how to spell Christmas?

My heart bleeds everytime I see this written “Xmas” to denote Christmas. The reason? The most important word inside the word is being replaced with an X. Don’t you think it’s unfair to the person Himself?

 

Would it be ok for you to have your name replaced with an X or any letter (that sounds like a good replacement for the lost word/name)? Say for example, Rose’s Birthday = X’s Birthday. Isn’t it weird? It’s like you don’t know the person. It’s like a birthday of someone unknown.

 

Admittedly, I also used the shortcut. Quiet often. But since my Algebra teacher pointed this out, I became more careful. X in Algebra usually represents an unknown. And replacing “Christ” with an “X” makes Him Someone unknown.

 

Indeed. And even if you don’t know Algebra, you would know that replacing your name with a letter that sounds like it would make you appear someone the other person does not know.

 

Why have a (grand) celebration for someone you don’t know (at least by name)?

Update: Dear friend Charlotte did some research (while I just blog about how i feel bad about this abbreviation and did not research at all) and found out the X in Xmas is actually a Greek letter chi, which means Christ.  Not bad after all to use “X”.  But then, again, “Christmas” spelled out completely looks way better than “Xmas”. Thanks Charm!

positive thoughts

These are things i want to remind myself everyday:

Don’t waste your time grieving over past mistakes.  Learn and move on.

Don’t try hard controlling things you know you can’t control.  It’s a waste of time and emotion.

Try harder to look for the better side of things (esp negative ones).

i am thankful

although i would never cease to react negatively to negative situations, i decided today, that i shouldn’t hold on to that feeling longer. everyone knows that a negative emotion is never helpful towards getting off from the situation. no further explanations needed. it just doesn’t help.

 

for months, work-related stuff has been bogging me. my previous leader (who was not so capable)… the replacement leader (who is way beyond capable and did something far beyond he’s expected to do)… my teammates (under experienced, thus, creating delays)…

 

a lot of problems happened. slowly, though, we get by. at times, i would want to wake up and realize that i was just dreaming; that there actually weren’t problems and we’re not having a hard time. i prayed that everything (the problem) was just a dream. i found myself crying for things i didn’t like, yet i have no control of. there were mistakes. there were flaws. and sadly, i had to suffer. even if, the mistakes weren’t mine.

 

but then life goes on. in cycle. as it always does. rain and shine.

 

the replacement leader did something to my work of art (my module). he did something that is just not acceptable to me. his motive was good though. but his way wasn’t. he did something. and had me do something. something strange. something unwise. and he wouldn’t listen to me. i was having a hard time doing what he wanted. it was just complicated. because it’s like turning 180°. it’s like we’ve been walking, heading north. and we’re almost there. suddenly, he arrived and told the us that we’re gonna head south, without understanding exactly what he just said, without even knowing (exactly) how to do it.

 

i explained. he refused to listen. so, because i had to follow him and because, i wanted to be as open-minded as possible, i followed him. along the way, i realized that what he wanted was just not the right thing. i tried hard. just couldn’t get it right. went home, praying he would realize what exactly i did say.

 

i woke up feeling down. because, i had to continue going to south again. my heart belongs to north. but i gave it all to HIM. i told HIM i’d go where HE wills me to go.

 

my leader called me up when i arrived at the office. he was telling me to finish my task. the one he ordered. the way he wanted – to south. then, he reviewed my work of art (my module) and geez…. he realized he was wrong. he asked me to explain a little, and then he got it. completely. automagically!

 

and then he asked me if i have eaten already. and then he gave me a chocolate.

 

isn’t it amazing?

 

p.s. my seatmate (who’s been listening to us) wondered what happened to him. he has been refusing to listen to my ways. and suddenly, surprisingly, he retracted what he said. gracefully. praise GOD!

today, in history

+ today, in history, a child was born.

+ she lost her mom at a very young age (maybe, at age 9).

+ she had to quit school and take care of her younger siblings.

+ she and her siblings had to live with her grandparents when her father re-married.

+ that said, she learned how to earn a living – plowed a farm field, planted crops and corn, attacked the forest and took what could be transformed to be bartered with money.

+ she married at the age of 21.

+ she had her eldest at the age of 22. then another child at 23. and yet another child at 25. and yet another at 27.

+ she didn’t know much about algebra or english or history but she drove her kids to school.

+ she didn’t have enough financial resource but when it came to her kids’ school, she always had ways.

+ she didn’t spend so much time with friends for she was so busy doing all sorts of things for her kids.

+ she was always there when her kids needed her.

+ she was strict. imposed house rules. and her kids feared when she exploded.

+ she gave her kids everything they needed, without minding hers.

+ she defended her kids when others bullied them.

+ when they grew strong enough, she guided them to the field, to work with her.

+ and then, years passed. they were sent to college.

+ people asked, “why? they would only find boyfriends and get pregnant and all your efforts would be gone.”

+ but she gambled (although there was a chance that they would)

+ all her kids got their degree.

+ and people asked why? how come?

and then i say, because she sacrificed. because she set aside her own self and put her kids on top. because she dreamt her kids would make what she didn’t. because, she knew what she was doing right from the start and she was so focused. and she’s the best leader. she was a leader, yet her group’s servant.

she is my mom. and because, today, in history, she was born, i’d like to let her know that i appreciate her so much, that i give credit to her for every good thing that has happened to my life (bad things excluded, because they are solely mine). without her, i won’t exist. or even if i would, i would be someone different. but i like being me, because, i like everything that has happened to me (all good and bad). and i am thankful to HIM, for implanting me inside the womb of the woman who loves me this much.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MA. There’s just no other way to say it. I hope you are so certain that I love you. And I salute you for everything that you are, everything that you have done and everything that you haven’t.

Honestly, I still wonder how you did it!

I thank GOD for you. I thank GOD for entrusting someone like me to someone like you. You are the living proof of how much HE loves me. And everyday, whether the sun is shining or hiding, I am so sure that I am loved, esteemed and appreciated just for who i am. And you can be sure too that you are. And when you grow old, I will take care of you. And I won’t get tired of answering you, even if you’d ask the same questions over and over again. I will never get tired of you just as you were never tired of me.

I pray that HE takes care of you every minute of the day (especially while i am away); that you are happy and contented and peaceful and healthy.

I LOVE YOU. i know this word is abused. but what else should i say?

programming help

Another google result of my query for “programming practices c“. I thought this is a good one, and so, without further ado….

“If I did your homework for you, then you might pass your class without learning how to write a program like this. Then you might graduate and get your degree without learning how to write a program like this. You might become a professional programmer without knowing how to write a program like this. Someday you might work on a project with me without knowing how to write a program like this. Then I would have to do you serious bodily harm.

Please post your instructor’s email address in case I have any questions about your assignment. In fact, I have a great idea. I could just email your assignment directly to your instructor and then you wouldn’t even have to go to class either!“

source: http://home.att.net/~jackklein/ctips01.html

ironically painful

Every goodbye is painful.  Even saying goodbye to pain.