Category Archives: Randomnities

Things that don’t quite fit in other categories.

Booked, Randomnities

Belong to Me

I’m writing this down on TextEdit because my Internet connection refuses to cooperate (of course by the time I post this online, my Internet is obviously better), and I just need to let these thoughts out or else I wouldn’t be able to sleep thinking of all the things related to this.

Belong to Me So I just finished reading Belong to Me by Marisa de los Santos, her follow up novel from Love Walked In. I loved Love Walked In, for all its seemingly old-fashioned scenes and the lovely characters. I especially loved the fact that Teo Sandoval was half-Filipino, somehow making it feel closer to my heart.

Belong to Me is a different story from its prequel. More characters, more conflict, more stories. I saw a couple of reviews that it wasn’t as good as the prequel, but because I can’t stand not reading all books in a series and because I was curious to what happened to Cornelia and Teo and Clare, I got the book.

In Cornelia’s words: I was slammed. Hard. Belong to Me is probably one of the best books I’ve read this year. It’s a different tone from the first book, but it was simply (and very) charming. The chapters were long, the stories were complicated but never did I feel bored with the entire story. I devoured every page, with all its lyrical prose and smart characters. My heart burst in sadness at the particular part of the story where all things came undone, and I celebrated victory with them when I got to the end.

I think it’s a given for any reader to love Cornelia, but what I really loved about the book was (and still), Teo. I could easily imagine how Cornelia could call him her sun and moon and stars. I tried hard to find a flaw in him, and I know there was something but it’s became a part of his character as a whole that you’d end up forgiving it because you know it won’t be the same without it.

And maybe the reason why I love Teo so much because I want someone like him. Not exactly a half Filipino hunk of a man with golden brown skin and bottle green eyes type (but hey, that sounds really handsome, haha), but someone who treats me the way Teo treats Cornelia. Like how he had an almost secret and sacred nickname for Cornelia that meant “heart” in Latin (Cor), or how his face changes whenever he talks about his wife (as observed by Piper). I want someone like that, someone who I’d think of as my sun and moon and stars but would also think of me the same way too. Someone whose heart could expand with love for all the people that matter to me, and teach me to make my heart be like that too, for people he cares for and people I have a hard time liking or loving. Someone like Teo, who stuck with Cornelia for fifty-six hours to try to fix the mess that exploded in their faces and not lose patience but remind her that love is not “I” or “you” but “we”.

*sigh* It’s got me smitten, really, and I don’t think I’ll ever forget about this book too easily. I love every single bit of it, and I kind of feel sad that it’s the last book on them. I really feel like I’m saying goodbye to good friends, people who have kept me company over the weekend. But it’s comforting to know that I could always visit them, and draw strength from them, and maybe, someday, talk about them to someone who will be my own Teo someday.

Oookay, and that last line is really cheesy. Enough cheese here, or else you may be better off reading mdclearreviews.com. :P It’s time for me to go to bed. :P

Randomnities

Rainy Days

Rainy days. Ah, how awesome you are at times, but most of the times, you’re not.

Wait, what was I saying?

So it’s another rainy day here in Manila (and I thought that good weather last weekend would stay), but now as I look out the window here the office, everything is gray. Gray, gray, gray.

And you know what’s one thing most people would like to do on days like these? (Except for sleep, or curl up under the covers with a good book)

BE EMO.

Not the emo-dress up type, but you know, look out a window and think deep thoughts — life, love, work (uh), and everything else that counts as deep (and I think it doesn’t include thinking about best diet pills). That kind of emo.

Or wait, is that even emo?

Haha anyway, I may just be hungry/work-ridden/bored, even that’s why I’m posting something as random as this.

But wait — here’s something I find interesting: i can read. Interesting, interesting stuff! It’s kind of like Postsecret, but they’re images with lines that…well, are striking. These things remind me of Riz‘s Project 365 (which I love, btw). There’s so many “awww”-inspiring images there that it makes this rainy day feel even more sentimental. Haha. Here’s some of my favorites:

I Love You. So Simple So True So Painful.

Oh, so painful. Ahaha.

Continue reading Rainy Days →

Booked, Randomnities

BTT: Gluttony

In the light of The Great Book Blockade of 2009, I thought I’d answer this week’s Booking Through Thursday, since it’s highly appropriate (plus it’s actually quite easy to answer).

This week we have:

Book Gluttony! Are your eyes bigger than your book belly? Do you have a habit of buying up books far quicker than you could possibly read them? Have you had to curb your book buying habits until you can catch up with yourself? Or are you a controlled buyer, only purchasing books when you have run out of things to read?

YES!

Yes, I am guilty of book gluttony! I still have about 20 or so books in my to-be-read list, and that’s not stopping me from buying new books. It started on the first time I went to MV Doulos, where I got so many books which I haven’t even started reading yet. I think I only read 1/2 of the books on the list there. Then I went to the Manila International Book Fair and bought more books and then I got a new job and got more books…and more books…and more books. Eeeh. One of my simple joys is visiting the bookstore near my office and I almost always get something there, especially if it’s payday (which is today!) or if I am past my credit card cut-off.

Not only that, but I acquire ebooks in a flash too. My ebook collection isn’t as enough to fill in compact flash cards but it’s enough to have a reading backlog. I have about 12 or so in my iPod Touch that I have yet to read.

Yes, I’m a book glutton. Once I declared a book ban — where I told myself not to buy books for at least five months at least until after I made a dent in my reading list. I…didn’t exactly fail miserably, but I didn’t make a huge dent in my reading list. Hee. One thing I found effective to stop myself from buying books is actually hiding my credit card from myself. I only buy books using my credit card because of convenience, so that stopped me. I also made conditions for myself, like I can only buy this book I’ve been wanting to buy if and only if I finish reading this other book that I have been planning to read in ages.

But I can’t help it. I love books.

Putting import duties on them might ruin my buying though, since it’s going to be more expensive soon. :|

I haven’t bought anything in the past few weeks though, because there’s really nothing that I have been wanting to buy for so long, but then visiting the new Fully Booked in our area might change my mind. Let’s see. ;)

Randomnities

Online Shopping

So I was talking to my dad yesterday while waiting for our call to come on and he told me that my brother’s laptop arrived earlier that day and he was test-driving it. It was a Toshiba laptop, 16″ with something like 4GB memory and 512MB Video card and Intel Core 2 Centrino processor. I’m kind of vague with the specs since he picked it out himself without my help and I’m really kind of not good with hardware until now. Yeah, I’m such a loser.

Anyway, I suddenly remembered that I had some books (yes again) that I want to order off Amazon before my dad goes home so I go check it out. I picked out Havah and Demon: A Memoir by Tosca Lee and 45 Master Characters by Victoria Schmidt. Because I still have that feeling of having too many books to read for the past two weeks, I really couldn’t think of anything more to buy. All of the books were about $30, which is probably almost the same price I’d pay if I buy them here (if they were available, that is). But the fun thing about this is that I remembered I had an Amazon GC from my Associates account, which means I get $10 off.

Ah, I love online shopping. My brother’s laptop was bought on sale compared to prices here, so he got it for a really good price, and the books I will buy? Well, I’m just glad I have a GC. :P

And of course, I will still pay for that, but that’s why I have posts like this. :P

I’m kind of glad I can afford these kinds of purchases already; at least I wouldn’t get the bewildered look that Howie Mendel gives his son on the video below when he said he purchased an Xbox using his dad’s credit card. :P

[youtube 6hMda5esWtc]


Booked, Randomnities

BTT: Collectibles

Today’s Booking Through Thursday (done on a Friday :P) is all about Collectibles. :D

  • Hardcover? Or paperback?
  • Illustrations? Or just text?
  • First editions? Or you don’t care?
  • Signed by the author? Or not?

One of my “dream collections” is to have a vast collection of books. Kind of like a library or a bookstore, which is why I dream of having my own library in my dream home, or owning my own bookstore (nothing like earning from something you love, right? :P And no need to invest on Anoretix!). But those dreams are still in the works, so while my room is still a mess with all my books…that will wait. Haha.

Anyway, I’ve mentioned a couple of times before that I love paperbacks. Hardbound books never really had its appeal to me, and I only buy them whenever it’s the only copy left, or when I couldn’t wait for the paperback version to arrive (usually I can wait, though, except for the case of Harry Potter 7, Eclipse and Love, Stargirl). I just find hardbound books so hard to carry, plus I get all paranoid about their dust jackets. Paperbacks are the way to go for me, and I’m always careful with my books, so it’s not really a problem for me.

I don’t really mind about illustrations, or what edition or publisher the book is (although having the same editions/publishers for a series of books would look really pretty in a shelf, haha!) either. I hardly get my books signed because all the authors I love don’t really go here, but owning signed copies are nice (the last signed book I got is from Camy Tang), but it’s not such a big deal. Basically, the only thing I look at my book collection is if it’s paperback. I don’t event care if it’s Trade or Mass Market (what is the difference, anyway?) — as long as the story’s inside, that’s really fine with me. :)

Booked, Randomnities

BTT: Storage

Here I am, taking a break from all the work stuff that I have to finish, so I could answer this week’s Booking Through Thursday, the one that has a special mention on me, too (thanks Kat!):

How do you arrange your books on your shelves? Is it by author, by genre, or you just put it where it falls on?

Since I’m still waiting for The One Bookshelf, I haven’t really found a way to store all the books in one place. Then again, I don’t think I’ll be able to store them all in one place. Haha. Anyway, I have three…wait, four…okay, five places in my room where I store my books:

  1. My favorite books sit in this small shelf on my desk. I have one of those classic study tables, where there’s a small shelf space inside, so I have them there. It can only carry a few of my favorite books though, and it really doesn’t fit. :P I have it arranged by author.
  2. The next storage space is inside my headboard. They carry the books that I haven’t really read. No specific order there though.
  3. The next one is a small make-shift shelf space beside my desk. That stores some of my Harry Potter books and then a small cute striped Keds shoe box that stores all my inspirational/Christian non-fiction.
  4. The biggest space I have is above my dresser, where there’s two rows of books (one on top of the other) and there’s more above. I know it’s hard to visualize, so I’ll just have to take a photo later when I get home. Anyway, that place stores all my old and miscellaneous book collections, mostly series — Sweet Valley, Baby-sitters Club, Animorphs. I hardly touch them now, since it’s a hassle to bring them out. Below that is a smaller shelf with the books I haven’t read yet, which I bought about two years ago.
  5. Finally, there’s this small bag I got from the book sale that stores all the new books I’ve bought/acquired. No order, except that there’s still books I haven’t read. :P

Imagine the mess that is my room! Haha. I can’t wait to finally have a shelf so I can put them into a proper home! When that happens, I’ll probably be storing it alphabetically by author since I’m really particular about that. It’s so much easier to look for the books when you know the authors, right? :-)

Now please, give me my book shelf. :( I hope it arrives before my birthday. *cross fingers*

Randomnities

All Things Random

U luv me furever? Right? Okay, first off, don’t you think this LOLcat is the cutest, ever? I squeed when I first saw this through my Google Reader. That anxious look on the cat’s face is just priceless; it makes me want to pick him up and cuddle him and assure him that I do luv him furever. See?

Aw shucks, now I really want my own cat. We have a cat at home but it’s really afraid of humans that it runs away when we get near. The only time he’s “friendly” with us is when he’s hungry. He sits by the table outside the door and “taps” us with his paw when he passes by. Er, okay, yeah we know you’re hungry.

I want a cat I can hold. And promise to luv him furever. Hmph.

Life’s been pretty busy. Wait, not just pretty, but very. Ugh. I hate that there’s too many distractions — Plurk, Facebook to mention a few. But then that only means I’m not focusing and I’d rather procrastinate. UGH. Focus Tina! Step up! I need you to step up!

Um…okay, now that was my stress talking. Hehe sorry about that. I’ll write more about stepping up sometime soon, when I have a grasp of what I am supposed to be doing. What’s for sure is there are big things and new responsibilities in the horizon, and I appreciate everything being done for me to face them, I just have to actually stop resisting and face them. Didn’t make sense? I know, but I hope I can figure it out soon. :)

I am looking forward to this weekend, for our upcoming beach trip. That should give me a bit of time to relax before plunging into work again next week. It’s going be difficult, but I know it’s an adventure (that hopefully does not involve cattle supplies). Time to grow up Tina. So help me God. :P

Anyway, I shouldn’t be blogging right now because I have this long Belgium request I need to finish…but I found this at Camy’s blog and thought I’d answer this too. :D

1. What time did you get up this morning?
7:00am. That’s actually quite late already; I’ve been waking up at 6 for the past few weeks. It feels weird waking up “late”.

2. Diamonds or pearls?
Pearls.

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
The Spirit, with Happy. I liked it.

4. What is your favorite TV show?
Okay, the ones I really watch every week are Gossip Girl, Chuck, Privileged, The Big Bang Theory, Kyle XY, and CSI: NY. My favorites from those are Chuck, The Big Bang Theory and CSI:NY. All are geeky shows, did you notice? Haha. Other TV shows I like but ended already are Daria, As Told by Ginger and Joan of Arcadia. :)

5. What do you usually have for breakfast?
Cereal with milk and bananas. Or eggs. Depends on what I feel like making/cooking or what is available.

Continue reading All Things Random →

Randomnities

iTunes Shuffle Meme

Watch me be bored as I try to think of Wordplay # 17. Heh. This weekend has been pretty quiet, save for a fun lunch with my college “mommy” Cathy, and some more quality time with the folks. I think we’re all trying not to think of the fact that my Dad is going back to Saipan again tomorrow night and it’s back to how we were since last Christmas. Here’s to me commuting again. Hay life. Gotta grow up, gotta step up.

Anyway, while I try to think of how to write my 17th piece of the year (I am seriously thinking of better rules for this without resulting to cheap blinds as prompts), let me answer this iTunes Shuffle thing I got from other blogs somewhere online. Feel free to grab. :D

Instructions: Put your iTunes Library on Shuffle and answer each of the questions with the titles of the song that comes up.

Personal comments in italics. ;)

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Take Me Away by Lifehouse
Hm. Interesting. A guy who “takes me away”? Why not. The bridge of the song is something noteworthy: Don’t give up on me yet / don’t forget who I am / I know I’m not there yet / But don’t let me stay here alone.

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?
Lead Me to the Cross by Hillsong United
Absolutely IT! Yes yes yes this is it! :D Lead me to the cross / where Your love poured out / Bring me to my knees / Lord I lay me down / Rid me of myself / I belong to You. ♥

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Ladies Choice by Mandy Moore

Hm, I haven’t really listened to this song in its entirety. Maybe I should note this song now.

Continue reading iTunes Shuffle Meme →

Randomnities

BTT: Songs and Lyrics

6 Comments

I’ve been reading about Booking Through Thursday for a long time already, and I thought I’d join this now since I like books, and well, I like books! (Lame explanation, I know.) Anyway, here’s my first BTT ever. :D

  • What songs … either specific songs, or songs in general by a specific group or writer … have words that you love?
  • Why?
  • And … do the tunes that go with the fantastic lyrics live up to them?

Back when I was still writing music reviews for FiSH (a short writing stint; I moved to writing reflections afterwards), a friend always has to edit my article so it would contain actual reviews of the music. See, as much as I love music, I’m really more of a lyrics person. I can’t really describe music, you know, the way music critics do. Like, know what this song sounds like and how their composition is and the riffs and the arrangement — see I can’t even find the words to do it now. :P I’m really more focused on the lyrics, the content of the song.

There are several artists I know right now that has awesome lyrics to their songs: Brooke Fraser, Dave Barnes, Mae, Anberlin,  Paramore and Jason Mraz. :D Let me give some examples:

Brooke Fraser, Saving the World:

But while we’re waiting we could try saving the world
Or are we storing that up for a raining day?
I’m anticipating the time when it’ll be my turn
It could be fun to try
I think that I’ll save the world as a fun afternoon activity

Seventy thousand things to ponder today
Most significant are bottom of the list
Forty five million recipes and ways
To exaggerate and compound the stress

Dave Barnes, Butterflies:

And I can’t tell you what it is but
It’s the best thing that I’ve found
The butterflies in my stomach
And my feet off the ground
So for now I’m just saying, let’s just call this love
Let’s just call this love

Mae, Soundtrack for Our Movie:

Well I’m a wreck.
I really can’t explain it but I,
I hear the music when I look at you.
Orchestrating the song to accommodate the moment.
Well, I’m so in love with you.

Anberlin, Symphony of a Blase:

God if you can hear me out alright
Please take these feelings for her inside
My chest hurts when I breathe tonight
It’s wasting me away

Paramore, Let This Go:

Maybe if my heart stops beating
It won’t hurt this much
And never will I have to answer
Again to anyone

Jason Mraz, No Stopping Us:

Would it take a bakers dozen to get my point to you?
Would it take a half a pound to roll a joint for you
Would it take some hailing mary’s so full of grace to get my sound to you
Will you help me break it down and get on thru

See? This is why I am often on a Last Song Syndrome. :D

Killer lyrics like these make me love the song, and the music just becomes a bonus. And yes that goes for the songs and artists I mentioned above. :D

Randomnities

All Out, Burn Out

You know how some people have annoying and extreme mood swings? You know, happy one time, sad the next? Not quite manic-depressive, but you know, just extreme mood swings?

I think I have something like it. Only in things I do, not work.

See, some time ago, I was all out in all the things I do — be it work, extra-curriculars or even non-work. I believe that I should throw myself fully in everything I committed myself to. If I said yes, I must follow my word and see it all through. 100% commitment, as I say. Plus there’s me not complaining if things get difficult. Heck, I said yes, who gave me the right to complain?

I think one of the things that I really suck at though, is saying no. I mean, I can say no to some things, but you know how some people always has to offer help, even if their plates are so full? I’m that kind of person. I feel like I should always help someone, even in the smallest way possible, as long as I try to.

And…I know it’s not bad. And I’m not saying this to say that I’m a good person, but it’s just something I feel like I should do.

Lately though, I just feel tired of everything. Like I want to take a break. It’s like I’ve gone all out on other things for the past few months, and now I felt…burned out. No more energy, no more fuel.

Which is annoying, really, especially seeing that there’s so many things I need to do for the next few weeks or so.

Only, I don’t feel like doing it. It’s like…I want a break. It’s like I wish I didn’t take so many responsibilities before that people expect me to continue stepping up, even if I don’t feel like it. It’s like I’m resisting. You know when you’ve been stressed so much over something, that when you finally get to rest from them, you don’t want to go back to them ever again? It’s that feeling.

Is this burn out? Bah. I don’t believe in burn out.

Or maybe I’m just stressed.

Ack.

Anyway. This too shall pass. I just need to take it easy, really. Or at least, do some major de-stressing. :P I can’t wait for November — time to lose myself in the novels for NaNoWriMo. That shouldn’t be stressful. I hope. ^^;

I have an annoying stomach ache from skipping lunch then eating a big dinner. I brought lunch from home today so I didn’t eat it…I want to at least eat it since I don’t want it to go to waste…but I can’t eat anything anymore, even if it’s French toast casserole (whatever that is). I think I’ll just read The Thirteenth Tale and go to bed in a while.