Entries for December, 2005
December 1st, 2005
Finally
Like what I've said, there's so much to say yet so little time to tell it all! And now, after waiting in vain for this most wonderful timing to spill them all, that's when all things I wanted to say fade away and be blocked out by some really freaky and chilly news. *yikes*(SHUCKS!)
[break=On Reading]ANYWAY. It's been quite a while since I've read books. Really. School work, school activities, and so much more school things kept me busy and forget all about these precious collection of papers bound together by a fictitious yet believable plot.
And so, one fateful evening, this book just simply caught my attention. Really, it wasn't the title at all that made me pick it up. It's simply the author. Why, who's the author anyway? Anne Rice. The book: Servant of the Bones. I can tell, it wasn't really a nice title--not catchy at all! But my instinct insisted that I try out the book and see for myself what's in it for me. So, without hesitation, I picked it up, flipped the pages, browsed a bit, then turned to see the back part for the plot of the book. Well, I suppose the plot's quite good--it caught my attention and all, since I'm currently holding it.
Of course, I still can't tell whether the book's nice or comment about it. I'm just starting, ok? So gimme a break! Kidding aside, I believe this thick book is not that appealing to everyone. Or should I say, it's intended ONLY for readers with an open mind and a very wild imagination. I'd like to reiterate there the WILD IMAGINATION part, since I've just noticed--upon reading a summary here about her [Anne Rice] other books--that her stories are very much beyond the normal ones and the like.
Right now, I'm unfortunately stuck with Chapter 2. No can do. Many deadlines to meet, especially now that it's the busiest month of the year. Other than that, I've been so much re-interested with reading that I've been reading the first chapter of famous classical books here in our shelves, like Og Mandino's The Greatest Salesman in the World and Richard Bach's Jonathan Livingston Seagull.
And before I forget, I just remembered those books I've read but didn't write reviews about them. It's only now that I've realized that I should've written the reviews for me to be kept reminded of their stories and even the lessons found in them. I just wanna go record everything.
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[break=Hataw Pinoy!]Hataw Pinoy!
That's what Dianne Castillejo said on the news this evening as we still go further, winning the 23rd SEA Games with pride. XD Ooohhh, how I hope we'd win first! Yiii!
On the other hand, most of us in our year has been addicted to playing ever-popular board games: chess and dama. I'm one of them of course. And Boodie, if you're reading this, I'm telling you that we all loved chess when you were already gone! Haha!
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[break=Reflection Corner]And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed (him), crying out, "Son of David, have pity on us!"
When he entered the house, the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I can do this?"
"Yes, Lord," they said to him.
Then he touched their eyes and said, "Let it be done for you according to your faith."
And their eyes were opened. Jesus warned them sternly, "See that no one knows about this."
But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.
~Matthew 9:27-31
Faith, he said, made you well. I sure hope that my FAITH can also take away these silly ideas of mine.
Today's gospel focuses on our faith. Jesus compared, even in a not straight forward way, 2 blind men's faith with that of a 20-20 visioned man. Though the blind men can't see Him, they had faith--and so their faith saved them. Unlike us stubborn men, we demand seeing with our very own eyes before believing. Our stupid saying goes like this, To see is to believe, which I suppose is inappropriate. Can't we just look around, see the creational work of God, and realize His existence--without being too demanding to see Him face-to-face?
It's true, I guess, that faith can't only lead you to become well, it can also make your heart at ease--not fearing anything else than Him. I think, other than love, without faith we'd be nothing.
God be in my head, and in my understanding. God be in my eyes, and in my looking. God be in my mouth, and in my speaking. God be in my heart, and in my thinking. God be at my end, and at my departing. Amen.[/break]
AND THE UNTHINKABLE.
You know what? I'm actually hairy. As in I have hair in most body parts. And what's more, while I'm hitting these words in our keyboard, most of them [hair] in my legs are freakin' up. Get me? I'm chilly in here, though it ain't cold here.
I don't wanna go talking about it. Bhez, you know it. Even though it's been confirmed, my mind still can't get off the subject, realizing that it's not CLEARLY confirmed yet. Though we are sure that it's not HER, I still can't put my mind at ease knowing for a fact that SHE is not yet confirmed to be our comrade or anything related to our alma mater. Oh my God. Protect me from all these wicked thoughts of mine, caused by a million of suspense movie I've been seeing.
Now I don't wanna go see that *nice* Exorcism of Emily Rose true story movie any longer.mood excited.. sore.. worried!
yahn @ 08:05 PM | Book Of The Yahn [8 comment/s]
December 16th, 2005
This Christmas
How do I begin a bitter-sweet, short account of my perfect alibi for my 16-days absence in the blogging world? Well, thankfully, the ever-dreadful virus dengue is not to blame for my disappearance.
Christmas time. Oh my gosh. A kid--I repeat, just one kid!--just outside is currently serenading us with her [I suppose, with such an angelic voice] Christmas songs... making me feel more with each song she sings how sweet, joyful and cold this season is all about. Unfortunately, people down stairs are too busy to give a damn about this one of the hundreds carolers roaming our little subdivision. I'm sad for letting such an angel go without leaving her a trail or something.
Merry Christmas! Wow! I've been really meaning to write stuffs here about the Christmas season: the loads of requirements and assignments due just before the season break, carolers singing to every house for some aginaldo, school activities that don't seem to end, and of course lots of different life-changing experiences and the like.
The Exorcism of Emily Rose. Two thumbs up for such a sensible movie about God, angels, demons, and so much more. The movie sure freaked me out, having realized afterwards that the film is based on a true story. Well, let me just share with you the plot of the movie: A father [I apologize for forgetting his name] had been sentenced guilty by a jury for murdering a possessed girl. Emily Rose is a simple, religious, provincial girl in America. She was so happy until that fateful night in her dormitory when she struggled from being possessed by a demon. Of course, during the trial, the prosecutors have been blinded by medical facts that Emily was sufferring from epilepsy and not possession--making the priest responsible for her death all because of his suggestion to discontinue her medication. In the end, Emily, herself, has proven, through a letter she wrote for the priest just before she died, her demonic possession.
The scary fact the film inculcated is that demons/devils are just around, exciting our fear, holding us back from doing the right thing: God's will. And I personally have been amazed with Emily's courage to be possessed, and used as God's instrument in relenting the fact that if evil exists, so does goodness.
On the other hand, we had lots--as in lots!--of school requirements to finish this week that's why I didn't blog much. I fortunately submitted all of them on time and without procrastination. XD Also, I'm currently reading a new book and I'm proud to say that I'm about to finish it. And by the way, just after watching the above film, I managed to joke around the issue. I'm sorry for being such a bad girl--triggering them to go disturb my little peaceful life. Hay. But now that I've apologized to the Almight One up there for my action, I'm more empowered now not to be distracted by them from doing good.
Anyway, me, Coleen and Maxine went simbang gabi this morning. XD I slept in Coleen's place today so that we can all go together for this event. It's my first time actually to attended the first day of simbang gabi. XD And yesterday was our christmas party and disco. Had a blasted time with friends, though surely not comparable to the one we had in our freshman year.
Gonna sleep for now. I only had barely five hours of sleep for today.A short message:
Mustah naman diyan! Ok ka lang ba? Wag kang magpapapagod ah, masama yan sa katawan mo. May nag-aalala sa iyo, may nagmamahal sa iyo. Bigyang-halaga mo naman sana ang mga sinasabi ko sa iyo dahil miss na kita. Sana miss mo na rin ako. Balang araw, magkikita na rin tayo, so mag-pray ka lang ng mag-pray sa daddy ko na magkakasama tayo sa buhay mong walang hanggan kasama ng pagmamahal ko sa iyong hindi kumukupas. Mahal na mahal kita. ~Jesus
You sent emissaries to John, and he testified to the truth. I do not accept testimony from a human being, but I say this so that you may be saved.
He was a burning and shining lamp, and for a while you were content to rejoice in his light. But I have testimony greater than John's. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me.
~John 5:33-36
mood giddy
read John Grisham's The Rainmaker
yahn @ 07:22 PM | Book Of The Yahn [7 comment/s]
December 17th, 2005
Quixotic!
CHRISTMAS means:Christ
Has
Risen
In
Spite
The
Most
Adverse
Sacrifces
(My Artistic Attempts In Spontaneous Writing
)Only eight [8] days to go until Christ's heavenly birthday!
mood quixotically artistic
listen MYMP's Versions
read Mitch Albom's Tuesdays With Morrie
watch Disney channel :P
yahn @ 05:53 PM | Book Of The Yahn [2 comment/s]
December 24th, 2005
A Blunt Stereotype
I am quite surprised at how seldom now I'm blogging compared to last year. It seemed to me that last Christmas break, my life is too busy typing ideas without forming a whole, complete, and meaningful statement. Last Christmas was almost spent, or I'd rather say wasted, just merely web logging. Posting journal entries that now seemed to me a total waste of time, a complete set of non-sense writings that wouldn't seem to matter tomorrow or any other day to me or anybody else, a pile of words that don't seem to make a very good point except for the fact that they're interestingly chosen to fit a brief idea that obviously needed no further explanation. Life is a bore at times. *sigh*(Last night's memoir)
[break=This morning's memoranda]So, the fantasy ended. I'm so thankful 'cause for the first time in weeks, I'm finally fast asleep. I slept for at least two and a half hours. In those hours, I had a dream. God, thank you I've finally dreamt of something! Boy, how I miss dreaming! *lol* I have managed to interpret my dream in various ways already. Needless to say, I have my final conclusions about that dream. Nevertheless, my dream took place in, uhm, space I think. I don't remember a setting, actually. What I can only vividly remember are the characters: me, Coleen, Popoy, Louis, and Ms. Gali. The dream revolved around myself. Even if there's no clear evidence that it happened in school, whether in our classroom or in the gymnasium, I'm guessing it occurred in school. Nonetheless, Popoy handed me these different locks with different colors with their corresponding keys. He was leaving, I presume, and gave me full responsibility over these things, like they're rifles we ought to take good care of. When he left, there were only two of us, Coleen, who'd been left. Coleen was doing her thing, and I did mine--playing with the locks Popoy gave me. Then came along Ms. Gali who just noticed what I was doing, and instructed me, rather told me, of what should be done. I was surprised and thought to myself, "I would've known it anyway even if you didn't mention it." She told me about the keys, that its color should match that of its lock. After a while, Popoy is back again, with Louis, I think. I'm just not that sure if he's with Popoy or he just popped up out of nowhere. Anyway, Louis was showing Coleen something and then came asking her, "Have you tried that already?", pointing at the locks I'm no longer holding. She answered, "Nah, only Popoy and Dianne got to touch that thing."
And poof, I'm awake! It was two thirty-three by that time, and I still have twenty-seven minutes to sleep, before I prepare myself for the simbang gabi. Already then, I've been guessing and reminiscing what the heck should that dream suppose to mean. And I came to these conclusions. First, I simply miss my classmates--no doubt about that. Second, I am haughty--I just can't help myself not needing, or even wanting, the help of others. Third, I am immature--how come I already knew so well how to solve the problem, yet I didn't do it? Fourth, I am selfish--I didn't even bother to look around to see if everybody has what I have; I thought I was alone, so I minded my own business.
This single, particular dream just gave me an insight of who I really am, who I am naturally. That dream sure showed me my real personality, and the characteristics I've always had. Only, I don't see the good in such attitudes. It feels quite good to get a glimpse of who really is this person I see when I look in the mirror--though the results are quite frustrating. *sigh*
On a lighter note, I've already finished reading Tuesdays With Morrie. A nice book. It's really short. One can read it in a whole day. It's a very lovely book. Reading it, you'll surely feel the love it contains from its writers, Morrie and Mitch. And bhez was right: the last part is the most touching and best part of all. I don't wanna be a spoiler. I'd rather have you purchase the book, or borrow it from someone, and read it for yourself. There are just some things that I can mention, yet it would surely seem incomplete. Some things are just contained, and can be released, only in reading the book--for instance, love. As a forewarning, there's only one emotion there vibrant, which I have repeatedly mentioned already, and now I'm mentioning it for the nth time: LOVE.
Currently, I'm reading Conversations With God Book 1, with Neale Donald Walsch. This book, as a matter of fact, is not much of a religious one. It deals more with the logic of man and science, one branch we refer to as pseudo-science. I find it to be more of a self-help, philosophical book, rather than a meditative, holy one. The book, of course, answers most of the most puzzling questions bothering man kind. I, honestly, do not recommend the book to those people who have a firm faith in God. This book might just shatter your faith, and you might just confuse yourself. Thus, I firmly believe that this book is an eye-opener. A concrete proof that one should not bother to go outside and find God, because He is, and has always been, within. One shouldn't rely solely on the experience of others for the proof of God. God is just around, if you'll only realize it. God is visible everywhere we look. God needs no further revelation. This world is enough proof of his existence, of his undying, everlasting, unconditional love.
Anyway, I'd just like to update my simbang gabi. I've already missed two days: one, I didn't really attend; the other, I attended in the evening. But that doesn't bother me much. I'm not superstitious enough to believe in such crap about the wish-thing. Besides, my wish has been granted to me long time ago: peace.
Other than that, I've just realized only today that there are
indeed a lot of squatters attending the said mass. It is only now that I've
wondered why they bother to wake up that early. I suspect they just have a wish.
The same ol' wish, more like a hope, that they would eventually be as rich as
the Americans, or hit the lottery jackpot and become an instant millionaire, or
something like that. Or maybe some other wish that goes beyond material wealth,
like peace, health and wellness, or unity, or whatever. Also, when I see a whole
bunch of them walking along the streets, I quite envy them. They may say to
their kids--glaring at the big vehicle I'm riding, "Someday, anak, we'll be rich and ride in such car." But I
tell them, "Don't dream of such silliness. I envy you because even if walking a
very long way to and from the church is tiring, even if the weather's so darn
cold this early, even if you have to wake so early just to get a seat for the
mass--you and your family are together. At least you've got company with all the
suffering you're enduring. Unlike wealthy, healthy people who have no one to
share their happiness with." [Nice aphorism there! XD][/break]
O Lord, You are merciful; take away my sins from me, and enkindle within me the fire of Your Holy Spirit. Take away this heart of stone and give me heart of flesh and blood, a heart to love and adore You, a heart which may delight in You, love You and please You, for Jesus' sake. Amen. ~St. Ambrose
mood :apple:
listen Christmas In Our Hearts
read Conversations w/ God 1
yahn @ 11:03 AM | Book Of The Yahn [Add comment/s]
December 26th, 2005
Merry Christmas!
I don't think that it's too late for me to greet everyone a merry Christmas! XDAnyway, I'm not here just to blab about whatever Christmas means and suppose to mean. Everybody knows that. No further explanation needed. It's already there. Christmas is the birth date of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Thus,
(Christmas '05)
[break=Finale]But beware of people, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.
~Matthew 10:17-22
On a final note, just before we left for our home sweet home, my cousin gave us a reallly, cute, little, black puppy! Yay! Sis suggests we call him Gido. Naturally, I find it cleverly stupid [obviously, it's still doggie!]. And I suggested that we should name him after famous TV personalities: Piolo, Diet, Dao Ming Shitsu [though he looks alot more like a pitbull!], Shin-shan, Kenshin, blah blah. Then I thought Chu-chu would be fine enough 'cause I remembered my little niece calling the puppy a "chu-chu". So, there it goes!
As for Doggie, well I don't think he ever grew up! He just got fatter, and faster and more active, but he doesn't seem to grow "upward". Sheesh.
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Lord, teach me how to love and live, that I may cheer each heart, and to my fellowman in need, some blessing rich impart.
mood :jester:
listen Eraserhead's Pare Ko
read Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
yahn @ 06:54 PM | Book Of The Yahn [3 comment/s]