Day 18



Not much. We celebrated two birthdays in advance. One is for Justin and the other for the wife. The reason is that all members of the family are available during Sundays if there’s something to celebrate.



Day 19



Justin’s birthday but he is at Wesleyan University the whole day and the wife is already in the bank in Balanga city, Bataan.



Day 20



I have started constructing a wood-framed screen door for the “bodega.” Soon I’ll have the windows screened too. I’m planning to convert the bodega into a mushroom house—an obsession that is long overdue.



Day 21



I have finished the screen door, and my legs and back are aching. It would have been an easy job for a crazy carpenter. But I wouldn’t hire one and waste my money for such a simple task that only requires patience.



Day 22



Today is my wife’s birthday. But she’s working in Bataan. Anyway, we anticipated her birthday and Justin’s last January 15.



Day 23



Everything is ready for the oyster mushroom house. Let’s see if it’s going to mushroom. I’m a little bit excited. Now I’ve got something new. Now I’ve got work to do.



Day 24



Oyster mushroom fruiting bags are not yet available. Could be on January 25, as Justin told me.

Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, the Philippine boxing hero, is going to fight tomorrow and it will be viewed on TV. It will be a sweet revenge against Erik Morales, who defeated him in their first fight held March 19 last year in US. It would be an exciting respite from my monotonous mushroom obsession.

