The Sunday Currently, issue seven
Field notes on processing the then and now, and more.
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,
I initially have an unpublished draft of TSC that was written around late August, but a lot of things have transpired over the last few months. I have not gotten around on publishing it. Admittedly, I have been going through the motions; it feels like as if I lived way too many lifetimes in the span of three months.
Perhaps the cosmic weather has been affecting my mojo recently. I may have been waiting for things to subside first before sending out letters out in the open. I have to make sure I have the proper headspace and environment to communicate myself effectively, even as something as simple as a TSC issue.
Enough talk, for now. Let’s begin, shall we?
reading
I have not picked up a book until I began drafting this letter just recently. I have not yet finished On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous from the last TSC issue, nor do I have the headspace to read some fiction. Instead, I picked a random poetry book I can indulge myself on.
Inward by Yung Pueblo is a collection of poetry and prose that encourages its readers to let go of any baggage that they were holding on to, healing yourself in the process, and looking within for wisdom. I was caught up with reviewing for my comprehensive exam for my master’s, so as of January 2025, I am not yet done with this read. When I first picked up this book, I had a pen with me so I can add my own annotations as I go. Here’s one of his poems that I annotated for a more personal feel.
Perhaps I should finish reading Inward, when I find the time.
writing / learning
Since the Full Moon in Cancer started in the middle of January, I was compelled to return to my esoteric practices, with an emphasis on shadow work. This time around, I am honing my intuition better with my mastery over tarot and integrating my astrological learnings in my journalling. For my friend’s upcoming solar return, I bought two astro-related digital journals from Chani that would allow me to map out the year better. I also have a digital tarot journal tailored for 2025, and I was inspired to make the most out of these tools.
I ended up curating a vision board with images I gathered from all over the internet that carries the energy I want to emulate for myself. I am re-learning to take some pauses and reflect with them whenever I can. I realized that it’s almost 5 years since I started this practice, and while there are areas where I can demonstrate my mastery—I am still a student, and I should keep on learning. This realization would also affect the direction of this newsletter, which I would dissect in the latter parts of this TSC issue.
listening
I only got to listen to Tove Lo’s newer releases this past week, one of which was a collaboration with the British producer SG Lewis. There is an entire playlist for the music videos for the HEAT extended play in her official YouTube, which was essentially a love letter to the queer community with the storyline and overall representation present.
Aside from the title track, Let Me Go OH OH is my favorite in the EP. The verses are especially catchy, as if the hook was intentional. The song also seems like it interpolates the 2005 pop song Ever After by Bonnie Bailey. Then again, sampling catchy 80s-2000s pop songs has been a trend1 I have been noticing from EDM artists in the early 2020s.
watching
I had a sudden urge to re-watch Bad Genius sometime in July 2024, since my partner has not yet watched it. I shared some memories with past lovers when the movie first premiered in Philippine cinemas, and in all of them, we were awe-struck with how suspenseful the film was. This tells the story of two top students trying to do an intellectual heist by leaking the contents of the in-universe equivalent of the SATs. When we rewatched Bad Genius at the time, the American adaptation of the movie was just released. I doubt it was at the same level as the Thai original, though.
Little did I know this would lead me to watch other films starred by Aokbab, the actress who played the protagonist Lynn. I might write about Hunger and Happy Old Year in the next TSC issue.
googling
can you use bluetooth mouse in s9 tab fe
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hoping
—that I get to finally meet my partner when he visits the country sometime in September, just in time for my graduation from grad school. There are so many places we need to visit, sights to take in, and things that we should do together. I cannot wait for my close friends and kulam corner to meet him too.
wanting/needing
I want to go back to CrossFit again, because my back is being a bitch (and in a concerning way—my mobility has been severely hindered that doing functional movements are proving to be difficult). As a result, I signed up for a 6-month membership in a nearby CrossFit box near my workplace.
All that’s left is for me to stick to my routines and have some discipline.
feeling
I feel like I am pretty content with the way things started for me this year. I was initially nervous approaching this year, with the results of our comprehensive exam looming over us. I was not sure if I made the cut, but after weeks of delay, they finally released the results—and by the grace of the heavens, I passed. This prompted me that I should be more proactive with how I move through life, as I am motivated to have more wins this year. I just have to set the right foundations, to which I can say I did.
remembering
Looking back at this 3rd Quarter dump, 2024 is a pretty eventful year. Allow me to flesh out these moments, for I have not taken the time to process these events fully.
This was taken during Fête de la musique, or the celebration of World Music Day. Part of the festivities for Fête is the conduct of multiple gigs and pocket stages across Poblacion, Makati for free. Me and my close friend went to the Goodsh*t Stage, named after the bar/cafe where it’s held. It is a tradition between my best friends to attend Fête once a year, although one of us is missing in action that time. We managed to meet our favorite local R&B/Neo-Soul artist, August Wahh, backstage and had some interactions with her.
This was a farewell party that we held for a space explorer who’s about to migrate overseas. We held a tea party at the south of the Metro, which was convenient for me location-wise. I am not sure if this friend group would get to meet each other again, whether in-person or online. Partly this may be due to my ex was being a part of this circle, and we were not exactly on talking terms anymore2.
This time around, the trifecta (as we call ourselves) were finally complete. It was the 30th Solar Return of the oldest in the group, and to honor his inner child, he held an intimate Jollibee Kids’ Birthday Party with the people he held dear.
There were a lot of moments with the space explorer featured in the photo this year, and 2024 was a witness to us deepening our friendship that stemmed through our CrossFit days. I had plans on taking her to my go-to restaurant in Cubao Expo, and after what seemed like months, I was able to take her there. This may or may not be my favorite photo of her, too.
Due to the insistence of my officemate, I went to see the solo concert of the K-Pop group The Boyz. Other than seeing them perform live in Asia Artist Awards in Philippine Arena in late 2023, I do not know shit about this group. They had an electrifying performance, though.
Perhaps this was the most iconic photo that we had together. Sometime in June, I became active in this large3 Discord server I was lurking in for years now. It’s the official server for the Alas Juicy subreddit, where people primarily share NSFW stories and confessions. The server is not as wild as its Reddit counterpart; if anything, it is like a microcosm of an online Filipino community where dirty jokes are the norm. The photo was the first ever meet-up of the regulars in the voice channel Chill, comprised of people from various parts of the country. Some traveled from far-flung provinces to get together with the Chill Fam. One member residing from overseas even pitched in financially to make this meetup happen. Admittedly, it is one of the most memorable moments I had for the year.
looking forward
I am looking forward to what this year holds for me, now that I decided to be more proactive in my approach. I am more inclined to grasp the future in my hands, instead of how I tackled 2024 where I let things ebb and flow as I go through the motions. Perhaps this was due to me getting a win as early as the first week of January. All hope is not lost.
I made a list of manifestations and key reminders to myself so I can navigate this year better, which I believe was the previous letter I sent to you. Hopefully I can follow through, I owe it to myself to show up even on days where it seems difficult. I have to be more present with myself, the people I hold dear, and to you too.
Final Thoughts
When I was trying to get over an almost-relationship sometime in mid-August, I thought to myself: I should direct my focus on people and things that matter. My progress on it got derailed. Looking back at it now, I am wiser than I was that time. I need to care for myself and my people, and that includes you, my space explorer.
I promise that I will be writing to you more often. I might even consider sending bi-monthly letters with our supposed regular programming. If I fail to do that, at least I should meet a monthly letter-sending quota.
I know I should be sending this issue on a Sunday as the title intends—but around 11 PM yesterday I got sidetracked finding the track ID of this riff I watched from a concert seven years ago4.
I will see you in a couple days in time for the Lunar New Year / New Moon in Aquarius. Keep your inbox open.
Do your best and love well,
Aud <3
I have a playlist for a bunch of newly released songs where the samples reimagine the nostalgic hits back in the day. Some of which include I’m Good (Blue) by David Guetta, 2 Die For by Tove Lo, First Class by Jack Harlow, and Betty (Get Money) by Yung Gravy, among others.
We were cordial with each other, at the very least.
It really is a larger server, and I am not fucking around with you. They have at least 10,000 members in there, and it is heavily moderated.
I was able to find the track ID. It was Islands by The XX.