JUST TO SHARE, the tubers of the Mexican turnips, aka singkamas, started to shoot and their vines crawl around almost everywhere. While these turnips are in season and sold cheaper at the wet market, I bought a bunch two weeks ago. I left three turnips on top of the fridge for display after eating some. I’ll keep them that way but not for long. Check my Instagram photo below.
RIGHT NOW, we are all expecting the lifting of this enhanced community quarantine in a week. While the economy has been badly paralyzed, most economists rather recommend to have the so-called modified quarantine thereafter, hence more businesses other than those in the frontline sectors to resume their operations. Whatever the case be, I hope it’d be the best possible move to flatten the coronavirus curve.
Within the past hell weeks, I focused on improving this blog with all the style sheet tweaks and on my unquenchable appetite for writing. I also launched a serial solo living journal, the first entry which delved into budget, bills, and bigger purchases. Making a follow-up entry today, I’ll share some decluttering ideas, de-stressing practices, and experiences doing some minor home repairs.
Doing Minor Home Repairs. The apartment where I live has served me more than just a shelter, rather a sanctuary, for around ten years now after the post-Ondoy sale (that devastating flood if you can still remember) of my aunt’s bungalow. By the way, my aunt and uncle, whom I used to live with since college, moved out last year so I have taken over the tenancy and all other left stuff and furniture. My younger sister who moved in months after pays half of the total household bills and the rent while occupying the smaller bedroom on the second floor.
For such length of our stay, we haven’t had any major inconvenience except the occasional clogging of the sewage system (and the almost unbearable heat during summer as there are taller residential buildings left and right), which I usually resolve all by myself with a drain auger. Now out of the blue, the old kitchen faucet pipe started to leak with continuous droplets that could fill a small pitcher overnight.
Literally, I had the eyesore pitcher collecting and preventing the droplets from flowing through the floor. It caused me a slight headache because hardware stores in the area are all closed, and I should find at least a temporary remedy to seal off the leaky rusty pipe. Plus, I didn’t want to bother the landlord right then, perhaps after the lockdown.
Checking the cabinets for something that could possibly help, I discovered cans of multipurpose epoxy sealer, possibly left by my hoarder uncle or my cousin who does construction works, which could also be used on metals per labels. When I was younger, I used to be an assistant of my dad in repairing our fishing boats, and we would use epoxy sealers then. I tried it and did the repair overnight. It worked.
Truth be told, I don’t subscribe to Chinese feng shui or any other traditional Asia beliefs, but I strongly believe that life continues just as how the household resources flow. Water, in feng shui though, represents money and emotions. In essence, a leaky faucet, a clogged sewage system, and even a broken doorknob are all but obstructions to the natural flow, not to emphasize the stress they bring, and hence require immediate attention and fixing.
Decluttering the House. Proud minimalist I am, I keep only the things that serve me practical purposes. Once broken and no longer serving the purpose, even appliances and tools are considered ‘good to go’ to where they belong — either the junkyard or the dumpsite.
Sentimental value is never part of my vocabulary. After all, the living space is quite limited, and I don’t have the luxury of maintaining a storage area for the hoards. Once in a while, I spend hours sorting items — what’s in and what’s out. Doing so keeps all unwanted items from piling up over time. If you need professional help in the process, Chicago cleaning services can be a good option.
Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity — Einstein
— signed MARCO (@signedMARCO) April 19, 2020
Stack by stack, papers and school records make entries and exits through my room as soon as the semester starts. Despite the exits, I still accumulate a thick pile of papers that I scrutinize and sort at the end of the sem. In most cases, I end up disposing almost all of them after confirming that I do have their softcopies.
At least once a year, I also get into decluttering and reorganizing my small closet. I should say, and I’m proud of it, that I can right away decide without hesitations what clothes to keep and what to donate. The last time I did it, a relative volunteered to have the load of preloved clothes taken home for distribution among the disadvantaged in their neighborhood. I also have an affiliation with a charitable organization that solicits and distributes in-kind donations to Mangyan communities in Mindoro, and it’s where these clothes mostly go.
De-stressing Amidst the Coronavirus Scare. I am scared of getting infected with coronavirus, and this but keeps me safe. It’s the same fear that keeps me away from public places as much as I can. I schedule my trips to the wet market and grocery which I do now once in two weeks.
I believe that others are even more scared of the possible total lockdown or as they say, almost likened to that of a Martial Law, that the President threatened to impose amid the number of enhanced quarantine and curfew violators. Such information about the total lockdown circulating online however was already debunked by the authorities. So, let’s get some relief then!
Tracking the development of the credible news about it on the side, I also observe some helpful self-care practices which can be read in another article I uploaded here. It’s a good read.
To cut this journal entry short, let me just say that there’s much to do at home as we hunker down to ward off the coronavirus. Start decluttering, de-stressing, and doing some minor home repairs.
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