Been a while
Took a time off. I would want to say I did it as a break or refresh or something like that, but I didn’t. The silence hasn’t been intentional, and yet, it’s also unsurprising.
I’m still in front of my computer, as I have always been. So most days I think that not much has happened. I look at the recent photos on my phone – ones I haven’t posted except to send to friends who maybe have had enough of how my nth batch of cookies look like! – and it’s nice to be reminded that things do happen all the time. In moments so fleeting, in the slightest ways.
Maybe we all need a stop to smell the flowers moment.
So today, I make kwento. An update no one asked for. Bombarding my months worth of silence here in one go. (Validating that I really am an all or nothing person.)
In ECQ 2.0, my brother and I have given into baking. My coffee now has company! HAHA. Road to cafe dreams na may studio sa taas na itu. Char. We’ve never really baked pastries despite having an oven for years – for reasons na ayoko naghuhugas ng maraming plato, bowls, cups, etc. Which is literally what happens when you bake! Let’s not be pretentious… I am a one-pot, throw everything in kind of person, and I even eat in the pot with that big ass wooden spatula when it’s just us. But the past year of watching Claire and Inga bake has summoned something in me. Gagastos na rin naman ako sa Chips Ahoy chewy – again, let’s all in. It’s been REALLY fun! (and fattening!) Definitely, a stress reliever. Teaches you to fucking wait, too. Good, like damn good, cookies are baked at least a day after! Another time off reference – coffee needs to brew, dough needs to rest, that sort of thing. I also love how things are calculated, but still, an art. There’s a recipe for a reason! Case in point, this pa-experiment: Reducing Sugar in Cookies. There was a time when we altered a cookie recipe to our liking (to very minimal ratios) and yet it drastically changed the texture! And let me tell you we’ve been obsessed with the amazing science behind it ever since! Yes, we’re the nerds reading about gluten because the theory is as fun as the practice. But I’m also excited to practice more!
In kalulungan, that has literally been keeping my sanity in tact – NCT Dream will be having their comeback!! 7Dream is something that still feels so surreal. Like we really went through all that emotional manipulation but goddamnit, this is HAPPENING! The album PH GOs closed so insanely fast – that was the moment it sunk in for me that THIS IS REAL. A lot of my past life wonnowon kids also guested in Eric Nam’s podcast, which is like a Miley Cyrus moment for me. Best of both worlds ganon. I am well fed with content; my heart is kept full.
I also want to make a Haechan kwento. My friend gave me this OVERWHELMING package and it’s so dear to me because the PC I call yamanin hyuck is here. I remember having notifs on for that thing on the WTS tag because I didn’t pull it in the album but I still REALLY want it. I have claimed “MINE” too many times but the gen z kidz are way way way faster. This one in particular though where the seller replied to me “may nauna na po” and it turns out, it was a friend and she got it for me as a gift. HUHU LEMME HAVE MY MELO MOMENT. Long story short, umuwi si yamanin hyuck and I have my PC happily ever after. The end.
On art and things… um, wala. HAHA. I keep recalling the tweet that says WIP: Wala Itong Progress. Story of my life. I haven’t been able to feel good about a personal work in a while. But I do have a 2021 self project where notes are in tact already, no rush.
I am, however, occupied with other work – both admin and creative. Nice to know both sides of my brain are still holding up. Kahit na tig-isang brain cell na lang sila. Also, another comeback from the kween: by the time this post is up, Reese Lansangan’s Orbiting lyric vid will also be up. Warning: MAPANAKIT. Music of course by Reese Lansangan, album art direction by Pau Tiu (Bad Student), and photos by Shaira Luna. These are ALL WOMEN I LOOK UP TO. (I stand by in the “swerte ngayon malas tomorrow” thinking so please lang Papa G, prove me wrong; let me bask in this for a while.) The video style is also something new, something I haven’t done before. Pau said na mas nagigingcreative ‘pag may limitations. Non verbatim, my memory sucks, basta yun. Hope it comes through. Looking back, I don’t really know how to do the things I’m asked to do. Making a full animated/illustrated vid before for Playing Pretend in the Interim was a spur of the moment thing. Something I just know I’ll regret if I say no to. Kaya in my head, basta, kakayanin. I can’t thank Reese enough for trusting in me in those moments, and even now. Art and music are two wonderful things I LOVE. To have them both is better than pulling my bias’ PC – which is saying a lot for me.
WIPs for now, will remain as WIPs. As slow as they go; as long as we keep them going. Reminding myself that some things really just take time. Since 2018 ’til now, this note has pushed me: “While you are becoming, don’t forget to see how far you’ve come.” It’s nice to look forward and it’s rewarding to look back. You might need the reminder as well.
That’s what I’ve been up to lately. It’s really been a while. It’s Sunday night, I haven’t gotten around to my list of to-dos. And even if just until today, I’m okay with taking my time.
Slowing down,
Louise
BONUS: some reads (and eye candies) I’ve enjoyed in the past weeks:
There’s a Name for the Blah You’re Feeling: It’s Called Languishing from The New York Times
What I Learned about Life from a Bunch of Bad Students from Out of Print
Chris Ware: It’s pretty simple, I sit down and I draw from WePresent
Haley Tippmann’s illustrations create a sense of home in a world of collective lockdowns from It’s Nice That
