The good news is that the feedback from yesterday’s Hash participants was almost all positive. And after this post, y’all will get a year of not having read about my exploits on the mountain. How’s that for a win-win situation?
The Hashers gathered at the usual meet-up venue, the VFW, and rode rented Jeepneys to the start of the trail. I walked the 2K from my house and met them there. Once the group had started the hike, I walked back to the On-Home venue and awaited their arrival. I was surprised that a couple of the runners were back in just over an hour. Everyone else trickled back in over the next couple of hours, and no one got lost or injured, so I’ll call that a successfully completed mission as a Hare.
The trail we laid.Loading up the JeepsThe trail begins at the end of this road.While waiting for the Jeepneys to arrive, these two–Anal Receptive and Leech My Nuggets came strolling up on foot. They both live in Alta Vista and decided to hike to the start like me.Arrival at the startEverybody outBlow My Pipe gives the guidanceAnd off they go into the wild blue yonderUp, up, and away!Making it look easyAlmost to the topMountain viewsCumslinger is an Easter Mountain virgin no more. Well done, sir!Folks taking the “easy” valley routeHeading On-Home from the Govic HighwayOnce again, traffic getting into town was insane. We avoided the highway as much as possible.Our hosts for the eveningSitting and drinking after the trailI enjoy the outdoor ambiance of Smokes and Bottles.The Hares for next week’s trail, Fuck Buddy, Dumb Ass, and Leaking Pussy. Should be fun and not so hard.It’s nice on ice!Circle up! Sixty-seven attended yesterday, including a large contingent from the Angeles City Corona Hash group.A Hare on the ice. Honestly, it is not all that nice.Some of the Gash from the Corona HashWhatever You Want made the mistake of wearing new shoes yesterdayAnd Bug Fucker celebrated his 69th run with the Subic Bay Hash House Harriers
Glad things turned out as well as they did. Also glad I won’t be climbing Easter Mountain again until next year. On-On!
A commenter asked for a better view of the cornbread and carrot cake I baked for Easter. Here you go, Kevin! Full of carbs and calories!
Or triple threat. Either way, I successfully completed my third climb to the top of Eastern Mountain this week, and we now have a marked trail for this afternoon’s Hash.
My fellow Hares, Bug Fucker, and Blow My PipeThat’s Alta Vista on that distant hillside.The arrow points to the high point on Black Rock Ridge that the hard trail will climb after Easter Mountain. That valley to the right is where the “easy” trail avoids the second climb.About halfway up the mountain, I came across these boots. Makes you wonder what the story behind their abandonment might be. They’d have to be pretty damn uncomfortable to prefer to go barefoot…We marked the trail as best as we were able, hope that’s good enough. Honestly, I’m not happy with the down off Easter Mountain, but it will have to do this time.Between the peaksThere is a second climb on the “easy” trail, up these steps to a rendezvous with the hard trail on the other side of Black Rock.Today’s On-Home venue is Smokes and Bottles.Something is goingon with my GPS or map app; we didn’t get lost today. The trail is around 6K.
I’m going to walk out to the start from my house this afternoon to give the pre-trail briefing to the Hashers. Then I’ll walk the roads to Smokes and Bottles and wait for everyone there.
Yesterday’s Easter dinner with Mary went well, even if she was a little late. I don’t much care for “Filipina time” culture here, but in this case, she had a valid excuse…traffic has been practically gridlocked all weekend. Old timers here have never seen anything like it before.
Baby back ribs in the crockpotAnd on the platter. They were falling off the bone tender and quite tasty, if I do say so myself.I served them with corn on the cob…And broccoli floretsWith cornbreadAnd some Sweet Baby Ray’sWith carrot cake for dessert
It was a nice meal, and afterward, we took a nap which was also nice. We spent a couple of hours at Sloppy Joe’s, watching the insane traffic and crazier drivers on the highway. There is no traffic law enforcement, and people take full advantage of that. Oh, well. I’m just a guest in this country. Glad I don’t drive!
Okay, time to head out to perform my Hare responsibilities. Back with more tomorrow.
I mean, every picture tells one, right? On my morning walk yesterday, I encountered this on the pavement as I exited Alta Vista:
I hope the story had a happy ending
Coincidentally, my younger brother posted this on his Facebook page today:
I don’t think I want to know
Anyway, here are some visual aids to supplement the story of my Saturday.
The lonely path I walked on my morning jauntA peaceful cabin in the woodsor solitary confinement?The dominant presence in my life this week. See you tomorrow, bitch!Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.As I walked out in the streets of San Isidro, as I walked out in San Isidro one day…The marketplace in Santo TomasRiver trashGrub stopA chicken burrito hits the spot
My evening started at an old haunt I hadn’t visited for a couple of months or more–Alley Cats. There’s not much reason to go there if you aren’t playing darts, but I popped in anyway. Nice to see my waitress friends Jerlyn and Nancy and share some drinks. Then I had a beer at Sloppy Joe’s while I figured out my next move. Originally, I had intended to do a feeding at Hideaway since they won’t be open on Easter. But Joy wasn’t working, so there was not much point. I knew Joy wanted to take her kids out for an Easter beach excursion, but she lacked the funds to do so. I figured I’d give her the money I would have spent on the feeding and make her day. We agreed to meet at the Jewel Cafe for some food and cash exchange.
Joy had a shrimp dish…And I went with the Philly cheesesteak sandwich.
We parted ways after the meal, and I found myself at It Doesn’t Matter.
After a bit, Scott, Chris, and Dave showed up. They had been golfing in San Antonio, and the return trip (usually less than an hour) had taken them four. Yep, the traffic was that bad. Bumper to bumper all the way and gridlocked in places.And here’s a picture of Barretto Beach yesterday. I have NEVER seen it anywhere near this crowded in all the years I’ve visited and lived here. Apparently, Baloy Beach was just as bad or worse.
I did my nightcap at Wet Spot last night, enjoying the company of Aine and Daddy Dave. Dave lives on Baloy, and he said this is the busiest it has been in over 18 years of residence. Took him 45 minutes to drive the two kilometers to the highway.
I bought some meat the other day from a friend who is selling to clients via Facebook.
Baby back ribs “made in Spain”–that’s a first for me. I’ve got them in the crockpot right now. We’ll see if they come out with a Spanish accent.I also bought these ribeye steaks. Forty-four bucks for those skinny ass things. We’ll see how they taste, but I expect to be disappointed. They are marinating now.
We marked the Black Rock Ridge portion of tomorrow’s Hash trail this morning. We will mark the Easter mountain section in the morning.
That’s the Black Rock Ridge, as seen from Alta Vista.The hard and easy trails split in the Divine Mercy cemetery.Ken was there to help spread the powder and draw the arrowsYep, I’ll be back for you tomorrow!San Isidro in all her glory, such as it is.Barretto by the bayThe valley where I will mark the “easy” trail after the Easter mountain climb.It’s actually pretty nice up here, and truthfully, getting up wasn’t as bad as I expected it to be.I find the going down part more difficult and more dangerousThis was the worst of it this morning, and we all survived. Let’s hope the Hashers make it down safely too.
And that brings you up to the minute. Mary is supposed to join me this afternoon to share in my Easter baby back ribs bounty. I’d best get busy on the corn muffins and side dishes. Back tomorrow with a full report!
As good as any and better than some. And I’ve got the pictures to prove it (lots of them!).
I started the morning with day 3 of scouting Monday’s Hash trail. This time we did the Black Rock Ridge, which will constitute the second climb (after Easter Mountain) for the hard trail. The “easy” trail will go through the valley that runs parallel to the ridge and rejoin the hard trail on the other side. We walked it backward yesterday, so all the ups will be downs on Monday and vice versa. We’ll go back out in the morning to lay down the powder and chalk markings.
Scott joined Jim and me for the flat portion of the trail…his ankle wasn’t quite ready for the ups and downs of the Black Rock Ridge.The beginningof the end had us going up a long set of steps. Come Monday, we’ll be going down this way to finish the trail.And the leaves that are green turn to brownScott bailed, and me and Jim headed to Black Rock. We met up with Scott again on the other side.“That’s what is known as a tree, Jim. They grow all over these parts.”Where the name “Black Rock” comes from.The most challenging part of yesterday’s climb, practically straight up, requires hands and feet. I’m dreading coming down it tomorrow when we mark the trail.A nice view from there thoughPushing on to the highest point on the ridgelineLooking back down from hereat CalapcuanHad to navigate through some tall grass in this sectionAnd here’swhere everything will start on Monday, a climb to the top of Easter Mountain.And now to find our way down. We did, but I didn’t like it. I have to come back up to mark it in the morning, but I don’t expect I’ll voluntarily do this trail in the future.Reuniting with Scott in the graveyard. That sounds a little morbid, but that’s the way it happened.Through the flat valley on the “easy” trailLollipops for herAnd cookies for themSome more of those Good Friday backslappers“The beatings will continue until morale improves!”Back on the National HighwayThe great escapeHung out to dryDown the drain
That filled the morning hours. When beer o’clock rolled around, I decided to make Cheap Charlies my first stop of the night.
A flowering bush as I departed Alta VistaI brought along a batch of brownies for the girls to enjoy. Here’s Alma dividing them up.
Alma and Nerissa were my drinking companions, and a bit later, Jim also showed up. And then a parade broke out on the highway below us. It looked like this:
In the beginning…Jesus Christ standing tall and proud at the head of the paradeThe King of KingsNice ass you got there, Jesus!Hope floatsVictim of love?That’s quite a cross to bearNailed it!When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me…Let it beWaiting to be resurrectedI don’t want to be a doubting Thomas, but can these guys really help?Let the Son shine inDon’t worry, mama; the Son shall rise again…just give it a couple of days.And finally, the parade has come to an end.But the evening has just begun!Next stop, Sloppy Joe’s!
I started feeling hungry. Thumbstar has a Friday night special where everything is two for the price of one, including food. So, I did the math and decided two shwarmas and two beers to wash them down sounds about right.
Shwarma was tasty and hit the spot.
However, my math calculation proved to be erroneous because I failed to consider the “Ashley factor.”
It seems beer impairs my ability to say “.no”And then, I compounded my error by purchasing additional “two for one” items off the menu to share with the dancers.
So, my cheap meal wound up costing me around 1000 pesos. Oh, well.
I decided to make Whiskey Girl my nightcap bar. When I arrived and took my seat, Jenn came by to take my order. She declined when I offered her a drink because she was with another customer. Okay, well, at least I saved some money on lady drinks!
I went home early and alone as usual, but that’s just the way I roll these days. Most likely, more of the same is in store for tonight. What a life, eh?
Holy week here in the Philippines is a really big deal. Even after all these years of living and visiting, it’s still shocking. Traffic on the highway was bumper-to-bumper most of the day yesterday, and the hotels and beaches are packed with people for the long holiday weekend.
I remember my first-ever visit to the PI back in 2007. After I landed in Cebu City and arrived at my hotel, I noticed that many stores and businesses were closed. I asked what was happening and was told, “It’s Maundy Thursday, sir.” Well, despite being raised in the church (Pentecostal), I had to look it up. I guess it’s more of a Catholic thing, but it is a national holiday here in the PI.
One of the local traditions on Good Friday in this area is people climbing to the top of Easter Mountain to watch the sunrise. Yeah, that means climbing that mother fucker in the dark. I guess they have faith that God will guide their footsteps and keep them safe. I’m acquainted with a few folks who made that trek today, and I’ve got some of their photographs to share:
Cielo conquers the mountain while the lights of the city shine brightly in the night.Here comes the sunBreakfast on the mountaintopThey came, they saw, they conquered. Well done, ladies!
Another tradition for Good Friday is self-flagellation. I must have seen a dozen or more guys walking down the road slapping their backs with a whip-like device.
While trying to take this picture, I kept getting splashed with blood. One of my fellow hikers assured me it wasn’t real blood; it was all for show.Well, it looked real enough to gross me out, that’s for sure.
Anyway, it’s just another weekend for me, although I guess some of the bars might not be open on Easter, including Hideaway. Also, there will not be an SOB competition tonight. I’m sure I’ll find plenty of available venues so as to avoid dehydration, though.
Here’s how I celebrated Maundy Thursday this year. I did a solo 8K valley walk, then had an early lunch at Sit-n-Bull.
That’s the only picture I took on the hike. The half of my club sandwich I couldn’t finish so brought home for my helper to enjoy.
As is becoming my Thursday evening tradition, I walked out to Baloy Beach to enjoy some time on the floating bar.
What’s not to like?Lots of people in the water enjoying a late afternoon swimCliff and his lovely wife Ashley from IDM bar were on board; she took this picture and shared it on FacebookSomeone played “I can make your hands clap,” and all the waitresses got up to dance. Filipinas really love that song for some reasonI had baked up a batch of brownies to share with the girls. They seemed to enjoy them.And I met a new girl yesterday, Jelly. A little long in the tooth at 42, but she seems nice and sweet. Welcome aboard!
After I’d had my fill on the floater, I made my way up the beach and popped into McCoy’s for a cold one. No one there I knew, so after my beer, I walked back to Barretto. I paid a visit to Whiskey Girl and their “buy one, get one” promo, and also saw my favorite waitress, Jen.
The Whiskey Girl dance crew was working hard for my entertainment, so I brought the one on the front right down for a drink.
I was rapidly approaching my limit, but I ventured across the highway to finish my drinking spree at Queen Victoria. Didn’t see Rein or Irish there, though. That’s fine. From what I recall, I drank alone. Made it home safe and sound, without any trips, slips, or falls. That’s the best way to end the night. Well, mad passionate sex is good, too, I suppose. Maybe next time.
I hope you all have a Good Friday!
Here’s that song that brings Filipinas to their feet:
So, let’s retrace yesterday’s events in reverse, starting with the last bar I visited and ending with the hike that began my day, shall we?
The last stop of the night was Wet Spot. I had run into Dave and his gal at my previous stop, and he invited me to sample the chili he was making a test run with in preparation for a chili cookoff next weekend in San Antonio. Alas, the guy in charge of the kettle reported that something went wrong with the beans, and the end result was inedible. Oh well, next time. And yes, I hope to attend the event in San Antonio on Saturday.
And Aine was there to keep me company, too.
Prior to the Wet Spot visit, I had made a rare appearance at Voodoo. The circumstances leading to that happening involved running into a group of my fellow Hashers on the street. I had left Hideaway and was undecided about where to go next. The guys said they were on their way to Mugshots. I advised them that Mugshots is closed on Wednesdays, so someone suggested Voodoo as an alternative, and I joined in.
L-R would be Dave, Simon, Ken, and Jim.I usually drink alone, so it was nice to have some male companionship for a change.Well, my regular Voodoo girl wasn’t going to be denied her lady drink bounty just because I was there with friends.
I had started my night out with the Hideaway feeding. The gals seem to appreciate the effort, and it gives me some pleasure to fill the void in their bellies with some local goodness. Last night it was roast chicken and fried chicken with rice. Brownies and Oreo cookies were the dessert items.
Goodbye Oreo!
So, that was my night in Barretto. Now to my morning on Easter Mountain.
This was day 2 of scouting for Monday’s Hash trail. On day 1, we had found the path to the top we wanted, but the coming down was not to our liking. Yesterday we started where the downhill ends and made our way back to the top from there. There is no getting around the fact that it will be a hard, steep down, but at least the way we’ve chosen will be easier to follow. Tomorrow we’ll scout the second climb through the Black Rock ridgeline for the hard trail. The easy version will be a valley walk.
Ken came along on the scouting expeditionHeading for the hillsA pleasant walk through a mango groveInto the grassesThe destination we are bound forAin’t no easy way to get there, thoughGoing up the down trailGetting closer, one step at a timeThe view from herePoor Jim is destined to wait on the slowpokesI’m the documentarian, and those photos aren’t going to take themselves…that’s my excuse, and I’m sticking with it!Rockin’ it!Getting higher and higher, just like in high school!The final push upwardsDown in the valley, the valley so low…Almost to the topI don’t know why, but the tree and the rocks gave me a peaceful easy feeling.That’s the village of Naugsol way down there.And that would be San IsidroEaster Mountain has two peaks. Our Hash climb will take us to the pictured first peak, and then we will walk to the other to begin our descent.One more shot of the view from the topGoing back down the way we just came upAnd that’s the way we did it!
In other news, CNN had a story featuring a Filipina cover girl for Vogue magazine.
Still looking spry at 106 years old. Dig those tattoos.
I was up and at ’em a little before 5:00 a.m. this morning and enjoyed the view.
I was just talkin’ to the moon, hopin’ someday soon that I’d be over, the memory of you…
So, feeling inspired, I mashed up some bananas and created about the best damn muffins in recent memory.
Yeah, that’s what I’m talkin’ about!Funny how that works
Let me leave you with a song. It’s an oldie (of course) but not a tune I’m that familiar with. It came on last night at Hideaway with the video I’m posting below. It cracked me up, especially in light of the recent alcohol-related discussions we’ve had here in the comments. I may be bad, but at least I ain’t that bad. Or maybe I was back when I was drinking gin.
Not a bad Tuesday as Tuesdays go. Got through the grocery shopping without blowing a gasket over the insane prices and frustrating “out-of-stock” issues. I just don’t understand how a major grocery store like Royal is so inept at ordering products before they sell out. Often, weeks or months go by before the next shipment arrives. Ah, well. If that’s all I have to complain about, I’m living a pretty blessed life.
After loading up the groceries, I paid my driver and walked a couple of blocks to Harbor Pointe Mall.
I arrived a few minutes before the 10 a.m. opening and waited. And waited. Ten o’clock comes and goes, and still, no one comes to open the door. I finally used a different entrance to get inside.
One of the purposes of my visit to the mall was to find out why the data plan I purchased for my phone wasn’t working. I went to the Globe store (my cell phone provider), and they checked the SIM card and settings. After about 30 minutes of fiddling with my phone, they said I had the wrong connection link and fixed it. Okay, I don’t speak technology, but at least it is working now.
Since I was already at the mall, I went upstairs to the Merrell store, hoping to acquire some new hiking shoes (my old ones have worn-down soles, and I like a good grip when doing those ups and downs on the mountain). I’m not sure what is going on with Merrell, but they didn’t have ANY traditional hiking shoes in stock, just like the last time I visited the store a few months ago. Weird. Not wanting to give up without a fight and having nothing better to do, I hoofed on over across the river to the SM Mall in Olongapo City (less than a kilometer away).
The department store shoe section had some good-looking Merrells on display, but when the sales clerk returned from the backroom, he advised that there were no size 11s available. He suggested I look at the Skechers collection. That’s been my fallback shoe for a while now, and they fill the need, even if they are not really designed for the dirty trails I walk.
These are the ones I purchased. How could I resist? It’s been a long time since I’ve had a set of Goodyears on my feet—a lifetime, in fact.I wore them on my scouting climb up Easter Mountain this morning, and they worked out just fine. Still had some slippage in the soft and leaf-covered soil, but I imagine that would be the case with any shoe, given how steep our trail was.
On my way to the checkout stand, I saw some backpacks on display, so I went for a look.
I wound up buying this one to carry my water and cookies during my hikes. The chest strap on my old daypack has been broken for a while, and I liked the padding on the back of this one. It should be more comfortable.
So, I’d had enough of shopping but worked up an appetite. SM Mall has a Jollibee, and there was a McDonald’s just up the road, but I was craving something else for some reason, and I walked back to Harbor Pointe Mall to get me some.
A double Whopper with cheese and all the fixings.It definitely filled the void.
I finished my lunch and caught a cab for home.
Did my usual afternoon routines (blogging and napping), then it was once again time to head into town. I started with a visit to the barber and successfully had my ears lowered. It Doesn’t Matter bar is just across the highway from the barbershop, and I had some amends to make there, so that was my next stop. I found the waitress I had been rude to the night before, apologized, and bought her a lady drink. She was gracious and happy that there were no hard feelings.
I only stayed for one beer, then went back across the highway to enjoy the ambiance at the Annex bar.
Giddy up! On my previous visit, I hadn’t noticed the saddle and reins hanging from the ceiling. It really is a clean, comfortable, and well-appointed bar. I’ll definitely be adding it to my regular circuit.
Where to next? It wasn’t 6:00 yet so that limited my options somewhat. Cheap Charlies was packed with RSL guys, so I risked life and limb and crossed the highway again to plop my ass down at The Green Room for a bit. A pool league match was going on, and it was quite entertaining to watch–the players I saw were outstanding. I had some Sit-n-Bull chicken wings with my beer and got my waitress some lumpia to enjoy.
Enough time had elapsed that enabled me to visit Alaska and see Virginia, so that’s just what I did.
Looking cute as ever, ain’t she?
Virginia is easy on the eyes, but I have difficulty understanding her English. That problem was exacerbated last night because the music was so loud I may as well have been deaf. Owner Jerry was doing pool league somewhere else; he would not have been playing those songs at that volume, not his style. Well, Virginia got a couple of lady drink commissions at least, and perhaps we can talk another time.
Sloppy Joe’s is right next door to Alaska, so I popped in there for my nightcap. I was pleasantly surprised to see my pal Chris and his gal were there, so I pulled up a stool and joined them. Chris was controlling the music and videos, so we did a pleasant stroll down memory lane with an emphasis on Bob Seger. Enjoyed the hell out of that.
The view of the highway from my seat at Sloppy Joe’s.And the happy couple, Chris and Shie.
Oh, the Belgian chocolate guy came by, and I bought five of his 100 peso containers and took them to the girls at Alaska for a special treat. Better than cookies!
It really did turn out to be a fun night out; everything Monday night wasn’t.
There were some interesting discussions regarding alcohol use/abuse in the comments to Sunday’s post. I don’t speculate as to where on the spectrum the medical community might place me but freely admit I imbibe several low-alcohol brews every night. While the “science” had previously said two a day or several a week weren’t bad, I came across this article saying that alcohol in ANY amount isn’t healthy. Well, fine. No need to try and cut down on consumption then–I’m going to die anyway. In all seriousness, I’m doing just fine. The gin was a mistake for sure, but as long as I stay away from the hard liquors, I’ll be okay.
Ah, and those Facebook memories. Today is my wedding anniversary with wife #4.
I thought I had it made. I won’t lie; it still hurts.
And how about this one from eight years ago:
That’s frequent commenter Kevin Kim on the left, looking young and healthy. The guy next to me is Young Chun, a fascinating guy who had just published the book I’m holding about his stint in the Korean Army.
The book is titled “The Accidental Citizen Soldier” and tells the story of a born and raised American getting drafted into the Korean military. Here’s how a Seattle newspaper reported that story.
Alrighty then, another feeding day at Hideaway is coming up. And I’ll have some photos of today’s Easter mountain climb here tomorrow. BLUF: We found a much better way down the mountain today by going up it first. Things are coming together for Easter Monday!
I wound up doing all of the short trail (4K+) yesterday. It featured three climbs, something I would not normally do voluntarily. In fact, at the top of the first hill, a long, steep slog, I could have taken a left turn and avoided the other ups, but that would have meant finishing too soon, even by my low standards. I figured I could either bail at the bottom of the down or after the second climb. Turns out, at the bottom, there was nowhere else to go but up, and at the top of the second hill, there was nothing to be done but follow the trail to the end. Well, it’s always nice to get through a tough trail, so that sense of pride is my return for a hot afternoon’s work.
A Gods-eye view of the trailWe gathered at the Saver’s Appliance store on the edge of town and began our hike from there.The Hare, Demolition Derby, provides last-minute guidance.And we are On-On!And the first big up started right awayWhat an inclination!The trail was steeped in mystery…when do we reach the top?PosersHello down there!The trail teased us with a taste of flatness before resuming the upward angle.And then, at last, we began the descent. But with each step downward, I knew a future step would lead me back up again.It wasn’t a particularly easy down either.The long and short of itBuddy Fucker makes it through the fence……and so does Bum BurglarThe end of the second climb was a real bitchHill #2 is in the books!Steep and slippery going down the second time too.Easy does itOn the home stretch at lastWasn’t that fun?The Hash Circle at Blue Butterfly
My night after the hike went to shit. I was just in a pissy mood for some reason. Wound up leaving the circle early, being an asshole at IDM, and then heading home about the time the other Hashers arrived. Luckily, that behavior is not my norm. I was embarrassed thinking about it this morning.
I made the ascent to the peak of Easter mountain yesterday without incident. In fact, I made it to the top without much difficulty, which is especially surprising. I had carried my portable nebulizer with me in anticipation of a breathing attack during the climb, but I didn’t need it. Oh sure, I did some huffing on puffing on the way up, but the normal kind, not the “oh my God, I can’t breathe” feeling I’ve been experiencing recently. Even my hiking companion, Jim, was surprised at my slow but steady progress up the mountain without the need to stop and rest. I hope this is a sign that whatever has been ailing my worn-out lungs has left the building. Another indication that things may be improving is that I’m sleeping through the night without the need to get up and nebulize. I’m not sure what has changed, but it occurs to me that perhaps my rejection of gin as my alcoholic beverage of choice had a positive impact. Whatever, feeling healthier is like, well, a breath of fresh air!
The purpose of yesterday’s climb was to scout the trail for the traditional Easter Monday Hash run. The way we are going to the top is steep but not as tough as some other paths we’ve Hashed recently. Now, getting back down was another matter. There is still a lot of grass, which made finding an easy-to-follow trail difficult. In fact, we are going back out on Wednesday to find a better alternative than what we took yesterday. We’ll do that by starting at the bottom where we want to come out and then working our way back up. So, yes, I have another Easter mountain climb in the near future, actually, two more because we’ll also need to go back and mark the trail on Easter Monday.
The Hashers will ride rented Jeepneys to the trailhead next week. Jim and I took a trike yesterday to the starting point.
We got dropped off here, in clear view of our objective.Heading to our rendezvous with the mountain.
Let the climbing begin! You’ll see Jim waiting for me in most of these photos. I may be feeling better, but I’m still slow. Plus, I was taking the pictures.
Onward and upward!Still, a long way to goLooking back down from whence we cameI’m coming! I’m coming!Getting closerI’m falling further and further behind, it seems, but Jim is a patient manA measure of our upwards progressAnd now it is time to rock it!Getting stoned!Don’t look down!The final push to the topThat’s going to be a new subdivision somedayThe bay view from hereI’ll take that as a sign!Summit achieved!The proof that I made it tooThe view from the topAs I mentioned, getting down was no easy taskSteep and slippery, and you can’t see your footing in that tall grass.And there didn’t seem to be any clear path downAnd it got a little jungle-like near thebottomIt was hot and dirty work getting down, but we will find a better way for the Hashers to follow.This is where we came out and not exactly where we want to be. Further up the highway is the trail we want. We’ll explore that back up on Wednesday and then finalize our plans for the Monday Hash. Jim is taking the hardy group over the Black Rock ridge; I’ll lead the sane group through the valley.
We are off to a good start, though.
And now, for the rest of the day. I bought the Hideaway girls some Korean-style chicken wings and bulgogi from John’s place, along with a pizza from Shamboli’s for their Sunday feeding.
Bulgogi, wings, and seaweed (kim)Hawaiian pizzaAnd Choco Pies for dessertKim, rice, and bulgogi wrap down the hatch!Hideaway was unusually busy for a Sunday evening, and I had to sit at a table instead of the bar when I first arrived.
And after my time at Hideaway, I kept my promise and dropped by to see Aine, the new old girl at Wet Spot.
She’s still looking good for 40-something.I also passed by the Catholic church, which was in full swing at the start of Holy Week. The sidewalk in front is lined with vendors selling, you guessed it, palm leaves. I don’t really know the significanceof palms and Easter week, but it seems pretty important to the folks of faith here.
It is Hash Monday for me, so I need to prepare myself for that adventure. Hopefully, it goes as well as yesterday did for me.
…so are the days of our lives. Not to mention the women.
I had an interesting chat with Nerissa (the Cheap Charlies girl I fancied if you are keeping track) yesterday. Here’s the cut and paste from Messenger:
Nerissa: Haven’t seen u for a while
Me: Well, wasn’t sure I was welcome there anymore…
Nerissa: It’s fine if u don’t want to go… Just want to say hi to you is fine..haha..maybe your other girl will see u here..haha..not a good move…
Me: I don’t have another girl…and honestly, I had my eyes opened to the fact that I’m better off alone.
Nerissa
If that’s the best for u, then go for it…
Me: Yeah, I don’t deal well with rejection these days…
Nerissa
That’s normal, I guess
Me: Especially when you get older. Takes too long to recover.
Nerissa: It depends if a person is serious…If he is not serious, I guess he gives up easily.
Me: Maybe so. In fact, that was the message I received when you unfriended me…
Nerissa: Correct
Me: Thanks; I appreciate your honesty.
So, the joke was on me all along…she was never serious, so blowing me off was easy. But as I said before, she did me a favor. No need to waste time and energy on a drama queen who doesn’t value me. And it led me to begin to learn to embrace the comfort and safety that comes with being a “player.”
How’s that working out for me so far? Well, there’s Mary. I enjoy her company, but one night a week is plenty for me. The age gap is real, but at least she has enough intellectual curiosity to occasionally make for an interesting drinking companion. I did get a chuckle on Friday when our waitress at Thumbstar asked Mary if I was her boyfriend. She responded, not really. The waitress said, “more like a sugar daddy?” and Mary replied, “kinda.” To be clear, we are not in a “pay for play” situation; I don’t think either of us wants that. She doesn’t ask me for money but will tell me when I ask what she needs to make her studies go smoother. This week I sprang for the internet at her house, which facilitates her ability to research for papers and other homework. So far, I’m comfortable with our informal arrangement.
I see Joy at Hideaway on Wednesday and Sunday. I know she’d like to visit me at home on her day off (Thursday), but so far, I’ve resisted. She’s a sweetie, but I just don’t feel the urge to take things further, especially in exchange for money.
Then there’s my mountain momma friend, MJ. I’ve been providing support for her and her kids since her ex-husband died last year. That’s with no strings attached; she’s one of my charity projects. Once a month or so, she wants to give me a massage for extra money. She’s good at it, and it usually ends happily, so I’m receptive. She’d probably be an excellent taking care of you kind of girlfriend, but not much good at conversation.
Another bargirl friend I enjoy spending time with is Jen, a waitress at Whiskey Girl. She’s a natural-born snuggler, and I do enjoy a nice cuddle now and then. Might be the least physically attractive of the gals I drink with, but she’s quick with a laugh and fun to be around.
Lovely, especially on the inside, Jen
And last night, I got a message from Aine telling me she is back to work at Wet Spot after being absent for several months. I plan to drop in to say hello again tonight.
Anyway, it’s not the life I imagined I’d have, but it’s the one I’ve got, and I’m planning to enjoy it as long as possible. Who knew embracing emptiness could be so fulfilling?
Despite the disconnect with Nerissa I described above, I decided to make a return visit to Cheap Charlies to start my evening out. Nerissa sat down on my left, and I politely greeted her. Alma sat on my right and stroked my arm and shoulder. Some other gal sat behind me and rubbed my back. I enjoyed my beer and watched the world go by with only occasional interaction with Alma. I wasn’t inclined to purchase a lady drink for someone who had just admitted I was nothing to them, but so as not to be rude, I didn’t buy anyone a drink. As I suspected, Nerissa and the other gal moved on after I ordered my second beer. Once they were gone, I bought a drink for Alma. I guess I sent a message too.
Proceeding with my bar crawl, I decided to pop into Annex bar for a visit. This is another place I almost never visit, but they’ve recently made a significant change–they opened up the front of the building and made it into an open-air bar–my favorite kind.
It’s across the highway from It Doesn’t Matter. I enjoyed sitting there sipping on a cold San Mig Zero and watching the world go by. I’ll likely be back for more one day soon.
Since I didn’t do the SOB this week, I didn’t have any coupons. But Whiskey Girl is offering a “buy one, get one” promo every day from 5 p.m. until 8:00. That’s a pretty damn good deal, and I decided to take advantage of it and enjoy some snuggle time with Jenn.
As I passed my Mango’s,I had to shake my head at this–it is so Filipino. The motorbikes completely block the entranceway. I *might* have been able to squeeze my fat belly between the parked cars on the other side. Luckily, I didn’t have to try because Mango’s wasn’t my destination.Oh, and see that little white sign in the background? It says, “please don’t block the entrance”
I enjoyed my time at Whiskey Girl. Queen Victoria is right across the street, so I decided to make that my nightcap venue. My old favorite Irish and my new favorite Rein were both in attendance and joined me at the bar. I noted that Rein had not accepted my FB friend request, and she said her account was “blocked.” Whatever. Irish took my phone and sent herself a friend request from me, but as of this morning, she has not accepted it either. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have a Facebook fetish about making bargirls friends, but it is a simple indicator of whether they see you as a customer/drink provider or potentially something more. I just like to know where I stand; it doesn’t change anything.
When I got home, I was excited about my post-drinking snack awaiting my arrival in the fridge.
I bought a pricey slice of pumpkin pie at Sit-n-Bull after my morning hike. $2.25!I popped it in the microwave and prettied it up with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Yum! Slept like a baby last night.
On one of the forums I visit, I came across this post-mortem from someone who saw the bus-jeepney accident scene.
We were stuck in the n/b traffic jam and it took about 20 minutes to reach the accident scene.
From what I saw, It appears that the white van either suddenly stopped in front of, or suddenly pulled out in front of the s/b bus. The bus was most assuredly speeding as usual.
The bus hit the van from behind, knocking it out of the way, and went out of control traveling across the center line and into the n/b jeepney.
The bus struck the jeepney just behind the driver and as you can see from the extreme damage, the poor student sitting directly behind the driver was mortally injured. In one of the video’s going around you can see blood spurting from his carotid with each heartbeat.
It’s a shame there were too many videographers instead of someone to help by applying direct pressure to his carotid. Filipinos are professional bystanders/gawkers…
Someone commented that brain matter was visible but I couldn’t tell from the video I watched. In that case, first aid may not have saved this guy if his skull was cracked open but if I was present I would have tried.
It’s a shame, R.I.P.
I mentioned in a recent post a man named Karl who hikes the hills and dales in these parts alone, despite being in his late 70s. Quite the inspiration. Anyway, he posted some cool pictures of Barretto from a webpage he has of Barretto back when it was nothing more than a Navy rifle range.
Barretto before it was BarrettoEverything changes
I survived my scouting expedition to the top of Easter mountain this morning. I’ll tell that story tomorrow with a slew of pictures from the climb. I’ll also feed the girls at Hideaway tonight, so we can see Joy enjoying whatever she puts in her mouth.
Only three for the Friday group hike yesterday, and we made it our mission to conquer Black Rock mountain. Mission accomplished!
A 6.5k trek up and over the Black RockMy fellow travelers, Stuart and RobOff we go!Up the National HighwayAnd into the Santa Monica subdivisionOn the streets of Santa MonicaOut onto the Govic HighwayThe road to the rockHeading upAnd upOn top of Black RockThe village of St. James in CalapacuanA hazy day, but that’s Barretto off in the distance and Alta Vista on the hill to the left.The valley our downward path will take us toHeading downAnd down. When dry, the rocks aren’t slippery; thank goodnessA brief stop for a cookie deliveryDown in the valleyA recent burn. ‘Tis the season which explains the haze in the airI’ll be helping to scout a trail tomorrow for the Easter Monday Hash climb up Easter MountainHeading back to Alta Vista, where the trail ended for me
You can Relive the walk here if you so desire:
https://www.relive.cc/view/vAOZo4dXwy6
A nice hike on a warm day, satisfying my walkaholic urges. A few hours later, it was time to quench my alcoholic thirst. Mary wanted to visit some new bars (to her) with me. So, we met up at Sloppy Joe’s and went from there. While I waited for her arrival, I enjoyed the company of Chris, and his gal, who usually hangs out at It Doesn’t Matter. Both have that street-view outdoor ambiance I prefer. Mary arrived and had a couple of gin and soda drinks; then we moved on to Outback.
Outback has an indoor and a poolside bar; I opted for the beach seats.
Beer with a viewAnd some fish and chips for dinner
I next took Mary to a bar I’ve only visited twice since it opened named Luxe. It’s actually a very nice bar with some sexy dancers, but for whatever reason, it is just not my kind of place. We stayed for one drink; then, we moved a few doors down to Thumbstar.
Now, I’m not a regular at Thumbstar, either. It also has dancers, but most of them are fat and unattractive. Still, with their Friday night buy-one-get-one deal, it’s not a bad place to chill and enjoy the atmosphere. Mary thought the music was too loud, but the waitress claimed she wasn’t authorized to turn down the sound. We wound up staying anyway since the drinks were so cheap. Mary and the waitress did tequila shots together, and she seemed to be enjoying herself.
Got back home before nine, made up a batch of smoothies, then hit the hay. I woke up with Mary beside me (sleeping in her dress) and let her sleep in while I went about my morning routine. She woke in time to do the dog walk. I made her a breakfast of meatballs (leftover from the other night) with corn on the cob and garlic bread. Who says you can’t improvise in the morning?
After the meal, I walked Mary to the highway, and she caught a Jeep back home. I did my standard Saturday solo walk, which took me past the scene of yesterday’s accident. To my surprise, the Jeepney was still on the side of the road.
I didn’t take this photo. Guys were working to salvage parts when I walked by, so I didn’t bother. I have learned that the guy behind the Jeepney driver was killed, and you can see why from the damage. I suspect he was the one who was bleeding out in the video I posted yesterday.
And that brings y’all pretty much up to date on my so-called life.
I don’t have a drinking problem. I drink, I get drunk, I fall down. No problem!
