GTFO! (not really. I like you)

Summer Plan # 2

2012-03-31T21:07:00.002-07:00

Learn to write and speak Sindarin.

This is totally geeky, even for me, but I have time to kill and more of LOTR fandom to embrace. Isn't it amazing how Tolkien came up with the complex syntax of the Elven languages? He was always fascinated with language and in fact, he created the story of Middle Earth to provide a setting for the languages he created, in order for the languages to come alive. How bad ass is this fellow.

I once had a classmate in of my Comparative Lit classes who was a self-taught Elvish speaker. I could not believe my ears. It sounded beautiful. You don't need to look like an orc or be ethereal like Galadriel in order to feel legit when reading something in Sindarin. This is different from learning Japanese or French because this process is not for academics and recognition.

Try saying Amin feuya ten' lle. The effect is almost instantaneous. I already feel Aragorn saving me from the hands of the Nazgul. By the way, that literally means "you disgust me".

I won't enroll in any summer classes this time. I need a break from cmc.
Amin n'rangwa edanea!

When I die, I'd rather go to Middle Earth than any of the given two.

I'm sure

2012-03-29T08:04:00.002-07:00

-------|-------------------------------|--------------------------------|
-------|-14---------17~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~---|
-------|-----14------------------------|-----------------------------14-|
-------|---------14--------------------|--------------------------------|
-------|-------------------------------|--------------------------------|
-------|-------------------------------|--------------------------------|
Another  version of me;     Is   she  perverted  like me? Would  she go

+       +       +       +     | +       +       +       +
------------------------17~~~~|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
16----------17----------------|----------------------------------|
----16------------------------|----------------------------------|
--------16--------------------|----------------------------------|
------------------------------|----------------------------------|
------------------------------|----------------------------------|
down on you in          a theatre?                 Does she speak

+       +       +       +       | +         +        +       +
-------------17----14~~~~~~~~~~~|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~16----------|
14------------------------------|----------------------------14------|
----14--------------------------|---------------------------------14-|
--------14----------------------|------------------------------------|
--------------------------------|------------------------------------|
--------------------------------|------------------------------------|
e-  lo- quently?   And  would she have your baby?        I'm sure she'd

+       +       +       +     | +       +       +       +
------------19~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~|
16----------------------------|---------------------------------------|
----16------------------------|---------------------------------------|
--------16--------------------|---------------------------------------|
------------------------------|---------------------------------------|
------------------------------|---------------------------------------|
make a  really  excel-  lent    mother.

Summer Plan # 1

2012-03-27T03:21:00.001-07:00

Watch The Lord of The Rings 100000x and play this game.

Delayed Senioritis

2012-03-26T07:18:00.001-07:00

Senioritis - a condition that affects college students in their last year as undergraduates. It is a mix of excitement, fear, nostalgia, and fear of the unknown - where the so-called "real life" is slowly being realized by the student.

What is its relevance to a second year college student, you may ask. Well, I'm supposed to be in graduating status right now but life had a way of delaying that. Right now, my news feed is filled pictures my block mates in all their toga-d glory. Of course, I am more than happy for my friends but I can't help but imagine how it would have been if not for the shifting shenanigans I got myself into.

AHHH, BE STILL MY ENVIOUS HEART.

National Anthem

2012-03-22T23:47:00.003-07:00

Nevermind if it's in the top 2 of Billboards or iTunes countdown, I love this song. I will never get enough of it. It is tasteful and genius and whose chords consist only of Dm C Bb. I love you, song. I love you Gotye and your girly curls. Kimbra, you subtle bitch you. This song is so simple and constrained but it elicits all these emotions. Have you seen the official video? MAHLORD. I admit I heard this song from an FM station, I only knew Kimbra but I had no idea who this guy is. Of course I had to wiki who he is. Apparently, Gotye (GOT-tee-ay) is a Belgian-Australian multi-instrumental(!!!) musician and singer-songwriter. He's like Dali and Sting rolled into one. He's not just a performer, he's an artiste.

I like songs that insists to be in your head 24/7. I'm currently living an iPod-less life(long story) but this song is just in my head the moment I get up from bed until I sleep. It's like an infatuation or something. It's a cliche but music has a way to make everything better and brighter. I have songs categorized according to mood. I have a f*you-stop-talking playlist, an it-can-be-that-bad one, a shit-y-u-so-cute, and the requisite 90s playlist. People with impeccable taste in music, enlighten me.This is to say that my knowledge in music is still pretty limited, especially local genres.

Just listen to the song, okayyy.

Updates!

2012-03-17T18:07:00.000-07:00

I've turned 20! It's not much of a big deal for others but for me it kinda is. I am well aware that people around me see me as childish and just all over the place. I can't help it. I have all this energy I can't contain (bordering KSP) so I figured maybe I should channel this overflowing energy some place else like efficient acad work or keeping my room clean. Now that my age no longer bears the suffix "-teen", it's about time to grow up. I'd like to believe that I do make sense in several undertakings (naks, so fucking mature), and I only need help attending to things like my priorities, EQ, long-term plans and all that cal.

And this is getting a bit old. No one wants to wake up beside planners with un-ticked boxes right?

Also, I do miss writing and arts in general. Where I am right now is full of people telling me I should go into a BA track. I'm not saying it's bad. It's just that I'm bad at it. I really don't see anything interesting with balance sheets and excel files. Maybe I'm just being too idealistic when I say I want to stay within the range of social sciences and arts.

"Okay lang yan kung gusto mong maging prof!" or something like sorry to burst your bubble, Christine, but the only way to live a meaningful life is through BA.

I'm sorry I don't mean to offend BA-loving people but I just don't get the over hyped shit going on. I just want to do what I want OKAYYY (maturity level negative).I do appreciate the importance of your field just please

But before I start bashing the whole world, all I'm saying is just that I need to get my priorities straight. I'm a very nonchalant and laid-back person (read: lazy) and so things get piled up during dead lines. I guess this is also an apology letter to all the group mates I had whom I might have disappointed. haha. But seriously. My batchmates from my previous course are graduating this sem, but here I am with no concrete plans.I am intimidated by my inaction. fucking lazy brain ass. I don't want to be society's scum! I have to be rich and successful and well dressed!

Now that the neon sign "20 ka na!" has been lit up, I resolve to be mature and poised and all lady like. hahaha. good luck with that.

I can't promise to stop talking and writing the way I do. I sound like a recorded meme sometimes but language is fluid and in a flux, so leave it be. The only solution left is for is to develop a mature brain. So, I will try really hard to detach my fez from the monitor and read more smart/snobbish books like the one below. Look at that bad ass silver badge. Snottiness aside, I prefer books like this over 'NBS Bestsellers' and young adult lit. Apart from the nauseating comma splices, it makes my disorganized brain work hard. I learned in my Psych 101 class that we need to exercise those neurons in order for them to achieve its full potential. That is why I really am bothered by people who cannot be bothered with books. Jeeez. Get a fucking bookshelf.

Well that's it for now. Stay tuned for more ranting and cussing
:)

Mixed nuts

2012-02-06T05:55:00.000-08:00

"So she ought to be able remember this, what it's like, what is coming. But who can remember the pain. once it's over? All that remains of it is a shadow, not in the mind even, in the flesh. Pain marks you, but too deep to see. Out of sight, out of mind."

Buried underneath your pretty clothes.

Day 1: spring. flowers. stream
Day 2: cold. winter. gray
Day 3: sleep
Day 4: Ludovico
Day 5: awake
Day 6: i pray

I'm sticking with you, cause I'm made out of glue

2012-02-05T16:49:00.000-08:00

Hi, my name is Tin-Tin and I am an internet addict. Well, sort of. I spend half of my waking hours in front of the computer.Most of the things I do are in some way grounded on the internet. I go online for home work, for news, to read blogs, to download stuff (in your face, SOPA), music, etc. More than just the concept of globalization, internet, social media in particular, is a proof that work and play can go together.

Today, social networking sites are used for a hundred reasons. There are the basics, creating your online profile, interacting with friends, and surveillance (read: stalking). So that constitutes the 'play' part. But Facebook also helps students work with their online groups in real time. This service has helped me and my classmates discuss ideas for our papers and presentations. Not having the same schedules makes it difficult for us to meet physically. Of course, there are many setbacks like people not participating in the discussion but its still is a great help to us students. I can't imagine CRES 115 without you, FB groups.

On a more personal note, I communicate with my family back in the province through Facebook. I know this kinda looks sad but let me explain. We really aren't in a touchy-feely-call-me-everyday type of relationship. I rarely call home, and neither do they. This is probably due to my aversion to telephone calls and lack of load. Overall, Facebook is just far more convenient for me to talk to my Mama and siblings from home. Knowing that the family can see my posts, I do try to censor stuff I write. I hope my family does the same because many times I've read cringe-worthy things they post. The hell, Ma. hahaha. One thing I also observed is that I am more vocal when talking to my family online. Like for instance, I would never have the balls(strictly speaking, I really don't) to say 'Ma, I love you' IRL! Que horror!!! But online, it really is more impersonal so I feel like the cheesiness is downplayed so I bombard them with "<3" and all that cal.

Will I survive unplugging? Well if you are asking me to do this right now, probably not. I'm trying to install SPSS on my laptop and my groupmates will probably kill me. It depends on the situation. Back in the province, I don't feel the need to be online as often as when I am here in Manila. I have no problems playing with my younger siblings instead of stalking my 5% crush (maisingit lang). I can safely say that I am more discerning of my online dependence (yes, addict nga diba) now than I was before. I don't waste precious time scrolling to the depths of the news feed in search for something interesting. Kumbaga sa stages of grief, nasa reconstruction part na ako.

I don't wanna die regretting that I did not spend more time with my family because this frakking SPSS takes one whole day to frakking install. I love the internet, but I love my social life more.

Photo credit

Pros of our Doom

2012-01-08T06:37:00.000-08:00

The first two weeks of 2012 has been quite tiring already but we need this year to get moving because I have all these beautiful films and books and songs etc. Excuse the cheesy title. heh.

1. Game of Thrones season 2 this April. Shoes-ko-dayyy. Jon Snow, you know nothing.

2. James Franco Set to Publish First Novel

3. Movies! The Hunger Games! The Amazing Spider Man! aaaand wait for it....the is-this-real-life-movie adaptation of the year: The Great Gatsby.

4. This hair. ZOMG. I need you in my life, you artificial looking hair you. <3 (note to self: stop using "<3" as it looks like scrotum acdg to John Green) That hair is from awesome Helga's head.

5. More jologs time with my highschool barkada and my siblings whom I sorely miss. I rarely go back to the province, so we have a lot of catching up to do in so little time (again, doomsday).

2011: A Real Horrorshow

2012-01-06T23:00:00.000-08:00

Before getting jiggy(sorry, I love that word) with 2012, let's take a recap of what 2011 had to offer.

1. I got rid of my boring straight hair and got myself a gwapo haircut. What motivated me? I just needed to update my life and the first step was to chop the tresses all off.

2. I finally decided to quit Creative Writing and shifted to Communication Research. It was a hard decision because writing is such a personal thing. What I felt during this time was similar to a bad soap opera break up except that there wasn't any cheesy background music. I did it because I'm a selfish writer, and I don't feel comfortable with people reading my stuff. I discovered that I wasn't suited for that career. It came to a point where it became too sullen and too fluid for me, baka maging suicidal na ako.I kid, I kid.

3. I discovered a lot of favorite books and authors in 2011. The best book I read last year would be 'A Clockwork Orange' and 'A Brave New World'. I actually read this for my Modern British Lit class and it turned out to be the best required reading ever. These novels confirmed my belief that one day, Earth will turn into pseudo-utopian society, complete with Soma and Nadsat. Nadsat, is the fictional language created by Burgess, hence the blog title. Horrorshow = Good

photo credit

4. I started working for Alchemy Business Center as a management trainee and learned a whole lot from the experience. My first sem in CMC was not that busy, so I had enough vacant hours to spare. I figured that instead of bumming around the house, might as well do something productive.

5. I discovered awesomesauce muzakk! Ellie Goulding will forever be on repeat as well as Amanda Palmer. Forgive the cliche but isn't it just perfect when you find a song that helps you get through a bad day or something to shake yo booty to. LOLSWHUT

6. I had a bad case of identity crisis. I won't get into the details but it pretty much defined the last two months of my 2011.

Goals for 2012!

I don't normally do this because I'd like to do things one day at a time in order to keep the anxiety level at minimum level. But we need to get to be OC sometimes and just be geeky about this stuff so here goes :)

I have two research papers due this sem (why hello there, fellow comm res people) and I plan on turning in (umm what adjective do we usually use to praise an academic paper?) kickass research papers that will can mend my broken ego/brain-esteem. I sometimes doubt my ability with this acad-related work. This should change.

One other important goal I have is to get published. Creative work naman this time. This is a stretch for me as I have said that I hate it when people go through stories I write. Hopefully, I can gather enough balls for this. This problem can be easily solved by using a "sexygirl69" pen name.

To be stressed, depressed, but well dressed. Emmanuel Alt, I need to look as impeccably dressed as you are. Look at that, anything too hard, I will never wear. at least I think I wont. Fashion victim din naman ako from time to time, I must admit. In order to achieve this, I need to invest in basic pieces and learn how to look put together.

Make millions this year. Seriously, I'm always broke as hell. I need them cash to support my appetite for junkfood and milktea. hahaha. Naww, I really want to start earning my own money, I hate not being able to do what I want just because my trust fund(nonexistent) is running low. I might look for "side-lines" here and there or work at Alchemy again, not sure yet. More than that, I need to be more prudent with money, sometimes I equate happiness with retail therapy.

and lastly, ipagtapat sayo ang walang hanggang pag-ibig ko. Nyahahahahha. This last goal will probably be an epic fail. To quote the beautiful Ms. Itchon, "It's unnecessary information, tin!"

Happy new year bitchezzz :3

2012-01-06T22:02:00.000-08:00

Kantahan na!
The UP Communication Research Society 11B Applicants
Bring you

MusiKapatirJuan: An Afternoon Session of Acoustic, Pop,
and Rock Original Pilipino Music

This concert aims to nurture Filipino pride by promoting Original Pilipino Music (OPM) through an EXHIBIT of OPM’s beginnings and existence, and PERFORMANCES by Filipino amateur bands. And aside from encouraging appreciation for OPM, MusiKapatirJuan, more importantly, serves as an aide to the victims of the Typhoon Sendong in Cagayan de Oro.

WHEN: January 11, 2012, Wednesday.
TIME: 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm.
VENUE: CMC Media Center TV Studio
Get ready to be captivated by the sounds of:
Scuba
Infamous
JuanSound
The Squibs
Come Together
Strands of Autumn
Amongst Wolves

Tickets at P70
(comes with freebies and a chance to win exciting raffle prizes!)
The first 50 non-Communication Research Society members who will bring any kind of donation will get a FREE pack of Kettle Korn Popcorn!
*UP Communication Research Society members need only to bring at least one pad paper (any size) and 2 ballpens or any in-kind donations for entrance!
For tickets/ further inquiries, contact 09175106333 or 09064996051

To be independent

2011-12-22T19:41:00.000-08:00

It's no secret that I want to live on my own(with a beagle). I've never been one to miss people easily. My family, one side that is, is quite close-knit and yes it has many perks but I prefer solitary living. Not to be totally cut off from them but just to have distance. Right now, I am still financially dependent on my dad so no can do just yet. However, once I start earning my millions (lol), I'd immediately pack my bags and leave.

More than that, I really want to design my own place, manage bills on my own, go home whenever I want, get drunk and don't give a shit. I'd like to be able to decide what I want to do with my time and not to be bothered with people telling me what to do. It's my major pet peeve. Don't get me wrong, I love my folks but I long for independence just as much.

To live on my own is on top of my Success Meter. Along the lines of driving my own car, and studying abroad, and living in Italy(as TNT haha), I want my own place. I want it to have walls and walls of book shelves, I want the house to have a pool (I am a mermaid reincarnated as human). I once saw Hanson's house at MTV Cribs and I thought that's how my house (and boyfriend) should look like. I can't find a screen shot but it had a Moroccan design. I mean look at this wonderland.

Photo credit
Le bookshelf:

Photo credit Right now, I gotta send my ass to school and make a fool proof plan of getting my millions.

I know you're bad for me but...

2011-12-20T22:41:00.000-08:00

Even if you have no idea that I harbor this suicidal-i-love-you-so-feelings(loljoke) and even if you weren't mine to "let go" in the first place.

Sometimes we feel like this

2011-12-19T19:02:00.000-08:00

None of them know, Aomame thought. But I know. Ayumi had a great emptiness inside her, like a desert at the edge of the earth. You could try watering it all you wanted, but everything would be sucked down to the bottom of the world, leaving no trace of moisture. No life take root there. Not even birds would fly over. What had created such a wasteland inside Ayumi, only she herself knew. No, maybe not even Ayumi knew the true cause. But one of the biggest factors had to be the twisted sexual desires that the men around Ayumi had forced upon her. As if to build a fence around the fatal emptiness inside her, she had to create the sunny person she became. But if you peeled away the ornamental egos that she had built, there was only an abyss of nothingness and the intense thirst that came with it. though she tried hard to forget it, the nothingness would visit her periodically - on a lonely rainy afternoon, or at dawn when she woke from a nightmare. What she needed at such times was to be held by someone. anyone.

Little Things

2011-12-02T21:23:00.001-08:00

I must confess I am more of a big-picture-type of person. I have always struggled to grasp minute details of things. But I am sure a lot of people suffer from the same situation. There's just too much ideas, and too little patience to look over each one. Yes there are countless advantages to this so called big-picture way of thinking. One quick skim of things and we are able to make sense of it.We miss a whole lot of small important details though. I forget people's names, birthdays, numbers, etc. So I had a light bulb moment when I ran into this blog entry from Positively Present. Hopefully this can help us start appreciating those overlooked details. At first it was a tad bit too dramatic for my taste but please forget about your issues and just follow the list :D

25 Ways to Look for the Little Things

1. Study the lines on the face of someone you love.

2. Watch the sidewalk when you walk.

3. Look closely at the cover of your favorite book.

4. Examine the brush strokes on a painting.

5. Check out the background of a photo.

6. Pick up a fallen leaf and study its color and shape.

7. Pause your favorite scene in a movie and look closer.

8. Look at the details on the font of your favorite website.

9. Seek out one little thing you love about your home.

10. Study your face in the mirror (positively please!).

11. Find a pattern you like and look at the details.

12. Compare two versions of your favorite color.

13. Look at the various colors in a clouded sky (it's not just gray!).

14. Check out the design of a box (cereal, moving, etc.).

15. Study the patterns raindrops make on your window.

16. Watch the way snowflakes land on a hard surface. (N/A! haha)

17. Check out the people on the sidelines during a big game.

18. Look up and see what's above you right now.

19. Find out the years on the coins in your pocket / purse.

20. Contemplate the color on the walls you pass.

21. Study the shape of your favorite number.

22. Print out a quote you love and memorize the words.

23. Look at shadows cast at various times of the day.

24. Watch the way your hands move when you're typing.

25. Study the way lamps light up a room.

2011-11-21T18:25:00.001-08:00

To officially restart this blog, I've been planning on getting a new book - not the ones from the used book store or from my aunt's library but something entirely fresh off the shelves of Fully Booked or NBS. Don't get me wrong, I am an ardent supporter of Booksale (a local second hand bookstore) but there are just times when you just want to splurge on something special. I do this once in awhile, during my birthday, after exams, and those i'm-not-broke-i'm just-a-broken-hearted-girl moments. So instead of a tub of ice cream, I buy books. So, I need some advice on which book to read (as much as I'd love to, I can't afford to buy gazillion books all at once).

Should it be Haruki Murikami's 1Q84 or Jeffrey Eugenides' The Marriage Plot? Both covers look awesome by the way.

I have always had this love and hate relationship with Murukami. Some of his books like Norweigan Wood, I just simply abhorred but there's also After Dark which is one of my all time favorite read. I'd want to explore more of his works and this newly released English translation of 1Q84 seems really interesting. Then there's The Marriage Plot by Eugenides. I loved loved his Virgin Suicides (both book and movie, OMG Josh Hartnett!) and also Middlesex. The Marriage Plot's plot (LOL sorry) is close to heart - college, love triangles, and books!

Share your thoughts! Help a girl in need.

It's been one year!

2011-11-18T23:07:00.000-08:00

I was planning on creating a new blogger account since the last post was over a year ago. Bue when I went to blogger.com, it directed me to this blog so here I am with my apologies for being MIA. So why the hiatus? Well, school and tumblr happened. I swear tumblr is the closest you can get to drug dependence. Oh and work happened as well. I worked for about 5 months for a part time job, and since it was my first time doing the real shiz, it pretty much occupied my mind the entire time. Wanna know what it was about? Shameless plugging time! clickety-click! http://www.facebook.com/alchemybizcenter

But anyway what I'm saying is that I'll be resurrecting this blog for the purposes not only for bookish related posts but for everything under the sun. I have long given up on personal journals because they have always ended up in the wrong hands so might as well go public. Sorry for the delay folks but better late than never. I'll be posting school-related sheninigans as well because I might just need to vent out my frustrations every now and then. Moral support please guys?

If anyone's curious, I have been reading modern britsh literature lately and Game of Thrones happened too! I love the books and TV series! Gaaah, it's so bloody genius. Jon Snow, you know nothing.

Buh-bye

2010-10-21T18:01:00.001-07:00

..will be going to Bangkok for a family trip. Be back next week, with a summery-tan and a back pack full of tamarind =D

Top Ten Fictional Crushes

2010-10-19T07:08:00.000-07:00

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and Bookish

1.) Michael Moscovitz from The Princess Diaries

- He's a musician, he's not blonde and he's not a jock, he likes quirky girls like Mia Thermopolis and he is Robert Schwartzman of ROONEY. Oh looooove. I'd rather be his girlfriend than a princess.

2.) Robert Turner from Atonement

- Goodness graciousness, he's a gentlemen at the right place in the right time. Hahaha. And he's a soldier.

3.) Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice

- He is the epitome of the dark, mysterious yummy-ness. He's just perfect, in a very snobbish way.

If that we're not enough, the last scene in the movie adaptation. It will forever be the best on-screen kiss.

4.) Peeta from The Hunger Games

- I have not reading even finished reading the trilogy, but the first book was enough to sweep me off my feet.

Sorry team Gale, ang torpe niya kasi.

5.) Mr. Rochester from Jane Eyre

- I know he's got a secret wife locked up in the attic but his love story with Jane Eyre is probably the most

mature and the most unselfish love there is in literature.

6.) Shining shimmering Edward

- Please don't kill me for this. I am after all a teenage girl caught up in my own dreamland. Kidding. or not.

All I know is that I was sort of madly infatuated with this vampire that I prayed for my own personal dracula-lover

in frigging Ray-ban Wayferers.

7.) Walter Hartright of The Woman in White

- He teaches art and he's a one woman man. He stuck to that phlegmatic Laura all through out.

It may also be due to the audiobook I listened to where Hartright's voice was just dreamy.

8.) Ron Weasley from Harry Potter

- He is so adorable and so uncomplicated. He is the most loyal friend one can have and the most crushable cuteness.

Even if he was picked on by everybody else, I knew he was above all that!

hmm..Let me think about the remaining three heaven-sent goodness.

It's so hard to narrow them down to ten you know.

Queen of Babble

2010-10-19T03:31:00.000-07:00

   I was a Meg Cabot girl, still am and always will be. I grew up with POG Mia Thermopolis as my heroine. I read Princess Diaries like it was the only book on the planet. She was the best friend I never had, or as I see it today, the girl who was living the life I sorta dreamed of. But then every girl needs to grow up so did my Meg Cabot phase. I ventured into other genres. Whenever I see a Meg Cabot book in the bookstores, it was like looking at an old self never to be revisited again.

   However, old habits die hard.

   I got lured once again by the pastel ice-cream colored covers. I saw a copy of this at a bargain bookstore inside campus and told myself, "Screw you, I miss Meg Cabot." and picked this up:

Goodreads

"Lizzie Nichols has a problem, and it isn’t that she’s blowing her college graduation money on a trip to visit her long-distance boyfriend Andy in London.

She just can’t keep anything to herself, including her indignation at finding out her beloved boyfriend wasn’t completely faithful to her during their separation. She’s now out on the streets with no money and a non-changeable airline ticket home for exactly a month away.

Fortunately, Lizzie’s best friend, Shari, comes to the rescue. She’s spending the summer in the South of France catering weddings in a romantic sixteenth century chateau, and she’s able to sort Lizzie out with a job. One glimpse of the gorgeous Chateau Mirac, not to mention the equally gorgeous son of the owner, and Lizzie is hooked."

First few pages into the book, I knew it was going to be a great read. The narration is just one of the things I will always like about a Meg Cabot novel. Yes it is a light read but it does not sound cheesy. I love how it makes it feel like you're just having this conversation with Lizzie Nichols. Her running off to England for the sexy british boyfriend sounded really crazy but without the craziness, it would not have been about a Queen of Babble now would it? And I know meeting a perfect stranger in the train who will eventually turn out into The One is very unlikely but it's like anything we read or even watch. We love to read about something we know will not happen in reality.

Forgive me for this crappy review(can I even call it one?), I just wanted to write my thoughts down. Ciao!

Because I am broke...and HAPPY.

2010-10-17T19:25:00.000-07:00

I woke up feeling all jumpy and happy. Don't know why but maybe it's the overcast skies and the looming idea of my new books that will arrive tomorrow. Aaaaand I have been on this month long craving for all things sweet and carb-loaded, so I googled(yeah) for baking blogs and looked for an easy cookie recipe and found zissss:

Chocolate Brownie Cookies

I know it look like a grade school type of cookie. But this is my appetite and this is my craving and this is my blog. And my waistline, HAHA. Right now, I have finished mixing the batter and just waiting for it to cool at the fridge or ref or whatever you wish to call it. I hope it doesn't crumble into a heap of disgusting mess later. I hope I don't burn it. The thing is I have always loved baking. I took several of those summer baking lessons back when I was an awkard little thing. Not that I'm not awkward anymore. Anyway, the point is, I'm happy=I will bake :)

The perfect background music to such a perfect day brought to you by the single band in the world that I will never ever tire listening to. I would kill for that voice.

Filipino Friday 13

2010-10-15T07:22:00.000-07:00

This is a weekly meme from Filipino Book Bloggers, the coolest people on the face of this archipelago. haha. Our Wifi has been bonkers lately so sorry for being MIA.

1. Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?

-I usually highlight lines which are either beautifully written or the message just hits me, sapul. Times when you feel like the author speaks directly to you in a creepy way. Good creepy anyway. I use paper-friendly highlighters, not the kind which makes the back page undecipherable. I dont write on the pages though, I have a separate notebook for bookish stuff.

2. How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears? Laying the book flat open?

-I really try using bookmarks but to no avail. I have those cute bookmarks which look like hands sticking out from the pages. They're all so cute and colorful. Cute and colorful'd not me I guess. I stop at the end of a chapter so it's not theat hard to go back to where I left off. Dog-ears are a no-no and laying it flat open might ruin the spine.

3. Are you a person who tends to read to the end of a chapter, or can you stop anywhere?

-End of a chapter, unless it's such a dull read I can't take another page of it.

4. Are you the type of person that reads one book at a time, or can you read more than one?

-Definitely one book at a time. I tried juggling two to three books but I'd rather concentrate on a single book so that my brain won't be flying off from say, Austenland to Oz. I also have this deal with myself that for every single book I read I can buy myself a new one. This way, I get over the slumps and get the reading going.

Happy Friday everyone!

Readathon

2010-10-10T23:20:00.000-07:00

So I finished two books for my first readathon! Haha poor thing. I was not that involved as I hoped I would but nevertheless, it was so much fun! I spent the first half an hour cheering then moved on to my reading. I was a "bad reader" since I took too many breaks. ha ha. Trips to the kitchen, facebook, twitter and all that. I tried finishing Wicked but I can't get into the story. Maybe a group read with FFP can solve this slump.

But spare me the dagger looks since I got to finish two books:

Even if I was not able to finish a lot of books as I have planned, I am still very happy. I discovered a lot of beautiful blogs and readers who are just awe-inspiring. Some read for solid 24 Hours! I did not pressure myself about quantity or I might end up not appreciating what I read. I loved the whole experience though! I was not quite open to the YA genre before I started this blog but during the readathon, I think I may have spoken too soon.

So there goes my readathon! Thanks for those who cheered for me!

Last question though, what's a good YA book you can suggest to newbie like me?

Update # 1

2010-10-09T18:53:00.000-07:00

Hour 14 Mini-Challenge from Reading at the Beach

UNDER THE COVERS

Name 2 books that had a cover that you loved and/or a blurb that sounded really good, but when you read the book it either had nothing to do with what was on the cover/blurb or was not as good as you thought it would be.

The Shape Of Water by Andrea Camilleri

I am sucker for all things Italy and so when I saw this, I was instantly captivated. It was more of the blurb actually that caught my attention.I expected a lot from this book but halfway through I knew it would not live up to my expectations. Even if it had all the elements I am looking for, it was too bland for me. The plot was a little too predictable and was not intriguing. I was expecting a gastronomical treat as well but I can't remember any thing that made me crave for a gelato.

The Stranger by Albert Camus

Maybe I need to reread this one to understand the relationship between the story and the cover. This was also one of the books I thought would be love at first read but it wasn't so. I did not know how to react or feel towards the main character. I love the cover, it's unlike anything I usually see in the bookstore but I'm afraid I do not get the point.

That's it for the 14th hour. Happy reading guys! I'm still with Wicked. So far, I'm having a hard time relating to the story. Fantasy just is not my cup of tea I guess. Nevertheless, I am with other several titles I can swap it with. See you later!

Biggest Loser Ever

2010-10-09T17:13:00.000-07:00

Yey! Way to go! It's half way to the 24-hour mark but guess how many books so far: 0
Yeeyy I just love it.
What happened: I went to a cousin's pizza party at the same time the readathon started. Got home after 4 hours. Cheered for several blogs. Took a nap which turned to sleep.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
But yes. I woke up with a heavy heart and a depleted sense of worth but I figured I can still join and redeem myself. Do you think it's not that late for me to join? If I start right now, I still have 12 hours. Hmp.

To kick off things, let me start with the mini-challenge for Hour 12(Hour 0 for me)

Mid-Event Survey:

1. What are you reading right now?

Wicked by Gregory Maguire

2. How many books have you read so far?

Gaaah. Don't ask me this.

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?

Any book will do! Im desperate! Seriously, I just want to finish at least three books. Wicked plus two books from the TBR pile.

4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day?

This is the one to blame! I did not tell my family about this. Thank you very much for the interruption. Yes I am bitter.

5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?

I roll over the bed and cry. haha

6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?

That the participants are too awesome for me. They've read 3-4 books by now and they haven't gone to sleep. Boohoo me.

7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?

NO complaints from me

8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year?

I'd prepare the books a week prior to the readathon and free up my schedule. I don't expect myself to be awake for the whole 24 hours but I've got to commit to this!

9. Are you getting tired yet?

Tired of myself, yes. Kidding. No! I'm recharged! I should be anyways.

10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered?

Oh God. Fighting spirit y'all! :P

So I officially open my 12-Hour Readathon! I'll be back with a triumphant update :D