In haste I bought Junichiro Tanizaki's In Praise of Shadows.

The book is an essay on aesthetics, a Japanese reflection about architecture, jade, food, toilets and space in buildings. Tanizaki thought about the concussion between the shadows of traditional Japanese interiors and the brilliant light of modernization of everything.

Bakit Michael Crichton?

Ang ganda kasing diversion ng mga nobela niya. Hindi ung usual na binabasa kong poetry books. Ung mga akda niya, may langkap ng science, thriller, suspense. Nosebleed man ako sa halos lahat ng terms, na nakakatuwang isipin na sa panahon ngayon, parang wala ng imposible sa mga sinasabi niyang hi-tech gadgets sa mga kuwento. Parang lahat, posible na, at baka nagawa na ng mga imbentor.

I particularly like his novel "Rising Sun." Iba ung approach niya dito, kaiba sa mga naunang nabasa ko nang libro niya. Nagulat ako kasi nagustuhan ko itong libro, to think na nagdadalawang-isip pa ako nung binili ko ito. Mukha kasing hindi maganda ang plot. Detective novel kasi, at hindi sci-fi thriller katulad ng Sphere at Lost World.

Hindi ko pa natatapos basahin itong nobelang ito, at talagang napupuyat ako dahil dito. Hehe.

Omens

Louise Gluck

I rode to meet you: dreams
like living beings swarmed around me
and the moon on my right side
followed me, burning.

I rode back: everything changed.
My soul in love was sad
and the moon on my left side
trailed me without hope.

To such endless impressions
we poets give ourselves absolutely,
making, in silence, omen of mere event,
until the world reflects the deepest needs of the soul.



-after Alexander Pushkin

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

I found these lines as I was scanning the Bible looking for the 7 deadly sins. Don't ask. I just thought these were pretty interesting ironies. I can't understand them though.

High school grad photo. Possible also that this was her grad photo after she finished her vocational class.

I'm not sure kung bakit sa bubong ng bahay siya nagpa-picture. Pwede naman sa garden.

When I saw this photo, I thought she joined the Miss Linggas Dayat contest. Hindi raw. The gown was her project for her vocational class. Her batch modeled their own works. I saw this gown pa noon in its splendour, bago mangatngat ng mga daga.

I understand that it's been out in the Web for quite a while now, but since I haven't been really a computer couch potato til lately, I guess I've missed out on quite a few things.

And so, to catch up with everything, or rather, just to give out a few much needed giggle in this ridiculously dull time I'm currently having, here's my Top 10 Chuck Norris Facts

10. When Chuck Norris does a push up, he does not push himself up...he pushes the earth down.

9. Chuck Norris can kill two stones with one bird.

8. Chuck Norris doesn't read books. He stares them down until he gets the information he wants.

7. There is no theory of evolution. Just a list of creatures Chuck Norris has allowed to live.

6. The leading causes of death in the United States are: 1. Heart Disease 2. Chuck Norris 3. Cancer.

5. When Chuck Norris jumps in water, he doesn't get wet, the water gets Chuck Norrised.

4. Chuck Norris has no hair on his testicles because hair can't grow on steel.

3. Chuck Norris doesn't churn butter. He roundhouse kicks the cows and the butter comes straight out.

2. When Chuck Norris sends in his taxes, he sends blank forms and includes only a picture of himself, crouched and ready to attack. Chuck Norris has not had to pay taxes, ever.

1.  When the Boogeyman goes to sleep every night, he checks his closet for Chuck Norris.

0. When Bruce Baner gets angry he turns into Hulk, but when Hulk gets even more angry he turns into Chuck Norris.

...well OK, so there's eleven all in all...so I like 11 of them--sue me! LOL Thanks to various sources on the Web for all these jokes. I did not make any of them and that's why they're funny.

Anyway, got any nice Chuck Norris Facts on your mind? Let me know.

one more thing: Try typing "finding Chuck Norris" in Google, then click "I'm Feeling Lucky"...see what you'll get!

Paghihiwalay

Iniwan mo akong kapiling ang lagim
Para iyong sundan ang mabining ulan,
Walang tigatig kong niyakap ang dilim.

Ang katotohana’y naglabas ng talim:
Habang mga daho’y nagkukulay-haban,
Iniwan mo akong kapiling ang lagim.

Nagdamot ang langit, gabi’y makulimlim
Pagkat nagluluksa’ng pintakasing buwan.
Walang tigatig kong niyakap ang dilim.

Di mo inunawa’ng samong mataimtim:
Hindi na ba ako ang ‘yong kasiyahan?
Iniwan mo akong kapiling ang lagim.

Ang mundo ko ngayo’y  naging kulay itim,
At ang liwanag ay di na matagpuan.
Walang tigatig kong niyakap ang dilim.

Ang iyong pag-ibig na ubod ng sakim
Ang tanging tumapos sa ‘king kabuluhan.
Iniwan mo akong kapiling ang lagim,
Walang tigatig kong niyakap ang dilim.

*Ang larawan ay mula dito.

greenlife

I haven't been myself lately and been slacking off in everything I do. I have lost the vibe in giving attention to my  life. I have done things, I shouldn't be doing. I took risks because they said "life is a risk". I have waited for something that doesn't even exist because I always believe that "patience is a virtue". I have waited, yet it never happened. I have waited, and waited for more. I have waited but I can't deal the pain anymore. Now it's time to accept that things aren't exactly what they are. They may look so simple but it can be just a facade. Or worst than that, it can be a trap. The next thing you know, you are already shackled and can no longer escape.

Now all I want is a sweet escape.

I am making my own mess. I am making my own misery. And I need a fuckload of strength to move on. I can't wait forever. I am only human. I get tired and most of all I am also vulnerable to pain.