Day 4 - Brunch

Today, I went with my mom to pay some taxes. And because that is an extremely boring activity, afterwards, we treated ourselves to brunch at Vanilla Cupcake Bakery. This sickly sweet girly interiored restaurant. And as my mother is my mother, here she is on a business phone call. At brunch. On a Saturday. #NoRestForTheWicked

In case you're wondering what we ate, she had the chicken tocino dish and I, the rib eye steak. Both were yummyummyummy. :) We had their chocolate cake for dessert (not in photo), and it was okay. I still prefer their cupcakes, though.

Day 3 - What is it with you and dragons?

meatlug on my desk

"What is this?" K said, picking up the small dragon figurine that was sitting next to my computer monitor.

"It's Meatlug," I said. "From How to Train Your Dragon 2."

He shook his head and gave a small laugh. "What is it with you and dragons?" he asked.

"What? Can't I like dragons?" I said defensively. "And Japan?" I added, even more defensively. "You know, I've always been interested in these things, I don't know why people are only noticing now," I said.

Except, I totally know why people are only noticing it now, but it's unfair anyway. It's not my fault that somebody I know happens to be Japanese and is kind of named after a dragon. That's just sheer coincidence.

Day 2 - Assessment Test

a page from one of the assessment tests

Today I went to two language institutions to take assessment tests to determine which of their programs I should enroll in. And both of them told me the same thing: Your level is neither here nor there. We can't include you in a class.

Apparently, my level is too high for a beginner's class, but too low for an advanced one. Which isn't to say that I can't study at their institution anymore. It's just that I would have to enroll in their one-on-one program, which is at least three times more expensive. So one of the teachers told me to not enroll anymore. "Just study on your own and find a language partner to practice conversations with," she recommended.

Well, isn't that what I'd failed to do in the first place and that's why I looked for language institutes near my house? Why are problems most of the time ultimately circular?

Day 1. Again.

This blog is alive!

It's the last three days (really two since December 29th is almost over) of 2015 and I am here. Reviving this blog. Really, reviving this 365 project. Or perhaps more accurately, beginning a new one. I know, I know, I don't have a great record when it comes to these things. But, no harm in trying and trying, right? How does that saying go again? Fall down seven times, get up eight?

To date, this shall be my 5th attempt at completing a 365 Project. And I know, I'll probably miss some days. That just can't be helped. But I hope it won't take me two years to finish this time.

Anyway, if anyone's wondering why I suddenly decided to begin yet another 365 Project (especially since this idea's become really passé), it's because I'm hoping that this next year will be really memorable for me. Not that that's not my hope every year. But I'm hoping that it will really be memorable this time. I guess that's kind of jinxing it a little. But I think I just have to work a little harder than usual. And I suppose the reason why I'm hoping this next year will be a really good one will become clearer as the days go along so I don't really have to explain everything now.

Hence, without further ado, here is my first picture for this 365 Project:

And it's a calendar! Who saw that coming? I mean, I did start my very first 365 Project with a picture of a calendar, so it's only fitting that I start this one, since it's in the same blog, with a calendar, too. That, or, I just always have to have a desk calendar and it's something that's easy to take a picture of when I have free time in the office.

Anyway, as you can see, the calendar is on December 2015. But more importantly (even more important than the rainbow cake, or, okay, maybe not more), the second half of the quote on this page of the calendar actually really got me--may the coming year be a big slice of happy.

May it be. :)

Day 365 - Looking Out

And there you go, the last picture of this 365 Project.  It took me two years to complete, so now I can say firsthand that it's not that easy to do. But I can also say that despite the loss of ideas, the rummaging through piles of mess to find my camera cable, and the frantic searching inside my bag for any kind of camera just to capture the quickly fleeting moments of life, this activity was really fun. And I don't regret doing it. Just looking back at the pictures that I took in the past 2 years, already makes me feel like I've accomplished something. The documentation of my life, I mean, little though that may be.

This last picture is of me looking out the window/wall of the currently biggest ferris wheel in the Philippines, the MOA Eye (I know, what a "creative" name for a ferris wheel, right?). I'm kind of cheating because it was my sister/brother-in-law who took this picture. But, it's of me anyway so it's still valid to put on my blog.

I'm looking at Manila Bay, waiting for the sun to set. For those of you who've watched the sun set at Manila Bay, I guess you know why it's important. But for those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, maybe I'll tell you more about it later. Maybe sooner than you think, and hopefully in a more creative way than you'd expect.

Thanks to anyone/everyone who's followed this blog.  I hope you liked my pictures, and here's to another 365 days? :)