<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12811713</id><updated>2012-02-16T04:49:07.803-08:00</updated><title type='text'>garyshack - My uber personal thoughts</title><subtitle type='html'>Here,There and Everywhere.</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>garyshack</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://bp2.blogger.com/__s1TfNvMRss/R0I-JrfsD4I/AAAAAAAAAAs/_RmU2hti6XQ/s400/index.jpg'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>20</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12811713.post-7127547048707621011</id><published>2010-11-17T07:07:00.001-08:00</published><updated>2010-11-17T07:07:45.002-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Searching for appropriate souvenir</title><content type='html'>I am working on my brother’s upcoming party.  The theme of the party is jungle.  I have already arranged for the venue, food and tables and chairs.  I am so excited for this party since for me it is very unusual and I am sure that everyone will have fun with the program that I made.  However, I still can’t figure out of the souvenir.  I have seen some in the stores but I can’t find exactly of the item that will suit the theme’s party.  One time while I was searching on the web, I was redirected to a site that offers beautiful artworks and images of wild cats which also includes &lt;a href="http://www.liondecor.com/"&gt;lion decor&lt;/a&gt;.  I was grateful that finally, I found the souvenir that I’ve been looking for and the price is just right.  I am sure that the guests will really treasure it.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/12811713-7127547048707621011?l=garyshack.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/feeds/7127547048707621011/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12811713&amp;postID=7127547048707621011' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/7127547048707621011'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/7127547048707621011'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/2010/11/searching-for-appropriate-souvenir.html' title='Searching for appropriate souvenir'/><author><name>garyshack</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://bp2.blogger.com/__s1TfNvMRss/R0I-JrfsD4I/AAAAAAAAAAs/_RmU2hti6XQ/s400/index.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12811713.post-348263947694602845</id><published>2010-11-11T07:41:00.001-08:00</published><updated>2010-11-11T07:41:44.121-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Importance of college degree</title><content type='html'>I remembered when I was on my last year in college.  I got pregnant and needed to stop my schooling because my pregnancy was quite delicate.  My boyfriend then who became my husband eventually is five years older that I am so basically, he already has a stable job.  I was scared at first but happy at the same time.  Though I am not so ready to become a mom at an early age, my husband has been a great help.  After I gave birth, I stayed at home to take care of my daughter.  I was supposed to go back to school but I got pregnant again.  I thought that I would never be able to go back to school and finish my college degree.  I was so glad when I found out about &lt;a href="http://www.classesandcareers.com/"&gt;online classes&lt;/a&gt;.  My husband is very supportive and is also encouraging me to try it.  He knew how much I wanted to finish my degree because I also wanted to get a stable job so we could afford to buy our own place.  So I tried it and I learned that online classes offers flexibility and convenience which is exactly what I need so I could still have time to take care of my kids.  I recently enrolled and hoping to finish my degree within the year.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/12811713-348263947694602845?l=garyshack.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/feeds/348263947694602845/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12811713&amp;postID=348263947694602845' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/348263947694602845'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/348263947694602845'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/2010/11/importance-of-college-degree.html' title='Importance of college degree'/><author><name>garyshack</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://bp2.blogger.com/__s1TfNvMRss/R0I-JrfsD4I/AAAAAAAAAAs/_RmU2hti6XQ/s400/index.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12811713.post-8729835917410202305</id><published>2010-09-24T06:00:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2010-09-24T06:00:52.836-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Standout with glass jewelry</title><content type='html'>Since I was a child, I was really into fashion. But I am not into the typical clothes, shoes, jewelry and accessories that people of my same age are into. I love to be different. I prefer to standout. For one, I was the first one in our school to wear &lt;a href="http://www.dreamsofglass.com"&gt;glass jewelry&lt;/a&gt;. Heads literally turned as I walked the corridors and hallway wearing my cheap but very fashionable Blue Lagoon &lt;a href="http://www.dreamsofglass.com"&gt;Dichroic Glass Pendant&lt;/a&gt;. I remembered how the sun reflected off of that blue pendant. I can't wait to wear my other Dichroic Glass Pendant, the Twilight, next.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/12811713-8729835917410202305?l=garyshack.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/feeds/8729835917410202305/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12811713&amp;postID=8729835917410202305' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/8729835917410202305'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/8729835917410202305'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/2010/09/standout-with-glass-jewelry.html' title='Standout with glass jewelry'/><author><name>garyshack</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://bp2.blogger.com/__s1TfNvMRss/R0I-JrfsD4I/AAAAAAAAAAs/_RmU2hti6XQ/s400/index.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12811713.post-1698973269660615804</id><published>2010-07-28T08:10:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2010-07-28T08:19:08.319-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Victim of a Principle</title><content type='html'>I am an idealist who believes that man is &lt;b&gt;good&lt;/b&gt; by nature. nothing follows...&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/12811713-1698973269660615804?l=garyshack.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/feeds/1698973269660615804/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12811713&amp;postID=1698973269660615804' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/1698973269660615804'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/1698973269660615804'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/2010/07/victim-of-principle.html' title='Victim of a Principle'/><author><name>garyshack</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://bp2.blogger.com/__s1TfNvMRss/R0I-JrfsD4I/AAAAAAAAAAs/_RmU2hti6XQ/s400/index.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12811713.post-9185774043291591379</id><published>2010-05-24T08:55:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2010-05-24T08:55:38.634-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Invictus</title><content type='html'>Out of the night that covers me,&lt;br /&gt;Black as the Pit from pole to pole,&lt;br /&gt;I thank whatever gods may be&lt;br /&gt;For my unconquerable soul.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In the fell clutch of circumstance&lt;br /&gt;I have not winced nor cried aloud.&lt;br /&gt;Under the bludgeoning of chance&lt;br /&gt;My head is bloody, but unbowed.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Beyond this place of wrath and tears&lt;br /&gt;Looms but the horror of the shade,&lt;br /&gt;And yet the menace of the years&lt;br /&gt;Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It matters not how strait the gate,&lt;br /&gt;How charged with punishments the scroll,&lt;br /&gt;I am the master of my fate;&lt;br /&gt;I am the captain of my soul.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/12811713-9185774043291591379?l=garyshack.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/feeds/9185774043291591379/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12811713&amp;postID=9185774043291591379' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/9185774043291591379'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/9185774043291591379'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/2010/05/invictus.html' title='Invictus'/><author><name>garyshack</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://bp2.blogger.com/__s1TfNvMRss/R0I-JrfsD4I/AAAAAAAAAAs/_RmU2hti6XQ/s400/index.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12811713.post-3296873716835264366</id><published>2009-07-15T05:45:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-15T05:46:11.289-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Repost: Santa, Shanty, Sancti</title><content type='html'>The Quiapo church has always fascinated me eversince I have learned about its legends and miracles. The burnt candle smells and assorted herbal medicines flanking around the Black Nazarene’s resting abode added to its mystical folklores.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Prayers offered by devotees and “cross-fingered” wishers mingle with the sirens from the nearby police mobile cars. Typical scenarios, such as the “catch-me-if-you-can” offenders using the intricate maze that the makeshift stores create, as cover to evade the authorities, just to earn extra takings for the coming holidays or to simply feed a starving family living in a shanty somewhere deep within the streets of the nearby avenue.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Indeed, the class-C plastic toys, lights &amp; bells, and the bystanders’ yells all add up a complete package for the busy streets’ version of the coming holidays. Comparatively different from those scenes we see along Bonifacio High Street and Ayala malls, where each on-sale Christmas gift item may still cost more than a poor family’s festive meal, I suppose.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The upper sector bends knees, too, to offer thanksgivings and prayers to their Benefactor, similar to those living on the edge of the bridges. There is no difference at all with what they both mumble to the Divine Provider, except that the former sits comfortably, not worrying what should be next on the dining table. While the latter scratches head because the detergent bar itches the scalp.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I am lucky that I experienced both worlds which opened my eyes to the pangs of reality that life can bring us. I believe that ignorance is never an excuse to exist apathetically about what should be done within our power to help bring glad tidings to the less fortunate.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I usually ride a jeepney just for a short trip so that I can catch a taxi cab that will bring me to my office. Yes, my rhinitis charges me everyday that I really need to take a cab to dodge allergens I might get on my way to work.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But then, one sunny day, I took a side trip to the nearest Jollibee food chain to buy softdrinks and an apple pie. As I rode a “Sarao” jeepney, I noticed a kid looking at my apple pie. His bulging eyes made me realized that he wanted to grab my budgeted apple pie, while his parents are busy blabbing about something I could not even understand. I could tell what he wanted to have at that very moment, just like when all of us crave for something that we even salivate just before it joins our senses. I was damn sure that the boy thought of including it on his wish list inside an old Santa sock.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I remembered how I felt when I saw for the first time that my Santa sock was empty on Christmas Eve when my father left us for good to join his Creator. I thought I had gone bad that was why Santa did not fulfill my wishes. It was one of the saddest moments of my life having no toy at all, only to realize later that it was my papa who acted as my Santa. Now, I still miss my father because without him, Christmas has no meaning at all when I was a kid.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There are so many children out there living in the dark alleys of the streets who also think that they have nothing good to offer the world that is why they do not get their fair share of Santa’s gifts during Christmas. They feel that living in those shanties is their curse for life. “Mahirap lang kami, wala kaming maisabit na medyas.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But still, optimism finds a way even to those shanties under the bridges when Christmas approaches. “Yehey, Krismas na! mag i-spaghetti kami mamayang gabi!” Such optimism among the poor, despite our selective callousness to their plights, sanctifies the spirit of Christmas. Those carols coming from the “solvent kids” echo into our souls how we should truly relive the real essence of Christmas.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The wish of the boy beside me during that jeepney ride has instantiated the Santa in me to surface out. I winked at the kiddo as I gave my precious apple pie to fulfill his wish. Looking at the kid, it seemed like sparkling stardust showered the jeepney that we were riding that time. I was Santa for him. Yes, I was! “Muntikan ko na ngang sabihin, HO! HO! HO! eh.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I hoped Santa is still real for him. I remembered how excited I was as a kid whenever Christmas is near. Santa was so magically real but now, it seems the magic of Christmas is no longer true for most people.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Until now, I still envy the kids because they still believe that somewhere out there is a Santa willing to fulfill their wish list.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;How about us? We do have our wish list, too. Right? We know for sure that we can all be Santas to fulfill somebody else’s dreams and wishes. It is up for us now how we can be Santas this holiday season. As for me, I gave the kiddo my pie and when I alighted the jeepney, I smiled. It is really nice and rewarding to fulfill somebody else’s dream.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Truly, I can be Santa! We can all be Santas to sanctify the spirit of Christmas by bringing it to the shanties nearby. Hindi ba?&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/12811713-3296873716835264366?l=garyshack.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/feeds/3296873716835264366/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12811713&amp;postID=3296873716835264366' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/3296873716835264366'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/3296873716835264366'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/2009/07/repost-santa-shanty-sancti.html' title='Repost: Santa, Shanty, Sancti'/><author><name>garyshack</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://bp2.blogger.com/__s1TfNvMRss/R0I-JrfsD4I/AAAAAAAAAAs/_RmU2hti6XQ/s400/index.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12811713.post-2883098246985507230</id><published>2009-07-15T05:42:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-15T05:43:52.129-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Repost :  Big Bang- What are you made of?</title><content type='html'>When you look for your star in the sky, the forces of nature collide to lead you to where it is and when you found it, it glitters and twinkles like it has never been before. Enchanting. Dazzling. But then like all the galactic bodies in the universe, it bursts and shatters leaving you grappling in the dark.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When that day comes, one must be ready for it. In my case, I have already mastered that art of seeing through darkness-Wisdom which I found effective and (indeed!) reliable.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Our stars really come and go but that depends on what star we have. There are stars that could not last and are quick to decimate. Unreliable. Weak. This kind of star doesn’t deserve to be remembered nor cherished. Attention-seeker, as I would put it! It wows you at first but it crashes quickly. Poor one. However, there are stars that could last a lifetime and could beam forever.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I hope my star is of this caliber and is of my kind.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/12811713-2883098246985507230?l=garyshack.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/feeds/2883098246985507230/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12811713&amp;postID=2883098246985507230' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/2883098246985507230'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/2883098246985507230'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/2009/07/repost-big-bang-what-are-you-made-of.html' title='Repost :  Big Bang- What are you made of?'/><author><name>garyshack</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://bp2.blogger.com/__s1TfNvMRss/R0I-JrfsD4I/AAAAAAAAAAs/_RmU2hti6XQ/s400/index.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12811713.post-4999924239913712695</id><published>2009-07-15T05:35:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2009-07-15T05:39:56.270-07:00</updated><title type='text'>I am back!</title><content type='html'>Yes, you read it right. I am back from the woods. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I would admit, I literally messed up with this blog for a long time. I abandoned this blog and left it almost dead. Wrecked and whacked.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Literally, I raped and wrangled all its content for no good reason. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Anyways, yes I am back.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/12811713-4999924239913712695?l=garyshack.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/feeds/4999924239913712695/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12811713&amp;postID=4999924239913712695' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/4999924239913712695'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/4999924239913712695'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/2009/07/i-am-back.html' title='I am back!'/><author><name>garyshack</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://bp2.blogger.com/__s1TfNvMRss/R0I-JrfsD4I/AAAAAAAAAAs/_RmU2hti6XQ/s400/index.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12811713.post-9070404847494754572</id><published>2007-11-12T17:04:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2007-11-12T17:10:50.732-08:00</updated><title type='text'>The Distance between Grace and the Consul’s Box</title><content type='html'>&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;I work along &lt;st1:street st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:address st="on"&gt;Roxas   Boulevard&lt;/st1:address&gt;&lt;/st1:street&gt; in Metro Manila just across the US Embassy where it has been a typical scene to spot people in queue everyday as if there’s a blockbuster inside a movie theater. Oftentimes, I simply disregard them for whatever reasons they have in yearning to go the “Land of the Free and the home of the Brave”.     &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;I have read many times on the papers about the mass migration of our skilled professionals in search for better life in the &lt;st1:country-region st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:place st="on"&gt;US&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:country-region&gt; including their successes and failures living out there. I have heard about assorted OFW’s problems abroad, racial discrimination our countrymen experience anywhere they go and a lot more which made me nonchalant about all these issues. &lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;Admittedly, I am tired minding their stories because we already have so many problems with our political leaders who are making a fool out of us with all these ZTE broadband deals, Malaca&lt;span style=";font-family:&amp;quot;;" &gt;ň&lt;/span&gt;ang cash gifts and North Railway project controversies. &lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;Sadly, it is us- the middle and lower classes that bear all the brunt of all these greedy acts. Crap! My paycheck hurts because instead of having my taxes help those in need, we see these “political junkies” hurling each other about who should get the lion’s share. &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;What about our fair share? &lt;st1:city st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:place st="on"&gt;Aba&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:city&gt;! We pay for those projects which they may have already forgotten I think! &lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;Recently, a 12-year kid committed a suicide because of poverty. A desperation that sipped down to the poor kid’s ailing stomach ended everything to escape pain and suffering. As I watch her sad fate on T.V., I recalled that once you were born a Filipino automatically you would be having financial debts just by being a Filipino!&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;Whenever I ride a cab chit chatting with the taxi driver, I could hear them complaining about a lot of things. Gas hikes, food prices, etc... &lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;All put together probably are the reasons why many of us are more than eager to move out of this “politician-infested” country aside from the old fact that we still have that mirage of &lt;st1:country-region st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:place st="on"&gt;America&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:country-region&gt; as our salvation land. “Ang ganda ng Amerika, ano?”&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;It reminded me again about the everyday scene I see across my office. The US Embassy “movie blockbuster”!&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;I heard tell-tales about how tough it is to undergo the ordeal on having to face the consuls of the said embassy where everything happens quick inside the white building. Be it a pink slip or a blue slip you get once you are in front of the consul’s box. &lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;Maybe unknown to the &lt;st1:country-region st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:place st="on"&gt;US&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:country-region&gt; consulates, the trip made by most of those Filipinos just to be subjected to their scrutiny took them a lifelong preparation. &lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;For some, it is their escape-goat from living in shanties all their lives. It is all they got wagered just to take the chance of changing their fate. &lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;It is their measurement of grace. &lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;Aspiration and fear are forever in a tug-of-war way before seeing the consul’s box. &lt;/p&gt;        &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;I could still recall that some of my friends did all sorts of ways such as engaging into long distance relationships, waiting for more than a decade for some family petitions and getting medical-related degrees (which they actually detested) just to name a few.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt;&lt;/span&gt;In a nut shell, people can really do all kind of tricks even spending their precious time just to have a chance to see the consul’s box. Maybe the consul’s box is like the &lt;i style=""&gt;No-Limit Texas Hold’Em&lt;/i&gt; poker for most of the hopefuls where they bid their lifetime on tenterhooks that the “community cards” might favor them. There is actually no guarantee even if their “pockets cards” might be statistically low-rated or high-rated. It does not matter at all because I have witnessed even the cream of crops of our country gets blue slip for some unknown reasons. &lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;“Bilog ang mundo!” as one of the T.V. commercials would simply put that I strongly disagree with since it gives overtones that luck is all-around the corners among us. Realistically speaking, luck only comes once in a blue moon.&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;Divine novenas for most serve as everyday mantra that bruises their knees and arms asking for &lt;i style=""&gt;“grasya”&lt;/i&gt; instead of &lt;i style=""&gt;“disgrasya”&lt;/i&gt; when the paid interview approaches.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;Others scoop all their treasures to prepare those nerve-cracking papers and fees as armors to the consul’s unpredictable queries. &lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;However, not everybody gets the grace they aspired for. Truly, the fairy tales we were told to read as kids mostly misled us. Not all stories are happily ended especially stories along the side streets of the US Embassy. &lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;In a snap, yes, in a simple snap, you can gauge &lt;span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"&gt;the distance between grace and the consul’s box&lt;/span&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/12811713-9070404847494754572?l=garyshack.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/feeds/9070404847494754572/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12811713&amp;postID=9070404847494754572' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/9070404847494754572'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/9070404847494754572'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/2007/11/distance-between-grace-and-consuls-box.html' title='The Distance between Grace and the Consul’s Box'/><author><name>garyshack</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://bp2.blogger.com/__s1TfNvMRss/R0I-JrfsD4I/AAAAAAAAAAs/_RmU2hti6XQ/s400/index.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12811713.post-2784749042308550299</id><published>2007-11-05T19:38:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-06-15T19:29:08.854-07:00</updated><title type='text'>693</title><content type='html'>The most elusive dream magically came true as I whisper the chilling numeric permutation of 6...9...3... Kazaam!    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;I must admit I am a fan of the “Numbers” TV series at AXN because of the writer’s wit on how he used Math to get the crooks and criminals through complex computations and calculations. But arguably, some of those theories used were somehow fallacies to some extent. Oh well, it was all-about the TV series which is just a product of imagination plus the producer’s aim to be a TV hit commensurate to some green bucks. &lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;I love math. Yes I am. I don’t know. I can spend more than 48 hours just to crack math problems. It is like beating Lex Luthor and Mojo Jojo for that matter. It really blisters my brain when I could not solve a given math problem when I was studying then. I could not sleep because all those solutions and formulas collide in my head. I need to keep going unmindful of time and space. We call it, stinking geeky ways…The nerds and eccentrics pseudo-world engulfed me at times those days. But do I look like one? &lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Hindi halata. Tama ba? Palusot…&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;How about this permutation I mentioned earlier? This 693! I never knew it coming! This 693 was a real “&lt;st1:city st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:place st="on"&gt;Eureka&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:city&gt;’ which I haven’t solved for ages. I have already given up on this one because my brain (heart, actually) bled on it. I considered it mathematically improbable. But then, mysteriously it came! All the answers I needed just came naturally… unknowingly. &lt;/p&gt;          &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;It was like “Puff, the magic dragon” came into life. I can now consider this 693 as a “phi”- the proportionality number. Hey, it is not the “phi” mentioned in the Da Vinci Code novel. Of course It is my personal “phi”, that 693, because when I was on it, all things came into being. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;Aspirations…Dreams…Hopes…Possibilities… What can you say? Aber??!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;Ehem…I can taste it now even by the mere thought of it. Truly, anticipation creates time lines beyond the present.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;They say, when you always think about something you wanted in life, it will come true somehow, someway. I believed it especially now that “693” was like a bus to paradise. Time stopped when 693 popped up out of nowhere. You can imagine watching a movie in slow-mo to highlight the event. It was it! 693.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;This 693  is the best slow-motion  clip I can ever think of. It is more than Hollywood can fathom. Steven Spielberg's E.T or Lucas' Star Wars cannot match this 693 that I am talking about. A 360-degree ride closely tangent to Narnia where reality and fantasy are vaguely defined.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;All the questions  answered and all the doubts  smashed  in a split-second.   &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;Indeed! It was enthralling to some extent that I wanted to shout out loud inside the wheeled-chamber but I preferred not to because I might undo the cosmic miracle. &lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt;Baka makontra pa eh…hehe&lt;/span&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;span style="font-style: italic;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style=""&gt; &lt;/span&gt;It is magic… 693… haunting imagery…fleeting…drifting reality. :)&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/12811713-2784749042308550299?l=garyshack.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/feeds/2784749042308550299/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12811713&amp;postID=2784749042308550299' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/2784749042308550299'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/2784749042308550299'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/2007/11/693.html' title='693'/><author><name>garyshack</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://bp2.blogger.com/__s1TfNvMRss/R0I-JrfsD4I/AAAAAAAAAAs/_RmU2hti6XQ/s400/index.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12811713.post-5676495453083627235</id><published>2007-10-15T18:42:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2007-10-15T19:02:28.865-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Jitters and Merks</title><content type='html'>&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;What makes them tick? &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;Someone made a jolting question out of nowhere which penetrated, I suppose, some neurons to process milliseconds of flashbacks scooped from recent experiences. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;Nordic is like Baileys interpolating supernovas of mind retrospections making someone oblivious of the here-and-now. Indeed! A blank stare sometimes is a good run off to the plethora of past events that make or break someone's idyllic self-concept. What else is the missing formula? The hidden concoction deep within the carcasses of our painful experiences is yet to be unraveled.&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;Oh yes! I remember what I said, that “our imperfections become our strengths to see through others’ frailties”. Whether we like it or not, things are sometimes “predetermined” or should I say to be politically correct, “predisposed”. It was like things and events were already made before hand but it all depends on how we react to those conditions. Are we reprobates or what? I guess not… there is heaven at the end of the road. Promise, there is…&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class="MsoNormal"&gt;Who knows?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/12811713-5676495453083627235?l=garyshack.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/feeds/5676495453083627235/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12811713&amp;postID=5676495453083627235' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/5676495453083627235'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/5676495453083627235'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/2007/10/jitters-and-merks.html' title='Jitters and Merks'/><author><name>garyshack</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://bp2.blogger.com/__s1TfNvMRss/R0I-JrfsD4I/AAAAAAAAAAs/_RmU2hti6XQ/s400/index.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12811713.post-5024417056770817222</id><published>2007-10-03T19:11:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2010-06-15T19:35:04.068-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Toxic,Goshn, Angels, and a Cup of Mocha</title><content type='html'>I came home late last night because I needed to pound to the ground some killer deadlines set by no less than myself. Yup! I admit, I am a work horse that continues to make marks and changes to whatever corporate world I am involved in. Probably because it has been my character to make paradigm shifts to those already been established systems that needed some overhauling to improve them.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Being a gypsy of some sort helps me to easily adapt to situations especially when I begin to shake some foundations long been in place. I can't help it, I always take risks but I think that what matters most, taking the risk and stirring new formulas and methods to make a mark in any given time. Win or lose, I really don't care because it doesn't matter to me if I succeed or not as long as I do what I am supposed to do. I would rather regret it in the end if I don't take the risk and it will leave me wondering what-if or what-if-not  sort of  questions that  can make me bothered even.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I believe that is what life is all-about. Following what your heart yearns to do. Simply said, "Go for your dreams because that will make you happier and better." I really stretch myself to determine what I could do or I couldn't do so that in the end I will have no regrets having not tried things in a given circumstance. In the first place, I have nothing to lose at all. I still have myself and the world around where I could shout out loud, " Hey, that's what we are made of!".&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;How about the other side of happiness? Aha! Pain and sorrow? Hmm... I think these inevitable emotions go well with  happiness. It is like a cup of mocha. The bittersweet taste that goes with its aromatic scent in every sip serves its very purpose of pleasure to anyone craving for such.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A fictional story about &lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;ANGELS&lt;/span&gt; tells that some of them envied us humans because we have feelings and emotions. The feeling of being jolly, happy, sad, dejected and all those sorts of emotions we are given attracted them to go down and dwell with us. Isn't it  great?! Even angels wanted to be like us! However fictional this story maybe, it serves its purpose well. Don't you think? But most of us feel that the world has ended whenever those unwanted emotions engulfs us. The trick is, savor all kinds of emotions! Nothing is really bad. Anyway, all will just simply pass like a wind.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A dab of pain in life matters too. It keeps us way down our toes and sanity which somehow gets snapped by overwhelming happiness at times. I remember Carlos Goshn as the top exec of 2 giant auto corporations - Nissan and Renault. How can this guy manage 30,000 miles apart corporations? He travels most of his life. Jet setting just to attend meetings and conferences. Duh! That's a sad life at times because you spend life in trance. I wonder how he gets to deal with the true wonders of life. Even Goshn gets some knockout punches at times, I mean most of the time! With all the failed collaboration and merger(?) with General Motors recently was like getting an upper cut from some Mexican pug experts. But one thing I look up to this guy- Goshn is his ability to make himself composed and to easily resolve from such losses.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I got a friend who likes traveling too to wayward sad thoughts of life. I believe that's how my friend's way of bouncing back from hurtful past which is I think is still minty fresh until now. Hmm.. Maybe just maybe that how &lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;Goshn&lt;/span&gt; make himself whole again too.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Admittedly, I feel like a newbie youngster needing some shots of Tequila just to meet this long lost friend of mine. I know it is really funny because I have built myself to be confident to anybody I face with in any given condition. But only this one that is shrinking me to the fullest. Hmm.. My gut tells me, What the heck! It has been long - almost 2 decades! You can do it, Gary as I said to myself. Whew! I am losing my center of balance on this one. hehehe. I offered a&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt; cup of mocha&lt;/span&gt; just to have time with this friend of mind but I am getting some jitters right now even with the thought of it. So what the fuzz this meeting is all-about? Oh well, it is a deeply and hardly imaginable secret I never shared to anyone. I never admitted it even to myself because things need to move on. It is really unfair on my friend's part because all these time I was just a glitch instance from childhood while I am here being nostalgic about it. I really couldn't admit to myself that being a teener before with my friend made an impact in my life even up to these days. I made good in my life. I made new friends. I became what I wanted to be in life. But there is  one thing but never goes out of my system. An imaginary friend? Green Bay's Favre call it, A monkey on his back! I call it, one that never goes out. Perpetual presence? A datum beyond normalcy? A sector built-in in my processor? Enigmatically constant in my life cycle?  I don't know. :)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Am I just being "&lt;span style="font-weight: bold;"&gt;toxic&lt;/span&gt;"? Or Am I Goshn-stupefied? Or Is it just the cup of mocha with all the thoughts that goes with it?&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/12811713-5024417056770817222?l=garyshack.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/feeds/5024417056770817222/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12811713&amp;postID=5024417056770817222' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/5024417056770817222'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/5024417056770817222'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/2007/10/toxicgoshn-and-cup-of-mocha.html' title='Toxic,Goshn, Angels, and a Cup of Mocha'/><author><name>garyshack</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://bp2.blogger.com/__s1TfNvMRss/R0I-JrfsD4I/AAAAAAAAAAs/_RmU2hti6XQ/s400/index.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12811713.post-113706033988594082</id><published>2006-01-12T01:59:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2007-10-04T04:03:47.545-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Sonnet XVII</title><content type='html'>I do not love you as if you were the salt-rose, or topaz,&lt;br /&gt;or the arrow of carnations the fire shoots off.&lt;br /&gt;I love you as certain dark things are to be loved,&lt;br /&gt;in secret, between the shadow and the soul.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I love you as the plant that never blooms&lt;br /&gt;but carries in itself the light of hidden flowers;&lt;br /&gt;thanks to your love a certain solid fragrance,&lt;br /&gt;risen from the earth, lives darkly in my body.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.&lt;br /&gt;I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;&lt;br /&gt;so I love you because I know no other way&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;than this: where I does not exist, nor you,&lt;br /&gt;so close that your hand on my chest is my hand,&lt;br /&gt;so close that your eyes close as I fall asleep.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/12811713-113706033988594082?l=garyshack.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/feeds/113706033988594082/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12811713&amp;postID=113706033988594082' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/113706033988594082'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/113706033988594082'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/2006/01/sonnet-xvii.html' title='Sonnet XVII'/><author><name>garyshack</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://bp2.blogger.com/__s1TfNvMRss/R0I-JrfsD4I/AAAAAAAAAAs/_RmU2hti6XQ/s400/index.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12811713.post-113703006273825945</id><published>2006-01-11T17:37:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2006-01-11T17:55:20.163-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Sniffed</title><content type='html'>My happiness is me, not you.&lt;br /&gt;Not only because you may be temporary.&lt;br /&gt;But also because you want me to be what I am not.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I cannot be happy when I change&lt;br /&gt;Merely to satisfy your selfishness.&lt;br /&gt;Nor can I feel content when you criticise me for not thinking your thoughts,&lt;br /&gt;Or seeing like you do.&lt;br /&gt;You call me a rebel.&lt;br /&gt;And yet each time I have rejected your beliefs&lt;br /&gt;You have rebelled against mine.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I do not try to mold your mind.&lt;br /&gt;I know you are trying hard enough to be just you.&lt;br /&gt;And I cannot allow you to tell me what to be-&lt;br /&gt;for I am concentrating on being me.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You said that I was transparent&lt;br /&gt;And easily forgotten.&lt;br /&gt;But why did you try to use my lifetime,&lt;br /&gt;To prove to yourself who you are?&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/12811713-113703006273825945?l=garyshack.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/feeds/113703006273825945/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12811713&amp;postID=113703006273825945' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/113703006273825945'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/113703006273825945'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/2006/01/sniffed.html' title='Sniffed'/><author><name>garyshack</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://bp2.blogger.com/__s1TfNvMRss/R0I-JrfsD4I/AAAAAAAAAAs/_RmU2hti6XQ/s400/index.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12811713.post-113471277215240172</id><published>2005-12-15T21:56:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2007-07-27T02:03:51.005-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Finding Neverland</title><content type='html'>Childhood prolonged is never a fairy land but hell. Well, for us supposedly called, Adults.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I used to think that kids are the happiest people on earth and I still do. Almost all of us wished in one way or another in our lifetime that we remain as kids and we never grow old. Come on, Don't be a phony! I am damn right about it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But as I look at life as  real as I am now- bent and flawed. I have grown into a more complex being I never thought I'd be.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I am a hardcore human-observer. It really amazes me more than you know looking at people living life as it should be. Well, for a few I guess but for many... it saddens me though I can't do anything about it.&lt;br /&gt;Delusion is a paradise that we all are into. We create our world of realistic fantasy! Hmm Is there such thing as that? I guess yes in one way or another. We try hard to live and think like children do because we all agree that innocence is bliss. But to hell with it! Innocence can never be brought back. It is parallel to the dimension of time if Einstein is dead wrong with his relativity. Ahh.. that old math crappy thing putting logic to all what I think. Real crap! Innocence once snatched out will be gone forever not unless you create your own eccentric world meant not to jive with the rest.That's neurotic for some but for others, it is a great escape.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Uhumm.. one of my sporadic thoughts born out of stress and deadlines...Well, to hell with it!&lt;br /&gt;Will this blog make me a lesser person? Nah! I don't think so...&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/12811713-113471277215240172?l=garyshack.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/feeds/113471277215240172/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12811713&amp;postID=113471277215240172' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/113471277215240172'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/113471277215240172'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/2005/12/finding-neverland.html' title='Finding Neverland'/><author><name>garyshack</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://bp2.blogger.com/__s1TfNvMRss/R0I-JrfsD4I/AAAAAAAAAAs/_RmU2hti6XQ/s400/index.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12811713.post-113254397327439700</id><published>2005-11-20T19:32:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2005-11-20T19:45:11.936-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Santa</title><content type='html'>The usual routine... Ride the train with every tick of my watch I cringed.Yay! I will be late again. Very ordinary? No, not this time. I bought a pie and a drink in the nearby JBee chain.:)&lt;br /&gt;Then,I rode a jeepney, for a short trip to have a better chance of getting a cab somewhere.(Heck, my rhinitis costs me money everyday).&lt;br /&gt;So what's the catch? While I was riding the jeep and sipping my drinks, I saw a kiddo looking at me as if he wanted to grab my drinks. Well, the Santa in me suddenly surfaced. I gave him my pie but not my drinks because I have allergies that he might catch. I never cared what the kiddo's parent would tell me as long I did what I was supposed to do. I imagined how the kiddo felt after giving him the pie. I hope Santa is still real for him.&lt;br /&gt;I remember how excited I was as a kid whenever Christmas is near. Santa was so magically real but now, it seems the magic of Christmas is no longer true for most people. That's why, I envy the kids because they still believe that somewhere out there is a Santa willing to fulfill their wishlist.&lt;br /&gt;How about us? We do have our wishlist too and we know for sure that we can all be Santas to fulfill somebody else's dreams and wishes.&lt;br /&gt;It is up for us how... As for me, I gave the kiddo my pie and as I alight the jeepney, I smiled...&lt;br /&gt;It is so nice and gratifying to fulfill somebody else's dreams. I can be Santa...we can all be Santas...What really matters is..we still believe...&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/12811713-113254397327439700?l=garyshack.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/feeds/113254397327439700/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12811713&amp;postID=113254397327439700' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/113254397327439700'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/113254397327439700'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/2005/11/santa.html' title='Santa'/><author><name>garyshack</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://bp2.blogger.com/__s1TfNvMRss/R0I-JrfsD4I/AAAAAAAAAAs/_RmU2hti6XQ/s400/index.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12811713.post-113254074113817793</id><published>2005-11-20T18:24:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2007-07-27T02:29:42.572-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Somersault</title><content type='html'>The roller coaster took a somersault, derailed and banged on the wall!&lt;br /&gt;I looked at the seat,EMPTY. Why? Abandoned? I hope not.&lt;br /&gt;Am I delusional? Pathetic? Hoping that the passenger is still around the corner? Holding on?&lt;br /&gt;I need to roll and head for the destination where it leads to nowhere I guess but I keep on turning back to look at the seat. EMPTY? I hope not...&lt;br /&gt;I will be taking the coaster to the next level...patiently, slowly... though I expect more somersaults and it has to be that way but nevertheless, I am taking it to the next level.&lt;br /&gt;Where is my passenger? Hang in there! Where are you? Come on...&lt;br /&gt;Am I pathetic? Am I delusional? No, It must be the somersault...maybe...&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/12811713-113254074113817793?l=garyshack.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/feeds/113254074113817793/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12811713&amp;postID=113254074113817793' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/113254074113817793'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/113254074113817793'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/2005/11/somersault.html' title='Somersault'/><author><name>garyshack</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://bp2.blogger.com/__s1TfNvMRss/R0I-JrfsD4I/AAAAAAAAAAs/_RmU2hti6XQ/s400/index.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12811713.post-113202475929604703</id><published>2005-11-14T19:06:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2007-07-27T02:25:41.240-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Life-less ordinary</title><content type='html'>Life is full of mystery. A cliché? Indeed!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I am a person with an uncommon habit of observing entities not necessarily of importance to my non-existent collection of thoughts.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I have noticed that people tends to cower when the moments of their life come and happen right before their eyes. I wonder? Are we not used to realities anymore but dreams?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I think life is never a programmable logic as we want it to be. It is not a predictable series of here-and-there but rather a maze where there's no solution to anything at all. Many might be saying I am getting illogical on this premise, I guess. Well, that's it! We put logic to all things thinking that there's an answer in everything which most of the time becomes a hindrance towards our self-actualization. We over-rationalize things. Spontaneity and fluidity becomes a no-no to us anymore instead our (sick) coping mechanisms get all the credits to live our lives.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Aha! I mentioned self-actualization. What is it? I think, It is a utopic concept/level of oneself where all things fall into places for us. A mukti, a nirvanic self?? Is it correct? Well, it doesn't matter. My point is, as long as we shred our walls and cut living our masks we will never be tired and be afraid of our moments in life.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We are meant to be happy. However, it depends on our ability to recognize and savor its grandeur. Wala lang.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/12811713-113202475929604703?l=garyshack.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/feeds/113202475929604703/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12811713&amp;postID=113202475929604703' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/113202475929604703'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/113202475929604703'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/2005/11/life-less-ordinary.html' title='Life-less ordinary'/><author><name>garyshack</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://bp2.blogger.com/__s1TfNvMRss/R0I-JrfsD4I/AAAAAAAAAAs/_RmU2hti6XQ/s400/index.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12811713.post-111595106741828867</id><published>2005-05-12T19:15:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2007-07-27T02:32:24.525-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Funny</title><content type='html'>&lt;div align="left"&gt;It really gets so exciting when you bump into somebody else from the past that you know since puberty but haven't seen for years. You suddenly have that adrenaline rush to say, hi, kumusta? When can we meet and talk about the good 'ol days. What do you do? Well, the usual stuff we say.&lt;br /&gt;But the funny thing is, most people usually shrink and create somehow an automated repulsive force field which is actually funny and crappy. Although, we really have to understand that they might be in a predicament which somehow forbids them to do so. The question might be, Is it predicament or prejudice? Whatever that maybe, they spoil the good things life brings us. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="left"&gt;The definitive moments of our character and persona are somehow revealed and nurtured with minute events and details we deal with.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When can we learn to free ourselves from this baggage?&lt;br /&gt;Life is short but wide. Don't waste. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/12811713-111595106741828867?l=garyshack.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/feeds/111595106741828867/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12811713&amp;postID=111595106741828867' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/111595106741828867'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/111595106741828867'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/2005/05/funny.html' title='Funny'/><author><name>garyshack</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://bp2.blogger.com/__s1TfNvMRss/R0I-JrfsD4I/AAAAAAAAAAs/_RmU2hti6XQ/s400/index.jpg'/></author><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12811713.post-111586297550178408</id><published>2005-05-11T18:46:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2007-07-27T02:39:27.179-07:00</updated><title type='text'>VoIP</title><content type='html'>&lt;div align="justify"&gt;       I had a project meeting with the director of a VoIP company based in Hong Kong today about their e-commerce facility to be fully integrated using API's with a known merchant agent. During our conversation, the Aussie Director mentioned that they are trying to get more aggressive with the Asia Pacific market especially in the Philippines, huh? This will definitely change the landscape in the local telecoms industry! Was I wrong to surmise that the giant Telco’s are resistant with this relatively new technology? I asked. The other guy, a Danish, whom I was unfamiliar with his English accent, said that the local Telco’s were not just fully equipped with the right technology and expertise. Hmm... That’s arguably correct!  I thought of rebutting his premise but they are our client so just I simply let them blab their whims and thoughts. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div align="justify"&gt;I wanted to charge them with 10 times our development cost because they are too white completely packed with superiority complex over us-Pinoys but my project partner, a drinking buddy way back Sarah's days in Krus in Ligas every after Math classes , stopped me.  So, I just resorted with a bit lower than 10 times the cost. Pwede na.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/12811713-111586297550178408?l=garyshack.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/feeds/111586297550178408/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12811713&amp;postID=111586297550178408' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/111586297550178408'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12811713/posts/default/111586297550178408'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://garyshack.blogspot.com/2005/05/voip.html' title='VoIP'/><author><name>garyshack</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='24' height='32' src='http://bp2.blogger.com/__s1TfNvMRss/R0I-JrfsD4I/AAAAAAAAAAs/_RmU2hti6XQ/s400/index.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry></feed>
