I'm Back
Good evening from my side of the globe. ☺ As the title says, I'm back. 😄 Though I was not totally away—because I still read and comment on some articles here—it still feels so good to be able to write here again.
These past weeks, many things happened. Good and bad. There were patience-consuming days, but there were spirit-lifting too.
Here are some of the things that happened to me.
Last week, I was blessed with the chance to enjoy this place. This is the St. Lucy Parish church, located in the town plaza of Aringay, La Union. This was taken in the middle of the day, and yes, it was really hot. Haha. But like what we Filipinos say, *tiis-ganda.* 😆 The gardener here also gave me some plant that was added to my collection of green babies.
While doing my work, I also got the chance to rest here a little and enjoy the view and the salty air. The view is so calming and I think my lungs was happy to have unpolluted air too. 😆 As for those tripod-looking things on the left, I don't really know their name and purpose. But I think the fishermen in the area tie their boats there when there are storms or when the waves seem angry.
I also resigned from my work and it was effective today. I felt so relieved and felt like a heavy burden was removed from my shoulder. This is something that also belongs to my list of good things that happened.
And now, enough of good days because there were bad days too.
I resigned from my work, not because of the work itself, but because I felt that I was just getting tired for nothing. Imagine commuting from one town to another. Bus, jeepneys, and tricycle fares increased because of the pandemic. Then when I calculated it, nothing was left in my salary. Even my savings account looks like a nest now, having three eggs. (0.00). That is why I decided to resign and just continue our thrift shop business.
Yesterday, I and my younger sibling—a 19-year-old boy—fought. We were exchanging harsh words when he suddenly hit my back with a dustpan. I was hit really hard because the dustpan was even destroyed. *Edi sis syempre gumanti Ako, hinampas ko siya ng takuri, sapul as noo. Then doon na niya ako sinuntok-suntok, sa likod din. (sorry I cannot translate this in English😅 Help 😂😂)* The photo was taken right after we fought and the *barangay tanod* left. I was asked if I would file a case against my sibling, but I decided not to do it.
This is how my back looks now. When I woke up this morning, my back felt sore. I cannot move my right hand properly too. The pain even reached my chest and my throat, which made me worried. I am worried that, what if something happened to my lung or in some internal part of my right body. That is why I will observe for a few days more, and if it will get worse, I think I'll need to have an X-ray, to say the least. Which I hope will not happen because hospitalization is something out of the budget for now.
I also want to share this because I think this is something more women should be aware of. Do not let any man—may it be your husband/boyfriend, brother, father, or whoever—hit you physically. Because the day when a man laid his fist on you, is also the day he lost his respect for you. *Lumaban tayo sis*. Let's fight for our rights. I know it is easier said than done, especially for mothers whose reason is *"ayoko lumaki anak ko na walang ama"* (I don't want my child to grow up without a father). I myself grew up without a father. And in my opinion, it is better than growing up seeing your mom crying while getting hit and having lots of bruises. So for all the women out there, stay strong queens, and fight for your rights. 💕
I think this is getting too long that's why I'll end it here. Thanks for reading and if you have some questions, reactions, or opinions, feel free to comment.
Always keep safe everyone. 💕
-Gwenie
Hypnic Jerk
Have you ever been so close to falling asleep, only to be woken up by sudden jolt or jerk in your body? Well, that falling feeling is quite common and it is called the *hypnic jerk.*
A **hypnic jerk** is a brief and sudden involuntary contraction of the muscles that occurs when a person is beginning to fall asleep. It is a form of involuntary muscle twitches called myoclonus, which also includes hiccups. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myoclonus
Hypnic jerk got its name because it tends to occur during the *hypnagogic state* – the transitional period between wakefulness and sleep. This phenomenon often causes the person to awaken suddenly. Physically, a hypnic jerk resembles the *jump* that people experience when startled.
This muscle contraction may occur spontaneously or may be induced by sound, light, or other external stimuli. Some research suggests that up yo 70 percent of people experience hypnic jerk. However, not every one of these moments will force a person awake. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1389945716301198
**Symptoms**
It is important to note that hypnic jerk is not a disorder. For that reason, symptoms of this condition are not signs of a problem. These are simply things a person may experience.
Falling sensation.
Dream or hallucination that leads to startle, jump, or fall.
Jerk or jolt of a muscle or a body part.
Rapid heartbeat.
Sweating.
Researches are also unsure why hypnic jerks occur, but few theories exist. Some possible causes of hypnic jerk include:
Some research says that hypnic jerk is a natural part of the body's transition from alertness to sleep, and occur when nerves *misfire* during the process.
Sleep deprivation. Sleep disturbances and poor sleep habits may be linked to hypnic jerks.
Anxious thoughts, stress and worry may keep the brain active, even as the muscles try to relax when a person drifts off to sleep. This might cause the brain to send out *alert* signals while a person is dozing or even while asleep.
Likewise, if a person starts to experience more twitches, he may develop anxiety about sleeping because he will begin to worry about these sleep jerks.
Caffeine and nicotine can also impact the body’s ability to fall asleep naturally and stay asleep. Chemicals in these products prevent the brain from reaching deep sleep and instead startle it from time to time.
It’s important to remember that hypnic jerk is not a serious condition. It is not even uncommon. Many people experience these jolts in their sleep.
Taking time to relax before bed may help reduce how often a person experience it. A few changes to the daily routine may also set up for better sleep at night.
*Here's a gif that shows how I personally experience hypnic jerk. 😂*
Thanks for reading and if you liked this article, please leave a like, comment, or subscribe. Thank you. 💕
– Gwenie
Aug. 10, 2020 | Monday
Happy Monday morning everyone! \^o^/
May our week be blessed and productive. 💕 Stay safe and healthy. Fighting! 💕
Phone Photography
**Aug 9, 2020 | Sunday**
TGIS! \^0^/
It's been a long week and many things happened. Adjusting to a new work was never easy and I needed tons of patience to survive! :D It was tiring as well because we walked every day going to some remote areas here in our place. Good thing some places had beautiful flowers, sceneries and fresh air that I enjoyed. I would like to share it here hoping that these can brighten up your day too. I captured these photos using my realme 5 phone and I hope you guys will like it. ^.^
**1. Plumeria Pudica**
Commonly known as Frangipani or Kalachuchi.
*Plumeria pudica* is a specie of the genus *Plumeria*; flowering plants from the *Apocynaceae* family. *Plumeria pudica* is known for its unusual spoon-shaped leaves. The shape of its petals is also slightly different from the other species of *Plumeria*.
**Apocynaceae** – commonly known as the dogbane family – is a family of flowering plants that include trees, herbs, stem succulents, shrubs, and vines.
**2. Delonix Regia**
Commonly known as Poinciana or Flame tree.
*Delonix Regia* is a specie of *Delonix* from the *Fabaceae* family. This plant is known for its fern-like leaves and noticeable display of red-orange flowers.
**Fabaceae** or *Leguminosae* – commonly known as the legume, pea, or bean family – is a large family of flowering plants that also include trees, shrubs, and herb plants which are easily recognized by their fruit (legume).
**3. Allamanda Blanchetii**
Commonly known as Purple Allamanda.
*Allamanda blanchetii* is a specie of the genus *Allamanda* from the *Apocynaceae* family. The most common species of Allamanda is the *Allamanda Cathartica*, a.k.a the golden trumpet.
**4. Nerium Oleander**
Commonly know as Nerium or Oleander.
*Nerium oleander* is the only specie currently classified under the genus *Nerium*, also from the *Apocynaceae* family.
**5. Aster novae-angliae**
Also known as September Ruby or New England Aster.
*Aster novae-angliae* is one of the species of genus *Aster* from the *Asteraceae* family. Asters have over 600 species that vary in height, leaf shape, flower colors, and growing conditions.
**Asteraceae** is a family of flowering plants commonly referred to as the aster or sunflower family. This family also includes chrysanthemums.
**6. Just some random grass. :D :D**
I loved this photo that's why I added it here. :D
That's all for now and thank you for dropping by. Have a great day everyone. 💕
-Gwenie
*For corrections or any reaction, please feel free to drop it in the comment section. I also want to apologize for those comments that I was not able to reply to. I was really busy last week. ^.^"*
Phone Photography I
**August 04, 2020**
The second day of walking for almost the whole day. Very tiring but enjoyable at the same time.
On the way, I saw things worth capturing, and here are some.
These flowers were actually from yesterday.
This pagoda commemorates the bonds of friendship and a long history between the Filipino and Chinese people. Another photo from yesterday.
From the pagoda, you enjoy a nice view of our town and the South China Sea.
The only photos that I was able to capture today were these natural arts. 😍
#PhonePhotography
Thanks for reading. 💕 I apologize for the very short descriptions. I m feeling weak and my eyes are now begging me to sleep. 😴 Good night everyone. 💕
-Gwenie
What BCH Means to Me
**August 1, 2020 | 12:45 Philippine time**
Today we celebrate the third anniversary of this censorship-resistant peer-to-peer electronic cash, named Bitcoin Cash. In celebration of #BCHDay, I want to share what BCH and read.cash means to me. This also includes my meme entries for the twitter contest sponsored by @SatoshisAngels and @BCHmeetups. You can check the full details of the contest here. https://www.satoshisangels.com/en/bchday
**Background story.**
When the total lockdown was implemented here in our province last March 2020, I lost my job. While I was searching for ways to earn online, I found many videos about mining sites, faucets, PTC, and apps that pay cryptocurrency. That's when my journey to the crypto world started. I tried many of those said ways, but none of them really helped me. *Almost* all mining sites don't pay unless you invest and faucets and apps consume too much internet data allocation. Until @BradVin invited me to join LBRY. He taught me to convert my LBC to BCH to be able to transfer it on coins.ph with a very minimal fee. That was when I got curious about BCH and tried to explore it. I traded to BCH the small amount of BTC that was stuck on my coinbase (cannot send it to coins.ph because of the transaction fee). And it worked. I was able to transfer the BCH to my coins.ph. That's what I loved about BCH. Plain and simple. Fast transactions, low transaction fee, and hassle-free. Perfect for a not-so-techie like me. Since then, whatever crypto I earn online, I convert or withdraw them thru BCH. *Coins.ph is our local e-wallet where we can convert BCH to our fiat money and be able to withdraw it thru remittance centers.*
**Thank you.**
I discovered read. cash when @Jaymark sent a link to this platform and said that we can earn by writing articles. I was hesitant at first because I thought that this is a crypto-knowledge-plus-good-English-only community. But I was wrong. I was amazed when I found out that I can write about any topic. Then I started writing and sharing about the things I love especially nature. I was so happy back then because I was able to earn while sharing the things I love.
The above image was my very first withdrawal from read.cash. I withdrew that small amount just to make sure if this platform is legit. And I was not disappointed.
In my almost two months on this platform, I've earned enough amount to buy some basic necessities and to pay some bills. Because of this, I am sincerely thankful to read.cash and to all the generous people of this platform. All of you guys helped me a lot and gave me hope amidst this pandemic. All of you are modern superheroes. Thank you so much.
**Thank you-Longer version.**
Here I want to mention all those people (I'll try my best to remember everyone) whom I am really thankful for.
First is @Read.Cash of course. None of these blessings will be possible without you sir. I sincerely thank you.
Then sir @MarcDeMesel. Thank you so much sir for your generosity and support for the BCH community. I am not sure if you are aware of this sir, but you and the other generous people of this platform helped me in many ways. The amount I got (as payment) from your donations were enough to put foods on our dining table. *$1 is around 50 PHP. Enough to buy 1kg of rice.*
Next is sir @ErdoganTalk. You, sir, was the first person who gave me an upvote. It was the very next day after I joined here. I still remember that I was so happy back then that I even posted it on my Facebook 'my day'. I felt appreciated and was proud of myself at that time. That inspired me to do more articles and share the things I love. And your upvotes sir helped me financially too. Thank you so much, sir.
And to those other generous tippers of this platform, sir @Koush, sir @Telesfor, sir @Cain. I sincerely thank all of you. Your upvotes and support did not only encouraged me but also helped me financially.
I also want to thank sir @ralak for the tips that I earned from your micro works. By making such works, you are able to help not only me but everyone who participated in it. Thank you also to sir @micropresident. The tips I earned from your meme contest (where there are RC rules that I also violated and apologized for it) is a great help for me. I also enjoyed making them. Maybe it was for fun and for supporting communism, but you and sir @MarcDeMesel (who supported the contest), was able to help me and many other people with financial problems.
The next that I want to thank is sir @Mictorrani. I know I've said this before sir, but I want to thank you again for all the help and support. Thank you for the time you spent checking my error-packed articles and thank you for all the encouragement and support you gave me thru PM, comments, and upvotes. Thank you so much, sir.
I also want to thank all the members of this platform who have also helped and encouraged me many times. To @wakeupkitty, thank you for sharing your ideas and giving tips on how to improve as a writer. At first, I really don't like your criticisms. Haha. But as I read your articles, comments, and tips, I admired your principles in life and I loved your honesty. To @ellimacandrea @Eybyoung @Cryptonoob @Hanzell @sgbonus @Akash. @Saha99saha @Ozzyy @CrazyInsane @bheng620 thank you guys for dropping by my articles and leaving comments sometimes. It is also fun to exchange comments and learn something from all of you. Thank you, everyone. To those that I forgot to mention, please forgive me. My memory is not reliable most of the time. 😅 But please know that I am thankful to all of you. 🤗
Happy 3rd Anniversary Bitcoin Cash and more power to this wonderful community! Cheers for BCH adaption! 🥂🥂
Today I am also thankful for another two things. First is that the ECQ is lifted and second, today's my first day at my new work. There are really many things that I am thankful for every day. Those things are enough to keep me going despite everything that's happening.
So to everyone reading this, may you all stay strong and safe every day. Never lose hope because better days are yet to come. Love lots. 💕
-Gwenie
Making Chocolate-Condensed Milk Cake Without Oven
**July 29, 2020 | 12:30 am PH time**
Yesterday was my youngest sibling's 10th birthday. To celebrate her day, we decided to make her a cake. For some people, a.k.a our family, who do not own an oven, searching for an alternative way is the key. And this is what we found online.
*Please note that this is not a recipe. :P*
Above were the ingredients for the cake. A mixture of all-purpose flour and baking powder, eggs, condensed milk, margarine, and vanilla essence. We used margarine because it was cheaper. :D
We added the milk and eggs to the margarine then mixed them using an electric hand mixer.
The next thing we added was the flour mixture.
Last was the vanilla essence. A cheaper substitute for vanilla extract. We bought an estimated 100ml of this for only 5 pesos ($0.1). :D
Then we transferred it on a *kaldero* (from the Spanish word *calderon*). This is a Filipino cooking pot and thicker than the ordinary one. This is usually used to cook rice.
Then we placed in on a *kawali*. A wok-like cooking pan. I guess (because I am not really sure what's the science behind this) this is to evenly distribute the heat and not to burn the bottom part.
After less than an hour, we flipped the cover of the *kaldero* and put some charcoal. This is to cook the upper part of the cake without burning the bottom part. *This was not included in the one I've searched for. We just made this to cook the cake faster too. :P*
While waiting for the cake to be cooked, we also made chocolate frosting. This was a Red Ribbon recipe that we also found online. This consists of cocoa powder, evaporated milk, sugar, coffee, and margarine. In fairness, the recipe was legit. It really tasted like a Red Ribbon chocolate frosting. :D *Red Ribbon Bakeshop is a bakery chain here in the Philippines. They also have some branches in the US.*
Yay. It was a little burnt. :P But this was okay. Better than a not-well-cooked cake. :D
Frosting time. We do not have a bread knife so I divided this using a thread. Yes, the one we use when sewing. Lifehack 101. :P
Almost done. ^-^ We also added some Nips chocolate candies.
Done! And that's how we did our no-oven cake. *Mahal* (Filipino term for *love* or *expensive*) is my sibling's nickname. Mahal is also a well-used endearment of lovers here in the Philippines. :P :P
This is a special day for a child like my sibling and I am happy that we are able to prepare something for her.
This day also reminded me of how blessed we are. We may not have what we want, but I believe we have all we need. Amidst this pandemic, I and my loved ones are all safe, we are still able to eat thrice a day, and even celebrate a little for a birthday. These are things that I am really grateful for.
And to everyone reading this, whatever you are going through, may you all stay strong, healthy, and safe. 💕
Thank you for reading. 💕
-Gwenie
Haiku Challenge
*This article was born because of an article published by* @CrazyInsane *titled* *Organorum (Haiku Challenge)**.* https://read.cash/@CrazyInsane/organorum-haiku-challenge-ad31ffb9
***Haiku*** is well-known for its 5/7/5 rule. Historically, *haiku* is derivative of the Japanese *hokku*. *Hokku* is an opening part or stanza of a larger Japanese poem known as *renga*. But eventually, writers began to write them as a stand-alone poem. Traditional *hokku* is meant to comment on the season or surroundings of the authors and create contrasting imagery separated by a *kireji* or "cutting word". However, this element is not always included in a non-Japanese haiku or free-form haiku by modern writers.
Below are the haiku I managed to write. Please note the last time I remembered writing a haiku was ten years ago. 😅🤪
**Beach**
*Crystal clear waters*
*Gentle waves play in the bay*
*I felt a drizzle*
**Sunset**
*Sun is setting down*
*Sky is painted red-orange*
*But I feel so blue*
**Park**
*Sun shines so brightly*
*Flowers bloom so tenderly*
*Child plays cheerfully*
I only made three and these were not enough for me. My goal was to make five. 😅 But it's 3:05 am here and my eyes are begging me to sleep. 😴 So good night everyone.
*For any reaction or correction, please feel free to drop it in the comment section.*
*Lead image is from Unsplash.*
Thank you for reading. 💕
-Gwenie
Fun Facts | Animals 1
The world around us is full of surprises and secrets and it is impossible not to be curious. So here I am to share a series of some fun facts.
I started with the animal kingdom. As we all know, this kingdom is undeniably a diverse place. Though we know many things about them, there are still some things that some of us may not know. Here is the first part of this animal facts.
**Giraffe**
A giraffe's tongue is around 18 to 20 inches long and deep purple in color. Scientists believe that the dark color is to protect them from getting sunburn. https://zoonooz.sandiegozoo.org/2015/12/03/the-longest-tongues-in-the-animal-kingdom/
**Bumblebee**
Bumblebees can fly higher than Mount Everest. According to National Geographic, research has found that bees could fly at air pressure equivalent to 29,525 feet above sea level — higher than Mt. Everest (29,029'). https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2014/02/04/bumblebees-can-fly-higher-than-mount-everest-scientists-find/
**Polar Bears**
According to Polar Bears International, polar bears touch noses with one another when they greet and request to share foods. Polar bears are also considered as marine animals. It is the only species of bear that depends on the ocean to survive. https://polarbearsinternational.org/news/article-polar-bears/7-surprising-polar-bear-facts/
**Sheep**
According to modernfarmer.com, sheep have rectangular pupils, which give them an estimated field of vision between 270 and 320 degrees. Humans' average is about 155 degrees. https://modernfarmer.com/2017/12/6-facts-sheep-might-not-know/
**Flamingo**
Flamingos don't bend their legs on the knee, but at the ankle. They actually stand on their *tip-toes*. Their knees are located close to the body and hidden by feathers. https://www.aviary.org/animals/American-Flamingo
*All photos are from Unsplash/Pixabay.*
I hope you enjoyed this article. For any reaction or correction, feel free to drop it in the comment section.
Thank you for reading and have a great day everyone. 💕
-Gwenie
Good evening from the Philippines.
Earlier this day, our provincial government announced that our place is under Extreme Community Quarantine (lockdown), again. :( I felt weak and sad when heard this because I thought that everything was slowly going back to normal. But I was wrong.. The number of Covid-19 positive increased, with a total of 31 active cases and hundreds of PUI.
This is really hard for the patients and for their families as well. That's why I really hope that this pandemic would end. :,(
Stay safe and healthy everyone. Always protect yourselves. 💕
Wuba
**July 19, 2020 | 3:30 pm PH time**
Good afternoon everyone. I hope everyone is safe.
I'm going to do the laundry later, but before that, I want to share a rush drawing first. I'll make this quick since my laundries are waving at me since last week. :D
This is Wuba. A character from the 2015 Chinese movie, Monster Hunt. The movie was great and I hope you guys can check it out.
https://youtu.be/5n_58oJr_IM
Above is a clip from the movie. Wuba is just so adorable. *^.^*
This was not my first attempt in putting shadows on a drawing. But this was the only one I finished. :D I think it was far from my basis but I still want to share it here. :P
The above picture is my basis.
The sketch. I still used grids because I find it easier.
The picture above was the finished drawing. It took me around 25 minutes to finish this. It was far from what I want it to be, but well.. I'll practice more and do better next time . :D
Feel free to share your opinions too in the comment section. I will also appreciate any tips. Thank you. 💕
Thanks fo reading and have a great day everyone. 💕
-Gwenie
PS. Here I come laundries. :D :D
Our Thrift Shop Journey ( Part 1 )
**July 17, 2020 | 2:19 pm PH time**
Good afternoon from the Philippines. I hope everyone is well and safe. 💕
In this blog, I want to share something that made me excited and nervous at the same time.
I and a dear friend of mine will start an online thrift shop business, a.k.a *ukay-ukay* business. Ukay-ukays are second-hand clothes from other countries. The Philippines import them and they are sold a lot cheaper than the original mall price. *But wait. Second-hand clothes? Aren't they dirty? But what if the former owner has a skin disease? Are those safe?* Maybe you'll have these questions. Yes, they are really dirty and not safe. That is why those who buy from thrift shops soak the items in hot water first before they wash them with detergent. Some even wash the items twice before using them.
These past few days, I tried to gather pieces of information that we will need. I never took any business courses or classes that is why I need to research and know the basics of thrift shop business. I watched YouTube videos and read online posts from the experts. As I did my research, I stopped many times because my head needs to process the pieces of information. :D I am also happy that I am learning many things. Thanks to the internet.
Thrift items are sold per bales of 45 kg or 90 kg. There are different types of bales like bales of skirts, denims, children's wear, T-shirts, dresses, and others. These are imported from different countries like Korea, the USA, Canada, or Japan. The codes of each bale depend on items inside, the quality, and the country it came from. That is why I need to familiarize myself with many codes. But I filtered it and started with the basic and most needed first.
I and my friend decided to sell children's wear. Some of the things that we considered when we decided this are our prospects, our budget, the items, supplier, and the process.
Prospects. Our prospective buyers are parents, especially mothers.
Budget. Our budget, which is limited, came from our final payment. When the extreme community quarantine was implemented last March, we lost our job and we only got our final pay yesterday.
Items. We decided to sell children's wear because this fits everything. First is that this fits our budget. Because children's wears are smaller, there are also more items in a bale.
Supplier. My friend found a supplier here in our area. This is really good because they deliver within the day of ordering. We don't need to wait for several days.
Process. Selling online is laborious because we need to sort, post, pack, drop, then cash out. But the good thing is, we have our time in our hands.
Last night, I also made our shop's logo.
Yes. ;) The shop was named BCH Thrift Shop. We will still do the normal online selling process, but we will give more benefits to those who will use BCH as a mode of payment. We're thinking of giving some discounts and freebies to those who will use BCH. We are also willing to teach them how to use this. I am really hoping that this will click.
This is what our Facebook page looks like. Our stock arrived this morning and we are going to sort them later.
I will also post an update here from time to time. Whether this business will succeed or not, I will still post an update.
As what I wrote, we are both first timers that is why we will really appreciate any tips or suggestions. Thank you. 💕
Wish us luck guys. 😊🍀
Thanks for reading and have a great day everyone. 💕
-Gwenie
Good evening everyone. Time check - 11:31 pm PH time. I hope everyone is safe.
I just want to share here an author whose articles are worth reading. Though I haven't finished reading all his articles, I really find them good. I hope you can check @Ozzyy . His Nostalgia, Taken, and Streets of Africa series are really good (in my opinion). I hope you can check his articles and share your opinions too in the comment section. Thank you. ;)
Have a great day and keep safe. 💕
Pokémons
**July 15, 2020 | 2:50 pm PH time**
Good day everyone. I hope you are all safe. Today I want to share another drawing of mine. ;)
These are Pokémons, short for *pocket monsters.* I guess many of us have watched this when we were a child. I even have a collection of this when I was in elementary grade. These three belong to the first generation of pokémons.
I made a lot of mistakes here but I hope you guys will still like them. ;)
From left, there's **Pikachu** (electric type pokémon), **Charmander** (fire type), and **Squirtle** (water type). I drew this a long time ago, but I can't remember the reason why I did not finish it. I decided to continue this yesterday.
Outlining. I used a gel pen here. Usually, I outline the drawing first before putting any color. But in here, Squirtle's eyes was colored because at first, I didn't want to outline this, but I changed my mind.
Done with the outline. I forgot to take a picture after I finished. That's why Charmander's face looks like that. :D I stopped here yesterday and this was what I managed to finish because it was nearly evening and my room went dark (light switch is not working).
I continued this earlier this day. Here, I was done coloring Charmander. I used deep pink for the tongue, yellow for the stomach area, vermilion for the body, and black & light blue for the eyes. For the fire of his tail, I combined yellow and vermilion.
Next was Squirtle. For the head and limbs, I actually used light blue-green, but it looks darker in the picture. Then I used lemon yellow for the stomach part, black & umber red for the eyes, and a bit of reddish-brown for the shell.
Then last was Pikachu. I used chrome yellow for the body, deep pink for the tongue, rose red for the cheeks, and black for some part of the ears.
Now they are done. :) I really love this. With all those mistakes, they still look cute for me. They are actually small because they're a part of a bigger picture.
For the other drawings, I also used a gel pen and colored pencils.
I hope you liked this and thank you for reading. Have a great day everyone! 💕
-Gwenie
Detective Conan
Good day everyone. I hope you are all safe. :) In this blog, I want to share something I drew. These were not included in my previous articles about art because I was ashamed to show it to the public.
But before anything else, I would like to thank all those who showed me their support through comments, likes, and upvotes. I really appreciate it guys. Thank you for the advice and tips, and thank you for assuring me that it is okay and it is normal to feel this way. Thank you so much. ❤
Going back, I decided to share these because, honestly, I can't think of any article to write. :D
This drawing was requested by my girlfriend. I seldom draw humans or anime characters because I don't like to draw faces. But I tried to make this because it was her request. So here it is.
It was actually my second time to use grids on making a drawing. The first time was an epic fail. Haha. I'll share it too on the last part of this blog. I erased so many times here because I was not satisfied with the result. I had a hard time making the face and hand parts.
Done with the sketch. I outlined it using a gel pen and erased all the pencils. I also colored the eyes using colored pencils. I really liked it this way. I didn't want to color the whole drawing because I was afraid I might spoil the overall look of Conan.
But I asked my girlfriend if she wants me to color it, and she said yes. *Okay, as you wish my dear. ;)* I started coloring the ribbon using a colored pencil too.
Next was I colored Conan's coat. I started with the darker parts then colored the rest with a lighter shade of blue.
Done with the coat. I am not really sure if I did it right. I also finished coloring the skin on this part.
This is the end result. There are no lighter or darker part on the hair because I was already tired by this time and I just colored it freely. I also darkened the coat a little.
I will never forget the looks in my girlfriend's eyes when I gave it to her. She was so happy and I was too. I was overwhelmed because she really appreciated it. I almost gave up on this one for so many times, but still finished it because it was her request. And it was worth it. She even made it her lock screen wallpaper. 💕
I am not a pro when it comes to drawings and I will really appreciate any tips on how to improve. ;)
**BobongGamer and Tikboy**
This is my first drawing where I used grids. It is Bobong Gamer, an online game streamer, with his sidekick Tikboy.
I made a mistake on gridding here that's why it ended this way. :D Bobong Gamer looked chubby in my drawing. :D But as what they say, you learn from your mistakes. I made sure that there were no more mistakes on the gridding when I drew Conan. ;)
Thank you for reading and keep safe everyone. 💕
-Gwenie
I'm a mess
**July 12, 2020 | 12:09 am PH time**
It has been three days since the last time I published an article. These past few days, I kept thinking of what topic to write. But my empty brain won't cooperate. I have some unpublished articles, they're about success, poverty, and an article of appreciation and gratitude for those who helped and motivated me here on readcash. But I can't finish them. Every time I try, I ended up staring blankly at my phone and can't think of more words to add. It felt like my brain's word supply was limited.
But this also made me think. Do I still enjoy writing? Or maybe what I write about is not something I really want? Or maybe I am just tired? I really don't know. Maybe I also lost motivation because I felt like no one read my articles anymore. It made me question myself if I'm still doing it right. 😔 I know there are people who still read them, and I sincerely thank all of you, it was just that my emotions are messed up. This can also be just a symptom of PMS. I don't know. I really can't understand myself.
At this very moment, I can't think of anything to add here.....
**12:40 am**
I decided to finish and publish this one.
In my 33 days here in reading.cash, I tried to write different articles. I've published something about my beautiful hometown, about my arts, my photographs, the things I love, about history, and even about health. I can say that I really enjoyed writing them all. I also gained some subscribers which I am thankful for. I hope I won't disappoint you guys with this nonsense article of mine. :|
**1:21 am**
A few minutes ago, I was imagining myself when I started here. I was always excited to compile the photos I needed for my articles. I happily type every word on my phone. But what made me happy and excited back then? I realized that it was because I enjoyed what I was doing. I was happy about sharing the things I love, sharing my own thoughts, my ideas, and how I felt. I was also happy that I got to learn many things while doing research for my articles.
I realized that it is the most important thing, that I love and enjoy what I am doing. Publishing something that I enjoyed writing is already an achievement. The views, likes, upvotes, and the points I get are just bonuses.
That is why from now on, I'll write more about something I really enjoy. I am not sure if all of them will be valuable articles or just some weird next-to-nonsense blogs. But I'll try my best. 😊
I also want to thank all those who supported me and will continue to support me. I sincerely thank all of you. 😇
*As usual, any suggestions or reactions are welcome in the comment section.*
Thank you for reading and stay safe everyone. 💕
-Gwenie
**End time: 2:05 am**
PS. I apologise if magulo. I guess myself is trying to motivate my other self kasi. 😅
Random quotes.
*Your biggest asset is your mindset.*
Random quotes.
*The limits you have are the stories you choose to believe.*
Random thoughts..
There are times when we feel like we're not good enough..but by whose set of values? I think at times like these, we have to pause and take time to figure out the values we really care about and what we want to measure ourself against..
I love read.cash because this site feels like home and school rolled into one. Here you can learn many things from the authors. It is also good to read different types of topics from different points of view. Here you can also just be yourself without being judged or bashed. That's why I love it here.
Here's my entry. 😅 https://read.cash/@scottcbusiness/readcash-bitcoin-cash-giveaway-5b14adb4
Tips on how to deal with your emotions
Lately, I've been seeing a lot of posts about people being anxious, depressed, frustrated, or hopeless. People who thought that their lives are meaningless. People who thought of themselves as useless. Existential crisis? Well, maybe.
These posts reminded me again that everyone has their own problems and sufferings. That's why I want to leave some messages here.
Maybe you feel like a failure, you feel frustrated, you feel depressed, you are afraid, or maybe feeling everything at once. But please, stop apologizing for feeling them and going through that stage. All those feelings are valid. All those emotions are legitimate, but also keep in mind that emotions come and go.
When you also feel like nothings right, it helps when you get some piece of paper and write at least 10 things that you are thankful for. Even the smallest things. This technique is effective for me, and I hope this works with you too. Like what they say, the key to success is gratitude.
There's also this one technique that I've read and I want to share it here.
Imagine you are a friend of *you*. Imagine that you listen to the stories and sentiments of *you*. After hearing all the stories, what will you advice to that friend? We always know how to advice a friend, but when it comes to ourselves, we don't know what to do. That's why I think this technique will be effective. This way, we can detach ourselves from other aspects that affects our decision making, such as our ego, our biases, or our attachment to our emotions.
*You are not afraid. You just feel fear.*
*You are not anxious, you just feel anxiety.*
I think this way, it is easier to detach ourselves from those emotions, versus when we say *I am afraid. I am anxious. I am depressed.* This will help us to decide better. I too, is still in the process of mastering this technique.
Please also note that these techniques may help (or may not), but always seek for support and medical advice from mental health practitioners if needed.
You can also share here on read.cash anything that you're going through or bothering you. I know many people here are more than willing to show some support. This is not just a blogging site. In my one month of stay here, I've witnessed many authors who showed support for each other like families. That's why do not hesitate.
I originally wanted to write about Existential Crisis, but decided to just share some thoughts here. You can also share your ideas and thoughts about this topic on the comment section.
Why I Enjoyed Alcohol
This will be my last entry. Here I want to share why I enjoy drinking alcohol.
The main reason is because of the fun I get when I'm drinking with my friends. We drink occasionally though. We also don't drink 'till we drop and crawl our way home like **worms**.
When we are drinking, we usually enjoy it with some *ihaw-ihaw* (barbequed street foods). Barbequed chicken feet (which we also call *adidas*), chicken head, chicken intestines, or pig intestines. These are supposed to be an appetizer with alcohol, but sometimes I make it my dinner. Haha.
I also enjoy the good laugh we always have when drinking. It was fun reminiscing the stupid thing we've done as a teenager. We talked about how we cut classes, how we cried a river over someone, how we met each other and became friends, how we always **support** each other, and many more. In addition, I have a friend who tells stories with actions, which made the conversations more fun. She looks **charming** and silly and at the same time when she tipsily tells stories. It was also fun talking about how each one of us became matured through the years. How the reckless teenagers that we once were, became adult.
After drinking, we sometimes go to disco bars to dance and sober up before going home.
I guess it was not really the alcohol that I enjoy. But the moments I had with my friends.
Having genuine friends like them is like having brothers and sisters from different mothers. We are family.
I am happy to see my friends became better persons and not bitter in life despite all the hardships we've been through.
So to all my friends, cheers for the many years of friendship. 🥂 May it last forever. 🥂
*Start time - 6:00 pm PH standard time*
*End time - 6:10 pm PH standard time*
*Timer used - Cellphone*
*Not translated.*
Nine Types of Intelligence
Have you ever thought of whether you are intelligent or not? Well, how do we really define and measure intelligence? This is a question I hope to answer in this article.
Our schools taught us limited measures of intelligence. Some might think that they are not intelligent because they're not good at math, science, or other subjects. There is also this common misconception (here in the Philippines) that if you are fluent in English, you are intelligent. Let me clear this one. English fluency is not a measure of intelligence.
There are two ways to define intelligence.
It is the ability to gain and apply knowledge and skills.
It is the collection of information on military and political values.
These two different definitions of intelligence are the root of controversies regarding how we actually measure and identify intelligence. There are other theories about intelligence that was developed, but in this article, I want to focus on Gardner's theory.
In 1983, American psychologist **Howard Gardner** introduced the *Theory of Multiple Intelligence* where he describes nine general types of intelligence or areas where people can be proficient.
**Musical Intelligence**
People with high musical intelligence are good at recognizing rhythm, pitch, timbre, and tone. They are good at producing music and often aware of sound characteristics that others may miss.
**Naturalist Intelligence**
People with high natural intelligence have the ability to understand living things and read nature. They can easily distinguish between plants, animals, and other features of nature like rocks and clouds. They can also be very good at noticing changes and details in their surroundings.
**Logical-mathematical Intelligence**
People with high logical-mathematical intelligence are good at carrying calculations, quantifying data, and considering propositions and hypotheses. They also have good reasoning skills and abstract-symbolic thought (using letters in formulas to indicate relationships between factors).
**Existential Intelligence**
People with high existential intelligence are good at thinking about questions that might not have a real definite answer, such as the meaning of life, why we die, how did we get here, and others. They are good philosophical thinkers and not easily confused by their feelings.
**Interpersonal Intelligence (people smart)**
People with high interpersonal intelligence are good at understanding and communicating effectively with others. They are good at noticing changes in others' moods or motives, as well as taking multiple perspectives on a subject.
**Bodily-kinesthetic Intelligence**
People with high bodily-kinesthetic intelligence are good at manipulating their bodies to achieve what they want. They are good at moving their body parts with precision and purpose. They are also good at copying movements they've seen.
**Linguistic Intelligence (language smart)**
People with high linguistic intelligence are good at using and manipulating language. They can pick up new words and languages quicker than others. Their pronunciation of the foreign language is also above average because they are more attuned to subtle sound differences that indicate the difference in meaning. They also have a broader vocabulary than others.
**Intra-personal Intelligence (self-insight)**
People with high intra-personal intelligence are good at understanding their own feelings and thoughts and working them to achieve their goals. They are good at motivating themselves from the inside without any visible or physical reward. These people are good philosophers and psychologists.
**Spatial Intelligence**
People with high spatial intelligence are good at solving spatial problems of navigation. They tend to be very skilled at map reading, jigsaw puzzles, seeing or drawing objects from different perspectives, and noticing fine details. Their spatial reasoning, image manipulation, and even graphic and artistic skills are more developed than others.
After writing Gardner's theory, I want to leave this question here. It's not how smart are you. But rather, how are you smart? Feel free to answer in the comment section.
*Lead image is from Unsplash.*
Thank you for reading. 💕
-Gwenie
Bad Effects of Alcohol
This is my second entry for the free writing contest. This time, I want to focus on all the bad effects of alcohol that I can think of.
First is it can destroy families. I myself had an alcoholic father. He was abusive and always hit my mom when he's drunk. But good thing they separated when I was in fourth grade. Today I do not have any information about my father. Maybe he burned himself using alcohol and turned into **ashes** now.
Second is alcohol can cause many damages. Drunk people become so aggressive, they act without even thinking about it. They **release** their anger to the people around them. Many properties had been damaged because of people who can't handle their alcohol well.
Third is alcohol can cause many accidents. Drunk driving is one of the most common cause of road accident nowadays.
Fourth. Many lives are destroyed because of people who don't handle their alcohol well. Many rape and assault cases are caused by drunkards.
Fifth is its health effects. It can severely damage the liver. It can also damage the brain and the kidney.
These are the bad effects of alcohol that I can think of. Alcohol is not bad if we just drink it responsibly and occasionally. And always ask for **support** if needed or if you've drunk more than you can handle.
*Time started - 6:55 pm PH Standard time.*
*Time ended - 7:05 pm PH Standard time.*
*Timer used - Cellphone*
*Not translated.*
Sugar Addiction
Sweet treats. I guess many people can relate to this. Many people eat sweets especially when feeling stressed. They find comfort in sugary foods like cakes, milk teas, chocolates, soft drinks, and many more. These foods are really hard to resist. But why do people get addicted to sweets? Can we really call this *addiction*? Let's find out.
To understand this better, let's define some terms first.
**Dopamine -** A chemical messenger (hormone) responsible for controlling the brain's pleasure and reward centers.
**Mesolimbic Dopamine System -** Also known as *mesolimbic pathway.* This is a pathway within the brain in which dopamine is carried from one area to another.
**The brain's reward system.**
Sugary foods are highly desirable due to the powerful impact of sugar on the rewards system of the brain, called the *mesolimbic pathway*. This is where the neurons release dopamine in response to a rewarding event. Normally, this system is activated by natural rewards and behaviors such as eating tasty foods, achieving something, or interacting socially. Activating this system will make you want to carry out the behavior again because it feels good.
According to the experts, excessive consumption of sugar can lead to some problems similar to substance addiction. So it appears that sugar may have addictive qualities.
**Symptoms of Sugar Addiction**
**You always crave sweets**. This is the most common sign of sugar addiction. You crave for sugary foods even when you're not physically hungry.
**You hide your sugar habit**. Some people may recognize that they're eating too much. But instead of finding ways to stop it, they hide it.
**You need more to satisfy your craving.** Like with many addictive substances, your tolerance to sweets may build in the long run. This results in taking more and more to satisfy your cravings.
**You crave salty foods.** This can also be a sign because when you regularly eat sweet foods, you're probably not getting enough proteins and fats that your body needs. Craving for salty food might be a way that your body is telling you to take a break and eat something healthier.
**You use sugar to soothe.** This is when you continuously turn to sugar as a means to cope with stress, boredom, and other psychological issues like anxiety and depression.
How sugar addiction negatively affects the body.
**Increased fat storage.** The human body is designed to store fat in times of starvation as a means to survive. The excess sugar you consume is converted to fat. The body will continue to do this and it is capable of storing endless amounts of fats. Excess body fat is associated with cancer, heart disease, and other health conditions.
**Reduced immune system.** High sugar consumption can have multiple impacts on the immune system. It can prevent you from getting enough sleep at night as well as increase inflammation. A constant state of inflammation can destroy our tissues and it can lead to more serious disease like cancer.
**Insulin resistance.** The body releases insulin in response to sugar in your blood. As the day goes on, your body becomes less sensitive to insulin and you become insulin resistant. Which is associated with type two diabetes and obesity.
**Amputation.** In the setting of type two diabetes, there is a chance that your peripheral areas stop receiving an adequate amount of blood. When blood supply reduces to areas like the legs and feet, your cells can die and cause infections. When this occurs, an amputation may be needed.
Ways to stop sugar cravings
**Give a little.** Eat just a bit of what you are craving.
**Combine foods.** Try to combine nutritious foods to the food you crave.
**Grab some gum.** Research proved that chewing gum can reduce food cravings.
**Reach for fruit.** Keep fruit handy for when your sugar cravings hit, you can reach them instead of reaching for sugary foods.
**Choose quality over quantity.** If you need sugar splurge, learn to incorporate small in your diet but concentrate on less sugary and healthier options.
**Eat regularly.** Avoid irrational eating behavior. Waiting too long between meals may set you up to sugary foods to cut your hunger.
**Get support.** If your emotions are involved in your sugar cravings, try to ask for help to find another solutions for your emotional problems.
*The informations presented here are guides on what sugar addiction is and how it affects your health. But please note that every situation may vary per person.*
*Lead image is from Unsplash.*
Thank you for reading. 💕
-Gwenie
Work Diary
August 03, 2020 | 9:31 pm PH time
Work diary
Today I've walked for more or less two kilometers. Now my body feels weak. My eyes are begging be to sleep. But before I call it a day, I want to share here some photographs that I was able to capture today.
Purple flowers. I played it a little and darkened some parts of the original picture.
Some orange flowers.
Old signage. This was at the entrance of the Filipino-Chinese Friendship Pagoda.
The Pagoda. This commemorates the bonds of friendship and long history between Chinese and Filipino people.
From there, you can have a nice view of our town and the South China Sea.
I'm really sleepy now. 😴😴 Good night everyone. 💕
-Gwenie
Hi guys. So this is my first short post.
I think many of us here have already tried drinking alcohol. I would love it if you can share your unforgettable drunk stories. 😁 As the saying goes, "hangover is temporary, but drunk stories are forever". I'll also share mine in the comment section. 😉
Cheers! 🥂
Alcohol effects | Freewriting Contest 1st Entry
This is my first try for the Free writing contest. Relating alcohol effects and self motivation is a bit hard which makes this contest more challenging.
For me, there are good and bad effects of alcohol. Let's see the good side first.
Enjoying time with your friends and laughing out loud is best with alcohol. The looks of everyone getting drunk sometimes looks **charming**.
Alcohol also can be enjoyed if you are feeling down or to **release** your problems. Have it with your friends who supports you and always there for you.
The bad effects for me are health issues of course. It can damage the liver if not taken moderately. It can also have a bad effect if you became an alcoholic and too dependent to it.
To avoid the bad effects, we must drink alcohol moderately or occasionally. It is not bad to drink this just know your limits. As for my self, I drink occasionally too.
I just drink with my friends when we are stressed and want to release our problems. They never failed to **support** me when im going through anything. And for that, I really thank them a lot.
They helped me go on with life and they motivated me always. I hope they can read this and know that they are who I'm referring to. I really love those **people** who are always there for me and who shows genuine care.
So for those people who have been with me through thick and thin, cheers!
*Start time:5:17 PH Standard time*
*End time: 5:27 PH Standard time*
*Timer used: Cellphone timer*
*Device used: Cellphone*
*Not translated.*
Freewriting 2nd Try | The CEO
I am really having fun doing this free writing thing. Haha. This time I generated a story line. I don't know what came to me. Im not a good storyteller, what more on making my own stories? But I'll try once again because I am really having fun.
The story that I generated is the one on the lead image.
John is the CEO of a multi-million company. One cold winter day, he is walking along Kalandian Street. The snow started to fall. Good thing he have an umbrella. While walking, he is texting someone important. *This will be a great deal,* he told himself.
He continued walking and accidentally bumped a little girl. The coffee that the girl is holding fell on the ground.
The girl cried and run towards her mother. John apologized and told the mother that they can get another one.
The mother agreed and they went to a nearby cafe. As they enter the cafe, *It's too warm,* John told himself.
The warm temperature of the cafe gave comfort to John. It is really a good feeling.
They ordered and sit on a table on the corner, where they can watch the snow outside and the passersby.
John looked at the mother's face, who isn't looking at him. *Hmm. Shes a beauty.* He told himself. He wondered how old she is.
She looks young. Like someone in her late twenties. She have a..
Times up!
PS. I laughed when I read what I wrote here. 😂 I am really having fun doing this. 😊
PPS. What I wrote was not a fantasy genre, like what the prompt says. But maybe I'll continue this story and make it a fantasy. 😉
Freewriting 1st Try | Bleeding at the Dark
After reading @wakeupkitty 's rules on her free writing community, I decided to give it a try and this is my first attempt.
I generated a random title online and what I got is Bleeding at the Dark.
I guess this is something many people can relate to.
Sometimes when we are in pain, we chose to endure it silently, without anyone knowing.
There are lots of factors people chose to bleed alone in the dark. In my opinion, one of these is because we don't want to bother those people around us. It can also be that because we don't want to look weak. Some people also don't want to see the looks of pity on the people's faces around them. We all have our own different reason. But whatever it is, we should always pray and believe that we can get through it. It may not be easy to overcome the pain. Sometimes it takes a lot of time before we truly heal.
In this world full of toxic people, we have to be strong. For our own and for our loved ones. Cry if you must. But don't let the negativity of this world ruin you.
You are still blessed and you should always remember that.
That is all I can say about the topic I generated. My 10mins are not yet up and I must write more here. Haha.
This is actually my first attempt to free write. I'm not even sure if I'm doing it correctly. But there's no harm in trying. I think that this is also a great way to practice our brain to think. Random topics are great.
As the saying goes, Try and fail. But don't fail to tr(y).
Time up!!
@Gwenie
