My 2014 Happy List

Photo from Katie: Normal Girl

There was this post that appeared in my FB (couldn't find the link) where you write down the stuff you're happy/thankful for in pieces of paper and put them in a jar. At the end of the year, you take them out, re-read them, and review all the good things that have happened to you for the entire year. I did something similar but instead of a jar, I wrote down those happy things in my planner. 

Updates (and then some)

So here's what's been happening lately:

• I hit an all-time low last May. Still feeling the aftershocks and dealing with the consequences. As a result, I slowed down in editing my manuscript and I barely wrote anything. I'm still hoping for good news, but until then, I'm trying to get back on my feet. But it's a slow crawl. Well, at least I'm showing signs of life.

• In order to deal with this unexpected bump on the road, I signed up for Camp NaNoWrimo. I figured a good push (i.e., a caffeine-induced-cram-on-writing-til-you-break-your-fingers month) would get me back on track. Not making any great strides word count-wise, but I'm meeting my daily quota. I'd like to think that's a good sign. 

• One of my sources of comfort during the past weeks is reading. And this month, I signed up for not one, but TWO book tours! It's already a tall order for a lazy bum like me, but hey, I can't say no to books (and supporting local authors).

• There may be a family trip in the works this month. *fingers crossed*

Anyway, I'm going back to reading, and later on, writing. Here's to a productive month ahead!

So I'm learning Korean

From Wikipedia

Yes, and what a jolly good headache I signed myself up for. Haha!

I enlisted to take up basic Korean lessons at UP just because I'm so frustrated about learning Japanese. Way back when, I even hired a Japanese tutor to teach me the ropes, but I gave up when I got to the counting part. I also got intimidated about learning Kanji, so I thought since the Korean alphabet only has one way of writing stuff, I'd be cool, right? Right?

Wrong.

Vocabulary is a bitch, that's why. Unlike Japanese, I hardly watch Korean soaps or listen to Kpop (the ones I like, not the artists who look like carbon copies of each other). Grammar/sentence construction makes me want to flip my desk. Just recently, we started counting big values in Sino-Korean, and I practically balked when we had an exercise on listening. It was so difficult trying to comprehend how Koreans speak like they're eating their words. I'm gonna flunk listening tests for sure.

Learning is difficult in the sense that there's this avalanche of information that you need to memorize. I've stopped memorizing things since I graduated from college. I can keep up with the lessons, but I absorb things a bit slow than the usual. But I have to say that hangeul is really fun to read/write when you know all the characters, although I need to shape up if I want to pass this course.

안녕하세요.  저는안이에요. 반갑습니다!

How I spent Single Awareness Day

Photo from Speed Dating

For the first time in all my 30 years of existence, I finally did something different this month. With February being that month for that kind of stuff, I figured, why not do something for myself? I did just that, only that it took me forever to blog about it since I was being my usual lazy self.

All of my plans took place two weekends earlier where, first, I went out on a speed dating event. I know. It was something spontaneous and totally not me...which is exactly the point! I was even hesitating to the event on the day itself, but  I just told my overly-critical brain to shut up. So I went there. By myself.

The year of writing

New Year foodie!

Happy 2012, everyone! It's been a great January so far and I've enjoyed the holidays with the family. I guess it's safe to say that I've put on a few pounds since all we did was just cook and eat. My sister took over the kitchen and she'd been baking all these awesome pastries ever since. I think she also outdid our mom with all the cooking she did.

Wipe Out on Figment.com

This month is already turning out to be promising. A couple of weeks ago, I got an email from Figment saying that one of my works for the Daily Themes challenge has been featured on their site and I've been over the moon since then. I haven't been uploading stuff on their site for ages, and my work suddenly gets good reviews! I'm thinking of developing it to a novel, assuming I get over these frequent bouts of procrastination. To those who've read the story and gave their comments, thanks a lot! :) For those who haven't, please take a moment to read it and let me know what you think.

2012 is the year for me to buckle down and get creative. Hope you guys have a productive one, too! :)

T Minus 2 Days

Dizz izz iiiit!

My first travel shindig this year! It's been so long since I last packed my bags and slept in someplace different. I think the last time was when I went to Zambales to Kat's place with Fris and Lorna and it's been like forever. As in. 

I've been reading some stuff online as well as asking friends for good places to visit there and it's been an overload of information. I'd like to try everything and go everywhere, but I don't want to overplan. I like being surprised by the places I visit, and hopefully, I make the most out of the number of days over there with the sister. I freaking deserve this holiday. Damn straight.

Spayed

Yeah, our black pussy went under the knife yesterday. It's been a long time coming actually, but thankfully we were able to have the funds to get her spayed. She was in her "season" that week, and her cries seemed like she was in pain or something. I just couldn't bear to see her in that state.

Death in the family

It feels really weird to be writing about something as morbid as death. Yet we all know that like it or not, we're all going to face the final curtain at one point in time. It still feels alien to me, though. Luckily, we don't have many deaths in the family and I feel blessed ten times over knowing that my family is safe and in good spirits. I guess I haven't entertained the thought of getting into that "point in time", more so for my folks. I've gotten used to a close-knit family that the idea of any one of us kicking the bucket seems unacceptable, even preposterous.

"Out there"

I realize that I've been spending most of my weekends at home and less "out there". There are times when I'd rather be at home than go out so I can catch up on long hours of sleep & devote my time to writing, but when you're not getting any younger, you really should be "out there" with your friends or probably just with yourself. I realize that I haven't been getting much of that (laziness is a major culprit as well). 

I've scoped out some events happening nearby and these are what I compiled:

Feb 5 - GK Enchanted Farms visit @ Angat, Bulacan

I'm really thinking of joining here. The participation fee's not so bad (P310 for those riding the transpo at the main office), plus the food's covered! I'd really like to see how Human Heart Nature manufactures its products & how they provide livelihood to the people. Note to self: reserve a slot next week!

Feb 21 - Stamp Collecting Seminar @ PhilPost office

I saw this announcement when I went to the post office yesterday. Seems promising (only P100 participation fee with kit). It might be nice if I can properly pursue this hobby (I've already got a couple of Netherlands & Indonesia stamps), but that would mean shelling out money. I might give this a go nonetheless.

Feb ?? - Binondo Plurk Fiesta

Err, Fristine, is this a go? Hehehe.

Volunteering at PAWS

Seriously considering this over Hands on Manila. I need it for a story I'm writing. Hehehe.

Yun pa lang. Hahaha. 'Kala nyo marami, noh? Ugh. Do you guys know any events that are ok to join in? I need to get myself "out there".

Temporomandibular joint disorder

For the past 2 years or so, I've been feeling a lot of discomfort in my nape & shoulder muscles. I initially thought I was just stressed in my previous work because I usually kept long hours in the office. I thought it was just a simple muscle pain. I've tried going to a spa (sosyal eh) to have it massaged...I even went to a hospital for therapy, but the pain remained persistent.

I was totally oblivious to it since I thought it was just a product of the strain of working long hours, but that was until I started hearing clicking sounds whenever I open & close my mouth. It wasn't until I went to the dentist to have my teeth cleaned when she pointed out that I had TMJ or Temporomandibular joint disorder. During the process, I couldn't open my mouth wide for a long period of time because I experienced that one time when I did that and I thought my jaws wouldn't close no matter how hard I tried. Needless to say, I didn't get my teeth cleaned that thoroughly because of that.

The grossest thing to ever happen to your jaw

I consulted a friend who was a dentist and also sought the opinion of another one and confirmed that I really had TMJ. I was supposed to get some x-rays and eventually an occlusal splint. Thing is, those things cost a lot and money isn't exactly an abundant resource right now. It sucks, but I may have to live with the discomfort, perhaps at least until I've saved a few bucks to get those things done.

My only worry is that I don't know if getting a splint will eliminate the discomfort. The orthodontist says that I may have to get some braces to correct the malalignment of the teeth, but I dunno. I'm a bit adamant to fork over such an exorbitant amount that's not going to permanently get rid of this discomfort.

What's in a bag?

I was supposed to get this done for Rotch's Ten Geek Girls, Ten Handbags post, but I was only able to download the file from my camera just now, so Rotch...really sorry for missing your deadline. D:

I keep a small bag where I can conveniently stuff it in my laptop backpack whenever I bring home this bajeezus-heavy contraption. I'm not used to having small bags and I'm not used to trimming down its contents to the barest essentials. What you're seeing is really as essential as I can get. Back when I lugged around a medium-sized bag, I was never without a book and all the other paraphernalia (like billing statements, scratch papers, pencil case, wet tissues, etc.) that I couldn't live without. Now I just have to make sure I have something to do if I have to wait in long queues or something to wipe my ass with in case nature calls in the most unexpected places.