Kate & Leopold

Plot

In 1876, Leopold Alexis Elijah Walker Thomas Gareth
Mountbatten, Duke of Albany, is a stifled dreamer. Strict
Uncle Millard (Paxton Whitehead) has no patience for Leopold's
disrespect for the
monarchy, chastising him and
telling him he must marry a
rich American, as the
Mountbatten family finances
are depleted. His uncle has told him that on his "thirtieth
birthday he had become a
blemish to the family name". The Duke finds Stuart Besser
(Liev Schreiber), an amateur physicist (and descendant of Leopold) perusing his
schematic diagrams and taking
photographs of them. He had
seen him earlier at Roebling's speech about the Brooklyn Bridge.
Leopold follows Stuart and tries to save him from
falling off the unfinished
bridge; only to fall with him
into a temporal portal between
centuries. Leopold awakens in 21st
century New York. He is at first confused and thinks that he
has been kidnapped. Stuart
says that he has created
formulae to forecast portals
in the temporal universe and
that Leopold must stay inside his apartment until the portal
opens again a week later. As
Stuart takes his dog out, he is
injured by falling into the elevator shaft, and is eventually institutionalized
for speaking about his
scientific discovery.
(According to Stuart's books,
Leopold's unintentional time
travel to the 21st century has caused a disruption of all
elevators, him leaving the
19th century before he could
register for a patent.) Leopold is intrigued by the
cynical and ambitious Kate
McKay (Meg Ryan), Stuart's ex- girlfriend, who comes to the
apartment for her Palm Pilot stylus. He observes that she is
a "career woman" and that her
field, market research, is a
fine avocation for a woman and states that he once dated a
librarian from Sussex. Kate dismisses him and demands that
he take Stuart's dog for a
walk. Leopold is overwhelmed
to see that Roebling's bridge
is still standing. Back at the
apartment, he befriends Charlie (Breckin Meyer), Kate's brother and an actor
between gigs, who believes him
to be an actor as well,
steadfast to his character. Kate and Leopold become
romantically involved, as they
dine and tour New York. When shooting begins on the
commercial in which Leopold
has agreed to act, he finds the
product, diet margarine,
disgusting. He cannot
understand how Kate would have him endorse a flawed item
without qualms, and declares
that "when someone is involved
in something entirely without
merit, one withdraws". Echoing
his uncle, Kate says that sometimes one has to do things
one doesn't want to. He chides
her about integrity. She retorts, "I don't have time for
pious speeches from two
hundred year old men who have
not worked a day in their life".
Their dalliance seems at an
end. Stuart escapes from the mental hospital, and sends Leopold back
to his own time.
That night, while Kate is
accepting her promotion at a
company banquet, he and
Charlie are racing to meet her.
Moments before she goes on stage, they arrive and produce
pictures from Stuart's camera
that show her in 1876. Stuart
says that he had thought he
disrupted the spacetime continuum, but actually "the
whole thing is a beautiful 4-D pretzel of kismetic inevitability".
Kate chooses a life with
Leopold over her career, and
the three of them escape to
the Brooklyn Bridge. There,
catching the portal before it
closes at midnight, Kate vanishes into 1876, where
Leopold appears resigned to be
pragmatic, as Kate and his
uncle had advised him, and
marry Miss Tree for her family
fortune; but, just as he is about to announce his
intention to become engaged to
Miss Tree, as he opens his
mouth to speak, he sees Kate
and announces her name, Kate
McKay, as his bride-to-be. In the closing scene, they kiss
and the camera is drawn
outward showing a
grandfather's clock depicting
12:15.

The Rottweiler

A young couple had been
married for several years
and
could never have children.
To not feel alone, they
bought a Rottweiler puppy and loved him as his own
son. The puppy grew to
become a large, beautiful
dog, except on more than
one
occasion the couple being attacked by robbers. He
was
always faithful, wanted
and defended its owners
against
any danger. After seven years of having
the dog, the couple manage
to
have the long-awaited son.
The couple was very happy
with her new son and decreased the attention
they had with the dog. This
is felt
neglected and began to be
jealous of the baby and the
dog was no longer loving and
faithful who had for seven
years. One day the couple
left the
baby sleeping peacefully in
his cradle and went to the terrace to prepare a roast.
What was his surprise
when
they were heading to the
nursery and see the dog in
the hallway with a bloody
mouth, moving them tail.
The dog's owner thought
the
worst, pulled out a
weapon he carried and immediately
killed the dog. Spread the
baby's room and finds a
beheaded snake. The
owner
begins to mourn and exclaims I killed my faithful
dog! How often have we
misjudged
people Worse, the judge
and
condemn without investigating their
behavior
to be, what are your
thoughts
and feelings. Sometimes
things are not as bad as they
seem, but the opposite.
The next time we are
tempted
to judge and condemn
anyone remember the story
of a faithful dog, so learn
not
bear false against a person
to
the point of damaging their image among others.

Throwout the LifeLine (a story about choice)

*credits: jamsubzero of pD
After a few of the usual Sunday evening hymns, the church's pastor
slowly stood up, walked over to the pulpit and, before he gave his
sermon for the evening, briefly introduced a guest minister who was in
the service that evening. In the introduction, the pastor told the
congregation that the guest minister was one of his dearest childhood
friends and that he wanted him to have a few moments to greet the
church and share whatever he felt would be appropriate for the
service. With that, an elderly man stepped up to the pulpit and began
to speak,

"A father, his son, and a friend of his son were sailing off the
Pacific Coast when fast approaching storm blocked any attempt to get
back to shore. The waves were so high, that even though the father was
an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright, and the
three were swept into the ocean as the boat capsized." The old man
hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who
were, for the first time since the service began, looking somewhat
interested in his story. The aged minister continued with his story,
"Grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating
decision of his life ... to which boy he would throw the other end of
the life line. He only had seconds to make the decision.

The father knew that his son was a Christian and he also knew that his
son's friend was not. The agony of his decision could not be matched
by the torrent of waves. "As the father yelled out, 'I love you, son!'
he threw out the life line to his son's friend. By the time the father
had pulled the friend back to the capsized boat, his son had
disappeared beneath the raging swells into the black of night. His
body was never recovered."

By this time, the two teenagers were sitting up straight in the pew,
anxiously waiting for the next words to come out of the old minister's
mouth. "The father," he continued, "knew his son would step into
eternity with Jesus, and he could not bear the thought of his son's
friend stepping into an eternity without Jesus. Therefore, he
sacrificed his son to save his son's friend. How great is the love of
God that He should do the same for us. Our heavenly Father sacrificed
His only begotten Son that we could be saved. I urge you to accept His
offer to rescue you and take a hold of the life line He is throwing
out to you in this service." With that, the old man turned and sat
back down in his chair as silence filled the room.

The pastor again walked slowly to the pulpit and delivered a brief
sermon with an invitation at the end. However, no one responded to the
appeal. Within minutes after the service ended, the two teenagers were
at the old man's side. "That was a nice story," politely stated one of
the boys, "but I don't think it was very realistic for a father to
give up his only son's life in hopes that the other boy would become a
Christian." "Well, you've got a point there," the old man replied,
glancing down at his worn Bible.

A big smile broadened his narrow face, and he once again looked up at
the boys and said, "It sure isn't very realistic, is it? But I'm
standing here today to tell you that THAT story gives me a glimpse of
what it must have been like for God to give up His Son for me. You see
... I was that father and your pastor is my son's friend."

Believe it or Not

*credits: babyp0wder of PD

A girl went to her friends house and she ended up staying longer than
planned, and had to walk home alone.


She wasn't afraid because it was a small COMMUNITY and she lived only
a few blocks away.

As she walked along under the bike trail Diane asked God to keep her
safe from harm and danger.

When she reached the alley, which was a shortcut to her house, she
decided to take it.

However, halfway down the alley she noticed a man standing at the end
as though he was waiting for her.

She became uneasy and began to pray, asking for God's protection.

Instantly a comforting feeling of quietness and security wrapped round
her, she felt as though someone was walking with her.

When she reached the end of the alley, she walked right past the man
and arrived home safely.

The following day, she read in the newspaper that a young girl had
been raped in the same alley just twenty minutes after she had been
there.

Feeling overwhelmed by this tragedy and the fact that it could have
been her, she began to weep.

Thanking the Lord for her safety and to help this young woman, she
decided to go to the police station.

She felt she could recognize the man, so she told them her story.

The police asked her if she would be willing to look at a lineup to
see if she could identify him.

She agreed and immediately pointed out the man she had seen in the
alley the night before.

When the man was told he had been identified, he immediately broke
down and confessed.

The officer thanked Diane for her bravery and asked if there was
anything they could do for her.

She asked them to ask the man one question.

Diane was curious as to why he had not attacked her.


When the policeman asked him, he answered, 'Because she wasn't alone.

She had two tall men walking on either side of her.

Amazingly, whether you believe or not, you're not alone.

A Post-Mother's Day Tribute

Credits:cooLcorpse of pD

My mom only had one eye. I
hated her, she was such an
embarrassment. My mom ran a
small shop at a flea market. She
collected little weeds and such
to sell, anything for the money
we needed she was such an
embarrassment. There was this
one day during elementary
school. I remember that it was
field day, and my mom came. I
was so embarrassed. How could
she do this to me? I threw her a
hateful look and ran out. The
next day at school..."Your mom
only has one eye?!" and they
taunted me.
I wished that my mom would
just disappear from this world
so I said to my mom, "Mom,
why don't you have the other
eye?! You're only going to make
me a laughingstock. Why don't
you just die?" My mom did not
respond. I guess I felt a little
bad, but at the same time, it felt
good to think that I had said
what I'd wanted to say all this
time.
Maybe it was because my mom
hadn't punished me, but I didn't
think that I had hurt her feelings
very badly.
That night...I woke up, and went
to the kitchen to get a glass of
water. My mom was crying
there, so quietly, as if she was
afraid that she might wake me. I
took a look at her, and then
turned away. Because of the
thing I had said to her earlier,
there was something pinching
at me in the corner of my heart.
Even so, I hated my mother who
was crying out of her one eye.
So I told myself that I would
grow up and become successful,
because I hated my one-eyed
mom and our desperate
poverty.
Then I studied really hard. I left
my mother and came to Seoul
and studied, and got accepted in
the Seoul University with all the
confidence I had. Then, I got
married. I bought a house of my
own. Then I had kids, too. Now
I'm living happily as a successful
man. I like it here because it's a
place that doesn't remind me of
my mom.
This happiness was getting
bigger and bigger, when
someone unexpected came to
see me "What?! Who's this?!"...
It was my mother...Still with her
one eye. It felt as if the whole
sky was falling apart on me. My
little girl ran away, scared of my
mom's eye.
And I asked her, "Who are you? I
don't know you!!!" as if I tried
to make that real. I screamed at
her "How dare you come to my
house and scare my daughter!
Get out of here now!" And to this,
my mother quietly answered,
"oh, I'm so sorry. I may have
gotten the wrong address," and
she disappeared. Thank good
ness... she doesn't recognize me.
I was quite relieved. I told
myself that I wasn't going to
care, or think about this for the
rest of my life.
Then a wave of relief came upon
me... one day, a letter regarding
a school reunion came to my
house. I lied to my wife saying
that I was going on a business
trip. After the reunion, I went
down to the old shack, that I
used to call a house...just out of
curiosity there, I found my
mother fallen on the cold
ground. But I did not shed a
single tear. She had a piece of
paper in her hand.... it was a
letter to me.
My Son,
I think my life has been long
enough now. And... I won't visit
Seoul anymore... but would it be
too much to ask if I wanted you
to come visit me once in a
while? I miss you so much. And I
was so glad when I heard you
were coming for the reunion.
But I decided not to go to the
school.... For you... I'm sorry
that I only have one eye, and I
was an embarrassment for you.
You see, when you were very
little, you got into an accident,
and lost your eye. As a mother, I
couldn't stand watching you
having to grow up with only
one eye... so I gave you mine... I
was so proud of my son that
was seeing a whole new world
for me, in my place, with that
eye. I was never upset at you for
anything you did. The couple
times that you were angry with
me. I thought to myself, it's
because he loves me.' I miss the
times when you were still young
around me.
I miss you so much. I love you.
You mean the world to me. My
world shattered! Then I cried for
the person who lived for me. My
Mother.

Textmate

Credits: mhalditah of pD

My cellphone's beeping sound woke me up one night. Used to receiving
important messages only, I grabbed my cell and sleepily pushed the
keys and read the message.
"Hi there! Care 2 b my txtmate?"
Not knowing who the sender was, I deleted the message right away and
placed the phone on my bedside table, I tried to go back to sleep.
I had just closed my eyes when I heard the message tone again.
"Hi there, again! Care 2 b my txtmate?" again, the message said.
"Who the hell could this be asking for txtmate at the wee hours of the
night?" I asked myself.
Again, without bothering to reply I deleted the message.
I was never a 'textmaniac' - someone who enjoys texting anyone and
everyone even at the wee hours of night, not to mention during the
day. My parents, who were always out of the country forced me to own a
cellphone. They told me that having one was more convenient - they
could monitor me even if they're miles away.
I wanted to turn the unit off, but since my mother was fond of calling
me at night, just to check if I was safe at home, I decided not to.
Just as I was to close my eyes and return to my dreamless sleep, the
phone beeped again.
Same number...Such determination!
"Ply reply 2 dis msg & b an angel & save me frm dis abyss of emptiness!!!"
I never knew why, but the message struck me. I got up and pushed the
keys... I just realized I was replying to the message.
"Im not an angel, n f u want som1 2 save u, m not superman... I'm just
a simple prson who u wake up at dis r of my nyt!!! Nway, do I know u?"
I typed.
Seconds later came the reply.
"Nope. U don't know dis lonely soul. Nor does she know u. But I want 2
b ur frnd. I'm Mikaella Cervantes. U?"
"Just call me Julius. How'd u get my no.?" I sent back.
"Hi Julius, nice 2 meet u. Just shuffled the last two digits of mine,"
she replied.
That was the first and maybe the last time I met someone over the cellphone.
We exchanged messages and learned so much about each other that night.
We only said goodbye when my alarm clock rang at 5:00 AM! I had to
prepare for school!
And that was also how it all started. A day would not pass without it
loving and thoughtful messages from her. It was only then I had
learned to appreciate text messages and become eager and excited
everytime my phone beeped, hoping it would be her.
Mikaella brought out something about me that I never knew I had; I
realized I could also be a romantic person... even if it's just
through text messaging.
"Keep me as a frnd & I will keep u in my heart. Lock it up & throw
away d key so dat no1 can evr tke u away from me..."One day, she sent
this message to me.
I replied: 'In life, we seldom find a true prson & f u evr find 1,
hold on & nvr let go... value dat prson coz it's lyf's gift worth
keeping & holdin on..."
I never knew why, but her response sent shivers to my spine, " Value d
people hu hav touched ur life bcoz u will never know just wen dey will
walk out of ur lyf & nvr come back again."
I couldn't understand what I felt that moment, but one thing I was
sure though... I could not go on a day without a single word from her.
I'd become used to having her, eventhough we had not met personally.
But truly, she already occupied a space, a large one, in fact in my
life.
I texted her back. "Dont come close f l8r ull jst pass by; don't touch
me f l8r ull jst let me cry; dont luv me f l8r ull jst leave me and
won't stay..."
I didn't know why I sent her that message, but somehow I felt, every
word came from my heart. In the short span of time we were sending
messages to each other, I knew, I was starting to keep her in my
heart.


I called her once. The voice on the other end was like an angel's.
Soft, kind, full of love. Yet, there was something in it I couldn't
define. We only talked for a few minutes. Before she hung up, she told
me not to call again. According to her, it would be better if we would
just text each other.
But the voice kept ringing, not only in my head, but in my heart, I'd
long to hear it once more. I tried to call her again, but she never
answered the phone. She just kept on sending messages and quotations,
which I copied in a little notebook. Hopeless romantic? I didn't know.
All I could say was that all the messages she sent me were wonderful,
they came from the heart and cut through the heart.
"Though we r miles apart, u r always n my heart. I close my eyes & der
u r. Even f I'll see u never, I'll always b hir 2 care 4 u, far longer
dan 4ever..."
One December night, she sent me this message. By that time we had been
exchanging messages for more than a month. God knew how happy I was.
She was right. Although we had not seen each other, what we felt was
enough to make us both realize what was keeping us together.
I sent her another message, "Loving u secretly is a hard thing 4 me 2
do,hoping, wondring that u will feel d same way 2, but I can't read r
mind f u luv me 2. But whatever it is, I'll still be loving u."
"How I wish I cud really tell u how much u mean 2 me, but m afraid 2
love, scared 2 get hurt... I hope dat u will wait 4 me & pray dat u
will not get tired of loving me...=)" was her reply.
And then I replied again. " The reason y I met u is bcoz of destiny
but f destiny will suggest dat I'll live w/o u, den, I'll lie not by
destiny but of free will."
Whenever I asked her when we would meet personally, she always
answered, "Soon...soon, love...soon."
Not seeing each other did not lessen, even a bit, what I felt for
her...rather, it even grew deeper and stronger each day. And I was
sure, she felt the same way, too. Love messages continued to flow
through our lines, between our hearts, which made us go on each day
with the thought that sooner, we would see each other, face to face,
heart to heart.
Just a few days before Christmas. She stopped sending messages. At
first I just though she had ran out of prepaid.
But there was something that kept bothering me... I couldn't
understand what was it, but it made me fell nervous. I tried to call
her but she wouldn't answer. Nevertheless, I continued sending
messages.
Suddenly one night, just three days before our Lord's birthday. I
heard my phone's message tone again... at last!It was from her!
"Oftentyms we say gudbye 2 d 1 we luv w/o wanting 2. Though dat
doesn't mean dat we stopped loving dem or we stopped 2 care. Sometyms,
GOODBYE is a painful way 2 say I LOVE YOU."
I was dumfounded. I didn't know what to think of. What did she mean? I
texted her back, searching for answers, but found nothing. I called
her but she would not answer.
For the first time in my life, I felt so miserable...desperate...
empty. I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to lose her. I had
learned to love her. And I wanted to be with her forever.
The following days I felt nothing but emptiness. It seemed that
Mikaella took the life out of me. I missed her so much...her
messages...The tones that would tell me she'd sent another loving
message. Nothing around me could feel the emptiness I felt.
Tut...tut...tut...tut...tut...just a day before Christmas, my cell
beeped again. It was her!
"Meet me at d café, 10 AM 2day," I read aloud, making sure the message
was true, then I jumped with joy upon hearing from her again.
Hurriedly, I got myself ready and I went to the mall. I knew it was
still early, but I wanted to be there before she arrived.
I arrived at the meeting place ten minutes earlier. I was surprised to
see her already there, smiling at me. She was very beautiful, Black,
deep-set eyes that spoke a thousand words; small, kissable lips; a
nose perfectly chiseled and long black hair - everything in her was
beautiful. And yes, her eyes radiated kindness and love...but there
was a flicker of something in them...sadness?
"Hi, Julius," said the angelic voice I had been dreaming of each
night. The voice that I had waited to hear for so long. "Please sit
down." "I am very pleased to meet you, Mikaella," I said, as I took my
seat and gave the roses I brought for her.
"Thanks, Julius," she smiled, obviously pleased with the roses. I knew
she loved pink roses.
"You are always welcome, Love" "Julius, I can't stay," she said,
sadness in her voice, or was it tears? "I really must go."
"But we just met, Mikaella. Can't we talk a little longer?" I asked, pleadingly.
"I can't really. I just came here to see you and thank you for the
time you shared with me. Thank you for everything, Julius. I will
never forget you...you will always be here in my heart."


She was looking at me straight into the eyes, and I could really feel
the sadness in her voice and I swear, there was something in her voice
and I swear, there was something in those lovely yet lonely eyes...
She got up and smiled at me, lovingly.
"Tomorrow morning, please come and visit me," he said and gave me a
piece of white linen paper.
I read what was written and when I looked up, she was gone. The
following day, Christmas, I woke up early and excitedly readied
myself,thinking of her. I hurriedly went to flower shop and bought a
dozen pink roses - for Mikaella.
They lived in an exclusive subdivision.
Upon reaching their house, I told the guard who I was and that I was
looking for Mikaella.
The guard stared at me, sadness and amazement in his eyes and told me
to wait as he called the owner of the house. As I looked at him while
he was going inside the house, only then I noticed that the house was
brightly lit.
A woman went out and walked towards me, smiling sadly.
"Hi, I'm Maria, Mikaella's mother. Please come inside, Julius." While
we were walking towards the mansion, she explained to me why she knew
me very well - Mikaella had always been talking about her friend,
Julius. I hardly understood what she was saying. I was busy thinking
why Mikaella's mother was crying while talking to me.
As we came near the great hall of the house, it dawned on me that
there was a wake inside, Maybe, a relative passed away, I thought. But
deep in my heart, I was trembling and afraid.
As we entered the hall where so many people were silently mourning
while others were praying, shaking, I asked her mother. "Where is
Mikaella?"
She held my hand and silently, led me to the coffin which was
surrounded by flowers - pink roses, nothing but pinkroses.
No words could explain how I felt when I gazed at the coffin and saw
who was lying there. The same beautiful girl I met...
A man came beside me, I knew he was Mika's father.
"We are so glad you came, Julius. Mika talked of you all the time. She
even asked that her phone be buried with her.
She said that in that way, you could still send her messages and you
would always be with her."
I couldn't believe everything... My mind was in limbo.
"But how can this be? We just saw each other yesterday."
"That can't possibly be. She passed away three days ago. She had been
suffering from a heart disease since she was a child," said her
father.
"But..." I couldn't find the words to say.
"She told us not to bother reaching you, "her mother said, still in
tears," she said you will come, and here you are.
Pain and bitterness overwhelmed me. I cried silently beside her,
staring at her lovely face, memorizing every line of my friend's face,
a face I knew I would never forget while I was still alive.
After the internment that afternoon, I went to the chapel she hadtold
me she went everyday.
Sitting there praying and crying to God, I held my phone and typed: "U
taught me how 2 care; u taught me how 2 b kind; u shwd me how 2 lyk
som; u shwd me how 2 luv; but ders 1 thing didnt teach me & it hurts
mor - u didnt teach me how 2 let go. I LOVE YOU"
I sent the message, and though I knew she wouldn't be able to hold her
CP again, I knew in my heart she would get my message. I never
expected a reply, yet as my phone beeped again,felt a shiver down my
spine. The sender's number did not appear on the screen, and tears
rolled down my cheeks as I read the message.


"Let go of d hand of d person u love, but dont let go of God's hand. 4
if u hold 2 his hand. He may b holding d person u love n d ader hand 2
let u hold each other again."
"I will never forget you, Mikaella and will never let go..." I vowed
to her and to myself as I left the church.

When a girl is. .

Credits:babypowder of pD

When a GIRL is quiet ... millions of things are running in her mind
When a GIRL is not arguing ... she is thinking deeply.
When a GIRL looks at u with eyes full of questions ... she is wondering how
long you will be around.
When a GIRL answers ' I'm fine ' after a few seconds ... she is not at all
fine.
When a GIRL stares at you she is wondering why you are lying.
When a GIRL lays on your chest .. she is wishing for you to be hers forever.
When a GIRL wants to see you everyday... she wants to be pampered.
When a GIRL says ' I love you ' .. she means it.
When a GIRL says ' I miss you ' .... no one in this world can miss you more than
that.

Life only comes around once make sure u spend it with the right person ....

Find a guy .. who calls you beautiful instead of hot.
who calls you back when you hang up on him.
who will stay awake just to watch you sleep. Wait for the guy who ...
kisses your forehead.
Who wants to show you off to the world when you are in your sweats.
Who holds your hand in front of his friends.

Who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares about you and how lucky he
is to have you.
Who turns to his friends and says, ' That's her!!