Books, books and more books. A girl like me can never have enough books to read. If I could (and I know I'll eventually could), I'll have a library built in my name. Wouldn't it be really nice? There would be a library called Apple Misada Library. A huge library with tons of collections from novels to references to books written by Paris Hilton, Jessica Simpson (do you know that she wrote a wedding book? how ironic!) and other people you never thought could write a book. But I'm gonna specialize my library. People will recognize my library for its collections of business related books and novels written by young female authors. Like if you wanna read this book on how the Coca Cola company became a business empire or you wanna read the Shopaholic series, go to my library. Rest assured that my library will not be your usual library coz I'm gonna franchise Starbucks and strategically place it beside my library or in it!

Haha! The books I've been reading are probably getting into me. Before school started, I was reading John Maxwell's Roadmap for Success and Sun Tzu's Art of War and Management. I used to read two chapters each everyday but Roadmap for Success became more interesting for me so I set aside War and Management for a while.

If you're looking for a book to help you plan your future, better read Roadmap for Success. Maxwell wrote interesting ideas on success.



The reason why I stopped reading War and Management for a while is that it's too ethnocentric for me. It's nice to learn the similarities of warfare and management but all examples I've read so far are all the achievements of Japan in the world market. You know, how Japan applied their century old art of war to their economic endeavors like competing in the western market and Toyota giving Ford and Rolls Royce a run for their money. But what's interesting about this book is you could also use the strategies mentioned in your lovelife. You could use Sun Tzu's art of war for winning the war against the other girl and getting that guy. Better read the book to know what I'm talking about.


During the days classes were suspended, I finished reading two books. I finished all two coz there was nothing left to do (the library was closed so I couldn't work on my thesis, my girls don't have classes too so I couldn't teach them and the Worker Bee me finished all five press releases a couple of days before the deadliest deadline) after Leanne and I had "the talk" at Starbucks. I finally finished Falling in Love When You Think You Were Through by Jill Robinson and Stuart Shaw. It is their love story. I started reading it last summer as my bedtime book. But I was too tired and drained often that I couldn't read a page. I finally finished it coz of my current sleeping disorder. It's been a month now that I couldn't get my satisfying 6-hour sleep. I only get three hours of sleep now, four if I get lucky. Some unseen force or whatever wakes me up in the middle of the night and won't let me get back to sleep no matter how tired I am so I read until the sun comes up for my morning prayers.



I just realized, I finished the book after I ended things with this guy. I was reading a real life love story while getting over this guy-- the irony of it. The story is not a usual love story of living happily ever after. It is the realities of falling in love after two failed marriages, dealing with his and her children from previous relationships, money and tons of personal differences. I was actually inspired coz Robinson and Shaw fell in love and managed to keep their relationship amidst their differences. But not all people are blessed with lifetime partners like them. Yes, I'm referring to myself.

My roomie in Baguio and I met a couple of weeks ago. Ate Marge is the best roomie in the whole world coz she rarely stayed in our room but she checked on me during "unexpected moments". She was too busy with graduate school, her work and her struggling marriage then. But we managed to keep a friendship that we know would last forever. She gave me a book that she said is "so me". I think she's right coz I love the book the moment I read the title The 10 Women You'll be Before You're 35. I know I'll definitely be 10 women before I turn 35. Actually, I am two women now and I'll be three women in a few months.


Allison James elaborated the 10 women a girl will be before she turns 35. She'll be the New Graduate, the Dollarless/Pesoless/whatever your currency is Diva, the Worker Bee, the Party Girl, the Body Conscious Babe, the Chameleon, the Crisis Chick, Ms. Independence, the Wirl (half woman/half girl) and the True You. After reading the book, I found out I am a Dollarless/Pesoless Diva (the Undervalued Chick to be particular) coz I feel I am underpaid. It's like no matter how many kids I teach, I don't get the dough I deserve. Maybe it'll change by the time I start at Convergys but I'll really, truly, emotionally miss my kids. I am also the Worker Bee coz I believe I'll get the raise I deserve by working my butt off. In a few months (if I finish my thesis this sem), I'll be the New Graduate. The best part of the book was the profile for every kind of woman. Like the New Graduate nicknamed Kid, favorite music is the senior mix CD, fashion includes an old pair of jeans and lots of tees with her college logo and the Dolarless Diva nicknamed the Credit Card Queen who loves singing "Material Girl" by Madonna or "She Works Hard for the Money". Haha! My mom reads it now and she's having a great life with it as well.