Talecraft at Toycon

Talecraft will be at the annual ToyCon.

June 16, 17, 2007 at Mega Tradehall in Mega Mall, Ortigas.

Please support us!

http://talecraft.komikasi.com

Dinosaur Planet Survivors

Kai awakes and find out he slept for 43 years in Ireta. What a case of Ripvanwinkle! He wakes his companions, Varian, Lunzie, Protegin and Triv to Dinosaur Planet.

A novel by Anne McCaffrey. It is very much connected to Sassinak. You will meet her in the end of the book. If you read "Sassinak", you will encounter Ireta on the end of the book.

An EEC Exploration team was sent to Ireta, a supposed unexplored Planet. A mutiny of the human sect called Heavyworlders sets back the exploration team. To escape with their lives, the remaining humans hid in a cave and put themselves into coldsleep. 43 years later, Ireta is still as hostile as when they first slept. To add to their troubles, the mutineers has produced to a second generation and is expecting a colony ship in which more heavyworlders will come and colonize Ireta.

On the other hand, there are others who want to claim the hostile planet. The bird-like Ryxi is light years away and wishes a stake. The Thek, a stone-like creature who are a law unto themselves, claim that Ireta was their long time ago. Now, only a FSP Fleet can help them.

When things might go wrong, enter FSP Fleet Cruiser Zaid-Dayan 43. Led by Commander Sassinak, they were able to stop the piratical colony ship and aid Kai and his team. The FSP decided to encarcerate the surviving mutineer and let the two other generation stay only in the plateau which they have held for years. The Thek decided to be kind to Kai and his team noting that the trouble was not their fault and they have lost 3 years in the process. They gave Kai and his team rights to sell ores and other resources while his team lives.

Lunzie goes with Commander Sassinak with the Zaid-Dayan to fight the menace of Planet Pirates.

It is when the Thek reveals that Ireta was a world created by the Thek as a zoo. Millenias ago, the thek visited Mesozoic Earth and found the Dinosaurs. They took some and sent them to Ireta because they knew Earth was rapidly changing and Ireta would not. Ireta is a zoo for the Thek, a zoo to preserve the wondrous reptilian beasts that was once the mighty dinosaurs.

Attack of the Planet Pirates

I've just read Anne McCaffrey's Sassinak. A book from her Planet Pirates Series.

Sassinak was thirteen when slavers kidnapped her and sold her twice for cheap labor. A Fleet officer befriended her and taught her what he knew. When she had the chance to be rescued, she in turn rescued the Fleet officer, Abe. Having no more family left (the pirate slavers killed them all), Sassinak was adopted by Abe and sent to Fleet school. The night of her graduation, Abe was killed.

It was on her first mission that she discovered Abe's killer and sent him to justice. She later finds out a hunch Abe told her long ago. There were insiders in the Fleet in league with the Planet Pirates. Sassinak vowed to find them and destroy them like they destroyed her world and her childhood.

At 40, she was now commander and captain of her own Fleet vessel, the Zaid-Dayan. With it, she was able to rescue one group of slaved colony. But it wasn't enough, not for Sassinak. She was led to Ireta, the mysterious Dinosaur Planet. There, she was reunited with Lunzie, her great-great grandmother who was younger than her. Together, they formed a team who vowed to eradicate the menace called Planet Pirates.

How was she able to be older than her great-great grandmother? Sassinak aged accordingly while Lunzie entered coldsleep one too many times. Coldsleep is a state you can put yourself in space so you won't age while you sleep for months and even years. Lunzie has two previous adventures giving her extra long life. Sassinak finds her at 36 while she at 46.

• On the way to Pern, the humans put themselves into a 15 year coldsleep to conserve resources and space during the trip to Pern.

Horses

Two writers have given me lots of insights about horses. Tamora Peirce and her Tortall Stories and Anne McCaffrey. Terms i have not heard of for horses were made clearer when searched in Wikipedia.

Funny, it seems horses take a lot of time caring for. I remember dad used to raise horses in the farm. Now, no more horses. Too much work, he says. Horses is not indigenous to the Philippines so they are not the best kind. Perhaps it is the hot weather.

Anyways, here are some terms I encountered and will explain just in case you will see them in books that don't have explanations.



Stallion- A male horse, not castrated. They have a fiery temper.

Mare- Female horse.

Gelding- A castrated horse. They are able to work in groups and are more softer in nature.

Roan- A color in a horse. The base color is white with another color mixed into them.

Earl Grey

Let me tell you about Earl Grey, a cat who lives at our backyard.

Earl Grey is a handsome young cat about three years of age. He is quite fetching in his grey and white fur and he looks like he has black eyeliner all the time. Me and my sis describes him as a rake. He loves to flirt with women and women cats. Cute Earl.

One thing though, he seems very afraid of his ex-wife every time she comes for a visit. The Countess of Grey or ex-countess now, is a vindictive cat who loves to pick fights. It's Don Alonzo Cattywampus who she picks the fight with. And he's willing to fight! She and her now lover Bob, a Yankee bob-tailed cat go off into he night loving the brawling life.

The ex Comtess de Grey has a lot of children. From her marriage with Earl Grey, she produced five children. She shunned Turtle, his eldest, because of his gender confusion. Blindy and mouse, she left for dead. Mouse died but Blindy survived and is the youngest child so far. Blindy is now living with her father and is very happy.

The Duc D'Orange (we call his Duky or Orange) is the Earl's long time friend and is quite in the late 7th of his years. Strangely, he proposed and married Blindy. Blindy is not yet 1 but is already close and fostered the relationship wit the Duke. She is now Dutches of Orange, much to her mothers surprise.

Earl Grey's ex still visits only to get something to bite now and then. She doesn't seem to genuinely like the Earl other than for providence.

Earl Grey and I are good Friends. Alonzo doesn't seem to mind our friendship. he and Earl protect Blindy from her vindictive mother and lover.

The Lady

I tried to read a Romance novel by Anne McCaffrey. Yes, the same writer of The Dragonriders of Pern Series.

The Lady has a different style from her Sci-fi Genre but deffinately Anne. Is is about Three people and lots of horses. The Carradynes have been breeding Horses in Cornanagh for more than 200 years. Captain Micheal Carradyne sees potential in his youngest daughter at an early stage. But Catriona Carradyne's mother forbids her. Catriona blames herself for the marital trouble and the eventual death of her mother due to over fasting. Lady Selina Healey is a client of the Carradynes. She absolutely adores Catriona and puts it upon herself to guide the child after her mother's loss. Selina falls in love with Cornanagh, Catriona and of course, Micheal whom she launches an affair with. Little did Micheal know about marital trouble Selina is experiencing. David Healey, a banker, neglects his wife and when he comes home, he beats and rapes her.
Selina finds solace in Cornanagh, the people and the horses. In the end, she files separation from David and lives with Micheal.

All's well that ends well. Everyone in Cornanagh gets what they want in the end. Yeah fine, Selina and Micheal are having an affaire but then you just want to forvige her because of David. Selina really loves Catriona too.

Romance stories are supposed to have a happy ending. Micheal and Selina are together and Catriona will continue Horse Shows and will soon run Cornanagh. Though most of her family leaves within the story to find a better life in the US, Catriona is adamant to stay and Selina, not a part of Cornanagh, will stay with her forever.

One song comes into my head the whole time I read this:

Wild Horses by Natasha Beddingfeild

Alonzo Moods

I don't know why but Alonzo is in a grouchy mood lately. He doesn't want a scratching. he doesn't want to make lambing. Not even a nice chin rub!

What's the matter, catty?

He's so down and bored. He doesn't want to eat on my hands. He doesn't want a nice cuddle wuddle. He seems depressed.

Is there any prozac for cats? I know I got rid of his colds, it came back and he's quite cured the other day. Now, he is a mood.

Now what, wampy catty?

Maxine Boutique Now Open

Our Maxine Boutique opened yesterday at TriNoma mall in QC. Whew. It was hard effort opening it. We all stayed in the wee hours just to finish.

The trinoma mall is big but not all stores are open yet. Hopefully, there will be good transportation system. For now, bus, MRT and Taxi are the ways to commute there. I was hoping they would have some FX that would go down south.
Things in that mall are certainly priced higher than normal stores. For one thing, they want it high end. Ayala said they want a Glorietta meets Greenbelt mall. Saw some of the shops. Yes it is.
I am beginning to see how inflation works.
For now, yey, we're open!

Maxine Pictorials

Yey! Our photoshoot!

Meow...

In my role playing blog, the characters I used are parallel to my real life. Like Alonzo.

Alonzo is my big, heavy but not fat, lazy (Bum-ass!) Cat.

For Aki's blue, Oliver is her cat thus Oliver is her fire-lizard.

There is still some question of Oliver's fraternity. Though he looks like Alonzo, his build is nothing like Alonzo's. For my bronze champion is brave (though lazy) and affectionate. His physical characteristics are big boned and long torso. His hair is smooth and thick stranded.

Oliver is fat, short and thin boned. He is a mojor coward and does nothing but eat!

So what do you think? Anak ni Lonzo? Mana sa ina?

Not related? Distantly related?

Summer heat

I've heard that the heat has reached 38 degrees. High fever heat. Yesterday, I just ddropped in bed and with the aircon on and the fan directed at me. Still warm. Not even showering lowered the temp.

Talecraft is Out!

Talecraft is now out. It is available in Booktopia!
Yey!
Hopefully, the other bookstores will agree to sell our cards too!
Yey! Please support us!
http://talecraft.komikasi.com

Now I know how models feel...

Fashion Shows are exhilarating. I'm backstage and wish everything is ok. I can't see what is out until I see pictures but the models are confident and you just make sure they are wearing your clothes the right way.

What if you are to model the clothes?

Yup. That's right. I had a taste of full-figured modeling. Practice was supposed to make me confident. I practiced three days straight but to no avail. Saturday, BelAir, showtime.
I fixed myself a hundred times and was queued to walk the ramp. My cheeks won't stop chattering. I can barely smile! Man! I was practicing my smile the whole week. This is how a model feel. A first timer like me, that is!
The clothes that I was wearing just came out Friday afternoon. It was not supposed to be what I was to wear. The clothes Marie and I were wearing was my recently made samples for the Trinoma mall Boutique. My Boss really liked it and insisted I wear it.
Man what a day. I treated me and Diki with cream puffs and eclairs and Orlan a lechon lunch!

Talecraft Delays

Man! stupid Phil. Customs! How long can they take a bloody box out? There is something wrong with this country! Nobody is bloody clean! Everyone wants a lagay!
Well, Komikasi is clean!... That is why wala pa rin ang package ng Talecraft! Arg!

How the hell do they want to help small businesses grow? Promote education and ceativity!!!
What shall happen to this country after May? I am scared. Will the government get eviler and eviler? Is this why all my realatives are migrating?
Is it why everybody wants to migrate? Everybody wants something better! Even OFWs. Everybody wants to escape the country.

Animadness; Circus Freak!

Check out the Circus Freak by Komikasi at Animadnes!
My two sis and I made it. Please vote for it. It is a short animation about a circus freak pining for a tight-rope walker.

http://www.nycmidnight.com/Films/2007/Animadness/Circus%20Freak.htm

Quotes from The Left Hand of Darkness

By Ursula K. LeGuin (Writer of Earthsea)

Life and the Unknown

"The unknown, the unforetold, the unproven, that is what life is based on. Ignorance is the ground of thought. Unproof is the ground of action. If it were proven that there is no God there would be no religion... But if it were proven that there is a God, there would be no religion."

"The only thing that makes life possible is permanent, intolerable uncertaintaintly; not knowing what comes next."

On Patriotism and Government

"How does one hate a country, of love one?"

"What is love of one's country; Is it hate of one's uncountry? Then it is not a good thing."

"A man who doesn't detest a bad government is a fool. And if there were such a thing as a good government on earth, it would be a joy to serve it."


* * * The left hand of darkness is LIGHT... * * *

The Sleeping Humpty Dumpty Beauty

Trust Anne McCaffrey to give a good story!
In her anthology, The Girl Who Heard Dragons, she has a story entitled the Sleeping Humpty Dumpty Beauty is a mix of the two. Humpty Dumpty and Sleeping Beauty. Now who would have thought of mixing these two stories into one Space-Age drama?

I love this story. It is simple but there is humor and romance in one. Imagine a futuristic space where humans travel and fight alien wars. Now, a soldier fights in the war but still believes in fairy tales.

Bardie is a doctor sent into the battlefields to collect bodies and cure what soldiers that can be. She picks up a badly battled Lt. Roger O'Hara. His left hand is gone, his left leg is broken in 9 places, goodbye left lung, stomach is slashed, he needs a new pancreas and one liver left. But his face, only a small gash. His head is completely intact and he is completely alive.
Bardie makes a decision and puts him back together, ordering new organs and putting prosthetics to the limbs.
One problem, Lt. O'Hara doesn't want to wake up. His brainwaves indicate he is alright and is not in great pain. He was only asleep. The nurses tried to wake him but no progress. Bardie gets a few bodily responses but that was it.
The Lieutenant was a handsome man. He was battered and patched up but his face was like an angel. In a dreamy moment, she kissed him. Ashamed, she fled and never came near him. Later, she learned he was awake. The nurses thought it was a miracle.
After two weeks, she was finally going home. Aboard the space shuttle taking her home, the lieutenant was also placed to get home. Once the ship set off, Bardie was called to attend to Lt. O'Hara. He was back to his "sleep" state.
Bardie confronts him and asks why he went back to his self-induced sleep.
"I know you're awake!"
His answer, he wanted to know he didn't wake up in a horror story. He wanted to make sure he woke to more than a fairy tale, a reality.
"You're no Sleeping Beauty, O'Hara, More like Humpty Dumpty."
But he woke to find his king's man gone. Wouldn't Bardie love to have a fairytale even if it is just during the trip home? If so, how does Sleeping Beauty wake up?...

Kiss!

At Work

To expand knowledge and of course raise capital, I have decided to work.

Yes, I am working at a place that I like. Though frankly, it is veyr far. It takes more than 250 pesos a day of commute money. Hayyyyy...

The Girl Who Heard Dragons

Its a short Story by Anne McCaffrey. Set in Pern, the colorful world with the 5 colors of Dragons live and protect the people from the deadly Thread that rains from Outerspace.

This story is about Aramina. Although she has been introduced in All the Weyrs of Pern and is in the Renegades of Pern, this short story is her flight from Igen Lower Cavern to Lemos and how she met Heth and Lessa.

Lady Hodless Thella, the queen of the renegades, is set to capture Aramina. She will destroy all, sacrifice her men and kill to get what she wants and what she was in the gilr who can hear dragons.
Aramina, daughter of Lady Barla of the Ruathan blood, is a holdless member of the Igen Lower Cavern. They have nowhere else to shelter from Thread and is cheated by the holders whom they have no affiliation to. Proud and threatened, Aramina and her family runs from Igen to Lemos because Thella is on their heals. Accident happens and the cart they ride falls atop her father. Without thinking, she calls to the dragon that passes. The dragon drops and reveals his rider, the smallest dragon boy. (He has his own Short Story entitled The Smallest Dragon Boy). K'van is small but Heth is still a bronze. He lifts the cart and helps them to the cavern.
Barla is scaredfor her daughter. A girl who hears dragons must stay in the Weyr. If not, Thella might catch them. F'lar, F'nor, T'gellan and Mirrim comes and lends a hand. Lord Asgenar of Lemos sends his mn to protect Aramina and her family but still Lady Holdless Thella evades them and catches Aramina.
Ara calls to Heth who responds at once. The rest of the dragons come too. Thella escapes but Ara is hurt. Lessa arrives and decided that for the good of Ara, she must go to Benden Weyr.

That was the short story. Though in Renegades, it is all in the point of view of Jayge, Ara's soon-to-be-husband.

About Aramina and Jayge in Anne McCaffrey's The Renegades of Pern
Major Spoilers!

Jayge is a holdless man but a trader like his family. He does not know who Ara is, only that Thella is chasing her. Knowing that a helpless girl is in trouble, Jayge embarks on a journey to save a girl he does not know. In Renegades, Ara refuses to impress in Benden Weyr. She can't block the dragon's voices and it begins to get on her nerves. She is sent to Benden Hold but is kidnapped by Thella for the second time. She is put in a dark tunnel, naked. Because of the this rocks, she can't reach for the dragons of Benden. Jayge is helped by his uncle Readis. They rescue Ara but Readis is killed. Ara and Readis runs away to the Southern Continent but is caught by storm and is shipwrecked at an ancient settlement. She gives birth to a son they call Readis in honor of Jayge's uncle who saved her. Harper Journeyman Piemur sees them and helps them out. They soon discover the ancient name of the hold, Paradise River Hold. Master Robinton helps them acquire it as a permanent Hold. Upon his arrival on dragonback, Ara faints upon realizing she can no longer hear dragons. It must be a thing only young girls can have.
Jayge calls his family to help him hold Paradise River. Ara and Jayge prospers and has three children. Piemur visits along with Jancis.
One day, Lady Holdless Thella arrives and tries to take Ara again. She knocks Jayge, Piemur and the other with him. Luckily, Jancis is a quick thinker and luckily, K'van comes. K'van is now Weyrleader of Southern Weyr. Heth called him to help Ara. Itseems Heth can still hear the Girl who Heard Dragons even if the ability is waning. F'lar and Lessa had impossed new rules that Weyrs will not intercept holder business but that doesn't stop Heth. Jayge finishes the job by capturing Thella's men and killing the Renegade herself.
Lessa is disappointed at K'van but is relived to see Ara is alright. She had thought the girl died after being kidnapped by Thella but has instead ran to the south with Jayge.
All wa well for now...
The story will continue at Dolphins of Pern.
Their son, Readis, crippled in body but not in spirit. He wants to be a dolphineer and not even Aramina can stop him. Ara hides a secret from everybody. She soon discovers nothing can stop the sad songs she hears at night. Not even dragon songs. Readis will hear it and its lure to the sea is more powerful that tides.

The Circle Opens: Magic Steps

Who has ever heard of magic dancing? Not Pasco. He loves to dance but be a mage?
The Acalon And the Quais are two families of Harriers. Harriers are guards and police force of the Provost in the land of Emelan. Pasco is the only son of his Acalon Father and Quais Mother. He was bound for a ahrrying job. From early age, he and his cousins are trained in the family courtyard for baton lessons, wrestling and staff practice. Pasco's dancing, his friends said, gave luck to who ever he danced for. So when it did happen, he was spotted by the Duke's grand-niece who was a odd type of mage herself.

Lady Sandrilene (Sandry) is now 14. She is living in the citadel, the Duke's residence. While accompanying her uncle in a ride around Emelan, she sees a boy dancing magic into a net. As a graduate mage from Winding Circle Academy, she must be the boy's teacher because she discovers his ability. Pasco denies his magical ability. He feels ridiculed enough as it is for dancing. But nobody knows specialized magic like Sandry. She and her friends from Winding Circle have abilities of their own. She is what they call a Stitch Witch. She weaves magic. Her spells also includes bespelling and controlling anything with thread or anything woven. Pasco's magic in unique but it still has to be harnessed. One blunder sends the boy begging for his lessons.

So Pasco takes his meditation and magic lessons from Sandry and is taking dancing lessons from Yazmin, the most famous dancer in the land. Yazmin teaches young Pasco that dancing is merely a way to communicate, a channel. This channel can now be the outlet of his magical abilities.

Murdering assassins strikes the city and Sandry takes it upon herself to get involved since she is better equipped at handling than the provost's mages. She and her ex-teachers at Winding Circle sets a trap for the assassins and it will take young Pasco to dance the enchantment for it to work.

This is the Second quartet set in Emelan by Tamora Pierce. The first is the Circle of Magic Quartet. It is about four 10 year old mages who is discovering their magic. With friendship and very dedicated teachers, they learn to control their magic and is able to overcome the 4 tough situations. Now, 4 years later, they are official mages. Young as they are. So they set out with one teacher each to seek experience in the world. Sandry is left in Discipline Cottage with her teacher Lark, the Weaver. When the Duke gets a heart attack, Sandry must go and nurse him. She finds herself taking over his household and acting as his nurse.

I have two books so far from this quartet. I like it better than the first quartet. Tamora Pierce's style has grown.

The Four mages _____ Their Speciality _____ Their Teachers
Sandry ____________ Weaving __________ Dedicate Lark
Daja ______________ Smith (forge) _______ Dedicate Frostpine
Tris ______________ Weather __________ Nicklaren Goldeye
Briar _____________ Plants ____________ Dedicate Rosethorn

This way, that way... Anyway!

I'm going this way and that way and I can't pretty much decide what to do with my life. I think I'll work a while then start my biz. It's just frustrating to start a biz in this country. People are asking so much lagay. Arroyo admin is not doing much for helping the young starting business. If there were a lot of business, even a small one, there would be good taxes. Hopefully, hindi ubosing ng mga politiko! That will really help the country's economy!

Pero what now? They don't care...

Brother Cadfael

Just who is Brother Cadfael?

He is a 12th Century Benedictine Monk Detective created by Edith Pargeter known as Ellis Peters.
This middle aged setting was supposedly the time of the first crusade. There, our young welsh Cadfael joined and returned sick of the world. He joined the Benedictine Abbey of St. Peter and At. Paul in Shrewsburry, Shropshire. It is near the border of Wales.
In the abbey, Cadfael takes care of the Herbarium. He takes care of sick people and creates the poltice needed but he is not the infirmarer. He finds himself able to solve the crimes happening in the town surrounding the abbey. He is then tasked by the Abbot to solve it in the name of the church.
Because of this, he makes a lot of friends outside the abbey. This includes the dashing young Hugh Behringer. Cadfael becomes the godfather of his son.
Because of his quick thinking and practicality, he is like a detective. Even the sheriff askes his opinion. Since the abbey takes care of the preparation for the dead, he is also like the coroner.
He gets along with everybody and is well-loved.

I like him a lot.
There is a television series I used to watch in Hallmark about Brother Cadfael. He is played by Sir Derek Jacobi. Derek Jacobi plays Covinus in Underworld: Evolutions and as a mortuarist in Nanny McPhee.

Read more here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brother_Cadfael

Novels: Brother Cadfael Series

1. A Morbid Taste for Bones (written in 1977, this episode is set in 1137)
2. One Corpse Too Many (1979, set in August 1138)
3. Monk's Hood (1980, set in December 1138)
4. Saint Peter's Fair (1981, set in July 1139)
5. The Leper of Saint Giles (1981, set in October 1139)
6. The Virgin in the Ice (1982, set in November 1139)
7. The Sanctuary Sparrow (1983, set in the Spring of 1140)
8. The Devil's Novice (1983, set in September 1140)
9. Dead Man's Ransom (1984, set in February 1141)
10. The Pilgrim of Hate (1984, set in May 1141)
11. An Excellent Mystery (1985, set in August 1141)
12. The Raven in the Foregate (1986, set in December 1141)
13. The Rose Rent (1986, set in June 1142)
14. The Hermit of Eyton Forest (1988, set in October 1142)
15. The Confession of Brother Haluin (1988, set in December 1142)
16. The Heretic's Apprentice (1990, set in June 1143)
17. The Potter's Field (1990, set in August 1143)
18. The Summer of the Danes (1991, set in April 1144)
19. The Holy Thief (1992, set in August 1144)
20. Brother Cadfael's Penance (1994, set in November 1145)

* Books I have.

Cadfael Chronicles: The Leper of St. Giles

Our Welsh Benedictine is back with another murder case. There are new characters and old ones too.
Brother Mark, his apprentice, followed his calling to take care of the lepers at St. Giles Hospice. For his sins, Cadfael is given Brother Oswin to train and make as assistant. The fumble fingered brother Oswin is kind and very industrious, overly for Cadfael but is clumsy in ways. While fretting over his herbarium, he has to see to a wedding and a murder that soon takes place. The bride is enshrouded in mystery but so is a leper from St. Giles. What is the connection between this two?
Only Brother Cadfael could guess.
He actually does and reveals all that had to be revealed for the sake of justice.
The bride is saved and all is well.
Of the leper, he disappears after he reveals himself to Cadfael.

The characters are more involved now. Brother Mark is surely trained well by Cadfael. He followed his instincts and was able to uncover clues for the murder. Sadly, no Hugh Behringer. He is at Maesbury because Aline is giving birth.

I liked the story and the way it was written. Very educational at the same time intriguing!

5th chronicle to the Cadfael Books of Ellis Peters also known as Edith Pargeter.

Easter Thoughts

Mom said:

If you want to make a difference
you don't need to save the whole world!
That's Jesus' job.
You can do it one person at a time.

Cadfael Chronicles: The Hermit of Eyton Forest

14th book of Ellis Peter's Cadfael Chronicles.

There was a new Lord of Eaton and it was Richard Ludel, 10 year old student in the Benedictine Abbey of St. Peter and Paul in Shewsburry, Shropshire. He was left to the care of the abbot by his ailing father and was tasked guardian should he die before hand. The grandmother of Richard has other plans. She fights the abbot for the custody of Richard.
Aiding her is the Hermit of Eyton Forest. Aiding Richard are the monks of the abbey and the Hermit's man servant, Hyacinth.
When a man is discovered murdered in Eyton Forest and Richard and the man servant missing, there seems to be something amiss. The abbot turns to Brother Cadfael to know what is truly happening. He gets to the bottom of things and learned that the Hermit is not as he seems.

This time, Cadfael does not discover all things by himself. The players of the story discover bits and pieces themselves and it is actually up to Richard and Hyacinth to get the truth out and save themselves from the forces trying to dictate their lives.

Cadfael Chronicles: St. Peter's Fair

By Ellis Peters.
This is the 4th segment in the Cadfael Chronicles. The Fair of St. Peter Ad Vincula was a three day affair with merchants from all over the country coming to Shropshire in the Benedictine Abbey of St. Peter and Paul. An ordinary fair is not without conflict whether be by the masses versus the church, merchants against each other and political turmoil.
Set in 12th Century England between the conflict of King Stephen and Empress Maud. There is much intrigue but only an elderly monk to solve the case.
Brother Cadfael, a monk in his late fifties, has stayed in the abbey for two decades. He is an herbalist but the abbot and the deputy sheriff know there is more than herbs the shrewed brother knows. He is set by the abbot to find the real killer of a murdered merchant. Later, another murder occur ed and vandals here and there. Little did anyone guess that the murders are in connection to the war but the abbot wants this clear of the abbey and the sheriff wants his murderer in the gallows.
The book keeps you guessing 'til the last minute. It is very intriguing. though set in the abbey and its walls, it is an adventure to take!

The Secret

A new hit book called The Secret by Rhonda Byrne is in stores and is selling fast.

"As above, so below
As within, so without."
--Emerald Tablet circa 3000BC

So what is the secret? The secret is the Law of Attraction. Thoughts becomes things and so think positive thoughts because attract like. Your predominant thoughts should be all good and of prosperity.

"Every thought of yours is a real thing - a force."
--Prentice Mulford (1834-1891)

"All that we are is result of what you have thought."
--Buddha

"Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attraction."
--Albert Einstein

Everything is energy so everything can attract and we are the ones who act like the magnet. Beware of your thoughts, your predominant thoughts. Never forget to feel good.

The Secret to Money:

• Attract abundance
• Focus on prosperity, "Intend it"
• Give money to get money
• Think wealth

That's basic gist I got from the book. Its not so long, the layout is just spaced out and its all backed-up with quotes from experts and dead people. Its another self-help book packaged nicely. Some of the reviews weren't so nice. They say it's just riding on to the fame of the Da Vinci Code. I kinda think it is. I think its that book "Power of Positive Thinking" combined with Da Vinci Code to sell.

Have you seen the news lately...

?
Its all crap!
What kind of news do we make for our country?
Do we have one decent politician to pick from?
Honestly?
No! What can brainyards and Moviestars know about lawmaking?
NOTHING!!!

Bored...

... so I jump on the sofa...

...jumped on the bed...

...jump coz I'm bored.

DragonJourneys

I started a new blog about my love of Anne McCaffrey's Pern.

Its http://dragonjourneys.blogspot.com

Its a roleplaying where I am a journeywoman harper traeling the world of Pern while putting my thoughts on the blog. With me is my fire-lizard Alonzo.

Dragonsblood

My newest book on Pern is Dragonsblood. THis time, it is written by Anne McCaffrey's son, Todd McCaffrey.

* * *

I see a difference in the style but I like the book. Though the story did feel like it just took some elements from Anne's previous books like Dragonflight and All the Weyr of Pern.
It is set in the third Pass, 500 years after Landing on Pern. The Red Star draws near and the Weyrs thought they were prepared to fight the menacing thread. But suddenly a deseace struck the dragons. Normally, dragons don't get sick. From Benden's 300 strong dragons, they were reduced by half on the first day of Fall because the dragons got too sick.
It was up to Lorana, gold Arith's rider, to find a cure. But when she looses Arith, will she be able to save them all now? She seems to loose hope too.
450 years back in the past, two women and a boy are searching for their own answers. Wind Blossom, an Eridani geneticist who's mother genetically altered the fire-lizards to today's dragons, was faced with a question to answer. Are dragons as strong as everybody believes?
No. For Lorana's Arith was dying and went to the Between. Instead of staying, her dead body was sent 450 years to Wind Blossom's time. From there, Wind Blossom, Emora and Tieran helped to make a cure and put it in a time capsule hidden in Benden WEyr for Lorana to discover. Along with the cure and books to help her understand how to go about it, Emora plants clues within history. Songs and records were made that could only point to a healer dragonrider. Also to help her understnad DNAs and PNAs, the Harper Drum Code is actually the PNA secquencefor the dragonsblood.
I like the book. Too bad Telgar Weyr's fighting force was obliterated because of one man's pride. There are too many people and Dragons who die in this book. Beware before you read!

Dragons in the Sky

I've Finished Anne McAffrey's The Skies of Pern.
This time, the point of the story revolves on F'lessan, F'lar and Lessa's son. F'lessan is a bronze rider. He wants to make a place for the dragonriders in the new world. Tai, a gredd dragonrider helps him do that. She and her dragon Zaranth has found a new draconic ability that might save them from the comets that crashes to earth. They found out how to use telekenesis.
So now,
dragons can teleport, are telepaths and can use telekenesis. For two thousand five hundred years, nobody noticed these dragons had that ability.
In Dragonflight, Lessa found out how to travel between times. She can also talk to all dragons because she is a sstrong telepath in her own right. Now, green Zaranth teaches all the dragons to use their telekenesis. For a small dragon who is down in the caste, Zaranth herself teaches Queen Ramoth!
Its a spectacular book with spectacular flights of fantasy!
I love it! I especially love the dragons!

* * * * * * * *
I found this fansite about the dragon riders of Pern and got some quotes
You Know You've Been REading too much Pern Books...



:-)
(Ithink this quote will keep changing everytime you see it. I've placed another one on the side bar)

20 pesos

I picked up a twenty peso bill on the steps of promenade. That brought me memories of long ago. I remember I was maybe grade 2 when I first picked up my first twenty peso bill on the streets. I was so thrilled then. I never had twenty pesos. I thought a lot of things I can buy with it. I could buy a box of cereal and candies and a coke and more. Now, as I look at the twenty peso bill, I wondered if there was still things I can buy with it. Candy? A jeep ride?
I may have been thinking of petty things before but that kept me thinking of the prices today. Has it something to do with the economy? Of course it has something to do with it. The dollar vesus peso too.
The thing is, when I was grade 2, I see that twenty peso bill as something so big and now, it's something so small.　It can't even be enough to tip a cab!

House Husbands

Recent discussion at the family e-group is about house husbands and it got me thinking of things mom told me.
Is it really frowned upon in today's Philippine society? To answer that question, we must first know the definition of house husbands.
A house husband is a man married to a woman. He keeps house while the wife is one that works the nine to five job. His duties in the house includes cooking, cleaning and taking care of the children if there are some. He has to manage the house expense and make sure the house is in proper working order. Not a bad description considering being at hoe most of the time, eh? But my mother keeps telling me it is a constant challenge. Being a housewife most of our growing up years, she says it is a job with no financial rewards. Father Reuters once said in his homily that if you tried to put a price in parenting, you'd end up with figures you can't count anymore and that's only until you're 18 years of age.
There aren't much house husbands in our modern society because of the whole machismo thing we have going on. Nope, prime my dears. We have too much pride. Men are expected to be providers and women are the home makers. But in our modern setting, there are more demands for jobs relating to women that men. Look, there are more female nurses, caregivers and call center agents that males. We hire at least two maids in a house hold but not all the time a "boy". If a "boy" is hired, he doubles a driver.
Actually, a negative form of house husbands do exist. In the lower caste of Philippine society, the women work and the males stay at home. No, they do not cook, clean or manage house hold. They can't manage expenses. Such sad fate the women of the slums endure. They come home to bums. This is a grim reality we face. The women go off to work as day-time maids, secretaries, assistants or shop clerks while the males stay home, drink at night and constantly gamble. Most of the time, the women would opt for being an OFW just to bring in more income for their growing family.
No matter where in society you belong, this practice must stop. Male roles in the slums are getting worse. There is an unhealthy thrive of bad example to the youth. It promotes women oppression and laziness. While we can see a slight improvement to our economy, we are not seeing the social problems these bring.
For now, I will stop at that, for more social problems will be tackled in future posting. This entry is getting too long.

Be Proud of Your FULL Figure!

New Year, New Life, New Book

For New Year, I went to Diko's house in Greenhills. We were in Promenade and there was a FULLYBOOKED. Man, I bought the book I was looking for, Dragonquest.

Dragonquest is the story about a dragonrider's life and the complication of being tied to a dragon and his Weyr. For you see, a golden dragon's mating insticts can be very perilous and only bronze dragons mate them. the riders couple each other during the mating flight. But Brekke, rider of golden dragon Wirenth is a virgin and has very high morals. She doesn't want any bronze mating her and discarding her. F'nor rider of brown dragon Canth fell in love with her and is determined to let Canth mate Wirenth against tradition.
Tragedy struck when Wirenth and senior queen Prideth fought during a mating flight. The result killed both queens. When a rider's dragon dies, half of her soul or her very mind is gone. Brekke goes in a state of sleep. She won't wake. It took F'nor's love to bring her back from the dark tunnels of her mind.
Then, F7nor goes to suicide mission to space, he is badly hurt. He falls back to earth with Canth but they cannot fly. Brekke's love echoed to all the dragons and they left their riders to form a dragon ramp to save Canth and F'nor.
How touching.
In Anne McCaffrey's Pern, there is no wedding in the Weyrs. Holder and Craft halls have wedding with harpers to perform them. In the Weyr, the dragons share their minds and emotions with the riders. The first to break tradition is actually F'nor's brother, F'lar. F'lar is the Bender Weyrleader. He takes no other but Lessa, rider of Queen Ramoth. Ramoth will mate with no other but F'lar bronze, the large Mnementh.
I love McCaffrey's characters. They have personality. Even the dragons are wonderful. In a world wracked with problems political, social and of course environmental. They will not give up and they struggle to do more than just survive.

Happy Valentines!

Happy Hearts Day Everyone!

Whalesong

I bought a book in BOOKS & MAGS for 9.00
Yes, quite a bargain.
One man's junk, another girls's treasure
and a treasure it was!
A book entitled Whalesong by Robert Siegel. It's a classic but most importantly, it's autographed. Whoever owned it must have forgotten about the autograph.

***

Whalesong is about a humpback named Hrunakaya. Whales have their own traditions and thier own beleifs. The antagonists of the story are humans. Humans who have an insatiable appetite to consume the environment wantonly and pollute wherever they thread.
It was fortold to Hrunakaya that he was to lead his pod and save the young. He ws going to be thre greatest of humpbacks, singing the song of the sea.
Sadly, they lost whales to the whalers but the Whale of Light told Hruna not to fret. There will come a day when men will cease to hunt. With that, Hruna was given a sign. His wife gave birth to an albino humpback.

A Wizard Alone

"Honey, the dog wants to know the meaning of life!"
Kit rubbed his forehead tempted to find himself trying to hide his eyes. "Give him a dog biscuit and tell him its an allegory."
"What, life?"
***
I've just finished reading the sixth book of Diane Duane's Young Wizard Series, A Wizard Alone.

The adventures continue with Nita and Kit. After the death of her mother, Nita is in a depression. Kit on the otherhand is busy exploring the new capabilities of his dog, Ponch. He thinks there's a wizardry likeage in the house. His father could hear the DVD and the TV arguing while his mother can hear Ponch asking her about the meaning of Life. The senior wizards has assigned Kit to a new assignment. He was to investigate the disappearance of a would-be wizard who was currently taking the Ordeal, the wizard's test. Nobody's supposed to take a test that long. Something was up.
Something was. The kid, Darryl was in a school. He was there physically but mentally, not. Another thing Kit finds out, Darryl is Autistic!
How can an Autistic boy find the Winzard's Oath?
Futher more, he seems to be at two places at once. Or maybe more. While Kit searches for him in Darryl's mind, Nita is visited nightly in her dreams by Darryl himself. She finds out that he is a Pillar, a person who could or couldn't be a wizard but is given immense power by the One (God or Holy Trinity).
The Lone Power, Satan, is after Darryl. Nita must find a way to save Darryl and Kit and Ponch who were stuck in Darryl's mind with him.
It seems Darryl does possess a higher power. With a bit of encouragement from Nita and Kit, he is able to open up and accept what Wizardry is. He takes Nita, Kit, Ponch and himself out of his personal universe. Now, he is a wizard and chooses to come out of his autism. Kit and Nita gets a scolding for cutting classes and Darryl's parents gets a shock. He suddenly wakes up from his corner and demands to go home.
Lovely story. Very creative. The mix of Darryl's understanding and his autism is beautifully merged in the story. Who would have thought of it! It makes me shiver to think about the concepts in the book.
I'll leave you all to read it and find out. for now, Let me share to you some quotes from the book:

*

"We're wizards. We're supposed to get comfortable with the uncomfortable complex."
--Kit
"I never thought goodness could be so though, so strong. But then again... I think goodness isn't something I'd think about a whole lot. Nobody uses the word much unless it's in a commmercial..."
--Nita
"Virtue, the real thing, Isn't some kind of cuddy teddy bear you can keep on the shelf untill you need a hug... Virtue has its own agenda, and believe me, it's not always yours. The word itseld means strength, power."
-- Carl, Senior Advisory Wizard.
"The trouble with saints these days are the robe-and-halo imagery that gets stuck into it. People forget that robes were street clothes once... and still are in a lot of places. Halos are the fierce air of innocence what speech balloons in comics are to the sound of voice itself. But people just see an old symbol and don't bother looking behind it for the meaning. Sainthood starts to look old-fathioned, unattainable... and even repellant."
"But Saints tend to be not too obvious. For one thing, they don't want to attract the Lone One's attention to them. Also, they tend to be too busy. Mostly, Sainthood involves hard work." --Carl

Read or Die: Talecraft Promotion

Sunday, Feb. 4, 2007

In the Read or Die Convention in Intercon Manila, Komikasi has launched a promotional campaign for Talecraft. A heartfelt thanks to all those who joined and support. It was a very succeful promotion for us.
Here are some pictures of the event.





Tell your tale...
Master your Craft

Talecraft

a story creeation game!




Here are some people playing the game.
Writers, teachers, students and anyone who's anyone can play!






http://talecraft.komikasi.com
to updated with more pictures within the week!

Stereotypes in Romances

If you read romances, don't you find the hero and damsel so "the usual"?
What I mean is, in every romance story, the girl and the boy have to always be perfect. Even if it is in historical romance of fantasy romance. I'm no expert. I haven't read all that much but based on the different authors I tried, they are so typical.
The boy has to have oodles of noodles. Tall, lean, good looking no matter what age he's supposed to be in. The girl is always young. Young and very pretty. I find it strange that she should always have a great body, pettite yet full boobs.
Typical!
Once boy meets girl, some passion is ignited but they refuse to acknowledge til the very end. When they do acknowledge, the girl will then start first. The guy's response will be fondling that leads to you know what.
I read Anne McCaffrey's Restoree. Now, this guy ain't so typical. So he doesn't look so good and the girl is not blonde or exotic in appearance but ok, they're not too typical. Then again, there isn't much LOVE in their lovestory.
I haven't quite read a good love story that can make me ponder about love.

a book a day

Me and my hunger. hunger to read!

I've read at least seven book during my trip to Davao. Now that I'm back, I'm reading a book a day. Two book yesterday. What a record. But then I read my Alanna books in three days and the four Protector of the Small Quartet in another 3 days. That's a hunger for reading.
I tried to read a romance novel. Bleh! Not too interesting.
No wonder Aki wants historical or sci-fi romance. At least you learn something in historical romances. It got little interesting tidbits.
Sci-fi romance is a bit boring. Haven't seen a good blend of Romance to the sci part of it yet.
So I read about three historical romances, ok but not too ok. needs more.

***

Back to Fantasy,
I'm reading about Veralidaine Sarasri. (Tamora Pierce's the Immortals Quartet) I've first encountered her in the Protector of the Small Quartet. She helped Kell a lot. Veralidaine or Daine's story comes between Alanna and Kell's. She starts at thirteen, an orphan who thinks she's crazy because she can communicate to animals.
She finds new friends who know her worth. They believe Daine has Wild Magic. This certain type of magic cannot be learned or mastered in some university. It lives within her and nobody can take it. Her new friend and mentor, Numaire, not only treasures her but also developes some... well... I read up in Kell's book that they become lovers. Even if Daine is half Numaire's age.

Quotes from Daine
"Someday I must read about this scholar Everyone. He seems to have written so much-- all of it wrong."

Quotes from a Stormwing
"... But the wheels turn. What is up may come down; what is brought low may come down. The gods are not fickle--but they ahve been known to change their minds."

Back at Last

I'm back.
Vacation gone and I'm back home. I'm definately not going back to working for mom. It's just making my hair whitter. I'm looking for a new venture. Davao opened a lot of doors but which to take? I have to think which to enter. AS tempting as some of them might be, they still have risks attached.
Hope to make decisions na.
I do want to move back to Davao where the pace is much slower. Felt good to be nearer nature. Here in Manila, it feels too dry, dusty and dark. Sun doesn't shine as brightly. Aura is not the same.
I'm going to miss buddy. Hope she won't get too bored. It's the slow pace of Davao that drives her crazy. Don't worry, buds, I'll be there soon. Outing tayo ulit.

Si Taba!

Ai!
One thing I hate about coming home is being labeled "Si Taba."
It seems everybody --EVERYBODY-- Everybody has a diet trick or two to suggest.
What's the point? What's the deal?
Can't I enjoy life as I want it?
Why do we all have to conform to what is beautiful?
Can't I not be plus sized in my own way?
What happened to real beauty?
Everyone can say I look beautiful or that I'm talented but, there's a but to everything. I'm freaking fat.

Foreigner in Her Own Home

I'm back in Davao. My, this place changed in just a year. I remember Jaja and I were here just last year and a lot of things have certainly changed.

Dinah's here. I'm glad of that.

Davao is still relaxing and slow-paced. If I stay here long, I wonder if I would get bored? Would thing be too slow for me? But then, the fast pace od Manila is already boring me to bits. Here, nature is closer. Here, I feel a lot calmer.

Yes, the usual family dramas are still here. Then again, it's everywhere and that's not new.

I feel a bit detached here.

Is Davao a place in the Philippines?

I feel it shold be it's own country. It's so peaceful and too nice to be tainted by the political struggles happening in the north.

While I'm here, I'm also somewhere else.

Where?

Pern.

I seem to be always at two places at once.

When I was in Japan, I was in the world of Diana Wynne Jones and Tokyo. Now, I'm in Davao and in Anne McCaffrey's Pern. I bought tons of Dragon Riders of Pern books to bring here and I was thrilled when I found a ot of second hand books about Pern here as well. I couldn't put the books down. So I'm in two worlds at once.

Pern's been wonderful. Full of dragons and fire lizards. The characters are very human and they struggle with the usual human problems. Of course, they have dragons to help them.

The other day, I didn't want to get up. I think I was still asleep. I was saying in my sleep tat I could ask Lord Jaxom of Ruatha to fly me over with his dragon, Ruth. Five minutes later, I had to rush in the bathroom because there was no dragon waiting for me. I was late for breakfast.

hehehe.

My library's expanding!

Book of the Year!

By the end of 2006, I can read about 400 pages a day. Of course Diki keeps telling me to slow down. She says I must savor the book.
My fave books of 2006 are as follows:
1st place: R. A. MacAvoy's A Trio for Lute
2nd Place: Anselm Audley's Heresy
3rd Place: Eoin Colfer's Artemis Fowl
----------------
I bought 25 new books this season and I already read more than half. Hope to read more every day and hope to collect more soon.
I believe, reading gives makes a person smarter, calmer and more logical. So keep reading!
Gosh, I can't seem to ahve enough to read!

Fowl on Fair

There was fowlplay on fair day.
Last week was the bazaar week in MGC New Life. Dec 4, 5, 6, 7. There were food concesionaires and bazaar goods on sale. We were asked to seel only a tight number of products to let other concesionaire have a chance in making money. We were to sell: Mongolian rice and toppings, french fries, hash brown and pancit. Small no?
We gave our list to be protected and the teachers who organized it would ensure we were not going to have direct competition. We were not allowed to sell drinks, nuggets and spaghetti.
Then what?
They sold nuggets the same ones we did. Acceptable. You can buy those nuggets in some stores.
They sold pancit. Fine! But they should have told us they were to sell pancit. We could have sold spaghetti instead. They said they would sell spaghetti!
Fowl play happened on the last day: They sold Mongolian and toppings. They even called their sstudents over to buy from them!
Fair?
Fowl!
I had to bite my lips from screaming. They kept complaining. Those teachers couldn't even make up their mind about the rice. They want plain then they tell us. Another techer tells us to sell only the mongolian. They can't make up their minds.
But the selling of Mongolian against our Mongolian?
Puh!
(HARSH OPINIONs)
To think they call themselves Christian.
Honestly. I think these guys are fake. They declair themselves saved and act like they own kingdom come!

Song of the Lioness

I read four books in two days. Yes, 4 from Tamora Pirce, the Song of the Lioness quartet. I loved the first book. soso the second. Not much of the third and didn`t like the fourth at all. I thought it was a kiddy book because it was in the kid`s section. Man, she`s such a slut! Sleeping iwht the prince then after theior breakup, she sleeps with two other manly man! Slut!
I`m not liking her attitude. She`s full of pride and not enough compassion. She tries to hide her weakness. Some way to hide it!
I hope the next part of the quartet would be better.

Alanna, a girl who wants to be a knight!

I was at Booksale when I found this book from Tamora Pierce. Its a lovely read.
The title is Alanna: the First Adventure.
The story follows a girl who ios supposed to be sent to a convent by her father while her twin is to be sent to knight school. They switch on the way and Alanna goes to knight school disguised as a boy. She tries her hardest to be the best. While being a squire, she gains some enemies like a duke's son but she gains powerful friends too like the prince and his big buddies. She even won the friendship of a good theif who kept her secret safe and helps her.
Alanna rescues the prince twice. In the end of her squire days, the prince finds out but he keeps it a secret.
So the prince becomes a knight while she becomes a page "boy."

Psychologist of Doom

If there`s an economist of doom, well, mom is a psychologist of doom.
There's a girl in their church who is 16 years old. Her father is the church`s janitor. Now, they have fallen in hard times because of some debts. They say, this janitor doesn`t know how to hold his money and life. Mind you, his fist daughter, nabuntis!!! The second is a son, nakabuntis!!!
Third time`s a strike!
Now, the mom gave this girl a pangparegla but it induces labor instead. Poor girl. Talk about Mom at 16.
Months ago, mom said to let this girl continue to go to school or else, she will get pregnant. She can get a program where she can still study 4th year high with a small allowance. The thing is, it is in public school. This janitor of a father had too much pride. He didn`t want. So it was better if the girl stayed home?
What kind of home does he live in? It is in the squatter`s area. There are lots of men and useless boys roaming around. THey got her pregnant.
Mom was furious. "I told you so! What do you expect?" came her reply.

***
If she tells you things concerning women problems, heed her. She knows what she`s tlking about in this area. She`s been member and President of Venture CLub Davao. She`s been member and president of Soroptimist Paranaque. Trust me, she knows what she`s talking about!
That`s why her grim foresight makes her the psychologist of doom.
She takes one good look at you and tells you your psychological profile and what kind of future is instored for you if you make a stupid decision.