Changes.

I think I’m due for some changes in my life.

Some of it is just yearning for something different. I don’t want a life changing change, but something simple and easy.

It could be a break from this new routine I created during the pandemic. Sure, there are some good things, like the whole work from home, and taking naps and more walks around the neighborhood, but there could be things that I can change.

Eating dinner early is nice, but I guess I can eat later.

I don’t know what it is, but a change is due.

I’ve been wanting to get some things. Are these things important and necessary? No. Not in the least.

These are all materialistic things that I really don’t need, but in a way, I think a change in feng shui around the apartment would be nice.

It started a little with getting the Litter Robot and changing my desk, moving the table out of my bedroom, and adding a new nightstand and cat tree, but I think I can do a little more.

It’s been since like 2007 or 2008 that I had the current layout in my apartment.

It works. But maybe a change is due and it’ll switch up my life a bit. It’ll feel like something new.

A couch.

I would like to get a new couch. A grown up couch and get rid of my futon. I think I’m grown up enough now to get something a little less bachelorly and settle on something that would seem more settled.

Maybe it’s time.

But then with a new couch, I need to consider the space in my little apartment. I have so much shit hidden behind the futon that I need to find some storage for it.

I need to just go through that shit and figure out if I still need it or can I get rid of it.

Do I need that dolly tracker thing? Probably not. Do I need the photography lighting equipment? Maybe. Do I need the tripod? Yes.

With the couch, I need to figure out placement also. Would just getting a new couch be enough of a change or should I consider changing the layout also?

If I change the layout, how would it be? Where will I put all the shit that I have? So much to consider, but I think it’ll be a good exercise to focus on something that may spark joy.

I need to Marie Kondo my life. Tis is the time.

Why all of the sudden?

I don’t think it is a sudden decision, but a slow gradual buildup that has been nagging at me for a while.

It started with the futon being uncomfortable. It’s a 10+ year mattress.

Time for an upgrade.

I’ve been thinking of going with the layout that I originally had when I first moved into the apartment.

I would put the TV against the north wall where my desk is currently and move the desk over to the window.

I won’t have a “workstation” in the room, so there’s no need for me to move the chair at all. It might be a tight space going into the hallway, but who knows? There’s a lot to consider.

Where would I put the cat tree? Where would I store my exercise bike? Do I keep the bookcase or should l use it more like a storage shelf and remove all of the books?

Lots. To. Consider.

Lots to consider indeed.

Will it make my life better? Who the fuck knows.

Thinking back to the time when I first got that apartment, there were so many firsts that happened. My life changed for the better.

I got into relationships, albeit brief relationships, but they were new to me none the less.

Sure, I still had relationships after the layout change, but nothing was ever lasting. But then again, those relationships ended like the other relationships. Short.

Lots to consider.

A part of me also wants to get a new standing desk, an actual electric standing desk. I didn’t originally get one of those back in 2020 because they were too expensive, but now, they are much more affordable. It’ll save some space I think.

The table that I’m using as a desk now is a little too long depth wise. I have a lot of things to connect, but I think if I clear out the bookshelf and use that as storage or a shelf, I’ll free up some space on my desk. I don’t know, I think it’ll be a good thing. Less clutter.

I have a nagging feeling that my life is filled with too much clutter. There’s just too much shit and I think this would be a good excuse to just cut down on that clutter.

I think when I get back, I’ll need to spend a few weekends cleaning up the clutter and reorganizing.

Definitely need to reevaluate everything and do another purge and recycle.

It’s time.

Let’s see how it goes.

Hopefully with all the Kondoing I’ll find some motivation to be more productive and do other things in my life.

I think it’s another me feeling like I’m in a rut thing. I know this feeling and went to therapy for it.

It does make sense since this is around the same time and age that I gone through this last time.

Right about my dad’s 10th year anniversary.

It’s another phase that I need to get through.

If it pushes me to declutter my life, then all the better.

Fighting!

2023.

Here we are. Here we go.

I’m not sure how this is going to go, but it’s going to go.

2023.

Let’s go.

It’s my yearly bah humbug to all and I’m really not sure what is there is to write about this year.

2023.

Overall, it wasn’t a bad year, like the previous year.

Being out of the pandemic and settling into our new normal gave me a sense of normalcy and not feeling like I’m stuck in life.

There’s some forward progression, even though I’m not doing much.

I got my choice back on what I want to do and how I want to do it.

I have control over my life again.

2023.

Another year of control.

Control.

Where to start?

The general.

Overall, it’s been a good year.

I traveled a bit this year. Some new locations and some old ones.

Work is work. It has its ups and downs, but overall, it wasn’t bad. I was never really overly stressed about anything at work.

My pets are doing well. I bonded and understood Galette a little more, even though I do get frustrated with her from time to time.

Socializing. Not much, but enough within the context that I need.

My health seems fine, even though I slowed down significantly. Not much hiking this year. My cholesterol is high. This aspect would definitely be something I need to work on in 2024.

Found new interests and learned about it. Always good to be learning and growing, even if it is something as insignificant as kpop and Korean culture.

Projects…not much. Working on brainstorming on a project with Scott, but not very active in it.

Family is doing fine. I’ve seen quite a bit of family this year, which has been great. Always down for more family time now.

So overall, a decent year.

2023.

Not bad, not bad.

TRAVEL

Traveling started early this year.

February.

Hawaii.

It was for Michael’s wedding in Waikiki O’ahu.

I went out a few days early to Maui to get some alone time and charge up before family time.

Maui was amazing. I loved it there. It has a totally different vibe than O’ahu. I didn’t have many full days there, but that was all right. I did what I mainly set out to do, which was the Road to Hana and then I hiked the volcano. It was amazing.

I got to explore Lahaina before it unfortunately burned down during the summer. I will be back there one day. Hopefully sometime soon.

April.

For my Special Week trip I decided to stay local. It was Paso with a twist.

Instead of spending the whole time in Paso, I added Monterey and Carmel to my trip. I did an early morning hike at Garapata State Park and explored Point Lobos Nature Reserve again. I always love it there.

After Carmel, it was down to Paso for some wine tasting. It was a nice and peaceful trip.

May.

Family.

My yearly pilgrimage back to the PNW. This time it was for Ly’s wedding.

Instead of the straight drive up to Washington after a stop in Sacramento, I decided to stop in Bend, OR for a day.

I loved it there. So dog friendly. I did a few hikes and Galette got hurt which drastically cut down the amount of hiking I did this year.

But it was a great place to visit. I decided I may add it as a stop on my way up. Gives me some extra time of doing something instead of going straight home. Let’s see if that happens again next year.

September.

Mexico City.

It was a little impromptu trip, but I thought about it for a while. I really wanted to go and mentioned to my cousins that I wanted to go back in May, and so I did.

I loved it there. I explored the city and ate.

It’ll be a trip that I’ll do every few years since it’s so close.

Can’t wait.

December.

Not a trip trip perse but drove home for the holidays. Here I am. Writing writing.

2023.

It was a good year for traveling.

What is in store for 2024?

I do not know. Alaska maybe? Chicago? It’s long overdue.

More wine and hike weekends!

2024 surprise the wanderlust in me with something special.

FAMILY

2023.

It seems that ever since the pandemic, family and family reunions have been constant.

Last year, it was my cousin’s wedding.

This year, it was two weddings.

They were both for one side of the family.

It’s always great to see and catch up with family again since I’m not physically close to them anymore.

It’s always great to show my face and feel like I still exist within their world, albeit on my own terms.

Often it’s an information silo on my side. I don’t know what’s really happening with family, but I do know if there’s huge news, I will eventually hear about it.

I spent some time with my mom’s side of the family too. We had a cousins’ dinner during my summer trip and hung with them again during our traditional Christmas dinner.

Thankfully, we didn’t host this year and it was a lot less stressful.

Let’s see what 2024 brings us.

No weddings that I know of.

WORK

It’s work.

It’s either busy or it’s not with some days where it’s pretty steady.

I enjoy those days.

I settled into my work schedule of Tuesdays and Thursdays being in the office and whatever day that may require me to go in due to clients or some other big meeting.

It’s easy for me and I really don’t mind. I live close by.

I oversaw a few projects this year and they are all going or went swimmingly.

Work is work.

2024.

Let’s keep the same energy.

PROJECTS

None.

None.

2023.

Just none.

Similar to last year, it’s just a lack of motivation.

I lost it during or even before the pandemic and never got my mojo back.

I’m working with Scott on something, but as of the bulk of 2023. No projects.

No photography. No digital art.

Nothing.

Just video games and shows.

HEALTH.

2023.

I’m still alive.

That’s about as much as I can say about it.

My eating experiment about going a little more keto and less carb turned out to be a fail.

My cholesterol went up, but my blood sugar did go down.

I really need to get into a body health mindset.

I need to start exercising.

I bought a stationary bike. I used it for a month or two, but that’s about it.

2024.

Exercise.

Body workouts.

Stop sitting on my ass.

Let’s get hot.

…and healthy.

Let’s see how it goes.

SOCIALIZING

Not much.

Besides chatting up people in the office, not much socializing.

I would go out to dinner with Courts once in a blue blue blue moon, but no socializing at all.

PETS

They are both doing well.

Galette is still a little bitch but I think she’s mellowed out some. Not much, but some.

Relish is doing really really well.

I got her a LitterRobot with my traveling and it’s been going really well.

I’m a lazy cat parent, only cleaning her litter box once a week. This gives her a clean box every time she needs to go. I’m sure she’s so much happier. It took her a little over a week to get used to it, but I’m so happy that she uses it.

2023

Overall, it was a good year.

There were more ups and down.

Albeit the first half of the year was a dark time for me mentally.

It started with the dark winter down in LA and then it didn’t let up.

Cloudy days and rain rain rain.

It felt like I was back in the PNW for a while there.

The depression hit, but I managed. It was the adult depression that is familiar but not.

It’s a different beast.

I knew the cause of it. The lack of sun of course, but also the anniversary of my dad’s passing.

20 years.

He’s been gone for 20 years.

I’m hitting the age when he passed, or damn close to it.

It’s trippy.

The depression hit me hard.

I bounced back during the second half of the year. May came and went.

The Sun came out. Had some time with my family.

Then all is good. All is well.

How will I deal with this next year, 2024? No idea.

But I’ll be prepared. I’m aware of it.

I know the cause of it.

I need to survive it.

2023.

Overall, it’s been a good year. There were some challenges, but I overcame them and came out stronger.

I realize I’m slowly bouncing back from what the pandemic took away.

Will I get back to how I was and be content with it or will I surpass my old self and make come good changes for myself?

Growth.

Let’s aim for a big growing year.

2023.

Thank you for everything you gave me.

2023.

The Year I got into Korean pop culture, kdramas, and kpop.

With that, I bid you adieu.

2024.

Bring it.