Rainy day blues

Things to do on rainy days (make sure you have an emergency kit, though! It's always better to be on the safe side. Also applicable to snow-ins):

1. EAT. Preferably hot food because rain always makes me feel chilly. (Click the name to go to the recipe)

Turkey Pho (Vietnamese Noodle Soup) from Cooking Light

Champorado (Filipino Chocolate Rice Porridge) by wokwithray.net

Sinampalukang Manok (Chicken in Tamarind Soup) by http://feastasia.casaveneracion.com

Perfect Potato Soup by The Pioneer Woman

2. READ. There are a lot of upcoming movies that are based on books, and in my opinion it's always better to read the source material first before viewing its big screen adaptation. Unless that's not your thing :)

Ender's Game (from Wikipedia): Set in Earth's future, the novel presents an imperilled mankind that has barely survived two conflicts with the Formics or "Buggers", an insectoid alien species. In preparation for an anticipated third invasion, an international fleet maintains a school to find and train future fleet commanders. The world's most talented children, including the novel's protagonist, Ender Wiggin, are taken at a very young age to a training center known as the Battle School. There, teachers train them in the arts of war through increasingly difficult games including ones undertaken in zero gravity in the Battle Room, where Ender's tactical genius is revealed.

The Monuments Men: During World War II, a group of British and American museum directors and art historians risk their lives to recover stolen works of art before they can be destroyed by the Nazis.

Jack Ryan series by Tom Clancy (this is the movie plot): A CIA analyst uncovers a terrorist plot to destroy the United States economy.

Odd Thomas: A short-order cook with psychic abilities encounters a mysterious newcomer in his small desert town.

3. WATCH. These movies are currently available to rent at Redbox :)

I watched this yesterday. Yes, it is long and has dragging moments, but it also has a lot of gems inside. The makeup can be distracting but does not detract from the storytelling. A must-watch! (The Asian version of Jim Sturgess is, I must admit, POGI hahaha.)

4. LISTEN. Here are some songs off of newly-released albums.

Other suggestions: Draw, write a short story, do pilates, basically anything to get de-stressed and not get depressed by the rain. It is essential for life, after all.

(Trivia: I used to affix a cutout of Batman's symbol to a flashlight then we'll pretend it's THE Bat Signal hahaha. Childhood is awesome, I don't know why some kids want to grow up fast.) 

Good night and stay dry! :)

<3,

P.S.

Help our brethren in the Philippines who were affected by Tropical Storm Maring by donating to reputable organizations. Remember, every cent counts!

Philippine Red Cross

ANCOP (Answering the Cry of the Poor) Foundation USA Inc.

Book love: Sabriel

"Sent to a boarding school in Ancelstierre as a young child, Sabriel has had little experience with the random power of Free Magic or the Dead who refuse to stay dead in the Old Kingdom. But during her final semester, her father, the Abhorsen, goes missing, and Sabriel knows she must enter the Old Kingdom to find him. She soon finds companions in Mogget, a cat whose aloof manner barely conceals its malevolent spirit, and Touchstone, a young Charter Mage long imprisoned by magic, now free in body but still trapped by painful memories. As the three travel deep into the Old Kingdom, threats mount on all sides. And every step brings them closer to a battle that will pit them against the true forces of life and death—and bring Sabriel face-to-face with her own destiny."

http://lauratolton.deviantart.com/art/Hello-Cat-261653453

http://iribel.deviantart.com/art/Sabriel-79002866

http://falarsimons.deviantart.com/art/Sabriel-159294317

http://clockwork-madness.deviantart.com/art/Sabriel-362258326

http://lokelani.deviantart.com/art/Sabriel-104435364

http://irenekoh.deviantart.com/art/Sabriel-320594069

Above are the best artwork I could find on the 'net which were inspired by one of the best book series I've ever read. Sabriel (the main character from the first novel in The Abhorsen Trilogy) is a far cry from the wimpy, only-brave-because-she-became-a-vampire female protagonist we all know of, because Sabriel is headstrong from the get-go, smart and a true inspiration to teen girls everywhere. Sure there's also a love story (a well-written one, too), but it's just one facet of a truly interesting, page-turning series of events revolving around the plucky heroine. The trilogy box set is available at Amazon for $18.81 (from $26.99) :)

The Abhorsen Trilogy Box Set at Amazon - get it here

I came across the first book through one of my good college friends. Since I came from a science background (both in high school and college), it was never hard for me to meet people who shared or, oftentimes, exceeded my fondness for science fiction/fantasy literature. Anyway, he gifted me with a dog-eared copy of Sabriel (which I made even more dog-eared due to re-reading the book numerous times) on my birthday and I did not anticipate how much I would come to love it because the synopsis did not do the book justice (my way of saying that I was bored with the write-up but quickly changed my mind once I did start to read it). It's similar to Harry Potter and LOTR in that it sucks you into its own universe and you end up wishing that a slice of it or at least a portal to it exists somewhere tangible/hidden. If you have a tween/teen, have them read this instead of Twilight. They'll learn so much more from it rather than read about how gorgeous vampires are in every chapter or that throwing yourself off a cliff in the off-chance that your "true love" will come save you is OK as long as you have a male werewolf friend around *facepalm*. Sorry, I just think that Sabriel deserves more attention than Twilight. Here's to hoping that it will finally get a movie deal and that I'll be an extra in it. Heehee. A MUST READ :)

<3,