Happy eighth anniversary to M.'s cafe!

Good morning, Cubao!

The sky is an inverted, blue trampoline.

Intermittent rain clatters on the rooftops like boys passing by on steel skateboards 

One Message For One Of 3,100 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year

You with five syllables in your name: Trust only a selected few and have few regrets.

Staggered dinnertimes.

Night chores.

My favorite time of the day has come again: an evening shower, and then snuggling in bed with Sam Sicilano's Sherlock Holmes.

Ninth Bilbo Baggins afternoon: more blue-and-whites for Lani, two old lanterns for Malou, and our three gnomes for Karen.

Now on Level 45 of Differences: Online Journey.

Lunch at home.

Outside, winds and lashing rain.

Good morning, Cubao!

Hungry Ghosts Month resumes.

Good night, Cubao!

Lanterns light the paths for wandering spirits.

One Message For One Of 3,100 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year

You with six syllables in your name: Think over your major decisions in life very carefully. Are you shutting doors or are you opening doors? Are you taking a step or more higher, are you remaining on the same level, or are you taking one or more steps down?

Staggered dinnertimes.

Night chores.

My favorite time of the day has come again: an evening shower, and then snuggling in bed with Sam Siciliano's Sherlock Holmes.

Now on Level 41 of _Differences: Online Journey_. I enjoy playing this online game, but often feel that some of the game are rigged:

--I am consistently the only competitor who uses his real name and his real photo; others are known only by aliases and cartoon images

--There are times when I am certain there are no more differences to be found in a picture, but the picture is kept on as though to allow me to make succeeding mistakes that will lower my score

--There are times when I Click on differences faster than my opponents, yet their running scores are infinitely higher than mine

--There are times when I Click on a difference and no credit is given me

--It happened once that a picture was flashed on screen, and, after I immediately Clicked on the first difference, my co-competitor suddenly won the game--unbelievably, in a mere second

At any rate, thank God I'm not putting any money into this game,

A late lunch at home alone.

Now Q. is cleaning the small loggia on this pleasantly windy rainy afternoon.

Good morning, Cubao!

Today is the Festival of Hungry Ghosts.

One Message For One Of 3,100 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year

You with five syllables in your name: Do not volunteer to visit and assist in disaster areas. The odds are not in your favor.

One-hour nap before the evening news.

Staggered dinnertimes.

My favorite time of rhe day has come again: an evening shower, and then snuggling in bed with Sam Siciliano's Sherlock Holmes. I'm beginning to  like Sam Siciliano Like Nancy Springer, creator of the Enola Homes series, he did extensive research on late 1880s London, yet makes no effort to sound like Arthur Conan Doyle. As a matter of fact he even writes like Jane Austen!

Know that your children need things that you do not need, as you need things that they do not need.

Today is the Eve of the Festival of Hungry Ghosts

The cafe children's first day of school.

You were in my unannounced night class at 4:30 AM if you saw me:

--teaching blue candle magic in clusters
--drawing a diagram of the brain with squares leading down to the chakras below it.

Your children will need constant affirmation from you, even long after they've grown up.

It's heavenly to have a life and a lifestyle one loves and an occasional fantasy too.

Good morning, Cubao!

When someone loves you and knows he cannot ever have you, he will do everything he can so that no one else will.

One Message For One Of 3,100 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year

You with five syllables in your name: Maintain your property well to keep it appealing to yourself and to others. Sometimes all it takes is a good cleaning and uncluttering.

Good night, Cubao!

Leave vengeance to the Hungry Ghosts.

Staggered dinnertimes.

Night chores.

My favorite time of the day has come again: an evening shower, and then snuggling in bed with Sam Siciliano's Sherlock Holmes.

Now on Level 32 of _Differences: Online Journey_. Love the music on this one!

Now that the heavy rains have gone, Q. reported for work to clean one of the side porches today.

Good noon, Cubao!

Every day is the beginning of a new week.

Good night, Cubao!

Sliced, soft buns turn nice and crispy in the bead toaster.

One Message For One Of 3,000 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year

You with five syllables in your name: Go easy on desserts and sweets. Always be conscioos of your body's well-being.

Staggered dinnertimes.

Night chores.

My favorite time of the day has come again: an evening shower, and then snuggling in bed with Sam Siciliao's Sherlock Holmes.

Good noon, Cubao!

A weekend meal is always a joyous celebration.

The authentic mage practices magic to master himself, not master other people.

Grandchildren now home and my younger son Chito back safely in Occidental Mindoro after his mission in Makati. Time to call it a day.

Good night, Cubao!

The evening breezes heal the earth of the day's blazing sunshine.

One Message For One O 3,000 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year

You with five syllables in your name: Upon reaching home, keep still, center yourself, and merge with your environment before acting on anything else.

Staggered dinnertimes. Angelique and Jazz at Jazz's family dinner party, Aubrey and Roi having dinner out.

Night chores.

My favorite time of the day has come again: an evening shower, and then snuggling in bed with  Sam Siciliano's Sherlock Holmes.

Aubrey and Roi arrived, then Angelique and Jazz.

Angelique and Jazz are attending Jazz's family birthday dinner later this evening.

Happy Birthday to my sister Alice!

Good morning, Cubao!

A day of silver sylphs hovering in mid-air.

Good night, Cubao!

The fairy children partake of enchanted sweets.

One Message For One Of 3,000 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year

You with five syllables in your name: Fulfill your mission dutifully and expeditiously. Avoid loitering and malingering.

Staggered dinnertimes.

Night chores

My favorite time of the day has come again: an evening shower, and then snuggling in bed with Sam Siciliano's Sherlock Holmes.

August 25, 2023

Eighth Bilbo Baggins afternoon

Only two former students arrived today--Rose and Sheila--former graduate students of my Creative Writing class at De La Salle University, more than 20 years ago. I preselected items that I thought they would like and that they could easily take with them.

Now scheduling the ninth Bilbo Baggins afternoon.

Good morning, Cubao!

The day is a pot of lemon tea.

Good night, Cubao!

When you do not know whom you are competing with, you are essentially competing with yourself.

One Message For One Of 3,000 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year

You with six syllables in your name: Know what is right from what is wrong but always remember to have clean fun.

Staggered dinnertimes.

Night chores.

My favorite time of the day has come again: an evening shower, and then snuggling in bed with Sherlock Holmes.

Goodies from my eldest sister, Lourdes, in Sydney.

Just as I was decluttering and uncluttering!

Believe me, uncluttering (tidying up) is ten times more difficult than decluttering (clearing things away).

And it's Cloudy's birthday as well (2021)!

Slept ten hours last night and woke up at noon.

Happy Birthday to my eldest grandson, Jazz!

Good noon, Cubao!

Magic is most efficient when the sun is at its zenith.

Good night, Cubao!

The best way to end the day is to settle down in bed under a fresh blanket.

One Message For One Of 3,000 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year

You with five syllables in your name: Never give in to hopelessness. Enjoy the life you have and whatever else you have.

Staggered dinnertimes.

Night chores.

Angelique and Jazz stopped by briefly to pick up something, then went back to the condo unit.

My favorite time of the day has come again: an evening shower, and then snuggling in bed with Sam Siciliano's The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: The Web Weaver.

Finished reading the second Enola Holmes book last night. Juvenile fiction, but Nancy Springer  did extensive research on 1889 London, and her descriptions are engaging--I felt that she was describing funky Manila. Both good reads, but the confrontation scenes are contrived and curt. I also cannot believe that Enola Holmes's parkour feats up and down tall buildings.

Was on Level 65 of Differences when everything suddenly went berserk and I couldn't Click on the screen anymore. I think it's because I might have been expected to put some money into the game, something that I, of course, will never do.

Now on Level 12 of another game, Differences Online Journey.

Good morning, Cubao!

A beautiful day begins with a nutritious breakfast.

Good night, Cubao!

Fruit bats bathe joyfully in the evening drizzle.

One Message For One Of 3,000 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year

You with five syllables in your name:  Discover the effects of different kinds of tea on your digestion. You will end up with three or four favorites, of which you should be amply stocked.

You will also find that different kinds of music have different effects on your digestion,

Staggered dinnertimes.

Night chores.

My favorite time of the day has come again: an evening shower, and then snuggling in bed with Enola Holmes.

Today is the Qi Xi Festival, the Chinese Valentine's Day. It is said that lovers should wear masks on this day to ward off evil spirits. It is also auspicious to hang a pair of masks in one's foyer or near one's front door.

Photo shared from The Daily Mail

Good morning, Cubao!

The sun is a giant campfire in outer space.

My spirit guides said that, beginning tomorrow, many members of the middle class will declare themselves as hopelessly slipping into poverty.

Good night, Cubao!

Parents tuck their children safely in cozy lofts.

One Message For One Of 3,000 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year

You with five syllables in your name: Do not participate in bitter discussions on politics. Listening to what others are saying is good enough, and then go on with your life.

Do not join dissent--it is a life of misery for two presidential terms and can last for at least 12 years. That's too big a chunk of time to take from your personal happiness.

Staggered dinnertimes.

Night chores.

My favorite time of the day has come again: an evening shower, and then snuggling in bed with Enola Holmes.

Now on Level 59 of Differences. Everything got harder from Level 50 onward. I suspect that persons who venture into the game with a competitive spirit suddenly have their third eye open at Level 50.

Good morning, Cubao!

The day is a succession of spontaneous activities.

Your Messenger message:

"Good afternoon, sir Tony! "How are you po? "Sir, I would like to ease my mind po of what transpired this 3am. "I don't know but I woke up and felt prompted to open the front door to check outside. "Then as I opened the door, I immediately saw a man standing malapit sa rehas ng gate. He was calling in an almost whispering voice, 'Bro... bro...bro...bro...' "He was wearing a full-faced motorcycle helmet, a jacket and kind of a loose pants...walang ilaw sa labas cause I usually close it at night...so he was like a silhouette nasa likod yung kontimg light ng neighboring houses. "When I opened the front door, and I heard him calling 'bro..' "Bigla sya nagsabi ng 'ayy" "Then he left moving towards the left going to my kapit-apartment...then I heard him again calling 'bro..bro...' "So, I thought, ahh...si neighbor talaga ang hinahanap nito. So I closed the door and went inside.

"As I made a bottle of milk for our little tot, I heard 2 guys talking outside and also heard the main gate.

"Then came lunch...I saw my nieghbor. I asked him, about the guy who came this 3am...I told him ang aga nyo naman kanina sir....

"He was shocked..he said, he was asleep and he didn't hear anyone calling him as he said, 'mantika ang tulog ko ma'am kasi 2am na ako natulog.' "Sir---do you have any vibes as to what happened to.me this am?...it was just too weird. Pati kapitbahay ko said how weird...he asked his companions sa work if any of them came at that time, no one did...and besides if they would come...they will notify him and message too through text... "Hoping you're free to respond po.. salamat po "

My reply:

Hello _____!

Always be open to logical explanations rather than be biased toward supernatural ones.

The man wanted something from someone, not necessarily your neighbor. He was either drunk or high. The two other men you heard were passersby, not your neighbor. They could be barangay tanods--inquire at the barangay office. 

I myself live in an urban setting, and all sorts of people wander the streets. They are humans more than they are Hungry Ghosts.

Good noon, Cubao!

Look forward to the day rather than look back with regrets over yesterday.

Being terribly afraid of ghosts is like being desperately in love. Nothing that others say or do can change how you feel, and you cannot ever pretend otherwise.

Good night, Cubao!

Sleep like a child surrounded with soft pillows.

One Message For One Of 3,000 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year

You with four syllables in your name: Do not covert material things. They will only remind you that you are become less and less spiritual.

Staggered dinnertimes.

Night chores 

My favorite time of the day has come again: an evening shoeer, and then snuggling in bed with Enola Holmes.

I'm now putting together a different group for the eighth Bilbo Baggins afternoon so as to give others a chance to partake of items.

August 19, 2023

Seventh Bilbo Baggins afternoon

Only Lou and Jimmy arrived today, so I didn't bring out everything. I also invited a compound tenant to take what he wanted before they came. Since Lou had a vehicle he took away most of the items.

Your Messenger message:

"Hi Sir Tony, good afternoon! May I check with you if it would be alright to set up the makeshift altar for ghost month offerings inside the condo unit instead? I can’t place the altar outside the unit and building.

"The guidelines for offerings during ghost month usually suggest that the makeshift altars be placed by the roadside or outside the home. My understanding of this is because the ghosts are wandering outside, especially those with no relatives to visit. Is this also to keep any mischievous spirits outside the home as precaution? "As confirmed by the Spirit Questors during their visit to the unit, the small hallway outside my bedroom that ends in a closet is a portal for transient spirits. This is where I intend to set up my makeshift altar. I never sensed the spirits but at times I would just be aware of their presence whenever I looked out my bedroom door. "My dream today of a long departed family friend is what is prompted me to set up an altar. "Thank you always for you guidance, Sir Tony!"

My reply:

Hello _____!

\

Place the set-up inside your unit, but behind your front door.

Por6als in odd places are for elementals only.

The Wands must continue pointing to the ground.

Good morning, Cubao!

Treasure the jade seal that represents your family.

Juvenile as this may sound, I'm already on Level 29 of Differences.

But, do try it. It's an interesting way to strengthen your powers of observation.

Good night, Cubao!

A cup of hot chocolate without sugar will de-stress you and will help you sleep./

One Message For One Of 3,000 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year

You with five syllables in your name: This month, lie low. Stay in the background . Do not take center stage. Do not take risks.

Staggered dinnertimes.

Night chores.

My favorite time o the day has come again: an evening shower, and then snuggling in bed with Enola Holmes.

Video by Nonoy Froilan:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oQ53k0RrVlQrD4EhihbO3PxjQA22oHdH/view?fbclid=IwAR2tBoCjcgeDoi9KclTKAfbpANGPLJ6vxp9RRsjLecNqfAaaPe_ZneBaSGE

This image of Ti' T'sang, Tao god of the underworld who escorts lost souls to their destination, stands above our antique, cobalt blue jar at our side entrance and will remain there through the end of Hungry Ghosts Month.

The image was made of molded silk fibers and afterward lacquered. I bought this in Chinatown while on lunch break from work at the U.S. Embassy more than ten years ago. It was offered to me by an old shopkeeper who knew I was interested in curiosities.

Good morning, Cubao!

The clouds are clusters of gray pearls.

When one man cannot afford what another man can, he curses that man, he curses himself, and, in doing so, he curses God.

 Night classes

4:30 AM.

Let us now observe how Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau are celebrating Hungry Ghosts Month.

Marry My Dead Body

Watched Taiwan's 2022  Marry My Dead Body (2:09:08). Wu Ming-han, a homophobic police officer. is compelled to marry the ghost of gay, car accident victim Mao Pang-yu. In the course of their being together, Wu not only is able to track down Mao's killer, he is also able to gain insights into a gay man's life, as Mao gains insights into a straight man's life. One of the best gay movies I've ever seen, and ends like an episode from Ghost Whisperer. 

This movie is described as a "supernatural comedy." Love the casting, love the acting. While it is an excellent, feel-good story about a gay person's family problems and romantic troubles, however, it tends to portray the single woman in the cast as an obnoxious traitor and villainess, and gives her subplot no closure.

Many shots with men's naked butts, but no actual sex, and can pass for family viewing.

Good night, Cubao!

Stay indoors after the sun has set.

One Message For One Of 3,000 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year

You with five syllables in your name: Do not apply expensive solutions to simple problems. Avoid useless expenses and complexities.

Staggered dinnertimes.

Night chores.

My favorite time of the day has come again: an evening shower, and then snuggling in bed with Enola Holmes.

Let the difficulties refine you like a brilliant diamond, and everyone will be dazzled by your brightness.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sun is a bottle of yellow gummy worms

Good night, Cubao!

Hungry Ghost children partake of refreshing candy and drinking water.

One Message For One Of 3,000 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year

You with five syllables in your name: Watch what you eat. Resist the temptation to pig out. Your health is your priority.

Staggered dinnertimes.

Night chores.

My favorite time of the day has come again: an evening shower, and then snuggling in bed with Enola Holmes. Finished reading _The Case of the Cryptic Crinoline_. Tonight I'm reading _The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets_.

Good morning, Cubao!

Always jumpstart your day with a pleasurable thought.

Good night, Cubao!

The gnomes are lighting lanterns at the windows of the dragon tree.

One Message For One Of 3,000 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year

You with five syllables in your name: Start saving money for the end-of-the-year holidays,

Bertod and Rayven cleaned the roof gutters this afternoon.

Tea with M.

Staggered dinnertimes.

Night chores.

Setting up a sleeping area for Rayven in the foyer, so we can take turns tending the candles and joss sticks on the side porch, really a dress rehearsal for tomorrow and the rest of Hungry Ghosts Month.

My favorite time of the day has come again: an evening shower, and then snuggling in bed with Enola Holmes.

A cozy night as long as it doesn't rain again. Will probably buy hot dogs and Vitamilk at the burger stand at midnight.

Facebook video ads are so loud and unpleasant that they wake up everyone else in the house, that is why I have learned to watch Facebook videos with the sound off.

Another way, of course, is to stop the Facebook video and then search for the identical video on YouTube.

A very late lunch alone; grandchildren at the condo unit since early yesterday morning.

Now boiling a pot of Peter and Christine's rose buds a.k.a. rose hips tea, with a little dread. When we were in Singapore Allan Holst loved it very much and insisted that I try some, and I actually didn't enjoy it. I don't like food and drinks that smell and taste like flowers taken at a funeral wake, which is why I always detested sampaguita ice cream.

August 15, 2023

Eve of Hungry Ghosts Month

Photo shared from Ghost in Different Parts of Asia

Your Messenger message:

"Hello, Tony. I hope you're doing well. I was hoping you can interpret a dream fragment for me - I saw a snake, perhaps a python, devour a dog. The snake then fell off the tree and appeared to turn into the dog it just consumed. I witnessed the whole thing with my younger brother. In another note, I'm following your lead and bought hard candy that I will put in a jar and leave outside with drinking water. Do I have to replace the water nightly? And can the candy be consumed at the end of the observance? Thank you for your time."

My reply:

Hello _____!

Weird as my interpretation may seem to you, my spirit guides whispered in my ear that this was a homophobic dream. It is about the fear of indulging in homoerotic activities--perhaps jumpstarted by a co-worker or friend.

Sometimes such temptations are caused by loneliness, especially if you have been living alone in a foreign country.

The drinking water should also be in a sealed bottle or a glass covered with a saucer, so that you won't have to replace it often. 

Yes, I give away the candy to street children.

Good morning, Cubao!

Good lamps are good investments.

Night classes

4:30 AM

Let us look at how China, Singapore, and Thailand are preparing for the Month of Hungry Ghosts.

Good night, Cubao!

When my Friends start telling me what to think, say, and do, I drop them immediately.

One Message For One Of 3,000 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year

You with five syllables in your name: Do not follow others' advice to seek spirituality if it means that you have to spend money on them or donate money or things in kind to their churches.

Staggered dinnertimes.

Night chores.

My favorite time of the day has come again: an evening shower, and then snuggling in bed with Enola Holmes.

The seventh Bilbo Baggins afternoon has been scheduled this week, albeit occurring within Hungry Ghosts Month. A Group Message has already been sent to invited participants. Kindly reply as to whether you are able to come or not. 

1) The moneyless auction begins 2:00 PM sharp. 

2) Items will be disposed of in rotation, according to the sequence of arrivals.

3) It will help if you have a vehicle, because some of the items are huge; this time around I am giving away chandeliers converted to candleholders and other ceiling-hangers. Among other things, of course

4) Do not bring a companion. It is unfair to everyone else because you will be taking TWO items for every ONE item that each one of the others takes.

Your Messenger message:

"Hi sir, I will be joining another company on Sept 4. I didn't realize ghost month pa rin yata non? If so, is there anything you can share with me so that my joining them can have most positive luck/ conditions pa rin? Tnx po!"

My reply:

Hello _______!

Just continue to live each day with good logic, common sense, and the usual precautions.

Honor special occasions and monuments in time, but do not let them dictate your values and your life.

The same applies to Christmas, Easter, and Halloween.

Tomorrow is the eve of the first day of Hungry Ghosts Month.

Good morning, Cubao!

A perfect day will feel like a leisurely stroll through time.

Bought a lot of rock candy and placed them in a sealed bottle in preparation for Hungry Ghosts Month. Will begin setting up on the eve of the first day.

Good night, Cubao!

It is time to start lighting calming, agar wood incense at the corners of rooms once again.

One Message For One Of 3,000 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year

You with five syllables in your name: Determine what you need to improve your business space without unnecessarily spending money on it.

Staggered dinnertimes.

Night chores.

My favorite time of the day has come again: an evening shower, and then snuggling in bed with Enola Holmes--but after watching the latest installment of "Friday Fights" on One Championship Philippines.

Good night, Cubao!

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's goods.

One Message For One Of 3,000 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year

You with five syllables in your name: Keep yourself warm and dry at all times. Do not go out to flooded areas. 

Staggered dinnertimes.

Night chores.

My favorite time of the day has come again: an evening shower, and then snuggling in bed with Enola Holmes.

August 12, 2023

Sixth Bilbo Baggins afternoon

Goodies from Hedwig and Rachelle