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THIRTY FOUR June 17 - Today is the day we all go to Why Not for breakfast. We get there on most Sundays arriving around 7:30 am. It is a buffett with all the usual American Style breakfast foods plus some things for Filipinos. We saw some of the usual buffetters, conversed a little and left about 8:30. We then went home to pack some things and head out to our regular Sunday hangout by the pool at El Dorado. At noon we left El Dorado to look at some more beachfront property. I will reserve comment until another time so as not to jinx anything. We got home at 3:00 pm. Joe and I then proceeded alone (we left mom at home) to go back to Why Not to just hang out and sip on some shakes and comment on whatever came to mind. While we were there I saw a girl go by. And not just any girl. She is probably 10 years old and all she does 7 days a week is BEG for food and money. After two weeks of this we know her well as she drives Lynn and I crazy asking us for money all the time. Lynn really gives it too her Visayan Style and all I can do it laugh. Anyway, it is obvious the only school she is attending is the street school for scamming and begging. While she drives us crazy, I really feel bad for her and angry at the system for allowing this to go on. It isn't like these beggars are so hard to find in Dumaguete. Quite the opposite in fact. Bottom line these kids should be in school PERIOD!!! We found out she is part of a huge group of about 30 that came in from Mindanao Island and they have their children go out and beg all day.
The other girl in the picture I am seeing for first time. She is probably all of 7. Shame isn't it. Well I had the camera today and thought it was time I chronicled this so I gave the older one 50 pesos to take this picture of them. The younger one was so upset she didn't get any money she wouldn't leave me alone. I gave her 20 pesos. Hopefully they will leave us alone now. It is times like this I wish I was in a position to put them into a better setting. While Joe and I were sitting in Why Not a Tricycle went by that flipped me out. Tricycles are the most popular form of passenger transportation in Dumaguete. They are generally 125cc motor scooters that have a sidecar attached. Under most circumstances they will carry 4 passengers in the side car seats. They are only about 14 cents a ride per person within the city limits. They also serve as commercial haulers carrying just about anything that has to go somewhere. It is just amazing what and how much can be loaded on one of these things and still have it be able to move at a good clip. The photo below is an amazing and classic example of what can be done with the loading of a tricycle. Absolutely incredible. I would think something like this could be a great endorsement for the scooter manufacturer. Most scooters here are either Honda, Yamaha or Suzuki. They cost about $1,300 to $2,000. And another one I took of (can you believe it) 13 people on one Tricycle on July 17.
June 19 - Lynn is about 10 days late on her period so we decided to do a pregnancy test today. And Guess what?....YES she is pregnant.
I am so excited as I have been wanting a baby for most of my adult life and it has never happened despite best efforts LOL. Of course Lynn is also excited and in fact she had a dream about twins. YIKES!!! Well for me life does begin at 50. We are planning to see an OB over the next few days and will have updates as they occur. Well Mom, you may finally become a grandmother. Dad, perhaps an opportunity to carry on the name. Summers in Italy for Alexandra (girl) and Alexander (if a boy). Other boys names under consideration (Zachary, Tyler, Riley). If you have any suggestions please put them in the guest book or please email me June 20 - Today we had a slight scare. Lynn was at home alone watching a DVD movie on the computer and in the monitor screen she saw man wearing a black shirt. She automatically yelled Daddy thinking it was me sneaking up on her as I do from time to time. Ha, Ha, Ha. As it turns out this time it wasn't me but instead a complete stranger around 25 years old wearing nice clothes and a baseball hat but, with the beady eyes of a drug addict. I guess upon hearing Lynn say Daddy he backed up a little thinking perhaps someone else was in the house. Normal protocol in the Philippines dictates when you approach someone's house you say ayo, ayo which is sort of like "hello, I am here" so as to alert persons in the house of you being there. In this case this guy had said nothing and was wearing leather shoes and not the normal noisy flip flops most people wear so she didn't hear him coming either. 2005
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