carllorenzreyes-blog

[carllorenzreyes-blog]

Beginnings and Endings

It is only a matter of days before the semester ends. That would also commemorate my first year of staying in Don Bosco Canlubang.

Two years ago I felt stuck in a school that I did not like and a course that I resented. It took the life out of me. I almost wanted to just quit. Fortunately, I found my way back. Teaching is what I want to do. I find Don Bosco as the perfect school for me. Mind you, the school itself is not perfect. However, they accommodated me when I transferred and my college life has never been better.

The term is ending. My first year in Don Bosco is coming to a close as well. I pray the next two years of stay would bear more fruit.

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Friends, thank you

Yesterday we celebrated a friend of mine's 22nd birthday. How did we do it? Through Discord. It wasn't the ideal celebration but it was the best we could do given the circumstances we are all in.

It was great seeing my friends again. It has been months since we all just sat down and talked. Even though it wasn't my birthday, I still had so much fun. I am grateful for my friends. They are always there for me. They helped get through lots and lots of predicaments. They are the best and I wish I can express my love for them more.

If you're one of them, thank you. I hope we physically get to see each other soon. I miss you all.

[carllorenzreyes-blog]

Bills Bills Bills

Okay, last time was weak but something good actually came. I learned about blockchain earning.

After that long sobering week I was smacked with enthusiasm. I found out about this "play-to-earn" game called Axie. I won't go much into details about it but just know that it is legit, growing, and looks really fun. The idea of just playing to earn is just music to my ears. However, Axie did have its downsides.

Since it was already growing when I encountered Axie, the investment was already too much for me. I don't know where to get Php 75,000 just to start a team in Axie (this was last week it doubled now into Php 140,000 due to the currency's rising value). It happy train went from going 88 mph into crashing down a bridge. Good thing below that bridge was tiny little cushion.

I did not get to invest into Axie, but it did lead me into other play-to-earn games. I learned about others that are still small and growing like JobTribes and Lost Relics. I am actually investing my time on those games right now. I am quite excited again. After all, I have always wanted a better reason to play video games.

[carllorenzreyes-blog]

Dull Moments

I honestly forgot to write a blog last time but I do remember that week quite well. So here goes.

I would like to believe that we all have our dull moments. Unfortunately for me, I have plenty of dull moments. In fact, doing something new or thinking of what inspired me for the week is such a work for me. It is just so hard to find anything interesting these days.

This week... I have nothing. I was so bored and there was nothing going on with my life. I do just want to shrug it off and say "it do be like that sometimes". Too bad I use that phrase way too often to justify my mishaps now.

[carllorenzreyes-blog]

Father's Day

Yesterday was father's day. A brief introduction to my family. My parents are real estate brokers / entrepreneurs. They sell lots, houses, condominiums, and all other sorts. My younger brother is following those steps. I intend to become a teacher. My older brother is a fulltime missionary and is also married. He celebrated father's day with his in-laws.

Going back, we celebrated father's day with a job. We rented a car and went straight to Lipa, Batangas. We spent the whole morning trying to sell a lot that has the view of Taal and has some very fat juicy land. We we're not able to sell it but we did get free lunch from our clients. Ravioli de salmone? Delicious.

After work and all, we started actually celebrating the day. We drove farther into Batangas just to get closer to Taal. We drove to San Nicholas and rested there. The view was amazing and I could just see Taal as marvelous as it is. At the opposite direction, we also saw Tagaytay. This view of Taal is far better than the one we usually get in Tagaytay. It was great and I had a lot of fun. We stopped for lomi on our way home.

It's nice to just be a family for half a day. Happy father's day to all the fathers out there. Here's me having fun.

[carllorenzreyes-blog]

Anime and Other "Useless Hobbies"

I remember myself back in March 2020 when the lockdown started. I was like a machine bursting with productivity. I had this now-is-the-time-to-learn mentality going in the pandemic. At the time I was still a Computer Science student who had no idea we were going to get a mass promotion. For a whole month we tried to finish our mobile game that was supposed to be our school project. Later on we found out that we won't need to pass it since everyone is getting promoted. Just like that school was done and I had all the time to myself.

I also tried other skill-building habits. I studied Spanish up to Level 1. I picked up my guitar again (that did not work out). I studied online courses left and right. Attended international Catholic conferences. Held a bible study. It was all productivity... until it wasn't anymore. I wasn't necessarily interested in all these things. So I got tired.

Come December 2020, I was just exhausted. I went from one slump into another. The next thing I knew I was just coping day-by-day. At that time I rekindled my interest in Anime. Then boom it felt like an escape. I was playing video games after school and then later on watch 10-15 episodes. I found myself rotting.

I felt like there was nothing good about me anymore. I felt quite unpresentable. However, these useless hobbies did get me through those months. I am grateful for it but I want to do better again.

Doing better doesn't mean I should stop all these useless hobbies. I love these things. They keep me going. So I fed fuel to the fire. I made an account on myanimelist. I keep track of all the shows I watched, will watch, and currently watching. I am quite happy about it.

All I'm saying is, I have embraced my interests - even though they're not skill per se. Slowly I am coming back to my old skill-building habits because God knows I need improving. This time however, I won't work myself to death. I'll keep a healthy balance of my hobbies and skill-building habits. After all, I do all these work to have more time to myself and my interests.

[carllorenzreyes-blog]

Oats

Yesterday we ran out of chocolate spread and bread. That was my usual breakfast along with a cup of coffee. Fortunately, we still had a big bag of oats just lying around waiting to be opened. I warmed up some milk and mixed the oats with it. Brewed my coffee and got a banana. I must say, this breakfast feels way better. Tastes better too. This will now be my daily breakfast. Here is to new healthier habits. Hope I get to replace my current bad habits with fruitful ones.

[carllorenzreyes-blog]

Life Beyond the Pandemic

Everyday I go through the same cycle: I wake up - I sit in front of the computer - I go to bed. I spend 15 hours a day just sitting in front of a computer. May it be playing video games, socializing, academics, or just watching a clip online. Before the pandemic, this routine is my vacation. I do this whenever there is nothing important to do in school. It has been a year and half and this vacation of mine has become my limbo. There is nothing to look forward. There is nothing better to do. What is the point of hoping for something so distant? I have become indifferent. I have also become indifferent to my indifference. Life is meh and I'll get by it. However, I did feel quite different yesterday.

It was a Sunday and my parents decided that we should visit an old friend (my grandfather's brother's widow) of ours. I was hesitant at first since being under the sun is more painful than sitting at home alone. Then again it has been ages since I went anywhere besides the living room. Might as well do something out of the ordinary today.

We arrived at our friend's house around 10 in the morning. We chatted. We heard mass. We ate lunch outside. It was simple yet so different from my daily life. Receiving a little bit too much sunshine and seeing the joy this old woman is having gave me hope. There is life beyond the pandemic. We are a long way from it but I hope I get to do those things again. I also hope that this is the start of my breakthrough from my indifference.

[carllorenzreyes-blog]

Birthdays and Family

It was my dad's birthday two days ago. He just turned 53 years old. As a family tradition we would celebrate birthdays together. May it be a movie day, a beach day, or a simple meal. What mattered was that we're together. My older brother and his wife even made the time and effort to drive all the way to Laguna (my brother lives in Pasay) just to celebrate with us. We had cake, palabok, and barbeque. We also got to meet my brother's new dog. His name is Toby and is just the cutest ball of fur. It was a great day and one of the days I'll remember when this pandemic is all behind us. I'll always cherish the moments I have with them.

[carllorenzreyes-blog]

Welcome!

Hi! Allow me to introduce myself before you read on about me and my weekly endeavors. I am Carl Lorenz V. Reyes. Carl would be okay. I am a 21 year old undergrad majoring in Values Education. I study in Don Bosco Canlubang. This is a first for me. I have never done blogs before. Even diaries, I rarely write about my days. This will be a new experience for me and I am delighted for it. I hope you get to journey with me from here on.