I figured out how to do freehand calligraphy. Not the best, but not so bad either, if I do say so myself.
This is the year of the nest egg. I am almost afraid of making that declaration, whenever I am passionate and certain about something it tends to be taken away from me. But since all things are a go, the rest is up to me.
Some life things, with (what I hope will be) pretty lettering and calligraphy breaks in between:
I got into grad school. I have been teaching for some years now, I might as well have something to show for it. While I am relieved at the track record I have so far, with several of my students having shown a significant boost in grades or getting into their schools of choice, it’s nothing until you have some kind of degree or test score to show for it.
I caught the Normal Heart by Actor’s Actors Inc. I can’t even make a proper review about it since it has the magic of becoming strangely personal even if you aren’t poz.
I identified with Ned Weeks, the angry advocate who doesn’t hold back. A friend who I collaborate with on HIV/AIDS education and advocacy pointed out that it was a cautionary tale — that getting riled up and fighting with everyone doesn’t get anything done. I didn’t see it that way, I saw a lot of scared and overly cautious people tiptoeing around what would become one of the biggest epidemics through the late eighties and into the nineties. As it plays now, into 2015, I imagine Ned Weeks going ‘I told you so’. But doesn’t that say more about me than anything else?
If you haven’t caught it, there is a rerun planned on October 2, 4, 9, 10, and 11 . You can also watch the movie, but it just wouldn’t be the same experience.
The Normal Heart also brought me to my third home away from home, which is the RCBC Theater in Makati. That requires a more thoughtful entry that I do not have energy for right now. I will save that for next time.