tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32842083863051928642024-03-13T05:09:41.440-05:00The Humble WatermelonBecause everyday could use a good slice of watermelon and a little modesty :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17312578293866080356noreply@blogger.comBlogger109125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284208386305192864.post-20440713060240780732014-06-23T10:45:00.000-05:002014-06-23T10:48:50.343-05:00The Humble Watermelon is Moving to Wordpress!Yup, you read that right, I'm moving to Wordpress! This has not been an easy decision, but I think it's for the best. First of all, my customization tool hasn't been working for a long time, so that was extremely frustrating. Also, it's been a while since I've posted regularly, and I think a fresh start would strongly benefit me.<br />
<br />
To all my subscribers, I thank you. Thank you for reading my posts, commenting, and always making my day. I hope you'll continue the journey with me over at Wordpress; I promise I'll be dedicated to my new blog as I'll ever be. My time here on Blogger has been absolutely amazing: I've made so many new friends, learned a lot about myself, and improved my writing drastically. I won't delete this blog, but this is my last post here.<br />
<br />
Thanks for everything. Please join me over at the new <a href="http://www.thehumblewatermelon.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">The Humble Watermelon</a>!<br />
<br />
-Grace :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17312578293866080356noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284208386305192864.post-71135727773953107822014-04-16T21:58:00.000-05:002014-04-18T13:11:01.026-05:00To Undo our own Undoings<div class="plain-text" id="code">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The downfall started in English, my last class of the day. We had to pick a subject for an oral presentation, but I just couldn't find one that pleased me. Ukraine was too complicated, climate change seemed way beyond my hands. And so when the bell rang, I left with a mind full of empty ideas, while my classmates shared their carefully thought out subjects with each other. The preoccupation followed me throughout badminton practice, and before I knew it, I had lost one, two, three games. Including one against the-girl-i-never-lose-to. Naturally, I blamed my poor performance on my English class woes as I sat on the bench, drenched in my bitter attitude.</span></span></div>
<div class="plain-text" id="code">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div class="plain-text" id="code">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now, in normal circumstances my attitude would stay bitter until the day ended, or in more rarer occasions, a person would cheer me up to the extent I trashed away my gloom. But today, I decided to change my plan of action. I honestly don't know what caused me to do so, but it happened none the less. So as I sat on the bench with a sour face, hating the girl that I always won against, I suddenly had an epiphany. At least, a really modest, small epiphany that made me realize I was addressing my bitterness to all the wrong people and things; in fact, I didn't even have a cohesive reason for my mood. I was sulking cause I felt the need to sulk. So following my<i> absolutely riveting </i>epiphany, I asked the girl that I lost but always won against if she wanted to do a rematch. I had a feeling that to change my attitude I had to face its creator. She accepted, we played, and I lost. I lost again but this time it was different. This time I shook her hand with more sympathy, and asked her if she wanted to practice some specific shots. </span></span></div>
<div class="plain-text" id="code">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="plain-text" id="code">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I thought I would leave that practice with a sour taste, but instead, I left the practice feeling lighter than I felt after my English class. There was something so healing about the rematch, in part because it was I who suggested it. I played my bitterness away, one stroke at a time (I missed half of them). I chose to change my attitude. By now this post probably feels like the pivotal scene of a coming of age novel, but bare with me with the gooey cheesiness. </span></span></div>
<div class="plain-text" id="code">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="plain-text" id="code">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I guess what I want to say is that it's possible to choose your state of mind. Of course, as situations get more complicated, it's harder to tangle yourself out of the mess, but when it's smaller situations like the one I experienced today, change can be made. You can always let time or others make the change for you, but making it yourself is the one you can always rely on. Now, that doesn't mean that every time I'm in a gloomy mood, I'll get myself out of it, but it does mean that I know I'm strong enough to make it happen. As I'm typing this, I think of how great it was that I left the practice feeling good, and how great it is that as humans, we have the strength to undo our own undoings. Everyday is a page from a feel-good novel, as long as we choose to dedicate ourselves in its writing.</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17312578293866080356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284208386305192864.post-12605963179778603472014-01-03T13:23:00.001-06:002014-01-03T13:49:15.351-06:00Fangirl, a book review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://rainbowrowell.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/FANGIRL_CoverDec2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://rainbowrowell.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/FANGIRL_CoverDec2012.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
by <b>Rainbow Rowell</b><br />
published in <b>2013</b><br />
a<b> chocolate covered 5/ 5 stars</b><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16068905-fangirl?ac=1" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> <b>/ </b><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Fangirl-Rainbow-Rowell/dp/1250030951" target="_blank">Amazon</a> <b>/ </b><a href="http://rainbowrowell.com/blog/" target="_blank">Rowell's Website</a><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 6px solid #CE5C77; margin: 0px; padding: 15px; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #328570; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">Cath shook her head. "Now is all you get," she spat out, wishing she could make more sense. Wishing for more words, or better ones. "Now is all you ever get."</span></span></div>
</div>
<br />
<em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Fangirl</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> is everything. It's everything that's good about chick-lit, it's everything that's good about YA. It's so honest and genuine that sometimes I wonder if it's actually written, or whether it's just the previously recorded words and dialogues of an 18 year old girl living her life. I guess it's kind of a both. This book is like the voice of a college freshman, rendered into a fresh prose that makes it so delectable to read. (If this book was a food it'd be chocolate to the power of chocolate). </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Meet Cath. She loves Simon Snow, the book series that has taken the literature world by storm. As teens, she and her twin sister Wren read and wrote Snow fan-fiction, mainly as a hobby, but also to keep themselves grounded, after their mother left when they were little. But now with college looming around the corner, Wren has taken a more independent approach on life, and has mostly grown away from Snow fandom, and has told Cath that she doesn't want to be roommates. Cath has never felt this alone, and her sulky roommate (who happens to have the world's most positive boyfriend) doesn't help the mix. Oh and her fiction-writing professor </span><strong style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">doesn't approve of fan-fiction</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">. Cath is now facing the biggest hurdle of her life, but also a door of great opportunities... And as she acts on both of them, Cath will discover that to live, sometimes you got to step out of your comfort zone. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" />
<em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Fangirl</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> is honestly the </span><u style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">best book</u><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> I have read in a long time. Everything in this book just felt right, it felt like it belonged. All the elements were so balanced, from the quirky friendships, the blossoming romance (<i>sigh</i>), the AWESOME fan fiction, and the family situations. It's a coming of age novel that really enraptures you, and after a while it doesn't even feel like you're reading. It feels like you're living the story, it feels like you're </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">being</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">.</span><br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Cath was great. She wasn't one of those open books, in fact, quite the opposite. Every chapter, you discovered a little more about her, and that just made the story that much sweeter. She wasn't a mysterious protagonist either, but there was always that desire to unlock more of her personality and her ways. But this book wasn't just a one-man show. Although the story revolved mostly around Cath (obviously), I thought the supporting characters brought a great amount of energy and purpose to the book. They helped deepen Cath's character, as well as create new story lines to keep the book fresh. And the relationships Cath had with them just felt so meaningful. Whether or not it actually worked out, every relationship brought a unique element to the book, and together, it helped shape Cath's story. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Now, let us take a paragraph (or two, or three...) to acknowledge Rowell's prose. It's demure, yet powerful... Simple, yet so vivid. It's the style of writing you never get tired of, and can't enough of. It makes the story feel so vast. Like if Rowell were to write about a pencil, you wouldn't just be imagining the pencil. You would be imagining the table it was sitting on, the room that it resided in. Her writing makes you see beyond the person/ object of focus, and gives you freedom to roam around the world she has created. It's beyond brilliant, honestly. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">If you feel like reading a book right now, read </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Fangirl</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">. If you feel like </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">doing </em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">something, read </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Fangirl</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">. Read and reread it and you will discover (if you haven't yet) what a good book can truly offer to you.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17312578293866080356noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284208386305192864.post-62054331448181102172013-12-29T11:57:00.000-06:002013-12-29T11:57:00.326-06:00Classical Piece of the Week: Symphony 4, 4th mvmt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5A8FaES70W6PcqwP25R6JajDgalKxXnrbmACudiMpmrhLUvA5ioCXyBapQUuQEWTXtX1srpVQDK_zuRCL3KbVfkM27aRy-GkCd4b16QnCg5xBdpjTX5xcQfBTJzo4XTyNBYXUFxXcI5wL/s1600/Pictures+for+iPad+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5A8FaES70W6PcqwP25R6JajDgalKxXnrbmACudiMpmrhLUvA5ioCXyBapQUuQEWTXtX1srpVQDK_zuRCL3KbVfkM27aRy-GkCd4b16QnCg5xBdpjTX5xcQfBTJzo4XTyNBYXUFxXcI5wL/s320/Pictures+for+iPad+015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
A while back I attended the <b>Tchaikovsky</b> Festival show by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, and it was a mind-blowing experience. One of the pieces they performed was his <b>Fourth Symphony</b>, and the whole piece kept me at the edge of my seat. All four of the movements were extremely impressive, but the movement I want to showcase today is the <b>fourth movement</b>.<br />
<br />
The movement is 9 minutes of epic, grandiose, magnificent music. It's everything that's good concentrated into the sound of the bold strings, blaring brass, balanced winds and the booming percussion. (All those b's were definitely unintentional, hehe). The music always builds and intensifies from its momentum, but just when you think it's at its peak, everything just diminishes again and a new, even more powerful momentum starts to develop. And then all this energy just releases at the end, giving you one of the most EPIC endings <u>ever</u>.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
It's amazing what music can make you feel. It wraps you, then transports you into this whole different world where everything just seems <i>possible. </i>And that's why I love doing Classical Piece of the Week, because I get to share this world with you guys, but more importantly, you get to create your own world, from tiny fragments of music.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My favourite version. Barenboim is absolutely brilliant. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/PLHj-eekdNU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17312578293866080356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284208386305192864.post-62743318087241766092013-12-25T14:06:00.000-06:002013-12-25T14:06:35.136-06:00Merry Christmas! (With poem!)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSqvj-brOVrt0tr_e6V4yxDqfbyr_qPhdqC8E9rBH_06JJiF9OG5hUZ5UR_bbul1t0_dHbgs4K1VUoCXPGOjbVkOAY5T-fE8AR4-jTy-BcTJU8MiKkdXk7GK86Ld5itNSyjS90VkQDigU-/s1600/Merry+Christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSqvj-brOVrt0tr_e6V4yxDqfbyr_qPhdqC8E9rBH_06JJiF9OG5hUZ5UR_bbul1t0_dHbgs4K1VUoCXPGOjbVkOAY5T-fE8AR4-jTy-BcTJU8MiKkdXk7GK86Ld5itNSyjS90VkQDigU-/s400/Merry+Christmas.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> From: <a href="http://www.decentlyexposedshop.com.au/product/merry-christmas-banner/">Decently Exposed Shop</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Hey guys! I just wanted to wish a very Merry Christmas, and I hope your holidays are going wonderfully! Oh and here's a little Christmas poem for you guys! I was going for kind of a "Twas the Night Before Christmas" feel to it (you know, that kind of hearty/homey voice?). And I don't usually do rhyming stuff, but I think Christmas just screams "poems that rhyme"! Anyways, hope you guys enjoy it!<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #cc0000;">(Here's an awesome <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98rgJjoXZ1g&list=PL6F0B53B899A8EF69">playlist</a> of the whole Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky!)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><i>(Title of poem still undecided… if you guys got any suggestions don't hesitate on leaving a comment below!)</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13;">Stockings without a stuffer,</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">a tree but no manger.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">Lights wrapped around the stairs,</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">but none out in the winter air.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13;">What an artificial Christmas,</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">they deem, tone vicious.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">You do not mess around,</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">with a celebration so renown.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">Maybe there are no angels,</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">nor Jesus nor the wise faithfuls.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">But no greater respect is paid,</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">as the gifts are laid.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13;">What an artificial Christmas,</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">they still deem, tone still vicious.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">You do not do justice,</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">to this celebration that is religious.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13;">Well, strip down this occasion,</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">to its purest of connotation,</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">And what is left is the heart,</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">to cherish the good, to play your part.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13;">Strip down this occasion,</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">to its simplest of connotation,</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">And what is left is the giving,</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">a better gift than the receiving.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #274e13;">For Christmas is a time, a season,</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">where for all it is different, the reason.</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">But when it has love and peace put into,</span><br />
<span style="color: #274e13;">however you celebrate it, Christmas will remain true.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17312578293866080356noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284208386305192864.post-16202842966624204592013-12-15T19:05:00.000-06:002013-12-15T19:07:49.947-06:00Book Review: A Great and Terrible Beauty (Gemma Doyle, #1)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1284558475l/3682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1284558475l/3682.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
by<b> Libba Bray</b><br />
published in <b>2003</b><br />
a forgiving<b> 2.5-3 stars</b><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3682.A_Great_and_Terrible_Beauty">Goodreads</a> <b>/ </b><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Great-Terrible-Beauty-Libba-Bray/dp/0385732317/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1387155660&sr=8-1&keywords=a+great+and+terrible+beauty">Amazon</a> <b>/ </b><a href="http://libbabray.com/">Author's Website</a><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #c08b8b; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 4px solid rgb(95, 60, 60); margin: 0px; padding: 15px; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">"Because you don't notice the light without a bit of shadow. Everything has both dark and light. You have to play with it till you get it exactly right."</span></span></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4;"><br /></span>
<em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">A Great and Terrible Beauty</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">, is like what the title suggests, both great and terrible. But for me, it tilted towards terrible.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">It's the Victorian Era, and the only place where Gemma Doyle wants to be is in England. Instead, Gemma's stuck under the sweltering heat of India, her dreams of going abroad quickly evaporating under the torrid sun. But one eery vision of the future later, tragedy strikes her family and Gemma is sent packing to the Spence Academy in London, under the worst possible circumstances. At Spence, Gemma's visions seem to occur more often, and Spence's gothic styled building intensifies the supernatural feel. Now, Gemma must question all she's every known. Or what she thought she had known.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">I thought the book started off great. The characters had vivid, colorful personalities, and the setting felt very three-dimensional. Gemma had quite a distinct character, one that made her feel alive, vibrant. She always had a strong opinion, and her solid narration made me, the reader, feel involved in the story. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Unfortunately, the story started to unravel as Gemma started to discover her supernatural talents. Suddenly, several new, important plot lines appeared, yet they held a weak presence throughout the book. The story started to feel drab, as the characters' emotions were never amplified; they just feel flat. And scenes containing very dramatic elements felt like smooth poetry, I mean for a supernatural book, everything just felt a little too </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">natural</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">. </span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">One of the only factors that kept me from abandoning this book was the writing. Libba Bray's prose is lavishly fluent, and her choice for words is really quite brilliant. There is something in her writing that takes her story to another dimension. So although a lot of components in this book disappointed me, the words sure did not. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" />
<em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">A Great and Terrible Beauty</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> would be a great book for someone who enjoys a luxurious prose and a unique story. Unfortunately, those two elements were not sufficient for me in liking this book. There were just too many little bits and pieces of the story that were left hanging, with nowhere to go. This book was a whole story that felt empty inside.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17312578293866080356noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284208386305192864.post-2533281083393352952013-11-06T19:50:00.000-06:002013-11-06T19:50:45.719-06:00The Pride in Wrongdoing<i>*All names in this post have been changed in form of respect and privacy*</i><br />
<br />
Today we had a double bloc of Spanish, and nearing the end of it, you can already guess that our teacher was getting frustrated from all of our little misbehaviours. And so, with Ms. Kayla's mood already in a downfall, one student decided to raise his voice above everyone else's, which resulted in some furious yelling from our teacher's part.<br />
<br />
After 10-15 minutes, when the situation was almost forgotten and the class was chattering away, Ms. Kayla grabbed our attention and says, "I'd just like to apologize to Andy for yelling at him. I realize now that he was not the only one that was talking loudly, and singling him out was the wrong thing to do. I know that I'm not perfect and sometimes I do lose my patience, but I really try my best." Looking back it didn't make much of an impact on my classmates and I, but now that I have had a chance to think about it, I now realize just how meaningful what Ms. Kayla said.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
It's one thing to realize your wrongdoing, it's a whole other to <i>acknowledge</i> it. Ms. Kayla acknowledged her mistake, announced it to the whole class, and also apologized for it. And I truly believe that takes a lot of courage.<br />
<br />
Sometimes our pride stumps our conscience. Our pride can lead us to take a shortcut to avoid a blow to our short-lived dignity. But doing what's right, to acknowledge our wrongdoing... Now that's pride worthy. But just like Ms. Kayla, we are not perfect people. At times, we will utterly refuse to recognize our wrongdoing. But that doesn't signify that we are bad-natured people, it just means we are still learning to leave our pride behind, when the moment calls.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17312578293866080356noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284208386305192864.post-33534048704590366192013-09-20T21:51:00.000-05:002013-09-20T21:51:28.467-05:00Classical Piece of the Week: Vocalise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5A8FaES70W6PcqwP25R6JajDgalKxXnrbmACudiMpmrhLUvA5ioCXyBapQUuQEWTXtX1srpVQDK_zuRCL3KbVfkM27aRy-GkCd4b16QnCg5xBdpjTX5xcQfBTJzo4XTyNBYXUFxXcI5wL/s1600/Pictures+for+iPad+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5A8FaES70W6PcqwP25R6JajDgalKxXnrbmACudiMpmrhLUvA5ioCXyBapQUuQEWTXtX1srpVQDK_zuRCL3KbVfkM27aRy-GkCd4b16QnCg5xBdpjTX5xcQfBTJzo4XTyNBYXUFxXcI5wL/s320/Pictures+for+iPad+015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(220, 217, 217); color: #232222; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 15px; text-align: center;">
Missed the last one? Here's a link to <a href="http://thehumblewatermelon.blogspot.ca/2013/07/classical-piece-of-week-reverie.html" target="_blank">Rêverie</a>.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<b>Vocalise, by Sergei Rachmaninoff</b><br />
<br />
And on those days when the leaves are shifting hues, drifting away,<br />
<div>
when the trees are left with only their stark limbs, battered with wind.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
And on those days when the only rays, are seen through stretched clouds,</div>
<div>
gray and soulless but with infinite amount of reason.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And on those days when you stare at the world,</div>
<div>
and all you get is a woman in her coat, eyes cast down, stepping carefully.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And on those days when you put the sad records on,</div>
<div>
a soft piano, a crying violin.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And on those days when life is dusty and ashen,</div>
<div>
but then the music fills you and suddenly everything is so, so alive.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/h7UZhorAki4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17312578293866080356noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284208386305192864.post-41937701306994618802013-08-10T18:17:00.000-05:002013-08-10T18:17:01.824-05:00A Human's Worth <br />
"Humans' lives are not of the same worth," declared my mom, grabbing another piece of stir-fried broccoli with her wooden chopsticks.<br />
<br />
We were sitting around the dinner table, listening to CBS News when the anchor quickly mentioned a suicide car bombing that killed 53 people in Iraq. The news seemed to have left his thought as quickly as it had came out of his mouth. The rest of the supper was a blur; only the remnants of my mom's comment swarmed in my mind.<br />
<br />
That was several weeks ago. And yet I cannot forget that day when 53 people were killed in a bombing, and how the brief mention of it was quickly overshadowed by a news report of more value, but lesser importance. If this were to happen in a developed country like the U.S.A. or Canada, it would be on the national headlines, even international ones, for several days in a row. They would have short biographies of the injured and deceased affected by the incident, and segments where experts would analyze the event over and over.<br />
<br />
Actually, it wasn't the way-too-brief report on the news regarding that suicide car bombing that thoroughly vexed me. It was the ignorance of social media. If you engage in social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, you probably came across a few people posting a message that said "Pray for Boston", during the time following the Boston Marathon Bombing. And that was very respectful, being emotionally engaged to an event that shook the whole nation. But those people completely missed the mark. Haven't they ever looked at the world properly? Looked at Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and so many other countries in the midst of turmoil? They should know that these countries experience bombings every day of great fatality. But when has someone ever posted to their Facebook page a message saying "Pray for Syria", or "Iraq Strong"? If there are people who do it, I have yet to have encounter one of them.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
There are, of course, several cultural differences underlying bombings in a First World Country compared to one in a Third World Country. The chances are much slimmer to happen in the former, and when it does, it spreads shockwaves through the whole nation. In a Third World country, bombings are apart of everyday life, just a reminder of the violence that infests its society. Yet, there shouldn't be any differences in how we honour those who have perished in such an incident. If people produce shirts and bracelets with the message of support, "Boston Strong", shouldn't they make them with "Syria Strong" too?<br />
<br />
One might call this unfair because of course we First World people would be more concerned about bombings that happen in our territory compared to those that detonate miles and miles away from us. But these days, with social media, there is no difference concerning where a tragic event occurs. We are now connected to the world better than ever before, linked with a force stronger than any of us. With social media, we can practically experience, <i>live</i> in the events happening in another country.<br />
<br />
I might have only focused on bombings throughout this whole post, but this goes beyond the grenades. It's the shootings, the flooding, the forest fires, the poverty. The things we choose to look at, but never beyond the borders of our nation. An unconscious ignorance.<br />
<br />
This post will not change anything big. People will continue to mourn profusely next time a bombing occurs in a developed country, sending their prayers through social media. Bombings in country of war will still be reported the briefest way possible. But I hope this post will change a few people. On how they view the world. And maybe these people (you, perhaps) can help spread this important message: that we live as one. And maybe one day every human's life will be of the same worth.<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17312578293866080356noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284208386305192864.post-54829365309396670442013-07-26T15:03:00.000-05:002013-07-26T15:03:59.711-05:00It's my BLOGOVERSARY! (Has it already been a year?!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU5q37axjPJHz4u0uBCi43pUM1DK7NRZVeSK-y_x2UZ1xufGSEXzQPuLdS8BkG5XvDBgn5jAceQGdLVFW3tTHnbVmWhbXfn_ZhtOO4DdYEapVUmP_bB2FqVfVUXAwqDVeCgG9-LN-Qel3c/s1600/Blogiversary+1+Year.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU5q37axjPJHz4u0uBCi43pUM1DK7NRZVeSK-y_x2UZ1xufGSEXzQPuLdS8BkG5XvDBgn5jAceQGdLVFW3tTHnbVmWhbXfn_ZhtOO4DdYEapVUmP_bB2FqVfVUXAwqDVeCgG9-LN-Qel3c/s400/Blogiversary+1+Year.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Yay, it's the one year anniversary of my blog, The Humble Watermelon! It only seems fitting that this is also my <b>100th post</b>!<br />
<br />
<b>My Journey to this Milestone</b><br />
It all started in July 2012. I had already been on Goodreads for several months now, and I wanted to go further into improving my writing. So with a mind full of ideas and a lot of spontaneous thoughts, I went on Blogger, and <b>created The Humble Watermelon, on July 26th</b>. Then I joined a group on Goodreads called Blogger Lift, where I met loads of awesome people who also had their own blogs. Those people helped shape my blog into the one it is today, and I don't think I would be at where I am today without them.<br />
<br />
Throughout the year, I've done book reviews, humanity-ish posts, and a lot of Classical Pieces of the Week! I hope to write many more posts, because writing has truely taught me so many things that are very valuable to me.<br />
<br />
<b>Blogging Friends</b><br />
Once I found my place in the blogging world, I started making friends, and great friends they were (and still are!). I've interacted with a lot of people, so if I don't mention you, just know that you are still a very awesome buddy and I appreciate it so much that you read my blog!<br />
<br />
Delaney @ <a href="http://theawkward-ness.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">The Awkward-ness</a>: Delaney, you are an awesome human being. You were one of my first followers and one of my first commenters. You are always full of energy and you have great positive attitude that always rubs off on me! Thanks for sticking with me for so long, maybe stay for a little while longer? XD<br />
<br />
Annie @ <a href="http://inlovewithbookishthings.blogspot.ca/" target="_blank">Fallen For Fiction</a>: Remember Leopard Kitty Books? Cause I sure do! Annie, you really inspired me from the beginning, with your beautiful selection of words and excellent prose. I remember reading some of your posts and thinking, "Wow, if I could only write half as good as this girl!". You've been an amazing friend, thanks for making my blogging experience so much better!<a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><br />
<br />
Lottie @ <a href="http://lalovelystories.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Book Adoration</a>: My favourite Wordpress girl, Lottie! When we became friends on Goodreads, it was just like an instant connection (or so I think)! Reading your blog since its beginning was such a pleasure for me, it has been amazing to see you evolve into such a talented writer! Your dedication has inspired me to be better at what I do. Thank you for everything, Lottie!<br />
<br />
I'd also like to take time to thank <a href="http://thequietvoice18.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Thomas</a>, for inspiring me with his incredible writing skills and the passion he puts into his work; and also <a href="http://feedmebooksnow.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Ruby</a>, the Queen of HTML, for all the time she puts into building her amazing blog, because the quality really shows.<br />
<br />
<b style="color: #d54b7b;">To all of you: Thank you. For reading 2-3 of my posts. For leaving a nice comment. It means so incredibly much to me. And although it's already been a year, I'm still that same girl who get's so excited and pumped when she refreshes her blog statistics and notices that she has one more comment then before! Here's to many more years of way-too-loud typing, book-ish conversations, and late-night blogging!</b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17312578293866080356noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284208386305192864.post-26055099689008781102013-07-25T19:15:00.001-05:002013-07-25T21:22:17.859-05:00Poem: A Book's Embrace<i>A little poem that came in mind while reading a very good book. Hope you guys like it! :)</i><br />
<br />
<b>A Book's Embrace</b><br />
Tangled hair, oversized shirt<br />
Hardcover cradled in hands<br />
Staring at the words, staring at the world<br />
A new dimension, born.<br />
<br />
Blind,<br />
deaf,<br />
of the sun, the clouds,<br />
the crying rain.<br />
<br />
Alive,<br />
vibrant,<br />
from the depth of the black<br />
ink.<br />
<br />
A touch, a gasp<br />
The soul is shaken<br />
The breath is quivering<br />
The heart is breathing.<br />
<br />
A gift,<br />
to be embraced by a book.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17312578293866080356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284208386305192864.post-70869775163681774002013-07-24T19:53:00.002-05:002013-07-24T19:53:16.591-05:00An Ode to the Mighty, the Humble... Watermelon.<span style="font-family: inherit;">I named my blog The Humble Watermelon, so I figured I should make <i>at least </i>one post on this lovely fruit. So today, I shall discuss about watermelon's history, tell you some interesting facts about it, and share three of my favourite watermelon pictures!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ready to go on this Grand Watermelon Adventure? Yeah? Okay then, let's go!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Watermelon's Fruitful History:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Watermelon is thought to have originated in southern Africa, where you can find it growing in its wild state. There is evidence that it had been cultured in the Nile Valley, around the second millennium BC (2000-1001 B.C.). By the 10th century, watermelon had started being culture in China, and by the 13th century, Moorish invaders had introduced this fruit to Europe. Watermelon then moved on to North America, where they were grown by Native Americans in the 16th century. Today, China is the biggest watermelon producer, growing more than 69 million tonnes of watermelon in 2011!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">What you Should Know About it: </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">-Watermelon contains about 6% sugar and 91% water by weight.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">-<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;">There are more than 1200</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"> varieties of watermelon. They range in weight from less than one to more than 200 </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">pounds; the flesh can be red, orange, yellow or white!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">-Watermelon juice can be made into wine. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;">-The rind of the watermelon can be stir-fried, stewed, and also pickled, which is very common in China and Southern US.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">(All of this information, including the history, was provided by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watermelon" target="_blank">Wikipedia!</a>)</span></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZKShh3yeetU/UDt57r2725I/AAAAAAAAACs/okX8qBL5PME/s320/watermelon_omg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZKShh3yeetU/UDt57r2725I/AAAAAAAAACs/okX8qBL5PME/s320/watermelon_omg.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is just too adorable.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://www.digdang.com/media/images/watermelon_tiger_17664.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.digdang.com/media/images/watermelon_tiger_17664.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Suddenly, this tiger seems almost appetizing...<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mentalfloss.com/sites/default/legacy/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/435_watermelonface.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://www.mentalfloss.com/sites/default/legacy/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/435_watermelonface.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Out of all the watermelon shapes out there... this is by far the best. (And probably the creepiest)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Watermelon is such a great fruit. Actually, scratch that, it's an AWESOME fruit! You can eat it in the summer, and if you feel rebellious, eat it during winter too! It's sweet and also hydrating. And it's very humble. Who would've though behind those plain green stripes would lie a vivid, ruby flesh jam-packed with flavour! Well, that concludes it for this post, I'm off to eat some watermelon now! :)<br />
<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17312578293866080356noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284208386305192864.post-45582910211007814812013-07-22T18:52:00.003-05:002013-07-23T22:08:20.484-05:005 Reasons Why You Should Blog!I think this list is long overdue... So without further ado, here are 5 reasons why you should blog (or if you already do, <b>5 reasons</b> why it's awesome!)...<br />
<br />
<b>1) It passes your time in a productive way:</b> Yes, that sounds like something parents would totally dig, but hey, it's the truth! Blogging is quite beneficial, unlike updating your Instagram status every 30 seconds, which brings you to nowhere. <span style="font-size: xx-small;">(<i>Yes, I am guilty of that)</i></span><br />
<br />
<b>2) It helps improve your writing skills: </b>Now that's a big plus. When I first starting blogging, I was just an average writer with lots of things to work on. Of course, I still have loads to work on, but now I definitely think I'm a better writer. I choose better wording, and I have found a style that represents me.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><b>3) You learn a little more about yourself: </b>Since I've started blogging, I've learned a lot as a writer, but also as person. Through writing, I've developed a better understanding of myself, of my weaknesses and strengths. And I think that has made me more aware of how life affects me, and how I affect the people around me.<br />
<br />
<b>4) You can steal your own ideas!:</b> Have you ever been given a writing assignment, and found yourself stuck, with no ideas in mind to write about (a.k.a writer's block)? Well, every time I'm stuck in that position, I just go to my blog, look through my past posts, and pick out a subject I had already written about and try to develop it more. I've used this method three times now, and it works like a charm! (We should name this Self-Plagiarization)<br />
<br />
<b>5) You make new friends: </b>The blogging community is a vast one, but after a while, you find your place in it, and that's when you start making new friends. Friends who share the same interests as you, who never fail to inspire you. And you can always count on them to start up a great conversation that is always fuelled on passion!<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #d54b7b;"><b>Do you have more reasons of why one should blog? If so, feel free to leave them in the comment section below!</b></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17312578293866080356noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284208386305192864.post-15869097889624200722013-07-17T18:55:00.000-05:002013-07-23T22:08:02.411-05:00The Diviners, a book review (The Diviners, #1)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1336424966l/7728889.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1336424966l/7728889.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
by <b>Libba Bray</b><br />
published in <b>2012</b><br />
a bone-rattling <b>5 / 5 stars</b><br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7728889-the-diviners" target="_blank">Goodreads</a><b> / </b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Diviners-Libba-Bray/dp/031612611X" target="_blank">Amazon</a> <b>/ </b><a href="http://www.thedivinersseries.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> <b>/ </b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WBenU9-0yYc" target="_blank">Trailer</a> (super creepy)<br />
<div style="background: #403574; border: solid 4px #000000; color: #cec026; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0; padding: 15px; text-align: justify;">
"Naughty John, Naughty John,<br />
does his work with his apron on.<br />
Cuts your throat and takes your bones,<br />
sells 'em off for a coupla stones."</div>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4;">Some might say that only movies can evoke the most imagery in one's mind. But after reading</span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4;"> </span><em style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4;">The Diviners</em><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4;">, I would completely disagree. This book didn't just make me feel like I was living in the era of the storyline, it made me feel like I</span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4;"> </span><em style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4;">belonged</em><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4;"> </span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4;">to it.</span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4;">New York City, 1926. This bustling city suddenly gets a new addition: 17 year-old Evie O'Neill. After committing much too many troubles, Evie is sent packing from her drab hometown to the streets of NYC to live with her uncle. There she discovers that her hidden supernatural powers are more needed than ever, as she finds herself caught in the midst of a murder investigation.</span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4; text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4; text-align: left;">To say that this book scared me would be a hell of an understatement. It left me sweating with fear, eyes with horror and mind filled with speechless terrors. Yet it kept me up t'il midnight, day after day, as I silently flipped the pages with such an anticipation that only a good book can make you feel.</span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4; text-align: left;"> </span><br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4; text-align: left;">Before I applaud Libba for any of her other amazing abilities as an author, I must applaud her writing. Clear, deliciously detailed, and always up to the point. Not only does she infuse many layers of depth into her words, she also brings a sense of closeness to us readers. Not once did I feel distant, detached from the storyline. I felt alive when reading The Diviners, almost like when you're fresh off into the day, ready to take on any challenge.</span><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4; text-align: left;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4; text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4; text-align: left;">Although there were many important characters in </span><em style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4; text-align: left;">The Diviners</em><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4; text-align: left;">, I must dedicate a paragraph to our main protagonist, Miss Evie. I won't lie, I was quite caught off guard when I first got to know her. She was bold! She was stubborn! She was loud! And I think I was surprised because I was really used to female protagonists being a little quiet, a little shy, a little insecure, but very likable (there are a few exceptions, of course). And I'm glad Evie defied that definition, because standing out of the box, that's what creates authenticity, and sometimes, just like we need small changes in our lives to keep the rhythm at a good tempo, we need some changes in the style of our protagonist.</span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4; text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4; text-align: left;">Combining a very human world with a distinctly supernatural environment can be risky. One of these "styles" could easily overwhelm the other, thus causing an unproportional world. Yet </span><em style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4; text-align: left;">The Diviners</em><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4; text-align: left;"> was anything but disproportionate. The realism and the unnatural balanced each other with great poise, like a negative counteracting with a negative, which of course leads to a positive!</span><br />
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4; text-align: left;"><br /></span>
<em style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4; text-align: left;">The Diviners</em><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.4; text-align: left;"> is a real life time-teleporter that will make you leave your modern trails behind, and bring you into a beautiful, vicious era where deciding your fate can sometimes seem at a hand's reach.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17312578293866080356noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284208386305192864.post-14408064146490718122013-07-13T19:30:00.002-05:002013-07-13T21:32:12.056-05:00Classical Piece of the Week: Rêverie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5A8FaES70W6PcqwP25R6JajDgalKxXnrbmACudiMpmrhLUvA5ioCXyBapQUuQEWTXtX1srpVQDK_zuRCL3KbVfkM27aRy-GkCd4b16QnCg5xBdpjTX5xcQfBTJzo4XTyNBYXUFxXcI5wL/s1600/Pictures+for+iPad+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5A8FaES70W6PcqwP25R6JajDgalKxXnrbmACudiMpmrhLUvA5ioCXyBapQUuQEWTXtX1srpVQDK_zuRCL3KbVfkM27aRy-GkCd4b16QnCg5xBdpjTX5xcQfBTJzo4XTyNBYXUFxXcI5wL/s320/Pictures+for+iPad+015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(220, 217, 217); color: #232222; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 15px; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Missed the last one? Here's a link to <a href="http://thehumblewatermelon.blogspot.ca/2013/06/classical-piece-of-week-zigeunerweisen.html" target="_blank">Zigeunerweisen, Op. 20</a>.</div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Rêverie, by Claude Debussy</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A soft glow casts upon the field's grass, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">still fresh from the early morning dew. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Faint whistles can be heard through the trees, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">the notes weaving into a melody of harmonious birds. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The ripples of the water are carried into the stream, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">along the smooth rocks polished with time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
The flowers sigh to the sweetness of its own aroma.<br />
A lone cloud travels across the sky, pacing infinitely.<br />
<br />
The day becomes alive,<br />
and everywhere is the reflection of its beginning.
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/y5ot-88UV-Y?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17312578293866080356noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284208386305192864.post-74086634469010491072013-07-10T20:10:00.001-05:002013-07-10T20:10:10.979-05:00The Rain of Happiness<br />
Yesterday, just as I came back from a short walk with my mom, it started raining. The gray clouds were settling in, the sun's beam growing weaker as the rain intensified. Normally, I would be relived that I had avoided by a split second from getting soaked by hard droplets of water, but this time, something changed in me. I quickly realized that though I was hurrying to close all the windows, I wanted to be outside. Wanted to feel the rain, the cold and the wind.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
I remember that when I was closing the windows in our home, I could hear the faint shrieks and screams of the people that didn't have enough time to take shelter from the rain. But behind all the yelling, there was laughter. And excitement, and surprise, and this lovely innocence. And I think I wanted to be apart of that. Apart of something greater than us, apart of elements we couldn't control. Apart of the drizzles, the showers that not only consisted of water. That day, it was pouring a new beginning, sheer happiness accented by the shrieking laughters of humans. And next time that happens, I won't be inside, you can count on that!<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17312578293866080356noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284208386305192864.post-42937463318243581622013-07-07T17:54:00.003-05:002013-07-07T18:01:41.053-05:00A New Project (on Youtube!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYrGGQcibHJcE7mcW8XhXGHZmHRLfxz9VfV9rHaOqZ7jMbRlimTr3jQWMgX0dTA5xA7BdNFNqrUFNPBBl8vW5WiyQ3T-SdSI-eL7-vhYL513wVizQ4nZLwCnWjDmXcREUhPEw9v-vokRz/s1600/Photo+2013-07-03+4+52+09+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYrGGQcibHJcE7mcW8XhXGHZmHRLfxz9VfV9rHaOqZ7jMbRlimTr3jQWMgX0dTA5xA7BdNFNqrUFNPBBl8vW5WiyQ3T-SdSI-eL7-vhYL513wVizQ4nZLwCnWjDmXcREUhPEw9v-vokRz/s320/Photo+2013-07-03+4+52+09+PM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Hi everybody! It's finally summer break, and I feel like I'm just as busy as I was during the school year! But it's more of a positive kind of busy, because I've been planning to start a lot of projects. My most major one has been starting a new Youtube channel. I already have one called "gdlgma", where I post videos of me playing violin, and sometimes piano and singing, but this new channel is completely different!<br />
<br />
I called it "pensationnel", and it's basically me talking in front of the camera about different subjects. Think of it as "à la Vlogbrothers", but a French version and very amateur. I mainly created this channel to try and preserve and improve my French once I switch to an English school, and also because I enjoy speaking!<br />
<br />
Creating this channel has really consumed my past week, but I will try and be more flexible, because I really want to increase my quantities of post on this blog, especially since it's the summer!<br />
<br />
So I hope you will have a chance to check out my channel, I'd appreciate it so much! (So far I only have one video, haha!)<br />
<br />
<b>Click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c46OxcuUeBk" target="_blank">here</a> to watch my first video! </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I'll see you all very soon!<br />
<br />
-Grace :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17312578293866080356noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284208386305192864.post-59918029107459936192013-06-30T14:16:00.000-05:002013-06-30T14:16:33.904-05:00Speechless, a book review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344037666l/13069681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1344037666l/13069681.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
by <b>Hannah Harrington</b><br />
published in <b>2012</b><br />
the cover makes it... <b>6</b>/ <b>5 </b>stars<br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13069681-speechless" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> <b>/ </b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Speechless-Harlequin-Teen-Hannah-Harrington/dp/0373210523" target="_blank">Amazon</a> <b>/ </b><a href="http://www.hannahharrington.com/" target="_blank">Website</a><br />
<br />
<div style="border: solid 6px #E6E6E6; color: #6b6b6b; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0; padding: 15px; text-align: justify;">
The thing is, despite everything going on- I don't want to change schools. It feels too much like running away. Let the jerks that vandalized my locker and my car and harassed me think they can just run me off that easy? No.</div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">"Here's the thing. I need a book with a gorgeous cover and an interesting backdrop. It has to exude personality, and it has to be completely, blatantly honest. I need the characters to be true, real. It has to be something that I could somehow, even indirectly, relate to. Also, because I'm being really picky here, it can't be a super long, marathon read, nor should it contain only 30 pages of really deep stuff that I act like I understand but I actually don't. It has to be appealing to read. You know, you know?"</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">"Oh, well, just take Speechless by Hannah Harrington!"</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Chelsea Knot can't keep a secret. And since she's on top of the high school social ladder, she's got a lot of secrets on her hands, all ready to be spilled. But the last secret she told almost killed a person. And now, Chelsea is a loner, an outcast. So she decides to take a vow of silence, because that way, not another person will be hurt because she couldn't shut that mouth of hers. Her reign of silence gives her time to think- of her actions in the past that lead to her situation now. But it also gives Chelsea a chance to really dig deep in her roots, and to uncover the real self that she had hidden without even knowing.</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">A lot of books are really good. They have heart palpitating scenes that just sucks your attention into the words. But they have a lot of weak spots. One chapter might seem completely pointless, one scene just doesn't go with the book, and overall, the experience is like having spikes of sugar rush. </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Speechless</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"> is different. It might not make your heart pound with adrenaline, but it's indulging. Because every sentence has a meaning, every little dialogue develops the story even deeper. And that just makes reading it the biggest enjoyment one can be treated to.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">I like Chelsea. Really, really like her. She's not one of those cliché characters you would call imperfectly perfect. No, she's just imperfect. She's got her flaws and sometimes they really show. But that's what makes her character easier to grasp, because it makes her feel like she could just be that girl in chemistry two desks behind you. And you know what, she actually sounded like a real teenager. One that might occasionally regard other people as "losers", and one that feels emotions such as resentment and jealousy. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">The idea of silence is very interesting. One might think that it would be hard for Chelsea to make new connections, due to her incapability to speak, but in all honesty, Harrington never made me doubt that. Somehow, Chelsea manages to radiate her personality through her gestures, her little dialogues written on paper, and the expressions in her eyes. And although it sounds like a real suffocation, to never have your protagonist engage into vocal conversations, it was really a journey of discoveries. Without the notion of speaking, Chelsea made more remarks on the world and people surrounding her, which really adds another layer of depth to the reading experience.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">There are some things that cannot be defined with only words. <i>Speechless </i>achieves that, because once you start reading in between the lines and add your own experiences into it, this story is like a little secret shared only between you and the lines of ink marked into this book.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17312578293866080356noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284208386305192864.post-2027418071876832942013-06-28T22:06:00.001-05:002013-06-28T22:06:25.062-05:00A Playlist of Memories <span style="font-family: inherit;">Today was my last day as a student at École Lacerte. This school has been my second home for over 4 years now, a stretch longer than any other school I've been to. I've made friends that really do love me for who I am, and I've connected with teachers who care immensely about my well-being. I've had my fair shares of victories, and some defeats that I can only but learn from. I've made stupid mistakes, and yet they always seem to make me a better person. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Next school year as we head to Grade 9, the graduated class of Lacerte will be dispersed into different paths. Many will continue towards a French education, a few will change to English schools. And even if we will keep in touch a lot, we will probably never have a bond as strong as when we were all colleagues together. So I've decided to make a playlist. A playlists of songs that represents us, the 2013 class of Lacerte. I hope one day it will help us all bring back the memories that made us into a family. A foolish, stupid, loving family.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLn8TwRvl-KmQWZexT6xJ23zhr0xPVT4cM" target="_blank">Here's the playlist :)</a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17312578293866080356noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284208386305192864.post-54532011660961588982013-06-14T22:08:00.000-05:002013-12-25T14:25:42.605-06:00Classical Piece of the Week: Zigeunerweisen, Op. 20<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5A8FaES70W6PcqwP25R6JajDgalKxXnrbmACudiMpmrhLUvA5ioCXyBapQUuQEWTXtX1srpVQDK_zuRCL3KbVfkM27aRy-GkCd4b16QnCg5xBdpjTX5xcQfBTJzo4XTyNBYXUFxXcI5wL/s1600/Pictures+for+iPad+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5A8FaES70W6PcqwP25R6JajDgalKxXnrbmACudiMpmrhLUvA5ioCXyBapQUuQEWTXtX1srpVQDK_zuRCL3KbVfkM27aRy-GkCd4b16QnCg5xBdpjTX5xcQfBTJzo4XTyNBYXUFxXcI5wL/s320/Pictures+for+iPad+015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(220, 217, 217); color: #232222; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 15px; text-align: center;">
Missed the last one? Here's a link to <a href="http://thehumblewatermelon.blogspot.ca/2013/04/classical-piece-of-week-polonaise-from.html" target="_blank">Polonaise from Eugene Onedin</a>.</div>
<br />
When you first start to devote yourself to an activity, whether it's violin or gymnastics or anything else for that matter, you naturally turn to the professionals. You watch them, listen to them, analyze them. And as you stare in awe at their pure talent, you wonder if you will ever be able to achieve that level of accomplishment. This week's piece, <b>Zigeunerweisen, Op. 20 </b>by <b>Pablo de Sarasate</b>, is that accomplishment. Most pieces sound easier than they actually are. This piece sounds just as hard as it is. When played right, it can really make an audience imagine wonders. It will tear your heart apart, make it pound, and make it race with excitement. <br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>The first of two sections of this piece is slow. But this piece doesn't let the tempo take away from its power. <i>Zigeunerweisen</i> literally shines power. It bathes in raw grit, in its epic grandeur. Some of the parts make your stomach clench, because it is just that impactful. Yet it manages to keep a clean and clean sound, despite the brilliant passage runs and numerous sforzandos and accents. <br />
<br />
The second (and last) section is fast. And when I say fast, I really, really mean it. The beginning will probably catch you by surprise, but once you get used to it, it just feels like your feet are being lifted above ground from the sheer swiftness of it. And if you feel yourself starting to jostle around, or bobbing your head to the rhythm, don't fight it! ;)<br />
<br />
Zigeunerweisen is one hell of a piece. And it's exactly this kind of music that keeps us violinists so motivated, because we all want to be able to drench our souls into such a glorious, magnificent piece.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/7jWmdzOxD9s?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17312578293866080356noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284208386305192864.post-80354184069494027892013-06-02T17:10:00.000-05:002013-06-05T19:47:29.765-05:00Canadian Chess Challenge- More than Just a Tournament<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZo9SFhTwh959zPTwAwq1Nyz0MvkFtHyjBt03ba2IfkycQxRpAwom1QY6mF2EFTVJAkAiTM3EFHT6rVQNlULRtJW-UPGGRKny-3LHbImDh2C2tb1ukL-i-XETvnFFGDtgezwGrWq08h8Dv/s1600/Canadian+Chess+Challenge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZo9SFhTwh959zPTwAwq1Nyz0MvkFtHyjBt03ba2IfkycQxRpAwom1QY6mF2EFTVJAkAiTM3EFHT6rVQNlULRtJW-UPGGRKny-3LHbImDh2C2tb1ukL-i-XETvnFFGDtgezwGrWq08h8Dv/s320/Canadian+Chess+Challenge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Your opponent is glancing in different directions. His eyes pry away from the chessboard, looking left and right. You gulp nervously, a little bead of sweat trickling down your forehead, your brain doing a hundred different summersaults. The opponent slowly gets up, walking with calm and ease to the water fountain, with seemingly the most time in the world, as you take frantic looks at the chessboard, analyzing the next move you could make without putting you in peril. You move your last remaining pawn. Press down on the chess clock. Your opponent comes back, hastily looks at the board, and glides his Queen toward that black square. Checkmate. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Chess, quite an intricate sport. Some people know the basics, like me, and could possibly put on a close to decent match. But even fewer people know how to really play it. Openings, middle game, endings, tactics. And when they do play, they are transported into a completely different world, where the soul of chess shines above all things else.</div>
<div>
<br />
<a name='more'></a>This Victoria Day's long weekend, I had to pleasure to witness the 25th Annual Canadian Chess Challenge, supporting my brother, Derek, who represented Team Manitoba, grade 5. This year, the Chess Challenge was in our nation's capital, Ottawa, at the Carleton University. Arriving there on the first day, May 19th, I was taken over by all those players in different t-shirt colors, representing their provinces respectively. And even with the start of the tournament lurking closely, the spirit of the players were filled with enjoyment, and no air of competitiveness could be perceived, only a friendliness that solely a competition can bond.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As more and the more of the players settle down onto the tables, the nervous tension buzzes more intensely in the room, mostly produced by parents who are trying to cast their eyes away from their children. With a few announcements, it is time to start. An exchange of province flag pins, a handshake, a quick look at the chessboard before setting up the clock, and with the heavy thud of the first piece moved, the games begin. As the minutes tick by, and more results are displayed on the boards, players from all different provinces leave the table, either with an air of defeat, or the breath of victory. Parents rush to their children to give them a little tap on the back, some words of consolation, or maybe a few helpful tips for the next match. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As the first day draws to a close, the race for the top has gotten more intense, and many players already have their fate sealed. Others are either hanging by a thread, or perhaps treading in the top, but still uncertain if it will be a solid position. With their heads full of swarming chess pieces, the players leave the building, avid for a good night's rest.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
May 20th. The second and last day. With only three games left each, the players know that this is it. One simple blunder, and that could be the end of their quest for a trophy. As for the audience, they are on their feet. Especially for the last round, as it is the clash of the two titans. Ontario and Quebec. This year, like many others, these two provinces have been undefeated, raking up a win against all the other provinces. It is only natural that their meeting should reside in the last round, as it will ultimately decide which province gets first place. This year. It's Ontario. As for my brother, he ended up with a third place, an trophy, and a content heart.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It was only afterwards, when the remaining players were amusing each other in games of bughouse, that I fully realized the sheer significance of this tournament. That this was more than a tournament, more than just players from different provinces playing against each other in games of chess. This Chess Challenge has bound us all together, us Canadians who are separated by countless miles of flat fields, hills and mountains of different peaks. It has bound us all together by the passion, the infinite spirit of a humble game we call chess.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17312578293866080356noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284208386305192864.post-83917075322195364112013-04-28T16:59:00.000-05:002013-05-29T09:22:06.755-05:00Saving June, a book review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4F7E55gTBAfKOLtbDbUTJre6iixqGaA24UNIn4KRDj9IpHdXsIwpdq8OHt7pT695oQOAiaCOMuaEBBrImHgE5xrqz3E72TeomdJbDKd9RkyOwZHFuuCWGzAreojDS4E5qfVzbu7nq5y8z/s1600/Saving+June.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4F7E55gTBAfKOLtbDbUTJre6iixqGaA24UNIn4KRDj9IpHdXsIwpdq8OHt7pT695oQOAiaCOMuaEBBrImHgE5xrqz3E72TeomdJbDKd9RkyOwZHFuuCWGzAreojDS4E5qfVzbu7nq5y8z/s320/Saving+June.JPG" title="" width="209" /></a></div>
by <b>Hannah Harrington</b><br />
published in <b>2011</b><br />
a to the moon and back<b> 4/ 5 stars</b><br />
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10947600-saving-june" target="_blank">Goodreads</a><b> / </b><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Saving-June-Hannah-Harrington/dp/0373210248" target="_blank">Amazon</a> <b>/</b> <a href="http://www.hannahharrington.com/" target="_blank">Website</a><br />
<div style="background: #DACEBD; border: solid 4px #E41E73; color: #393836; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0; padding: 15px; text-align: justify;">
"Now I'm counting up the days, counting all the ways <br />
I never said what I meant, but it's too late 'cause<br />
June is over and so are we<br />
And I'm the one left, with nothing to save."</div>
<br />
<span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer"><i>Saving June</i>
is like a hum. A steady hum that can sometimes go a little off track,
but still keeps its senses anchored to the ground. And sometimes, there
are rattles and sparks thrown in the way, and that hum just turns even
more powerful, until it wraps around you and then suddenly you're
breathing the same air it's breathing.<br /><br /><i>Saving June</i> is
about a road trip. And then some. Haley's older sister June just killed
herself. Discovering her in the car, a bottle of sleeping pills in her
hand, Haley cannot stop thinking of what June could have been. June,
smart, sociable, a loving daughter. But June, weak in depth, concealed,
revealing only partially her whole. So Haley decides to bring June's urn
to California, the place where Haley thinks June wanted be set free. In
comes along June's trusty side kick and best friend, Laney, and the
mystical Jake Tolan, who has an apparent connection with June. Together
they set off for a roadtrip of a lifetime, a roadtrip of undetermined
length and spontaneous decisions. But a roadtrip for one sole purpose,
and that is to save June. </span><br />
<a href="" name="more"></a><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Here's the tricky thing with road
trip books. You have to feed your readers with action and adventure and
fun, yet you still have to keep your readers' minds grounded on the real
purpose of it. Hannah Harrington balanced that with great poise. Every
pit stop, every detour, felt like it had a meaning to it, a meaning
beyond comprehension that bound the story together.<br />
<br />
Haley is the
kind of protagonist that takes time to attach to. Obviously, being fresh
from a sibling's death can change your attitude towards life a whole
lot, but Haley felt like a stubborn kind. Quiet and slick and someone
who stands firmly for her beliefs. But once you get to taste her
personality more, you realize that Haley goes much deeper than you think
she does. She's witty and snarky and... validating. You just want to
know more about her, comfort her when she is vulnerable, shake her up
when she's acting ridiculous.<br />
<br />
Then there's Laney and Jake. Laney
is a free spirit leading a breezy life. At least, that's what it looks like from the exterior. But Laney is also insecure, and always questioning her
function in life. This what makes her relationship with Haley so strong.
They feed from each others' strength and weaknesses, and they dive
together into new experiences. And then, Jake. He's not completely a bad
boy, not completely a hipster, but completely a music junkie. He
breathes music. He can also fly under the radar, or set himself off like
a spark. He's hard to get, and even harder to crack open. I guess
that's what makes his bond with Haley- and June- so fascinating, so
utterly entrancing. <br />
<br />
There isn't much to say about June, but
yet... there is so much. It is painful to think that a book must be
bound by such a tragic story. Yet, it's exhilarating, it's eye opening,
and as the story develops, you just feel even more pushed to unlock that
hidden, dark knowledge that prompted June to end her life.<br />
<br />
This
book, this book, has got such a strong presence. It leaves a mark,
leaves you questioning. Of what a person could have been. It it weren't
for. And as brilliant as it is, sometimes you just want to hurl <i>Saving June</i> into the other side of the room, because it will utterly break your heart.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Then slowly piece it back together.<br />
<br />
<br />
And that's the beauty of it.
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17312578293866080356noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284208386305192864.post-64431454573574874602013-04-27T20:03:00.004-05:002013-04-27T20:03:49.886-05:00100 Followers+ Update!Hi! Long time no see! Well, I won't drag on with an introduction, so let's go straight off to the points. First of all...<br />
<br />
YAY! I reached one hundred followers! When I updated my feed and saw 99 followers creep up to 100, a giant smile just sparked on my face! I honestly feel so thankful to have such great readers like you guys. And even more for those who take that extra couple of minutes to put a comment on my post. It honestly means SO much to me! I love all of you guys so much! (*Kissy, smoochy face*)<br />
<br />
And also, you might have realized that I haven't been posting very regularly these past few weeks/month, and as much as I'd like to blame time, I think it's only partially the cause. The thing is, <b>I write when I feel something.</b> I do not like writing with a schedule, because sometimes I just can't connect with the words. <b>And I want each and everyone one of my posts to have a meaning, a passion. </b>So I guess you could say I'm a little spontaneous when it comes to blogging.<br />
<br />
And I hope you bare with me and my weird schedule for <strike>the rest of your lifetime </strike>a little longer,<br />
<br />
because I love having you<br />
<br />
here.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17312578293866080356noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284208386305192864.post-90690173882110321652013-04-12T22:21:00.000-05:002013-06-14T22:23:45.042-05:00Classical Piece of the Week: Polonaise from Eugene Onegin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5A8FaES70W6PcqwP25R6JajDgalKxXnrbmACudiMpmrhLUvA5ioCXyBapQUuQEWTXtX1srpVQDK_zuRCL3KbVfkM27aRy-GkCd4b16QnCg5xBdpjTX5xcQfBTJzo4XTyNBYXUFxXcI5wL/s1600/Pictures+for+iPad+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5A8FaES70W6PcqwP25R6JajDgalKxXnrbmACudiMpmrhLUvA5ioCXyBapQUuQEWTXtX1srpVQDK_zuRCL3KbVfkM27aRy-GkCd4b16QnCg5xBdpjTX5xcQfBTJzo4XTyNBYXUFxXcI5wL/s320/Pictures+for+iPad+015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% rgb(220, 217, 217); color: #232222; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 15px; text-align: center;">
Missed the last one? Here's a link to <a href="http://thehumblewatermelon.blogspot.ca/2013/03/classical-piece-of-week-valse.html" target="_blank">Valse Sentimentale</a>.</div>
<br />
Why hello there! It's been such a long time since I have written a post, but I promise I will make it up to you, because I am here to present you an absolutely incredible work of music. It's called the <b>Polonaise</b> from the opera <b>Eugene Onegin </b>by <b>Ptyor IIyich Tchaikovsky</b>. And yes, I am aware that my last CPW was by Tchaikovsky too, but I seriously do not want to let go of my healthy (slightly turning compulsive) obsession with Tchaik, so Polonaise will it be.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>From the moment it starts, you can tell this music is dance material. The piece is very powerful, and possesses a strong presence. But it still has an underlying layer of graceful composure, which is very much in the character of Tchaikovsky's composing style. And this Polonaise just sounds like one of those pieces that is so fun to play in an orchestra, and it really reflects in the personality of the music! And the ending, yeah, just our dear old Tchaik being the epic guy he is. >.<<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here is a video to show you just how fun it could be to play this piece! ^^</div>
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/iwZF0JIRFqA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17312578293866080356noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3284208386305192864.post-90194637212574363642013-03-31T16:31:00.000-05:002013-03-31T16:31:48.207-05:00The Perks of Being a Wallflower, a book review<a href="http://imgix.8tracks.com/mix_covers/000/230/718/42332.original.jpg?fm=jpg&q=65&sharp=15&vib=10&" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://imgix.8tracks.com/mix_covers/000/230/718/42332.original.jpg?fm=jpg&q=65&sharp=15&vib=10&" width="231" /></a><b>Author: </b>Stephen Chbosky<b> </b><br />
<b>Pages:</b> 213<br />
<b>Year Published: </b>1999<br />
<b>Rating: </b>A hearty 4<b>/</b> 5 stars<br />
<span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer"><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22628.The_Perks_of_Being_a_Wallflower" target="_blank">Goodreads </a><b>/ </b><a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Perks-Being-Wallflower-Stephen-Chbosky/dp/0671027344" target="_blank">Amazon </a><b>/</b> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dY5EbgJTvI" target="_blank">Trailer </a> </span><br />
<div style="background: #F6FFE6; border: solid 4px #A0D145; color: #141513; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0; padding: 15px; text-align: justify;">
The problem was nobody was there to play Rocky, the muscular robot (I'm not quite sure what he is). After looking around at everybody, Mary Elizabeth turned to me.<br />
"Charlie, how many times have you seeen the show?"<br />
"Ten."<br />
"Do you think you can play Rocky?"<br />
"I'm not cut and hunky."<br />
"It doesn't matter. Can you play him?"<br />
"I guess."<br />
"Do you guess or do you know?"<br />
"I guess."<b> </b> <br />
"Good enough."
</div>
<br />
<span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer"><em>Charlie (sighing)<br /><br />Charlie (chuckling softly)</em><br /><br />Charlie.<br /><br />Sometimes, it's that book that's all weird and unstructured and messy that draws you in. And this is one of them. <br /><br />Charlie
is a freshman. He is also very socially awkward, but very aware of what
surrounds him. Or more like unaware that he is aware. He notices the
little details that people leave out, and he perceives the silent
emotions emitting from a person's soul. </span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />In this book, Charlie
writes letters to an undisclosed person. In his letters, he writes about
his new found friends, his new experiences, but most of all, he writes
about himself, but in such a subtle and unconscious way that leaves so
much to the reader's imagination. I felt like I could connect with
Charlie on so many levels. His searching for life's meaning, his voice,
his way. And when I couldn't connect with him, I tried to understand
him, I tried to make sense of what he was trying to make sense of too.
And it worked, because this book worked.<br /><br />Charlie's voice is
blatantly honest, and it even resonates through the supporting
characters. Sam and Patrick, Charlie's two new friends, possess a lot of
character and will. I think they made Charlie more strong as a person,
while not consuming or controlling him. And Charlie's relationship with
his family is just so real and unfiltered that I feel like I could peer
through my bedroom window, and look into another person's house and
imagine it was Charlie in there.<br /><br />Look, I won't lie. I bought this
book but I wanted to hate it. I wanted it to hate it because everybody
loved it and it didn't even seem that special. But it was. It is. It's
special because it makes you realize things you didn't realize before.
It makes you think, and frown, and it kind of silences you. Because you
just don't want to miss a single moment of what this book gives you.<br /><br /><em>The Perks of Being a Wallflower</em>
is simply a book. And more. Just like Charlie is simply a person. And
more. And you are simply a reader, a human. But once you read this book,
you will be more.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer"></span><span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer"></span> <span class="readable" id="reviewTextContainer"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ansi-language:#0400;
mso-fareast-language:#0400;
mso-bidi-language:#0400;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17312578293866080356noreply@blogger.com16