The Sunday Currently began as a writing prompt by siddathornton where on Sundays, you write a low-effort, high volume post that tackles what’s happening in your life. For more details, check out my previous issue here.
To whom it may concern,
From my previous letter, I promised that I will write to you today. So write, I did. We have a lot of things to cover this time around, and I cannot wait to share them with you.
Here’s to the eight installment of The Sunday Currently.
reading
As I went through the Joy Luck Club rabbithole, I came across this short story by Amy Tan called Rules of the Game. It tells about the story of how the protagonist Waverly fell in love with Chess and how she became a prodigy in the game, and how her relationship with her mother has progressed through the story. Apparently, this story laid out the foundations of what would later be Tan’s best-selling work, The Joy Luck Club. While her mother was unnamed in the story, this later turns out to be Lindo, one of the protagonists on the latter work. For those who encountered The Joy Luck Club while reading Rules of the Game, I think the short story fleshes out Waverly’s backstory better, as it gives one insight on what was going on with her internally as the scenes play out. It feels like it makes sense, somehow.
writing / learning
I mentioned in the previous issue that I was working on some digital journaling to hone my esoteric practices, especially shadow work. Here is a snippet of my 2025 Tarot Journal, where I get to do a daily card pull and reflect on how it applies throughout the course of my day.
So far it has been a consistent practice for me. I would opt for a random tarot card generator online and reflect on whatever card that was picked for my daily pull. It is a good way to maintain my mastery over my practice.
listening
Right after Spotify Wrapped was released in December, I was relieved that Hev Abi did not appear in any of my top 5. The last time Wrapped came around, Jeff Grecia’s Elevate got lost in my top tracks. My chakra was disturbed; it was a guilty pleasure of mine to listen to Kalye Tunes, surely I was not listening to it too much for it to warrant a top 3 stop?
—back to Hev Abi. Following Wrapped 2024’s release, I went on a Hev Abi listening binge because by then surely Spotify is not tracking my listening habits. This time around though, I will be more unapologetic on listening to him. Who cares if he ends up taking my top spot in Wrapped 2025. Some of my favorite tracks were Lil Kasalanan Shortie, to which I associated the song memory to a shortlived fling, and the classic WELCOME2DTQ, which was a track I find myself replaying prior to the Hev Abi binge.
watching
I have been trying to engage more long-form content on my free time, usually opting to open Youtube and check out offerings from my algorithm that spans around 10-30 minutes per video. Here are some of my top picks.
This fairly short video essay explains a noteworthy development in Google Maps’ UX, where there are unnamed streets in India and how one of its former developers tackled this challenge when it comes to navigation. It is interesting how this feature is quite unique in India, and it makes some comparisons to giving directions in a location based in US, for example. I checked whether this feature is available in the Philippines, but so far it’s an Indian exclusive.
This one tells about the curious case of Waffle House in the US, and how its branches correlates with estimating the damage sustained by its surrounding areas during hurricane season. The video explains that the US Government uses this chain’s operations during a natural disaster as a gauge on how severe the hurricane was at a certain county or city, and how Waffle House is a standout compared to other fastfood joints. It even tells how they have a handbook ready in preparation for hurricanes—all for the love of being able to serve a piping hot meal for everyone.
This lengthy video essay expounds on the landscape between mother-daughter relationships, as reflected in select films that highlights such connection. It references films such as Lady Bird, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Brave, and The Joy Luck Club; with the OP explaining that they used three pillars in examining the mother-daughter relationship through a cineaste’s lens. I am someone who’s actively experiencing a somewhat strained relationship with my mother, although it is not something that I would consider as “trauma”, this was a difficult watch because at some point, it made sense.
This led me to check out The Joy Luck Club, which tells the story of four mothers who formed the titular “Joy Luck Club” as a way to bond with their shared struggles as Chinese immigrants in 1990s America. It also explores their background along with the upbringing of their daughters. When I watched this film, I realized how it parallels with the newer film Crazy Rich Asians, on how this film perpetuated Asian stereotypes, and a newfound understanding and empathy towards those in the diaspora. Aside from it being a film classic, it made me consider improving my relationship with my mother more.
googling
zara pink cap perfume square bottle
lunar phase today
random tarot card generator with reversals
paracetamol 650 mg
game8 lan yan genshin build
hoping
I hope I would be able to secure spectator tickets for this CrossFit event called LoveFest. It is usually held near Valentine’s day, hence the name. A friend (who I like to refer as my Comfort Gremlin) has been known to serve as a judge in CrossFit competitions often, and now she’s serving as the Head Judge for the event. My box1, Momentum Fitness, would be participating in the event, and I want to cheer on my CrossFit classmates who would be competing for LoveFest.
I do hope I also have some energy mustered for the day, if ever.
feeling
As of writing, I feel like the brain fog has been lifted from my head. I was able to push myself to do my weekly and monthly chores, which may seem as a no-brainer for most people, but doing these menial routine tasks are challenging for me. It takes extra effort for someone with mental illness to do the bare minimum. I am emulating one of my mantras from my 25 self-reminders this year—how I will be instilling self-discipline will come from a place of love.
remembering
Sometime in October 2024, I had the opportunity to do a gig at Hanoi, Vietnam. It was also my first personal travel after the pandemic hit, and I enjoyed the seven-day experience. I met new people in my travels, matched with some people on Bumble here and there, went on a couple dates while I was at it, too. So far, these were the highlights of the trip:
This was taken on my first day in Hanoi, at the Hoàn Kiếm lake. I realized that throughout our trip, we would find ourselves at this part of the Old Quarter one way or another. My friends and I would say that “All roads lead to Phê La”, which refers to the Milk Tea shop that we use as a landmark whenever we head to Old Quarter.
This is at Quán Rượu Đắng, a bar hidden at the alleyways of downtown Hanoi. My local Bumble match took me here for our first date, and told me how this is a queer-friendly bar that hosts weekly movie nights. They serve uncanny drinks when translated from Vietnamese, with the one I had was named after a household fabric softener brand. I also admire that they are very much pro-Palestine; the phrase in the photo is the local translation of “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free”. As of date, I think they either renovated the place or moved to a new one altogether.
Prior to my trip, I asked one of my professors from Asian Studies for any recommendations that I should check out. He suggested that I visit the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, which was right up my alley as someone from the Social Sciences. I bought some books that they published from their gift shop as souvenirs for the professors that recommended me to my masters’ program; one featuring Catholicism in Vietnam2 and the other being a book on traditional textiles and their cultural significance.
This was taken during my first visit at Hanoi Train Street with my co-delegates and facilitators. Later in my trip I returned to this place as a side trip on my food tour, where we witnessed a train pass us by up close. I bought some postcards from the vendors in this area as well.
This was taken at Tran Quoc Pagoda, one of the most iconic landmarks in Hanoi. This was our first stop in our Hanoi in a Day tour, and this was the most slayful photo I had during the trip. The pagoda is located at the West Lake area of Hanoi, the vicinity where I stayed on my first few days during my gig.
This is the facade leading to the Temple of Literature, dedicated to the Chinese Philosopher Confucius. People say those who will be taking their entrance exams offer some incense and prayers to this temple for luck in their studies. I had to buy some OG sandalwood incense from their gift shop alongside some souvenirs and trinkets, of course.
There is much to say about my Hanoi trip but I will end it here, for now. I may write about them soon.
looking forward
I am looking forward to attend this gig on February 22 featuring a long set from Cheats. They are my all-time favorite local band at the time when OPM Indie was at its peak3, and listening to them played a huge role to me during my days in university. The logistics of going to to the event is such a bitch, though, since it’s going to be held at Libis4. Thankfully, my sister agreed to let me crash at her hotel room somewhere in Cubao after the event. I will probably secure the gig tickets for me and my friend within the week.
Final Thoughts
I may have pulled off an all-nighter as of writing. By the time I send this letter to you, I am going to catch up on some sleep. I still have to finish my pending chores for the week, along with some tidying due for the month. Here’s to a fruitful sunday ahead of you, my space explorer.
Do your best and love well,
Aud <3
A “box” is what CrossFit people refer as their gym of sorts where they do their workouts. CrossFit is a whole thing in itself, I swear, but I am not complaining.
When it comes to religious practices, Vietnam is either honoring ancestral practices or following Buddhist practices, which is why it makes one curious to see how Catholic practices continue to persist despite being a minority religion in the country.
This was during 2017-2018.
I have a deep-seated hatred to the Eastwood/Libis area, because it is inaccessible as fuck. There are no accessible commute routes to that place unless you’ll have to book from a ridesharing app.