Where was I?

Just living the life that I am blessed with each day...

The Internet, however, is a different story. For almost a year, I couldn't access websites such as Blogspot, YouTube, Picasaweb, Imageshack, and many more that I keep discovering. I tried to use several proxy sites but none were entirely reliable. I am riding on the back of one of them at the moment.

Anyway, Yoyo has grown quite a bit, goes to school and learning. Her most recent accomplishment is the woodchuck tongue-twister, which we spent almost a whole evening learning. She's also having her dose of art - music, drawing, story-telling, etc. Her maths are getting better and she can use the abacus much better than I could.

I have also been in constant communication with my family. At the start of this year, I learned more things about my nephew, Jordan than I could ever, and it felt very good.

Last night, I was over at my friend, Nick's place. His wife, Jai celebrated her birthday. I really had a very nice time. ACRID!

And after a month ...

From a time "when I was small and Christmas trees were tall" to "it's something unpredictable but in the end it's right; I hope you had the time of your life", I just realized that much of the things I knew I had forgotten. Either my hearing has become impaired or I didn't realize how much feelings I haven't felt.

I am writing this in this blog because I don't want to embarrass someone. She's quiet and insecure enough to even add this to her heavy load of psychological burdens. I will just call her "Lyn" but it is not her real name.

She was around my apartment last night and we were putting a video together. She was always quiet and I really had no idea why so when I had the chance to talk to her, I gave her the advice to take up courage in anything she does. Then I bombarded her with questions and realized that she has a severe personal problems that makes her withdraw from a lot of things, even making friends. I still haven't found out what is causing her recluse.

Today, she came around and she told me she felt sad reading my post on another blog. So I asked her why she felt sad. She said it was just a feeling. Then she cried and she was quiet until she left. I did hear her faintly say something that I won't repeat here. She was naturally embarrassed in saying it but I told her I heard her and to repeat what she said ... you know, COURAGE. But she didn't and the silence ensued.

I was writing something on a paper for her but she stood up and headed for the door. She just smiled and left. This was the strangest situation for meet lately, and I really don't know what to make of it. One thing for sure, I meant to guide her, and hopefully be the spark that lights up her courage.

Peace out!

My OS is splitting up

I envy Ubuntu, Fedora, Mandriva, Puppy, etc. for keeping it whole. The developers of my Linux distribution of choice - PCLinuxOS - had split up, and I am remaining a PCLinuxOS user. The other half went and formed Unity Linux. How it will be, I don't know but I am waiting to find out.

So what have I learned? Split ups are a mess. I am moderating the PCLinuxOS forum and hell went loose. The mailing lists were plagued with accusations and drama. It is early to know who are the villains and the heroes. What will I do? It is PCLinuxOS and the good hands of Texstar that got me into the Linux world so I'm sticking with my OS ... whether it continues or ceases to survive. That is just me, I am loyal. People often make mistakes about foolishness and loyalty.

PCLinuxOS is still a good OS. The repositories were left in a big mess and Texstar has been cleaning everything up. He is a good man. He has cancer but he is a good man. I am praying that his cancer will be contained and minimized. I am praying that he'll get well soon. His sacrifices are worthy of that of a legend. And that is exactly what he'll be. Texstar will be a legend in the Linux world.

In the meantime, I will get on and move forward, fulfill my obligations and responsibilities in my community, and keep advocating the use of Linux, especially PCLinuxOS to my friends and other computer users.

Can't Go To YouTube

It's been several days now, and I remembered reading somewhere that China had blocked YouTube.com for contents that are inappropriate. Why am I not surprised?

Does anyone remember when it did Wikipedia and BBC?

Having lived in China for quite sometime now, I can start to understand why there is a need for such a blockade. It is not to totally eradicate a content but to minimize the ripple of bad effects to both its citizens and the nation.

Sure, say what you want about China, and the Chinese will die loving their country.

I don't expect myself to follow their patriotism, I just try to understand it. It truly is amazing how much heart there is still left in this part of the world.

But I miss watching shorts on YouTube.

Gotta lighten up

A couple of weeks later ...

There isn't really much to write about. I've been really busy with work in school, and hardly have the time to do much of anything else.

Last Friday, we did have a small, quiet party on the first floor. My wife joined us for a bit but she had to leave because she promised to take her mother to see Slumdog Millionaire. Martin and his wife, Jane came. Art was also there. Well, we had some food and wine and beer and we had some space cake.

It was OK and I got to be so talkative that night.

Two days later, I found a few note sequences on the guitar and it sounds nice. I hope to make something out of it.

Will I be going to Martin and Jane's tonight with Michael and Mignon? Frankly, I just don't feel well enough. My cold seem to just hang about ... I just wish if I was to get sick, I should just get sick. Right now, I am and I'm not. Do you know what I mean?

I also almost messed my OS again. I should remaster.

Shower? I really wanted to but I just know that if I do, I'm gonna end up with the bad end of the stick. Perhaps I should wait a while ... perhaps I should take some medicine.

A night at Sol Latino

Well, it's done. Vincent Poisson and I as the Ten Thousand Beers had our night at the Sol Latino last night. I felt that I didn't do all that well. I felt that a lot of my friends weren't able to come and see us play.

However, one high point of the night was my seriously deep conversation with a pretty Chinese girl, Amanda. It seemed that we talked for the whole night about a whole lot of different topics from love to cheating.

I hope there will be a repeat of that.

Vincent performed really well singing a variety of songs. I think my highlight was singing one of my compositions, Waiting For You, and a number with Vinz, With Or Without You.

Changing of seasons

Last night, as I went to the canteen to buy some "bao zhu", I stared hypnotized at how beautiful the moon was. It was a clear, cloudless, chilly night and I sensed a difference in how the evening felt from other nights. There were still several ice patches on the pathways but most have cleared as if preparation for the coming of youth draped in all its innocence and beauty.

The cold isn't as harsh as it had been for the last several months. Soon, we can expect the changes in colors ... reds, yellows, whites, blues, and greens. Spring will once again be a mixing palette of life's hues.

But like the caterpillar which would soon be a butterfly, we will all be shedding our heavy winter garments, and loosen our body movements in light apparels. There'll be more outdoor activities ... and most importantly, cold beers to quench the thirst on a hot summer day.

I am really looking forward to one of the plans Michael and I have been talking about. A barbecue party outside out building, where we'd have the drums and guitars tempting passing students to dance to the rhythm and melodies, lounges, chairs and sofas where we could sit and enjoy the campus outdoor in style, and of course friends will be there to catch up on events that went on during our hibernation.

I like these ideas.