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went on a full-blown collector’s binge lately (since late 2023) with Gaultier. Owing to that, got a pocket organizer cause someone was selling it for cheap with the original fill in. Just refilled for a second time and realized how it’s keeping me, well, organized. No surprises there.
Someone asked me why I couldn’t just use my phone to handle my notes and schedule (I honestly do double entry sometimes), but writing things down kind of gives it a finality that only a correction tape that I have to get from my office will erase.
Am I the most organized person because of it? Pretty far from it. But at least I have a cool notebook and found the joy of writing stuff down again (whether it makes me look dated is another thing altogether).
Aug 22, 2024
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Recently I bought a little pack of palm-sized notebooks in an effort to be more “analog” with my notes and thoughts (pretentious, I know). With a world of increasing options, I’ve found I am all over the place with my notes. I have some in Apple Notes, some in Notion, a few in other random apps I’ve accumulated over the years, and I’m sure others in places I forget. For the past month I’ve used these handwritten notebooks and it’s like something finally clicked for me. Just a quick jot away, I’ve got a pad filled and another started, with drawings/diagrams of ideas for projects and little notes I want to be able to look back on. Just make sure if you do this you pair those notebooks with some muji pens or your preferred writing tool for the ultimate experience.
Jun 1, 2021
I carry around this tiny notebook everywhere I go and just write down any thought worth remembering. It’s helping me stay off my phone.
There are pages full of what would’ve been tweets when I was more chronically online.Theres a lot of quotes from books I’m reading or substack articles. Sometimes it’s just lists of tasks like “remember to refill prescription”.
Apr 29, 2025
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Long live the Notes app, but nothing beats just writing something down right as it pops into your head. To serve the sense of urgency at all times, one will inevitably collect a large and eclectic array of notebooks and notepads. I am considering getting one of those slates that scuba divers use to communicate underwater and keeping it in the shower.
Sep 10, 2024
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One of the benefits of living in the Philippines is our access to thrift-shop Gaultier. Absolutely feels like wearing art. Gutted that the tropical climate wont let you wear them out in broad daylight. Indoor occasions only!
Apr 6, 2025
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Recent trip to India kind of opened up the pent-up Catholic in me. Grew up going to a Born-again school so it was always a conversation about Catholicism vs. Evangelical Christianity. We were only three in my class that were Catholic so there were some subtle bullying happening when everyone else decided to be righteous and agreed that we needed to be saved.
Realized religion is more than that conversation and enjoyed learning about Hinduism. Passed by Akshardham (glorious!!) and bought a few books about it. Went to a transcendental meditation class when I went back to the Philippines and glad I got to attend one. As one would a tourist, I also got trapped into buying a Singing Bowl from the airport.
Went on a book run about Hinduism which my bookstores didn’t have stock on any but found a Cathecism book and a Buddhism book that should be enough to satiate my hunger. I have absolutely no idea where this will take me but I am absolutely enjoying this new sense of purpose.
Aug 25, 2024
Recently thrifted one and realized there‘s a dozen of them online (Mandarin-collared wool shirts) that were made in Japan. Came along with a Woolmark tag in Japanese too. Folding creases went away after wearing it out for a while too. Only downside is that it’s dry-clean only but at the thrift store price point, I’m more than happy to extend the life of this beauty.
Aug 22, 2024