Hello 2012 3rd Quarter!

I know I should revamp this blog or if not at least give a little attention to it.  The calendar on my page were so last, last, last year (yes 2010 or so).  Anyway I have the time today that is why I decided to write something about what I have been up to the past few months.

2 of my good friends decided to go abroad for good.. Gabs went to Abu Dhabi (magkakalat ng lagim ala Sex & the City) while Saree is now in Sweden (not sure whether to study massage Swedish style or look for the guy with the dragon tattoo).  I miss them a lot because they are my bestest college friends and they serve as my caffeine.  I may miss them and I’m sad they left but I am happy for them because they decided to live their future the way they want it to be.  So ladies, good luck.  I miss and love you both.

I’m not sure if I already mentioned that the only good thing I like about travelling is that I get to catch up on my reading.  The airports (according to my foursquare account, airports are the places I frequent lately, sorry naman I need to be in the plane to actually be somewhere noh) are now my modern library.  Because everything is in touch technology now books included, just bring your tablet/e-books and you’re good to go.  I also bring my hard copies when I travel, especially since I still have tons of unread book collecting dusts on my shelf.  I like being in our (my hubby & my) hometown because I get to read in the evenings.  Well I don’t watch a lot of TV in Bulan because a.) not all my channels are available in the local cable b.) we are staying in hubby’s granny’s house when we’re both in Bulan and the house has only 1 TV reserved for hubby (and his arghh channels)  and lastly c.) I don’t want to lounge in the sala (even if it was just me & hubby inside the house), not my thing – I would only lie around looking like I own the place inside a bedroom.  What better way to pass the time (aside from watching downloaded TV series like our fave GoT) but to read?  I was able to finish 2-3 books whenever I’m in Bulan and I so love the feeling of being able to finish a whole book.  

photo from the web

I am currently reading book 2 of EL James’ trilogy.  The book is so controversial and there a lot of discussions about it but it’s just light reading do not delve too much on erotic side if you find it so scandalous.  Thanks to friend Rhei for convincing me to read it because she said “she cried” when she was reading it so I thought it must be good.  It’s okay, not so great but I am only on book 2.  One needs to read all 3 to appreciate it.

I finally found the workout for me, its Bikram Yoga.  I have never been so sweaty in my entire life.  I’ve ran a number of marathons but not Bikram sweaty.  Let’s see how long I will like it (until sawa mode comes).  BYA studio is also kind enough to freeze my membership whenever I am away out of town or in Bicol so it’s a plus for me.  I don’t need to feel sad over not being able to fully utilizing my monthly membership because I am in Manila 3 weeks a month only.

So that's it for now boys and girls.  W arrives this Saturday.  Yehey!

Books and/vs Movies

It’s been a while since I last made a movie review. I am just in the mood because it made me happy that the best 2012 1^st quarter movie(s, for me) are both based on a book.

I consider myself a reader than a viewer. Yes I do watch a lot of movies, I love movies! But I am more fond of reading. Imagine how delighted I am whenever books turned to movie stories depicted a scene the way I imagined it to be.

The reason why I am very excited to do this shout out today is because I have seen both movies first before I have read the book. So you will understand that I bought the books because I saw the movie. Well it was a little different for The Hunger Games. It was all the hype that made me excited to watch it. I had a dream about it. I saw the trailer, it looks promising and all my nephews & niece talked about it all the time. The book originally was catered to young adults but a reader is a reader, there is no age difference in my opinion because I am still fond of reading children’s literature up to now.

I never intend to read The Hunger Games book but I am looking forward to watching it on screen. Last Saturday night, my nephew’s copy of the book was just lying around the house. They were discussing it because both boys (Josh & Jude) were able to watch it already. My niece Shaine & I are scheduled to watch it the next day. I just got curious (it was around 10-11pm), picked up the book, started browsing and the next thing I know, it was 2 am. I finished the book and I liked it so much (love would be a very strong word and I do not intend to be a book slut by saying “love love” a book, like would be a safe word to use). The movie didn’t disappoint either. Right after the movie, we headed to the bookstore and bought the box set (all 3 books and a couple of hard bound books that I really want to have a copy, yes I splurged again on books GUILTY!). I am now on book 2 (Catching Fire), I am not in a hurry to finish it because I am saving it for my very long non-stop flight to Vancouver this Thursday.

For The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I have seen the movie first (the Hollywood version) before I decided to read the rest of the Trilogy. I’ve been hearing a lot about the book years ago but because I thought it’d be full of sex and violence I said I’m never gonna like it. W & I watched the movie because he got curious, it was Daniel Craig (he likes him) and Rooney Mara received an Oscar nod for this movie. Off we go and surprisingly I liked it too (not and will never be a Craig fan). Right after the movie I bought all 3 books. I read the first one even though I’ve seen the movie already and was able to finish the next two last month. I downloaded the original Swedish movie versions but was not able to watch them all yet. Maybe I’ll have the time for it this holy week.

So there you go. It’s not really a movie review, it’s just a shout out. I decided not to give my opinions about the movies because I like them both and I think I got my money’s worth. W wants to watch the HG movie too. I just hope it’s still on theatres when he’s in town 2 weeks from now. I will go with him and watch it again for the second time.

If you’re interested in the book vs movie review of The Hunger Games, this site is good to read: http://screenrant.com/hunger-games-movie-book-differences-johnh-160474/

Happy Monday to everyone!

Niceties on a Friday

We got our raw photos from our official photographer Nelwin Uy today, hooray!

The photos are overwhelming because of a.) quality, b.) quantity and c.) it's our wedding photos for crying out loud!

I'll be very busy viewing the dvds of our gazillion pictures this weekend... maybe I should buy popcorn.

Ah, my weekend will be filled with niceties and prettiness and awesomeness. I miss my hubby though. But will see him in a week.

Plus, our very talented florist featured the bouquet he made for me as his FB's profile pic... it is so lovely.

Happy weekend girls & boys!

Far from Normal

So I've been reading a lot (again) lately...dry spells over hehehe.

I was lucky enough to find time to read once again, lubricate my brain a little since it has been filled with snippets of rust. And because I started reading again I don't know if it has something to do with my off then on again case of insomnia (reason why I fancy calling myself a sleepwalker). Reading is supposed to make you doze off but it is doing the reverse for me. This is the reason why I was able to finish a hardbound book with 400+ pages in 2 days. I know I have a 7 hours record of reading the HP Deathly Hallows non-stop but anything else read less than 3 days is a record too.

So the ghost month is over... we're supposed to be proactive again with our preps, I've been doing a lot of DIYs again after pressing pause for 2 months. We have 4 months ++ more but time flies the next thing we'll know we have barely a month to go.

Am I excited? Yes ofcourse :) who wouldn't? But I am containing myself just giggling inside.

Anyway I need to run, it's Saturday meaning errand & prep day. I just want to update everyone (as if there are readers to this blog) that this blog is still breathing.

Happy weekend boys & girls!

Now That's What You Call...

THE CAR!

My Pop & I were driving along Commerce Ave in Ayala Alabang this morning when we saw this beauty. I can't help but take pictures of THE CAR. I have to smudge pa the plate number for security reasons. I won't mind owning one hehehe, hay *sigh* wake dreaming... sabi nga ni D. Cook, Dream Big cause if you don't dream big what's the use of dreaming? Plugging pa ng single, sorry eh I so love the guy hehehe.

Happy Wednesday people!

I’ve been trying to discipline myself more this year in terms of my sleeping habits, the food I eat and exercise. The past few days I was watching bit by bit a cute Korean novella that I saw in one of the local channels. Luckily a DVD with the complete episode of that novella is already available at my friendly DVD store. I’m a TV & DVDholic, it is my known weakness to finish a 20 episode show in one sitting (or in some cases slouching or even stumbling in bed is also involved). I am amazed at myself on the developments I had in terms of sleeping early. When the clock strike 12 am I made sure that I turn the TV & DVD player off. I’ve been doing it for a week already and I was able to finish the whole DVD in 4 sessions. It is a great accomplishment on my part that is why I chose to mention it here as an entry, to congratulate myself (hahaha because no one will). I’ve been a pro insomniac for years now that is why it is really vital to discipline oneself and free the mind on a certain time. It doesn’t matter if I can’t sleep as long as I was able to rest my mind & body. But I should say that sleep is still by far the best form of relaxation for everyone.

I feel a little sad over the fact that my reading habit in the last year was really poor. I have read very few books and it made me assess myself on what I really care for in life. For me learning is everything… I love books, I love watching movies, I love the TV. I learn a lot from those things especially from the books. I remembered my friends especially Jenny using my books as hostages when she or they (together with Jeng, they love to blackmail me using my books) wants to torture me or wants me to do something risky that I do not want to be a part of. That’s how important my books are to me and unfortunately I am not ready to give them up – yet. I was a little disappointed with myself that I was not able to read good quality books in 2007. I have read a few and started on a lot and failed to finish. But this year I started to read again, beginning with the unfinished Letters to a Young Poet which I started last year in September. I alternately read it with a new book I got as a present from my good friend Moises - Nora Ephron’s Wallflower at the Orgy. I read 2 books sometimes so as not to feel overwhelmed or saturated over one story. It can also stop the boredom I feel towards one book when I think it is beginning to get dragging.

There are times when one would often contemplate on the things he or she did in the past especially when the result is not what was intended to be. The usual question would be what went wrong? What should be done instead? Did I go overboard? Are my efforts not good enough? We ask all of these but the answer is just simple either it’s not meant to be or that it is worth giving it another shot. In any of these reasons that you want to believe in there would always be 2 sides, the yes and the no, the black and the white. No maybe and no such thing as gray. It is really a wild world, it is always best to be strong. Life is short, you’d know in your heart if one this is worth the risk and once you do realize that it is, whatever happen, never ever entertain regret.