The Deranged Writer

30-Minute Warning XXXVII

OK. Now that I’m done with my 12-day blogging break, what can I share here under 30 minutes?

Well, yeah… let me talk about my short break from blogging. Writing on The Diary for 14 days straight (as part of my 14 Days of The Deranged Writer [2024] series) drained my energy, so I had to take a breather. And now I’m back, I will try to blog more often before 2024 ends.

Good grief. Here I go again with my monthly blog count problem. But hey, I still have to try to reach my goal. As my favorite Marvel character, Deadpool, says, “Maximum effort!”

Anyway, what is up with me recently? Well, after being on cloud nine because of my happiest birthday party by far (I’m working on a post about that), my mood went down a week after. Why? Let’s just say that I got ignored by a non-friend, and for some reason, it affected me so much. I still feel a bit awful about it, but my nerves are more relaxed now compared to last week. (My short break from blogging helped somehow.)

What else can I share? Oh! Recently, I have been doing my annual tradition: Attending the Simbang Gabi, a series of Holy Masses in preparation for Christmas. There are 9 Masses in total, and I have attended 6 so far. Also, I have been attending the anticipated Masses so I don’t have to wake up earlier at 1am or 2:30am. Good job, self! Here’s to going 9!

Wait. Now I realized something: My recent anxiety lessened because of Simbang Gabi and my nightly affogato time after that. Thank you, Lord.

And time’s up. Happy weekend and happy holidays!

Edited on December 21, 2024 at 2:10pm. I got anxious after reading the post twice, so I had to make one sentence clearer. (The “ignored” sentence.)

Song of the Moment LXI: Jim Johnston’s “The Undertaker (Original Piano Demo)” (Again)

One of the things I look forward to during the holiday season is Spotify Wrapped. The minute 2024 Wrapped was released, I got excited and checked all the year-end statistics and playlists. It was like opening gifts on Christmas Day.

Upon checking and top songs playlist of 2024 (which has 100 songs overall), I learned that my top 1 song is Living Colour’s “Cult of Personality (Remastered 2023)“. I love the original version, but I have been listening to the remastered version more because it is the current version that CM Punk (one of my favorite pro wrestlers ever) uses as his WWE theme song, and I have been listening a lot. No wonder it’s my top 1 song of this year.

After checking “Cult of Personality” and the rest of the top 10, my eyes went straight to number 13. And what’s on number 13? It’s Jim Johnston’s piano demo of the theme song of my top 1 favorite pro wrestler, The Undertaker. I had a feeling that the piano instrumental would make it to the top 15 (if not the top 10) because I have experienced numerous sad days this 2024 and I have listened to the instrumental to give me comfort while letting me feel the melancholy.

The piano demo of The Undertaker’s theme song, created by Jim Johnston.

Now that I mentioned it, I will listen to the piano demo to relax my nerves. Today I had a long day at work and I finally got to walk and jog at my favorite jogging path after more than a week, so a peaceful wind-down is in order.

Thank you once again, Mr. Jim Johnston. Again I say, you should have been in the WWE Hall of Fame years ago. I hope you get inducted next year, sir.

Header image: Brett Sayles of Pexels. Edited in Adobe Photoshop 2024.

10-Minute Warning CLVI

So, what can I tell here under 10 minutes?

I only have a few minutes before Saturday, 12am, so I would like to share one thing: Yesterday’s birthday dinner was the best one by far, and I’m still on cloud nine. One reason for its success is that I enjoyed a lovely dinner with my entire family and a few of my closest friends. I will write more about the event probably next week.

And because of yesterday’s dinner, I’m inspired to plan out next year’s birthday (yes, this early) and try to invite more people – more friends and a few more relatives. But then again, it’s too early. For now, let me enjoy this happy feeling while I still can.

Again, happiest birthday to me, The Deranged Writer!