Lately, I've been finding myself giving up on a book halfway through. One of the main reasons is that I keep thinking I will be able to guess what will happen next--and I do most of the time. And that kind of wanes my enthusiasm a bit. Ok, by a lot.

Then I realized that maybe I need to change genres. I've been reading contemporary romance novels for the last 2 months and I think I'm getting a little critical of the way the characters act. Talk about taking things too seriously. Hello.

Let's see...according to my Goodreads track, here's what I have been reading lately:

• Can't Stand The Heat (Recipe for Love #1) by Louisa Edwards
• Love Unscripted (Love, #1) by Tina Reber
• The Alien King and I by Lizzie Lynn Lee
• Scot on the Rocks by Brenda Janowitz
• Sex Snob by Elizabeth Hayley
• His Brother's Bride (Banks Brothers Bride, #4) by Rose Gordon
• Her Best Friend's Brother by T.J. Dell
• Propositioning Her Brother’s Best Friend by Sam Crescent

Now, I'm reading another romance novel, Falling For the Ghost of You by Nicole Christie. Where my mystery, adventure, Indiana-Jones-type novels? I need to get some James Rollins into my system again. Or Maybe an Andy McDermott. Or a Matthew Reilly. Anything, just not another love story.

Working as a copywriter and editor for a service company who provides online support for accommodation providers (hotels, resorts, B&Bs, condotels, etc.) all over the world has me on the constant lookout for travel-related information and industry news.

In this infographic, we see an easily digestible history of the hotel services--considered innovations way back when they were first offered--that we now come to expect as standard. However, as one commenter from the original source site noted, there hasn't been a standard service since 1974 when the first mini-bar was introduced in a Hong Kong hotel.

Source: CNN

I haven't experienced the tablet control thing here in Manila, but I've read InterContinental and Sheraton Hotels are already offering some form of tablet service. Meanwhile, I'm not sure I'd go for tweeting my hotel reservations, as there's not much room to write whatever you need/ want the hotel to know. I would guess this would take a lot of back-and-forth conversations via Twitter.

This infographic forgot one more thing, though, even before the tablet control--which I can safely classify as a non-standard still--iPod docks in rooms. Well, maybe they didn't want to promote any brand names that's why they left it out. But I do believe this is an "innovation" service, so to speak.

I'm finding it really hard to keep up with all the anime and TV shows I'm watching. Not only that, I also challenged myself to read 60 books this year, which I'm tracking via Goodreads. So, finally finding the time to catch up on Naruto Shippuden episodes is really great. This also means that when I'll be able to get to the next item on my catch-up list, One Piece...or maybe Bleach...or Fairy Tail...or Suits...or Game of Thrones...geez.

Anyway, I was glued to my computer the whole of Sunday watching Naruto, taking a break only to eat lunch and go to the bathroom. And I was able to trim down my backlog to less than a hundred episodes...around 80? Of course, I'm skipping ALL the filler episodes. They're mostly flashbacks anyway, and doesn't really affect the main storyline.



I'm at the start of the Fourth Great Shinobi War where Kabuto used the Reanimation Jutsu. And I was like, holy crap! All those dead ninjas like Zabuza, Deidara (annoying clay bomb ninja), and even Asuma were back! Basically, everyone we know from the past who dies were reanimated, along with whatever consciousness and skill they have. Well, except those who used the Reaper Death Seal Jutsu and those whom the jutsu were used upon, such as the First, Second, Third, and Fourth Hokages. Good thing, because I doubt anyone would win against the hokages. What about Naruto's mom? Hmm, maybe no?

Personally, I'm hating this reanimation thing because I'm emotionally attached to some of the dead characters. And having them pitted against their comrades is something I'm not keen on watching. But I know I have to. I'm sure there will be a good ending to that meeting.

Anyway, I'm happy that I've finally found the time to watch the anime again. Excited about this new arc, as well. I also liked the Pain arc...a lot. I'm hoping that more of Naruto's "classmates" get to shine in this chapter, and see how they've developed their skills as Naruto had.

Can't wait to start watching the next episodes again...

There's a new food store in town. Grocer John along Mindanao Avenue (near Tandang Sora Avenue) in Quezon City officially opened last week and I went there just a couple of days after. Here's what I found inside the store: familiar imported products, but most are variants you won't find in our regular grocery stores. This includes Coca Cola products in can bottles--yes, soda tin cans shaped into bottles--and Chips Ahoy Sweet n' Salty with salted caramel chunks.




And then there's this...Annie's Bunny cookies. My son's favorite cookie. But it's not the gluten-free one, so I didn't buy it. I asked them, though, if they will have stocks of the gluten-free ones, and the saleslady told me she would request these, so they could stock it.