10-Minute Warning CCIII

One of the things that made me feel trapped in a silent, dark prison lately is missing my most important goal in the first half of the year, and that goal would’ve helped me in the second half. No one likes ruined plans, but it’s an extraordinary hurt for me because it also involves a simple birthday wish that only I can turn into reality.

Honestly, I would be fine with just following the birthday dinner tradition I started in 2019, but if you ask me what I really want, it’s… never mind. I’ll just say that it’s as simple and complicated as throwing a birthday dinner, even if it’s just for family and close friends.

I’m still not giving up on those important goals, but I need to be realistic in how to reach them before the actual deadline, which is a week after my birthday. God help me. I really wish for that blueprint to turn into a skyscraper.


Header image: Altin Rrahmani of Pexels. Edited in Adobe Photoshop 2026.

Notes to Self XXI

Of all the 14 Days of The Deranged Writer birthday blogging marathons I have done since the beginning of The Diary, the 2025 edition (this year) is the most memorable in terms of content quality. For 14 straight days, I wrote four acrostic poems (one of them is related and dedicated to The Undertaker), five music-related posts, one essay about a once-haunting day, one Notes to Self post, and only three Minute Warning posts. Only three. I have reached an incredible feat.

Speaking of Notes to Self, after blogging for two weeks straight, I realized something worthy of a Notes to Self post. It’s about freedom of expression, and the responsibilities that come with it.

Continue reading Notes to Self XXI

10-Minute Warning CXCII

What can I write here in under ten minutes?

Let me just list down what happened today:

  1. Lately, I have been drinking FRESH POTS every morning. Again. Today is no exception. 2010 Dewey is screaming with joy.
  2. I recited Steiner Math at home. Again. HOLLA IF YA HEAR ME!!!
  3. I walked from my mall of choice to the nearest hospital. That’s 1 km.
  4. I walked from the hospital lobby to the 12th floor through the emergency stairway to buy my dermatologist’s medicine.
  5. After going down to the hospital lobby via elevator, I walked from there to the mall. That’s another 1 km.
  6. I met with my Mother, my cousin May, and my Tita Maggie, and we had a lovely merienda at Paul. I ordered a tartine salmon, and paired it with a refreshing glass of mango juice. It was excellent! I’d order a tartine salmon from Paul again.
  7. I walked around the mall to cool down further. I almost tried a different cafe that also serves affogato.
  8. I was mocked by a group of people because of my face. I know because when I passed by them, I heard them saying, “Pogi ang pananamit, pero ang pangit ng mukha.” (The style is nice, but the face is ugly.) I’m aware that I don’t have the face of a matinee idol. In fact, I have been insecure about my looks for a long time, and their mocking didn’t help at all. I was really hurt. Thanks for that.
  9. To calm myself, reset, and feel better, I dropped by my favorite cafe again, and I had a hot Earl Grey tea. This time, I only stayed for around ten minutes. I already did my Monday ritual anyway, so I’m good with a quick cup of tea.
  10. I went home with my parents and my cousin May.
  11. And now I’m writing this post.

Oops. My ten minutes are up. See you in the next post.

Ω


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

Header image: Edward Eyer of Pexels. Edited in Adobe Photoshop 2025.