...whatever suits you...

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about a story format.

How do you feel about books written in a differing format – whether this be journals or letters (epistolary), verse novels, or any other form? Is this something you enjoy? Or do you prefer straight forward chapter prose.

I usually go for the straight forward chapter prose. I've tried reading journals but only on the sly. I have the tendency to wander off if what I'm reading sounded like my textbooks in college. 

 There are times that I do read a non-fiction book if the subject matter really interest me. 

Anyway, it all depends on the one reading, what may be enjoyable to some is pure torment to another.:-)

...will miss them like crazy...

favorite fries

my Nanay's "benignit"

I " heart" Halo-halo

bagoong rice... I like

there's "Nai Cha" like no other

Tofu Biryani

eat up!!!

More to come.....

...all for reading...

I've seen this quotation  in several places lately. It's from Sven Birkert's "The Gutenberg Elegies: The Fate of Reading in an Electronic Age':


"To read, when one does so of one's own free will, is to make a volitional statement, to cast a vote; it is to posit an elsewhere and set off toward it. And like any traveling, reading is at once a movement and a comment of sorts about the place one has left. To open a book voluntarily is at some level to remark the insufficiency either of one's life or one's orientation toward it."


To what extent does this describe you?

 I'm not really sure if the above quotation describes me. All I know is that I read for the sheer joy of reading. It gives me reprieve from all the stuff that somehow manage to creep up unexpectedly. I read to be entertained and informed. And to realize that there's still more to know and learn.

...for keeps...

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about  keeping books.

 

Do you keep all the books you ever buy? Just the ones you love? Just collectibles? What do you do with the ones you don’t want to keep?

I started collecting books when I got a job ( for obvious reasons). I keep all the books I bought and those given to me. It's hard for me to part ways with them, especially with my favorites. The ones I don't want to keep, are back home.

At present, I am faced with the fact that I will have to leave all my books behind when I moved. Probably just bring one to read on the trip.

I have yet to sort and pack them.

Tough chore.:-(

...better late than never...

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about a reference material.

Do you keep reference books on your shelves at home? What’s your first port of call when you need information – the internet or a book?

Since I started joining Musing Mondays, I have look forward to it every week.:-)

The only reference book I have is a Merriam-Webster's Dictionary and Thesaurus. I usually refer to it during those times when I'm reading and I'm not online. When I do some research ( which is not often), I just Google d it.

When I got hooked in photography, I bought three photography books but I don't necessarily consider them as reference books. Likewise with running. I read them again from time when I am most inclined.

...let them...

How can you encourage a non-reading child to read? What about a teen-ager? Would you require books to be read in the hopes that they would enjoy them once they got into them, or offer incentives, or just suggest interesting books? If you do offer incentives and suggestions and that doesn’t work, would you then require a certain amount of reading? At what point do you just accept that your child is a non-reader?

 Reading is one me-alone activity that I always enjoy ( aside from running). Add to it my tendency to keep to myself most of the time. I could not remember being forced or given an incentive, just to read. It just came to me. It helped also that I grew up with an aunt who regaled us ( me and my cousins and younger siblings) with stories, from fairy tales to legends. I've always been fascinated with stories.

To be honest, I don't have any idea as to how I'd encourage a child or a teenager to read. I have younger siblings and nieces and nephews at home but they don't find reading interesting enough except of course, with those materials related to their school work. 

I think I'd g for offering a suggestion as what book to read, from there, it's up to the child or teenager to decide  what's next. It's best that they discover the joy of reading by themselves without pressures from anyone. That way they'll find reading more exciting and enjoyable. :-)

...only one...

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about a random book.

 

I’ve seen several bloggers mention reading multiple books this week. Do you frequently read more than one book at a time? Do you try to limit this to a certain number? Do you have different books for different purposes/topics?

 I tried reading more than one book at a time, as it turned out, it was not really a good option for me. I never get around to finish reading the second book. As much as possible, I stick to reading one book at a time.

I want to be able to focus all my attention to what I am currently reading.

I read different books, though I still have to make my way around Jane Austen.:-)

...what I learned from failing four times...

After four failed attempts, I finally realized I'm not cut out to become a member of my chosen profession. Since I was so caught up with the notion of not giving up, I pursued my goal of becoming a CPA, four times. In my third attempt, I cried in frustration, when I learned that I was only a few points shy of making the passing grade. Determined to make it, I reviewed again and took the exam for the fourth time. I studied like crazy. I prayed hard. I took the exam again. I failed. By this time, I had gathered enough sense to accept whatever was the outcome. Praying helped too. When I saw my grades, and the word "FAILED" at the bottom, I was no longer that affected. I did not cry anymore. Finally, I was able to let go.

True intentions count.

On any given day, I sometimes wonder, why I was so determined at that time to become a CPA. Of course, the reasons were obvious. I wanted recognition.I wanted to have the initials, CPA, after my name. Isn't that great.? At the back of my mind, I wanted to prove to some people that I'm smart and all. And on the side, I wanted for my parents ( especially for my father) to say to others that " Hey, my daughter is a CPA." I wanted them to be proud of me.

It never occurred to me ( but only in the end) that I was chasing this goal for all the wrong reasons. The thought of "how cool it is to be a CPA and all" fueled me to review again and again and I failed miserably. I filled my mind with all sorts of ideas that somehow validated my strong desire to become someone else.

I can not haggle with God.

I attended mass every Sundays and other feast days, as designated by the church. I prayed the rosary. I prayed novenas. In the end, it did not work out. How can I expect it to work, when all along, I was just doing all those things because I wanted something from Him. I was thinking that since I was making all these "sacrifices", He will answer my prayer and grant my fervent desire to pass the board. I was so wrong.

For a while after my third try, I did not went to church, not because I was angry at Him, but because I was so embarrassed, when I realized later on, what I just did. During the time I was preparing for the exam ( for the fourth time), I still prayed to Him, minus the haggling. I asked Him that if it's His will for me become a CPA then I will become one and I added that, if after this fourth try, I will not make it, He will grant me peace of mind to accept it and let go.

The answer is immediate.

Acceptance is bliss.

At first, I had a hard time  reconciling the fact that I failed in this exam four times. I mean, was I really that dumb or something? After number four,  it did not take long for me to face the fact that I failed again. I was ready for anything. My aunt wrote me a letter, saying that, maybe it's not meant for me.

Somehow, accepting it, finally help me to move on to other things. I learned that,  just because I failed in some areas of my life, does not necessarily mean that I am doomed  to fail forever.

God really works in mysterious ways.

Looking back, I came to terms with what has happened ( with regards to my wanting to become a CPA ). I used to tell my aunt, how come things I hope for are always out of reach, but those things I don't care much, find its way to me. As the saying goes, "You can't have your cake and eat it too."

Letting go has open up my mind and let me see things in a whole new way. I learned to leave it all up to Him. What I plan is just a plan. In the end, He will always be the one to call the shots.

long overdue goodbye

P.S. So what brought this on? Well, I was going over my stuff, and I was faced with all my books and reviewers ( related to Accounting). I gather it's time to say goodbye to them, once and for all.

...anything goes...

The northern hemisphere, at least, is socked in by winter right now… So, on a cold, wintry day, when you want nothing more than to curl up with a good book on the couch … what kind of reading do you want to do? 

In my part of the world, winter is unheard of. I wonder sometimes how it feels to experience winter. During the wet season ( it's rain actually), it is always preferable to just stay indoors and do activities that suits you. In my case, I read most of the time. I'm not really picky about what book to read, whatever comes handy, is always fine with me. Though there are times that I prefer to read again a certain book which I liked very much. :-)

When the storm Ketsana wreaked havoc. (Photo: Reuters)