of her actions. And never undermine respect for life.

What had happened

That conversation wasn't my first about abortion. There were several cases before that. But the most striking was with a new found friend...

Friendship came effortlessly. We shared each other's stories. We shared each other's lives. And we eventually became associated with each other.

In one of our serious talks, she divulged her abortion. She said it was very frightening, excruciating. She bled right out. And her boyfriend was trying to staunch the bleeding all night. There were just the two of them performing the procedure. She was copiously perspiring. Cold sweat dropped. She was shaking. And hemorrhaging continued. She thought she was dying.

Though she survived the abortion process, she is constantly bothered by the plight. She said that was her greatest mistake, greatest crime. Up to now, she feels the pangs of guilt wounding her conscience. She felt she has not forgiven herself for doing such disgraceful act to cover her shame. She felt God has not fogiven her yet. She's still restless...