Good morning, it’s still pretty chilly out. Please come into the warmth and let’s chat in my fresh-bread-smelling kitchen. I had just finished baking a loaf of Sourdough Foccacia. It’s been a while since I’ve baked anything and I sure do love Foccacia. They are so savory and versatile.
Continue reading “#WeekendCoffeeShare: The Last Weekend of February 2021” →
Good morning, welcome to another edition of #weekendcoffeeshare. It looks like it’s going to be another cold one today. So please come in, hang up your coat and join me with a hot cup of something. I’m having my usual today – coffee with no sugar, no cream with a just a dash of unsweetened almond milk.
Continue reading “#WeekendCoffeeShare: The Ups and Downs of a Short Work Week” →
Good morning, welcome or welcome back (for my regulars) to another edition of #weekendcoffeeshare. Please come on in to the warmth and out of the cold. It’s looking like it’s going to be another snowy Saturday in my part of the world.
Continue reading “#WeekendCoffeeShare: Hooray for Long Weekends” →
It turned out this past weekend was that time of the year again – tax filing time. I hate that time of the year, right after the health insurance buying period (November 1 – mid-December). Even though she claims she knows more about taxes than me, my mom cannot file a single tax return without calling me over to help.
Continue reading “Stress Talk #8: System Malfunction” →
Good morning, it’s cold out. Please come in and join me for a socially distanced chat and a cup of coffee or a hot beverage of your choosing.
Continue reading “#WeekendCoffeeShare: 168 Hours of Work, Sleep, Scrabble, and Blogging” →
Good morning and thank you for joining me for yet another #WeekendCoffeeShare.
Continue reading “#WeekendCoffeeShare: The Longest Week” →
Good morning and thank you for joining me for yet another #WeekendCoffeeShare. Don’t just stand there, come on in.
Continue reading “#WeekendCoffeeShare: The Earth Still Spins” →
Good morning and thank you for joining me in yet another #WeekendCoffeeShare. Come on in and enjoy a nice warm cup of coffee.
Continue reading “#WeekendCoffeeShare: Tough, Wacky, Excited” →
It’s been a while since I’ve checked my all-time stats. The image above was snipped on January 1, 2021 and I was amazed to see how many countries I have traveled through this blog since 2013. I feel surprised and humble that you all have decided to check out this blog and follow me even though I write about the most ridiculous things sometimes.
I did not even imagine anyone was going to read what I write when I started this blog and I certainly did not think of getting an official domain. If you haven’t noticed, the blog URL is now https://thisisanotherstory.com/. I decided to take the plunge and get a domain name a few months ago.
Before I return to my Monday work, I know I probably don’t say this enough, THANK YOU FOR VISITING.
Good morning and thanks for joining me once again for another #Weekendcoffeeshare. Come on in and let’s have coffee. I’m sure there’s a pot brewing in the kitchen.
Continue reading “#WeekendCoffeeShare: 2021 – The Dark Sequel” →
Here we are, number 7 in this series. The last one was right before the new year. I didn’t think I’d do one this week but here we are – first week of 2021 – and I’m already stressed. Surprise, surprise. I almost sleep-walked two nights ago so that’s a sign.
Continue reading “Stress Talk #7: Deja Vu” →
Good morning and welcome to the first #weekendcoffeeshare of 2021. Do you feel that? It’s the feeling of new. It’s the feeling of hope. It’s the sensation that something great is coming.
Continue reading “#WeekendCoffeeShare: Welcome, 2021! And Don’t Scare Me Like That!” →
Well, it looks like we, at least in my circle, have unceremoniously welcomed 2021 – I worked my 8 hours, ate 2 square meals plus a midday snack, finished listening to The Queen’s Gambit on Audible, blogged, and went to sleep long before midnight rolled around.
Continue reading “Hello 2021! May You Be as Bright as I have Hoped” →
Stress does talk. It’s got has a voice. A loud one too, I tell ya!
Continue reading “Stress Talk #6: Stress Has Got a Loud Voice” →
Thank you for joining me on another #WeekendCoffeeShare. Come on in from the cold. It’s sure been bitterly cold this year. Not a lot of snow though which it’s a shame. It’s 2020, everyone’s working from home, having snow to look at would break the monotony. Anyway, what would you like? I have Hot Cocoa – the instant stuff I’m afraid – and instant coffee.
Continue reading “#WeekendCoffeeShare: Last Saturday of 2020 – No Regrets” →
My Dear 10-year-old Self,
It seems like just yesterday you landed at the terminal of the LAX. I bet you feel like an alien – unable to understand the language and the environment is certainly not what you’ve expected – but I tell you, you’re going to get through this. There are lots of adventures waiting ahead. There are obstacles, too, but I’m telling you, you’re going to get through it.
Continue reading “Letter to Self: 19 Christmases and Counting” →
Good morning, thank you for joining me for another #WeekendCoffeeShare. I’m having a steamy cup of hot cocoa with lots of mini marshmallows. Would you like some? Here, we’ll sit six feet apart so we can adhere to the social distant law of 2020.
Continue reading “#WeekendCoffeeShare: This isn’t called Selfish” →
I dislike it when people use these words: “This is nice but…” or “I like it but…” because the “but” implies otherwise. If you don’t like it, tell me, don’t give me such inconclusive answer, you know what it does to me. It irritates me and next thing I know, my Fitbit will tell me I’m stressed.
Continue reading “Stress Talk #5: Family of Baggers” →
Good morning, it’s been a while, hasn’t it? About 10 months since our last Weekend Coffee Share? Lots have changed to the point that our coffee share have become more virtual than it’s ever been.
Continue reading “#WeekendCoffeeShare: Weird Dream, Potential Work Burnout, What’s Next?” →
Here comes more mantras: you’re not dirty, you are an intelligent human being, you are not a brainless person when it comes to buying stuff.
Continue reading “Stress Talk #4: Mission Impossible: Meal Prep” →
You are not selfish. You are not a bad person. You are good.
Continue reading “Stress Talk #3: Everyone else must be miserable because I am” →
So… it’s another Friday or in the pandemic world of 2020, it’s just anther day.
Continue reading “Stress Talk #2: It’s Friday, so?” →
After speaking to my dietitian/therapist this week, I decided to start this weekly series as a way to de-stress from everyday life, to scream at my inner voice and so forth. It might be very random things and some might be humorous. I’ll try to keep it light.
I don’t know how to relax. Is that a weird thing to say? I don’t know how to relax. There, I said it. Can you blame me though even though I’m sitting here now writing this, feeling stressed to the brink?
From what?
From work, family, life.
Do you sometimes feel like you’re being rushed from place to place and never have a moment to just stop and look around you or contemplate on the present? That’s been me for the past twenty-some odd years. My mom wants things done right away. When I was living with my step-dad, he, too, wanted things done in the moment. When I was living with my relatives in China, everything must be done in an instant. It was what was expected of me but it’s never reciprocated.
You know what’s strange?
I never really noticed it until the recent years when I began working multiple jobs while going to school and then I’d come home and my mom would want me to do this and that. Maybe my internal stress meter has been slowly peaking and I didn’t realize it. Or maybe my age is catching up. I’m not as young as when I started this blog 7 years ago. I sometimes would look myself in the mirror and would find crow’s feet at the corners of my eyes.
I recently watched a documentary about stress. In it, eating was mentioned. It turned out sugar is less sweet when a person is stressed and foods are more delicious when one is stressed. Really? I decided to do a test and it’s absolutely right.
Maybe it’s why I’ve been overeating again, even being on an anti-diet. I think I am overeating because I’m stressed. “I feel like pulling my hair out,” I told my dietitian and honestly, I feel like I’m about to break down into one big sob.
I’m overeating because I’m constantly working excess of the 40-hour standard work week. My mom was saying, “the more overtime you work, the better.” I overeat because of the constant disruption. Everybody wants something from me and it seems like that’s the only time I worth something to them. Other times, I’m just a “silly” girl.
My 24-year-old cousin needs help registering from college classes, guess who he turn to? My uncle needs to shop for a car, guess who’s going to do that for him? The family needs health insurance, who will help them buy insurance?
ME, ME, ME, ME, ME!
This is Another Story