Kath's Journey | Going one step at a time: review

Book Review: Project Hail Mary (Andy Weir)

July 28, 2026

Like with most people, I first encountered this title, this work of fiction, through the movie. The movie generated a lot of buzz and was very popular several months back, but for one reason or another, I wasn't able to catch it because I wasn't really into going to the cinema (which is slowly changing by the way 😀).

I first heard about this from a Toastmaster friend who suggested we watch the movie after one of our meetings. He was the same person who requested to watch the movie "Obsession." Unfortunately, our schedules did not align, and we weren't able to catch the movie screening at the cinema.

Fast forward to May, when I attended one of the Philippine Astronomical Society's Astro camp (which I haven't blogged about here 😅), I learned that one of the prizes they gave away in a past Astro camp was a copy of the book. This piqued my curiosity because that just shows this book is well-loved by those space enthusiasts. It was also timely because I was, at that time, slowly returning to my roots as a space nerd. I got a copy of the book and started reading that same month.

I just finished the book today. I spent two months reading it. 😅 It could have taken me longer if not for my drive to watch the movie version soon, because I learned that it is now available on Prime Video.

The premise of the story is interesting. However, even for someone who loves space, I got a bit overwhelmed with a lot of the technical explanations elaborated in the book regarding the physics and the chemistry involved in the plot. 😅 Still, things do get interesting when Dr. Grace, the protagonist, meets "Rocky", the alien, in his space journey. I enjoyed all their interaction in the book.

I've heard a lot of praises about the movie, that it was tear-jerking and had a plot twist at the end. I didn't want to get spoiled while still reading the book, that's why I was really looking forward to finishing reading the novel. However, when I did, the ending didn't move me, the way I expected it to.

Overall, I would give it a 4/5. It's not something that I would remember for long after reading it. Let's see how it pans out when I watch the movie, which I plan to do at the end of this week. 😁

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astronomy

Movie Review: Interstellar

July 27, 2026

Ever since April of this year , I have started to reconnect with my roots of loving astronomy. I have been revisiting this childhood passion of mine. I always loved looking up at the sky, and I am so glad to have found my way back to something that truly sparks my soul.

Recently, because of a guy (who I am currently dating), I have been able to immerse myself further into my interest in astronomy (which is something we have in common! ✨). I was able to be interested in watching one of the most iconic space travel movies, titled "Interstellar." This movie was released in theaters in 2014, so I am quite behind on this film. 😅Nonetheless, I had not had the chance to watch it before, and I have no memory of the plot. I didn't even know that Anne Hathaway was in this movie. I feel like I approached this film without any clue about the plot, which contributed to how fresh and innocent my experience was.

This guy actually lent me his Blu-ray copy of this movie. Apparently, this is one of his all-time favorite sci-fi movies. I thought we had a Blu-ray player at home, but my dad had already disposed of our players because they were not working anymore. Sadly, I wasn't able to use his copy of the movie. However, upon digging around my external hard drive, I learned that I actually have a copy. I think this was one of those movies that I copied from my friends, maybe way back in college or when I was working, during the time that kind of activity was very prevalent. 😆

When I finally had the time to sit down and watch this movie, I used my copy from the external hard drive. Unfortunately, while watching, I realized that this copy is just the first half of the movie. I believe that whoever produced this copy ripped it from a DVD, which is why it should have been two files, one from each of the discs of the DVD. I was very much caught up in what the next storyline would be like and what would happen. My movie-watching was interrupted, and I had to search online for which streaming platform the movie is available on. It was available on Netflix, but unfortunately, it's not available in my country, possibly due to copyright issues. Fortunately, through some googling, I discovered that it is available on Google TV. So even though it wasn't part of my plan, I rented the movie and was able to continue my movie-watching. 🎞️ Well, it proved to be a better experience for me because I was able to watch in higher definition video and the audio was clearer. It was a win-win for me, even though I had to pay. 😆

When I finished the movie, I had a lot of questions in my mind. I was messaging the guy about this, and I felt his enthusiasm when he was talking about the film. I had just watched the movie, but I felt like he recalls more of it because he was quoting lines and explaining some of the plots that I hadn't caught. I really think he knows this movie like the back of his hand, which is not surprising since he has watched it so many times that he has already lost count.

Not knowing where to start with my questions, I didn't want to barrage him with too many inquiries. Instead, I went to a community that I trust for things like this. I was pleasantly surprised to find a subreddit dedicated to the love for this film. I deep-dived into that community, read many forums and posts, and was so happy because I was able to understand most of the plot points that I had missed while watching.

Time traveling is one of my favorite elements when used in works of fiction. I realized that when combined with space travel, it truly blows my mind. This is especially true for the movie Interstellar, where the factors they presented in explaining time and space travel are very close to reality.

In science, we have studied the twin paradox. If there are twins and the first twin stays on Earth while the second twin travels into outer space at a speed faster than light, time for the second twin would pass slower than for the twin back on Earth. If the twin in space spends a lot of time traveling at this speed, when he returns to Earth, he would be younger than the twin who remained on Earth. The time that has passed between the twin on Earth and the twin who traveled in space is different.

This theory is already established in the field of science, yet it still boggles my mind. It fascinates me in a very interesting way. How can time be different between two people? This concept is scientifically proven, but it feels like magic. It seems to involve something powerful that is beyond human understanding and comprehension, which truly blows my mind.

In the movie, it was highlighted that love transcends time and space. It's a very powerful energy. 💖 There are many quotable quotes from the movie, and one that really struck me is the idea that what makes humans supreme over machines is their fear of death. You can program a machine, but it does not have survival instincts. This leads machines to self-destruction, whereas we humans fear death and possess survival instincts. We know when to approach risks and when to retreat to preserve our lives.

This factor truly differentiates us from machines, even though machines can be powerful, smart, fast, and efficient in their tasks. It struck me because it resonated with some of the struggles I face, especially in the field of software development and AI, and the fear that robots will eventually overrun or replace people in their jobs. This quotation made me reflect on my current career situation.

Since watching the movie, I was really blown away by the plot, the subplots, and the characters that we don't see as villains, but you would have the impression that they are doing something evil in the plot. However, when you look further into the layers of that character, you will recognize that they are just being human. They are feeling the human emotions of longing for a connection with other people.

That's what I really love about this film. The more you absorb the plot, the more you try to understand the movie, the more you discover about it, and it really enriches my experience of consuming that movie. I am thankful that I have these resources now to further enhance my understanding of the film.

I believe this would definitely demand a rewatch. Maybe I can watch it together with this guy when the time comes. 🌙✨

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movies

Movie Review: Obsession

July 26, 2026

I don't want to google images of that movie, so I am just inserting our stylized group photo of us when we watched it. 😆

First and foremost, I have to say that I wouldn't think I would be here writing about this kind of review on the blog because this type of movie is something I would never watch on my own (because I am a scaredy-cat😅). However, through socializing and being with people who are different from me, I tend to experience things I never thought I would experience for myself. Watching this horror movie is one of those experiences. 😅

It was a very energetic day after a Toastmasters meeting, and most of the members were hyped and still had a lot of energy for socializing. As part of our usual routine, we wanted to do something to bond together after the meeting. One of our members suggested watching this movie. Fortunately, we had a member who lives nearby, and she was kind enough to host this impromptu team-building activity. There were around 10 of us who came to our member's place, and all of us made ourselves comfortable on their sofa, in front of the TV. It was the perfect place to watch a movie because they had great speakers, which contributed to the horror-movie experience.

I knew my tolerance for horror movies. I feel brave watching horror movies when I'm with my friends or in a group because I enjoy the collective screaming that we do. 😆For this movie, Obsession, I have heard of it from months back because of all the social media noise that it had several months back. I already have seen a lot of memes and references about the movie so I very well know the plot and how it ends. But of course, it's still a different experience watching the actual movie itself. I am not ashamed to admit that I had my hands on my face during some scenes, especially during the latter part of the movie when things were really going crazy.

Even though I was afraid and feeling uneasy about the movie, I felt safe in real life because someone was holding my space and my energy. I am thankful for that person for holding space for me and letting me know that there is someone who would protect me in real life. 😍

Of course, I very well know that the movie is just fiction and a product of the imagination, but there were some overlaps of elements in the film that I subscribe to in real life. One specific example is the reference to the tiger's eye crystal. Well I actually had a crystal bracelet of that that night, which was uncanny. I felt ambivalent about mentioning it to them, so I didn't anymore. Else, I would feel more creeped out. Also, I know for myself that I easily get disturbed by works of fiction in all spans of genre, may it be horror, suspense, thriller, or even romance. I am sensitive to feeling intense emotional energy. I remember years back, I had nightmares following a visit to an escape room so I guess I really have to watch out for myself in consuming these kinds of content.

I've read that this was a low-budget film, and I see how that played throughout the movie. Of course, how you do a horror movie is all about the execution. Those who have watched the movie would surely highlight or mention the same scenes that really creeped under their skin. Even though I was half-closing my eyes, I still saw some of them. It was very unsettling. However, I have to say that it was very satisfying to have our collective screams that night. Expectedly, it was mostly the girls who were really screaming their lungs out. 😆 The part that I don't like was having flashbacks of specific scenes from the movie when I'm alone, and that's what happened the night after watching it. It didn't help that I was still running on caffeine due to the coffee I drank over dinner. I also already had sleeping issues. I have my meds for it, but initially I decided to not take it because it would contradict with the effects of the caffeine. However, I just couldn't sleep, up until the wee hours of the morning. I eventually took my meds and tried to sleep at 3AM, with the lights on because I was still feeling afraid. 😆 As expected, I woke up very groggy and tired the next day.

I have to say that one thing I learned about myself in this movie experience is that I really need to be cautious on how the materials I consume would affect me. I don't need to avoid them, but I have to know my boundaries. I need to supervise myself when consuming these kinds of content because it affects me in ways that are not good for my mental health.

But overall, it was a great experience. I got to bond with my fellow Toastmaster friends. It was a memorable fellowship night. If we're going to have another movie marathon, I would suggest that we avoid the horror genre and maybe select a lighter mood for a movie. Perhaps a sci-fi or an animation, or something that is just light on the senses.

Still, it was a great experience, and it was wonderful to bond over this movie with my fellow members that night. ✨

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books

Book Reads: The Reason for God (Timothy Keller) - Introduction

April 09, 2026

I want to try something new on the blog. It’s not entirely new, but it’s something I’ve been doing for some time now. Throughout the years, I’ve curated all the books I’ve read on this blog. This time, I would like to approach it differently. I will review books chapter by chapter, similar to how I experienced it with the Reddit Book Club (which I unfortunately lost consistency in 😅). However, I really enjoyed communicating with other readers and approaching the material in a deeper context. I believe this approach will work well for self-help books because they are rich in information and lessons. Each chapter contains valuable insights that require careful digestion.

The book that I chose to start this new format is "The Reason for God" by Timothy Keller. It is one of the reference materials mentioned in one of our Alpha Series sessions. Through those sessions, I was introduced to great books related to religion. That's where I actually discovered C.S. Lewis' "Mere Christianity", which I finished reading last year but have not yet blogged about (it is already in the queue 😅).

I started reading "The Reason for God" a few weeks ago. Initially, I downloaded a sample on Kindle first to get a feel of the book. I liked what I read, and so after finishing the sample, I purchased it on Amazon. I have now completed rereading the Introduction part, and so these are my insights.

It was mentioned there that religion is the one that succeeds the triumvirate of race, gender, and class. And I agree with that. Religion is a powerful concept and force in humanity. Different religions can lead people to extremes, either toward great things or toward the worst things.

However, I am not entirely sure about the author’s observation that the world is becoming more religious and less religious simultaneously. I think I am more exposed to the side where the world is becoming less religious. Based on my observations of my friends, most of them are agnostic. I have only met a few who are very devout: either as practicing Catholics or as dedicated followers of their religion. This made me curious about how the book will expound on that statement.

I also like how the author described his journey in processing religion. He divided it into three barriers: the intellectual, the personal, and the social.

In my own life, I oscillate between the intellectual and the personal barriers. I have witnessed God do great things in my life: both in the smallest moments and in the grandest ones. However, there are still parts of my mind that want to understand religion in a logical way. Maybe that’s why I’m reading these books. I’m asking difficult questions, like the ones raised by the author. At the same time, I find myself questioning my own beliefs. I’ve often thought that no one religion is entirely right: but I want to challenge that idea. Why do I think that? If I consider myself as a Christian and believe the Bible is the source of truth, then that belief does not fully align with its teachings. This is an area where I feel confused, which is why I’m trying to study and explore different perspectives. I’m glad the author raised this issue on the onset. He mentioned that Christianity began to make more sense to him, and that he will expound on this throughout the book. I’m curious about how he arrived at the conclusion that Christianity is the one true religion.

On the personal barrier part, I am continuously rebuilding my relationship with God. I had been away for several years (more than a decade actually 😅), and only recently have I begun trying to reconnect with God/Creator/a higher being/Universe. By the way, I tend to use these terms interchangeably. I recognize that the term "god" can be tied closely to religion, while I sometimes prefer to describe this presence as the universe: the energy that sustains everything and keeps the world in motion. It’s difficult to fully articulate how I feel, but I know that I am still in the process of building that relationship with the Creator.

As for the third barrier, the social one, I am still searching. One of my guides right now are my friends in the Alpha series sessions. I’ve come to recognize the importance of having a community and people who can guide you as you grow in your faith. I’m open to learning about different religions because I’m curious about Buddhism and its teachings, as well as Christianity and Catholicism. I’m also fascinated by the social aspect of religion: how people come together, bond, and grow in faith as a community. This remains an ongoing journey for me.

Further more as I read the Introduction part (yes we are just in the beginning of the book 😆), it was also interesting when the author said that

"Three generations ago, most people inherited their religious beliefs rather than chose them."

I think this is true. From what I’ve observed in older generations compared to my own, people today seem to be more liberated when it comes to choosing a religion that aligns with their beliefs. I see this in my family and among my friends. People seem more empowered now to choose what resonates with them, rather than simply following the religion they were raised in. I see this as a positive shift because blindly following a belief is something that doesn’t appeal to me.

The author also mentioned that in the first half of the book, he will address the seven biggest objections and doubts about Christianity that he has encountered over the years. I appreciate how he lays out his arguments, and I’m curious about how he will develop them throughout the book.

Another passage also struck me:

"Achievements can ultimately feel unsatisfying, that human approval is fleeting, and that a life centered only on adventure can become a form of self-centeredness."

When I reflected on that, I realized that many of my own life experiences have been centered on myself, my comfort, my goals, my adventures. I now feel the desire to integrate my faith into that life. I’ve been "floating" in terms of my beliefs for more than a decade, and only recently have I felt redirected. I now recognize that religion, and spirituality, is an important part of my life. It’s something I once thought I could live without. I believed that being a good person was enough. But I’ve come to realize that there are forces greater than me in this life, and that I cannot face everything alone. I need guidance. I need something greater than myself to help me navigate life. I’ve come to accept that I will always return to my belief, especially in times of suffering. Even before, when I considered myself agnostic, I would still find myself turning to God in my lowest moments. That alone tells me something important about God's role in my life.

So now, I’ve reached a point where I can say that I need religion/spirituality in my life (are those terms interchangeable? I'm also not sure 😅). I need this connection. That’s why I’m on this journey, to move past the same three barriers the author described: the intellectual, the personal, and the social.

This is only the introduction of the book, and already I find myself reflecting deeply. I’m looking forward to seeing how those author's ideas unfold, and what new insights I’ll gain as I continue reading.
For now, this is my reflection on the introduction.

Thank you for reading, and I hope you’ll follow along with me as I continue learning from this book. 🤓📚

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books

Book Reads: Love for Imperfect Things (Haemin Sunim)

January 26, 2026

✨"In the same way that when you're in love and you want to spend time with only that person, try spending time on yourself. You deserve your care and attention. Treat yourself to a delicious meal, a good book, or a nice walk with a lovely view. Just as you would invest in the person you love, you should invest in yourself." ✨

This was the first paragraph that I highlighted when I started reading the book, "Love for Imperfect Things" by Haemin Sunim. The book was introduced to me by a good friend during a 4AM call when I was undergoing the most painful feeling of being heartbroken. I can't find the words to accurately capture my emotions back then. But simply put, I was not feeling okay. 💔

It all felt like a blur now. All I knew was that all of a sudden, I was in the dark. Pitch black. I was dumped into this dark, cold place. I didn't have a sense of direction, of where I was. I was scared and confused. It's as if all of the heavy emotions have been funneled into my chest, that's why it was feeling extra heavy. That phone call and this book served as the first light that I saw in that darkness, as if someone casted the Lumos spell. I walked towards this light, and that started my journey towards getting out of that dark place, back into the light.

I owe a lot from that friend, and from this book. It turned out that this was the perfect book for me to read during that time. As I highlighted words and paragraphs that resonated with me, I saw more lights being lit up, and soon enough, discovered a path for me to walk on through as I started that journey of healing.

✨"Shout out loud to your struggling self -- I love you so much." ✨

Those three words, "I love you", proved its magic to me during this journey. I recognize the gravity and magnitude of uttering those words. Losing the person you once said those words to made me feel like losing a part of me also. Where do I put all this love now? And suddenly, and this hit me like a truck, that I didn't even think of offering this love to myself. I depended on others to fill my cup, when actually, I can do it for myself. And so I said, "I love you, self. I feel you. You are struggling so much right now, and it's okay. Take your time. Feel all the feelings. Let the waves come in and go through it. It's okay. The storm will pass soon."

Here are some more quotations from the book that really resonated with me, serving as my glimmers that guided my way out of the woods.

✨"We are worthy of being loved not because of what we do well, but because we are precious living beings."✨

✨"But if you hold on to the memory of it, you may let new opportunities and experiences pass you by. With a new heart, focus on the present, not the past." ✨

✨"Your life is difficult not because the past is holding you back, but because you keep thinking about the past and lingering there. Rather than haggling with your past, let it be so that it can flow like a river. Your true self is not the river of memory, but the one who stands beside the river, quietly observing its flow." ✨

✨"You try hard to obtain God's love only to realize that there has never been a single moment when God has not loved you." ✨

✨"Letting go is actually another way of expressing acceptance fully." ✨

Being able to read this book when I was the most broken version of myself felt like reconnecting with a side of my old self that I hadn't visited for a while. This book truly helped in my journey to feel better and become better.

When I finished the book, I sent a message to my friend, and in that exchange, I did a heartfelt discovery. She said she was so glad she was able to help me during that time of my life. She will never forget the time that I helped and comforted her myself during her own heartbreak experience 14 years ago. I cried so hard reading that message. I didn't realize the heaviness someone goes through when dealing with a breakup. All I remembered during that time with her was that she was always crying and we would go to the office's restroom and she would just cry her heart out. Our officemates did not look as kindly as her, unfortunately. She'd always ask to hang out with me during the weekends, and so we ended up eat out at Korean restaurants (even if I had to travel to the north LOL) and go to my campus and I'd tour her around. Little did I know that I was contributing to her healing. And now, she said she's so honored to return the favor. 🥹

These are wonderful lessons that can only be learned with time. I'm grateful to have that friendship that goes beyond time and distance. It was truly a full circle moment for both of us. ✨

I am so happy, so blessed, and so grateful to God for allowing me to have this moment with my friend, allowing me to realize that despite all the pain, something beautiful came out of it. I am so happy and blessed to have a friend like her, and I will treasure this friendship that we have.

And as for the book, it's obvious already that I do highly recommend it, 10/10.

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movies

MMFF Movie Reviews: UnMarry | Call Me Mother | I'MPERFECT

January 03, 2026

The Metro Manila Film Festival always creates a buzz during Christmas because Filipinos go with their families and flock to the cinemas, as part of their family holiday tradition. For MMFF 2025 (thanks to my sis for giving us these tickets), I got to be part of that Filipino culture as I got to watch three movie titles with my mom. And now I understand why most Filipinos have this annual ritual with their families.😊

Me and my mom had this routine pre-pandemic wherein we will watch movies during Mondays because that's when senior citizens in our city have a free pass in cinemas. I remember going out early from work and meeting up with her at the mall to catch whatever movie was playing in that cinema that time. For me, it's not really about the movie, but it's more of the experience of watching with my mom, that I liked.

movie dates with mom 🥰

Here are those movies that we got to watch, and our impressions with each of them:

UnMarry ( ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆)

The movie featured two couples undergoing the process of annulment. Divorce is still not legal in the Philippines so married couples who want to legally separate have no choice but to undergo this process.

I appreciated the overall approach of the movie because, while it is a drama, it is also very informative, providing insight into what is involved in the annulment process. I would say that it is an emotionally draining experience. This process can involve a lot of time and money, especially if the couple involved are still in conflict and cannot come to terms with agreements on asset division and/or child custody.

And I thought relationships live happily ever after once married. 😅 Nah, there are still problems after. This really emphasizes the importance of choosing your partner wisely. That is the most important choice you will make in your life. It made me reflect on how I would approach my romantic relationships in the long run. I don't want to undergo processes like divorce, annulment, or separation; I want to have a harmonious life with my partner, with my husband. So, I really have to know the other person well before marriage and see how we are compatible, not just as a couple but as true partners in life.

Call Me Mother ( ★ ★ ★ ★ ★)

I already had certain expectations with this movie since I saw that it's a Vice Ganda movie, but no... I was not prepared at all for it. You should prepare some tissues. I really loved this movie, thus the 5/5 rating. 😁 The movie tackled a different side of motherhood. All the lines and scenes were superb. I truly appreciated the acting, and now I understand why Vice Ganda won the prestigious Best Actor award; he deserved it. Meanwhile, Nadine Lustre is stunning in this movie. I loved every scene she was in, and all the beautiful outfits she wore were worthy of a beauty queen. 👑

I think I used three sheets of tissues because of how much I was crying during the movie. Surprisingly, my mom didn't cry as much as I did. I was handing her tissues, expecting that she would need them, but she wasn't crying, at all. 😅 I also heard a lot of sobbing in the audience, and this is what I like about watching movies in the cinema: you get to have a collective experience with everyone else watching the film. I really enjoyed sharing that emotional energy with the other people in the theater.

I'MPERFECT ( ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆)

For the third movie, the main characters are people with Down Syndrome who fell in love with each other. Upon watching the film, I understood the wordplay that was in the movie title. 😁 It's my first time watching a movie with this kind of theme, which may be why this film was awarded Best Picture. It was a touching family story, especially for those with children with disabilities. I just felt some discomfort in watching some of the scenes, but overall it was a heartwarming movie. It gives you something to think about when you see people with disabilities and how they can prove that they are functioning parts of society. I'm glad that this movie showcased that. Though I have to warn you that it doesn't have a happy ending. 😔

~o~

If you are watching movies with senior citizens (like my mom), here's what I learned to look out for when going to the cinemas:

Choose a row that is not that high up (because stairs are their enemy) but still with a comfortable viewing distance from the screen.
The seats should also be near the restroom (since they tend to go to the CR mid-movie).
Have them eat something so their sugar level will not crash while watching the movie (especially if they are diabetic). Have Coke handy just in case.

Here are the sweet spot seats based on the cinemas we went to:

SM BF: E12
Rows A-D are nearer the screen and it was not comfortable to look at the screen.
SM Sucat: E1
This is my favorite cinema amongst the three because the chairs can be reclined.
Alabang Town Center: Row J
Based on the layout, this is the winner amongst the three because most seats have a good screen viewing angle. Also, there's a restroom at the back of the cinema itself so my mom had easy access to the restroom during the movie. Also, it's a plus that there are no stairs at the aisles.

I really enjoyed these movie experiences. I hope we get to have complimentary movie passes again for this year's MMFF. 😁✨

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gadgets

Game Review: Little Nightmares III (Supermassive Games)

November 09, 2025

I have been a fan of the franchise since discovering it in 2019. was released a few years back and I was able to play it with my niece. LN1 and LN2 are single-player games only but what we did is we played alternately whenever the character dies. Then in LN2, some parts became too creepy that I didn't want to play it anymore 🤣. So I just watched my niece play it while I watched her, with me screaming in the background.

Not a Couch Co-op Game

I really looked forward to playing Little Nightmares III because it was advertised as a two-player game. Well, here goes my first disappointment with the game: it's not a couch co-op game. Apparently, there's a difference between online co-op and couch co-op in terms of playing on the .

I was really disappointed when we discovered this, just before playing the game, that it only supports online co-op. We had just freshly downloaded it and were setting up to play. I was preparing the two controllers for the Nintendo Switch, but due to some configuration issues, I was unable to set it up properly. I got another controller that was available at home, thinking we would need two controllers, but it didn't work until I did some googling and found out it was only compatible for online co-op. I even registered for the for one month just for this, but it still didn't work. 😭

Dark Surroundings on Gameplay

The first observation we had while playing this game was that it's really dark. We had a hard time recognizing and navigating the surroundings because it was too dark, and the characters didn't have a flashlight (in some parts of the game). We only had a better gaming experience when we transferred to a . With the bigger screen, we were able to see the surroundings better. However, on the Nintendo Switch console itself, we had difficulty navigating the environment.

Not Much Story to Tell

I think more than half of the game was composed of just going through doors and going upstairs, transitioning between scenes that seemed to have nothing happening in them. It was also difficult to follow the story, comparing it with LN1 and LN2 which were rich in narrative, even though it's not presented explicitly to the players. There are many symbols and clues about who the are. But for this installment, I don't even know what that baby is doing or where it came from. What is its role in the game? Which dimension are the two runaway children navigating?

I think it was only in the latter half of the game that it became more interesting when they moved to different dimensions through the mirror. I especially liked the . 🎪 If you've played LN1 and LN2, you will recognize some from the previous games that are inserted in this one. Those little items here and there add an extra layer of understanding to the gaming experience if you have played the two previous installments. However, it doesn't take away the fun if it's your first time immersing yourself in this Little Nightmares world.

The AI Player Sucks

Since we had to do with the other being controlled by , there were some frustrating moments when the AI was killing itself, causing the game to restart at the last checkpoint. We had to google some parts because the AI was not functioning well. It should have been using its , for example, in one room where it should have been shooting its arrow at one of the barriers. But for various reasons, it was not doing it. That's why we were stuck in that room. Upon googling, we realized that it should be the other kid who was supposed to solve that part of the puzzle. Once we understood that, it worked. I think we wouldn't have been able to discover it if we were trying to figure it out on our own. That's just one of the more frustrating parts of the game. 😅

Ending Plot Twist was Meh

The ending of the game didn't have as striking an effect compared to LN1 and LN2. Especially with the ending of LN2, we just couldn't move on for days, particularly my niece, because of the that occurred. There were more questions in my mind with how the ending was presented. I heard there are upcoming of the game, which would expand the story. But based on my initial experience with the game, I think I won't purchase them anymore. I'm not interested anymore to discover more of that world.😅

Little Nightmares III was also a quick play; my niece was able to finish it in just two days, within a few hours of playing. We played it on Halloween night, which was very fitting. There were a lot of that had us screaming through the night. 😂 However, with all of my anticipation for the game (wherein the initial release even got delayed for a year), it felt like it wasn't worth the wait. I would still prefer Little Nightmares I & II over this.

In the future, I will research whether games are couch co-op. I am now on the lookout for to maximize the use of my Switch, as it was really this game that prompted me to buy it. Now that it's finished, I feel a bit disappointed and unsatisfied. I plan to find games that have couch co-op options to play with my niece and other Switch player friends.

Overall, we still enjoyed it, but I think it wasn't worth the wait, as much as I love the Little Nightmares franchise. 😅

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fangirling

Series Review: When the Stars Gossip (Episodes 1 & 2) 🚀

January 08, 2025

Lee Min Ho is back with a new Korean drama entitled "When the Stars Gossip," which premiered its first episode on January 4, 2025 and is available on Netflix. Two episodes are being released every weekend. As of this writing, the first two episodes are out and that's what I'm going to review in this post. 😁I think the last drama I watched starring Lee Min Ho was The King: Eternal Monarch (which I heavily did an episode-by-episode review on the blog 😆). That was around 5 years ago already so I'm so excited to see him again in this series! 🥰

"When the Stars Gossip" has an interesting premise, as the characters and plot revolve around astronauts in space (at least that was mainly the focus of the first two episodes). As someone who is interested in space and astronomy, seeing Lee Min Ho in a space suit is a huge turn on (LOL) 😍. He plays such a new kind of character here. He plays Gong Ryong, an obstetrician gynecologist (OB/GYN) and lives a middle-class life. This time, his love interest is the chaebol or the rich girl. I'm so used to him being the snobbish and spoiled rich kid. He is the underdog this time for this drama.

A lot of details about an astronaut's journey to space were presented in the drama and I couldn't help but do some more research to see which of them were accurately portrayed and which one of them were done just for theatrics. Here are some of these fun trivia presented in the drama.

💡Trivia #1: Astronauts get to have a song request played during rocket launch. TRUE. ✅

In the first episode, the crew at the mission control station asked Gong Ryong for his song request before the rocket launch. Well this actually happens in space missions. Songs are chosen during astronauts' wakeup calls as well as pre-launch activities. This practice has become a tradition and a meaningful part of the space exploration culture.

💡Trivia #2: Rockets are prone to lightning strikes during launch. TRUE. ✅

This scenario was presented still in the first episode, where the rocket launched into space was struck by lightning several times as it passed through a storm cloud. This is an uncommon scenario, and rockets are built to withstand lightning strikes. There is an actual incident where this happened. Apollo 12 (1969) rocket was struck by lightning twice during its ascent. Despite this, the ascent continued safely, and all astronauts aboard were safe.

💡Trivia #3: Astronauts have medical cables attached to them, with stats being transferred and monitored by doctors back on Earth . TRUE. ✅

This monitoring is especially critical during key points in the mission, such as the launch, shortly after exposure to zero gravity, and during the return to Earth. Doctors monitor vital signs, like heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, and body temperature, to ensure the safety of each of the astronauts during the entire mission.

💡Trivia #4: "SuitSat" project is a space suit recycled as a satellite. TRUE. ✅

Interestingly, the SuitSat project is true, and only involved one space suit -- an old Russian Orlan space suit from 2006, which was repurposed to include a radio transmitter that broadcast messages to the Earth. SuitSat transmitted data and messages for a brief period before reentering Earth's atmosphere and burning up. The timeline is just not accurate in the drama since SuitSat is not floating in space anymore.

💡Trivia #5: Astronauts have different roles in the space station. TRUE. ✅

The drama accurately portrayed the commander and pilot roles during a space mission. There's even one scene wherein when the rocket's automation failed, and the pilot had to manually align the rocket during the docking process to the space station. Typically, there are six crew members on the space station, which aligns with the depiction in the drama.

💡Trivia #6: It is expensive to bring ice cream to space. TRUE. ✅

With the help of ChatGPT, I checked how much it would cost to send a cup of ice cream into space, and according to its calculation, the cost ranges from $17,500 to $35,000. And this is just for one cup 🤯.

Despite the cost to bring items to space, astronauts are given the privilege of the Personal Preference Kit (PPK), a shoe-box size bag where they can bring personal items with them in space. Typically, astronauts bring family photographs, mementos, and other sentimental items with them. Some interesting PPKs through the years: During the Apollo 11 mission, Neil Armstrong brought a piece of wood from the Wright Brothers' flyer in his PPK. Buzz Aldrin, also in Apollo 11, brought a communion kit, which he used to take the communion on the moon. Chris Hadfield brought his guitar to the International Space Station, which he used to record the iconic "Space Oddity" music video.

💡Trivia #7: There are mating experiments on animals in space. TRUE. ✅

There have been experiments in the past, but were limited due to ethical concerns raised for these kinds of experiments.

💡Trivia #8: Surgeries have been done in space. FALSE. ❌

No surgeries yet have been performed in space at this point, but one major milestone was the surgical robot brought to the International Space Station, which involves robotic arms being controlled by surgeons on Earth. So far they are doing simulated surgeries only using this equipment. Maybe this is the reason why in the drama, it was such a huge breaking news when the crew was able to revive the mice through a surgery. 😁

It has been enjoyable for me to research all these trivia tidbits, and I am learning many new things about astronauts and space missions through this drama. While I am not as hooked on the plot yet, I hope the story becomes richer and develops more layers as additional episodes are released next week. So excited! 🚀🌌

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review

Series Review: Light Shop (Disney+)

January 04, 2025

I don't really watch horror movies because I dislike the feeling I have after watching them; it tends to linger with me for some time, and I easily get creeped out. I feel paranoid, especially at night. 😭 I only watch horror/thriller movies with my niece because it's one of her favorite genres. During New Year's break, she wanted to watch a series entitled Light Shop, which is available on Disney+. It is an eight-episode Korean series based on a webtoon. When my niece told me about this series, she said that it is about a light shop where spirits unconsciously enter, in a kind of magical and mysterious way. I saw that it was labeled as a "horror genre", but maybe it's not that bad, right? 😅

Well, here came the first four episodes. They were creepy AF🥲. Also, the narration was kind of confusing because the scenes jump between different character's POVs and so it was really confusing for me (and it didn't help that I watched when I was already drunkenly sleepy because we binged-watched it at night and finished past midnight). And those jump scares. 😭Good thing I didn't really think about them when I went to sleep that night.

We pushed through with the rest of the episodes the next day and slowly things made sense in the story. I found myself crying. Suddenly, things didn't feel scary anymore. The show made me contemplate about people's experiences that surround the death of a person -- from the hospital doctors and staff that tell the family members about the dreaded news, the worried and sleepless family members waiting for news outside the ICU, up to the staff in the morgue. The show also portrayed the supposed journey of a person's spirit from the time of death up to the afterlife. As someone who has recently suffered loss in their family tree, the emotions evoked were too close to home. 😢

We weren't able to finish the last episode because we ran out of time, and they already needed to return home.. As of this writing, I have requested my niece to watch the last episode for me and give me her reaction (too much of a scaredy cat to watch it alone 🙀). To wrap up the story in my mind, I read some Reddit forums about viewers' reactions regarding the last two episodes, and it was a relief that most of the characters' stories ended with a positive note.

I believe that fans of thriller and horror would truly enjoy this series. Apparently it's one of the most viewed kdramas in Disney+ now. Well-deserved that is!

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goals

Q4 2024 Goals List & Results 🎯

January 03, 2025

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goals

Q3 2024 Goals List & Results 🎯

January 03, 2025

I decided to approach my goal setting in a different way because I realized that the previous format or process was not working for me as much as I wanted it to. I followed advice from a video I watched by Ali Abdaal, one of the productivity YouTubers I follow. One of the highlights in that video is that he said that it is more productive to focus on just a few goals rather than having many goals to target within a specific period. So for the last two quarters of 2024, I decided to focus on just three main goals. In addition to narrowing down my goals, I also decided to plan out weekly milestones and conduct weekly check-ins.

These are the milestones I have achieved for Q3 2024:

Goal #1: Improve Fitness

✅ did indoor biking exercises
✅ did weight training session
✅ bought treadmill, did 45mins brisk walking and light jogging session
✅yoga on rest day - i was able to do the wheel pose!
✅i also started preparing salad, which I am planning to become a staple in my meals
✅I was consistent with my work-out plan! I also added new yoga poses like boat pose in my routine
✅30s planking feels manageable now, I can feel my muscles getting stronger
✅I feel stronger on the bike now. 🔥 I can cycle in full force in all of 30s of each intense round
✅I increased the duration of the treadmill from 30mins to 45mins, with speed varying between 4.0 and 4.5
✅I’m eating salad most of my meals now.
✅The foam roller routine is helping me relax my tight muscles
✅There’s increase in cardio endurance: up to 6.0 speed on the treadmill
✅I’m noticing physical changes in my body
✅I can complete 40s planks. It’s not easy, but I finish strong.
✅I am travelling this week, but I’m doing an effort to insert a few mins of exercises in the morning.

Goal #2: Widen Social Network

✅ Was able to talk to a new colleague and added her as a contact in various SNS (which I don't usually do haha)
✅ Checked out Book Club on Reddit and downloaded my chosen book + I have already started chapters on it
✅participated in the first discussion post of the book club subreddit; was able to connect with other people there
✅joined the Conqueror Virtual Challenge to widen my network with like-minded individuals
✅ finished reading Alice in Wonderland, and I got to participate in the book discussions
✅Added on FB some familiar office people
✅Selected my next book to read for the club!
✅I was able to talk to new people during a company dinner and said hi to old folks
✅I also was able to bond with my co-presenters in a company conference

Goal #3: Improve Public Speaking via Toastmasters

✅signed up as TTM + Tech Host for the club
✅ Was able to connect to fellow Toastmasters even after the meeting
✅ I attended our corporate Toastmasters club
✅I participated in a mentoring session
✅I was able to polish my speaking script during a plane ride overseas, which I was really proud of, because I got to be super productive during those several hours of flying time.

I felt satisfied with how I did for my goals during this quarter 💖I realized those weekly check ins were super helpful in tracking my progress and allowed me to adjust my system accordingly. This new method proved to be effective for me during this quarter so I decided to continue it to the next one. ✨

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beauty

My Nuat Thai Spa Experience 💆‍♀️✨

December 14, 2024

After my latest local trip, I wanted to relax and recharge myself and so I booked an appointment at Nuat Thai during the first weekend after coming back from the trip. Also I got this idea from my latest moon reading. I'm not really a "massage person" so this was a new experience for me to do this. 🙂 I chose their Premium Massage + Ventosa package. It was also my first time to experience Ventosa massage (those with suction cups). Since I really don't do massages regularly (and most of them I had in Lasema), I was feeling excited on how this would go.

The first thing I noticed was that the rooms were dimly lit to create a relaxing environment, and there were curtains for privacy. However, I quickly realized that I could hear the other customers beside me. At first, I found it a bit odd, especially since the customer next to me was male, and I could hear the small comments exchanged between him and his masseur. While I was not uncomfortable, I did find it a bit strange. I would think that they would separate the males and females in the massage area, which is what is being done in Lasema, by the way.

During the start of the massage, I didn't right away catch the question that my therapist was asking me. She was inquiring about my preferred massage level, which can be light, moderate, or hard. I chose moderate because I was unsure. It is common practice to communicate with your therapist if you want lighter or harder strokes, but perhaps the introvert in me took over. s😅 There were parts that felt a bit painful but tolerable, so I let them be. This was especially true when my massage therapist was massaging my calves. I just bore with the pain because with what I recall with foam rolling, if the massage feels painful, it means that the muscles are tight. Experiencing that pain is actually beneficial, according to the foam roller instructors I watched online, as it helps to loosen the muscles and improve overall well-being. That was my mindset, which is why I didn't comment on the massage pressure. 😆 I remained silent for most of the massage process.

The Ventosa cup massage was also an interesting experience. I felt the cups sucking my muscle and felt the pressure during the first several seconds, then after a while I didn't feel anything anymore. When I got home, I actually checked and saw that I did have circular marks on my back.

My therapist placed warm cloth on your shoulders and lower back when I rolled on to my back, which I found to be very relaxing. After the massage, I was given ginger tea, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I felt renewed and energized again!

mirror selfie at the restroom after the massage😆

Because of this experience, I now recommend doing this -- after a trip, go get a massage! Travel fatigue is real and so this is your way of pampering and reenergizing yourself. I would be interested to return to Nuat Thai, given that they handed me a loyalty card wherein I can get a discount after a number of visits.

I am glad I jumped on the gun and went to a massage!

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UnMarry ( ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆)

Call Me Mother ( ★ ★ ★ ★ ★)

I'MPERFECT ( ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆)

Not a Couch Co-op Game

Dark Surroundings on Gameplay

Not Much Story to Tell

The AI Player Sucks

Ending Plot Twist was Meh

💡Trivia #1: Astronauts get to have a song request played during rocket launch. TRUE. ✅

💡Trivia #2: Rockets are prone to lightning strikes during launch. TRUE. ✅

💡Trivia #3: Astronauts have medical cables attached to them, with stats being transferred and monitored by doctors back on Earth . TRUE. ✅

💡Trivia #4: "SuitSat" project is a space suit recycled as a satellite. TRUE. ✅

💡Trivia #5: Astronauts have different roles in the space station. TRUE. ✅

💡Trivia #6: It is expensive to bring ice cream to space. TRUE. ✅

💡Trivia #7: There are mating experiments on animals in space. TRUE. ✅

💡Trivia #8: Surgeries have been done in space. FALSE. ❌

Goal #1: Improve Fitness

Goal #2: Visit New Places and Try New Activities

Goal #3: Gain a Technical Skill

Goal #1: Improve Fitness

Goal #2: Widen Social Network

Goal #3: Improve Public Speaking via Toastmasters

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