Gratitude
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Chester Buko 2014-2024
The calmest, most loving rabbit I have ever had, Chester peacefully passed in my arms Saturday night. He had a challenging last three months of his life, vet visits, liver disease, almost a month in total of confinement. In the end, he gave it his all, and held on until he could, gave us time to say goodbye. He laid down his head and was gone. He saw us through 10 years of good milestones, and broken hearts. He was our designer item authenticator. He was a vet favorite. He was the best bunny brother for all his bunny sisters. They have now welcomed him over the rainbow bridge, and…
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What made me happy, September 25, 2023
Status report: MRI day. Trying not to have surgery, but I might need it. What’s made me happy lately: 1. Chester’s 9th year with us. He has saved my life too many times to count. He has also cost me hundreds of thousands of pesos of damage, because he only chews expensive things. At least he has a sense of humor though. He’s become slow, his fur is less shiny, he’s lost weight, but he’s still my Chester. I can’t imagine a life without him. Here’s hoping I don’t have to find out soon. 2. Hotpot. Our family has a new favorite hotpot place, and I love to see it.…
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This old bun
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To closed chapters and enduring friendships.
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What made me happy lately, July 20, 2023
Status report: Hives and insomnia have been kicking my ass. Breathing deep, calming down are important especially since I don’t want to wreck my liver with all the meds. Also saw my ortho because my knee has been making me wince with every bend. It’s a process. 1. Being part of a Say Yes to the Dress moment. One of my friends of three(!) decades is getting married soon and asked if I wanted to hang when she tried on wedding dresses. Not having been a part of this process in years, i could not say yes faster, and even arrived earlier and made friends with the bridal shop owner.…
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What made me happy, July 10, 2023
Status report: After being given a glowing once over on my 3 month checkup, a couple things have come up. One, that I had terrible acidity this week, extra keep me up at night episodes, and the other, I fear my knee has ripped fully. Tbd, but need to get answers because I can’t bend without wincing. But there are bright spots that made me happy this past week: 1. Being able to do a sendoff with a friend of more than 11 years. A friend is packing up her whole family to go to Canada and start a new life. I’ve known her since forever, and even her kids…
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Happy Bourdain Day
Anthony Bourdain would have been 67, June 26th of 2023. The demons won and we lost him to them in 2018. Truly befitting that going in that day, I made one of his favorite things: roasted bone marrow. To continue the truly hedonistic celebration, spent a day with friends eating our way through Thai, Vietnamese, Spanish, Mexican and Chinese food, plus two oyster trays, and ended it with massages. The man lived. He really did. He found the highest of highs, and faced really intense lows. But he loved. He loved so many people. He wrote about humanity so well. He was the narrator we never thought we needed, and…
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What made me happy, June 26th 2023
Status report: Sugar is all out of whack, and is affecting so many different things. Losing sleep, breaking out in hives. It’s going to get better it’s just me. My bright spots from the last week: 1. Acceptance. Late last week, I let go of clothes I had been holding on to for decades. I have accepted that because of everything working against me, my petite size blazers, xs skirts, and post college hoodies are long gone for me. It was half a day of humbling (but also cathartic) going through four 50L boxes, and half my childhood closet. I hope the folks mom chooses to give it to take…
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What made me happy — June 20, 2023
Status report: Hives are hivey and insomnia is bad. I had a few highlights this past week. 1. Having time with friends I’ve had since kindergarten. Decades of friendship and every time we see each other I feel like I’m 12 again, listening to the Spice Girls. We don’t see each other a lot. They have very full lives, offspring even, but we usually come together last minute. I love having them around. Physically tiring, however, a total recharge of my soul. 2. Making plans. Outside of food, plane tickets are my biggest expense that I don’t balk at. With a lot of my loved ones 16 hours and more…
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What made me happy, as of May 29, 2023
Status report: Hives more than usual, but sleeping a bit better. Zero work on self because my place has been gross. Hoping to do better. Here are the bright spots: 1. My friend Anna. When I told her about my incredibly irresponsible emotional response to something this week, she showed up for me. I am deeply grateful for my friend, who always knows how to respond. She started planning things with me. She told me about limitations, and gave me real reasons to when she can do and not do things. She gets me. She is sometimes so similar to me, but in a much improved way and has her…