What is your nation?

Glad you asked! I’m from Vaxxy nation. Fully, of course.

Yes, I got my second dose of Sinovac yesterday afternoon. That’s as vaccinated as I’m going to get. The booster isn’t due for three months, and I will need to travel before then. If the Philippines government is to be believed, I will just need a PCR test before flying back if I don’t have the booster. That’s all I can do, so I’ll get on with the business of planning my trip. My first choice is Cambodia, but I’ll need to check flight availability. I prefer flying out of Clark in Angeles rather than making the journey to Manila. So, we’ll see. Lots of options in this big ol’ world.

I’m not feeling any real side effects from this second dose, just a little sore in the shoulder where they jabbed me. The person who gave me the shot said something that sounded like “…drink alcohol for three days,” so I got started on that last night.

I didn’t drink on an empty stomach, though. I invited Joy and her co-worker friend Jen to join me for a pork belly dinner at a relatively new place in town.

I’m not sure what it is with Filipinos and samgyeopsal, but I’m seeing more and more of this type of joint opening.
The menu. We opted for Set 3, the premium samgyeopsal package.
Meat on the grill.
Our sides.
Joy also had some ramyeon.
Jen handled the cooking chores.
Joy enjoying her pork. We all did the lettuce wrap thing for most of the meal. I’d declare it average at best. I doubt I’ll be back anytime soon.
Better than nothing, I suppose.

The girls walked home after dinner, and I went with them as far as It Doesn’t Matter. There was no one there I really knew, so I only stayed for a couple of drinks. I had gotten a message from Lydell, who used to work at the now-closed Kamto, letting me know she was now employed at Adam’s bar. I decided to pay her a visit.

When I arrived, Lydell was busy doing some paperwork. I guess that’s her job, keeping track of who’s earned what lady drink commissions. I did get a chance to buy her a drink, and we chatted some. She just started the new job yesterday, but she says she is enjoying it so far. I’m glad she landed on her feet.

It seems for a moment I was the second most important thing in Lydell’s life.
But Shantelle was happy to see me. Too bad she has a boyfriend.

I probably need to do an update of my review of Adam’s. Last night I took note of the multitude of attractive ladies on staff, but talking to the ones right next to me was almost impossible because of the loud blaring music they were playing. Good songs, just way too much volume. I likely would have stayed longer last night but for that, and with so many other options available, it will be a negative factor should I consider a return visit.

I finished up at Queen Victoria since it was just across the street. The bartender told me a Ray’s gay band was playing later, but I wasn’t in the mood for live music either. In fact, I wasn’t in the mood for anything except going home to bed. I blame the vaxx. Maybe the vaxx caused that bad pun for reggae too.

Oh, well. Today’s another day, and I’ll be SOBing at The Green Room later this afternoon.

Life is good.

3 thoughts on “What is your nation?

  1. As regular readers are aware, Joy is your regular. Or you’re her regular. Either way ,she gives you joy.
    And she’s not even your first Joy.

    Unlike most of your regulars, with whom your interactions are very direct and almost transactional, you actually adhere to the rituals of sharing dinner and drinks twice a week. That’s more often than some married couples spend together. Some may even call it dating… or a relationship. Yeah, I know you’ll cover your ears and refuse to hear that.

    Anyway, would you tell the story of how you came to be associated with this Joy? As I remember there was some trouble with her old place of employment that wound up with the law getting involved. You subsequently transferred your allegiance to Joy ; an alliance which has stood the test of time.

    In celebration of what we will call an anniversary ,why don’t you regale your readers of what sparked this particular association, and what keeps it going where others have succumbed to the ravages of time. Obviously, it’s something that is so intertwined into your life that you don’t consciously think about it , but some of your newer readers do need the tales

  2. James, well, you’ve pretty much covered the Joy saga in your comment, but I will give a little more in today’s post. Enquiring readers want to know! 🙂

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