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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…
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Life is short, week 11 of 52
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…
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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…
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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…
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Life is short, week 6 of 52
Status report: 6 bad migraine days out of 7, but successfully refilled with – full box of of ibuprofen. If only I was wrecking my liver with more fun things. 1. Dad’s birthday. Excessive amounts of food and snark, even if I had to sleep early for work. I love birthdays and making a big deal out of them. My dad is no such person for it — secretly he likes the celebrations though. 2. Losing a colleague. I hate that this is the second in 4 months. I hate that it was so sudden. I hate that he had so much potential and that the team had so much…
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Life is short, week 4 of 52
Stats: Less hives, more migraines. Advil cannot run out in this house. Life is short moments for the week: 1. Rehearsing for a presentation where I’m not really tuned in yet— how do you present a plan you’re just getting caught up on? You practice with a person who is so much better than you on public speaking. I asked for help and got it. I botched it of course, but hey I didn’t cuss at the worst moment. That is a win. 2. Realizing that the first thing as an Asian woman, in a group of male leaders, presenting something in my second language, my first reflex is to…
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2022 — I’m going with, “Life is short.”
In 2021, it was all covid fatigue. We’ve been a year in. I knew I was in a not good place to begin. I came up for air bruised and battered, and all the more scarred. I hope I really made the moments count. There were a lot of decisions made under the guise of “Life is short.” Sure, there were decisions that ultimately hurt like hell afterwards. But there were also ones that changed me for good. I’m not going to go into details that can get me into trouble, but suffice to say— I did my best to live while I could. Having lost two friends tragically (not…
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What I’m grateful for, week 51 of 52
1. Family and friends. I got a ton of support from loved ones this past week as I made a ton of menial moves. It’s great when people are there for the fun, exciting stuff, but being there for the not fun things, is extra heartwarming. 2. So much food we couldn’t close the fridge. Our family couldn’t be together this year for the second time in a row. So they sent over the feast. They cheated on the no gifts rule by sending over a ton of food. I’m annoyed and also extra grateful. 3. Taking more control of my life. I depend on a lot of other people,…
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What I’m grateful for, week 50 of 52
1. Incredibly smart people that are kind. Often, one can show up without the other. I’ve been lucky enough to know and love people that are both. I learn so much everyday and I’m thankful for the people that make that a human experience and not just a transactional one. 2. Progress. I am an extremely impatient person, and more than once I have cried about setbacks the past week, but at the end of the day, even the smallest steps are still steps. I can often forget that, so this is a good reminder. 3. Being able to witness people show up to an office talent show. It may…
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What I’m grateful for, week 48 of 52
1. The beginning of independence. Sounds ridiculous for someone who’s 35 years old, but also in a very traditional, conservative country and family. I am being vague on purpose, but independence means a lot to me — especially what it took to get there. 2. Great support. I have leaned on a lot of people, and continue to lean on still. It still takes a village to survive this (gestures at everything), and I’m glad my tribe is solid. 3. The healing power of music. I’ve tossed, turned, had incredibly vivid sad dreams this week, and when I get up — the only people awake are across the world and…
