REFRESHING THE SWEET SIDE OF ME

This poem was written about a year ago, and was posted in our group blog. As I scan the posts in that page, I wonder if this poem is still worth reposting. I do hope you'll enjoy this poem, with all the confused and contradicting thoughts that you can read here. Criticisms are allowed, as long as you say it in a proper way. Toodles! :D

JJA.. 

It’s so absurd, you may not believe it;
But this is so true..
From day one my attention was captured by you.
I know this day will come that you’ll know the truth.
It’s just that I never expected this is too soon.

You never know how excited I am when I was transferred to your team.
It wasn’t a good news for me though, since I know I have to fight the feelings.
Until I sat beside you, and you knew there was nothing else behind the way I look at you..
That moment when I said I’ll never take my eyes off you..

Every time you ask who’s the mysterious guy.
My mind keeps on asking so many why’s.
Why do you have to know?
Why do you even care to ask?
Why are you so interested?
You said it was just natural curiosity..
I assumed something that’s not right..

I never told you that I simply look at you when you’re asleep..
I always wish you won’t wake up and catch me staring at you.
It’s funny that I can watch over you and work on my assignment at the same time..
I guess I never want to miss the opportunity that I can freely look at you.. Look at you that close..

Somebody might call you a frog, but you’ll always be my prince.
I’ll deal with your natural curiosity rather than calling you my paparazzi..
I’m just sad that I deleted my chat history..
‘Cause that’s where I can track my joyous moments with you..

You’re a great TL, everyone knows that..
It’s such an honor to work with you in a short span of time.
Whatever happens in the next days, I’m sure your tips will always be on my mind.
I’m sure I’ll remember you all this time.

Please act like you knew nothing.
Please act like you never read my post.
Never stop smiling.
Don’t feel creepy when I tell you I’ll never take my eyes off you.
I just want to cherish the little moments that I can have with you.
Moments when I’m still here and you’re just there...



Love,
Huntress

IF I STAY by Gayle Forman

This book have been recommended by my friend, Xerlyn, about a year ago. Due to my "obsession" with vampire novels, I just finished reading it yesterday.


Here's a blurb that I found on the author's website:

On a day that started like any other…

Mia had everything: a loving family, a gorgeous, adoring boyfriend, and a bright future full of music and full of choices. Then, in an instant, almost all of that is taken from her. Caught between life and death, between a happy past and an unknowable future, Mia spends one critical day contemplating the one decision she has left—the most important decision she’ll ever make.
 
Simultaneously tragic and hopeful, this is a romantic, riveting and ultimately uplifting story about memory, music, living, dying, loving.

The accident scene broke my heart. I feel like I don't want to finish the whole novel 'cause I think it won't make any sense anymore. Who would love to live alone? I mean your parents are already dead and you still don't know where your little brother is. However, the twist and turns of the scenarios made me decide that I should finish the book. Finish it up to the very last page.

I can imagine myself at Mia's position - physical body that's oblivion to anything around her while the soul was lingering at the hospital. It's heartbreaking for her to see her Gran and Gramps watching her suffer, as well as her best friend and boyfriend. She's overwhelmed with the presence of caring nurses and social workers, as well as the presence of family friends.


This story proves that love conquers all. Love will make you want to stay, even if you think everything was already in a losing battle. Love will make you feel strong when you think you're at the edge of the cliff. Love will make everything possible. Love will put your hopes up.

Love's a bitch, or so they say. But in this novel, it's one of the reasons why she chose to stay. Love from her grandparents, from her family members, from her friends, and from Adam.


The question is, "What would happen to Adam's promises now that she stayed?" 

Time to read book two, Where She Went.


Final Rating: 8
Yes, I'm a fan of tragic novels. But I wanna read the second book for my official final rating for the series. Hehe!




Love,
Huntress

My Social Media Love

A day won't be complete without a glimpse of you;
Just a few  minutes of reading a post or two.
Opening the links you have shared for the night;
And the songs that brighten your mood so bright.

Night after night, I feel like a fool for trying;
To glance at your station and see what you're doing.
A simple smile on face satisfies my day;
That presence that takes the stress away.

You're like a well-written Facebook status;
Or a well-versed Twitter post.
And then I'm hooked and linked into you;
Plus all the fun that you brought my world.

Reminiscence, all that is left of me;
All that lingers in my head are your memories.
Your favorite show, your favorite movies;
All the events that causes your bliss.

And now, after a year and a half;
I am left here without you and the spark.
Worse, I've been left out in the dark;
Worst, I was blocked.


Huntress

All Rights Reserved © 2014

THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green

 We usually blame our "stars", our destiny, and our fate in every negative thing that happens to us. We always have to blame someone, or even ask what's wrong with us. We always have to find fault somewhere to release yourself from the tortures of life.

I guessed that's the reason why John Green entitled this novel The Fault in Our Stars.

Let  me just remind you that this is just a book review, not the movie review. I'd be posting another article about the comparison between the two. Moreover, suggestions and constructive criticisms are all welcome.

So, here's a blurb I've found on the Internet:

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

It's not an ordinary story about a cancer patient. I used to hear stories of cancer patients who are trying hard to live a normal life. Hazel was different. She preferred to be alone. She preferred to be indifferent. Attending the support group meant invading her lovely, little world. Meeting Augustus was never in her priority, moreover falling in love with him.

I love the fact that John Green used another fictional novel in his novel. An Imperial Affliction wasn't a real book, and Peter van Houten is just another fictional character. Technically, he just wrote two stories in one book; the story of Anna and Hazel.

After reading An Imperial Affliction, Hazel was left with lots of questions; what happens to Anna's mom, to the Dutch tulip man, and to Anna's hamster. You know what? I wanna send an email to John Green right now to ask him about what happens to Hazel, to her family, to Isaac, and to Augustus' parents.

I love how JG used the novel to share how love works in wonders. When you're in love, you'll have all the reason to live and to fight for your love. Hazel's love for her parents motivates her and her lungs to continue breathing. Same with her love for Augustus. They have to live longer for each other, and for their families.

Please add The Fault in Our Stars in your reading lists! It's worth the time.



Final Rating: 9

Like Hazel, I'm always saving my 10! :D




Love,
Huntress

Fear Can't Stop Me

Neither Augustus Waters nor I spoke again until Patrick said, "Augustus, perhaps you'd like to share your fears with the group."

"My fears?"

"Yes."

"I fear oblivion," he said without a moment's pause. "I fear it like the proverbial blind man who's afraid of the dark."
- TFIOS

Yes fellas. That was quoted from the novel that I'm currently reading, The Fault In Our Stars by John Green. I started reading the book last week, and I can't find ample time to continue the story. Sigh.

Anyway, after reading that scene, I instantly researched for the meaning of oblivion. According to Webster's dictionary, it means "the state of something that is not remembered, used, or thought about any more." Another meaning told me that it was "the state of being unconscious or unaware : the state of not knowing what is going on around you." I guess the worst definition that I got said that it was "the state of being destroyed." 

I understand Gus' fear of being forgotten. Who would want to waste all those efforts that they've exerted to be memorable and remarkable? Who would want to waste all the things they've done when they were living? And who would want to be forgotten by the world that he/she used to love?

And, I understand Gus' fear of being unconscious or unaware. I remembered the time when I was at the hospital, totally unaware of the procedures and treatments that they've been giving me. I was half-asleep and I can see people moving. However, I can't feel what they're doing with my body. If you don't know what's going on around you, you might be considered indifferent. You might be called weird. They might say you're one of those people who always run away from fun.

Lastly, I understand Gus' fear of being destroyed. Obviously, yes?

However, I really LOVE Hazel's reaction with his answer. Again guys, I quoted it from the story:

"There will come a time that all of us area dead. All of us. There will come a time when no human beings remaining to remember that anyone ever existed or that our species ever did anything. There will be no one left to remember Aristotle or Cleopatra, let alone you.Everything that we did and built and wrote and thought and discovered will be forgotten and all of this will have been for naught. Maybe that time is coming soon and maybe it is million years away, but even if we survive the collapse of our sun, we will not survive forever. There was a time before the organisms experienced consciousness, and there will be time after. And if the inevitability of human oblivion worries you, I encourage you to ignore it. God knows that's what everyone else does." - Hazel | TFIOS

Who knows when we'll be dead? You  might die in as soon as possible, (GOD FORBID!) or you might live longer. We really don't know. Whatever good or bad things we do everyday, there will come a time when everyone will forget you too. You might be the best writer today, but your memories will die someday. You might be the black sheep of the family, but the next generation won't know that anymore. You might be exerting all your efforts to please the society, but time will come that they'll never care.

I admit, I also fear oblivion. I've been enjoying the comments and appreciation that I've been getting from my blog. I've been loving the friends that I've been knowing here. I've been trying so hard to post the best article and the most entertaining post for everyone to read. However, I have to face the fact that there will come a time that everyone of you might stop blogging. I might stop posting. I might be preoccupied by other stuff. My writing skills might be unused, my literary pieces forgotten, and my blog will be destroyed.

However, going back to Hazel's comment, we should bear in mind that everything will pass. Our thoughts might be important today, but will be forgotten someday. Our experiences might mean so much to us at the moment, but can be replaced in the future. Everything has to evolve. Everything will change. It's inevitable.

I'm not saying you'll went out of your house, so fierce and fearless, to break the norm and say they'll forget about it. What I wanted to tell you is to open yourself for new things and adventurous events. Savor the fun, the moment, and the joy that you have right now. Enjoy the freedom at your own risk. Be fearless in such a way that you won't be called a criminal. You only live once, fella. Don't fecking waste that one chance! :D

Love,
Huntress

Expressing Gratitude

Expressing Gratitude

I’m lost for words; I don’t know what to say;
All I know is the fact that You made my day.
Your words, Your thoughts, Your presence;
Enlightens and enhances my senses.

I’ve been in my darkest times,
And I thought I’ve been left behind.
You’ve shown your power and guidance all the time,
All Your greatness in every thing and dime.

Thanks for the air that I’ve been breathing;
Thanks for the food that gives me energy.
Thanks for everything that I don’t have;
Thanks for the life that I’ll always love. 



Huntress
08072014 
All Rights Reserved © 2014

Wonderful Wednesday

It's a wonderful Wednesday indeed! Aside from the fact that I have less sleep, I'm really happy with whatever had happened today. One thing I wanna share to you is my invention dish. I named it, Chicken in Pineapple Juice!

Let me share a quick background of this dish. My friend cooked this when he was staying at my apartment. He never told me how it was cooked, so I kinda "experimented" on how I'm gonna end up with that dish.

Before anything else, I wanna tell you that I won't be able to upload photos of the dish. My cam would ruin the awesomeness of the dish, so I decided not to take any photo. If I'll have a better cam next time, I promise to publish it here.

Moreover, I wanna warn you that I'm not really good at cooking. I might give you inaccurate measurements of the ingredients. I suggest you follow your intuition if you're going to try this dish. Hehe!

Lastly, I'm not promoting any company for this dish. You can use any product that you wanted and you preferred. I guess you knew more than I do when it comes to cooking, so again, trust your instinct. :)



So.. let's get this started!

The ingredients I used were:

1 small onion
5 cloves of garlic
1/2 kl of chicken (drumsticks)
powdered juice (pineapple flavor)
3 to 4 tablespoons of soy sauce
salt and pepper for seasoning

Procedure:

1. Prepare your pineapple juice. Dissolve two tablespoons of pineapple powder in a glass of water. Make sure that you'll use enough water to soften and cook the chicken. You can add more pineapple juice powder if you want more sweetness.

TIP: You can also use those ready-made pineapple juices in cans. (Like Del Monte Pineapple or whatever) Just don't put too much water that might remove it's taste in the dish. 

2. Mix your chopped garlic, onion, and chicken in a frying pan. You can also use pots if you don't have any pan that's deep enough to hold much water.

3. Add four tablespoons of soy sauce.

4. Add your pineapple juice.

5. Cook until the chicken is soften. It could take about 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the class of meat you've bought.

6. Season with salt and pepper. If needed, you can add more soy sauce. Again guys, it depends on your preference.

NOTE: It's faster to cook younger chicken meat than those from adult ones. According to the Internet. Hehe! 

AND YOU'RE DONE!

I admit, it will look like a simple chicken adobo. However, the taste of the pineapple juice should overpower the taste of the soy sauce. That's actually the twist in that dish. :)



So.. here's another Filipino dish with a sweet twist. If you're gonna try this, hope you'll tell me what happened.



Thanks for reading! :D



 PS: This is dish #1 for my bucket list! ♥



Love,
Ayin

The Art of LDR

Everyone hates that phrase. Long distance relationships. It's usually associated with unlimited fights, awful arguments, betrayal, and treachery. Come to think of it, not all LDR's ends with breakups. It depends on you, two people, who could make it last.


What makes LDR's fail? Let me give you a hint on some of the things I was frightened years ago.

Love at Proximity 

I've read an article before and it says relationships start 'cause of each other's presence. If you had much time with that person, you could start to care and to love and to treasure them.

It happens all the time. I myself is a witness to that. There were some who only love a person while they're near you. Others think they'll stop loving him/her when you're having geographical problems. Others think that their partner would find someone more attractive wherever they are. The truth is, if love is true, distance won't make you feel abandoned.

Insecurities 

Our partners will meet someone new once they've been working away from us. Let's deal with that. Yes, he/she might tell you who's adorable, who's the sweetest, who's the sexiest. There were times that we might feel insecure, and might start to doubt about the things our partner have been doing there.

Lack of trust


I could've listed lots of reasons here, but it all ends up with that phrase. Lack of trust makes LDR impossible! As long as you've been doubting about your partner's love and loyalty, you don't have to expect a happy and stronger relationship amidst the distance.




I know and I understand that being away from your partner is so darn hard. However, you can make this work! Believe me!

NEVER cut your communication.

It's OK if he/she's been telling you how great his/her new work was. Or how nice her seatmate/office-mate was. Or if he/she told you he/she had a great time with office-mates. He/She should still have a social life. I'm sure you'll have tons of stories to share too, right?

Keep the communication open. Don't hesitate to tell him/her that you've had a bad day, that you need to hear his/her voice to be comfortable again. Speak of sweet things whenever possible. Call to say 'Good morning', or just to ask him/her if he/she has eaten already. Simple text messages mean a lot, guys! Send emails. If possible, send snail mails. Social media gave you lots of chances to send your thoughts to you partner wherever you are and whatever you do.

REMAIN Loyal

You won't start doubting your partner's relationships if you're not doing something wrong, too. Yes, there's no harm in making friends, but please set your limits. Don't forget you're in a relationship. Let friends be friends. Not friends with benefits or other than that.

Don't PROVOKE any conflict.

He didn't text you on time? Might be he was rendering overtime at work. She didn't call when she told you she'll do? Maybe she fell asleep as soon as she come home. It's never hard to understand your situations, people. Ne matured enough to strengthen your relationship. Don't act like high school students who were falling in love for the first time.

NURTURE the Love 

How would you do that? Keep on doing the three things mentioned above. That's how you'll nurture the love. If possible, set a date when you could see each other. Use that time wisely, and don't waste a chance to tell him/her how much you missed him/her. Don't forget to assure your partner that your love won't fade amidst the distance. Let those assurance be your guide in the days that you're not together.




LDR's aren't that bad. It depends on your commitment. Let's make this work people! We'll avoid broken hearts and drunken nights in the end! :D




Love,
Huntress

The Daily Post: Now? Later!

My coffee-free week starts tomorrow.

I've been quite successful in reducing my coffee intake for the past two weeks after my consultation with the gastroenterologist. I believe my so-called condition was getting better, and I decided to TOTALLY remove caffeine in my system. I planned to start that cleansing today. But, never mind. XD

I am so, so sleepy. Two hours of sleep for the whole day shuts my minds and made me feel so weak. My only remedy? A cup of coffee. *sigh*

Forgive me for procrastinating today. I just needed to be awake for the next 9 hours. Back to work, yah know. ^_^


 Oh by the way, my blogs are mainly my favorite procrastination destination.




Love,
Huntress

Goodness Campaign

Who wouldn't be tired of all the negativity that are spread out through different media? It is, indeed, time to focus on the brighter side of life. I assure you, you won't hurt your eyes in doing so. *wink

Kate's post for her Wacky Wednesday made me realize that we're a bit lucky. Well, I guess we're lucky.

Yes, there were LOTS of negative things broadcasted in our media. People were killed. Rape cases. Politicians abusing their positions. Overseas Filipino workers that were deported or killed. Well, if I'm gonna state all of those negative news here, you'll definitely close my post as early as this point.

What I love about the Philippine media is their constant pursuit of finding good news to the people. I've heard a recent story of a man from Sultan Kudarat who invented an injection against cocolisap, the pest that destroys coconut trees. As stated on the news, the plant vaccine was composed of decaying plants, insects, and molasses.

I also remembered the news about how Catholics have been expecting Pope Francis' visit at the victims of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan, international name). Since Philippines is considered a Catholic country, the much-awaited visit of the pope would help a lot in their recovery after the typhoon.

If you could notice, I've stated more bad news than good ones. My main reason is that I could remember more of the bad news than the other. Just like Kate's plea, I also hope that the broadcasting networks would focus on the most important news. Moreover, they should add stories about doing good and being good. :D

Bottomline is, we should believe in goodness. It still exists in our cruel world.



Love,
Huntress