On the bright side, we are on the periphery here in Zambales, lots of rain and some gusty winds, but not the full brunt of the typhoon. The only damage I’ve seen so far is a few broken tree branches. The storm makes daily living a bit of a pain in the ass, but this too shall pass.
As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, the Hare wisely elected to save his mountain trail for a dryer day, substituting a street walk through Barretto for the Hash trek. Walking in the rain made it a tad less boring, and I have to give the Hare credit for coming up with a creative way to craft a 6K journey around town at the last minute.
Rain or shine, every day is a blessing.
In this October 2013 post from the LTG archives, I reflect on my life and career. A working-class hero is something to be. I consider this to be one of my better posts, and it will definitely be included in The Story of My Life. Assuming I live long enough to write it someday.
In today’s YouTube video, Reekay discusses the group of expats who were considered losers back home and brought those traits with them when they moved to Southeast Asia. I’ve encountered a few of this type during my time here, but thankfully, they are a small minority in the community. Granted, I’m far from perfect, but I eventually learn from my mistakes and I’m blessed with a pension sufficient to cater to my indulgences.
Let’s see how these attempts at humor go over:
It’s good sometimes to look back at where you’ve been that led you to where you are. And here I am ready to fill some more rainy day hours.
As soon as you're born they make you feel small
By giving you no time instead of it all
'Til the pain is so big you feel nothing at all
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be
They hurt you at home and they hit you at school
They hate you if you're clever and they despise a fool
'Til you're so fucking crazy you can't follow their rules
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be
When they've tortured and scared you for 20 odd years
Then they expect you to pick a career
When you can't really function, you're so full of fear
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be
Keep you doped with religion, and sex, and T.V.
And you think you're so clever and classless and free
But you're still fucking peasants as far as I can see
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be
There's room at the top they are telling you still
But first you must learn how to smile as you kill
If you want to be like the folks on the hill
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be
If you want to be a hero well just follow me
If you want to be a hero well just follow me
I hope there are no more power or water outages for the next little while. Hang in there until this thing blows over.
Why would they serve you beef stew with the taters all separate like that? Weird.
Re: Typhoon – Hope the typhoon does not overwhelm the new water pipe!!
Re: Reakey video – I agree that the loser (emotionally, personality, etc.) in the US who moves to SE Asia and is still a loser is probably a minority among expats. Most retiree expats are pretty decent people,
But, I think that the number of retiree expats that are living on the economic edge are more plentiful than you think. Exhibit A is your blog where somebody gets injured/sick/dies. 9 times out of 10, they dont have (adequate) insurance and some bar is hosting a fundraiser to raise money for their medical care or funeral. Also, came across another PI blogger whose parents in the US are dying and he has been saving money for two years just to afford a plane ticket to fly back to visit them!!
There is the “rule of thumb” in the US to have 3-6 months of liquid funds you can access in case of an emergency. Wonder how many expats in the PI would fail that “test”.
Brian, so far the water and power have survived the storm. I think the worst is over now.
Yes, I agree that moving here with inadequate assets doesn’t necessarily make you the kind of loser Reekay was talking about, but it does keep you living on the edge of disaster. I’ve known some folks who run out of money before the end of the month and so they run a tab in the bar until the next pension deposit comes through. I’m not one of them, although I have burned through some of my savings account over the years. I can live comfortably on my pension money every month, but I am sometimes a little to generous in helping those in need. I need to get a grip soon.
Kevin, no water or power issues so far. The worst of the storm seems to be over now.
Yeah, those potatoes were technically a side dish that I could have changed to something else, like mashed taters. Their definition of beef stew is different than mine. Chunks of beef in gravy (where were the carrots?) doesn’t make a stew. This is a Swedish establishment, so maybe that’s the way they do it there.
So one wonders: why order beef stew from a Swedish restaurant? Google “popular Swedish main meals” and discover:
• Köttbullar (Swedish Meatballs): Small, flavorful meatballs made from a mix of ground beef and pork, typically served with gravy, mashed potatoes, and tart lingonberry jam for a comforting meal.
• Janssons Frestelse (Jansson’s Temptation): A rich and creamy potato and anchovy gratin that is a classic dish, particularly popular during Christmas.
• Ärtsoppa (Pea Soup): A hearty yellow pea soup often served on Thursdays along with pancakes, a long-standing Swedish tradition.
• Falukorv (Falu Sausage): A savory, often children’s favorite, dish consisting of sliced Falu sausage (a type of red sausage) served with mashed potatoes and gravy.
• Pytt i Panna: This dish is a way to use up leftovers, combining diced potatoes, onions, and meats or sausage into a savory hash, often topped with a fried egg.
• Raggmunk: A savory Swedish potato pancake, similar to a latke, made from grated potato and served with fried pork and lingonberries.
• Kalops: A traditional Swedish beef stew made with meat on the bone, carrots, and a rich broth, often served with potatoes and pickled beetroot.
• Smörgåstårta: A festive “sandwich cake” made with layers of bread and various sandwich fillings like shrimp, herring, and vegetables, making for a celebratory and impressive dish.
• Kroppkakor: A type of potato dumpling, typically filled with minced meat and onion, that serves as a comforting main dish.
Ah, I see that Kalops, beef stew, is in fact a popular Swedish dish. But yes, served the Swedish way. Now that you know the above, you might either avoid the beef stew next time or order extra helpings of veggies to mix into the stew (assuming you don’t want it Swedish-style).
Kevin, thanks for the introduction to Swedish meals. Although my beef stew was nothing like American-style, it was fine for filling my after-hike stomach void. I mixed those potato chunks in with the beef and gravy and it wasn’t bad that way.