2011

Last day of 2011!
Would like to wish everyone a very happy new year!
I look back satisfied with my year, for once. Evolved mentally and progressed stably in that mind-set, so I'm rather content. Read many wonderful books, improved my français and violin performance and listened to lovely songs. Want to begin 2012 the same way, but better, more mature.
Also, for those that pertain to the conspiracy that the world will end in 2012 should re-asses their grounds for such an estimation. Let's base the conclusion on factual evidence.
Hopefully it'll be a lovely year.

Had some 'life-threatening' scenarios this year, but am thankful that I pulled through.
The sum of my goals in 2012 are essentially to maintain my inner spark and strive for achievement, production and above all: happiness.

Happy new year, everyone! Thank you for reading my blog!

"Art is a selective re-creation of reality according to an artist's metaphysical value judgments. Man's profound need of art lies in the fact that his cognitive faculty is conceptual, i.e., that he acquires knowledge by means of abstractions, and needs the power to bring his widest metaphysical abstractions into his immediate, perceptual awareness. Art fulfills this need: by means of a selective re-creation, it concretizes man's fundamental view of himself and of existence. It tells man, in effect, which aspects of his experience are to be regarded as essential, significant, important." -- Ayn Rand

Just finished reading Ayn Rand Anwers: The Best of her Q&A. Simply put: she's a genius.

Christmas night, it clutched the light, the hallow bright

Christmas

Firstly, I'd like to wish all my readers a very convival Christmas!

For me, the first few tender minutes of Christmas were spent in front of the TV, watching Star Wars, so I can't think of any way I'd rather have it.

Naturally, I woke up very late today, so didn't experience the 'Christmas morning' feeling. But that's alright. Read the next letter from Oscar et la dame Rose, which coincidentally was written on Christmas Day! Had The Christmas Song on repeat; must have replayed it 37 times now since I discovered its existence.

Also listened to the full, free stream of the We Bought A Zoo Soundtrack. Had the loveliest surprise when I realized that it was composed by the one and only Jónsi of Sigur Rós!

Listened to Holocene on headphones in HMV and that was sublime as well... sort of a perfect Christmas song, in a way.

We also built a lovey gingerbread house. Or, should I say, hut. Heated up a vat of chocolate for glue (yum) which proved to taste delectable although
not so ergonomically efficient. I ended up snapping 3 of the 6 components required to build the house so had to work some modifications into it -- used corn starch and powdered sugar with water to create a substitute motar (but that didn't work either). Ended up sticking M&M's all over it. Sister wasn't too pleased but my brother was! All in all, a profitable experience.


Don't really have a Christmas tree this year, more like two Christmas bushes. Small ones from IKEA... one a dark forest green and another that's lime and lighter. Draped lights over one of them and all around scattered shining bright globes of light. Real lovely. Between those two bushes, we've got a profuse poinsettia that sits on a rack. All in all, a nice arrangement.

Then of course we have got our presents scattered underneath the poinsettia. 

Most of our presents this year are food, so our stomachs are happily filling up. Received our first box of macaroons ever and they turn out to be not as overrated as I assumed. Will grow plump this Christmas but it's alright, everything's enjoyable. Thankful for this holiday! Will be sad to say goodbye to my Santa hat until next year, but I had a lovely time. Merry Christmas all!

Wuthering Heights

Click play. The book was bitter but this sure is hilarious, and I mean that in the best way possible. The ending instrumental is real lovely as well.
"Heathcliff, it's me, I'm Cathy, I've come home...I'm so cold, let me into your window."
Should mention that it's a cover, Kate Bush sang the original.

http://www.myspace.com/cubancigarcrisis/music/songs/wuthering-heights-62873380

 

On another note, Mumford and Sons have released a precious 1 minute snippet of their song for the new Wuthering Heights movie (which I must watch). Don't know if the song above will be used as well.