Dear Me

Teaser Tuesdays For Oct 27

2009-10-27T01:28:00.000+08:00

Dear Me,

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

I can't seem to stay away from Steve Berry.

Here's my chosen teasers:

"Whether the image was that of Christ remained solely a matter of faith. Personally, Michener found it difficult to accept that a piece of herringbone cloth could stay intact for two thousand years, and he thought that the relic akin to what he'd been reading with great intensity over the past couple of months concerning Marian apparitions."

~ page 71, The Third Secret

Hour 2: A Slow Start

2009-10-24T21:48:00.002+08:00

Dear Me,

I can't seem to focus. I'm all tied up and I didn't expect things to go a little off. I thought I was ready but I couldn't seem to put my mind at ease.

I have my books in one pile so I wouldn't be searching the house and waste time. I bought snacks and drinks in prior so I wouldn't need to sneak out in the grocery in the middle of the night. I had some house chores done so I wouldn't have to feel uneasy about my cluttered space. I even requested hubby to take care of our little boy for a day so I could flip the pages of my books faster.

I even signed up to cheerlead other readers.

Well, it seems like I am the one needing it. *bonkself*

I will be signing off for a few hours and clear my head. *sniff*

Hour 1: Getting To Know

2009-10-24T20:30:00.002+08:00

Dear Me,

I just refreshed the readathon page and pop the first mini-challenge.

Where are you reading from today?

I am currently reading Neil Gaiman's Odd and the Frost Giants.
3 facts about me:

a) I love Margaret Truman's books; b) I have a 2 year old adorable boy; c) I wish to publish my own book.
How many books do you have in your TBR pile for the next 24 hours?

I only have 5 books.
Do you have any goals for the read-a-thon (i.e. number of books, number of pages, number of hours, or number of comments on blogs)?

Supposedly but with the little boy sick and the hubby going out, I may have to back down. Although, I would love to cheer other readathoners. I would not feel bad or guilty not finishing my small target for bumping into nice book bloggers. :)
If you're a veteran read-a-thoner, any advice for people doing this for the first time?

I am not a veteran read-a-thoner. I still believe in enjoying what you read, relishing the fun instead of finishing a lot and missing the good parts. :)

It's dinner time so I'm taking an early break. :)

October 2009 24 Hour Read-A-Thon

2009-10-24T17:53:00.008+08:00

Dear Me,

In two hours, I will be engaging in a marathon. A reading marathon that is...for 24 hours.

I have been participating in this race-to-read-as-many-books-in-24-hours since October 2008. It's a challenge where you devote your time to reading books that have been piling up high and taking quite a room space in your house.

The reading challenge was initiated by Dewey for bibliophiles. My participation was all due to her.

In her honor (she died in late 2008), this year's read-a-thon was renamed after her.

This year, I am not only participating as a reader but also as a cheerleader.

The books I am supposed to read in this marathon are those that are included in my challenges for this year (see sidebar for reading challenges). But most of them are heavy stuff and require flipping through thick pages.

Here are the books I am targeting to finish in the reading marathon:

I am not sure if I will be able to finish all these books. I won't be able to update as much I would love to. My little boy is not feeling well and hubby is slated to leave the house with a client meeting. Too much in my hands but don't we all?

Cheers to everyone! :)

PS. Here's the official 24 Read-A-Thon homepage for more information.

My Book Model

2009-10-22T05:03:00.000+08:00

Dear Me,

I am guilty.

I am having fun taking snapshots of my little boy. It is a lot more fun when he poses for the camera.

I requested hubby to pick up some of my parcels in the local post office last week. Most of them contained my most-coveted books.

After lunch, I opened my packages with much delight. I was beaming with happiness. On the other hand, my little boy was doing the same thing. Book after book, he was checking them out for inspection...like the customs officer from the post office. Hehehe.

Anyway, I told Miguel to hold my most favorite book from the batch and pose. :)

There goes my little book model!

Wordless Wednesday - In Their Honor

2009-10-21T04:48:00.001+08:00

Dear Me,

Here's my entry for this week.

For clarity (as written in the memorial slab):

Erected to the Filipino and American fighting men who
gave their lives to win the land sea and air victories
which restored freedom and peace to the Pacific Ocean area

For more Wordless Wednesdays,
take a peek at the WW Hub and 5M4M.

View More Wordless Wednesday Participants here.

Teaser Tuesdays For Oct 20

2009-10-20T14:59:00.003+08:00

Dear Me,

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

Since I am trying to catch up with my reading challenges for this year, I am squeezing in Iris Johansen.

Here's my chosen teasers:

"He turned and she stared up into his shadowy face only dimly lit by the flickering flames. She screamed."

~ page 2, Firestorm

Hide and Seek Film Review

2009-10-20T12:21:00.004+08:00

Dear Me,

After Typhoon Ondoy ravaged the metro and nearby areas, my family and I were left unscathed, unlike other families.

Save for a few stuff (some boxes of cds, dvs and books) that were placed in a covered terrace, we were lucky not to experience horrifying encounters with the said typhoon.

Anyway, I am spending a couple of my free hours checking out boxes containing hundreds of cds and dvds.

Three days ago, I watched Hide and Seek, which I think was shown way back 2005.

Synopsis:

After the sudden death of his wife, David Callaway (Robert De Niro) takes his traumatized daughter, Emily (Dakota Fanning), away to find peace and to start their life again in a new home. Emily fails to settle in well, with David becoming concerned as Emily identifies with Charlie. Someone who David has never met before, but who likes to play hide and seek.

Hide and Seek was a horror-cum-psychological thriller movie with my favorite Hollywood people, Dakota Fanning and Robert De Niro.

When the movie started, I felt like hitting the remote control for the stop button because of its dragging flow. I allowed some scenes to run and didn't realize that I finished viewing it.

I deemed the movie not scary at all. It would more like be getting so suspenseful at some scenes that I couldn't help but scream from utter surprise. Sometimes, I also felt confused as to where the storyline was going.

Dakota Fanning who portrayed Emily commanded such a terrific presence on-screen. Even without dialogue (where she stared blankly in the woods), her face evoked much credibility. For a girl so young, I couldn't believe how well she could be so dark and eerie.

I could not imagine how devastating it would be for a child to witness her own parent die. To process such tragic event in her young life would be much harder for her than any trained medical professional, even if it was her own father. I had read about imaginary characters being conjured up by little ones after horrible instances in their lives. They turned to the imaginative being as their only friend whom they could talk to and confide their naked thoughts and emotions.

Robert De Niro as David the psychologist and Emily's father, well, I sort of did not approve. For one thing, wasn't he too old to be Fanning's pop in the movie? Second point was that I couldn't feel any vibe that he was her father. There was no unseen bond or connection of their relationship as father and daughter. David seemed distant.

The movie had a lot of sudden turns like who Charlie was (not just a figment of Emily's imagination) and who developed a "new" personality.

Over-all, it wasn't a great horror movie that would deter me from shoving popcorn in my mouth. It was a lousy movie to start with but Dakota Fanning gave life to it.

My Little Book Lover

2009-10-17T23:11:00.005+08:00

Dear Me,

When my little boy, Miguel, is awake, it is either he plays with his toys, watch his buddies like Barney, Bob, Dora and Roary or browse his books.

One day, I was busy tending to Cafe Ivianka (in Cafe World) while he plays with his new toy cars. From where I was standing, I could see him so preoccupied. As he drove his toy cars in my direction, I loosened a bit (at his age, he is pretty naughty and tends to get into situations where he can get himself hurt).

When I checked on him again (he was behind me; I was standing while he was in the floor), I found him so quiet and...busy.

he managed to bring down all his books
from his shelf to the floor

browsing his books

checking out Barney

decided that it wasn't Barney day

checking out if browsing trucks would be interesting

trucks were more interesting than Barney

I used flash when I shot these photos. He sensed the flash and looked back where I was. I resumed my position and pretended unaware. I tried hard not to laugh so I wouldn't be caught in the act. Hehehe.

I was not able to take shots of him facing the camera because I preferred not to disturb him. I candidly snap shots of him while he was doing his thing.

As his mom and being a book lover, I want him to grow up with books. We can travel together and enjoy the wonderful world of knowledge and excitement. :)

Jollibee's Newest Treat

2009-10-17T16:11:00.005+08:00

Dear Me,

I wasn't really a Jollibee fan. Among the fast-food stores around the metro, I still favor McDo (grown to love it dating back during my university days) and KFC.

I added Jollibee in my list when my little boy "seemed" to love their sweet spaghetti and yum burger. I don't want him to eat fast-food on a daily basis but there are times that he will only open his mouth if he sees Jollibee.

The point is, I come to love Jollibee now. I love their burgers and chicken because they're not bland and dry (well, most of the time).

I wasn't aware of Jollibee's latest addition in their menu: Chicken Barbecue. Hubby brought one home for me to have a taste test.

At first, I was sort of adamant to taste it since I wasn't fond of chicken barbecues for they only normally taste good on the outside and utterly dry inside.

I guess it is a hit and miss when tasting for the first time the latest food offering off the menu. Sometimes it will be a sure-fire hit or simply such a put-down. In my case, the first time was the former. I love this Chicken Barbecue from Jollibee!

I loved it because:

the chicken served was bigger in size than the usual.
it was grilled in a way that the chicken skin was charred to be tastier and not burnt to be bitter.
the chicken meat was tender and juicy inside which surprised me. I deduced that it was marinated long enough for the seasoned mixture to seep in thus capturing the flavor.
if you couldn't get enough from the chicken barbecue itself, part of the meal was a savory dip of thick barbecue sauce.
the java rice that came with it did not disappoint me. It did not only boast of its bright color but also complemented the yummy taste of chicken barbecue.

I just realize that I will be contented and looking forward when we enter Jollibee. Happiness will not only be seen in my little boy's eyes but mine, too! :)

price for 1-pc & 2-pc chicken barbecue meals

Booking Through Thursday - Weeding

2009-10-15T20:36:00.005+08:00

We're moving in a couple weeks (the first time since I was 9 years old), and I've been going through my library of 3000+ books, choosing the books that I could bear to part with and NOT have to pack to move. Which made me wonder...

When's the last time you weeded out your library? Do you regularly keep it pared down to your reading essentials? Or does it blossom into something out of control the minute you turn your back, like a garden after a Spring rain?

Or do you simply not get rid of books? At all? (This would have described me for most of my life, by the way.)

And–when you do weed out books from your collection (assuming that you do)...what do you do with them? Throw them away (gasp)? Donate them to a charity or used bookstore? SELL them to a used bookstore? Trade them on Paperback Book Swap or some other exchange program?

Dear Me,

If I think about it, I have always been over-hauling my books because I have to move them from another corner to another room or transferring them to a new shelf or simply to sort them out according to my favored collection, accessibility and for a number of other reasons.

With countless books in my big shelves, in the bedroom, in the living room, in the kitchen, in the floor, in nooks, in boxes and paper bags, I can't recall a time that I ever finished sorting them out. I would sort them out for two straight days and I would stop because I had to attend to some more pressing matters. Days will pass by and the book organizing task has been completely left unattended, if not forgotten. Soon, more books will come and the sorted pile will soon be just another growing tower of paperbacks and hardcovers.

On the other hand, when I do sort my books, I try to purge a few out from my collection. If I have read it already and not really a book I would consider as a treasure, I would either donate them or give them away in a book-swapping site like BookMooch.

I think any book lovers will agree with me: we would rather spend our precious time reading than managing our books which are in total disarray.

Buttered Corn & Carrots

2009-10-15T13:08:00.004+08:00

Dear Me,

My little boy is such a picky eater. At his tender age of two, he still prefers eating bread, biscuits, cookies instead of rice and meat. He does eat (but sometimes don't want to) veggies but only potatoes, carrots and squash. It is quite hard to nourish him when it is always a struggle during feeding time. All I can do is make sure that he drinks more milk than the usual when he doesn't take anything at all.

I feel like a bad mother when a day goes by and he doesn't eat anything that I offer him.

Sometimes, dining outside makes you discover things that can help you with a certain dilemma.

One weekend, we decided to have a family lunch-out at Kenny Rogers'. Aside from the honey bourbon baby back ribs I love so dearly, I am also a great fan of their tasty side dishes such as the coleslaw, potato salad and corn & carrots.

Miguel never liked to munch on what we had but he got pretty hyped up when we gave him corn & carrots. It was probably the bright colors of yellow and orange that lured him to have more. It might also be how this side dish appealed to his palate. He finished half of the serving and it sort of gave me the idea to try to fix something like it at home. I have no idea how it was done but I tried to figure it out based on how I tasted it.

Ingredients:

Directions:

Melt butter in a frying pan.
Saute the carrots over low fire for two minutes.
Add the well-drained corn until a little tender.
Season with salt and pepper to taste.

I think adding a quarter of a cup of cream will make the serving yummier. :)

Can I Slenda My Way To Fitness?

2009-10-14T20:39:00.003+08:00

Dear Me,

I won Hearty's Haven Slenda Giveaway! I wasn't really expecting it but when the package arrived at my doorstep, I was convinced.

Honestly, I don't really believe in taking stuff just to lose those super extra fats from my body. I'm a skeptic.

What I really believe in is that you have to work hard to shed the excess weight. I believe in balanced diet and body work-out.

I dislike the idea of depriving myself too much of something and in exchange, take some kind of meds or supplements. I don't think that will help me in the long term.

I am not supposed to be so concerned about my current body frame. But sometimes, things have to move on, like my post-preggy fats have to go. My little boy is now two years old. Being a little bulgy because I gave birth is no excuse anymore. Besides, I'm having problems with my wardrobe. Most of my clothes have decided to desert me. Hehehe.

I'm giving myself a chance with Slenda. I read through the little printed paper in the box. It's a supplement made of a mixed blend of herbs (Polygonum cuspidatum = Japanese Knotweed = resveratrol, Camellia sinensis = green tea, Lagerstroemia speciosa = banaba, Curcuma longa = turmeric of the ginger family). As far as I know, each ingredient is acclaimed for its own health and medicinal benefit.

Starting tomorrow, I'll take Slenda before each meal. Each meal means moderate intake of food (not yet on the balanced diet stage) and my own version of work-out (running the stairs like what I do in Philamlife Tower years ago) which I've been doing lately. Oops, I can also take a peek in the Slenda DVD that comes with the box of capsules.

I am hoping to Slenda my way to a fit body. :)

Krispy Kreme's Ondoy Fund Raising Efforts

2009-10-09T21:27:00.004+08:00

Dear Me,

My current favorite donut shop, Krispy Kreme is not just all about the sweet things. It is doing its share in helping the typhoon victims by holding a fund drive.

Krispy Kreme Philippines is one with the country during this time of need – giving priority to seeking ways by which it can provide assistance to those who have been affected by Typhoon Ondoy.

Among one of the most immediate actions it has taken was to give away free doughnuts to typhoon victims and relief operation volunteers.

But as the past days have shown, no one could do it alone. That is why it is encouraging everyone to help them in their fund-raising efforts to provide relief for Ondoy victims, by simply purchasing an Original Glazed doughnut this coming Sunday, October 11, 2009.

For every Original Glazed doughnut you buy, the sale will automatically go to Krispy Kreme's relief fund which will be distributed to the Philippine National Red Cross Rizal Chapter and ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya.

Together, let us join hands in rising from this occasion and prove that heroism is truly a Filipino trait.

Visit the following stores on October 11 to join the fund raising:
Bonifacio High Street, SM Megamall, Greenhills Drive-Thru, Trinoma, SM MOA Main and Drive-Thru, Robinsons Galleria, Gateway Ground Floor & 4th Floor, Glorietta 4, The Annex SM North Edsa, SM Fairview Annex.

Laura Freeman's Somersault Season

2009-10-02T01:07:00.000+08:00

Dear Me,

My little boy is turning two in a three days. I noticed how fast he grows up. He moves with such alertness and never seems to get tired. He is so bouncy.

Little Miguel loves to sing and dance. Whenever he hears music, his body gets attuned to it. It was such fun to see him do incredible stuff.

Anyway, I am looking for new kiddie music compilation that he will also love to groove into. He is still into the Barney and Baby Einstein stuff kind of music. I would like to expand his 'repertoire,' so to speak. Hehehe.

As I was looking around the internet, I discovered Somersault Season by Laura Freeman.

Want to act like a Monster?
Sing like Frankenstein?
Slide down a Glacier?
Listen to these action songs
that keep kids busy all year long.
March, shake and skate through the seasons.

Themed about the various seasons and the changes they bring, Somersault Season seems like "to keep busy active bodies moving all year long."

This sounds like a perfect dance collection for my little boy. :)

Teaser Tuesdays For Sep 29

2009-09-29T16:02:00.003+08:00

Dear Me,

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

I am reading books in-between and I am choosing this book by Alexander McCall Smith.

Here's my chosen teasers:

"She was about to become a criminal, a perpetrator of fraud. She could not possibly take a prize for a cattle picture when she simply did not deserve that."

~ page 43, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

Bayanihan Spirit Sparks Again Because Of Typhoon Ondoy

2009-09-27T20:49:00.006+08:00

Dear Me,

Despite the gripping and terrifying circumstances brought by Typhoon Ondoy in the metro, I couldn't help but smile and be proud of being a Filipino.

The tropical storm's wrath has bonded us Filipinos once again against helplessness and adversity. The bayanihan spirit lives on!

Yesterday, I was all glued in front of my laptop and getting updated online. Facebook served as my primary news reporter. Just by reading and viewing updates from everyone, I was kept in the loop and majority of the time, I felt tensed and frightened. Goosebumps all over.

Before, people would just post reports of their experiences as they waded through the flood. Then, they would plea for help for someone. It was just a matter of hours and the next thing I was reading, people from the online community were gathering and organizing data of victims needing assistance and rescues as well as contacting various government/non-government/private organizations for mobilizations.

Such indomitable spirit!

Meantime, I would love to volunteer to help but with no reliable person to look out for my little boy while I'm away, I simply couldn't. There are ways I can help and donating is one of them. I think I have lots of old clothes to give away. Time to rummage my closets!

The Many Faces Of Typhoon Ondoy's Wrath

2009-09-27T14:33:00.012+08:00

Dear Me,

Intensely hitting Metro Manila yesterday, scary Typhoon Ondoy (international code name Ketsana) has just left the islands of the Philippines amidst deep waters, great damage to properties and a number of deaths. Residents of the metro were caught unaware and unprepared.

Here are some frightening scenes from the metro (seen online):

along Taft Avenue (@ La Salle)

overflowing underpass in Ayala Avenue in Makati City

@ Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City

submerged car in Araneta

the once elegant fountain display of Makati Peninsula Hotel

Buendia - Cash 'N Carry area

that was how bad the flood was!

people climbing top floors of their houses &
clinging to window grills in Cainta, Rizal

aerial view of Marikina City

holding on to plastic containers to keep himself afloat

people swimming for their lives
while vehicles stuck in Cainta, Rizal

Also, here are some amateur videos found online:

terrifying video @ UERM

video of a submerged SM North Lower Ground Floor

video of chaos as Makati went underwater

Typhoon Ondoy Wreaks Havoc

2009-09-26T23:13:00.003+08:00

Dear Me,

I was aware there was a typhoon coming but never expected it to be this strong and scary. I have experienced difficult days but typhoon Ondoy was the worst of all. Imagine having strong winds and heavy rains all day!

It would have been a normal typhoon scare but hearing and learning news of its wrath all over the metro gave me goosebumps.

It was almost late morning when the family woke up. It has been raining since yesterday afternoon and truly, the heavy raindrops lulled us more to sleep.

Early afternoon, the influx of updates and messages of people needing help started to surge. Some friends of mine found their homes flooded and had to evacuate in the second floors of their houses. Cars were submerged in the garages. Major roads were impassable due to flooding. People who were outside of their homes were stranded elsewhere. Houses in certain cities were flashed with floods as dams and rivers overflowed. Telephone lines and electrical posts were toppled down. Floods everywhere were simply from knee-high but continuous downpour cause the water level to reach six feet.

When I heard people especially kids and elderly climbing the roofs of their houses just to escape the rampaging waters flooding the place they call homes, I felt scared for them. I uttered a simple prayer to the Almighty that He deliver them from harm.

The online community has responded not only by spreading out cries for help for someone or anyone but also mobilizing each and everyone.

Government and non-government organizations have also reached out to the typhoon victims.

My family reside in the CAMANAVA area. Despite being notorious as one of the flood cities, we were lucky to be spared of the typhoon's wrath. We didn't experience having the waters seeped through our house (except for some leaks) nor evacuate some stuff for fear of being washed away. We were lucky not to go through the scary experience of climbing the roof with my little boy and parents in tow.

I am thankful for being home safe and dry with the entire family. I thank God for sparing us from the calamity that has befallen the entire metropolis.

Dear God, thank you very much. I pray that You guide the families out there. Bring them to safety and to the arms of their beloved.

Amen.

Relationship Tag

2009-09-22T01:09:00.000+08:00

Dear Me,

Mommy Mauie of The 24-Hour Mommy has just tagged me about relationships.

What are your middle names?
For the sake of being paranoid, I'm just giving away the first letter, which is M. :)

How long have you been together?
9 years.

How long did you know each other before you started dating?
just mere days! Hahaha!

Who asked whom out?
He did. I even tried to discourage him.

How old are each of you?
Simply put, we are in our early 30s. *winks*

Whose siblings do you see the most?
My younger sister. My youngest brother is based overseas.

Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple?
Both of us feel depressed when someone in the family is unwell.

Did you go to the same school?
No, we didn't. I studied in UP Manila while he lived in Cebu and finished college in University of Cebu.

Are you from the same home town?
Nope.

Who is smarter?
Nyahahaha. I am....hahaha!

Who is the most sensitive?
Like onion-skinned? I am!

Where do you eat out most as a couple?
Pancake House, World Chicken, Tsoko.Nut

Who has the craziest exes?
Mine weren't. I don't know about his.

Who has the worst temper?
Mine explodes like a bomb. Hehehe.

Who does the cooking?
I do. He does the eating, though. Hahaha.

Who is the neat-freak?
We both have our weird ways devoid of exaggeration.

Who is more stubborn?
I believe we both are hard-headed.

Who hogs the bed?
He does.

Who wakes up earlier?
He does because he needs to go to the office.

Who is more jealous?
Oh, it's me. I never felt he ever felt jealous. Chuva! Hmp. Sometimes, a woman needs to feel she's wanted more than ever no? Hmp.

How long did it take to get serious?
Serious about what? Too vague to answer that.

Who eats more?
We both love to eat and...eat! *winks*

Who does the laundry?
I do. Sometimes I wonder if he's allergic to house chores!

Who's better with the computer?
Technical stuff about computers, it would be him. I am quite the surfing type of gal. :)

Who drives when you are together?
Neither of us do.

I feel like tagging other moms: Ayah, Willa, Lynn, Wena, Pinay Mommy. Enjoy! :)

It's Banned Books Week

2009-09-21T13:01:00.004+08:00

Dear Me,

This coming September 26th till October 3rd, bibliophiles from the US will be celebrating their freedom to read. This American Library Association (ALA) event has been observed since 1982.

Banned Books Week celebrates the freedom to choose or the freedom to express one's opinion even if that opinion might be considered unorthodox or unpopular and stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them.

Considering I am not an American but a bibliophile at heart, I enjoin them in celebrating the liberty to read anything as well as rally to make such books available without being challenged or restricted.

From 1990–1999, here are the top 100 most frequently challenged books:

3. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou

5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain

6. Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck

10. The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger

23. A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'Engle

34. The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison

40. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

45. Beloved, by Toni Morrison

60. Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret, by Judy Blume

73. The House of Spirits, by Isabel Allende

81. Carrie, by Stephen King

83. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain

89. Tiger Eyes, by Judy Blume

94. Jumper, by Steven Gould

Since I am in-between reading challenges (found in my sidebar), I am reading one book off from the list above.

Lemme think which one. Hmm. I have highlighted in bold the ones I have already read. I have the HP series lined-up for another challenge so I am choosing The Color Purple by Alice Walker.

Celie is a poor black woman whose letters tell the story of 20 years of her life, beginning at age 14 when she is being abused and raped by her father and attempting to protect her sister from the same fate, and continuing over the course of her marriage to "Mister," a brutal man who terrorizes her. Celie eventually learns that her abusive husband has been keeping her sister's letters from her and the rage she feels, combined with an example of love and independence provided by her close friend Shug, pushes her finally toward an awakening of her creative and loving self.

I picked this book because it was just there lying amongst the pile of unread books in my table. Despite being awarded the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Awards, this book always has a spot in the top 100 of most frequently challenged books. According to ALA, this book was challenged due to explicit content, particularly in terms of violence.

Here are more links about Banned and Challenged Books:

Thursday Thirteen #31

2009-09-17T16:33:00.016+08:00

Dear Me,

I'm hopping back in the groove. It has been a long time. :)

I have been spending my days having watching marathons of my favorite sporty reality tv series. Hopefully by the end of the month, I can look forward to watching films.

Here's my list:

Whiteout

A U.S. marshal (Kate Beckinsale), the only one assigned to Antarctica, must investigate a murder there within three days before the Antarctic winter begins. She crosses paths with a U.N. operative (Gabriel Macht), also investigating the murder.She must chase down suspects and find more murders. Early in the story, Steko is attacked by the killer and left for dead in a storm. She saves herself but loses two fingers due to severe cold-related injuries.

For U.S. Marshal Carrie Stetko, things are about to get even more dangerous. The only law enforcement in this unforgiving territory, she has just been sent to investigate a body on the ice. Antarctica's first homicide. A shocking discovery in itself, it will plunge her into an even more bizarre mystery and the revelation of secrets long-buried under the endless ice--secrets that someone believes are still worth killing for. As Stetko races to find the killer before he finds her, winter is already closing in. In the deadly Antarctic whiteout, she won't see him till he's a breath away.
Management

A romantic comedy that chronicles a chance meeting between Mike Cranshaw (Steve Zahn) and Sue Claussen (Jennifer Aniston). When Sue checks into the roadside motel owned by Mike's parents in Arizona, what starts with a bottle of wine "compliments of management" soon evolves into a multi-layered, cross-country journey of two people looking for a sense of purpose. Mike, an aimless dreamer, bets it all on a trip to Sue's workplace in Maryland - only to find that she has no place for him in her carefully ordered life. Buttoned down and obsessed with making a difference in the world, Sue goes back to her yogurt mogul ex-boyfriend Jango (Woody Harrelson), who promises her a chance to head his charity operations. But having found something worth fighting for, Mike pits his hopes against Sue's practicality, and the two embark on a twisted, bumpy, freeing journey to discover that their place in the world just might be together.
The Grudge 3

A young Japanese woman who holds the key to stopping the evil spirit of Kayako, travels to the haunted Chicago apartment from the sequel, to stop the curse of Kayako once and for all and save a family who are currently being haunted by her malicious spirit.
Sorority Row

A group of sorority sisters decide to play a prank on one of their house-sisters, only to have go horribly wrong, leaving the victim dead. They cover it up and try to move on as if nothing happened, but a mysterious killer suddenly appears, brutally murdering anyone privy to the secret.
In My Life

An aging librarian (portrayed by Vilma Santos), feeling abandoned by her children who've all moved abroad, travels to New York to spend time with her gay son. There, she tries to start a new life while reconnecting with her son and his new lover. But just as things turn around, she finds out that her son has been keeping a secret from her.
Kimmy Dora

Life is hard when you're a multi-millionaire. Luisito Cacanindin-Go Dong Hae, of the famed Go Dong Hae business empire, loves his two daughters Kimmy and Dora. Though the two women are twins, they're also polar opposites. Smart, sexy and ambitious, Kimmy has a silken glove that covers an iron fist, with which she uses to run the Go Dong Hae empire. On the other hand, Dora is a sweet woman-child who's simple in her thoughts and tastes but whose affection flows freely to everyone she meets.

Rivalry rages between the two. Kimmy loathes and dominates her younger twin, while Dora doesn't understand why the "ateh" she idolizes also hates her guts. What's worse is that Kimmy's been eyeing a handsome young company go-getter named Johnson, who's smitten by the refreshing innocence and candor of Dora.

When Kimmy finally snaps and arranges for Dora to be kidnapped, pandemonium ensues. Lives are changed, and identities blurred. What happens when the twins must take each other's place? Who will win the love of Johnson? Who will Luisito finally choose as his heir? Will the sisters ever be able to just get along?
Mangatyanan

Himalaya "Laya" Marquez has never had a complete dream since she was 12. Something always wakes her up at night. That something used to be her father, the famous photographer DANILO MARQUEZ, whose constant sexual abuse of Laya tore her family apart. Now, at 27, Laya possesses a cold exterior that hides torrents of pain. Working as a travel photographer, Laya is sent to Isabela to capture a rare harvest ritual called Mangatyanan by the Labwanan tribe. What Laya finds there, however, is a severely dwindled group held together by their desperate leader MANG RENATO. Soon Laya senses a strong connection between the tribe's predicament and her own troubled life. Events spiral out of control as the Mangatyanan crumbles under Mang Renato's desperate grip and Laya is forced to flee. But something happens that brings her face-to-face with her own demons. Will she finally confront her past or will she keep running?
The Ugly Truth

The battle of the sexes heats up in Columbia Pictures comedy The Ugly Truth. Abby Richter (Katherine Heigl) is a romantically challenged morning show producer whose search for Mr. Perfect has left her hopelessly single. She's in for a rude awakening when her bosses team her with Mike Chadway (Gerard Butler), a hardcore TV personality who promises to spill the ugly truth on what makes men and women tick.
Julie & Julia

Meryl Streep is Julia Child and Amy Adams is Julie Powell in writer-director Nora Ephron's adaptation of two bestselling memoirs: Powell's Julie & Julia and My Life in France, by Julia Child with Alex Prud'homme.

Based on two true stories, Julie & Julia intertwines the lives of two women who, though separated by time and space, are both at loose ends...until they discover that with the right combination of passion, fearlessness and butter, anything is possible.
Crossing Over

Max Brogan (Harrison Ford) is an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent (ICE) with a dangerous flaw - he has a heart and sympathy for the very people he must track down and deport. His partner, Iranian-American Hamid (Cliff Curtis) awaits his father's naturalization ceremony and appears dedicated to his job only to prove to his family how important it is to be American. As the duo runs routine busts on illegal immigrants, several other stories are revealed a defense lawyer (Ashley Judd) negotiates for a new family for an orphaned child and must also orchestrate the deportation method of a family whose 15-year old daughter is accused of having ties to terrorism; a young Jewish man (Jim Sturgess) tries to use his unpracticed religion to secure a job; and Cole Frankel (Ray Liotta) uses his position as a green card approval supervisor to force a beautiful Australian model (Alice Eve) into some compromising positions.
Bruno

Brüno is a gay Austrian fashion guru. He has his own fashion based television show, Funkyzeit, the most popular German-language show of its kind outside of Germany. After he disgraces himself in front of his Funkyzeit fan base, he is ruined in German speaking Europe. He decides that in his quest for worldwide fame, he will move to Los Angeles and reinvent himself. Accompanying him to the US is Lutz, his former assistant's assistant. Lutz is the only person left in his circle that still believes in Brüno's greatness. Brüno goes through one reinvention of himself after another, ultimately straying to areas far removed from his own self. Perhaps when Brüno finds an activity that he truly does love, he will also find that über-fame he so desperately desires.
Clive Barker's Book of Blood

The story centers on a paranormal expert who, while investigating a gruesome slaying, finds a house that is at the intersection of "highways" transporting souls to the afterlife.

Based on the wraparound story penned by Clive Barker in the author's "Books of Blood" collection, a psychic researcher, Mary Florescu, employs medium Simon McNeal to investigate a haunted house. McNeal, at first, begins to fake his visions, but then real ghosts present themselves. They attack him and carve words in his flesh, and these words, claims the narrator, form the rest of the stories, stories written on a literal, living Book of Blood.
The Echo

An ex-con moves into an old apartment building, where he encounters a domestic problem involving a police officer, his wife, and their daughter. When he tries to intervene, however, a mysterious curse entraps him.

It's a remake of the acclaimed Filipino thriller "Sigaw" - a horror movie of the same name, directed by Filipino Yam Laranas who also did the original.

There goes my movie line-up. All thirteen movies! :)

Mommy Moments - Hat Day

2009-09-11T01:44:00.002+08:00

Dear Me,

Months back, I was too tempted to join this mommy-related meme. I have been looking forward in participating but I was so swamped with family stuff and other concerns.

Hosted by Mommy Chris from The Mommy Journey, this weekly themed meme entitled "Mommy Moments" showcases every mom's pride: her kids! Through photos, mommies in the blogging community share with each other their unforgettable moments with their kids. This happens every Friday.

Weekly theme: HAT DAY
When I saw the theme this week, I was driven to participate. I have taken lots of photos of my little boy one time. I was organizing my cluttered closet and found several hats of mine.

I used my mobile phone as distraction so he wouldn't notice that I was putting the hats on his head. Later on, he got bored and turned his attention to the hangers. Well, it didn't sustain his interest for long and the last photo above proved it. Hehehe.

My Krispy Kreme Chronicle

2009-09-09T16:02:00.000+08:00

Dear Me,

When the craze for Krispy Kreme hit the country by storm, I just gave a shrug. I guessed I was not bitten by the bug then.

Well, who was I to let that sweet thing passed me by? Maybe at first but not for long. Hehehe.

I had my first sweet bite when I joined the Greatest Chocolate Show on Earth early this year.

After being glazed with friends, there came a new offering for the sweetest mom ever.

apple cheesecake doughnuts
Between the glazed ones and the apple cheesecake, I love the latter! :)

Midyear, purple reigns while Krispy Kreme glazed Pinoy Yahoo! users. Called the Yahoo! Purple Hunt, users hunt for the hottest gadgets.

purple doughnut
Glazed with purple icing and candy sprinkles, these doughnuts presented a catchy sense of rich confections of moist chocolate cake. I bought a box when I joined the hunt because I love purple. Unfortunately, I am not fond of candy crinkles. Hehehe.

Last July 13, the world's best loved doughnuts celebrated its six (6) dozen years by making the day special through holding a one-day fan appreciation event.

To continually celebrate their 72nd birthday, Krispy Kreme is searching for their #1 fan!

Whoever that #1 fan is, he/she will surely get a chance to win a trip for two to the USA, a year's supply of doughnuts and a chance to design a special Krispy Kreme doughnut and have it named after himself/herself. Sounds awesome to me!

Teaming up with the country's favorite chocolate cookie, Oreo, here comes the newest confectionary craze: the Oreo-made Chocolate Kreme Cakes. Covered with a rich chocolate glaze, this moist choco cake is topped with either a choice of vanilla or chocolate kreme, which is generously sprinkled with OREO cookies.

It sounds so sinful but I tell you, I'm sure you are going to love it as much as I had my first bite! Yumyum. *winks*

Early this month, Krispy Kreme launched their latest sweet offering: the Snickers Doughnut. They topped their original signature doughnuts and chocolate cakes with nuts and not just any nuts but loads of Snickers chocolate!

Snickers is a chocolate bar that consists of peanut butter nougat topped with roasted peanuts and caramel and covered with milk chocolate. It is one of my favorite chocolate and I know it will give me another sweet fix!

I am looking forward to another sugary high!

Blame The Rain

2009-09-07T20:16:00.005+08:00

Dear Me,

Heavy rain and strong winds; such a powerful combination that casts a somber mood. I don't really like the wet season except when I was a little younger. I used to play in the rain and catch the water through my small pail, which I would splashed over my head. Well, those were the days.

As a grown-up, I relate rainy days to gloomy days. The pattering of the rain either on the roof, window pane or merely down the ground gives a sense of desolation.

To chase the blues away, I turn to food for comfort. Usually, I would prepare a bowl of hot soup with toasted bread to perk up my dismal self. But today, I had a serving of instant pansit canton with calamansi. I also had a hot mug of black coffee to go with it.

That plateful was equivalent to two packs of instant noodles. One pack would not suffice my stomach's craving. *winks*