I COULD have bought the books at BookSale, that haven of previously owned books.
Although I really shouldn’t be buying any more books.
Instead, I bought them from an exhibitor at the Iloilo Book Fair.
I was feeling rich on the final day of the book fair.
I made some money on my own books in the four days of the fair.
So I spent P525 on previously-owned books, and P835 on new books.
***
Of the seven books I bought on April 30, I’ve finished reading three.
I brought one book with me to visit a friend’s resort in Guimaras.
I read it through the commute from Dumangas to the city, and to the Parola wharf.
I read it during the long queue for the tickets, and in the short ferry ride to Jordan.
I read it while waiting for dinner and the performance of the live band.
***
I’ve been to Casitas de Palma in April; Holy Tuesday, I think.
My high school friends took a tour of Guimaras.
It was on their list of places to see, so we had lunch there.
The owner is my comadre, Marilou Palma, who made good in the US.
The Casitas is her retirement project, I think. I hope!
***
The Casitas is a wide property in Jordan, something like three hectares.
Together with another friend, Rene Sausa, who I didn’t know was Marilou’s former colleague in Balasan, they have landscaped about one fourth of the total area with A-shaped cottages.
There are two hobbit houses.
There’s a swimming pool that I hope starts operating by the time you read this.
There are tents and glamping areas.
***
I really admire Marilou’s balls to do this.
This is too much money, too soon for me.
I’m not that kind of investor.
But if she can afford to do it, why not?
My motto: there are ROIs in life that are more than just money.
***
Marilou acquired the property in October, and it is bustling with activity now.
I couldn’t have done it.
I’m a little methodical with my investments.
And even then, I can make many expensive mistakes.
***
My latest trip to the Casitas was due to a cryptic invitation from Marilou.
I thought they had a big band for the night (I was thinking Woodstock), but it turned out to be an intimate three-musician group.
My comadre’s birthday was on the day before.
But I think that the live band was also a part of their Mangahan 2023 programming.
Anyway, I went and had so much fun.
***
Because they dedicated “Dancing Queen” to me, I did a dance show.
My moves look so good on video, but it’s even better live. Haha.
In the morning, I spent most of the day reading leisurely in the air conditioned room.
I never read that long without coffee before.
Well, the snoring young man beside me is sure a big factor.
I like the sound of his snoring, and the warmth of his arms around me.
***
Having finished a book during my overnight in Guimaras
I was decided to finish another, but the Belgian Malinois at home ate the copy of the novel I have started reading.
I don’t really like animals; even if they like me a lot.
I like walking the dogs.
I like to meet other pet owners as I walk the dogs.
But that’s it.
***
I don’t like cats.
Although cats are probably the perfect animals for me…
… I mean, next to a camel!
I once had a dog.
And by that I mean that my spouse (now dead) and I rescued a Cocker Spaniel.
That dog was crazy.
He liked to lick me.
***
At home, I like being naked.
My late spouse also liked that I am walking around the house in the buff.
He adored my sexy body.
I’d lay on the bed or on the couch, and read.
And Bailey, the cocker spaniel, would join me, and lick me.
I think that he was trained to lick his previous owner’s privates.
I imagined his previous owner dabbing peanut butter on his crotch, and Bailey would lick it clean.
I did not like that at all!
***
(To be continued as “Dogs, books, sleeping arrangements”)/PN
