tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64748459520155845042024-03-14T15:52:14.808+08:00The Coffeeholicthe day never ends, and after at least eight cups of coffee,<br> here's what happensChad the Coffeeholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229121187721196328noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6474845952015584504.post-14359678232577598402010-12-29T23:51:00.000+08:002010-12-29T23:51:05.005+08:00Redirect!Hayun! Hindi ko natupad ang pangarap ko for this year na maging huling blog ko na itong The Coffeeholic. Dahil diyan, gusto ko kayong anyayahan na magbasa ng mga horror stories ko dito sa pinakabago (at sana, pinakahuling)blog ko: <br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://chadbernal.blogspot.com/"><b>IMAGINAGERIE</b></a></span></div><br />
Salamat sa pag-tangkilik!Chad the Coffeeholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229121187721196328noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6474845952015584504.post-17167763172697489482010-07-27T01:45:00.002+08:002010-07-27T01:45:34.702+08:00Jeepney KidsWhile on a jeepney ride going home, I sat beside two families. The family farthest from me had a little girl who was out of control. She would switch from one side of the vehicle to the other, deaf to the scolding of her mother and father. On the other hand, the family sitting just next to me had a behaved little boy. He was just curiously looking at the little girl who was already throwing a tantrum.<br />
<br />
With an exasperated voice, the mother of the little girl said, “Look at the baby boy. He’s so behaved.”<br />
<br />
Just then, a smile spread through the faces of the little boy’s parents, clearly, because of pride.<br />
<br />
I didn’t know what to think. It was one of two things: feel happy for the parents who had the behaved little boy or feel sorry for the parents who had a gremlin for a baby girl.<br />
<br />
I can’t wait to have kids.Chad the Coffeeholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229121187721196328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6474845952015584504.post-45994517584886312052010-07-25T21:57:00.000+08:002010-07-25T21:57:13.944+08:00Maling AkalaNatatandaan ko pa na nag-post ako ng mga "coming soon" dito sa blog ko. Sabi ko, makakapag-post na ako ng marami pag-dating ng summer term ng mga American students ko pero hindi pala. Since na-promote ako, marami pang ibang nangyari sa pag-unlad ng career ko. <br />
<br />
Una, nag-rerecruit na rin ako for the writing consultant post. Dahil 50 ang kailangan kong makuha, araw-araw, busy ako sa pagtetest, pag-iinterview, at pag-papasa ng mga applicant.<br />
<br />
Pangalawa, malapit na akong mag-birthday kaya ayan, medyo depressed mode na naman ako. Lagi naman eh. Just before I have my birthday, I feel depressed. <br />
<br />
Pangatlo, nagamot ata ng pagiging workaholic ko ang pagiging insomniac ko. Ayan, wala tuloy akong time para mag-blog. Kahit nga Sunday, hindi ako nakapag-online -- ngayon lang. <br />
<br />
I hope to make it up to myself and my readers in the coming days. Ewan ko lang kung kailan yon.Chad the Coffeeholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229121187721196328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6474845952015584504.post-91027749614407829972010-06-14T23:56:00.004+08:002010-06-15T00:25:35.765+08:00Jeepney Fare Blooper<div class="snap_preview">After watching numerous films, I’ve always associated bloopers to the ending credits. While the ending credits roll, there are short snippets of film where the actor would forget a line or the actress would suddenly laugh out loud without any warning. I’ve always thought that these bloopers wouldn’t happen to me. However, much to my terror and surprise, I had a blooper while going home earlier.<br />
<br />
Like the past few weeks, I hitch a ride with my friend, Philip. Usually, he would drop me off along the Alabang-Zapote Road, but tonight, he had to go to Manila, so he dropped me off at the parking lot of the Festival Mall where vans stay in makeshift terminals, ready to ferry passangers from Alabang to Cavite.<br />
<br />
I boarded one van, and I immediately prepared my fare for the van. I got my wallet out, and I took P40 out of my wallet. I figured that with the P5 change that I was supposed to receive back from the dispatcher, I would have P7 left, just enough for a jeepney ride to my house. However, much to my terror, surprise, and dread, I sat in the van, wide-eyed and horrified, shaking my head in disbelief — I only had P1 left in wallet!<br />
<br />
That will make a measly P6, P1 short of the minimum fare to get to my house!!!<br />
<br />
I tried to curb the rising panic in my head, thinking fast and furiuosly for solutions, and I came up with two:<br />
<br />
a. text my sister, ask anybody from the house to fetch me at the van terminal in Cavite<br />
b. text Donna, who lived near the terminal, and ask for P1<br />
c. beg for P1 from a random stranger<br />
d. walk home<br />
<br />
Since the last option was not an option becuase I felt too tired to walk, I opted to do both a and b. I texted my sister and Donna. Donna didn’t reply soon enough, and my sister told me that my mom and dad said to just take a tricycle and they’d pay for it when I got home. Good thing that I took their suggestion becuase after a few minutes, Donna replied that she wasn’t home yet.<br />
<br />
While I was in the van, I felt really downtrodden because I felt so poor. I was desperate to get home, enough to have considered option d, but I stuck with my pride, and just got the tricycle. When I got home, my mom was sitting in front of the house, ready with the fare, laughing at what happened to me. My uncle told me to always bring spare change in my bag and let them just jingle in it for crises like this while laughing mockingly. Then, I posted this experience in my Facebook page, and my sister mocked me too, saying “Bwahahaha!”<br />
<br />
Gosh! I really didn’t think that a blooper like this would happen to me, but nevertheless, this experience made me realize that I need to really prepare for events like this.</div>Chad the Coffeeholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229121187721196328noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6474845952015584504.post-5475090598124030942010-05-30T04:24:00.000+08:002010-05-30T04:24:44.051+08:00Isang Kwentong Bayan ng AlabangNung Biyernes, habang nag-lulunch kami sa opisina, gumawa ako ng kwento tungkol kay Jennie (na ipapublish ko din dito, malapit na). Dahil sa kwento ko, naalala daw niya ang isang kwentong narinig niya nung siya ay bata pa tungkol sa isang mayor sa Alabang. <br />
<br />
Heto ang kwento:<br />
<br />
Noong unang panahon, may isang mayor sa Alabang na kilalang masama ang ugali. Dahil siya ay mayaman at makapangyarihan, palagi siyang pumupunta sa pampang ng Laguna de Bay para mangolekta ng tong. Wala namang pera ang mga mangingisda kaya ang huli na lang nila ang kanilang ipinambabayad sa sakim na alkalde. Ganito ang kalakaran ng buhay ng masamang mayor. <br />
<br />
Isang araw, nang ang mayor ay nasa kanyang ruta ng pangongolekta ng tong, may lumapit sa kanyang batang babae.<br />
<br />
"Mama, mama, pwede po ba akong manghingi ng isda?" ang tanong ng batang gusgusin.<br />
<br />
Tiningnan ng mayor ang bata at sinabing, "Ah isda ba kamo? O heto!"<br />
<br />
Imbis na ibigay ng maayos, isinaksak ng mayor ang isang bangus sa bibig ng bata at lumakad na papalayo. Subalit nang siya'y lumingon para tingnan kung sinusundan pa siya ng bata, wala na ang bata sa pampang.<br />
<br />
Makalipas ang isang linggo, nagka-cancer ang mayor - cancer sa lalamunan. Gamit ang kanyang yaman at impluwensiya, nagpagamot ang mayor sa mga ispesyalista. Nang hindi kinaya ng mga doktor dito sa Pilipinas, nangibang-bansa ang mayor para magpagamot. Pumunta siya sa America pero hindi na rin nila magamot ang kanyang cancer dahil malubha na ito. Di nagtagal, namatay ang mayor.<br />
<br />
Marami sa mga sumubaybay sa mayor ang nakaisip na maaaring may kinalaman ang batang babaeng sinaksak niya ng bangus sa bibig. Ipinagtanong nila kung sino ang bata sa lahat ng tao ngunit walang nakakakilala sa batang ito. Ang lumabas pa nga sa mga imbestigasyon ay wala talagang batang katulad ng kanilang nilalarawan. <br />
<br />
Pagkatapos ko marinig ang kwento, kinilabutan ako. Hindi ko alam kung bakit, pero siguro nga, mahiwaga ang bata. In fact, ito ang theory ko:<br />
<br />
Mula sa pagkaluklok ni Maria Makiling sa tuktok ng kanyang bundok, natanaw niya ang alkalde. Gusto siguro niyang parusahan ang mayor pero, siguro, binigyan pa niya ng pagkakataon. Siya ay bumaba ng bundok para bigyan ng pagkakataong magbago ang mayor gamit ang pagsubok sa kabaitan ng mayor. Kaya lang, hindi naging mabait ang mayor kaya ayun ang inabot niya.Chad the Coffeeholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229121187721196328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6474845952015584504.post-9273713105697597162010-05-29T03:33:00.003+08:002010-05-29T16:10:10.443+08:00Ang Credit Card Joke (featuring Bianca)<span id="goog_231373234"></span><span id="goog_231373235"></span><a href="http://draft.blogger.com/"></a>Kanina, sa office, natawa ako sa sinabi sa akin ng isa kong kaibigan, si Bianca. Natawa ako dahil sobrang ironic ng sinabi niya sa akin. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://ireadthese.tumblr.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kc3CYr_x4rE/TAAZ4oESQxI/AAAAAAAAAME/PleojCk53R4/s320/It%27s+Called+a+Break-up+Because+It%27s+Broken.jpg" width="218" /></a>Nitong nakalipas na linggo, hindi nga lang ako sigurado kung anong araw, nag-break sila ng 3-year long boyfriend niya. Dahil depressed ang bata, naisipan niyang mag-mope around at mag-internet ng sagot sa kanyang problema. Sa di inaasahang pagkakataon, napadpad siya sa isang forum tungkol sa mga rules pagkatapos ng break-up. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, tungkol iyon sa "no contact rule" pagkatapos ng break up. May isang nagpost at nabanggit doon ang isang title ng libro, "It's Called a Break-up Because It's Broken." <br />
<br />
Dahil sa daming nag-react na maganda tungkol sa book, ginusto ni Bianca na bumili rin non. Kanina, habang nag-fifill up siya ng online order form para sa book, sinabi niya:<br />
<br />
"Gamitin ko kaya ang credit card ni ____ para bilhin tong book?" <br />
<br />
Aba! Pagkatapos kong marinig yung sinabi ng loka, natawa na lang ako. Ironic, ika nga. Paano kung itinuloy niya nga ang pagbili dun sa book gamit ang credit card ng ex niya? Naiimagine ko na ang mangyayari. Lalabas sa credit card bill yung title ng book at mapapakamot na lang si ____ dahil nagawa pa ni Bianca na gamitin credit card niya sa pag-bili ng librong tutulong sa kanya mag-move on. <br />
<br />
Pakiramdam ko lang, baka ito na ang pinakamalaking joke na maaalala ko tungkol kay Bianca. Baka nga hanggang uugud-ugod na kami, ito pa rin ang joke na pagtatawanan namin ng malupit. Sana lang, makapag-move on na ang Biankikay namin para hindi na siya sad. Higit sa lahat, sana hindi rin niya gawin yun kasi baka hulihin siya ng pulis sa paggamit ng credit card ng iba.<br />
<br />
Ngayon ko lang din na-realize: mahirap palang makipag-break. Nakaka-depress. Nakaka-sira ng ulo. Higit sa lahat at kung may credit card ka, mahirap pala na alam ng girlfriend ang credit card number mo. Ikaw na ang nawalan ng girlfriend, ikaw pa ang magbabayad para mag-move on siya. Hehehe!Chad the Coffeeholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229121187721196328noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6474845952015584504.post-64613081099259544032010-05-28T00:38:00.003+08:002010-05-28T03:28:49.055+08:00A Question On Break UpsIt takes a terrible amount of mighty bond to fix a broken vase, but isn't it much simpler to buy a new one?Chad the Coffeeholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229121187721196328noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6474845952015584504.post-8765008541127858892010-05-27T01:14:00.000+08:002010-05-27T01:14:11.633+08:00The Process of GrievingWallowing is part of grief. Eventually, the puddle of tears will dry up to reveal crystals that are worth smiling about.Chad the Coffeeholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229121187721196328noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6474845952015584504.post-43362909142817495182010-05-19T00:50:00.000+08:002010-05-19T00:50:17.780+08:00Mga Mangyayari sa HinaharapUna sa lahat, salamat, Ate Ayie dahil kinukulit mo kong mag-post. Kung hindi dahil sa iyo, hindi ko na sana maaalala. Hehehe!<br />
<br />
Dahil sumusunod ang trabaho ko sa academic school year ng America, magiging mas maluwag na ang schedule ko. Magkakaroon na ako ng time mag-post ng mga bagong kuwento, at eto ang mga nakabinbing mga kwentong dapat kong isulat:<br />
<br />
1. Ang Tagak<br />
2. Ang Maalamat na Lighter<br />
3. Bakit May Sungay ang Narwhal?<br />
<br />
Kelan nga ba ako mag-kakatime? Sa tingin ko, hindi na ako busy pag-dating ng June. Ilang linggo na lang ba yon? Less than two weeks na lang, so hang in there, fans. Malapit na malapit na!Chad the Coffeeholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229121187721196328noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6474845952015584504.post-78605841780188993262010-05-18T04:59:00.001+08:002010-05-19T01:00:24.135+08:00Chad cannot sleep because he is thinking about _______.I am an insomniac. That explains why I can't sleep.<br />
<br />
I am infatuated, but I cannot publish the name of the person on my Facebook profile.<br />
<br />
Damn if you do, damn if you don't. This is how I see my situation. If I post a name on my status message, I will stir up controversy. If I don't put a name and leave it blank, I will still reap the same results. However, keeping the name to myself will save me from ruining the friendship that I have with her, so I will keep it at that.Chad the Coffeeholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229121187721196328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6474845952015584504.post-23904369106347748442010-05-18T02:24:00.001+08:002010-05-19T01:00:06.125+08:00Chad thought about living up to the meaning of the word "smoulder," but realized that it is such a wasteful concept, and thus, changed his mind, deciding on living like a "laser beam" instead.I am passionate like fire. That's why I was thinking of the word "smoulder."<br />
<br />
I chose "smoulder" instead of "smolder" because I like the emphasis brought about by the letter u.<br />
<br />
I told my program manager that I try to live by the meaning of words that I can relate to. Then, I realized that I need to also direct my passion into something creative. That's when I decided to change it to "laser beam." It seems that "laser" carries the same kind of heat, but it is focused, making it more appealing to me.<br />
<br />
I easily get distracted, so I have to live by that phrase until I can confidently say that I am a living, breathing laser beam.Chad the Coffeeholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229121187721196328noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6474845952015584504.post-81817668335507894142010-05-11T03:01:00.000+08:002010-05-11T03:01:11.083+08:00Si Korina Sanchez at ang Aking High School ClassmatesGrabe! Napaka-weird ng panaginip ko kahapon.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pinoyka.com/profiles/blog/list?tag=gma" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kc3CYr_x4rE/S-hXx2cCnjI/AAAAAAAAALo/GqjM6-8E_X4/s1600/korina_sanchez.jpg" /></a></div>Sa panaginip ko, nasa classroom ko daw ako noong high school ako. Galing ako sa all boys school kaya medyo weird na may kaclassmate akong babae, at ang teacher daw namin ay si Korina Sanchez. Eto pa ang mas weird -- ang exam daw namin ay ang pagkanta ng <i>Telephone</i> ni Lady Gaga. Sa sobrang disoriented ko sa panaginip, natakot ako na baka ako na ang tawagin ni Korina, kaya nagtanong ako sa classmate ko. <br />
<br />
Ang sabi ko, "Mich, anong nangyayari? Kelan inannounce na may test?" <br />
<br />
"Ewan ko. Hindi ko nga rin alam kung bakit ako nandito," ang sabi ni Mich na hindi naman si Mich. Yung mukha ng tinawag kong "Mich," mukha ng isa ko pang kaibigan, si Marge. <br />
<br />
Patapos na yung isa pa naming classmate sa pag-kanta kaya naghanda-handa na ako. Sabi ko sa sarili ko, "Hello, hello, baby..." nang biglang may biglang may lumapit kay Korina at binulungan siya.<br />
<br />
Lumapit din ang babae sa akin na may dalang headset. Ang sabi niya, "May nag-hihintay sa iyo sa labas." <br />
<br />
"Sino daw? Mga applicant?" ang tanong ko. Busy kasi ako ngayon sa pag-rerecruit ng mga bagong writing consultant kaya siguro naitanongko yon. Pagkatapos, ibinigay niya sa akin yung headset na may tao pala sa kabilang linya. Parang wireless na headset yon, at ako ang gusto kausapin. <br />
<br />
"Hello. Thanks for patiently waiting. This is Chad. How may I help you?" ang tanong ko. Static lang naman yung narinig ko kaya lumabas ako ng classroom papunta sa lobby. Parang hotel naman bigla yung lobby. Paglabas ko dun, nakita ko ang isang pulutong ng mga classmates ko sa high school at iba pang mga lower batch sa akin. Nakita ko dun si Ericson Nantin at kung sinu-sino pa. <br />
<br />
Napakaweird talaga.Chad the Coffeeholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229121187721196328noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6474845952015584504.post-87482394469043712762010-05-03T00:00:00.001+08:002010-05-03T00:00:14.404+08:00Isang Birthday Wish<p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kc3CYr_x4rE/S92hhg7hOCI/AAAAAAAAALc/ldnI50_riLE/s1600-h/Equus%5B5%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Equus" border="0" alt="Equus" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_kc3CYr_x4rE/S92hjRHkcHI/AAAAAAAAALg/ktT06iehxQQ/Equus_thumb%5B3%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="184" height="240" /></a> Simula pa noong bata ako, mahilig na akong mag-drawing. Kung anu-ano lang naman ang dinodrowing ko. Minsan, tao. Minsan, hayop. Minsan, kabayo na para bang hindi ito hayop. Ewan ko nga ba kung bakit ko pa hiniwalay yun. Siguro, dahil sa picture na nakita ko sa hard drive ko.</p> <p>Ayun, kabayo nga siya. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, gel pen ang gamit ko niyan at sa isang pirasong papel lang na medyo scratch ko pa nga ata yan dinrowing. Tapos, ini-scan ko siya para i-post sa blog kong luma. </p> <p>Ano naman ang kinalaman nito sa title? Nasira ang scanner ko. Gusto ko ng scanner na stand-alone lang for my birthday. Ayun. *hint* *hint* </p> Chad the Coffeeholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229121187721196328noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6474845952015584504.post-25066020328520226372010-05-02T02:09:00.001+08:002010-05-02T02:09:39.660+08:00Job Opening<p>Naghahanap ang company namin ng mga bagong empleyado. Dahil TL na ako, naatasan na akong mag-recruit ng mga bagong Writing Consultant. Heto ang mga details:</p> <p>Position: Writing Consultant</p> <p>Requirements: </p> <ul> <li>We are looking for college graduates</li> <li>We are looking for people with good English writing skills.</li> <li>We are looking for people with the ability to teach English writing and grammar.</li> <li>We are looking for people who are proficient in Microsoft Word.</li> <li>We are looking for people who are able to work in Alabang, Muntinlupa.</li> </ul> <p>Job Description:</p> <ul> <li>The position entails the writing consultant to be able to read and provide constructive comments to essays, research papers, and on occasion, resumes and formal letters.</li> </ul> <p>Ayokong mag-commit ng salary expectations pero I can say that I earn a lot from this job. Sabihin na lang natin na nagagamit ko ang sweldo ko to pay for my expenses:</p> <ul> <li>Meralco bills</li> <li>Internet bills</li> <li>Grocery</li> <li>Housing Loans</li> <li>Credit card bills</li> <li>Cell phone bills</li> <li>Gimik</li> <li>Allowance</li> </ul> <p>Lahat yun, bayad ko kasi ako ang may pinakamalaking sweldo dito sa bahay. Hehehe! Serious tong job posting na to. Kung serious din kayong nag-hahanap ng trabaho, email niyo na lang ako: <a href="mailto:chadthecoffeeholic@gmail.com">chadthecoffeeholic@gmail.com</a>. </p> Chad the Coffeeholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229121187721196328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6474845952015584504.post-52067492293112024592010-04-19T02:34:00.011+08:002010-04-19T02:47:23.137+08:00WaitingMatagal ko nang naisulat ang kwentong ito. Base sa research ko, noong December 30, 2009 ko pa ito ipinost sa luma kong blog at sa Facebook. May nagpasulat sa akin ng kwento tungkol sa commitment at eto ang kinalabasan:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://graznia.deviantart.com/art/Porto2-Sao-Bento-133872489" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kc3CYr_x4rE/S8tSwZ-izeI/AAAAAAAAALU/KZlh8WqG2eo/s400/Porto2_Sao_Bento_by_graznia.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Waiting</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Yesterday, it was all about the aphids. Kristoff saw them sucking the life out of a rosebush near the train station. There were clumps of them – white, fluffy clumps of sap-sucking aphids preying on the life juices of the rose bush. Then, Kristoff saw that here were also ladybugs on the rose bush. The red and black beetles were feasting on the sorry, little botanical vampires. It made him smile; somehow, he knew that the rosebush will be right as rain, and he got off the bench that he was sitting on to head back home. <br />
<br />
Last Friday, K<a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a>ristoff thought that the bench near the train station was rather uncomfortable, and he thought that he couldn’t bear sitting on it anymore. Every time he sat on it, the hole where a nail should have been seemed to suck in his skin and make the bottom of his pelvic bone chafe onto the wood. It felt abrasive and raw. He would not have continued sitting there if not for the doves that flocked in front of the train station, swarming at bread crumbs and the French toast that he has thrown on the black and gray pavement to keep most of the birds cooing near where he waited. The cooing made him feel impervious to the irritation that waiting caused him, bringing him back to a time where all he needed to hear was the sound of Taylor’s giggles. <br />
<br />
“Ummm, that’s so sweet of you, Kristoff,” he recalled what Taylor had said as he was handing her a bouquet of roses – a going-away present to wish her luck in her studies in Milan. <br />
<br />
“Well, what can I say? I want you to remember what you’ll be missing for four years. Are you sure that you can’t just study here? We have good universities here, too, you know?” <br />
<br />
“Oh come on, Kristoff. It’s only four years,” the memory of Taylor in Kristoff’s head went on. “I thought that we are through this? I promise that I’ll come back to you as soon as possible. I’ll come back to you even if I were already in a coffin lined with satin and gilded with roses.” <br />
<br />
He thought that she was always morbid. <br />
<br />
“Don’t say things like that. It’s creeping me out.” <br />
<br />
“What!?! If I die, I want to be buried in a coffin with silver roses as decoration. That’s why you love me. You love my attention for detail! Hahaha!” she joked. “But promise me that you’ll wait for me, ok?” <br />
<br />
“Do I even have to? You know that I will. I will wait for you here every day if I have to.” <br />
<br />
With mischief in her eyes, she said, “I’ll hold you to it.” <br />
<br />
Then, instead of the deep, rumbling of iron train wheels, the sound of flapping wings shook him back to reality. Kristoff let out a deep sigh as the memory faded away. He got up, and headed for home when the last of the sunshine followed the lead of the evanescing thought. <br />
<br />
Last month, Kristoff noticed that the street lamps went on at exactly 5:57 PM. He wouldn’t have noticed if not for his cellular phone sounding an alarm. He had set an alarm for that exact time because he had an appointment to keep with Mr. Lathenbaum, the store keeper of the bookstore right beside the station. He had a book from Africa for Kristoff. <br />
<br />
“What a chilly evening to you, young fella,” Mr. Lathenbaum said as he was hauling some boxes full of books inside his store when they first spoke to each other back in November. <br />
<br />
“Good evening to you, too, sir,” answered Kristoff. “That’s a mighty big box of books you’re hauling there. Do you need any help?” offered Kristoff in all earnest. <br />
<br />
Hesitating but feeling his aching back due to arthritis, the old man answered, “I don’t want to bother you. It seems that you’re waiting for someone, but these books are really doing a good job of following the law of gravity.” <br />
<br />
“No, I insist, sir.” <br />
<br />
“All right. If you insist. The name’s Lathenbaum, Lysander Lathenbaum, bibliophile extraordinaire!” <br />
<br />
Without any second thoughts, Kristoff took the box from the old bibliophile and asked, “It’s nice meeting you, Mr. Lathenbaum. Kristoff Jones at your service. Where do you want these to go?” <br />
<br />
“Would you kindly put that on the counter? And for your trouble, we’ll guzzle down some vodka.” <br />
<br />
Bashfully, Kristoff obliged. Mr. Lathenbaum realized that he always saw Kristoff on the same crummy bench, which he also absolutely disdained for those nails that stuck out. <br />
<br />
As he was pouring the vodka, he asked, “What are you doing there in the cold, young man? Oh, youth! Good thing you can still enjoy a crisp evening, so savor it while you can. You see, when you get as old as I am, your bones will not be comfortable with each other. It seems that in my case, my backbones have argued, and now, they’re fighting each other. Oh, flabberfruits! I’m prattling. Where was I? Ah, yes, what <i>are</i> you doing there, sitting in the cold?” <br />
<br />
“I’m waiting for a special friend.” <br />
<br />
“A lady friend?” <br />
<br />
“You’re still sharp. You’re not as old as you think,” Kristoff chided. <br />
<br />
That evening, Mr. Lathenbaum learnt of Kristoff, Taylor, and the tryst that should have happened a year ago. Since they weren’t strangers anymore, Kristoff always made it a point to say good afternoon to his elderly acquaintance before he sat patiently on his waiting bench. And as such, the two acquaintances became friends. Just like that, Mr. Lathenbaum came to know that Kristoff was looking for a book about Anansi and other African legends. <br />
<br />
That month, Kristoff was accompanied by the tales of Anansi, the wise, mischievous spider from Africa. He was so amused of Anansi and the adventures that he totally forgot the alarm that he set. On the next day, it sounded again, and magically, the street lamps went aglow. <br />
<br />
“Coincidence?” Kristoff wondered, so he didn’t put out the alarm on his cellular; for a week, he monitored, and for a week, the street lamps never failed him. They all went on at exactly 5:57 in the afternoon with or without darkness. <br />
<br />
A few months back, maybe four or five, Kristoff noticed that the bench paint was wearing out. It was wearing out on the left side, the side where Kristoff took out a nasty nail with its exposed head irritating Kristoff’s behind. With pliers that he took out of his tool shed because of sheer irritation, he awkwardly tried to pry out that dastardly nail out of the wood, trying his best not to attract the crowds that poured in and out of the train station. With all his effort, he was able to succeed in taking out the nail, but to his surprise, the hole left by the nail on the wood didn’t make it comfortable in any way. <br />
<br />
After pulling the nail out, Kristoff’s waiting bench offered him a dilemma – to sit on the right side where there was another nail sticking its head out to irritate those who unwittingly sit on it or to sit on the left side where there’s a vindictive hole on the wood that is Kristoff’s punishment for tampering with the bench. In the end, Kristoff decided to own up to his actions, be a man, and accept his punishment. He always sat on the left side of that bench ever since. With the help of the doves, he was able to tune out the irritation and wait patiently. He just noticed the fading paint because he had to avoid some bird droppings that landed on his usual seat. <br />
However, today, Kristoff didn’t leave the bench anymore. He didn’t say hello to Mr. Lathenbaum. He didn’t feed the doves that kept him company. He didn’t draw close enough to notice if the ladybugs have eaten all of the aphids off of the rose bush. He wasn’t even able to stand up from the train station bench that was especially painful on his buttocks. <br />
<br />
He just sat there staring with the help of the flickering 5:57 street lights, staring at a telegram he was holding. It read: <br />
<blockquote>Dear Kristoff, <br />
<br />
Guess who’s finally coming home at 5:30 PM, March 18? Train station. Don’t be late. <br />
<br />
All my love, <br />
Taylor</blockquote>“I am not late, but where are you?” he asked as though Taylor was standing right in front of him. <br />
Earlier this morning, this telegram made him run to his kitchen and cook an especially hearty breakfast. He cooked a cheese omelet, toasted some bread, and indulged on cottage cheese. Then, he prepared for work, and he took some changing clothes excitedly out from his closet. He folded them nicely to avoid roughing them up for this much-awaited reunion. When he was ready, he dashed down the staircase, side-tripped to the kitchen, and snatched the two telegrams that he fished out of the mailbox. <br />
<br />
With giant but gleeful strides, he sped out the door. He made quick work of his lawn, reaching the sidewalk in only three seconds when it usually took him a minute to get there. With briefcase in hand, heavy with paperwork and clothes, he fumbled for his keys to lock his gridiron gate. <br />
<br />
The day went so fast that he forgot to read the other telegram until he got to the bench. He got there at 5:28 PM. He sat patiently until 5:30, but when 5:31 came, he was fidgeting. He took out Taylor’s telegram to pass away the time. He looked at it until he couldn’t see the letters anymore. He was thankful when 5:57 came; with the aid of the street lights, he’ll be able to read the telegram again. <br />
<br />
As he was holding the piece of paper, he realized that he hasn’t read the other telegram, so he took it out. After reading, the street lamp beside him seemed to have read the telegram, and its light flickered. He couldn’t tell if the lights dimmed, or if he blacked out. He wasn’t able to read the entirety of the message, but he got the message clear. He should be at the train station at 6:00 PM to meet a white mahogany box lined with satin and gilded with silver roses.Chad the Coffeeholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229121187721196328noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6474845952015584504.post-88617277084455618592010-04-16T01:03:00.001+08:002010-04-16T01:03:02.560+08:00Dahil Bored Ako<p>Dahil bored ako, sinamahan ako ng mga friends ko gumawa ng mga kalokohan. </p> <p>Nung Saturday, sa office, sinamahan ako ng frilled lizard ko magyosi.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_kc3CYr_x4rE/S8dGruJStXI/AAAAAAAAAKw/Bw1sfeR3pZE/s1600-h/Photos0202%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Photos0202" border="0" alt="Photos0202" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kc3CYr_x4rE/S8dGsAvWk5I/AAAAAAAAAK0/dIKNxM5CUWg/Photos0202_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="180" height="240" /></a></p> <p>Nung  Monday naman, habang walang magawa sa office, nagpunta kami sa gubat. Kasama ko naman ang snake ko at ang wallaby ko. </p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kc3CYr_x4rE/S8dGuLKqQZI/AAAAAAAAAK4/zkPLiZBEFn0/s1600-h/Photos0204%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Photos0204" border="0" alt="Photos0204" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kc3CYr_x4rE/S8dGvo980mI/AAAAAAAAAK8/rdDa0IfjuvA/Photos0204_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="240" height="180" /></a></p> <p>At higit sa lahat,  nagkape kami ng snake ko sa office habang nagtatanggal ng stress.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_kc3CYr_x4rE/S8dGwv47u3I/AAAAAAAAALA/VP2j45yWNN8/s1600-h/Photos0206%5B4%5D.jpg"><img style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: block; float: none; margin-left: auto; border-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; border-right: 0px" title="Photos0206" border="0" alt="Photos0206" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_kc3CYr_x4rE/S8dGxYTF7jI/AAAAAAAAALE/NIXHyh-p-JQ/Photos0206_thumb%5B2%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="180" height="240" /></a></p> <p>Ayan, cute diba? Super busy ako ngayon, so eto muna. Til next time.  </p> Chad the Coffeeholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229121187721196328noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6474845952015584504.post-6654157722670995662010-03-25T23:14:00.000+08:002010-03-25T23:14:35.344+08:00Isang Malaking KabalintunaanNoong Lunes, pumunta ako sa Festival Mall sa Alabang para kunin ang results ng annual physical exam ko. Kasama ko ang kaibigan kong si Donna nung kinuha ko yung mga results. Maayos naman ang lahat puwera sa katotohanang overweight na ako at kailangan ko nang magpapayat. Masaya kaming naglakad sa mall nang may natanaw akong kakaiba at napakalaking kabalintunaan. <br />
<br />
Nang makuha ko na ang aking results ng medical ko, naihi si Donna kaya hinintay ko siya sa labas ng CR. Nakatayo ako sa tapat ng Clipper, isang magandang gift shop, habang naghihintay nang masagi ako ng isang mama. Nung lumingon ako, bulag pala ang mama at patungo siya sa CR. Sinundan ko ng tingin ang mama nang mangyari ang isang aksidente!<br />
<br />
Papasok ng maliit na hallway ang mama at palabas naman ang isang tibo mula sa CR. (Sa CR kaya siya ng girls galing?) Mabilis ang lakad ng tibo, at biglang, BLAGSNGKST!!! Nabangga ng tibo ang walking stick ng mamang bulag. Hindi naman natumba o nasaktan ng mamang bulag. Nagsori din ang tibo. Kaya lang, napaka-ironic ng nangyari. <br />
<br />
Para sa akin, malaking kalokohan ang nangyari -- <i>dramatic irony</i>, kung baga.Kung sino pa ang nakakakita, siya pa ang nakabangga ng bulag. Hindi ko makalimutan ang nakita ko. Sa kakaisip, na-realize ko na may moral lesson sa pangyayaring iyon. Siguro nga, dapat lang nating i-appreciate kung ano ang meron tayo. Kaya ako, ang gagawin ko, gagamitin ko ang natitira ko pang paningin (na unti-unti na ring lumalabo) para maiwasan ko ang ganong pangyayari. Nakakahiya. Nakakapraning. Higit sa lahat, napakalaking kalokohan.Chad the Coffeeholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229121187721196328noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6474845952015584504.post-48556566269447012612010-03-20T23:52:00.001+08:002010-03-20T23:59:08.292+08:00The Solution, the Wall, and the Collapse of the Circular CityFrom the Ivory Tower, a crow named Gurulturu headed back to the Round City of Yuvarlak. <a href="http://thecoffeeholic.blogspot.com/2009/08/crow-catastrophic-beauty-and-circular.html">The crow, the catastrophic beauty, and the circular city</a> would have a solution that will make everybody happy. On the other hand, the Little Boy would have an emissary to the World to spread his knowledge and wisdom once again. <br />
<a href="http://lectronic.deviantart.com/art/Fatih-Sultan-Mehmet-Han-66516597" title="Fatih Sultan Mehmet Han by ~Lectronic from Deviant Art"><img align="left" alt="Fatih_Sultan_Mehmet_Han_by_Lectronic" border="0" height="221" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8Qp1fwtuOFw/SnigIbBn5rI/AAAAAAAAAb0/D9vJVY9Y3KQ/Fatih_Sultan_Mehmet_Han_by_Lectronic%5B8%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px none; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="Fatih_Sultan_Mehmet_Han_by_Lectronic" width="292" /></a> Like the Little Boy suggested, the crow flew to the richest suitor of Afet, the catastrophic beauty. Gurulturu picked Devrim, the richest suitor of Afet. In actuality, he is also the pick of Afet to marry since he gives the most expensive gifts of all her suitors. He also was true to his name, which meant “revolutionary.” Every three days, he comes by Afet’s house because he devised an ingenious plan of meeting his servants halfway across the city walls. Instead of taking 6 days to get back to Afet, he managed to cut the travelling time in half. More than that though, the Little Boy suggested him because he lived just on the other side of the wall, right across the house of Afet. <br />
Gurulturu found Devrim on his horse. He was on his way to meet his servants, who were bringing a golden elephant to their meeting point. As crows can move faster than a galloping horse, he managed to land on Devrim’s shoulder. <br />
“Good morning, Devrim!” bellowed the crow. With fright and surprise, Devrim stopped the horse and tried to shoo the crow away. “Wait! Pardon me! I didn’t mean any harm,” said Gurulturu. “I have come to greet and meet the chosen one to be the husband of Afet.” <br />
“What devilry is this? How can you speak?” asked Devrim. As the crow was a gabber, he wasn’t able to stop himself from telling his life’s story. He also went on with the ingenious plan on how to convince Afet’s mother that he was rich enough to bring gifts and crafty enough to do it everyday of the week. Luckily, Devrim believed him and agreed with the plan. <br />
The plan was quite simple, really. With the knowledge of the Little Boy of geometry, he told Gurulturu that the shortest path between two points is a straight line. Instead of going around the city, a suitor living on the West Crescent can just climb over the wall and visit the East Crescent everyday. Since Devrim lived on the other side of the wall, he does not need to travel far; he does not need to also reveal the simplest solution. <br />
With this knowledge dispensed by the Little Boy, preparations went underway. Devrim had his builders craft a very long ladder that reached up the wall and another one to help him down on the other end. As the plan was simple and effective, he managed to visit Afet 6 consecutive days in a row, <a href="http://zersen.deviantart.com/art/goblin-city-113892989" title="goblin city by ~zersen from Deviant Art"><img align="right" alt="goblin_city_by_zersen" border="0" height="219" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8Qp1fwtuOFw/SnigJTR95QI/AAAAAAAAAb4/tAkCYMz4Iy4/goblin_city_by_zersen%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px none; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="goblin_city_by_zersen" width="240" /></a>bringing the most lavish gifts that he can carry over the wall. Afet was happy; finally, she her mother conceded let her marry. Devrim was also happy; at last, his efforts would bear fruit. Most of all, Gurulturu was happy since he’ll have Afet to gossip with, Devrim to discuss manly matters with, and the Ivory Tower’s friendship and advice. <br />
With so much joy, Devrim and Gurulturu decided to celebrate. In his gold leafed mansion, Devrim ordered his servants to prepare food and wine. Because he was rich, the food flowed ever so freely from the kitchen to the table. Devrim and Gurulturu wallowed in wine, words, and loud laughter. “What happiness can cause such a commotion,” thought the other suitors, so they all sneaked up to the windows of the happiest house in Yuvarlak. From their perch, they saw Devrim talking to a crow. They heard Gurulturu speak, which amazed them so much. More than that, they heard through drunk lips and beaks how they can laugh heartily, too! <br />
As the secret spread like sand blown by a storm, the wealthy suitors began to also device ladders and contraptions that allowed them to visit daily. With this new trend in the suitors, Afet’s mother took back her word and made a new rule. Whoever can bring the most abundant amount of gifts would have Afet’s hand in marriage. Now, it was a question of quantity, not frequency, so she made it known to all the suitors that the judging day was to be on Afet’s birthday. <br />
As Afet’s birthday was a week away, everybody, including Devrim, stopped visiting Afet to muster all their wealth.Others had engineers and designers build contraptions that would allow them to bring the most wealth all in one go. They built stronger, heavier ladders to support the weight of gold, diamonds, and other precious stones. Everyone was desperate to win. Finally, Afet’s birthday came. Everybody on the Western Crescent woke up for each suitor employed each man, woman, and child that can carry something and climb a ladder to maximize the amount of wealth that they can transport to the other side. With big bags, mechanical carts, pulleys, scaffoldings, and carrying cases, they all climbed the dividing wall simultaneously. <br />
With all the excitement, Gurulturu wanted to gossip with Afet because he knew that when all these people reached the other side, she won’t have time for him until after the wedding. He flew over the way and reported in detail how the spectacle looked like. Afet and Gurulturu were so engrossed with their conversation. Devrim and the rest of the suitors were also busy in transporting <a href="http://luis75.deviantart.com/art/Destroyed-city-53553668" title="Destroyed city by ~luis75 from Deviant Art"><img align="left" alt="Destroyed_city_by_luis75" border="0" height="181" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8Qp1fwtuOFw/SnigKuxFDhI/AAAAAAAAAb8/dACVTBiE3oU/Destroyed_city_by_luis75%5B8%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px none; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="Destroyed_city_by_luis75" width="260" /></a>their wealth. The citizens reflected the same enthusiasm that their master had. Nobody paid attention to anything, not even the wall that complained and grumbled because of the weight it bore. With a loud crack, a whooshing sound, and a fell downward stroke, the city of Yuvarlak met its destruction. Everybody on the Eastern Crescent was crushed by the wall. Everybody climbing the wall from the Western Crescent fell, broke their necks, and died. <br />
The Little Boy, the Master of the Ivory Tower, didn’t miss this spectacle. On one hand, he was sad for his emissary, Gurulturu, was crushed by the wall. He lost his only way to make his knowledge known to the world again. On the other hand, the naughtier hand, he was quite amused. “Who would’ve guessed that the wall would collapse? Good thing I didn’t build that wall. Ahahahahahaha!” With that final remark, the Little Boy started laughing uncontrollably. Even if he was on the top of the Ivory Tower on the tallest mountain on the top of the World, his laughter managed to ride the Winds and made all the people in the World to hear the sound of a little boy laughing.Chad the Coffeeholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229121187721196328noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6474845952015584504.post-61336796305482146642010-03-14T01:22:00.001+08:002010-03-21T00:00:17.883+08:00The Crow, the Catastrophic Beauty, and the Circular CityIn the faint breeze, people all over the world heard the sound of a little boy laughing. From the top of the Ivory Tower, standing tall on the highest mountain on the top of the World, the Winds carried the laughter of the Little Boy, the tower’s master, because of a hilarious tragedy that occurred in a round city, much like the Round City of al-Mansur. As revealed in the <a href="http://thecoffeeholic.blogspot.com/2009/07/foreshadowing-from-ivory-shards.html" title="Foreshadowing of the Ivory Shards">Foreshadowing of the Ivory Shards</a>, the Little Boy sent a pie<a href="http://www.tslr.net/2007/11/round-city-of-baghdad-2.html" title="Artist's representation of al Mansur from Tesselar Blog"><img align="right" alt="" border="0" height="133" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_8Qp1fwtuOFw/SniHWJrEaeI/AAAAAAAAAbo/LNZOABKeb9Y/al%20mansur%5B13%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px none; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="" width="266" /></a>ce of the Ivory Tower flying towards Heaven in anger. Since this was an act of anger, desecration, and hostility, the Sun protected Heaven by attempting to obliterate the ivory missile. This is the story of how a little piece of ivory brought a rather large and formidable city down into a rumbling, roaring heap of rubble that caused the Little Boy to laugh. <br />
It all began when a piece of the ivory missile fell on a crow living near the city of Yuvarlak. As the ivory shard had mystical properties, it enlightened the crow’s little brain and gave it the gift of human speech. Instead of its usual “caw, caw” call, it started to say “Good morning,” “good evening,” and learned to gossip. Since the other crows were just normal and were only equipped with a one-word dictionary that contained “caw,” the crow got bored with his friends so he flew all around the city to look for a person that he can gossip with. <br />
After circling the city nine times, the crow saw a girl sitting by herself on a bench in one house on the East Crescent side of the story. Her name was Afet. The name was strikingly apt for this story because it meant “catastrophically beautiful.” She was the most beautiful daughter of a popular merchant in the Round City of Yuvarlak. She had the most peaceful looking eyes -- big, round, and as brilliant as the clear desert sky. Her hair flowed like black water as she sat fanning herself. With famed beauty, she had to keep herself from perspiring since she expected a long line of suitors to come in the afternoon. <br />
“Good morning!” the crow greeted her. <br />
Startled and amazed, Afet looked for the voice and found the crow perched on the other side of her bench. “Good morning to you, too, little crow,” she replied with amusement. “How can you talk, little crow? This is the first time that I’ve heard a crow talk!” she exclaimed. <br />
“Well, I don’t know really. One day, I was flying in the sky and I felt dizzy. I went home to sleep, and when I woke up, I can talk like you. It’s handy really. Now, I know why that fat lady living at the outskirts of town calls me ‘gurultulu.’ All the while, I thought it was my name; as it turns out, I’m just noisy. It’s a fitting name, actually. I am Gurultulu. My mother didn’t bother to name me so I took it upon myself to pick one. I’m actually thankful to that fat lady since she inspired me to pick that name,” chattered the crow.<br />
“Oh my! You really <i>are</i> noisy,” chided Afet. “My name is Afet. You know, I’d like to talk to you now, but it seems that any moment now, my suitors will be here and I need to attend to them. My mother makes me receive them because they bring such precious gifts! If you’d like, I can give you a shiny trinket if you’d return to me and talk.” <br />
“Alright Afet, my new found friend. I’ll come by tomorrow at an earlier time so we won’t be bothered by your pesky, gift-giving suitors,” said Gurultulu. With a knock on the door, Afet smiled at Gurultulu. He understood what she meant, and he flew away. <br />
<a href="http://shanru.deviantart.com/art/your-face-40047500" title="Your Face by Shanru from Deviant Art"><img align="left" alt="" border="0" height="317" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8Qp1fwtuOFw/SniHXUAqdXI/AAAAAAAAAbs/PkToUxEadRQ/your_face_by_shanru%5B8%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px none; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="" width="206" /></a> The days went on and off. Gurultulu and Afet became even better friends, so one day, Afet confided a secret to Gurultulu. “I’m actually tired of talking to my suitors about pointless things. I’d like to pick one – anyone – so that I can finally settle down and just be a wife. They’re all rich and handsome anyway. However, my mother told me that I can only marry a man that has an infinite amount of wealth. She says that if they take a few days before returning with new gifts, th ey’re not rich enough. The days they are not here means that they are working for the gifts that they’ll bring me. Since the city is round and there’s a big wall dividing the East Crescent and the West Crescent, my suitors can’t come by every day even though they do have the riches. It’s just that they really are that numerous, so everyday, I get visitors. If only one man can come by here everyday, my mother would let me marry him,” lamented Afet. Then, a knock interrupted her next word. “Oh dear, they are already here.” With a sigh, Gurultulu flew away again, thinking that he must have more time to talk to Afet. <br />
With his tiny crow brain, Gurultulu tried to solve Afet’s problems. He flew up into the sky and looked at Yuvarlak. As previously mentioned, Yuvarlak is a round city. More than being round, it was divided into the West and East Crescent by a tall wall that made traveling from one side of the city to the other. Too bad for Afet; the men on her side of the city were poor or not rich enough to come by with gifts on a daily basis. Too bad for the rich men on the other side of town; they need to travel 3 days to reach her and 3 more days to go back home and fetch more gifts. If only one man can solve this problem, he’ll have a married friend with enough time in her hands to just sit and talk all day. <br />
As Gurultulu was flying in a circle around Yuvarlak, he continue to fly higher and higher into the air. After his 9th upward spiral, he broke through the first layer of clouds and saw the Ivory Tower. Since the Ivory Tower and its master were always aware or made it a point to be aware of everything that happens in the World, it didn’t fail to notice Gurulturu, his flight, and the plight of Afet. The Little Boy called out to him, “Hey<a href="http://somk.deviantart.com/art/The-Crow-31763568" title="The Crow by Somk from Deviant Art"><img align="right" alt="The_Crow_by_somk" border="0" height="352" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8Qp1fwtuOFw/SniHYZ_VqnI/AAAAAAAAAbw/R-ExSaZu_fQ/The_Crow_by_somk%5B6%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px none; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="The_Crow_by_somk" width="229" /></a>, crow! Come here! I have the solution to your problem.” <br />
With the sound of the word “solution,” Gurulturu flew fast and landed on the Ivory Tower’s window sill. “Hello, Master,” greeted the crow. “Do you really have the answer to my problem?”<br />
The Little Boy said, “Yes, my good crow. I do. I am the Little Boy, the Master of the Ivory Tower, and I have all the answers in the World!” <br />
“Please, Master. Tell me how to solve my problem. Help me help Afet get a husband. If what you say is true, I’ll let it be known to the whole world that you are wise.”<br />
With that, the Little Boy whispered the answer to Gurulturu’s problem.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://thecoffeeholic.blogspot.com/2009/08/solution-wall-and-collapse-of-circular.html"><i>to be continued... </i></a>Chad the Coffeeholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229121187721196328noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6474845952015584504.post-45573052841297971702010-03-01T00:29:00.002+08:002010-03-25T23:17:28.612+08:00An Ivory Shard, Germaine, and a Tennis Racket<a href="http://jesslovesjazz.deviantart.com/art/Racket-81384249" title="Racket by ~jesslovesjazz from Deviant Art"><img align="right" alt="Racket_by_jesslovesjazz" border="0" height="180" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8Qp1fwtuOFw/Sm3Wtxl-FlI/AAAAAAAAAbE/-6biscyksOU/Racket_by_jesslovesjazz%5B19%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px none; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="Racket_by_jesslovesjazz" width="240" /></a>Up on the Ivory Tower that stood solidly on top of the tallest mountain on the top of the World, the Little Boy was still fuming against Heaven for that painful lesson about gravity in the <a href="http://ivorytowerobservations.blogspot.com/2009/07/foreshadowing-from-ivory-shards.html">Foreshadowing of the Ivory Shards</a> when he heard a girl cry in anger. He was clutching the ivory shard that struck him in the head when suddenly, a tennis racket went into view and fell down again, which piqued the interest of the Little Boy. Curious to see who threw it high enough to come into his horizon, the Little Boy investigated and followed the racket’s descent. <br />
The racket fell back into Germaine’s skilled hands. She was the person who was able to throw a tennis racket so high in the air. She was a high school student of Tokyo Gakkan Urayasu High School. She was part of the school’s tennis varsity team. She was part of the Honors Class. Most of all, she was the almost most popular girl in school with her blonde hair, big, wide eyes, and high grades. <br />
She threw the racket in the air out of frustration with Judy, the most popular girl in school. Judy was also part of the tennis varsity. In fact, she was the captain for the women’s team. She had short sassy hair, a smile that shimmered with stars, and even higher grades than Germaine. Everyone loved her, especially Tezuka, the team captain of the tennis team, the most popular boy in school, and the love of Germaine’s life. <br />
<a href="http://anime-twin27135.deviantart.com/art/Shirota-Yuu-PoT-67679259" title="Shirota Yuu- PoT by ~Anime-Twin27135 from Deviant Art"><img align="left" alt="Prince_of_Tennis__Shirota_Yuu_by_Anime_Twin27135" border="0" height="240" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_8Qp1fwtuOFw/Sm3WuzUv0eI/AAAAAAAAAbI/W0ub5rIxBxo/Prince_of_Tennis__Shirota_Yuu_by_Anime_Twin27135%5B5%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px none; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="Prince_of_Tennis__Shirota_Yuu_by_Anime_Twin27135" width="240" /></a>It seemed to Germaine that no matter what she did, she always successfully stood second best. In home economics class, she baked a strawberry sponge cake for Tezuka, but he ate Judy’s plain chocolate cake instead. After the finals week of their second year in junior high, she saw her name labeled number 2 in small, black letters while Judy’s name was highlighted in big, red, bold letters. Most of all, she was the best friend of Tezuka; Tezuka’s girlfriend was Judy. <br />
After about 30 minutes of waiting for the tennis racket to land back on her hands, Germaine thought that she should go home, but Judy went into the tennis court. As she was heading towards the court gates, she saw it swing open to reveal Judy, smiling and walking with that swaying, sassy hair of hers. “Yo! Germaine-chan! Would you like to play a game before you go home?” Judy asked. “Uh, but…” Germaine stuttered as Judy dragged her to one side of the court. <br />
With the same tennis racket in her hands, Germaine was forced to play. As luck would have it, Tezuka wandered in the court and offered to referee the match. With the love of her life in sight, Germaine felt fired up. Yes! She would play. Yes! She would show Judy that she can win, even just one unofficial game. Most of all, yes, she will impress Tezuka with her awe-inspiring backhand and forehand smashes, which she thought would be enough for him to dump Judy and ask her to be his girlfriend. <br />
As the whistle wailed across the court, Germaine motioned to serve. Spuck! Spuck! That was the only sound that Germaine could hear. She was so intent to beat Judy, smiling, giggling, and shimmering with stars as she returned each smash that Germaine sent to her. After 20 minutes, Germaine had a point-break opportunity. She only needed to score one more point, and she will beat Judy for the first time in Tokyo Gakkan Urayasu High School’s history. <br />
As the Little Boy, looking down intently from the Ivory Tower, gazed at Germaine’s determination and desperation, he heard Germaine’s thoughts: “If I could just win this match, I’d be happier. God, please, anyone! If you can hear my me, I wish to win this match at any cost.” Because of the desperation, the intensity, and the sincerity of this one wish, the Little Boy felt some compassion for Germaine. He wanted to help the girl who had the ability to grab his interest. As he was still holding the ivory shard, he thought that maybe, he can sabotage Judy and cause her to lose the match. With this thought in mind, he went over to the edge of the balcony of the Ivory Tower. Using his knowledge of vertical motion, gravity, and trajectory, he threw the ivory shard down so that it would land on Judy’s side of the court. He was hoping that Judy would step on it, slip, and fail to return one of Germaine’s smashes. <br />
<a href="http://koffler.deviantart.com/art/Laced-Shoe-96877819" title="Laced Shoe by =koffler from Deviant Art"><img align="right" alt="__SHOE___by_koffler" border="0" height="240" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8Qp1fwtuOFw/Sm3Wvxk6rxI/AAAAAAAAAbM/Z2ZiDwxzgDk/__SHOE___by_koffler%5B7%5D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border: 0px none; display: inline; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px;" title="__SHOE___by_koffler" width="239" /></a>Down the ivory shard flew. It fell fast and furiously towards the next spot where Judy was supposed to put her foot down. The Little Boy’s aim was true this time; unlike what happened with <a href="http://thecoffeeholic.blogspot.com/2009/07/amaris-and-paper-airplane-prophecy.html">Amaris and the Paper Airplane Prophecy</a>, his ivory shard struck where it was supposed to strike. However, he failed to figure in the bounce of the turf used in lawn tennis courts. The fake green grass had a bounce to it that made the ivory shard bounce towards Germaine’s next stepping ground. With an inaudible thud, it slipped under Germaine’s tennis shoes, rolled a few centimeters, and overturned her. What a sight it made! As Germaine was turning in midair, one of her shoes came off, flew up in the air, met with the eyes of the Little Boy, and fell back to earth. When the little shoe fell down, almost 30 minutes has already gone by. Germaine was already at the hospital with a broken neck, a fractured dream, and a smashed spirit. The doctors told her that she can never play tennis ever again. <br />
With this new blunder, the Little Boy started to regret helping Germaine. Now, he can never see a tennis racket fly so high up in the air that it could reach the windows of his Ivory Tower. As he lost interest, he turned his gaze away and retired into his tower that was on top of the tallest mountain on the top of the World. <br />
<blockquote><span style="font-size: xx-small;">This story is for Judy, my friend. This is my birthday gift to her since I only have stories to tell and no money for buying gifts. Belated happy birthday!</span></blockquote>Chad the Coffeeholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229121187721196328noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6474845952015584504.post-65646431493246315612010-02-25T03:57:00.001+08:002010-02-25T03:57:57.707+08:00Ang Busy Supervisor at ang mga Kakaibang SuperpowersBuhay pa ako. Busy lang ako lately kaya hindi ako makapag-post at makapagsulat ng matinong kwento. Hindi na rin ako makapag-drawing pero babalikan ko lahat iyan sa susunod na mga linggo. Mahirap pala talagang maging supervisor.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kc3CYr_x4rE/S4WERHQ9o5I/AAAAAAAAAKo/-EXL2xqmIvE/s1600-h/super-hero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kc3CYr_x4rE/S4WERHQ9o5I/AAAAAAAAAKo/-EXL2xqmIvE/s200/super-hero.jpg" width="200" /></a>Speaking of super, dahil sa isang sineng napanood ng makulit kong kaibigang si Johmar, nakaisip ako ng mga super powers na walang kakwenta-kwenta. Base sa kwento niya, may isang character daw sa movie na tinutukoy niya na invisible lang kapag walang nakatingin pero nagamit pa rin nung character na yun ang kakaibang power. Nainspire naman ako kaya heto ang mga naisip kong patok na mga sablay na powers:<br />
<ol><li>Kapangyarihang makapag-kamehame wave. Kapag tinamaan ka, patay ka agad. Kaya lang, pwede lang gamitin ang power na ito kung 10 ft. away ka sa kalaban. Ang catch, 8 ft. lang ang abot ng kamehame wave. </li>
<li>Kapangyarihang malaman kung kailan may balyenang kinagat ng lamok kahit saan sa earth. </li>
<li>Kapangyarihang managinip ng mga mangyayari sa hinaharap. Kaya lang, pag-nagising ka na, makakalimutan mo na ang prophecy.</li>
<li>Kapangyarihang manalo sa kahit anong klaseng bakbakan kung ang kalaban mo ay taong mas maliit sa iyo. Kaya lang, ipapanganak kang unano.</li>
<li>Kapangyarihang makapag-basa ng iniisip ng ibang tao pero literal. Masusulat ang iniisip nila sa katawan mo. Kaya lang, sa batok.</li>
</ol>Libre kong ipinamimigay yang mga powers na yan. Alin gusto niyo? Marami niyan sa stock. Nung naging supervisor ako, nakuha ko yan lahat eh. Freebie, ika nga. O siya, tama na ang kahibangang ito. Next week na lang ulit. Abang-abang lang. Marami pang powers na tulad ng mga ito.Chad the Coffeeholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229121187721196328noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6474845952015584504.post-66701113426063367902010-02-22T00:58:00.001+08:002010-03-21T00:02:37.286+08:00Foreshadowing from the Ivory ShardsAfter the Little Boy, the Master of the Ivory Tower ranted and raved in frustration in not knowing what the answers to some of the mysteries of life that has unfolded in the story of the <a href="http://thecoffeeholic.blogspot.com/2009/07/foreshadowing-from-ivory-shards.html">Father and the First First-born</a>, he decided to be brutal and demand from Heaven that he know more information about the dealings that happen in the World. On top of the Ivory Tower atop the tallest mountain on top of the World, he cursed and he shouted at Heaven. When he did not hear any replies, even the smallest hint of reproachful remark, he decided to be more physical about his protest. With the art of Taekwondo, he kicked a post in the balcony and was able to chip a small shard of ivory. "Ammunition," he thought to himself. Then, with a full run, a half-turn, and a spinning side kick, he launched the shard straight up to Heaven.<br />
<br />
Sadly for the Little Boy, he did this regrettable act in broad daylight -- the time when the eye of the Sun was upon him. Seeing this horrendous and, yet again, blasphemous act, the Sun concentrated its rays on a beam -- a tiny beam that amounted to laser light. Though successful in channeling the concentrated energy of light onto a pinpoint on the hurled piece of ivory, the sun didn't hit it entirely. It only managed to bore a hole on the piece of ivory.<br />
<br />
As the master of the Winds, he caused them to try and blow the still-flying piece of ivory towards heaven. Again, he was successful in making the Winds blow the ivory projectile, but it only caused it to shift a bit of course and straight into the direction of Heaven's window.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8Qp1fwtuOFw/SmSmNWZ5z-I/AAAAAAAAAYc/TILlD2ryhwk/s1600-h/Goddess_of_Lightning_by_feodome.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360592204760469474" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8Qp1fwtuOFw/SmSmNWZ5z-I/AAAAAAAAAYc/TILlD2ryhwk/s320/Goddess_of_Lightning_by_feodome.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 140px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 320px;" /></a>Seeing this minor blunder, the Sun caused the Winds to whirl and rub against themselves. This act, by far, seemed to be the most cunning act of the Sun in preventing harm from coming towards heaven. As the winds rubbed against each other, they managed to create a force so strong. Through friction and static energy, the winds crackled and hummed with electricity. The sun doesn't want to fail so he waited cautiously. With only one eye, he wanted his electric bolt to hit its mark and save Heaven's window from cracking. At the very last minute, he released the the static energy into a lightning bolt.<br />
<br />
This time, the Sun was able to hit the piece of ivory flung by the Little Boy but not enough to totally destroy it. It got shattered into tiny specs of ivory and got blown in the wind. However, a sizable bit -- the size of a prune -- still remained airborne and still on course. With a clink on the glass of Heaven's window, it bounced off and down again, straight back in the direction of the Little Boy.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8Qp1fwtuOFw/SmSr1NeNO5I/AAAAAAAAAYs/dbJyYbrGeoY/s1600-h/In_the_Light_of_Things_by_Timett.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360598387115506578" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8Qp1fwtuOFw/SmSr1NeNO5I/AAAAAAAAAYs/dbJyYbrGeoY/s320/In_the_Light_of_Things_by_Timett.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 212px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a>Although he was not entirely successful in stopping the ivory shard, he was victorious in protecting Heaven. As for the boy, although not entirely successful in breaking anything in Heaven's dominion, he was successful in getting heaven to notice him. From the window that was tapped by the ivory piece, a face, an angel spoke. The angel said, "Little Boy, Master of the Ivory Tower, oh most notorious neighbor, please desist in daring Heaven. Heaven, with all it's wisdom, might, and potential, has plans for you. Be patient and you will be purged of your punishment. Be hasty and spiteful and you shall see that Heaven can put down a more repugnant lesson reckon with. For now, Heaven will just teach you about gravity." Then, the angel closed the window, and Heaven grew serene once more.<br />
<br />
Hearing those words, the Sun beamed in bliss. Hearing those words, the Little Boy grew more angry. "Bah! Teach me gravity? Who do they think they are? I know all about gravity," said the Little Boy. "In a nutshell, what..." and before he could finish his simple-minded definition, the small, prune-sized ivory shard thumped on his head, left a bit of a bump on his temple, and fell down towards the Earth. "... goes up must come down," he grumbled just to hold up a bit of defiance. With the final words spoken, he went in the tower.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8Qp1fwtuOFw/SmSn4Nmd6KI/AAAAAAAAAYk/ejBOUaGGHmc/s1600-h/__The_Wish___by_MerenSheritra.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360594040643250338" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8Qp1fwtuOFw/SmSn4Nmd6KI/AAAAAAAAAYk/ejBOUaGGHmc/s320/__The_Wish___by_MerenSheritra.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 234px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 300px;" /></a>Now, what of the ivory shards? What ever did happen to those that got blown in the wind? What happened to that prune-sized shard that was able to tap on Heaven's door? As the angel said, there is a lesson here to learn about gravity. Those shards fell. They fell down and all over the World. Being a piece of the Ivory Tower, they possessed some magic in them, which will eventually be seen by the Little Boy and everyone who had the eye for magical happenings. With what the Little Boy called "ammunition," there will come great and grand adventures for the little lives that will encounter those shards that came from the Ivory Tower standing on top of the tallest mountain on top of the World.<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;"></span><br />
<blockquote><span style="font-size: 78%;">Minor note: Since there was no figure that represented the Sun and lightning bolts together, I used Goddess of Lightning by Feodome (top left). In the Light of Things (middle) was made by <a href="http://timett.deviantart.com/">Timett</a>. Ivory shards were not on Deviant Art so The Wish by <a href="http://merensheritra.deviantart.com/">MerenSherita</a> was chosen (bottom left).</span></blockquote>Chad the Coffeeholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229121187721196328noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6474845952015584504.post-3446746259718067232010-02-14T19:42:00.000+08:002010-02-14T19:42:26.019+08:00The Father and the First First-Born SonFor about four days, there has been no movement within the Ivory Tower. On top of the tallest mountain on top of the world, the Master of the Ivory Tower, the Little Boy, was intent on looking into the past, fast forwarding, and following the life of a man that had two sons.<br />
<br />
It seems that it is an ironic story of atonement, which captivated the Little Boy's interest although there was no magic involved in it. It just seemed so sad for a boy who was locked up on a tower with nothing to do but to look at the World beneath him, so he tuned in to this one man.<br />
<br />
The man in this story is known as Jose. He had two sons, Joseph and Jason, which were generations apart. The first son, Joseph, was born of Jose's first wife. Shortly after giving birth, his wife died and he was left a widower; Joseph was left an orphan. In the lush land of the Philippines, this wouldn't have been such a sad story except that Jose was poor. Because of that poverty and his love for his son, he decided to go abroad, into the land of sands, Arabia, to tend to the black gold that they were abundantly extracting from the earth.<br />
<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8Qp1fwtuOFw/SmN76wA0YrI/AAAAAAAAAX8/mQA69Gwt3oY/s1600-h/Bound_by_Lidialikesgummybears.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8Qp1fwtuOFw/SmN76wA0YrI/AAAAAAAAAX8/mQA69Gwt3oY/s320/Bound_by_Lidialikesgummybears.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360264230751986354" border="0" /></a>With Jose gone, the baby, his little Joseph was left alone, orphaned, not by Death but by Fortune, and lived a life of sadness and old fashioned love. He was raised by his grandfather. The old man, being old and old fashioned, didn't know how to care for children anymore save for one adage: discipline is love. While Jose was away, when the grandfather would play cards, and with no one to look after little Joseph, he was often left tied up by one ankle to the window grills of the house. There, he would look sourly and jealously at the neighbor's kids, playing and laughing their hearts out in the dirt. Sometimes, unable to help but want to be happy, he would cry out loudly to his grandfather to release him. Sadly, the grandfather had a temper and a slight case of deafness. As a consequence, the old man just ignores the little kid's cries, and if he does notice, he made it known to little Joseph through a very blunt messenger, a quick yet painful tap of a walking stick on the kid's head.<br />
<br />
As years go by, little Joseph was old enough to take care of himself and so, the old grandfather decided to die. To little Joseph, this was cause for celebration, not because he got rid of the mean grandfather that tied him up or beat him on the head; the death caused Jose to return home and reunite with his son, who's already 17 years of age.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, within that 17 years of absence, Jose found himself a bride-to-be. As it happened, he was writing with a stately woman back in the Philippines by the name of Elle. Elle, as the youngest of her family, was already considered an old maid since she was now taking care of his aging father. All that kept her going were letters that Jose sent her from Arabia. Yet again, the death of Jose's father brought on another form of happiness. Elle and Jose planned to marry after a year from this death.<br />
<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8Qp1fwtuOFw/SmN8XepsEUI/AAAAAAAAAYE/5ycDXt4q380/s1600-h/The_young_by_Life_takers_crayons.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 166px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8Qp1fwtuOFw/SmN8XepsEUI/AAAAAAAAAYE/5ycDXt4q380/s320/The_young_by_Life_takers_crayons.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360264724307775810" border="0" /></a>The fateful, happy day came. Jose and Elle were married, and it was a joyous occasion for the two of them. After a year, Elle bore a child, Jason, Jose's second first born, Joseph's half-brother. As a baby with a doting and, by this time, wealthy father, Jason received all the luxuries of life. As the first son of a youngest daughter, he was showered with gifts, toys, clothes, love and affection.<br />
<br />
At this point, Joseph moved in with his father and step-mother. Surprisingly, this story doesn't have an evil step-mother. Ironically, the father and the first first-born son didn't agree so well, perhaps, because of the miles and years that they were apart. Strikingly, Joseph seemed to have an understanding with Elle. He never really called her "mother" or anything of that sort, but he did show his respect by calling her "Tita," which is what people in the Philippines usually calls their aunt. Joseph never despised his half-brother. In fact, he also treasured him like a real, whole brother. One day, after coming home from an excursion in the mall, he even bought his little brother a toy that sang whenever anyone presses its tummy.<br />
<br />
To some people, this looked like a real family. However, as Elle, Joseph, and Jason grew close, Joseph and Jose grew farther from each other. Even if they were now living in the same roof, they were like two peanuts within their separate pods in separate fields in separate corners of the World. It seems that Jose didn't approve of the prolonged absences of his first first-born son. It seems that Joseph was not accustomed to answering to anyone, even to a person whom he should have been calling "father." As years went by, Jose, Elle, and Jason saw less and less of Joseph.<br />
<br />
One night, he came home with news to tell. He came home with a woman, the mother of his child. Even though Jose didn't approve and Joseph was not accustomed to authority, they seemed to have come to an understanding. Since everything was all done, there was nothing else to do but to accept this simple section of a slice in the natural course of Life. In fact, this seemed to have reconciled Jose and Joseph. The father talked kindly to his son; the first first-born son learned to say "father."<br />
<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8Qp1fwtuOFw/SmN844_5t7I/AAAAAAAAAYM/2MSyh_ygxxY/s1600-h/water_lady_by_sarasnaps.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 262px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8Qp1fwtuOFw/SmN844_5t7I/AAAAAAAAAYM/2MSyh_ygxxY/s320/water_lady_by_sarasnaps.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360265298315950002" border="0" /></a>Nevertheless, it seems that Life or perhaps, Fate was the antagonist of this story. Fate seemed to have caused Joseph to be a responsible young man and provide for his expecting wife. Fate seemed to have caused Jose to be more than a father -- he became a grandfather. With this grandiosity attached to his role and wanting to make up for his neglected son, he sent Joseph some groceries, food for the young family. On the way home to his new house, Joseph was killed.<br />
<br />
Based on what the nosy neighbors said, Joseph died on a jeepney. A drug addict was riding with him and shot him dead. As expected, Jose mourned the death of his first first-born son. As usual, a funeral was done in the rain. As usual, life for Jose moved on because in mortal terms, Time heals all wounds.<br />
<br />
At this point, the story got boring for the Little Boy. After 4 days of capturing his attention, glimpsing back in Time and focusing on the events that happened on 4 people while fast forwarding took too much of his energy. As he was moving away from his 4-day perch, a question struck him. "What was the meaning of all that? Why was it a story of a father atoning for his sins against his neglected son and a story of a reconciliation cut short?" With no answers to those questions, the Little Boy, Master of the Ivory Tower, started a fit. "Why, why why don't I know the answer?" It inflamed him that he doesn't know the answer; he who has been granted knowledge of everything by the Sun, the Moon, and Heaven does not hold an answer. With this, we will now leave the Little Boy to his rantings on top of the Ivory Tower on the top of the tallest mountain on the top of the world.<br />
<span style="font-size:78%;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-size:78%;">Credits to Deviant Art: Top left, Bound by <a href="http://lidialikesgummybears.deviantart.com/">Lidialikesgummybears</a>; middle right, The Young by <a href="http://life-takers-crayons.deviantart.com/">Life-takers-crayons</a>; bottom left, Water Lady by <a href="http://sarasnaps.deviantart.com/">sarasnaps</a>.<blockquote></blockquote></span></blockquote>Chad the Coffeeholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229121187721196328noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6474845952015584504.post-38610542753260282122010-02-08T03:20:00.001+08:002010-02-08T03:26:44.878+08:00It's OfficialO ayan, it's official. Pormal ko nang tatanggapin ang mga congratulations at pagbati niyo sa akin. Team leader na ako as of last Wednesday, February 3, 2010! Bwahahahaha! Salamat talaga sa mga nag-greet. Salamat din sa horoscope ko sa Facebook. Sinabi dun na matutuloy talaga tong promotion na to. Nyahahaha! Gusto niyo makitang totoo ang horoscope ko? Eto o:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kc3CYr_x4rE/S28SBmgxzkI/AAAAAAAAAKc/olV5jUcVesU/s1600-h/horoscope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kc3CYr_x4rE/S28SBmgxzkI/AAAAAAAAAKc/olV5jUcVesU/s400/horoscope.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Hay, hindi ko na-save. Sayang! Kasi naman, yan lang ang tumamang horoscope ko. Weh! Anyway, it still goes to show na hindi dapat balewalain ang horoscopes. Ahahaha!<br />
<br />
It's also official. Nabawasan na rin ang time ko para sa blog na ito dahil marami na naman akong pinagkakaabalahan. Andiyan ang gumawa ng reports tuwing gabi. Katabi non ang paghahagilap ng mga reports na dapat kong matanggap mula sa team ko. Parang Easter na nga eh - hanapan ng reports na para bang Easter Egg Hunt. Naku, kung alam niyo lang. Nag-checheck pa ng attendance na para bang teacher. Kulang na lang, pag-sabihan ko ang team ko na magsabi ng "present!" <br />
<br />
Andami ding nawala dahil nabawasan ang time ko talaga. Hindi na nga ako nakakapanood ng American Idol at Glee. Hindi na rin ako makapag-DoTA. Yung Torchlight, natapos ko na yung main quest pero no time na rin para doon. Hindi na rin ako nakakapunta sa blog ni Jason, Ate Ayie, at iba pa. Gusto ko rin sana magre-layout ng blog ko at gumawa ng sarili kong design, pero wala na ring time. Hindi ko na rin maisulat yung mga Tagalog kong mga kwento. Buti na lang, may spare pa kong mga nakatype na kwento. Kung wala... lagot. Patay na naman ang blog na to. <br />
<br />
Sana, transition period lang ito. Siguro, once I got the hang of it, magagawa ko nang ibalanse ang work and personal life ko ulit.Chad the Coffeeholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229121187721196328noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6474845952015584504.post-22483614784531593712010-02-07T00:12:00.001+08:002010-03-21T00:04:03.609+08:00Amaris and the Paper Airplane Prophecy<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8Qp1fwtuOFw/Sl968jq6l5I/AAAAAAAAAWs/ZjLrPuwQj6s/s1600-h/Lady_of_Dreams_by_windfalcon.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359137262380160914" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8Qp1fwtuOFw/Sl968jq6l5I/AAAAAAAAAWs/ZjLrPuwQj6s/s320/Lady_of_Dreams_by_windfalcon.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 320px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 214px;" /></a>One cloudy, melancholic morning, the gates of Heaven opened up to let an angel, Uriel, fly down to the World and bring good news to a high-spirited maiden named Amaris. As the angel was flying down, blazing through the sky like a flaming bird, the Little Boy, Master of the Ivory Tower, laid eyes and ears on her. On top of the tallest mountain on the top of the word, the Ivory Tower's Master heard the angel muttering and sputtering, "Ave, Amaris! The One True God promises you success in that matter that you dread doing. Stand up, accomplish your deed, and give glory to the One True God!"<br />
<br />
As the <a href="http://thecoffeeholic.blogspot.com/2009/07/legend-of-ivory-tower.html" style="font-weight: bold;">Legend of the Ivory Tower</a> would have it, the Little Boy was incarcerated in the tower because he professed great knowledge that displeased the Sun and the Moon. The crime was blasphemy and pride and the punishment was futile knowledge of everything that concerned the Four Corners of the World. Even so, the Little Boy had not learned his lesson; he was still proud of getting attention to himself, so when he heard this angel, this absent-minded Uriel, fly across his horizon with news to bring to Amaris, he wanted to the deliver this news and pose as God's messenger.<br />
<br />
Though the Sun and the Moon built the tower out of ivory and made sure that their prisoner can only perceive the epiphanies and the revelations of the four Dominions, they were not able to control an unfortunate piece of paper that was blown over and into the Ivory Tower by Hamsin, the southerly wind of Israel. With this wind-blown piece of paper, the Little Boy saw an opportunity for mischief. He wrote Uriel's message down, folded the piece of paper into an airplane, and sent it flying towards Amaris. The little paper airplane of a prophecy flew fast, for the Little Boy possessed the knowledge of origami and aeronautical engineering. He was so brilliant that the paper airplane flew faster than Uriel. However, his aim was not good; the little airplane was supposed to land on Amaris' lap in Israel, but it landed in Lebanon on the lap of a girl with the same name.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8Qp1fwtuOFw/Sl9zKoIeCHI/AAAAAAAAAWU/EEtkIEe6z-k/s1600-h/untitled__by_rose_emily_power.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359128708003006578" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8Qp1fwtuOFw/Sl9zKoIeCHI/AAAAAAAAAWU/EEtkIEe6z-k/s320/untitled__by_rose_emily_power.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 226px;" /></a>If Amaris of Israel was high-spirited, Amaris of Lebanon was a weak, introverted, and hesitant in personality. Amaris of Lebanon never did anything. She didn't think that she was strong enough, good enough, nor useful enough for anything. However, this didn't mean that she didn't have innermost desires. She wanted to go out to dinners with her friends, but she feared the dark. She wanted to become a nurse, but she thought she might not be capable of caring for sick people. She wanted to go to the zoo, but thought that she might get lost. More deeply, Amaris of Lebanon, of all things, wanted to cure herself of the fear of vampires.<br />
<br />
As she is capable only of little things like turning book pages, she loved to read. In her room, she read books that were written to dispense courage and knowledge. Through her reading, she read that having sanguivoriphobia, the fear of vampires, should not concern her for the learned men think that vampires are not real, and she will never come across one in any of her lifetimes. Nevertheless, she was still afraid of vampires and of almost anything that she thought she cannot do.<br />
<br />
As it happened, the little paper airplane landed on the wrong hands, the wrong Amaris. With her curiosity piqued, she unfolded and read the message on the piece of paper. As the message was divinely inspired, although it was handed down to the wrong person, the message was enough to inflame Amaris' courage and do all the things that she planned on doing. She went to a dinner party of one of her neighbors, which brought them amazement. She studied to become a nurse, which her ailing parents supported for the most practical reasons that their aching arthritic joints snapped at them. She was successful. After 4 years, she graduated and lived a life of courage and success. Even so, she wasn't happy because she has one more fear to face.<br />
<br />
With this sanguivoriphobia left uncrossed on her list of things to overcome, she sought her parents' blessing to face this fear. "Amaris, vampires are not real," said her disapproving mother. "Even if you waste your life looking for vampires and use the next lifetimes that you will live, you'll never come across one, so leave it be. Let yourself be afraid of one thing," counseled her coughing father. "No, father!" Amaris cried out. "You named me Amaris, 'Promised by God.' That is all true and I've received this letter, this promise from God. I shall see a vampire and conquer my fear of it!" With those words, she left her house to seek a vampire.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8Qp1fwtuOFw/Sl9zdGFwNJI/AAAAAAAAAWc/meUtqMhW-Nk/s1600-h/www.russianpaintings.net_paintings_from_photos_22_original.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359129025282323602" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8Qp1fwtuOFw/Sl9zdGFwNJI/AAAAAAAAAWc/meUtqMhW-Nk/s320/www.russianpaintings.net_paintings_from_photos_22_original.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 298px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 320px;" /></a>As luck or the promise of God would have it, it didn't take long for her to find a vampire. As she was walking in the Jeita Grotto on Mount Lebanon, she stumbled upon a sleeping shape submerged in the soil of the inner sanctum of the grotto. As many phobic people know, there is an automatic, almost precognitive sensation when coming across the object of fear. It was like a trickle of cold sand down her back for Amaris. She knew that she found a vampire. It was already dusk when this happened so she decided for herself that the vampire must wake before she renounced her fear. She didn't have to wait long because the vampire chose to sleep deep in the subterranean cavern where the light of the Sun does not reach. As the Sun tuck its last rays in the West, the vampire woke and saw that Amaris was standing over him.<br />
<br />
"My name is Amaris, and I am not afraid of you -- not anymore," she proclaimed.<br />
<br />
The vampire raised an eyebrow. "Ow, is that the truth? Why are you not afraid of me who drinks the waters off of the Red Rivers of Life?"<br />
<br />
"I am Amaris, ‘Promised by God.’ He, the Most High, told me that I will succeed in anything that I dread doing. I dreaded your kind even though you were thought of as non-existent. I am here, brave and standing -- proof that I have already succeeded in my deed," answered Amaris as she held the paper prophecy that the Master of the Ivory Tower sent flying with trembling hands.<br />
<br />
"Did your god promise you that you'll live to say that you succeeded? Did your precious revelation tell you that you'd continue to breathe after your deed? I do not claim that I know your fate nor your god, but I do know myself enough to say that you will fail in the bloodiest manner," triumphantly taunted the vampire.<br />
<br />
With a quick step and a deep kiss on the nape, Amaris fell dead, drained, and defeated in the deed that she thought she could succeed in. The vampire was victorious and, once again, wallowed in the red waters of the River of Life. After feeding, he took the paper containing the message that the girl blindly believed. He noticed that there were creases that caused him to fold it back into a paper airplane. As a joke to God and His glory, the vampire went out into the Lebanese night, climbed up Mount Lebanon, and let the paper airplane fly back to Heaven.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8Qp1fwtuOFw/Sl90y831KLI/AAAAAAAAAWk/1HONgAeVxMk/s1600-h/Paper_plane_by_verificus.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359130500276758706" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8Qp1fwtuOFw/Sl90y831KLI/AAAAAAAAAWk/1HONgAeVxMk/s320/Paper_plane_by_verificus.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 320px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 238px;" /></a>Like a redundant redundancy, the airplane, the paper that Hamsin blew up to the Ivory Tower some 4 years ago flew back into the tower and crossed the horizon of the Little Boy, the Master of the Ivory Tower. As he was granted faultless perception, he saw the sad fate that he had caused Amaris. He saw the paper airplane that he sent out and caught it in the wind, but contrary to his initial design, his intent to beat Uriel in delivering a divine revelation, he was only successful in leading a girl into a foolish feat and a deadly doom. There and then, the Little Boy, on top of the Ivory Tower, on top of the highest mountain on top of the World went into a fit while sputtering and muttering that he needed practice in aiming paper airplanes to reach the right destination.<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;"></span><br />
<blockquote><span style="font-size: 78%;">Thanks once again to Deviant Art for giving me <a href="http://rose-emily-power.deviantart.com/">rose-emily-power</a> (Sad Eyes, middle left), <a href="http://windfalcon.deviantart.com/">windfalcon</a> (Lady of Dreams, top right), <a href="http://verificus.deviantart.com/">verificus</a> (Paper Plane, bottom left), and Google Search that lead me to Russian Paintings <span style="text-decoration: underline;">and </span><a href="http://www.russianpaintings.net/artist.vphp?author=87">Matrehin Alexander</a> (Canyon, middle right).</span></blockquote><span style="font-size: 78%;"></span>Chad the Coffeeholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18229121187721196328noreply@blogger.com5