#wet food is a fun dinner that i give them between 6 and 8 pm

[jupiterbyrd]

My cats loved this salmon wet food I used to give them. But the company changed it so now it's a salmon and shrimp combo. And they HATE it. Like, they'll eat it but they used to scarf it down because it was the good stuff. Now it's the whatever stuff that slowly gets eaten because it's what they have. I've even seen one cat turn around and just go back to the dry food that I free feed them.

They always beg for the wet food and I feel bad when it's this flavor's day because they just end up disappointed. I buy a seafood combo pack because they also hate the chicken, turkey, and beef flavors that this brand comes in. They like the other fish flavors but they used to love one in particular. And now they don't like its replacement. And I'm upset for them

[aadagio]

We had my birthday party on Saturday, the 17th, and I genuinely had so much fun -- I think it was the best birthday I've had since 2014.

I wanted to do something special, since it was my 30th and all, so I invited some friends and family to get a bit dressed up and go out to dinner with me at this fancy Italian place downtown called Taverna. Unfortunately, my sister couldn't get off work, so she couldn't go, but Craig, his sister Rayna, and my friend Heather all came.

I decided to wear the sequined tassel mini dress that I wore to Eras Tour again, since it's just so fun. I feel like it's supposed to be one of those dresses that you only ever wear once and then just let rot in the back of your closet or something, but I didn't want to do that and I felt like my birthday was the perfect occasion to give it another spin. I did my hair normally, but I did my makeup really loud and big, inspired by Dylan Mulvaney's eyeshadow look for the Queerties this year. I wore fishnets and these patent leather platform Creepers that I've had for years, and I pinned a pink button that said "Birthday Girl" to my dress.

Craig had made dinner reservations for us for 6:15, and we had everyone meet at our place and then we all took an Uber downtown. Unfortunately, it was another super hot and humid day, even that late in the evening, and the only table availability they had was outside, so we were stuck under an awning in 100 degree wet heat with only one rickety old wire fan mounted 10 feet away to keep us cool. I'd had the foresight to bring a hand fan with me, which helped a bit, but it was still incredibly hot out and we were all sweating.

At least once drinks started flowing, it got better. Me and Heather ordered a couple of mocktails, and Rayna and Craig got cocktails and sparkling wine with dinner. All the food was absolutely delicious -- we shared zucchini chips with truffle aioli dip, focaccia bread with prosciutto on top, and grilled octopus to start, and then me and Heather couldn't decide between ravioli and gnocchi, so we both got one plate and then split half with each other so we could try both.

We all spent the whole time talking away and catching up on everything under the sun. It was so nice, and I just felt so happy to be going out and spending time with people who are so special to me.

When it was time for dessert, we got a couple of ricotta cheesecakes to share among ourselves, and Craig ordered a mango sorbet to help cool down since it was still sweltering outside. The cheesecake was to die for - probably one of the best I've ever had. Just so creamy and fluffy and light. I had packed a "3" and "0" candle in my purse, as well as a lighter, so I could put them on my cake, and then everyone softly sang me Happy Birthday and I made my wish.

After dinner, we all wanted to keep hanging out, so we started checking our phones to see what was nearby that we could go do, and we settled on walking about 20 minutes across the Congress Bridge and down Lady Bird Lake to this place called Cidercade, which had taken over the old Joe's Crab Shack building. Surprisingly, the walk was actually not too bad at all. The sun was starting to set, and there was a nice breeze going. We all stopped on the bridge and took a bunch of photos, and we just kept talking the whole way about anything and everything.

Cidercade is basically exactly what it sounds like -- a combination cider bar and arcade. You pay $10 for entry and then you get to play all the arcade games you want for as long as you want. It's 21+ after 8 pm, and since it was my birthday, the bouncer at the door gave me 2 free drink tickets, which I thought was very nice even though I immediately handed them over to Craig and Rayna and told them to have fun while I ordered a soda. They decided to get the most expensive ciders on the menu, which they told me were very good.

The arcade was really the part that excited me the most. It was super loud inside, and the place was crawling with everyone from college kids, to people in their 40s and 50s. There were other girls wearing birthday tiaras or sashes, and row after row of games glowing and making noise. But best of all, the A/C was blastingggg inside, so it was nice and cold.

I got really excited because they had tons of pinball machines, including a different version of a Rush machine that I hadn't seen before. Me and Heather pretty much stuck together the whole time, since we were both more interested in playing the old-school games like Skee-ball and air hockey. Rayna and Craig went off and played more shooting-style games, and after awhile we met up again and went outside to sit and talk for awhile. I was so happy to find that they had several tables on their patio that were outfitted with SWINGS instead of chairs for you to sit on, and while you couldn't go crazy with the swinging or anything, it was still just so fun to sit on legitimate adult-sized wooden swings and rock back and forth.

Later, we all went back in and played these Japanese rhythm games that were like DDR but you played with your hands instead of your feet. None of us except Rayna really knew what we were doing, but they were still super fun, probably my favorite games of the night.

Around 10:30 I found myself starting to feel kind of tired, which kind of took me aback and made me feel very much like the 30 year old I was about to become. But I checked in with everyone else and they were feeling it too, so we called it a night and got an Uber back to our place. We got home around 11.

I realized when I was hugging Heather goodbye after our Uber dropped us off, that this night was the longest stretch of time I'd been able to spend with her since she gave birth to her daughter 2 years ago. Five whole hours together! I haven't spent any more than two with her in so long, and this was also the first time (aside from one night in November where we went and saw a movie and she had to go home immediately after) we'd hung out without her baby, too. It was crazy, but it felt like such an amazing gift to be able to have all that time with my oldest friend.

Rayna spent the night with us in our guest room, and despite how tired I had felt at the arcade, I actually wound up finding it very hard to fall asleep once we were home. I took off all my makeup, washed my face and changed into pajamas, but I was restless and unable to truly fall asleep until around 4 am. I think this was the first birthday I've had since I was a young teenager where I didn't set an alarm for 6 am and wake up to watch the time tick by to 6:03 when I was officially born.

I slept in until around 11 am on my actual birthday, but I woke up to breakfast tacos being made by Rayna and Craig, which was so nice. Rayna headed out shortly after we ate, and then me and Craig spent most of the day just cuddling (and doing other things) in bed, and I felt so happy and content. We eventually went out and had hamburgers at Phil's and ice cream at Amy's, where I got Butterfinger ice cream with Butterfinger crush-ins, which I must say resulted in the perfect ice cream-to-Butterfinger ratio. I drove us home after and blasted Bo Burnham's "30" in the car all the way back.

Basically, it was just the perfect birthday, the perfect birthday week, the perfect everything. I felt like I was on Cloud Nine from Thursday to Sunday. It was amazing. I really really wanted to have a fun and memorable 30th birthday, and I'm so happy and grateful that it actually wound up happening.

[purplesurveys]

1091

survey by ohsh1t2wksl8

Lasts!

Who

Who was the last person you got into an argument with? What was it about? My mom. We rarely get into arguments anymore so I was surprised when she made a comment the other day that was snippy enough to provoke me. She has a unique ability to make me feel insecure over just about everything, and last Saturday it was about my spelling abilities in the 7th grade.

Who was the last person you spoke on the phone with? What was the call regarding? My last call was with a client who has a tendency to micromanage :/ He called to ask me to accomplish a task, which was a little bothersome because all interactions with our clients ideally should be seen by everyone in my team, i.e. my manager and my director for visibility. Anyway, in the end I just let my bosses know that he called to ask me to do something for him.

Who was the last person that slept in your bed? Are they a lover or a friend? Gabie is the only other person who has slept in my bed, I think. She is neither. 

I still get stunned whenever I type something like that up...thinking about how I practically grew up doing surveys, and how she was in nearly every survey I’ve taken since day one, and now she doesn’t play a single role in my life, it’s just super surreal to take in and I don’t think that feeling will ever go away. 

Who was the last person to give you a hug or a kiss? Did you return the sentiment? My dad gave me a casual hug when it was time for him to go upstairs for bed. He just put his arm around my back while I was sitting on the couch, so I wasn’t in the proper position to return it.

Who was the last person to give you a gift? What was the gift? What holiday was it for, or was it “just because”? Erm, idk if it counts as a gift but Andi lent me their vape pen for the foreseeable future, haha. They know how much I like vaping and how it relaxes me; and since they don’t do it as much as I do (unless they lied for my sake), they lent theirs to me. It was a “just because” gift, which I appreciated.

Who is the person that you last went to for advice? Angelaaaa, earlier today. I’ve been in contact with a potential supplier for work purposes, and I had to do some negotiating in my last email. I have zero knowledge and experience in negotiations, so I didn’t know if I worded my email right, or if I insulted the supplier, etc lol so I immediately went to Anj after to check my email and to let me know if it sounded okay.

Who was the last person to say “I love you” to you? What significance does this person have in your life? My mom. I’m not super close with her and I haven’t replied to her with “I love you too,” since I was like maybe 14 or 15 due to the incredibly strained relationship we’ve had for the majority of my life; but she is my mom so she still holds a level of significance. I’m just not sure how much I’m willing to do or sacrifice for her.

Who was the last person that you spoke with, in person? Also my mom. She was asking where a certain local mountain was located because a friend of hers had recently climbed said mountain.

Who was the last person to request you on a social media network - and did you accept? It’s this middle-aged guy who I share a good number of mutual friends with. I figured he’s probably a professor or someone in media since all our mutual friends are either students and professors in my college, buuut I’ve personally never heard of him before so I ignored the request.

Who was the last person you texted or messaged, and what was it in regards to? Justine, my former co-intern. My company stopped taking in interns at the start of the year, but for some reason there’s this one girl intern that they’ve kept having around so we’re all trying to figure out why they kicked out Justine and the other co-interns but retained this one girl who still logs in her attendance every day, lol.

Who was the last person’s vehicle that you rode in? My dad’s, but I haven’t been on it since Christmas. I’ve been in a car more recently than that but it’s always my car.

Who was the last person to make you laugh or smile, and why? I’ll be breaking the rules quite a bit for this question, because it was Cooper. Earlier he kept barking at some dog he saw outside but whenever Nina asked him to “Shake,” he paused his barking to reach out his paw, without fail, and then proceeded to bark until he was asked to “Shake” again, hahaha.

Who was the last person that you took a photo with? Not sure, I think it was Andi.

Who is the last person that you flirted with? Were you successful? I don’t flirt.

Who was the last person to pay you a compliment, and what did they say? I honestly don’t remember. I’m sure I receive them more often than I think I do; I just do a horrible job keeping track of them. The last one I remember getting was my director saying I did a great job with a press release I had to work on in a rush last Friday, since the client had only placed super minor revisions on the material.

Who’s the last person that you visited in the hospital? I’ve never had to visit anyone in the hospital.

Who is the last person that you lent money to? Not a person but I will sometimes pay for things on my company’s behalf at first - since PR entails a lot of buying a lot of crap - and then ask to have the amount reimbursed right after.

What

What was the last food that you ate? My dad made some kind of Chinese-style, stir-fry thing with loads of chicken and vegetables for dinner earlier. Idk, he likes to combine things in the fridge. As usual, it ended up tasting delightful.

What was the last beverage that you drank? Coffee. As much as possible I hate drinking coffee in the evening since I don’t like being unable to fall asleep; but I had been craving a cup all day. I made one at around 7 PM but made sure I had the whole cup down by 8:30ish, so that the caffeine can subside sooner.

What did the last pair of footwear that you wore look like? They were just boring, blue flip-flops I wore out earlier when I walked Cooper.

What was the last color of pen that you used? I think it was blue.

What was your last thought before falling sleep last night? Nothing, man. I zonked out last night. I closed my eyes at 9 PM in the living room while my family was still around and the next thing I knew it was 12 AM with the whole first floor empty.

What was the last television show you watched? Friends. Been watching a lot of it recently, because I’ve been stressed a lot recently.

What was the last board or card game that you played? Trivial Pursuit or Pictionary; I can’t remember.

What was the last kind of bread that you ate? It was just regular toast. My mom made pasta last Sunday so she toasted up some bread to accompany the dish.

What color is the last shirt you wore? The one I wore before my current top? It was yellow with silver wording.

What was the last electronic that you plugged in to charge? My laptop. Though I really have to plug in my phone since it’s been on 3% for a good while now.

What’s is the last thing that you Googled? Mt. Pulag, since that’s the aforementioned mountain my mom was asking about earlier. I know of the mountain but wasn’t sure where exactly it is, so I had to Google it for her.

What’s the last concert you attended? Paramore.

What’s the last sporting event that you attended/watched? A volleyball game between the UP and Ateneo women’s teams.

What was the last app that you downloaded to your phone? A logo quiz game loooooool, what a throwback. I was looking for phone apps to download last Friday; and apparently logo quizzes still rank pretty high under the Trivia category, so I downloaded one to revisit the fun.

What was the last video game that you played? Mario Kart 8.

What’s the last computer game that you played? Some suuuper fucking old computer game I played as a kid called Magic Ball. During the first few months of the pandemic my memory started to torture me about a ball game I used to play on my dad’s old laptop but whose title I couldn’t remember, so on one day I spent a few hours trying to track it down. When I finally saw the right game, I downloaded a free trial (because you still had to buy the game 15 years later lol) and savored the 30 minutes re-experiencing my childhood.

What’s the last injury you had? The usual scratch from Cooper.

What’s the last holiday or event (baby shower, graduation, etc) that just passed? Christmas. But the next one would be my dad’s 50th birthday which we’ll be celebrating this weekend.

When

When was the last time that you took a painkiller, and what did you take it for? Around a month ago for a headache (which is my only reason for taking painkillers, anyway). I’d keep taking more but we’ve run out and my parents haven’t restocked it yet, partly because I know they know how reliant I get on them to get rid of my headaches.

When was the last time you went to the bathroom? Earlier this evening. My dad tripped while carrying Cooper’s food bowl filled with his dinner meal, so a lot of the rice spilled onto the floor. I helped him out and since the food was a bit sticky and wet, I had to go wash my hands in the bathroom afterwards.

When was the last time that you listened to music? Do you remember what the most recent song was? Also earlier this evening, just before dinner. I was working out on the rooftop and needed music to keep me company; anyway, the last song that played was Beyoncé’s Countdown.

When was your last work shift? Today. I work every weekday from 9 AM to 6 PM.

When is the last time that you had trouble falling asleep? Last Thursday, I think.

When is the last time you saw your parents? 15 minutes ago.

When was the last time you saw a significant other? When they were still my significant other? September. As an ex? Late November.

When was your last year of schooling/education? 2020 so yeah, didn’t get a graduation after four years of busting my ass in college.

When was the last time you took a shower? This morning. I want to take one again tonight, but I’m a little lazyyy.

When was the last time you did anything sexual that went beyond kissing? September.

When was the last time that you did your laundry? I don’t do my own.

When was the last time you had to use public transportation, and what form was it? LOL, like 2017 maybe? Or 2018. Idk, I never use the public transportation in this stinkhole of a country. I used a train to go to Manila, but that was during a dead hour so the train wasn’t crowded and hot like it normally would be.

When’s the last time that you were sick? What was wrong? May. I had a UTI and it disguised itself as a nasty fever that lasted about a week. Didn’t even run into any issues with my urinary tract or anything in that region at all.

When was the last time that you hung out with friends/acquaintances? Virtually, two Saturdays ago. In person, two Fridays ago though that was only with one person.

When was the last funeral you attended? Who passed away? I’ve never attended a funeral, but the last wake I went to was Nacho’s, in September 2019.

When was the last wedding that you attended? Who got married? LMAOOOOOOO. 2007. My mom’s youngest brother and my now-aunt. I’m just waiting for one of my friends to get married now.

When’s the last time that you took a risk? What was the risk? Is stepping away from my ex a risk? I did it over the Christmas season...idk, my mind just had a very sudden shift overnight and I immediately went from seeking to keep in contact with her everyday to not giving even a quarter of a shit and starting to want to live life on my own terms. I certainly think it was pretty bold of me and I’ll always be proud of myself for making such a big step.

When’s the last time you mailed something handwritten? I’ve never mailed anything, period.

When’s the last time you got a haircut? I can’t remember if it was late Feb or early March of last year.

When’s the last time that you went swimming? August 2019.

Where

Where was the last place you drove to, and what did you do there? I went to the new-ish Starbucks at Katip Extension just because I needed new scenery but still be in my comfort zone, which to me will always be Starbucks. I went there supposedly to chill and take a few surveys, but my Viber suddenly got bombarded with work-related messages and for the rest of my time there I was feeling a little stressed and I wasn’t able to finish a single survey.

Where was the last place that you went on vacation to? Tagaytay and Cavite. We’ll be going back to Tagaytay again this weekend, so yay.

Where was the last restaurant you ordered food from? If coffee shops count, Starbucks. If they don’t, I had food from this local Japanese place called Omakase delivered to our house last Saturday.

Where was the last place that you went on a date? Lmfao it was Yabu from like March last year. I won’t be having dates any time soon either, but I’m no longer salty about it.

Where was the last place that you went shopping at? H&M.

Where was the last place you got lost? Somewhere in QC near Tomas Morato, because I had been trying to look for the office of this company who arranged a job interview with me. This isn’t to sound salty because I’m definitely not, but I’m glad I didn’t get a follow-up anything from that company because their office is actually a house (a very nice house, but still a house) and when I was there I failed to get any I’m-finally-a-working-girl-in-a-big-city vibes from it - which to me is important especially at this stage in my life since I’m now finally a full-fledged adult who just gained a deeper level of independence. I aimed to work somewhere that really feels like a legit office/workspace, which my current employer would be able to provide me under normal circumstances.

Where’s the last place that you walked to? My room. I came from the living room a half hour ago.

Where did you last have sex? My bed.

Where was the last place you left your keys? Dining table, as always.

Where’s the last place you got drunk? My room.

Where’s the last place you embarrassed yourself in public? How did you do this? At the parking lot of the aforementioned Starbucks. I was handing my parking ticket to the guard keeping watch of the cars going in and out, and he told me to take care driving, to which I replied, “You too.”

Why

Why did you last cry? I hadn’t cried in a good while and needed a release. Also, because I was in Katip. It was a place I shared with Gab for many years and a place where a lot of fond memories - that I am now forced to shelve to the very back of my head - were made. It was surreal to hang out there and drive in the very same roads I used to take with her, now alone, and everything got overwhelming fairly quickly so I allowed myself to pull over at an isolated spot in our village to let myself cry everything out for a few minutes.

Why did your last relationship fail? She feared commitment and the relationship was becoming too much of a burden for her. Also tbh, all the red flags she had been exhibiting finally came to a head and finally reached a point where they were impossible to resolve. For six years I couldn’t directly talk about marriage, kids, and even my own coming out to my family with her and it was like...what are we even doing anymore? Anyway the tl;dr version of it was that I was apparently becoming a lot of weight to her so she bounced.

Why did you leave your last job? I’ve never left a job.

How

How long has it been since you last visited a doctor? How about a dentist? A doctor, 8 months. A dentist, a year and a month.

How long does gum usually last when you chew it? 10 seconds.

How long can you last in bed? Longer than I’d want to. Being ace, for the most part I run into trouble trying to last, so I’ve always felt bad for my partner about it.

How long did your food last get microwaved for? A minute is my default setting.

How many pages was the last book that you read? Around 225 pages.

How big was the last fish you caught? I’ve never gone fishing.

How long was the last movie you watched? I can’t remember and I can’t be bothered to look up that movie at the moment because it continues to make me sad today.

How long was your last relationship? 4 years. Technically 6 since we had that on-off thing in 2015/2016. 

How much did your last grocery bill come to? I don’t do the groceries.

How difficult was your last exam? I remember thinking it was fairly easy but that I definitely would not be getting a 1.00 haha. There was an essay question that I completely failed to review for so I had to bullshit that part. Anyway, the lockdown started like a week later so my final grade never ended up mattering anymore.

Randoms

Did you always get picked last in gym class? We never did picks in PE.

Do you believe that nice guys finish last? Idk.

Can true love really last forever? Sure, but it’s not for everyone.

Give me the first initial of your last name? C.

Something you wait until the last minute to do? Work. I have this certain kind of email that I receive everyday that I immediately have to work on once it’s in my inbox, and I get it at 7:55 AM. I will only get out of bed by 7:54.59.

Have you made your last will and testament? I have one tucked away somewhere in this laptop but I remember making a very conscious effort to hide it in some obscure, hidden folder so that I don’t come back to it often. It seems to have worked because I don’t even remember where it is or what I named it as.

Something in your home that’s on it’s last leg(s)? The electric fan we have in our dining room.

Give us some famous last words! "They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance!" has always been fascinating to me. Sad, but fascinating.

[ohsh1t2wksl8]

[tikilimawmaw]

BRB

On the rare occasions that I care about my news feed, some things actually get my attention, aside from cute puppy gifs and stupid political fanaticism like wtf. Anyway, a “friend” shared this blog post about UPLB--my dear UPLB--and how uh-mazing that place is. I mean, I get it; it is a mystical, magical university (but not in a Hogwarts way) and, well, who could resist writing about, or instagramming it?

I apologize. I’m just at this point in my college life where I see everything under gray clouds, and I don’t mean the silvery kind. I mean dark, nimbus, let’s-do-relief-operations-after-this-storm, gray clouds. I hate that place, but every Monday when I return to the apartment there I’m always looking forward to walking the streets of Elbi. It’s weird.

Anyway, what I’m about to do is kind of a parallel narration according to the places described by the author/blogger. It’ll be a whiny, age-inappropriate sulking about how bad I feel in that wonderful place, but hey, I don’t know how to properly feel anymore. I need to do this.

(1 Baker Hall) The only fun I had in Baker Hall was Elbikon. Seriously. For one thing, the interior is very old--wooden steps, dramatic windows. Nothing wrong there; someone’s doing a splendid job on preservation (except that the temperature rises over unbearable degrees). Here’s the problem: the string ensemble of UPLB practices there. I hear violins, and I hate that. I hate missing the violin. It’s a piece of me that just doesn’t fit perfectly anymore when I try to get my shit together again. I mean, it fits, but not exact-o.

(2 Carillon Tower) For four years I’d lived in the same dormitory and every time I needed a jeepney ride, I pass by the Carillon Tower. It’s peaceful there; I hang around on my own and no one disturbs me because everyone else is too busy cuddling with his/her SO. It’s too peaceful actually, that all I could think about is that a pool of blood is too obvious at the foot of the tower. Besides, the gates are locked. No potential here.

Backspace. BACKSPACE.

(3 Student Union Building) Sigh. SU. Where do I even begin? Oh, wait, I need to get a number before I begin. Approximately 56 minutes before I get called. LIES! It’s like all you want to do there is rush in, get things done, rush out. But you can’t. Because you’re queued. The bathrooms are okay, I guess. I thought that SU was supposed to symbolize the university embracing the student, making them feel welcomed and that they are free to do whatever hell they want (bleargh). That’s funny, because I feel more welcomed by the river behind it. 

(4 Trees) I have this theory that the trees in UPLB are majestically large because they feed upon the souls and hopes and dreams of thousands and thousands of students, on-time and delayed, every semester. This may be only in my head, but I honestly feel like my energy is always drained when I’m there. Maybe that’s why Thursday is drinking day: so students can at least carry on through Friday and the weekends without feeling like shit. Me? I drink Mondays. And Tuesdays. And We--

(5 DL Umali) I don’t think I’ll ever walk the stage of DL Umali with pride and confidence ever again. I used to be a student achiever: college scholar and honor roll, promising GWA. I shake hands with the dean; I get a certificate. Now, I’m just a probationary student with nine failed units and one INC that all happened in one epic semester. Epic fail, that is. 

That’s not all. Our org holds our annual exhibit in the gallery at the basement. And I haven’t had any WIPs for a year. I can’t stress enough how I lost my will to draw. Recently, art has only been a way to calm me down. That’s great, right? At least I still have it. God.

(6 Nihon Koen) I think I’ll be seeing this torii regularly starting Tuesday. It’s a fun way to travel down from the UHS, where the psych is in TTh 2-5 pm. 

UPLB Tip #562: There are desperate pervs in pretty decent bathrooms. DO NOT give in to the temptation no matter how much of your life you’ve given up, because you can get sick. Or pregnant. Or worst, videoed. Besides, his dick was tiny.

(7 Thai Pavillion) Hang around this exotic gazebo every afternoon before dusk if you want to ogle at fit people stretching, and jogging, and basically all other things you don’t have the energy for, a.k.a taking care of your body. Plus, they have dogs. Dogs are one of the reasons I don’t let go.

(8 Freedom Park) Again, a haven for healthy people: F-park. Fit park. Food park. Fuck park. Whatever you wish: it’s Freedom Park. Here’s a tip: unless you’re a Jesus person, don’t sit on the benches alone. Or at least have the guts to say “no, I don’t wanna hear about the five things that I need to know to be saved.” And besides, sitting alone on a bench in front of a lot of parked cars for a few hours is creepy. There was this one time I thought this old guy in his car was actually watching me. I could take the attention but that just sounds really slutty. Try sitting at the grandstand instead. 

(9 Mariang Banga) It doesn’t matter what religion or cult you belong in: Mariang Banga is real. Ask permission before picking a flower, apologize for stepping on grass, always appreciate the weather no matter how insufferable it is, because she has power over this land, you mortal. (I still think she cursed me with a hole for a heart and a jelly for a brain.)

(10 Palma Bridge) There was a time in my early college years when Palma Bridge was called Sperm Bridge but I won’t give any hints. Get it? Hint? Like, odor? No? How about “call of the void”? “High place phenomenon”? Urge to jump? Still no? Good.

(11 Molawin Creek) This river is the same river I was talking about. It actually runs pretty far. In one of my stupid adventures pre destructive semesters, I tried to discover what was behind my then-dormitory. You guessed it: a forest. Hah okay, the river comes after it. There was this spot that I liked--clear and cold water, decently dry rocks, some shade, no one else around. Bathing naked was fun. But on my next adventure, I got lost, so uh-uh I’m not going back. Or will I? (I conclude that these adventures comprise a death wish.)

(12 Park behind humanities) Behind CAS Building is this construction where we get rubble from. And the mound of gravel that was never removed served as another seat for our tambayan, where I always feel so awkward. 

(13 NCAS) One question: how the hell can I get on the NCAS rooftop? Ideation aside, a top view of O-park would be nice. 

(14 Office of the University Registrar) Soon enough, the registrar will not include me in the list of officially enrolled students because ma’am, I am tired. I need a break. And probably my TOR.

(15 Hum/CAS) Pretend to be a younger batch if you look the part. I always do. It gives the illusion that I’m still full of hopes and dreams, and it’s a good excuse for asking about things that I should know. The three CAS buildings and Physci are the good places to do it. And Copeland gym. 

(16 Two roads diverged by O-park) Lots of walks to clear the mind // Beware acquaintances, tell them you’re fine. // Groups of friends walking, pretty intimidating // Cross the road, the other side is empty: your thing.

(17 Gamma SIgma) Yeah, well I always thought it was a shade for the CSB. Sorrynotsorry.

(18 Heritage Tower) My happy memories include playing UNO with my friends under the Kwek-kwek tower and reading the ridiculous vandals like “Jherehmie luv Ehllah 4rvr 24″. I have nothing against Jherehmie and Ehllah, but come on, that tower was [awfully] repainted. I miss the times when I don’t suddenly stop and stare at nothing while I play UNO or sing karaoke with my friends. It’s awkward; I catch myself doing it. Nope. Nope.

UPLB Tip #847: It never hurts to be observant. Get really observant until you’re almost being a stalker. But not really. There are always patterns for everything, and you just really need to be good at knowing them. For example, your crush. Your crush has a schedule; on TTh he walks out of this building at this hour, on WF he enters another. Where does he live? Which jeepney does he usually ride, kanan or kaliwa? Observation, not stalking.

(19 UPLB Gate) I’ll be back, I promise.

(20 CEM...thingy) Forget that weird piece of artsy nonsense, that buried building at the back with the swastika is the mystery. I never bothered to know the history, but hey, it’s dark, wet and eerie--must be zombies. 

(21 Raymundo) I always dub this as “not my turf”. Since I’m not familiar with it, I also have adventures here (just to be clear, adventure meant walking and exploring, nothing else). I’ll miss rolling under the gate after curfew and deciding where to eat (usually takes around 15 minutes).

(22 Never-ending bridge) Again, with the bridges. Look, it’s a long way down but the aesthetics are great. There’re these pretty purple (or were they blue?) flowers and a thick canopy of ferns and broad leaves. Die pretty.

UPLB Tip #1036: Don’t shut everyone out. Ever heard of “don’t burn your bridges”? Yeah, well if you’re that kind of person who possibly needs to utilize people in the future, then go. But geez is that all there is to connections, the utility? What about just having fun conversations together, and lunches and dinners? IMHO, the people you meet at your later years in college are more likely to become “colleagues” than “friends”. Unless he’s the one. Squeal.

(23 Forestry route) While the torii is my way down, this road takes me up to the psych.

(24 UPLB) I hate my house. I hate my school. I just want to be in between, in the journey. I know I’ll get to the two points at some time in my life but not now. A view from afar would be nice. “I’ll be there,” I would say, “just give me a moment to catch up.” I’ll be right back.

Welp. That was awfully long. So here’s the blog, again. Vivid pictures, beautiful words, I am nothing. 

Edit: She’s on Tumblr. OH NO.

[ladystylestores]

The Ultimate One-Week Pacific Northwest Road Trip Itinerary • The Blonde Abroad

Jenna of Tales of the Vineyards recently traveled to Napa Valley, California for a 5-month wine harvest job. After wrapping up long hours working in the cellar and scrubbing her wine-stained hands, another epic adventure was all she had on her mind.

Jumping in a campervan with her harvest best friend Sarah, she journeyed out on the ultimate one-week Pacific Northwest road trip. Here’s Jenna with all the info!

As a first-timer on the West Coast, my list of places to visit and things to do was infinite. Coming from South Africa, a country that’s only a tenth of the size of the United States, it’s easy to forget the sheer size of one US state.

All I knew was that I was ready for a USA road trip of a lifetime (another first) and wanted to tick off at least one national park from my list.

After chatting to a couple of my friends in Napa and doing my own research, I came to the conclusion that venturing out to the usual suspects of California like Yosemite and Big Sur just wasn’t going to cut it.

Sitting on the couch one night with my housemate, she mentioned Glacier National Park in Montana and that was it—Sarah and I were going to drive over 1,400 miles from San Francisco to Glacier National Park with a few stops along the way…in winter!

Here’s the ultimate one-week Pacific Northwest road trip itinerary!

The Best  Time to Visit

Truth be told, winter isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. While the Pacific Northwest never reaches extreme summer temperatures, if rain, snow, and -17 degrees Celsius don’t sound like a fun time, then be sure to schedule this road trip for summer.

No matter the season, the Pacific Northwest has beauty around every corner.

Whether it’s sunny days wandering through the lush vineyards of the Willamette Valley in Oregon, frequenting the summer markets of Portland, or trekking through the snow-covered mountains of Glacier National Park, every season offers something special.

Top Spots to Visit on a Pacific Northwest Road Trip

Whether you’re starting your road trip in California and seeing some of the top sites on Pacific Coast Highway, or you’re wanting to explore all of the West Coast—I’ve got a number of places for you to check out!

Read More

Traveling in a Campervan in Winter

Going on a road trip in a campervan in winter seems daunting (and foolish) to most, but really, it’s doable as long as you go prepared. An extra duvet, a warm jacket, fairy lights, and plenty of coffee go a long way!

The main reason we chose to get a campervan was the freedom it would give us in staying wherever we wanted, especially when it came to National Parks. We rented our campervan from Lost Campers based in San Francisco as their options were extremely affordable and included unlimited miles.

We went with their Sierra Class van which included:

A bed for 2 with linen

Kitchen kit (pots, coffee mugs, cups, cutlery)

A double burner stove (hello, coffee!)

A sink with water

Storage space

Battery-operated cooler box

After a few friends saying we were crazy to even think about sleeping in a campervan in winter, we decided to bring along an extra duvet and blanket just in case. When you hit those negative temperatures, these definitely come in handy.

Traveling and sleeping in a campervan has its highs and lows. I have no doubt that getting one during summertime would definitely be a little easier – sleeping, changing, and socializing in a small van can be tricky to navigate when you’re trying to avoid stepping foot out into snowy or rainy weather.

With that said, it really just adds to the adventure and we wouldn’t have changed a thing. It allowed us to be flexible, to always have our things close by, and made us realize how little you need to go on an unbelievable trip.

Simple things like standing to change your clothes or rummaging through a cupboard start to feel like luxuries.

  Helpful Tip:

Road tripping in winter, your chances of coming across snowy roads are pretty high. Make sure to include snow chains in any sort of car or campervan rental and know how to put them on – you don’t want to be caught off guard and left in the middle of nowhere making friends with the local moose.

Day 1 – San Francisco to McMinnville

Via I-5 – Approximately 9.5-Hour Drive

Eager to get the show on the road, start your day early and knock a big distance out of the way. Take in the beautiful scenery on the drive with snowy mountains in the distance, lush forests lining the highway, and an even chillier bite in the air.

On arrival in McMinnville, a historic little town in the heart of Oregon’s wine country, throw on a jacket and wander its streets adorned with twinkling lights. Explore one of the many bars before settling in at a cozy restaurant.

After a well-deserved meal and with hopefully a second wind kicking in, pop into the Conservatory Bar. Serving up incredible cocktails and local beers, they’re known for their winter warmers that are perfect for combatting the outside chill.

If you see their hot buttered rum on the menu, do yourself a favor and order one right away.

Suggestions:

One of the many Willamette Valley wineries

Day 2 – McMinnville to Portland

Via Pacific Highway W – Approximately 1-Hour Drive

Before hitting the road, grab a coffee and breakfast on NE 3rd Street at Community Plate (pictured above). A cute, upbeat cafe that’s great for a quick bite to eat or something a little slower paced if you’re not in any rush.

Oregon is known for producing incredible Pinot Noir wine (and plenty others), so a trip to a couple of wineries on your way to Portland is a must for any wine lover. Make sure to make an appointment beforehand and be prepared for unreal photo opportunities.

After a day of vino and vineyards, arrive in the beautiful city of Portland. Known for its hipsters and coffee culture, grab a cuppa joe on your way to the Pearl District for dinner. Wander down NW 13th to admire the refurbished deep-red buildings before settling down for a tasty meal.

Willamette Valley Wineries to Visit:

Bergström – Incredible Pinot Noir and Chardonnay using fruit from four of the Willamette Valley’s best appellations

Lingua Franca – Producing wines that reflect the true expression of their fruit, Lingua Franca is known for their premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay

Chateau Deluxe – For those looking for something special, Chateau Deluxe is a small producer creating seriously good Pet-Nat (natural sparkling wine)

Day 3 – Portland

Winter in Portland is guaranteed to be a wet one so make sure you’ve got a great waterproof jacket for wandering the streets.

Start your day at one of the many cute coffee shops scattered throughout the city or head straight to Mississippi Avenue for a bit of morning shopping. Browse the boutique stores or stop at The Meadow to stock up on delicious snacks for the road.

If you’re as big a fan of cheese as I am, take a drive to the Cheese Bar on SE Belmont Street for one of the best cheese boards of your life paired with a glass (or bottle) of local wine. Next up, head to Powell’s Books – the world’s largest independent bookstore – to grab an interesting read for the road ahead.

A culinary highlight and dinner-must when visiting Portland is Pok Pok in SE Division. Serving unbelievable dishes inspired by Thai street food since 2005, Ike’s Vietnamese Fish Sauce Wings and the Papaya Pok Pok salad are what foodie dreams are made of.

Day 4 – Portland to Seattle

Via I-5 N – Approximately 3-Hour Drive

Start your morning early for the 3-hour drive to Seattle. You’ll want to get there before the crazy afternoon traffic hits – something we definitely didn’t think about.

Although pretty rainy and gloomy during winter, don’t be fooled, Seattle never sleeps. Park your car for the night and hit the streets. Head to the George Washington Memorial Bridge to snap a picture with the famous Fremont Troll – a gigantic troll sculpture living under the bridge with roots in Norwegian folk culture.

Next up, visit the iconic Space Needle for unbelievable views. And if twinkly lights tickle your fancy, head there later at night to see the city light up – it’s open until 8 pm on weekdays and 9 pm on weekends.

  Helpful Tip:

Seattle, especially in the city center, isn’t ideal when it comes to traveling in a campervan. Parking is a nightmare and driving up hills in rain and traffic can be super stressful. I’d suggest finding a hostel or hotel for the time that you’re there and to park your car in overnight parking. We found a great garage on 3rd Street for just over $50 for 2 nights.

Day 5 – Seattle

Like Portland, Seattle has become known as the “mecca of coffee” offering perfectly brewed coffee on almost every street.

Start your morning off on Cherry Street with a freshly baked pastry and a cup of coffee from Cherry Street Coffee House before strolling down to the waterfront. Take in views across Elliott Bay to the Olympic Mountains as you head towards iconic Pike Place Market.

Undoubtedly one of Seattle’s most-visited attractions, Pike Place Market is home to delicious seafood, fresh produce, and crafty stores. But watch out – don’t get in the way of the guys behind the seafood counters and their killer fish-throwing skills.

Every couple of minutes you’ll see fish casually flying through the air as they pass it jokingly between each other.

A quick 15-minute walk away, visit the must-see Olympic Sculpture Park. See impressive works from top contemporary artists with the Space Needle and the Olympic Mountains as your backdrop. And the best part – the park is free!

Would you take a look at all that snow?!

Day 6 – Seattle to Spokane

Via I-90 E – Approximately 6-Hour Drive

Rise and shine – today’s the day you head towards the Montana mountains!

While Google Maps may make the route from Seattle to Glacier National Park look doable in a single day, the snowy conditions of winter definitely throw a curveball. Start your day early with a pit stop at a grocery store on the outskirts of Seattle to stock up on essentials before heading towards Spokane for the night.

Take it slow on the roads and watch as your surroundings change. The snow gets thicker and the temperatures quickly start to drop as you get closer to Montana – Big Sky Country.

Once you reach Spokane, choose from a few campgrounds for the night and cozy up for a night’s rest before the final adventure to Glacier.

Day 7 – Spokane to Glacier National Park

Via I-90 E – Approximately 7-Hour Drive

Put on those woolly socks and light up the gas stove, a cup of coffee will be essential to knock off the chill and kickstart your day.

Get on the road early as the drive towards Glacier isn’t incredibly far but expect the icy roads of the pass and potentially snowy conditions to delay your trip by at least 2 hours.

Enjoy a leisurely drive through dramatic landscapes with towering mountains and frozen lakes passing by. The roads start to quieten down quite a lot, so make sure you’ve filled up with gas, have something packed for lunch, and are stocked up on food for your time in the park.

After a good couple of hours on the road you’ll finally reach Glacier National Park and boy, is every mile worth it!

Only a few roads are maintained over winter and the only area to stay in is at the Apgar Campground, so be prepared for maximum peace and quiet. Pick your spot amongst the snow overlooking the McDonald Lake and take in scenes that few people ever get to witness in their lifetime:

Deer wandering past, snow gently falling to the ground, and views for miles.

  Helpful Tip:

Staying at the campground during winter is free and the Apgar Visitor Center is still operational and can help with any questions. There’s also a little souvenir shop that has a couple of snacks and serves hot drinks in case you run out.

Day 8 – Glacier National Park

Wake up cuddled under your duvet surrounded by complete beauty and tons of animal tracks! Start the day as slow as you like but coffee and warm breakfast comes highly recommended.

Glacier National Park over winter really is a place of serenity. With only a few hiking paths open and not much else to do, throw on your (waterproof) hiking boots and hit a path to enjoy the views and wildlife. This is truly the ultimate adventure if you’re wanting to immerse yourself in nature and avoid any crowds.

The rest of your time? Drink plenty of tea, catch up on some reading, do a little journaling, and enjoy the wonderland around you.

A Local’s Guide to Glacier National Park

If you’re thinking about heading to Glacier, you’re in for a treat. There’s a reason there were more than three million visitors there last year!

Read More

Shopping List

Pretty much your preparation shopping can be done at any sporting good store. Here are some of the key things to bring along!

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Final Thoughts

Don’t be scared of seasons, you may just end up on the best adventure of your life.

Leading up to our trip, there were many occasions where I thought we were downright crazy to want to road trip in a campervan during winter. Yes, it can get a little crowded and yes, it was tough braving the cold especially when we hit Glacier and wanted to make a cup of tea.

But would we do it all over again? A thousand times, yes.

Our trip extended all the way down to Yellowstone, Zion, Vegas, and back up the coast to San Francisco – an epic journey that I’d recommend to anyone and everyone.

What are you waiting for? Pack those bags, rent that campervan, and get exploring.

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