Category: Love/Life

Life is short, week 11 of 52
food · Jodythinks · Love/Life · Thanks

Life is short, week 11 of 52

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

Life is short, week 10 of 52
Jodythinks · Love/Life · Restaurant reviews

Life is short, week 10 of 52

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

Life is short, week 9 of 52
food · Gratitude · Jodythinks · Love/Life · Thanks

Life is short, week 9 of 52

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

Life is short, week 8 of 52
Gratitude · Jodythinks · Love/Life · Thanks

Life is short, week 8 of 52

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

Life is short, week 7 of 52
food · Gratitude · Love/Life · Work

Life is short, week 7 of 52

Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

Status report: 4 out of 7 days of migraines, 3 of 7 in hives. It’s all about balance folks.

Things to note:

1. Taking a day off for a rebalancing. Instead of the responsible thing and diving straight into my 2021 tax stuff like I should, I took the day off and did some fun things. Had too much fun belly laughing at a playground. Had too much sashimi and steak. Laughed too hard looking at cars. Sometimes too much can be good too.

2. Spending a bit too much grocery shopping. Food costs are insane right now — but also a safer way to destress after a long day. I spent way too much on groceries in a span of seven days — but I am now very happy about my stocked pantry and can cook for a change. Ready to over prepare food because I can’t live in a house that isn’t overflowing with food.

3. Learning more about what I can do. I reached a couple limits this week while doing projects — and it was a reality check. I want to focus on being less dependent on others for data so I can make recommendations with full confidence, and spreadsheets are still my achilles heel. I can’t fumble on things every time — so I am really going to sit down and work on this for myself.

Song of the week: Let’s Fall in Love for the Night by Finneas

-J

Life is short, week 6 of 52
Love/Life · Songs to listen to · Thanks

Life is short, week 6 of 52

Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

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 plans for him. I hate that his family is suffering. I hate losing people and seeing people suffer. No more deaths at work. Please.

What a week. Hug your loved ones. Tell them you love them. Life is short.

Song of the week: Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole

-J

Life is short, week 4 of 52
Jodythinks · Love/Life · Thanks

Life is short, week 4 of 52

Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

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 minimize my role, or go to the negative. I can point towards so many cultural influences that make me this way but I can also stop making excuses. I will do better, for the people I’m representing.

3. Giving myself a break. The weeks I’ve signed up for food deliveries have been such a help that I went for one more week. These migraines, hives, nausea have been hell, and having to cook is an added layer of stress I can take away. So I will for another week. And I will forgive myself for the shortcut.

Song of the week: Dirty Thoughts by Chloe Adams

What were your Life is Short moments for the week?

-J

Life is short, week 3 of 52
Gratitude · Jodythinks · Love/Life

Life is short, week 3 of 52

Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

Status report: Ran out of ibuprofen and running out of Tylenol because of all the stress migraines.

1. Ate ice cream for two meals last week. I didn’t feel like eating, but my meds kept me dizzy and/or awake because of hunger. Solution: the last of my vanilla ice cream, and most of my Chocolate Chip Cookie dough pint. To do: buy a bottle of sprinkles.

2. Ordered three pizzas from my favorite place. I like nonmeat pizzas. Don’t judge me.

3. Made a batch of posole. Ate it continuously for 3 days.

I realize all of my life is short things were food related this week. This is what happens in lockdown.

Song of the week: Godspeed by Frank Ocean

What were your life is short moments for the week?

-J

Life is short: Week 2 of 52
Jodythinks · Love/Life

Life is short: Week 2 of 52

Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

Last week’s Life is Short moments were:

1. Buying a silly mug because it makes me happy. It’s semi NSFW, and doesn’t fit too much coffee, and can’t accommodate the phin filter, but it always makes people smile when they see it. To me that’s a win.

2. Building flatpack furniture solo. So I went from 0-100 and I wouldn’t trust this thing for long, but I was able to make it, and it hasn’t fallen apart so far. Life skill, check.

3. Giving Chibi more space. Little lady has been exploring more, and I’ve seen her binky like I haven’t seen in years. I love that I get to see it.

4. Getting boosted. It hit me like a truck and I was useless for more than 36 hours, but it can’t be worse than a bad case of real covid19 and all of its new variants. Staying safe and getting access to vaccinations are a blessing I can’t stop being thankful for.

Song of the week: Surface Pressure by Jessica Darrow

-J

Continue reading “Life is short: Week 2 of 52” →
2022 — I’m going with, “Life is short.”
Cheese · Jodythinks · Love/Life · Thanks

2022 — I’m going with, “Life is short.”

Jody AlarvaLeave a comment

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 to covid) just made the idea stick even more.

So 2022 – Under the idea of life being so unexpected that you don’t know who’s going to be here tomorrow, I’m just going to keep on with Life is short. Take the small wins. Live while you’re still here.

On that thread, for the first week of 2022, my Life is short moments are:

1. Having cookies and milk for dinner. Because why not?

2. Working outside while it’s cool.

3. Making insane amounts of chili for myself.

Song of the week: Solo by Frank Ocean

What little things made you appreciate life a bit more last week?

-J