Oh what's that?

A big hole in my pocket, that's what.

Now you would go 'Uh, why would there be a big hole in your pocket?'

This is why.

THE BIG BAD BOOK SALE IS BACK!

Now for those who did not know what I did last year at the Big Bad Book Sale, here's a hint. Let's say I increased the number of books on my book shelf by around 15 books?

And.... and .... and .... and the Big Bad Wolf promised that this sale would be bigger than last year's one. I know, I shouldn't trust talking wolves (like Red Riding Hood) but what if his words are true?

I really really REALLY want to go for this sale. I need Princess Diaries 10 to be in my book shelf because right now I'm having this huge crush on Princess Mia's EX-boyfriend (as was in the ninth book), Michael Moscovitz.

I know, I'm not supposed to crush on other people's ex-boyfriends especially since they're going to be re-united in the 10th book. But hey, Michael Moscovitz IS fictional.

Someone, please come over and talk some sense into my book-corrupted head. I'm supposed to be worrying on stuff like the Periodic table and the respiratory system of frogs, HELLO!

Well for those of you who are not saddled with the burden of SPM, details of the sale are as follows.

Subject: Big Bad Book Sale
Date: 26 November 2009 - 2 December 2009
Time: 10.oo am - 9.oo pm
Venue: Level 3 Amcorp Mall (former cinema lot)
Website: www.bigbadwolfbooks.com
Personal opinion:
"If you love books, do whatever you can to go to this sale. Walk if you must. You will NEVER regret it. A word of advise though. Don't bring your credit card if you have an inability to control the impulse to keep buying and buying more books."

Below is another reason why I strongly dislike exams during the holidays 'love' SPM.

Subject: Popular Warehouse Sale
Date: 20 November 2009 - 6 December 2009
Time: 10.00 am - 10.00 pm
Venue: Level 4 The Summit
Website: www.popular.com.my
Personal opinion:
"Since it's a warehouse sale, there might be good discounts. But if you're planning to go to the Big Bad Book Sale, skip this."

Now, MPH can just start a sale and I would just automatically scream my head off.

P.S. Writing about something that is neither about Robert Pattinson nor Taylor Lautner is just so refreshing. (Not that I ever intended to write about any of those two. I'm not a Twi-hard. Yet.)

Serena C

All the best

Just dropped in to wish all the best to my peers who will taking the SPM examinations and those Form 6 people who will taking the STPM examinations.

This blog will probably be on a hiatus for the next three weeks.

Wish me luck!

P.S. This has got to rank as my shortest post ever.

Serena C

West Side Story

Disclaimer: I am NOT obsessed with Japan or anything like that. So my opinions on the matter below are not biased at all.

Dad and I were already late for the dinner date at Vietnam's Kitchen with the rest of the family and he had chosen that time to park at the highest level of the car park in Parkson's OUG. Apparently, according to him, he cannot park his car by the streets because car thieves love his "type" of cars. Seriously, ditto the car thieves.

So we had to take two escalators down to the ground floor. Imagine my surprise when I reached the first escalator. Four Parkson staff (two at each side) were standing at the escalator as though they're waiting for someone. When I went on the escalator, one of them greeted me "Good Evening".

My first impression was, "Wait, had I been shipped off to Japan or something? These Malaysian promoters are actually treating me like a customer."

At the next escalator, there were another four Parkson staff. I seriously thought that I'm in somewhere else.

Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against Malaysians who work as promoters. It's just that I often get this feeling that their services are only reserved for tourists (especially ang mohs) and rich people.

It doesn't help that no promoters would fall over their feet to assist me whenever I walk into a shop. Even if they did come over to me, it would be to follow me around to ensure that I don't steal anything from the shop.

I've seen this kind of double standard many times. And especially more when I happen to be someone under the age of 18 and therefore, not eligible to own a credit card.

Things are different in Japan. Whenever I walk into a shop, the promoters would immediately come over and offer assistance even if I don't happen to need any. And if I choose not to buy anything, they would still thank me and smile graciously as I leave the shop. Unlike over here in Malaysia where promoters would grunt with displeasure at having to refold clothes that I had checked out. If you ask me, we have a lot to learn about courtesy.

Once my cousin who has just returned from the United States complained that the typical Malaysians are rude. He had gone to the bank and had greeted some of the people there with a polite "Good morning". Peopele either did not reply or looked at him weirdly. I reminded him that this is Malaysia and not the United States. Only people who have bad intentions appear well-mannered. Just look at the number of Good Samaritans who either got robbed or hurt after trying to help someone in "trouble".

Maybe this is just Malaysian culture. After all, we cannot be blamed for being overtly suspicious. There are just too many funny people around.

However it's good to note that Parkson's doing something to improve customer service. Though I'm not sure those staff are at all any enthusiastic about having to stand at the escalator all day. Maybe if you happen to walk past them, you could greet them or smile at them to make sure that they know their efforts are being appreciated?

It would be nice if promoters in Malaysia are as good as those in Japan. Perhaps I would enjoy shopping a little more with friendly promoters.

Serena C

Top 10 Reasons Why I Love Books

For the lack of better things to update (because I'm sure you won't be interested in me ranting on and on about how I'm going to screw SPM), I've decided to draw up this list. It's common knowledge, really. I ADORE books!

So to cut things short.

I present.

Top 10 Reasons Why I am married to Love Books

10. Nice book covers

I absolutely j'adour nice book covers. I know everyone love nice things so why not nice book covers.

Tell me, how can you ignore a book cover like this? Though judging by it's title, it might probably be a book about mathematicians? (I have not read this book or even heard of it. Just Googled this up. But now I'm tempted to hunt this book down and read it.




Books with nice covers are really art.

9. Nice book titles

If I showed you a book entitled "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time", wouldn't you be a tad bit curious to read it. You'll be wondering, what happened to the dog? Why is the incident so curious? Those are the questions that struck me when I chanced upon this marvellous work of Mark Haddon.

People who can think up nice book titles are ingenious.

8. Nice prose

When you visit too many blogs with bad prose, it could get annoying. At least, with books, you will never get sentences like "I is like you too much." Instead, you get prose that are beautiful, almost lyrical, that they'll sound like a song.

"The sky is glittering because its colour is deep but see-through at the same time"
excerpted from Kira-kira by Cynthia Kadohata

7. Fun characters

Take for example, Samantha from Sophie Kinsella's The Undomestic Goddess. Even though she has no idea how to run a house, she tries hard. And naturally ends up with burned pots and weird tasting food. Her antics are super-funny (which explains why I laughed aloud while reading this book and my friends were giving me weird looks).

6. Adventure

I absolutely love fantasy books like The Inheritance Series. It's fun to imagine living alongside with dragons and traversing jungles. (Though I highly doubt that I could really stand being in a jungle for more than three days)

And not to mention Harry Potter. Just imagine what I would do with a wand. You would wish that I didn't have a wand if there is really magic in this world. *grins cheekily*

5. Cute boys

Don't raise your eyebrows. There are cute guys in books too. In fact, I think some fictional guys are even cuter than those in real life.

When guys in books are describe this way, I bet you would be wishing that those guys REALLY exist.

"His hair, at first glance, appears merely dark, but upon closer inspection is actually many strands of chestnut brown, gold and black. He wears it long, for a guy, not because doing so is 'in', but becase he's too busy with his many interests to remember to cut it regularly. His eyes seem dark at first glance, as well, but are actually a kaleidoscope of russers and mahoganies, flecked here and there with ruby and gold, like twin lakes during an Indian summer . . ."
excerpted from Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

4. Books spare me from weird glances when I have to eat lunch alone

If I'm reading a book during lunch, nobody would bother giving second glances. However, if I'm having lunch alone, it's a different matter.

(I just don't get what is so wrong about single.)

3. Books seem to minimise my problems

When I'm alerted of children having to go without food through books, I'll automatically feel that my having to forgo a McDonald lunch is not such a big deal at all. Books make me realise that there are bigger problems in this world than my McDonald lunch. In a way, I guess they make me a better person.

Let's just do a cheap trick and skip on Number 2. I'm kind of running out of time here considering my tuition teacher will be ringing my doorbell in 10 minutes time.

1. I am not me

Don't get me wrong. I love being myself but sometimes it's a relieve to get away.

Books sort of give me that reprieve to be someone else. And I enjoy all those breaks. Everyone longs to be someone else at times, me included.

And considering the current situation I'm in, it's a relieve that I can "escape" from being myself. (Current situation meaning I'm going to screw SPM)

And that concludes my top 10 reasons why I love books list.

Enjoy!

P.S. I'll fill you in on Number 2 the next time. That is, if I remember.

Serena C

Pressure (No, It's Not Physics-related)

Before I know it, I'll be out of school. But before that, there is this huge mountain in front of me that I have to scale. And I'm not even sure if I can scale this large and scary mountain. Perhaps the best thing I can do is to prepare for it as best as I could.

These days, the pressure is really getting at me. I'm suddenly not so sure anymore. Or had I even been any sure at all? Frankly, all these morbidity is not doing me any good. But I can't help feeling this way. Especially now when I feel that I had screwed up my Literature in English exam.

Oh well.

I might as well re-motivate myself and continue this arduous battle. After all, I'm sure that I'm not the only one.

Here goes the cliched saying.

"When the going gets tough, the tough gets going"

P.S. If you have been here, it would really help if you could drop in a word of encouragement or two in my chatbox. I'm not embarassed to say that I need it.

P.P.S. My whole room smells of nutmeg because I had stupidly smartly wiped some nutmeg oil residue that spilled and dumped it into my empty wastepaper basket.

Bogged down by pressure,
Serena C

It's Irony All Right

As I paid for the new T-shirt at the counter, I could already see this blog post being written in my mind. True, I've been thinking of going for a change for quite some time but this is a major change. As in changes regarding to my perceptions.

Thus I present to you something that would never in a million years be my opinion. Or maybe one day it would, who knows?

If Electricity Comes From Electrons, Does Morality Come From Morons?

My Chemistry teacher would be so proud of this T-shirt. Or at least the upper part of it. I 'like' Chemistry so much that I'm wearing it. But I can't imagine my Moral teacher being thrilled about the lower part of the shirt. I would be implying that she's a moron.

I could see all of you laughing your heads off at the sight of me wearing this shirt. Especially you, Stephanie Fernandez. After all, I didn't earn my 'goody-two-shoes' nickname by breaking rules all the time.

Don't worry, I'm not morphing into a rule-breaking rebel anytime soon. I'm only wearing this T-shirt for the fun of it. I would never think of people like Mahatma Gandhi as morons. (Though Mahatma Gandhi would jump out from his grave when he sees people like me 'championing' against morality.)

I have a feeling that this would soon end up as my favourite T-shirt. I guess I do have a rebel in me. (Stop laughing, okay? I know you think that the idea of wearing this T-shirt as a sign of rebelling is downright ridiculous but I can't help it.)

On second thought though, even if morality does come from morons, then I would be proud to say that I'm one such moron who is PROUD of morality.

The problem now is, where can I wear this T-shirt to? Considering:
1) People I know would laugh at me.

2) People who loves morality will want to kill me.

Ditto buying this T-shirt.

Serena C

Oh, Of Course Not

I've always believed in the saying 'the pen is mightier than the sword'. Just as words can break a person, I also believe that words can make a person's day. More often than not, we are careless with the words we say and in the process of uttering unkind words, hurt people emotionally.

Someone said something to me today. It was not even a sentence, just four words, but it made my day. Come to think of it, those words aren't even bombastic. They're basic English words we use everyday.

As usual, I was trying unsuccessfully to solve some Physics questions by myself. Naturally I realised that I needed help. The classmate whom I intended to get help from was deeply immersed in her History textbook. I thought twice about interrupting her because I myself, a self-proclaimed bookaholic, understand the annoyance when people interrupt me when I'm immersed in a book. H**k, I even think it's justifiable to murder people who interrupt me when I'm reading.

It's a do or die thing and I picked do. Sheepishly, I walked over to her table and asked for her help to solve the question. Of course, I apologised beforehand about interrupting her.

She had immediately put down her book and said jovially,'Oh, of course not.' And she proceeded to explain the question.

It was just four words but I felt so happy hearing it. There were so many ways for her to actually respond but she had chose such glorious words. She could have said something sarcastic, or replied snarkily. Maybe something like,'Thanks for interrupting me.' Something along those lines.

'Oh of course not' may be four simple words but someone had used them in a good way. By thinking before you actually speak, you might have, unknowingly, made a person's day. Or maybe in some cases, made a new friend. The possibilities are quite endless actually.

Today's encounter have made me think deeply about the words I use in my daily life. It may not seem much but the power of words is quite undeniable. Perhaps from now on, a little less cusses here and there might do me good. And one day, I might be able to entirely do away with cussing.

Disclaimer: Do not get the wrong impression that I'm a person who uses words like s**t, i***t, etc in every sentence. Occasionally, I do spew out vulgarities. I just feel that I'm better off without vulgarities. Thus, the resolution to choose my words carefully.

P.S. If you're oh-so-curious to know who this mysterious classmate is, you can ask me. If you're lucky, I might tell you.

Feeling gratuitous,
Serena C