Gratitude
-
Life is short, week 18 of 52
Status report: Hives 3x this week, no migraines. Life is short moments to note: 1. A baby hike that was fully squishy. I am not the fittest person. I don’t really go outdoors for fear of frogs. But I actually like the baby hikes that are frog free is what I realize. Two years of being told to stay indoors I guess. Or just seeing other views that are addicting. Who knows. 2. Exploring a walkable city. I love cities you can walk in. Granted I need thermal leggings and puff jackets in weather below 20 degrees celcius, I still love seeing new places that are safe and I can…
-
Life is short: Week 17 of 52
Status report: Zero migraines, 1 hangover. Thanks yakult for absorbing that soju. 1. My first baseball game. I’m not a sports fan, but people coming together for a common (fun) cause is exciting. Went with colleagues and I barely understood what was going on (thankful to one coworker who was explaining the rules), but I really enjoyed being in the moment at that moment. 2. Really good dumplings. It’s been a while since I’ve had fantastic xiao long bao, my favorite dimsum. We hit a really really good one and I couldn’t stop eating. And then we had ICE CREAM. Best dinner. The best. 3. Seeing another side of people.…
-
Life is short, week 16 of 52
Status report: 1 migraine, way too much whiskey. My liver is certainly getting a workout from funner things here. This week’s Life is Short moments: 1. Finally meeting a teammate after a year. I am the biggest advocate for remote work as I’ve been working from home since 2010, but I do believe in bonding in person. There is a lot you miss in curated Zoom rooms and limited time, that you pick up in person. 2. Being in a room with people that used to intimidate me — and finding more things in common that I thought we would. I never hated anyone — but also, it’s harder to…
-
Life is short, week 15 of 52
Status report: 0 migraines, 2 hangovers. I love working in the day. Here are these week’s life is short moments: 1. Two full slices of ice cream cake. First ice cream cake of 36 years, and finally after trying since 2020. Friends found a way and threw me a last minute party. Way too much food and cake, especially alcohol. It was epic. Birthday well spent a continent away. 2. Sweet, amazing coworkers that have become friends. I always say I should stop leaving my heart in San Francisco, but lately, I think Utah has kept it in its clutches with its mountain ranges and super sweet people. One week…
-
Life is short week 14 of 52
Status report: 2 days of migraines — the least in a while. Less time to row though— I need to reconfigure how to do a decent alternative starting this week. 1. Cheester being extra clingy this past week. I got woken up several times by nips because of the hay situation being unsatisfactory, and he’s been extra thumpy, but this usually happens when I bring the big suitcase out. It’s not great but I’m glad to know I matter to him — at least in human slave status. 2. Beach trips. After two years, the beach. I have to cancel my next booked trip to Cebu, but I’m glad I…
-
Life is short, week 13 of 52
Status report: 3 days of migraines, 2 of insomnia. Trying to stick to better habits, but still cooking my liver. 1. Clearing my head. My foray into semi anonymous humanity was a very intense learning experience. It made me learn a ton more about myself, (Tbh I’m getting really tired of all this self introspection, I like learning about other people) and it just makes me more grateful for my people. 2. Someone else willing to drive. Migraines and insomnia do not make a good driver, so I am incredibly grateful for my access to people who are willing to drive around and just help. It’s a lot considering where…
-
Life is short, week 12 of 52
Status report: 3 full days of migraines, 2 tylenol and 1 ibuprofen for breakfast. Cooking my liver in not fun ways. 1. Catching up with a friend and getting into new habits for good. What I’ve realized a lot from my (not Filipino at all) American friends is that they do well enough alone. Checking in every so often is more than sufficient, and consistency is rare. But I digress. My friend has been through emotional upheaval one after the other, and I’m glad he’s (almost) out of the last one. He got me into an app called HabitShare, and is influencing me to do better for myself. I’ve clocked…
-
Life is short, week 9 of 52
Status check: Ibuprofen no longer works alone. Tylenol or a diphenhydramine add is needed. Or maybe I just need to actually fall asleep for more than 3 hours a day. Last week’s moments: 1. Going down the rabbit hole. I am in a sociological experiment that is bound to produce horrific results. It’s going to be great. Dignity, and prodding the worst instincts of semi anonymous culture, here we go. 2. We show up. When friends experience loss, especially life, we show up. That’s it. I hate that it’s happened again so soon, but we show up. No matter what. And I would hug my friends for as long as…
-
Life is short, week 8 of 52
Status check: Less migraines, but also less sleep. Some moments of note: 1. My (second to the) last batch of posole. I haven’t cooked in a minute, and my 32 oz can of hominy really was taking up space in the pantry. Voila, posole for 8. 2. Back to foccacia. Having had sad, dry foccacia, I had to make my own. Spent two days eating the block I had. 3. Belly laughs with friends. Got to have time with two friends, who are constantly needing to show up for their broods. Comedic failures and showing them around, the shot of social I needed. Song of the week: Coming Home by…
-
Life is short, week 7 of 52
Status report: 4 out of 7 days of migraines, 3 of 7 in hives. It’s all about balance folks. Things to note: 1. Taking a day off for a rebalancing. Instead of the responsible thing and diving straight into my 2021 tax stuff like I should, I took the day off and did some fun things. Had too much fun belly laughing at a playground. Had too much sashimi and steak. Laughed too hard looking at cars. Sometimes too much can be good too. 2. Spending a bit too much grocery shopping. Food costs are insane right now — but also a safer way to destress after a long day.…
