Em's Dailies..

Salute To Modern Art!
Originally uploaded by setyr.

My fascination with history and King Arthur has led me to plan for a Scottish getaway. I'll be in Cork for 2 weeks in July and I decided to drop by Scotland for 4 days as Monday would be holiday in JP anyway. I've dreamt of going on an excavation to find Excalibur, and God has been good to me for this opportunity. God is really good. All the time. I was just distracted that I couldn't see it. But now, things are getting crystal clear. I can only thank God for each day that he gives me, for the work that sustains me, for the friends who support me, for the pressures that keeps my adrenaline, for the tears that warms my heart, for the good and bad memories of the past to cherish, for the lessons learned and for this flicker of hope that somehow things are going to be just fine. Because, everything turns out OK in the end, if it is not OK, then it's not the end.

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The Tradition: The Name "Excalibur" was first used for King Arthur's sword by the French Romancers. It was not the famous "Sword in the Stone" (which broke in battle), but a second sword acquired by the King through the intercession of his druidic advisor, Merddyn (Merlin). Worried that Arthur would fall in battle, Merlin took the King to a magical lake where a mysterious hand thrust itself up from the water, holding aloft a magnificent sword. It was the Lady of the Lake offering Arthur a magic unbreakable blade, fashioned by an Avalonian elf smith, along with a scabbard which would protect him as long as he wore it.
Towards the end of his reign, during the troubled times of Medrod's rebellion, Excalibur was stolen by Arthur's wicked half-sister, Morgan le Fay. Though it was recovered, the scabbard was lost forever. Thus Arthur was mortally wounded at the Battle of Camlann. The King then instructed Bedwyr (or Girflet) to return Excalibur to the lake from whence it came. However, when questioned about the circumstances of its return, Bedwyr claimed to have seen nothing unusual. Arthur therefore knew that Bedwyr had kept Excalibur for himself and sent him back to the Lake once more. Hurling the sword into the misty waters this time, Bedwyr saw the mystic hand appear to catch Excalibur and draw it beneath the rippling waters for the last time.
The Name: The earliest Arthurian stories give the name of King Arthur's sword as Caladfwlch, a Welsh word derived from Calad-Bolg meaning "Hard Lightning". Later it developed to become the Caliburn of Geoffrey and Monmouth and finally the Frenchified Excalibur that we know today.
Ancient Origins: Legendary figures throughout the World are associated with magical swords, often the symbol of their Kingship. It is interesting to note that Curtana, a 17th century successor of the original sword of Ogier the Dane, is still used at the British Coronation to this day. King Arthur's tale has particular similarities to the Norse Legend of Sigurd, but even closer parallels can be drawn with the Irish hero, Cú Chulainn who also bore a sword named Caladbolg. Such swords were usually said to have been forged by an elfan smith. In Saxon mythology his name is Wayland, but to the Celts he was Gofannon. He is also to be identified with the Roman Vulcan and Greek Hephaestus who made magical weapons for the Muses to give to Perseus, and for Thetis to give to Achilles. The later surrender of the sword is well known as a universal symbol of defeat. Here it is emblematic of death itself.
The deposition of swords, weaponry and other valuables in sacred lakes and rivers was a popular practice amongst the Celtic peoples. Strabo records such rituals near Toulouse and notes that other sacred lakes existed throughout Europe. Gregory of Tours alludes to a three-day festival of deposition at Lake Gévaudan in the Cevennes. Some scholars believe that such rituals were part of Celtic funerary rites. Archaeolgical finds of exotic metalwork deposits at Llyn Fawr in Morgannwg include axes and sickles of around 600 bc. Further weaponry was discovered Llyn Cerrig Bach on Ynys Mon (Anglesey) dating from the 2nd century bc to the 1st century AD. Celtic Iron-Age deposits in rivers are too numerous to count. Especially well known are the superb Battersea Shield and Waterloo Helmet from the Thames. This major British River appears to have been particularly popular for swords like Arthur's.

Tomorrow I will release two projects. Tough times, huh. But I couldn't get through it without the help and support of my team and other people. Thanks really from the bottom of my heart.

I need to study what happened in EMEA and start sociliazation with JP users. Tough times huh.

Three pending project evaluations, another tough time.

But I am thankful for the sky, for the sun and for the air.

I am thankful for the day that God has given me. I shouldn't take for granted everything that He has given me. I should be glad that I'm alive and well and I have a home.

I am thankful for my friends, for my colleagues and for those who challenge me to be my best.

I will be fine. I will be good. I am thankful. I am cool?~

Funny thing about life is that if things seem to trumble down, there will be these people who will pop out of nowhere and they would put a smile on your face through their kindness. Take this super nice PM from Norway. I've had the toughest time trying to find the right person to talk to about VBMS and out of the mouth of another angel (Master's new boss) came his name. I contacted him and he showed full support. I learned so much today and am now ready to provide my analysis and recommendation to my boss. What do you know?! My angel was just waiting to be discovered....

Another angel was Mr. Greenboy, always helpful and willing to help. I couldn't get by without him and my ever-supportive IT tandem (Nojima,Takahashi). Hibino-san is also one darling?!

My two UAG members, Matsumoto & Horigome, full support as always.

Sometimes all I need is a little pat at the back and a little push.

Don't we all?