Everything boils down to this, that she expected her supervisor to cover up for her crime--and he did not.

No one will vote again for an official who got caught stealing early on and then unravels in a nervous breakdown on camera.

It was as though the Blair Witch showed up in _The Blair Witch Project, grabbed the videocam, and recorded herself.

Worked an hour on second November glaze.

Painting with a vengeance.

They are terrified by the idea that the staff member will turn state witness.

There will be an increase of con artists not only online but also in marketplaces.

Like the person at the Gate of Shinto, we are always on the threshold of change.

Working on getting rid of flab and excess fluid with 20 sit-ups a day.

Worked an hour on a glaze.

This painting resumes today, November 22, 2024.

One step at a time.

Marvin and Neil relocated my current work in progress (The Glorious Mysteries: Descent of the Holy Spirit), brushes, paint tubes, and cups to the foyer from the studio (the old kitchen), where I have easier access to it because it is closer to my bedroom.

I recall one other painting for Maryhill School of Theology that took me very long to finish, Feast of Tabernacles (December 29 – 30, 2019 and February 25 – March 24, 2020).

Descent was commenced early this year, but work came to a temporary halt June `18 when I had to undergo surgery for gout infection,. Today, after six months of slow recuperation, I am picking up my brushes again.

Getting better every day, like gently waking up from a long, long dream.

Will be going back to painting soon.

Plant poinsettia if you want accidents to happen in front of your house.

Violent storms are the precursors of our ancestors' belief in the archetypal battle of the angels.

 Happy Birthday to my eldest sister Lourdes!

She and my brother-in-law Manny are scheduled to visit from Sydney, once again. in January.

There's a Chat Room named "ACT Tolda 1985" that brings together the production staff, cast, and crew of my children's play Tolda for Ateneo Children's Theatre, where I was resident playwright for eleven years. Everyone in that Room is a grown-up now, of course., How I wish that Yani Singson and Pido Aguilar were still alive to enjoy being in that room!

Retirement is irreversible.

I'm scheduling Ian and Lou for lunch and the 31st Bilbo Baggins afternoon. Ian's student will drive for him all the way from Los Banos, Laguna. He is currently teaching an NSTP course and is taking away all of the stuffed toys for his class to distribute to poor children.

I no longer invite:

--People who never show up

--People who take items out of turn

--People who hog items

--People who suddenly manifest a greedy, materialistic attitude and behavior

--People who are picky

--People who "pass" on items, not realizing that the point is for me to get rid of everything.

I have learned to be careful when using the words "tupiin" and "tiklupin" with Neil.

"Tupiin", to him, is to fold something neatly, as in a piece of clothing.

"Tiklupin", to him, is to fold something to reduce it in size in preparation for disposal, as in a sheet of cardboard.

Neil invited Jay, Bertod, and their friend Nico over for a quiet drinking session last night. I think, they do that when they're nervous. All of them are from Bicol, and I know that they're worried about the passage of Typhoon Pepito.

Friday. November 15, 2024

Hedwig and Allan drop by for a prescheduled afternoon visit

A snack from M.'s cafe and 30th Bilbo Baggins afternoon

Photo by Neil de Leon

Allan performs tuob on me and on Neil. Many images of the Orishas showed up on his cell phone, all of them perfectly matching their statues .

Photos by Hedwig de Leon

Terribly missing the 1950s Milady butterball candy Today there are three butterball candy brands in the market, but I still haven't found anything like Milady.

Angelique is on work-related travel again.

A publisher is interested in my trilogy _Oktubere, Noong Tayo'y  Nagmamahalan Pa; _Nobyambre, Noong Akala Ko'y Mahsl Kita_. and _Saan Ba Tayo Ihahatid Ng Disyembre?_

However, I need a volunteer to come to the house and encode them in the format of UST Publishing's _Tatlong Paglalakbay_ (_Bombita; Sa North Diversion Road_, and Biyaheng Timog_).

Any volunteers?

All you need to do is bring your own laptop. I will proofread each play after encoding. If you're good, you can actually do one or two plays a day.

Will pay you per play. Free lunch and snacks. Alternatively, gifts, perhaps including jewelry as well,

In the metropolis, the bridge goes down.

Chomping my way through a bunch of sweet, seedless grapes is like chomping my way through a bright and beautiful morning.

Friday, November 8, 2024

Lunch with some members of the original, first batch of Spirit Questors, and 29th Bilbo Baggins afternoon.

Wearing a black shawl embellished with black sequins and black bugle beads from Spain, via Rustan's Gift Pavilion.

 

Angelique's tennis racket arrived this morning.

Happy Birthday, Aubrey Veron Dayangdang Bagona!

Your birthday messages:

1) Do not take unnecessary risks
2) If you are currently in love with someone you are still not committed to, you will soon realize that your attraction was a big mistake.
3) Observe more, act less.
4) Fill your life with sunshine.

5) This is not a year to trust your fellow women.

Monday, November 4, 2024

Bank day and lunch out after an activity-filled Halloween weekend

Long, neck scarf is from Ifugao

Photo by Neil de Leon

Bank day with my usual escorts, Marvin (my hospital liaison) and Neil (my full-time caregiver and house manager). Withdrew money, had dollars changed to pesos, paid our electric bills, and had lunch out.

My sisters, my granddaughters, and I are now getting ready to pay for our overnight stay and countdown dinner December 31 at Novotel Araneta Center.

She will come home liberated but uncrowned.

A pack of candied bayberries arrives.

I ordered some because, in all of the wuxia I ever watched, almost all of the market scenes had vendors selling bayberries skewered on sticks.

Christine arranges the books I gave her on a shelf.

Saturday, November 2, 2024

All Souls Night

Lighting our ritual mantra/wishing joss sticks that Mike provided, at the feet of our ancestors

Saturday, November 2, 2024

All Souls Night

Family gathering, mahjong session, lighting of candles and wishing joss sticks, and dinner

Wearing my second kerchief with a design of skulls, also a gift from my youngest sister, Sylvia, in Sydney

Tonight I introduced the family to two things they never had before: pickled grape leaves from Syria to go with our meat dishes and, for dessert, Coffee Crumble ice cream drizzled with Kahlua coffee liqueur from Mexico.

Angelique was in Bataan and could not join us.

Thus did we conclude our long, Halloween weekend, and I slept like a baby afterward.

Photo by Neil de Leon

Happy Birthday to Channarong, "Experienced Warrior", our second eldest kuman thong (2016)!

Saturday, November 2, 2024

All Souls Day and 57th dialysis session of the Vampire Marius dressed as Gandalf the Grey

Left, hi-tech healing. My dialysis machine for the day. On the right of the machine is a cylindrical object that is my personal dialyser with my name written on it. I can use one only a maximum of five times, after which it has to be replaced by a new one.

Right, aboriginal  healing. With my dreamwalker from Brisbane laden with healing crystals. The stick is made from the dried stalk and root of a yucca plant.

The Gandalf hat was a gift from my spiritual son Ferd some years back. It has a secret pocket that I can place money and other stuff in.

 

Photo by Marvin Cablayan

Today, All Souls Day 2024, is a good day to leave _The 36 Wands_ in preparation for my full withdrawal from Facebook when and if I reach the age of 75. I will be leaving my other Private Groups on a staggered basis:

--The Oracle of Cubao

--Tony Perez's Gamma Werewolf Pack

--The Spirit Questors

This Private Group will not be deleted, and you may review its contents for future reference. You are of course free to leave the group--however, should you eventually wish to return to it, no one will be there to reinstall you,

Study, practice, and MASTER The Ritual of the Wand A.T.A.R.D.A.R., which you may perform alone or in a group. Do not stop until you are able to do the ritual smoothly without a cue sheet.

Know this always, that the Orishas are real, and that the Wands are real.

Oil your Wands at least once a year.

Do not take your Wands out if the country.

My two, final pieces of advice for everyone are these:

--Take on a job that offers you a hefty retirement pension, not one that gives you the freedom to practice your art and reap recognitions without concomitant compensation. You will only find that those etched, brass plates and fabric ribbons won't feed you and your family when you are hungry or pay your bills, especially your medical bills.

--There is no greater award or reward on this planet than having a happy and loving family under your roof.

It was a pleasure knowing all of you since 1997.

Tony Perez

Today, All Souls Day 2024, is a good day to leave _Tony Perez's Gamma Werewolf Pack_ in preparation for my full withdrawal from Facebook when and if I reach the age of 75. I will be leaving my other Private Groups on a staggered basis:

--The Oracle of Cubao

--The 36 Wands

--The Spirit Questors

This Private Group will not be deleted, and you may review its contents for future reference. You are of course free to leave the group--however, should you eventually wish to return to it, no one will be there to reinstall you,

My two, final pieces of advice for everyone are these:

--Take on a job that offers you a hefty retirement pension, not one that gives you the freedom to practice your art and reap recognitions without concomitant compensation. You will only find that those etched, brass plates and fabric ribbons won't feed you and your family when you are hungry or pay your bills, especially your medical bills.

--There is no greater award or reward on this planet than having a happy and loving family under your roof.

It was a pleasure knowing all of you since 1997.

Tony Perez

My antique dealer from Marawi City is alive and well! He reconnected with me this afternoon after six long years and sent me photos of the most exotic items!

How I still love Maranao art!

Friday, November 1, 2024, All Saints Day

Our family altar and columbary

Ready for our family gathering and dinner tomorrow, All Souls Day.