Killing boredom

My older brother, Ralph, called two days ago. "I'm so bored, Lance." His voice echoed the urge to do something useful so he could kill the time.

"Why don't you read your lessons in advance? It will make your life easier next sem," I suggested. I've been doing just that--after all, I don't want my brain to rot in idleness. I was surprised to find that Campbell's Biology isn't that much of a sleeping pill; in fact, I found it rather interesting, especially the part on ATP and the chemical principles of metabolism.

"I don't need to do that." I forgot that his academic load will only be nine units next semester; mine will be 19.

Our conversation took a different turn when we talked about my blog.

"Your posts are getting worse," he told me. "Really, Lance, I really think that you're writing from a Tagalog or an Ilonggo mindframe [not his exact words, but that was how he sounded]. It's so obvious. There are many problems with your sentences. What happened?"

I was not in a position to debate with him. He's the English major, and he knows a great deal more about language and literature than I do.

"I just write what immediately comes to mind."