A day without storms does not mean a day without rain. And that’s okay. The best part of this time of year is that the skies are overcast, and it ain’t so damn hot. If you get hit with a few raindrops along the way, so be it.
Swan joined me for my Saturday walk, so it wasn’t standard or solo. She brought some candy along, and we headed out in search of children to sweeten their day. The mission was mostly accomplished, although we did encounter a large group of unruly kids who were rude and grabby. Swan eventually had enough of their selfishness, and we walked away, never to return. That’s a thankfully rare occurrence, but it did kill the joy of our candy walk.
We began our trek in the little village right outside the gates of Alta VistaThe day’s first chocolate deliverySmiles are like sunshineIt was good to see the floodwaters in Santa Monica subdivision had recededThat’s how it looked 24-hours earlierThat’s as close as we got to Easter Mountain on this walkHere comes the rain againA bay view from MatainLife’s a beach sometimesIn the maze of those narrow Matain residential passagewaysI took Swan to see the old abandoned Paradise Resort, which had been shut down since the 80s.The Paradise beachA Swan amongst the boatsHeading for troubleI had a bad feeling this wasn’t going to go wellUnder siege. It got worse, more and more kids came. Then the older ones started pushing the younger ones out of the way and trying to get seconds. Poor Swan finally gave up, shouted “Enough!” and retreated back up the alley.Back on the highway in a heavy rain showerAnother funeral banner. She made it to 86! My hero!A new cafe. At first I thought it was an awful spelling of coffee table. Then I got what they were trying to convey–coffee and tea. Not sure how you’d pronounce it, but it must sound terrible…A 5K stroll when it was all said and done.
That took care of those morning hours. When beer o’clock rolled around, we headed for the highway. The first Jeepney to come by was full, so I splurged for a trike ride out to Kon-Tiki (150 pesos). I was very curious to see how my favorite beach bar did in the storm. I wasn’t even sure they would be open. It turns out that the water never breached the premises, but there had been no customers at all during the week until just before we arrived.
Yes, the name is indeed hyphenated.My bad.A ship making its way to sea. Wait a minute, something is missing…Where is the inflatable island? (I took that photo last week)Oh, there it is. Our waitress said the structures were deflated and brought ashore prior to the storm.I’m glad our venue came through unscathed. I’m hearing there is another storm brewing and heading our way this weekend.There were four foreigner customers dining in the backBut we came for the beachSuch as it isLet’s eat!Mac and cheese for SwanI did the chicken fajitas with a side of tortillas again.This is the room at Samba Resort we want to rent for a beach getaway. One of these days.
When it was time to head out, we crossed the highway and caught a trike back to Barretto. In an odd coincidence, we had the same driver as last week. Still, he knew we were going to Wet Spot for our nightcap, so that was easy. Another happy ending to a Saturday in paradise.
When I took my shoes off yesterday, I couldn’t help but notice just how much I’ve changed.
I identify as multi-colored. Don’t be a hater!
Facebook reminds me that nine years ago, I purchased my last car.
Drove it for three years, and other than replacing the transmission, it got me everywhere I wanted to go without a problem. I sold it $500. just before I moved to the Philippines.
Today’s political viewpoint:
Will the powers behind the throne really allow Trump to win?
English is my first language, but I’m still learning it.
Just the kind of mistake I’m prone to make, whether it be through ignorance or apathy.
Which ten countries like the Philippines the best? Watch today’s YouTube video to find out.
Humor me this:
I’ll take a putt on this oneThe nice thing about losing your memory is everything seems new again. Sorry if I’ve posted this one before.He’s got a point. Not driving in the PI was one of my better decisions.
Alright, it’s Sunday afternoon now. Next up is the Hideaway feeding, then dinner at John’s place with Swan. More to come tomorrow.
Yes, more morning and afternoon rain showers. That’s okay, as long as they keep coming in small doses.
10 thoughts on “Deflation on the beach”
Well, I can’t force you to complete the quiz you’re quietly avoiding (passive-aggressive avoidance is part of the McCrarey way!), but we’ll keep practicing this hyphenation thing as we can.
That’s how it looked 24-hours earlier
Earlier is not a noun—it’s (generally) an adverb. So the phrase 24 hours isn’t modifying a noun, i.e., it’s not a phrasal adjective, so… no hyphen!
To hyphenate or not to hyphenate?
YES: the 24-hour bug (bug is a noun modified by an adj.)
NO: See you in 24 hours. (the phrase isn’t modifying anything ≠ adj.)
NO: I last saw her 24 hours ago. (ago = adj. in this case)
I took Swan to see the old abandoned Paradise Resort, which had been shut down since the 80s.
I’m surprised there aren’t more internationally famous Filipino horror movies filmed in locations like this. I can imagine some culturally specific horror scenarios: (1) the spirit of an aborted fetus possesses Uncle Pampang; (2) an expat is chased by a demonically selfish and vindictive ex-girlfriend; (3) an expat who has studiously avoided Filipino food is strapped down and forced to eat it for 24 hours, with no bathroom breaks allowed, meaning he has to shit in his chair while he keeps eating; (4) a man is caught and told he is to be the village’s next lechon.
Heading for trouble
The water lines will guide you!
Another funeral banner. She made it to 86! My hero!
Her name reflects the influence of the Spanish occupation. I didn’t realize Spain occupied the PI for over three centuries.
A 5K stroll when it was all said and done.
Santo Tomas! So, you’ve got a whole village of doubters.
I identify as multi-colored. Don’t be a hater!
It’s the opposite of those photos I take of my tanned/burned hands contrasting with my pale, toshi-protected forearms. I call it acquiring gloves. In your case, it’s socks.
Will the powers behind the throne really allow Trump to win?
I’ve never seen “ventrilinguist” before. “Ventriloquist,” yes.
Have fun at John’s place. Eat hearty. How’s your breathing been?
Re: Spanish colonization of the Philippines.
It’s often been said that Philippine culture is derived from four centuries in a Spanish convent, followed by fifty years in Hollywood.
That was always a flippant assessment, and now it’s obviously also rather dated. Yet there’s still some real truth there.
It’s good you tend to stick to the same foods, John, and don’t dare try anything different. One can never be too careful. I remember the first time I shit myself, back in 2018. Had been drinking vodka all day & night with a Magic: The Gathering buddy. Had to make a last-minute booze run to Walmart before cut off time and about halfway through the walk my brain suddenly gives me a 3-second warning of ALERT! SHIT INCOMING!
I didn’t even really have time to react, aside from desperately calculating if I could make it to a hedge or a bush or something, before I felt a loaded burrito-sized package of shit forced its way through my ringpiece, filling the seat of my jeans. I just remember dying inside at the horrific sensation of warm, fluffy, peanut butter caressing my cheeks.
I didn’t have time to make it back to my mate’s and get showered/changed, before cut off time, so penguin-walked it the rest of the way to Walmart. Shuffled straight to the bathroom, peeled off my semi-skinny jeans, tried to flush my loaded boxers down the toilet (evidence?) and did as best as I could to scrape off the cooling shit caking my ass crack.
Least I managed to get the vodka in time, and my pal passed out not long after I got back, so plenty of vodka for me that night.
Never mind “never trust a fart”; since then if I get even a hint of leaky anus I try to make sure I’m never too far from a toilet.
Thompson, what a shitty experience. So, if I’m reading this right, you shit your pants BEFORE you got to Walmart But still went in to get the vodka? That must have stunk. For some reason, I thought of a verse I saw written inside a restroom stall: Here I sit, broken-hearted. Tried to shit and only farted.
“A man who procrastinates in his choosing will inevitably have his choice made for him by circumstance.”
Hunter S. Thompson
Drain, I grew up in Southern California, and the vestiges of Spanish colonialism could be seen everywhere. I was surprised when I first started visiting the Philippines that, for the most part, signs of Spanish rule have been erased. Well, there’s the Catholicism and some old forts here and there, but few overt influences of the culture that dominated for 400 years exist. I’ve never met anyone who speaks any Spanish (I sometimes order my beer in Spanish for shits and giggles), although Tagalog has some Spanish-sounding words (the girls all call me gwapo).
Kev, I took the quiz and answered that #3, #6, #8, and #9 were correct. You never graded the quiz. Talk about passive-aggressive! 🙂
Damn, I was sure I had read that time renderings like “24 hours” were always hyphenated. I was so convinced that I went back for proof. And once again, I was wrong. I’m such a Dumb-Shit.
Those movies sound as scary as my lousy grammar. Especially the one about eating Filipino food!
It’s true that many names here are of Spanish origin, and the fairer-skinned Filipinos usually have Spanish roots. But as I said in my response to Drain Snake’s comment, despite centuries of Spanish rule, there is surprisingly little left of Spanish culture here—certainly nothing like the Southwest US experience.
“So, you’ve got a whole village of doubters.” Are you sure about that?
My breathing has been excellent. Most days, I have 98% blood oxygen, and I haven’t been lower than 96% for two weeks.
I couldn’t find the comment where you answered 3, 6, 8, and 9. Could you please link it for me? I missed it in my senility.
You were close: 3, 5, 6, 8, 9.
I did ask you to tell me the rule in your own words, though.
Ah, I think you had tentatively toned answers spread over two responses. That didn’t look like a “final answer” to me. You still seemed to be guessing, wavering on 4. Answer with loud, drunken conviction!
More re: Spanish influence
Spain didn’t invest much in public education (other than indoctrination in Catholicism, which is quite a biggie).
The US started the first real public school system, supplanting Spanish with English. Still, Spanish was pretty common up until the war years. Independence and nationalism brought yet another linguistic shift to “Filipino,” which is just Tagalog with some additional loan words.
Spanish surnames are obviously one big Spanish legacy, and variations of Spanish language can certainly be heard daily in a few places like Zamboanga. Remember, Olongapo isn’t really representative of the Philippines as a whole (nor is Manila, for that matter).
But yes, visible and audible signs of Spanish influence have certainly waned in most places besides churches, forts, etc., although Spanish heritage is emphasized in locations like Intramuros and Vigan, where it adds to tourism marketing.
Pop culture and the internet — and temporary overseas employment— are spreading all sorts of variables around now: some good, some bad, and some ugly.
Regarding So Cal, in quite a few places you can go for weeks without hearing English. Que será será, por supuesto.
Salud.
Good stuff, Drain. Appreciate your insights. Vigan is on my list of places to see. I saw Fort San Pedro in Cebu, and of course, on SBMA, we have the old Spanish gate.
I don’t think they teach much about the centuries of Spanish rule in the schools here. It all starts with Rizal and the revolution. That’s fine. From what I’ve seen, the Filipino people have developed a unique culture that seems to keep them happy despite the poverty and corruption they deal with on a daily basis.
Well, I can’t force you to complete the quiz you’re quietly avoiding (passive-aggressive avoidance is part of the McCrarey way!), but we’ll keep practicing this hyphenation thing as we can.
That’s how it looked 24-hours earlier
Earlier is not a noun—it’s (generally) an adverb. So the phrase 24 hours isn’t modifying a noun, i.e., it’s not a phrasal adjective, so… no hyphen!
To hyphenate or not to hyphenate?
YES: the 24-hour bug (bug is a noun modified by an adj.)
NO: See you in 24 hours. (the phrase isn’t modifying anything ≠ adj.)
NO: I last saw her 24 hours ago. (ago = adj. in this case)
I took Swan to see the old abandoned Paradise Resort, which had been shut down since the 80s.
I’m surprised there aren’t more internationally famous Filipino horror movies filmed in locations like this. I can imagine some culturally specific horror scenarios: (1) the spirit of an aborted fetus possesses Uncle Pampang; (2) an expat is chased by a demonically selfish and vindictive ex-girlfriend; (3) an expat who has studiously avoided Filipino food is strapped down and forced to eat it for 24 hours, with no bathroom breaks allowed, meaning he has to shit in his chair while he keeps eating; (4) a man is caught and told he is to be the village’s next lechon.
Heading for trouble
The water lines will guide you!
Another funeral banner. She made it to 86! My hero!
Her name reflects the influence of the Spanish occupation. I didn’t realize Spain occupied the PI for over three centuries.
A 5K stroll when it was all said and done.
Santo Tomas! So, you’ve got a whole village of doubters.
I identify as multi-colored. Don’t be a hater!
It’s the opposite of those photos I take of my tanned/burned hands contrasting with my pale, toshi-protected forearms. I call it acquiring gloves. In your case, it’s socks.
Will the powers behind the throne really allow Trump to win?
I’ve never seen “ventrilinguist” before. “Ventriloquist,” yes.
Have fun at John’s place. Eat hearty. How’s your breathing been?
Re: Spanish colonization of the Philippines.
It’s often been said that Philippine culture is derived from four centuries in a Spanish convent, followed by fifty years in Hollywood.
That was always a flippant assessment, and now it’s obviously also rather dated. Yet there’s still some real truth there.
It’s good you tend to stick to the same foods, John, and don’t dare try anything different. One can never be too careful. I remember the first time I shit myself, back in 2018. Had been drinking vodka all day & night with a Magic: The Gathering buddy. Had to make a last-minute booze run to Walmart before cut off time and about halfway through the walk my brain suddenly gives me a 3-second warning of ALERT! SHIT INCOMING!
I didn’t even really have time to react, aside from desperately calculating if I could make it to a hedge or a bush or something, before I felt a loaded burrito-sized package of shit forced its way through my ringpiece, filling the seat of my jeans. I just remember dying inside at the horrific sensation of warm, fluffy, peanut butter caressing my cheeks.
I didn’t have time to make it back to my mate’s and get showered/changed, before cut off time, so penguin-walked it the rest of the way to Walmart. Shuffled straight to the bathroom, peeled off my semi-skinny jeans, tried to flush my loaded boxers down the toilet (evidence?) and did as best as I could to scrape off the cooling shit caking my ass crack.
Least I managed to get the vodka in time, and my pal passed out not long after I got back, so plenty of vodka for me that night.
Never mind “never trust a fart”; since then if I get even a hint of leaky anus I try to make sure I’m never too far from a toilet.
Thompson, what a shitty experience. So, if I’m reading this right, you shit your pants BEFORE you got to Walmart But still went in to get the vodka? That must have stunk. For some reason, I thought of a verse I saw written inside a restroom stall: Here I sit, broken-hearted. Tried to shit and only farted.
“A man who procrastinates in his choosing will inevitably have his choice made for him by circumstance.”
Hunter S. Thompson
Drain, I grew up in Southern California, and the vestiges of Spanish colonialism could be seen everywhere. I was surprised when I first started visiting the Philippines that, for the most part, signs of Spanish rule have been erased. Well, there’s the Catholicism and some old forts here and there, but few overt influences of the culture that dominated for 400 years exist. I’ve never met anyone who speaks any Spanish (I sometimes order my beer in Spanish for shits and giggles), although Tagalog has some Spanish-sounding words (the girls all call me gwapo).
Kev, I took the quiz and answered that #3, #6, #8, and #9 were correct. You never graded the quiz. Talk about passive-aggressive! 🙂
Damn, I was sure I had read that time renderings like “24 hours” were always hyphenated. I was so convinced that I went back for proof. And once again, I was wrong. I’m such a Dumb-Shit.
Those movies sound as scary as my lousy grammar. Especially the one about eating Filipino food!
It’s true that many names here are of Spanish origin, and the fairer-skinned Filipinos usually have Spanish roots. But as I said in my response to Drain Snake’s comment, despite centuries of Spanish rule, there is surprisingly little left of Spanish culture here—certainly nothing like the Southwest US experience.
“So, you’ve got a whole village of doubters.” Are you sure about that?
My breathing has been excellent. Most days, I have 98% blood oxygen, and I haven’t been lower than 96% for two weeks.
I couldn’t find the comment where you answered 3, 6, 8, and 9. Could you please link it for me? I missed it in my senility.
You were close: 3, 5, 6, 8, 9.
I did ask you to tell me the rule in your own words, though.
Ah, I think you had tentatively toned answers spread over two responses. That didn’t look like a “final answer” to me. You still seemed to be guessing, wavering on 4. Answer with loud, drunken conviction!
More re: Spanish influence
Spain didn’t invest much in public education (other than indoctrination in Catholicism, which is quite a biggie).
The US started the first real public school system, supplanting Spanish with English. Still, Spanish was pretty common up until the war years. Independence and nationalism brought yet another linguistic shift to “Filipino,” which is just Tagalog with some additional loan words.
Spanish surnames are obviously one big Spanish legacy, and variations of Spanish language can certainly be heard daily in a few places like Zamboanga. Remember, Olongapo isn’t really representative of the Philippines as a whole (nor is Manila, for that matter).
But yes, visible and audible signs of Spanish influence have certainly waned in most places besides churches, forts, etc., although Spanish heritage is emphasized in locations like Intramuros and Vigan, where it adds to tourism marketing.
Pop culture and the internet — and temporary overseas employment— are spreading all sorts of variables around now: some good, some bad, and some ugly.
Regarding So Cal, in quite a few places you can go for weeks without hearing English. Que será será, por supuesto.
Salud.
Good stuff, Drain. Appreciate your insights. Vigan is on my list of places to see. I saw Fort San Pedro in Cebu, and of course, on SBMA, we have the old Spanish gate.
I don’t think they teach much about the centuries of Spanish rule in the schools here. It all starts with Rizal and the revolution. That’s fine. From what I’ve seen, the Filipino people have developed a unique culture that seems to keep them happy despite the poverty and corruption they deal with on a daily basis.