Just in case you are wondering. Yes, I'm still alive. Just a little bit busy... but yes, alive. Hahaha.

So, my friends are also voracious readers and this is our definition of fun: tricking restaurant, cafe and other establishment's staff into thinking that our names came out of a good book. Also, because they always misspell our names anyway.

Last month, we were in the Mall of Asia and when we got tired of boisterously laughing about nothing important, we decided to rest and eat at BonChon.


The staff assigned in the counter asked for our name and look what she got.


Okay, so Zim told them his name is Percy (quite believable and yes, a good way to start this Percy Jackson edition). Anna told them she's Aphrodite but they ended up putting just AF (which my friends find fortuitous because Anna's name is Anna Frizelle). I said, I was Thalia and they got it right even when I pronounced it as THAL-YA and not the Mexican Telenovela Queen. THA-LEE-YA. Arbin said he was Apollo and they believed him. Ayban told them he is Poseidon and they misspelled it into Posaidon (in hindsight, who would believe you are Poseidon, anyway?). Another unbelievable name is Hades, the god of the underworld but Kwesi used it anyway, look what he got: Aydes! And there's Clai... who really wanted to be near Kwesi that she chose Thanatos, the god of death. And so the counter typed in... Tan. Well, in defense of that lady, Thanatos is not even a feminine name! (Sorry, Clai!) But Phoebe proved to be the only one who doesn't belong to our universe because she picked the Roman goddess, Minerva.

Okay, so this is one failed experiment but we sure did enjoy it. I'm thinking of doing a Hunger Games Edition next time. Hope it will succeed.

Labels: bon chon, books, food, friends, fun, funny, greek gods, moa, percy jackson, roman gods, troll the counter

I love pizza. Who doesn't? That's why when I heard about this make-your-own pizza place, I instantly wanted to go.

All photos belong to Kwesi Junsan

But of course, because of my ever cramped schedule, I didn't get to visit it right away. It was just last month that my friends and I went to see the place. And yes, to celebrate Kwesi's birthday as well.

Labels: birthday, bluebay walk, food, mandaluyong, moa, pizza, project pie, review, shaw

I keep my iPod handy to keep me alive during my everyday commute. Yes, my place is just 10-20 minutes from the office but I tend to really doze off when I the travel. Perhaps because I usually go home in the morning.

I keep Euterpe (my iPod's name) in shuffle because I really don't have specific playlists as my type of music varies depending on my mood. As of the moment, my music player has 2,150 songs and starting today, I shall share to you Euterpe's first 10 songs of the day.

Labels: earworm, ipod, lss, morning shuffle, music, playlist, routine

Last year, I told you guys that I was writing a novel. Oh well, surprise, surprise! I didn't get to finish it. Ha!

I won't bore you with excuses but I think, 2013 had been one helluva ride for me so even if I didn't become a published author that year, still I accomplished too many things.

But to just cross it off my bucket list (as if I have one, well, I think, I actually do but it's just inside my head), I joined a writing class yet again under The Mina V. Esguerra's watch but this one would definitely be a challenge as my classmates and I, will be writing about mature themes, things I rarely read and not aware of.

My hopes are high that I can finish this actually not only because we are just required to just do a short story with a minimum of 5,000 words but I want to finish my characters' story. I fell in love with them so much that I want them to have their ending.

As of today, I have 1500+ words and I'm hoping to finish my story this weekend so I can move on and finish my teenybopper novel.

You can track our class' progress in Facebook and Twitter

Labels: book, writing

I rarely list down things I must do for the new year, but this year is an exception. I must do it for my books.

Labels: books, new year, resolutions

1. 8 Diwata ng Pagkahulog by Edgar Calabia Samar
Other readers say he is the Pinoy Murakami, but for me (someone who haven't read any Murakami), he is Egay and his first novel, 8 Diwata is something you will not (and should not) forget let alone compare to any other works. It is an entity of its own.


2. Soba Senbei Shibuya by F. Sionil Jose
I fell in love with FSJ this year... some can argue that true love should not have any reasons, but in this case I do.


3. Tall Story by Candy Gourlay
There are many reasons why this one is memorable: It's a Pinoy Book. First TFG F2F I moderated. Candy Gourlay is just so awesome. The Cacho Publishing hunt. But what makes it all the more special is TFG. Thank you for that wonderful day/evening guys!


4. Po-On by F. Sionil Jose
Need I say more? I just love this man.


5. Reunion by Alan Lightman
This book is crazy, mad and insane.




6. Trese Series by Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo
I discovered that Trese is a girl only this year.

NO PHOTO SOMEONE STOLE MY CAMERA AFTER THE KOMIKON! I'M A BITTER MELON!

7. Filipino Heroes League by Paolo Fabregas
This is an accidental read. But it was a beautiful accident.

Gave my copies to my little brother.

8. The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan
I didn't give this the highest rating but I'll give it mad props for being innovative.



9. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell
Newsroom. Graveyard Shift. Internet. This book is about me!



10. Chinese Cinderella
The truth hurts and this book hurt me too much.

I tried so much to exclude books in this end of the year roundup but 2013 had been my most bookish year yet so, I just can't help but squeeze some in.


Cebu
Looking back, I haven't really traveled much this year. Without those bookish tours, I think my trip to Cebu is the sole trip I did on a whim. One fateful night, I stumble upon a seat sale and voila... Cebu! I planned to travel alone but lo and behold, just minutes after I landed, Clyde went to my hotel... hours later Nik came in and a night o'booze ensue. Special thanks to Feds, King and Yauna (but really, I can't thank you enough!)

throwback photo huuur

This year, I was again assigned to do the same work: call, call and call.

I launched The Library Mistress last year to cater to friends who keep on asking me for my ebook (pirated, yes) collection. There, I uploaded some of the books I got online for sharing, but since I realized that my blog is promoting piracy, I took it down. (Yes, I needed a couple of months to realize. Harhar)



However, as part of my 2014 New Year's Resolution (I rarely do this and it's really amusing now that I actually do have a list of things I want to do and it's all about books and my little library, really), I'm re-opening TLM as a book blog. (Me?! A book blogger? YES!) Since, this blog had been dominated by book-related posts, might as well put them on one place altogether, yes? In that way, I can also blog about other things in my life which are.... okay, give me time to think of things I do aside from reading, hoarding and staying on a desk in this part of the newsroom.

So for crappy book reviews, bookscapades and whatnots, click at the BOOK section of the navbar above.

Labels: book blog, books

These gifs are bringing back all the memories!!!

I've been too busy for the past days because of too many things happening in our country. The only thing that save my sanity was this year's International Book Fair. I gave myself a pat on the back by buying a little over my set budget, I deserve it, I guess....

And yes, because...

Labels: books

I just don't know where you guys are getting the idea that I'm always awake. I'm not a super being, you know. So please don't take offense if I don't answer to messages, calls or anything you throw my way on the dot.
Truth be told, (surprise, surprise!) I sleep too.


Yes, this post is about you, you and YOU!

Labels: rants, sleeping