Nikkei thought I must have paid someone to do it. Still, I’m tickled pink. My wife suggested I made it to the list of "revered authors," understandably because our 30th anniversary is coming up. Wink, wink.

Yep, dear readers, my book "Blah, Blah, Black Sip" just got another review.

I didn’t publish a book to earn accolades or face the ires of coffee connoisseurs who might debate the merits of a 3-in-1 vs. a shot of espresso. My intentions were simple and personal: to capture and immortalize the brilliantly dull moments of my life. This way, when I get older -like a lot older -I can reminisce about those times I might otherwise forget. It’s like a diary to look back on.

But like I said, I am thrilled that somebody I didn’t know read and appreciated my work. To those who have read my book and those who might pick it up in the future, I raise this cup to you.

If you fancy reading the review, here it is: https://anthonyshieh.wixsite.com/anthony.../blahblahblacksip

I’m reading and re-reading this with my second cup of Americano. Happy me. Yay!

Cheers!

Have you got a copy of my first book yet? No? Then you're missing out on a whole lot of nonsense -some practical and reasonable nonsense. And if you read it with a latte, cortado, or Irish coffee, the words magically transform into meaningful blah-blahs, faithful to the title.

I'm thrilled that some brave souls have posted reviews, potentially risking their careers in journalism. But hey, some of them are my friends, so there's that.

Don't worry, I'm already plotting my next masterpiece. I might dive into how the POGOs have twisted the hearts and minds of our government leaders, completely oblivious to their impact on Filipinos. And maybe I'll throw in some global warming conspiracy theories for good measure.

Side note: Yes, dawg. I do hope to publish another one. Hope might be foolish, but it's stubborn. So bake that into your brain.

But that will happen when all my stars align. For now, it’s Blah, Blah, Black Sip. Below are the stores where you can grab a copy for yourself (or your coffee buddy). Perfect Father's Day gift, don't you think?

For online orders:

https://central.com.ph/product/espinosa-blah-blah-black-sip/

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Quezon Avenue

927 Phoenix Bldg., Quezon Ave.,�Quezon City�Hotline: (632) 8372 3550 loc. 31�Mobile: 09399166596 / 09638460736

CENTRAL BOOKS SM Megamall

SM Megamall, 5th Level Building A�Bgry. Wack Wack, Mandaluyong City�Hotline: (632) 8638 1088�Mobile: 09638460735

San Sebastian

G/F, 2114-A, San Sebastian Recoletos Inc.�CM Recto Ave, Quiapo, Manila�Hotline: (632) 8441 6734�Mobile: 09399166597 / 09637387269

CENTRAL BOOKS Lyceum Makati

Lyceum, 109 SDC Building Leviste St.�Brgy. Bel Air Makati City�Hotline: (632) 8567 4399�Mobile: 09088162716 / 09637387268

CENTRAL BOOKS Cebu

GV Building P. Del Rosario St.�Cebu City�Hotline: 383 0377�Mobile: 09985435645

CENTRAL BOOKS Davao

Space 7 City Triangle�Roxas Ave., Davao City�Hotline: 282 0364�Mobile: 09326376180

Finally! It’s out. My book is out.

BLAH, BLAH, BLACK SIP.

Sixty-four years in the making -give or take a few; countless cups of lattes, americanos, flat whites & cappuccinos; enough grammatical errors to make grammar nazis bite their elbow; and an insane amount of caffein in my brain. All these and more to self-publish a book for the first time.

I did all the editing. I wrote the intro. I spilled the coffee. I wrote the back cover copy. I wrote "About the Author." I did the all the layout including the front and back cover. I roped poor Andre to take the "About the Author" mandatory picture. I spilled more coffee. I chose the fonts. I paid the publishing house. Now, I get to promote the book.

In other words, and to make this post longer, this book is my movie. I wrote the script, I directed, I screenplayed, I produced, I acted, I reacted, I paid for the ticket and popcorn to watch it, and I watched it.

This book is a compilation of my brain farts when drinking coffee. I made previously posted stories funnier, sadder, longer, shorter, more interesting, less uninteresting, more dramatic, less amateurish. But let's be real, it's still pretty amateurish. Oh well -so deep.

If you haven’t noticed yet, I am inviting you to this insanity. Yes, grab a copy, and then grab your coffee! Join me in the wild ride of Blah, Blah, Black Sip. No promises, though. It’s a chance you have to take -a journey you’ll have to sip to believe!

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Copies will soon be hitting the shelves through my publisher's distribution outlets. But if you can't wait and want an advance copy, just drop me a line. It'll cost you less than a fancy latte at Starbucks – and it lasts longer, too!

Cheers!

Happy Mother's Day!

I love because God first loved me. In my dear Inang, I witnessed that love -pure, unconditional. My children, too, embrace love, having seen it in their dear mommy. It's a love so genuine, so divine. Happy Heavenly Mother's Day, dear Inang. Happy Mother's Day, my Doe-a-dear. Te quiero mucho!

Happy Birth-Doe!

At sixty-four, we're quite the pair,

With laughter and love, beyond compare,

With coffee or tea, and sushi so fine,

Our days are aglow, like a sparkling wine.

I'm your Buck, and you're Doe-a-dear,

Together we'll laugh, without a fear,

The light of our love, the glow of our faith,

Cherish each moment, in life's embrace.

Will you still need me, will you still feed me,

When you’re sixty-four? Oh Doe-a-dear,

With each candle lit, and every prayer we share,

Our love shines bright, like a beacon in the air.

Though golf may call, with its greens so lush,

My love for you, will never hush,

More than a hole-in-one, birdie, or eagle in flight,

You're the light of my life, a guiding light.

So here's to us, at sixty-four,

With Beatles tunes, and so much more,

In the light of our love, and laughter so true,

Let’s twist and shout, I'm forever with you!

With each passing year, our love's light grows,

Brighter and warmer, like a radiant rose,

Together we'll journey, across the universe,

Or here, there and everywhere

Let's Ob-la-di, Ob-la-dance

To future together advance

Happy Birthday, my Doe-a-dear

Here’s to you, I raise a beer!

I Am The Ice-Breaker!

If I were to spruce up my resumé today, I’d put “A good conversation starter” as one of my top skills. Once entering an elevator, people were chanting, “23rd,”15th,” “11th,” and so on. I stepped in and said, “59.” The elevator lady looked at me with disgust and said, “No 59th floor here, sir!” I apologized and said, “Oh I’m sorry, I thought people were saying how old they are.”

Yesterday, it was my first time to play at the Royal Ace Golf Driving Range in the eastern part of sunny Quezon City. For some grand design miscalculations, the players have to drive the ball towards the steaming summer sun. I had to apply sunscreen to keep me from dying of skin cancer. Each ball I hit was swallowed by the sun’s glare. So I had to ask my tee girl, “Is there an option to adjust the sun’s intensity?” She only smiled. I could only read her face telling me, “No dumbo, we can’t dim that light.”

But the good conversational starter skill in me persisted, “Is the sun in the same location during the morning?” I asked, gesturing toward where the sun was setting. This time, she answered back, “No sir, it’s on the other side,” pointing innocently towards the east. Gotcha, girl!

You can count on me to break the ice with strangers or with those I’ve not seen since the Great Flood. As long as I’ve had my cup of coffee, I’m good for a corny anecdote.

Cheers!

If you’ve been touched, amused, or entertained by this post, or it put a smile on your face, please favor me with a cup of coffee via GCash or PayPal. I will continue writing.

Scan a code, or click here to go to PayPal.

My New Lent Perspective

Lent season had just begun, so I thought I should shift into a more inspiring reflection.

I have a heart condition –not the usual stuff that bitter songwriters put in their sad songs. My thing is a coronary stent inserted into my artery to keep blood flowing to the heart where there used to be a partial blockage. “Partial” here means substantially partial -80% blockage. Almost seven years have passed since then. Yet occasionally, I still experience episodes of missing heartbeats and thumping palpitations. Like a broken percussion instrument or a bass guitar gone haywire.

As I live with this illness, I refuse to surrender to despair. I run, I play, I exercise. I work, too. And every time my ticker misses a beat, I proclaim boldly that my God is bigger than any illness, more powerful than any challenge life may bring, and greater than the greatest. Instead of dwelling on the problem, like worrying about who would inherit my golf clubs if I died, I fix my gaze on His boundless power and promise of healing. As an old song goes, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.”

Each skipped heartbeat, each palpitation becomes a poignant reminder of God’s grace and love. In faith through prayer, I affirm His power to bring complete healing. This shift in mindset transforms fear into hope, infusing me with courage and resilience. I cling to the comforting truth that God’s grace is more than sufficient for me. In my weakness, His strength shines way brighter than my forehead.

Now, I journey on with renewed faith, trusting that with every beat of my heart, I am being restored. Hey, that sounds like good material for a love song, don’t you think?

I am using this Lenten season as a time of reflection and renewal to deepen my connection with God and reaffirm my trust in His healing power. May you, too, have a blessed season of Lent.

Cheers!

PS. I’m apprenticing to be the assistant barista in our household. Today is my 4th day. Pls be patient with the latte art.

If you’ve been touched, amused, or entertained by this post, or it put a smile on your face, please favor me with a cup of coffee via GCash or PayPal. I will continue writing.

Scan a code, or click here to go to PayPal.