Ili-Likha Artist Village, Baguio
Had lunch in this whimsical place during a short visit in Baguio for the Panagbenga Festival.
What’s more endearing is we chanced upon this little gem only because we can’t pass through Session Road due to the festivities. In an age where checking Looloo precedes every culinary adventure, that is pretty refreshing.
Hiding on the backstreets
Was all right, we’re all
Hiding on the backstreets tonight
Does being a law-abiding citizen justify entitlement to immunity from apprehension caused by unreasonable* traffic violations?
*No Entry signs that couldn’t be readily seen
A simple trick from the backyard astronomer: if you are having trouble seeing something, look slightly away from it. The most light-sensitive parts of our eyes (those we need to see dim objects) are on the edges of the region we normally use for focusing.
Eating animals has an invisible quality. Thinking about dogs, and their relationship to the animals we eat, is one way of looking askance and making something invisible visible. —Eating Animals, Jonathan Safran Foer
I am on a 30-day pescatarian diet challenge! I say challenge because I come from a semi-paleo way of life and my body needs to adjust to this sudden absence of meat.
While I have no problem eating all the fish and vegetables in the world, I’ve come to realize that my food choices are largely determined by convenience (and sadly, our helper’s whim). This diet just made me more proactive in what I ingest, more conscious of what I do.
And that is always a good thing.
I’m not tired.
I’m not tired.
I’m not tired.
I am exhausted.
–
In other news, this week has got to be my most unprofessional week at work by far.
Conclusion: Civility requires a lot of energy.
Remember that scene in the Prisoner of Azakaban where Harry Potter let Peter Pettigrew lived after knowing that it was he who betrayed Harry’s parents? And then remember that moments later, Peter escaped to scuttle away back to the Dark Lord?
I recall Dumbledore saying that Peter will forever be indebted to Harry for sparing his life, that by virtue of that act of kindness, they have formed a connection, a life-long bond of some sort.
Sadly, I don’t think their moment/connection has been subsequently established in the book. Has it? Correct me if I’m wrong please.
Why am I saying this?
I feel like I’m investing in the wrong things recently. Maybe I, unlike Harry, should just eliminate Peter outright and avoid all these expectations of someday reaping what I sow.
–
Let the bridges I burn light the way?
I’ve been surfing the web for the last couple of hours, running out of useless things to read. Suddenly, the urge to write appears. And it’s 1:35 AM. WHAT A CLICHE
Here are a couple of things that have happened in the last six months that I want to remember / am extremely thankful for:
This is mostly a brain dump of some sort. Hopefully this will encourage me to write another post again soon (don’t want my top post to be a compilation of the good stuff).
I’ve been learning a lot of things – about myself, tax, other people, and the world. I should try to write some of them down. For my sake more than anyone else.
PS: Just a sample of the pending questions swimming in my head.
– How can I remove the stigma that I’ve associated with taking pictures (aka vanity)?
– Will getting an iPhone solve all my problems?
There’s a thin line between respect and blind adherence to authority.
And I’m glad and so so proud that UP has taught me to clearly distinguish the two.
I almost legit drowned yesterday.
My friends and I went to visit the hidden wonders of the Tinipak River in Tanay, Rizal for a short weekend getaway. We were frolicking in the river banks when someone (aka ME) thought it would be a good idea to let the current of the river carry us across the stream.
It wouldn’t be so bad, right? I mean, you’ll just float and ride the rapids. What could possibly go wrong?
So I decided to go ahead and walk to the area between the rocks (where the water was constantly flowing) and jumped right in.
Nope, there was no ground to step on.
Nope, salinity was not on my side; I wasn’t buoyant enough.
Nope, threading is of no use. The undercurrent was just. too. strong.
So I did the next best thing and flailed and gulped a huge amount of freshwater. Repeat this fierce stupidity three more times.
I remember thinking, so this is how people die huh
But I snapped out of it. I CAN’T DIE HERE. I just can’t. Not this way. So I kicked off my sandals and held my breathe for the last time and just stopped flailing and panicking.
Luckily, the undercurrent felt my resolve and stopped pulling me down. I remained as steady as a log, and allowed the river float me back to safety.
Moral of the story: The first step to not dying of drowning is to actually choose to not die, and not let the water take you. The technical skills are merely secondary.
“I love meeting new people”, says everyone who wants to appear friendly and open-minded.
But what most people actually mean is: I love meeting new cool people.
Consider this:
That arrogant, condescending boss in your new job qualifies as a new person.
Your loud mouth, next-door neighbor who just moved in? Part of the new people.
That demanding client you just acquired? Yep, still part of that group.
If you like meeting new people, don’t be selective. Welcome all sorts of people. Good, bad, better, worst. Try to see what you can learn from them – about humanity, or about yourself.