twenty-o-four

so this is it. merely hours away from 2005. thank goodness!!! i can't barely wait for this year to end.

having said that, 2004, however, is arguably the best year of my life. why? a lot of "firsts" transpired in what i would like to call "the most tumultous rollercoaster ride" i've ever been in in my 25 years of existence (that, coming from a guy who never even rode a rollercoaster). so what happened to me this 2004... hm, lemme give you a run down (in no particular order):

:: the first time i dropped out from a subject in school. the subject was knowledge management, an elective that carried with it a three-unit credit in a 36-unit program i'm currently finishing. i felt really sick after i filled-out the "dropping slip." i spoke to my adviser about it and i promised that next semester i'd be working extra hard to make up for it.

:: that same semester, it was also my first time not to complete (finish) a subject (financial management). our finance subject was really hard (damn hard i tell you) but i enjoyed every minute in class. unfortunately, because of work loads and conflicting schedules, i wasn't able to submit (comply) with my final paper. it was a miracle i even lasted until the end of the semester and managed to complete the final exams for that subject even without the benefit of a review (not to mention missing out on two meetings before the finals). i spoke with my professor on that subject, and she said "sayang" (read as: "tsk tsk tsk" in english) because i got the highest score on the final exams... but she just couldn't give me the grade and the credit because of my final paper. dang!

:: the following semester, after promising to myself (and to my professors) that i'd work extra hard, i took a leave of absence from school.. what a bummer. why? work and personal reasons that's why. i felt like i was spreading myself too thin on various commitments and activities on work... whoa!!! me? spreading myself too "thin?" that's certainly a first hahahaha!!!!

:: the first time i was in a delivery room and actually see a baby being delivered... right in front of me. my wife did a great job on giving birth to our second baby, alex. but the tension and the suspense and the drama in that room... i swear... i thought i couldn't take it. i thought i'd pass out (espcially after seeing blood) and find myself inside the i.c.u. four hours after because i just had a minor stroke or something. anyway, it was a very... well... i couldn't explain it, but it felt great!!!

:: the first time i felt i travelled too much that the mere sight of a plane, bus, car, van, or ship really made me sick!!!

:: the first time to play 20 questions with someone without the aid of alcohol. enough said.

:: the first time i was travelling on my birthday, and no party (or beer-drinking contest) was held in my honor. damn it!

:: the first time i had to pick a coffin for a dead relative.

:: the first time i had to deliver a eulogy inside a church.

:: the first time my picture landed in major broadsheet dailies because i had to sign a memorandum of agreement in behalf of our company (that was such a thrill hehehe).

:: the first time i picked up a guitar in four years to play a song i played about.. well.. four years ago.

:: the first time to write a poem in nearly three-and-a-half years.

:: the first time to get my feet wet in an agricultural business.

:: the first time in eight years that i got really tired of life.

:: the first time i realized that life was also sick and tired of my whining and complaining.

:: the first time i took a step back and tried to evaluate where i am. kind of a "from the outside looking in" evaluation. and i tried to put things in their proper perspective too.

well, that was that... my twenty-o-four in a nutshell. well, it was one hell of a rollercoaster ride. and yes, it was the best year of my life. i wonder how next year would be. who cares? i say bring it on!!!

i'm out.