Here’s how I spent a loveless first day of the rest of my life yesterday.

To begin, I had this idea that I ought to shift my focus outward instead of inward. It being the Christmas season and all, the were lots of opportunities to do so. For example, I needed to go to Subic to get some cash from an ATM. Yeah, the only BPI machine in Barretto works less the half the time. It seems it is always out of money. People need cash for shopping, I suppose. Anyway, since I was making the trip to Subic anyway, I invited Joy to join me at Waltermart so she could do a little Christmas shopping for her kids. It was kind of nice watching her pick out some clothes. I suggested she get them a toy too. Joy asked if she could also get something for Jen (her co-worker, friend, and neighbor) and I told her go ahead. Ho! Ho! Ho! It’s fun to be Santa Claus.

The checkout line was massive but I somehow managed to keep my cool through that ordeal. After paying, when I went to the BPI ATM in the mall it was also out of money. So disappointing! I needed to restock my cash supply, so we caught a trike to the BPI branch office in Subic town I use. After we arrived I was disappointed to note that one of the two ATMs was not working and there were several people in line to use the remaining machine that was functioning.

Watching Filipinos use an ATM is as fascinating as it is frustrating. With one exception, everyone in front of me went through this process. Insert card, check balance, print receipt showing balance, end transaction. Re-insert the card, make a cash withdrawal, take the money and put it in a billfold, take out ANOTHER bank card, and repeat the above process. After watching this insanity several times I thought my head was going to explode. I also figured that at this rate by the time my turn came this machine too would run out of cash.

When my turn finally arrived, I gave the now even longer line behind me a demonstration in proper ATM etiquette. Had my card in hand as I approached the machine. Inserted the card. Entered my PIN. Selected withdrawal from checking. Requested P20,000. The machine whirred, spit out my card, and released forty P500 notes into my waiting hand. Took less than a minute. I didn’t get the expected round of applause, but maybe the crowd was dumbfounded by my expertise. Anyway, mission accomplished.

We took a Jeepney back to Barretto and I asked Joy if she were hungry. She was, so I called out “para po” as we approached Mango’s. We sat down at a table in the back and waited. And waited. Save for one customer, the place was deserted. That customer told us the waitress was making a room service delivery. So we waited some more. Then my already strained patience ran out, and I lold Joy, “let’s go.”

As we were leaving, we ran into the waitress doing something at the front desk. “John, why you leave?” she called out. I told her tired of waiting and she apologized, explaining she was the only one on duty. I told her it is not her fault, I’ll talk to Gie (the manager) about inadequate staffing the next time I see her. Merry Christmas!

We walked the block to Sit-n-Bull and as usual, I was greeted warmly by the waitresses. Later, the owner Ron came by the table for a brief chat. Ah, the joys of being a regular! We ordered our food and while I was eating, I got a message that both hurt my feelings and distressed me. Didn’t even finish my burger. I told Joy I needed to go and gave her some transportation money and a 500 peso gift.

When I got home, I set about changing the status of all my posts involving the woman who claimed to love me, to “private”. That made them invisible to you, my readers. I got an email later from Kevin Kim asking what happened, and when I explained he suggested making them password protected and providing the password to trusted readers. So, that’s what I wound up doing. I’m using the same password for all my protected posts. Email me if you would like that password. I don’t intend to make a habit of making my posts difficult to access, but the unique circumstance of small-town gossip and veiled threats made it prudent to do so for those few posts. Sorry for the inconvenience.

While all this was going on, I got a message from Martha, begging me to let her give me a massage so she could buy shoes for her child. Damn. I wasn’t even sure who she was, but we were Facebook friends and had chatted a few times previously. She said she lived nearby, so I told her fine, come on over. In my mind, I thought she was a girl I had met at Thumbstar during my bar review. But when Martha arrived I didn’t remember ever seeing her before.

So, I stripped to my underwear, handed her a bottle of baby oil, and laid down on the bed. She proceeded to give me a decent enough massage. When I rolled over onto my back, she looked at me expectantly, and then gestured if I wanted her to undress. Sure, why not. And so that’s how the massage ended. Honestly, I didn’t enjoy it much. No emotional connection to her whatsoever, and she wasn’t nearly as talented as my ex. I gave her the expected amount for her services, walked her to a shortcut exit from the neighborhood, and said goodbye. I have no intention of seeing her again in the future.

Alright, and for the record, I didn’t have bad intentions. It wasn’t like my now-defunct “FWB” program. This gal contacted me and offered massage services. She also indicated that she was willing and wanting to provide the happy ending. I didn’t ask her for anything and paid her a more than fair amount for her service. And now her kid will have shoes for Christmas.

I make that disclaimer above because I don’t want to get back into a completely transactional mode with whatever women I encounter on my journey to the future. Yes, there will be women, hopefully sex, and probably no love, but I’m going to be more in a dating mode than a buying one. We’ll see how that works out for me. Call it a New Year’s resolution.

So, I was overdue for another bar review and Wet Spot was next up in the queue. If you read that post you’ll recall I spent time with this lovely lady there:

Thirty-five and no kids. Long-time bar worker. Good conversationalist. Nice sense of humor (as measured by her capacity to laugh at my jokes). At one point I broached going on a date and she seemed excited about the idea. I asked her what was her day off and she said Monday. Oh, I Hash on Mondays, do you like to hike? “No.” Okay then, looks like it will be a lunch date before work one day. Or maybe nothing at all. I gifted her 500 pesos and headed over to Cheap Charlies.

Alma hadn’t been there during my visit on Sunday, so she’d missed out on the Christmas bounty. That may or may not be why she had messaged me for the first time in forever. Still, it was good to hear from her and she is a sweet woman, so I wanted to see her before Christmas (even if she is a Muslim). She actually popped up in my Facebook memories the other day. I’ve been knowing her for over three years now.

Anyway, she was happy to see me. Got the usual shoulder rub and for the first time got to give her something in return.

We shared some drinks and chat and I gave her 1000 pesos for the holiday cheer. I’d consider dating her as well.

While I was at Cheap Charlies I got a message from Bhel, the bartender at Outback. She’s the one I helped with surgery expenses. Anyway, she asked me if I would please come by the bar. Why not? So, I finished my beer and headed up the highway.

When I arrived, Bhel handed me this bag:

Of course, I gifted her with 500 pesos. A nice way to end the night.

Maybe my bar relationships aren’t as meaningless as I make out. Just another set of friends to make this life’s journey of mine a little more pleasant. That’s enough for now!

And let’s not forget the first Christmas Eve: