WE ARE halfway through the first month of 2021.
And it’s the week leading to the Dinagyang weekend in Iloilo City.
But this year, everything is virtual — without the necessary and complete virtues — and it only means that the celebration is all going to be online.
Well, good luck to that!
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From my Maryland front, I’m just lazier than usual, but I’m still alive, and praying.
I still haven’t gotten the COVID vaccine, and I’m not holding my breath for it anytime soon.
Because I don’t work as a nurse anymore, and I’m not into some essential worker category, I have fallen to the lowest rung of the ladder to be among the first recipients of the vaccine.
But I’m not so worried, because I’m mostly stay-at-home anyway.
Oh, but I’ll miss casual sex, and being with strangers!
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Writing-wise, I’m not doing much literary stuff.
I still manage to come up with my three times a week column, so I know I’m still doing better than most in flexing my words and stretching my language skills.
And how I keep people engaged and entertained on social media is testament to the writer in me that just doesn’t, wouldn’t give up.
Still, I think that I am getting ready for my next big literary project.
I can feel it in my bones.
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Where I am on the American East Coast, the sun rises at 7:30-ish these days; and the sunsets are at 5:00-ish in the evening.
This week, the average daily temperature is 43°F (6°C).
That’s mostly 43-45° (6-7°C) during the daytime, and about 32-34° (0-1°C) at night.
So you can imagine me spending most of my time in bed, and watching a lot of streamed movies from my TV screen.
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Please don’t judge me if I only shower three times a week during this winter season.
I promise I sponge bath my crotch day and night, and I change to clean underwear daily.
Please don’t judge me if I eat the same dish over and over again.
I live alone, and I cook 5.5 lbs. (2.5 kilos) of chicken and pork adobo at a time.
There’s just no point wasting ginger, onions, and condiments (not to mention electricity) by cooking in small batches.
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These days, I eat a lot of cup noodles.
Well, actually, I have three different kinds:
I have “the original” Nissin Cup Noodles, the Nongshim Bowl Noodle Soup, and the Shin Ramyun Noodle Soup.
I just love the hot broth when it rains or snows.
I know it’s probably not healthy, but I’m 52 years old, and I don’t want to live until 110.
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In the morning, I start my day with coffee and Nonni’s Biscotti Cioccolati.
I’m trying to finish my supply of Starbucks Holiday Blend (that limited Christmas edition with herbal and sweet maple notes).
When I have finished my Starbucks, I’ll return to my McCafé Premium roast Medium.
Since I don’t often shop for fresh stuff during this winter season, I get my fiber from Dole Tropical Gold Pineapple Tidbits in 4 oz. packs, and Sun-Maid California Sun-dried Raisins in 1 oz. packs.
I also get a few servings of Hersey’s Nuggets assortment of Special Dark, Milk Choco, Milk Chocolate with Almonds, and Extra-Creamy Milk Chocolate with Toffee and Almonds at all times of the day that I have a craving for something sweet and chocolatey.
Of course, it’s probably not healthy!
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In bed with my movies, I have either microwaved popcorn, or a bag (or two) of Lays, Ruffles, or Cheetos.
And when it gets dark, I serve myself some alcohol, mostly sherry, rhum, or Jagermeister.
On a special note, on my 52nd birthday, I gave myself to Absente, which is a refined absinthe, and not that cheap.
I declare that I am not an alcoholic, but I want to kill all the germs and disinfect my body. Bwahaha.
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Socially, people online keep me mostly alive.
I am happy that my engagement with Filipino teenagers is waning.
It’s still considerable, but it’s not as bad as it was in November and December.
What keeps me company most at this time is this little group chat on Messenger composed of my classmates from high school.
It is such a fun group composed of friends who are now in Milan, London, Vancouver, Toronto, New York, Quezon City, Iloilo, and, of course, me in Maryland.
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The group chat is just getting funnier every time.
Because of our better attitudes now, and I guess happier countenance (I’m the proponent of the “I-don’t-give-a-f*ck” philosophy), more and more people are joining us.
We could be recalling events from our high school days, from the last Philippine class reunion, and news from the grapevine; and yes, our current woes, and our eventual retirement plans.
Things are still pretty good with me.
But God, I still want a boyfriend!/PN
COMMENTARY
BY DENNIS FITZGERALD
Who was that unmasked man?
RECOGNITION sometimes happens easily.
Twitter blocked @realDonaldTrump for obvious reasons and soon realised the same misguided voice was speaking via @TeamTrump and blocked it too, although of course that was an easy one to spot.
The next search is for the names of those that invaded the Capital building. The use of computer facial recognition is becoming more common although in this case the community has been helping as few of the people were hiding but rather drawing as much attention to themselves as possible. The need for recognition has been a rallying call for them and their president.
Although, from media coverage, it seems they were mostly white males, their leader and inspiration was not really white but rather an orange-colored male who was easy to identify although many hope he will fade into obscurity quickly.
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The nightmare is ending soon
The latest news from the White House and the Trump administration is that a number of restrictions on Taiwan are being lifted which pleases Taiwan and annoys China.
Although the Trump administration has only a few days to go, the concern is that they will be going out in a burning disaster of pardons, offences and diplomatic disasters.
When Trump won the election, I thought it had to be “fake news” but it has continued as a nightmare – although most of the world is soon going to wake to a saner world and a happier one!
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Dumb is good
There has been so much sad and bad news lately that any change would be appreciated, even dumb news and not just the Giuliani four seasons landscaping press conference.
Fortunately, a local newspaper provides just such a story, suggesting that students who spend four or more hours every night online or playing games do not do as well in tests.
As a retired teacher I can confirm that subjectively but not objectively, and that is the problem with this investigation.
There are many items in the news that may appear sensible or accurate but without evidence or confirmable quotes they probably should not be published. This does not apply to celebrity magazines that seem very creative and avoid the truth, mainly because it is boring.
Given the difficult times we are going through, for almost a year already, we need reliable, accurate reporting although the occasional dumb story does help get through the day. (dfitzger@melbpc.org.au/PN)
