Day 06 - Of Endings and New Beginnings

To everyone who made my 2010 an awesome one, thank you.

Admittedly, 2010 wasn't exactly a walk in the park but I had lessons to learn, sometimes the hard way, but I managed to pull through. It made me a lot tougher. I don't even cry as much any more (hence the need for computer eyedrops because my eyes are running dry quickly). The stress and pressure made me feel a lot older but not grown-up. Well, not yet but I'm getting there slowly, I think. But despite the hullabaloos of this year, I'm still thankful for a lot of things. I met new friends, bonded with old ones, and terribly missed others who I wasn't able to spend much time with. There were a lot of first-time experiences, a roller coaster of emotions.

But it had been fun and full of nostalgia and I couldn't think of any way my 2010 could have been.

And to 2011, I'm just hoping for the best. Throw in a couple of adventures and escapades. I'll be fine. I'm getting used to the roller coasters anyway. Haha.

I think it's quite sad...

...that when I look at old photos I suddenly think "masaya pa ako dito..."

Not that I'm not happy now but I think I was happier back then. More carefree. And don't give a damn about things that much.

Day 05 - Resolutions

Doing a New Year's Resolutions list is silly. I don't think I have ever done anything I could actually cross out on that list.

I don't like changes much. They rattle me and leave me disconcerted for a while. And they take so much effort to go through with. I would complain about how things are so repetitive and how boring they would get but somehow, I'm fine with it. Because then I would know how things will go and what to expect from them. Besides, being monotonous is sort of the "easy way out" sometimes.

But it's a new year and I ought to have some resolutions. Perhaps I could say that I ought to not make any resolutions this year. That if I feel like doing something, something that I think would make things better, would make me better, then I would do it. And maybe, in the process, I could convince myself to not lean so much towards an alternate reality no matter how much better it seems to be.

And it pains me that I cannot write like I used to be...

...that my thoughts are unending but no words can make them real.

Day 03 - Accomplishments

As far as accomplishments for this year can go, I'd say it has to be the fact that I finally made it to the dean's list (after five years!). Well, I did work hard for that (except for our thesis which was still sort of non-existent that time) even though Japanese was the only class I really did enjoy. And Sociology, occasionally (because of the field trip and unending jokes in class).

On another note, there's one thing I also consider an "accomplishment" for this year. I've been tougher, I think. There were a lot of times that I thought of giving up on something because I thought it was too much for me already but I held on. Tough times make you tougher unless you let it bring you down.

And I think I'm also a bit grown up. Not that I consider that an accomplishment.

Getting Things In Check

It hasn't been a week yet since Christmas break started but I think I need some reality check. School work's piling up already! D:

And so, as always, I am doing this checklist to make sure I did not forget anything (I rarely check my planner these days).

Here's my things to do before the year ends:

• CE180 project/homework
• JSP104 homework
• thesis (/wrist)
• update blogger (okay, so I owe my blogger lots of stories. i get it.)
• send Karin a Christmas card
• email him a Christmas greeting
• have fun

Well, that's not really a lot... I think. Okay, I take that back. Considering thesis is on that list, I'm in for some serious trouble if I don't start now. But I promise I'd blog about my Christmas soon. Hopefully.

Day 02 - Friends

Bes and Cy

I've known them since we were in grade school. We used to hang out under this tree that we claimed to be our "secret hideout"  (which really isn't that much of a secret because no one would miss that spot even if they blinked) and we promptly named the small clearing Hundred Acre Woods aka HAW. But I haven't seen them for a while now. I'm in Manila most of the year, Bes is here in Legazpi and Cy is in Catanduanes. I think last we've met up was way back in March. We were planning a trip to Catanduanes last sembreak but it didn't push through. Hopefully we can have an escapade sometime this summer. I miss you guys.

HS batchmates

This picture was taken years ago (2003, I think) when we were still all totoys and nenes. Haha. I miss highschool because of them. They always made it more fun and bearable. I mean, living in a dormitory left me with some homesickness issues and they were just the bestest company you could ever ask for. They're like family. I really miss them, too and I wish I could hang out with them more often but I've been too busy lately that I've been rejecting their invitations one after the other. Sigh. Maybe after graduation I would have more time in my hands. There's definitely a lot of catching up to do with them.

Block U2

This was taken during our OrSem days way back in our freshman year. I remember writing in my journal back then that U2 is the best block ever. And now, five years later, that statement still holds true. Hanging out with our batchmates is fun but it's a different kind of fun when I'm with my blockmates. I feel more at home with them. I consider them my brothers and sisters in school just like I did with my batchmates when I was in highschool.

ECE 2011

This is my extended family. If my blockmates are my siblings, then they would be my cousins. I miss the movie dates/gimiks with the girls. Last time we did that, we were still in third year, I think. We should go out more often once we're done with our respective thesis. The guys are okay. I mostly end up in squabbles with the those from U1, though. They always bully me so I'll throw in a punch in return. Those from block U are nicer. Why can't they be more like them? Hmph.

AECES EB 09-10

ROOTS

Last Three Days of the Year

I stumbled upon another blogging "challenge" in tumblr and since it's about looking back to what has happened during the whole of 2010, I decided to do it.

Day 1 (12.26.10) : Reflect Yourself about EVERYTHING. Don’t you dare miss a single fact.

Day 2 (12.27.10) : Old and new friends, describe them!

Day 3 (12.28.10) : Biggest Accomplishments

Day 4 (12.29.10) : The Worst of 2010

Day 5 (12.30.10) : New Year Resolutions

Day 6 (12.31.10) : The last day of 2010; say your goodbyes to 2010, and say your hellos to 2011!!

Signs of Being Computer-Dependent

I caught myself doing something stupid again earlier and I remembered all those times I did something stupid which made me realize how much dependent to computers I really am.

• You are reviewing for an exam and you reach out for the mouse/touchpad/arrow keys to turn the page of your book.
• You are browsing through a real photo album and you hover your finger over someone who is not familiar to you and you expect their name to appear beside their face.
• You are taking down some notes in class and then you pause to move your hand to press the 'Ctrl+S' key to save it. Then you realize you are writing in your notebook.
• You are drawing in a piece of paper and you made a wrong stroke so you automatically move your hand to press 'Ctrl-Z'.

Well, at least I've only experienced those so far. I hope it won't come to a point where I'd be looking for a charger for my notebooks. Or wait for them to boot before I open them. =.="

For what it's worth, I want to talk and I really really miss you but I have no idea where in the world you are right now because you just left like you never even existed in the first place.

Jumpstart

I can't get in the mood to do anything.

This wouldn't be much of a problem only if it weren't for the fact that I have a paper to write and a video to conceptualize and create which are both due on Monday. The fact that I also have a kanji quiz and a skit presentation in my Japanese class on the same day is not really helping. And I'm also having some sort of a panic attack right now.

It's just that... I've been thinking about a lot of things and I cannot concentrate on anything.

I think I need a drink. A really really strong drink. And lots of antihistamines, of course, because I don't fancy living through the whole of next year looking like I've been stung by a bee all over my body.

I think I also need a good kick. Or a slap in the face to wake me up.

Snap, snap, Rachel. You're running out of time.

A is for Alarm Clock

I honestly need a good alarm clock. One that would make sure that I'm out of bed at least an hour before my class. It would have to be one without a snooze button, definitely. And something that would be pretty damn difficult to turn off.

Christmas Alphabet Wishlist

I'm a bit delayed in starting my Alphabet Wishlist so I'll just post twice for a couple of days to catch up on all twenty six letters before Christmas.

I'm actually having a hard time thinking what I want for Christmas so I came up with this kind of wishlist. It's pretty challenging, if I may say so. Haha.