Been crazily out of the loop for some weeks now, since real life is really growing in on me.
This is so weird, believe me, but there are just these moments when I wanted to escape from everything and book a flight to NB & be with Mommy. She never fails to baby her 21-year-old eldest daughter. Haha.
Oh well, whoever gets to read this, I present you some of the stuff I missed to blog about during the weeks of my hiatus.
1. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (BOOK)
Photo courtesy of purplecar.net
Finished the book during a work week! *cue in fireworks* It’s awesome, lots of suspense, but the ending was a dismay. The build up is too much, but the conclusion does not live up to the reader’s expectations. But maybe that’s just me.
So far, the books I’ve read that hailed from Sweden had the theme “Violence against Women.” This ought to tell us that society’s still sick of gender discrimination and victimization. Hope these kinds of books can make a difference. MEN SHOULD READ THIS!
2. THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (2009 SWEDISH MOVIE)
Photo from Rotten Tomatoes
What’s amazing about the film is it’s almost true to the plot of the novel. Well, of course, there were some of the attempted twists and minor tweaking, but overall it had a very good narrative of the story. However, the film wasn’t also able to give a mind-blowing reveal to the conclusion. It was excellent, nonetheless.
3. CITY OF BONES
Photo from scatteredpaper.blogspot.com
I started reading the City of Bones by Cassandra Clare! Yeah, am too late, I know. Just putting it out for the public to know! (Not that you care trolololol)
4. X-MEN FIRST CLASS
Photo from collider.com
After watching the film, all I could utter was, “Jennifer Lawrence is too fat to be Katniss.” Sue me now for thinking of Hunger Games while I should be saying “Oh shiz, X-Men First Class rocks my socks!” I think I have to re-watch this before I judge on anything…
5. GREEN LANTERN
Photo from reelcomix.com
There were just eight things in my mind before, during, and after watching this typical hero film: Ryan Reynolds’ eight-pack abs. Thank you very much. Btw, thanks Kath for the tickets! Thank you Nestle Yogurt (movie sponsor)!
6. NEW TUMBLR
Created a new tunmblr account dedicated to personal quips, random reblogs, funny posts that turn my world topsy-turvy, and most esp: HP!
7. POTTERMORE
Freakin’ registered, ya’ll!
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Believe it or not, this is the summary of my social life (as far as my hiatus is concerned). Ooops, please also add the random meet-up with my College friends last Wednesday! We weren’t able to take a photo though–sucks for me!
Anyway, enough for escapism… back to reality! I’ve got loads to do and it’s already 10 freakin PM! :O
Almost a year had passed since I graduated from College. Looking back, I remember myself saying that I didn’t need a gift for my graduation because I figured that I should pay for the things that I wanna buy. Nevertheless, it still pained me to realize that they would take that seriously. LOL.
I am quasi-independent. I should stand alone.
When I started working last August, I promised myself that a Canon DSLR should be the priority on my Things-To-Buy list. Apparently, shopping is in my DNA so I couldn’t help but murder my savings for clothes. Another gadget that I invested on was a Smartphone. I absolutely felt the need to have a business mobile phone at hand when you’re in the industry. Then next month, I’m about to move out, hopefully. I’ll be living with my two friends because we’re cool like that. Haha, kidding. Well, we have our own reasons; as for me, I’ll be homeless by May if I don’t act fast.
Then, it hit me. How the hell am I supposed to save up for my camera if all I do is delay the plan? So, I arranged a financial proposal with my Dad. I asked him if I can ride on his credit card, buy that Canon DSLR that I was drooling over, and I’ll be the one to shoulder the monthly bills indicated in the terms.
Voila! It worked!
World, please meet my newest baby, Franky. Her full name’s Francesca (as in Francesca Fitzgerald from Skins).
Canon EOS 60D | Photo from dpreview.com
I chose to buy Canon EOS 60D because it’s like a combination of 550D’s camera features and 7D’s video-recording specs. Win-win, right?
Along with Franky, I also bought a prime lens, EF 50mm f/1.8, because I like low aperture. (Influenced by my good photographer friend, Kiyo.)
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 | Photo from 611-productions.com
Check out some of my test shots. Please forgive me if these are of bad angles or treatment. I’m just an amateur. Hahaha! Disclaimer: no post-processing was done.
Whoaaaa. I see my pores and imperfections.
Hi Bigs! Not so keen on me taking a photo of you?
Bangs--so uncooperative!
Monochrome B/W
Monochrome Cool
Monochrome Sepia
Ugly me on Monochrome Cool
Daddy | He had me taken his photos before we went to Mass.
Daddy | Seriously, I'm not digging that look, but he told me that he'll shave his mustache and beard before he reports for work on March.
Daddy | I was kinda telling the truth when I asked for a hundred per picture.
YAY for Tungsten! Please ignore my abnormally huge arms.
Dad and Bigs | On our way to Manila
Aviators didn't do me justice. OMG I KIDD!!!
Bigs. Oh yeah.
Bigs | Tungsten
Wahahaha. I look awful. I just love Tungsten; hence the photo.
As you may have guessed, yes, I’m gonna be penniless for a year. Instead of me trying to save up, then eventually using the money, I’ll be paying my Dad the monthly dues for my purchase. It’s basically like saving up; you just own the item already.
My dear blog, you now have a partner! Franky will be taking photos for your purposeful content. Haha. So excited for future shoots that I’m gonna do with my Sistah, Wynne, and videos my brother and I will make for his portfolio.
I am sincerely sorry about the lack of activity here in your portal. Believe me; I wanted to come up with two movie reviews right now, but things are just getting a tad out of hand. Time is so precious, it slips away from me easily. I would not want to contaminate you with my life’s drama; hence, the dormancy. If this was a personal no-holds-barred emotional blog, then I would have filled this with stressful posts for the whole month. But no; I promised that you will be different among my past blogs where I was so transparent, people were already mocking me. Please believe me when I say that I am so bothered by my delinquency in coming up with readable posts for you; but I just can’t. I’m always knocked out whenever I get home. Thus, my piled up TTD.
To sort of make it up to you, I will be posting something I got from Vada’s tumblr. It’s supposed to be a 10-day challenge, but I shall compress it in one post, just so I can prolong our quality time with each other. LOL. Here it goes…
10 Day You Challenge | Tumblr
Ten Secrets
When I was a kid, I waited for the red phoenix to arrive and summon me as the Priestess of Suzaku.
After watching Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, I waited for an owl post and my Hogwarts Admission Letter.
I was so in love with Kurama’s original form (one hottt werewolf) that I cried so hard when my parents banned Ghostfighter from my after-school routine.
Migration (either Canada, England, or Sweden) is the only goal I’ve set in the future (aside from working in an advertising agency, yes).
I am in a constant state of reverie, even if it doesn’t show.
My world map is one of my best friends (inanimate category) everytime I moon over the countries I wanna visit.
I wanna be skinny. I just can’t achieve the target weight because I’m such a goner for pasta, pizza, and other junk food.
Romance is for the movies and books, yes, but if ever fate would toy again with me and arrange a date, I’d want it to be under the fireworks.
I’m dreaming of a White Christmas.
I wanted to be a ballet dancer but my mom made me stop from attending ballet lessons.
Bonnet from Topman, Scarf from Accessorize, Specs from Topman, Shirt from Zara
The result of delinquency and vacillation. You can also call this some sort of defense mechanism. Why do I like to veer away from my tasks and do something else? My attention span has seriously gotten worse. On another note, the photo above could have been my header if this theme permitted that feature.
All photos by yours truly. Thanks to my bro’s tripod.
If I am being paid to blog about stuff, then my employer would surely be annoyed by my knack of having backlogs. When I started working, I promised my blog that I will post something once a week. Then there came a bunch of irrelevant blog-unworthy movies which left me into a miserable state; another is my weakling body and lowly brain that cannot produce feature posts once a week albeit there were a lot of tales to tell.
Hence, I am declaring my apologies to my blog for ignoring you in a span of two weeks or so. For a sweet treat, I’ll be blabbing about my favorite TV series (which I thought that you might like too) and a YA book that is starting to win my heart.
Prepare for a massive fangirling and incoherent thoughts.
TV Series
Chuck
Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strahovski) and Chuck Bartowski (Zachary Levi) | Chuck S04E02 | Photo courtesy of ChuckTV.net
Chuck, Sarah, Morgan, Casey, Ellie, and Awesome became more oh-so-fantastic.
Morgan (Joshua Gomez) is still Morgan; Casey (Adam Baldwin) is, err, what, uhm, still Casey? Though I think there’s some development in the big guy’s heart. Remember in the pilot ep, he was giving hints that he’s missing Chuck during missions. Awww, our biggie Johnny boy’s learning to care! Hahaha!
Veering our heads to a perfect woman, Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strahovski) is WOW-look-at-that-sexayy-bod. She’s a one hell lot of a kick-ass spy! No one should dare step on Sarah’s way, ya’ll.
Going to the most epic on-screen spy of all time, Chuck (Zachary Levi) is still my sweetheart. LOL. He’s cute, charming, and bad-ass in one. Meeting this guy would be one of my most favorite living moments!
I don’t know if you noticed, but don’t you think Chuck’s becoming extra cheesy and mushy? Well, I shared this observation with my bro, and he told me that maybe there was a flood of estrogen since Ellie’s preggy and Sarah’s becoming “at home” with Chuck.
My WTF-Chuck-is-the-best-ever moment was when Frost (Elizabeth Bartowski, Chuck’s mom; Linda Hamilton) cold-bloodedly killed the Russian mobs. WOW. Brilliant. Made me rearrange my lifetime plan and put “Become an Elizabeth Bartowski in the long run” on my checklist. LOL
Elizabeth Bartowski (Linda Hamilton) | Chuck S04E01 | Photo courtesy of hitfix.com
Acting-wise, LOL, they are still funny. I find comfort in those characters. Super.
How I Met Your Mother
Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor) and Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris) with Robin Scherbatsky's (Cobie Smulders) back (lol) | How I Met Your Mother S06E01 | Photo courtesy of seat42f.com
WAH. :O I am going crazy everytime I miss an episode of HIMYM because it’s my comfort zone. Spaz~ Okay, so Ted (Josh Radnor) is still Ted, looking for the right woman. Robin (Cobie Smulders) never lost “it.” Did Cobie Smulders lose a lot of weight? Is she on detox? Anyway, Marshall (Jason Segel) and Lily (Allyson Hannigan) are trying to have a baby, but are having some disclosure and privacy arguments along the way. Barney Stinson is JUST THE MOST AWESOME GUY. Oh my Gawd, did you guys see when he had dibs on that girl Ted was looking at? And when he kept on being a third wheel to James and Samuel’s father-son-reunion? Gawd, I. LITERALLY. CAN’T. STOP. LAUGHING!!!! Especially, when he sang “Stand By Me” in… wait for it… AUTO-TUNE! I love it! Super! Here’s the full song, so you won’t miss a quarter of your life:
Glee
Brittany S. Pearce (Heather Morris) | Glee S02E02 | Photo courtesy of theatlantic.com
Too much hype. Lea Michele is thin, for now. Cory Monteith is still awkward (but that’s fine, alright, it’s in character). Heather Morris is BANG-YOU-JUST-OUTSHINED-’EM-ALL girl!
On another note, can I just say that I want Harry Shum Jr. for Christmas? Served topless and in a la mode. I KIDDDD.
House
Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein) and House (Hugh Laurie) | House S07E01 | Photo courtesy of sidereel.com
House (Hugh Laurie) and Cuddy (Lisa Edelstein)! Hahaha, it’s so cool how they can be unstoppable. All my praises to House’s writers and director. The lines, the portrayals, the character development, the cinematography… they are all perfect. I can just recite my compliments to this TV series all day, and I bet it wouldn’t still be enough.
I like the scenes when Thirteen (Dr. Remy Hadley; Olivia Wilde) was messing around with the guys, and then in the end, she hugged Chase (Jesse Spencer) really tight. Awww, that’s something. It’s a foreshadowing that she’d be gone somewhere that the guys had no idea where to.
Who wouldn’t go lesbo for Thirteen? Goddamnit. That perfection is too much for my laptop screen. LOL. *swoon*
Thirteen (Olivia Wilde) | House S07E01 | Photo courtesy of seat42f.com
Dr. Remy "Thirteen" Hadley (Olivia Wilde) | House S07E01 | Photo courtesy of tvserieslounge.com
I’m all for Chase and Thirteen having a thing. <3
Thirteen (Olivia Wilde) and Chase (Jesse Spencer) | House S07E01 | Photo courtesy of tvserieslounge.com
Just an insert: Gossip Girl is fine, I like the clothes. Grey’s Anatomy, I haven’t watched yet coz I can’t find a pretty decent link.
Behold, my tardiness. Lol. I am now reading Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.
Hunger Games
Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins | Photo courtesy of examiner.com
I’ve known its existence since my thesis days, but I wasn’t able to capture that interest to read a new book. I also asked for an e-book from a friend, but I still didn’t read it just because I was drawn into watching more than reading (that was the time when I became addicted to Chuck).
Come September, Naiah gave me this book (in paperback). I just thought that this is the time that’s more convenient for me to read because I spend most of my weekdays in the office, and I can’t always bring my handy dandy Chloe with me, so reading it in print is the most efficient means.
Reading the first section “Tributes,” I found it a real-deal page-turner. It’s not that metaphorical like Stargirl (something that you must really put a lot of thinking), but I like the introspection and retrospection of the heroine because it opens more channels for her character development and others’. The guts and the almost unforgiveable approach, the weakness, and everything that makes up Katniss Everdeen (heroine) are well-stirred by the author, Suzanne Collins.
I also have yet to know more about Peeta and Gale. Digging more, I’m intrigued by Cinna’s kindness to Katniss, and the redhead Avox girl. They are all quite mysterious. The mockingjay pin is for sure symbolic, but I need to turn the pages before I get to know, right?
So far so good. Now, I am off to finish it since I think that I am the only one who hasn’t read it yet. Lol.
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A new week’s about to come, which means there’ll be a new batch of episodes. I hope you guys can have a good start at the Halloween month! In diem vivere!
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