3 Days Before Christmas
First gift (for me) to go under the tree(s) that are still to be set up.
57 days before Christmas
We booked really early for our Christmas trip to the Philippines and got dirt-cheap economy flights. We also got I thought - well, I did anyway- plenty of time to prepare for it. But having the time you think you have is vastly different from having the actually energy and will power to use it wisely.
Well, I wouldn't say I have not used my time wisely, but rather, things take a different direction than you intended- and that’s okay.
We’re suddenly at the tail end of October and looking back, I can say that I’m mostly happy. But let me start with ticking off the things I wanted to do but wasn’t able to do:
1. Organise a balikbayan box for more of my shoes and clothes. I also wanted to have had included in the box, gifts for family. Shipping to New Zealand is expensive, and the few companies that ship boxes to the Philippines have short time-frames which I couldn’t meet as I wasn’t convinced that the gifts I wanted, were really suitable. The box would have to wait for next year as I still need to off-load my stuff, most of which have not even been worn.
2. Work out because with only one checked luggage, the only clothes I wanted to pack are shorts and singlets. And I need to look good in them. But then a scan showed that I had an asymptomatic torn shoulder, so I couldn’t really go all out in the gym. I tried focusing on just my legs and then realised my thighs wouldn’t fit into my pants. We never win the body-improvement game, regardless of what social media wants you to believe.
3. Finish some major work-stuff. Not even using AI could make things faster- ironically, one of my work projects is on AI.
But there’s a whole bunch of good stuff that I’ve been able to tick off:
1. Finalise Christmas gifts for everyone
2. Pre-ordered our favourite Christmas cake and ham (to have when I get back).
3. Finalised my work-project schedule for 1st quarter 2026
4. Finished 12 books.
5. Organised my desk
6. Organised an art piece (it’s not done yet, but confident I will finish it).
7. Had my sister-in-law buy new towels and to make sure to pre-order two cakes for Noche Buena; Black-Forest cake and Sans Rival from Red Ribbon.
8. Convinced my mother to have a whole Lechon for Noche Buena (my cholesterol is uhm, perfect).
9. Organised catch-ups with the only friends I want to see (you know who you are!).
10. Did a test packing of my single luggage (ugh, can’t really get more shoes in).
It's never too early
Christmas 2024 photo dump
The eating is almost done
#TBT
#ChristmasMood
As I try to plump up my expensive plastic tree with cheap stuff bought from Kmart, I can only gawk at what cultured professionals can do…all photos from the NY Times..
Noche Buena 2021
A Simple Prayer for Christmas Dinner
Dear God, we give thanks for this time when we can all be together. We give thanks for this food which is bountiful and delicious. We give thanks for this joyful holiday when we can celebrate our Savior and his love for us. With joy we pray, Amen
Ryan's Christmas Gift Registry
I don’t care about the critics- the current government still has a good grip on a situation that could be ten times worse (and a hundred times worse in other countries). The critics could either drop dead or catch Covid; either way, FUCK YOU and you don’t know squat. Anyhoo, a weird call today- level 3.2 which allows for some businesses to open (like malls!) and others to remain closed like restaurants (boo!) and cinemas (double boo!).
So if you’re an anti-vaxxer, you can go out on Wednesday and catch yourself some Covid- that will teach you.
I’ve done all my shopping and besides, the only times I go to a store is when I’m not sure of the fit or the fabric; I buy the majority of my clothes from the same labels so I know my fit 99% of the time. But yeah, going out there is like playing Covid roulette, and for what? For a pair of goddamned pants lol. Not worth it.
And speaking of shopping, here’s a list of stuff I’d like to by for myself if money is no object; after all dreaming is free…
Happy Holidays
I’m not complaining, not really.
I bought amazing gifts for myself; gifts that allow me to continue earning money that I could in return, give amazing gifts to the people I love as well as more gifts for myself (a win-win).
My health is okay and will be better because finally, I have self-control; the lechon can wait until April 2020.
The world is shittier than ever, but I’m not adding to the sludge of shit by creating/sharing my own shit. The rare tweet aside, I’ve closed the door on the situation in the US and the Philippines. Let people who do their beds, lie on it.
Christmas 2017
A bunch of firsts; first time to work until our office closed on the 22nd. First time to NOT stress on what to eat. First time to have a decent gift budget which I had half-saved for. And first time to be less nostalgic about the whole thing- and everything was just perfectly fine.
