Arguably, one of the biggest concerns today is mental health. When people have been stifled in their daily movement, not just for weeks and months but for over a year now, the internal machine mutates into something dangerous. There can be restlessness, online fatigue, brain and muscle atrophy.

To inject some excitement into this, I told my family, "Let’s plan for our next vacation." Where, when, what and how should keep the adrenalin flowing again. The mind excites.

I am drinking this cup imagining I am somewhere colder, where air is fresh and sweet and internet service is down or not available. It feels good, y’know.

Why don’t we meet in my dreams? I’d like to share this cup with you.

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes

“Mind over body” used to be my mantra when running. Not anymore. After kms and kms that I’ve covered over the last 3 years, I’ve finally discovered what drives my legs: it’s “mind over mind.” To be more accurate, positive mind over the negative mind.

Recently, I’ve been tracking my mental behavior towards conquering myself. At the start of every run comes the feeling of tiredness and fatigue. But when I look at the vitals that my techie watch records at every run, they don’t agree with the feelings: 135bpm (heart rate), over 6mins per km speed. These tell me I shouldn’t be tired yet. I don’t feel any muscular pain whatsoever. I am not panting, either. My conclusion: it’s all in negative side of the mind that tells me I’m already tired even if I’m not.

One run day, I intentionally ran without checking my watch or tap it at every lap. There was no way for me to know how long or how far I’ve gone. I just kept running ’til the sun was no more. At the end of it, I ran longer and farther than my usual without the familiar fatigue.

I got the better of myself.

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes

When I look at Rissa, I look at the woman I have known and loved for more than 30 years. During the first year of our marriage, I only saw her as that, the woman, the lady, the love of my life.

Not too long later, came one child, Andre Christer. Shortly after, another, Nina Kristin. Since then, when I look at this woman, I find myself thinking of them -our children. Because when asked to define her, I will answer: the good mother of my two good children. They are who they are because they have a mother that loved them, moulded them, guided them to be who they are now.

My children are beautiful, loving and God-fearing because of their mother.

They may also be loud and crazy and unwritable adjectives but that’s just because of me putting a little balance which was just a bit right if you asked me. But I am digressing.

Doe-a-dear, God will look at you kindly because you’ve done well in your most important, most appreciable, most appreciated, most beautiful mission -as a mother. You are loved much.

Godliness and motherhood, in my book, are a mix of the same elements. Yup, I see that in my household.

Happy Mother’s Day.

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes #happymothersday2021

GOD in YOU

I have a question

I look at you

I find the answer

Because I see God in you

I have a problem

I look at you

I find the solution

Because I see God in you

My soul is disturbed

I look at you

I find comfort and peace

Because I see God in you

I was looking for love

God showed you to me

I found love

Because I see God in you

I was in the dark

God’s light shone

And when I look at you

I see God’s beauty

Because I see God in you

And when I’m lost

Don’t know where to go

I look at you

I find my home

Because I see God in you

Happy birthday, Doe-a-dear

You are a gift from God

To me and to everyone around you

𝕵𝖊 𝖙'𝖆𝖎𝖒𝖊 𝖒𝖔𝖓 𝖈𝖍𝖊𝖗!

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes

I don’t mind having service or repairmen do the cleaning and repair jobs at home and for the car. It’s my way of helping others who are better than me in doing their craft. Doing them myself, sure, can save me money but not time. And doing them myself also means taking their livelihood away from them. Not entirely, but sort of. Same principle I keep and push for at work. When giving seminars to architects and engineers, I’m always asked the question: What’s the common lighting mistake that designers commit? My answer: Not asking lighting designers do the job. I practice what I preach.

But these are difficult times. I mean, who allows strangers into his household this days? A cuckoo monster.

And so one day, our living room split-type A/C was running a fever and leaking profusely. Chuck out the idea of having it serviced by our ’suki’. This job is our internship to a Youtube course Andre and I took. Good thing I have a good neighbor -my brother, Fred, to guide us after having DIY’d his similar unit days before.

And so -again, I took out the good ol’ power washer. Jet a bit here and jet a bit there. Careful not to spray parts that get hot. An absolutely wild, wild wet living room we got after the fact. But clean, cold dry air blew out of the diffuser right after. Winter time in the living room. Another DIY success!

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes

Today, I’ve finally got my request for a chiffon cake for my birthday 5 years ago.

…also for our 22th anniversary;

…and for my birthday 4 years ago;

…also for closing a big contract 3 years ago;

…and for my craving for one two years ago;

…also for cleaning the house at the outset of this pandemic.

The craving started more than 5 years ago when during a visit to a relative’s house in Sydney, we were served this baked goody. Since then, I’ve been craving for a bite of the same. We got the recipe alright but disappointingly, having the recipe wasn’t enough. One had to actually do the baking. Then things happened like college thesis, boyfriend, more holidays, job hunting, work, more work, shortage of flour, shortage of sugar, Crash Landing On You, no-reason reason, covid-19.

But today, after all is said and baked, my cravings were satisfied. I am so chiffon-satiated, I can wait another five years. I am a happy dada.

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes

I had a blast with my machine toy yesterday. The toy is a high-pressure washer and the playing fields are the bathroom and the laundry area.

Do you know that this toy can de-clog floor drains -super clogged drains that pneumatic suction, flexible steel cable with spool hand crank and a pail of sodium hydroxide won’t do? They were totally useless.

Using the washer’s long lance to penetrate deep into the floor drains of the bathroom and the laundry area, I blasted with all my might. Water steam filled the entire room, it was like having a cold spa. And while at it, the toilet bowl, floor and wall tiles got their much deserved water jetting as well.

End result: clog-free drains and shiny tiles and bowls. I love this machine!

Nikkei asked me to clean the oven. Game time ain’t over yet.

Cheers! #MyCafeNotes