There's so much to do, yet so little time. These days I found out that I have so many neglected chores that I could only stare at them as they rot away. I found this out when I checked my email accounts. They were cluttered with life that just whizzed by. Some of them, including updates from various social networking sites, which normally I would have deleted upon reading were on my in box for several weeks now. Yet I still never found time to delete them. I wonder why.
That is not the end of the story.
I picked up some of my book keeping OC-ness when I started collecting books (that was grade 4 I think). I had the awareness to cover my books with plastic cover after reading them. So with that I had two on my things to do list. Read books and cover them. Unfortunately, I was only able to read and finish some and never cover them. Other books, I never get to finish at all. Adding to the humiliation was the fact that most of these books were the inspirational books I managed to grab. Here are some of these books:
1. Red Letter Questions - Got this from MV Doulos I managed to read the first few chapters but was not able to really finish the book. It was interesting though. Since I never got to finish it, I was not able to cover it as well.
2. Letters from a Skeptic - This one is really great. I managed to finish this and this was probably the reason why I never got to finish the book on top of this list. Still, I can't find the time to put a cover on it.
3. Disapointment with God - I'm currently reading this one, hence uncovered. This is one of Philip Yancy's great works.
4. Not Even A Hint - Joshua Harris's third book. Loved it and finished it. But I can't cover it since someone borrowed it before I even had the mind to.
5. Infinite Crisis - This one does not fall into the inspirational/religious category, but its a book none the less. It's one of DC Comics' famous story arcs that they produced with a novelization. I managed to find it at the most reasonable price at National Bookstore to boot. But I never got to finish this one. Bummer.
6. The Kitchen God's Wife - A work of Amy Tan, the author of the Joy Luck Club. I was supposed to read it. Really. But things got out of hand and I can't find the book anymore. I hope it wasn't turned into something else by our cats.
7. MEMORY - this one's a text book. One of the most interesting ones. Because of its nature, I guess I wouldn't be able to finish this, but I keep on returning to this book once in a while.
8. AAC - this one's the real gold in the booksale mine. I found it accidentally. Its a text book on AAC techniques. another text book = not able to finish in one sitting.
9. Lord Of the RIngs compiled edition - This is my second LOTR book. I was able to finish this one a long time ago, despite finishing the uncompiled ones. I was supposed to cover it last year but I ran out of plastic cover.
10. The Challenge - This one is already covered but already in a bad condition. I acquired this from the black hole formerly called the YM HQ. It was about to be thrown away but I was able to save it. It's a dissertation of an Australian Seminary. Loved the topic, but can't digest.
11. The Social Cancer (2 copies) - Also known as Noli Me Tangere by Rizal. I enjoyed reading it in my spare time before we even discussed it in HS. The books were dilapidated and needed re-binding badly. My mom and dad initially owned these. They had two copies.
11 books but I wouldn't limit myself to just 11. There are others that are lost somewhere in my room. Which brings me to another task - cleaning my room. It's already a mess - a real mess. I need to clean the shelves. I just hope the termites won't get to those shelves first.
So what's the cause of all the chaos on books, emails, and my room? the answer is simple: Work. My work takes me away from doing these simple chores and the days I have reserved for a break were for making reports and making up for lost sleep.
Haaay!! It's back to the bunker for me...
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Kitten Capers
Three kittens were born 2 months ago. Yep. Just three cute looking kittens. Three small seemingly innocent and fragile little kittens. Yet, just like the transformers tag line, there's more to these kittens than meets the eye. So don't be surprised if I literally threw them out of my room.
I have somewhat a hesitation to admire the cute-ness of kittens. They seem to be overrated when you call it that. Mind you, it is not out of spite of kittens or cats in general. We have three cats at home for pets and they seem to be pretty well fed and taken cared of. It's all about past experiences with kittens. No, there was no kitten trying to kill me like from some boring horror flick. It's just that sometimes their feigned cuteness and innocence could really be deceptive. Sometimes you just don't notice the damage they have done to your home.
A week after the kittens were born, their mother, our cat, somehow managed to sneak them inside my room, and eventually my closet. I didn't even notice it the first few days until I noticed the fur on my trousers and my jeans. I thought of letting all of hell break loose, but thought better of it since they were still so young. My mistake later on.
A month later, I discovered that they were strong enough to walk - and run. The discovery wasn't so much as shocking than irritating. I realized that they were agile and springy when I felt their paws on my bed. I tried to put them away but they resumed their petty kitten games under my bed where the wooden floor kept on thudding as their footpaws landed on them. It was like a wooden stick was being pounded on my head. I was so irritated that I did the inevitable, it was time for them to go out of the room to explore, but they didn't want to go out that easy so I sent them out the hard way - by throwing them out.
Still a month later, we - as in all of us at home - noticed that the kittens have grown to be independent. That was the exact moment when they could eat rice or fish and jump around on their own. That was also the moment when their excrement would really smell - I guess it's pointless to say how we knew that they could eat rice or fish, just follow the scent. Still that was the moment when they should be thrown out, given away or adopted.
Apparently based on past experiences, no one wanted to adopt new kittens, and we were running out of options. The first option seemed to be the inevitable, not unless someone actually wanted them. So who wants kittens?
I have somewhat a hesitation to admire the cute-ness of kittens. They seem to be overrated when you call it that. Mind you, it is not out of spite of kittens or cats in general. We have three cats at home for pets and they seem to be pretty well fed and taken cared of. It's all about past experiences with kittens. No, there was no kitten trying to kill me like from some boring horror flick. It's just that sometimes their feigned cuteness and innocence could really be deceptive. Sometimes you just don't notice the damage they have done to your home.
A week after the kittens were born, their mother, our cat, somehow managed to sneak them inside my room, and eventually my closet. I didn't even notice it the first few days until I noticed the fur on my trousers and my jeans. I thought of letting all of hell break loose, but thought better of it since they were still so young. My mistake later on.
A month later, I discovered that they were strong enough to walk - and run. The discovery wasn't so much as shocking than irritating. I realized that they were agile and springy when I felt their paws on my bed. I tried to put them away but they resumed their petty kitten games under my bed where the wooden floor kept on thudding as their footpaws landed on them. It was like a wooden stick was being pounded on my head. I was so irritated that I did the inevitable, it was time for them to go out of the room to explore, but they didn't want to go out that easy so I sent them out the hard way - by throwing them out.
Still a month later, we - as in all of us at home - noticed that the kittens have grown to be independent. That was the exact moment when they could eat rice or fish and jump around on their own. That was also the moment when their excrement would really smell - I guess it's pointless to say how we knew that they could eat rice or fish, just follow the scent. Still that was the moment when they should be thrown out, given away or adopted.
Apparently based on past experiences, no one wanted to adopt new kittens, and we were running out of options. The first option seemed to be the inevitable, not unless someone actually wanted them. So who wants kittens?
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Back to the Cape and Cowl
Previously, I was in a mad rush to watch all the Avatar: The Last Airbender Series. I could say it was worth it. I really enjoyed watching that series, and watch it again if I had the time.
At the same time, I was also keeping track of the One Piece issues. Apparently, I was able to catch up on the series a few months ago. Ever since, I have been watching out for the new releases and I still get the laughs from that manga even though it's story has shifted so much.
Of course I still had work to mind and other important stuff, but I'd rather talk about leisure.
I already finished Avatar and while waiting for the next One Piece issue, I found my way into other people's blogs. It's a wonder what you could do in your spare time. One blog in particular really got my attention. A rekindled interest on something I had set myself on doing years ago came about when I read the blog. The blog was called the last laugh by a good friend of mine.
I searched my stash for some of those paraphernalias and reading materials that evoked such interest. In an instant, I was back to the world of capes and cowls. The world of the Dark Knight. Yep, Batman. I was a Batman fan long before the first Christian Bale movie. Although I really have no proof for it then, I was always searching on the net and looking out for information on the Caped Crusader and his protege. Sometimes, I was even seen by my friends reading open copies of the graphic novels of the Dark Knight's exploits. What else could I do? I had no money then.
I was able to acquire some of the graphic novels and story arcs of Batman, only to forget about them later on. That blog post sent me digging back into my old files and rekindling the interest I had for Batman.
So now, I started where I left off, the Cataclysm story arc. The arc tells the story of a great earthquake that happened in Gotham. It left the city in literal ruins since the Gotham's buildings with the exception of Wayne Enterprises buildings, were not quake proof. The earthquake was actually the last thing on their minds.
The problem further escalates when the US government withheld aid from the destroyed city turning it into a no man's land. This prompted mobs and gangs to take control of the city including most of Batman's old foes. It's really interesting.
At the same time, I was also keeping track of the One Piece issues. Apparently, I was able to catch up on the series a few months ago. Ever since, I have been watching out for the new releases and I still get the laughs from that manga even though it's story has shifted so much.
Of course I still had work to mind and other important stuff, but I'd rather talk about leisure.
I already finished Avatar and while waiting for the next One Piece issue, I found my way into other people's blogs. It's a wonder what you could do in your spare time. One blog in particular really got my attention. A rekindled interest on something I had set myself on doing years ago came about when I read the blog. The blog was called the last laugh by a good friend of mine.
I searched my stash for some of those paraphernalias and reading materials that evoked such interest. In an instant, I was back to the world of capes and cowls. The world of the Dark Knight. Yep, Batman. I was a Batman fan long before the first Christian Bale movie. Although I really have no proof for it then, I was always searching on the net and looking out for information on the Caped Crusader and his protege. Sometimes, I was even seen by my friends reading open copies of the graphic novels of the Dark Knight's exploits. What else could I do? I had no money then.
I was able to acquire some of the graphic novels and story arcs of Batman, only to forget about them later on. That blog post sent me digging back into my old files and rekindling the interest I had for Batman.
So now, I started where I left off, the Cataclysm story arc. The arc tells the story of a great earthquake that happened in Gotham. It left the city in literal ruins since the Gotham's buildings with the exception of Wayne Enterprises buildings, were not quake proof. The earthquake was actually the last thing on their minds.
The problem further escalates when the US government withheld aid from the destroyed city turning it into a no man's land. This prompted mobs and gangs to take control of the city including most of Batman's old foes. It's really interesting.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Not Even A Hint
| Rating: | ★★★★ |
| Category: | Books |
| Genre: | Religion & Spirituality |
| Author: | Joshua Harris |
Anyways, I managed to stumble upon Not Even A Hint while browsing through some books in a bookstore. I was expecting that it would be sold at a higher price, but when I looked at how affordable it was (hint: affordable book for me does not exceed 200 pesos), I immediately grabbed a copy. I finished the book in two days.
Not Even A Hint is a self-help book that is not a self-help book. Get it? Weird, huh? It tackles the issue of lust in our daily lives, but it does not necessarily tell us how to combat it. This is simply because no one person could battle lust and win on his or her own accord. The books simply points us back to where to start in battling lust. It simply tells us that the battle is not ours but God's.
What was really amazing about the issues present in the book was that at first look, it may seem to be a male-oriented book. Probably because the problem of lust seems to be related to males alone. Yet the author saw it differently. Lust isn't just a male problem. It's a human problem. Yes. The definition of lust may seem so deep and sometimes, frustrating from the author's point of view, but I could not deny that it is the truth. Actually, the author's bottom line is that Lust is not just the biggest problem we'd face but only a part of the problem. The real problem is sin and lust is just a part of sin.
Moreover, I could say, and any who have read the book could also attest to this, that the book's advices on lust, if there were any, not really tackles lust at all. Like I Kissed Dating Goodbye, the book redirects the focus on a higher level, giving emphasis on God and how to depend on Him alone to face any sin problem.
In terms of style, the book has its similarities from the author's other works. It does not sound preachy like others since Harris himself claims that he is still facing the lust problem himself and that there is no one solution to combat lust alone. To those who don't prefer reading a book with Bible verses, be warned. Although Bible verses were mentioned, I could say that they were essential for the emphasis of certain points.
Over-all, Not Even a Hint is a book worth reading, rereading and studying on a personal or even a group level. It shares amazing insights not only with the lust problem but the human problem as a whole.
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