Laboyraryan. Storyteller. Demigod.

It's been a long while.

My kids are definitely missing you :)

Just last month, one of my students was left by his dad whose life was already decided upon by the Fates. He told me that he misses his dad so much and that you, Dinosaur, are his only company when he's alone at night. So, everytime he gets inside the library, he runs towards the shelves where books about you are located and borrow some of them. There are even times that he would return a book about you and borrow it again at the same time. I just want to thank you first, for keeping him company, and second, for helping me develop this child's imagination. He even told me that he would soon be an archaeologist or paleontologist so he could know more about you. But for now, he would love to stay inside the library and talk with me to know more about you.

Admittedly, you never fail to get the attention of my dear students. Whenever I hold classes for my Prep students and I bring them to the library, the first thing they would look for are dinosaurs. Girls and boys alike. Pokemons, robots, princesses just come after you. I really don't know what this charisma you have that make children so interested in you [even I, in my youngest years, loved and still love to read about you]. Maybe because your life is so mysterious that people would want to know more about you. I remember one of my students even asked me:

I was surprised and left puzzled and I just told him that that's the way things are supposed to be. Imagine you, Dinosaur, living with us?!? That would be a hell of a survival of the fittest. You may intimidate us with your humongous sizes, trembling roars, sharp claws and grinding teeth but we human, would never back down. Unless you want to be a stuffed roasted Dino, you better stay out of our way. [Especially from Filipinos who are having drinking sessions, you might end up as their pulutan]. Maybe that was why we never existed in the same place and at the same time. You already had your time, give us our chance.

Thank you for imparting knowledge to my kids. Thank you for helping me develop their imaginations. Thank you for making them more curious and never letting them stop asking "Why?". You may not be with us here but I'd say Kudos for a lot of help.

Lotsa' love,

/dmarco

PS: If you're going to ask me what my most messed up shelf is, that would be shelf no. 5 because that is where the dinosaurs are [figuratively].

Enrolling in a Master's class, really, is not something you just take for granted. You have to think twice before putting both of your feet into that pit. All the while it may scare you but heck, it is just education, after all, nobody should be afraid of it -- education and learning.

Apart from the usual 3-hour long discussions with my professors and my classmates, I have to endure readings and not just like simple undergrad readings [where I could activate my petix-mediocre-pwede na mode] this time it's a lot different -- tons of readings! Hundreds of pages of PDF files. Web forums that I have to navigate through in order to realize the importance of Information Systems Analysis and Design. Database! Database! Database! ProQuest, EBSCO, Emerald, ScienceDirect, et al.

Fortunately, I have access to the Internet and to various databases. I don't have to fly the Alabang-QC route just to borrow some RESERVED books, which need to be returned overnight. [Even my demigod powers cannot handle that much activity!]. On the other hand, I am not really an e-bookworm. Reading long articles from the computer screen for a long time makes me anxious. I am not even a fan of e-books so don't expect me to buy a Kindle soon.

I still prefer the printed form of reading materials. Be it books, articles, chapters from textbooks, even web forums, I print them out and then, and only then, I will be comfortable and feel that I am really reading and get to appreciate what I am reading. I do not know if it's only me but I really cannot appreciate reading materials in electronic format [For now, I guess]. Although, in fact, they tend to be more recent and undoubtedly informational, my brain does not totally absorb everything that I read from the computer. [Call me a caveman, I won't mind :)]. Even when reading long e-mails, I lose patience and interest. [So, please, shorten those messages].

 Seasons of love, eh? Yeah, I think so too. Well, everything's all set for my trip to Jamaica (Gumaca), Quezon. In just a few hours time, gladly, I would be with my family again and Mama promised that we'll attend the Simbang Gabi together. And so much so for the drama.

I remember that I still have a task to accomplish. It has come to my attention that a fellow [senior] librarian is doing a study on different library buildings in the Philippines and fortunately [or unfortunately for me, Ha Ha], he asked me if I could get some details of the library of my very own alma mater, Gumaca National High School [GNHS or Gi-Na-Ha-Sa, Ha Ha!]. Well, kidding aside, I accepted the mission and hopefully, I could contribute to his study before the year ends. Yet another act of spreading

And oh yeah, speaking of love, [as a gift for miself] I recently bought my own copy of a book I love from the author I love, The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan. Will most probably be munching on it this yuletide season, aside from the parties and what-have-yous with my friends and family and relatives and neighbors and lovers ... Ha Ha!

Well, that's it for now. I just thought of blogging so I could wish you all a merry christmas [because I do not think I could gain access to the Net this Christmas, I'm from Mt. Olympus remember?]. I will just send you Iris messages, ching!