Lately, I don't feel like writing anything. I haven't even touched my journal notebook for a few days now. A lot of things have been running in my head but my hands are too lazy to put them into writing.

For one, I turned down two schools already. I complained that the first school is too far (but gives good salary!) while the second school gives a "so-so" salary (yet it's very near!). But I thought that if to teach is what a person really wants then no distance is too far and no salary is too low (this is the idealistic side of me talking). I could've accepted any of these schools and I know that I could do a good job for the next academic year. Now I'm so full of remorse. Sometimes it's good not to listen to other people when you make your decisions. They may have the best of every intention but it's still best if the decison comes from you. I made a mistake of listening to other people and based my decisions based on their opinions. Sometimes it's better to follow your intuition, thus, when something goes wrong or everything turns out just fine, it'll only be yourself you could blame or give credit to.

But I can't undo that anymore, can I? *sigh*

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Last night, I came across an old high school classmate. The last time I've heard of her was that she went to Manila so I was really surprised when I saw her here in Iloilo. She hasn't changed much but she's still the girl who likes to jump up and down when she's happy. She said she's waiting for her husband/boyfriend (she's not married but they got a kid). She's looking for a job and complained that she couldn't get a decent one because she hasn't finished a 4-year degree. I remember very well how she dropped out of university because she got pregnant. We were both in our junior year that time. I suggested that she apply in Korean agencies (since she's an English major) then she complained that Andrea isn't helping her (Andrea's working in CNC). I wanted to slap her that time. How can others help her when she isn't even helping herself? She couldn't find a decent job but she should have gotten a decent boyfriend/husband! She's a Math whiz in high school, the i'll-die-a-virgin girl of our kada. Whatever happend to that girl in high school? Charisse, you know who she is.

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I finished two novels for this week;

Jude Deveraux's The Summerhouse and Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code. Ha-ha! What a combination... The former's more on family life and the latter's more on er, suspense...

I thought that all the while Deveraux's novels are all about damsels in distress waiting for their knights in shining armor (ala Barbara Cartland) but man, was I wrong. Deveraux may be a romance novelist but she's one witty writer who can write about love without being too mushy. I expected the novel to have that hate-at-first-sight-hop-in-the-bed-then-get-married-plot but I was in for a surprise. I read the book in just one day because I can't put it down (and of course, because I had the time). 4 stars for Jude Deveraux!

I know Da Vinci Code's already hot last year but I only got hold of the novel this year. It stirred such a contoversy that I thought it'll be banned. But good thing it wasn't. Frankly, I found the novel a little bit boring. I don't like codes and I hate those mind-boggling puzzles. I thought I'll be affected by the revelations there (my sister couldn't sleep for two days after reading the novel) because more or less your faith will be shakened after reading it. But it didn't really do anything for me. It's almost like a Sidney Sheldon novel where everything moves too fast. I think Brown and Sheldon collaborated with each other in doing this work. The novel also reminds me of that National Treasure movie (starring Nicolas Cage); fun, fast and entertaining and of that novel Sophie's World by Jostein Gaardner; highly informative and uh, a little lame. Now, who am I to say they're lame books when they became bestsellers? Really, I'm writing a critique so I might as well act and write as a real critic. o_O

The Opus Dei group has been considered an extreme Catholic organization. But I do think in this world being extreme is being less mediocre. You can either be an extremist or have that devil-may-care attitude but you can't and shouldn't be swallowed in being neutral (lukewarm, so-so attitude) ONLY.

In the novel's plot, the Opus Dei group, in desperation, collaborated with the Teacher because Vatican wanted them to break away from the church. Erasmus, that 15th century philosopher once said that he was more interested in "pruning the tree of Christianity rather than cutting it down"  when Martin Luther invited him to "cut" away from the Roman Church. I don't think Opus Dei should be "cut." Pruned," yes. "Cut," no... I think all Catholics should know and read about this brilliant man...

Before I go...

this is the photo of my good friend's youngest son...

Ain't he a cutie?!! awwwww...

Comments

[Marvic]

more than cutie...he looks like buddha!!!you have the same eyes although you have a fairer complexion...bwahahaha...

[Carmel]

Sigh! Honestly i wish i really have your talent in writing Van. Perhaps when God was distributing it, you were carrying a pail and i got a timble. Hehehee. But i am happy for you..May you use it for the greater good. I wont be surprised if one day i would see your book in the best seller list. No kidding! Oh, have you read Jude Deveraux's The Princess? It was the first thick book i read in high school and wow , its so hilarious! Anyway, hope you drop by Tawili naman one of these days. Miss you Van!!

[daveghard]

DaVinci code....i finished reading this book last october 2005...hahahaha it takes 1 week to read all...actually the revelation is not new to me! few years ago i already knew some of it, that's the reason i bought the book to see what's in Dan Brown's mind.im not saying Dan Brown is correct but i also disagree with the concept of what they called ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH...peace you...God Bless

[Van Kristine]

To Carms;

Thanx, dearie. Hope to read that novel in the future. These days all I ever read are the textbooks of my students and the photocopies from grad school hehe...

Yup, now that I'm working in ISA with Aisa I can definitely go more to Tawili.

And oh, don't forget our halo-halo date :-)

To Daveghard;

So you don't go to church anymore? hehe...
There are flaws on every religion and yet there's a certain beauty on it, too.

On a lighter note,

Don't hold on to her too tightly. Set her free and let her fly like a bird. If she decides to come back then she's yours forever.

Keep the faith :-)

[Van Kristine]

To Marvic;

I am the mother of that little Buddha...