Many Thanks

For all those who greeted on my birthday via SMS, Email, Friendster messages, and even hops into my blogosphere - A million thanks!

Also to Carlos for being the host for the celebration. To my fellow programming mates and as well as to the data processing ladies - Thanks for sharing your time.

My birthday bash is unusual for this year. I really spend my birthdays on drinking sprees - but not this year. FOOD TRIP!

For 23 years, I have learned to be strong, to think and analyze, to socialize with people, and to cherish people and events. Even though there were mistakes, the expected and unexpected, somehow life goes on.

23 YEARS

Thank goodness! I AM 23 YEARS OLD NOW. For the 23 years that I have spent on Earth, there are still things which I need to grasp, things such as goals and expectations that would bring my life to the fullest. As with what my highschool friends' motto says, "When all your wishes are granted, many of your dreams will be destroyed." I haven't dreamt of any, but somehow I am still hoping that my wishes will be granted.

With this year's birthday of mine, there's one plan that went off. That plan was to spend my 23rd birthday with someone, but so sad to say and to know that "that someone" maybe will not brighten up my day, especially MY VERY DAY. Somehow, I am still greatful that I still have others to lean on, laugh on things and shed on something. But how I wish that "that someone" will just pop out and forgive me for everything. That's the only gift that I wanted in my birthday today.

I really hoped of having a different kind of birthday. I just can remember my birthday last year when Bob gave me a cupcake with a candle while we were busy making our "wild" project. It was that very day also that we are to defend that "wild" project of ours. It meant that during that time I haven't slept the whole day, but I was lucky to survive that day, and it brought me wonders. How I wish this year's birthday of mine will bring me wonders far more better than the previous one.

So .... HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME. HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAPPY BIRTHDAY .... HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

*GULP GULP GULP GULP*

Comparison

The Last Year Me

This Year Me

23/5

It's not like 24/7, isn't it? Hehehe! Anyways, this was Lica's game, so I just tagged along!

So, here are the instructions:
1. Go to your archives.
2. Find your 23rd post.
3. Post the fifth sentence or closest to it.
4. Post the text of the sentence in your blog with these instructions.
5. Tag five other people to do the same thing.

And for me .... "Worst of all, since I was out from a trip in Cebu, I missed 7 plates and 2 activities." (Hmmm! I wanted it to be somewhat a quote though .... Hehe!!!!)

And I tag .... Yang, Lanee, Sealdi, Katrine, and Jey.

The New Programming Crib

Ain't this a spacious crib?

Vacation and Thoughts (Part III)

It had been days that I haven't posted the third part of my Vacation and Thoughts. I spent the whole weekend being a couch-potato and a DotA Allstars game fanatic.

Anyways to continue, the third day was the wedding day of Cesar and Sweet. Upon arrival at church, I met my highschool friends. We just focused ourselves on Cesar's wedding and then we talked and talked after the wedding. I am surprised to see my highschool friends who does have careers now. Of all my highschool buddies that I have met at the wedding, Rez was the frontman of them all. After the wedding we headed off to the reception area and then just ate and ran afterwards and with Rez we spent the afternoon with a toast of Red Horse Beer.

We talked and talked with Rez and I was stunned that he's one of the participants in the spyware and virus contest sponsored by TrendMicro (Uniksboy, tama ba? hehehe). And I really can't believe that his college project (along with Erickson) will be presented a week after (that's this Thursday). With all the gimiks he still managed to get all his goals intact. I asked him how and he just says that determination is the key. You must never let go of it or else everything that you planned from the start will be a total waste. Don't let the shits stop you from building your goals, 'coz if you do you'll end up in deep shit.

After the drinking spree with Rez, he went off (he has an exam afterwards) and it's perfect timing that Mark arrived and we headed off at Johnard's crib and we went out on the evening for dinner, had coffee afterwards, and enjoyed a nice DotA Allstars game.

So what's for that day? Well the above statements from Rez really caught my attention. As a matter of fact, I am trying to keep away from the shits now slowly but surely. Mind me with my bad words, but I was just getting off the bad feeling of having an ofice blooper again for the day. Damn!

Vacation and Thoughts (Part II)

On my second day, I wanted to visit Johnard and the gang and have a party at blast. I don't know the place yet, so I just went off to a nearby Internet Cafe and see if I can play DotA AllStars. At the cafe, I saw Maya playing. I really thought my friends are not into it. So I played and played and as I was about to leave it rained hard. So I went back and played for an hour again. After that, I ask Johnard for directions and eventually arrived at their place.

I was stunned to see their house. It's somewhat spacious and they just rented it for a cheaper price than the previous one. Upon arrival, I saw Jemer, Anne, Yancy, Hazel, Anton, Jonathan, Paulini, and Luis. We just had chats and chats and chats. I was surprised to see Anne pregnant. Also, Jemer had some students of his in their house (too bad for us we're very noisy there).

So again we just did chats and chats and chats. I ordered a case of Red Horse beer and bought some pulutan and smokes as well and then the night was set for us. I messaged Mark, Maya, Luigi, and Arndt but only Maya arrived to be with us with the drinking spree.

So what's for that day? I just learned that even though you're really that pre-occupied you do still need to expand your time for other opportunities. As to what Jemer was doing, he's earning money from sideline programming jobs, and with that enhances his programming skills as well. I do know that by that night I wasted my night for some drinking spree, but on the long run I must look forward to utilize my time too. We really should utilize our time on worthwhile things.

High And Dry With The Rule Of Seven

Sealdi tagged me with this, and I'll gonna post my choices. These are the songs that I can sing out whenever I feel that I'm in deep shit.

The Warmth - Incubus

"So don't let the world bring you down ...."

Pardon Me - Incubus

"Pardon me while I burst into flames. I had enough of the world, and its people's mindless games ....

My Stupid Mouth - John Mayer

"My stupid mouth has got me in trouble. I said too much again ...."

Angels Or Devils - Dishwalla

"Are there angels or devils crawling here? I just want to know what blurs and what is clear to see ...."

Break Me Shake Me - Savage Garden

"I never thought I’d change my opinion again but you moved me in a way that I’ve never known ...."

The Day You Said Goodnight - Hale

"She's already taken ...."

Crawling In The Dark - Hoobastank

"I've been crawling in the dark looking for the answer ...."

Vacation and Thoughts (Part I)

I am now back at the office. For such few days that I have visited Iligan City, there are many things that came into my mind. I will just write my daily reflections during those days. DAMN how I miss Iligan again.

Thursday (October 6) is where my mom and family was shocked of my presence. It's like "Patrick, is that you?" For the whole morning that I was home, we just talked and talked about my life and my family's life. There were many things in which I have missed, from gossips to breath-taking news. Mom also did scold me because she saw my grades and was surprised to see subjects with a grade of 5.

During the afternoon, I payed the MSU-IIT Computer Center people a visit. We talked and talked while feasting spaghetti inside the office. Uniksboy handed me a copy of his students' thesis, and it reminded me that I was once a student, and I envy these students now that they are very serious with it (with all the timelines for the project).

After paying a visit at school, I hurried off to the Public Market to play badminton with PJ. We played for an hour and after that we dined at Tita Fannies (I miss their liempo) and was surprised to see Kulay. I talked to Kulay why Fe failed to pass the EE board exams, and I was stunned to hear that they broke up (so sad). After dining with PJ, I hurried home to join my family in a little gathering. We talked and talked and talked on everything that we could think of.

At 9PM I called Jeffrey and told him to meet me for a Frozen Throne DotA Allstars game. We played up until 12AM and we went to Caltex to suit ourselves with a cold Red Horse Beer.

So what were my thoughts for the day? Events for that day tells me that I should have a good organization. I should be orderly on things, and I should be on time with schedules. Having leisure time is good, but sometimes we must limit them so that we can have time for studying or doing worthwhile. Also, I should think of my family more than I think of myself. I have been preoccupied these days, and I should have time calling them and giving them their needs, like payback time.

Not Again The Office Blooper

Have you got any idea how would you feel when someone's frustrated on you?

A document was sent to me at 3AM, and the programming needs to be finished by 4AM. Looking at the document and the electronic mail that was sent to me, I can really finish it by 30 minutes. I finished it and then uploaded the program. Before I uploaded it I did some minor changes since I was doubting at some of the codes that I did. After a few minutes, my boss asked me why did I changed my codes, and with all the blah shu's and stuff. Then his extro message was "I am very frustrated by now."

His words really pounded me. It's like that I blew things up and screwed up my work efficiency. Nothings really wrong with me, I really swear. I am still in total control of myself. I talked to Carlos about this, on the events that happened in my workstation. He told me that I should be extra careful next time, and he advised me that "You should have a conditioned heart to motivate you on your work." I am to accept that, and I should condition myself to have that described heart.

Maybe it's that I need to reflect on things, and seek out my inner self. I really hope my leave at my workstation for the next couple of days would really help me seek out the very ME.

Adulthood And Responsibilities

Last Saturday I was shocked when I opened my friendster account and saw a message from Cesar that reads "Trick, Sweet and I would like to invite you in our wedding this October 8. I hope you'll be there to witness our day." It has been 9 years that I last attended a wedding. This one's different, because Cesar was my friend and a classmate of mine in high school.

Reading Ala's blog would really tell me that I am an adult already. Many of my highschool batchmates have their own family already, have kids, have a stable job, and have lived their lives to the fullest. It's like on fairy tales that they lived happily ever after.

I was so glad to hear from Cesar and that I accepted the invitation. So I'll be in Iligan City for Cesar's wedding. I had a chance to meet Rez again and do stuffs that we normally do back on my college days, but with a different aspect and a different conversation flow. I am an adult but still young at heart.

To my friends who are adults now, live your lives to the fullest for yourself and for those you love. Cling on to your dreams and aspirations, and may you succeed on your endeavors. We have responsibilities now, and we must stick to it.

Mr. Fantastic

It was too late for me to watch the Fantastic 4 movie. I wasn't able to watch it on bigscreen since at that time I was worried of my budget (because of the drinking sprees). So now I have watched it at home (Yipee! It's good to have an entertainment showcase at home). What I am to babble here is that I envy Mr. Fantastic. I don't envy his power to stretch, but I envy him because of his brains.

Lately I am doing my BASIC javascript course. BASIC in the sense that it's my first time to do a "real" project. It has been a week now and I still haven't completed my first exercise. I cannot think well, and still I lack the determination to push through with the learning. I used to be a fast-learner (not to brag but I am) but why on earth I cannot finish my project? It's like a slap on my face that I have taken my college years for granted. This wasn't taught in school, but maybe the time that I spent in college was totally a waste. For now, it shows that I am still "unprepared" for work.

Right now I feel like I'm a paranoid. I feel that in the programming team that I belong I am the slow poke, I am the slow-thinker. In short, I am a disgrace to the team. I don't want to be such. But as I entered the company, I am very aware that my work preferences would be different to what I would expect. Different field would mean that I should get out of my boundaries and explore more. The problem is that I still haven't set this goal.

I feel strong now, but still I need the power. I don't want to be like Dr. Doom that needs power to control everything. I want to be Mr. Fantastic that needs power to control thyself.

For everyone, make good use of your capabilities. Don't waste it, and don't use your capabilities in hurting others but use it for the betterment of all!