Category: Music

Song of the Moment CIV: Killswitch Engage’s “This Fire Burns” (Again)

In my current job, the busiest week of the month is the first week, so I expect this week (my birthday week) to be filled with paperwork. But my workload today is so overwhelming because it’s three days’ worth of tasks, and the report I’m working on needs to be submitted tomorrow. Good grief.

Thankfully, I powered through most of the tasks after lunch and into the afternoon. Now it’s nighttime, and I need a short break. I need to have chicken tinola for dinner to warm and comfort my soul, and to write how I feel here in The Diary to feel lighter. After this break, I will go to the mall, buy some office supplies, go home, and then finish the final set of tasks.

I usually listen to my mellow playlist at nighttime to relax my nerves and prepare for bed, but tonight, I don’t need calm. I need my manic playlist filled with fist-pumping rock/metal while I burn the midnight oil. But first, I’m queueing “This Fire Burns” by Killswitch Engage, the first WWE theme song of my current top favorite wrestler in WWE, “The Best in the World” CM Punk.

Killswitch Engage’s “This Fire Burns” (Also known as “This Fire”).

What a December 3, and it’s two days to go before my birthday. Anyway, I’m going back to work. It’s clobberin’ time.

See you in the next post.

Ω

A part of 14 Days of The Deranged Writer (2025).

Header image: Francesco Paggiaro of Pexels. Edited in Adobe Photoshop 2025.

XLI: The Return of Light in December 1

Since 2019, December 1 has become a haunting day. It reminded me of a ghost from a failed relationship, and I easily see ghosts through specific dates, photographs, and even songs. For a few years, I had to endure the pain of seeing those ghosts, especially on December 1.

In 2022, I took it upon myself to make December 1 a less sad day. Not happy; less sad. I kept myself busy. I greeted an uncle who is also a December 1 celebrant. I numbed myself with alcohol. I kept myself busy some more. And in doing all of those things, somehow they work, even if I still see that particular ghost.

But today, December 1, 2025, many happy moments have happened. At midnight, I was sharing laughs with an online friend (once again) about the most ridiculously unhinged professional wrestler of all time, “Big Poppa Pump” Scott Steiner. This morning, I woke up early, and I had some lovely FRESH POTS that energized my body and soul. I was able to accomplish the work tasks that I could do before I went running errands. After those errands, I had a fresh haircut and a satisfying massage. And now I’m having my thirst-quenching iced tea at my favorite cafe. I will absolutely have dinner here as well.

But the happiest part of the day? It’s talking to my new friend. It feels nice getting to know more about a gentle, kind soul.

It’s 6:00pm as I type this entry, but thanks to all those moments today, for the first time in years, I can declare that December 1 is a happy day. In fact, December 1, 2025, is the happiest December 1 of my life. Yes, the ghosts are still there, but they don’t haunt me anymore. The light I have been feeling lately outweighs the dark.

Four more days to go before my birthday, December 5!

Ω

A part of 14 Days of The Deranged Writer (2025).

Header image: Marta Dzedyshko of Pexels. Edited in Adobe Photoshop 2025.

Song of the Moment CIII: Richard Sanderson’s “Reality”

Last Monday, while I was doing my Monday ritual at Satchmi, I heard this dreamy Beatles-like song. Because I was drained from all the writing/planning, and seeking temporary calm, I had to stop writing, stop drinking my favorite affogato, and then hear the lyrics.

Then, these words pull at my heartstrings because they remind me of a new friend:

Met you by surprise
I didn’t realize
That my life would change
Forever

At that moment, I had to pull out my phone, open the Shazam app, and place my phone near the cafe’s speaker like I was force-cloning a phone ala John Reese of Person of Interest.

After further research, I finally learned the title, the artist, and where the song was featured. It’s “Reality” by Richard Sanderson (which was composed by Vladimir Cosma for the 1980 French teenage romantic comedy film La Boum). Thanks to modern technology and to my favorite cafe for playing the song, I found a new favorite love song, a theme song about my new friend, and my Song of the Moment.

Richard Sanderson’s “Reality”.

This deserves a special Listen post, but for now, let me listen to it on repeat and just dream.

See you in the next post.

Ω

A part of 14 Days of The Deranged Writer (2025).

Header image: Dzenina Lukac of Pexels. Edited in Adobe Photoshop 2025.