Imagining More Complexly

I have lately been spending a lot of time on YouTube, watching Crash Course videos, specifically the ones about World History. One recurring "theme" (if one may call it that) is the idea that most of the conflicts in history have stemmed from a failure to imagine the world more complexly.

It has never been easier to stay awake during history class than when I'm attending this one.

I Turned 25 This Year

And this is where I spent my birthday.

Pandan Island, Palawan. Philippines

Confession

I've only been alive for twenty-four years, so one can imagine that there are few things that I am certain about:

...and then there's lonely.

Dear You (#2)

I have spent the last two days in La Union, hanging out with my best friend Razel at her grandparents' house. We mostly stay in her room where we watch movies on her laptop, discuss our woes and then laugh about them; occasionally adjusting the ac when it gets too cold or too humid. We only go downstairs for meals and some TV, although we did leave the house this afternoon to go visit a local Chinese temple to take pictures.

Tulipa gesneriana

I've always wanted to stand in a field of tulips. Right now though, all I can do is dream and draw.

Flea Market Find

The mirror was broken, and she was happy.

She'd been walking home when she found her path--usually just a concrete side street set in between a vacant lot and a rundown house for sale--had been transformed into a flea market. Makeshift tents were set up in the grassy lot, and a slight crowd had gathered around some of them, their constant chatter creating what sounded from a distance like a long, low buzz.

Acquired Skill of the Week: French Braids

Boredom led me to browse Youtube videos for some hair braiding tutorials and play with my younger cousin's hair. The only braiding I could do before this was the very basic three-part one, so I focused on learning the French braid. Good thing my cousin has long hair and didn't mind sitting uncomfortably for prolonged periods of time. Once I'd thought I got the basics of French braiding down, I proceeded to play around.

Behold:

Day One: Attempt #1

Of course, I'm still trying to get the hang of this, so it's all still a bit messy for my taste, but hey, the day before yesterday I didn't even know how to make a simple French braid.

Here's another:

Photo Proof

Somewhere in this blog I discussed my frustration with music, how I've always wanted to play the violin. Well, just in case this seems like an exaggeration, here's my proof:

Check out my 90s scrunchie!

Behind

Why do I have a fascination for masks and huge paper hand fans, I wonder?

Feet

Steampunk Doodle

Last year I discovered steampunk. I don't really understand the fascination it holds for me, since it's basically centered around science fiction and I'm not exactly a sci-fi fan.

Fan or not, however, I started doodling steampunk costumes to pass the time.

Look:

Of New Looks and Books

Today I decided I needed to change the way this blog looks. The background image was something off of the stock photos, and a bit too literal for my taste considering it's title. So I took a picture I had drawn in the middle of a sleepless night last week and decided I wanted for it to be the background, see?

I didn't worry too much about my grammar either.

Something I Tell Myself Everyday

I don't necessarily succeed every time.

Terrible Days

Envy With Footnotes

Is this a crisis?

What I don't like about social media is the fact that I get up-to-the-minute updates on how my peers are so much better people than me in so many ways. Sure, I could just opt not to look at status updates in Facebook, or block people, or "unfriend"* them altogether, but doing so would lead to another crisis better discussed elsewhere.

Self-Love

Last Friday, a coworker and I decided to eat out for lunch. While waiting for our food to arrive we started talking, as we usually did. She was quieter than usual, and looked confused about something. When  I asked her what the matter was, she asked me a question that made rendered me speechless.

Dear You,

Have you had lunch?
 
I just had some. Strange, but in the middle of it, right when I was getting ready to comment on a coworker's story, I wondered about you, and whether you've already eaten.