The Philippines. Medical tourism. Sex tourism. Yesterday, the redneck had his teeth cleaned at this "high end" dental office. I say high end because prices are very high---compared to 80% of other dental offices here. A root canal? 100 dollars. Oh we're not going to compare this place with the ones in the US, as it will make me gag when I think about how much I paid for mine---1000 usd per tooth.

The place has top of the  line instruments and tools and cool looking baby pink seats! Redneck paid 30 dollars for the cleaning instead of 18 usd because his teeth is "very coffee stained" per the doctor who did it. Oh, yes, it's not a dental hygienist who does it---it's the dentist herself. The place is called Dentaland in Ayala mall. A group practice of several dentists with different specialties.

What about "sex tourism" as we're famous for. Well, where do I begin? There's Fred from San Antonio, Texas; a bulky man in his late 60's. He said he's been coming to Cebu for 14 years to "unload" his stress and escape from the bad weather. (I think the bad weather excuse was an after thought) As you sit around the hotel, where my friend Billie and redneck are staying, you can see white men, old white men to be specific feeding their infant girlfriend at the hotel restaurant. Then yesterday, sitting next to us was a fairly good looking white male eating with his dainty, dark skinned, beautiful girl who looked barely 11. The man was sitting there happy and amused. Then he opened his mouth and laughed. At least 4 front teeth were missing from his gums! But the girl didn't seem to mind, she was busy talking to her 3 other little friends and enjoying a hefty meal they normally would not be eating were it not for this toothless white guy. Oh I need to shut up.

My subjects and I spent 3 days at the farm. Now we're back in the city and the redneck has to be taken to the doctor because he woke up barely able to talk from a swollen uvula.....you know that dangly thing at the back of your throat? Yup. And his foot got infected from a blister from walking  up and down the hill at the farm. Imagine that. The doctor wasn't even worried about the swollen dangly thingy, she got really excited looking at the friggin red toes. Well, the toes were red because I put merthiolet in them because I was told this is a wonder drug. Now, the doctor told me to stop using it because "it's now banned". Banned? So why is still at the stores? Because in the Philippines, everything is for sale.

What always saves the day and brings me back to life are my plants.  The last typhoon knocked down my papayas but they're still hanging on to dear life.

My favorite fruit---chicos or sapote. It is finally bearing fruits and hopefully by the time I get back to tend to them full time, I will have a big harvest. I am slowly populating my farm with fruit trees of my childhood, fruit trees my dad surrounded our house with when I was growing up

and hopefully Kalya will love this place and continue farming even after I am gone on to be with Y'shua, because this will all  be left to her.

Ok here I am again in the island. With my charges or I prefer to call them my subjects. I am still half dazed from jet lag and just plain loss of control of my brain.

Important thing to do today: Get a bank safety deposit box. Finally. I now have Kalya to leave my jewelries I have accumulated through the years. Because Chat doesn't like gold, I started selling some of them in the last 5 years, and converted it to cash to use to buy my farm in the island. (Also because I didn't want to have to worry about leaving them when I am travelling). Now things are starting to have a real purpose in my life, and I now have a long-term vision and purpose for my farm in the island. I want to get it ready and developed for when Kalya turns 5.  I am seriously looking into making my farm a "food forest" and I also want to start raising tilapia fish. There's no time to fool around anymore because I know that when Kalya turns 5, she will leave home and live the vagabond life. Just like me.

"Home is where Chat is." That was my usual reply when someone asks me where home is, especially with me going back and forth to the Philippines. So where is Chat now? Well, after 30 years she finally left Texas, and I'm still here trying to decide where my home is going to be further on.

For now, I'm still waiting for good hearted souls to respond to my sign.

Ok. What is overrated, exaggerated and portrayed on tv like it's what actually happens in most bedrooms in America? Sex. Yup, that's right. S.E.X.

Come on. I don't  know about you, but sex is too much work. TV portrays sex as something for leisure and pleasure, something you do at random; no brushing of teeth (or mouthwash at least) and no clean up to do after it's consummated. Seriously? Do you both just lay there enjoying the afterglow? Taking in the aroma of sweat and  Clorox smell of that concentrated goo spilled somewhere in the neighborhood between your legs and your abdomen? Really? Who does that? Do you know why some so-called sex experts tout sex as good for your coronary? It's because a self respecting woman should jump out (even  before he becomes unconscious or act "spent") and do like she's doing the trampoline, until her cavity is fully drained of any foreign goo that entered her and then run to the bathroom and scrub herself wild with the real Clorox.  That alone, is at least a 15 minute cardio work out.

Ok. So I over exaggerated a little. But. Still. I'm willing to forego the 2 minute pleasure because clean up is a bitz and I don't care for any cardio work out anyway.

Ok, this week we finalize our move. It must be my luck without trying that I always get to live in an area near a creek. I bought the land for my farm in the island not based on what it offered in terms of produce, but because it had a creek nearby. Here in Dallas my apartments were -Prairie Creek, Alta Creek, Waterview Creek and now I live on Rock Creek.

The deck overlooks the creek.

Of course, I have to feed the redneck after he helped me move.

Ok, I have been out of circulation because I am without internet because of the move. I know you are saying that it's impossible to be unconnected in this country, but yes, this is my situation for now. I do have internet on my phone---finally, I gave in and got me a smart phone, but I can't blog from it.

God willing I will be leaving for Cebu at the end of the month. I have thoughts in my head I want to put down but it is escaping me --which is mostly my constant now. Oh well, at least I still remember not to do a run on sentence. Or maybe not. Sorry, you'll hear more from me. At least in this lifetime. Promise

It's only 3 days into 2014 and I am already feeling way too old. While everyone else reported of being sick around Christmas, I was rolling along just great. And then, it hit yesterday. Runny nose, chills and body aches. But at least I got to pay off one of my two credit cards today. Now, I only got one left and should be paid off by end of this year. At least this is the goal. God willing of course.  I've always felt that ultimate freedom is financial freedom, but as long as I am healthy, I consider that as Gods' blessing no monetary wealth can equal.
Although I'd like to be able to baffle everyone around me on my death bed just before I take my last breath, and say: "I've left a million dollar in the....."

I have no internet access just yet because I am moving to another location. I am trying to welcome the new year by not being so attached to the social media. But then again, what else is there to do?
Last night I went with the redneck and my friend Billie to watch the hockey game.

Look at the 2 of them having a ball with the cheerleaders.