I don’t remember when I signed up for Twitter but I do remember the time when my account was banned. Because of that, I turned to Plurk. But that was a long time ago.
Now, I send tweets through SMS. I’ve followed some people, and I even got boyfriend to create an account (@iambadong). Most of those I follow are celebrities, so checking on my Twitter feed is like checking on the latest news, and entertainment gossip.:) Only a handful of those I follow actually follow me back because I know them. But that’s fine by me. I got my Tweets to post on Facebook automatically anyway.
I wonder why I’ve been so hooked on social networking sites. First, there’s IM via Windows Live Messenger. Back when the Profile pages weren’t getting banned at work, it was the social site in the office, haha. Then there’s Facebook. I spend a lot of time going through the personal status messages. I actually backtrack on those posted after the last time I was logged in to the site. Now, I do the same thing on Twitter. Lol.
My new phone (oh, I haven’t told you about that have I?) has a Twitter app, but it needs to use my network’s Internet service, translating to added cost for me. So I haven’t really used that. I’m determined to stay away too, unless necessary – meaning I’m bored out of my wit’s end and there’s no computer with Internet connection nearby. Haha.
Apart from Twitter, offline activities have also been taking my time away from my blog, and from blog hopping. I wish they were some exciting activity like traveling, or remodeling my room and adding modern furniture, or something like going away on photo shoots, but they’re not. Just some malling, movie, reading, TV, and sleeping. Normal, non-exciting stuff. 🙂
Anyone reading my blog, and most everyone who know me, also know about my propensity to hoard books. Specifically second-hand ones. In fact, if I take the time to look for them, I’d probably find any number of blog posts talking about this, and how it takes a lot of effort for me to stay away from book shops for fear of spending too much on books (like what happened this time). Most of the time though (98% of the time), I do not regret shelling out the money. I find solace in reading. When I’m in a bad mood, or a bit out of whack, or just bored, books keep me company.
Reading also wakes up my mind. 🙂
In one of my book shopping sprees, I came across this book:
My copy doesn’t actually have this cover 🙁 It was hard bound and cost half as much as what a paperback copy would have. It’s my first Le Guin book. I read one of her short stories back in College but I can’t remember the title. I think it’s the one with Mr. Underhill. :S Anyway, I just knew I would like her writing, and I wasn’t wrong.
It amazes me how stories are written, and ones like these that are set in a totally different reality than ours keep me in awe. Le Guin built a whole new world with its own belief system and there created conflict that was so believable, and surprisingly, relevant.
Set in the city of Ansul, Voices tells the story of young Memer who was born in the year that her city was occupied by foreign troops. The invaders have banned books for their demonic nature, and because Ansul was the seat of learning it was especially ravaged and its great university was torn down. All the books that the Alds could gather were burned and those who possessed them were persecuted. The head of Mer’s household, the Waylord, was among those who were thrown into prison and tortured.
Voices is about Mer’s discovery of many secrets. First, of the hidden library in Galvamand, then of her own abilities and her role in the larger scheme of things. She grew up learning to hate the invaders, but she later learned that not all of them are despicable. In the reviews that I’ve read, this one echoes my sentiments:
Perhaps the strongest element of the novel, however, is the way it moves from black and white to shades of gray. Orrec believes that all people have some good in them, and as Memer is forced to get to know the invaders she despises, she realizes that they are not all terrible and cruel. Some of them are simply different, and unable to understand her way of life. The message seems to be that it is far better to reach an understanding with others, even if you dislike them, than to take revenge. In a time when cultural and religious clashes make news almost every day, this should hit home with many readers. – Review by Lynn Crow, on the Amazon.com website
I can’t ever imagine living in a world without books! I guess though, if you grew up without them, then you don’t know what you’re missing. The people of Alds relied on Makers, storytellers, like Orrec. He travels far and wide not only to tell stories, but to learn them too. Much like how our ancestors kept culture alive, by passing on our stories by mouth, so does he.
Only by the end of the novel did I realize that Voices was part of a series. It definitely stands on its own, but I would be very interested in finding a copy of Gifts too, along with Powers. And you know what? If I find a copy of The Wizard of Earthsea, I’d definitely buy it.
Umpukan is a Tagalog word used to describe people who have come together to socialize (naks, that’s my definition, hehe). I did a Bing search and found a Wikipedia article on Philippine Psychology that mentions umpukan and it’s role in our culture. Anyway, I mention this now because I’ve spent hours with my cousins and their kids in an umpukan outside our homes.
The kids in this compound don’t need reasons to spend time outdoors. Recently though, they installed a basketball ring in the driveway and the boys have played ball at all hours of the day (and night). Sadly though, it broke off on Saturday. For us adults (their Moms and Aunts), Ton’s garage sale and the arrival of Edward were good enough reasons. Edward was an old neighbor of ours, and also my cousin’s brother-in-law. He also does hair. So he’s here from the province, and on this particular visit he had the tools of his trade. So while others lined up to get a haircut and color, I stayed there to just hang. Thankfully, mahangin kahapon so it wasn’t too hot out. Sunday afternoon was pretty much the same. I had a shift from 2am until noon, and then Alfred and I went to Trinoma right after. Still, I felt good and okay to sit with my cousins exactly where we were the day before.
What do we do in such occasions? Nothing. Mostly, we just chat. There are no restrictions too on what we talk about. It’s a good opportunity to catch up on everyone, and to find out what’s been happening to everyone else. You know, stuff you won’t read in the news. hehe. We used to do that a lot, there was a time when we’d be outside every afternoon or even in the evenings seated in the mismatch pieces of log furniture (benches/tables made of hardwood) outside. An iteration of this gathering would be when we would actually be doing something apart from just chatting: making cards (my uncle used to be in the card export business), playing Bingo, or even tong-its.
I realize that I can’t hangout that way with everybody else. I mean, with some people it just isn’t enough, we have to be doing something. You know what I mean? Others don’t like spending their time doing, as they say, nothing. Take the boyfriend for example. Simply hanging out isn’t his thing, unless there are bottles of ice-cold beer involved.
Five years. Five. Lima. Cinco. That’s how long I’ve worked at NCO. 🙂 Longer than the two or so years I spent at Asia ACTs. Half as long as my relationship with the boyfriend.
It means that Vanette, Edsel and I have been friends for five years too; although Vanette has moved on to a different company (she’s been there over a year). Now there’s only Edsel, Joey, and myself left. We didn’t even bother celebrating this year, unlike two years ago when there were still five of us. But that’s okay.
I was so close to leaving NCO twice in those five years. Obviously, I chose to stay anyway. Ask me if I regret staying and I’d say no. For both times. There were reasons why I tendered my resignation, served thirty days, and looked elsewhere for employment. In the end, I just had to weigh my options and the final analysis always led me to stick it out at ELJ. 🙂
I have no idea how many more years I’d be counting here, I don’t even know what’s going to happen in the next three months. I can only hope that I can continue to be happy with what I do, and that I don’t turn out to be a bad boss (unloved and unsuccessful). Praying too for better work-life balance 🙂
Who said “work to live and not live to work?” Well for many it feels mostly like work is the end instead of a means to get something. Every once in a while we deserve a treat to remind us why we really go to work everyday. I know of a family who knows the value of working hard so they can play hard. They toil each day because every few months they have their Orlando vacations to look forward to. There are also people who take this quote to the extreme. They come in to work only for the paycheck, do a so-so job, and not take things seriously. They’re the ones who don’t really care how their teams perform, or those who have no idea how their actions affect others. To them, losing the job ain’t such a big deal. I see them around me sometimes. 🙁
Anyway… cheers to my fifth year in the company. I am so looking forward to my loyalty bonus and my leave conversion next payout! 🙂
I’ve been getting a lot of sleep lately, which is a good thing 🙂 Last week was marred with runny rose, cough, and fever. I was also a bit hypertensive. For that, the doctor sent me home and advised me to rest (skip work) on Saturday night.
One would think that with time off work I’d get more stuff done at home. Like blog, or edit and upload photos, and even bake cupcakes. Sadly, it wasn’t to be the case. I took the doctor’s advise and really rested. I slept off almost the entire weekend, the exception being Sunday afternoon. I couldn’t miss my nephews’ championship basketball game! It was a fun afternoon and I have pictures to show for it. As usual though, I have yet to have them sorted and uploaded. 🙂
Around here though, we’ve been griping about not having had to go on vacation, and we’re almost running out of summer! My brother has been to four out of town trips already, while I have had none. Pathetic 🙁 I haven’t even been anywhere near a swimming pool. I’ve been bugging the boyfriend, sabi ko we’ll go on a short out of town trip just so I could feel like something happened for my summer. Schedules don’t match though. 🙁
Hay. If only I could afford a vacation package to Disney World, that would be a vacation to remember! I swear I wouldn’t chicken out of their rides like I did with the Space Shuttle at EK, haha 🙂 Another dream vacation for me would be a tour of Europe. The other day, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants was on TV (the second movie) and I was so inggit how the girls could just say, okay, I’ll go to Greece, and then be there the next day. Sigh.
