About Lenn

I write about my personal thoughts, experiences, and bookish fixations.

#ProjectAnnotationsPH

Posted on 11/27/2015 by Lenn

So last Monday, I finally received the book my blogger friends and I are passing along to read for our little book club. This is the pilot testing of our project, the original plan is to read one book per month but since we are all too busy with school/work, it took a lot of time to read. Since it’s just the pilot testing, that’s okay, at least we already know what to do next time.

So for our first project, we decided to pass along Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard.

Project Annotations means that we could do anything we want to the book while reading it. Highlight quotes, underline phrases or words, write comments on a certain chapter, write sticky notes, etc. Anything as long as the owner of the book approves.

So far, I have only read three chapters. I’ve been really busy with work and when I get home, I usually just immediately pass out, so I have little time for reading. Hopefully, I make a lot of progress during the weekend since it’s a holiday on Monday!

I’m the third person to read the book and there will be someone after me and then we’ll be passing along another book. So, you see, this is a mini book club with some of my blogger friends here. And while this is really enjoying, I find it really weird to write stuff on a book. It’s just…. I don’t really do that often. Wait, I don’t really do that. So this project is very new to me but so far, I am enjoying the process.

Xoxo.

Book Review: The Future of Us by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler

Posted on 11/26/2015 by Lenn

Rating: ★★★★☆
Read: November 2015

Another book I’ve finished during the APEC week was The Future of Us. Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler’s combination came out pretty amazing. It was just a very light read, which is a perfect pause from the dark and crazy world of Mara Dyer.

Set in 1996, Emma gets a new computer from his dad and her best friend, Josh, who she hasn’t spoken with for a while comes over her house with a CD-ROM with 100 free hours on AOL and as it was installed they discovered that it comes with something called Facebook. As they surfed through this webpage, they suddenly found their 30-year-old selves’ own Facebook page. Yeah, you got that right. W T F.

The Future of Us was just unputdownable. It simply shows us that a simple ripple in the “now” can create big changes in the future. It also shows us how we cannot let the fear of the future affect how we live in the present.

And while I am not really sure that a lot of people would love this book as much as I did, this book is certainly recommended for everyone.

“I’ve always protected myself when it comes to love. And maybe that’s the problem. By not letting myself get hurt now, it ripples into much bigger pain later.”

Book Review: The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Posted on 11/25/2015 by Lenn

Rating: ★★★★★
Read: November 2015

The APEC week turned out pretty well for me. I filed a leave from work last November 17 & 20 while 18 & 19 are special holidays because of the APEC, making it a 6-day vacation.

Our family stayed at our rest house in Tagaytay to get away from the noise of the city thus, to have a peaceful rest. I brought this book with me and since I haven’t really finished a single book since August, I didn’t bring any other book with it because this book is a 525-page book and to my surprise, I managed to finish it in two days. I just couldn’t put it down! I loved the first book but the second book is just so freaking great that it actually drove me crazy myself!

This series just keeps intensifying as we get nearer to the conclusion of Mara and Noah’s story. Everything in this book just kept me guessing and guessing. I love the writing, I love the creepiness. I love the suspense. Everything in this book is just plain a w e s o m e. I’m sorry if I can’t write a review that will give justice to this book because I honestly, I don’t have the right words to express my love and adoration for this trilogy and for Michelle Hodkin as well.

As I finished reading the book on the second day, I just felt the urge to get a copy of the last one so I immediately went to the nearest bookstore to buy it but unfortunately, it was already out of stock so, yes, the ending made my stomach turn because I was so freaking eager to continue reading and to find out what happens next!!

All in all, this book was amazing and was written very, very, very well.

“Just because you can’t prove something, doesn’t mean it isn’t real.”

Missing in Action

Posted on 11/23/2015 by Lenn

So where have I been in the past three weeks?!

I’ve been kind of busy with life lately. Trying to find myself in the midst of everything that happened this year and so far, I’m happy with the little things unfolding before my eyes and yesterday, I thanked God for all the things he has blessed me with, I know that what he took away is leading me to something better. It feels very calming to know that things have changed for the better and losing a few people isn’t always a bad thing.

I am currently enjoying every moment of my life and I’ve learned not to let negative things and people affect my vibe and so far, it’s going pretty well. The past three weeks has been a mix and clash of so many things and to make it up, here’s what transcribed:

Lunch out with the whole team @ Kenny Roger’s.

Watched Goosebumps with my bestfriend x Thai food for lunch!

Visited my Grandpa’s brother @ Victoria, Laguna which has always been a peaceful place for me.

Stayed at our rest house in Tagaytay during the APEC week. The signal may have been really crappy, I can’t send a text properly and I didn’t have a decent connection to the internet as well, but I’ve had a really great time. It was such a great time to rest and unwind from all the things happening in the city. Plus, I’ve managed to finish reading two awesome books in just four days! It’s been a really long while since that happened and I’m very happy about it!

Also, we went to Ayala to eat lunch during our last day in Tagaytay and this shop caught my attention because it’s so pretty!

So, that’s just about it! I’m currently reading the last book in The Mortal Instruments series which is the City of Heavenly Fire. It’s quite a long read, over 700+ pages, I think, but I woke up one day and just wanted to know how Clary and Jace’s story will end. I’ve actually bought this the day it was released and I kept it in my shelf for a year because I didn’t think I was ready to end their story, but recently, I’ve been craving for the old Shadowhunter feeling so.

I’ll probably write a quick review about what I think about the two books I finished reading over the short vacation that I’ve had in the next few days, so until then, I’ll leave you with this cliche of a quote, but I’ve recently proven to be true:

“Not everything and everyone you lose is a loss.”

Journ

Posted on 11/03/2015 by Lenn

One day, I woke up with the sudden realization that I have to work on my dream of becoming a writer. I’ve already wasted a year of not doing anything about it that it started to haunt me everywhere.

I’ve always said that I really wanted to take up Journalism because writing has always been something I am fond of doing but my parents didn’t want me to. So instead, I took up a course that I didn’t really like. I survived school, I graduated on time, I can also say that I made my parents proud but I didn’t make myself proud. I went and marched on that stage a year ago with a smile on my face that everyone thought was so genuine but it wasn’t. That night, when I got home, I stayed awake until dawn… It hurt, it hurt so much that I felt it in my bones.

The next day, I woke up and promised myself to practice and never stop writing no matter what. I did. I wrote book reviews, I wrote about sports, I wrote personal experiences, I wrote about everything I could write about.

Yesterday, a friend asked me what course I took up in college and the conversation went on and on until I opened up about always wanting to take up Journalism. He told me that he would try to refer me to a friend of his who works in a known newspaper company and my eyes automatically lit up. I considered that conversation a sign that I should do something about this dream of mine sooner or later. I don’t want to regret not being able to pursue it when I grow old.

#LabanPilipinas: National Team Pool

Posted on 10/14/2015 by Lenn

Today, the PBA Board of Governors released 17 players to the national team pool making them the available players for Gilas Pilipinas in the Olympic wildcard qualifiers in July 2016.

The players released by the PBA Board of Governors are LA Tenorio, Japeth Aguilar, Calvin Abueva, Terrence Romeo, Marcio Lassiter, Greg Slaughter, June Mar Fajardo, Gabe Norwood, Jayson Castro, Paul Lee, Matt Rosser, Ryan Reyes, Marc Pingris, Ian Sangalang, Troy Rosario, Ranidel de Ocampo and Jeff Chan.

The Samahan Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) shall release a final line-up of 12 players to include the naturalized player by the end of January 2016.

Starting in November, the players will start preparing for the Olympic Qualifiers with a schedule of Monday practices before they step up on their training in June.

#RoadtoRio2016 is real.

❤

5 Things

Posted on 10/13/2015 by Lenn

Learn to forgive those who hurt you. Easier said than done, I know. It may be hard not to hate the person who’ve caused you a very deep cut but you will never be free from something unless you accept the situation and forgive the people who caused it. Don’t stress over the things you can’t change.
You can’t please everyone. Not everyone will like you, there will always be people who will say something about you no matter how much you try to please them so just be yourself and do what you do. As long as you’re not doing anything bad, keep going.
Try to understand others before you judge them. Stop judging people for the things they do for you do not know what they’re going through. Put yourself in their shoes first.
Accept your mistakes. Always accept your mistakes and apologize for the damage you’ve done.
You won’t get everything you want. It is not because you do not deserve it but because you deserve something else, something better for you. You just have to fully accept that not everything you want is good for you.

Five Songs I’ve Been Obsessing Over Lately

Posted on 10/12/2015 by Lenn

These songs aren’t really new but these are the songs that have had me going cray in the past two weeks or so. It’s just the right mix and clash of OPM and foreign pop rock. Enjoy listening!

1. Sa Ibang Mundo – Nadine Lustre & Kean Cipriano

2. Comeback Kid – Against the Current

3. Talk – Against the Current

4. Almost Is Never Enough – Ariana Grande ft. Nathan Sykes

5. Pasensya Ka Na – Silent Sanctuary

These are songs that have given me so much feels lately. 🙂

#LabanPilipinas

Posted on 10/05/2015 by Lenn

When the list of members for the Gilas 3.0 were out, everyone doubted this team, everyone kept looking for other players from the 2.0 team two years ago. Yes, I loved Gilas 2.0, but I love this team just as much. I never doubted you guys since day 1. Each and everyone of you were what the team needed and with the help of the right and awesome coach.

As the FIBA Asia 2015 began, you never failed to prove to everyone who doubted you that by having the strongest hearts and the biggest faith, you can do it, that you can fight until the end. It was such a happy feeling for me that you have come so far. You are truly our heroes.

You may have not brought home the gold and you may think that you guys ‘fell short’, but to me, to us, you guys are the real Champions. Silver may not be as good to you as gold, but believe me, you have earned so much more than what ‘gold’ is made of. You earned the respect and hearts of almost every Filipino in different parts of the world.

I may be just one of the millions of fans out there, but I just want to let you all know how proud I am of everything you’ve accomplished. You’ve been through so much since you left the country and now that you’re back, please know that your journey has just started.

We all know what happened back in China and let us not talk about it no more, let’s just use this experience as motivation to win next time!

Walang bibitaw, walang susuko. Laban Pilipinas! PUSO!

Photo: FIBA

Farewell, Lolo Jo

Image

Last Friday, we were shocked with another heart-breaking news. Another person who was very dear to our family passed away.

Lolo Joe was my grandfather’s uncle, his mom’s brother. Last May, we got the news that he was very ill and was having a hard time eating. He was confined in the hospital for weeks but was also discharged. I remember how relieved we all were when he was finally discharged, we visit him almost every week in their house at BF until he was confined again and undergone an operation. The operation was successful and for a moment, we all thought he was getting better, he even gained weight.

So last Friday, September 25, two weeks after his operation, I was at the salon and was having my hair done which was an annual routine for me, and then I got a message from my mom that Lolo Joe is, again, badly ill. I informed my hairstylist that I wouldn’t have my hair colored anymore. My grandparents just got to our rest house in Tagaytay that morning and was rushing back home right after they got the news. At around 11:40, my mom texted me again and told me that he’s already gone. I was so teary-eyed at the salon. I went home crying because the last time I saw him was at the hospital, after his operation. We all thought he was getting better.

I hated myself for being so selfish because I didn’t want him to die even when I know that he’s already too tired. A hundred years really is something. I know he misses his parents, his sister and wife, but I seriously wasn’t ready to lose him.

Lolo Joe, I know you’re happy now and I’m sorry that it took me a hard time to really let you go. We miss you, we miss you so much it hurts. We miss you everyday. Rest in peace, Lolo. See you soon.

Source: dustypromises

Lenn of Spades ♠

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