9:01 PM So what's with the numbers? I guess, one way or another, what we choose to do with our lives becomes part of some study or statistic somewhere. 

For some, that which we see with our own eyes and experience with all our other senses can never be simplified or presented in an arbitrary table. The reports are devoid of the stories and the emotions. The papers are lifeless but straightforward. I guess for some, that's a way by which life gets simplified. 

A simplified life of black and white, of right and wrong, and of ups and downs. Maybe that's how fate works. In retrospect, that's how weaving works. Aren't the fates weavers?

It's interesting that amidst having met so many in this lifetime, everyday living has become mundane and jaded. 

Maybe tomorrow will be better. Here's to hoping.

 10:18 PM Random items are on my desk. I guess I've just been too preoccupied to put things in order these past few days. I have a designated spot for each one but working on it at this very moment does not seem too enticing. 

There are days when our energies are up and we face the day head-on with determination to check off all the things in our to-do lists. But, there are also days, when we're barely able to tick off one. It's daunting. Overwhelmed by the work and everything else in between, we sometimes just need to pause. 

To breathe. To take it all in. And to re-evaluate. 

We might never get to finish everything all at once but remember that we'll eventually do enough. The trick is to be mindful of ourselves. 

Rest a while. A quick refresh will do wonders. 

 7:57 PM Everything's more or less done. Sure, there is still a lot on the to-do list but so far the day has been a productive one. Got the major tasks done with a bit of room for improvement. 

Tomorrow's going to be yet another day to wake up and go through the day's motions. It's interesting to see that with the little improvements made before up until now, seemingly challenging tasks have become run-of-the-mill ones. 

I've yet to find the next mountain to conquer. At least for now and for several tomorrows, art would start to take center stage. 

11:53 PM Some days seem to just go on. It feels like it takes longer to finish than others. Today is one such day. 

The sun set early and walking along the pavement and the streets took a while. Streetlights and shops already had their lights on. Good thing it wasn't raining. It would've been more challenging to travel. 

Somehow the walk was soothing though. It kept me from thinking so much about what to plan next. I wasn't going fast nor was I catching my breath but my pace was steady and my steps were deliberate.

Everything was familiar. The scent. The sounds. The transition of lights as I pass by each building, shop, and house. It's okay. This is okay. I am okay. 

9:22 PM Watching a series on my tablet as I write documents for submission, I contemplate what will happen several months from now. Will I still be here? Will it still be the same routine? Waking up and going through the motions is just so mechanical. I'm actually really happy because of the break and it feels like somehow I got to recalibrate a little. 

9:08 PM It was just today that I was able to join a colleague visit someone from the hospital. Hospitals are those places where I would go there if I need to but would most often than not opt not to.

The rooms and hallways were white giving it that dull but sterilized look. Can't the wall have much more color? I think those in there would be much happier. Do you think so? Maybe if there were kids there, they'd know what I'd be talking about.

Lord, grant me good health so that I'd be able to live a long, happy and colorful life. 

9:15 PM Today, we were sent new schedules. I read the updated listing during a class that I will no longer handle in the semester. There were just a few kids present. There were only eight to be exact.

9:17 PM This is the first week that I'd get to conduct formal classes and lectures. So far, so good. I am enjoying my schedule this semester and hope that the kids will enjoy it too.

I've prepared and identified a breakdown of what topics we will be covering throughout the semester and I hope we'd be able to follow through on them all.

Lord, may you grant a mixture of fun with all the learning we'll be having in all the classes for this semester.

10:20 PM I received an assortment of gifts a while back. Maybe things are finally looking up. I guess my days aren't so bad after all. I enjoyed flipping through the character reference book.

I was a bit down lately but then things got a bit better. Maybe... just maybe... tomorrow will be a sunny day too.

Lord, thank you for all the blessings. 

8:10 PM I took a nap a little while back and now I'm in front of my laptop typing away as I take a bites from my chocolate bar and often take swigs from my water bottle. It was a long day.

My day started relatively early as I was required to report to work by 7:30 am. The challenge of getting started means having to restart standard procedures and work routines. The schedules were not yet distributed and personnel and facilities were not yet ready yet one needs to work with the facilities that was available. The day went on and classes were through with assignments successfully given out.

Lunch was a welcome break. I am thankful for it for over the meal, we have shared stories of old. I miss this kind of relaxed conversations, the ones where you reminisce yesteryear for it has its own charm amidst being part of the past.

Traveling to the province capital on a hot day was not what I was looking forward to in the later part of my day. The 45-minute commute felt longer than it normally did for I was sleepy and part of the way I was under direct sunlight! Luckily, the moving bus provided enough air to keep me from sweating so much. As I got off the bus, I made my way to a government office, where I was instructed to go from one person to another, from one place to another just to acquire a single piece of paper. The transactions as I have observed could have been made more efficient if only the personnel had little empathy towards their clients.

In the end, I had acquired the paper and the knowledge that fortifies my perception of such a government office--bureaucracy is deeply rooted in our society. As I commute home, retirees were loudly chatting away as if they own the public transport.

I sighed. I was tired. It was a long day.

Lord, grant me patience to work through the many challenges of everyday work and living. 

8:08 PM ...and so a new term starts. It does not have the usual hype of being around for the first day. Maybe everyone has gotten used to new beginnings by now or maybe because the delay caused the hype to run out. Whatever the case, what is apparent is those that I've met today seemed all too drained.

We strive for outputs... for perfection.. for productivity. However, have we forgotten that we are but humans and not machines? Have we forgotten that we get tired and may even need rest?

My question is... how do we even begin when we're low on fuel and do not even know or haven't even felt that the previous term had ended.

Dear God, please grant me rest for my soul and body is tired and weary.

9:58 AM The week's been a hectic one. There's no regular work just yet but the tasks would make you stick to your seat for hours on end. So I am thankful for this weekend lull--a time or even a day to just simply slow down before the work weeks starts again.

I love the quiet neighborhood that I am in. There is enough background noise that is bearable and allows a break from being so stiff silent. At this point, I'll be off to some other website trying to find music or liven up the mood.

8:27 PM It was generally good day for relaxing. I didn't engage in much work but then maybe I need to find a good book to get me inspired once again. As of now, the neighbors are currently listening to music on their phone a little too loud. I hope they'd soon decide to use headphones.

Lord, let me be more tolerant of these little everyday distractions. Also, make the neighbors be aware of their actions and how it affects others within their surroundings. 

11:18 PM Since I have decided to resume writing and blogging, I was scouring the web for good designs for my posts and pages. I have to look, upload and test several of such designs whether there's a good fit to what I envision as the look and feel of my project.

After several nights of searching, just a while back, I have found it! They are good designs that fit well with what I have in mind. There's still a long way to go as per customization but then at least I know and believe I am going in the right direction.

"You can do it!"

More often than not, I say this more to myself than to anyone else.

Lord, thank you for helping me find the resources for starting this project. Grant me grit as I see it though to its success. 

9:08 PM There's this familiar app most of you probably already know that was shown to me today. It was installed on a smartphone. Swiping right means you like the person in the picture and swiping left means you're not interested. If by chance both of you swiped right, you'd be able to talk to each other. Interesting concept. I also found it superficial.

I believe connections should me more than just that. I mean... It's rare to have people upload images without filters nowadays so I guess the app is just used for passing time and talking to random strangers. Their stories may be interesting or unique but one can never truly say its a hundred percent real. Maybe, there are those who made lasting connections there but I prefer talking to someone in person. That's just me.

Lord, in this world where communication is done with ease, help me make real, lasting and positive connections with the people around me. 

10:30 PM It has been a long day. There's the usual line, lunch break, and then the routine movements of having to write things down on paper as one matches the records from the computer screen. Maybe the line will be a lot less shorter by tomorrow. Hopefully, tomorrow will be better.

Tired. Not the tiredness that one gets out of lack of sleep but just from being drained. The lack of a real break or holiday is starting to take its toll.

When one starts to feel like one need to drag oneself out of bed, maybe there's something in the routine or in life or living in general that needs to be reviewed.

Stop. Breathe.

Lord, I am tired. Help me keep up with the demands of everyday living. 

7:44 PM I am at my desk typing away at my keyboard. These last couple of days, I’ve noticed that the evening comes earlier than usual. Maybe because we are in the latter part of the year or maybe because the time can barely wait till Christmas comes.

Anyways, the second semester starts before Christmas. Actually, the first day of class is tomorrow! Yep! There’s no stopping it. Hopefully, it would be a lot less stressful and hectic than I anticipate it to be.

As of today, I got teach kids about the basics of a spreadsheet software and later in the day I got to restring my guitar. I love the sound now. It is freshly tuned and there is no rust in the strings.

Note to self: practice more music.

Lord, thank you for today. Amidst the rainy weather, I am grateful for the opportunity to be productive.

10:23 AM Okay. So this is the second entry for today. Actually I am rewriting the draft I made an hour back. Too bad I wasn’t able to save it. Anyways, I updated the program and since no prompts were made, I thought that the draft was save. But then lo and behold! It’s a clean page!

Well, this is nice though, I get to write a new entry for today. It’s a little sunnier than when I woke up. The cool morning was the result of the drizzle mixed with sunshine, which is a good thing. I welcome Saturdays such as this. It allows for one to pause, contemplate and at least get a breather from the busy work week.

I love that there is just that random background sounds testifying to the usual quiet rural living: vehicles passing by mixed with chirping birds and domestic chores.
There’s the inviting laid back vibe. It beckons me to just sit in a corner drink warm coffee and read a book. Hmmm~~ Maybe, I’ll do just that. 

5:28 PM So far, I haven’t had much reading. My mind is filled with the thought for having to be somewhere later. I ask myself why am so bothered by it. I take a deep breath and then tell myself, “It’s okay. You can rest.”

Lord, please allow my weekends to be free of fret and worry. Allow me to face the tasks I have to accomplish with grace, empathy and wisdom. Remind me of the things that I can do as well as the things that I have to entrust to you.

10:30 AM I've pretty much lived within a routine. I get up, dress up, go to work, go home, sleep and then repeat the cycle the following day. Yep! It gets a little too old very quickly and I do need to allow for things and activities that try to shift them around. It doesn't necessarily have to be major activities or even going out. It's just simple things that break the cycle like painting, writing poetry, reading non-work related books, or even just walking along the city sidewalks. Just something to get me out of the stupor of being in a routine will definitely help. Don't get me wrong. I like the regularity and predictability of a routine but it also leads one to the life of a typical human robot or zombie.

sigh~~ I think now I need a cup of coffee.

6:44 PM With all that time, I wasn't able to get a cup of coffee. Well, I'll try again tonight. Anyways, work resumes tomorrow. I have things to prepare now so I guess I have to leave things here. I am not one to shy away from responsibilities but then even machines get down times too, right?

Note to self: Rest is equally important as work.

7:50 PM I'm trying to resume writing online as much as I can and I can't help but go back here. I think some way to sift through my thoughts somehow. There's a lot on my mind and yet there is nothing that I feel can take much of the pressure off. Why? Is the burden just too heavy or am I just too tired and drained from having to watch the days come and go?

We'll, I feel like I have not been productive in the past week. Maybe tomorrow will be different. Maybe, things will start getting better today.

Dear God, grant me sufficient rest and motivation before the bulk of work sets in. Help me with my burdens for you are more than enough in every way to make my days meaningful and productive. 

12: 55 PM Well now. It has been years since I have last made an entry here. I guess I have been way too busy with work and random things that translating memories into words have slipped my top priorities for quite some time. I'm quite happy that I got to writing this today then.

I've just finished fixing my cabinet and the things in it. What I came to realize was the sheer number of material things I currently have in my possession. Clothes, books and other knick knacks filled every nook and cranny or what limited space I have. With that I have decided to sell or trade some of my books.

7:11 PM Okay. Let me resume this entry. Lunch, sleep and then dinner got most of my time for a while there.

Anyways, I got to sort out a lot of my things and then was able to post pictures of the books for sale or trade. I hope they find good homes. There are some which are already reserved. I hope to add more and even be able to create posts for artworks available for sale online.

Well, that's it for now.

Lord, let me find a means to use my creativity to earn as much as help those who show interest in arts and in reading. 

Life brings a lot of challenges. Some small. Some great. Work, school and every single little task that fills up our to-do list will eventually wear us out. Our everyday interactions may leave us stressed and tired at the end of the day. I've found one among many reasons why one strives to push through all these--real friends and genuine friendships.

Today, I've found myself in the company of good  friends. We cooked and mixed drinks over laughter and stories and prepped for an impromptu birthday celebration with an assortment of mismatched plates, glasses and cutlery. There were more friends than seats to go around which I barely noticed. Well, with all the fun going on, who would've?

I really enjoyed this day.

Thank you Lord for great friends and lasting friendships. I pray for a long, happy and blessed life for our dear friend who celebrated his birthday today. 

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.  Proverbs 17:17 NIV