Day 5 - Red and Black Fish

In 2012, I bought a "coloring book for grown-ups" at the Kinokuniya book store during my 3-day trip in Singapore. I loved it a lot but never thought to take pictures of the pages I've accomplished, I didn't consider them accomplishments big enough to take pictures of to share on Facebook.

Three years later, all the book stores in all the world have many different kinds of these coloring books, there are apps similar to it, and so many people on Facebook are posting pictures of pages they've colored. It's officially become a fad. So... If you can't beat 'em, join 'em! Not that I tried to beat 'em.

Anyway, I took a photo of this page to show it to my friend K who was the one who gave me the coloring book this page is from. It was his birthday gift to me last year and I have to say, I am enjoying it a lot, despite it being all trendy and mainstream now.

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. :)