Merch! Merch! Merch!

Merch, merch everywhere!
Merch, merch all over!
Up and down, left and right,
In every space there is
For your wallet’s might.

Indeed it takes Herculean strength!
To fight the urge, impulse, push,
To refuse accumulation of weight,
Especially one against
Your luggage and muscles!

Instead, leave with the experience,
With unforgettable memories.
Never mind the wind, cold or heat,
But treasure time with family, friends,
Before this borrowed time retreats.
MLJ31072026UniversalStudiosJapan

Filipino Ingenuity

 What can you do with old tires?

On new pillowcases...

Needed editing, but I got them anyway and made myself smile every day. It is what it is...

What are the alternatives?

 

Tech Giants in Control

 When young people just want to be media influencers, etc., for quick money and fame, and there are no more health care professionals (or any other professional), then...

Anyone looking at the warning signs?

23,746 Patients Died on Waitlists in Past Year

Prayer in the Supermarket

Lead me, Lord.
Lead me to food items on sale.
Lead me, Lord.
Lead me to what I can afford.
Amen.

Homebound: Day 31

 Looks like my health care gadgets are piling up. Guess I'd have to start saving for a motorized wheelchair. Whatever happened to aging like fine wine? Oh, well... I'll just keep on painting butterflies. Here's my Mexican bluewing on Indian snakeroot, one of my favorite butterflies. Enjoy winged creatures everyone!

The Sun Shines

The sun shines
The grass green
The birds back.

Tires changed
Car washed
Tank filled
But going nowhere
Not burning fuel
‘Til this war’s over.
MLJ30042026

On Plastic and AI

Overreliance on plastic
Overreliance on AI
Microplastics. cognitive deskilling
What aren’t we learning yet?
Why are we so short-sighted?
When will the policies catch up?
Oops! Who’s been bought by the giants?
MLJ26042026

The Marionettist

The Marionettes watch for
A pout, a frown, a scowl, a sneer,
A grimace, a grin, a smirk, a simper…
The Marionettes listen for
The breathing, the throat clearing,
The expletives, the sneezing, the coughing…
Of the self-proclaimed Marionettist,
Then move accordingly.
MLJ18042026Who’sNotAPuppet

Homebound: Day 16

 

For our Office Assistant

Life is like

Life is like an airport
With arrivals and departures
‘Cept there’s no turning there
Once you’re truly up in the air.

Some make it through. Some don’t.
They never get past
Customs or immigration.
Some lose their luggage
And live to the fullest.

Some have all the time
Watching more arrivals
More early departures.
But when you’re, oh, so delayed,
You’d want to depart yourself
See what’s behind that gate.
MLJ03042026

Homebound? Paint a birdhouse

 

When you can't use arcylic, then it's tempera instead...

In tempera and acrylic on Day 3.

Like a shot of vodka: I woke up at 8:33 AM. Zzz...

 

RETIREMENT 102

Walk to the grocery store.
Anything on sale?
Not a thing?
Turn around and want nothing.
MLJ/28/08/2024

Dry January: Anyone?

 

Thank you, Dado Banatao.

 

To Live Simply: Stay Home on Boxing Day

 

Mancala

 My grade 2s this year are enjoying this game a lot. I got the board from my landlord who was ready to dispose of it, and I use decorative rocks instead of puka shells. Guess what? I got a mancala set from today's exchange gift. Tomorrow will be unboxing day. The kids will surely be happy to have a second set in class. Enjoy every bit of surprise this Christmas and always!

How to play Sungka (Philippine Mancala game)

Anyone still wondering why AI is unregulated?