A Scary Tale

It's almost Halloween, and considering that the month of November is the start of the chillest period of the year, a lot of Halloween stories came up on my mind. Some stories are humorous, while others are spine-tingling. But for the purposes of making your trick-or-treat funnier than scary, I'll share a funny school story regarding Halloween.

Every night in various school campuses in Metro Manila, there are ghosts of both living and deceased graduates roaming the campus. Walking around the campus seem like a scary thing, with empty classrooms, closed offices and less students. Those students who remain to endure the night usually attend to org meetings, club practices, extended study hours or night classes. There is a feeling that the ones who once studied there show up and greet you sarcastically, as if they were born again. Nights like these in school can raise your hair up in fear, unless you have company near you.

Around 9 pm, a friend of mine was still in school doing thesis. At the time almost everyone have gone to either their homes or their dorms, and that there were no more classes after 9, but she insisted to continue working on her proposal till the school closes at 10. She logged on to Facebook, and posted a picture of the school hallway in the dark of the night. I then commented on her photo, begging her to go home because the graduates' ghosts are coming to haunt her. At first she resisted, but eventually relented in fear for her life. Nights like these can seem like amazing for her, but in the end, safety is still a priority.

A lot of Halloween stories have been familiar to you, but this may be the best one yet. Anyway, Happy Halloween to all!!

Brightened Days

Today is the birthday of my good friend Camille Barrios (a.k.a. DJ Millie). And to those who have been good friends with her, allow me to share a story.

Camille and I go a long way back. We first met somewhere late in our fourth term (first term of soph year). At first I had no idea on how we met, but once we started bumping into each other often throughout sophomore year, I started to realize how friendly and open is she. Gradually our encounters became lengthy discussions and soon enough we grew like siblings in a family.

We became classmates twice during my three years in college. In my penultimate term Camille and I were groupmates in statistics class, and she helped me overcome 'math fright'; after all I never liked math since I started college. With her help I found out how easy basic statistics was. In addition, since we were doing thesis then we were able to help each other in dealing with all the problems regarding the creation of our respective thesis. During breaks or after-class hours we also helped each other in dealing with personal problems. Camille's good-natured personality made me feel comfortable.

We were supposed to graduate together in October but Camille's thesis got into the way. Just weeks before my thesis defense I felt so distraught that I retreated in the safety of my room and let my tears out. I couldn't stop crying because we were so close to this moment, and yet she wasn't able to make it. One day, while I was still teary-eyed, Camille messaged me on Facebook, asking me to be happy and to be positive about, and then I asked her to keep the faith. On that day I realized that with all the things that we've done to each other, we knew that we had our backs together and with all the support in the world we knew that anything is possible.

Thank you Camille for making it a beautiful day. Once again have a happy birthday, and enjoy whatever remains of college.

A 21st Birthday Message

Tomorrow (Saturday) marks another milestone in your life. A moment you deserved to hear.

We've been friends for three years now, but it seems like eternity after all the minutes I've spent in this very spot near the photo copier in SJ. However I regretted that we should have been friends sooner than that. It was so unfortunate that I never had the chance to be friends with you for my entire college life, which for the first four terms were spent in virtual anonymity. I wished for a lot more.

Being friends with you, however, made me feel a lot comfortable. I owe you a lot for developing a special bond with your teammates and friends, and for helping me inject some confidence and belief amidst the most difficult of struggles. I've survived college with your help, now I hope I can help you if I have the time.

You've been one of the smartest people I've ever met, and also the most hard working. You had the bob when I first met you; three years and a few inches of hair later, you were still the same Kyla Olives that I've witnessed for a majority of my college stay, ever the balance of enthusiasm and of wisdom. And even as you age, you'll always be remembered for being one of the most fun friends I've ever met.

Happy 21st birthday, Kyla. I'll never forget you for your kindness and respect you showed me throughout my time in college. 'Til then.

Addicted to Vinyl

In the age of digital downloads, iTunes, iPod and internet radio, one particular musical medium remains valuable to our parents and grand-parents alike: vinyl records. While CDs (and digital downloads in particular) have supplanted the LP as the main musical outlet for consumers, vinyl records continue to exist as collector's items for not only the older, but also the younger generations yearning for the old days.

Two such vinyl record outlets exist in Makati Cinema Square and in Tiendesitas. There was once a vinyl record outlet in Kamuning, Quezon City but it no longer exists. The stores in Tiendesitas situate near the antique furniture stores. When you get to see a variety of long-playing records your forefathers used to play, you may think that it's still in good condition. Unfortunately you may not look at it that way. First of all, the sellers sell the vinyl records in a furniture store and with chance of dust potentially hurting the quality of these records. In addition they do not have any of the vintage phonographs to test the record's quality. For any record hunter, the ones in Tiendesitas may not be the right choice for buying a good quality LP.

The record stores in Makati Cinema Square provide a lot of good finds for vintage LPs. In addition to a library of vinyl records inside, they also sell vintage turntables in good condition. Some of them also offer LP to MP3 transfers as well. They also sell 12-inches EP singles of select 80s club hits, ones usually heard on 80s radio programs. They also allowed test playing to evaluate its condition, something that the Tiendesitas sellers don't offer. And since it is located indoors, the sellers there ensure that the products are well-maintained and in good working condition.

In addition to the now-defunct Phoenix Record Store in Kamuning, Music One in Greenbelt, Makati was once a great source for collecting vinyl records. Sadly, the store closed in late 2010 owing to the emergence of digital downloads as a major force in the music industry. This goes to show the gradual decline of what was once a very blossoming industry, which now belongs to only two major record stores: Odyssey and Astrovision.

With the domination of all digital formats over physical consumables such as the CD record, does this mean the gradual extinction of what was once a standard of determining the success of a particular album or song? Unless the loyal music lover would be encouraged to buy authentic and original records, it may come to the conclusion that the 'MP3 had killed the DJ.'

Art in the Heart of Greenhills

Greenhills is known for its high-rise condominiums in the Annapolis-Eisenhower area, the first-class residential communities, an indoor-outdoor shopping mall, as well as educational institutions such as OB Montessori, Xavier School and Immaculate Concepcion Academy. There is a building, however, that attracted my attention.

Ronac Art Center, located at the tail end of Ortigas Avenue, just opened a year ago. The building's postmodern style makes it a terrific landmark abridging Greenhills and nearby New Manila in Quezon City. Its spiral staircase is easily recognizable, as well as the white sandstone walls adorning the exterior, whose texture resembles that of tofu.

At the basement are two establishments: the Jagnus Design Studio which focuses on interior design, and the Bunker Obey Flagship Store which sells high-end footwear and other clothing. If you are into interior designing and with an eye for creativity and awe, then the Jagnus Design Store may just be the place to hone your creative skill.

There are three restaurants at the ground floor: the Jozu Kin Japanese Restaurant, Yoggle Frozen Yogurt Bar, and Charlie's Grind and Grill. Charlie's is usually frequented by Xavier students because of their delicious, fire-grilled American burgers, packed with fire and energy to keep their momentum going. My favorite in this floor is the Secret Fresh store which links to the art gallery in the second floor. This store sells various toys and collectibles, and if you're a fan of contemporary comedy programs such as Family Guy, The Simpsons and South Park, they sell miniatures based on the characters from these programs.

At the second floor there is the Uratex Mattress store, where you can buy comfortable mattresses and pillows for a good night's sleep. The third floor is known as 'The Playground', consisting of a hardwood basketball court and a running surface above it. This place is great not only for basketball practices, but also for other events such as fashion shows. Finally at the fourth floor you'll find various lifestyle stores designed for the fashion chic or dude like you. One of my favorites is a branch of the Titan Sports store. Though smaller than the bigger, flagship store located at Bonifacio High Street, it still offers never-before-seen footwear that you may have only seen in the U.S., particularly player-only editions of Nike basketball sneakers. For the athletic, sporty one, the fourth floor of Ronac may be the one you're looking for in terms of high-end footwear, headwear and tees.

For both the art-conscious and the fashion-conscious, a stop to Ronac Art Center may be the adventure you were looking for. Just drop by the iconic spiral staircase at Ortigas Avenue and enjoy, play and dress up for the latest in fashion, comfort and creativity.

When Pac-Man (the Video Game) Ruled the World (Conclusion)

Back in the 80s, Manila and its closest neighbors lied mostly in grass and with roaming cows and goats to boot. There were no modern condominiums to speak off, the malling industry is still in its infancy, taxis have no aircon, and even then there were less flyovers or MRTs to speak of. This doesn't mean Manila was quieter than it was now, however. Ayala Avenue, Mendiola and eventually EDSA were the nerve centers of rallies against President Marcos, which reached its peak from the moment Ninoy Aquino was killed in 1983 to when his wife Cory ascended the presidential throne in 1986. That EDSA Revolution of February '86 set the stage for other peaceful revolutions in Eastern Europe that eventually led to the fall of communism in 1991. Of course, Pac-Man was an obscure commodity in Manila then, because of its cost.

When Michael Jackson went from black to white that year I was so surprised looking at the King of Pop's photos circa 1986. I thought he was bleaching his own skin when I look at his transformation, which included his nose, of course. Also, when Madonna constantly reinvents herself during this time, I was always enamored with her constant change of look. And when teen sensations such as Debbie Gibson, Tiffany and New Kids on the Block took over the airwaves around 1987-89, my cousins during their youth were ecstatic and fierce over listening to their songs. However, one dominant musical genre in America was noticeably absent in Manila.

Glam metal was a prominent musical fixture in the late 80s. Bands dress up in spandex and tease up their long hair with hairspray. They have the elements of 70s progressive rock, arena rock and heavy metal, combined with the use of a synthesizer and glossy production values. The dominant bands of this genre include Bon Jovi, Poison, Van Halen, Ratt, Heart, Whitesnake among others. Even though Def Leppard had a similar sound to American glam metal, they dress like blue-collar workers, same goes to AC/DC. Guns N' Roses brought the sound to the extreme, wearing punkish outfits along with their sound influenced by garage rock and part 80s glam metal. This genre, however, was noticeably absent in Manila, where new wave music was dominant due to its catchy hooks and constant improvisation. Of course, no one is to blame on why they were listening to Depeche Mode, The Cure, and Tears for Fears among others instead of the aforementioned glam metal groups.

Upon downloading them, I somehow liked them, and added them to my playlist. To this day, I still listen to glam metal just to feel good, but I still shrieked on why Manila's airwaves in the 80s were devoid of the hair and the arena theatrics.

There was no MTV per se, but at least there was Video Hit Parade then.

Anything political I would only discuss a little in the two posts regarding the 80s. These posts would make people aware as to how things were great then, and how a lot has changed now.

When Pac-Man (the Video Game) Ruled the World

Johnny Rockets restaurants epitomizes the meaning of 'throwback': vintage jukeboxes, timeless transistor radios, old-school waiters' outfits, even classic furniture and menu boards. Johnny Rockets pays homage to the 50s drive-thru restos in the U.S. It's like turning back the clock to 1955, when Bill Haley and the Comets rocked around the clock.

My favorite decade, however, was the 1980s. It was the decade of advancing technology, such as the CD, the PC, and video games such as Pac-Man. It was also the decade of 'Thriller', the end of the Cold War, MTV, and even spandex and wild hairstyles. The synthesizer dominated the musical landscape, whether it was pop, post-disco, dance, new wave or hair metal. Some guys are meant to look dapper, such as Robert Palmer.

I got fascinated with the 80s back in high school. Even in the world of MP3s and social networking, the 80s remain fixed through my ears. I remember when my old high school used to have a jukebox in the canteen and I played one 80s song from there and I got danced to the beat, that to this day it was so catchy that when I listened to this song I just grooved like crazy. Nowadays, though, thanks to internet radio and downloadable sites I can access to an endless library of 80s songs and listen to them over and over again without any interruption or commercial breaks.

Remember back in 2003 when I first watched a Celtic game on TV? That of course was Game 7 of the 1987 Eastern Semifinals between Larry Bird's Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks, back when Solar Sports was the NBA's primary outlet. Nowadays, there's BTV, and every once in a while I would catch up with a classic Celtics game from the Bird era, particularly my favorite game: Game 2 of the 1986 first round between the Celtics and Michael Jordan's Bulls. Even in the current Celtic era of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, I still state that the reason I became a Celtic fan was because of watching an 80s Celtics game.

Of course, that was the time when athletes' uniforms were tighter than today. You got the short shorts in basketball, the pullover shirts and stirrups in baseball, and even the infamous Cooperalls (the long pants) in hockey. I still consider myself lucky because, even though the Red Sox flubbed an attempt to win the World Series in 1986, the baseball world was fortunate that the Yankees, aka the most accomplished dynasty in all of baseball, failed to win even a single World Series and saw upstarts such as the Royals, Mets and Twins won it all in a three-year span in the mid-80s (1985-87). Had the Patriots never blew themselves out and defeated the Chicago Bears in the Super Bowl in 1986, they would've been the first championship team instead of the 2001 Patriots. Of course, the Bruins of Ray Bourque and Cam Neely came to prominence in the late 80s, only to be denied by a buzzsaw known as Wayne Gretzky and his Oilers.

There will be more 80s talk in the next segment.

Gone Too Soon

A few weeks before my batch graduated, I was shocked to learn about Ms. Nicole Gaba's sudden resignation from the USG. Only now I learned the ramifications of her leaving, in that she's leaving the 'Three Stars and a Sun' for good. Personally we don't know much about each other but I feel sad about what happened. Indeed, there are times that not all of our obligations are meant to be fulfilled.

Three years and eight months earlier, my batchmate Cara Zamora left us late in frosh year to migrate to the U.S., where she resides today. Even before she left I was already informed of her decision to move and I reluctantly accepted it. Still, her departure left me wondered, 'What Might Have Been?'

On the contrary, I had some friends who were admitted to DLSU way too late. Jay Laurel, my good friend, is on his fourth year in college but is only in his second at the Taft campus. Back in 2009, my batchmate Kyla Olives arranged the transfer papers for Jay to move to DLSU. Before then I didn't know him so well because of his infrequent visits to the tambayan but once he checks in for good, everything fell into place. And Jenny Yupangco, another good friend of mine, was only in her third year in DLSU whereas she is on her fourth year overall. Had they passed the DLSUCET in my senior HS year, they would've been batchmates of mine instead of being transferees from another college. There is a phrase that says 'Not every thing is home sweet home,' which explains that it's not all the time that you'll be comfortable in one place.

The ebb and flow of college goes on and on. Not every moment deserves a happy ending. In the end, our decisions dictate our lives, even if it's a reluctant one.

To Our Friends Left Behind

First of all, not all of us were able to make it on stage in time to receive our 'dummy diplomas' and pins to celebrate the end of a wonderful college career. For some of us, there came some unfavorable circumstances that delayed your march to the stage in togas and mortarboards, reasons which are self-explanatory. But that doesn't mean you no longer have the chance to march on stage someday.

To our batchmates Paola, Adi, Garren, Mikee, Bub, Lexi, Jhen, Ja, Lara, Camille, Clarie, Francis, Thea, Erika and others, we may have left you too soon but that doesn't mean we'll forget everything about you. As we have done so many times in our college lives, we'll continue to support you in your journey towards earning that much-deserved diploma. We think you deserved walking up the PICC stage and earn the pins and diplomas a lot with your patience and hard work. Ika nga, 'Good things come to those who wait.'

Of course, waiting was the hardest part of it all. But waiting presents opportunities to dab into other things. We didn't know Paola would take care of Green & White 2012 as its EIC until she approached us one day, and then told us that she would sacrifice the opportunity to graduate with us in order to preside in the creation of the yearbook. Of course we knew Paola as a consummate college student in more ways than one, in which she will never be satisfied towards any work until it has been accomplished. Adi, of course, dabbed in some camera work for some time while he and Francis are in the creative process for their thesis. And Lexi has found a new career as a travel guide while still working on her thesis. Opportunities do have its positives.

And while we the graduates are in either rest mode, party mode, job hunting mode or simply in bumming mode, we'll always remember that there is always light at the end of the tunnel one day, and we all hope that your time will come one day.

'Till We Meet Again

Saturday morning.

We lined up inside the PICC like soldiers in a parade position, waiting for the line to move. As the minutes tick and the line not moving, we used this time to take pictures in anticipation of the inevitable.

Saturday afternoon.

The graduation rites were finished, so now it was time to pose for more pictures. The more photographs taken, the more memories were created. We savored the moment of finishing college on a high note.

On that day, the dream of making it to the podium and receive our commemorative pins and diplomas was fulfilled. Every one of us flashed smiles on our faces, exchanged hugs and kisses, and tossed their hats in triumph of finishing college. We all had a great ride, and all the moments we had through three years of success, hard work and sacrifice were completed in one single toss of a mortarboard.

The dream that began three or so years ago, as strangers trying to adapt to a new environment, finally culminated on October 15, 2011. Let's face it. Back when we were doing LPEP, we were a given a crash course into the Lasallian lifestyle. During our frosh year, we were introduced to the words 'Beach House', 'Agno', 'Lair', 'EGI' among others, and endured long elevator or staircase trips to Andrew building. In soph year, we were introduced to Mrs. Sibayan and her complicated theoretical mindset. And in junior year, we sacrificed so much sleep just to finish and successfully defend our hard-earned thesis. Some of us would also dab into other extra-curricular projects as a way to spread one's wings. No matter how difficult and trying they come we still overcame them through hard work and commitment to each other.

And now we reached the point of fulfillment. As we waited for our names to be called, our thoughts were on each other and in the future. Uncertainty filled our minds, as every single second ticked like a time bomb that will explode soon. We knew that our moment had come. As our names were finally called, we not only flashed smiles of satisfaction, but also thanked God for all the things we've done to make it on stage. And as we sang the Alma Mater hymn for the last time as students, we basked into the moment of glory, triumph and victory.

That hot October afternoon, the last thing we did was to cry, but instead we laughed, we smiled, and smiled some more as a measure of satisfaction and gratitude. We knew that we had become grown-up men and women, ready to walk forward into the white-collar world. Every day we kept thinking about our future, forming visions in our head like dreams in the sky. And now that our dreams will be put to the test, we'll hope that we find new careers that will define our legacies as individuals.

As the final images were taken, we knew that we were moving on and into the unfamiliar confines of the white-collar world. But there will come a day where our paths will cross again, and when the time comes, we may remember so many cherished memories in every conversation we make. 'Till then, savor the moment and be proud of each other.

Written in the Stars

Wednesday morning.

The sky is cloudy, and the temperatures a little cool. But unbearable sweat poured on some of our friends' pores. Still, we were excited and thrilled to see my friends picking up their graduation garb for today's practice.

Wednesday evening.

Rain poured from the night sky like a bunch of meatballs. We just braved the cramped conditions inside the parking lot of the Sports Center and we're so tired from a long day's worth of pre-graduation initiation. Still, we overcame the rain like we were soldiers in war, even if it meant risking our own clothes and our shoes.

Our graduation practice was just the first step towards educational emancipation. Graduation itself is the final step towards realizing a lifelong dream. That dream began three years and five months ago, as strangers in a different world. We bonded, and bonded, and bonded some more, till we became family. As the years wore on we became wiser, more experienced, and more creative. Every assignment, project, quiz, exam and lecture we overcame, till we reached the ultimate point of defending our thesis as a way to cap off our college lives. And we defended them bravely and with conviction, like some gladiator fighting a lion in a Colosseum. And once our professors signed, sealed, and delivered them, it was on for the final touches.

On this day, there were no tears flowed. Those tears come in on Saturday. But the feeling of graduation as being our last time together is sinking in. We just couldn't hide them as being our last get-together. Three or so years were like eternity for us. For us, it was a day of remembrance, nostalgia and triumph that we'll never forget.

Last June we witnessed some of our batchmates march on stage to officially close the door on their collegiate (and educational) lives. This Saturday, it will be our turn to march forward. We may leave behind some of our batchmates whose turn will still wait, but let's hope that one day you'll be one of us.

As Tinie Templah sings, "Oh, written in the stars a million miles away. A message to the main, oh. Seasons come and go, but I will never change. And I'm on my way." As we walk on stage, we'll be indeed, written in the stars.

No Jackpot for the Favored

The Red Sox are not in the playoffs this year Neither are the Braves. Both were victims of a late-September collapse that knocked them out of the playoff picture after being in contention for a majority of the season. But they're not alone to share the pain.

Surprisingly, however, the two teams favored to face off in the World Series were also buried early. The Yankees and the Phillies, teams with the home field throughout the league postseason, uncharacteristically flustered in the endgame by unlikely participants. Who would've thought the Tigers would survive a rain-interrupted Game 1 to eventually win Games 2, 3 and 5 on the strength of its pitching staff, or the Cardinals winning close in Games 2, 4 and 5 thanks to its bullpen and defense? Home field alone (or home court for indoor sports such as basketball) doesn't translate to automatic wins. You need to have the grit, the desire and the determination to win it all.

Ask the Bruins and their infamous 3-0 collapse in 2010 that drove them to win the Stanley Cup last June. Ask the Spurs who recently coughed up their top-seeded advantage against the Grizzlies in the NBA Playoffs. Ask the 17-0 Patriots and their Super Bowl collapse against the Giants in the 2007 NFL season. The favored have the hefty expectations, but were unable to translate them into playoff (or championship) victories. In the end, the underdogs sometimes win. The playoffs in every sport always look at the unexpected. Any big mistake will be doom to many.

So now the League Championship Series will look like this: in the AL, it's the redemption-seeking Rangers vs. the surprising Tigers; in the NL, it's the formidable Brewers vs. the unexpected Cardinals. Let me pin on something: I'm cheering that both the Rangers and Brewers win so that someone will earn their first World Series title if they meet. This is something I'm looking forward to. Good luck.

My Majors Mates

I came to DLSU in May 2008, and my first friends were my blockmates. In January 2009 I was introduced to my course's other block, and in June 2009 to the double-majors block. In those three and a third years I got along pretty well with my fellow majors mates, especially when dealing with the major subjects, thesis and even the stringent professors.

The first of my majors mates graduated in June. This October, a bulk of this batch (myself included) will be graduating as well. How time flies. I knew that when my final term began, I'm confident that I'll be graduating with the majority of my majors mates in October, that's why I worked very hard on finishing both my floatings and thesis in order to reach that goal.

I actually became closer to my college batchmates than to my high school mates, but by saying that I'm better off with friends from college than to my high school batchmates is an understatement. I recently attended a batch reunion last July to downplay that.

But back to my college mates. I had the privilege to be classmates with all of LR19 from first to second year of frosh year, and sporadically from third term on. I also had the privilege to be classmates with all of LR17 at some points. However, I never had a chance to be classmates with some of LC18, especially during majors classes. I may feel disappointed, but I still maintain contact with them. I grew up helping and getting help from them while taking our majors and thesis, at one point I even became the cover of a magazine in another class' INTPRIN finals. That approach served me well, as I managed to earn consistent passing grades in my majors.

Now as we head to the podium and earn our diplomas, I'll never forget the times I've spent with my majors mates. Even when we move on for work, we'll never be missed.

Kyla and Jay

I first met Kyla back in soph year, her hair still shorter then. I met Jay somewhere late in soph year, but it wasn't after he transferred college in my junior year that we started to get along. Little did I knew that they've been together for an eternity.

Kyla is currently in senior year taking double majors in communication arts and advertising. She was one of five fellow commarts from Assumption Antipolo, along with Marsha, Anya, Cynch and Patty. She has been a member of the softball team since frosh year, and a perennial dean's lister, thus she has been able to balance academics and athletics. During breaks she frequently resides on a bench near the SJ building, along with her fellow teammates. When I met Kyla during soph year, at the time I was approaching Gaby, a teammate of hers and a classmate of mine then, for help during economics class. As the days went on, I was gradually acquainted to their world, and I mean, their tambayan. At times Kyla would bring in some relatives of hers and introduce them to me. One such 'relative' happens to be Jay, her long-time boyfriend.

Kyla helped facilitate Jay's transfer papers to La Salle late in my soph year. When junior year came, I didn't waste time dealing with a dude that seems very accommodating. Upon his transfer he brought along Carly, his younger brother, who enrolled as a frosh. At first, I didn't want to deal with Carly because he was stubborn at times. However, as the months wore on I was beginning to understand him a lot for he was a prankster among the group, and for whatever reason his pranking really served me well. But back to Jay. He was a senior transferee then, and his adjustment to the Taft life has been tremendous at best. Despite the fact that he had to sit out two years before he could make the top tier of the school's baseball team, he had been able to practice and bond well with teammates. For Jay, waiting may be filled with tension, but waiting may well be worth it.

I would've not survived college without the two of them, so I feel thankful that Kyla and Jay played a huge part in making college life meaningful. I may be leaving now, but they'll not be missed.

October Requiem

First of all, over the past few days I wasn't in a good mood to write a blog, still following updates on the graduation list which has been ongoing since the second week of September. And now the calendar turns to October, and with all the updates almost complete I can now start writing again. First things first, the inevitable just happened last Thursday.

I was watching the Rays and Yankees, and following the Orioles and Red Sox, and the AL Wildcard was on the line. Just when I thought Jonathan Papelbon could at least put the Red Sox into a tie-breaker, he blew it in the bottom of the 9th that allowed a game-winning hit for the O's Robert Andino. Later on, the Rays sealed Boston's fate with an Evan Longoria walk-off homer in the 12th. And just earlier today, Terry Francona's time as manager is over. The Red Sox won two World Series (2004, 2007) under Tito, but missed the playoffs in his final two seasons. The Red Sox are done, so my attention turns to the Phillies, Brewers and (in the AL) Rangers to win it all. I don't want the Yankees to win their 28th World Series title, that's all.

With the Red Sox's season over, attention is now on the football Patriots and the hockey Bruins. The Pats are looking for their fourth Super Bowl, while the Bruins are seeking a repeat Stanley Cup title. I'm only hoping that both teams escape injury and inconsistency to earn the big one. What about the NBA? I'd rather wait for 2012 instead of now; the labor stuff is so messy right now.

Now on to the bigger stuff. I'll be looking forward to graduation. The next several days will pay tribute to some of the people that helped me through the years.