10-Minute Warning XXXVIII

So, what can I share here under 10 minutes?

Well, tonight I did something I have never done before: Buy a Moleskine 18-month daily planner. The planner’s timeline starts from July 2023 and ends on December 2024. I’m excited to list down all of my notes and plans – most especially my birthday plans. (My birthday is on December 5, by the way. And I hope I will be able to throw a party for my family and friends.)

Here’s to planning the future and documenting the present!

Ω

30-Minute Warning V

Well, what can I share here in under 10 minutes?

Last Friday, I said on my 10-Minute Warning XIV post that the 11×17 print I ordered from Riki “Riddle” LeCotey, my favorite cosplayer, will arrive in a few weeks. Guess what? I got the print last Saturday – a day after! That was fast! I’m excited to finally have the print, especially since it has the message “Happy Birthday!”. It’s a very late birthday gift to myself. And paying for the print is a form of peace offering to Ms. Riddle because I greeted her “Happy Birthday!” way too late. (She told me through Instagram that I don’t have anything to apologize for, and she thanked me for buying a print.)

And not only did I get 1 print – I got another 11×17 print and a smaller print. That makes 3 prints! Thank you so much, Ms. Riddle, my cosplay hero! I hope ToyCon can bring her back to Manila as a cosplay judge and guest this 2023. Meeting her at AsiaPOP Comicon 2016 was one of the happiest moments of my life, and I would love to meet and talk to her in person again.

Last Sunday, I had my favorite affogato at my favorite cafe Satchmi for just a few minutes, then I went to Mass and prayed with my family. Afterward, we bought some El Pollo Loco, dim sum, and a chocolate cake, and celebrated Elder Brother’s birthday a day early. Happiest birthday to my kuya! I love you so much and wish you all the best in life!

And then today, after I inquired about something from the city hall’s PWD office, I went to pick up my cousin’s phone from the mall chapel. After my errands, I dropped by Satchmi again, and in over an hour I had spaghetti al pesto and house blend iced tea for merienda and I got to write in my journal and Evernote as well.

It has been a while since I got to hang out at Satchmi for an hour and more, so today’s visit is pretty special. Why? For the past several weeks, I had a hard time getting a good spot with a socket nearby because there are more people who are eating, drinking, and working with their laptops there. In fact, on my visit last Sunday, I had my affogato at one of the tables outside the cafe. I’m not complaining about enjoying my drink at the table outside though. I’m actually glad that business is doing great at my favorite cafe. But a part of me misses getting a nicer table easily.

Speaking of Satchmi, I have been working on a post about the cafe for the past few years – what I like, and what I don’t like about the place. I hope I can finish it soon. (But that’s what I said about my Cagayan post, among other drafts. Oops.)

And time’s up.

Ω


Header image: Marina Utrabo of Pexels. Edited in Adobe Photoshop 2022.

IV: Happiest Birthday, Undertaker!

Today, March 24, 2023, is the 58th birthday of my favorite professional wrestler of all time, Mark Calaway AKA The Undertaker. In light of such an occasion, I was planning on writing a lengthy post covering his career and persona evolution. But then I decided to do the extensive post later (perhaps on November 22, Taker’s WWE anniversary), keep it simple, and say: Thank you, Undertaker.

Thank you, Undertaker, for making my childhood awesome. Before I became hooked on Batman, Power Rangers, and Kamen Rider Black, I was hooked when I saw you for the first time, donning the black hat, coat, purple gloves, and all, slowly walking to the purple-lit wrestling ring. You are a haunting yet cool comic book character that came to life, and at first glance, you became my favorite wrestler right away. You are the reason I started loving professional wrestling.

Thank you, Undertaker, for all the matches and memories you were a part of. Most of my favorite matches feature you and my other favorite wrestlers – notably Edge, CM Punk, Triple H, Kurt Angle, Shawn Michaels, Bret Hart, and Mankind, among others. And those favorite matches of mine show how powerful yet athletic you are even if you are a superheavyweight. And all of your entrances (especially that WrestleMania XX entrance) are my favorite wrestling moments. Even your simple entrances on either Raw or SmackDown with fog and purple lights are already epic.

And thank you, Undertaker, for showing me the light through your darkness. You are the definition of turning something negative into something positive. You, alongside Batman, are the very reason I don’t fear the dark. Thank you.

Happiest of birthdays, Undertaker! You deserve a nice retirement after 30 years of wrestling for the fans. You deserve all of your accomplishments. And you deserve to be in the WWE Hall of Fame. Enjoy your day, sir!


Header image: WWE. Edited in Adobe Photoshop 2022.