Jodythinks · Love/Life · Thanks

What made me happy lately, May 1, 2023 edition

Status update: Insomnia and stress migraines are on the uptick and I haven’t been eating right. It’s a process.

I did have some good moments though:

1. Sharing some good cake with people 11000 miles away. My manager’s birthday needed cake. And because she was in office before the actual day, and it was the last one she had before going OOO, she had to share with the office. Ube cake is classic Filipino, and Goldilocks, one of the most solid chains out there. Birthdays should be celebrations because we’re grateful that this person was born. And hopefully good food is involved. Friends sent photos, and my heart definitely felt a bit more full after a rough day.

2. Daytrips to good places. “Will travel for food” is something we say often, and this Sunday, we drove almost 90 km to have lunch. It was awesome. Not the hangry way I had to park, but the payoff of amazingly simple food. And also being able to ses a friend we haven’t seen in YEARS was a fortuitous plus.

3. Finding new authors. This last week, I started reading Ellen Everett and Whitney Hanson’s poetry. This is also the photo in the post. I admittedly love poetry, but often can’t express it well on my own. The work in the photo is current state, and I am trying to unpack how it gets better. Maybe this time — just acknowledging it will work. For now.

Songs of the week:

I Don’t Know How I Survive by Death Cab for Cutie

All I Ask by Adele

San Francisco by The Mowgli’s

Work Song by Hozier

-J

Gratitude · Jodythinks · Love/Life · Songs to listen to

What made me happy, week of April 24, 2023

Status report: It’s been a week of barely controllable hive breakouts and random outbursts. I have been self medicating with a lot of sweets, sugary drinks, and acupuncture like ear piercings.

However in this rollercoaster of a week there are a few bright spots:

1. Getting more ear piercings. I have realized that earrings are the jewelry i really respond to. Even when we had a jewelry phase, i bought mostly earrings and rings. In the span of 2 months, I have added 4 (one did not work out) active piercings to one ear. I can’t recommend it enough if you have no fear of needles and like teeny jewelry. Just don’t touch your fresh piercing after carrying fresh shrimp from your car to your place.

2. Feeling like a girl again. It takes so much professionals to keep me looking halfway put together on a regular basis, and every single thing is in a different, specialized place. Nails get done in a different city. Hair is only at the guy who’s done it for at least the past 6 years. Brows only at this brow place in this one branch. And so on and so forth. And I still look like i rolled out of bed. You can’t even imagine what this looks like without help from people who know better that i pay for their expertise.

3. The people that show up. Bar none. It was an exceptionally tough week. I waved the flag. People showed up. They saved my life. I am thankful.

Songs of the week:

I Will Follow You Into the Dark by Death Cab for Cutie

Under Pressure by Queen

Rescued by The Foo Fighters

Up & Down by The Chainsmokers, 347Aidan

-N