Dinner at home with Angelique and Aubrey.

Two-hour, late afternoon nap.

Angelique baked bread sticks for her lunch.

Worked an hour on construction lines.

Worked half an hour on construction lines for _Saint Sebastian_.

This painting begins today, April 15, 2022.

Sorry, no visitors allowed,

A very early lunch at home alone; Angelique still resting upstairs and Aubrey asleep after her night shift.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sky is a lychee popsicle.

Good night, Cubao!

The night gnomes make lists of everything you need.

One Message For One Of 255 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year

You with nine syllables in your name: Satisfied pets never grumble.

Nino fried calamares for us. Dinner at home with Angelique; Aubrey preparing for her night shift.

Asked David 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 snuggling in bed with a Netflix movie.

 Allan dropped by on his road bike to pick up the books he won at the Spirit Questors Private Group online raffle. Gave him a carved, wooden box embellished with gold leaf for good measure.

I had chicken sisig and rice served for him at M.'s cafe.

Rose gives birth to a baby girl--our first cafe baby!

Marvin, Rose, and Rose's relatives are currently in Cavite and will stay there through Easter Sunday.

Angelique and Aubrey came down to lunch in the dining room.

Still waiting for the day when ALL devices will be automatically and fully protected without McAfee and other software, and I wonder whether it will happen in this lifetime.

A very early lunch at home alone.

Slept nine hours last night.

Good morning, Cubao!

A cloudy summer day is the best time for an outdoor barbecue.

Good night, Cubao!

The gnome shop sells pocket-size potion vessels.

One Message For One Of 255 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year

You with two syllables in your name: Observe the crowds, but do not mingle with them.

Dinner at home with Angelique; Aubrey preparing for her night shift.

Asked David 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 snuggling in bed with a Netflix movie.

The best form of visita iglesia is to visit churches of different religions and different denominations, for only then would one see that God is everywhere, in particular in the seven churches mentioned in the Book of Revelation.

 Lunch at home with Angelique.

Three deliveries arrived.

Staggered lunchtimes.

Good morning, Cubao!

Summer boats float across the river of sky.

Good night, Cubao!

The travelers sleep in the inn with bolsters between them.

One Message For One Of 255 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year

You with seven syllables in your name: Do not think too highly of yourself, and only then will others think highly of you.

Angelique came down to dinner in the dining room.

Asked David 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 snuggling in bed with a Netflix movie.

Staggered dinnertimes; Angelique has online classes through 9:30 PM and Aubrey preparing for her night shift.

Wrapped two more paintings.

April 12, 2022

Look, Dick, look!

Another piece of cradled canvas arrived, and I can start painting again.

I already have eight paintings finished for my next exhibit, and so I'm going back for a while to the paintings for Maryhill School of Theology. This surface will bear the image of Saint Sebastian.

Will commence construction lines tomorrow, though. Today was a frazzling day of deliveries.

Angelique and Aubrey came down to lunch in the dining room.

Two deliveries arrived.

Washed 26 brushes and one palette knife.

Wrapped two paintings.

Strange Tuesday.

Sat inside the small loggia with a cup of very black coffee and cigarettes. The water delivery boys from a station I don't patronize buzzed by to service some of the compound tenants. One of the boys walked up to me to tell me how fragrant the palo santo joss sticks were. He said he would come back to me and give me white sage. Apparently he travels a lot to Baguio and Tagaytay, where a shaman gives him a regular supply of white sage. Strange, because I don't know him from Adam.

Yakult delivery.

A delivery arrived for Angelique.

An early lunch at home alone; Angelique still resting upstairs and Aubrey asleep after her night shift.

Claimed the granddaughters' bed linen from the compound laundry.

Much has been said about how the pandemic affected the poor. I have observed, however, that the greatest blows were to the middle class, many of whom have slid down to unemployment and abject poverty--yet are too proud to admit it.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sky is a blue pudding ready for serving.

Good night, Cubao!

The gnomes set the table with a variety of midnight snacks.

One Message For One Of 255 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year

You with eight syllables in your name: Be aware of who is on leave and who is on duty.

Two-hour, deep tissue massage. Ended at midnight.

Brian fried calamares for us.

Dinner at home with Angelique and Aubrey.

In the Philippine summer, Filipinos are threatened with having their water and their electricity taken away. It happens every year, and it prevents everyone from enjoying life for three months, or a quarter of the year.

Everything is blamed on Nature or on the people's usage of water and electricity. Yet, if we need more water and more electricity than usual as part of the order of the day, why can't it be provided us?

Bought a glass of jalu-jalo at the hawker's stand for Aubrey. The woman at the stand gave me a free glass of fresh coconut juice.

Bong sends me a Storm BL figurine all the way from the US of A.

Delivery of Daley Street coffee arrived. Like our Grinder's, this was made in Melbourne, Australia.

One-hour, afternoon nap.

Staggered lunchtimes.

Your Messenger message:

"sir tony i hope you're doing well. gusto ko po sanang humingi ng advice sainyo, kasi po my lover who works for the _____________ got moved to another base in a country without any family or friends. he has always been depressed and have daily anxiety but when he got to __ his mental health has gotten worst. I tried to seek Cosmic healing from warka adala but nothing has changed, now he is way worst to the point he has shut everyone out including me. his reason is he does not love himself and want his own personal space, i think his depression and anxiety has gotten worst. I do want to help him, but I don't know kung papaano pa po. ano po kaya sa palagay ninyo ang dapat kong gawin? he has tried to take his own life many times before ayoko po sanang maulit po ulit yun kaya gusto ko po siyang tulungan. maraming salamat po, pasensya na po for reaching out to you, dala lang po ng desperation to seek for help and advice. salamat po! I will attach a photo of him"

My reply:

Hello ________!

If he wants his own personal space, give it to him. The ___ _____ has competent counselors who are trained to handle cases like his. Trust him, and trust your boyfriend.

Also know that, when a person is compelled to live in a foreign country, he undergoes personality and value changes. Based on the photos you sent me, I saw that he is subconsciously questioning his gender and his preferences.

Give him some time to come into his own. If he is truly yours, he will come back to you.

Being regularly connected to Nature heals your body.

Good morning, Cubao!

Dragons of the four elements rule.

She bought a condo unit in Cubao. Then, in every party she threw for her colleagues, she vociferously complained that she was in a middle-class setting. Why didn't she buy a unit in an upper-class setting in the first place?

Now, after almost three years of the pandemic, she can barely pay her dues. 

Good night, Cubao!

The house fairies locate small incense burners in every room.

One Message For One Of 254 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year

You with five syllables in your name: Every family meal should always be something to look forward to.

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

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

Nigh chores.

My favorite time of the day has come again: an evening shower, and then snuggling bed with a Netflix movie.

David watered the plants in the roof deck, side balcony, front balcony, and ground floor gardens. 

Swung by the neighborhood grocery with Aubrey, then Aubrey proceeded to a mall to buy a pair of shoes.

Lunch at home with Aubrey; Angelique and Jazz ordered take-out food and are having their lunch upstairs.

Men like riding roller coasters and other daredevil rides because, when they are doing so, they feel that they are being deliciously f***ed.

The old scavenger's nights on the platform between our two side porches are frequently fitful and disturbed. I often hear him sighing, moaning, and mumbling sadly to himself.

I have noticed, over my 71 years in this lifetime, that old men are haunted by the shortcomings, failures, transgressions, broken dreams, and losses of their youth. I believe this is the result of their religiosity.

They have yet to learn from me to be free of mind and spirit, to live life to the fullest, to have fun, to regret nothing, to feel guilty about nothing, to be ashamed of nothing, and to fear nothing, for nothing is permanent, and that includes heaven, hell, and every conceivable authority on earth. 

Unfortunately for the lower bracket labor force, I don't think Alert Level 1 solved the problem of unemployment, because, what's happening is, employers are becoming more discriminating about whom to hire, and they're hiring only those who are qualified and even overqualified. Everyone else remains unemployed.

Twiddling my thumbs. The canvas for my next painting hasn't arrived yet, and so I have no choice but to take a forced break.

Good morning, Cubao!

Multicolored helium balloons rise up and float across the sky.

Good night, Cubao!

The gnomes are setting up a night health clinic behind their bedrooms.

One Message For One Of 253 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year

You with two syllables in your name: Work for the money, but remember to have clean fun.

Dinner at home with Aubrey.

Angelique and Jazz are off to a friend's birthday party.

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 snuggling in bed with a Netflix movie.

Worked half an hour on third glaze.

This, eighth, panting for my next exhibit is finished (April 7 - 9, 2022).

Worked half an hour on second glaze.

Every painter is a composer of visual music. His paintings are his songs, and it behooves every viewer to know how to listen to them.

Worked half an hour on first glaze.

Staggered lunchtimes.

Good morning, Cubao!

The gnomes revisit their underground caves of treasures.

Good night, Cubao!

The gnomes light cone incense in ceramic vessels on low tables at the feet of beds.

One Message For One Of 253 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year

You with two syllables in your name: Do not enmesh yourself in social activities. Otherwise you will be bogged down by social frustrations.

Asked David 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 snuggling in bed with a Netflix movie.

Staggered dinnertimes; Angelique and Jazz are having dinner out and Aubrey preparing for her night shift.

Worked half an hour on second layer.

Lunch at home with Angelique; Aubrey asleep after her night shift.

A real friend is someone who defends you rather than depends on you.

Good morning, Cubao!

Like shafts from the sky, sunbeams slant down the open windows of house temples.

Good night, Cubao!

The noble warriors and their wards check in at the enchanted inn.

One Message To One Of 253 Friends, One Every Nigh Of The Year

You with seven syllables in your name: Honor the moon, and the moon will honor you.

Asked David 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 snuggling in bed with a Netflix movie.

Dinner at home with Angelique and Aubrey.

On the other side of the island, the broadcaster is in danger of suffering a mild stroke due to too much stress. 

She will become a ghost trying hard to make herself heard from afar.

Nature is flexible, and gives way to changes. It is humans who are not, and who do not.

Worked half an hour on layering.

Angelique and Aubrey came down to lunch in the dining room.

Worked half an hour on construction lines for the eighth painting for my next exhibit.

This painting begins today, April 7, 2022.

An early lunch at home alone; Angelique resting upstairs and Aubrey asleep after her night shift.

If you are an artist, make sure that you don't grow old in poverty. If you do, everyone will see you as a pathetic has-been who grabs at every freebie in sight.

A delivery arrived.

Good morning, Cubao!

The sun takes snapshots of a beautiful day.

Your Messenger message:

"dear sir Tony. madalas po kapag ako'y nanaginip, nakakaranas po ako ng sakit. kunwari po tutuklawin ako ng ahas, mararamdaman ko po ito. pag nalulunod po, nalalasahan ko ang alat ng tubig. may lucid dreams rin po ako. ano po kaya ang sabihin ng mga ito? maraming salamat po"

My reply:

Hello _______!

There is nothing to worry about. Opening the five senses during visualization--and during lucid dreaming--is called shamanic consciousness. It is also a clear indication that, even on the astral level, the spirit is capable of utilizing the five senses they had when they were still in corporal existence--perhaps largely due to sensory and memory recall.

Good night, Cubao!

Fairy caregivers light cone incense by bedsides. 

One Message To One Of 253 Friends, One Every Night Of The Year

You with two syllables in your name: Plan a long rest during Easter week.

Angelique came down to dinner in the dining room.

Asked David 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 snuggling in bed with a Netflix movie.

Staggered dinnertimes; Angelique has online classes through 9:30 PM and Aubrey preparing for her night shift.

Two deliveries arrived for Angelique.

Brian, Lennoel, and Jay arrived from a festivity in Nueva Ecija.

Brian is now frying a pack of spring rolls for us.

Your Messenger message:

"Sir Tony, sorry po sa abala. Madalas po may cramps attack ako sa breast, ilalim ng braso, kili kili and likod. Traumatic po ang pain, sobrang sakit. Okey po lahat ng blood test. Nagtherapy na rin po ako. Hindi makita saan galing. Inisip ko na po magpa confine para sa thorough check up. Hindi ko na po alam ang gagawin ko. Sobrang sakit po pag sumusumpong. Pain reliever lang po binibigay sa akin. Thank you po."

My reply:

Hello __________!

A. Physically, you are ailing from reversed frozen shoulder.

Do the following exercises twice a day:

1) Door Jamb: Stand under the jamb of an open door. Plant your fingers on both sides of the jamb. Tilt your body forward, your fingers on the jamb preventing you from falling.

2) Climbing Ant: Stand with your side as close to a wall as possible. With your arm and hand down your side, touch the wall with your forefinger and middle finger. Make your fingers "walk" upward for as high as you can without moving your body away from the wall.

3) Bath Towel. Hold a bath towel behind your body, your hands on both ends on the towel. Make sawing movements with your hands, first diagonally to the right and then diagonally to the left.

In addition:

--Make sure you are well-hydrated, especially at night, even if you have to go to the bathroom several times.

--Try to sleep in a fetal position.

--Whenever you have an attack, stand up immediately, bend backward, raise and rotate your arms, do side stretches, and/or stoop and reach down to your toes. You will be able to identify which movement is most effective in alleviating the pain.

--Hold on pain killers as much as possible. Taking them frequently will cause a transient ischemic attack.

B. Psychologically:

1) You are biting off more than you can chew. Sometimes all you need to do is live the life of a normal wife, without being concerned about the legacy you can leave behind.

2) Do not get involved with the problems of relatives. They are there for them, not you, to solve.

3) Compartmentalize. Leave some tasks to your husband and don't even worry about them.

Unfortunately you won't know what real heaven is until you retire and let go. I've been there and done that, and let me tell you that it is the most blissful and satisfying experience ever. 

W

My rite to Christine Bereply:

Ready to commence Painting #8 for my next exhibit.

Took an early lunch alone, then Angelique and Aubrey came down to lunch in the dining room. Aubrey now asleep after her night shift; Angelique preparing for an online exam.

Worked half an hour on glazing.

This, seventh, painting for my next exhibit is done (April 3 - 6, 2022).

The rains have gone. I'm no longer wearing my silk overcoat emblazoned with a golden dragon--and pretending to be a character from a wuxia. 

Staggered lunchtimes.