Burning This Night Away

A couple of years ago, I assumed that this certain "thing" would just pass. You know, just one of those trivial things you did when you were young and you thought the world wasn't big enough for you to conquer. Or even similar to the things you'd tell yourself when you're in the mid-life stage, and you look back to those things that made up for one colorful youth. But hell, I was dead wrong.

I can't really remember the last time I did a post on this blog, but I would just like to make one thing clear - our internet connection wasn't shitty, and neither was our electrical system. You see, the truth is that for a summer break, it has become an irony that I need more than twenty-four hours a day just to satisfy myself with the things I'm doing. And the greater irony here would be that I'm actually enjoying myself. Despite the all-nighters, all the hibernation, and all the eye cells that have lost half their supposed lifespan because I never rest them, I actually am loving this thing I'm doing.

So you might ask what is it I'm rambling about, something I might have intrigued you with because I've been giving our superlatives without really mentioning any subject matter. And it is here I shall disappoint you if you were expecting me to share it out in the open. However, it would be shame to totally deprive you of knowing it, and because I like sharing to people, a clue would be enough information for now. Yes, that would mean that I'd divulge whatever addiction I have soon, just not right now. So here's the clue - the letter W.

So much for a build-up, right? ;p

Other things aside, these last few days have been real cool for me. First and foremost, I realized that I could still go on with my plan of opening senior year with long, uncut hair and even more unkempt facial hair. Yes, I shall literally take this whole "hibernating caveman" charade of mine, and the results that it will give still escape me. You see, this became possible when I chose to have a home-based OJT instead of going for the six-month contract of Alliance. It was a real bummer at first, but then I realized that going for the medical website would be better suited for long term planning. Plus, I get to help my mom in the store too, so that makes it even better.

On a personal note though, there are a few people I'll be missing (and one I already am). There's this one friend that's going back to Manila in a few days, and she won't be back until December. What makes it a bit harder to fathom is that we were supposed to meet up two days ago, but due to unplanned circumstances we weren't able to do so. So yeah, it'll be nine months until we can see each other personally again. Wishing you all the best bp! :)

To the information of everyone, the earliest day I shall get out of this house will be on May 18, and that would be because we need to pass a requirement for our summer practicum. Until then, I will be at home playing my role as the hibernating caveman and devoid myself of social responsibilities for a while. This should be fun.

Yes, I will miss a few people. But despite that longing, it seems it will all be for the better. I guess I need this time too.

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i just long to see you right now.

Coast Rolling

No, I haven't been to the beach since my last post. And neither have I been to an amusement park and tried the roller coasters. As much as it would be great to have done both, the fact still remains that my life right now still exempts me from experiencing such nirvana.

This would be my first "valid" post in four days, and if you're wondering why the adjective 'valid' ever came into the picture, that explanation shall be more than enough to suffice any questions on my whereabouts for the past few days.

To tell you honestly, the week started out with us receiving a notification from our school's Office of Student Affairs that in order for us to proceed with enrollment for Summer Practicum, we had to go through a seminar on Anti-Sexual Harassment. This wasn't because our batch had issues in this matter, but since we were getting into the real world through practicum, the OSA found prevention to be the better option than cure. But it didn't really matter that much - I didn't listen like I should. And if there was at least anything learned in that seminar, it was that it's always a bad idea to pack more than seventy percent of our batch into the ILC room - the heat kills.

That day was followed by Summer enrollment. To the information of everyone, there was an improvement in the system of how students enroll in the university. To go into the specifics of these improvements would be bad - it's always an adventure to do something new for the first time, and I wouldn't want to deprive you from such an experience.

I finished my enrollment early on the second day, after which I decided to just hang around school and be with my batchmates as they continued on with their responsibilities.

The following day had me at the campus at mid-morning, because our Summer Practicum adviser, Prof. Pauline Wade, wanted to meet us by noon time and inform us of our further requirements for the subject. The fun part of the day came after the meeting ended, wherein Gabby and I were supposed to have lunch but ended up with a welcome addition - Ian Virrey. The three of us ate at Royal, a UP Cebu student's favorite, and there was the usual small talk and the occassional jokes. What really made it memorable was that Ian and I were somehow ganging up on Gabby as we lambasted her with comments about her lost laptop (with all good intentions, I must say). Add to that Ian's really hilarious stories, especially the one of her cousin and her dad, and our hour-and-a-half stay at Royal became one such memorable experience. Heck, we enjoyed it so much there were tears of joy running down someone's face even before we left. I'll leave it to you to guess who that person was.

So I took the day off from leaving the house yesterday, and decided to start with studying Content Management Systems (CMS) such as Drupal, Joomla!, and Wordpress. I also finished setting up my localhost server using Wampserver, and I'm planning on creating a new website that I'd like to try out first locally before launching it on to the web.

Honestly, the last time I felt this enthusiastic was way back four years ago during our summer break before senior year. It was there that I decided to read ahead and study on HTML/CSS, knowing it would be useful once the schoolyear started. Right now, it's more focused on CMS and it's features. But still, that same feeling is something I always get to smile at whenever it passes through my thoughts, simply because there is pleasure in studying new things, and even greater pleasure when you enjoy doing it.

For today, we finally had that much awaited final interview with Alliance Software, and as much as we're assuming that we've already been accepted in their fold, we're still crossing our fingers in the hopes that all will be well. If I do get to be accepted, I will carry on this medical website a friend and I are working on, and at the same time work at Alliance. They both pay, and I'm not referring to economic resources. Experience is something that you can never have enough of, and it is that thought I'll be carrying on for the next few months.

All in all, my summer's going fine so far. As early as Tuesday, I might already be working in a company that I believe is competitive enough to teach us the bumps of the industry's real world situation. Put in the fact that I'm not feeling stressed at all, and things might just be going in a path for the better.

As I told my two great friends just this afternoon, I hope my summer plans push through. :)

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the only person you have the right to dominate is yourself.

On Pathways and Sidewalks

Starting off, I have to say that today was one hell of a day - yes, it was one of those times where, like an action movie, the audience never seems to bore itself for even a split second. It's one of those days that you actually have to ask forgiveness from the muscles that run the beating of your heart because of the constant adrenaline rush you feel from the happenings of the day.

So what really happened? Here we go.

The day first started out with the anxious feeling of having to take the third long exam for Math 55. Heck, calculus really hates me, and yet it still wants me to be at the AS Building before 7:30 in the morning :|. As if that wasn't enough, I barely had time to study for that exam, since we were all busy finishing our DB project.

However, I did get a chance to plan for the name and nickname of a kid I hopefully will one day have. His nickname would be Ron, and if you ask him his real name, he'd flash you a wide smile and say "Hi, I'm Megatron". (yes, I am evil.)

This followed with the continuation of encoding our CMSC127 Project. I've been swimming in a pool of codes and syntax lately, I might as well make an ocean of programming lines and live in the deepest parts. However, we're close to 95% done on it, so all the burden and all the all-nighters seem to be more than worth it.

Then there was a break where we watched a movie whose title I barely remember. It starred Selena Gomez, and yeah, that was all that mattered. =P

Things got hotter though, when someone I didn't yet recognize came up to me and asked me if my name was Ruffy. I promptly said yes, we talked, and information came in rushes. Up to now, the thoughts are yet to sink-in, and once they do I most probably would be willing to share it here. Lets just give you a clue: 3 and counting. ^_^

However, what I'm really excited about was this phone call I got midday. It was from Alliance Software Inc., and they told me I could already take their examination and interview for OJT. Once accepted, we would work for 6 months in their company, and we could already start by the first week of April. There's a salary involved, so this offer rocks - big time.

I do hope this gig with Alliance pushes through. Words still can't express how badly I want this.

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nicknamed Tim, his name could also be "Optimus".