MORE BOOKS FOR THE WEEKEND

Another glorious day done and gone. Another week completed. Three books read and two to go for the weekend. This week was a quiet one. I spent more time reading than anything else other than working.

So far, I could say only 'THE KITE RUNNER' was worth talking about. The other two I've read wasn't as interesting. James Patterson's Double Cross was ok. However, my reading of the book was more of a thrill induced rather than a curiousity ilicited fixation . There wasn't much of a substance to it. Unlike The Kite Runner, you learn about another culture, place and dogmas. Usually, when it's thrill induced, you sort of know the ending even when you're still in the middle of the book.

The view right now from our bedroom window

Yearning for a more daedal anthology (probably due to my inability to withdraw totally from Twilight), I rang my sister for more book recommendations, and she said '...find Kabul Beauty School and A thousand Splendid Suns'. So off I went and got the two books at $24.99 each.

I got told by the sales lady that she's seen the documentary of the Kabul Beauty School and she said it's awesome...So I've decided to read Kabul Beauty School first.

I can feel a migraine looming over the weekend, so I'm hoping I can get through before I get totally debilitated by the resounding-throbbing pain and sensitivity to light and sound. Yes, I'm one of 'em unlucky ones...

Anyway, I hope you all have a fun weekend. Enjoy and be safe.

THE KITE RUNNER

My sister sent me a book by Khaled Hosseini, which I got last week through Kuya Boy. Most of you may have already heard of it because it's been produced as a motion picture by Dreamworks. I haven't. I only read it over the weekend, and boy was it an awakening weekend. The title of the book is 'THE KITE RUNNER'.

Afghanistan- First thing that comes to mind is: Al Qaeda...War...Terrorists.

This book gives out a different picture, a smoother backdrop, a more ethnic awareness and even the point of humour from a country now so perceived as riddled with evil and inhuman acts. This is a book about the Afghanistan before the Russian Invasion, the aftermath, and the present Afghanistan.

It's about the humanity in Afghanistan and the culture within back when freedom was not an exorbitant commodity but rather a conventional bystander, one , which was often taken for granted. Now an impossible dream.

I don't want to impart much of the plot because some of my friends already expressed interest in reading the book. I'd rather they read the book and perceive their own natural conjectures based on the status quo of Afghanistan. Midway of reading, I am sure they're in for an educational awakening.

My sister's also sending me a DVD copy of the movie. I just hope it'll get here as quick as my patience can hold, because right now, I am so wanting to go to Video Ezy to rent a copy of the DVD.

Thanks sis.

PROCRASTINATING TO THE MAX

It's now Sunday afternoon. My procrastinating days are over. I'm due back to work tomorrow and I do expect a busy week ahead. But with the full intention of making the most of my time off from work, I wasted no time in wasting all of it in gallivanting around with my hubby and friends.

This car goes well with this booty

Most of Saturday was spent in my car driving around for garage sales to looking for Cat's prospective car-to-be then test driving a V8 Holden Statesman, to ransacking a Filipino Farm in the rural area half an hour drive from my house-well, really, about 3 hours drive wasted on looking for the right way after getting lost several times. Thanks to the GPS in my Nokia N95/8G, we found the right farm and our way out.


Mona got dropped off by her husband here at my place about 7:00AM. Cat arrived shortly after with her laptop on tow (not intending to let Papa Eric miss out a bit of her day-owwwsssweeeet), then we had breakfast before we started the never-ending drive.

Negotiation Skills at its best comparable to that of a Hostage Negotiator

We went to some garage sales looking for essentials to furnish Mona and Allan's newly bought house (another hang-out-to-be). Although it was not as productive as we hoped, we somehow saw an area just right along Stuart hi-way full of private vehicles for sale. Cat is currently looking for a new car because her Emina is already starting to falter on her. She's only had one look at this V8 Holden Statesman and she's fallen in love with it. So typical of her. So Cat and my husband joined forces with their negotiation skills...in translation, BARATAN talents...the Statesman was being sold for $22,000.00. Cat managed to get it down to $19,000.00...But my husband has an unbeaten talent in BARATAN, he got it down to $17,000.00.

Cat: Yes! This is better than any man!!!

Mona: Buti pa to pati upuan leather.

They arranged to meet with the owner, then we went ahead and pursued another garage sale in one of the rural communities here in Darwin. Again, without any luck, we decided to go to Kuya Leo's farm (a Filipino Farmer here in Darwin).


We've been to his farm so many times before (specially during Mango season), but amazingly, just one missed turn then we were lost. Anyway, yes we found the farm and raided from it cooking bananas (Saba), pumpkins (lots of it), kalamansi and banana blossoms, which Cat later on cooked with Gata (Grabe Sarap! Swerte ni Papa E).

The Banana Plantation

Mona will never survive in a farm... She stayed most of the time inside the car, scared of such a gentle creature...Earth Worm. Snakes are rampant in the farm, but she wasn't scared of that, she was scared of Earth Worms. She'd probably kill an Earth Worm with a full Magazine of UZI if given the chance. For some strange reasons...she loathes these creature with the absolute degree of loathing.

We came back to Palmerston and headed straight to McDonald's McCafe for some very refreshing Frappe. In the afternoon we test-drove the V8, Cat falling in love with it more, but hated the owner for being such a DH. So she decided to give it a miss. Geees, she would have bought it had he given her extra attention. Looking back, I think she made the right decision anyway. A V8 is so costly in fuel consumption, plus the fact that it runs like a wheeled missile...Not a good choice for someone with 4 little kids. The sound of the car alone sounds so intimidating.
Pumpkins and bananas for the matatakaw.
We spent the rest of the day cooking and eating here in the house...and oh, consoling Ate Luz with her love problems. She came here late at night in tears, so being the good friends that we are, we had to lend our ears. But like most marriage problems, friends can only listen and give assurances

By 10:00PM we've all fallen asleep in my family room, probably due to exhaustion...
Xander up in a mango tree-braver than his mum
Ate Luz having a nightmare while Cat is in la-la land


Well, that's how my cookie crumbled on Saturday....

Early this morning, we decided to go to the Sunday Rapid Creek Market, bought food then went to the Nightcliff Jetty for some fresh Air. It probably did good in Ate Luz's system because she started smiling and laughing again. We've made bets on the odds of 'someone' either coming back to Darwin this week or not. Unfortunately, shortly after we've closed the deal, we found out the answer...my group lost. So we have to shout the other group a lunch at the Sky City Casino next week.

The showbiz mother and son

Cat in la-la land again

So there goes the finale of my week off from work...Exhausting but good. Productive? Not really. But that was the intention for taking this time off from work...rest and cruise around.

Who's taking who to lunch again? I think I said he's coming back....

I'm now looking forward to the April holy week long weekend....Ang sarap pala ng walang ginagawa kundi lakwatsa ng lakwatsa....

3 DAYS PRINGLES BINGE

It's been a while since I've last eaten Pringles. Although it used to be my favorite past time junk food, I must've had too much of this at one point years ago, that I simply got too sick of it.

But long time ago... My sister used to get a lot of Pringles from her suitors, boyfriends and admirers. Back in Pinas way back when dagohoy ruled, Pringles was so expensive, so it really is a treat having this junk food. My Mum never wasted money on junk foods, so Pringles came few and far between. I only depended...well, prayed so often that my sister will have more rich admirers so I can have more Pringles. The richer the admirer is, the more pringles she gets. Not that she gave me often...I'd have to beg for it...to the extent of even stealing inch thick worth of Pringles each time from her bed room where she keept all the goodies from her admirers.

I'm telling yah, desperate need means desperate measures. It's like Mission Impossible having to bribe a cousin as a lookout in exchange for a couple of chips of Pringles, or any quid pro quo. It was like the most precious 'caviar' while living in CMU.

When I came to Australia, I had such a bender, over indulging in Pringles. That's how my revulsion came about. One day, I hated Pringles so much. I could not even stand the smell of it at one point. I was sick sick sick as in sick as a goat with Pringles.

Anyway, I've taken three days off from work starting yesterday (I am due to go back on Monday). So last Tuesday, I went to buy some groceries intending not to leave the house but stay home and rest/procrastinate/watch TV/read books/listen to music/surf the net/eat-all five days, weekend included.

Guess what I found. Yes a SIX-PACKER of Pringles. I don't know what made me do it but I bought it anyway....

Believe it or not, I am back binging again. My hubby even got surprised when he saw this box and asked me, "How come you bought Pringles?"

Well, maybe I'm having this 'BACK TO THE FUTURE' moment.

It's still the same yummy old crispy Pringles that has, no doubt, a lot of MSG.

OH MY LORD, three more to go....

Please note, all photos are mine, modelled by my friend Cat. It's not an AD from Pringles.