Day 332: To Start A Good Day

My love affair with coffee has been discussed in this project several times, that if you're following this you might be tired of reading about it.  I normally start my day with a cup of coffee.  I found out about this brand of 3-in-1 from one of the girls on this project.  When I saw it in the grocery, I hoarded.  Good thing, too, since they ran out of stock the next time I was there.  It's different from Nescafe, and I hate to say this, but this one tastes like the stuff coffee dreams are made of.  It also comes in different flavors, and I think you have to somehow find what you like.  So far, Mocaccino and Vanilla Latte are my favorites.  They kick the day off right.

Day 307: Tastes Like Christmas

I am guilty of looking forward to Starbucks' Christmas cups.  Particularly because it means they will start selling Peppermint Mocha, which is my absolute favorite among their drink list.  I try to replicate it the rest of the year by requesting a shot of mint with my regular mocha.  It's close, but there's something different about the taste of peppermint.  It makes you think of a Happy Ending (Mika).

Day 296: Closing Time

Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.

Met up with a friend to talk over dinner and coffee.  We ended up staying late enough to watch the stores close.  I had not intended this to be in response to the theme of the week, but I guess it fits.

Listen to: Closing Time (Semisonic)

Day 275: Curves and Ticking Clocks

Me-time!  I had my braces adjusted today and decided to stay for a bit at Baang Cafe.  It was raining, anyway, and I hadn't bought myself a new umbrella yet.  So, I had a hot and cold combination of cafe mocha (my usual order at any coffee shop) and ice cream cake (check out photo after the jump).

I had time to sit still and think for a bit.  There wasn't much realization, but it cleared my head up a little.  I still don't know where this quarter-life crisis is coming from, it may be the weather.  It doesn't just inspire lethargy, it also inspires depressing thoughts.  I haven't figured it out yet, but I can't allow myself to go through a meltdown because of it.  The world will not stop moving just because I'm Stuck in a Moment (U2).

Day 268: Conversations Over Coffee at UCC

I spent a humid Sunday afternoon with a friend at UCC, drinking blended coffee while watching the light of the sky change.  We talked about major life changes, quarter-life crisis, living a healthier lifestyle, trying out new things, getting over bad habits and learning new ones.  I told her about getting into boxing and running, and she shared about wanting to take language classes.  There were so many things we wanted to do, and so many places we wanted to see.  I guess, it does prove that this is the age of restlessness.  I do not know why our generation seem to think that we do not have enough time to do everything we want.  It's as if we have somehow projected our mortality to be shorter than the rest, so we have to do everything now.  Which isn't really the case.

There were several things we talked about and some things we decided on.  It was an enriching discussion.  The conversation somehow inspired me to plan for several things.  Things I really want to do, and places I really want to visit.  Overall, it was a satisfying way to spend a laid back Sunday.

Wouldn't it be nice to have more Beautiful Days (Arashi) like this?

Day 242: A New Mug

After nine cups of Cafe Mocha, I get a gigantic mug good enough to hold a serving of soup.  Well, this is something to add to my growing collection.  I wasn't even aware I was collecting mugs until I realized I had more mugs than drinking glasses.

Day 221: A Larger Dose of Caffeine

I wasn't exactly insane about this day.  It was the day I was transitioning from night shift to morning shift.  It was a bit trying.  Apart from the schedule, sometime between yesterday and today, I seem to have lost my e-mail.  I don't know, maybe it has decided it has had enough and it was throwing the towel in.  I had this mental image of my Outlook walking out while saying, "That's it.  I quit."

After some badgering with IT, it eventually returned to it's senses and got back to work.  It will take a few days before it will have everything in it, though.  Let's just say that today, my patience was sorely tested.  Ergo, the need for a larger dose of caffeine.

Day 211: A Cafe Affair

My last day in Davao was spent traipsing from one cafe to another.  We had lunch at Tiny Kitchen, where I had one of the best ice cream cakes ever.  Afterwards, we spent the afternoon at Yellow Hauz having coffee and cake.  It was a pleasant way to end my vacation.  I would have wanted to stay longer.  I'm a big fan of quaint coffee shops, and Davao has one after another of them.  Since I can't stay, I would surely love to come back.

Playing music: Falling in Love at a Coffee Shop (Landon Pigg)

Day 207: Cafe Demitasse

Touched down Davao.  First stop is Cafe Demitasse on F. Torres.  On the way there, I noticed that Davao is littered with quaint cafes.  It's absolutely charming.  Since my flight came in late, there wasn't really much to do but catch up with my old friend.  Tonight we relax.  Tomorrow, we Rock and Roll (Eric Hutchinson).

Day 198: Husky

This fellow was with the folks in the table next to us.  Ain't he adorable?  He's kind of shy, though.

I had coffee with old friends at CBTL earlier.  There was a couple who sat on the table next to us who had this two adorable Siberian Huskies.  This is probably my favorite among all dog breeds.  They remind me of wolves.  They're very smart, too.  Also, they're right-sized.  Small enough to be house dogs, and can grow big enough to be guard dogs.  I would love to take care of one, however, I have to figure out how to take care of myself first.

Speaking of husky, I've been coughing since yesterday and I can hear my voice getting husky.  I feel a fever coming.  I hope I feel better in the morning.

Day 195: Coffee Passport & Eco-Friendly Sleeve

Coffee has always worked well with doughnuts.  Oftentimes, doughnut shops would have good brewed coffee.  The Krispy Kreme in our office building is no exception.  Starbucks is getting fierce competition from this brand for me.  This Coffee Passport is a promo that allows you to collect stamps on every coffee purchase and get freebies at certain milestones.

One of my favorite thing about this brand is how they support and initiate means to lessen carbon footprint.  I was fascinated with their coffee sleeve when I first saw it.  It wasn't your usual cardboard sleeve.  It looked like it was made of some kind of cloth. The print on the edge of it, though, says it's made of 100% recycled bottles and encourages consumers to reuse on their next cup.  I thought that was brilliant!  I've been trying to drop by before they close to get my daily dose of caffeine to get my engine on gear.  Mind you, the coffee's pretty good, too.  Knowing you're contributing to an initiative to go green is an added bonus.

Playing: Somebody Like You (Keith Urban)

Day 164: Coffee and Banoffee

Venti Mint Mocha and Banoffee Pie courtesy of my current class.  They did the Sweetest Thing (U2) today.

I came to work not intending to let people know it was my birthday.  I have this habit of not really telling, you see.  I do not have very good social skills.  When people compliment me or greet me on special occasions, I feel unsure of how to react.  So, I avoid all of that by not telling people it's my birthday.  Since a lot of the folks I work with have known me for some years, they kind of shared to everyone else.  It somehow reached my class, who I've only been with for a week.  I thought I had manage to isolate them since we're on a separate floor from the rest of my team.  I obviously didn't know any better.  They've been really sweet, getting me my favorite Starbucks drink and the banoffee pie during break.  Not only that, they also filled the cup with post-it notes with their greetings.

My team also got me cake, which we technically did not get to eat.  I got cake and a tiara.  The tiara is something we pass around.  It goes to whoever is the birthday celebrant.  I also took a picture of it, since I spent the day walking around with it.  I'll be passing it to the next celebrant.

Day 151: Coffee and Symphony

Daily fix is the theme for the week.

I have mentioned several times that I cannot function without my coffee at the start of day.  Neither can I last a day without music.  Having this two together can perk me up instantly.  It's a powerful combo, really.  I can run for miles after it.

Coffee Is (Cloud Cuckoo Land) love, and music is it's lover.

Day136: Coffee Will Make It Better

My morning cup to start it right.  I hope.

It's depressing that I can't eat properly.  The weird feeling of having some foreign object stuck on your teeth, the difficulty with speech, the required extra maintenance, the feeling of having your teeth being constantly pulled, I can deal with all that.  I have a high tolerance for pain.  It's not the pain that's depressing me, though, it's the not eating that's depressing me.  I'm used to eating meat.  Lean, fatty, crunchy.  The kind that will block your arteries in the long run.  Now I miss them.  So much, it's almost painful.  I can't even eat the croutons in my soup without softening them up.  Oh well, I guess I'll have to really find an alternative for the time being.

I need more coffee then.

Day 96: In My Cupboard

I was looking around trying to find something to photograph today.  My initial plan of going out to take a shot went down the drain the moment I felt the sun on my window.  It feels like my lazy week.  So, no.  I'm not going out to take shots.  I'm staying in and having everything delivered if God will permit such indolence.  This, my friends, is my cupboard.  Or what's inside it.  At least, it's the cupboard containing most of my unused things.  Empty wine and vodka bottles, vitamin bottles, coffee and tea cups, coffee press cover, plastic cups, a wineglass, a candlestick holder, saucers, chopsticks and a vintage frame.  

If this laziness persists, by the time I end this project, I'd have taken a picture of every inch of this apartment.  

Day 75: No Coffee, No Workee

One tall mint mocha, please. :)

Day 72: Here Comes The Sun

I was taking random photos to pick for the day when Here Comes The Sun (The Beatles) played in the background.  Perfect timing.  Just as the sun was rising, too.  It certainly goes with the thought I had while my friend and I talked the night away. 

Here comes the sun
And I say, it's alright

Here's to great mornings, and a great morning song to go with it.