Objective Jerk
Army Veteran Asshole that is learning to love Jesus. I use my MIC / Platform as a form of "Therapy", no schedule, no script, just whatever is floating my boat at the moment.
Objective Jerk
HOW LIFE IN THE PHILIPPINES TESTS MY PATIENCE: Graduations, Deliveries, and Heat
I share my ongoing struggle with gabapentin dependency and trying to wean myself off medication I've been taking for years, while dealing with withdrawal symptoms and concerns about long-term health effects.
• Finding myself getting tongue-tied during recent podcast recordings
• Recounting a childhood playground injury to my tailbone that still affects me today
• Struggling with gabapentin dependency after five to six years of continuous use
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms including dizziness when trying to reduce medication
• Reluctantly attending a resort vacation that turned out to be surprisingly enjoyable
• Dreading my son's upcoming graduation ceremony that will last 6-8 hours in extreme heat
• Comparing Filipino graduation ceremonies to more efficient American versions
• Discussing the corruption in construction that led to ineffective safety barriers at the Manila airport
• Preparing a Lord of the Rings book set as my son's graduation gift
Again, thanks for hanging out with me!
Please feel free to comment or send an email to theobjectivejerk@gmail.com
What's up? This is the Objective Jerk and I am so jerk how you guys doing Everybody's doing uh, I was about to say hope everybody's doing well, everybody's having a good time, but I was trying to say it in one line Everybody's gonna do well, good time. I don't know. You know I listen to my podcast occasionally, just to kind of, just to. I mean, obviously I'll listen to after I record it for, you know, for quality control and make sure that it's recording and all that stuff but I don't listen to the whole episode like I would somebody else's podcast, but sometimes I do and I think I listened I don't know, to the whole episode, like I would somebody else's podcast, but sometimes I do and I think I listened I don't know if it was the last one or the one before but it's like I'm like like mumbling, not mumbling, but I'm like getting like tongue tied and I'm just like God. I sound like I'm drunk or something. I'm like I promise you I'm not not any kind of whatever, except for my. You know what I take today. So I took some ibuprofen, man, my tailbone, speaking of which I I have not ridden my mountain bike in a while because my tailbone has just been like sore.
Speaker 1:You know, I remember being in. Where was that at? I want to say, it was like fourth grade and there was a playground and there was a slide. That the slide, I think the way they built it. It was like you had the slide and then you had the platform. So there was a little bit of a lip on the slide and there was like a bar for you to grab onto and kind of swing to kind of go down to slide, you know like as a railing or whatever. But what I did was I grabbed it and I swung and my tailbone hit the edge of the slide and this is like stainless steel.
Speaker 1:You know, this is back when they made playgrounds a test for your survival. You know, if you could survive the playgrounds back in the day, then you could survive life. Now it's like they got everything. It's like you know that's why there's so many retarded people in the world, Because they don't have the gauntlet of playgrounds that we used to have. You know what I mean? The gauntlet of playgrounds that we used to have, you know what I mean. Like we used to have shit that will kill you, you know if you're stupid or or reckless man and now everything's just padded and plastic and shredded tires and everything Anyway. So, yeah, I hit this thing and I just remember, man, that thing killed my tailbone, like I hit it hard.
Speaker 1:You know, I sometimes wonder if some of those things happen, if they kind of end up having issues. Maybe that was one of the things that kind of helped my lower lumbar disc disease. I don't think so, I doubt it. But I don't know what. If I hit my head pretty hard as a kid Roller skating once, fell back and wham, I don't think I was concussed, but I don't know.
Speaker 1:More and more evidence is coming out. You know just how detrimental head injuries are to behavioral. You know what I mean. A lot of people that have various mental problems is from a head injury. You know, oh, man, come on, I keep getting Hi, I'm here. Oh, I got deliveries coming today. Anyway, oh crap, I'm going to. Oh, that's going to suck, because I got my son's graduation today. This sucks, dude. Um, um, let me answer this real quick today, starting at 1. Anyway, let's see what happens there. Anyway, um, but yeah, so I had my, my I don't know my tailbone, just like suddenly um started hurting and so you know I take gabapentin right for my.
Speaker 1:I take gabapentin right for my mood, but gabapentin is used for so many different things and it's kind of it's a pain reliever too. Like it's a pain reliever I guess they prescribe to individuals who have you know, who are addicts. They don't want to take any kind of like Oxycontin or whatever. You know who are addicts. They don't want to take any kind of like Oxycontin or whatever you know, but still it's like there still is like a. It's not addictive, I don't think, but it's still kind of man, I've been on this stuff pretty much nonstop for like five, six years. I mean I kind of I get to a point where I'm like'm like man, I don't want to take this crap anymore. So then I'll kind of wean myself off and then I'll be good. But then all of a sudden I'll have, like it does help with my mood, man, I don't know, I got to figure out something. Maybe just take it, I don't know.
Speaker 1:We, you know, I went to a resort last week and I did not want to go. It was my wife's, my father-in-law. He saw the ad for it or whatever, on Facebook and he's like, oh, that that looks cool, and so he wanted to go to this, so he wanted us to go and I was just like, man, I don't want to go, I'm not going to go. So I was going to go at first and then I was like, okay, fine. So we went and, aside from the drive, though, it was really cool. The resort. It was very. It looked like an Ewok village. I have videos and stuff I took, but it's on my personal Facebook, but anyway. So it was pretty cool. So I was happy, I went and I had a good time. It was fun.
Speaker 1:Man, I am just all over the place. How did I get? But so I didn't need my gabapentin for that. But that's kind of usually what I say, like if I have to go to Manila for an appointment with the VA or whatever, like things like that. That's what I kind of, because it does kind of it doesn't like make me like I don't know what it does, but it does, it does work.
Speaker 1:I don't really feel much different. That's not a hundred percent, though. I mean there is a difference. It's kind of hard to explain, but so then, like, I'll wean myself off and then something will kind of and also I'll go back and take my like dose for that day or whatever, and then then, sure enough, I'm kind of back to taking the normal dosages and stuff like that. But then I'll go through and I'm like God, I'm kind of, I just I get tired of just taking medication and I just sit there and think what it's doing to my liver and everything, or my kidneys, or both. Wait, which one cleans out your kidneys, right? Yeah, so you know. And then, plus, it's like the thing that does make me feel apprehensive about taking it is when I don't take it.
Speaker 1:I do go through like a sort of withdrawals, you know, I get really like bad dizzy spells and just kind of don't feel good. You know, and that happened like a while ago when, like they were, the VA took forever to get my medication because it takes forever here, and so I didn't have medication for a few days and I really felt it. I was like, oh man, I was like I need to. So that was the first sign where I was like man, I don't know if I want to be taking this crap. So I'm trying to or not trying.
Speaker 1:I am like weaning myself off of it again. The only thing is is trying to keep. Keep myself from taking it, just trying to. You know, even if it's like okay, something's coming up or I'm like irritable, I'll just. That's the thing that was like. If I'm irritable, I can just stay in my room and stay away from everybody and I, you know, and I'm good. But then when I go, when I have to go into public and I'm irritable, you know, there's been a few times where it's come close, where I might have, I don't know, I got to figure it out, I got to figure out how to. I mean, I think I am getting better with it, you know, breathing and just kind of realizing and just telling myself to relax, not get angry, and I don't know, hopefully, but I don't know. Anyway, why was I talking about this? I guess I'm just talking about what I'm Anyway, so, oh, okay.
Speaker 1:So today is my son's graduation from his high school, and the graduation ceremonies they have here in the Philippines take all day, all day. I'm not saying like three, four hours, it takes like six to eight hours. It's ridiculous, like when we did the one from when he went from junior high school to senior, which is a little different than the states, um, but yeah, it was like dude, it was all day, because they just they milk it and they make it. I don't know, they just I don't know what it's, just it's it's. It's like infuriating too for me, you know, because I'm just in the states, when you have to go and do anything. It's like infuriating too for me, you know, because I'm just in the States, when you have to go and do anything. It's like two, maybe three hours at most, and then that's it, you're done. You know, and that was in like air conditioned, you know, controlled environment, buildings where they had the ceremonies or graduations. Here it's like hot as balls and they drag it out forever. It's like so this thing starts today at one o'clock oh, it's my dog barking in the background because we have them separated because one dog's in heat and the other ones are fighting, so that's great. Anyway, dude, what is going on? Anyway, so it starts at 1 o'clock, which is like the hottest time of the day. So I guess they have the younger kids that they're doing the moving up. So that's the other thing too. It's like you don't need to do.
Speaker 1:I didn't have like graduations every time I went to another grade. You know, it's not Billy Madison, where I have a party. Every time I won't go from second grade to third grade or whatever. It's like you, just that's it. Here they have like little mini grad graduations for each grade. It's annoying. So they're doing that for whatever other grades in the morning, like right now probably, and then they'll have the senior one at one, the hottest time of the day, which is like, oh my God.
Speaker 1:And then so I'm just dreading this, like you have no idea, it's my son's graduation. I got to go and I'm just like so, like it's, you know, there's like a mass, like I have the little thing here, but it's, you know, it's like it's got all the different whatever. So they're going to have a mass in this net, which is fine and all that kind of stuff, but it's like when they get to the graduation, oh my gosh, my dog's driving me nuts. Do I need to stop this? I don't know. Um, I think somebody let the dog. Oh my gosh, dude, sir, I'm here. Oh my gosh, sir I'm here. Oh my gosh, okay, hold on, okay, and I'm back all right. So, yeah, I had to deliver, do the? I mean, can't complain, I don't know. So I can get. You know, I get Amazon, I can order things from Amazon and it gets here and there's no problems and stuff like that.
Speaker 1:But it's just the app, where it says it's going to arrive, is always way off. It's almost like a week. It comes in a week earlier than what the app says it will, which is fine. And usually, if I check it on the day of, it'll say oh, arriving today. You know what I mean. I'm like okay, it's coming today. To be fair, I didn't check today. I don't think, let me see. But lately, though, it's been all right. It says delivered. That was quick. But usually it's like, you know, it's still like lately it's been oh, it's, it's gonna arrive, whatever.
Speaker 1:And I'm like why isn't it saying, or like I'll get a message saying, hey, I'm your delivery guy? Like I did earlier when I was on the podcast, I was getting all those texts, texts saying you know I'm your courier, blah, blah, blah. And then I'm like what the crap? It doesn't say anything about being delivered today. So it's just, the notifications and alerts are kind of gotten a little crappy. They're not as accurate as they once were, so that kind of sucks. Um, so that kind of sucks. But you know, at least I guess, at least I can get um, still order stuff here, so that's kind of nice. So you know, right, pros and cons, give and take whatever, um, but yeah, so that's why the dogs were barking like crazy. Actually, because the delivery guy, which is man, this is the they never come this early, it's usually in the afternoon, so it's kind of surprised, but it's nice they're here.
Speaker 1:I was worried because I was going to be at the graduation. So it all worked out, you know. So frustration leads to satisfaction, I guess, I don't know anyway. So the graduation, right. So the ceremony's here. So when I went to again, I know this is in America, okay, I get it. But you know, my graduation, I want to say, was like no more than three hours, but I don't even think it was that, I think it was like two and it was. You know, we all got there, we all sat in our seats, a couple people talked, the valedictorian, maybe van played something, I don't know, and then we all started going up there in alphabetical order, getting our, our certificates and, you know, our diplomas, and that was it.
Speaker 1:You know, here it's like they'll call up so many people, then they'll give them these medals. They got to take pictures and they got to get people up there. It just takes forever and it just sucks balls. Um, like I hate it. I mean, I'm I'm proud of my son, I'm happy he's graduating and all that kind of stuff.
Speaker 1:One of the things that came in today which actually wasn't supposed to come in for another few days, but it came in early was I bought him the Lord of the Rings set. He likes books and and um, so I bought him. The Lord of the Rings um is actually my wife's idea, so that's cool. So it came in so we'll be able to give that to him as a graduation present. Part of, you know, one of the one, of the one of the gifts that we're giving him.
Speaker 1:Um, but the whole thing is just so brutal. And then add to the fact that it's so hot here. Like you would think, in a country where it's so hot, if you are not able to be in like a controlled environment, they would just be like quick or let's, let's do like you know Webstream or not Webstream, you know FaceTime or something to the graduation. That way, I mean, geez, it is just brutal. So I'm just sitting there thinking like, oh my gosh, how I'm going to be sitting there sweating my balls off and just being annoyed at how ridiculous and poor planning that they do.
Speaker 1:The time management plan, it's like. Then you get people up there and it's like, and they just talk forever. It's like, dude, why don't you be courteous, shut your mouth and make it sweet and short? You know, it's like I just I don't know, it just kind of bugs me. So it's like one of the things you know. There's the driving, and then there's this. As far as the Philippines, it just like I don't know it just drives me nuts Like I don't know. They just make like certain things. Just, you know, something that takes an hour in the States takes five here, or you know, what's kind of funny, though, is like my wife though it's like what would take me 30 minutes takes her like two hours. I don't know, it's just a man-woman thing. But I don't know. I'm just not looking forward to this at all today. But so, yeah, there's that.
Speaker 1:So the whole thing with the gabapentin is like generally, I'd be like, okay, making sure I'm taking my dosage and I might even take a couple extra just to make sure. All right, I'm good, but I don't want to. I don't want to, I want to not be taking that stuff anymore. Anyway, I mean, I took one little capsule. Anyway, I mean, I took one little capsule. My prescription is six of those capsules. Are you sure you want to switch cameras? What the heck is going on? I must've hit a button, um, but so I would take six two in the morning, two in the afternoon, two in the evening. Um, that was my, my daily dosage, you know. So now I'm just taking one. Well, I was taking two yesterday and the day before, so now I'm just down to just taking one, to kind of, you know, so I can wean myself out, anyway.
Speaker 1:So, speaking of driving, right the other day at the airport in Manila a guy crashed through some barriers and hit some pedestrians, killed a kid and some other people. He had his vehicle in drive and then he inadvertently pushed down on the gas pedal and just took off and went right into people who were coming home or leaving, I don't know, and immediately. It's because here in the Philippines, with automatics, they drive with two feet. They use their left foot on the brake and they use their right foot on the gas. I've seen, you know, my wife's cousins and stuff, and they all do it, you know, instead of just the one foot, and I guarantee you he went to. That's why you know, and that's why you use one foot, because you don't have things like this happen. So he jammed on the gas instead of the brake. I don't know, I don't know the details exactly, but I know supposedly the guy didn't. It wasn't you know, it was a mistake on his end.
Speaker 1:But the thing that's crappy and this is, you know, yes, there are things that I don't like about the Philippines and this and that, but this is one thing that's really bad is the type of corruption that goes through with, like building materials, like they used to have really bad problems with, like politicians, or whatever, or funding to have bridges built and then those bridges collapsed within a few months, or whatever, because they cut corners and people pocket money. And it happens all over. It happens in the states too, but it's pretty, it's pretty common here, and so the little pillars that are at the airport, that are meant to stop vehicles, just crumbled right away and didn't do nothing. So that tells you that they, they, they probably didn't use the heavier gauge or rebar or any rebar at all. I'm sure they had to, but you know, and just mixing the concrete. Now, right, I've talked about how, on the roads, they redid a road with concrete and then it started crumbling and falling apart just within like a couple of weeks, you know. So they're not mixing it, right? I don't know if they're deciding to not adding a certain chemical to it. That's expensive, that makes it more durable.
Speaker 1:You know little stuff like that man, a lot of people here. They don't do that stuff to get rich, it's just some little extra cash here. They don't do that stuff to get rich, it's just some little extra cash. So, hopefully, I mean the guy, from what I can tell, it was just, it was a mistake, you know, but I'm hoping that the individuals that were in charge of making those pylons that are meant to keep people safe from vehicles for this exact thing, I hope they get in trouble, but they probably won't.
Speaker 1:People get away with stuff. If you got money, it's so easy to get away with stuff here, so easy, I mean. You know the same argument could be said in the States. The more money you have, the more lawyers you can, but you don't even. All you do is just pay off some people here and it's all forgotten. Okay, cool, you know, there is no trial, there's no, there's no, it's crazy. All right, um then, I guess I'll kind of end this, this episode. Oh man, I'm already at 23 minutes. I was going to talk about the AI robot that would attack in the programmers, and I was going to talk about the AI robot that went attacking the programmers, and I was going to talk about Alcatraz and stuff. Man, alright, well, I guess this is probably it. Anyway, maybe I'll save that for another one. Thanks for hanging out. I appreciate your time. Hope you're having a wonderful day. God bless, and I'll see you next time. Alright, bye.
