Belated #InternationalCakeDay and what's the weather?

 

Photo by Antonio Quagliata

Update: I felt the need to preface this post by mentioning that I needed to write something light after the previous post which was one of the usual bouts of intense musings I engage in when properly triggered. Really urge you to check out that cake hashtag online. Food for the eyes.

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I randomly (and happily) learned on Twitter yesterday that it was International Cake Day  What a great timeline cleanse in between current affairs and global news headlines. How many people still have physical newspaper subscriptions...I mean personal newspaper subscriptions? We could expect businesses or office lobbies to still have the daily paper on their side tables, but it is the reality that the majority of those living in areas with internet access obtain their news online. A little fun fact, we still get the gist of our daily news in the morning through: "Hey Google, play 680 news"...to which Miss Google responds "Streaming CityNews 680 on TuneIn." I'm personally interested in the weather forecast. It helps with planning one's day and is a good conversation starter or ending. I ought to make a blogpost sandwich by posting another attribution-free image of a cake. It's really warm here and so a virtual iced coffee and cake would be appropriate (and healthier)...

Photo by Ekrulila

 

glass (introspection)

 

Photo by Lukáš Dlutko

Acknowledge the fragility akin to glass. A looking glass that provides comfort in knowing that your reflection is there. A glass wall that provides protection between you and the outside world high above a skyscraper. Comfort and protection become transformed into danger through deliberate breakage. The shards may lead to injury of one and many. Keeping a safe distance away from the glass is pragmatic. Of course, the only exception to this glass breakage avoidance is during literal dire circumstances (i.e., building on fire): “In case of emergency, break glass.” 

Consider this introspection as something like a bi-annual visit to the dentist. Flouride varnish for the consciousness. Such is life’s journey. Smile.

Ocular Vacation

Among the randomly suggested videos on Youtube included this hour-and-a-half long walking tour of Positano, Italy: https://youtube.com/watch?v=KiAF2393Lzo&feature=share

It’s incredible how technology these days can allow all these instant forms of entertainment on demand. As well, if you are the more calculating kind, you can make much more informed decisions in terms of purchases, travel, etc. Personally, I like being equipped with information about navigation…the lay of the land…where the washrooms are and such. :) 

Unfortunately, the uncertainties in our current situation really requires very good decision-making because there are so many risks. And the risks these days are weightier and the absolute opposite of trivial than before.

We recently gifted ourselves with a local family trip and unfortunately took home an illness.  All is now well, but the frustration I felt post-trip was really, well, up there in the frustration continuum. But the experience was still positively memorable. Add to that would be the non-stop bombardment of bad news in the world resulting to much hesitancy when it comes to going outside. I haven’t taken a walk in the park for more than 2 weeks. I just try my best to preoccupy my mind with funny and relaxing images. Inspirational things only. Because that’s what I can control. It’s certainly not easy—I’ve had anxious moments and occasions of being on edge these past few days. I realized that what works for me is to do what calms me down at that particular moment. Again, that’s what I can control. Anything else that I feel helpless about, I try my best not to allot more attention than it requires; not really a good idea to dedicate time for exercises in futility. Honestly, it’s challenging. I have a bad habit of fixating on the negatives. Though I try my utmost best not to.

Positano looks like a great place to visit, time and resources permitting. However, the video above showed way too many people than I would prefer in real life. Perhaps, a boat trip? A section with less Homo sapiens? But lots of seafood. I don’t think those are mutually exclusive. You know what, I’ll just watch the YouTube video for now. :)

relative cultural violations

 

Is it an offense to dip a croissant in coffee? If yes, sorry. If no, great because coffee-dipped croissants taste really good. I was born and raised in the Philippines where it is common to dip your bread in coffee—typically pan de sal (a breakfast roll that is both sweet and salty) dipped in kape (coffee that’s either instant or a local arabica) for breakfast.

I suppose cultural violations only happen in public? But when you’re in the comfort of your own home, you can do whatever you please as long as it isn’t harmful for you or others (at least physically). For example, slathering peanut butter on a banana and then inserting aforementioned banana in a hotdog bun sounds novel and potentially unacceptable in some cultures but when you think about it, it’s okay right? It could make sense. It’s those who are averse towards change who would dismiss such novelties because of some hardwired preference for the status quo. But we must remember that human progress was driven by the disruptive, out-of-the-box thinking of a select few. Unfortunately, the same kind of disruptive thinking has also led to catastrophic human demise, which is why the change-averse are the way they are. The way we are? Am I change-averse? No. Vice versa? Not quite. Sounding very conflicted, eh? 

Well, that was a good exercise.

Peace in the violence

 

White water walk, Niagara Falls, ON