On Graduation Gifts and Books

It's graduation month again and this year, the family has three graduates; one is my VetMed sister, Doreen, the other two include my seminarian cousin, Jocon, and my other cousin, Dave, who has just graduated last Tuesday. Of course, I'm thinking of something to give them as my graduation gift (even if I'm almost there in the BROKENNESS stage).

I can't think of anything else but a book, I'm telling you. I know, I know. They're not very fond of reading. My sister honestly admits it. And I believe the two cousins are, too. But I want them to read anyway so I decided to award them with BOOKS after their toilsome years READING schoolbooks. I want them to realize (hopefully they will) the wonders and awesomeness there is on books- outside their regular readings, of course. And most of all, I want them to read not because they feel they ought to (else, they stop getting passing grades) but because their hearts want them to. Oh well, I'll give you a glimpse of my present to my cousin, Jocon. Here it is:

It's called Einstein's Enigma. Haven't read the book myself yet but I'm quite sure it's going to be an interesting read. I based it on the reviews. :-P

By the way, here's US during his graduation.

I'm second from the right.

 Ok, before this blog gets (TOO) personal.

Wednesday and Randomness

The bf and I were talking about The Lorax (the movie) last night and I butted in that Despicable Me is also based on a Dr. Seuss book which got him confused because all he thought was that it's not. I said I saw it being advertised on HBO the other night and my peripheral auditory and ocular sense said that both movies are stories by one and the same person. The boyfriend is not that convinced since he has more ideas (than me) about the books of Dr. Seuss so he said he'll research it. I (tried to) stand with what I believed was true during the course of our conversation. Nevertheless, the confusion deprived me of sleep last night so I also made my own research the moment I woke up. Here's what I got and I think I was wrong. It's just that both movies are by the same creators so that must be what the advertisement was trying to say. The boyfriend won!

* * * *

Anyway, I'm glad to say that I am back. Back to my old books. My old Accounting books. While the latest editions are still being displayed on a bookshelf, waiting for my touch and my brains ^_^, I will have to use the old ones for the meantime. The thought of the next seven "not-very-normal" months is kind of scary but all I pray for is a safe journey and a happy ending. May God bless me on this endeavor! See you, CPA! Amen.
 

P.S. I'll post my new accounting books when I get to buy them. Maybe next week.

* * * * 

Me: Please lend me your new books. I'd love Eragon! Bring it as your pasalubong for me!

BF: You're already done reading your latest books?

Me: Sort of. I'm done with all the interesting ones.

BF: Even the last Jessica Zafra?

Me: The 8th Twisted? Yah. I still have books waiting to be (re)opened here,know that? They're kind of boring, though? Want to know?

BF: Oh?

Me: My accounting books.

(superhugs Accounting books! We're friends!)

* * * *

The bestest roommate in the world, Kimchu (I've missed the girl) copied it for me.

The pic reminds me of new and happy things. I forgot which particular verse in the Bible is it but it (somehow) goes like "God's love is new every morning!" Yeah, so have a happy and refreshed Wednesday!

Hugs,

Pepay

Christmas 2011 Books

These are some of my December, 2011 purchases. I bought all of this in a single day in two bookstores.

These books tell stories on how they got into my hands.

Here goes my stories. 

1.) Hypnotizing Maria

I found the book displayed at the left wing entrance of Robinson's Iloilo. I thought they were from Booksale instead of NBS because all the books displayed there are Php100.00 and below. I saw the blue cover in the book crowd and realized it's Bach's, the author of one of my fave short stories, Jonathan Livingston Seagull. I checked and rechecked the price because I couldn't believe my eyes. I didn't think twice. I grabbed the book. I went to NBS-SM Iloilo right after. I checked the price. It is worth Php699.00. I almost jumped for joy!; 

2.) Artemis Fowl-Opal Deception

I bought it together with Hypnotizing Maria. It's one of the series and I remember reading the first book way back in college. I enjoyed it so I decided to buy another one.; 

3.) Nick Joaquin's May Day Eve and Other Stories

I bought it at NBS SM Iloilo. I'm a Nick Joaquin fan and this is my second collection of him. the first one was the Summer Solstice and other Stories.; 

4.) Song of Fire and Ice's Game of Thrones (First Book)

I've just finished reading The Lord of the Rings a week ago and believed it to be genius and that Tolkien is worth all my bows and respect. I tried to look for another  one,so my earnest desire to geniuses won't stagnate and so when I scanned the Game of Thrones, I never doubted that it won't fail my expectations. It's a really good timing that the boyfriend was also watching the TV series and I decided to give it to him for a Christmas present. I'll buy myself another copy. :))    

Little Books, Big Stories (Happy Reading!:o)

That's me and my new, little book, Of Mice and Men. I was supposed to buy The Grapes of Wrath by the same author but I was not able to find one in NBS-SM Iloilo so I decided to pick this one instead.

Here's another choice. I wanted to discover Gaiman and his so-called magic so I grabbed this paperback. And that's Grisham from behind. The cooling pad is absent so I got to use Grisham as a substitute for the meantime. :))

Diary Talks

I am a diary enthusiast since Grade V. I used to write my entries religiously until life became not so normal at all and my time allocation for pouring my heart out to my diary became limited and at times, wild. Added to that is the advent of blog sites and my discovery of typing, instead of writing what I wanna say. Anyway, I still maintain one diary right now and though my entries aren't as often anymore, I still love reading and re-reading my own handwriting whenever I have time. I have a box of diaries and journals full of little pieces of ME and one of my most fave is the 2009 Starbucks Planner given to me as a Christmas present by my boss when I was still working in Manila. Here she is. 

She is a she and I call her Lady. I purposely put the wristwatch when I took the picture for me to be reminded that every entry that I'm going to write is counted as "REALLY BEING ALIVE". Time is of the essence, that's what this picture wants to convey.

My daily entries. (in red ink)

Royal Book Shelves

 

The sight that made my weekend vacation in Kalibo a WOW!

Ain't it a beauty?

When you enter Royal Supermart here in Kalibo, these are the first things that you could lay your eyes on. There are a couple of bookshelves located in the center lane wherein entrants- whether or not the purpose is to buy books- could readily see a variety of titles, colors, and authors that they could grab whenever they wanted to. I was just amazed that when I checked it out today, their stocks are this "many". I said so because the last time I went here, there are only limited choices and the arrangement is not this artsy. The bookshelves in Royal are one of the very few places here in Aklan wherein one could purchase, or at least have a good glimpse at books.

The Small Time Book Investor

Me: I don't borrow money to buy books. I buy only when I have money.

BF: You cannot consider yourself a book luster, then.

Me:Why not? Whenever I have money, the first things I buy are books. Nothing else. I borrow money only when I no longer have something to buy for what I eat.

An old pic with my purchases.