1227: April Rollercoaster

Something is really up with April. It's been ups-and-downs, so I guess it's up to me how to react to these events and try to make sure that the highs and lows aren't that high and that low when I react to them.

Yesterday it was work related, nothing major. Just weird stuff going on with my github desktop app and issues creating new branches off of my fork. Let's just say new branches created off main aren't synced with the latest updates. I have no idea how to address this problem.

On the other hand, something I had to finish was done and working with no issues, so good on that.

Out.

1226: Roller Coaster

My family and I got back to Metro Manila yesterday from a Holy Week holiday with my wife's relatives in Sorsogon. It was a great break and we came back in great spirits.

Then today one of the cars won't start, fine, no problem. I can ask someone to check it tomorrow. Worst case we need new batteries, best case the battery terminals just need cleaning.

Then my laptop screen died. It doesn't work anymore. Fortunately my moment of panic and anger was a relatively fast one. It also helped that my old external laptop monitor still works, so I can run it via this monitor. I'm planning on canvasing different laptop repair shops nearby for the next few days before deciding where I can bring this for repairs.

So overall my day isn't ruined, nor is it a bad day. I'd even consider it a good day since my major concerns were addressed and have possible solutions. It just sucks that the solutions may include money, and with prices skyrocketing these past few weeks I just wish things would normalize and prices would go down and stabilize.

Out.

1225: Shopping Regrets

I guess I would describe myself as someone who tries to be practical and won't spend if I feel like I honestly don't need it. This does not mean I don't have any regrets for stuff I wish I bought. Let me write about some of them.

There was this drybag backpack being sold in Muji last Christmas season for a very reasonable price. I can't remember if it was less than PhP400 or PhP700 but the dry bag was big and I honestly wanted it. Except I also felt like I didn't need it since I have two or three day bag backpacks, and one slightly bigger bag I use for longer stays. Also seeing as how I rarely leave the house I didn't see the need for another bag I would only use maybe once or twice a year, so I passed on it.

Unfortunately after the Christmas season I guess they decided to stop selling it because whenever I visit Muji now there is no trace of that drybag backpack. Oh well.

Then there was this tempered glass add on for my Nord CE 3 Lite 5G. I had a shop install it, which meant that the protective film factory stuck on the screen had to be removed. Unfortunately the tempered glass installed I guess didn't have adhesive or whatever, so every time I placed my phone in my pocket when I pulled it out the glass shifted. Eventually air bubbles came in so I had to adjust or remove and place the glass again until I just got fed up and got rid of it. It was most likely also not made for my phone since it was too narrow, I guess that's the problem with getting a "niche" phone.

One surprising regret was the Bench x SB19 convertible cargo pants. I was looking for a relatively decent looking pair and this actually didn't look like it was designed for mountain climbing. Sadly I could not find any in the Bench stores and whatever stock was left in their online stores were also sold out.

Those are three things that top of my head are shopping regrets. Though to be honest if ever the drybag backpack shows up in Muji again I just might buy it and sell/give away one of my existing backpacks.

Out.

1224: Updates

It's been two weeks or so since the major oil price increases started happening. Diesel prices have nearly doubled in the gas stations I've seen, while gas has significantly risen as well. Prices in the market have gone up, understandably (and sadly).

Some people are coping, some are acting as if everything is normal, and some people are adjusting. I guess I fall in the last category. I'm trying to limit whatever activities I have that consume gas and other utilities. I just wish other people thought the same.

It's really straining my budget, but I have no choice but to soldier on.

Out.

Late edit: Apparently today marks the anniversary of my blog! Twenty-one years and still blogging.

1223 - Coffee

I just recently started using the digital weighing scale for my personal, French pressed coffee again. I used to do that before with a ratio of around 250 g of hot water for around 20 g of ground coffee.

Lately since I've been trying to ration my beans I've only been doing around 10 to 15 g of grounds and 200 g of water, though I upped the amount of water to 250 g earlier today.

I found that doing the 200 g of water made the brew a bit too bitter for my taste. Plus I prefer quantity over quality and 200 g is just a wee bit too little for me, so I'll be sticking with 250 g of how water moving forward.

I will only be doing this when my folks aren't here. When they are I just grind 6 to 7 tablespoons of beans, maybe 30 to 40 g in weight, and add around 4 cups of water to the coffee machine. This isn't as bitter but we do have a lot of coffee to go around.

Out.