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Archive for February, 2014


Yay, I didn’t take an afternoon shuteye just to finish  Letters from Skye.  It took me more than two days (on and off reading) to finish the book. Since  it was my first book of Jessica Brockmole, I really didn’t know what to expect, there is  nothing to compare it with previous books she has written . What a nice surprise because I enjoyed it. Pen pals, making friends through letters, finding love in an exchange of words  and thoughts – you would think it is an old-fashioned way to communicate, right? Compared to the modern way of communicating nowadays, you would even say it is boring but it’s 1912 and  1940 fused together and the historical aspect makes it more poignant because letters are the only means one could get through.

I could not remember reading a book without a dialogue except letters. It is an epistolary novel. It must be hard to write something like it without losing the plot of the story and getting the message across to the reader.  LettersThoughts of Mary Oliver’s writings entered my mind while reading it and I was hoping the author would give examples of what Elspeth Dunn wrote about, she was a poet and poets are dear to my heart. Come to think of it, I was tempted to jot down some quotes as I usually do with other books that I read but I didn’t want to lose the momentum, excited enough  on what the answer would be to the last mailed letter. Imagine the thrill and joy of receiving one, the anticipation of  knowing that there is something to look forward to. The story is common enough but the way it was told made it a fascinating read.  I would not attempt to make a real book review here with the story summarized in chronological order. Find it for yourself if you are also fond of writing and receiving letters.  Yes, there  are quotes that comes to mind.

“You’re my breath, my light, the one my heart flies towards.”

“A book is like a garden carried in the pocket.”

“… that a letter isn’t always just a letter. Words on page can drench the soul.”

It was worth the two cups of coffee I consumed just so I could finish the book. There is that feeling that reading a love story once in a while is  an afternoon delight.

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Woke up this  morning to the persistent sound of my son’s cellphone  which he left inside my room last night. Gosh, it was 4am. I tried to sleep a few hours more  but it was a useless exercise. I guess, it is a perfect time to visit this blog, the internet connection is quite fast.  The rest of the world (from our end) must still be asleep.

Wow, a hot cup of coffee with hot pan de sal to boot. A few minutes ago, I braved the five-minute walk to our neighborhood bakery to buy  pan de sal.  It is a bread roll that is a staple in most Filipino families’ breakfast. You can pair it with scrambled eggs, coco jam or what we call matamis na bao,  slivers of cheese or even sautéed   sardines. Take your pick, it goes well with everything. I’ve long wanted to learn to bake pan de sal  but it is more practical  to buy it.

I went back to reading e-books , discovering new titles, excited to acquaint myself with new authors.  Last night, I started  reading Letters From Skye by Jessica Brockmole. It’s my first encounter with the author. Fancy a different approach to writing a book – conveying a story through letters, no dialogue, a perfect spin of two stories fused together. Since I am still in the middle of reading it, I will reserve my five stars later. I love receiving letters, in any form but there is nothing that beats a real one with stamps attached on the envelope with that pasted smile on your face anticipating what’s written inside. It is even exciting when there is no written address and you guess who suddenly thought of you to send a letter by mail. When I was in college, my friend and I used to write letters to each other every single day although we were together at work as student librarians in our university. It was quite fun to write at the back of date due slips while absorbing the silence that a library setting brings. She is now based abroad and we get in touch through private messages on Facebook. Years ago, my sister-in-law gifted me with a complete set of Griffin and Sabine, a trilogy written by Nick Bantock. It is one of the precious collections I have in my small library.  In every page, you’ll see a facsimile of a postcard or a letter actually enclosed in an envelope, hand-written letters that excite. Imagine reading a book in  real letter format.  Reading the trilogy made me more in love with letter-writing.

The rain last night and the gentle drizzle  this morning made my plants happy. They are dancing in the rain and I love to dance too.

P.S. WordPress says this is my 1,400th blog entry.

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There is a cold wind blowing

And the leaves dance

The birds are having a holiday

while they sway and sing atop

our bare tree.

My eyes are blinded by the sunlight

But I welcome its warmth.

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God's mercy

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A Simple Prayer

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Our Precious Bundle of Joy

Nate turned  a year and three months old today. I had a lovely time bonding with him when they came over for a visit. I am simply amazed that he already knows a lot of words. A month ago, he can’t even say Mommy or Daddy properly but now he can even imitate familiar animal sounds like a bark of a dog  or  the meow of a cat but one thing that stands out always in his vocabulary  is the word “baby“.  Every time he sees his pictures  which are  displayed on our wall, he will always say, “baby, baby”. Unlike the previous months when I got so frustrated to take his pictures because he can’t stay in one place, today  he seemed to enjoy facing the camera and even made faces.  Call his name and he would answer “po”, a  very respectful way of addressing elders. Nissa…

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I woke up this morning remembering a well-loved quote in my head.  Many, many years ago, I  was on my way to school when I saw this guy who wore a shirt with a lovely quote written in front and it made a big impact on me. Oh yes, short of staring boldly at the words, I committed them  to memory and  that’s what I remember now. It was written by Langston Hughes, an  American poet , playwright and novelist.

Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die

Life is a broken-winged bird

That cannot fly.

Dreams keep us going don’t you think? And I believe, really believe that dreams do come true.  Maybe, in my subconscious thought, I remembered these simple lines when I wrote Dreams and Escapes as my blog title.  There are simple things in life that give extra meaning to our existence. There are  simple things in life that make us smile and inspire us to go on. There are simple things in life that always add color to our everyday existence.  When I was in college, I used to fill up whole notebooks of quotes, poems and inspiring words culled from the books I have read. It makes me happy to read them now and then, always with some remembered thoughts of long ago, the years in between, the tears and laughter and teenage angst and frustrations. I was lucky to have worked for three years at my university’s library when I was in college and still luckier to have read so many inspiring books and to have known so many inspiring authors.

I dreamed of one day writing something that would inspire. I dreamed of one day reaching out to people by sharing my thoughts. I am slowly getting there I guess.  Dreams inspire us to go on and see life in all its beauty, not blinded by the ugly realities that somehow we have to face.

One day, I’ll write a poem and will share it with you.

Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly. – See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/16075#sthash.2OXIgkUr.dpuf
Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird That cannot fly. – See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/16075#sthash.2OXIgkUr.dpuf

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My blog stats say I have 250,038  views right this moment. I can’t believe it. I’ve been blogging for a  little more than four years now, on and off, when I feel like it and have something to share. The only time I blogged religiously every day was when I took up the 2011 WordPress Post A Day challenge. That was when my stats started to climb. For the last three years, I always get a surprise when one particular blog registers an average of 2,600 views in one day and that is during Mama Mary’s birthday every September 08.  I don’t know how it happens but the search engine seems to be busy during Mama Mary’s birthday.

I wonder though which is better, having so many views in any particular day or having a lot of followers. A bit of both probably, I don’t know. I only have 678 followers at the moment  (not that I mind so much if they follow me or not). There must be something they like about my blog so they read it.  I am glad that some readers come back  and read my older posts.  Sharing my plight as a cancer patient/survivor has definitely evolved to some sort of an online diary – some experiments in the kitchen, some shots that I love to share, my garden blooms that get the largest share in my SD card, local places I’ve been to the past few years, books I’ve read and reviewed,  thoughts and prayers. Imagine having a hodgepodge of topics encapsulated in 1,393 posts.

You ask, “Is it worth it?” My answer is a big “YES, definitely”.

 

 

 

 

 

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That moment you let your hands click the shutter because your eyes saw something that delights your senses – a couple of lichens growing, showing life amidst decay, turning hope into joy.  That moment that your hands itch to touch the soil and dig, plant a seed or two  and let them grow. It evokes memories and you smile at the thought because you found a treasure. Afterall, they say, beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.

“When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs.  When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.” – See more at: http://www.johnpaulcaponigro.com/blog/11531/22-quotes-by-photographer-ansel-adams/#sthash.TvgVQSMf.dpuf
“When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs.  When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.” – See more at: http://www.johnpaulcaponigro.com/blog/11531/22-quotes-by-photographer-ansel-adams/#sthash.TvgVQSMf.dpuf
“When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs.  When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.” – See more at: http://www.johnpaulcaponigro.com/blog/11531/22-quotes-by-photographer-ansel-adams/#sthash.TvgVQSMf.dpuf

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