Jetstream: When Time Stands Still

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I have always believed that when two people who are in love with each other first kiss, time would stand still for them. I think it’s because of the wonder of the moment --- that moment when you finally get a taste of what it feels like to love and be loved in return --- all enveloped in one sweet kiss. You don’t know if you’ve kissed for a second, a minute or an hour. It doesn’t matter to you because in any case, you still end up forgetting to breathe...but you know you’re still alive --- you can feel your heart beating rapidly, trying to win a losing race.

At that moment when time stands still, you realize that you wouldn’t mind kissing the same person for the long run. You realize that you would do anything and everything to get kissed that way and to feel that way again and again.

I was afraid that time standing still was a myth --- something that romance novels describe but no one in reality has ever felt. I didn’t think I would ever get the chance to experience that phenomenon…but to my surprise, I did. In that one kiss, I knew I have found something and someone very special. 

I am blessed.

Bookstream: Julia Quinn

I consider Julia Quinn's books "light" reading. Her novels are the kinds of books I read for rest and relaxation. Her writing has a poetic quality to it, most likely because she writes historical romances. As an author, she has a great sense of humor. Any author that can make me laugh out loud is an author I would choose to read again and again.


The first Julia Quinn book that I read was titled "An Offer from a Gentleman," set in the late 1700's. The book had a Cinderella-like feel to it...which was perfect for me because I love fairy tales!This blog proves it! 

I was glad that it was the first of Julia Quinn's books that I read. It was well written and the plot was everything I wanted in a story.i would love to talk about the book in detail, but I might ruin the surprise for anyone interested in reading it. Anyway, with that book, I was hooked. The fact that it was part of a series of books also  helped. It made me want to find out how she thought of happy endings for those other interesting characters. And so I started "collecting" her books...from the series to the stand-alones.


I haven't read her latest book "Ten Things I like About You" but it will definitely be part of my to-read list!


To find out more about Julia Quinn and her books, check out her website: http://www.juliaquinn.com/

Jetstream: Slowly but Surely Does the Trick

http://www.gutenberg.org

One of Aesop's fables that I could not forget is that of the story of the thirsty raven. It has stuck to my consciousness through time because somehow, it was a story that inspired me.

This was how the story went:

Once upon a time, there was a thirsty raven. It went around, searching for water. Finally, the raven spotted some water inside a tall pitcher. Much as it tried to get it's beak in to drink the water, the raven could not reach it. The crafty raven looked around and spotted pebbles all over the place. One by one, the raven picked up the pebbles and dropped them into the pitcher. Slowly, but surely, as the pitcher filled with pebbles, so did the water level go up. Finally, there were enough pebbles in the pitcher and the water rose high enough for the raven to reach it and drink.

There are two "morals" to the story: one is "necessity is the mother of invention" and the other, my personal mantra, "slowly but surely does the trick."

In a fast-paced world where everything is done in a rush, sometimes we forget that the more we slow down, the more thorough we become. Instead of fast food, a slow-cooked, filling meal is always better --- more appreciated and more worth it. This is why more often than not, the best meals are the ones made by those you love --- your mother who slaved at the kitchen the whole day or the favorite aunt who can cook the best pies and desserts around. Go to a restaurant serving the same dishes and the feelings evoked are never the same.

Another example is --- surprise, surprise --- this blog. I have several posts already but only a handful (not even "full" --- more like half a handful) of readers. But this doesn't stop me from posting and sharing my thoughts. Someday, I hope to get to the point when I'd have to give away stuff to "loyal" readers and followers...to cater to requests for things to write about...to get paid for writing! I look forward to that...but right now...slowly but surely, I am putting my thoughts out for anyone interested to read.

...and I do hope, dear reader, you are one of them!

Wordstream: Niece vs. Nephew

I used to have a boyfriend who loved talking to me about his sister's child. All the while I thought the kid was male...but she turned out to be female.

How did I end up with that kind of misconception, you ask?

It's because of statements like these:

"You should meet my nephew, she's really cute."


"My nephew likes to play with my drums whenever she's around."

" She's my one and only nephew."

That was a gazillion years ago, but I will always remember him for those statements. 

While my mind was conjuring images of a cute boy, that ex-boyfriend of mine volunteered to show me a picture. Lo and behold it was a picture of a 6-year old girl. Oh my. I wanted to correct him and tell him that "nephew" wasn't the right word for your sibling's daughter. It was "niece," but I was too afraid of offending him that I kept quiet. 

Maybe it was because of this experience that I became an English teacher. It was to make up for this one instance when I failed to right a wrong.

 ...I wonder if someone ever had the guts to correct him.