Mischief Managed.

Ten years ago, I had a crush on my cute grade school classmate who reads a book every recess and lunch. I wanted to be close to him so I asked what's so good about the book he's engrossed with. So I asked my mom to buy it for me; heck she was so skeptic if I would ever read it because I have never read a single book prior to that. So was I. I wondered, how long does it take to finish a 300-page book? Isn't it boring? But I read  it right away when we went home. I remember finishing it in less than three days. And then I was a fan. 

The book? It's Harry Potter. 

I never thought I'd discover the joy of reading books -- until HP happened. Whenever there's a new installment coming up, I would patiently wait for the softbound edition and tolerate spoilers from the fans who afforded the hardbound copies. And when I finally got my copy, I would be shunned from everyone and have a world of my own in my room.. totally engrossed to the book.

"There are some things you can't share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them."

And every year, I'd always feel skeptic if the movie could live up to its book. Before the eight movie, Warner Bros gave me more disappointments than satisfactions with their HP adaptations. (Lesson: Don't judge a book by its movie.) Either there are so many cuts, or it's not executed well... or both. But expect the unexpected. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II is as satisfying, entertaining and magical as it could ever be. I don't know about others, but I think Harry Potter got the ending that it deserved.

"Dark and difficult times lie ahead. Soon we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy."

Hmmm.. It all ends here, right? Done and gone were all the looking-forward-days because there's nothing up next anymore for Harry Potter. Honestly, it's a bittersweet and happysad feeling. (One comforting thought: You can move on to Hunger Games and Game of Thrones, Heidy). Sigh. A big chunk of my childhood closed its chapter on me. 

“The stories we love best do live in us forever, so whether you come back by page or by the big screen, hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home" — J.K. Rowling

So long, Harry Potter. It was a magical ride. 

Top 5 Favourite Books for 2009

2009 unleashed the bookworm in me, and as part of my year-end series of posts, here are my Top 5 Favourite Books that I have read this 2009:

5. Chump Change, by David Eddie

    David Henry, the main character, goes back to his hometown in Canada after getting chewed up and spitted out in New York City with only a chump change in his pocket. He goes home as a failure and asks himself, "was it really necessary to hit bottom before you could finally succeed? And if so, how do I explain that to my father?" It's not just some typical story of success. It is full of wit and is delightfully comic that anybody will just laugh their asses off while following David Henry's way to leave bottom. One of the most hilarious books I have ever read.

4. Angels and Demons, by Dan Brown

   Epic book. Very very very much enjoying. Dan Brown knows how to mix controversy, suspense and fiction all together in one great book. He's genius!

3. The Naked Face, by Sidney Sheldon

   I bought this book because it was one of the cheap-so-why-not-try-it books. I immediately fell in love with the way Sidney Sheldon writes mystery and suspense so following The Naked Face I have read a total of eight other Sidney Sheldon novels in 2009. If not for this novel, I wouldn't become a fan, and Andrew and Jowie wouldn't have given me Rage of Angels and If Tomorrow Comes -- the finest novels of Sidney Sheldon.

2. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, by J.K. Rowling

    The best ending Harry and company could ever have. There's closure, and it's not pilit like the way Twilight Series ended. You will think that Rowling have planned everything to end that way since book one. She stayed right on track with the main plot and ended it the way it should be. And blimey, I almost cried in admiration to Neville's valor.

1. The Shack, by William P. Young

    This is one of the books that have moved me -- and still moves me every time I read some of its parts again and again. The very plot of the book tugs at the heartstrings. I guess this is the kind of book that I will pass on to my sister, my children and my grandchildren simply because you can learn life from it.

Cheers to all these brilliant novels! Kudos to all the genius authors. May you continue to write great novels for all the book lovers out there, like me. xoxo.

Goodbye EE! I won't miss you!

We all thought that Chemlab is all just about colorful chemicals and fun -- but we are all wrong. Because receiving a 2.5 will never be fun. I cannot believe that my lowest grade is from a lab class. Err. But still I am soo thankful! Nakahinga na ng maluwag! I passed everything and got grades higher than I expected and computed. Hehe. And my! Tapos na ang EE!! I won't have to see those awful electric circuits again! Can't believe I am this relieved! Haaay.

So sem's over. Gosh I can't tell you how much I missed reading! It feels like I am suddenly eating burgers and pizzas after months of eating pure vegetables. Yeah my metaphor is awful but it really is something like that. I have finished reading Nothing Lasts Forever, by Sidney Sheldon and The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks in two days. That's how badly I missed reading. Hehe.

Anyway I've got to go. Rather than waste my time here, I've got a sembreak to enjoy. Bye, take care pips.

P.S. I love fisheye. :D

Random Post (Oh no not again!)

What's up people?

Next week is going to be packed with quizzes and reports to submit. And I can't seem to start with them right now because I still have to work on my sister's project. Here's a tip to the grade school teachers: Never assign projects that you perfectly know eight-year-old-students cannot do. Or perhaps they can do it but it won't look like a project at all. I mean who are you fooling? You are going to spend hours on grading projects that, clearly as the sunshine, were done by your students' parents, siblings or even neighbors. Follow my advice and you'll do yourselves a favor.

But enough talk about next week. Here's what happened last week.

• I bought a new calculator! :D It's the Sharp EL-W506. I wasn't supposed to buy a new one yet but we're now solving phasors in EE, and my old calculator seems to have difficulty solving it. And it's time to move on -- from one calculator to another. HEHE.
• I also purchased a hard-bound copy of The Da Vinci Code for only Php255.00. ;P
  
• New hurrcut. As in new. It's my first time to sport heavy layers. I mean my hair is now layered three inches from the top. So in other words, I am not only sporting the layers, also the waves and the fly-aways. Noooooo.

• Nahigad yung braso ko. Shet. Puro pantal grabe. Anyway, what's the english of higad? Hehe.
  
• Yesssss. I am done with the first season of How I Met Your Mother. Season 2 is going to be legendary! Suit up! :P
• And I finally got to watch G.I. Joe with my family. I LIKED IT. Even more than Transformers 2. Definitely a good popcorn movie. It's very entertaining and well, full of action. There were scenes when I was already at the edge of my seat. Nacarried away eh. Haha.
  

This is so random, I am running out of things to say. Have to say bye. May you have a good week ahead of you. God Bless. Muaa. :P

P.S. Bakit ganon? Tagalog ung Google Chrome ko.

"I love... I hate.. "

I love:

1. Boston, Massachusetts

I am definite and sure about my plan to live in another country and explore it, and I always ask myself, "Where to?". People are drooling over Europe, but I don't think Europe would've wanted to adopt me. Then pop!! BOSTON! The home of the best schools in United States like Harvard and MIT, with easy access to the other Ivy League schools, it's the perfect place for me if I want to explore the Athens of this era. So professional, sophisticated and a really good place to exercise independence. I am not gonna stop living until I finally get to live in that place.

2. Dwight Howard

I've just started watching NBA for the first time this summer and I totally fell in love with Dwight Howard. He's no Kobe or Lebron when it comes to talent. My friends told me he started improving just recently, but who cares? At least I don't. I don't know him personally but the character he shows whenever he plays is something I admire.

3. Grey's Anatomy

I was switching channels searching for some nice shows when I saw Grey's Anatomy being aired in Star World. I have no idea what season was that. I just watched it since I was bored anyway. And I can say that I enjoyed it.

4. Book shopping --- I WISH.


Something caught my attention at the bookstore and made me gape at it from where I was standing. There were so many new books! The last time I shopped for books was last March, and I have not even window-shopped for new ones since then. That's why I was really shocked to see all the new books available! Unfortunately, I ended my day eying all these books because I don't have the money. But I promise to buy them all to satisfy my lifelong book obsession. I am a sucker for books and everyone knows that.


I hate:

1. Pinoy action movies

I support Filipino movies but the way we do our action flicks is something I can never be proud of. Why is the climax, the most exciting part of every movie, is always done in an abandoned, dirty and dark warehouse? Why are the car-chasing scenes are always done in almost-empty roads and the characters are riding almost-junk cars? When in the history have we seen James Bond or Ethan Hunt riding a rusty old car in their flicks? Never! I know we couldn't afford MB's, but how about at least a Civic? And how about this time, they start thinking about high-quality films?

2. Changing URL
From dyhei to pencomplex sounds just one click away, but it's not! I tried more than twenty possible names but they are all taken. What's more annoying is that the blogs who have taken my desired usernames are either empty or not updated anymore! It's like they made the blog out of impulse. I think Blogger should delete those!! Geez, I could've believed that Blogger is playing tricks on me.Grrr.

You know..

When it's really really painful, that's the time I can't talk about it. I am usually comfortable sharing my problems to my close friends or to my mom but then I realized that when it's damn out-and-out painful, I can't even say nor write it. Oh well, that's too bad.

On the other hand. Hey, did you guys watch the Pacquiao-Hatton fight? Oh, I know you did. Hehe. It's too short! I want more action! Too bad, Pacquiao's so strong and Hatton's too weak. :P

Parang ang dami kong pwedeng gawin pero hindi ko alam kung ano uunahin. Haha. I've read Angels and Demons just recently and I can say that I'm really impressed with the novel. Liked it! I'm reading Rage of Angels by Sidney Sheldon now. But I'm making very little progress because I watch movies and surf the net too. BUSY. Hihi.

P.S. Check me out on twitter :D

So what's in store for summer?

Blimey, second year in engineering was really a tough stage in our lives. Passing through it without any red marks on our transcripts, was easier said than done. But praise God we passed every subject! :D Gah. I was really fed up from all the stress from school. God only knows how I longed for this summer to come. And now it's here!

Six Sheldon novels, one Dan Brown’s, one Anna Quindlen’s, and two Coelho’s; plus Chuck, One Tree Hill and Prison Break. With all of these stuffs piled up for me, I wonder if summer can still bore me. Nah, I doubt it. I’ve got a whole lot of things to do to spend my two-and-a-half summer vacation. In fact, I don’t even know where to start. Talk about being busy -- busy in a very enjoyable way. Love it.

I'm gonna make sure that this summer is one of the well-spent ones. Susulitin ko talaga! So for the next two months, I'm gonna forget about school and just mind home.

Enjoy the vacation!
-H-

EIGHTEEN

You know, I never knew what's exciting about turning 18. I didn't understand why my schoolmates and friends are so stoked about their debut and their 18th birthdays, coz few weeks ago, I wasn't. Few months ago, my parents asked me if I'd like to have a debut celebration and I fervently said NO. I find it useless. I don't even understand what's special about the 18th birthday of a girl. I mean, what's the difference if you turn 17 or 18?? You'll turn a year older anyway.

So, yesterday, February 17,2009, I woke up with nothing on my mind. I just told myself, "hey I'm eighteen!", then I'm off to my usual routines. Didn't even do something special about my hair! What a debutante. I said my morning and birthday prayer, then I was good to go.

I was shocked the moment I arrived at school! My friends gave me gifts! Books. Jhuli gave me a blouse. Grabe! I reckon I told them "thanks" for about twenty times that morning. Umeffort naman sila. Salamat! But the most shocking part was when I was about to go home. We were at the hardrock when they told me to sit, then they fell in line. I didn't know what was that about until they started giving me chocolates! WAHHH! Ang dami talaga! Isang plastic! It was F who planned all of it. I remember telling him ages ago that I'm addicted to chocolates. I really thanked him bigtime! I never remembered going home happier than I was yesterday. I didn't even expected to be happier that day.

But I did!!

My best friends came over to complete my birthday!!! Debbie, Eric, Ghel with Tito and Tita, Bab, Juhiro, Nina and Abby came! I wasn't even expecting all of them to come, especially Eric! He told me that he can't come because he was really dizzy due to lack of sleep. DANG!! I was shocked when I found him standing on our doorstep! I love you hever!!

It was really one of the best nights of my life. I couldn't even recall when was the last time that all of us were together, eating, laughing as hard as we can, and talking about anything under the sun. I miss the way I talk, the way I laugh, and the way I am myself whenever I am with them. I couldn't be like that whenever I'm with the others.

I feel loved, I feel valued and I feel very appreciated yesterday.God only knows that I am under a tough situation these past few weeks, and I was almost close to blogging about how I feel about being "nobody". But last night, it made all the difference in me. I realized God has blessed me with a wonderful family, wonderful friends and a blessed life! Not everyone can have friends as wonderful as mine. Not everyone can come at the dead of the night just for a friend's birthday, and my hevers are one of the few who would gladly do that.

There were no fancy dresses, no catering services, no gowns, and no celebrations on the day I turned to be a lady. But given the chance to choose between a grand celebration and another day with my beloved ones, I'd gladly choose the latter in a heartbeat. I had the best 18th birthday celebration that I dreamed of!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Gimme some love!

It's February already! It's LOVE MONTH!

Bataan experience Part I.

It was an experience after all. It's my first time in Bataan, to teach kids, and to be part of a community service.

My learner's name is Luisa. She's a very quiet kid, and even too small for an eight-year old. I chose her because I felt some pang of pity when I saw her so aloof and quiet in the middle of a very excited and hyperactive crowd of kids. Then, our facilitator told us that we need to teach two more students since there came a lack of teachers. My other two learners are Crystal and Emman. Emman is so gwapo! He might pass for a child star role. I even asked him if he fancy being a child star, but he told me that all he wants is to draw and play. Kids.

Teaching Emman and Crystal is very easy. They're so jolly and bibo. I don't even do the kid-talk when I teach them. I feel like I'm just talking to Vanessa. But Lucia is being hard. She's very quiet and it seemed like she did not want to be there. What shocked me most was that she don't know how to add single-digit numbers! Come to think of it, our lesson plan was about multiplication by two's and three's yet my learner doesn't even know how to add. Wah. So I had no choice but to teach her how to add. All these months, what have they been teaching her??

//Sigh.
That experience made me feel so blessed and thankful. I am looking forward to the two more trips in Bataan next week. I want to teach them some more. Plus the fact that I am enjoying some out-of-town activities with my fellow Eng'g schoolmates.

Some more LTS pics on my flickr account.

I've started reading "The Green Mile". Its pace is a slower than the other novels. But I tell you, it's waaaaay slower than SS' novels. But I think the slow pace is because the novel is released series per series. It's like a hundred pages per series. But I bought the complete serial novel so I have to keep up with its pace. Bibitinin ko nalang sarili ko every after series. HEHE.

Nagdidiet ako, okay? I have been skipping dinner for more than a week already. It's getting to be an acquired habit.

School's making me busy. Gosh. We've got a lot of things to do before the Eng'g Week. Quizzes, reports, homeworks. WAH. Which reminds me that I have to go now. I'll take a quick rest then hit my Calculus book right away.

I don't think this blog will be getting some more often updates from now on. Kasi nakakatamad sa Blogger!! Grrr. But I'll be keeping this, still. It's my oldest blog aside from my Multiply. Hehe.
Sige babu.

Smart buy! Smart books! Ver.2

Book-hunting Part II.

I went to National Bookstore to buy my materials for our LTS trip in Bataan, but the first thing that captured my eyes are books. Waaa there are a lot of new great books! But the bad thing is it's expensive. P300 per book :( Such a pain in my purse. I can't afford it anymore, knowing that I have a lot of books to buy with a very small savings. So, I went to my next favorite book haven next to the Orient Pearl-- Book Sale. The books there are not as new and untouched as the ones in Orient Pearl, but they are still in their best condition sold at its best price.

I only have P400 pesos to spend but I wanted to buy 4 books: Memoirs of a Geisha, Cross (James Patterson), One True Thing (Anna Quindlen) which was adapted as a motion picture in 1998 starring Streep and Zellweger, The Green Mile (Stephen King). Sadly, Cross costs P195, which is by far the most expensive book among my choices, and the rest costs 120 and 95 pesos. Do the math, but my 400 won't be able to purchase those books. I had to sacrifice one. :( So goodbye Memoirs of a Geisha. I chose to sacrifice that because at this moment, I am not yet fond of the old-setting, traditional and Asian novels. It was the recent fondness of suspense novels due to the brilliance of Sidney Sheldon's The Naked Face that made me finally try a book by King and Patterson. Hehe. I want to read Green Mile! I've heard from my friend that the movie adaptation of it, starring Tom Hanks, is a very great film! So apparently the book is better. So so so excited to read it!

It's gonna be a very busy next-week for me. Starting tomorrow, Feb1. Sigh.


P.S. Bare with the wrong grammars/spellings and incoherence in this post. I just wrote swiftly and did not even check what I was writing. Hehehe. Quite in a hurry. See ya.

Smart buy! Smart books!

This afternoon we went to the Orient Pearl, the building that PJ blogged about, to hunt books. I share this same passion for books with my friends that's why I get to share a lot of stuffs about it with them. We even share our books. But books are getting the money off our purses, so we have to find a place to buy cheap ones. And PJ saved the day -- or should I say, our purses. Haha.

The Orient Pearl sells a lot of books! From textbooks to novels, they have it! We found Paulo Coelho's books with a price ranging from just 150 to 190 pesos. Also novels of Nicholas Sparks, Sidney Sheldon, James Patterson and John Grisham just cost 150 pesos too. Don't think that it's secondhand because it's not. I don't know where or how do they get those books. Hope it's not from something illegal. Hehe.

I bought Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks. I was longing for that book for ages, but I keep on stopping myself from buying it since it's very expensive. 315pesos for a 222-page novel. No deal! That's why I grabbed the novel the moment I saw it in the Orient Pearl. It just costs 150! I saved even more than half! :))

I noticed that the books that I've read are just limited in the writings of Rowling, Meyer, Sparks and Coelho so I decided to try another author -- Sidney Sheldon. I bought The Naked Face for again, 150 pesos. This one is a smarter purchase. SS books cost 400 pesos in National Bookstore. Talk about profit! HMP. The plot of this novel is veeeery interesting! I am going to read it before I give it to Eric. Yeah, I bought the book for him since SS is one of his favorite authors. Sweet. Hehe.

I bought another book from a different bookstore in Recto. We were just strolling around when I saw Chamber of Secrets sold for just 250. Waaah. I tried to haggle since my money left was only 200, but they won't give it to me. Thanks to Vaughn for lending me the 50!

I bought these books for only 550 pesos!! I saved 544 pesos!! Grabe! That's almost 50% discount. I could say that today, I did the smartest purchase of my life. HEHE.