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.

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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.

Road Block Warning!

Christmas is coming closer and closer. Warning! Kotong Cops are on the loose!
I'm serious. Have you noticed them? Kumakalat sa EDSA.
Drive safely everyine. Don't give them a reason. Any reason to catch you at all! They're gonna make some up. Make sure you look straight and smart. Driv in the middle road if possible.
If all else fail, avoid the busy roads! These MMDA Kotong Hulidappers have no conscience and will extract money wherever they can. That means us, the unsuspecting middle class.
I'll tell you why the middle class suffers next time. For now, know that things are going to get a little chaotic. Don't worry, it'll die down after the holidays.
Maybe that is one of the reasons wy God doesn't want to reveal the real birth date of His only Son.
Advance Merry CHristmas to all

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More about Damiano (A Trio for Lute: Raphael)

I'm a little sad that by the end of the second book, Damiano died. But now in the third book, its ok. He's bac as a spirit with wings. I guess that means he's now an angel. He's watching over his friends and his even closest friend , the Archangel Raphael who sacrificed himself for Damiano's friends. Now, turned human by the trickery of Satan, Raphael has to survive enough to remember who he is. Can he hold on until his friends come rescue him? Right now, he's learning the basics of humanity. You must eat! After eating, food will exit your body after some hours. Poor Raphael.
Don't worry. God hasn't abandoned him completely. He sends him the angel Damiano and some earthly friends.

Damiano's Lute

R. A. MacAvoy's second part from A Trio For Lute. Following the first story, Damiano, our hero is alive and well out of the clutches of Satan... or he thinks.
One year after Damiano Delstrego makes a pact with Satan, he is on the roads to Avignon. With him is Gaspare, a theif from San Gabrielle. Damiano took this scrawny boy and made him his dancer while he plays. They split profit evenly.
Of course, Raphael is close by. The Seraph watches　closely at his beloved little student. Once in a while, he gives Damiano a lute lesson.
Of course, the witch Saara is also along disguised as a dove or sometimes an owl.
Damiano makes something of himself in Avignon. From a rich witch to the nothing that Satan wanted, Daminao rose and made something of his talents for music. He even played for the Pope who gave him a new Lute.
It was then that plague struck Avignon killing people in days even Damiano's benefctor. Gaspare's whore of a sister got the plague and was dying. With one act of bravery, Damiano transferred the plague into himself and asked Raphael to take him to a feild. There, Damiano breathed his last leaving his weeping music master to take care of the people he loves: Gaspare and Saara.
Gaspare, angered that Damiano had died instead of him, charged at Raphael and demanded he teach him the Lute the same style as Damiano.

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I find Damiano's actions always touching. He tries so hard to be a Saint even though he believes he can't be one. He wishes if a glimmer of hope would permit him to be a saint but he died. The most touching scene I read was when Raphael gave Damiano a hair cut.
Memorable conversation: Raphael and Damiano
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"Dami, Dami! You have power ofphilosophy beyond the mere angelic. Perhaps you have hit the reason for man being what he is."
"Reason? I did not know we had reason for being, Seraph. To understand the devil?"
"To forgive him. It is more than I can do."

Librarything

I thve thing thing called a librarything from librarything.com. It catalogs the books you have.
http://www.librarything.com/catalog/maita

Witchhunt!

Halloween Pictures 2006

Damiano

War torn Italy in 14th Century Europe, there lived a young boy named Damiano Delstrego. He has a curious life. He can do magic and is called damned by the people of Partestrada yet the Archangel Raphael himself comes down to teach him music.
This is a rather interesting book I`ve bought. I got it in BOOKSALE for 39 pesos. Its actually 3 storiesin one called A Trio for Lute.
So far, I`ve finished the first story. It tells about young Damiano at age 21. A rogue generalinvades his town and forces all the villagers away. He makes a pack with Satan to free his people and bring them back to where they call home. Towards his goal to first find his people, he encounters theives, grim weather and starvation. His love of his life Carla, rejects his love and enters the cloisters. So, the father of lies` grants him 50 years of peace but not prosperity to Partestrada in exchange, Damiano`s family will be lost from the histories and he shall die in 2 years. He agrees.
Finally when he leads the people of Partestrada to a bloodless victory, the mob him and tied him to be hanged. It was his teacher Raphael who came to the rescue.

"Ah, Dami, Dami! Do you know what is to be damned? It has nothing to do with fire. To be damned is only not to love." --Raphael
"I am not flesh, and I cannot understand you, but I love you, and I know you are not damned." --Raphael

I felt the story was simply written and because it is, it touches people a lot. Here is innocent Damiano who know of nothing about the world`s cruelty except that he knew witchcraft was a shaky subject. He was born with it and because of it, people though he was born damned and so he came to beleive too. This story shows you that you do not gain anything from the father of lies and that people are quick to judge. It also tells you that you have an angel guarding you. THough remains unseen, your angel loves you as you. No matter how silly you may be and act like a fool, God loves you because we are his image yet unique.

Midsomer Murders

In a quiet English village called Midsomer, secrets are more abundant than harvest. Murders are as common as theives.
John Nettles plays DCI Tom Barnaby. He is assigned to Corston, Midsomer as a police cheif. Daniel Cassey is his assistant, Sgt. Gavin Troy.
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I like these two characters. They are so calm and witty. Tom tries to blend while he composes his conclusions. He always has an idea or two up his sleeve and he always discovers the murderer/s. As for the handsome young Sgt. Troy, he`s an adorable character. He`s not the smartest in the series but he is very lovable and charming. Troy's always amazed on how Tom can always figure out things. That's why he's a police cheif and he gets down and dirty.
But he has his quirks. Tom's getting fed up with the mysterious town filled with family secrets, inherited lies and sexual mystries surrounding every murder.
His wife tries to make the best of it. Joyce Barnaby and the good cheif moves to Midsomer. Joyce gets invovled in Midsomer. She becomes a judge at local fairs, goes to watercolor classes and makes a garden.

I watch Midsomer Murders every friday in Hallmark Channel at 9pm S.E.A.

So much for quitting

Mom says she can't survive without me anymore. Especially now that mom has fired 4 people. Marina knows. She was there to act as witness.

Business as usual here at BSM and MGC. Hopefully now that the 4 are gone, there won't be pilfirages and stolen items.

I'm thinking of leaving again.

Well, there are many opportunities coming along the way. Hopefully, I get a shot at them.

Good news:

Went to the doctor. I lost 1 kilo since my diet program started. I know I said I don't care about being big or anything. It's just, this country's standard is thin women. I'm a subject of fat topics when it comes to family reunions. It hurts more than anyone knows.

Halloween!

I didn't expect a lot would come but hey! Nearly complete attendance. Kulang nalang si Janings, Buddy and Tash.

Guys, I'm so glad we're still strong. No matter what, no matter how cliche it could sound, FRIENDS FOREVER!

Light

You'll never appreciate a fan until the power is out. 4 days of excruciating heat was so unbearable. Thank God there is power already. Aircon too for that matter. Little things do make a difference.
I've learned to maximaize the daylight. I had to read faster and draw quicker before the sun sets. Light is so important.

http://www.walkingwithtigers.org

I love cats. Anyone can guess that in looking at my photoalbum and some of my entries.
I`ve seen this documentary called Walking with Tigers. It showed in Animal Planet some month ago and I saw it again last night.
It speaks about an abbot adopting some tigers and sheltering them in the monastery. Soon, more tigers were sent to him and his old tigers bred. It is a very touching story.
There are few people I admire and this abbot is one of them. Steve`s passing hurt so much. I guess I was searching for another crusader to look up to.
If anyone`s got a dollar or two to donate to the abbot, just go to their website:
http://www.walkingwithtigers.org
The budhist monks cannot own money but they need to come up with the money to support the tigers and maintain the facility for these wonderful beasts.
Maybe by at least visiting the site, you could show support.
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I was thinking of volunteering but mom is against it. Only because the abbot is buddhist. You know how it is now that she`s into being "christian" I guess she isn`t very ecumenical and tolerant of other religion.
I admire these monks because of their passion not only to the wildlife but also to their beliefs. Its not because of religion or fame, its because they do what is right. They cross borders and save the world one tiger at a time.
Meow to all!

Eragon movie

Eragon is being turned into a movie! Yes! I hope they show it in this country. I haven`t seen trialers or hints yet. I know the trialer is out already.

Here are some Casting Roles I saw in www.shurtugal.com

Shur`tugal means dragon riders

Cast Member	Character
Edward Speleers	Eragon
Chris Egan	Roran
Jeremy Irons	Brom
John Malkovich	Galbatorix
Djimon Hounsou	Ajihad
Sienna Guillory	Arya
Robert Carlyle	Durza
Garrett Hedlund	Murtagh
Alun Armstrong	Uncle Garrow
Gary Lewis	King Hrothgar
Joss Stone	Angela
Tamsin Egerton	Katrina
Caroline Chikezie	Nasuada
Nils Allen Stewart	Lead Urgal

I love the story of Eragon. I really waited and saved up for the second book, Eldest. Now, I wait for the movie and the third book. It feels like waiting for the next Harry Potter book.

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Here are some nice quotes from the book Eragon.
"Knowing is independent of being. I did not know you existed before you bumbled in here and ruined my nap. Yet that doesn't mean you weren't real before you woke me." - Solembum
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"There's a reason why we're born with brains in our heads, not rocks." - Brom
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It’s overwhelming. I feel as if I am living in an illusion, a dream where all things are possible. Amazing things do happen, I know, but always to someone else, always in some far-off place and time. - Eragon to Saphira (pg. 430)

see: www.alegaesia.com

Cat Fight

My two meowy cats have been fighting. They fought and my dominant black male decided to not pursue the fight and move his residency under my window then under my shelves.
Then the smaller male cat that I call Pepper becomes grouchy and dominates the front porch. He`s usually a shy cute type. Now, he`s grumpy. He hates being cuddled and he marks everything he can mark. Yucky!
Yesterday, bati na sila.
It turns out, Pepper is asserting his dominance because he`s now sexually mature. He`s got a new girl friend and is now living with us on the front porch. This new cat is also ginger but has no trace of white like Pepper. I think this new cat had an owner. We call this new cat Puss in Boots because kamukha eh. Now, Puss is very friendly. This little ginger has very fluffy hair. I think she has a breed.
Today, surprise! My black cat, Alonzo, is styaing on the front porch. He`s friends with the two love birds. Pepper is having trouble with Puss. He think we`re getting to like Puss more than him. Oh! Guess what? Remember I told you Pepper`s girlfriend is Puss?
EEEEEE! Puss is a boy! When we carried him today, two bally balls greeted us.
I swear. These cats are gay. Alonzo and Pepper are then they had this little lover`s quarel. Now Pepper is getting a new boyfriend? What is the world coming to? These cats need a mother. They should have had their mother to train them but unfortunately, they got separated.
We could see the importance of parent not only for cats but also for humans.　

Officially Quit

I`m out of my lousy job. It pays good but the stress is not worth it. Why? Because there are lousy good for nothing people I don`t bear and care to look at. So?
I ran away you say? Well, that`s one way of putting it. Reality check! If you hate your job, why stay? Get away from assholes. Get away from stress lines. The stress is actually making me eat. When I see those grrrrrrr! I can`t help but stuff something in my mouth and I`m surrounded by food all the time!
Puh!
Today, I wanted to protect mom from EVIL Ralph Anog. But does she want help? Not when he`s arround. She`s being bullied and what does she do? She KUROTS my thighs. Gee! Who`s embarassing who?
He`s a bully and she`s swallowing hit shit!
Gee!
All I was trying to do was protect her investments!
She keeps telling me how wonderfully raised I am by two perfect parents but she can`t get the fact that I learned pride and prejudice from Pops. Yes, I have pride and too much of it. Yes, I have my own prejudice. Especially of his kind. Ralph is a total ass.
I ain`t taking crap from him!
Gee ma, when you tried to raise me as a meek and mild girl, you should have thought of sheltering me. When I got exposed to the world and saw how manipulative and evil people are, I took no craps from no one.
Sorry, the world isn`t as black and white as you say it is. It has a lot of color. Most of it is red and green.

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I`m quiting because I`m fed-up! I`m quitting because the more you want me to keep my frustrations in a bottle, the more I want to explode.
I quit!

Eldest

Eldest is the second book of Christopher Paolini. His fist book is Eragon. There are three books to his Inheritance trilogy. He was 15 when he wrote Eragon. It became a New York Time Best Seller and so has Eldest. The books give a Lord of the Rings Cross of Harry Potter Feel.
By the way, Eragon is being turned into a Movie. See the official site at www.alegaesia.com


I think the book is very fascinating.　It sparks human emotions. Its also so magical. Magical me, sucker for the fantastic.
Its a good read.
Read my spoilers at http://mermaidarium.blogs.friendster.com/ictus/

Steve, You Will Be Missed

Even though I haven't met Steve Irwin, I super love him. Anyone can see his passion. It's a genuin love for saving the environment. You can see it's not just an act.

Today, Steve died. He was stung in the heart by a deadly sting ray. He was 44.

One of my life goals were meeting Steve. If only to see him live. He is one of the greatest people in the world for me.

Today, he died. Minutes after the news, I developed a fever.

The last time I had a fever because someone died was when Magma Man died. I was 6 then. The next week, Magma Man's mysterious power allows him to come back from the dead.

But that was Magma Man. Steve does not have mystical magical powers that will mysteriously call him back to the world of the living because his quest is not yet over.

Steve, the world suffers a great loss.

Goodbye Sweet Annie

Farewell my sweet little Annie. Even if we spent so little time with each other, I will still miss you. I will never forget the way you demand attention and milk.

little Annie was given to us by a neighbor. She came with another little cat named Oliver. Both orphaned kittens. I developed a stong affection for Annie because she was so prim and clean. She was also spunky and was ok with a leash on her neck. I began to teach her tricks every afternoon.

Last week, she came inside the house again. She normally stays out in the washing area but she sneaks in the house. She slept on my arms then curled up on my neck then snuggled on my hair the whole afternoon. I was sleeping on the couch.

That night, she got into a fight with some strays and she got killed.

My poor, poor baby.

Montmorency

I'm back in the book spree. That's because I'm finishing me pay again. Got five books then another two books. These special two books are called: Montmorency.

It's about a theif who wanted so bad to be rich and so he plotted how to act, speak and carry himself rich until everybody beleived him.

The second book is Montmorency On the Rocks. Montmorency is now a "dandy" but his secrets can't be kept for long. His friends are bound to find out. Especially if he's being so clumsy to leave trials and scream it out of his sleep.

More details in my friendster blog:

http://mermaidarium.blogs.friendster.com/ictus

Baha!

It's flooding!
Even in my head.

Rainy day Updates

Somebody complained that we had a rotten meatball for lunch causing her to throw up.

One in a million chances. Was it our fault? They make it sound like we did it on purpose. To make them happy, we pulled out all the meatballs. How about the kids who wanted meatballs for the day. No choice. We had to cook a whole batch of chicken instead.

Then, we found out yesterday that the vomit was sent to a lab to be examined and the cause had nothing to do with our food.

What the ***********************************!!!!

How can I calmly deal with the situation if mom panics? Apologizes as if it was our fault and throws the whole batch away?

Today, our usual debates while shopping: What am I buying? Why is she hiring me as a manager if I can't do my job? I buy the cheapest of things. Yes, There is something cheaper than UFC or Papa ketchup and that it my new best friend Tita Frita Banana Ketchup. For toyo and other condiments, I used Savepack or Aro brand. The cheapest. My tissue paper sucks and I start to charge plastic bag if people ask for it.Yes. A whole new meaning to papel de lambot.

Yes, I'm officially Scrooge. Why?

Because people take advantage of the little things I do.

People who finish the ketchup, tissue and plastic are the people who don't even buy anyting from us. As if nahihiya sila! Whehehell, I'm taking charge. Why do I run a business out of charity? THis isn't even a tax shield! Takot takot na tax binabayaran tapos liit lang ng spread ko. He!

Gotta snip as much edges as I can. For heaven sakes! Hindi naman bayad nila parang British Schoool no! Kung British School, hindi cheap ang bayad hindi cheap ang materials. As for the case of Makati Gospel School, cheap begets cheap!

Sounds good. It's now my new Philosophy!

Jars Jars Jars

I'm into drawing jars this month. Why? I don't know. Jars look cute. They are fun and easy to draw. Jars are understated elegant pieces. We use them for many things. They represent the everyday things in life. They can be containers, water jars, vases or just center pieces.

They'll be on the site next month. For now, a small preview...

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www.komikasi.com

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