Days come and go with their ups and downs, and you see what you saw, then the day is over and never seen again. It reminds me of the blind construction worker who picked up a hammer and saw. Here’s a look at what I’m talking about:

As always, the first time I left the house was to walk the dogs. For some reason, this caught my eye:

Now, I imagine most people would react with a form of curiosity as to why it was there. I turned to Swan and asked, “Would you rather dig a hole or climb up on a roof?” She preferred the hole, and I told her I’d take the latter. Yep, that’s just the way I see things.

Later, in the dog walk we passed the latest (completed) house in our subdivision.

Back home, and Swan prepared my breakfast:

Then it was time to head out for the Friday group hike.

Once I was back home, I stayed there. At beer o’clock, I went upstairs and visited The Rite Spot On The Roof.

Daylight was gone, but we weren’t done. Downstairs, dinner awaited.

With my belly full, I moved to the couch, fired up Netflix, and began watching my first episode of “Squid Game.” I knew it was a Korean drama but didn’t know what to expect beyond that. I was pleasantly surprised that it was dubbed in English, so I didn’t have to strain my eyes reading subtitles. The end of Episode One was surprising, and it will be interesting to see where things go from here. Yeah, I wasn’t in the mood to binge-watch last night, but I will try and see at least one episode every day.

Staying home has its benefits. I didn’t spend any money, drank only four beers, and had one of my best days overall in terms of calories.

I also had my weekly weigh-in:

• Yesterday: 234.8
• Last week: 235.5
• November 1: 267.1
• Total loss: 32.3 pounds

Slow but steady progress.

One commenter suggested I periodically share what I’ve learned in Tagalog. I don’t have much to say about that. *ahem* But, there is this:

Shorter version: FAFO.

Is it still a memory if you don’t remember it?

In today’s YouTube video, the vlogger argues that the Philippines isn’t as poor as it appears to be. Of course, the people with money are a small percentage of the population, but there is money to be had if you know the right people. My observation is that while most Filipinos I’ve encountered are hard-working, there is a lack of opportunity to find jobs that pay well in this economy. That’s why OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) are the nation’s biggest export. I read somewhere that Filipino nurses have the highest percentage in US hospitals.

Humor me this:

It’s a back-to-the-grind Saturday. Swan promised our friend Beth we’d stop by Wet Spot later (it’s a girl thing; I wouldn’t understand). They don’t open until six, so we’ll start somewhere else and take it from there.

Los Angeles is my city of birth, and I’ve been saddened to see the recent devastation. That it was self-inflicted by ignorant politicians not taking the basic steps needed to prevent wildfires (or keep water in fire hydrants) doesn’t make it less painful to see. They keep electing these idiots, so I guess you could say the voters fucked themselves. I left in 1978 because I didn’t want to raise my kids there, and it has gotten infinitely worse since then. Watching the news brought to mind this Neil Young song from fifty years ago:

In a matter of time,
There'll be a friend of mine
Gonna come to the coast,
You're gonna see him
Up close for a minute or two
While the ground cracks under you.

By the look in your eyes
You'd think that it was a surprise
But you seem to forget
Something somebody said
About the bubbles in the sea
And an ocean full of trees.

And you now, L.A.
Uptight,
city in the smog,
city in the smog.
Don't you wish that
you could be here too?
Don't you wish that
you could be here too?
Don't you wish that
you could be here too?

Well, it's hard to believe
So you get up to leave
And you laugh at the door
That you heard it all before
Oh it's so good to know
That it's all just a show for you.

But when the suppers are planned
And the freeways are crammed
And the mountains erupt
And the valley is sucked
Into cracks in the earth
Will I finally be heard by you.

L.A.
Uptight,
city in the smog,
city in the smog.
Don't you wish that
you could be here too?
Don't you wish that
you could be here too?
Don't you wish that
you could be here too?