i've been having a steady dose of real life tales from people i've been bumping in lately. in the gym, i hear my "idol" talking about his "heydays." this guy is only 21 years old and he used to party hard until one of his friend, just eighteen years old, suffered a massive stroke and is now wheel chair bound... practically useless. my "idol" took it as sign to go easy with his vices ...he's been pumping iron regularly these days... then there's another guy who look sooo fit and every inch masculine... but ate anything and everything including the unhealthy ones... twice he had a mild stroke and passed out banging his head into the floor and suffered a huge cut... his blood flowing profusely.. good thing his wife was able to call for help.. now, even with his age, he sweats it out in the gym religiously.. my boss had a liver problem because of too much drinking... one day he just turned yellow... saw him so many times at work looking pale and sick.. now, he's popping a number of pills everyday for his lever.. i can go on forever about this tragic incidents, but that's exactly the point of what i wrote below... in the end, some thing's gotta give... you smoke you lungs out, someday you'll BURNED. you drink and party like there's no tomorrow, you'll get BURNED.

been there, done that.. last year, i partied like hell.. i crashed my bike twice.. bloodied and bruise my body.. and for what? my son is still young and i'm living on the edge.. WTF?!?

i've had more bouts with tonsilitis than my wife and my, my... i was just bloating big like an elephant. i had trouble breathing, and sleeping wasn't gonna be "peace" without my dose of "milk," alcohol... or i'd suffer panic attack.. shit, the caffiene and nicotine combo was just too potent for a spent heart like mine.

and every time i'm out there, it just bothers me.. i dunno why but there's just something in there i can't fill even with all the bottles of alcohol i've down and wasted.



i thought i should take the higher road... one that few people go.. fortunately, i've found another way to get "high," meet new friends and found a new diversion... one that would actually give me a better result: joining on-line community forums and workout. if i need or like a good conversation, there's a number of forums i can join in.. in fact, modesty aside, i'm one of the moderator and the site keeper of two forums.. it's been really cool having an exchange of views from people all over.. some young, some old, people from cebu and others who lived in other countries... it's nice to be in the mix of people who have great minds and different views...

and, the workout session had been great... after all that humping and pumping, i just couldn't find a reason to gimmick anymore cos, i'm just way too tired to go out and party.. i couldn't wait to go home and crash.. not on the gutter or on the road, but in bed.

but, occasionally, i down a few rum and beer but it's not something i'd look for... our fridge doesn't have traces of them anymore.. i'd have fruits and juices instead..

it's not a "happy ever after" life.. in the future, i'd most probably have a few relapse here and there... but nothing is perfect...

i like this road better.