Bought two packs fresh strawberries and two kilos fresh mango.

Lunch at home alone; Angelique came down to lunch soon after; Aubrey still resting upstairs.

The sun is a multilayered, anniversary cake.

Good afternoon, Cubao!

Slept nine hours last night.

Good night, Cubao!

Elves sit up with writers working on their manuscripts.

Asked Jerome to bring some food over to M.'s cafe staff.

Night chores.

My favorite time of the day has come again: an evening shower, and then off to bed with Hercule Poirot.

Angelique came down to dinner.

My younger son Chito has been reporting for work on his motorbike for about a month now and has already been receiving his salary again, but I decided to continue sending him money to augment his budget for personal expenses. I'm also encouraging him to save money.

Dinner at home with Aubrey; Angelique still resting upstairs.

Thinking of ordering a Very Veggie sandwich at M.'s cafe for a bedtime snack later.

Think thrice before deciding to become an artist or a writer, for people do not buy paintings and books everyday, and many of them even survive without a single painting or book in their house.

If you disagree with me, I admire you for your nobility, but go ahead and suffer anyway.

You have to work hard for a well-pensioned retirement so that, when you finally retire, you can live the rest of your life as a man of leisure.

No matter how bored and restless you are, do not go out and take risks.

"(A) mediocre amount of intelligence is sometimes most dangerous. It does not take one far enough."

--Miss Marple, "Death by Drowning", in The Tuesday Club Murders

Enjoy household chores. They provide a feeling of security to everyone in your home. They also assure you that you are cozy, alive, and well.

It is the fire in one's gemstones that sends forth vengeance on one's enemies.

The June leaves fall off my hardbound and desk planners.

Cubao quarantine continues and, in the meantime, our neighborhood has become Agatha Christie's St. Mary Mead. I am either Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple because she knits. Glenn Mas is either Dr. Haydock or Vicar Leonard Clement, since he lives practically next door to me. And M., of course, is the proprietor of the Blue Boar pub on High Street.

Back from jalan-jalan at the center. Sent some money to my younger son Chito to cover some of his expenses, bought four rolls of kitchen towels at a supermarket, bought two pairs of reading glasses at an optical shop, stopped by the Japanese store, and bought half a dozen fresh eggs across the street.

Lunch at home alone; grandchildren still resting upstairs.

A day of errands for me, but will try to push forward with a commissioned painting I am working on.

Your Messenger message:

"Tay Tony, ask okay lang po ba magtanong? May kakaiba kasi akong experience ngayon lang. Supposedly mga 11am pa ako nagigising pero 8am may gumising sa akin, tinatapik ako sa batok nagsasabi siya na "hoy, gising dalian mo, gising!" tapos malapit yung mukha niya sa akin. Noong nagising na ako naaninag ko siya, almost nakasampa siya sa kama ko di ko namukhaan pero parang nakaputi siya na tshirt. Sa isang iglap bigla siyang nawala sa harapan ko. Ano po kaya iyon? Kagabi rin po ng midnight ay dinalaw ako rin ako ng dilaw paruparo sa kwarto.

"Left hand nya yung pinangtatapik niya sa right side ng batok ko. Ramdam na ramdam ko yung tapik niya. Tapos yung boses. Ang hindi ako sure ay sa gender niya pero noong una inakala ko pang si kuya na ginigising ako dahil may emergency."

My reply:

Hello _________!

A latent homosexual seems to admire you so much and is obsessed with you. He is older than you are, less talented, and at present you have no clue as to who he is, for he will never identify himself to you. I see that he is not so tall, his skin is dark, he has a paunch due to his fondness for beer, he is hard up on money and possibly belongs to the upper lower class, and he is definitely not handsome. The words "Hoy gising, dalian mo, gising!" actually should be read as "Gumising ka sa matinding pag-ibig ko sa 'yo!"

I feel that a clue to his identity is the yellow butterfly--what does a yellow butterfly mean to you? If not, it is a separate sign altogether and you are being protected by the spirit of a deceased child.

Be careful with fans, including alleged teachers who mean you well, for many of them have ulterior motives. Avoid being vulnerable at this stage in your life. Know how to shield and defend yourself.

To prevent further astral visitations, take six pocket mirrors or compact mirrors and place them in different locations along the four walls of your room, especially facing your bedroom window. This will disorient your visitors and send them hurtling into a limbo of confusion.

Garden trees love libations of wine on their roots.

Good morning, Cubao!

Woke up mid-morning and decided to rise, but I could have closed my eyes again and slept sweetly forever.

Good night, Cubao!

The night sky rains silver moonbeams on the rooftops.

Aubrey came down to a late dinner.

Asked Lennoel to bring some food over to M.'s cafe staff.

Night chores.

My favorite time of the day has come again: an evening shower, and then off to bed with Hercule Poirot.

I need to take in new friends into my Friends List. Since I already have 5,000 Friends I have no choice but to unFriend inactive ones. If you are one of them, forgive me. But then again, since I never feel your presence, I am sure you wouldn't mind or even notice.

We asked Jerome to do a batch of our french fries; he cooks them very well.

Dinner at home with Angelique and Jazz; Aubrey still resting upstairs.

Finished reading The Tuesday Club Murders in bed this afternoon. Can't help thinking that this book especially influenced Aurora Teagarden's Real Murders Club, held regularly in the town library.

Retrieved The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding to start rereading in bed later.

I sleep well because of Agatha Christie.

Minor groceries at the neighborhood grocery.

One-hour, afternoon nap.

Bought three more packs fresh strawberries. Aubrey likes coating them with microwave-melted Cadbury chocolate bars.

Lunch at home alone; grandchildren still resting upstairs.

Good morning, Cubao!

It is always a blessing to be able to view a bird's nest from your bedroom window.

The pandemic shatters illusions and false fronts in more ways than one, and shows us which jobs and businesses are truly stable.

Good night, Cubao!

The moon has a treasure chest filled with silver coins.

Drizzling in Cubao.

My favorite time of the day has come again: an evening shower, and then off to bed with Miss Marple and the Tuesday Club.

Aside from operating the cafe that he is renting from us at the front of our house, M. is actually area manager for two restaurant chains in Metro Manila. He is also in charge of the construction and demolition of new branches; he is currently supervising the demolition of two branches, one in MegaMall, the other in North EDSA.

For the past evenings, our cafe has been full of batches of waiters who lost their jobs in MegaMall. M. has been tasked to conduct their egress debriefing. Many of them are from restaurants that have shut down, and quite a few of them are Food Court waiters.

Such a shame that so many Filipino waiters are losing their jobs. All those fancy eateries in this developing country now seem like such a bad idea after all, because the only places they really thrive in are in First World countries.

Asked Lennoel to bring some food over to M.'s cafe staff.

Night chores.

Dinner with Angelique, Aubrey, and Jazz celebrating the end of Angelique's and Aubrey's electronic final exams.

Lay in bed with Miss Marple and the Tuesday Club.

One-hour, afternoon nap.

Jazz is now off to the Korean grocery store to buy stuff for our barbecue tonight.

A very early lunch at home; grandchildren still resting upstairs.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sun is beneficent to homes that have brass bells at their entrances.

Good night, Cubao!

The gnome theater opens exactly at midnight.

Asked Jerome to bring some food over to M.'s cafe staff.

Night chores.

My favorite time of the day has come again: an evening shower, and then off to bed with Miss Marple.

Aubrey came down to a late dinner in the dining room.

Had a bedtime snack before turning in.

Dinner at home with Angelique and Jazz; Aubrey still resting upstairs. 

Dish washing can momentarily lower your blood pressure by drawing your blood down to your hands and fingers.

Physical distancing refers to the proximity between inanimate or non-moving objects, such as between lamp posts or between cars in a parking lot.

Social distancing refers to the proximity between beings, human or animal, that move, communicate, become restless because of emotion, extend their limbs, flick their hair and sweat, and project breath, gas, saliva, and germs.

The most satisfying family meal is never a fancy meal but always a good meal.

http://tonyperezphilippinesenchantedknits.blogspot.com/

Progress is always vertically upward, never horizontal, or sideways, for horizontal is always the direction of distractions.

A cup of Thai green tea and ube hopia.

Finished reading Parker Pyne Investigates in bed this afternoon. One of the stories in the anthology is titled "Death on the Nile" and would appear to be a study for the novel Death on the Nile, but it reads more like a character study for Murder in Mesopotamia.

Retrieved The Tuesday Club Murders to start rereading in bed tonight.

Angelique and Jazz arrived from doing groceries. They ordered dinner food from outside.

More groceries tomorrow. They're cooking a Korean barbecue dinner, celebrating the end of Angelique's and Aubrey's electronic final exams.

In this life, you get what you get and you don't get what you don't get, and that is about the long and the short of it.

There are times when children will feel that they are not loved, or that they are not loved enough.

Yet, there are times when parents feel the same way too.

Chronically aching joints can be a sign of undeveloped flu trapped inside your body.

Like all mediocre art, semi-precious stones are, at the very most, merely decorative.

A bungalow is a groundscraper.

Every bedroom must have general lighting, a strong reading light, a mellow lamp, and a night light.

Know how to sleep well at night, no matter what your worries are.

Dio visited in January while I was varnishing The Wedding Reception at Cana, JR visited in June while I was glazing The Joyful Mysteries: The Annunciation.

Staying home.

Angelique's seventh and last day of electronic final exams.

Lunch at home with Angelique; Aubrey still resting upstairs.

_THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES: THE ANNUNCIATION_

THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES: THE ANNUNCIATION
Oil on cradled canvas
6’ x 4.5’
May 11 – June 26, 2020

(Painting #16 for Maryhill School of Theology)

It is a starry evening. Three angels rise from the white, bougainvillea blossoms outside a Fil-Hispanic mansion to serenade the maiden Mary, who looks out on them from a receiving room window. One of them, the archangel Gabriel, offers her a bouquet of Easter lilies and announces that she has been chosen to bear the Savior of the world.

While the visual springboard for this painting was the visitation of Zeus to Leda in the form of a swan, the theological allusion is to the angelic beings who visited Sarah to inform her that she would bear a son, Isaac. Both Isaac and Jesus, son of Mary, were delegated to be sacrifices, thus bringing both the Old Testament and New Testament events full circle.

The auditory stimulus I used while completing this painting was https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMkpJKPPpzQ.

Paintings #14, 15, and 16 were done during the quarantine period. The only available model for Mary was my granddaughter Angelique, and for the three angels, Neil. 

Good morning, Cubao!

It is auspicious to build birdhouses in trees.

Good night, Cubao!

The moon wears dangling earrings that sparkle in the dark.

Angelique and Aubrey ordered food from outside for their dinner.

Gave the compound security guard our excess dinner food.

Night chores,.

My favorite time of the day has come again: an evening shower, and then off to bed with Parker Pyne.

Dinner at home alone; Angelique and Aubrey still resting upstairs.

Tomorrow is Angelique's last, electronic final exam.

Finished reading Malice last night. It's about a group of teenagers who get trapped inside a comic book. The publication is impressive, all the way from the embossed, hardbound cover to the high-quality paper to the illustrations of the graphic-novel portions, but it is written like a video game narrative and tends to be boring. Things get interesting only on page 270, which is too far into the book and mainly because the story has a weak point of attack.

I won't bother to get the next volume and might give this one away to Earl.

Retrieved Parker Pyne Investigates to reread. I recall that the DVD version, which my sister Sylvia sent me from Sydney, was directed mainly like an anthology of dark comedies.

Worked half an hour on forty-sixth glaze.

This painting is done and awaiting varnishing.

Worked an hour on forty-fifth glaze.

Bought two kilos fresh mango.

Lunch at home with Angelique; Aubrey still resting upstairs.

Your Messenger message:

"Sir Tony magandang umaga po.Ngayon lang po ulit nakapag chat dahil sa kakaibang pakiramdam sa panaginip. Nais ko po sanang malaman ang interpretasyon. Salamat po.

Nag check in daw po ako sa isang hot l dahil sobrang lakas ng ulan.. sa F8 daw ang room number ko.... pero ang weird dagil nung paajyat na ako one time may dalawa raw tbabae na parang kilala ko pero hindi dahil my operation daw sila sa building.... parang magpapaimula ng pagsabo pero parang mananakot lang... pag akyat ko sa floor na kung saan nandun na yung kwarto ko nagulat na lang ako bawat side ng floor maliban lang area ng floor ko ay may mga nagpuntahang tao tapos parang may hinahanap na tao. ( pa square yung itsura ng building na kita po ang kabila.... )Armado sila. Nagkagulo na nin parang nagkakaroon ng sabay sabay na search... though ang nararamdaman ko sa sandaling iyon ay kampante dahil parang ang alam ko ay safe yung side ng floor building nakonatatayuan ko kasi may harang na mga tao na parang nakabantay para wag laming umosyoso sa nangyayari. Tapos may narinig na lang akong sumigaw na baba na sabi itigila na yung ginagawa... na keso ito ba raw ang gusto dahil na eeskadalo.tapos after nun nagkagulo na pinagbabaril lahat. Actualy ito po yung stricking lahat kasi parang nararamdaman ko at naririnig ko ang lahat putukan ... ang pagtama ng bala sa simento.... hanggang sa pati sa area namin pinapuputukan na ... nadadamay na kami. Alam kong inaatake na kami... ramdam ko na may tumatamang bala sa akin kahit pilit pa rin akong umiiwas (pero hindi ako nakakaramdam ng sakit pero dama ko ang mga pagtama) hanggang sa namatay ako... tapos ayun sir parang nagising ako (or ginising ko ang sarili dahil hindi ko gusto ang nangyayari na namamatay/namatay ako sa panaginip ko. ) sobrang na wirduhan lang po ako sa panaginip na ito. Actually po natakot din po. Salamat po.

"Ingat po kayo lagi sir"

My reply:

Hello ______!

This was an anxiety dream. You are undergoing repressed but strong emotions at this time in your life, and it may have to do with one or more females whom you are having relationships with. It seems that their relatives, friends, or jealous co-suitors do not approve of you, and your very masculinity and self are being threatened.

You die in your dream to shed your old, flawed self and give way to a renewed self.

The number of your hotel room is F8. On a computer keyboard it is the key to start up Windows.

Refresh.

Delete what must be deleted and save only what must be saved.

Staying home.

Angelique's sixth day of electronic final exams. Two more days to go--today and tomorrow.

Once in a while, reflect on mortality and embrace it. You have no idea how many people leave this world with grudges born of broken dreams, separation from loved ones, attachments to material things, and what the ignorant call "unfinished business". Step out with gratitude, with peace of mind, and with the complete acceptance of the laws of Nature.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sky is a wedge of blueberry cheesecake.

Good night, Cubao!

Moonstones endow blessings to those who wear them.

Dinner at home with Angelique; Aubrey still resting upstairs.

Asked Lennoel to bring some food over to M.'s cafe staff.

Night chores.

\My favorite time of the day has come again: an evening shower, and then off to bed with Chris Wooding.

Worked half an hour on forty-fourth glaze.

Worked half an hour on forty-third glaze.

Back from jalan-jalan at the center. Had money changed, did minor groceries since I was there anyway, then took a taxi home.

Angelique's fifth day of electronic final exams. Must go jalan-jalan to the center to change money and buy a loaf of white bread, and then come quickly home.

Lunch at home with Angelique; Aubrey still resting upstairs.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sky fairies hang buckets of sunshine and rain on the corbels of the clouds.

Good night, Cubao!

The goddess of the moon wears a necklace of white opals.

Dinner with Angelique; Aubrey still resting upstairs. We ordered deep-fried pork chop with rice and veggies at M.'s cafe.

Brought some food over to M.'s cafe staff.

Night chores.

My favorite time of the day has come again: an evening shower, and then off to bed with Chris Wooding.

June 24, 2020

JR takes photos of me while working on The Joyful Mysteries: The Annunciation.

Photos by JR Dalisay

Staying home.

Angelique's fourth day of electronic, final exams (2:30 - 4:30 PM).

JR visited. Gave me something I want, and I gave him something to add to his collection. Talked of old times. He's moving to Dumaguete for good in July, and I should visit him whenever I go to Siquijor. Should give him and Shyr a piece of decor for their room, for them to remember me by.

Worked an hour on forty-second glaze.

A hot, sweltering day in Cubao.

Brought the granddaughters' bed linen to the compound laundry.

Lunch at home with Angelique and Aubrey.

Wearing my Thai palakit and my Balinese palakit today.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sun is a faceted, yellow diamond.

A tomato sandwich and a glass of chocolate milk.

Aubrey came down and fixed herself a very late dinner.

Only after schools have digitized their library holdings and made their laboratories virtual should they ever charge library and laboratory fees.

Whether in the plant or the animal kingdom, the index of aging will always be physical.

The sad reality is not that the competent have no jobs, but that the incompetent have them.

The destitute homeless, even after being rescued, will always yearn to live outdoors.

Know all the protocols of magic before even deciding to practice it.

Good night, Cubao!

Elemental soldiers guard the mage's library of books. 

Dinner at home with Angelique; Aubrey still resting upstairs.

Asked Lennoel to bring some food over to M.'s cafe staff.

Night chores.

My favorite time of the day has come again: an evening shower, and then off to bed with Chris Wooding.

It is impossible not to undergo major paradigm shifts in every new century.

You cannot change your world by maintaining mediocre friends.

So long as a nation is in the fundamentalist grip of any religion, it will not produce leading philosophers and breakthrough artists.

Jerome and I went up to the roof to clear all of the gutters of dead leaves and debris.

Not a minute too soon. It now started drizzling, with lightning and thunder.

Worked an hour on forty-first glaze.

Worked half an hour on fortieth glaze.

Began this painting May 11. Seven more days till the end of June, and this might even spill over to July.

This painting is taking me longer than Christ Calming the Storm.

Lost and stolen items come back to you in the most unusual ways.

Restful sleep is one of the greatest healers of all time.

Few people will remember that, in the 1960s, men were hesitant to carry umbrellas because they considered it a woman's accessory. It was also unheard of for them to wear red, orange, and pink. As years went by and poverty set in, men had to abandon these concepts of image and make do with what was available to them. And so, yes, poverty is a great gender equalizer.

Tragic is he who cannot make his dreams reality.

One-hour, afternoon nap.

Worked half an hour on thirty-ninth glaze.

Feeling drowsy on this hot afternoon.

Creeping into bed to continue reading Chris Wooding.

An early lunch at home with Angelique; Aubrey still resting upstairs.

Worked half an hour on thirty-eighth glaze.

Patience is a function of diligence, and both of them bring great rewards.

Staying home.

Angelique's third day of electronic final exams.

The clouds are mobile sculptures comprised of spinning, silver cogwheels.

Good night, Cubao!

Watch the space shuttles that launch from the surface of the moon.

Angelique came down to dinner in the dining room.

Worked an hour on thirty-seventh glaze.

M. and his crew arrived from their brief holiday.

Brought some food over to M.'s cafe staff.

My favorite time of the day has come again: an evening shower, and then off to bed with Chris Wooding.

Dinner at home alone; Angelique finishing up with her second, electronic final exam (6:30 - 8:30 PM) and Aubrey still resting upstairs.

Not all living beings in Creation are self-cleaning outside as well as inside.

One-hour, mid-afternoon nap.

Worked half an hour on thirty-sixth glaze.

One-hour, early afternoon nap.

A very early lunch at home alone; Angelique and Aubrey still resting upstairs.

Worked half an hour on thirty-fifth glaze.

Staying home. Angelique's second day of electronic final exams.

Aubrey begins her online practicum soon.

Finished reading The Mystery of the Blue Train, a fully developed novel from the short story "The Plymouth Express" in The Underdog and Other Stories, last night. Reading Chris Wooding's Malice tonight.

Good morning, Cubao!

Brown sparrows fly across the sky with brushes in their beaks to paint the sky azure.

Gave a lot of food to the compound security guard, since M. and his staff locked up for a holiday with relatives.

Night chores.

My favorite time of the day has come again: an evening shower, then off to bed with Hercule Poirot.

An evening shower always resets my body and mind, and washes off all residues of the day from me.

June 21, 2020

In front of our family columbarium

"We stand on the shoulders of our ancestors."

--African proverb

A simple, Father's Day dinner with Angelique and Aubrey.

Two-hour, early evening nap.

It is sheer bliss to sleep, and a sweeter bliss still is to wake up and then drift off to sleep again.

Worked half an hour on thirty-fourth glaze.

Your Messenger message:

"Happy Father's day sir. I always read your posts. Can't say I believe in everything you say since Ive lost my faith in every religion (was a Christian since birth). But can't shake off the feeling that theres something more to life than this. Guess death is the last adventure there'd be. I enjoy reading your musings and I'm always looking forward to them. May you continue to be a moral compass."

My reply:

I am surprised that you perceive me as a Christian, though I can see how you might have formed this impression. Only my work as an artist and my paintings for Maryhill School of Theology are Public. My controversial Postings are visible to Friends only.

One-hour, afternoon nap.

A mug of Thai green tea.

A very early lunch at home alone; Angelique still resting upstairs; Aubrey and Roi ordered food from outside and are taking their lunch upstairs.

Going to lie in bed with Hercule Poirot now.

Worked half an hour on thirty-third glaze.

Worked half an hour on thirty-second glaze.

Roi arrived.

Did minor groceries at the neighborhood grocery.

Bought three packs of fresh strawberries at E.'s snack and shake stand.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sun endows strength to everyone who draws energy from him.

Good night, Cubao!

A quaint aquarium, with or without fish, is one of the best night lights.

Dinner at home with Angelique and Aubrey.

Asked Jerome to bring some food over to M.'s cafe staff.

Night chores.

My favorite time of the day has come again: an evening shower, and then off to bed with Hercule Poirot.

Your Messenger message:

"Hi sir Tony how are you? I just want to ask you again re my dream last week. Outside my window my neighbor who already passed away has a balimbing tree. A caretaker used to water the tree. I used to take pics on that tree...after several days I had anxieties and dream that I loss two teeth. This came before the death of a colleague. I know that dream was a bad omen. Could it be associated with that tree also? My dream? Stay safe always!"

My reply:

Hello ______!

It is possible that you have precognitive knowledge of demises, in which case both dreams are related. Do note, however, the duality of images in the dreams:

--neighbor who passed away vis-a-vis the tree and water, which symbolize life

--death of a colleague vis-a-vis teeth, which symbolize potency

Always consider the yin and the yang in every dream. Where there is a message about death, there is also a message about life. As such, there is never anything to be afraid of or anxious about.

Your Messenger message:

"What do blood signify. As in profouse blood letting woth no pain coming out of my body, and the blood turning into psychedelic colours?"

My reply:

Hello ___!

I need a dream narrative, not a dream image that has no context.

Back from jalan-jalan at the center.

Bought a juvenile literature book titled Malice, then an electric fan for Aubrey since her old one conked out, and then a batch of bottles of frappuccino coffee for Angelique for her four more days of electronic, final exams.

Worked an hour on thirty-first glaze.

Finished rereading The Murder of Roger Ackroyd last night. Exquisitely written, in the manner of Sad Cypress. It is, as a matter of fact, one of Agatha Christie's most acclaimed works.

Retrieved The Mystery of the Blue Train to start rereading in bed later.

Worked half an hour on thirtieth glaze.

Lunch at home with Angelique; Aubrey still resting upstairs.

Staying home.

Today is Angelique's first day of electronic final exams.

Take a hint from technology. The best, metaphorical analogies for countering any type of virus will be found in the ways we counter computer viruses.

Good morning, Cubao!

The treetops are spangled with bright sunlight.

Good night, Cubao!

Even on a cloudy night, ask to see a UFO and you will see one.

Dinner with Angelique; Aubrey still resting upstairs.

Asked Jerome to bring some food over to M.'s cafe staff.

Night chores.

A light drizzle on Cubao.

My favorite time of the day has come again: an evening shower, and then off to bed with Hercule Poirot.

Worked half an hour on twenty-ninth glaze.

Afternoon tea: a cup of Thai green tea and two pieces of our favorite ube hopia, which are really dwarf-sized purple yam pies.

And now to lie awhile in bed with Hercule Poirot.

Worked an hour on twenty-eighth glaze.

Do not run your blogs and your Facebook Wall like a campaign or a rally. Facebook readers are a passive audience, not a proactive one. As a matter of fact, the more they read your Postings, the more passive they will tend to be. They'll just sit back with a cup of coffee and see what you're going to do next.

When a former servant who stole from you tries to come back to you, it is because he forgot to steal something else from you.

When people criticize you, it is always in their hope that you will conform to what they think you should be, think, say, and do.

Waiting is a lost art.

Before leaving your house, always ask your spirit guides for the success of your day.

Mental trash accrues. You need to properly dispose of it yourself, because there are no garbage people to pick it up.

Lunch at home with Angelique; Aubrey still resting upstairs.

Overcast skies above Cubao. Lit our Halloween witch lantern beside my desktop computer.

To view the photo, go to https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=3068608386559201&set=a.936008466485881 on Facebook.

Good morning, Cubao!

Always look for the cities in the clouds.

Aubrey came down to a very late dinner.

Had a little bedtime snack, and now going to bed to start rereading The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.

Your Messenger message:

"Good evening sir.

"I dreamt that I visited your studio last night. You were with a friend -- a lady in her 60s or 70s, with a bob cut. You were not chatty in my dream, but I felt your reassuring presence. It was a little dim, with subdued lighting.

"As I was looking at a painting, details of which I don't remember, the lady gave me tips on how I could protect myself from entities. It was unexpected in the dream, but maybe it was in my subconscious. I am not sure. But thank you for appearing in my dream. I forgot what happened after that.

"Also, I read in your post that people in the Spirit Questors FB group are actually part of the team with the same name. I will be honest -- I was not initiated nor am I an official Spirit Questor (I have a fascination for the paranormal, of course). So that made me think if you mistook me for someone else. Nevertheless, thank you. I am learning a lot from the group and the oracles you post. Truly grateful.

"____"

My reply:

Hello ____!

You traveled to my studio in my dream as my students travel to our roof deck whenever I announce night classes. I believe the woman you saw in my dream was my second eldest sister; when she was young she used to see gnomes and spirits of the deceased.

You are in the Private Group _The Spirit Questitrs_ not because I placed you there but because someone else did. Jeremiah? Today, I no longer allow Members to do that.

Good night, Cubao!

Fairies and gnomes watch your TV and computer screens from outside your bedroom windows.

Dinner at home with Angelique; Aubrey took a very late lunch this afternoon.

Asked Jerome to bring some food over to M.'s cafe staff.

Night chores.

My favorite time of the day has come again: an evening shower, then off to bed with Agatha Christie.

Worked half an hour on twenty-seventh glaze.

A brief, light drizzle in Cubao.

Finished rereading Hickory Dickory Dock in bed. This was written after Mrs. McGinty's Dead. A nice reread, though the DVD version, which I watched more than two years ago, was quite muddled due to the huge number of characters, since the story is set in two boarding houses.

Retrieved The Murder of Roger Ackroyd to start rereading tonight.

Worked half an hour on twenty-sixth glaze.

Worked half an hour on twenty-fifth glaze.

Then went jalan-jalan at the center with Aubrey. We paid for her Practicum a.k.a Old Normal OJT via bank transfer. Yes, I am poorer by thousands.

We bought lunch food for Angelique and Aubrey at Shakey's before going home.

It is Great-Gatsby-summer hot in Cubao.

A very early lunch at home alone; Angelique and Aubrey still resting upstairs.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sun is a faceted sardonyx.

Good night, Cubao!

Gnome children will always love playing with human children's toys.

Asked Lennoel to bring some food over to M.'s cafe staff.

Night chores.

My favorite time of the day has come again: an evening shower, and then off to bed with Hercule Poirot.

Dinner at home with Angelique and Aubrey. Aubrey received her second semester grades electronically; her highest grade was 1 and her lowest, 2. Her university is now on its "summer break", which isn't exactly a break because Aubrey has practicum (formerly OJT), for which I need to pay fees.

Finished rereading Peril at End House, the book that comes immediately after The Mystery of the Blue Train, last night. A very satisfying reread, if I may say so. Must check out the DVD again.

Retrieved Hickory Dickory Dock and am about to lie in bed to start rereading it.

Worked half an hour on twenty-fourth glaze.

Your e-mail message:

"Ginoong Perez,

"Magandang hapon po. Ako si _____________________, __ na taong gulang, at isang tagahanga. Ngayon pa lang ay bibigyan ko na kayo ng abiso dahil baka maging mahaba ang aking sasabihin sa email na ito. Kung kayo man ay mabato o masuya dito, huminhingi na po ako ng pasensya pero ngayon lamang ulit ako sumulat ng ganitong kahaba sa isang tao kaya kung maari sana ay paunlakan ninyo ang aking email.

"Nakita ko ang inyong email address sa blog kung saan naka-publish ang inyong mga gawa. Sa kawalan ng pag-asang hindi ko na makikita ang inyong mga gawa ay lumabas sa Google ang inyong blog—at doon ko nakita na karamihan ng inyong akda. Sa paghahanap ko ng kopya ng Cubao Midnight Express ay natisod ko ang inyong mga akda, ngunit hindi sa anyong aking inaasahan.

"Matagal na akong naghahanap ng kopya ng Cubao Midnight Express. Nakita ko siya sa isa sa aking mga kaibigan, isang photographer na nagngangalang _________________. Aniya, mahal na mahal niya ang Express at lalo na ang niyong akda na Eros, Thanatos, Cubao. Sinabi rin niyang pinaiyak siya nito sa isang pampublikong lugar habang binabasa niya ito sa labas.

"Sinimulan kong basahin ang Express sa inyong blog noong nakaraang taon ngunit may isang natatanging hamon ang pagbabasa ng inyong akda sa inyong blog. Dahil naka-publish siya bilang isang entry sa inyong blog, ito ay may mga kaakibat na suliranin gaya ng kawalan ng kakayahang i-bookmark ang lugar kung saan ka hihintong magbasa, walang pahina, at iba pang katangian na nadala ng mga ebook galing sa mga pisikal na libro.

"Dahil dito, nakisuyo ako sa isang kakilala na ihiram ako ng kopya ng Express mula sa silid-aklatan ng De La Salle University-Dasmariñas. Pero meron siyang ibang idea: maaari niya daw i-clone ang buong libro para mabasa ko siya at hindi siya mapatawan ng penalty. Makatapos ang isang linggo, 'cloned' na kopya ng inyong libro—at ngayon ko lamang siyang sinimulang basahin dahil marami akong oras ngayong panahon ng quarantine.

"Pero balik tayo sa inyong blog. Noong nakita ko na nakalathala sa inyong blog ang Express at iba niyo pang gawa, mayroon kayong pamungad. Ika niyo, 'go green [and] read from the screen.' Bilang isang millennial na nagkamalay sa bukana ng analog at digital, ang mungkahing ito galing sa inyo ay nakakabilib dahil hindi kayo natatakot na yakapin ang teknolohiya upang mas marami pang mambabasa ang marating ng inyong mga akda.

"Bagaman ako ay bumibili pa rin ng mga pisikal na libro (lalo na sa mga gerilyang naglalako ng libro sa kanto ng Buendia at Pasong Tamo), ako mismo ay isang malaking tagapagsulong ng teknolohiya lalo na sa larangan ng sining at panitikan. Isang pabirong pang-asar namin sa aming mga kaibigang ayaw magbasa ng libro sa kanilang mga smartphone at tablet ay "dead tree purists."

"Maliban sa mga natatanging paraan ng pagkukwento na hindi posible sa print and broadcast, ginagawa ring accessible at dine-democratize ng internet ang distribyusyon ng kaalaman. Kung dati ay mga elite lamang ang may access sa Louvre, lahat ng may smartphone ngayon ay maaari nang makita ang laman ng mga museo gamit ang Google Arts & Culture. O mas madali nang makipag-usap ang mga may-akda sa kanilang mga tagahanga dahil sa Facebook, Instagram, at ibang social media platform.

"Dahil sa sinabi niyong 'go green, read from the screen,' naniniwala akong nakikita niyo ang potensyal ng internet (sa kasong ito, ng blog) para makarating sa mas nakakarami ang inyong mga kwento. Ito ang dahilan kaya mas gusto niyong nasa internet na ito. Hanggat bukas ang serbisyo ng Blogspot/Blogger, buhay din sa internet ang inyong mga akda kahit na matagal na silang hindi naiimprenta.

"Ang dahilan kung bakit ako sumusulat sa inyo ng paghaba-haba ay meron akong mumunting proposal: nais kong gumawa ng PDF/EPUB/MOBI na kopya ng Cubao Midnight Express. At sisimulan ko lamang ito kung ako ay makakakuha ng pahintulot galing sa inyo. Wala akong ninanais na kahit ano mula sa project na ito maliban sa inyong pagpayag.

"Maraming dahilan kung bakit ko siya gustong gawin. Una, ang blog version ng inyong libro ay mahirap basahin (at nasabi ko na rin ang mga dahilan sa itaas) dahil isa itong "wall of text" kahit para sa mga taong taal na sa internet. Kapag ginawa itong PDF o iba pang uri ng ebook file format, mas madali itong mababasa ng iba kahit ano pa ang aparatong gagamitin nila para buksan ito.

"Bago ako nagkaroon ng kakayang bumili ng mga sarili kong libro, nagamit ko ng husto ang mga ebook nung ako ay nasa kolehiyo noong 2007. Wala pa namang mga iPad noon (at kung meron man, sobrang mahal). Meron akong personal digital assistant (PDA) nung ako ay estudyante pa at nalaman kong nakakabasa siya ng PDF.

"Dahil dito, naghanap ako ng mga libreng ebook gaya ng mga akda ni George Orwell (Nineteen Eighty-four, Down and Out in Paris and London) at John Milton (Paradise Lost). Malaki ang pasasalamat ko sa PDA na iyon dahil nakakapagbasa ako sa loob ng LRT nang walang dinadalang pisikal na libro at maaari kong balikan agad-agad kung saang bahagi ng libro ako tumigil magbasa. Salamat sa PDA na iyon, natuto akong hindi importante kung ang medium ng iyong pagbabasa ay analog o digital. Kung gusto mong magbasa, gagawa't gagawa ka ng paraan.

"Pangalawa, naniniwala ako sa citizen archiving bilang paraan para hindi mawala ang impormasyong meron tayo at maipasa pa rin siya sa mga susunod na henerasyon. Kamakailan lamang, may isang photographer na naglabas ng mga litrato na kuha niya sa isang recording studio—at makikita mo dito ang miyembro ng ilan sa mga malalaking banda ng 90s gaya ng Eraserheads, Color It Red, Agaw Agimat, at iba pa. Dahil pinili nilang i-archive ang mga litratong ito, meron silang mga mumunting bahagi ng kasaysayan. At ngayon ay maaari na itong makita ng mga tao sa Facebook.

"Ang aking ama ay isang ____________. Sa loob ng mahigit tatlumpung taon na paghawak ng _______, marami na siyang nakunan at sinisiguro niyang may kopya siya ng mga _________ para may babalikan siya. Noong 2009, dumating ang bagyong Ondoy at sinira ng bahang dala ng bagyo ang lahat ng kanyang mga kuha. ... (L)ahat ay biglang nawala. Malaki ang panghihinayang niya dahil marami dito ay bahagi ng kasaysayan, hindi lamang ng mga paksa niya sa pagkuha pati na rin kasaysayan niya.

"Pangatlo, dahil sa quarantine, marami akong oras para gumawa ng mga bagay-bagay. Sa loob ng dalawang buwan, ang ginagawa ko lang pagkatapos ng trabaho ay manood ng pelikula o mga TV series sa Netflix o maglaro sa laptop. Hindi ko alam kung dala lang ng pangungulila kaya gusto kong gumawa ng bagay na may kabuluhan pero matagal ko nang pinagninilayan tong proyektong ito. Marahil ito ang tamang pagkakataon para imungkahi sa inyo ang proyektong ito.

"Gaya ng aking sinabi kanina, wala akong gustong makuha sa paglagay ng Cubao Midnight Express sa PDF/EPUB na format. Ni pagkilala sa proyektong ito ay wala rin sa isip ako. Ang tanging gusto ko lang mangyari ay mabigyan ng hustisya ang inyong libro na nasa tamang file format na akma para sa mga libro.

"Hindi ito isang bagong idea; maraming manunulat ang nagsasamantala ng ebook na format. Pero ang isa sa mga pinakatumatak na halimbawa sa akin ay ang digital version ng Amigo Warfare ni Eric Gamalinda. Pinasa lang ito sa akin ng isang kaibigan pero sa unang tula pa lang minahal ko agad ang librong iyon. Para sa ebook version niya, ito ang nakalagay sa copyright (at nakalakip ang PDF format nito sa email na ito):

"Ano ang magiging pakinabang ko sa proyektong ito? Maliban sa bibigyan niyo ako ng pagkakaabalahan ngayong panahon ng quarantine, matututo ako lalo sa paggamit ng Adobe InDesign (isa sa mga software na ginagamit para para sa layout design at desktop publishing). May konti na akong kaalaman sa paggamit ng InDesign at mas gusto ko pang matuto nito. Isa pa, sapat na sa akin ang magkaroon ng PDF version ng Express para mailagay sa aking tablet.

"Kahit na hindi pa kayo pumapayag, meron lang akong isang hiling: kung papayag kayo na gawin naming PDF/EPUB ang Cubao Midnight Express, maaari bang gamitin natin ang isa sa mga kuha ni _________________ bilang cover sa online version ng inyong libro? Ito ang kanyang portfolio at nalaman ko ang mga libro niyo dahil sa walang-tigil niyang papuri sa mga ito, lalo sa Eros, Thanatos, Cubao.

"Gaya niyo, kami ay may espesyal na puwang sa puso para sa Cubao. Hindi man kami taga-Cubao ay meron kaming sarili naming koneksyon sa lugar. Mula sa kakaibang enerhiya ng Cubao Expo hanggang sa masarap at murang karinderya sa kanto ng Imperial. Saksi ang Cubao sa iba't ibang bahagi ng aking buhay, mula sa unang halik, iyakan, kasiyahan, mga kwento tungkol sa pagtataksil, kapaguran sa buhay, kawalan ng pag-asa, at kung anu-ano pa. Nasaksihan rin namin ang Cubao sa iba't iba nitong anyo: mula sa mata ng isang bata na hindi makapaghintay na makarating Dakt Toys Center sa labas ng Fiesta Carnival hanggang sa pag-ubos ng oras sa HMR surplus dahil sa dami ng gamit na naghihintay ng bagong tahanan.

"Sa tinging ko ay masyado na itong mahaba—at humihingi ako ng pasensya dahil masyado akong maraming sinasabi. Sana ay pumayag kayo na gawin namin itong proyekto na ito at kung hindi man, igagalang namin ang niyong magiging desisyon.

"Kung nais niyo akong mahagilap sa mas mabilis na paraan, maaari niyo akong i-text o tawagan sa ______________.

"Maraming salamat po. At sana ay manatili kayong ligtas ngayong panahon ng walang kasiguraduhan.

"Gumagalang,

"_________________________"

My reply:

Hello __________________________!

Kailangan mo yatang humingi ng pahintulot sa Cacho Publishing House, na ngayon ay kaanib ng Anvil Publishing Inc. Mga abugado nila ang bubusisi sa pakay mo."

My objective as an artist is to complete, before I die, my 40 paintings for Maryhill School of Theology and my 40-volume collected, literary works in cyberspace. And after I've done those, I couldn't care less whether people like them or not.

Yet, I have a higher objective that is greater than all Art. It is to see my grandchildren graduate from college and graduate school, have gainful careers, and settle down and get married (but only if they want to get married).

Worked half an hour on twenty-third glaze.

Blazing sunshine on Cubao.

Did major groceries at the neighborhood grocery.

Lunch at home with Angelique; Aubrey still resting upstairs.

Good morning, Cubao!

Even the minutest dust motes turn golden in the sunshine.

Good night, Cubao!

An enchanted turtle lives under the roots of every tree.

Had a white onion sandwich on two slices of toast last night and a glass of chocolate milk, and the same tonight.

And so to bed.

Aubrey came down to dinner in the dining room.

Asked Jerome to bring some food over to M.'s cafe staff.

Night chores.

My favorite time of the day has come again: an evening shower, and then off to bed with Hercule Poirot.

Spent most of the afternoon in bed with Hercule Poirot. Will resume painting tomorrow.

Dinner at home with Angelique; Aubrey still resting upstairs. We asked Jerome to cook a bag of french fries.

Worked half an hour on twenty-second glaze.

Your Messenger message:

"hi sir Tony Perez,

"matagal ko na po kayong gustong maging friend dito sa facebook kaya lang po full na raw po ang inyong friends list, mabuti ay this time, nakasingit na po.

"taga cubao din po ako, dito po kami sa may _____________ malapit sa Immaculate, church.

tagahanga po ng mga naisulat nyo. Pero kalian ko lang po talaga nabasa ang karamihan. yung panganay ko pong kapatid, ay sumasali noon sa mga spirit quest, pero hindi ko lang po alam kung sa inyo po ba o baka sa iba. hayskul pa po kasi ako noon. Marami po siyang libro niyo. lagi po syang naghahanap ng mga kasagutan sa mga nakikita niya.

"pero di pa po kasi ako masyado nagbabasa noong mga panahon na yon at di ko pa rin po masyado naiintindihan. Eventually nahilig din po ako sa pagsusulat. Nung nagtatrabaho na po ako, saka ko lang po nabasa mga libro nyo na merong kopya ang kapatid ko. The departed, stories of the moon, the calling, mga panibagong kulam, saka po yung Eros, Thanatos, Cubao. Yun lang po ang nag iisa sa cubao series na meron ako.

"Hanggang napasali po ako sa isang workshop. Nagsusulat po ng mga maikling kwento. doon po ako nakakilala ng mga mahihilig din magbasa at magsulat. At marami po pala kaming humahanga sa inyo. Bago po kasi sa akin yung mundo o community ng mga manunulat dahil iba naman po ang kurso ko, bs ______________. Kumbaga hindi po ako masyado na-expose sa mga Filipino literature. Unlike nung iba ko pong kasama sa workshop ay malayo na talaga ang narating sa pagbabasa. Pero masaya po ako dahil marami po akong natutunan sakanila. Marami po akong nakilalang Filipino author dahil sakanila.

"Palagi rin po nababanggit ang mga akda nyo sa mga workshop namin. Sa tuwing nadadaan po kami sa mga independent book shop ang hinahanap po namin agad ay mga libro nyo. Kaso mahirap na pong makahanap. Kaya madalas naghihiraman na lang po kami.

"Kahit sa opisina po noon, bitbit ko ang the calling, binabasa kung break time. Hanggang sa may katrabaho din po akong nagbabasa na rin ng mga libro nyo, at pinagpasa-pasahan na nila.

"Iba rin ang naidulot sa akin ng librong iyon. Mas nagkaroon po ako ng malasakit sa lahat ng bagay na may buhay, mula sa mga maliliit na insekto hanggang sa mga puno. Pati po ang mga wala na sa mundong ito. Saka mas naintindihan ko po na importante sa ating mga nabubuhay na magpatawad. At napakamakapangyarihan talaga ng pagmamahal.

"Gusto rin po namin kayo maka kwentuhan ng mga kaworkshop ko, isang hapon, sa cubao. Yun naman po ay mga pangarap lang namin. Pero nahihiya po kami at natatakot na rin dahil sinasabi po ng ibang manunulat na masungit daw po kayo. Hehe saka nahihiya rin po kaming maka abala dahil alam naman po namin na retired na po kayo.

"Pero dahil nga po nagkaron ako ng pagkakataon makapagbigay po ng mensahe sa inyo, e pagkakataon ko na rin po kasi ito na masabi na isa po akong tagahanga. Di ko lang po mabigyan ng mga tamang salita pero binago po ng mga libro nyo at akda ang mga pananaw ko sa buhay.

"Sana po kapag wala nang virus, at ligatas na po ang lahat, sana dumating po ang pagkakataon na pwede namin kayo makakwentuhan, isang hapon, sa Cubao. Pero masaya na po ako na nakapagpa-abot na rin sa inyo ng mensahe.

"Salamat po at keep safe sir Tony!

"Ako po si _________, __ po for short."

My reply:

Hello __!

Thank you for your kind words. Just keep on writing. Do it first as a hobby while pursuing a career that will make you financially stable through your entire life.

I am now a hermit and almost never leave the house, so I can't go out and meet your workshop friends. I'm also currently enmeshed in completing a total of 40 paintings for Maryhill School of Theology and have no time for anything else.

Incidentally if your sibling is not in my Private Group _The Spirit Questors_, then he/she is not a Spirit Questor.

Back from jalan-jalan at the center. Had money changed for my granddaughters' weekly allowance and sent my younger son Chito some money for his personal expenses.

Bought a second item from the Japanese shop.

Angelique advised me to bring an umbrella, but it didn't rain.

Angelique came down to lunch in the dining room.

Worked half an hour on twenty-first glaze.