Captain's Log: February 26

 

Happy February friends!

February has always been my favorite month. Maybe it's the love in the air of maybe it's the fact that my birthday is in 5 days. Either way, I love the transition from winter to Spring, the romance, the love, and the pink and red vibes everywhere.

I talked a little bit about my resolutions last month and how I've been doing. I'm really proud to say, I've actually been KILLING it on my resolutions and plan to go into February with this momentum and continue the all around productivity I have made.

Usually, I divide these logs into what I've been reading, watching, and playing, but because I've been focusing on utilizing screen time more productively, I'll be talking more about how I've spent my time overall this past month.

It's so strange seeing this photo I used to use for my reading sections. It was taken at my first apartment when I had one tiny bookshelf from Walmart. As I write this, I'm looking at the wall of bookshelves in my office in our now 3rd apartment.  I still have that bookshelf but it's smaller than my other two and definitely more packed then it used to be.  

Reminiscing aside, I read a total of 14 books in January, which was a really great start to the year.  Some of the most standout books I read were...

• Midwinterblood by Marcus Sedgewick - A story enveloped in Norse mythology about souls transcending through time and what it truly means to love someone. 5/5 stars. I sobbed at work and the writing was absolutely incredible. I listened to the audiobook, which set the atmosphere and the interwoven mythology was fascinating.

• 11/22/63 by Stephen King - We all know I love Stephen King and this book was no different. 850 pages of time travel as our main character tries to stop the assassination of JFK and attempt to do as much good as he can in the process. 4/5 stars. I adored this book but I feel like some of the end was a little...mid. I had a theory on how it would end and honestly preferred my theory. Otherwise a fantastic read.

• Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Read - A tale of two queer women training to be the first women in the program in the 1970's. 4.5/5 stars. I loved this book. I heard a lot of mixed reviews about this book but was pleasantly surprised. As a person who adores space and astronomy, and is queer myself, the setting and writing were fantastic and I definitely shed a tear.

• Don't Let The Forest In by C.G Drews - This book about two boys who have to deal with not only the monsters in their heads but the unknown in the forest. 5/5 stars. This book was hauntingly beautiful and I ADORED the writing. I'm so excited for C.G. Drews upcoming book just to experience the incredible atmospheric writing. 

• A Well-Trained Wife by Tia Levings - A memoir about a woman growing up and living in a fundamentalist Christian world, becoming subservient and oppressed under men. 2/5 stars. I wanted to like this book. The writing was raw and the story was heart-wrenching and I wanted to scream most of the time. However, I felt there were ties to the current political climate that were halfway explored and could have easily been expanded on and I felt the end was too abrupt. 

For more of my book thoughts, you can always follow me on Goodreads or Fable!

I haven't been watching a whole lot of TV or playing video games, though my hands are itching to go back to Stardew and try Sun Haven, as I see my fiancé playing it right now. However, I've definitely been working on my goals that I have set for myself.

Every day, I wake up and intentionally, slide my phone in my pocket, using it only as an alarm to keep me on track in the mornings. I have been doing Tagalog, Japanese, Spanish, and Klingon lessons daily, not only in various apps but with books and taking notes, studying on my own to improve my speech and grammar. I've even found myself thinking (more) in other languages and incorporating bits here and there into my daily vernacular.

I have started the process of joining a gym and telling myself that maybe walking around instead of eating Hot Cheetos might be better for me (much to my dismay) and my watch has definitely seen improvement in my step count.

Every day, I try to stick to a routine of self-care, healthy eating, journaling, reading, practicing languages, enjoying spending time talking to my family or my fiancé, and doing more hobbies instead of just scrolling on my phone. I will say it does feel somewhat easier since I have been off most social media for almost a year and I do still look at screens, though I have swapped my phone for my big iPad to make it a little more inconvenient for me to just scroll through it all day. I still love watching YouTube and movies, but as I have worked on building more of my hobbies, I realized something.

My ultimate goal is to be the interesting person I want to be. I want to learn to play more instruments well, get back into playing the piano and flute and guitar and drums. I want to speak multiple languages, be well read, be knowledgeable about random topics like botany and astronomy and the Renaissance. The other day, I actually intelligently discussed the Cuban Missile crisis and just knowing what I was talking about made me feel...accomplished and like....this is what life is about. Being, living, doing, experiencing. 

I've always wanted to speak multiple languages, so why not now? I'm planning on ordering a flute and starting to play again and eventually, once we move to a bigger place, maybe getting a studio to draw and play the drums and guitar without annoying my neighbors. 

So, I guess all in all, this past month was definitely a beginning in the best way. A beginning into what I hope to will make the journey I've always wanted. 

How was your month? Tell me all about it!

Always, Raineedayze

First Week of 2026

Hey y'all!

It's been almost two weeks in the new year and I've see so many positive changes in my life lately from the simple goals I've been setting, which I feel have really set the tone for my life this year.

This year, I've managed to read a little every day! Between audiobooks at work and while I clean and reading a book instead of scrolling on my phone during lunch or before bed, I've noticed not only do I feel smarter and more knowledgeable, I also feel relaxed and accomplished instead of just feeling like I wasted my day. I've never been an audiobook person, but I've noticed I have an easier time with non-fiction and memoirs in that format more than things like fantasy or sci-fi.  It also reduces my need to scroll mindlessly since I don't want to be distracted during reading. 

My phone screen time has gone waaaaay down lately as well due to this. I'm ashamed to say that before the new year, I'd easily have 11 hours of screen time a day at least. WITH A FULL TIME JOB! This past week my screen time average was a little under 2 hours! Seeing that shift has motivated me to continue. 

I've began taking the time after work to try and do at least one productive thing around the house or something I've been putting off. I've decluttered my office, redid one of my bookshelves, deep cleaned my bathroom and my computer desk, and opened up packages that I've had sitting here forever. Things that I just "HAD TO HAVE" were just sitting in bags or on my couch and it's shown me a lot about my impulse buying and shopping. I've had little social media (No twitter, facebook, instagram, or tiktok) for over a year now and the amount of spending I was doing just because of being swayed by social media was insane. Not only the "trendy" stuff, but even ads for McDonalds or pizza would make me doordash a ton or feel fomo and make me leave the house to go shopping just for the dopamine. 

It turns out, I have a pretty cool home I live in, I have so much stuff to play and watch and read and listen to that I already own or already pay for and I have a cute cat and an amazing fiance who are all I really need. I've been calling my family more and actually staying present in the conversation instead of scrolling through shorts while I talk and I can feel my conversations holding more meaning.

Seeing this new chapter in my life start so well, I've really been inspired to keep this momentum going.

How has your year been going? Let's chat about it!

Always, Raineedayze

Happy Fall!

 

It's hard to believe it's already almost October in 2025.

I was thinking lately of how much my life has changed since I started this blog, and even in the last year. I started a new job (I'm almost 6 months in at this point!). I lost (and GAINED) friends. I've tried new places, gotten engaged. read amazing books, and overall have leaned into who I am as a person.

I don't feel thirty, really. I still feel like a little kid playing pretend, but when I look at my life, I realize, I'm a whole adult. Right know, with Jonathan still being out of work and maneuvering the disability system (which is hell on Earth), I've become the main breadwinner and our lives definitely changed.

I'm planning my wedding, I'm working full time at an actual office, where I have to wear corporate clothes, I have to carry a pill organizer now...it's a whole new ball game. But at the same time, I feel like I'm free to enjoy my interests more.

I have grown up funds to buy Kpop albums and anime figures. I have friends who go out with me and go to dinners or shopping with them (a lot). I'm able to experience new restaurants, new conventions, and new events because of my hard work (and the privilege of making a living wage and having a good place of employment).

Anyway, this past weekend, I went to a new dumpling restaurant and was absolutely STUFFED. I tried these yuzu chicken soup dumplings which may be my new addiction. I also tried a blue crab and pork soup dumpling which was pretty good! The place also had amazing drinks and I was able to get a kumquat green tea with strawberry boba and rainbow jellies. Kumquats are some of my favorite fruits so I was super stoked and it was tart and refreshing after a long week.

After that, Jonathan, myself, and my best friend Pilar came to our place and just girl-rotted, which included watching kpop music videos and yapping. It was lovely.

I know last time I updated, I was preparing for San Japan and I have a haul post coming up soon! So keep an eye out for that. 

As always, if you want daily updates, check out my Bluesky. I will also be uploading a lot more posts soon. So be excited!

Always, Raineedayze

Life Update - What's Going On

Hey ya'll. 

I know it has been a hot minute since I've written on here and it kind of came out of nowhere. To be honest, I had tons of posts sitting in drafts waiting to go out and I actually have been writing this post over and over again to get everything out in a way that makes sense.

Let's just get it out in the open. I've been struggling a lot lately. 

If you've been a follower for a while or follow me on my social media, I've always been very upfront about my battle with depression and anxiety. It's something I've dealt with for over half of my life and I've talked at length about the ups and downs with it.

The past month has been kind of a really big pit of depression. I ended up leaving my job because of it, as I could barely get out of bed everyday. That hurt me a lot because I loved my job and it felt like this illness took it away from me. My boss and coworkers were super awesome and understanding but it really hurt to have to give up something that I enjoyed because of this.

One of the things that I hate the most about having a mental illness, is that it's invisible. So even to me, I sometimes get really angry with myself and feel like "Why couldn't you JUST GET UP?". Not seeing physical symptoms can make it feel like I'm crazy for not being able to just force myself to be "normal". To hold a job, to go out, to hang out with my friends...

It's been a lot weighing on me since then. I'm struggling with this mental illness and also struggling because the other half of me is constantly feeling guilty for not having a job and being this lump of sadness and guilt.

I started going to a new counselor and taking new meds and at this point it just takes time. It's hard because most days I feel like a shell of myself, going through the motions. 

I usually try to end my posts on a happier note, but at the moment I'm just trying to stay afloat. I just wanted to let you guys know what's going on and why I've been MIA online (or in person to my IRL friends).

Thanks for all your support and I will continue to update and try to bring some more content when I can. 

Lots of Love

Raineedayze

Life Update (Where I have Been)

Hey there!


If you follow me on social media (or read this blog) you probably noticed things have been pretty quiet on my end lately. So I wanted to update everyone on my life situation and what's been happening lately!

First things first, I got a job! I currently am working full-time, captioning phone calls for the deaf and hard-of hearing. I am actually having a pretty great time (plus money is never a bad thing) and my job is pretty relaxed, so I do have a little bit of downtime to just read or watch TV at work!

However, right now I'm working the night shift, which has been really screwing with my sleep cycle. So lately all I have done is work and sleep for about 12 hours until I wake up, just to go to work again. As you can imagine, this has led to a LOT of stress and anything that is not work has been pushed waaay to the bottom of priorities.

I'm attempting to find a balance between work and everything else, because I have so many things I have to do (laundry, dishes, remind Jonathan that I love him, etc.) and I have so many things I want to do that are getting buried underneath sleep and burnout. So if updates are a little stilted for a little bit, I'm really sorry! I'm really trying to work everything in and get things done but slowly it's all coming together. Both my computers have been having some hardware issues and last week, my main computer completely crashed and I lost pretty much everything. Luckily I had most of my stuff backed up, but it's been taking a while to reinstall everything I lost. So, everything is kind of trying to fight me at the moment. But we are getting there! (eventually)

Other than work, I've spent the last few days participating in IGGPPCamp, reading some really interesting books, and watching To All The Boys I've Loved Before (OMG COVINSKY). Me and Becca are planning on doing a rewatch on Friday so we can scream and fangirl together and I am super stoked to do that! Also, I plan to have my review of the movie up pretty soon so stay tuned for that!

Jonathan and I have been attempting to go out on our days off and go watch movies because sometimes, you just need to get out of the house. We went to a Space Jam and cereal party last weekend which was as amazing as it sounds!

Also, if you notice a little bit of changes on the site, we just got approved for AdSense so I'm really happy that the little blog is growing a bit. 

Thanks for sticking with me guys, and I hope you have had a great last couple of months! More to come soon!! I promise :D

Always, Raineedayze