Lavender & Coffee Stains

Dear Me,

I guess that the harrowing, exhausting three (3) working weeks is finally over. Work sucks but I have to bear and live with it. After all, it lightens up my load and paints a smile into my almost made-up poker face come payday.
I woke up late this morning, enjoying the serene comfort of my bed. But the moment I opened my eyes, my mind was being swamped with lots of stuff. Bummer.

So, I gave in and headed straight to the bath. I washed my face and brushed my teeth. Mamu was not in the kitchen so I checked out what we had for breakfast. I smelled something yummy from the toaster. I found something mouth-watering and pop, it was gone, down to my mouth, to my esophagus, to my stomach. My brain and stomach were one in clamoring for a caffeine treat. From the thermos, I poured hot water in my favorite cup and douse it with a coffee mix. Mmmm. It was time to start the day.

Well, I really could not remember the sequence of what I did so here's the list: checked my brother's email account, let The Dawn rocked the air (I love these guys), chatted with Mamu about my work, the office while she talked about her officemates, the things they do together and how much they will be missing everything once they retire, fed the dog, watched the birds making love (hehehe), lunch with Mamu, mopped the 2nd floor of the house, filled up the water tank (just plug in the motor and turn on the switch of the man tank), assisted Mamu with all the stuff she would be bringing to Cavite, took a bath, fixed the clutter in my room, had a verbal tiff with a friend over the phone, checked my email accounts, surfed the web, uploaded new photos, sms with papi, etc.

Yesterday, I was supposed to pick up my 2 premier tickets for the movie, The Ant Bully. Unfortunately, something happened preventing me from going to Makati. Had I gotten those tickets, I would surely be out of the bed early and hitting Greenbelt at 11am to watch the premier showing of this movie (regular screening of The Ant Bully will be on August 2). By the way, I won those tickets. Ain't I lucky...again? *winks*

Dear Me,

It's been quite a while since I welcomed my weekly renters. I've lost count, actually.

Well, it's time to say hullo to my new BE renter of the week, The Plumbutt Chronicles.

If you're up to some fresh Hollywood celebrity gossips, pop this blog on to your screens.

Wanna know more? Gear that mouse at the topmost part of the right sidebar of this blog, then click it. =)

Dear Me,

I was not able to post my book list update for the month of June. I was only able to read one (1) book last month. July is almost over and I'm not even halfway through with the one I have at hand. I doubt if I can even have time for a new one. Busy days are here.




June 2006
. Random Hearts by Warren Adler

May 2006
. Stone Heart by Luanne Rice

April 2006
. Mediterranean Caper by Clive Cussler
. Pacific Vortex by Clive Cussler

March 2006
. Vixen 03 by Clive Cussler

February 2006
. 4th of July by James Patterson
. 3rd Degree by James Patterson

January 2006
. Still Waters by Tami Hoag



. The Prometheus Deception by Robert Ludlum
. Jack & Jill (Alex Cross Novel) by James Patterson
. The Elements of Style, 4th edition by William Strunk, Jr. & E. B. White
. The Secret Language of Girlfriends by Karen Neuburger


Book Synopsis

Random Hearts by Warren Adler
Survivors of a tragic plane crash seek both meaning and closure to the discovery of their dead spouses' infidelity. In an ideal world, they would never have met. Vivien Simpson is a happy housewife with a young son who adores her successful lawyer husband. Edward Davis is an ambitious aide to an important Congressman who loves his wife. When an airplane crash brings about the discovery that their supposedly loving and now deceased spouses were involved in a deeply passionate love affair and possessed the same apartment key, they are devastated and baffled by the revelation. Determined to find the answers to their dilemma, they embark on a search for both the reasons for their spouses' infidelity and their place of assignation. In the process, they discover much about themselves and how the mysterious nature of love can render people too powerless to resist.

Stone Heart by Luanne Rice
Nomadic archaeologist Maria Dark is returning home again to the Connecticut shore -- a magical place where she, her sister Sophie and their brother Peter spent their childhood on the banks of Bell Stream. After fifteen years away, Maria hopes that she can rediscover the joy and optimism of her youth in the arms of her family. But things have changed. Maria’s siblings and her mother have weathered difficult times...and Sophie and her children are not as happy as they seem. Now Maria will embark upon an emotional journey–navigating the memories of a tender past–toward the truth at the heart of her family and the chance for a new beginning.

Mediterranean Caper by Clive Cussler
On an isolated Greek island, a World War I fighter plane attacks a modern U.S. Air Force base -- a mysterious saboteur preys on an American scientific expedition -- and Dirk Pitt plays a deadly game of hunter and hunted with the elusive head of an international smuggling ring.

Pacific Vortex by Clive Cussler
Dirk Pitt, death-defying adventurer and deep-sea expert, is out to the ultimate test as he plunges into the perilous waters of the Pacific Vortex -- a fog-shrouded sea zone where dozens of ships have vanished without a trace. The latest victim is the awesome superb Starbuck, America's deep-diving nuclear arsenal. Its loss poses an unthinkable threat to national defense. Pitt's job is to find it, salvage it, before the sea explodes. In a furious race against time, Pitt's mission swirls him into a battle with underwater assassins-and traps him in the arms of Summer Moran, the most stunningly exotic and dangerous toward disaster, Clive Cussler plummets his hero onto an ancient sunken island-the astonishing setting for the explosive climax of Pacific Vortex.

Vixen 03 by Clive Cussler
1954. Vixen 03 is down. The plane, bound for the Pacific carrying thirty-six Doomsday bombs -- canisters armed with quick-death germs of unbelievable potency -- vanishes. Vixen has in fact crashed into an ice-covered lake in Colorado. 1988. Dirk Pitt, who heroically raised the Titanic, discovers the wreckage of Vixen 03. But two deadly canisters are missing. They're in the hands of a terrorist group. Their lethal mission: to sail a battleship seventy-five miles up the Potomac and blast Washington, DC. to kingdom come. Only Dirk can stop them.

4th of July by James Patterson
Bright, tough SFPD Lt. Lindsay Boxer is battling police brutality charges while chasing down a clan of murderers. When a botched police arrest of two gun-toting minors expands from a shaky preliminary hearing to what promises to be a nerve-rattling jury trial of Lindsay, she flees the pre-trial media frenzy for the serene
haven of sister Cat's house in Half Moon Bay. But instead of finding relaxation and romance with her Homeland Security beau, Lindsay becomes embroiled in the ruthless crimes of a troika of killers who've been slashing and flogging victims all over town.

With surprisingly little aid from the Murder Club, Lindsay performs her detective handiwork (and steps on the toes of Half Moon's police chief). As more bodies surface, sketchy suspects like a smitten grease monkey and a slimy porn star emerge, then the murderous threesome set their sights on Lindsay.

3rd Degree by James Patterson
While jogging with her dog, Lindsay witnesses a bomb explosion that levels a house and kills several people inside. A group calling itself "August Spies" takes credit for the blast.

Lindsay learns the August Spies have a horrifying agenda, using gruesome homicidal acts to target corporate greed. They must be stopped before the world’s high-profile economic leaders meet in San Francisco for the G-8 conference.

Still Waters by Tami Hoag
The deepest waters hide the darkest secrets.
Life's a bitch and then you die.

When Elizabeth Stuart starts looking for a new home for herself and her son, somewhere she can recover from a particularly bruising divorce, Still Creek seems the answer to her dreams. Hidden in the lush Amish farmlands of Minnesota, Still Creek offers a sanctuary to the splintered family who look forward to settling down there. But on their arrival the locals are distinctly cool to the newcomers. And when Elizabeth becomes involved in a murder case, she realises that there is a lot more to life in Still Creek than meets the eye.

Dear Me,

I have been pretty busy lately and that's the reason I don't update my blog. I am always in a rush, chasing time, even trying to scrap even the littlest of seconds.

Of course, I can't stay away from blogging. Even though I can't blog, I can bloghop and lurk at other people's lives. Hehehe. No, I don't stalk nor do I have any intentions of doing so.

Well, I discovered that there are a lot of people tagging me in their posts. I would like to return the favor. First on the list is my dear creative friend from PX, Zoe.

What are the qualities/characteristics of my ideal guy? Tough but let me jot it down, one by one.

I guess I have to think of 8 qualities then. =)

1. He has to be SMART. Not intelligent but smart. I want a guy who can converse with me any topics under the sun. He has to know how to keep the ball rolling. Conversations need not to be always on the intellectual level. Sometimes, it pays to have a clearer but enlightening feeling while we talk.
   
   
2. He has to have a SENSE OF HUMOR. Not the sick, pathetic, lousy types, ok? I want a guy who can make me laugh at him, with him and even at myself. A guy can endear himself to me when he can let out a good, hearty laugh from me just about anything. =)
   
   
3. He has to be RESOURCEFUL. I want a guy who can prove himself that he is the man. He should know know how to act and what to do at any circumstances that warrant his attention. A guy who can answers to almost anything that comes his way.
   
   
4. He has to be DECISIVE. I really admire a guy who knows what he really wants in life. Period.
   
   
5. He has to be THOUGHTFUL. When you are with a guy and you know that he loves you, you get this cheezy kind of feeling that he truly loves you, by being thoughtful. It's sweet to know that he doesn't forget anything that you hold important in the relationship.
   
   
6. He has to be PHYSICALLY STRONG. Hehehe. I find it attractive, simply put. *wicked grin*
   
   
7. He has to be MODEST. He should be humble enough to listen to his mind and heart.
   
   
8. He has to be MATURE. Not old but mature. =) I need him to be in own mind when bouts of immaturity strike me. He has to know how to put me in my place.

Dear Me,

As I mentioned before, I was able to watch the advance screening of this new Superman movie. I was able to acquire the premiere tickets through Ms. Ada.

Like a lot of things, I am not also fond of any Superman movie. I can tolerate watching Smallville or any Superman movie but if you're going to ask me if I like Superman, you'll get a definite no for an answer.

I watched this one because I had the premiere tickets and I went with papi to watch this. He waited for this since last year.

So, did I like this movie, Superman Returns? Oh, yes! I absolutely did.

The story went off with Clark & Superman slipping back to the world they both love and yet has lost them in oblivion. Newcomer Brandon Routh delivered a very good act as Superman. I couldn't find a fault in his physical features as the perfectly young Superman. In fact, I saw an interview one time and that no modifications or any add-ons where added to Routh's body as he wore the Superman outfit. Well, except for toning down his somewhat big endowments from the waist down (that is, if you know what I mean). *winks*

Not totally deviating from other Superman movies, Superman Returns started with the same style of opening credits. Also noticeable is the semblance of Brandon Routh to the late Christopher Reeves. Was that coincidence?

"I'm always around." Said twice in the movie, Superman delivered the promise to Lois when she thought Superman had left for good. It sounded so sweet, a promise to be kept forever. Okay, that sounds cheesy.

Another character that stood out was that of Lex Luthor. Actually, the one thing that could only make me watch Smallville was Lex. I don’t know but I have this penchant for bald guys. Portraying Lex was Kevin Spacey, depicting a striking knack for absolute wickedness.

Of course, how could I forget James Marden (Cyclops in X-Men) as Richard as Lois Lane's intimate? I didn't think he was that dense, not to know that deep inside, Lois Lane still got undeniable feelings for Superman. It was just admirable that he never (even once) confronted Lois about it. Patient, understanding and ...martyr(?)

And what about that kiddie? I was told that in all Superman material (comics, movies, etc), there was never(?) any mention of Superman having a half-human, half-superhero son. Yep. I think that's exactly the very cool twist in this movie. A sickly child who got super powers of his own. Perfect.

What I really liked was that this movie imbued the human side of Superman, the superhero.

PS. Superman and Lois Lane made love and a sickly child was born. So, how did they make love? I mean, they have to strip off their clothing, right? So, did Lois never recognize the semblance between Superman and Clark?

Dear Me,

Has it ever happened to you when moments of restlessness bug your mind when in truth you have a lot of things to do? Has it also happened to you when strings of anxiety prey on your nerves when in fact you want to focus on something and be productive once and for all? Well, I am feeling it right now and I can't help but wonder what is the matter with me.

To offset my mind from this agitated state, I thought of hopping to other people's blogs and check out what's new with them. Two (2) people tagged me from their blogroll. Let me answer the first one.

Rule of Eight: Write 8 facts/things/habits about yourself, saying who tagged you. In the end you need to choose the 6 people to be tagged and list their names.

I was tagged by Katz (one of the few Pinoywriter friends I have) and here's my eight:

1. I am fervently wishing that I can see again the long, lost good people of my past life (not the past life from another world). As I said, the good people from the olden days. It warms my heart to see them and catch up with our already bygone days.
   
   
2. I rarely watch Tagalog movies. Those films that make it to the big screen rarely make it worth the while to watch at all. I just hope that those small, indie films will make it BIG LOCALLY ON SCREEN rather than be first HIGHLY-ACCLAIMED OVERSEAS. It is so ironic that other nations first recognize our local talents rather from our own pool.
   
   
3. I am wishing that time will come that I can do what I really want in my career. If given the chance and the right frame of mind, I would really like to be working outdoor or in a research think-tank. Hell, I even wish I can turn back time and had taken up engineering during my univ days.
   
   
4. Chocolates and caffeine are my daily mood boosters. If I don't have both, something unpleasant is bound to happen within the day.
   
   
5. I love watching Ai Ai delas Alas. Comedy or drama, she undoubtedly throws me into a laughing fit.
   
   
6. I am not actually the type of girl who desire of having the bigger boobies (my cousins are very gifted). I'm more concerned about downsizing my tummy.
   
   
7. I recently discovered that a lot of the people I know do not eat liver. Well, I do. I love eating cooked and half-cooked liver especially in my very own liver steak. =)
   
   
8. I have this nasty habit of putting people in their place. In a certain situation, I tend to ignore it and try to shrug it off. But if it repeats itself at that instance and it's irking me, I give the doer the chance to redeem himself/herself. If that fails, I count 1-10 and if I reach 10 and it's still not done with, he/she can hear a mouthful from me.

I'm tagging people from my multiply page:

jeffer, joie, monica, vivian, marky and lovelle. =)