…but I will never Teri. (Ahem).

I guess it may be newsworthy to report that I have hired a personal assistant/domestic helper. Her name is Teri and she is a certified caregiver who hails from Mutinlupa (Manila). In an odd and somewhat unsettling coincidence, that’s the same town where my former employee/heartbreaker resides.

I honestly don’t know a lot about Teri. We’ve been chatting some on Facebook these past few months. I eliminated her as a potential girlfriend early on. I don’t find her physically attractive and at least online she tended to get on my nerves. So, that turned out to work in her favor because I won’t be tempted to fuck her or otherwise engage in any type of relationship. I made that clear when I offered her the job. She seemed somewhat offended when I mentioned it, saying “of course not, I’m a professional!”. Well good, let’s keep it that way.

She arrived Tuesday afternoon and brought a female friend with her. I thought that was a little odd, but then again, she was meeting me for the first time in person. She told me later her parents insisted. Teri is in her mid-40s by the way. Anyway, the house wasn’t ready yet, so I put them both up in a cheap hotel room for the night. Teri’s friend left the next afternoon, and Teri slept on my couch in the apartment that night and we moved into the house the next day. Teri stays in one of the extra upstairs bedrooms.

So far, so good. Teri has been a great help in getting the house in order. Even though English here is the common language, it seems I’ve experienced a great deal of miscommunications. Teri has been an asset in dealing with the workers and even tried her hand at negotiating with Mrs. Ocampo. I warned her that was doomed to failure, but she had the guts to try anyway. So I appreciated her courage at least.

Teri still irritates me occasionally, but seems to take my impatience in stride. Which is a good thing because I’m an impatient SOB. Overall, she has been taking good care of the house and helping out with anything I ask her to do. And that’s what I’m paying her for–to make my life as easy and comfortable as possible.

In other news, I was all excited about preparing my first crockpot meal today. But the f’n crockpot doesn’t work. Brand new, right out of the box. Plugged it into the transformer I bought specifically for that purpose, and nothing. Damn it! I went through all the trouble and expense of shipping it here because I’ve not seen any slow cookers for sale in the Philippines appliance stores. May have to see about ordering one and having it shipped to me.

Oh, and I met a woman yesterday. We are supposed to have a lunch date today. Worse case scenario I’ll have something semi-interesting to blog about tomorrow. Best case, well, let’s wait and see.

I want to live
I want to give
I’ve been a miner for a heart of gold
It’s these expressions
I never give
That keep me searching for a heart of gold

And I’m getting old
Keep me searching for a heart of gold
And I’m getting old