All These Things # 2
When 2026 started, I told myself I’d focus on One Big Thing every month (or for a certain time period) before I move on to the next Big Thing. So January, I had some family things, plus Meah’s book release, February was Kilig Cafe, March was my birthday, April was somehow filled with an unbelievable amount of work, and May was my thyroid surgery.
This is why I’ve been away for a while! I had a total thyroidectomy last week. I was diagnosed with Graves Disease, an autoimmune hyperthyroid condition, in 2023 (the whole story is archived in my newsletter, which you can read here — and while we’re at it, maybe you want to subscribe?). I’ve been trying to work to get to remission, but unfortunately, my thyroid wasn’t having it. I’ve known that I was going to do this since December, and after a lot of praying and preparing, I am finally thyroidless. It’s Day 9 post-op, and I’m figuring out the best time to take levothyroxine so it doesn’t interfere with my calcium supplements to help my parathyroids. It’s still in the early stages, but I do feel loads better than I did before! And when I saw my biopsy results? I’m even more glad.
I am on leave for a few more weeks, so I’m just spending time resting, watching TV, reading, and writing again. Writing includes updating this blog, so here’s a little rundown of Things!
Reading
I just finished reading Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke, which my friend Pinky recommended. What a wild read. It’s not my usual cup of tea, but I was curious, and it reminded me of Yellowface by R.F. Kuang with the extremely unreliable and unlikeable narrator.
Another book I finished was Fudge My Life by Agay Llanera, a sequel/companion novel to Choco Chip Hips. Agay released this book last year, but I only got to buy a copy during Kilig Cafe. Don’t read this hungry, because every chapter mentions food, but it’s also so heartwarming and soft without avoiding heavy topics. 100% recommend.
I am about to jump into Piranesi by Susanne Clarke, and I have heard lots of great things about this. I enjoyed Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell when I read it years ago, but I know this one is very different, so I’m looking forward to reading this!
Other books I’ve read recently:
Writing
I am writing…something new but also not quite? Haha I can’t really talk about it yet until I’m sure I can finish it (I have the rest of this month while I’m on leave), but there will be a sort of new thing from me later this year! I thought I was going to say goodbye to my characters, but apparently, not yet. But watch out for it!
There was a #RomanceClass cover shoot for this project last weekend (which I sadly couldn’t go to because of a blood test), and here’s a little sneak peek, featuring our theater friends, Mnor Madamesila and Rendell Sanchez. WHAT IS THE CUTENESS!!!
Listening
ARIRANG by BTS!!! This album has held me hostage since its release, and I have no complaints because it’s SO good. It got to a point that I couldn’t wait to go through other BTS albums so I could return to Arirang, too. I don’t know what they put in this album, but it is excellent. Of course, it’s BTS.
They’re on tour now, and I watched the live streams, and there’s such a joy in watching them be back where they belong–on stage, with ARMY. I can’t wait for my turn to finally watch them live!
Watching
The Pitt. I finished the two seasons on HBO Max yesterday, and now I am back to Season 1, watching it again. I’ve heard this from friends, and told myself I’d watch it when I’m on leave. I thought I wouldn’t want to watch it after my own time at the hospital, but I’m thoroughly enjoying myself! Competence! Shipping opportunities! Great storytelling! What’s not to love?
Loving
That my voice is sort of kind of back. I woke up after surgery last week with a sore throat because of the breathing tube, and it took a while for it to come back because I spent a lot of time talking on Tuesday after the surgery when I got visitors. Today it’s finally slightly more solid, but I still can’t project my voice, so I’ll be soft-spoken until further notice.
Speaking of visitors–since this is my first ever surgery and confinement, I’ve never experienced getting visitors at the hospital until now. When I asked for prayers, I also added, “Visit me~” in my messages, and my friends really followed through. People started dropping by starting lunch time, and didn’t stop until late that night. It was almost funny how it ended up like they were passing batons across shifts, because different groups managed to drop by one after the other. By the end of the day, my room was full of people, as was my heart. I woke up the next day feeling extra tired, like I had a night out myself.
Then today, my teammates sent me this:
Thinking
I should really work on some social content and get to writing. I’m so glad that my mind feels clearer now and that I’m on the way to healing. 🙂