sunday currently vol.21 new year's edition

that title couldn't have been more predictable but what the hey.

so! the transition to my 2018 began with a very relaxing december 31st. went to church in the morning, had lunch with relatives at the mall. went to the arcade with the bro and cousin to shoot some hoops, play video games, and even go on a kiddie ride. ha. after that had an afternoon snack at burger king. on the ride home, i so relished the fact that there were such few cars on the streets that it seemed like we were in another dimension. indeed, metro manila is the ideal haven for the natives when 99.9% of the whole city's population goes back to their respective provinces for the holidays. the exodus begins a week before christmas and the deluge resumes january 2nd.

having no province of our own, the whole clan (father's side) used to go out of town to celebrate the new year. however, time and life intervened that the number of relatives who joined the annual outing dwindled until only one family continue to do so. still, i realised that spending the new year at home is just as fun. no crowds. just a simple celebration of a pre-midnight media noche and watching whatever's on tv. i remember my mum snoozing while i watched the breakup playlist on cinema one all through the new year's revelry of 2017.

ushering in this year was practically the same. i went for a walk around the neighbourhood with the bro in the early evening. the atmosphere was really different. i could sum it up in one word: peaceful. normally a lot of people would light firecrackers even before the 31st but this year... err, last year, it seemed like the revelry began later into the night. that's why i savoured that last night time walk of 2017. the weather was also really cool which i loved. then for our media noche we had breakfast food: pancakes, christmas ham, queso de bola, and hot chocolate with a siding of potato chips. my idea. there were slices of oranges and pears as well to cleanse the palate. not my idea. still, the food complemented each other. we ate at 10pm.  not exactly media noche, but when you're getting older, sometimes doing things at an earlier time is the way to go.

in my previous post i mentioned entering 2018 with no expectations at all. except for the first colour belt in arnis. i also said then what i would do differently. 

the sermon last december 31 was certainly an eye-and-heart-opener. it was aptly titled, "Begin and End Your Year with God" which touched on the passage from James 4:13-17. i began and ended 2017 in a blah mode. i did have plans but my heart wasn't all there. in my plans and for what God has in store for me. that changes this year. after all, there's nowhere to go but forward so here i am, now actually hopeful about the things to come. this is the time to do the things i should have done last year. do them consciously and develop a discipline. so even without expectations, that little nagging hopeful voice from last year reminds me of the hopes that i do have for the present but did not want to acknowledge then. and all these hopes i lift up to Him in prayer now and always.

==================

now for the sunday (now monday) currently: 

reading: jerusalem interlude by bodie and brock thoene. it's the fourth book in the zion covenant series and the fourth book of the series that i purchased. since the series is hard to find, i haven't bought and read the books in chronological order except for the first two which are vienna prelude and prague counterpoint. the next book in the series that i bought was the sixth one, warsaw requiem. and then this. which also makes it my first book purchase this year. jerusalem interlude follows the story of leah and shimon feldstein as they finally arrive in the british mandate of palestine. so far there are no heart-pounding moments but i'm sure there will be soon. i am so tempted to shuffle through the pages to see what happens next but i restrain myself. so far, so good. i only gave in once and now i feel bad for leah. 

writing: this! and the day had already crossed over to monday even before reaching this part! lol. also writing a new fanfic which hit yet another rut. it was supposed to be published for the holidays but noooo. where's my creative writing mojo when i need it???

listening to: perfect by ed sheeran and live and die by the avett brothers. in my mind. a case of lss, you see. to those not in the know, it stands for last song syndrome. other people may refer to this as earworm.  

thinking: of practising for ielts. even if i am not taking the test anytime soon. i do have to review for the civil service examinations though since i plan to take the exams within the first quarter of this year.

smelling: nothing.

wishing: i'm not really into wishing for things but if i really have to wish for something, it would be to win the lottery. who doesn't?

wearing: sleep shirt and, wait for it...cycling shorts. again!

loving: the training in arnis. that and the reruns of who's the boss, family ties, full house, and grey's anatomy on cable. the first three shows remind me of the good old days. i even think that the colours of who's the boss is what the atmosphere of the '80s looked like. it felt like it too if i think back to that decade. as for grey's anatomy, i'm glad to be updated on its earlier seasons since i only began watching it on its eighth season. and back then it was already on reruns. good thing hits is airing the fifth season where the relationship between little grey and mark developed. whoop-dee-do!

wanting: to travel.

needing: some new wardrobe. cos losing weight quite fast now, ya know. yay!

feeling: sleepy.


there ya have it. good night!

thanks to siddathornton for this wonderful link-up!