If it's Sunday

If it's really Sunday, then what am I doing here at the office, all alone? Why to check up on the hardware diagnostics running on one of our mail servers, of course. It's been running since last night and I thought I'd get the results this afternoon. Well, it's still running and I think far from wrapping up. Guess I'll get the results tomorrow. Hopefully...

The Lady in the Park

The Lady in the Park

Her face dimmed with years of broken promises
Her eyes, weary of searching
Her hair, every bit of shine gone
The lady walks toward the park

Her white shirt, loose but doesn't flutter
Her blue jeans, faded like the picture in its pocket
Her shoes saw enough walking, so tired
The lady enters the park

All past is behind her now
Decision for the future is made
As the lady enters the park
This warm lazy afternoon

She walks toward the fountain
Full of hope, joy may come
Is she meeting somebody?
And will he come?

Briskly yet unsure she walks the path
To her left, children are laughing and singing
To her right, couples are hugging, talking
Her future surrounds her

The lady reaches the fountain
Pauses and turns towards the gate
Eyes scanning the busy streets
Will he come?

Her left palm grasping the right
Little steps forward
And little steps back
She hopes he'd come

This warm and lazy afternoon
Even as the park brims with happiness
One lady is about to add hers still
To the park that's already filled.

The story behind the poem...

Just in case you actually care to know how I came to write this poem. It was November 28, 2005, Monday, special holiday, no work. I was bored, so I decided to see Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire for the third time. This time around I thought I'd see it in SM City Cinemas, the only theater in the city that would give justice to effects-laden films.

Anyway, my second ride (I need to take two jeepney rides to go to SM City), got stuck in traffic just as it approached Carmen Bridge. The jeepney sat in front of Gaston Park (near the St. Augustine Cathedral). The jeepney didn't have any sound system, and I'm just its fourth passenger. I was seated in such a way that I faced the park. I could clearly see it. What else could I do, but to take in its beauty. I thought it was a very beautiful park, not just because of its layout, but also because it was filled with happy people. I could see children playing, couples sitting on the benches talking, and some friends having their pictures taken in front of the fountain. It was then that I noticed this lady, maybe around her late thirties, walking towards the park. She was very anxious of something. Her right palm was grasping her left. She'd squeeze them quickly and then rub them a bit. Of course I really didn't know the reason for her anxiety, or if she was even truly anxious, perhaps it was just my imagination. Traffic was already flowing as she was about to enter the park. I wondered why she was there. My imagination kicked in and I was already writing the poem in my mind before I reached the theater. I guess you'll never know when and where an inspiration for writing pops out. We must have our imagination always at the ready.

Knowing me, knowing you

Sometimes I get blinded by emotions that I feel and act like she's a close friend when in fact we're nothing more than mere acquaintances. I can already picture myself watching the upcoming movie Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe all alone. Perhaps if I make it clear to her that it doesn't have to be a date if she doesn't want to; that I just want some company to watch the movie with. Or maybe I should start taking my lunch in the mess hall and meet some new friends, friends that also like to watch movies, or perhaps love to sing karaoke. :-) I have lots of friends in our department, unfortunately most of us in the MIS department are males, none of the females are single, and none besides me love to watch movies in the theaters (most watch them at home, DVD).

It's hard to be an introvert and a movie-lover at the same time. I don't mind watching movie alone, actually, but it really isn't as enjoyable with company, especially comedies and romantic comedies. My transfer to the Technical Support division is helping me a bit because now I have to interact with lots of people at work, unlike before in Development where I mostly interact with my boss and my lean, mean, green-screen program editor (SEU). I'm not saying that all programmers are introvert, of course. But when you are a programmer and an introvert, like me, people around you can start disappearing and you wouldn't even notice it until your network connection is unplugged. Only then will you ask, "Where is everybody?" Sounds funny, but it's true. And when you're like that but still loves to go out and watch movies in theaters, well, let's just say that life becomes complicated. The mere process of asking someone to go with you becomes a daunting task. Add the fact that you are attracted to her and the task becomes almost impossible. But I still manage to gather enough strength and courage to ask...sometimes. And when she rejects the invitation, it hurts.

Okay enough with this mushy stuff. I don't want you throwing up all over my blog. Hehe... I'm not usually like this. And sorry about the overuse and confusing use of pronouns. I don't like to name names, yet. :-) See you around.

Year-end list (sort of)

I'm making this simple list just so that I can start the ball rolling in my blog in 2006. Happy new year, everyone.

Event of the Year

I remember staying up late one Saturday evening, up until one in the morning the next day, just flipping channels between CNN International, Fox News, and BBC World. They were covering the dying Pope John Paul II. Even though I was at home, sitting in front of the TV, it felt like I was there with the crowd in St. Peter's Square, that I was with them praying for the pope. I slept for about five hours, waking up at around six in the morning, switched on CNN and saw that the headline was already "Karol Wojtyla: 1920-2005" or something like that.

I still have to get to used to seeing Benedict XVI celebrating the papal masses. It has always been Pope John Paul II my entire life until April of 2005.

Favorite Books

My favorite books, among those that I bought in 2005, are Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by JK Rowling and Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. I've blog about this two books already, so I'm not going to repeat my reasons for liking them.

Favorite Movie

My favorite movie of 2005, among those that I've seen in theaters, is Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I'd like to say it's one of those cool-sounding independent titles, but alas no. It is the Goblet of Fire. This is the only movie, so far, that I've seen in theaters three times in three different theaters. Honorable mention goes to Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, which I saw twice in two different theaters.

Least Favorite Movie

My least favorite movie of 2005, among those that I've seen in theaters, is Chicken Little. Not only did I have to travel thousands of kilometers to see it in the only theater in the city that I thought would do it justice (SM City), I also have to see a children's movie alone because I don't have children and because the she wouldn't watch a movie with me without the them. :-) And for what? For a movie that is too short to be worthy of the admission price and a story too for-TV to be a movie? Disney is not Pixar.

DVD

I haven't bought a lot of DVD's in 2005, opting instead to borrow from a co-worker titles that I'd like to see. My favorite last year is the Mr. Bean Collection. I have seen some of the episodes five times in TV prior to watching it on DVD, but I still get lots of laugh-out-loud moments out of them. My least favorite is The Final Cut starring Robin Williams. I liked the premise of the movie, but the ending did not satisfy me. It felt like I wasted my time building anticipation for an ending that never came. Yes, in a way it can be called a movie that did not end.

Favorite TV Programs

The Amazing Race (AXN and Studio 23) and lots of sitcom. These are my favorite TV shows in 2005. This lots of sitcom include Friends, Married to the Kellys, Everybody Loves Raymond, King of Queens, Becker, and Yes, Dear. All are shown in Star World cable channel. For local TV, I like Game Ka Na Ba and Wowowee, all of which are from ABS-CBN.

Happy New Year!

Between 11:00 pm of December 31, 2005 and 1:00 am of January 1, 2006, I sent out the following SMS (or text messages) greetings. I created these original new year greetings because I was jealous that last Christmas, while I was sending out a Christmas greeting I found in the Internet, most of my friends were sending me their own compositions. I said to myself, "If they can do it, why can't I?" Any of the four fits snugly in one 160-character SMS message. I'm putting them here for posterity's sake.

As I bid 2005 goodbye, I thank God that I'm part of XU CS BATCH 5 for I have met u. Thanks for the company. Happy new year, friend, and see you around in 2006.u

As I bid 2005 goodbye, I thank God for the band and our bond that is XUHS 4A 1997. Thanks for the company. Happy new year, friend, and see you around in 2006.u

Lorenzo. Campos. Cojuangco. I am still Carl M-----. Come what may, leave who may, whoever d new owner may be. 2006 4 Del Monte is here 2 stay. Happy new year!u

Happy new year! How's the weathar? Close your eyes and it will be clearar. A silly poem to start the year and make it 2,006 times brightar. Whatevar. Harhar…u