8 [long] months later
After 8 long months, I finally received the camera I purchased. And in stead of going out and taking photos and using my long awaited camera, I kept it on my desk until a month later when I actually decided to use it. Enjoy some random and unedited photos.
[dog] snacks from Trader Joe’s
I used to always be skeptical about the pet treats sold at Trader Joe’s. They used to only have a couple of items so mainly ignored them. However, over the last couple of years, ve seen a shift where they now make an effort.
Some of the items I like for Jasper are seasonal, but they do have some staples (hopefully long term) that I will now only buy from Trader Joe’s because it is a solid $3-4 cheaper than the brand I was buying regularly.
Jasper is very treat motivated and he doesnt like peanut butter/peanut butter flavored items, so there are some limitations to what I can buy. I do hope they keep up with the treats and hopefully create alternate flavors of their staple items, even if its just a seasonal item.
Trader Joe’s [snack] break
Trader Joe's Snacky Clusters are a delightful treat that strikes a perfect balance between sweet and salty. Each bite-sized cluster is a satisfying mix of peanuts, corn chips, and pretzels, all mixed with milk chocolate. The combination of crunchy textures and rich, creamy sweetness makes them an addictive snack. They're ideal for a quick pick-me-up or as an addition to a party platter, offering a unique and enjoyable alternative to traditional snacks.
What sets Snacky Clusters apart is their attention to detail in flavor and quality. The ingredients are well-proportioned, ensuring that no single flavor overpowers the others. The milk chocolate is not overly sweet, complementing the salty elements perfectly. Moreover, the clusters are free from artificial additives, appealing to health-conscious snackers. Overall, this is my CURRENT favorite snack to buy from Trader Joe’s.
say [hello] to Jasper
After the passing of my previous dog Luna, I was becoming very depressed. I had spent so much time and effort taking care of her that I felt empty and alone. There were times I would be driving home and it would hit me that Luna wasnt there to greet me anymore. After a month, I showed my mom a photo of a 10 month old puppy that was up for adoption. Immediately she asked if we were getting him.
Literally the same day, I checked if he was available and we went to the Peninsula Humane Society to do a meet and greet. About 1.5 hours of going through all the process and paperwork, we were going home with Leaf!
I decided to rename him to Jasper as Leaf didn’t sound right. I kept hearing “leave” whenever I said his name, but luckily he has taken a liking to it. More info about him will be coming soon, but if you can help and follow him on Instagram, that would much appreciated.
IG: jasperthescruffydog
did I [finally] find a job?
tl;dr - sort of
i was recently verbally offered a contract position thanks to a colleague I worked with before. The reason why I said sort of to finding a new job is because I never want to celebrate until I actually have my first day. This is because I’ve had a job offer rescinded a week before my start date, which was devastating. While I continue this process, I am still interviewing for a permanent position as it is important to have benefits as well. So while I am being hopeful about this job, I will really celebrate on day 1.
future [career]: coffee shop owner, side hustle connoisseur, or regular job
While I continue this path to finding a job in 2024 (god have mercy on me!), I have decided to venture into a few different directions.
First is the normal job search. I am still hesitant to get any job for income (retail, uber/lyft, etc.) because I feel like I would get trapped in those industries. I am a worker bee so as long as I have a schedule, I will just keep working. But another main reason is taking care of my dog. As you know, my dog has cancer and some other heath problems that really added a lot of financial and mental constraints in the last few months. So, ideally finding a job that aligns with my existing career is still a high priority.
Second option, and this is more of a side project type of activity, is seeing if I can get funding to open a coffee shop. While I know I like coffee and making drinks (I also worked as a barista for a year), running your own business is tough on individuals. This option is probably the furthest away possible, mainly because it is a major financial risk even if I do get loans. I don’t have support if things go south and this could bankrupt me and ruin me financially. However, I am going to continue the initial process of calculating operating and set up costs and create a simple business plan just to keep me occupied.
Finally, the side hustles that I am actually pursuing and started. I first started the process of data annotation. It basically needs some to determine which AI responses are most correct not harmful. I have only begun with the initial assessment and still awaiting approval, which some people say could take as short as a week to months. Knowing this, all I can do is just wait. The other side hustle is a print on demand shop via Etsy. While I am hoping this is more of a semi-passive business, there are some upfront steps that took me awhile to get familiar with. There are also some upfront costs that I need to take into account and hope that it does become successful enough to justify.
All in all, I am still hoping to get a regular job and if just commit a few hours a week to the side hustles. At this point, its at least keeping me occupied and in a more positive mindset.
rough week [behind], time to focus
Not going to lie, this past week has been very tough mentally. It didn’t help that it rained almost every day so I really didn’t want to leave the house, but my mind has been mostly on taking care of Luna. While she does seem to be doing better than before, she doesnt move around as much. She mostly just lays in bed and doesnt even join me on the couch anymore. I was most worried because the wasnt eating and would refuse to take her medication by locking her jaw, which I was too afraid to force open and injuring her.
Despite the constant rain, Luna has been eating more. Nothing very solid, but enough to avoid upsetting her stomach. Medication on the other hand still have to be hidden in things like peanut butter and donuts. haha. While I hope that all of this is a good sign, it does concern me that in a little over a week she has another chemo session that costs $1,100.
To keep my mind off things, I decided to finally take up photography as a hobby. Hopefully this helps me get outside more vs always staying indoors. Its getting to the point that I overthink things and avoid going out unless necessary, which is not the best way to go about life. I feel weird wearing a camera, even though most cell phones have one built in. Maybe its the fact that its a camera I wear on my shoulder is what makes me feel off.
Nonetheless, hopefully I dont have such bad weeks anymore and I can focus on the bigger things like getting a proper job or somehow winning the lottery. You never know.
Luna has [cancer]
This week has been tough. I posted a short TikTok about this, but my dog Luna developed a mass by her shoulder in 2023, which we find out is cancer. Our vet recommended surgery, however emphasized that because she has an enlarged heart and has a heart murmur, she is at risk of not surviving due to the stress on the body. So we decided to wait it out as it was not physically bothering her in any way. Unfortunately, the mass started growing rapidly and was causing some pain/discomfort. Once this happened, we decided to go with the surgery despite my vet’s warning.
In November, we began the process of getting a consult, bloodwork and x-rays with my new vet (my previous vet stopped working there without notice). Vet explained that the the mass is is probably pinching nerves and since its still growing, he may not be able to remove it 100%. Which means that it could return. Knowing this, I had to wait until surgery day and keep up with Luna’s pain meds.
Surgery day arrived and I drop Luna off very early. I was told the vet would call me before the surgery as preliminary discussion, but I did not know that it would be almost 3 hours later. A few hours later I am told surgery was complete and that I can pick up Luna once she wakes up. All day I was worried I would get the call that she did not make it, so I was full of anxiety on my way to pick her up.
I arrive at the vet to a $2100 bill and some new medications to give to Luna. Im told she did very well under anesthesia and a biopsy would be done on the now removed mass. Luna is handed to me in a cone and immediately starts whimpering and wagging her tail. I am so happy that the surgery went well and I could take her home. As we leave the office and start walking to the car, Luna is still whimpering and I immediately breakdown crying. It was a much needed cry because she was going to get better and I didn’t have to be so stressed out anymore.
Now I have to give Luna extra attention and care. Prevent her from jumping, taking her medication and cleaning the wound. During a follow up visit my vet confirms that the mass was cancer and due to its size, there is that risk it could return. Welp, barely 3 weeks after her recovery from surgery, the mass returned. This time, it was growing quickly and aggressively. Right before New Years, I take her in again to check if the cancer metastasized elsewhere, which it had not, however it was still growing. Now I am given a choice again, amputation, chemo, or euthanasia.
I chose chemo. This was because even if we did amputation, there was no guarantee that the cancer would stop, so we could be in the same boat all over again, but with one less leg. And this week was Luna’s first round of chemo to hopefully stop the spread and even better, stop the cancer completely. As I type this, I am watching Luna sleep as she could have symptoms for a couple days, but I still worry that the mass is growing. Will she make it to her second session in a few weeks? Will I have money to pay for each of the remaining sessions (each session cost over $1k)? Do I have to make the difficult decision of stopping it all?
Not a great start to 2024.
officially posting [content], however
First week of 2024 complete!
I have officially started to post content on both my youtube and tiktok pages and let me tell you, it was awkward. Recording things at home when Im alone was challenging because you try and find good angles, better lighting or even just more space. While my content isnt the greatest, I am glad that I started. Right now its just a bunch of random things, but hopefully I do have some type of focus’ in the near future.
Also, I have started using my handheld camera and learning about photography (attached image is mine!). I don’t know how much photography I will do, but I do find it fascinating. This may be more of a sometimes kind of hobby, but I still feel awkward being outside with it.
Hopefully the awkwardness decreases over time and I am not so self conscious about things.
to vlog or [not] to vlog
I have decided to venture beyond this blog on my thoughts, but to actually start creating content.
I still find it awkward to record things I do in my daily life so I will need to build up this habit if I want to be successful in it. Another thing I need to learn is using social media tool and the art of editing. Hopefully things will become easier as time goes on.
If you’re interested in some of my content, my links to my Youtube page and NEW TikTok page. Thanks for any support!
new year, [same] me?
Happy New Year and say hello to 2024!!!
What are your new years resolutions? This is a very typical question that is asked for the new year and one I’ve never really understood. Why make a resolution start on a specific date vs starting now. Changing and developing habits can be difficult, especially with the nuance of health and wealth. For now, what I will be attempting this year is finally learning about photography.
I bought a camera over 6 months ago and barely used it or even attempted to learn more about it. While I don’t think this will be something that I will do full time, it is a skill I have wanted to learn for many years. So I wish myself and anyone else attempting something new in 2024… GOOD LUCK, and just start!
Tackling Financial Illiteracy in [Communities] of Color
Financial illiteracy is a significant challenge in communities of color, impacting economic stability due to limited access to quality financial education. This lack of understanding about personal finance stems from historical inequalities and systemic barriers that have hindered wealth-building opportunities. The consequences are far-reaching, leading to struggles with debt management, limited participation in the stock market, and challenges in homeownership, perpetuating a cycle of economic disadvantage.
Addressing this issue requires a comprehensive approach. Incorporating practical financial education into school curricula is essential to empower young individuals with the skills needed for informed decision-making. Simultaneously, community-based financial literacy programs can provide tailored resources for adults, offering guidance on essential financial concepts. Additionally, policy changes are necessary to dismantle systemic barriers and ensure equitable access to financial services, contributing to a more just and economically resilient future for communities of color. -created with AI-
Who Benefits From Financial Literacy? An In Depth Analysis Of Finance - Forbes
finances while [unemployed]
Experiencing financial struggles during unemployment can be an incredibly challenging and stressful ordeal. The sudden loss of a steady income can lead to a cascade of difficulties, from meeting basic needs like housing and food to managing debt and daily expenses.
The uncertainty of when the next job opportunity will arise adds an extra layer of anxiety. Individuals may find themselves depleting savings, relying on credit, or seeking assistance from social support systems. The emotional toll of financial instability can be overwhelming, impacting one's self-esteem and mental well-being. Balancing the desire to secure a new job with the practicalities of daily survival becomes a constant juggling act.
Financial struggles during unemployment often necessitate careful budgeting, prioritizing essential expenses, and seeking resources like unemployment benefits or community assistance programs. It's a challenging journey that underscores the importance of resilience, adaptability, and a supportive community during such trying times. -created with AI-
