Keeping Tabs | April 2020

Keeping Tabs
Written By Louise Ramos

Another I don’t really know or have a grasp of what’s happening right now but I’d like to keep tab.

Last day of April, I can’t believe it’s been almost two months at “home” and in quarantine. Two months of a whirlwind of mood swings and uncertainty. This is the longest I’ve stayed in my parents’ house since… summer 2013? God, it’s been that long. I got used to just visiting two or three days at a time, or a week at most during Christmas season. Typing this in the room I grew up in, which doesn’t feel like home anymore, tbh. But still EXTREMELY thankful I have a place to stay. I love my family, but gdi, I miss my isolated life in my crummy ol’ tiny place in QC. I have so much physical space here in the province but just NOT the space I need. (And this is why I will die alone! HAHA.) Anyways, listing down things that make up my life lately – hoping you find something that interests you. That maybe it’ll preoccupy the both of us.

THING TABS

READ

Remember how I used to link a lot of articles here, and every single time, a Young Star article is just bound to be part of it. I’m sorry for sad news in an already sad time, but they’re shutting down their online leg. Today is their last day. FUCK YOU PHILSTAR. #SaveYS! The articles may still be archived there from May 1, but who knows for how long? I literally cried when I saw the writers, contributors, and editors tweeting about it because YS has been (still is) a big part of me. It’s basically my coming-of-age story. I’ve been reading it since high school and it kept me informed, it kept me reading and writing, it just inspired me to keep on making (anything!) and pursuing the creative field despite all the odds and my upbringing. I was in a really bad shape when I joined their Open Call in 2017, and an interview I had with them a year later was a god damn wake up call. It’s very personal to me so I really haven’t shared it, but that was the point where I just said “tangina, di ko makukuha ‘to, pero ito lang gusto kong gawin at habulin habambuhay.” THAT DEEP BRO HAHAHA. Sharing my faves from their site (some of which I screenshot too just in case they disappear from the web soon) and a few recent timely ones.

There are a lot more, and I’ll add to this list once I go through my Pocket account and my bookmark pages from years ago. Mostly for me, because I wanna criii while I reminisce and re-read through all these.

LISTEN

NCT Dream released their comeback album, Reload, just yesterday. So that’s all I’ve been listening to for the past 24+ hours. The same 5 songs over and over again using our living room speakers, my bedroom speakers, my phone when taking a shower, when jogging, as soon as I woke up this morning, and tonight too after RenD and this 127 vlive na nakisabay pa. Because I love my children and they deserve ALL the love in the world. Stream Ridin’ MV here.

My last post was also that of a playlist. So if you’re not me and you’re normal, you can check that playlist instead. I uploaded free printable stickers there too.

WATCH

I haven’t been in the mood to watch anything lately aside from Bon Appetitvideos and kpop things on YouTube. My mom, on the other hand, is making the most out of my Netflix account! But I do look forward to a new Hospital Playlist episode every Thursday. It’s on Netflix! I love Shin PD and all his works (/coughs/ Reply series /coughs/) and this, again, does not disappoint.

LIFE TABS

I’m lucky to have a lot of work come to me pre-and-mid-quarantine. Last night, I submitted a final draft of something I’m excited about. Thus, I’m giving myself today as a day-off and writing this as I wait for an email reply. And I have a lot of stan twitter sanity breaks because fangirl life makes me HAPPY.

I’ve also been consistently jogging almost every other day this April, like who is she. Mostly because I have to be physically tired so I get to sleep by 3AM. I’m also enjoying making my coffee daily. I used to go out for coffee around 2-3x a week and then work in a coffee shop. Now, I live with cold brews and my biggest decision every morning is choosing where to work for the day – our living room, the “veranda,” or in the bedroom. Oh, and ANIMAL CROSSING! I vicariously live multiple lives there!

I don’t really know how to live with my thoughts if I don’t have these things to preoccupy me. But that’s just me. There are still days where all I do is lie down. I don’t even watch shows or play ACNH, I just. lie. down. You don’t have to feel bad if you’re unproductive, because YOU DON’T REALLY HAVE TO. We all cope in different ways. You do you to keep yourself healthy and sane. I do hope you’re coping well with everything. This has been extremely long, and I doubt anyone read through this thing, lol. Typing this though made my today great. That’s a win for me. I just miss spouting nonsense everyday things. And coincidentally, the last time I wrote a “Keeping Tabs” post was also April of last year.

COMMISSIONS OPEN

On other stuff, I’m open for illustration and #fauxfilm commissions through Common Room’s website. (Or you can just email me!) When ECQ started, we were occupied with relaunching the webshop so our makers can still have a way of earning despite the shut down of stores. I didn’t really want to promote or sell anything at this time because I’m not comfortable with it. I’m just thankful I can still get by. Half of the proceeds for every commission I get through Common Room will be given to donation drives in our local community.

That’s all for now. That was REALLY a lot. And again, stay safe! I’m sharing more free printables soon!

Louise Ramos
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Coffee Diary: Omotesando, Tokyo (free postcard)
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Quarantine Playlist (Free Downloadable Sticker)