I'm still alive

Hi all, this is just so you know I'm not quite dead yet....albeit the absence from this blog despite the promises to blog more regularly *eyes downcast in guilt* =p

I woke up this morning and was greeted by this realization. It quite hit me on the head really... I've decided what I want to be when I grow up ! *finally*. My dream job's surely, undeniably, unchangeably *for now* a book reviewer !!!!! Imagine I get to read all I want, review them (indulge me and pretend for now that people are actually interested to know my opinion on whether an author can write or crap nonsensical blabber or do both at the same time) write about them, and get PAID to do ALL of the above ! La di da.

Okie dokes, it's time to zoom back down to earth and write up my final year project dissertation. *gulps*

P.s : I'm not drunk, intoxicated, inebriated, not not sober. I'm just really hyped up on God knows what and really inconsistent with my thoughts right now. But happy nonetheless coz it's the end of the week ..... wheeeee

In the shadow of The Big Guy

Today's smile-inducer : No School for the day !!! Yup, I'm a sloth that way coz it means more time for my books and more time to breathe..... things have been too hectic.

The other night I was lying in bed, suffocating from being squished in the middle of my two current bed partners, Doubt and Worry. And whilst I tossed and turned in search of comfort that seemed unattainable, this song we sang in church just popped in to lull me to sleep. Suffice to say, it was Doubt and Worry's turn to get uncomfortable and choose another bed partner.....

In Christ alone my hope is found,

He is my light, my strength, my song;

this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,

firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace,

when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!

My Comforter, my All in All,

here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! who took on flesh

Fulness of God in helpless babe!

This gift of love and righteousness

Scorned by the ones he came to save:

Till on that cross as Jesus died,

The wrath of God was satisfied -

For every sin on Him was laid;

Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain:

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave he rose again!

And as He stands in victory

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,

For I am His and He is mine -

Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,

This is the power of Christ in me;

From life's first cry to final breath.

Jesus commands my destiny.

No power of hell, no scheme of man,

Can ever pluck me from His hand;

Till He returns or calls me home,

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

Silver Bells

"You may have tangible wealth untold; caskets of jewels and coffers of gold. Richer than I you can never be. I had a mother who read to me" - Strickland Gillian

Listening to Silver Bells right now. I remember this time last year, when Christmas dawned nearer and I told you how much I loved this season of the year, and you said it'll be November soon and we'll start bringing out the Christmas carols. I remember your smile, that faraway wistful look in your eyes, oh how I never had a clue. And then December came.

It's a little too early for Christmas Carols now. But the promise of something better, something unforeseen, uncertain hangs clear like the sound of a bell in the stillness of the night.....

Booked

Today's Smile-Inducer : Seeking hidden treasures !!

Quickie : I just found out the library here stocks pretty good books ! Oscar Wilde, Virginia Woolf, A.S Byatt, Iris Murdoch and Haruki Murakami to name a few. How could I have NOT realized this earlier ??!I'm gonna have my hands full..literally! Tee hee, very bittersweet way to end my tenure here. Dios mio ! Time..stop slipping through my fingers already !

I shall leave here with a line from this book I'm reading that made me laugh since it was kinda unconventional yet made so much sense

" Always remember to stick with the people who know they're flawed and ridiculous. " -Professor Absalom Widgett, from Olivia Joules and the Overactive Imagination.

As promised

here's how I spent a large chunk of my holidays. Ah, I miss it already ! I managed to squeeze in some reading between the catching up with family, The Boy, and my brother dear who just has the fanciest most interesting philosophies (though we're often at loggerheads at different points of thought)

I really enjoyed all the books I've read so far, with one being the exception for being too morbid even for my taste.

The Footprints of God is light sci-fi whereby a group of scientists create the ultimate supercomputer meant to be greater than God. An otherwise lukewarm story on artificial intelligence, I really loved the way in which Greg Iles twisted and turned and reflected on the many facets than one issue could have. Read it with an open mind and it'll prove to be truly enjoyable =)

Basically in Alice Sebold's The Almost Moon, the main character smolders her mother to death and thus begins a crazy narration from the first person's POV. Whilst reading this book, I randomly quoted paragraphs from the novel to whoever was 'lucky' enough to be on MSN with me at the time, prompting reactions along the lines of "wth are you reading??! " Guess that speaks volumes about the book =P

Through a Glass, Darkly was an interesting albeit unsatisfying read. I need my murders to be brutal, fast and blood curdling. The book failed on almost all counts in this respite. The saving grace here was the detail to which the author painted the picture of glass making and the picturesque descriptions of the streets of Venice.

This was sci-fi/ fantasy and an absolute blast to read ! With a tagline like "Only the victor gets out alive" how could I have resisted it? 7 competitors from around the galaxy are teleported in to the New York Library and they battle to their deaths in order to beat the contest. With a plot like this, expect to meet aliens at every fast paced, blood chilling page turn. Best five hours I've spent so far.

One of the first Scarpetta novels I've read and suffice to say I don't think I'll ever stop ! =D Patricia Cornwell delivers her promise of really good suspense thrillers served on a platter of emotional turbulences, detailed sleuthwork and of course, grisly murders. I love stories that incorporate both a personal as well as professional take on what's going on. Delicious !

A legal thriller, Fury turned out to be a pleasant surprise with elements of fantasy and new age religions lending a throughly enjoyable twist to this fast paced story of trials, tribulations and ultimate redemption. Starting with the brutal rape of a young mother, this tale takes readers on a rollercoaster ride of emotions as the main character seeks justice for her along with juggling terrorism threats and kidnapping cases. The many conflicting sub-plots within this story first made me wonder if the author couldn't make up his mind as to what genre to really focus in, but when I finally put the book down, I realized, he did ALL genres really really well !

Today's Smile-Inducer : Reminiscing on past sinful delights :P More on that later...

Toodles !

Tagged

Today's Smile-Inducer : I owe this once again to the author of The Awesomesauce Times for making me do this meme. Excruciating but incredibly fun trying to get the pieces together! Much like a broken jigsaw puzzle :P

Jared tagged me so here is the post before I get consumed by the evil clutches of torturedom

Using only song names from ONE ARTIST,
cleverly answer these questions.
try not to repeat a song title.
it’s a lot harder than you think.

pick your artist:
Rascal Flatts

are you male or female:
Help Me Remember

describe yourself:
I Can Almost

how do you feel about yourself:
Pieces

describe where you currently live:
Where You Are

if you could go anywhere, where would you go:
Take Me There

your favourite form of transportation:
Fast Cars and Freedom

your best friend is:
You

your favourite colour is:
The Glory of Life

what’s the weather like:
Praying for Daylight

favourite time of day:
While You Loved Me

if your life was a TV show, what would it be called:
I Was Born To

what is life to you:
Long Slow Beautiful Dance

what is the best advice you have to give:
Things That Matter

if you could change your name, what would it be:
No Reins

your favorite food is:
This Everyday Love

thought for the day:
Why

how I would like to die:
Winner at A Losing Game

my soul’s present condition:
Break Away

my motto:
Unstoppable

I tag Fiona, Wen Qi, Zhen Yuan, Wei Li, Guo Zheng and anyone else who wants to do this. Do leave me a link though :D

Picture from http://splitroads.tumblr.com/

A Perfect Getaway

Today's Smile-Inducer : Movies, chit-chat and kaya butter toast with old friends. Nuff said =D

Watched A Perfect Getaway with Fiona yesterday. Such an apt movie to end my semester break. Movies need to have at least 3 things for me, good cast, gorgeous setting, and a storyline that keeps me at the edge of my seat. Suffice to say for this one, check, check, and check ! The movie provided substantial eye-candy to feed my sweet toothed soul both in terms of cast and setting. Set in the islands of Hawaii, with lush (albeit very eerie rainforests and *gulp* hanging cliffs for the unadventurous me) Timothy Olyphant was just drool-worthy, and both Milla Jovorich and Kiele Sanchez were sizzling.

It's been a long time since I last saw Fiona, and what a pleasure it was to find a kindred spirit who doesn't mind spending hours just chilling in bookstores with me XD. Absolutely loved the time spent catching up with you dear, and sorry for dragging you around with me when I went searching for coolants and metallic paint.

Shall not spoil it for those of you who haven't yet watched it, but shall leave you with one of my favourite sites in the movie, The Secret Falls. Like I said, Gorgeousness ! It's the last day of my holidays before I leave early Sunday morning for the Land of Hypertension and No Fun... Managed to read quite a bit this break, shall post them up later.

Toodles !