(Now playing on the stereo: Passing By by Zero7

C. wonders why Zero7's CD didn't fly with me. Unfortunately, I have this tendency to just dish out my opinions at first read or first listen. I responded that probably for me, Zero7 would go down the route of R.E.M.'s Automatic for the People: I wasn't quite sure what I'm supposed to get from it but I gave it 20 listens before I give up.

Lalalalala.)

Once again, my age betrays me. I can no longer stand all-nighters. Worse, it didn't even involve alcohol and insufferable hang-overs. It did, however, involve being with close to 20 people in a roach-friendly resort. Big mistake calling it a resort for A., upon hearing that the sem ender slash short story workshop, promptly brought sunblock and goggles when the resort turned out to be a 'place' with a pool that could be bigger than a seafood restaurant fish pond.

D. was likewise frustrated with the pool, not being able to do his laps. Laps? What laps? You dive into the pool, you might end up with a head injury.

At least the videoke machine that came with the place didn't require five-peso coins, so those who felt like inflicting aural pain on everybody else gamely punched away desired numbers.

And what did I learn? U reminded me how insufferable Celine Dion was (not to mention the song lyrics to It's All Coming Back to Me). And reintroduced person V. selects the most audience-friendly songs for everyone to join to. My favorite pick of his: Violent Femmes' Blister in the Sun.

Like what I told D., I was happy with the turnout of the activity even if I had nothing to do with it. (I still wonder what my role in all of it was, other than the fact that it was a good opportunity to bond with our contemporaries.) And yes, I ate their food and made rather irrelevant remarks along the way. In other words, I was of no help to the workshop. But it was alright. (At least that was the impression I got from D.)

I was of help, though, to one of them who unexpectedly presented me with a curious situation and asked for my opinion on the matter. I told said person that I could not tell him/her what to do, to which I was told that I should discard this way of talking and just tell friends what they should do.

It's difficult telling friends what to do, most especially if they didn't ask for my opinion. I sure had to deal with a lot of those this week, thus explaining my sour disposition. For most of the week, I didn't want to have anything to do with people, the department was just too fucking noisy and I just wanted to bonk people's heads with a flying slipper here and there. I was half-concentrating on some conversations and I just wanted to curl up in bed until finals week.

As I told I. last night, I still find it very surprising that people who need a good dose of reality every now and then do not get it from the people who I expect to give it to them. Sometimes, I am not quite sure if my, well, meddling, would do anybody any good. Or that if it would work at all. But oftentimes, the inanities are staring right in front of your face and you've got to be an unfeeling person not to give a shit.

So there. As a result of what I would like to think are necessary cases of meddling, I am a wreck. Just drained, thus ushering the longest week of this semester.

But as always, people come in at the most opportune times. So it is just appropriate that they were all gathered last night.

V., I'm glad to have been reintroduced to you. As I've never heard you speak, I listened intently to your comments and opinions on the students' stories. Your students are very fortunate to have you as their teacher. Sa uulitin.

U, it was good to see you. Napag-isip mo ako dun a. Pero yan ang gusto ko sa iyo. You know when to strike and you know when to stop and think. Ika mo nga, good form.

A., many thanks for the hour or so of just letting me be. Nahihiya tuloy ako na wala akong naibigay sa iyong bagong babasahin. Your generosity never fails to overwhelm me.

D., bumper crop ako sa iyo this week, a. First the banana cake, then the book. (I'm sure everybody else who also got one were similarly appreciative.) What next? Many thanks for inviting me to the activity even if, again, I didn't really help out with the students. Pag mas tahimik na, kuwentuhan tayo.

(The Zero7 CD has stopped playing. Might as well.)