About as high as you can get legally, anyway. I’m talking about the Central Park Reef Hotel’s rooftop restaurant/bar and pool. I rarely venture up there because it is a little too touristy for my tastes, but I’ve got to admit, the view made it all worthwhile. Well, the view and the company. Yes, Swan joined me for the evening out, and she professed to have had a good time.
Of course, things rarely go as planned, and I hadn’t planned on there being an all-day power outage. My electric company chose yesterday to trim away all the tree branches that might impede the power lines as we move into the rainy and windy season of the year. Yes, it was scheduled maintenance, but I somehow missed the announcement. When I returned home from my standard solo Thursday walk, I found myself in the dark, so to speak. No electricity means no water pump, resulting in the inability to shower (or flush the toilet). Ah, well, that’s what cologne is for, right?
So, I met up with Swan at the corner near her current and my future residence, and we walked together to Central Park. It was Swan’s first visit and I was glad to share the experience with her.
The Central Park rooftop area is well-appointed and has a pleasant ambiance.
When the time came to depart the hotel, we weren’t quite done with rooftops. Next stop, BarCelona.
After a couple more beers, we shared a trike back to Alta Vista. Dropped Swan off at her place and said our goodnight. If you are reading between the lines, yes, I am smitten. But I also know it is still too soon for her, and I just need to bide my time in the friend zone. I’m okay with that; I enjoy having some company occasionally that I don’t have to pay for when I’m out and about.
Here are some photos from my morning walk I like:
You are welcome to Relive the hike if you are so inclined:
Stay tuned for more adventures from the old man living in the best damn retirement community ever! I will forego the SOB tonight and spend the time in the company of Kim at Whiskey Girl. Hey, she asked me to come, and I always appreciate an invite. I am going to surprise her with a batch of brownies. And yes, some lady drinks to wash them down.
A diamond of a morning Waked me an hour too soon; Dawn had taken in the stars And left the faint white moon. O white moon, you are lonely, It is the same with me, But we have the world to roam over, Only the lonely are free. --Sara Teasdale
No electricity means no water pump, resulting in the inability to shower (or flush the toilet).
Hm. Since when do toilets run on electricity? Is your toilet some weird design with a pump and a motor or something?
OK, one site says this about toilets and power outages:
“Can you flush your toilet during a power outage?
They aren’t directly affected when the power goes out, provided water is still flowing and your waste system doesn’t rely on electricity. As long as the water disappears down the drain and the tank refills, there’s no reason not to flush.”
Is that your situation? An electric “waste system” (whatever that means)?
Swan taking in the view
Well, she looks gorgeous from the back!
I love the infinity pool
The infinity pool looks as if it’s got a bunch of sea urchins all over its floor.
If you are reading between the lines, yes, I am smitten.
I’m reading between the lines by noticing no pictures of her face (or other body parts), suggesting an unusual level of respect for her privacy. Did she specifically request not to be featured on your blog?
Anyway, the only red flag I see is that she’s the previous tenant of the property you’re going to move into, and she left that place a mess, with lots to be repaired. So yeah, I’d watch out for her potentially slovenly tendencies. Does she have any other red flags, e.g. children, etc.? Does she know about your blog? And does she read the blog’s comments? Am I going to have to start talking in code?
I enjoy having some company occasionally that I don’t have to pay for when I’m out and about.
If she’s really, sincerely about just chilling with you, without making financial requests or demands, and not being the usual financial drain of a typical date, I’d say this is all very good. But time reveals all, so I can’t say anything more until more is revealed over the next few weeks and months.
I like this tree for some reason
I can see right away that it’s big and sturdy and doesn’t take shit from anyone.
Good luck swanning about. (I think “to swan” is a British verb.)
I am guessing that the toilet would flush, but not refill, since it requires the electric pump put water back in the tank, and the flush is generally just gravity driven. So John, you should be good for one use.
Pretty view from the top of the hotel. How was the food (other than the appetizers)?
The place I’m in has no natural water pressure. A water tank in the basement with an electric water pump provides water to the house. So, without electricity, the water stays in the basement, and I have to go without. One toilet flush is all I have in that situation, so I have to plan accordingly.
Yes, Swan ticks all my boxes on the physical attractiveness scale. More importantly, she is beautiful on the inside as well. The first time I met her was when she was taking food donations for a charity project she was involved in on behalf of the native Aeta population here. Swan lived with her man for seventeen years, and when I’d see them around town, the love between them was obvious. Even in my envy, I couldn’t help but admire that. Now that I’m getting to know her on a more personal level, I’m impressed with her charm and wit. She has a great sense of humor (i.e., she gets my jokes) and is a good conversationalist. Oh, and she is thirty-nine years old and has no children. Perfect! As I’ve said, if things never progress beyond the friendship level, I’ll still be lucky to know her.
Swan has never come out and said anything, but she tends to cover her face or turn away when I’m taking a photo. I think she might be shy about creating the appearance of being on a date so soon after her man’s passing. Obviously, I’m going to respect her privacy in this situation. I just want her to be comfortable spending time with me knowing she is safe. I rarely tell anyone local about my blog, the illusion of being anonymous makes it easier to share my diary-like drivel every day. Still, I wouldn’t be surprised in this small town if I’m acquainted with a reader who knows her. Anyway, I think my admiration for her is evident, and I would never intentionally say or do anything to make things more difficult for her during this time of transition.
As for the “red flag,” I’ve inadvertently misled you. I’m not entirely clear on the history of the house, but the landlord had Swan and her man move in there because she couldn’t afford to maintain the place. I’ve never asked for details, but they may have been there rent-free in exchange for being a caretaker. The house is clean; it just needs lots of work, like cabinets, floor tiles, and other physical improvements.
So, we’ll see what happens next. I know Swan needs to find work (she’s applying for some jobs on SBMA this week), and I hope to employ her as my part-time Tagalog tutor to help her out some. She’s never asked for anything financially, and she has a college education and experience as a caregiver, so I think she’ll be able to achieve the independence she desires. I just want to be there to help in any way I can while I selfishly enjoy her company.
Thanks for the Brit definition of “swan.” It makes that made-up name I use seem all the more appropriate!
Brian, yes, precisely, one flush and done when the power is out. Plan accordingly!
As for the food, all we had were the appetizers. Swan claimed she wasn’t hungry. I thought the calamari was bleh, but the quesadillas were different in a good way. There were things on the menu I might try in the future, notwithstanding upscale hotel pricing.
If you keep several gallons of water next to your toilet, you can at least solve the flushing problem by manually filling your toilet tank. As for showering… I’ve been in no-running-water situations, and the answer, if you’re desperate for a cleanup, is to take a good ol’ sponge bath. I know: your own preference is to give money to the hotel industry when the water stops a-flowin’. Yeah… I guess that’s a solution, too.
Tentative congrats on at least voicing an interest in learning Tagalog. I hope to see more and more Tagalog words and phrases creep into your future posts.