Lew Alton sighed, cast his eyes ceilingward, and then nodded. When he looked at her again, he seemed both grave and mischievious. "Women!"
"And what does that mean?"
"That females are both the greatest blessing and the greatest curse ever invented."
"Odd. I feel the same way about men - as well as thinking that we ought never have taught them to speak!"

The Shadow Matrix
Marion Zimmer Bradley

Apparently, I have been found out...

"You weren’t thinking. You always come up with the most elaborate, certainly genius, strategies, but you can’t seem to see them through. Its because you don’t really think of the consequences - even while you anticipate your opponent’s movements, you forget your own"

How shocking.

If only fiction could become reality

I was on Amazon the other day and finally gave in to my weakness and bought a little parcel of books before my exams... Yeah, smart. I know. Believe me, I've even lectured myself all about my idiocy. Anyway, one of the books was an anthology which contained four novellas related to a previous trilogy I was practically obsessed with when it first came out: The Black Jewels Trilogy. (If you haven't read it, you're missing out - badly!) The author? The brilliant Anne Bishop. She executes and delivers perfectly. What more can I say, the woman's a genius. She creates a world that is nowhere near perfect but still elegant, beautiful and appealing in every way. I am envious of her imagination. So much so that I'd love to live in the world she created.

"Dreams Made Flesh" has a very beautiful story about Kaleer's Heart and the Sadist, two protagonists in the previously mentioned Black Jewels trilogy. Aside from the obvious romantic relationship between the two, it was a story of family, care and most of all acceptance. The latter touched me. It's a rare thing, acceptance. Most are too caught up by the superficiality of the material things in life. My friend and I had a chat last night and he exclaimed that parents are strange creatures, at which point, I laughed. You found this out now? 'Truth,' I had said to him, 'It had nothing to do with being parents or even being strange. It had everything to do with being desperate.' Desperate people who tend to be in denial make stupid mistakes. That is practically a scientific fact. It is human nature to fight change. Obviously, it would be so much easier if we gave up and accepted that things were going to change regardless of how much we rallied against the Gods and the World BUT, that is never going to happen. It's in the blood. What can I say? Sometimes, the long way is just so much fun. At least one gets to vent all of one's anger.

I am looking forward to reading the rest of the book although I am sure none of the other stories will be as endearing to read. This one touched the heart...

Merry month of May

The sun's out these few days. Temperature's perfect and yet I am hiding in my room with my lights and blinkers on striving to revise for the seven evil exams that I have coming up. My first bane of my life will be over in a mere two weeks and what do I know? NOTHING! Truly, I've spent almost everyday in the library this week and last and yet I still feel like I haven't done enough, haven't worked at all... My stress is starting to get to me but in a way, it's good cause it makes me work. Panic, I found, under certain circumstances helps keep the blinkers on.

Some of my friends have been starting to complain about my lack of attention and appearance all the way round. In effect, cutting myself from the world made my focus easier and while I would never have done it in the past, my new found perspective in the last few weeks have changed that. People complain about not being able to get hold of me but I figure, if it's important enough, they will try harder. If it is not, it can be ignored. Doesn't mean that I ignore everyone though. Every once in a while I escape back into the world where I remove my blinkers to save my sanity. Yesterday, a few of us met up at a friend's for dinner and some wine afterwards. As usual, I had a laugh and it was great although I cannot believe Masa! He made chocolate cake again!!! As anyone can imagine, it totally killed my anti-chocolate decision *sigh* but oh well, it was gorgeous. :D I will miss this lot immensely when we all leave. People have to move on. I only hope our paths will cross in the future.

Foz has been quite sweet lately. Every once in a while, almost as if to remind me that he exists, he'll pop into my room and give me a little present or ask if I need any coffee, etc. My recent one was a Fruits Basket notebook from the Anime/Manga shop in town. :) I know we live in the same apartment but it's so rare for us to spend any time together at all. We have different friends, different activities and Foz's girlfriend is always around. Not that I mind of course cause she's just such a lovely person. Some of the stuff she does just makes me laugh. :D Like the time when they went to Spar and bought a Kinder Surprise then became disappointed cause it didn't come whole and she had to put it together... *LOL* I don't think I need to tell him how lucky he is to have her. Nonetheless, these days I'm starting to wonder if I have to make an appointment to see him - no doubt, he probably thinks the same of me. :p