October 30, 2015

friday's 10 happy things


It's Friday! And I have time to make this list! This alone makes me happy. 

As I was remembering what transpired this week to put in this list, I realized that most of the things that made me happy are not things that I actually experienced, but more of my fandom sightings. I am such a fangirl of many things and this is probably the main point of this blog: to gush. Because I cannot shut up about the things I love.
  1. Seeing Jun Ji Hyun photos and gifs from a Korean award show
  2. Finally got my Ilford Delta 400 scans from the lab, which took me 4 months to finish and 1 month to develop. I had it developed in Studio 58 c/o Fuji Megamall. Thank God they showed me first the contents of the CD before clearing the transaction because when I checked, the photos and negative belonged to somebody else! Qué horror.
  3. New Tinamy photos.
  4. Having a person who knows you.
  5. Alicia and Sam together. Why don't you throw in Adele in there too, if it's not too much to ask?
  6. WLPPR.
  7. I have been cooking for myself more often. I really enjoy experimenting even though it's not always a success. My favorite so far is sautéing butter, garlic, thyme, shrimp, and then putting soy sauce, honey and Nando's peri-peri sauce together with it, and then topping it all off to angel hair pasta. Haha it's my go-to comfort food lately.
  8. Casually started to drop by Bakers Fresh before catching the train, and eventually turned it into a routine. The smell of their bread -- mmhmmm.
  9. Walking Kimi around after months of not being able to do so. 
  10. Eating isaw and drinking ice cold coke from plastic. Sarap!

October 28, 2015

mirroring

I was reading my old blog the other day, and while skimming through the cringe-worthy pile of stuff I have written before, one paragraph made me stop because of how related it was in my current dilemma.

(I won't quote myself here because it's annoying, but) In the old post, I was thinking about shifting courses in college. I cannot remember anymore what specific situation I was going through at that time to be in that crossroad, but in the last sentence of the paragraph, I said something that triggered a light bulb moment: I don't want a major change.

Old post was still back in 2007, but here I find myself again in a similar situation: having to make a decision. It's still about shifting courses, but not in the sense of short-term education, it's about changing lifestyles.

The past three months had been rough for me because I let myself get bombarded with my insecurities. When you are not secured enough, it can go a long spiral way down to the pit.

Last week, a dilemma landed on my lap again, and it was the cherry on top of the last three months. If you can still follow, it means it was the worst time. Let me tell you something about myself, I am not good at life decision-making. Not that I make a lot of bad decisions, but it takes me a long time before making one.

This particular decision deserves an overanalysis because everything is at stake. It's the decision that will make you ask, what makes me happy?

But the answer to that is not the point of this writing. In the many hours that I've spent pondering while in commute, thinking about this dilemma, what I've learned is this: it is truly important to know yourself. But knowing yourself alone is only half the battle. I think the key to winning life is to know what and what does not make you happy, and then accept yourself for both and have peace with it.

There is really treasure in the past.

October 18, 2015

the sunday currently vol. 8



I was gearing up toward a Friday's 10 Happy Things post before the weekend, but didn't have the time to do so because of back-to-back dinners after work so, TSC it is. I don't know what exactly I find pleasurable in writing a list of things that has happened to me or that amused me, and then put them out here thinking that it would be good enough for others' reading consumption. Haha. 

(I went on and on at this part of writing but decided to delete it because I don't know what's the point of my thought and/or where I was headed.)

Anyway.....

Currently...

Reading
I was on a reading streak for months but lost it mid-August because I got so engaged and lovestruck with My Love From The Star and I was not able to pick up my reading pace again after that. In short, I'm not in the mood to read a book these days. Speaking of MLFTS, this is not related to reading, but I'm going to go down that path anyway: Man, that koreanovela ruined me. It could probably be because it's my first koreanovela, but I really believe that show had the perfect formula. The way Jun Ji Hyun cries is just..... gut-wrenching. I will always remember that show as my one great love. Haha. 

Writing
Some notes and questions for design projects.

Listening
Overhearing the neighbor's conversations. (A guy steps on poo and tells his mom about it. Mom warns him about taking his footwear inside the house. Hahaha.)

Thinking
Lately, I've been thinking about making modifications around this blog and some sort of direction because my domain turns 2 years old next month. I am not aspiring to be any kind of a blogger, but I currently dream of a nice, interesting layout. Thoughts?

Smelling
Kimi peacefully settled next to me.

Wishing
Ella and I have been spending the last two weekends on data and system analysis, which is seldom because we, or I, at least, want to break away from technical stuff during non-working days as much as possible. It's just amazing to see and talk to someone who knows where she's good at and makes a long-term career out of it. Sometimes, in the middle of her explanation, my mind would snap out of the conversation and wish that I was good at something technical instead.

Hoping
I hope the fairy godmother of discipline sprinkles me with a lot of magic to control my expenses.

Wearing
My ultimate lounge clothes :D

Loving
The List App.

Wanting
To finally let go of my grudges and secret hate to some people. I know how unhealthy this is to my own well-being, but as much as I try, I still get very annoyed by them. Help, any tips?

Needing
I've made a decision and took a risk last week despite the possibility of getting myself into "trouble". The ball won't start rolling until next year so there's nothing yet to worry about. But I will need an open mind and understanding by then. 

Feeling
A bit worried because there's a strong typhoon here again and I hear the wind strongly swoops in from time to time. Also, electricity just got off a few minutes ago and I haven't prepared anything for tomorrow. Most importantly, how do I post this TSC too?

Clicking
Emails.

October 9, 2015

on loop #1

Q messaged me last week asking me to give her a task, a project, anything, something that will take her mind away from the stress that her on-going thesis is giving her. I can't imagine how tough it can be to work and study at the same time, so my answer was immediate: write. She then asks, what will I write? We had nothing in mind at first, but I insisted that we keep on talking because there might be something that will spring out of the conversation. And eventually, it did.

Aside from a "collaboration" we thought of, we have agreed upon making a recurring post about our current favorite music, like a playlist, but without a specific theme or number of songs. Then, just to throw a bit of creativity, I volunteered to make album art covers for the both of us. (You can see how I jumped into this whole idea and made it more productive for me even if Q is the one who needs more of the distraction heh.)

When a song catches my attention, be it new or new-old, it always goes straight on repeat in my player. I repeat it as many times and as long as possible to the point of memorizing every hiccup of the song. Here's my first of the On Loop series:




Hotline Bling | Drake
you should just be yourself // right now you're someone else

I will sound like a hermit, but I think this is the first Drake song that I'd learned. Hip-Hop is not my go-to genre, mainly because I don't have the swag/'just-chillin' vibe and it would look absolutely pretentious of me, but this song caught me one morning and I just liked the beat.

If you like a more dance-y version, listen to its cover by Disclosure feat. Sam Smith for BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge. Sam just made it so smooth to the ears.


Hold My Hand | Jess Glynne
'cause I don't want to walk on my own anymore // won't you understand? 

I am crazily itching to make a video using this song. So much so that I create scenes in my head when I listen to it. Such a feel-good song.


Like I'm Gonna Lose You | Meghan Trainor feat. John Legend
split second and you disappeared and then i was all alone

It's been a while since I've heard such a sweet, hopelessly romantic song.


What Do You Mean? | Justin Bieber
when you nod your head yes but you wanna say no

Sometimes you really have to know how to separate the celebrity from the music he/she creates. I just really like the beat of this song. I wouldn't be bothered to even search for the rest of the lyrics.

October 4, 2015

maya birds


Maya bird was the Philippines' national bird until 1995. They are very common here, but also, are so elusive. So I was a bit puzzled when I saw a flock inside Hong Kong Disneyland that were friendly enough to be photographed in proximity without them flying away at a blink of an eye.