I did the Cheap Charlies visit for the first time in a while. Between the time I walked in the door and reached my seat, there was an ice-cold San Miguel Zero sitting on the bar waiting for me. They know me too well. But not as well as they thought they did because I ordered up a gin and soda, one shot, in a tall glass. That will be my new beverage of choice until I attain my weight loss goal. I kept the beer though and sipped on it periodically. It actually slowed me down on the gin and soda which is good–it’s a more potent drink than the beer. I may actually incorporate the single beer into my routine to help control my intake. We’ll see.

I carried my umbrella when I left the house because it looked like rain. By the time I reached Cheap Charlies I realized those weren’t clouds I was seeing. Not sure if it was some other kind of natural haze or maybe smoke. I actually checked the internet to see if one of the nearby volcanos had started erupting. No such reports, so no idea what was going on.

I had three or maybe four drinks and bought a similar number for a couple of the waitresses. Hey, they have to make a living. Alma, one of my favorites, earned a nice tip too for rubbing my back for the duration of my visit. She has a nice touch.

Once I arrived back home, I dipped into the pot roast that had been stewing all day long in the crockpot.

Speaking of something in the air, I saw smoke from a fire on the dog walk this morning.

A pleasant visit with Judy yesterday. Another fine massage that ended in my satisfaction. She is also difficult to hold a conversation with, but she loves her mountain life. Told me about selling bananas and sweet potatoes grown on her land at the fresh markets in Barretto and Subic. That makes enough to buy some food, but apparently not enough to pay the electric bill. She had told me she owed 3000 pesos and the power was scheduled to be cut off today. I was willing to pay that amount as a reward for her services. But when she showed me the bill, this month’s payment was also due so the total was almost 5000 ($100.). Hmm, that’s an expensive massage. I started to just give her the previously agreed-upon amount, but damn, I couldn’t bear the thought of her being in the dark because of my stinginess. So, I gave her the 5000 and told her part of that was an advance for services on her next visit. She agreed.

And that’s how my day went.