Friday, February 24, 2012
Depressions come in cycles.
Maybe it is the disappointment I felt while sipping the not-so-delicious strawberry-flavored coffee. Or the Annual Report I'm writing which is just 18.18% percent done when the deadline is tomorrow. It could also be the slowness of the laptop I am using now. I'm not in my best mood today.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
The Happiness Hunt
Just when I was about to read another Haruki Murakami novel, I got recommended to read another book. Being me, I cannot refuse anything offered to me regardless of whatever it is. If I were a kid, I'd take any candy even from a stranger. But I am glad I took the candy, Eric Weiner's "The Geography to Bliss" is just what I needed for an emotional boost. Not that I am being grumpy or gloomy.
This book is about the author's travels to "happy places" to find out the correlation of happiness and location. Amazingly, people from different places view happiness in different, sometimes odd ways (e.g. In Thailand, happiness is perceived as having not to think too much)!
Actually, I am just on the first pages of the book but I am starting to like it. The way the author narrated his story was very entertaining, it seemed like he was directly talking to you. I don't know why, I've always found awkward and grumpy people humorous when they speak of their experiences in life and how they view it. Oh, I forgot to mention that the author considers himself as an "unhappy" person. Quoting Eric Hoffer, he said, "The search for happiness is one of the chief sources of unhappiness." In which he replied to with, "That's okay. I'm already unhappy, I have nothing to lose." Ha ha.
I'd like to believe I am a happy person. But when I think about what happiness is for me, I cannot think of anything. Maybe that is the reason why I am excited to embark this journey with Mr. Weiner, I wanna know what happiness is! :)
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Eight pages until the ending.
Just like any other day, I woke up wanting to sleep more and at the same time, to drink a cup of hot coffee. With an additional task in mind, I got out of bed and folded my blanket habitually. Today, I'll finish "Norwegian Wood" that I started reading a month ago, I told myself. Unfortunately, the day is almost coming to an end but I haven't had the time to finish the eight pages left.
I have actually started reading the first part of the last chapter only to find the lead female character dead. It surprisingly didn't break my heart. Instead, I felt as if it is the male lead's emancipation from a caging love. With all honesty, I do not think Watanabe is in any way in love with Naoko. It is different from love, it is more of... two lonely people depressed of losing a loved one and trying to keep alive by being together. It is like when Mico Sotto died and Angel Locsin got together with his cousin and bestfriend, Oyo Boy Sotto. They dated for a time, but maybe figured out that their connection was they both loved the same guy. In different kinds and levels, of course.
Almost everyone in this book eventually died (majority committing suicide) but as Watanabe would always say he learned, death is not the end of life but a part of it. Everyone seems to be either dying or living in a dead man's life. So, in my point of view, the only character that stood our for me was Midori. She is the other girl in the love triangle in the story. At first, it seemed like she will never get the guy, but I am thinking that she would in the ending. You know how stories would always make the guy stick to the first girl he falls in love with and ignore any great girl that comes his way but I think this is a different case. I would be happy if it ends that way, because it shows that love grows and not just happen over night.
Also, Midori both lost her parents to death but she continued living anyways. A part of the book told of the time when she and her sister went to their father's funeral. The people were expecting them to cry but they didn't. The people probably think they were cold and heartless, but they didn't give them what they wanted. She said they have cried enough during the time their father was suffering that there were no tears left. They refused to put on a show just to please the people around them. This girl definitely deserved the guy. :)
I still have eight pages to read but I am already looking forward to another Haruki Murakami novel. I have been forewarned that his books are depressing but wth, I need drama in my life. Otherwise, it would be as tasteless as water.
I have actually started reading the first part of the last chapter only to find the lead female character dead. It surprisingly didn't break my heart. Instead, I felt as if it is the male lead's emancipation from a caging love. With all honesty, I do not think Watanabe is in any way in love with Naoko. It is different from love, it is more of... two lonely people depressed of losing a loved one and trying to keep alive by being together. It is like when Mico Sotto died and Angel Locsin got together with his cousin and bestfriend, Oyo Boy Sotto. They dated for a time, but maybe figured out that their connection was they both loved the same guy. In different kinds and levels, of course.
Almost everyone in this book eventually died (majority committing suicide) but as Watanabe would always say he learned, death is not the end of life but a part of it. Everyone seems to be either dying or living in a dead man's life. So, in my point of view, the only character that stood our for me was Midori. She is the other girl in the love triangle in the story. At first, it seemed like she will never get the guy, but I am thinking that she would in the ending. You know how stories would always make the guy stick to the first girl he falls in love with and ignore any great girl that comes his way but I think this is a different case. I would be happy if it ends that way, because it shows that love grows and not just happen over night.
Also, Midori both lost her parents to death but she continued living anyways. A part of the book told of the time when she and her sister went to their father's funeral. The people were expecting them to cry but they didn't. The people probably think they were cold and heartless, but they didn't give them what they wanted. She said they have cried enough during the time their father was suffering that there were no tears left. They refused to put on a show just to please the people around them. This girl definitely deserved the guy. :)
I still have eight pages to read but I am already looking forward to another Haruki Murakami novel. I have been forewarned that his books are depressing but wth, I need drama in my life. Otherwise, it would be as tasteless as water.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Today is a winding road
My heart will literally explode inside my chest any minute now. I'm a meter away from my boss, she's reading the very first article I handed in since the day I set foot in her office.
One of the things I hate about myself is worrying about the littlest things. I've always considered myself a mediocre and I've learned to accept that I will never be as good as anyone. I live everyday being contented of who I am and will never be. In a different lens, that might be a good thing, but it also becomes my reason why I have an excuse for all my shortfalls.
I am not sure if the day will come when I will gain enough confidence to believe that I can do things I never imagined I could do. I wish I will; I don't wanna remain floating in a sea of uncertainties and regret forever.
Anyways, today I traveled for six hours from Thakek City back to Vientiane City by bus. It was a very long travel but I was the least bored. I like long travels, it gives me enough time to think through things and of course, to sleep. I was also entertained by the couple sitting in front of me. They were very sweet and adorable. Not to mention, equally handsome.
It reminded me of the recent picture I saw on the net. It's about Anne Hathaway's stand on LGBTs. She said that, "Love is a human experience, not a political statement." Maybe if I were younger, I would strongly be opposing this same-sex relationship. Personally, I will not engage in such relationship, but I learned to respect people who fell in love this way.
Love is a beautiful thing that everyone has the right to feel and experience.
One of the things I hate about myself is worrying about the littlest things. I've always considered myself a mediocre and I've learned to accept that I will never be as good as anyone. I live everyday being contented of who I am and will never be. In a different lens, that might be a good thing, but it also becomes my reason why I have an excuse for all my shortfalls.
I am not sure if the day will come when I will gain enough confidence to believe that I can do things I never imagined I could do. I wish I will; I don't wanna remain floating in a sea of uncertainties and regret forever.
Anyways, today I traveled for six hours from Thakek City back to Vientiane City by bus. It was a very long travel but I was the least bored. I like long travels, it gives me enough time to think through things and of course, to sleep. I was also entertained by the couple sitting in front of me. They were very sweet and adorable. Not to mention, equally handsome.
It reminded me of the recent picture I saw on the net. It's about Anne Hathaway's stand on LGBTs. She said that, "Love is a human experience, not a political statement." Maybe if I were younger, I would strongly be opposing this same-sex relationship. Personally, I will not engage in such relationship, but I learned to respect people who fell in love this way.
Love is a beautiful thing that everyone has the right to feel and experience.
Friday, February 17, 2012
What will you have for dinner?
My parents would always ask me every single day what I would be having for dinner. Most of the times, I would say Tilapia or Adobo or Paksiw. They would complain as if they are the ones eating the same food items everyday. And it's really not like they can do anything about it.
Today, I helped Ate Ginang cook some Asadong Tofu. I don't know if she is being serious about it, but she said I should cook my specialty this weekend. I'm fine with that, it's just that... I don't have any specialties. :(
It made me miss Filipino food, too! Saucy, oily, sinful Filipino food, come at me bro!
BTW, if you are kind-hearted enough to send (or cook) me my favorite Filipino dishes, here they are:
Kare-Kare
Caldereta
Tinolang Manok
Lumpiang Sariwa
Leche Flan
And I just have to mention, that I am really really really craving for a McDonald's cheeseburger. In fact, I think I am seeing it in my dreams! I've been clean for a month, I need that greasy melted cheese in my system!
My stay here has been extended until May. I think that's the reason why I'm craving for all these food. :(
PS. These photos aren't mine. Thank you owners!
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