Tiny boots as vase

© Joselito Briones

Another round of chemo drugs today.

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Thanks for the sinigang na baboy

© Joselito Briones

Filipino comfort food, made at home in Brooklyn.  Thanks!

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Freshly baked banana chocolate bread

© Joselito Briones

© Joselito Briones

Thanks husband, they’re delicious!

Banana-chocolate bread and chocolate chip cookies from Maggie George‘s recipe.

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Wall decoration

© Joselito Briones
Wall objects.  The oil painting was by Charles’ grandfather. Ceramics mostly from Astier dela Villatte. 

Charles eventually relented and agreed to not keep the hanging lantern where it was in this picture.  I sit on that side of the couch because of the wheelchair and I always felt like the lantern was gonna fall on my head.

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2 years ago

© Joselito Briones

2 years ago, when I could still walk, project construction site close to jfk.  I was so looking forward to doing the whole thing. I loved how peaceful it was there.

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tiny hand blown glass vase

© Joselito Briones

Tiny blown glass vase in the shape of a head from la soufflérie. 

Out apartment constantly has flowers since lockdown.

 

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Iittle luxuries

© Joselito Briones

These enormous bath towels from Paris, pure washed linen, pure luxury.

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Den Den

© Louie  Briones

We have a tradition in the Philippines that’s a cross between a  debutante’s ball and a religious procession.

This is Den Den, a grandchild one of my brothers.  

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A day at the hospital

© Joselito Briones

Long hair courtesy of COVID-19 lockdown..

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Help me, Doggie, I think I’m falling

© Joselito Briones 
Over the last 15 months, I’ve been in and out of hospitals, I’ve seen and/or been treated by numerous doctors, neurologists, oncologists, onconeurologists, neurosurgeons, radiologists, had undergone craneotomy twice, and just about anything else they can throw at me.
I’m tired.

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I’m waiting for you

Love this show. Seen all of it several times.

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Ano sabi mo?

© Joselito Briones

What did you say dear?  My eldest sister, Norie, would ask earnestly whenever I started belting/shouting a song. It took me a while before I caught on that she was making fun of me, inferring that she couldn’t tell if I was singing or just talking to myself really, really loud.  I must have been 10 or 11.

There was a flurry of activity that day.  I was hanging around Norie’s room because she was moving.  Nobody said where to. I assumed to Manila, where else?  Another sister was taking over her room. I don’t know if it was my age, I always assumed everything’s fine. 

After a while, I remember receiving a card from Norie.  The card said,  “Missing you!”.  It had two penguins hugging. It had a very specific smell that I have since associated with things sent from the U.S..

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Afternoon sun

© Joselito Briones

This is what the afternoon sun looks like in our tiny living room.  There’s a young tamarind tree, passion fruit vines and other greens all planted and taken care of by Charles.

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