Essential response

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Insidious return of jinx hendrix

 

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Didn't knock on wood enough times. Let's call the bane of the current reality as jinx hendrix--the non-musical, bad-vibes, PTSD-causing version of the uber-talented Jimi Hendrix. Does not even deserve a proper noun status so we'll leave jinx hendrix uncapitalized. Once again, creeping in slowly and slipping what it assumes to be unnoticeable machinations. You know, we should really be wary of things we cannot immediately see with our naked eyes...the havoc these nanoscopic creatures can wreak. Some of them causing pandemics and whatnot, you know. Anyway, call this finger tapping on the computer keyboard as my equivalent of deep breathing--asdf--jkl;--asdf--jkl;--asdf--jkl; 

Grateful for coping mechanisms including those that exist and embrace us with a blanket of mental comfort. Thankful for that. Their existence. For the inspiration. Also, more than ever, the medallion on my chest exhorts me to state Ô Marie, conçue sans péché, priez pour nous qui avons recours à vous...okay, I cannot pronounce that, let's go with O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. I wear it since it was a gift from my sister and that it inspires me to seek for graces including graces that I lack but don't think I should ask for. Isn't that a nice predicament? To be given something you didn't even think you need?

Salamat, gracias

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I have found my colloquial "happy pill" and it's in my mind--hah! Occupational obligations have made my eyes a bit strained and so I'm taking a short break. Coincidentally, my self-prescribed non-pharmacological treatment had the perfect timing. So thank you, maraming salamat, muchos gracias---I would like to express my gratitude to the ether, the interwebs, the universe. In exchange for this brief respite, I would like to pay it forward to cyberspace and offer a virtual treat through the attribution-free image above. Also, I made carrot walnut bread last weekend (only 2/3 of the second loaf is left) because someone decided to leave a pack of carrots with the cashier where we checked out and the supermarket had some policy about not putting back produce on its aisle. So I was offered about 800 grams of free carrots. Seems like a lucky week for me, eh? Knock on wood, let's not jinx this good mood. Cheers. 😉

Fall has fallen and it’s wonderful

Quite the chilly Saturday morning isn’t it? One of my favourite moments is early morning breakfast on a cold morning. Background sounds could be the news or whirring appliances or maybe if the mood kicks in, some relaxing instrumental music. I’ve seen and enjoyed YouTube videos of fireplace sounds with coffee shop or holiday music and I found this video. Apparently, it’s one of the better ones in its genre based on the top commenter who stated “The only one I’ve heard that don’t sound like kfc tryna fry some chicken.” There you go.

 

A streetcar named *insert car name* westbound

 

Point A. Point B. 

Designated starts and stops provide a sense of structure and a semblance of control.

Something to look forward to

I didn’t sleep well and thought that maybe I needed a benign fixation. Maybe make chicken adobo this weekend and/or frozen jam that I can keep and give as gifts for the holidays. Then I thought, I’ve never made glogg or mulled wine before. My first and last mulled wine experience was at a Christmas market over a decade ago. Cheers. In advance.

Update: I made mulled wine (new image above)…smells good! I referred to the recipe here except that I used dealcoholized red wine from Merlot grapes (there was a generic brand from the supermarket) and skipped the brandy. Tastes great! 🍃🍂❤

Update 2: Here’s my chicken adobo with rice (adobo sauce drizzled on top) and store-bought kimchi…I sort of eyeball the adobo whether pork or chicken: sauté onions and garlic then add the meat, add black pepper (we’re not big fans of peppercorns) and kosher salt, add some oyster sauce and a couple of bay leaves, add water until meat is covered, mix a bit of brown sugar, boil for a couple of minutes then add a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar…simmer until it reduces to your desired soupiness/dryness and until the meat is tender. I sometimes add MSG—#sorrynotsorry ☺

Battery Low

 Imagine a zombie apocalypse and you’re running away from a horde of energy-draining zombies. Yes, zombies instead of the usual energy vampires. Vampires are too fast, it won’t work for this symbolism. Method of escape: family movie night involving The Hobbit. For the nth time…a  fantastic 3-hour fantasy extravaganza based on a Tolkien classic. Fun fact, Tolkien and CS Lewis knew  each other—contemporaries. Spiritual people, might I say. 

Constant mental debate

 

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While washing the dishes, I had an important mental discussion with myself--as you do, when you wash the dishes. I was contemplating whether I should go to a coffee shop later for lunch and grab something to go or just stay put. Now, there are certainly pros and cons with either option which mostly center around economics. Do I want to spend an extra $3 for an espresso-based drink that I do not prepare myself or reserve that money for when it is the only option? If you examine the nitty gritty of it all, both options entail some cost. Now the question is, which will elevate my quality of life for today? Which will give me that little happiness that I think I (and everyone else) deserve. By my line of argumentation, you can already see my bias today (it changes by the day, you know). My bias is the now. The present. That part of life that I can never take back. Guffaw all you want. This is serious. For now. What is all this "making a mountain out of a mole hill" business all about? Well, I deliberately spent time thinking and writing about an ordinary thing and actually felt good that I captured it. A smooth escape, akin to a previous post by my past self a decade ago. 

It's one of those active blogging seasons for yours truly--ebbs and flows. Hope you've all had your hot drink of choice today. Here's a nice tune by Kings of Convenience, who I discovered while queueing at a local cafe. Had to ask the barista who they're playing....never been to the Cayman islands so here goes...

Mic test, 123, mic test…

 Is this thing working? Suddenly felt that maybe the cyber abyss needed acknowledgment. Anyway, as Adele once belted out…

…from the other side.

Salt of the Earth

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 Honest and forthright people are rare. They all probably live in the mountains or are part of nomadic tribes in Africa or Siberia. Inasmuch as I would like to emulate this persona of an honest and forthright person, I feel that I’m much too exposed to worldliness and have too much awareness about dishonest and deceitful people that it’s just ridiculous for me to suddenly become an all-trusting and open person. I don’t know about you, but I tend to be closed off as a form of self-protection until I know for sure that I’m dealing with someone safe. When I say safe, I mean someone who will not intentionally betray or demean me for the sake of their ego. Or use me as some dispensable tool in their pursuit of some twisted self-glorifying scheme. See what I mean? Such cynicism on my end. I think much of this cynicism is associated with my “priors”—which are based on lived experience—thereby causing me to decide that someone is this way or that. A sort of deterministic mindset, which makes me a contradiction because I’m struggling to be more religious…no, spiritual…er, no…maintain an open line of communication with God. Anyway, on the topic of determinism, here’s a question for us all, which is inspired by the movie “Arrival” starring Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner: Would you do anything differently if you knew your story from beginning to the end? Or…if you knew what a person’s role will be in your life, would you do something to change it? If you’ve seen the film, yes, it’ll squish your mind. Simultaneous implosion and explosion. Nah, just being verbose.