[35]

This is a record month of barbecues. I've had two, skipped one, and there's one coming up really soon. At the rate I'm ingesting carcinogens... Bad news.

Barbecue #1: Germaine's.
Pearl and I hung out at her house the entire afternoon watching The Dark Knight. One single movie. Whatever happened to our movie marathon/Supernatural fest?! Next time we've got to be more efficient.
That said, it was rather relaxing. No stress, no hurry, nothing to do except laze on the couch. I really need more of this.
Come to think of it, we forgot to take a photo together.

Barbecue #2: Alumni barbecue.
It was quite fun, especially the Pictionary and sparklers part.
And this part is really short 'cause I don't know what to say. There were some nice sparklers pictures, so I'll share them when they appear on Facebook. Hahah.

Today was a day of miracles, because Donald replied my email and Ernest added me on Facebook. Amazing.

[34]

Batch of 2007's christmas gathering/dinner.


The compulsory group photo.

It was really nice to see people I haven't seen in ages and ages. Though only about half the batch was there, it was pretty successful. Goodness knows how much effort the planners (Jerome, Reuben, Bong, and Brendan, if I'm not wrong) have put in for this. Thank you all!

Everything's kind of different, but still the same. No doubt it's (ahem) wilder than christmas parties from college days. Amazingly we didn't sing... Okay, we tried to. The "Huh carols again?!" sentiment was far too strong so we gave up. Not that I was complaining, hahah.

All of us have changed, at least a little. Army and university lives do affect people somewhat. BUT. There're still lots of little things that I've been seeing since we were still in college that I appreciate a lot more after being to university and NOT seeing this kind of considerate acts there.

Easy camaraderie doesn't come by that often. That night, just sitting to the side, watching friends talk and camwhore and catch up on lives and simply enjoying each other's company was enough to make people feel content.

[33]

Sonnets by Edmund Spenser: (30) from Amoretti

My love is like to ice, and I to fire:
How comes it then that this her cold so great
Is not dissolved through my so hot desire,
But harder grows the more I her entreat?

Or how comes it that my exceeding heat
Is not allayed by her heart-frozen cold,
But that I burn much more in boiling sweat,
And feel my flames augmented manifold?

What more miraculous thing may be told,
That fire, which all things melt, should harden ice,
And ice, which is congeal's with senseless cold,
Should kindle fire by wonderful device?

Such is the power of love in gentle mind,
That it can alter all the course of kind.

And, this just goes to show that love is full of oxymorons, ironies, and what-nots.

[32]

Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night by Dylan Thomas

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Villanelles are simply amazing. And incredibly difficult to write.