Our friend, amazing person, all around special guy Josh Johnson would’ve been 29 this August 10th.
Had a little too much of everything in your honor my friend. Miss ka na namin. Ingat ka diyan.
Category: Love/Life
Life is short, week 30 of 52
Status report: I think I’ve developed GERD because now I get woken up by the feeling of nausea. Anxiety hives are twice a day now. I live on a diet of sugar and caffeine.
Life is short moments from the past week:
1. Cheester being such a good coworker. We’ve been attached at the hip, which makes it hard to actually go out, but it’s like he’s taken it upon himself to be my emotional support animal. And because I’ve had a really overwhelming few weeks, it’s really made a difference.
2. Learning a lot. It’s a lot. I’m always the first person to admit I’m not an expert, but I always make sure to ask questions. I’m still on a “do you know this” stage for a lot of things, but so far everyone on this learning journey has been incredibly kind, go above and beyond, and has so much willingness to help.
3. Seeing old friends. We literally spent a few hours saying we’re old. Realized we’ve been friends for more than a decade. Hung out with another friend at her amazing place. I lost several hours of sleep but it was well worth it.
Song of the week: Take a Chance on Me from the Mamma Mia soundtrack
-J
Life is short, week 29 of 52
Status report: ran out of mini cokes. Now have gone to sakto cokes. Woke up Friday night feeling like a limp noodle that got left in a wire basket in a ramen place over the weekend. Still not a hundred percent but feeling significantly better (but still on every legal remedy possible).
Here are the moments I clocked on mental snapshots last week:
1. Chester becoming my new shadow. Chester has always been the alpha bun — and very independent. Since we lost Chibi we have both found ourselves re-bonding with each other. He gets up with me to work, he asks for middle of my “night” cuddles, and he checks when I’m away for too long. While our lives are infinitely less colorful without Chibi, I’m happy he has found solace in my company, because he is mine.
2. Helping a bit. Night shift, among other things, makes me so much less useful to my parents, except for some things here and there. Last week I got to help a little, and being useful helps me balance my guilt. I hope.
3. My cousin’s chicken puffs. I think i ate 30++ chicken cheese empanada puffs as full meals for five days. They’re good, they’re easy, they’re made by family and I don’t have to worry about a lot of cleanup. Sometimes some things just make sense.
Song of the week: Love Songs Ain’t For Us by Amy Shark
-J
Life is short, week 28 of 52
Status report: Daily hive eruptions, sometimes needing more than one antihistamine. Caffeine taken care of a daily mini coke + cold brew.
Moments from last week:
Just one. We lost 16% of the company to a reduction in force last Friday. It was a heartbreaking day, and we’re still reeling.
Life is short, week 26 of 52
Status update: Migraines and insomnia. Advil close to running out, and Tylenol has stopped working for headaches. Is the insomnia causing the migraines or are the migraines causing the insomnia?
Life is short moments of the week:
1. Chipped teeth getting fixed. Teeth are expensive, and now even more so. I broke two front teeth and was semi-hillbilly like for a day. It was nice seeing the dentist I’ve seen since I was in the single digits. Couple decades later and we’ve seen her get married, have two kids, and now have one graduate college.
2. Routine checkups turning into health scares. Mom is great about regular checkups, dad not so much. She took him with her on a routine checkup that turned very scary for a couple days. Thankfully it was handled (not by me, but people who are actually awake and around when doctors are on), but here’s crossing all fingers and toes that it resolves soon. I haven’t seen my doctors since the pandemic started, but I hope it’s not terrible. (i know i know. I’ll figure it out)
3. Seeing family. Family time is amazing and is a great way to reset. We had to go home for Ninang’s 40 days, and to finally clean out Nanay’s things. As a grandkid that didn’t grow up with her and having limited shared memories, I was very thankful to have an opportunity to reminisce. Also to take some of her things home. I’m literally going to be rocking some grandma style soon and I can’t wait.
Song of the week: Hold my Hand by Jess Glynne
-J
Life is short, week 25 of 52
Status update: Two almost caffeine migraines, and antihistamine sleep aids with some random af nightmares.
Life is short moments of note:
1. Learning to make a childhood favorite. I have an aunt that makes the most amazing food. She has always been skilled in the kitchen. Anything that she makes is the best version of it (but definitely the least healthy). My favorite is a squash vegetable mix that she makes with okra, eggplant, fresh shrimp shells, and apparently, the fat from frying pork. I made it this week with the shrimp shells i stuck in the freezer, but no pork fat oil. It was great, but missing squash blossoms and a bit more umami (just needs more oink). But it was great. It reminds me the next time I’m in the bay, I’ll ask her for her cooking secrets. Nobody writes anything down in this family.
2. Assembling my first desk. I have always had help with my furniture, and the last thing I assembled I’ve thrown out because of my shoddy work, and almost gave up on the replacement as well. My other desk, which was a gift, was falling apart. I was picking up screws and hinges and it was basically at risk of collapsing any moment. I knew I shouldn’t be too dependent on other, more skilled people and learn to at least put together a desk. So I did. It hasn’t fallen apart yet which is promising.
3. Baked goods. I have been having entirely too much. But in a very comforting way. I know I need to have less sugar — but it helps to stay awake. And have something nice when things are rough.
Song of the week: Have a Little Faith In Me by Joe Cocker
-J
Life is short, week 24 of 52
This week would’ve been Anthony Bourdain’s 66th birthday. He couldn’t get himself away from his demons. I need to live because he couldn’t anymore.
-J
Life is short, week 23 of 52
Status report: Hives, 5 out of 7 days. I’m going to need to restock antihistamines soon.
Life is short moments of the week:
1. Getting to my favorite local market. Farmer’s market has always been solid. Super fresh veggies and seafood in reasonable prices. Which meant I spent more than usual on veggies and fresh ingredients. Scored sashimi, lemons, and such fresh shrimp. Always makes me feel better, even if my wallet feels lighter.
2. My favorite Italian place in the city. In the 90s, an Italian former papparazo married a Filipina, and they opened a restaurant in Cubao Expo. It was exceptionally good that day — everything was done a la minute and served perfectly. My mom was groaning in fullness but it was only because her pants weren’t stretchy and her belt was high up. She is the most of the three of us to want to suffer for fashion.
3. The best new smell i’ve smelled in a while. While at Cubao Expo, Joannaman pointed out a candle shop she said she follows on Instagram. It was The Doctor Chandler shop. First sniff and we were hooked. Mom bought their Oxytocin scent within the first 4 minutes, while Joannaman and I spent 15 minutes smelling most of everything. We had to narrow down our likes to one, and I picked Testosterone. Joannaman didn’t buy anything, but my list of what else to try are Adrenaline, Carbon and Oxygen. I am frankly obsessed and light this candle when I wind down at the end of the day and am lying down. I will prolly do this until I get super tired of it.
Song of the week: The Story by Brandi Carlile
-J
Life is short, week 22 of 52
Status report: Little sleep = more migraines. But heart happy because of making time to get a life.
Life is short moments of the week:
1. Enjoying something on trend. Ikea opened up late last year, and my mom and sister got to it before I did. They took me last week and I enjoyed myself more than I thought it would. Mostly coz they were super pumped too. Even if I wanted to be rolled out of pallet by the time it was over. It was fun and I found things I liked that I don’t know how to install.
2. Making food for friends. I wanted to see my friends. My friends are busy people with lives that actually work in the days. I made food that took two days of prep and a lot of going around doing things, but it was worth every second. Not to mention they assembled my furniture for me. All in all 11/10 time used.
3. Nostalgic favorites. There’s a family recipe for iced tea that I never make because it takes so much time and I end up drinking a whole lot of it, and it’s sugary stuff. I took the time to make it last week and sure enough, I am still drinking it up to now. It’s not healthy but it does make me happy. Sugary drinks will be the end of me — but it helps with the hypoglycemia and short bursts of fun things.
Song of the week: Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now by Starship
-J
Life is short, week 21 of 52
Status report: Caffeine withdrawal migraines and regular hives. Aka back home and normal for my old age
Life Is Short moments of the week:
1. Being able to say goodbye, and hug loved ones I haven’t seen the past two years. It feels like a lot of my updates sound dramatic. Long story short, a great aunt passed away last week, and I was driving. We missed her passing by 30 minutes. I was feeling so bad about it, but found our later she hasn’t been conscious in three days.
While it was a sucky reason to finally be able to go home to my mom’s hometown, it was such a blessing to hug and spend time with the family, which we haven’t done since 2020(!). Hopefully no one gets sick so we can keep seeing each other.
2. Spontaneous outings. With my friends being adults (mothers, fathers, grandmothers, caregivers to seniors, etc), it takes so much to plan time together. When it came together suddenly on a Monday it was too good to worry about being awake 26 hours and counting. We ate at 6 places in 4 hours, and laughed until we got tired.
3. Food delivery. Working nights and getting caught up at work, I sometimes forget to eat until I’m almost blacking out from lack of sugar in my system. By then I’m crashing and eating so much sugary junk to catch up. It’s not healthy, and not a great feeling. So when I know I will be home most of the working week and have no time to make food, I get a full week of food delivered. It is a godsend.
Song of the week: OMW (Back Home) by Clara Benin
-J