#happiest cat in the philippines

[fujianvenator]

new mothers are always so well rested and refreshed

[axolotlsupremacyowo]

20 Questions for Writers

Thanks @oceangirl24 for the tag! I love you, bestie!

Now, on to the questions!

❣️How many works do you have on AO3?

I have 86 fics! I write all kinds of things! Case fics, angst, fluff, smut, and all that jazz. I like to think that I have a diverse range of stuff on AO3, which I find I'm really proud of :3

❣️What is your total AO3 word count?

613,383....Yes, I write too much.

❣️What fandoms do you write for?

Most of my fics are Ace Attorney, but I have other fandoms like Stardew Valley! I also write in fandoms that are gifts for friends.

❣️What are your top five fics by kudos?

Say My Name (233 kudoes)

Operation Helios (178 kudoes)

Apollo is a Crazy Cat Attorney™ (166 kudoes)

Ace Attorney: Maya Fey (166 kudoes)

Turnabout Birch Meadows (151 kudoes)

Nice! Most of them are Klapollo XD

❣️Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

I love responding to comments! I get to ramble, and I want each and every commenter to know that I appreciate them <3. Sometimes I take a long time, so sorry about that!!!! But I'll get to the comment eventualy!!

❣️What's the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Definitely Things Left Unsaid, that fic is SUPER angsty with a really sad ending. It's non canon Major Character Death, so of course it's angsty lol.

❣️What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

I'm...not sure? A lot of my fics end in happy endings. But if I had to pick the happy ending that made me the most emotional, I'd have to choose Blossoming in the Rain.

❣️Do you get hate on your fic?

Surprisingly, no. I've only gotten support for my fics. Which I am VERY much thankful for. To all of my followers, readers, and supporters...thank you SO much for making my fandom experience so lovely <3

❣️Do you write smut?

Definitely lol. I used to be terrified of writing smut...and then I met a certain someone *cough cough* @mikaharuka *cough cough* and now I've written a lot of smut. This is all YOUR FAULT BESTIE.

❣️Do you write crossovers?

Nope lol. I like to keep my fandoms separate.

❣️Have you ever had a fic stolen?

I...don't think so? But if someone has stolen my fics, please be sure to tell me! I'm not exactly keen on the idea of my fics being plagiarized or stolen.

❣️Have you ever had a fic translated?

Again, I have no idea. I don't think it has since nobody has approached me before, so to my knowledge it's a no.

❣️Have you ever co-written a fic?

Yes!!! I've co written SO many things with my bestiest of besties @tsunderesalty and I love every fic I've co written with him. He's just the greatest and he's an amazing writer. Check him out!

❣️What's your all-time favorite ship?

Hmm! For Ace Attorney, it's a tough choice between Klapollo and Franmaya. For Stardew, my top ship is my farmer and Sebastian (Sebakonnie)

❣️What's the WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

My flufftober series. I started it in 2022...and it's currently 2024. I just kinda lost steam for that fic. I am very proud of all the fics I've written for it, though. Maybe I should revisit it...

❣️What are your writing strengths?

Nothing.

Ahem, knowing how my dearest besties would respond to that...I guess my flexibility with writing styles? I talked about this with my friends before, but I have multiple writing styles, five to be specific. I can switch between them pretty easily, and I like to think they're all distinct from each other but still being undeniably me. God, I really don't wanna sound like I'm bragging XD.

❣️What are your writing weaknesses?

NOT KNOWING WHEN TO SHUT THE FUCK UP. I literally cannot shut up for the life of me. It is a curse. My fics would be SO much shorter if I just shut up lol.

❣️Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

Oh!!! Actually, so about this! For reference, I'm Filipino, born and raised in the Philippines. I can speak Filipino and Tagalog pretty well, and I can understand Bisaya (Cebuano is its official name, but everyone in the Philippines calls it Bisaya) well, but I can speak it only a little bit. Anyway, I've always wanted to incorporate Filipino and Bisaya into my fics but didn't know how...and then I thought of Filipino Phoenix! Happy to say that I'm planning on writing that soon :3

So yeah, happy to include languages other than English! Especially my native language. Otherwise, for languages I don't know. I use Deepl, it's a very useful tool!

I'm all for using different languages in my fics, and when I get something wrong, I'm quick to correct it!

❣️First fandom you wrote for?

Ace Attorney. I have had Ace Attorney brainrot for SO long.

❣️Favorite fic you've ever written?

.....

.........

.........

YOU'RE MAKING ME CHOOSE OUT OF ALL OF MY BABIES?

Would it be cheating to choose a series? XD

But yeah! My Defense Attorney Maya Fey series contains my favorite fics of all! The top ones of my list being Ace Attorney: Maya Fey and Yours Truly, Franziska von Karma. I just...love these fics so much...I especially love Ace Attorney: Maya Fey. That bitch has been my baby since like...2021?

Now! Who to tag...that would be my besties @mikaharuka, @aislinnstanaka, @udaberriwrites, @kayedium-writes, @justanotherpersonwhowrites, @mikaharuka @fattybattysblog

[almostnineteen]

unpopular opinion: i missed reading books but i’m also glad i stopped

TL;DR: i lost a part of myself when i went into a reading slump but i found a new version of me that finally learned to live

a week ago i found out that Hello, Goodbye, and Everything In Between - a book i read when i was in tenth grade - has been made into a netflix film (that i totally plan to watch soon). honestly, it makes me extremely happy that the books i grew up with, or at least read towards the end of junior high, are now getting made into films that should definitely give these stories and their authors the extended recognition they deserve. and i’m talking about the likes of The School for Good and Evil, which i am also much excited about, and not the To All The Boys series (no offense). the shy high school girl in me would have been thrilled to see the books she enjoyed so much come to life.

i remember when i was in middle school and junior high. i think about how much of a book nerd i was and how i’ve changed from then. you could say reading and writing was my whole personality. books were my whole world... or, worlds, i guess, since i lived in so many of them and not enough of my own. one Christmas i even asked my family to install another bookshelf in my room above my bed just so i could have space for all the books i haven’t read yet (it was just a long plank of wood we had lying around held up by supports). i live in the Philippines so Fully Booked was my absolute favorite place, especially the BGC branch. i was always happiest when i was reading, and the same could be said for writing.

then the pandemic hit, and i stopped reading and writing altogether. well, technically, my reading slump started when i was in tenth grade, but the pandemic really was something else. my mental health was down and i was also starting at a new school after studying at the same one for 11 years. i drowned myself in work and burnt myself out more times than i could count. for whatever reason, reading and writing, unless they were for academic purposes, just didn’t fit into my schedule anymore. but i guess, at the time, they didn’t fit into my personality either.

the reason why i never had time to pick up a book or a pen (or even type stuff down) was because i was busy discovering other things. over the past few years, i have:

transferred into my dream senior high school

experienced the pains of adjusting to online classes + being in a co-ed school for the first time

made A LOT of new friends (we’re at least 20 people in the friend group)

gotten a netflix account and binge watched so many shows and movies (Jane the Virgin, HIMYM, B99, Lucifer, and The Good Place now have special places in my heart)

gotten into a relationship (i was very busy discovering a lot about my boyfriend. hi, hun!)

engaged in typical teenage shenaniganry (hehe)

redecorated my room

adopted a cat

rearranged my room again for said cat (the bookshelf is now bookless and has since become a cat nap area)

gone to places i could otherwise never afford if it weren’t for my friends and their parents sponsoring the events

been through more ups and downs than i could keep track of

drowned myself in work then proceeded to pull myself back out

and essentially a lot of other stuff i never thought would happen to me at all. i focused more on myself and the people around me rather than fictional characters living fictional lives (who, i will admit, are amazing and unique in their own right, but real-life drama about real-life people just hits different y’know, especially when you can get in the middle of it lmao).

when i was a new student at the start of grade 11, i realized that in order to make friends i needed to be an interesting enough person on my own, with a personality beyond the things i’ve read or wanted to write about. that, and i learned that it’s easier for people to talk about real people, whether it’s me or themselves or others we know. granted, i have friends right now who are suckers for fictional characters (especially fictional men written by women), but i found that the easiest way to connect with new people is to start by talking about what’s in front of you instead of something that you both need to have read or watched in order to understand.

even if i’m sad that i lost a part of myself that probably had a fire in her heart and a sparkle in her eyes, i’m also glad i got to transition into the person i am now. she isn’t terrible, she’s just different (and much more tired). she went through hell and matured a lot. now that i’m trying to maintain a healthier lifestyle and mental state, i guess now’s a good time to go back to what made me happiest when i was younger.

this year, i’ve only read The President Is Missing and Be More Chill so far (started both after school ended in may). as part of my college rebranding, i’ve decided to read more books about Filipino culture and history, or books by Filipino authors. i already started when i was in tenth grade, so i’m continuing by currently reading AA Patawaran’s Manila Was A Long Time Ago. i’d definitely love to get recommendations though !! Filipino genre or not, if it’s a good book recommended by someone on this site i’d be happy to give it a shot.

additionally, i’ll try my best to keep this blog for random thoughts and essays. i will not be reviving my old tumblr blog, but i won’t delete it either because that’s still a part of who i am. still, i want to keep this separate from all the fangirling i did back in 2019, when i only used tumblr for a bit then dipped for 3 years (lmao i still don’t really know how to use this site). i’m hoping this blog could serve as some kind of brain dump therapy for when i’m feeling like twitter isn’t a big enough rant space for my thoughts.

so there. i’m back on tumblr. don’t know how long i’ll be here, and i don’t know if this will reach anyone (or if anyone will care to reach the end of this post). still, i’m pretty glad to be back.

[shop-korea]

APRIL - 2023 - TRON - RIDE - IS - OFFICIALLY - OPEN -

ANNUAL - PASSES - FLORIDA - CHEAPEST - AND ITS -

AVAILABLE - 20 APRIL - REMEMBER - THE - ECLIPSE -

4 - UNITED STATES - IS - 2024 - THE - 08 APRIL - YES -

NEXT - YEAR - WE’VE - BEEN - WARNED - BY - NEW -

WALT DISNEY - PRESIDENT - THAT - WALT DISNEY -

WORLD - 24 HRS - EVERY - AROUND - MIDNIGHT IT -

WILL - B - INSPECTION - TIME - BY - BOY - AND GIRL -

AT - $18 - PER - HOUR - WALT DISNEY - GIVES - THE -

BIGGEST - AMOUNT - PER - HOUR - FEDERAL - TAX -

CAN - B - CLAIMED - TAX - FREE - BUT - MIAMI - FL -

HIGHER - TAX - 7% - THAN - ORLANDO - 6.5% - THE -

MINIMUM - WAGE - IS - $10 - PER - HOUR - $1,600 -

EACH - MONTH - BECAUSE - $18 - PER - HOUR -

OBEDIENT - 2 - PRESIDENT - HOW - ABOUT XO -

SINCE - WALT DISNEY - DIED - OF - CANCER -

‘HAPPIEST - WORLD - LAND - 4 - KIDS - IN XO -

THE - WORLD’ - DIED - WITH - WALT DISNEY -

THUS - FORGOT - SOLUTION - HAVE HOTEL -

IN - WALT DISNEY - PARK - BUT - HAVE YES -

ANOTHER - 2 - SLEEP - IN - I - RECOMMEND -

WYNDHAM - ORLANDO - RESORT THEY YES -

HAVE -  APP - 4 - FREE - NIGHTS - SLEEP XO -

THERE - SO - NO - INTERRUPTION - AS YOU -

SLEEP - CHECKOUT - EARLY - ALSO - IS YES -

AVAILABLE - 2 U - SAFETY - 4 - YOUR FAMILY -

U - WILL - WAKE UP - B 4 - CHECKOUT - AT -

WYNDHAM - ORLANDO - DISNEY - EMPLOYEES -

DON’T - STAY - IN - HOTELS - THEY - ARE - SO -

DERANGELY - JEALOUS - OF - U - AS - WHO -

STAYS - IN - HOTELS - LIKES - CHARLES MANSEN -

LIFE - IMPRISONMENT - HE - HAD - BRUNETTES XO -

AS - FEMALES - STAB - 2 - DEATH - BLONDES - WHO -

ARE - 7 MONTHS - PREGNANT - SO - HE - ONLY GOT -

LIFE - IN - CALIFORNIA - HOT - ABOVE - SO - WILL B -

EATING - LUNCH - WARNING - WARNING -

METROMOVERS - FREE - TRAIN - UNTIL -

MID - JUNE - 2023 - OMNI - AND - BRICKELL -

LOOP - SHARING - DOESN’T - AFFECT - ME -

MINE - FINANCIAL - CENTER - THE - EDGE 2 -

STOPS - WARNING - WARNING - WARNING

KEVIN

(WHITE - GUY) - (PUBLIC - HS - GRAD) - HIS -

HYUNDAI - ELECTRA - GRAY - HIS - CAR IS -

PARKED - ILLEGALLY - ON - ONLY - ONE -

DISABLED - PARKING - NO - VISIBLE YES -

EMBLEM - DISABLED - CARD - HE AS THE -

MANAGER - SUB - HE - PARKS - THERE XO -

NOW - ILLEGAL - KENDALL - BLK - PLATES -

MIAMI-DADE - COUNTY - WELCOME - TO -

FLORIDA - LICENSED - PLATE - IS -

HLB J40

BY - MEMBORY - HYUNDAI - KOREAN -

ANOTHER - GRAY - HYUNDAI - GUESS -

OF - MINE - NEW - FEMALE - HISPANIC -

ASSISTANT - TOILET - CLEANERS AND -

HAS - BEAUTIFUL - DAUGHTER - LONG -

HAIR - THERE - IS - ANOTHER - WHO - HAS -

GRAY - HYUNDAI - BLK - MALE - HE COMES -

6:05A EDT - AT - LEAST - ALWAYS - A - GIRL -

CAR - GARAGE - OPENS - 5:59A EDT - EACH -

DAY - SO - THIS - USA - ILLEGAL MANAGERS -

PROPERTY - MANAGERS - ASSISTANTS WHO -

PARK - FRONT - OF - US - MAILBOXES - THAT -

IS - ILLEGAL - US POLICE - ALLOWS - THEM 2 -

U - WANT - HIT AND RUN - AS - CARS - THE -

SPANISH - SPEAKING - DO - THAT U DON’T -

NEED - 2 - GO - 2 - SPANISH - COUNTRIES -

MIAMI - HAS - LOTS - OF - HIT AND RUN AS -

CARS - RECKLESS - R - RECLESS DRIVING -

SO - MIAMI - SAMPLE - OF - SPANISH - LIVING -

KILLING - CATS - WOMEN - WITH - HIT & RUN -

BY - CARS - MARRIED - MEN - MARRIED - TO -

MEN - SPANISH - MARRIED - 2 - WOMEN - AS -

THEY - BURP - LOUD - YAWN - LOUD - GIRLS -

CARRY - THEIR - OWN - TABLE - CHAIRS - AS -

FRANCE

ENGLAND

INDIA

PHILIPPINES

MALES - CARRY - TABLE - CHAIRS - 4 - STRANGERS -

ESPECIALLY - INDIA - AND - FRANCE - PERFECT XO -

GENTLEMEN - DON’T - EXIST - IN - USA - MIAMI - FL -

DON’T - EXIST - IN - SPAIN - THAILAND - AND MANY -

SPANISH - COUNTRIES - CHINA - HONG KONG NOT -

GENTLEMEN - JESUS - IS - LORD - LEAVING - SOON

[maryammacariola]

“Kaya ngayon, ibuhos na ang beer sa aking lalamunan.. upang malunod na ang puso kong nahihirapan. Bawat patak anong sarap? Ano ba talagang mas gusto ko? Ang beer na’to o ang pag-ibig mo?...” Cheers!!! One of my favorite lyrics by itchyworms titled “Beer”. As the lyric says, ano ba talagang mas gusto ko?  is it to drink beer, so I can’t feel the pain that you have caused me? Or choose to love you even more because you are the only one who taught me what true love really feels like?

Hi, my name is Maryam B. Macariola, you can call me “yam”. I like music, sports, and arts! and I am obliged to tell you more about me.

On June 6th, 2006, my mom was in a war where she was giving her best to fight for me and let my existence occur in her world. And gladly, she succeeds. Her last war on giving birth to a child and having her youngest daughter which is me. She did not expect that her youngest daughter will be like that. what do I mean by “that”? here… Reminiscing about my childhood, I was this little girl who was the most behave kid you will ever encounter according to my grandma. Well, she and her husband (grandpa) were the ones who took care of me my whole life because my mom had to go far away to work for us. According to my grandparents, I was the most kind, most quiet and most behave child they ever had unlike my siblings who were like some cats and dogs fighting each other all day. And as time goes by, their little girl was about to see and experience reality.

Grade school, I discovered myself as an artist in the future for I was so fond of arts, and I can’t finish a day without making an art.  So that was when I realized that my passion revolves around arts. Besides that, I also loved to sing and dance back then and would be upset if I wasn’t in front of the dance group because I really liked being noticed by everyone when I’m dancing. But that was a long time ago and now, I can’t even dance the way I used to. I was one of the happiest, jolliest, and most active students in our school and I was so proud of myself. Until high school came.

 High school, this is the part where I discovered my sport which is Badminton, I loved playing that sport that I always compete with different schools and surprisingly met some new pals. I remember I used to join quiz bees in my grade 7 and 8 in Tassaa Meets. Even though we didn’t win, I was still happy that I got to experience those kinds of circumstances. But, as time goes by, I lost hope.

 High school, some say this will be the best part of your life and here you will experience everything for the first time, first failure that you will remember every single day, first heart break, first time crying on some nonsense things, first breakdowns, first time questioning your worth, and first time feeling unloved. I didn’t know that my 4 years of junior high school life would be a tragic one. And one of the main reasons why is because of the Covid 19 pandemic. When pandemic came, I was so unsure of myself. It’s like I felt that I don’t really belong in this world, I had to find the right environment for me to grow and mold myself into a better me. I wanted to find the right place to learn new things and to make myself standout. I was in a fighting spirit, and I was ready to battle.

And that time, my graduation of junior high school came, I decided to transfer school for my SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL LIFE. I wanted to have a fresh start.

So here we go, a 16-year-old girl who knows that it will be hard to adjust because of the big changes in her life, but forever thankful for the new chapter, a new beginning, a new me in a new school which is my beloved St. Paul University of the Philippines.

In the beginning, I wasn’t sure if I made the right choice to study in this massive school because this school is one of the expensive schools here in our city. At first, I was hesitant to study here because I don’t think my mom would approve, but surprisingly, mom was supportive. She made me take this as an opportunity for my future because this school will actually make my dreams come true. Why? Because there’s a lot of professional teachers who can actively teach you everything that you need to know. You won’t get bored by how they teach because the way they teach is amazing and amusing. They always give their best for their students and to make sure that all students must have the opportunities to standout. I also admire some students who actively participate in every activity. This school will help you improve yourself, discover your talents and skills, and has the power to lead you into your righteous path.

This school has the strand that I need which is STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) which will be my bridge to take my dream course which is Architecture. You might ask why I chose architecture, so here’s the thing. When I was still a kid, I dreamed about being an artist who just makes art out of fun and wanted to show my arts around the world. I wanted to inspire and I wanted to pursue it. But when I got older, I started asking questions to myself, "do I just really want to be an artist? Do I want this job just for myself?" I realized that I also want to share my talents in this world. I aspire to be someone who can help you design and build your precious home through my art skills. That’s why I decided to be not just an artist but also an Architect.

Because of this university, I have met some strangers that turned into friendships. Kindred spirits that was ready to accept my flaws. They were like angels sent from above. They are one of the reasons why I am grateful I chose this school. Because of them I had the motivation again to do well, for they are so competitive that I also want to standout. And I love the way we all treat each other like a family.

All I wish for myself is to have a wonderful teenage life.

[purplesurveys]

998

survey by starsareonly2nd

How many text messages are currently in your inbox? I don’t know if my phone can provide that particular feature. Suffice it to say there’s a ton because I don’t really do spring cleaning with my texts and I’ve kept messages since getting this phone in 2018.

Is your profile picture in color or black & white? All my profile photos have been in color, and I think I’ve only had to have a black and white photo once.

What's your favorite Christmas movie? Love Actually.

Did you dress up for Halloween this year? If so, what were you? We’re gonna be having a virtual Halloween party at work on Wednesday and I’m thinking of just going as Dora the Explorer again since I wasn’t able to maximize my costume last year anyway (the Halloween party I had gone to didn’t allow shorts - wtf? so I ended up wearing orange pants and looking nothing like Dora) and this time around I also actually have bangs to complete the look. But idk, the party announcement says we also have 30 seconds each to impersonate the character, and I'm just not extroverted enough for individual presentations like that. I’m heavily leaning towards skipping the entire thing because of that one instruction, but we’ll see.

Are there any posters in your room? Of what? Yuh, Nam Joo Hyuk.

Do you read Rolling Stone? I don’t think I ever have.

Which Harry Potter book (if you read them) was your favorite? I read up until the blue book, but I don’t remember which one I had enjoyed reading the most. I do remember breezing through one of them and finishing in just a couple of hours, so I’d say that was my favorite.

Do you have any stuffed animals you still sleep with? No.

What kind of cell phone do you own? iPhone.

Do you have any pets? Yes :)

Are there currently any accessories in your hair? Sure, a hair tie.

Are you involved with any clubs at your school? I was in two organizations in college andddd in high school it was mandatory to be in a club, so I was in one for each year.

Do you have an MP3 player? What kind? I used to own an iPod Nano.

What's your favorite sport to watch on TV? Wrestling!!! My first love, forever and always.

How many people live with you? Four. Parents and two siblings.

Are you good at any styles of dance? Haha, I wish. I’m a terrible dancer.

Do you think that your hair looks better curly or straight? Neither. It’s best when it’s wavy.

Where was your default taken? It’s not a photo of me, first of all. It’s from an episode of Bojack but I can’t remember which episode it’s form.

Have you ever been to another country? Yeah, several times.

Do you prefer cats or dogs? Dogs.

What was the last thing you ate? Kwek-kwek. My grandma made so many pieces for us when she came over yesterday <3

What's your desktop background? It’s of a mountain range and is one of the provided backgrounds in my laptop.

What was the last movie you saw at a theater? For the billionth time, Knives Out.

Did you think it was a good movie? No, but I’m biased because I hate that genre. I’m fairly sure it was well-received and that it’s objectively a good movie.

Are you afraid of spiders? The ones we have here are super tiny and look pretty harmless, so no. But I’ve seen how freaky spiders can look like in other countries and I understand why so many people are terrified of them.

Did you carve a pumpkin this year? If so, what did you carve into it? No, we don’t practice that here.

Which Disney movie is your favorite? Toy Story makes me the happiest.

Are you the youngest, oldest, middle, or only child? Eldest.

If your power were to suddenly go out right now, how would you react? Annoyed at the inconvenience, but glad that my laptop is at 88% and that I have a bunch of tabs with surveys so I can at least do something; unbothered because the weather is cold; and pleased that I have enough mobile data to keep myself from getting bored. Overall I wouldn’t mind it, hahaha

Do you enjoy photography? I don’t enjoy doing it, but I like looking at photos, sure.

What's your favorite thing to do at the beach? Swim and allowing myself to relax and let go in the water.

Are you afraid of heights? Not for most situations, but if I had to do an extreme stunt or dare that involved heights then yeah it would.

If someone were to cut you in line at a store, would you speak up? No, but I’d take a photo of their back and share it on social media and call them an asshole to release my annoyance. I’d probably try to sneakily elbow them as well, just so I can sleep soundly at night.

Are there any foods you enjoy baking/cooking? No.

What website would you say you visit the most? Definitely YouTube.

What book are you currently reading? [continued from yesterday] I don’t think it’s still fair to say I’m reading Midnight Sun anymore. I haven’t opened it in about a month now, even though it’s constantly on my desk just right beside the laptop I work on.

Is it for school or just because you want to read? It’s because I do want to read it and because I like Twilight hehe. I’m not in school.

Are you going to any concerts in the future that you know of? I’m just waiting for my third Paramore show, whenever that is; but otherwise no and I have no clue who or when the first post-Covid concert is going to be.

Do you play any instruments? No. I can play some tunes on the piano but it’s cheating and I don’t count it, because I’ve only memorized which keys to press and I don’t actually know how to read notes or use the proper fingering.

Are you looking forward to the new Alice in Wonderland movie? This question is so cute considering it’s been a literal decade since that movie came out...anyway, no, I didn’t look forward to it as I’m not a fan of the genre.

Do you get seasick? I do but I can handle my stomach for the most part. The only time it got really bad was during my cruise, and the only reason I didn’t throw up was my dad has a cabin at the bottom floor of the ship, where the shaking was a lot weaker.

When was the last time you hung out with your friends? This is so painful to read lol...last week of February.

Do you drink soda on a regular basis? Nopes.

Are you currently wearing a hoodie? No but I can do with one right now to feel cozy. I just don’t feel like getting out of my chair.

What's the weirdest food you've ever eaten? Gulab jamun was personally a unique experience, but weird has a negative connotation so I’m avoiding that word.

What was the last sporting event you attended? I think it was like a UP/Ateneo volleyball game, which was the only type of UAAP event I attended anyway.

Do you understand Shakespeare? Nope, that’s why I got books that had the modern-day translations right beside the original text lol. I mean I would probably be able to understand it if I exerted time and effort into reading Shakespeare, but I don’t have either, so.

Is there a bookshelf in your room? Nah but the top of my closet acts like one.

Do you need to wear glasses at all? Yes, all the time.

What's your favorite genre of books? Anything non-fiction, so books on history, memoirs, etc.

Do you think it's too early for Christmas music? Not in the Philippines. Christmas for us starts in September :) Anyone’s free to put up Christmas trees and lights or listen to Christmas music as soon as the clock strikes 12 midnight on September 1st.

What's the longest you've ever gone without speaking? Maybe during my dark days in 6th grade? I was super depressed, had no friends, had a strained relationship with my entire famly, and was holed up in my room all day long. It’s very possible I went several days without talking then.

Does your house have a garden? I wouldn’t call it a garden but we do have several trees and plants around the house, yes.

What color is the shirt you are wearing? It’s multi-colored stripes.

Do you know what brand of toothpaste you use? Colgate.

When was the last time you were on an airplane? Early 2019.

Do you have a permit or license? A driver’s license, yes.

Did you walk any long distances today? Nope. So far I’ve only gone down to the kitchen to fix myself a cup of coffee.

Are you currently wearing any make-up? I’m not.

How do you feel about bands covering old pop music? I personally don’t like most covers but I don’t take it against the bands. I just won’t listen to those versions.

Are your nails painted? Never are.

Do you use correct grammar online? Sure, unless I want to use bad grammar on purpose.

Do you agree with the statement that Miley Cyrus is a bad role model? I don’t think she even ever claimed to be one, so that’s an unfair accusation. I personally never had a problem with her and I admire her confidence and boldness in her performances and other things she does. Slide Away in particular is a very beautiful song.

Do you give out cards on Valentine's Day? No.

What are you listening to right now? I can hear the wind lightly blowing outside, but thankfully it’s no longer as violent as yesterday.

[harrenhollaback]

20 questions that i will answer until i have done so 20 times

tagged by @livhatesolives 10q canto art buddy!

name: blithe

nicknames: i put “grand empress dowager” as one of my pronouns for a while and now some friends actually call me that which is textbook manifestation 

zodiac sign: libra sun! narcissist moon! mom friend rising!

height: 5′2″ in my civilian, 5′8″ in my business

language(s) spoken: english and canto!

nationality: diasporic settler on native land

favorite season: this one, duncan sheik!! sprank!!!!!

favorite flower: blue plumbagos and birds of paradise!

favorite scent: jasmine, bergamot, burnt matches

favorite color: blues make me the happiest! rn it’s #A0C6F9 which is a periwinkley one ( :

favorite fictional characters: arya!!! renly!! rogue!! jubilee!! janet!! ROSA!!!!!

coffee, tea, or hot chocolate: THIS QUESTION MAKES ME GO FULL BANSHEE BC I HAVE TO S-C-R-E-A-M ABOUT TEA!! YOU DON’T HAVE *TIME* TO HEAR ME TALK ABOUT TEA CULTURE. THE WAY YOU HOLD A CUP SO THAT IT’S LIKE A PHOENIX CLAW. THE WAY YOU TAP ON THE TABLE TO SIGNIFY BOWING TO EACH OTHER. THE SCENTS, THE STEEPS, THE RITUALS, THE DRAMA OF A BLOOMING FLOWER TEA. YOU JUST DON’T HAVE THE HOURS!!!!!!

average sleep hours: 6-10 and probably closer to six tonight bc i am having an evening jasmine which!! can’t think won’t think!

dog or cat person: cat cat cat how could you not prefer the one that shits in a box and bathes itself

number of blankets you sleep with: one in warm season, 2-5 in cold lol wire me that weighted blanket money man

dream trip: all my travel dreams revolve around family, food, and history. so lima and barranquilla por mi chino latinos and i would be the mooost grateful if a friend could take me to the philippines so i could eat all the seasoned fries

followers: 3 renly stans and a dozen 8x02 truthers

random fact: i tried to make an outfit tik tok this week but it was too hardt. vine had only ONE button and tik tok acts like the elevator from elf. intolerable.

i feel obligated to tag @lightninginabottle0613 bc every iced coffee gay i convert keeps the hellmouth open another sixty years. also i would genuinely like to get to know @angelatwell @meereens @haylleyelite and @ollie-19 if you feel it ( : !

[rafilaguialam]

Who am I?

I am Rafi Usop Laguialam I was born and grew up in a peaceful neighborhood at Saudi Arabia. As a child, I was very sickly. I frequented hospitals, and worried my parents a ton. My father told me that I technically died 2 times as a child. I lived a good life though.

As a young boy, I made few friends. Being an Asian in an Arab country had its difficulties. I was bullied for being the light brown kid. Funny enough, they made fun of me by calling me Jackie Chan. But I was never one to let people step on me, I fought back. I wasn’t a problem child because my parents and teachers knew that I had a reason for fighting back.

I transferred schools in my 4th grade. Thankfully, I transferred to a local Filipino school. I then proceeded to make a lot of friends. I finally learned how it felt to be a Filipino kid. My Tagalog vocabulary improved and I fitted in pretty well. I finally had a place to fit in. Although, I began to change in bad ways and soon became a problem child for my parents. I began to do the bullying which I myself experienced. I was never held accountable, and usually got away with what I did from my school.

A few years pass, and I’m in Highschool now. I stopped bullying, well, not as much at least. In Highschool , I experienced my first love, first hearbreak, and first bunch of big struggles. These experiences shaped me to become a better person. In my third-year of Highschool, I’ve grown pass my childish behavior. I had stopped bullying, and made amends with those I’ve hurt. I joined my school’s CAT program while also playing as a student athlete. I’d say that, that was the prime of my Highschool life. I was the happiest that I’ve ever been during my time abroad, but this proved to only be temporary. Me, my brother, and my mother were to be sent here to the Philippines, and continue life here. I could not accept this and I tried my hardest to convince my parents to let us stay for one more year until I graduated from Junior Highschool. Which did not work.

Months pass by and here I am. A homesick kid, living in a different country for the first time. My first few months here were depressing. I was in a long distance relationship with my girlfriend whom I was with during my stay abroad. I did not fit in and had no friends. I was new to everything around me. All this proved to be big struggles for me. But as time passed by, I met new faces and made new friendships. I re-assessed relationships I had back then and came to realize how better my friendships here in the Philippines are. I finally became comfortable here. 3 years have passed, I learned the local dialect Bisaya and finally fit in. Although, I don’t speak it, I still understand it enough to have meaningful conversations with my friends. I feel normal now. Just like back then, I struggled, but eventually found my place. As for who I am, I am a Saudi kid.

[elletao]

i was tagged by @thelesbianoftarth (thank u babes 💕)

nicknames: my mum calls me pulga alsksj

zodiac sign: scorpio

height: 1.55 m

hogwarts house: i've gotten both gryffindor and hufflepuff so who knows 🤷🏻‍♀️

last thing i googled: 'harry styles stockholm 2017 suit' for a gifset for my other blog lmao

song stuck in my head: wasabi by little mix

fav musicians: janelle monáe, harry styles, jorja smith, hozier

following: 430

followers: 457 (dont bully me 🥺)

do you get asks: sometimes and they make me the happiest

lucky number: dont have one, i hate maths

what are you wearing: sweatpants and a t-shirt

dream job(s): writer! nature photographer, fashion designer

dream trip: perú, the philippines, japan, amsterdam and so many more

instruments you play: none, sadly

languages you speak: only spanish and english :(

fav song: right now jackie and wilson by hozier

random fact: i don't know how to apply liquid eyeliner and will never learn

cats or dogs: both 😤

aesthetic: being covered in blankets reading or watching a movie while it's raining outside, late night texting, dark woods where the sun can barely be seen, walking barefoot on the beach, the smell of old books, long car rides, notepads and notebooks with songs lyrics and poems in them, rings in almost every finger, cold nights with skies full of stars, swimming in lakes, the road ahead while travelling.

tagging: @clarkeleksa @queenkevindays @perrieledwards @dantesquintana @feministjamesransone

(no pressure tho! 💖)

[ads4servicepro]

Ways to Remember Your Pet After It Has Passed On

You would be an unusual person indeed if, snuggling your soft new puppy, you thought about ways to remember your pet after it has passed on. The thought of death rarely crosses a person's mind at such a wriggling, full-of-life moment. We usually live as though our pets possess immortality, but our hearts know they may very well pass on before we do.

I remember so well the day our adult daughter's dog, Daisy passed on. The two had accompanied each other constantly for twelve years. Our daughter provided warm, handmade clothing for her 40-pound Daisy. She socialized Daisy and trained her in the niceties of everyday life. She nursed Daisy through many illnesses, including the cancer to which her pet finally succumbed. As the end neared, she arranged with a local veterinarian for immediate pickup and final assistance through the closing hours of her pet's life. No one suspected, however, that Daisy's death would occur in the wee small hours of the morning. Daisy passed on with nothing more than the tender comforts and copious tears of her lifelong human companion.

Our daughter sank into the depths of grief. With morning, she contacted the veterinarian. Daisy's body made the trip to the vet's office for cremation, and our daughter held only her memories. She soon realized that she wanted a concrete, visible way to remember her pet. We wanted to give her some kind of memorial gift, and began looking for ways to remember her pet.

WAYS TO REMEMBER YOUR PET AFTER IT HAS PASSED ON

The number of ideas astounded us. Some people suggested burying the pet's cremated ashes in a pet cemetery and erecting an outdoor memorial. Some felt that a memorial service provided a good way to remember your pet. Others listed self-involvement such as sharing the love you felt for your pet with other animals, volunteering at an animal shelter, or helping the elderly with their pets. There appeared to be many ways to remember your pet after it has passed on, but none of them fulfilled what we wanted - a "memorial" as constant as Daisy had been.

Some ideas were right for a goldfish. Some were suited to either cat or dog. There were even ways to remember your pet pony or horse after it has passed on. I imagine that if you looked long enough, you might even find ways to remember a deceased elephant.

Let me give you five other ideas we found.

- Create a memory garden if you own your own property. Make it as simple or elaborate as you wish. Choose a quiet spot away from foot traffic and plant a few flowers. Add an attractive flat stone on which you've painted your pet's name. You might also add a stone or metal statue of your pet's breed. As you maintain the garden, you will remember your beloved pet.

- Craft a custom picture frame of your pet with its name, and fill it with a favorite photo of the cat, dog, etc. If you'd rather let someone else do the work, try looking on the Internet for custom memorial photo frames, or find a generic frame you love and insert a photo of one of the happiest days with your pet.

- Place a box of your pet's ashes on a shelf, but make it a special box. (I knew a woman who piled five plain boxes on a shelf (two dogs and three cats)! You can order a beautiful wooden, laser engraved urn with a photo of your pet, its name, and dates etched on the top. You might even remember your pet with a special poem etched on the box front.

- For an inexpensive way to remember your pet after it has passed on, repurpose your pet's ID tag. You can add it quickly and easily to a handmade bracelet. Or attach the pet ID tag to a key ring that you take with you every time you leave home. If you have none, you can order one featuring your dog's name and a symbol that will often bring memories to mind.

- Order a mobile decal memorial for your bike or vehicle. These window decals often memorialize human loved ones, but also provide a way to remember your pet after it has passed on. 

My personal choice?

GLASS PET CREMATION JEWELRY

Of the many ways to remember your pet after it has passed on, I love the handmade, custom pet cremation ash pendants. Glass pet cremation jewelry is not all created equal, of course. Many pieces are factory-made and lack the individual warmth you and your pet shared.

The best pet cremation jewelry gives you a warm, unique way to remember a warm, unique pet with whom you loved life and explored the world in which you lived. Glass pet cremation jewelry transforms a portion of your pet's cremated ashes into an artistic expression of your love for him or her. You could leave the ashes in a box on the shelf, of course, as suggested above. You wouldn't be able to carry the box with you, however. You might only see the memorial when you dusted it each week.

Glass pet cremation jewelry takes a small portion of your pet's ashes, melts them within smooth, hot glass, and presents you with a beautiful piece of wearable art.

My favorite pet cremation jewelry is a striking red paw-print pendant, hand-fashioned by the professional artist at https://psychecremationjewelry.com/cremation-jewelry/glass-cremation-pendants/red-pawprint-cremation-pendant.

This is simply stunning! You must see it! It makes a perfect way to remember your pet after it has passed on. Its beauty shows others, too, how much you loved your non-human companion.

When you wear this particular pet cremation pendant, you and your admiring friends will marvel at its beauty and speculate as to how the artist managed to get that perfect, tiny paw print inside the glass. How did he make it appear to float among your pet's ashes and the blue glass? Suspended from its black satin cord, this amazing glass pendant rests flat against your body, keeping memories of your deceased pet close.

The artist provides for those who never wear pendants as well. A man may order a glass cremation marble containing ashes from his unforgettable pet.

You are not limited to one memorial, either. When a pet passes on, more than one family member will miss it. You can order a variety of these artistic pet cremation pendants, or order identical ones for each member of the family.

The artist has provided a simple kit for you to use. He mails it to you when you order. You just place one scoop (about 1/4 tsp) of ashes in the small jar he sends for each memorial you order. You put the jar in his prepaid mailing envelope. You may also add photos or written memories of the pet you want to remember. The artist promises to review everything before making your custom memorials. You drop the prepaid envelope in the mail, and if you have questions, ask the artist directly without any customer service or middleman.

Mark, the artist at adsthumb.com gives a hint of the care he will give your personal pet cremation ash jewelry when he writes, "After experiencing the loss of 3 close friends and my big tom cat Leo, I decided to put my skills to use in the service of others who'd lost people and pets close to them." That attitude makes these pendants truly personal ways to remember your pet after it has passed on.

CONCLUSION

Even if your pet, like Daisy, has been suffering a harsh illness, the actual death leaves you in grief. You cannot bring the pet back to life, but you can keep its memory alive by choosing one of many ways to remember your pet after it has passed on. Take your time, and choose well.

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[numinousxsims]

sims q&a tag~

tagged by my absolute faves @catssimblr @simsxbayxworld @homesicksims​ ♡ i tag @charmedsims @recklessims @barleycoffee @vamprocillin @crushedvelvetsims @beaute-sims @feme-rebelle @kanashii-sims @stillgotme

Sim’s name: Luna Camille Barrero 1. What is your sim’s favorite food? thai food and all kinds of seafood. babygirl loves her shrimp and crab. 2. What is your sim’s favorite color? autumn-y colors, so brick red to orange type colors! 3. What is your sim’s zodiac sign? libra! 4. Does your sim believe in “love at first sight”? yeah, she does. she’s a hopeless romantic. loves love. loves to love!  5. What is your sim’s sexuality? she’s straight!  6. Is your Sim a cat or dog person? (or both?) she’s… a dog person! but wouldn’t mind a cat, so maybe both?  7. Adding to the previous question, if your sim were to have a cat and/or dog, what kind/breed(s) would it be? for a dog, she’d love a labrador or a BEAGLE!! for a cat, she doesn’t really know lol. all she knows she wouldnt mind one! 8. Does your Sim have a best friend? cough, she had one :/ .. jk. she has several. at one point, it was Mikayla, they grew up together when they met at age 12 (but for now, it’s tarnished). since she entered her 20′s, she was able to meet the three others you’ve seen (through Mikayla and also when the others were job hunting) – Asha, Vivienne and Piper. all of whom she calls her best friends. they’ve just lost touch with Luna. except two people and you’ll know who eventually when we get to that part in my story. :) 9. Does your Sim have a favorite life stage? definitely childhood, but it’s starting to flip over onto young adulthood as things are starting to kind of get really good for Luna. 10. What is your sim’s ethnicity? she is half spanish from her dad and then thai/filipino from her momma’s side. 11. If your Sim could travel to anywhere in the world, where would they visit? probs Thailand and the Philippines, just to get to know more of her culture in that way.  12. If your Sim was a castaway on a distant, uncharted island, who would they bring? Milo, no doubt. the two have become inseparable, even if Milo can’t make a fire for shit (he could though, just hypothetically saying heh), she’d choose him always. 13. Does your Sim have a favorite tv show and/or movie? she doesn’t keep up with tv shows much but loves her movies. she lives for movies that just break your heart or just reaffirm her belief in true love (idk why lmao) so one of her top faves is Blue Valentine. 14. Does your sim believe in the “simulation theory”? nooo. (although…. she should bc thats how i control her……JK). 15. Does your Sim have a favorite kind of clothing to wear? yup, culottes or just really comfy loose pants/jeans (mom jeans/bf jeans)! thats like her #1 thing.  16. Does your Sim have a lucky charm? up to now, no actually.  17. What kind of music or singers does your sim listen to? babygirl loves her r&b and alternative indie music. she just loves a good soothing voice along with instrumentals that get you thinking about life and just feel all relaxed.  18. Does your Sim have a favorite family activity to do together? :/ what family? :( back when her grandma was alive they’d eat at a diner every friday night (thats now closed) which was 2 mins from her grandma’s house and would always get milkshakes to end their day. 19. What is your sim’s age? she’s 24. 20. Does your Sim have a dream job? hehehehe. this will be revealed in my story some time soon so i’d like to keep this a secreeeto :) 21. What is your sim’s favorite beverage? any of Teavana’s tea, but to pick a fave – youthberry tea! + coconut juice is always her shit, too.  22. What is your sim’s favorite dessert? she loves a good ol’ chocolate cake. 23. Does your Sim have any siblings? if so, do they get along with all of them? no she’s the only child. :-(  24. What activity/hobby makes your sim the happiest? writing in her journal, reading and listening to Milo practice his music has become one of her most favorite “hobby” to do lately looool.  25. If you could meet your sim, would you be friends with them? fuck yeah! 

[queencatelle]

IG: @loveyourself.ph Dear Cat @catriona_gray , Our hearts are filled with happiness, gratitude, and inspiration for the love that you have imparted to us, and to the universe. Thank you for taking our hands in yours as we sit forth on our journey to change the world, and as we continue to dare, care, and share. Welcome back home, and the happiest birthday to you. ❤️ With deepest love, Your LoveYourself family. 💕 . . Follow @queencatelle for updates . •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• . 𝑳𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝑪𝒂𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒚’𝒔 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒐𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝒎𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒂 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒔: 𝑭𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 - 𝑪𝒂𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒚 ☑️ . 𝑰𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒎 - @𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂_𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒚 ☑️ . 𝑻𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 - @𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒂 ☑️ . . ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• . #MissUniverse #CatrionaGray #itsshowtime #CornerstoneArtist #ASAPNatinTo #missuniverse2019 #missuniverse2018 #missuniversephilippines #confidentlybeautiful #binibiningpilipinas #bbpilipinas2019 #bbpilipinas2018 #missphilippines #philippines #missmundo #misssuprational #missinternational #love #instagood #instagram #photooftheday #fashion #beautiful #happy . •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• https://ift.tt/2v2zMpV

[wanderredge]

Just like a cat, I know you're just out there lurking--guarding us. 😸👍🏽 Happiest Birthday to you, Tatay! Thanks for keeping us all safe and healthy here, especially Nanay. 🙏🏾💙🌻 (at Manila Memorial Park, Sucat P'que Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6y_icXHLlk/?igshid=t1bezq5xlpno

[onestowatch]

Michael Seyer Is Creating Timeless ‘Nostalgia’ [Premiere + Q&A]

Photos: Lissy Laricchia

For Michael Seyer, when it came to creating his new EP, the inspiration was clear as day, even if it was an intangible feeling. Nostalgia, which we are elated to premiere here today, is birthed from not just an adoration for the records of yesterday but the very notion of growing up itself. It can be heard in the Filipino bedroom R&B artist’s timeworn love numbers, which blur the lines between Japanese city pop, bossa nova, Brazillian boogie, and velvety R&B.

Nostalgia follows his two self-released full-length records, 2016’s Ugly Boy and 2018’s Bad Bonez. Despite the forward progression of his music, Seyer hasn't lost that ‘60s and ‘70s feel in his new project. As a matter of fact, Nostalgia guides us through sights and sounds of the past to create an emotional and timeless masterpiece, belonging wholly to the present. 

As an introduction to this new era of his music, we were able to chat with Seyer about always feeling like an outsider, the most important love in his life, and, of course, Nostalgia. Check out our interview and take your first listen to Nostalgia below. 

OTW: Your music is timeless. It has this way of transporting listeners back to a distant era most of us weren't even born in.

Michael Seyer: You're making me smile, this is super sweet. I mean, I love really old music, especially for this EP. I named it Nostalgia because like, aesthetically, I wanted the sound to feel like finding an old record and just like popping it in and hearing something really old, and I guess timeless.

OTW: With Nostalgia would you say you were aiming for your fans to feel, well, nostalgia? 

Seyer: Yeah, I wanted that to be exactly the emotion that's kind of evoked. I mean I think nostalgia is a weird feeling, you know. And like I wanted that to work in a lot of ways with this EP like music-wise, sonically. That's why I also just chose old family pictures as the artwork.

OTW: A lot of the promo you’ve released for Nostalgia appears as old photos of you and your parents. What role have they played in both the creation of this new EP and in your development as an artist?

Seyer: I think they had everything to do with that, you know? Like, just generally as an artist, my parents have always really encouraged me to go for it. I think from a young age they knew I was like “creative.” I picked up the guitar when my dad taught me around age 10. Since then, I would just lock myself in my room and learn covers on YouTube and just get really invested in learning different styles and instruments. 

They always encouraged me to really expand my creativity. I'm thankful that they've done that because it's definitely helped me to become a fearless artist. Also, I'm sure this applies to everyone, but we kind of idolize their parents and see them as these fearless people. Like, yeah my mom has an amazing work ethic and I always aspire to be that person.

In terms of the record itself, to be honest, the actual literal songs aren't really about my family. It's usually about love and all that, but I kind of got obsessed with the nostalgic sound that the songs had on me. So, I kind of looked back into old family photos as a reference point for the art at least because I mean, a song doesn't necessarily need to be about someone to be about someone, you know? The songs are about love mostly in this EP and the greatest example of love that I can find is my parents.

OTW: That's so sweet!

Seyer: Yeah, they're really cute. So I asked my grandma for an old box of photos and sure enough, I got to see that photographic example of love because my parents are very thorough of taking photographs of everything. I'll see their wedding, us growing up with them, being in different houses and stuff, but we're always together, and I feel like that's love in its purest form.

OTW: A lot of the progression of your music has happened here in SoCal, but to my understanding, you were born in the Philippines. Do you think your Filipino heritage has had a big influence on your artistry?

Seyer: I think it does and it doesn't. It's kind of like, binary. 'Cause, the way I identify as an artist is how I identify as… kind-of "other." I didn't feel like I ever fit in. When I left the Philippines and came to America, I was instantly different, because I'm a different color and I speak a different language. And I was really young, so I didn't even know English. 

The first school I went into in America was this white-Jewish school in Culver City, and I was instantly different and I felt that. So I really wanted to learn English and I got really invested in learning English, so much so that I don't even remember my language today. Like I love English. I'm an English major. I'm a creative writing major. I was trying to catch up to the other kids, but in doing so, I lost touch with my other culture. 

And after I left that school I went to Gardena and went to a school that was predominantly Hispanic and African-American, and even there I didn't fit in. Then I went to middle school and there were Asian kids and I was like, "Cool, I'm an Asian kid." But then I was seen as being "too dark" to be an Asian kid. Then I went to high school and there were a lot of Japanese and white people again, and it was like I still didn't fit in with them. So, I just never fit in, I never felt like I fit in. So I feel like a big part of my expression as an artist is trying to describe that experience. I just never fit in. 

OTW: As someone who shares a Filipino background, I feel like that could attribute to why there's a lot of Southeast Asian connection to your music, especially from those of us who have experienced this sort of distance from everybody else.

Seyer: Yeah, like us Filipinos are a little different because we don't really fit in with the model of the "typical Asian" because… you know, we're Asian but we're Pacific Islander or we're Southeast Asian. But in either context, if you're with Pacific Islanders, they're like "You're not an Islander," and if you're with Chinese, Vietnamese, or Korean people they're like "You're not token Asian." And then if you're with a Southeast Asian person, you don't really fit in either. So it's like, where do we kind of...fit in?

But on the other side, being Filipino but also feeling like I'm not a part of Filipino culture has inherently made me feel different in every scenario I can find myself in, and that's just my experience. I think a big part of my music, whether it's overt or covert, is relaying that kind of "I don't really fit in," "I want to feel loved," "I want to connect with others" feeling.

OTW: What are some things that helped you settle into the Michael Seyer we all know and vibe to today?

Seyer: Just kind of, doing the things that you wanna do, you know? I think in all forms of art you should never make anything for other people, it should be just about what makes you happy as an artist. And I think if you're really authentic in that expression, eventually people will gravitate towards it. But I think that's what's most important: do what makes you happiest in music. I feel like if a musician does that, they can feel comfortable in their skin eventually.

OTW: A lot of the sound on Nostalgia is influenced by artists your parents used to sing karaoke to. What are some of your favorite karaoke songs to sing?

Seyer: Oh like the Bee Gees, Al Green. My go-to is “How Deep Is Your Love.” Or “Let's Stay Together” You know what, “Always and Forever!” One of the best songs ever written, honestly. But also I got a lot of inspiration from really old music that I found on YouTube algorithms. I got really into this genre called city pop, which is this like Japanese ‘80s, late ‘70s genre where it's super funky, super electro, super pop and eclectic. I also got into Brazilian boogie, which is very funk and singer-songwriter drive. Just a lot of those old records.

OTW: What are some of the Japanese City pop bands that you really like?

Seyer: There's this one artist, she's more contemporary. She's putting out music now, she's not like one of the old cats, but her name is Hitomitoi. It's so funny, I got stuck into a hole of Hitomitoi and I followed her on Instagram and she followed me back. I was like freaking out because I love her music so much! Some others, I love Masayoshi Takanaka, Casiopea. Yeah, they're all super sick.

OTW: When you released your first album Ugly Boy around this time in 2015, did you expect people to take to your music as well as they did?

Seyer: Hell no man. Dude, I remember when I was making that album while I was working and going to school. I also really wanted to be a musician. I mean I was a musician, but it was tough because of school and work. I felt really unhappy. I hated work. I loved school, but I also really loved music. At some point, I felt fed up, and I said, “Fuck it. I'm going to quit my job and just work on an album.” I didn't know what it was going to be.  I was just going to make something and see what happened. And that's how Ugly Boy got made. It was really cathartic. It was a good expression of sanity to me.

OTW: People seem to also relate to that sense of catharsis from the album.

Seyer: Oh yeah! I mean, I put it out and that was my first time ever putting something out, so I didn't know what "fans" were. I purely made it to express myself, but I was like, "I should put it on Bandcamp, I should put it on SoundCloud, fuck it." So I put it on, and don't get me wrong, it wasn't overnight. It was a very gradual thing. but people started actually reaching out to me and I was like, “Whoa….this is weird.” I was like, “Maybe I should just keep doing this.” And I kept doing it and now I'm here. But it was super crazy in the beginning when I got the first few emails of people being like, "Yo, I love your album, blah, blah, blah." And I was like, "Thank you so much," and I would answer every email because you know I was so young and I was so stoked.

OTW: You’ve played some major festivals, from Camp Flog Gnaw to Tropicàlia, what was your reaction to playing alongside the likes of Tyler, the Creator and Kali Uchis?

Seyer: I felt stoked, super stoked! I mean, not even taking away from the big shows, but just any show feels like a blessing. Whether it's a big show or a small show, what really makes me feel so humbled is talking to fans who come to my shows. Like sometimes I'll feel really nervous before I go up and then I'll just talk to someone who drove out and wasted their time to see me— 

OTW: Never a waste of time to see you perform! 

Seyer: (laughter) Well I'll talk to them, and they're just like talking and they're like "I love your music!" That really perks me up. The fans make it worth doing anything at all.

OTW: If someone created a time-machine that allows you to go back to any era ever, where would you go and what would you do?

Seyer: Whew... ok. I'm a big History guy. I don't know if I'd go back somewhere for pleasure like Woodstock or some shit or somewhere where I can just geek out like the Western times. You know what... I'd go back to Tokyo during the '80s. I'd watch a lot of the really old Japanese city pop bands that I listen to now. Plus, Tokyo is cool. I've never been there, but I really romanticize that city.

OTW: Going back to your sound, it has this lovely R&B quality. 

Seyer: I feel so complimented when someone says "you sound very R&B" because I feel like my personality is not very R&B (laughter). R&B is super sexy and smooth, and I feel like I'm very neurotic.

OTW: What do you call your genre? Neurotic R&B?

Seyer: (laughter) I actually just read an article—well I translated it because it was in German, I was like "Google-translate!" And then it was like, Michael Seyer: Introvert Funk. That has a nice ring to it. 

OTW: Where do you hope to be with your music and sound in the future? 

Seyer: Yeah, I'm pretty happy where I'm at now. Obviously, as an artist, I always want to keep going and striving for the best that I could possibly do. But honestly, I'm pretty happy. I got people that love me, family, friends, a band that I love hanging out with. Within the next five years, I hope I'm still making music and making the best music I possibly can. Maybe get a dog or something. 

OTW: Who are your Ones to Watch?

Seyer: This is a tough question because I listen to mostly old cats. Oh, MICHELLE! I found them on my discover weekly and it's like a collective making cool indie pop. I just listened to their I believe 2018 album called Heatwave, and I was like this is some of the best music that I've heard in a while! 

[panda-plumbobs]

sims q + a

Tagged by both babes @sunlitsims and @tiredtoothache! I’ve done something kinda similar to this before for Peppa, so I thought I would spice it up a bit and do this for Canton!

1. What is your sim’s favorite food? Grilled cheese 😂

2. What is your sim’s favorite color? Once upon a time, it was orange, but Peppa changed that (to mint obviously) - for better or worse… 🙃

3. What is your sim’s zodiac sign? I think he fits best as a Cancer

4. Does your sim believe in “love at first sight”? Well, considering his and Peppa’s first meeting… no, he doesn’t 😂

5. What is your sim’s sexuality? Straight

6. Is your Sim a cat or dog person? (or both?) I think Canton wouldn’t really mind either way 🤷 ♂

7. Adding to the previous question, if your sim were to have a cat and/or dog, what kind/breed(s) would it be? He would give in to Peppa (who is 100% a dog person), and they’d get a little, mischievous dog, like a Jack Russel, who would only end up listening to Peppa, and kinda have love-hate relationship with Canton 😂

8. Does your Sim have a best friend? Salim and Peppa

9. Does your Sim have a favorite life stage? I think he’s going to love being a full-blown adult - he’s really got this dad thing nailed, and I think he’s now getting the bod to show for it…

10. What is your sim’s ethnicity? He classes himself as White American (cos the sims is meant to be in the USA, I think), but he does have ancestry quite far back stemming from the Philippines! 11. If your Sim could travel to anywhere in the world, where would they visit? I think he’d like to go to Oceania and south Asia to see how his ancestors had it, maybe even see if there are distant relatives there, but he’d also love to go to Europe - particularly Spain, Germany, and Switzerland!

12. If your Sim was a castaway on a distant, uncharted island, who would they bring? Peppa cos Salim would be useless 😂 But also because there both nerd brains and have watched far too much Survivor and other shows like that to know exactly what to do in that situation! 13. Does your Sim have a favorite tv show and/or movie? Rick and Morty and Paul!

14. Does your sim believe in the “simulation theory”? He definitely believes it’s possible - he loves conspiracy theories just as much as Peppa! He has walked into a room to do something and then completely forgotten far too many times for it to be a coincidence…

15. Does your Sim have a favorite kind of clothing to wear? Anything + converse

16. Does your Sim have a lucky charm? Do his converse and his glasses count as lucky charms? He basically wears them all the time and feels lost without them so 😂

17. What kind of music or singers does your sim listen to? He likes his indie rock, things like Coldplay, Oasis, The Killers, etc. 18. Does your Sim have a favorite family activity to do together? Play video games together! (preferably MySimsRacing as he usually wins)

19. What is your sim’s age? 30-ish

20. Does your Sim have a dream job? Either a game developer or a gaming YouTuber, but one who would be similar to Markiplier, and concentrate on giving back rather than fame

21. What is your sim’s favorite beverage? Coffee, he can’t live without it!

22. What is your sim’s favorite dessert? I don’t think it’s in the game, but I think he would really love lemon drizzle cake

23. Does your Sim have any siblings? if so, do they get along with all of them? He’s an only child, just like Peppa

24. What activity/hobby makes your sim the happiest? Basically anything with family - whether it’s teaching them something, taking them out to experience something new or something they love together or just staying in and having fun! 25. If you could meet your sim, would you be friends with them? Hell yes! I think Canton and I would get on really well as we are quite similar!

I’m back! feels like I’ve been gone forever but it’s only been 3 days… shows how much I love this place! Anyway, the new laptop is up and running, and my phone has been fixed, so everything should be back to normal soon! However, I do start college on Monday for the first time ever, so don’t quote me on that… On top of NSB, and the tag-get-to know-me-thing, I also have another thing in the works, which I reblogged a couple of days ago, but it was only subtly mentioned in that post anyway. Exciting things coming!

[conanaltatis]

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Precious Hearts Romances held its media and authors gathering in its headquarters in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines on March 30, 2019. Hosted by JP Bertiz, the event introduced authors Sofia, Rose Tan, Luna King, Princess Cordova, Jian, XavierJohnFord, MsButterfly,C.D. de Guzman and Lush Ericson to invited publications including Conan Daily.

After the press conference, more authors including Sonia Francesca, Dawn Igloria, Maricar Dizon, Spring Mendez, Cady Lorenzana, Cranberry Laurel, Jessa Audrey participated in the Grand Fans Day ceremony with the theme “Dito ka masaya!” (This is where you are happy!) During the event, 32 new pocketbooks were released PHR, which include the following:

  Title: “BHO CAMP 2: The Rockstar’s Personal Assistant”

Author: MsButterfly

Plot:

Dahil sa isang pustahan, nagulo ang dating tahimik na buhay ni Freezale. As an agent of a secret organization, wala siyang choice kundi ang maging personal assistant ng ultimate playboy na si Lucas Darryl King para malaman kung sino ang taong nagtatangka sa buhay nito.

She was the “coldest” person on Earth, according to her friends and cousins kaya hindi uubra sa kanya ang mga banat ni King.

Pero isang araw, may narinig ni Freezale na isang bagay na bago sa kanya– thebeating sound of her frozen heart. At tumitibok iyon nang malakas kapag nandiyan si King.

Title: “The Last Warrior Batch 2: City of Blinds Book 2, Crossroads”

Author: Spring Mendez

Plot:

Napadpad si Haji sa kaharian ng Galeridus para sa dalawang misyon: una, ang wakasan ang sabwatan ng mga ganid na opisyal; pangalawa, patayin ang taong may badya ng panganib sa lahat ng kaharian. Hindi pa nagmintis sa mga hinawakan niyang misyon si Haji.

Pero noon iyon, bago niya nakilala si Alethea, ang misteryosang babaeng may mga di-kilalang kaaway. Unang beses pa lang nakita ni Haji si Alethea na nakikipaglaban sa royal match ay nakuha na agad nito ang atensiyon niya. Sunod-sunod ang mga naging pagbabago sa mga plano niya. Bago pa namalayan ni Haji, nakikipaglaban na siya sa bawat laban ni Alethea, maprotektahan lang ito. He was the happiest man alive when he won not just the war, but also Alethea’s heart. Pero hindi nagtagal iyon nang matuklasan niyang si Alethea ang kaaway… And killing her is his only option.

Title: “The Legendary Devils Trilogy 1: The Accidental Hero”

Author: Cranberry Laurel

Plot:

Nakaranas si Kaye ng mga patong-patong na kamalasan sa buhay, kaya ang naging solusyon niya, mag-summon ng anghel o demon. She believed in immortality, fountain of youth, demons, angels, vampires, and anything superstitious. Pero noong nagsa-summon na si Kaye, nanganib bigla ang buhay niya at aksidenteng iniligtas siya ng natawag na demon—si Demetineirre, ang demon leader ng 66th legion sa underworld!

Dahil kay Dem, nabawasan ang stress at lungkot ni Kaye sa buhay. Bigla tuloy may bumangon na mga emosyon sa kanyang puso. Bakit siya kinikilig, naaaliw, at natutuwa kay Dem? He was demon!

Title: “The Queen Series 1 – The Queen of Heralds”

Author: Ashlene Javier

Plot:

Cerise Lopez was the editor in chief slash queen bitch of The Philippine Herald, a national broadsheet owned by the Delgado family. Ilag ang halos lahat sa kanya, including her publisher Julian Luis “Ledge” Delgado.

Pero biglang nagulo ang mundo ni Cerise habang nag-iimbestiga sila sa masalimuot na mundo ng isang sindikato. She suddenly found her condo unit trashed by unknown people, getting two of her beloved cats killed. Kinailangan niyang makitira sa bahay ni Ledge para sa kaligtasan niya at ng mga alagang pusa. Huli na nang ma-realize ni Cerise na mayroon pala siyang hindi nagawang paghandaan: ang pagkahulog ng puso niya kay Ledge. And getting used to having Ledge around was simply a trip bound for heartbreak…

  If you believe that you can be part of something bigger, or aspire to be the next best-selling Filipino romance author in the country, you can send your manuscript through email at ed2rialstaff@gmail.com. From here on, PHR guarantees that readers can only look forward to more good stories from their homegrown writers and online writers.

Meanwhile, here is a clip featuring MsButterfly:

Precious Hearts Romances pocketbooks by MsButterfly, Spring Mendez, Cranberry Laurel, Ashlene Javier Precious Hearts Romances held its media and authors gathering in its headquarters in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines on March 30, 2019.