On and on I go

Another Sunday has come and gone. I guess I am of Scottish blood because I didn’t give a thought to wearing green or otherwise celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day. Still, I took comfort in my familiar routines and appreciated the joy of living the life I have chosen. It may not be perfect, but it satisfices.

Swan and I began our morning with the weekly candy walk. I had planned an 8K route, but the candy (and there was a lot of it) was gone after only 5K. We are doubling up on our candy purchase for next week.

Genesis. (In the beginning…)
The first of many stops.
The more the merrier.
A natural beauty.
Two of our regulars. They always hear us coming.
Lots more kids out and about than usual, that’s why our supply depleted so quickly.
What about me?!
Swan is so popular!

Later in the day, I took care of the feeding at Hideaway. Five dinners this week.

I didn’t feel like baking brownies, so I brought Choco Pies for dessert. And some seaweed to snack on.
As usual, I had the food delivered from Jewel Cafe. Joy had the chicken breast.

With my Hideaway mission completed, I headed for the beach.

Lots of folks enjoying some sea and sand on a Sunday afternoon.
We had some rain early in the afternoon, enough that I carried an umbrella for the first time in months, but the skies cleared up by five.
A view from the Arizona floating bar.
And another
Here comes my baby
Welcome aboard, Swan!

We were the only customers. There were eight girls and the two raft drivers. After an hour or so of watching them sit with nothing to do, I had the cashier make some change and give me ten 50-peso notes. Then I announced, “Is anyone here bored?” Everyone raised their hand, and I gave them some pesos to cheer them up. Hey, it’s cheaper than buying everyone a lady drink.

And then the sun did its thing.
Thanks for another day!
A lonely fisherman on the bay at sundown.

After departing the floater, I took Swan to Jewel Cafe for dinner. I am a regular Sunday customer for takeout, but I rarely have a sit-down meal there.

I enjoyed my healthy chef salad. And Swan would brook no discussion of bringing something home for dessert. It is good to have someone to drown out that voice in my head.

Life is good. I’m going to try to hold onto mine for as long as possible.

Alright, let’s do the Quora Q&A for the day:

Q: Is Joe Biden the most feared world leader?

A: He scares the hell out of me. Nothing good can come from his level of incompetence.

I answered that two years ago. It has only gotten worse since that time.

Speaking of jokes, how about these?

Hey, I resemble that remark!
What are the odds?
I’ve got a hole in my pocket. I don’t feel crazy, but I do feel nuts.

Okay, another Hash Monday is upon me. Guenter (Vienna Sausage) is the Hare, so I know I’ll be doing a modified version of his trail. I’ll let you know how that goes tomorrow.

Before it’s too late

I guess a downside to routines is engaging in unhealthy ones. Or maybe it is the genes I wear. My mother was diabetic and eventually died from congestive heart failure. Dr. Jo advises that the path I’m currently walking will likely lead to full-blown diabetes and kidney damage. Not the news I was hoping for.

Doctor’s orders

Perhaps it is not too late to change the road I’m on. I must limit my sodium intake to less than 2 grams daily. That means diet discipline I haven’t been able to muster recently, but oddly enough, I now feel a strong motivation to do so. Kidney failure and the resulting dialysis would be a nightmare that would be difficult for me to endure. The memories of my mom doing insulin injections are also nothing I want to replicate. Dr. Jo has doubled my metformin dose and wants to see me again on Friday to check my progress. My primary outward symptom is the swelling in my lower legs from fluid retention. This also puts a strain on my kidneys.

So, I’m overdue on taking positive steps to maintain my health. Hopefully, it is not too late.

Went out for a bit last evening with Swan. Started at Green Room and played a game of pool for the first time in a long while and was as crappy as I always was.

I won’t be quitting my day job, that’s for sure.

We finished up at Wet Spot, where Swan chatted with her friend Aine and I enjoyed Daddy Dave’s company. We grabbed some takeout at Sit-n-Bull (I had a healthy Salisbury steak). I went to bed early as usual, but now I sleep with my legs elevated on a pillow, which is supposed to help reduce the swelling.

And so begins the first day of the rest of my life.

Quora Q&A:

Q: What was it like on your last working day before you retired? Were you happy or sad to be leaving? Are you enjoying retirement or would you like to go back to work?

A: My last day at work was all about goodbyes, so that part was sad. I knew it was unlikely that I’d see most of these people I had worked with and cared about for years ever again. When my last workday ended, I left the office and went straight to the airport, where I got a plane to begin my new life in the Philippines. That was the exciting part of my last day as a working man. I am enjoying my retirement. I still miss the people but not so much the work.

Looking back, I regret that I didn’t live in the moment more during my last years in Korea. Too much looking back in sorrow and dreaming of a better future to appreciate the life I was living at the time.

I could use a laugh or two, how about you?

Maybe he was Middle Earth’s Jesus.
Book ’em, Dano
Return to sender, address unknown.
Get it while you can!

Sorry for the downer of a post today. It will get better. Or I’ll die trying.

Palmer died of a heart attack at age 54.

Hup, two, three, four…

The Friday group hike and the SOB filled the hours of my day. More of the same old same old, but then, a good same is never bad. That seems to be the story of my golden years.

We started the hike in Subic Hills and made our way to Castillejos. A couple of wrong turns and wading across a river were the interesting events, but we hadn’t been out that way in over a year, and it was a nice change of scenery. I didn’t mind that we didn’t do much hill climbing either.

Hell, Mary, thanks for keeping us safe!
My hiking companions Gary, Scott, and Erik
A tree I liked
Hup, two, three…
…four
Must be lonely out here
Down the hill…
…and into the rice paddy. Luckily it was dry.
It’s burning season
A happy cookie recipient
I’m glad the carabao was feeling lazy.
What’s a hike without a rickety bridge crossing?
Onward, Gary
Farmland
Lots of eggplant being grown out here.
Cow in the water
And so am I
It’s all part of the adventure.
I had just eaten turkey yesterday, and then this guy showed up.
We rode back to Barretto in an airconditioned bus. Not a bad way to finish a hot hike.
Not our intended route, but we made it work. A tad over 6K when we finished.

I hadn’t been to the SOB for awhile, and last night was the 22nd Anniversary for the event.

The girls were hotter back then.

So, I drank too many beers and enjoyed the show. I came away with a pocketful of discount tickets, which I reckon will motivate me to go out and spend money in the bars for the next week or so. And that’s how I ended another Friday.

Today’s Quora Q&A:

Q: Retirees, when you first retired did you have any trouble adjusting to the new version of your days?

A: I really didn’t. At the conclusion of my final day at work, I hopped on a plane and flew to the Philippines to begin my life of leisure. In the beginning, I was kept busy with making the transition—finding a house to rent, exploring the area, and discovering my soon-to-be favorite bars and restaurants.

Now, three years on, I’ve totally adapted to my new environment. The oddest thing is that I actually start my day EARLIER than I did when I was working the old office hours. Now, I’m almost always in bed by 9:00 p.m. and up every morning at 4:30. It’s all good, though. I’m enjoying my days and my routines.

It’s been almost six years now, and I’m still carrying on. As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, even when everything is pretty much always the same, day in and day out, it’s better than a life of routines would be for me back in the USA. No regrets!

Okay, a couple of these are actually funny I think:

I’ve got to hand it to you, Jack.
He didn’t measure up.
Humanity can be hard sometimes.

Anyway, back to Dr. Jo for a follow-up this afternoon. Not sure what’s going to happen after that. I’ll let you know tomorrow.

If the shoe fits, wear it.

No matter how hard I push the envelope…

…it remains stationary. It doesn’t stop me from trying, though.

I did one of my long (for me) solo walks yesterday, taking the highway to SBMA and then strolling around parts of the old Navy base I rarely see. It was nice for a change of pace and I managed eleven kilometers, almost double what I normally do. I broke my rule about not losing my cool when I decided to take a taxi back to Barretto. I always ask how much (the cabs are not metered), and the driver didn’t want to give me a straight answer. The last ride was 300 pesos, but this driver gave me the “up to you” routine. I wasn’t in the mood for playing games, and I gruffly told him to tell me how much. He said, “500 pesos,” and I told him to stop the car. Then he said 400 pesos, and I yelled again, stop! I exited the cab, walked across the highway, and caught a Jeepney back to Barretto for 20 pesos. Got out at Sit-n-Bull and had a great lunch.

The evening hours felt a little like old times. Swan had plans early, so we agreed to meet up later for dinner. I filled the hours with a mini-bar hop, spending time in Green Room and Roadhouse and spreading some lady drink cheer. Later, Swan joined me at John’s place for a nice dinner. It was my waitress friend Em Jhae’s last night there, so we bought her dinner, too. She almost cried when I gave her a nice tip as a going-away present. Then, after our meal, we met some of Swan’s friends at Voodoo for a couple more drinks. It’s been a while since I’ve done the night on the town routine. Good times!

Here are some photos from the day:

My journey began at the corner of Bryce Street and Roosevelt.
One thousand steps later, I was at the front gate of Alta Vista.
2000 steps found me at the Central Park Reef Hotel in “downtown” Barretto
3000 steps, on the highway headed out of town
4000 steps, a hillside home overlooking the highway.
5000 steps, still trudging down the highway
6000 steps, a turn for the better?
7000 steps, the natural beauty of Subic Bay
8000 steps, I see dead people
9000 steps, as close as I got to that lighthouse I vowed to hike to.
10,000 steps, a ship on the bay at SBMA
11,000 steps, the Philippine flag flapping in the wind.
12,000 steps, the old Spanish Navy base gate from the 1800s.
13,000 steps, a pee break at Harbor Point Mall.
14,000 steps, where I do my grocery shopping
15,000 steps, the end of the road. Especially for those people entombed on the hillside.
Sorry, I couldn’t resist.
The route I walked.
The stats for the day, including my dog walk and bar hop.
My lunch plate at Sit-n-Bull. Yep, that’s a Thanksgiving feast!
Dinner time view at John’s place
Swan had the chicken sandwich.
Em Jhae enjoyed the birria tacos
I ordered the Philly cheesesteak and was surprised to see it served on a bun instead of a roll. Still tasted good, though.
Goodbye and good luck, Em Jhae!
Finishing the night at Voodoo bar

Facebook memories reminded me of the last family gathering with Mom and Dad back in 2009.

Mom and Dad both passed away in 2010.

I follow politics but no longer engage in much debate. Still, sometimes I come across something too good not share.

That said, old Joe has given the country a good ass-fucking.

Moving along, here’s today’s Quora Q&A:

Q: Is Angeles City in the Philippines a good place to live? Is it as bad as people say?

A: I personally wouldn’t want to live there. It is a city that has all the modern conveniences—shopping, an international airport, nightlife—and not much else, in my opinion. Angeles was one of the first places I visited in the Philippines, but I’d find myself bored and depressed after a few days. Not much to do during the day, and the girly bars get old before long.

I chose to live a couple of hours away in Olongapo. Here I have beaches to walk and mountains to climb. I can find most of what I need here, and Angeles is just down the road should I need anything that it offers.

That doesn’t mean that Angeles is bad, it is just not for me.

I am OK going to Angeles for a day or two, especially for an event like the Hash. But I prefer places like San Antonio/Pundaquit when I need a quick get away. In fact, I’m about ready now.

Alright, you knew these were coming:

Yeah, that’s an old one.
Luckily, anal ain’t my thing.
He must be one of those Alpha males…
Cheers!

Time to get ready for tonight’s SOB dance competition. Haven’t been to one for several weeks, so it should feel fresh again. I’ll let you know how that goes tomorrow.

Steppin’ on up

Wednesdays come and Wednesdays go, but you can always enjoy them while they are here.

A challenging hike up to Kalaklan Ridge with the Wednesday Walkers group. We changed things up this time with a Jeepney ride out to Olongapo City and then climbing to the top from there. Lots of stairsteps added to the misery, but I took comfort in the fact that my fat ass had the lung capacity to get it done. I wouldn’t have made it halfway a month ago.

I had a doctor’s appointment at 2:00. Nothing significant to report from my visit with Dr. Jo. She took a blood sample to check on some kidney function issues. The fluid retention in my lower legs and ankles is the concern du jour, but before I start taking meds for that, we need to reduce or eliminate other types of medications I’m taking for other issues, like blood pressure. So, we’ll see what the blood work results suggest as the appropriate course of action.

It was still too early after the appointment for the bars and once I was back home, I had no real desire to go back out again. It was the perfect evening for some time at The Rite Spot. Todd and his lovely wife Sheila joined in the fun and Erik dropped by as well. A nice ending to a good day.

Swan and Inday joined the hike.
And so it begins
Onward and upward
Gaining some elevation
Are we there yet?
Scott’s vantage point
A surprise encounter. It turns out Inday has family way up here.
Look at the fat guy go!
Hillside living
The higher we got the quality of the steps declined.
And then there were none. The upward trajectory continued, however.
On the up and up
Swan bringing up the rear
Almost to the top now
The last steps are the hardest
It was a nice resting spot. Yep, there was a house at the top of our climb. It’s hard to imagine actually living up here and having those stairs as part of your daily commute.
A nice view from there, though.
Some cookies to the hilltop dwellers.
Hiking the ridgeline is so much more enjoyable than getting to the ridgeline.
Another cookie stop
Flower power
Time to head down the other side
A woodsy journey
I like a nice gentle down
Down there lies Barretto
A hillside shanty community
And back on the pavement again
Just shy of 7K end to end.

A hard but enjoyable morning on the ridge.

Later, I was once again climbing steps–this time up to the roof.

The view as I awaited the arrival of my guests
A meatball snack for my guests
Lucky keeping watch. This shot also captures the journey one undertakes to reach the rooftop.
Welcome to The Rite Spot, Todd and Sheila!
That’s a BIG plate of freshly made sushi my guests contributed to the gathering. I’m not a big sushi eater, but it was damn good. I also got some chopstick practice in…
Sheila and I jokingly argue about who’s house has the best views. Top this!
It was a nice way to end the day.

Today’s Quora Q&A:

Q: What is the best way to learn about a distant area you think you want to retire to before investing a lot of money to move there?

A: Well, the obvious thing, I guess, is to visit as often as possible before making a commitment to move. I came to the Philippines two or three times a year for several years, exploring different parts of the country before deciding where to call home in retirement.

If someone doesn’t have that luxury, don’t make any permanent commitments until you’ve been in the country enough to know it is a good fit. Don’t ship your furniture or car, don’t buy or long-term lease a house. Make sure it is where you want to stay before investing a lot of money.

Maybe I’m having a bad day, but I couldn’t find anything funny to share. There will have to do for now:

Ouch, wait until that ass is 68.
It’s not the meat it’s the motion

Today’s song bears no relevance to the post. I heard it for the first time in many, many years while having lunch at Sit-n-Bull, and it just brought the memories flooding back.

I used to take my mom’s ’69 Plymouth Fury to the drag strip. She could never figure out why the motor mounts were always broken.

Extravaganza

That may be a bit of an exaggeration, but I did engage in a shopping spree yesterday morning. The usual full shopping cart at Royal ($300+), and then Swan and I walked to the mall to do some shoe shopping. Also, for some strange reason, my shorts have been shrinking, so I wanted to get a pair or two that fit more comfortably.

My takeaways

I wound up bringing home three new pairs of shoes. That’s a real challenge because a size 11 is hard to find in these parts. I did score a pair of the coveted Merrell hiking shoes but paid a premium price of over 6000 pesos ($120.). I needed to replace my everyday Sketchers, too, but alas, my size was not in stock. So, I’m trying a new (to me) brand called “Basekamp”. I got two pairs at the more reasonable price of 1700 pesos each. We’ll see how that works out. My shorts size is also in the high range of fit here, but I finally found a couple of pairs I could button around my waist. I always get a little nervous about running out of clothes before the weekly laundry wash is completed. The new duds will provide some leeway in that regard. I also found three new shirts I liked with an ample cut sufficient to accommodate my large belly. So, it was a successful outing.

My Tuesday tradition also includes a journey out to Baloy Beach to enjoy some time on the Kokomo floating bar. Here’s how that looked:

The brownies I baked for the girls
Leaving home (I’m the house in the middle)
Revisiting a portion of Monday’s Hash trail
Departing Alta Vista
Crossing the National Highway (always the most dangerous part of my day).
On Baloy Long Beach Road
Passing through Treasure Island Resort
On Baloy Beach
Arriving at my destination
The way I went (not quite 2K)
Not very busy when I arrived. A couple of the gals filled the time dancing for TikTok.
While some of the crew munched on brownies
Here comes Swan to join me.
I’m wearing one of my new shirts
Hasher Wesley and his gal were also in attendance.
Gotta keep an eye on that sun
The three gals I bought a lady drink for.
Time is passing
Until we meet again
See you next week!

Next stop was DaKudos for a bite to eat.

My old friend Roan from IDM was tending bar.
I enjoyed a chef salad (I can’t remember what Swan had), and then we headed home.

Not bad for a Tuesday, eh?

Commenter Kevin asked about my life as a father; here’s a post I wrote a few years ago about raising my kids. I got a surprise when re-reading it this morning to see that a couple of spam hyperlinks had been added to my commentary. I’m not sure how that is done unless someone hacked my admin login. I deleted them, but it’s still scary to think that someone could modify a post I’ve written.

Ready for today’s Quora Q&A?

Q: What are some of the relevant professional bodies to join as an HR officer or professional?

A: I was a member of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) for most of my career. They also offer certification exams to earn the designation of Senior Professional in Human Resources Management (SPHR) and the Professional in Human Resources Management (PHR).

I was an SPHR, not that it matters now.

Some humor before I go:

I’m no socialist, either.
It seems like he got punctuated. That must have hurt!
I’ve spun some of their records

Like this one:

Sittin’ on the bay

Sitting here resting my bones

My fellow Hares and I pulled off a successful Hash yesterday. I measure success in terms of no one getting hurt and most of the Hashers professing a liking for the trail. A couple of folks lost the trail, but since the vast majority were able to find their way, I attribute the failure to their individual lack of attention. As I expected, there were some mild complaints about the short length of the route, but just as many found the distance to their liking. Vienna Sausage is the Hare next week, so the masochists can get their fill of hardship then.

Not a lot of Hash pictures to share this week, but here’s what I’ve got:

The Hashers gather at the Barretto High School starting point.
And off they go!

I walked the 3.5K to the starting location, then another 3K back to the On-Home at Subiza Resort on Baloy. My non-hash hike was longer than the actual trail. Flatter though.

A Hasher posted this photo from the trail.
The first Hash gathering at Subiza in the history of the Subic Bay Hash House Harriers.

I spent most of the pre-circle time sitting on a chair, taking in the bay views (that first photo in this post was captured by a fellow Hasher). Here is some of what I saw:

The peaceful bay
I zoomed in on the lighthouse across the water and decided to make it my destination on my next distance walk.
I was surprised to see that black blob moving and then realized it was a tightly grouped school of minnows swimming. Never seen anything like that before.
Parasailing seems to be growing in popularity (see the top of this photo). You’d never get me up there.
This one appears to have made it down safely.
Hares on the ice!
Gash on the ice!

Most of the group seemed to really enjoy Subiza as a Hash On-Home venue. Very spacious and comfortable with great views. We did run out of beer before the circle was over, which is outrageous. I’m told that was because the Hash Beermeister cut us off at ten cases of beer. I was not a happy camper, but I’m glad it wasn’t Subiza’s fault since I recommended them as a Hash host.

When the beer ran out, so did I. I got home much earlier than usual (and less drunk), so I was able to finish watching the final episodes from Season 1 of Blue Eye Samurai. Now, I have another series to share my thoughts on. I’ll get to them both soon. I promise, said the procrastinator.

My son Kevin celebrated his 46th birthday yesterday.

I reckon that was Kevin’s birthday back in 1983 or so. Damn, where does the time go?

And then Facebook memories reminded me of that time I was on TV:

A dart tourney in Augusta, Georgia, was the occasion.

Today’s Quora Q&A:

Q: When you moved from California, where did you go?

A: I left Orange County, where I was born and raised, in 1978 because I didn’t want to raise my kids in California. We moved to Prescott, Arizona. Best move I ever did make!

And now it appears I was ahead of my time with more people moving from than to California.

Today’s puns are so bad they even made me cringe:

Maybe Worf should razor a ruckus.
Pull your head out of Uranus!

My sincere apologies.

Make it quick

Another Hash Monday is upon us—er, well, me anyway. Since I’m one of the Hares this week, and we marked the trail yesterday, you’d think I’d have some free time on my hands. But I still want to meet the group at the start to send them off. I’ll leave a bit early for that and get some fatboy steps in for me, too. The trail we laid has one moderately easy climb and is just under 5K in length. The hardcore folks will find it too easy, but thems the breaks. They can always longcut if they feel the need. Here are some photos of the Hares hard at work:

Heading for the hills with Pubic Head and Buddy Fucker
Laying down the powder
Up we go
Left a bag of cookies here
And a bag for the neighbor’s kids
It’s been hot lately, so finding some shady spots is always a plus.
Getting near the top. If I didn’t mind the climb, you know it must have been an easy one.
Me and Buddy Fucker hard at work
The view from here
And the view from there
Time to make our way back down. This portion of the trail was a little dicey. Hopefully, no one gets lost.
Back to civilization at last!
Flat, boring, and paved the rest of the way.
Today’s On-Home venue–Subiza on Baloy Beach.
A view from Subiza.
Work is done, time to eat!
Honey garlic chicken for me.

I hope my fellow Hashers find something to like about today’s trail. If not, there is always next week. Meanwhile, I took care of some other business.

I fed five at Hideaway yesterday, not counting the chicken wing I ingested.
Joy to the world.

Then, it was time to hit the beach.

Sunday on Barretto Beach
Bound for the Arizona floater
Some fellow passengers.
That Navy supply ship is still anchored in the bay.
The banka boat next door.
Swan brought my helper Inday along so she could enjoy the floating bar experience.
A lit sky at the end of the day.

We departed the floater shortly after sundown. Inday had not experienced a dancing bar either, so we took her go-go virginity at Alaska Club. It’s always an adventure walking from Arizona to Alaska on the highway in the dark, but we made it. Then we finished off our night out at Wet Spot. Home for some “Blue Eye Samurai” before falling asleep on the couch. It’s all good.

Time for some Quora Q&A:

Q: Why do retirees flee to Arizona and Florida? I can understand moving to Florida, but isn’t Arizona way too hot?

A: They are both hot, but Arizona is a “dry heat,” low humidity hot. You can also choose to live in the mountains, like Flagstaff or Prescott, and enjoy moderate four seasons weather.

My sense of humor may be a little off, but at least I’m not a dick.

She’s just trying to get a rise out of him.
No matter how you slice it…

Okay, maybe I am a dick.

A sweet adventure

I joined Swan for our weekly candy walk yesterday. She wanted to visit the village of Alabang, located between Naugsol and Tibag. I’d passed through there once or twice, but it had been a while. Swan was involved in a charity food distribution effort in Alabang at Christmas time and wanted to brighten the day of the kids she saw there. It’s a pretty hefty hike from here, but I’m all about the walk, so off we went.

Let the adventure begin
We saw plenty of kids along the way, but Swan brought a backpack full of candies to restock as needed.
A familiar Easter Mountain view
Swan points to the lot she is buying so she will not have to be a renter all her life. It’s a little far out and inaccessible for my tastes, but I understand her sentiment.
The route to Alabang runs alongside the Matain River, where we saw this fisherman in action using an electric pole. Yes, it was shocking!
A river crossing
The road to Alabang
A view from here
A new dirt road to be explored at some future date.
Swan taking care of business in Alabang
The schoolhouse
More happy kids
Harvesting rocks from the riverbed
The bridge that could not be crossed–a locked gate is on the far side. We attempted to go to Alabang from the other side of the river but were stymied by new fences and blocked access.
It was a successful mission as measured by the volume of candies delivered–everything in the bag and everything in the backpack.
On the road to Naugsol. I was bushed and the candy was gone, so we got a trike home from there.
Around 8K all in

After some R&R, Swan went to see her family before they headed back home to the province, and I paid a visit to Cheap Charlies. Later Swan met me at Mango’s for a dinner on the beach.

It was a busy Saturday on Barretto Beach.
I was halfway through my porkchop before I remembered to snap a photo. Sorry about that!

After our meal, we visited a couple of bars we don’t patronize much due to their inconvenient location on this side of town.

The view from Adam’s
The view of us at Adam’s

We had our nightcap at Queen Victoria. I was a little surprised that Swan was acquainted with the bartender and one of the long-time waitresses there. Then I remembered that she and her deceased man would frequently visit here for the live music. We didn’t stay long enough for the music to begin last night, though.

Back home and on the couch for episode #6 of “Blue Eye Samurai.” That’s the one where our hero (heroine) single-handedly kills most of the castle’s security forces despite some pretty severe injuries. The evil Irishman residing there proved his point about guns trumping swords, regardless of the skill of the sword bearer. She’s not dead yet, however. We’ll see how the next episode resolves the issue.

I woke up to another day of life and got down to taking care of business. I’m one of the Hares for tomorrow’s Hash, and we went out this morning to mark our trail. Next on my agenda will be taking care of the Sunday feeding at Hideaway, then meeting up with Swan on the Arizona floating bar. Yep, it is good to have routines you enjoy.

Facebook memories made me sad today. Ten years ago, I played in a dart tournament in Augusta, Georgia. I don’t remember much about my performance, but the memories were of the friends who joined me there.

My bestie, Bridget Werner
And my pal, James Stoy

Bridget and James died within the next year. I died in a different way when Jee Yeun dumped me. I was reborn to live this life in the Philippines, but I can’t help but be saddened when I look back at what was and what is gone. May you both rest in peace.

The daily Quora Q&A:

Q: A shooting at a convenience store in Missouri left 3 people dead. People these days don’t seem to care about the loss of innocent lives. America has now become a nation of death. Why won’t the Congress or the government ban guns?

A: Three people were killed in a traffic accident outside a convenience store. More innocent lives lost in this nation of death. Why won’t the Congress or the government ban automobiles?

Kevin Kim had a post linking to a place where your political leanings can be measured. Here’s where I stand:

Yep, I’m still thinking for myself.

Alright, enough of this seriousness, let’s have some fun!

Indeed.
The world is full of them, Data
Don’t make me vomit!

Alright, that’s all for this time.

Helter-Skelter

I’ve got the power! Now, about last night. Well, actually, it was yesterday afternoon that I attended the wedding reception for Swan’s sister Charm and her hubby, Jack. The festivities kicked off at noon and lasted until five or so. So, yes, I was drinking beer, and no, they didn’t have Zero available. I didn’t do anything stupid, but I was feeling no pain when I departed.

This was my first time at a Filipino post-wedding gathering. Nothing really out of the ordinary, but there were some things I’m not accustomed to seeing at a reception. For one thing, they had a female master of ceremonies shouting into a microphone, which was pretty irritating. She also sang a few songs but had a nice enough voice. I’m familiar with the bride and groom doing the first dance, but yesterday, several wedding party members were also called down to the dance floor, including Swan. Luckily, they played a country song when we danced, so I used some of those swing steps I learned during my time in Oklahoma. Swan followed along quite well.

Not quite at this level, but we had some moves. I think the audience was impressed.

The food was good, I knew a couple of the other attendees, and I met some new folks that I enjoyed chatting with over the course of the afternoon. I was also reminded of why I make it a point to avoid drinking until beer o’clock. When the reception was done, so was I. Even by my early bird standards, going to bed before 6 p.m. can be problematic, like waking up at midnight after a full night’s sleep. I wound up completing my morning routines by 2:30 and then managed to take a nap until my regular wake-up time. Still, I felt out of sorts in a helter-skelter kind of way.

That’s as dressed up as I get these days: no shorts, no hat, no Sketchers. I am glad I made the effort; with one or two exceptions, everyone wore pants.
Table decorations
A well-appointed reception hall at Subiza Resort.
The maid of honor
Here comes the bride and groom
The traditional first dance. What I’d never seen before was the part where the guests pin money on the newlyweds as they dance.
Oh, and Swan caught the “gold bouquet,” which has some supposed meaning that will not apply in my case. Been there, done that.
I’ll be enjoying the view from Subiza again on Monday when the Hash pays a visit.
Post-reception hanging out on the back deck was my favorite part of the afternoon.

Good luck to Jack and Charm. They’ve been together as a couple for nine years or so–I’m sure this next step will be an easy one for them.

Today’s Quora Q&A:

Q: I have lived in 5 states in the USA and I am 22. How about you, how many states have you lived in within the USA or the country that you reside in? Which one is your best?

A: I have lived in California, Arizona, Oklahoma, Arkansas, South Carolina, and Virginia. I also lived in South Korea, and I now call the Philippines home.

My favorite state was Arizona, although I could say something positive about all of them except California.

Korea was a great experience, and I’m enjoying my retired life in the Philippines.

Maybe these will make you smile (or cringe):

In keeping with the wedding theme.
I’ve never been to Paris, so I can’t say if it sucks or not.

And that’s that. A nice long candy walk with Swan this morning that I’ll tell you about tomorrow.

No power

An unexpected brownout here today. My laptop battery just died. So, for the first time in almost twenty years of blogging, I am posting from my phone. It sucks every bit as much as I thought it would.

Back later with the story of last night’s wedding reception.

Pushing forward

So, my big plan for yesterday was to expand my hiking horizons by adding some additional length to my strolls. My bright idea was to do the backroads hike to Waltermart on the far side of Subic town and then walk the highway back to Barretto. I typically tire out around 8k, and I estimated my plan would require a 14k jaunt. Could I do it? Only one way to find out. Let’s go!

And so it begins
1000 steps out the back door of Alta Vista
2000 steps plowing along
3000 steps a leaning trunk
4000 steps village life.
5000 steps branch amputation
6000 steps on the Naugsol road
7000 steps STILL on the long road out of Naugsol.
8000 steps living on the Govic highway
9000 steps on the riverside
10000 steps to Waltermart. When I’ve walked this path in the past, I’ve always caught a Jeepney here for the ride back to Barretto. I was tired, but I pushed on.
11000 steps still in Subic town
12000 steps to Calapadayan
13000 steps to a bar I’ve never visited and likely never will. Back in the Navy days, this area was the place to go for raunchy entertainment. As far as I know, only two bars are left, and they cater to a Filipino audience.
14000 steps to a resort that caters to Korean tourists, or so it would appear.
15000 steps to the Calapacuan market street
16000 steps, and I’m really tired of hiking on this highway!
17000 steps on the road in Matain, and I’m about out of gas.
18000 steps to the Santo Tomas market
And at the 12.88-kilometer mark, I’d had enough.

My original plan was to finish at Sit-n-Bull, another kilometer up the road. But that trike stand in front of McDonald’s proved to be irresistible, so I grabbed a ride back home instead.

I didn’t achieve my goal, but it was still the longest walk I’ve taken in a very long time.
The stats for the day, which includes my dog walk and walk to the bars.

Speaking of the bars, I went to Sloppy Joe’s while Swan did a foot spa. She joined me there when she finished. Feeling hungry, we paid a visit to Myleen’s. And we broke our streak of same-same orders.

Fish and chips for Swan
And a beef enchilada for me.
It appears my date was phoning it in.

We did our nightcap at Wet Spot, where I bought lady drinks for Aine and Irene, and Daddy Dave treated me to a couple of free beers. I was at my maximum capacity of alcohol intake when we grabbed a trike for the journey home. I deem it to have been a good day!

My pal Brian flew his drone over Kalaklan Ridge and posted some really nice photos.

The ridge
Easter Mountain
Olongapo City
Barrio Barretto

Haven’t posted a photo of the boys for a while, so here you go:

Buddy boy
Lucky boy

And now it is time to shower up, put on my new duds, and head out to the wedding reception that starts at noon. It will be something different, at least. Me in long pants and no ball cap—who’d a thunk it?

Today’s Quora Q&A:

Q: Do I have to know Korean to live in South Korea as a foreigner?

A: Not really, especially in larger cities like Seoul. Most of the signage is in both English and Hangul, and the subway stops are announced in both languages.

Having said that, I suggest you learn some common words and phrases, if for no other reason than being polite. Most Koreans appreciate the effort, even if you can’t master the pronunciation.

Yeah, like I’m one to talk. I still know more Korean than Tagalog, though.

And now for the funny business:

I’ll be meeting Swan’s extended family for the first time at the wedding reception this afternoon. It’s my only chance to make a good first impression, but hey, what’s not to like?
I hope she came first.

That’s it for today.

Pushing and shoving

The Wednesday Walkers group hike proved to be quite the challenge despite being only 4K in duration. We traveled out to Tibag to explore some new road construction we’d seen posted on Facebook. Well, they may be roads, but even a 4×4 would have difficulty making it up some of those steep grades. Compounding the problem was the dirt, which was soft and sand-like, so each step was harder and produced a cloud of dust. I had promised to push myself to greater heights, and I succeeded for the most part. Admittedly, my brain was screaming, “Turn around and go back down,” and it was tempting to do so, but I managed to shove on. The section of the hike where we were off the dirt road was mostly pleasant, although some of it was through the dreaded creek bed with all that that entails. I was dead tired at the end, but the breathing wasn’t an issue, so that’s a plus.

All nine of us somehow managed to squeeze into Ed’s pickup for the ride out to Tibag
And we’re off!
On the new dirt road to nowhere.
I was astounded to see how steep the climbs were. Other than a tracked vehicle, I don’t think many could make it up through the soft dirt.
I think I can, I think I can…”
Then, you get to the end of the climb, and the road goes back down again.
But the joke is on you if you think the worst is behind you. Yep, another climb.
One thing about climbing that fucker was it provided a nice benchmark on my recovery. I wouldn’t have made it a third of the way up two weeks ago.
The reward for a hard climb is a nice view.
And yes, it went down again, but there was another steep climb to reach that ridge in the foreground. There was some debate about whether to turn around at this point, but in the end, the group decided to continue on. I told that voice in my head to shut up and marched on.

And then miracles of miracles, just before the next climb started, we discovered a trail going in the right direction. Yay!

This was much more to my liking!
Meandering and overgrown in places, but better than a hill climb!
Creek beds are their own kind of pain in the ass, but at least this one was dry. Come rainy season, I wouldn’t want to go this way.
I always look for a tree to photograph. I had to step over this one.
Eventually, we left the creek behind and did a little trespassing.
That’s my kind of trail.
Back to civilization and a cookie delivery.
This apparently homeless old man made me sad. I left him some cookies, too.
And then our path led us back to the dirt road we had climbed earlier. Going down it was a different kind of challenge. The soft dirt made it slippery, and we all covered our faces to avoid breathing in the dust cloud our steps created.
Back on the Tibag road at last.
Cold beer awaited our arrival at the vehicle.
I earned that!
The path we walked. Unlikely we will be doing this one again anytime soon.

Of course, my day had just begun. My driver picked me up at 2:30 for my ophthalmologist appointment at Baypointe Hospital. I had the usual eye exam then waited to see the doc. Thirty minutes after my scheduled appointment, it was finally my turn. My vision is okay, although I have a cataract growing in my left eye. He said it wasn’t big enough to consider surgery. He gave me a prescription for eye drops and sent me on my way. I got a discounted rate of 1300 pesos for being an old man.

And then it was off to Harbor Point mall. I’m going to the wedding reception tomorrow afternoon and the only pair of slacks I own no longer fit. I figure shorts and sneakers might seem rude, so I went in search of some more appropriate apparel.

Mission accomplished!

After the mall excursion, I decided to treat my crew to dinner. I know John’s place could use the business, so that’s where we went.

We were the only customers, so I guess that made us the best customers.
Swan played a game of pool with my driver, Danny.
I kept my eye on the sun

I was once again surprised that Swan (who I, of course, always allow to order first) chose the exact meal that I had in mind. I guess we really are on the same page.

Pulled pork for her…
…and pulled pork for me. I intentionally got onion rings with mine so we could share the sides.
And an order of Korean-style chicken wings for the table to enjoy.

As usual, the food was excellent. My favorite waitress served us last night, and she advised us she was leaving for a new job next week. That’s a bummer, but good luck to her working in a call center. It’s a step up for sure.

Then it was back to the house and time for some cold beers at The Rite Spot.

It was a nice way to end the day.

I really pushed my luck this morning, but I’ll share that adventure tomorrow!

Today’s Quora Q&A:

Q: What’s it like living in the Philippines? I’m a 66 y/o man I went to Manila and cebu in 2016 but couldn’t stay long. I’m looking for any input I can get from anyone who knows first hand what to expect if I move there. Thank you.

A: I’m 65 and have been living here in Olongapo City for over three years now. So far, so good. I wouldn’t recommend either Manila or Cebu, personally, but then again, I’m not a big-city kind of guy. Cost of living for most things is cheaper, people are friendly, and most places are quite beautiful. I laugh sometimes because the part of town I live in is like a retirement community for expats. Nowhere else I’d rather be. Long Time Gone

The Philippines isn’t for everyone, but it is what you make it. It feels like home to me now.

Today’s lame attempts at humor:

Death may not come as slow as you expect.
I really enjoyed that movie.

Okay, I’m running late for my beer o’clock appointment. See you tomorrow!

Sweet as pie

My Tuesday started with a slice of Myleen’s pumpkin pie and a cup of coffee.

This will be a quick post this afternoon. Just now back from the Wednesday Walkers group hike, and I’ve got to eat and shower, then head to Olongapo for a visit to the eye doctor. Not much to report anyway, just the normal Tuesday routines. Another grocery shopping excursion to Royal to restock the shelves and an evening on Baloy Beach.

Started out on the Kokomo floating bar
I fed the crew brownies again.
The water was rougher than usual, even splashing up on the deck with enough frequency that we needed to move to the other side of the bar.
The view from our new seats. That’s owner Steve on the right.
And that girl that lives in my house.
And my favorite part of being on the water
Heading back ashore

Next stop was Treasure Island for some dinner. I was very surprised when Swan ordered a Philly cheesesteak sandwich. That’s what I was planning to choose as well. I guess great minds truly do think alike.

We both enjoyed our delicious sandwiches.

Swan’s sister Charm is getting married on Friday, so she needed to leave after our meal and attend a bridal party at the Klimax Bar in Barretto.

Charm and Swan at said party

I finished my night out on Baloy with a beer at my old haunt, the Snackbar.

And naturally, I treated my old waitress friends there with a lady drink. It was nice to see everyone again.

And then it was home and in bed shortly thereafter. Not a bad day at all.

Swan would never ask me to do any such thing, of course. She is pretty strict on limiting my ice cream consumption, though.

Today’s Quora Q&A:

Q: Now that you have retired do you ever wonder about the “path(s) not taken” as you look back at your life?

A: Not really, because the paths I did take led me to places beyond my wildest imagination. It always seemed to me that the disappointments (like missing out on a job promotion) left me in a position for something even better later on. I don’t know; maybe I’m just lucky.

Having said that, if I could go back in time for some do-overs, there are definitely things I would have done differently. But that’s life.

I wrote about one of the crossroads in my life that changed everything on my blog a while back. If you are interested, you can give it a read here: Blast from the Past-The Road Not Taken

One of those rare occasions where I link to LTG on social media. Speaking of which, Swan asked me for my blog address last night. So, I guess I have another reader now. Welcome, Sweetheart.

An extra dose of humor today:

I’ve heard of people being nickeled and dimed to death.
You can say that again!
You must be getting tired of fighting. Whip it out and stick it in!

Gotta go. A tough hike today to tell you about tomorrow.

I’m not as good as I once was

But I was good enough yesterday to complete the Hash trail without any breathing difficulties. It’s been too long since I could say that. I did the short trail (around 5K), which included two moderate climbs. The ups are never easy for me, but it is nice not to feel like you are going to die while doing them. So, I am making progress, one step at a time!

The Hash began at the VFW and passed through Alta Vista, so I joined the trail there.

I took the purple path.
There go the runners
And here come the slowpokes
Down we go
Two paths diverged in the woods…
And I took the short one. My regular group continued on the long trail and made their own shortcut later. I wanted to stick with this one, so we parted ways.
What’s that behind me?
Ah, a couple of out-of-towners. I wound up being their guide.
A valley view
Rockin’ it
On the rocks
Hitting a rock wall. I hadn’t done this trail in quite some time, but it led back up to Alta Vista, and then the short trail followed a good portion of the familiar My Bitch route.
On the Bitch
A tree I liked along the way
Mountain Mama Onelia’s place…
Um, anyone up for a lonely picnic?
Where the short and long trails Cum Together again.
Some of the long trail guys catching up with us short trailers.
One of my cookie deliveries…
A bay view
Let’s go thataway
Some sidewalk walkin’
And back on the road. I got my two tourists down safe and sound.
On Home at the Roadhouse (formerly Blue Butterfly)
My route from above

I really enjoyed this trail. It was short, and I didn’t have to take shortcuts (other than the first half-kilometer from the VFW to Alta Vista). Some parts were familiar, some I hadn’t done for a while. But as I said, the best part was hiking again and feeling good while doing so. So much more fun that way!

I also participated in the after Hash at It Doesn’t Matter for the first time in quite a while. The kitchen there has reopened, so I gave their BLT sandwich a try.

Not bad for pub fare.

After I’d had my fill of beers, I headed for home. Stopped by Myleen’s for some takeout desserts, then grabbed my trike. I settled onto the couch with my sweetie and some apple pie a la mode. Then watched episode #5 of Blue Eye Samurai. Well, most of it anyway.

I’ll have to rewind and see what I missed.

Facebook memories reminded me that five years ago I was marching strong:

That’s about double my average output this last year or two.

I’m not sure I’ll be replicating that distance regularly, but I have some plans to push myself a little harder, starting with my solo Thursday hike. Stay tuned!

Also, Facebook showed me a picture I’d posted from my glory days back in the early 70s.

If I only knew then what I know now. I’d be a billionaire, for one thing.

I’m still alive and kicking fifty-plus years later, so I reckon I beat the odds and overcame a lot of those bad life choices. I’m going to keep that up for as long as I can!

Quora Q&A time:

Q: Would a millionaire in his 60s get hot girls in their 20s easily?

A: I am not a millionaire. I am 65 years old, and I routinely “get” hot girls in their 20s (although honestly, I prefer women in their 30s) easily. It is simply a matter of helping each other out—they have needs, I have needs. I take care of them; they take care of me. Win-Win.

Not anymore, of course. Live and learn. Or maybe I just got lucky.

How about these?

If Deanna were Filipina, you might be dead now, Riker.
Lots of women in my lifetime have called me a big dick.

Anyway, it’s all good. My Tuesday evening routine of heading to Baloy Beach and the Kokomo floating bar is coming up next. I could get used to normalcy again!

I wound up living longer than you did, Toby. Thanks for the music along the way.

Back on the road again

I nailed it!

Yesterday was the first day of getting back to my old ways, and it all seemed to go well. So, if you’ve been missing photos from my hikes, get ready to enjoy the ones I’ll be sharing in this post. Swan and I did our weekly Sunday morning candy walk and it was, dare I say it, a sweet experience. *ahem*

Swan’s reaction to my puns as we head out.
Let’s do this!

(sorry about the Galaxy watermarks on the photos. I hadn’t noticed that my phone settings reverted back, but I’ve turned off that feature again)

We ran into the split of long and short trails for today’s Hash trail. I’ll be back later today to do the short one.
The candy dispenser
Walking the quiet streets of Marian Hills
A couple of our regulars
This made me laugh…one girl is holding two bottles of Red Horse beer, and the other has a bag full of cigarettes. I’m sure they were running an errand for mommy and daddy, and the Sari-Sari stores don’t ask for ID.
Come and get it!
Swan made them happy with her goody bag.
Crossing Bridge #1. This is the one you can see from my house.
That’s it, as seen from my patio (I zoomed in a little). It’s one lane trafficked by pedestrians, trikes, cars, and heavy trucks. It is always busy because it is the ONLY vehicle access to all those San Isidro neighborhoods on this side of the river (Bridge 2 and 3 is for walkers.
The blue arrow is Bridge #1. Everything to the right of the river is accessed by this bridge. (the red line is our path handing out candy)
Do you see any potential problems here?
I’m careful walking across this bridge, I wouldn’t want to drive on it. So, I’m thinking, when this bridge collapses, what’s going to happy to all the people who live on the other side?
Ah, there is your answer. Based on Swan’s translation, there are plans for future repairs and that residents can expect to be inconvenienced. Yep, that’s one way to put it.
Back to work
Guard puppies
The further we go, the lighter the load.
6.5K on yesterday’s journey.
Yep, walking outdoors is an important part of my life. I want to keep on keepin’ on.

It had been days since my last bar visit, and I remedied that with my Sunday feeding for the Hideaway girls. They were down to three yesterday. Saves me money, but still sad to see this bar going downhill so fast. I’m not sure what the answer might be that would turn the place around. A classic catch-22; you can’t pay for staff without customers and customers won’t come to an empty bar.

My other Sunday tradition after Hideaway is to make a beeline for the beach.

And there it be.
And here comes my ride to the floating bar.
The view, the breeze, and the cold beer, what more could I ask for?
Swan arrived a few minutes after I did and brought her brother, John, along to enjoy the experience. Does that make her a Swan sandwich on John bread?
The view from here.
And then this happened.
The end of the day has arrived.

We departed shortly after the sun did and made our way back home via a tricycle. I watched episode #3 of “Blue Eye Samurai,” and it was the most intense so far. An animated adult drama (this episode prominently featured brothels) set in Japan wouldn’t normally be my thing, but I’m enjoying this one.

Until yesterday, it had been a week since I’d managed to break the 10,000-step barrier.

Mission accomplished!

I’ll have a hill or two to challenge me on today’s Hash, and it will be interesting to see how I handle those. I’ve been doing better on the neighborhood inclines and am feeling stronger, so hopefully, I’m on the road to restoration.

Today’s Quora Q&A:

Q:  Do people ever need to take out a loan to receive a new organ?

A: It depends on how expensive it is. I don’t have an organ, but when I was shopping for a piano, I went with a baby grand and I had to borrow the money to pay for it.

Yeah, I know. For a stupid shit I can be a real smartass sometimes.

How about these?

Then why don’t more people see death coming?
Well, speaking as a former HR manager, I declare Mr. Spock a humorless snowflake.

To be clear, in my professional life I didn’t bring my bad jokes to the office. Got in trouble once for something I said here on the blog (called Mohammed a pedophile), but I maintain that was historically accurate (he married a twelve-year-old). Still, I concede it was insensitive. Sorry, not sorry.

Back tomorrow with the Hash report. Thanks for coming by!

Taking it to the Max

A nice finish to a nothing day with a visit to my friend Max’s place. He was having a going away get-together before he leaves for work in Germany next week. I’d only been to his house once before and he’s been busy making improvements since then. It is also part way up a hill with no vehicle access (other than a motor scooter) so I even got to give my lungs a test walking there. They passed!

Our gracious host Max providing a little Dutch treat. That area in the background is his next project–he’s having a swimming pool built. In the foreground, Laarni (Max’s wife) is preparing some of the grilled meat (liempo) for our snacking pleasure.
The view from Max’s front porch is quite impressive.
The recently completed dirty kitchen
Hanging out at the party. Max’s Filipino relatives were also in attendance. And look on that plate, by golly, that’s lumpia!
And, of course, after enough alcohol was consumed, some karaoke broke out. (those five SML cans are mine, and I wasn’t done yet).
So, yes, I participated in the singing, contributing my usual repertoire of Patsy Cline, Bee Gees, and Marty Robbins. When I was coerced into singing a fourth song (we were all taking turns), I chose “Lola” by the Kinks. When I was done, Max pointed out that one of his relatives in attendance is a bakla. Oops!
A nice night out with my sweet Swan.
The night view from the porch.

It was a little tricky getting down from Max’s in the dark, but with two phone flashlights, we managed. Stopped by Sit-n-Bull and grabbed a pecan pie to bring home with us. Settled onto the couch, and watched episode #3 of Blue Eye Samurai. A fine way to end the evening.

The number varies depending on the beer…fewer SM Lights or more San Mig Zeros.

And today starts a new week and my attempt to return to normalcy.

We started things off with the morning dog walk and that went well.

Then we did a 6.5K candy walk that included some stairs. I held out pretty well doing that, too. So, next, I’m going to see how it goes at the Hash tomorrow.

Maybe it’s a little too soon for this, but it gave me a chuckle:

Yeah, I’m probably going to hell for this one.

Let’s do the Quora Q&A:

Q: What are the most embarrassing reasons someone got fired in your company?

A: When I worked for the Postal Service, a postmaster got caught being intimate with one of his clerks inside the walk-in safe. He was fired for what we called having “safe sex”.

True story!

And now for these:

I am hesitant to comment.
I’m reminded of the time my ex-girlfriend and I were taking a boat trip to one of the islands. She didn’t know how to swim, and when the water started getting rough, she asked me, “John, if the boat were sinking and there was only one life jacket, what would you do?” I answered, “I’d really miss you.” Not sure why she broke up with me. (And yes, that’s one of my jokes)

Alright, back to my quest for normalcy. I did the walk today and will soon head out for the Sunday Hideaway feeding. After that, I’ll do my weekly visit to the Arizona floating bar. I’m going to live it while I got it!

That was a 1st

And now, I’ll take a 2nd to explain.

I didn’t walk again yesterday. Maybe I’m just making excuses, but I decided to give it a rest and hope the new meds kick in and start making a difference. I used my new pocket inhaler during the dog walk, and it did seem to help with the breathlessness attack I was suffering. I took today off as well, but I will definitely be out again tomorrow for the candy walk with Swan.

Yesterday was payday for my helpers and for a couple of others I’m helping. I’m able to use wire transfer services for this task, which keeps it simple–it’s never been easier to spread the wealth! My main charity projects are the mountain mama and her kids and Mary, the student I provide with the cash to continue her education. Of course, these days, I only get the satisfaction that comes from helping those in need, and that’s enough.

Feeding the family and paying the bills.

I didn’t leave the ‘hood yesterday, but I did go next door for a nice evening with neighbors.

Martin and his lovely wife, Jossie, were our gracious hosts.
The homemade goodies Jossie prepared for us were delicious.
Let’s eat!
A nice view from the balcony upstairs

I’d never been inside Martin’s place before and it was amazing. I was especially envious of his downstairs bathroom:

I’d enjoy soaking in that tub/jacuzzi.
He also has a game room with a pool table and dart board.

From the downstairs patio looking up. I want to get some lights like that for The Rite Spot.
We had a good time drinking beer and chatting the night way.

And my non-bar fun is not over yet. Tonight, I’ll be visiting my Dutch friend Max’s place to participate in a going away party. Max is heading back to the Netherlands for a few months. Look at me having an actual social life. Who’d a thunk it?

Oh, and it turns out my Aussie neighbor Allen reads my blog. Nice to see you again last night!

That’s Allen in the white shirt. You are famous now, mate!

We talk about grammar and punctuation here (and my being a bad example for both), but spacing is important, too.

A sign of the times?

Let’s do the Quora Q&A:

Q: How would you prefer to die if given the choice?

A: Peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather did. The passengers in his car that day died screaming in fear.

Thousands of comedians out of work and I’m trying to funny? Ah, well. How about these:

That’s plum good.
I’ll get back to you on that.

I’m planning on resuming my normal routines tomorrow. Hopefully, I’ll be better than I was. Either way, I’ll do the best that I can do. Stick around and see what happens.

Leap forward and March on!

Some days it sure does feel that way

February ended with a leap, and I landed here in March. Here’s how I spent that extra day:

The doctor’s visit took place in typical Filipino fashion. As I’ve mentioned before, you can’t make an actual appointment. You call the hospital, find out what hours the doctor will be in, and get there early. Once you arrive, you get put on a list and wait your turn on a first come, first served basis. The pulmonary doc I needed to see was scheduled to arrive at 2:30. Swan has a friend who works at the hospital, and she kindly added me to the top of the list, saving me from having to arrive early to reserve my place in line. And yes, some money did change hands when we arrived.

Anyway, the plan was to leave the house a little after 1:00, walk to the highway, catch a Jeepney to SBMA, and then walk the two blocks to Baypointe Hospital. As we stepped out the door, our neighbor Martin and his wife were pulling out of the driveway. It turns out they were heading to Royal for some shopping, and they dropped us off right in front of the hospital. Much more comfortable than a Jeepney ride on a hot day. We did arrive earlier than necessary, but better early than late.

One of the procedures is having your vitals checked before seeing the doctor. When the clinician was surprised to see my oximeter reading of 92, I laughed and said it was 88 this morning. Anyway, I did the pursed lips breathing thing for a couple of minutes and got it up to 95, so he was satisfied. With the extra time, I went down the hall to see about getting my head examined–or at least my eyes. I have an appointment (yes, I was happy to discover they schedule appointments!) with the doc who did my cataract surgery for Wednesday.

So, it was a bit after 2:00 now and I settled into a chair in the hallway outside the doctor offices. 2:30 arrives, and still no doctor. I sent my helper to inquire about his whereabouts, and she reported back that “he was on his way.” Three o’clock and still no sign of him, so I’m getting frustrated. My helper reports back that he is finishing up his rounds at Gordon Hospital in Olongapo and will be here soon. I was frustrated and pissed, but had invested too much time and effort to bail out now. Dr. DeJesus eventually appeared a bit after 3:30. And I was the first to get in!

The doctor reviewed notes from my previous pulmonary visit as I recounted the symptoms I’ve been experiencing. His first words were a little disconcerting, “You do understand that COPD is a progressive disorder.” Um, yeah. That’s why I made the lifestyle changes to slow it’s progress. So, he wrote out a list of several new prescriptions that will hopefully clear the mucus from my lungs, and help open my breathing passages so I get more oxygen in my bloodstream. He also gave me script for a pocket inhaler to use in emergencies. I showed him the one I’ve been carrying for that purpose and he advised it was wrong because it takes too long to be effective during a breathing attack.

Salbutamol in my pocket for those breathless moments
And my oxygen tank at home when my lungs need some extra air.

Dr. DeJesus also recommended that I purchase an oxygen concentrator for home use. It’s on my shopping list.

The visit was completed within thirty minutes of the doctor’s late arrival. He apologized for the tardiness, so I’ll give him that at least. We took a taxi to Barretto from the hospital and had the driver drop us off at Papagayo, a nice beach resort in town. They were having a celebration to commemorate the 71st anniversary of their founding. How often do you get to eat at a place that is older than you are?

I hadn’t been to Papagayo in quite a while, too fraught with memories of the times I spent there with my previous love at her favorite restaurant. Good food, beachside tables, and friendly staff is how I recall the experience.

The company was nice, too. Well, those days are long gone, over two years ago now. And things turned out okay for me in the end.

Right when we sat down, here came Dr. Jo and hubby Chris and they joined us at our table. It was weird seeing my other doctor unexpectedly. I assured her I hadn’t been cheating. She laughed, and I shared the prescriptions Dr. DeJesus had provided. She didn’t see any issues but made suggestions for a couple of tweaks. Then we got down to the business we had come for.

They were offering a special anniversary menu with all selections being only 71 pesos ($1.40), which is a real bargain. The mechanics listed for the event were a tad off-putting, especially the one that required you to “pay as you go.”

The other shocking thing was the price of a beer–160 pesos, by far the most expensive beer in town. I don’t remember the beers here being anywhere near that much before, so I suspect they upped the price to help cover the undercharging on food.

I had a chicken enchilada…
…and a beef burrito with Mexican rice.

My oh my, was I in for a shock. Served on paper plates with plastic forks. But the real issue was the quality was WAY down. There was more rice in my enchilada than chicken. It seems they weren’t reducing the price on their regular items, the made their regular items cost less to make. A Mexican-American Hash buddy was eating at a nearby table, and he declared it the worst Mexican food he had experienced.

People were rolling in for the big event, including neighbor Jeff and a couple of his friends. We were all disappointed in the overall lack of quality and slow service. I get the idea of the 71 pesos for 71 years promotion, but they probably lost future customers by cutting corners.

You can see how happy we all look.
The founding mother of Papagayo stopped by our table to greet us. I doubt she had a clue as to what was happening.

Anyway, I was not going to stick around drinking 160 peso beers, so we said farewell to our friends and headed out. Appropriately enough, we made Cheap Charlies our next stop (55 peso beer). Then we did our nightcap at Wet Spot. I saved money there, too, because Aine was “booked” by a customer. And that was how I celebrated the extra day in February.

Speaking of restaurants, John had a worrisome post this morning on Facebook:

need help

We’ve been surviving for 7 years in Barretto without any problem, but ever since I’ve been sick, it’s gone down hill. I spend little over $2000 USD per month for my medical overall and I don’t make that much.

I am designing lunch specials inexpensively hope I can sell my food in volume. We use very good materials and hope you can find value in our meal. All are p295 except steak. Also, I will continue Aussie steak at p495 for lunch special. P495 is really close to my cost and maybe I can make some by selling drinks. I’ll also add tenderloin pepper steak at p695. Lunch special is, orders received before 3 pm.

Within lunch hour, p500 or more, free delivery within Barretto.

Those who have our lunch special or any meals at our place, can get 5% off from meat & cheese department.

I am hoping you guys come by and dine with us or use our meat & cheese department once or twice a week. It’ll definitely save my life.

Anyone interested in running restaurant also welcome to talk to me. The restaurant is on sale as well. I might have to go back and fix my health problem in Korea.

I’m going to make an effort to eat at John’s more frequently than I have been. Would be sad to see him or the business go.

I didn’t even attempt the group hike today. Scott sent me a photo of what I missed.

I’m really looking forward to getting back up and at it soon.

I am going next door to spend the evening with my British neighbor Martin and the other hoodies tonight. These gatherings of the Bryce Street expats are always a good time.

Well, at least I can still indulge my love of brewskis. I’m hoping to be re-engaging my walkaholic lifestyle soon as well.

Here’s your Quora Q&A for today:

Q: Since retiring, do you still set the alarm to wake up in the morning?

A: No, I do not. But oddly enough, I wake up earlier on my own than I used to when I was working. I go to bed earlier, too, so maybe that is why. I do sometimes set my alarm when I take my afternoon nap though.

Let’s give ’em something to smile about:

That dog won’t hunt!
I’m going to start calling my bathroom Jim. Might as well get in shape while I’m dumping weight.
Whoopee ti yi yo

Damn, we used to sing that song during music class in elementary school. It’s funny the shit you remember in old age.

At home on the roof

Other than the dog walk, I never left the house yesterday. I woke once more to low blood oxygen, and that set the tone for a day of listlessness. Same thing this morning. I hate feeling this way, and I’m hopeful my pulmonary doctor visit today will put me back on the road to normalcy.

We had already made plans for a rooftop gathering with the neighbors, and we spent the afternoon preparing for the arrival of our guests. My part in that endeavor was making a batch of chili con carne, some cornbread muffins, and brownies. The gals made kebabs and pancit. The fun began shortly before 5 p.m. and continued on until the beer ran out around 11:00. Yes, you read that right–I stayed up well past my normal bedtime. We were all a little drunk at the end, but it was a good time.

Once again, I received many compliments on the chili, and the best review was the lack of leftovers.
The muffins were also very popular and disappeared quickly.
The girls worked hard on this tray of pancit. The Filipino contingent came back for seconds and thirds.
Chicken kebabs on the grill.
And on the plate. Er, in the pan, I guess.
My rooftop kitchen
Christian (Inday’s fella) once again handled the grill duties.
Guests began arriving, and the party was on!
As usual, the women-folk self-segregated. Oh, and we put those blinds I had installed to use to block the power of the afternoon sun.
Let’s eat!
Help yourself!
Early entertainment
What being at The Rite Spot looked like.
Almost gone.
Allen was rockin’ it
Time to turn on the lights
We were also celebrating Geraldine’s 30th birthday
The gal we all call Inday
I bought this bug zapper for the roof, and it was poppin’ all night. RIP, you damn bloodsuckers.
And as is usually the case when alcohol is involved, karaoke broke out. Billy’s Scottish accent can be hard to understand sometimes, but we knew the words to the songs he sang.
Jeff’s wife, Divina, has a sweet voice. Or should I say, divine?

I sang my usual standards, Words by the Bee Gees, Patsy Cline’s Crazy, and Marty Robbin’s country-western classic El Paso. What can I say, I’m a 1960s kinda guy.

The remains of the day. Our group dwindled in size as the night went on, but the next-door neighbors weren’t leaving until the beer was gone.

It turned out to be a good time. We will be reconvening on Friday at neighbor Martin’s house. We all agreed that getting together here on our street was more fun than hanging out in the bars. Easier to get home, too!

Today’s Quora Q&A:

Q: If you have retired from your career, are you glad you retired or are you miserable and feel like you don’t have anything to do?

A: Not miserable, no regrets. When it is time, it is time. Didn’t want to be one of those guys who die at their desk. You just let go of the old life and start a new one. Now, I do whatever I want whenever I want. If I’m bored, that’s my fault.

A couple of Star Trek memes I liked enough to share:

That’ll teach her!
I’ve never used an iPhone, either.

I’ll share the news from the doctor’s visit here tomorrow. I am hoping for some positive options; I’ve been getting worse, not better.