Saturday High

I hate to brag, but I just had a productive Saturday. I woke earlier than my usual Saturday waking up time.

I just ate lunch, and picked up where I left off at Kafka on the Shore. Before long, I realized that I am done with it. I felt a little sad over the book. The end justified the whole story. Only few books have that quality, I guess. Having read it was one hell of ride to consciousness and humanity. It kept me from asking why, and just led me to accept the fact that everything happens for some contorted reasons, which human mind cannot grasp. I felt like Kafka Tamura all throughout the story. I feel his emotions. I understand what he thinks. And maybe, I am Kafka Tamura in many ways. Perhaps Kafka Tamura is my metaphor, my exact metaphor.

After much realizations in life, I decided to watch a little bit about Woodstock. There are a lot of good songs in the clip. And a lot of quotations, too. This one's my favorite as of the moment.

Also, I finished watching Sister Act 2 (at long last!!!). I devoured the whole movie in one sitting, pretty much a challenge for me if I must say. Music Ass made me laugh. I just remembered that when I was in grade school and high school, I loathed Music subject. I had a hard time staying awake during that subject. All we talked about were Bach, Haydn, Beethoven, and other classical musicians. That was a traumatic experience for me. But then, when I got old, I came to like music itself. One major factor is that I just listened to it without minding the technicalities of it.

I cannot say more to a productive day. I feel as though I am beginning to get the momentum again, but I do not want to get ahead of myself now. I'll just let things unfold before me and do whatever that I like...for now.

PDF first Before Books

I promised myself not to buy any book/s until I am done reading Sherlock Holmes Volume I and Volume 2, but then it is hard to control my impulse when it comes to books (though my addiction is nothing compared to Kristine Joy Valdez Patag, free exposure dude!)

Usually, I do research on what book I am most likely to read. On a normal basis, I just download a PDF version of the book or borrow it from a friend first. Then, if I find it to my liking, I will buy it. But recently, I tried buying some books without even doing my usual routines. So I found these

and bought them. A big mistake! I was disappointed at Once Again to Zelda. I had so much expectations on that book since the teaser was interesting and the cover was cool. When I bought that book, I thought that I would learn something that I would not be able to learn from the internet. But lo and behold! I saw Wikipedia as its source! As for the writing style, it is not praise-worthy. I think that some parts of it were plagiarized. I felt like I wasted my money on that copy. Nevertheless, it still looks good on my shelf.

As for the The Last Man Who Knew Everything, it is like reading an academic book. It is interesting, but it is boring. If you know what I mean. I cannot say much about this book though, since I am still in the middle of reading it. If I get past page 3, I will let you know. But for the meantime, I will pass it to my younger sister as her first reading material from me. While Bright Shiny Morning seems like a good read, but I have not opened the book yet so that remains to be judged soon.

I also bought To Kill a Mockingbird which is included in my reading list and Sexing the Cherry which is included in Tin's reading list. I thought of selling the latter to her since I just bought it out of whim and since it was on sale. (So please Tin, if you are reading this, I am selling you that book for only PHP99.00!)

I know I promised myself not to buy any book/s until I finish reading what I am supposed to read, but then seeing this book is urging me to break my promise (AGAIN!) I've already downloaded the PDF version (another addition to my reading list!) So I will just blind myself to death with a loooooong reading list to accomplish.

I should probably continue reading Sherlock Holmes now. Or else the list will just pile up.

Obliviate!

I will only admit it once: I am not really a fan of Harry Potter Series.

I know it is a modern classic already, but I am not really into it like any other people. I will not say sorry if it offended you that I am not as attached to it like any of you are. I have a read-and-forget attitude on books. Harry Potter is one of those books. I am not a fan, but I have read the whole series more than once (so let's make that twice.)

I have read (and watched!) it for one social reason--to relate to humanity. For one, reading/watching the whole series is like being updated to current events and not reading/watching it is equivalent to social suicide. That's common sense, I guess. It is a fad just like The Beatles during the 60s. It is a mania, and everybody and every single soul of this generation knows it. And not knowing will receive a reaction equivalent to "What era did you come from, dumb ass?"

I read it back when I was in high school. I remember that I still have to borrow the books from my friends in order for me to read it, because I had no intention of keeping them on my book shelves for the rest of my life (the dumbest excuse I could muster for being so broke) and because I really do not know who is Harry Potter (just like how I do not know 3D stereogram or Venus Raj.) So you see, I was not really updated with a lot of things back then (well, up until now I guess.) Most of the time, I was clueless of what my high school batch mates were gushing about. They were often saying unintelligible words that only they could understand. It was like they were speaking a different language from mine. I could not understand them. I could not relate. I always come home asking myself, "What is expelliarmus? Is it even included in the dictionary?" because my classmates often said that when they did not want to stand up and get their things. Only when I have read the books that I came to know the language they were playing. Then, I started to get in touch with the world they were living.

It must have been social pressure that led me to read and to watch the series, but for most part of it I was willing to. I am not a fan for the reason that I haven't memorized all the spells and characters and details in the series. I am not a fan, because I do not have the whole series of books. I am not a fan, because I can sleep at night without dreaming about my life in Hogwarts. I am not fan just because. I could list a lot of (petty) reasons as to why I am not a fan of Harry Potter, but doing so will just overkill and later on defeat the purpose. I am not a fan, but I do not dislike it. Actually, I enjoyed reading it. And maybe I will read the series again three or four years from now just to get a different perspective on why many people love it like I love Pride and Prejudice. Maybe then I will become a fan.

But for now, I will just stare at this set of Harry Potter series and drool. They are lovely. This picture is encouraging me to buy a copy of each book. A complete set will look good on my (future mini-) library of classics. Hmm. What do you think?

I am getting inconsistent with my previous statements. This picture is just pure awesomeness. Or maybe it has something to do with that Beatle figurine (or is it a Beatle?)

Ten Reasons to be Happy

I feel awful today in a depressing way (I think that is redundant, but that's exactly how I feel.) I am depressed for reasons I do not want to disclose (yet). But then I know that I still have reasons to be happy.

1. I got my diploma and TOR (transcript of record.)
2. I had the chance to be at UP Manila again, and to see old faces, and to feel okay.
3. Four new books for only PHP 180.00 (Well, I only bought these books because I wanted to feel less depressed.)
4. One of those books is Prince Caspian, which means that I am close to completing The Chronicles of Narnia. I only need to get The Horse and His Boy. Yey!
5. We have a dog now! He is already 8 months old when he was given to us last Monday. Quite old, if I may add. His name is Hachi, but I like to call him Hachi P. because he is Panget for ruining Leonard The Throwpillow (which is five years old). He is a Shiba Inu.
6. I had two Jolly Hotdogs.
7. I have Haruki Murakami's eBooks. Sorry for not buying the real books, I am already broke.
8. I have two new (lola) bags and two pairs of shoes sponsored by my Tita. Yehey for vintage stuff.
9. I am Asian!!! I do not know why I am including that one here. Fill-in reason.
10. I am thinking of going broke all the way. Like real broke. I certainly need a new phone. Okay, that was just a joke. I just can't think of any other reasons to be happy. Oh! Now I know. I am home!

In Between Dreams and Realities

I am broke. Yeah, but who cares? I still have my books with me. I could live with that.

I am not much of a materialistic person. I don't buy anything that I don't need. My only vices are books, books, books, beer, books, beer, and books. So I think I could pass as a thrifty (bordering to kuripot) person. It might be because I was brought up to be a wise spender and to work hard for something that I want. Like really work hard. In its truest sense. Reward system has not been used to me when I was a kid, that's why I have to earn my keep. Being brought up like that is something that differentiate me from my siblings. Through that, I learned how to be wise with money and to invest on things that would later pay off. I learned to spend within my means, so to speak. The only downside is that I feel guilty sometimes when I splurge over my vices (stated above). My mom would always tell me that it's okay to buy things that I WANT, because I worked hard for it, and that I deserve it. I feel less guilty whenever she says that.

That's why I splurged on... (drum roll please!)

(The book that I have been lusting for four years!)

and...

(The book that has been on my reading list for four or so months)

I am still not done in reading Sherlock Holmes though. AND I AM STILL NOT DONE COMPLETING THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA (but I am almost done reading the series). Hello, Prince Caspian and The Horse and His Boy, where art thou? I wish I could get my hands on you next pay day!