Tears in Heaven

it's simple

Realize.

Why do we not do the things we've always wanted to do or say the things we've always wanted to say until a terrible disaster looms just around the corner? Why do we wait for the perfect moment to tell that special person we truly love them, when we know, deep in our hearts, that horrid tragedy can come sooner? Why do we treat our bodies like trash cans, tossing in processed foods and pouring in chemical drinks until the only thing between us and death's door is an IV stand?

What the hell is everyone waiting for? Do people really think that they get to live forever? We know that we're all going to die one day, but we never think that that day might be tomorrow, or even today, even now. There is no time. There is no time to be unhappy, to do things we regret, to refrain from saying what we really mean. Each day is a miracle; treat it like one.

Online Comedians

How I love to waste time staring at my computer screen. As do millions of other people, I wonder how time can pass so goddamn slowly when I'm sitting in class, but zoom by when I'm clicking away on the web. Well, it can't be helped.
One of my favorite pastimes on the internet is watching online comedian clips. Especially David So and JustKidding Films. Warning: very easy to get carried away watching these, make sure you have at least 3 hours available before you click. Speaking from experience.

David So - Clubbin! not my thang...; The Boys Who Killed Hip Hop; Pretty Girl Problems
JustKiddingFilms - Why Parents Criticise; Friend Problems

Norwegian Wood

I need to watch this soon.. I remember reading the book last February, how the soundtrack of the movie replayed over and over in my head during that month, specifically the two songs used in the trailer.
Haruki Murakami is a truly odd writer. His novels are strangely hypnotic; I crave to read another one.

Flights of Fancy

Shouldering my way forward through the oncoming crowd, I cross the road and step into a lively alley lit bright with neon signs and flushed faces. The hustle and bustle of Tokyo is accentuated on this narrow street overflowing with restaurants, bars, and night clubs. After a hectic day at work, all sorts of people swarm to this place from throughout the city, packing into their preferred nooks like canned sardines.
Adjusting the thick wool scarf around my neck, I am swallowed by a flock of businessmen filing out of a Shinkansen train station, chattering with fellow employees and loosening their formal neck ties. Ahead of me, a man in a navy blue suit laughs at a joke I didn't catch, his warm breath forming white clouds that are whisked away into the night. I bumble along behind them, glad for the sturdy wall of shoulders in front of me, providing protection from the chilly headwind. The party enters a dimly lit restaurant, the noise of drunken laughter spilling through the door and into the busy street.
As I pass the dark restaurant, I nearly collide with a pair of young women rushing out of a tea house, wearing traditional geisha makeup and giggling, probably on their way to another party. I turn, wanting to get a closer look at their intricate silk kimonos, but the bright yellow and red hues have already rounded a corner and disappeared from view. I marvel at the smells coming from the restaurants, my mouth watering. The noise of laughter and chatter from different eateries blends with that of others, creating a pleasant hum.
The sound of the sizzling grill and friendly conversation envelops me as I push open the door of my favorite restaurant. The place is jam-packed as usual, and I wait in line for a seat next to the bar-like open kitchen. Tables and chairs litter the tiny room, evenly clustered with customers. A woman in a maroon sweater is shoveling rice into her kids' bowls; a party of four is laughing heartily over cups of sake; three young men in school uniforms are discussing their classes. The walls are painted a light brown color and dark wooden beams are placed along at even intervals. There is space for only two paintings - a portrait of a beautiful geisha with white facial makeup and bright red lips, and an equally stunning watercolor painting of a Sakura tree in a gentle wind. There is nothing out of the ordinary with the small eatery, save for the luscious flavors on the menu. A tall man shuffles past me and leaves the restaurant as I slide into the freshly available seat, taking off my jacket. I place my order and watch the crafty hands of the chef combine simple ingredients to create a delectable meal.

Opinion: The Street of a Thousand Blossoms

Beautifully written, the novel follows the lives of a handful of characters from 1939 to 1966; prior to Japan's involvement in World War II to the end of the American occupation. Gail Tsukiyama is known for her emotional and detailed writing, and her non-fussy storytelling style makes the pages flip themselves.

As soon as I curled up next to the fireplace with a hot cup of green tea and read the first chapter, I knew I was holding a masterpiece. The elegant writing captured me immediately and I spent all my evenings during the week reading. A family saga, the novel did not focus on one particular character, but instead divided the reader's attention between four main groups of people.
1. Hiroshi, an orphan with dreams of becoming a sumo wrestler; and Kenji, his younger brother, a quiet and introverted child with a keen interest in the masks of Japanese Noh theater.
2. Fumiko and Yoshio, the grandparents of Hiroshi and Kenji, who have taken care of the boys since their parents' unforeseen deaths before the war.
3. Sho Tanaka, a renowned sumo master; as well as his wife and two daughters.
4. Akira Yoshiwara, a famed Noh mask maker in the Tokyo area.
The Street of a Thousand Blossoms was written in a clear, clean, uncluttered style, which left the reader with all the information and the ability to decide what to do with it. Through the characters, I felt the desperation, hunger, and fear of the war, the horrors that came at such a high price. Tsukiyama's descriptions are so vivid; during the most intense moments of the war, I had to stop to catch my breath because I was so engaged in the story. There were also countless parts that were emotionally charged and left me dazed for minutes, pondering over what I had just read.
Reading this book was partially therapeutic to me, as thoughts of either one of the World Wars affect me and I close up like a flower at sunset, shut down within myself. Having gone to several memorials and listened to stories from a survivor of the concentration camps only shocked me further. I don't think I will ever be able to get over the impact and devastation of the wars, but reading about something so horrific that it makes me go quiet for a while is ironically a positive experience.
An intimate story of the true price of war; of what happens to ordinary people in frightening and tragic times; and of the children of a war era, struggling to find the strength to move forward.

A Year in Quotations: 35/365

"For none of us lives our lives alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone."

 

Romans 14:7

Y, Si Fuera Ella

A Russian person speaking fluent English fully understands a song in Korean by reading Spanish subtitles. This world is truly something xD

The song is in fact Spanish, sung by Alejandro Sanz and translated into several languages. So soulful, especially Jonghyun's live performances (below is one without Spanish subs, but it's the best vocally). Everytime I hear this man sing, I wildly wish I also had a drop of musical talent...

Black Cats and Carved Pumpkins

I'm currently wrapping up a story, but it's quite dampening to the mood, so I don't want to put it up just yet.. Let's talk about something cheery. Like Halloween!
To be honest, Halloween isn't one of my favorite holidays. I don't mind it, but I don't get excited for it as I do for Christmas. Maybe it's because I don't like pumpkins (sorry Tiger). I also can't watch horror movies. I tried watching Mirrors a couple of years ago, but turned off the TV after seeing a man slit his own throat. Which was about 6 minutes into the movie.
Another aspect that I'm not especially fond of is Trick-or-Treating. I'm way too lazy to open the door every 3 minutes and pretend to be Jolly Julia while handing out delicious chocolates and complimenting little children's terrible costumes. Sigh.
Alright, alright, I'll try to get into the spirit this year. As long as I get some chocolate too.

Coffee Break

I'm going to Whistler for the Thanksgiving Weekend with my friend for a much-needed vacation, finally! When I come back, I'll hopefully have a short story that I can post up. I haven't written anything in a while and I feel like I'm overflowing with creativity. Maybe you'll like what I write  ^_^

Please await my return!

A Year in Quotations: 34/365

meh.

I'm getting very lazy with the blog.. Sorry, I'll pick it up soon. Please endure just a few more short picture posts, then I promise to start putting up big chunks of text again.

Love: what is it?

Exactly.