I’m going to just type this post like I’ve been keeping up with this blog. No sense in telling you, again, that I plan to keep up with posting because I’ve said that so many times in the past and always forget. Just moving on and hopefully I will keep updating. I did see many comments that I do not remember seeing before and I don’t believe I ever answered some of them. Sorry about that. Guess I still need some help in becoming an expert on how to take care of a blog.
I just got back from Cebu to see a specialist about my leg. Yeah, I’m still having problems with the legs, especially the left one. The doctor said that surgery is not required; however, I will have to start wearing hip high medical stocking, instead of just the knee-high ones. I may have to wear them for the rest of my life. My doctor here told me that if I would lose weight, then all my problems would go away. I’m hoping he is right. I don’t have that many problems. High blood pressure, gout and this leg issue are my only concerns. For someone as big and lazy as I am, it’s a blessing to not be a diabetic.
I know people say this all the time, but this new year coming up is going to be seeing a different me. I plan to lose at least 50 kg (110 pounds) in 2026. I’ve already informed our cook (Nening) and the waitstaff at Mango that starting in 2026 I will not be eating rice, bread or fried foods. Although I will be counting pizza crust as bread, I will not be counting tortillas are bread. Plus, I will still be eating pasta. I do not eat pasta very often anyway. I figure that if I do well and actually do lose some weight, then I can add in the no pasta and/or tortillas later. Also, I will not be drinking any soda and probably little to no beer. I’m not drinking beer now anyway because of some medication I’m taking. It’s been months since I’ve had a beer.
Also, next month I’ll be going back to the gym. I’ll be going 3 or 4 times per week. I used to walk to the gym, workout and then walk home. I could get back to walking all the way to the gym, but for now I’ll take a trike most of the way, probably to the sari-sari store to buy a bottle of water, then walk from there. The gym has recently been renovated, and they now have more equipment. I’m hoping I will have someone to go with me. That keeps me more honest when someone else is depending on me to help them also.
Today, 14 Dec 25, we will start wrapping presents for the SPED (Special Education) children at a local school. It’s 2:15 in the morning now, so that will be around noon. I forget the day we are to deliver them, but I think on the 19th. Also, I believe on the 22nd, we will be doing our barangay feeding. We collect money throughout the year, plus get donations from other expats to feed an entire barangay. One that is pretty poor. I forget the name of the barangay this year, but it has about 550 residents. Food consists of meat (probably pork), rice and vegetables. There is also the Mango staff/resident Christmas party on the 23rd. They always invite me to that party even though I do not live or work there.
I have informed my wife that for my birthday next month I will be buying myself a new cell phone. The one I have is a real pos and I’m so tired of messing with it. I have never actually owned a good cell phone while living here in the Philippines. I’ve only had 2nd hand one and not of good quality. I’ve always wanted to buy a new one but something else always seems to take priority. This is the phone I will be ordering from Lazada: POCO X7 Pro 12+512G. Cost is about P17k, including delivery (about $288 at the current rate exchange). It will be the most expensive phone I’ve every purchased straight out. I’ve had more expensive phones in the US, but those were paid with payments through the cell phone company. Her birthday is next month also (January 1st) and she told me today what she wanted. Her present will cost about P15.4k ($261). Our pay raise at the end of the year will help a little with some of that payment.
Well, it’s almost 0230 and I should be getting to bed. I need to be up before noon to go help wrap the presents for the SPED students. Plus, I’m starting to get tired anyway. I really hope that I will continue to monitor this blog and write a post at least once per week. I’m going to shoot for twice per week, but who knows how it will work out.
Speaking of “work out”, that will be part of my future posts, my workouts and weight status. Maybe if I know I will be posting my weight loss/gain on here, it will encourage me to do better. I don’t want to post that I gained weight, but I will if I do. Gym membership is P1k per month (approx. $17). Or I could just pay P80 ($1.35) per visit. I figure that if I’m going to be going to the gym less than 13 times per month, it would be better to pay the P80. Right now, my plan is to visit at least 14 times per month. Hopefully after 2 or 3 months I will be used to going and can increase the visits to a minimum of 16 times per month. I know it’s not easy, but if it will get rid of my leg problem, it’s worth it. My ultimate goal is 199 pounds (approx. 90.5k). Just so I can see a number starting with a “1” instead of the current “3”. I’ve found a scale, at my hospital, where I can weigh. So far, it’s the only scale I’ve found that goes high enough to weigh me. All the other scales max out at 300 pounds.
Oh, I was wondering if anyone knew the procedure for putting pictures and/or karaoke on YouTube videos? I have some songs that I’ve written (at least the lyrics) and I have them posted on YouTube, but most of them are blank, just a black screen. I’d like a free version of how to do the pictures/video/karaoke. Also, looking for a way to write the melody notes of my songs. I will leave a link to one of my songs with each post. Please let me know what you think of it. I’m not a professional, but I believe several of the ones I’ve written are pretty darn good.
Alright, I’m about ready to post this now. I just need to find a picture to post with it. I’ve got a couple of places that I can get AI generated pictures now, so that won’t be a problem anymore.
Here is my song post for today: https://youtu.be/pRbPjdfHWQk (Riding Alone).
Salamat Y’all
About the Author
I haven’t seen your blog in many, at least 5, years. Yours is the only one of six still standing. Thank you.
For several years I read everything I could on countries that would fit my life after Nicaragua has deteriorated into a dictatorship. Most of the 23 godchildren are now adults and getting along with their lives. We keep in touch with WhatsApp and I visit for about six weeks each year.
I read everything I could on the Philippines, Malaysia, India and Indonesia and ended up in southern India. Beautiful, unhurried, much like Nicaragua and Hawaii in my youth.
Happy you haven’t given up on blogging like too many others. It’s great to expand on thoughts and ideas that social media rarely allows, Such is modern day attention deficit.
I found out I have diabetes two months ago. Massive dietary changes and the temptations here are many. Pastries and rice are the rule, neither I’ll eat more than once a month. I don’t like meds so experimenting with other ways to control, having good results with Alpha-GPC, a kind of Choline.
First post here I’ve read in years. I’ll work my way back. Again, thanks for sharing these thoughts.
I’m not near as active here as I used to be. I keep saying I will get back into it, but never do. Sometimes it’s months before I do another post. I’ll keep trying to stay on top of it though. I guess most people are now doing VLogs, but I don’t think that’s for me.
Thanks for hanging in there and continue to check out the blog.