Planting Dead Roses

"You and I are past our dancing days." ~ William Shakespeare, Romeo & Juliet

My father planted these dead roses, hoping they would yet live.

The Stand - Stephen King

Stu & Fran on the cover

What better way to read Stephen King for the first time than to start with The Stand, and the uncut version at that. One of the reasons I wanted to read the book was because I watched the mini-series back in high school and really liked it. I bought the mini-series tie in edition from a second hand bookstore on December 2008 and put it on the shelf. There it stayed until I finally had the courage to read 1,141 pages just this February.

From the back cover:

Imagine America devastated by a vast killer plague that moves from coast to coast. Imagine the countryside destroyed and great cities decimated as the entire population desperately and futilely seeks safety. Imagine then an even greater evil rising to threaten the survivors - and a last embattled group of men and women coming together to make a last stand against it.

For me the start was slow. I was introduced to a lot of characters, something that I'm not really fond of, because I'm bad at remembering names and had to list them down. So about two weeks passed before I got to the interesting part: most of the names died (I just creeped myself out typing that) and the mysterious dreams started. I know a lot of people might be turned off by the religious themes of the novel at this point, but that's what made me read on. I love books about good vs. evil, a fellowship going out to save the world. Yes, just like the Lord of the Rings. In fact, the book mentioned LOTR a couple of times. There's also an eye lurking around.

By the time I got to my third week, I couldn't put the book down. For two nights, I read until about 3AM, and lay down very close to my sister when I slept. That's what you'd do, too, when you get scared. M-O-O-N, that spells scared! =p

Nick meeting Mother Abagail in his dream

I finished the book on the eve of my birthday and watched the mini-series again on the 24th. The mini-series looks a little cringe-worthy now, especially Molly Ringwald's performance as Fran. Sorry. But I still feel they made good casting choices for Stu (Gary Sinise), Nick (Rob Lowe), Tom (Bill Fagerbakke), Mother Abagail (Ruby Dee) and some others. I heard they're going to make a new movie (or movies). The casting should be interesting.

Glen (Ray Walston), Larry (Adam Storke), and Ralph (Peter Van Norden) out to make their last stand

You can't write about a book without mentioning some favorite characters. And here's mine, with their best qualities: Nick and his integrity, Stu's quiet courage, Larry's repentance which developed in him a sense of duty, Tom's innocence, loyalty and bravery, Glen's wisdom, Ralph's simplicity, and Mother Abagail's faith.

Crochet Toy Car

I started to make this last January. It took long to finish because, well, I guess an amigurumi is hard for me. This was supposed to have a "Just married" text at the back, but I decided not to include that in case my friend who ordered this doesn't want it now. It's my fault anyway for not completing this early. :(

But anyway, I like the way it looks. My younger sister (who's too old to play with stuffed toys) even played with it and her teddy. There are parts that obviously need improvement. I just hope I'd make better ones next time.

Update: My friend's getting it for his son :) I'll just have to add an embroidered name.

An Invitation

An Invitation

Every night I hear maudlin music played

from a distance, or maybe two steps back.

Its strings are like a wonderful array

of stars that the skies now lack.

It sings right in front of me, but far away

waiting at the end of a cul-de-sac.

It's you, if not me, 'cause I never was

the very voice I hear of a latent lass.

~ julienne m.

My poem An Invitation was published in 2007 by EditRed in their collection Scream. That time I used a pen name: Hayden C. Clear. Now that I look back, it's a bit corny. =D
The image above is a bad watercolor painting I made yesterday. Edited with GIMP. :)

29

photo source

One year more and I'll be 30!