YAY 2015 : first post of the year

First post of the year! Hooray~

But let's look back at 2014 for a while here...

I turned 25 this year and even if I still cannot feel that feeling of being adult, there were many problems that I've encountered that proved to me that I've matured enough to go through it with a cool head and a calm appearance. I am still a blazing ball of emotions but somehow this year I managed to keep it inside the box. 

I might not be able to travel outside the country but this year was not devoid of any exciting activities. I went to Pagsanjan falls this year with my friends and went to Rizal's house with my family. Somehow I managed to finally find time to visit those tourist spots that I never really bothered to go to even though I've been so near them my whole college life. Hopefully someday I can actually visit Makiling. lol.

With the 2D shota Rizal

The funny thing about this though, was that I've written about a 2D shota Rizal before for an otome game I made with my friends. I didn't imagine to be meeting one someday... with all the 2D-ness. XD

The falls

We've seen a number of shows this year including Wicked, Chicago, Disney concert etc. I've also started to drag my sister to some of these events (mostly watching movies). It's nice fangirling with your sibling from time to time. Hopefully there will come a time when I don't have to pay for both of us so I can take her to the more expensive musicals. 

fangirling runs in the family

This year was also all about getting used to the new team. Somehow it became more than just "getting used" because I seemed to have enjoyed this company with little to no effort at all. True, the morning crowd was noisier and livelier than the night scene that I was used to work in for years but somehow I enjoyed it. I made new friends that I could had been friends with if I worked in the morning and I find the mid-shift team to be an interesting bunch.

During the company outing.
Because staying inside the room is more awesome with these people around

One of the many "payday dinners" I've enjoyed with Abi and Arvin this year

Regarding my other stuff, somehow I never really fulfilled my 2014 promise of one cover a month, so I'll just carry that over to this year's New Year's Resolution but changing that to one cover/project every 2 months. Ayan ah every 2 months na yan ah... UTANG NA LOOB gawin mo na yan. On a brighter side, James and I managed to finally do our cosplay collab and finished Kirishima's cosplay. And since I've bought a sewing machine this year, I made a few simple sewing projects, which included that tiger top I used when I sang Katy Perry's Roar during our company's outing.  

Sewing costumes and rocking that look at pictures

I've also tried to learn Japanese again this year, but still was not enough to actually take the JLPT. 2015? Not really sure if I should take that exam at all... but who knows. I must also add that buying that Kumyoung karaoke helped me a lot in reading faster. Karaoke really does help in reading (reading Hiragana that is)! 

I have a certificate~ yay

Overall, 2014 was really something else. There were a lot of good things, bad things, exciting things and terrible things.  There were times when I wanted to give up on everything and just dig a hole and hide inside it. There were also times that I wanted some moments to last forever. Somehow I pulled through and made it to another year. But I know it's because I was never alone during the whole ordeal. My family, James, my friends and office mates were always there helping me and making things more fun. Thanks 2014... 

now hoping that 2015 will be a more awesome one. 

Merry Christmas

Hoping this presentation would make you feel what Christmas is all about...

hay... kay hirap kumita ng pera.

Summoned by customs

Last Friday I was summoned by customs. This was due to the most recent purchase I made online, which was Granrodeo's G9 DVD. I hoped, like all the previous purchases, that it would arrive at the office. Unfortunately, customs found the item taxable and instead of the box with the DVD, this notice was sent to me last Friday. ヽ(´□｀。)ﾉ

So I googled and google map'd the way there and this site proved to be most useful. Since it was Friday when they gave the notice I decided to go there by Monday.

I had 2 more days to wonder about what was happening to my package and how much I needed to pay. The customs' site did have an online  calculator but who knew... it was widely known that customs was one of the most corrupt department in the Philippine government.

Speaking of corruption, there were a lot of  "horror stories" I found on the internet regarding this: 200% tax, bargaining to lessen the taxed amount, long lines, inefficient service etc.

I found myself getting terrified as each day passed by.

Monday came, woke up really early... I mean... earlier than the usual (*´∀`*) eh-hehe. So I went there by bus and I arrived around 10:30-ish.

I gave the notice card and used my passport as my ID. Waited and waited some more to have either my name or my number called.  They opened the package in front of me to confirm if that was my package... just to see Kiiyan peeking from the guy's hand made me really glad. They put the DVD back in the box and violently taped it. They separated us yet again and made me wait some more.

But that was the only beginning... the computation now began.

Luckily, I did not become a victim of corrupt officials who would charge even more than the item's price. However, the tax is still too big... why do they have to be that much?

Anyway, so I paid the charges and got my package. I did become one of those people who went out happily with their package in hand. ヽ(；▽；)ノmi bebe was finally in my arms.

Resibo with computations

Post office fee

FINALLY MY BABY IS HOME

Cosmania 2014

I went as Kirishima, complete with the cannons, and James went as Jesus. He had to do a simple cosplay because his actual task is to support me with the cannons he made. We were 'almost' prepared for anything. We had been planning for this. Our time has come. 

Seriousness aside, it was really fun. What made it fun was the Kancolle cosplay group we just happened to had met on that day. They were such a nice and fun bunch and I enjoyed how they love Kancolle.

The night/day before

We were cramming. We were cramming like there is no tomorrow... rather... we were cramming like tomorrow is just around the corner. 

But in the end, we didn't make it. for Saturday. To make it worse, it even rained. Props with water-based paint really isn't good to carry around in the rain. 

A decision needed to be made: I had to drop out of Potted Potter. 

Potted Potter was my Sunday thing. The plan was I'll go to Cosmania Saturday and Potted Potter on Sunday. I really wanted to see Potted Potter that's why I was determined to finish all my stuff before Friday. But not everything was just "my stuff" I somehow forgot a single important factor -James' stuff.

And we had to cram that all the way to Sunday. 

Come Sunday, we had another problem: the cannons were too bulky for public transportation! Only during these times do I wish I have a car. Good thing we found and rented a van.

In the end we made it safely to the venue and had fun. 

I have a thing for boxes

I really enjoy buying boxes or any kind of container for my things. I enjoy the feeling of putting my stuff in an organized manner inside the fresh store-bought container. The idea of keeping something and helping my future self to have an easier time to look for things… since the thing is already stored neatly… gives off a calming effect on me.

As I put my socks and towels inside a box I imagine putting also my negative emotions with it. The frustrations, stress, and annoyances will also go inside that box to be stored and to be looked into some other time. The moment I shut the lid I have this feeling of finality when I entrust my stuff to a future version of myself whom I don’t know yet. Whoever this future me is, I am sure she will look into the box and its contents as well. Who knows? The future me might thank me for this. Like a time capsule of emotions, where an older future me will look into it and learn something from the feelings of the past. I think this is what I enjoy thinking about the most.

Boxes are really nice.

I just hope that there won’t come a time when I have to put your body inside a small box too. :3

Rainy day thoughts: 7152014

I am in the middle of browsing stuff on the internet. A storm is passing by. I can hear the winds picking up and the rain falling outside. Here is me, hoping that the storm will pass by without actually causing harm to anyone. 

And out of nowhere I remember this one rainy night. It was a school night but I have forgotten what day it was, I remember that I was going home late from school. I was so afraid that time. I was scared that my mother would scold me because I went home late. It wasn't really late but it was already dark by then... so technically it is later than the usual time that I get home. I can't really remember the details anymore of why I was late... I think it was a legit school thing... but what is that school thing?

Nope. I can't remember. 

However, more than the specific details all I can remember is this fear of going home late. It was more than hearing from my mother when I get home. I don't really like the idea of going home when it's already dark out. No specific reason for it, I just don't like it. And it was not the kind of feeling where I want to rush home because I'm scared. The later it was, the more I don't want to go home. 

It's funny now that I think back. I was an amusing little girl. 

What amuses me more was that I even thought of stopping the tricycle into one parlor/beauty salon and asking the people there if they could take me in because I don't want to go home. I was seriously convinced that the people working there actually lived in their shops with their small beds and personal quarters inside that door that lead to god-knows-where. 

I was not just thinking about it. I was serious. I was already imagining what my life would be in the parlor.

But of course, that was all in my head. I didn't ask the driver to stop and I went home. My mother scolded me but it was ok. I went to bed and the day went on...

Someday, I would like to look back on all my anxieties now and laugh at them too. 

PS: I have no idea how they do shit in a parlor. I have 0 skills in making anyone pretty.

Since we're accomplishing stuff...

Been a while since I last blogged something but I am feeling productive today so let's write. Actually... I was productive this whole weekend.

I got a new phone. A red, flip phone too! I just can't resist the call of a shiny red flip phone. Nice timing too since my phone's keypad died and I needed to text people!

I got to visit the ophthalmologist. New glasses are coming soon. :)

I also managed to sew most of the stuff I needed to sew. Hades' hand stuff, cape and the main toga. I also got my costume and finished the tassel.



I also watched Uta Pri maji love live 3rd stage today as well. I cried at Kiiyan's solo song.. but what's new? XD


Also, something annoyingly funny happened to me. I lost 50 pesos because someone somewhere gave me fake money. I don't know where because I went to the mall to buy stuff so I didn't really trace my money. It's funny because I was duped by something so stupid.



JUST LOOK AT IT! WTF.

Anyway so there.. 2 more weeks before the con and I think I can pull it off.