We dispensed all the candy on yesterday’s walk in less than 5K. There were lots of kids out and about looking forward to our arrival. Sometimes, I think about doing the candy walk in different areas for a change of scenery, but that would mean a lot of disappointed children in San Isidro. So, it is what it is, at least for now.
Later, I fed the five Hideaway girls. There were a couple of other customers this time, but Joy says it’s been quiet for quite some time. I asked her why that was, and she said it was because there were not many girls working now to attract customers. I asked why you don’t hire more girls. She responded that they can’t afford to until there are more customers. I believe there is a business term for that kind of doom loop, but I can’t think of it now.
After Hideaway, I crossed the highway for my rendezvous with Swan at John’s place.
We did our nightcap at Wet Spot. It was Aine’s birthday, but she was a no-show. Apparently, she was recovering from a generous customer the night before. And so ended another sweet Sunday.
I had a rough night last night, waking around midnight not feeling quite right. Slapped on the oximeter and my blood oxygen registered 85–that’s a record low for me. Puffed my inhaler and fired up the nebulizer, and got back into the low 90s. I used my oxygen tank and returned to the “normal” range before going back to bed. Rechecked the oximeter when I woke this morning, and I registered low normal at 95. I have no idea what’s going on this time, but I think it may be my lungs don’t function well when I’m in a prone position sleeping. Hopefully, this, too, shall pass–before I do!
I’ve got a Hash coming up this afternoon, so we’ll see how the lungs hold up in the hills.
With an election on the horizon, I’m expecting more of this nonsense from all the social media giants working hand-in-hand with the powers that be. Well, except this time Twitter (X) isn’t completely in the government’s pocket. We’ll see.
Thanks for the memories, though.
Two years ago, I had a surprise birthday party for Aine at Wet Spot. It was a nice time, but the surprise was on me. She told me she had met a guy and was moving to Singapore with him. I wished her well, but she was back a year later. And so goes the life of a bargirl.
Today’s YouTube is from Reekay, and he addresses the issue of noise pollution in the Philippines. In my view, he understates it somewhat. After litter, the lack of respect for peace and quiet is probably my biggest peeve. It manifests itself in many ways, music (and worse, videoke) being played at full volume. Motorbikes without mufflers. Barking dogs. And, of course, roosters crow at all hours, but especially in the early morning. I joke that living in Alta Vista subdivision is not at all like living in the Philippines, but I can still hear the Philippines from my house. There is a rooster farm just across the river from me, and I can hear them, but I’ve acclimated enough now that it is just background noise. I occasionally hear the locals in Santo Tomas doing karaoke (yes, that’s how loud they play it) as well. Anyway, it is what it is; you either adapt or live miserably. Take a deep breath. Relax. Accept the Filipino way and all that.
Humor me:
More to come tomorrow.
Looks like you still had a productive day, John. Yesterday morning for me started like any other. Woke up before my alarms, went on to the porch for a breakfast cigarette and beer. I could hear my neighbor, Matt, doing something on his porch; I don’t know what as there’s this plasterboard divider that separates our porches. I haven’t seen him since my ex was here with the police; he walked out of his apartment towards his car, swinging his keys and whistling, sees the police cruiser in our driveway and promptly about-faces and heads back into his apartment. He disappeared for a few days a while back and the ex suggested he might have been in legal trouble. On a whim I looked him up and he’d been busted a few times for DUIs. I’m sure he’s just thrilled by the amount of police attention the ex and I have brought to this place.
Ended up spewing, halfway into my second beer. Just came up out of nowhere and not even the thumb-in-hand technique could ward it off. Started with a persistent, phlegmy, cough, and then my abs suddenly clenched and I noisily puked on the porch. I could hear Matt stop whatever he was doing before heading back inside.
Thankfully by my third beer I came right and there were no more vomit issues. I am sure Matt appreciate the break in spewing, perhaps almost as much as he appreciated the Uriah Heep I blasted on my stereo all day until pass out time.
I hope the candy route isn’t becoming a problem, and that this isn’t evolving into a “no good deed goes unpunished” situation. You’re giving out bags and bags of candy every week now. Is it starting to become too much? And if so, what can be done? That’s a ton of kids coming out every week. No surprise, I guess, in a Catholic country where being fruitful and multiplying is encouraged. I can’t imagine the PI suffering the same sort of demographic crisis currently plaguing Japan, China, and South Korea.
Kev, no, it is not a problem. We are logistically limited in the amount of candy we can carry, so the challenge is to not disappoint any kids who are looking forward to their ration of sweets.
And you are correct; I do not think the Philippines will be impacted by the pending Asian population implosion. The country is full of horny and fertile young women who don’t use birth control, and abortion is strictly illegal.
The heart is a lonely Hunter, Thompson. Enjoy your life while you have it.
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!”
–Hunter S. Thompson