It’s another Hash Monday and that means a short morning post with less substance than normal. You are welcome!
Man, that has a familiar ring to it.
I do sense and feel an increasing decline in my mental faculties lately. The symptoms manifest in various ways. Forgetfulness is one of the biggest. Last night I left the bar, got a ways down the street, and then realized I’d left my phone behind. I’m sure my faithful readers have noticed a worse than usual butchering of the English language here. You should see it before I do the cursory proof-read. There’s the not uncommon leaving a word out of the sentence. Sometimes I will use an entirely wrong word that has no context or meaning within the thought I was trying to convey. In my head, I’m thinking one thing and my fingers are typing something entirely different. One of these days I’m liable to wake up, look in the mirror, and see Joe Biden. Scary!
Yesterday afternoon I walked out to Baloy to play in the Lagoon dart tourney. The manager sadly explained that the Sunday tournament was no longer being held because the pool league has started up again and the person who ran the tourney plays pool on Sunday now. Well, damn. Still, it is yet another indication that little by little things are going back to normal around here.
As normal as they used to be, which is not all that normal. I got a nasty surprise when I reviewed my bank statement yesterday. I had made a 10,000 peso ATM withdrawal a few days ago, But the ATM said I made TWO withdrawals of 10,000 peso. I’ve reported to my credit union in the USA and will attempt to get the local bank here to issue a refund. I’m not hopeful though. I requested a receipt when I made the withdrawal but the machine didn’t issue one. That’s a $200 dollar scam!
Today I went to the money changer to exchange some dollars for pesos. Tomorrow is December and so I need extra money to pay my helpers the traditional “13th-month” salary. I guess in the States we’d call it a Christmas bonus, but here it is part of the labor laws governing salaried employees. Technically, my helpers are independent contractors, not employees. I expect them to pay taxes and social security on their own. Anyway, two different money changers rejected a couple of my $100 bills because they weren’t in perfect condition. I could understand it if they were torn or defaced, but these just had some minor defect that I couldn’t see when pointed out to me. Oh well, I’ll spend them in the USA if I ever make it back there.
Since I couldn’t play darts yesterday, I walked back into town and had a couple of beers at BarCelona. Then I headed up the street to Sit-n-Bull for an early dinner.
Damn, the pulled pork there is amazing. I love their coleslaw too. I was a happy camper after that meal.
Then I moved on to Mango’s to finish my day.
Work continues next door on the whole beachside floating island. Lots of Filipinos enjoying a Sunday at the beach once again. I only saw one or two foreigners. That may be the new normal too.
After some more beer, I walked on home. Just as I arrived the full moon peeked out at me from between the clouds.
Like an eye in the sky.
So, time to get ready for today’s Hash. I’m not expecting any surprises because I participated in scouting the trail on Wednesday and Friday. The first part of today’s Hash will be up Black Rock mountain. Not an easy climb but not Guenter-like either. The last portion we scouted on Friday and it was not pleasant. I’m not sure if the Hare’s have made any adjustments or not. I guess I’ll be finding out in a couple of hours.
Here are some photos from Friday’s scouting expedition:
We were working the trail in reverse on Friday. So, this part will be downhill today.I’ve already got plenty of cookies loaded up in the backpack.If those walls could talk I reckon it would be a tale of broken dreams.Keeping things tidy on trail.And yes, Easter mountain will loom large over today’s hike.What I am not looking forward to today is making my way through the thick and tall Imperata cylindrical, aka thatch grass. The wiki link is actually pretty interesting. During our struggles on Friday we jokingly talked about bringing some matches next time. Probably not a good idea.Anyway, I hope I didn’t get too much into the weeds with this post.
Okay, gotta run now. Well, walk. You know what I mean.
Another lazy Sunday around here. Not much happening and even less happening that is worthy of noting here. That’s never stopped me before though, so here goes nothing.
Played darts in the Alley Cat tournament yesterday and finished third. I had moments where I was absolutely brilliant, including a 135 outshot. Other times it was like I’d never picked up a dart in my life. Overcoming that inconsistency is one of my improvement goals. Perhaps the singles league competition will help me get there.
Speaking of the singles league, I updated the stats and posted the standings this morning.
Some folks have played more matches than others, so the “average” column is a better indicator of where things stand.
I plan to play in the Lagoon tourney out on Baloy this afternoon.
Ever so slowly, things are moving back in the direction of normal. Some of the stupid and nonsensical rules imposed to prevent the spread of COVID have been eased, probably as much in recognition of the fact that people were ignoring them as anything. Anyway, the curfew is back to midnight, not that I ever see midnight these days. Dining is permitted outside now, so my favorite seating at Sit-n-Bull is available once more. I had mentioned before that beaches were swarming with Filipino families (as opposed to the foreign tourists you used to see here) and now the inflatable islands are back in place, at least at the Palm Tree Resort.
I don’t like the fact that it hinders my view from Mango’s, but I’m actually happy to see things opening back up.
From everything I’ve seen, things are still full-on stupid in the USA. The lefty governors seem to be really enjoying playing their role as petty tyrants and dictators. It’s surprising to me a “free” are putting up with such nonsense. It’s so gratifying seeing Filipinos standing up and through their actions saying “Enough!”
Let my Sheeple go!
The arrogant ignorance of the lefties is quite a sight to behold. The indoctrination program in colleges and universities seems to be quite successful. Free will and free thinking I guess are racist or something.
I posted this on my Facebook. My nephew, who fits this profile perfectly, responded “okay, boomer.” Which proves the point I was making. I’ve never seen so many “smart” people act so dumb.
Oh, well. They will deserve the hell they are creating.
I thought this was pretty funny. Showed it to some Filipinas and they didn’t get it. I guess that whole stork delivering babies thing never took hold here. One of them asked me “what’s a stork?” Ah, well. Never mind then.
That’s about it for today. Need to head out to the pharmacy:
Time to get my prescription refilled.
Actually, I’ll be fine. I hope those aren’t famous last words.
I got to thinking (shuddup!) on my morning walk today. It occurred to me that there is no future for me to worry about. I’m not sure that this realization constitutes an epiphany, I mean, it’s not like I’ve been working towards any goal attainment or making other future-driven plans. Probably the last thing I aspired to do was finding a true and lasting love to share my life with. Having let go of that dream for good I have to face the fact that this life I’m living is all there is and all there ever will be. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that is a bad thing, I’m just consciously accepting the reality of my situation.
I’m 65 years old. What kind of future goals could I expect to achieve in the ten or fifteen years (if I’m lucky) I have left here on earth? I’m retired, so there is nothing work-related to accomplish. I’m living on a pension, so for better or worse, what I have now is all I’m ever going to have. Of course, there are things I still aspire to do, like travel, but under the current lockdown circumstances throughout the world that’s not possible. So it would seem that all my dreams are in the past. Perhaps that explains why nearly all my brain comforting fantasies involve going backward in time.
But here in the real world, this day is what I have. Like yesterday was and tomorrow will be. There is a Groundhog Day quality to the sameness of it all. Hell, you’ve read the blog. I wake up, I hike, I drink, I sleep, and then do it all over again. And again. Sure, some of the details and people around me change day-to-day, but the reality is that this life is what I’ve chosen and this life is what I’ll be living until it ends. I suspect that even the invocation of Plan B (moving to Cambodia) would only change the location, but not the substance of my life. Such as it is.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying this life I’ve chosen is a bad thing. Indeed, I reckon some people would say I’m living the dream. Nothing is perfect and I have my share of disappointments and frustrations, but I honestly cannot think of anywhere else I’d want to be or that would make me happier. I’ve likened Barretto to those retirement communities I used to see in Arizona when I was a young man. But this one I’m living in is like nothing I could have imagined back then. Yeah, we’ve got our share of crotchety old fuckers but we are surrounded by brown-skinned beauties willing to service our needs and desires. And I don’t just mean sex, although that is obviously available too. I’ve got friends and acquaintances I can hang out with who share some of my passions and interests. There are the Hash and darts, and of course, the bars to keep me entertained. And every morning when I walk the dogs and look around me I’m still astounded by the natural beauty of my surroundings, even after nearly three years of living here.
So, this day and all the days to come are my future. I’m okay with that.
Yesterday’s sunset. Today’s will be the same, only different. Like tomorrow.
Yesterday’s Thanksgiving gathering turned out to be a pleasant affair–plenty of good vittles and a comfortable outdoor venue at the community center. Oh, the people in attendance were nice too!
The bird before slicing and serving…That’s my co-host Ed putting the food on the table as it were. In the foreground is my Aunt Pat’s recipe fruit salad. Most of it got eaten so I guess that’s pretty good feedback. I thought it came out well. The womenfolk and kids were crazy about the Choco Pies from Korea.That’s the food table from the other side. The last three cans of cranberry in the Philippines for all we know. The ham was also quite tasty. My first plate of grub. I had teasingly told Ed to save me a drumstick and when he brought it out of hiding I felt obligated to eat it. I do like dark meat, just prefer wings…Here are some pics I didn’t take (I can tell because I’m in them). Like me loading up a plate with TG goodness.Devouring my meal…All that beer wasn’t gonna keep itself cold. And we consumed LOTS of beer.The lady folks hanging out…And all us manly men talking shit, Everyone got along though.This is the other John (seated) at our party. He’s from Wales. For some reason I told him the song “Battle of New Orleans” was an American traditional Thanksgiving song. And then I proceeded to sing it to him (I may have been a little drunk by then). He was a good sport about it though, telling me that in the UK they celebrate Thanksgiving on July 4. I thought that was a worthy comeback!
Anyway, it was a great afternoon and everyone in attendance seemed to enjoy the food and the company. I’m thankful for that!
(It’s odd that as bad as my memory is getting I still remembered the lyrics to this song)
In 1814 we took a little trip Along with Colonel Jackson down the mighty Mississip We took a little bacon and we took a little beans And we caught the bloody British in a town in New Orleans
We fired our guns and the British kep a-comin’ There wasn’t nigh as many as there was a while ago We fired once more and they begin to runnin’ On down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico
We looked down a river And we see’d the British come And there must have been a hundred of’em Beatin’ on the drums They stepped so high And they made their bugles ring We stood by our cotton bales And didn’t say a thing
We fired our guns and the British kep a-comin’ There wasn’t nigh as many as there was a while ago We fired once more and they begin to runnin’ On down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico
Old Hickory said we could take ’em by surprise If we didn’t fire our muskets ‘Till we looked ’em in the eyes We held our fire ‘Till we see’d their faces well Then we opened up our squirrel guns And really gave ’em – well we
Fired our guns and the British kep a-comin’ There wasn’t nigh as many as there was a while ago We fired once more and they begin to runnin’ On down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico
Yeah, they ran through the briars And they ran through the brambles And they ran through the bushes Where the rabbit couldn’t go They ran so fast That the hounds couldn’t catch ’em On down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico
We fired our cannon ’til the barrel melted down So we grabbed an alligator and we fought another round We filled his head with cannon balls, and powdered his behind And when we touched the powder off the gator lost his mind
We fired our guns and the British kep a-comin’ There wasn’t nigh as many as there was a while ago We fired once more and they begin to runnin’ On down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico
Yeah, they ran through the briars And they ran through the brambles And they ran through the bushes Where the rabbit couldn’t go They ran so fast That the hounds couldn’t catch ’em On down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico
Wishing my American readers a heartfelt Happy Thanksgiving! Thanks for stopping by!
Sorry for the lack of a post yesterday, my good intentions went awry. Did my Wednesday group hike as usual (more on that later) and had a Barretto Singles League dart match scheduled for 2 p.m. I thought I’d have time between those two events to throw something up here but alas, the hours got away from me. I’ll vomit up twice as much today to make up for it, fair enough?
When it comes to giving thanks we can always be thankful that things aren’t worse. Don’t get me wrong, I am blessed indeed. But that doesn’t mean it’s a perfect life. For example, that new blender I bought which was featured on thrivecuisine.com?
The one with those 6 powerful ice cutting blades that would make my smoothies a snap to prepare?
Well, I loaded that fucker up with all my frozen fruit ingredients, plugged it in, hit the switch, and nothing. Damn it! I figured maybe the shaft holding those blades hadn’t been inserted properly into the base so I reached in to check. Yikes! Those blades are as sharp as razors. No shit, I barely touched one and it sliced deep into my finger. Hurt like hell and bled like it wasn’t going to stop. My helper cleaned it up for me and taped a wad of cotton over the wound and thankfully I survived.
The blender was on sale and cost a little over 3000 pesos, the same as my driver charged for the trip to San Fernando. So taking it back to S&R for exchange or refund wasn’t an option. My helper gave me shit for not having it tested in the store before making the purchase. I’m like, who does that? Open a new box and make sure it works first? Only in the Philippines. Anyway, my driver knows a guy who does appliance repairs so we’ll see if that works out. Honestly though, I’m kind of scared of the damn thing now that I know it bites!
In addition to slowly losing my mind, I also lost my darts. As I was rushing around to head out for my match on Baloy, I reached for my darts in the usual location and they weren’t there. A frantic search of the unusual locations was also fruitless. In desperation I grabbed my backup set of darts–ones I won at a raffle years ago and have never used. I hope I never have to use them again. The shaft/barrel of the dart is almost twice the length of my old set. That makes a huge difference, especially given my relatively gentle and looping throwing style. So the result was my dart would hit the board but not stick firmly in place. It would lean down and block the rest of that number, sort of like this:
So, if I threw another dart at the 20 it would either be deflected, bounce out, or worse yet, knock the first dart off the board. I wound up having to adjust my throwing strategies to deal with this issue and that put me off my game somewhat.
Now, I’m normally a stronger player than my opponent but this handicap made the games a lot closer than I expected. I still managed to win 12 of the 15 legs played, but most of the games were very close.
My opponent, Dorie, is on the right. Jocelyn, on the left, graciously volunteered to be our scorekeeper. After the match Dorie told me she came in hoping to win one leg so she was thrilled to win three. “I hope you lose your darts more ofter” was her parting shot. Good games though. This league is really designed to help people like Dorie improve their dart skills. She’s gonna do fine!
After the match I set out to retrace my steps from the night before. I was hoping I hadn’t left them in the trike that brought me home but I reasoned the driver would have returned them if I had, knowing there would likely be a reward. So my first stop was Sit-n-Bull where I had enjoyed a plate of baby back ribs the night before after the dart tourney. And when I walked in the door, the cashier held up my dart case and said “look what we found!” Yay! What a relief!
What else? Well, my massuse, Nikole, had asked me for an advance on her salary so she could buy food for her kids. Normally I wouldn’t entertain such a request but since I had cancelled our Sunday appointment on short notice, I was feeling a little guilty. The very next day I get a message saying she was in Manila now and didn’t know when, or if, she’d be back. Oh well, I’ll consider it severance pay then.
When one door closes another opens, or so they saying goes. When I opened my door to head out for darts yesterday I was surprised to see Catherine standing there. She’s the Wet Spot dancer who lives nearby I hooked up with a couple of times. I eventually had to block her on Facebook/messenger because she was always harassing me for money for some emergency or another. Anyway, this time she needed some cash to pay rent. Again, I would normally have said no, but damn, she looked so hot standing there in her short shorts. I had darts to get to though so I “loaned” her the money and said she could come over to pay me back on Friday. She agreed to those terms. We’ll she is she shows. And don’t worry, this is purely transactional in nature! I won’t get sucked in. Er, let me rephrase that…
As I mentioned in an earlier post, my neighbor Ed and I are sponsoring a Thanksgiving get together this afternoon at the Alta Vista community center. I bought the turkey (although Ed is grilling it) and Ed is bringing a ham, candied yams, and a green bean casserole. Our guests should also be supplying some additional side dishes.
I’ve got the pies covered…And of course my traditional Aunt Pat’s Recipe World Famous Fruit Salad.Had to make some modifications (like walnuts in lieu of pecans). The fresh coconut is also not as sweet as the kind that comes in a bag which also is not sold here. Anyway, this batch passed my taste test, so there’s that at least.
I’ll post tomorrow about how the event went down.
So, yesterday we hiked 7K, trekking up the backside of Black Rock mountain. It was the first time I’d taken that route up Black Rock and despite a difficult climb (aren’t they all?) I rather enjoyed it. The unique thing about Black Rock is the panoramic views from up top. Hell, let’s go to the photos and you can see for yourself.
I think this Google-eye view shows what I mean. Black Rock (top left) stands above valleys and flatlands on either side with nothing to impair the view.Getting some early thanks for giving during the hike.Hello to Easter mountain from ground level.Hello again from Black Rock…A bay view. The thatch grass was in full bloom making the going a little tougher than it otherwise would have been.
Why do they call it Black Rock?Almost to the top…I can see for miles and miles…Choose life, Troy!Come on up, Scott!Like the 3 Kings of old on a mountaintop throne…Are you lost in there?One of my favorite views. Wish I had a better camera.Although even the best camera wouldn’t help that face much…Time to head back down…You guys waiting for me?Walking home via the National highway. The three main modes of transportation are captured here…motor scooter, tricycle, and Jeepney.Everyone is excited about the grand opening next week of our very own Wilcon store here in Barretto. It is a giant hardware store, sorta like Home Depot back in the USA.
Anyway, an enjoyable hike. It’s going to be part of the Hash trail next week so I reckon I’ll be doing it again on Monday.
UPDATE: Okay, now that’s pretty funny. While finishing this post I get a message from Catherine: you want me to come there? No, not today. I’m busy. Tomorrow afternoon. Okay, do you have food? Huh? What do you mean? I’m hungry and no food in the house. Geez.
So, I scraped together some canned goods and some rice from my own pantry. I just couldn’t say no to giving food on Thanksgiving. And damn, when she came to pick it up…she’s a hottie that really trips my triggers. Tomorrow it will be her turn to satisfy my hunger.
Why not? What else is there to do? Oh, Vienna Sausage (Guenter) is the Hare? Well, how bad can it be? Let’s go!
Oddly enough, the trail was not all that bad. Yes, the anticipated steep up but it was at the beginning before my strength had ebbed. And it was a new path I had actually been curious about, so now I know not to do it again! The down was steep and semi-treacherous and there were better and less dangerous ways to go, but again, no surprise that this Hare took the hard way. Actually, the biggest complaint besides my usual whining was that the trail was poorly marked. Saw quite a few Hashers along the way who had lost the trail. My group did too on one occasion and we had to spend several minutes looking for the trail again later. That’s very unusual for Guenter.
Anyway, here’s some pictures from the afternoon:
The trail from above. The yellow line is the longer version. I also bypassed the last mountain, so had a more comfortable 6K hike.Gathering at the starting point.Getting last-minute guidance from the Hare.The hard up. This wasn’t hiking, it was literally climbing. I would not have even attempted it. Fortunately, there was an easier start to the ascent for those who desired it.Note that I said “easier” not easy.Hard and steep it was.Damn!Onward and upward.Did I mention it was steep?Let’s catch our breath and enjoy the view.And we still ain’t at the top!Back at it.This “scarehasher” didn’t deter us…Watch out for that fence!Finally some relatively flat ground…“No, I ain’t shittin’ you. I started WAY down there!”What goes up, must come down.We didn’t see that coming! Actually, we did and thus posed for this picture. What we didn’t see was the strand of barbed wire stretched about one inch off the ground. Luckily for me, Pubic Head tripped over it first.Looking down on the way down…And no, I didn’t forget to snap a shot of Easter mountain. I know y’all look forward to that!Yes, you are!You still with us, Pubic Head?I don’t know what she is doing, but I like it!Going down, down, down…Of course, this is the easy part. Once it got steep, rocky, and slippery I couldn’t be bothered with pictures. It took all I had to keep my feet!Well, well, well. I made it down with only one time on my ass. Not bad for a Guenter trail!On the ice!Gash ass on the ice…Slot Licker with the Hashit,Bush Diver was recognized for 300 runs with the Subic Bay Hash. All the more impressive because he lives in Angeles City and makes the two-hour trip every week.After the circle, I had dinner at Sit-n-Bull, then a nightcap at Mango’s. A nice way to finish the Hash Monday.And so concludes another Hash post. Hope you enjoyed it!
Another Hash Monday and that means an early morning post with even less for me to talk about than normal. Although perhaps my blog is an example of less being more.
After my shopping misadventure, or more precisely, after I wrote about it here, I headed into town for some much needed liquid refreshment. As I sat at my usual observation post I couldn’t help but notice something a bit different:
The normally deserted beach was teeming with Filipino families enjoying a Sunday afternoon outing.
As usual, I did a shitty job capturing the true view, but all up and down the beach folks were acting like things were, well, normal again. I remember on the drive out of town seeing the parking lot of one of the resorts just jam-packed with cars.
As you can see it was already late in the day but people were still hanging out.
The significance of this I think is that the Filipino people are finally waking up to the fact that they’ve been scammed and are saying “fuck it”. My driver called the checkpoints and other restrictions on movement bullshit and I kiddingly suggested it was time for a revolution. “Yes, it is” he replied in all seriousness. Hmm, Filipinos are normally docile and compliant to authority up until you push them too far. All indications are that time may have arrived. Good for them!
I came home early because I had some cooking to do.
Ribeye steaks on the grill… …and on my plate.
This batch came out pretty damn near perfect if I do say so myself. I think I’m finally getting that searing technique down and managing the time on the grill better. Juicy, tender, and medium-rare. Sweet!
Well, the steak wasn’t sweet, but this sure was:
Pecan pie! A la mode of course. It’s been too long since I’ve enjoyed my favorite pie and I have to give S&R credit, this one was quite good. You know it’s odd, but I can’t even find pecans in this country. I have to substitute walnuts in my fruit salad.
Oh, there was something else strange that happened yesterday afternoon. I heard from a gal named Joy. What was weird about it is I haven’t seen or heard from her in a year or so. And even back then she was just an acquaintance I met at the Hash. I wasn’t interested in her at all, I was kinda after one of her friends. Anyway, we are Facebook friends still.
That’s Joy. She sent me her picture to start the conversation, probably to remind me who she is.
Here’s a copy and paste of the Messenger conversation:
sent Yesterday at 2:56 PM I want to meet you john if good for you? You sent Yesterday at 2:58 PM What do you have in mind? sent Yesterday at 3:00 PM I want to seeing each other like wtf john my friend if good for you? You say naman na you there in baretto You sent Yesterday at 3:00 PM It’s been a long time…well, I live in Barretto so I’m usually here. I stay pretty busy. sent Yesterday at 3:01 PM Ohh you are busy.? You sent Yesterday at 3:01 PM you mean like right now? Today? Yes, I have plans this afternoon. sent Yesterday at 3:04 PM Ohh not this afternoon, tommorrow morning okay? If good for you John? Ohhh plss answer me You sent Yesterday at 3:05 PM Joy, I have the hash tomorrow. Starts at 12. sent Yesterday at 3:06 PM Hmmmm 9:30am john plss i want to see you What time you are free? You sent Yesterday at 3:07 PM I’m not sure what the emergency is…I don’t hear from you for one year and now you HAVE to see me tomorrow…? doesn’t make sense. sent Yesterday at 3:08 PM Nooo john i want to see you almost 1year did he see each other i want to see you not tomorrow, i said when yourre free time? You sent Yesterday at 3:09 PM I’ll have to let you know. sent Yesterday at 3:09 PM Ohh you are not swallowing mee? You sent Yesterday at 3:10 PM what does that mean? sent Yesterday at 3:10 PM Do have a girlfriend? Or husband? You sent Yesterday at 3:10 PM no husband…I date. sent Yesterday at 3:11 PM You have a girlfriend? You sent Yesterday at 3:11 PM not really, just someone I see. sent Yesterday at 3:11 PM I dont have choice okay fine You sent Yesterday at 3:11 PM okay sent Yesterday at 3:12 PM Sad
That’s where we left it. Very strange and I have no idea what her motivation might be in wanting to see me so urgently after all this time. I suspect it revolves around money, but who knows?
And I had another first this morning when I was taking my walk. I’m on the highway and a car is waiting to make a turn from a side street and blocking my path. No big deal, I proceed to walk around behind the car when suddenly the passenger side window rolls down. There are two “women” in the car, and the driver leans over and asks me where I’m going. I said just walking. Then she propositioned me. Why don’t you come with me, baby. I’ll show you a good time. Umm, not today thanks. Are you sure? Yeah. Maybe another time.
Okay, we have prostitution bars here but you don’t see many freelancers. Especially in cars. At least I never have. It wasn’t hard to tell this one no though. First of all, she wasn’t very attractive. In fact, my bakla (transgender) radar was sounding alarms. I didn’t really even notice the passenger, s/he just stared straight ahead during the interaction with the driver. Even if I had been game ain’t no way I’m getting in a car with two strangers to be taken to god knows where. I may be a perv but I ain’t stupid. Well, that stupid anyway.
So, that takes y’all right up to the present moment. Guenter is the Hare today so I’ll likely be finding my own way on trail this afternoon. I guess I’m just becoming risk-averse in my old age.
Well, here we are with Thanksgiving right around the corner. I guess I can’t help but feel a bit like a pilgrim coming ashore in this wild and wonderful land. And the natives, at least the female version, are very, very friendly! Lots of them anyway. For a price. Or maybe that’s just the ones I tend to meet.
I took a long and solitary walk yesterday morning during which I mostly reflected on my good fortune and all that I have to be thankful for. I’m living a rich and easy life and I’m starting to understand that not having a woman to share that life with me may in fact be yet another blessing. Positive thoughts like that were the highlight of the walk for sure. I got my feet soaked several times doing stream crossings and once the trail dead-ended into a muddy rice field I had to wade across. Even so, my spirits were barely dampened.
I’m usually only good for 8K or so at a time these days, but I pushed myself a little harder yesterday. Weighed in at 205.6, which is down over 5 pounds in three weeks. The belly still protrudes embarrassingly though.
The Hash Gash (aka Harriettes or females) had a girls’ day out yesterday at the Alta Vista pool. One of the photos from that event now graces the cover of the Subic Bay Hash Facebook page:
Ain’t they sweet? Especially that tall one.While I was out on my hike, Lazada (sort of like Amazon) delivered the trekking poles I ordered. No, I’m not going to use two at once, I just like having a backup if I need it. They both expand in different ways too. I’ll have to decide which version I like best I suppose.
I went to Alley Cats in the afternoon to play in the regular Saturday tournament. Didn’t have enough players show up for doubles so we did a singles tournament. That suits me just fine, no one to blame but myself that way. Billy, a fine darter who also runs the tourney, knocked me into the losers bracket. I fought my way back to meet her again in the finals and beat her twice to take the championship. Good darts and hard-fought matches all afternoon. I like it that way!
First and second standing tall!Speaking of darts and singles, here are the stats through week 1 of the Barretto Singles League I’m running. Most everyone has played one or two matches ahead. I like that enthusiasm!And how and where I finished my Saturday should come as no surprise to my regular readers…
Now, I mentioned before about having bought a frozen turkey a few days ago. Well, yesterday my neighbor and fellow Hasher, Ed, invited me to his house for Thanksgiving. I told him I was already preparing for a feast at my house and he suggested we combine forces. Sure, why not? That’s what the spirit of the holiday is all about, so the more the merrier. I had already made plans for a pilgrimage to S&R (a large Costco like store) in the hope of acquiring some hard to find traditional TG food.
This morning Ed informed me that the plans had changed again and now the gathering would be at the Alta Vista community center. Ed’s Filipina girlfriend wanted to invite more of her friends so a larger venue was needed. Hey, it wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without the natives, right? Now we are looking at upwards of twenty guests. That’s more than my turkey can feed but Ed is going to bring a ham as well. Alrighty then, I headed out to S&R to see what I could see.
Here’s that map from the Friday hike. But this time you can follow the thick line up to San Fernando where S&R is located. I’d forgotten what a long ride it is to get there (over an hour) on bad roads.
It’s been over a year since my last visit and today I was reminded why. What a major disappointment. I picked up a few things I can use but nothing like what I hoped and expected to find. Not even sour cream for fuck sakes. A lot of the stuff comes in huge ass sizes too so it’s problematic with my already overfull and too small refrigerator. In addition to the hassle and expense of getting there, I had to purchase a membership and that was also a pain in the ass.
The S&R warehouse supermarket. 3000 pesos for my driver to take me there and another 700 for the membership. So, I’m out seventy bucks before I make a purchase.
Like I said, little or nothing of what I needed but I did get some stuff I can use.
Like this heavy-duty blender. That ought to chop up those frozen strawberries anyway.And how could I resist this big box of Choco Pies from Korea? And the packs even come with LOVE!
I thought I might at least be able to get some frozen pies to bake for the feast. Nope! I did see some tables with baked goods and found this:
The much-coveted pecan pie! How desperate was I? I paid 15 bucks for that sucker. I actually bought two at that price. Plus two pumpkin pies at ten dollars each. Geez.
Oh well, I’ll do Royal again on Tuesday and hope to at least find some cranberry sauce.
I threw my boys a bone and they were happy. I guess I should try and learn from them.
My Buddy boy…And my Lucky boy…Hmm. Have I made up my mind about being a perverted old man or am I just trying on the shoes?
Anyway, things don’t always go as planned, but they go regardless. Best to just enjoy the ride!
Yesterday my Friday walking group went off in search of new adventures.
Specifically, we made the 45 minutes drive up to San Marcelino. Ignore that thick yellow line, we went the other way.
Scott drove and notwithstanding his long-term residency here, he’d never ventured out to the area we had planned to hike. He still hasn’t. We weren’t exactly sure of the best driving route to take and we ended up on a road that was essentially impassable in less than a four-wheel-drive vehicle. So we just parked on the side of the road and hoofed it from there. Six kilometers later we arrived at the location we had intended to start from. Seeing as we still had 6K ahead of us to get back to the car we decided to save the planned trail for another day. We did at least find a different route back, so there was that.
Actually, the hike we did was pretty nice regardless. The first half was along a dike that holds back the floodwaters when the Santo Tomas river has had too much to drink. The only downside was a lot of dump truck traffic kicking up dust on the road. But it was really nice to be out exploring new vistas. I commented to the group that I couldn’t remember the last time we did a hike and didn’t have an ocean view. I haven’t walked that much river since my hiking days in Korea. Good times!
Credit to Scott for most of these photos:
Our path in the river basin. (that purple line on the left bank) This shot also gives you a sense of just what this river becomes when it is in flood stage.Scott getting ready to get started.An example of why we parked the car and walked.An example of me walking.You needed this kind of vehicle to drive the road that stymied us.It dawned on me that here in the Philippines rice-growing season is year-round. Duh!The first of several water crossings. Oh well, once your feet are wet you are free to enjoy whatever the trail has in store for you!What, you thought bananas grew on trees?Hello, children……do you like cookies?We made it to the river!This river basin was buried in volcanic ash after the explosion of Mount Pinatubo in 1991. Those Andisols are still being harvested today, apparently for use in mixing cement. That peak in the center of this shot is Mount Pinatubo today. Well, yesterday. But you know what I meant.The water level was so low that I watched folks walking and riding motorbikes to get to the other side. There is a village called Santa Fe on the opposite bank. We’ll save that visit for another day.Digging it out and loading it up.We were rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ on the river…Look at that water. You need water to make beer. Ah, beer. I miss you. I need you. I want you…On our alternative path coming back. Passed through several small villages full of friendly folks.But we still had to walk through some water…You coming, Scott?Um, no thanks! We like coming here.Even if it is kind of a hole in the wall place.A field of flowers is always nice to see.And here’s my tree shot from the hike.Um, Jim. The correct bridge is over here!We stopped in a small bar/restaurant out in the middle of nowhere on the way back. Very friendly staff and decent food at reasonable prices. I’d go back if I’m ever in the area. Despite the good meal and cold beers, this is the only thing that caught my imagination enough to pull out the phone for a picture. I’m not sure why.Our hike came in right at 13K. I added some more to that throughout the day. Speaking of Fitbit, it monitors my sleep patterns as well. Today it told me: “Night owls go to bed late and wake up late, while larks do both earlier. Based on your trends, you’re more of a lark.” Well, if Fitbit says it, it must be true!
I did make it out to Mango’s to watch the sunset.
Some sexy gals were playing volleyball (without a net) on the beach as well.
And like the lark that I am, I was home and in bed before 9:00 p.m. and up at 0500 to start my day.
These posts don’t write themselves you know!
And there you have another day in the life here at Long Time Gone.
When I came I felt it was in the face of everything decent, white sperm dripping down over the heads and souls of my dead parents. If I had been born a woman I would certainly have been a prostitute. Since I had been born a man I craved women constantly, the lower the better. And yet women—good women—frightened me because they eventually wanted your soul, and what was left of mine I wanted to keep. Basically I craved prostitutes, base women, because they were deadly hard and made no personal demands. Nothing was lost when they left. Yet at the same time I yearned for a gentle, good woman, despite the overwhelming price. Either way I was lost. A strong man would give up both. I wasn’t strong. So I continued to struggle with women, the idea of women. –Charles Bukowski, Women
The more I read Bukowski the more it seems we have in common besides both having worked at the Post Office. Now, I don’t think I’m quite as bad as he describes himself above but I can certainly relate to the sentiment. It was especially weird just randomly coming across this Bukowski quote during my morning internet stroll. Are the Gods trying to tell me something? Nah, they know I don’t listen to reason anyway.
Maybe it also resonated because of an odd experience I had last night. I’m home after my nightly rounds at Cheap Charlies and Mango’s and a message pops up on my screen from someone I haven’t heard from in awhile. She asks me if I can give her some advice. Sure, I tell her. What’s up? Can I call you? Well, okay. I can’t remember the last time I actually used my phone for talking to someone, but why not? So, she calls and tells me her boyfriend in Canada broke up with her. I told her I heard she had broken up with him and that she was in love with someone else now. She told me no, he had ended the relationship before she started seeing the new guy. Anyway, the Canadian guy has had a change of heart and he wants her back again. What should I do? she asks me.
What am I gonna say other than my standard response. Follow your heart I tell her. If you love him and think he is the one, then forgive and forget. But I also reminded her of some of the things she had told me about the guy. Like how he believed he should be able to visit Angeles City to covert with prostitutes whenever he pleased and she would have nothing to say about it. You okay with that now? I asked. She told me that he insists he has changed and doesn’t feel that way now. Okay then, if you believe that… But then she said the breakup had been ugly. He called her a lot of names and then said “I hope you die painfully”. What? Are you fucking kidding me? He really said that? Yes, she responded, but now he says he didn’t mean it, he was just angry and upset. I told her in all of my failed relationships and in my most insane moments I had NEVER wished harm to come to a woman I had loved. I said any man who would utter such a desire is the type of narcissistic bastard who would act on those emotions if he were physically present. You asked for my advice and my advice is to stay as far away as possible from this fucked up piece of shit. She thanked me for sharing my thoughts and we ended the call.
Maybe it gets better than this. But even if it doesn’t, I really can’t complain. Much. I was ruminating the other day about how I seem to miss out on enjoying what’s good in my life because I’m too busy lamenting what’s missing. Looking back now on my year in Pyeongtaek for example–I had it made; a great job, a free house, nice places to walk, and all I did was feel miserable because it wasn’t the life I wanted. Well anyway, I don’t plan to make that mistake again. Things aren’t perfect in my world but I’m living my life my way and that ain’t bad. Yeah, I know–more insights from Captain Obvious. I’ll shut up now.
But before I go let me tell you about yesterday. It’s a good example of what I was talking about above. Did a nice 8K morning hike with a couple of buddies, played some darts in the singles league I’m running, had some dinner and beach time at Mango’s, then came home and flirted some via messenger with the gal who delivers my meat products. Does it get any better than that? Probably. But it’s also good enough for now.
During my walk, I found Jesus.Me: “Hey baby, where you been all my life?” Her: “Um, most of it not born.”These kids were happy to see me at least. Well, happy to see me pull a bag of candy out of my backpack anyway.
I made my debut in the Barretto Singles League in the afternoon. My match was with Christy who I expect will be the top player in the league. I knew going in I’d have to be on my game to hang with her.
I did have some moments of brilliance like this perfect throw…That’s three triple twenties, AKA ton-80 or 180, the highest possible score in darts.
For most of the rest of the match, I was barely mediocre. Meanwhile, Christy was on fire throwing some of the best darts I’ve seen her toss. The result looked like this:
Not the outcome I wanted but I’ll get better. I’m still nowhere near the darter I once was.
After the match, I crossed the street to Mango’s to drown my sorrows grab some dinner.
Had the roast chicken salad. Still watching my weight…down to 206.5 yesterday–a loss of 4.5 pounds since the first of the month.And as usual, mother nature provided the entertainment.
As to my flirtations with Irene, the delivery woman, well all I can say is she started it. All in good fun but even in my semi-inebriated state of mind I knew I had to be careful. She’s got an Aussie boyfriend for one thing. Irene has also been trying to set me up with a friend of hers but I’m really not interested. Older and not so cute. Also, she is friends with Iline. Too much potential drama, I’ll just stick to darts. And beer.
One of those nights again. I’m laying in bed trying to turn off my brain so I can fall asleep and some random song is playing in the background of my mind. I try to ignore it as best as I am able, but with the song on a continuous loop, it starts to become such an irritation that sleep is impossible. This happens pretty frequently lately and I’m not sure if it is an indication that I’m slipping into dementia. Oh well, that didn’t stop the alleged President-elect. Last night’s song was Can’t Get it Out of My Head by the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). Yeah, ironic I know. It’s actually a pretty good song by a damn fine band. Not my favorite of theirs though, I like Showdown better. I saw them in concert back in the 1970s and they really rocked it. But please, let an old man get his sleep!
I got my weekly meat delivery this morning. Ribeye steaks, hamburger patties, and…
Yep, a 12-pound turkey! I’m going to do my best to prepare a Thanksgiving feast at home this year.
Of course, I’m limited to what I can find at the supermarket in that regard. Yesterday at Royal I secured most of the ingredients I’ll need for a fruit salad. Items like a green bean casserole and candied yams are going to be tougher though. I’d practically kill for a pecan pie. I’m going to make the long trip to the S&R (sort of like Costco) in San Fernando soon to try and fill in the gaps. Stay tuned.
Here’s a one-minute video that captures an example of the “new normal”. Attending a meeting via Zoom can be fraught with peril!
Desperate times call for desperate measures I suppose.
This is week one of the Barretto Singles League in darts. I have my first match this afternoon. Been busy updating the stats for the games already played. What a pain in the ass. Surprising how much I’ve forgotten since the last time I managed a dart league. It should get easier once I’ve re-learned the Excel spreadsheets.
Let me throw a couple of memes at you to fill in space here:
Already bought and paid for!But I guess there is still some small hope…Is that you, Kevin Kim?Facebook reminds me that it was one year ago today that I was captured by the Philippine Navy. You can re-read that adventure here if you are so inclined.As seen on this morning’s walk, it’s rice harvesting season here apparently. And as you can see that fresh rice must be dried. And what better place to do so than in one lane of a two-lane bypass highway. Amazing.Ah, and this love poem by James Kavanaugh also popped up in my Facebook memories today.
Well, I think I’m in love with the idea of being in love. The reality of it, not so much. The other morning while I was out walking I saw Iline and her new love walking together ahead of me. It got me thinking in ways that I don’t want to be thinking so I crossed the highway and walked in the opposite direction. Perhaps it just wasn’t meant to be. Or maybe I really do have a guardian angel up there saying “Jesus! Hasn’t he been hurt enough?” Heh. I’ll be fine.
Midnight, on the water I saw the ocean’s daughter Walking on a wave’s she came Staring as she called my name
And I can’t get it out of my head No, I can’t get it out of my head Now my whole world is gone for dead ‘Cause I can’t get it out of my head
Breakdown on the shoreline Can’t move, it’s an ebbtide Morning, don’t get here tonight Searching for her silver light
And I can’t get it out of my head No, I can’t get it out of my head Now my whole world is gone for dead ‘Cause I can’t get it out of my head, no how?
If I do say so myself. And that’s one of the benefits of writing this blog, I get to say whatever the hell I want!
The feedback from yesterday’s Hash was very positive. As I had hoped, several of the Hashers expressed surprise because they had been expecting an “old man’s trail” and instead got something a tad more challenging with TWO climbs! Yeah, I was actually surprised myself when we laid the trail. It took the runners a little over an hour to finish which is on the long side for a 6K trail. One thing about this trail was that it was difficult to shortcut so almost everyone did the entire distance. No one got lost that I know of although a few missed one of the early turns and had to retreat to find the right path. That’s the benefit of a well-marked trail. If you don’t see some powder or chalk every 50 yards or so you know it’s time to turn around and figure out where you went wrong. So, I’ll say mission accomplished for this Hare experience.
I’m also happy to report that our first time using the Alta Vista community center as our On-Home venue was by all accounts successful. People seemed to enjoy both the ambiance and the pool. The staff were all very friendly and enjoyed having us, saying they’d like to have us come every week. Well, that won’t happen but hopefully, we will add them to our rotation.
The only issue with the food was it turned out there wasn’t enough. I think we sold out before the last of the walkers returned. Definitely will need to at least double the quantity next time. One guy ate three of those sausages. He’s a German so they must have been good. I had been a little nervous about my chili. I’ve cooked for friends and workmates before but I don’t think I’ve ever actually sold anything I’ve made. It went quickly too and several people complimented me on the flavor. One person even ordered a serving for take-out. Ha! Honestly though, I don’t do anything special, just the standard ingredients and a store-bought seasoning mix. Well, I do one can of pinto and one of kidney beans but otherwise, it’s just a lazy man’s crockpot recipe. Didn’t even put pineapples in it this time! Anyway, I’m glad people liked it.
I was feeling no pain when the Hash concluded but that didn’t stop me from joining a group of folks going to check out a new place in town called Beach Please. I love the name and we are considering them as another option for hosting a future Hash. From there some of us visited Cheap Charlies but I was one and done after that. Hell, I was done when I got there. I vaguely recall going to Sit-n-Bull for some grub before taking a trike back home. Woke up in one piece this morning and that’s always a good thing.
I have a few pictures to share:
From God’s point of view. Looks like the best trail ever to me!I greeted the Hashers as they arrived for the noon start……gave them some last-minute guidance then sent them on their way…Had the place pretty much to myself waiting for the Hashers to finish the trail and arrive On-Home……so I killed time enjoying the view from the community center.And an hour and ten minutes later the first three to complete the trail arrived; Leech My Nuggets, Vienna Sausage, and Anal Receptive. Well done!My co-Hare, Pubic Head, did the back half of the trail while I held the fort On-Home. He was able to get a few shots of some Hashers doing what Hashers do…Here come some now!No surprise it was the runners, Anal Receptive, Demolition Derby, and Blow My Pipe.Anal Intruder making her way through the grass that is taller than she is.Leaking Pussy making her way On-Home…And here comes the lovely Preying Mantis…44 Hashers in attendance. I was expecting 25-30.The limited food offerings.Food on the grill but not enough to go around.Wonder Woman was a satisfied customer…My Boyfriend Sucks Dick and Preying Mantis sharing some smiles.The Hares on ice.We initiated two virgins…Recognition for completing 50 and 25 runs.After the circle was over some of the Gash decided to have a swim…In the shadow of Easter mountain.Our after-Hash watering hole and possible venue for future Hashes…A little rustic……but it could work.It’s right up the beach from Mango’s. That sunset does look familiar, doesn’t it?
Greetings and welcome to another Hash Monday! A bit different this week because I’m one of the Hares. That means we did the trail yesterday and won’t be re-walking it today. I will greet the Hashers at our Alta Vista Community Center starting point then send them on their way over our carefully prepared and well-marked Hash trail.
Our On-Home is also at the community center, a first for the SBH3. Because of pandemic-related restrictions, only two venues have been willing to accommodate the Hash. That gets tiresome and frankly, both locations are far from ideal. Of course, the community center may not be a great option either but at least it is worth a try.
Here are some photos from yesterday’s Hare work:
Yours truly and my co-Hare, Pubic Head, at the starting point for run number 1,419 of the Subic Bay Hash House Harriers.As you may recall, we actually scouted the trail last Wednesday. Yesterday’s mission was to leave the Hash marks for the Hashers to follow the trail. The big storm on Friday had downed some trees across the path, but we found walk-arounds.The Hashers will enjoy views like this……and this from our trail.We marked our trail with powder (calcimine I’m told). This mark is at an intersection so is longer than usual in order to show direction…Chalk is another tool in our bag to keep the Hashers on trail.Here’s Pubic Head showing how it is done.We also carry toilet paper for special situations and hazards. Like this barbed wire crossing the trail knee-high. That’s a big ouch if you don’t see it coming.Being a Hare can be hard work. Pubic Head is the king of the roost while taking a break.All good things must end, including our trail. About 6.5K all-in, with two moderate climbs. Actually, the trail is a bit harder than what us old farts would usually lay. Should surprise some of the Hashers expecting an easy day of it.
One of the drawbacks of the community center On-Home venue is the lack of food availability. Then again, the food at the other venues basically sucks. Today a couple of the female Hashers have taken on the kitchen duties to feed a hungry kennel after the hike. Not totally altruistic as they see it as a potential profit-making opportunity.
Menu options will include:
BBQ meat on a stick.Grilled sausages……with buns from Angel’s bakery.I’m contributing a crockpot full of chili to the effort.
Here’s hoping for a good day of Hashing and a fun time at the circle afterward. As a Hare, my goal is always that no one gets lost or injured on trail. I’ll post an after-action report here tomorrow.
This morning I’m laying trail with my co-Hare for tomorrow’s Hash. In the meantime, I’ll leave you with some random shit from my so-called life.
The tools of the trade: Powder and chalk. I’m a big fan of a well-marked trail.A good afternoon of darts yesterday. I threw pretty well and I had a good partner for a change. Made it through the winner’s bracket undefeated.After the tourney, I headed out to Mango’s for my weekly grilled pork chops fix. Delicious as usual.A sunset for dessert. I always assumed there was something not quite right about Lucky. I had it pegged as retardation. I mean, is he winking at me? The other eye has a look about it like there is some evil plot afoot ( a paw?).
I may be a pervert but that’s no reason to treat me like trash. Another non-traditional breakfast–chicken pot pie. Yum!I was planning to gift my old laptop to a “friend” who lives nearby. Figured she could use it for her kids’ homeschooling tasks (they are always borrowing her phone). I invited her to drop by (she literally walks past my house to get to her housekeeping job) but she always had some excuse. No, I didn’t specify it was a laptop I wanted to give her, I just said I had a gift (it was her birthday yesterday). Not going to beg someone to pick up their present. Sheesh.Let the payback begin!I like this one too…Looks like trouble ahead!C’mon! That’s pretty funny…
Alright, that’s all I’ve got for now. That powder isn’t going to lay itself!
Even when it falls on a Friday. Nothing special about yesterday I suppose. But that’s a good thing sometimes, right?
A good day starts with a good breakfast. It may not look like traditional morning fare but I think I confused the evil 13th into thinking the day was over. Hey, it could’ve happened!
It was only Troy and me for the Friday walk as everyone else was too afraid to go out on the 13th. Cowards! Well, to be fair they did have legitimate-sounding excuses, but still.
Going up! Where’s the escalator when you need it?Looking down. This was the only climb on an otherwise flat 10K walk. Nice breezy day to walk though.Even had cause to channel Kevin Kim!
The Barretto Singles League officially kicks off tomorrow. A couple of players have played ahead and I appreciate their enthusiasm. I have a bit of pride in the fact that I invented the format almost ten years ago back in Columbia, SC. The league was also very popular in Seoul and continued on even after I left town. I’m kind of hoping that playing singles again will reinvigorate my passion for the game. It better, because being the commissioner and keeping up with the stats and standings is going to be a pain in the ass.
Yesterday afternoon I went out with the intention of getting a haircut and then going to the vape shop for some supplies. The barbershop was full though and I wasn’t going to wait around. The vape shop didn’t have the parts I needed either. Bought a substitute but I’m not sure it will work properly. Time will tell. And looking back, that’s the worst that happened to me on Friday the 13th.
I left the vape shop and headed over to Cheap Charlies for a gin and soda or two. Hell, maybe it was three. Then I crossed the highway and popped into Sit-n-Bull for some dinner. After perusing the menu I settled on my favorite French dish:
Call me a dip if you want, but I love these things. I know it’s French because it is served “au jus”. You hardly ever seen this type of sandwich anymore. And this one was actually one of the best I recall having. Yeah, not exactly low carb but I justified it because my second menu choice was the meatball sandwich and it came on a footlong roll. See, by that reckoning, I cut my carbs in half!
After dinner, I thought some ocean views would make a good dessert, so I headed to Mango’s. On the way, I saw this treehouse and I really, really want one!
Sadly, I don’t have the tree I would need for it in my yard.
If I sign a new lease on this house next year I’m thinking of putting my own nipa hut out back. Just a place to hang out when I have company over. I’d also like to hang a hammock inside to use for my afternoon naps.
Something like this is what I have in mind. I’m told you can have one built for less than a thousand dollars. We’ll see.
Going to do the dart tourney at Alley Cats this afternoon. As is my custom, I’ll bring the girls a little treat.
Don’t worry, the brownies always taste better than they look. Yeah, a tad overdone this time it appears. We’ll see.
And finally, there is this–an actual ad that appeared on my Facebook feed:
This sounds wrong on so many levels. I can’t read the non-English script, maybe it says something redeeming.
What I really want to know is what made Facebook think this was a product I might be interested in? Even at my creepiest I’d never want a sleeping partner. Starfish like Mary are bad enough.
And that’s it for today’s slice of life. Thanks for stopping by!
It looks like it’s gonna be a better day today than yesterday. Then again, today is Friday the 13th so I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
Ulysses has come and gone now but the bastard won’t soon be forgotten.
I rode the storm out the best as I was able, mostly confined at home with no electricity for EIGHTEEN fucking hours! I ventured out during what I thought was a lull in the rain to walk the dog. Ulysses was just yanking my chain though. Once I got to the point furthest from the house he unleashed a new wave of wind and pounding rain upon my helpless head. I noticed the same pattern of on-again/off-again action throughout the morning and early afternoon but didn’t get caught in that web of deceit again until late in the day.
I mentioned in yesterday’s post about some water seepage. This was caused by the wind driving the rain sideways through some heretofore unnoticed gaps between the windows and the walls. I did experience some wind damage on my upstairs balcony, however:
Shit happens.
During my abbreviated dog walk, I noticed at least one tree down in the neighborhood:
At least it didn’t take out any powerlines. Not that it would have mattered at that point.
I don’t mean to make light of my good fortune though. I live in an elevated community. Down in Barretto, a friend was dealing with this:
Outside the house……and inside.
Everything is relative I suppose. South of us in Metro Manila things got scary bad:
I just can’t imagine being trapped on my roof for hours and hours in the driving rain.
Anyway, I stayed home all day, and finally around 4:00 the boredom seemed worse than the storm. Besides, I needed to go out to find mama and give her some food money. I waited for a lull in the storm and made a dash for Barretto. Barely got out of the neighborhood before the deluge began again. I had my umbrella but it proved pretty much worthless with the windblown rain soaking everything but my head. I did find mama taking shelter under the awning of a closed bar, so mission accomplished!
Seeing as how I was already out and about, I popped into Mango’s for a couple of beers. The beach had some souvenirs left by Ulysses.
Beachcombers had already begun the salvage operations.Plenty more where that came from.
I messaged my helper to see if the power was back on at my house and was informed that it was not. Briefly thought about booking a room but decided without a change of clothes or my computer it was pointless. But since I couldn’t cook in the dark at home I ordered me up some dinner.
Roast chicken and coleslaw. I couldn’t eat all that though so brought some back home for the hired help to enjoy.
I was going to visit Queen Victoria for a nightcap but they were already closed (it was only 6 p.m.). So I caught a trike for the ride back to Alta Vista. As we traveled I noted that lights were burning brightly everywhere so I took that as a good sign. Well, everywhere but Alta Vista. I asked the gate guard what was going on and he assured me Zameco (the power company) was “on the way”. Hmm, okay then. It is no fun going home to a dark house, that’s for sure.
Still, you just have to make the best of it. I had a little battery left in the laptop and my wifi hotspot connection so I wasn’t alone.
The battery finally gave out and so did I. I went upstairs to bed at 7 p.m. When the fan kicked on it woke me at just a bit past 10. Power had finally been restored! I went back to sleep as best as I was able and finally knew I’d had enough by 0330. Did all my usual internet stuff and finished well before my dog walk time of 0700. Nothing left to do but write this post.
A tropical depression, that is. Or typhoon if you will, although since it made landfall the storm became depressed or something and is weaker now.
What a difference a day makes!
Ulysses iS packing quite the punch, I’ll Grant you that. *ahem*
Pretty much a direct hit.
The sound of the wind’s fury woke me up around 0230. I figured the power grid wouldn’t withstand it for long and sure enough, things went dark shortly thereafter. I’m writing this post on battery power and my phone’s hotspot. Get it while you can!
It seems like only yesterday the sun was shining and I was out hiking and enthusiastically embracing the beauty of mother nature. Oh wait, that’s was yesterday. Mother nature can be a fickle bitch, can’t she?
Here’s the Hash trail we scouted yesterday. I’m thinking about what potential impact all this rain will have on our best laid plans.
It will be muddier and more slippery that’s for sure and one section may or may not be under water. Won’t know for sure until we go back out on Sunday to mark the trail. Oh well, we Hash rain or shine!
Me and my fellow scouts, Jim and Scott. Scott is the co-Hare on Monday, Jim will be working the logistics of getting the beer and ice chests to the community center On-Home…This should work…A little bungle in the jungle.My weekly tree shot.Valley view.I actually thought about this “house” during the windy night and wondered how (or if) it was holding up in the storm.A group of cookie lovers!What a cutie! I don’t mean YOU, Jim!Our second climb of the day included these steps…Scott tripped and fell twice during the hike but here is one of him on his feet!“Man, that would make a great post!”
Hope you enjoyed it.
Looks like I’m gonna be stuck inside all day with no power. If the rain lets up a little I might chance going out in search of a hotel room. Otherwise I’ll just tough it out I suppose. Oh, I have found several spots where the wind blown water is invading my house. Including the puddle under my desk that is soaking my feet as I write this. It could always be worse. I’m sure some of my less fortunate neighbors have lost the roof or walls in their shanty shacks.
I’ll count my blessings.
Walking through forests of palm tree apartments Scoff at the monkeys who live in their dark tents Down by the waterhole Drunk every Friday Eating their nuts Saving their raisins for Sunday Lions and tigers Who wait in the shadows They’re fast but they’re lazy, and sleep in green meadows
Let’s bungle in the jungle Well, that’s all right by me I’m a tiger when I want love But I’m a snake if we disagree
When almost every morning begins like this it’s bound to go downhill from there. Still, it’s more good than bad overall. I’ll take it as it comes.
So, I was in for a big surprise while grocery shopping at Royal yesterday–they actually got a shipment of frozen foods in stock. I mean, it may not seem like a big deal but it has been about six months now that I’ve gone without some of the things I enjoy. Like this:
Yeah, I could learn to make this kind of stuff on my own but I’m a lazy fuck. Of course, on my current low-carb kick, I won’t be enjoying these soon but it is comforting knowing they are safely in my freezer should the need arise.And frozen fruit! I still indulge in a smoothie now and again and it’s hard to get fresh berries around here. Not impossible, but expensive.
Best of all I was able to secure everything I need for my Thanksgiving feast:
Well, no fruit salad but I was able to pull that together last year. I’m kinda kidding, I’ll be keeping my eyes out for a frozen turkey so I can do the real thing.
I played darts in the afternoon. Drew another weak partner but at least she wasn’t as irritatingly bad as the one I had last Sunday. I wound up doing something though that I don’t recall having ever done before–missed on purpose. So, here’s the deal. The tourney started late because one of the girls had a birthday. Big turnout too, so that meant lots of time between games. We lost in the first round and it was probably an hour before we played again. In our second match, we were tied 1-1 and playing cricket, a game that requires more skill than 501 where every dart counts. We were getting beat pretty badly and then I hit some bulls to catch us up on points and close the gap. Eventually, it came down to whoever hits the next bull wins. I didn’t really try and win. Now, in my defense, I didn’t want to wait around to play later in a match I knew we couldn’t win. And since I’d done all the heavy lifting to get us in a position to win I thought it only fair that my partner should throw that dart. She didn’t and we lost. I got some looks from my opponents and my partner. Maybe it was unsporting of me. I did buy my partner a drink which is worth more than we were going to win anyway. In retrospect, I wish I’d just played my best and let the darts decide. Oh well.
After darts, I went to Sit-n-Bull and had me a salad for dinner.
Roast chicken. As good as it looks.
I’m pretty much not engaging in this whole political debate about Trump and the vote. It seems quite apparent from a distance that fraud played a part. If it was decisive fraud I hope the courts sort that out. My disgust continues to be directed at the ignorance of the fools who think that Biden will protect their interests or America’s. Unlike the liberals who post shit to goad and taunt, I keep my feelings mostly to myself. I did post this though:
Not surprisingly, it did cause several liberal heads to explode. Well, that’s the problem I guess. The sheep don’t know they are sheep. God help us all.
Once again, I was in bed by 8 p.m. last night. I guess that’s my new normal these days. Although the mayor just announced that starting Friday curfew will be pushed back to 10:30 giving us peasants an hour of our lives back every day. Not sure I’ll be adjusting my schedule though.
I may be a lazy bastard but I still dream of being a working man. Almost every night in fact. And this morning Facebook shared this memory from my work life four years ago:
It was good while it lasted but I honestly have no regrets about moving on. My time to live a new life had arrived and here I am living it as best as I am able.
Today is Veterans Day back in the USA and I’d be remiss if I didn’t give a shout out to all the brave men and women who have served their nation. Thank you!
And since 1973 they have all been volunteers.
Today I went out with Jim and Scott to scout potential trails for next week’s Hash. I think we’ve got something both a little different and perhaps more challenging than folks will be expecting from us oldtimers. More to come on that.
Also, next week’s On-Home will be at the community center here in Alta Vista. I guess I’m hosting that event as well. It’s a great facility but we’ve never used it for the Hash before. Should be interesting.
I was really surprised how nice this photo I took of the community center came out. I love how Easter mountain is looming in the background.The pool is looking good for any Hashers wanting to swim after their hike. Some of the Filipinas are making food to sell to the hungry Hashers in attendance. I’m donating a pot of my chili to that effort.I reckon this ballroom will suffice for the circle unless we elect to do it poolside…
And there you have a snapshot from this thing I call my life. It could certainly be much worse. Hell, it has been! I’m not dwelling so much on the things I don’t have that might make it better so maybe that helps me appreciate things the way they are all the more.
No real complaints about yesterday’s Hash trail. A good 6K hike with one moderate climb, nice weather, and no falls or injury. Just the way I like it!
Our path as seen from above…We headed out from Alta Vista which was certainly convenient for me.On-On!Bum Burgler bringing up the rear. No pun intended.Speaking of the rear, I kept my eye on What’s Up Doc for a goodly portion of the trek.You cross this bridge to get to the other side.At least the Hares were honest about it this time.Passing by Easter mountain.There are only so many ways to get to the Hunter Jo on-home from Barretto. I appreciated the fact that the Hares found a couple of places along the way that were new to me.They also did a good job marking the trail. That’s really important. The big up for the day…An outpost in the wilderness…The way ahead.A view from the top…Looking back.A portion of the Hash circle…or should I say a slice?I voluntarily joined the Hares on the ice as a testament to their fine trail.An assortment of Gash.Our newest named Hasher, Where’s My Money?Cream Filled Cupcake received the Hashit. She’s so damn cute!And then the sun set on another Hash day.
I took a tricycle back to Barretto and devoured some pork chops to satisfy my well-earned hunger. Then it was on to home and in bed by 8 p.m. Not as sad as it sounds, it was a fine day.
Pubic Head and I will be Hares for next week’s trail. More on that later.
