[856] My Thoughts on Small Houses / Minimalism (?)

 Note: I'm using Helvetica now. I have no idea why Trebuchet is gone from blogger. Oh well.

I've been fascinated by small and tiny houses ever since a few years ago. Recently I was able to watch a documentary about minimalism on Netflix.

While I believe these are good things to aim for, I find it frustrating at times when I try to look for small houses or minimalist content in youtube. The reason for this is simple. Money.

At least if you try those things out here in the Philippines money might be an issue. Well, technically those small condominiums being sold that I could probably afford qualify as a tiny house with their dimensions.

Also living a minimalist lifestyle seems great to follow, but at the same time it feels like most of the people I've seen on youtube vlogging about these things have a relatively strong financial safety net that they can risk these things.

I can't. I have a wife and a daughter, quality education is expensive, my folks are getting older. So living in a small house is out of the question since I doubt I can even afford to renovate our current house (the house I grew up in).

I've tried to see what I can do to minimize the stuff I own. I've tried to sell or donate clothes I don't wear anymore, and I usually try to give away old gadgets I own that still barely work. Or I just throw them away.

So what's my point? I guess it's this: As much as I want to try to live a minimalist lifestyle in a small house, I don't think I can afford to take the risks. Hopefully I can afford them one day.

Out.

[855] 2020

This year is just too challenging. So many events happening from out of nowhere, plus trebuchet apparently not working anymore as a font in this new blogger.

I don't even know what to write anymore. It's been a roller coaster ride of positivity and negativity for me. One minute I'm feeling okay, the next I feel sad.

I really don't know what to make of things. As always, I soldier on. I survive, I learn how to persevere, and I hope for the best.

Until when, though?

Out.

[854] Routines

I've started figuring out my routine these past few weeks. I'm constantly tweaking and adding new things once I manage to successfully incorporate things in my routine.

I'm going to try to do my Tabata workouts Mondays to Fridays. I've found some good combination of workouts that I hope will help me improve my health. Right now I'm doing 3 cycles of 4-minute cycles. Each cycles is made up of 8 alternating 20-second exercises and 10-second rests. After each cycle I have 50 seconds of recovery before moving to the next cycle.

After doing some stretches to warm me up, my first cycle is now pure cardio. Alternating jumping jacks and 20-pound kettlebell swings. This is to get my heart rate up for the next cycle.

Second cycle is also the most intense with regards to effort. For legs it will be alternating goblet squats with a 20-pound kettlebell and calf raises with two 40-pound kettlebells. If I'm focusing on the back it will be deadlifts with a 20-pound kettlebell and bent over rows with the same 20-pound kettlebell.

The last cycle will be a bit of the cooldown cycle with relatively easier workouts. I'll be doing 20-pound kettlebell hammer curls and tricep extensions for arm days. For shoulder days it will be standing 20-pound kettlebell pull-ups and left/right oblique exercises.

I know those work outs aren't perfect but I'm looking for stuff I can do in my room without making any excuses not to do it.

Originally I was doing random exercises every Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays. Now that I've gotten the habit of doing it regularly my goal is to work out different sections everyday and leave the weekends for rest.

I originally did legs and backs one day, but it was too draining and I dry-heaved a lot after the exercise. While that isn't a bad thing, I honestly think I should just distribute the effort evenly.

And don't worry, I've read about these exercises and watched different youtube videos to find the best form for me. Hopefully I can continue this even after the quarantine is lifted.

Out.

[853] Seven Months In

Seven months of 2020 have gone by. Seven long months.

From one perspective I can say it has been amazing, in the sense that I'm learning new things about myself and trying to become a better person. From another perspective it has been hell, because I really had plans this year.

I turned forty this July. I had plans.

I turned forty this July. I'm still learning new things. Not just in work, but in life as well.

I can't wait for the pandemic to end, I can't wait to be able to do things I usually do again. Even if I have to take extra precautions to be able to do them, I can't wait.

Before the quarantine started I was fortunate enough to hang out with one of my best friends. We took an early morning drive to Tagaytay and had breakfast in Santa Rosa. Just hung out for a few hours, chatting about random stuff and just generally catching up on life.

Maybe a week or two later the quarantine started. Things changed, but I'm still surviving. No joke, I'm really grateful I'm still surviving. Despite my usually negative mindset I am aware enough to know I need to find a better way of seeing things. Unfortunately this pandemic hasn't helped me, but I still survive.

Out.

[852] Wax On, Wax Off

Last Sunday, July 19, 2020, I decided to give my trusty silver 2001 Toyota Rav4 a wash and a wax. The day before I already tried to clear the yellow off the headlights as best as I could, so I decided to try to give the car some cleaning. It's literally been a while since it got cleaned and waxed, as far as I can remember.

The main reason why I decided to do this was not because the car needed some love. It was a more selfish reason. I wanted to do something productive during the weekends, and seeing as how the pandemic is still going on I really have no plans of going out unless absolutely necessary.

I was also getting a bit bored and fatigued playing computer games all day. And I sure as hell was in no mood to practice anything related to 3D, but that's for another blog post if ever.

So I washed the car. I mixed some human hair shampoo with a bucket of water and gave it a good scrub. I rinsed off the really diluted and barely soapy water then proceeded to dry her off. Once that was done I used this really old bottle of wax that I found in the garage. I applied it in sections and buffed it out as well. It took me a good hour-and-a-half to do everything, give or take a few minutes.

It was tiring, more tiring than my typical fifteen-minute HIIT / Tabata workout I do every MWF. It was also fun, in a challenging sort of way. I'm thinking of ordering the correct car shampoo, wax, applicators, and microfiber towels so I can clean the car even better next time.

It was a good change of pace from what I usually do during these past few weekends. Hopefully I can use this as a launching point to finding more productive things to do during weekends. Honestly I've been feeling drained and burned out these past few months, specifically when this goddamned pandemic started. I'd rather not go into that anymore.

Out.