I’m running a bit late today, so I’ll make the catch-up post as short and sweet as possible. Typical Tuesday for the most part, so not a lot to say about it anyway. When we finished grocery shopping, I sent my driver and helper home to unload, and Swan and I walked the half-kilometer or so to the mall to restock my wardrobe. It was only 9:30, and the mall doesn’t open until ten. Perhaps it was coincidental, but I remembered this place that was perfectly suited to satisfy my sudden craving for a waffle.
Then it was on to the SM Mall next door, and the department store happened to have the cargo shorts I needed on sale for 500 pesos a pair. That’s less than half price, so instead of buying the three pairs I intended, I bought seven. Should be enough to last a lifetime.
As we made our Tuesday pilgrimage to Baloy Beach, we decided to change things up some and dine at Harley’s instead of our usual Treasure Island.
After dinner, we walked back to Barretto and paid a rare visit to Nipsey’s Bar. That meme I posted above applies…crap music at a loud volume. We asked that something more appropriate be played (we were the only customers), and they put on some classic rock, but didn’t turn it down. Even good music played at a distortion level is hard on the ears. We didn’t stay long and likely won’t be back.
We did our nightcap at Nipsey’s sister bar, Cloud 69, and it was fine. We shared drinks and chatted with our regular waitress, Sheryl, and one of the friendly baklas.
So, I wouldn’t call it a diamond of a Tuesday, but it was at least a ruby.
In this post from the September 2014 LTG archives, I write about settling back into my American lifestyle. One big difference between living in Seoul and Columbia, South Carolina, is the lack of public transportation. I could drink like a fish in Korea, then catch the subway home. As much as I like drinking, I don’t believe in drinking to excess and driving, so I needed to ensure I was always under the legal limit after playing darts. I bought a breathalyzer and always gave it a blow before starting the car. I was never over the limit and learned that three low-alcohol beers an hour kept me in the safe zone. Of course, nowadays I don’t drive at all, so I just have to worry that the drunks driving here don’t run into the trike I’m riding on the way home.
Today’s YouTube video is once again from Reekay—this time, he addresses expat burnout. It’s going on eight years for me now, and I still have no issues or regrets about the move. Of course, many irritations come with living here, but you either learn to accept them or let them drive you crazy. I’m blessed to have the resources not to have to reside in the midst of the worst of it. And the mantra still applies: “Take a deep breath. Relax. Accept the Filipino way.”
A little humor helps, too.
And on we go from here. An exciting hike today in a not-so-good way. I’ll share the gruesome details tomorrow.
Of these sentences, two are erroneous! Which are they and why (hint: same reason!)? Let’s put that newfound Bad Online English knowledge to work!
1. Then it was on to the SM Mall next door, and the department store happened to have the cargo shorts I needed on sale for 500 pesos a pair.
2. We don’t visit Harley’s that often, but always enjoy it when we do.
3. Perhaps it was coincidental, but I remembered this place that was perfectly suited to satisfy my sudden craving for a waffle.
4. We asked that something more appropriate be played (we were the only customers), and they put on some classic rock, but didn’t turn it down.
5. I was never over the limit and learned that three low-alcohol beers an hour kept me in the safe zone.
I hope the upcoming “gruesome details” don’t involve injury. And good luck with the pulmonary doc tomorrow. Did you try the spirometer? If Swan’s a certified caretaker, does this mean she knows how to read spirometers and record their results?
Kevin, re-reading those sentences you cited, I would say they could all be better written, but the two most egregious are #1 and #4. I don’t recall the proper terminology, but the problem is using “and” to join what are two complete sentences. I could/should have said:
Then it was on to the SM Mall next door. The department store happened to have the cargo shorts I needed on sale for 500 pesos a pair.
We asked that something more appropriate be played (we were the only customers). They put on some classic rock, but didn’t turn it down.
Some blood was spilled on the trail. I’ll post the details later today.
Re: Reekay video
You hit the nail on the head. Money helps smooth over a lot of the irritants present in a third world country. Examples for yourself is paying your helper go and wait to obtain appointments for you, having a car/driver at your disposal, etc..
Being a poor expat in the third world country; those are the guys that are always at the bars bitching about what a shithole the PI/Thailand/Vietnam, etc. is and how much they hate being there. They usually dont have the funds to return to their home country so have nothing better to do than drink cheap beer and complain. LOL
Sentence 1 was already fine. The problems were in Sentences 2 and 4. I noticed you didn’t correct the problem in 4. What was the problem? In both cases, you’ve got a compound predicate.
• Sally sat down and farted. (compound predicate: 2 actions by the subject)
Not—
• Sally sat down, and farted. (the comma makes no sense and only interrupts)
So 2 and 4 should be rewritten without those commas:
2. We don’t visit Harley’s that often but always enjoy it when we do.
4. We asked that something more appropriate be played (we were the only customers), and they put on some classic rock but didn’t turn it down.
Either that, or turn 2 and 4 into compound sentences by making the latter part of each sentence into a clause introduced by a comma-conjunction:
2. We don’t visit Harley’s that often, but we always enjoy it when we do.
4. We asked that something more appropriate be played (we were the only customers), and they put on some classic rock, but they didn’t turn it down.
Et voila.
Kevin, Damn. I get what you are saying. Still, it is ironic to make the mistake of using commas I don’t need rather than the other way around.
Brian, true that. When you struggle to make ends meet in the third world, all the problems would seem magnified. I guess that’s why they complain about a 90 peso beer that would cost twice that back home.