First off, today is Memorial Day for Americans, the day we set aside to honor and remember the men and women who gave their lives in service to our nation.

Here dead we lie
Because we did not choose
To live and shame the land
From which we sprung.
Life, to be sure,
Is nothing much to lose,
But young men think it is,
And we were young.
–Alfred Edward Housman

Thank you for your service and sacrifice.

Today’s post will be brief, in part because I don’t have much to say, and also because I have somewhere to go. So, let’s get on with it.

The Sunday Sweets Stroll went as planned, but honestly, I’m not enjoying this one as much as I do the Decay Dance on Saturday. The route is boring, some of the kids are rude, and I think maybe it is time to change it up. We shall see.

As for the evening activities, we kicked things off at Red Bar. I had some food delivered from Jewel Cafe, and we soaked up the patio ambiance as we dined. Then Swan needed to leave to attend a memorial for a friend who had recently passed away, so I was on my own. I decided to pay a visit to Alaska Club as my next stop. Except for a pool tourney, it was a very quiet night in the bar. I did note that three dancers in attendance were thinner than the ones I saw during my previous visit. Owner Jerry is currently back in the USA, so I missed our usual chat.

I planned to make the seldom-visited Nipsey’s Bar my nightcap destination, but they were closed. Thumbstar Bar across the highway is under new management, so I figured I’d check things out there. It was also very quiet there last night, but I settled into a stool near the dance stage and ordered up a beer. Then a couple of the waitresses joined me at my table, and we shared a chat. I was sorry to hear they had closed down the kitchen (the shawarma here used to be excellent). A lady drink is 300 pesos, well above my 200-peso limit, so I told the gals I’d give them a tip instead, and they seemed fine with that. I asked one of them where she worked before Thumbstar, and she said, “Don’t you remember? Rapscallion.” No, I didn’t remember. That long-closed bar was never one I frequented regularly. But then she told me we were Facebook friends, which was another surprise. I’m forgetting everything these days, including what a small town Barretto truly is.

And then it was time for me to drag my sorry ass back home, so I said goodnight to my new old friends and headed outside to grab a trike. I was sound asleep when Swan arrived back home a couple of hours later.

It’s the last day of May 2019 in the LTG archives, and I’m back in Korea for a visit after a one-year absence. Once again, I was overwhelmed with memories from happier days there. So overwhelmed that I considered ending the trip early. I didn’t do that, but I’ve never gone back either.

Today’s YouTube video discusses three “Twilight Zone” episodes that invoked enough outrage to be banned from syndication. I was a big fan of Rod Serling and this show, even at a young age. The complained-of content would have been totally over my head.

Humor time:

So, today’s Hash is what we call an “Out Station.”

Pundaquit is one of my favorite places, and I’m looking forward to hiking there today. The CMC bar is my kind of hangout, and the food is great. It should be a nice Hash experience. We leave at 11:00 this morning for the bus ride out to San Antonio. I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow.

Speaking of blessings, I sure did get lucky when I began sharing my life with Swan. Yesterday morning, she asked if I wanted anything, and I told her I’d like some toast with jam.

Then we did a hot and sweaty Decay Dance that left me feeling toasted.

Back home, Swan called me to check out this reptile roaming in the vacant lot behind our house.

It being Saturday and all, and having missed out on the Barretto bar scene on Friday, we made our way into town promptly at beer o’clock. It had been quite some time since we enjoyed the ambiance of the Outback pool bar with its beach views, so that’s where we headed. Alas, despite an early afternoon rain shower, it was still too damn hot to sit outside, so we moved to the indoor Outback Billabong Bar.

Our next stop was Gold Bar.

The real reason for our venturing to this side of town was to pay belated birthday greetings to Jake, the manager of Queen Victoria Bar.

And that was it for our evening on the town.

Facebook reminded me that today is the sad tenth anniversary of my dear friend Bridget Werner’s passing. I’d never met anyone like her before or since. A wicked sense of humor and a lot of shared laughter make her unforgettable.

From the May 2019 LTG archives is another chapter in the “One lifetime, many lives” series. This chapter was devoted to my being a whore life. Talk about getting screwed! It’s a whore story! Although looking back at the memories isn’t so bad.

Today’s YouTube video is from a vlogger I’ve never watched previously. He talks about the trap of feeling rich and gradually living beyond your means. Well, I’m going on nine years now, and for the most part, I’m staying within my budget. I have a great house for a little over 600 bucks a month, but I tend to overspend on groceries and eating out. Then again, my income is a lot more than $2500 a month, so I can afford it.

Smile with me:

And that’s the update for today. Thanks for stopping by.

But this day was different. Despite the comfort I take in my daily routines, changing things up occasionally keeps the living fresh and interesting. Getting out of town, seeing something new, chillaxin’ with friends is all it takes. I got invited to hang out with Swan’s lady cadre for a day of fun and exploration way out in San Narciso. My pal Scott came along with his gal, so we enjoyed our Friday hike while the girls did their thing. Then we sat around the campsite drinking beers and taking in the scenery. Oh, and some of Swan’s relatives and their kids came along as well. It was definitely a Filipino-style family outing vibe. It was nice for a change.

While the gals set up camp, Scott and I hit the trail.

Hmm, I wasn’t sure if I should be spelling that embankment “dike” or “dyke.” Turns out, both are correct, but the webpage I looked at had this warning:

But the word “dyke,” when spelled with a Y, has been used over the years as a slang or slur term to describe a lesbian. It’s not a kind term, so try and avoid using it.

Kind of ruins my “finger in the dyke” joke, though. That poor little Dutch boy!

Anyway, enough of that nonsense. On with the show!

We were also probably the oldest ones there.

So, it was a different kind of day, indeed. And I enjoyed the change of pace.

Well, I started drinking WAY before beer o’clock, and I know my limits. So, the decision to stay at home on a Friday evening was an easy one. How’s that for different? But what to do with my usual bar time? Scott had told me about a series he had just watched on Netflix called “The Man in the High Castle.” So, I fired up the television for the first time in many months and proceeded to watch the first episode. The basic premise is that Japan and Germany had won World War II and divided the USA between them. Episode 1 depicts life as it was in occupied America in 1962. I’m enjoying it so far, but before I could finish the first episode, we had a power outage, and I was left in the dark. Oh well, I’ll continue with it soon. I just need to squeeze some TV time into my daily routines.

So, yesterday was about as different as it gets around here.

From the May 2019 LTG archives, I post about my first time as the Hare with the Hash. I write about the experience of marking the Hash trail, and then I share the response to the trail from my fellow Hashers.

Today’s YouTube video from the Filipina Pea shows her visit to a World War II museum in Dumaguete. Some of the artifacts look amazing. I’d like to visit someday and see it all firsthand.

Time out!

That’s the way it was, no time to get back to the way it is. I think there is some beer in my near future.

Gonna keep it short and sweet today. I’ve just arrived home after an all-day adventure I’ll share with you tomorrow. But for now, here’s a brief recap of yesterday.

Swan and I did a nice walk on the riverside, gave our lola friend her allowance, and passed out some sweetness to the children we encountered along the way.

And of course, at beer o’clock we headed into town.

And then we finished things off next door at Wet Spot. No nightcap, because we had to get up early this morning for that adventure I mentioned.

From the May 2019 LTG archives is the post where I reflect on the first anniversary of my arrival in the Philippines. It took a while, but things worked out eventually.

Today’s YouTube video discusses the phenomenon of a shrinking circle of friends as we grow older. Hmm, so it’s not just me? Honestly, I’ve recently had several people I considered true friends abandon me, and it hurts. All I can figure is that I was never as important to them as they were to me. Life goes on, and I hope they are doing better without me in theirs.

Maybe my warped sense of humor drove them away.

Anyway, this is the first post I’ve written in a LONG time after I’d been drinking. Maybe that makes it better for my beloved readers. Anyway, I expect things will be back to normal tomorrow, so don’t get your hopes up!

I like to think I’ve done a reasonably good job adapting to the heat here, but damn, this year is the worst that I remember. I know I’ll be bitching about rainy season soon, but for now, I say bring it on. Wet with sweat or wet with water both suck, but I’m ready for something different.

The heat may have been a factor in there being no other participants for the Wednesday Walkers group hike. I went out for a sweaty 7K street stroll to Calapacuan and back. Along the way, I saw two dead men walking.

Yeah, they weren’t walking, I was. It sounded better in my head.

It being Wednesday, we hoofed out to Baloy Beach for the floating bar experience after our one-week absence.

I asked Steve if there was a typhoon forecast causing the earlier-than-usual end of the season. He said the bay had swells two feet high washing over the deck this week, so he’s playing it safe rather than sorry. And so it goes.

I’ve moved on to May 2019 in my journey through the LTG archives. In this post, I reflect on life in my hometown of Barretto. The demographic trends to the elderly side, but then, as far as retirement communities go, this one is rife with exciting things to do and see. I mention my friend John and his girlfriend Mango and their 40-plus-year age gap. John was subsequently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, which progressed to near disablement level. He is now back in the province with Mango and being cared for by her and her family. Loving Filipinas to stay by our side at the end of days is perhaps the best aspect of retired life here.

Today’s YouTube video is the story of the three laughing monks. I didn’t know whether to believe it or not, but a quick Google search says they did exist. Honestly, when I see people on the street laughing for no apparent reason, I figure they are crazy or on drugs, and give them a wide berth. Anyway, it is a short video with a positive message, so judge for yourself.

Time out for some humor:

That’s all for today, folks.

I had the chance to change things up yesterday, and I took it. The daughter of our friends, Cliff and Ashley (managers at Red Star Bar), celebrated her 18th birthday yesterday. It was a semi-formal affair that I initially didn’t plan to attend because I’d never met the daughter, and I’m not big on dressing up. But then I decided I ought to go and experience some Filipino culture that I’d not seen before. Apparently, turning eighteen is a big deal in these parts, and the gathering last night was more like a fancy wedding than a birthday party. Even though it wasn’t really my thing, it was impressive.

Anyway, my introvert nature kicked in after a couple of hours, and I departed before the buffet dinner was served. Heh, I guess I had had enough of the different for one day.

In other news, I had my first-ever encounter with an AI interaction via ChatGPT. For whatever reason, I have been unwilling to engage with the technology. Well, I’m pretty sure AI will be the end of mankind as we know it, but I expect I’ll be long gone by then. Anyway, it’s my pal Scott’s fault that I finally pulled the trigger.

We were seated together last night at the party, and I asked him about how it is done. He told me about the ChatGPT app and how it works. Well, I’d heard of it, but never tried it until this morning.

Our “conversation” started like this:

Me: Can you alter an image for me?

Sure — upload the image and tell me what changes you want made (for example: remove an object, change the background, make it look like a painting, adjust colors, add text, etc.).

So, I uploaded the image above and asked ChatGPT to make it more interesting. This is what I got:

I told ChatGPT nice job, and got this response:

Glad that version worked. If you want to push it further, I can also make it more dramatic or fun—like:

• cinematic travel poster style
• fantasy scene (floating islands, magical sky, glowing lights)
• adventure vibe (mountains, drones, dramatic clouds)
• funny edit (dinosaurs, UFO, giant Chocolate Hills in background, etc.)

Just say what style you want next.

I responded:

I like the fantasy scene idea…I am imagining heaven on earth.

We finished our chat like this:

Me: Thanks so much. This was my first time using ChatGPT or any AI tool.

You’re welcome — and honestly, this is a pretty fun first use case 😄

You basically just did one of the most common AI workflows already:

1. uploaded an image,
2. asked for an edit,
3. explored different creative directions,
4. iterated until it matched your idea.

That’s a big part of what AI tools are good at: helping you turn a rough idea (“make this more interesting” / “heaven on earth”) into something visual quickly.

Beyond image editing, you can also use ChatGPT for things like:

• trip planning and itineraries
• writing emails, letters, or captions
• learning topics or asking questions
• brainstorming gifts, hobbies, recipes, workouts, etc.
• organizing photos, resumes, or projects
• coding, spreadsheets, presentations, and study help

So you’ve only scratched the surface.

And now you’ve got a fantasy Chocolate Hills version of your photo as your first AI project, which is a pretty solid start.

Me: I’m off to a good start! I’ll be back to explore some of those other pathways.

Sounds good — drop by anytime when you want to experiment more.

You’ve already got the basic rhythm down: ask for something, refine it, then keep iterating until it feels right. That same pattern works whether you’re planning a trip, fixing a spreadsheet, learning something new, or making weird fantasy versions of vacation photos.

Enjoy exploring, and see you next time.

So, this old dog learned a new trick!

My daughter sent me a copy of my granddaughter’s resume. Damn, am I really that old?

Facebook reminds me that some wounds never heal with these photos of my dream retirement home in South Carolina. Dreams die sometimes before we do. Although in a way, I did die in order to be reborn into this life I’m living in the Philippines.

Now you have it, now you don’t. It still hurts.

It’s the last post of April 2019 in the LTG archives. What I found interesting was that I took a Sunday morning stroll, including a climb up the Kalaklan Ridge, on a hot day, and made it almost 14K before I was done. Today, I walked a flat 7K and was whooped. Well, at least I’m still alive and kicking, just not as much as before. Oh, and that photo from Alaska Bar was a surprise. The bargirl beside me is now the longtime girlfriend of a fellow Hasher. My oh my,

Today’s YouTube video explores the history of humans consuming alcoholic beverages. Beer has been around for 13,000 years. Hmm, maybe I’ll have enjoyed 13,000 bottles before I die. It’s good to have goals!

Humor me:

Yeah, I’d better stop now. Sometimes the road takes you places you didn’t want to go, but you can still enjoy the ride until you run out of gas.

It’s nice to wake up in your own bed for some reason. I guess it is the classic sign indicating the adventure is over, and the routines are back in control. Lucky for me that I enjoy my routines!

So, a quick post-mortem on Bohol. I like it there. A lot. Much more laid back than Barretto–less traffic, less noise, less litter. The beaches are nice and lined with cool places to hang out. Yeah, I’m talking about the bars. The bars are different in the sense that they don’t cater to carnal interests. In fact, most only have the bare minimum of females on staff, maybe a bartender and a waitress or two. Even at my favorite, the Escape Bar, the gals are not allowed to have a lady drink or sit with customers. So, even though beers are more expensive (120-140 pesos), a night out is cheaper. Panglao is a very touristy town, and most of them come for the scuba diving. I’m told Koreans are the largest contingent of tourists, but I also saw lots of youngish Western couples, and plenty of unescorted white women out and about. That’s a big difference from Barretto. While I don’t particularly like the tourist vibe, I noticed places that seem to cater to the expat crowd. As a non-driver, I appreciated that the hangouts I liked were easy to walk to and that there were plenty of tuk-tuks available to take me longer distances as needed. The “countryside” day tour I took gave me a glimpse of what the interior of Bohol looks like, and it also had a clean, laid-back vibe about it.

We are already looking forward to a return trip to Bohol in the future. Although I have no intentions to move anywhere, I could see myself living a happy life on Panglao.

Here are the photos from yesterday:

Despite our early arrival, our hired driver was already parked and waiting. The drive back to Barretto went without incident or delay (the heavy Sunday traffic was going in the opposite direction). We were home at 1 pm, which gave me time to get settled in and blog before returning to the evening bar grind.

Then it was on to Wet Spot for our nightcap.

The transition back to the Barretto life completed, we grabbed a trike and headed for home.

Onward in the April 2019 LTG archives, and I did a post entitled “Regarding Women,” in which I respond to a reader’s question about the differences between Asian gals and their Western counterparts. Having failed repeatedly in both categories, I offered my expert opinion.

Today’s YouTube video provides a fun look back at the quality of insults over the years. These days, a simple “fuck off, ya cunt!” normally will suffice, but nothing beats a witty putdown. They did screw up one of the Winston Churchill quotes, leaving out the part where he responds to being called a drunk with that classic line, “Madam, tomorrow morning I’ll be sober, but you will still be ugly.”

Here is my humor offering for today:

And that brings you up to date with my so-called life. I’ve got a Hash to attend to this afternoon, and it’s already a hot motherfucker outside. We’ll see how I hold up on trail.

Today marks eight years since I was born again in the Philippines. What a ride it has been, and thankfully, it ain’t over yet. If you’ve been a regular reader here at LTG, you know about the mistakes I’ve made and the hard lessons I’ve learned along the way. But now it appears I’ve found a good woman who is committed to making this final chapter of my life a happy one. Hopefully, there is still a long way to go. Only one way to find out, and that’s to live it.

Here’s how I lived my yesterday:

Later in the day, Swan went for a massage, and I waited for her at Red Bar.

We had some food delivered from Jewel Cafe, and then moved on to Jumpin’ Jacks for our nightcap.

And then we rolled on home for a strawberry-banana smoothie and a good night’s sleep.

The LTG archive journey has now arrived in March 2019. I made my first trip to Palawan Island for a Hash event. It is by far the nicest place I’ve visited in the Philippines, at least so far. Lots of pictures to show you what I mean. Feelin’ Blue, Hash Bash, and The Best of Times.

Today’s YouTube video is also from the LTG archives, but an eight-minute history of the Philippines is worth watching again.

Humor me:

And now it is once again Hash Monday. I’ll be doing my own trail this week. Tomorrow morning, I’ll be heading to Manila to catch my flight to Bohol. Yep, you’re gonna see something new for a change. Bohol has been on my bucket list for a LONG time, glad to finally pull the trigger.

Swan left the house at 3 am for her Pinatubo hike. I went back to bed, woke up at 5, and began my solitary Saturday.

Next up was a solo street stroll through Barretto.

Got home, showered up, and then prepared myself to head into Olongapo City. The main purpose was to get my cellphone repaired. It seems I overcharged the battery (I never knew that was a thing), and the back of the phone warped and partially detached. I walked down to the National Highway and caught a Jeepney that dropped me at the Kalaklan Gate at SBMA. Then I hoofed it another 2K to the SM Mall. At the phone repair shop, I showed my phone, and the attendant said I needed to replace the battery. He had one in stock for “only” 2500 pesos. He said it would take about 20 minutes for the fix, so I told him to proceed.

I used that time to visit the SM Department Store next door. I was hoping for some new hiking shoes, but as usual, they didn’t have any size 11 Merrell’s in stock.

Back to the repair shop, and the phone was ready. I also had a new screen cover installed. They handed me my phone, I thanked them, and started walking away. The clerk called out, “Sir, you haven’t paid yet.” Oops! I came back in, placed my phone on the counter, and reached for my wallet. After getting my change and receipt, I departed once more. A couple of minutes later, the clerk chased me down and handed me my phone. Yep, that’s how bad I’m getting lately.

I exited the mall and grabbed a taxi for home. I prefer the metered cabs, which are usually around 300 pesos to Barretto. For whatever reason, none were available, so I settled for the dreaded SBMA taxis. I’ve had some scam issues with them before, so I always ask up front, how much. The friendly and chatty driver offered 350, which is a fair fare. I gave him a generous tip and got his card for potential future use when I arrived back at the house safe and sound.

It was nearing beer o’clock, so I freshened up and headed back down to the highway, starting my evening out alone at Snackbar. Got a friendly greeting from owner Paula, and settled into one of the outside seats to enjoy the first of several brews. I used to be a regular here, and the gals who still remembered me came and sat at my table. Yeah, I eventually bought them each a lady drink.

When boredom set in, I moseyed on up the highway and decided to pop into the Outback Fish and Chips shop.

Outback is one of the few places that offer Mahi Mahi as the fish option (I despise Dory fish). I neglected to take a photo of the meal as served…

Then I crossed the highway and did my nightcap at Queen Victoria. It wasn’t very busy, and I only stayed for two beers (one of which was provided on the house).

As we pulled into my cul-de-sac, I saw that there was a party in full swing at the next-door neighbor’s house. I used to enjoy attending those neighborhood gatherings, but these days I am no longer welcome. Yep, another person I once considered a friend turned his back and walked away. The older I get, the fewer people seem to care about me. And it occurs to me that perhaps it just comes with the territory of elderliness. Whatever, I’ve made it this far, and I’ll reach the end with or without friends.

Here are a couple of photos from Swan’s Pinatubo adventure:

Eight years ago, I posted these words of wisdom on my Facebook page:

“I never really had a plan for life; I just reacted to it. Whenever I reached a crossroad, I chose a direction and followed the road without a clue as to where it might take me. I guess it is natural to wonder about the paths that would have led to a different life, but you only get to live the life you chose …

I have been fortunate and blessed…but the roads I have taken have led to some great adventures and life-altering experiences. A fool’s luck, perhaps, but even so, I could never have imagined what my life would turn out to be. It has been a very nice ride.”

“So it is time to look forward again…it will be an adventure with an uncertain outcome for sure…”

It was the day before I left Korea for my new life in the Philippines. And naturally, that night I had to say goodbye to my favorite Anjeong-ri bars:

And then from the February 2019 LTG archives is this photo-rich post about a Valentine’s Day Hash in Baguio. It’s so beautiful way up there in the mountains.

For today’s YouTube video, we get another glance into provincial life courtesy of the Filipina Pea. Selling fish door-to-door wouldn’t be a lifestyle I’d choose, but I respect the time and effort it requires.

Ready for more of this?

Anyway, it is what it is. And I’m glad for all that I have.

Alright, I’ve got an agenda to attend to today, so I’m going to keep it short, if not sweet. Swan left the house at 0300 for a tour/hike on Mount Pinatubo with her girlfriends. I’ve filled the morning hours in the usual walkaholic manner. Next up, I’ll head into Olongapo City for a phone repair and a little clothes shopping. Of course, I hope to be home by beer o’clock. We shall see.

What can I say about yesterday? Well, we had a nice enough group hike circumnavigating the Naugsol Valley. In the evening, we made It Doesn’t Matter our pre-dinner stop. And then we stayed because Swan ran into some of her friends she is hiking with today. We had some birria tacos delivered from Myleen’s (which is practically next door) and ate them at IDM. We then did a nightcap at Nipsey’s Bar, and Swan’s friends came along. We didn’t stay long because of the pending early morning travel. I did bake some brownies when we got back home for Swan to enjoy with the mountain hiking group.

And that was the day. Here are some photos you may or may not enjoy:

Did I mention it was hot?

So, it is the time of year I bitch and moan a lot about the heat. But it won’t be long now until I’m complaining about the rain.

Oh, and about the title of today’s post. Yep, I woke up to liquid shit in the bowels. All I ate last night was one damn birria taco, so that’s where I pointed the finger. Swan was fine, though, so I suspect Ozempic might be the real culprit. Still, so far at least, the good is outweighing the bad, so I’ll keep it up for now.

Eight years ago, I dropped off my work clothes for the last time:

From the February 2019 LTG archives: “Today makes nine months since the conception of my retired life in the Philippines. Thankfully, throughout this gestation period, there has been no cause to abort my decision to move here. I’ve been born again! And life goes on.” And now coming up on 8 years here, I still have no regrets.

Today’s YouTube video is from a guy who moved here and learned some hard lessons the hard way. I’ve made my share of mistakes, but nothing I couldn’t recover from.

And there’s always time for a smile or three:

All that matters in life is living free and happy. I’m getting pretty good grades with that these days.

Welcome to another post in the echo chamber. Says the man at the keyboard talking to himself. No big deal, I’m here for the duration, regardless. Power just went out, but I’ve got my mobile hotspot to stay connected. No fans, though, and it is another hot motherfucker today. Oh well, I knock today’s drivel out as quick as I can.

Swan and I did our Calapandayan loop yesterday, hoping to see our favorite lola, but alas, she wasn’t home. We left cookies and lollipops with one of the grandkids, but didn’t feel comfortable giving him our cash donation. I’ll double it next time.

At the appointed hour, we headed into town and enjoyed some adult beverages at Cheap Charlies. The plan was to visit Myleen’s for dinner birra tacos, but Swan decided to order some takeout from Foodies downstairs instead. Once again, I wasn’t hungry, so I skipped the evening meal.

We did our nightcap at Wet Spot, and Swan shared her food bounty with our regular waitresses. I couldn’t help but notice that the quality and number of dancers on stage have vastly improved recently. Makes sense that if you want customers to come for the gals, they should at least be attractive. A couple of rounds later, we were homeward bound.

Yep, been there, done that many times, and I’m looking forward to many more to come.

Some Facebook memories for today:

And in 2018, my working life was coming to an end.

Moving on to February 2018 in the LTG archives, and my roller coaster ride with Marissa continues. Wasting time and missing opportunities, but in the end, I did meet Swan through Marissa, so there is that. Sadly, I learned from Swan that Marissa’s mother passed away today. I met her on several occasions, and she was always a pleasure to know. Rest in Peace.

Today’s YouTube video is another one of those look-back-in-time photo essays. In this one, we see scenes of the Philippines during Japanese occupation in World War II (that’s two, not eleven).

Here’s what comes next:

And so another day, another post. Not that it matters much.

One aspect of living a life filled with everyday routines is the unexpected disruption that occurs when those routines are stymied. Tuesday is my grocery shopping day. I’ve been shopping at the Royal supermarket on SBMA since moving here almost eight years ago. Yesterday, this sign was posted on the door at Royal:

I assumed it would be repainting or something similar. Nope. Once inside, I started encountering signs like this one throughout the store:

So, those old habits of knowing which aisle to find an item in were worthless. I used to have a routine pattern of aisles I’d walk to fulfill my shopping needs. No more. I’ll have to relearn and readjust my shopping methods. I’m not sure what motivated these changes, but I noted that many of the non-food items (appliances, toys, etc.) had been eliminated, and the grocery items expanded. They have also widened some of the aisles, so there’s that. Anyway, I’ll adjust, but it was a shock not to be able to find my way around the store. Yeah, if that’s the worst thing to happen to me, I’m doing alright.

I got my third high-dose injection of Ozempic, and things are trending in the right direction. I lost three pounds last week, which puts me down eleven pounds overall since I began the treatment. No severe side effects other than occasional bouts of acid reflux. My appetite remains noticeably suppressed. So, I’ve still got a long way to go, but so far, so good.

Then it was on with my Tuesday routines. That currently includes participating in the dart tournament at Alley Hideout. My inability to regain any passion for the game has been disconcerting. I was on the fence about attending the tourney yesterday, but I still had four beers already paid for on my beer card. So, I went to Alley Hideout, drank my beers, but didn’t play. I’ll have to make a decision soon about whether darts will remain a part of my life.

With the beer card exhausted, we said our goodnights to the crew and players, then moseyed across the highway to Mango’s for dinner.

After dinner, we paid a visit to Gold Bar.

We moved on to Queen Victoria for our nightcap.

And as 8 pm approached, I successfully maintained my routine of going home.

Still exploring the January 2019 LTG archives, I reminisced in this post about all the Filipinas I had loved before. Well, maybe love isn’t the right word. And there were several more to come before I finally found a worthy partner in Swan.

Today’s YouTube video talks about eight “strange laws” in the Philippines that most expats don’t know about. I don’t know, none of them surprised me. I don’t smoke, drive, carry a pocketknife, nor do I have any desire to marry or own property here. Guess I’m safe.

Yeah, time out for humor:

Okay, now I heard the song about a minute ago. And you are fixin’ to as well (assuming you care enough to hit the play button). I honestly didn’t understand the darker meaning of the lyrics until I read about the song here. It’s nice to learn something new at my age.