After the heights of "Annie Hall", "Manhattan", and "Stardust Memories", director Woody Allen has gone a little off the boil lately. His recent movies, set in London, have seemed a pale reflection of his work in New York. For "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" he has changed the scene to Spain. Our reviewer Gary Pollard tells us it's worked like a charm, resulting in one of his best movies in a long time.

American writer Meg Cabot, creator of "The Princess Diaries", has been voted by her readers the "Queen of Teen". She's also an unofficial counsellor who answers their questions on romance, beauty, pets, or how to become writers. Last Saturday, as part of her Asian tour, she was in Hong Kong. The Works spoke to her.

Performing in our studio tonight is the Swiss quintet whose name means "voice of joy". They are Kolsimcha, and they bring a new twist to Jewish klezmer music, adding touches of jazz, world, and even classical music.

If you want to take a look at the show, you can see a streaming video here

In September, the library's shipment of new books arrived, so of course, I had to pick up a few to read.  The books that I read were just for fun, nothing too serious.  I'm actually glad that I read them because at the time, I didn't want to deal with anything too deep or involved.  I have been enjoying a nice break from the drama-ridden teen books that my students love.  I read these books:

Airhead by Meg Cabot (This story is about a tomboy whose brain is transferred into the body of a top model)

Oh.My.Goth by Gena Showalter( A goth girl is transported to an alternate world)

Oh.My.God by Teraan Lynn Childs (This is basically a greek myth-teen drama story)

I wish I could make fireworks blast and a parade go across the screen.  This review is long overdue.

When we last left Allie Finkle she had just moved into a big, old, creepy fixer-upper house that possibly had a zombie hand living in the attic.

We pick up right where we left off and Allie is attempting to get ready to school but she can't find her leggings.  One of her rules is that it is important to look good on your first day of school so that everyone thinks you are nice.  She decides that jeans with her skirt will have to do.

After a breakfast of popcorn (because nothing is unpacked yet) Allie walks to school with her younger brother Kevin (who is dressed as a pirate) and her new friend from next door, Erica.  Allie is nervous about school but thinks it will be ok.  She already knows Erica, Caroline, and Sophie, so she isn't totally alone. 

But then the biggest kid in fourth grade decides she doesn't like the weird New Girl.  Even though Allie hasn't done anything, Rosemary finds things to pick on her about - wearing jeans with a skirt, wanting to be the best cat owner in the world, losing the fourth grade spelling bee.

Allie doesn't know what to do.  Rosemary wants to beat her up.  BEAT HER UP!!  Will she be able to navigate a new school, new house, and a new bully all at once?

Review:
It took me a long time to sit down and write this review. The folks at Camp Meg Cabot were nice enough to send me an advance copy so I feel terrible being such a slacker. However, here it is.

I really love this book. It takes me back to being nine again. I love the way Allie thinks and talks. She seems like a real nine year old you could find on any playground. I bet a lot of kids like to read this series for that very reason. I also think Allie is hilarious. She has some of the funniest lines in any of the Meg Cabot books I've read.

I liked the new characters and situations. The addition of Grandma/the in-law was great. It made the book relevant to adults, too. I know many people who have had similar in-law experiences to the one Mrs. Finkle had.

The book seemed very authentic to me and nothing seemed forced. Allie was interested in science and rocks and squirrels - all things not typically associated with little girls - but it didn't seem like she liked these things in a forced way to make little girls realize they can like whatever they want - even trucks. And Allie tries to work out her own problem with the bully instead of relying on her parents to make the problem go away, which is an important lesson about learning how to stand on your own two feet.

I don't know how Meg Cabot can write so many books and have them turn out so well. Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls: The New Girl is a gem. I hope there are 10 more books in this series. If I were a kid, I'd rather read about Allie Finkle than Hannah Montana.

Meg, I have to know...when is Allie Finkle 3 coming out?! I cannot wait!

You can read another review for this book over at The Compulsive Reader.

Last weekend was Iowa's Homecoming (and I hear that I am lucky to be such a nerd and to have chosen to do homework over watching the game. Cmon Hawkeyes! make Nate Kaeding proud!) and to celebrate there is always a concert after the parade---this year was Rooney!!!!! (and Chuck Berry, also very cool) AHHHH, MICHAEL MOSCOVITZ IN IOWA CITY!!!! I saw the Princess Diaries movie before reading any of the books, so Robert Schwartzman will always be Michael to me. Whether he likes it or not. sly smile.

anyway, so I got out of work and walked downtown to wait for my friends before watching the parade. Wait, what do I hear?? is that a heavenly angel doing a soundcheck? NO IT WAS MICHAEL MOSCOVITZ! (omigosh I hope Robert doesn't google himself and read this...) The stage for the Homecoming show is just out in front of the Old Capitol Building, so the Rooney boys were essentially just doing their preshow stuff outside--meaning that I could literally just walk right up to the stage and watch. Don't worry, I tried to look cool. I leaned against a rock and took out a newspaper while slightly shaking my head along to the music. OMG! there were literally only like five other people there watching with me--so chances are good that maybe the guys in the band made eye contact with me??!! I was trying really hard to have a quirky-Midwestern-girl-I-am-enjoying-your-music-very-much-but-I-am-not-throwing-myself-at-you smile, which is really hard to do. Especially when you are panicked that you are giving a I-may-look-23-but-if-I-come-face-to-face-with-you-i'm-going-to-scream-and-steal-some-of-your-hair-for-a-scrapbook smile. here is a representation of the situation:

except imagine my hair shorter, and Robert looking less like Michael Moscovitz.

oh, and just to make a connection between Rooney and another teen-girl book sensation. Their video for "Are You Afraid of Me" is all about vampires. Yes.

oh and this is one of the songs they played while I was watching soundcheck and my eyes glazed over. Totally reminds me of Phantom Planet's "Hey Now Girl"--as in I love it.

amberj.

If you are like me and don't know Godalming, I can tell you it's very pretty, and so wealthy (I imagine) that the shops mainly sells things you don't need. The Book People "live" in Godalming, and they were the ones behind the Queen of Teen award, which ended with a coronation and a great pink party in a marquee on the lawn. I was promised peacocks, but didn't see them. Flamingos would have suited the pink theme better.

I have never seen three pink limousines all at once before. Plus a white one. The authors were driven round with a fan each in the limos, before being decanted onto the red carpet (why not pink?) by the marquee, in front of eager photographers. In the case of Sarra Manning and Grace Dent the drive lasted for hours, but at least they got to know their fans very, very well. Jacqueline Wilson said her neighbours got something to look at when her pink limo came to pick her up. Not an everyday occurrence, then. Someone, I forget who, said she was willing to pay not to go in a limo again. Ah well.

The marquee was a little pink. The carpet inside was totally pink, and so uneven that we didn't need pink champagne to stumble every now and then. The food was pink, and very lovely. Even the portaloos were posh, if not exactly pink. It could have been a wedding, except there weren't enough men there. It was all organised by Susie from the Book People, and she can do a party for me anytime.

The invited girls queued to chat to the authors, who signed books and leaflets like mad. The tables were groaning under free books, and once the fans cottoned on to this, they disappeared very fast. The books. Not the fans. There were also party bags at the end, filled with even more goodies and books. If that doesn't encourage reading, I don't know what will.

As this was a crowning of a queen, there were tiaras. And those bands that royals wear on posh occasions. Pink, naturally. The chosen girl for each author was invited onto the stage to put a tiara on the head of her favourite, and they all made a brief speech about why they like them so much. I was very impressed with how well the girls spoke. It must be the quality of the writers that produces such great fans.

I have not read all of them. I dipped into a few books on the way, and quite enjoyed Meg Cabot's Princess Mia. Meg, by the way, was the only one not there, as she had some books to sign in South Africa. Had a brief look at Karen McCombie's book, which I just happened to find on a shelf at home. As for Louise Rennison, she got to sign the strangest book of the day for me. She had to ask, but it was Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging in Swedish. I saw fit to use it for language lessons a few years ago. I remember the kissing lesson. Trying not to muscle in too much on the younger fans, I also added a few names to my quest for signatures in my short story collections. Their stories, not mine. So, doing well on that front.

We all agreed that to have real, live authors makes a difference between today's readers and the Enid Blyton generation. All the writers present felt honoured to share the pink chairs with their sister authors. Karen wanted her eight-year-old self to see her now, which would have been interesting if possible. Karen, as she is now, is very pretty, and the Scottish accent is a real bonus. Joanna Nadin's fan was particularly wonderful, and she alone could tempt me to read Joanna's books.

Lisa Clark's hair is fantastic. It might not influence her writing, but looks great. Jacqueline Wilson was tanned from a recent holiday, and looked very well. And, she wore pink, a dreamy muted kind of pink. Cathy Cassidy had left her favourite green clothes, and was also pink for the day. Cathy Hopkins said she didn't have anything pink, but the scarf did the trick, and Cathy looks so fantastic these days. Must be an author thing. We didn't see so much of Sarra and Grace, as they arrived very late, after their enforced limo ride round most of Britain (I'm making it up), but check out Grace's shoes! Louise is a born entertainer, and was really funny.

Two more authors in the shape of Fiona Dunbar and Sophie MacKenzie, who were ladies with a mission. They were the ones who had the envelope with the name of the soon-to-be Queen of Teen. It was nearly the Oscars, and as some of you may have gathered, the new Queen is Louise Rennison. She gave up her tiara for the much grander crown, and then had to learn to walk around without it falling off. The throne really suited her, and she was pretty good at cutting the ceremonial cake, as well.

With all the books gone, the cakes eaten and photos taken, we all trooped off home. Or tried to. Godalming was harder to leave than you'd think. The witch forced herself on a very kind librarian from York with two girls, and shared a taxi. The taxi driver was friendly, but I can't say the same for his controller. They're weird in Surrey. Some of them, I mean. The traffic jam had to be seen to be believed, and according to the driver he had never seen it before. Must have been us, then.

Lovely day, whether it was Monday or Tuesday, or both.

Will it be Jacqueline Wilson or Meg Cabot? Maybe one of the Cathys; Cassidy or Hopkins? Louise Rennison or Karen McCombie perhaps? Or pink lady Lisa Clark, or Grace Dent, Sarra Manning or Joanna Nadin?

I haven't voted, I must admit. I want to remain as neutral as possible, though I understand Daughter had a go.

As some of you might know, the newest and the last book of the popular Princess Diaries series is expected to come out on January 6, 2009!

look here:

Mia is about to turn eighteen and has decided to put down her princess pen for good. This is your one and only chance to find out how it all ends – including the answers to hotter than hot questions like: Is the practically perfect J.P. the real love of Mia’s life? Will an election in Genovia mean the end of princessdom for Mia? Is she REALLY the last virgin at Albert Einstein High? And finally, crucially, will Michael Moscovitz return from Japan and make a last-minute romantic gesture just in time to save our heroine from making a VERY big mistake???? We could tell you how it all ends, but we’d have to send Mia’s bodyguard Lars round to sort you out. You have so got to read the book!

-----

-http://www.panmacmillan.com/titles/displayPage.asp?PageTitle=Individual%20Title&BookID=402103

For more info on the book, look at these websites:

http://www.megcabot.com/comingsoon.php

http://forums.megcabot.com/index.php?showtopic=43452&st=0&p=2132409&#entry2132409

http://www.megcabot.com/

(all links open to a new window)

about mia:

--http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Princess_Diaries--

Her Royal Highness, Amelia Mignonette Grimaldi Thermopolis Renaldo, Crown Princess of Genovia: Mia is a vegetarian and animal-rights activist who cares deeply about the environment. In the 9th book she quits her vegetarianism because of all her problems, and she says that she doesn't care. She often laments her looks; she says she has triangular, "dishwater blonde" or "mouse brown" hair, "a really big mouth and no breasts and feet that look like skis", and that at 5' 9" she is the tallest girl in her class, which she does not appreciate. According to her outspoken best friend Lilly Moscovitz, her "only attractive feature" is her grey eyes. Mia also says that she weighs five "Fat Louies", Which translates to about one hundred and twenty pounds.

--END--

(im sorry if the picture is blurry, but its the only book cover i could find, but that is the book cover)

WATCH VIDEO ABOUT BOOK!

go here:   http://www.harpercollins.com/harperteen/megcabot/MCTV.aspx

*******************~****************************~***********************************~*~~~~~~~

for more info on it, look at her blog here: http://www.megcabot.com/diary/?p=508

Thanks,

Asiandomination©

My playlist

Today was my first real day at the Bath Festival of Children's Literature. I worked at a couple of smaller events earlier in the week but today spent the entire day as a volunteer at the festival headquarters (or "hub" if you prefer that word).

My work today was as a runner. I repeatedly wittily defined this as "doing all the jobs that higher-skilled people are too busy to carry out" because I am, in fact, the font of all humorous comments. The actual work involved packing bags, moving equipment, handing out free newspapers, crowd control, taking photos of events and various other interesting jobs. And it was very enjoyable.

If you haven't yet had a chance to visit the festival, I'd advise doing so (it runs until the 28th September; booking can be done online or by phone). It's a great atmosphere, there's some big names and it's a great thing to be involved in. And it get's kids reading, which is obviously very important. As well as the various public events, the festival will run about 75 events at local schools in the next five days, including one at my own institution.

Joe Craig - because I have to put a picture of
someone famous in this article.

Today, I was able to get involved in a few big events. The first was talk by Joe Craig, the author of the Jimmy Coates series. I've never much had time for his books, waiving them off as irrelevant reinventions of the Bourne series by Robert Ludlum. Although I still hold this belief, I have a great much more respect for the man. He's a fantastic speaker and really gets his audience involved in what he's talking about. He's also surprisingly witty at times, getting chuckles even from po-faced me.

The second event was an interview with Dakota Blue Richards, the 14 year old who stared a year or so back in the Golden Compass as Lyra. Despite being so young, she was a very good interviewee, saying all the right things to get the crowd going and was very amiable at the signing she did afterwards.

The third event was the signing from Meg Cabot, having totally missed her speech. Meg is the author of various books celebrated by tweenage girls (such as the Princess Diaries) and was incredibly popular with her 'fore mentioned clientèle. The queue for her signing was massive, full of fans (and very few parents). She was, again, very kind to all the people there, very chatty and appeared as a very nice person.

So, all in all, I had a very good day. The festival is an amazing place with some brilliant guests and high national acclaim (although only in its second year). For all those visiting, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. For those not, look into it next year!

Without authors, we'd all be sad sacks longing for something to read.  We love all authors and we honored them with their own category.  Here are the five most popularly nominated blogging authors"

Camy Tang ~ "Camy "writes romance with a kick of wasabi." Her blog is entitled Camy's Loft.

Colleen Gleason ~ Colleen is a "novelist who writes the historical vampire slayer series, The Gardella Vampire Chronicles. When I'm not working on my next book, I love to read, watch movies, and hang out with my three kids and husband."

John Scalzi ~ John's blog is entitled Whatever and he says, "Back in the old days we had to hand roll our HTML! In the snow! Uphill! Both ways! And we were THANKFUL."

Meg Cabot ~ Meg is "the author of nearly fifty books for both adults and teens, selling fifteen million copies worldwide, many of which have been #1 New York Times bestsellers, most notably The Princess Diaries series, which is currently being published in over 38 countries, and was made into two hit movies by Disney."

Neil Gaiman ~ Neil will be participating in the National Book Festival this month and I'm hoping to get a chance to meet him, too!  Check out his blog.  There's a lot of interesting information.

And finally here is a Princess Diaries book that I actually really liked - Princess Mia. Leave it to Cabot to save up all this likability for the second to last book in the series. HMPH!!!

This books starts up right after the last book ends - with Michael on his way to Japan, Mia at home and brokenhearted and really regretting that she broke up with him and is determined to get back together with him. While she's waiting she heads off to Beauty and the Beast with JP.

Michael does call her...but it's not what she wants to hear. He did a lot of thinking on the plane and basically he thinks it's best that they just be friends. Mia agrees with him on the phone, although in her head she's screaming "NOOOOO!" Then she hides in her bed for a week. Then her parents send her therapy. Yes, seriously after being in bed for a week her parents send her to therapy.

Now if you are like me you are sitting here wondering why the hell they didn't do so years earlier.

Oh, and Lilly isn't speaking to her. Lilly is being very Lilly-like which is to say she's being mean. Only Mia seems to be seeing it...maybe. Sort of. Meanwhile she's discovering that someone else that she thought was mean is maybe not so mean.

And she grows an inch taller. And her boobs get bigger.

What I liked: Mia (whom I have not liked the last few books), Mia seeing that Lilly isn't a nice person, Mia's therapist, Mia having the backbone that she should have developed at least 3 books earlier, Lana (yes I said Lana), Tina, Mia actually showing signs of growing up.

What I didn't like: Does she really *need* have to a love interest? Seriously? Ho-hum. So boring. It would be far more interesting if she didn't have one. One does not need have a guy around in order to get over another guy.

Now I'm kind of sad that there's only one book left in the series.

Books devoured this summer of 2008:

1. Chicks With Sticks (Knit Two Together) by Elizabeth Lenhard (244 pages)
2. Peeled by Joan Bauer (247 pages)
3. How To Be Popular by Meg Cabot (288 pages)
4. Pretty Face by Mary Hogan (213)
5. Airhead by Meg Cabot (337 pages)
6. Skin by Adrienne Maria Vrettos (227 pages)
7. Forever by Judy Blume (192 pages)
8. The Boyfriend List by e. lockhart (229 pages)
9. Gender Blender by Blake Nelson (182 pages)
10. A Brief Chapter In My Impossible Life by Dana Reinhardt (228 pages)
11. Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson (250 pages)
12. The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks (263 pages)
13. At First Sight by Nicholas Sparks (277 pages)
14. The Burn Journals by Brent Runyon (374 pages)
15. The Man of My Dreams by Curtis Sittenfeld (269 pages)
16. Dangerously Alice by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (304 pages)
17. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (214 pages)
18. Smart Boys & Fast Girls by Stephie Davis (178 pages)
19. Boomsday by Christopher Buckley (318 pages)
20. Something To Blog About by Shana Norris (246 pages)
21. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer (754 pages)
22. Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt (402 pages)
23. Briana's Gift by Lurlene McDaniel (160 pages)
24. Prom by Laurie Halse Anderson (215 pages)
25. This Boy's Life by Tobias Wolff (304 pages)
26. Reach For Tomorrow by Lurlene McDaniel (171 pages)
27. The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen (374 pages)
28. Hit and Run by Lurlene McDaniel (180 pages)
29. The Missing Girl by Norma Fox Mazer (284 pages)
30. Fly On The Wall by e. lockhart (192 pages)

There we have it. My reading frenzy began in June and did not end until last night. I feel so accomplished now that I know that I can read thirty books in such a short amount of time. My favorite out out of all these was definitely The Catcher in the Rye.

I have read 8,116 pages this summer... And I enjoyed every single one.

         After going out with Mom last venerdi, we went home, and I saw my volleyball pals on our way home. I asked my mom to drop me there, and she did. I didn't bring any money with me, because I let her bring my purse back home. 

         Maricar was there, and we just talked. Chyna left us to play cards with her other friends. Penny showed up, and he joined our conversation. Penny wasn't aware that I was avoiding topics that had anything to do with sex, but he was really insensitive, and I realized that I didn't like what we're talking about, plus it's not my type of conversation, so I decided to go home. The couple walked me home and I thanked them. 

          When I got home, I pulled out the "Princess Diaries 8: Princess on the Brink" out of the shopping bag and covered it with plastic. You know, I've been like this since I was a kid, covering my books and notebooks with clear plastic. When I was finished covering my new book with plastic, I peeked at the last page and saw the tragic ending. Oh oh oh. I kept the book in my closet and started filling out the forms that Meredith from Hsbc gave me. I couldn't believe how big the salary was. So far, it's the biggest salary offer I had in my whole life. Thank you God for the blessings. 

          I went to sleep because I need to wake up early the next day, which was yesterday, to talk to Gareth. 

Yesterday

         I woke up around nine in the morning. My mom was throwing tantrums, because the house was messy, although for normal, ordinary people, who are not clean freaks, it looks fine. I got up and helped her. When we're done, I went online, and waited for Gareth.

        Guess what, he never showed up. But it's totally fine with me because I'm just his online friend, not his girlfriend, so he doesn't have any responsibility to me. Plus, there must be a good explanation behind his absence. I remember him telling me about his internship, so that must be it. And besides, he's not gonna AWOL without giving me any explanations about it, you know. That's not like him. But still, I waited for him until 4 o'clock in the afternoon.

         While Gareth was offline, I chatted in englishbaby. I asked the admin if there's an opening for another admin position. She/he said that I'm not qualified or even considered because she/he hires people beyond 60 only. What the heck. I know it's bull, you know, because old people are not really interested in this kind of work, plus I'm only 19, and when I turn 60, englishbaby is probably faced out or gone. I thanked the admin, and I said that I will reapply when I turned 60, even if I thought that I might die at the age of 50. Who knows? Admin thanked me for having an interest and for the meantime; she'll have my application reviewed and my doings in ebaby monitored.

          I worked on my blog, and chatted with my old friends. Rainstrs was here in the country, and he gave his number through friendster. I texted him, and we talked. He said he hopes to see me and my mares. I'm not sure if I wanted to see him.

         My sorella came, and she smells weird. Haha. We watched "Caregiver". Oh my gosh. I don't usually do reviews on local movies, but I think it deserves one.

Caregiver

Starring: Sharon Cuneta, John Estrada, Jong Hilario and Rica Peralejo.

          Sarah, played by Megastar Sharon Cuneta, and Ted, played by John Estrada, were a couple, and they have a son, Pao. Ted left for UK to seek better luck and to work as a nurse. After few months or so, Sarah follows him, leaving their son, Pao, to his grandma. 

        Ted welcomes Sarah in their flat in UK. Sarah found a job as a caregiver and started right away, as Ted works in a hospital, as a nurse. At first, Sarah couldn't do it, but her friend, Rica Peralejo, encouraged her by reminding her the pounds they're earning there. Lily, Sarah's patient died and was replaced by another, who just had an open-heart surgery, Mr. Morgan.

         Mr. Morgan had two children (both grown-up, of course), Margareth and David. At first, Mr. Morgan and Sarah couldn't get along with each other, but when Sarah finally gave Mr. Morgan an ultimatum, he stopped being mean to her, and they became friends.
 
         Sarah saw her neighbor's child (Makisig Morales), another Philippino, mugged and she took him to hospital. That's when she learned that her husband wasn't a nurse there, but a nurse aid. 

         Sarah worked hard, while Ted engaged into drinking. Their friend, Rica's husband, Jong Hilario- who was a doctor here in the Philippines, and became a nurse when he came to UK-was fired because of insubordination. You know, the resident doctor told him to do something but he didn't do because he believed that it's not the right thing to do in that case. He saved a life, but he was fired, that's the sad part. 

          Sarah's work was going well when Ted gave up on his dream and wanted to go back to Philippines. They decided to go back to the Philippines, but then, David, Mr. Morgan's son called to tell Sarah that he's father was dying and wanted to see her. Sarah went with David to their country house and visited Mr. Morgan. Mr. Morgan died. 

          It wasn't going well between Sarah and Ted that time, so I assumed that Sarah and David will be a pair. But I was wrong. Haha. 

         At the airport, Sarah changed her mind about going back to the Philippines and called it quits with Ted.

        The next scene shifted to Sarah, walking in London. Sarah stopped walking and smiled to someone, running towards her. It was his son, Pao, with Makisig Morales. I assumed that there's a time gap in the movie, and they just showed how Sarah and Ted split up, but it was a happy ending because Sarah finally gets to see her son and be with him in London.

         The moral of the story: sometimes you don't know that you already arrived in your destination. Well, technically, Sarah has a good job here in the Philippines and had the chance to be promoted but she turned the promotion down because she's leaving for UK. She wasn't aware that her job in the Philippines as an English teacher was as fulfilling as her job in UK as a caregiver.

         Anyways, it's a good movie. I don't usually praise a local movie, because in my opinion, moviemakers here in the country are influenced by westerners and therefore, they don't have originality. But this one is different. It's actually good. It shows the reality of life. OFWs are really working hard abroad to earn and their kids just waste their money. Plus, Europeans don't really value their elders. I couldn't stand seeing them dumped into a home-for-the-aged. Made we wanna cry. And I'll dump Ted too, like what Sarah did, because he was an A-hole

          I give 8 out of 10 stars.

          I went back to chatting with my friends in ebaby, while the rest of the family relaxed in one, sunny Sunday. I was four pm when I finally decided to log-out because Gareth didn't show up. I guess I waited enough. 
         
         I took about and shut myself in my bedroom and continued reading Princess Diaries 8. I lied on my bed with wet hair; I let the pillow absorb the wetness of my hair. I was there, happy, reading my favorite book of all time, when fratello disturbed the peace. He said that I had a visitor. Well, it's not usual that I get visitor, but I wasn't excited to know whoever she/he was, but nonetheless, I showed up. Pssh. It's just Maricar and Penny. 
 
         I forgot that I invited Maricar here in the house the last time we met. I could've invited her inside if her boyfriend wasn't with her. I'm good with Penny, but he's not the type of person that I would actually invite in my house. Call me mean or whatever but I will never do that.

         I let them in, but we stayed outside. I had them sit down in front of our house. We talked there, and our new dog, which was all black and very small, went up to me. We decided to call the new dog "Gopal", after my team leader, who is now back in India.
     
         Penny kicked our dog, and I was pissed, I automatically kicked him triple harder than he did to Gopal. But he didn't shriek, like our poor little doggie. Anyways, I was opposed of getting a new dog, because this family has to set the responsibilities right now, and for now, we don't really need another responsibility, plus the fact that we get rid of Angel, Sebastian Hastings, Kiara and Bitoy, so I have no real affection for the new dog. But he's so sweet, noh, so I can't help it but to feel sorry for him. Haha. 

         I went to Maricar to hang-out with her in the court, and it's a very long time since I did that. Jam was there too, and I didn't stay that much long because i remembered that I have a book to read. I went home, took a bath and continued reading the book. Here's what happened in Princess Diaries 8:

Princess on the Brink

          The kick-off in Princess Mia's junior year wasn't that great. Let me update you with what currently happened in the plot.

         JP and Lilly were dating, and she was so over with Boris, who was dating Tina. Shameeka, Ling Su and Perin were still part of Mia's crew.

        Gretchen Weinberger, Lana Weinberger's sister, started her freshman year. Lilly wants Mia to run again for presidency, and do what they supposed to do last year. You know, Lilly will make Mia run, Mia will win because everybody likes her now, she'll step down and Lilly will take over because she's the vice-president.

          Mia thinks JP and Lilly Did It. You might not get this if you don't read Princess Diaries Series. It means sex. That's right. 

         Everything was just fine, even though Mia doesn't think so. That's when Michael drops his little bombshell: he's going to Japan, for a year. To build a robot that will help not to open the chest of people who need open-heart surgery. His main motivation for that? To prove that he's worthy of Mia's love, because tabloids, magazines, and probably the whole USA didn't think so. 

         Mia didn't want Michael to leave, so she tried to bribe Michael. You know, Michael wanted them to have sex (well, every guy wants to have sex, right?) before, because they're dating, but Mia refuses (in sixth and seventh book), because of her feminist beliefs. Grandmere intentionally gave Mia her key into her abandoned suite in The Ritz and advised Mia to have a "romantic-goodbye" to Michael. Mia had an idea, and was willing to sacrifice her so-called "Precious Gift", which is virginity, to make Michael stay and forget about Japan.

           Mia arranged everything. She had the dinner ready, herself exfoliated and all. They started talking about it, and maybe she forgot that her boyfriend is a genius, so Michael knew what she's up to, right away. She kept referring to virginity as "Precious Gift" and Michael was like, "what is that?" Then, she explained. Michael told that he wasn't a virgin anymore. Mia lost it all and went crazy all over, demanding who's that girl. And that was Judith Gershner. Michael said that he Did It with Judith before he knew that Mia likes him, and he's just friends with Judith and they're just messing around that time.

         Mia totally lost it and accused Michael of being a liar. She dumped him (well, not exactly) by giving back his Snowflake necklace to him (his present for Mia's birthday). Mia walked out of the argument and went home. Michael will leave for Japan the next day, but still, he's trying to explain or somewhat like that. 

        Mia went to school, and her crew knew it before she could tell them, and that's because of Lilly. Well, Michael told her sister that Mia dumped him. Lilly criticized Mia more, and told her what to do, in a sarcastic and mean way. Mia was used to that, but JP took is very seriously and dragged Lilly out of the caf (it's lunch time). 

       In G and T, Lilly tells Mia that JP dumped her. And in Chemistry, JP tells Mia why he dumped Lilly, and that's partly because of her (Mia). JP doesn't like girls like Lilly, who are all mean, sarcastic and bossy to other people. JP and Mia agreed to stay friends. Chemistry class was over, JP and Mia kissed accidentally, in front of Michael, who showed up in AEHS to explain. SURPRISE!!! 

          Mia tried to explain to Michael, who just turned and walk away. While that was happening, big-mouthed Kenny Showalter, Mia's ex-boyfriend, told Lilly. Mia decided to ran after him to the airport, but missed him. When Mia went back to the Loft, she called Lilly and they called it quits. "Maybe we've been friends long enoug, POG...." Lilly said. 

          Mia hanged-up, and JP called, asking him to watch Beauty and the Beast with him, in Broadway. His dad produces the show. 

         Mia agreed, as she sent Michael a text message saying, "I'm sorry."

          Okay, I am speechless. Because there's a lot of things to say. Let's start with Mia first, since she's the protagonist. Mia was now matured and probably achieved self-actualization. She can talk about sex or even write about it without saying EW. She had totally stepped out of her "shell". (uhm, reminds me of someone). But of course, she still hadn't get it yet. She hadn't get it yet that if boys can have IT free, they will go for it. That's how they're designed. So long before Mia and Michael started going out, Michael lost IT to Judith. Mia was so furious because Michael lied about it. Technically, he didn't lie, he just didn't tell Mia about it.

         What Michael did was right. You know, not telling Mia about to whom he lost IT. Why, because he knew that it's not right to tell your current girlfriend about your sexual history, right? I mean, what kind of boyfriend are you if you tell your girlfriend, "Oh, before we started going out, I slept with Judith." It's not right. Plus, Mia didn't ask before if Michael was a virgin. She just assumed that he's one.

          Plus, Mia judged Michael too early. She claimed to love him but he called him a sex-maniac and a man-slut. You're not supposed to accuse the person you love, of course, just because you're mad at him.

           I'm not siding with Michael or whatever, but it's totally Mia's fault. But I do understand. Young people make wrong choices and decisions. Before, I see myself in Mia's personality because we have a lot in common. But now, I don't think so. Because I will still stood up with my principles even though I'm in trouble for that. Not like Mia, who was willing to give up her virginity just to make him stay. Plus, she abandoned her vegan principles.

        Plus, Grandmere was no help after all. She thinks JP was better than Michael.

MIA'S MISTAKES:

1.) She didn't stand up with her principles: one is being a virgin until after getting married or at least, after prom. She didn't lose it, but almost.

2.) Abandoning her vegan principles.

3.) Walking out of the argument (with Michael). Well, in my opinion, if one walks out, they'd never get to resolve anything.  Or someone hangs up because it's getting them nowhere. Haha. Sounds familiar.

4.) She should’ve been happy for Michael. That's so selfish of her to keep Michael from reaching his dreams.

5.) Takings sides in JP-Lilly Break-up. She shouldn't take sides. Or if she does, make sure she's with the girl. If not, that thing happened to JP and her will really happen, and actually happened. For sure, JP fell in love with her. But sometimes, the problem is with the boys, like Miko-Maan break-up. They're both good with me, but I'm with Maan's side of course.

6.) Apologizing to Michael. Well, at first, she's tough, but later on, melts. Again, that's a standing-up-with-the-principle issue. She must stick with that. She walked away, doesn't want to hear any explanations, now she's backing out and wanted Michael to hear her out. Tsk. 

         The book was quite prophetic, you know. I know to myself that amongst the candidates out there, Gareth is the strongest. I haven't actually admitted that I like him, but it's close to that. And he lives a continental apart. It wouldn't be fair for him if I ask him to wait, especially when my process of immigration has merely started yet. Even if I want him to wait. Plus, he once said that drinking and sex are the best part of being an adult. Men can't stay monogamous. They're designed like that. But long-distance relationship will never work out, you know.

         And in the future that if ever I'm gonna lose IT, I'd like to give IT to someone really special and means a lot to me. Not to anyone who doesn't even know my worth. Probably, that would be my future husband, whoever he is. He'd be someone special because I'd agree to marry him in the first place, unless it's arrange marriage.

          Well done, Miss Meg. 10 out of 10 stars. Hit me bull's eye and got depressed because of that. 

         I went to sleep. These days, I'm having weird dreams. I don't know why. And dreams always involve things and people that meant a lot to me. 

        Today, I woke up around seven. I really tried to get up because it's church day. Anyways, it felt like that I have a renewed faith in God. Because I feel so blessed, you know. I like to be grateful while I still have the blessings so that when I lose it, I could ask for more. Haha. No, honestly, I'm really blessed. I maybe not rich, but I have all what a girl can ask for, except that I want to be a little thinner. Just a little, you know. Haha.

        So, me and my mom went to church, just the two of us, because Mark, who planned to come with us, was in Laguna, having his team building. I was just like, "okay, no big deal, have fun." But I forgot if I replied to his text message of not. 

        We're late, and I blame Mom for that because it took her forever to get dress. Shucks, if I’m a dude, I'll hate to date a chick like that. It's preaching time when we arrived and it's pretty obvious that we're late because all people were already sitting and listening to the sermon, and it's just the two of us who were walking around, finding empty seats. Whew, embarrassing.

         Anyways, I really felt grateful and blessed. Because of this so many blessings. When the minister saw me, she blurted out, "Dalaga ka na ah." (You're a grown-up woman already.) Haha. That's funny. I was like, "Duh, as if you don't see me that often, I just dress differently lately." That's true. I quitted dressing like a teenager and stopped not caring about how I look like. Uhm, well, several months ago, I don't really care what I look like. It's just like I've given up on myself and let bad hair days 
and pimples eat me.

         But now, since I work in the coolest industry in the whole wide world, I needed a change. I still remember the transition. I was into baggy pants and flats, which made me look like a mother, and when I transferred to First Source, I ditched the baggy pants and flats, and replaced them with high heels, plunging necklines and fur jackets. I also started wearing dresses without thinking that it's too dressy for work. I guess it paid off, because I have my own fashion sense now. Haha. Though I still wear flats. But that depends on the ocassion. 

        The shopaholism in me was unleashed when I started receiving my own salary. It's as if I'm always in the mall every week. In fact, I'm always in the mall every week now, splurging the money I worked hard for in bags, dresses, shirts, blouse, shoes and all.

        After church, my mom and I went to SM Bacoor. I bought the bags we're eyeing. We had a really nice time. If there's one thing that I and my mom agreed on everything about it, it'll be shopping. Like her, I can stay in the mall all day, just trying out everything and buying whatever we decided to buy. But for me, since I earn my own money, I try to be practical by buying not-too-expensive alternatives for the designer pieces. But I'm just trying to be. Haha. 

         I bought flip-flops again, and bags. I bought my brothers perfume and a lot more things that I don't remember. 

         It's not LOVE that makes me happy anymore. It's shopping. Kidding, haha. Well, aside from being in love and feeling blessed by God, that's the feeling I most enjoy. 
 
        We went home, and I was really happy. Haha. I put the flip-flops I bought for Chyna as my birthday present for her in a Guess? Paper bag and rested for awhile. When it's not too hot already, I went to her house to give her my present. It's a pair of Toeberry flip-flops. It cost me some money, but it's way cheaper than Havaianas. 

        My brothers were complaining about my footwears. It's all over the place, you know. We had a place in the house wherein we keep our footwears, and Carl said, "What are you gonna do with all of that? You have so many already, in fact you, just bought a new one, even if you haven't used the others." Well, I remember using some of them, but not that often. There will be a right occasion to wear each pair. Anyways, yes, I buy alot of things for myself, but of course I see to it that I also buy something for them whenever I go the mall. Just like last week, I bought Fila slippers, and I bought three pairs, one for each of us. And today, i bought perfume for them.
       
        When I went to my room, it was a disaster. I fixed the place, and arranged everything back to their places. I hung my bags at the back of the door, and folded my clothes back into my closet. Everything was perfect again. Haha.

       I didn't stay that much at Chyna's house. I went home right away and logged online. There goes Gareth's offline message:

        hey regine. hope everything is going well with you. I don't get much time to come on anymore, due to school and my internship. I was kinda hoping to see you on though... thats ok. Maybe tomorrow. I really only get to talk on the weekends now. In anycase, even if I dont talk to you, I hope your doing well. I look forward to seeing you on and hearing from you.

      I missed him so much, to tell you the truth. I chatted with my friends in ebaby while I was writing here. Melissa was damn difficult, you know. I didn't know what's wrong with her. She just sent me a pm in Msn, asking what my problem is. I don't wanna talk about it, because it's purely bull and I don't give a damn about it. In the end, she apologized, and I did too and guess what, we're still friends. Haha. Old people are so like that.

Pan Books, 2006

Dass sie ihren Abschluss ein wenig vermasselt hat und ihre Abschlussarbeit noch nachholen muss, hält Modefanatikerin Lizzy nicht davon ab ihrem akutellen Schatz (also einem Typen, den sie ungefähr fünf Minuten lang kennt) nach England zu folgen. Glücklicherweise stellt Andrew sich als ziemliche Pfeife heraus und Lizzy beschließt ihren beiden Freunden auf einem französischen Schloss Gesellschaft zu leisten. Schon auf dem Hinweg begegnet sie dem Mann ihrer Träume und dass der dann auch noch der Sproß der Schlosseigentümer ist, stört auch nicht weiter.

Queen of Babble hat eigentlich recht wenig an tatsächlichem Plot zu bieten: Lizzy verknallt sich, es kommt zu den üblichen Minikomplikationen und sie findet ihre Berufung als Brautkleidrestorateurin. Nicht besonders aufregend und vor allem in großen Teilen eher auf der unrealistischen Seite. Trotzdem macht der Roman ziemlich Spaß zu lesen, vor allem, weil Lizzy eine recht sympathische Erzählerin ist und der Text recht locker-flockig und teilweise wirklich spannend geschrieben ist. Nix für die Ewigkeit, aber eine ganz nette Nebenbeilektüre.

Pan Books, 2008

Im zweiten Band der Reihe hat Lizzy es in die große Stadt geschafft und ist spontan mit ihrem Loverboy zusammengezogen. Immerhin hat der ein schickes Appartment an der Fifth Avenue und Lizzy immer noch keinen Job. Und natürlich tut sie, was alle Chick-Lit-Heldinnen in so einer Situation tun: Sie plant schonmal das Menü für ihre Hochzeit. Natürlich ohne auf die Warnungen ihres besten Kumpels zu hören. Nebenbei benimmt sich ihre Freundin Shari sehr seltsam und eine Braut braucht dringend Hilfe damit die Traumhochzeit nicht zum schlimmsten Tag ihres Lebens wird.

Der zweite Band bietet tatsächlich etwas mehr Plot und Lizzys Abenteuer in der großen Stadt sind wieder wirklich charmant und humorvoll beschrieben. Die mehr oder weniger sympathischen Nebencharaktere wachsen einem im Laufe des Romans wirklich an Herz und kurz vor Schluss wurde das Grinsen in meinem Gesicht immer breiter - denn dann tut Lizzy endlich mal das Richtige. Oder? Der Cliffhanger mit dem der Roman endet ist jedenfalls einigermaßen fies und zum Glück ist Band 3, Queen of Babble Gets Hitched bereits erschienen ...

i belong to that group of women who happen to be rather more than less substantial of figure. because of this it's sometimes hard to find pants that fit flatteringly. add to that the fact that i wear jeans a lot and am rather hard on them (i split a pair up the back playing ultimate frisbee in june), i am often on the hunt for a new pair. i used to wear tommy hilfiger's boyfriend jeans, but at $60 a pop, those got too expensive. not to mention that they're not even listed on tommy's web site anymore. they don't even sell boyfriend jeans at macy's now. but i digress.

because of all of this, i went to old navy's $12 jeans sale last saturday. the store was, of course, crowded, so i wasn't able to get into a fitting room to try on the sweetheart jeans i'd picked out. in fact, i'd never owned a pair of old navy jeans before, so i had no idea what their sizing was like. i held up the size i normally wore and looked at it, and it looked like a good fit.

but when i got home and put them on, i could pull the waistband out at least two inches from where it should have been holding its place on my tummy. the bum, hips and thighs are very roomy. i don't mind having comfy jeans, but i'd like them to fit me well and not make me look all baggy. i have enough baggage on me as it is.

all this led me to the inevitable question -- had i been a victim of vanity sizing? i'm pretty sure i've not lost any weight this summer, and i might have even gained a pound or two more (oh horrors). had i found my way into a pair of jeans that was actually a size or two bigger than my size, but labeled with the smaller number to make the women wearing them feel better? meg cabot's heroine heather wells describes a somewhat humorous situation like mine, only she had the time and good sense to try on the jeans before she bought them. trust me, i have no bone to pick with the basic idea of making women feel more confident about their appearance. if that confidence is based on lying and flattery, however, what's that really telling them? "oh, you're not good enough the way you are, so we're just lying to you to make you feel better!"

where is the logic in that?

Is it because I'm never on vacation? Is it because I'm desperately trying to avoid doing work? Or am I trying to keep my mind off the fact that I'm going to have to go back to school? Perhaps I'm just doing this so I don't have to go to sleep at a reasonable hour (say, about midnight).

I remember once -- I think it was the summer before fifth grade, but I can't be sure -- where I wrote a novel in three days. It was complete crap, and it was only about 30,000 words long, but it was something.

Now I'm occupying myself with a story that's related to neither of my two current projects, but is really fun and easy to write for. It's a fantasy with entirely too much Meg Cabot (shut up) in its DNA, but I can crank out words for it.

Anyway, just some general musing. I'll get back to work on worldbuilding week, I promise. History of the world and of the party is pretty much worked out.