The story of the Pencil

I'm currently reading a book and I wanted to share this here because it made me smile, and also because I never want to forget this. (I'm all emo and weird like that!)

A boy was watching his grandmother write a letter. At one point, he asked:

'Are you writing a story about what we've done? Is it a story about me?'

His grandmother stopped writing her letter and said to her grandson:

'I am writing about you, actually, but more important than the words is the pencil I'm using. I hope you will be like this pencil when you grow up.'

Intrigued, the boy looked at the pencil. It didn't seem very special.

'But it's just like any other pencil I've ever seen!'

'That depends on how you look at things. It has five qualities which, if you manage to hang on to them, will make you a person who is always at peace with the world.

'First quality: you are capable of great things, but you must never forget that there is a hand guiding your steps. We call that hand God, and He always guides according to His will.

'Second quality: now and then, I have to stop writing and use a sharpener. That makes the pencil suffer a little, but afterwards, he's much sharper. So you, too, must learn to bear certain pains and sorrows , because they will make you a better person.

'Third quality: the pencil always allows us to use an eraser to rub out any mistakes. This means that correcting something we did is not necessarily a bad thing; it helps to keep us on the road to justice.

'Fourth quality: what really matters in a pencil is not it's wooden exterior, but the graphite inside. So always pay attention to what is happening inside you.

'Finally, the pencil's fifth quality: it always leaves a mark. In just the same way, you should know that everything you do in life will leave a mark, so try to be conscious of that in your every action.'

Extract from Like the Flowing River by Paulo Coehlo

“Sometimes you put walls up not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to break hem down.”

American Idiot !

Been there, done that and got the T-shirt to prove it. Well not the T-shirt, but a Hoodie, which is just as good, except it's 5 times my size!

The Big Apple is everything I ever dreamt of, and it took me a week after leaving the city to realize I can actually live there. Well only if I had to live in Upper East Side or Greenwich Village, I'm pretty snobby like that.

Being in New York is like being in a film, where I play the role of the spoilt brat- brilliant !I met my cousin there, he lives in Seattle, and he's like NYC is so crowded blah blah...I was like what you on guy, I LOVE CROWDS! Fine, I'm anti-social sometimes, but I live in London (d-uh) so I do like the concrete jungle and all the people !

That is what so awesome about it, because there are so many people there are a gazillion things to do. I tried to do all the touristy things I had on my list- Liberty - check, Empire State Building- check, Broadway- check, NBA game- check, Museum of Modern Art- double check! The only thing I missed out on was walking down Brooklyn Bridge. Since I'm the queen on cheese, I really wanted to do it. Meh, next time ;)

New Yorkers are so friendly too. If you are in London, you could stare at someone for hours and they won't even crack a smile. Whereas, in New York everywhere I looked they were smiling...the first time it happened I was very confused (whatchya'll smiling about) but then we bumped into this New Yorker (old dude with a dog) who just started talking to us and was so sweet! You'd never have a random person strike up a conversation in London, well unless the two of you are extremely intoxicated!

Here are some snapshots :D

When we went for the Knick game at Madison Square Garden

Statue of Liberty

View from Empire State Building
Black Friday at Macy's
Saks Fifth Avenue

Remember Bubba Gump from Forrest Gump...@ Times Square

Saks Fifth Avenue - view from Rockefeller Centre

Andy Warhol - Marilyn Monroe @ Museum of Modern Art

The only thing missing in my trip was, I didn't find my American boy ;)

xxx

There is no charge for awesomeness... or attractiveness

OMG! It took me almost six months to watch this film! *gasps* I'm in love with it. I'm beginning to realize the movie buff in me has got lazy and doesn't watch films on time! Seriously, it took me a year to watch Juno- another awesome film.

I did go to watch Madagascar Escape 2 Africa yesterday, only because Mr. Schitt knew in advance I'd WANT to see it. I loooooooove animated films. Anyhow, Madagascar Escape 2 Africa is pretty awesome too. It's the kinda film you just leave the movie hall feeling...ummm Groovy!

This is from the first film:



So I knew Madagascar Escape 2 Africa was going to be good. It is all the goofiness and silliness I love in the film. It's a good film, but Kung Fu Panda is ACE!

Go watch it....NOW


xxx

Achtung baby!

Thank you for Not Smoking. Cigarette smoke is the residue of your pleasure. It contaminates the air, pollutes my hair and clothes, not to mention my lungs. This takes place without my consent. I have a pleasure, also. I like a beer now and then. The residue of my pleasure is urine. Would you be annoyed if I stood on a chair and pissed on your head and your clothes without your consent?"



I'm not so funny, Mr. Schitt (who sometimes happens to have an awesome sense of humor) found this on a blog and shared it with me, and I want to share it with you!) It's not my words but once I find the blog url from where the above bit is from I'll put it up :)

Picture courtesy: Artbox



XXX

Dreams

"But there is suffering in life, and there are defeats. No one can avoid them. But it's better to lose some of the battles in the struggles for your dreams than to be defeated without ever knowing what you're fighting for.”
- The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho

Life is but a dream. I hold my dreams very close to my heart, from the small ones I envision at night, to the child-like ambitions I've cherished all my life. Dreams...they can be quite personal, can't they?

So when someone tells me "Keep your dreams and reality separate..." I wonder how mundane life would be without dreams to cherish? Are dreams really that different from our reality? It is but the dream that we envision that allows us to shape our future.

The other day I went to a party and got talking to this girl and after the boring "what do you do stuff" she casually mentioned that she thought I was really brave to follow my dreams, and to be honest I never thought of myself to be brave. I just did what I thought I should do, keep focused. I see people who change their career paths and achieve wonders, and those are the ones I think are brave. Moi? I'm just a silly little girl who manages to spit out a few words now and then...

The above quote is by Paulo Coelho, I think it's from his book The Alchemist. I don't have the book with me so I can't double check. I read his books much before I had even heard about positive thinking, The Secret and the sort of stuff that make dreams happen. I chanced on his book "Eleven Minutes" when I saw a classmate reading it. The Alchemist was the second book of his that I read and I admit it did change my life...not in the way that miracles do, but in the quite, shy manner that great authors inspire. I know calling Mr. Coelho a great author might be of doubt to some (my brother doesn't think much of his writings, he's more of a non-fiction dude and I say, each one to their own), but to me the word great can be used for someone who can even inspire a single person.

The Alchemist talks about achieving dreams... and to simply put it, our goals maybe closer than we think, but the journey we go through to achieve the goal, the sense of satisfaction the journey causes, and the teachings you learn along the way are just as important as the dream itself. It can be taken from a different point of view, but this is what I'm sticking to.

“Be brave. Take risks. Nothing can substitute experience.”
- Paulo Coelho

So you see, dreams to me are not just silly little thoughts. They are visions to the future, visions of a secret desire, visions that make life beautiful. As a shy, little, insecure girl I dreamt that I will be whoever I wanted to be, I will carve my own path being able to stand my own ground. It's not something impossible, I know I can achieve it, most days I feel sorry for the people around me, some days I feel sorry for myself. I have moments of weakness, and in those times I think of what the future will be, and how tiny these moments are compared to the satisfaction of achieving my dream.

I may not achieve everything, but even if I become a single per cent of the woman I envisioned to be, I will know the journey was worth the while.

“When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
- Paulo Coelho

XXX

Stress levels: High!

I'm stressing out over a few things, nothing new & unusual I always stress out, that's just who I am. But I'm beginning to freak out about the responses regarding my paranoia. Somehow it all relates to everyone telling me to have faith, about God and everything in between. I do take it in seriously, and I love some of the advice I've been given but the similarities coming from varied people is beginning to spook me out !


xxx

La Bella Vita

A new baby is like the beginning of all things-wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities.
Eda J. Le Shan

My nephew, my angel. I love both my nephews and I wish I can see them grow into strong sensible men with right values. I wish they respect their parents and grandpatents and love everyone around them, I wish they choose what is right for them but never hurt anyone along the way. Most of all I wish they have the strength to follow their dreams...


xxx

Oh Hai There !

I almost forgot I had a bloggie! Last few months have been really hectic work wise, and to be honest I've had stressful (OMG nothing is going to work out days) but in general I've been happy!

Which made me realize, I can't write when I'm happy, I just don't have any deep meaningful thoughts. This is in general, I don't even think I can write news/feature articles for work when I'm happy ! AND BOY AM I HAPPY ! :D

Well, mainly coz it's November, I'm always happy in November. It's my favourite month for numerous reasons, one of them being that Christmas is just round the corner. Thankfully, for me Xmas doesn't mean stressing for pressies for million family and friends, if I want to gift, I will, if I don't my love & affection is good enough for everyone ;)

I do like Christmas quite a lot. My friends know this really well, coz when I shared a house with lovely Jenny Benny I'd be the first one getting excited about Christmas decoration and I'd be planning the party wayyyy in advance. Which reminds me I neeed to book my friends off for our Xmas ado-do ! We all are little busy bees who needed to schedule each other in!

Last year, when I moved to my new place and didn't have a tree to decorate my house, Jenny Benny gifted me Xmas decor complete with the tree. Best present I've ever received. Most people don't know this, but I love surprises! Sure, I'd be the one poking my nose and pestering about trying to guess the surprise...but if someone actually manages to go through the whole ordeal with me...I'm just one happy bunny ! :D

Xmas does make me a bit sad, coz on Xmas day everyone is with their family, and I'm just stuck at home watching silly Christmas shows on TV coz my family is so far away! This is not to say we'd be having a Christmas lunch or dinner. It makes me sad, coz every Christmas eve, my friend and I go out the night before and have a ball! We whine about the same party we go to, but we always make it a point to look amazingly gorgeous and just try to have a good time. But in the end we do, coz we all just get to hang out and be silly. It's one of those parties which you had to attend the minute you were allowed late nights, most people have deadlines throughout the year, but on Christmas eve, there's no deadline and it's just good fun :)

The best bit about Christmas in London is the day after, Boxing Day! OMG the sales...do I need to say more? I'm the girl who literally camps outside Selfridges a few hours before it opens! I know, I know, I'm extremely silly :)

This post has way too many smiles...not good for the emo in me ;) But I can't help it.

OMG OMG OMG! I'm going to New York ! I wanted to go and study in NYU when I was younger (and a part of me still wants to!) and when the visa lady told me my visa has bee approved I just wanted to hug her! Heck I even wanted to hug the postman when he gave me my passport ! :D I'm going for a week long holiday and I'm realllly looking forward to it :D

I do love to travel...there's so much I want to see and so many things I want to do. It makes me really happy to see my dreams come true.

Also, this month is Mr Schitt's birthday, the maiiiiin reason why I love this month. My two fave months of the year is November and May (no, my birthday is not in May!) Everyday I feel so happy to have him by my side. He's my joy, my sorrow, my smile, my tears, but there isn't one thing I'd want to change !

There are a few things that are bugging me though. I'm getting extremely frustrated about chasing my dreams, but that's for another post...where I'm more emo :D

I do wish I could make the people around me happy. I do hate it when I'm the reason for sadness or stress for the people who are really close to me, who make me smile and make the sun shine...

I have an article to finish for work, and it's been good having work to concentrate on, but it's also frustrating coz of the goddamn recession! Although, one thing is for sure...working from home is hard! I can't concentrate, I get distratcted by shiny objects too easily !

I've been working in the beauty department recently, and I'm officially a beauty junkie now. I have so much stuff in my house...it's not funny! I do plan to give out most of the stuff, but I can't decide if I should have a beauty sale, where I sell the stuff for a quid each and then donate the money to some Breast Cancer charity, coz I do really support that (I wore my pink ribbon throughout October...go me!!) *grins*

I think the best thing about print journalism for me is seeing my byline. I don't say this out of pride, but seeing my name see printed brings immense joy to me. :s

OMG! I'll be getting photoshop on my dear lappie soon, *sqqqqqueeeel* soooo excited about it.

Okay! I better get back to work... I promise there will be an emo post coming soon... ;)


xxx

Good morning, on July 7 by Beethoven

Though still in bed, my thoughts go out to you, my Immortal Beloved, now and then joyfully, then sadly, waiting to learn whether or not fate will hear us - I can live only wholly with you or not at all - Yes, I am resolved to wander so long away from you until I can fly to your arms and say that I am really at home with you, and can send my soul enwrapped in you into the land of spirits - Yes, unhappily it must be so - You will be the more contained since you know my fidelity to you. No one else can ever possess my heart - never - never - Oh God, why must one be parted from one whom one so loves. And yet my life in V is now a wretched life - Your love makes me at once the happiest and the unhappiest of men - At my age I need a steady, quiet life - can that be so in our connection? My angel, I have just been told that the mailcoach goes every day - therefore I must close at once so that you may receive the letter at once - Be calm, only by a calm consideration of our existence can we achieve our purpose to live together - Be calm - love me - today - yesterday - what tearful longings for you - you - you - my life - my all - farewell. Oh continue to love me - never misjudge the most faithful heart of your beloved.

ever thine
ever mine
ever ours

*sqqqqqquuuuuuuueeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee*


Yup, that's what I am like today. Jumping up and down with joy. The reason? None! Life's still the same, very blah. Thus, the very emo-tastic previous posts. All that doesn't matter, coz right I'm happpppppppppyyyyyyy :D

Yes, I'm the weirdo who has bouts of happiness for no apparent reason :D

xxx

Normality

The following text is entirely fictional. Resemblance to any person living or dead is purely coincidental. :)

She stood there waiting for the bus. The cold was hurting her fingers as she clenched the grocery bags. She looked up and that's when she saw it. "Come visit us in sunny Florida", it read. She smiled, thinking of him. He was so happy that day, that beautiful sunny day.

"Babe, I got the job, I got the job ! It's in Daytona Beach." Her heart dropped. That's half the world away. She put on a brave smile and said, "Congratulations honey, you deserve it." She held on to him, for support, as if it were farewell already. He whispered into her ear, "Come with me, we'll see the world together." She stared back, he knew those empty eyes would never make false promises. He knew, she knew, it was the beginning of an end.

She's back home now, trying to settle in to the warmth of the house. A child is crying in the flat nearby, a dinner being cooked, a family sitting together for prime time television. "Why is it so messy?" she hears an angry voice. She sighs, he's home early tonight. She goes to the kitchen to clean up, stares out at the blinking city lights. "Come with me..." she hears the whisper, "we'll see the world together."

She shuts her eyes, for that one moment she misses him and lets the silent tears roll down.

xxx

Coz I likey Tigers...a LOT!


more animals

especially white Tigers

xxx

Broken

The following text is entirely fictional. Resemblance to any person living or dead is purely coincidental. I condemn any sort of violence, specially domestic violence. :)

She spits blood on the dirty sink. Looks up and stares into the mirror, only to find a shadow of her previous self. Scars will heal she tells herself. Tears roll down her cheek.
With a loud bang, he opens the door. She looks down, shuts her eyes and whispers, "I love you." He raises his hand for the final blow.
She lies in a pool of blood and dirt. A freak accident they say, a tragedy. Only she knew.

xxx

And they say that a hero could save us, I'm not gonna stand here and wait...

- Hero, Nickelback



Someone recently told me, that talking to me is like talking to a wall! I'll admit I have never been so hurt. I am a very emotional and over sensitive person. If you tell me something, I WILL TAKE IT PERSONALLY.

I'm beginning to think maybe letting people in your life is actually not a good idea. I know I was happier when I didn't pour my heart out. Bottling up is a better option.

Someone told me love will ALL save us.
But how can that be, look what love gave us.
A world full of killing, and blood-spilling
That world never came
- Hero, Nickelback.

xxx

I'm at it again...

First some awesome news...I got a job! yayayayayay! It's temporary but I'm so goddamn looking forward to working again. All the laziness and sitting at home WAS getting to me.

Anyhow, I was looking for a new blog template again! To be honest I wasn't really fond of my previous one. It had two things I hated the most- the colour brown and hearts! Yuck !

I recently stumbled upon a blog whose design I realllly loved. So I asked someone who knew the author to ask about which site to use for templates. She didn't know where she got it from, maybe she was being honest, but I was really gutted. For someone (me) being obsessed with her bloggie, I knew what it takes to add new templates and blah de blah. I was not entirely convinced of the "I don't know truth"

Anyhow, since I do have an obsessive compulsive disorder (!!!!!) mixed with extreme stubborness, I knew I had to get the bloggie template site. After a lot of searching I found it, woohoo ! And this is the template I fell in love with. Someone told me this template looks it's for a "recipe blog" but meh, I don't care. I love flowers!!! Plus, Mr. Schitt thinks it's cool too, so yay!! I've lost my damn Nav Bar again, but I don't really care this time. I really hope this doesn't mess up after a while, not showing images and all.

I'm happy for now, and going back to Gimping. I'm obsessed with working on photos. I really need Photoshop. But I think Gimp is a good alternative. I just need to learn how to combine two pictures.

Click here, for more bloggie templates.

xxx

Personality Test

Advanced Global Personality Test Results Extraversion |||||| 26% Stability |||| 18% Orderliness |||||||||||| 50% Accommodation |||||||||||||||| 66% Interdependence |||||||||||||||||||| 90% Intellectual |||||||||||| 42% Mystical |||||| 30% Artistic |||||||||||||||||||| 83% Religious |||||||||||||| 56% Hedonism |||||||||||||||||| 76% Materialism |||||||||||| 43% Narcissism |||||||||| 36% Adventurousness |||||||||||| 50% Work ethic |||||||||||||||| 63% Humanitarian |||||||||||| 50% Conflict seeking |||||||||||||| 56% Need to dominate |||| 16% Romantic |||||||||||| 43% Avoidant |||||||||||||||||||| 83% Anti-authority |||||||||||| 50% Wealth |||||||||||||||| 63% Dependency |||||||||||||||||| 76% Change averse |||||||||||||||||| 76% Cautiousness |||||||||||||||| 63% Individuality |||||||||||||||| 63% Sexuality |||||||||||||||||| 76% Peter pan complex |||||||||||| 43% Family drive |||||||||||||| 56% Physical Fitness || % Histrionic |||||||||||||||||| 76% Paranoia |||||||||||||||||||| 83% Vanity |||||||||||||||| 63% Honor |||||||||| 36% Thriftiness |||||||||||||||||||| 90%

Take Free Advanced Global Personality Test
personality test by similarminds.com

Stability results were low which suggests you are very worrying, insecure, emotional, and anxious.

Orderliness results were medium which suggests you are moderately organized, hard working, and reliable while still remaining flexible, efficient, and fun.

Extraversion results were low which suggests you are very reclusive, quiet, unassertive, and secretive.

introverted, irritable, feels invisible, observer, depressed, does not enjoy leadership, reveals little about self, dislikes large parties, feels undesirable, does not like to stand out, submissive, suspicious, emotionally sensitive, not a thrill seeker, solitude loving, likes silence, fragile, second guesses self, negative, unadventurous, fearful, weird, focuses on people's hidden motives, paranoid, phobic, dependent, cautious, avoidant, semi intellectual

xxx

Put your pants* where they belong!

I don't get it, is it supposed to be sexy? Showing your pants like that. I'm pretty grossed out. And it's all these boys doing it. Is it like a young people thing that I'm too bloody old to understand? I don't find it sexy. Showing of like a tad bit, is hot. Showing your entire boxers or in some cases your butt crack is soooo not! Same goes for all the girls.

I do LOVE Lil Wayne's hoodie in the picutre above, though. Now that's hot!!

*shakes her head mumbling, "I don't get it, I don't get it!"

Old me :P


*pants refers to underpants *rolls eyes*

xxx

America!

Take me on a trip, I'd like to go some day. Take me to New York, I'd love to see LA. I really want to, come kick it with you. You'll be my American Boy.

-American Boy - Estelle Feat. Kanye West

*grins* So I'm planning my New York trip all over again! And you can't imagine how badly I want this. Chances are if you know me, and you are from America, I'll probably be making fun of your American ways. Pants and all :p

But the fact remains I've always wanted to go to NEW YORK! Well what I've really wanted is take a road trip around USA and it wouldn't bother me if it took a month or six. Anyhow, going to NYC is getting just as close. Besides I'll finally be able to say that I've been to one continent which my brother hasn't been to (he's travelled literally all over the world, the lil globe trotter!)

I've seen far too many movies and TV series revolving around New York for me not to fall in love with that city. I'm a city girl, I like the concrete jungle, I like busy people who are running around crazy having a life. I love the lights of a big city. I loveeeeee it ! Plus, if I do after Thanksgiving, it means I get to enjoy the sales (woooohoo). What more could I really ask for? :)

I'm also uber stressed out about this trip, because amongst my friends, I'm the only one who needs a Visa, which in itself freaks me out. Then since it's a budget holiday I'm praying like crazy it works out, that there are no problems with bookings and everything. I'm slightly creeped out about living in a hostel (last time I stayed in a hostel in Dublin, the bathrooms were minging!) I know once I get to NYC I'll go down to Times Square and sing New York New York, just 'cos I am so damn cheesy :P

And in case I do end up finding the "American boy" on my trip don't blame me :) I'm a sucker for accents *grins*

xxx

Achew!

So Cute ! Guess who sneezed??? Love this video >_<

xxx

For all you IT Nerds :)

more animals

Even Kitteh can do it ;) [Click on picture if stupid bloggie chops it up!]

xxx

Wowie!

I haz skills! Photo editing skills :) Well if you count playing around with Gimp and photo editing websites as a skill, I definitely have it! Woop

I Gimp-fied my header and damnit I'm proud :) It won't be there for long, coz I'm paranoid about keeping my picture up [don't ask me why!!] I'll just bask in awesomeness for a bit and then remove it. Or I don't know, I'm confused :(

xxx

What a party!

Semi-naked chicks - Check
Lot of Alcohol - Check
Loud loud music - Check
Lotta grinding(???) - Double Check

So, why did Shrutters not have fun? I went to Notting Hill Carnival yesterday and to be very honest, I was a tad bit disappointed. Maybe it was the cloudy weather, maybe it was me being sober and everyone else being really drunk or maybe it was just the simple fact that it was over over over crowded!

Notting Hill Carnival is an annual event held in the uber posh Kensington-Notting Hill area (ring a bell from the film Notting Hill..sorry no Hugh Grant roaming about there though!) Anyhow, it's sort of like a mini mini mini version of the Brazilian Carnival at Rio.

Every year for the past three years I have been planning to go for it. So this year finally when I did end up going, I was expecting, quite a LOT!

I'm not being harsh, it was a pretty good carnival, the customes were excellent, but to me it just seemed like a bunch of people (even the people parading and organizing) getting pissed drunk and then just walking on slowly with the dullest or drunkest look EVERRRR!

Not a bad way to spend the last Bank Holiday Monday of the year, but I wish it was sunny and I wish I was picnicking in Primrose Hill.

xxx