Category: Food

10-Minute Warning CXCV

It’s been a while since I wrote a Minute Warning post. What can I share here in under ten minutes?

After an eventful few days (e.g., completing all nine Simbang Gabi Masses, my family’s first Noche Buena in years), my body is waving the white flag today. However, I have work to do, which includes running an errand. So, I took it easy and walked it instead. My throat was itchy earlier, but after having The Angel’s Cup (hot honey/citron/ginger tea), now it’s fine.

I’m pretty excited for tomorrow’s reunion with my Mother’s relatives because I haven’t seen all of them together in one night in years. Maybe I’ll bring some pizza and a bottle of Jack & Daniel’s whiskey and Coke Zeros, so my relatives will have the option of having either the whiskey or the soft drink, or I can just mix Devil’s Cups for them. I could buy some pre-mixed cans, but they taste sweeter, and I’m not sure if my relatives will like that. I believe that my mixing of The Devil’s Cup is the better option because it tastes like an equal amount of both Jack Daniel’s whiskey and Coke Zero. Plus, mixing the drink myself adds a personal touch.

What else? Well, I learned last night that the Netflix hit series Stranger Things will be involved in the first WWE Raw of 2026. That’s the strangest collaboration ever. I love it! Will the cast be there? Who knows? I’m excited to see the first Raw to be broadcast on Netflix Philippines! (That’s January 6, 2025, at 9am, Philippine Standard Time.)

I still have a few minutes left, but crap. I need to run a surprise errand and then get a fresh haircut. My hair looks weird now. See you in the next post… probably tomorrow.

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Song of the Moment CIV: Killswitch Engage’s “This Fire Burns” (Again)

In my current job, the busiest week of the month is the first week, so I expect this week (my birthday week) to be filled with paperwork. But my workload today is so overwhelming because it’s three days’ worth of tasks, and the report I’m working on needs to be submitted tomorrow. Good grief.

Thankfully, I powered through most of the tasks after lunch and into the afternoon. Now it’s nighttime, and I need a short break. I need to have chicken tinola for dinner to warm and comfort my soul, and to write how I feel here in The Diary to feel lighter. After this break, I will go to the mall, buy some office supplies, go home, and then finish the final set of tasks.

I usually listen to my mellow playlist at nighttime to relax my nerves and prepare for bed, but tonight, I don’t need calm. I need my manic playlist filled with fist-pumping rock/metal while I burn the midnight oil. But first, I’m queueing “This Fire Burns” by Killswitch Engage, the first WWE theme song of my current top favorite wrestler in WWE, “The Best in the World” CM Punk.

Killswitch Engage’s “This Fire Burns” (Also known as “This Fire”).

What a December 3, and it’s two days to go before my birthday. Anyway, I’m going back to work. It’s clobberin’ time.

See you in the next post.

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A part of 14 Days of The Deranged Writer (2025).

Header image: Francesco Paggiaro of Pexels. Edited in Adobe Photoshop 2025.

XLI: The Return of Light in December 1

Since 2019, December 1 has become a haunting day. It reminded me of a ghost from a failed relationship, and I easily see ghosts through specific dates, photographs, and even songs. For a few years, I had to endure the pain of seeing those ghosts, especially on December 1.

In 2022, I took it upon myself to make December 1 a less sad day. Not happy; less sad. I kept myself busy. I greeted an uncle who is also a December 1 celebrant. I numbed myself with alcohol. I kept myself busy some more. And in doing all of those things, somehow they work, even if I still see that particular ghost.

But today, December 1, 2025, many happy moments have happened. At midnight, I was sharing laughs with an online friend (once again) about the most ridiculously unhinged professional wrestler of all time, “Big Poppa Pump” Scott Steiner. This morning, I woke up early, and I had some lovely FRESH POTS that energized my body and soul. I was able to accomplish the work tasks that I could do before I went running errands. After those errands, I had a fresh haircut and a satisfying massage. And now I’m having my thirst-quenching iced tea at my favorite cafe. I will absolutely have dinner here as well.

But the happiest part of the day? It’s talking to my new friend. It feels nice getting to know more about a gentle, kind soul.

It’s 6:00pm as I type this entry, but thanks to all those moments today, for the first time in years, I can declare that December 1 is a happy day. In fact, December 1, 2025, is the happiest December 1 of my life. Yes, the ghosts are still there, but they don’t haunt me anymore. The light I have been feeling lately outweighs the dark.

Four more days to go before my birthday, December 5!

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A part of 14 Days of The Deranged Writer (2025).

Header image: Marta Dzedyshko of Pexels. Edited in Adobe Photoshop 2025.