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.

10-Minute Warning CLXXVIII

OK. What should I share here in under 10 minutes?

Today at work, I had only a few tasks, and I finished them with ease. It has been weeks since the last time I only had a handful of workload, and I’m relieved.

So, work’s over, my parents ran many errands, and I’m all alone in the house. What should I do?

Then the sadness started to sink in. I can feel this is the kind of melancholy that I experienced almost a month ago—alone in the house, with my thoughts, and with or without my favorite Jack & Coke Zero. And usually, when I feel this kind of sadness, I would just dwell on it but I would also not do anything rash.

But today, I did not feel like drifting in the darkness for long. Instead, I watched a few films on Netflix: Back in Action (a spy action comedy film starring Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz) and all of two Extraction films (starring Chris Hemsworth as mercenary Tyler Rake.) The impromptu movie marathon (plus the sirens I heard that reminded me of the greatest mathematician of all time, Scott Steiner) distracted me from the sadness.

In other news: I’m really tempted to have my favorite Jack & Coke Zero tonight, but I need to resist. Drinking said drink is my Friday night ritual, and I don’t want to ruin that. Not tonight at least.

…and my time’s almost up. See you in the next post.

Ω

30-Minute Warning XXXIII

What can I write here under 30 minutes?

Firstly, today is my Father’s birthday. After our monthly grocery shopping, Mother, Younger Brother and I surprised him with an avocado cake. Before Father blew the candle, he closed his eyes and wished for 15 seconds. He has never done that before – not in front of me anyway. But knowing him, it looks like he wished something for the family.

Anyway, happiest birthday to you, my Father! If you’re reading this, you are one of the strongest, most hardworking, and most determined people I have ever met and I aspire to be like you. The entire family and I would like to thank you for working so hard so my brothers and I can have a good education, among other things he has provided for us. I love you very much and I wish you all the best in life!

After my Father blew the candle, we had some cream cheese pepperoni pizza and fried chicken… but Father only had a bite of avocado cake because he is following a keto diet. The diet plan I mentioned is working for him so he has been preaching about it to us for months. I’m glad my Father has found a way to be healthier for his age and I would like to lose more weight, so I’m considering following the keto diet… but I don’t want to follow the way my Father started. How did he start? Right after discovering the keto diet, he immediately lowered his carbohydrate intake. And based on my experience, going cold turkey does not work for me. What works for me is the slow, gradual way. Wish me luck on my journey to a healthier self.

Speaking of getting healthier, I will start drinking less Jack and Coke/Coke Zero this weekend. I usually drink 3 or 4 cans or glasses of my favorite alcoholic drink, and I admit that getting tipsy or drunk is fun. Also, drinking and getting drunk at home fits my introverted self, it’s safer, and it does not hurt my wallet. But sometimes the morning after getting drunk, I would feel groggy. So this weekend, I will refrain from drinking more than 2 cans of Jack and Coke/Coke Zero, and from there I will lessen my intake slowly. Again, wish me luck!

Oh, I almost forgot to say… my Mother and Father bought enough Jack and Coke Zeros for October to December 2024, if I were to start drinking 1-2 cans of it weekly. My heart is so happy. Thank you and I love you, my beloved parents!

And time’s up.

Ω