tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68728295702090945332024-03-06T03:43:15.834+08:00Kitty's PlaybookFrustrated ballerina.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08220693891759209190noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872829570209094533.post-21203565144085840312015-10-05T15:49:00.001+08:002015-10-05T15:49:02.784+08:00Hi! I'm Moving to a New Home!Hi, guys! I've decided to move to a new home on Tumblr. Now sharing my stories <a href="http://manilapixie.tumblr.com/">here</a>. Let's keep in touch, yeah?<br />
<br />
-Kitty xxAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08220693891759209190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872829570209094533.post-49505564477936098782015-09-26T15:39:00.000+08:002015-09-26T15:53:51.049+08:00Percy Jackson and the Greek Heroes Book Review<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Summary [from Goodreads]:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; line-height: 19.32px;">Who cut off Medusa's head? Who was raised by a she-bear? Who tamed Pegasus? It takes a demigod to know, and Percy Jackson can fill you in on the all the daring deeds of Perseus, Atalanta, Bellerophon, and the rest of the major Greek heroes. Told in the funny, irreverent style readers have come to expect from Percy, ( I've had some bad experiences in my time, but the heroes I'm going to tell you about were the original old school hard luck cases. They boldly screwed up where no one had screwed up before. . .) and enhanced with vibrant artwork by Caldecott Honoree John Rocco, this story collection will become the new must-have classic for Rick Riordan's legions of devoted fans--and for anyone who needs a hero. So get your flaming spear. Put on your lion skin cape. Polish your shield and make sure you've got arrows in your quiver. We're going back about four thousand years to decapitate monsters, save some kingdoms, shoot a few gods in the butt, raid the Underworld, and steal loot from evil people. Then, for dessert, we'll die painful tragic deaths. Ready? Sweet. Let's do this.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 13.8px; line-height: 19.32px;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuMzUQ9bG0Hk_Yu7iYhnXb6Gs-N2RwvzfKSxSH6jA6R6zL9xC7Fkjud0csymsMQu2AG0XfIhn4YV-rW0HbgOjENlc1_IhOmDeYGH29M6DC4Iw__m2-qDe4zhLCq1ttjP8QAEzyNv-v0gU/s1600/Percy_Jackson%2527s_Greek_Gods.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Percy Jackson and the Greek Heroes" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEuMzUQ9bG0Hk_Yu7iYhnXb6Gs-N2RwvzfKSxSH6jA6R6zL9xC7Fkjud0csymsMQu2AG0XfIhn4YV-rW0HbgOjENlc1_IhOmDeYGH29M6DC4Iw__m2-qDe4zhLCq1ttjP8QAEzyNv-v0gU/s640/Percy_Jackson%2527s_Greek_Gods.png" title="Percy Jackson and the Greek Heroes" width="476" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://riordan.wikia.com/wiki/File:Percy_Jackson's_Greek_Gods.png"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Photo Source]</span></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 13.8px; line-height: 19.32px;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I
honestly had a hard time describing this book. I don’t where to start! I’d been
fangirling for one whole day before I finally pulled my wits together and get
this over with.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Okay.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It’s
technically not a novel, more like a pseudo-survival guide for heroes/crash
course in Greek mythology heroes, but this is my most favourite work of Rick
Riordan. Mr. Sarcastic has finally mastered the art and practice of controlled
satire with maximum effect. Well played, sir. Well played.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The
heroes we thought we knew by heart were given a much more flavourful
perspective thanks to the mixing-in of some present-day totes relatable takes
apropos to our beloved narrator and everyone’s favourite modern day demigod
hero [though not mine] Percy Jackson himself. And he’s just in it for the
pizza.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Percy
takes twelve heroes, though some aren’t so very...heroic, to be dissected [for
some, literally], figure out why some of their lives really suck, and be made
an example of if you’re truly adamant at taking your shot at being a hero.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Otrera
was overkill [again, literally], being the original</span><i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and</i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> founder of the Amazons, but Atalanta was straight-out badass.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Theseus?
Come on. Percy made this guy sound like a buffed-up Leo Valdez who made really </span><i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">really</i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> bad choices.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I feel
kind of sad that the finale was Jason because I know his story is really
depressing and he didn’t even deserve any of what happened to him. But I know
it does make sense, objectively speaking, because the Argonauts were the
ultimate #SquadGoals. Some heroes you’ve read on the previous pages were there.
It was fun and awesome...until the road trip ended. Then Jason’s hell started.
Poor kid.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Here’s
what I’ve learned after reading the book:<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">1. Do NOT underestimate the wrath of
a jealous wife. Most especially if that wife is the freaking Goddess of </span><i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">Marriage</i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">. They do say, “Hell hath no
fury than a woman scorned.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">2. Do not forget to sacrifice to your
patron gods. Especially Aphrodite. She’s really creatively nasty when she gets
mad.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">3. The gods are there to remind you
that you are nothing but a puny mortal so don’t waste your time getting all
cocky over one damn achievement or you may find yourself blasted into
smithereens. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">4. There were a lot of evil kings in
Ancient Greece.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">5. Visiting the Oracle of Delphi is a
really really bad idea 99.9% of the time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">6. Ancient Greeks have quite a long
roster of similar sounding names that are incredibly hard to pronounce much
less read it’s no wonder modern-day demigods are dyslexic.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">There are
so many things going on in this book I’m starting to feel a little ADHD myself.
If you haven’t picked it up yet, what the Hades are you waiting for? A million
ROFL moments guaranteed, it’ll give you abs halfway across the book and a
Herculean body by the time you put it down.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now if
you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna have to jog in circles for awhile to burn off
excess frenetic energy.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08220693891759209190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872829570209094533.post-51450765472947128192015-09-23T18:23:00.002+08:002015-09-26T16:01:12.269+08:00Avril Bradley Character Review + Thoughts on Gosick<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Meet Avril Bradley a.k.a Kujo’s Other Friend<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Avril
Bradley is a character who never lets anything— and I mean <i>anything</i>—get in her way of achieving personal happiness. Always
engulfed in a constant bubble of joy, I’m sure Kujo thinks she’s a refreshing company
from the ever cynical, proud, and stubborn Victorique.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Avril is
lively and funny as a friend, always the one to have millions of stories to
tell, but isn’t one to disappear when you’re down and out. In fact, she will do
what she does best: she will back you up and cheer you on.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZQ6sdkG1ZhDlkbIuQNOCkfjRpWqcVRJxQ-uRyYAV2SsEhOEMkWHHNsVOu_85vb4lvP7gWfQkRQo8Vf37UKg-PAfiVITv2WiKnWYjuCub6zdSccqwzj11Ji6rGSLSvC3wNxkGSYBGOIML/s1600/Avril+Bradley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Avril Bradley, Kujo Kazuya" border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZQ6sdkG1ZhDlkbIuQNOCkfjRpWqcVRJxQ-uRyYAV2SsEhOEMkWHHNsVOu_85vb4lvP7gWfQkRQo8Vf37UKg-PAfiVITv2WiKnWYjuCub6zdSccqwzj11Ji6rGSLSvC3wNxkGSYBGOIML/s640/Avril+Bradley.jpg" title="Avril Bradley, Kujo Kazuya" width="640" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-small;">Avril with Kujo [<a href="http://blog.livedoor.jp/wwwa234u234k/archives/2011-07-07.html">Photo Source</a>]</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Even
though she was kidnapped and thrown under the floorboards (I know, that was
terrible), she brushed the experience off her skirt and was like, “Oh well, at
least I’m still alive. Life is good!” Her optimism is truly admirable. I
respect that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I
wouldn’t have minded a Victorique-Avril pairing and chuck Kujo out the window.
Although Victorique is very condescending of Avril’s intelligence, the latter
isn’t exactly stupid (like most annoying female anime characters). The comical
chemistry between them would’ve been a nice change from the usual male-female
bickering tandem. Even if Victorique tended to push people away, Avril proved
to be loyal, patient, and persistent in being a friend to her, especially when
Kujo got into some sticky situations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">She
reminds me of <a href="http://noragami.wikia.com/wiki/Kofuku">Kofuku</a><span style="color: #403152; mso-themecolor: accent4; mso-themeshade: 128;"> </span>from
Noragami because of her effervescence. And Jahan—not that I ever thought of
Jahan’s optimism as “admirable”. When this girl is happy, she murders people
and plots to take over the world. Proof of that can be found <a href="http://playgroundforwords.tumblr.com/">here</a><span style="color: #532163;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="color: #532163; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Thoughts on Gosick<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Gosick
turned out to be one of my most favourite anime. It has a Sherlock-y feel but
it doesn’t focus too much on the “solving crimes” part. Although Victorique
does display her superior intellectual prowess from time to time, the focus of
the series is on her journey from being an indifferent doll to actual human
being.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The last
two episodes were a bit rushed, like the creators couldn’t wait to wrap up the
damn thing. I think there could’ve been two more episodes if they expounded on
those.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="FR">For example, Marquis de Blois. </span><span lang="EN-GB">He was like the main villain of the series but he only appears
every few minutes or so in some episodes then it’s back to Kujo. And when his
big break came, it turned out to be a flop. Too fast.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I thought
Brian Roscoe and Cordelia Gallo weren’t given enough background, either. Why
were there two Brian Roscoes and why were they both called Brian? I wish there
were more flashbacks on why <i>exactly</i>
was Cordelia very important to them for them to die for. The explanation given
sounded forced. Also, Cordelia just kind of suddenly came out of nowhere to
bust out some serious ninja moves that were so out of character to kill her
rapist. And then die.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Why, why,
why creators?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The
ending was beautiful, though. It was...just right. Kujo and Victorique went
through so much, and towards the end everything was just so crazy so their
happily ever after was hard-earned. I had a mini-panic mode because I thought
they both died, too, and the flower-bed walking moment was a metaphor for
crossing the afterlife. But all was well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">All was
well.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08220693891759209190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872829570209094533.post-59242788115582652122015-09-13T18:44:00.000+08:002015-09-26T16:05:11.578+08:00My Favourites on the Best Dressed of the Year Critics’ Choice 2014<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I know, I
know. It’s incredibly outdated. Almost a year ago has past. But my dear, dear, <i>dear</i> *cue widening of eyes* friend Jahan
proclaimed, “You love fashion, right? Write a review on these dresses. I want
to know what you think.” Which is absolutely unfair. I do love to dress up and
make sensible choices in my outfits, I follow fashion blogs (even though they
are actually street style), sure, but...but...what <i>exactly</i> do I know about haute couture and red carpet fashion?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“It will
be an epic fail,” I lamented. “The only thing I can describe a dress with is
‘pretty’.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“Just
write,” she demanded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Well.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Therefore,
here are my personal favourites from <b><i>Best Dressed of the Year Critics’ Choice 2014</i></b>:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">1. </span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-GB">Lily
Collins in Elie Saab Couture </span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">for the ‘Love, Rosie’ Rome Film Festival Premiere</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCDhfqsSVFmilo4R9c0oCdDYt7a354bv63IGKosv0xP5PtyLbzydEIAtZaMCTklCd2rncX14eoF1uIe0cNlPvTc7Oc48erBt4-HoIdBR7Z3ysJmBIDAA5Th4UxfI2H9U3JsQ-wy4HzPwwn/s1600/1413741476701_Image_galleryImage_ROME_ITALY_OCTOBER_19_Lil.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lily Collins in Elie Saab Couture for the ‘Love, Rosie’ Rome Film Festival Premiere" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCDhfqsSVFmilo4R9c0oCdDYt7a354bv63IGKosv0xP5PtyLbzydEIAtZaMCTklCd2rncX14eoF1uIe0cNlPvTc7Oc48erBt4-HoIdBR7Z3ysJmBIDAA5Th4UxfI2H9U3JsQ-wy4HzPwwn/s640/1413741476701_Image_galleryImage_ROME_ITALY_OCTOBER_19_Lil.JPG" title="Lily Collins in Elie Saab Couture for the ‘Love, Rosie’ Rome Film Festival Premiere" width="454" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2799267/lily-collins-looks-majestic-floor-length-lavender-dress-steals-love-rosie-premiere-rome.html"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Photo Source]</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I say Lily Collins looks like a daydream here. I mean, come on. Biggest
hair trend right now <i>on a dress</i>?
Genius. Plus, her hair is a nod to Old Hollywood. And she totally rocked that
tiny belt.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">2. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-GB"><b>Cate
Blanchett in Armani Privé </b>for the Chopard Party 2014</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "Courier New";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJlIr5lJU7r0HTuGgY2Jj8E-dw_z8DygMXkK0pzcyEtNbJIYlvK8Qf89PNoePIUw0a3ODo3BjNxZm-TU1n58zmwUHmP7iv8uAuvUAQd2Kdp81wzKos4z-P_ksb6_6JYwR6_xEyjbS1S5ue/s1600/Cate-Blanchett-Aramani-Prove-Givenchy-Valentino-Cannes-2014-Tom-Lorenzo-Site-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cate Blanchett in Armani Privé for the Chopard Party 2014" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJlIr5lJU7r0HTuGgY2Jj8E-dw_z8DygMXkK0pzcyEtNbJIYlvK8Qf89PNoePIUw0a3ODo3BjNxZm-TU1n58zmwUHmP7iv8uAuvUAQd2Kdp81wzKos4z-P_ksb6_6JYwR6_xEyjbS1S5ue/s640/Cate-Blanchett-Aramani-Prove-Givenchy-Valentino-Cannes-2014-Tom-Lorenzo-Site-6.jpg" title="Cate Blanchett in Armani Privé for the Chopard Party 2014" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://tomandlorenzo.com/2014/05/cate-blanchett-style-quadruple-shot-cannes-edition/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Photo Source]</span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Cate Blanchett, of course, looks ethereal as always. And look at the
smirk. It’s a smirk that absolutely says, “I know I look divine. I know you
think I look divine.” I love this colour on her.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">3. </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><b>Lupita Nyong’o in
Gucci</b> for the 2014 SAG Awards</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuUkEXtrxJV_-__DGy9s9Y-IpYGX2wPg1v0TugXg8xektjDKTawuO8FenvnaVu2DYZc-1qLl8csbjGwrvBekyqAr9yRB0tJSI4QOG38j1utGQj22ThWqLHHOSKGv4wViyNgkZlnk0mW_1b/s1600/e86de28845f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lupita Nyong’o in Gucci for the 2014 SAG Awards" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuUkEXtrxJV_-__DGy9s9Y-IpYGX2wPg1v0TugXg8xektjDKTawuO8FenvnaVu2DYZc-1qLl8csbjGwrvBekyqAr9yRB0tJSI4QOG38j1utGQj22ThWqLHHOSKGv4wViyNgkZlnk0mW_1b/s640/e86de28845f.jpg" title="Lupita Nyong’o in Gucci for the 2014 SAG Awards" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.realstylenetwork.com/fashion-and-style/2014/01/the-sag-awards-best-dressed-celebrites/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Photo Source]</span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Lupita
would NEVER be not on anybody’s list. Here she is in a fun yet elegant piece by
Gucci, no excessive accessorising needed. The dress speaks for itself. Her
smile is just as dazzling. And look at that figure!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">4. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-GB"><b>Emily
Blunt in Prada </b>for the ‘Edge Of Tomorrow’ New York Premiere</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7onRzX-Hvd2tTtbDJOF5w6dJvmjD6e58wfryRA6zjw5akajoUEPhM6nUE7VVtpDH_JpFSCylPe2tb802-DNmzSg1xZqcGGYVBgFcBNetY5xPBp_gvy7iReuegfS5GsA5pGprK9izala_0/s1600/Emily-Blunt-NYC-Edge-of-Tomorrow-494218519_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Emily Blunt in Prada for the ‘Edge Of Tomorrow’ New York Premiere" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7onRzX-Hvd2tTtbDJOF5w6dJvmjD6e58wfryRA6zjw5akajoUEPhM6nUE7VVtpDH_JpFSCylPe2tb802-DNmzSg1xZqcGGYVBgFcBNetY5xPBp_gvy7iReuegfS5GsA5pGprK9izala_0/s640/Emily-Blunt-NYC-Edge-of-Tomorrow-494218519_10.jpg" title="Emily Blunt in Prada for the ‘Edge Of Tomorrow’ New York Premiere" width="426" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.gofugyourself.com/well-played-emily-blunt-in-x-05-2014/edge-of-tomorrow-new-york-premiere-2"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Photo Source]</span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 115%;">I am so sorry I had to laugh at this one. I mean the dress is just
perfect on her. It says very posh and feisty. Now if only she’d worn this at
the premiere for <i>The Devil Wears Prada</i>,
she would be the real devil in Prada. Meow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">5. <span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-GB"><b>Lily
Aldridge in Rosie Assoulin </b>for the 2014 amfAR New York Gala</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwB-bBjG6TxmdNxPNvgGikwVtSdjY7nKTRv_9HxCNXFTOLEL-Uvev1ur6SPKpoKWikuVqQnk7ACjRKMPw9s-cE3x-ajFhrale-FEOQBMT34UHtl2lSLLhcSqQqdc4YR5lZOrZ_3xPQbifg/s1600/Lily-Aldridge-rochie-frumoasa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lily Aldridge in Rosie Assoulin for the 2014 amfAR New York Gala" border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwB-bBjG6TxmdNxPNvgGikwVtSdjY7nKTRv_9HxCNXFTOLEL-Uvev1ur6SPKpoKWikuVqQnk7ACjRKMPw9s-cE3x-ajFhrale-FEOQBMT34UHtl2lSLLhcSqQqdc4YR5lZOrZ_3xPQbifg/s640/Lily-Aldridge-rochie-frumoasa.jpg" title="Lily Aldridge in Rosie Assoulin for the 2014 amfAR New York Gala" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 115%;">Lily, Lily. You have made a metaphor of yourself! This chic number looks
like it drew inspiration from a Lily-of-the-Valley. If she wore something
green, like swapping that necklace of hers for one, she would look like the
actual flower. I love that it’s pure white and no embellishments were added to
it. The design works overtime.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">6. </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span lang="EN-GB"><b>Lea
Seydoux in Prada</b> for ‘La Belle et la Bete’ Premiere</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYmY_v_jtcP3IFZ7D46RDnH5QgV3AjIgYcjQb8-23oXoaRlt7Cto1RAJZNB-s0h92CMxocu3dYBTTiYoFNKvJ0hRzuPxGAmYDOlq9_tGQWqVPF12eqSSbhMRHQ9KjBIu03TmkOIPp2jpc/s1600/469378665_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuYmY_v_jtcP3IFZ7D46RDnH5QgV3AjIgYcjQb8-23oXoaRlt7Cto1RAJZNB-s0h92CMxocu3dYBTTiYoFNKvJ0hRzuPxGAmYDOlq9_tGQWqVPF12eqSSbhMRHQ9KjBIu03TmkOIPp2jpc/s640/469378665_10.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.styleite.com/features/custom-prada-gowns/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">[Photo Source]</span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">This
looks like something a Disney would—and should!—wear. Just stunning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And there you have it, folks.
Gods, how did I do? If you guys want me to review anything else, I’m up for it.
Just...don’t have high standards for it.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08220693891759209190noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872829570209094533.post-64285031193102510932015-08-10T13:22:00.000+08:002015-09-26T16:06:25.862+08:00Suitcase Treasures: Once Upon a Guy<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/14294273/?claim=46kjjn28dsr">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCzwL3xeHW63ObfGCVWbTp-4UQVi9ehSC1SprRELw766L5tiiAhnnYxkFIbEq7H5fkSPhAw5Dbml_nD7R2TMkwk4H1vxYnc_-e-_os3rZxPGBROq4D-ahMqtjRyQeBUaOuzFb0b8k11Br/s1600/IMGP2043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="OOTD Suitcase Treasures: Once Upon a Guy" border="0" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCzwL3xeHW63ObfGCVWbTp-4UQVi9ehSC1SprRELw766L5tiiAhnnYxkFIbEq7H5fkSPhAw5Dbml_nD7R2TMkwk4H1vxYnc_-e-_os3rZxPGBROq4D-ahMqtjRyQeBUaOuzFb0b8k11Br/s640/IMGP2043.JPG" title="Suitcase Treasures: Once Upon a Guy" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Crap. I really like this boy. This should
not be permitted. I am not in love. No, I don’t think so. I cannot fall in
love. But right now this boy, he’s my inspiration.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I like the way he grows his hair, carefree
and nonchalant. I like his broad shoulders which seem to support the weight of
the world. I like that he wears black all the time, my favourite colour—and he
doesn’t even know it. I like his face most of all, youthful yet worldly. His
eyes, oh, his eyes. They really look at you when he speaks. Black orbs they are,
they sparkle when he smiles.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLdKuquZO15Y6bxbFI-sA8UreJAwUZJtZvYvLGOlehVT5Jk9dN0MrHifctSk0qMO-cBXZuD-t40vFn97upaPBvUxowROhpIbqE6cHvTTJjrXN0dLmckVGEe3emL0i0IImXiQqT6yexIC5/s1600/IMGP2057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="OOTD Suitcase Treasures: Once Upon a Guy" border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLdKuquZO15Y6bxbFI-sA8UreJAwUZJtZvYvLGOlehVT5Jk9dN0MrHifctSk0qMO-cBXZuD-t40vFn97upaPBvUxowROhpIbqE6cHvTTJjrXN0dLmckVGEe3emL0i0IImXiQqT6yexIC5/s640/IMGP2057.JPG" title="Suitcase Treasures: Once Upon a Guy" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">He looks at me when I look at him. We smile
then look away. It’s a game. I love the thrill of it. He looks dangerous but very gentle. He’s like a calm storm that tears
down my defences and promises a paradise.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Oh, does he know, though? Does he know I’m
a broken thing? Can he fix me with his artistic hands and make me beautiful
again? Does he know of the darkness in my heart?</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-J5pM5Zqp50rnAIMmNXcBL6VYrnlYvOPoPllk6W_rEGKptL5ltL6IlPomFwdH5PQwUOCuC5a2WjUXAKePM22S__8GJVFuHymHEigFHZ-P0-I5CjmwEvQD5cWWr-4Wo3rUEzskdZsdtKnH/s1600/IMGP2015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="OOTD Suitcase Treasures: Once Upon a Guy" border="0" height="464" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-J5pM5Zqp50rnAIMmNXcBL6VYrnlYvOPoPllk6W_rEGKptL5ltL6IlPomFwdH5PQwUOCuC5a2WjUXAKePM22S__8GJVFuHymHEigFHZ-P0-I5CjmwEvQD5cWWr-4Wo3rUEzskdZsdtKnH/s640/IMGP2015.JPG" title="Suitcase Treasures: Once Upon a Guy" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">What do I do, when his very name means
betrayal? He doesn’t look to be that type. But two jaded hearts can never
become one. Oh, but when mine dances like this at the sight of him, dare I
refuse his existence?</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">How I wish to get to know him more, to ask
him what kind of books he reads over coffee. Or does he prefer movies? What
kind? I want to hold his gaze longer. I want him to ask me questions that do
not involve other people. I want him to talk to me, save the questions.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I want him to drift away just like the
others. So I don’t keep cursing myself for feeling this way. I hate that I like
the air around him. I want him to stay, I want him gone. What do I do? What do
I want?</span></span></div>
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</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">This is the thing about liking someone a
lot. It makes you say crazy things that will make you cringe later. But I am
currently being swept away by the thought of him that I can’t help but chuckle
at my foolishness. It tickles me, it envelops me, and I like it. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I hate that I
like it.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">**</span><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">So, er, this is my first attempt at being
“sartorial”. Items are found in my suitcase. It’s been three months since I
moved in to my father’s little studio space apartment so I’m living out of a
suitcase. I’m not complaining, though. I love it. Sometimes I pretend that my
suitcase is a treasure chest so that when I open it, I'd always marvel at
everything I can find inside. I hope you guys enjoy this “experimental post”.
Let me know in the comments below if you want me to keep making more. Thank
you!</span><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08220693891759209190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872829570209094533.post-2639434347129646402015-08-06T14:27:00.000+08:002015-09-26T17:10:13.698+08:00The Hangman's Daughter Book Review<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Summary [from Goodreads]:
<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="line-height: 25.2px;">Germany, 1660: When a dying boy is pulled from the river with a mark crudely tattooed on his shoulder, hangman Jakob Kuisl is called upon to investigate whether witchcraft is at play. So begins </span><em style="line-height: 25.2px;">The Hangman's Daughter</em><span style="line-height: 25.2px;">--the chillingly detailed, fast-paced historical thriller from German television screenwriter, Oliver Pötzsch--a descendent of the Kuisls, a famous Bavarian executioner clan.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmBb2f_xvRh2kMYWYsqVzzzOfXq48NhgmVoJBFDPYaNhjz23WEeT5Gw0w01EJE3OksJOHmgyvVmoXn-hfQiCqUA_IgeAWvDIZyVWG_jx2PlQ9GoF_c7681Q8yE8QQnMrbqQ2-WY-a0PMK/s1600/511d3p7LeHL._SY344_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmBb2f_xvRh2kMYWYsqVzzzOfXq48NhgmVoJBFDPYaNhjz23WEeT5Gw0w01EJE3OksJOHmgyvVmoXn-hfQiCqUA_IgeAWvDIZyVWG_jx2PlQ9GoF_c7681Q8yE8QQnMrbqQ2-WY-a0PMK/s640/511d3p7LeHL._SY344_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="440" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 25.2000007629395px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Hangmans-Daughter-Oliver-P%C3%B6tzsch/dp/054774501X"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Photo source</span></a></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Review:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I was in one of my book-hunting urges in
Booksale when a friend of mine shoved this sinister-looking book into my hands.
“Buy that,” she commanded. She had not read it before, pretty sure she didn’t
know it existed before, just basically threw it at me. Turning the paperback so
it faced me...it was attraction at first sight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">The black against the alabaster background,
its Gothic lettering, and the title. “The Hangman’s Daughter,” it read. Oh,
have you ever known a more appetisingly macabre title of a book? I looked up to
my find my friend grinning at me. “She’s in love,” she announced. I paved my
way to the counter and presented the book with a flourish. Walking out of the
bookstore with my proud purchase [of </span><span lang="EN-GB">₱</span><span lang="EN-GB">45.00, ha!], I was in cloud nine.
Unfortunately, this was shortly before my one-year hiatus. When I found this
book again in my pile of The Unread, I was more than ready to take a peek.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span lang="EN-GB">The
Hangman’s Daughter</span></i><span lang="EN-GB"> is about some time after the age
of witchery where fear still lingers and jumps at the slight mention of an
unusual. Jakob Kuisl is the perfect hangman.
He is tall, strong, and very <i>very</i>
scary. But when he is not busy killing people, he sells medicine. [Go figure.]
He is kind, intelligent, and a good husband and father.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Enter Simon Fronwieser, the son of the town
physician and soon-to-be- doctor himself. He is the perfect sidekick. He is
smart, admires the hangman, loves to read books and often borrows from the
former, and is hopelessly in love with Magdalena a.k.a The Hangman’s Daughter.
If he were born in today’s era, he would have been your typical nerdy seatmate
who’s a bit awkward to talk to at first but is actually an interesting and
brave person you will come to admire later. And he loves coffee!!! [Back when
coffee used to be an exotic drink, wow.]</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Together, the hangman and the physician’s
son—the unlikely pair—solve the mysteries that are threatening the fragile
peace of their town.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Two characters I admire here are Johann
Lechner, the court clerk, and Jakob Schreevogl, a young alderman who recently
replaced his father in the town council. They are both steadfast in their own
ways. Lechner, who strives for peace at no matter what cost, you may hate
because of his methods but his loves his town very much. And Schreevogl, whose
unique and fresh insight that he brought in the council was often a cause for
unrest within it, never wavered in his belief that Martha Stechlin was innocent
despite the lack of evidence.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The only problem I have with the book is
that...it was, in fact, not about the “hangman’s daughter”. Magdalena was a
very headstrong, clever, and fierce young woman but she was neither the subject
nor the object of the story. She was made the title character but was soon cast
to help from the sidelines while her father and her suitor solved the case.
Don’t get me wrong. Simon is my favourite character in it, but I don’t see why
it’s called “The Hangman’s Daughter” if it was not about Magdalena. Or, rather,
was the point of the story about how the sly daughter gave in the right key
points that helped them? If so, I would’ve liked to see more focus on that.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Despite the confusion the title brought, it
was, overall, a delicious read. It was jam-packed with adventures and
heart-stopping moments that I sometimes had to pause to catch my breath, and
mutter, “Oh my gods, oh my gods, oh my gods.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">If you’re into the tales of old, folk
legends, and Gothic feel, I recommend <i>The
Hangman’s Daughter.</i></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08220693891759209190noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872829570209094533.post-90710816031022470082015-08-03T15:51:00.001+08:002015-09-26T17:09:56.917+08:00Anna and the French Kiss Book Review<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Summary [from Goodreads]:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span id="freeText13383391320872136237" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.32px;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, where she has a great job, a loyal best friend, and a crush on the verge of becoming more. Which is why she is less than thrilled about being shipped off to boarding school in Paris--until she meets Étienne St. Clair. Smart, charming, beautiful, Étienne has it all...including a serious girlfriend.<br /><br />But in the City of Light, wishes have a way of coming true. Will a year of romantic near-misses end with their long-awaited French kiss?</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.32px;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGstzZ8IBKtHl4_UMX-8cOqTW7mhyphenhyphenRPMYHGmKtjr1WcX0ogHwmKY2RYUHXqMuhIeB0oIXg93YsQrctRrpkzv-6wIbZeSu_jWTl0AvHGwpNtwg8-TOoYrWwF5JVWDnS8_DpLP1q2YjFlMz/s1600/8cfb66e81f5fdad540530e2f430c5dad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGstzZ8IBKtHl4_UMX-8cOqTW7mhyphenhyphenRPMYHGmKtjr1WcX0ogHwmKY2RYUHXqMuhIeB0oIXg93YsQrctRrpkzv-6wIbZeSu_jWTl0AvHGwpNtwg8-TOoYrWwF5JVWDnS8_DpLP1q2YjFlMz/s640/8cfb66e81f5fdad540530e2f430c5dad.jpg" width="417" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/usbornepins/anna-and-the-french-kiss-by-stephanie-perkins/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Photo Source</span></a></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Review:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span lang="EN-GB">Anna
and the French Kiss</span></i><span lang="EN-GB">, I must say, was a refreshing
break from all the anime I’ve watched. It was like, “Well, hello there. Welcome
back to the real world!” I’ve been neglecting my reading lately so I was ready
to devour just about any book.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Anna is such an unfortunate character.
Being shipped off to a country where you don’t speak a word of its language is
hard enough. But being shipped off to a country where you don’t speak a word
its language <i>and</i> spend an entire year
going to school there is a deliberate torture. It means, she had to experience
all the painful awkwardness, the woes of love, the bullying, and <i>the ordering of food in the cafeteria</i> in
a place where she is basically an alien.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Seriously, what was her father thinking?</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">My favourite character was Josh. Josh the
artist. I like how he looks absent-minded all the time but he always seems to
know what’s going on about everything. He was this lazy-arse when it comes to
school but you can see he’s very passionate about his craft. I respect that.
And, well, yes, <i>fine</i>. Maybe I do have
a bit of a crush on him. He’s just so cool. [Totally fan-girling now.] Look out
for him in <i>Isla and the Happily Ever
After</i>, y’all.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Overall, it was a good read. Despite the
obstacles along the way, Anna was a true fighter. She did stumble and fall <i>way</i> too many times that sometimes you
might find her irritating [read: whiny], and she made some wrong turns, bad
choices [don’t we all?], but she was always trying to bounce back and shake it
all off. If it were me in her place...well, let’s just say I would’ve avoided
everything before it happened, and if it did happen anyway, I would’ve demanded
that I be sent home and hate the world. But Anna didn’t give up. She made it
through the end.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">This is a love story, but it’s also a story
of friendship. There were points that Anna missed/had taken for granted and she
was lucky enough that there were people who led her to the right way when she
needed it most.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">If you want something to consume in one
sitting, then spend an entire week pondering about it, <i>Anna and the French Kiss</i> is your book.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08220693891759209190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872829570209094533.post-15195498829307806962015-07-31T15:59:00.000+08:002015-09-26T16:14:14.451+08:00An Open Letter from Your Antisocial Friend<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I’m not exactly the kind of person you’d be
hanging out with if you want someone to, say, go to the <a href="http://kittysplaybook.blogspot.com/2015/07/why-i-hate-arcade.html">arcade</a> with you.
I hate that place. If you want to laugh your arse off, I’d wish we’d bring an
extra person because everything that comes out of my mouth is wit and snark
that I sometimes wonder if it borders on offensive already. Sometimes I cringe
at what I say, too.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
I abhor sports or anything physically
strenuous, and I will not be persuaded to “try new things” just because <i>you</i> want to. Okay, fine, maybe I’ll go
with you, but only after bitching and whining about what a drag it is. And I
will most likely continue to bitch and whine throughout the whole ordeal. I’m
probably the worst person you’ve ever had the misfortune of calling your
friend.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">*laugh*</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">But, if you want to get drunk with
emotional stupor, I’ll yell, “BOTTOMS UP!” and match you drink for drink. I honestly
don’t know why you’d want to keep turning to me for help when one look at me
tells people that I’m virtually incapable of doing anything. But I’ll listen to
you ramble all you want anyway, and fervently remind you that whatever “hell”
you’re experiencing right now, I’ve been through a much shittier situation.
That should be enough to cheer you up. If not, I’ll try to give you helpful
advice and tips about what <i>not to do</i>
based on my own experiences.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I’m the kind of friend that you have who
will always have to walk behind the group (or behind you if we’re alone
together) not only because I keep getting sandwiched or squished to the side
when we line up horizontally [-___-], but also because I like how together you
all look and/or how unbelievable it is to have a friend like you. It makes me
think, “Ahh, this is right.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I don’t feel left out. Okay, sometimes I
do, but not all the time. I will bitch about it so you’ll know. But, anyway, I
also like walking behind you because...well...to literally signify that, erm, I
got your back.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I don’t feel comfortable going in front of
everybody (since we already established that horizontal line up is impossible)
because for some reason, I get this weird paranoia that you might not follow me
and I’d get lost, both literally and figuratively. I personally do not think my
heart is ready for that. So I choose to walk from behind so that when things
get rough ahead, at least you will always have me to fall back to.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And that is my self-gratification.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08220693891759209190noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872829570209094533.post-53297542189508377302015-07-18T10:33:00.000+08:002015-09-26T16:15:01.096+08:00Latest, erm, Happenings<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Eid
Mubarak!<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span lang="EN-GB">-</span></b><span lang="EN-GB">Fasting is over. For now. I still have to make up for the time I
didn’t fast because of my “monthly dues”.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Chibis</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span lang="EN-GB">-</span></b><span lang="EN-GB">I just started learning how to draw chibis because I find them
really cute. My creations so far are very amateur but I managed to make a
really cute chibi head and now my own head is in the clouds. I get excited very
easily over the smallest of my accomplishments!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Cleaning</span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">-Today I will be going to school with my
father to glance at their latest <b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/MARKETS-OF-RESISTANCE/686598464755484">Markets of Resistance</a></b> exhibit...and to abuse the school’s Wifi to post this entry [and others].
Therefore, I worked like a demon cleaning my bed area, sweeping and mopping the
floor of our little studio space apartment, and cleaning the bathroom all to be able to go free for today. Phew!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Kyou
Kara Maou!<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">-My latest anime conquest is this anime
that I’ve seen in my early teenage years but hadn’t been able to catch the
beginning <i>nor</i> the ending. I must’ve
been a masochist to have left things hanging there. *sigh* BUT, I am now
determined to finish the whole series. Yeah! So far it’s very entertaining and
hilarious although I know it will get darker a later on. Even my
father watches with me!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">COFFEE<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">-Coffeeee...I haven’t been able to really
fill up on my caffeine this past month because it’s been so hard for me to
sleep early and wake up early for the fasting. Not to mention my father keeps
forgetting to buy coffee. He’s into tea these days. But fret not, Kitty, for
you are now free to drink whatever amount of coffee you wish to drink!!!
*crackling thunder*</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>*Overall, I think I’ve had a pretty good
week. How is your life lately?</i></span></span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872829570209094533.post-53454296451198536812015-07-10T12:58:00.004+08:002015-09-26T16:15:32.644+08:00Why I Hate the Arcade<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The arcade is a dream, an escape. It’s
where people let lose themselves of the daily stress called life. It’s where
guys bring their girlfriends on a first date. And it’s an absolute nightmare
for me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The last time I went to the arcade was
about two months ago when my friends and I hung out after my one-year hiatus
from The Real World. We went there to have a karaoke session. But as we were
safe in the confines of the karaoke room, the way there was the true horror.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The boisterous laughter, the annoying go-go
dancing [up to now, I still have no idea what it’s called], the intermingling
noises from the arcade games, of course, the unified adrenaline, the vigorous
sweating...TOO MUCH!!! *clears throat* It was too much to handle.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span lang="EN-GB">Okay, fine, I admit. I’m exaggerating. The
real reason why I hate going to the arcade, aside from the perfectly good
reasons stated above, is because I can totally empathise with the aggressive
use of the controls. When I play, I don’t play for fun. I <i>have to</i> win. If I ever allow myself to get sucked into its taunting
fixtures, I would be there all night, having swear words for dinner. I get </span><span lang="EN-GB">über competitive and
obsessive, and finally depressive if I can’t beat the game.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">As
much as it is a place of happiness and hopes and carefree living where dreams
become reality, it can be psychologically traumatising for my ego. And I’d
rather not get into that.</span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872829570209094533.post-65930260586337904532015-06-25T15:22:00.000+08:002015-07-16T17:40:15.604+08:00Hikky, My Spirit Animal<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Right after Ouran Koukou Host Club, Jahan
started pestering me to watch Oregairu. Its real name is Yahari Ore no Seishun
Love Come wa Machigatteiru, and yes, it is incredibly long so let’s just stick
to Oregairu—sort of like its nickname.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;"></span></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">Hikigaya Hachiman, or Hikky </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">as another character named Yui affectionately calls him</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 115%;">, is a high school outcast who spends his days mentally complaining about life and talks to absolutely nobody. His future plans include “not working” [I had to snort in
empathy at that] and staying home as a house husband. In short, he’s your
typical antisocial teenager. Noting this, his Literature teacher/guidance counsellor
sent him to a club called the Service Club, with hopes to remedy his attitude
towards society. The leader...and, er, sole member of the club is Yukinoshita
Yukino.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7zry-0toO3A/VYO1Au_lnaI/AAAAAAAAADg/29FmFSeBfCY/s640/Hachiman%2BHikigaya.png" width="640" /></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Hikky </i>[Source: <a href="http://hsmedianerdreviews.blogspot.com/2015/02/fangirl-february-hachiman-hikigaya.html">here</a>]</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Yukino aims to help others with their
problems by realising their true potential. Very idealistic, I know. Except
Yukino is, in fact, another example of the antisocial species. She stands out in
a way that she's very good at everything she does because she believes in hard work.
And she’s also kawaii (according to herself) that boys tend to fall for her and
girls, in return, bullied her when she was younger. And so, she, like Hikky, is
friendless. Together, they are impeccable dynamic duo of the Service Club: the
underachiever, and the overachiever.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xNSWPkjjztM/VYO2F3xLI0I/AAAAAAAAADs/iRGuTFu7HRo/s640/Yukino.jpg" width="640" /></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Yukino source: <a href="http://bugfox.net/fun/2013/04/22/hamachi-anime-early-impressions/">here</a>]</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">They are later joined by Yuigahama Yui [seriously,
what is up with this making the first syllables of their surnames their given
names?], a average high school girl, with average high school IQ and average
high school needs [friends]. She doesn’t look like someone important, really,
but she acts as the glue that binds the group together since Hikky and Yukino
tend to clash sometimes. *pause* Okay, most of the time.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="356" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-63YXDGlNwUY/VYO3txEOiLI/AAAAAAAAAD4/GtX_UG918PY/s640/Yui-Yuigahama-550x309.jpg" width="640" /></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Yui [source: <a href="http://japan.tourismsee.com/view/yuigahama-yui">here</a>]</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Anyway, back to Hikky, t</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">he reason why Jahan wanted me to watch it is because she thought I would identify with him, and, well...she's right, in a way. I totally get Hikky in the sense that he was the person I was before. He’s the kind of guy who hates people, in general, and doesn’t
really care about what they think about him (even if they insult him right to
his face—harsh). And I know how it feels to be the underdog in class. Nobody talks
to you because they think you’re weird. And then they act surprised that “you
can talk”. [That’s very insulting, you know. -_-] Hikky’s crime, as far as I
know, is being awkward. He has this vast eloquent string of thoughts but when
he speaks it’s like, “Unh....” I can totally relate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">But when it comes to his friends--that is, when he realised he might actually have friends in Yukino and Yui--he gets aggressively protective and at the same time, his wall of indifference crumbles to reveal a very vulnerable side of him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 115%;">Although I don’t aspire for
“not working” anymore [*snort* sorry, it really cracks me up every time]
because I now have a <a href="http://kittysplaybook.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-whisper-of-my-heart.html">purpose in life</a>. The antisocial behaviour, however... we’ll
see when school starts this fall. </span>The only difference between us is that he
thinks being this enemy of the society is his role to play to trigger its progression,
while I considered myself an enemy to the society, period. Who cared about
society?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Nevertheless, I admire that even though he genuinely doesn't care about almost everything, when he does, he pushes himself more than anyone. And he may not be the one to offer optimism, his realistic view towards life is his weapon in making the best of decisions.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6CUSfYBLGXY/VYuoyjizx9I/AAAAAAAAAEM/XLPwqSdkqno/s640/hachiman%2Beyes.jpg" width="640" /></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">[source: <a href="https://animetree.wordpress.com/2013/04/21/spring-anime-recap-1-3/oregairu-hikigaya-hachiman/">here</a>]</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Give it to me straight, Jahan. Did my eyes really look as dead as these when we first met?</span></i></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872829570209094533.post-65184712873102318872015-06-17T16:23:00.003+08:002015-07-16T16:31:20.617+08:00Kitty, Capricious<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">My new
pseudo-obsession is anime. I <i>know</i>. I
supposedly hate anime, right? But Jahan is into this thing right now and
whenever she’s into something, she forces me to do it, too. Very nice, right?
Complete BFF cooperation. I don’t even know where this came from. We’ve NEVER
talked about anime before.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Anyway, I
finished watching Ouran Koukou Host Club a couple of weeks ago, and Jahan and I
were talking about the characters we can relate to the most. Mine was Suoh Tamaki. He’s the leader of the Host Club but I didn’t really like him because
of that. [You know, if anything, I actually hate the main characters.] He’s
this totally frivolous guy who’s all fun and...more fun...and affirms and
reaffirms his God-given beauty to everyone around him. But underneath of all the
sparkles, he’s a completely oblivious person.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O8cnjI2FR1s/VYEoypxrvyI/AAAAAAAAADM/gpbSPR5QEUc/s640/suoh%2Btamaka.jpg" width="640" /></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Tamaki and his sparkles </i>[Google]</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I like
that he’s sooo vain, yet he’s not an unlikeable character because he’s so kind
and genuinely strives to build friendships. However all of a sudden and
which-galaxy-did-this-come-from his ideas may sound, he really wants people to have a good
time. He’s naturally drawn to trying something new and, albeit fleeting, he
invests his utmost interest over it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">You know,
ever since Tamaki, I found exactly the most-fitting one-word description for me
that was also used to describe him numerous times: <b><i>capricious</i></b>. All of these
things that I do, I decided on a whim because I felt like it at the moment. Looking
back at one thing, it seemed like a very good idea then but it doesn’t really
strike my fancy anymore. Yet, if I quit one of them, I would feel like I lost
or am incompetent, or as if I betrayed it [the hobby]. To assuage this, I
always pretend to be on “vacation” to take a break. Then if I remember, say,
for example, that I neglected the piano for over four years now, I get back
right into it. Learning French, practicing how to write with my right hand (a
feat I accomplished, by the way, although very slow writing, and it drains me
faster), fashion, starting a blog [trivia: I’ve had about seven or eight blogs
before Kitty’s Playbook], my Goodreads account—because of the book challenge,
my Wattpad account, hell, even my Twitter account—all whims of my heart. I even
bought chopsticks to practice for whenever my friends and I go out for Japanese
food...and because of, well, <i>anime</i> (I
stopped using a spoon and a fork for about the month now). I’ve been obsessing
over tea ever since Kuroshitsuji.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I found
that there isn’t a thing I like very long. I continue to do them anyway for the
feeling of accomplishment. If I were more lithe and graceful, I probably would
have juggled while balancing on a giant ball, too. I thought about photography.
And I solemnly believed that maybe I should become a professional blogger—but
then I’m thinking maybe that’s only because my favourite person in the world
right now is a blogger [see: <a href="http://wild-spirit.net/">Camie</a>].</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I refuse
to be called an overachiever because I don’t believe I’ve actually achieved
something yet (the right-hand writing...I still don’t have it down perfect). I continue
to chase after these things because I believe that when I do achieve them in
the end, they will give me some sort of high that I can’t seem to find in my
every day course of life.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I know what my friends are going to say about this when they read it. Something like, "Calm down, Kitty. You don't have to do the things you don't feel like doing anymore. It's not a real loss. Yada yada yada."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">But you know what? For me, it's a real loss. Because before I immersed myself in my many many hobbies, I was this huuuuuuge bum who did nothing but rolling about in bed, eat, internet, eat, eat rolling about in bed, and sleep. I feel like this is my chance to make up for all those times that I messed up and waste time. And pushing myself like this is a punishment, yes, and it's also a reward. Nothing says triumph like yelling, "I DID IT!" when I accomplish something. It makes me feel like I'm worth a million bucks.</span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872829570209094533.post-69830954942287164392015-06-16T15:08:00.000+08:002015-07-15T18:05:08.121+08:00I AM NOT A FEMINIST<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">When
girls ask me whether or not I’m a feminist and I’d respond with, “No, I’m not,”
why do they explode with such violent reactions? “WHY THE HELL NOT?” “You’re a
girl and you’re not feminist?” “Wow, you must have a low sense of self.” “You
must think so lowly of women.”</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">No, that's not true. I don’t belittle women. Why is not being a feminist equal to belittling
women? I’m a healthy living young woman. Telling me that I belittle women is a
personal affront to my being.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I’m not a
feminist because I don’t understand what it means to be one. And frankly, I
don’t want to understand. The feminists I know say it means striving for
equality between men and women. They believe it. I don’t buy it. For one, why
do you call it <i>femin</i>ism? Why not
equalism? That would make a lot more sense to me. Personally, calling feminism
as “equal rights for men and women” is misleading, isn’t it? It sounds like a
misnomer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="435" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XpiHq6e88Zc/VX_KaO3NBXI/AAAAAAAAAC0/DM9SO7c1A-4/s640/girl.jpg" width="640" /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">They would
concede and say that in essence, it means empowering women. Well, there you go.
Is that so hard? As for me, I don’t empower women. There it is again. When I say
this people usually react along the lines of my belittling women. Like, what
the fuck? Why does it have to be pure black or white? I think women are doing
some really good shit to change this world we’re living in right now. And I
admire that. Kudos to them. I think rape is definitely NOT okay, and never will
it be. Aaand...that’s about the extent of my stand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Forcing
me to be a feminist because I’m a girl and ostracising me if I resist reminds
me of that seatmate in class who insists you become a Born-Again Christian
because you’d be much much closer to Jesus Christ, or that persistent Jehovah’s
Witness guy who keeps on knocking on your door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The idea
of feminism to me is the same as being an environmentalist, or an advocate of
children or gay rights or, hell, even world peace. Either you have it in you or
you don’t. And I don’t. I don’t feel strongly for women and I should not be
criticised about it. <i>Because I’m a girl</i>.
Is this some sort of counter-feminism or something?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I have
girl friends. I hang out with girls all the time. Some of them are feminists,
including my dear dear Jahan. And you know what? I’m good with it. They feel
strongly about it and that’s something I truly respect. But I’m not like that
and I should be respected, too. Girls should be allowed to be non-feminists. <i>Non-</i>feminists. Not <i>anti</i>-feminists. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Seriously, guys. leave me alone.</span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872829570209094533.post-71044457312732250972015-06-01T18:25:00.000+08:002015-07-15T17:58:13.376+08:00The Whisper of My Heart<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">WARNING:
Some spoiler is included in this post for <b>Whisper
of the Heart</b>. Well, sort of.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I finally
got around to cleaning out and organising my drawers for the longest time.
Longest being I left Manila for an indefinite vacation in my hometown which
ended up lasting a year. All the while leaving almost everything I’ve ever
thought of and felt [in paper] here. When I got back (last May 5, yey!), I’d
been too lazy to do anything about it.</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">But now
as I was taking everything out and riffling through the pages of my old
notebooks, I saw this essay I actually called <i>Old Letters to Myself </i>(PART I). </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">What the hell had I been thinking
of in those times to make me come up with a title like that? What happened to
part 2 and 3; is there a 4? The “letter” was talking about the latest book I’d
read so far then, </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">First French Kiss and
Other Traumas,</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> a collection of semi-related short stories by Adam Bagdasarian.
[Very good book, by the way. I do recommend it.] How it inspired me to write.
The stories I thought of writing. My muses. But there’s this passage that gave
me a “mind-blown moment”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It’s
about this “… work of the one who created Howl’s Moving Castle, and it tells
the story about a young violin maker and a writer girl who didn’t know what to
do with her life until the boy left for Italy to hone his craft… of making
violins. I can totally relate to the girl in almost every sort of way. Even her
best friend and my best friend look just about alike. [And, yes, my best friend
was a smart hopeless romantic, too.] I can see my own childhood in that girl.
Except there was no violin maker in my life. And no one asked for my hand in
marriage. And so I grew up like this. (Now you have some sort of idea would
happen to the girl if there was no Seiji in her life.) Darn it!!! I really
couldn’t remember the name of the girl. It was really good, though. Very
inspiring.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">*laugh*
Boy, could that passage be more wrong?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The movie
was, in fact, called Whisper of the Heart, my favourite by Studio Ghibli, and
the protagonist’s name is Shizuku—a name that became so dear to me that I
decided to use it in one of my never-ending stories. Still no violin maker… but
there’s this girl who out of the blue just claimed to be my owner, and I, her
pet cat—yeah, yeah, thus, the name Kitty. I thought her offensive at first but
she was just really trying to be friends. We bonded over the littlest things
and were comfortable in each other’s company. I knew she was going to someone
special. And when her impending departure was starting to sink in to us (she
flew back to her country), we were so miserable that she actually suggested we
get married. Not the most romantic of proposals but we never wanted to be
parted with.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="344" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SHPHI4K7NEE/VXayW8vjkAI/AAAAAAAAACg/w23vqVTaQ4o/s640/whisper.png" width="640" /></span></div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> Seiji and Shizuku <i>photo from Google</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">In the
movie, after two months of internship in Italy, Seiji went back to Japan to
tell Shizuku he will be going away again, this time for ten years. Like, what
the fuck, right? Proposal comes next. But they’re only middle-schoolers anyway
so that should give Shizuku plenty of time to get her life in order. As for me,
I don’t have the luxury of ten years so the plan is to study very hard to make
up for times I messed up, graduate, get a decent job with a good pay, save, fly
off to Bangladesh to be with my one true love, kidnap her and go to Paris.
There’ll be boys, maybe (and a real proposal), but right now, this is what I
have to get by.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The point
is it’s hard to live when you have nothing to live for. To change your ways
when you don’t see anything wrong with it. You get contented with the way
things are. Sometimes, there will be that one person who will turn up just to
point it to you. And you’d better be prepared for it. ‘Coz you ain’t gon be the
same. If Seiji and Jahan (the one that got away) didn’t come into our lives, my
dear Shizuku and I would still be a hell of a mess right now.</span><span style="font-family: Courier New;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872829570209094533.post-2417356574235695582015-05-25T16:21:00.002+08:002015-07-15T18:03:36.196+08:00I Am Kitty<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">My name is Kitty. At least according to one other person. My life so far has been a series of complex emotions ideas based mostly on wanting to be better by becoming someone else. I had this notion that anyone, anything that is not me is better than who I am. It later transpired to me that this blossomed from a singular need to be loved and accepted.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">An</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">d by simply being poor old boring me was never going to be enough.
Although now I understand that this is wrong because all it did me was a series
of identity-crisis episodes which I couldn’t, and didn’t, easily emerge from.
Instead of improving what I already have, I created and entirely different and
imaginary being and tried to be that person. I built walls so people would
assume that I don’t give a damn about anything, but the truth was that I cared
too much it would shatter me if I dared admit it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">I think now, “How am I supposed to be
accepted by my peers if I can’t even accept myself?” What I’m doing right now
is important to me because I literally had to write it down lest I forget
again. Bear with me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">I’m not one of those people who only
have one interest that they avidly follow to the rest of their days. I envy
those people. I’ve several interests that I have to juggle them because I’m
flit-minded and avaricious and I thought I could handle them all. Instead, they
demand my attention like screaming babies and eat away at my time that I often
feel burnt out at the end of the day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">Books. I like books but I’m not exactly
a hard-core bookworm. I detest detective stories and anything remotely horror.I
hate book fads, like vampire stories when I was in high school and now
dystopian novels. I tend to read them—if ever, that is—when the craze has died
down. But I do love a good story from 1900s. They fill me with a rich sense of
history. I don’t enjoy Old English, though. It maketh my nose bleedeth. [Did I
get that right?] I can’t say no to sarcastic humour and I shrug my shoulders at
romantic novels (though some of them can be unbearable). Of course my all-time
favourite is Harry Potter. It’s how I fell in love with books in the first
place. Which is why I simply adore fantasy fiction. In it, I complete lose
myself and more often than not, I become a magnificent creature with great powers.
I’m very picky with my reads yet fickle-minded. Awful combination.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">I like to write and it used to be my
dream to become a novelist. It’s still in my someday-maybe list but I
understand that this isn’t for me right now. I make characters to represent the
people I want to be and want to be with but I don’t exactly know how to make
the story part of the story. You know what I mean? I’m a complete scatter-brain
and I truly find it difficult to focus. That’s why I have this tremendous need
to write everything down, because once I forget, it’s lost to me forever. And I
just hate that. Even as I’m writing this, I feel little bits of thought fly
away. *sigh* For now I’m contented with being a novice blogger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">The one thing I’ve always wanted to do
as a child was to act. When I act on school plays, I forget that I’m afraid of
people and what they might think of me because I’m not me. I was someone else.
And hearing their applause makes me feel wanted. Obviously my acting career
didn’t exactly happen. I’ve always been too afraid to audition. Now that I’ve
gained some confidence I’m already too old to be a beginner. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">Another childhood aspiration of mine was
ballet. Didn’t happen, either. No funds for lessons. Piano? Forget it. By the
time I graduated from high school I don’t know what to live for anymore. The
problem with me was that I was too idealistic but I didn’t know how to put my
dreams in motion. I was too afraid to ask yet I felt bitter when I didn’t get
what I wanted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">Eventually, I got some of my sanity
back, and while my father has given me a year-off from university, I decided to
put it to good use. Since acting is definitely out of question, I decided to
focus on ballet. Nowadays, you can learn anything through YouTube and I’m
really thankful for that. Although it is more recreational than professional
(too late for that), I’m still happy as a bee collecting honey. I also started
learning French (also via YouTube—seriously, thank the internet gods for this
site) with hopes of visiting Paris someday. The dream of seeing the beauty of
France might be the only reason I have left to live for. I simply must go to
Paris at least once in my life. It is my Mecca.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">Piano is a love of mine, although I’ve
only recently started rediscovering my passion for it. I have a thing for
classical music. That’s one thing most people don’t know about me. If I ever
get the chance, I’d definitely want to learn how to play the violin, too. I
like to sing and play guitar a little, but I’m not really that good. Do not
believe anyone who tells you otherwise. I’ll be posting stuff here... er...
maybe... so you can just hear for yourselves. I’ve also recently started taking
a semi-serious interest in fashion, but I don’t know. We’ll see where it goes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">Well, I think I’ve pretty much laid out
the basic needs of my soul. I hope you enjoyed reading about me writing about
myself as much as I did. Haha! It’s hard to grasp your thoughts when they try
so hard to flee from you. *sigh* But I’m glad I was able to do this so that in
my moments of doubt, I can read it and remember who I am and what I stand for.
Or something. I suggest you do the same when you’re feeling down about
yourself. You don't have to endorse to the entire world but you’ll be surprised
at how much this can help.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">Ciao for now!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I originally planned to post this as my New Year post but... ehehe... I
misplaced it somewhere. But now that I found it again, I’ll just call this My
Very Late Birthday Post. It’s still May, after all. You know what they say.
“Better late than pregnant.” Or was that right?</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872829570209094533.post-54511562086797508932015-05-11T15:41:00.000+08:002015-07-15T17:52:58.448+08:00The Sun<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The
sun<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">In
all its majestic splendour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It
casts its golden rays<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">One
found its way to me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">And
I feel its warmth upon my face<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Even
through the tainted glass of the car<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">As
it speeds away<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This
magnificent fiery globe follows<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sometimes
behind me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sometimes
ahead of me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Toying
with me, courting me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Before
it leaves for its home<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Far
across the horizon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">With
a last whisper of red<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Promising
another day</span><span style="font-family: 'Courier New'; font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872829570209094533.post-58403070281716295102015-03-28T15:21:00.001+08:002015-07-15T17:52:38.499+08:00Ranting to Myself<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-PH" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">I don’t believe in luck. Though that might be an
overstatement because somehow I think I bring luck to other people. And there
are days which I’d say I’m grateful for—see that? I just <i>love</i> contradicting myself. But anyway, for things that you want to
have or achieve very badly, I believe in working hard—extremely hard—to get
them. You can’t just want something and wish very hard and hope for it to
happen. Hoping <i>is</i> helpful, but you’ve
got to back it up with action. Trust me, I should know. I’ve learned the hard
way. </span><br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When life gets tough, you can’t give up. Not without
trying at least three times. When you fall down, get up, brush the dirt off,
and power walk the hell out of it. Carry on. Feel free to mope around a bit but
always make sure you snap out of it in time to plan your retaliation. Do it
before you plunge into depressive waters. You will realise that the time you
spent feeling sorry for yourself is time wasted. And it can make you dive
deeper into depressive guilt. And waste even more time</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-PH" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-PH" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">Also, have a friend. I don’t care if you think you’re
some sort of a lone wolf. Having that one friend who supports you all the way
can make you feel just a little bit more alive. Even Batman a.k.a. Mr.
I-Work-Alone has had several Robins. And Sherlock’s career really flourish
before he met John, did it? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-PH" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-PH" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">Honestly, people who say they “might have depression”
because they think it’s cool and gives them a mysterious vibe should stop it
right now. All it does is make you feel lost, alone, like you don’t belong
anywhere. It’s an awful feeling. And P.S: thinking that you have a
psychological disorder <i>is</i> a
psychological disorder. So stop it. Stop it right now. And do something,
anything, to get your life going. The more things that have you occupied, the
less likely you will spend time thinking about how miserable you are. So that
when you look back at your life some 20+ years from now, all you will be doing
is bask in your many achievements. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-PH" style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">And with that, I rest my case.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872829570209094533.post-29879101956500305162015-03-17T15:39:00.002+08:002015-07-15T17:44:51.290+08:00Woes No. 1<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-PH" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">Why is everything slipping away?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-PH" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">When I try to grab hold of it so badly?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-PH" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">When I need to remember right now?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-PH" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">The moments are passing by<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-PH" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">They leave me behind<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-PH" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">I am left alone again<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-PH" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">I’m alone again</span><br />
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Memories loose like sand in my hands</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-PH" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">People’s faces are fading in the wind<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-PH" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">I know it but I know no more<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-PH" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">It pains me to lose it all<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-PH" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">It pains me to feel no pain<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-PH" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">She dances into another man’s arms<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-PH" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">He’s flying off to reach the stars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-PH" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">Was it today? Or was it the past?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-PH" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">In the end they walk away from each other<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-PH" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">And they both walk away from me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-PH" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">I’m still here<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-PH" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">I’m still here, do you see me?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-PH" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">Do you hear the sobs beneath my blank face?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-PH" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">Desperation being the only thing trapped<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-PH" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">In the confines of my mind<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-PH" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">Everything passes through my eyes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-PH" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">Yet no one stops to notice me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-PH" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">I am visible yet also invisible<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-PH" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">A ghost<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-PH" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">A ghost of who I used to be<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-PH" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">Even my own name escapes me<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-PH" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;">Why am I still here?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span lang="EN-PH" style="font-family: "Courier New"; mso-ansi-language: EN-PH;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">*I wrote this after a deep conversation with a dear
friend. After hearing <i>I’m Not Gonna Miss
You</i>, I wanted to write my interpretation of what might happen if my own
precious memories decided to flee from me.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872829570209094533.post-32134548517534743972014-12-16T19:29:00.000+08:002015-09-26T15:42:42.783+08:00My "Kill Your Darlings" Moment<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">On my lonely days I think of you</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Imagine you right beside me</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And that we’re very happy</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Then I’d relive our glory days</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">When we were most free</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I convince myself we were never apart</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And you hold me like you used to</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I’d know everything’s okay</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Except on days like this</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I bury my head against your chest</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Let the tears flood your coat</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And I beg you to take me away</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Where you take me, where we go</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I don’t care</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So long as it’s just you and me</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And before I realise you were never there</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">You take me to bed</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And tell me stories and hold me dear</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-top: 15px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">That’s how I fall asleep</span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872829570209094533.post-68099993387845361282014-12-03T11:45:00.000+08:002015-09-26T15:42:09.925+08:00<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And then I laughed.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Laughed at the thought of him.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Laughed at my stupidity, my naivete; at my mistake.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I laughed the shattered dreams I once tried to nurse back to health.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I laughed at the fact that I had dared to hope.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I laughed as tears began to spring from my eyes, but I laughed anyway.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I laughed at the face of society as it continues to mock me.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-top: 15px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I laughed like a madman all the way home.</span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872829570209094533.post-88870532360521112752014-12-01T01:19:00.000+08:002015-09-26T17:19:35.174+08:00Dreamscape No.1 <div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We won the elimination round. A small group of teenagers who didn't think they would stand a chance. A small cry escaped from my lips because honestly, I didn't expect any of us to make it at all. The guards ushered those of us who passed to reserved seats on the audience box. There were about less than twenty of us, I think.</span></div>
<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; margin-top: 15px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We were still in the process of claiming our seats when without warning it started raining what looked tiny crystals down the arena that killed those who didn't pass the test. The cheers from the crowd were replaced, or at least drowned, by the screaming of the parents and the sympathizers of the fallen.</span><br />
<br />
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<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I couldn’t move or breathe. My own seatmate shrieked. It was awful. As a reward for our victory, we were forced to watch the murder of our underqualified comrades. As if the crystals weren't enough, huge cylindrical boulders that seemed to materialize from the roof itself came down pounding and grinding the corpses, even those who were still alive, as if aiming to pulverise them. It was a blood bath. An invisible force field was placed encircling the arena so nobody could get out. The girl seated in front of me threw up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I couldn't take it anymore so I stood up to leave the arena with some guy two seats away who had the same idea. I couldn't quite make out his face (with all the blood and everything) but he appeared to be limping so I had to offer to assist him on the way out. We reached the exit stairs when I heard a girl screaming. This one was much closer and rawer than the others. We were probably close to the force field, too. At first I tried not to look but the voice was so pained. And then a second voice yelled, “Hey!” My companion and I, thinking it was the control force, had no choice but to look around and saw one of the survivors, a sadistic one by the looks of it, was dragging another one of the other survivors into the arena. The girl was desperately trying to get away from that guy and when she saw me, she screamed again. It was inaudible this time, drowned by the wailing of the crowd, but I was pretty sure it was my name she was screaming.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What the... </i>I thought. It didn’t make any sense. I was sure I’ve never met her before and I haven’t even spoke a word to her during the elimination round. The limping guy I was assisting yelled, “Hey, you let her go! She one of us!” And he started making his way back to the arena so I had no choice but to help him with his limping the best that I could.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"What do you think you’re doing?!" I heard myself yelling as well. “Are you crazy?!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“It's your punishment for leaving the arena early,” the psychopath answered, raising his voice to heard against the wailing of the crowd.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“We are not obligated to stay,” I quickly retorted, thinking, of course, since no control force came to break us apart that we were free to go now. “Besides, if you have against us then why don’t you come up to us instead?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“No, it’s not an obligation, it’s a privilege. An honour. But you threw that away so now you're going to watch your sister die."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“What the hell are you talking about? I don’t have a sister!” But whether or not I was related to the girl, it was apparent that this psycho was not going to stop until he gets his murder. The limping guy and I were desperate to get to them faster, demanding that the psycho let the girl go. Sensing our urgency, the psychopath flung the girl into the arena (apparently nobody can get out but you can get in) so that she fell face-first and was pinned down from the back and the guy grabbed a fallen crystal to stab the girl himself. The limping guy and I then both tackled them and started wrestling this psycho, trying to pry him away from the girl. The psycho was able to overthrow the limping guy (bless him, I think he's weak because of blood loss) so that he thudded to the ground with a moan. But I managed to throw the pscyho away from the girl because he momentarily lost grip of her. Yet in that particular moment, a falling crystal just whizzed past us was impaled itself on the back of the girl's neck so that it protruded from her throat. The limping guy screamed, "Nooo!!!" There was a huge lump on my throat. I was too horrified by what just happened that I was frozen to the spot. The limping guy crawled his way to the girl, wincing as he went, and when he reached her, he cradled her in his arms, sobbing. None of us spoke or moved for about three seconds. I have never seen this person in my life yet I felt so much hurt when I saw her die. The limping guy looked like he knew the girl, though.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I looked at the psycho with disbelief when I realized that I was still straddled on him, and I saw that he was smiling maniacally. <i style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Right</i>, I thought. <i style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I'm gonna wipe the smug look off this motherfucker's face</i>. Then with new profound surge of energy fuelled by my anger, I started beating the crap out of him, screaming I went. I must have looked like a lunatic myself but I didn't care. Not satisfied that his face was so bloodied, I pried the crystal he was holding and chucked it down his own throat. After desperately convulsing, he died the same way he tried to murder the girl. And then I left him there and then dragged the girl and the limping guy, who was still sobbing, away from danger. I suppose survivors like us can leave the arena if we wanted to because technically we passed. I looked at the other two. Who was the girl? What was her relation to this limping guy? Was she his girlfriend or something? And why did the psycho say that she was my sister. As far as I know I didn't have a sister. I studied the girl. She had the same long dark hair as I do, and we have the same small build. I thought she was a bit thin, like she had seen worse days, but I think she had a prettier (despite sporting a frozen grotesque expression), more feminine face than I do. Her eyes, wide with shock, were dark brown like mine. I was sure I had never seen her in my life but regardless, I found that my own tears were spilling down my face.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And then I woke up sweating. </span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872829570209094533.post-52962324815267214832014-04-23T10:30:00.000+08:002015-09-26T17:14:16.820+08:00Anglophiles<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There are K-Pop lovers (I don't really like them), anime/manga people (which I'm not really sure what they're called), and of course, there are those of us who are called Anglophiles. According to a very reliable source (Wikipedia), an Anglophile is a person who admires England, its people, and its culture.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yep, that's right. I actually thought I was the only weirdo with a fetish for the British. I didn't know there is an actual term for that. So if you think you somewhat fit the description, here are also some of the signs you might be an Anglophile:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1. Pride and Prejudice--you've probably watched every film adaptation of this famous Austen book, as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2. You can enumerate all the Doctors even if they appeared on the show long before you were born. [Plus, thumbs up for David Tennant, yeah. *wiggles eyebrows*]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3. You fake a British accent from time to time and are an advocate of it because not only do you think it's sexy, but also because it makes you sound more like an intellectual. Which had probably started in your childhood when daydreaming about marrying Christopher Robin while watching Winnie the Pooh, then growing up pretending you were Wendy Darling hoping to be whisked away to Never Land <i style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">forever.</i> But Peter Pan never showed up. [Wow. I really have gone a bit too far, haven't I?]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4. You have dreamed of having tea with the Queen of England. Or at least marry the prince. *sniff* [Curse you, Kate Middleton!!! *shakes fist*]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">5. You have watched the Thor movies as well as The Avengers because of Loki. ["I am Loki of Asgard. And I am burdened with glorious purpose." *intense stare*] You then spend every single waking moment scouring the internet looking for other movies by this gorgeous gentleman who plays the role. And interviews. And pictures. And gifs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">6. You gushed over Sherlock. And you're passive-aggressively waiting for the next season to come out. And you started using the term "mind palace" ever since, pretending you have one. And you totally dig the Sherlock-Watson shipping (and you don't usually do that). And since they also both star in <i style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug</i>, and the upcoming film <i style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">There and Back Again</i> this 2014 (yey), you're bursting with feels even though Benedict Cumberbatch is just<i style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </i>a voice. And it makes you sometimes wonder if they are actually in a secret relationship and Martin Freeman's "wife" is just for show.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">7. Speaking of ships, you also dig Larry. Yep. And you're a Nialler, even though he's actually Irish. Crazy mofos.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">8. You know who Dan and Phil are and have watched all of their videos (like, ALL of them). And you wish to be best mates with them (if not experiencing an explosion of ovaries already).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">9. Fo Nah-nia!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">10. And last but most certainly not the least, two words: Harry. Potter. C'mon, everybody's childhood. [It's levi-<i style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">o</i>-sa, not levio-<i style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">sar</i>.]</span><br />
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There you go. I'm sure there could be more but these are sure telltale signs that you're an Anglophile. [One of us, one of us, one of us.] But what do you think? Care to add more? Please leave something for me on the comment box below so I can read them (duh, Kitty, what else are you supposed to do with them?). And also, so that I can pretend I have someone to talk to. Please.</span><br />
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[Gosh, I hope I'm not scaring you away.]</span><br />
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Thank you!!!</span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6872829570209094533.post-8572243604280452672014-04-21T10:02:00.000+08:002015-09-26T17:13:18.705+08:00First Post!<div style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 15px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Alright. It’s basically obvious that I don’t know what I’m doing here but I will try to post as many random things as I can without worrying too much about reactions I will probably (not) get from readers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I go by many names—people keep on giving me nicknames for no apparent reason (which is not necessarily a bad thing, just a bit confusing)—but they call me Kitty right now so I guess you can call me that, too. I have simple needs: books, movies, music and food. And I’d most likely be posting about those here in my blog. (Assuming it lives.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Okay, confession time. I have commitment issues and am extremely lazy and at the same time a semi-paranoid utilitarian, so in simple words, I’ve started many short-lived blogs. They simply just can’t go on for more than, say, two months. I know. It’s a bad habit but I really can’t help it. If I feel like I can’t manage something anymore, I’ll throw it away and walk away. Very good.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But this time will be different!!! I hope.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But, anyway, I’ll start brainstorming about what else to post here now, so see you soon!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I think. ;)</span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0