Dear Me

Dear Me,

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

* Grab your current read.

* Open to a random page.

* Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page.

* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)

* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your 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

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!

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):

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.

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.

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.

1. Scary Stories (Series), by Alvin Schwartz

2. Daddy's Roommate, by Michael Willhoite

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

4. The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier

5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain

6. Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck

7. Forever, by Judy Blume

8. Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson

9. Heather Has Two Mommies, by Leslea Newman

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

11. The Giver, by Lois Lowry

12. My Brother Sam is Dead, by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier

13. It's Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris

14. Alice (Series), by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

15. Goosebumps (Series), by R.L. Stine

16. A Day No Pigs Would Die, by Robert Newton Peck

17. The Color Purple, by Alice Walker

18. Sex, by Madonna

19. Earth's Children (Series), by Jean M. Auel

20. The Great Gilly Hopkins, by Katherine Paterson

21. In the Night Kitchen, by Maurice Sendak

22. The Witches, by Roald Dahl

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

24. The New Joy of Gay Sex, by Charles Silverstein

25. Go Ask Alice, by Anonymous

26. The Goats, by Brock Cole

27. The Stupids (Series), by Harry Allard

28. Anastasia Krupnik (Series), by Lois Lowry

29. Final Exit, by Derek Humphry

30. Blubber, by Judy Blume

31. Halloween ABC, by Eve Merriam

32. Julie of the Wolves, by Jean Craighead George

33. Kaffir Boy, by Mark Mathabane

34. The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison

35. What's Happening to my Body? Book for Girls: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Daughters, by Lynda Madaras

36. Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Myers

37. The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood

38. The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton

39. The Pigman, by Paul Zindel

40. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

41. We All Fall Down, by Robert Cormier

42. Deenie, by Judy Blume

43. Flowers for Algernon, by Daniel Keyes

44. Annie on my Mind, by Nancy Garden

45. Beloved, by Toni Morrison

46. The Boy Who Lost His Face, by Louis Sachar

47. Cross Your Fingers, Spit in Your Hat, by Alvin Schwartz

48. Harry Potter (Series), by J.K. Rowling

49. Cujo, by Stephen King

50. James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl

51. A Light in the Attic, by Shel Silverstein

52. Ordinary People, by Judith Guest

53. American Psycho, by Bret Easton Ellis

54. Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley

55. Sleeping Beauty Trilogy, by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice)

56. Bumps in the Night, by Harry Allard

57. Asking About Sex and Growing Up, by Joanna Cole

58. What's Happening to my Body? Book for Boys: A Growing-Up Guide for Parents & Sons, by Lynda Madaras

59. The Anarchist Cookbook, by William Powell

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

61. Boys and Sex, by Wardell Pomeroy

62. Crazy Lady, by Jane Conly

63. Athletic Shorts, by Chris Crutcher

64. Killing Mr. Griffin, by Lois Duncan

65. Fade, by Robert Cormier

66. Guess What?, by Mem Fox

67. Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut

68. Lord of the Flies, by William Golding

69. Native Son by Richard Wright

70. Women on Top: How Real Life Has Changed Women's Fantasies, by Nancy Friday

71. Curses, Hexes and Spells, by Daniel Cohen

72. On My Honor, by Marion Dane Bauer

73. The House of Spirits, by Isabel Allende

74. Jack, by A.M. Homes

75. Arizona Kid, by Ron Koertge

76. Family Secrets, by Norma Klein

77. Mommy Laid An Egg, by Babette Cole

78. Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo A. Anaya

79. Where Did I Come From?, by Peter Mayle

80. The Face on the Milk Carton, by Caroline Cooney

81. Carrie, by Stephen King

82. The Dead Zone, by Stephen King

83. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain

84. Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison

85. Always Running, by Luis Rodriguez

86. Private Parts, by Howard Stern

87. Where's Waldo?, by Martin Hanford

88. Summer of My German Soldier, by Bette Greene

89. Tiger Eyes, by Judy Blume

90. Little Black Sambo, by Helen Bannerman

91. Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follett

92. Running Loose, by Chris Crutcher

93. Sex Education, by Jenny Davis

94. Jumper, by Steven Gould

95. Christine, by Stephen King

96. The Drowning of Stephen Jones, by Bette Greene

97. That Was Then, This is Now, by S.E. Hinton

98. Girls and Sex, by Wardell Pomeroy

99. The Wish Giver, by Bill Brittain

100. Jump Ship to Freedom, by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier

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.

• What are banned and challenged books?
  
  
• Why are books challenged and banned?
  
  
• What are the frequently challenged books?
  
  
• List of challenged and banned books by year

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:

1. 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.
   
   
   
2. 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.
   
   
   
3. 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.
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. 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.
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. 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.
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. 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?
   
   
   
7. 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?
   
   
   
8. 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.
   
   
   
   
9. 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.
   
   
   
10. 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.
    
    
    
11. 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.
    
    
    
12. 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.
    
    
    
13. 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.

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.

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.

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*

Dear Me,

I have always been a fan and collector of Papelmeroti products especially the stationeries, notebooks and the cute memo pads. For me, treasuring them mean not writing on them. But later on, I realized that using them as pads for messages to good friends was fun. The thought jotted down was more appreciated (I think) because of the paper I wrote them on.



Papelmeroti, the famous handmade paper store in the Philippines is having an online promo!

Up for grabs are:

(1) an entrepreneur book entitled "Go Negosyo: Joey Concepcion's 55 Inspiring Stories of Women Entrepreneurs" and

(2) a FREE Papelmeroti notebook.



To be eligible for the book prize:

1. Link up with the Papelmeroti page utilizing various personal social networking sites (facebook, friendster, myspace, christianster, twitter, etc).
   
   
2. Post a comment including the links to those social networking sites (where you posted #1) and email address.
   
   
3. Make sure those sites can be viewed publicly.

1. Print out the social networking page where the link was posted.
   
   
2. Bring the said print-out to the Papelmeroti Glorietta 3 branch.
   
   
3. Pick one from any of the three (3) notebook designs.

Dear Me,

I know how therapeutic a massage can be. I look forward to the moment I can squeeze a schedule in my hectic and stressful day. Back in the day that I rushed myself in the corporate world and now being a stay-at-home-mom, I welcome the relief and tranquility any type of massage can offer.

Despite that, I have learned to keep in mind that as much as rejuvenating a massage can be, it is best to understand that there are instances a body massage can do more harm than good.