Movie Night with At First Sight

I just finished watching the movie “At First Sight” played by Val Kilmer. The movie was very touching and intimate at times. I suddenly wanted to capture every moments, the sequence of events that happened, the mixed emotions I felt and I wanted to write them all down here before I forget.


I remembered I once saw this movie back when I was younger, I don’t really know how long ago that was but I still remember bits and pieces of it. So tonight when I found the movie title from Cinemax on my On Demand channel, I decided to give it a try after eating dinner.

And you know what? It made me cry and it made me feel bad for the blind man only to realize in the end that I shouldn’t feel bad for him at all.

The story was a bout this blind masseur in Pinecrest. Anyway this one woman named Amy (she was an architect) needed to take a vacation to relax and unwind. So when she arrived in town and checked in to a spa, she requested for something relaxing that didn’t include exercise – she was recommended for a massage. She met a man named Virgil where she had her first massage. At first she didn’t even know Virgil was blind and then when she came after him next to a school bus that was when she found out he couldn’t see. They got to know each other and fell in love. Then one day Amy brought up an opportunity for Virgil to be able to see by meeting a doctor she found from an article, but when she told Virgil about it he became mad. The following day when Amy came to say goodbye to him, Virgil told Amy about the number of steps he needed to walk toward a tree. And if he slowed down or didn’t pay attention that he’ll miss the count and end up bumping into a tree. It was an analogy that made Amy stay for the night with him and when Virgil woke up in the middle of the night he looked worried not having Amy next to him. In the morning Virgil decided to go to NY and see the eye doctor where he agreed for an operation. The result was positive at first, allowing him to see. He had a problem with perception and was dependent mostly with his sense of touch.

I liked the part where he wanted to see Amy – all of her. It was very intimate and very romantic. I also liked when Virgil saw Amy kissed her ex-husband and I felt what Virgil felt. He was jealous and then he was frustrated with people dancing at the party and realized he didn’t belong to the crowd. He just wanted to come home. Then black outs started and when he went to see the doctor he was told that he’s going blind again. Just having that realization broke my heart knowing that soon Virgil will never see daylight again. Virgil went to see his father who had left him and his sister when they were younger. Virgil then asked him why he left them. I saw the tears in Virgil’s eyes and the tears that trickled down his cheeks. I saw the tears formed on his father’s eyes and it squeezed my heart to see them hurting. Virgil didn’t tell Amy right away and instead asked Amy to go watch a hockey game with him. Then Virgil saw the cotton candy. He had a childhood memory with his father where the last thing he saw was something fluffy.

Virgil decided to come back home to his hometown, alone where he left Amy in NY. I understood that he did this to himself because he knew there was nothing left for him and Amy together in the future. He’s going blind and Amy expected more from him, something he could never give to her anymore. He left Amy who was in tears. I thought Amy would stop him but she just stayed sitting on the floor, crying. I cried with her because I knew how much she loved him and I knew she only wanted the best for him.

Then another tear-jerker moment was when Virgil told his sister that she didn’t need to take care of him anymore. That she was beautiful and that she had done so many great things for him and that it’s about time she start to think for herself. It was his way of reaching out, he said. The way he told her how thankful he was to her and how much he loved her was very emotional, I couldn’t help myself but go with the flow of tears.

Then Virgil ended up working at the school for the blind when he came back to New York. That’s right, I never thought he’d come back to New York, but he did. And he embraced his disability and at the end when he was sitting on a bench with his new dog, Amy came to see him and apologized for moving too fast that led to their problems together. When she looked at him I knew she still had feelings for him and I knew right then and there that they’ll get back together. Well, the movie ended and left me wanting for more. The credits had mentioned that the movie was inspired by a true life story and that the real characters got back together and they got married and moved to Atlanta. [Maybe not exactly the way it happened, but I chose to believe that was what happened.]

Not that many movies out there that could make me cry as much as it did for me tonight for this movie. I cried because somehow I felt like I could relate to the characters, to their emotions, their love, and their struggles in life.

The story also made me realize how lucky I am for just being me – to be able to see everything. I looked around my own bedroom tonight and realized I didn’t have that much of a space to begin with, but I loved the look and feel of it and I am happy just to live a simple life.

Morning Glory by Diana Peterfreund

Image Source

BREAKING NEWS: Ambitious young TV producer Becky Fuller is fired from a local morning show in New Jersey, and her career begins to look as bleak as her hapless love life.



Desperately in need of a job, yet still full of boundless optimism, Becky vows to land on her feet and stumbles into an opportunity at Daybreak, a floundering network morning news program in New York City. Abysmal ratings are only the tip of the iceberg: Executive producers seldom survive beyond the next commercial break, and the outdated cameras belong in the Smithsonian.

Promising the head of the network that she can reverse the downward spiral, Becky makes legendary newscaster Mike Pomeroy an offer he can’t contractually refuse. She successfully adds Pomeroy to the team, but he refuses to participate in any Daybreak fluff pieces and morning show staples like celebrity gossip, weather, fashion, and crafts. What’s more, he takes an instant dislike to his equally difficult co-anchor, Colleen Peck, a former beauty queen. The only bright spot in Becky’s career is Adam Bennett, a gorgeous fellow producer, but Daybreak’s dysfunction spells trouble for their blossoming relationship. As Mike and Colleen’s on-air chemistry proves more explosive every day, Becky must scramble to save her love life, her reputation, her job, and, ultimately, Daybreak itself.

*     *     *     *     *

I first noticed this novel at Costco but ignored to even read it after finding out the book was based on a movie script. I thought I’d go straight to the theater and watch. Then I saw it again at the Starbucks Café in the hands of a middle aged woman reading while enjoying a cup of coffee. Finally I flipped through the first few pages of the trade paperback edition while at Barnes and Noble. The first chapter was short and entertaining – about 10 pages. I liked the voice of the narrator/leading character. I fell in love with the author’s prose and carried it through checkout.

The story was a perfect break for me from work and from reading too many mystery novels I failed to blog out here. It was a fast lighthearted but enjoyable read that made me laugh in several scenes.

Becky Fuller was likable. There weren’t enough descriptions about her appearance, or other supporting characters, but it didn’t matter because I kept picturing Rachel McAdams. I thought that was the plus side of meeting the character as a Hollywood icon, first and foremost.

I was satisfied of the ending and thought it was worth the money and time.

Author's Official Website

Bisdak in Technology Reminders #1: Power Button

Power button icon from
Mysitemyway ETC Network

Remember the magic power of the power button?

Recently I purchased a HP Wireless printer and went through the excitement of going through all the steps of the installation. Well, I thought I did all I'm supposed to do. Much to my chagrin, I was stuck in configuring the wireless network part. The installation in my computer failed because it could not detect the printer. I re-installed the HP software that came with the box, went back and forth from the computer to the printer to enter the encryption code, checked the router's settings, reboot my computer. Nothing. I made sure I had the wireless light on and that I had enough signal strength and rebooted the printer again. Nothing. What went wrong?

I failed to read the HP Guide.

Basic troubleshooting #3 according to HP's guide is to Restart components of the wireless network. Although I restarted the printer and the computer, I failed to restart the router.

Here is what HP provided in clear details:
Turn off the router and the HP device, and then turn them back on in this order: router first, and then the HP device. If you still are unable to connect, turn off the router, HP device, and your computer, and then turn them back on in this order: router first, then the HP device, and finally the computer. Sometimes, turning off the power and then turn it back on will recover a network communication issue.

Great Memories from an Ugly LG Phone (Part 1)

I decided to go through the photos I took over the years from my cell phone and wondered how much crap I've accumulated. LOL. But there were some great memories I just couldn't erase...

1. Here is a picture of Ian, my nephew. One of the very first pictures I took from my phone almost two years ago. He was only 4-hours old @ at the hospital when I called his name (Ian...Ian...) and he started smiling. Lucky enough I had my phone in my hands where I took a quick shot.

Then he tried to open his eyes to trace the voices he heard came from. He lifted his hands and smiled once more before he went back to his baby sleep.

2. Almost two years later (about a month before he turned two years old), Ian still impresses me in his own quirky ways. I told him to sit and he did. Smile and he did. Show me your hunk look and funny thing is he posed with his left arm below is right arm and tapped his left shoulder -- as if he was preparing for his debut shooting -- like he wanted to make his Tita very happy -- as if he knew I'd post his picture here in my blog one day!

3. He loved Yo Gabba Gabba show and when he's hooked in front of the Television, don't you dare bother him or he would make you pay for it. How? Well how do kids usually manipulate their parents?

Cry out loud.
Roll on the floor.
Throw away toys.
Cry some more.

I'm beginning to doubt if I'll ever survive being a parent someday.

4. Now his mommy (my sister) is very very  preggy!

5. We got this halloween decorations last year (for free). My Aunt didn't want the hassle of putting them together at their front yard, so I took it without a fuss. I love free stuff. Really.

For this year, I may put it out again just for the heck of it.

It sure glow at night and made me think of pumpkins. With a bat smile?

6. Which made me think of the hash brown photo I took during my breakfast yesterday at work.

7. My neighbor's cat got so lonely because her masters were away for vacation. I took this picture during my first day of cat-feeding. I wasn't used to cats and thought I'd go crazy with my allergies.

It turned out to be fun and relaxing. Purr...purr.

8. My favorite store. Ever.

I do wonder from time to time what would happen to BN's store when we all merge to digitals? They'd end up selling Nook and Nook accessories and no more of these books and magazines and you wouldn't be able to touch those crispy pages and no more of that new print smell? -- Hey I love my nook okay. I was just wondering...




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