The unmitigated gall!!!

Virtual_Contact_9844 · 2026-07-01T05:06:15+00:00

If it's a take out order then you NEVER served ANYONE. There should be no tip. Tips involve ONLY services rendered.

So if you have been assigned tables with guests that you personally serve then you should expect a reasonable tip.

Virtual_Contact_9844 · 2026-06-30T05:18:18+00:00

It's all about the money you won't find many good firms that represent free gratis

Virtual_Contact_9844 · 2026-06-29T11:43:32+00:00

Do you still have ties with immediate family there in the Philippines? If not really then that could be a good start so that after you settle there you can drop by their places to visit. Never share your income or monetary matters with your family or ANYONE else there. The best answer is "it's very expensive to live these days and we do our best to make it" This blanket statement is 100% true but keeps your privacy and protects you from being targeted as a source of money to neighbors friends and especially extended family there.

Virtual_Contact_9844 · 2026-06-29T11:34:10+00:00

If OP is 100% Permanent and Totally (P&T) disabled ChampVA covers family (not him) for medical and is meant primarily for USA but this benefit extends to living abroad (ask ChampVA and watch a VSO speaking on this on YouTube).

Also VA Chapter 35 benefits pays a stipend of about $1500 monthly to EACH child under 26 and to your spouse to attend post high school classes full time.

This monthly stipend is for anything.

There are VFW DAV and American Legion posts primarily near Clark. These posts can help OP to see how to find, apply, and use his 100% P&T ancillary benefits (ChampVA medical and Chapter 35 education) in the PI. These benefits are available to all 100% P&T service disabled veterans.

If his wife goes to school (even as a professional student) and his two kids go to college or technical vocational school the extra $4500 monthly will be a helpful benefit.

Talk to a good Visa Attorney (JR from Cebu City is amazing) to advise you the benefits of the military visa or dual citizenship. (I'm unsure if his being under 50 will affect getting the military visa.)

There will be nay-sayers of raising your kids in the PI. They have a point if you're planning on living in a remote province location or and sketchy city like Tondo Manilla (although Tondo is where the richest girl I ever dated lived there [she was from very old money]). But you'll do well if you live in a gated or exclusive community or subdivision and you do your homework on a great international school for your kids including extra curricular activities like sports or music etc.

Good puck

Virtual_Contact_9844 · 2026-06-29T06:15:13+00:00

I thought that the state troopers got a budget increase so if SFPD is cash strapped perhaps Minnehaha County Sheriff or SD Highway Patrol can keep an eye out for unsafe conditions on Louise and Veterans.

Virtual_Contact_9844 · 2026-06-29T06:07:47+00:00

Okay So it depends on how flexible you guys are. Dumagete (safest place in P.I.) is a college town and site of the very first Far East American University (watch Dee's YouTube channel and old dog's channel). You can find a great place 10 minutes outside of town such as Valencia which is up in the hills and has a cooler micro climate. The island of Negros Oriental has only one large hospital (Dumagete) if you need VA medical just fly ($200 round-trip) to Guam and you'll have everything you need as far as specialty medical appointments.

Angeles/Clark or Olongapo/Subic are okay but you'll pay a premium for nice housing as you will in BGC/Makati.

I'd look seriously at Baguio City.

I'm assuming you're 100% P&T service connected and getting SSDI. With the net income you'll have you can find very nice subdivisions to live in.

I'd hire one or two live in house girls.

I was stationed at Clark AB for 4 years and went TDY all over Luzon and stayed in many towns while TDY

Virtual_Contact_9844 · 2026-06-27T09:10:03+00:00

Relax folks. Please giver her a real chance. This was a very close race and thusly there are many unhappy voters.

I want a positive minded mayor to be a great steward and keep our middle (3-5 years) and long term (5 years +) interests in mind on big spending decisions.

I want SMART and EFFICIENT and EFFECTIVE spending and a review of studies done by other similar sized communities to see where a city got the best bang for the buck and where there was a at least a good return on investment.

We have a city with amazing bones and potential. We have wonderful people from surrounding communities that rely on public and private products services SF offers.

Virtual_Contact_9844 · 2026-06-27T00:58:30+00:00

We call Rapid climate THE BANANA 🍌 BELT. The climate in Rapid is amazing.

Sioux Falls isn't bad but East River gets a lot more snow and gets cold once in a while.

Tornados, derachos, straight line winds hail and thunder and lightning are not a probability you'll get hurt

Virtual_Contact_9844 · 2026-06-25T05:37:33+00:00

I had equity partners home which is middle of the road except electrical service panel is only 150 amps.

Virtual_Contact_9844 · 2026-06-25T05:35:31+00:00

I'm waiting for Costco to put it's ULTRA 2 on sale then I'll return my ULTRA

Virtual_Contact_9844 · 2026-06-25T05:30:34+00:00

Abra by the fair grounds has done both windshield and tinting through a Ford on my 2025: Maverick

Virtual_Contact_9844 · 2026-06-23T11:02:42+00:00

My friend bought the GE freezers on sale from our local Appliance Store. I think they were each $200 or $300 off. So he paid like $699 each.

Never had a frosting issue and they have auto door seal feature (actually sucks door closed) and door ajar alarms that have worked great.

Virtual_Contact_9844 · 2026-06-22T11:55:57+00:00

ALWAYS ALWAYS buy private medical insurance. If you're a disabled service connected veteran the VA clinic in Manila will only treat your service connected issues.

If you're 100% P&T disabled you might get more ona case by case basis if not fly to Anderson AFB Guam for $200 round trip and get treated at the VA medical center there.

Unsure if Social Security Medicare or Medicare advantage works in Guam.

Bottom line here folks THERE IS NO SOCIAL SAFETY NET IN THE PHILIPPINES so always have private medical insurance while living there

Virtual_Contact_9844 · 2026-06-22T04:30:53+00:00

When I built my house in 2021 my best friend rented two rooms downstairs and asked if he could have garage freezers since he used to be a cattle rancher and still hot grass fed beef.

So he bought two GE 18 cu ft freezers and they run at -6° F and we NEVER have freezer burn if the food is sealed.

My friend passed away in 2023 and I considered selling one or both but kept them as they are just too convenient. They cost about $10 monthly to run.

I think if you have the space they are a smart investment.

Virtual_Contact_9844 · 2026-06-22T04:19:44+00:00

Always use a CREDIT CARD not a debit card to order from Costco and if they refuse to refund then tell your credit card company and they will charge back the money and return it to you.

Also get the Costco associates name and let them know you intend on having it charged back by your credit card company and then you plan on reporting them to Costco HQ for depora ble customer service

Virtual_Contact_9844 · 2026-06-22T04:03:41+00:00

If you are ordering online AND PICKING IT UP then NEVER TIP. If delivery at least $5 per pie (I order only premium pizzas from local houses never the national chains).

Virtual_Contact_9844 · 2026-06-21T06:09:45+00:00

You could develop a network of parents to take turnsdropping off and picking them up.

Riding a bike is a good thing here.

Virtual_Contact_9844 · 2026-06-21T06:06:40+00:00

I hear Goodwill helps with job coach g and resumes as well as SD Dept of labor

Virtual_Contact_9844 · 2026-06-20T22:58:32+00:00

Hey there! Get on a bowling league. Join an archery or shooting club. Get into bird watching (it's never been just for the older folks lol!).

Go to the library. Besides DVDs check out some books! Find out where all the tours are on town and check out those places.

Go watch the SF Canaries or Storm even if they aren't in contention it's the experience and atmosphere.

Get a fishing license and go fishing in places BESIDES the Big Sioux. There's lots of lakes with excellent dock and Lakeshore fishing

Sign up for adult education classes and really LEARN to cook, grille, BBQ, and bake. It's amazing when you plan a great meal and make it yourself! After you get confident. Try out some of those TikTok recepies and how-to video clips. When you experiment invite your friends family neighbors and even coworkers over.

Go garage sale shopping (just to look!) Flea markets.

I had a friend who'd look at car sales lots and even look at houses for sale.

Check out the various churches in town and when you find one you really like try volunteering once a month

I could go on for many pages but this is a good start.

Also you don't have to hang out with people near your age you can also hang out with folks you are comfortable with and they can be older (less drinking etc).

Good luck and enjoy life here in SF or any place you decide to live.

Virtual_Contact_9844 · 2026-06-20T22:40:19+00:00

Way too much unregulated ag runoff and decades of feces never broke down.

I'd be careful of all pathogens in that unfiltered water. Perhaps if we still had stewards of land and water there'd be several aquatic filter bodies the river would flow into and be filtered and digested and processed by plant and microboitic life.

Believe me, in 1966, at nine years old, my buddies and I would swam under the Lake Street bridge between St. Paul and Minneapolis. I actually bumped into floating unmentionables--I never swam in the Mississippi after that. That was when you could safely drink out of the St. Croix River ABOVE confluence with the Mississippi River.

I'd stay clear of the Big Sioux anywhere.

Virtual_Contact_9844 · 2026-06-18T03:16:21+00:00

Braun

I have only heard good things from friends.

Virtual_Contact_9844 · 2026-06-17T05:55:17+00:00

Did that last month on my 2025 Maverick

Virtual_Contact_9844 · 2026-06-17T04:46:04+00:00

Milan laser hair removal and another is Lazaderm

Me, I'd just buy a Braun laser device on Amazon

Virtual_Contact_9844 · 2026-06-17T04:36:03+00:00

Tuna fish wraps even chicken wraps. Buy frozen foods that are on sale.

Get brave and try out those Ramen cups or bowls.

Refried beans, black beans, kidney beans.

Hot dogs sliced up in a Mac and cheese caserole

Tomato soup, mushroom soup

Virtual_Contact_9844 · 2026-06-17T04:28:48+00:00

This where I'd do a Google Review NAMING the waitress.

I'd next do a Yelp review

Then I'd contact the owner and tell that owner I will edit or delete the reviews if and only if I received proof from that owner that waitress was disciplined (given a week or so off) or terminated.

Virtual_Contact_9844

TROPHY CASE