Brought to my attention by one of my Facebook friends. I... what?

Of all the media about this storm, I think I liked this one the best. It encapsulates how the people won't ever be held down by anything. We are a resilient (if often whiny) race.

Yes. Not even halfway through the journey, we got stuck in waist-deep floodwaters. Fortunately, we got some kibitzers to push the car. (It's an automatic. Thus, it's handicapped against floods. You can't just go to a higher gear and Rambo through the water.) We found a dry parking lot, and decided to wait out the rain and the flood. We listened to the news bulletins over the AM radio, and had a chat with similarly stranded commuters.

Word of mouth travels freakishly fast in small towns.

***

Cellphones have spoiled people. So I walked into the restroom one day, and this guy was multitasking while occupying a urinal slot. 

Yes. One hand answering the call, and another hand on the ding-a-ling-a-ling. Surely, answering the phone call could have waited.

***

I would post more, but I think I've writer's blog as far as non-Twitter-sized blog entries go. :( In the meantime, watch the TVC US trailer. It's awesome.

photon_shermie: That means "do not disturb" right?

Ix_: yeah

photon_shermie: Ah. I really thought it meant "Dungeons and Dragons" at first...

Ix_: me too :|

photon_shermie: lol nnnnnnnnnnnnerds

I'll undergo the annual company physical after work. All indicators say it will be as awesome/awful as the ones I went through in college.

It's a weird feeling. I've been through dozens of physicals in high school, and a couple in college. Why am I feeling uncertain now? Is it because it's the first time I'll get one while at work? The first one in a brand new environment?

I know it's for my own good, but I can't seem to feel positive about it. Unless...!

I'm late a week. The times that I was on, I was at work and/or you were away. Happy birthday.

Your birthday log did make me sit down and think. Many of my old classmates have gone their separate ways. Many of them have their own families. A handful already have their own sons and daughters too! Crazy. My gang's mostly 20-25 year olds, but sometimes I do feel pretty old.

But then I've been thinking. Maybe it's really just a number after all. Sure, I work and do all the duties and responsibilities of someone my age, but otherwise I don't feel it at all. I guess what's important is that you feel good, and that's via a sound body and sound mind.

Hope you can enjoy the remainder of the year, man. It's been rough, but it's always nice to see you round. I've learned a lot from you and your crew, and I hope I can keep sharing things of interest.

To be honest, her term wasn't exactly the best and was fraught with its own problems. Additionally, I didn't and still don't agree with a lot of the statements she made in her later years. (Apologizing for EDSA 2 in 2001? Really? Just because Arroyo has a lot of things to answer to... that doesn't mean Estrada is not guilty.) However, her true legacy-- the 1986 EDSA -- cannot and should not be forgotten. It was a beautiful expression of nonviolence and peaceful resistance. She was a woman of faith, and throughout her life showed what a life of humility, simplicity, and prayer could do. She remained steadfast in the face of titanic problems, public or private.

God speed, President Aquino.

Just when I wanted to make a lengthy entry last week, the flu drops by and gives me writer's block on the side. Oh well.

July 27:

Yes, today's the day. I can't believe it's been that long. On the other hand, I don't feel old at all.

I'm not so comfortable with having the big brother label ("kuya" in Filipino... or worse, "mama" or "tito"-- man or uncle) being associated with my name. I suppose I'm at peace with growing old, but somehow I feel that I'm not all that worthy of the said honorific.

Maybe I've been spoiled by nine years of being an only child. I don't know. What I do know is that I should do my best to live up to the label.

***

I think I still have growing up to do. People really, really like to find faults and quirks in others when in fact the have their own idiosyncracies. I'm trying my best to get along, of course. 

There's just not enough "live and let live" in this world. Of course, if only I learned and applied uber-leet "just ignore them and pretend they don't exist" powers when I was younger, I would have saved myself a lot of grief.

***

I still can't seem to get really mad, even if I tried. Or at least, I guess, in that respect, I am getting old and mellow. Oh well. Better this than being angry and making hasty decisions that I might regret. Years of peer and teacher feedback and living with my sister and relatives (and all manner of little kids) must have helped me improve my patience. I used to be really impatient when I was younger. I used to be really loud and naughty too.

***

Mom actually called me the day before. I'm so glad we've patched most of our differences. There's still some disagreements, but it's not as bad as before. I should be grateful that she's actually thinking and sometimes worrying about me. I'm fortunate that I still have both parents.

***

Murphy was certainly working double time today though. It took all I had to not freak out and feel bad. The problems may have added a few more white hairs to my head, but I'm still okay

to paraphrase:

Thank goodness for a couple more days off. I guess I'll make up for today by doing them right tomorrow.

I really want to make another SFIV entry (I seriously haven't loved the heck out of a fighting game this way since MvC2), but it will have to wait.