Twos day

It seems like I live my days in halves, walkohilic by day, alcoholic when the sun goes down. It is almost like having two days in one. Tuesday is usually my blandest weekday because I shop instead of walk, but that wasn’t the case yesterday. Here’s how it looked:

As usual, my homeless friend, Mama, was waiting for me at the highway intersection. It seems she knows my Tuesday morning shopping schedule better than I do.

The grocery shopping went the same as it always does, but then I changed things up–I walked back to Barretto.

See you next week, Royal
Let the journey begin!
Exiting SBMA
Over the river
Back in the Navy days, this was known as the shit river.
And now the dreaded highway portion of the walk begins
A bay view along the way…that’s the old Hanjin shipyard on the far side of the water
The hill of the dead
Another view…that’s Grande Island in the distance
The problem with highway walking is there ain’t much shoulder to work with. There were a couple of times vehicles got too close for comfort.
On the far side of the bay lies my destination–Barrio Barretto
This house being built on the hill is interesting. That’s an escalator-like contraption to carry construction materials up. Makes me wonder if the residents will convert it for pedestrian access once the house is completed.
On the border. Not sure what “drug cleared” means, but it ain’t drug free from what I’ve seen.
Hillside living
Back in “downtown” Barretto
John’s place, featuring a second floor restaurant and a third floor open air bar. We eat up there.
And this is where my journey ended. I had planned to walk all the way home, but then three things happened: I got a leg cramp, I had to shit, and an empty trike was waiting. So, I surrendered.
It’s just a tad over 5K. I have no idea why Google misspelled “Barreto” and located it in the wrong place on the map. It doesn’t inspire much confidence in their overall accuracy.

So, that was the morning adventure. When dinnertime arrived, the skies seemed angry:

I asked Swan if we should bring an umbrella, and she said no. She was wrong about that.
The front door of my place has now been decorated. At least they waited until November.
Since it was election day (Philippines time) I dressed up for the occasion.
We barely made it to Mango’s before the storm hit with all its fury.
The rain lasted about an hour
When I asked for a gin and soda in a tall glass I wasn’t disappointed. Biggest glass ever! I guess that’s Texas-sized. I had two of those over the course of our dinner.
Our grilled porkchop dinner is served. One chop for me, one for Swan. I took the veggies, she got the mashed potato.

When the rain finally let up, we headed out to our next stop, Alaska Club. I had a buy one, get one coupon to expend there. I did my usual thing of tipping the Alaska dancers fifty pesos each, and I had brought along some Choco-Pies to share. When the Sit-n-Bull waitress came by, I called her over and requested three large orders of Shanghai lumpia. I had her deliver one each to Wet Spot and Green Room and bring one for the Alaska girls. Hey, I had a 10% discount coupon to use. And maybe those three gin and sodas I consumed during my Alaska visit enhanced my generosity.

Then Swan and I had a should we stay or should we go conversation, and the result was the decision to do a nightcap at Wet Spot. I made the determination that I had had my fill of gin for the night, so I switched to Zero beer. My good intentions to have just one were stymied when I got comped a second beer, but who am I to say no to a freebie? But it was two and out for us, and we made it home safe and sound. The leftover pudding was waiting for me to enjoy as a bedtime snack. All’s well that ends well!

Another day with an intake of less than 2000 calories! The snacks category is where I log my alcohol intake.

And it appears the USA is making a comeback: Trump has just won the election! I reckon a celebration is in order tonight!

To me, it all came down to whether the stupids were in the majority. I am so proud of my fellow citizens for taking a stand for truth, justice, and the American way. I’m not Trump fanatic, but I don’t think we’d have survived a Kamala presidency.

With the future secured (for now, at least), I can indulge in some Facebook memories:

Who is that masked gal leaving my house three years ago? I honestly don’t recall.
Two years ago, I was still enjoying the Phnom Penh bar scene.

Today’s YouTube features Reekay reacting to the election. I’ve never seen him talk about politics before. He identifies as a “Libertarian-Constitutionalist.” Again, given the options, Trump was the best choice for America. I’m looking forward to Vance in 2028, assuming I live that long.

Since I’m not in mourning for my country, I can afford some smiles:

My high school girlfriend’s mother always said to us before a date, “Those who play, must pay.”
AI can kill in many ways
Time travel is one of my favorite fantasies. I’ll have to incorporate this scenario into my planning.
Be careful of the unseen hazards on trail!

Alrighty then. Swan is taking a “me day” to spend with her family. And I’ve got some celebrating to do. I reckon a Trump victory is as good an excuse for some beers as any! Back tomorrow!

Thanks to commenter Rick for introducing me to this song. Old fashioned grunge rock!

A Bitchy Hash

The Hash gathered at the VFW. The trail went one way, and I went another. Three other Hashers followed my lead. I took them to the beginning of the My Bitch trail, and we followed it to the end, which conveniently left us at the gate to the Sangco Family Farm, this week’s On-Home venue. That was only a 4K journey, but Swan and I boosted our step count by walking halfway down Rizal Extension before catching a trike. Next stop was IDM for the after-Hash gathering. Once we’d had our fill, another trike ride home. I ended the evening with a sugar-free pudding treat. The details of the day’s adventure are in the pictures. Let’s have a look:

The gathering at the start was much smaller than usual. Apparently, lots of other folks rejected the idea of a long street walk before climbing up the Kalaklan Ridge. Some folks started near where the climb began. We had thirty-three Hashers at the Circle.
My group is On-On! (Cums Alone, Get Your Rocks Off, Buddy’s Wet Spot, and Amstel)
Where My Bitch begins (the trail, not the girl)
It was hot yesterday and our shady path was a blessing
Regrouping at the Four Corners intersection
The grass was taller than we were
Going out on limb for this shot
Pausing to say hello to Mountain Mama Onelia
Having fun yet?
The view from here
That path ahead
We did intersect with the official trail near the end of our hike. The Hares speak German, but I interpreted this as “beer near”
Let’s go get some!
The gates to the farm
The road down to the farm
Easter Mountain as seen from the farm road
Down on the farm
Nice to see you again, my friend. That’s the first beer I enjoyed since last Thursday. I had eight more before the night was through.
It’s nice on ice!
We packed IDM with Hashers for our aftermath gathering
Yellow is the Hare’s trail, purple is My Bitch. I made the right choice!

So, I mentioned those nine beers I indulged my thirst with yesterday. At 60 calories per bottle, I racked up 540 of them—almost a quarter of my daily goal. But I substituted beer for dinner, and it turned out to be my best diet day overall so far.

Boiled egg, bacon, and fruit for breakfast. Cole slaw for lunch. “Dinner” was the pudding I ate for dessert. And nine bottles of Zero beer make a nice “Snack”

I’m not sure skipping meals is the way ahead for me, but eating less overall and walking more should work. It’s early yet, but so far, so good.

The Facebook memories from two years ago in Cambodia are almost better than I remember them:

Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you got ’till it’s gone…
I vaguely remember a dinner date with this gal…I think her name is YaYa.
We dined at a rooftop restaurant affording this nighttime view of Phnom Penh

It’s nice to look back on your life and have an occasional smile amongst the tears.

Today’s YouTube video features the Filipina Pea addressing the issue of strays and the general mistreatment of dogs in the Philippines. This subject is one of my pet peeves here. Yeah, the homeless dogs are sad to see and are clearly suffering, but damn, the dogs that are pets often don’t fare much better. Why have a dog if you are going to confine it on a three-foot leash or lock it in a cage so small it can’t turn around? I see this in Alta Vista, so it is not just a problem associated with the poor- it seems to be more of a cultural thing, kind of like littering.

To the humor, then:

It must have given him that sinking feeling
Of course, these days the frontal view of our President is an asshole
The beauty of Mount Rushmore was impeached!

Enough of that lameness. I’ve made a dinner date with Swan, and we’ll be dining at Mango’s. Afterward, we’ll go to Alaska Club to expend an SOB coupon or two. And life goes on.

A no sweets violation?

Well, I did have a pretty sweet Sunday. I report, you decide.

Does it get any sweeter than that?
Sweets for the sweet from the sweet. We handed out over 200 bags on the Sunday Candy Walk
Let’s get it done!
Keeping Easter Mountain in perspective
The dispensary is open
Marian Hills is next
Minnie Mouse hung out to dry
The temporary bridge was indeed temporary. And now it is gone for good.
We debated whether to wade across the river or take an alternate route. We opted for the latter.
A natural archway on our path
Crossing Bridge #3 kept our feet dry
At the foot of Easter Mountain
The route we walked was right at 6.5K

In the good ol’ days, we hit McDonald’s after the Candy Walk. Those days are gone now, but Swan fed me at home.

A small porkchop and veggies

It wasn’t long before it was time to make the trek to Hideaway Bar for the feeding.

The food ordered from Jewel Cafe has arrived!
The smorgasbord
Another hungry mouth fed

I satisfied my thirst with gin and soda water. Two in an hour, then I paid my tab and headed across the highway for my dinner date at John’s place.

The John’s view
My date has arrived!
The newest item on John’s menu is a shrimp cocktail. We had one for an appetizer. Damn, it was delicious and low-calorie to boot!
Swan had the birria tacos. I resisted the urge to ingest those carbs, but it wasn’t easy. John has the best birria in town.
I opted for the beef bulgogi and wasn’t disappointed.

After two more gin and sodas during our dinner hour at John’s, we moseyed up the highway to enjoy a nightcap at the Green Room. We were there for an hour, enjoying watching the pool players, and I imbibed my final two gin and sodas for the night. That made six in three hours, which seems to be my limit. Nothing untoward happened; I just knew that I’d had enough, and it was time to call it a night. Drinking gin is twice as expensive as beer, but I drink half as much. If my math is correct, cutting out the beer carbs isn’t costing much. A sixty-calorie pudding dessert at home and my sweet Sunday was complete.

Calories in: 1600 Calories burned: 3800

Two years ago, I was walking the streets of Phnom Penh, Cambodia:

Strolling upriver
It felt like a scene from an Alfred Hitchcock movie
It’s a great city

Back in the USA, there’s an election coming this week:

Let’s hope the Kamala trainwreck can be avoided

In today’s YouTube video, Reekay speaks to the skills required to live as an expat successfully. I’ve made it over six years so far. Yeah, there have been some missteps along the way, but luckily, no mishaps. Now, to keep it that way!

Comic time:

I’ll never forget the day the power went out and I was stuck on an escalator for hours.
The dead don’t get offended unless they are woke.
I’ve forgotten most everything I know

So, it’s Hash Monday once again. Vienna Sausage (Guenter) is the Hare and I’ve seen the trail map. I was going to just not go at all today because the trail ends out past the end of Rizal Extension. But Michael will have his car there and I’ve reserved a seat for a ride back to town after the Hash. As for the trail, I didn’t see any good potential shortcuts, so I’ll make my own way. The My Bitch trail will get me to the finish just fine. And yes, beer is the only option at the On-Home, so I’ll get to reacquaint myself with some Zeros. I have to keep count, so I’ll try and drink slow. Full report here tomorrow.

My salad days

Today is the tomorrow I worried about yesterday. And looking back, I have no complaints. Here’s how it all went down:

We walked the dogs, then walked ourselves to the Subic marketplace to stock up on sweets for the Sunday Candy Walk.

Candy or dog food, Swan always has something to hand out on our walks. Just so there is no confusion, in this case it was candy.
Girl on a mission
A bay view along the way
Calapandayan street scene
A backstreet Swan showed me for the first time. She said she’d walk home from high school this way.
Almost 7K to get there.

With the buying spree completed, we loaded up two big bags of candy on a trike and headed for home. A small teriyaki chicken breast with broccoli for lunch, a nap, and a blog post. Then, it was time to get ready for the rest of the day. Swan wanted something to beach about so I gave her three options. She chose Baloy, and at the appointed hour, we commenced our walk. [Ha! I’m sure most readers got the “something to beach about” allusion, but Grammarly suggested I change “beach” to “talk.” Get your mind out of the gutter, Gram. I’m talking about the sandy places Swan loves.]

The view that greeted us when we arrived on Baloy Beach
Toes in the sand
I hope the beach is happy now. I know I am!
I made it a wine night. Four glasses in two hours. I’m getting better at pacing myself.
Swan enjoying her beach view time at Kokomo’s.

Kokomo owner Steve says the floating bar will be anchored on Sunday, undergo some maintenance, and open for business on Friday. Whoopee!

After my first two wines, we headed up the beach to Treasure Island Resort for some live music and food.

I enjoyed the hell out of this chef salad with Italian dressing.

Two glasses of Treasure Island wine, and we departed for home. It was only 7:30, but I’d had enough. I would have drank more beers during the amount of time we spent at the beach, but Zero is 3% alcohol, and wine is 14%. I wasn’t drunk or anything, but why press your luck? Once home, I whipped up a batch of sugar-free vanilla pudding, and that more than satisfied my sweet tooth’s cravings. It was a relatively short but nice evening out.

1590 calories in…(the wine is included in the dinner total)
…and 3,659 calories burned

And that is how day two in my new lifestyle went down.

Those pictures from the Halloween SOB I promised:

Queen Victoria: 4th Place
Green Room: 3rd Place
Alaska Club: 2nd Place
First Place: Wet Spot

And my favorite costume of the night:

One of the Wet Spot gals

In other news, we met a Hasher from Vietnam named Zach at the Subic anniversary Hash, and he told us about a special group of Hashers from around the world who are doing something called the 7-Eleven Hash. It’s basically an urban Hash where the group hikes through town, stopping at every 7-Eleven convenience store along the chosen route. Zach said no Hash from the Philippines had done this event. Well, the Subic Hash took that as a challenge to be the first; this coming Thursday (11/7), we shall march!

Something different for a change.

Speaking of something different, that trip to Cambodia two years ago was also a nice change of pace.

So much natural beauty in that country.

Today’s YouTube video is something different. Short and sweet (well, maybe sweet is the wrong word) sharing eight facts about farting you might not have known. And now you do. You are welcome!

Smile time:

Strangers call me Santa Claus
Don’t stick it in the wrong hole!
I need to steal me a copy of that book!

Back to the usual Sunday routines starting with the Hideaway feeding. I’ll be doing gin and soda there. Then dinner at John’s place. I reckon I’ll wash down whatever I eat with some wine. Got some SOB coupons to burn as well, so we’ll see what we’re in the mood for come time for the nightcap. Exciting shit, eh?

Not a bad start

So, day one of the new lifestyle is in the books. Thanks to my readers here for the comments and feedback. I’ve walked the weight-loss road successfully in the past, and although my methods are an unorthodox mix of dieting techniques, the important thing is being able to stay with the plan for the long haul (my calorie-counting app says that at one pound a week, I’ll reach my goal in February 2026!). I hope to do better than that!

The day one stats. Those dinner calories include the six gin and sodas I consumed over three hours at the SOB last night.
One of my better walking days in a long while. So, Fitbit says I burned over 4000 calories and the calorie counter says I ingested 2000. That’s progress!

Just got to keep on keepin’ on.

The evening’s first gin and soda. One every thirty minutes between 5:00 and 8:00. The gin shot comes in a tall glass of soda water, and I get a can of soda water on the side. I refill the glass with water every few sips so the alcohol level in the gin is dispersed. Or so the theory goes. I wasn’t any more buzzed than usual at the end of our night out.
It was a Halloween themed SOB competition last night. All the girls and some of the customers were in costume. Although maybe Jambo really did escape from a mental hospital.

No photos from the competition posted yet, maybe tomorrow.

Today this package from Lazada (the PI Amazon) arrived.

Fragile? Wrapped in several layers of bubble wrap? Seriously?
For this. I gave up finding sugar-free pudding in any of the grocery stores. So, I ordered online. Wasn’t cheap, you are looking at eighty bucks worth of goodness.
Yeah, not perfectly heathy, but a lot better than ice cream in those inevitable moments of weakness to come.

Okay, don’t worry, I’m not going to bore you with endless posts about my dieting. Instead, I’ll bore you with pictures from my hikes. Like these from yesterday’s Friday group hike:

Only Michael and Gary joined me for the long and flat walk
Bayside in Matain
The ghost of an old pier
I ducked up last time, but these really are some young chicks!
This graffiti gave me a chuckle
A slimy narrow passage in Calapacuan
A bay full of boats
Taking it all in
Across the highway and down the old dirt road. Actually, it’s a new dirt road. It used to be a path.
A fish pond
Across the requisite dicey bridge
Four years older than me. RIP.
The traffic outside the local cemetery on All Saints Day.
Easter Mountain
Crossing Bridge #2
A little over 9K on the walk. That’s more than usual for me, but I plan to up my game. My short-term goal is a 10K walk, and someday, maybe I’ll revisit a 50,000 steps adventure.

In the meantime, there are always memories:

Oh my, I spent lots of time here. It was right down the road from the neighborhood where I grew up. Do drive-in theatres even exist anymore? This one doesn’t.

Two years ago, I was vacationing in Cambodia (can you vacation from retirement?):

Cambodian gals sure are cute
The Phnom-Penh bar street coincidentally located right outside my hotel.

Good times. I’ve lost touch with my old friend Dennis who was living there and I fear the worst.

If you are still around, please let me know

Whenever I hear “the science is settled,” I think of stuff like this:

Now, tell me about climate change

Today’s YouTube is the first one I’ve seen from this vlogger. Honestly, not that impressed, but he is talking about crime against foreigners in Angeles City, a place I occasionally still visit. But yeah, you can’t let your guard down there.

His girlfriend seems pretty sweet

Humor time:

Another reason to use a condom
Gimme Shelter from puns like this!
Let’s see if I finish the weight-loss regimen.

Another Saturday night is on the horizon, and I asked that girl who lives in my house what she wanted to do. She doesn’t care as long as it involves a beach. So, I gave her some options to consider, and I’ll follow her lead. I’ll tell you how that works out tomorrow.

It’s NO! vember (again)

I was up with the dawn’s early light to welcome the first day of November and the changes I hope it brings

And so it begins—again. My post-title search revealed that I embarked on a similar course of action exactly four years ago. Obviously, I failed miserably, and things are a lot worse now than they were back then. I’m motivated to get it done right this time. And man, oh man, I have a long way to go.

This morning’s starting stats:

  • Weight: 267.1 pounds
  • Belly Circumference: 52 inches
  • Waist: 44 inches

Shocking, I know. I haven’t been on the scale in months, but the last time I weighed in I was around 235. I really let myself go.

My shelf of clothes that no longer fit

So, the plan is a simple one: eat smarter, reduce carbs and calories, and exercise more. That means no more sweet treats, better meal choices, and yes, a significant reduction in beer intake. At tonight’s SOB I’ll be doing the gin and soda water thing. Interestingly, a shot of gin has more calories than a bottle of Zero beer (75 versus 60), although the beer is carby. Still, if I drink fewer shots of gin than than bottles of beer, that’s progress. My style is to order a gin shot in a tall glass, and a can of soda water on the side. I refill the glass from the can three times before ordering another shot. I just need to do a better job pacing myself so as to avoid getting floored.

I pulled my exercise gear out of the closet and it was literally covered in cobwebs

I’ll be doing the ab work once again as well. Sit-ups and leg lifts to start. This morning I stretched my walk to over 9K as I once again endeavor to achieve a daily goal of at least 20,000 steps.

I installed a calorie tracker app on my phone to help me manage the food intake.

How I’m doing so far

A boiled egg and some apple and orange slices for breakfast. Swan served a banana too, but I rejected that high-calorie option. For lunch I had a salad and a burger patty.

The only way to go from here is down. Or so I hope. My goal is to once again break the 200 pound barrier. Wish me luck!

The last dessert. A “loaded” banana split for my Halloween treat. Now the trick will be to keep my sweet tooth in check!

And so it ends. The last day of my month of tracking expenses looked like this:

  • Alcohol: 1350 pesos
  • Dinner: 800 pesos
  • Lady Drinks: 985 pesos
  • Fruits and Veggies: 1000 pesos
  • Trike: 100 pesos
  • Charity: 2000 pesos
  • Tips: 200 pesos
  • Total for October 31: 6435 pesos

Hey, it was Halloween, of course I went a little wild!

And here are the results from the month of logging where it all goes:

Monthly Expenses % of Income

  • Groceries: 78,600 pesos (21%)
  • Charity: 59,000 pesos (16%)
  • Rent: 38,000 pesos (10%)
  • Helper Salaries: 30,000 pesos (8%)
  • Alcohol: 27,900 pesos (8%)
  • Dining Out: 24,400 pesos (7%)
  • Swan Allowance: 16,000 pesos (4%)
  • Transportation: 15,700 pesos (4%)
  • Entertainment: 14,000 pesos (4%)
  • Utilities: 13,700 pesos (4%)
  • Lady Drinks: 13,000 pesos (4%)
  • Healthcare: 12,800 pesos (4%)
  • Tips: 8700 pesos (2%)
  • Hotels: 7800 pesos (2%)
  • Visa Extension: 6200 pesos (2%)
  • Snacks: 4200 pesos (1%)
  • TOTAL EXPENSES FOR OCTOBER: 370,000 pesos (-5000 pesos)

So, my expenses exceeded my income by 5000 pesos. I can and will fix that going forward. I see several opportunities for being a tad more frugal that will more than make up for the deficit. And just for the record, the 365,000 pesos I call income has a 30,000 peso cushion that goes into savings, so I wasn’t really in the red. Still, my goal is to save at least 50,000 pesos a month, so I need to do better.

And now, about last night. Swan and I dressed up and headed out to It Doesn’t Matter to celebrate Halloween.

I dressed up as the bag of garbage Biden says I am and Swan went as my trashy girl.
A procession passed by on the highway serving as a reminder that Halloween is technically a religious holiday.
Ashley, the IDM manager, was looking hot in her costume.

Swan says IDM is her favorite hangout, and we spent most of our evening there last night. We had a brief nightcap at Wet Spot and ran into my neighbor Mike there. When it was time to go, I hooked up a free ride home with him. And you already saw the banana split I had at home.

Now for a look back at the past:

Six years ago, I was visiting South Carolina and discovered that I could still fit into my letter carrier jacket. I wouldn’t now.
Four years ago I was testing my gin and soda instead of beer theory.
It must have worked. Three years ago, I dressed up for Halloween. I wouldn’t fit in the suit now. Maybe next year I will again.
Two years ago, I was masked up and on my way to Cambodia. Where are you now, Dennis?

Someone new for today’s YouTube video: Joy of the Jungle. In just over two minutes, she tells us five things that will make your Filipina angry with you. Okay, if you say so. In my mind, I was comparing and contrasting with one of my favorites, the Filipina Pea. Well, the Pea is in a whole other category, the one where confidence and competence reside. It’s worth two minutes of your time to see for yourself. And Joy is cute enough, but she’s no Pea.

And now, the funny part:

I encountered a couple of dicey bridges on today’s hike
That’s a robotic response
What’s life without a little humor, can’t you see that?

Alright, some sit-ups to perform, then I’ll get ready for the SOB and hope the gin plan goes well. I’ll let you know about that tomorrow.

Today’s song was something I happened to come across randomly. I want to break free, too. But I can’t believe they express that sentiment in North Korea!

I ain’t afraid of no ghost

Happy Halloween!

That’s a nice trick…
…and here’s your treat!

Now that we have those annual niceties out of the way, let’s get on with today’s post.

I woke up to some scary skies this morning.

It rained just enough to scare me into not walking this morning. I’ll try not to let that happen again.

Swan made me breakfast. This is my last morning of being a bad boy. Promise!

Let’s talk about the goodness of yesterday instead. Starting with the Wednesday Walkers trek in the Naugsol countryside.

The group who made the journey to the start in Michael’s comfy car.
Heading out (I took a pee break so I’m a little behind, but I’m not an ass!)
There is a landfill at the end of this road, and occasionally, a truckload of Trump voters would pass by.
Those twin peaks are the breast!
The dogs were mostly friendly
Walkin’ the riverbank
The Matain River on its way to the bay.
Did I just fart?
The riverside became impassable, so we did a little trespassing. The residents were nice about it, though.
An encounter with wet feet
Tit-for-tat
A cookie delivery
Construction continues on what will one day be a bypass highway around Barretto. Will it be completed in my lifetime? Stay tuned.
I had no idea that Swan was carrying a baggie of dog food to share with the stray dogs (like that one in front of the steamroller).
On up we go
These are comparatively small hills. No one seems to know how and where the road will go up and over Kalaklan Ridge.
The Naugsol valley
It was a little eerie seeing this written in the dirt in the middle of nowhere.
Down in the valley, the valley so low.
A valley view
A tree I liked
Valley living
Every picture tells a story. Swan has been making monthly payments on this piece of land, and she was shocked and dismayed to see the ongoing construction. Hopefully, she’ll get it sorted, but I’m staying out of it. Foreigner intervention in issues like this is not welcome or appreciated.
We saw some cute chicks during our walk
Over Bridge #4 we go
And a stroll through the village of Naugsol near the end of our journey
And for you Easter Mountain fans
Just a tad over 6K on a very pleasant hike.

The cliffhanger on yesterday’s post was whether I’d journey out to the bars under the threat of rain. Those of you who voted “yes” got it right. A few sprinkles on the way, but we were safely inside the confines of The Maze bar complex before the heavy stuff came down.

The rainy view from BarCelona

Finished things up early (before 7:30!) at Green Room, and headed home with some food from Sit-n-Bowl.

I curbed my appetite with a ham sandwich

Then I baked a batch of brownies for an a la mode dessert. There’s a last time for everything it seems.

I was living large and spending generously yesterday. One more day to go this month, so why not?

  • Dinner: 1160 pesos
  • Snacks: 200 pesos
  • Lady Drinks: 840 pesos
  • Charity: 7000 pesos
  • Trike: 200 pesos
  • Tips: 490 pesos
  • Alcohol: 885 pesos
  • Total for October 30: 10,775 pesos

Facebook invited me for a stroll down memory lane today and y’all are welcome to come along:

1974 or so. Rifle in hand, pistol in the holster. Both .22 caliber. This is on a plot of land my folks owned at the time in Perris, California we called “The Filthy Five.” (Five acres, five of us in the family)
In 2005 I was just beginning my working life in Korea. I was part of a great group of people, and the experience changed my life forever.

In the political realm, I’ve discovered that not only am I a Nazi supporter, but I’m also garbage.

So, I guess it is up to the garbage to take out the trash.

I had been planning to dress up as The Invisible Man for Halloween, but I couldn’t see how that would work. Instead, I’m going to try and go out tonight as a garbage bag. Swan is going to help me concoct a costume.

Today’s YouTube video from The Filipina Pea is a little different. She shows a clip from “The View” where those crazed lefties go off about how men need women, but women don’t need men. I know the thought of watching even two minutes of that bullshit show is scary, but hey, it is Halloween. Anyway, Pea interviewed Filipinas on the street, asking questions about needing a man, and they all answered affirmatively. And there you have the reason so many men are fleeing the USA to make the Philippines their home.

And now for the things I find amusing:

You can tune a piano, but you can’t tuna fish
“Life is as tedious as a twice-told tale,
Vexing the dull ear of a drowsy man.”
Those attention getters really work!

There is still a lot of iffy weather out there, but I reckon going out for some Halloween fun is something you can only do once a year. We have tentative plans to start out at It Doesn’t Matter, one of several bars having Halloween parties tonight. The question of the hour for me is whether I can find a way to look like garbage. Or find a bag big enough. Speaking of which, I’ve been doing a little foreshadowing about some changes on the horizon. That horizon arrives tomorrow. See you then!

Ha! It was nice to see and hear this again after all these years…

Munching on those sweet, tender loins

Make no misteak about it; it was good eating. The highlight of our night on the town was dinner at John’s place. We followed that up with a bit of a bar hop, visiting MacArthur’s, Red Stars, and Hot Zone before calling it a night. But first things first.

It’s Christmas time at Royal! Never mind about it not even being Halloween yet.

Speaking of All Saints Day, that’s also a huge deal here in the Philippines. Driving past the hillside cemetery in Olongapo yesterday, preparations were in full swing for the upcoming big day with the dead this Friday. Food stands were being erected, crypts were being painted and given their annual cleaning and refurbishment so when the families gather to pay their respects and eat in drink in memory of the dead, all will be in order. And the following day, everything will be a mess again. It’s just the way it’s done in these parts.

When the grocery shopping was done, I couldn’t help but notice the car parked next to ours.

It’s one of those EVs I’ve been hearing so much about. As you can see, it’s about half the size of a normal car.
But what really cracked me up was the name of this model: Ice Cream. Yeah, if that battery goes, it will definitely melt like ice cream.

Ah, I see now it is a low-priced EV from China. Good luck with that!

Alright, about those steaks at John’s place. Swan and I had both been craving some beef, and we went with the tenderloin special (750 pesos) to fill that void.

We were not disappointed. Very tender and tasty.
We had ours medium-rare.
Our dinnertime view from John’s

The first stop on the bar hop was the newest bar in town, MacArthur’s. The place was surprisingly full when we arrived. The music was blaring loud enough that conversation was difficult. They didn’t have wine in stock, so Swan ordered gin and soda water. They gave her a gin in lime juice. My beer was 120 pesos. It was one and out for us, and we are not likely to return.

Next up was the rarely visited Red Stars. Our waitress remembered me from the Blue Butterfly days and welcomed me back by pointing to my belly and asking when the baby was due. Thousands of comedians are out of work, and she’s trying to be funny! Anyway, I get that a lot and wasn’t offended. They had wine for Swan, and my Zero was reasonably priced at 80 pesos. We sat on the outdoor patio, and Swan engaged the two waitresses at our table in a Tagalog conversation. Naturally, I bought the girls a lady drink, then watched the world go by as I enjoyed my beer(s).

The last stop was Hot Zone. I can’t even remember the last time I was there. Nothing wrong with the bar, just not my kind of place anymore. I visited last night because I got a message from owner Jay telling me he had found a shirt of mine (Jay used to be the Grandmaster of the Subic Hash, so I assumed it was a Hash shirt). I was curious about both the shirt and its origins, so I found myself in the Zone. It turns out it was a special shirt designed to commemorate an ill-fated Hash in November 2019—the one where we got arrested by the Philippine Navy for trespassing. I wrote about it here. Apparently, it got dropped off for me and misplaced for almost five years. Better late than never. Thanks, Jay!

The front of my newly discovered Hash shirt. The name on the sleeve is how Jay knew it was mine.
And the backside tells the rest of the story. (bad photography: “subjected to tortuous boredom and had beer withheld…”

The Hot Zone mamasan still remembered me and gave me a poke in the belly greeting as well.

And that’s where the story of my yesterday comes to an end. All that fun came with a price:

  • Medications: 1500 pesos
  • Lady Drinks: 360 pesos
  • Tips: 500 pesos
  • Alcohol: 1560 pesos
  • Dinner: 1500 pesos
  • Groceries: 14,700 pesos
  • Driver: 1000 pesos
  • Charity: 250 pesos
  • Trike: 100 pesos
  • Total for October 29: 21,470 pesos

Eight years ago, I was walking the streets of Seoul.

The Han River in all her glory

And during that trek, I was surprised to see this old beauty:

And when I say old, I mean older than me. I believe that’s a 1953 model. And looking at it compared to the EV I posted above is a good reminder of just how far we HAVEN’T come.

Today’s YouTube video provides an update on the kidnapped American. Arrests have been made, but not sign as yet of the victim.

And now for some laughs:

I don’t want to know about DOA!
Damn, she must really suck!
Slick move, dude!

Alright, a good morning with the Wednesday Walkers and this afternoon the skies are looking angry. Will I stay or will I go? I don’t know yet either. I’ll let you know tomorrow!

Shut up and climb me!

Another Hash, another climb to the Kalaklan ridgeline. Kudos to the Hare for finding a new way up. As I’ve often said after one of these hikes, there ain’t no easy way to the top, but some are less gruesome than others. Yesterday’s journey was on the easier end of the spectrum–probably the third least difficult that I recall. Of course, the harder climbs take you to the highest part of the ridge. Achieving the ridgeline road yesterday was not the end of my upward trajectory.

I’m also old and fat, and the hill climbs are always challenging. When we started the trail yesterday, I was feeling some weakness in my right leg. I eventually walked that one off, only to start feeling a pain in my lower back. That triggered the voice in my head urging me just to turn around and walk the highway to the On-Home. We argued a bit, and then I reached the point of no return and ignored the recriminations. I was to complete the entire 6.5K short version of the trail and was pretty damn proud of myself for doing so!

Gathering at the start on the highway about 3K from Barretto
And we are On-On!
Let the climbing commence
So far, so good
As I understand it, our path is the remains of a road used when the powerline towers were being constructed. As such, it was overly steep and had some switchbacks.
Looking back down from where we started.
Ridgeline achieved, but still more ups to go.
For those of you who like to look down on Olongapo City
Cums Alone says, “what’s not to love?”
Lots of downed trees from the recent storm to maneuver around
The long trail went thataway. My group did not.
We encountered a surprising number of children during our trek.
The bay as seen from the ridgeline
And then we began the long down to Barretto
And there be our destination
The cookie kids were out in full force
They always seem to know when we are coming
It’s nice to add some sweetness to the day
Until you run out. The last Bingos went to these two.
We still had a ways to go to get down off the mountain
I’ll take that as a sign we are heading in the right direction
Back on the pavement for the rest of the journey to our On-Home venue
Objective achieved!
The long trail (red) wasn’t much longer, but did have some additional ups and downs.
My heart didn’t seem to mind the climb too much.

Not a bad trail, glad I didn’t wuss out. After the Hash Circle, we moved to IDM for some food and more beverages. Then it was homeward bound for me and my lady.

Nothing in life is free:

  • Hash Fees: 900 pesos
  • Tips: 100 pesos
  • Alcohol: 700 pesos
  • Dinner: 750 pesos
  • Trike: 200 pesos
  • Charity: 50 pesos
  • Total for October 28: 2750 pesos

Lots of memories from this date in history:

Ten years ago, a new roof was installed on my bought and paid for retirement home in South Carolina. Alas, little did I know that the future I had planned would do a crash and burn one year later.
Eight years ago I was back in the dating game. Another failure.
Seven years ago, I was living in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, and facing an uncertain road to the future. Turns out, it led me here.

Last Friday, I was in Bauang, witnessing a whole new dance show experience that included naked women. At the SOB I missed in Barretto, the Alaska Club girls went in an entirely different direction—props for the costumes and creativity. What I missed appears to have been a haunting experience.

Hmm, sorry about that. Nothing dirty. Just click the link if you care to watch.

Today’s funny business:

Yeah, I heard about it through the grapevine…
Nice pussy!
Hmm, I was thinking diet and exercise, but how do I photoshop what others see?

Anyway, that’s all I’ve got for today. Thinking about dinner at John’s place tonight since we missed out on Sunday. After that, who knows?

He’s back!

It’s good to be home again, be it ever so humble. I used to take all-day-long cross-country drives when I lived in the USA. Nowadays, four hours feels almost like a marathon. Two-thirds of the trip is on the expressway, free from the clutter of trikes, jeepneys, and scooters. The scenery is pleasant as well. So, it was a good trip all in all. I owe you those Hash photos, and I’ve got a lot of them, but they deserve a post of their own. I’ll try to have them up later this morning. UPDATE: I put the Hash photos up at the end of this post.

Once I had the bags unpacked, it was nearing beer o’clock, but I knew I was already at The Rite Spot, so I stayed there. I baked a carrot cake, then headed up to the roof to enjoy the views.

What I saw when I arrived
Burn, baby, burn! No idea what or why, but it is what the local folks do here.
And so it goes

And then it was time to eat. We’d skipped lunch, so Swan and I were both hungrier than usual. We enjoyed The Rite Spot special and had the helpers up to enjoy the meal with us.

The feast: spaghetti with meatball sauce, chicken wings, garlic toast, and a carrot cake for dessert.
The way I roll

After dinner, I watched some YouTube, then called it a night. Not much excitement in my day, but that didn’t diminish the warm, fuzzy feeling that being home brings.

I knew I’d be home too late to do the Hideaway feeding, so I wired the money to Joy and let her take care of business.

  • Charity: 2500 pesos
  • Tips: 100 pesos
  • Gasoline: 1000 pesos
  • Total for October 27: 3600 pesos

Six years ago, I traveled “home” to South Carolina. I haven’t been back since.

But I didn’t miss the opportunity to feed my white supremacy at Cracker Barrel

So, this is one of those videos I watched last night:

So, that screenshot is clickbait, and I fell for it. There is NOTHING in this video that would warrant deletion, and the Filipinas shown above are nowhere to be seen in the video. That said, the “ten secrets” were interesting enough, although there was nothing shocking about them, and they aren’t really secrets. I was not happy about being misled, but otherwise, I found it a worthwhile watch. YMMV.

Today’s dose of humor:

Tell me about it
What a bunch of bull!
If not, there ought to be!

So, it is Hash Monday, Subic-style. Leech My Nuggets is the Hare, and I’ve been advised there is a climb up to Kalaklan Ridge in my near future. Oh well, what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger. Speaking of which, I changed my mind–I won’t do a separate post with the La Union Hash photos. Instead, I’m going to post them right here and now. I’ll tell the story of the day in the captions. Let’s go!

Upon registration, I was presented with a new Hash shirt and a bottle opener necklace
83 Hashers in attendance for the 41st Anniversary Run. Four Jeepneys to carry to the start of the trail. I asked one of the Hares about trail options, and he said the trail was a little over 8K, but there was an option to ride a Jeepney to the endpoint at around 5K. Works for me!
Loading up!
Jeepney rides aren’t that comfortable under the best of circumstances. Little did I know that our ride to the trailhead would take us fifty minutes. And, of course, another ride back at the end. Oh well, it’s all part of the adventure!
Arriving at the start after a LONG ride
And we are ON-ON at last!
Through the fields we go
Three of the four Subic Hashers in attendance
We got this!
Walking up a creekside trail that was often quite muddy and slick
All credit to the Hares for a very well-marked trail
This is the first of several water crossings. Oh well, there is freedom from trying to jump stone-to-stone when your feet are already wet. The long version of the trail (that I avoided) included a river crossing through waist-deep water.
The carabao didn’t mind the water
It don’t matter to me. I’m blessed that wet shoes don’t cause my feet to blister.
On up we go. The climb was long, muddy in places, but not very steep. My heart rate maxed at 125, and that wasn’t for long.
Falling further and further behind is just my style.
This guy was also at the back of the pack. Here was having a very hard time keeping on his feet when it got a bit slick. I was actually a little worried for him.
Rockin’ it!
These aren’t anything like the famous Banaue rice terraces a commenter recommended I see, but they were the best I’ve witnessed.
Come on up!
I don’t know and I don’t care!
It must be hard to be farming up here. I assume they use carabao-pulled carts to carry the crops back down.
I took a liking to those twin trees
The way we were
Resting in the shade
Cums Alone waiting so we can Cum Together
A view from the top
And now for the downward trek
The way ahead
Walk this way!
That guy couldn’t keep his feet on the downhill either. One thing La Union does that I hadn’t seen before is having “sweepers” on the trail. They had Hashers spaced at various sections of the trail, and they waited for the stragglers. The guy above was the last one off the mountain, but the La Union Grandmaster was at his side to ensure he arrived safely. Respect!
The first opportunity to deliver some cookies. No kids around, but old folks need love too!
Back on flat, paved ground
The end of our 5K+ journey.
Waiting to be picked up by the Jeepney to be transported to the end of the line. And yes, we didn’t leave without the slow guy. Honestly, I admire the fact that he was out there humping it as best he could. I wouldn’t have the balls to do that if I were as unsteady on my feet as he was.
The end-of-the-trail gathering. Once all the long trail folks finished, we reboarded the Jeepneys for the long ride back to Bauang.
My walk tracker stopped working for some reason early in the hike. The La Union Hash Facebook page had this map of where we were. Which was pretty much the middle of nowhere. Very beautiful, though.
Back in Bauang for the Hash circle
I do tend to stand out in a crowd, don’t I?
La Union doesn’t do the “it’s nice on ice” thing. Instead they have a bucket brigade.
I managed to avoid getting doused. I’ll take my water frozen, thank you very much!
Some after circle beers
A good way to measure if I’ve had too much to drink is my tree climbing ability. Yep, it was time for bed!

And that was how the La Union Hash adventure went down. Hope you enjoyed the photos! I’ll be back with a report on today’s Subic Hash, assuming I live to tell about it. See you here tomorrow (I hope!).

No time

I’m going to be hitting the road soon for that four-hour drive home. I’ve got some nice pics from yesterday’s Hash, but they’ll have to wait until I have more time and a faster internet connection. So, this post is just a placeholder for now.

Waving goodbye to La Union. I’ll be back in December.

I’d paid my Hash fees in advance, so most of my expenses for the day were already covered.

  • Trike: 100 pesos
  • Tips: 250 pesos
  • Alcohol: 360 pesos
  • Dinner: 700 pesos
  • Total for October 26: 1410 pesos

There’s always time for politics, right?

In keeping with the theme of today’s post, the YouTube video is only two minutes long. The vlogger’s voice is irritating, but the photos are good. Kristine was a bitch, but luckily the damage in this part of Luzon wasn’t so bad. We did have a muddy Hash trail to deal with.

Some quick humor:

Like Hash night
With every breath it takes!
A two for one sale?

Anyway, I’ll get back when I can. But at least this post gives me one less thing to worry about. Later, gators!

Greetings from La Union

Or, to be more precise, hello from Bauang, which is a municipality within the province of La Union. We arrived at our destination after a thankfully uneventful four-hour drive. One of the local Hashers invited us to the local hangout, a bar formerly called Footlights and now goes by Amante. There was a Friday night special on offer that included all you could drink from four until eight pm, food, and a special dance performance. It sounded almost SOB-like and was priced similarly, at 650 pesos per person. So, that’s what we did. No Zero or wine was available, so we drank San Miguel Light. The higher alcohol content and the urge to drink my money’s worth created the drunken result you’d expect. The food was a serving of chicken cordon bleu, which was better than I had expected. The dance performance? Well, it was two gals dancing solo. The first song was typical bar gyrations, similar to what you see in Barretto. When the second song started, everything came off. Yep, totally nude dancing. This is the first time I’ve seen that anywhere in the Philippines. Now, being the old-fashion codger that I am, I prefer some things left to the imagination. But it was nice to see something a little different in a bar. Leave it to beaver!

Swan and I did a nightcap at the hotel bar, although, for some reason, I have little recollection of that event. And now, a new and sunny day has dawned. It looks to be a good day for Hashing!

Our room at the Go Resort in Bauang. I stayed at this hotel last year, and by sheer coincidence, I’m staying in the same room now. I’ve never had that happen before.
Last year, I came alone. This year, Cums Alone is with Cum Together.
The nice pool I won’t be using
The ocean view
At the hotel bar and restaurant
The bar formerly known as Footlights
Last time I was here the place was almost empty. The bar was surprisingly full of local expats yesterday.
The Barretto contingent
And the meal that was part of the package deal

Sorry to disappoint, but there are no photos of the dancers. After their performance, they came around all the tables (fully dressed again) with a tip jar. I was happy to reward them for showing us everything they have.

So, it was a good first night here in La Union.

  • Lady Drinks: 450 pesos
  • Alcohol: 200 pesos
  • Party: 1300 pesos
  • Tips: 350 pesos
  • Snacks: 550 pesos
  • Gasoline: 1000 pesos
  • Lodging: 5000 pesos
  • Trikes: 100 pesos
  • Total for October 25: 8750 pesos

Today’s stroll down memory lane:

Eleven years ago, I was in Myrtle Beach, SC at the Ghost on the Coast darts tournament.
Eight years ago, I took a nighttime stroll on the streets of Seoul

In today’s YouTube video, Reekay provides an update on the body that washed ashore–turns out it was not the kidnapping victim. I doubt he’s still alive though.

Let’s try some humor:

No argument from me.
I’m have keyboard issues, too. But I need new fingers.
An honest mistake

Okay, I’ve got the La Union Hash House Harriers 41st Anniversary event to attend to. Tell you all about it tomorrow.

Still in the dark

Power was restored briefly last evening, but it’s been out again since eight p.m. Rain is falling like crazy, and there are some heavy gusts of wind. The downed tree blocking our street has been cleared away, at least. Typhoon Kristine has proven to be a real bitch, and she doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to leave. This doesn’t bode well for our drive to La Union later this morning. Hopefully, it is not still raining when tomorrow’s Hash commences. Nothing to be done but wait and see.

So, let’s find out how long my laptop battery lasts. Yesterday was pretty much a shelter-in-place kind of day. I did visit the cardiologist for my test results. The most surprising news is that I have a urinary tract infection. And now I have some antibiotics to take twice a day. I still need an ultrasound of my leg veins; I am just waiting for the scheduling. Otherwise, the heart is ticking and tocking and doing its job. The goal is to continue that trend as long as possible. I haven’t experienced any breathing issues lately, and I’m especially thankful for that.

After I got back home, the power went out, and I wasn’t looking forward to spending the night sitting in the dark. My neighbor invited us over to join them in the solar-lighted house for some food and beers, and that was a welcome offer. Davina’s shrimp fajitas are amazing:

The best I’ve had
The way I roll. Well, I hadn’t rolled it yet, but you know what I mean.

We also killed an hour or so playing a board game, the name of which I can’t recall this morning. It involved drawing numbered tiles and playing them in sets. My old brain took some time to grasp the strategic imperatives required in choosing where and when to play the numbers, but I was never able to beat neighbor Jeff. Oh well, something different to fill the time. Ah, it was Rummikub.

Never heard of it until last night

After the power was restored, we said our goodnights and headed home. The joy of lights and fans didn’t last long, and we were once again cast into darkness. A fitful night’s sleep ensued, punctuated by noise from the howling winds and the drumbeat of rain against the windows. Then, I awoke to another wet morning in darkness.

Well, at least I didn’t spend much:

  • Prescription Meds: 1300 pesos
  • Doctor Visit: 700 pesos
  • Trike: 200 pesos
  • Total for October 24: 2200

It’s more fun to spend money than not. I reckon I’ll get the chance to make up for it some this weekend in La Union.

Some Facebook memories:

Six years ago I was back in the USA and eating a Southern-style breakfast
Two years ago I was mocking the clowns dressed up for Halloween every day of the year.

No battery power to preview a YouTube video for you this morning, so I’ll just share this one that looks interesting to this old man’s eyes. Things from the 1980s you can no longer do. Heh, don’t get me started!

Some humor while I can:

Wasn’t Kennedy unpresidented?
I see what you did there
We’ll find out on November 5 if the majority of Americans are stupid people.

I’ll update y’all from La Union.

The journey ahead. And yeah, Google needs to learn how to spell Barretto

Blow me away

The wrath of typhoon Kristine is upon us. Not much rain, but lots of wind. And naturally, the power has been out for hours now. My mission is to finish today’s post before my laptop battery expires. Let’s do this!

Another lazy day yesterday, but at least I can blame the weather for my failure to exercise.

Lunchtime featured a Swan salad
And sweet and sour chicken.
Swan is a good cook!

The rain didn’t stop me from donning an umbrella and heading for town with Swan by my side when beer o’clock rolled around.

We made BarCelona our first stop. The rain let up some by the time we arrived.

I was surprised to see that my waitress friend, Jenn, from Whiskey Girl, is now employed at BarCelona. She says the pay is better, and there is less drama. It’s nice to have a familiar face here, even if I infrequently visit this bar.

Nice to see you again and good luck in your new job!

The news from BarCelona is that the bar has finally changed hands. The new owner wasn’t around yesterday, but hopefully, he can find a way to attract more customers. For our first hour or so, we were groovin’ to the classic rock sounds being played on a quality sound system. And then, out of the blue, some crappy rap (but I repeat myself) began blaring. I told Swan if I had heard that noise when coming up the stairs, I would have turned around. Well, one rap song is one too many, but I can tolerate the discomfort. And then the next song was rap. And so was the one after that. I told Jenn it was time for us to go. While she was getting my bill, the only other customer in the bar (he’d actually been out on the rooftop deck) came in to pay and leave for the same reason. As we left, I told the cashier to consider who the customer base was when picking a playlist. She denied changing the music and claimed not to know how to resolve the issue. Whatever.

Wet Spot wasn’t open yet, so we made Green Room our next stop. Business as usual there, and we enjoyed drinking our drinks and watching the pool players.

It was Chu’s lucky night…two lady drinks, some lumpia, and a one hundred peso tip!

We brought sandwiches from Sit-n-Bull home with us for our dinner.

Roast beef dip for Swan
And a footlong meatball sub for me. I could only eat six inches of it, but the leftovers made a nice breakfast for Swan’s sister.

Not much of a Wednesday, but we made the best of it.

  • Part-time helper salary: 1000 pesos
  • Trike: 100 pesos
  • Dinner: 1200 pesos
  • Tips: 340 pesos
  • Alcohol: 800 pesos
  • Lady Drinks: 680 pesos
  • Total for October 23: 4220 pesos

The rare day of spending less than 5000 pesos!

Today’s memories don’t come from Facebook; instead, I found them in the dark archives here at Long Time Gone. This post from 2009 was a good reminder that there was a time when I occasionally wrote something of substance on the blog. I had recently signed up on Facebook and reconnected with a high school classmate who worked with me on the school newspaper. He was working as a journalist for a major paper in the Pacific Northwest and was lamenting the declining economics of the newspaper industry. I had been a fellow liberal brother-in-arms back in our youth but had outgrown that mindset. I pointed out some reasons why the left-wing reporting bias was hurting the news business. I guess he disagreed, and like many of my lefty acquaintances, he unfriended me. Oh well, at least his echo-chamber world view was preserved. Probably one of the better posts in the almost twenty-year history of LTG.

The other memory was a photo I posted on the blog from my days as a cross-country skier in the mountains of Northern Arizona circa 1982. That post contained just the photograph and one of my favorite Sara Teasdale poems:

Let it be forgotten, as a flower is forgotten,
Forgotten as a fire that once was singing gold,
Let it be forgotten for ever and ever,
Time is a kind friend, he will make us old.

If anyone asks, say it was forgotten
Long and long ago,
As a flower, as a fire, as a hushed footfall
In a long forgotten snow.

Man oh man, a good reminder that we don’t appreciate what we have until it is gone. I hadn’t thought about those long ago days in a very long time, and seeing that picture again brought back a flood of memories. Damn, I’d like to be a time traveler and whisper some wisdom in that guy’s ear. But knowing me, I probably wouldn’t have listened.

Speaking of fools, here are some updates on that guy I posted about who was kidnapped a few days ago. The more I learn about this young man, the worse it gets. A white guy’s body washed ashore in the region, but it has not been positively identified as being him yet. Anyway, either way it is doubtful he is still alive. You can read a news account here, and today’s YouTube videos have two different vloggers weighing in with the latest details of this guy’s final days. I found it both interesting and sad that he had converted to Islam and taken the name Muhammed. A lot of good it did him.

Time to cleanse the palate with some humor:

At least it wasn’t prick meat
That’ll teach her!
That’s a little too close to home these days.

Well, the good news is I made it through this post on low batt. The bad news is the storm has just hit with full fury…heavy winds and rain. And now this just happened:

Blocking the road and landed on top of the power lines. Looks like I’m going to be in the dark for a while.

Oh well, nothing I can do about it. I’m leaving tomorrow morning to spend the weekend in La Union. It’s on the ocean so hopefully this storm has blown through by then. We shall see. I’ll update tomorrow if I have the power to do so.

Dylan wrote it…

But I grew up on this version:

Still like it better.

Piss ‘n blood

Another empty page has now been filled, but it being a Tuesday, there were plenty of open spaces. That’s why we have to live them to see what they may bring.

In a break from the normal routine, we stopped at the Ulticare Hospital on the way to Royal. It seems they were in need of a donation. So, I gave them a vial of my blood, but that wasn’t enough for the greedy bastards.

They also wanted my urine. I didn’t get pissy about it; I just gave them some.

Shopping went as expected, and I was pleasantly surprised to see corn bread mix on sale.

How could I resist?

Even with the sale prices, groceries don’t come cheap these days:

The price you gotta pay when you don’t like Filipino street food.

With the morning chores completed, it was time to think about those late afternoon hours. I had it in my head to do the Baloy Beach thing, but I asked Swan what she wanted to do first. “How about Baloy?” was her response. It is so sweet that we are on the same page most of the time.

Walking on the beach
The view from here

And then I noticed this:

Is that what I think it is?
It is, indeed! My oh my, the Donald has fans way out here. “Take America Back!” is a sentiment I support.

We spent a pleasant hour at Kokomo’s, chatting (and drinking) with the owner. He had planned on anchoring the floating bar this week, but Typhoon Kristine changed those plans. Hopefully, I’ll be spending my Tuesday evenings on the floater starting next month.

When we were ready to eat, we headed up the beach to Treasure Island. They weren’t too busy, and the owner bought us a round of drinks. Swan asked me if I would order some food for the waitresses, and of course, I did not object. Another example of us being on the same page.

I ordered those big ol’ beef enchiladas again. One for dinner, and one for my breakfast this morning.
Swan got a small Hawaiian pizza and brought the leftovers home for her sister.

We finished our drinks and grabbed a trike to Alta Vista. And so ended another day in the life.

Money don’t get everything, it’s true, but what it don’t get, I can’t use…”

  • Dinner: 1160 pesos
  • Tips: 350 pesos
  • Groceries: 15,500 pesos
  • Alcohol: 1110 pesos
  • Electricity: 3800
  • Driver: 1000 pesos
  • Healthcare: 750 pesos
  • Charity: 200 pesos
  • Trike: 100 pesos
  • Total for October 22: 22,970 pesos

Twelve years ago, I was hanging with my pal Simon in Itaewon to celebrate his birthday.

Long ago and far away

Seven years ago, I penned this gem:

Death to Aria! I was attacked in my sleep last night. The battle raged from 0200-0300. I was unable to digest why it was happening and was in danger of being completely liquefied. I retreated from the bedroom and eventually purged the intruder. When I awoke a few hours later, I found myself on more solid ground. I’m just glad the attack didn’t occur on the subway, or I would have been in deep doo-doo.

Who says those creative writing classes were a waste of time?

I’m laughing at a lot of those Trump doing McDonald’s memes. Like this one:

The pandering exploded lefty heads almost like a Hezbollah pager!
Pretty much

Today’s YouTube video is the latest from Reekay, talking about mistakes guys make in their search for the perfect Filipina. I’ve found the right one for me, but it took me over five years of fuck-ups. So, here’s your chance to learn from the ignorance of others:

Today’s funnies:

Now tell us about the ups and downs
He’d hate the Philippines. Christmas music starts in September.
Yes, and my reposting it here will probably warrant a ticket to hell.

Well, so far, at least, the typhoon has brought some mild rain and very little wind. I’ve seen photos of flooding elsewhere in the PI. It was enough to cancel the Wednesday Walkers group hike this morning, though. I’m likely going to break out the umbrella come beer o’clock and give a local bar or two some business. Hey, I call it disaster relief! I’ll let you know how that works out for me tomorrow.

Hashy Anniversary!

The Subic Bay Hash House Harriers have been marching for thirty-one years now, and I’ve been honored to be involved in six of them. In a typical week, we have between thirty and forty participants. Yesterday, 133 Hashers, including a large contingent from Pattaya, Thailand, joined the fun. Thanks for sharing in the celebration!

There were three options yesterday: long, medium, and short trails. Long and medium hikers took Jeepneys to Olongapo City and started from there. The short trail (5.5K) involved a harder-than-I-remembered climb, but it wasn’t bad after that. And no, I did not shortcut, even though the thought crossed my mind. The gathering for the Hash circle at Subiza seemed to go well, so that was a relief. The party continued at It Doesn’t Matter following the Hash. There’s a reason we are known as a “drinking club with a running problem.” Good times!

Passing through the squatter village on the way to the Hash, I was quite impressed with this work of art in progress.
The short trail Hashers gather at the VFW. Lots of unfamiliar faces.
And we are On-On!
Cums Alone wasn’t hiking alone
Let the climbing commence!
It felt like the steps would never end
And even when the steps ended, the climbing wasn’t over
A nice view of the bay from here
To shortcut or not? Temptation was overcome and we continued onward
The Easter Mountain view
Passing through Mountain Mama Onelia’s place…nobody was home yesterday.
The Thanksgiving turkey was already in the kitchen
That ridgeline the short trail avoided
The first medium trail hikers to pass us
I love this cabin in the woods. Sitting on the porch with a cold beer and enjoying the view would *almost* make the isolation bearable.
Heading back down
Getting passed by a runner from the long trail
That’s always a good sign!
On-Home at Subiza with Blow My Pipe managing the anniversary shirt sales
The view from Subiza Resort
With well over one hundred Hashers in attendance, seats were at a premium
Circle up!
(L-R) Queen Asswipe, Roadwhore, Fucking Old Man, and Pubic Head: Subic Hashers with over 1000 Runs
Show us your anniversary panties!
Pattaya Hasher contingent discovers that it is nice on ice!
Photographic evidence that I do indeed suck
We packed the house at the after-Hash gathering at IDM
The Gash had their own party outside
And I wasn’t invited!
But you swore nothing would keep us apart!
The long, medium, and short of it
I have no idea what triggered that spike at 10 p.m.–it must have been a helluva dream!

It’s great to still be living the good life after all these years.

I’ve had my share of Coors over the years, but none since I left the USA.

The day was not free, of course:

  • Charity: 11,500 pesos (donation for cancer treatment)
  • Prescription Meds: 1500 pesos
  • Tips: 100 pesos
  • Alcohol: 850 pesos
  • Dinner: 750 pesos
  • Lady Drinks: 400 pesos
  • Trike: 200 pesos
  • Hash Fees: 1300 pesos
  • Snacks: 100 pesos
  • Total for October 21: 16,700 pesos

Ten more days to go before I do my monthly reckoning.

You may have noticed an influx of spam comments. I turned off my blockers to see if that would improve access for those using VPNs. It might have helped some, but deleting all that spam was a chore, so the blockers are back in operation. Sorry for whatever inconvenience that may cause.

In other news, there’s a storm a-brewin’.

I’m heading for La Union this weekend to participate in the Hash. It could be a wet and wild one.

Today’s memory is from seven years ago when I made a four-hour roundtrip bike ride from Pyeongtaek to Asan and back.

I don’t recall going with anyone, but someone took this picture of my arrival at Asan.

Election day is approaching, and the voting shenanigans have already begun.

Funny how that works.

Today’s YouTube video might be my all-time favorite from The Filipina Pea. In it, she takes on a white woman who is critical of men moving to Asia for the women. Pea decimates her in a must-see takedown. The white gal is the perfect example of what Western men are running away from. Have a look and judge for yourself:

Ready for some humor?

That’s what happens when you monkey around without protection
She’s at least half right about that.
I almost overlooked this one.

I’m halfway through my Tuesday now and unsure what lies ahead. I’ll consult with Swan for her preferences, but I’m thinking Baloy might be a good option. Come back for more of my drivel tomorrow if you dare!

Getting it done

Life is what it is, and this is how it was yesterday: A Candy Walk, a feeding, a dinner, and some liquid refreshment along the way. And I’ve got the pictures to prove it!

Our bags are packed full of candy
We’re ready to go
Let’s do it!
Always under her watchful gaze
And so it begins
Time waits for no man…and neither does Swan, especially when he is peeing.
Taking care of business
A tree that caught my eye
Road work
Hello again
I was surprised to run into Hashers Wesley and Aurora lounging by the riverside
The temporary bridge is still there, but it has been closed to traffic. It does make for a waterpark-like attraction, though.
The end of the journey. Over 200 kids received their sweets ration.
The 5K Candy Walk

Later in the day, I made my way to Hideaway for the weekly feeding.

The treats I brought for the gals
The food from Jewel Cafe
Mission accomplished

Next up was surviving a highway crossing and dining at John’s place.

The view from there
My dinner date
I ordered a steak
Swan ordered this beef and veggies dish
Swan was disappointed when her dinner was served, noting the lack of broccoli that was shown in the menu rendition.
I rather enjoyed my steak. I wanted to compare its taste and value to the one I had at Jewel the night before. This one was twice the size and much more tender. John’s cost 50% more, but it was worth it.
Dinner is over and we are ready for our nightcap

We finished the day at Green Room, where we enjoyed watching some pool competitors in action. Lady drinks were dispensed, and beer was imbibed. I got a shoulder rub from Sally, but it didn’t get any lower than that.

So, I caught some flack in the comments about my criticism of the guy getting his crotch rubbed on Friday night. Let me try and clarify my objections. To begin with, whatever happens between a customer and a GRO is between them, and it is none of my business. I’ve seen worse than the Friday show. I don’t enjoy seeing guys grabbing tits or gals grabbing dick, but that’s between them. That said, Green Room touts itself as a “sports bar,” not a whore bar. I was there on Friday to watch a dance competition, and I had my girl with me. I saw what was happening at the next table and looked away. Swan got offended. I stand by my belief that it wasn’t the time or place for hands-on behavior, but I’ll concede it doesn’t make the guy a ghastly asshole. It’s a Barretto bar full of girls wanting to make money; I can always go elsewhere if I don’t like it. The fact that I was back at Green Room with my girl last night demonstrates that we are both over it.

Here’s what my Sunday cost me:

  • Tips: 500 pesos
  • Alcohol: 1190 pesos
  • Lady Drinks: 1050 pesos
  • Snacks: 200 pesos
  • Dinner: 1290 pesos
  • Trikes: 300 pesos
  • Charity: 2150 pesos
  • Trash Collection: 100 pesos
  • Lunch: 550 pesos
  • Total for October 20: 7282 pesos

Another Facebook memory from my Korea life:

Nine years ago, I enjoyed a picnic lunch on Yongsan Garrison with my team.

I was looking at pictures from the Anniversary Hash in 2019 and had a chuckle over this one:

That’s Mountain Mama MJ randomly passing by on her trike with her two kids. This was before I met her, and now I’m her sponsor. It’s funny how things turned out.

Today’s YouTube vlogger advises against opening a business for the family to operate. The examples given are pretty familiar. My direct experience was sponsoring the eatery Marissa wanted. That lasted all of six months. Still, when I thought about that beach bar in Bantay Bayan I wrote about yesterday, I knew it would have to be in Swan’s name, and I felt confident that it would do fine in her capable hands. I’m just not wanting to upend my life with the major changes that would be required. Still, I’m cognizant of the fact that she’ll outlive me, and I’d like to find a way for her to carry on without my support when the end of my days arrives.

I’ll take this as a sign that today’s humor will be punny indeed:

When you are as mindless as Kamala and Biden, stealing ideas is your only option.
They have their ups and downs, but rarely leave me laughing
Sounds like a Hash name in there somewhere

Speaking of the Hash, today is the 31st Anniversary of the Subic Bay Hash House Harriers. The long and medium trails involve transport to Olongapo City, then a climb up to Kalaklan Ridge and down the other side. Departure for those is at noon from VFW. The short trail leaves at one from the VFW and has a climb, but not a Kalaklan-level (steep?) ascent. You know which one I’ll be doing. On-Home is at Subiza Resort on Baloy. I’m a little worried if they are going to be able to accommodate the needs of an anticipated one hundred Hashers, but we are fixin’ to find out. I’ll share how it goes tomorrow.

The steaks weren’t high

But they were pretty small. Here’s where things stood on SATurday.

Swan joined me for the Saturday morning stroll. She thinks walking in Barretto is boring, so we took a Jeepney ride out of town and explored the backstreets of a small village called Bantay Bayan. I’ve walked through there on hikes before and always liked the place’s vibe. It’s an isolated community on the beach but still accessible via the National Highway. The highway doesn’t go through the town; it’s up above it on the hillside. Naturally, Swan handed out sweets to the kids we encountered during our walk.

On the way to catch our Jeepney, we walked through the small village just outside the gates of Alta Vista
Happy to oblige that sweet tooth
On the highway above our destination in Bantay Bayan, a new access road is under construction, which will make the village much more easily accessible.
In the interim, we walked a steep path down.
I imagine this gets very slippery when wet. Wouldn’t want to walk it after dark either.
Welcome to Bantay Bayan!
Wherever she goes, Swan is popular with the kids
This alley featured a nice dead-end on the beach

On my previous walks through this village, I observed a place called “The Index,” but it was never open when I passed by. Yesterday, some construction was going on, and one of the workers said we could come in for a look-see.

Hmm. This has some potential to be a nice beach bar. Needs a lot of work, though.

As we were looking around, a Filipino man having coffee and a smoke at one of the tables greeted us. The first thing he said to me was, “Index is for sale.” I told him, “Not today,” but it gave me something to think about.

An “acoustic sing-along bar” sounds nice, as long as the volume is turned down some. Swan and I may visit when things are up and running again and see if we like the vibe.

Of course, upon reflection, I realize the fantasy of owning a beach bar and the reality of actually running one are two different things. I’d have to move to Bantay Bayan for one thing. It’s only five kilometers from Barretto, but it would still be a pain in the ass without some major lifestyle changes. And the bar would cater to an almost exclusively local crowd, so I’m not sure how much fun that would be for me. I did see one other white guy on the walkabout, so there’s that.

The new road up to the highway
Riding the Jeepney back to Barretto
That’s Bantay Bayan at the bottom of the map. No, we didn’t swim across the bay. I turned the tracker off when we caught the Jeepney in Barretto, then restarted it again at our destination.

I promised Swan dinner at Jewel, and we stopped at It Doesn’t Matter for some pre-meal liquid refreshments on our way there. Ran into my pals Scott and Jim, and before we left a couple more bar hoppers arrived. I never get invited to join in those excursions; I guess I have the reputation of being a lightweight. Oh well, I had a date anyway.

There was a large and loud Filipino group at Jewel Cafe when we arrived, but they left shortly thereafter. Before we’d finished our meal, an even bigger group came in, including a passel of kids. Another large group was seated in the outside area. I like Jewel and was happy to see them doing so well with the Saturday dinner crowd.

Swan had been hankering for the Jewel steak dinner–a filet mignon for 499 pesos. I ordered one as well.

You are not going to get much meat for ten bucks, but what little there was tasted good.

We hadn’t been to Alaska Club for a while, and owner Jerry is back in town, so that was our next stop. We were the day’s first customers for them, but the music was good, and the girls were dancing (which is rare in other bars). As is my custom, I rewarded the dance crew with fifty pesos each for their effort (there were ten of them). Our waitress enjoyed two lady drinks and a nice tip for her service. We did our nightcap at Wet Spot and spent recklessly there as well. Aine joined us again, along with waitress Irene and boss lady Beth, and they all quenched their thirst on my tab. Hey, that’s just the way I roll. And nobody rubbed my crotch!

With eight o’clock approaching and my drinking capacity maxed out, we called for our trike and headed home.

Where a slice of Swan’s homemade blueberry cheesecake awaited my arrival.

A sweet ending to the day, indeed!

Easy come, easy go:

  • Lady Drinks: 800 pesos
  • Alcohol: 1500 pesos
  • Dinner: 1000 pesos
  • Charity: 50 pesos
  • Tips: 850 pesos
  • Jeepney: 100 pesos
  • Trike: 200 pesos
  • Total for October 19: 4500 pesos

Memories of Seoul from seven years ago when I did a trek to the summit of Namsan.

My destination
Goal achieved
A view from the top

Damn, I do miss those days.

So, I posted the video yesterday about that poor smuck who was kidnapped in Zamboanga. Turns out he was a vlogger and had posted videos acknowledging that his life was in danger living there.

This news article provides additional information on the sad story of Elliot Eastman.

That’s the victim with his Muslim wife. Only twenty-six years old.

Good luck to him where ever he may be. He’s going to need it.

Alright, hard to transition from that story to the humor, but here goes anyway:

Their bark is worse than their bite, I hope.
Another one of my old jokes that has now been rendered in comic form. Damn it, I stole it first!
I beg to differ, but don’t take my word for it.

So, another Sunday feeding at Hideaway is on tap, followed by my dinner with Swan at John’s place. No complaints, even if it does have a “Groundhog Day” feel about it. Kind of like reading this blog, I suppose.

Some days are good, others are a real SOB

I report, you decide.

The day began with the Friday group hike. We kept it local this time, and other than fighting our way through the overgrown thatch grass, we had a good walk.

Friday’s joiners
Sun, smoke, and poverty captured in one photo
I’m coming, thanks for waiting
That town that I call home
Almost like a walk in the park…except it was uphill.
Another view from on high
Michael did a good job keeping us on the right path
Pausing for a shady view
The grass was taller than Easter Mountain, or so it appears
A grassy knoll
Out of the grass and into the woods
A better view of that mountain
Passing through Mountain Mama Onelia’s place
Thanksgiving is coming!
A downward trajectory
Vines on powerlines are common in these parts, but those dangling string-like things are pretty unique.
On the road again
Haven’t seen a funeral banner for a while. Leonida made it to ninety-five. Well done!
We went thataway!

It was SOB Friday, and when I attend, I arrive early in order to secure a good seat. Most of the venues open at five, and the show starts at six. The Green Room’s regular opening hour is four, so that meant having a longer than usual wait. Swan joins me just before the show begins to avoid that suffering. So, how do you kill the time sitting in a bar? Oh yeah, beer!

I also ordered a sub sandwich from Sit-n-Bull

The show started on time. Seven hundred pesos each for admission, but the beer is free from six to eight. I consider it a challenge to get my money’s worth, but I can’t drink enough to make up for that slowpoke Swan. No big deal. Before the dancing started, Swan observed one of the GROs rubbing the crotch of the guy at a nearby table. She called the guy an asshole, but I pointed out he wasn’t rubbing on the girl. Anyway, people do what they do, and it is not my concern if it doesn’t affect me.

I was a judge for the contest again, and this week, I was totally in sync with my fellow judges:

Voodoo took fourth place
Alaska was third
The home team, Green Room, finished second
And Wet Spot was this week’s champion

As usual, when the show was over, I was done. We had our regular trike driver meet us outside and headed home.

Here’s how I emptied my wallet yesterday:

  • Cable/Internet: 3500 pesos
  • Alcohol: 450 pesos
  • Tips: 420 pesos
  • Trike: 200 pesos
  • Phone: 3800 pesos
  • Lady Drinks: 700 pesos
  • Charity: 3500 pesos
  • Snacks: 100 pesos
  • SOB Fee: 1400 pesos
  • Dinner: 520 pesos
  • Total for October 18: 14,590 pesos

Ah, the memories.

Eleven years ago, I was appreciating the unique street art of Korea.
Look familiar? Five years ago, I did the same hike I wrote about today

Yesterday’s YouTube videos about the poor SOB locked up in jail for pot possession were a lesson in the consequences of being stupid. And today, we have yet another example. Reekay shares the story of a Yank who was kidnapped in Zamboanga, a stronghold for Muslim terrorists in southern Mindanao. I wouldn’t even VISIT that area, let alone choose to live there. Stupid is as stupid does, I suppose. I wish him well, but unless he knows someone willing to pay a hefty ransom, he’s screwed.

Alright, to the humor then:

Kinda like what happened to you, right Kevin?
That doesn’t strike me as funny
They come when I whistle

Saturday is in play. Swan says she is craving a steak dinner at Jewel Cafe, and I’m going to leave her feeling satisfied in that regard. After that, who knows? I do have some coupons from the SOB to expend, so we shall see.

What’s to do on a Thirstday?

Besides drinking? Not much.

Kicked things off with coffee in my newly purchased mug. There is a first time for everything!
Then, there was the morning dog walk. The boys get some off-leash time on this uninhabited street.
And then I walked myself—a 6+K stroll on the streets of Barretto.

Exciting shit, eh? But wait, there’s more! It had been days (two of them!) since I’d last interjected myself in the Barretto nightlife scene. I decided some treats for the girls were in order, so I brought along chocolate marshmallow pies, some lollipops, and this bag of candy:

This was intended to be a prop for a joke. It cost me five bucks at Royal, but I’ll pay for a laugh. But sometimes the joke’s on me.

One of my favorites at the It Doesn’t Matter bar is a gal that goes by the name of Hershe. I’ve teased her in the past by misreading it as “he-she” and asking if she was a bakla (trans). So, my plan last night was to call her over to my table and tell her there is something I’ve wanted to do since we first met, but she should get a lady drink first. When she returned, I would say, I hope you will understand my intentions. I’ve already discussed this with Swan (yes, Swan was in on the joke), and she is fine with me doing this. Having created the appropriate level of anticipation, I would then say, “Hershe, I want to give you kisses!” After enjoying her reaction, I would pull the candy out of the bag and hand it to her. Then we’d all have a good chuckle. Except my plans went awry when Hershe chose not to show up for work. Oh well, I took the bag of candy to Wet Spot and told the head waitress I wanted to give all the girls kisses. I let her do the distribution.

We wound up staying at IDM longer than usual and enjoyed some food with our beverages.

Swan also enjoyed the company of IDM manager Ashley during our visit.

As mentioned, we did our nightcap at Wet Spot. I bought the usual lady drinks for waitress Irene and head waitress (and Hasher) Beth. The surprise of the visit occurred when Aine came down off her high horse and greeted us at our table before ascending to the stage to join the other dancers. Swan had no issues with bringing Aine down to enjoy a lady drink for old-times sake. In a gesture of goodwill, I offered Aine something to suck on, and she gratefully accepted (a lollipop). Anyway, I sensed Swan didn’t engage with Aine with as much camaraderie as she had in the past. I guess that’s what happens when someone reveals the true nature of their character, as Aine did in turning her back on a friend.

Anyhoo, we had a nice enough evening out in Barretto. Dropped more change than usual in the bars, especially on lady drinks. But that’s the price you pay sometimes when you are having a good time. And I’m sure the gals appreciated it.

  • Alcohol: 1150 pesos
  • Lady Drinks: 1400 pesos
  • Dinner: 850 pesos
  • Charity 600 pesos
  • Tips: 250 pesos
  • Trike: 200 pesos
  • Snacks: 700 pesos
  • Prescription Meds: 600 pesos
  • Total for October 17: 5750 pesos

Facebook memories carried me back to Pyeongtaek where I attended a staff dinner party/housewarming at the new home of one of my employees, Ms. Yi.

Seven long years ago. My, how my life has changed.

At least my life has not changed in the way this guy’s did–in a Filipino jail for possession of marijuana. Using and selling drugs in this country is beyond dumb. My number one goal since moving here has been to avoid doing ANYTHING that might be construed as criminal. Yeah, that eighteen-year-old was borderline stupid, but I did at least get a copy of her birth certificate before agreeing to meet her in person. Anyway, this guy is screwed. He was apparently not popular with his fellow Angeles expats, but I wouldn’t wish this fate on anyone. It was his own damn fault, though.

Here’s a take on the situation from another vlogger (including visiting the guy in jail) if you are interested.

I need some humor after watching that shit:

Dude has some balls, that’s for sure.
It’s always the last place you look
Been there, done that, that, that, that.

I woke up to this staring at me through the bedroom window this morning.

Nice to see you again!

Swan and I will be attending the SOB dance competition tonight at Green Room. We’ll turn another page in the story of my life tomorrow. See you then!