A New Addiction

After Sputnik Sweetheart comes Norwegian Wood, a gift from H. And while Sputnik Sweetheart will always remind me of someone else, it's good to know I read By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept in between the two Murakamis.

In my despair and loneliness, it's kinda surprising that I turn to literature for comfort and solace. What's more surprising is the fact that I find comfort in reading these books now. Well, I also watch Deathnote's complete animated collections and Six Feet Under, so go figure how I am getting by.

Gracias, Murakami

Thank you for Sumire and Miu... And for K.

Inspiración de Florentino Ariza

Amidst the chaos and noise brought about by a world that is cruel, mean, and unkind, Florentino Ariza went by like a gentle breeze. And this, he said, as if sensing my hesitation, as if feeling my frustration...

The essence of a human being is resistant to the passage of time. Our inner lives are eternal, which is to say that our spirits remain as youthful and vigorous as when we were in full bloom. Think of love as a state of grace, not the means to anything, but the alpha and omega. An end in itself.

A Dream Come True

Si Frank... Nakakainis!!!

Talaga! Nakakainis si Frank! Pambihira...

Alam naman ng lahat na padating sya nung Friday pa lang di ba? Kaya lang hindi naman inaasahan na mapapadaan sya ng ganun katagal at kalakas sa parteng ito ng Luzon... Pabago-bago ng isip. Pambihira.

Sabado ng umaga pa lang malakas na sya. As in. Di na ako nakalabas pa ng bahay para bumili ng pagkain kaya ang lunch ko, breakfast food, at nung hapunan, Century Tuna at salted eggs na kinabukasan na ang best before na date. Wahaha.

Di ako nakatulog ng gabing yun. Kasi nag-start na syang magparamdam... Talagang sino ba naman ang makakatulog sa ingay nya? Aba, at ang Frank na ito at mahangin pala ha. Daig pa nga nya sina Cosme at Enteng e, yung mga nauna sa kanya? Pambihira.

At nang mamatay ang kuryente madaling araw ng Linggo, hay... alam ko nang dusa na ang darating na maghapon. Dahil wala naman sa plano na magbabad sa bahay ng maghapon ng Linggo, wala na akong pagkain almusal pa lamang. Kakainis. Idagdag pa ang katotohanang wala namang kuryente, ang hirap magpakulo ng tubig at maginit ng tinapay!!! Si Frank talaga, nakakainis!!! At nuon ko rin lamang na-realize, malaki ang bahang susuungin ko pag lumabas ako para bumili ng pagkain para sa lunch and dinner. Wahuhuhu!!!

Lakas loob, sinuong ko ang lagpas tuhod na baha sa labas para makabili ng pagkain. E kasi, di talaga pwedeng hindi naman kakain di ba? Di ko maiintay humupa ang baha dahil baka kinabukasan pa yun...

Pagdating ko sa kalsada, malakas ang current ng tubig-bahang nakikiraan. Pambihira. Kung hindi sa tulong ng mga matipunong barangay tanod, hindi ako makakatawid at makakabalik sa bahay na dala ang mga pagkain from our friendly neighborhood convenience store (read: sari-sari store). E di masaya dahil may pagkain naman... Nagbalik ako sa favorite food ko nuong High School ako: corned beef omelet! Hahaha!!!

Pero ang pinaka-nakakasuya sa lahat ay ito: paglabas ko kaninang umaga para pumasok, may nadaanan akong dead rat sa labas, na ang ibig sabihin, kasabay ko syang lumalangoy sa tubig baha kahapon!!! Waaahhh!!!

Si Frank talaga! Kainis!!!

Here's One for You, H...

Ah, H...

I have never known anyone as enchanting, charming, and magical as you are, H. I am truly in awe.

I am indeed enthralled by your magical splendor that I didn't mind standing in the cold of midnight, under the silvery light of the moon and the stars while I sing Andrea Bocelli's 'Someone Like You' to you... over the phone...

And these words from the song I will always sing for you:

In your eyes I see
A life that could mean so much more
With you next to me
And if time is cruel
Well I won’t run and hide
I could walk through fire with you by my side
Cause after all, if we want forever
There’s a hand to hold
Through the sad and cold
When nobody wants to know you
So never let it go
And you’ll never be alone
Knowing that I love you so…

My Book Wishlist for the Half of 2008

I know my reading habit has been very poor this year. I've read a few novels and re-read some, but that's it.

I was initially drawn to read Love in the Time of Cholera, but the book's small font and number of pages intimidated me so I settled for the movie version of Gabo's novel. But then, the movie's constipated poignancy made me feel lacking afterwards and so I turned to the book and now I'm reading it again.

That made me feel like going back to reading again. So I make myself a promise to devote several nights a week to reading instead of scrubbing the walls and floor and ceiling of my apartment. Below are the books I already have on my shelves, which I promise to finish by end of August. Read three books in a month? Fair enough.

And then I will get all these books below and read all of them before my birthdate. (Wish ko lang!)

Wishful thinking, eh? Nah. Reading as is writing is almost like breathing for me. To stop me from doing both is like taking the air out of my lungs...

Poesía

i loved you before i first laid eyes on you
before i glimpsed upon your eyes
before i heard the sound of your voice
before i listened to your laughter...

i love you when you look at me
with eyes so tender, so poignant in its greatness
almost entreating, almost imploring...

i love you when you speak my name
with a voice so gentle, so mild in its softness
almost soothing, almost whispering...

i love you when you laugh
with a lilt so cheerful, so joyful in its delight
almost charming, almost teasing...

i love you when you lay beside me
with a passion so intense, so intense in its outburst
almost burning, almost searing...

i love you with a love that goes beyond
what my eyes see
what my mind understands
what my heart feels
it is limitless, boundless, never-ending...

Here's A Favorite From Neruda

If You Forget Me

I want you to know one thing
You know how this is
If I look at the crystal moon
at the red branch of the slow autumn at my window
If I touch near the fire the impalpable ash
or the wrinkled body of the log.

Everything carries me to you, as if everything that exists:
aromas, light, metals, or little boats that sail towards
those isles of yours that wait for me.

Well now, if little by little you stop loving me,
I shall stop loving you, little by little.

If suddenly you forget me, do not look for me
For I shall already have forgotten you.
If you think at long and mad the wind banners
that passes through my life and
you decide to leave me at the shore
of the heart where I have roots,
remember than on that day, at that hour,
I shall lift my arms and my roots will set off to seek another land.

But if each day each hour
you feel that you are destined for me
with implacable sweetness.
If each day a flower climbs up to your lips to seek me,
ah my love, ah my own, in me all that fire is repeated,
in me nothing is extinguished or forgotten,
my love feeds on your love beloved,
and as long as you live it will be in your arms without leaving mine.