Laboyraryan. Storyteller. Demigod.

Time to go home. Some chitchats with a fellow demigoddess, Gracia, over a plate of pork inasal. Decided to head to one of the favorite places to hang out: a bookstore! Transformed yet to a bookworm again. Totally absorbed by the book that was being read : The Magician [2nd book, The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series]. Suddenly noticed the big red banner:

Eyes went wide open. Mind boggled. Closed the book and kept it in the bag. Toured around the bookstore. Picked up a book. Asked for its price.

Checked wallet. No money [that much!]. Customer service approached, "Sir, it's 40% off!" Eyes went totally wide. Asked the cashier to compute.

Mouth gaped. Couldn't believe. Asked the customer service, "Until when?". Mr. Customer Service replied, "February 28, sir!". Decided to go home first and then go back and buy the book.

Well, knowing that Gracia is a fellow book[shop]aholic, I immediately texted her about the promo. And we'll be checking some books later. Oooooh! I couldn't wait to get my hands to touch a new book that I would soon purchase.

It's been a long while.

My kids are definitely missing you :)

Just last month, one of my students was left by his dad whose life was already decided upon by the Fates. He told me that he misses his dad so much and that you, Dinosaur, are his only company when he's alone at night. So, everytime he gets inside the library, he runs towards the shelves where books about you are located and borrow some of them. There are even times that he would return a book about you and borrow it again at the same time. I just want to thank you first, for keeping him company, and second, for helping me develop this child's imagination. He even told me that he would soon be an archaeologist or paleontologist so he could know more about you. But for now, he would love to stay inside the library and talk with me to know more about you.

Admittedly, you never fail to get the attention of my dear students. Whenever I hold classes for my Prep students and I bring them to the library, the first thing they would look for are dinosaurs. Girls and boys alike. Pokemons, robots, princesses just come after you. I really don't know what this charisma you have that make children so interested in you [even I, in my youngest years, loved and still love to read about you]. Maybe because your life is so mysterious that people would want to know more about you. I remember one of my students even asked me:

I was surprised and left puzzled and I just told him that that's the way things are supposed to be. Imagine you, Dinosaur, living with us?!? That would be a hell of a survival of the fittest. You may intimidate us with your humongous sizes, trembling roars, sharp claws and grinding teeth but we human, would never back down. Unless you want to be a stuffed roasted Dino, you better stay out of our way. [Especially from Filipinos who are having drinking sessions, you might end up as their pulutan]. Maybe that was why we never existed in the same place and at the same time. You already had your time, give us our chance.

Thank you for imparting knowledge to my kids. Thank you for helping me develop their imaginations. Thank you for making them more curious and never letting them stop asking "Why?". You may not be with us here but I'd say Kudos for a lot of help.

Lotsa' love,

/dmarco

PS: If you're going to ask me what my most messed up shelf is, that would be shelf no. 5 because that is where the dinosaurs are [figuratively].

While Mariah Carey may have wished for YOU last Christmas and Kelly Clarkson prepared a shopping list of wishes which she called her Grown Up Christmas List, I decided that I should also make a "wish" list -- a booklist that is [which I may be uploading soonest] -- of the books that I have read and wish to read [just like Shelfari]. I just feel that if I do my own list, it would have more of a personal touch rather than having it template-ready just like Shelfari's.

Well to start off, here's a little heart-warming story [Ha Ha!]:

Last Christmas season, while everybody was busy shopping and wrapping gifts for their loved ones, I, of course, joined the flow -- the celebration I mean. I did not want to miss that out. So, I went to different malls and stores to look for gifts for each member of our family. After buying everyone his/her own gift, I realized that I missed someone out ... ME! And so, as I have mentioned in my previous post, I decided to buy a book for myself.

It was a good start I think because honestly, I was never really a fan of books, I never even imagined myself being a librarian. The habit of reading just introduced itself to me while I was in college. I never really bought books. If I wanted to read a book, I would just borrow [or have someone borrow] from a friend. And in fact, the books that I've got now [at home, my personal ones] are all gifts and prizes. The habit of reading was just developed in me while studying college and intensified now that I am already working as a librarian. So, I guess I am still a young bookworm. More pages to go!

And with the start of 2011, I made a promise to myself that, aside from allotting a lot to food, I would a lot a part of my income to buying books and I plan to buy a book, if not every payday, at least every month.

I really wish that I could soon have my own library composed of the books that I have read and wish to read. That would take a lifetime of course!

**DISCLAIMER: All pictures are from Google.com

 Seasons of love, eh? Yeah, I think so too. Well, everything's all set for my trip to Jamaica (Gumaca), Quezon. In just a few hours time, gladly, I would be with my family again and Mama promised that we'll attend the Simbang Gabi together. And so much so for the drama.

I remember that I still have a task to accomplish. It has come to my attention that a fellow [senior] librarian is doing a study on different library buildings in the Philippines and fortunately [or unfortunately for me, Ha Ha], he asked me if I could get some details of the library of my very own alma mater, Gumaca National High School [GNHS or Gi-Na-Ha-Sa, Ha Ha!]. Well, kidding aside, I accepted the mission and hopefully, I could contribute to his study before the year ends. Yet another act of spreading

And oh yeah, speaking of love, [as a gift for miself] I recently bought my own copy of a book I love from the author I love, The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan. Will most probably be munching on it this yuletide season, aside from the parties and what-have-yous with my friends and family and relatives and neighbors and lovers ... Ha Ha!

Well, that's it for now. I just thought of blogging so I could wish you all a merry christmas [because I do not think I could gain access to the Net this Christmas, I'm from Mt. Olympus remember?]. I will just send you Iris messages, ching!

I hope that this yuletide season, more than the material things, we value the importance of intangible gifts -- knowledge, hope, peace and love.

I decided to do a "wish list", which is composed of wishes not just for me but for you as well :

1. This Christmas break, I wish that you bring down all the books and munch on them as much as you munch on all those festive dishes your mom or dad or yaya or whoever, will prepare for you! [Just refrain from eating while reading, some crumbs might fall on your pages]. 

2. I wish that you try to share the blessings that you have -- even if they're non-material things -- they say that "It's the thought that counts." [I suddenly thought of you, does that count?]

3. I wish that you try to read some books while waiting for Santa [or whoever it is that you will be waiting for].

4. I wish that I could read stories to young kids. You can try doing so too, with your younger cousins or siblings or neighbors. I wish that I could reach out especially to kids who cannot afford to buy their own books.

5. I wish that I could attend the Misa de Gallo , or the Simbang Gabi again to meet my old friends and to hear Christmas Carols being sung by the choirs [and not simply to go boy-hunting! Ha Ha!].

6. I wish that I could finish a book or two within the break.

7. I wish that everyone would see the coming year 2011 as a sign of new hope and learning and the year 2010, which we will be leaving or will be leaving us soon, as a year of good and bad experiences that help us become better.

8. I wish I could catch some long hours of sleep during the vacation [I'm quite deprived yet I'm happy because I know that despite the lack of sleep, I am doing something good] :)

9. I wish everyone would have a Merry Christmas! [with or without a special someone].

10. I wish that everybody would be happy. 'Tis the season to be jolly!!! ♪♫ Fa-la-la-la-la-la-laaaa ... ♫♪

/dmarco

My adorable students would approach me and most of the time, ask this question:

It must be because they are too young or too tongue-tied to pronounce it properly, but all the while, it makes me giggle a little whenever I hear the way they pronounce it. So, what I would do is tell them to pronounce it properly:

And we would all laugh heartily. Now, more than the "where" part is "who" really is Geronimo Stilton and what makes him so popular with my kids? 

In times of disappointments and frustrations, I try to think of happy thoughts. Whenever I am down, I always call my mom, which sometimes makes me realize that I am being unfair to her. After all of these storms, I know a rainbow will spring and show its glory even just for a minute; yet I know that despite that short span of time, it will never fail to make me smile.

Since Tuesday, my life has already been full of quite saddening experiences, which undoubtedly left me in frustrations, disappointments and a heavy heart. I really would have wanted to vent it all out last night through blogging but decided that I better rest instead. So, I grabbed my HP5 book and read until I fell asleep. Reading never fails to give me comfort. It adapts to the way that I am feeling. I was glad that while reading the fifth book of the HP series, and listening to a heartfelt playlist of mellow songs, the excerpt above popped out and somehow made me shed tears. I was grateful because it made my heart feel lighter.