Birthday post! will i revive the tradition starting from this year? i'll only find out next year, depending on whether or not i write one. at least i've given myself a start this year, so it's up to future me.

this past week has been quite eventful. everything i mentioned happened (and more!), but there were some timing rearrangements. long story short is i got everything done. 10 sentences or less recap for each major point:

aunt's place

met my aunt, uncle, nieces, nephew, cousin, and cousin-in-law. had nice conversation with each of them. the kids are growing up so fast; my youngest niece is speaking so much more clearly now. my uncle is into watching AI-generated shows on youtube, i don't get the appeal. dinner and cake (because of birthday celebrations) were both great. confirmed, i'm perfectly happy without kids.

meeting my cousin

arranged to meet up for drinks and to catch up; i realize we don't meet up nearly as frequently as before. he's using AI really creatively, to help him in his work and to analyze our family dysfunctions. the results were surprisingly insightful! we're still working through our different traumas in different ways - him with a therapist and AI, me with blogging and reflection. i might want to see a professional sometime down the line. he also just quit his job to start his own business...i could never do that. i think studying in australia really unlocked something good in him. mentioned about potentially investing in the business, but seems like i'll need $100 000 minimum. something to keep in mind.

weird dream

dreamt that i'd mistaken all my maths periods for break periods in JC, and as a result, not attended a single maths class in 2 years. for all the maths i learnt during that time that i still remember now, that might as well have been true! makes me wonder how deep my JC maths trauma actually goes. i mean, it doesn't affect my day-to-day life - like i don't break down when i see an integration sign or anything like that. but it obviously means something, that i'm still having bad memories of something that happened more than half a lifetime ago!

gay bar visit

gym guy invited me down yesterday, to meet doctor guy and his partner (IT guy). doctor guy got me a souvenir from taiwan! so nice of him. IT guy is pleasant too, and i'm looking forward to meeting him again. i had a better time with them than i did with someone else who was also there and who was more physically attractive/my type, but less so in terms of character and personality. well, nothing of value was lost. also made the acquaintance of someone who was there for the first time, and he seems nice too. not to mention cute bartender was not scheduled to work, but went down anyway! i'm happy/grateful that i seem to keep meeting him there.

tuition

one of the kids is on home rest due to a knee operation, meaning that i had to run a hybrid class this week and for the next 3 weeks. mildly annoying, but got it done somehow. i realize that i should familiarize myself more with zoom and how to write on PDF. decided to give myself a birthday treat (also for reasons which i'll explain below) and grabhitch home. thankfully someone accepted my booking! took 25 minutes, instead of the usual 65. is a 60% reduction in travel time (plus added comfort, not needing to hear morons press the bell more than once, and getting dropped off right under my block) worth paying about 800% of the bus fare for? not always. but it was today.

and the reason it was worth it today is because i'm due to leave home for the airport around 9pm, AND I HAVEN'T PACKED YET! well, at least it's a short trip, so i'll only need my small suitcase and maybe another bag as a personal carry-on. need to pack umbrellas and a spare jacket for scary JC friend's mum. don't think i'll need anything else? i figure as long as i have my passport and can board the plane with no issue, anything else that i forgot or didn't think to bring can be bought over there. but still, i should start packing before it gets too late. knowing myself, i'll probably need to spend extra time looking for random things whose whereabouts i've forgotten. well, better get started, then!

-random thought of the day: Escaping the haze!-