Day 19 (Bookworm)

I grew up surrounded by three things - computers, music, and books. The last one is mainly my mom's influence; she'd have all these Robert Ludlum, Agatha Christie, Sidney Sheldon, Tom Clancy, John Grisham and all those suspense thrillers and espionage novels in our bookshelf. She used to tell us how she couldn't put down a book once she started it, to the point where she'd read in the car while waiting for the stoplight to turn green and get so engrossed that the car behind her would honk the horn to pull her back to the real world. LOL. Thank you, Mama, for getting us hooked on books.

Another picture of you.

I took this photo a couple of weeks ago out of boredom while on house arrest due to sickness caused by fatigue, and now I'm using it as my profile photo on most of my social networking sites.

When we were kids, I would throw curious glances at my older sister whenever she chuckled while reading a book (I think it was one of David Eddings' Malloreon books). I gave in and asked her what was funny, and she told me to read it. I did, and soon enough I was laughing too. That got me reading all sorts of things after, from Goosebumps to Sweet Valley to Sherlock Holmes. I also got to read some of my mom's Sidney Sheldon books (Master of the Game, If Tomorrow Comes). Eventually I went on to heavy reading and started with Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series (14 books, each of them are about two inches thick, which I think I need to re-read from the first book), and my younger sister's own collection (Virgin Suicides by Jeff Eugenides, Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden, Angels and Demons by Dan Brown).  It also helped that my high school friends are bookworms as well. I'd borrow Stephen King and Chuck Palahniuk from my best friend Ju, and I got lots of book recommendations from KC, Ria, Lai and Au. :))

But I wasn't really an avid reader. I read, sure, but I would usually prefer one genre (sci-fi/fantasy for the longest time) and the intervals between books were pretty long. Now it's like I can't get enough of reading. I pick up a book and I am transported into a different world, living a different life, seeing things through different eyes. I become the hero, the sidekick, the villain, and the bystander all at the same time. It's a weird, interesting, exhilarating feeling, and it certainly gets my mind off things (like stress from work and...other, more personal stuff LOL).

I started this thing two years ago, where I'd set goals for the year like how many movies to watch, or games to finish, or books to read. I set my book goal last year to 3, and I finished 9 books. LOL. This year I'm aiming for 7-10 books, and I am now on my 5th (Heat Wave by Richard Castle) in just three months. Who knows, I might up the ante and try for 20. And I plan on pushing through with that long term goal - to finish all the fiction books in our book wall. Wish me luck. :))

Check out my Goodreads account to see what I've read so far, plus the books I plan to read. :)

Day 18 (Hello Summer!)

Okay, so my attempts at PROPERLY doing the 30-Day Blog Challenge have been an epic bust. Oh well. Still, that doesn't mean I'm gonna stop. I am going to finish this, even if the gaps in between the entries are quite far. Maybe next time I can do this the way it should be done, when I am no longer confined to certain work-related responsibilities. *ahem ahem*

Something you crave a lot.

Ah yes, summer. For most people, the word is synonymous to the beach, outdoors, tan lines, and "gotta start dieting so I can have that beach body I've been dreaming of." For me, it means heat, perspiration, and discomfort. Don't get me wrong, though. I don't hate summer, but I'm more sensitive to heat and it makes me really, really cranky. If I could live inside the refrigerator, I would. So these days, I've been craving for this.

Thank you, my dear Ate, for treating me and my mom at Razon's BF the other day. This was just what we needed to beat the dreadful summer heat. 

Razon's is known for their simple yet exquisite halo-halo - finely shaved ice, milk, bananas, macapuno, and two slices of leche flan on top. I'm not a big fan of macapuno, but it was so hot that I ate it anyway and I didn't care if it gave me another coughing fit (yes, apparently I am still sick). Five minutes later, no more halo-halo. LOL. Razon's, I heart you, but I really wish you'd add mais con hielo to your menu.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

This is the second Neil Gaiman book I've read and it still amazes me how he can come up with these things. It takes a creative mind to write a story like American Gods (and I can imagine tons of research), a story that can weird you out but keep you hooked at the same time. There were moments where I had to reread a chapter just to see if I understood the events that unfolded correctly.

American Gods follows Shadow, an ex-con who finds himself widowed a few days before his parole and, after being employed by an old man named Wednesday, gets caught in a bi-dimensional war between powerful mythical beings.

The story has a lot of subplots that I kind of found out of place. It's like going through a city with a lot of twists and turns and then you'd find yourself in a dead end. The characters are somewhat predictable; you could tell who Mr. Wednesday is right off the bat, and Shadow's kind nature and quiet intensity makes it easier to guess what he'd do in certain situations. I think what really kept me reading was the sheer "weirdness" of it all (religion, gods and rituals, both ancient and modern) and yet it all seems so believable, thanks to the author putting in copious amounts of research.

So did I like it? I don't know, really. But I have to admit that it was a bit anti-climactic; I was expecting the book to end with some sort of bang but it fell short of my expectations and left me scratching my head and asking "That's it?" Still, I have to applaud Mr. Gaiman for the creativity.

The 2012 Status Report

They say that whatever happens to you or whatever you do on the first day of the year is going to happen to you all year round. So far I've been eating, Facebook-ing, Twitter-ing, XBox-ing, Monopoly Deal-ing, and videoke-ing. Hmmm. What bright future lies ahead of me. LOL.

I had a love-hate relationship with 2012. The ups and downs were too frequent that it left me mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted. Still, I'm thankful for the things that happened, and I think it's safe to say that I've learned a lot (about myself, mostly). Now that 2013 is just beginning, I'm quite excited. There will be a lot of changes and big decisions to make, and though it scares me just thinking about what might happen, I know everything will fall into place. Lezdudiz!

Enough talk. Now for my annual status report. :)) 

MOVIES

35 of 60 - FAIL. :| I got distracted by the XBOX. xD

The Mistress. This Guy's In Love With You, Mare. Tiktik. Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. The Avengers. Ironman 2. The Hunger Games. Cabin in the Woods. Battleship. Dark Shadows. Men in Black 3. Magic Mike. The Dark Knight Rises. Total Recall. Wrath of the Titans. Super 8. Sherlock Holmes 2. Chronicle. Get Smart. Hellboy. Hellboy 2. Strangers on a Train. xXx. Rise of the Guardians. Asiong Salonga. Confessions (Japanese film). Jason and the Argonauts. Spiderman 3. The Three Musketeers. Midnight in Paris. Something Borrowed. 21 Jump Street. The Dictator. 50 First Dates. The Lady Vanishes.

2013 goal - 60 movies (again). Will try finish them this time. :))

BOOKS

9 of 3 - WIN, with surplus. LOL. Thanks to my sister's Nook.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Books 1-5 (R. Riordan). Neverwhere (N. Gaiman). World War Z (M. Brooks). Strangers on a Train (P. Highsmith). Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal (C. Moore). 

Now reading: A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire #1, G.R.R. Martin)

2013 goal - 5 books.

Here's to an awesome year! HAPPY 2013!! :)

Goodies from Sweeter Moments

I'm not a cake/pastry person. I usually go for ice cream or leche flan (who doesn't love leche flan?), but there are times when I encounter cakes that look so mouth-watering, it's practically calling me to eat it. Sweeter Moments is one of those.

Photo credits to Krizia Parungao.

See what I mean? Just look at that icing!

Sweeter Moments is a cake and pastry business set up by Tess Parungao, devoted wife and a mother of two, whose passion for cooking is evident in the presentation of each and every morsel that comes out of their oven. I've been a fan of Tita Tess' cooking for a couple of years now (her daughter Krizia and I are friends), so when they asked if I could feature them in my blog, I didn't have any seconds thoughts.

They sent over a box of Ferrero Cupcakes and Banana Butterscotch Muffins. You have no idea how excited I was to go home and put these in my mouth. LOL.

Continue reading...

Day 17 (Rainy Days and Mondays)

Classes were suspended today, which means more time for me to catch up on things I normally have no time to do like reading and writing. Oh, and I slept a lot. I think the amount of time I spent sleeping today is enough to compensate for the lack of sleep I will probably experience as this semester progresses. Yep, it's the first semester - the busiest for our department. Better get my vitamins, energy drinks, and meds ready.

A photo of you and your family.

Today's topic is about family. I was planning on writing about only my biological family but then I realized that there are so many things and people I am grateful for that these deserve some sort of recognition. So yeah, here goes nothing. (Excuse the crappy picture resolution. Facebook picture compression really sucks, and uploading it here compresses it more. Oh well.)

Mi Familia

Miwa's birthday.

Gabutero Reunion 2011

I grew up in a simple home with my parents, sisters, and maternal grandparents. I'd like to think I turned out quite alright. :)) I look forward to reunions because of all the food, laughter, and asaran that goes on. You can't be pikon in a Gabutero Reunion. :))

Highschool Barkada (aka SNG, or Short-Notice Gang)

With HS Girlies in San Pablo, Laguna

May Birthday Bash 2011

I am so thankful to have friends with whom I share a strong bond. Most of us have known each other since pre-school, and for us to still meet for special occasions or just to hang out because we're bored says a lot. 15 years (give or take a few) of laughter, food, drama (I have never seen a barkada that didn't go through some sort of issue, hahaha), and more food and laughter. I will forever love these people.

Ang Bandang KAZE

KAZE with Ruth @ Cafe Boheme

Cubao X

Miwa, Chiqui, Tin, me, Chevy, Tuesday, Hannah, Jimbo,
and Wendell @ The 70's Bistro, QC

I'm soooooooooo lucky to have found 6 other people who share my passion for music. We're turning 8 years old this October, and again, I can't ask for better bandmates. I'm also thankful for all the friends we've made since we started doing gigs. Top Junk, Session Road, Mozzie, Rosco, Kagaws, PNE, etc...seeing how they perform and how much they're into their music keeps me so inspired. 

Alligators

@ Okiniiri No

My college life would've been so boring if it weren't for these people. Even the story of how we became "alligators" is still so funny. Doilet Daks, chickens, Tagaytay food trips, Bento-Ya dinners, Dyosas, videoke - whatever it is, I always go home with painful cheeks from all that laughing. 

Student Teams and Orgs

The Collegiate Mover, July 2012

PRSP Team @ Yakimix, Sept. 2011

What I love about being a teacher is that I get to meet new and interesting people everyday. My students come from different walks of life, and they somehow manage to make my life and my work a lot less boring. And seeing them do something great, accomplish something they thought was impossible, surpass my skill, and exceed beyond my expectations is such a great joy. It makes me feel like I'm actually doing something right.

Le Kiddies

With Manny, Adelle, Krizia, Carla, and Mikey

This picture was taken during Krizia's birthday (the girl in the purple shirt). Krizia, Manny and Mikey are my original "kiddies", meaning they were the first batch I ever handled. We grew together in school; me as a teacher, and them as young, mature professionals. I'd like to think they learned a thing or two from me, as I did from them. Now they're all working in their chosen fields, and I am so proud of them. I've also found new friends that are worth keeping.

I'm so used to seeing them in school, it's kinda weird that I don't anymore. Good thing I still have Carla, Adelle, and the rest of the "kiddies" to keep me company. LOL.

And I guess that's all she wrote. This is probably the longest entry I've written in a while but hey, I'm trying to brush up on my writing skills. Now I should probably go to bed. I'm sure classes are going to resume tomorrow. 

When It Rains, It's Four

As much as I like the cold and the rain, the current weather condition is making me restless. I hardly consider strong winds and heavy downpour as "bed weather"; after Milenyo, Ondoy, and all those other storms that uprooted trees, submerged cities, and made cows fly, I'm paranoid as sh*t. The fact that it's already nighttime isn't helping either.


Aaaaaaaaaaaand we just had our first one-second brownout. Time to break out the flashlights and candles, and I should go check on my cats. 


Here's a little something to ease my nerves. I saw this way back and I still can't help but laugh. K Brosas, Y U SO BENTA?

Day 16 (Meow)

Your celebrity crush.

Got home about an hour ago from watching The Dark Knight Rises on IMAX with my sisters and Chi. As I've mentioned in my Facebook and Twitter accounts, I thought it was over-hyped and predictable. It's still a pretty good movie and worth watching, though, and since this post isn't meant to be a movie review, I'm just gonna leave it at that.

So why mention TDKR? Because of this.

Anne Hathaway, my new celebrity crush. LOL.

When I first heard she was playing Catwoman in this movie, I must admit I wasn't sure if she could pull it off at first but I thought she did a pretty good job playing a smart, conniving, and seductive thief, in all magical fairness. And ang ganda niya talaga eh. Hence the crush. LOL.

And because I'm too darn sleepy to do any more explaining, I'm going to stop right here. It's been raining all week! Stay safe!

You Can Get Addicted To A Certain Kind of Sadness

No, not an emo post. I'm sure most of you know by now where the title of this entry came from.

I've never heard of Gotye until I saw Walk Off The Earth do a cover of "Somebody That I Used To Know". The song's popularity sky rocketed in just a matter of weeks, and before you know it, everyone's got a copy of the song and suddenly belting out "SAMBADEH!" every chance they get. I can't blame them, though - the song is quite catchy, and the lyrics go through the heart especially to those who can relate. Gotye became an overnight mainstream sensation. I wish I can write a song like that. LOL.

Yesterday, I saw a post saying that the singer committed suicide. I had a mini heart attack and started asking if it was true. Thank goodness it wasn't, and it was confirmed by Gotye's official Twitter account. Later I found out that the link was CNN's version of Wikipedia, meaning anyone can submit news and a whole lot of other stuff.

Moral of the story: Don't believe everything you read on the Internet.

Because of this incident, I have the song on repeat again. I also stumbled upon this amazing guitar cover by Mike Dawes. Completely mesmerized, I am. @_@

SAMBADEH!

Greetings from Nueva Ecija!

This has been a really bad week. Aside from my laptop's demise, work has been a real challenge (can't expound on that. Let's just say it's only the second week and I feel like I was thrown under a bus 14 times). This weekend is just what I need to cap things off.

It's my Lola's birthday today! Since she's here in Nueva Ecija, the whole clan decided to hold the reunion here so she won't have to travel far. I'd like to say that the travel time was long, but I really didn't notice since I practically crashed as soon as I got in the car at 5AM (went out the night before and came home sabog at 2AM, hehe). Anyway, it's my first time to visit my Tita Susan's house and I'm having a chill time so far - stuffed myself senseless, sang a couple of songs (I think that's why it rained pretty hard), stuffed myself senseless, wrote on my Uncle Nel's dusty Alterra (mwehehehehe), took pictures of people and cats sleeping on tires, and listened to my cousin's friends tire-out the videoke machine. Oh, and I stuffed myself senseless.

Happy 85th birthday, Nanay Rubing! I heartyouberimeni!

Miwa, Lola and I. <3