Dreaming

 Photo Credit: AnnaWrites

I love dreaming.

Sometimes my dreams frighten me.  I wake up in sweat or jump up with a jolt as my heart pounds madly.  Other times, I wake up shouting at nothing in particular, a feeling of anger rushing through me, but then settling down as I realize I've just woken up.  I hate these types of dreams, and if I had more control over them, I would never have any.

I also have dreams that make me reflect upon my life.  Dreams that remind me of the positive and negative aspects of my personality to the extreme.  Ones that make me wonder if I'm sending myself subliminal messages that I've chosen to ignore when I'm awake.

Then there are the dreams that make me happy.  The ones that make me wish I did not have to wake up.  A dream where I can do whatever I wish and nothing I attempt can ever be wrong.  Everything I desire is within my grasp and there's no sense of loneliness or anger. My knight in shinning armor, oh he's there.  Perfect as can be.

However, the best part of dreaming is that it's not real. Each night I get to go to sleep to dream of different dreams, experience things I may have already done so in real life or tried something new I will never be able to attempt in reality.  It's where I can go jump off a cliff and still wake up intact. Most importantly, I can choose to go in and out of sleep and not have to worry about how my dreams will affect me in reality.  Dreams are where anything can happen.  Nothing is too big or small or impossible.  In fact, it's a place I go to each night to escape and piece myself together.  It keeps me sane.

And I guess that's why I love to dream.  

Book: The Boy In The Stripped Pyjamas

Setting: 1942 in Berlin, Germany during World War II.
Category: Holocaust
Age Level: Middle school and up
Main character: Bruno, a naive 9-year-old German boy who comes from a well-off family.
Plot: Bruno has a privileged life. He lives in a large house in Berlin and has servants to tend to his every need.  Despite all this wealth, Bruno does not really understand where it all comes from.  In fact, he doesn't really know what his father does for a living, only that he is apparently an important person. One day, the Fury (Hitler) makes a visit to the family, where his father is promoted and becomes a Commandant. Before Bruno knows it, his whole family packs up and leaves to go live in Out-With in Poland.  Bruno hates the move and yearns to come back home to be with his friends.  There's nothing at Out-With, except the dirty looking people in stripped pajamas who are enclosed behind a fence.  One day, Bruno goes on an exploration mission outside and he meets a Jewish boy by the name of Shmuel, who lives behind the fence.  They become fast friends and Bruno often tries to visit him secretly, bringing along food for Shmuel to eat. This friendship strikes Bruno as particularly different because he has never had a friend he could never touch.  Hence, the friend represents the stark contrast between the life of Shmuel and Bruno, boys who are the same age, yet live completely opposite lives.

Written by John Boyne, an Irish novelist, The Boy in the Stripped Pyjamas is a fictional book that describes events through the eyes of a child named Bruno. Therefore, everything that the reader knows is only what Bruno sees or comes to understand. As a result, the war and the atrocity of the Holocaust is viewed in a naive manner, making the story innocent, yet somewhat sad.  The ending of the novel in my opinion brings the story around full circle and gives the book a bit more substance.

I think The Boy in the Stripped Pyjamas would be a good read for young readers because I think Bruno's callowness would be something they could relate to, as they themselves are not yet adults and are learning about the world just as he is. The book does not give too much historical information and it follows a straightforward way of storytelling. Is the plot believable or historically accurate? To be honest, no.  I doubt a German and Jewish boy can meet up so often to talk to one another without anyone finding out.  I doubt the ending could ever happen and I doubt actually quite a few other things.  Yet, I do have to remind myself that is what happens when you write a piece of fiction.  You use your imagination to write a story, and you just go with whatever pops in your head.

The Boy in the Stripped Pyjamas isn't one of my favorite reads, but I can understand why people loved reading this book and I can also see why some people disliked it.  Perhaps I would have enjoyed this reading a bit more had I not read The Book Thief (which similarly is set in Germany during World War II) prior to this reading this novel. Where The Boy in the Stripped Pyjamas lacks, is where The Book Thief prevails.

Can I Have Your Job Please?

Photo Credit: Archengine

Every workday, I pass by this tiny flower kiosk near the escalator on my way out of the train station.   It's small, enough to fit a few people inside. There's a back door that leads to a storage area for the flowers.  Three sides with three shelves lined with flowers, bouquet style and in pots.  Each has a little stick with a price tag hanging off of it, handwritten in marker. The flowers vary in color, some seem exotic, whereas others are simple plants that you would typically find on an office desk.

Every morning, a husband and wife are busy unloading the flowers and placing them on the shelves.  The husband usually pulls the new flowers for the week on a large cart, opening the side door, where his wife comes out to help him take them into the storage room or place them on one of the shelves. Strangely enough, the small flower kiosk is located next to a busy cellphone stand, which is also next to some fast food restaurants.  It seems out of place, the flowers, the married couple next to the oily food, but somehow it all works out.

Is it crazy to say I wish I had their job?  That I wish I could wake up every morning and go to work with my husband to sell flowers?  I love the simplicity of it all.  To get to talk to people,  sell them a plant they will either keep for themselves or give to someone else as a present. To be surrounded by life, something that is growing and makes it seem like it is summer or spring, even during the winter time. The vivid colors of red, blue, yellow, pink, purple, and orange and the smell of nature, which makes me reminisce of the times I used to forge through the forest preserve with my friends on make believe adventures.  And of course, to be with someone you love every day.

I've spend many years wanting a dream job and wondering what my idea of a dream job actually was. Does such a job exist? To be honest, I don't really know. What I have learned is that I don't need a job that will make me rich. I just want a job that makes me happy and allows me to enjoy the little things in life.

Just Because You're An Adult, It Doesn't Mean That...

 Photo Credit: sodahead.com

You don't get pimples.
Sure, you get less because you're no longer going through puberty, but you'll still get them.  In fact, my 40-something-year-old former coworker can attest to that.  He came into work one morning and and said, "I woke up this morning and BAM! I see this!"  He then pointed his finger at the top center of his forehead.  "It's not that big," I said as I continued to stare at his pimple. In fact, it was not big at all...it was gigantic.  It took two whole weeks for that thing to disappear and two weeks of me reminding him he shouldn't pop it.

You're always right.
Adults are human too!  They make mistakes and their opinions and thoughts are shaped by the same things as kids-- experience and information learned from others.  For example, teachers tend to be knowledgeable about what they are teaching in school because they have taught a particular subject matter for years and have also spent years in school learning about how to do this.  But, they don't know everything nor can they solve or answer every question you might have.  When I was in high school, one of my classmates corrected my teacher on a math problem she did in class.  In the beginning, she did not admit she was wrong, but after solving the problem again, she realized he was right. 

You're experienced.
What does this mean?  Experience can be anything, from say, going to a club or bar and drinking alcohol, all of which I've never done myself.  I know of some adults who have never been in a relationship before either. Basically, adults can be just as naive sometimes as kids.  They can be scammed by a con artist or they can lack understanding of such things as other cultures.

You're responsible.
Think of this: DUIs, child abuse, arriving at work late, and being in debt due to overspending. Do the recent foreclosures ring a bell?  Adults are the main culprits behind these things.

You're old-fashion. 
So adults might not be super hip or with the current times, but you would be surprised by how many can name a few song titles off of Justin Bieber's album.  Most at least know he exists and think of how many older artists younger kids know of?  Not that many or any at all.  Adults aren't dinosaurs, even though some of them do look like it!  I would have to say my closest coworkers were people who were at least 7+ years older than me, some were double or triple my age, yet I loved working with them and sometimes had more things in common with them than I did with coworkers around my age.

Age doesn't = conservative.  My grandmother is living proof of this.  She's very modern and open to the idea that sometimes people go through a few boyfriends or girlfriends before they find the right one to marry; whereas my dad equates too many boyfriends to that idea that you're a skank. Keep in mind, he didn't just come about this way of thinking when he became an adult, he believed this even as a kid.

You're mature.
Adults can be just as childish or even more juvenile than kids.  They are prone to pathetic and immature acts sometimes.  I whine like a kid to my boyfriend when I don't get my way. I still own and adore my stuffed animal collection. What can I say? I'm a stuffy lover.  Then there's my mom. When she gets mad at my siblings and I, she'll give us the silent treatment and refuse to talk to us even though we're trying to create a discussion to solve the problem.

So there you have it...isn't it amazing what I used to think adulthood would be like as a kid?

Is there anything else that can be added to this?  Do you have any of your own examples?  I'd love to hear what everyone else thinks.

Book: The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time

 "This will not be a funny book. I cannot tell jokes because I do not understand them." Christopher Boone

I got teary-eyed a few times reading this on the train, which I'm sure freaked out the stranger sitting next to me. The book I was reading, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by British author Mark Haddon is set in Swindon, Wiltshire and follows the life of the story's narrator, Christopher Boone, a 15-year-old who is gifted in math,yet autistic.  The story is written from a first-person perspective and the first chapter begins with Christopher finding his neighbor's dog, Wellington dead on the front yard.  He gets arrested by the police, who think he has committed the crime.  Though Christopher is eventually released, the death of Wellington causes Christopher to go on a search for the murderer.  It's a mystery he can't seem to let rest, much to the distress of his father.  However, the more Christopher discovers, the more problems he faces and the more the reader learns about Christopher's life. 

Some of the characters in the book:

Christopher Boone- 
Though Christopher has a knack for math problems, he lacks social skills and despises people touching him. He is also very naive and is curious about the world around him.  He loves to learn, but his learning is hindered by his quirks.  For example, he only eats certain kinds of food that are a specific color and the colors of the cars that pass by helps him to determine whether he is having a good or bad day.

I love this character and I think Haddon did a marvelous job of capturing a special needs kid.  It was an eye-opening experience to be able to feel and understand what life might be like for a boy who isn't "normal." I couldn't help but think about all the special needs students I used to work with.  They require a lot of patience, but there's something about them that makes you love and appreciate them for who they are. 

Ed Boone (Christopher's father)-
Ed runs his own business and has one employee working under him.  He is known as the patient one in the family because he knows how to talk and work with Christopher. However, his relationship with his son takes a hit when Christopher accidentally finds something he shouldn't have, which leads to an escalation of problems.

Even though Ed is not perfect, I like him.  He truly cares about Christopher and puts his son's needs over his.  I like how he is always concerned with making sure Christopher's food is prepared properly and knows what Christopher likes to watch on TV.   However, his main flaw is that he is unable to talk about his emotions, which causes him to end up hiding secrets rather than facing the truth.

Judy Boone (Christopher's mother)-
Judy is a dreamer and she wants more for her life.  She's a caring mother, who loves Christopher, but she's also impatient with him and has a hard time dealing with his social problems and other specific needs. 

I think Judy is a very confused person because she feels helpless at times and she admits this, as she knows Ed has a better relationship with Christopher.   Yet, at the same time, she's selfish because she doesn't want to deal with the reality of her situation.   

Mrs. Shears (Christopher's neighbor who's dog Wellington was killed.)-
Mrs. Shears helps out the Boone family when Judy is gone and is living by herself since her husband left her.  

I really don't like this character.  She knows Christopher has special needs, yet she acts like a maniac ready to accuse him of killing her dog.  I had the impression that she had never met Christopher prior to that interaction, but the novel explains that she has been at the Boone house before to help cook for the family.  She's just lousy in every sense of the word, no wonder her husband left her.  

Mr. Shears-
At the beginning of the book, Mr. Shears has already divorced Mrs. Shears, so he only shows up sparingly later in the story. From the little that is known, he seems to be very outspoken and has a hot temper.

I won't go into any details that will spoil the storyline, but I find Mr. Shears to be just as unlikable as his wife.  Definitely a match made in heaven. Also, similar to his wife, he does not treat Christopher kindly.

Mrs. Alexander (Christoper's elderly neighbor)- 
A sweet old lady who befriends Christopher during his search for Wellington's killer. Even though Mrs. Alexander is kind to Christopher, he still considers her a stranger.

I love how nonjudgmental Mrs. Alexander is towards Christopher, offering him snacks and trying to make conversation with him.  She plays a pivotal role in the story, accidentally sharing some secrets she shouldn't have to him. 

Siobhan (paraprofessional who works with Christopher at school)-    
Siobhan tutors Christopher in school and helps him to talk and write about his problems. She is the inspiration behind him writing this story.

I don't think parapros get enough respect for the work they do.  Many times, they are working with students in small groups and one-on-one, which helps them to foster a strong relationship with their student.  They know the kids sometimes even more than their parents.  I love it when Christopher thinks of going to see her at school when he runs away from home.  It shows how safe he feels around her.

Overall, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is a heart-breaking book that will tug at your emotional strings, welding you to cry, feel sad, angry, and exhausted.  It's a simple story, but one with a unique narrator, who takes you along a journey that leaves you questioning your understanding of those who are considered different.  

Poem: My Friend

Photo Credit: The Middle Road

Watch out!

But you never did
I told you many times where this would lead
I guess you never heard my screams
Echoing through the walls
I even warned you when I grazed your shoulder
During those sleepless nights
But all you felt was the sudden chill in the air
And all you saw were the tree branches tapping against the window sill

Did I not whisper in your ear that He was coming?
Ahh, so it's true you never listened when I heeded you then
Too busy with your life
Too stuck in your modern ways

How long has it been since we last spoke?
Have you forgotten me already?
Have you not ever slowed down to wonder where I have been?

Those days of you and I alone all seem but a distant blur
You left and abandoned me, never to come back
I was alone, watching you but unable to communicate
Without those memories, I was no more
I was merely a shadow

You had dismissed me as a childish past
But now you know better

We were the best of friends
Sharing our secrets, laughing at life
But now we are but strangers
Such a shame don't you think?

Your daughter, I loved her too
Just as I did you
I thought we could start anew
With her, I became young again
Stronger than I had before
The memories of you and I clearer than ever

But it's all been taken away now
I warned you did I not?
And now my friend, all that remains here is you.

 *************

Halloween is fast approaching, so I decided to write a poem that suits the occasion.  One thing I like about blogging is that it challenges me to try new things and pushes me to write out my thoughts.  This is my third poem here, and I'm surprised I have gotten that far.  I might not know how to write poetry and I might not write the best poems, but I'm satisfied that I have at least attempted something that was once very foreign to me. 

Book: Live Wire

Harlan Coben is a writer of mystery and thriller novels who has had a few #1 New York Times bestsellers.  And yet, somehow I have never read any of his books until now. As an author, Coben has recently dabbled into young adult writing with his novel Shelter, even though he's mainly a writer for adult readers. Live Wire, the 10th book in the Myron Bolitar series is one example of his many adult books.  

Live Wire centers around  the character Myron Bolitar, who is the owner and agent of MB Reps, an agency which represents athletes, writers, and actors.  He's an understanding agent, one with a heart that is always looking at his clients best interests, such as Suzze T, a retired tennis star.  Suzze is pregnant with her first child with Lex, a member of a well-known rock group called Live Wire.  Because she is close to Myron, she wants him to be her child's godfather; yet she also wants Myron to find out who wrote "Not His" on her Facebook page and look for Lex (who has disappeared since the posting went live).  However, what seems to be a simple request turns into much more as Myron's search becomes more like an investigation, with new problems arising when he runs into his sister-in-law Kitty, who he has not seen for many years.  Her sudden appearance brings back a rush of negative emotions.  He wants to know why she has returned and where his younger brother is.  But those answers don't really come that easily when he realizes Kitty has some dark secrets she doesn't  want anyone to know about.

Live Wire is an easy read with a straight to the point plot that has twists and turns that keep the storyline moving.  Each new information learned is connected to a past discovery and somehow in the end, everything comes together.  My coworker used to tell me that was one of the reasons she loved reading Harlan Coben books.  "He keeps you guessing and he surprises you at the end," she once said.  I remember how her eyes used to light up as she talked about his books, a true fan I might add.

I haven't read other Harlen Coben books to judge, except a few pages of No One There, which seemed to be more interesting than Live Wire.  In fact, when I came upon other reviews for Live Wire, some readers mentioned that they felt the book was the weakest of the Myron Bolitar series.  Lucky reading for me right?

The plot in itself was decent, but I admit that it was hard for me to say I enjoyed it because I really couldn't relate to the 34+ year-old Myron, rock music, and drugs.  Everyone I know who reads Harlan Coben books are around my parents age or older, so maybe that's the reason why?  I sometimes felt Myron was actually older than he was portrayed to be, yet at other times I felt he was immature and sometimes flawed to the point of annoying.  I know his character likes to live in the past (e.g. He still holds onto his childhood home.), but the way he talks paints in my mind a pathetic man. 

Some examples:

Pg. 6  "Seventeen, whatever."

Pg. 23 "Why? Am I too chunky?  By the way, seriously, do these jeans make my ass look big.  You can tell me."  -- From a scene in which Myron is trying to get into a club to look for Lex.

Moreover, the sexual nature in which Myron describes women he finds attractive also made me feel as though this book was more meant for guys with raging hormones than a female reader.  The most pathetic part was Myron's buddy Win, who has two lovely Asian lady "friends" who happen to have the names Mee and Yu.  Some jokes are made in reference to this to add humor to the story, but somehow it just felt flat and insensitive to me.  Did this book seriously come out in 2011?

Finally, the biggest issue I have with Live Wire is that problems that occur in the story are solved in an effortless manner. From Myron's cell phone that has special features which ensures that Win will always be there to save him from harm, to the fact that Win is insanely rich and seemingly powerful enough to fix EVERYTHING.  Perhaps I should have viewed this book simply as a fun read, but there were issues I had with it that made it less than thrilling for me, and I couldn't overlook the flaws that kept reappearing time and again. 

Growing Up

Photo Credit: Benefitnet.com

The worst part about growing up is that eventually we all become adults. With adulthood comes responsibilities. Gone are the days of having parents pay for everything and not having to worry when or where the next paycheck is coming from.  Sure, there's the wonderful aspect of independence, but that means there are bills to pay for and when you marry, a husband and kids to care for.   

I sometimes wonder where my childhood went. It flew by so quickly, that I feel as though I didn't have enough time to embrace it for what it was. The lazy, hot summer days in which I went around the house doing simple nothing.  The days in which I biked around the neighborhood because I couldn't drive and my parents were too lazy to take me anywhere.  A quick stop at a friend's house, another stop at the local 7-Eleven for some overpriced ice cream and my day was set. 

I remember when I was in the 4th grade talking to my friend about what it would be like to go to college and how it exciting it would be if we could dorm with each other.  We sat on the lawn grass and spoke about how wonderful being an adult would be; we could buy all the french fries we wanted and sleep as late as we wanted to. Instead of looking towards the future, I should have lived and been content in my current state.  But, being a typical kid, I wanted more. I wanted what I couldn't have and I always thought that things could only get better as you get older.  Life was organized, just the way my teachers and the books I read taught me.  You go to college, you get your dream job, and you get married and have beautiful babies who love you just as much as you do them. Was I so naive to believe that?

Now that I am an adult, I know adulthood is not as amazing as I had imagined it to be.  But of course, it hasn't been terrible either.  I have more control over what I choose to do and I've learned many things that have helped me understand the world around me.  I've also learned about myself through the many relationships I have formed and experiences I have obtained in various settings.  Yet, somehow, I don't really feel like an adult.  Does that make sense?  I sometimes feel like I should know more than I do.  At other times I feel  as though I'm still the same girl in high school, just a little bit more knowledgeable.  I still love bike rides and doing immature things, such as racing my boyfriend down a flight of stairs to see who would win.  Heck, I even played freeze tag and patty cake with a bunch of five and four-year-olds a few weeks ago.  And you know what?  I had a ball doing it!  I'm not in denial of my adulthood. I know I have changed a lot over the years too, both physically and mentally.  Maybe it's the idea that I'm still learning and trying to find out who I am that makes me feel I haven't completely grown up.  

Open Source Software

Written by: Noteforself 

Photo Credit: custom-build-computers.com

I bought my newest computer over the summer at Costco.  It is an HP laptop that was on sale for $450. It has a 17 inch display at 1600×900 resolution, and it came with Windows 7. The first thing I did when I got home was to create the recovery disks.  That used up 4 DVDs. If I had a USB stick with at least 19 GB of space that would have worked too, but I didn't. For anyone who knows computers, 19 GB to reinstall your operating system is simply ridiculous; there is way too much bloatware that the hardware manufacturer is putting on your computer. That being said, making recovery disks is always a first priority when you get a new computer; you will need it in a year or three when your computer gets slow and you need to reformat it.

In my biased opinion, the software that comes preloaded on a computer is often bloated and slow.  Besides the operating system, I usually remove everything else and, instead, install open source software.  Open source software are software that have source code available, in case you want to modify or learn more about the software you are using.  The source code is the written text that makes up the software; the hardware, the physical computer, reads the text and runs the software.

Below are some open source software that I use.  I believe they are smaller and faster then the software that comes with your computer.

7-Zip 
If you ever download a file that is compressed into a 7z, BZip2, Gzip, Tar or other formats, you can use this program to uncompress it.  You can also use this file to archive your files.

ClamWin Free Antivirus 
This is my anti-virus program.  I use it when I want to check to see if my files and folders have anything dangerous in them.

TrueCrypt 
I use this to protect my sensitive documents.  It would create an encrypted file, and I would store all my important things in it.

Gimp
This is my image editor.  I do basic cropping and resizing of my images.  Since I am not a graphics artist, it fulfills my basic needs.  For 99% of computer users, this makes an excellent Adobe Photoshop replacement.

Sumatra PDF 
This replaces Adobe Reader; it's a simple PDF reader.

Notepad++ 
I use this instead of the Notepad that comes with Windows 7.

LibreOffice 
This replaces Microsoft Office.  Hands down, this is the best alternative to it, and it's completely free. However, you can still pay to show your appreciation by sending money to The Document Foundation so they can continue to work on this software.  LibreOffice used to be call OpenOffice. Anything Microsoft Office can do, LibreOffice can most likely also do.  It comes with Writer (word processor), Calc (spreadsheet), Impress (presentation), Draw (build diagrams and sketches), Base (database) and Math (equation editor).  It can save in different formats and open many formats, including but not limited to past and present Microsoft document formats.  Additionally, you can save your documents in PDF format.
I highly recommend LibreOffice.  To me, it is on par with Microsoft Office.

VLC 

MPC-HC 
Both VLC and MPC-HC are multimedia players.  You can use them to watch most video formats.

ImgBurn 
This software is to burn CDs/DVDs.  It's simple and works well.

Firefox 
Chrome 
Please don't use Internet Explorer; it can be unsafe.  I would recommend either Firefox or Chrome.They are both good in terms of speed and security.  Additionally, they are updated often to keep pace with technological advances.

In brief, whenever I reformat my computer, I would install the above programs.  Using these programs would also ease you into Linux if you ever want to give Linux a try in the future, because these programs are also available on Linux.  Before using any of these software, please read the instructions; I don't want to be held responsible for bad experiences.

As you can see, I embrace open source.  First, it's free.  Second, I have access to the source code, which allows me to modify it.  (If I knew how.)  Third, the open source software that I use are faster and  smaller than the software they replace. Without open source, Google, Facebook, Amazon and other  technology companies would not be what they are today, and I feel that the world would be a grimmer place.

If you have any interesting open source software, please let me know.  I'm always curious.

Short Story: Starting Over Part 2

Barbara sat staring at the manila envelope on her laptop.  She had come home determined to finish what she had set her mind on, but it was easier said than done.  Could she really muster up the strength to do this?  Just throw all those memories away after all these years?

"Stop laughing!"

"It's funny though," Michael said, clicking on the mouse to zoom in closer to a picture of Barbara, so he could see her teeth clearly. "Look at those amazing set of rabbit teeth!"

"You know I feel insecure about them," Barbara pouted, folding her arms across her chest, "You're such a jerk."

Michael continued to smile, zooming in even closer, "Definitely Facebook worthy." 

He maneuvered the mouse over to the Explorer icon.

"No!" Barbara shrieked, pushing his hand off the mouse, "I won't talk to you anymore if you do that."

"Hah! You say that, but you'll be calling me as soon as you leave here.  You're too weak." Michael said, flashing her his devilish grin again as he closed up the picture and turned off the computer.  He then got up from his chair and pulled Barbara in his arms, "But I don't like to try my luck with you being so stubborn sometimes."

Stubborn.  That's what Barbara was.   Yet, Michael put up with her because he had cared about her.

"Do you love me?"

"You know the answer, so why do you have to ask?"

"I just like to check sometimes, just in case you don't love me anymore," Barbara said puling the car into the parking lot at Harold's, the local grocery store.

Michael sighed.

Insecure.  Barbara was that too.  She tried not to be, but after being cheated on by her last boyfriend, she had never been the same since.  He had broken her heart and she felt as though she could never love again until she met Michael.

"Do you remember when we first met?"

Michael tapped his fingers on his chin for a few seconds and looked up from where he was sitting at the dining table, "Oh, I remember that day.  Man, you were pissed with me!"

"Well, besides that part where you offended me by saying I had an old lady's name," Barbara said as she swatted him  with her left hand, "Do you remember anything else?  I remember you wore a blue dress shirt with stripes and you had a black backpack on.  You wore glasses that day, those old big black round ones...you looked so cute then."

Michael's face cringed up, "I hated those glasses! They were so big and bulky. I can't believe I used to leave the house with those on.  And you found them attractive? Hah! I'm surprise you remember what I even wore then since you didn't seem to like me at all."

"Oh," Barbara responded, "Don't get me wrong, you annoyed the heck out of me.  I noticed you coming from afar though, before you opened that mouth of yours!"

Michael laughed as he moved his eyebrows up and down, in a twitching motion, "So was it love at first sight?"

Barbara never admitted it to him, but it was.  There was something that drew her to Michael the moment she saw him.  Something she could never explain.  Glancing once again at the manila envelope, Barbara took a deep breath and moved it away from her laptop.   Might as well look this up on the computer and get it over with, she thought. The local post office in her area had closed due to budget cuts and she needed to find the next closest one to her.  If Barbara was going to send this envelope, then she might as well have it sent there as fast as possible...before she changed her mind.

Book: The Last Girls of Pompeii

I've been mulling over how I should review The Last Girls of Pompeii, a youth historical fiction novel by Kathryn Lasky.  It's not a great book, nor is it awfully terrible to the point where I could not finish it.  Would I recommend this to my friends? No.  Would I recommend this to preteens who like history and a little romance? I think I might, though I would recommend other books before this one.  This is because The Last Girls of Pompeii is one of those so-so reads, a book I only read because my professor was giving away free books and I'm not the kind to say no to that!

Basically,  The Last Girls of Pompeii is a story that takes place during A.D. 79 in Pompeii (As some of you may already know, this is the Roman town-city that was destroyed by volcanic ashes when Mount Vesuvius erupted.).  It is about 12-year-old Julia who is born with a withered arm and Sura, Julia's slave and confidant.  The narrative piggybacks between the perspectives of these two main female characters, giving each a voice of their own.  Both girls are very different from one another, from their background (rich vs. poor) to how they physically look (ordinary vs. beautiful). However, despite this, their lives are connected to one another, as Julia's politically wealthy family has secret plans to send each of them away following Cornelia's (Julia's sister) wedding.  There's also an even larger problem brewing, which no one but a sibyl who lives at the mouth of Sarnus seems to know about.

What I like:

• Julia has a handicap, so she has to deal with people who are judgmental and discriminatory towards her.  I like it when the main characters are different than others and has personal struggles they have to overcome. 
• Strong female characters.  Definitely more of a book for girls than boys.  Julia and Sura both are confident and they are willing to take risks.  
• Historical context.  There's a lot of little tidbits of historical detail scattered throughout this book on simple things, such as what people ate, their superstitions, etc. that assists readers in understanding the period better.

What I didn't like:

• The dialogue and some parts of the writing were a little bit too modern for my taste.  I felt as though the characters in this reading could have been from today's world.  Perhaps, this made it easier for young adult readers, but it just felt out of place to me.
• Pacing.  There were no really draggy parts, things moved along well, but I think because of this it was a little too fast paced and, as a result, the characters in the book were not as well developed.  Sura's gladiator brother and Julia's cousin, Marcus are interesting characters, but you don't care enough for them because the plot does not devote enough time to help the readers relate or connect to the characters.
• Cliche plot/plot twists. I don't want to give anything away, but you'll know when you read it. 

Overall, The Last Girls of Pompeii is a short and easy read.  It took me two days on the train to finish it.  Surprisingly, I enjoyed the author's note at the end of the book more than the actual story.  It's well written and it was interesting to learn about how the author was able use her research and trip to Pompeii to assist her in writing the story.  

                                                       *************

Please note: Even though this book is suppose to be suitable for kids in late elementary through middle school, some references made in the book regarding sexual behavior is not, which includes a passage on genitals at a public bath, men trying to touch Sura's rear end, slave prostitution, among other things.  If you're really picky, Cornelia uses a profane word once at Julia.  In addition to this, the writing style is suitable for younger kids, but some of the context seems more appropriate for older kids.

Short Story: Starting Over Part 1

Photo Credit: galutah

"So what are your future plans?"

Such a simple question, yet somehow it hurt Barbara to hear it.  What was she going to do next?  All these years she had thought she had known what she would do every step of the way. Everything in her life was planned accordingly.  What college she would attend, when she would graduate, what kind of job she would have, and even when she would get married. All was going as planned until now.  Now everything was different and she found herself caught off guard.  She didn't even have a backup plan.  What could she possibly do?

Barbara let out a sigh, her head feeling a little light from the previous weeks ordeal.  She looked up at Emily, her friend of twenty odd something years, someone she had known since ten years old.

"I don't know," Barbara admitted, "I haven't thought that far."

As though feeling her despair, Emily placed her hand over Barbara's and then slightly squeezed it, "Well you better start now.  You can't change anything by ignoring it.  What's happened has happened.  You need to start fresh and move on."

Barbara didn't want to move on.  She wanted to go back, back to when things were normal and perfect. Back to before this had all happened. If only she hadn't been so curious...

"You know what you need?" Emily said, interrupting Barbara's thoughts, "You need a nice cup of hot tea and  lucky for you, I always carry about a special package in my purse for those you-never-know kind of days.  Come on, get up and I'll make you some.  Then we'll go out for a nice walk...it's such a beautiful day!"

Before Barbara could say anything, Emily jumped up from off the sofa and headed into the kitchen.  Barbara didn't want to drink tea or go for a walk.  She just wanted to go to her room and cry because she was still hurting inside and she just wanted to be alone.  But Emily was right, she needed to leave her apartment so that she could free her mind.

                                                     __________

"Do you remember when we used to play at this park as kids, how we would compete to see who could swing the highest?"

Barbara gently glided her hand over the rusted chains that held the swing together.  "Yeah, I remember that, it feels like so long ago."

Emily sat on one of the swings and smiled, "Because it has been!  I remember how we used to make big plans as kids and talk about moving to Florida so we could go tan at the beach every day, pick up hot guys..."

"But somehow we stayed put and we didn't even move that far.  We stayed close to our old memories, " Barbara interrupted, pushing the empty swing next to her.  She could hear the squeaks of the swing with each push, the chain rattling with every touch.

Brushing her right hand through her brown locks of hair, Emily let out a little sigh, "I guess going to the park was a bad idea then."

Barbara looked at Emily, "No, I'm thankful that you asked me to go out.  I think I know what I have to do now.  I don't want to be like this swing, staying in one spot year after year rotting away until someone decides that I'm no longer good enough...I don't want to be replaced."

Barbara stopped the swing then, grabbing it tightly in her hand until it no longer moved.  She knew what she had to do.  She had to go home and finish what she had started.

Short Story: Starting Over Part 2

Ordering A Cake At Jewel-Osco

Written by: Noteforself

 Photo Credit: farm4.staticflickr.com

"Hi, can I help you?"

"Yes, do you have a Michael Jackson cake?"

"No. If you bring in a picture that you own the copyright to, we can

scan and print it on an edible wafer. We can then place it on top of

the cake."

"Oh."

"We also have cake designs in that book over there."

Customer then looks at book.

"Please let us know if you have any questions or if you're ready to order a cake."

Many customers come in wanting to order a cake but not sure how the process works. I would be too if I didn't work there. But having worked at Jewel-Osco for some time, ordering a cake, to me, is a piece of cake. (Not that I'm particularly fond of extremely sweet mildly nutritious desserts.)

When taking a special order I usually have a piece of paper I have to fill out and a set of questions I usually ask the customer. Below are basic cake ordering information that would be useful for first timers.

There are 3 kinds of cakes that you can special order at Jewel-Osco: chocolate, yellow and marble. Yellow, I'm assuming, is vanilla cake. Why we don't call it vanilla I am not sure. Chocolate is self explanatory; marble is a combination of yellow and chocolate together, mostly yellow with some chocolate in it.

There are different cakes sizes. A 1/8 sheet cake feeds about 6 to 10 people, depending on how you slice it.  A 1/4 sheet cake feeds 15 to 20; A 1/2 sheet cake feeds 30 to 40. Our biggest cake, the full sheet, is two 1/2 sheets put together and it feeds 72 to 80 people. (As usual, depending on how you slice it.) Besides the sheet cakes, we also have an 8 inch round cake, which can be either single or double layer, which feeds from 8 to 12 people. Lastly, we have the 5 inch round cake, also known as a baby cake, which some people get so their baby can play with, and it feeds about 3 to 5 people.

There are two main icings, whip cream and butter-cream. If you have a party and the cake is going to sit out, I would recommend a butter-cream iced cake because whip cream needs to be refrigerated. Additionally, we also have better-cream icing, but I usually don't bring that up because not a lot of people are aware of it, and, unless people want it, I assume they are content with the two main choices.

Once I get the above information, I would ask if you want a filling in the cake, something to put in the middle of it. If you don't that's fine, but if you are interested then the fillings are, in no particular order: fresh strawberries, fresh bananas, custard (Bavarian creme), German chocolate, fudge, chocolate, whip cream, butter-cream, lemon filling, raspberry preserves, pineapple preserves, cherry preserves, and strawberry preserves. The fresh strawberries and bananas we would get from the produce department; they are the same fruits you can get on the sales floor. The only difference is that we cut them up and put them in your cake. We would add a layer of butter-cream or whip cream, depending on your icing, before putting the fruits in. For the fresh strawberries, we would also mix it with strawberry glaze, to keep it fresh and jelly.

Once the food part of your cake is determined, I would ask you how you would like it decorated. You can either point to a picture or design in the cake design book or you can describe how you would like your cake to look. If it's a design from the book, I would jot the number associated with the design down, and then ask you what you would like written on your cake. After that, I would quote you a price and we would be almost done, unless you would like your cake modified to your desire. Modifications include, but not limited to: border colors, additional balloons or roses, primary or pastel confetti’s, ribbons along the border, exclusion of certain features of the design from the design book, etc. Now, if you don't want the cake looking like a design from the cake design book, you usually have two choices. You can bring in a picture that we can scan, print out on an edible wafer, and then placed on the cake, or you can explain to us how you would want the cake to look. If it's mainly roses and balloons and something simple, I can most likely do it. If not, I would tell you I can't and then look for the main cake decorator, who is also my crew chief, and see if she can do it.

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This is just a quick look at ordering a cake at my particular Jewel-Osco. It is my opinion and does not represent the company. There are more details that I probably missed and might address in the future.

Homeless

Photo Credit: Ryan Remiorz, AP Photo

I sometimes don't really know what I think about the homeless.  At times, when I see them, I feel like I should be happy to have the life that I do.  Other times, I become negative and wish they would try to find a job rather than panhandling outside on the streets.  What is it about the homeless that brings about such mixed emotions inside of me?

• When I used to work in a public library, the homeless would come in every Tuesday of the week after making their routine stop at the local food pantry.  I wouldn't had known they were homeless until my coworker told me, as they were dressed just like any other patron.  Some sat off to the side reading a magazine or book and others just found a seat to simply sit and relax, away from the heat outside.  One lady in particular sat in one of the sofas in the children's reading area, so a library employee had to ask her to find a seat elsewhere, for fear she would scare the little kids I presume.  The homeless here were harmless and simply wanted a place to rest.

• Most recently on my way home from work, I noticed a homeless lady standing outside near the train station. She had the typical homeless cardboard sign that said she needed help and that any change would be much appreciated in black marker.  The only thing out of the ordinary was that she was holding a cellphone.  It was no ordinary flip phone either (such as another homeless lady I've seen have), but a smartphone.  So how does she manage to pay for her phone bill? And why is she asking for money when apparently she does have the money to pay for other things?

• Now there's also homeless people who just stand there asking for change and there's those who try to provide some form of entertainment so you'll give them something.  I view this almost as though they have a job because in a way, they are performing a service and you are paying for it.  One old man I can think of in particular jams on pans and buckets.  He does a fairly good job at it too and provides commentary on the side to boot!

• The wheelchair bound homeless.  There are some that cannot walk and so they must use the wheelchair.  There are also others who pretend that they cannot walk and use the wheelchair as way to gain sympathy, which means more money for them.  I remember being a kid when my dad gave a dollar to a man sitting in a wheelchair who told us he was a war vet.  Hours later, on our ride home at night, I saw the same man getting off his wheelchair and rolling it down the streets.  I pointed it out to my dad and he just shook his head.

• The homeless that do drugs while sitting on the ground asking for money.  I've actually seen some homeless people rolling up some weed and using it as I passed on by.  They usually hold what they're using in one hand and the cardboard sign in the other.

• The homeless who have their kids with them.  Sometimes it's just one baby in the carriage, other times it's the whole family.  I've seen this while on vacation too in another country. There was a young girl, who looked as though she was eight-years-old going around with her siblings (including her baby sister) asking for money.  It's sad to see such young faces having to deal with being on the streets.Where's the naive childhood life?  I think every person should at least have this experience.  It's just not fair.

• The demanding homeless. The one that actually follows you and keeps pestering you for money even after you ignore or tell them no.  My boyfriend told me once of one lady who was being harassed by a big homeless man.  A good pedestrian saw this and asked a security guard nearby to help her. When the guard came outside, the homeless man fled.

• The homeless person that wants more money. I've had this happen twice in the past. It usually occurs when I am feeling sorry for someone or am randomly surprised by someone who seems to be just giving me a kind greeting. They'll ask me for money and I'll give them the change I have in my pocket. Upon giving them the money, they'll ask for more or complain that I had not given them enough.  Apparently, there's a certain amount that some like to be given and I obviously didn't meet the quota. 

• The well-dressed homeless person.  This really confuses me sometimes. There are homeless people who look the part, dressed in worn or torn clothes that look like they need a good wash or need to be thrown out.  However, there are the homeless who wear dress shoes with a vest and dress shirt. If they were shopping at a store or walking down the street, they would look similar to you and I. 

• Finally, there are homeless people who ask for handouts and those who do not.  A particular interesting case is an older gentleman I used to see every few days.  Can I describe him as being homeless with class? :)  I like him, so I might be bias.  Every few days in the morning I see him at the bus stop near my workplace.  He always has on a beret and is dressed in a simple shirt and cargo pants.  He sometimes has his luggage with him, along with a grocery bag filled with things I can't recall.  95% of the time, he's reading a book when I pass by.  Always a novel of some sort and when he reads, he zones out completely, seemingly forgetting where he is.  When he's not reading, I've managed to make eye contact and he greets me with a good morning and a smile.  Other times, he sleeps at the bus stop bench, arms folded across his body.  Lately though, I have not seen him and I wonder where he is and what he is doing.  I think about who he is or if he has any family.  There's something different about him...I almost feel as though he's too smart to be homeless.  Yet, who am I to judge; the homeless can be anybody right?

Book: The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation

"The 9/11 Commission believes the 9/11 attacks revealed four kinds of failure: in imagination, in policy, in capabilities, and in management."

- The 9/11 Report, pg 107

I remember watching 9/11 happen on the school TV screen in my U.S. history class. It was something that was so surreal to me at the time.  I even remember my favorite teacher just standing there, silent, as he and all of the students sat starring at the small TV screen in the corner of the room. Years later while in college, I found myself in a U.S. government class where I was assigned to read The 9/11 Commission Report. The book was huge...about 586 pages of information.  Luckily, the professor only assigned various chapters in the book for essay assignments.  The read itself was not as terrible as I had thought it would be.  In fact, I remember feeling sad and fascinated by all the new information I was exposed to.

Photo Credit: Fleeing the Fire, by Jose Jimenez, Primera Hora/Getty Images 

Some years later, I won a poster contest in class and received The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation by Sid Jacobson and Ernie Colon as one of my prizes.  Up until that point, I had never really paid attention to graphic novels, unless it was anything related to Batman or reading a compilation comic book, such as Calvin and Hobbes.  I remember reading a few pages of The 9/11 Report and then putting it on my bookshelf, telling myself I would read it later.  There it sat until recently when I made it a goal of mine to finish all the books I had, but had not bothered to finish.

The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaption is basically a short and simplified version of the actual The 9/11 Commission Report, complimented with pictures.  It reviews events that led up to 9/11 and it examines problems or miscalls by government agencies that could have led to the prevention of the incident.  The graphic novel then ends with recommendations made by the 9/11 commission to prevent similar disasters such as this one from happening again.

I must admit that similar to The 9/11 Commission Report, the graphic novel has a somber feel to it.  It was like reliving through parts of 9/11 again and connecting it to what I remember happening in real life.  The worst part was that I couldn't just close the book and dismiss it as simply a work of fiction, there to entertain me.  It was reality and the people represented in there were those people who had lost their lives thanks to the heinous act of a few people.  The 9/11 Report  is a great way to expose younger readers to 9/11, yet it's also a good read for those who don't like to read or are frightened by the sheer size of the thicker commission report.  The forward written by the chair and vice chair of the 9/11 Commission provides even more credibility to the graphic novel and the pictures give a realistic view of the events. I particularly liked how the authors created separate timelines of the planes (flight 11, 175, 77, and 93) taking off and how they placed these timelines next to each other, helping readers to compare them side by side.  It was a great way of allowing readers to see the whole picture, rather than just parts of it at a time. Overall,  The 9/11 Report is well-paced and simply presents information, rather than pushing any agenda.  A good read, which I wished I had read sooner.

Photo Credit: Spencer Platt, Getty Images

*************

Extra info: AvaxNews has a small, yet moving collection of 9/11 pictures, some which I have not seen previously myself.  Check it out if you're interested. 

Poem: Hating You

I don't know why you had to be like that
You know what I'm talking about

You used your deceiving looks to play it well
This character you had taken on, this role you played
Is it because you hated me or is it because I hated you?

Remember when you took her with you
Hand in hand to see those things you never let me see?
I was at home that night
Crying myself to sleep
And hating you as though I've never hated anyone before

Remember when you asked me if it was okay for you to be with her again another day?
How you felt you owed her?
Oh, how I fell for that pathetically sad puppy face you gave me
And I smiled and let you go
Even though my heart ached and bleed
I really hated you then, as much as I do now

Remember when you used to wait for me all those lonely nights?
You told me it wasn't safe to be walking out all alone

Just like the wolf in the night
You hovered over my shadow
Baiting and taking your time

Oh, those tales you used to tell through those sharp pearly white teeth

You lied to me, you know
Lied straight to my face
I was merely a pawn in your game

Remember when you said you weren't sure?
Weren't sure about you and me?
Or the things we stood for?
How I smiled and hugged you
Telling you I would wait?
Wait for you to decide on my fate,
My life hanging on your every word

Remember that day when you came back?
You wanted me, not her?
How I first wept with joy as you brought me to the riverwalk
How about how we sat there for hours not talking because my heart ached
Ached in the pain you caused me that just wouldn't go away

I wanted to forgive and forget, but I couldn't
I felt her hand as I touched yours
I felt the warmth of her lips as I kissed you
Your skin reeked of her perfume
And your hair still had the streaks from her fingers

You were not mine
You never were
And I hated you then


                                                                *************
I always think love brings about a variety of feelings.  You can be happy one minute and angry the next.  And sometimes, in those angry moments of sadness, it's best to just leave behind what you believe is love so that you can move on and find true happiness. 

Happy 80th Grandma!

Photo Credit: myshtetl.co.za

Today, half way around the world, my grandma is celebrating her 80th birthday.  All the kids, grandkids, and even great grandkids came to celebrate except my side, which is swamped with work.  I guess that's what happens when you live in America.

Since I couldn't be there, I made a gift for my grandma.  I bought a "I love Nana" frame from JCPenney and I did the artwork that went inside of it, which included all us siblings and even a picture of us with her from years ago.

I was hoping it would be a surprise, but when my dad called back home to talk to another one of my aunts, he mentioned to her what I was making for my grandma. Immediately, everyone in the house started shushing my dad. What's worse is that he goes on talking to my aunt and telling her everyone is shushing him because it's suppose to be a secret!  This made me recall a time when my family had planned a surprise birthday for my mom years ago and how my dad just went up to her and say, "Happy Birthday!"...two days before the event.  Another year, when I had to buy the birthday cake, he said he wanted to talk to me (while my mom was standing next to me of course) and said, "Did you get it?" My mom then told me that if we were to ever plan anymore surprises that we should just keep my dad out of it until the last minute.  I'm starting to think she is right.  Dad loves to talk way too much!

But of course, in the end, as long as grandma likes it, it's all that matters right?

"I Think I Chose The Wrong Major"

Photo Credit: Self Made Scholar

Is it possible?

Apparently, it's more common than I thought it was.

I hear this from friends, coworkers, and random acquaintances on occasion.   Their reasoning to this sometimes brings about a heavy sigh, a shake of the head, or both. Their tone as they speak then becomes one of sadness, regret, and even anger.

How does this happen you might ask? How does one go about choosing the wrong college major?  Perhaps you even know the answers yourself.

1.  You chose it because it's your passion.
You love learning about the major you chose and enjoy going to class.  It's something you care about and sometimes you do things related to it in your free time.  However, when you graduate, you realize there are little to no jobs for your degree, the job market for your major is saturated, the pay is poor, or you cannot find a full-time position with benefits.  How do you pay off your student loans?  How do you provide for yourself or the family you plan on having in the future?

2.  You chose it because it's what your parents wanted you to do.
Basically, they're happy and you're not...if that is, you succeed in becoming a doctor or some other parent-worthy major.  You can also major in biology and not get into medical school like you were suppose to and now you're stuck with a worthless degree you don't want and can't use.

3.  You chose it because you wanted a nice job.
Choosing a college major based on the idea of what is considered a "good" job. So now you're on top of the world, making good money, but the problem is, you're not completely happy.  You wanted, say a nice pharmaceutical position that offered good pay, but you aren't passionate about being a pharmacist, nor do you really care about the people you're suppose to help.

4.  You chose it because you like the idea of the job.
You like the title and prestige that comes with the position that goes with what you majored in.  Yet, when you actually work, you realize you don't like it.

5.  You chose it because you're good in it.
You're good at a particular subject, in fact it comes easy to you.  So why not major in it right?  Become an accountant because you are good at numbers.  Yet, the work is boring because what you really enjoy learning about is science.

6.  You chose it because you were too young to know any better. 
You just didn't know what you wanted at 18 years old, nor did you know what you wanted to major in a few years after being in college.  Now that you have been out and working for awhile, you start to realize what type of job you see yourself doing in the future and what you like or feel passionate about.  If only you knew all this before you went to college...


Am I missing anything else?  Which number are you?

Neil Armstrong Dies

"That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind."

-Neil Armstrong, July 20, 1969

I wasn't planning on writing a post today, but I was shocked and sadden when I heard the news about Neil Armstrong's death.  He died at 82 due to complications from cardiovascular procedures. I guess this is the end of something spectacular and it makes you really curious about whether the space program will ever have anything exciting as it had before, such as the case with Neil Armstrong landing on the moon. With recent cutbacks for spending allocated to NASA, it makes you wonder.

Book: Life of Pi

I was putting away some books at the library one day when I happened to spot  Life of Pi, a fantasy adventure book by Yann Martel on the shelf.  The cover was interesting and the synopsis made the story seem unique.  It was about Pi, who is an adult living in Canada reminiscing about his childhood in India to a writer who comes to his house.  Pi tells the writer of his journey from a somewhat well-off life in India to his fight for survival at sea when the Japanese freighter he travels on sinks.  Interestingly enough, Pi ends up sharing the freighter's lifeboat with a Bengal tiger, a zebra, an orangutan, and a hyena, who were animals from his family zoo.

When my brother mentioned to me that Life of Pi had been adapted into a film and would be out possibly in November, I realized I had better get started on reading this book before the movie came out!

To be honest, I don't know if Life of Pi  is for everyone.  It's not a terrible book or anything, but it is slow paced and more drawn out than other books I usually read.  My brother started reading the first few chapters, but after that, gave up, unable to finish it.  And let me tell you, in my opinion, the book moved along faster in the beginning than it did in the later chapters.

Despite all this, I did finish the book and I do appreciate the reading, but I don't know if I could ever read it a second time since I found myself skimming through some chapters very quickly.  I don't blame the author though, but I get impatient after reading about someone being on a boat day after day, learning how to survive for the longest time ever. I guess I get bored easily, but alas it's a great peace of literature nonetheless.  I value the uniqueness of the plot and I feel for the character Pi, and at the same time I grew to love his boat mate, a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker.  One thing that was hard for me to imagine even as a reader, was how a tiger could actually have his own area and sense of privacy on a lifeboat and how a young boy such as Pi could create an elaborate system to purify sea water.  You really have to use your imagination with this book.  And to think that in the beginning of the first few chapters, I thought Life of Pi was a nonfiction that had been wrongly labeled as fiction!  Hah!

Another aspect that I enjoyed about this book was the description of Pi's life in India, which included the zoo his  father owned and that he grew up in, his family life, his relationships with others, exploration of life itself (particularly when it came to religion), and his identity at school.  I really liked the short story behind his name, Piscine Molitor Patel and the struggles he went through with it in school.  Those who have unusual, hard to pronounce names, or names that can be easily made fun off can relate to this.  Pi's parents are also interesting characters, particularly his father who definitely has an uncommon and somewhat disturbingly funny way to teach his kids a lesson!  What a way to learn new parenting skills...

In the end, Life of Pi left me feeling a little empty because I felt as though I wanted something more to justify the journey I had gone through with the characters; but in a way, the ending made sense because it made the story the narrator told even more compelling.  I guess it's because I'm such a huge Richard Parker fan.

Here's a picture from the movie Life of Pi, directed by Ang Lee. The lifeboat looks rather nice compared to how I had imagined it and the picture makes it seem almost whimsical and fantasy like in nature.  It's a beautiful photograph and the colors blend well together.  Richard Parker looks as gigantic as he should be and Pi...well he kind of reminds me of someone from Aladdin. :)   I wonder if this is a promo picture or an actual photograph from onset? This makes me also wonder how Ang Lee made Pi's family zoo in Pondicherry look like.

Photo Credit: 20th Century Fox