Conquests

So...

Today, Sally and I conquered Simple Present Tense(s). One hour of today was spent on yelling "We like! She likes! He likes! You like!" After many attempts, she was finally able to grasp this underrated concept and proceeded to declare "I know, I know, I know!" (Something she does quite often, bright button that she is.) It was great, to say the least. The list of people I'm going to miss is getting longer as the days go by. Due to my extremely frequent trips to the gas station down the road, I'll be obliged to miss the Caltex dudes too, or rather, they'll miss the huge influx of I-Talk sales I made possible. Phone cards are essential when you have loved ones in other (stupid) countries.

There's a big prayer function going on in my house on Sunday and it's truly madhouse central over here. Mom and Grans are in a frenzy and I am caught in the crossfires but what else is new, ei? All said in good humour, I'm used to the steady stream of visitors that seem to think my house is a hotel-cum-clubhouse.

The work is piling as the peak of the semester draws near; the apex in the life of any Psychology student studying in Help (I'm saying this with a straight face, I swear)*DRUMROLL*... The Annual Psychology Colloquium. Yes folks, it's that time of the year again and you're about to see something highly amusing, sad and degrading all at the same time; hundreds and hundreds of students scurrying around, shedding their own blood, sweat and tears, not to mention possibly risking their own lifes (and perhaps those around them) to win the title of best oral presentation.
Nothing wrong with being the best, obviously, it's just not worth all that trouble when most of the presentations are worth zero in the final grading scheme of any given Psychology subject (not to mention it's worth nothing in the long run of The Big Picture). Most of us can barely see even the corner of the picture, ei?

Moving on from less provoking thoughts, I can't wait for December (stating the bloody obvious, aren't I).
Also, they opened a new discount bookstore in Amcorp that I just discovered and prodded thoroughly on the previous Saturday. If you can believe that, they've been open since the end of last year but were formerly located in a smaller space (but I honestly don't know how I missed it because, for one- it's bright orange and for two-well, it's a bookstore). My conclusion however is; they're selling bestsellers at half the price MPH charges, so to hell with that ripping-off outlet (I still love you, MPH).
I recently got back She's Come Undone (a Wally Lamb classic by the way, and if you didn't know that, SHAME ON YOU) from Nim and oh, the relief.

Oh and Syar, I still don't like your top ten list idea okay. It's insane, I don't even know how you had the audicity to suggest it!! Madness, I tell you!
(She suggested I only pack 10 of my favourite books with me to Perth). I know, crazy right?
Alright, fine I'm the nut here. It's still a dilemma (the book problem, not my nutsiness), so somebody help.

I'm off to try and get some work done. I said try, you don't have to laugh.
Loves to all =D

Couldn't Keep It To Myself

After two years of having purchased the book, I finally finished it and I am kicking myself for not having read it sooner. Wally Lamb(ed)and the Women of York Correctional Institution: Couldn't Keep It To Myself. To state that it is an eye-opener is a gross understatement. I have never cried so hard while reading a book and after, seriously,and trust me I am the kind who cries with most books and movies, even before the person gets killed off the storyline. Oh I cried, and I wept, but I challenge you to read the book and remain dry-eyed. Even the most stoic of you will be bawling, I am willing to bet this and why, you ask? Simply because the women's stories are so raw, so real and at the same time so ghastly that you almost want to stop reading. Nevermind if you cry or not, just read it, seriously. Ever single complaint you ever made will seem completely redundant when you read this. It is altogether a humbing experience and I was compelled to stand up straight and salute these women; these are the real fighters.

Us women have come a long way, but this book clearly shows that we have so much more left. So let's not ever stop, just like these women. We are lucky that we don't have to be scared in our own homes, that we have somewhat normal lives and that we have the freedom to do as we wish. These women learnt their lessons but some of them are still incarcerated. So while they're still in there, let's speak for them, and the million others who have to be quiet about their slowly unraveling insanity.

Hurry up and read it, seriously.