Between the Covers: Stories from My Bookcase

Sunday, December 19, 2010

The Bible

Do you have a personal Bible? I don’t.

When was the last time you actually read from The Bible? I don’t remember.

Many many years ago, I endeavored to read The Bible from cover to cover. No one asked me to do that, I just felt like doing so. I started from the book of Genesis of course, and I don’t remember how far I got.

In highschool, my best friend Jo Arni gave me a copy of The Daily Bread for Christmas. I actually tried reading from it everyday. On some days, I even tried to write about my reflections in my diary. But the habit just didn’t stick.

Today I read Ivy’s review of Start!, a book she received from Booksneeze. Now I can’t wait to finally do my review for Outlive Your Life so I can request for Start! if it’s available (although I checked just now and it isn’t).

Anyhoo. Just thought I’d share.

And hey, doesn’t that tell you how a wide reader I am? I’d go from comic books, children’s books, chick lit, classic children’s lit, sci-fi, and inspirational. I even read tech reviews and even beauty reviews (like this therapores reviews).

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Exchange Gift

Unlike last year where I participated in at least three exchange gift programs at work, there’s only one to worry about this year. I don’t know it they have exchange gift gimmicks anywhere else, but that’s how things are done over here. It started in schools I think, where each class has a Christmas Party. And I guess they ‘invented’ exchange gift to make sure that all kids in the class will receive a present.

It can work either of two ways:

1. All participants will bring a present worth a set amount. It should be gender-neutral. A number is assigned to each gift, and the numbers are thrown into a bowl for raffling off. Everyone who brought a present will then pick a number from the bowl. The gift corresponding to the number they picked is given to them.

2. Prior to the day of the party, or the day of the reveal, all participant names will be put into a draw. Everyone picks a name and that’s who they’ll be getting a present for. Sometimes a wishlist is posted to give the giver an idea of what to get.

We’re doing number 2. I still don’t have a gift for the person I picked and the party’s on Monday. He hasn’t listed anything for his wish either. Hmm, what to get?

Whoever picked me must be wondering too. I haven’t written anything on the wishlist board for myself either! For some reason, I’m having a hard time listing what I want for this year. Unlike the books I asked for in previous Christmases.

So what shall I ask for this Christmas? Books and chocolates (again). But what book/s?

- 39 Clues (a set, or the Black Book)

- Book Two of the 3-part Finale to The Wheel of Time (although I haven’t read the first part yet)

Ugh. I don’t know. Maybe I’ll drop by the bookstore tomorrow and see what I fancy.

As for the person I’m supposed to give a present to, I have no idea what to get him! For my brother though, if I do give him a gift, I might just go with the nicotine free electronic cigarette so he can kick the habit and not make a passive smoker out of his baby whose due to come out any day now!

Monday, December 13, 2010

North Point’s iBand

Here’s another iPad post. Seriously, I should add a Category in this blog all for my iPad posts. Smile

Since it’s also a Monday, this should qualify for Lady Java’s Music Monday meme, I haven’t joined in a long time and this would be perfect for a come back.

Enjoy the wonderful music, brought to you by North Point Ministries, and their iBand:

 

After I shared this on Facebook, a friend happily shared with me the list of apps used by the iBand. I want those apps on my iPad too! When I have the time, I’ll check them out Smile

Now, check out other Music Monday entries, and jump in!

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. Rules are simple. Leave ONLY the actual post link here and grab the code below and place it at your blog entry. You can grab this code at LadyJava's Lounge Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Grow Young with HGH

Here's a product description of Grow Young with HGH from Amazon:

Perhaps as close to the fountain of youth as we will ever come, the human growth hormone, or HGH, has already produced stunning results in the battle against aging. In Grow Young With HGH, anti-aging pioneer Dr. Ronald Klatz not only explains how HGH works, but how it can work for you. Dr. Klatz's remarkable guide first helps you determine your own HGH levels and then shows you step by step how HGH can be utilized to reverse the effects of aging by decreasing fat, increasing muscle, lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, strengthening the immune system, increasing bone density and cardiovascular output, and enhancing the mental faculties and sexual performance that diminish as we grow older.
Whether through hormonal drug therapy or by stimulating the body's own supply of HGH through diet and exercise, now everyone can reap the many benefits of this miracle substance. All you have to do is follow Dr. Klatz's medically-proven plan and his helpful consumer tips on the easiest, cheapest, and safest ways in which HGH can build a healthier, happier and more vital future for us all.
Dr. Ronald Klatz is one of the foremost experts on anti-aging research and holds many important posts in the medical community, including president of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. He currently resides in Chicago. Carol Kahn is a well-known New York-based writer specializing in health and science, and is a former contributing editor to Longevity.
Heard about HGH but since it looks like some sort of hormone therapy, I don't know how it will affect my own hormone issues with PCOS. It's just interesting to read up on whatever may help me lose weight is all...

Monday, December 6, 2010

Breakfast Goodies

One downside of working within a commercial shopping area is having the temptation to shop thrown right at you at all times. I guess it wouldn’t be a problem if I actually left the office on time at 6am while the malls are still closed. But I don’t.

Yesterday is a classic example. I left the office at past 9 in the morning and the Cubao area was already coming to life. I headed straight to SM with the intention of buying two things: sanitary napkins, and ballpens (I’d lost two already!). Well, I left the mall with more than that.

I did exercise some restraint though, I’d have left SM with more bags than I did if I wasn’t conscious about unnecessary spending. I won’t share all that I bought that day but I will share these: I did allow myself to buy fiber-rich breakfast goodies:

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I love the Maple and Sugar Oatmeal from Quaker. I just pour the contents of each envelope onto a bowl, add milk, pop it in the microwave, and then dig in. It’s filling and it’s good for my tummy.

Nestle’s Fitnesse line of cereal is whole grain and is way better than your usual cornflakes. But it is pricey. This little box is about 140pesos, if I remember correctly.

Having these two leaves me no excuse for going to work on an empty stomach. Smile

My indulge item from the grocery that day was this:

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It won’t help me lose weight I know that. But the colorful marshmallows should help get me in the holiday mood amidst all the craziness at work and a messed up schedule. Smile

iPad Light Painting

I know, this isn’t remotely reading or book-related, but since I’ve been mentioning my iPad on this blog more than I have at Where the Moon Shines, it just seems appropriate to post about this here. So bear with me will you? Smile

This video is the result of a project by DetsuLondon. I am simply amazed!

 

This looks like a project that anyone can do with their iPad and some knowledge in stop-motion photography, and a lot of patience.

My own simple experiment on light painting from awhile back pails in comparison (can’t find a copy right now, but I’ll add it to this post once I do!)

When do you read?

That’s the question I seem to keep asking myself lately. That or, how will you find time to read? I haven’t touched Outlive Your Life in two weeks. In fact, it is no longer in my bag because I’ve given up sneaking in reading time while at work. No time to rest really, not even on my quick lunch breaks.

I’m hoping that this is just a phase, and I can get back to reading with some regularity. My brother bought Book 13 of The Wheel of Time, and it’s been waiting for me. Haha. Just another book on top of the pile.

I’ve been so busy I’d normally spend 12 hours at work. Sometimes more. Which then means that when I’m at home, I’ll normally just be sleeping. My rest days were split last week and one day off isn’t so much fun when you’re working nights. Like today/yesterday for example. I’ve mostly slept in the past 24 hours. I was only awake enough to eat dinner last night, and then a 3am cereal attack. I may have seen some TV, but none that I can recall very well.

But that’s okay. Sleep is precious commodity and I understand that my body craves for it when it needs it, and gets when there’s actually time for it. Sleep is also a cure for many ills, including being treatment for blackheads, something you are prone to get if you haven’t been sleeping much or eating well. Smile

What about you, when do you get to read your books? Is it a conscious effort to make time for reading?

Saturday, December 4, 2010

The 39 Clues

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We almost went home with this book the other day. We checked out the new PowerBooks outlet at the Megamall and I showed this to the boyfriend. He read a few pages and decided he wanted it. I’d been interested in this for awhile now, but didn’t want to start reading buying something else while I still had a huge pile of books waiting to be read.

The 39 Clues seem like an interesting series. I used to think it will be too “kiddie” for my tastes. But then again, haven’t I always enjoyed anything that was supposed to have been created for children? SmileI really don’t have the faintest idea on what The 39 Clues is all about, but I do want to know all about it.

Have you read this series? What are your thoughts on it? Link me up to reviews you may have written or read and I will be forever thankful! Smile

Friday, December 3, 2010

Power Mac Store

You’ve seen these stores. There’s one in Trinoma, another at Gateway, and they also have a branch at the Megamall. We’ve taken to going in, and looking around.

No, we’re not looking to purchase an iPod Touch, nor are we checking out accessories for my iPad.  We check these out. All the time.

iMac

Yes, we’re loyal Windows users. Yes, I love Windows 7. But these screens and their software are just perfect for photography enthusiasts.

So we stare at these babies, and we envision owning them. We look at the price tag, and we envision having that much money to spend around. Smile

Someday. We’ll own you.

Then yesterday as we were at the Power Mac center at the Megamall, we saw students in their nursing scrubs happy with their MacBook purchase. Good for them!

Shopping from Amazon

Have you ever shopped from Amazon? Well I have. At least twice. Both times though, I had my purchases delivered to my uncle’s house in San Francisco.

The first purchase was for a Sony PSP. Though I had to pay in dollars, it was still cheaper than what I would have paid had I bought it here. The second was for cookbooks. The Hello, Cupcake! book, and The Field Guide to Cookies. I also got The Tales of Beedle the Bard with that shipment.

Since they were shipped to a US address, and was of a qualifying price range, shipping was free. I also didn’t have to pay for customs because either my dad or my uncle brought it home with them from the US.

Today, when we picked up our Photojojo goodies from the Post Office, we were surprised at the obscenity of the Customs and EVAT charges. So was the lady next to us. She was claiming a delivery from Amazon, and was so disappointed by the excessive tariff incurred. Oh well. Next time you order from Amazon, have them ship packages not exceeding  50 dollars at a time. Packages 50 USD and up are levied with taxes already. Ugh. Not a good idea when you have to pay for International shipping. Sad smile