This is it. This is the year that I'll have lived just as many years without my mom as I did with her. There are some days when it feels like at least a whole other lifetime when she was here with me. Other times, the grief feels only hours old.

Picture it: Philippines, 1899. That's 100+ years ago, for those saying, "This isn't my America" and otherwise acting like everything happening is shocking and new. How does this relate to Black History Month, my papaya soap scouring kaibigan? Let's talk about David Fagan. #BlackHistoryMonth

Sometimes I remember a long ago memory of my buddy saying, "Don't worry. If it was Sailor Moon or Hello Kitty, I would have given [surprise bag contents] to you."

"I'm not even going to ask. It's just going to happen" is a vibe for maintaining my peace.

I don't know if it's an auto translation gone wrong, but, "I'm going to throw my size 38 slipper at your 50 yard face" is 👩‍🍳 💋 #AsianLife #RespectYourElders

As some people look toward tomorrow (Thanksgiving) with trepidation, I'd like to offer my thoughts:

On any given day... Coworker: I'm leaving now. Me: You're leaving me alone? Without supervision? Coworker: Yes? Me: Without an adult?! Coworker: You ARE an adult! Me: I need a real adult! #WorkLifeBalance #DayInTheLife

I'm watching Naruto for the first time. It began in 1999. I guess explains why Sakura spends so much time looking shocked and scared, screaming, and otherwise being useless while being proclaimed as having a lot of potential. #Anime #Naruto

If you've watched #FreakierFriday, did you notice you can sing "Glycerine" over "Baby"?

So hey: any of my kababayan making book covers without AI? My WIP is a YA urban fantasy.

The other day, I saw someone erecting (tee-hee: "erecting") a fish shaped mailbox and remembered the baseball bat I have at home. Happy belated birthday, @nimyane.bsky.social!

Me: ねこちゃんはどこですか？ Fefe: mrow Me: ねこちゃんはどこですか?! Fefe: MEOW Me: ねこちゃんはどこですか？!?! Fefe: MRRRROW MRRRRRROW! She got pretty frantic so I stopped teasing, and pet her 😅 #DayInTheLife

Coworker: My sister tried to rage bait me but she can't. Me: The student isn't ready to surpass the master. Coworker: I'm the master baiter. Don't look at me like that! You know you were waiting for me to go there.

Friend: You *have* to learn how to swim! What if you're by a river and you see a dog or kitten drowning? Me: It's interesting that you specify a dog or cat, and not a human child. Friend: I know my girls. 😹😹😹 #GirlsGirl

I strive to write with honesty, so while I had the best dad, I also acknowledge that he was still human with human fallibilties. Despite that, my ditse nailed it when, in her last conversation with Dad, she said, "You did what you set out to do. You kept the family together." #FathersDay 1/3

Post a female character you love.

Maligayang araw ng kalayaan! I have complicated feelings about the day, and the United States's continued intrusion, but I love my people. I dream of a Philippines that is someday truly independent, where people leave "home" because they want to, not because of need. 1/2

Without downloading any new pics, where are you at mentally?

I *know* somebody educated me on it, but I forgot how to save posts here. But also: this looks really interesting.

24 years ago, I lost my mother. I don't mean like the times I hid in the clothing racks and she walked to the next department without me. I *lost* lost her. As in there was service, mourning, and everything. Months later, in an attempt to run away from the pain, I relocated to San Francisco. 1/3

Co-worker: You are not [age]! Me: I totally am! CW: You're NOT! [10 years younger], but not - Me: It's because I'm immature. It's affected your perception of me. CW: ... Me: 😅 CW: ...I think you're right.

I'm just a girl, standing in front of another social media platform, asking it to love me - you know: let me opt out of it using my content to train AI. It won't, so I'm here. Again. Cheesecake.

Best part of last night: Me: (laying in bed) 猫ちゃんはどこですか？ A few moments later, I heard a trill from the floor next to me, then the mattress depressing as she leapt up 💗

Happy birthday to the bestest birthday girl: ME!

When I was younger, I was convinced I was ugly. Flaws I perceived included my huge nose and fat belly. A few classmates said I looked like a boy. Pictures attached for reference. Pictures I rediscovered as an adult and thought, "WTH. I was cute!" 1/8

*labeling *you're But the point still stands. #AshWednesday #AshMeOutside #HowBoutDat #Dating

"We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad.” - C.S. Lewis #QuotesToLiveBy

She called me autistic as if that's a bad thing (It's not!), citing as proof my inability to feel. But why would I show my heart to someone whose only wish is to obliterate it? The stories untrustworthy people make up to try to cover their own shortcomings...

Look for the helpers. Here are some in Seattle!

Feeling things that will definitely be a blog post at some point this week.

Too many people: if we raise the minimum wage, consumers will have to pay a lot more! Costco*: Hold my drink. *In-N-Out, too!

Everyone should work at least six months of retail. At the very least, it would stop a lot of people from expecting they can just tell me a price like I can ring it up. 🤦🏽‍♀️😭

I took a break from Meta for a week. I came back to my algorithms all askew, and a realization: One of the problems with people (and it's especially noticeable thanks to social media) is that everyone wants to tell you the room is on fire. Everyone wants to humblebrag they're "in the know."

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

I choke laughed 😹

You know who continues to remain on the good side of history? Costco.

Choose 20 films that have stayed with you or influenced you. One film per day for 20 days, in no particular order No explanations, no reviews, just gifs. 6/20

I *love* this. Big, BIG thanks and love to the creatives and innovators making space for those of us who face gatekeeping from "traditional" publishing.

From Dan Savage: "The next four years are gonna suck. But they’ll suck worse if we let the news cycle — and the man who dominates it — drain the joy from our lives. We need to pay attention and we need to stay in the fight. Because of course we do. But we should 1/4

In 2001, I had breakfast at a little Irish Pub outside of Golden Gate Park. All the patrons complained about "the illegals" and told me to "go back to Mexico." My point? All visible minorities should read this and know their rights and resources. Racist trash doesn't care about documentation.

In my next life, I want to be the jerkface that everyone shrugs about and causes everyone else to hear, "You know how she is. Just apologize and don't rock the boat." (Just kidding. I don't want to be that person. That person is an AH.)

Choose 20 films that have stayed with you or influenced you. One film per day for 20 days, in no particular order No explanations, no reviews, just gifs. 5/20

Oh...there's no option to save posts here? Well, here's my reminder to write.

Choose 20 films that have stayed with you or influenced you. One film per day for 20 days, in no particular order No explanations, no reviews, just gifs. 4/20

Does anyone else get really painful abdominal muscle spasms when they sneeze or bend the wrong way? I got some really awful ones yesterday, and was trying to rub them away as if I was Winnie the Pooh.

One of the messed up things about this is they're good enough to send into dangerous fires, but try to get this job when they're released? Oh noes: they're former inmates!

Choose 20 films that have stayed with you or influenced you. One film per day for 20 days, in no particular order No explanations, no reviews, just gifs. 3/20

Choose 20 films that have stayed with you or influenced you. One film per day for 20 days, in no particular order No explanations, no reviews, just gifs. 2/20

Choose 20 films that have stayed with you or influenced you. One film per day for 20 days, in no particular order No explanations, no reviews, just gifs. 1/20

When you're at the grocery store checkout, you have two options; 1. Efficient and swift 2. Put every single item in a plastic produce bag, and tightly tied shut