There’s some new development in my work life today. (No, I have not quit nor have I been fired from the company yet! (Yet!!!)) but there are definitely going to be some changes for my work life during the next 2.5 months. Quite different from what I had thought it’d be.

So, there’ll definitely be more “work” (งาน — ngarn) for me to do, while not so much more of the money (เงิน — ngern) part. Funny how these two words sound so similar in Thai, while one doesn’t necessarily imply the other (although (in my short working experience so far) more money usually does imply more work!!!)

In any case, while I don’t want to get into the details of my work life on this blog, for those of you in Bangkok (or Korat, for that matters), if you’d actually like to help me make the next few months of my work life a tiny bit easier… feel free to ask me on im or anything!!!!

I had pretty much been absent from the online world for the past few days. No, I had not been enjoying the long weekend away anywhere last weekend (5-7 April) nor am I planning to go away anywhere during the long weekend this weekend (12-15 April). Since I got back from my little adventures at the book fair on Saturday, I had pretty much fallen ill, and besides having to be on bed for almost all of Monday that I had off, I also had to take another day off on Tuesday and spend it completely in bed as well. So there, that was my first fever of the year 2008. And HOPEFULLY, that would be the last as well!

I did manage to finish a few books so far this month. One of which is The Godfather, which may be the reasons why I was also feeling nauseated on top of the fever I had. (Gosh! some of the details… add that to my livid imaginations, and I could imagine some blood splattered across the pages!) So, after finishing that book, I had to quickly find something light to read.

But yah, so I added 4 more books to books list.

So, I just found out today (via pittaya.com) that right now I (as a DTAC customer) can now twit through SMS!

But of course, at 1B/twit, I don’t think I’ll be able to afford it! Right now my phone bill is already too high as it is! (I’ve been trying to cut down by using skype, but it’s still quite high (not astronomically high as it was at the peak… but still… Oh well, definitely well worth it though!)

It’s still great to have the option of sending SMS though. Maybe the next time I’m stuck in the middle of nowhere w/o EDGE/GPRS connection, I’ll still have something to keep me entertained.

I also hadn’t realized that there are now so many Thais out there on twitter (and in blogosphere in general).

Anyway, I came back home today to see a huge pile of books! Apparently, Mom decided to beat the weekend crowd at the Bangkok International Book Fair 2008 by going on a weekday instead…

… without me!!!!

>.<

Not that I’m expecting to be buying a lot of books this year (Heck, I still haven’t had the chance to finish the books I bought LAST TIME), but I still would love the chance to go browse around. Especially on a day out with my parents! I’ve been going to those almost every time I happen to be in Thailand at the time.

Speaking of books though, in the fashion inspired by Kate, I decided to construct my own 2008’s book list. (like her 2008 and 2007 ones.)

If you’ve noticed, I like to start multiple books simultaneously, and depending on my mood, I’ll read one or the others… sort of like Rory from the Gilmore Girls, I guess. (Although my reading preference is neither as broad or as deep as hers, I’m sure.)

I used to be completely vehemently against the ideas of e-books. Sure, it may be a convenient way to carry around books and all, but how could anyone stand the thought of reading everything off the computer screen? Maybe it was my cs background that is making me so anti-staring-at-the-monitor-screen now, and who could’ve read from the tiny screens of other mobile devices?

Besides… isn’t the feeling of pages flipping in your hand what makes the whole reading experience real?

In any case, that’s what I thought… until I realized… that I had not read anything substantial AT ALL since I started working (and also actually my reading has significantly declined in frequency and quality since the end of high school!!!) Sure, I still like to hold a physical book in my hands and all, but at this rate, I would not even be holding any book soon.

So, last week, I decided to give the e-books another real chance, and, much to my surprise, I actually am enjoy it!!! With my noikia n73, I can now carry multiple books literally everywhere I go, and every bit of free idle time is no longer going to be wasted!

I have since started and finished Freakonomics (something I had intended to read even when it was still in fashion to read it… actually, I had wanted to read it even before it became popular… long before the popularity died down…)

And now on my reading list are The Age of Turbulence: Adventures in a New World and Confessions of a Shopaholic

Yup, and now I’m resolved to at least 1 book every 2 weeks (doable?? I hope).. and at least one no-nonsense book every once in a while.

And now, to ask for your help… anything to suggest??? And yes, S., I’m counting on you to give me some ideas…