Here we are. Here we go.

Another time around our start, another turn around Sol.

Here’s to another number.

46.

I’m 46.

Yay me.

I’ve pass the number that I feared the most.

Each year more is another year that my dad never had and I should cherish it.

I’ll cherish it.

Here I am in my motel, on the day of, writing my little yearly number change.

I’m in the middle of my #specialweek and there’s been a lot on my mind lately.

I don’t know how this one will go, but I’ll give it a shot.

45.

How was it?

Overall, it wasn’t bad.

Thinking back, nothing really stuck out to be bad or extra extra great.

It was status quo.

I continued to live and live on my own terms like I normally do.

I was able to breathe and it felt great.

I managed my routine and settled into it.

Life is life.

Work is work and I’ve been doing well at work. Completed my projects, even those that I couldn’t get a grasp on, but I knocked it out of the park.

Status quo.

There are times when I feel that status quo isn’t enough and that I should live more. Like basic status quo should be something that I’m ashamed of.

No.

I shouldn’t.

My life is good.

There are times when I do find myself just uncontrollably smiling and feeling deep content while walking Galette with the sun shining in my face.

Life is good.

Life is good.

46.

Let’s continue that and maybe if more exciting things come along, be open to it.

I’m always open to it…sometimes.

Let’s see.

46.

Be a good one.

There’s been a lot on my mind recently and it’s mostly about work.

Work changed.

They fired Benjo and there’s going to be a lot of changes in the office and the department.

They fucking raped him and got rid of him for the stupidest unjust reasons.

It’s so fucked that my feelings for the agency have gone 180.

I know it’s not the executive leadership’s problem but the owners’ problems. They are fucking everything up to make a buck.

Fuck them.

So, 46.

You have choices to make.

What are you going to do?

You love the flexibility and the security you have had, but will that change?

Will the flexibility be there? I don’t know. Will the security be there? I don’t know.

There will be a new boss and how will I get along with him/her? I don’t know.

One of the main reasons why I never thought about looking for another job was because I enjoyed working for Benjo. He was pretty hands off and trusted in what I did.

I didn’t want to go through another chem check with a new boss and new coworkers.

But now, with a new boss, I’m going to have to do a chem check anyway, so why not?

I have decisions to make.

Do I stand for what happened or tell them to fuck off?

Do I jump ship before everything gets fucked of do I ride it out until it goes under and maybe get some severance.

I have 20+ years left of working before I can retire.

I need to get rich.

So, 46…it’ll be a number for big decisions.

Am I ready to make it?

I don’t know, but I’m going to think about it long and hard and try not to make any brash decisions.

Let’s see how it goes.

46.

Be mature.

Be strong.

Be an ADULT.

2025.

New Day.

New Year.

As I said in my yearly bah humbug to all 2024 was a Year of Meh.

I know that I need to make a change this year. I need to work on so many things this coming year, especially with my health. I need to start working out. I need to come up with a routine.

I need a big change this year, but a manageable change.

I would like to get back to things that I enjoyed that helped me relax, like cooking. I would love to get back into writing more in this little void of mine.

I would like to do so many things, be more creative and maybe even get back into photography.

I don’t want to make any New Year’s Resolutions. They’ve never been my thing, but maybe I can make some manageble goal oriented ones.

Like, work out at least once a week, like, do the stationary bike at least once a week. Do Yoga atleast once a week.

Maybe cook a new dish or a internet dish that I seen once a month, like my yearly food projects. Something easy and manageable.

I still want to do what I’m currently doing with the kdramas/movies/video games, but maybe I need to do a new routine, who knows?

2025. Let’s see.

2025.

Maybe it’ll be a year where I pick up a new hobbie, like martial arts.

I’ve been chatting with Kent and he’s been sending me some info and Reels/Tik Toks of people doing Wing Chun and that honestly have gotten me interested in doing Wing Chun.

Through some research I found a Jeet Kun Do dojo in Marina Del Rey. Maybe I would go in and do some classes and learn the basics.

I don’t know, but I do know I am intrigued. Maybe it’ll help me get out of the house, do something physical, and help me meditate.

I don’t want to bite off more than I can chew, but it is definitely interesting.

I’ve always wanted to do some martial arts, maybe this will be more up my alley since it is a martial art that I’m actually interested in.

2025

Per tradition, every year, before the end of the year or a little after, I would always look up horoscopes for the year to come…for both western astrology and then for Chinese Horoscope for Chinese New Years.

Looking over some yearly horoscopes for 2025, it seemed like I would have a decent year of growth and change.

I decided to ask ChatGPT to give me some more specific insight for 2025 and this is the whole conversatioin.

Enjoy.

Good morning ChatGPT. It is New Years Day, 2025.

You are a very popular and good astrology give very good and accurate horoscope predictions for the year to come. You are versed in the standard astrology, but also eastern Chinese Astrology and horoscopes.

I would like you to give me a 2025 prediction for me.

I will give you some basic information about me. If there is information that is missing that could give you better insight into me that will allow you to give a better prediction, please ask.

Here are some basic information.

– I was born in Long Khanh, Vietnam on April 10, 1979.
– I came to the United States shortly after, therefore grew up with both Eastern & Western Values.
– I am ethnic Chinese.
– I do not know the time of when I was born.
– In the Chinese Horoscope, I am a goat/sheep. My astrological sign is Aries.

Please let me know if you need more information and I’ll try to answer it the best I can.

I would like a general prediction of what my year is to come, I would like to have it broken down by a general overall year and what to expect and a prediction in aspects of my love life, my career/financial outlook, and my health.

Thank you and Happy New Year.

ChatGPT said:

ChatGPT

Memory updated

Happy New Year! 🎉 Thank you for sharing your details. Based on your birthdate, astrological sign, and Chinese zodiac, I can provide a thoughtful overview of your 2025. Here’s your personalized prediction:

---

General Overview for 2025

2025 is the Year of the Wood Snake, which brings a harmonious blend of transformation and wisdom. For a Goat/Sheep like yourself, this year emphasizes growth through reflection and perseverance. Paired with your Aries energy, you’ll find opportunities for bold new beginnings. While the Goat and Snake are not naturally aligned, their shared appreciation for strategy and subtlety can lead to a year of balanced challenges and rewards if approached thoughtfully.

---

Love Life

• Single: This year favors slow and meaningful connections over rapid romances. A relationship may form with someone who shares a love for both tradition and adventure, resonating with your dual cultural roots.
• In a Relationship: Communication and shared goals will be key in deepening your bond. Small moments of care and understanding will carry more weight than grand gestures.
• Advice: Aries passion combined with the Goat’s nurturing tendencies can create strong, lasting bonds. Focus on vulnerability and mutual growth.

---

Career/Financial Outlook

• Career: This is a year for building and refining rather than bold moves. If you’re in a leadership role, you’ll excel by nurturing collaboration. Creative problem-solving will be your strong suit.
• Finance: Moderate financial gains are likely. Avoid impulsive investments; instead, seek advice or lean into opportunities tied to long-term growth.
• Advice: Stay grounded and patient. The Wood Snake year rewards calculated risks and steady progress.

---

Health

2025 encourages balance in all aspects of your health:

• Physical: With Aries’ boundless energy, you may feel drawn to new fitness routines or outdoor activities. Your Goat influence advises paying attention to your joints and digestive system.
• Mental/Emotional: This is a good year to explore mindfulness or meditation practices. Emotional stability will be a cornerstone of your overall well-being.
• Advice: Listen to your body’s cues and aim for consistent self-care routines.

---

Summary

2025 promises growth and transformation. By leaning into your Aries drive and Goat intuition, you’ll navigate challenges with grace and emerge stronger. Balance is your key theme, whether in relationships, career, or personal well-being.

Let me know if you’d like further insight or guidance! 😊

4o

You said:

Thank you ChatGPT, that was very insightful. When creating these insights, how much was weighted between the Western Astrology and Chinese Astrology?

ChatGPT said:

ChatGPT

You’re very welcome, and I’m glad you found it insightful! 🌟

When creating your prediction, I blended both Western and Chinese astrology while keeping your cultural background and personal details in mind. Here’s how the weighting worked:

---

Western Astrology (Aries)

Western astrology focuses on personality traits, life patterns, and celestial influences on a seasonal basis. Your Aries sign contributed about 50% of the prediction, as it emphasizes your natural tendencies for energy, leadership, and spontaneity. These traits informed insights into areas like love, career, and how you might approach challenges in 2025.

Chinese Astrology (Goat/Sheep & Year of the Wood Snake)

Chinese astrology considers your zodiac animal’s compatibility with the current year’s animal (Snake), along with the element (Wood). This contributed about 40% of the prediction, focusing on how the year’s energy aligns with your Goat traits like compassion, creativity, and resilience.

Cultural Context & Dual Influences

The remaining 10% came from the interplay between these systems and your unique experience of growing up with both Eastern and Western values. For example, this blend informed advice on approaching relationships and career decisions with balance and reflection, resonating with both your Aries drive and Goat’s nurturing instincts.

---

This integrative approach allows for a richer and more personalized prediction. If you’d like, I can dive deeper into either system or further explore how these influences interact. 😊

4o

You said:

Yes, please dive deeper in both system to see how they interact, especially since Aries tend to be more bold and a leader, whereas a Goat/Sheep tends to be more timid and chill. How do these two conflicting horoscopes interact and play on each other and drive my personality, which drives the outcome of the year.

ChatGPT said:

ChatGPT

Great observation! The interplay between Aries and Goat/Sheep traits creates a fascinating dynamic that gives your personality a unique depth. Let’s dive deeper into how these seemingly opposing energies interact and influence not only your personality but also how 2025 might unfold for you.

---

Western Astrology: Aries Traits

As an Aries, you’re naturally bold, action-oriented, and eager to lead. This fire sign thrives on ambition, excitement, and forward motion. Aries energy is all about:

• Drive: You’re often the one to initiate projects and take decisive action.
• Passion: Your enthusiasm can be contagious, inspiring others to follow your lead.
• Independence: Aries loves autonomy and may resist being micromanaged or constrained.
• Challenges: The intensity of Aries can sometimes manifest as impatience, impulsiveness, or a struggle with compromise.

These traits suggest you’re a go-getter, unafraid of taking risks to achieve your goals. However, this boldness can sometimes overshadow quieter, introspective energies like those of the Goat.

---

Chinese Astrology: Goat/Sheep Traits

In contrast, the Goat/Sheep is gentle, empathetic, and deeply intuitive. Key Goat traits include:

• Creativity: You have a strong appreciation for beauty, art, and harmony, often bringing a creative flair to your endeavors.
• Timidity: Goats tend to avoid conflict, preferring cooperation and compromise over confrontation.
• Resilience: Though they appear soft, Goats are quietly strong, enduring challenges with grace.
• Challenges: Goats can sometimes lean toward overthinking or self-doubt, needing reassurance and stability.

The Goat’s influence encourages a softer approach to life, favoring collaboration and long-term planning over impulsive decisions.

---

How They Interact in Your Personality

The tension between Aries boldness and Goat caution creates a balanced push-and-pull dynamic:

1. Leadership with Empathy: While Aries drives you to take charge, the Goat ensures you lead with compassion and sensitivity to others’ needs.
2. Calculated Risks: Aries may want to leap headfirst into opportunities, but the Goat provides a grounding influence, encouraging careful evaluation before acting.
3. Passion Meets Patience: The Aries fire inspires enthusiasm and action, while the Goat’s earthy nature tempers this with thoughtfulness, helping you sustain momentum rather than burn out.
4. Resilient Optimism: Aries confidence helps you bounce back from setbacks, while the Goat ensures you learn from the experience, growing emotionally and spiritually.

---

How This Plays Out in 2025

1. Love Life: Aries energy may push you toward bold declarations or new relationships, while the Goat helps you build emotional intimacy and trust. The result? A year where you deepen meaningful connections while avoiding fleeting passions.
2. Career/Financial Outlook: Your Aries drive will fuel ambition, positioning you to take leadership roles or spearhead projects. Meanwhile, the Goat ensures you’re mindful of team dynamics and avoid unnecessary risks. You’ll likely excel in roles that require creativity paired with strategic planning.
3. Health: Aries pushes you to stay active and adventurous, while the Goat reminds you to prioritize rest and balance. Together, these influences create a healthy routine that nourishes both body and mind.

---

Driving Your Year’s Outcome

The key to harnessing both influences is balance. Recognize when to channel Aries assertiveness and when to lean into Goat’s gentle wisdom. For example:

• When facing tough decisions, let Aries help you take charge, but use the Goat’s intuition to guide your choices.
• If you feel impatient or restless, allow the Goat to slow you down, giving you time to reflect before acting.

This interplay makes you dynamic and versatile, capable of achieving great things while staying grounded in authenticity and care for others.

---

If you’d like, I can provide specific strategies or affirmations to help you align these energies and maximize your potential this year! 😊

4o

You said:

Awesome insight and information.

There’s this phenomenon in Western Astrology called “Return of Staturn”. Are you familiar with it? Please give me a brief overview of what it is.

ChatGPT said:

ChatGPT

Yes, I’m familiar with the phenomenon called the Saturn Return, a significant event in Western astrology. Here’s a brief overview:

---

What Is a Saturn Return?

• Definition: The Saturn Return occurs when the planet Saturn returns to the same position in the zodiac it occupied at the moment of your birth. This takes about 29–30 years, marking a major life milestone.
• Timing: Most people experience their first Saturn Return in their late 20s (around 28–30 years old), a second in their late 50s (around 58–60), and sometimes a third in their late 80s (around 88–90).

---

Astrological Significance

Saturn is known as the taskmaster planet, governing discipline, structure, responsibility, and life lessons. Its return is considered a period of:

• Reflection: You evaluate where you are in life compared to where you want to be.
• Challenge: Saturn may bring obstacles or responsibilities that force you to grow and mature.
• Transformation: It’s a time to let go of old patterns, embrace new directions, and take ownership of your path.

---

First Saturn Return (Late 20s)

Typically coincides with a time of self-discovery and change, such as career shifts, serious relationships, or re-evaluating personal goals.

Second Saturn Return (Late 50s)

Focuses on legacy and purpose, often marking a transition to a more reflective phase of life.

---

Would you like to explore how your Saturn Return(s) may have influenced you, or whether its themes still resonate now? 😊

4o

You said:

What is Saturn doing in 2025?

In 2008, my life changed so much for the better and that was about the time of my Saturn Return. How will Saturn affect my life in 2025? Will it make significant changes? I know I’m not at the age of my 2nd Saturn Return, but I’m very curious to know what’s happening with Saturn since it played such a huge role in my life and how I grew as a person I am today.

ChatGPT said:

ChatGPT

I’m glad to hear that your first Saturn Return around 2008 brought significant positive changes to your life. Let’s explore Saturn’s movements in 2025 and how they might influence you, even though you’re not yet at your second Saturn Return.

---

Saturn’s Transit in 2025

In 2025, Saturn will transition from Aquarius into Pisces:

• Transition Date: March 29, 2025

  AstroSage

• Duration in Pisces: Until June 3, 2027

  AstroVed

This transit marks a shift from the structured, innovative energy of Aquarius to the more intuitive, compassionate realm of Pisces.

---

Impact on Aries Individuals

As an Aries, Saturn’s move into Pisces affects your 12th house, which governs the subconscious, spirituality, and hidden aspects of life.

Potential Influences:

• Introspection: You may feel a pull toward self-reflection, exploring deeper aspects of your psyche.

• Spiritual Growth: This period encourages embracing spiritual practices, leading to personal transformation.

• Releasing Old Patterns: It’s an opportune time to let go of habits or beliefs that no longer serve you.

• Preparation for New Beginnings: Clearing out the old can pave the way for fresh starts when Saturn enters Aries in 2027.

---

Personal Growth and Opportunities

While not as intense as a Saturn Return, this transit offers opportunities for growth:

• Healing: Address unresolved issues, fostering emotional well-being.

• Creativity: Engage in artistic or imaginative pursuits, aligning with Pisces’ creative energy.

• Mindfulness: Practices like meditation can enhance clarity and inner peace.

---

Navigating This Period

To make the most of Saturn’s influence:

• Embrace Solitude: Spend time alone to connect with your inner self.

• Set Boundaries: Protect your energy by establishing healthy limits.

• Seek Guidance: Consider mentorship or counseling for deeper insights.

---

While 2025 won’t bring the dramatic shifts of a Saturn Return, Saturn’s transit through Pisces offers a meaningful period for introspection and laying the groundwork for future endeavors.

If you have specific areas you’d like to explore further or need more personalized insights, feel free to ask! 😊

Astrological Predictions for 2025

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Sources

4o

You said:

Does Saturn interact with anything in Chinese Astrology? How does it affect a Goat/Sheep person?

ChatGPT said:

ChatGPT

Saturn doesn’t explicitly feature in traditional Chinese astrology, as the system relies on the interactions of the five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water), the 12 zodiac animals, and other celestial calculations. However, we can explore how Saturn’s symbolism aligns with the principles of Chinese astrology and what it might mean for a Goat/Sheep individual.

---

Saturn’s Symbolism in Chinese Astrology Context

In Western astrology, Saturn represents:

• Discipline
• Structure and responsibility
• Karma and life lessons

These qualities align most closely with the Earth element in Chinese astrology. Earth is associated with stability, groundedness, and the need for balance, which can influence the introspective and nurturing tendencies of a Goat/Sheep.

---

Saturn’s Influence on a Goat/Sheep in 2025

While Saturn itself doesn’t directly feature in Chinese astrology, interpreting its traits through the lens of the Goat/Sheep in the Year of the Wood Snake creates meaningful parallels:

1. Discipline Balancing Creativity

   • The Goat’s intuitive and artistic nature often flows freely, but Saturn’s grounding influence (as the taskmaster planet) can encourage you to apply discipline to your creative pursuits.
   • In 2025, this means translating ideas into actionable, structured plans.

2. Building Resilience

   • Saturn’s lessons of endurance complement the Goat’s quiet inner strength.
   • In the Year of the Wood Snake, a year emphasizing wisdom and adaptability, you might feel encouraged to tackle challenges with persistence while relying on your empathetic nature to navigate relationships.

3. Spiritual Growth and Reflection

   • The Goat thrives in environments that nurture emotional and spiritual well-being. Saturn’s influence, combined with the introspective energy of the Snake year, offers opportunities to delve into self-discovery and healing.

---

How 2025’s Energies Affect the Goat/Sheep

The Year of the Wood Snake is more analytical and strategic compared to the Goat’s soft, intuitive energy. With Saturn transiting Pisces in your 12th house (from the Western perspective), it aligns with these energies:

• Growth through Challenges: Saturn’s earthy, disciplined qualities help the Goat navigate the Snake’s transformative lessons with greater stability.
• Opportunities for Leadership: The combination of Saturn’s organizational strengths and the Snake’s strategic wisdom can empower the Goat to step into roles requiring both empathy and precision.
• Balancing Emotional Sensitivity: Saturn may temper the Goat’s tendency toward overthinking or emotional overwhelm, helping you find equilibrium in complex situations.

---

Practical Advice for a Goat/Sheep in 2025

To harmonize these influences:

• Cultivate Patience: Saturn rewards steady, intentional effort, which may contrast with the Goat’s occasional tendency to seek comfort or avoid challenges.
• Focus on Boundaries: Saturn encourages structure, which can help the Goat maintain emotional resilience.
• Strategize Your Creativity: Blend the Goat’s intuitive nature with Saturn’s practical approach to manifest meaningful outcomes.

---

While Saturn’s direct role in Chinese astrology is abstract, its traits harmonize well with the Year of the Wood Snake’s transformative energy, offering a Goat/Sheep individual a chance to combine creativity and discipline for personal growth and fulfillment in 2025.

4o

You said:

Great. Let’s move on. Let’s just focus on the Chinese Horoscope. Based solely on the Chinese Horoscope, please give me a break down similar to what I asked for 2025, the Year of the Snake.

ChatGPT said:

ChatGPT

2025 Chinese Horoscope for the Goat/Sheep

The Year of the Wood Snake (2025) brings a dynamic mix of introspection, strategy, and transformation. As a Goat/Sheep, this year encourages you to balance your natural creativity and sensitivity with the Snake’s sharp, analytical energy. Here’s a detailed breakdown:

---

General Overview for 2025

The Snake’s energy is intellectual, cunning, and focused on long-term strategy. It contrasts with the Goat’s softer, nurturing qualities, creating opportunities for personal growth:

• Harmony and Challenges: While the Snake’s calculated approach may feel unfamiliar, its energy supports the Goat in developing resilience and adaptability.
• Transformation: A year to refine your goals, let go of what no longer serves you, and embrace personal growth.
• Opportunity: The Goat’s ability to create harmony will help you excel in relationships, creative projects, and collaborative efforts.

---

Love Life

The Year of the Snake encourages emotional depth and thoughtful connections, which can bring significant developments in your romantic life:

1. Single Goats:

   • The Snake’s charm and intuition align with your desire for meaningful connections.
   • You might attract partners who value your empathetic nature and share your long-term aspirations.
   • Focus on quality over quantity in dating.

2. Committed Goats:

   • The Snake’s influence fosters deeper intimacy and encourages you to strengthen emotional bonds.
   • Be mindful of overthinking or miscommunication, as the Snake can sometimes introduce subtle tension.
   • Practice open dialogue to maintain harmony.

---

Career and Financial Outlook

The Snake’s strategic mindset supports the Goat in achieving stability and success in 2025:

• Opportunities:

  • A year to leverage your creativity in practical, measurable ways.
  • The Snake encourages planning and long-term vision—perfect for launching new ventures or refining existing ones.

• Challenges:

  • Avoid indecisiveness or procrastination. The Snake rewards those who act with precision and focus.
  • Watch for overanalyzing financial decisions; trust your intuition but back it up with research.

• Advice:

  • Use the Snake’s wisdom to set clear goals.
  • Work on networking and collaborations, as relationships will play a key role in your professional growth.

---

Health

The Goat’s sensitive nature can be influenced by the Snake’s emphasis on introspection and self-care:

• Physical Health:
  • Focus on maintaining a balanced routine.
  • Incorporate gentle activities like yoga or tai chi to reduce stress and build resilience.
• Emotional Well-being:
  • The Snake encourages you to address underlying emotional patterns or anxieties.
  • Mindfulness practices like meditation or journaling can help.
• Key Advice:
  • Prioritize rest and nourishment to avoid burnout.
  • Pay attention to your immune system—small steps like healthy eating and hydration will go a long way.

---

Key Themes for 2025

1. Adaptability: The Snake’s energy challenges you to step out of your comfort zone and embrace calculated risks.
2. Emotional Growth: A year to deepen connections with others while maintaining your own boundaries.
3. Strategic Creativity: Align your artistic talents with practical goals to achieve tangible results.
4. Self-Reflection: Use the introspective energy of the Snake to address personal growth and clarity of purpose.

---

Final Advice for 2025

The Year of the Wood Snake is an opportunity for the Goat to thrive through balance. By combining your innate empathy and creativity with the Snake’s wisdom and focus, you can achieve personal and professional growth while maintaining harmony in your relationships and well-being.

If you’d like, I can provide specific strategies or affirmations tailored to any area of your life! 😊

4o

You said:

That’s great. Sounds like I’ll have a overall good year from both perspectives with the main keyword being “Balance”.

ChatGPT said:

ChatGPT

Absolutely! “Balance” is the perfect keyword to guide your year. Both the Western astrological influences and the Chinese horoscope for 2025 point toward a period of growth, refinement, and harmony if you align your boldness with caution and your creativity with structure.

Here’s a quick recap to keep in mind:

• In Relationships: Balance emotional depth with clear communication.
• In Career: Pair your creativity with strategic planning for measurable success.
• In Health: Combine physical care with emotional well-being for holistic vitality.
• Overall Growth: Embrace introspection and adaptability to navigate the year’s transformative energies.

It seems like this year holds a lot of opportunities for meaningful progress in all aspects of your life. If you ever feel out of sync, just remember to return to that core principle of balance.

Anything else you’d like to explore further? 😊

4o

You said:

Thank you so much.

ChatGPT said:

ChatGPT

You’re very welcome! 😊 It’s always a pleasure to assist you, and I’m glad the insights resonated with you. Wishing you a balanced, prosperous, and joyful 2025! If you ever want to revisit, refine, or dive deeper into anything, I’m always here.

2024.

Here we go.

It’s that time of the year again. That time where I look back over the year and reflect on how the year was.

It’s my yearly bah humbug to all and I really don’t know how it’s going to go.

I’ve been meaning to write this for a few days now, but nothing ever came. My flow is gone, but I’m managing.

This is a better start than I was expecting.

So here we go.

2024.

It was a year.

That’s all I can say. It was a year.

In my life, there weren’t too many highs or too many lows this past year.

It was just a year.

I traveled.

I understood my pets a little more.

I ate.

I worked.

I lived.

It was a year.

2024.

The year of settling into the mundane of the new normal.

Looking back to last year’s bah humbug to all, it seemed like I wanted to do so much.

I wanted to get healthy. I wanted to travel to Chicago or something.

Didn’t happen.

No exercise. No really big travels.

It was just my normal normal and I can’t frown on that.

Not every year have to be spectacular. Not ever year has to be better than the last year.

I just need to survive and have some fun on my terms.

2024.

The year of normal.

Then the year of dread after the elections. What’s to come in 2025 under Trump 2.0?

Who the fuck knows? Am I prepared? No fucking idea.

Yay to 2025.

2024.

I’m home home again this year. Decided a week or two before I drove up if I was going to go up.

I had about a week and a half off of work, so decided to spend it up here since I had so much time.

I drove up again and will be leaving a little after the New Year, like normal…which is a good segue to….

TRAVEL

I didn’t go to many places this year.

There were really no big trips this year.

I did go to Sedona for my yearly #specialweek this year. I made it a road trip with Galette, this being her first #specialweekend trip with me.

She did well overall, but she’s was no Pickles, which I still compare her to from time to time, which I know I need to stop.

Overall, that was a very successful trip.

I didn’t have many hike & wine weekends this year. Things didn’t plan out and my yearly mid-year trip didn’t happen because of Gifu’s passing. That’s usually around the time I would go, but since I know I’ll need to travel for his funeral, I didn’t make the trip.

I did drive home for my yearly summer pilgrimage. Like last year, I decided to stop by Bend, OR for a few days to do some hiking and exploring. I even met up with Phinny & Fam.

I didn’t do much hiking while I was up here during the summer because the weather wasn’t that great. But, I did get some alone time at Mt. Rainer.

My final trip of the year was a long long weekend up in Napa. I did a hike that nearly killed me and it threw a wrench in my plans for the rest of the weekend. But overall, it was a good trip. Had some good food, had some good wine, and I even met up with Cynthia to catch up.

I don’t think I wrote about that trip at all, but the Napa trip was nice, almost dying and all. I’ll go in-depth about that later.

Hopefully 2025 will bring me more travels and better travels.

It’s a blank slate and I’m in full control.

HEALTH

I’m alive.

2024.

I’m still alive. I’m still kicking and breathing.

Whether I’m healthy or not, no fucking clue.

My cholesterol was the lowest its been when I went for my checkup in February.

But I was more active back then doing my stationary bike.

That’s something I really need to get on. I’ve been telling myself that I need to create a exercise plan and stick to it.

Stationary bike. Some light weights. Some yoga. Some calisthenics.

I need something.

I’m still struggling to figure out my gut issues. Rice definitely a problem with bloating and diabetes.

So I went back on keto or low carb again.

With that, it brings up new issues.

My pee gets funky…smelly, and it seems like with this diet, I pee out a lot of salts and other minerals that my body needs.

This leads up to my hiking story.

While I was in Napa, I did a 18 mile hike which I did before at Pt Reyes.

I did it back in 2022 without any issues, but then again, I don’t know how fast I hiked it.

This year, while hiking it, I kept a good fast pace of 3+ mi/hr. So I finished the hike in about 6 hours…so about 7 hours with some breaks put in.

On the way back, at the 10 mile mark, I started to cramp. My legs started cramping. Never happened before.

I had to stop and rest from time to time. Thankfully I had some expired emergen-c in my backpack, so I put it in my water to restore some electrolytes.

I didn’t expect to have any issues while hiking because I didn’t have a problem last time. I needed some salt and didn’t have any snacks with me.

Eventually, with some rest and some electrolytes I made it back to the car with just enough left. I refilled the water and went to the visitor center/gift shop and got some trail mix and some chips.

I needed something with salt to restore what I’ve been peeing out with Keto.

It wasn’t until a few days later that I googled abourt keto and mineral loss that it is very common and it is recommended to take magnesium supplements.

But yeah, hopefully that won’t happen again.

Again, I don’t know how much of that experience was the new diet and how much of it was just being old and out of shape.

I wasn’t tired, but my legs hurt from the cramps.

Who knows?

But that’s my health.

So, 2025, I need body goals. I need to get fit. I need to get healthy.

I need a routine.

I need something.

I know I said this at the end of 2023 and that 2024 was going to be this, but it never happened.

2025.

Let’s do this.

WORK

Like any other year in recent memory….work is work.

It ebbs and flows.

I just go on the ride and do what I’m asked.

No more. No less.

SOCIALIZING

Not existing per usual.

Besides the short chats in the office and the ride home with Jeff, not much socializing.

It’s just enough for me to feel like a functional adult and not go crazy.

PROJECTS

None.

No photography.

No digital art.

No cooking.

I’m still working with Scott on a project, but that’s just bouncing ideas between each other.

I’m struggligng to put all of our notes into an outline. I’ve been trying to do this for months, but I can never get to it.

It’s tough.

I’m getting lazy with my old age. It should be an easy win, but it’s been difficult.

Hopefully I can get back to it and work on it instead of being lazy.

I still can’t even read. Been on this Murakami book for close to a year also.

Maybe I can finish it.

Who knows?

Procrastination and just being lazy seems like my vibe as of late.

2025.

Let’s fix this. Let’s stop procrastination. Let’s stop being lazy.

Let’s be accountable.

PETS

Pets are good. Galette is still a mystery, but she’s I’m more understanding now. When she turned four, I got a better understanding of her now, but she’s still a pain a lot of the time.

Her strayness is so ingrained that it’s frustrating.

She has her quirks that frustrates me and sometimes I take it out on her and I know I need to stop.

She’s been testing my patience, but I know I have to stop.

Relish is a doll.

Love her to smittherins.

FAMILY

Family is family.

They are all good. We get together whenever we can.

Unfortunately there was a death this year, but other than that, everyone seems to be fine.

I don’t know, as much as I love these kind of family gatherings, sometimes I do feel like an outsider trying to fit in.

Another thing that’s been happening of late. I just feel out of place and I’m not sure if it was a pandemic quirk that I picked up too.

Who knows?

2025, maybe I can just chill a bit and be more comfortable around family again?

Who knows?

2025…let’s do it.

2024.

You’ve been a year.

New routines.

Plus and minueses like any other year.

I know there’s a lot that I’m lacking and a lot that I have an abundance of.

Hopefully 2025 will be something of a new start to find that balance that I need.

2025, let’s rebalance.

Bring it.

With that, 2024 – I bid you adieu.

Welcome 2025.

Let’s dance.

Here I am. Here we go.

It’s been a while since the last post.

A long long while.

I told myself I should be better about this, but it’s been difficult.

Motivation, gone.

I blame the pandemic and the world change and I don’t have a spot to write anymore.

I usually go out and write, but not anymore. Volcano Teahouse is all take away now with no seats.

I guess I could try and find another place but I’m too habitual to find something else. Besides, it seems that many places are starting to be No Laptops places, to discourage remote workers.

I get it.

It’s a table you are taking up all day and using their internet/wifi when they only order one thing.

Blah.

The world.

But I digress.

I’m up here at Home Home; my yearly pilgrimage home.

I’ve been here for about a week already and got one more week of vacation and then another week of remote work.

It’s the new normal.

It’s been great, being to spend more time at home on the vacation.

But so far, the weather hasn’t been nice. Been cold, cloudy, and rainy.

Not the typical hot and humid summer that I’m used to up here.

I planned on some hikes, especially Mt. Rainer this coming week, but the day that I have reservations, it’s going to cold and possible rain. So, I’m deciding on what else I can do. Who knows?

But what’s been going on since the last time that I wrote…not much, but a lot.

The biggest thing that happened was Gi Fu’s passing in early July.

It was a long time coming but at the same time, it was unexpected.

He’d had health problems for a few years now but he’s always bounced back.

I’m happy that I got to see him one last time before he went. He was still the same kind and gracious bullshitter that he was.

He looked fine and old like one would expect.

I went up July 4th weekend. I originally planned to go to San Diego with Galette to explore and to check up on 7th Uncle.

Kent told me that his siblings were all coming back for the July 4th weekend, so I changed my plans and went up and visited instead.

I left that Saturday morning and the following Monday, he went back to the hospital for breathing issues and on Tuesday he passed.

Unexpected.

Sad.

I drove up that weekend to pay my respects and to help clean up the house and run any errands I can to prepare for the service and to just be there to help in any capacity that I can.

I won’t go into details of everything, but the service happened at the end of July.

Mom came down and we drove up for it.

It was long like any other service/ceremony of this kind. Family and friends all came to pay their respects.

I knew I was going to do a lot of work, running errands, but I didn’t have an official position.

I was charged with handling the money and helping 7th Uncle-in-Law with that job.

But overall, Gifu was laid to rest and he’s no longer in pain.

Next is just being there for the family as they grieve.

Here we are. Here we go.

45.

Halfway to 90.

I honestly don’t believe I’ll ever live that long nor do I want to.

It’s my annual another year older, another year wiser post and I can say, that 44 was much better than 43.

This post is a little different from my past posts. I’m not on my annual #specialweek trip. I’m home today, “working”.

Next week, I’ll be away, doing what I do best, relaxing and hiking and vacationing.

Without further ado, here we go.

44.

It ended well.

I guess we remember endings the most, because they are the most recent thing on your mind, whereas my ending for 43 was shit.

44.

Overall, 44 was a good year.

It started put rough with all of the rain and definitely there a was a lot of carryover from 43.

Hitting 44 was rough. My dad’s 20 year was extremely tough on me and that really fucked me up.

After May, things started to get better.

The Sun came out and life got going.

My lack of motivation in every aspect of my life lifted, and I life got better.

44.

Maybe it was coming to terms with being the same age as my father when he passed or coming to terms that I’ll always be older than him that freed me from the depression that haunted 43.

Who knows, but I’m glad that 44 turned out so well.

Was it the best number ever?

No.

Not even close, but it was a good start to taking my life back.

44.

I took it a day at a time.

After my trip back, I relaxed. I worked. I settled into a routine that worked for me and put my head down and trudged on.

Day goes by. Each day really no different than the next.

I allowed for the possibility of new things that deviated from my normal routine, but I didn’t really go out of my way either.

I lived.

LIVED.

44.

I think it would be the number that I learned to live again.

It would be the number that I stopped suffocating and took a breath and came to terms that there’s nothing to be afraid of.

Each breath that I get to breath is one more than what my dad got and it should be cherished and enjoyed.

44.

The number I took back my life…..again.

44.

I enjoy being single. I enjoy being alone.

I love being alone.

#livingalone

I don’t know if ever mentioned it, but it’s something that have been in my mind lately, and that’s I really enjoy being alone. I want to be alone. I want to be single.

I think me finally voicing it out loud to others really help. I don’t feel the pressure of wanting to get married or being in a relationship.

I proudly say no, especially to family. I’m not in a relationship. I don’t want to be in a relationship.

Why?

I don’t want to be in one.

Many in my family don’t understand this, especially those of the older generation, but I’ve been more vocal of this than before.

Before I was very flippant about being single or getting married, now I directly tell them I’m not interested.

Pressure. Gone.

No guilt.

I’m living my life.

Control.

Along the same vein, I think I don’t want children.

I think I’m becoming more and more childfree as I get older.

I know a lot of it has to do with me being single and not wanting to be in a relationship or married.

But a larger part of me feel that I can’t afford to have a child and given today’s political climate and how the world is now, is it responsible to bring a child into the world.

I don’t feel it is. I think given my age, I think I would feel guilty about not being able to be there for any of my children to guide them and help them.

I’ve voiced this a loud quite a few times to quite a few people.

No pressure.

No guilt.

I know a lot of my mental issues come from the Asian guilt and pressure of wanting to please my mom and family by being married and having children.

Thinking of being single and not having kids and actually voicing these thoughts aloud to people are different things and it’s so empowering to have done it.

I’m taking my life back.

Control.

I live for me.

I’m sure I’ll disappoint many, especially my mom, but I can live with that.

I can live with that now.

44.

I can finally breathe.

So, cheers to 44. Thank you for giving my life back.

45.

Bring it on.

Past Lives

It was my favorite movie of 2023.

I remember the first time I saw the trailer and was enraptured by it. I couldn’t wait for the movie to come out.

I kept checking the schedule to see when it’ll play, but there was no definite release date.

Then it happened.

May 2023.

But there’s a problem. I was up Home Home during that time and was scared that I wouldn’t be able to catch it in theaters because it was such a small movie. It was only playing in one theater in the greater Seattle region.

I prepared for disappointment that it’ll come and go.

But it didn’t.

I managed to watch it back home in Los Angeles.

I generally would get dinner before the movie and that night’s dinner was a shit show.

Long story short, it took over 45 minutes to get my food and I was pressed on time. They did comp my food, but I would rather have gotten my food and paid.

That experience left a really horrible taste in my mouth and put me in a shitty mood.

I went into the movie a little distracted but it still floored me, left me broken and shattered.

I told everyone about that movie.

Loved it.

I rewatched the movie again last weekend.

There’s an Instagram influencer that I follow that has a similar obsession with the movie that posted something about the movie that I made me want to rewatch the movie.

In the movie, there’s a Korean concept of Inyeon – providence/fate – that spoke to me. The influence tagged her picture with a Chinese concept that is similar, Yuanfen, and it was a HOLY SHIT! moment for me.

It didn’t hit me that it was the same thing. Sure, I’m familiar with the concept of fate, soul mates, etc. but didn’t realize that these two concepts from two different cultures were similar.

I rewatched the movie in much better sentiments and again it broke me.

I LOVE THIS MOVIE.

LOVE LOVE.

Yuanfen.

The story of my life.

Yuanfen.

I grew up with this concept of fate.

I watched so many Hong Kong Movies and TV Shows that brings it up all the time.

Main characters asking each other if they have Yuan and if they do, they’ll surely meet again.

Sure, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are soul mates and pre-destined loves, but that these characters have such a strong bond and relationship – Yuan – that they are tied together in life and future lives and past lives.

Yuanfen.

It’s such a romantic idea.

I grew up with it.

I asked ChatGPT the other week to help explain it to me in some bullet points and this is what it said.

“Yuanfen” (缘分) is a complex concept deeply rooted in Chinese culture and philosophy. Here’s a summary of its important aspects and meanings, along with its application to contemporary life:

– **Interconnectedness**: Yuanfen emphasizes the idea that all events and relationships are interconnected by fate or destiny.
– **Predestined Relationships**: It suggests that certain relationships are predestined and occur due to fate or cosmic alignment.
– **Meaningful Encounters**: Yuanfen refers to the meaningful encounters or connections between people, often characterized by a sense of inevitability.
– **Spiritual Connection**: It embodies a belief in a spiritual connection or affinity between individuals, beyond mere chance or coincidence.
– **Acceptance of Circumstances**: Yuanfen encourages acceptance of life circumstances and relationships as they unfold, recognizing them as part of one’s destiny.
– **Non-Attachment**: While acknowledging the significance of relationships and encounters, yuanfen also advocates for non-attachment and letting go of expectations.
– **Gratitude and Appreciation**: It promotes gratitude for the people and experiences brought into one’s life by yuanfen, fostering a sense of appreciation.
– **Role in Decision-Making**: In contemporary life, yuanfen may influence decisions regarding relationships, careers, and life paths, guiding individuals towards connections and opportunities aligned with their destiny.
– **Cultural Significance**: Yuanfen remains deeply ingrained in Chinese culture, influencing social interactions, matchmaking, and interpretations of life events.
– **Interpretation in Modern Contexts**: While rooted in tradition, yuanfen can be interpreted and applied in modern contexts, offering insights into the complexity of human relationships and the interconnectedness of the world.

In contemporary life, understanding yuanfen can provide a framework for navigating relationships, accepting life’s uncertainties, and finding meaning in chance encounters and experiences. It encourages individuals to embrace the interconnectedness of all things and cultivate gratitude for the people and opportunities that come their way. Additionally, yuanfen can serve as a reminder to remain open to new connections and experiences, trusting in the unfolding of one’s destiny.

Yuanfen.

I think the idea of it really shaped me and how I lived my life for so long.

Yuanfen.

I am where I am because that’s where I’m supposed to be.

It forced me to accept my fate and realize I’m where I am because that’s where I’m supposed to be.

When I was younger and even in my early to late twenties, I would see signs everywhere or would see things and be open to the idea that they were signs pointing to where my life needs to go.

I’m down in Los Angeles because of these signs.

I used to see them everywhere, but today, now, I don’t know if I believe anymore.

I don’t know if I stopped believing it as I got older or that because I got older and I started to think differently.

If we take a step back, the idea of accepting this fate, this predestination, this whatever will be will be is very hands off and passive.

I guess in a way, I’m very passive and I wait for things to happen to me.

Sure, my life changed quite a bit as I grew up a little and became more proactive in my life and my life choices.

Looking back, I guess I can actually say that I had always been proactive on my life and my life choices and made big choices of where I want to be and what I want to do. I didn’t sit back on my laurels and voila, I’m here.

Changes.

In the previous post, the last post of 2023, I wrote that I needed some changes in my life.

I’ve made all of the superficial and easy changes that I posted about.

I got a new couch, I got a new standing desk, and got rid of a lot of unnecessary clutter.

I feel a little better. That definite urge to change more and more isn’t as prominent anymore.

That feeling of rut isn’t as strong anymore, but there’s still a lingering desire for some other changes.

Maybe I should open up my mind and heart again to Yuanfen.

As I grew up and became the person I am today, I do feel like I’m a good blend of Chinese and American, shaped deeply by both cultures.

My identity is that of both and there’s no stripping one from the other. Sure, I don’t call myself a Chinese American, I call myself Chinese (American) – with the American as a “understood” part of my identity.

I asked ChatGPT on western influences or how Hong Kong people see Yuanfen since they are more Westernized than those of traditional mainland Chinese people.

Western influences have played a significant role in shaping the perspectives of Hong Kong Cantonese people, including their interpretation of concepts like yuanfen (缘分). Here are some ways in which Western influences may have impacted how Hong Kong Cantonese view yuanfen:

1. **Individualism**: Hong Kong has been heavily influenced by Western ideas of individualism, emphasizing personal autonomy, choice, and self-determination. This may lead Cantonese people to balance the concept of yuanfen with a belief in personal agency and the ability to shape one’s own destiny through actions and decisions.

2. **Pragmatism**: Western pragmatism and a focus on practicality may influence how Hong Kong Cantonese approach the concept of yuanfen. While acknowledging the role of fate or destiny, there may be an emphasis on taking proactive steps and seizing opportunities in life, aligning with a pragmatic worldview.

3. **Secularism**: Western secularism and a decline in traditional religious beliefs may impact how Hong Kong Cantonese perceive yuanfen. Rather than viewing it solely through a spiritual or cosmic lens, individuals may interpret yuanfen in a more secular context, focusing on the interconnectedness of events and relationships without necessarily attributing them to divine intervention.

4. **Romanticism**: Western romantic ideals and notions of love may influence how Hong Kong Cantonese people understand yuanfen in the context of romantic relationships. While still acknowledging the concept of fate or destiny in finding a partner, there may be an emphasis on romantic love and compatibility, influenced by Western notions of romance portrayed in literature, film, and media.

5. **Globalization**: Hong Kong’s status as a global city and its exposure to Western culture through media, education, and travel contribute to a more cosmopolitan worldview among Cantonese people. This exposure to diverse perspectives may lead to a more nuanced understanding of yuanfen that incorporates both traditional Chinese beliefs and Western influences.

Overall, Western influences in Hong Kong have contributed to a multifaceted interpretation of yuanfen among Cantonese people, blending traditional Chinese cultural values with elements of individualism, pragmatism, secularism, romanticism, and globalization.

Yuanfen.

I should see it in more of a Western lens.

Maybe I have always seen it in more of Western lens and that’s why I had such internal conflict growing up.

Maybe as I had gotten older and am so sure about myself, my identity, and who I am overall, I have the vocabulary and context to define fate, Yuanfen more broadly to encompass how I live my life.

Maybe I need to come to terms and be open to this fate and see the signs and make more active decisions on them.

Signs.

Fate.

Destiny.

Yuanfen.

I need to see again.

I will see again.

I see.

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.

Here we are. The last third of the year.

How is it September already?

I don’t know, but the year has gone by.

How am I?

Better.

I am better. The lack of motivation to do anything is still there, but that dread and cloud of ennui isn’t there anymore or isn’t as prominent.

It’s always May.

Fuck May. May Gray.

That’s always a hard time, especially this year.

I got through it.

I understood it.

I processed it.

I’m at the other side….for now.

Let’s see how long this goes.

We’re far from the shallows now

Day 2.

My motivation is still lacking.

It’s been my life for the past couple of years.

Lazy.

I have no desire to do much of anything.

It’s work.

Nap.

TV.

Movies.

Video Games.

Memes.

Nothing gets done.

But…the most important thing, I’m out of that funk that I was feeling earlier in the year.

That approach to my bday and the anniversary of my dad’s passing was a dark time for me.

Depression.

But…I made it out. I’m in the light.

Literally.

The summer had been great. Not much rain. Hot summer days.

There were a few days where it was really hot, but overall, it’s been a temperate year.

I’m in the light, walking, soaking up the vitamins and listening to whatever audiobook to pass the time.

I can only do the bare minimum.

Ambition to do much of anything, gone.

So, what’s been happening in the past couple of months?

I got a surprise call from an old friend on my drive back from the PNW. It’s been so long since I spoke to her and she’s going through some fucked up stuff.

I really can’t help her with much of anything. I just hope that she’s doing okay.

Work is work.

The flow of work comes and goes. I have my busy days and I have some chill days.

I’m not sure what the state of the business is, but with the world, things don’t look good. I hope we make it through.

I hope I still have a job.

I still go in a couple of times a week and it honestly does help with my mental health.

Just being able to chat and talk to some people really does help. I’m glad I have that option.

X days later.

A few months later.

November.

It’s been a while since I continued on this.

It’s never been this long. I considered posting or maybe deleting all that was above and start anew but thought fuck it. Let’s continue.

…continue.

It’s November now.

Hopefully I’ll finish this or post enough or get enough of what I want to say out of the way and have a worthwhile post.

So, here goes.

Going.

Hahhaa, I’m procrastinating again.

What have happened this year? So much, but so little.

I went to Mexico City and explored since I started this little entry of mine. I went on a full fledge one week vacation since I started this one single entry.

Procrastination.

Lack of motivation.

It’s a bitch.

It’s hard trying to get things done. It’s hard trying to find some semblance of routine and healthy motivation.

The pandemic really fucked that up for me.

It’s been 3 and a half years, and I still haven’t figured out a good routine on doing my writing….any kind of writing.

Hopefully I can figure something out.

Mexico City.

It was great. I didn’t do much besides walking and exploring and eating.

It was a great first trip to get a lay of the land so I can figure out more things to do the next time I visit.

I visited a few museums, had some street food and some fine dining. It was not unlike any of my typical city vacations.

I definitely want to go back and explore some more and eat some more.

Maybe I’ll dedicate some time and write all about it.

Let’s hope.

What else have been happening?

Korean culture.

Some time back in late August or early September I fell down the Blackpink rabbit hole. I watched the documentary on Netflix and I was obsessed with everything Blackpink.

I watched all of the YouTube videos that I can find and their concert diaries.

I’ve been listening to their music nonstop while I’m working.

Blackpink 24/7 365.

Watching all of the videos and interviews, I got a good sense of their personalities and Jisoo is my bias.

She’s just very goofy, quirky, and cool. Very confident and smart and doesn’t take herself too seriously. That’s a good combo to have as a person.

With the obsession of needing to watch everything Blackpink, I found a Korean variety show called Running Man.

It’s hilarious and I subscribed to Kocowa to start watching the shows.

This of course leads to Kdramas and I’m hooked.

I’ve watched a few already. Moving was great. Crash Landing on You was amazing.

I got some recommendations from Alisara and watched Start-Up and now I’m obsessed with Bae Suzy.

Me and my fickle heart and obsessions.

So, that’s my life right now. Kdramas, memes, and video games.

Sigh.

Work is happening and I can’t focus on this.

I really wanted to write something about fate and signs. Something I use to believe in and now, I don’t know. I used to see so many things that I considered as signs.

Many of my early early entries touched upon this subject, but as I gotten older, it had become a thought forgotten.

Watching all of the Kdramas, it seems like many of the leads are destined/fated to end up with each other and it just got me thinking….what happened to my belief in it?

Maybe that’ll be another post. Who knows?

This is tough. So tough.

My fingers fight me on doing this. THIS!

It refuses to do these finger tappings that it once loved to do.

Writing. Thoughts on the page.

They fight.

I’ve been so unmotivated to do this, even though it should come so easy for me. This should be so easy for me.

But here we are, fighting with my fingers to put my thoughts into words on this void of mine.

It’s tough.

Hopefully getting this much on the page will help me get more out tomorrow or whenever I feel up to it.

Hoping.

Soon.

There’s so much I want to write about, so much I want to say.

As above, unmotivated. As stated in my previous another year older, another year wiser, the lack of motivation kills me.

But let me try.

Here we go.

I sit in what seems to be my normal working spot up here in Home Home writing this.

This spot, the head seat of our old dining room table, became my WFH spot ever since the pandemic. I would set up my laptop here for my morning internet browsing, writing, and actual work work.

This became a new thing since I never go to my Asensio to do any writing because of the pandemic. I never felt comfortable going out and write anymore and I don’t feel comfortable leaving Galette at home alone in the morning. She has major separation anxiety and I didn’t want her to wake up the whole house.

But here I am.

Where to start?

What’s on my mind?

Haha, what isn’t on my mind?

Maybe…maybe with how I’m doing.

So, how am I doing?

I am well-ish.

Well-ish.

That’s all I can say.

I’m alive. I’m breathing. There’s no over encompassing dread in my life..no darkness.

I’m well.

I’m out and about when I want, living my life as I should and how I want.

But there’s that lingering ennui. There’s a malaise of blasé-ness that is always around me.

Adult depression. It hits different.

It’s a fine line.

Why am I feeling this?

There’s no real one answer, but a culmination of many things.

The main reason is because I’m 44.

44.

New Number.

It’s 2023.

New Year.

Maybe I conjured this feeling, knowing how I think I will feel when this time comes since it’s been on my mind for so long.

My dad.

My father issues.

It’s been 20 years since his passing. He’s always on my mind.

ALWAYS.

I miss him.

I love him.

20 years.

It’s almost half my life.

It’s around the same age that my father passed away. There’s much confusion on his actual age since his death certificate and most official paperwork states that he was born in 57, but that may have been a mistake and he was born in 58.

I’m around the same age that he passed. Soon, I’ll be older than he’ll ever been.

It’s a mindfuck.

It’s fucking with my mind and I can’t…I can’t shake it for the life of me.

How much have I changed in the 20 years since? How much have I changed in the 10 years?

I wrote a letter for you for your 10 year. A cathartic letter wondering how you are and detailing how much I have changed as a person since you passed.

Would you be proud of me? Would you recognize the person that I have become?

20 years.

I wonder the same thing. How much have I changed since that letter? Would you still be proud of me as I am today?

Would you?

I always sought your approval and I don’t know if I ever got it. I can only believe what others say and that you were and I can only take that to heart and believe that.

I hope that you will be proud of the person that I am today.

I hope you are.

I miss you.

I love you.

Sigh.

So much has changed. The world has changed so much.

Our family has grown.

Mom and Hien got a dog. I never thought that would happen, but here we are and she’s a sweet sweet thing.

I bet you would love her.

It makes mom happy. I can see it in her face as she plays with both Misu and Galette. It’s something that I didn’t ever see while growing up, especially after you passed, but it brings me so much joy to see her laughing and giggling.

I know she would be so much happier if she had an actual grandchild, but this is what she’s going to get.

I don’t think it’s in the cards for me. I don’t see it and I’m okay with that.

I hope you understand.

I’m not ruling it out. I’m open to it….I really am, but at this moment, it’s not in the cards.

I’m sorry about that. I really hope you understand.

We’ll see what happens in 10 years’ time. What do you think will happen?

Who knows?

I hope you’ll still be with me for another 10 years.

I love you.

I miss you.

LOVE.

I only had one entry for this year so far.

Man, I remember the days when I would have something almost every couple of nights or even every weekend, but here we are.

Unmotivated.

Hopefully things will change soon. I need to find some motivation to go back and do the things that I once loved so much.

Writing.

Art.

Hiking and nature.

All of them lie by the waste side now as I have no motivation to do any of them.

No writing.

No screaming in the void.

This little void of mine has been my therapy for so long.

It helped me a lot. I processed so much of my shit on here.

Through the years, I’ve become less angry, confident, happier, and just being a much better person.

This little void of mine has a hand in shaping that.

I am grateful for it, but it hasn’t been used in a while.

Through the years, my little finger tappings have changed from these random stream of conscious emo confessional dumps of what’s going on my life and what’s on my mind to what seems to be basic journal entries of what is happening or about what I did on a trip I did.

I hope that I can get back to the good ol’ days of flow again.

Maybe this is exactly what I need. Just sit and type.

Sit and type.

Home Home.

This is much earlier than I usually make my Home Home trips. I usually do it during the summer but here we are, before the summer.

I came up for Ly’s wedding.

Since I didn’t want to board Galette and have to carry my suit on a plane, I decided to make this my yearly pilgrimage home.

Two weeks’ vacation and one week working remotely.

It has become my status quo since the pandemic since we can easily WFH anywhere.

It makes it easier for me to spend time with family without feeling that I need to rush and do things.

But since the pandemic, my trips home are a little different than what I’m used to. I explained it in an earlier entry.

I just feel guilty going and leaving my bro and mom home while I’m off galivanting.

I don’t know. I need to figure something out.

But again, how much of that, especially this year’s trip is due to circumstance and the holy mind-fuck adult depression of unmotivatedness. I’m sure 95% of it is due to that.

I’m just looking for excuses not to do stuff so I can just stay home and rot and be unhealthy.

Maybe I’m doing this so I can die an early death. Maybe.

I need to fix that.

I need a change.

But overall, two weddings this year.

The first one was Michael’s in February in Hawaii and now Ly’s. The Ho/Nguyen brothers are all married now.

No more weddings in the foreseeable future thankfully.

Man, have I stated that I really don’t like weddings?

Hahaha.

But yes. Weddings are over.

I’m glad to see all of the family again and to hang out. I really am.

I really do love my family.

They’ll always be there.

I do miss family.

I never wrote about my time in Maui.

Amazing.

It was amazing.

I’m glad that I made that stop in Hawaii before Michael’s wedding.

I wanted to make a real vacation out of that wedding and decided to island hop since I’ve already been to Honolulu last year.

Maui is a lot less developed than O’ahu and a lot less crowded.

It was so beautiful there. I loved that island.

The weather didn’t cooperate as much as I wanted it to when I got there and I really did a piss poor job of planning that trip, especially for the Road to Hana.

But I did manage to get some good hiking in.

I was able to notch another National Park under my belt. Haleakalā National Park.

I managed to hike both sides and chase waterfalls on the East Side of the Island at the end of the Road to Hana and I was able to go up to the main volcano and hike down.

That hike down to the volcanic crater was amazing and also, one of the toughest hikes I had to hike back up and out of the crater on the way back after already hiking 6-7 miles already.

But it was worth it. It was a good unwind and relax before the wedding festivities and family time in Honolulu.

I definitely need to go back and explore another island.

On my last day in Maui, I walked out to Kāʻanapali Beach in the morning with a cup of coffee and sat and just watched the ocean. I spotted so many whales breaching the ocean. I almost cried.

Just. Beautiful.

Love love love.

I am blessed to have seen it. I am blessed to have experienced that.

No regrets.

None.

Home Home.

Overall, my trip home have been great, eventful, and chill. Sure, there were so many things that I hoped that I would have done, but it didn’t happen.

The general ennui and unmotivation got to me, but I’ve done a few things.

I started my trip by going to Bend, OR and spending a day and a half there. I’ve always wanted to do Bend since my cousins always a week in the summer there and they love it so much. I drove through it once and I always wanted to explore.

Overall, I loved it there. I think I can imagine myself living there. All the nature things are so close, in terms of time, no more than 20-30 minutes away. So easier and there are trails right in the middle of the city too.

Such a very outdoorsy town.

I loved it.

Very dog friendly also. You can walk your dog off leash for the majority of the year. Amazing.

I rolled into Bend around noon on Saturday and decided to do a hike in Smith Rock State Park. I didn’t do anything strenuous since I didn’t do any planning and I didn’t know what Galette could do.

It was hot, low 80s when we got there. We hiked along the dirt path and did the river trail. Overall, Galette did well, though she did try and stop at times. We pressed on.

For dinner time, I wanted to find a dog friendly restaurant with outdoor seating. I did find one, but it started to rain, so I got food to go.

The next morning, I went to Rim Rock/Good Dog Park. That park was amazing. 25 acres of trails.

I decided to let Galette off leash to see how she would do. She did amazing. She stayed by my side and didn’t let the other dogs off leash get to her. Most of them minded their own business and so did Galette.

I was so amazed by her. I didn’t think she would do well, considering how she is at the dog parks I take her, but I should have known considering how she likes to keep by me at the dog park.

Then we went back to the hotel for a short pee break and then hiked the Deschutes River Trail to the Old Distillery District. It was so nice, even though Galette wasn’t too happy about it. She would stop from time to time, refusing to move ahead.

I noticed her limping but thought that her paws may be a little sore, but it seemed like her paws were cut.

We did a total of about 10 miles that day.

Bend. Love it. I may start making it a stop on my way up to Home Home. We shall see what happens next year.

I feel bad. I didn’t realize that she had cut her paw until we made it home.

So, a lot of the outdoorsy adventures that I had planned with Galette fell through. I wanted to do Mt. Si, but decided against it, or even Rattlesnake Ridge.

Next time. Next time. I’ll be more mindful of how Galette is doing and maybe not hike her when it’s so hot out.

My biggest worry of the trip was how Galette would be with Misu.

I got home and entered the house by myself, leaving Galette in the car. Misu was weary of me, not knowing who I am and started to bark. I had my bro put a leash on so when I introduced Galette there’s some sort of control.

Overall, everything went fine. They sniffed and Galette said hi to my mom and bro and was weary of Misu.

There’s a lot of growling on Galette’s part as Misu was trying to make friends and investigate who this new dog and this new person was.

Eventually Galette got used to Misu and Misu got less and less afraid and after a few days they were playing with each other.

I would take them out for walks in the morning together and things are fine. They are friends now and I’m glad that happened.

I know how Galette can be and imagined the worst. It goes to show that I don’t trust Galette when I should.

I went out with Misu and Galette on a walk with Mom and Misu was shit on a leash. I taught my mom to keep her on a short leash and to pull her back if she tries to pull. I taught my mom some basic leash training for her and with the morning walks with Galette, Misu has gotten so much better on a leash. She still has her moments of pulling, but so much better. Able to go for long walks. Not much pulling for the most part.

Hopefully Misu can continue this with mom. Mom needs her exercise.

I have another week left of my trip. This time, I’ll be WFH. I already have a few things lined up that I will need to take care of, but I will try to keep it very very minimal.

I plan on leaving on the 10th and I have to stop by Fresno. I haven’t decided if I’m going to spend the night or just rest up for a few hours and then continue on my way.

Relish.

Relish is home alone again. Jun checks up on her every couple of days.

She’s been having issues, throwing up from time to time. It may have something to do with the food I got her. I’ve been switching her food up lately and now she’s on Orijen. I may have to switch to something else, but we shall see when I get back.

I hope she gets adjusted and gets better. I wonder how much of it is the food and how much of it is because she’s home alone.

We shall see.

If I could bring her up, I definitely would. Makes things so much easier.

We shall see.

For my 2023 Special Weekend trip, I decided to stay local ish and did a Paso trip with a twist. I started my trip in Carmel first and then drove down to Paso for a few days.

I finally managed to go to Garrapata State Park. Due to the heavy rain SoCal had this year, some of the rivers on the trail were flooded, but it wasn’t too bad. I was able to hike up the mountain trail and finish my loop.

After Garrapata, I went to Pacific Grove and did a small walk and then explored Monterey again. I went to Fisherman’s Wharf to get some lunch and then went back to the hotel.

I also managed to do 17 mile drive.

The PCH was closed so I had to take 101 back to Paso. I went to 46 to cut over to the coast and did a few hikes along PCH and did Moonstone again.

On my actual day, I relaxed and did some wine tasting.

It was nice and chill and a great way to spend my #specialweek #specialweekend.

Here we are.

Here we go.

I’m surprised that I got so much out of me today.

Sitting down and actually doing it probably have something to do with it.

Hopefully I can make this more of a regular thing.

Hopefully this can help get me out of this…..this….well-ish.