what to write next

i don't know if everybody else at i.Ph feels the same way, but every time i toggle the "publish" button for my latest post, i feel like i'm being granted a temporary reprieve… you know, like reaching the finish line in the nick of time, and knowing that it gives you enough time to catch your breath and proceed to the next stage of the race.

"there, i've made my quota for this week. this post should at least last me 4 or 5 days while i think about my next entry," i uttered as i surreptitiously posted my latest entry about 4 days ago.

"huhh? what's that you say?" my officemate's mystified tones finally broke through my preoccupation (i was keeping tabs on our supervisor who was roving near our area at the moment).

"uhhh, nothing… it's this file i'm working on. it's terrible," i explained hurriedly while mentally transmitting profuse apologies to the authors of the article i was working on.

contrary to what many people think, maintaining and updating a blog account on a regular basis is more of a balancing act than anything else that comes to mind. of course, you want to fill your blog with all sorts of interesting things (who doesn't?) — interesting information, images, videos, juicy tidbits, links, great posts, etc. — and you wish you could do it without breaking a sweat. but the truth is it's usually difficult to indulge one's desire to write within the timeframe that's available to you. if you get lucky you get both at the same time: free time and inspiration.

if one of them is missing (which is often the case), you're left to compromise by either forcing yourself to write or making a mental list of the things you want to write about and hope that they'd still be there by the time you can find an available PC. no, it's not impossible. actually most of my posts have been forged that way (with lots of re-writing and editing along the way). but the thing is, i know there's a difference because i've felt it. i know what it feels like when the moment strikes you and you feel compelled to write it down that very instant because you want to capture that sense of urgency, to describe the moment while you're 'living'  it… and not giving in would mean losing that particular intense rush of adrenaline.