Book - Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan

After reading this book, I learned that David Levithan is gay. I admired him more for that. I think he is an awesome guy (well I think authors of books I like are really awesome, in my opinion).This book was written in 2003, and having read it ten years after, and still sharing similar appreciation with people who read it before - it was just too awesome. He was too awesome.

I recall myself wanting to be a prolific writer a few years back (probably in high school). However, pursuing writing didn't even come close. I thought it was too risky for a job, and you have to be really good at it. Since I convinced myself that I do not even have a clue of what good writing is, I had to abandon this dream. It wasn't too big of a loss, since I had too many dreams at that time. It was like saying to myself, "okay, I just have to cross this one out for now".

The book, like every day, left me hanging. I still believe the reading spirit I had before hasn't come back yet, that's why I feel nothing spectacular (I have high expectations haha) during the end. I long for a feeling that I used to feel after reading a book before. The feeling of closure, I guess? Maybe, I tell myself, just maybe, I need to read some more.

And yes, Shan and I have traded books. I'm on my third David Levithan book, Naomi and Ely's No-Kiss List, co-written with Rachel Cohn.

A Good Friend Turns 30

They say you die at thirty, for all your childish dreams wither, and you are forced to carry the burden challenge of a family-inspired life.

Well I hope it doesn't end here. Happy birthday Miker! For all I know (or hope), you aren't going to leave the Manukan guys soon, and I hope that I would still get to know you guys more.

You know I love you (not that that), and I will always pray that you find someone to love and raise a family with. Thank you for all the secrets and the rants and the everything that make nights after work fun. You are a good singer, and if God permits, I hope to get a copy of your future albums.

This post was long overdue since September 3, but he doesn't read my blog anyway, so here it goes. :)

Music - Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me) by Train

Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me)
Train

Now that she's back in the atmosphere
With drops of Jupiter in her hair, hey
She acts like summer and walks like rain
Reminds me that there's a time to change, hey
Since the return from her stay on the moon
She listens like spring and she talks like June, hey, hey

But tell me, did you sail across the sun?
Did you make it to the Milky Way
To see the lights all faded
And that heaven is overrated?

Tell me, did you fall for a shooting star?
One without a permanent scar
And did you miss me
While you were looking for yourself out there?

Now that she's back from that soul vacation
Tracing her way through the constellation, hey
She checks out Mozart while she does Tae-Bo
Reminds me that there's room to grow, hey

Now that she's back in the atmosphere
I'm afraid that she might think of me as
Plain ol' Jane told a story about a man
Who was too afraid to fly so he never did land

But tell me, did the wind sweep you off your feet?
Did you finally get the chance
To dance along the light of day
And head back to the Milky Way?

And tell me, did Venus blow your mind?
Was it everything you wanted to find?
And did you miss me
While you were looking for yourself out there?

Can you imagine no love, pride, deep-fried chicken
Your best friend always sticking up for you
Even when I know you're wrong?

Can you imagine no first dance, freeze-dried romance
Five-hour phone conversation
The best soy latte that you ever had, and me?

But tell me, did the wind sweep you off your feet?
Did you finally get the chance
To dance along the light of day
And head back toward the Milky Way?

But tell me, did you sail across the sun?
Did you make it to the Milky Way
To see the lights all faded
And that heaven is overrated?

And tell me, did you fall for a shooting star?
One without a permanent scar
And did you miss me
While you were looking for yourself?

na na na na na na na na na na na na na

And did you finally get the chance
To dance along the light of day?
na na na na na na na na na na
And did you fall for a shooting star?
Fall for a shooting star?
na na na na na na na na na
And were you lonely looking for yourself out there?

sources:
YouTube
MetroLyrics

Music - Built to Last by Melee

Built to Last

Melee

I've looked for love in stranger places

But never found someone like you

Someone whose smile

Makes me feel I've been holding back

And now there's nothing I can do

'Cause this is real and this is good

It warms the inside just like it should

Most of all, most of all

It's built to last, it's built to last

All of our friends saw from the start

So why didn't we believe it too?

Oh yeah, now look where we are

You're in my heart now

And there's no escaping it for you

'Cause this is real and this is good

It warms the inside just like it should

Most of all, most of all

It's built to last

Walking on the hills at night

With those fireworks and candlelight

You and I were made to get love right

'Cause this is real and this is good

It warms the inside just like it should

Most of all, most of all

It's built to last

'Cause you are the sun in my universe

Consider the best when we felt the worst

And most of all, most of all, most of all

Most of all, most of all, most of all

It's built to last

sources:

YouTube

MetroLyrics

Book - every day by David Levithan

Finally, I have finished the book! It was ugh. I want to say a lot, but I don't like to spoil things. It was a very good read, more of a refresher for me. I plan to start reading another one, Boy Meets Boy, by David Levithan as well. It was recommended by my girl best bud in high school.

When I was reading, I was blanketed with an air of nostalgia. I remember the high school library. I am proud that we had a good library, with good books, and very accommodating librarians. We had Guinness books, books about Pope John Paul II, John Grisham, Paulo Coelho, graphology, encyclopedia, Beethoven's Medal, a lot of textbooks, and a whole lot more.

Suddenly I was a teen again, even just for a few minutes.. It felt good.

-----

To be fair with the title of the post, I just have a few things to say about the book. It made me wish it was a sequel. And did I say it was a good read? *smiles*

51 pages - every day by David Levithan

I used to take pride in telling my friends that I was once awarded as the best library user in High School. I took home three books as a gift before graduating.

Bottomline is, I really read a lot. I would borrow books, read them at home. Return novels after a few days then borrow some more. It wasn't just skimming, I was living the book. Page by page, character by character. I was a fan of young romance books, as well as feature books.

When I was in college, it all went kapoof. Gone. Maybe because I was flirting back then (joke), or I just wasn't into reading, since a lot of things disturbed me.

Now I want it back. i was able to read about 50 pages in about two hours of sitting. I can't say if my pace has slowed down, but it doesn't really matter. I'm having fun, I'm creating the alternate world that I have left for years.

Target to finish this next month. Kidding. Target to finish this in two weeks time. There there, don't dream too big.

A New Washing Machine

I woke up with my mom telling me to get the delivery papers for the washing machine already arrived. I was happy since things will be a lot easier for mama.

A few years back, I knew a person who buys his family one big appliance every year. My case is slightly different, since he doesn't live with his family, and so doesn't have to give anything on a regular basis. Above all, I really want a videoke unit at home. Hopefully I can accomplish that by mid-2013.

When Thirteen Can Sometimes Be Fun

Thirteen of us on a secluded resort in Batangas. The trip was fun-filled. And I quote from one of us, these guys are crazy. I believe I drank seven bottles of beer. Oh I really miss drinking.

Movie - Antichrist

Antichrist
2009
Drama, Horror
108 mins
Not Rated
He, by Willem Dafoe
She, by Charlotte Gainsbourg

A movie that will make you sick and leave you with a heavy heart. That's what happened to me after watching it. I even dreamed of the murder of four students plotted in the high school I attended, one of which I did myself, as well as a mass murder of poor people in a soccer field. Whether this has been an aftermath of this movie, I can't say for sure.

As with Melancholia (having the same author Lars Von Trier), Antichrist is very graphic and beautifully made, with a depth that not everyone may find pleasing, or even find. Have you even seen a movie and forced yourself to see something hidden underneath the symbolism? At some point in the film, I was in deep thought, if it was just me, not getting a hint of purpose for this film, or if there was even any sense to it.

Just a word of advice: take courage when watching this. Not for the faint of heart.

sources: IMDb

Two Days of Fun

Beautiful Batangas awaits me and fourteen other officemates. Ah I can smell the fresh air. Not having my own camera is just sad. But then again, we'll be cooking, drinking, singing, and a lot more.

Society of Math Majors, Twenty-four years

I have been a member of this organization when I was in college. Taught me a lot of things, and though its a shame I can't be with them now, I'll see them soon.

An art project to work on

I have spent roughly three hours trying to search for the right materials and making sample outputs for a personal calendar. I hope I can work on this again next weekend.

Things to start with: cartolina, transparency sheets, an old calendar, ruler, and markers

Thinking that life doesn't get younger, I think I have to start my plans for a happier and healthier life, starting off with my personal finances, and my personal flaws.

Through this, I plan to track the things that I do (and shouldn't do) on a daily basis - things like expenses for the day, beers drunk after work, sleep, and other areas of concern. Hopefully, I can finish the calendar as soon as possible.

Sample counter. I'll print better numbers next time.

These will be the type of counters I will be using on my issues with you-know-what. It was this idea from my other post. Hope this will work. And I was doing this all night, so I think this can be a good sign.

Pornography - Day Never

I realized that this was a lot harder for me. I just can't use a handful of discipline at the moment. But I'm brewing something that might just make this work.

Fitness - Nine Laps

Earlier in the afternoon, it was raining hard. So hard, that it was very apt to get back to bed and have a few hours of extra sleep.

Instead, I ran to the nearest park and jogged nine laps, all under the rain. It was kinda refreshing, since I used to run the same length a few months back. I think I'm going to do this again next week.

I ran for the first three laps barefoot, because I used a worn-out pair of shoes, and I feared of slipping. For the remaining six, the shoes got heavier. Haha

Pornography - Day 2

It gets kinda embarassing to include a Day 0 post every now and then. *giggles*

Sleep - Four Hours

I slept at 7 last night. And I have been awake since 2am. Work starts at 8, but since I live very far from work, I get up everyday at 5 in the morning to prepare.

Should I go to work now? Nah, too early.

One Missing Thing

There are a lot of things to count. Including the things that you do not have.

For now, I need (or really need) a camera.

Work - 21 Hours

And I still had to work the day after. This is a rare occurrence (last time happened around April I think), and I hope the next would be months away from now.

Where I work for: Azeus Systems Philippines Ltd. (official page)

Pornography - Day 0

Again. This is hard.

Movie - Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump
1994
Drama, Romance
142 mins
PG-13
Forrest Gump, by Tom Hanks

A movie on hope, family, and human need.

On a subjective note, the film put me to thinking about how I would be like in the future. Would I have a good family? Would I even have someone to spend time growing old?

Spoiler alert (highlight space to read): I am deeply touched when Forrest immediately asked how his son was doing, if he was fine mentally, or if he was like Forrest himself. I cried during that scene, and just made me say that Jenny is a very lucky woman to have Forrest.

It was a bit ridiculous that Forrest is an extremely lucky and talented guy. But other than that, everything seemed so real. Something that a normal person would have wished to happen to his/her life.

sources: IMDb

Movie - The Vow

The Vow
2012
Drama, Romance
104 mins
PG-13
Paige, by Rachel McAdams
Leo, by Channing Tatum

I watched this because I saw its trailer when I went to Padis Point Shaw for a few bottles of beer after work. Don't even ask why the bar shows trailers like these, I also don't know. Haha

It's a movie that's light on drama, dashed with bits of musings in human thinking (how reflective); the typical just-watch-me-without-thinking-why type of movie, just what I want to watch when I'm exhausted from work. Some questions are left to ask, but overall, it's good.

It's said to be based on a true story, and Channing Tatum's behind is also real, I think.

sources: IMDb

Pornography - Day 0

Yes, I'am also trying to quit viewing malicious content on the internet. It pays you know. I'll start today at Day 0.

I was inspired after reading this article. Although, I think I could use a better word for inspired, thinking that I stopped doing this for the sake of better sexual experience, which I think, is impossible at the moment. Haha

Post 0

I wanted to count the things that matter. And in this crazy world, everything matters, just on different levels of matter-ness.

I think it's never too late to start from the beginning. After all, the point on the number line that's easiest to go back to.