What I‘m grateful for, week 41 of 52

October 19, 2021November 14, 2021 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

1. Thoughtful friends that center their care around food. This week, I got a gift card for food, my friend’s signature dish sent over, and my favorite brownies sent over. In this pandemic, the Philippines really embraced care packages of food more than ever, and if anything, I’m grateful that we still get to show our affection this way. It’s still doesn’t compare to sharing a meal together, but it helps.

2. Supportive family members. I’ve been going insane readjusting to Philippine lockdown, and i’ve not been super helpful, but I’ve gotten so much support from the fam. It’s big because I know I’ve been spoiled with being able to escape and they haven’t. It’s a lot and I don’t know how they do it. But i appreciate it. Can I do it in the same amount? Probably not. But I’ll try and do better.

3. Being able to drive again. Driving mom to errands makes me feel a smidge helpful, but I’m also very limited timing wise because of my work schedule, but we work around it. Next time I head to the states, hopefully I get my international driving license, but for now, driving in my crazy hometown is good for me.

Cheese · Jodythinks · Love/Life

So I’ve been thinking about chemistry

October 15, 2021 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

And it’s not really about chemistry in the romantic sense, but mostly how my brain responds to things. I mean, I’ve made a ton of questionable decisions because my brain decided, “Dude, we want this.”. It floods my system with the chemicals to make my pulse quicken, my breath shorter, and even with the quietest voice in the back of my head trying to lead me into the path of self preservation, the chemicals keep winning.

It’s the same ones that always lets the ID win. I am an impatient, short tempered, dickish person when I don’t get my way (outside of work), and when something I want won’t get to me fast enough. It has led me to a lot of disagreements with people who have a lot more sense than I do. It has led me to get hurt more times than I would like.

Chemistry has fucked me over a lot. Even when I know, deep down, the right path, in the moment, I don’t really care, because the possibility of a dopamine boost is right now. Because I use so much of my time at work figuring out the least painful way to do things, the fact that I will usually just say “fuck it” and move me to ultimately pursue things (and friends, or incredibly intelligent, attractive, emotionally unavailable men) that will lead to also the shortest path to a hard crash is pretty damn annoying.

There really isn’t a big thought process here, more of admitting that the more I try to justify my choices, the less it’s going to make sense to others. But really, who’s looking?

And really, a lot of these bad decisions have led me to where I am, and to what I hope, is a life that can be considered fairly lived. And with everything that’s going on — I think I’m okay with that right now.

food · Gratitude · Jodythinks · Love/Life

What I’m grateful for, week 40 of 52

October 12, 2021 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

1. A delicious bowl of ramen. It’s been a minute, and I keep forgetting how good we have it on ramen choices here in Manila, until I travel to places where it’s a lot less hyped up, and people are less likely to crave it more often. Got myself a Ramen Nagi Green King, and it was so good. Next time, hopefully, Mendokoro.

2. An insanely good cup of coffee. A friend said they would be near a Toby’s Estate. I went manic and bought myself a hella expensive bag of Woolloo Moolloo beans from my favorite coffee place in Manila. Totally worth it, but also prolly an extremely expensive daily upgrade.

3. Great customer service. The buns get their food from Rabbito Mart, and their communications, branding, and customer service are top notch. There are even Chibi and Cheester stickers! I feel extremely lucky to have found them as suppliers, and trust them a lot.

Song of the week: Beggin’ by Mäneskin

What are you grateful for this week?

Gratitude · Jodythinks · Love/Life

What I’m grateful for, week 39 of 52

October 5, 2021February 6, 2022 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

1. Bunny time. After a while of not being with my bunnies, I finally got to hang out with them. Did I get majorly scratched because I was in their space too much and picked them up? Yes. Totally worth it. Now I get woken up at 4 am Pacific time for headrubs and sniffs, which, even at the inconvenient hour, makes my heart happy.

2. Sleeping in my own bed. It’s taking forever for it to smell as good as I want because of how long I was away, and the rainy weather when I was gone. Fresh sheets, all my pillows, and burrito-ing under the blankets, perfection.

3. Going back to my “morning” routine. Making my wrong coffee, tea, vitamin c, and filling my now twice dented “new” water bottle, makes me feel me again.

Song of the week: Finally/beautiful stranger by Halsey

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Gratitude · Jodythinks · Love/Life · Thanks

What I’m grateful for, week 38 of 52

September 27, 2021 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

1. Safe travels. It’s very scary travelling right now, but I was fortunate enough to have journeyed to my destination with little issues. Even more so, to have a whole row to myself for a long haul flight. Being able to stretch out and actually sleep a majority of it, big plus.

2. Airconditioning and a nice view. I am in isolation right now, and will be for the next week. Being stuck in one room is bad, but climate control and a way to look out to the sunrise, super helpful.

3. Sugar and caffeine. My two biggest vices (besides charming, intelligent men) and I have been abusing them this week. I’ll do less sugar soon, but caffeine will still be my partner in night shift, and if anything, these brain altering chemicals are the least of my worries.

Song of the week: Shit Show by Peter McPoland

What are you grateful for?

Gratitude · Love/Life · Thanks

What I’m grateful for, week 37 of 52

September 20, 2021September 27, 2021 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

1. Gorgeous food. I was fortunate enough to score tables at great places in a fun city this week, had spectacular food (which matched the bill), got the full dining experience, and for a self professed food enthusiast, was pretty fucking great.

2. An almost romantic train ride. One of these years I will do one of those beatiful train car rides to be experience it once. Getting on a train for 2 hours in a beautiful coast, on a quiet car, was really pleasant. Like a good reset.

3. Getting things done. I was not fully ready for my weekend and i had a lot of help. I truly believe my friend Anna can run a small country and not break a sweat. Family also came through with a ton of help and guidance. I travel technically alone but I always have the help of my “tribe(s)”

Song of the week: On Fire by Switchfoot

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Gratitude · Jodythinks · Love/Life

What I’m grateful for, week 36 of 52

September 14, 2021September 27, 2021 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

1. People that show up. Bar none, nothing more precious than time for other people. I’ve had so many people unexpectedly show up to more than I thought they would, and to see it makes my heart sing. I bitch a lot about fakery, but I’ve felt so much sincerity this past week, that I feel like hitting myself for being too cynical.

2. Art. Austin has so much beauty and art, and I’ve been blessed with a glimpse of it. I want to know more, feel more. I’m greedy with things that make me feel something.

3. Geeburt and Rick. Being jostled awake with those smiles started my days so well. Good people have great dogs.

4. More biking. Not nearly enough but got my blood pumping. If I could bike every day I would.

Song of the week: La La Land by Bryce Vine

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Gratitude · Jodythinks · Love/Life

What I’m grateful for, week 32/52

August 19, 2021 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

1. Amazing food. Peking duck, tofu soup, taiyaki with soft serve. All in the same 5 days. I love this access to all these excellent places in the same 30(?) miles. Don’t even get me started on the drinking options.

2. Fireworks on rooftop bars. Two other people had to help me get ready. I was wearing a dress that, in a good day, should be called a sausage casing. But there were literal fireworks, good drinks and too much laughing that could be called appropriate.

3. Art that makes you feel things. Being around art, I think, is best when it elicits emotion. Whether it’s discomfort or disbelief, it still makes you feel something. I like art.

Song of the week: Fire for You by Cannons

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Gratitude · Love/Life · Thanks

What I’m grateful for, week 31/52

August 10, 2021August 19, 2021 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

1. Homes and homies. I have been shuttled around so much, and have had access to friends’s homes and families. I have slept better, ate better, and have laughed harder than I have in so long, and I cherish every moment. I am a sap, and will hold snapshots in my head as long as I can.

2. Private karaoke rooms with like minded friends. Singing at the top of my lungs, with friends who were also singing as loud > hitting actual notes.

3. Access to family who are usually so far away, and loved ones who trek with you when you forget things. I was able to hang out with a beloved aunt and come back in the same day. I know how lucky I am to be here, I just forget sometimes when I’m extra whiny.

Song of the week: Ocean Eyes by: Billie Eilish

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Gratitude · Love/Life · Work

What I’m grateful for, week 24 of 52

June 21, 2021 Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

I feel like this week has been filled with things I’m extra grateful for, that I’m a little nervous of what the blowback is for this week. I also will remember to take this week to week to week.

Song of the week: Lost Cause by Billie Eilish

1. A long weekend. I had a ton of grownup errands I had to run this week that can’t wait and I was able to accomplish all the things on my list without dying at my first day of work.

2. A batch of my favorite Filipino food, kare kare. It is such a pain to make and takes so long so I never make it. It’s also hard to find the version we have at home since we use tripe (which, fyi, I love) instead of oxtail.

3. Speaking of tripe, a friend sent over a batch of her specialty callos. I had to eat it immediately. It lasted like 12 hours (aka when I got up and told the family I was gonna finish it).

4. Another friend even sent over a surprise loaf of homemade sourdough bread and a batch of tomato soup. (How lucky am I?!)

5. I also got to catch up with one of my favorite people at work. Being extremely busy and having a ton of things on their plate makes it hard for them to just have a conversation, but we had a really significant one.

What are you grateful for this week?