Procrastination

It’s what I opted to do, instead of finishing my long overdue portfolio.  A couple of pages more, a little layout, and I am supposed to be done.  Maybe it’s the cold weather.  I am trying to find other excuses. 

My excuses are:

1) I am blogging,  “to hone my writing skills”…hehehe..  Who am I kidding?  I am not a professional blogger.  This is supposed to be a hobby and to while away my time.  However,  I could rant and rave all I want without being judged.  Unlike in my portfolio, which will definitely reflect my “professional” capabilities.

2) I have lots of time in my hands.  So, I assume.  Subtracting the time I am supposed to prepare and commute to and from work, I have this “illusion” of having more free time. Home based work certainly has its disadvantages.  Without a boss looking over your shoulder, you could do as you please, at your own pace.  However, I think it’s becoming detrimental to my “profession”.  Instead of finishing the task early, I use most of my time blogging and surfing.

3) Christmas preparations.  This is our first Christmas as a married couple,  I am pretending that I could beat Martha Stewart at her own game.  There’s the tree to trim, gifts to shop and wrap, cakes to bake and food to prepare.  Very lame excuses, I am sure even Martha finishes her paper works before wearing her homemaker’s hat.  Again, homemaking is not my primary “profession”.

I hope my sense of urgency and right priorities return before I turn into a habitual procrastinator.  While I still have the luxury of this glorious, though soon to be limited, free time… I will enjoy and bask in it.

Procrastination..Love it and Hate it!

Phenomenon or Hype?

Yes, this piece is about the latest fever in the metro - Twilight.  I have read all four books of the series.  I was introduced by my friend to this craze.  Actually, I had too much time during the All Saint’s Day weekend.  I grabbed the copy of the fourth book lying around my friend’s house.  It was the 4th book of the twilight series.  Suffice to say,  I read the first 5 chapters of the 4th book even before I started with the first. 

It seemed quite interesting, at first.  I decided to read the 1st book to see what the hype is all about.  I was thinking, if I too was “bitten” by the vampire hype?  I finished the 1st, then proceeded to the 2nd, 3rd then back again to the 4th.  Trying to make sense of what is so special about the book.  I read the whole series to give it a fair judgment. 

What’s the reason behind the hype?

1) It could be deemed special by fans because of the novel idea of a vampire falling in love with a human.  But then again, it’s like a human falling in love with a porkchop, as my other non-twilight fanatic friend would say. 

2) It could be the romantic angle.  But then again, I’ve read better romantic novels in my younger years.  In my opinion, the series is so “Sweet Valleyish”, with the themes and subjects stretched.  With the idea of good vampires so romanticized, it could put me to sleep.  I read a couple of chapters before bedtime.  It really puts me to sleep and I don’t even have nightmares. hehehe.  If you really want reading materials that could make you blush and “swoon”, try the judith mcnaught series.  It will give you a dose of romance you are really looking for.   

3) Meyer’s idea of good vampires with a “vegetarian” diet is nothing new.  Anti-heroes and heroines who are drop dead gorgeous and dashing.  Rice thought of it first.  Sa tagalog, bumenta na yan, a couple of years back.  Poor Anne Rice.  At least, even if Anne Rice romanticized the vampires, the good elements, blood and gore of a vampire story were still there.

4) And lastly, the story is not universal enough.  My twilight fanatic friend argued that the “target” market of the book are teenagers.  But then again, Meyer could do better than that.  J.K. Rowling transcends all boundaries.  The target market of Harry Potter is way younger than Twilights.  Yet, even adults find Harry Potter well thought of, well written.    Let’s give the “young ones” something substantial.. Yung tipong di puro emotion pag nagbabasa.  Yung tipong, maghahanap sila ng dictionary, dahil may bagong term na encounter sila.  Enough said.  The teens could do better than that. 

If fiction, fantasy and romance is what Twilight is offering, could not Meyer raise the bar a bit?

Right now, I’ve read the first few chapters of the 1st book of Harry Potter.  I already have the 8th book.  This time, I’m doing it right.  1st book first before the last.  But then again, this is Harry Potter we are talking about.  J.K. Rowling did create a complete fantasy world with creatures and settings which make the story plausible.  Right now, it’s better that a well thought witch’s spell is cast on me, rather than be bitten by a toothless vampire…pun intended.