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you think you're chocolate

when you're chewing gum

2006-06-29

Good things

Reading a new book requires quiet concentration, especially in the beginning. It's a little awkward, like your first meeting with someone who would turn out to be your best friend. Re-reading an old book, however, is comforting, almost like plunging deep into your favourite corner of the sofa, or rubbing the belly of your dog (even though I don't know how that feels like exactly. hah.)

Today I stared at my bookshelves before rushing off to work, wondering what I'll bring with me to read. I had enough of dated fashion magazines, and a book is extremely needed to cure me of glossiness. So I brought Under the Tuscan Sun with me. I read it a few years back, only halved finished it. I am not what you'll call a 'finisher'. I buy books and don't read them. I borrow more books from the library than I can finish before the due date. It's just a habit.

Anyway, I'm glad to return to Under the Tuscan Sun. More than glad. Reading the first two chapters blissfully satisfied my wanderlust. It's wonderful- the writing, but I think more than that, it's the whole place and atmosphere and history and nature. I whisper the italian words under my breath, like a magic chant that I wish could whisk me into the world of pizza, pasta and piazzas. I carefully devour the recipes included, knowing that I'll never follow any of them, but imagining how delicious it will all turn out to be.

What I really really love though is description of the pastoral landscape. SO idyllic it's really like a fairytale. I just love it when people contemplate on flowers, and herbs, and fruits and veggies. When they talk about gardening, about the big dipper pouring over their roofs! I vaguely recall this quote from May Sarton's journal about how in this world of instant gratification, anything that requires patience like gardening and cooking and painting, have special value. I don't know why that resonated within me. It just made perfect sense.

I feel awfully sad though, that I am far away from the idyllic countryside, have never seen what an owl (much less other birds) really looks like. The names of flowers and plants and butterflies are completely alien to me. I wonder what it's like to return to the garden of eden.

ANYWAY anyway anyway, I'll remember to post excerpts and stuff when I finish the book (I will!). I am currently obsessed with anything domestic, that includes the Queen of Domestica- Martha Stewart. I stayed up past midnight watching all her tv videos online. I'm nuts! I have all these ideas to redecorate and organize my room, hopefully at least half of them will bear fruit (sheesh, I AM obsessed with the countryside). Also, am in love with everything vintage, and will be for a very looong time. Especially vintage patterned fabrics, SO gorgeous. I declare that we should all abandon zen minimalism, and classic clean cut whatever!

BIG NOTE to self: Learn Italian, in my lifetime, if not during uni hols.

Tomorrow is my LAST DAY at work. Goodbye nasty little cockroaches hiding in the cupboards. Goodbye Goodbye Goodbye. I think I'll miss some very teeny weeny parts of the job, like the very nice regular uncles and aunties. I'll miss staring at happy kids playing at the empty space infront of the shop. I'll quietly miss the routine even. But for the most part, I'm better off without it.

Hello, asking-parents-for-allowance (I hate that). Hello, FREEDOM. WHOO!

I AM FREEEEEE:) :) :) It's time now to meet up with friends and do my little projects.

I am once again, in love with life.

Yux chewed at 10:23 p.m.

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