Dawn Mass

There is this practice we have here in the Philippines where we wake up morning for 9 days before Christmas to celebrate mass for the coming of Christ. I haven't really got to try this since I was born? If ever I did when I was little, I had already forgotten that. So this year, i decided to give it a try. How did I fair? I got five out of nine this year. Not bad considering I had a struggle with a bad cough within the nine days I have to wake up and go to church. According to the homily of the ninth mass, the priest said I am a silver medalist since I got five. I'll aim for gold next year. The priest said in order to get a gold medal, a devotee must not miss a single day which means I must not skip a single day. Until then, I'm staying faithful as I'll be.

Here is a picture I took on the dawn of the last day.

@ around quarter to six in the morning.

One thing I noticed while attending the masses is that it seems that there are "vampires" amongst us after all. You see, during my experience of participating these dawn masses, I notice people leaving the church right after communion just before the priest gives out the final blessing. Now why do I call them vampires? Because the sun begins to rise the moment people are having their communion. It is so weird that mostly people who go out early also have chairs which gives them no reason to go home as early as to those who stand up the whole time, like me. No need to fuss about this though, just decided to conclude that those who go out early either have work as early as six or they just live farther than any of us who decide to wait for the final blessing. So don't be alarmed. I'm not claiming that vampires exist. Just a disclaimer before I end this. Merry Christmas~!

New Year's Resolution

Another set of resolution to be set for the year 2011. I decided to list some.

• Always love no less than the yesterdays. Take what is given and want nothing more.
• Be more spiritually inclined. Don't skip Sunday mass! Skipped it from 2nd Q 2009 to 3rd 2010. Confess all sins and never give in to temptation.
• Save more, spend less... A must! Remember assets over liabilities. Think twice or more before spending. ( maybe except December? )
• Never empty out the ATM. Always leave a four-digit figure inside in case of emergencies.
• Follow a healthy lifestyle. Minimize soda intake and drink more water!! No more over-eating. Must follow strictly meal intervals without skipping of meals.
• Should exercise more. No more whining. I whine?!? seriously..? Jog rain or shine and don't be a couch potato on weeknights/weekends.
• Do better at work, at least better than '10. Be more pro-active! Should see an increase in performance. I need more self motivation.
• Learn to say "no". I have a difficulty in saying it. Why? I just don't know!

Total: 8

Might add more later on. I'll give myself until the 31st of December '10 to finish this.

Coffee Craze

Hi! I'm Jan and I'm a coffee addict...

Coffeeeeh~!

Best way to jump start my day is a cup of coffee!(does not apply now) I've been addicted to it since I started working as an On-the-Job Trainee where free coffee is just a single button away! The bittersweet taste that lingers in the mouth. The kick it gives that boosts your body. The shot of adrenaline that enters your system. Now? Just a drink I enjoy for the taste of it. If there are any whack of it left, I don't feel it anymore. Ever miss having that sudden rush of energy when I drink? Not anymore. I still enjoy every cup of coffee I drink though minus the stim pack effect (Starcraft reference). Just yesterday morning, I had three cups of coffee from three different varieties all drank in a span of one hour! What a joy that was having to taste different kinds of coffee. Having tasted different kinds of coffee be it iced, brewed, espresso, frap, instant, or whatever else there may be forms of coffee, I think my Holy Grail of coffee is to taste the coffee in Italy. Perhaps by then, I'll end my quest of coffee tasting.

Never Gone

It's been a long time since I've written a free-verse poem. Well, here it is.

Never Gone

by Jan Michael S. Sanchez

It all started when I got to know you.

oh how you never ceased to amuse me.

As time passes by,

the feelings I have for you started to grow.

This is my life's turning point.

the search is over.
I could not have asked for more.
for now I have you...

There is nothing in this world that can replace you.

My life revolves around yours,

and it shall for as long as I am breathing.

Whatever the circumstances,

I shall not falter nor let go nor surrender.

Constantly finding ways possible to keep you happy.

To accompany you in life's ups and downs.

Wipe every tear you shed of sadness;

and replace them with tears of happiness.

I have forgotten all the pain that had passed;

now all I want is to do is create memories with you to cherish,

cherish for a lifetime.

You have shown me love no one else did.

I will always love you.

I'll always be here for you... Arlyn.

Missing Puzzle Piece

My Missing Puzzle Piece. Now I am complete...

How can you tell if you have found your missing puzzle piece? You first have to see if it really fits. There is a big difference on how you said it fits. Did you fit it because you wanted it to or did it simply fall perfectly in place for it was meant to be there? In my case, it's the latter.

No one really knows how it works. I mean, you really can't tell when that piece will ever come. Another thing is, are you really are looking for that piece? Or are you are just waiting for it to come to you? If you've found somebody, ask yourself, are you ready for this over and over again? If you can't come up with a straight answer, then at all means please don't. Nothing good will come out if you are not sure with your decision.

I am very lucky to have found mine. If you haven't found yours, I'm sure there is someone out there for you. All you have to do is believe in yourself.

Bottomless

Bottomless Bottle

The bottle that's never empty. I decided to give this to my girlfriend, Arlyn, with something in it of course. A bottle that once was filled with my favorite coffee is now my gift full of different treats. If I still remember it correctly, the first was some chocolates I bought from Japan. Those bite sized chocolates with little milk chocolate on top. Followed with Hershey's Nuggets (Special Dark with Almonds), some assortment of Lotte Ghana milk chocolates, Cream-O premium sandwich cookies which was in a separate container (can't fit those in the bottle but left a note to where the cookies were located in the bottle instead), and now is filled with regular M&M's. The M&M's is the first thing I've placed in this bottle that is not individually wrapped. Just an experiment I'm trying out for another scheme I have in mind.

Hammock Incident

It's never easy to control one's self when it comes to being in a Hammock incident. Despite all the tests, I am really doing my best to handle it. I believe that waiting for the right moment always brings out the best in things. And the most important factor of waiting is not patience but time.

Time makes the wait worth more than what's present. Time heals even our deepest of wounds. Time gives us great memories to cherish. Time teaches us to learn from our mistakes. Time is definitely gold.

So why am I saying all of this? About tests, all the waiting, and about time being so important. It is because that every single moment I am with you, I feel so happy. And all these tests, all the wait, and time are going to be worth it in the end. I just know it. I know you know it too.

(For those who did not understand this, you might want to read Boy Meets Girl. It's a good book to read.)