And Now...Silence

As Mark said, "I'm officially on a blogging hiatus". Answered Cel and Hannah, "What's hiatus"?

Got a job.....that I actually like. No money, lots of grunt work. I cant believe how happy I am that I'm finally on the path to becoming a real teacher.

The catch: I need to study our own language.
The bonus: I'll learn more about our language.

The Betrayal I Fear

I was looking for Sophie's World when I chanced upon my sister's book (Disappointment With God by Phillip Yancey). I skimmed trough it but the very first words I read, which was actually a quotation, made my mind whirl.

"You do not have to sit outside in the dark.
If, however, you want to look at the stars,
you will find that darkness is required.
The stars neither require nor demand it."
-- Annie Dillard

I couldn't go on reading the book because I'm afraid. I'm just starting to be in full control of my life again. I feel like I've been sitting in the dark for so long...maybe, far too long. But still I just can't look up! I bow my head and refuse to look at the stars, afraid that when I do, no stars will be shining for me.

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"Yet when I hoped for good, evil came;
when I looked for light, then came darkness.
The churning inside me never stops."

from Job 30:26-27

Happy Anniversary to the Thermocouple

Its our fourth year anniversary! Yipee? I can't believe its been four years. We've been going steady far longer than J-Lo's ever been married.

Here's a list of books (all from Amazon) whose titles seem to characterize our four years together. By the way I've never read any of these so I can't vouch for their quality. I also deleted some parts of the books' titles to make them fit the way I feel just a little better.

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Best Friends for Life by Michael Phillips, Judy Phillips

Be Loved for Who You Really Are: How the Differences Between Men and Women Can Be Turned into the Source of the Very Best Romance You'll Ever Know by Judith, Ph.D. Sherven, James, Ph.D. Sniechowski

Breathing Room: A Novel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips -- One of the things a relationship can't do without.

Dating for Under a Dollar: 301 Ideas by Blair Tolman -- We have praticed this fine art of "dating under a dollar" so much that I think Mr. Tolman should have got me as a resource person.

I Can Do It Cards: Affirmations for Romance (I Can Do It Cards) by Louise L. Hay -- For days when we both felt that we just couldn't go on.

I Hate You, Don't Leave Me... by Bradley Fenton -- Pretty self-explanatory. Also goes hand in hand with Celine Dion's song I Hate You Then I love You

Love Is A Decision by Gary Smalley -- Being an emotional creature I believe that we couldn't have lasted for four years if we both did not know that love is a decision.

Love Is Never Enough : How Couples Can Overcome Misunderstandings, Resolve Conflicts... by Aaron T. Beck -- This is why a wise sage once told me, "Patience is a virtue".

Loving an Imperfect Man by Ellen Sue Stern

Loving the Self-Absorbed: How to Create a More Satisfying Relationship with a Narcissistic Partner by Nina W. Brown -- Mark should have read this the moment he saw me. I'm sure it would have made his life easier....

Red Hot Relationships: How to Defuse the Anger and Keep the Romance by Lorel, Ph.D. Lindstrom, Shari L. Kirkland -- Shout? Walk out? Talk? Kiss and make up?

The Secrets: How To Control A Man by C. E. Cost -- Ha! Priceless!

The Mystery of Love by Marc Gafni -- After four years I sometimes think that love is sooo demystified but then again it surprises me.

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What Video Game Character Am I?

Been reading Diego's Blog and followed the link to What Video Game Character Am I?. I dont think I am like Mario since my friends are pretty tame. So I tried answering it again and this time it said that I'm a defender-ship. I still dont think so. So I guess I have a pretty warped self-image or I don't know how to answer the questions.... : ) 'Twas fun though.

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The Result:

I am Mario. I like to jump around, and would lead a fairly serene and aimless existence if it weren't for my friends always getting into trouble. I love to help out, even when it puts me at risk. I seem to make friends with people who just can't stay out of trouble.

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I am a Defender-ship. I am fiercely protective of my friends and loved ones, and unforgiving of any who would hurt them. Speed and foresight are my strengths, at the cost of a little clumsiness. I'm most comfortable with a few friends, but sometimes particularly enjoy spending time in larger groups.

On Daughter of Regals and Other Tales

Eight Tales -- three definitely worth reading, three OKs (or so-so) and one totally headed for trashdom. That makes seven... Duh?


Daughter of Regals
One of the best in the compilation. Takes place during the night of Chrysalis ascension to the throne. I loved Donaldson's concept of magic and reality and the way he sketched his characters. I guessed the ending though...

Gilden-Fire
The story i didn't rate. It was good but since its an chapter that was removed from Donaldson's novel The IllEarth War I think I lack the background to appreciate it fully. I liked the way he wrote it but there are a lot of unanswered questions since the author assumed that the reader has read his fantasy series (which obviously, I have not).

Mythological Beast
'Twas ummm just ok. But I think he should just stick to fantasy and not try to dabble with sci-fi or at least try a little harder when he does...

The Lady in White
Oooh sexy lady! Another ok story. I dont know what the story lacked but although it started out pretty intriguing it somehow felt a little empty to me.

Animal Lover
Ok again. At least I did not really guess exactly what would happen. It was also pretty entertaining but again it lacked depth (whatever that is).

Unworthy of the Angel
I loved this story. To my angel...hope I would not be unworthy of you. And no, its not mushy, its not even a love story.

The Conqueror Worm
Sucked big time. Unless I somehow missed some subtle things the author was trying to express... To be fair to Donaldson there's not much you can do with a centipede. Whatever!

Ser Visal's Tale
Another really good story. I liked Ser Visal's piety/sarcasm. Donaldson can spin a good tale.

Writing Champagne

Taken from the introduction of Daughter of Regals and Other Tales by Stephen R. Donaldson

"... in many circles the short story is regarded as a higher art form than the novel. A novel is to a short story as beer is to champagne. In a novel, the writer simply stands back and throws words at his subject until some of them stick -- an ordeal from which the subject generally emerges spattered but unbowed. But in a short story the words, being so few, must be carefully placed on the subject (in the pockets, so to speak, or perhaps behind the ears) in order to have any impact at all. Thus the short story appears to demand more of both reader and writer. The reader must become adept at perceiving the writer's meaning as it peeps past the lapels of the subject -- or the writer must become expert at tucking his intent here and there so that it still shows."

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Interesting... Never thought of writing short stories in this way. Since short stories makes for easier reading I somehow thought that it would also be easier writing. Just goes to show how much I know about writing. : )

Vampires of Old

Finished the last few pages of Dracula last night. The story was pretty refreshing since I am more exposed to Anne Rice's "humanized" vampires. Compared to Lestat, Armand, Louie, Marius and the other vampires, Count Dracula and his mistresses seemed way more monstrous. The vampires of old seem not to retain much of what makes them humans. They are driven mostly by the need for blood and their instinct to kill rather than whatever motives drove them when they were still humans (greed, love, need for power, and desire to learn). What makes them more interesting, however, is the powers that they possess (ability to shapeshift and to command the more vicious or undesirable animals), their limitations, and the ways to restrain (house invitations, garlic, the host and the rosary) and destroy them( stake through the heart and decapitation). To me these old beliefs are new since Rice's civilized vampires do not possess those powers and scoff at the supposed limitations, regarding them as superstitions.

Block

I have nothing to say...

Sick Reader

Yes I am one sick reader... Tsk tsk. I've been ill for several days now, hence, the silence.

Started reading Dracula last night. I was so scared by the first three chapters that I had to hide my neck under the blanket...just in case. Thank God my father came home from his trip at around 1:30a.m. and broke the spell. I dont think I could have turned off my light if he didn't arrive. Not finished with the book yet but it seems pretty good. Will try to finish reading it by tomorrow night.