Me Time: Path to Wellness

This wishy washy guy likes:

1 to sleep all day

2 to go out for a walk

3 to eat eat eat

4 to bother the human for 2 to 3

Yup, not much but hoping it's a good start for the day as recommended by Dr Suzuki in 

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4QjNdfEH97Z6xR73MjBLLx?si=muPcADjTQg2C9gkAJ84q-w&t=1676&pi=QqIzYS5PQFeUj

Did a body scan meditation to cool down and well my right eye, right nostril feels drier.

Numbers don't lie..

but they can be misleading if not presented with proper context. Take into account the accuracy and scope of the source.

Anyway, call it vanity but I do check my blog stats every once in a supermoon.  Mixed feelings about the traction hike in Oct last year.  Top posts are book reviews, recipes and education. Bounce rate, not so sure if readers do linger or explore further.  I'm not in the mood to fiddle with gAnalytics yet.

oh, yes! We're trying to do this again.. blogging.  Yesterday, D and I were trying to recall life events and we'll all over trying to find out what happened in 2023.  This informal journaling slash meditation does help me process and offload my mental space.  I can always draft and publish later and I feel it's for public consumption.

Great for looking back, more for reminiscing than melancholy's sake.  Also, I need to sharpen the saw--practice my English writing skills and photography.

Hello, 2026! Beyond the numbers, I'm hoping for relevance.. that I may be of help by sparking your interest, feeding your curiosity, and further fueling your passion.

Book Review: Strange Pictures by Uketsu

Strange Pictures by Uketsu
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The book surely has its eerie effect as I read the first chapter late at night. I paused between chapters and digested the chapters as individual mysteries. It started being repetitive to me in Chapter 3 when the timeline or investigation notes are updated (for me too often) as I go along. The strange pictures captured my curiosity, some helped me see the character's thought process and helped with the story telling. I had a hard time with the timeline bar charts though, it's just me as I'm lazy to validate it against the narratives. Overall, a strange good read left me wanted to do another read just to pick up the clues again and tie them all together neatly (like 20%) but it's a luxury I currently cannot afford now. I do look forward to the next one: Strange Houses.

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Humor Me

Hubby's required to participate in their company's earthquack drill even he's wfh.  Captioned this photo that will surely make me smile everytime.

Tomorrow tomorrow tomorrow

In certain seasons,

We may be nourished by

The idea of the carrot

More than the carrot itself.

p.343

* * *

I am particularly glad and proud of myself for holding out and taking my time to read this book at a pleasurable phase even when I am itching to find out how it will all end.  I went into reading this book having recommended by my sister, gifted to and owned by my nephew devoid of any information about its storyline and unfamiliar with the author.  I have come across gamer MCs (Warcross, Ready Player One) I thoroughly enjoyed the game world development through their eyes.  This book, however, is a first for me to catch a glimpse of game designers and their game culture.

I am curious about the author's book "Elsewhere" hesitantly added to my long list of next reads.  It's interesting to note that there is not one song I could remember being mentioned.  I might have to google to confirm.  In doing so, I stumbled upon and got sidetracked by her essay 

Ah it makes sense that the author devours the english dictionary, hence the words she used that I felt were not forced and seemed to flow naturally.

* * *

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am particularly glad and proud of myself for holding out and taking my time to read this book at a pleasurable phase even when I am itching to find out how it will all end. I dived into reading this book having recommended by my sister, gifted to and owned by my nephew devoid of any information about its storyline and unfamiliar with the author. I have come across gamer MCs (Warcross, Ready Player One) and have thoroughly enjoyed the game world development through their eyes. This book, however, is a first for me to catch a glimpse of gamers as game designers and their game culture.

I am curious about the author's book "Elsewhere" hesitantly added to my long list of next reads. It's interesting to note that there is not one song I could remember being mentioned. I might have to google to confirm. In doing so, I stumbled upon and got sidetracked by her essay Words, words, words.

Ah it makes sense that the author devours the English dictionary, hence choice of words (which enriched my vocab) I felt were not forced and seemed to flow naturally.

Maybe, a 4.5 then if only to come across these words again.

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Book Review: The Sandman: Endless Nights

The Sandman: Endless Nights by Neil Gaiman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Finally caught up with technology and was able to appreciate this graphic novel online. I relished every page and made to appreciate per frame and the whole page layout. One can read the volumes in any order but I do find it fitting to set the mood with Death and end with Destiny. Story wise, I am biased towards Dream and enjoyed Desire. I was overwhelmed with the details of Delirium and Despair, there's so much going on that will warrant countless reread.
Frame: p61 The Palace

Transition/Movement: p120 I'll let it go

Speech Bubbles: Dream's (B&W) and Delirium's (Colorful from Destruction's volume)
Portrait: p43 panel 3 Desire and that panel zoom in of the eyes

Art and Prose: p150 ".. along with the truth of the shapes of the clouds.. the secrets the wind whispers when there is no one there to listen."

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2023 Year in Review

January

I'm relieved we were able to get together for the new year.  For the most days of the month, I was able to do some baking projects, very much a plantita still.  started a cross stitch project as well, to date it's 80% done with remaining back stitches to finish and I don't know where it is now.  The teen was able to make cabbage kimchi!

Capping the month with a visit to Pinto Museum, my first drive to tagaytay with D.  

February

Some more baking and cooking bento projects.  Dumplings for valentines day.  Healthy waffles for post-valentines day.  Got our ear pierced, left side for me, right side for D.  

Of course, a simple celebration as I turned 45 this year.  Pleasantly surprised by my sweet dear fried J for the birthday balloon and cake, truly an appreciated effort from miles away.

March

Spent more time with our pom, Rain.

April

Not in the mood for any prank to kick off the month.  More time with Rain.  I got covid sick in wk 3.  

May

Our first time to the beach post-covid.  

As I've said, I'm more of a PA these days and was able to chaperone D and her friend to Sky Ranch Tagaytay.

Might've given her a slight heart attack including hubby as I broke my right side mirror from hitting a jeepney along the way.  Accidents happen, so I should know better next time.

June

I got hooked with Tsuki Odyssey.  Lala, replaced Ruby.  Here started our family's health journey as the hubby was diagnosed with chronic stroke.  Rain had a minor left leg infection.  Earned my 30 day streak in Duolingo.  

July

Witcher Season 2.  More healthier recipes.  Caught a clam with a pearl in Tsuki Fishing.  The hunt for the perfect grain mix sub for rice.  D was able to join my family for a quick beach trip somewhere north.  And...updated by LinkedIn dp to flex my new haircut.

August

Proud to have an achiever teen but what's more important is she is actually happy with her own success.  

Another visit to the hospital due to hubby's throat infection.  We also had to consult a derma for the painful bump on his right heel turned out be plantar warts.  Let me conclude this month on a happier note with some random photos I took.

September

I thought I should offer my plant babies online to earn a bit, even created an FB page but I'm not really into selling,  Turned to Tiny Tower to pass time.  Cooked and cooked some more.

October

Twenty years of marriage, photos NSFW.  Meanwhile, cheered on for D as she takes her college application exams.  Probably school load has taken its toll and her and got sick wk 3.   On the flip side, hubby was able to resume short walks as his heel begins to heal :D

November

Yay, V spent some nights here with us.  We had a small fight but it made us understand and love each other more.

D attended her first debut party.  

December

Wk 1, we had the initial lab results of hubby and it looks promising.  Though we've yet to discuss them with his doctors come Wk 1 of Jan.  

Wk 2, Got super addicted to Duolingo trying to tick that #1 Diamond Rank.  Helped D with her year end party getup and felt the generation gap, define Rave party.

Wk 3, though luck.  Now it's my turn to visit the ER.  Got released a couple of days later.  Physically recovering, emotionally healing.

* * *

I'm sure there are lots of moments I failed to document but I trust the ones I truly treasure are stored in my core memory.

One thing I no longer struggle with is my stress in trying to be happy every day.  I eventually started to identify, accept and let go if needed and whenever possible, all the various feelings I go through.  I try not to judge or invalidate other's feelings as well.  Also, I was able to really know what it feels like to be grateful.. and broke :D

So I'm thinking for 2024, I will still push for my teaching goal and will try to minimize distractions.  Build that reading list and piano repertoire.  Connect deeper with my loved ones and be more self-aware.  Keep it simple yet meaningful.

Making Myself Relevant for 2024

I have been on a career break for almost 2 years.  My mindset then when I resigned was dead set on early retirement but maybe I might teach as a side hustle.  It's heartbreaking but honestly, I am not yet financially capable to chill and hence my job hunting begins.  First off,  a couple of months ago I made a mind map with "I want to be an Educator" as the root thought branching to push forward and also some alternative paths.  Time to review prioritize paths and put some timeline to get things rolling.  

Drafted this like seven days ago and how's my progress so far...  (10/17)

* * *

And now it's 12/18.. wow..

Looking forward to starting my class in Feb.  I was able to start Section 1 of in Leaders of Learning and found the topic on four quadrants of Modes of Learning enlightening as true enough, I am gravitated more under Distributed Individual Quadrant by 84.13%.  Barely at 10% of the course, hopefully I can make more progress from here.

Blimey, Compose AI my foot!

So I tried to get inspired by an output from a prompt I can no longer recall and failed to copy prior to hitting that enter button.  I do vaguely remember for the tool to create a blog entry and use a voice similar to Hamnet by Maggie O' Farrel' using the text "Last night, as the sun bids goodbye and the dusk starts to settle in, I saw flicker of lights from fireflies nonchalantly strolling along the creek."  

Behold the AI response:

Title: A Serenade in the Twilight: Fireflies Dancing by the Creek

Introduction:

In the magical embrace of a fading sunlight, when the stillness of dusk begins to weave its enchantment, nature unveils a mesmerizing spectacle. Nestled on the edge of a tranquil creek, I witnessed a remarkable sight that transported me to an ethereal world of awe and wonder. In the quietude of the late afternoon, as the sun bid its farewell, a spirited ballet commenced: tiny fireflies, adorned in their luminescent cloaks, embarked on a nonchalant stroll along the echoing creek.

An Invitation to Marvel:

Nature, every so often, reveals its most breathtaking beauty in the simplest of ways. With sparkling anticipation, I eagerly observed as these enigmatic creatures emerged, casting their soft glow upon the surrounding foliage. Their presence felt enchanting, as if they were emissaries of a higher realm, urging us to partake in their nocturnal symphony.

A Sonnet Unfolded:

In the twilight's embrace, a delicate dance played out before my eyes. Tiny specks of light, seemingly suspended in mid-air, bobbed and weaved amidst the reeds and long grass, creating a scintillating tapestry of luminescence. Their flickering lights, like celestial Morse code, evoked a sense of mystery and mysticism, silently recounting tales written in forgotten tongues.

The Symphony of Silence:

As I stood mesmerized, it was not only the radiance of the fireflies that captured my attention but the profound silence they emitted. In this sublime moment, the symphony of stillness enveloped every crevice of the surrounding landscape, allowing the harmonious melody of the creek's gentle murmur to take center stage. The serenity was tangible; a pause in time, beckoning introspection and contemplation.

A Dance through Time:

In this fleeting instant, my mind wandered to the literary annals of old, to a tale shrouded in both brilliance and tragedy. The tale of Hamnet, son of William Shakespeare, a story masterfully recounted by Maggie O'Farrell. For just as these fireflies embarked on their nonchalant journey, Hamnet's tale weaves between reality and fiction, casting a poignant light on love, loss, and the enduring power of the human spirit.

Concluding Thoughts:

In the twilight hours, as the sun dips below the horizon and darkness paints the world, the performance of the fireflies enriches our souls. They paint nature's canvas

* * *

Ok, that's a lot of words for a short prompt.  My immediate feedback:  Truly impressive.  Would I read it?  Well it has prose that definitely pulled me in.  It had me at "quietude" ^^.  Doesn't it feel like dragging for the first two paragraphs and I think it misunderstood my intention to mimic the author's writing style but instead mentioned her novel as if I was musing about it during this scene.  Or maybe it even took a step further by including it, I don't know :p  It must've been my prompt then, I wasn't clear enough probably.  Also I might have hit the word count response limit as the last sentence seemed incomplete.  How do I feel about "my writing"... It definitely is not me as I've yet to acquire that level of vocabulary.  

Definitely, I find my first time writing with AI an amusingly interesting experience indeed.

Abundant Reading Materials, Not Enough Proofreaders

I get mildly disappointed when I read a pretty good article about a certain topic of interest only later to find misspelled words a couple of pages later.

Might be a clue that this was still crafted by a human, assuming most likely AI can spell better.  I truly appreciate entities who value quality more over quantity.  I pray, there will be more of them and stay true to their values.  As a future educator, manifesting, I hope not to succumb into the trap of working faster but rather be better with the aid of AI and tech :)

Good Reads: Guards! Guards! Terry Pratchett Review

Guards! Guards! by Terry Pratchett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I will surely miss Captain Vimes and his minions. I loved the book but not enough to get me invested on the rest of the Discworld series. Having read Good Omens, I have an inkling Pratchett's writing style doesn't change much so best to get to know more authors for my next reading challenge.

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Such a geek, Fenugreek

Being true to my promise to cook and eat healthier, I've been trying to use new ingredients to my dishes such as nutritonal yeast flakes and fenugreek.  Sadly, skiped the nyf as I've already added chicken in my Breakfast Fritata thereby forgetting to add fenugreek as well.

Presently, I'm coping with my busy morning but not quite sure how I'd handle preparing lunch boxes for two. I still have a month to be more efficient in the kitchen.  Goodluck to me!

Parked in 2023

Title for impact, maybe applicable to my corporate career. I feel like I still have a career.. wait let me google that.. yeah, I feel like I still have a job tho I do not get monetary gains but pays off way way more than enough compared to my previous job. I still try to skill up and gather experience day by day. I get feedback from clients or read their satisfaction of my output (cooking: doing good if no leftovers, etc.)

My headspace is filled with lots lately, hence this post.  Let me try to put more structure on my how I spent my hours so I can be closer to my reaching my goals.  Hang on, what are my goals again for this year? :D

Let me just share where I am at.  I barely play my piano.  I have just finished a skinny book, yay for my reading list: 1 out of 13 books for the year.  I have plants thriving and dying.  My cross stitch project is taking a back seat.  I plan to go back on my technical trainings maybe next week.  We'll see.

Felt like our first beach trip ever

 

Finally, our first beach trip post-pandemic.  We spent a night in Costa Blanca Island Resort somewhere in Batangas.  I was holding out and didn't really prepared much for this trip as we only tagged along with friends.  

As expected, it was a bit tiring as most trips are even when it was just a 2hr drive.  Not surprisingly, it made me miss having moments like these.  The sound of the waves (albeit sometimes disrupted by co-vacationers belting their hearts out with their late night videoke sessions), the feel of the soft sand on my feet as I walk alongside my loved ones.  Just sitting there, seeking refuge under the shade of a tree with the heat of the sun on my skin, I catch a glimpse of a small fishing boat and hear kids laughing as they waddled in the water.

Taking in the landscape and attempting to capture the scenery, I missed it for sure.

Itch to Stitch

 

Netflix is eating a huge chunk of my time lately.  Bff O shared her old unfinished cross stitch projects and got me wondering if kits are available in our favorite online shopping platform.  Lo and behold, I have already added to cart several projects waiting to be funded for checkout :D  I had to choose wisely as wall space is limited.  So, for the kitchen wall it is.  Will share soon once done and framed :)

Wake Up, it's 2023 already!

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A post shared by Kitts Kitchen Laboratory Experiments (@kittschenlab)

Had enough of toasted bread for these past days, so I made simplified omurice for D. I've been meaning to do air fried smashed potatoes and thought it'd be a perfect sidedish.

Meanwhile, blended a power drink for me.

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Nov 2022 Recap

Cyclist vs Car, que horror

Kittschen Lab Experiments

First Love

Quick Meetup with BFF J

I think I am the best bento mom

Mob Psycho 100 S2 series and play with D

Little Women

Lesser piano practice this month, boo.

Completed updating google analytics for new url, whew!

More Asana Rebel quickies

in 31 days, 2022 is so done!

Emotions on High

 

How are you feeling today?

Sad. I miss my dad. 

Lonely.  I want a hug. 

Old.  Youth, where are thou? 

Frustrated. Amp my parking and estimation skills.

Angry. Couples who are carelessly brave in hoping for another child with preferred gender, of those who barely can provide for their children rn.

Mad.  Me, thoughtless and selfish for not celebrating life milestones with family and friends.

Floating Thoughts

much like these yellow butterflies, I had a hard time getting to sleep last night which I always take as a sign that I should write my thoughts down lest I want to rob myself of proper sleep for the next coming days.

My sister is sick, covid: fever + colds.  People I know getting sick left and right.  Anxiety amped.

Bestfriend coming home next month.  Must date.

Another bestfriend not talking much.  I do wonder but will let it be.

My daughter's interest to apply for a college scholarship abroad.

Sunday sermon.  I was wondering why I haven't been authentically grateful and it did hit a mark.

Books I haven't read.  

Music I haven't played.  

Recipe's I'm dying to try.  

Pounds I've yet to shed.

Past lovesss and heartachesss.

Nothing much on my mind really :D  Maybe I should just check in with myself of any unsatisfied needs, says an IG post on self-care ^^

Q3 2022 End is Near

How about that?!  In a blink of an eye we're already pushing towards last quarter of the year.  BER months are faster than usual but not yet feeling the holiday seasons than previous years.  Couple skills I'm honing, ahem driving, baking/cooking rn.  Made a spinoff IG account for my experiments not much content yet but also i'm doing a personal recipe book offline (hardcore!), just a collection of tried and tested palatable outputs and hopefully kwentos of tips and tricks I have learned so far.  True enough, it's a scary thing to do something unfamiliar to you but one can always learn from one's failures.  Pray, I won't have much tho lest we have frequent upset stomachs ^^

Anyways, I promised O I'll finish our SKor photobook soon so despite updates I feel sharing, I just had to go.  Until next!