Charlene Delfin's Blog, page 2

Week 1 Recap: #100DaysOfCode

Day 1: May 1, 2023

Today's Progress: Learned how to fork a GitHub repo without using a CLI, updated CSS of the Writing page of my website, added images of my books, and grouped files into folders in GitHub repo of my website (learned how to add folders into my repo in the process).

Thoughts: It was daunting to return to working on my website after almost a whole month, but now I am starting to regain my focus on it. Life would be easier if I would use a CLI, but I am avoiding it because it only means I would have to install programs in my computer. I do not feel very confident about the memory of my computer yet. The memory looks small.

Day 2: May 2, 2023

Today's Progress: Returned to GitHub on night of Day 1 to add code to verify website ownership on Google Search Console. This afternoon, used flexbox to organize the photos of my books on Writing page.

Thoughts: This is the first time I'm using Google Search Console. I do not like the way my Writing page appears at the moment, it triggers my obsessive-compulsive tendencies. It really does. I got lost in my own code today, though. Because I forgot to comment my CSS last March, and because I use generic values for my id attributes.

Day 3: May 3, 2023

Today's Progress: Commented my CSS, merged CSS of my homepage and Writing page, fixed some errors, decided to apply most of my CSS to the whole website for consistency, and organized the contents of my CSS file from "sitewide", to "per page", and to "per screen". (CSS file does not contain those specific words, but it's in this organization.)

Thoughts: I'm more focused on coding today.

Day 4: May 4, 2023

Today's Progress: Returned to Codepen the night of Day 3 to give my website a more responsive design. Also renamed its Writing Page to "Books". Today, customized the measurements of the product div elements and designed the buttons to match the overall site design.

Thoughts: I feel frustrated with how my buttons are not aligned.

Day 5: May 5, 2023

Today's Progress: Tried using CSS grid to align the buttons in the Books page, failed, and returned to flexbox. Learned about grid in the process. Spent remaining time figuring out why my main and footer were overlapping. Changed background colors of flexboxes for clearer view of what might be happening.

Thoughts: I still feel upset that the buttons are not aligned. Whenever I align them, problems happen. The images disappear, the gaps between the images and the product titles get too big, or some of the images get bigger than the other images. Maybe I should work on the layout of the whole page first before proceeding to the products, the problem could be in the overall layout.

Day 6: May 6, 2023

Today's Progress: Resorted to using a blank doc as a sort of duck debugger for mapping out the logic of my code. Figured out why main and footer were overlapping. Part of main was a flexbox within an element, and footer was in a flexbox with a section from main. Footer was following a measurement that had nothing to do with the display case. Fixed it by adding a gap between items of the outer flexbox. Removed background colors. Moved page intro from behind the navbar by increasing margins. Started working on aligning the buttons again.

Thoughts: Being unable to fix the footer left me a bit depressed. Now that it's fixed, all of those emotions are suddenly gone. I feel so inspired, I have returned to attempting to align the buttons again. There is hope.

Day 7: May 7, 2023

Today's Progress: Learned more about CSS grid, restructured HTML to align everything on my Books page, made images zoom on hover in devices that use a cursor, and edited all files for better human viewing the night of Day 6. Today, learned more about grid, reordered Books page for mobile using CSS, changed font style, and readjusted measurements for all devices.

Thoughts: I feel awesome now that I finally put my vision into reality. The only downside is wondering whether or not my code has proper design. I feel that there is too much repetition and that all the files are unnecessarily complicated.

Citizen_Charlene

 

Hello, my name's Charlene.I'm the former leaderOf the papers you've seen.But my reign is over,For the people opinedI get out of your mind.
The secrets of people.Details about their lives.The decree is simple:Whatever pulls and drivesTheir society, shallBe kept secret. Hidden.
Don't repeat what you seeBeyond this point. Don't keepYour memory of me.
Forget about papersWhere little people live.I stepped down to be safer,Be able to reliveWhat it's like to walks streetsAs anybody else.

The Celebrity

 

1.Rice is a common type of food.It's everywhere.At least, in the Philippines.They have rice abroad,But it's mostly sticky.It doesn't really taste nice.And it's expensiveIt's seen as exotic food."I'm American, I'm special."The rice abroadSuffers fromAn unattractive superiority complex.
2.But here, the rice is clean and sane.It gets along with everyone.With the steak. With the string beans. With the soup.It's friendsWith the whole neighborhood.And every home welcomes them,Remembers them,And makes themA part of their lives,Their celebrations,And their funerals.They are so deep in the culture,We grow up being taught to appreciate them,Lest Lady Luck will make us starve.It is in social media.We don't have to tag itBecause everyone knows it already.

Clich�� and Loving It

 

FBI agent character. A plain man with a plain haircut and a not-so-plain face. A kind of face that is empty of its own opinion, will, or even character. A face with eyes that pay attention, positioned in front of a brain that follows orders. A smile that is neither wide nor hidden. Not flirty. Not very happy. Not manipulative. Not overly handsome. Just a smile meant to send across the message of being "polite", "obedient", and "nice". An attitude that is respectful of the very old and the ladies, and protective of the children. An attitude that believes in a dream, a dream about a nation that is powerful and promotes the good of everyone. A dream of heroism, security, and the best of everything. Has an awareness that spots the odd and smells danger. A hero. Someone who serves and protects. A scar here. A bullet hole there. An old broken bone. He walks like some weird contraption made of muscles. Women call it "sexy", terrorists call it "strong". It's a part of the wall that protects society from things of nightmares. Hides a dark past that keeps us questioning if he's truly good or secretly evil. Possess cool fighting and driving skills. Graduate of special tactics and evasion from Quantico. Available to all thriller novelists for free. No attribution required.

Cliché and Loving It

 

FBI agent character. A plain man with a plain haircut and a not-so-plain face. A kind of face that is empty of its own opinion, will, or even character. A face with eyes that pay attention, positioned in front of a brain that follows orders. A smile that is neither wide nor hidden. Not flirty. Not very happy. Not manipulative. Not overly handsome. Just a smile meant to send across the message of being "polite", "obedient", and "nice". An attitude that is respectful of the very old and the ladies, and protective of the children. An attitude that believes in a dream, a dream about a nation that is powerful and promotes the good of everyone. A dream of heroism, security, and the best of everything. Has an awareness that spots the odd and smells danger. A hero. Someone who serves and protects. A scar here. A bullet hole there. An old broken bone. He walks like some weird contraption made of muscles. Women call it "sexy", terrorists call it "strong". It's a part of the wall that protects society from things of nightmares. Hides a dark past that keeps us questioning if he's truly good or secretly evil. Possess cool fighting and driving skills. Graduate of special tactics and evasion from Quantico. Available to all thriller novelists for free. No attribution required.

The Mimosa Pudica of Democracy

 

The ocean is vast and blue; dark, lively blue.Gigantic, powerful waves swaying the horizonLike a sea monster that says,"Does man really belong to the best species?"The water is cold.So cold, you can't feel the bright sun above.The air is fresh and cleanLike Nature meant it to be.Isn't it beautiful? The sounds of the sea?Waves crashing against waves,Many wild splashes;It's like all problems get washed away.There is only one sun above,But on the waves, there are multiple suns.Like multitudes of tiny stars of the universe,Undulating before your eyesOn the water surface.Like real stars never do.

Cleopatra: Face of Power

 

They used to say you're white.A heart-shaped, perfect face,A strong body so light,You could sneak in a raceFor power, dominion,And love. Like an onion.
And then they said you're black.A heart-shaped, perfect face,A strong body so light,You could sneak in a raceFor power, dominion,And love. Like an onion.
Then some said you're ugly;They spoke of it freely,That you're old and nasty.
But as sand dunes shiftedAnd the sun came closerAnd the sandstorms drifted,Pyramids don't falterLike AlexandriaAnd broken hydria.
You continue to ruleAll imaginations.And I am only a fool,Making more creations,Retellings of power;Goes over and over.
Staying alive in wordsThrough time, chiefs, kings, and lords.Not faceless forever.Serpent. Queen. Sole ruler.

Holding On To the Spirit of You

 

Layers upon layers of petals,Formed in a circular fashion.A circle within a circle,Neverending,Complicated,But beautiful.
Many different shadesOf red.O I've lost count.Hypnotic,Confusing,Addictive.
Wide and bright like eyesThat see everything,Every particle in my soul,Every love,Every hatred,Everything I don't wish to be seen.
I can still remember every twist and turn.Vividly.(Even when he's not here.)A memory that won't die,Alive in dreamsThat are more real thanReality.
Coming back to lifeAt the mention ofA name,A song,A food,A place.
I hold this chrysanth,And think of you.Will you talk again?Echoes of the pastThat bounce off the halls in my head.The first "I love you",And the last "goodbye".

The Tree Outside My Window

 

It's outside my window.A tree. It's standing tall.In green its leaves aglow.I've watched the old leaves fall.They turned brown and wrinkled.They danced as stars twinkled.
Leaving the branches bare,But no less beautiful.Tiny twigs in the air.When silver moon was full,The bright new leaves emerged.With the sunrise, they're large.
Leaves flap in summer breeze,So many of them squeeze.O the scent they release!
This side has greener leaves,That side has brighter green.A good artist believesThat not one hue shall win.Each leaf is differentLike waves in a current.

The Hungry Beggar

 

1The sun shines hard on us,On the pavement, the roadAnd the big cars that pass.The blue sky may be old,But o it is still blue!The clouds don't give a clue.
2I'm stuck here, day and night,In the heat, in the cold,Holding with all my might,You and the cars I holdAlong with these pavementsAnd missing little cents.
3We're staying on the sides,Just like we always do.The road is big and wide,Dust is swept as cars go.But us, no one can clean,Except your calloused feet.
4I've been looking at you,All the greyish-white roads,Pavements where summers blewWith your dust and your cents,And you, hungry beggar,Dusty, wild, and haggard.
5We dance in these great winds,Slipping off flashy cars.Man, we are not fiends,We are your friends from Mars,Or we are good ladies;Whatever we can be!
6They threw us 'cause we're small.They said we're worth nothing.Off their wallets, we fall.Our sides darkening.Hungry man, take us up,And make your hunger stop.
7Did the road and pavements ...Did they just speak to me?!Did the sky, dust, and centsJoin in?! Talking freely?!Maybe it's just hungerAs cars fly by faster.