Day Off

*This blog needs a good dusting*

Oh, the joy a good day off brings!

I admit, I've been so involved at work that I forgot that I was not working today until nearly midnight yesterday. I was even planning out the things I'll get done on Monday.
Which means I have tons to do tomorrow.

And I forgot to removed my production support schedule from a certain calendar, so it wasn't surprising when an agent called me in the morning. Surprisingly, I slept through her first 3 calls and woke up on my own before the 4th call. Manage to politely direct her to my US colleague on call.

 I was somehow unable to go back to snoozing until noon after the phone call.
So my day began early instead.
It was awesome to start my morning out with an hour long drumming while some cleaning went on in church on an otherwise closed Monday. I had a song to work on. Utterly bliss. =))

Followed by a good lunch.

At first after lunch, I was sleepy and thought I would nap upon reaching home. But I got to organizing my papers with files I just bought. And organizing those lead to cleaning up my desk where I found Stephen Gately's Tree of Seasons completely buried under a pile of papers.
I felt bad to not even had missed it.
So once I was content with the state of my desk which was like late afternoon, I got about to reading it.

~

The story revolves around three siblings; Josh, Michael and Beth who started off their summer holidays by investigating strange lights coming out of Merryville Woods. The Tree of Seasons is this gateway to four seasons' kingdoms, holding the balance of seasons in the mortal world. They ended up with a mission to save the world from being decayed from all-year round Autumn lead by a Queen that had witched herself into being their great aunt Graves who owns Merryville Woods after kidnapping her and kept her wrapped in magic. Through the tree they went to all four kingdoms and encountered all sort of magical and extinct creatures on their adventure.


At first it was hard to read this; I seriously couldn't imagine SG as a writer.
The acknowledgements, foreword and afterword was written by those close to him as the book was only published after he died.
The writing was stiff to me at the beginning, like it was still a rough version.
Or maybe it has this stiff British or Irish style to it that I'm not used to.
But once the magic started, it turned out to be a 3.5 hours page turner with a satisfying ending.


It turned out to be whimsical, enchanting and lovely altogether.
Bits and pieces of rhyming poetry as spells especially captivated me.
It was also endearing to read how protective and responsible Josh was of his younger siblings, even as he faced trouble with a school bully.

It's one thing to be a fan of SG's voice and utter cuteness in my days.

This book was like seeing a depth to his actual personality.
And at the end of it, it reminded me of that warm place in my heart for those days gone by. =))

~~
Since this review took some time to write, I managed to manicure my nails as well.
Doing all the things I love in one day. And a clean desk to boot. =))

Quote of the day

Take it as a challenge!

Says my supportive colleague of the things I'm doing right now.

As I move into another Sprint this week.


Whatever that happens in the future,
I don't want to forget having the time of my life at work right now.
Because it's like seeing Him at work after being in the dark for so long.

Bundle to QA

Hands all sweaty....
Heart's pounding away....
Head in a buzz.
Dread buildup like when I was at sea and clutching on to the steps for life because I can't swim.

That's what my first map change did to me.

Lol...it was AWESOME!!!!!!!

Restoration

*a week delayed. I've had to get myself together as hard as it was. God's been good. :))*

Goodbye, Cub.

Goodbye, Willy.

Goodbye, Slavedriver.

Cub, such a bitter painful regrettable end.

Sorry it was that way with you.

The only choice left when we've hit rock bottom is up.

And that's where I'm looking now even as I have to let you go.

Willy, so many beautiful memories made in you.

Priceless pranks, laughter and uncontrollable joy.

There was never one too many road trips to take in you.

Never one as fast as you were either.

Slavedriver, for all that was.

I'm so glad you've finally got a plan.

No one can replace you or the lessons learnt from you.

It's been good to have jammed with you.

Thank you for the good times.

I'm thankful that our paths have crossed.

Maybe some bad times could have been avoided if I've been a better person.

But it's never too late with Him. :))

So I'm trying now and it has to start with letting go and moving on.

Key charm

One to remind us of the authority given to us by Him who sits on the throne.  =))