Amusing Turn of Events
Have you ever had moments in your life that when you look back to, you end up saying "Had that not happened, I would have been elsewhere.."?
Of course, I am banking on the good outcome. Because that statement can also apply for a good thing turning bad. But as always, I, for one, hold on to, if it is not "good" then it is probably not yet the end.
Another but, as in one pastor friend's preaching he says, *Good or bad? I don't know but praise the name of Jesus, still.*
I have always been amused at how my foiled plans led to different directions - totally different from my original plan but unmistakably, without a doubt grander. So I have learned to take things as they come and so far by God's grace, they are amusingly and surprisingly awesome.
*Let me see. ..*
Early 2017, my youngest brother asked if he can borrow my camera for their August trip to Japan. I responded to him with, "I would need to check on my calendar because I and my friends may have a travel around that time, too." We were set to go to Balabac, Palawan that time with the extended group targeting August or September. I then asked him about how they got their trip and they got it from a travel fair. He opened the idea as well that I can join them if I want to. The idea was not bad. Secretly, I was making my own calculations of whether I can. But scratched off the idea as I am not ready for any spending at the time because our company was struggling then, too. Or that, rumor has it. So I can only go local, sit tight and wait for how 2017 will play out with me and our company.
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*Lord, surprise me* has always been my prayer since I learned that in every circumstance that I am finding myself unsure and worrisome, He comes around with something huge and definitely **something better. I only need to do my part - sit still, buckle up and enjoy the ride.**
***Had this Not Happened***
*Then it came*. Second quarter of 2017, a huge chunk of our department got loaned to another department needing help - me included.
Was there an option to turn it down? Yes, but that would be boring. I was thinking if the boat is sinking, I might as well explore the whole ship. At least I will not have that feeling of not letting myself try if it sinks anyway.
It was something that I welcomed wholeheartedly. Being in the same department for my whole stay in the same company kind of made me long for "where else can I grow"?
Besides, assignments with travel opportunities have been less and less.
I could say that the move was an answered prayer - plus more.
It was a deviation from my original career path. But that ONE DEVIATION that I chuckle to myself every time I think about it.
Some months after the move, I got called to the manager's office. I was wondering if I did something bad on my first new assignment but I know I did not. Entering the small office, there was actually no tension whatsoever.
"Would you like to learn a new language?" was the question the manager asked me.
"Oh, very much would want to." was my eager answer. But I have no idea if she was referring to a programming language or another country's language. My sense for adventure was at its peak then anyway and anything tied up with "learning" is a go for me.
*This Would Not Have Happened*
That was one conversation that most likely had me ending up with this in my gallery mid July of 2017.
Funny thing is, I have never mastered the language even up to now. Learned a few, for getting essential things like getting one order of a gyudon with runny eggs. Hehe. And of course, kohi - coffee.
Who Would Have Known?
Yep. Turned out, Japan was in God's list for me last 2017. When I got the final plan, I and my brother was like, "Oh, would you believe that?" My stay would cover even their trip. It meant, though, that he cannot borrow my camera, but I am there to take their pictures anyway during the Tokyo leg of their tour.
On some week nights that they were there, I was able to join them for dinners after work.
*'Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” ' James 4:15* *https://my.bible.com/bible/100/JAS.4.15*
I've always took this verse with me and it has been a comfort and source of joy - travel and not.
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Thank you @Jane ahhaha saw that!! My heart is 😊
Thank you @Jane ahhaha saw that!! My heart is 😊
Preserved Tragedies
I was looking at my pictures in my external hard drive like I always do - randomly typing in a character in the search box and and adding ".jpg" at the end so it filters and just result to all images.
This way, I get to randomly time travel through my pictures. If I get to see something interesting (to me), I make a story out of it or tell its story. If an image has no impact (to me) whatsoever, I allow myself to be bothered with thoughts of keeping it or deleting it. Since I do keep digital clutter, "keeping" it usually wins.
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Also this habit or hobby is also one of the culprits why sometimes I end up not writing anything at all. Because sometimes, images will show up, get me excited, I open the main folder that image is stored and I end up with a whole lot of images and videos I get too engrossed looking back until I no longer have the brain-ergy (get it? Brain plus energu is brain-ergy) to type in what is in my head.
One time I was looking at the search results and I saw two travels : Coron's shipwreck sites locally and then there's Cambodia's Choeung EK Genocidal Center.
Two sites that tourists flock into. Two sites that got me musing about how the past generations' tragedy is a tourist spot for the next generation.
It is sometimes with educational takeaways - connecting to the past - and most for travel photos.
First Pick : Coron
I have for a long time wanted to share my Coron experience with the extended travel buddies. It was also in a November - year 2016. But every time I look into those videos I'd forget that I was intending to write about it.
Coron is no doubt beautiful. We had so much fun looking at how's life down there. Fishes, soft sand, blue water, yummy food and dive sites with ship wrecks. But of course since I am not a diver, it was my friends who went to see the sunk ships in the deeper part of the sea. I only got to see the one on the shallow end. You only need to look down and voila the ship wreck's there. Some of the wrecks, I had my friend take my cam with him so he can take footages of what's the wreck like.
For me.
And It was in Coron, however, and during one of those times I was swimming around the wreck and admiring the life that now inhabits the previous mighty war ship that I got to thinking that most of the places we enjoy now for leisure and tourism were places of tragedy at one point.
This place was where a lot of lives were lost. Save for the cerulean color of the water, this place was once filled with thick red blood- of agony, faded dreams, broken families, etcetera.
Second pick : Cambodia
This was part of our Indochina getaway. And I think this one part of that trip was the most solemn. The moment we got off the vehicle we were on, there was a looming, heavy feeling already.
It was a good thing we did not rent audio guide. We used the map that was given out in the entrance and, well, we did not follow the sequence anyway. In case we felt we were kind of lost, we tailed some other tourists. It was one thing being conditioned to think it is the killing fields after all, it is another reading the stories behind those bracelets, the trees (yes, trees!), the spots where a wooden plank were used as bridge so as not to step on the ground. This part, the greens of the growing grass and the brown colors of the drying ground, used to be red as well.
It was that one place that I probably would not want to go back to. Not because I'm scared of it but because you feel the sadness in that area. One experience for that place is enough. The rest I can read and watch in documentaries.
It is one of the odd beauties of life, I guess? One's tragedy is a learning tool for another or leisure? Some places linger with the tragedy others bring leisure?
Life goes on.
Let us just enjoy going to places and mark the learnings as good-to-know about history.
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hey hey @zolabundance2!! thank you so much dearie!!! ;)
Boxed, Ribboned and Stashed In Memory Bank
Turning another chapter for the 2021 book, "Pichi in 2021"! What a month! It breezed by so fast, did it not?
Of course, there is no book. But it would seem like there is since I started writing here around mid-year, eh?
What in the world happened to October?
It felt like it happened faster than September!
Thankful For You (Sponsors, Readers and Other Read writers)
First off, I would like to thank all my sponsors for consistently encouraging me and supporting me. Seriously, do check them out...
I wanted to start over consistently strong last October (like an article a day) but then again, one has to take good care of one's self as well. If passion and leisure becomes a little too pressuring, it loses charm. Hence, the reason I did not pursue a course that puts deadline on my writing. I like writing freely. Lols.
Learning, and a lot of it is in the works for sure, I got to thank the seasoned writers I have come across with and picked some learning with and from directly and indirectly.
To readers who leave comments and upvotes you are all a blessing of smile. My heart is ever ever grateful and happy.
An Excuse.. haha
So, October... I did plan to join in on the month-end wrap up. But I got a little too preoccupied with other things last night. I was telling Eylz that my drive for a month-end writeup was disturbed by the fact that my usual quiet perch was crowded yesterday. I planned to write by the bay on sundown which would be a perfect mood setter. Plus it would be my start of personal 2021 wrap up as well which I normally do to trace steps with how am I doing in step with the Savior. Yes I start early.
It was partly true. The crowd I saw yesterday was a mood-swamper. What did I expect, right? Cemeteries are closed, it is Halloween, it is the weekend and the restrictions are loosening up. I moved to another perch, though which allowed me a great view of yesterday's sunset.
Definitely no crowd as everyone would want the front row seat they forgot that vantage view is also key.
I got three views of the sunset yesterday: My view (that grid up there), Bloghound's from Elyu (check her latest), and another from my auntie in Ilocos when they took my grandmother out for some beach fun. Great view to close October for me. Since I also started with a sunset view as per my gallery.
Month-chings..
Navigating bitcoin.com got me creating separate wallets for read and noise. It made it a lot easier to track and compute. I had point two-oh for both totalling to a point four! Yay!
Both platforms and users have been great blessings and I do plan to keep on while we have it. Hope to see you there still, too!
My eyes get tired easily these days. I don't get to visit a lot of articles as much as I did a month back. But I do try to read as much, leave a comment (sorry if I am days late .. weeks even.. and not for long, I am projecting, the monthly intervals will start) and vote up as well.
Anyhow, noise and read being my sort of reference for things crypto - with lots of users' how to's and experiences shared - I am still very far from being an expert. Just mighty glad and thankful I get to learn and experience while earning at the same time.
As usual, I have no solid goal to pin for November. I would still stay the chatterbox-in-writing as I am. I was hoping to put in more fiction stories since I have stumbled on plot generators which would be easy to just fill in the gaps. But they only end up in my draft. Speaking of drafts, I will make use of that more often. It relieved me of some pressure last month for two or three articles.
As Megakyodabanrai said in one of his replies in noise, write it down as soon as you have an idea. Been missing on that one a lot. I used to have any piece of paper with me and a notepad app on both phones and laptop (even at work) to be able to quickly jot down ideas, thoughts, verses even or silly poetries even before I started writing in read. I just normally leave them be just jotted notes and poetries. This month that has been absent. I guess busy is real. Haha. But will try to re-harness that one.
So Newvember.. let's keep on, yeah?
See you around!
*Never brush off the minutest experiences, reading and learning you have for the NOW. The current is always your equipping for the next NOW. You are a progressively growing human being not only for yourself but also for others' encouragement and affirmation. - Me looking back on how things of the past led me to where I am now.*
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Golly .. happy dance for me... First November gift! Thank you dear @emily2u !!! You are awesome!! 😂 Heart happy!
Quis Vitrum permovit?
I have no third eye and I do not wish for it to be opened at all. For some reason, I always end up with friends who have theirs sensitive enough to “see” and “feel” them beings in whichever corner of the room or place we are in. Maybe I am a little doubtful, honestly, as I know how our minds can play tricks on us and we see what we want to imagine what we are seeing anyway. But I have learned to take things as it is. If they see and in their quick assessment, it is non-dangerous or non-threat, then they do not tell. If it is “dangerous” then they do somehow let us know – brow expressions, eye contacts, head jerks (that sounded funny), etcetera.
I have a silly fascination with hearing scary stories. Not that I no longer get scared with the stories, it is just a story to me, and I enjoy all kinds of stories. They are part of my people-curiosity. Stories of experiences have impact on people.
We Filipinos always have a story with our “ancestral” houses or even our old houses in the province. I never thought we’d have a share of those stories in my grandmother’s place in the city.
Check my awesome sposnsors out .. :) They have awe-spiring stories too!
On the second floor of my grandmother’s house, there is a huge cabinet with a full-length mirror in front. The carvings on the woodwork is intricate and detailed (annoys me as dusts hang out there) and you have that feel that it is a very old mirror.
When I was a kid, I and my older brother would often tease each other about it being haunted and my aunties and uncles usually join in on the fun. Little did I know that my uncle and my auntie, last born and second-to-the-last-born, did have experiences with that mirror.
My uncle who checked out his appearance in that mirror once saw someone behind him and it was mid-day. He just ignores it. My auntie saw one lady go inside the mirror briefly. Things like that.
Other happenings in the house were that my auntie says they hear someone cutting paper in the middle of the night like what my old grandfather (younger brother of my grandmother) used to do with old newspapers and old magazines.
So these were stories only for me. Them siblings laugh at each other’s stories.
When I stayed there during college, I never thought of experiencing what they say they are experiencing. Like I said, I have no third eye.
My older brother got to stay there first. He had his share of stories. Like one time, he was alone in the house. He was staying in the living room watching tv – first floor. Then suddenly, he heard our young cousins’ toys getting scattered on the floor. Our cousin has this box full of toys, it sounded like it fell on the wooden floor (that’s why it can be heard from below where the living room is directly under) and someone emptied the contents throwing them across the floor. My brother, wanted to catch these silly ones in action. So what he did, he raced upstairs opened the room and nope, no toys scattered. They clean up pretty fast and well, huh?
Again this was just a story relayed to me. So far in my stay there I never had encounters.
Until one time.
I was watching the late news with my auntie in the living room. We each have a glass of water. The glass of water I had I placed on the floor. It was filled halfway. Then suddenly, it tilted 45 degrees. I stared at it. Stayed that way for three seconds and then went back to its upright position.
I felt the hair on my nape stick up.
I felt cold.
But I decided not to say a word about it. I gulped.
Then suddenly my aunt spoke up.
“See that? You cannot tell me that was done by the any breeze or wind.”
I still did not say anything. I was too scared, no, amusedly scared it happened. Right in front of me or under my nose.
Good afternoon Read-itizens! How is your weekend slash Halloween working out for you?
No fiction this time. Everything real.
Putting this one up as entry for @Theblackdoll 's ***#Halloweencontest2021*** https://read.cash/search?q=%23Halloweencontest2021
Today's the last day, I guess and I hope I made it on time hahaha...
***Quis Vitrum permovit?*** - "Who moved the glass?" in Latin supposedly as per Google. Yes, I am loving everything google so far even though it plays up weird sometimes. I just thought putting the title in Latin makes it less obvious and more hmmm enchanting.
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*Let's awe-spire everyone with stories of this and that, shall we?*
Wooohooo @megakyodaibanrai !!! Thank you! Saw that one. Salamat!!
Can't Stop Growing
If there is something so tough to pick for babies to gift them with, it would be clothes and shoes because at some stage of being an infant they outgrow these things really fast. The best decision is to get a size bigger and give it to them immediately.
Have you ever wondered when your shoe size stopped increasing? They say somewhere in your 20s. But for myself, I really cannot remember.
Shoes and clothes are physically one of the many things we outgrow growing up. Eventually we would need a bigger shoe to fit our growing feet in. We would need a bigger size for clothes because our bone structure or our body is shaping up. Not getting the proper fit will always result to:
Discomfort
Pain
We go categorically from infant, to kids' to young adults or teens and then to ladies and men with few hints of outgrowing styles, feels and looks, too because we are slowly developing our identity then.
It is amusing that this cycle of outgrowing things do not only cover the physical aspect but it also manifests in other aspects of our lives - specially relationships.
Ever wondered why you no longer jive with some kid from kindergarten you used to hang out with? Or those groupie from grade school? Or high school?
Geographical reason can be one.
Ever had a time when you are in a group but no longer feeling like laughing at the same old jokes and complaining about the same old things? You cannot really put it into words but your subconscious inaudibly whispers "is there anything more than just this?".
We outgrow things.
We outgrow people `(should not be the case for married people)`.
We are continuously growing human beings and everyday we shed off bits and pieces of our "older selves". And as that happens we also find the current things of comfort slowly becoming less and less comfortable. Less and less pleasing to the palate.
And as we continue to grow, we face decisions that, as much as we do not want it to happen, no longer include the current crew. And that is fine. Not following your growth call will stifle you with discomfort. Healthy friendships leave wiggle rooms and you can still go back to being able to talk about each other's lives even as one or both attend to more important things.
**Curving away from relationships,** this could also mean old ways. The things that used to bring you delight may no longer hit that delight meter you've set. Either you raise that bar higher and hope you hit it or you find another playing field where the rules of the game fits the next higher bar. You know, from little league to big league?
Going light on examples, I used to like playing Clash of Clans. It was the in thing with my office friends and we did have that moment of really setting aside time to attack during war. We even ring up a teammate so he or she would not forget. On a convoy one time, the three of us needed to pull over and attack. We resumed driving after the war is over. Then game updates came, we also got upgraded with responsibilities and changes with our work, then eventually it became stale. It is no longer as thrilling. Same goes with POKEMON GO.
Everything dies a natural death.
***In a semi-closing thought...***
It is not that it - the game, the habit, the friends you are with or the clothes you are wearing - is bad, but we have a natural growth direction that we naturally outgrow things eventually.
People included.
Hobbies and habit included.
Food more so (or even.. what was my trail of thought, again?).
We are driven towards growth. And sometimes that means leaving some things behind.
We have known butterflies for their evolutions. Somehow the caterpillar, now a butterfly, needs to leave the cocoon ***to live as a butterfly.***
I can go Mariah Carey on this one ... But that would be too much a give away. So I'd go...
Hayley.. just to make it upbeat. Though I think her lyrics is driving in a bit more towards relationship.
https://youtu.be/SdCmwjxFQzo
And I think it is fine, right?
*Found one drowsy scribble and decided to continue it... lols... saves the day!*
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Where did my chocolates go?
Ah. Few more days and Halloween will be in full swing. Little cute kids will be dressing up from fairies to princesses to every other character they want go dress up as. The neighborhood will have their decors up - some alongside their Christmas decors - cobwebs, webs, bats, etcetera.
Except that, we live in 2021 - the time the world got hit by the coronavirus. Is this the second time we did not have a "normal Halloween?"
But what was your normal Halloween before the pandemic?
In our small community way back, I don't remember if we ever thought of dressing up. Nope we never did. All that was important to me was or were the loot bags and that chance to go out with my older friends at night (because I used to have a curfew. I cannot hang out with friends beyond sundown because I was a little over 6 y.o then).
It was later on when I was older and in high school I think that the kids in our community started to dress up. It was an evolution of sorts. But by the time that evolution happened, I was no longer that kid eager to go out and grab a lot of loot. I was already part of the crew giving out the candies. And hanging out with friends start when the phone rings and the friend on the other end of the line confirms they already ran out of candies to give out. Then we all troop out.
We take some of the "rejected" packs of goodies from each of our pantries. Some of us who have younger siblings bribed our sibs to give them some. Not me. No joke. I would not want my younger brother crying because I took some from him. That will delay my going out. We go up to a park where we can feel the November breeze chew on some of the goodies we brought. I take the wafers and some candies, they take the chocs. Somehow now that I am taking account of what happened, I realized they had more than I did. Hey!
Around November and December there are two things that I usually look forward to (then) when I got older:
1.) Buying candies for the trick or treat
I like buying and repacking them so every kid will get one of whichever we got from the grocery back when the economy was friendly.
2.) Buying gifts for family and friends
I like wrapping them and writing on the greeting cards that say more than just the template "Merry Christmas"
Over time some changes happen. Save for number two, there was a less and less need for number one. I guess that depends now on the community you're in.
The BPO crowd (night shifters) do still host the usual trick or treat open for their families. Us, the morning shifters, have no life. Haha. I can only count the times we did try - just one! Also thanks to our BPO çrowd, their creativity transforms our floors fit for Halloween theme.
It was a curiosity. That variety in celebration or observation of an occasion. It seems that not everyone goes around, knocks on your door, and threatens you to give them a treat or be served with some trick for Halloween.
I doubt we have that here in Philippines though, right? Trick or treat is "treat or treat" here.
I think nowadays malls host the event. I doubt I ever experienced trick or treat here in our current neighborhood . Caroling, yes, but not trick or treat. Unlike the previous place we lived in.
Now that I am looking back and simulating the childhood experience in my head of walking around the neighborhood and anticipating goodies from all the houses; knowing who gives out the most expensive ones and who gives out the common ones; trading candies with friends along the way; to growing up and shedding off that involvement and turning to host and then to the now that I am just typing and yapping about the memories and knowing I do not eat chocolate even though as a kid and knowing everyone wants it, I'd protect it like crazy, I wonder who ate my chocolates then?
I remember spilling out the contents of my loot bag. I know there were chocolates there. But the next day memory is foggy. Can't remember if I gave up protecting the chocolates or my older brother tricked me into giving it to him. 🤔
What is your trick or treat story? Memory? Experience? Dream?
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@Coquicoin!!! thank you so much sis!!! That means a loooottt :) mwahhhh
No Pulling Just Yet
Look! look! Look what the birds dropped in my pot! I am honestly unsure if the culprit was a bird or a bat. As you know, we have lots of bats in this area. They come out just when the sun was about to dip in the horizon.
And when they do, they shower the parked cars that lack roofing with their gut outputs. Either that, or they fly with too heavy a fruit in their "hands" or mouth that they drop it mid flight. That is of course, a narrative in my head. We haven't caught anything from our CCTV yet so it's still a suspicion with lots of morning evidences - cars with lots of splattered fruits from their roof to the windshield and to the hood.
It is a fun and interesting living here and co-existing with nature.
Now back to this alien plant growing in my pot. I am amused that this one keeps growing. It's not grass so I cannot pull it out just yet. And so far it has not harmed the original "dweller of the pot". I am not sure though, if it presents a limitation to the potential of my original plants.
A little background. I take care of little monster plants. They all look harmless, cute and with lots of dew (when they are happy like tears of joy or something) but definitely not friendly to insects.
It was an interest that bloomed during the pandemic, pushed by an old friend (yes the same friend who speared my chicken skin one time during lunch. who knew, right?) and I never thought will last for more than a year now. https://read.cash/@Pichi28/oh-dont-you-dare-2f5acdcd
The medium or "soil" I'm using is not the soil like most plants get planted on. I use sphagnum moss and it is like dried grass. In my head, no other plants will be able to grow and thrive in that medium except for the plants I am intending to grow unless it is a sphagnum moss as well ( which it is not).
But I guess there are those that do. And the bats (or the birds) proved my thinking wrong.
Now this plant, is really growing and thriving well. I am now partly curious if it will suddenly bear fruit or grow into a tree (not in this pot, though). But for now I am happy it is contributing to the oxygen (maybe) supply. But alongside my excitement, I am having a little dilemma of whether pulling it out is a good idea or not. I am not sure how long its roots have grown. And if its roots and the roots of my plants are already friendly under the there.
=================== ***A SHORT SIDE STORY*** ===================
*This reminded me of a story from Matthew 13 and the end times vibe that goes with it. Well, because it is what's going to happen in the end times.*
*Good Soil. Good Seed. No Guarantee of Bad Seed NOT Coming In*
*I am not saying or declaring that the alien plant is bad for my monster plants. But, generally, we weed out our gardens every once in a while. Like in life, we do uproot some things that hinder our growth.*
*But, also, it is a reality that we get to co-exist with the bad or evil because uprooting alien plants may uproot the normal or good residents. We co-exist until such time that the fruits are showing, we get the harvest and then the season is through. Harvest comes, we pull them both good and bad and that's when they get separated.*
================== ***End of SHORT SIDE STORY*** ==================
So for a long time, I have decided not to pull it out yet. And my plants and the neighboring plants (plants on the adjacent pot) drop their dust-like seeds to this pot as well. So the growth of my monster plants is continuous on this pot - and co-growing with this alien plant for now. Until none of my seeds grow any more or until this plant dies on its own.
But for now, let us let them live side by side. Like we live and do about with evil until doom.
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hep hep hep hep hooooorrayyY! Thanks @Bloghound ... super duper.. you are a blessing.. lav ya sis
Revisiting A Bucket List
Not so long ago, I had set my mind to doing a lot of traveling. It is a must. Finding friends who had the same interest and drive for doing the same is a whole big enabler. So most of my photos were travel photos.
We figured, as well that, we will eventually no longer be able to bring our backpacks or pull our suitcases because we are, as we all are, not getting any younger. And even if we do not feel as young and light as we were decades back, we do feel the wear and tear welcoming themselves. So we can settle for coffee and chill when that happens.
So in line with that dream of traveling, I joined groups, followed travel vloggers (don't ask me their names I am not that type who fan on any personality), read travel blogs with awesome itineraries that we can modify for our budget and own level of adrenaline, waited on seat sales, eyeing a lot of places to go to and putting them in my mental bucket list.
I also bought this planner that lists down all the 81 provinces of the Philippines on a "maybe" I can block them all off. I never gave myself deadline for that, though. Because although I am set for that, all my travel goes with a lot of prayer and petition to God to be permitted. I don't want to put stress on myself regarding the leisurely travel and lose sight of priorities.
Read 'em! ... Read 'em! ... Read 'em! ... Read 'em! ... Read 'em! ... Read 'em! ...
Read 'em! ... Read 'em! ... Read 'em! ... Read 'em! ... Read 'em! ... Read 'em! ...
To add to that drive, the planner I bought listed down activities or bucket lists. It was grouped into categories for : SHOOTING, HIKING, SIMPLY CHILLING, EATING LOCAL FOOD, etcetera. I pulled it out and decided to take a look at how did I fare so far with the SHOOTING category. I picked it because the other one I have captured an image of is for HIKING and I do not do much hiking unless there is peer pressure. Haha.
Take Portraits of Strangers
This one is tough. I am a bit shy asking strangers to pose for a photo. I do sneak shots though and some do come out fine. There is an overwhelming feel with candid shots. But of course that means also that MOST of the pictures I've taken, none of them are looking at the camera.
*[Unchecked. No portraits of strangers. Photos yes. Portraits none.]*
Watch Humpback Whales In the Oceans of Calayan
I've had friends who were able to relay to me their Calayan adventures. Yes they did see the humpback whales. This one bit I think, I may miss. It is not a must on my list. I think dolphin watching in Bais or in Dauin in Dumaguete is more possible than this one.
*[Unchecked. And probably scratching off? Or is it too soon?]*
Make Eye Contact With a Tarsier
Do I really have to? Tarsiers are mostly seen in Bohol and I was fortunate to see them. I did not have this list then so a photo with them is enough.
*[Half-checked. Can't find photo ahhaha. Bollocks!]*
Be Enchanted With the Kilangin Falls
I have no idea where this is. Quick google search shows it is in Liliw, Laguna. I know we've visited a falls there but I am not sure which one it is. I doubt it's Kilangin.
*[Unchecked. Memory cannot recall a falls with that name. Haha.]*
Spot the Milky Way in Kabayan
Ah this one is still in the bucket list though it will require a hike. And I would be fine with that with days of mind setting and conditioning. I had this in mind when we were prepping for Mt. Pulag but our plan got foiled because the night before we were supposed to leave for Pulag it began to rain heavy. I remember the group organizer telling my friend, "It's sad. I was talking to Ma'am Pichi and she sounded really excited to have her coffee on top of Pulag and yet here we are cancelling the trip."
*[Unchecked. Still looking forward to a chance to.]*
Marvel at the 600 year old millenium tree in Baler
This one! I and my friends had that Baler trip one time and this one is part of the tour aside from the Ditumabo falls. Part of the trip there was to climb up the tree and we did climb only because the guide said there 's a coffee shop up there with a view. A little gullible, we are, yeah?
*[Checked! Whew!]*
Visit the Ruins in Negros Occidental
I was able to visit The Ruins because of the wedding of a friend.
*[Checked! Whew!]*
There's still a lot on the list and I figured I am yet to re-equip myself financially and mentally if I want to tick them off. Financially, well for one, re-maneuvering the spending and the budget will need to be forecasted. Mentally, because, it has been a long time since the last time I travelled and I have got to admit staying in for a long time indoors gave me that sense of security. Now, going out mid to post pandemic, I think I will need a little adjusting to seeing a lot of people again.
I may have gotten the list but I've never really thought of ticking off everything on it. I go at my own pace and only use the list as part of interesting things I "might" want to check out if my itinerary permits it. That said, I am open to most of them not being achieved.
*Do you have a bucket list? If you don't get to tick them off, will you be alright?*
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Oh my mymy!! sis @Eylz2021 waaaahh thank you so so so MUCH! lavyaaaaaa
Take Me Places.. Hey Google!
So I've been watching Jumper in Netflix lately. On installments. Not that I am uninterested or anything but like most times these days, when I watch, some scenes take me to my own day-dreaming.
My inattention to what I am watching happens a lot these days. Which is partially cool because I find myself writing an article midway. But then again, writing is not exempted from such. Even while writing something, my hyperactive, sugar-high brain cells flips me somewhere else. It's like in a day there has to be one me doing the day dreaming and then a lot of other me's doing the things I am day dreaming about. And oh there has to be one standing on the fort of playing the adult and doing my actual work.
Well, for once, let us try to focus on this one. Jumper. I thought I have watched it before. I may have mistaken it with I Am Number Four (and there now see my brain starts imagining myself googling up the movie). So while in the beginning of the movie where the actor starts jumping from one place to another - "teleporting" for proper term - I also find myself enjoying the thought of "What if I can do that?".
THE PLACES I'D GO TO IF I AM A JUMPER
So I started listing down places that I wanted to go to. No order but whatever pops into my mind at the moment.
Meanwhile.. you can escape and jump to these wonderful people's article,too :)
***Paris.*** It will always be on anyone's top list, yeah? Then I would probably go straight up the Eiffel Tower. I'd time it on three times of the day : sunset, sunrise and the evening when they start turning on the lights. And then various other parts of Paris where the Eiffel can be seen in the background with super wicked view.
***Venice.*** I'd go for a Venice trip during their Aqua Alta -the time when the place gets knee-high or higher flood really flooding the streets. It will be cold but I'm a jumper right? So I can go, see and then come back to warm places for a while.
***Rio de Janeiro***. I would also be jumping to Rio de Janeiro in time for their lively and colorful festival. I had a super duper minor taste of a Samba Festival when I was in Japan for an assignment. That was enough to stir up the "what if it is the real and legit samba and in Rio?". The Rio de Janeiro dream is still in my heart, surprisingly.
***Banff.*** I would also be jumping to Banff in Canada. You may have seen those images in Instagram. I would very much want to take tons of pictures of the Lake Louise. And maybe time my stay as well to see the Northern Lights. Yes, it can be seen in some parts of Canada. But I would still like to go to Iceland for that one. Ahh... the beauty of imagination.
Since, some places are also experiencing autumn, I'd go visit those places, too!
IN COMES HEY GOOGLE
While at it, I remembered Google's Street View. For while the places I can "visit" is still limited in Google Street View, it still is a "trip"? Right? With a little time travel I suppose because the images will be dependent on when they were taken.
"Hey Google" has been my phone's feature that I've used lots of time. I have not tried Siri and Alexa but I think they can do the same right? I've used Hey Google to tell me the titles of the songs I'm listening to while driving.
***Maximizing Hey Google for Entertainment : "What is this Song?"***
So I'd go and say, "Hey, Google! what is this song?" and she starts to listen and google it up for me and then show the lyrics too. I can then say, "Hey Google, take a screenshot." So I can check it out again once I've reached the place I was driving to (checking back the screenshots rarely happen I'd forget about it.)
***Maximizing Hey Google for Entertainment : "Please play Ed Sheeran's Afterglow in Spotify."***
This one I learned from my six-year-old niece. One feature of hey google she really loves. She is so mad about Disney songs and the way she learns the lyrics is through repeating the songs in Spotify over and over. She'd go, "Hey Google, please play I won't Say I'm In love from Hercules in Spotify." and google does as she commands.
And for this writeup I tried requesting for Ed Sheeran's Afterglow and Google does as she is requested to do.
Then I thought why not take me places, too, right?
So let me try saying "***Hey Google, open street view of Amsterdam ClinkNoord***".
I am excited.
I am expecting to be taken to this place and be able to roam around from there. https://goo.gl/maps/tfWuDMZ2X1Ap6twD9
And the command is out..
*And sometimes there is that time when google has a funny way of listening how you say things...*
***Closing thought: I don't think I'm going anywhere with Hey Google.***
Just kidding.
I think after that try of going to ClinkNoord or clint nerd for google assistant, I doubt I would be fruitful in trying again and again. Let's just go back to the manual typing the place in Maps and doing the street view from there.. Oh well.
***Another closing thought: Maybe Google needs to up their game on this one. It would be fun. Is that even a closing thought?***
On the other hand, toning down on expectations, is also a good idea, yeah? Hehe.
*I thought this article will really end with showing how nice Google is for taking me places with "Hey Google". But oh, well. haahahaha.*
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Trivia Nights : New Words
It was another movie night. The usual naughty fours bonding over chicken wings and a horror movie. I called it the Naughty Fours just now. That's us. We really have no name for our group. The three I was with for this particular movie night were just the peeps I call "sibs from another crib" or "siblings from another crib".
I never really thought I will be getting along with them. But I guess somehow there are people you just click with without much effort. Your soul is somehow at peace and rested when your are with them. There are people who can arrest the unrested in you and calm it down. Or catch its attention and make it respond coherently.
They get that the humor we throw around is something we use to divert attention from the real issue. So they know how to shift from exhausting the humor shield to getting down and dirty addressing the issue.
Movie nights were also trivia nights.
We are from different fields so I get to learn from them. The buffalo chicken wings was courtesy of the incoming chef then. It was a team effort but it was led by her. Rather than we ordering in and paying more, she decided we should cook for ourselves. The part I enjoyed most was shaking the chicken in the tub of whatever we used as a container to coat the chicken wings with the buffalo sauce which is mainly butter and tabasco. After that time, the next chicken wings and movie nights we had, we decided to just order in. Haha. Saves time.
The other two were soon to be nurses. So we learn stuff from them. Like how they get away from their strict dorm. How the other one got grounded because of a dorm mate who violated the curfew and had their whole room pay for it. There will be Sundays that the other would be texting me that she cannot make it to church that Sunday because of a violation.
We also learned terms from them. There's *epistaxis* for nose bleed. Which we then use in our other conversations with other friends. We bring in new terms because of them.
The two best thing I learned was : *gynecomastia* and *couvade syndrome*. Both of which came out from a simple conversation about us laughing at someone we all know and how we are slightly bothered with his man-boobs.
So one of them took that time to tell us there is a term for it which is that - *gynecomastia.* After learning that word we use it to tease our friends who do not know it yet.
Then there is the other term. *Couvade syndrome*. I was telling them a story when my aunt-in-law was pregnant and I caught my uncle checking his tummy in the mirror as well. Because his tummy is also getting bigger and he feels the same symptoms as his wife. So the nurses-to-be were able to teach us another word: couvade syndrome - sharing of symptoms of pregnancy with a partner. Turns out this can happen with a close friend as well. Talk about empathy eh?
More than a night of screaming from the horror movies and scaring ourselves even more when it is time for lights out, this group reminds me of how fun it is to learn from other people.
I like knowing new people despite my introversion. I can stick my nose to a lot of books but it is still different reading and hearing experiences through other people's voice. It adds feel to the imagination.
*Now if I may add more to my eccentricity.. I am having these thoughts lately of wanting to meet or have a chat with an assassin or a sniper or something. What it's like and maybe draw stories from their stories. ahahha.. Whatever ..*
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Ignoring the Whispers
Let me start off with a disclaimer.. . better up here than elsewhere.
He watches her. He's been watching her since the assignment landed on his desk one time. This time they are in a coffee shop. He's waiting for his friend that goes by the name Starfreak. She is a profiler. Oddly with no last name and God knows if Starfreak is even her real name. Profilers are good dodgers when it comes to personal matters.
His name is Ampelios Sherlock Panza. *Shock* for short. He is one on duty to watch over a human being : *Luule Rita Koppel - Rita to her human friends; Lu to Shock.*
*Thud!*
*An inch-thick black profile folder was placed (or dumped) on his desk from Katharina (a.k.a K'rina)- the office's grand grand fairy. Yes, truly she is a fairy.*
*"Ta hand om varelsen," she teases.*
*"Excuse me? I do take care of the creatures. It is not my fault if they cannot interpret what I am saying or hear it even. They do not have the filter technology yet. They listen to all voices and not zero in on the one with the good voice." Shock rambled and retorted looking up from under his eyeglasses.*
*"And I thought we agreed they were to be called 'human beings' as to separate them from other 'four-legged creatures' ?"*
*"Oh, so chickens, are human beings? " K'rina teased slowly sitting down on the chair at the opposite end of Shock's desk.*
*Shock was annoyed and was about to respond back.*
*"Shock, do loosen up a bit, will ya? Fine. 'human beings'". K'rina interjected before Shock got to his lengthy speech about calling the creatures (general term for their office to anyone breathing) human beings. She got up and disappeared.*
*Shock closes his eyes, counted slowly to three and let his annoyed self exhale through his mouth.*
*He randomly flips through the thick folder and lands on the quick profiler's one-word description/s in bullet form. The profiler, Starfreak, has this knack of playing with words when describing creatures.*
*She'd use words like "funky", "hippie", "goofball", etcetera.*
*Shock's eyes stopped on the last bullet.*
LONE WOLF.
*He weighs the word or words. Starfreak used two words there. Shock never thought any human being can be a lone wolf. They always belong to a "wolf pack" so to speak.*
*Cheerleaders.*
*Jocks.*
*Nerds.*
*Surf dudes.*
*Goths.*
*Such a curiosity.*
That was a full year ago. Now he understood her terms of "lone wolfing". He chuckles at his own word play. Starfreak has got some weird influence if you hang out with her long enough.
The coffee shop it seems is the best place for Starfreak to do profiling. According to Starfreak, a lot of human beings seat here drink their sweet, creamy poison - only few drinks black - and have their guards down - but not influenced by the spirit of alcohol.
It so happened that Lu, the lone wolf assignment of Shock, started working in the same café for part-time. While Lu pops in and out of his line of vision, he sips on his black coffee, reads the news paper and from time to time glances up to the game of ****rugby**** in the huge laptop monitor from the customer on the table in front of him.
The chimes on the door of the cafe rings to indicate a customer just came in. Shock happened to glance up. It was Jack. Lu's admirer, constant annoyance, ****continuous****ly turned down and yet, here he is. Like a fungus.
Jack was one of Shock's and Starfreak's profiling subject. And somehow both agreed that if they would be tagging something next to Jack's name it would be "ass". Lu thinks the same but never blurts it out to anyone not even with a silent sigh when no one's around. Jack is just one of the many things that bother Lu lately. Turning one down is easy turning down a pack is different.
Nothing is not to be loved with Lu. Of course she is sarcastic at times but it was always received lightly by the other end - often with a lot of laughter when they get it. Most people who don't get it, they laugh and leave confused. Easy to get along and pick any topic with, she can jump from one pack to the other and kind of connect.
Though a lone wolf, she does have a rule to herself - no one is to be left feeling alone and lonely. Most people have both words in one scenario. But for Lu you can be alone and not lonely. She tries to influence people into being able to stand up straight alone or not. That though, for some humans, create an invisible silent commitment. And that one silent commitment, she feels pissed off. Dote one too many, you end up with a variety of paralyzed beings who cannot even eat their lunch by themselves or go to the washroom on their own.
Claimed.
Tagged.
Marked.
Owned.
It is fun, she admits, to belong sometimes. But it is easy to loose the self there. Next thing you know, when you're the one in need of a tandem or (or a *parabatai*) just one soul to "get you" somehow you cannot find it there. She is her own parabatai for now, at least.
Exiting is chaotic.
Staying is lonesome.
In her experience, trying one or the other would always end up in a conversation with tones of ****nuance**** and confusing emotions.
It is a tiring thing that Lu was able to manage growing up. Getting tired every once in a while but really finding ways to recharge herself like staring up the ****satellite**** at night to calm her soul. She thought, done with high school and these things will no longer bother her. You know, out in the hood, head up, doing your own thing. Finding your own peeps but never really getting stuck in a sticky connection.
Or so she thought. Maybe things just repeat themselves in different form and you find yourself in the same scenario but saying "no" would come off as "rude" and being asked for a reason would seem "intrusive". Why can't "no, thank you" just be no eh? Why can't "no" have "no reason"?
Shock found these running in Lu's head one time when he was watching her in her room sorting out her thoughts through journaling. She was staring at the ****row**** of pens she arranged according to shades and getting a little bothered between the lighter shades of the same color.
Despite all that she settled before about not belonging in a pack, she has also that nagging feeling of having the need to stay. But what for? She has not figured out yet. But she is torn.
And silencing all the voices who volunteers to have the answer in her head, she cannot zero in on what to do yet.
Shock already whispered, "It is ok to choose to stay for a while."
But Lu's stronger voice from experience silenced even Shock's.
For now, Lu does not want to face the burden of making a decision. Sometimes silence or none-response creates the distance needed to communicate "no" without having to say it.
Hello everyone!
These random generators are a fun invention. Kudos to those behind it. I normally would bother *Eylz2021* and *Bloghound* for random names. But I decided to see if there is a random generator out there for names and there is. But I'd still bother the two for some other upcoming stories, if there is. Hehe.
Characters on this story are from this site.
Then I kinda mixed it up with the random word generator started by @meitanteikudo with a little twist of putting them in a story instead of writing about the words. I got these words from that generator: https://randomwordgenerator.com/
© Pichi28 | `#ClubBrokeBCH`
All Original Content
Unless specified otherwise...
*Pulled up from draft written Sunday, October 17, 11am.*
*****Other (highly unrelated) fictions:*****
Escape https://read.cash/@Pichi28/escape-ab005dbf
Late for Work https://read.cash/@Pichi28/late-for-work-cd3671cc
The Caged Pearl Necklace (this came from a word generator prompt as well..) https://read.cash/@Pichi28/the-caged-pearl-necklace-68e3e1db
I Still Can't https://read.cash/@Pichi28/i-still-cant-8a4e06a5
The Other World https://read.cash/@Pichi28/the-other-glow-da350c93
Thank you so much @foryoubtc09!!! That made me smile even more :)
Revvin' It Up
Everything turns into a slow motion. She can hear her own breathing and her heart thumping. She walks towards the vehicle. She sits comfortably on the drivers' side. She adjusts her gloves. Pulls on it to make sure it fits right. She wriggles her fingers, cracks them knuckles. Breathes out. She pulls down the shield of her helmet.
She looks to her side and sees the other drivers and their kart.
Three. An engine revs.
Two.
One.
Gunshot!
And zoom the two cars that she was on the starting point with, zoomed past her.
Wait what?
What happened?
Her engine just suddenly died.
Ever gone kart racing before? I can only count in my hands the number of times I've tried. Like there's just two. Easy count, eh? And they are just go karts. You know, kids' stuff? Lols I'm not really sure. Search says their track (the one we went to) is also good for professionals.
That part up there was the close resemblance to my experience with my cousins. A cousin visited from the U.K. for a short visit. I and another cousin was the only one available for a week night of fun. The request of the visitor cousin was to try this Kart Racing. So why not? Ate Pich always willing to spoil 'em little cousins.
So off we went. I was cool at first. I was kind of giving them that talk about they are not going to win against me. They were just quiet and maybe excited too in their own way. Not wanting to make a retort that will offend the oldie, I guess. Neither of them knows how to drive. But with these babies, you just step on the gas.
We registered. We got our short briefing. We picked out helmets and went to the track.
I started getting nervous.
Being older and the more responsible one, if anything happens to these two, I'd have the whole clan breathing down my back. But that was quickly replaced with lots of laughter.
For one, they beat me. Because the older, more responsible driver in me slows down. They never did. Doing the corners will give me whiplash. Exaggeration of course.
For another, we went for another round and the second time, I was even slower. I had four laps and they had six and seven.
My cousin enjoyed that time. That was the goal. He got his energy spent and pumped up on this one. He even decided to ask my older brother next time. But after considering the narrow seat, he thought better. My brother will not fit there.
The first time I went Kart racing was when our whole batch from high school had to go out of our town to take college entrance examination somewhere. We rented a van. And it took us about a two to two-and-a-half hour ride out.
Since the exam will only cover half of the day, we also included in our plan to roam around the area. I think it was my first time in that place. Some of my friends then have been frequenting the area so they know most of the places to go to.
It drizzled and then it rained. We were parked in one area where there is a bowling alley, a surplus store and lots of fast food. We were scattered. We just agreed on a time to meet up.
My friend tapped me and told me to go across to the other side. The other side, being the kart racing place. Me the easy one to drag into anything aside from I don't know where and what she planned to do then, immediately followed her to the other side of the road.
Next thing I know, I was on a kart driving mad around the track. Since it was raining as well, the water was splashing all over. We were wearing our school uniform by the way. Hahah. I did have fun. My friend who started the idea did have fun. We were soaking wet and laughing at each other and telling each other our experience.
When we went back to the meeting place, there were snickers, high fives and lots of laughter when they saw us. Except there was also a cold, deafening silence and a tension coming from her then boyfriend hahahaha.
He was so fuming mad. He had the vent of the aircon directed straight at us. "So we could learn a lesson not to go karting in the rain." Hahaha.
Thank God we have our jackets.
Whatever pissed him off, we had fun anyway.
It was fun. Will I do it again? Yes.
*So you guys ready to rev up coming into Monday? There is no stopping Monday guys.*
*Let's just strap up and step on the gas, eh? Let's have fun while adulting.*
*Please don't roll your eyes on me. Hahaha.*
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Career or leisure?
Sounds like a no-brainer for a remotely involved audience, I think.
Jana stared at the schedule set before her. It was a late glorious afternoon. The sun hid behind the brewing rain clouds. The clouds looked heavier and heavier by the minute. Had it been a schedule for an out of town trip, it would have been a no-brainer, absolutely yes and agreed and she will no longer be counting the leaves she would be needing to attend to the schedule laid down before her.
The schedule was a training offer. She needed it. Does she need it, still? It has been a real long while since she had an upgrade and she needs it. She needed it like two years ago. So she is now contemplating if she still needs it or is it time to move forward. Forward meaning let go of a plan from two years ago and venture on to something else. She had prepared for it when the fire was there. She bought materials she needed to aid her. She was prepared and driven.
But that was two years ago.
You best be better checking them out so as not to miss awesome articles, yeah?
Ever had something like that before? You have planned to take on something but for some circumstances you never got to. It never really weighed down on you because at that time the scenario stirs you to take the obvious choice - to let it go - because the option to take it was not there or was not opened for you?
Say for example, you have been waiting for that flight to Batanes or some dream island for a grand vacation or break. You have found this agent who can give you an irresistible discount.
It was good and all set. But, then bam! Pandemic happened. The place you are going to closed down to protect the locals. Your deal with the agent is still to push once borders opened but the "now" says it has to be forgotten for a while.
But for "now", that has to be set aside. The sample scenario does not present a conflict because the terms are simple, once the border opens, it's still a sure go.
However, a conflict will present itself when the borders open but at the same time you are going to be on a flight, which is now a go or no-go as per the agent, you were also called in by a huge company for a contract signing. The contract signing also has a sign now or never feel to it. The position is in demand and if you are not signing the position will be given to the next qualified candidate.
It felt like that. Weighing two things. Both important and both are good opportunities.
***Career or pleasure? Make that "career or the long-time dream leisure?".***
Like I said to most it's a no-brainer. Most would pick the wisest decision which is ... dream leisure. Kidding.
Jana is having the same battle with herself. She looked at the schedule and for while that surely boosts and is definitely an add-on to her current career, she had dreams and plans of altering that in the next coming months. The training stretches to cover holidays and until.. get this.. summer!
She had penciled in vacation days during the holiday. She also penciled in a vacation on summer and looking forward to dozens of sunset-watching on the beach somewhere.
If she commits, the vacation days will have a two-hour window reserved to attending the training.
If she commits, the sunset, she will have to say goodbye to because the only available time slot covers sun down time : 5pm to 7pm.
Two years back, she has accepted that she may not have this training or this option of taking it will no longer be presented to her. She has slightly mourned over it. She has accepted that she will not take it. But she is now facing it again and now conflicting to other matters of the heart.
She stares at the button accepting the offer.
She sighs a deep breath.
She has talked to some of her teammates and one trusted friend encouraged her to take it, since the reality is that it will be beneficial for her. It presents to open more opportunity in the long run.
Short-term? Long-term? Weigh. Weigh.
She stares at the schedule stretch again, October to March. Super long time with lots of holidays she penciled in a vacation for. Well just two holidays - Christmas and New Year.
She cringes at the commitment demand such opportunity presents.
She counts the month. Sighs. Counts to ten slowly and then back to zero. Clicks "accept".
She closes her eyes and rests her forehead on her laptop cover and just like that she wants to retract the application.
Then a message alert on her instant messenger chimes. It was one of her teammate saying,
*"I have commitment issues, t0o. .. .covers career and personal life haha"*
Then she laughs.
© Pichi28 | `#ClubBrokeBCH`
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Thank you @AmazoongWorld! Hehe i saw that. Thank you so so much! God bless!
Learning from No Such Thing
Much as I so super loved John Mayer's No Such Thing, this is no way related or linked to that song. However, I will be having that song looped in my ear just for kicks.
One time, a bouncy colleague peeped in my cubicle to remind me we were leaving in thirty minutes and to get ready. She was already holding her badminton racket. It was that time when one of our officemates was giving us training for badminton. Those pro bono trainings helped big time. Our games turned from comic awkward to comic stunning games.
Anyway, I was having my nose stuck on the monitor for resolving some issue. I replied, "I know. But I got *stuffs* to do. Hopefully, I get it done in time."
She giggled at my reply. And said, "What 'stuffs', Pichi? There is *no such thing as* 'stuffs'. It is just 'stuff'! ". Shaking her head amused and still giggling, she pulled up a chair beside me.
I would have protested at her "no such thing yada yada" since a lot of times, I swear I've used it and it *felt right* using it.
I looked at her and considered my response, dug deep from what I know and realized after her explaining, "shocks she is right." And wondered how many times I have used 'stuffs' and how many have heard me say it.
On ordinary days, I probably will have a knee-jerk reaction of telling her I say it as I say it. But I know she meant well. From then on I consciously re-trained my brain with the use of "stuff". It still slips some time as you know, we have that habit of getting the easiest application of putting "s" in words to make it plural even when they no longer need it. "Stuff" being one. Hehe.
It is just one sample scenario of getting called out for. Or getting corrected.
...do visit 'em beautiful people
She is just one of the frank friends I have that I appreciate when I hit some of their pet peeves and they react. Hahah. My dad, this friend, another friend and another friend, they do not hesitate in correcting me. It is *with love,* though.
Their stand, "I'd rather call your attention now than let you look and sound foolish around other people."
In a snowflake generation it may sound harsh but I think taking things in proper perspective in getting corrected and called out for, is key to getting better. Some corrections sting,yes, but I think we have to consider from who and where it is coming from.
Extending to real life ..
*Find and keep friends who love you enough to correct you rather than encourage you with things you do wrong.* Of course, you'd feel more loved with the latter than the previous. But the previous have your best interest. And I'd go for that for a little up in my game.
That statement got stuck with me after a real talk with one of the youth in our church. The one who said it was a good colleague bringing to light a clearer perspective on the verse:
*The wounds of a friend are trustworthy, but the kisses of an enemy are excessive.*
*Proverbs 27:6 HCSB*
*https://bible.com/bible/72/pro.27.6.HCSB*
I have benefited a lot from friends who love me enough to correct me rather than let me continue being wrong. It was not easy at first. No one loves the sting of getting corrected.
*But some stings last only for a while and it changes you for the better if processed right*
I noted friends who corrected me with my conversations with them. And that friend who taught me about "stuff", I know is one of my friends I can take an honest criticism from. She is one of the friends I sent out some of my writeups here. And her honesty is always welcome.
She is one example of a friend who'd rather be honest now than lead me on with false praise just to make me feel comfortable. It may be minute or small thing that can be overlooked but as they say, "can't call out the small things? how can you call out bigger life and death situations?"
*Ever had a friend out of nowhere corrected you? What was your reaction? Or how well did you take it? Is she still your friend? Hahaha*
I think another question is...
*Do you like or want to be corrected? Sometimes I do, most times I don't depending on my mood.*
Because you know, sometimes, constructive criticisms don't only come from people we have solid relationships with.
Sometimes random peeps they just swing by, and sting you ...
©️ Pichi28
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Treasure or trash on a Tuesday
*Whipping up something quick...*
Meaning. We all tend to look for that from time to time. It usually accompanies soul- searching. For while soul-searching evolves around the self you will end up also asking how your existence affects everything around you. What does it mean to be me being a daughter, a sister, or a friend to? What does it mean to be me being in this industry? What is the meaning of all this? What does it mean when someone says, “I matter?”
Embracing your status also means coming to terms with your weaknesses and limitations. Yes, we can be anything we want as what we always want to boost ourselves, but we do have limitations and to some that is pride-crippling. To those who found wisdom in seeing their reality are bound to bounce back with a better version of themselves. Acceptance opens options though it would make you feel massively crushed for a while.
Realizations birthed of experience can be painful but the liberation it brings can be double. “Engineering is not for you”. I remember those words from my dad when I called him from a pay phone one time after receiving my course card. It was my first failure. Why did I call him? Haha to cushion the weight and hopefully by the time I come home, he is no longer devastated. I did not get hurt from his comment. I heard his pain in his voice. I took his comment as a challenge, proud kid that I am or was. Self-reliant. Strong. The brighter one between me and my older bro. I can be anything and couple that with friends who also said, “No one quits until we get that license”. Fresh fighters, we were, oh yes! And oh we, all ended up changing courses eventually. I can super laugh about it now. But it was devastating then. It may also seem a waste to most, but **I always look at my bin of trashy history and know now that it was allowed for greater growth** – *character building for myself, a bucket of hope to some, and maybe a foothold of “I will not go down that path” to some*. Ah, yes that statement got me where I ended up, anyway. What was that? Uhm, “spoke too soon”. I got a hell lot of lessons from that failure. Oh, but hey! I’m alive so that’s not my “the end.” This is my piece at failing forward. If I may, I can scandalously also say, failure directs you.
Redemption is always possible. ***From the smallest twig you crack to the grandest scandal you can make; your life is not too far from getting redeemed***. Because the truth is, the next step you are taking is already known by that One Person who knows you inside and out YET decided a long, long time ago that your life is worth an exchange for His.
You. *You are the apple of His eye. (Yes that’s how far I can go with this one).*
Change. Change is not always easy. But it is necessary for growth. From the first paragraph, that search for meaning results to change. Behavior? Plans? Attitude, perhaps?
Healing. Perhaps healing? I realized that we have all been caught up with physical and mental illness, yet we seldom tackle that need for healing in the spiritual aspect. I know, quote and quote, touchy subject. Yet it needs to be brought up at some point. Maybe in a form of this popcorn, directionless write up. Or maybe in some other form. We all go “I’m not sick”. “I am fine”. And that’s one of the sicknesses that made Him come in the first place.
*Reigning in our hearts is the pride that we are self-capable of fishing ourselves out of our own (and some not) doing.*
Incredibly, He’s got a wonderful plan for you. And for while I do not want to further ruffle discomfort, I will probably go for a second stab somewhere along 2021.
Sadly, not everyone is up to receive the planned proposal He is presenting.
Thankfully, it is still open for like your whole lifetime. Don’t miss out though, He’s got a ton more in store for you. It’s almost thanksgiving as well, right? I’m a little lost with the happenings lately. Gotta go do that thankful list after this.
Mumbles of a mad kid? On a weird Tuesday? Maybe.
All I know is this truth : He loves you. ***Like a lot to just leave you be.***
So … Until my next lengthy, directionless mumbles.
*I think I can end here. Treasure or trash? It’s up to you. I just threw in words and thoughts we may not see eye to eye on all points but I just greeted you an early Merry Christmas. He is, after all, the real reason for the season, yeah?*
Have a great rest of the night!
Idea came from @McJulez . One of his great works. https://read.cash/@McJulez/why-not-acrostic-deb91aed
I had fun with this one. Though, If I may have held on to my attention-challenged self a little longer, I could have ended and landed this one more smoothly. Important thing is, the message is delivered: *He loves you and He has a wonderful plan for you.*
Ciao!
© Pichi28 | `#ClubBrokeBCH`
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Fun with Yesterday
I am not talking about yesterday yesterday as in like the day before now. I am talking about "Yesterday" that movie I am (or was) watching in Netflix.
What got my interest in the movie is that the main character is holding a guitar. So it gave me a feel that it is a musical and right I was. I do not even know who the actors and actresses are.
To most who do not know, I have a knack for watching any movie (as I do have a knack for listening to just any song) and that was how I got myself stuck in a movie house watching a horror film that shook my brain and got me jelly-feet.
Do pay them a visit :) They are fabolou-awesome souls
Giving a bit of a warning, "Spoiler ahead". It got a pretty low rating in rotten tomatoes (not sure if people still checks rotten tomatoes votes.. I sure do not as you know, again, I do not read reviews or synopsis before I watch a movie hehe) so I doubt you would want to watch it. But just maybe you will, I apologize still. Oh, have I mentioned that ***Ed Sheeran*** was there? Ah yes he was. Moving along.... https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/yesterday_2019 https://read.cash/@Pichi28/what-did-i-just-watch-83c6e926
So the story goes like this:
Main character is Jack Malik.
Malik is a small-town struggling musician - sometimes busking at the pier and sometimes doing gigs in the local pub.
His main fans are his friends and family who are supportive but also quizzical about his talent except for one, Ellie, who believed in him since the time he played Oasis' song, Wonderwall.
He got booked in a festival but only had few audience in his tent where he performed and he decided that is the final straw and that he will no longer pursue being a musician
That night he decided to quit, though, there was a worldwide blackout. Yes, worldwide. And while he was driving down the road, and the world around him started to dim, he got hit by a bus in the intersection. And then the lights came on. There was power outage worldwide for twelve seconds.
Coming back from the hospital, Ellie gave him a new guitar because his guitar got crushed in his accident.
Friends asked him to sing and play a song with the new sleek guitar to which he obliged and played The Beatles' Yesterday. To which his friends reacted as though they only heard it for the first time.
Turns out, the 12-second worldwide blackout erased The Beatles' in the entire history.
Not only were The Beatles (and all their albums) erased but also, Coke - they used Pepsi in the film, cigarettes, and Oasis.
He later on found out that he can take it to his advantage. He decided to go back to performing and use the songs of The Beatles as his own. Even Ed Sheeran cant seem to remember that Jack Malik was singing songs from The Beatles.
There is a love story side to it like taking someone for granted and stuff. "Putting in the proper column" how they put it. But i find that part rather typical.
As of writing, I have not finished the film I am just halfway through. So that is a halfway spoiler, it seems. But that got me thinking. Of course, in line with the film, minus The Beatles, I am thinking of which band/artist would I want to impersonate or claim as me and my doing because the world had selective amnesia and the world collectively decided it would be that one particular band.
I had The Carpenters in my mind and maybe even ABBA.
So, suppose a 12-second worldwide blackout should happen and the same with the movie, it erases three (3) things in the past, what part of the history you think should be written off?
It does not have to be related to music. It can be anything. Not about you or your past, though. Pick something worldwide.
*Let me know in the comment section.*
Now that that question is out, let me finish the movie. I am still wondering where the plot twist is in this plot twist.
Cheerio!
© Pichi28 | `#ClubBrokeBCH`
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Yay @Farmgirl sis thank you much much!!!
Yay @Farmgirl sis thank you much much!!!
A Hair Strand of Thought
It is autumn in most parts of the world. Well, autumn in the Northern hemisphere and most likely spring in the Southern hemisphere - rough guess. So while I stare at the dried leaves along the pavement and half-wishing I am experiencing the cold autumn like we did approximately two years back, I got to thinking how life and almost everything follows a certain pattern or cycle. In seasons, we have the winter, spring, summer, and the well-loved wardrobe change of nature -fall. Of course, the months cycle around to make a year and so on.
*And when some usual cycles get disrupted, we know that the earth is unwell.*
That goes the same with our hair apparently. I never thought of that though - hair cycles. I mean, I know they grow but I never thought they have this sort of season or pattern or cycle.
*And when that gets disrupted, something is not well with us.*
And that knowledge got laid before me because of a certain situation - my situation years back.
***The Bits and Pieces***
I used to be a really uptight person. I was hard on myself and very ideal coming out of college. Things has to be to the tee and to my standard. But now of course, we know life does not always go our way. If it does then we would not be thinking about the homeless or we won't be thinking about poverty, etcetera. Dreams don't come to being the moment we said we want it to happen or transpire. Getting a job does not guarantee your dreams will come true the very next day. Of course, that is an exaggeration but it kind of paints a picture of how much I want what I want to come to fruition. It sounds bratty but of course it was a gradual realization and it did take a toll on me -physically. These things accumulated and I think one time, it happened.
***The Phases***
The hair growth goes through this : anagen, catagen and telogen - growing, resting, falling out. It was so cool when my dermatologist was explaining it. So the hair grows majority of it, then at some point they stay that way and they they fall of but the growing cycle should already be starting by then. This cycle goes seamlessly but due to some biological or psychological disturbances, the cycle seems to get disrupted and there comes a long gap between the growing and the falling out. Some experience it *totalis* - all hair (facial hair sometimes included) and some *areata -* just a spot. *Alopecia.*
***The Cause***
Biological disturbances say it's auto immune but since my lab works were perfect, they charged it to "stress". Which is most likely true. The first derma told me about one of her patients being a business man. They were doing good progress, but one time he got really pissed at being stuck in traffic and the stress caused him to start his hair fall again that same night.
Some people, I later on learned, just really have a cycle of having tremendous hair fall that they have it once every three years and it no longer surprises them.
***The Discovery***
My mom complained about the amount of hair fall our shower drain is catching. I was not surprised but to her it is alarming. At that time, I shrugged it off. But at that same night she was wondering about the amount of hair fall, I was combing my hair in front of the mirror and playing with how I will split it. Split it halfway, a little to the left, a little more to the right instead, a little bit more... and then boom! A perfectly circular spot the size of a five-peso coin. I stared at the mirror for a long time. And with shaky voice I called out to my mom. And the rest is history. We went to the doc, got steroid shots on the spot (yes on the scalp). Went consulted another doc who got a better med and program in mind but med is not here in the Philippines. Mom's nurse friends were able to find me from their area and they sent to us- angels they are!
***The Ordeal and the blessing***
It was a shock. It was an ugly thing. How do I tell my friends because if it goes worse, it will show. That time, I can still hide it when I put my hair up in a ponytail. Thank God, though, my friends and office colleagues were supportive. When I had to use a wide hair band to hide they fix it from time to time. The revelation of course was always shocking. My friends had that, "Show me.. no wait.. don't show me.." situations. Those who dared see had that, "Oh why did you show me?" reaction after. It was crazy hilarious.
When most of the important people were already told, they asked of course, how they can be of help. I told them the same thing my derma told me - as much as possible refrain from extreme emotions. Extreme shock, extreme anger, extreme frustration, extreme impatience, etcetera is a no, no. Physically, I have to be mindful about how tight my scalp is getting. I need to massage it, relax my thoughts because if my scalp is tight, that means I am handling something stressful and I could trigger the gap even. Also, no hair pulling - habit, conscious or not, drying hair and make sure I'm not using a fine-toothed comb.
visit visit visit these folks.....
Eventually, handling it got lighter even to the point of being hilarious. When my hair started growing finally after some shots, I and my brother went for a massage. There is a part in the session where the scalp massage includes pulling of the hair. When the masseuse was about to do the hair pulling I pleaded, " Please be careful when pulling my hair, you might pull off my whole wig." The confused and scared look on the masseuse was hilarious my brother was not able to hold back laughing so hard.
I'd say it was one part of my life's adventure that called my attention to become conscious on my state of mind. That halted my train of thoughts from dwelling too much on the "what should be". If my plans get frustrated, I am conscious in calming myself down. It was in those times that I prayed to God to *help me divert my attention* if I am starting to go down that enticing pull of blaming myself, repeating scenarios in my head I should not.
It was in that time, upon learning it, during the recovering stage, and even up to now that I learned to laugh at myself instead. I still get frustrated, yes. I still express and air out my woes but I no longer dwell in them. I learned to weigh things if they are worth wasting energy on and over or should I take a step back and see if there are other ways to go about it.
***Closing thoughts***
It is a known fact that our bodies react to how we handle things that get thrown our way. How harsh we are with ourselves shows, too.
Things didn't go your way? .. *Don't lose your hair over it.*
***Pray for a diversion***. It is easy to just see and mull over the pain or sadness, but really, it is not all that that is in front of you. There are lots of things to laugh about sometimes including ourselves. Laugh and be thankful.
Sometimes, I tell my friends...
*Thank God He is a God of humor. Would you believe it? He found it hilarious and apt to add you in my life. Thank you .. I needed you.*
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Me and Some Food
We love to eat. We love eating with the company of friends even. It is one of the things that bond friendships because technically you would not share a mealtime with a stranger.
*A table, yes. A mealtime, most likely not.*
There is some certain intimacy involved in sharing a mealtime with another human being or more that you have established a certain connection or relationship with.
I remember starting off awkwardly with my college friends (part of my current constants). We were that group that did not want to go to the mall for the long lunch break. We were the sloths, cheapskates, anti-socials, the uncool, the awkward and so on. We were not a fan of the flow. Since it is freshman year, new crowd save for my best friend from childhood who was also studying in the same university in a different course and two years ahead, we were stuck with each other. Though we talk, we were still then not in the comfortable talking space. We have our walls up. But we tried first lunch together.
It most certainly was awkward and with lots of basic questions. Then eventually we all got along. That's after a few days of hunting the lamb chops, the best pesto chicken and the most awesome liempo served near our campus.
Days and weeks after, they eventually find out about the things I would eat and not eat. Or some food that I would crave for for some time and then not.
We all have this certain layer of weirdness, right? Layer and level.
**I eat everything!** At least I would like to think I do. However, I know I am a picky eater when given the chance. Something in me protests at that line because I know I may be internally picky but I do know when not to be picky. Hence, that kind of negates the label "picky", does it not?
Maybe I just have a mood? How do I put it? Conditional eater? That does not even describe it. I have observed the food I would eat without thinking twice and food that I would hesitate to eat but eat anyway after some conditioning.
Anyway here is some of the food that "I would not eat but..."
These are the food that would require a little conditioning on my end but I'd eat anyway when served with. But will not personally order for it.
Veggies (generally .. lols)
That should not surprise, anyone. Come on! Haha. And it should not be odd either. Most of us grew up through the "eat your vegetables" stage, right?
*But I do eat vegetable salad.*
There are certain vegetable dishes that I consider friendly. And there are vegetable dishes that I would eat each ingredient had it been deconstructed.
I like chopsuey, lumpiang sariwa, adobong kangkong, ginisang pechay. Lols. I am not anti veggie they are just not on top of my list to order. Given the chance, they would not be on my plate but if they are, I'd eat them still.
Admittedly though, as I grew older, I do feel the need for eating veggies.
Halo Halo
Yes. I am one of those who do not have that high-up a level of love and craving for halo halo. I have tried and do try from time to time but it is not my oh so beloved Filipino dessert.
*But I'd eat its ube or leche flan, if there is.*
*But I'd eat saba con hielo.*
*But I'd eat mais con hielo.*
No worries, if you hand one to me I'd still eat it anyway. It is admittedly yummy. But I think the ingredient overload is too much to process for my senses. Yes. Weird. I know.
Chocolate
I know, I know .Who does not love chocolate? Well, I can say me.
*But I will drink hot chocolate.*
and *I will definitely protect and guard that Ferrero* hahaha.
*and will also enjoy the chocolate fondue.*
***So do you have a list as well of food you will not eat but eat if..?***
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