The Rights Romance

Disclaimer: The persons, names of persons, events and names of events may or may not be a work of fiction and may even be as a disguise to actual persons or actual events. And if you look hard enough, it may or may not be a concerted effort to make an analogy with actual Philippine TV companies and major players. Any resemblance to persons and events and their obvious comparisons may or may not be coincidental.

The Title: The Rights Romance

The Cast of Characters and a brief description of each:

Ricardo Rufus III. Off a family of the rich and the famous and is rich and famous; competent and aggressive. Knows what he wants and most of the times gets what he wants... Be it local or international prospects, he knows the art of selling himself. And most of the time, he succeeds with it. He is getting into sports nowadays after years of flirting with the idea. You could say, he is starting to develop the balls for it.

Sonny Corpuz. Could be as rich as Rufus but not as famous; bright but at times inept with his inability to express himself. Loves sports among others but he also knows his entertainment with a touch of class but lacks the punch when trying to "score" local beauties. Unlike Rufus, he's just a relatively new "player" in this field but has been making a name for himself as of late stealing away precious pretty "properties" in Pacita Manila and Natalie B. Azucena...

Like Rufus, Sonny is clamoring for the newest available damsel in distress this part of town: Fiona B. Azucena, distant cousin of Natalie. Natalie was always the hot one this side of the family but Fiona just reeks with potential...

(With a special appearance by) Mike Strong. The new kid on the block. Might as well be rich as both Rufus and Sonny. Maybe combined. Maybe just a nuisance suitor. Nobody really knows. Which makes him a very interesting, wild-card character.

The Plot and general overview of the story, some of it already mentioned in passing in recent paragraphs:

Fiona has an impending divorce with a certain Alex Brian Carando after three years of marriage. With their break-up an open secret since the start of the year, the general public, which lives and dies and breathes and lies with romantic rumors and whatnots, has speculated about Fiona's fate and destiny--- in any order.

Speculation has concluded that only two major players have been aggressively pursuing the heart of Fiona. As speculations can not be trusted, and even hasty conclusions can not be believed, there came a third player in the form of Mr. Strong who joined the fray, so to speak.

Thus, the simple plot is the simple plan of Sirs Ricardo, Sonny and Mike to ask Madame Fiona's hand, with considerations to prenuptial agreements which varies from one to the other two suitors.

The Actual Story, which may or may not involve actual dialogues that may or may not have actually happened:

January 2008. Even before the turn of the year, there were already murmurs of Fiona's spat with Alex. A spat that could mean a bitter(sweet) end for both. The rumblings in the Carando residence is that the gentleman Alex Brian is having financial problems in his latest business ventures... Losing money so fast that he could not afford anymore giving support to Fiona. As the first month of the year arrived, already the rumors were confirmed as Fiona is said to have decided to date other men--- admirably, with Alex's content.

By March to April, Fiona was said to have taken dating to another level. If reports and rumors are to be believed, Fiona exclusively dated Ricardo Rufus III for eight weeks straight! Paving for even more reports and rumors that Fiona has indeed fallen and that it was Rufus who broke that fall. Rufus reputation precedes him and it indeed helped that he is from a well-off family which most likely means a bright financial future for the the pair. Fiona was starstruck and Ricardo confidently believed that the stars have aligned in his favor.

But Fiona, a respectable if not classy woman (depends on how you look at it...) still found time to entertain other suitors. One of them was Sonny Corpuz, who showed much dedication in the few days that he spent with Ms. Azucena. It is worth noting that last year, in Fiona's birthday party Sonny appeared as guest and handled the opening program for that event. In retrospect, maybe Sonny was setting up the pawns even before any actual battle.

Late in the game, one Mike Strong put his name in the hat to join the fray for Fiona's nod... Apparently, Mr.Strong is another rich gentleman and offered Fiona almost the moon and the stars (By comparison, Rufus offered a quarter and lots of stars; Sonny offered a half-moon and a part of the sun...)

At this point of the story, you have to understand that indeed Fiona is as confused as anyone else in the same situation. After all, this is her future we are talking about. A future that will be defined by her decision... A decision that could mean a replay of the glories or disappointments of the past...

+++

Middle of May 2008. A few days before decision day.

The evening was dark and lovely as Fiona's satin dress. Earlier in the day and even the week, already Fiona's parents were pressuring her to make the choice... Mothers know best and Fathers almost always follow her better half's lead... After all, parents are the invisible hands that pushes their daughters to an unknown yet obvious desires. And Mr. and Mrs. Azucena are not so different in that sense.

+++

(Overheard conversations at a dinner party):

Rufus (after cornering Fiona somewhere in the dinner table): Good evening, Ms. Fiona. It's been awhile now, eh? Two, maybe three months now since i have showed intention... All those weeks we have been together, those are special times, wasn't it? Special people like you deserve special people like me.

Fiona: Yes, Rufus. That was the very reason why i--- and my parents--- invited all of you to tonight's dinner... i have a very errr... special announcement to make. It's---...

Rufus (brimming with confidence): Ah yes. It's such a special evening... And nothing else matters except what you decide tonight...

Fiona: Yes... That's pretty much it... Excuse me, Rufus.

Fiona stands up and tries to get the attention of everyone at the round table. Flanking Fiona were Mrs. Azucena and Rufus. Mr. Azucena, who was talkin to Mike Strong to his left, was beside his wife. A couple of guests, Sonny Corpuz and a trio of other famous personalities, back to Rufus complete the circle.

Fiona: Good evening dear guests... As i mentioned to Rufus just a few seconds ago...

(Smiles at Rufus.He returns a toothy grin)

Fiona: ... i, we, have a very special announcement to make tonight.

(Both Mr. and Mrs. Azucena stands up, the mother holds her daughter's shaking hands)

Fiona: For the past year, all of you know that me and my husband have been in a rather uneven terms... Earlier this year, i had the opportunity of meeting some interesting and real people... And i want to thank them tonight before i make the announcement... Mike, it was a short time but i felt your genuine intention... It's just that i did not get to know you better...

Mike: It was my pleasure, Madam. i do wish as well that we had the time to get to know each other better...

(Mike returns to his dinner of lemon chicken)

Fiona: Sonny. You have shown every bit of desire to be with me. i know, i have been uh, kind of aloof regarding your intention... i admit and i apologize for this, i doubted your capabilities and your past really confuses me...

Sonny: No apologies needed Fiona. i understand very well.

(Fiona turns to Rufus)

Fiona: And you my dear Rufus... It's a bit of an understatement to say that i am impressed... You have been the most... Dedicated. And more than anybody else in the group, you have shown me things which they can only dream and imagine...

(Rufus rises)

Fiona:... i have made my decision. Sonny, i want to marry you.

(Sonny is a bit stunned. Hands shaking a bit but manages to stand up and reach Fiona's hand...)

Sonny: ...

(Rufus IS stunned. His entire body shaking but managed to return to his seat.)

Rufus (whimpers): i don't understand...

(Rufus then assumes his standing position and tries to speak to Fiona or to speak to no one in particular...)

Rufus: i don't understand...

(Rufus half-walks and half-runs off the table... He stumbles a bit but managed to get his bearings back...)

Rufus (half-shout of bitterness): This did not just happen! You will regret this, Fiona!

(Fiona stares at him but looks away as he holds Sonny's trembling hands)

Sonny: Fiona, this is indeed a special evening... Mr. and Mrs. Azucena, i want to thank you for raising your child the right way... Mike, i don't know you and nobody knows you, but you have been a gentleman in all of this.

(Mike stands up and takes a bow of respect...)

Mike: Grateful for all of it, Sonny. Fiona, much respect to you and your family and good luck

(Mike respectfully leaves the table even as the other guests along with the Azucena couple took their cue and went to do and mind their business off the table as well...)

+++

Sonny: i don't know what to say...

Fiona: You don't have to say anything...

Sonny: i won't assure you anything, Fiona...

Fiona: AND you don't have to assure anything. i did make my decision and i hope--- no, it's a we now-- we can only hope that this works for now and the future... Together, Sonny?

Sonny: Yes, Fiona. Together, we will make this work--- one way and the other.

+++

Nobody knows if this is a live-happily-ever-after story. Sonny and Fiona have set their wedding sometime this year. (Fiona has yet to finish the paper works in his divorce with Mr. Caranda).

+++

What everyone knew was Rufus's story. Immediately after the momentous evening, Rufus was said to have told his close associates, friends and practically the entire town of how he "fell out of love" with Fiona.

Yes. Falling out love. Despite chasing her for two, maybe three months, maybe even more. After all, it's easier to soften the fall, rather than to soften the blow.

+++

Stranger things have happened with Love. And In Love.

+++

And even stranger things happen in Philippine TV.

+++

...

+++

Here are the significant links on various news reports over the last few months; where it started and where it will finally end up. And they are not talking about Rufus, Sonny or Fiona.

http://sports.inquirer.net/inquirersports/inquirersports/view/20080522-138037/PBA-torn-between-Solar-ABS-CBN
http://sports.inquirer.net/inquirersports/inquirersports/view/20080501-133818/Identical-PBA-bids-by-Solar-ABS-CBN
http://pinoyexchange.com/forums/showthread.php?t=335342
http://philstar.com/index.php?Sports&p=49&type=2&sec=30&aid=2008052684

Random Poll of the Week: The Life and Death Question

While there are only six people who voted in my initial poll, i must remain an optimist. (Though, i doubt this part) i am still hoping the buzz would pick up and i expect about eight people regularly taking part on this democratic process by the end of 2010.


The initial salvo was about my hair, the second one is about your life. You've voted? Now be heard. The question goes...

Would you rather...
a) Die first? (Meaning, now now and now) - You will suddenly drop dead. The memories, your life will flash before your very eyes right about now...

Pros:
+ All your problems are suddenly solved, well at least non-existent. And at worst, you can do none about it now.
+ Whatever you believe in, whichever God you have faith with, this will be it. You will meet Him at this hour...

Cons:
- You will leave behind your loved ones. Early. Very early.
- For whatever mission you had, for whatever purpose you searched for... It's simple over. (Raise your hands just above chest level, cross left over right, and right over left: It's Ovah!)
- No more text messages from ANYone. (Unless there's a Globe signal in heaven/hell) Although those text messages you want to receive are rather laconic, it still puts a smile on your face every good night and smiley and good morning and smiley.

b) Die last? (Until after every human being is dead which means you are still alive roughly 5 minutes before doomsday)

Pros:
+ More quality time with loved ones
+ Time to change your pathetic lifestyle
+ Time for a dinner or two with ANYone

Cons
- You really want to spend the last hours of your life alone?
- Everyone of your loved ones is dead before it's your time. If you ask me, that's real lonely
- Looooong wait to meet your Maker

c) Not answer the question (It's sick and it's real creepy... i take HYPOTHETICAL questions too seriously. Heck, come to think of it, i am taking life too seriously)

Pros and Cons:
You lack imagination.

Call my bluff?

No bluff, i will be a (Pro) poker player in a couple of years, maybe three. That maybe a stretch (the aspiration not the number) maybe even close to impossibility. But this is the few times when i REALLY KNOW what i WANT. How will i do it? i don't have a freaking idea. Practice through online poker games? i can't do that from the office and even get fired for it. Play amateurish poker with amateurish friends? That can get me the experience, but how will that help me improve my amateurish tendencies?

Noel Old Man's fold-now-and-forever strategy could really test my patience. Don's strange and random tactics could teach me a thing or two about organization. Che or Enteng's not-so-innocent innocent i-dont-know-how-to-play-poker-but-i-got-a-pair-of-aces looks could tell me what really poker is about--- that you don't really know jackshit about anything, you only have an "idea.

Two years maybe three... Pro poker player. i think i can do that one. And if lucky, i might just steal the biggest pot in this hand called life. We will see.

Indecision, indecision

Starting today, i'll have to put all (well,most) life-altering predicaments posted on the right side of my blog (Lookie, there's a shameless poll just right of this post). Make your voice count, the key word here is "life-altering", you can help make a mark on this lifetime!


Blame it on indecision. With this rather irrational mind, i need every grain of sanity i can get.

Irresponsibility

One of my favorite non-Math subjects in college was Philosophy 2. The subject description was, i believe, the Philosophy of Man. i liked it so much that i flirted with the idea of actually shifting to A.B. Philosophy as i was enrolled then as a B.S. Computer Engineering student. i am not sure why i considered such an idea. Maybe because of my childhood dream (True story: Prep Yearbook says "i want to be a priest") and that this course can lead me to that empty attempt. (i fell out of God's favor by that time, i assume.)

Anyway, in one of these classes for Philo 2 (Burns* Hall, 1st floor) we had a short quiz then discussion (or the other way around) that circled around the word "responsibility." It was one of the rather most interesting part of my college life (maybe entire life...) as that same quiz and discussion led to the rather most memorable "quote-unquotes" in this lifetime.

Nothing to brag about but this is what i remembered in the single time that i decided to join the recitation part of the discussion (i believe the question was on the relationship of freedom and responsibility, and i answered something to this effect):

We can only be free if we find a way, intentionally or unintentionally (meaning if we find ourselves in that situation...) to be irresponsible... Because in irresponsibility we have the chance to admit our mistakes and faults and that is assuming responsibility. This is the first step to freedom, knowing that we should be responsible and deciding what to do with that knowledge.

i know, i know it's not exactly those words but i can quite remember what i meant and that's the nearest thing to what i said in front of the teacher and the entire class. i guess i can say i was proud of myself after that... exchange of ideas.

That was the "recitation" part, there was also another exchange this time between pen and paper when we had our prelims for the same subject. The point this time was about how we can find our "real wants" (This was the exact term used by our teacher, i believe) when we live in a "workaday world."--- a normal life that is indeed routine. My answer to this essay-type question (or again, something to this effect):

The workaday world boxes and limits each and one of us into finding our true selves. The real challenges are outside the four corners of this classroom. The real wants live outside the walls of this classroom. That's why i am passing this test paper right now and will try to find my real wants outside.

Again, it's not those exact words. But am sure that it was that short and that sweet. And oh, i did leave the room after answering that one question and submitted my unfinished paper (there were other questions).

i got a B+ for the test. And i dropped that subject. Irresponsible Bastard.

Unsportsman

i hate sports. It has a way of putting you in a pedestal near heaven then suddenly bringing you to the depths of hell. Sure, you knew it beforehand, you understood that the ball is round and that this is after all a game, and ANYBODY can win that game and there's a (very good) chance to you'd be at the losing end. Yet you watch. You cheer. You wake up at 3:30 am even if you have work the same day. Then you can't watch it anymore because your team is losing. At some point, you die as well. You feel their pain. These high-paid athletes who won't ever know that you existed, you actually care for them and their teams.

Sports, i hate it.

Tomorrow, Lakers take on the Spurs even as the Celtics took game one of their series against the Pistons earlier today.

2018

We will see.

The Cagbalete Experience: How to getaway from the great getaway

After meeting Noel and Jester at Petron, EDSA-Boni (2:30 a.m., decided not to sleep and just play pool with Christian a couple of hours before that.) we went... South... In between unforced winks and forcing to gobble a Siopao (asado flavor, no dinner yet) from 7-11, Ron called and asked me which car Jester was using... i said white. White something.
(Picture above: That's isle on the right off the big one, click to zoom)

First stopover, somewhere near Parañaque or Alabang i think (zero sense of direction) to meet up with Ron and his family and other friends. Time for a yosi-break. Went out of the car, and realized it was green. A couple of minutes later, Ron jokes about my colorblind-ness. All he got was a sheepish grin.

From there, it's a three-car convoy to Quezon. Four hours later or so, we arrived at the little town called Mauban and ate breakfast in a little resto called Lech-Gao. Lechon on Lugao sounds tasty but i settled for a Chami, a close cousin of your usual pansit.














(Picture above. Noel and Ron's back)
One hour later we were at a port called Pantalan, 45 minutes away from Cagbalete Island. News reports and text messages said that a storm was expected up north. The waves confirmed it as the people upfront were wet even before reaching the island. i was dripping as well.

+++

A low tide welcomed us. Nobody quite whined especially the wet ones. Noel grabbed the cottage nearest the water. Nobody quite whined as well.

+++

The afternoon turned to evening faster than i thought. The quick siesta rushed into dinner. The day flashed before my eyes... Blame Noel's early invitation (threat, actually) for a bottle of Vodka. Add the fact that Jester brought his own alcohol with the same name... And i hate Vodka for the longest time. Ever since i puked at Bonks' carpet at their place in San Felipe, Naga. So, in short i went away before i could even smell it... Noel must be fuming mad inside because i left him high and dry. Not literally of course. But i did not want to take that risk. Make that a pukeful of risk. Noel understands. And oh, i did take a shot or two or three when i woke up later that evening, but the inuman was already over and what i drank was the leftover. No worries. i can handle that one.

Thus, Day One was about sleep and the first escape.


























Day Two. Saturday. In between text messages to Ron (officemate) and Don (former housemate) about the NBA Playoffs results were... More sleep and Gaiman... Oh, i did wake up early. And actually got a taste of the Cagbalete beach--- thanks to the high tide, you do not have to walk too far--- and swam before anyone awoke. i mean, i keep a six-pack and stuff, i don't want anyone staring at all.














(Picture above: Noel, Jester and Ron explore the island)
Utah lost and Cleveland won. Half a good news to start the morning which featured a walk along the shores. i thought it was half the island. Noel agrees. i loved the walk. Noel (always on these matters where he gets tired for NO reason) disagrees.

+++

Ron, or Noel, should have warned me that the food for the outing was served five times a day. 3 for the major meals and a couple for the snacks. So much for the pretend six-pack, it was never there anyway.














(Picture above: Abusing the Macro-setting of the digital camera; Cagbalete beach at low tide)
By Saturday evening, everyone (Ok not every one, just the poker addicts) was excited for the 3rd (?) Cagbalete Poker Championship. There were only five of us, so i thought this would be my best chance to steal this "championship." Not until i discovered that Richard, Ron's friend and one of the players for the night was a professional poker player. Not to mention Ron is another pro anyway (But we already knew that) and Noel virtually folds every hand. And Jester, who talks his way to every hand (He does back it up on most hands).

But i was "a man on a mission" (Jester) and will "play inspired" (Noel)--- i was in a very different mood by the first hand. Having had received a bunch of text messages that really saved my day (no, make that weekend). Plus, i was also gahdamn lucky that evening.

+++

i beat Jester, who was the first to get booted out, with a pair of 9. Then i risked a 3-3 against Ron... i remember the flop included a pair of K's and i was saved by the river (3) as i hit a full house... Ron bowed out because of pure luck. (Confession: i have been wanting to beat Ron at poker ever since they introduced me to the game, he is the best poker player i know. And hey this is the (former) boss that saved this life. i respect the man. So this particular feat is one for the books.)

The next two players? i had my confidence all build up. All i had to do was wait for the blinds to get bigger and attack... That i did. The Pro Poker Player that is Richard was probably cruising and wanting to get out of the mini-tournament to spend time with his family. Heck, what's a 100 peso buy-in for a pro like him? In less than 20 minutes, he was out too. And finally. Noel. The player who folds every hand. And who settles for 2nd place. And that's just the way he likes it.

+++

While the pot was small, the title comes with a sense of satisfaction. Much like my fantasy win earlier this year. This is a once a year feat. Who cares really that half of the invited guests and previous Cagbalete guests did not come. i won it this year. And i'd like to defend it next summer.

And oh, i can put a smile on Noel's face too: Going (almost) all-in on a 3-3 draw? And against Ron, my own personal hero? Run and gun, Phoenix style works! Even in poker.

+++

Final note for Day Two: Earlier in evening, Noel teased me for not speaking at all for the past 36 hours (oh really.) and goaded Ms. Eula (One of the guests, Chip's girlfriend--- Chip is Ron's friend. She talks in straight in English too.) to talk to me because errrm, well i don't speak at all.

So, over dinner with everybody else within earshot Eula suddenly blurts out a hi.

Me: Hello.
Eula: Enjoying the dinner?
Me: Yeah.
Eula (who i believe was trying to really open up this conversation): So, what do you like?
Me: Hmmmm. Errr. Well, i like NOT talking?

That, my friends, put a sudden stop on the conversation. And i was kidding. Really i was. Thank god, Eula took the joke well but did not ask any more questions.

Thus, Day Two was about that smart-ass escape. And the steal at Poker. Such a nice day all things considered.

+++

Day Three. Sunday. Everyone was a bit tired now and we were scheduled to leave right after breakfast. We ended up leaving at around noon. Eula talked to me over one of the benches and she understood my silence. . Another converted one, you could say. And oh, Chip talked to me on the boat too.

Damn it, i had a 3 paragraph rule for this 2 and a half day outing. i exceeded it and spoke 2 or three sentences more.

The Cagbalete Experience (Intro): How to getaway from the great getaway

Diego Corrales must be trembling in his grave. In what was supposed to be a nice, clean, friendly and social weekend, the exact opposite happened. Some time between Day One and Day Three, Ron and Noel took care of being not nice and dirty and i took care of being unfriendly and anti-social. The latter is rather easy to understand but we'll have to extrapolate on that one however uninteresting in the later part (or later entries) of this blog but first we go back to the two gentlemen and one dead man, Chico.
Meet Diego "Chico" Corrales, former world lightweight champion and meet Ron (controls the buttons) and Noel (controls Ron, well tries to give advice anyway) --- all of them involved for the weekend's Fight Night competition via Jester's PSP! The main card was Manny Pacquiao vs. Corrales with the Pacman climbing up one division to challenge Corrales at the lightweight division (Yes, a la next month's Pac-Diaz fight). However, Ron and Noel suddenly realized that "Chico" was not easy pickings especially as Pacquiao is listed as featherweight in this game console... Despite Packy's power, Chico was just too strong and too tough as Ron and Noel heard and felt every stiff right hook to Pacquiao's head not to mention cracking left uppercuts in the Filipino hero's ribs. (Picture: Corrales vs. Pacquiao in action in EA SPORTS FIGHT NIGHT)

The result: a bloodied Manny Pacquiao in between rounds and a disappointing (Well, Ron and Noel were not just disappointed, they were angry.) loss against a dead man. (Note: Corrales died last year in a motorcycle accident)... That was the beginning of the end for Corrales. For if you know Ron and Noel... you don't want them to get angry; for one way AND the other, they WILL get back at you.

Using Fight Night Total Control Skills and some dirty and unfair tactics, the pair pitted Corrales against a slew of opponents the rest of the way: a (b)low-blowing, head-butting Pacquiao (dirty); Muhammad Ali and Roberto Duran among other heavyweight contenders (unfair); plus a combination of both with Ali in kickboxing mode--- elbows and knees to Chico's private and not-so-private parts. (Picture: Ron, in white and Noel, in blue)

The result: a totally tormented and battered Chico. (Ron wasn't contented though as just earlier today he sent me a text message saying, "he dusted off his PS2 so he could beat on Chico some more...")

Forgive me, that's a rather very strange and far-off introduction for the The Great Getaway to Cagbalete Island (Formerly "escape", as the alliteration escaped me in an earlier entry). But maybe in a remote and weird kind of way that describes my personal getaway from this getaway. To join the escape to escape some more. Or, the out and out of the outing.

Playstation at the beach, how apathetic and anti-social can that be? No offense to Ron and Noel, because after all it's not just PSP that they attended to: they also talked, conversed and socialized with the other guests, so it's not them i meant to describe.

Me? i really enjoyed the six or eight short stories in Neil Gaiman's Smoke and Mirrors; and oh i also quite enjoyed speaking 5 paragraphs (Totaled, outside conversations with Ron, Noel and Jester) in the three-day weekend excursion.

Gahd, i had the most endearing personality in the entire island. And maybe if i can do this some more, master the anti-social skills and muster some more apathy, i will be the most interesting, most exciting, well loved person in the entire world.

The Great Escape: Off to Ron's Isle

All set for weekend's grand outing. (Which is three years in the making as former Solar boss Ron Regis invited me since Year One.)

The things that i might need or not but will bring anyway;
1 bag -
5 t-shirts
4 shorts.
4 undies.
A couple of Bioflu for the headaches.
A couple of Mefenamic acid for the toothache.
1 book, Neil Gaiman's Smoke and Mirrors--- i don't know really if i'll have time to read but...
Cellphone, freshly uploaded with Maya songs (the new album, might as well listen to it again and see if my opinion changes) + Ben Folds Five music.
Some cash --- Noel Old Man says to prepare for the poker games; i agree, obviously.
Newly-bought shades at a cheap 250 pesos - Hmmm. If a tidal wave hits, at least i look a little bit better?
Borrowed digital camera for obvious purposes (Among them probably, for this blog...)

And the memory of you sitting in front of your PC at Floor Number Ten.

i think i am going to enjoy this getaway after all. Praytell, the escape would be doubly better if i am with you.

Pressing the right buttons

This is not at all funny. Suddenly all the buttons necessary for formatting are gone from the "create message/edit posts" page in this site. i tried to look for solutions across the net and in the help pages here but i can't seem to solve the problem. So from hereon out i have to study the HTML codes so i can learn how to post pictures and various formatting needs (quote, link, etc.)

Paranoia says its the admin again blocking features of certain sites... If that is the real issue... Damn it, they just pressed the right buttons and destroyed whatever momentum i had in this writing thing. Adjust and adjust--- that's the only logical thing to do.

Avoiding Confrontations

... Instead of another day (or 1-minute) of: Hello,gpgmvdmvmdvml;amvl;admvalvalfnvlnvlndaklvnavnl
aknvlnvlnvlnadlkvnalvnalnvlandvlanlvnaldvnladnvlandvlandvlnadvlnadl
vnadlvnaldvnaldvna, i chose to be far far away from you. Far far far away as Floor Number Ten can allow...

That is avoiding confrontation, my friends. And it sucks.

Hornets' and Magic's Growing Pains

The New Orleans Hornets need to grow up while the Orlando Magic are in dire need to search for an identity. Both teams need a crucial victory today to stay in the best-of-seven series against their respective opponents.

Hornets are actually in a better situation as losing today would only mean that they will give the series lead to the San Antonio Spurs at 2-3 before visiting Texas for what could be the clinching Game Six for the Spurs on Saturday--- Of course, that's a virtual L already, especially against these defending champions. The Magic are in dire straits. They trail the Pistons by 1-3 in their own conference semifinals and need a victory today, on the road, to stay in the game. As of this writing they can't seem to find the magic at Detroit as they trail the Pistons by 5 in the middle of the 3rd quarter.

Both teams are led by their young stars, Chris Paul for New Orleans and Dwight Howard for Orlando. But only one is mature enough to handle the pressure of a must-win and the challenge of these poised former champions. And it' not superman. It's the little guy who is playing superb the entire year. Nobody, and i mean nobody wants a Spurs and Pistons best of seven NBA Finals. Do your part. Look at the schedule. Cheer for the Spurs' and Pistons' opponents from hereon out. Starting today, cheer for the Hornets and Magic. We need a buzz. We need a miracle.