We’ve been having a lot of rainy weather lately. It is just pouring. It is also very cold. Normally, I would be very upset, but I have a few days off from work.
I get to stay home, and cuddle with Pluto and Marlanu’.
I had a lot of plans, and ideas on how I would spend this week. But, I got a cold and I don’t feel like doing anything. The gloomy, rainy weather adds more fuel to my laziness. I can’t say I did nothing, but I didn’t do everything I wanted also.
I also don’t care. It has been a while since I got bored.
I can also afford to laze around. My plan on doing at least one thing each day, paid off. The house doesn’t require so much attention, the pets sleep all day, and I get to ponder on what hobby I should indulge. Reading has been my main focus these past few days. I finished one series (fives books per tota, in less than two weeks), and started a new series (by the same author).
I found documentaries on YouTube; mostly about trains. I started knitting a scarf. I even started work on a bullet journal, for 2018.
The Munsters (TV Series 1964–1966)
Every weather has its purpose. Rainy weather is perfect for relaxing, cuddling and just sorting through your thoughts and plans. The fact that I also get some me time, makes it even better. I am content with the current situation. It could only get better, by my not having a cold. 🙂
Today is back to work day for the both of us. In a way I wish it was back to school day, but those days are long gone. Pay day is coming and that will make things easier for the both of us.
I am happy that the summer heat is gone, and slowly autumn is making its claim. I do love autumn. In fact it is my favorite season.
Four more months and the year will also end.
It wasn’t a bad year, if I think about it. In two months I will be debt free. I finished my reading challenge, and if I try a bit harder I might finish other things till the end of the year. It was a challenging year and I’ve learnt a great deal about myself.
Four more months of making decisions and taking action.
It might be that it is early morning, but I do feel that there are a lot of opportunities and chances to be taken. It is an optimistic feeling that I am having. I don’t know if it is a good feeling or that I still need a cup of coffee and to take a good look around me. I like feeling optimistic and making plans. Soon enough I will be free to make bigger plans. I cannot wait for October to come, to feel financially free.
In fact, I can’t wait for tonight to come so I can see my friends from work. I missed them. I missed being around them. In a way, I miss them more than old friends that I haven’t seen in a very long time.
So, it’s back to work day and I am feeling happy. It is a good feeling to have.
“And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm’s all about.”
Haruki Murakami
What about handling multiple storms at the same time?
~~~~~
I was smoking on the balcony today and I was surprised to see that the neighbour from the 10th floor has fixed his window. That window has been broken ever since I can remember. And it wasn’t a small crack or anything, the window itself was missing. There were card boxes stuffed there to keep the rain and cold out.
Now, the window is fixed.
Either they are finally renovating the place or someone new has moved in.
Either way, it stuck with me.
 I guess things can always be fixed, given proper time and attention. At the moment I could list a lot of things that I would like to fix or change. Starting from regular household items to personal things. There are so many its insane. I know my problems, compared with others or with issues on a global scale do not amount to much. But that’s the problem. I can’t seem to amount to much.
I desperately want something to reflect that I don’t work my ass off each day for nothing. I want something to call my very own. AÂ product of my hard work and effort. Yet, I have nothing.
Nothing but dreams. I don’t think is wrong in dreaming big.
This year I’ve been unhappy. Worrying about everything and anything. That’s not good for anyone. Life shouldn’t be spent being unhappy. I now know why I enjoy looking at old photos of us. They we simple moments when we were happy. We were not worried about what life could send our way. We knew we can handle it. We knew if we put our heads together we could manage everything and make things happen.
We might not have something material (wealth, our own place, etc). We might be just like that neighbour with the broken window. It’s broken, it’s looks ugly but it will get fixed eventually, even if it takes a long time.
~~~~~
I’m going to take more photos to mark our happy life. Something that I can looks back at with joy.
Autumn, is that you? I know it’s impossible, but the weather has turned around. It’s actually cold for this time of the year. It’s amazing!
For the next 3 days it will rain and it will be cloudy.
I’m the happiest person ever at the moment. I’m actually drinking hot tea and I’m wearing my long pajamas.
I wonder if my minions will cuddle with me if I get in bed. I missed sleeping in the same bed with Pluto and Marlanu’.
I want the trees to go from green to the nice autumny shades. I want to wear chunky sweaters. Boots! Oh my God! I almost forgot about boots. I love boots. I should get a pair of brown boots. I don’t have brown boots.
Oh, oh and I can knit without getting a heat stroke. Snuggling under the blankets! There are so many awesome things I love about Autumn. It would take me a while to list them all.
If everything goes right, I might go wild and I’ll buy some new blankets so I can have something to snuggle underneath. Oh my, I can watch Bollywood movies or anime. Hayao Miyazaki comes to mind and a few of his movies that I haven’t watched yet.
I should make a list. I should definitely make a list so I won’t forget this feeling. But, that means a new notebook/agenda. I saw some pretty ones on the Internet.
I’m all giddy.
Just a few more weeks for Autumn to take her rights.
One thing that I enjoy about me being back at work, is the fact that I’ve made new friends. There are a lot of interesting characters, with different hobbies and interests. And, by chance I was able to find someone with common hobbies! That’s a rare thing and I am really giddy about it.
This new friend is very much in love with the Korean culture.
She is very active in learning and pursuing her own interests (culture, language, and so on). She is on a different level than I am, and I couldn’t be more happy and proud of her. Proud that she is actively pursuing her goals and dreams.
She is currently in Korea! Yup. She’s participating in the World Samulnori Competition! I’m guessing she is having a lot of fun and seeing a lot of awesome things. I can’t wait for her to get back. I want details and amazing stories to be shared. Most likely, an outing is in order so we can enjoy ourselves better.
One thing I do know for sure, I’m probably gonna want to go all out as well. So, she’s going to be a good muse for me. That, and I also want to speak Korean and Japanese (need to get back to practicing).
Ahh, the joys of having a friend with common interests. That never happened to me before.
Hope, she’ll come back soon and I hope she had a great time there. HWAITING!
I know this might sound crazy, but I can’t wait for September.
I am fully aware the weather will not get colder as soon as the 1st of September comes, but I hope it will not be as hot as it is now. Since I still have 2 more months on the night shift, and I want another 2 more (for financial reasons), I just want nice weather for me to sleep during the day.
25 more days of waiting.. Yes, I counted the days in the calendar.
For me to complete my current goals, I need money. And for money, I need the night shift. But, for me to be functional on the night shift I need to sleep. And for me to sleep, I need to have a nice comfortable bed, a quiet environment and if possible colder weather.
I’m gonna be as busy as possible this month (when I am awake) just to make time pass faster.
With that in mind, I started a week of good habits. I haven’t smoked in almost 12 hours (trying to quit!). I had breakfast and lunch (healthy home made food), cleaned the house, read and even watched a few episodes from “Gilmore Girls” (almost finished season 1).
God, I want this weather to go away! I want Autumn. I want September to come and I want my phone to be fixed so I can take nice pictures. I want sweaters and jackets. I want to be able to wear jeans without worrying that I won’t be able to get out of them.
And, it will take another 25 days till I can use this gif:
Oh well, at least I hope I will quit smoking this year.
Is it me, or things haven’t changed that much when it comes to taking care of yourself? I mean, we don’t see videos like this one on TV anymore (that would be something), but the rules are basically the same with some new twists and turns.
This kind of videos are really cute and, I dare say, very informative. But at the same time a bit cringe worthy. We live in a day where information is available at your fingertips. If you need to know something (especially something personal) you can just google it. And if it’s something really embarrassing you can always use incognito mode.
I just can’t imagine staying at home with your parents and watching them. I could imagine them, judging me: “Is my kid neat enough?“. Sure, some of them are innocent enough, but what about those topics? Yes, you know what I am talking about.
Have no fear, we have those kind of videos as well.
What? Were you expecting a video on sex? Well, this one is much better, hilarious actually. Talk about being old fashioned. The ending killed me! After all, “there’s no need to get out of your clothes as you were a sack of potatoes” or “there’s no point in leaving your bedroom as a cyclone struck it”. Ahh, the fun and joys of living in society, being told what is right and what is wrong. Eternally being watched and silently judged by others. Fun, fun, fun. And to think the only reason why I stumbled upon these lovely videos is because I was looking for vintage dresses. I guess being old fashioned is not as glamorous as the fashion of the times themselves.
I’m feeling happy. I don’t have a specific reason for feeling this way. I just do.
Or, I believe I might have one. I was a bit lost in finding a specific goal to keep me motivated and just grounded. I couldn’t find one till I opened my blog (this one).
This blog makes me happy. It has precious memories of our daily adventures. We might not live a glamorous life, but it’s our life and that makes it so much more special. What keeps me motivated and grounded is making precious memories. And I’ve managed to keep things happy and free of any personal drama away from this special place.
This is a happy place for me.
My goal is to build a life I don’t need a vacation from – Rob Hill Sr
So, I’m just going to keep working on improving my vacation free life and make it as enjoyable as possible. I am also plotting on a few adventures with John. After all, it’s been such a long time since we went on an adventure. Just the 2 of us (and something tells me, Pluto will be joining in).
Just one more month and things will start moving. I can’t wait for things to get back on the same old track. And, if I will ever need motivating I shall come back to this place. Feeling happy, being happy, whatever the term I’m good with it.
On that note, tomorrow I shall go back to work feeling motivated.
It’s that time of the year! It’s time for the 2015 List of Resolutions.
Looking back at 2014, I can say it wasn’t the best of years. It was a challenging year and I’m proud to say we’ve managed to get past every obstacle. Sure, we’ve had our down moments when we just felt that it wasn’t worth it, but we’re over it. We’ve grown up! I believe it’s for the first time in my life that I am feeling my age, and I say that in the best way possible.
Heck, we’ve reached a huge milestone as well. We’ve been together for 7 years now. 7 years!
I am proud of us.
I am proud of everything we’ve accomplished and how far we’ve come. I am proud of our two beautiful children, Pluto and Marlanu’. I am happy about us.
I can honestly say that I do not fear what the future will bring. I know we can handle it. If that’s not a good feeling I don’t know what is.
On this note, I would like to mention that the most important resolution for 2015 is to keep up the good work and move forward. Second, I would like 2015 to be a memorable year in every aspect.
Of course, I cannot start the year without making a resolution list. I do not want to break this tradition. It’s a fun thing, even if IÂ don’t always complete them.
~~~~ 2015 List ~~~~
 1.Get a good job
– make a good one page CV (nobody reads CV’s that are long)
– take a professional photo for the CV
– take your time and be patient
– don’t give in into pressure, and don’t lower your expectations
– research about each company and the reviews for current and former employee’s
– dress for the job
2. Take the Cambridge exam (planned at the end of the year).
– complete resolution number 1
– put money aside for the exam
– make sure you register for the exam
– Date of completion: no updates yet on the Cambridge exam schedule for 2015
3. Learn a second language and get a diploma for it.
– choose the language that will help you the most in today’s economy
– practice daily at set hours
– find the proper organization and sign up for an exam.
4. Learn new recipes.
– find the best recipes taking into account the food budget and what’s available in the fridge
– blog about it (making sure I keep up)
5. Have a daily routine and set days for cleaning.
– Work in progress
6. Stop smoking. If possible get John to stop smoking as well.
– Quit smoking on the 4th of January 2015 (Failed)
7. Plan ahead.
– don’t wait till the last moment.
– plan, organize and put into action
–Â don’t wait for others
8. Learn how to dance.
– research and practice
– don’t be afraid to look as a fool
– pick different genre’s
9. Cross of as many things of my random list as possible.
10. Be happy.
11. Put money aside for rainy days.
~~~~ End of List ~~~~
If there is one thing in particular that I am grateful for 2014, is that it taught us hardship. It taught us to survive on the bare minimum and still be happy. So, 2015 will be a simple year (for me at least). Where I will try to use what I have and say no to the urge of spending money on useless things.
