Life is short: Week 17 of 52

May 4, 2022 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

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. I like karaoke. Especially in a group that’s not afraid to let loose. I was fortunately part of that group last Friday and we sang every song in the book. I lost my voice halfway in (prolly also the whiskey we were downing and all the yelling) but it was worth it.

It’s definitely getting harder and harder to leave because I keep making attachments at the office.

-j

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Life is short, week 16 of 52

April 27, 2022 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

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 demonize someone when you’ve been with them up close. I love that I got the opportunity to absorb my colleagues’ wisdom and energy.

3. Hitting a gorgeous national park. Friends took me to the most amazing national park, even with a dose of predeparture tension. I’m incredibly lucky to have experienced it with people I adore.

Song of the week: Give A Little by Maggie Rogers

-J

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Life is short, week 15 of 52

April 18, 2022 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

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 at a time — it’ll get easier.

3. Being not virtual for once. Me online is more random and talkative than I am in person. I just enjoy being around people listening to them converse. I may reach over and hug more often, just to check if they’re still here and not my mind playing tricks on me, generally, just breathing the same air, leaning on them is already fantastic.

Song of the week: Give a Little by Maggie Rogers

-J

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Life is short week 14 of 52

April 11, 2022April 16, 2022 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

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 got to go on this one. White sand, clear water, drinks on the beach. Even if there was more rain than sun, and I have been sleeping more than I have been hanging out. It’s been a chill, fun time with a couple friends who are innately motherly and have been super helpful in my limited capacity, and I’m super grateful.

3. Planning and figuring out things. I usually hate planning — but love when it comes together. Everything has been back and forth and I have so many people to consult, but that also means I have a lot to look forward to (I hope). Again, life is short. Do the thing. Eat the food. Drink the drink. This is going to be me for a while.

Song of the week: Space Ghost Coast to Coast by Glass Animals

-J

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Life is short, week 13 of 52

April 4, 2022April 16, 2022 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

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 I live, and it’s a blessing.

3. Silliness with friends. I have so little time to really be there for the people I care about, and any time is a gift. I had time with friends that I didn’t really expect to get, so I am grateful.

Song of the week: Times Like These by Foo Fighters

-J

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Life is short, week 12 of 52

March 28, 2022April 16, 2022 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

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 three routines versus his 20 but I am all about the slow build, achievable goals in a limited time.

2. Investing in creature comforts. Summer is here, and the Philippines can roast like no other. Computer melting hot. It makes doing a lot of things much harder to do. I’ve finally got that airconditioner installed, but it resulted in cement dust on every single surface. A friend offered my favorite birthday gift of the year yet, a trusted cleaning lady. It was four hours of her cleaning everything, when it took me two just to clean off surfaces to sit. She’s going to spoil me for sure, and I will try to not make things hard for her every month.

3. Art. It took two years for art I commissioned to find its way to me, and two countries. Now that it’s here, I can’t wait to find the place for it. It’s highly sentimental and beautiful and I love it.

Song of the week: Novacane by Frank Ocean

-J

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Life is short, week 11 of 52

March 21, 2022April 16, 2022 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

Status report: Maybe I’m giving myself migraines with my stupidity.

1. Tamales week. Lame but I cannot for the life of me find corn husks to make this at home. So every time my favorite Mexican place has them, I have to order. So it’s been 2 dozen tamales over (less than) a week.

2. Seeing friends succeed. Towards the end of the week, we passed by our friend Cherry’s new cafe. I remember her starting this business years ago from home. She was juggling a full time job, two kids, and two new businesses. She pivoted with the pandemic and have now built a brick and mortar store. She is talented, hardworking, creative, and most importantly, a fucking great person and I can’t be any prouder. If you want an amazing spread at your next event, definitely book her. Also she’s gorgeous and a joy to be around. Just saying. Her business is The Table Spread Co.

3. Getting (a smidge) dressed up. After a rough week, I knew I had a few social things lined up. I wanted to really change things up for a sec, and got almost a disturbing amount of compliments from my friends. Even better, I got hugged. I didn’t have much sleep and my voice had already cycled to its exhausted version on the way there, but it was worth it.

4. New (old) restaurant discovery. Provenciano in Maginhawa for mom’s birthday. First time in an actual restaurant with the family in two years. I’ve wanted to try Provenciano longer than that, but have never found good timing or decent parking. Even better, family was happy. We were so new food giddy. Amazingly good.

Song of the week: Happier than Ever by Astn

What were your life is short moments this week?

-J

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Life is short, week 10 of 52

March 17, 2022April 16, 2022 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

Status check: 3 days of insomnia versus 6, not bad. Tylenol is a godsend.

1. Going on a day out of silly things. Sister and mom and I went to just go out. Ran into a friend I haven’t seen in like 6 years and his mom, who I also adore. It was such a comforting thing to know they’re almost exactly the same. I got a hug too which is a great plus in this weird situation.

2. Great conversations. The past week has been, to put it lightly, an enlightening experience into human interaction. In very good and also horrible ways. There are still some good humans out there, and also very terrible ones. The difficult thing is to find the good ones.

3. The projector life. Being that a flatscreen is hella expensive and would have nowhere to go, I bought a projector and watched Dave Grohl on my wall eat hot wings. It was fantastic, and just emphasized that I need to see this man perform live before i die. I just need to.

Song of the week: Have a Little Faith in Me by Joe Cocker

-J

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Life is short, week 9 of 52

March 7, 2022April 16, 2022 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

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 I could, and honestly, I needed it too.

3. Beautiful things and blowing up my wallet. Made some not so responsible financial choices about some delicious and/or pretty things. Suffice to say— i need some places to try these things on.

Song of the week: Josh by Peach PRC

-J

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Life is short, week 8 of 52

March 2, 2022April 16, 2022 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

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 Diddy

-J