Life on the Sea

While serving in the Coast Guard, I never thought I would ever want to board a cruise ship after my duty had completed. I certainly had enough time out to sea. Here I am, just booking the 14th cruise in my lifetime. I remember my first one ever was on the Carnival Ecstasy to the Virgin Islands way back in 1994. The Ecstasy has since been refitted and remodeled and I believe she is still in duty.

Once the sea is in your blood, you can never leave it. The ocean is a mighty magnet and I am sure that is why I live on the Pacific Coastline. Last month I went aboard the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier, now a floating museum in San Diego Harbor. She is pretty much intact and while explaining to my family all the different functions and gear aboard the ship, I learned that even the things I learned as a boatswains mate in the Coast Guard had never left me. It was my youth on Catalina Island and my fathers love for boats and ships that kept me interested in the sea. I don't care for the beaches but I do love the ocean.

While I was on the Midway I was able to show my wife many pictures of her in port at Subic Bay in the Philippines, her home. I was frantically trying to explain the strategic location of the Philippines as an active American base and why it was vital for our planes to be able to make runs to neighboring islands that were held in WWII by the Japanese and also bombing and flight runs to Vietnam during that conflict in the 1960's and 70's. She looked at me as if I had another eye on my forehead as I was getting too technical and historical on her. I could easily explain that her uncle George, a US Navy seaman met her Filipina auntie there in Olongopo during base occupation but off of another ship that was anchored in Subic Bay.

My sea worthiness is roughly 17 days in which afterwards I become sea-bored. It is about that time I am starting to need land. Well, this sailing will be with Princess Cruises. I have never sailed with Princess but I have been with some of the best and some of the most mediocre ship lines. The most luxurious ship I was aboard was White Star Lines whom was the owner of the great Titanic liner. They are still a first-class company with impeccable service and a deck you could eat off of. I am looking forward to this second family journey aboard a cruise ship. The foods and the entertainment alone will be the highlight for my girls. not to mention the unlimited ice cream! This time we will be joined by another Filipino-American couple and are looking forward to the time together. Until then -- "Full steam ahead."

My early days aboard a cutter-class ship

My first cruise was aboard this ship, Carnival Ecstasy

We sailed the Norwegian Cruise ship Jewel in 2015

Next adventure will be Caribbean Princess from Ft. Lauderdale

Editors Notes

The Downfall of Social Media

The visitation traffic hits on this original blog astounds me greatly. While the original writings were first posted in May of 2017 it received very little traffic until the last four months. While I am not quite certain, I can trace most of the traffic to this posting directly from Facebook.

From what I am hearing from the people most affected by Jen Bruins reign of revenge are the people she has falsely gone after the most. This ongoing episode of drama and poor judgement clearly started with Nate Bruins' long distance affair. And while I feel pity for the pair, Jen Bruin has tried to go after everyone for her husbands mistake except for whom she should clearly blame. That would be herself.

Had she not drawn this attention to herself on social media, and tried to blame everyone for her husbands demise, this blog would have still been left untouched. Three of the Filipina I personally know that have been affected were, in the beginning, very supportive of Jen and tried to help her in her time of pain and suffering.

Like us, they were chastised for something they took no part in. Even the mistress was a victim that was clearly lied to by Nate from the very beginning. They need to put their life back together and stop looking for sympathy by blaming everyone but themselves. Get off of social media would be a reasonable start. You especially should never share your marital problems online!

This author simply is taking a back seat and watching it all like a kid at a carnival for the first time. It's amazing how many people got hurt because one guy couldn't keep it in his pants. Including his children! It's astounding how many believable lies can be told in social media.

The quote of the last couple years says it all. "Fake News"

Some "Foreigners" are Morons

So I see these guys that meet a Filipina online or in dating sites and then court them when they don't have any money, paying their ex-wives alimony or still have issues with their kids or ex from the first, second or third marriages. How gullible some Pinay are that stay with these idiots.

They meet these Filipina when they can barely take care of themselves, some of them in their 40's living with mommy and daddy still. Why would a Filipina want to be broke and live in the United States (or any other western country) alone when she can be broke in the Philippines and be around her friends and family? Some of these guys just don't get it.

I have heard the expression "we are bound together by love and not money" and I can't help but laugh inside. There is no woman out there that doesn't want to have nice things, wear decent clothes, eat at a nice restaurant and travel to gorgeous places. Certainly not having to shop at a garage sale or thrift store when in America reminding her of the ukay ukay stores in her own country! You provide for her and her kids because you love her and that you want her to experience the flavor of living in such a wonderful country as the United States where anything is possible.

More marriages are thrown in the toilet because of money problems and these guys start the relationship not having any money at all. Maybe this is why they have a Pinay instead of an American girl because the American girl knows better. Some have even acted like they are rich at first and then it's too late for the Pinay when she gets to the states to figure it all out. There are guys that have been with their Filipina wife for many years now and she still doesn't drive nor have her own car --- Are you kidding me? I hope every Pinay that comes here to the states finds friends that she can confide in and understand that they were not brought here to be some guy who has two marriages under his belt and is his maid. Filipina are better than that.

Let your wife work, prosper and be someone special in her new country and allow her to have a decent wage to enjoy her life. You took her from her country now give her what she deserves for loving you so much. You would never have the chance of being with such a younger, more beautiful woman in America and she can certainly leave you for someone who will provide better for her. Always remember that!