Life Lately and thoughts on the New Blogger Post Editor

// I woke up today with a message from the parking owner saying they'll be increasing our rate by ₱500 and that we should confirm by the weekend. It sucks. I felt angry at first, of all times really? But then I realized it's not too bad because of the following reasons:

• It's still considerably below what the average parking rate is in this property, in this year.
• Our next lease will start on July pa naman, so it's not really short notice. 
• I doubt we'll get a better deal if we move. First level parking near elevator is a premium spot to me.

So yeah, we renewed and got the PDCs ready. 👍 Also, I can't be angry at our parking landlord because it'll be awkward in our Facebook group if I start looking out for a new spot, and most importantly she's sister-in-law to one of my former managers hahaha. So yeah, behave ako lol. FYI we currently pay ₱5k for parking. If it's any consolation, a friend who lives in the neighboring condo pays ₱10k. Hehe okay.

// My spending habits are kinda normalizing now too lol. I'm draining my allowance getting stuff online. I thought I'd want to buy less this ECQ but no, I have all the time to browse Shopee and Lazada! It's a trap! Plus all my favorite foods can deliver now so who's gonna stop my laziness from spending more? It started with an overpriced sleep mask, then an android streaming box (for my parents), then we decided to do take-out dinners every weekend, i bought a pair of apple airpods, ordered watercolor journals, and just now a set of wireless keyboard and mouse. 

I actually want to get more things, my ECQ wishlist is shaking.

// My latest purchase, the wireless keyboard, is actually an attempt to improve my current WFH setup and make it more conducive to work. Laptops kill my developer mojo. I need a full keyboard. I've coordinated with our office so I could pick-up my monitor, and also get some stuff from my pedestal. I'm set to drop by this Friday. Hopefully no trouble with the checkpoints, and no traffic too.

// I want to plant basil so I can make homemade pesto spread. But where to get gardening soil, and seeds too?

// You know how I've been making weekly vlogs on my channel, I'm thinking of changing my mobile video editor. I'm currently using InShot Pro, and it's great. It's super easy to learn, has a lot of options, but at the end of the day I'm looking for more features that would improve the way I edit. It's great for montages, but I'm trying to make more reviews and tutorial videos now and I need more than the traditional features. Considering I'm using a Pro version, I wonder why I don't even have PIP and video collage options. 

Any recos for a mobile video editor? :D

// This new Blogger post editor is pretty neat! Although I have a few concerns, mostly regarding their choice of icons for the toolbar. 

Update: I figured that part of the toolbar is hidden because I was using a laptop with a smaller screen size. After switching to a monitor, I'm seeing all options in one row now.

Text align options should not be hidden in a sub-menu, it's one of my most commonly used option, so it breeaks my user experience having to click more just to get there. If there's a keyboard shortcut for those, much better!

A lot of menu icons are confusing. Paragraph Format, Jump Break, and Toggle Caption buttons all look like Text Align options.

Font Type button looks unfamiliar.

Table button looks like Border options.

I find the toolbar icons in this new post editor less intuitive than the previous one. Considering it's a Google product they should at least consider following a standard right? Take Google Docs editor for reference, I mean. They were able to stretch the editor to a full width, they should've maximized the space on the toolbars. 

Anyway. I do like that it's neater, wider, and the preview option allows you toggle between device types so you can see how the post looks on mobile devices too. 

Hope they improve this editor!

:)

Sup ding-dongs

Here's to another week wasted doing nothing productive at work. There's this one task I've been putting away for about a month now that I've finally gotten the motivation to start. As in officially start. I've been yapping about the plans I have for this task in our weekly meeting, but truth be told, I haven't really gotten around developing anything.

Let's get technical.

I just really need to migrate some data from PeopleSoft to our timekeeping database to align the department names and team names. I've got the data in an excel file, and I've done some concat magic to generate update statements for each row, but that's about it. I'm scared to touch it. Because I knew once I rolled it on the database, I have to inevitably start working on the back-end, and then the front-end. Right now I'm just too lazy for that. It's not a simple update, it's a freaking DB structure change.

I remember back in college when we're told decent databases should have structured tables with information accessible using IDs. Especially those with one-to-many relationship. Our current system has none of that elegance. Our tables are a mishmash of data and it pains me every time I have to LIKE query. Pun intended hehe.

But anyway. Okay, I rolled in the data and now the fun begins. I've fixed some pages, updated queries, created tables, and I'm nearing front-end of this tunnel. Pun-tastic. Now I have to work on the UI. Which is exciting, because I get to learn and apply something new to our forms: multi-select autocomplete text fields! 

In another news, I just ordered airpods from Lazada. I saved some 500 I guess, and another 500 when ShopBack validates my purchase. So it's not so bad? Can't believe I just shelled out 9k for a pair of earphones but heck, been wanting to reward myself for uhm, following ECQ?! Damn.

Oh well. Let's keep hanging on.

[Review] TEMPUR Sleep Mask

I've been curious about this product ever since Sharon Cuneta casually recommended it in one of her vlogs HAHA. I never really thought much about sleep masks even though I use one every night. It's a simple item that's cheap and easy to replace, and it does its job; cover my eyes and help me sleep. I didn't think there were more advanced versions of it. Like I'm okay working on a monobloc chair but I wouldn't ignore an ergonomic swivel chair with back support and a memory foam headrest. Anyway, let's get it rolling.

Uhm but before thaaaat, here's a short and sweet review on Youtube. It's a sub 3min video that starts with a short voiceover intro (script taken from the box) and a quick look and commentary at the product. There's not much to show and tell anyway hehe. Please watch, and maybe subscribe! ❤

The basics

• Priced at ₱1,620 (regular price ₱1,800)
• Purchased online from Tempur Philippines (https://bit.ly/TempurPh_FB1)
• Arrived in 7 days. Considering ECQ - that's fast. But after knowing that their warehouse is just a block away from where I live? Urgh. Super slow. But it's all good. I complained. They listened, in a robotically reassuring way, and expedited the matter. Then I apologized, took down my frustrated comment in Facebook, and simmered down. Oh I love complaining up with solutions to my problems.

Before I get carried away...

• Made with Authentic Tempur material, which uses some kind of Certified Space Technology (according to the box). Whatever that means. I'm guessing some kind of memory foam used by astronauts. Hm, no wonder the skyrocketing price huh?
• Washable with reservations, which are: handwash only using mild detergent, do not bleach, do not tumble dry, do no iron.
• Textile is made of 75% cotton, 25% Polyester
• Filling is made of 100% Polyurethane. Perfect.
• Sized at 41x9x2.5cm. Couldn't care less.
  
  

What I loved

• Super soft and comfortable
• Blocks out light completely. Granted you wear it properly like align the ridge perfectly on your nose to seal it
• Washable, but like I mentioned, with reservations
• Adjustable with its garterized velco straps
• Light, compact, perfect for travel. I mean, that's default for all sleep masks. 
• Doesn't come off easily in my sleep. Works for side sleepers. Granted, you wear it tight.
• It looks hot to wear but surpisingly, it's not. I was able to sleep with these comfortable even with the AC off.

I really enjoy wearing this because I can open my eyes fully unrestricted and just bask in the darkness it brings. It's kinda therapeutic. Even if I'm not feeling sleepy I could just lie down, wear this, and enjoy phosphenes and fractals dance in my mind. Like I'm being taken to space. Oh dip, is this what space tech materials do? Haha.

What I didn't like

• Right off the box, the product tags. They're long and they're a lot. I ended up cutting them. Will this void my warranty? Do I even have one? Lol didn't check.
• It sometimes comes off in your sleep. But I only realize it when I'm awake, so at least doesn't come off while I'm wide awake, shifting and turning trying to get the right position
  
  

Apart from those, I have nothing else.

This is how it looks like when worn. It's big and bulky and I kinda look stupid in it. But who cares, I'm wearing space tech, baby! Plus, it has helped me sleep better.

Yeah that's about it, hope you find this review helpful!

Quarantine Wishlist Part 1

It's still okay to dream right?

Tempur sleep mask

As of writing I already got it and now I've been using it for around 2 nights already. It's phenomenal. I mean, it's the best sleep mask I've ever tried. Obviously. It's the only sleep mask I thought twice, thrice, about getting mainly because it's too pricey for a damn sleep mask! It's at ₱1,620. 

Will post a separate entry to review this item. But so far, so good!

Xiaomi Mi Box S

If I had known about this technology two years ago we wouldn't have bothered with a smart TV that only has Netflix and Youtube installed. I ordered one for my parents and it arrived yesterday. They set it up quite easily and I'm glad they're enjoying it!

Sofa repair

The broken part of our living room sofa is still being supported by a bunch of books right now. Thankfully, it's not showing any signs of giving up completely so I hope it lasts until we can find someone to fix it. Can't wait to get it repaired and reupholstered.

A comfortable PC setup

I'm just working on the laptop right now but seeing that I'm getting more development work this ECQ, I want to go the office to pick up my monitor and also get my glasses and USB fan from my pedestal. 

Lots of money

Don't we all? I wish I had enough savings and more so I can support our parents now that they have zero cash flow, and also reach out to my friends in need.

Mi True Wireless Earphones 2

Because Apple airpods are too expensive and I've been wishing to get wireless earphones because, uhm, wireless. 

iPad mini and Apple pencil

Ah! I've been dreaming about these two gadgets but I'm not convinced I truly need it, specially in these times. Of course nobody really needs it but I'm thinking if I can truly utilize it. I stopped using my Samsung Tab w/ SPen after about 2 years of playing with it, then I sold it. And it has the same features I'm looking for with the iPad mini. I'm just really curious about Procreate. Throw in a paperlike screen protector and a folio case with apple pencil slot and I'm ogling over here. Hay.

Instant Pot

What a delight would this be in the kitchen. It's a multicooker that can do a load of dishes. It's a pressure cooker, rice cooker, steamer, blah blah blah. I wanted to get this during ECQ but I thought I'd wait for the air fryer lid to come out so that I'd get more bang for the buck? I've always wanted an air fryer!

ECQ thoughts

It's a bit over a month since the ECQ started, here are... random thoughts.

✦ I'm getting tired of my own cooking. So I'm trying to discover nearby restaurants that offer pick-up or delivery. We've had Domino's and New Bombay so far

✦ I wish we had a 2-door inverter ref, a 2-bedroom unit, and an oven. Also a new couch.

✦ I'm lagging behind my 2020 Reading Challenge. Still currently reading Smaller and Smaller Circles by F.H. Batacan. For such a short book I wonder what's taking me so long. Oh right, I don't really like reading. But I'd like to pretend I do, so I signed up for free Kindle Unlimited [link]

✦ My husband lacks common sense in the kitchen. One time he was defrosting the ref and used a rag to soak up the dripping moisture. When he was done, he just returned the rag beside the sink. Hindi nya piniga. The rag was fucking dripping. Urgh.

✦ I thought I'd enjoy working from home, but I feel more tired. And I'm always working late. I don't want our home to lose its sense if the lockdown continues for months on end.

✦ I realized that we don't really need a lot of things to survive. Duh.

✦ ECQ allowed me to be able to strictly follow my IF schedule yey. And now most of my old clothes are starting to fit again.

✦ I discovered an issue with our VPN just now. Which as of writing has already been fixed, but gave me the idea on how to unblock certain sites hehehe

✦ Our couch is sagging at the center because of a broken frame and we're looking for items in the house we can use to support it. Right now it's got a pair of books and a tin lunch box underneath. Hopefully it survives until we find someone who can fix it.

✦ I'm starting to appreciate the sky even more lately

✦ There's something wrong with how hashtags are being used in social media. Most of them are confusing. And before you get what their real intention is, you have to go through trial on fire.

You'll never learn about it without getting into an argument. One that will potentially crush your self esteem and have all your embarrassing pre-pubescent photos exposed to the public. That's how petty woke twitter is.

So why do we even bother with catchy hashtags that breeds confusion and misinformation and AAAAALWAYS need to be elaborated? It may be encouraging to see it spread like wildfire. But you'll hardly see anyone using it in the right context, with the correct understanding. Examples: 

• #MenAreTrash - pero hindi daw lahat. Also pag kumontra ka, hindi para sayo yung hashtag so shut up ka na lang. Galeng. 
• #MassTestingNow - pero hindi talaga mass as in everyone. Gotcha.
• #MedikalHindiMilitar - pero kelangan parin ng pulis. So much for putting "hindi" sa hashtag. Ikaw pa tanga. 
• #OustDuterte - ito clear. Ganyan dapat.

✦ There was a tweet that reminded me how much I hated highschool. Sabi nya Highschool > College daw pero ang nag-viral is yung bumira sa kanya with the caption, "Not if you're gay". Hahaha

✦ Anyway. That tweet prompted me to clean up my friends list once again and eliminate people from highschool who were never really nice. I think I unfriended an entire group of friends. Nagbago na siguro sila but I wouldn't be able to prove that for myself, so my last memory of them will always be their bitching around and being bullies. So yun, goodbye.

Ok yun lang naman hehe