Sorry I didn't get to update about my Thailand trip, or about Christmas, or about Chinese New Year. Yeeeah. Mostly because the festive ones are all the same? We feast and feast and feast... So all the photos are of the same nature. Just food. I don't think you would be interested in that. Sorry.
Anyway, I'm here to update about something more exciting than food!
On the 23rd of February, I met a very special friend.
Here he is (or she, I forgot to ask, but let's just assume he's male and extremely attracted to Noel hmm?)
I actually met him while working. And when I posted a photo of him and I on instagram, and immediately comments flooded in:
Charmaine: Wowwww why your job so cool? What are you working as?
I was quite overwhelmed.I suppose I should answer these questions.
Yes, that is a real owl. No, I didn't apply for Hogwarts with it because I've never read the series. And yes, Joyanne, the things those talons could tear apart. Yes. And lastly, the question, the particulars of my job, I work part-time for a PR company. And as we were on a road show at Seberang Perai, we bumped into this beauty quite my chance.
Since that is cleared. Now LOOK AT THE PHOTOS OF ME AND MY BEST FRIEND
And then he perched on my arm asdflkdsjaflsdkjfa
But when we tried photos, he kept being a dork and looking around in fascination.
The cutest thing that happened between us was when he was perched on my hand. I was petting him and I asked him: "What's up?" And he did the 'Wassup' head thing back to me!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HE UNDERSTANDS ME
:)
Infinite happiness when I finally met my friend in person.
Okay, I suppose it doesn't sound special when I type it out, but it just felt like feathery bubbles rising up to my head and popping to infinity.
Here are some owl gifs so you can see why I love owls so much
Title: The Fault in Our Stars Author: John Green Publisher: Penguin Books Genre: Contemporary, YA Pages: 313 Release Date: January 10th 2012 Book Source:Joyanne Ling Goodreads
Behind the Book: Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.
In Front of the Book:
I don't find it special. I'm numb from seeing it all over tumblr + instagram. I don't thing it portrays what happens in the story in a smart way either. Maybe the clouds are for the deceased in the story (which is quite a lot, trust me) but I don't find it cute or quirky. Bleh. Review:
To be honest, I was actually reluctant to pick up The Fault in Our Stars (or tfios as the whole internet refers it as) because I've heard many things about this book and since the movie is coming up this year, I didn't want the movie to wreck my imagination, thus me picking up this book. Besides, my inner hipster was skeptical at all the hype over this book. I didn't want another Twilight.
As I started the book, I was extremely confused to the point of frustration because I kept reading Hazel's voice as John Green - accent, puff and all (I blame vlogbrothers). And it was just so awkward. But then that lasted for about 10 pages and my brain switched back to Hazel Grace and everything was cool.
I suppose I like Hazel Graze. Her narration made the book light and sarcastic, even though she had a bleak future. Her view of the world is unique and and she has a lot of depth (and death) for an average sixteen year old portrayed in YA novels. I also liked reading about how her parents dealt with her sickness and their relationship dynamics in their family.
I didn't really like Augustus that much. *GASPSHOCKHORROR* He was sweet and cute and seriously funny (just like Hazel) but I didn't think the love story in the book was believable. It honestly seemed a bit far-fetched for me. But of course, I don't have cancer. Or a boyfriend.
Saying that, I felt sad towards the end, when the plot twist was revealed. But it wasn't bawl-my-eyes-out kinda sad. It was just a blue melancholic feeling that had my mind in turmoil because I saw it coming thanks to tumblr and the rest of the internet. I suppose by being funny, I got quite attached to the characters of the book and it was sad to detach in the end.
I put down the book with feels because John Green just had to end it on that note, didn't he.
Honestly, I enjoyed myself reading this book. But it wasn't as phenomenal as expected. I would like to say I enjoyed the death and cancer part more than the romance part but that would make me sound like a sadist (but it is the truth). I just found the romance cute and fluffy, which was okay. And I think that the book is very quotable, but it kinds of puts me off reading some of the overused quotes: My thoughts are stars I can't fathom into constellations. (I actually tweeted this before, and I didn't even know it was from the book!) and of course the cigarette metaphor.
This book makes you think. And that's so much better than just the romance. So it's worth picking up. Can't wait to get my hands on his other books.
Rating:
I give it four feathers
Quotes:
"... because there is no glory in illness. There is no meaning to it. There is no honor in dying of. "
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Anyway, I would like to tell everyone that since I'm finished with this book, I'm giving it away. Yeah. Just giving it away for no reason. So if you would like to have this book, please do leave me a comment and we'll work things out.
*UPDATE THE BOOK HAS ALREADY BEEN CLAIMED BY SOMEONE*
Here's the trailer + poster for the TFiOS movie. Can't wait to watch it! :)
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How did you like my first review? I'll try to do more in the near future, maybe even doing regular reviews. Tell me how I can improve myself or even debate with me if you want. Maybe you should suggest me new books to review, I will try my best to get these books into my hands (but preferably not new books, as new books are expensive).
On 8th of February, Homosapiens with Boobs (plus some boobless ones as well) got together to celebrate Chinese New Year.
They had an extremely insane schedule, jumping from one house to another and then deciding things at the very last minute.
So Noel being cool and all, met them for dinner at The Mines where we spent deciding what to do and didn't do anything at all. Yay plans.
Anyway we went to Shelvin's house in the end where the boys watched football and played flappy bird. Har dee har.
Okay, I'll get to the interesting bit soon.
Hehehe we're like so cool and cute.
Anyway, as we were warned, there was nothing to do at Shelvin's house. So we dilly-dallyed for a bit and then SUDDENLY WE DECIDED TO CELEBRATE RAJA JOHANNES'S BIRTHDAY WOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOO
(She probably saw it coming)
THEN WE HAD LIKE A PHOTOSHOOT AND WE LOOK SO FABULOUS SO SCREW YOU
Fabulousity cannot be hidden away
THEN WE FLEW SOME A LANTERNS IT WAS SO MAGICAL
YAYYYYYYYY
I THINK I SHOULD TELL YOU WHY IT WAS SO MAGICAL. THIS WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME I FLEW LANTERNS BUT WHEN WE WERE LETTING IT GO, WE SHOUTED, ALL TOGETHER:
"Amen!
Amin!
Amitofo!
Oṁ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ!"
At that moment, we were united, wanting our wishes to float up to the sky, into nothingness. When we were panicking about what to say when we set our wishes free, we instantly compromised with saying all our religious full stops.
And it was wonderful.
At that moment, I felt Malaysian.
So yeah. Harmony. Through a lantern.
You should try it sometime.
My feed, be it on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, is filled to the brim with Valentine's Day love, or more accurately, Valentine's Day thirst.
When I was in school, I had slight anticipation for Valentine's. Namely because the clubs sold special treats which is delivered to the recipients class, so you could be agonized throughout the day waiting for your treat to come from your special someone. Of course, it may just be a silly prank your friends pulled off you (trust me, I've done it myself), or it could just be a heartwarming message from your friend. But usually the pretty ones get loads of presents and me, usually none. So my anticipation was mostly based on me getting to eat my friends' treats. Yeah.
I remember when I was in Form 1 (13 years old), I remember seeing a Form 5 girl from morning session leave the school with a huge bouquet of flowers and tailing behind her, was her friend holding a bunch of presents and a teddy bear for her (I assume it was the girl holding the flowers as the bouquet caused her hands to be full). So my witnessing probably nurtured my anticipation for Valentine's Day since then. You can read all about adolescent hormonal Noel during Valentine's 2012 here: I RANTED ABOUT MY STALKERS AND CAM-WH*RED (Slightly unrelated to the topic here but it gives you a picture of Valentine's Day in SMK SK)
But now that I have left school and the hormonal rush has reduced (slightly), Valentine's Day to me is just an opportunity for other people to make money off you in this Lovey-duvvey, mushy-wushy season. And I suppose you should really celebrate this event in the name of true love, even if you don't have a true love at the moment. Which is why I dug through some of my parents' old photographs. The story of how my parents met each other is actually a rather bizarre and funny story. A story that I will leave until another time. But the story of my parents marriage I suppose I can tell now.
Look how dorky they are
My parents got married on the eve of Valentine's Day. I don't really know why they chose it, but it just so happened. As it is now, 13th of February 1993 was also during the Chinese New Year period. They had a proper Catholic church wedding where my grandfather gave my mother away. Then after that they had the Chinese wedding thing where they invited family and friends to feast. Pretty much the usual stuff. But the most unusual part was that my parents refused to do a wedding photoshoot because my Mum said: 'It's such a waste of money and time to hire a photographer to shoot us. The fuss is not worth it. And what happens to the wedding photos in the end? They end up hidden, under the bed. It's just not worth it." Instead, they put on their wedding suit and dress, and started photographing each other at their new house, which is the house that we are still currently living in.
And I even found a selfie among other odd photos. My parents took a selfie 21 years ago as part of their wedding 'photoshoot'. My parents are so cool. So today marks the 21st anniversary of my parents. I asked them what they were going to do, they just shrugged and blew it off. They never really celebrate it anyway. I want to end this post with some words of wisdom from my Mum:
" Getting married isn't about the grand event on the wedding day. Getting married is living together with a with a person for the rest of your life. "
I suppose I don't have anything special to say, just that I found photographing the stars with minimal equipment in the middle of the night extremely romantic and cold.
Thanks to my cousin who taught me how. And google too.
The thing I enjoyed most about photographing the stars is the sense of unknowing-ness. I didn't know what was the outcome. Could I capture Orion's belt? Could I capture that star? What star would show up suddenly?
And suddenly the photo is processed and it takes my breath away.
It reminds me that I am small. But a speck of dust in this vast universe.
And that I have a long way to go, before I can reach my stars.
