It was AJ's fifth birthday yesterday and I'm sad to say that I slept through his celebration. I didn't even get to see him open his presents.
I did get to snap this photo of him that afternoon.
Wow. It's been sooooooooooo long since I've been to Vox. And I almost forgot how much I've loved this platform, this community.
I've been thinking about my photo blog and how I've been stuck on deciding on a photo blog template. Maybe I should just this space instead? I've always liked how Vox made it easy to share media. So maybe this'll be my media blog. :)
Off to browse through Vox...
I found a recipe from Bakerella's blog and so I tried it, then shared it with my colleagues at work.
It was a big hit and now they keep on ordering it!
That's me. I have been a bad Vox neighboor these past months. I haven't updated (just in case people were looking forward to my posts), and I haven't been to chat with my neighbors (more like comment on their consistent wonderful posts).
I've been busy with my Blogger blog I guess.
I'll find time to crosspost my book posts over here though, if there was an easy way, I would so love to learn about that.
Anyhoo, I googled verabear and stumbled upon my very first blog. Aw, that was a blog I opened 4 years ago...
This book was one of several books I purchased months ago at this small used bookshop in our office building. I knew it tackled controversial, and emotional themes. It isn't something you'd choose if you wanted light reading.
I picked it up last week to keep me company as I waited in line at the doctor's clinic.
The language it is written in is definitely something you'd have to get used to, but not at all difficult to understand. I find myself at times reading it aloud because it sounds better, and it makes it easier to feel the words that way.
Reading The Color Purple is like eavesdropping in to a person's conversations with God. It's an insight to Celie-the main character's soul.
It speaks of an awakening, a realization really, of what God means to one person. For all her life, Celie wrote letters to God until she realizes that maybe, she hadn't known Him in a way that would make her appreciate her life and everything around her. And then finally, after a lifetime of abuse and another lifetime of being in a dark, she woke up and noticed the color purple, and everything else that was screaming for her attention.
We've all been told to stop and smell the flowers, right? Well, I think the book is trying to tell us that too, while it tells of a woman's story of triumph over enormous adversity. It's trying to remind me of how to appreciate God's work in every little thing. When we live our lives in a way that makes us truly happy, we honor God. When we appreciate nature, and nurture what we can, we care for God's work.
But, more importantly, it is about who a woman is.
All her life, Celie thought one thing of where a woman's place is - at home, cleaning for the man, lying under the man, taking care of the kids, working at home and in farming. There were other women in her lives that did other things she woudn't even have dared think about. To a certain extent, she envied them, and then she learned to admire them, to love them. She had to take a long journey to actually find herself, and build up herself. It took a long time, but she learned to live and get by, with the help of her beloved girlfriends.
There's another theme there - about how meanness and doubt and disbelief could kill. Maybe that's why the terminally ill people have peace, because they know they're dying and they set out to make peace. It ends up giving them a better quality to their remaining life, doesn't it? We should all learn from that. The world would probably be more pleasant if we just learned to own up to our fuck ups, confessed to our sins, and asked for forgiveness from the people we hurt.
It's also about not knowing love, and finding love. Of falling in love, and then getting hurt. Then acceptance, and letting go.
Family is a central theme too - the family you are born into, and the family you make.
(Spoiler alert for The Templar Legacy)
So I finished reading the book yesterday and I must say, it was an adventure. I didn't find it challenge any of my beliefs though. Could it be true? Could the Risen Christ be nothing more than St Peter's realization/acceptance of continuing Jesus work? Is it possible that Jesus didn't really physically rise up from the dead? I agree, the idea of Christ being resurrected in the hearts of the believers of his teachings seem to be a story that does not defy logic. It certainly is easier to believe in.
If I would go on and believe that Jesus was born into man and died as a man, that his bones too would eventually turn to dust, would that shatter my faith in Him?
Since I lost my grandmother and aunt, I've always believed that the greatest tribute to their lives are the memories of their good deeds, their laughter, and their love. In our hearts, they were resurrected. In our hearts they have found a permanent home. Why would it be less magnificent if Christ was resurrected that way too? Every person who gets to know and accepts His teachings resurrects the Lord in their heart. Easter happens everyday. For me, that ain't bad.
I've read a number of chapters and I probably would have gone through more than half of the book until tonight, but there were other things I had to do, so I reluctantly put it down.
I'm not one who's into conspiracy theories, but I would enjoy hearing of them, and would probably think about them too. This book's a lot like the Da Vinci Code or Angels and Demons, in the sense that it's about uncovering great secrets of a popular religious group.
I don't really know a lot about the Knights Templars. I mean, I don't ever remember really having discussed it in (Catholic) Church History in high school. What I know of them, I picked up from novels and Hollywood movies.
There was action on the first page of the first chapter. It was surely a great way to captivate an audience. I'll read more tonight.
At last, I finished the book. I liked it, but it was a bit of a drag. I definitely liked Lipstick Jungle better. By this time though, having read LJ and 4 Blondes, the characters in the book were quite familiar (and I mean that in a positive way).
To this time, I find it difficult to imagine a real person who is just like Janey, I bet there are many of them though.
Even knowing that Selden ends up in a good relationship with someone else in LJ, I still secretly hoped they would have stayed together. Specially when I thought that Janey was really finally growing up. But I guess she has to find an Ian again, or a Bill.
She does have things in common with Judge Cate, the character from the other novel I read this week - Dirty Blonde.(I picked up the book in my mom's office on Monday afternoon and finished it by Tuesday, with shopping and lots of sleep in between.
I was captivated from the moment I picked it up. It was... stimulating.
Both Janey and Cate knew that they were beautiful and sexy. They had different ways of expressing their sexuality, but they were both called whores by society.
I'm lousy at book reviews. Either I end up telling the whole story, or I assume whomever was reading me has read the book too.
Both were good reads. That's that. I've traveled to New York, Paris, and Philly, through them.
I have a January list over here.
2007 has come and gone. It's amazing how 6 days into the new year and this is the first time I've really logged onto the net and do any of the stuff I've been doing on a daily basis. Does this mean that things are possibly not going the same way this year?
Before I completely tackle 2008, I must look back and be thankful for the year that still seems to be just around the bend back there. A year that certainly went by in a blur. One that was filled to the top with so much comings and goings.
Zune first came home to us in January of 2007. He was a wee tiny pup then and he charmed his way into everyone's hearts in this household. I thank everyone who have shown him love and I thank Zune for giving us love. Sure he has his occassional moments that make him less charming, but he could never really do anything that would keep us upset for long. And I mustn't forget, thank you to the vets and groomers who have helped us take care of him all year long; and thank you Ia (his breeder) for choosing him for us (or was it the other way around?).
Before the year came to a close, I had the chance to see old friends and hang out like old times. Thank you for the opportunity. When I need to find my ground, when I need to see things in a different perspective, I know now to whom I should turn to. I still don't know why I never realized it before, but the YPs are probably the truest set of friends I've ever found or ever will. With them, things just hang loose and there are just no pretenses. What is, is. Everything's simple and basic. Sophia, Erica, Reyna, Michelle, Laila, Renan and Rimer. Just like old times, except the kids are around now. Thank you to each of you for keeping me and Alfred in your hearts.
As is usual, we had Noche Buena and Media Noche with the whole family. Boyfriend spent Christmas Eve dinner with us for the first time! We've been together a long time but the holidays were always spent apart, except in 2007. That's definitely something to be thankful for. Thank you for all the food we had on the table on both nights, and all the dinners and meals for the year. Thank you for the family that gathered round, for keeping us together, and for giving us one more year.
Thank you for all the gifts that we, as a family, were able to offer. It was a little different this year because I probably did only a fifth of the shopping. Mom and Dad, then Kuya and his girlfriend, had to do most of the shopping because I refused to. Yes, I couldn't believe it myself at first. Christmas shopping has been my thing (with boyf's help) for a good number of years now but this season, I found myself at a loss at what to get for each person. I take pride in being able to come up with presents that would be significant for each person instead of just something generic. This season, I just didn't seem to know. So rather than bleed just to find the perfect gifts, I turned over the responsibility to the rest of my family. And I must say, they didn't disappoint. Hehe.
Thank you for the new challenges that I've had to contend with this year. New bosses, new tasks, new responsibilities. I'm not sure if I'm doing pretty well these days, and I'm not even sure how much I truly appreciate what I'm doing, but I know I am thankful because I still have something to do. Thank you to Nonoy for seeing something in me and trusting me to be part of his team; that is really one of the major things I'm thankful for in 2007. In a way, it changed my life.
To my Team, my deepest thanks. To the first team I handled, I hope I wasn't the worst boss you guys have had to be with. To everyone who's been part of my family there, thank you for all that you bring into the team - the good and the bad. Those who aren't with me anymore, well, you're still very much a part of my all-star team, and I hope you all know that I still got your back and I am rooting for each and every one of you. To the ones I have now, let's show them what else we've got.
Thank you for the wonderful vacation we were able to take in June. Thank you for the great company and the safe trip. Which reminds me of the Potipot trip that I am also thankful for. Great food, and even better company.
Thank you for friends, old and new.
Thank you for letting my big brother find a girl he's fallen in love with (I'm sure he is in love though we probably would never talk about it). Sure it means that he never asks me to go out shopping with him anymore, but that's okay. I'm happy he's happy.
Thank God my dad has quit smoking. He did it cold turkey, no kidding. Though he and my mom have had aches here and there throughout the year, they still are enjoying relatively good health. I am thankful.
For all the blessings, the triumphs, the little successes. All the lessons I've learned. Thank you.
The few tears I've had to shed. Thank you for letting me release them.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. To no one in particular, and to every one. For everything.
Espresso Cafe deco paper
Frame from A little scrap of me
Buttons by Emi Kit Amor
Doodle by Erica Mathia
Wordart by Eressea designs
