backwards

I just finished reading "The Reader" by Bernhard Schlink. It’s a good read… I admire how he weaved the words to tell the story of Michael and Hanna.

Here is an excerpt of The Reader.

At first, I wanted to write our story in order to be free of it. But the memories wouldn’t come back for that. Then I realized our story was slipping away from me and wanted to recapture it by writing, but that didn’t coax up the memories either. For the last few years, Ive left our story alone. Ive made peace with it. And it came back, detail by detail and in sucha fully rounded fashion. (p. 217)

thanks to Athens’ blog, i heard Finch’s Letters To You again. I like this song… And since I so miss listening to music while at work… I am slowly doing that again… only during my breaks (my break is four hours, anyway…)

I want you to know that
I miss you, I miss you so
I want you to know that
I miss you, I miss you so

I'm writing again
These letters to you
Aren't much I know
But I'm not sleeping and
You're not here
The thought stops my heart

My brothers recently discovered Battle Royale… And over the weekend, they have been busy downloading it through You tube. I only caught a glimpse of it… and just asked my bros to tell me the story. The story is quite twisted. The story is about students killing each other using weapons and all, this is called the battle royale act. The BRA is being allowed by the government. A student who survives the BRA would be declared as the winner… That’s a the gist of the movie. I wouldn’t give the ending of the movie… There’s also a part two.

My brothers are also interested in watching Azumi, another Japanese bloody movie which is sort of like Samurai X. It sounds scary that they have been interested in watching these movies… But I know my brothers are not destructive kind of people. They just like watching movies, esp. those with subtitles. It started with Ring and then the Tales of Two Sisters.

Other matters, I am having a hard time having a balanced classroom atmosphere… I really dont like scolding my students alot… neither am I too strict. I hate reminding my students to keep quiet, go back to their seats, etc… My point is as long as they participate in class and know and understand their lessons, I am fine with that. But I fear that I will get bad marks in classroom management if I continue with being too relaxed. So, I have to work on this big time.

On lighter note, I have two bloopers today. It’s a good thing my female students are nice enough to let me know that "charlie’s dead." argghh, that was quite embarrassing. It’s just karma bouncing back to me. There was one incident during my teaching units days that one of our classmates also figured in a same situation but we just laughed and didnt let her know. It’s bad of us… considering we are all professionals already in the class. Lesson, all the things you have done unto other people will come back to you.

nakakalungkot… i have shed pounds weeks since i have started with my new job. Wah!!! It’s so sad… I dont want this… Now, I have to work double time to gain weight again. Hay basta nalungkot ako… sa pagpayat ko ulit. I hope in a week I’ll slowly regain weight.

So far, enjoy naman ako sa bagong work ko… Nakakapagod nga lang at everyday is a big challenge. Masaya kasama mga bata… Nakakatuwa ang karamihan sa kanila… Nagulat ako na mas receptive ung mga boys kesa girls. Ung girls, dapat tawagin mo pa para magrerecite. Meron namang mga girls ngrerecite ng kusa pero karamihan sa kanila ay dapat tawagin mo pa. Saka jen, di ko talaga mahelp…kumukumpas pa din ako sa tuwing nageexplain ako sa harap ng students.

May advisory class na rin ako… Hay, sabi ng head namin, it means more work daw un kasi ul check their attendance sa lahat ng classes nila… Buti na lng tomorrow, di ako maglelecture. Speech lab nila, yahoo!!!

Yesterday, I watched The Lake House with my ate and then Frequency on QTV… lahat related sa time traveling ek-ek… mas gusto ko ang Frequency which stars Dennis Quaid. Oks naman ung The Lake House, may prob lng sa paradox thing…

Superman Returns malapit na!

"I am more interested in what I can create than in what I can consume, in what I can share than in what I can own, in living my own life rather than viewing others on tv or the big screen. I think for myself and choose my own heroes. My goal is to be one of them." - Author Unknown

It’s sad that this year there will be no fete de la musique. I have been looking forward to join this year’s edition since last year I had a good time. I was with my ate and our youngest bro last year and i enjoyed jumping from the Jazz area to the Alternative one. Because of fete, I discovered new groups (Pedicab, Up Dharma Down, to name a few). I guess I am jinxed. This year’s French Spring Festival will only include the staple French Filmfest (starting on June and the Jazz Fest.

Anyway, Ng Rhea and Rosary saved me from a boring weekend. Even though it was pouring hard yesterday, we went to Monde’s place in Mandaluyong with Sis for a small dinner. We were able to talk about what’s new in our lives… Jen’s tying the knot soon and I am excited. Though I havent seen jen for almost two months now… sad.

It’s very rare for us to go out and take time off together… So last Friday was a rare treat for me. While our parents ate at the foodcourt, my brothers and I, along with my nephew, trooped to the arcade and played some shooting games. I didnt think that I would have so much fun doing that… then when Gene Paolo suggested we do videoke… Quantum offers the cheapest videoke at the mall… PHP 7 per song… and we even get to sing in a private glass room. hehe We agreed to sing two songs each, but I still sang along with them whenever it’s their turn.

I am supposed to sing The Bachelor’s Buses and Trains and Barbie’s Cradle’s Money for Food but the operator keyed in the wrong selection for the second song. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed singing… because i really do enjoy singing. Gene Paolo chose to sing Counting Blue Cars of Dishwalla and Blurry of Puddle of Mudd while Gene Mark sang Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana and Wish You Were Here by Incubus. Just we were wrapping up our last song selection,our ate and parents came to fetch us. I wish we could do this again. Cheap entertainment with your brothers are a lot of fun… even if my nephew is super kulit. You have to run after him most of the time.

workwise, i have so much to review and refresh my mind with. I really hope I can pull this off well.

Plug: Yey, I know I’ll get to see Urbandub again… They are set to perform at Saguijo on June 14 and 16. 16th is a Friday so it would be fine… and besides they will be sharing the stage with Sandwich and Neruda and a few other bands. Though the 14th would be much Urbandub-ish as it would only share the slot with Angulo… so that means more songs to be played.

Imago and Paramita will perform on June 27 at Saguijo. Btw, ive heard bagetsafonik play live last week and they are quite good. For mark, if you are reading this, Isha will also be playing at Saguijo on the 13th. You’ll even get to see Up Dharma Down play too.