To change or not to

I'm in the middle of editing my test blog for a possible layout change. Ever since I decided to not care about being a professional blogger, my sidebar has been drastically decluttered, so I'm thinking maybe it's time to try out a single column blog! Yas! Edit: My footer is still cluttered haha

You see, I wanted to focus more on just writing right now. None of those SEO optimized listicles that provide real value to readers, and a tiny bit of income to me haha. And speaking of income, it took a lot of thinking on my part to decide on putting down Google's leaderboard ad because it almost always messes with the design, and the only reason I'm keeping a Nuffnang ad is to be able to call myself a "Nuffnang registered blogger" and ultimately be eligible to join their contests (which recently have become so blah and competitive so ohkay). Anyway, not giving up ads entirely as I've found a pretty alternative to pesky header ads... inline ads!

The more I try to direct my blog to a source of income, the more cluttered it becomes, the more desperate I feel, the more out of character my entries come out. I even have a lot of reservations joining comment exchanges because here I go again shamelessly plugging what I ate for lunch and forcing people to come up with encouraging comments lol. And half the time, I don't really know how to engage with people's posts, especially those with glaringly bad grammar. It's already a chore trying to understand the entry, and then I have to say something nice. Ugh, as much as I want to snark up, my conscience tells me to suck it up instead 'cos karma happens even to the best of us. Char.

To be fair, Comexes has served its purpose of providing me some reading material. I love to read but lately it has been a struggle to reach out to my virtual bookshelf. Blog posts are easier to conquer. If I'm lucky, half the list I'm supposed to read is well written, other times I'm just trying to get by link after link wondering how the hell some people love to write badly.

Don't get me wrong, grammar can be learned. I'm just bitching out cos I've been reading a lot of bad writing lately, my blog included heh.

Why are we talking about Comexes again?

So there, actually I've finished tinkering with the design. I'm just contemplating on installing the theme now or later (or never). I don't know why I can't keep a layout for long, moreso, I don't understand how some people could stick with their blog layout for months. Just how.

Actually I think I know why, I was a UI developer so I can't help going to the HTML editor to experiment on stuff. It's my knowledge and curiosity of web design trends that make it hard for me to stick to one theme for even just a quarter. Isn't that tragic. My blogger-designer friends don't seem to be this way with their own blogs. What's wrong with me. Not a question.

Okay. I should be off to sleep, it's 3:30PM, and that reads 3:30AM for zombies like me. Off to the grave.

A quick revamp

Jenen! I didn't really think when I decided to change my layout design, it just sort of happened haha. I don't know why but I easily get bored with my theme, kaka-visit ko siguro LOL. Anyway, I decided to change a couple of things here and there after browsing tumblr themes and finding this: http://rainier-theme.tumblr.com/

I thought, oooooh a video header under dark translucent overlay! Let's do it! It was a simple F12 job for me (Inspect element). I copied a few lines of code, a couple of CSS properties, and voila! It's refreshing to see something moving on my header. Needless to say, I was happy and bent on finding/making my own short HD clip of something nice but it's such a hassle. I didn't want to just grab the original video too cos I may be violating some creative commons chuchu, so I just settled for a picture first. ;)

I also removed some post borders and stuff. 

Hm, on second thought, a video header would be cool. I'm looking at www.abbey-sy.com for inspiration. I suddenly want to shoot my own header lol. A 15 second webm clip is only 3.9MB. TEMPTING. Whatever, what do I know about shooting stuff lol.

We'll see ;)

Xcel*

Driving lessons finally over! I'm excited to get a license and finally hit the road. Kidding. I'm scared. Really scared, but I'm also very excited. I was looking forward to my lessons cos then I can finally validate all the driving knowledge I had kept in my brain while observing my dad do his usual ultra-defensive driving. In my head, I know how to shift gears and turn. In my dreams, I'm racing the highway. In real life, I'm struggling to keep the engine moving, failing every now and then especially on uphill turns. Hay, but I've learned a lot and can't wait to practice more.

Earlier this evening was the last day of my driving lessons. I woke up pretty late so I rushed my 'grooming', skipping ironing my hair HAHA. Then something happened, I left my student permit!!! When I was nearing their office I reached to my back pocket to get my evaluation form and student permit and panicked when I realized they're not there. So I reached to my bag in hopes I left them in the front pocket of my backpack but holey moley they're not there as well. Pag minamalas ka nga naman o, kung kelan last day ko na. I was thinking if maybe my instructor could drive me home so I could get my permit... buti na lang before I could enter the office I heard two men calling out to me, THEY PICKED UP MY PAPERS ON THE ROAD! Must've fallen while I was crossing! THANK GOODNESS DEAR LORD, you couldn't imagine my glee. Yeyyy.
Today, I got around the farthest and managed to reach the 3rd gear cos we finally ventured to Commonwealth area where my comfortable 30 kph was challenged by the 60kph speed limit. I only went as fast as 40 and didn't dare push further, 'cos my instructor won't let me anyway, not that I wanted to. It was very fulfilling, albeit some jumps, I think with more practice I can finally drive myself to the office and back bwahaha. That's the goal.

Yosh!

* is the driving school

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Supercaffeinated

Mondays are slowly becoming bearable in that it gives me another chance to restart my weight loss agenda after failing week after week, so yeah I feel quite hopeful. Here's to wishing I don't disappoint myself again. But to be honest, I don't mind. Damn, I should learn to be hard on myself in this regard.

So this week, I'm back to diet pills. I have three different bottles sitting in my drawer, and today I decided to try Hydroxycut. The others I have are MySlim and Herbalife Total Control.

I bought Hydroxycut at Walmart when I was in the U.S. but delayed on using it after thinking I don't need another supercaffeinated diet pill that's gonna overwork my nervous system and give me headaches. But what have we, I never learn.

I actually have a mild headache right now but I don't mind. What I can say is that it's really good at curbing my appetite. I just don't like that I'm feeling more nervous than ever but the thing is, apart from the 1 cap I took around 9pm, I also drank caffeinated green tea so there goes the extra push.
Ah, can't wait for the elections to end. Watching the VP race results is stressing me out. #LabanLeni por favor.

One day while applying for a student permit

How to apply for a student permit at LTO East Ave.

Last week since it's swelday, I took the chance to finally enroll in a driving school while I still have the money lol. So on the way home, I inquired at one of the nearest driving schools to our house (Xcel) and readied the requirements.

They only asked for a student permit so okay I went to LTO and applied for one. The entire process took a lengthy 2 hours. First I was led to a shabby LTO accredited clinic along East Ave. to have my medical permit (₱200) then I was directed to queue somewhere inside the LTO complex for evaluation, picture taking, payment (₱317.63), and releasing.

Medical

I didn't know this was required so I was very reluctant when the guard I asked for directions told me to secure a medical certificate first because it's a requirement. Watda. I thought I was being scammed but I still followed the lead of one of the guys he called out to help me find a clinic outside. I was very suspicious along the way but eventually I learned it's really required lol. The medical exam is really just an eye test, a very casual one. The "doctor" just points at random letters on the Snellen chart and you read 'em. Masabi lang na na-medical ka. Oh well papel, this has been going on for decades. What can I do. :\

Then I walked back to LTO to get a queue number and application form. I filled it out and waited until my number is called for evaluation.

Evaluation

Where I handed the clerk my queue number, application form, medical permit, and a photocopy of my NSO certified birth certificate. She validates and encodes the data, then points to a notepad window on her computer where the next step is written. That is, go back to my seat and wait for my name to be called for picture taking.
I was called back to the first window cos my address was too long daw. Not my fault their data encoding application has a character limit for street names, what a bummer. They resorted to trim my subdivision address further. I would personally resort to throw back the app to the developers for a quick change on input maxlength, but what am I to do but whine. Yeah, like a true millennial.

Picture taking

Yadda, yadda, yadda. They also ask for your signature. Btw, I just had to roll my eyes at one of the girls there making paganda to the camera (ang sama ko lol). If anything, I want all my government pictures to look bad (not that there's any effort involved) if only to show my displeasure (in hopes it would) at the type of service they're giving. But this girl is in all smiles, all kulot, and made-up like she's going to some party kanto to get picked-up. I can't blame her, she's probably not paying taxes yet, I still rolled my eyes anyway.

Payment



Easy breezy, but I just had to rant about the fee -- ₱317.63. I don't know where they get their figures or how they compute for such and such fees but what the hell may butal talaga? I paid ₱500 and was given ₱182 for sukli. I was short-changed by 37 cents. No biggie. What's 37 cents anyway. Well, what is 37 cents times the number of applicants they short-changed that day, that month, that year? Where does that un-audited sum go? If I knew the exact fee I would've prepared the exact amount up to the last centavo if only to mock them. Char. And yes, I'm accusing LTO, the government rather, of pocketing my change. :P

Releasing

It's really the waiting that gets to my nerves. Sure there are seats, and there are industrial fans, but it's still too hot. Weather's not LTO's fault yeah? Of course not, that's just me being arte lol.

I was excited to receive my student permit but I gathered I had to let my excitement die after reading the notes on the windows saying that due to their incompetence in managing supplies, all they can give in exchange of our ₱318++ and precious hours is the official receipt. So much for picture and signature taking. Why don't we just skip that step if we're not gonna receive the official paper anyway? We're all just given OR's that would serve as our student permit cos they're (still) out of resources. I say just make the OR the official student permit so we won't keep on wondering what it is. It's only valid for a short time anyway and will be used for a specific purpose only so it doesn't matter what form it takes. I guess it's also the reason LTO stopped caring about it. But still.

Aaaand that's it. As much as possible I want to limit my transactions with government offices cos I almost always go home pissed. That day was nothing new. I've always had major trust issues with the government, well who doesn't nowadays. I always had to mentally question why this and that is required and internally whine at the blatantly corrupt practices they employ. Gosh, this sucks.

Giving juicing another chance

Or the other way around cos it's really me who doesn't want to give up on losing weight the easy (but expensive) way. Last week I ordered a 3 day juice cleanse package from Pure Jus. And in fairness, it's one of the best tasting blends I've ever tasted. Sly Diet still tops the list unless they've changed ingredients. I also tried Sexy Detox last month and it sucked big time cos I think they gave me expiring bottles. Not three days in the chiller and it smells rotten at the lid. Eew. Do not buy there. Their Hulk Green is slimy and gross (which is weird cos it's not the first time I ordered the hulk green. This last one just tasted repulsive), the only drink I enjoyed was their Grape Jolt.

Anyway, I'm on my 3rd day of taking Pure Jus and I haven't lost weight lol. But that's because I can't hold my cravings. On my first day I cheated a lot already, eating snacks with my juices. It wasn't a pure juice diet for me but I sure didn't eat a lot that day. I mean, even you combined all my Day 1 cheats (2 packs of crackers, half a brownie, 2 small cheese bread, 1 pandesal, banana, this is embarrassing, mango caramel bar, daing, I should stop, and corn soup), it's still not halfway the amount of food I ingest on a regular day. Argh, why is it so hard to eat less.

Disappointing as it seems, that's how it went for the next two days. I already ate rice on my second day in the form of two onigiris from Family Mart. On the third day my self-control became worse as I ate two rice meals. haha. I should feel bad about myself after wasting almost ₱6,000 in hopes of shedding off even a pound, but for some reason I don't. Does juicing make you this optimistic? Or did 6k just seem like barya to me? Charot on the latter of course. :P
I can attest though that I felt better, albeit not lighter, than how I usually feel working the graveyard shift. I wasn't sleepy at work (though I was expecting I should as a form of side effect) and my mind was active. I DIDN'T CRAVE FOR COFFEE. Day 1 was my proudest day, cos I only ate snacks throughout the day and my tummy didn't fill up that much. I think I could follow up on this!

2 out of the 6 bottles I have to take everyday are lemon maple juices, which are very easy to make. I think for my next attempt at making fad diets work, I should retry the lemonade diet and modify it so that I get to eat solid foods still. Day 1 kindof worked for me in a way cos I drink and eat lightly every 2 hours.

Now that I've disclosed my future diet plans, let's forget about it.