below is an entry that i’d been planning to post but never got around to do because i was too busy doing other things. anyways, i’d like to place it here all the same because it sort of gives me a reference point

the decision to relocate has long been an unresolved issue that became increasingly urgent yet improbable as time passed. after the heady self-realization that i was ready to move on, i became somewhat somnolent. i did my packing rather listlessly and found enough reasons to postpone making my decision. at times i wondered if i was actually ready to uproot myself from my old, comfortable routine.

the thought of expending that much effort alone — believe me, few things can be as exhausting and physically (and financially) draining as moving — was enough to make me quail.

i knew that “moving on” was something that i was bound to do sooner or later, but after a while i got a little lost due to shifting priorities. finally, when it became painfully obvious that i had nowhere else to go but forward, i literally fell back on my — well, fallback plan. it’s not that i just sat on my butt and waited for things to fall into place. i actually went through a whirlwind of activities as i searched for: (1) a living quarters that would get me nearer to my work; (2) a secure address that would assure safe travel at anytime; and (3) if possible, a location that’s relatively safe from flash floods and other forms of natural calamity(ies).

hah! easier said than done. after going through the motions (and nearly getting sick in the process), i finally decided to move to a quieter neighborhood (thanks to an insider tip from a friend), which isn’t that far from where i used to live. and my checklist? uh, right — after a week, i chucked it out of the window. obviously, i wasn’t going to get all that i wished for, so why saddle myself with a list?

the funny thing is, i’m even farther from my workplace now, which means i get to spend more on transportation. and i’ve been informed (rather smugly by a former neighbor) that floods are known to occur in my current address — nya-nya-nya-nya-nya! and what’s more, the rent is about 25% higher than what i used to pay for my old place.

oh well. i guess you can’t have it all.

but you know what? i can’t bring myself to care. in fact, i rather like where i am right now. my new digs is almost as big as my old unit, and i rarely see my neighbors because of our different schedules. utilities aren’t a problem and there are a number of food chains and 24-hour convenience stores within easy reach — quite a big plus for a night owl like me. and the security here is heaps better than what you’d find in my old neighborhood.

hmmm…

i woke up rather late today. it took me some time to ascertain what time it was because the window blinds were still down and it was raining steadily outside.

the gloomy skies suited me just fine since i was reluctant to leave my bed, safely cocooned in its luxuriant warmth. i stayed where i was for 15 minutes, trying to prolong the moment because i knew that as soon as i got up, another busy day would officially start.

for some reason, my thoughts turned to the significance of windows in our busy lives.

we usually install and place these openings in strategic points of our quarters for various reasons: for ventilation, natural lighting, aesthetic reasons, etc. we also build them to keep the rest of the world at bay and view what goes on outside at a safe distance. we paint them, we decorate them, we strengthen them, we lock them, we open them wide, and sometimes we use them to frame the view outside.

if i ever get lucky and hit some lottery jackpot one of these days, i know just what type of windows i’d like to see installed in my bedroom or study: huge bay windows with glass panes and tastefully understated curtains, complete with blinds to keep away the harsh sunlight during early afternoons. if that sounds rather vague, maybe you could go check things out at NoBrainer Blinds. i go there from time to time to keep that image alive, and sometimes to embellish it a bit to keep things interesting.

i haven’t yet started on doors though.

the moment Susanna Clarke’s Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell” (JS&MN) became available in local bookstores, i shifted to active search mode. its hefty price and sheer weight (which was taxing on one’s wrist) gave me some pause, but after reading several glowing reviews i threw caution to the wind and bought a hardbound copy.

so was it worth the hassle? you bet. in spades.

i was barely halfway into the first chapter when i realized that i was truly ensnared with no hope of turning back. i raced through that 782-page volume like a hound on a scent job. after finishing the book in 1 and 1/2 days (i still had to report for work), i went through it again — this time i savoured every page and sniffed every nook and cranny in that story, even the footnotes.

i’d been trying to convince a lot of people since then to read JS&MN, but except for a couple of sci-fi/fantasy geeks it didn’t really catch on among my friends and colleagues. oddly enough, only a few people seemed to appreciate its charms. i think the book’s sheer length and susanna clarke’s writing style (which mirrors the style and conventions adopted by many authors of that era — particularly jane austen) must have put them off.

which of course baffled me. after i had raved about it for weeks, a friend finally asked me why i liked it so much. for some reason, that question floored me for a few seconds. i mean, how do you explain why you like something without sounding like an obsessive nutcase? i finally replied, “just read it.”

i could have told him several things: susanna clarke’s storytelling gifts, the elegant way she paints a scene (which would normally take lesser authors many paragraphs to convey and many years to perfect), and her beguiling way of convincing you that such things could have actually happened.

the thing about Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is that susanna clarke unfolds her tale with a deceptively reasonable and gently (and at other times, sly) teasing tone so as to make you believe these remarkable events with frightening ease and amused wonder.

i suppose that my fondness for JS&MN can be partly traced to my fondness for Jane Austen’s books (haven’t read all of them though) and the fact that i like fantasy/sci-fi books in general. i have also devoured georgette heyer’s books, which are an excellent source of social vignettes and humor during the Regency period. in addition, ms. clarke managed to infuse her tale with some of the period’s famous historical figures, which is always an excellent way of grounding a story (despite the fact that it’s a revisionist tale).

i just wish there were more books like this. which reminds me, ms. clarke’s latest book The Ladies of Grace Adieu, a collection of short stories relating to JSMN’s story line, is already out. i hope to buy a copy of it soon.

the sea has always been a source of fascination for many people. i mean, let’s face it, all that expanse filled with nothing but water (on the surface, at least) and nothing else to see for miles around except for the sky above — it’s got to stir something deep inside you, right?

of course, things must have been different a few centuries back when people didn’t know much about what lies beyond the horizon. expansion and the intense desire to see what it’s like beyond what most people can see were a couple of good reasons that spurred explorers, particularly sailors, to sail out from their comfort zone and discover other frontiers.

nowadays, despite being nudged off the main spotlight by air travel (faster, more convenient), sailing continues to retain its hold on many enthusiasts. aside from its role in transportation and fishing industry, sailing is primarily viewed as a form of leisure, a hobby, or an expensive type of water sport. and for those who can afford it, nothing beats having a boat built to one’s specifications as you contemplate spending time away from the mundane details of your landlocked routine.

wouldn’t it be nice to have one of those at your beck and call? or to drop everything and sail away whenever things get a bit too much for your nerves? if you have the requisite sea legs, various professionals and resources such as american marine supply can help shape that fantasy into tangible reality. of course, it would also help if you could brush up your knowledge about tides and tide clocks and other nautical matters before you embark on that trip.